Browse publications by year: 2016

  1. Rueppell O, Kuster R, Miller K, Fouks B, Rubio Correa S, Collazo J, et al.
    Genome Biol Evol, 2016 12 01;8(12):3653-3660.
    PMID: 28173114 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw269
    Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) far exceed the commonly observed 1–2 meiotic recombination events per chromosome and exhibit the highest Metazoan recombination rate (20 cM/Mb) described thus far. However, the reasons for this exceptional rate of recombination are not sufficiently understood. In a comparative study, we report on the newly constructed genomic linkage maps of Apis florea and Apis dorsata that represent the two honey bee lineages without recombination rate estimates so far. Each linkage map was generated de novo, based on SNP genotypes of haploid male offspring of a single female. The A. florea map spans 4,782 cM with 1,279 markers in 16 linkage groups. The A. dorsata map is 5,762 cM long and contains 1,189 markers in 16 linkage groups. Respectively, these map sizes result in average recombination rate estimates of 20.8 and 25.1 cM/Mb. Synteny analyses indicate that frequent intra-chromosomal rearrangements but no translocations among chromosomes accompany the high rates of recombination during the independent evolution of the three major honey bee lineages. Our results imply a common cause for the evolution of very high recombination rates in Apis. Our findings also suggest that frequent homologous recombination during meiosis might increase ectopic recombination and rearrangements within but not between chromosomes. It remains to be investigated whether the resulting inversions may have been important in the evolutionary differentiation between honey bee species.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Bees/genetics*; Chromosome Mapping; Female; Chromosome Inversion*; Genetic Linkage; Male; Recombination, Genetic*; Translocation, Genetic*; Evolution, Molecular*; Genome, Insect; Mutation Rate
  2. Norzaiwin NF, Goh SY, Chung JW, Wan Khadijah WE, Abdullah RB
    Rom J Morphol Embryol, 2016;57(4):1357-1363.
    PMID: 28174804
    The inconsistency of efficiency in murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) production might be associated with the differences in preparation and cryopreservation of the feeder cell layer. As the cryopreservation of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) declined the quality of MEF as feeder cell layer, an effective protocol should be determined to produce murine ESC on frozen-thawed feeder cell layer as efficient on fresh feeder cell layer. Under appropriate culture conditions, isolated inner cell mass (ICM) of murine blastocyst will form ESC and be maintained in undifferentiated state. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the most optimum freezing density and equilibration duration for cryopreserving MEF feeder cell layer and to determine the effect of fresh and frozen-thawed feeder cell layer on murine ESC production. Freezing density of 5×106 cells÷mL gave a significantly higher viability rate than 0.5×106 cells÷mL (68.08% vs. 59.78%, p<0.05) and comparable with 2×106 cells÷mL. The viability rates of frozen-thawed MEF derived from 15 minutes equilibration was significantly higher than 20 hours equilibration (79.4% vs. 68.08, p<0.05). There were no significant differences between fresh and frozen-thawed MEF feeder cell layer for percent successful attachment of blastocysts, consecutive passages of murine ESC up to passage 3. In conclusion, freezing density of 5×106 cells÷mL and 15 minutes equilibration duration are optimizing the cryopreservation of MEF feeder cell layer to subsequently improve the production of murine ESC.
  3. James CA, Richardson AJ, Watt PW, Willmott AG, Gibson OR, Maxwell NS
    PMID: 28177747 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0349
    This study investigated the effect of 5 days of controlled short-term heat acclimation (STHA) on the determinants of endurance performance and 5-km performance in runners, relative to the impairment afforded by moderate heat stress. A control group (CON), matched for total work and power output (2.7 W·kg(-1)), differentiated thermal and exercise contributions of STHA on exercise performance. Seventeen participants (10 STHA, 7 CON) completed graded exercise tests (GXTs) in cool (13 °C, 50% relative humidity (RH), pre-training) and hot conditions (32 °C, 60% RH, pre- and post-training), as well as 5-km time trials (TTs) in the heat, pre- and post-training. STHA reduced resting (p = 0.01) and exercising (p = 0.04) core temperature alongside a smaller change in thermal sensation (p = 0.04). Both groups improved the lactate threshold (LT, p = 0.021), lactate turnpoint (LTP, p = 0.005) and velocity at maximal oxygen consumption (vV̇O2max; p = 0.031) similarly. Statistical differences between training methods were observed in TT performance (STHA, -6.2(5.5)%; CON, -0.6(1.7)%, p = 0.029) and total running time during the GXT (STHA, +20.8(12.7)%; CON, +9.8(1.2)%, p = 0.006). There were large mean differences in change in maximal oxygen consumption between STHA +4.0(2.2) mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) (7.3(4.0)%) and CON +1.9(3.7) mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) (3.8(7.2)%). Running economy (RE) deteriorated following both training programmes (p = 0.008). Similarly, RE was impaired in the cool GXT, relative to the hot GXT (p = 0.004). STHA improved endurance running performance in comparison with work-matched normothermic training, despite equality of adaptation for typical determinants of performance (LT, LTP, vV̇O2max). Accordingly, these data highlight the ergogenic effect of STHA, potentially via greater improvements in maximal oxygen consumption and specific thermoregulatory and associated thermal perception adaptations absent in normothermic training.
  4. Sim EU, Chan SL, Ng KL, Lee CW, Narayanan K
    Dis Markers, 2016;2016:5179594.
    PMID: 28018022 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5179594
    Apart from their canonical role in ribosome biogenesis, there is increasing evidence of ribosomal protein genes' involvement in various cancers. A previous study by us revealed significant differential expression of three ribosomal protein genes (RPeL27, RPeL41, and RPeL43) between cell lines derived from tumor and normal nasopharyngeal epithelium. However, the results therein were based on a semiquantitative assay, thus preliminary in nature. Herein, we provide findings of a deeper analysis of these three genes in the context to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumorigenesis. Their expression patterns were analyzed in a more quantitative manner at transcript level. Their protein expression levels were also investigated. We showed results that are contrary to previous report. Rather than downregulation, these genes were significantly overexpressed in NPC cell lines compared to normal control at both transcript and protein levels. Nevertheless, their association with NPC has been established. Immunoprecipitation pulldown assays indicate the plausible interaction of either RPeL27 or RPeL43 with POTEE/TUBA1A and ACTB/ACTBL2 complexes. In addition, RPeL43 is shown to bind with MRAS and EIF2S1 proteins in a NPC cell line (HK1). Our findings support RPeL27, RPeL41, and RPeL43 as potential markers of NPC and provide insights into the interaction targets of RPeL27 and RPeL43 proteins.
    MeSH terms: Carcinoma/genetics; Carcinoma/metabolism*; Humans; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/genetics; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/metabolism*; Protein Binding; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics; Ribosomal Proteins/metabolism*; Tubulin/metabolism; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2/metabolism; Up-Regulation*; ras Proteins/metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor
  5. Kanesen D, Kandasamy R, Idris Z
    J Neurosci Rural Pract, 2016 Dec;7(Suppl 1):S95-S98.
    PMID: 28163517 DOI: 10.4103/0976-3147.196463
    The rarity of hemangiopericytoma (HPC) and its controversial histological classification result in its frequent misdiagnosis and thus make the treatment quite challenging. It is often difficult to distinguish these tumors from meningiomas based on clinical features and radiological findings. This is a case report of a man, diagnosed clinically and radiologically as meningioma, which turned out to be anaplastic HPC on histological examination. A 30-year-old man presented with 3 months of progressively worsening of headache and blurring of vision. Clinical examination revealed the right homonymous hemianopia with reduced visual acuity and papilledema bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a multilobulated and heterogenous extraaxial lesion attached to the occipital falx. It measured 9.0 cm (AP) × 5.5 cm (W) × 5.8 cm (CC) and expands bilaterally with major bulk on the left. An occipital craniotomy followed by a subtotal tumor excision was only achieved due to profuse bleeding intraoperatively. Histopathology confirmed an anaplastic HPC (WHO Grade 3). The importance of differentiation between HPCs and meningiomas cannot be overemphasized. A preoperative correct diagnosis is difficult, but it is important that it should be made. Multilobulated (mushroom appearance), prominent internal signal voids, relatively narrow dural attachment, and lytic destruction without calcifications are useful findings to distinguish HPCs from meningiomas.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Agaricales; Craniotomy; Diagnostic Errors; Headache; Hemangiopericytoma; Hemianopsia; Histological Techniques; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Meningeal Neoplasms; Meningioma; Papilledema; Visual Acuity; World Health Organization; Pancreatitis, Chronic
  6. Qazi EU, Hussain M, Aboalsamh H, Malik AS, Amin HU, Bamatraf S
    Front Hum Neurosci, 2016;10:687.
    PMID: 28163676 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00687
    Assessing a person's intelligence level is required in many situations, such as career counseling and clinical applications. EEG evoked potentials in oddball task and fluid intelligence score are correlated because both reflect the cognitive processing and attention. A system for prediction of an individual's fluid intelligence level using single trial Electroencephalography (EEG) signals has been proposed. For this purpose, we employed 2D and 3D contents and 34 subjects each for 2D and 3D, which were divided into low-ability (LA) and high-ability (HA) groups using Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) test. Using visual oddball cognitive task, neural activity of each group was measured and analyzed over three midline electrodes (Fz, Cz, and Pz). To predict whether an individual belongs to LA or HA group, features were extracted using wavelet decomposition of EEG signals recorded in visual oddball task and support vector machine (SVM) was used as a classifier. Two different types of Haar wavelet transform based features have been extracted from the band (0.3 to 30 Hz) of EEG signals. Statistical wavelet features and wavelet coefficient features from the frequency bands 0.0-1.875 Hz (delta low) and 1.875-3.75 Hz (delta high), resulted in the 100 and 98% prediction accuracies, respectively, both for 2D and 3D contents. The analysis of these frequency bands showed clear difference between LA and HA groups. Further, discriminative values of the features have been validated using statistical significance tests and inter-class and intra-class variation analysis. Also, statistical test showed that there was no effect of 2D and 3D content on the assessment of fluid intelligence level. Comparisons with state-of-the-art techniques showed the superiority of the proposed system.
  7. Allinjawi K, Sharanjeet-Kaur SK, Akhir SM, Mutalib HA
    F1000Res, 2016;5:2742.
    PMID: 28163898 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.9971.1
    Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in relative peripheral refractive error produced by two different designs of progressive soft contact lenses in myopic schoolchildren. Methods: Twenty-seven myopic schoolchildren age between 13 to 15 years were included in this study. The measurements of central and peripheral refraction were made using a Grand-Seiko WR-5100K open-field autorefractometer without correction (baseline), and two different designs of progressive contact lenses (PCLs) (Multistage from SEED & Proclear from Cooper Vision) with an addition power of +1.50 D. Refractive power was measured at center and at eccentricities between 35º temporal to 35º nasal visual field (in 5º steps). Results: Both PCLs showed a reduction in hyperopic defocus at periphery. However, this reduction was only significant for the Multistage PCL (p= 0.015), (Proclear PCL p= 0.830).  Conclusion: Multistage PCLs showed greater reduction in peripheral retinal hyperopic defocus among myopic schoolchildren in comparison to Proclear PCLs.
    MeSH terms: Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; Hyperopia; Myopia; Refractive Errors; Visual Fields
  8. Bulgasem BY, Lani MN, Hassan Z, Wan Yusoff WM, Fnaish SG
    Mycobiology, 2016 Dec;44(4):302-309.
    PMID: 28154488 DOI: 10.5941/MYCO.2016.44.4.302
    The role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in honey as antifungal activity has received little attention and their mechanism of inhibitory of fungi is not fully understood. In this study, LAB were isolated from honey samples from Malaysia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Twenty-five isolates were confirmed LAB by catalase test and Gram staining, and were screened for antifungal activity. Four LAB showed inhibitory activity against Candida spp. using the dual agar overlay method. And they were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum HS isolated from Al-Seder honey, Lactobacillus curvatus HH isolated from Al-Hanon honey, Pediococcus acidilactici HC isolated from Tualang honey and Pediococcus pentosaceus HM isolated from Al-Maray honey by the 16S rDNA sequence. The growth of Candida glabrata ATCC 2001 was strongly inhibited (>15.0 mm) and (10~15 mm) by the isolates of L. curvatus HH and P. pentosaceus HM, respectively. The antifungal activity of the crude supernatant (cell free supernatant, CFS) was evaluated using well diffusion method. The CFS showed high antifungal activity against Candida spp. especially The CFS of L. curvatus HH was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited growth of C. glabrata ATCC 2001, C. parapsilosis ATCC 2201, and C. tropicalis ATCC 750 with inhibitory zone 22.0, 15.6, and 14.7 mm, respectively. While CFS of P. pentosaceus HM was significantly (p < 0.05) effective against C. krusei, C. glabrata, and C. albicans with inhibition zone 17.2, 16.0, and 13.3 mm, respectively. The results indicated that LAB isolated from honey produced compounds which can be used to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic Candida species.
  9. Abu A, Leow LK, Ramli R, Omar H
    BMC Bioinformatics, 2016 Dec 22;17(Suppl 19):505.
    PMID: 28155645 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-016-1362-5
    BACKGROUND: Taxonomists frequently identify specimen from various populations based on the morphological characteristics and molecular data. This study looks into another invasive process in identification of house shrew (Suncus murinus) using image analysis and machine learning approaches. Thus, an automated identification system is developed to assist and simplify this task. In this study, seven descriptors namely area, convex area, major axis length, minor axis length, perimeter, equivalent diameter and extent which are based on the shape are used as features to represent digital image of skull that consists of dorsal, lateral and jaw views for each specimen. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used as classifier to classify the skulls of S. murinus based on region (northern and southern populations of Peninsular Malaysia) and sex (adult male and female). Thus, specimen classification using Training data set and identification using Testing data set were performed through two stages of ANNs.

    RESULTS: At present, the classifier used has achieved an accuracy of 100% based on skulls' views. Classification and identification to regions and sexes have also attained 72.5%, 87.5% and 80.0% of accuracy for dorsal, lateral, and jaw views, respectively. This results show that the shape characteristic features used are substantial because they can differentiate the specimens based on regions and sexes up to the accuracy of 80% and above. Finally, an application was developed and can be used for the scientific community.

    CONCLUSIONS: This automated system demonstrates the practicability of using computer-assisted systems in providing interesting alternative approach for quick and easy identification of unknown species.

    MeSH terms: Machine Learning*; Animals; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Malaysia; Shrews/classification*; Shrews/physiology*; Databases, Factual; Neural Networks (Computer)*
  10. Mosleh MA, Baba MS, Malek S, Almaktari RA
    BMC Bioinformatics, 2016 Dec 22;17(Suppl 19):499.
    PMID: 28155649 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-016-1370-5
    BACKGROUND: Cephalometric analysis and measurements of skull parameters using X-Ray images plays an important role in predicating and monitoring orthodontic treatment. Manual analysis and measurements of cephalometric is considered tedious, time consuming, and subjected to human errors. Several cephalometric systems have been developed to automate the cephalometric procedure; however, no clear insights have been reported about reliability, performance, and usability of those systems. This study utilizes some techniques to evaluate reliability, performance, and usability metric using SUS methods of the developed cephalometric system which has not been reported in previous studies.

    METHODS: In this study a novel system named Ceph-X is developed to computerize the manual tasks of orthodontics during cephalometric measurements. Ceph-X is developed by using image processing techniques with three main models: enhancements X-ray image model, locating landmark model, and computation model. Ceph-X was then evaluated by using X-ray images of 30 subjects (male and female) obtained from University of Malaya hospital. Three orthodontics specialists were involved in the evaluation of accuracy to avoid intra examiner error, and performance for Ceph-X, and 20 orthodontics specialists were involved in the evaluation of the usability, and user satisfaction for Ceph-X by using the SUS approach.

    RESULTS: Statistical analysis for the comparison between the manual and automatic cephalometric approaches showed that Ceph-X achieved a great accuracy approximately 96.6%, with an acceptable errors variation approximately less than 0.5 mm, and 1°. Results showed that Ceph-X increased the specialist performance, and minimized the processing time to obtain cephalometric measurements of human skull. Furthermore, SUS analysis approach showed that Ceph-X has an excellent usability user's feedback.

    CONCLUSIONS: The Ceph-X has proved its reliability, performance, and usability to be used by orthodontists for the analysis, diagnosis, and treatment of cephalometric.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Cephalometry/methods*; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Male; Orthodontics/methods*; X-Ray Film; Reproducibility of Results; Radiography, Dental, Digital/methods*; Young Adult
  11. Yousef Kalafi E, Tan WB, Town C, Dhillon SK
    BMC Bioinformatics, 2016 Dec 22;17(Suppl 19):511.
    PMID: 28155722 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-016-1376-z
    BACKGROUND: Monogeneans are flatworms (Platyhelminthes) that are primarily found on gills and skin of fishes. Monogenean parasites have attachment appendages at their haptoral regions that help them to move about the body surface and feed on skin and gill debris. Haptoral attachment organs consist of sclerotized hard parts such as hooks, anchors and marginal hooks. Monogenean species are differentiated based on their haptoral bars, anchors, marginal hooks, reproductive parts' (male and female copulatory organs) morphological characters and soft anatomical parts. The complex structure of these diagnostic organs and also their overlapping in microscopic digital images are impediments for developing fully automated identification system for monogeneans (LNCS 7666:256-263, 2012), (ISDA; 457-462, 2011), (J Zoolog Syst Evol Res 52(2): 95-99. 2013;). In this study images of hard parts of the haptoral organs such as bars and anchors are used to develop a fully automated identification technique for monogenean species identification by implementing image processing techniques and machine learning methods.

    RESULT: Images of four monogenean species namely Sinodiplectanotrema malayanus, Trianchoratus pahangensis, Metahaliotrema mizellei and Metahaliotrema sp. (undescribed) were used to develop an automated technique for identification. K-nearest neighbour (KNN) was applied to classify the monogenean specimens based on the extracted features. 50% of the dataset was used for training and the other 50% was used as testing for system evaluation. Our approach demonstrated overall classification accuracy of 90%. In this study Leave One Out (LOO) cross validation is used for validation of our system and the accuracy is 91.25%.

    CONCLUSIONS: The methods presented in this study facilitate fast and accurate fully automated classification of monogeneans at the species level. In future studies more classes will be included in the model, the time to capture the monogenean images will be reduced and improvements in extraction and selection of features will be implemented.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Fishes/parasitology*; Gills/parasitology; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods*; Platyhelminths/physiology*; Skin/parasitology; Cluster Analysis
  12. Christiani Y, Dhippayom T, Chaiyakunapruk N
    Glob Health Action, 2016 Dec;9(1):32505.
    PMID: 28795917 DOI: 10.3402/gha.v9.32505
    Background Inequalities in access to medications among people diagnosed with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is a public health concern since untreated diabetes can lead to severe complications and premature death. Objective To assess evidence of inequalities in access to medication for diabetes in adult populations of people with diagnosed diabetes in LMICs. Design We conducted a systematic review of the literature using the PRISMA-Equity guidelines. A search of five databases - PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EMBASE - was conducted from inception to November 2015. Using deductive content analysis, information extracted from the selected articles was analysed according to the PRISMA-Equity guidelines, based on exposure variables (place of residence, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender, religion, education, socio-economic status, social capital, and others). Results Fifteen articles (seven quantitative and eight qualitative studies) are included in this review. There were inconsistent findings between studies conducted in different countries and regions although financial and geographic barriers generally contributed to inequalities in access to diabetes medications. The poor, those with relatively low education, and people living in remote areas had less access to diabetes medications. Furthermore, we found that the level of government political commitment through primary health care and in the provision of essential medicines was an important factor in promoting access to medications. Conclusions The review indicates that inequalities exist in accessing medication among diabetic populations, although this was not evident in all LMICs. Further research is needed to assess the social determinants of health and medication access for people with diabetes in LMICs.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus; Government; Humans; Occupations; Primary Health Care; Public Health; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; PubMed; Mortality, Premature; Social Determinants of Health; Social Capital
  13. Jinadu LO, Salmiah M S, Azuhairi AA
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: According to the Youth Behaviour Risk Factor Surveillance (YBRFSS, 2011) in Malaysia, the prevalence of smokers nationally among Form 1, 2 and 4 students government secondary school students was 9.1% (ever smokers) and 8.7% (current smokers). However, there is limited information on the prevalence of smoking among religious secondary school students and self-esteem as risk factor. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with smoking among the religious secondary school students in Petaling district, Selangor.
    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 899 students. The schools were selected using cluster sampling and self-administered questionnaire was used. Data was analyzed using chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression to identify the independent factors for smoking.
    Results: The response rate was 94%. The prevalence of ever smoking was 10.1%; 3.9% among female and 18.6% among male. The median age (interquartile range) of smoking initiation was 12.00 (4.01) years. The results showed that independent factors for smoking were: males (OR= 5.47); age group 14-15 years (OR=2.82) and 16-17 years (OR=3.63) and having low self -esteem (OR=6.24).
    Conclusion: prevalence of ever smokers is higher when compared to YBRFSS, (2011) and it was revealed that most of the smokers started smoking even before secondary school. The results also revealed the importance of promoting self-esteem. Efforts in smoking prevention should therefore be focused on curbing the initiation of the acts and improving students’ self-worth.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Government; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Schools; Smoking; Students; Tobacco Use Disorder; Prevalence; Logistic Models
  14. Nurdianah, H.F., Ahmad Firdaus, A.H., Eshaifol Azam, O., Wan Adnan, W.O.
    MyJurnal
    Bee pollen is considered as one of the functional foods due to its complex biochemical
    properties. Bee pollen which is collected from pollen grains from various botanical sources
    contains almost a complete nutrition such as carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins
    and minerals. Its beneficial effect on health is thought to be due to the presence of phenolic
    compounds with its antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activities of ethanolic bee pollen extract
    (BPE) from three species of Malaysian stingless bee; Trigona thoracica, Trigona itama and
    Trigona apicalis in this study were measured using DPPH-HPLC method and gallic acid (GA)
    as a standard reference. The percentage of DPPH inhibition by T. apicalis BPE at 1 mg/mL
    showed the highest inhibition (39%, GA equivalent to 0.3 mg/mL) compared with T. itama
    (14.3%, GA equivalent to 0.1 mg/mL) and T. thoracica (6.7%, GA equivalent to 0.05 mg/mL).
    Our result was the first in reporting antioxidant activity of BPE measured using DPPH-HPLC
    method from three different species of Malaysian stingless bee.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acids; Animals; Thoracica; Bees; Carbohydrates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Gallic Acid; Minerals; Pollen; Vitamin A; Vitamin K; Vitamins; Functional Food
  15. Haque AT, Mohd Hisham MA, Ahmad Adzman NA, Azudin NA, Shafri NB, Haque M
    Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol, 2016 Oct-Dec;37(4):286-292.
    PMID: 28144097 DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.195752
    Breast cancer (BC) is a major life-threatening problem and a global concern including Malaysia. BC is an equal threat for both developing and developed countries. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between sociodemographic factors with knowledge, attitude, and perception on BC screening among the females of University Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP).
    MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Perception; Universities; Developed Countries; Knowledge; Early Detection of Cancer
  16. Bahreini Esfahani N, Ganjali Dashti N, Ganjali Dashti M, Noorv MI, Koon PB, Talib RA, et al.
    Iran Red Crescent Med J, 2016 Sep;18(9):e25569.
    PMID: 28144452 DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.25569
    BACKGROUND: Considering both diet and energy expenditures possess some influence on weight status, research into dietary determinants of obesity is challenging but essential to rational planning of well-organized interventions to avoid obesity.
    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether dietary factors were predictive of overweight and obesity in adolescents in the Iranian population.
    PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 840 students, ages 15 - 17, from six schools were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. A diet-patterns approach often has been used to describe the eating patterns in adolescents. Height, weight, and waist circumference anthropometric indices, physical activity, waist hip ratio, and BMI measurements were determined. Daily dietary data and weighed food records were collected in 2010 and 2011. Abdominal obesity was defined according to world health organization guidelines, and the relationship between dietary predictor variables and the measures of adiposity were determined by using linear regression. Usual dietary intakes were assessed in an experimental study of Esfahani students.
    RESULTS: In total, 38.5% of girls and 32.2% of boys had a Western dietary pattern as the more prevalent pattern. The diet quality of adolescents with the lowest score on each dietary pattern was compared with those recording the highest scores. Those with the Western dietary pattern score were less likely to exercise and had a higher prevalence of general obesity. Adolescents in the greater quartile of the Mediterranean dietary patterns had the lowest odds of being overweight (OR 0.50, 95%; CI 0.27 - 0.73) and obese (OR 0.48, 95%; CI 0.15 - 0.80) than those in the lower quartile, whereas those in the greater quartile of the Western dietary pattern had the highest odds of being overweight (OR 1.69, 95%; CI 1.10 - 2.04) and obese (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.84). Higher consumption of a Western dietary pattern and a salty dietary pattern were associated significantly with obesity (P < 0.05). Intake of a Western dietary pattern and a salty-sweet dietary pattern were associated positively with measures of adiposity, namely body mass index and waist circumference.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant associations between the seven dietary patterns and overweight and obesity among adolescents. Using dietary patterns within adolescents can provide important information on dietary consumption, and this approach is clearer and much easier to follow.
    KEYWORDS: Adolescent; Dietary Patterns; Food Habits; Obesity; Overweight; Predictors
  17. Chin GS, Todo H, Kadhum WR, Hamid MA, Sugibayashi K
    Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 2016;64(12):1666-1673.
    PMID: 27904075
    The current investigation evaluated the potential of proniosome as a carrier to enhance skin permeation and skin retention of a highly lipophilic compound, α-mangostin. α-Mangostin proniosomes were prepared using the coacervation phase seperation method. Upon hydration, α-mangostin loaded niosomes were characterized for size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE) and ζ-potential. The in vitro permeation experiments with dermis-split Yucatan Micropig (YMP) skin revealed that proniosomes composed of Spans, soya lecithin and cholesterol were able to enhance the skin permeation of α-mangostin with a factor range from 1.8- to 8.0-fold as compared to the control suspension. Furthermore, incorporation of soya lecithin in the proniosomal formulation significantly enhanced the viable epidermis/dermis (VED) concentration of α-mangostin. All the proniosomal formulations (except for S20L) had significantly (p<0.05) enhanced deposition of α-mangostin in the VED layer with a factor range from 2.5- to 2.9-fold as compared to the control suspension. Since addition of Spans and soya lecithin in water improved the solubility of α-mangostin, this would be related to the enhancement of skin permeation and skin concentration of α-mangostin. The choice of non-ionic surfactant in proniosomes is an important factor governing the skin permeation and skin retention of α-mangostin. These results suggested that proniosomes can be utilized as a carrier for highly lipophilic compound like α-mangostin for topical application.
    MeSH terms: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Cholesterol/metabolism; Cholesterol/chemistry; Liposomes/administration & dosage*; Liposomes/metabolism; Liposomes/pharmacokinetics*; Skin Absorption*; Soybeans/chemistry; Surface-Active Agents/metabolism; Surface-Active Agents/chemistry; Swine; Xanthones/administration & dosage*; Xanthones/metabolism; Xanthones/pharmacokinetics*; Lecithins/metabolism; Lecithins/chemistry
  18. Sandai D, Tabana YM, Ouweini AE, Ayodeji IO
    Jundishapur J Microbiol, 2016 Nov;9(11):e37385.
    PMID: 28138373 DOI: 10.5812/jjm.37385
    Candida albicans is a commensal fungus that resides on mucosal surfaces and in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts in humans. However, it can cause an infection when the immune system of the host is impaired or if a niche becomes available. Many C. albicans infections are due to the organism's ability to form a biofilm on implanted medical devices. A biofilm represents an optimal medium for the growth of C. albicans as it allows cells to be enclosed by a self-produced extracellular matrix (ECM).
  19. Mawad D, Mansfield C, Lauto A, Perbellini F, Nelson GW, Tonkin J, et al.
    Sci Adv, 2016 Nov;2(11):e1601007.
    PMID: 28138526 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1601007
    Electrically active constructs can have a beneficial effect on electroresponsive tissues, such as the brain, heart, and nervous system. Conducting polymers (CPs) are being considered as components of these constructs because of their intrinsic electroactive and flexible nature. However, their clinical application has been largely hampered by their short operational time due to a decrease in their electronic properties. We show that, by immobilizing the dopant in the conductive scaffold, we can prevent its electric deterioration. We grew polyaniline (PANI) doped with phytic acid on the surface of a chitosan film. The strong chelation between phytic acid and chitosan led to a conductive patch with retained electroactivity, low surface resistivity (35.85 ± 9.40 kilohms per square), and oxidized form after 2 weeks of incubation in physiological medium. Ex vivo experiments revealed that the conductive nature of the patch has an immediate effect on the electrophysiology of the heart. Preliminary in vivo experiments showed that the conductive patch does not induce proarrhythmogenic activities in the heart. Our findings set the foundation for the design of electronically stable CP-based scaffolds. This provides a robust conductive system that could be used at the interface with electroresponsive tissue to better understand the interaction and effect of these materials on the electrophysiology of these tissues.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Electric Conductivity; Membranes, Artificial*; Myocardium*; Rats
External Links