Browse publications by year: 2017

Fulltext That's Not Supposed to Be There: An Unusual Finding on Urinalysis

Chin Tan G, Stalling M, Boue D, Pyle-Eilola A, Kahwash SB

Clin Chem, 2017 10;63(10):1660-1661.
PMID: 28963134 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2017.271437
MeSH terms: Animals; Child; Enterobius/cytology; Enterobius/isolation & purification*; Escherichia coli/isolation & purification; Female; Humans; Ovum/cytology; Urine/microbiology; Urine/parasitology; Urinalysis
Resistance of tropical seedlings to drought is mediated by neighbourhood diversity

O'Brien MJ, Reynolds G, Ong R, Hector A

Nat Ecol Evol, 2017 Nov;1(11):1643-1648.
PMID: 28963453 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0326-0

Occasional periods of drought are typical of most tropical forests, but climate change is increasing drought frequency and intensity in many areas across the globe, threatening the structure and function of these ecosystems. The effects of intermittent drought on tropical tree communities remain poorly understood and the potential impacts of intensified drought under future climatic conditions are even less well known. The response of forests to altered precipitation will be determined by the tolerances of different species to reduced water availability and the interactions among plants that alleviate or exacerbate the effects of drought. Here, we report the response of experimental monocultures and mixtures of tropical trees to simulated drought, which reveals a fundamental shift in the nature of interactions among species. Weaker competition for water in diverse communities allowed seedlings to maintain growth under drought while more intense competition among conspecifics inhibited growth under the same conditions. These results show that reduced competition for water among species in mixtures mediates community resistance to drought. The delayed onset of competition for water among species in more diverse neighbourhoods during drought has potential implications for the coexistence of species in tropical forests and the resilience of these systems to climate change.

MeSH terms: Borneo; Malaysia; Stress, Physiological; Trees/physiology*; Tropical Climate; Seedlings/physiology; Biodiversity*; Droughts*; Climate Change
Fulltext The use of innovative and efficient nanocomposite (magnetic graphene oxide) for the reduction on of Fusarium mycotoxins in palm kernel cake

Pirouz AA, Selamat J, Iqbal SZ, Mirhosseini H, Karjiban RA, Bakar FA

Sci Rep, 2017 Sep 29;7(1):12453.
PMID: 28963539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12341-3

Adsorption plays an important role in the removal of mycotoxins from feedstuffs. The main objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposites (MGO) as an adsorbent for the reduction of Fusarium mycotoxins in naturally contaminated palm kernel cake (PKC). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to assess the mycotoxins in animal feed. Target mycotoxins included the zearalenone (ZEA), the fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) and trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol (DON), HT-2 and T-2 toxin). Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to investigate the effects of time (3-7 h), temperature (30-50 °C) and pH (3-7) on the reduction. The response surface models with (R2 = 0.94-0.99) were significantly fitted to predict mycotoxins in contaminated PKC. Furthermore, the method ensured a satisfactory adjustment of the polynomial regression models with the experimental data except for fumonisin B1 and B2, which decrease the adsorption of magnetic graphene oxide (MGO). The optimum reduction was performed at pH 6.2 for 5.2 h at of 40.6 °C. Under these optimum conditions, reduced levels of 69.57, 67.28, 57.40 and 37.17%, were achieved for DON, ZEA, HT-2, and T-2, respectively.

MeSH terms: Adsorption; Animals; Animal Feed/analysis; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Food Contamination/analysis; Fusarium/pathogenicity; Fusarium/chemistry; Graphite/chemistry*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Plant Oils/chemistry; Temperature; Trichothecenes/isolation & purification*; Zearalenone/isolation & purification*; Fumonisins/isolation & purification*; Nanocomposites/ultrastructure; Nanocomposites/chemistry*; Magnetite Nanoparticles/ultrastructure; Magnetite Nanoparticles/chemistry*
Enhancement of anaerobic digestibility of waste activated sludge using photo-Fenton pretreatment

Heng GC, Isa MH, Lim JW, Ho YC, Zinatizadeh AAL

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 Dec;24(35):27113-27124.
PMID: 28963706 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0287-5

Biological treatments, such as activated sludge process, are common methods to treat municipal and industrial wastewaters. However, they produce huge amounts of waste activated sludge (WAS). The excess sludge treatment and disposal are a challenge for wastewater treatment plants due to economic, environmental, and regulatory factors. In this study, photo-Fenton pretreatment (oxidation using hydrogen peroxide and iron catalyst aided with UV light) was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) to determine the effects of three operating parameters (H2O2 dosage, H2O2/Fe2+ molar ratio, and irradiation time) on disintegration and dewaterability of WAS. MLVSS removal, capillary suction time (CST) reduction, sCOD, and EPS were obtained as 70%, 25%, 12,000 mg/L, and 500 mg/L, respectively, at the optimal conditions, i.e., 725 g H2O2/kg TS, H2O2/Fe2+ molar ratio 80, and irradiation time 40 min. Two batch-fed completely mixed mesophilic anaerobic digesters were then operated at 15-day solid retention time (SRT) and 37 ± 0.5 °C to compare the digestibility of untreated and photo-Fenton pretreated sludge in terms of volatile solids (VS) reduction, COD removal, and biogas production at steady-state operations. Photo-Fenton pretreatment followed by anaerobic digestion of WAS was very effective and yielded 75.7% total VS reduction, 81.5% COD removal, and 0.29-0.31 m3/kg VSfed·d biogas production rate, compared to 40.7% total VS solid reduction, 54.7% COD removal, and 0.12-0.17 m3/kg VSfed·d biogas production rate for control. Thus, photo-Fenton can be a useful pretreatment step in sludge management.

MeSH terms: Anaerobiosis; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry*; Iron/chemistry*; Oxidation-Reduction; Sewage/microbiology; Sewage/chemistry*; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*; Biofuels/analysis; Waste Water/microbiology; Waste Water/chemistry*
Fast liquid chromatography for racemic atenolol acetate separation-The analytical protocol

Agustian J, Kamaruddin AH, Aboul-Enein HY

Chirality, 2017 Dec;29(12):847-853.
PMID: 28963758 DOI: 10.1002/chir.22769

Kinetic resolution of (R,S)-atenolol is a faster strategy to produce (S)-atenolol. Since this racemate is a less soluble compound, resolution of its ester offers high concentrations in the process. A good analytical method is required to observe the enantiomer concentrations. This paper described application of ultra-fast liquid chromatography on the atenolol ester separation using different resolution media and analytical procedures. Chiralcel OD column resolved the ester. The chromatograms indicated different characteristics of the process. The enantiomers could be recognized by the column in less than 1 (one) hour. Symmetrical peaks were obtained, but several procedures produced peaks with wide bases and slanted baselines. Efficient enantioresolution was obtained at high mobile phase flow rate, decreased concentration of amine-type modifier, but increased alcohol content in the mobile phase. High UV detection wavelength was required. At 1.0 mL/min, the (90/10/0.5) composition resulted α = 1.46 and RS = 0.9998 that were good separation.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the breast size satisfaction scale

Pahlevan Sharif S

Int J Health Care Qual Assur, 2017 Oct 09;30(8):717-727.
PMID: 28958201 DOI: 10.1108/IJHCQA-12-2016-0190

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and evaluate psychometrically an instrument named the Breast Size Satisfaction Scale (BSSS) to assess breast size satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The present scale was developed using a set of 16 computer-generated 3D images of breasts to overcome some of the limitations of existing instruments. The images were presented to participants and they were asked to select the figure that most accurately depicted their actual breast size and the figure that most closely represented their ideal breast size. Breast size satisfaction was computed by subtracting the absolute value of the difference between ideal and actual perceived size from 16, such that higher values indicate greater breast size satisfaction. Findings Study 1 ( n=65 female undergraduate students) showed good test-retest reliability and study 2 ( n=1,000 Iranian women, aged 18 years and above) provided support for convergent validity using a nomological network approach. Originality/value The BSSS demonstrated good psychometric properties and thus can be used in future studies to assess breast size satisfaction among women.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Body Image/psychology*; Breast/anatomy & histology*; Female; Humans; Iran; Personal Satisfaction*; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards*; Socioeconomic Factors; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult
Effect of noise and filtering on largest Lyapunov exponent of time series associated with human walking

Mehdizadeh S, Sanjari MA

J Biomech, 2017 11 07;64:236-239.
PMID: 28958634 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.09.009

This study aimed to determine the effect of added noise, filtering and time series length on the largest Lyapunov exponent (LyE) value calculated for time series obtained from a passive dynamic walker. The simplest passive dynamic walker model comprising of two massless legs connected by a frictionless hinge joint at the hip was adopted to generate walking time series. The generated time series was used to construct a state space with the embedding dimension of 3 and time delay of 100 samples. The LyE was calculated as the exponential rate of divergence of neighboring trajectories of the state space using Rosenstein's algorithm. To determine the effect of noise on LyE values, seven levels of Gaussian white noise (SNR=55-25dB with 5dB steps) were added to the time series. In addition, the filtering was performed using a range of cutoff frequencies from 3Hz to 19Hz with 2Hz steps. The LyE was calculated for both noise-free and noisy time series with different lengths of 6, 50, 100 and 150 strides. Results demonstrated a high percent error in the presence of noise for LyE. Therefore, these observations suggest that Rosenstein's algorithm might not perform well in the presence of added experimental noise. Furthermore, findings indicated that at least 50 walking strides are required to calculate LyE to account for the effect of noise. Finally, observations support that a conservative filtering of the time series with a high cutoff frequency might be more appropriate prior to calculating LyE.

MeSH terms: Algorithms; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Humans; Models, Biological; Sensitivity and Specificity; Walking/physiology*
Performance of Willem's dental age estimation method in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mohd Yusof MYP, Wan Mokhtar I, Rajasekharan S, Overholser R, Martens L

Forensic Sci Int, 2017 Nov;280:245.e1-245.e10.
PMID: 28958768 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.08.032

Through numerous validation and method comparison studies on different populations, the Willems method exhibited a superior accuracy. This article aims to systematically examine how accurate the application of Willems dental age method on children of different age groups and its performance based on various populations and regions. A strategic literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE and hand searching were used to identify the studies published up to September 2014 that estimated the dental age using the Willems method (modified Demirjian), with a populations, intervention, comparisons and outcomes (PICO) search strategy using MeSH keywords, focusing on the question: How much Willems method deviates from the chronological age in estimating age in children? Standardized mean differences were calculated for difference of dental age to chronological age by using random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate potential heterogeneity. Of 116 titles retrieved based on the standardized search strategy, only 19 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis. The pooled estimates were separately kept as underestimation (n=7) and overestimation (n=12) of chronological age groups for both genders according to primary studies. On absolute values, females (underestimated by 0.13; 95% CI: 0.09-0.18 and overestimated by 0.27; 95% CI: 0.17-0.36) exhibited better accuracy than males (underestimated by 0.28; 95% CI: 0.14-0.42 and overestimated by 0.33; 95% CI: 0.22-0.44). For comparison purposes, the overall pooled estimate overestimated the age by 0.10 (95% CI: -0.06 to 0.26) and 0.09 (95% CI: -0.09 to 0.19) for males and females, respectively. There was no significant difference between the young and older child in subgroup analysis using omnibus test. The mean age between different regions exhibited no statistically significant. The use of Willems method is appropriate to estimate age in children considering its accuracy among different populations, investigators and age groups.

MeSH terms: Age Determination by Teeth/methods*; Child; Humans; Sex Factors; Tooth/growth & development; Continental Population Groups
Fulltext CD24, CD44 and EpCAM enrich for tumour-initiating cells in a newly established patient-derived xenograft of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Hoe SLL, Tan LP, Abdul Aziz N, Liew K, Teow SY, Abdul Razak FR, et al.

Sci Rep, 2017 09 28;7(1):12372.
PMID: 28959019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12045-8

Subpopulations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) contain cells with differential tumourigenic properties. Our study evaluates the tumourigenic potential of CD24, CD44, EpCAM and combination of EpCAM/CD44 cells in NPC. CD44br and EpCAMbr cells enriched for higher S-phase cell content, faster-growing tumourigenic cells leading to tumours with larger volume and higher mitotic figures. Although CD44br and EpCAMbr cells significantly enriched for tumour-initiating cells (TICs), all cells could retain self-renewal property for at least four generations. Compared to CD44 marker alone, EpCAM/CD44dbr marker did not enhance for cells with faster-growing ability or higher TIC frequency. Cells expressing high CD44 or EpCAM had lower KLF4 and p21 in NPC subpopulations. KLF4-overexpressed EpCAMbr cells had slower growth while Kenpaullone inhibition of KLF4 transcription increased in vitro cell proliferation. Compared to non-NPC, NPC specimens had increased expression of EPCAM, of which tumours from advanced stage of NPC had higher expression. Together, our study provides evidence that EpCAM is a potentially important marker in NPC.

MeSH terms: Animals; Female; Humans; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/genetics; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/metabolism*; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology; Transplantation, Heterologous*; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism*; Mice, SCID; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, Knockout; Antigens, CD44/genetics; Antigens, CD44/metabolism*; Cell Line, Tumor; Antigens, CD24/genetics; Antigens, CD24/metabolism*; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule/genetics; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule/metabolism*
Fulltext Oxidative Stress in Oral Diseases: Understanding Its Relation with Other Systemic Diseases

Kumar J, Teoh SL, Das S, Mahakknaukrauh P

Front Physiol, 2017;8:693.
PMID: 28959211 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00693

Oxidative stress occurs in diabetes, various cancers, liver diseases, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation, and other degenerative diseases related to the nervous system. The free radicals have deleterious effect on various organs of the body. This is due to lipid peroxidation and irreversible protein modification that leads to cellular apoptosis or programmed cell death. During recent years, there is a rise in the oral diseases related to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in oral disease is related to other systemic diseases in the body such as periodontitis, cardiovascular, pancreatic, gastric, and liver diseases. In the present review, we discuss the various pathways that mediate oxidative cellular damage. Numerous pathways mediate oxidative cellular damage and these include caspase pathway, PERK/NRF2 pathway, NADPH oxidase 4 pathways and JNK/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. We also discuss the role of inflammatory markers, lipid peroxidation, and role of oxygen species linked to oxidative stress. Knowledge of different pathways, role of inflammatory markers, and importance of low-density lipoprotein, fibrinogen, creatinine, nitric oxide, nitrates, and highly sensitive C-reactive proteins may be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis and plan better treatment for oral diseases which involve oxidative stress.
Fulltext Partial Purification and Characterization of the Recombinant Benzaldehyde Dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus ruber UKMP-5M

Tavakoli A, Hamzah A

Iran J Biotechnol, 2017 Mar;15(1):67-73.
PMID: 28959354 DOI: 10.15171/ijb.1344

BACKGROUND: Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase (BZDH) is encoded by the xylC that catalyzes the conversion of benzaldehyde into benzoate in many pathways such as toluene degradation.
OBJECTIVES: In this study, the xylC gene from Rhodococcus ruber UKMP-5M was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The xylC was amplified and cloned in E. coli. The recombinant plasmid pGEMT-xylC was digested by NdeI and HindIII to construct plasmid pET28b-xylC and transformed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Expression of the recombinant protein was induced by 1 mM isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) at 37°C. The BZDH was purified by ion exchange chromatography, in which the product was an NAD-dependent enzyme using benzaldehyde as a substrate for enzyme characterization. The end metabolite was identified via gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
RESULTS: The recombinant BZDH is 27 kDa, purified by ion exchange chromatography. The activity of BZDH was 9.4 U.μL-1 The optimum pH and temperature were 8.5 and 25ºC, respectively. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) were 4.2 mM and 19.7 U.mL-1, respectively. The metabolite of BZDH was benzene carboxylic acid as determined by GC-MS analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: BZDH has the ability to degrade benzaldehyde to less toxic compounds. The BZDH is a critical enzyme for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons in Rhodococcus sp. The BZDH from R. ruber UKMP-5M is showed similar function with other aldehyde dehydrogenases.
Fulltext Reviews of the toxicity behavior of five potential engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) into the aquatic ecosystem

Jahan S, Yusoff IB, Alias YB, Bakar AFBA

Toxicol Rep, 2017;4:211-220.
PMID: 28959641 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.04.001

Presently, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are used in a wide variety of commercial applications, resulting in an uncontrolled introduction into the aquatic environment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pathways and factors that controlling the transport and toxicity of five extensively used ENMs. These toxicological pathways are of great importance and need to be addressed for sustainable implications of ENMs without environmental liabilities. Here we discuss five potentially utilized ENMs with their possible toxicological risk factors to aquatic plants, vertebrates model and microbes. Moreover, the key effect of ENMs surface transformations by significant reaction with environmental objects such as dissolved natural organic matter (DOM) and the effect of ENMs surface coating and surface charge will also be debated. The transformations of ENMs are subsequently facing a major ecological transition that is expected to create a substantial toxicological effect towards the ecosystem. These transformations largely involve chemical and physical processes, which depend on the properties of both ENMs and the receiving medium. In this review article, the critical issues that controlling the transport and toxicity of ENMs are reviewed by exploiting the latest reports and future directions and targets are keenly discussed to minimize the pessimistic effects of ENMs.
Fulltext Exposure of the endangered Milky stork population to cadmium and lead via food and water intake in Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary, Perak, Malaysia

Rahman F, Ismail A, Omar H, Hussin MZ

Toxicol Rep, 2017;4:502-506.
PMID: 28959680 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.09.003

The Milky stork is listed as an endangered species endemic to the Southeast Asia region. In Malaysia, the population is currently being reintroduced back into the wild. However, the increase of anthropogenic activity throughout the coastal area might expose the population to hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals. This study highlights the contamination of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the Milky stork's diet. Additionally, this is the first time an integrated exposure model being used to assess heavy metal exposure risk to the population. Lead level (5.5-7.98 mg kg-1) in particular was relatively high compared to Cd (0.08-0.33 mg kg-1). This was probably related to the different niches occupied by the species in the aquatic environment. The results further show that the predicted exposure doses (through intake of both food and water) for all metals are much lower than the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) values. The total exposure dose for Cd was 0.11 mg kg-1 d-1 with TDI value of 0.54 mg kg-1 d-1 while Pb total exposure dose was 0.31 mg kg-1 d-1 with TDI value of 0.64 mg kg-1 d-1. Several possible factors that could lead to the observed pattern were discussed. In conclusion, there is an urgent need to improve the current habitat quality to protect the endangered species. The authors also emphasized on the protection of remaining Milky stork's habitats i.e. mudflats and mangroves and the creation of buffer zone to mitigate the negative impacts that may arise from pollution activity.
Recent advances in nanomaterials for water protection and monitoring

Das R, Vecitis CD, Schulze A, Cao B, Ismail AF, Lu X, et al.

Chem Soc Rev, 2017 Sep 29.
PMID: 28959815 DOI: 10.1039/c6cs00921b

The efficient handling of wastewater pollutants is a must, since they are continuously defiling limited fresh water resources, seriously affecting the terrestrial, aquatic, and aerial flora and fauna. Our vision is to undertake an exhaustive examination of current research trends with a focus on nanomaterials (NMs) to considerably improve the performance of classical wastewater treatment technologies, e.g. adsorption, catalysis, separation, and disinfection. Additionally, NM-based sensor technologies are considered, since they have been significantly used for monitoring water contaminants. We also suggest future directions to inform investigators of potentially disruptive NM technologies that have to be investigated in more detail. The fate and environmental transformations of NMs, which need to be addressed before large-scale implementation of NMs for water purification, are also highlighted.
Fulltext Pro-arrhythmic atrial phenotypes in incrementally paced murine Pgc1β-/- hearts: effects of age

Valli H, Ahmad S, Fraser JA, Jeevaratnam K, Huang CL

Exp Physiol, 2017 12 01;102(12):1619-1634.
PMID: 28960529 DOI: 10.1113/EP086589

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Can we experimentally replicate atrial pro-arrhythmic phenotypes associated with important chronic clinical conditions, including physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, compromising mitochondrial function, and clarify their electrophysiological basis? What is the main finding and its importance? Electrocardiographic and intracellular cardiomyocyte recording at progressively incremented pacing rates demonstrated age-dependent atrial arrhythmic phenotypes in Langendorff-perfused murine Pgc1β-/- hearts for the first time. We attributed these to compromised action potential conduction and excitation wavefronts, whilst excluding alterations in recovery properties or temporal electrophysiological instabilities, clarifying these pro-arrhythmic changes in chronic metabolic disease. Atrial arrhythmias, most commonly manifesting as atrial fibrillation, represent a major clinical problem. The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with both age and conditions associated with energetic dysfunction. Atrial arrhythmic phenotypes were compared in young (12-16 week) and aged (>52 week) wild-type (WT) and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 beta (Ppargc1b)-deficient (Pgc1β-/- ) Langendorff-perfused hearts, previously used to model mitochondrial energetic disorder. Electrophysiological explorations were performed using simultaneous whole-heart ECG and intracellular atrial action potential (AP) recordings. Two stimulation protocols were used: an S1S2 protocol, which imposed extrasystolic stimuli at successively decremented intervals following regular pulse trains; and a regular pacing protocol at successively incremented frequencies. Aged Pgc1β-/- hearts showed greater atrial arrhythmogenicity, presenting as atrial tachycardia and ectopic activity. Maximal rates of AP depolarization (dV/dtmax ) were reduced in Pgc1β-/- hearts. Action potential latencies were increased by the Pgc1β-/- genotype, with an added interactive effect of age. In contrast, AP durations to 90% recovery (APD90 ) were shorter in Pgc1β-/- hearts despite similar atrial effective recovery periods amongst the different groups. These findings accompanied paradoxical decreases in the incidence and duration of alternans in the aged and Pgc1β-/- hearts. Limiting slopes of restitution curves of APD90 against diastolic interval were correspondingly reduced interactively by Pgc1β-/- genotype and age. In contrast, reduced AP wavelengths were associated with Pgc1β-/- genotype, both independently and interacting with age, through the basic cycle lengths explored, with the aged Pgc1β-/- hearts showing the shortest wavelengths. These findings thus implicate AP wavelength in possible mechanisms for the atrial arrhythmic changes reported here.

MeSH terms: Isolated Heart Preparation; Action Potentials; Age Factors; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/genetics; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/metabolism*; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/physiopathology; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial*; Disease Models, Animal; Genetic Testing; Heart Atria/metabolism*; Heart Atria/physiopathology; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phenotype; Time Factors; Mice, Knockout; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha/deficiency*; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha/genetics
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: Case report, technique and literature review

Loo H, Chan WK, Galvao Neto M

J Dig Dis, 2017 Oct;18(10):598-603.
PMID: 28960864 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.12548
MeSH terms: Gastroscopy/instrumentation; Gastroscopy/methods*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity/complications; Obesity/surgery*; Gastroplasty/instrumentation; Gastroplasty/methods*; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications; Metabolic Syndrome X/surgery*
Ability to Resist Temptations of Technology Use: A Qualitative Analysis of Children's Views on Factors Associated with Delay of Gratification

Ang CS, Lee KF

J Genet Psychol, 2017 Sep-Oct;178(5):291-297.
PMID: 28961083 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2017.1355773

Excessive technology use among young children remains a public health concern with diverse serious consequences. It is important to find out how children resist the temptation to use technology. Using focus group interviews, the authors explored what factors influence children's ability to delay gratification in using technology. Four specific themes emerged from the interview data: they found (a) fear of punishment, (b) self-directed speech, (c) reinforcement, and (d) parental modeling are effective measures to train children to forgo immediate pleasures of using technology. These findings provided some support for the hypothesis that children's self-control of technology use can be modified and improved. This study suggests methods to leverage and strengthen existing initiatives to promote self-control of technology use for children.

MeSH terms: Self-Control; Child; Fear; Humans; Motivation; Parents; Public Health; Punishment; Reinforcement (Psychology); Speech; Focus Groups; Pleasure
Fulltext Projecting range-wide sun bear population trends using tree cover and camera-trap bycatch data

Scotson L, Fredriksson G, Ngoprasert D, Wong WM, Fieberg J

PLoS One, 2017;12(9):e0185336.
PMID: 28961243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185336

Monitoring population trends of threatened species requires standardized techniques that can be applied over broad areas and repeated through time. Sun bears Helarctos malayanus are a forest dependent tropical bear found throughout most of Southeast Asia. Previous estimates of global population trends have relied on expert opinion and cannot be systematically replicated. We combined data from 1,463 camera traps within 31 field sites across sun bear range to model the relationship between photo catch rates of sun bears and tree cover. Sun bears were detected in all levels of tree cover above 20%, and the probability of presence was positively associated with the amount of tree cover within a 6-km2 buffer of the camera traps. We used the relationship between catch rates and tree cover across space to infer temporal trends in sun bear abundance in response to tree cover loss at country and global-scales. Our model-based projections based on this "space for time" substitution suggested that sun bear population declines associated with tree cover loss between 2000-2014 in mainland southeast Asia were ~9%, with declines highest in Cambodia and lowest in Myanmar. During the same period, sun bear populations in insular southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) were projected to have declined at a much higher rate (22%). Cast forward over 30-years, from the year 2000, by assuming a constant rate of change in tree cover, we projected population declines in the insular region that surpassed 50%, meeting the IUCN criteria for endangered if sun bears were listed on the population level. Although this approach requires several assumptions, most notably that trends in abundance across space can be used to infer temporal trends, population projections using remotely sensed tree cover data may serve as a useful alternative (or supplement) to expert opinion. The advantages of this approach is that it is objective, data-driven, repeatable, and it requires that all assumptions be clearly stated.

MeSH terms: Animals; Asia, Southeastern; Ursidae*; Conservation of Natural Resources; Photography/methods*; Population Density; Probability; Trees*; Remote Sensing Technology*
A proof of principal study on the use of direct PCR of semen and spermatozoa and development of a differential isolation protocol for use in cases of alleged sexual assault

Tobe SS, Swaran YC, Dennany L, Sibbing U, Schulze Johann K, Welch L, et al.

Int J Legal Med, 2017 Jan;131(1):87-94.
PMID: 27832353 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1461-x

Sexual assault samples are some of the most common samples encountered in forensic analysis. These samples can require a significant time investment due to differential extraction processes. We report on the first record of successful direct amplification of semen for STR analysis. Neat seminal fluid, dilutions ranging from 1:5 to 1:160 and GEDNAP samples were successfully amplified using a direct method. A mild differential isolation technique to enrich spermatozoa was developed and successfully implemented to separate and directly amplify a mixture of semen and female epithelial cells. Aliquots of samples subjected to the differential isolation protocol were stained with Haemotoxylin and Eosin for sperm scoring. Samples stained after PCR showed a complete lack of intact spermatozoa demonstrating that the cells are lysed during the PCR process. This paper demonstrates the potential to incorporate direct PCR in cases of sexual assault to more rapidly obtain results and achieve a higher sensitivity.

MeSH terms: Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Epithelial Cells; Female; Hematoxylin; Male; Bodily Secretions; Semen; Sex Offenses; Spermatozoa; Polymerase Chain Reaction
Lack of correlation between X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to colorectal cancer in a Malaysian cohort

Lau TP, Lian LH, Cheah PL, Looi LM, Roslani AC, Goh KL, et al.

Eur J Cancer Prev, 2017 11;26(6):506-510.
PMID: 28059856 DOI: 10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000336

X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) is one of the key components in the base excision repair pathway that repairs erroneous DNA lesions and removes nonbulky base adducts for the maintenance of genome integrity. Studies have revealed that differences in individual DNA repair capacity can impact the interindividual variation in cancer susceptibility, tumour aggressiveness and treatment response. The relationship between XRCC1 and sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility, which is hitherto inconclusive, has been explored in many association studies of different populations. In view of the conflicting findings generated, we aimed to investigate the association between XRCC1 and genetic predisposition to CRC among Malaysians. The present case-control association study was conducted on 130 CRC patients and 212 age-matched healthy controls. The genotyping of XRCC1 Arg194Trp, Arg280His and Arg399Gln single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed with allele-specific real-time PCR approach. This was followed by basic statistical analysis on the single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotype data obtained. No significant difference in the allele and genotype frequencies was observed between CRC patients and healthy controls (P>0.05). There was also no association observed between XRCC1 haplotypes and CRC (P>0.05). In conclusion, a positive association between XRCC1 gene polymorphisms and CRC risk was not established in our Malaysian population.

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Genetic Markers/genetics; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics*; Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology*; Cohort Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics*; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics*

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