Browse publications by year: 2014

Interactive knee cartilage extraction using efficient segmentation software: data from the osteoarthritis initiative

Gan HS, Tan TS, Wong LX, Tham WK, Sayuti KA, Abdul Karim AH, et al.

Biomed Mater Eng, 2014;24(6):3145-57.
PMID: 25227024 DOI: 10.3233/BME-141137

In medical image segmentation, manual segmentation is considered both labor- and time-intensive while automated segmentation often fails to segment anatomically intricate structure accordingly. Interactive segmentation can tackle shortcomings reported by previous segmentation approaches through user intervention. To better reflect user intention, development of suitable editing functions is critical. In this paper, we propose an interactive knee cartilage extraction software that covers three important features: intuitiveness, speed, and convenience. The segmentation is performed using multi-label random walks algorithm. Our segmentation software is simple to use, intuitive to normal and osteoarthritic image segmentation and efficient using only two third of manual segmentation's time. Future works will extend this software to three dimensional segmentation and quantitative analysis.

MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Artificial Intelligence; Cartilage, Articular/pathology*; Humans; Image Enhancement/methods*; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods*; Sensitivity and Specificity; User-Computer Interface*; Reproducibility of Results; Observer Variation; Osteoarthritis, Knee/pathology*
Random walker with improved weighting function for interactive medical image segmentation

Yin LK, Rajeswari M

Biomed Mater Eng, 2014;24(6):3333-41.
PMID: 25227043 DOI: 10.3233/BME-141156

To segment an image using the random walks algorithm; users are often required to initialize the approximate locations of the objects and background in the image. Due to its segmenting model that is mainly reflected by the relationship among the neighborhood pixels and its boundary conditions, random walks algorithm has made itself sensitive to the inputs of the seeds. Instead of considering the relationship between the neighborhood pixels solely, an attempt has been made to modify the weighting function that accounts for the intensity changes between the neighborhood nodes. Local affiliation within the defined neighborhood region of the two nodes is taken into consideration by incorporating an extra penalty term into the weighting function. Besides that, to better segment images, particularly medical images with texture features, GLCM variance is incorporated into the weighting function through kernel density estimation (KDE). The probability density of each pixel belonging to the initialized seeds is estimated and integrated into the weighting function. To test the performance of the proposed weighting model, several medical images that mainly made up of 174-brain tumor images are experimented. These experiments establish that the proposed method produces better segmentation results than the original random walks.

MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Brain Neoplasms/pathology*; Computer Simulation; Data Interpretation, Statistical*; Image Enhancement/methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*; Models, Biological; Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Subtraction Technique; User-Computer Interface*; Reproducibility of Results; Models, Statistical
Modelling complex features from histone modification signatures using genetic algorithm for the prediction of enhancer region

Lee NK, Fong PK, Abdullah MT

Biomed Mater Eng, 2014;24(6):3807-14.
PMID: 25227097 DOI: 10.3233/BME-141210

Using Genetic Algorithm, this paper presents a modelling method to generate novel logical-based features from DNA sequences enriched with H3K4mel histone signatures. Current histone signature is mostly represented using k-mers content features incapable of representing all the possible complex interactions of various DNA segments. The main contributions are, among others: (a) demonstrating that there are complex interactions among sequence segments in the histone regions; (b) developing a parse tree representation of the logical complex features. The proposed novel feature is compared to the k-mers content features using datasets from the mouse (mm9) genome. Evaluation results show that the new feature improves the prediction performance as shown by f-measure for all datasets tested. Also, it is discovered that tree-based features generated from a single chromosome can be generalized to predict histone marks in other chromosomes not used in the training. These findings have a great impact on feature design considerations for histone signatures as well as other classifier design features.

MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Animals; Base Sequence; Chromosome Mapping/methods*; Computer Simulation; Enhancer Elements, Genetic/genetics*; Histones/genetics*; Models, Genetic*; Molecular Sequence Data; Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods*; Epigenesis, Genetic/genetics*; Mice
The role of particle-to-cell interactions in dictating nanoparticle aided magnetophoretic separation of microalgal cells

Toh PY, Ng BW, Ahmad AL, Chieh DC, Lim J

Nanoscale, 2014 Nov 7;6(21):12838-48.
PMID: 25227473 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03121k

Successful application of a magnetophoretic separation technique for harvesting biological cells often relies on the need to tag the cells with magnetic nanoparticles. This study investigates the underlying principle behind the attachment of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) onto microalgal cells, Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp., in both freshwater and seawater, by taking into account the contributions of various colloidal forces involved. The complex interplay between van der Waals (vdW), electrostatic (ES) and Lewis acid-base interactions (AB) in dictating IONP attachment was studied under the framework of extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) analysis. Our results showed that ES interaction plays an important role in determining the net interaction between the Chlorella sp. cells and IONPs in freshwater, while the AB and vdW interactions play a more dominant role in dictating the net particle-to-cell interaction in high ionic strength media (≥100 mM NaCl), such as seawater. XDLVO predicted effective attachment between cells and surface functionalized IONPs (SF-IONPs) with an estimated secondary minimum of -3.12 kT in freshwater. This prediction is in accordance with the experimental observation in which 98.89% of cells can be magnetophoretically separated from freshwater with SF-IONPs. We have observed successful magnetophoretic separation of microalgal cells from freshwater and/or seawater for all the cases as long as XDLVO analysis predicts particle attachment. For both the conditions, no pH adjustment is required for particle-to-cell attachment.

MeSH terms: Cell Separation*; Chlorella; Colloids/chemistry; Ferric Compounds/chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ions; Kinetics; Magnetics; Seawater; Sodium Chloride/chemistry; Surface Properties; Nanotechnology/methods*; Nanoparticles/chemistry*; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry; Microalgae/cytology*; Lewis Acids
Perception of breast health amongst Malaysian female adolescents

Che CC, Coomarasamy JD, Suppayah B

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(17):7175-80.
PMID: 25227810

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia, about one in 19 women being at risk. This study aimed to investigate knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE), as well as knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer amongst female adolescents in Malaysia. Subsequently, relationships between demographic characteristics and knowledge level of BSE, risk factors for breast cancer and BSE practice were assessed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross sectional survey was conducted using a sample of 500 Malaysian adolescents from the age of 15 to 19 years. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather socio- demographic characteristics, knowledge of BSE, knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer and BSE practices.
RESULTS: The findings of this study indicated that female adolescents in Malaysia demonstrated an inadequate knowledge level of BSE and risk factors for breast cancer. Only 27.8% of female adolescents performed BSE regularly. BSE practice, knowledge of BSE and knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer showed significant positive relationships.
CONCLUSIONS: The study highlighted the importance of planning and implementing breast health education programs for female students in secondary schools in Malaysia. It will also provide the health care providers an avenue to stress on the importance of imparting breast health education to adolescents.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms/psychology*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Risk Factors; Women*; Women's Health*; Breast Self-Examination*; Early Detection of Cancer/psychology; Young Adult
Effectiveness of a brief physician counselling session on improving smoking behaviour in the workplace

Han YW, Mohammad M, Liew SM

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(17):7287-90.
PMID: 25227830

BACKGROUND: Brief physician counselling has been shown to be effective in improving smokers' behaviour. If the counselling sessions can be given at the workplace, this would benefit a larger number of smokers. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a ten-minute physician counseling session at the workplace in improving smoking behaviour.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomised control trial was conducted on smokers in a factory. A total of 163 participants were recruited and randomised into control and intervention groups using a table of random numbers. The intervention group received a ten-minute brief physician counselling session to quit smoking. Stages of smoking behaviour were measured in both groups using a translated and validated questionnaire at baseline, one month and three months post intervention.
RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in smoking behaviour at one-month post intervention (p=0.024, intention to treat analysis; OR=2.525; CI=1.109-5.747). This was not significant at three-month post intervention (p=0.946, intention to treat analysis; OR=1.026; 95% CI=0.486-2.168).
CONCLUSIONS: A session of brief physician counselling was effective in improving smokers' behaviour at workplace, but the effect was not sustained.

MeSH terms: Adult; Counseling/methods*; Humans; Male; Occupational Health Services/methods*; Smoking/psychology; Smoking/therapy*; Smoking Cessation/methods*; Treatment Outcome; Workplace; Manufacturing Industry*
Significant genotype difference in the CYP2E1 PstI polymorphism of indigenous groups in Sabah, Malaysia with Asian and non-Asian populations

Goh LP, Chong ET, Chua KH, Chuah JA, Lee PC

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(17):7377-81.
PMID: 25227845

CYP2E1 PstI polymorphism G-1259C (rs3813867) genotype distributions vary significantly among different populations and are associated with both diseases, like cancer, and adverse drug effects. To date, there have been limited genotype distributions and allele frequencies of this polymorphism reported in the three major indigenous ethnic groups (KadazanDusun, Bajau, and Rungus) in Sabah, also known as North Borneo. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the CYP2E1 PstI polymorphism G-1259C in these three major indigenous peoples in Sabah. A total of 640 healthy individuals from the three dominant indigenous groups were recruited for this study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) at G-1259C polymorphic site of CYP2E1 gene was performed using the Pst I restriction enzyme. Fragments were analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis and confirmed by direct sequencing. Overall, the allele frequencies were 90.3% for c1 allele and 9.7% for c2 allele. The genotype frequencies for c1/c1, c1/c2 and c2/c2 were observed as 80.9%, 18.8%, and 0.3%, respectively. A highly statistical significant difference (p<0.001) was observed in the genotype distributions between indigenous groups in Sabah with all Asian and non-Asian populations. However, among these three indigenous groups, there was no statistical significant difference (p>0.001) in their genotype distributions. The three major indigenous ethnic groups in Sabah show unique genotype distributions when compared with other populations. This finding indicates the importance of establishing the genotype distributions of CYP2E1 PstI polymorphism in the indigenous populations.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1/genetics*; Population Groups/genetics; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*; Young Adult; Healthy Volunteers
[A possible fifth dengue virus serotype]

da Silva Voorham JM

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd, 2014;158:A7946.
PMID: 25227888

Sylvatic dengue viruses are both evolutionarily and ecologically distinguishable from the human dengue virus (DENV). Sporadic episodes of sylvatic human infections in West Africa and Southeast Asia suggest that sylvatic DENV regularly come into contact with human beings. Following a study on the sylvatic transmission cycle in Malaysia in 2007, researchers announced that a new DENV serotype, DENV-5, had been discovered. Scientists are still sceptical about these new findings, and indicate that more data is necessary to determine whether this 'new' virus really is a different serotype or whether it is a variant of one of the four DENV serotypes already known. The good news is that this new variant has not yet established itself in the human transmission cycle. However, if it really is a new serotype this will have implications for the long-term control of dengue using vaccines currently under development.

MeSH terms: Africa, Western; Animals; Asia, Southeastern; Dengue/prevention & control; Dengue/transmission; Dengue/virology*; Dengue Virus/classification*; Dengue Virus/immunology; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Serotyping; Dengue Vaccines/immunology
Fulltext Cognitive impairment and memory dysfunction after a stroke diagnosis: a post-stroke memory assessment

Al-Qazzaz NK, Ali SH, Ahmad SA, Islam S, Mohamad K

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat, 2014;10:1677-91.
PMID: 25228808 DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S67184

Cognitive impairment and memory dysfunction following stroke diagnosis are common symptoms that significantly affect the survivors' quality of life. Stroke patients have a high potential to develop dementia within the first year of stroke onset. Currently, efforts are being exerted to assess stroke effects on the brain, particularly in the early stages. Numerous neuropsychological assessments are being used to evaluate and differentiate cognitive impairment and dementia following stroke. This article focuses on the role of available neuropsychological assessments in detection of dementia and memory loss after stroke. This review starts with stroke types and risk factors associated with dementia development, followed by a brief description of stroke diagnosis criteria and the effects of stroke on the brain that lead to cognitive impairment and end with memory loss. This review aims to combine available neuropsychological assessments to develop a post-stroke memory assessment (PSMA) scheme based on the most recognized and available studies. The proposed PSMA is expected to assess different types of memory functionalities that are related to different parts of the brain according to stroke location. An optimal therapeutic program that would help stroke patients enjoy additional years with higher quality of life is presented.

MeSH terms: Amnesia; Brain; Dementia; Humans; Memory; Memory Disorders; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Survivors; Stroke
Fulltext Mechanical and in vitro biological performance of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced calcium silicate composite

Mehrali M, Moghaddam E, Seyed Shirazi SF, Baradaran S, Mehrali M, Latibari ST, et al.

PLoS One, 2014;9(9):e106802.
PMID: 25229540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106802

Calcium silicate (CaSiO3, CS) ceramic composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were prepared using hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at 1150°C. Quantitative microstructural analysis suggests that GNP play a role in grain size and is responsible for the improved densification. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that GNP survived the harsh processing conditions of the selected HIP processing parameters. The uniform distribution of 1 wt.% GNP in the CS matrix, high densification and fine CS grain size help to improve the fracture toughness by ∼130%, hardness by ∼30% and brittleness index by ∼40% as compared to the CS matrix without GNP. The toughening mechanisms, such as crack bridging, pull-out, branching and deflection induced by GNP are observed and discussed. The GNP/CS composites exhibit good apatite-forming ability in the simulated body fluid (SBF). Our results indicate that the addition of GNP decreased pH value in SBF. Effect of addition of GNP on early adhesion and proliferation of human osteoblast cells (hFOB) was measured in vitro. The GNP/CS composites showed good biocompatibility and promoted cell viability and cell proliferation. The results indicated that the cell viability and proliferation are affected by time and concentration of GNP in the CS matrix.

MeSH terms: Biocompatible Materials/chemistry; Graphite/chemistry*; Calcium Compounds/chemistry*; Silicates/chemistry*; Nanocomposites/chemistry*
Fulltext Eurycomanone and eurycomanol from Eurycoma longifolia Jack as regulators of signaling pathways involved in proliferation, cell death and inflammation

Hajjouli S, Chateauvieux S, Teiten MH, Orlikova B, Schumacher M, Dicato M, et al.

Molecules, 2014 Sep 16;19(9):14649-66.
PMID: 25230121 DOI: 10.3390/molecules190914649

Eurycomanone and eurycomanol are two quassinoids from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia Jack. The aim of this study was to assess the bioactivity of these compounds in Jurkat and K562 human leukemia cell models compared to peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. Both eurycomanone and eurycomanol inhibited Jurkat and K562 cell viability and proliferation without affecting healthy cells. Interestingly, eurycomanone inhibited NF-κB signaling through inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation and upstream mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, but not eurycomanol. In conclusion, both quassinoids present differential toxicity towards leukemia cells, and the presence of the α,β-unsaturated ketone in eurycomanone could be prerequisite for the NF-κB inhibition.

MeSH terms: Humans; Inflammation/drug therapy*; Inflammation/metabolism; Leukemia/drug therapy*; Leukemia/metabolism; Leukemia/pathology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage*; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Signal Transduction/drug effects; NF-kappa B/antagonists & inhibitors; NF-kappa B/metabolism; Cell Death/drug effects; Jurkat Cells; Eurycoma/chemistry*; Quassins/administration & dosage*; Quassins/chemistry; Cell Proliferation/drug effects
Fulltext How to perform and assess colonic manometry and barostat study in chronic constipation

Lee YY, Erdogan A, Rao SS

J Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2014 Oct 30;20(4):547-52.
PMID: 25230902 DOI: 10.5056/jnm14056

Management of chronic constipation with refractory symptoms can be challenging. Although new drugs and behavioral treat-ments have improved outcome, when they fail, there is little guidance on what to do next. At this juncture, typically most doc-tors may refer for surgical intervention although total colectomy is associated with morbidity including complications such as recurrent bacterial overgrowth. Recently, colonic manometry with sensory/tone/compliance assessment with a barostat study has been shown to be useful. Technical challenges aside, adequate preparation, and appropriate equipment and knowledge of co-lonic physiology are keys for a successful procedure. The test itself appears to be safe with little complications. Currently, colon-ic manometry is usually performed with a 6-8 solid state or water-perfused sensor probe, although high-resolution fiber-optic colonic manometry with better spatiotemporal resolutions may become available in the near future. For a test that has evolved over 3 decades, normal physiology and abnormal findings for common phenotypes of chronic constipation, especially slow transit constipation, have been well characterized only recently largely through the advent of prolonged 24-hour ambulatory colonic manometry studies. Even though the test has been largely restricted to specialized laboratories at the moment, emerg-ing new technologies and indications may facilitate its wider use in the near future.(J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014;20:547-552).

MeSH terms: Colectomy; Colon; Constipation; Manometry; Phenotype; Water
Malaysian weedy rice shows its true stripes: wild Oryza and elite rice cultivars shape agricultural weed evolution in Southeast Asia

Song BK, Chuah TS, Tam SM, Olsen KM

Mol Ecol, 2014 Oct;23(20):5003-17.
PMID: 25231087 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12922

Weedy rice is a close relative of domesticated rice (Oryza sativa) that competes aggressively with the crop and limits rice productivity worldwide. Most genetic studies of weedy rice have focused on populations in regions where no reproductively compatible wild Oryza species occur (North America, Europe and northern Asia). Here, we examined the population genetics of weedy rice in Malaysia, where wild rice (O. rufipogon) can be found growing in close proximity to cultivated and weedy rice. Using 375 accessions and a combined analysis of 24 neutral SSR loci and two rice domestication genes (sh4, controlling seed shattering, and Bh4, controlling hull colour), we addressed the following questions: (i) What is the relationship of Malaysian weedy rice to domesticated and wild rice, and to weedy rice strains in the USA? (ii) To what extent does the presence of O. rufipogon influence the genetic and phenotypic diversity of Malaysian weeds? (iii) What do the distributions of sh4 and Bh4 alleles and associated phenotypes reveal about the origin and contemporary evolution of Malaysian weedy rice? Our results reveal the following: independent evolutionary origins for Malaysian weeds and US strains, despite their very close phenotypic resemblance; wild-to-weed gene flow in Malaysian weed populations, including apparent adaptive introgression of seed-shattering alleles; and a prominent role for modern Malaysian cultivars in the origin and recent proliferation of Malaysian weeds. These findings suggest that the genetic complexity and adaptability of weedy crop relatives can be profoundly influenced by proximity to reproductively compatible wild and domesticated populations.

MeSH terms: Genetics, Population*; Malaysia; Phenotype; Oryza/classification; Oryza/genetics*; Genetic Variation; Genes, Plant; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Crops, Agricultural/genetics; DNA, Plant/genetics; Microsatellite Repeats; Evolution, Molecular*; Plant Weeds/classification; Plant Weeds/genetics*
Mutation analysis of glycine decarboxylase, aminomethyltransferase and glycine cleavage system protein-H genes in 13 unrelated families with glycine encephalopathy

Azize NA, Ngah WZ, Othman Z, Md Desa N, Chin CB, Md Yunus Z, et al.

J Hum Genet, 2014 Nov;59(11):593-7.
PMID: 25231368 DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2014.69

Glycine encephalopathy (GCE) or nonketotic hyperglycinemia is an inborn error of glycine metabolism, inherited in an autosomal recessive manner due to a defect in any one of the four enzymes aminomethyltransferase (AMT), glycine decarboxylase (GLDC), glycine cleavage system protein-H (GCSH) and dehydrolipoamide dehydrogenase in the glycine cleavage system. This defect leads to glycine accumulation in body tissues, including the brain, and causes various neurological symptoms such as encephalopathy, hypotonia, apnea, intractable seizures and possible death. We screened 14 patients from 13 families with clinical and biochemical features suggestive of GCE for mutation in AMT, GLDC and GCSH genes by direct sequencing and genomic rearrangement of GLDC gene using a multiplex ligation-dependant probe amplification. We identified mutations in all 14 patients. Seven patients (50%) have biallelic mutations in GLDC gene, six patients (43%) have biallelic mutations in AMT gene and one patient (7%) has mutation identified in only one allele in GLDC gene. Majority of the mutations in GLDC and AMT were missense mutations and family specific. Interestingly, two mutations p.Arg265His in AMT gene and p.His651Arg in GLDC gene occurred in the Penan sub-population. No mutation was found in GCSH gene. We concluded that mutations in both GLDC and AMT genes are the main cause of GCE in Malaysian population.

MeSH terms: Base Sequence; DNA Mutational Analysis/methods; Family Health; Female; Genotype; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mutation*; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics*; Hyperglycinemia, Nonketotic/genetics*; Glycine Dehydrogenase (Decarboxylating)/genetics*; Aminomethyltransferase/genetics*; Glycine Decarboxylase Complex H-Protein/genetics*
Fulltext Practical approach in hepatitis B e antigen-negative individuals to identify treatment candidates

Azmi AN, Tan SS, Mohamed R

World J Gastroenterol, 2014 Sep 14;20(34):12045-55.
PMID: 25232242 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i34.12045

The natural history of chronic hepatitis B is characterized by different phases of infection, and patients may evolve from one phase to another or may revert to a previous phase. The hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative form is the predominant infection worldwide, which consists of individuals with a range of viral replication and liver disease severity. Although alanine transaminase (ALT) remains the most accessible test available to clinicians for monitoring the liver disease status, further evaluations are required for some patients to assess if treatment is warranted. Guidance from practice guidelines together with thorough investigations and classifications of patients ensure recognition of who needs which level of care. This article aims to assist physicians in the assessment of HBeAg-negative individuals using liver biopsy or non-invasive tools such as hepatitis B s antigen quantification and transient elastography in addition to ALT and hepatitis B virus DNA, to identify who will remain stable, who will reactivate or at risk of disease progression hence will benefit from timely initiation of anti-viral therapy.

MeSH terms: Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use*; Hepatitis B/blood; Hepatitis B/diagnosis*; Hepatitis B/drug therapy*; Hepatitis B/virology; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood*; Hepatitis B virus/drug effects*; Hepatitis B virus/immunology; Hepatitis B virus/pathogenicity; Humans; Predictive Value of Tests; Biomarkers/blood; Treatment Outcome; Patient Selection
Fulltext Increased Expression of Phosphorylated FADD in Anaplastic Large Cell and Other T-Cell Lymphomas

Patel S, Murphy D, Haralambieva E, Abdulla ZA, Wong KK, Chen H, et al.

Biomark Insights, 2014;9:77-84.
PMID: 25232277 DOI: 10.4137/BMI.S16553

FAS-associated protein with death domain (FADD) is a major adaptor protein involved in extrinsic apoptosis, embryogenesis, and lymphocyte homeostasis. Although abnormalities of the FADD/death receptor apoptotic pathways have been established in tumorigenesis, fewer studies have analyzed the expression and role of phosphorylated FADD (pFADD). Our identification of FADD as a lymphoma-associated autoantigen in T-cell lymphoma patients raises the possibility that pFADD, with its correlation with cell cycle, may possess role(s) in human T-cell lymphoma development. This immunohistochemical study investigated pFADD protein expression in a range of normal tissues and lymphomas, particularly T-cell lymphomas that require improved therapies. Whereas pFADD was expressed only in scattered normal T cells, it was detected at high levels in T-cell lymphomas (eg, 84% anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 65% peripheral T cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified). The increased expression of pFADD supports further study of its clinical relevance and role in lymphomagenesis, highlighting phosphorylation of FADD as a potential therapeutic target.

MeSH terms: Autoantigens; Cell Cycle; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Homeostasis; Humans; Lymphocytes; Phosphorylation; T-Lymphocytes; Lymphoma, T-Cell; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral; Apoptosis; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic; Receptors, Death Domain; Carcinogenesis; Death Domain
Fulltext Multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (MARMS) for the detection of β-globin gene mutations among the transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia Malay patients in Kelantan, Northeast of Peninsular Malaysia

Hanafi S, Hassan R, Bahar R, Abdullah WZ, Johan MF, Rashid ND, et al.

Am J Blood Res, 2014;4(1):33-40.
PMID: 25232503

The aim of this study was to adapt MARMS with some modifications to detect beta mutation in our cohort of thalassemia patients. We focused only on transfusion-dependent thalassemia Malay patients, the predominant ethnic group (95%) in the Kelantanese population. Eight mutations were identified in 46 out of 48 (95.83%) beta thalassemia alleles. Most of the patients (54.2%) were compound heterozygous with co-inheritance Cd 26 (G>A). The frequencies of spectrum beta chain mutation among these patients are presented in Table 2. Among the transfusion dependent beta thalassemia Malay patients studied, 26 patients were found to be compound heterozygous and the main alleles were Cd 26 (G>A). Compound heterozygous mutation of Cd 26 (G>A) and IVS 1-5 (G>C) were 12 (46.2%), Cd 26 (G>A) and Cd 41/42 (TTCT) were 9 (34.6%), Cd 26 (G>A) and IVS 1-1 (G>C) were 2 (7.7%) respectively. Meanwhile the minority were made of a single compound heterozygous of Cd 26 (G>A) and Cd 71/72, Cd 26 (>A) and Cd 17 (A>T), Cd 26 (G>A) and -28 (G>A) respectively. Twenty out of forty six patients were shown to have homozygous of IVS 1-5 (G>C) were 2 (10.0%), Cd 26 (G>A) were 15 (75.0%), Cd 19 (A>G) were 1 (5.0%), and IVS 1-1 (G>T) were 2 (10.0%). The beta chain mutations among the Kelantanese Malays followed closely the distribution of beta chain mutations among the Thais and the Malays of the Southern Thailand. The G-C transition at position 5 of the IVS 1-5 mutation was predominant among the Malay patients. In conclusion, this method has successfully identified the mutation spectrum in our cohort of transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia patients, and this method is equally effective in screening for mutation among thalassemia patients.

MeSH terms: Alleles; Ethnic Groups; Homozygote; Humans; Malaysia; Minority Groups; Mutation; Thailand; Thalassemia; Cohort Studies; beta-Thalassemia
Fulltext Effect of layer thickness and printing orientation on mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy of 3D printed porous samples for bone tissue engineering

Farzadi A, Solati-Hashjin M, Asadi-Eydivand M, Abu Osman NA

PLoS One, 2014;9(9):e108252.
PMID: 25233468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108252

Powder-based inkjet 3D printing method is one of the most attractive solid free form techniques. It involves a sequential layering process through which 3D porous scaffolds can be directly produced from computer-generated models. 3D printed products' quality are controlled by the optimal build parameters. In this study, Calcium Sulfate based powders were used for porous scaffolds fabrication. The printed scaffolds of 0.8 mm pore size, with different layer thickness and printing orientation, were subjected to the depowdering step. The effects of four layer thicknesses and printing orientations, (parallel to X, Y and Z), on the physical and mechanical properties of printed scaffolds were investigated. It was observed that the compressive strength, toughness and Young's modulus of samples with 0.1125 and 0.125 mm layer thickness were more than others. Furthermore, the results of SEM and μCT analyses showed that samples with 0.1125 mm layer thickness printed in X direction have more dimensional accuracy and significantly close to CAD software based designs with predefined pore size, porosity and pore interconnectivity.

MeSH terms: Calcium Sulfate/chemistry; Humans; Surface Properties; X-Ray Diffraction; Porosity; Bone Substitutes/standards; Bone Substitutes/chemistry*; Tissue Engineering; Powder Diffraction; Tissue Scaffolds; X-Ray Microtomography; Elastic Modulus; Printing, Three-Dimensional
Fulltext A multinational phase IIb/III trial of beraprost sodium, an orally active prostacyclin analogue, in patients with primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis (CASSIOPEIR trial), rationale and study design

Nakamoto H, Fujita T, Origasa H, Isono M, Kurumatani H, Okada K, et al.

BMC Nephrol, 2014;15:153.
PMID: 25233856 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2369-15-153

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is public health concern even in Asian countries. TRK-100STP, a sustained release tablet of an orally-active prostacyclin analogue, beraprost sodium, is suggested to suppress worsening of some parameters of renal filtration function, containing in slope of 1/serum creatinine (1/SCr) vs. time in a phase II clinical trial.

MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Kidney Glomerulus/drug effects*; Kidney Glomerulus/pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Nephrosclerosis/diagnosis; Nephrosclerosis/drug therapy*; Nephrosclerosis/epidemiology*; Epoprostenol/administration & dosage*; Epoprostenol/analogs & derivatives*; Epoprostenol/chemistry; Internationality; Young Adult
Identification and localization of fovea on colour fundus images using blur scales

Ganesan K, Acharya RU, Chua CK, Laude A

Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2014 Sep;228(9):962-70.
PMID: 25234036 DOI: 10.1177/0954411914550847

Identification of retinal landmarks is an important step in the extraction of anomalies in retinal fundus images. In the current study, we propose a technique to identify and localize the position of macula and hence the fovea avascular zone, in colour fundus images. The proposed method, based on varying blur scales in images, is independent of the location of other anatomical landmarks present in the fundus images. Experimental results have been provided using the open database MESSIDOR by validating our segmented regions using the dice coefficient, with ground truth segmentation provided by a human expert. Apart from testing the images on the entire MESSIDOR database, the proposed technique was also validated using 50 normal and 50 diabetic retinopathy chosen digital fundus images from the same database. A maximum overlap accuracy of 89.6%-93.8% and locational accuracy of 94.7%-98.9% was obtained for identification and localization of the fovea.

MeSH terms: Diabetic Retinopathy/pathology; Fovea Centralis/anatomy & histology; Fovea Centralis/pathology*; Fundus Oculi*; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Photography; Databases, Factual

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