Browse publications by year: 2015

  1. Overlapping technique for hybrid percutaneous coronary intervention strategy utilising drug eluting stent and ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffold
    Yew KL
    Int J Cardiol, 2015 Jan 15;178:e8-e10.
    PMID: 25205484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.08.085
    MeSH terms: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis*; Myocardial Infarction/surgery*; Sirolimus/administration & dosage*; Absorbable Implants/utilization*; Drug-Eluting Stents/utilization*; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/instrumentation*; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods
  2. Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by crude and fractionated extract from lactic acid bacteria
    Wong CB, Khoo BY, Sasidharan S, Piyawattanametha W, Kim SH, Khemthongcharoen N, et al.
    Benef Microbes, 2015 Mar;6(1):129-39.
    PMID: 25213027 DOI: 10.3920/BM2014.0021
    Increasing levels of antibiotic resistance by Staphylococcus aureus have posed a need to search for non-antibiotic alternatives. This study aimed to assess the inhibitory effects of crude and fractionated cell-free supernatants (CFS) of locally isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against a clinical strain of S. aureus. A total of 42 LAB strains were isolated and identified from fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and fermented products prior to evaluation of inhibitory activities. CFS of LAB strains exhibiting a stronger inhibitive effect against S. aureus were fractionated into crude protein, polysaccharide and lipid fractions. Crude protein fractions showed greater inhibition against S. aureus compared to polysaccharide and lipid fractions, with a more prevalent effect from Lactobacillus plantarum 8513 and L. plantarum BT8513. Crude protein, polysaccharide and lipid fractions were also characterised with glycine, mannose and oleic acid being detected as the major component of each fraction, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed roughed and wrinkled membrane morphology of S. aureus upon treatment with crude protein fractions of LAB, suggesting an inhibitory effect via the destruction of cellular membrane. This research illustrated the potential application of fractionated extracts from LAB to inhibit S. aureus for use in the food and health industry.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Cell Membrane/drug effects; Cell Membrane/ultrastructure; Chemical Fractionation; Lactobacillus/isolation & purification; Lactobacillus/chemistry*; Lipids/isolation & purification; Lipids/pharmacology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Polysaccharides/isolation & purification; Polysaccharides/pharmacology; Proteins/isolation & purification; Proteins/pharmacology; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects*; Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development*; Vegetables/microbiology; Complex Mixtures/isolation & purification; Complex Mixtures/pharmacology*
  3. Inhibition by toxic compounds in the hemicellulosic hydrolysates on the activity of xylose reductase from Candida tropicalis
    Rafiqul IS, Sakinah AM, Zularisam AW
    Biotechnol Lett, 2015 Jan;37(1):191-6.
    PMID: 25214231 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-014-1672-5
    Xylose reductase (XR) is an oxidoreductase having potential applications in the production of various specialty products, mainly xylitol. It is important to screen for compounds that can decrease XR activity and consequently can decrease xylitol production. We have identified the byproducts in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate that inhibit XR from Candida tropicalis and measured their effects. XR inhibitory activities of byproducts, glucose, acetic acid, arabinose, lignin-degradation products (LDPs), furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), were evaluated by measuring the MIC and IC50 values. XR activity was 11.2 U/ml. Acetic acid, LDPs, furfural and HMF significantly inhibited XR with IC50 values of 11, 6.4, 2.3 and 0.4 g/l, respectively. This is the first report on the inhibitory activities of several byproducts for XR.
    MeSH terms: Aldehyde Reductase/antagonists & inhibitors*; Aldehyde Reductase/metabolism*; Cellulose/metabolism*; Enzyme Inhibitors/analysis; Enzyme Inhibitors/metabolism; Fungal Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Fungal Proteins/metabolism*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Temperature; Wood/metabolism; Biomass; Candida tropicalis/enzymology; Candida tropicalis/metabolism*
  4. A survey of the prevalence of Lynxacarus radovskyi in cats in Malaysia
    Han HS
    Vet Dermatol, 2015 Feb;26(1):68.
    PMID: 25216391 DOI: 10.1111/vde.12177
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cat Diseases/epidemiology*; Cat Diseases/parasitology; Cats/parasitology; Female; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Mite Infestations/epidemiology; Mite Infestations/veterinary*; Mites; Prevalence
  5. Optimising the production of succinate and lactate in Escherichia coli using a hybrid of artificial bee colony algorithm and minimisation of metabolic adjustment
    Tang PW, Choon YW, Mohamad MS, Deris S, Napis S
    J Biosci Bioeng, 2015 Mar;119(3):363-8.
    PMID: 25216804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2014.08.004
    Metabolic engineering is a research field that focuses on the design of models for metabolism, and uses computational procedures to suggest genetic manipulation. It aims to improve the yield of particular chemical or biochemical products. Several traditional metabolic engineering methods are commonly used to increase the production of a desired target, but the products are always far below their theoretical maximums. Using numeral optimisation algorithms to identify gene knockouts may stall at a local minimum in a multivariable function. This paper proposes a hybrid of the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm and the minimisation of metabolic adjustment (MOMA) to predict an optimal set of solutions in order to optimise the production rate of succinate and lactate. The dataset used in this work was from the iJO1366 Escherichia coli metabolic network. The experimental results include the production rate, growth rate and a list of knockout genes. From the comparative analysis, ABCMOMA produced better results compared to previous works, showing potential for solving genetic engineering problems.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Animals; Bees/metabolism*; Escherichia coli/genetics; Escherichia coli/growth & development; Escherichia coli/metabolism*; Models, Biological*; Lactic Acid/biosynthesis*; Lactic Acid/metabolism; Succinic Acid/metabolism*; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics; Gene Knockout Techniques; Metabolic Engineering*; Datasets as Topic
  6. Environmental risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based case-control study in Asia-Pacific
    Ng SC, Tang W, Leong RW, Chen M, Ko Y, Studd C, et al.
    Gut, 2015 Jul;64(7):1063-71.
    PMID: 25217388 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307410
    The rising incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia supports the importance of environmental risk factors in disease aetiology. This prospective population-based case-control study in Asia-Pacific examined risk factors prior to patients developing IBD.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Asia/epidemiology; Australia/epidemiology; Breast Feeding; Female; Humans; Intestines/microbiology; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Smoking/epidemiology; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/epidemiology*; Incidence; Multivariate Analysis; Case-Control Studies; Pets; Microbiota
  7. Nucleotide sequencing, cloning, and expression of Capra hircus Heme Oxygenase-1 in caprine islets to promote insulin secretion in vitro
    Vakhshiteh F, Allaudin ZN, Lila MA, Abbasiliasi S, Ajdari Z
    Mol Biotechnol, 2015 Jan;57(1):75-83.
    PMID: 25218408 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-014-9803-8
    Transplantation of islets of Langerhans that have been isolated from whole pancreas is an attractive alternative for the reversal of Type 1 diabetes. However, in vitro culture of isolated pancreatic islets has been reported to cause a decrease in glucose response over time. Hence, the improvement in islet culture conditions is an important goal in islet transplantation. Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress protein that has been described as an inducible protein with the capacity of preventing apoptosis and cytoprotection via radical scavenging. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the influence of endogenous HO-1 gene transfer on insulin secretion of caprine islets. The full-length cDNA sequence of Capra hircus HO-1 was determined using specific designed primers and rapid amplification of cDNA ends of pancreatic tissue. The HO-1 cDNA was then cloned into the prokaryotic expression vectors and transfected into caprine islets using lipid carriers. Efficiency of lipid carriers to transfect caprine islets was determined by flow cytometry. Insulin secretion assay was carried out by ovine insulin ELISA. The finding demonstrated that endogenous HO-1 gene transfer could improve caprine islet function in in vitro culture. Consequently, strategies using HO-1 gene transfer to islets might lead to better outcome in islet transplantation.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cloning, Molecular; Flow Cytometry; Goats/genetics*; Insulin/metabolism*; Islets of Langerhans/enzymology*; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Transfection; Sequence Analysis, DNA; DNA, Complementary/genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism; Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics*
  8. Fulltext Exposure to foods' non-taste sensory properties. A nursery intervention to increase children's willingness to try fruit and vegetables
    Dazeley P, Houston-Price C
    Appetite, 2015 Jan;84:1-6.
    PMID: 25218879 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2014.08.040
    Activities that engage young children with the sensory properties of foods are popular with nursery schools, despite the lack of evidence for their efficacy in increasing children's consumption of healthy foods. This study provides the first empirical exploration of the effectiveness of a non-taste sensory activity program in a nursery school setting. Ninety-two children aged between 12 and 36 months were allocated either to an intervention group, who took part in looking, listening, feeling and smelling activities with unusual fruits and vegetables every day for 4 weeks, or to a non-intervention control group. In a subsequent mealtime taste test, children touched and tasted more of the vegetables to which they had been familiarized in their playtime activities than of a matched set of non-exposed foods. The results demonstrate that hands-on activities with unfamiliar fruits and vegetables can enhance children's willingness to taste these foods, and confirm the potential for such activities to support healthy eating initiatives.
    MeSH terms: Child Behavior; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Diet; Eating; Feeding Behavior; Food Preferences*; Fruit*; Health Promotion; Humans; Infant; Nurseries; Odors; Play and Playthings; Schools; Smell*; Taste*; Touch*; Vegetables*; Vision, Ocular*; Infant Behavior
  9. Molecular docking studies and in vitro cholinesterase enzyme inhibitory activities of chemical constituents of Garcinia hombroniana
    Jamila N, Yeong KK, Murugaiyah V, Atlas A, Khan I, Khan N, et al.
    Nat Prod Res, 2015;29(1):86-90.
    PMID: 25219673 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2014.952228
    Garcinia species are reported to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-HIV and anti-Alzheimer's activities. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro cholinesterase enzyme inhibitory activities of garcihombronane C (1), garcihombronane F (2), garcihombronane I (3), garcihombronane N (4), friedelin (5), clerosterol (6), spinasterol glucoside (7) and 3β-hydroxy lup-12,20(29)-diene (8) isolated from Garcinia hombroniana, and to perform molecular docking simulation to get insight into the binding interactions of the ligands and enzymes. The cholinesterase inhibitory activities were evaluated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. In this study, compound 4 displayed the highest concentration-dependent inhibition of both AChE and BChE. Docking studies exhibited that compound 4 binds through hydrogen bonds to amino acid residues of AChE and BChE. The calculated docking and binding energies also supported the in vitro inhibitory profiles of IC50. In conclusion, garcihombronanes C, F, I and N (1-4) exhibited dual and moderate inhibitory activities against AChE and BChE.
    MeSH terms: Acetylcholinesterase/drug effects; Butyrylcholinesterase/drug effects; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/isolation & purification*; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology*; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/chemistry; Lanosterol/analogs & derivatives*; Lanosterol/isolation & purification; Lanosterol/pharmacology; Lanosterol/chemistry; Molecular Conformation; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*; Molecular Structure; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Garcinia/chemistry*; In Vitro Techniques
  10. Surface Coating of Gypsum-Based Molds for Maxillofacial Prosthetic Silicone Elastomeric Material: The Surface Topography
    Khalaf S, Ariffin Z, Husein A, Reza F
    J Prosthodont, 2015 Jul;24(5):419-23.
    PMID: 25219956 DOI: 10.1111/jopr.12213
    PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the surface roughness of maxillofacial silicone elastomers fabricated in noncoated and coated gypsum materials. This study was also conducted to characterize the silicone elastomer specimens after surfaces were modified.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A gypsum mold was coated with clear acrylic spray. The coated mold was then used to produce modified silicone experimental specimens (n = 35). The surface roughness of the modified silicone elastomers was compared with that of the control specimens, which were prepared by conventional flasking methods (n = 35). An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used for surface roughness measurement of silicone elastomer (unmodified and modified), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to evaluate the topographic conditions of coated and noncoated gypsum and silicone elastomer specimens (unmodified and modified) groups. After the gypsum molds were characterized, the fabricated silicone elastomers molded on noncoated and coated gypsum materials were evaluated further. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of gypsum materials (noncoated and coated) and silicone elastomer specimens (unmodified and modified) was performed to evaluate the elemental changes after coating was conducted. Independent t test was used to analyze the differences in the surface roughness of unmodified and modified silicone at a significance level of p < 0.05.

    RESULTS: Roughness was significantly reduced in the silicone elastomers processed against coated gypsum materials (p < 0.001). The AFM and SEM analysis results showed evident differences in surface smoothness. EDX data further revealed the presence of the desired chemical components on the surface layer of unmodified and modified silicone elastomers.

    CONCLUSIONS: Silicone elastomers with lower surface roughness of maxillofacial prostheses can be obtained simply by coating a gypsum mold.

    MeSH terms: Calcium Sulfate*; Materials Testing; Maxillofacial Prosthesis*; Prosthesis Design; Silicone Elastomers; Surface Properties
  11. Fabrication and characterization of DLC coated microdimples on hip prosthesis heads
    Choudhury D, Ay Ching H, Mamat AB, Cizek J, Abu Osman NA, Vrbka M, et al.
    J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, 2015 Jul;103(5):1002-12.
    PMID: 25220737 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.33274
    Diamond like carbon (DLC) is applied as a thin film onto substrates to obtain desired surface properties such as increased hardness and corrosion resistance, and decreased friction and wear rate. Microdimple is an advanced surface modification technique enhancing the tribological performance. In this study, DLC coated microdimples were fabricated on hip prosthesis heads and their mechanical, material and surface properties were characterized. An Electro discharge machining (EDM) oriented microdrilling was utilized to fabricate a defined microdimple array (diameter of 300 µm, depth of 70 µm, and pitch of 900 µm) on stainless steel (SS) hip prosthesis heads. The dimpled surfaces were then coated by hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) and tetrahedral amorphous carbon (Ta-C) layers by using a magnetron sputtering technology. A preliminary tribology test was conducted on these fabricated surfaces against a ceramic ball in simulated hip joint conditions. It was found that the fabricated dimples were perpendicular to the spherical surfaces and no cutting-tools wear debris was detected inside the individual dimples. The a-C:H and Ta-C coatings increased the hardness at both the dimple edges and the nondimpled region. The tribology test showed a significant reduction in friction coefficient for coated surfaces regardless of microdimple arrays: the lowest friction coefficient was found for the a-C:H samples (µ = 0.084), followed by Ta-C (µ = 0.119), as compared to the SS surface (µ = 0.248).
    MeSH terms: Carbon/chemistry*; Hip Prosthesis*; Humans; Surface Properties; Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry*
  12. Biosensing enhancement of dengue virus using microballoon mixers on centrifugal microfluidic platforms
    Aeinehvand MM, Ibrahim F, Harun SW, Djordjevic I, Hosseini S, Rothan HA, et al.
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2015 May 15;67:424-30.
    PMID: 25220800 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.08.076
    Dengue is the current leading cause of death among children in several Latin American and Asian countries. Due to poverty in areas where the disease is prevalent and the high cost of conventional diagnostic systems, low cost devices are needed to reduce the burden caused by dengue infection. Centrifugal microfluidic platforms are an alternative solution to reduce costs and increase the availability of a rapid diagnostic system. The rate of chemical reactions in such devices often depends on the efficiency of the mixing techniques employed in their microfluidic networks. This paper introduces a micromixer that operates by the expansion and contraction of a microballoon to produce a consistent periodical 3D reciprocating flow. We established that microballoons reduced mixing time of 12 μl liquids from 170 min, for diffusional mixing, to less than 23 s. We have also tested the effect of the microballoon mixers on the detection of the dengue virus. The results indicate that employing a microballoon mixer enhances the detection sensitivity of the dengue virus by nearly one order of magnitude compared to the conventional ELISA method.
    MeSH terms: Dengue/diagnosis; Dengue/virology*; Dengue Virus/isolation & purification*; Dengue Virus/pathogenicity; Humans; Biosensing Techniques*; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
  13. Fulltext A qualitative insight of HIV/AIDS patients' perspective on disease and disclosure
    Syed IA, Syed Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Thiruchelvum K, Lee CK
    Health Expect, 2015 Dec;18(6):2841-52.
    PMID: 25228140 DOI: 10.1111/hex.12268
    BACKGROUND: Understanding patients' knowledge and belief towards disease could play a vital role from an outcome perspective of disease management and HIV/AIDS patients are not exception to that.

    METHODS: Qualitative methodology was used to explore Malaysian HIV/AIDS patients' perspectives on disease and status disclosure. A semi structured interview guide was used to interview the patients and a saturation point was reached after the 13th interview. All interviews were audio-recorded and subjected to a standard content analysis framework.

    RESULTS: Understandings and beliefs towards HIV/AIDS and Perspective on disease disclosures were two main themes derived from patients' data. Beliefs towards causes and cure emerged as sub-themes under disease understandings while reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure were resulted as main sub-themes under disease disclosure. Majority of patients apprehended HIV/AIDS and its causes to acceptable extent, there were elements of spirituality and lack of education involved with such understandings. Though beliefs existed that knowing status is better than being ignorant, fear of stigma and discrimination, social consequences and family emotions were found important elements linked to disease non-disclosure.

    CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes provided basic information about patients' perceptions towards disease and status disclosure among HIV/AIDS patients which can help in the designing and improvising existing strategies to enhance disease awareness and acceptance and will also serve as baseline data for future research further focusing on this subject.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Male; Prejudice; Self Disclosure*; Stereotyping; HIV Infections/etiology; HIV Infections/psychology*; HIV Infections/therapy; Qualitative Research; Young Adult; Social Stigma
  14. Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri source of anti-proliferative xanthones and their structure-activity relationships
    Mah SH, Ee GC, Teh SS, Sukari MA
    Nat Prod Res, 2015;29(1):98-101.
    PMID: 25229947 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2014.959949
    Extensive chromatographic isolation and purification of the extracts of the stem bark of Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri have resulted in 11 xanthones. C. inophyllum gave inophinnin (1), inophinone (2), pyranojacareubin (5), rheediaxanthone A (6), macluraxanthone (7) and 4-hydroxyxanthone (8), while C. soulattri afforded soulattrin (3), phylattrin (4), caloxanthone C (9), brasixanthone B (10) and trapezifolixanthone (11). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses such as 1D and 2D NMR, GC-MS, IR and UV. Cytotoxicity screening (MTT assay) carried out in vitro on all the xanthones using five human cancer cell lines indicated good activities for some of these xanthones. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that the inhibitory activities exhibited by these xanthone derivatives to be closely related to the existence and nature of the pyrano and the prenyl substituent groups on their skeleton.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/isolation & purification*; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry*; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification*; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry*; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Furans; HeLa Cells; Humans; Stomach Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship; Molecular Structure; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; K562 Cells; Plant Bark/chemistry; Calophyllum/chemistry*; Xanthones/isolation & purification*; Xanthones/pharmacology; Xanthones/chemistry*; Hep G2 Cells
  15. Ovarian tissue characterization in ultrasound: a review
    Acharya UR, Molinari F, Sree SV, Swapna G, Saba L, Guerriero S, et al.
    Technol Cancer Res Treat, 2015 Jun;14(3):251-61.
    PMID: 25230716 DOI: 10.1177/1533034614547445
    Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of death among gynecological malignancies. We discuss different types of clinical and nonclinical features that are used to study and analyze the differences between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. Computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems of high accuracy are being developed as an initial test for ovarian tumor classification instead of biopsy, which is the current gold standard diagnostic test. We also discuss different aspects of developing a reliable CAD system for the automated classification of ovarian cancer into benign and malignant types. A brief description of the commonly used classifiers in ultrasound-based CAD systems is also given.
    MeSH terms: Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods; Female; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods; Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology*; Ultrasonics/methods
  16. The changing pattern of cataract surgery indications: a 5-year study of 2 cataract surgery databases
    Lundström M, Goh PP, Henry Y, Salowi MA, Barry P, Manning S, et al.
    Ophthalmology, 2015 Jan;122(1):31-8.
    PMID: 25234011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.07.047
    PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe changes over time in the indications and outcomes of cataract surgery and to discuss optimal timing for the surgery.
    DESIGN: Database study.
    PARTICIPANTS: Patients who had undergone cataract extraction in the Netherlands, Sweden, or Malaysia from 2008 through 2012.
    METHODS: We analyzed preoperative, surgical, and postoperative data from 2 databases: the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO) and the Malaysian National Cataract Registry. The EUREQUO contains complete data from the national cataract registries in the Netherlands and Sweden.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity, preoperative ocular comorbidity in the surgery eye, and capsule complications during surgery.
    RESULTS: There were substantial differences in indication for surgery between the 3 national data sets. The percentage of eyes with a preoperative best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse varied from 7.1% to 72%. In all 3 data sets, the visual thresholds for cataract surgery decreased over time by 6% to 28% of the baseline values. The frequency of capsule complications varied between the 3 data sets, from 1.1% to 3.7% in 2008 and from 0.6% to 2.7% in 2012. An increasing postoperative visual acuity was also seen for all 3 data sets. A high frequency of capsule complication was related significantly to poor preoperative visual acuity, and a high frequency of decreased visual acuity after surgery was related significantly to excellent preoperative visual acuity.
    CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year trend in all 3 national data sets showed decreasing visual thresholds for surgery, decreasing surgical complication rates, and increasing visual outcomes regardless of the initial preoperative visual level. Cataract surgery on eyes with poor preoperative visual acuity was related to surgical complications, and cataract surgery on eyes with excellent preoperative visual acuity was related to adverse visual results.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Cataract/epidemiology*; Cataract Extraction/trends*; Female; Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands/epidemiology; Postoperative Complications; Registries; Sweden/epidemiology; Visual Acuity/physiology; Comorbidity; Databases, Factual; Treatment Outcome; Lens Implantation, Intraocular
  17. Fulltext White tea (Camellia sinensis) inhibits proliferation of the colon cancer cell line, HT-29, activates caspases and protects DNA of normal cells against oxidative damage
    Hajiaghaalipour F, Kanthimathi MS, Sanusi J, Rajarajeswaran J
    Food Chem, 2015 Feb 15;169:401-10.
    PMID: 25236244 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.07.005
    Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. White tea is made from the buds and young leaves of the tea plant which are steamed and dried, whilst undergoing minimal oxidation. The MTT assay was used to test the extract on the effect of the proliferation of the colorectal cancer cell line, HT-29. The extract inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells with an IC50 of 87μg/ml. The extract increased the levels of caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity in the cells. DNA damage in 3T3-L1 normal cells was detected by using the comet assay. The extract protected 3T3-L1 cells against H2O2-induced DNA damage. The results from this study show that white tea has antioxidant and antiproliferative effects against cancer cells, but protect normal cells against DNA damage. Regular intake of white tea can help to maintain good health and protect the body against disease.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; DNA Damage/drug effects*; Humans; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; HT29 Cells; Caspases/metabolism*; Camellia sinensis*; 3T3-L1 Cells; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Mice
  18. Effects of salinity and salinity-induced augmented bioactive compounds in purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) for possible economical use
    Amirul Alam M, Juraimi AS, Rafii MY, Hamid AA, Aslani F, Alam MZ
    Food Chem, 2015 Feb 15;169:439-47.
    PMID: 25236249 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.08.019
    Dry matter (DM), total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoid contents, and antioxidant activity of 12 purslane accessions were investigated against five levels of salinity (0, 8, 16, 24 and 32dSm(-1)). In untreated plants, the DM contents ranged between 8.0-23.4g/pot; total phenolics contents (TPC) between 0.96-9.12mgGAEg(-1)DW; total flavonoid contents (TFC) between 0.15-1.44mgREg(-1)DW; and total carotenoid contents (TCC) between 0.52BCEg(-1)DW. While FRAP activity ranged from 8.64-104.21mgTEg(-1)DW (about 12-fold) and DPPH activity between 2.50-3.30mgmL(-1) IC50 value. Different levels of salinity treatment resulted in 8-35% increases in TPC; about 35% increase in TFC; and 18-35% increases in FRAP activity. Purslane accessions Ac4, Ac5, Ac6 and Ac8 possessed potentials for salinity-induced augmented production of bioactive compounds which in turn can be harnessed for possible human health benefits.
    MeSH terms: Carotenoids/analysis; Flavonoids/analysis; Phenols/analysis; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Portulaca/chemistry*; Salinity
  19. Fulltext Morphological and phylogenetic analysis of Fusarium solani species complex in Malaysia
    Chehri K, Salleh B, Zakaria L
    Microb Ecol, 2015 Apr;69(3):457-71.
    PMID: 25238930 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-014-0494-2
    Members of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) have been known as plant, animal, and human pathogens. Nevertheless, the taxonomic status of such an important group of fungi is still very confusing and many new species as well as lineages have been elucidated recently. Unfortunately, most of the new taxa came from temperate and subtropical regions. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to identify strains of FSSC recovered from different sources in Malaysia. In the present study, 55 strains belonging to the FSSC were examined and phylogenetically analyzed on the basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and partial translation elongation factor-1 (TEF-1α) sequences. Based on morphological features, a total of 55 strains were selected for molecular studies. Based on morphological features, the strains were classified into four described Fusarium species, namely Fusarium keratoplasticum, Fusarium falciforme, FSSC 5, and Fusarium cf. ensiforme, and one unknown phylogenetic species was introduced. Although the data obtained from morphological and molecular studies sufficiently supported each other, the phylogenetic trees based on ITS and TEF-1α dataset clearly distinguished closely related species and distinctly separated all morphological taxa. All members of FSSC in this research were reported for the first time for Malaysian mycoflora.
    MeSH terms: DNA, Fungal/genetics; DNA, Fungal/metabolism; Fungal Proteins/genetics; Fungal Proteins/metabolism; Hypocreales/cytology*; Hypocreales/genetics*; Hypocreales/metabolism; Malaysia; Molecular Sequence Data; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/metabolism; Sequence Analysis, DNA; DNA, Intergenic/genetics; DNA, Intergenic/metabolism
  20. Fulltext Lessons for resource conservation from two contrasting small-scale fisheries
    Eriksson H, de la Torre-Castro M, Purcell SW, Olsson P
    Ambio, 2015 Apr;44(3):204-13.
    PMID: 25238980 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-014-0552-5
    Small-scale fisheries present challenges to management due to fishers' dependency on resources and the adaptability of management systems. We compared social-ecological processes in the sea cucumber fisheries of Zanzibar and Mayotte, Western Indian Ocean, to better understand the reasons for resource conservation or collapse. Commercial value of wild stocks was at least 30 times higher in Mayotte than in Zanzibar owing to lower fishing pressure. Zanzibar fishers were financially reliant on the fishery and increased fishing effort as stocks declined. This behavioral response occurred without adaptive management and reinforced an unsustainable fishery. In contrast, resource managers in Mayotte adapted to changing fishing effort and stock abundance by implementing a precautionary fishery closure before crossing critical thresholds. Fishery closure may be a necessary measure in small-scale fisheries to preserve vulnerable resources until reliable management systems are devised. Our comparison highlighted four poignant lessons for managing small-scale fisheries: (1) diagnose the fishery regularly, (2) enable an adaptive management system, (3) constrain exploitation within ecological limits, and (4) share management responsibility.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Conservation of Natural Resources*; Fisheries*; Sea Cucumbers/physiology*; Tanzania; Comoros
External Links