Browse publications by year: 2013

Fulltext Perinatal management of cardiac tumors: a case series

Amelia A, Mohd Nizam MB

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Aug;68(4):374-5.
PMID: 24145275 MyJurnal

Primary cardiac tumours in the foetuses and neonates are uncommon. Foetuses with cardiac tumour have risk for heart failure and hydrops fetalis. Therefore, an early decision for delivery should be made in the evidence of foetal compromise. Early neonatal care varies on tumour size, type, location and obstructive features. Antenatal detection of foetal cardiac tumours ensures better prenatal and postnatal management. We describe our 5- year experience in managing 5 cases of primary cardiac tumours from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2010.

MeSH terms: Female; Heart Neoplasms*; Humans; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; Hydrops Fetalis*; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Disease Management
Fulltext A case report on the use of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (donepezil) in traumatic brain injury

Samuel G, Ng YS

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Aug;68(4):376-8.
PMID: 24145276

Traumatic Brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide, with recent interest in the use of cholinomimetics in the treatment of TBI patients for cognitive impairments. Our patient who suffered TBI was started on a trial of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (Donepezil) for five weeks. Cognitive and memory testing with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) showed some degree of improvement: The three item recall component of MMSE improved and the FIM Memory score increased from 1 (Complete dependence) to 6 (Functional independence). Subjective assessment of his behaviour in the ward also showed improvement. This suggests that donepezil may help improve memory and behaviour of moderately severe traumatic brain injury patients, although more research in this direction should be undertaken.

MeSH terms: Brain Injuries*; Cholinesterase Inhibitors*; Cognition Disorders; Hospitals; Humans; Memory; Neuropsychological Tests; Singapore
Fulltext Screening for peripheral arterial disease in prospective coronary bypass surgical patients

Sachithanandan A

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Aug;68(4):379.
PMID: 24145277
MeSH terms: Coronary Artery Bypass*; Humans; Peripheral Arterial Disease*
Fulltext Pandoraea sp. RB-44, a novel quorum sensing soil bacterium

Han-Jen RE, Wai-Fong Y, Kok-Gan C

Sensors (Basel), 2013 Oct 18;13(10):14121-32.
PMID: 24145919 DOI: 10.3390/s131014121

Proteobacteria are known to communicate via signaling molecules and this process is known as quorum sensing. The most commonly studied quorum sensing molecules are N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) that consists of a homoserine lactone moiety and an N-acyl side chain with various chain lengths and degrees of saturation at the C-3 position. We have isolated a bacterium, RB-44, from a site which was formally a landfill dumping ground. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis, this isolate was identified as a Pandoraea sp.which was then screened for AHL production using biosensors which indicated its quorum sensing properties. To identify the AHL profile of Pandoraea sp. RB-44, we used high resolution tandem mass spectrometry confirming that this isolate produced N-octanoylhomoserine lactone (C8-HSL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that showed quorum sensing activity exhibited by Pandoraea sp. Our data add Pandoraea sp. to the growing number of bacteria that possess QS systems.

MeSH terms: Soil Microbiology*; Species Specificity; 4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives*; 4-Butyrolactone/biosynthesis; Proteobacteria/classification; Proteobacteria/isolation & purification*; Proteobacteria/physiology*; Quorum Sensing/physiology*
Fulltext Shallow water marine gammaridean amphipods of Pulau Tioman, Malaysia, with the description of a new species

Azman BA, Othman BH

Zookeys, 2013.
PMID: 24146563 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.335.5567

Eleven taxa including one new species of gammaridean amphipods are reported from the waters of Pulau Tioman. The presence of Tethygeneia sunda sp. n. represents the first record of the genus from the South China Sea. Additional material of Ampelisca brevicornis (Costa, 1853); Cymadusa vadosa Imbach, 1967; Paradexamine setigera Hirayama, 1984; Ericthonius pugnax (Dana, 1853); Leucothoe furina (Savigny, 1816); Microlysias xenokeras (Stebbing, 1918); Monoculodes muwoni Jo, 1990 are identified from the South China Sea, supporting previous records by Lowry (2000), Huang (1994), Imbach (1967), Margulis (1968) and Nagata (1959). Three additional species, Gitanopsis pusilla K.H. Barnard, 1916, Liljeborgia japonica Nagata, 1965b and Latigammaropsis atlantica (Stebbing, 1888), whilst previously reported from the neighbouring waters, comprise new records for the South China Sea.

MeSH terms: Animals; China; Ericaceae; Amphipoda; Animal Distribution
Fulltext A peculiar new species of the genus Tetrasticta Kraatz (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Yamamoto S, Maruyama M

Zookeys, 2013.
PMID: 24146571 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.336.5382

Tetrasticta gnatha sp. n., collected under the bark of a rotten fallen tree in Peninsular Malaysia, is described. A habitus photograph, line drawings of diagnostic characters, and a diagnosis are provided. The new species is readily distinguished from all known congeners by having long mandibles, and long, curved maxillary palpi.

MeSH terms: Animals; Malaysia; Mandible; Trees; Plant Bark
Fulltext The ability of analysts' recommendations to predict optimistic and pessimistic forecasts

Biglari V, Alfan EB, Ahmad RB, Hajian N

PLoS One, 2013;8(10):e73853.
PMID: 24146741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073853

Previous researches show that buy (growth) companies conduct income increasing earnings management in order to meet forecasts and generate positive forecast Errors (FEs). This behavior however, is not inherent in sell (non-growth) companies. Using the aforementioned background, this research hypothesizes that since sell companies are pressured to avoid income increasing earnings management, they are capable, and in fact more inclined, to pursue income decreasing Forecast Management (FM) with the purpose of generating positive FEs. Using a sample of 6553 firm-years of companies that are listed in the NYSE between the years 2005-2010, the study determines that sell companies conduct income decreasing FM to generate positive FEs. However, the frequency of positive FEs of sell companies does not exceed that of buy companies. Using the efficiency perspective, the study suggests that even though buy and sell companies have immense motivation in avoiding negative FEs, they exploit different but efficient strategies, respectively, in order to meet forecasts. Furthermore, the findings illuminated the complexities behind informative and opportunistic forecasts that falls under the efficiency versus opportunistic theories in literature.

MeSH terms: Commerce/economics; Commerce/trends*; Forecasting/methods*; Humans; Models, Psychological; Motivation; Models, Statistical*
Fulltext Enhanced production, purification, characterization and mechanism of action of salivaricin 9 lantibiotic produced by Streptococcus salivarius NU10

Barbour A, Philip K, Muniandy S

PLoS One, 2013;8(10):e77751.
PMID: 24147072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077751

BACKGROUND: Lantibiotics are small lanthionine-containing bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria. Salivaricin 9 is a newly discovered lantibiotic produced by Streptococcus salivarius. In this study we present the mechanism of action of salivaricin 9 and some of its properties. Also we developed new methods to produce and purify the lantibiotic from strain NU10.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Salivaricin 9 was found to be auto-regulated when an induction assay was applied and this finding was used to develop a successful salivaricin 9 production system in liquid medium. A combination of XAD-16 and cation exchange chromatography was used to purify the secondary metabolite which was shown to have a molecular weight of approximately 3000 Da by SDS-PAGE. MALDI-TOF MS analysis indicated the presence of salivaricin 9, a 2560 Da lantibiotic. Salivaricin 9 is a bactericidal molecule targeting the cytoplasmic membrane of sensitive cells. The membrane permeabilization assay showed that salivaricin 9 penetrated the cytoplasmic membrane and induced pore formation which resulted in cell death. The morphological changes of test bacterial strains incubated with salivaricin 9 were visualized using Scanning Electron Microscopy which confirmed a pore forming mechanism of inhibition. Salivaricin 9 retained biological stability when exposed to high temperature (90-100°C) and stayed bioactive at pH ranging 2 to 10. When treated with proteinase K or peptidase, salivaricin 9 lost all antimicrobial activity, while it remained active when treated with lyticase, catalase and certain detergents.
CONCLUSION: The mechanism of antimicrobial action of a newly discovered lantibiotic salivaricin 9 was elucidated in this study. Salivaricin 9 penetrated the cytoplasmic membrane of its targeted cells and induced pore formation. This project has given new insights on lantibiotic peptides produced by S. salivarius isolated from the oral cavities of Malaysian subjects.

MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/metabolism*; Bacterial Proteins/physiology; Bacteriocins/metabolism*; Cell Membrane/metabolism; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Streptococcus/metabolism*; Streptococcus/physiology; Temperature; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
Fulltext The use of quantile regression to forecast higher than expected respiratory deaths in a daily time series: a study of New York City data 1987-2000

Soyiri IN, Reidpath DD

PLoS One, 2013;8(10):e78215.
PMID: 24147122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078215

Forecasting higher than expected numbers of health events provides potentially valuable insights in its own right, and may contribute to health services management and syndromic surveillance. This study investigates the use of quantile regression to predict higher than expected respiratory deaths. Data taken from 70,830 deaths occurring in New York were used. Temporal, weather and air quality measures were fitted using quantile regression at the 90th-percentile with half the data (in-sample). Four QR models were fitted: an unconditional model predicting the 90th-percentile of deaths (Model 1), a seasonal/temporal (Model 2), a seasonal, temporal plus lags of weather and air quality (Model 3), and a seasonal, temporal model with 7-day moving averages of weather and air quality. Models were cross-validated with the out of sample data. Performance was measured as proportionate reduction in weighted sum of absolute deviations by a conditional, over unconditional models; i.e., the coefficient of determination (R1). The coefficient of determination showed an improvement over the unconditional model between 0.16 and 0.19. The greatest improvement in predictive and forecasting accuracy of daily mortality was associated with the inclusion of seasonal and temporal predictors (Model 2). No gains were made in the predictive models with the addition of weather and air quality predictors (Models 3 and 4). However, forecasting models that included weather and air quality predictors performed slightly better than the seasonal and temporal model alone (i.e., Model 3 > Model 4 > Model 2) This study provided a new approach to predict higher than expected numbers of respiratory related-deaths. The approach, while promising, has limitations and should be treated at this stage as a proof of concept.

MeSH terms: Air Pollutants/toxicity; Air Pollution/adverse effects; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects; Forecasting*; Humans; Models, Theoretical; New York City/epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases/mortality*; Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology*; Particulate Matter/toxicity
Fulltext The flavokawains: uprising medicinal chalcones

Abu N, Ho WY, Yeap SK, Akhtar MN, Abdullah MP, Omar AR, et al.

Cancer Cell Int, 2013 Oct 22;13(1):102.
PMID: 24148263 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2867-13-102

Plant-based compounds have been in the spotlight in search of new and promising drugs. Flavokawain A, B and C are naturally occurring chalcones that have been isolated from several medicinal plants; namely the piper methysticum or commercially known as the kava-kava. Multiple researches have been done to evaluate the bioactivities of these compounds. It has been shown that all three flavokawains may hold promising anti-cancer effects. It has also been revealed that both flavokawain A and B are involved in the induction of cell cycle arrest in several cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, flavokawain B was shown to be more effective in treating in vitro cancer cell lines as compared to flavokawain A and C. Flavokawain B also exerts antinociceptive effects as well as anti-inflammation properties. This mini-review attempts to discuss the biological properties of all the flavokawains that have been reported.
Synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots via simple acid hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin and its potential as sensitive sensing probe for lead (II) ions

Wee SS, Ng YH, Ng SM

Talanta, 2013 Nov 15;116:71-6.
PMID: 24148375 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.04.081

Carbon dots have great potential to be utilised as an optical sensing probe due to its unique photoluminescence and less toxic properties. This work reports a simple and novel synthesis method of carbon dots via direct acid hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin protein in a one-pot approach. Optimisation of the important synthetic parameters has been performed which consists of temperature effect, acid to protein ratio and kinetics of reaction. Higher temperature has promoted better yield with shorter reaction time. The carbon dots obtained shows a strong emission at the wavelength of 400 nm with an optimum excitation of 305 nm. The potential of the carbon dots as optical sensing probe has been investigated on with different cations that are of environmental and health concern. The fluorescence of the carbon dots was significantly quenched particularly by lead (II) ions in a selective manner. Further analytical study has been performed to leverage the performance of the carbon dots for lead (II) ions sensing using the standard Stern-Volmer relationship. The sensing probe has a dynamic linear range up to 6.0 mM with a Stern-Volmer constant of 605.99 M(-1) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.05 μM. The probe performance was highly repeatable with a standard deviation below 3.0%. The probe suggested in this study demonstrates the potential of a more economical and greener approach that uses protein based carbon dots for sensing of heavy metal ions.

MeSH terms: Animals; Carbon/chemistry; Cations, Divalent; Cattle; Fluorescent Dyes/chemical synthesis*; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Lead/isolation & purification*; Serum Albumin, Bovine/chemistry*; Sulfuric Acids/chemistry; Temperature; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification*; Reproducibility of Results; Molecular Probes/chemical synthesis*; Molecular Probes/chemistry; Quantum Dots/ultrastructure; Quantum Dots/chemistry*; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Limit of Detection
Integrated miniature fluorescent probe to leverage the sensing potential of ZnO quantum dots for the detection of copper (II) ions

Ng SM, Wong DS, Phung JH, Chin SF, Chua HS

Talanta, 2013 Nov 15;116:514-9.
PMID: 24148438 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.07.031

Quantum dots are fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles that can be utilised for sensing applications. This paper evaluates the ability to leverage their analytical potential using an integrated fluorescent sensing probe that is portable, cost effective and simple to handle. ZnO quantum dots were prepared using the simple sol-gel hydrolysis method at ambient conditions and found to be significantly and specifically quenched by copper (II) ions. This ZnO quantum dots system has been incorporated into an in-house developed miniature fluorescent probe for the detection of copper (II) ions in aqueous medium. The probe was developed using a low power handheld black light as excitation source and three photo-detectors as sensor. The sensing chamber placed between the light source and detectors was made of 4-sided clear quartz windows. The chamber was housed within a dark compartment to avoid stray light interference. The probe was operated using a microcontroller (Arduino Uno Revision 3) that has been programmed with the analytical response and the working algorithm of the electronics. The probe was sourced with a 12 V rechargeable battery pack and the analytical readouts were given directly using a LCD display panel. Analytical optimisations of the ZnO quantum dots system and the probe have been performed and further described. The probe was found to have a linear response range up to 0.45 mM (R(2)=0.9930) towards copper (II) ion with a limit of detection of 7.68×10(-7) M. The probe has high repeatable and reliable performance.

MeSH terms: Cations, Divalent; Copper/analysis*; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry*; Hydrolysis; Light; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spectrometry, Fluorescence/instrumentation*; Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods; Water; Zinc Oxide/chemistry*; Reproducibility of Results; Molecular Probes/chemistry*; Phase Transition; Quantum Dots/chemistry*
A cell-based potentiometric biosensor using the fungus Lentinus sajor-caju for permethrin determination in treated wood

Arip MN, Heng LY, Ahmad M, Ujang S

Talanta, 2013 Nov 15;116:776-81.
PMID: 24148473 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.07.065

The characteristics of a potentiometric biosensor for the determination of permethrin in treated wood based on immobilised cells of the fungus Lentinus sajor-caju on a potentiometric transducer are reported this paper. The potentiometric biosensor was prepared by immobilisation of the fungus in alginate gel deposited on a pH-sensitive transducer employing a photocurable acrylic matrix. The biosensor gave a good response in detecting permethrin over the range of 1.0-100.0 µM. The slope of the calibration curve was 56.10 mV/decade with detection limit of 1.00 µM. The relative standard deviation for the sensor reproducibility was 4.86%. The response time of the sensor was 5 min at optimum pH 8.0 with 1.00 mg/electrode of fungus L. sajor-caju. The permethrin biosensor performance was compared with the conventional method for permethrin analysis using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the analytical results agreed well with the HPLC method (at 95% confidence limit). There was no interference from commonly used organophosphorus pesticides such as diazinon, parathion, paraoxon, and methyl parathion.

MeSH terms: Acrylates/chemistry; Alginates/chemistry; Calibration; Electrodes; Gels; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Insecticides/analysis*; Potentiometry/methods; Wood/chemistry*; Reproducibility of Results; Biosensing Techniques/instrumentation*; Cells, Immobilized; Lentinula/chemistry*; Permethrin/analysis*; Limit of Detection
Fulltext Insights of biosurfactant producing Serratia marcescens strain W2.3 isolated from diseased tilapia fish: a draft genome analysis

Chan XY, Chang CY, Hong KW, Tee KK, Yin WF, Chan KG

Gut Pathog, 2013;5(1):29.
PMID: 24148830 DOI: 10.1186/1757-4749-5-29

Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen with broad range of host ranging from vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. S. marcescens strain W2.3 was isolated from a diseased tilapia fish and it was suspected to be the causal agent for the fish disease as virulence genes were found within its genome. In this study, for the first time, the genome sequences of S. marcescens strain W2.3 were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform.

MeSH terms: Animals; Base Sequence; Fish Diseases; Invertebrates; Serratia marcescens; Vertebrates; Virulence; Tilapia
Effects of the 11+ and Harmoknee Warm-up Programs on Physical Performance Measures in Professional Soccer Players

Daneshjoo A, Mokhtar AH, Rahnama N, Yusof A

J Sports Sci Med, 2013;12(3):489-96.
PMID: 24149156

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the 11+ and HarmoKnee warm-up programs on performance measures in professional soccer players. Thirty-six male professional soccer players (age: 18.9 ± 1.4 years) were divided into 3 groups, the 11+, HarmoKnee and control group (n = 12 per group). The experimental groups performed the programs 3 times per week for 2 months (24 sessions), whereas the control group only performed their regular soccer training. The performance tests carried out were: 10m speed tests with and without a ball, 20m single sprint, vertical jump, Wall-Volley and Illinois agility tests. The 11+ group demonstrated significant increases from pre-to-post time points in the vertical jump (3.7%), Wall- Volley (5.4%) and Illinois agility tests (1.7%), while the HarmoKnee group showed a significant increase in Wall-Volley test, with a 5.2% increase. The repeated measures analysis revealed differences between the groups (large effect size) in the 11+ and HarmoKnee groups, compared to the control group, in 10m speed tests with and without a ball, 20m single sprint and Illinois agility tests (p < 0.05). Thus 8-weeks performing the 11+ warm-up program can enhance jump height, agility and soccer skill while the HarmoKnee program generally only improves soccer skill in young professional male soccer players. Key PointsThe 11+ improves performance by means of Illinois agility, vertical jump and Wall-Volley tests whereas HarmoKnee improves Wall-Volley test. Incorporating 11+ as a part of the warm-up program by the young teams would be beneficial in agility, leg power and soccer skill respectively.Further modification of both programs may be required to fully realize the players' speed performance potential.Data from this research can be helpful for soccer trainers in choosing programs to enhance performances in young male professional soccer players.
Fulltext A comparative study on morphochemical properties and osteogenic cell differentiation within bone graft and coral graft culture systems

Puvaneswary S, Balaji Raghavendran HR, Ibrahim NS, Murali MR, Merican AM, Kamarul T

Int J Med Sci, 2013;10(12):1608-14.
PMID: 24151432 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.6496

The objective of this study was to compare the morphological and chemical composition of bone graft (BG) and coral graft (CG) as well as their osteogenic differentiation potential using rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) in vitro. SEM analysis of BG and CG revealed that the pores in these grafts were interconnected, and their micro-CT confirmed pore sizes in the range of 107-315 µm and 103-514 µm with a total porosity of 92% and 94%, respectively. EDS analysis indicated that the level of calcium in CG was relatively higher than that in BG. FTIR of BG and CG confirmed the presence of functional groups corresponding to carbonyl, aromatic, alkyl, and alkane groups. XRD results revealed that the phase content of the inorganic layer comprised highly crystalline form of calcium carbonate and carbon. Atomic force microscopy analysis showed CG had better surface roughness compared to BG. In addition, significantly higher levels of osteogenic differentiation markers, namely, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Osteocalcin (OC) levels, and Osteonectin and Runx2, Integrin gene expression were detected in the CG cultures, when compared with those in the BG cultures. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the osteogenic differentiation of rMSCs is relatively superior in coral graft than in bone graft culture system.

MeSH terms: Alkaline Phosphatase/biosynthesis; Animals; Biocompatible Materials/isolation & purification; Biocompatible Materials/metabolism; Calcium/isolation & purification; Calcium/metabolism; Cell Differentiation/drug effects; Cell Survival; Gene Expression Regulation; Osteogenesis/drug effects*; Rabbits; Osteocalcin/biosynthesis; Bone Transplantation/methods*; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Cell Culture Techniques*; Anthozoa/cytology*; Anthozoa/chemistry; Cell Proliferation; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology*; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/drug effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/metabolism
Fulltext Mammalian sperm fertility related proteins

Ashrafzadeh A, Karsani SA, Nathan S

Int J Med Sci, 2013;10(12):1649-57.
PMID: 24151436 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.6395

Infertility is an important aspect of human and animal reproduction and still presents with much etiological ambiguity. As fifty percent of infertility is related to the male partner, molecular investigations on sperm and seminal plasma can lead to new knowledge on male infertility. Several comparisons between fertile and infertile human and other species sperm proteome have shown the existence of potential fertility markers. These proteins have been categorized into energy related, structural and other functional proteins which play a major role in sperm motility, capacitation and sperm-oocyte binding. The data from these studies show the impact of sperm proteome studies on identifying different valuable markers for fertility screening. In this article, we review recent development in unraveling sperm fertility related proteins.

MeSH terms: Fertility/genetics; Humans; Infertility, Male/genetics*; Infertility, Male/metabolism; Male; Proteins/classification; Proteins/genetics; Proteins/metabolism*; Semen; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa/metabolism*; Proteome*
Fulltext In-vivo effect of andrographolide on alveolar bone resorption induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis and its relation with antioxidant enzymes

Al Batran R, Al-Bayaty FH, Al-Obaidi MM

Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:276329.
PMID: 24151590 DOI: 10.1155/2013/276329

Alveolar bone resorption is one of the most important facts in denture construction. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) causes alveolar bone resorption, and morphologic measurements are the most frequent methods to identify bone resorption in periodontal studies. This study has aimed at evaluating the effect of Andrographolide (AND) on alveolar bone resorption in rats induced by Pg. 24 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups as follows: normal control group and three experimental groups challenged orally with Pg ATCC 33277 five times a week supplemented with 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of AND for twelve weeks. Alveolar bones of the left and right sides of the mandible were assessed by a morphometric method. The bone level, that is, the distance from the alveolar bone crest to cementumenamel junction (CEJ), was measured using 6.1 : 1 zoom stereomicroscope and software. AND reduced the effect of Pg on alveolar bone resorption and decreased the serum levels of Hexanoyl-Lysine (HEL); furthermore the reduced glutathione/oxidised glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in AND treated groups (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly increased when compared with the Pg group (P < 0.05). We can conclude that AND suppresses alveolar bone resorption caused by Pg in rats.

MeSH terms: Animals; Diterpenes/administration & dosage*; Humans; Mandible/drug effects*; Mandible/pathology; Alveolar Bone Loss/drug therapy*; Alveolar Bone Loss/microbiology; Alveolar Bone Loss/pathology; Porphyromonas gingivalis/pathogenicity; Rats
Fulltext Effect of C/N ratio and media optimization through response surface methodology on simultaneous productions of intra- and extracellular inulinase and invertase from Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611

Dinarvand M, Rezaee M, Masomian M, Jazayeri SD, Zareian M, Abbasi S, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:508968.
PMID: 24151605 DOI: 10.1155/2013/508968

The study is to identify the extraction of intracellular inulinase (exo- and endoinulinase) and invertase as well as optimization medium composition for maximum productions of intra- and extracellular enzymes from Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611. From two different methods for extraction of intracellular enzymes, ultrasonic method was found more effective. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a five-variable and three-level central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the medium composition. The effect of five main reaction parameters including sucrose, yeast extract, NaNO₃, Zn⁺², and Triton X-100 on the production of enzymes was analyzed. A modified quadratic model was fitted to the data with a coefficient of determination (R²) more than 0.90 for all responses. The intra-extracellular inulinase and invertase productions increased in the range from 16 to 8.4 times in the optimized medium (10% (w/v) sucrose, 2.5% (w/v) yeast extract, 2% (w/v) NaNO₃, 1.5 mM (v/v) Zn⁺², and 1% (v/v) Triton X-100) by RSM and from around 1.2 to 1.3 times greater than in the medium optimized by one-factor-at-a-time, respectively. The results of bioprocesses optimization can be useful in the scale-up fermentation and food industry.

MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/enzymology*; Culture Media/chemistry*; Fermentation; Glycoside Hydrolases/isolation & purification*; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry; Nitrates/chemistry; Sucrose/chemistry; Bioreactors*; Food Industry
Linguistic validation of the 5D itching scale to Arabic in patients with end-stage kidney disease

Khan TM, Al-Haider I, Syed Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA

J Ren Care, 2013 Dec;39(4):222-7.
PMID: 24152068 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-6686.2013.12038.x

Pruritus is one of the commonest skin complaints in end-stage kidney disease. Pruritus can be effectively managed if proper assessment is carried out to categorise its severity. The objective of this study is to test the reliability of an Arabic version of the 5D-Itching scale (5D-IS).

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cross-Cultural Comparison*; Female; Health Surveys; Renal Dialysis/nursing; Renal Dialysis/psychology; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic/nursing*; Kidney Failure, Chronic/psychology*; Language*; Linguistics*; Male; Middle Aged; Pruritus/nursing*; Pruritus/psychology*; Psychometrics/statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires*; Saudi Arabia; Translating*; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult

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