Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Chuah YY, Lee YY, Tsai TJ
    Postgrad Med, 2017 May;129(4):488-490.
    PMID: 28335674 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2017.1311198
    Migration of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube to colon with gastro-colonic-cutaneous fistula formation is a rare complication of the procedure. Transient episodic diarrhea following each PEG tube feeding is typical of this complication. We present a 72-year-old man with cerebrovascular disease and scoliosis who encountered episodes of transient diarrhea after each PEG tube feeding. His diarrhea was refractory to medications. Colonoscopy demonstrated a mal-positioned PEG in the transverse colon. Computed tomogram (CT) of abdomen further confirmed the finding. After removal of the migrated PEG, his diarrhea had ceased completely. The gastro-colonic-cutaneous fistula was further managed with endoscopic clipping method with no complications encountered during follow up.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Colon*; Colonoscopy; Diarrhea/etiology*; Foreign-Body Migration/therapy*; Gastrostomy/instrumentation*; Humans; Male; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  2. Saidin S, Yunus MH, Othman N, Lim YA, Mohamed Z, Zakaria NZ, et al.
    Pathog Glob Health, 2017 May;111(3):128-136.
    PMID: 28335696 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2017.1300421
    Entamoeba histolytica infection remains a public health concern in developing countries. Early diagnosis of amoebiasis can avoid disease complications, thus this study was aimed at developing a test that can rapidly detect the parasite antigens in stool samples. Rabbits were individually immunized with recombinant pyruvate phosphate dikinase (rPPDK) and E. histolytica excretory-secretory antigens to produce polyclonal antibodies. A rapid dipstick test was produced using anti-rPPDK PAb lined on the dipstick as capture reagent and anti-EhESA PAb conjugated to colloidal gold as the detector reagent. Using E. histolytica-spiked in stool sample of a healthy individual, the detection limit of the dipstick test was found to be 1000 cells ml-1. Meanwhile when rPPDK was spiked in the stool sample, the minimum concentration detected by the dipstick test was 0.1 μg ml-1. The performances of the dipstick, commercial Techlab E. histolytica II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and real-time PCR were compared using 70 stool samples from patients infected with Entamoeba species (n = 45) and other intestinal pathogens (n = 25). When compared to real-time PCR, the diagnostic sensitivity of the dipstick for detection of E. histolytica was 65.4% (n = 17/26); while the diagnostic specificity when tested with stool samples containing other intestinal pathogens was 92% (23/25). In contrast, Techlab E. histolytica II ELISA detected 19.2% (5/26) of the E. histolytica-positive samples as compared to real-time PCR. The lateral flow dipstick test produced in this study enabled rapid detection of E. histolytica, thus it showed good potential to be further developed into a diagnostic tool for intestinal amoebiasis.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology*; Antigens, Protozoan/immunology*; Dysentery, Amebic/diagnosis*; Dysentery, Amebic/parasitology; Entamoeba histolytica/enzymology; Entamoeba histolytica/immunology*; Entamoeba histolytica/isolation & purification; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces/parasitology; Female; Humans; Pyruvate, Orthophosphate Dikinase/genetics; Pyruvate, Orthophosphate Dikinase/immunology*; Pyruvate, Orthophosphate Dikinase/metabolism; Rabbits; Reagent Strips; Recombinant Proteins; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Limit of Detection; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  3. ACTION Study Group
    Eur J Cancer, 2017 03;74:26-37.
    PMID: 28335885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.12.014
    BACKGROUND: Evidence to guide policymakers in developing affordable and equitable cancer control plans are scarce in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

    METHODS: The 2012-2014 ASEAN Costs in Oncology Study prospectively followed-up 9513 newly diagnosed cancer patients from eight LMIC in Southeast Asia for 12 months. Overall and country-specific incidence of financial catastrophe (out-of-pocket health costs ≥ 30% of annual household income), economic hardship (inability to make necessary household payments), poverty (living below national poverty line), and all-cause mortality were determined. Stepwise multinomial regression was used to estimate the extent to which health insurance, cancer stage and treatment explained these outcomes.

    RESULTS: The one-year incidence of mortality (12% in Malaysia to 45% in Myanmar) and financial catastrophe (24% in Thailand to 68% in Vietnam) were high. Economic hardship was reported by a third of families, including inability to pay for medicines (45%), mortgages (18%) and utilities (12%), with 28% taking personal loans, and 20% selling assets (not mutually exclusive). Out of households that initially reported incomes above the national poverty levels, 4·9% were pushed into poverty at one year. The adverse economic outcomes in this study were mainly attributed to medical costs for inpatient/outpatient care, and purchase of drugs and medical supplies. In all the countries, cancer stage largely explained the risk of adverse outcomes. Stage-stratified analysis however showed that low-income patients remained vulnerable to adverse outcomes even when diagnosed with earlier cancer stages.

    CONCLUSION: The LMIC need to realign their focus on early detection of cancer and provision of affordable cancer care, while ensuring adequate financial risk protection, particularly for the poor.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Asia, Southeastern; Developing Countries/economics; Health Expenditures; Female; Health Planning/economics; Health Policy/economics; Health Priorities/economics; Hospitals; Humans; Income; Insurance, Health; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms/diagnosis; Neoplasms/economics*; Neoplasms/therapy; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Poverty; Prospective Studies; Cost of Illness*; Early Detection of Cancer/economics; Delayed Diagnosis/economics
  4. Nazratun Nafizah AH, Budin SB, Zaryantey AH, Mariati AR, Santhana RL, Osman M, et al.
    Arab J Gastroenterol, 2017 Mar;18(1):13-20.
    PMID: 28336227 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajg.2017.02.001
    BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The complex series of deleterious events among diabetes patients leads to multiple organ failure. Therefore, a holistic approach of treatment is urgently required to prevent worsening of complications. The present investigation was carried out to study the possible protective effects of Roselle or Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (HSL) calyxes aqueous extract, as an antidiabetic and antioxidant agent against oxidative liver injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single dose of streptozotocin (45mg/kg body weight, iv) was used to induced diabetes in male Sprague Dawley rats which were then divided into two groups: Diabetic control (DC) and HSL-treated diabetic (DR) group. Normal rats were divided into normal control (NC), HSL-treated control (NR). Aqueous calyxes extract of HSL (100mg/kg/day, orally) was given for 28 consecutive days in the treated group. Weight, biochemical and histopathological (light and electron microscopic) parameters were compared in all groups.

    RESULTS: Supplementation of HSL significantly lowered the level of fasting blood glucose and increased plasma insulin level in DR group compared to DC group (p<0.05). Alanine aminotransaminases and aspartate aminotransferase enzymes level were found to be significantly reduced in DR compared to DC. Microscopic examination demonstrated destruction of the liver architecture, cytoplasmic vacuolation of the hepatocytes and signs of necrosis in diabetic rats. Moreover, dilatation and congestion of blood vessels with leucocytes adherence were detected. Ultrastructural study using electron microscope showed homogeneous substance accumulation in nuclear chromatin, a decrease of organelles and mitochondrial degeneration in the diabetic rats.

    CONCLUSION: Administration of HSL in diabetic rats causes significant decrease in hepatocyte destruction and prevented the changes associated with the diabetic condition. Thus, our findings provide a scientific rationale for the use of HSL as promising agent in preventing liver injury in diabetes.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/administration & dosage*; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Insulin/blood; Liver/drug effects; Liver/metabolism; Liver/ultrastructure*; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage*; Liver Failure/diagnosis; Liver Failure/etiology; Liver Failure/prevention & control*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Dietary Supplements; Hibiscus*; Rats
  5. Sunggip C, Nishimura A, Shimoda K, Numaga-Tomita T, Tsuda M, Nishida M
    Pharmacol Res, 2017 Jun;120:51-59.
    PMID: 28336370 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.03.013
    Aging has a remarkable effect on cardiovascular homeostasis and it is known as the major non-modifiable risk factor in the development of hypertension. Medications targeting sympathetic nerve system and/or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are widely accepted as a powerful therapeutic strategy to improve hypertension, although the control rates remain unsatisfactory especially in the elder patients with hypertension. Purinergic receptors, activated by adenine, uridine nucleotides and nucleotide sugars, play pivotal roles in many biological processes, including platelet aggregation, neurotransmission and hormone release, and regulation of cardiovascular contractility. Since clopidogrel, a selective inhibitor of G protein-coupled purinergic P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12R), achieved clinical success as an anti-platelet drug, P2YRs has been attracted more attention as new therapeutic targets of cardiovascular diseases. We have revealed that UDP-responsive P2Y6R promoted angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R)-stimulated vascular remodeling in mice, in an age-dependent manner. Moreover, the age-related formation of heterodimer between AT1R and P2Y6R was disrupted by MRS2578, a P2Y6R-selective inhibitor. These findings suggest that P2Y6R is a therapeutic target to prevent age-related hypertension.
    MeSH terms: Aging; Angiotensin II/metabolism; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use*; Humans; Hypertension/drug therapy*; Hypertension/etiology; Hypertension/metabolism; Thiourea/analogs & derivatives; Thiourea/pharmacology; Thiourea/therapeutic use; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Isothiocyanates/pharmacology; Isothiocyanates/therapeutic use; Receptors, Purinergic P2/metabolism*; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1/metabolism; Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology; Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use*
  6. Silva MS, Lúcio-Oliveira F, Mecawi AS, Almeida LF, Ruginsk SG, Greenwood MP, et al.
    Physiol Rep, 2017 Mar;5(6).
    PMID: 28336818 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13210
    Excessive sodium (Na+) intake in modern society has been associated with several chronic disorders such as hypertension. Several studies suggest that early life events can program physiological systems and lead to functional changes in adulthood. Therefore, we investigated behavioral and neuroendocrine responses under basal conditions and after 48 h of water deprivation in adult (60-day-old Wistar rats) male, Wistar rats originating from dams were offered only water or 0.15 mol/L NaCl during pregnancy and lactation. Early life salt exposure induced kidney damage, as shown by a higher number of ED-1 positive cells (macrophages/monocytes), increased daily urinary volume and Na+ excretion, blunted basal water intake and plasma oxytocin levels, and increased plasma corticosterone secretion. When challenged with water deprivation, animals exposed to 0.15 mol/L NaCl during early life showed impaired water intake, reduced salt preference ratio, and vasopressin (AVP) secretion. In summary, our data demonstrate that the perinatal exposure to excessive Na+ intake can induce kidney injury in adult offspring and significantly affect the key mechanisms regulating water balance, fluid intake, and AVP release in response to water deprivation. Collectively, these novel results highlight the impact of perinatal programming on the homeostatic mechanisms regulating fluid and electrolyte balance during exposure to an environmental stress (i.e. dehydration) in later life.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Behavior, Animal/drug effects*; Corticosterone/blood*; Drinking/drug effects; Female; Kidney/drug effects*; Kidney/metabolism; Lactation/physiology; Male; Oxytocin/blood*; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/metabolism*; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology*; Urination/drug effects; Urination/physiology; Water Deprivation/physiology; Water-Electrolyte Balance/drug effects; Rats, Wistar; Rats
  7. Ahmad SS
    Saudi J Ophthalmol, 2017 Jan-Mar;31(1):38-41.
    PMID: 28337061 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjopt.2016.08.001
    Glaucoma is a multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorder. The common denominator in all types of glaucomas is retinal ganglion cell death through apoptosis. However, this cellular demise in glaucoma is detected late by structural or functional analyses. There can be a 10-year delay prior to the appearance of visual field defects and pre-perimetric glaucoma is an issue still being addressed. However, a new cutting-edge technology called detection of apoptosing retinal cells (DARC) is being developed. This technique is capable of non-invasive, real-time visualization of apoptotic changes at the cellular level. It can detect glaucomatous cell damage at a very early stage, at the moment apoptosis starts, and thus management can be initiated even prior to development of visual field changes. In future, this technique will also be able to provide conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of treatment protocol and the need for any modifications which may be required. This article aims to provide a concise review of DARC technology.
    MeSH terms: Clinical Protocols; Glaucoma; Retina; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Visual Fields; Tetrahymenina; Apoptosis; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Visual Field Tests
  8. Smn Mydin RB, Sreekantan S, Hazan R, Farid Wajidi MF, Mat I
    Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2017;2017:3708048.
    PMID: 28337249 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3708048
    Cell growth and proliferative activities on titania nanotube arrays (TNA) have raised alerts on genotoxicity risk. Present toxicogenomic approach focused on epithelial HT29 cells with TNA surface. Fledgling cell-TNA interaction has triggered G0/G1 cell cycle arrests and initiates DNA damage surveillance checkpoint, which possibly indicated the cellular stress stimuli. A profound gene regulation was observed to be involved in cellular growth and survival signals such as p53 and AKT expressions. Interestingly, the activation of redox regulator pathways (antioxidant defense) was observed through the cascade interactions of GADD45, MYC, CHECK1, and ATR genes. These mechanisms furnish to protect DNA during cellular division from an oxidative challenge, set in motion with XRRC5 and RAD50 genes for DNA damage and repair activities. The cell fate decision on TNA-nanoenvironment has been reported to possibly regulate proliferative activities via expression of p27 and BCL2 tumor suppressor proteins, cogent with SKP2 and BCL2 oncogenic proteins suppression. Findings suggested that epithelial HT29 cells on the surface of TNA may have a positive regulation via cell-homeostasis mechanisms: a careful circadian orchestration between cell proliferation, survival, and death. This nanomolecular knowledge could be beneficial for advanced medical applications such as in nanomedicine and nanotherapeutics.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants/metabolism*; DNA Damage/drug effects; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism; Humans; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Surface Properties; Titanium/chemistry*; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism; HT29 Cells; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism; Nanotubes/toxicity; Nanotubes/chemistry*; DNA Repair Enzymes/genetics; DNA Repair Enzymes/metabolism; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27/metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism; Transcriptome/drug effects; G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects; Checkpoint Kinase 1/genetics; Checkpoint Kinase 1/metabolism
  9. Samsudin N, Hashim YZH, Arifin MA, Mel M, Salleh HM, Sopyan I, et al.
    Cytotechnology, 2017 Aug;69(4):601-616.
    PMID: 28337561 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-017-0071-x
    Growing cells on microcarriers may have overcome the limitation of conventional cell culture system. However, the surface functionality of certain polymeric microcarriers for effective cell attachment and growth remains a challenge. Polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polymer has received considerable attention due to its good mechanical properties and degradation rate. The drawback is the non-polar hydrocarbon moiety which makes it not readily suitable for cell attachment. This report concerns the modification of PCL microcarrier surface (introduction of functional oxygen groups) using ultraviolet irradiation and ozone (UV/O3) system and investigation of the effects of ozone concentration, the amount of PCL and exposure time; where the optimum conditions were found to be at 60,110.52 ppm, 5.5 g PCL and 60 min, respectively. The optimum concentration of carboxyl group (COOH) absorbed on the surface was 1495.92 nmol/g and the amount of gelatin immobilized was 320 ± 0.9 µg/g on UV/O3 treated microcarriers as compared to the untreated (26.83 ± 3 µg/g) microcarriers. The absorption of functional oxygen groups on the surface and the immobilized gelatin was confirmed with the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and the enhancement of hydrophilicity of the surface was confirmed using water contact angle measurement which decreased (86.93°-49.34°) after UV/O3 treatment and subsequently after immobilization of gelatin. The attachment and growth kinetics for HaCaT skin keratinocyte cells showed that adhesion occurred much more rapidly for oxidized surfaces and gelatin immobilized surface as compared to untreated PCL.
  10. Bray RA, Palm HW, Cutmore SC, Cribb TH
    Syst Parasitol, 2017 05;94(4):443-462.
    PMID: 28337682 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-017-9717-5
    Three species of Opisthomonorcheides Parukhin, 1966 are reported for the first time from Indonesian waters: O. pampi (Wang, 1982) Liu, Peng, Gao, Fu, Wu, Lu, Gao & Xiao, 2010 and O. ovacutus (Mamaev, 1970) Machida, 2011 from Parastromateus niger (Bloch), and O. decapteri Parukhin, 1966 from Atule mate (Cuvier). Both O. pampi and O. ovacutus can now be considered widespread in the Indo-Pacific region, with earlier records of these species being from Fujian Province, China and Penang, Malaysia, respectively. We redescribe O. decapteri from one of its original hosts, Atule mate, off New Caledonia, and report this species from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, extending its range throughout the Indian Ocean into the south-western Pacific. All three species possess a genital atrium that is long, sometimes very long, and a genital pore that is located in the forebody. This validates the interpretation that the original description was erroneous in reporting the genital pore in the hindbody, well posterior to the ventral sucker. These observations verify the synonymy of Retractomonorchis Madhavi, 1977 with Opisthomonorcheides. A major discrepancy between the species of Opisthomonorcheides is that some are described with the uterus entering the terminal organ laterally and some with it entering terminally; this feature needs further analysis. Based on the length of the genital atrium and the posterior extent of the vitellarium, the 27 species of Opisthomonorcheides considered valid can be divided into four groups. Among the 53 host records analysed, the families Carangidae (53% of records), Stromateidae (17%) and Serranidae (5.7%) are the most common; the reports are overwhelmingly from members of the Perciformes (91%), with further records in the Clupeiformes (5.7%), Gadiformes (1.9%) and Pleuronectiformes (1.9%). Two fish genera (Parastromateus Bleeker and Pampus Bonaparte) dominate the recorded hosts, with the black pomfret Parastromateus niger harbouring six species, the silver pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) harbouring six, and the Chinese silver pomfret P. chinensis (Euphrasen) two. A host-parasite checklist is presented. We discuss the host-specificity of members of the genus, questioning some records such as that of O. decapteri in a deep-sea macrourid. We also comment on the morphological similarity, but phylogenetic distance, between the various Pomfret species, advancing the possibility that a series of host misidentifications has occurred. Sequences of the ITS2 rDNA gene generated for O. pampi and O. ovacutus are briefly discussed and molecular data are lodged in the GenBank database.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Indonesia; Pacific Ocean; Perciformes/parasitology*; Phylogeny; Species Specificity; Trematoda/anatomy & histology; Trematoda/classification*; Trematoda/genetics; Indian Ocean; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics; Host Specificity
  11. Fischbach J, Loh Q, Bier FF, Lim TS, Frohme M, Glökler J
    Sci Rep, 2017 Mar 24;7:45085.
    PMID: 28338022 DOI: 10.1038/srep45085
    We identified Alizarin Red S and other well known fluorescent dyes useful for the online detection of pyrophosphate in enzymatic assays, including the loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. An iterative screening was used for a selected set of compounds to first secure enzyme compatibility, evaluate inorganic pyrophosphate sensitivity in the presence of manganese as quencher and optimize conditions for an online detection. Of the selected dyes, the inexpensive alizarin red S was found to selectively detect pyrophosphate under LAMP and PCR conditions and is superior with respect to its defined red-shifted spectrum, long shelf life and low toxicity. In addition, the newly identified properties may also be useful in other enzymatic assays which do not generate nucleic acids but are based on inorganic pyrophosphate. Finally, we propose that our screening method may provide a blueprint for rapid screening of compounds for detecting inorganic pyrophosphate.
  12. Hakim NH, Majlis BY, Suzuki H, Tsukahara T
    Biosci Trends, 2017 Mar 22;11(1):16-22.
    PMID: 28049883 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2016.01169
    During pre-mRNA splicing events, introns are removed from the pre-mRNA, and the remaining exons are connected together to form a single continuous molecule. Alternative splicing is a common mechanism for the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. More than 90% of human genes are known to undergo alternative splicing. The most common type of alternative splicing is exon skipping, which is also known as cassette exon. Other known alternative splicing events include alternative 5' splice sites, alternative 3' splice sites, intron retention, and mutually exclusive exons. Alternative splicing events are controlled by regulatory proteins responsible for both positive and negative regulation. In this review, we focus on neuronal splicing regulators and discuss several notable regulators in depth. In addition, we have also included an example of splicing regulation mediated by the RBFox protein family. Lastly, as previous studies have shown that a number of splicing factors are associated with neuronal diseases such as Alzheime's disease (AD) and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), here we consider their importance in neuronal diseases wherein the underlying mechanisms have yet to be elucidated.
  13. Binns C, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2017 Mar;29(2_suppl):5S-6S.
    PMID: 28330406 DOI: 10.1177/1010539517697598
  14. Mohd Ali MR, Mohamad Safiee AW, Thangarajah P, Fauzi MH, Muhd Besari A, Ismail N, et al.
    J Infect Public Health, 2017 Nov-Dec;10(6):894-896.
    PMID: 28330585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.02.009
    Leptospirosis and melioidosis are important tropical infections caused by Leptospira and Burkholdheria pseudomallei, respectively. As both infections share similar clinical manifestations yet require different managements, complementary laboratory tests are crucial for the diagnosis. We describe a case of Leptospira and B. pseudomallei co-infection in a diabetic 40-year-old woman with history of visit to a freshwater camping site in northern Malaysia. To our knowledge, this is the first case of such double-infection, simultaneously demonstrated by molecular approach. This case highlights the possibility of leptospirosis and melioidosis co-infections and their underlying challenges in the rapid and accurate detection of the etiologic microorganism.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Leptospira/isolation & purification*; Leptospirosis/diagnosis*; Leptospirosis/pathology; Malaysia; Melioidosis/diagnosis*; Melioidosis/pathology; Burkholderia pseudomallei/isolation & purification*; Diabetes Complications; Coinfection/diagnosis*; Coinfection/pathology
  15. Lee WS, Ahmad Z
    Pediatr Neonatol, 2017 10;58(5):415-420.
    PMID: 28330630 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2016.08.010
    BACKGROUND: Undernourished children who require hospital care have a longer duration of hospitalization and respond poorly to modern medical therapy. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the nutritional status of children admitted to a pediatric tertiary center in Malaysia and the risk factors leading to undernutrition upon admission.

    METHODS: In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study, anthropometric measurements [weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were performed in 285 children aged from 3 months to 15 years who were admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur in November 2013. Acute (wasting) and chronic (stunting) undernutrition were defined as weight-for-height (WFH) and height-for-age (HFA) < -2 standard deviation (S.D.), respectively. Underweight was defined as weight-for-age < -2 S.D. For children aged between 1 and 5 years of age, World Health Organization definition for acute undernutrition (HFA 

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries*; Female; Hospitalization*; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Nutritional Status; Thinness/epidemiology*; Body Mass Index; Prevalence; Malnutrition/epidemiology*; Tertiary Care Centers
  16. Iranpour F, Merican AM, Teo SH, Cobb JP, Amis AA
    Knee, 2017 Jun;24(3):555-563.
    PMID: 28330756 DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2017.01.011
    BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral instability is a major cause of anterior knee pain. The aim of this study was to examine how the medial and lateral stability of the patellofemoral joint in the normal knee changes with knee flexion and measure its relationship to differences in femoral trochlear geometry.

    METHODS: Twelve fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were used. Five components of the quadriceps and the iliotibial band were loaded physiologically with 175N and 30N, respectively. The force required to displace the patella 10mm laterally and medially at 0°, 20°, 30°, 60° and 90° knee flexion was measured. Patellofemoral contact points at these knee flexion angles were marked. The trochlea cartilage geometry at these flexion angles was visualized by Computed Tomography imaging of the femora in air with no overlying tissue. The sulcus, medial and lateral facet angles were measured. The facet angles were measured relative to the posterior condylar datum.

    RESULTS: The lateral facet slope decreased progressively with flexion from 23°±3° (mean±S.D.) at 0° to 17±5° at 90°. While the medial facet angle increased progressively from 8°±8° to 36°±9° between 0° and 90°. Patellar lateral stability varied from 96±22N at 0°, to 77±23N at 20°, then to 101±27N at 90° knee flexion. Medial stability varied from 74±20N at 0° to 170±21N at 90°. There were significant correlations between the sulcus angle and the medial facet angle with medial stability (r=0.78, p<0.0001).

    CONCLUSIONS: These results provide objective evidence relating the changes of femoral profile geometry with knee flexion to patellofemoral stability.

    MeSH terms: Biomechanical Phenomena/physiology; Cadaver; Cartilage, Articular/physiology; Femur/anatomy & histology*; Femur/physiology*; Humans; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Patellofemoral Joint/physiology*
  17. Kvestad I, Hysing M, Shrestha M, Ulak M, Thorne-Lyman AL, Henjum S, et al.
    Am J Clin Nutr, 2017 05;105(5):1122-1131.
    PMID: 28330909 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.144931
    Background: Poor vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) status is widespread in South Asia. Insufficient vitamin B-12 status has been linked to poor neurodevelopment in young children.Objective: We measured the associations between vitamin B-12 status in infancy (2-12 mo) and the development and cognitive functioning in Nepalese children 5 y later.Design: Vitamin B-12 status was assessed in infancy with the use of plasma cobalamin, total homocysteine (tHcy), and methylmalonic acid (MMA). At 5 y of age, we measured development with the use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, 3rd edition (ASQ-3), and cognitive functioning by using the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, 2nd edition (NEPSY II), in 320 children. In regression models, we estimated the associations between vitamin B-12 status, including a combined indicator of vitamin B-12 status (3cB12) and scores on the ASQ-3 and NEPSY II subtests.Results: All markers of vitamin B-12 status with the exception of plasma cobalamin were significantly associated with the total ASQ-3 scores in the multiple regression models. A 1-unit increase in the 3cB12 score was associated with an increase in the total ASQ-3 score of 4.88 (95% CI: 2.09, 7.68; P = 0.001). Increases in both plasma tHcy and MMA (indicating poorer status) were associated with a decrease in scores on the NEPSY II affect recognition and geometric puzzle subtests. Each unit increment in 3cB12 scores was associated with increases of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.14; P < 0.0005), 0.59 (95% CI: 0.10, 1.09; P = 0.020), and 0.24 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.47; P = 0.035) in the affect recognition, geometric puzzle, and block construction scores, respectively.Conclusions: Vitamin B-12 status in infancy is associated with development and performance on social perception tasks and visuospatial abilities at 5 y of age. The long-term effects of poor vitamin B-12 status in infancy need further investigation in randomized controlled trials.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Asia; Child Development*; Cognition*; Female; Homocysteine/blood; Humans; Infant; Male; Methylmalonic Acid/blood; Nepal; Neuropsychological Tests; Nutritional Status*; Vitamin B 12/blood*; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/blood; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/complications*; Young Adult; Mild Cognitive Impairment/blood; Mild Cognitive Impairment/etiology*; Neurodevelopmental Disorders/blood; Neurodevelopmental Disorders/etiology*
  18. Hastriter MW, Miller KB, Svenson GJ, Martin GJ, Whiting MF
    Zookeys, 2017.
    PMID: 28331409 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.657.11095
    Lagaropsylla signata (Wahlgren, 1903), previously known only from the Island of Java, Indonesia is redescribed and reported for the first time in Deer Cave, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (west coast of Borneo). Many were found clinging to the earwig Arixenia esau Jordan, 1909. A similar account of a phoretic flea (Lagaropsylla turba Smit, 1958) on the same species of cave-dwelling earwig has been reported in peninsular Malaysia in a well-documented association with the hairless naked bulldog bat, Cheiromeles torquatus Horsfield, 1824. The association of Lagaropsylla signata with Arixenia esau is parallel to the evolution and co-existence with bats in Deer Cave just as in the case of Lagaropsylla turba, Arixenia esau, and Cheiromeles torquatus. The evidence suggests that Lagaropsylla turba and Lagaropsylla signata are obligate phoretic parasites whose survival depends on Arixenia esau to access a bat host. Arixenia esau is reported for the first time in Deer Cave and the occurrence of Lagaropsylla signata on the island of Borneo represented a new record, previously being found only on the island of Java. Images of Lagaropsylla signata attached to Arixenia esau are provided. Xeniaria jacobsoni (Burr, 1912), often associated with Arixenia esau in other geographical areas, was not present in the material examined from Deer Cave. The natural history of the earwig genera Arixenia Jordan, 1909 and Xeniaria Maa, 1974 are discussed and summarized relative to their associations with phoretic fleas and their bat hosts.
    MeSH terms: Parks, Recreational; Animals; Borneo; Chiroptera; Deer; Siphonaptera; Indonesia; Jordan; Malaysia; Parasites; Flea Infestations; Caves; Islands
  19. Zug GR, Mulcahy DG, Vindum JV
    Zookeys, 2017.
    PMID: 28331413 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.657.11600
    Recent fieldwork in southern Tanintharyi revealed the presence of a small Green Crested Lizard in the wet evergreen forest. We generated mtDNA sequence data (ND2) that demonstrates that this population's nearest relative is Bronchocela rayaensis Grismer et al., 2015 of Pulau Langkawi, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia and Phuket Island. Morphologically the Burmese Bronchocela shares many features with Bronchocela rayaensis, which potentially would make this recently described Thai-Malay species a synonym of Bronchocela burmana Blanford, 1878; however, we interpret the genetic and morphological differences to reflect evolutionary divergence and recommend the recognition of both species.
    MeSH terms: Animals; DNA, Mitochondrial; Biological Evolution; Lizards; Malaysia; Thailand; Islands; Forests
  20. Khachatryan V, Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(2):92.
    PMID: 28331430 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-016-4573-z
    The production cross section of a W boson in association with two b jets is measured using a sample of proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.8[Formula: see text]. The W bosons are reconstructed via their leptonic decays, [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. The fiducial region studied contains exactly one lepton with transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and pseudorapidity [Formula: see text], with exactly two b jets with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and no other jets with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The cross section is measured to be [Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text], in agreement with standard model predictions.
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