Browse publications by year: 2014

Fulltext Periorbital oedema after dental extraction: a case study

Lim JL

Aust Fam Physician, 2014 Aug;43(8):543-4.
PMID: 25114991

Keywords: Dental extraction; Periorbital oedema; Quiz

MeSH terms: Adult; Edema/etiology*; Face; Female; Humans; Orbital Diseases/etiology*; Subcutaneous Emphysema/diagnosis*; Subcutaneous Emphysema/etiology*; Subcutaneous Emphysema/therapy; Tooth Extraction/adverse effects*
Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in a sample of migrant workers in the manufacturing industry in Malaysia

Santos A, Ramos HM, Ramasamy G, Fernandes C

Public Health, 2014 Aug;128(8):759-61.
PMID: 25115577 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2014.04.003
MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Industry*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology*; Transients and Migrants/statistics & numerical data*; Prevalence; Young Adult; Musculoskeletal Pain/epidemiology*
Fulltext Comparative study of the metal accumulation in Hysterothalycium reliquens (nematode) and Paraphilometroides nemipteri (nematode) as compared with their doubly infected host, Nemipterus peronii (Notched threadfin bream)

Mazhar R, Shazili NA, Harrison FS

Parasitol Res, 2014 Oct;113(10):3737-43.
PMID: 25115732 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4039-x

In February 2013, forty-seven Notched threadfin bream, the Nemipterus peronii, were sampled from the eastern coastal waters of the South China Sea. The concentration of various elements, namely cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), strontium (Sr), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), Lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) were analyzed in the liver, muscle, and kidney organs of the host, as well as in their parasites Hysterothalycium reliquens (nematode) and the Paraphilometroides nemipteri (nematode), using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The former group of parasites showed highest accumulation capacity for Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Ni, and Zn while the latter group had high accumulation potential of As, Hg, Cd, Al, Pb, and Sr. The divergence in heavy-metal accumulation profiles of both nematodes is linked with the specificity of microhabitats, cuticle morphology, and interspecific competition. The outcome of this study indicates that both parasite models can be used for biomonitoring of metal pollution in marine ecosystems.

MeSH terms: Animals; Ascaridoidea/metabolism*; Environmental Monitoring/methods; Fish Diseases/metabolism; Fish Diseases/parasitology; Kidney/metabolism; Liver/metabolism; Malaysia; Metals/analysis; Metals/metabolism*; Muscles/metabolism; Oceans and Seas; Perciformes/metabolism*; Perciformes/parasitology*; Mass Spectrometry/methods; Mass Spectrometry/veterinary; Dracunculoidea/metabolism*; Ascaridida Infections/metabolism; Ascaridida Infections/parasitology; Ascaridida Infections/veterinary; Spirurida Infections/metabolism; Spirurida Infections/parasitology; Spirurida Infections/veterinary; Metals, Heavy/analysis; Metals, Heavy/metabolism
The major bioactive components of seaweeds and their mosquitocidal potential

Yu KX, Jantan I, Ahmad R, Wong CL

Parasitol Res, 2014 Sep;113(9):3121-41.
PMID: 25115733 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4068-5

Seaweeds are one of the most widely studied natural resources for their biological activities. Novel seaweed compounds with unique chemical structures have been reported for their pharmacological properties. The urge to search for novel insecticidal compound with a new mode of action for development of botanical insecticides supports the relevant scientific research on discovering the bioactive compounds in seaweeds. The mosquitocidal potential of seaweed extracts and their isolated compounds are documented in this review paper, along with the discussion on bioactivities of the major components of seaweeds such as polysaccharides, phenolics, proteins, terpenes, lipids, and halogenated compounds. The effects of seaweed extracts and compounds toward different life stages of mosquito (egg, larva, pupa, and adult), its growth, development, and reproduction are elaborated. The structure-activity relationships of mosquitocidal compounds are discussed to extrapolate the possible chemical characteristics of seaweed compounds responsible for insecticidal properties. Furthermore, the possible target sites and mode of actions of the mosquitocidal seaweed compounds are included in this paper. The potential synergistic effects between seaweeds and commercial insecticides as well as the toxic effects of seaweed extracts and compounds toward other insects and non-target organisms in the same habitat are also described. On top of that, various factors that influence the mosquitocidal potential of seaweeds, such as abiotic and biotic variables, sample preparation, test procedures, and considerations for a precise experimental design are discussed. The potential of active seaweed extracts and compounds in the development of effective bioinsecticide are also discussed.

MeSH terms: Animals; Insecticides/pharmacology*; Insecticides/chemistry*; Culicidae/drug effects*; Seaweed/chemistry*
Fulltext Antiretroviral drug resistance and HIV-1 subtypes among treatment-naive prisoners in Kelantan, Malaysia

Ariffin TA, Mohamad S, Yusuf WN, Shueb RH

J Infect Dev Ctries, 2014 Aug;8(8):1063-7.
PMID: 25116676 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.4095

INTRODUCTION: The widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and continuous reports of HIV-1 strains developing resistance to these drugs is rather alarming, as transmission of resistant viruses to newly infected persons is possible. This study aimed to determine HIV-1 subtypes and the prevalence of primary mutations associated with antiretroviral (ARV) resistance among treatment-naive prisoners on the east coast of Malaysia.
METHODOLOGY: Viral RNA was extracted from plasma samples of 21 treatment-naive prisoners. Protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) regions were amplified and sequenced. Stanford HIV database algorithms were used for interpretation of resistance, and phylogenetic analysis was performed for subtype assignment.
RESULTS: In the PR gene, no antiviral resistance-associated mutation was detected. For RT-associated mutations, K103N was the most prevalent in sequenced samples (14.3%). Genetic subtyping on the pol gene revealed that the majority of the prisoners were infected with subtype CRF33_01B (52.4%).
CONCLUSION: Continuous surveillance of newly infected individuals is required to help strategize the best antiviral treatment for these patients.

MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Genotype; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Phylogeny; Prisoners*; RNA, Viral/genetics; RNA, Viral/isolation & purification; HIV-1/classification; HIV-1/drug effects*; HIV-1/genetics*; HIV-1/isolation & purification; HIV Infections/epidemiology*; HIV Infections/virology*; Prevalence; Cluster Analysis; HIV Protease/genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Drug Resistance, Viral*; Anti-Retroviral Agents/pharmacology*; HIV Reverse Transcriptase/genetics; Young Adult; Genotyping Techniques
Fulltext Effect of environmental enrichment exposure on neuronal morphology of streptozotocin-induced diabetic and stressed rat hippocampus

Pamidi N, Nayak S

Biomed J, 2014 Jul-Aug;37(4):225-31.
PMID: 25116719 DOI: 10.4103/2319-4170.125651

BACKGROUND: Environmental enrichment (EE) exposure is known to influence the structural changes in the neuronal network of hippocampus. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of EE exposure on the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic and stressed rat hippocampus.
METHODS: Male albino rats of Wistar strain (4-5 weeks old) were grouped into normal control (NC), vehicle control (VC), diabetes (DI), diabetes + stress (DI + S), diabetes + EE (DI + E), and diabetes + stress + EE (DI + S + E) groups (n = 8 in each group). Rats were exposed to stress and EE after inducing diabetes with STZ (40 mg/kg). Rats were sacrificed on Day 30 and brain sections were processed for cresyl violet staining to quantify the number of surviving neurons in the CA1, CA3, and dentate hilus (DH) regions of hippocampus.
RESULTS: A significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the number of survived neurons was noticed in DI (CA1, 34.06 ± 3.2; CA3, 36.1 ± 3.62; DH, 9.83 ± 2.02) as well as DI + S (CA1, 14.03 ± 3.12; CA3, 20.27 ± 4.09; DH, 6.4 ± 1.21) group rats compared to NC rats (CA1, 53.64 ± 2.96; CA3, 62.1 ± 3.34; DH, 21.11 ± 1.03). A significant (p < 0.001) increase in the number of survived neurons was observed in DI + E (CA1, 42.3 ± 3.66; CA3, 46.73 ± 4.74; DH, 17.03 ± 2.19) and DI + S + E (CA1, 29.69 ± 4.47; CA3, 36.73 ± 3.89; DH, 12.23 ± 2.36) group rats compared to DI and DI + S groups, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: EE exposure significantly reduced the amount of neuronal damage caused by complications of diabetes and stress to the neurons of hippocampus.

MeSH terms: Animals; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental*; Disease Models, Animal; Environmental Exposure*; Hippocampus/drug effects; Hippocampus/pathology*; Male; Neurons/cytology; Neurons/drug effects*; Streptozocin; Stress, Physiological/drug effects; Rats, Wistar
Fulltext Enhanced ethanol gas sensing properties of SnO₂-core/ZnO-shell nanostructures

Tharsika T, Haseeb AS, Akbar SA, Sabri MF, Hoong WY

Sensors (Basel), 2014;14(8):14586-600.
PMID: 25116903 DOI: 10.3390/s140814586

An inexpensive single-step carbon-assisted thermal evaporation method for the growth of SnO2-core/ZnO-shell nanostructures is described, and the ethanol sensing properties are presented. The structure and phases of the grown nanostructures are investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. XRD analysis indicates that the core-shell nanostructures have good crystallinity. At a lower growth duration of 15 min, only SnO2 nanowires with a rectangular cross-section are observed, while the ZnO shell is observed when the growth time is increased to 30 min. Core-shell hierarchical nanostructures are present for a growth time exceeding 60 min. The growth mechanism for SnO2-core/ZnO-shell nanowires and hierarchical nanostructures are also discussed. The sensitivity of the synthesized SnO2-core/ZnO-shell nanostructures towards ethanol sensing is investigated. Results show that the SnO2-core/ZnO-shell nanostructures deposited at 90 min exhibit enhanced sensitivity to ethanol. The sensitivity of SnO2-core/ZnO-shell nanostructures towards 20 ppm ethanol gas at 400 °C is about ~5-times that of SnO2 nanowires. This improvement in ethanol gas response is attributed to high active sensing sites and the synergistic effect of the encapsulation of SnO2 by ZnO nanostructures.

MeSH terms: Ethanol/chemistry*; Equipment Design/methods; Gases/chemistry*; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods; Particle Size; X-Ray Diffraction/methods; Zinc Oxide/chemistry*; Tin Compounds/chemistry*; Nanostructures/chemistry*; Nanowires/chemistry
Fulltext Association between EGF and VEGF functional polymorphisms and sporadic colorectal cancer in the Malaysian population

Lau TP, Roslani AC, Lian LH, Lee PC, Hilmi I, Goh KL, et al.

Genet. Mol. Res., 2014;13(3):5555-61.
PMID: 25117311 DOI: 10.4238/2014.July.25.9

Growth factors are polypeptides that are critical for the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Most tumor cells are capable of synthesizing particular growth factors leading to constitutive pathway activation in these cells through autocrine signaling. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogenic peptide that exerts direct effects on the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells in carcinogenesis. By contrast, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is vital for the invasion and metastasis of neoplasms through the formation of new blood vessels from mature endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated the association between functional polymorphisms of both the EGF and VEGF genes and colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility. A total of 130 CRC patients and 212 healthy controls were recruited for this case-control study. Genotyping of genetic variants was conducted via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with allele-specific TaqMan probes. None of the genotypes of the EGF +61 A>G and VEGF +936 C>T variants was significantly associated with CRC susceptibility among the Malaysian subjects evaluated (P > 0.05). The observed frequency distributions of the EGF +61 A>G polymorphism genotypes showed ethnic heterogeneity, which was not the case for the VEGF +936 C>T genotypes. In conclusion, no positive correlation between these functional polymorphisms and CRC risk was found in this Malaysian population. Studies of the EGF and VEGF genes and CRC susceptibility are scarce, and the results reported thus far differ from one population to another. Hence, more replication studies are warranted before any firm conclusions can be made.

MeSH terms: Alleles; Epidermal Growth Factor/genetics*; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Polymorphism, Genetic*; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics*; Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology; Odds Ratio; Case-Control Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease*; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Fulltext Sequence analysis of the PIP5K locus in Eimeria maxima provides further evidence for eimerian genome plasticity and segmental organization

Song BK, Pan MZ, Lau YL, Wan KL

Genet. Mol. Res., 2014;13(3):5803-14.
PMID: 25117339 DOI: 10.4238/2014.July.29.8

Commercial flocks infected by Eimeria species parasites, including Eimeria maxima, have an increased risk of developing clinical or subclinical coccidiosis; an intestinal enteritis associated with increased mortality rates in poultry. Currently, infection control is largely based on chemotherapy or live vaccines; however, drug resistance is common and vaccines are relatively expensive. The development of new cost-effective intervention measures will benefit from unraveling the complex genetic mechanisms that underlie host-parasite interactions, including the identification and characterization of genes encoding proteins such as phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K). We previously identified a PIP5K coding sequence within the E. maxima genome. In this study, we analyzed two bacterial artificial chromosome clones presenting a ~145-kb E. maxima (Weybridge strain) genomic region spanning the PIP5K gene locus. Sequence analysis revealed that ~95% of the simple sequence repeats detected were located within regions comparable to the previously described feature-rich segments of the Eimeria tenella genome. Comparative sequence analysis with the orthologous E. maxima (Houghton strain) region revealed a moderate level of conserved synteny. Unique segmental organizations and telomere-like repeats were also observed in both genomes. A number of incomplete transposable elements were detected and further scrutiny of these elements in both orthologous segments revealed interesting nesting events, which may play a role in facilitating genome plasticity in E. maxima. The current analysis provides more detailed information about the genome organization of E. maxima and may help to reveal genotypic differences that are important for expression of traits related to pathogenicity and virulence.

MeSH terms: Base Composition; Cloning, Molecular; Coccidiosis/parasitology; Eimeria/genetics*; Host-Parasite Interactions; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/genetics*; Genome, Protozoan*; Computational Biology; Genetic Loci*; Molecular Sequence Annotation
Fulltext Identification of floral genes for sex determination in Calamus palustris Griff. by using suppression subtractive hybridization

Ng CY, Wickneswari R, Choong CY

Genet. Mol. Res., 2014;13(3):6037-49.
PMID: 25117361 DOI: 10.4238/2014.August.7.18

Calamus palustris Griff. is an economically important dioecious rattan species in Southeast Asia. However, dioecy and onset of flowering at 3-4 years old render uncertainties in desired female:male seedling ratios to establish a productive seed orchard for this rattan species. We constructed a subtractive library for male floral tissue to understand the genetic mechanism for gender determination in C. palustris. The subtractive library produced 1536 clones with 1419 clones of high quality. Reverse Northern screening showed 313 clones with differential expression, and sequence analyses clustered them into 205 unigenes, including 32 contigs and 173 singletons. The subtractive library was further validated with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Homology identification classified the unigenes into 12 putative functional proteins with 83% unigenes showing significant match to proteins in databases. Functional annotations of these unigenes revealed genes involved in male flower development, including MADS-box genes, pollen-related genes, phytohormones for flower development, and male flower organ development. Our results showed that the male floral genes may play a vital role in sex determination in C. palustris. The identified genes can be exploited to understand the molecular basis of sex determination in C. palustris.

MeSH terms: Gene Library; Genes, Plant*; DNA, Complementary/genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Computational Biology; Calamus/genetics*; Flowers/genetics*; Subtractive Hybridization Techniques*
Fulltext The status of men's health in Asia

Ng CJ, Teo CH, Ho CC, Tan WP, Tan HM

Prev Med, 2014 Oct;67:295-302.
PMID: 25117523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.08.007

This study aims to compare health status and its risk factors between men and women who are from countries of different income status in Asia.

MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology; Blood Glucose/analysis; Blood Pressure; Chronic Disease/mortality; Communicable Diseases/mortality; Female; Health Status*; Humans; Life Expectancy*; Male; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Social Class; Wounds and Injuries/mortality; Body Mass Index; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Men's Health/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Relationship between frequency and intensity of cigarette smoking and TTFC/C among students of the GYTS in select countries, 2007-2009

Lam E, Giovino GA, Shin M, Lee KA, Rolle I, Asma S

J Sch Health, 2014 Sep;84(9):549-58.
PMID: 25117888 DOI: 10.1111/josh.12185

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the construct validity of a measure of nicotine dependence that was used in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).
METHODS: Using 2007-2009 data from the GYTS, subjects from 6 countries were used to assess current smokers' odds of reporting time to first cigarette or craving positive (TTFC/C+) by the number of cigarette smoking days per month (DPM) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD).
RESULTS: The percentage of GYTS smokers who reported TTFC/C+ ranged from 58.0% to 69.7%. Compared with students who smoked on 1-2 DPM, those who smoked on 3-9 DPM had 3 times the adjusted odds of reporting TTFC/C+. The adjusted odds of reporting TTFC/C+ were 3 to 7 times higher among those who smoked 10-29 DPM and 6 to 20 times higher among daily smokers. Similarly, the adjusted odds of TTFC/C+ were 3-6 times higher among those who smoked 2-5 CPD and 6 to 20 times higher among those who smoked >6 CPD, compared to those who smoked <1 CPD.
CONCLUSION: Associations of TTFC/C+ prevalence with both frequency and intensity of cigarette smoking provide a construct validation of the GYTS question used to assess respondents' TTFC/C status.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Argentina/epidemiology; Female; Health Surveys/standards*; Humans; Jordan/epidemiology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards; Schools; Smoking/epidemiology*; South Africa/epidemiology; Thailand/epidemiology; Tobacco; World Health Organization; Reproducibility of Results; Prevalence; Logistic Models; Smoking Cessation/statistics & numerical data; Age Distribution; Sex Distribution; Slovakia/epidemiology
Does guideline knowledge affect treatment compliance among emergency doctors?

Aftab RA, Khan AH, Syed Sulaiman SA, Ali I, Khan K

Am J Med Sci, 2014 Nov;348(5):357-61.
PMID: 25118657 DOI: 10.1097/MAJ.0000000000000269

BACKGROUND: The insufficient adoption of internationally accepted clinical guidelines may lead to less than adequate patient care of patients with asthma.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge and treatment compliance with Global Initiative of Asthma (GINA, 2011) asthma treatment guidelines among emergency physicians (EPs) at a referral hospital in northern Malaysia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed in the territory-level referral hospital in northern Malaysia. Twenty-seven EPs were asked to complete an asthma guideline questionnaire to assess their knowledge regarding GINA 2011 asthma treatment guidelines. A total of 810 patients were enrolled, and 30 patients were selected per physician. The authors evaluated the physicians' compliance with GINA 2011 asthma treatment guidelines.
RESULTS: Of 27 EPs, 20 (74.1%) had adequate knowledge of GINA 2011 asthma treatment guidelines. A total of 615 (75.9%) patients received guideline-recommended emergency treatment. Shortness of breath (n = 436, 53.8%) was the most frequently reported chief complaint. Furthermore, there was a significant but weak association between knowledge of the guideline and treatment compliance among emergency doctors (P = 0.003, φ = 0.110). Moreover, there was no significant change in therapy for patients with comorbid conditions. The mean age of respondents was 27.3 years.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a fair level of guideline knowledge and treatment compliance was noted among EPs. Doctors with adequate guideline knowledge were more likely to comply with GINA 2011 asthma treatment guidelines.

MeSH terms: Adult; Asthma/diagnosis; Asthma/epidemiology; Asthma/therapy*; Clinical Competence/standards*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Treatment/methods; Emergency Treatment/standards*; Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Physicians/standards*; Prospective Studies; Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards*; Guideline Adherence/standards*; Young Adult
Effect of electroporation on bioconversion of isoflavones and probiotic properties of parents and subsequent passages of Bifidobacterium longum

Yeo SK, Ong JS, Liong MT

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2014 Oct;174(4):1496-1509.
PMID: 25119552 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-014-1141-6

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of electroporation on growth, bioconversion of isoflavones, and probiotic properties of parent organisms and subsequent passages of Bifidobacterium longum FTDC 8643. Electroporation with the strength of electric field at 7.5 kV cm(-1) for 3.5 ms was applied on B. longum FTDC 8643. The viability of B. longum FTDC 8643 increased significantly upon treatment with electroporation. Such treatment also enhanced the intracellular and extracellular β-glucosidase activity, leading to enhanced production of bioactive isoflavone aglycones in mannitol-soymilk (P

MeSH terms: Bacterial Adhesion/drug effects; Bifidobacterium/growth & development*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Isoflavones/biosynthesis*; Mannitol/pharmacology; Electroporation*; Probiotics*; Microbial Viability/drug effects
Fulltext Inferring the provenance of an alien species with DNA barcodes: the neotropical butterfly Dryas iulia in Thailand

Burg NA, Pradhan A, Gonzalez RM, Morban EZ, Zhen EW, Sakchoowong W, et al.

PLoS One, 2014;9(8):e104076.
PMID: 25119899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104076

The Neotropical butterfly Dryas iulia has been collected from several locations in Thailand and Malaysia since 2007, and has been observed breeding in the wild, using introduced Passiflora foetida as a larval host plant. The butterfly is bred by a butterfly house in Phuket, Thailand, for release at weddings and Buddhist ceremonies, and we hypothesized that this butterfly house was the source of wild, Thai individuals. We compared wing patterns and COI barcodes from two, wild Thai populations with individuals obtained from this butterfly house. All Thai individuals resemble the subspecies D. iulia modesta, and barcodes from wild and captive Thai specimens were identical. This unique, Thai barcode was not found in any of the 30 specimens sampled from the wild in the species' native range, but is most similar to specimens from Costa Rica, where many exporting butterfly farms are located. These data implicate the butterfly house as the source of Thailand's wild D. iulia populations, which are currently so widespread that eradication efforts are unlikely to be successful.

MeSH terms: Animals; Base Sequence; Butterflies/classification; Butterflies/genetics*; Larva/genetics; Larva/physiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Thailand; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Biodiversity; Introduced Species*; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
Fulltext Neuroretinitis in ocular bartonellosis: a case series

Raihan AR, Zunaina E, Wan-Hazabbah WH, Adil H, Lakana-Kumar T

Clin Ophthalmol, 2014;8:1459-66.
PMID: 25120352 DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S63667

We report a case series of neuroretinitis in ocular bartonellosis and describe the serologic verification for Bartonella henselae. This is a retrospective interventional case series of four patients who presented in the ophthalmology clinic of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from June 2012 to March 2013. All four patients had a history of contact with cats and had fever prior to ocular symptoms. Each patient presented with neuroretinitis characterized by optic disc swelling with macular star. Serology analysis showed strongly positive for B. henselae in all of the patients. All patients were treated with oral azithromycin (except case 4, who was treated with oral doxycycline), and two patients (case 1 and case 3) had poor vision at initial presentation that warranted the use of oral prednisolone. All patients showed a good visual outcome except case 3. Vision-threatening ocular manifestation of cat scratch disease can be improved with systemic antibiotics and steroids.
Study site: Ophthalmology clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia

MeSH terms: Bartonella Infections*; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Retrospective Studies
Fulltext Effects of annatto-derived tocotrienol supplementation on osteoporosis induced by testosterone deficiency in rats

Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S

Clin Interv Aging, 2014;9:1247-59.
PMID: 25120355 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S67016

BACKGROUND: Previous animal models have demonstrated that tocotrienol is a potential treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. This study evaluated the antiosteoporotic effects of annatto-derived tocotrienol (AnTT) using a testosterone-deficient osteoporotic rat model.
METHODS: Forty rats were divided randomly into baseline, sham, orchidectomized, AnTT, and testosterone groups. The baseline group was euthanized without undergoing any surgical treatment or intervention. The remaining groups underwent orchidectomy, with the exception of the sham group. AnTT 60 mg/kg/day was given orally to the AnTT group, while the testosterone group received testosterone enanthate 7 mg/kg per week intramuscularly for 8 weeks. Structural changes in trabecular bone at the proximal tibia were examined using microcomputed tomography. Structural and dynamic changes at the distal femur were examined using histomorphometric methods. Serum osteocalcin and C-terminal of type 1 collagen crosslinks were measured. Bone-related gene expression in the distal femur was examined.
RESULTS: There were significant degenerative changes in structural indices in the orchidectomized group (P<0.05), but no significant changes in dynamic indices, bone remodeling markers, or gene expression (P>0.05) when compared with the sham group. The AnTT group showed significant improvement in structural indices at the femur (P<0.05) and significantly increased expression of bone formation genes (P<0.05). Testosterone was more effective than AnTT in preventing degeneration of bone structural indices in the femur and tibia (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: AnTT supplementation improves bone health in testosterone-deficient rats by enhancing bone formation. Its potential should be evaluated further by varying the dosage and treatment duration.
KEYWORDS: bone remodeling; osteoporosis; testosterone; tocotrienol

MeSH terms: Animals; Carotenoids/pharmacology*; Femur/radiography; Malaysia; Male; Orchiectomy; Osteoporosis/drug therapy*; Peptides/blood; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Random Allocation; Testosterone/analogs & derivatives; Testosterone/pharmacology; Tibia/radiography; Biomarkers/blood; Bone Density/drug effects; Osteocalcin/blood; Bone Remodeling/drug effects*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Dietary Supplements*; Collagen Type I/blood; Tocotrienols/pharmacology*; Bixaceae; Rats; X-Ray Microtomography
Fulltext Examining the relationship between adherence and satisfaction with antidepressant treatment

Aljumah K, Ahmad Hassali A, AlQhatani S

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat, 2014;10:1433-8.
PMID: 25120364 DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S67008

Adherence to antidepressant treatment is an essential step in the management of patients with major depressive disorder, and several factors can contribute to antidepressant nonadherence. Evidence supports the hypothesis that patient treatment satisfaction will result in improved adherence; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between patient treatment satisfaction and adherence to antidepressants, and the role of patient beliefs toward medication in patient treatment satisfaction.

MeSH terms: Antidepressive Agents; Depressive Disorder, Major; Humans; Personal Satisfaction; Patient Satisfaction
Fulltext Niche convergence suggests functionality of the nocturnal fovea

Moritz GL, Melin AD, Tuh Yit Yu F, Bernard H, Ong PS, Dominy NJ

Front Integr Neurosci, 2014;8:61.
PMID: 25120441 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2014.00061

The fovea is a declivity of the retinal surface associated with maximum visual acuity. Foveae are widespread across vertebrates, but among mammals they are restricted to haplorhine primates (tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans), which are primarily diurnal. Thus primates have long contributed to the view that foveae are functional adaptations to diurnality. The foveae of tarsiers, which are nocturnal, are widely interpreted as vestigial traits and therefore evidence of a diurnal ancestry. This enduring premise is central to adaptive hypotheses on the origins of anthropoid primates; however, the question of whether tarsier foveae are functionless anachronisms or nocturnal adaptations remains open. To explore this question, we compared the diets of tarsiers (Tarsius) and scops owls (Otus), taxa united by numerous anatomical homoplasies, including foveate vision. A functional interpretation of these homoplasies predicts dietary convergence. We tested this prediction by analyzing stable isotope ratios that integrate dietary information. In Borneo and the Philippines, the stable carbon isotope compositions of Tarsius and Otus were indistinguishable, whereas the stable nitrogen isotope composition of Otus was marginally higher than that of Tarsius. Our results indicate that species in both genera consumed mainly ground-dwelling prey. Taken together, our findings support a functional interpretation of the many homoplasies shared by tarsiers and scops owls, including a retinal fovea. We suggest that the fovea might function similarly in tarsiers and scops owls by calibrating the auditory localization pathway. The integration of auditory localization and visual fixation during prey detection and acquisition might be critical at low light levels.
Fulltext AT1 receptor blockade alters nutritional and biometric development in obesity-resistant and obesity-prone rats submitted to a high fat diet

Smith PM, Hindmarch CC, Murphy D, Ferguson AV

Front Psychol, 2014;5:832.
PMID: 25120524 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00832

Obesity is a chronic metabolic condition with important public health implications associated with numerous co-morbidities including cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and hypertension. The renin angiotensin system (RAS), best known for its involvement in cardiovascular control and body fluid homeostasis has, more recently, been implicated in regulation of energy balance. Interference with the RAS (genetically or pharmacologically) has been shown to influence body weight gain. In this study we investigated the effects of systemic AT1 receptor blockade using losartan on ingestive behaviors and weight gain in diet induced obese (DIO) rats. Prior to losartan administration (30 mg/kg/day) body weight gain remained constant within the DIO animals (3.6 ± 0.3 g/day, n = 8), diet resistant (DR) animals (2.1 ± 0.6 g/day, n = 8) and in the age-matched chow fed control (CHOW) animals (2.8 ± 0.3 g/day, n = 8), Losartan administration abolished body weight gain in animals fed a high fat diet (DIO: -0.4 ± 0.7 g/day, n = 8; and DR: -0.8 ± 0.3 g/day, n = 8) while chow fed animals continued to gain weight (2.2 ± 0.3 g/day, n = 8) as they had previously to oral administration of losartan. This decrease in daily body weight gain was accompanied by a decrease in food intake in the HFD fed animals. Following the removal of losartan, both the DIO and DR animals again showed daily increases in body weight gain and food intake which were similar to control values. Our data demonstrate that oral losartan administration attenuates body weight gain in animals fed a HFD whether the animal is obese (DIO) or not DR while having no effect on body weight gain in age-matched chow fed animals suggesting a protective effect of losartan against body weight gain while on a HFD.

MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Animals; Body Fluids; Body Weight; Cardiovascular Diseases; Eating; Homeostasis; Hypertension; Insulin Resistance; Obesity; Public Health; Renin-Angiotensin System; Weight Gain; Losartan; Rats; Diet, High-Fat

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