Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Ghazali WS, Romli AC, Mohamed M
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2017 Mar 28;17(1):175.
    PMID: 28351393 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1703-6
    BACKGROUND: Honey has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory property. This is a randomized, controlled, open-label trial to determine the effects of 12-week honey oral supplementation on plasma inflammatory markers such as high sensitive C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α among chronic smokers.
    METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 32 non-smokers and 64 chronic smokers from Quit Smoking Clinic and Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the study. Smokers were then randomized into 2 groups: smokers with honey group that received Malaysian Tualang honey (20 g/day daily for 12 weeks) and smokers without honey group. Blood was obtained from non-smokers and smokers at pre-intervention, and from smokers at post-intervention for measurement of the inflammatory markers.
    RESULTS: At pre-intervention, smokers had significantly higher high sensitive C-reactive protein than non-smokers. In smokers with honey group, tumor necrosis factor-α was significantly increased while high sensitive C-reactive protein was significantly reduced at post-intervention than at pre-intervention.
    CONCLUSION: This study suggests that honey supplementation has opposite effects on tumor necrosis factor-α and high sensitive C-reactive protein indicating the inconclusive effect of honey on inflammation among chronic smokers which needs further study on other inflammatory markers.
    TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Trial has been registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12615001236583 . Registered 11 November 2015 (Retrospectively Registered).
    Study site: Quit Smoking Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM); staff from health campus
    MeSH terms: Adult; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism; Female; Honey/analysis*; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; New Zealand; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Smoking/blood; Smoking/immunology*; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood; Biomarkers/blood*; Interleukin-6/blood; Dietary Supplements/analysis*; Young Adult
  2. Suh GH, Gega L
    Int Psychogeriatr, 2017 May;29(5):707-708.
    PMID: 28351451 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610217000333
    Among the one million suicide deaths worldwide each year, as many as 60% occur in Asia. The World Health Organization (WHO) found higher suicide rates among the elderly in rapidly industrialized Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, compared to the corresponding rates of recently industrializing Asian countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka (WHO, 2014). As a case in point, suicide rates in South Korea have been the highest in the world since 2003 and are rising especially among older people (Hong and Knapp, 2014). Suicide attempts and older age are strong predictors of completed suicide (Szanto et al., 2002; Simon et al., 2013) and, as such, are important in guiding our efforts for suicide prevention; however, most epidemiological studies focus on completed suicides across all ages rather than understanding the reasons behind suicide attempts in older populations.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Far East; Hong Kong; Humans; Japan; Malaysia; Risk Factors; Singapore; Suicide, Attempted*; Prevalence; Republic of Korea
  3. Koh JEW, Acharya UR, Hagiwara Y, Raghavendra U, Tan JH, Sree SV, et al.
    Comput Biol Med, 2017 05 01;84:89-97.
    PMID: 28351716 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2017.03.008
    Vision is paramount to humans to lead an active personal and professional life. The prevalence of ocular diseases is rising, and diseases such as glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are the leading causes of blindness in developed countries. Identifying these diseases in mass screening programmes is time-consuming, labor-intensive and the diagnosis can be subjective. The use of an automated computer aided diagnosis system will reduce the time taken for analysis and will also reduce the inter-observer subjective variabilities in image interpretation. In this work, we propose one such system for the automatic classification of normal from abnormal (DR, AMD, glaucoma) images. We had a total of 404 normal and 1082 abnormal fundus images in our database. As the first step, 2D-Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) decomposition on the fundus images of two classes was performed. Subsequently, energy features and various entropies namely Yager, Renyi, Kapoor, Shannon, and Fuzzy were extracted from the decomposed images. Then, adaptive synthetic sampling approach was applied to balance the normal and abnormal datasets. Next, the extracted features were ranked according to the significances using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Thereupon, the ranked and selected features were used to train the random forest classifier using stratified 10-fold cross validation. Overall, the proposed system presented a performance rate of 92.48%, and a sensitivity and specificity of 89.37% and 95.58% respectively using 15 features. This novel system shows promise in detecting abnormal fundus images, and hence, could be a valuable adjunct eye health screening tool that could be employed in polyclinics, and thereby reduce the workload of specialists at hospitals.
    MeSH terms: Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Fundus Oculi*; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Databases, Factual; Entropy; Wavelet Analysis*
  4. Misni N, Nor ZM, Ahmad R
    J Vector Borne Dis, 2017 Jan-Mar;54(1):44-53.
    PMID: 28352045
    BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Many essential oils have been reported as natural sources of insect repellents; however, due to high volatility, they present low repellent effect. Formulation technique by using microencapsulation enables to control the volatility of essential oil and thereby extends the duration of repellency. In this study, the effectiveness of microencapsulated essential oils of Alpinia galanga, Citrus grandis and C. aurantifolia in the lotion formulations were evaluated against mosquito bites.

    METHODS: Essential oils and N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) were encapsulated by using interfacial pre- cipitation techniques before incorporation into lotion base to form microencapsulated (ME) formulation. The pure essential oil and DEET were also prepared into lotion base to produce non-encapsulated (NE) formulation. All the prepared formulations were assessed for their repellent activity against Culex quinquefasciatus under laboratory condition. Field evaluations also were conducted in three different study sites in Peninsular Malaysia. In addi- tion, Citriodiol® (Mosiquard®) and citronella-based repellents (KAPS®, MozAway® and BioZ Natural®) were also included for comparison.

    RESULTS: In laboratory conditions, the ME formulations of the essential oils showed no significant difference with regard to the duration of repellent effect compared to the microencapsulated DEET used at the highest con- centration (20%). It exhibited >98% repellent effect for duration of 4 h (p = 0.06). In the field conditions, these formulations demonstrated comparable repellent effect (100% for a duration of 3 h) to Citriodiol® based repellent (Mosiguard®) (p = 0.07). In both test conditions, the ME formulations of the essential oils presented longer duration of 100% repellent effect (between 1 and 2 h) compared to NE formulations.

    INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The findings of the study demonstrate that the application of the microencapsulation technique during the preparation of the formulations significantly increases the duration of the repellent effect of the essential oils, suggesting that the ME formulation of essential oils have potential to be commercialized as an alternative plant-based repellent in the market against the mosquitoes.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Capsules/administration & dosage*; Citrus/chemistry; Culex/drug effects*; Female; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings/prevention & control*; Insect Repellents/administration & dosage*; Insect Repellents/isolation & purification; Insect Repellents/pharmacology; Malaysia; Oils, Volatile/administration & dosage*; Oils, Volatile/isolation & purification; Oils, Volatile/pharmacology; Alpinia/chemistry; Healthy Volunteers
  5. Menier D, Mathew M, Pubellier M, Sapin F, Delcaillau B, Siddiqui N, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2017 03 28;7(1):457.
    PMID: 28352115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00620-y
    Empirical models have simulated the consequences of uplift and orographic-precipitation on the evolution of orogens whereas the effects of these forcings on ridgelines and consequent topography of natural landscapes remain equivocal. Here we demonstrate the feedback of a terrestrial landscape in NW Borneo subject to uplift and precipitation gradient owing to orographic effect, and leading to less-predictable flooding and irreversible damages to life and property. Disequilibrium in a large catchment recording the lowest rainfall rates in Borneo, and adjacent drainage basins as determined through χ, a proxy for steady-state channel elevation, is shown to result in dynamic migration of water divide from the windward-side of the orogen towards the leeward-side to attain equilibrium. Loss of drainage area in the leeward-side reduces erosion rates with progressive shortening resulting in an unstable landscape with tectonic uplift, gravity faults and debris flows.14C dating of exhumed cut-and-fill terraces reveal a Mid-Pleistocene age, suggesting tectonic events in the trend of exhumation rates (>7 mm a-1) estimated by thermochronology, and confirmed by morphotectonic and sedimentological analyses. Our study suggests that divide migration leads to lowered erosion rates, channel narrowing, and sediment accretion in intermontane basins on the leeward-side ultimately resulting in enhanced flooding.
    MeSH terms: Borneo; Carbon Radioisotopes; Muscle Hypotonia; Perceptual Disorders; Psychomotor Disorders; Water; Exhumation; Floods
  6. Beh CY, How CW, Foo JB, Foong JN, Selvarajah GT, Rasedee A
    Drug Des Devel Ther, 2017;11:771-782.
    PMID: 28352153 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S123939
    Tamoxifen (TAM) has been used in the treatment of breast cancers and is supplemented with erythropoietin (EPO) to alleviate the cancer-related anemia. The purported deleterious effects caused by the use of EPO with chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer-related anemia vary across studies and remain controversial. The use of nanoparticles as a drug delivery system has the potential to improve the specificity of anticancer drugs. In this study, we simultaneously incorporated two pharmacological active ingredients in one nanocarrier to develop EPO-conjugated TAM-loaded lipid nanoparticles (EPO-TAMNLC), a targeted delivery system, to enhance the cytotoxic activity while reducing the side effects of the ingredients. The effect of temperature in modulating the thermodynamic parameters associated with the binding of EPO and TAMNLC was assessed using isothermal titration calorimetry, while the unfolding of EPO structure was determined using fluorescence-quenching approach. The association efficiency of EPO and TAMNLC was 55.43%. Unlike binding of albumin to TAMNLC, the binding of EPO to TAMNLC occurred through endothermic and entropy-driven reaction. The EPO-TAMNLC formulation was stable because of the hydrophobic interaction and the high free energy, suggesting the spontaneity of the interactions between EPO and TAMNLC. The EPO-TAMNLC enhanced the in vitro cytotoxicity of TAM to MCF-7 cells. The EPO surface-functionalized TAMNLC could sequentially deliver EPO and TAM as well as improving site-specific delivery of these therapeutic compounds.
    MeSH terms: Anemia/drug therapy; Anemia/pathology; Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism*; Breast Neoplasms/pathology; Cell Survival/drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Carriers/chemistry*; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Humans; Lipids/chemistry*; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tamoxifen/administration & dosage*; Tamoxifen/metabolism; Tamoxifen/pharmacokinetics; Tamoxifen/pharmacology; Thermodynamics; Receptors, Erythropoietin/metabolism*; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/administration & dosage*; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/metabolism; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/pharmacokinetics; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/pharmacology; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Nanostructures/chemistry*; MCF-7 Cells
  7. Rahman NN, Singh DK, Lee R
    Clin Interv Aging, 2017;12:523-529.
    PMID: 28352165 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S110329
    Aging is associated with alterations in thoracolumbar curvatures and respiratory function. Research information regarding the correlation between thoracolumbar curvatures and a comprehensive examination of respiratory function parameters in older adults is limited. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between thoracolumbar curvatures and respiratory function in community-dwelling older adults. Thoracolumbar curvatures (thoracic and lumbar) were measured using a motion tracker. Respiratory function parameters such as lung function, respiratory rate, respiratory muscle strength and respiratory muscle thickness (diaphragm and intercostal) were measured using a spirometer, triaxial accelerometer, respiratory pressure meter and ultrasound imaging, respectively. Sixty-eight community-dwelling older males and females from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with mean (standard deviation) age of 66.63 (5.16) years participated in this cross-sectional study. The results showed that mean (standard deviation) thoracic curvature angle and lumbar curvature angles were -46.30° (14.66°) and 14.10° (10.58°), respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between thoracic curvature angle and lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second: r=-0.23, P<0.05; forced vital capacity: r=-0.32, P<0.05), quiet expiration intercostal thickness (r=-0.22, P<0.05) and deep expiration diaphragm muscle thickness (r=-0.21, P<0.05). The lumbar curvature angle had a significant negative correlation with respiratory muscle strength (r=-0.29, P<0.05) and diaphragm muscle thickness at deep inspiration (r=-0.22, P<0.05). However, respiratory rate was correlated neither with thoracic nor with lumbar curvatures. The findings of this study suggest that increase in both thoracic and lumbar curvatures is correlated with decrease in respiratory muscle strength, respiratory muscle thickness and some parameters of lung function. Clinically, both thoracic and lumbar curvatures, respiratory muscles and lung function should be taken into consideration in the holistic management of respiratory function among older adults.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Aging; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Lumbosacral Region*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Respiration; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Muscles/physiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology*; Spinal Curvatures/epidemiology*; Muscle Strength/physiology
  8. Ngoo QZ, Tai EL, Wan Hitam WH
    Int Med Case Rep J, 2017;10:87-91.
    PMID: 28352205 DOI: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S129239
    PURPOSE: In this case report, we present two cases of syringomyelia with optic neuropathy.

    FINDINGS: In Case 1, a 36-year-old Malay lady presented to our clinic with acute onset of blurring of vision in her left eye that she experienced since past 1 month. She was diagnosed with syringomyelia 12 years ago and was on conservative management. Her visual acuity was 6/6 in the right eye and counting fingers at 1 m in the left. There was a positive relative afferent pupillary defect in her left eye. Optic nerve functions of her left eye were reduced. Visual field showed a left inferior field defect. Her extraocular muscle movements were full. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine showed syringomyelia at the level of C2-C6 and T2-T9. Both of her optic nerves were normal. Her condition improved with intravenous and oral corticosteroids. In Case 2, a 44-year-old Malay lady presented to our clinic with a progressive central scotoma in her right eye that she experienced since past 1 month. She had previous history of recurrent episodes of weakness in both of her lower limbs from past 8 months. Visual acuity in her right and left eye was 6/9 and 6/6, respectively. The relative afferent pupillary defect in her right eye was positive. Optic nerve functions of her right eye were affected. Visual field showed a central scotoma in her right eye. Her extraocular muscle movements were full. Fundoscopy of her right eye showed a pale optic disc. Her left eye fundus was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine showed syringomyelia at T3-T6. Both of her optic nerves were normal. A diagnosis of syringomyelia with right optic atrophy was performed. Her condition improved with intravenous and oral corticosteroids.

    CONCLUSION: Optic neuropathy is a rare neuro-ophthalmic manifestation in patients with syringomyelia. Prompt diagnosis and timely management are essential to avoid a poor visual outcome. Intravenous corticosteroids are beneficial in the treatment of early optic neuropathy in syringomyelia.

  9. Mohd Mokhtar S, Abd Jalil L, Muhd Noor N
    Case Rep Dent, 2017;2017:7361924.
    PMID: 28352481 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7361924
    The report presents examples of successful cases of autotransplantation of ectopic teeth as donor in the treatment of clinically missing maxillary anterior teeth in young patients. The transplanted teeth were either severely ectopic, inverted, rotated or in an unfavourable position that they are commonly sacrificed as a result. Details of surgical technique as well as clinical and radiographic assessments were discussed.
  10. Siddiquee S, Shafawati SN, Naher L
    Biotechnol Rep (Amst), 2017 Mar;13:1-7.
    PMID: 28352555 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2016.11.001
    Oil palm fibres are easy to degrade, eco-friendly in nature and once composted, they can be categorized under nutrient-enriched biocompost. Biocompost is not only a good biofertilizer but also a good biocontrol agent against soil-borne pathogens. In this research, experimental works on the composting of empty fruit bunches (EFB) from the oil palm industry were conducted using two potential Trichoderma strains. Analysis of pH initially found the soils to be slightly acidic. However, after composting, the soils were found to be alkaline. Trichoderma propagules increased by 72% in the soils compared to other fungi. Soil electrical conductivity was found to be 50.40 μS/cm for compost A, 42.10 μS/cm for compost B and 40.11 μS/cm for the control. The highest C:N ratio was obtained for compost A at 3.33, followed by compost B at 2.79, and then the control at 1.55. The highest percentages of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were found in compost A (0.91:2.13:6.68), which was followed by compost B (0.46:0.83:5.85) and then the control (0.32:0.26:5.76). Thus, the biocomposting of oil palm fibres shows great potential for enhancing soil micronutrient, plant growth performance, and crop yield production.
    MeSH terms: Crop Production; Animals; Electric Conductivity; Fruit; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Potassium; Soil; Trace Elements; Trichoderma; Micronutrients; Mice; Plant Development
  11. Elzwayie A, Afan HA, Allawi MF, El-Shafie A
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 May;24(13):12104-12117.
    PMID: 28353110 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8715-0
    Several research efforts have been conducted to monitor and analyze the impact of environmental factors on the heavy metal concentrations and physicochemical properties of water bodies (lakes and rivers) in different countries worldwide. This article provides a general overview of the previous works that have been completed in monitoring and analyzing heavy metals. The intention of this review is to introduce the historical studies to distinguish and understand the previous challenges faced by researchers in analyzing heavy metal accumulation. In addition, this review introduces a survey on the importance of time increment sampling (monthly and/or seasonally) to comprehend and determine the rate of change of different parameters on a monthly and seasonal basis. Furthermore, suggestions are made for future research to achieve more understandable figures on heavy metal accumulation by considering climate conditions. Thus, the intent of the current study is the provision of reliable models for predicting future heavy metal accumulation in water bodies in different climates and pollution conditions so that water management can be achieved using intelligent proactive strategies and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques.
    MeSH terms: Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Metals, Heavy*; Rivers/chemistry*; Lakes/chemistry*
  12. Chaisakul J, Rusmili MR, Hodgson WC, Hatthachote P, Suwan K, Inchan A, et al.
    Toxins (Basel), 2017 03 29;9(4).
    PMID: 28353659 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9040122
    Cardiovascular effects (e.g., tachycardia, hypo- and/or hypertension) are often clinical outcomes of snake envenoming. Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) envenoming has been reported to cause cardiovascular effects that may be related to abnormalities in parasympathetic activity. However, the exact mechanism for this effect has yet to be determined. In the present study, we investigated thein vivoandin vitrocardiovascular effects ofB. candidusvenoms from Southern (BC-S) and Northeastern (BC-NE) Thailand. SDS-PAGE analysis of venoms showed some differences in the protein profile of the venoms.B. candidusvenoms (50 µg/kg-100 µg/kg, i.v.) caused dose-dependent hypotension in anaesthetised rats. The highest dose caused sudden hypotension (phase I) followed by a return of mean arterial pressure to baseline levels and a decrease in heart rate with transient hypertension (phase II) prior to a small decrease in blood pressure (phase III). Prior administration of monovalent antivenom significantly attenuated the hypotension induced by venoms (100 µg/kg, i.v.). The sudden hypotensive effect of BC-NE venom was abolished by prior administration of hexamethonium (10 mg/kg, i.v.) or atropine (5 mg/kg, i.v.). BC-S and BC-NE venoms (0.1 µg/kg-100 µg/ml) induced concentration-dependent relaxation (EC50= 8 ± 1 and 13 ± 3 µg/mL, respectively) in endothelium-intact aorta. The concentration-response curves were markedly shifted to the right by pre-incubation with L-NAME (0.2 mM), or removal of the endothelium, suggesting that endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is likely to be responsible for venom-induced aortic relaxation. Our data indicate that the cardiovascular effects caused byB. candidusvenoms may be due to a combination of vascular mediators (i.e., NO) and autonomic adaptation via nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects; Aorta, Thoracic/physiology; Atropine/pharmacology; Blood Pressure/drug effects; Elapid Venoms/toxicity*; Hypotension/chemically induced*; Hypotension/physiopathology; Male; Nitric Oxide/physiology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats, Wistar; Bungarus*; Muscarinic Antagonists/pharmacology; Nicotinic Antagonists/pharmacology; Hexamethonium/pharmacology; Nitric Oxide Synthase/antagonists & inhibitors; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/pharmacology; In Vitro Techniques
  13. Long IJ, Flaherty GT
    J Travel Med, 2017 05 01;24(3).
    PMID: 28355614 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax002
    MeSH terms: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/prevention & control*; Humans; Travel*; Global Health
  14. Flaherty GT, Lehane SM
    J Travel Med, 2017 05 01;24(3).
    PMID: 28355617 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taw096
    MeSH terms: Humans; Travel*
  15. Flaherty G, Udoeyop I, Whooley P, Jones M
    J Travel Med, 2017 05 01;24(3).
    PMID: 28355618 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taw100
    MeSH terms: Golf/injuries*; Humans; Risk Factors; Travel*
  16. Sangkert S, Kamonmattayakul S, Chai WL, Meesane J
    J Biomed Mater Res A, 2017 Jun;105(6):1624-1636.
    PMID: 28000362 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35983
    Maxillofacial bone defect is a critical problem for many patients. In severe cases, the patients need an operation using a biomaterial replacement. Therefore, to design performance biomaterials is a challenge for materials scientists and maxillofacial surgeons. In this research, porous silk fibroin scaffolds with mimicked microenvironment based on decellularized pulp and fibronectin were created as for bone regeneration. Silk fibroin scaffolds were fabricated by freeze-drying before modification with three different components: decellularized pulp, fibronectin, and decellularized pulp/fibronectin. The morphologies of the modified scaffolds were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Existence of the modifying components in the scaffolds was proved by the increase in weights and from the pore size measurements of the scaffolds. The modified scaffolds were seeded with MG-63 osteoblasts and cultured. Testing of the biofunctionalities included cell viability, cell proliferation, calcium content, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), mineralization and histological analysis. The results demonstrated that the modifying components organized themselves into aggregations of a globular structure. They were arranged themselves into clusters of aggregations with a fibril structure in the porous walls of the scaffolds. The results showed that modified scaffolds with a mimicked microenvironment of decellularized pulp/fibronectin were suitable for cell viability since the cells could attach and spread into most of the pores of the scaffold. Furthermore, the scaffolds could induce calcium synthesis, mineralization, and ALP activity. The results indicated that modified silk fibroin scaffolds with a mimicked microenvironment of decellularized pulp/fibronectin hold promise for use in tissue engineering in maxillofacial bone defects. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1624-1636, 2017.
    MeSH terms: Cell Line; Dental Pulp/cytology; Dental Pulp/chemistry*; Fibroins/chemistry*; Fibronectins/chemistry*; Freeze Drying; Humans; Osteoblasts/cytology*; Porosity; Bone Substitutes/chemistry*; Cell Proliferation; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry*
  17. Bokhari A, Yusup S, Chuah LF, Klemeš JJ, Asif S, Ali B, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2017 Oct;242:272-282.
    PMID: 28341378 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.046
    Chemical interesterification of rubber seed oil has been investigated for four different designed orifice devices in a pilot scale hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) system. Upstream pressure within 1-3.5bar induced cavities to intensify the process. An optimal orifice plate geometry was considered as plate with 1mm dia hole having 21 holes at 3bar inlet pressure. The optimisation results of interesterification were revealed by response surface methodology; methyl acetate to oil molar ratio of 14:1, catalyst amount of 0.75wt.% and reaction time of 20min at 50°C. HC is compared to mechanical stirring (MS) at optimised values. The reaction rate constant and the frequency factor of HC were 3.4-fold shorter and 3.2-fold higher than MS. The interesterified product was characterised by following EN 14214 and ASTM D 6751 international standards.
    MeSH terms: Catalysis; Plant Oils*; Rubber; Seeds; Hevea*; Hydrodynamics
  18. Shahzad H, Giribabu N, Karim K, Muniandy S, Kassim NM, Salleh N
    Reprod Toxicol, 2017 04;69:276-285.
    PMID: 28341573 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.03.012
    Effects of quercetin on uterine fluid volume and aquaporin (AQP) expression in the uterus were investigated. Estradiol (E) or estradiol followed by progesterone (E+P) were given to ovariectomised rats with or without quercetin (10, 50 or 100mg/kg/day) treatment. Uteri were harvested and its inner/outer circumference ratio was determined. AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 mRNA and protein levels in uterus were quantified by Real-time PCR and Western blotting respectively. Protein distribution was observed by immunohistochemistry. Administration of quercetin in E-treated rats decreased the uterine fluid volume and uterine AQP-2 expression. In E+P-treated rats, administration of 100mg/kg/day quercetin increased uterine fluid volume, AQP-1 and 2 expression but decreased AQP-7 expression in uterus. AQP-1 was distributed in stromal blood vessels while AQP-2, 5 and 7 were distributed in uterine epithelium.

    CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin-induced changes in uterine fluid volume and AQP subunits expression in uterus could affect the uterine reproductive functions under different sex-steroid influence.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Estradiol/pharmacology*; Female; Progesterone/pharmacology*; Quercetin/pharmacology*; RNA, Messenger/metabolism; Uterus/drug effects*; Uterus/metabolism; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Aquaporins/genetics; Aquaporins/metabolism*
  19. Hindatu Y, Annuar MSM, Subramaniam R, Gumel AM
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2017 Jun;40(6):919-928.
    PMID: 28341913 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-017-1756-4
    Insufficient power generation from a microbial fuel cell (MFC) hampers its progress towards utility-scale development. Electrode modification with biopolymeric materials could potentially address this issue. In this study, medium-chain-length poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA)/carbon nanotubes (C) composite (CPHA) was successfully applied to modify the surface of carbon cloth (CC) anode in MFC. Characterization of the functional groups on the anodic surface and its morphology was carried out. The CC-CPHA composite anode recorded maximum power density of 254 mW/m2, which was 15-53% higher than the MFC operated with CC-C (214 mW/m2) and pristine CC (119 mW/m2) as the anode in a double-chambered MFC operated with Escherichia coli as the biocatalyst. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry showed that power enhancement was attributed to better electron transfer capability by the bacteria for the MFC setup with CC-CPHA anode.
    MeSH terms: Alkanes; Bioelectric Energy Sources*; Electrodes; Electron Transport; Textiles; Nanotubes, Carbon
  20. Ting YF, Praveena SM
    Environ Monit Assess, 2017 Apr;189(4):178.
    PMID: 28342046 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-5890-x
    Steroid estrogens, such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), are natural and synthetic hormones released into the environment through incomplete sewage discharge. This review focuses on the sources of steroid estrogens in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The mechanisms and fate of steroid estrogens throughout the entire wastewater treatment system are also discussed, and relevant information on regulatory aspects is given. Municipal, pharmaceutical industry, and hospitals are the main sources of steroid estrogens that enter WWTPs. A typical WWTP comprises primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment units. Sorption and biodegradation are the main mechanisms for removal of steroid estrogens from WWTPs. The fate of steroid estrogens in WWTPs depends on the types of wastewater treatment systems. Steroid estrogens in the primary treatment unit are removed by sorption onto primary sludge, followed by sorption onto micro-flocs and biodegradation by microbes in the secondary treatment unit. Tertiary treatment employs nitrification, chlorination, or UV disinfection to improve the quality of the secondary effluent. Activated sludge treatment systems for steroid estrogens exhibit a removal efficiency of up to 100%, which is higher than that of the trickling filter treatment system (up to 75%). Moreover, the removal efficiency of advance treatment systems exceeds 90%. Regulatory aspects related to steroid estrogens are established, especially in the European Union. Japan is the only Asian country that implements a screening program and is actively involved in endocrine disruptor testing and assessment. This review improves our understanding of steroid estrogens in WWTPs, proposes main areas to be improved, and provides current knowledge on steroid estrogens in WWTPs for sustainable development.
    MeSH terms: Asia; Biodegradation, Environmental; Environmental Monitoring*; Estradiol/analysis; Estriol; Estrogens/analysis*; Estrone/analysis; Ethinyl Estradiol/analysis; Japan; Sewage/analysis; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Water Pollution, Chemical/statistics & numerical data*; Endocrine Disruptors/analysis; Waste Water/statistics & numerical data*; Waste Water/chemistry
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