Browse publications by year: 2015

  1. Fong Yen W, Basri M, Ahmad M, Ismail M
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2015;2015:495271.
    PMID: 25853145 DOI: 10.1155/2015/495271
    Galantamine hydrobromide is formulated in tablets and capsules prescribed through oral delivery for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, oral delivery of drugs can cause severe side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal disturbance. Transdermal delivery of galantamine hydrobromide could avoid these unwanted side effects. In this work, galantamine hydrobromide was formulated in gel drug reservoir which was then fabricated in the transdermal patch. The in vitro drug release studies revealed that the drug release from the donor chamber to receptor chamber of Franz diffusion cell was affected by the amount of polymer, amount of neutralizer, amount of drug, types of permeation enhancer, and amount of permeation enhancer. Visual observations of the gels showed that all formulated gels are translucent, homogeneous, smooth, and stable. These gels have pH in the suitable range for skin. The gel also showed high drug content uniformity. Hence, this formulation can be further used in the preparation of transdermal patch drug delivery system.
    MeSH terms: Administration, Cutaneous; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/administration & dosage*; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Galantamine/administration & dosage*; Galantamine/therapeutic use; Gels*; Humans; In Vitro Techniques
  2. Thio TH, Ibrahim F, Al-Faqheri W, Soin N, Kahar Bador M, Madou M
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0121836.
    PMID: 25853411 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121836
    A centrifugal compact disc (CD) microfluidic platform with reservoirs, micro-channels, and valves can be employed for implementing a complete immunoassay. Detection or biosensor chambers are either coated for immuno-interaction or a biosensor chip is inserted in them. On microfluidic CDs featuring such multi-step chemical/biological processes, the biosensor chamber must be repeatedly filled with fluids such as enzymes solutions, buffers, and washing solutions. After each filling step, the biosensor chamber needs to be evacuated by a passive siphoning process to prepare it for the next step in the assay. However, rotational speed dependency and limited space on a CD are two big obstacles to performing such repetitive filling and siphoning steps. In this work, a unique thermo-pneumatic (TP) Push-Pull pumping method is employed to provide a superior alternative biosensor chamber filling and evacuation technique. The proposed technique is demonstrated on two CD designs. The first design features a simple two-step microfluidic process to demonstrate the evacuation technique, while the second design shows the filling and evacuation technique with an example sequence for an actual immunoassay. In addition, the performance of the filling and evacuation technique as a washing step is also evaluated quantitatively and compared to the conventional manual bench top washing method. The two designs and the performance evaluation demonstrate that the technique is simple to implement, reliable, easy to control, and allows for repeated push-pulls and thus filling and emptying of the biosensor chamber. Furthermore, by addressing the issue of rotational speed dependency and limited space concerns in implementing repetitive filling and evacuation steps, this newly introduced technique increases the flexibility of the microfluidic CD platform to perform multi-step biological and chemical processes.
    MeSH terms: Immunoassay/instrumentation*; Time Factors; Biosensing Techniques/instrumentation*; Compact Disks*; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/instrumentation*
  3. Fayle TM, Scholtz O, Dumbrell AJ, Russell S, Segar ST, Eggleton P
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0122533.
    PMID: 25853549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122533
    Termites and ants contribute more to animal biomass in tropical rain forests than any other single group and perform vital ecosystem functions. Although ants prey on termites, at the community level the linkage between these groups is poorly understood. Thus, assessing the distribution and specificity of ant termitophagy is of considerable interest. We describe an approach for quantifying ant-termite food webs by sequencing termite DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, COII) from ant guts and apply this to a soil-dwelling ant community from tropical rain forest in Gabon. We extracted DNA from 215 ants from 15 species. Of these, 17.2 % of individuals had termite DNA in their guts, with BLAST analysis confirming the identity of 34.1 % of these termites to family level or better. Although ant species varied in detection of termite DNA, ranging from 63 % (5/7; Camponotus sp. 1) to 0 % (0/7; Ponera sp. 1), there was no evidence (with small sample sizes) for heterogeneity in termite consumption across ant taxa, and no evidence for species-specific ant-termite predation. In all three ant species with identifiable termite DNA in multiple individuals, multiple termite species were represented. Furthermore, the two termite species that were detected on multiple occasions in ant guts were in both cases found in multiple ant species, suggesting that ant-termite food webs are not strongly compartmentalised. However, two ant species were found to consume only Anoplotermes-group termites, indicating possible predatory specialisation at a higher taxonomic level. Using a laboratory feeding test, we were able to detect termite COII sequences in ant guts up to 2 h after feeding, indicating that our method only detects recent feeding events. Our data provide tentative support for the hypothesis that unspecialised termite predation by ants is widespread and highlight the use of molecular approaches for future studies of ant-termite food webs.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Ants/genetics; Ants/physiology*; Base Sequence; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics*; Electron Transport Complex IV/isolation & purification; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics; Gabon; Species Specificity; Ecosystem; Isoptera/genetics; Isoptera/physiology*; Food Chain*; Rainforest
  4. Raipuria M, Bahari H, Morris MJ
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0120980.
    PMID: 25853572 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120980
    Obesity during pregnancy contributes to the development of metabolic disorders in offspring. Maternal exercise may limit gestational weight gain and ameliorate these programming effects. We previously showed benefits of post-weaning voluntary exercise in offspring from obese dams. Here we examined whether voluntary exercise during pregnancy influences lipid and glucose homeostasis in muscle and fat in offspring of both lean and obese dams. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed chow (C) or high fat (F) diet for 6 weeks before mating. Half underwent voluntary exercise (CE/FE) with a running wheel introduced 10 days prior to mating and available until the dams delivered; others remained sedentary (CS/FS). Male and female pups were killed at postnatal day (PND)19 and retroperitoneal fat and gastrocnemius muscle were collected for gene expression. Lean and obese dams achieved similar modest levels of exercise. At PND1, both male and female pups from exercised lean dams were significantly lighter (CE versus CS), with no effect in those from obese dams. At PND19, maternal obesity significantly increased offspring body weight and adiposity, with no effect of maternal exercise. Exercise significantly reduced insulin concentrations in males (CE/FE versus CS/FS), with reduced glucose in male FE pups. In males, maternal obesity significantly decreased muscle myogenic differentiation 1 (MYOD1) and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) mRNA expressions (FS vs CS); these were normalized by exercise. Maternal exercise upregulated adipose GLUT4, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) mRNA expression in offspring of dams consuming chow. Modest voluntary exercise during pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight in pups from lean dams. Maternal exercise appeared to decrease the metabolic risk induced by maternal obesity, improving insulin/glucose metabolism, with greater effects in male than female offspring.
    MeSH terms: Adipose Tissue/metabolism*; Animals; Diet*; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Glucose/metabolism*; Hormones/blood; Insulin/blood; Male; Mothers*; Obesity/physiopathology; Organ Size; Phenotype; Physical Conditioning, Animal*; Pregnancy; Triglycerides/blood; Weaning*; Biomarkers/blood; Biomarkers/metabolism; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism*; Rats; Adipose Tissue, White/metabolism
  5. Kamisah Y, Periyah V, Lee KT, Noor-Izwan N, Nurul-Hamizah A, Nurul-Iman BS, et al.
    Pharm Biol, 2015;53(9):1243-9.
    PMID: 25853965 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.971383
    Virgin coconut oil (VCO) contains high antioxidant activity which may have protective effects on the heart in hypertensive rats.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/administration & dosage*; Blood Pressure; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated*; Disease Models, Animal; Heart Diseases/etiology; Heart Diseases/metabolism; Heart Diseases/pathology; Heart Diseases/physiopathology; Heart Diseases/prevention & control*; Hypertension/diet therapy*; Hypertension/etiology; Hypertension/metabolism; Hypertension/pathology; Hypertension/physiopathology; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism; Male; Myocardium/enzymology; Myocardium/pathology; Plant Oils/administration & dosage*; Time Factors; Lipid Peroxidation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism; Ventricular Remodeling
  6. Elendran S, Wang LW, Prankerd R, Palanisamy UD
    Pharm Biol, 2015;53(12):1719-26.
    PMID: 25853977 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.1003356
    Natural products play a vital role in the discovery of leads for novel pharmacologically active drugs. Geraniin (GE) was identified as the major compound in the rind of Nephelium lappaceum L. (Sapindaceae), while ellagic and gallic acids have been shown to be its main metabolites. GE and its metabolites possess a range of bioactive properties including being an anti-infective, anticarcinogenic, antihyperglycemic, and antihypertensive.
    MeSH terms: Crystallization; Glucosides/isolation & purification; Glucosides/chemistry*; Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry*; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Sapindaceae*; Hydrolyzable Tannins/isolation & purification; Hydrolyzable Tannins/chemistry*; Physicochemical Phenomena
  7. Lim SF, Lee AY
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Jul;22(13):10144-58.
    PMID: 25854202 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4203-6
    In the present study, the feasibility of soil used as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Pb(2+) ions from aqueous solution was investigated. The kinetics for adsorption of the heavy metal ions from aqueous solution by soil was examined under batch mode. The influence of the contact time and initial concentration for the adsorption process at pH of 4.5, under a constant room temperature of 25 ± 1 °C were studied. The adsorption capacity of the three heavy metal ions from aqueous solution was decreased in order of Pb(2+) > Cu(2+) > Zn(2+). The soil was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopic-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area analyzer. From the FTIR analysis, the experimental data was corresponded to the peak changes of the spectra obtained before and after adsorption process. Studies on SEM-EDX showed distinct adsorption of the heavy metal ions and the mineral composition in the study areas were determined to be silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), and iron(III) oxide (FeO3). A distinct decrease of the specific surface area and total pore volumes of the soil after adsorption was found from the BET analysis. The experimental results obtained were analyzed using four adsorption kinetic models, namely pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion. Evaluating the linear correlation coefficients, the kinetic studies showed that pseudo-second-order equation described the data appropriable than others. It was concluded that soil can be used as an effective adsorbent for removing Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Pb(2+) ions from aqueous solution.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Aluminum Oxide/chemistry; Copper/isolation & purification; Diffusion; Ferric Compounds/chemistry; Kinetics; Lead/isolation & purification; Silicon Dioxide/chemistry; Soil/chemistry*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification*; Zinc/isolation & purification
  8. Qureshi MI, Khan NU, Rasli AM, Zaman K
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Aug;22(15):11708-15.
    PMID: 25854212 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4440-8
    The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between environmental indicators and health expenditures in the panel of five selected Asian countries, over the period of 2000-2013. The study used panel cointegration technique for evaluating the nexus between environment and health in the region. The results show that energy demand, forest area, and GDP per unit use of energy have a significant and positive impact on increasing health expenditures in the region. These results have been confirmed by single equation panel cointegration estimators, i.e., fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic OLS (DOLS), and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR) estimators. In addition, the study used robust least squares regression to confirm the generalizability of the results in Asian context. All these estimators indicate that environmental indicators escalate the health expenditures per capita in a region; therefore, Asian countries should have to upsurge health expenditures for safeguard from environmental evils in a region.
    MeSH terms: Asia; Environment*; Environmental Pollution/adverse effects; Health Expenditures/statistics & numerical data*; Humans; Least-Squares Analysis
  9. Abdull Razis AF, Konsue N, Ioannides C
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(7):2679-83.
    PMID: 25854346
    BACKGROUND: Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), the most comprehensively studied aromatic isothiocyanate, has been shown to act as an anti-cancer agent mainly through modulation of biotransformation enzymes responsible for metabolizing carcinogens in the human body. Humans are often exposed to carcinogenic factors, some of which through the diet, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene via the consumption of over-cooked meats. Inhibition of the enzymes responsible for the bioactivation of this carcinogen, for example CYP1A1, the major enzyme required for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bioactivation, is recognized as a chemoprevention strategy.

    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of PEITC against benzo[a]pyrene-induced rise in rat liver CYP1A1 mRNA and apoprotein levels.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Precision cut rat liver slices were treated with benzo[a]pyrene at 1 and 5 μM in the presence of PEITC (1-25 μM) for 24 hours, followed by determination of CYP1A1 mRNA and apoprotein levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting.

    RESULTS: Findings revealed that PEITC inhibited benzo[a]pyrene-induced rise in rat liver CYP1A1 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner as well as the apoprotein levels of CYP1A.

    CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that PEITC can directly inhibit the bioactivation of benzo[a]pyrene, indicating chemopreventive potential.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Apoproteins/metabolism*; Benzo(a)pyrene/pharmacology; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects*; Liver/enzymology; Male; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/metabolism; RNA, Messenger/genetics; Anticarcinogenic Agents/pharmacology; Rats, Wistar; Isothiocyanates/pharmacology*; Chemoprevention/methods*; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/metabolism*; Rats
  10. Wong YF, Yusof MM, Wan Ishak WZ, Alip A, Phua VC
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(7):2903-8.
    PMID: 25854381
    BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the eighth most common cancer as estimated from worldwide data. The incidence of HNC in Peninsular Malaysia was reported as 8.5 per 100,000 population. This study was aimed to determine the treatment outcomes for HNC patients treated in the Oncology Unit of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: All newly diagnosed patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) referred for treatment to the Oncology Unit at UMMC from 2003-2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment outcomes were 5-year overall survival (OS), cause specific survival (CSS), loco-regional control (LRC) and radiotherapy (RT) related side effects. Kaplan-Meier and log rank analyses were used to determine survival outcomes, stratified according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage.

    RESULTS: A total of 130 cases were analysed. Most cases (81.5%) were at late stage (AJCC III-IVB) at presentation. The 5-year OS for the whole study population was 34.4% with a median follow up of 24 months. The 5-year OS according to AJCC stage was 100%, 48.2%, 41.4% and 22.0% for stage I, II, III and IVA-B, respectively. The 5-year overall CSS and LCR were 45.4% and 55.4%, respectively. Late effects of RT were documented in 41.4% of patients. The most common late effect was xerostomia.

    CONCLUSIONS: The treatment outcome of HNSCC at our centre is lagging behind those of developed nations. Efforts to increase the number of patients presenting in earlier stages, increase in the use of combined modality treatment, especially concurrent chemoradiotherapy and implementation of intensity modulated radiotherapy, may lead to better outcomes for our HNC patients.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy*; Combined Modality Therapy/methods; Developing Countries; Head and Neck Neoplasms/mortality; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms/therapy*; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging/methods; Retrospective Studies; Universities; Treatment Outcome
  11. Muhamad NA, Kamaluddin MA, Adon MY, Noh MA, Bakhtiar MF, Ibrahim Tamim NS, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(7):3067-72.
    PMID: 25854407
    Cervical cancer is the most common malignant cancer of the female reproductive organs worldwide. Currently, cervical cancer can be prevented by vaccination and detected at an early stage via various screening methods. Malaysia, as a developing country faces a heavy disease burden of cervical cancer as it is the second most common cancer among Malaysian women. This population based study was carried out to fulfil the primary aim of determining the survival rates of Malaysian women with cervical cancer and associated factors. Data were obtained from two different sources namely, the Malaysian National Cancer Registry (MNCR) and National Health Informatics Centre (NHIC) from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2005. Kaplan Meier analyses were conducted to identify the overall survival rates and median survival time. Differences in survival among different ethnic and age group were compared using the log-rank test. A total of 5,859 patients were included. The median survival time for cervical cancer in this study was 65.8 months and the 5-year survival rate was 71.1%. The overall observed survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 94.1%, 79.3% and 71.1% respectively. The log-rank test finding also showed that there were significant differences in the 5-year survival rate among different ethnic groups. Malays had the lowest survival rate of 59.2% followed by Indians (69.5%) and Chinese (73.8%). The overall 5-year survival rate among patients with cervical cancer in Malaysia is relatively good. Age and ethnic groups remain as significant determining factors for cervical cancer survival rate.
    MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/mortality*; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Survival Rate
  12. Tang WH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(7):3083.
    PMID: 25854410
    MeSH terms: Adenocarcinoma/surgery*; Female; Gastrectomy/methods*; Humans; Lymph Nodes/pathology*; Male; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery*
  13. Prakash A, Kumar A, Ming LC, Mani V, Majeed AB
    J Mol Neurosci, 2015 Jul;56(3):739-50.
    PMID: 25854775 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0508-7
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by impaired memory function and oxidative damage. NO is a major signaling molecule produced in the central nervous system to modulate neurological activity through modulating nitric oxide synthase. Recently, PPAR-γ agonists have shown neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative disorders. However, there have been only a few studies identifying mechanisms through which cognitive benefits may be exerted. The present study was designed to investigate the possible nitric oxide mechanism in the protective effect of pioglitazone against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced memory dysfunction. Wistar rats were intracerebroventricularly (ICV) injected with STZ. Then rats were treated with pioglitazone, NO modulators [L-arginine and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)] for 21 days. Behavioral alterations were assessed in between the study period. Animals were sacrificed immediately after behavioral session, and mito-oxidative parameters, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3 activity were measured. STZ-treated rats showed a memory deficit and significantly increased in mito-oxidative damage and inflammatory mediators and apoptosis in the hippocampus. Chronic treatment of pioglitazone significantly improved memory retention and attenuated mito-oxidative damage parameters, inflammatory markers, and apoptosis in STZ-treated rats. However, L-arginine pretreatment with lower dose of pioglitazone has not produced any protective effect as compared to per se. Furthermore, pretreatment of L-NAME significantly potentiated its protective effect, which indicates the involvement of nitric oxide for activation of PPAR-γ action. These results demonstrate that pioglitazone offers protection against STZ-induced memory dysfunction possibly due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic action mediating nitric oxide pathways and, therefore, could have a therapeutic potential in AD.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/therapeutic use; Male; Memory Disorders/drug therapy*; Memory Disorders/etiology; Memory Disorders/metabolism; Nitric Oxide/metabolism*; Streptozocin/toxicity; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism; Interleukin-6/metabolism; Rats, Wistar; Apoptosis/drug effects; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology*; Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/pharmacology; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/therapeutic use; Thiazolidinediones/pharmacology*; Thiazolidinediones/therapeutic use; PPAR gamma/metabolism*; Rats; Caspase 3/metabolism
  14. Li B, Huang W, Zhang C, Feng S, Zhang Z, Lei Z, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2015;187:214-220.
    PMID: 25855527 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.03.118
    The influence of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) (10-50mg/L) on aerobic granulation of algal-bacterial symbiosis system was investigated by using two identical sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Although little adverse effect was observed on their nitritation efficiency (98-100% in both reactors), algal-bacterial granules in the control SBR (Rc) gradually lost stability mainly brought about by algae growth. TiO2-NPs addition to RT was found to enhance the granulation process achieving stable and compact algal-bacterial granules with remarkably improved nitratation thus little nitrite accumulation in RT when influent TiO2-NPs⩾30mg/L. Despite almost similar organics and phosphorus removals obtained in both reactors, the stably high nitratation efficiency in addition to much stable granular structure in RT suggests that TiO2-NPs addition might be a promising remedy for the long-term operation of algal-bacterial granular system, most probably attributable to the stimulated excretion of extracellular polymeric substances and less filamentous TM7.
    MeSH terms: Bacteria, Aerobic/drug effects; Bacteria, Aerobic/physiology*; Symbiosis/drug effects; Symbiosis/physiology; Titanium/pharmacology*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism*; Water Purification/methods; Bioreactors/microbiology; Metal Nanoparticles/administration & dosage*; Microbial Consortia/drug effects; Microbial Consortia/physiology*; Waste Water/microbiology*
  15. Ose J, Schock H, Tjønneland A, Hansen L, Overvad K, Dossus L, et al.
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2015 Jun;24(6):951-61.
    PMID: 25855626 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-1279-T
    BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests an etiologic role for inflammation in ovarian carcinogenesis and heterogeneity between tumor subtypes and anthropometric indices. Prospective studies on circulating inflammatory markers and epithelial invasive ovarian cancer (EOC) have predominantly investigated overall risk; data characterizing risk by tumor characteristics (histology, grade, stage, dualistic model of ovarian carcinogenesis) and anthropometric indices are sparse.

    METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP), IL6, and EOC risk by tumor characteristics. A total of 754 eligible EOC cases were identified; two controls (n = 1,497) were matched per case. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression to assess associations.

    RESULTS: CRP and IL6 were not associated with overall EOC risk. However, consistent with prior research, CRP >10 versus CRP ≤1 mg/L was associated with higher overall EOC risk [OR, 1.67 (1.03-2.70)]. We did not observe significant associations or heterogeneity in analyses by tumor characteristics. In analyses stratified by waist circumference, inflammatory markers were associated with higher risk among women with higher waist circumference; no association was observed for women with normal waist circumference [e.g., IL6: waist ≤80: ORlog2, 0.97 (0.81-1.16); waist >88: ORlog2, 1.78 (1.28-2.48), Pheterogeneity ≤ 0.01].

    CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that high CRP is associated with increased risk of overall EOC, and that IL6 and CRP may be associated with EOC risk among women with higher adiposity.

    IMPACT: Our data add to global evidence that ovarian carcinogenesis may be promoted by an inflammatory milieu.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/blood; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/etiology; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/pathology*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Inflammation/blood; Inflammation/complications; Inflammation/pathology; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Ovarian Neoplasms/blood; Ovarian Neoplasms/etiology; Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology*; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood*; Case-Control Studies; Endometrial Neoplasms/blood; Endometrial Neoplasms/etiology; Endometrial Neoplasms/pathology*; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/blood; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/etiology; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/pathology*; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/blood; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/etiology; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/pathology*; Inflammation Mediators/blood*; Neoplasm Grading
  16. Ritter P, Duray GZ, Zhang S, Narasimhan C, Soejima K, Omar R, et al.
    Europace, 2015 May;17(5):807-13.
    PMID: 25855677 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euv026
    Recent advances in miniaturization technologies and battery chemistries have made it possible to develop a pacemaker small enough to implant within the heart while still aiming to provide similar battery longevity to conventional pacemakers. The Micra Transcatheter Pacing System is a miniaturized single-chamber pacemaker system that is delivered via catheter through the femoral vein. The pacemaker is implanted directly inside the right ventricle of the heart, eliminating the need for a device pocket and insertion of a pacing lead, thereby potentially avoiding some of the complications associated with traditional pacing systems.
    MeSH terms: Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/physiopathology; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/therapy*; Clinical Protocols; Equipment Design; Humans; Miniaturization; Prospective Studies; Research Design*; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Risk Assessment
  17. Tan BL, Norhaizan ME, Yeap SK, Roselina K
    Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2015;19(6):1022-9.
    PMID: 25855928
    Brewers' rice, a mixture of broken rice, rice bran, and rice germ, is a rice by-product in the rice industry. The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of the water extract of brewers' rice (WBR) against colorectal cancer (HT-29) cells.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification*; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use; Cell Line; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy; Colonic Neoplasms/pathology*; Humans; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification*; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use; Oryza*; Water/administration & dosage; Apoptosis/drug effects*; HT29 Cells; BALB 3T3 Cells; Cell Proliferation/drug effects*; Mice
  18. Nimdet K, Chaiyakunapruk N, Vichansavakul K, Ngorsuraches S
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0122760.
    PMID: 25855971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122760
    A number of studies have been conducted to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in patients or general population for various diseases. However, there has not been any systematic review summarizing the relationship between WTP per QALY and cost-effectiveness (CE) threshold based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cost-Benefit Analysis*; Decision Making; Health Expenditures*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life/psychology*; Models, Economic*; Quality-Adjusted Life Years*
  19. Abdullah MR, Goharian A, Abdul Kadir MR, Wahit MU
    J Biomed Mater Res A, 2015 Nov;103(11):3689-702.
    PMID: 25856801 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35480
    The use of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites in the trauma plating system, total replacement implants, and tissue scaffolds has found great interest among researchers. In recent years (2008 afterward), this type of composites has been examined for suitability as substitute material over stainless steel, titanium alloys, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, or even biodegradable materials in orthopedic implant applications. Biomechanical and bioactivity concepts were contemplated for the development of PEEK orthopedic implants and a few primary clinical studies reported the clinical outcomes of PEEK-based orthopedic implants. This study aims to review and discuss the recent concepts and contribute further concepts in terms of biomechanical and bioactivity challenges for the development of PEEK and PEEK composites in orthopedic implants.
  20. Rosli NA, Ahmad I, Abdullah I, Anuar FH, Mohamed F
    Carbohydr Polym, 2015 Jul 10;125:69-75.
    PMID: 25857961 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.03.002
    Graft copolymerisation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto Agave angustifolia was conducted with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the redox initiator. The maximum grafting efficiency was observed at CAN and MMA concentrations of 0.91 × 10(-3) and 5.63 × 10(-2)M, respectively, at 45°C for 3h reaction time. Four characteristic peaks at 2995, 1738, 1440, and 845 cm(-1), attributed to PMMA, were found in the IR spectrum of grafted cellulose. The crystallinity index dropped from 0.74 to 0.46, while the thermal stability improved upon grafting. The water contact angle increased with grafting yield, indicating increased hydrophobicity of cellulose. SEM images showed the grafted cellulose to be enlarged and rougher. The changes in the physical nature of PMMA-grafted cellulose can be attributed to the PMMA grafting in the amorphous regions of cellulose, causing it to expand at the expense of the crystalline component.
    MeSH terms: Cellulose/chemistry*; Cerium/chemistry; Oxidation-Reduction; Methylmethacrylate/chemistry*; Agave/chemistry*; Phase Transition; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Polymerization*
External Links