Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Devaraj K, Tan GYA, Chan KG
    Arch Microbiol, 2017 Aug;199(6):897-906.
    PMID: 28364274 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-017-1371-4
    In this study, a total of 147 soil actinobacterial strains were screened for their ability to inhibit response of Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 to short chain N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) which is a quorum sensing molecule. Of these, three actinobacterial strains showed positive for violacein inhibition. We further tested these strains for the inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 quorum sensing-regulated phenotypes, namely, swarming and pyocyanin production. The three strains were found to inhibit at least one of the quorum sensing-regulated phenotypes of PAO1. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these strains belong to the genera Micromonospora, Rhodococcus and Streptomyces. This is the first report presenting quorum quenching activity by a species of the genus Micromonospora. Our data suggest that Actinobacteria may be a rich source of active compounds that can act against bacterial quorum sensing system.
    MeSH terms: Chromobacterium; Micromonospora; Phylogeny; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pyocyanine; Rhodococcus; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Soil; Streptomyces; 4-Butyrolactone; Actinobacteria; Quorum Sensing
  2. Sulaiman A, Farid M, Silva FV
    Food Sci Technol Int, 2017 Apr;23(3):265-276.
    PMID: 28359205 DOI: 10.1177/1082013216685484
    Worldwide, apple juice is the second most popular juice, after orange juice. It is susceptible to enzymatic browning spoilage by polyphenoloxidase, an endogenous enzyme. In this study, Royal Gala apple juice was treated by thermosonication (TS: 1.3 W/mL, 58 ℃, 10 min), pulsed electric field (PEF: 24.8 kV/cm, 60 pulses, 169 µs treatment time, 53.8 ℃) and heat (75 ℃, 20 min) and stored at 3.0 ℃ and 20.0 ℃ for 30 days. A sensory analysis was carried out after processing. The polyphenoloxidase activity, antioxidant activity and total color difference of the apple juice were determined before and after processing and during storage. The sensory analysis revealed that thermosonication and pulsed electric field juices tasted differently from the thermally treated juice. Apart from the pulsed electric field apple juice stored at room temperature, the processed juice was stable during storage, since the pH and soluble solids remained constant and fermentation was not observed. Polyphenoloxidase did not reactivate during storage. Along storage, the juices' antioxidant activity decreased and total color difference increased (up to 6.8). While the antioxidant activity increased from 86 to 103% with thermosonication and was retained after pulsed electric field, thermal processing reduced it to 67%. The processing increased the total color difference slightly. No differences in the total color difference of the juices processed by the three methods were registered after storage. Thermosonication and pulsed electric field could possibly be a better alternative to thermal preservation of apple juice, but refrigerated storage is recommended for pulsed electric field apple juice.
  3. Alam MA, Zaidul IS, Ghafoor K, Sahena F, Hakim MA, Rafii MY, et al.
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2017 Mar 31;17(1):181.
    PMID: 28359331 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1684-5
    BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to evaluate antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with a subsequent analysis of total phenolic and total flavonoid content of methanol extract and its derived fractions from Clinacanthus nutans accompanied by comprehensive phytochemical profiling.

    METHODS: Liquid-liquid partition chromatography was used to separate methanolic extract to get hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and residual aqueous fractions. The total antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). The antidiabetic activity of methanol extract and its consequent fractions were examined by α-glucosidase inhibitory bioassay. The chemical profiling was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC Q-TOF MS).

    RESULTS: The total yield for methanol extraction was (12.63 ± 0.98) % (w/w) and highest fractionated value found for residual aqueous (52.25 ± 1.01) % (w/w) as compared to the other fractions. Significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity was found for methanolic extract (63.07 ± 0.11) % and (79.98 ± 0.31) % for ethyl acetate fraction among all the fractions evaluated. Methanol extract was the most prominent in case of FRAP (141.89 ± 0.87 μg AAE/g) whereas most effective reducing power observed in ethyl acetate fraction (133.6 ± 0.2987 μg AAE/g). The results also indicated a substantial α-glucosidase inhibitory activity for butanol fraction (72.16 ± 1.0) % and ethyl acetate fraction (70.76 ± 0.49) %. The statistical analysis revealed that total phenolic and total flavonoid content of the samples had the significant (p 

    MeSH terms: alpha-Glucosidases/metabolism; alpha-Glucosidases/chemistry; Antioxidants/isolation & purification; Antioxidants/metabolism; Antioxidants/chemistry*; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/metabolism; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Plant Stems/chemistry; Acanthaceae/chemistry*; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/isolation & purification; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/metabolism; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/chemistry*
  4. Barber BE, Rajahram GS, Grigg MJ, William T, Anstey NM
    Malar J, 2017 03 31;16(1):135.
    PMID: 28359340 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1787-y
    BACKGROUND: The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) World Malaria Report documents substantial progress towards control and elimination of malaria. However, major challenges remain. In some regions of Southeast Asia, the simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi has emerged as an important cause of human malaria, and the authors believe this species warrants regular inclusion in the World Malaria Report.

    MAIN TEXT: Plasmodium knowlesi is the most common cause of malaria in Malaysia, and cases have also been reported in nearly all countries of Southeast Asia. Outside of Malaysia, P. knowlesi is frequently misdiagnosed by microscopy as Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax. Thus, P. knowlesi may be underdiagnosed in affected regions and its true incidence underestimated. Acknowledgement in the World Malaria Report of the regional importance of P. knowlesi will facilitate efforts to improve surveillance of this emerging parasite. Furthermore, increased recognition will likely lead to improved delivery of effective treatment for this potentially fatal infection, as has occurred in Malaysia where P. knowlesi case-fatality rates have fallen despite rising incidence. In a number of knowlesi-endemic countries, substantial progress has been made towards the elimination of P. vivax and P. falciparum. However, efforts to eliminate these human-only species should not preclude efforts to reduce human malaria from P. knowlesi. The regional importance of knowlesi malaria was recognized by the WHO with its recent Evidence Review Group meeting on knowlesi malaria to address strategies for prevention and mitigation.

    CONCLUSION: The WHO World Malaria Report has an appropriate focus on falciparum and vivax malaria, the major causes of global mortality and morbidity. However, the authors hope that in future years this important publication will also incorporate data on the progress and challenges in reducing knowlesi malaria in regions where transmission occurs.

    MeSH terms: Asia; Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology; Communicable Disease Control/methods; Humans; Malaria/mortality; Malaria/epidemiology*; Malaria/parasitology*; Malaria/prevention & control; Global Health; World Health Organization; Prevalence; Plasmodium knowlesi/isolation & purification*
  5. Romli MH, Tan MP, Mackenzie L, Lovarini M, Suttanon P, Clemson L
    Public Health, 2017 Apr;145:96-112.
    PMID: 28359399 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2016.12.035
    OBJECTIVES: The older population in the Southeast Asian region is accelerating and is expected to surpass the proportion of the ageing population in North America and Europe in the future. This study aims to identify the research literature related to falls among older people in Southeast Asia, to examine current practice and discuss the future direction on falls prevention and interventions in the region.

    STUDY DESIGN: A scoping review design was used.

    METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using the Medline, CINAHL, AMED, Ageline, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences, Scopus, Thai-Journal Citation Index, MyCite and trial registries databases.

    RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies and six study protocols were included, from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. One-sixth of the studies involved interventions, while the remainder were observational studies. The observational studies mainly determined the falls risk factors. The intervention studies comprised multifactorial interventions and single interventions such as exercises, educational materials and visual correction. Many of the studies replicated international studies and may not have taken into account features unique to Southeast Asia.

    CONCLUSION: Our review has revealed studies evaluating falls and management of falls in the Southeast Asian context. More research is required from all Southeast Asian countries to prepare for the future challenges of managing falls as the population ages.

    MeSH terms: Accidental Falls/prevention & control; Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data*; Accidents, Home/prevention & control*; Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Environment Design; Europe; Humans; Indonesia; Malaysia; Patient Education as Topic; Philippines; Risk Factors; Singapore; Thailand; Vietnam; Exercise*
  6. Nakamura A, Kitching RL, Cao M, Creedy TJ, Fayle TM, Freiberg M, et al.
    Trends Ecol Evol, 2017 06;32(6):438-451.
    PMID: 28359572 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.02.020
    Forest canopies are dynamic interfaces between organisms and atmosphere, providing buffered microclimates and complex microhabitats. Canopies form vertically stratified ecosystems interconnected with other strata. Some forest biodiversity patterns and food webs have been documented and measurements of ecophysiology and biogeochemical cycling have allowed analyses of large-scale transfer of CO2, water, and trace gases between forests and the atmosphere. However, many knowledge gaps remain. With global research networks and databases, and new technologies and infrastructure, we envisage rapid advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that drive the spatial and temporal dynamics of forests and their canopies. Such understanding is vital for the successful management and conservation of global forests and the ecosystem services they provide to the world.
    MeSH terms: Atmosphere; Trees; Ecosystem; Biodiversity*; Forests*
  7. Braima KA, Muslimin M, M Ghazali AR, Wan-Nor F, Wilson JJ, Jeffery J, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2017 Jul;171:138-140.
    PMID: 28359829 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.03.025
    Mosquitoes are vectors of various human diseases in the tropics including yellow fever, dengue, malaria and West Nile virus. Mosquitoes can act as vectors between wildlife and humans, which is particularly important for diseases where wild animals serve as reservoirs of parasites in the absence of human infections. Research has mainly focused on the medical impacts of Anopheles, Aedes, Mansonia and Culex, however, very little attention has been directed towards other mosquito genera, especially those which act as vectors of diseases of wildlife. We have observed adults of Mimomyia (Etorleptiomyia) luzonensis (Ludlow, 1905) feeding on a toad, Ingerophrynus parvus, near an oil palm plantation settlement in Setia Alam, Selangor state, Peninsular Malaysia. Mimomyia is known to feed on reptiles and amphibians, and is a documented vector of several arboviruses, including West Nile virus. The observation of Mimomyia feeding on a common toad near a human settlement highlights a need to understand the relationships between mosquitoes, toads and humans from an ecological perspective. We report on-site observations of the feeding habit of Mimomyia; the first records from Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Bufonidae; Feeding Behavior/physiology*; Humans; Malaysia; Culicidae/physiology*; Culicidae/virology
  8. Dinarvand M, Rezaee M, Foroughi M
    Braz J Microbiol, 2017 Jul-Sep;48(3):427-441.
    PMID: 28359854 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjm.2016.10.026
    The aim of this study was obtain a model that maximizes growth and production of inulinase and invertase by Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611, employing response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM with a five-variable and three-level central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the medium composition. Results showed that the experimental data could be appropriately fitted into a second-order polynomial model with a coefficient of determination (R2) more than 0.90 for all responses. This model adequately explained the data variation and represented the actual relationships between the parameters and responses. The pH and temperature value of the cultivation medium were the most significant variables and the effects of inoculum size and agitation speed were slightly lower. The intra-extracellular inulinase, invertase production and biomass content increased 10-32 fold in the optimized medium condition (pH 6.5, temperature 30°C, 6% (v/v), inoculum size and 150rpm agitation speed) by RSM compared with medium optimized through the one-factor-at-a-time method. The process development and intensification for simultaneous production of intra-extracellular inulinase (exo and endo inulinase) and invertase from A. niger could be used for industrial applications.
    MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/enzymology; Aspergillus niger/genetics; Aspergillus niger/growth & development; Aspergillus niger/metabolism*; Culture Media/metabolism; Culture Media/chemistry; Fermentation; Glycoside Hydrolases/biosynthesis*; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics; Industrial Microbiology/methods*; Temperature; Bioreactors/microbiology; beta-Fructofuranosidase/biosynthesis*; beta-Fructofuranosidase/genetics
  9. Solayman M, Saleh MA, Paul S, Khalil MI, Gan SH
    Comput Biol Chem, 2017 Jun;68:175-185.
    PMID: 28359874 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2017.03.005
    Polymorphisms of the ADIPOR2 gene are frequently linked to a higher risk of developing diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Though mutations of the ADIPOR2 gene are detrimental, there is a lack of comprehensive in silico analyses of the functional and structural impacts at the protein level. Considering the involvement of ADIPOR2 in glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation, an in silico functional analysis was conducted to explore the possible association between genetic mutations and phenotypic variations. A genomic analysis of 82 nonsynonymous SNPs in ADIPOR2 was initiated using SIFT followed by the SNAP2, nsSNPAnalyzer, PolyPhen-2, SNPs&GO, FATHMM and PROVEAN servers. A total of 10 mutations (R126W, L160Q, L195P, F201S, L235R, L235P, L256R, Y328H, E334K and Q349H) were predicted to have deleterious effects on the ADIPOR2 protein and were therefore selected for further analysis. Theoretical models of the variants were generated by comparative modeling via MODELLER 9.16. A protein structural analysis of these amino acid variants was performed using SNPeffect, I-Mutant, ConSurf, Swiss-PDB Viewer and NetSurfP to explore their solvent accessibility, molecular dynamics and energy minimization calculations. In addition, FTSite was used to predict the ligand binding sites, while NetGlycate, NetPhos2.0, UbPerd and SUMOplot were used to predict post-translational modification sites. All of the variants showed increased free energy, though F201S exhibited the highest energy increase. The root mean square deviation values of the modeled mutants strongly indicated likely pathogenicity. Remarkably, three binding sites were detected on ADIPOR2, and two mutations at positions 328 and 201 were found in the first and second binding pockets, respectively. Interestingly, no mutations were found at the post-translational modification sites. These genetic variants can provide a better understanding of the wide range of disease susceptibility associated with ADIPOR2 and aid the development of new molecular diagnostic markers for these diseases. The findings may also facilitate the development of novel therapeutic elements for associated diseases.
    MeSH terms: Binding Sites; Computer Simulation; Humans; Mutation; Computational Biology*; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics*; Receptors, Adiponectin/genetics*; Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  10. Maloney S, Tunnecliff J, Morgan P, Gaida J, Keating J, Clearihan L, et al.
    JMIR Med Educ, 2017 Mar 30;3(1):e5.
    PMID: 28360023 DOI: 10.2196/mededu.6357
    BACKGROUND: Professional development is essential in the health disciplines. Knowing the cost and value of educational approaches informs decisions and choices about learning and teaching practices.

    OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to conduct a cost analysis of participation in continuing professional development via social media compared with live conference attendance.

    METHODS: Clinicians interested in musculoskeletal care were invited to participate in the study activities. Quantitative data were obtained from an anonymous electronic questionnaire.

    RESULTS: Of the 272 individuals invited to contribute data to this study, 150 clinicians predominantly from Australia, United States, United Kingdom, India, and Malaysia completed the outcome measures. Half of the respondents (78/150, 52.0%) believed that they would learn more with the live conference format. The median perceived participation costs for the live conference format was Aus $1596 (interquartile range, IQR 172.50-2852.00). The perceived cost of participation for equivalent content delivered via social media was Aus $15 (IQR 0.00-58.50). The majority of the clinicians (114/146, 78.1%, missing data n=4) indicated that they would pay for a subscription-based service, delivered by social media, to the median value of Aus $59.50.

    CONCLUSIONS: Social media platforms are evolving into an acceptable and financially sustainable medium for the continued professional development of health professionals. When factoring in the reduced costs of participation and the reduced loss of employable hours from the perspective of the health service, professional development via social media has unique strengths that challenge the traditional live conference delivery format.
    MeSH terms: Costs and Cost Analysis; Education, Continuing; Social Media
  11. Chan XY, Chen JW, Adrian TG, Hong KW, Chang CY, Yin WF, et al.
    Genome Announc, 2017 Mar 30;5(13).
    PMID: 28360153 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00067-17
    Bacillus sp. is a Gram-positive bacterium that is commonly found in seawater. In this study, the genome of marine Bacillus sp. strain G3(2015) was sequenced using MiSeq. The fosfomycin resistant gene fosB was identified upon bacterial genome annotation.
    MeSH terms: Bacillus; Base Sequence; Fosfomycin; Seawater; Genome, Bacterial
  12. Mohd Sulaiman I, Karlsson D, Koch S
    Methods Inf Med, 2017 Aug 11;56(4):330-338.
    PMID: 28361156 DOI: 10.3414/ME16-02-0027
    BACKGROUND: Malaysia and Sweden have mapped their acute coronary syndrome registries using SNOMED CT. Since similar-purposed patient registries can be expected to collect similar data, these data should be mapped to the same SNOMED CT codes despite the different languages used. Previous studies have however shown variations in mapping between different mappers but the reasons behind these variations and the influence of different mapping approaches are still unknown.

    OBJECTIVES: To analyze similar-purposed registries and their registry-to-SNOMED CT maps, using two national acute coronary syndrome registries as examples, to understand the reasons for mapping similarities and differences as well as their implications.

    METHODS: The Malaysian National Cardiovascular Disease - Acute Coronary Syndrome (NCVD-ACS) registry was compared to the Swedish Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions (RIKS-HIA). The structures of NCVD-ACS and RIKS-HIA registry forms and their distributions of headings, variables and values were studied. Data items with equivalent meaning (EDIs) were paired and their mappings were categorized into match, mismatch, and non-comparable mappings. Reasons for match, mismatch and non-comparability of each paired EDI were seen as factors that contributed to the similarities and differences between the maps.

    RESULTS: The registries and their respective maps share a similar distribution pattern regarding the number of headings, variables and values. The registries shared 101 EDIs, whereof 42 % (42) were mapped to SNOMED CT. 45 % (19) of those SNOMED CT coded EDIs had matching codes. The matching EDIs occurred only in pre-coordinated SNOMED CT expressions. Mismatches occurred due to challenges arising from the mappers themselves, limitations in SNOMED CT, and complexity of the registries. Non-comparable mappings appeared due to the use of other coding systems, unmapped data items, as well as requests for new SNOMED CT concepts.

    CONCLUSIONS: To ensure reproducible and reusable maps, the following three actions are recommended: (i) develop a specific mapping guideline for patient registries; (ii) openly share maps; and (iii) establish collaboration between clinical research societies and the SNOMED CT community.

  13. Kunasundari B, Arai T, Sudesh K, Hashim R, Sulaiman O, Stalin NJ, et al.
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2017 Sep;183(1):412-425.
    PMID: 28361245 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-017-2454-z
    The availability of fermentable sugars in high concentrations in the sap of felled oil palm trunks and the thermophilic nature of the recently isolated Bacillus coagulans strain 191 were exploited for lactic acid production under non-sterile conditions. Screening indicated that strain 191 was active toward most sugars including sucrose, which is a major component of sap. Strain 191 catalyzed a moderate conversion of sap sugars to lactic acid (53%) with a productivity of 1.56 g/L/h. Pretreatment of oil palm sap (OPS) using alkaline precipitation improved the sugar fermentability, providing a lactic acid yield of 92% and productivity of 2.64 g/L/h. To better characterize potential inhibitors in the sap, phenolic, organic, and mineral compounds were analyzed using non-treated sap and saps treated with activated charcoal and alkaline precipitation. Phthalic acid, 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, aconitic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid were reduced in the sap after treatment. High concentrations of Mg, P, K, and Ca were also precipitated by the alkaline treatment. These results suggest that elimination of excess phenolic and mineral compounds in OPS can improve the fermentation yield. OPS, a non-food resource that is readily available in bulk quantities from plantation sites, is a promising source for lactic acid production.
    MeSH terms: Bacillus/growth & development*; Sucrose/metabolism; Sucrose/chemistry*; Lactic Acid/biosynthesis*; Arecaceae/chemistry*
  14. Loh SY, Salleh N
    Physiol Int, 2017 Mar 01;104(1):25-34.
    PMID: 28361574 DOI: 10.1556/2060.104.2017.1.3
    Introduction Testosterone plays an important role in the blood pressure regulation. However, information with regard to the effect of this hormone on blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive conditions is limited. Therefore, in this study, the relationship between plasma testosterone level and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was investigated under these conditions. Methods Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and hypertensive Spontaneous Hypertensive (SHR) male and female rats were gonadectomized with female rats treated with testosterone. Estrous cycle stages of intact female rats of both strains were identified by vaginal smear. Pressure in the carotid artery of anesthetized rats was measured via direct cannulation technique. The blood was withdrawn for plasma testosterone level measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Treatment of ovariectomized female WKY and SHR rats with testosterone for 6-week duration has resulted in MAP to increase (P 
    MeSH terms: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Hypertension/blood; Hypertension/chemically induced*; Hypertension/diagnosis; Hypertension/physiopathology; Orchiectomy; Ovariectomy; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Testosterone/blood; Testosterone/deficiency; Testosterone/toxicity*; Time Factors; Hormone Replacement Therapy/adverse effects*; Arterial Pressure/drug effects*
  15. Bijker R, Jiamsakul A, Kityo C, Kiertiburanakul S, Siwale M, Phanuphak P, et al.
    J Int AIDS Soc, 2017 03 03;20(1):21218.
    PMID: 28362063 DOI: 10.7448/IAS.20.1.21218
    INTRODUCTION: Our understanding of how to achieve optimal long-term adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in settings where the burden of HIV disease is highest remains limited. We compared levels and determinants of adherence over time between HIV-positive persons receiving ART who were enrolled in a bi-regional cohort in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
    METHODS: This multicentre prospective study of adults starting first-line ART assessed patient-reported adherence at follow-up clinic visits using a 30-day visual analogue scale. Determinants of suboptimal adherence (<95%) were assessed for six-month intervals, using generalized estimating equations multivariable logistic regression with multiple imputations. Region of residence (Africa vs. Asia) was assessed as a potential effect modifier.
    RESULTS: Of 13,001 adherence assessments in 3934 participants during the first 24 months of ART, 6.4% (837) were suboptimal, with 7.3% (619/8484) in the African cohort versus 4.8% (218/4517) in the Asian cohort (p 
    MeSH terms: Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Asia/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Prospective Studies; Cohort Studies; HIV Infections/drug therapy*; HIV Infections/psychology; Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use*; Heterosexuality/psychology; Heterosexuality/statistics & numerical data; Medication Adherence*; Young Adult
  16. Chia TS, Quah CK
    Acta Crystallogr B Struct Sci Cryst Eng Mater, 2017 Apr 01;73(Pt 2):285-295.
    PMID: 28362293 DOI: 10.1107/S2052520616019405
    Isonicotinamide-4-methoxybenzoic acid co-crystal (1), C6H6N2O·C8H8O3, is formed through slow evaporation from methanol solution and it undergoes a first-order isosymmetry (monoclinic I2/a ↔ monoclinic I2/a) structural phase transition at Tc= 142.5 (5) K, which has been confirmed by an abrupt jump of crystallographic interaxial angle β from variable-temperature single-crystal XRD and small heat hysteresis (6.25 K) in differential scanning calorimetry measurement. The three-dimensional X-ray crystal structures of (1) at the low-temperature phase (LTP) (100, 140 and 142 K) and the high-temperature phase (HTP) (143, 150, 200, 250 and 300 K) were solved and refined as a simple non-disordered model with final R[F2> 2σ(F2)] ≃ 0.05. The asymmetric unit of (1) consists of crystallographically independent 4-methoxybenzoic acid (A) and isonicotinamide (B) molecules in both enantiotropic phases. Molecule A adopts a `near-hydroxyl' conformation in which the hydroxyl and methoxy groups are positioned on the same side. Both `near-hydroxyl' and `near-carbonyl' molecular conformations possess minimum conformational energies with an energy difference of
    MeSH terms: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Crystallization; Hydrogen Bonding; Molecular Conformation; Niacinamide/chemistry*; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Crystallography, X-Ray; Transition Temperature; Phase Transition; Hydroxybenzoates/chemistry; Hydroxybenzoate Ethers/chemistry*
  17. Muhammad Auwal S, Zarei M, Abdul-Hamid A, Saari N
    Mar Drugs, 2017 Mar 31;15(4).
    PMID: 28362352 DOI: 10.3390/md15040104
    The stone fish is an under-utilized sea cucumber with many nutritional and ethno-medicinal values. This study aimed to establish the conditions for its optimum hydrolysis with bromelain to generate angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory hydrolysates. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design was used to model and optimize the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and ACE-inhibitory activity. Process conditions including pH (4-7), temperature (40-70 °C), enzyme/substrate (E/S) ratio (0.5%-2%) and time (30-360 min) were used. A pH of 7.0, temperature of 40 °C, E/S ratio of 2% and time of 240 min were determined using a response surface model as the optimum levels to obtain the maximum ACE-inhibitory activity of 84.26% at 44.59% degree of hydrolysis. Hence, RSM can serve as an effective approach in the design of experiments to improve the antihypertensive effect of stone fish hydrolysates, which can thus be used as a value-added ingredient for various applications in the functional foods industries.
    MeSH terms: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology*; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry*; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents/chemistry; Bromelains/chemistry*; Fishes/metabolism*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis/drug effects; Protein Hydrolysates/chemistry*; Temperature
  18. Devarajooh C, Chinna K
    PLoS One, 2017;12(3):e0175096.
    PMID: 28362861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175096
    The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in Malaysia, and people with diabetes have been reported to suffer from depression and diabetes distress which influences their self-efficacy in performing diabetes self-care practices. This interviewer administered, cross sectional study, conducted in the district of Hulu Selangor, Malaysia, involving 371 randomly selected patients with type 2 diabetes, recruited from 6 health clinics, aimed to examine a conceptual model regarding the association between depression, diabetes distress and self-efficacy with diabetes self-care practices using the partial least square approach of structural equation modeling. In this study, diabetes self-care practices were similar regardless of sex, age group, ethnicity, education level, diabetes complications or type of diabetes medication. This study found that self-efficacy had a direct effect on diabetes self-care practice (path coefficient = 0.438, p<0.001). Self-care was not directly affected by depression and diabetes distress, but indirectly by depression (path coefficient = -0.115, p<0.01) and diabetes distress (path coefficient = -0.122, p<0.001) via self-efficacy. In conclusion, to improve self-care practices, effort must be focused on enhancing self-efficacy levels, while not forgetting to deal with depression and diabetes distress, especially among those with poorer levels of self-efficacy.
    Study site: 6 primary health clinics (Klinik Kesihatan), Hulu Selangor. Selangor. Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Aged; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/blood; Depression/physiopathology*; Depression/psychology*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology; Female; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/metabolism; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Self Care/methods*; Exercise; Self Efficacy*; Medication Adherence
  19. Stark DJ, Vaughan IP, Ramirez Saldivar DA, Nathan SK, Goossens B
    PLoS One, 2017;12(3):e0174891.
    PMID: 28362872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174891
    The development of GPS tags for tracking wildlife has revolutionised the study of home ranges, habitat use and behaviour. Concomitantly, there have been rapid developments in methods for estimating habitat use from GPS data. In combination, these changes can cause challenges in choosing the best methods for estimating home ranges. In primatology, this issue has received little attention, as there have been few GPS collar-based studies to date. However, as advancing technology is making collaring studies more feasible, there is a need for the analysis to advance alongside the technology. Here, using a high quality GPS collaring data set from 10 proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), we aimed to: 1) compare home range estimates from the most commonly used method in primatology, the grid-cell method, with three recent methods designed for large and/or temporally correlated GPS data sets; 2) evaluate how well these methods identify known physical barriers (e.g. rivers); and 3) test the robustness of the different methods to data containing either less frequent or random losses of GPS fixes. Biased random bridges had the best overall performance, combining a high level of agreement between the raw data and estimated utilisation distribution with a relatively low sensitivity to reduced fixed frequency or loss of data. It estimated the home range of proboscis monkeys to be 24-165 ha (mean 80.89 ha). The grid-cell method and approaches based on local convex hulls had some advantages including simplicity and excellent barrier identification, respectively, but lower overall performance. With the most suitable model, or combination of models, it is possible to understand more fully the patterns, causes, and potential consequences that disturbances could have on an animal, and accordingly be used to assist in the management and restoration of degraded landscapes.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Colobinae/physiology*; Ecosystem; Geographic Information Systems*; Rivers
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