Browse publications by year: 2015

Fulltext The study of once- and twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) with sitagliptin, and twice-daily BIAsp 30 without sitagliptin, in patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on sitagliptin and metformin-The Sit2Mix trial

Linjawi S, Sothiratnam R, Sari R, Andersen H, Hiort LC, Rao P

Prim Care Diabetes, 2015 Oct;9(5):370-6.
PMID: 25488587 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2014.11.001

AIMS: Investigate efficacy and tolerability of intensifying diabetes treatment with once- or twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) added to sitagliptin, and twice-daily BIAsp 30 without sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled on sitagliptin.
METHODS: Open-label, three-arm, 24-week trial; 582 insulin-naïve patients were randomized to twice-daily BIAsp 30+sitagliptin (BIAsp BID+Sit), once-daily BIAsp 30+sitagliptin (BIAsp QD+Sit) or twice-daily BIAsp 30 without sitagliptin (BIAsp BID), all with metformin.
RESULTS: After 24 weeks, HbA1c reduction (%) was superior with BIAsp BID+Sit vs. BIAsp QD+Sit (BIAsp BID+Sit minus BIAsp QD+Sit difference: -0.36 [95% CI -0.54; -0.17], P<0.001) and BIAsp BID (BIAsp BID minus BIAsp BID+Sit difference: 0.24 [0.06; 0.43], P=0.01). Observed final HbA1c values were 6.9%, 7.2% and 7.1% (baseline 8.4%), and 59.8%, 46.5% and 49.7% of patients achieved HbA1c <7.0%, respectively. Confirmed hypoglycaemia was lower with BIAsp QD+Sit vs. BIAsp BID (P=0.015); rate: 1.17 (BIAsp QD+Sit), 1.50 (BIAsp BID+Sit) and 2.24 (BIAsp BID) episodes/patient-year. Difference in bodyweight change favoured BIAsp QD+Sit vs. both BID groups (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Adding BIAsp 30 to patients with T2D poorly controlled with sitagliptin and metformin is efficacious and well tolerated; however, while BIAsp BID+Sit showed superior glycaemic control, BIAsp QD+Sit had a lower rate of hypoglycaemia and showed no weight gain.
KEYWORDS: Biphasic insulin; Randomized trial; Sitagliptin; Type 2 diabetes
Fulltext Challenges in managing HIV in people who use drugs

Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL

Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis., 2015 Feb;28(1):10-6.
PMID: 25490106 DOI: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000125

HIV management in people who use drugs (PWUD) is typically complex and challenging due to the presence of multiple medical and psychiatric comorbidities as well as social, physical, economic and legal factors that often disrupt the HIV continuum of care. In this review, we describe the individual, health systems and societal barriers to HIV treatment access and care retention for PWUD. In addition, the clinical management of HIV-infected PWUD is often complicated by the presence of multiple infectious and noninfectious comorbidities.

MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/complications; Mental Disorders/drug therapy*; Mental Disorders/epidemiology; Continuity of Patient Care; Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration; Hepatitis C/drug therapy*; Hepatitis C/epidemiology; Humans; Social Class; Tuberculosis/drug therapy*; Tuberculosis/epidemiology; HIV Infections/drug therapy*; HIV Infections/epidemiology; HIV Infections/psychology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications*; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/epidemiology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/psychology; Comorbidity; Needle-Exchange Programs; Anti-HIV Agents/administration & dosage*; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology; Medication Adherence/psychology*; Opiate Substitution Treatment/methods; Coinfection
Fulltext Circulating pancreatic polypeptide concentrations predict visceral and liver fat content

Sam AH, Sleeth ML, Thomas EL, Ismail NA, Mat Daud N, Chambers E, et al.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2015 Mar;100(3):1048-52.
PMID: 25490276 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-3450

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: No current biomarker can reliably predict visceral and liver fat content, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Vagal tone has been suggested to influence regional fat deposition. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is secreted from the endocrine pancreas under vagal control. We investigated the utility of PP in predicting visceral and liver fat.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fasting plasma PP concentrations were measured in 104 overweight and obese subjects (46 men and 58 women). In the same subjects, total and regional adipose tissue, including total visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT), were measured using whole-body magnetic resonance imaging. Intrahepatocellular lipid content (IHCL) was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
RESULTS: Fasting plasma PP concentrations positively and significantly correlated with both VAT (r = 0.57, P < .001) and IHCL (r = 0.51, P < .001), but not with TSAT (r = 0.02, P = .88). Fasting PP concentrations independently predicted VAT after controlling for age and sex. Fasting PP concentrations independently predicted IHCL after controlling for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, homeostatic model assessment 2-insulin resistance, (HOMA2-IR) and serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Fasting PP concentrations were associated with serum ALT, TG, TC, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure (P < .05). These associations were mediated by IHCL and/or VAT. Fasting PP and HOMA2-IR were independently significantly associated with hepatic steatosis (P < .01).
CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic polypeptide is a novel predictor of visceral and liver fat content, and thus a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification and targeted treatment of patients with ectopic fat deposition.

MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Liver/metabolism*; Male; Obesity/diagnosis*; Obesity/metabolism; Pancreatic Polypeptide/blood*; Prognosis; Intra-Abdominal Fat/metabolism*; Overweight/diagnosis*; Overweight/metabolism; Body Fat Distribution; Lipid Metabolism*
Thermally decomposed mesoporous Nickel Iron hydrotalcite: an active solid-base catalyst for solvent-free Knoevenagel condensation

Dumbre DK, Mozammel T, Selvakannan P, Hamid SB, Choudhary VR, Bhargava SK

J Colloid Interface Sci, 2015 Mar 1;441:52-8.
PMID: 25490562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2014.11.018

Thermal decomposition of co-precipitated Ni-Fe-HT materials led to the formation a mesoporous Ni-Fe-HT catalyst and we have demonstrated here its active role as solid and active catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction of various aldehydes with active methylene compounds (R-CH2-CN, where R=CN or CO2Et). High product yields are obtained at moderate temperature under solvent-free conditions and the catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixture, simply by filtration and reused several times without a significant loss of its activity. Since these mesoporous metal oxides derived from the NiFe hydrotalcites, their basicity mediated abstraction of the acidic protons from the active methylene compounds was responsible for their catalytic activity under solvent-free conditions.
Development of a control system for artificially rehabilitated limbs: a review

Bhuiyan MS, Choudhury IA, Dahari M

Biol Cybern, 2015 Apr;109(2):141-62.
PMID: 25491411 DOI: 10.1007/s00422-014-0635-1

Development of an advanced control system for prostheses (artificial limbs) is necessary to provide functionality, effectiveness, and preferably the feeling of a sound living limb. The development of the control system has introduced varieties of control strategies depending on the application. This paper reviews some control systems used for prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeletons. The advantages and limitations of different control systems for particular applications have been discussed and presented in a comparative manner to help in deciding the appropriate method for pertinent application.

MeSH terms: Amputation/rehabilitation; Artificial Intelligence; Artificial Limbs*; Attention; Bionics*; Electromyography; Electronics, Medical; Equipment Design; Humans; Movement; Muscle Contraction; Orthotic Devices; Paraplegia/rehabilitation; Volition; Stroke/rehabilitation; Mechanical Phenomena; Accelerometry/instrumentation
Fulltext Biodiesel synthesis catalyzed by transition metal oxides: ferric-manganese doped tungstated/molybdena nanoparticle catalyst

Alhassan FH, Rashid U, Taufiq-Yap YH

J Oleo Sci, 2015;64(1):91-9.
PMID: 25492234 DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess14161

The solid acid Ferric-manganese doped tungstated/molybdena nananoparticle catalyst was prepared via impregnation reaction followed by calcination at 600°C for 3 h. The characterization was done using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature programmed desorption of NH3 (TPD-NH3), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunner-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement (BET). Moreover, dependence of biodiesel yield on the reaction variables such as the reaction temperature, catalyst loading, as well as molar ratio of methanol/oil and reusability were also appraised. The catalyst was reused six times without any loss in activity with maximum yield of 92.3% ±1.12 achieved in the optimized conditions of reaction temperature of 200°C; stirring speed of 600 rpm, 1:25 molar ratio of oil to alcohol, 6 % w/w catalyst loading as well as 8 h as time of the reaction. The fuel properties of WCOME's were evaluated, including the density, kinematic viscosity, pour point, cloud point and flash point whereas all properties were compared with the limits in the ASTM D6751 standard.

MeSH terms: Catalysis; Ferric Compounds/chemistry*; Hot Temperature; Manganese/chemistry*; Molybdenum/chemistry*; Plant Oils/chemistry; Time Factors; Tungsten Compounds/chemistry*; Nanoparticles; Organic Chemistry Phenomena; Physicochemical Phenomena; Biofuels*
Whole exome sequencing is an efficient, sensitive and specific method for determining the genetic cause of short-rib thoracic dystrophies

McInerney-Leo AM, Harris JE, Leo PJ, Marshall MS, Gardiner B, Kinning E, et al.

Clin Genet, 2015 Dec;88(6):550-7.
PMID: 25492405 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12550

Short-rib thoracic dystrophies (SRTDs) are congenital disorders due to defects in primary cilium function. SRTDs are recessively inherited with mutations identified in 14 genes to date (comprising 398 exons). Conventional mutation detection (usually by iterative Sanger sequencing) is inefficient and expensive, and often not undertaken. Whole exome massive parallel sequencing has been used to identify new genes for SRTD (WDR34, WDR60 and IFT172); however, the clinical utility of whole exome sequencing (WES) has not been established. WES was performed in 11 individuals with SRTDs. Compound heterozygous or homozygous mutations were identified in six confirmed SRTD genes in 10 individuals (IFT172, DYNC2H1, TTC21B, WDR60, WDR34 and NEK1), giving overall sensitivity of 90.9%. WES data from 993 unaffected individuals sequenced using similar technology showed two individuals with rare (minor allele frequency <0.005) compound heterozygous variants of unknown significance in SRTD genes (specificity >99%). Costs for consumables, laboratory processing and bioinformatic analysis were

MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Cilia; Exons; Gene Frequency; Homozygote; Humans; Mutation; Ribs; Computational Biology; Genetic Association Studies; Exome
Removal performance of elemental mercury by low-cost adsorbents prepared through facile methods of carbonisation and activation of coconut husk

Johari K, Alias AS, Saman N, Song ST, Mat H

Waste Manag Res, 2015 Jan;33(1):81-8.
PMID: 25492720 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X14562660

The preparation of chars and activated carbon as low-cost elemental mercury adsorbents was carried out through the carbonisation of coconut husk (pith and fibre) and the activation of chars with potassium hydroxide (KOH), respectively. The synthesised adsorbents were characterised by using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. The elemental mercury removal performance was measured using a conventional flow type packed-bed adsorber. The physical and chemical properties of the adsorbents changed as a result of the carbonisation and activation process, hence affecting on the extent of elemental mercury adsorption. The highest elemental mercury (Hg°) adsorption capacity was obtained for the CP-CHAR (3142.57 µg g(-1)), which significantly outperformed the pristine and activated carbon adsorbents, as well as higher than some adsorbents reported in the literature.

MeSH terms: Adsorption; Charcoal/chemistry*; Cocos/chemistry*; Hydroxides/chemistry*; Mercury/chemistry*; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nitrogen/chemistry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Potassium Compounds/chemistry*; Waste Management/economics; Waste Management/methods*; Waste Management/standards*
Fulltext Diabetes quality of life perception in a multiethnic population

Goh SG, Rusli BN, Khalid BA

Qual Life Res, 2015 Jul;24(7):1677-86.
PMID: 25492728 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-014-0885-3

The aim of this study was to determine ethnic differences and predictors of the perception of quality of life (QOL) in a multiethnic Malaysian population with type 2 diabetes.

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology*; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life/psychology*; European Continental Ancestry Group; Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 reduces the development of Ganoderma basal stem rot disease in oil palm seedlings

Sundram S, Meon S, Seman IA, Othman R

Mycorrhiza, 2015 Jul;25(5):387-97.
PMID: 25492807 DOI: 10.1007/s00572-014-0620-5

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in combination with endophytic bacteria (EB) in reducing development of basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) was investigated. BSR caused by Ganoderma boninense leads to devastating economic loss and the oil palm industry is struggling to control the disease. The application of two AMF with two EB as biocontrol agents was assessed in the nursery and subsequently, repeated in the field using bait seedlings. Seedlings pre-inoculated with a combination of Glomus intraradices UT126, Glomus clarum BR152B and Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 significantly reduced disease development measured as the area under disease progression curve (AUDPC) and the epidemic rate (R L) of disease in the nursery. A 20-month field trial using similar treatments evaluated disease development in bait seedlings based on the rotting area/advancement assessed in cross-sections of the seedling base. Data show that application of Glomus intraradices UT126 singly reduced disease development of BSR, but that combination of the two AMF with P. aeruginosa UPMP3 significantly improved biocontrol efficacy in both nursery and fields reducing BSR disease to 57 and 80%, respectively. The successful use of bait seedlings in the natural environment to study BSR development represents a promising alternative to nursery trial testing in the field with shorter temporal assessment.

MeSH terms: Plant Diseases/microbiology*; Pseudomonas aeruginosa*; Arecaceae/microbiology*; Ganoderma*; Seedlings; Mycorrhizae*; Microbial Interactions*
Suppression of the Leidenfrost effect via low frequency vibrations

Ng BT, Hung YM, Tan MK

Soft Matter, 2015 Jan 28;11(4):775-84.
PMID: 25493924 DOI: 10.1039/c4sm02272f

The ability to suppress the Leidenfrost effect is of significant importance in applications that require rapid and efficient cooling of surfaces with temperature higher than the Leidenfrost point TSL. The Leidenfrost effect will result in substantial reduction in cooling efficiency and hence there have been a few different approaches to suppress the Leidenfrost effect. The majority of these approaches relies on fabricating micro/nano-structures on heated surfaces, others rely on inducing an electric field between the droplets and the heated surfaces. In this paper, we present an approach that induces low frequency vibrations (f∼10(2) Hz) on a heated surface to suppress the effect. By mapping the different magnitudes of surface acceleration [greek xi with two dots above]sversus different initial surface temperatures Ts of the substrate, three regimes that represent three distinct impact dynamics are analyzed. Regime-I represents gentle film boiling ([greek xi with two dots above]s∼10(2) m s(-2) and Ts∼TSL), which is associated with the formation of thin spreading lamella around the periphery of the impinged droplet; Regime-II ([greek xi with two dots above]s∼10(2) m s(-2) and Ts>TSL) represents film boiling, which is associated with the rebound of the impinged droplet due to the presence of a thick vapor layer; Regime-III ([greek xi with two dots above]s∼10(3) m s(-2) and Ts∼TSL) represents contact boiling, which is associated with the ejection of tiny droplets due to the direct contact between the droplet and the heated surface. The estimated cooling enhancement for Regime-I is between 10% and 95%, Regime-II is between 5% and 15%, and Regime-III is between 95% and 105%. The improvement in cooling enhancement between Regime-I (strong Leidenfrost effect) and Regime-III (suppressed Leidenfrost effect) is more than 80%, demonstrating the effectiveness of using low frequency vibrations to suppress the Leidenfrost effect.
The effect of Metformin on endometrial tumor-regulatory genes and systemic metabolic parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome--a proof-of-concept study

Shafiee MN, Malik DA, Yunos RI, Atiomo W, Omar MH, Ghani NA, et al.

Gynecol Endocrinol, 2015 Apr;31(4):286-90.
PMID: 25495168 DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2014.989982

The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to determine the effects of three-month Metformin therapy on the expression of tumor-regulatory genes (p53, cyclin D2 and BCL-2) in the endometrium of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 40 women, aged between 21 and 45 years with PCOS (Rotterdam criteria) were recruited. The participants were assessed at pre- and 3-month-post-Metformin therapy for the menstrual regularities, weight reduction, Ferriman Galway scores, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and p53, BCL-2 and cyclin D2 gene expression. Five participants conceived spontaneously after the initial recruitment. Majority (68%) resumed regular menstrual cycles after Metformin. There were significant reduction in BMI (p = 0.001), weight (p = 0.001) and Ferriman Galway scores (p = 0.001). A significant improvement was seen in mean FBG (p = 0.002), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL (p = 0.003) and HDL cholesterol levels (p = 0.015). Tumor suppressor gene (p53) was significantly up-regulated after Metformin (10 out of 14 women), with p value 0.016. BCL-2 and cyclin D2 (oncogenes) were slightly up-regulated without significant difference (p = 0.119 and 0.155, respectively). In conclusion, Metformin therapy improved clinical and metabolic parameters in women with PCOS and up-regulated p53 tumor suppressor gene significantly. Further studies are however required to independently validate our findings.

MeSH terms: Adult; Biopsy; Endometrium/drug effects*; Endometrium/metabolism; Endometrium/pathology; Female; Follicular Phase/metabolism; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents/adverse effects; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Metformin/adverse effects; Metformin/therapeutic use*; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/complications; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/drug therapy*; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/metabolism; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/pathology; Prospective Studies; Risk; Cohort Studies; Weight Loss/drug effects; Up-Regulation/drug effects*; Body Mass Index; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/agonists*; Endometrial Neoplasms/complications; Endometrial Neoplasms/epidemiology; Endometrial Neoplasms/prevention & control; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/agonists; Overweight/complications; Overweight/prevention & control*; Young Adult; Cyclin D2/genetics; Cyclin D2/metabolism; Cyclin D2/agonists
Pharmacological approaches for Alzheimer's disease: neurotransmitter as drug targets

Prakash A, Kalra J, Mani V, Ramasamy K, Majeed AB

Expert Rev Neurother, 2015 Jan;15(1):53-71.
PMID: 25495260 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.2015.988709

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common CNS disorder occurring worldwide. There is neither proven effective prevention for AD nor a cure for patients with this disorder. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop safer and more efficacious drugs to help combat the tremendous increase in disease progression. The present review is an attempt at discussing the treatment strategies and drugs under clinical trials governing the modulation of neurotransmitter. Therefore, looking at neurotransmitter abnormalities, there is an urge for developing the pharmacological approaches aimed at correcting those abnormalities and dysfunctioning. In addition, this review also discusses the drugs that are in Phase III trials for the treatment of AD. Despite advances in treatment strategies aimed at correcting neurotransmitter abnormalities, there exists a need for the development of drug therapies focusing on the attempts to remove the pathogenomic protein deposits, thus combating the disease progression.

MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*; Alzheimer Disease/metabolism*; Animals; Humans; Antipsychotic Agents/pharmacology; Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use*; Amyloid beta-Peptides/drug effects*; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism*; Disease Progression
Gemcitabine and vinorelbine treatment in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in four patients

Affandi AM, Blumetti TP, Wells J, Hertzberg M, Fernandez-Peñas P

Australas J Dermatol, 2015 Nov;56(4):294-7.
PMID: 25496219 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12270

Treatment options for advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) are limited by the their efficacy and side-effects profile. Gemcitabine, a pyrimidine analogue, has been reported to be efficacious in CTCL. Most of the studies published used gemcitabine as a single agent in treating advanced CTCL. Our small case series demonstrated that a combination of gemcitabine and vinorelbine induced partial remission in all four patients with refractory or advanced CTCL, although the effects were not sustained for a long duration (2-6 months). Two patients had neutropenia and one had acute hepatitis, requiring discontinuation of treatment.

MeSH terms: Deoxycytidine; Hepatitis; Humans; Neutropenia; Vinblastine; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous
Design, characterization, and evaluation of intranasal delivery of ropinirole-loaded mucoadhesive nanoparticles for brain targeting

Jafarieh O, Md S, Ali M, Baboota S, Sahni JK, Kumari B, et al.

Drug Dev Ind Pharm, 2015;41(10):1674-81.
PMID: 25496439 DOI: 10.3109/03639045.2014.991400

Parkinson disease (PD) is a common, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by marked depletion of striatal dopamine and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

MeSH terms: Adhesiveness; Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Antiparkinson Agents/administration & dosage*; Antiparkinson Agents/pharmacokinetics*; Brain/metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Carriers/chemistry; Indoles/administration & dosage*; Indoles/pharmacokinetics*; Male; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy; Particle Size; Radionuclide Imaging; Surface Properties; Swine; Technology, Pharmaceutical/methods; Chitosan/chemistry*; Rats; Nanoparticles/chemistry*; Drug Liberation
Biosequestration of atmospheric CO2 and flue gas-containing CO2 by microalgae

Cheah WY, Show PL, Chang JS, Ling TC, Juan JC

Bioresour Technol, 2015 May;184:190-201.
PMID: 25497054 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.11.026

The unceasing rise of greenhouse gas emission has led to global warming and climate change. Global concern on this phenomenon has put forward the microalgal-based CO2 sequestration aiming to sequester carbon back to the biosphere, ultimately reducing greenhouse effects. Microalgae have recently gained enormous attention worldwide, to be the valuable feedstock for renewable energy production, due to their high growth rates, high lipid productivities and the ability to sequester carbon. The photosynthetic process of microalgae uses atmospheric CO2 and CO2 from flue gases, to synthesize nutrients for their growth. In this review article, we will primarily discuss the efficiency of CO2 biosequestration by microalgae species, factors influencing microalgal biomass productions, microalgal cultivation systems, the potential and limitations of using flue gas for microalgal cultivation as well as the bio-refinery approach of microalgal biomass.

MeSH terms: Atmosphere/chemistry*; Biodegradation, Environmental/drug effects; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity; Microalgae/drug effects; Microalgae/growth & development; Microalgae/metabolism*
Fulltext A new member of the Pteropine Orthoreovirus species isolated from fruit bats imported to Italy

Lorusso A, Teodori L, Leone A, Marcacci M, Mangone I, Orsini M, et al.

Infect Genet Evol, 2015 Mar;30:55-58.
PMID: 25497353 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.12.006

A novel member of the Pteropine Orthoreovirus species has been isolated and sequenced for the whole genome from flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus) imported to Italy from Indonesia. The new isolate named Indonesia/2010 is genetically similar to Melaka virus which has been the first virus of this species to be shown to be responsible for human respiratory disease. Our findings highlight the importance of flying foxes as vectors of potentially zoonotic viruses and the biological hazard that lies in the import of animals from geographical areas that are ecologically diverse from Europe.

MeSH terms: Animals; Chiroptera/virology; Feces/virology; Humans; Indonesia; Italy; Reoviridae Infections/veterinary; Reoviridae Infections/virology*; Saliva/virology; Zoonoses/virology; Orthoreovirus/classification*; Orthoreovirus/genetics*; Orthoreovirus/isolation & purification
Quality of life in people with cognitive impairment: nursing homes versus home care

Nikmat AW, Al-Mashoor SH, Hashim NA

Int Psychogeriatr, 2015 May;27(5):815-24.
PMID: 25497589 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610214002609

The evaluation of quality of life (QoL) among older adults has become increasingly important, and living arrangements play a pivotal role in determining the QoL of people with cognitive impairment (PWCI). Although informal care (home-based) is favored, transition to formal care (residential care) often becomes necessary, especially in the later stages of cognitive impairment. The primary objective was to compare the QoL of PWCI in the community and nursing homes. Additionally, factors differentiate the QoL of PWCI in these two settings were identified.

MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/epidemiology; Female; Home Care Services*; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Nursing Homes*; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Mild Cognitive Impairment/psychology*; Mild Cognitive Impairment/therapy
The optimal number of heifer calves to be reared as dairy replacements

Mohd Nor N, Steeneveld W, Mourits MC, Hogeveen H

J Dairy Sci, 2015 Feb;98(2):861-71.
PMID: 25497803 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-8329

Dairy farmers often keep almost all their newborn heifer calves despite the high cost of rearing. By rearing all heifer calves, farmers have more security and retain flexibility to cope with the uncertainty in the availability of replacement heifers in time. This uncertainty is due to mortality or infertility during the rearing period and the variation in culling rate of lactating cows. The objective of this study is to provide insight in the economically optimal number of heifer calves to be reared as replacements. A herd-level stochastic simulation model was developed specific for this purpose with a herd of 100 dairy cows; the biological part of the model consisted of a dairy herd unit and rearing unit for replacement heifers. The dairy herd unit included variation in the number of culled dairy cows. The rearing unit incorporated variation in the number of heifers present in the herd by including uncertainty in mortality and variation in fertility. The dairy herd unit and rearing unit were linked by the number of replacement heifers and culled dairy cows. When not enough replacement heifers were available to replace culled dairy cows, the herd size was temporarily reduced, resulting in an additional cost for the empty slots. When the herd size reached 100 dairy cows, the available replacement heifers that were not needed were sold. It was assumed that no purchase of cows and calves occurred. The optimal percentage of 2-wk-old heifer calves to be retained was defined as the percentage of heifer calves that minimized the average net costs of rearing replacement heifers. In the default scenario, the optimal retention was 73% and the total net cost of rearing was estimated at €40,939 per herd per year. This total net cost was 6.5% lower than when all heifer calves were kept. An earlier first-calving age resulted in an optimal retention of 75%, and the net costs of rearing were €581 per herd per year lower than in the default scenario. For herds with a lower or higher culling rate of dairy cows (10 or 40% instead of 25% in the default scenario), it was optimal to retain 35 or 100% of the heifer calves per year. Herds that had a lower or higher cost of empty slots (€50 or €120 per month instead of €82 in the default scenario) had an optimal retention of 49 or 83% per year; the optimal retention percentage was dependent on farm and herd characteristics. For Dutch dairy farming conditions, it was not optimal to keep all heifer calves.

MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Husbandry/economics*; Animal Husbandry/methods; Cattle/physiology*; Computer Simulation; Costs and Cost Analysis; Dairying/economics*; Dairying/methods; Female; Fertility/physiology; Lactation/physiology; Models, Biological; Stochastic Processes; Models, Economic; Animal Culling
Prevalence, characterization, and antimicrobial resistance of Yersinia species and Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from raw milk in farm bulk tanks

Jamali H, Paydar M, Radmehr B, Ismail S

J Dairy Sci, 2015 Feb;98(2):798-803.
PMID: 25497824 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-8853

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and to characterize and determine the antibiotic resistance of Yersinia spp. isolates from raw milk. From September 2008 to August 2010, 446 raw milk samples were obtained from farm bulk milk tanks in Varamin, Iran. Yersinia spp. were detected in 29 (6.5%) samples, out of which 23 (79.3%), 5 (17.2%), and 1 (3.4%) were isolated from cow, sheep, and goat raw milk, respectively. The most common species isolated was Yersinia enterocolitica (65.5%), followed by Yersinia frederiksenii (31%), and Yersinia kristensenii (3.4%). Of the 19 Y. enterocolitica isolates, 14 (73.7%) were grouped into bioserotype 1A/O:9, 4 (21.1%) belonged to bioserotype 1B:O8, 1 (5.3%) belonged to bioserotype 4/O:3, and 1 isolate (biotype 1A) was not typable. All the isolates of biotypes 1B and 4harbored both the ystA and ail genes. However, all the isolates of biotype 1A were only positive for the ystB gene. The tested Yersinia spp. showed the highest percentages of resistance to tetracycline (48.3%), followed by ciprofloxacin and cephalothin (each 17.2%), ampicillin (13.8%), streptomycin (6.9%), and amoxicillin and nalidixic acid (each 3.4%). All of the tested isolates demonstrated significant sensitivity to gentamicin and chloramphenicol. Recovery of potentially pathogenic Y. enterocolitica from raw milk indicates high risks of yersiniosis associated with consumption of raw milk.

MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology*; Cattle; Female; Goats; Humans; Iran; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary; Milk/microbiology*; Serotyping/veterinary; Sheep; Yersinia/drug effects; Yersinia/genetics; Yersinia/isolation & purification*; Yersinia enterocolitica/drug effects; Yersinia enterocolitica/genetics; Yersinia enterocolitica/isolation & purification; Yersinia Infections/microbiology*; Prevalence; Drug Resistance, Bacterial

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