Browse publications by year: 2013

  1. Abdul Latip AF, Hussein MZ, Stanslas J, Wong CC, Adnan R
    Chem Cent J, 2013;7:119.
    PMID: 23849189 DOI: 10.1186/1752-153X-7-119
    Layered hydroxides salts (LHS), a layered inorganic compound is gaining attention in a wide range of applications, particularly due to its unique anion exchange properties. In this work, layered zinc hydroxide nitrate (LZH), a family member of LHS was intercalated with anionic ciprofloxacin (CFX), a broad spectrum antibiotic via ion exchange in a mixture solution of water:ethanol.
  2. Leong CT, D'Souza UJ, Iqbal M, Mustapha ZA
    Redox Rep, 2013;18(4):155-64.
    PMID: 23849340 DOI: 10.1179/1351000213Y.0000000054
    The rapid emergence of various pesticides in the market is inevitable due to the demands from agriculture industries and domestic needs to control nuisance pests and to sustain green resources worldwide. However, long-term exposure to pesticide has led to adverse effects on male fertility. Organophosphate diazinon (O,O-diethyl-O-[2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl] phosphorothiote) is an often abusively used pesticide, as it is effective and economical. This study is to determine the adverse effects of low-dose diazinon exposure on the male reproductive system. In this study, 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were segregated into 1, 2, and 8 weeks of exposure groups and further sub-grouped (n = 6) to receive 0, 10, 15, and 30 mg/kg body weight diazinon treatment. Rats were gavaged orally with diazinon and sacrificed under anaesthesia the day after the last exposure. Our results showed that consistent diazinon exposure decreased glutathione and catalase, and increased lipid peroxidation which together lead to diazinon-mediated oxidative stress. Additionally, diazinon increased serum lactate dehydrogenase and decreased serum testosterone, which may have caused sperm and histopathological anomalies. In conclusion, exposure to diazinon caused changes in lipid peroxidation and sperm, and these two effects might be causally linked.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/metabolism*; Catalase/metabolism; Diazinon/toxicity*; Glutathione/metabolism; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/drug effects; Male; Spermatozoa/drug effects*; Testis/drug effects*; Testis/pathology; Testosterone/blood; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Rats
  3. Jayaprakash PT
    Forensic Sci Int, 2013 Sep 10;231(1-3):403.e1-16.
    PMID: 23849815 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.05.028
    Uniqueness being unprovable, it has recently been argued that individualization in forensic science is irrelevant and, probability, as applied for DNA profiles, should be applied for all identifications. Critiques against uniqueness have omitted physical matching, a realistic and tangible individualization that supports uniqueness. Describing case examples illustrating pattern matches including physical matching, it is indicated that individualizations are practically relevant for forensic science as they establish facts on a definitive basis providing firm leads benefitting criminal investigation. As a tenet of forensic identification, uniqueness forms a fundamental paradigm relevant for individualization. Evidence on the indeterministic and stochastic causal pathways of characteristics in patterns available in the related fields of science sufficiently supports the proposition of uniqueness. Characteristics involved in physical matching and matching achieved in patterned evidence existing in the state of nature are not events amenable for counting; instead these are ensemble of visible units occupying the entire pattern area stretching the probability of re-occurrence of a verisimilitude pattern into infinity offering epistemic support to uniqueness. Observational methods are as respectable as instrumental or statistical methods since they are capable of generating results that are tangible and obviously valid as in physical matching. Applying the probabilistic interpretation used for DNA profiles to the other patterns would be unbefitting since these two are disparate, the causal pathways of the events, the loci, in the manipulated DNA profiles being determinable. While uniqueness enables individualizations, it does not vouch for eliminating errors. Instead of dismissing uniqueness and individualization, accepting errors as human or system failures and seeking remedial measures would benefit forensic science practice and criminal investigation.
    MeSH terms: Child; Cranial Sutures/radiography; Humans; Male; Skull/abnormalities; Skull/radiography; Dentition, Permanent; Forensic Sciences/methods*
  4. Liu J, Long J, Zhang S, Fang X, Luo Y
    J Pediatr (Rio J), 2013 07 11;89(5):434-43.
    PMID: 23850112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2013.01.008
    OBJECTIVE: To determine whether three variants (388 G>A, 521 T>C, and 463 C>A) of the solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) are associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

    DATA SOURCE: The China National Knowledge Infrastructure and MEDLINE databases were searched. The systematic review with meta-analysis included genetic studies which assessed the association between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and 388 G>A, 521 T>C, and 463 C>A variants of SLCO1B1 between January of 1980 and December of 2012. Data selection and extraction were performed independently by two reviewers.

    SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Ten articles were included in the study. The results revealed that SLCO1B1 388 G>A is associated with an increased risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.82) in Chinese neonates, but not in white, Thai, Latin American, or Malaysian neonates. The SLCO1B1 521 T>C mutation showed a low risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates, while no significant associations were found in Brazilian, white, Asian, Thai, and Malaysian neonates. There were no significant differences in SLCO1B1 463 C>A between the hyperbilirubinemia and the control group.

    CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the 388 G>A mutation of the SLCO1B1 gene is a risk factor for developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates, but not in white, Thai, Brazilian, or Malaysian populations; the SLCO1B1 521 T>C mutation provides protection for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates, but not in white, Thai, Brazilian, or Malaysian populations.

    MeSH terms: Brazil; China/ethnology; Genotype; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia; Mutation/genetics; Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics*; Risk Factors; Thailand; Turkey; United States; Cohort Studies; Case-Control Studies; Organic Anion Transporters/genetics*; Organic Anion Transport Polypeptide C; European Continental Ancestry Group/genetics; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal/genetics*
  5. Yeo CI, Ooi KK, Akim AM, Ang KP, Fairuz ZA, Halim SN, et al.
    J Inorg Biochem, 2013 Oct;127:24-38.
    PMID: 23850666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.05.011
    The Ph3PAu[SC(OR)=NPh], R=Me (1), Et (2) and iPr (3), compounds are significantly cytotoxic to the HT-29 cancer cell line with 1 being the most active. Based on human apoptosis PCR-array analysis, caspase activities, DNA fragmentation, cell apoptotic assays, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements and human topoisomerase I inhibition, induction of apoptosis is demonstrated and both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis have been shown to occur. Compound 1 activates the p73 gene, whereas each of 2 and 3 activates the p53 gene. An additional apoptotic mechanism is exhibited by 2, that is, via the JNK/MAP pathway.
    MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis*; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry; Cell Survival/drug effects; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Humans; Models, Molecular; Reference Standards; Apoptosis/drug effects*; HT29 Cells; Cell Line, Tumor; Organogold Compounds/pharmacology; Organogold Compounds/chemistry*
  6. Sulaiman SB, Keong TK, Cheng CH, Saim AB, Idrus RB
    Indian J Med Res, 2013 Jun;137(6):1093-101.
    PMID: 23852290
    Various materials have been used as scaffolds to suit different demands in tissue engineering. One of the most important criteria is that the scaffold must be biocompatible. This study was carried out to investigate the potential of HA or TCP/HA scaffold seeded with osteogenic induced sheep marrow cells (SMCs) for bone tissue engineering.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anthraquinones; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology; Calcium Phosphates/chemistry*; Ceramics/chemistry; Fibrin/chemistry; Gene Expression Regulation; Mice, Nude; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Osteoblasts/metabolism; Osteogenesis; Phosphates/chemistry; Sheep; Durapatite/chemistry*; Bone Substitutes/chemistry*; Gene Expression Profiling; Tissue Engineering/methods*; Mice; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
  7. Tan KM, Saw S, Sethi SK
    J Clin Lab Anal, 2013 Jul;27(4):301-4.
    PMID: 23852789 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.21602
    BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to determine the normal ranges of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D(3) (25-OHD(3)), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and the markers of bone turnover, procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX), in normal healthy women in Singapore, and to explore the relationship between vitamin D, PTH, and these markers of bone turnover in the women.

    METHODS: One hundred and ninety-seven healthy women, aged 25 to 60, were selected from a hospital staff health screening program; 68% were Chinese, 18% Malay, and 14% Indian. P1NP, CTX, and 25-OHD(3) were measured using the Roche Cobas® electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum PTH was measured using the Siemens ADVIA Centaur® immunoassay.

    RESULTS: Sixty-five percent had 25-OHD(3) concentrations <50 nmol/l. Vitamin D insufficiency (25-OHD(3) < 50 nmol/l) was more prevalent in Malays (89%) and Indians (82%) compared to Chinese (56%). There was no correlation between vitamin D and age. PTH positively correlated with age, and Malays and Indians had higher PTH concentrations than Chinese. There was an inverse correlation between PTH and 25-OHD(3), but no threshold of 25-OHD(3) concentrations at which PTH plateaued. The bone turnover markers P1NP and CTX inversely correlated with age but were not different between ethnic groups. CTX and P1NP exhibited good correlation, however, there was no significant correlation between 25-OHD(3) or PTH concentrations and the bone turnover markers P1NP and CTX.

    CONCLUSIONS: Healthy women in Singapore have a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency was more prevalent in Malays and Indians compared to Chinese.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Bone and Bones/metabolism*; Calcifediol/blood*; China/ethnology; Female; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia/ethnology; Middle Aged; Parathyroid Hormone/blood; Peptide Fragments/blood; Peptides/blood; Procollagen/blood; Reference Values; Singapore/epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency/epidemiology*; Biomarkers/blood*; Collagen Type I/blood; European Continental Ancestry Group; Asian Continental Ancestry Group
  8. Saiful Anuar AS, Mohd Yusof MY, Tay ST
    Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2013 Jul;17(13):1744-7.
    PMID: 23852897
    The ciprofloxacin resistance of Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae is mediated primarily through alterations in type II topoisomerase (gyrA) gene and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance-conferring genes (qnr). This study aimed to define the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance-conferring genes (qnr) and type II topoisomerase (gyrA) alterations of a population of ciprofloxacin-resistant (n = 21), intermediate (n = 8), and sensitive (n = 18) K. pneumoniae isolates obtained from a teaching hospital at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Bacterial Proteins/genetics*; Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology; Cross Infection/microbiology; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Klebsiella Infections/microbiology*; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects; Klebsiella pneumoniae/genetics*; Malaysia; Plasmids/genetics*; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; DNA Gyrase/genetics*
  9. Wan Harun WH, Jamil NA, Jamaludin NH, Nordin MA
    PMID: 23853657 DOI: 10.1155/2013/397268
    The study aimed to identify the HWP1 gene in non-Candida albicans Candida species and the differential expression of HWP1 following treatment with Piper betle and Brucea javanica aqueous extracts. All candidal suspensions were standardized to 1 × 10(6) cells/mL. The suspension was incubated overnight at 37 °C (C. parapsilosis, 35°C). Candidal cells were treated with each respective extract at 1, 3, and 6 mg/mL for 24 h. The total RNA was extracted and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was carried out with a specific primer of HWP1. HWP1 mRNAs were only detected in C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Exposing the cells to the aqueous extracts has affected the expression of HWP1 transcripts. C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis have demonstrated different intensity of mRNA. Compared to P. betle, B. javanica demonstrated a higher suppression on the transcript levels of HWP1 in all samples. HWP1 was not detected in C. albicans following the treatment of B. javanica at 1 mg/mL. In contrast, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis were shown to have HWP1 regulation. However, the expression levels were reduced upon the addition of higher concentration of B. javanica extract. P. betle and B. javanica have potential to be developed as oral health product.
  10. Yahya F, Mamat SS, Kamarolzaman MF, Seyedan AA, Jakius KF, Mahmood ND, et al.
    PMID: 23853662 DOI: 10.1155/2013/636580
    In an attempt to further establish the pharmacological properties of Bauhinia purpurea (Fabaceae), hepatoprotective potential of methanol extract of B. purpurea leaves (MEBP) was investigated using the paracetamol- (PCM-) induced liver toxicity in rats. Five groups of rats (n = 6) were used and administered orally once daily with 10% DMSO (negative control), 200 mg/kg silymarin (positive control), or MEBP (50, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 7 days, followed by the hepatotoxicity induction using paracetamol (PCM). The blood samples and livers were collected and subjected to biochemical and microscopical analysis. The extract was also subjected to antioxidant study using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay with the total phenolic content (TPC) also determined. From the histological observation, lymphocyte infiltration and marked necrosis were observed in PCM-treated groups (negative control), whereas maintenance of the normal hepatic structural was observed in group pretreated with silymarin and MEBP. Hepatotoxic rats pretreated with silymarin or MEBP exhibited significant decrease (P < 0.05) in ALT and AST enzyme level. Moreover, the extract also exhibited antioxidant activity and contained high TPC. In conclusion, MEBP exerts potential hepatoprotective activity that could be partly attributed to its antioxidant activity and high phenolic content and thus warrants further investigation.
  11. Grøvslien A, Torng HH, Moro GE, Simpson J, Barnett D
    J Hum Lact, 2013 Aug;29(3):310-2.
    PMID: 23855030 DOI: 10.1177/0890334413487509
    MeSH terms: Breast Feeding; Europe; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*; Malaysia; Intensive Care, Neonatal/methods*; Intensive Care, Neonatal/organization & administration; Milk Banks/organization & administration*
  12. Murad MS, O'Brien L, Farnworth L, Chien CW
    Occup Ther Health Care, 2013 Jul;27(3):238-55.
    PMID: 23855610 DOI: 10.3109/07380577.2013.808782
    This study examined the health status of injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders enrolled in the Malaysian Return to Work (RTW) program. The 102 participants were categorized into three RTW groups: Off-work (n = 30, 29.4%), Re-entry (n = 44, 43.1%), and Maintenance (n = 28, 27.5%). Overall health status, as measured by the SF-36 version 2, of the workers exhibited below average compared to the internationally established normative population, with their physical health component summary rated lower than mental health. Across the different groups, significant differences were found in role-physical, vitality, bodily pain, general health, and mental health. However, the mean values of these variables were higher in the Maintenance group and were found significant. The current health status of injured workers at Off-work and Re-entry phases was significantly low and warranted to be improved by involving other health professionals such as occupational therapists, ergonomists, and psychologists.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Health Status*; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Pain; Sick Leave*; Young Adult; Occupational Injuries*; Return to Work*
  13. Zulkifli I
    J Anim Sci Biotechnol, 2013;4(1):25.
    PMID: 23855920 DOI: 10.1186/2049-1891-4-25
    Humans and animals are in regular and at times close contact in modern intensive farming systems. The quality of human-animal interactions can have a profound impact on the productivity and welfare of farm animals. Interactions by humans may be neutral, positive or negative in nature. Regular pleasant contact with humans may result in desirable alterations in the physiology, behaviour, health and productivity of farm animals. On the contrary, animals that were subjected to aversive human contact were highly fearful of humans and their growth and reproductive performance could be compromised. Farm animals are particularly sensitive to human stimulation that occurs early in life, while many systems of the animals are still developing. This may have long-lasting impact and could possibly modify their genetic potential. The question as to how human contact can have a positive impact on responses to stressors, and productivity is not well understood. Recent work in our laboratory suggested that pleasant human contact may alter ability to tolerate various stressors through enhanced heat shock protein (hsp) 70 expression. The induction of hsp is often associated with increased tolerance to environmental stressors and disease resistance in animals. The attitude and consequent behaviour of stockpeople affect the animals' fear of human which eventually influence animals' productivity and welfare. Other than attitude and behaviour, technical skills, knowledge, job motivation, commitment and job satisfaction are prerequisites for high job performance.
  14. Abdullah SN, Farmer EA, Spargo L, Logan R, Gully N
    Anaerobe, 2013 Oct;23:102-8.
    PMID: 23856045 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2013.07.001
    While a group of oral commensals have been implicated in the aetiology of chronic periodontitis; the asaccharolytic Gram negative anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis is most commonly reported to be associated with severe forms of the disease. Although a variety of human tissues can produce a number of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), enzymes that convert peptide bound arginine residues to citrulline, P. gingivalis is one of the few prokaryotes known to express PAD. Protein and peptide citrullination are important in the development of rheumatoid arthritis and in recent years a number of authors have suggested a possible link between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Indeed, some have linked P. gingivalis directly to RA via the action of PAD. Accordingly, the prime purpose of this study was to further characterise PAD in P. gingivalis cells particular emphasis on substrate specificity, using arginine containing peptides and RA relevant proteins.
    MeSH terms: Arginine/metabolism; Citrulline/metabolism; Enzyme Stability; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolases/metabolism*; Hydrolases/chemistry; Membrane Proteins/metabolism; Membrane Proteins/chemistry; Peptides/metabolism; Substrate Specificity; Temperature; Porphyromonas gingivalis/enzymology*
  15. Jamaludin NS, Goh ZJ, Cheah YK, Ang KP, Sim JH, Khoo CH, et al.
    Eur J Med Chem, 2013 Sep;67:127-41.
    PMID: 23856069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.06.038
    The synthesis and characterisation of R3PAu[S2CN((i)Pr)CH2CH2OH], for R = Ph (1), Cy (2) and Et (3)4, is reported. Compounds 1-3 are cytotoxic against the doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cell line, MCF-7R, with 1 exhibiting greater potency and cytotoxicity than either of doxorubicin and cisplatin. Based on human apoptosis PCR-array analysis, caspase activities, DNA fragmentation, cell apoptotic assays, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements and human topoisomerase I inhibition, induction of apoptosis by 1, and necrosis by 2 and 3, are demonstrated, by both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Compound 1 activates the p53 gene, 2 activates only the p73 gene, whereas 3 activates both the p53 and p73 genes. Compounds 1 and 3 activate NF-κB, and each inhibits topoisomerase I.
    MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Models, Molecular; Phosphines/chemistry*; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thiocarbamates/chemistry*; Molecular Structure; Cell Death/drug effects; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Organogold Compounds/chemical synthesis; Organogold Compounds/pharmacology*; Organogold Compounds/chemistry; MCF-7 Cells
  16. Thu HE, Ng SF
    Int J Pharm, 2013 Sep 15;454(1):99-106.
    PMID: 23856162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.06.082
    In our previous study, a novel alginate-based bilayer film for slow-release wound dressings was successfully developed. We found that alginate alone yielded poor films; however, the addition of gelatine had significantly enhanced the drug dispersion as well as the physical properties. Here, an investigation of the drug-polymer interactions in the bilayer films was carried out. Drug content uniformity test and microscopy observation revealed that the addition of gelatine generated bilayer films with a homogenous drug distribution within the matrix. The FTIR and XRD data showed an increase in film crystallinity which might infer the presence of drug-polymer crystalline microaggregates in the films. DSC confirmed the drug-polymer interaction and indicated that the gelatine has no effect on the thermal behaviour of the microaggregates, suggesting the compatibility of the drug and excipients in the bilayer films. In conclusion, the addition of gelatine can promote homogenous dispersion of hydrophobic drugs in alginate films possibly through the formation of crystalline microaggregates.
    MeSH terms: Alginates/chemistry*; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Crystallization; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers*; Excipients/chemistry; Gelatin/chemistry*; Hexuronic Acids/chemistry; Ibuprofen/chemistry*; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Particle Size; Technology, Pharmaceutical/methods; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Crystallography, X-Ray; Glucuronic Acid/chemistry; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  17. Hamady D, Ruslan NB, Ahmad AH, Rawi CS, Ahmad H, Satho T, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2013;6:206.
    PMID: 23856274 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-206
    Mating is a physiological process of crucial importance underlying the size and maintenance of mosquito populations. In sterile and incompatible insect technologies (SIT and IIT), mating is essential for mass production, persistence, and success of released individuals, and is a central parameter for judging the effectiveness of SIT/IIT programs. Some mosquitoes have an enormous reproductive potential for both themselves and pathogens and mating may contribute to persistence of infection in nature. As Aedes albopictus can transmit flaviviruses both sexually and horizontally, and as infected insects are usually derived from laboratory colonies, we investigated the implications of mating between a long-term laboratory colony of Ae. albopictus and wild populations.
    MeSH terms: Aedes/physiology*; Animals; Breeding; Female; Male; Mosquito Control/methods*; Sexual Behavior, Animal
  18. Mohd Tahir N, Pang SY, Abdullah NA, Suratman S
    Environ Monit Assess, 2013 Dec;185(12):10209-16.
    PMID: 23856812 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-013-3325-x
    Near-shore surface sediment was collected from five stations off Redang Island located on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Freeze-dried sediments were Soxhlet extracted and then fractionated using column chromatography into aliphatic and polar fractions. Determination of these fractions was carried out using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The concentration of total resolved aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediments ranged from 157 to 308 ng/g. The distribution of aliphatic fraction showed the presence of n-alkanes ranging from nC15 to nC33 with a minor odd-to-even predominance exhibiting carbon maximum, depending on station, at nC17, nC26, nC29 or nC31. Calculation of Carbon Preference Index (CPI) for CPI(15-33) gave values ranging from 1.09 to 1.46. n-Alkanol in all sediment exhibits even-to-odd carbon predominance ranging from nC16 to nC28 and maximising at nC22. n-Fatty acids distribution ranged from nC14 to nC24 with a dominant maximum at nC16 and exhibiting high values of short chain fatty acids (≤nC20) to long chain fatty acids (>nC20) ratios. Unsaturated fatty acids, particularly nC16:1 and nC18:1 is also ubiquitous in all samples. Cholesterol is the most abundant compound amongst the sterol group ranging from 42.8 to 62.6% of the total sterols. β-Sitosterol, brassicasterol and stigmasterol, are also present but of relatively lower amount. These observations suggest that the aliphatic lipids and sterols in the study area originate, mainly, from biogenic sources of marine microbial with minor contribution from epiticular waxes of terrestrial plants.
    MeSH terms: China; Environmental Monitoring*; Hydrocarbons/analysis; Lipids/analysis*; Seawater/chemistry; Sterols/analysis*; Tropical Climate; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Geologic Sediments/chemistry*
  19. Yafouz B, Kadri NA, Ibrahim F
    Sensors (Basel), 2013 Jul 12;13(7):9029-46.
    PMID: 23857266 DOI: 10.3390/s130709029
    During the last three decades; dielectrophoresis (DEP) has become a vital tool for cell manipulation and characterization due to its non-invasiveness. It is very useful in the trend towards point-of-care systems. Currently, most efforts are focused on using DEP in biomedical applications, such as the spatial manipulation of cells, the selective separation or enrichment of target cells, high-throughput molecular screening, biosensors and immunoassays. A significant amount of research on DEP has produced a wide range of microelectrode configurations. In this paper; we describe the microarray dot electrode, a promising electrode geometry to characterize and manipulate cells via DEP. The advantages offered by this type of microelectrode are also reviewed. The protocol for fabricating planar microelectrodes using photolithography is documented to demonstrate the fast and cost-effective fabrication process. Additionally; different state-of-the-art Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices that have been proposed for DEP applications in the literature are reviewed. We also present our recently designed LOC device, which uses an improved microarray dot electrode configuration to address the challenges facing other devices. This type of LOC system has the capability to boost the implementation of DEP technology in practical settings such as clinical cell sorting, infection diagnosis, and enrichment of particle populations for drug development.
    MeSH terms: Cell Separation/instrumentation*; Electrophoresis/instrumentation*; Equipment Design; Microelectrodes*; Micromanipulation/instrumentation*; Equipment Failure Analysis; Tissue Array Analysis/instrumentation*
  20. Treuer T, Liu CY, Salazar G, Kongsakon R, Jia F, Habil H, et al.
    Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Dec;5(4):219-30.
    PMID: 23857712 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12090
    Major depressive disorder is prevalent worldwide, and only about half of those affected will experience no further episodes or symptoms. Additionally, depressive symptoms can be challenging to identify, with many patients going undiagnosed despite a wide variety of available treatment options. Antidepressants are the cornerstone of depression treatment; however, a large number of factors must be considered in selecting the treatment best suited to the individual. To help support physicians in this process, international and national treatment guidelines have been developed. This review evaluates the current use of antidepressant treatment for major depressive disorder in six Asian countries (China, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand). No remarkable differences were noted between Asian and international treatment guidelines or among those from within Asia as these are adapted from western guidelines, although there were some local variations. Importantly, a shortage of evidence-based information at a country level is the primary problem in developing guidelines appropriate for Asia, so most of the guidelines are consensus opinions derived from western research data utilized in western guidelines. Treatment guidelines need to evolve from being consensus based to evidence based when evidence is available, taking into consideration cost/effectiveness or cost/benefit with an evidence-based approach that more accurately reflects clinical experience as well as the attributes of each antidepressant. In everyday practice, physicians must tailor their treatment to the patient's clinical needs while considering associated external factors; better tools are needed to help them reach the best possible prescribing decisions which are of maximum benefit to patients.
    MeSH terms: Antidepressive Agents/classification; Antidepressive Agents/economics; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*; Asia; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy*; Depressive Disorder, Major/economics; Humans; Insurance, Health*; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Practice Guidelines as Topic*; Evidence-Based Medicine*; Guideline Adherence/utilization; Consensus; Secondary Prevention
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