Browse publications by year: 2014

  1. Fulltext Absence of Helicobacter pylori is not protective against peptic ulcer bleeding in elderly on offending agents: lessons from an exceptionally low prevalence population
    Lee YY, Noridah N, Syed Hassan SA, Menon J
    PeerJ, 2014;2:e257.
    PMID: 24688841 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.257
    Aim. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is exceptionally rare in population from the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia. This provides us an opportunity to contemplate the future without H. pylori in acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Methods. All cases in the GI registry with GI bleeding between 2003 and 2006 were reviewed. Cases with confirmed non-variceal aetiology were analysed. Rockall score > 5 was considered high risk for bleeding and primary outcomes studied were in-hospital mortality, recurrent bleeding and need for surgery. Results. The incidence of non-variceal upper GI bleeding was 2.2/100,000 person-years. Peptic ulcer bleeding was the most common aetiology (1.8/100,000 person-years). In-hospital mortality (3.6%), recurrent bleeding (9.6%) and need for surgery (4.0%) were uncommon in this population with a largely low risk score (85.2% with score ≤5). Elderly were at greater risk for bleeding (mean 68.5 years, P = 0.01) especially in the presence of duodenal ulcers (P = 0.04) despite gastric ulcers being more common. NSAIDs, aspirin and co-morbidities were the main risk factors. Conclusions. The absence of H. pylori infection may not reduce the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding in the presence of risk factors especially offending drugs in the elderly.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aspirin; Duodenal Ulcer; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Malaysia; Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage; Registries; Risk Factors; Stomach Ulcer; Incidence; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter Infections; Hospital Mortality; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
  2. Fulltext Chemodynamics of methyl parathion and ethyl parathion: adsorption models for sustainable agriculture
    Tabassum N, Rafique U, Balkhair KS, Ashraf MA
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:831989.
    PMID: 24689059 DOI: 10.1155/2014/831989
    The toxicity of organophosphate insecticides for nontarget organism has been the subject of extensive research for sustainable agriculture. Pakistan has banned the use of methyl/ethyl parathions, but they are still illegally used. The present study is an attempt to estimate the residual concentration and to suggest remedial solution of adsorption by different types of soils collected and characterized for physicochemical parameters. Sorption of pesticides in soil or other porous media is an important process regulating pesticide transport and degradation. The percentage removal of methyl parathion and ethyl parathion was determined through UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 276 nm and 277 nm, respectively. The results indicate that agricultural soil as compared to barren soil is more efficient adsorbent for both insecticides, at optimum batch condition of pH 7. The equilibrium between adsorbate and adsorbent was attained in 12 hours. Methyl parathion is removed more efficiently (by seven orders of magnitude) than ethyl parathion. It may be attributed to more available binding sites and less steric hindrance of methyl parathion. Adsorption kinetics indicates that a good correlation exists between distribution coefficient (Kd) and soil organic carbon. A general increase in Kd is noted with increase in induced concentration due to the formation of bound or aged residue.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Agriculture*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Methyl Parathion/chemistry*; Models, Chemical*; Parathion/chemistry*; Soil; Temperature; Time Factors
  3. Rare postpartum ruptured degenerated fibroid: a case report
    Tan YL, Naidu A
    J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 2014 May;40(5):1423-5.
    PMID: 24689652 DOI: 10.1111/jog.12334
    Spontaneous rupture of uterine fibroid is rarely encountered. We present a case of a 31-year-old who presented with acute abdominal pain at 9 weeks postpartum. On examination, the abdomen had diffuse tenderness, with rebound tenderness in the suprapubic area and in both iliac fossae. On ultrasonography, a 12.7 × 8.6 × 8.9-cm sized hyperechoic mass was visible on the posterior wall of the uterus. A large amount of fluid was visible in the paracolic gutters and the Pouch of Douglas (POD). The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy. A ruptured, cystic degenerated uterine fibroid with active bleeding was found, as well as approximately half a liter of free, bloodstained peritoneal fluid and pus. Myomectomy was performed, followed by evacuation of the fluid and clots. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. In conclusion, preoperative diagnosis of a perforated, uterine fibroid with spontaneous intra-abdominal hemorrhage is difficult; exploratory laparotomy is both diagnostic and therapeutic in this rare, life-threatening condition.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Laparotomy; Leiomyoma/surgery*; Pregnancy; Rupture, Spontaneous; Uterine Neoplasms/surgery*; Postpartum Period
  4. Fulltext Identification of novel pathogenic copy number aberrations in multiple myeloma: the Malaysian context
    Ivyna Bong PN, Ng CC, Lam KY, Megat Baharuddin PJ, Chang KM, Zakaria Z
    Mol Cytogenet, 2014;7(1):24.
    PMID: 24690091 DOI: 10.1186/1755-8166-7-24
    Multiple myeloma is an incurable disease. Little is known about the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma. The risk of multiple myeloma predispositions varies among different ethnicities. More than 50% of myeloma cases showed normal karyotypes with conventional cytogenetic analysis due to the low mitotic activity and content of plasma cells in the bone marrow. In the present study, high resolution array comparative genomic hybridization technique was used to identify copy number aberrations in 63 multiple myeloma patients of Malaysia.
  5. Fulltext Massively parallel sequencing of patients with intellectual disability, congenital anomalies and/or autism spectrum disorders with a targeted gene panel
    Brett M, McPherson J, Zang ZJ, Lai A, Tan ES, Ng I, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e93409.
    PMID: 24690944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093409
    Developmental delay and/or intellectual disability (DD/ID) affects 1-3% of all children. At least half of these are thought to have a genetic etiology. Recent studies have shown that massively parallel sequencing (MPS) using a targeted gene panel is particularly suited for diagnostic testing for genetically heterogeneous conditions. We report on our experiences with using massively parallel sequencing of a targeted gene panel of 355 genes for investigating the genetic etiology of eight patients with a wide range of phenotypes including DD/ID, congenital anomalies and/or autism spectrum disorder. Targeted sequence enrichment was performed using the Agilent SureSelect Target Enrichment Kit and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq2000 using paired-end reads. For all eight patients, 81-84% of the targeted regions achieved read depths of at least 20×, with average read depths overlapping targets ranging from 322× to 798×. Causative variants were successfully identified in two of the eight patients: a nonsense mutation in the ATRX gene and a canonical splice site mutation in the L1CAM gene. In a third patient, a canonical splice site variant in the USP9X gene could likely explain all or some of her clinical phenotypes. These results confirm the value of targeted MPS for investigating DD/ID in children for diagnostic purposes. However, targeted gene MPS was less likely to provide a genetic diagnosis for children whose phenotype includes autism.
    MeSH terms: Congenital Abnormalities/diagnosis; Congenital Abnormalities/genetics*; Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics*; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Intellectual Disability/diagnosis; Intellectual Disability/genetics*; Mutation; Phenotype; Genetic Variation; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Gene Expression Profiling; RNA Splice Sites; Genome-Wide Association Study*; Genetic Association Studies; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing*
  6. Fulltext Regional changes in charcoal-burning suicide rates in East/Southeast Asia from 1995 to 2011: a time trend analysis
    Chang SS, Chen YY, Yip PS, Lee WJ, Hagihara A, Gunnell D
    PLoS Med, 2014 Apr;11(4):e1001622.
    PMID: 24691071 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001622
    BACKGROUND: Suicides by carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from burning barbecue charcoal reached epidemic levels in Hong Kong and Taiwan within 5 y of the first reported cases in the early 2000s. The objectives of this analysis were to investigate (i) time trends and regional patterns of charcoal-burning suicide throughout East/Southeast Asia during the time period 1995-2011 and (ii) whether any rises in use of this method were associated with increases in overall suicide rates. Sex- and age-specific trends over time were also examined to identify the demographic groups showing the greatest increases in charcoal-burning suicide rates across different countries.

    METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used data on suicides by gases other than domestic gas for Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore in the years 1995/1996-2011. Similar data for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand were also extracted but were incomplete. Graphical and joinpoint regression analyses were used to examine time trends in suicide, and negative binomial regression analysis to study sex- and age-specific patterns. In 1995/1996, charcoal-burning suicides accounted for <1% of all suicides in all study countries, except in Japan (5%), but they increased to account for 13%, 24%, 10%, 7%, and 5% of all suicides in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, respectively, in 2011. Rises were first seen in Hong Kong after 1998 (95% CI 1997-1999), followed by Singapore in 1999 (95% CI 1998-2001), Taiwan in 2000 (95% CI 1999-2001), Japan in 2002 (95% CI 1999-2003), and the Republic of Korea in 2007 (95% CI 2006-2008). No marked increases were seen in Malaysia, the Philippines, or Thailand. There was some evidence that charcoal-burning suicides were associated with an increase in overall suicide rates in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan (for females), but not in Japan (for males), the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Rates of change in charcoal-burning suicide rate did not differ by sex/age group in Taiwan and Hong Kong but appeared to be greatest in people aged 15-24 y in Japan and people aged 25-64 y in the Republic of Korea. The lack of specific codes for charcoal-burning suicide in the International Classification of Diseases and variations in coding practice in different countries are potential limitations of this study.

    CONCLUSIONS: Charcoal-burning suicides increased markedly in some East/Southeast Asian countries (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore) in the first decade of the 21st century, but such rises were not experienced by all countries in the region. In countries with a rise in charcoal-burning suicide rates, the timing, scale, and sex/age pattern of increases varied by country. Factors underlying these variations require further investigation, but may include differences in culture or in media portrayals of the method. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/etiology; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/epidemiology*; Charcoal*; Far East/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Suicide/trends; Suicide/statistics & numerical data*; Incidence; Young Adult
  7. Fulltext C-phycocyanin confers protection against oxalate-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in MDCK cells
    Farooq SM, Boppana NB, Devarajan A, Asokan D, Sekaran SD, Shankar EM, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e93056.
    PMID: 24691130 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093056
    Oxalate toxicity is mediated through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via a process that is partly dependent on mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we investigated whether C-phycocyanin (CP) could protect against oxidative stress-mediated intracellular damage triggered by oxalate in MDCK cells. DCFDA, a fluorescence-based probe and hexanoyl-lysine adduct (HEL), an oxidative stress marker were used to investigate the effect of CP on oxalate-induced ROS production and membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO). The role of CP against oxalate-induced oxidative stress was studied by the evaluation of mitochondrial membrane potential by JC1 fluorescein staining, quantification of ATP synthesis and stress-induced MAP kinases (JNK/SAPK and ERK1/2). Our results revealed that oxalate-induced cells show markedly increased ROS levels and HEL protein expression that were significantly decreased following pre-treatment with CP. Further, JC1 staining showed that CP pre-treatment conferred significant protection from mitochondrial membrane permeability and increased ATP production in CP-treated cells than oxalate-alone-treated cells. In addition, CP treated cells significantly decreased the expression of phosphorylated JNK/SAPK and ERK1/2 as compared to oxalate-alone-treated cells. We concluded that CP could be used as a potential free radical-scavenging therapeutic strategy against oxidative stress-associated diseases including urolithiasis.
    MeSH terms: Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism; Animals; Cell Survival/drug effects; Dogs; Enzyme Activation/drug effects; Mitochondria/drug effects; Mitochondria/metabolism; Mitochondria/pathology*; Oxalates/toxicity*; Phycocyanin/pharmacology*; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*; Cytoprotection/drug effects*; Protective Agents/pharmacology; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  8. [Socio-anthropological perspective of the under nutrition care of cancer patients]
    Fontas M, Poulain JP, Souquet PJ, Laville M, Giboreau A, Bensafi M, et al.
    Bull Cancer, 2014 Mar;101(3):258-65.
    PMID: 24691190 DOI: 10.1684/bdc.2014.1905
    The diet of the cancer patient is a major focus of prevention and treatment strategy of the recent plans that fight against cancer. It is sometimes reduced to a rapid series of more or less general advice, often interfered by other sources of information, more or less conventional. In this pathological situation where the nutritional status of the patient is paramount, it seems crucial to understand the different modalities of how the food behavior is implemented. This article describes the construction modalities of the cancer eater decisions. The goal of the socio-anthropological analysis proposed in this article is to initiate a reflection on the under nutrition problem by focusing on the approach of the eater diagnosed with cancer. The aim is to help identify ways of action to fight against under nutrition and improve the quality of life of the patient.
    MeSH terms: Diet*; Humans; Neoplasms/complications*; Neoplasms/diet therapy; Neoplasms/psychology; Nutritional Status*; Quality of Life*; Nutrition Policy*; Malnutrition/etiology; Malnutrition/prevention & control*; Information Seeking Behavior
  9. Molecular structure, FT-IR, first order hyperpolarizability, NBO analysis, HOMO and LUMO analysis of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl 3-methylbenzoate by HF and density functional methods
    Chidan Kumar CS, Panicker CY, Fun HK, Mary YS, Harikumar B, Chandraju S, et al.
    Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2014 Jul 15;128:327-36.
    PMID: 24691363 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.02.185
    2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl 3-methylbenzoate is synthesized by reacting 4-chlorophenacyl bromide with 2-methylbenzoic acid using a slight excess of potassium or sodium carbonate in DMF medium at room temperature. The structure of the compound was confirmed by IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. FT-IR spectrum of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl-3-nitrobenzoate was recorded and analyzed. The crystal structure is also described. The vibrational wavenumbers were computed using HF and DFT methods and are assigned with the help of potential energy distribution method. The first hyperpolarizability and infrared intensities are also reported. The geometrical parameters of the title compound obtained from XRD studies are in agreement with the calculated (DFT) values. The stability of the molecule arising from hyper-conjugative interaction and charge delocalization has been analyzed using NBO analysis. The HOMO and LUMO analysis are used to determine the charge transfer within the molecule. MEP was performed by the DFT method.
    MeSH terms: Benzoates/chemical synthesis*; Benzoates/chemistry*; Models, Molecular*; Molecular Structure; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Crystallography, X-Ray
  10. Optimal selection of mother wavelet for accurate infant cry classification
    Saraswathy J, Hariharan M, Nadarajaw T, Khairunizam W, Yaacob S
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2014 Jun;37(2):439-56.
    PMID: 24691930 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-014-0264-y
    Wavelet theory is emerging as one of the prevalent tool in signal and image processing applications. However, the most suitable mother wavelet for these applications is still a relative question mark amongst researchers. Selection of best mother wavelet through parameterization leads to better findings for the analysis in comparison to random selection. The objective of this article is to compare the performance of the existing members of mother wavelets and to select the most suitable mother wavelet for accurate infant cry classification. Optimal wavelet is found using three different criteria namely the degree of similarity of mother wavelets, regularity of mother wavelets and accuracy of correct recognition during classification processes. Recorded normal and pathological infant cry signals are decomposed into five levels using wavelet packet transform. Energy and entropy features are extracted at different sub bands of cry signals and their effectiveness are tested with four supervised neural network architectures. Findings of this study expound that, the Finite impulse response based approximation of Meyer is the best wavelet candidate for accurate infant cry classification analysis.
    MeSH terms: Crying/physiology*; Humans; Infant; Databases, Factual; Neural Networks (Computer)*; Wavelet Analysis*
  11. Modeling of crude oil biodegradation using two phase partitioning bioreactor
    Fakhru'l-Razi A, Peyda M, Ab Karim Ghani WA, Abidin ZZ, Zakaria MP, Moeini H
    Biotechnol Prog, 2014 Jul-Aug;30(4):797-805.
    PMID: 24692323 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1911
    In this work, crude oil biodegradation has been optimized in a solid-liquid two phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) by applying a response surface methodology based d-optimal design. Three key factors including phase ratio, substrate concentration in solid organic phase, and sodium chloride concentration in aqueous phase were taken as independent variables, while the efficiency of the biodegradation of absorbed crude oil on polymer beads was considered to be the dependent variable. Commercial thermoplastic polyurethane (Desmopan®) was used as the solid phase in the TPPB. The designed experiments were carried out batch wise using a mixed acclimatized bacterial consortium. Optimum combinations of key factors with a statistically significant cubic model were used to maximize biodegradation in the TPPB. The validity of the model was successfully verified by the good agreement between the model-predicted and experimental results. When applying the optimum parameters, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed a significant reduction in n-alkanes and low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This consequently highlights the practical applicability of TPPB in crude oil biodegradation.
    MeSH terms: Biodegradation, Environmental*; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Petroleum*; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/chemistry*; Polymers/chemistry*; Biofilms; Bioreactors; Phase Transition
  12. Fulltext Expanded DEMATEL for determining cause and effect group in bidirectional relations
    Falatoonitoosi E, Ahmed S, Sorooshian S
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:103846.
    PMID: 24693224 DOI: 10.1155/2014/103846
    Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology has been proposed to solve complex and intertwined problem groups in many situations such as developing the capabilities, complex group decision making, security problems, marketing approaches, global managers, and control systems. DEMATEL is able to realize casual relationships by dividing important issues into cause and effect group as well as making it possible to visualize the casual relationships of subcriteria and systems in the course of casual diagram that it may demonstrate communication network or a little control relationships between individuals. Despite of its ability to visualize cause and effect inside a network, the original DEMATEL has not been able to find the cause and effect group between different networks. Therefore, the aim of this study is proposing the expanded DEMATEL to cover this deficiency by new formulations to determine cause and effect factors between separate networks that have bidirectional direct impact on each other. At the end, the feasibility of new extra formulations is validated by case study in three numerical examples of green supply chain networks for an automotive company.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Computer Simulation; Decision Support Techniques*; Software*; Models, Statistical*; Fuzzy Logic*
  13. Fulltext SEM-PLS analysis of inhibiting factors of cost performance for large construction projects in Malaysia: perspective of clients and consultants
    Memon AH, Rahman IA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:165158.
    PMID: 24693227 DOI: 10.1155/2014/165158
    This study uncovered inhibiting factors to cost performance in large construction projects of Malaysia. Questionnaire survey was conducted among clients and consultants involved in large construction projects. In the questionnaire, a total of 35 inhibiting factors grouped in 7 categories were presented to the respondents for rating significant level of each factor. A total of 300 questionnaire forms were distributed. Only 144 completed sets were received and analysed using advanced multivariate statistical software of Structural Equation Modelling (SmartPLS v2). The analysis involved three iteration processes where several of the factors were deleted in order to make the model acceptable. The result of the analysis found that R(2) value of the model is 0.422 which indicates that the developed model has a substantial impact on cost performance. Based on the final form of the model, contractor's site management category is the most prominent in exhibiting effect on cost performance of large construction projects. This finding is validated using advanced techniques of power analysis. This vigorous multivariate analysis has explicitly found the significant category which consists of several causative factors to poor cost performance in large construction projects. This will benefit all parties involved in construction projects for controlling cost overrun.
    MeSH terms: Computer Simulation; Construction Materials/economics*; Construction Materials/statistics & numerical data*; Cost Control; Malaysia; Referral and Consultation/economics*; Models, Statistical*; Models, Economic*; Construction Industry/economics*; Construction Industry/statistics & numerical data*
  14. Fulltext A preliminary study of biodegradable waste as sorbent material for oil-spill cleanup
    Idris J, Eyu GD, Mansor AM, Ahmad Z, Chukwuekezie CS
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:638687.
    PMID: 24693241 DOI: 10.1155/2014/638687
    Oil spill constitutes a major source of fresh and seawater pollution as a result of accidental discharge from tankers, marine engines, and underwater pipes. Therefore, the need for cost-effective and environmental friendly sorbent materials for oil spill cleanup cannot be overemphasized. The present work focuses on the preliminary study of empty palm fruit bunch fibre as a promising sorbent material. The morphology of the unmodified empty palm fruit bunch, EPFB fibre, was examined using an optical microcopy, scanning electron microcopy coupled with EDX and X-ray diffraction. The effects of oil volume, fibre weight, and time on oil absorption of EPFB fibre were evaluated with new engine oil from the model oil. The results show that EPFB fibre consists of numerous micro pores, hydrophobic, and partially crystalline and amorphous with approximately 13.5% carbon. The oil absorbency of the fibre increased with the increase in oil volume, immersion time, and fibre weight. However, sorption capacity decreased beyond 3 g in 100 mL. Additionally unmodified EPFB fibre showed optimum oil sorption efficiency of approximately 2.8 g/g within three days of immersion time.
    MeSH terms: Absorption; Biodegradation, Environmental*; Waste Products*; Arecaceae/chemistry*; Petroleum Pollution*
  15. Fulltext Bioinspired evolutionary algorithm based for improving network coverage in wireless sensor networks
    Abbasi M, Bin Abd Latiff MS, Chizari H
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:839486.
    PMID: 24693247 DOI: 10.1155/2014/839486
    Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) include sensor nodes in which each node is able to monitor the physical area and send collected information to the base station for further analysis. The important key of WSNs is detection and coverage of target area which is provided by random deployment. This paper reviews and addresses various area detection and coverage problems in sensor network. This paper organizes many scenarios for applying sensor node movement for improving network coverage based on bioinspired evolutionary algorithm and explains the concern and objective of controlling sensor node coverage. We discuss area coverage and target detection model by evolutionary algorithm.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Computing Methodologies; Remote Sensing Technology/methods*
  16. Fulltext Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds, Pharmaceutical Quality, and Anticancer Activity of Curry Leaf (Murraya koenigii L.)
    Ghasemzadeh A, Jaafar HZ, Rahmat A, Devarajan T
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014;2014:873803.
    PMID: 24693327 DOI: 10.1155/2014/873803
    In this study, we investigated some bioactive compounds and pharmaceutical qualities of curry leaf (Murraya koenigii L.) extracts from three different locations in Malaysia. The highest TF and total phenolic (TP) contents were observed in the extracts from Kelantan (3.771 and 14.371 mg/g DW), followed by Selangor (3.146 and 12.272 mg/g DW) and Johor (2.801 and 12.02 mg/g DW), respectively. High quercetin (0.350 mg/g DW), catechin (0.325 mg/g DW), epicatechin (0.678 mg/g DW), naringin (0.203 mg/g DW), and myricetin (0.703 mg/g DW) levels were observed in the extracts from Kelantan, while the highest rutin content (0.082 mg/g DW) was detected in the leaves from Selangor. The curry leaf extract from Kelantan exhibited higher concentration of gallic acid (0.933 mg/g DW) than that from Selangor (0.904 mg/g DW) and Johor (0.813 mg/g DW). Among the studied samples, the ones from Kelantan exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity (DPPH, 66.41%) and ferric reduction activity potential (FRAP, 644.25  μ m of Fe(II)/g) followed by those from Selangor (60.237% and 598.37  μ m of Fe(II)/g) and Johor (50.76% and 563.42  μ m of Fe(II)/g), respectively. A preliminary screening showed that the curry leaf extracts from all the locations exhibited significant anticarcinogenic effects inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and maximum inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cell was observed with the curry leaf extract from Kelantan. Based on these results, it is concluded that Malaysian curry leaf collected from the North (Kelantan) might be potential source of potent natural antioxidant and beneficial chemopreventive agents.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants; Catechin; Flavonoids; Gallic Acid; Humans; Malaysia; Phenols; Quercetin; Rutin; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Murraya; Flavanones; Early Detection of Cancer; MCF-7 Cells
  17. Fulltext Genetic diversity, haplotypes and allele groups of Duffy binding protein (PkDBPαII) of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia
    Fong MY, Lau YL, Chang PY, Anthony CN
    Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:161.
    PMID: 24693997 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-161
    The monkey malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is now recognized as the fifth species of Plasmodium that can cause human malaria. Like the region II of the Duffy binding protein of P. vivax (PvDBPII), the region II of the P. knowlesi Duffy binding protein (PkDBPαII) plays an essential role in the parasite's invasion into the host's erythrocyte. Numerous polymorphism studies have been carried out on PvDBPII, but none has been reported on PkDBPαII. In this study, the genetic diversity, haplotyes and allele groups of PkDBPαII of P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia were investigated.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Haplotypes*; Humans; Macaca fascicularis; Malaria/epidemiology; Malaria/parasitology; Malaria/veterinary*; Malaysia; Molecular Sequence Data; Selection, Genetic; Genetic Variation*; Protozoan Proteins/genetics; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism*; Plasmodium knowlesi/genetics; Plasmodium knowlesi/metabolism*
  18. An uncommon mediastinal cyst with a rare neurologic consequence
    Sivalingam S, Qureshi AU, Chern LM, Latiff HA
    Ann Thorac Surg, 2014 Apr;97(4):e93-5.
    PMID: 24694456 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.12.060
    Enteric cysts are uncommon posterior mediastinal cysts, usually presenting with respiratory symptoms in infancy. We present a rare case of posterior mediastinal enteric cyst extending from below the diaphragm and perforating into the left atrium, causing a thromboembolic cerebral infarct in a 5-year-old boy.
    MeSH terms: Cerebral Infarction/etiology*; Child, Preschool; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Cyst/complications*; Intracranial Embolism/etiology*; Intracranial Thrombosis/etiology*
  19. Elective proximal lower limb amputation in spinal cord injury patients with chronic pressure ulcers: improve quality of life, function, and shorten hospital stay. Case report
    Yusmido YA, Hisamud-Din N, Mazlan M
    Eur J Phys Rehabil Med, 2014 Oct;50(5):557-60.
    PMID: 24694951
    Pressure ulcers are common among patients with spinal cord injury and can be very challenging to treat. The treatment involves multidisciplinary approach and ranges from simple pressure relieve and wound dressings to a more radical treatment like proximal lower limb amputations, especially in chronic cases with potential detrimental effects to physical and mental health.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Amputation*; Chronic Disease; Pressure Ulcer/etiology; Pressure Ulcer/prevention & control*; Pressure Ulcer/surgery*; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Spinal Cord Injuries/complications*; Spinal Cord Injuries/rehabilitation; Thoracic Vertebrae; Elective Surgical Procedures*; Lower Extremity*
  20. Fulltext Integrated analysis of copy number variation and genome-wide expression profiling in colorectal cancer tissues
    Ali Hassan NZ, Mokhtar NM, Kok Sin T, Mohamed Rose I, Sagap I, Harun R, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e92553.
    PMID: 24694993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092553
    Integrative analyses of multiple genomic datasets for selected samples can provide better insight into the overall data and can enhance our knowledge of cancer. The objective of this study was to elucidate the association between copy number variation (CNV) and gene expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) samples and their corresponding non-cancerous tissues. Sixty-four paired CRC samples from the same patients were subjected to CNV profiling using the Illumina HumanOmni1-Quad assay, and validation was performed using multiplex ligation probe amplification method. Genome-wide expression profiling was performed on 15 paired samples from the same group of patients using the Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST array. Significant genes obtained from both array results were then overlapped. To identify molecular pathways, the data were mapped to the KEGG database. Whole genome CNV analysis that compared primary tumor and non-cancerous epithelium revealed gains in 1638 genes and losses in 36 genes. Significant gains were mostly found in chromosome 20 at position 20q12 with a frequency of 45.31% in tumor samples. Examples of genes that were associated at this cytoband were PTPRT, EMILIN3 and CHD6. The highest number of losses was detected at chromosome 8, position 8p23.2 with 17.19% occurrence in all tumor samples. Among the genes found at this cytoband were CSMD1 and DLC1. Genome-wide expression profiling showed 709 genes to be up-regulated and 699 genes to be down-regulated in CRC compared to non-cancerous samples. Integration of these two datasets identified 56 overlapping genes, which were located in chromosomes 8, 20 and 22. MLPA confirmed that the CRC samples had the highest gains in chromosome 20 compared to the reference samples. Interpretation of the CNV data in the context of the transcriptome via integrative analyses may provide more in-depth knowledge of the genomic landscape of CRC.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20/genetics; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8/genetics; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*; Gene Dosage*; Gene Expression Profiling*; Genes, Neoplasm*; Genome-Wide Association Study
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