Browse publications by year: 2015

Electrochemical detection of ractopamine at arrays of micro-liquid | liquid interfaces

Sairi M, Arrigan DW

Talanta, 2015 Jan;132:205-14.
PMID: 25476299 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.08.060

The behaviour of protonated ractopamine (RacH(+)) at an array of micro-interfaces between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (micro-ITIES) was investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep stripping voltammetry (LSSV). The micro-ITIES array was formed at silicon membranes containing 30 pores of radius 11.09±0.12 µm and pore centre-to-centre separation of 18.4±2.1 times the pore radius. CV shows that RacH(+) transferred across the water |1,6-dichlorohexane µITIES array at a very positive applied potential, close to the upper limit of the potential window. Nevertheless, CV was used in the estimation of some of the drug's thermodynamic parameters, such as the formal transfer potential and the Gibbs transfer energy. LSSV was implemented by pre-concentration of the drug, into the organic phase, followed by voltammetric detection, based on the back-transfer of RacH(+) from the organic to aqueous phase. Under optimised pre-concentration and detection conditions, a limit of detection of 0.1 µM was achieved. In addition, the impact of substances such as sugar, ascorbic acid, metal ions, amino acid and urea on RacH(+) detection was assessed. The detection of RacH(+) in artificial serum indicated that the presence of serum protein interferes in the detection signal, so that sample deproteinisation is required for feasible bioanalytical applications.

MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Proteins/chemistry; Cattle; Cyclohexanes; Growth Substances/analysis*; Kinetics; Membranes, Artificial; Phenethylamines/analysis*; Chemical Precipitation; Protons*; Silicon; Thermodynamics; Water; Electrochemical Techniques*; Limit of Detection
A new sensitive electrochemical method for the determination of vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) in Benfield sample

Qureshi MS, Mohd Yusoff AR, Shah A, Nafady A, Sirajuddin

Talanta, 2015 Jan;132:541-7.
PMID: 25476342 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.10.005

Vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) can be determined by using differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry technique (DPCSV). Cupferron (ammonium N-nitrosophenylhydroxylamine) was used as ligand to form complex compounds with vanadium ions in Britton-Robinson buffer (BRB) solution. At concentration lower than 1.0×10(-6) M, both V(IV) and V(V) cupferron complexes showed a single cathodic peak at -0.576 V in BRB of pH 4; thus V(IV) and V(V) ions cannot be differentiated at low concentration. However, the ionic species of vanadium can be differentiated at high concentration in the presence of cupferron. Parameters including pH of BRB solution, initial potential and accumulation potential were optimized. Under the optimized parameters, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.09 nM, and the peak current was linear in the concentration range 0.01-0.9 µM total vanadium ions. The determination of V(IV) and V(V) ions was carried out at higher concentration in the sample using calibration plot method. At higher concentration range of 10-60 µM V(IV) and V(V) ions were determined with LOD of 1.2 and 1.1 µM, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to 10,00,000 fold diluted Benfield sample and 0.6227 M total vanadium ions were determined. The determination of V(IV) and V(V) ions were also successfully carried out in artificial sample as well as Benfield sample (dilution factor, 10,000). The concentration of V(IV) and V(V) ions was 22.52 µM and 38.91 µM, respectively, giving total vanadium concentration of 0.6143 M in Benfield sample.

MeSH terms: Calibration; Electrodes; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ions; Ligands; Nitrosamines; Vanadium; Limit of Detection; Ammonium Compounds
Association between behavioural factors and BMI-for-age among early adolescents in Hulu Langat district, Selangor, Malaysia

Woon FC, Chin YS, Mohd Nasir MT

Obes Res Clin Pract, 2015 Jul-Aug;9(4):346-56.
PMID: 25476772 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2014.10.218

This paper investigates the association between behavioural factors and BMI-for-age among early adolescents (10-11 years old) in Hulu Langat district, Selangor.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Humans; Body Mass Index
Radiographic assessment of the prevalence of pulp stones in Malaysians

Kannan S, Kannepady SK, Muthu K, Jeevan MB, Thapasum A

J Endod, 2015 Mar;41(3):333-7.
PMID: 25476972 DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2014.10.015

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pulp stones in the Malaysian population using radiographs, and to assess the association of pulp stones with gender, age, tooth type, dental arch and tooth status. Occurrence of pulp stones among the three races in Malaysia (Malay, Chinese and Indians) was also studied.
MicroRNAs: association with radioresistant and potential uses of natural remedies as green gene therapeutic approaches

Jothy SL, Chen Y, Vijayarathna S, Kanwar JR, Sasidharan S

Curr Gene Ther, 2015;15(1):15-20.
PMID: 25478696

Radiotherapy plays an essential primary role in cancer patients. Regardless of its significant advances in treatment options, tumor recurrence and radio-resistance in cancer cells still occur in a high percentage of patients. Furthermore, the over expression of miRNAs accompanies the development of radio-resistant cancer cells. Consequently, miRNAs might serve as therapeutic targets for the treatment of radio-resistance in cancer cells. The findings of the current research also signify that the use of a natural anti-miRNA substance could inhibit specific miRNAs, and, concurrently, these natural remedies could exhibit radioprotective activity against the healthy cells during radiotherapy. Therefore, in this review, we have reported the association of miRNAs with radio-resistance and the potential uses of natural remedies as green gene therapeutic approaches, as well as radioprotectors against the adverse effects of irradiation on healthy cells during radiotherapy.

MeSH terms: Humans; Neoplasms/genetics*; Neoplasms/radiotherapy*; Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology; Radiotherapy/adverse effects; Radiotherapy/methods; Genetic Therapy/methods*; MicroRNAs/genetics*; MicroRNAs/metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Phytochemicals/pharmacology
Mitochondrial targeting of bilirubin regulatory enzymes: An adaptive response to oxidative stress

Muhsain SN, Lang MA, Abu-Bakar A

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 2015 Jan 1;282(1):77-89.
PMID: 25478736 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2014.11.010

The intracellular level of bilirubin (BR), an endogenous antioxidant that is cytotoxic at high concentrations, is tightly controlled within the optimal therapeutic range. We have recently described a concerted intracellular BR regulation by two microsomal enzymes: heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), essential for BR production and cytochrome P450 2A5 (CYP2A5), a BR oxidase. Herein, we describe targeting of these enzymes to hepatic mitochondria during oxidative stress. The kinetics of microsomal and mitochondrial BR oxidation were compared. Treatment of DBA/2J mice with 200mgpyrazole/kg/day for 3days increased hepatic intracellular protein carbonyl content and induced nucleo-translocation of Nrf2. HMOX1 and CYP2A5 proteins and activities were elevated in microsomes and mitoplasts but not the UGT1A1, a catalyst of BR glucuronidation. A CYP2A5 antibody inhibited 75% of microsomal BR oxidation. The inhibition was absent in control mitoplasts but elevated to 50% after treatment. An adrenodoxin reductase antibody did not inhibit microsomal BR oxidation but inhibited 50% of mitochondrial BR oxidation. Ascorbic acid inhibited 5% and 22% of the reaction in control and treated microsomes, respectively. In control mitoplasts the inhibition was 100%, which was reduced to 50% after treatment. Bilirubin affinity to mitochondrial and microsomal CYP2A5 enzyme is equally high. Lastly, the treatment neither released cytochrome c into cytoplasm nor dissipated membrane potential, indicating the absence of mitochondrial membrane damage. Collectively, the observations suggest that BR regulatory enzymes are recruited to mitochondria during oxidative stress and BR oxidation by mitochondrial CYP2A5 is supported by mitochondrial mono-oxygenase system. The induced recruitment potentially confers membrane protection.

MeSH terms: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases/antagonists & inhibitors; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases/metabolism*; Bilirubin/metabolism*; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase/metabolism; Kinetics; Liver/drug effects; Liver/enzymology*; Male; Membrane Proteins/metabolism*; Mice, Inbred DBA; Microsomes, Liver/enzymology; Mitochondria, Liver/drug effects; Mitochondria, Liver/enzymology*; Oxidation-Reduction; Glucuronosyltransferase/metabolism; Oxidants/pharmacology; Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors/metabolism; Protein Carbonylation; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism; Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism*
Serine-rich protein is a novel positive regulator for silicon accumulation in mangrove

Sahebi M, Hanafi MM, Siti Nor Akmar A, Rafii MY, Azizi P, Idris AS

Gene, 2015 Feb 10;556(2):170-81.
PMID: 25479011 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.11.055

Silicon (Si) plays an important role in reducing plant susceptibility against a variety of different biotic and abiotic stresses; and also has an important regulatory role in soil to avoid heavy metal toxicity and providing suitable growing conditions for plants. A full-length cDNAs of 696bp of serine-rich protein was cloned from mangrove plant (Rhizophora apiculata) by amplification of cDNA ends from an expressed sequence tag homologous to groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), submitted to NCBI (KF211374). This serine-rich protein gene encodes a deduced protein of 223 amino acids. The transcript titre of the serine-rich protein was found to be strongly enriched in roots compared with the leaves of two month old mangrove plants and expression level of this serine-rich protein was found to be strongly induced when the mangrove seedlings were exposed to SiO2. Expression of the serine-rich protein transgenic was detected in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, where the amount of serine increased from 1.02 to 37.8mg/g. The same trend was also seen in Si content in the roots (14.3%) and leaves (7.4%) of the transgenic A. thaliana compared to the wild-type plants under Si treatment. The biological results demonstrated that the accumulation of the serine amino acid in the vegetative tissues of the transgenic plants enhanced their ability to absorb and accumulate more Si in the roots and leaves and suggests that the serine-rich protein gene has potential for use in genetic engineering of different stress tolerance characteristics.

MeSH terms: Aminobutyrates/pharmacology; Cloning, Molecular; Herbicides/pharmacology; Plant Proteins/genetics*; Plant Proteins/metabolism*; Plant Proteins/chemistry; Serine/metabolism*; Silicon Dioxide/metabolism*; Stress, Physiological; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Leaves/metabolism; Plant Roots/metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism; Rhizophoraceae/genetics; Rhizophoraceae/metabolism*
Biotechnology of oil palm: strategies towards manipulation of lipid content and composition

Parveez GK, Rasid OA, Masani MY, Sambanthamurthi R

Plant Cell Rep, 2015 Apr;34(4):533-43.
PMID: 25480400 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-014-1722-4

Oil palm is a major economic crop for Malaysia. The major challenges faced by the industry are labor shortage, availability of arable land and unstable commodity price. This has caused the industry to diversify its applications into higher value products besides increasing its yield. While conventional breeding has its limitations, biotechnology was identified as one of the tools for overcoming the above challenges. Research on biotechnology of oil palm began more than two decades ago leveraging a multidisciplinary approach involving biochemical studies, gene and promoter isolation, transformation vector construction and finally genetic transformation to produce the targeted products. The main target of oil palm biotechnology research is to increase oleic acid in the mesocarp. Other targets are stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, ricinoleic acid, lycopene (carotenoid) and biodegradable plastics. Significant achievements were reported for the biochemical studies, isolation of useful oil palm genes and characterization of important promoters. A large number of transformation constructs for various targeted products were successfully produced using the isolated oil palm genes and promoters. Finally transformation of these constructs into oil palm embryogenic calli was carried out while the regeneration of transgenic oil palm harboring the useful genes is in progress.

MeSH terms: Biotechnology/methods*; Lipids/analysis*; Lipids/biosynthesis; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics; Arecaceae/enzymology; Arecaceae/genetics*; Plants, Genetically Modified
Optimized preparation and characterization of CLEA-lipase from cocoa pod husk

Khanahmadi S, Yusof F, Amid A, Mahmod SS, Mahat MK

J Biotechnol, 2015 May 20;202:153-61.
PMID: 25481099 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.11.015

Cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) is easily prepared from crude enzyme and has many advantages to the environment and it is considered as an economic method in the context of industrial biocatalysis compared to free enzyme. In this work, a highly active and stable CLEA-lipase from cocoa pod husk (CPH) which is a by-product after removal of cocoa beans, were assayed for their hydrolytic activity and characterized under the optimum condition successfully. Face centered central composite design (FCCCD) under response surface methodology (RSM) was used to get the optimal conditions of the three significant factors (concentration of ammonium sulfate, concentration of glutaraldehyde and concentration of additive) to achieve higher enzyme activity of CLEA. From 20 runs, the highest activity recorded was around 9.407U (83% recovered activity) under the condition of using 20% saturated ammonium sulfate, 60mM glutaraldehyde as cross-linker and 0.17mM bovine serum albumin as feeder. Moreover, the optimal reaction temperature and pH value in enzymatic reaction for both crude enzyme and immobilized were found to be 45°C at pH 8 and 60°C at pH 8.2, respectively. A systematic study of the stability of CLEA and crude enzyme was taken with regards to temperature (25-60°C) and pH (5-10) value and in both factors, CLEA-lipase showed more stability than free lipase. The Km value of CLEA was higher compared to free enzyme (0.55mM vs. 0.08mM). The CLEA retained more than 60% of the initial activity after six cycles of reuse compared to free enzyme. The high stability and recyclability of CLEA-lipase from CPH make it efficient for different industrial applications.

MeSH terms: Ammonium Sulfate/chemistry; Cacao/enzymology*; Cross-Linking Reagents/chemistry; Enzyme Stability; Enzymes, Immobilized/metabolism; Enzymes, Immobilized/chemistry; Glutaral/chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipase/metabolism*; Lipase/chemistry*; Plant Proteins/metabolism; Plant Proteins/chemistry; Temperature; Biocatalysis
Whole-genome analysis of an extensively drug-resistant clinical isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii AC12: insights into the mechanisms of resistance of an ST195 clone from Malaysia

Lean SS, Yeo CC, Suhaili Z, Thong KL

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2015 Feb;45(2):178-82.
PMID: 25481460 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2014.10.015

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen owing to its increasing resistance to most, if not all, antibiotics in clinical use. We recently reported the occurrence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) A. baumannii isolates in a Malaysian tertiary hospital. The genome of one of these XDR isolates (A. baumannii AC12) was completely sequenced and comparative genome analyses were performed to elucidate the genetic basis of its antimicrobial resistance. The A. baumannii AC12 genome consists of a 3.8 Mbp circular chromosome and an 8731 bp cryptic plasmid, pAC12. It belongs to the ST195 lineage and is most closely related to A. baumannii BJAB0715 as well as other strains of the international clone III (IC-III) group. Two antibiotic resistance islands (RIs), designated AC12-RI1 and AC12-RI2, were found in the AC12 chromosome along with a 7 kb Tn1548::armA island conferring resistance to aminoglycosides and macrolides. The 22.8 kb AC12-RI1 interrupts the comM gene and harbours the carbapenem resistance gene blaOXA-23 flanked by ISAba1 within a Tn2006-like structure. AC12-RI1 also harbours resistance determinants for aminoglycosides, tetracyclines and sulphonamides. The 10.3 kb IS26-flanked AC12-RI2 is a derivative of AbGRI2-1, containing aphA1b and blaTEM genes (conferring aminoglycoside and β-lactam resistance, respectively). The presence of numerous genes mediating resistance to various antibiotics in novel RI structures as well as other genes encoding drug transporters and efflux pumps in A. baumannii AC12 most likely contributed to its XDR characteristics.

MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Chromosomes, Bacterial; Malaysia; Phylogeny; Genome, Bacterial*; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics*; Acinetobacter baumannii/classification; Acinetobacter baumannii/drug effects; Acinetobacter baumannii/genetics*
Multinuclear MR and multilevel data processing: an insight into morphologic assessment of in vivo knee articular cartilage

Hani AF, Kumar D, Malik AS, Walter N, Razak R, Kiflie A

Acad Radiol, 2015 Jan;22(1):93-104.
PMID: 25481518 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.08.008

Quantitative assessment of knee articular cartilage (AC) morphology using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging requires an accurate segmentation and 3D reconstruction. However, automatic AC segmentation and 3D reconstruction from hydrogen-based MR images alone is challenging because of inhomogeneous intensities, shape irregularity, and low contrast existing in the cartilage region. Thus, the objective of this research was to provide an insight into morphologic assessment of AC using multilevel data processing of multinuclear ((23)Na and (1)H) MR knee images.

MeSH terms: Cartilage, Articular/anatomy & histology*; Cartilage, Articular/metabolism*; Female; Humans; Image Enhancement/methods; Knee Joint/anatomy & histology*; Knee Joint/metabolism*; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*; Male; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sodium/metabolism*; Sodium Isotopes/pharmacokinetics; Reproducibility of Results; Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacokinetics; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods*
Meeting the security requirements of electronic medical records in the ERA of high-speed computing

Alanazi HO, Zaidan AA, Zaidan BB, Kiah ML, Al-Bakri SH

J Med Syst, 2015 Jan;39(1):165.
PMID: 25481568 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-014-0165-3

This study has two objectives. First, it aims to develop a system with a highly secured approach to transmitting electronic medical records (EMRs), and second, it aims to identify entities that transmit private patient information without permission. The NTRU and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cryptosystems are secured encryption methods. The AES is a tested technology that has already been utilized in several systems to secure sensitive data. The United States government has been using AES since June 2003 to protect sensitive and essential information. Meanwhile, NTRU protects sensitive data against attacks through the use of quantum computers, which can break the RSA cryptosystem and elliptic curve cryptography algorithms. A hybrid of AES and NTRU is developed in this work to improve EMR security. The proposed hybrid cryptography technique is implemented to secure the data transmission process of EMRs. The proposed security solution can provide protection for over 40 years and is resistant to quantum computers. Moreover, the technique provides the necessary evidence required by law to identify disclosure or misuse of patient records. The proposed solution can effectively secure EMR transmission and protect patient rights. It also identifies the source responsible for disclosing confidential patient records. The proposed hybrid technique for securing data managed by institutional websites must be improved in the future.

MeSH terms: Algorithms; Confidentiality*; Humans; Software Design*; Computer Security/instrumentation*; Electronic Health Records/organization & administration*; Health Information Exchange*
Anterior and posterior segment changes in rat eyes with chronic steroid administration and their responsiveness to antiglaucoma drugs

Razali N, Agarwal R, Agarwal P, Kapitonova MY, Kannan Kutty M, Smirnov A, et al.

Eur J Pharmacol, 2015 Feb 15;749:73-80.
PMID: 25481859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.11.029

Steroid-induced ocular hypertension (SIOH) is associated with topical and systemic use of steroids. However, SIOH-associated anterior and posterior segment morphological changes in rats have not been described widely. Here we describe the pattern of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes, quantitative assessment of trabecular meshwork (TM) and retinal morphological changes and changes in retinal redox status in response to chronic dexamethasone treatment in rats. We also evaluated the responsiveness of steroid-pretreated rat eyes to 5 different classes of antiglaucoma drugs that act by different mechanisms. Up to 80% of dexamethasone treated animals achieved significant and sustained IOP elevation. TM thickness was significantly increased and number of TM cells was significantly reduced in SIOH rats compared to the vehicle-treated rats. Quantitative assessment of retinal morphology showed significantly reduced thickness of ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner retina (IR) in SIOH rats compared to vehicle-treated rats. Estimation of retinal antioxidants including catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione showed significantly increased retinal oxidative stress in SIOH animals. Furthermore, steroid-treated eyes showed significant IOP lowering in response to treatment with 5 different drug classes. This indicated the ability of SIOH eyes to respond to drugs acting by different mechanisms. In conclusion, SIOH was associated with significant morphological changes in TM and retina and retinal redox status. Additionally, SIOH eyes also showed IOP lowering in response to drugs that act by different mechanisms of action. Hence, SIOH rats appear to be an inexpensive and noninvasive model for studying the experimental antiglaucoma drugs for IOP lowering and neuroprotective effects.

MeSH terms: Brimonidine Tartrate; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology; Catalase/metabolism; Dexamethasone/adverse effects*; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Glutathione/metabolism; Intraocular Pressure/drug effects; Male; Ocular Hypertension/chemically induced*; Ocular Hypertension/metabolism; Ocular Hypertension/pathology; Ocular Hypertension/physiopathology; Pilocarpine/pharmacology; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic/pharmacology; Quinoxalines/pharmacology; Retina/drug effects*; Retina/metabolism; Retina/pathology; Sulfonamides/pharmacology; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism; Thiophenes/pharmacology; Timolol/pharmacology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Effect of solvents on the extraction of natural pigments and adsorption onto TiO2 for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Al-Alwani MA, Mohamad AB, Kadhum AA, Ludin NA

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2015 Mar 5;138:130-7.
PMID: 25483560 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.11.018

Nine solvents, namely, n-hexane, ethanol, acetonitrile, chloroform, ethyl-ether, ethyl-acetate, petroleum ether, n-butyl alcohol, and methanol were used to extract natural dyes from Cordyline fruticosa, Pandannus amaryllifolius and Hylocereus polyrhizus. To improve the adsorption of dyes onto the TiO2 particles, betalain and chlorophyll dyes were mixed with methanol or ethanol and water at various ratios. The adsorption of the dyes mixed with titanium dioxide (TiO2) was also observed. The highest adsorption of the C.fruticosa dye mixed with TiO2 was achieved at ratio 3:1 of methanol: water. The highest adsorption of P.amaryllifolius dye mixed with TiO2 was observed at 2:1 of ethanol: water. H.polyrhizus dye extracted by water and mixed with TiO2 demonstrated the highest adsorption among the solvents. All extracted dye was adsorbed onto the surface of TiO2 based on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The inhibition of crystallinity of TiO2 was likewise investigated by X-ray analysis. The morphological properties and composition of dyes were analyzed via SEM and EDX.

MeSH terms: Adsorption; Chlorophyll/isolation & purification; Picolinic Acids/isolation & purification; Pigments, Biological/isolation & purification*; Electric Power Supplies; Solar Energy; Solvents/chemistry*; Titanium/chemistry*; Cactaceae/chemistry*; Cordyline/chemistry*; Pandanaceae/chemistry*; Betacyanins/isolation & purification
Fulltext Evaluation and selection of open-source EMR software packages based on integrated AHP and TOPSIS

Zaidan AA, Zaidan BB, Al-Haiqi A, Kiah ML, Hussain M, Abdulnabi M

J Biomed Inform, 2015 Feb;53:390-404.
PMID: 25483886 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2014.11.012

Evaluating and selecting software packages that meet the requirements of an organization are difficult aspects of software engineering process. Selecting the wrong open-source EMR software package can be costly and may adversely affect business processes and functioning of the organization. This study aims to evaluate and select open-source EMR software packages based on multi-criteria decision-making. A hands-on study was performed and a set of open-source EMR software packages were implemented locally on separate virtual machines to examine the systems more closely. Several measures as evaluation basis were specified, and the systems were selected based a set of metric outcomes using Integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and TOPSIS. The experimental results showed that GNUmed and OpenEMR software can provide better basis on ranking score records than other open-source EMR software packages.

MeSH terms: Algorithms; Decision Making; Medical Informatics/methods*; Medical Record Linkage; Medical Records; Software; Software Design; Fuzzy Logic; Internet; Electronic Health Records*
Fulltext Relationship of treatment satisfaction to health-related quality of life: findings from a cross-sectional survey among hypertensive patients in Palestine

Al-Jabi SW, Zyoud SH, Sweileh WM, Wildali AH, Saleem HM, Aysa HA, et al.

Health Expect, 2015 Dec;18(6):3336-48.
PMID: 25484002 DOI: 10.1111/hex.12324

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the association between treatment satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may enable health-care providers to understand the issues that influence quality of life and to recognize the aspects of hypertension treatment that need improvement to enhance the long-term treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between HRQoL and treatment satisfaction in a sample of Palestinian hypertensive patients.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, adopting the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM 1.4) for the assessment of treatment satisfaction and using the European Quality of Life scale (EQ-5D-5L) for the assessment of HRQoL. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to describe socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 15.0.
RESULTS: Four hundred and ten hypertensive patients were enrolled in the study. This study findings indicate a positive correlation between all satisfaction domains and HRQoL. Significant differences were observed between this study variables (P < 0.001). After adjustment for covariates using multiple linear regression, an increase of one point in the global satisfaction scale was associated with a 0.16 increase in EQ-5D index scores (r = 0.16; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with reportedly higher satisfaction scores have reported relatively higher EQ-5D-5L index values. These study findings could be helpful in clinical practice, mainly in the early treatment of hypertensive patients, at a point where improving treatment satisfaction and HRQoL is still possible.

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Hypertension/therapy*; Male; Middle Aged; Psychometrics/methods; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Patient Satisfaction*; Arabs/psychology*
Fulltext Health-related quality of life as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Iraq

Dujaili JA, Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Awaisu A, Blebil AQ, Bredle JM

Int J Infect Dis, 2015 Feb;31:4-8.
PMID: 25486011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.004

To determine how tuberculosis (TB) treatment affects the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with pulmonary TB and to identify the predictors of favourable TB treatment outcomes in Baghdad, Iraq.

MeSH terms: Adult; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Iraq; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/psychology; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/therapy*; Cohort Studies; Treatment Outcome
Fulltext Targeted PDT agent eradicates TrkC expressing tumors via photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Kue CS, Kamkaew A, Lee HB, Chung LY, Kiew LV, Burgess K

Mol Pharm, 2015 Jan 5;12(1):212-22.
PMID: 25487316 DOI: 10.1021/mp5005564

This contribution features a small molecule that binds TrkC (tropomyosin receptor kinase C) receptor that tends to be overexpressed in metastatic breast cancer cells but not in other breast cancer cells. A sensitizer for (1)O2 production conjugated to this structure gives 1-PDT for photodynamic therapy. Isomeric 2-PDT does not bind TrkC and was used as a control throughout; similarly, TrkC- cancer cells were used to calibrate enhanced killing of TrkC+ cells. Ex vivo, 1- and 2-PDT where only cytotoxic when illuminated, and 1-PDT, gave higher cell death for TrkC+ breast cancer cells. A 1 h administration-to-illumination delay gave optimal TrkC+/TrkC--photocytotoxicity, and distribution studies showed the same delay was appropriate in vivo. In Balb/c mice, a maximum tolerated dose of 20 mg/kg was determined for 1-PDT. 1- and 2-PDT (single, 2 or 10 mg/kg doses and one illumination, throughout) had similar effects on implanted TrkC- tumors, and like those of 2-PDT on TrkC+ tumors. In contrast, 1-PDT caused dramatic TrkC+ tumor volume reduction (96% from initial) relative to the TrkC- tumors or 2-PDT in TrkC+ models. Moreover, 71% of the mice treated with 10 mg/kg 1-PDT (n = 7) showed full tumor remission and survived until 90 days with no metastasis to key organs.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*; Boron Compounds/therapeutic use; Boron Compounds/chemistry*; Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy*; Cell Survival; Female; Humans; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Transplantation; Permeability; Photochemotherapy/methods*; Remission Induction; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*; Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use; Photosensitizing Agents/chemistry; Maximum Tolerated Dose; Receptor, trkC/metabolism*; Cell Line, Tumor; Mice
Adverse drug reaction-related hospitalisations among patients with heart failure at two hospitals in the United Arab Emirates

Saheb Sharif-Askari N, Syed Sulaiman SA, Saheb Sharif-Askari F, Hussain AA

Int J Clin Pharm, 2015 Feb;37(1):105-12.
PMID: 25488317 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-014-0046-3

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the adverse drug reaction (ADR) related admissions among heart failure (HF) patients.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the rate, factors, and medications associated with ADR-related hospitalisations among HF patients.
SETTING: Two government hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study. Consecutive adult HF patients who were admitted between December 2011 and November 2012 to the cardiology units were included in this study. The circumstances of their admission were analysed.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ADRs-related admissions of HF patients to cardiology units were identified and further assessed for their nature, causality, and preventability.
RESULTS: Of 511 admissions, 34 were due to ADR-related hospitalisation (6.65, 95 % confidence interval 4.8-8.5 %). Number of medications taken by HF patients was the only predictors of ADR-related hospitalisations, where higher number of medications was associated with the odd ratio of 1.11 (95 % CI, 1.03-1.20, P = 0.005). More than one-third of ADR-related hospitalisations (35 %) were preventable The most frequent drugs causing ADR-related hospitalisation were diuretics (32 %), followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (15 %), thiazolidinediones (9 %), anticoagulants (9 %), antiplatelets (6 %), and aldosterone blockers (6 %).
CONCLUSION: ADR-related hospitalisations account for 6.7 % of admissions of HF patients to cardiac units, one-third of which are preventable. Number of medications taken by HF patients is the only predictors of ADR-related hospitalisations. Diuretic induced volume depletion, and sodium and water retention caused by thiazolidinediones and NSAIDs medications are the major causes of ADR-related hospitalisations of HF patients.

MeSH terms: Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects; Anticoagulants/adverse effects; Diuretics/adverse effects; Female; Heart Failure/diagnosis; Heart Failure/drug therapy*; Heart Failure/epidemiology*; Hospitalization/trends*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; United Arab Emirates/epidemiology; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems/trends; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/diagnosis*; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/epidemiology*; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/therapy
Respiratory drugs prescribed off-label among children in the outpatient clinics of a hospital in Malaysia

Mohamad NF, Mhd Ali A, Mohamed Shah N

Int J Clin Pharm, 2015 Feb;37(1):127-32.
PMID: 25488318 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-014-0049-0

BACKGROUND: Prescribing medicines in an unlicensed and off-label manner for children is a widespread practice around the world.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent and predictors of off-label respiratory drug prescriptions for children in the outpatient clinics of a hospital in Malaysia.
SETTING: Outpatient clinics at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.
METHODS: The pharmacy-based computer system and medical records of the patients were utilized to collect data from 220 pediatric patients who were prescribed at least one respiratory drug from July 2011 to December 2011.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Characteristics of the off-label respiratory drug prescriptions were measured.
RESULTS: A total of 134 children (60.9 %) received at least one respiratory drug prescribed in an off-label manner. The most common reasons for the off-label prescribing of drugs were off-label use by indication (31.5 %), followed by higher than the recommended dose (24.9 %) and lower than the recommended frequency (17.1 %). Diphenhydramine was the most common respiratory drug prescribed off-label. The number of medications prescribed was the only significant predictor of off-label prescription of respiratory drugs. Pediatric patients receiving 4-6 medications were 7.8 times more likely to receive at least one off-label respiratory drug compared to pediatric patients that received 1-3 medications (OR 7.8, 95 % CI 1.74-37.44).
CONCLUSION: There was substantial prescribing of respiratory drugs for children in an off-label manner at the outpatient clinics at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. This highlights the need for more research to be carried out on respiratory drugs in the pediatric population.

Study site: Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Diphenhydramine/therapeutic use; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lung Diseases/drug therapy; Lung Diseases/epidemiology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital/standards*; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital/trends*; Retrospective Studies; Anti-Allergic Agents/therapeutic use*; Anti-Asthmatic Agents/therapeutic use*; Prescription Drugs/therapeutic use; Off-Label Use/standards*

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