Browse publications by year: 2014

  1. Fulltext Recombinant long-acting glycoPEGylated factor IX in hemophilia B: a multinational randomized phase 3 trial
    Collins PW, Young G, Knobe K, Karim FA, Angchaisuksiri P, Banner C, et al.
    Blood, 2014 Dec 18;124(26):3880-6.
    PMID: 25261199 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-05-573055
    This multinational, randomized, single-blind trial investigated the safety and efficacy of nonacog beta pegol, a recombinant glycoPEGylated factor IX (FIX) with extended half-life, in 74 previously treated patients with hemophilia B (FIX activity ≤2 IU/dL). Patients received prophylaxis for 52 weeks, randomized to either 10 IU/kg or 40 IU/kg once weekly or to on-demand treatment of 28 weeks. No patients developed inhibitors, and no safety concerns were identified. Three hundred forty-five bleeding episodes were treated, with an estimated success rate of 92.2%. The median annualized bleeding rates (ABRs) were 1.04 in the 40 IU/kg prophylaxis group, 2.93 in the 10 IU/kg prophylaxis group, and 15.58 in the on-demand treatment group. In the 40 IU/kg group, 10 (66.7%) of 15 patients experienced no bleeding episodes into target joints compared with 1 (7.7%) of 13 patients in the 10 IU/kg group. Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) assessed with the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions visual analog scale score improved from a median of 75 to 90 in the 40 IU/kg prophylaxis group. Nonacog beta pegol was well tolerated and efficacious for the treatment of bleeding episodes and was associated with low ABRs in patients receiving prophylaxis. Once-weekly prophylaxis with 40 IU/kg resolved target joint bleeds in 66.7% of the affected patients and improved HR-QoL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01333111.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Hemophilia B/drug therapy*; Factor IX/administration & dosage*; Half-Life; Hemorrhage; Hemostasis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage*; Quality of Life; Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage*; Regression Analysis; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
  2. Antimycobacterial activity of selected medicinal plants traditionally used in Sudan to treat infectious diseases
    Abuzeid N, Kalsum S, Koshy RJ, Larsson M, Glader M, Andersson H, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2014 Nov 18;157:134-9.
    PMID: 25261689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.020
    The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis underscores the need for continuous development of new and efficient methods to determine the susceptibility of isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the search for novel antimycobacterial agents. Natural products constitute an important source of new drugs, and design and implementation of antimycobacterial susceptibility testing methods are necessary to evaluate the different extracts and compounds. In this study we have explored the antimycobacterial properties of 50 ethanolic extracts from different parts of 46 selected medicinal plants traditionally used in Sudan to treat infectious diseases.
    MeSH terms: Antitubercular Agents/administration & dosage; Antitubercular Agents/isolation & purification; Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Macrophages/microbiology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects*; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*; Sudan; Medicine, African Traditional; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  3. Environmental arsenic epidemiology in the Mekong river basin of Cambodia
    Phan K, Kim KW, Hashim JH
    Environ Res, 2014 Nov;135:37-41.
    PMID: 25262072 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.07.031
    We investigated relationship of arsenicosis symptoms with total blood arsenic (BAs) and serum albumin (SAlb) of residents in the Mekong River basin of Cambodia. We found that arsenicosis patients had significantly higher BAs and lower SAlb than asymptomatic villagers (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.01). Arsenicosis symptoms were found to be 76.4% (1.764 times) more likely to develop among individuals having an SAlb≤44.3gL(-1) than among those who had an SAlb>44.3gL(-1) (OR=1.764, 95% CI=0.999-3.114) and 117.6% (2.176 times) as likely to occur among those with BAs>5.73µgL(-1) than for those having BAs≤5.73µgL(-1) (OR=2.176, 95% CI=1.223-3.872). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was also found between BAs and SAlb (rs (199)=-0.354, p<0.0001). As such, this study suggests that people with low SAlb and/or high BAs are likely to rapidly develop arsenicosis symptoms.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cambodia/epidemiology; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Serum Albumin/analysis*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/blood; Water Pollutants, Chemical/urine; Odds Ratio; Statistics, Nonparametric; Arsenic Poisoning/blood*; Arsenic Poisoning/epidemiology*; Groundwater/chemistry*
  4. A study on large scale cultivation of Microcystis aeruginosa under open raceway pond at semi-continuous mode for biodiesel production
    Ashokkumar V, Agila E, Salam Z, Ponraj M, Din MFM, Ani FN
    Bioresour Technol, 2014 Nov;172:186-193.
    PMID: 25262427 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.08.100
    The study explores on upstream and downstream process in Microcystis aeruginosa for biodiesel production. The alga was isolated from temple tank, acclimatized and successfully mass cultivated in open raceway pond at semi-continuous mode. A two step combined process was designed and harvested 99.3% of biomass, the daily dry biomass productivity was recorded up to 28gm(-2)day(-1). The lipid extraction was optimized and achieved 21.3%; physicochemical properties were characterized and found 11.7% of FFA, iodine value 72% and 99.2% of ester content. The lipid was transesterified by a two step simultaneous process and produced 90.1% of biodiesel; the calorific value of the biodiesel was 38.8MJ/kg. Further, the physicochemical properties of biodiesel was characterized and found to be within the limits of American ASTM D6751. Based on the areal and volumetric biomass productivity estimation, M. aeruginosa can yield 84.1 tons of dry biomass ha(-1)year(-1).
    MeSH terms: Chlorides; Ferric Compounds; Lipids/isolation & purification; Lipids/chemistry; Biomass; Microcystis/growth & development*; Microcystis/chemistry; Chitosan; Biofuels*
  5. Fulltext Novel use of a self-expandable metal stent with an anti-migration system for palliative drainage of a pancreatic cystic neoplasm
    Paramasivam RK, Ho SH, Abdullah BJ, Goh KL, Hilmi I
    JOP, 2014 Sep;15(5):508-11.
    PMID: 25262723 DOI: 10.6092/1590-8577/2802
    There is scanty data on endoscopic palliative management of pancreatic cystic lesions that cause gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). This is the first case report that illustrates the use of a covered self-expandable metal stent (CSEMS) with an anti-migration system in the management of a symptomatic neoplastic cystic pancreatic lesion.
  6. Nanostructured materials from hydroxyethyl cellulose for skin tissue engineering
    Zulkifli FH, Hussain FSJ, Rasad MSBA, Mohd Yusoff M
    Carbohydr Polym, 2014 Dec 19;114:238-245.
    PMID: 25263887 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.08.019
    In this study, a novel fibrous membrane of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend was successfully fabricated by electrospinning technique and characterized. The concentration of HEC (5%) with PVA (15%) was optimized, blended in different ratios (30-50%) and electrospun to get smooth nanofibers. Nanofibrous membranes were made water insoluble by chemically cross-linking by glutaraldehyde and used as scaffolds for the skin tissue engineering. The microstructure, morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the blended HEC/PVA nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning colorimetry, universal testing machine and thermogravimetric analysis. Cytotoxicity studies on these nanofibrous scaffolds were carried out using human melanoma cells by the MTT assays. The cells were able to attach and spread in the nanofibrous scaffolds as shown by the SEM images. These preliminary results show that these nanofibrous scaffolds that supports cell adhesion and proliferation is promising for skin tissue engineering.
    MeSH terms: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Cell Line; Cellulose/analogs & derivatives*; Cellulose/chemistry; Humans; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Skin/cytology*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Tissue Engineering/methods*; Cell Proliferation/physiology; Nanostructures/therapeutic use; Nanostructures/chemistry*; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry*; Nanofibers/chemistry
  7. Synthesis and application of polypyrrole/carrageenan nano-bio composite as a cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells
    Esmaeili C, Ghasemi M, Heng LY, Hassan SHA, Abdi MM, Daud WRW, et al.
    Carbohydr Polym, 2014 Dec 19;114:253-259.
    PMID: 25263889 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.072
    A novel nano-bio composite polypyrrole (PPy)/kappa-carrageenan(KC) was fabricated and characterized for application as a cathode catalyst in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). High resolution SEM and TEM verified the bud-like shape and uniform distribution of the PPy in the KC matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) has approved the amorphous structure of the PPy/KC as well. The PPy/KC nano-bio composites were then studied as an electrode material, due to their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) ability as the cathode catalyst in the MFC and the results were compared with platinum (Pt) as the most common cathode catalyst. The produced power density of the PPy/KC was 72.1 mW/m(2) while it was 46.8 mW/m(2) and 28.8 mW/m(2) for KC and PPy individually. The efficiency of the PPy/KC electrode system is slightly lower than a Pt electrode (79.9 mW/m(2)) but due to the high cost of Pt electrodes, the PPy/KC electrode system has potential to be an alternative electrode system for MFCs.
    MeSH terms: Bioelectric Energy Sources*; Carrageenan/chemistry*; Catalysis; Polymers/chemistry*; Pyrroles/chemistry*; Nanocomposites/chemistry*
  8. Bacterial cellulose/acrylic acid hydrogel synthesized via electron beam irradiation: accelerated burn wound healing in an animal model
    Mohamad N, Mohd Amin MCI, Pandey M, Ahmad N, Rajab NF
    Carbohydr Polym, 2014 Dec 19;114:312-320.
    PMID: 25263896 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.08.025
    Natural polymer-based hydrogels are of interest to health care professionals as wound dressings owing to their ability to absorb exudates and provide hydration for healing. The aims of this study were to develop and characterize bacterial cellulose/acrylic acid (BC/AA) hydrogels synthesized by electron beam irradiation and investigate its wound healing potential in an animal model. The BC/AA hydrogels were characterized by SEM, tensile strength, water absorptivity, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The cytotoxicity of the hydrogels was investigated in L929 cells. Skin irritation and wound healing properties were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. BC/AA hydrogels had a macroporous network structure, high swelling ratio (4000-6000% at 24h), and high WVTR (2175-2280 g/m(2)/day). The hydrogels were non-toxic in the cell viability assay. In vivo experiments indicated that hydrogels promoted faster wound-healing, enhanced epithelialization, and accelerated fibroblast proliferation compared to that in the control group. These results suggest that BC/AA hydrogels are promising materials for burn dressings.
    MeSH terms: Acrylates/chemistry*; Animals; Burns/drug therapy; Cell Line; Cell Survival/drug effects; Cellulose/chemistry*; Fibroblasts/cytology; Fibroblasts/drug effects; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Wound Healing/drug effects; Hydrogel/chemical synthesis*; Hydrogel/pharmacology; Hydrogel/therapeutic use; Hydrogel/chemistry*; Mice; Rats
  9. Fenofibrate and dipyridamole treatments in low-doses either alone or in combination blunted the development of nephropathy in diabetic rats
    Balakumar P, Varatharajan R, Nyo YH, Renushia R, Raaginey D, Oh AN, et al.
    Pharmacol Res, 2014 Dec;90:36-47.
    PMID: 25263930 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2014.08.008
    Low-doses of fenofibrate and dipyridamole have pleiotropic renoprotective actions in diabetic rats. This study investigated their combined effect relative to their individual treatments and lisinopril in rats with diabetic nephropathy. Streptozotocin (55mg/kg, i.p., once)-administered diabetic rats were allowed for 10 weeks to develop nephropathy. Diabetic rats after 10 weeks developed nephropathy with discernible renal structural and functional changes as assessed in terms of increase in kidney weight to body weight ratio (KW/BW), and elevations of serum creatinine, urea and uric acid, which accompanied with elevated serum triglycerides and decreased high-density lipoproteins. Hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid Schiff and Masson trichrome staining confirmed renal pathological changes in diabetic rats that included glomerular capsular wall distortion, mesangial cell expansion, glomerular microvascular condensation, tubular damage and degeneration and fibrosis. Low-dose fenofibrate (30mg/kg, p.o., 4 weeks) and low-dose dipyridamole (20mg/kg, p.o., 4 weeks) treatment either alone or in combination considerably reduced renal structural and functional abnormalities in diabetic rats, but without affecting the elevated glucose level. Fenofibrate, but not dipyridamole, significantly prevented the lipid alteration and importantly the uric acid elevation in diabetic rats. Lisinopril (5mg/kg, p.o., 4 weeks, reference compound), prevented the hyperglycemia, lipid alteration and development of diabetic nephropathy. Lipid alteration and uric acid elevation, besides hyperglycemia, could play key roles in the development of nephropathy. Low-doses of fenofibrate and dipyridamole treatment either alone or in combination markedly prevented the diabetes-induced nephropathy. Their combination was as effective as to their individual treatment, but not superior in preventing the development of diabetic nephropathy.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Glucose/drug effects; Cholesterol/blood; Creatinine/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy*; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/pathology; Diabetic Nephropathies/blood; Diabetic Nephropathies/pathology; Diabetic Nephropathies/prevention & control*; Dipyridamole/pharmacology; Dipyridamole/therapeutic use*; Drug Therapy, Combination; Kidney/drug effects; Kidney/pathology; Lipoproteins, HDL/blood; Male; Organ Size/drug effects; Fenofibrate/pharmacology; Fenofibrate/therapeutic use*; Triglycerides/blood; Urea/blood; Uric Acid/blood; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Lisinopril/pharmacology; Lisinopril/therapeutic use; Protective Agents/pharmacology; Protective Agents/therapeutic use*
  10. Fulltext A case-control study of risk factors for bovine brucellosis seropositivity in Peninsular Malaysia
    Anka MS, Hassan L, Khairani-Bejo S, Zainal MA, Mohamad RB, Salleh A, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(9):e108673.
    PMID: 25265020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108673
    Bovine brucellosis was first reported in Peninsular Malaysia in 1950. A subsequent survey conducted in the country revealed that the disease was widespread. Current knowledge on the potential risk factors for brucellosis occurrence on cattle farms in Malaysia is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study to identify the potential herd-level risk factors for bovine brucellosis occurrence in four states in the country, namely Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Thirty-five cases and 36 controls of herds were selected where data on farm management, biosecurity, medical history and public health were collected. Multivariable logistic regression identified that Brucella seropositive herds were more likely to; have some interaction with wildlife (OR 8.9, 95% CI = 1.59-50.05); originated from farms where multiple species such as buffalo/others (OR 41.8, 95% CI = 3.94-443.19) and goat/sheep (OR 8.9, 95%Cl = 1.10-71.83) were reared, practice extensive production system (OR 13.6, 95% CI 1.31-140.24) and have had episodes of abortion in the past (OR 51.8, 95% CI = 4.54-590.90) when compared to seronegative herds. Considering the lack of information on the epidemiology of bovine brucellosis in peninsular Malaysia and absence of information on preventing the inception or spread of the disease, this report could contribute to the on-going area-wise national brucellosis eradication program.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Brucella abortus/immunology*; Brucellosis, Bovine/blood; Brucellosis, Bovine/epidemiology*; Cattle; Malaysia/epidemiology; Risk; Risk Factors; Multivariate Analysis; Case-Control Studies; Seroepidemiologic Studies
  11. Elucidating the roles of miR-372 in cell proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma TW01 cells
    Tan JK, Tan EL, Gan SY
    Exp Oncol, 2014 Sep;36(3):170-3.
    PMID: 25265349
    Deregulation of microRNA has been associated with cancer progression and the modification of cancer phenotypes could be achieved by targeting microRNA expression. This study aimed to determine the effects of miR-372 on cell progression and gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line, TW01.
    MeSH terms: Cell Cycle; Humans; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/genetics*; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology*; RNA, Messenger/genetics; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics*; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism; Blotting, Western; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Apoptosis*; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Gene Expression Profiling; MicroRNAs/genetics*; Cell Proliferation*; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2/genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2/metabolism; Cyclin A1/genetics; Cyclin A1/metabolism; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  12. Ultrasonography and clinical outcomes following surgical anti-incontinence procedures (Monarc vs Miniarc)
    Lo TS, Tan YL, Wu PY, Cortes EF, Pue LB, Al-Kharabsheh A
    Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 2014 Nov;182:91-7.
    PMID: 25265496 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.09.015
    To evaluate the ultrasound morphology and its clinical outcome among women who had undergone Miniarc™ vs Monarc™ in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
    MeSH terms: Aged; Urinary Bladder/injuries; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology; Urinary Bladder/ultrasonography*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Rest; Urethra/ultrasonography*; Urinary Incontinence, Stress/surgery*; Urinary Incontinence, Stress/ultrasonography*; Valsalva Maneuver; Urinary Retention/etiology; Treatment Outcome; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Suburethral Slings/adverse effects*
  13. Fulltext Beliefs, attitudes and self-use of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy medicines among senior pharmacy students: An exploratory insight from Andhra Pradesh, India
    Ahmad A, Khan MU, Kumar BD, Kumar GS, Rodriguez SP, Patel I
    Pharmacognosy Res, 2014 10 1;7(4):302-8.
    PMID: 26692742 DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.158438
    OBJECTIVES: To assess the beliefs, attitudes and self-use of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) medicines among senior pharmacy students.

    METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among pharmacy students in four pharmacy schools located in Andhra Pradesh in South India. This study was conducted from the August to September 2014. The study population included all pharmacy students enrolled in Doctor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Pharmacy and Diploma in Pharmacy programs in studied pharmacy schools. The pretested AYUSH survey had 8 questions on AYUSH related beliefs and 8 question on AYUSH related attitudes. The survey also asked participants about AYUSH related knowledge, frequency of use of AYUSH and the reason for using AYUSH. The data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-test were employed to study the association between the independent and dependent variables.

    RESULTS: A total of 428 pharmacy students participated in the survey. 32.2% of the study population was females and 32.5% of the population resided in rural areas. Males were more likely to have positive beliefs about AYUSH when compared to females (odd ratio [OR] = 4.62, confidence interval [CI] = 2.37-8.99, P < 0.001). Similarly, students living in hostels were more positive in their beliefs about AYUSH compared with students living at home (OR = 2.14, CI = 1.12-4.07, P < 0.05). Students living in hostel also had a positive attitude about AYUSH use (OR = 1.74, CI = 1.03-2.93, P < 0.05).

    CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students held favorable attitude and beliefs about AYUSH use. This baseline survey provides important information about the pharmacy student's perception about AYUSH. Further research is needed to explore the reasons that shape the pharmacy student's beliefs and attitudes about AYUSH.

    MeSH terms: Attitude; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Homeopathy; India; Male; Naturopathy; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies; Pharmacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools, Pharmacy; Students, Pharmacy; Yoga; Confidence Intervals; Odds Ratio
  14. Fulltext Effects of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (the alkaloids of Mitragyna speciosa Korth) on 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronidation in rat and human liver microsomes and recombinant human uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms
    Haron M, Ismail S
    Pharmacognosy Res, 2014 Oct-Dec;7(4):341-9.
    PMID: 26692748 DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.159580
    BACKGROUND: Glucuronidation catalyzed by uridine 5'- diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) is a major phase II drug metabolism reaction which facilitates drug elimination. Inhibition of UGT activity can cause drug-drug interaction. Therefore, it is important to determine the inhibitory potentials of drugs on glucuronidation.
    OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the inhibitory potentials of mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, ketamine and buprenorphine, respectively on 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) glucuronidation in rat liver microsomes, human liver microsomes and recombinant human UGT1A1 and UGT2B7 isoforms.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of the above four compounds on the formation of 4-MU glucuronide from 4-MU by rat liver microsomes, human liver microsomes, recombinant human UGT1A1 and UGT2B7 isoforms were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.
    RESULTS: For rat liver microsomes, ketamine strongly inhibited 4-MU glucuronidation with an IC50 value of 6.21 ± 1.51 μM followed by buprenorphine with an IC50 value of 73.22 ± 1.63 μM. For human liver microsomes, buprenorphine strongly inhibited 4-MU glucuronidation with an IC50 value of 6.32 ± 1.39 μM. For human UGT1A1 isoform, 7-hydroxymitragynine strongly inhibited 4-MU glucuronidation with an IC50 value of 7.13 ± 1.16 μM. For human UGT2B7 isoform, buprenorphine strongly inhibited 4-MU glucuronidation followed by 7-hydroxymitragynine and ketamine with respective IC50 values of 5.14 ± 1.30, 26.44 ± 1.31, and 27.28 ± 1.18 μM.
    CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate the possibility of drug-drug interaction if 7-hydroxymitragynine, ketamine, and buprenorphine are co-administered with drugs that are UGT2B7 substrates since these three compounds showed significant inhibition on UGT2B7 activity. In addition, if 7-hydroxymitragynine is to be taken with other drugs that are highly metabolized by UGT1A1, there is a possibility of drug-drug interaction to occur.
    KEYWORDS: 4-methylumbelliferone; 7-hydroxymitragynine; buprenorphine; glucuronidation; ketamine; mitragynine
    MeSH terms: Animals; Mitragyna; Rats
  15. Mental Trauma Affliction and Infliction: Punishment and Atonement for Sins?
    Syed Hassan ST, Jamaludin H, Latiff LA, Raman RA, Khaw WF
    Bull Emerg Trauma, 2014 Oct;2(4):139-40.
    PMID: 27162885
  16. Dietary putrescine effects on performance parameters, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology and tissue polyamine content of broilers fed low protein diet
    Hashemi SM, Loh TC, Foo HL, Zulkifli I, Hair-Bejo M
    Iran J Vet Res, 2014;15(4):385-91.
    PMID: 27175136
    This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary putrescine (PUT) on broiler's response fed low crude protein (CP) diets. A total of 192 male day old chicks were fed with four dietary treatments including two levels of PUT (0 and 0.03%) and two levels of CP (normal and low) with factorial combinations. Weekly growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology (at the age of 21 days) and liver and intestinal tissue polyamines content were measured. As a result of this study lower dietary CP had a significant (P<0.05) lower body weight gain (BWG) and improved protein efficiency ratio (PER). PUT improved energy efficiency ratio (EER) significantly (P<0.05). Dry matter (DM) digestibility was decreased by lower dietary CP whereas 0.03% PUT significantly (P<0.05) increased it. Low CP caused significant (P<0.05) greater calcium digestibility, while this effect was not found when PUT was added. PUT had no effect on intestine villous height and crypt depth. Polyamine content of intestine and liver was influenced by the age of the birds, while PUT had no effects on them. In conclusion, dietary PUT has beneficial effects on EER in chicks fed CP-deficient diet, indicating possible involvement of PUT in energy metabolism. PUT supplementation did not moderate the reduced BWG of the chicks fed low protein. Intestinal and liver polyamine concentration was mainly affected by dietary CP and age of the birds rather than dietary PUT.
  17. Fulltext Bone Remodeling in Choroidal Osteoma Monitored by Fundus Photography and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
    Kamalden TA, Lingam G, Sundar G
    Ocul Oncol Pathol, 2014 Oct;1(1):13-8.
    PMID: 27175357 DOI: 10.1159/000363454
    Choroidal osteoma is a benign ossifying tumor of the choroid, consisting of mature bone tissue. It has been described to enlarge and evolve at varying rates over time. Here, we report and quantify the progression of a unilateral choroidal osteoma in a 7-year-old boy by fundus photography, and document tumor remodeling by spectral domain optical coherence tomography images.
    MeSH terms: Child; Choroid; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Humans; Male; Neoplasms; Osteoma; Photography; Tomography, Optical Coherence
  18. Fulltext HLA-B*15:02 association with carbamazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in an Indian population: a pooled-data analysis and meta-analysis
    Khor AH, Lim KS, Tan CT, Wong SM, Ng CC
    Epilepsia, 2014 Nov;55(11):e120-4.
    PMID: 25266342 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12802
    This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and association of HLA-B*15:02 with carbamazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (CBZ-SJS/TEN) in the Indian population in Malaysia, which mostly originated from Southern India. HLA-B alleles in five Indian case patients with CBZ-SJS/TEN and 52 CBZ-tolerant controls, and followed by a pooled sample of seven cases from two centers in Malaysia were analyzed. Positive association for HLA-B*15:02 with CBZ-SJS/TEN was detected in Indians (40% [2/5] vs. 3.8% [2/52], odds ratio [OR] 16.7, p = 0.0349), of which 80% (4/5) of the Indian patients originated from Southern India. A pooled sample of seven cases showed stronger association between HLA-B*15:02 and CBZ-SJS/TEN (57.1% [4/7] vs. 3.8% [2/52], OR 33.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.25-162.21, p = 1.05 × 10(-3)). Subsequent meta-analysis on Indians from Malaysia and India further demonstrated a significant and strong association between HLA-B*15:02 and CBZ-SJS/TEN (OR 38.54; 95% CI 6.83-217.34, p < 1.0 × 10(-4)). Our study is the first on Indians predominantly from Southern India that demonstrated HLA-B*15:02 as a strong risk factor for CBZ-SJS/TEN despite a low population allele frequency. This stressed the importance of testing for HLA-B*15:02, irrespective of the ancestral background, including populations with low allele frequency.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Carbamazepine/pharmacology*; Epidermis/immunology; Epidermis/pathology; Female; Gene Frequency/genetics*; Humans; India; Male; Middle Aged; Necrosis/immunology; Risk Factors; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/genetics*; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/epidemiology*; Genetic Predisposition to Disease*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics; Young Adult; HLA-B15 Antigen/genetics*; HLA-B15 Antigen/immunology
  19. Methamphetamine-associated reversible cardiomyopathy and stroke risk
    Yew KL, Go CS, Razali F, Rajendran P, Ooi PS, Anum A
    Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2014;18(17):2403-4.
    PMID: 25268081
  20. Fulltext Genotyping of the Duffy blood group among Plasmodium knowlesi-infected patients in Malaysia
    De Silva JR, Lau YL, Fong MY
    PLoS One, 2014;9(9):e108951.
    PMID: 25268233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108951
    The Duffy blood group is of major interest in clinical medicine as it plays an important role in Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infection. In the present study, the distribution of Duffy blood group genotypes and allelic frequencies among P. knowlesi infected patients as well as healthy individuals in Peninsular Malaysia were determined. The blood group of 60 healthy blood donors and 51 P. knowlesi malaria patients were genotyped using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR). The data was analyzed using Fisher's exact test in order to assess the significance of the variables. Our results show a high proportion of the FY*A/FY*A genotype (>85% for both groups) and a high frequency of the FY*A allele (>90% for both groups). The FY*A/FY*A genotype was the most predominant genotype in both infected and healthy blood samples. The genotype frequency did not differ significantly between the donor blood and the malaria patient groups. Also, there was no significant correlation between susceptibility to P. knowlesi infection with any Duffy blood genotype.
    MeSH terms: Alleles; Duffy Blood-Group System/classification; Duffy Blood-Group System/genetics*; Gene Frequency; Genotype*; Humans; Malaria/diagnosis; Malaria/genetics*; Malaria/parasitology; Malaysia; Case-Control Studies; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Plasmodium knowlesi/isolation & purification*; Genotyping Techniques
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