Browse publications by year: 2013

Fulltext Dr Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925): medical doctor and China's founding president

Lee KH, Wong DT, Ng KH

Singapore Med J, 2013 Jun;54(6):356-8.
PMID: 23820548
MeSH terms: China; Humans; Medicine*; Physicians; Politics*; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century
Langkocyclines: novel angucycline antibiotics from Streptomyces sp. Acta 3034(*)

Kalyon B, Tan GY, Pinto JM, Foo CY, Wiese J, Imhoff JF, et al.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 2013 Oct;66(10):609-16.
PMID: 23820614 DOI: 10.1038/ja.2013.53

Langkocyclines A1-A3 and B1 and B2, five new angucycline antibiotics produced by Streptomyces sp. Acta 3034, were detected in the course of our HPLC-diode array screening. The producing strain was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of a Clitorea sp. collected from Burau Bay, Langkawi, Malaysia, and was characterized by morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic features in addition to 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence information. Strain Acta 3034 is closely related to Streptomyces psammoticus NBRC 13971(T) and Streptomyces lanatus NBRC 12787(T). Langkocyclines consist of an angular tetracyclic benz[a]anthracene skeleton and hydrolyzable O-glycosidic sugar moieties. The yellow-colored A-type langkocyclines differ in their aglycon from the blue-lilac-colored B-type langkocyclines. The A-type langkocycline aglycon is identical to that of aquayamycin and urdamycin A. The chemical structures of the langkocyclines were elucidated by HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments. They are biologically active against Gram-positive bacteria and exhibit a moderate antiproliferative activity against various human tumor cell lines.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; DNA, Bacterial/analysis; DNA, Bacterial/genetics; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects*; Humans; Malaysia; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; Soil Microbiology; Streptomyces/classification*; Streptomyces/genetics; Streptomyces/isolation & purification; Streptomyces/metabolism*; Structure-Activity Relationship; Sequence Analysis, DNA; NIH 3T3 Cells; Mice; Hep G2 Cells; Rhizosphere
On strongly interacting internal waves in a rotating ocean and coupled Ostrovsky equations

Alias A, Grimshaw RH, Khusnutdinova KR

Chaos, 2013 Jun;23(2):023121.
PMID: 23822486 DOI: 10.1063/1.4808249

In the weakly nonlinear limit, oceanic internal solitary waves for a single linear long wave mode are described by the KdV equation, extended to the Ostrovsky equation in the presence of background rotation. In this paper we consider the scenario when two different linear long wave modes have nearly coincident phase speeds and show that the appropriate model is a system of two coupled Ostrovsky equations. These are systematically derived for a density-stratified ocean. Some preliminary numerical simulations are reported which show that, in the generic case, initial solitary-like waves are destroyed and replaced by two coupled nonlinear wave packets, being the counterpart of the same phenomenon in the single Ostrovsky equation.
The effects of tempol on renal function and hemodynamics in cyclosporine-induced renal insufficiency rats

Chia TY, Sattar MA, Abdulla MH, Rathore HA, Ahmad Fu, Kaur G, et al.

Ren Fail, 2013 Aug;35(7):978-88.
PMID: 23822648 DOI: 10.3109/0886022X.2013.809563

This study investigated the effects of tempol, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic and L-NAME, a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor on the renal function and hemodynamics in cyclosporine A (CsA) induced renal insufficiency rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either vehicle (C), tempol (T, 1 mmol/L in drinking fluid), L-NAME (L, 1 mmol/L in drinking fluid), CsA (Cs, 25 mg/kg/day via gavage), CsA plus tempol (TCs), CsA plus L-NAME (LCs) or CsA plus a combination of tempol and L-NAME (TLCs) for 21 consecutive days. At the end of treatment regimen, the renal responses to noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE), methoxamine and angiotensin II (Ang II) were determined. Cs and LCs rats had lower creatinine clearance (0.7 ± 0.1 and 0.6 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.2 mL/min/kg) and fractional excretion of sodium (0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.17 ± 0.01 vs. 0.67 ± 0.04%) but higher systolic blood pressure (145 ± 2 and 178 ± 4 vs. 116 ± 2) compared to the control (all p

MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Blood Pressure/drug effects; Cyclic N-Oxides/pharmacology*; Disease Models, Animal; Hemodynamics/drug effects*; Hypertension/etiology; Hypertension/physiopathology; Hypertension/prevention & control*; Kidney/blood supply; Kidney Concentrating Ability/drug effects*; Male; Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors; Nitric Oxide/metabolism; Regional Blood Flow/drug effects; Spin Labels; Superoxide Dismutase/administration & dosage; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism; Cyclosporine/pharmacology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/administration & dosage; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/metabolism; Rats
Men's health issues in Asia

Ho CC, Tan HM

Aging Male, 2013 Sep;16(3):81-4.
PMID: 23822757 DOI: 10.3109/13685538.2013.809414

Men's health has gained prominence over the past few years but it is still not on par with the attention or funding that women and child health is getting. In Asia, this issue is even more conspicuous. With westernization of lifestyle, Asian men's problems emulate their Western counterparts but there are certain issues unique to Asian men due to cultural differences. This review will discuss the health issues affecting Asian men and suggest measures that can be taken to overcome them.

MeSH terms: Asia; Cultural Characteristics*; Health Education; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; Men's Health*
Reviewing the molecular mechanisms which increase endometrial cancer (EC) risk in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): time for paradigm shift?

Shafiee MN, Chapman C, Barrett D, Abu J, Atiomo W

Gynecol Oncol, 2013 Nov;131(2):489-92.
PMID: 23822891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.06.032

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the commonest gynaecological cancer in North American and European women. Even though it has been shown that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a three-fold increase in the risk of developing EC compared to women without PCOS, the precise molecular mechanisms which increase EC risk in women with PCOS remain unclear. Clinical strategies to prevent EC in PCOS are therefore not well researched and understood. Although raised estrogen levels, hyperinsulinaemia and, reduced apoptosis have been suggested as potential mechanisms, there is a lack of clarity about how these factors and other factors may interact to increase EC risk in PCOS. This article reviews the literature, on the potential molecular links between PCOS and EC but argues for a paradigm shift, to a systems biology-based approach in future research into the molecular links between PCOS and EC. The potential challenges of a systems biology-based approach are outlined but not considered insurmountable.

MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/genetics*; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/metabolism*; Endometrial Neoplasms/genetics*; Endometrial Neoplasms/metabolism*; Genomics; Metabolomics
Fulltext A longitudinal study of relationships between previous academic achievement, emotional intelligence and personality traits with psychological health of medical students during stressful periods

Yusoff MS, Esa AR, Mat Pa MN, Mey SC, Aziz RA, Abdul Rahim AF

Educ Health (Abingdon), 2013 Jan-Apr;26(1):39-47.
PMID: 23823672 DOI: 10.4103/1357-6283.112800

CONTEXT: There is considerable evidence that emotional intelligence, previous academic achievement (i.e. cumulative grade point average (GPA)) and personality are associated with success in various occupational settings. This study evaluated the relationships of these variables with psychological health of first year medical students during stressful periods.
METHODS: A 1-year prospective study was done with students accepted into the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Information on emotional intelligence, GPA and personality traits were obtained prior to admission. The validated Universiti Sains Malaysia Emotional Quotient Inventory and Universiti Sains Malaysia Personality Inventory were used to measure emotional intelligence and personality traits, respectively. Stress, anxiety and depression were measured by the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale during the end-of-course (time 1) and final (time 2) examinations.
RESULTS: At the less stressful period (time 1), stress level was associated with agreeableness and the final GPA, anxiety level was associated with emotional control and emotional conscientiousness and depression level was associated with the final GPA and extraversion. At the more stressful period (time 2), neuroticism associated with stress level, anxiety level was associated with neuroticism and emotional expression, and depression level was associated with neuroticism.
CONCLUSIONS: This study found that neuroticism was the strongest associated factor of psychological health of medical students during their most stressful testing period. Various personality traits, emotional intelligence and previous academic performance were associated factors of psychological health during a less stressful period. These data suggest that early identification of medical students who are vulnerable to the stressful environment of medical schools might help them maintain psychological well-being during medical training.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Anxiety Disorders/psychology; Depression/psychology; Educational Measurement; Educational Status*; Female; Humans; Male; Personality*; Personality Inventory; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological Tests; Stress, Psychological/etiology; Stress, Psychological/psychology*; Students, Medical/psychology*; Young Adult; Emotional Intelligence*
Differentiation of lard, chicken fat, beef fat and mutton fat by GCMS and EA-IRMS techniques

Ahmad Nizar NN, Nazrim Marikkar JM, Hashim DM

J Oleo Sci, 2013;62(7):459-64.
PMID: 23823911

A study was conducted to differentiate lard, chicken fat, beef fat and mutton fat using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Elemental Analyzer-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS). The comparison of overall fatty acid data showed that lard and chicken fat share common characteristics by having palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid as major fatty acids while beef and mutton fats shared common characteristics by possessing palmitic, stearic and oleic acid as major fatty acids. The direct comparisons among the fatty acid data, therefore, may not be suitable for discrimination of different animal fats. When the fatty acid distributional data was subjected to Principle Component Analysis (PCA), it was demonstrated that stearic, oleic and linoleic acids as the most discriminating parameters in the clustering of animal fats into four subclasses. The bulk carbon analysis of animal fats using EA-IRMS showed that determination of the carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) would be a good indicator for discriminating lard, chicken fat, beef fat and mutton fat. This would lead to a faster and more efficient method to ascertain the source of origin of fats used in food products.

MeSH terms: Animals; Cattle; Chickens; Dietary Fats/analysis*; Fatty Acids/analysis*; Food Analysis*; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods; Sheep; Species Specificity
Numerical study of the enhancement of heat transfer for hybrid CuO-Cu Nanofluids flowing in a circular pipe

Balla HH, Abdullah S, Mohdfaizal W, Zulkifli R, Sopian K

J Oleo Sci, 2013;62(7):533-9.
PMID: 23823920

A numerical simulation model for laminar flow of nanofluids in a pipe with constant heat flux on the wall was built to study the effect of the Reynolds number on convective heat transfer and pressure loss. The investigation was performed for hybrid nanofluids consisting of CuO-Cu nanoparticles and compared with CuO and Cu in which the nanoparticles have a spherical shape with size 50, 50, 50nm respectively. The nanofluids were prepared, following which the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity were measured for a range of temperatures (10 -60°C). The numerical results obtained were compared with the existing well-established correlation. The prediction of the Nusselt number for nanofluids agrees well with the Shah correlation. The comparison of heat transfer coefficients for CuO, Cu and CuO-Cu presented an increase in thermal conductivity of the nanofluid as the convective heat transfer coefficient increased. It was found that the pressure loss increases with an increase in the Reynolds number, nanoparticle density and particle volume fraction. However, the flow demonstrates enhancement in heat transfer which becomes greater with an increase in the Reynolds number for the nanofluid flow.

MeSH terms: Copper/chemistry*; Hot Temperature*; Models, Chemical*; Nanoparticles/chemistry*
Fulltext Specialized Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria Prevailing in Seawater around a Port in the Strait of Malacca

Teramoto M, Queck SY, Ohnishi K

PLoS One, 2013;8(6):e66594.
PMID: 23824553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066594

Major degraders of petroleum hydrocarbons in tropical seas have been indicated only by laboratory culturing and never through observing the bacterial community structure in actual environments. To demonstrate the major degraders of petroleum hydrocarbons spilt in actual tropical seas, indigenous bacterial community in seawater at Sentosa (close to a port) and East Coast Park (far from a port) in Singapore was analyzed. Bacterial species was more diverse at Sentosa than at the Park, and the composition was different: γ-Proteobacteria (57.3%) dominated at Sentosa, while they did not at the Park. Specialized hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (SHCB), which use limited carbon sources with a preference for petroleum hydrocarbons, were found as abundant species at Sentosa, indicating petroleum contamination. On the other hand, SHCB were not the abundant species at the Park. The abundant species of SHCB at Sentosa were Oleibacter marinus and Alcanivorax species (strain 2A75 type), which have previously been indicated by laboratory culturing as important petroleum-aliphatic-hydrocarbon degraders in tropical seas. Together with the fact that SHCB have been identified as major degraders of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine environments, these results demonstrate that the O. marinus and Alcanivorax species (strain 2A75 type) would be major degraders of petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons spilt in actual tropical seas.

MeSH terms: Bacteria/classification; Bacteria/genetics; Bacteria/metabolism*; Biodegradation, Environmental; Hydrocarbons/metabolism*; RNA, Bacterial/genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; Seawater/microbiology; Singapore; Water Microbiology*
Fulltext Hawkmoths produce anti-bat ultrasound

Barber JR, Kawahara AY

Biol Lett, 2013 Aug 23;9(4):20130161.
PMID: 23825084 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0161

Bats and moths have been engaged in aerial warfare for nearly 65 Myr. This arms race has produced a suite of counter-adaptations in moths, including bat-detecting ears. One set of defensive strategies involves the active production of sound; tiger moths' ultrasonic replies to bat attack have been shown to startle bats, warn the predators of bad taste and jam their biosonar. Here, we report that hawkmoths in the Choerocampina produce entirely ultrasonic sounds in response to tactile stimulation and the playback of biosonar attack sequences. Males do so by grating modified scraper scales on the outer surface of the genital valves against the inner margin of the last abdominal tergum. Preliminary data indicate that females also produce ultrasound to touch and playback of echolocation attack, but they do so with an entirely different mechanism. The anti-bat function of these sounds is unknown but might include startling, cross-family acoustic mimicry, warning of unprofitability or physical defence and/or jamming of echolocation. Hawkmoths present a novel and tractable system to study both the function and evolution of anti-bat defences.

MeSH terms: Animals; Chiroptera/physiology*; Echolocation; Female; Malaysia; Male; Moths/anatomy & histology; Moths/physiology*; Sex Characteristics; Sound; Species Specificity; Food Chain*
Fulltext Comparative effects of plant growth regulators on leaf and stem explants of Labisia pumila var. alata

Ling AP, Tan KP, Hussein S

J Zhejiang Univ Sci B, 2013 Jul;14(7):621-31.
PMID: 23825148 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1200135

OBJECTIVE: Labisia pumila var. alata, commonly known as 'Kacip Fatimah' or 'Selusuh Fatimah' in Southeast Asia, is traditionally used by members of the Malay community because of its post-partum medicinal properties. Its various pharmaceutical applications cause an excessive harvesting and lead to serious shortage in natural habitat. Thus, this in vitro propagation study investigated the effects of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) on in vitro leaf and stem explants of L. pumila.
METHODS: The capabilities of callus, shoot, and root formation were evaluated by culturing both explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various PGRs at the concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 mg/L.
RESULTS: Medium supplemented with 3 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) showed the optimal callogenesis from both leaf and stem explants with (72.34 ± 19.55)% and (70.40 ± 14.14)% efficacy, respectively. IBA was also found to be the most efficient PGR for root induction. A total of (50.00 ± 7.07)% and (77.78 ± 16.47)% of root formation were obtained from the in vitro stem and leaf explants after being cultured for (26.5 ± 5.0) and (30.0 ± 8.5) d in the medium supplemented with 1 and 3 mg/L of IBA, respectively. Shoot formation was only observed in stem explant, with the maximum percentage of formation ((100.00 ± 0.00)%) that was obtained in 1 mg/L zeatin after (11.0 ± 2.8) d of culture.
CONCLUSIONS: Callus, roots, and shoots can be induced from in vitro leaf and stem explants of L. pumila through the manipulation of types and concentrations of PGRs.

MeSH terms: Culture Media/chemistry; Indoles/chemistry; Kinetin/metabolism; Naphthalenes/metabolism; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism*; Plants, Medicinal/metabolism; Zeatin/metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*; Plant Leaves/drug effects*; Plant Roots/drug effects; Plant Shoots/drug effects; Plant Stems/drug effects*; Acetic Acid/metabolism; Primulaceae/drug effects*; Primulaceae/growth & development*
Fulltext Sensitivity analysis of left ventricle with dilated cardiomyopathy in fluid structure simulation

Chan BT, Abu Osman NA, Lim E, Chee KH, Abdul Aziz YF, Abed AA, et al.

PLoS One, 2013;8(6):e67097.
PMID: 23825628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067097

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common myocardial disease. It not only leads to systolic dysfunction but also diastolic deficiency. We sought to investigate the effect of idiopathic and ischemic DCM on the intraventricular fluid dynamics and myocardial wall mechanics using a 2D axisymmetrical fluid structure interaction model. In addition, we also studied the individual effect of parameters related to DCM, i.e. peak E-wave velocity, end systolic volume, wall compliance and sphericity index on several important fluid dynamics and myocardial wall mechanics variables during ventricular filling. Intraventricular fluid dynamics and myocardial wall deformation are significantly impaired under DCM conditions, being demonstrated by low vortex intensity, low flow propagation velocity, low intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) and strain rates, and high-end diastolic pressure and wall stress. Our sensitivity analysis results showed that flow propagation velocity substantially decreases with an increase in wall stiffness, and is relatively independent of preload at low-peak E-wave velocity. Early IVPD is mainly affected by the rate of change of the early filling velocity and end systolic volume which changes the ventriculo:annular ratio. Regional strain rate, on the other hand, is significantly correlated with regional stiffness, and therefore forms a useful indicator for myocardial regional ischemia. The sensitivity analysis results enhance our understanding of the mechanisms leading to clinically observable changes in patients with DCM.

MeSH terms: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/complications; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/pathology*; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/physiopathology*; Heart Ventricles/pathology*; Heart Ventricles/physiopathology*; Humans; Models, Cardiovascular*; Myocardial Infarction/complications; Organ Size; Stress, Mechanical; Stroke Volume; Hydrodynamics*
Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon nardus citronella essential oil against systemic bacteria of aquatic animals

Wei LS, Wee W

Iran J Microbiol, 2013 Jun;5(2):147-52.
PMID: 23825733

This paper describes chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon nardus citronella essential oil against Edwardsiella spp. (n = 21), Vibrio spp. (n = 6), Aeromonas spp. (n = 2), Escherichia coli (n = 2), Salmonella spp. (n = 2), Flavobacterium spp. (n = 1), Pseudomonas spp. (n = 1) and Streptococcus spp. (n = 1) isolated from internal organs of aquatic animals. Due to the ban of antibiotics for aquaculture use, this study was carried out to evaluate the potential of citronella essential oil as alternative to commercial antibiotic use against systemic bacteria in cultured aquatic animals.
Fulltext Patient health questionnaire for screening psychiatric disorders in secondary healthcare

Barua A, Jacob GP, Mahmood SS

Indian J Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;55(2):125-30.
PMID: 23825844 DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.111448

BACKGROUND: The adult population often suffers from a number of physical and mental problems. This study was conducted to determine the proportion of mental illnesses in adult population visiting the outpatient departments at Dr. TMA Pai Rotary Hospital, Karkala and to study the socio-demographic correlates of psychiatric disorders.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during March 2004 among 193 adult individuals of 18 years and above at Dr. TMA Pai Rotary Hospital, Karkala, Karnataka. Data was analyzed by the statistical package for social sciences version 10.0 for windows and results were expressed in terms of proportions and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Chi-square test, multiple logistic regression with adjusted odds ratio and its 95% CI.
RESULTS: The proportion of psychiatric disorders in adult population was determined to be 39.9%. Proportion of psychiatric morbidity among males and females were 36.2 and 42.2%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: This study revealed that socio-demographic correlates like age group of 50 years and above, unemployed or housewives, living alone, and a history of psychiatric illness in the family were independently associated with psychiatric disorders in adult population.
KEYWORDS: Adult population; patient health questionnaire; psychiatric disorders; screening; socio-demographic correlates

MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder*; Hospitals; Humans; India; Mass Screening; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
Fulltext β-Carotene Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Aortic Aneurysm by Alleviating Macrophage Recruitment in Apoe(-/-) Mice

Gopal K, Nagarajan P, Jedy J, Raj AT, Gnanaselvi SK, Jahan P, et al.

PLoS One, 2013;8(6):e67098.
PMID: 23826202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067098

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common chronic degenerative disease characterized by progressive aortic dilation and rupture. The mechanisms underlying the role of α-tocopherol and β-carotene on AAA have not been comprehensively assessed. We investigated if α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplementation could attenuate AAA, and studied the underlying mechanisms utilized by the antioxidants to alleviate AAA. Four-months-old Apoe(-/-) mice were used in the induction of aneurysm by infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II), and were orally administered with α-tocopherol and β-carotene enriched diet for 60 days. Significant increase of LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides and circulating inflammatory cells was observed in the Ang II-treated animals, and gene expression studies showed that ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MCP-1, M-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-12 were upregulated in the aorta of aneurysm-induced mice. Extensive plaques, aneurysm and diffusion of inflammatory cells into the tunica intima were also noticed. The size of aorta was significantly (P = 0.0002) increased (2.24±0.20 mm) in the aneurysm-induced animals as compared to control mice (1.17±0.06 mm). Interestingly, β-carotene dramatically controlled the diffusion of macrophages into the aortic tunica intima, and circulation. It also dissolved the formation of atheromatous plaque. Further, β-carotene significantly decreased the aortic diameter (1.33±0.12 mm) in the aneurysm-induced mice (β-carotene, P = 0.0002). It also downregulated ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MCP-1, M-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-12, PPAR-α and PPAR-γ following treatment. Hence, dietary supplementation of β-carotene may have a protective function against Ang II-induced AAA by ameliorating macrophage recruitment in Apoe(-/-) mice.

MeSH terms: Angiotensin II; Animals; Antioxidants/administration & dosage; Aorta, Abdominal/immunology; Aorta, Abdominal/pathology; Apolipoproteins E/deficiency*; Apolipoproteins E/genetics; Disease Models, Animal; Cholesterol, LDL/metabolism; Lymphocytes/metabolism; Lymphocytes/pathology; Macrophages/metabolism*; Macrophages/pathology; Male; Organ Size; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/diet therapy*; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/immunology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/pathology; Mice, Knockout; beta Carotene/administration & dosage*; Dietary Supplements*; alpha-Tocopherol/administration & dosage*; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/diet therapy; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/immunology; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/pathology
Fulltext Oral hyperpigmented lesions--a case study

Kwa SK, Gupta ED

Aust Fam Physician, 2013 Jul;42(7):490-1.
PMID: 23826603

An overweight woman, aged 58 years, presented for follow up of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. She was noted to have hyperpigmented brown macules on the inner surface of the lower lip and buccal mucosa (Figure 1). She stated that she had first noticed these lesions when aged in her 40s. Her mother died at age 58 years from gastric cancer with extensive metastases, and her brother died at age 45 years from colon cancer with spread to the liver and lungs.

MeSH terms: Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Genetic Counseling; Genetic Testing; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases/diagnosis*; Mouth Diseases/genetics; Mouth Mucosa/pathology*; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome/diagnosis*; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome/genetics; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics; Hyperpigmentation/diagnosis*; Hyperpigmentation/genetics
Fulltext A feasibility study on bedside upper airway ultrasonography compared to waveform capnography for verifying endotracheal tube location after intubation

Adi O, Chuan TW, Rishya M

Crit Ultrasound J, 2013;5(1):7.
PMID: 23826756 DOI: 10.1186/2036-7902-5-7

In emergency settings, verification of endotracheal tube (ETT) location is important for critically ill patients. Ignorance of oesophageal intubation can be disastrous. Many methods are used for verification of the endotracheal tube location; none are ideal. Quantitative waveform capnography is considered the standard of care for this purpose but is not always available and is expensive. Therefore, this feasibility study is conducted to compare a cheaper alternative, bedside upper airway ultrasonography to waveform capnography, for verification of endotracheal tube location after intubation.
Safety assessment of standardised methanol extract of Cinnamomum burmannii

Ahmad M, Lim CP, Akowuah GA, Ismail NN, Hashim MA, Hor SY, et al.

Phytomedicine, 2013 Sep 15;20(12):1124-30.
PMID: 23827665 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2013.05.005

The present study aims to evaluate the safety of methanol extract of Cinnamomum burmannii (MECB) by acute 14-day (single dose) and sub-chronic 28-day (repeated doses) oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results showed that no toxicity was found in either acute or sub-chronic toxicity studies. MECB (containing 0.07% and 0.20% (w/w) of coumarin and trans-cinnamaldehyde, respectively), which was given orally at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg caused neither visible signs of toxicity nor mortality. No significant differences were observed in general condition, growth, organ weight, hematological parameters, biochemical values, or the gross and microscopic appearance of the organs from the treatment groups as compared to the control group. In conclusion, MECB did not cause any mortality nor did it cause any abnormalities in the necropsy and histopathology findings of treated rats. The LD50 for the MECB was found to be more than 2000 mg/kg. No adverse effects were observed in the treated rats at all the doses tested. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for the 28-day study was determined to be 2000 mg/kg body weight/day.

MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Methanol; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Female; Male; Organ Size/drug effects; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage*; Plant Extracts/adverse effects; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Safety; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Cinnamomum/chemistry*; Rats
Fulltext Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage among patients and healthcare workers in a hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia

Al-Talib H, Yean CY, Hasan H, Nik Zuraina NM, Ravichandran M

Pol J Microbiol, 2013;62(1):109-12.
PMID: 23829087

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a common source of nosocomial infection and colonization. The aim of the present study was to assess the burden of methicillin-resistant S. aureus nasal carriage, its association with factors of interest including its genetic relationships. The prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage was found to be 28.7%. This study showed that patients with a history of previous antibiotic intake, nasogastric tube, and longer hospitalization had a significantly high risk of being MRSA nasal carriers. The genetic relationship of all 34 nasal MRSA isolates revealed four major clusters of isolates, and there was a relationship between MRSA isolated from inpatients and healthcare workers.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Carrier State; Female; Health Personnel*; Humans; Inpatients*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Nose/microbiology*; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology*; Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology*; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification*; Young Adult

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