Browse publications by year: 2013

Plasmodium knowlesi: the emerging zoonotic malaria parasite

Antinori S, Galimberti L, Milazzo L, Corbellino M

Acta Trop, 2013 Feb;125(2):191-201.
PMID: 23088834 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.10.008

Plasmodium knowlesi was initially identified in the 30s as a natural Plasmodium of Macaca fascicularis monkey also capable of experimentally infecting humans. It gained a relative notoriety in the mid-30s as an alternative to Plasmodium vivax in the treatment of the general paralysis of the insane (neurosyphilis). In 1965 the first natural human infection was described in a US military surveyor coming back from the Pahang jungle of the Malaysian peninsula. P. knowlesi was again brought to the attention of the medical community when in 2004, Balbir Singh and his co-workers reported that about 58% of malaria cases observed in the Kapit district of the Malaysian Borneo were actually caused by P. knowlesi. In the following years several reports showed that P. knowlesi is much more widespread than initially thought with cases reported across Southeast Asia. This infection should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of any febrile travellers coming back from a recent travel to forested areas of Southeast Asia. P. knowlesi can cause severe malaria with a rate of 6-9% and with a case fatality rate of 3%. Respiratory distress, acute renal failure, shock and hyperbilirubinemia are the most frequently observed complications of severe P. knowlesi malaria. Chloroquine is considered the treatment of choice of uncomplicated malaria caused by P. knowlesi.

MeSH terms: Animals; Anopheles/parasitology; Antimalarials/pharmacology; Borneo/epidemiology; Chloroquine/pharmacology; Geography; Humans; Insect Vectors/parasitology*; Malaria/diagnosis; Malaria/drug therapy; Malaria/epidemiology; Malaria/parasitology*; Thrombocytopenia/parasitology; Thrombocytopenia/pathology; Travel; Zoonoses/parasitology*; Zoonoses/transmission; Plasmodium knowlesi/pathogenicity*; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/parasitology; Trophozoites/growth & development
Comparative aspects of kisspeptin gene regulation

Kitahashi T, Parhar IS

Gen Comp Endocrinol, 2013 Jan 15;181:197-202.
PMID: 23089246 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.10.003

Kisspeptin plays an important role in the onset of puberty through stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a master molecule of reproduction. Furthermore, the existence of multiple kisspeptins is evident in most vertebrate species. Therefore, elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of the kisspeptin genes is important to understand the functions of multiple kisspeptin forms in the brain. This review focuses on the comparative aspects of kisspeptin gene regulation with an emphasis on the role of environmental signals including gonadal steroids, photoperiods and metabolic signals. These environmental signals differently regulate the kisspeptin genes distinctively in each species. In addition, photoperiodic regulation of the kisspeptin genes alters during sexual maturational, suggesting interactions between the gonadal hormone pathway and the photoperiod pathway. Further studies of the regulatory mechanisms of kisspeptin genes especially in teleosts which possess multiple kisspeptin/kisspeptin receptor systems will help to understand the precise role of multiple kisspeptin forms in different species.

MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism; Signal Transduction/genetics; Signal Transduction/physiology; Photoperiod; Kisspeptins/genetics; Kisspeptins/metabolism*
Efficiency of different Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains on hairy roots induction in Solanum mammosum

Ooi CT, Syahida A, Stanslas J, Maziah M

World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2013 Mar;29(3):421-30.
PMID: 23090845 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-012-1194-z

This article presents the abilities and efficiencies of five different strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (strain ATCC 31798, ATCC 43057, AR12, A4 and A13) to induce hairy roots on Solanum mammosum through genetic transformation. There is significant difference in the transformation efficiency (average number of days of hairy root induction) and transformation frequency for all strains of A. rhizogenes (P < 0.05). Both A. rhizogenes strain AR12 and A13 were able to induce hairy root at 6 days of co-cultivation, which were the fastest among those tested. However, the transformation frequencies of all five strains were below 30 %, with A. rhizogenes strain A4 and A13 showing the highest, which were 21.41 ± 10.60 % and 21.43 ± 8.13 % respectively. Subsequently, the cultures for five different hairy root lines generated by five different strains of bacteria were established. However, different hairy root lines showed different growth index under the same culture condition, with the hairy root lines induced by A. rhizogenes strain ATCC 31798 exhibited largest increase in fresh biomass at 45 days of culture under 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod in half-strength MS medium. The slowest growing hairy root line, which was previously induced by A. rhizogenes strain A13, when cultured in optimized half-strength MS medium containing 1.5 times the standard amount of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate and 5 % (w/v) sucrose, had exhibited improvement in growth index, that is, the fresh biomass was almost double as compared to its initial growth in unmodified half-strength MS medium.

MeSH terms: Biotechnology/methods; Culture Media; Transformation, Genetic*; Plant Roots/growth & development*; Plant Roots/microbiology*; Biomass; Solanum/growth & development; Solanum/microbiology*; Agrobacterium/classification; Agrobacterium/genetics*
Synthesis and effects of pyrazolines and isoxazoles on the phagocytic chemotaxis and release of reactive oxygen species by zymosan stimulated human neutrophils

Bukhari SN, Jantan I, Wai LK, Lajis NH, Abbas F, Jasamai M

Med Chem, 2013 Dec;9(8):1091-8.
PMID: 23092331

A series of novel isoxazole and pyrazoline derivatives has been synthesized and evaluated for their effects on the chemiluminescence and chemotactic activity of human phagocytes. Their effects on the chemotactic migration of isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and on the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during respiratory burst of human whole blood and PMNs were carried out using the Boyden chamber technique and luminol-based chemiluminescence assay, respectively. Of the compounds tested, compounds 8, 9, 11 and 12 exhibited higher inhibitory activity on the release of ROS (with IC50 values ranging from 5.6 to 8.4 μM) than acetylsalicylic acid (IC50 = 9.5 μ M). These compounds also showed strong inhibitory activity on the migration of PMNs with compound 8 exhibiting an IC50 value lower than that of ibuprofen. The results suggest that some of these isoxazole and pyrazoline derivatives have ability to modulate the innate immune response of phagocytes at different steps, indicating their potential as a source of new immunomodulatory agents.

MeSH terms: Cell Survival/drug effects; Chemotaxis/drug effects*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Isoxazoles/chemical synthesis; Isoxazoles/pharmacology*; Isoxazoles/chemistry; Neutrophils/drug effects*; Neutrophils/metabolism; Phagocytes/cytology; Phagocytes/drug effects*; Phagocytes/metabolism; Phagocytosis/drug effects; Pyrazoles/chemical synthesis; Pyrazoles/pharmacology*; Pyrazoles/chemistry; Structure-Activity Relationship; Zymosan/pharmacology*; Molecular Structure; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*; Luminescence
Central corneal thickness measurements with different imaging devices and ultrasound pachymetry

Tai LY, Khaw KW, Ng CM, Subrayan V

Cornea, 2013 Jun;32(6):766-71.
PMID: 23095499 DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318269938d

The aim of this study was to compare 4 methods of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements in terms of their agreement, repeatability, and measurement time.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cornea/anatomy & histology*; Diagnostic Imaging/instrumentation*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Organ Size; Time Factors; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult; Corneal Pachymetry/instrumentation*
Upregulation of catalase and downregulation of glutathione peroxidase activity in the kidney precede the development of hypertension in pre-hypertensive SHR

Sundaram A, Siew Keah L, Sirajudeen KN, Singh HJ

Hypertens Res, 2013 Mar;36(3):213-8.
PMID: 23096233 DOI: 10.1038/hr.2012.163

Although oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), there is little information on the levels of primary antioxidant enzymes status (AOEs) in pre-hypertensive SHR. This study therefore determined the activities of primary AOEs and their mRNA levels, levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in whole kidneys of SHR and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats aged between 2 and 16 weeks. Compared with age-matched WKY rats, catalase (CAT) activity was significantly higher from the age of 2 weeks (P<0.001) and glutathione peroxide (GPx) activity was lower from the age of 3 weeks (P<0.001) in SHR. CAT mRNA levels were significantly higher in SHR aged 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks. GPx mRNA levels were significantly lower in SHR at 8 and 12 weeks. Superoxide dismutase activity or its mRNA levels were not different between the two strains. H2O2 levels were significantly lower in SHR from the age of 8 weeks (P<0.01). TAS was significantly higher in SHR from the age of 3 weeks (P<0.05). MDA levels were only significantly higher at 16 weeks of age in the SHR (P<0.05). The data suggest that altered renal CAT and GPx mRNA expression and activity precede the development of hypertension in SHR. The raised CAT activity perhaps contributes to the higher TAS and lower H2O2 levels in SHR. In view of these findings, the precise role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of hypertension in SHR needs to be investigated further.

MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Pressure/physiology; Body Weight/physiology; Catalase/genetics; Catalase/metabolism*; Disease Models, Animal; Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism*; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism; Hypertension/metabolism*; Kidney/metabolism*; Male; Malondialdehyde/metabolism; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; RNA, Messenger/metabolism; Down-Regulation/physiology*; Up-Regulation/physiology*; Oxidative Stress/physiology; Disease Progression; Rats; Prehypertension/metabolism*
Effect of palm kernel cake as protein source in a concentrate diet on intake, digestibility and live weight gain of goats fed Napier grass

Rahman MM, Abdullah RB, Wan Embong WK, Nakagawa T, Akashi R

Trop Anim Health Prod, 2013 Mar;45(3):873-8.
PMID: 23096766 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-012-0300-4

The effects of palm kernel cake (PKC) as a protein source in a concentrate diet (comprising 35 % crushed maize, 30 % rice bran, 32 % PKC, 2 % vitamin mineral premix and 1 % salt) were examined on intake, live weight (LW) gain and digestibility in female goats (average LW of 12.4 ± 2.6 kg). Four goats were randomly allocated to each of the four treatment diets: (a) Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) offered ad libitum (T1), (b) T1 + concentrate at 0.5 % of LW (T2), (c) T1 + concentrate at 1.0 % of LW (T3) and (d) T1 + concentrate at 2.0 % of LW (T4). A 7-day digestibility trial and an 82-day growth experiment were conducted. No differences were observed among diets for intakes of roughage dry matter (DM), total DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). The crude protein (CP) intake increased (P 0.05) among treatments. The digestibility of dietary NDF decreased (P 0.05) difference between T2 and T3 diets. Supplementing a basal diet of Napier grass with PKC-based concentrate improved CP intake and LW gain. The PKC-based concentrate diet can therefore be exploited for the use of local feed resources for goat production; however, further research is required to achieve the best growth response.

MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Feed/analysis*; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*; Dietary Proteins/administration & dosage; Digestion/drug effects; Eating/drug effects; Female; Goats/growth & development; Goats/physiology*; Malaysia; Male; Random Allocation; Weight Gain/drug effects; Dietary Supplements; Arecaceae/metabolism*; Pennisetum/metabolism
Fulltext Enterovirus 71 uses cell surface heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan as an attachment receptor

Tan CW, Poh CL, Sam IC, Chan YF

J Virol, 2013 Jan;87(1):611-20.
PMID: 23097443 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02226-12

Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) infections are usually associated with mild hand, foot, and mouth disease in young children but have been reported to cause severe neurological complications with high mortality rates. To date, four EV-71 receptors have been identified, but inhibition of these receptors by antagonists did not completely abolish EV-71 infection, implying that there is an as yet undiscovered receptor(s). Since EV-71 has a wide range of tissue tropisms, we hypothesize that EV-71 infections may be facilitated by using receptors that are widely expressed in all cell types, such as heparan sulfate. In this study, heparin, polysulfated dextran sulfate, and suramin were found to significantly prevent EV-71 infection. Heparin inhibited infection by all the EV-71 strains tested, including those with a single-passage history. Neutralization of the cell surface anionic charge by polycationic poly-d-lysine and blockage of heparan sulfate by an anti-heparan sulfate peptide also inhibited EV-71 infection. Interference with heparan sulfate biosynthesis either by sodium chlorate treatment or through transient knockdown of N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 and exostosin-1 expression reduced EV-71 infection in RD cells. Enzymatic removal of cell surface heparan sulfate by heparinase I/II/III inhibited EV-71 infection. Furthermore, the level of EV-71 attachment to CHO cell lines that are variably deficient in cell surface glycosaminoglycans was significantly lower than that to wild-type CHO cells. Direct binding of EV-71 particles to heparin-Sepharose columns under physiological salt conditions was demonstrated. We conclude that EV-71 infection requires initial binding to heparan sulfate as an attachment receptor.

MeSH terms: Animals; Cell Line; Glycosaminoglycans/metabolism*; Heparitin Sulfate/metabolism*; Humans; Receptors, Virus/metabolism*; Enterovirus A, Human/physiology*; Virus Attachment*
Coronary CT angiography with single-source and dual-source CT: comparison of image quality and radiation dose between prospective ECG-triggered and retrospective ECG-gated protocols

Sabarudin A, Sun Z, Yusof AK

Int J Cardiol, 2013 Sep 30;168(2):746-53.
PMID: 23098849 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.09.217

This study is conducted to investigate and compare image quality and radiation dose between prospective ECG-triggered and retrospective ECG-gated coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with the use of single-source CT (SSCT) and dual-source CT (DSCT).

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology; Coronary Artery Disease/radiography*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electrocardiography/methods; Electrocardiography/standards*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Radiation Dosage*; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/standards*; Coronary Angiography/methods; Coronary Angiography/standards*
Postnatal treatment factors affecting craniofacial morphology of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients in a Japanese population

Alam MK, Iida J, Sato Y, Kajii TS

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2013 Dec;51(8):e205-10.
PMID: 23099108 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2012.10.001

We have evaluated the craniofacial morphology of Japanese patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and assessed the various postnatal factors that affect it. Lateral cephalograms of 140 subjects (mean (SD) aged 7 (2) years) with UCLP were taken before orthodontic treatment. Surgeons from Hokkaido University Hospital had done the primary operations. The craniofacial morphology was assessed by angular and linear cephalometric measurements. Cheiloplasty, palatoplasty, and preoperative orthopaedic treatment were chosen as postnatal factors. To compare the assessments of the postnatal factors, we made angular and linear cephalometric measurements for each subject and converted them into Z scores in relation to the mean (SD) of the two variables. Subjects treated by the modified Millard cheiloplasty had larger sella-nasion-point A (SNA) and nasion-point A-pogonion (NA-POG) measurements than subjects treated by the modified Millard with a vomer flap cheiloplasty. Two-stage palatoplasty showed consistently better craniofacial morphology than the other palatoplasty. Subjects who had preoperative orthopaedic treatment with a Hotz plate had significantly larger upper incisor/sella-nasion (U1-SN) measurements than who had no preoperative orthopaedic treatment or an active plate. We conclude that in subjects treated by a modified Millard type of cheiloplasty, a two-stage palatoplasty, and a Hotz plate there were fewer adverse effects on craniofacial morphology.

MeSH terms: Cephalometry/methods*; Child; Cleft Lip/pathology; Cleft Lip/surgery*; Cleft Palate/pathology; Cleft Palate/surgery*; Facial Bones/pathology*; Female; Humans; Incisor/pathology; Japan; Lip/surgery; Male; Mandible/pathology; Maxilla/pathology; Nasal Bone/pathology; Orthodontics, Corrective; Palatal Obturators; Palate/surgery; Sella Turcica/pathology; Skull/pathology*; Surgical Flaps/transplantation; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/methods*
Physical activity of pediatric patients with acute leukemia undergoing induction or consolidation chemotherapy

Tan SY, Poh BK, Chong HX, Ismail MN, Rahman J, Zarina AL, et al.

Leuk. Res., 2013 Jan;37(1):14-20.
PMID: 23099236 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2012.09.005

This study aimed to assess the physical activity levels of pediatric patients with acute leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. Thirty-eight pediatric patients and matched controls, aged 3-12 years old, were measured for weight, height, and other anthropometric parameters. Physical activity was assessed using actical accelerometer and activity log book. Patients recorded significantly lower mean total activity counts (26.2±30.2 cpm vs. 192.2±68.8 cpm; p<0.01) and spent more time in sedentary activities (1301±121 min vs. 1020±101 min; p<0.001) compared to controls. They also achieved fewer 1-5-min bouts of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to controls (1.50±5.95 vs. 37.38±40.36; p<0.001). In conclusion, patients had lower physical activity level and intensity; and simple exercise intervention programs may be needed to minimize the detrimental effects of prolonged sedentary behaviors.

MeSH terms: Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Motor Activity*; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/physiopathology*; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/physiopathology*; Waist Circumference; Induction Chemotherapy*
FISH analysis using PPAR γ-specific probes for detection of PAX8-PPAR γ translocation in follicular thyroid neoplasms

Sharifah NA, Zakaria Z, Chia WK

Methods Mol Biol, 2013;952:187-96.
PMID: 23100233 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-155-4_13

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is increasingly gaining importance in clinical diagnostics settings. Due to the ability of the technique to detect chromosomal abnormalities in samples with low cellularity or containing a mixed population of cells even at a single-cell level, it has become more popular in cancer research and diagnosis. Here, we describe the FISH technique for detection of PAX8-PPARγ translocation in follicular thyroid neoplasms, and the optimal protocol for the detection of this fusion gene using in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) thyroid tissue sections.

MeSH terms: Filtration; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry; Formaldehyde/metabolism; Humans; Indoles/metabolism; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Nucleic Acid Denaturation; Pepsin A/metabolism; Chemical Precipitation; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism; DNA Probes/metabolism*; DNA Probes/chemistry; Paraffin Embedding; Tissue Fixation; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods*; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/metabolism*; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/pathology; Protein Transport; PPAR gamma/genetics; PPAR gamma/metabolism*; Paired Box Transcription Factors/genetics*
Chronic pain, impact of pain and pain severity with physical disability in older people--is there a gender difference?

Hairi NN, Cumming RG, Blyth FM, Naganathan V

Maturitas, 2013 Jan;74(1):68-73.
PMID: 23103063 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.10.001

To establish if there is any gender difference in associations between chronic pain, impact of pain and pain severity with physical disability.

MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living*; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Disabled Persons*; Humans; Male; Pain Measurement; Sex Factors*; Stress, Psychological
Body change techniques in Iranian adolescents. Relationship to sex and body weight status

Hatami M, Mohd Taib MN, Jamaluddin R, Abu Saad H, Djazayery A

Appetite, 2013 Jan;60(1):27-32.
PMID: 23103548 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.10.014

OBJECTIVE: Several studies indicated that techniques to change body weight and appearance were prevalent and different among adolescents. The aim of the study, therefore, was to assess differences in frequency and type of body change techniques used among adolescents by sex and body weight status.
METHODS: A sample of 758 adolescents aged 12-18 years were recruited from private and public schools in Tehran. Information about socio-demographic background and body change techniques were collected via a self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: A high percentage of adolescents used body change techniques frequently to alter their body appearance. Girls changed normal eating pattern significantly (p=0.007) to lose weight more frequently than boys while boys used this method significantly (p=0.01) to gain weight more frequently than girls. Overweight/obese adolescents exercised significantly to change muscle size (p=0.03) and changed normal diet to lose weight (p<0.001) more frequently than normal weight adolescents. The relation between sex and body weight status with body change techniques (p<0.0) implied that male and female adolescents especially overweight/obese adolescents were frequently trying to change their body appearance.
CONCLUSION: Significant differences existed in using body change techniques according to sex and body weight status and these should be considered in obesity prevention programs for adolescents.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Body Image; Body Weight*; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Feeding Behavior/psychology*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iran; Male; Obesity/prevention & control; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools; Sex Factors; Weight Gain; Weight Loss; Exercise; Body Mass Index; Prevalence; Logistic Models; European Continental Ancestry Group
Effect of one-step polishing system on the color stability of nanocomposites

Alawjali SS, Lui JL

J Dent, 2013 Aug;41 Suppl 3:e53-61.
PMID: 23103847 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2012.10.008

This study was to compare the effect of three different one-step polishing systems on the color stability of three different types of nanocomposites after immersion in coffee for one day and seven days and determine which nanocomposite material has the best color stability following polishing with each of the one-step polishing system.

MeSH terms: Aluminum Oxide/chemistry; Coffee; Color; Composite Resins/chemistry*; Dental Materials/chemistry*; Dental Polishing/instrumentation; Dental Polishing/methods*; Humans; Immersion; Latex/chemistry; Materials Testing; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry; Polymethacrylic Acids/chemistry; Polyvinyls/chemistry; Silicon Dioxide/chemistry; Siloxanes/chemistry; Spectrophotometry/instrumentation; Surface Properties; Time Factors; Titanium/chemistry; Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate/chemistry; Carbon Compounds, Inorganic/chemistry; Silicon Compounds/chemistry; Hemiterpenes/chemistry; Nanocomposites/chemistry*; Polymerization
Do older people with visual impairment and living alone in a rural developing country report greater difficulty in managing stairs?

Hairi NN, Bulgiba A, Peramalah D, Mudla I

Prev Med, 2013 Jan;56(1):8-11.
PMID: 23103916 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.10.016

Managing stairs is a challenging activity of daily living (ADL) for older people. This study aims to examine the association between visual impairment and difficulty in managing stairs among older people living alone and those living with others.

MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Residence Characteristics*; Rural Population*; Confidence Intervals; Odds Ratio; Visually Impaired Persons*; Needs Assessment; Mobility Limitation*
Cancer mortality in patients with psychiatric diagnoses: a higher hazard of cancer death does not lead to a higher cumulative risk of dying from cancer

Guan NC, Termorshuizen F, Laan W, Smeets HM, Zainal NZ, Kahn RS, et al.

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2013 Aug;48(8):1289-95.
PMID: 23104669 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-012-0612-8

PURPOSE: Both increased as well as decreased cancer mortality among psychiatric patients has been reported, but competing death causes were not included in the analyses. This study aims to investigate whether observed cancer mortality in patients with psychiatric disorders might be biased by competing death causes.
METHOD: In this retrospective cohort study on data from the Psychiatric Case Register Middle Netherlands linked to the death register of Statistics Netherlands, the risk of cancer death among patients with schizophrenia (N = 4,590), bipolar disorder (N = 2,077), depression (N = 15,130) and their matched controls (N = 87,405) was analyzed using a competing risk model.
RESULTS: Compared to controls, higher hazards of cancer death were found in patients with schizophrenia (HR = 1.61, 95 % CI 1.26-2.06), bipolar disorder (HR = 1.20, 95 % CI 0.81-1.79) and depression (HR = 1.26, 95 % CI 1.10-1.44). However, the HRs of death due to suicide and other death causes were more elevated. Consequently, among those who died, the 12-year cumulative risk of cancer death was significantly lower.
CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows that, compared to the general population, psychiatric patients are at higher risk of dying from cancer, provided that they survive the much more elevated risks of suicide and other death causes.

MeSH terms: Adult; Bipolar Disorder/complications; Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis; Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology*; Depressive Disorder/complications; Depressive Disorder/diagnosis; Depressive Disorder/epidemiology*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms/mortality*; Netherlands/epidemiology; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia/complications; Schizophrenia/diagnosis; Schizophrenia/epidemiology*; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors; Proportional Hazards Models; Odds Ratio; Case-Control Studies
Factors associated with the enactment of safety belt and motorcycle helmet laws

Law TH, Noland RB, Evans AW

Risk Anal, 2013 Jul;33(7):1367-78.
PMID: 23106188 DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01916.x

It has been shown that road safety laws, such as motorcycle helmet and safety belt laws, have a significant effect in reducing road fatalities. Although an expanding body of literature has documented the effects of these laws on road safety, it remains unclear which factors influence the likelihood that these laws are enacted. This study attempts to identify the factors that influence the decision to enact safety belt and motorcycle helmet laws. Using panel data from 31 countries between 1963 and 2002, our results reveal that increased democracy, education level, per capita income, political stability, and more equitable income distribution within a country are associated with the enactment of road safety laws.

MeSH terms: Accidents/mortality; Head Protective Devices*; Humans; Safety/legislation & jurisprudence*; Seat Belts/legislation & jurisprudence*; Likelihood Functions; Internationality
Synthesis and anti-microbial potencies of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-alkylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids: microbial viabilities at different ionic liquids concentrations

Hossain MI, El-Harbawi M, Alitheen NB, Noaman YA, Lévêque JM, Yin CY

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2013 Jan;87:65-9.
PMID: 23107478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.09.020

Three 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-alkylimidazolium chloride room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) [2OHimC(n)][Cl]; (n=0, 1, 4) have been synthesized from the appropriate imidazole precursors and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. Their anti-microbial activities were investigated using the well-diffusion method. The viabilities of Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica as a function of IL concentrations were studied. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and EC₅₀ values for the present ILs were within the concentration range from 60 to 125 mM and 23 to 73 mM. The anti-microbial potencies of the present ILs were compared to a standard antibiotic, gentamicin. The finding affords additional perspective on the level of ILs toxicity to aquatic lifeforms and yet, this characteristic can be readily harnessed to detect microbial growth and activity.

MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Bacteria/drug effects*; Chlorides/chemistry; Gentamicins/pharmacology; Imidazoles/chemistry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Microbial Viability/drug effects*; Ionic Liquids/chemical synthesis*; Ionic Liquids/pharmacology*; Ionic Liquids/chemistry
Impact of osmotic pressure and gelling in the generation of highly stable single core water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) nano multiple emulsions of aspirin assisted by two-stage ultrasonic cavitational emulsification

Tang SY, Sivakumar M, Nashiru B

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2013 Feb 1;102:653-8.
PMID: 23107943 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2012.08.036

The present investigation focuses in investigating the effect of osmotic pressure, gelling on the mean droplet diameter, polydispersity index, droplet size stability of the developed novel Aspirin containing water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) nano multiple emulsion. The aspirin-loaded nano multiple emulsion formulation was successfully generated using two-stage ultrasonic cavitational emulsification which had been reported in author's previous study. The osmotic behavior of ultrasonically prepared nano multiple emulsions were also examined with different glucose concentrations both in the inner and outer aqueous phases. In addition, introducing gelatin into the formulation also observed to play an important role in preventing the interdroplet coalescence via the formation of interfacial rigid film. Detailed studies were also made on the possible mechanisms of water migration under osmotic gradient which primarily caused by the permeation of glucose. Besides, the experimental results have shown that the interfacial tension between the two immiscible phases decreases with varying the composition of organic phase. Although the W/O/W emulsion prepared with the inner/outer glucose weight ratio of 1-0.5% (w/w) showed an excellent droplet stability, the formulation containing 0.5% (w/w) glucose in the inner aqueous phase appeared to be the most stable with minimum change in the mean droplet size upon one-week storage period. Based on the optimization, nano multiple emulsion droplets with the mean droplet diameter of around 400 nm were produced using 1.25% (w/w) Span 80 and 0.5% Cremophore EL. Overall, our investigation makes a pathway in proving that the use of ultrasound cavitation is an efficient yet promising approach in the generation of stable and uniform nano multiple emulsions and could be used in the encapsulation of various active pharmaceutical ingredients in the near future.

MeSH terms: Aspirin/chemistry*; Emulsions/chemistry*; Oils/chemistry*; Osmotic Pressure*; Ultrasonics*; Water/chemistry*

External Links