Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Masiran R, Abdul Aziz MF
    BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Aug 28;2017.
    PMID: 28847993 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220631
    A patient with bipolar I disorder has been treated with lithium and haloperidol for the last 20 years and received an ACE inhibitor for his hypertension since 9 years ago. Despite regular clinic follow-ups and blood monitoring, he recently developed tremors and delirium. On hospital admission, serum level of lithium was far above toxic level. Mental state examination revealed an anxious and disorientated man with irrelevant speech. Immediate discontinuation of lithium resulted in slow reduction of serum lithium levels and gradual resolution of tremor but his delirium persisted for 2 weeks. His condition took a turn for the worse when he developed acute renal failure and arm abscess. We discussed about lithium toxicity and the vulnerability factors which have induced delirium and renal failure in this patient.
    MeSH terms: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use*; Bipolar Disorder/complications*; Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy; Delirium/chemically induced*; Delirium/complications; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Interactions; Haloperidol/therapeutic use; Humans; Hypertension/drug therapy*; Lithium/blood; Lithium/therapeutic use; Lithium/toxicity*; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced; Acute Kidney Injury/complications
  2. Kar Keong N, Siing Ngi AT, Muniandy P, Voon Fei W
    BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Aug 28;2017.
    PMID: 28847994 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-221492
    We reported a case of a 49-year-old man who had chronic lymphoedema of bilateral lower limbs for 30 years, but he did not seek treatment. His disease was complicated with irreversible changes of elephantiasis nostras verrucosa and had recurrent admissions due to infection. He was not keen for surgical intervention. This case report illustrated a rare and non-reversible complication of a common skin disease, lymphoedema and also the importance of identifying and treating it early.
    MeSH terms: Elephantiasis/etiology*; Elephantiasis/pathology; Humans; Lymphedema/complications*; Male; Middle Aged; Skin Diseases/complications; Skin Diseases/pathology; Lower Extremity/pathology*; Rare Diseases
  3. Tewari D, Mocan A, Parvanov ED, Sah AN, Nabavi SM, Huminiecki L, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2017;8:519.
    PMID: 28848436 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00519
    In many developing countries, jaundice is the common symptom of hepatic diseases which are a major cause of mortality. The use of natural product-based therapies is very popular for such hepatic disorders. A great number of medicinal plants have been utilized for this purpose and some facilitated the discovery of active compounds which helped the development of new synthetic drugs against jaundice. However, more epidemiological studies and clinical trials are required for the practical implementation of the plant pharmacotherapy of jaundice. The focus of this second part of our review is on several of the most prominent plants used against jaundice identified in the analysis performed in the first part of the review viz. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Terminalia chebula Retz., Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and some species of genus Phyllanthus. Furthermore, we discuss their physiological effects, biologically active ingredients, and the potential mechanisms of action. Some of the most important active ingredients were silybin (also recommended by German commission), phyllanthin and andrographolide, whose action leads to bilirubin reduction and normalization of the levels of relevant serum enzymes indicative for the pathophysiological status of the liver.
    MeSH terms: Bilirubin; Developing Countries; Diterpenes; Glycyrrhiza; Jaundice; Liver Diseases; Plants, Medicinal; Lignans; Milk Thistle; Terminalia; Andrographis
  4. Jalali-Farahani S, Chin YS, Mohd Taib MN, Amiri P
    Int J Endocrinol Metab, 2017 Apr;15(2):e42701.
    PMID: 28848609 DOI: 10.5812/ijem.42701
    This study aimed to determine the parental correlates of body weight status among adolescents in Tehran. The participants were 465 high school students and their parents who resided in Tehran. Body weight and height of the students were measured, and body mass index (BMI)-for-age and body weight status of the students were determined according to the world health organization growth reference (2007). Parents of the students completed a self-administered questionnaire including socio-demographic information, self-reported parental body weight and height, and parental perception of student's body weight status. About half of the parents had an incorrect perception about body weight status of their children with higher rates of underestimation than overestimation. The percentage of parents who correctly perceived body weight status of the students decreased from 100.0% in severe thinness group to 14.0% in obese group. There were no significant associations between marital status, occupation, and education of parents and BMI-for-age of the students. While, both BMI of mother and BMI of father were significantly associated with students' BMI-for-age (r = 0.29 and r = 0.27, respectively; P < 0.05). A great number of parents had incorrect perception regarding body weight status of their offspring; this was true specifically for parents of overweight and obese students. Both parental BMI and parental perception regarding students' body weight status were associated with students' BMI-for-age, indicating the need for parental involvement in weight management programs targeting adolescents.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Body Weight; Child; Demography; Fathers; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Mothers; Obesity; Occupations; Students; Thinness; Weight Perception; Body Mass Index; Marital Status; Overweight; Self Report
  5. Meor Anuar Shuhaili MFR, Samsudin IN, Stanslas J, Hasan S, Thambiah SC
    Int J Endocrinol Metab, 2017 Apr;15(2):e43319.
    PMID: 28848611 DOI: 10.5812/ijem.43319
    CONTEXT: The present review aimed at reviewing the effects of different statins on lipid profile, particularly in Asians.

    EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed searches were conducted using the keywords 'statin, effect, and lipid profile' from database inception through March 2016. In this review, 718 articles were retrieved from the primary search. After reviewing the titles, abstracts, and full texts, we found that 59 studies met our inclusion criteria. These also included subsequent reference searches of retrieved articles.

    RESULTS: CURVES study compared the effect on lipid profile between atorvastatin and other statins. This study demonstrated that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were reduced more with atorvastatin compared to simvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, and fluvastatin. However, simvastatin provided a greater elevation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) compared to atorvastatin. The STELLAR trial was based on dose-to-dose comparisons between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin efficacy in reducing LDL-C. Te present study also revealed that as the doses of rosuvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin increased, HDL-C also increased, with rosuvastatin having the greatest effect. However, HDL-C levels decreased as the dose of atorvastatin increased. The DISCOVERY study involving the Asian population revealed that the percentage of patients achieving the European goals for LDL-C and TC at 12 weeks was higher in rosuvastatin group compared to atorvastatin group.

    CONCLUSIONS: The effects of statins on lipid profile are dose dependent. Most studies showed that rosuvastatin has the best effect on lipid profile. Prescribing lower doses of statins in Asians seems necessary.

  6. Javadi M, Jourabchi Z, Shafikhani AA, Tajik E
    Electron Physician, 2017 Jun;9(6):4655-4660.
    PMID: 28848644 DOI: 10.19082/4655
    BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that mental disorders among adolescents are associated with suicide, drug abuse, acute infectious diseases and low educational performances.

    OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their associations with body mass index (BMI) among high school students in Qazvin, Iran in 2013-2014.

    METHODS: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using cluster-sampling method recruited 1,040 students among high schools in Qazvin, Iran from March 2013 to April 2014. Data were collected using questionnaires including demographic, Beck depression inventory and Beck anxiety inventory, and were analyzed with SPSS-19 by descriptive analyses, t-test, Chi-square and Pearson correlation.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 31.8% and 14.9%, respectively and these amounts were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p<0.05). Respondents showed 23.75% and 11.07% mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively as well as 8.08 and 3.75% severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. There was a positive and significant association between depression and anxiety (r=0.256, p<0.001) and between depression and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.333, p<0.001), however there was an inverse association between anxiety and BMI (r=0.086, p<0.006).

    CONCLUSION: The current study made a significant step forward in assessment of mental disorders and BMI to show the significance of depression and anxiety among adolescents in Qazvin. Therefore, effective interventions are necessary to improve this situation as well as the evaluation of the effectiveness of the interventions.

  7. Ng CW, How CH, Ng YP
    Singapore Med J, 2017 08;58(8):459-466.
    PMID: 28848991 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2017080
    Major depression is common in the primary care setting. In the final article of this series, we illustrate the approach to the management of depression in primary care. Psychotherapy has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate major depression. The common myth that antidepressants are addictive should be addressed. Antidepressants should be started at a subtherapeutic dose to assess tolerability, then gradually increased until a minimally effective dose is achieved. Apart from pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, management of depression should include managing stressors, engaging social and community support, dealing with stigma and discrimination, and managing concomitant comorbidities. A strong therapeutic relationship and empathic listening are important between the primary care physician and patient.
    MeSH terms: Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use; Depression/drug therapy; Depression/therapy*; Humans; Psychotherapy
  8. Kim JT, Sasidaran R
    Aesthetic Plast Surg, 2017 Dec;41(6):1362-1374.
    PMID: 28849246 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-017-0962-4
    INTRODUCTION: Autogenous grafting with lipoaspirate and dermo-fat grafting are popular techniques employed by plastic surgeons for correcting small volume facial defects and contour deformities. These techniques however present certain disadvantages. In this article, we present the use of the buccal fat pad graft as an alternative method of correcting such facial deformities.

    PATIENTS AND METHODS: Free buccal fat pad grafting was carried out in 15 patients in our institution. All were harvested using an intraoral approach. The buccal fat pad graft was used to correct periorbital contour depressions, nasal tip deformities, as a camouflage graft over exposed silicon nasal implants and as a filler in the depression deformity after mass excision.

    RESULTS: All 15 patients demonstrated good contour deformity correction without a significant graft resorption up to 3 years of follow-up. There were no donor site complications. The amount used ranged from 1 to 5 cc in volume as a spacer or barrier for the moderate-sized volume defect or depression, even though more than 5 cc of fat graft could be harvested if required.

    CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the buccal fat pad graft represents an easy, expedient and exceptional tool for the correction of contour deformities, volume replacement or for aesthetic augmentation.

    LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

    MeSH terms: Adipose Tissue/transplantation*; Adult; Aged; Cheek/surgery*; Esthetics*; Female; Graft Survival; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Surgery, Plastic/methods*; Wound Healing/physiology; Cohort Studies; Risk Assessment; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/methods*; Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods; Young Adult
  9. Ahmed MA, Adeyemi KD, Jahromi MF, Jusoh S, Alimon AR, Samsudin AA
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2017 Dec;49(8):1749-1756.
    PMID: 28849307 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1388-3
    The effects of partial replacement of dietary protein by forages on rumen fermentation and microbiology in goats were examined. Four fistulated Boer bucks were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The goats were fed 60% of urea-treated rice straw and 40% dietary treatment (Kleinhovia hospita (KH), Leucaena leucocephala (LL), mixture of K. hospita with L. leucocephala (KHLL)) and concentrate as the control. Rumen fluid from the animals was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h postprandial for analysis. The KHLL diet had a greater (P 
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Feed/analysis*; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Bacteria/metabolism; Diet/veterinary; Dietary Proteins/metabolism; Fermentation; Goats/physiology*; Fabaceae/chemistry*; Propionates/metabolism; Oryza*; Rumen/microbiology; Rumen/physiology*; Plant Leaves/metabolism; Malvaceae/chemistry*; Ruminococcus
  10. Ng MH, Kushairi A
    Molecules, 2017 Aug 29;22(9).
    PMID: 28850073 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22091424
    There are six tocol analogs present in palm oil, namely α-tocopherol (α-T), α-tocomonoenol (α-T₁), α-tocotrienol (α-T₃), γ-tocotrienol (γ-T₃), β-tocotrioenol (β-T₃) and δ-tocotrienol (δ-T₃). These analogs were difficult to separate chromatographically due to their similar structures, physical and chemical properties. This paper reports on the effect of pressure and injection solvent on the separation of the tocol analogs in palm oil. Supercritical CO₂ modified with ethanol was used as the mobile phase. Both total elution time and resolution of the tocol analogs decreased with increased pressure. Ethanol as an injection solvent resulted in peak broadening of the analogs within the entire pressure range studied. Solvents with an eluent strength of 3.4 or less were more suitable for use as injecting solvents.
    MeSH terms: Chromans/isolation & purification; Chromans/chemistry; Pressure; Solvents; Vitamin E/analogs & derivatives; Vitamin E/isolation & purification; Vitamin E/chemistry; Molecular Structure; alpha-Tocopherol/isolation & purification; alpha-Tocopherol/chemistry; Tocopherols/isolation & purification*; Tocopherols/chemistry*; Tocotrienols/isolation & purification; Tocotrienols/chemistry; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid/methods
  11. Aftab SMA, Ahmad KA
    PLoS One, 2017;12(8):e0183456.
    PMID: 28850622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183456
    The Humpback whale tubercles have been studied for more than a decade. Tubercle Leading Edge (TLE) effectively reduces the separation bubble size and helps in delaying stall. They are very effective in case of low Reynolds number flows. The current Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study is on NACA 4415 airfoil, at a Reynolds number 120,000. Two TLE shapes are tested on NACA 4415 airfoil. The tubercle designs implemented on the airfoil are sinusoidal and spherical. A parametric study is also carried out considering three amplitudes (0.025c, 0.05c and 0.075c), the wavelength (0.25c) is fixed. Structured mesh is utilized to generate grid and Transition SST turbulence model is used to capture the flow physics. Results clearly show spherical tubercles outperform sinusoidal tubercles. Furthermore experimental study considering spherical TLE is carried out at Reynolds number 200,000. The experimental results show that spherical TLE improve performance compared to clean airfoil.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology*; Computer Simulation*; Models, Biological*; Humpback Whale*
  12. Balasingam M
    Int J Clin Pract, 2017 Sep;71(9).
    PMID: 28851081 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.12989
    This is a medical kitty hawk moment. Drones are pilotless aircrafts that were initially used exclusively by the military but are now also used for various scientific purposes, public safety, and in commercial industries. The healthcare industry in particular can benefit from their technical capabilities and ease of use. Common drone applications in medicine include the provision disaster assessments when other means of access are severely restricted; delivering aid packages, medicines, vaccines, blood and other medical supplies to remote areas; providing safe transport of disease test samples and test kits in areas with high contagion; and potential for providing rapid access to automated external defibrillators for patients in cardiac arrest. Drones are also showing early potential to benefit geriatric medicine by providing mobility assistance to elderly populations using robot-like technology. Looking further to the future, drones with diagnostic imaging capabilities may have a role in assessing health in remote communities using telemedicine technology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the European Union are some examples of legislative bodies with regulatory authority over drone usage. These agencies oversee all technical, safety, security and administrative issues related to drones. It is important that drones continue to meet or exceed the requirements specified in each of these regulatory areas. The FAA is challenged with keeping pace legislatively with the rapid advances in drone technology. This relative lag has been perceived as slowing the proliferation of drone use. Despite these regulatory limitations, drones are showing significant potential for transforming healthcare and medicine in the 21st century.
    MeSH terms: Emergency Medical Services/legislation & jurisprudence; Emergency Medical Services/methods*; Europe; Humans; United States; Telemedicine/instrumentation; Telemedicine/legislation & jurisprudence; Telemedicine/methods*
  13. Kamaruddin AF, Sanagi MM, Wan Ibrahim WA, Md Shukri DS, Abdul Keyon AS
    J Sep Sci, 2017 Nov;40(21):4256-4263.
    PMID: 28851082 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201700659
    Polypyrrole-magnetite dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction method combined with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry was developed for the determination of selected cationic dyes in textile wastewater. Polypyrrole-magnetite was used as adsorbent due to its thermal stability, magnetic properties, and ability to adsorb Rhodamine 6G and crystal violet. Dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction parameters were optimized, including sample pH, adsorbent amount, extraction time, and desorption solvent. The optimum polypyrrole-magnetite dispersive micro-solid phase-extraction conditions were sample pH 8, 60 mg polypyrrole-magnetite adsorbent, 5 min of extraction time, and acetonitrile as the desorption solvent. Under the optimized conditions, the polypyrrole-magnetite dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction with ultraviolet-visible method showed good linearity in the range of 0.05-7 mg/L (R2  > 0.9980). The method also showed a good limit of detection for the dyes (0.05 mg/L) and good analyte recoveries (97.4-111.3%) with relative standard deviations 
    MeSH terms: Acetonitriles; Coloring Agents; Gentian Violet; Polymers; Pyrroles; Rhodamines; Solvents; Spectrophotometry; Textiles; Ferrosoferric Oxide; Solid Phase Microextraction; Limit of Detection; Waste Water
  14. Cheung CMG, Ong PG, Neelam K, Tan PC, Shi Y, Mitchell P, et al.
    Ophthalmology, 2017 09;124(9):1305-1313.
    PMID: 28501376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.03.056
    PURPOSE: To determine the 6-year incidence of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Singaporean Malay population and to validate the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) simplified severity scale in Asians.

    DESIGN: Prospective, population cohort study.

    PARTICIPANTS: The Singapore Malay Eye Study baseline participants (age, ≥40 years; 2006-2008) were followed up in 2011 through 2013, and 1901 of 3280 of eligible participants (72.1%) took part.

    METHODS: Fundus photographs were graded using the Wisconsin AMD grading system.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of early and late AMD.

    RESULTS: Gradable fundus photographs were available for 1809 participants who attended both baseline and 6-year follow-up examinations. The age-standardized incidences of early and late AMD were 5.89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.81-7.16) and 0.76% (95% CI, 0.42-1.29), respectively. The 5-year age-standardized incidence of early AMD (calculated based on the 6-year incidence) was lower in our population (5.58%; 95% CI, 4.43-7.01) compared with the Beaver Dam Eye Study population (8.19%). The incidence of late AMD in our population was similar to that of the Beaver Dam Eye Study population (0.98% [95% CI, 0.49-1.86] vs. 0.91%), the Blue Mountains Eye Study population (1.10% [95% CI, 0.52-9.56] vs. 1.10%), and the Hisayama Study population (1.09% [95% CI, 0.54-4.25] vs. 0.84%). The incidence of late AMD increased markedly with increasing baseline AREDS score (step 0, 0.23%; step 4, 9.09%).

    CONCLUSIONS: This study documented the incidence of early and late AMD in a Malay population. The AREDS simplified severity scale is useful in predicting the risk of late AMD development in Asians.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Macular Degeneration/diagnosis; Macular Degeneration/epidemiology*; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Photography; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Singapore/epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Incidence; Age Distribution; Sex Distribution; Sickness Impact Profile; Disease Progression; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  15. Eikelboom JW, Connolly SJ, Bosch J, Dagenais GR, Hart RG, Shestakovska O, et al.
    N Engl J Med, 2017 10 05;377(14):1319-1330.
    PMID: 28844192 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1709118
    BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin would be more effective than aspirin alone for secondary cardiovascular prevention.

    METHODS: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 27,395 participants with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease to receive rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (100 mg once daily), rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily), or aspirin (100 mg once daily). The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. The study was stopped for superiority of the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group after a mean follow-up of 23 months.

    RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group than in the aspirin-alone group (379 patients [4.1%] vs. 496 patients [5.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86; P<0.001; z=-4.126), but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group (288 patients [3.1%] vs. 170 patients [1.9%]; hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.05; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in intracranial or fatal bleeding between these two groups. There were 313 deaths (3.4%) in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group as compared with 378 (4.1%) in the aspirin-alone group (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96; P=0.01; threshold P value for significance, 0.0025). The primary outcome did not occur in significantly fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group than in the aspirin-alone group, but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group.

    CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, those assigned to rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin had better cardiovascular outcomes and more major bleeding events than those assigned to aspirin alone. Rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily) alone did not result in better cardiovascular outcomes than aspirin alone and resulted in more major bleeding events. (Funded by Bayer; COMPASS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01776424 .).

    MeSH terms: Rivaroxaban/adverse effects; Rivaroxaban/therapeutic use*; Aged; Aspirin/adverse effects; Aspirin/therapeutic use*; Cardiovascular Diseases/drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality; Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control*; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hemorrhage/chemically induced; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/adverse effects; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use*; Atherosclerosis/complications; Atherosclerosis/drug therapy*; Secondary Prevention/methods; Factor Xa Inhibitors/adverse effects; Factor Xa Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
  16. Ahmad S, Singh VA, Hussein SI
    J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong), 2017 8 29;25(3):2309499017727946.
    PMID: 28844199 DOI: 10.1177/2309499017727946
    Meniscal allograft transplantation may be a better alternative for the treatment of irreparable meniscal injury compared to other forms of treatment. However, it remains to be seen whether the use fresh frozen allograft is better than cryopreserved allograft in treating this type of injury. We hypothesized that cryopreserved meniscal allograft would work better in maintaining the original biomechanical properties compared to fresh frozen ones, due to the lower amount of damage it incurs during the storage process. We examined young and healthy human menisci obtained from orthopedic oncology patients who underwent resection surgeries around the knee. The menisci obtained were preserved via cryopreservation and deep-freezing process. Traction tests were carried out on the menisci after 6 weeks of preservation. Twelve pairs ( N = 24) of menisci were divided equally into two groups, cryopreservation and deep frozen. There were six males and six female menisci donors for this study. The age range was between 15 and 35 years old (24.9 ± 8.6 years). Cryopreserved specimens had a higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS; 8.2 ± 1.3 Mpa vs. 13.3 ± 1.7 Mpa: p < 0.05) and elastic modulus (61.7 ± 27.6 Mpa vs. 87.0 ± 44.10 Mpa: p < 0.05) compared to the fresh frozen specimens. There was a significant difference in UTS ( p < 0.05) between the two groups but no significant difference in their elastic modulus ( p > 0.05). The elastic modulus of the preserved meniscus was similar to fresh normal menisci taken from other studies (60-120 Mpa; cryopreserved (87.0 ± 44.1) and fresh frozen (61.7 ± 27.5)). Cryopreserved menisci had a higher elastic modulus and point of rupture (UTS) compared to fresh frozen menisci. Cryopreservation proved to be a significantly better method of preservation, among the two methods of preservation in this study.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena; Female; Humans; Knee Joint/surgery*; Male; Menisci, Tibial/transplantation*; Rupture; Tensile Strength; Transplantation, Homologous; Cryopreservation*; Elastic Modulus; Allografts*
  17. Yu KL, Lau BF, Show PL, Ong HC, Ling TC, Chen WH, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2017 Dec;246:2-11.
    PMID: 28844690 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.08.009
    Algal biomass is known as a promising sustainable feedstock for the production of biofuels and other valuable products. However, since last decade, massive amount of interests have turned to converting algal biomass into biochar. Due to their high nutrient content and ion-exchange capacity, algal biochars can be used as soil amendment for agriculture purposes or adsorbents in wastewater treatment for the removal of organic or inorganic pollutants. This review describes the conventional (e.g., slow and microwave-assisted pyrolysis) and newly developed (e.g., hydrothermal carbonization and torrefaction) methods used for the synthesis of algae-based biochars. The characterization of algal biochar and a comparison between algal biochar with biochar produced from other feedstocks are also presented. This review aims to provide updated information on the development of algal biochar in terms of the production methods and the characterization of its physical and chemical properties to justify and to expand their potential applications.
    MeSH terms: Agriculture; Charcoal*; Soil; Biomass
  18. Mokhtar NH, Abas A, Razak NA, Hamid MNA, Teong SL
    J Theor Biol, 2017 11 21;433:73-84.
    PMID: 28844907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.08.016
    Proper design of stent for application at specific aneurysm effect arteries could help to reduce the issues with thrombosis and aneurysm. In this paper, four types of stent configuration namely half-Y (6 mm), half-Y (4 mm), cross-bar, and full-Y configuration will implanted on real 3D artery bifurcation aneurysm effected arteries. Comparisons were then conducted based on the flow patterns after stent placement using both LBM-based solver and PIV experimental findings. According to the data obtained from all 4 stent designs, the flow profiles and the computed velocity from both methods were in agreement with each other. Both methods found that half-Y (6 mm) stent configuration is by far the best configuration in reducing the blood velocity at the vicinity of the aneurysm sac. The analysis also show that the half-Y (6 mm) stent configuration recorded the highest percentage of velocity reduction and managed to substantially reduce the pressure at the bifurcation region. This high flow velocity reduction through the use of half-Y stent could consequently promote the formation of thrombus thereby reducing the risk of rupture in the aneurysm sac.
    MeSH terms: Aneurysm/therapy*; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Computer Simulation; Equipment Design/methods*; Humans; Models, Cardiovascular; Rheology; Stents/standards*
  19. Kashani K, Macedo E, Burdmann EA, Hooi LS, Khullar D, Bagga A, et al.
    Kidney Int Rep, 2017 Jul;2(4):519-529.
    PMID: 28845471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2017.03.014
    The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) among acutely ill patients is reportedly very high and has vexing consequences on patient outcomes and health care systems. The risks and impact of AKI differ between developed and developing countries. Among developing countries, AKI occurs in young individuals with no or limited comorbidities, and is usually due to environmental causes, including infectious diseases. Although several risk factors have been identified for AKI in different settings, there is limited information on how risk assessment can be used at population and patient levels to improve care in patients with AKI, particularly in developing countries where significant health disparities may exist. The Acute Disease Quality Initiative consensus conference work group addressed the issue of identifying risk factors for AKI and provided recommendations for developing individualized risk stratification strategies to improve care. We proposed a 5-dimension, evidence-based categorization of AKI risk that allows clinicians and investigators to study, define, and implement individualized risk assessment tools for the region or country where they practice. These dimensions include environmental, socioeconomic and cultural factors, processes of care, exposures, and the inherent risks of AKI. We provide examples of these risks and describe approaches for risk assessments in the developing world. We anticipate that these recommendations will be useful for health care providers to plan and execute interventions to limit the impact of AKI on society and each individual patient. Using a modified Delphi process, this group reached consensus regarding several aspects of AKI risk stratification.
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