Browse publications by year: 2013

Rutin, a bioflavonoid antioxidant protects rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity

Magalingam KB, Radhakrishnan A, Haleagrahara N

Int J Mol Med, 2013 Jul;32(1):235-40.
PMID: 23670213 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1375

Free radicals are widely known to be the major cause of human diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, allergy and autoimmune diseases. Human cells are equipped with a powerful natural antioxidant enzyme network. However, antioxidants, particularly those originating from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables, are still considered essential. Rutin, a quercetin glycoside, has been proven to possess antioxidant potential. However, the neuroprotective effect of rutin in pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells has not been studied extensively. Therefore, the present study was designed to establish the neuroprotective role of rutin as well as to elucidate the antioxidant mechanism of rutin in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced toxicity in PC-12 neuronal cells. PC-12 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of rutin for 4, 8 and 12 h and subsequently incubated with 6-OHDA for 24 h to induce oxidative stress. A significant cytoprotective activity was observed in rutin pretreated cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, there was marked activation of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total glutathione (GSH) in rutin pretreated cells compared to cells incubated with 6-OHDA alone. Rutin significantly reduced lipid peroxidation in 6-OHDA-induced PC-12 cells. On the basis of these observations, it was concluded that the bioflavonoid rutin inhibited 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in PC-12 cells by improving antioxidant enzyme levels and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/chemistry; Catalase/metabolism; Cell Survival/drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation/drug effects; Flavonoids/pharmacology*; Flavonoids/chemistry; Glutathione/metabolism; Pheochromocytoma/metabolism*; Rutin/pharmacology*; Rutin/chemistry; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects; Oxidopamine/toxicity*; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology*; Neuroprotective Agents/chemistry; Cell Line, Tumor; Rats
Fulltext Innovations in capture fisheries are an imperative for nutrition security in the developing world

Hall SJ, Hilborn R, Andrew NL, Allison EH

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2013 May 21;110(21):8393-8.
PMID: 23671089 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208067110

This article examines two strands of discourse on wild capture fisheries; one that focuses on resource sustainability and environmental impacts, another related to food and nutrition security and human well-being. Available data and research show that, for countries most dependent on fish to meet the nutritional requirements of their population, wild capture fisheries remain the dominant supplier. Although, contrary to popular narratives, the sustainability of these fisheries is not always and everywhere in crisis, securing their sustainability is essential and requires considerable effort across a broad spectrum of fishery systems. An impediment to achieving this is that the current research and policy discourses on environmental sustainability of fisheries and food security remain only loosely and superficially linked. Overcoming this requires adoption of a broader sustainability science paradigm to help harness synergies and negotiate tradeoffs between food security, resource conservation, and macroeconomic development goals. The way society chooses to govern fisheries is, however, an ethical choice, not just a technical one, and we recommend adding an ethical dimension to sustainability science as applied to fisheries.

MeSH terms: Animals; Developing Countries/economics*; Humans
Fulltext The hypocholesterolemic effect of germinated brown rice involves the upregulation of the apolipoprotein A1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor genes

Imam MU, Ismail M, Omar AR, Ithnin H

J Diabetes Res, 2013;2013:134694.
PMID: 23671850 DOI: 10.1155/2013/134694

Germinated brown rice (GBR) is rich in bioactive compounds, which confer GBR with many functional properties. Evidence of its hypocholesterolemic effects is emerging, but the exact mechanisms of action and bioactive compounds involved have not been fully documented. Using type 2 diabetic rats, we studied the effects of white rice, GBR, and brown rice (BR) on lipid profile and on the regulation of selected genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Our results showed that the upregulation of apolipoprotein A1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor genes was involved in the hypocholesterolemic effects of GBR. Additionally, in vitro studies using HEPG2 cells showed that acylated steryl glycoside, gamma amino butyric acid, and oryzanol and phenolic extracts of GBR contribute to the nutrigenomic regulation of these genes. Transcriptional and nontranscriptional mechanisms are likely involved in the overall hypocholesterolemic effects of GBR suggesting that it may have an impact on the prevention and/or management of hypercholesterolemia due to a wide variety of metabolic perturbations. However, there is need to conduct long-term clinical trials to determine the clinical relevance of the hypocholesterolemic effects of GBR determined through animal studies.

MeSH terms: Animals; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Glycosides; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipoproteins, LDL; Phenylpropionates; Oryza; Up-Regulation; Apolipoprotein A-I; Germination; Butyric Acid; Lipid Metabolism; Rats; Nutrigenomics; Hep G2 Cells
Fulltext Stress and Its Effects on Glucose Metabolism and 11β-HSD Activities in Rats Fed on a Combination of High-Fat and High-Sucrose Diet with Glycyrrhizic Acid

Fernando HA, Chin HF, Ton SH, Abdul Kadir K

J Diabetes Res, 2013;2013:190395.
PMID: 23671857 DOI: 10.1155/2013/190395

Chronic stress has been shown to have a strong link towards metabolic syndrome (MetS). Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) meanwhile has been shown to improve MetS symptoms caused by an unhealthy diet by inhibiting 11 β -HSD 1. This experiment aimed to determine the effects of continuous, moderate-intensity stress on rats with and without GA intake on systolic blood pressure (SBP) across a 28-day period, as well as glucose metabolism, and 11 β -HSD 1 and 2 activities at the end of the 28-day period. Adaptation to the stressor (as shown by SBP) resulted in no significant defects in glucose metabolism by the end of the experimental duration. However, a weakly significant increase in renal 11 β -HSD 1 and a significant increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue 11 β -HSD 1 activities were observed. GA intake did not elicit any significant benefit in glucose metabolism, indicating that the stress response may block its effects. However, GA-induced improvements in 11 β -HSD activities in certain tissues were observed, although it is uncertain if these effects are manifested after adaptation due to the withdrawal of the stress response. Hence the ability of GA to improve stress-induced disturbances in the absence of adaptation needs to be investigated further.
Fulltext Effects of serum reduction and VEGF supplementation on angiogenic potential of human adipose stromal cells in vitro

Chua KH, Raduan F, Wan Safwani WK, Manzor NF, Pingguan-Murphy B, Sathapan S

Cell Prolif, 2013 Jun;46(3):300-11.
PMID: 23672290 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12029

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated effects of reduced serum condition and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on angiogenic potential of adipose stromal cells (ASCs) in vitro.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adipose stromal cells were cultured in three different types of medium: (i) F12/DMEM (FD) supplemented with 10% FBS from passage 0 (P0) to P6; (ii) FD supplemented with 2% FBS at P6; and (iii) FD supplemented with 2% FBS plus 50 ng/ml of VEGF at P6. Morphological changes and growth rate of ASCs were recorded. Changes in stemness, angiogenic and endogenic genes' expressions were analysed using Real-Time PCR.
RESULTS: Adipose stromal cells changed from fibroblast-like shape when cultured in 10% FBS medium to polygonal when cultured in 2% FBS plus VEGF-supplemented medium. Their growth rate was lower in 2% FBS medium, but increased with addition of VEGF. Real-Time PCR showed that ASCs maintained most of their stemness and angiogenic genes' expression in 10% FBS at P1, P5 and P6, but this increased significantly in 2% FBS at P6. Endogenic genes expression such as PECAM-1, VE chaderin and VEGFR-2 decreased after serial passage in 10% FBS, but increased significantly at P6 in 2% FBS. Addition of VEGF did not cause any significant change in gene expression level.
CONCLUSION: Adipose stromal cells had greater angiogenic potential when cultured in reduced serum conditions. VEGF did not enhance their angiogenic potential in 2% FBS-supplemented medium.

MeSH terms: Adipose Tissue/cytology; Adipose Tissue/drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Culture Media; Fibroblasts/drug effects; Humans; Adipocytes/cytology; Adipocytes/drug effects*; Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects*; Neovascularization, Physiologic/genetics; Cell Culture Techniques; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/pharmacology*; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/drug effects*
Fulltext A Rome III survey of functional dyspepsia among the ethnic Malays in a primary care setting

Lee YY, Wahab N, Mustaffa N, Daud N, Mohd Noor N, Shaaban J, et al.

BMC Gastroenterol, 2013;13:84.
PMID: 23672671 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-84

Backgrounds: The study aimed to survey for FD in a primary care setting in a population known to have an extremely low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, with the hypothesis that in such a population, dyspepsia should have been relatively less common.
Methods: The Rome III FD Diagnostic Questionnaire was translated into the Malay language and later tested for reliability. A prospective cross-sectional survey was then performed involving 160 Malay patients attending primary care clinic after informed consent. Patients positive for symptoms of FD were subjected to upper endoscopy and exclusion of H. pylori infection. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to test for associated risk factors.
Results: The back-translated questionnaire was similar to the original English version and was reliable (Cronbach Alpha-coefficient 0.85). Of the 160 surveyed subjects, 19 of them (11.9%) had symptoms of FD. With exclusion of erosive diseases (3/160 or 1.9%) from endoscopy, 16 subjects or 10% had FD. None of the 19 subjects were positive for H. pylori infection. Epigastric pain syndrome was present in 11/16 (68.8%) and the rest, overlap with postprandial distress syndrome. With multivariable analysis, a married status (OR = 8.1; 95% CI 1.0-36.5) and positive psychosocial alarm symptoms (OR = 3.8; 95% CI 1.0-14.0) were associated with FD. Of those married subjects, females were more likely to have FD and psychosocial symptoms than men (6.3% vs. 1.9%), P = 0.04.
Conclusions: FD was more common than one had expected among Malays attending primary care clinic in an area with low prevalence of H. pylori.
Keywords: Functional dyspepsia, Malays, Rome III, Females, Marriage, Psychosocial alarm
Questionnaire: Rome III Functional Dyspepsia Diagnostic questionnaire; Red Flag Questionnaire; Psychosocial Alarm Questionnaire; Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; HADS

Study site: primary care clinic within the university hospital of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

MeSH terms: Adult; Anxiety/epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/epidemiology; Dyspepsia/diagnosis; Dyspepsia/epidemiology*; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Primary Health Care*; Prospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Multivariate Analysis; Confidence Intervals; Odds Ratio; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Helicobacter pylori*; Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology*; Marital Status; Young Adult
Teledentistry in practice: literature review

Khan SA, Omar H

Telemed J E Health, 2013 Jul;19(7):565-7.
PMID: 23672799 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2012.0200

Teledentistry can be defined as the remote provision of dental care, advice, or treatment through the medium of information technology, rather than through direct personal contact with any patient(s) involved. Within dental practice, teledentistry is used extensively in disciplines like preventive dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, periodontal conditions, detection of early dental caries, patient education, oral medicine, and diagnosis. Some of the key modes and methods used in teledentistry are electronic health records, electronic referral systems, digitizing images, teleconsultations, and telediagnosis. All the applications used in teledentistry aim to bring about efficiency, provide access to underserved population, improve quality of care, and reduce oral disease burden.

MeSH terms: Dental Care/methods*; Dentistry/methods*; Dentistry/trends; Forecasting; Humans; Telecommunications; Telemedicine*
Potential of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (kapok) fiber as a resource for second generation bioethanol: parametric optimization and comparative study of various pretreatments prior enzymatic saccharification for sugar production

Tye YY, Lee KT, Abdullah WN, Leh CP

Bioresour Technol, 2013 Jul;140:10-14.
PMID: 23672935 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.04.069

Various pretreatments on Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (kapok) fiber prior to enzymatic hydrolysis for sugar production were optimized in this study. The optimum conditions for water, acid, and alkaline pretreatments were 170°C for 45 min, 120°C for 45 min in 1.0% (v/v) H2SO4 solution and 120°C for 60 min in 2.0% (v/v) NaOH solution, respectively. Among the three pretreatments, the alkaline pretreatment achieved the highest total glucose yield (glucose yield calculated based on the untreated fiber) (38.5%), followed by the water (35.0%) and acid (32.8%) pretreatments. As a result, the relative effectiveness of the pretreatment methods for kapok fiber was verified as alkali>water>acid at the condition stated.

MeSH terms: Ethanol/metabolism*; Alkalies/pharmacology; Biotechnology/methods*; Carbohydrates/biosynthesis*; Cellulase/metabolism*; Hydrolysis/drug effects; Sulfuric Acids/pharmacology; Water/pharmacology; Ceiba/chemistry*; Biofuels/analysis*
Fulltext Performance of a cyanobacteria whole cell-based fluorescence biosensor for heavy metal and pesticide detection

Shing WL, Heng LY, Surif S

Sensors (Basel), 2013;13(5):6394-404.
PMID: 23673679 DOI: 10.3390/s130506394

Whole cell biosensors always face the challenge of low stability of biological components and short storage life. This paper reports the effects of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) immobilization on a whole cell fluorescence biosensor for the detection of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd), and pesticides (dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and chlorpyrifos). The biosensor was produced by entrapping the cyanobacterium Anabaena torulosa on a cellulose membrane, followed by applying a layer of pHEMA, and attaching it to a well. The well was then fixed to an optical probe which was connected to a fluorescence spectrophotometer and an electronic reader. The optimization of the biosensor using several factors such as amount of HEMA and drying temperature were undertaken. The detection limits of biosensor without pHEMA for Cu, Cd, Pb, 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos were 1.195, 0.027, 0.0100, 0.025 and 0.025 µg/L respectively. The presence of pHEMA increased the limits of detection to 1.410, 0.250, 0.500, 0.235 and 0.117 µg/L respectively. pHEMA is known to enhance the reproducibility of the biosensor with average relative standard deviation (RSD) of ±1.76% for all the pollutants tested, 48% better than the biosensor without pHEMA (RSD = ±3.73%). In storability test with Cu 5 µg/L, the biosensor with pHEMA performed 11.5% better than the test without pHEMA on day-10 and 5.2% better on day-25. pHEMA is therefore a good candidate to be used in whole cell biosensors as it increases reproducibility and enhances biosensor storability.

MeSH terms: Cyanobacteria/cytology; Cyanobacteria/drug effects; Cyanobacteria/growth & development; Cyanobacteria/metabolism*; Chlorpyrifos/analysis; Chlorpyrifos/toxicity; Fluorescence; Pesticides/analysis*; Pesticides/toxicity; Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate/pharmacology; Temperature; Time Factors; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/analysis; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/toxicity; Biosensing Techniques/methods*; Cells, Immobilized/cytology; Cells, Immobilized/drug effects; Metals, Heavy/analysis*; Metals, Heavy/toxicity; Hydrogels/pharmacology
Fulltext Rapid anterior capsular contraction after phacoemulsification surgery in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa

Jin-Poi T, Shatriah I, Khairy-Shamel ST, Zunaina E

Clin Ophthalmol, 2013;7:839-42.
PMID: 23674886 DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S42122

A decrease in the anterior capsule opening after cataract surgery has been observed in eyes with weakened lens zonules. It commonly occurs in diabetes mellitus, uveitis, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, high myopia, and elderly patients. Herein, we report the case of a middle-aged man with advanced retinitis pigmentosa who developed a rapid contraction of the anterior capsule after an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery that resulted in severe visual loss during the early postoperative period.

MeSH terms: Aged; Cataract; Cataract Extraction; Diabetes Mellitus; Eye; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myopia; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Uveitis; Exfoliation Syndrome; Phacoemulsification
Cytogenetic Profile of de novo Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients in Malaysia

Meng CY, Noor PJ, Ismail A, Ahid MF, Zakaria Z

Int J Biomed Sci, 2013 Mar;9(1):26-32.
PMID: 23675286

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease in terms of cytogenetics and molecular genetics. AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults and its incidence increases with age. Diagnostic cytogenetics is an important prognostic indicator for predicting outcome of AML. We examined the karyotypic patterns of 480 patients with de novo AML seen at government hospitals throughout the country and evaluated the association of chromosome aberrations with the age of patient. Chromosome abnormalities were detected in 146 (30.4%) patients. The most common cytogenetic abnormality was balanced translocation t (8; 21), followed by trisomy 8 (as sole abnormality) and t (15; 17). The age of our Malaysian patients at diagnosis ranged from four months to 81 years, with a median age of 39 years. The normal karyotype was found mainly in patients aged 15-30 years. About 75% of patients with t (8; 21) were below 40 years of age, and the complex karyotype was found with the highest frequently (34.3%) in elderly patients (age above 60 years). More than half of the patients with complex karyotype were above 50 years of age. The deletion 5q was detected only in patients aged above 50 years. Different cytogenetic abnormalities in AML show different frequencies with increasing age. Probably different genetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of AML and these mechanisms might occur at different frequencies over lifetime.
Fulltext Pathogenicity of Nosema sp. (Microsporidia) in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Kermani N, Abu-Hassan ZA, Dieng H, Ismail NF, Attia M, Abd Ghani I

PLoS One, 2013;8(5):e62884.
PMID: 23675435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062884

Biological control using pathogenic microsporidia could be an alternative to chemical control of the diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). The microsporidium Nosema bombycis (NB) is one of the numerous pathogens that can be used in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of DBM. However, its pathogenicity or effectiveness can be influenced by various factors, particularly temperature. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of temperature on NB infection of DBM larvae. Second-instar larvae at different doses (spore concentration: 0, 1×10²,1×10³,1×10⁴, and 1×10⁵) at 15°, 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°C and a relative humidity(RH) of 65% and light dark cycle (L:D) of 12∶12. Larval mortality was recorded at 24 h intervals until the larvae had either died or pupated. The results showed that the spore concentration had a significant negative effect on larval survival at all temperatures, although this effect was more pronounced (92%) at 35°C compared with that at 20 and 30°C (≃50%) and 25°C (26%). Histological observations showed that Nosema preferentially infected the adipose tissue and epithelial cells of the midgut, resulting in marked vacuolization of the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that Nosema damaged the midgut epithelial cells. Our results suggest that Nosema had a direct adverse effect on DBM, and could be utilized as an important biopesticide alternative to chemical insecticides in IPM.

MeSH terms: Animals; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology; Intestinal Mucosa/ultrastructure; Larva/growth & development; Larva/microbiology*; Moths/growth & development; Moths/microbiology*; Pest Control, Biological/methods*; Spores, Fungal/pathogenicity*; Spores, Fungal/physiology; Temperature; Nosema/pathogenicity*; Nosema/physiology; Photoperiod; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology; Gastrointestinal Tract/ultrastructure
Impact of pharmaceutical care on knowledge, quality of life and satisfaction of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Lai PS, Chua SS, Chan SP

Int J Clin Pharm, 2013 Aug;35(4):629-37.
PMID: 23677816 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-013-9784-x

BACKGROUND: This study describes the analysis of secondary outcomes from a previously published randomised controlled trial, which assessed the effects of pharmaceutical care on medication adherence, persistence and bone turnover markers. The main focus of this manuscript is the effect of the provision of pharmaceutical care on these secondary outcomes, and details on the design of the intervention provided, the osteoporosis care plan and materials used to deliver the intervention.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of pharmaceutical care on knowledge, quality of life (QOL) and satisfaction of postmenopausal osteoporotic women prescribed bisphosphonates, and their associating factors.
SETTING: Randomised controlled trial, performed at an osteoporosis clinic of a tertiary hospital in Malaysia.
METHODS: Postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis (T-score ≤-2.5/lowtrauma fracture), just been prescribed weekly alendronate/risedronate were randomly allocated to receive intervention or standard care (controls). Intervention participants received a medication review, education on osteoporosis, risk factors, lifestyle modifications, goals of therapy, side effects and the importance of medication adherence at months 0, 3, 6 and 12.
MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE: Knowledge, QOL and satisfaction.
RESULTS: A total of 198 postmenopausal osteoporotic women were recruited: intervention = 100 and control = 98. Intervention participants reported significantly higher knowledge scores at months 3 (72.50 vs. 62.50 %), 6 (75.00 vs. 65.00 %) and 12 (78.75 vs. 68.75 %) compared to control participants. QOL scores were also lower (which indicates better QOL) at months 3 (29.33 vs. 38.41), 6 (27.50 vs. 36.56) and 12 (27.53 vs. 37.56) compared to control participants. Similarly, satisfaction score was higher in intervention participants (93.67 vs. 84.83 %). More educated women, with back pain, who were provided pharmaceutical care had better knowledge levels. Similarly, older, more educated women, with previous falls and back pain tend to have poorer QOL, whilst women who exercised more frequently and were provided pharmaceutical care had better QOL. Satisfaction also increased as QOL increases and when provided pharmaceutical care.
CONCLUSION: The provision of pharmaceutical care improved knowledge, QOL and satisfaction in Malaysian postmenopausal osteoporotic women, showing that pharmacists have the potential to improve patients' overall bone health. Policymakers should consider placing a clinical pharmacist in the osteoporosis clinic to provide counselling to improve these outcomes.
Study site: Osteoporosis clinics, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MeSH terms: Age Factors; Diphosphonates/administration & dosage; Diphosphonates/adverse effects; Diphosphonates/therapeutic use; Educational Status; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitals, University; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Life Style; Malaysia; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Patient Education as Topic/methods; Pharmaceutical Services/organization & administration*; Pharmacists/organization & administration; Pilot Projects; Quality of Life*; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/drug therapy*; Patient Satisfaction; Professional Role; Bone Density Conservation Agents/administration & dosage; Bone Density Conservation Agents/adverse effects; Bone Density Conservation Agents/therapeutic use; Medication Adherence
Isolation and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii from free-range ducks in Malaysia

Puvanesuaran VR, Noordin R, Balakrishnan V

Avian Dis, 2013 Mar;57(1):128-32.
PMID: 23678741

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan that infects nearly one-third of humans. The present study was performed to isolate and genotype T. gondii from free-range ducks in Malaysia. Sera, heads, and hearts from 205 ducks were obtained from four states in Peninsular Malaysia, and 30 (14.63%) sera were found to be seropositive when assayed with the modified agglutination test (MAT > or = 1:6). All the positive samples were inoculated into mice, and T. gondii was successfully isolated from four individual duck samples (1.95%), which were initially found to be strongly seropositive (MAT > or = 1:24). The isolates were subjected to PCR-RFLP analysis, and two T. gondii strains were identified: type I and type II. This is the first reported study on the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from free-range farm animals in Southeast Asia.

MeSH terms: Agglutination Tests/veterinary; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood; Brain/parasitology; Ducks*; Genotype; Heart/parasitology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Poultry Diseases/epidemiology*; Poultry Diseases/parasitology; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Toxoplasma/classification*; Toxoplasma/genetics*; Toxoplasma/immunology; Toxoplasma/isolation & purification; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/blood; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/epidemiology*; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary; Mice
New bioactive secondary metabolites from Bornean red alga, Laurencia similis (Ceramiales)

Kamada T, Vairappan CS

Nat Prod Commun, 2013 Mar;8(3):287-8.
PMID: 23678792

A Bomean red algal population of Laurencia similis Nam et Saito was analyzed for its secondary metabolite composition. Seven compounds were identified: ent-1(10)-aristolen-9beta-ol (1), (+)-aristolone (2), axinysone B (3), 9-aristolen-1alpha-ol (4), 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (5), 1-methyl-2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (6), and 1-methyl-2,3,5-tribromoindole (7). Compound 1 was identified as a new optical isomer of 1(10)-aristolen-9beta-ol. Compounds 1, 4 and 5 exhibited good antibacterial activity against antibiotic resistant clinical bacteria and cytotoxic effects against selected cancer cell lines.

MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Cell Line; Cell Survival/drug effects; HeLa Cells; Humans; Molecular Structure; Laurencia/chemistry*
Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana from Malaysia

Din WM, Chu J, Clarke G, Jin KT, Bradshaw TD, Fry JR, et al.

Nat Prod Commun, 2013 Mar;8(3):375-80.
PMID: 23678815

In the annals of biomedical theory perhaps no single class of natural product has enjoyed more ingenious speculation than antioxidants formally aimed at counteracting oxidative insults which are involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, skin ageing and wound healing. In pursuing our study of Malaysian traditional medicines with antioxidant properties, we became interested in Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana hort., used traditionally to heal wounds. To examine whether Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. could suppress oxidation an ethanol extract was tested by conventional chemical in vitro assays i.e., ferric reducing antioxidant potential assay (FRAP), DPPH scavenging assay and beta-carotene bleaching (BCB) assay. To explore whether Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. protected cells against oxidative injuries, we exposed human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells to tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP). In all the aforementioned experiments, the ethanol extracts elicited potent antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. To gain a better understanding of the phytochemical nature of the antioxidant principle involved, five fractions (F1-F5) obtained from the ethanol extract were tested using FRAP, DPPH and BCB assays. Our results provided evidence that F5 was the most active fraction with antioxidant potentials equal to 2.090 +/- 0.307 microg/mL, 0.532 +/- 0.041 microg/mL, 0.032 +/- 0.025 microg/mL in FRAP, DPPH and BCB assay, respectively. Interestingly, F5 protected HepG2 against t-BHP oxidative insults. To further define the chemical identity of the antioxidant principle, we first performed a series of phytochemical tests, followed by liquid-chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC/MS) profiling which showed that the major compound contained in F5 was geraniin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that the wound healing property of Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. is mediated by a geraniin containing extract. Furthermore, our data leads us to conclude that geraniin could be used as a potential pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic topical agent.

MeSH terms: Ethanol/chemistry*; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Antioxidants/chemistry*; Cell Survival/drug effects; Humans; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Mass Spectrometry; Euphorbiaceae/chemistry*; tert-Butylhydroperoxide/pharmacology; Hep G2 Cells
Therapeutic effects of glycyrrhizic acid

Ming LJ, Yin AC

Nat Prod Commun, 2013 Mar;8(3):415-8.
PMID: 23678825

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), belonging to a class of triterpenes, is a conjugate of two molecules, namely glucuronic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid. It is naturally extracted from the roots of licorice plants. With its more common uses in the confectionery and cosmetics industry, GA extends its applications as a herbal medicine for a wide range of ailments. At low appropriate doses, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antimicrobial and anti-viral properties have been reported by researchers worldwide. This review summarizes the effects of GA on metabolic syndrome, tumorigenesis, microbes and viruses, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as the reported side effects of the drug.

MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use; Antioxidants/therapeutic use; Humans; Glycyrrhizic Acid/therapeutic use*; Antidiuretic Agents/therapeutic use
Cruciferous vegetables: dietary phytochemicals for cancer prevention

Abdull Razis AF, Noor NM

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(3):1565-70.
PMID: 23679237

Relationships between diet and health have attracted attention for centuries; but links between diet and cancer have been a focus only in recent decades. The consumption of diet-containing carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines is most closely correlated with increasing cancer risk. Epidemiological evidence strongly suggests that consumption of dietary phytochemicals found in vegetables and fruit can decrease cancer incidence. Among the various vegetables, broccoli and other cruciferous species appear most closely associated with reduced cancer risk in organs such as the colorectum, lung, prostate and breast. The protecting effects against cancer risk have been attributed, at least partly, due to their comparatively high amounts of glucosinolates, which differentiate them from other vegetables. Glucosinolates, a class of sulphur- containing glycosides, present at substantial amounts in cruciferous vegetables, and their breakdown products such as the isothiocyanates, are believed to be responsible for their health benefits. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the chemopreventive effect of these compounds are likely to be manifold, possibly concerning very complex interactions, and thus difficult to fully understand. Therefore, this article provides a brief overview about the mechanism of such compounds involved in modulation of carcinogen metabolising enzyme systems.

MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Neoplasms/prevention & control*; Vegetables*; Brassicaceae/chemistry*; Phytochemicals/therapeutic use*
Antigenic proteins of Helicobacter pylori of potential diagnostic value

Khalilpour A, Santhanam A, Wei LC, Saadatnia G, Velusamy N, Osman S, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(3):1635-42.
PMID: 23679248

Helicobacter pylori antigen was prepared from an isolate from a patient with a duodenal ulcer. Serum samples were obtained from culture-positive H. pylori infected patients with duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers and gastritis (n=30). As controls, three kinds of sera without detectable H. pylori IgG antibodies were used: 30 from healthy individuals without history of gastric disorders, 30 from patients who were seen in the endoscopy clinic but were H. pylori culture negative and 30 from people with other diseases. OFF-GEL electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and Western blots of individual serum samples were used to identify protein bands with good sensitivity and specificity when probed with the above sera and HRP-conjugated anti-human IgG. Four H. pylori protein bands showed good (≥ 70%) sensitivity and high specificity (98-100%) towards anti-Helicobacter IgG antibody in culture- positive patients sera and control sera, respectively. The identities of the antigenic proteins were elucidated by mass spectrometry. The relative molecular weights and the identities of the proteins, based on MALDI TOF/ TOF, were as follows: CagI (25 kDa), urease G accessory protein (25 kDa), UreB (63 kDa) and proline/pyrroline- 5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (118 KDa). These identified proteins, singly and/or in combinations, may be useful for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in patients.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Bacterial/blood; Antigens, Bacterial/immunology*; Antigens, Bacterial/metabolism; Bacterial Proteins/immunology; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Carrier Proteins/immunology; Carrier Proteins/metabolism; Duodenal Ulcer/immunology*; Duodenal Ulcer/microbiology; Duodenal Ulcer/pathology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastritis/immunology*; Gastritis/microbiology; Gastritis/pathology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G/immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Stomach Ulcer/immunology*; Stomach Ulcer/microbiology; Stomach Ulcer/pathology; Urease/immunology; Urease/metabolism; Blotting, Western; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Biomarkers/analysis*; Case-Control Studies; Helicobacter pylori/immunology*; Helicobacter pylori/pathogenicity; Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis*; Helicobacter Infections/immunology; Helicobacter Infections/microbiology; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Young Adult
Quantification of Her-2/Neu gene in breast cancer patients using real time-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and correlation with immunohistochemistry findings

Abdul Murad NA, Razak ZA, Hussain RM, Syed Hussain SN, Ko Ching Huat C, Che Md Ali SA, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(3):1655-9.
PMID: 23679251

BACKGROUND: HER-2/neu is a proto-oncogene that encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase growth factor which is crucial for stimulating growth and cellular motility. Overexpression of HER-2/neu is observed in 10-35% of human breast cancers and is associated with pathogenesis, prognosis as well as response to therapy. Given the imperative role of HER-2/neu overexpression in breast cancer, it is important to determine the magnitude of amplification which may facilitate a better prognosis as well as personalized therapy in affected patients. In this study, we determined HER-2/neu protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) concurrently with HER-2/neu DNA amplification by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 53 paired tissue samples from breast cancer patients were frozen-sectioned to characterize the tumour and normal tissues. Only tissues with 80% tumour cells were used in this study. For confirmation, Q-PCR was used to determine the HER-2/neu DNA amplification.
RESULTS: We found 20/53 (37.7%) of the tumour tissues to be positive for HER-2/neu protein overexpression using IHC. Out of these twenty, only 9/53 (17%) cases were in agreement with the Q-PCR results. The concordance rate between IHC and Q-PCR was 79.3%. Approximately 20.7% of positive IHC cases showed no HER-2/neu gene amplification using Q-PCR.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, IHC can be used as an initial screening method for detection of the HER-2/neu protein overexpression. Techniques such as Q-PCR should be employed to verify the IHC results for uncertain cases as well as determination of HER-2/neu gene amplification.

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Breast/metabolism*; Breast Neoplasms/genetics; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism; Breast Neoplasms/pathology*; DNA/genetics; Female; Gene Amplification*; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis*; Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics*; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism*; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction*

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