Browse publications by year: 2013

  1. A web-based survey of attitudes toward epilepsy in secondary and tertiary students in Malaysia, using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale
    Lim KS, Hills MD, Choo WY, Wong MH, Wu C, Tan CT
    Epilepsy Behav, 2013 Feb;26(2):158-61.
    PMID: 23314303 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.12.001
    Students' attitudes toward epilepsy have been studied in several countries, but none of the studies used a quantitative scale. We aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale in a homogenous population consisting of secondary and tertiary students in Malaysia and to quantify their attitudes toward epilepsy, using a web-based survey.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Attitude*; Epilepsy*; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Male; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students/psychology*; Reproducibility of Results; Internet; Young Adult
  2. Mapping of the quantitative trait locus (QTL) conferring partial resistance to rice leaf blast disease
    Ashkani S, Rafii MY, Rahim HA, Latif MA
    Biotechnol Lett, 2013 May;35(5):799-810.
    PMID: 23315158 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-012-1130-1
    Malaysian rice, Pongsu Seribu 2, has wide-spectrum resistance against blast disease. Chromosomal locations conferring quantitative resistance were detected by linkage mapping with SSRs and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. For the mapping population, 188 F3 families were derived from a cross between the susceptible cultivar, Mahsuri, and a resistant variety, Pongsu Seribu 2. Partial resistance to leaf blast in the mapping population was assessed. A linkage map covering ten chromosomes and consisting of 63 SSR markers was constructed. 13 QTLs, including 6 putative and 7 putative QTLs, were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12. The resulting phenotypic variation due to a single QTL ranged from 2 to 13 %. These QTLs accounted for approx. 80 % of the total phenotypic variation within the F3 population. Therefore, partial resistance to blast in Pongsu Seribu 2 is due to combined effects of multiple loci with major and minor effects.
    MeSH terms: Chromosome Mapping/methods*; Epistasis, Genetic; Phenotype; Plant Diseases; Oryza/genetics*; Genes, Plant/genetics*; Plant Leaves/genetics; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics; Magnaporthe; Quantitative Trait Loci*; Disease Resistance
  3. Cultivation of aerobic granular sludge for rubber wastewater treatment
    Rosman NH, Nor Anuar A, Othman I, Harun H, Sulong Abdul Razak MZ, Elias SH, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2013 Feb;129:620-3.
    PMID: 23317554 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.113
    Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was successfully cultivated at 27±1 °C and pH 7.0±1 during the treatment of rubber wastewater using a sequential batch reactor system mode with complete cycle time of 3 h. Results showed aerobic granular sludge had an excellent settling ability and exhibited exceptional performance in the organics and nutrients removal from rubber wastewater. Regular, dense and fast settling granule (average diameter, 1.5 mm; settling velocity, 33 m h(-1); and sludge volume index, 22.3 mL g(-1)) were developed in a single reactor. In addition, 96.5% COD removal efficiency was observed in the system at the end of the granulation period, while its ammonia and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were up to 94.7% and 89.4%, respectively. The study demonstrated the capabilities of AGS development in a single, high and slender column type-bioreactor for the treatment of rubber wastewater.
    MeSH terms: Agriculture/methods; Bacteria, Aerobic/isolation & purification; Bacteria, Aerobic/physiology*; Industrial Waste/prevention & control; Sewage/microbiology*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism*; Water Purification/methods*; Bioreactors/microbiology*; Hevea/microbiology*; Batch Cell Culture Techniques; Waste Water/microbiology*
  4. Fulltext Free radical scavenging potential of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl fruits extract
    Mayakrishnan V, Veluswamy S, Sundaram KS, Kannappan P, Abdullah N
    Asian Pac J Trop Med, 2013 Jan;6(1):20-6.
    PMID: 23317881 DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60195-3
    OBJECTIVE: To elucidate free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract Lagenaria siceraria (L. siceraria) (Molina) fruit.

    METHODS: The free radical scavenging activity of the L. siceraria (Molina) fruit extract was assayed by using α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,20-azinobis 3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS), FRAP, reducing power, chelating ability and β-carotene bleaching assay.

    RESULTS: The IC(50) values of DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activity was found to be 1.95 mg/mL and 19 mg/mL, respectively. In ferrous chelation assay, the percentage of inhibition was found to be 89.21%. The reducing power of ethanolic extract of L. siceraria (Molina) fruit was 0.068 at 1 mg/mL and increased to 0.192 at 5 mg/mL. The β-carotene linoleate bleaching assay was 46.7% at 5 mg/mL and antioxidant activity using FRAP at 0.305 for 1 mg/mL to 0.969 for 5 mg/mL.

    CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that L. siceraria (Molina) fruit could be an important sources of natural radical scavengers.

    MeSH terms: Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/chemistry; Biphenyl Compounds; Fruit/chemistry*; Iron Chelating Agents/pharmacology; Iron Chelating Agents/chemistry; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects; Picrates; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Sulfonic Acids; Thiazoles; beta Carotene/chemistry; Cucurbitaceae/chemistry*; Benzothiazoles
  5. Correlates between risk perceptions of cervical cancer and screening practice
    Wong YL, Chinna K, Mariapun J, Wong LP, Khoo EM, Low WY, et al.
    Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S24-6.
    PMID: 23318158 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.01.004
    OBJECTIVES: To identify the correlates between risk perceptions and cervical cancer screening among urban Malaysian women.
    METHOD: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 231 women in Petaling Jaya city in 2007. The association of risk perceptions of cervical cancer and screening practice was analyzed using Poisson regression.
    RESULTS: 56% of the respondents ever had a Pap smear test. Knowledge of signs and symptoms (aPR=1.11, 95% CI=1.03-1.19), age (aPR=1.02, 95% CI=1.01-1.03), number of pregnancies (aPR=1.06, 95% CI=1.01-1.11), marital status, education level and religion were found to be significant correlates of Pap smear screening. Respondents who were never married were less likely to have had a Pap smear. Those who had no education or primary education were less likely to have had a Pap smear compared to those with degree qualification. The prevalence of screening was significantly higher among Christians and others (aPR=1.35; 95% CI=1.01-1.81) and Buddhists (aPR=1.38; 95% CI=1.03-1.84), compared to Muslims.
    CONCLUSION: Eliminating anecdotal beliefs as risks via targeted knowledge on established risk factors and culturally sensitive screening processes are strategic for increasing and sustaining uptake of Pap smear screening versus current opportunistic screening practices.
    KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer; Malaysia; Pap smear; Risk perception; Screening; Targeted knowledge
    MeSH terms: Adult; Age Factors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/psychology*; Educational Status; Ethnic Groups/psychology; Ethnic Groups/statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Religion and Medicine; Risk Factors; Poisson Distribution; Marital Status; Early Detection of Cancer/psychology*; Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data; Papanicolaou Test/psychology*; Papanicolaou Test/statistics & numerical data
  6. Genetic variation among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cancer patients in Saudi Arabia
    Alreshidi MA, Alsalamah AA, Hamat RA, Neela V, Alshrari AS, Atshan SS, et al.
    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2013 Jun;32(6):755-61.
    PMID: 23318757 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-012-1801-9
    One hundred and twenty methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from cancer and non-cancer patients in Saudi Arabia were investigated for antibiotic resistance, virulence determinants and genotypes. The majority of MRSA isolates from cancer (n = 44, 73.3 %) and non-cancer patients (n = 34, 56.7 %) were multi-resistant to more than four classes of antibiotics. Virulence gene profiling showed that all strains were commonly positive for adhesin genes, except ebps and bbp genes, which were not detected in any isolate. Although the presence of adhesin genes varied slightly among MRSA isolates from cancer and non-cancer patients, these variations were not found to be statistically significant. In contrast, the presence of the toxin genes seb, sec, seg and sei was significantly elevated in MRSA strains isolated from cancer patients. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) detected six and nine sequence types (STs) among isolates from cancer and non-cancer patients, respectively. Using spa typing, 12 and 25 types were detected, including four new types. The ability of different MRSA clones to become multi-resistant and their ability to acquire different virulence factors may contribute to their success as pathogens in individual groups of patients.
    MeSH terms: Genotype; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Neoplasms/complications*; Neoplasms/microbiology*; Saudi Arabia; Staphylococcal Infections/complications*; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology*; Genetic Variation*; Virulence Factors/genetics; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics*; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/pathogenicity; Multilocus Sequence Typing
  7. Evolving a common surgical curriculum for ASEAN nations with a public health approach
    Lum SK
    ANZ J Surg, 2013 Mar;83(3):118-21.
    PMID: 23320799 DOI: 10.1111/ans.12055
    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on medical practitioners' agreement will become a reality in the year 2015. Doctors registered in one ASEAN country will be given reciprocal recognition in another country under this agreement. Rapid and excessive movement of human resources between countries in a short span of time is undesirable and can be destabilizing. The surgical fraternity in the ASEAN countries should plan for a common surgical curriculum, a common examination and an ASEAN Board of Surgery so that standards of future trainees in different countries are comparable. The curriculum should take into consideration the diversity of the countries in socio-economic development. Ideally, it should be based on a public health approach to bring affordable quality surgical care to the masses in an efficient and effective manner.
    MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern; Clinical Competence*; Curriculum/standards*; Foreign Medical Graduates; Humans; Public Health; Retrospective Studies; General Surgery/education*; Program Development
  8. Association between vitamin A, vitamin E and apolipoprotein E status with mild cognitive impairment among elderly people in low-cost residential areas
    Shahar S, Lee LK, Rajab N, Lim CL, Harun NA, Noh MF, et al.
    Nutr Neurosci, 2013 Jan;16(1):6-12.
    PMID: 23321337 DOI: 10.1179/1476830512Y.0000000013
    The influence of nutritional parameters and genetic susceptibility on poor cognitive impairment has been documented; however, the association between lipid-soluble vitamins with genetic susceptibility on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has not yet been studied extensively.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Alleles; Body Height; Body Weight; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Genotype; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status*; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Vitamin A/blood*; Vitamin E/blood*; Prevalence; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Apolipoprotein E4/genetics*; Mild Cognitive Impairment/genetics*; Mild Cognitive Impairment/epidemiology*
  9. Fulltext Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of seed oil from winter melon (Benincasa hispida) and its antioxidant activity and fatty acid composition
    Bimakr M, Rahman RA, Taip FS, Adzahan NM, Sarker MZ, Ganjloo A
    Molecules, 2013 Jan 15;18(1):997-1014.
    PMID: 23322066 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18010997
    In the present study, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) extraction of seed oil from winter melon (Benincasa hispida) was investigated. The effects of process variables namely pressure (150-300 bar), temperature (40-50 °C) and dynamic extraction time (60-120 min) on crude extraction yield (CEY) were studied through response surface methodology (RSM). The SC-CO(2) extraction process was modified using ethanol (99.9%) as co-solvent. Perturbation plot revealed the significant effect of all process variables on the CEY. A central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the process conditions to achieve maximum CEY. The optimum conditions were 244 bar pressure, 46 °C temperature and 97 min dynamic extraction time. Under these optimal conditions, the CEY was predicted to be 176.30 mg-extract/g-dried sample. The validation experiment results agreed with the predicted value. The antioxidant activity and fatty acid composition of crude oil obtained under optimized conditions were determined and compared with published results using Soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE). It was found that the antioxidant activity of the extract obtained by SC-CO(2) extraction was strongly higher than those obtained by SE and UAE. Identification of fatty acid composition using gas chromatography (GC) showed that all the extracts were rich in unsaturated fatty acids with the most being linoleic acid. In contrast, the amount of saturated fatty acids extracted by SE was higher than that extracted under optimized SC-CO(2) extraction conditions.
    MeSH terms: Ethanol/chemistry; Biphenyl Compounds/chemistry; Carbon Dioxide/chemistry; Fatty Acids/isolation & purification*; Fatty Acids/chemistry; Free Radicals/chemistry; Kinetics; Picrates/chemistry; Plant Oils/isolation & purification*; Plant Oils/chemistry; Pressure; Seeds/chemistry*; Solubility; Solvents/chemistry; Sulfonic Acids/chemistry; Free Radical Scavengers/isolation & purification*; Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry; Cucurbitaceae/chemistry*; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid; Benzothiazoles/chemistry
  10. Addressing education of speech-language pathologists in the World Report on Disability: development of a speech-language pathology program in Malaysia
    Ahmad K, Ibrahim H, Othman BF, Vong E
    Int J Speech Lang Pathol, 2013 Feb;15(1):37-41.
    PMID: 23323816 DOI: 10.3109/17549507.2012.757709
    The current paper is a response to the Wiley, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall lead article regarding the application of the World Report on Disability (WRD) to people with communication disorders. The current paper directly addresses recommendation 5 (improvement of human resource capacity) and indirectly addresses recommendations 7, 8, and 9 (related to improving local knowledge and data on communicative disabilities) indirectly. The paper describes Malaysia's initiatives in the early 1990s, in developing its local professional capacity to provide services for people with communication disorders (PWCD). It charts the history of development of a local undergraduate entry-level degree program for speech-language pathology (SLP) from the point of conceptualization to full execution. The article provides glimpses to the processes and challenges faced by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as the pioneer university in the South East Asia region to undertake the training and education of the SLP profession and highlights relevant issues faced by newly introduced professions in a country where resources and practice traditions were previously unavailable. It underscores the important role played by government institutions and an international professional network in driving forward-looking policies to implement and sustain the program.
    MeSH terms: Communication Disorders/therapy*; Health Services Accessibility/trends*; Humans; Global Health*; Vulnerable Populations*
  11. Implementing the World Report on Disability in Malaysia: a student-led service to promote knowledge and innovation
    Van Dort S, Coyle J, Wilson L, Ibrahim HM
    Int J Speech Lang Pathol, 2013 Feb;15(1):90-5.
    PMID: 23323823 DOI: 10.3109/17549507.2012.757707
    The lead article by Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013) puts forward pertinent issues facing the speech-language pathology profession raised by the World Report on Disability. This paper continues the discussion by reporting on a capacity building action research study on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a new approach to early intervention speech-language pathology through clinical education in Malaysia. This research evaluated a student-led service in community-based rehabilitation that supplemented existing and more typical institution-based services. A Malaysian community-based rehabilitation project was chosen due to its emphasis on increasing the equitability and accessibility of services for people with disabilities which was a catalyst for this research. Also, expanding awareness-building, education, and training activities about communication disability was important. The intention was to provide students with experience of working in such settings, and facilitate their development as advocates for broadening the scope of practice of speech-language pathology services in Malaysia. This article focuses on the findings pertaining to the collaborative process and the learning experiences of the adult participants. Through reflection on the positive achievements, as well as some failures, it aims to provide deeper understanding of the use of such a model.
    MeSH terms: Communication Disorders/therapy*; Health Services Accessibility/trends*; Humans; Global Health*; Vulnerable Populations*
  12. Jaundice and life-threatening hemobilia: an uncommon presentation of choledochal cyst
    Koh PS, Yoong BK, Vijayananthan A, Nawawi O, Mahadeva S
    J Dig Dis, 2013 Aug;14(8):451-4.
    PMID: 23324023 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.12036
    Hemobilia with jaundice as a result of cholestasis and bleeding from choledochal cyst is uncommon. Ascertaining the diagnosis is often challenging and delayed diagnosis can lead to significant consequences due to hemodynamic instability, particularly in elderly patients. Although surgery remains the definitive treatment modality, interventional radiology for hemostasis has been increasingly recognized as an option. In this manuscript, we described two Malaysian cases of jaundice and hemobilia associated with choledochal cysts and the challenges related with clinical diagnosis and management.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/methods; Female; Hemobilia/etiology*; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology; Humans; Jaundice/etiology*; Male; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Choledochal Cyst/complications*; Choledochal Cyst/radiography; Choledochal Cyst/surgery
  13. Fulltext Prevalence of self-reported tuberculosis, knowledge about tuberculosis transmission and its determinants among adults in India: results from a nation-wide cross-sectional household survey
    Sreeramareddy CT, Harsha Kumar HN, Arokiasamy JT
    BMC Infect Dis, 2013;13:16.
    PMID: 23324535 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-16
    BACKGROUND: Knowledge about symptoms and transmission of tuberculosis determines health seeking behavior and helps in prevention of tuberculosis transmission in the community. Such data is useful for policy makers to formulate information, education and communication strategies for tuberculosis control.
    METHODS: A secondary data analysis of India demographic and health survey, 2005/6 was carried out. Questions about self-reported tuberculosis, transmission and curability of tuberculosis were analysed. Correct knowledge (without misconceptions) about tuberculosis transmission was used as a dependant variable and the explanatory variables tested were: demographic data, education, wealth quintiles, frequency of exposure to media and the curability of tuberculosis. Determinants of correct knowledge without misconceptions were tested by univariate and multivariate analyses using national weighting factor to adjust for complex sampling design.
    RESULTS: A total of 109,070 households (response rate of 93.5%) and 198,718 participants (response rate of 91.6%) completed the survey. The samples of men and women interviewed were 74,360 and 124,358 respectively. Prevalence rate of self-reported tuberculosis was 445 per 100,000 usual household residents and 4.60 per 1,000 participants. The number of respondents who had "heard of an illness called tuberculosis" was 177,423 (89.3%). Of these 47,487 (26.8%) participants did not know and 55.5% knew about the correct mode of tuberculosis transmission i.e. "Through the air when coughing or sneezing". The common misconceptions about transmission were "Through food" (32.4%), "Sharing utensils" (18.2%), and "Touching a person with tuberculosis" (12.3%). Only 52,617 (29.7%) participants had correct knowledge without misconceptions. Being male (aOR 1.17, 95% CIs 1.14, 1.21), being a Hindu (aOR 1.20, 95% CIs 1.14, 1.26) or Muslim (aOR 1.26, 95% CIs 1.18, 1.34), listening to radio (aOR 1.08, 95% CIs 1.04, 1.13) and "Tuberculosis can be cured" (aOR 1.47, 95% CIs 1.41, 1.53) were associated with correct knowledge without misconceptions.
    CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about tuberculosis transmission is very poor and misconceptions still exist. Among the traditional mass media, the frequency of listening to radio was associated with correct knowledge about tuberculosis transmission. Strategies to deliver information, education and communication campaigns could be improved.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; India; India/epidemiology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Male; Middle Aged; Tuberculosis/epidemiology*; Prevalence; Young Adult; Self Report*
  14. Recent discoveries and applications of Anoxybacillus
    Goh KM, Kahar UM, Chai YY, Chong CS, Chai KP, Ranjani V, et al.
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2013 Feb;97(4):1475-88.
    PMID: 23324802 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4663-2
    The Bacillaceae family members are a good source of bacteria for bioprocessing and biotransformation involving whole cells or enzymes. In contrast to Bacillus and Geobacillus, Anoxybacillus is a relatively new genus that was proposed in the year 2000. Because these bacteria are alkali-tolerant thermophiles, they are suitable for many industrial applications. More than a decade after the first report of Anoxybacillus, knowledge accumulated from fundamental and applied studies suggests that this genus can serve as a good alternative in many applications related to starch and lignocellulosic biomasses, environmental waste treatment, enzyme technology, and possibly bioenergy production. This current review provides the first summary of past and recent discoveries regarding the isolation of Anoxybacillus, its medium requirements, its proteins that have been characterized and cloned, bioremediation applications, metabolic studies, and genomic analysis. Comparisons to some other members of Bacillaceae and possible future applications of Anoxybacillus are also discussed.
    MeSH terms: Biodegradation, Environmental; Industrial Microbiology*; Phylogeny; Anoxybacillus/classification; Anoxybacillus/genetics; Anoxybacillus/isolation & purification; Anoxybacillus/metabolism*
  15. Fulltext Synthesis of bisindolylmethanes and their cytotoxicity properties
    Naidu KR, Khalivulla SI, Rasheed S, Fakurazi S, Arulselvan P, Lasekan O, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2013;14(1):1843-53.
    PMID: 23325050 DOI: 10.3390/ijms14011843
    Polymer supported dichlorophosphate (PEG-OPOCl(2)) is an efficient green catalyst for the electrophilic substitution reaction of indole with aromatic aldehydes, in neat condition, to afford an excellent yield of bis(indolyl) methanes with short reaction time, at room temperature. The synthesized compounds and their anti-cancer activity are evaluated.
    MeSH terms: Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; HeLa Cells; Humans
  16. Genetic diversity of Tomistoma schlegelii inferred from mtDNA markers
    Kaur T, Japning JR, Sabki MS, Sidik I, Chong LK, Ong AH
    Biochem Genet, 2013 Apr;51(3-4):275-95.
    PMID: 23325482 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-012-9562-9
    The genetic diversity of the endangered crocodile Tomistoma schlegelii was characterized using the protein coding ND 6-tRNA(glu)-cyt b and the cytochrome b-control region (cyt b-CR) markers. Concatenate data revealed six haplotypes with an overall haplotype diversity of 0.769 ± 0.039; nucleotide diversity was 0.00535 ± 0.00172. A nearest-neighbor analysis showed that all individuals clustered with four geographic regions (Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and East Kalimantan) and were genetically differentiated. With the exception of the individuals from haplotype H2, which occurred in both Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, all other haplotypes were geographically distinct. The H4 lineage, which was found to be the most divergent, clustered exclusively in the basal clade in all phylogenetic trees, and the haplotype network was unconnected at the 95% reconnection limit, suggesting further investigation to establish its possible status as a distinct evolutionary significant unit or a cryptic species.
    MeSH terms: Alligators and Crocodiles/genetics*; Animals; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics*; Genetic Markers; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Malaysia; Singapore; Genetic Variation*; Locus Control Region/genetics; Cytochromes b/genetics; Endangered Species
  17. Gynura procumbens causes vasodilation by inhibiting angiotensin II and enhancing bradykinin actions
    Poh TF, Ng HK, Hoe SZ, Lam SK
    J Cardiovasc Pharmacol, 2013 May;61(5):378-84.
    PMID: 23328388 DOI: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e31828685b3
    Previous studies showed that Gynura procumbens reduced blood pressure by blocking calcium channels and inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. The present experiments were to further explore the effects and mechanisms of a purer aqueous fraction (FA-I) of G. procumbens on angiotensin I (Ang I)-induced and angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced contraction of aortic rings and also on the bradykinin (BK) effect on cardiovascular system. Rat aortic rings suspended in organ chambers were used to investigate the vascular reactivity of FA-I. Effect of FA-I on BK was studied by in vitro and in vivo methods. Results show that FA-I significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the contraction evoked by Ang I and Ang II. In the presence of indomethacin (10 µM) or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (0.1 µM), the inhibitory effect of FA-I on Ang II-induced contraction of aortic rings was reduced. Besides, FA-I potentiated the vasorelaxant effect and enhanced the blood pressure-lowering effect of BK. In conclusion, FA-I reduced the contraction evoked by Ang II probably via the endothelium-dependent pathways, which involve activation of the release of nitric oxide and prostaglandins. The inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity by FA-I may contribute to the potentiation of the effects of BK on cardiovascular system.
    MeSH terms: Angiotensin I/pharmacology; Angiotensin II/pharmacology*; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Animals; Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects; Blood Pressure; Bradykinin/pharmacology*; Cardiovascular Agents/pharmacology; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Indomethacin/pharmacology; Male; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Vasodilation/drug effects; Vasodilation/physiology*; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/pharmacology; Asteraceae/chemistry*; Rats; Arterial Pressure/drug effects; In Vitro Techniques
  18. Microsatellite markers uncover cryptic species of Odontotermes (Termitoidae: Termitidae) from Peninsular Malaysia
    Cheng S, Lee CT, Wan MN, Tan SG
    Gene, 2013 Apr 15;518(2):412-8.
    PMID: 23328646 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.12.084
    Termites from the genus Odontotermes are known to contain numerous species complexes that are difficult to tell apart morphologically or with mitochondrial DNA sequences. We developed markers for one such cryptic species complex, that is, Odontotermes srinakarinensis sp. nov. from Maxwell Hill Forest Reserve (Perak, Malaysia), and characterised them using a sample of 41 termite workers from three voucher samples from the same area. We then genotyped 150 termite individuals from 23 voucher samples/colonies of this species complex from several sites in Peninsular Malaysia. We analysed their population by constructing dendograms from the proportion of shared-alleles between individuals and genetic distances between colonies; additionally, we examined the Bayesian clustering pattern of their genotype data. All methods of analysis indicated that there were two distinct clusters within our data set. After the morphologies of specimens from each cluster were reexamined, we were able to separate the two species morphologically and found that a single diagnostic character found on the mandibles of its soldiers could be used to separate the two species quite accurately. The additional species in the clade was identified as Odontotermes denticulatus after it was matched to type specimens at the NHM London and Cambridge Museum of Zoology.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Sequence; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics; Genotype; Malaysia; Phylogeny; Species Specificity; Genetic Variation; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Microsatellite Repeats*; Isoptera/classification*; Isoptera/genetics*
  19. Health-related quality of life improvement via telemedicine for epilepsy: printed versus SMS-based education intervention
    Lua PL, Neni WS
    Qual Life Res, 2013 Oct;22(8):2123-32.
    PMID: 23329469 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-013-0352-6
    BACKGROUND: Improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people with epilepsy (PWE) has become the focus of various treatment programmes and behavioural interventions which continue to be challenging to both patients and healthcare professionals.

    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of SMS-based epilepsy education programme on PWE's HRQoL status and to determine the predictors for good HRQoL.

    METHODS: Eligible epilepsy out-patients from three public hospitals in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia were randomized into two groups: intervention (IG) and control (CG). Patients in the CG were supplied with only printed epilepsy educational module, while those in the IG additionally received short message service (SMS) from the Mobile Epilepsy Educational System (MEES). The Malay Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-30 (MQOLIE-30) was utilized for HRQoL assessment. Descriptive statistics, paired t test, analysis of covariance and multiple logistic regression were employed for data analyses (SPSS 16).

    RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four PWE were recruited for the study (age = 30.5 ± 11.8; unmarried = 60.4 %; education level ≤ SPM/Cambridge O' level = 76.4 %; illness duration > 5 years = 51.1 %). After controlling for possible confounders, IG exhibited positive changes in HRQoL profile compared to CG particularly in Seizure Worry, Overall Quality of Life, Emotional Well-Being, Social Functioning and Overall Score (p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, being employed and receiving additional SMS-based epilepsy education programme emerged as the significant predictors of good HRQoL among PWE.

    CONCLUSION: Receiving continuous SMS-based epilepsy information from the MEES seemed to generate positive impacts on PWE's overall HRQoL. This study has provided a basis for future innovations to inspire efforts in ensuring the welfare and HRQoL of PWE and their families.

    Study site: Eligible epilepsy out-patients from three public hospitals in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adult; Epilepsy/psychology*; Epilepsy/therapy; Female; Health Status*; Hospitals, General; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Outpatients; Pamphlets*; Patient Education as Topic/methods*; Quality of Life/psychology*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Telemedicine/methods*; Cell Phones; Young Adult; Text Messaging*
  20. Fulltext Neglected subtalar dislocation with unstable foot; to walk away or step our foot in?
    Bajuri MY, Johan RR, Bahari SI
    BMJ Case Rep, 2013;2013.
    PMID: 23329712 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-007697
    Chronic neglected subtalar dislocation associated with a non-union talar neck fracture is rare and never documented before. The lack of information from the literature on the optimal management prompted us to describe our experience in the management of this condition. We reported a case of a 57-year-old women presented with this injury. A satisfactory outcome was obtained using a tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis through a plantar approach.
    MeSH terms: Arthrodesis/methods*; Dislocations/diagnosis; Dislocations/etiology*; Dislocations/surgery; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Subtalar Joint/injuries*; Subtalar Joint/surgery; Talus/injuries*; Talus/surgery; Walking*; Fractures, Bone/complications*; Fractures, Bone/diagnosis; Fractures, Bone/surgery; Neglected Diseases*
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