Browse publications by year: 2018

Fulltext Malaysian parents’ feedback on three proxy-rated assessments used in pediatric rehabilitation

Farahiyah Wan Yunus, Masne Kadar, Bissett, Michelle, Penkala, Stefania, Liu, Karen

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

Assessing a child’s functional abilities and limitations can provide useful information for occupational therapists to develop individualised intervention plans. Usually paediatric assessments require parents to rate their child on different domains of health and functional performance. To do so, parents need to be able to understand the assessment content and instructions to rate their child accurately. The primary purpose of this study was to examine if parents in Malaysia understood the content and instructions of three assessments: the Sensory Profile Caregiver Questionnaire (SP), the Sensory Processing Measure Home Form (SPM) and the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function Parent Form (BRIEF). The secondary purpose was to examine perceptions about the clarity and relevancy of each of the items in each assessment. Thirty parents, recruited using convenience sampling, completed a survey about the assessments. In general, the parents indicated no problems or only minor problems in understanding the content and instructions of all three assessments. The parents also provided comments to improve the clarity of the assessment items. Comments were primarily related to the terms or jargon language used. Elaborations of the terms or jargon were later provided based on the parents’ comments. All three assessments were identified as relevant to be used in the Malaysian population. The results suggest that all three assessments can be used by parents and are suitable to be implemented by occupational therapists working with children in Malaysia.
Fulltext Needlestick injury cases and adherence to the follow-up protocol among healthcare workers in Selangor

Mohd Fadhli, M.F., Safian, N., Nur Adibah, M.S., Hanizah, M.Y., Robat, R.M.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

Needlestick injury (NSI) is a serious occupational hazard against healthcare workers (HCWs) in a hospital setting with multiple implications, thus adherence to post-NSI management including follow-up protocol is crucial.This research was conducted to describe the distribution of NSI cases among HCWs working in Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH)’s hospital in Selangor and adherence to a follow-up protocol, as well as the factors related to it.This was a cross-sectional quantitative study reviewing retrospectively all notified NSI cases in January-September 2016. Data were taken from Sharps Injury Surveillance (SIS) system and analyzed into descriptive and analytical statistics.There were 143 notified NSI cases. The majority of the cases were female(76.2%), Malay(60.1%), medical doctors(56.6%) and in a medical-based department (44.8%). The median age of NSI cases was 27 years old (IQR:5) and median years of employment was 1.5 (IQR:4.5). Most cases happened in a ward setting (58.7%) involving contaminated (95.8%) hypodermic needle (43.4%), occurred mostly during the procedure of drawing blood (23.1%). Only 86.7% of NSI cases were source-known and some were tested positive with blood borne pathogens. However, no occurrence of seroconversion among the injured HCWs detected. The overall adherence rate to the follow-up protocol was 72.3%. Multiple logistic regression yielded significant association between age, gender, department, device contamination, procedure conducted and source HBV status with adherence to follow-up of post-NSI protocol. Further comprehensive studies involving more determinants such as therapy-related factors and potential interventions are needed to optimize adherence rate to the follow-up protocol post-NSI.
Fulltext The Malaysia haze and its health economy impact: a literature review

Norfazillah Ab Manan, Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf, Rozita Hod

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

Introduction: The transboundary smoke haze has become a major concern as it had a wide ranging impact in Southeast Asia from the aspect of public health to national economics. This review aims to synthesize available literature in epidemiology, economics and haze related studies to provide essential information for the valuation of health costs associated with haze in Malaysia. Methods: Evidence on health economic impact of haze was gathered by conducting a literature review and collecting information on the health effects of haze and the cost of it as well as the hospitalization cost from medical illnesses and hospital admissions due to haze. Articles were taken from those that were published from 1999 to 2016.Results: The 1997 Asian Haze episode has caused increasing trend of prematurity of mortality and respiratory problems and several series of haze later had caused increased number of hospitalization. The cost impact on hospital admission ranges from MYR1.8 million in 2005 to MYR118.9 million in 2013. During the 1997 haze, the incremental cost of illness (COI) was noted to be MYR 21million and it shot up to MYR 410 million during the 2013 haze. Conclusion: The haze gives a serious health effect to our country and our neighbours. These health effect has caused a significant health economy impact which include rise in hospital admission cost and medication, incremental cost of illness and extend to cost of medical-related leaves taken and lead to loss of income opportunities.

MeSH terms: Hospitalization; Humans; Malaysia; Public Health; Smoke; Health Care Costs; Cost of Illness; Hospital Costs
Fulltext Knowledge and perception regarding prenatal genetic screening of thalassemia, down syndrome and neural tube defects: a study among IIUM Kuantan undergraduates

Nur Sajidah Sulaiman, Norafiza Zainuddin

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

Prenatal genetic screening is offered during pregnancy to detect foetuses that have certain diseases. It is widely used in the detection of congenital malformation which results in foetal birth defects. Unawareness of the society on the importance of prenatal genetic testing contributes to the increase in the birth defect rate.Future parents should be exposed with the importance in performing prenatal genetic screening.The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and perception level of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan students regarding prenatal genetic screening thalassemia, Down syndrome and neural tube defects.This is a cross-sectional study whereby192 respondents were selected using convenience sampling method. A set of close-ended questionnaire was distributed among students in IIUM Kuantan. Independent t-test, parametric test (One- Way ANOVA test), non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney test) and correlation coefficient(Pearson) were used to find all related factors influencing knowledge and perception and to find association between knowledge and perception of IIUM Kuantan students.From this study, it was found that the level of knowledge and perception of IIUM Kuantan students regarding prenatal genetic screening of thalassemia, Down syndrome and neural tube defects was relatively high. Married students hada betterknowledge compared to unmarriedstudents (p=0.008). Moreover, students from Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Medicine had adequate level of knowledge (p

MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance; Cross-Sectional Studies; Down Syndrome; Faculty; Female; Fetus; Genetic Testing; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Neural Tube Defects; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students; Thalassemia; Universities
Fulltext Predictors for inadequate knowledge and negative attitude towards childhood immunization among parents in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

Che Abdullah A, Nor Afiah MZ, Rosliza AM

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

Vaccine hesitancy among parents has led to re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases. In Malaysia, measles cases had increased by three times in 2015 compared to previous year. Immunization coverage has always been above 95% since 2009. However, in 2014, Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) coverage has a significant drop to 93.4%. The aim of the study was to identify predictors for inadequate knowledge and negative attitude towards childhood immunization among parents in Hulu Langat, Selangor. A cross sectional study design was conducted from January to July 2016 with 760 respondents. Respondents were selected by cluster random sampling and a validated self-administered questionnaire was used. The majority of respondents were female (70%), Malay (87%), employed (92%) and parents with tertiary education (99.7%). In this study, 12.8% parents have an inadequate knowledge on childhood immunization and 47.6% parents have a negative attitude towards childhood immunization. The predictors for inadequate knowledge on childhood immunizations were last child’s age of 2 years old or more (AOR=1.413 95% CI 0.28-0.69); parents without tertiary education (AOR=2.02 95% CI 1.15-3.54); parents without educational exposure on childhood immunization (AOR=2.87 95% CI 1.59-5.18) and parents who obtained information on childhood immunization from non-healthcare provider (AOR=2.66 95% CI 1.50-4.70). Predictors for negative attitude on childhood immunizations were being male (AOR=1.44 95% CI 1.04-2.01); parents without tertiary education (AOR=1.67 95% CI 1.04-2.68); household income of less than RM5000 (AOR=1.85 95% CI 1.28-2.67) and unsatisfactory religious belief (AOR=2.76 95% CI 2.03-3.75). Therefore, these predictors should be considered in any health intervention on childhood immunizations for parents in Malaysia.

MeSH terms: Adult; Attitude; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Immunization*; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Parents; Vaccination Refusal
Fulltext The importance of visual awareness among junior athletes in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Nurul Atikah Zuhairi, Yau, Meng Kuan, Faudziah Abd Manan, Knight, Victor Feizal, Rokiah Omar

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

The lack of awareness about comprehensive eye examination amongst athletes could impact their eye health, hence it needs to be addressed. The authors hypothesize that a majority of athletes in Malaysia have never undergone a thorough eye examination. The present study aims to determine Malaysian athletes’ awareness of the importance of eye assessment. One hundred and twenty-one junior athletes, aged 13 to 16 years participated in the visual screening programme. A questionnaire consisting of fourteen dichotomous questions was developed in two languages, each being English and Malay language and administered prior to eye examination. The questionnaire was designed to measure self-reported visual function, ocular symptoms, and perceptions towards eye health. Questionnaire analysis showed 67.8% of participants never underwent any eye examination. A majority of participants, 66.9% and 75.2%, complained of visual and ocular symptoms respectively. The critical finding of this study showed that 57.9% of participants had reduced vision which could be visually corrected. Overall 90.9% of the participants agreed that eye examination was important. Almost none of the athletes owned any sports safety eyewear nor had undergone any visual training. The importance of wearing protective eyewear during sports needs to be given emphasis. This study implies that athletes' awareness of eye health, as well as visually related issues, is still at a very low level. Hence, the need for comprehensive eye examination and regular review among athletes’ needs to be emphasized. Athletes should also be educated on the importance of regular eye examinations from a young age.
Fulltext Exploring the interface between complementary medicine and community pharmacy in Malaysia – a survey of pharmacists

Pei, Nee Wong, Paraidathathu, Thomas, Braun, Lesley A.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

The use of complementary medicine (CM) is on the rise worldwide. In Malaysia, CM is available as over-thecounter products in community pharmacies and consumers expect pharmacists to be knowledgeable about CM. However, little is known about Malaysian community pharmacists’ attitude and knowledge of CM. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the extent of integration of CM into practice, taking into account community pharmacists’ attitudes towards CM, their role in recommending CM, their knowledge of the evidence-base for commonly used CM, further education and training needs, and knowledge of information sources which can be used by pharmacists for CM information .Ethics approval was obtained and a pilot study was conducted to validate the questionnaire. After amendments were made, community pharmacists were invited to complete a 41-item paper-based or web-based questionnaire. Invitations to complete the survey were sent by either social media, email or face-to-face invitation. A response rate of 27% (453/1662) was achieved providing data from 453 community pharmacists. Most respondents were female (63%), aged 24- 72 years. Only 42% of pharmacists always asked their customers presenting with a prescription about concomitant CM use. Forty-two percent (42%) of pharmacists personally recommended CM and slightly more than half (58%) had notified manufacturers of CM products of any suspected adverse drug reactions. On average, pharmacists achieved a score of 54% for knowledge on CM-drug interactions and 71% for knowledge of clinically proven benefits. Most pharmacists (75%) obtained their CM product training through selfdirected learning. In addition, most pharmacists (66%) supported CM education at the undergraduate level and almost all (94%) recognised the need for additional CM education for pharmacists. Malaysian registered pharmacists do not routinely ask customers about CM use, or recommend CM products, but have a positive attitude towards their use and were interested in learning more about CM.
Fulltext Perceived susceptibility to chronic disease among healthy people questionnaire: development, validity and reliability among young Iraqi adults

Harith Alaa, Shamsul Azhar Shah

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):1-7.
MyJurnal

Chronic non-communicable diseases are the new emerging epidemic, and they are thought to challenge only rich countries; cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are now the leading cause of death and disability in low-income and middle-income countries, where they killed almost 8 million people younger than 60 years in 2013. Therefore, there is a need to develop a valid and reliable tool to measure the beliefs that influence people’s general behaviour, and a used to measure beliefs about chronic disease perceived susceptibility. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the use of perception questionnaire among the young Iraqi adults. A total of 200 young adults participated who are free from any chronic diseases under study, and are living in Baghdad. The questionnaire, validated by an expert’s panel, translated to Arabic language, and pretested. Analyses included descriptive statistics of all the study variables, reliability estimates, and construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results showed that mean age of respondents was 30 years old, majority were males 71.5%, and EFA showed that factor loading was more than 0.4. CFA results show that Chi-square (df) = 1.213(2); p value (>0.05) = 0.297. Internal consistency reliability analysis on health-related behaviour; special practice, information seeking and perceived probability of diseases have good Cronbach’s α value of between 0.8 - 0.9. These findings revealed that validation is favourable and can be utilized on larger scale of sample to proceed with main study on chronic disease perceived susceptibility among healthy people.
Fulltext Assessing the relationship between perceived restorativeness and psychological wellbeing among students

Nurul Ain Nabilla, Samsilah Roslan, Zeinab Ghiami, Noorlila Ahmad

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

The purpose of this paper was to identify theories that underpin the relationship between perceived restorativeness and psychological wellbeing. This study also aimed to identify the types of activities that the respondent preferred to use as psychological resources when dealing with threatening situation. The instruments used in this study were Perceived Restorativeness for Activities Scale (PRAS) and Psychological Wellbeing Scale. The questionnaires were administered to a sample of 192 Master of Education students. The findings demonstrated that Master of Education students possess a high level of psychological well-being (Mean = 4.39, SD = 0.611) and high level of perceived restorativeness for their preferred activities (Mean = 4.57, SD = 0.76). The most preferred activities for restorativeness approach included participation in social context, followed by engaging in outdoor activities and lastly observing nature. The fascination property of perceived restorativeness obtained the highest score. Thus, the findings of the study illustrate the students’ preferred activities of restorativeness for maintaining their level of psychological wellbeing.
Fulltext Barriers, strength and weakness of pre-pregnancy clinic services in Sarawak: a qualitative analysis from provider perspectives

Abdul Rahim N, Rahman MM

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2018;18(1):149-157.
MyJurnal

Pre-pregnancy Clinic (PPC) services is one the plausible efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. However, various issues still need to be addressed for improvement of the services. Considering this view, an attempt was made to explore the barriers, strength and weakness of current practice of pre-pregnancy clinic services in Sarawak, since the programme has been implemented in this state from the year 2011. This cross-sectional study was conducted at nine selected health care facilities throughout Sarawak. A multistage sampling procedure was adapted to select the health care facilities. An unstructured open-ended questionnaire was administered to get the in-depth perceived views and current practice of pre-pregnancy clinic services. A total of 322 health care providers from nine selected health care facilities gave their feedback. In the present paper, a qualitative analysis was done for the openended questions to get in-depth views of barriers, strength and weakness of pre-pregnancy clinic services. The results of the study were narrated in textual form and a thematic analysis was done manually. The identified themes for perceived barriers to the provision of pre-pregnancy care were perception, attitude and acceptance of PPC services, socio-economic issues, services and client factors. The perceived weaknesses of the services are listed under two main themes: working environment and service factors, while, the strength of services produced three thematic areas which are preparation for pregnancy, prevention of mortality and morbidity and comprehensive services. Though prepregnancy services are beneficial for society wellbeing, various issues still need to be considered for the improvement of the quality of services. Lack of awareness, no ministerial guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and knowledge pertaining to the services were few of the main areas which need to be pondered upon. Promotional activities and campaigns should be geared up ensuring availability the services to the general population.

MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Goals; Health Facilities; Health Personnel; Humans; Malaysia; Perception; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Preconception Care*
The presence of duck Tembusu virus in Thailand since 2007: A retrospective study

Ninvilai P, Nonthabenjawan N, Limcharoen B, Tunterak W, Oraveerakul K, Banlunara W, et al.

Transbound Emerg Dis, 2018 Oct;65(5):1208-1216.
PMID: 29520997 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12859

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), a newly emerging virus in ducks, was first reported in China in 2010. However, an unknown severe contagious disease associated with severe neurological signs and egg production losses in ducks, resembling to DTMUV infection, was observed in Thailand since 2007. To determine the presence of DTMUV in 2007, the clinical samples from affected ducks collected in 2007 were tested for DTMUV using pathological and virological analyses. Gross and histopathological lesions of affected ducks were mostly restricted to the ovary, brain and spinal cord, and correlated with the presence of flavivirus antigen in the brain and spinal cord samples. Subsequently, DTMUV was identified by RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing of the polyprotein gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the polyprotein gene sequence revealed that the 2007 Thai DTMUV was a unique virus, belonged within DTMUV cluster 1, but distinctively separated from the Malaysian DTMUV, which was the most closely related DTMUV. It is interesting to note that the 2007 Thai DTMUV was genetically different from the currently circulating Thai and Chinese DTMUVs, which belonged to cluster 2. Our findings indicated that the 2007 Thai DTMUV emerged earlier from a common ancestor with the recently reported DTMUVs; however, it was genetically distinctive to any of the currently circulating DTMUVs. In conclusion, our data demonstrated the presence of DTMUV in the Thai ducks since 2007, prior to the first report of DTMUV in China in 2010. This study indicates that DTMUV may have circulated in the region long before 2010 and highlights high genetic diversity of DTMUVs in Asia.

MeSH terms: Animals; Base Sequence; China; Ducks/virology*; Flavivirus/genetics; Flavivirus/isolation & purification*; Phylogeny; Poultry Diseases/epidemiology*; Poultry Diseases/virology; Retrospective Studies; Thailand/epidemiology; Genome, Viral; Flavivirus Infections/epidemiology; Flavivirus Infections/veterinary*; Flavivirus Infections/virology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/veterinary*; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology
Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis & oxidative stress complexity: Emerging need for novel drug delivery approaches

Dua K, Rapalli VK, Shukla SD, Singhvi G, Shastri MD, Chellappan DK, et al.

Biomed Pharmacother, 2018 Nov;107:1218-1229.
PMID: 30257336 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.101

Tuberculosis (caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb) treatment involves multiple drug regimens for a prolonged period. However, the therapeutic benefit is often limited by poor patient compliance, subsequently leading to treatment failure and development of antibiotic resistance. Notably, oxidative stress is a crucial underlying factor that adversely influences the various treatment regimens in tuberculosis. Little information is available with advanced drug delivery systems that could be effectively utilized, in particular, for targeting the oxidative stress in tuberculosis. Thus, this presents an opportunity to review the utility of various available, controlled-release drug delivery systems (e.g., microspheres, liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendrimers) that could be beneficial in tuberculosis treatments. This will help the biological and formulation scientists to pave a new path in formulating a treatment regimen for multi-drug resistant Mtb.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antitubercular Agents/administration & dosage*; Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology; Delayed-Action Preparations; Humans; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects*; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification; Drug Delivery Systems; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/drug therapy*; Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Anti-hyperglycemic potential of Hyptis verticillata jacq in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Ogar I, Egbung GE, Nna VU, Iwara IA, Itam E

Biomed Pharmacother, 2018 Nov;107:1268-1276.
PMID: 30257341 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.115

Uncontrolled hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Hyptis verticillata is reportedly explored traditionally for its therapeutic benefits. Resulting from the paucity of information on the anti-hyperglycaemic potential of this plant, the present study assessed the anti-hyperglycaemic activity of H. verticillata leaf extract. Fifty-four albino Wistar rats were divided into two main groups consisting of diabetic and non-diabetic rats. The diabetic and non-diabetic rats were either treated with oral doses of metformin (500 mg/kg b.w.), quercetin (10 mg/kg b.w.), ethanol extract of H. verticillata leaf (low dose: 250 mg/kg b.w.) or H. verticillata (high dose: 500 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. Results showed significantly decreased body weight, increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, decreased pancreatic islet area and β-cell number in the diabetic untreated group, relative to normal control. H. verticillata - treated diabetic rats showed decreased FBG and HbA1c, increased body weight, pancreatic islet area and β-cell number, comparable to the effects of metformin. GCMS analysis of H. verticillata showed the presence of ten bioactive volatile compounds, with squalene which possess strong antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects, as the most abundant. We therefore conclude that H. verticillata has anti-hyperglycaemic properties.

MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Glucose/analysis; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use*; Hypoglycemic Agents/toxicity; Male; Pancreas/drug effects; Pancreas/pathology; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use*; Plant Extracts/toxicity; Streptozocin; Rats, Wistar; Plant Leaves/chemistry; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Hyptis/chemistry*
Pharmacological insights into antioxidants against colorectal cancer: A detailed review of the possible mechanisms

Gothai S, Muniandy K, Gnanaraj C, Ibrahim IAA, Shahzad N, Al-Ghamdi SS, et al.

Biomed Pharmacother, 2018 Nov;107:1514-1522.
PMID: 30257369 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.112

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the fourth most lethal and commonly diagnosed cancer in the world according to the National Cancer Institute's latest report. Treatment methods for CRC are constantly being studied for advancement, which leads for more clinically effective cancer curing strategy. Patients with prolonged chronic inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis or similar inflammatory bowel disease are known to have high risks of developing CRC. But at a molecular level, oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important trigger for cancer. Hence, in recent years, exogenous antioxidants have been immensely experimented in pre-clinical and clinical trials, considering it as a potential cure for CRC. Significantly, potential antioxidant compounds especially derivatives of medicinal plants have received great attention in the current research trend for CRC treatment. Though antioxidant compounds seem to have beneficial properties for the treatment of CRC, there are also limitations for pure compounds to be tested clinically. Therefore, this review aims to delineate the pharmacological awareness among researchers on using antioxidant compounds to treat CRC and the measures taken to prove the effectiveness of such compounds as impending drug candidates for CRC treatment in modern medication.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/administration & dosage*; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Chronic Disease; Humans; Inflammation/complications; Risk Factors; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
Fulltext Erythrocyte-binding assays reveal higher binding of Plasmodium knowlesi Duffy binding protein to human Fya+/b+ erythrocytes than to Fya+/b- erythrocytes

Fong MY, Cheong FW, Lau YL

Parasit Vectors, 2018 Sep 26;11(1):527.
PMID: 30257710 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3118-8

BACKGROUND: The merozoite of the zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi invades human erythrocytes via the binding of its Duffy binding protein (PkDBPαII) to the Duffy antigen on the eythrocytes. The Duffy antigen has two immunologically distinct forms, Fya and Fyb. In this study, the erythrocyte-binding assay was used to quantitatively determine and compare the binding level of PkDBPαII to Fya+/b+ and Fya+/b- human erythrocytes.
RESULTS: In the erythrocyte-binding assay, binding level was determined by scoring the number of rosettes that were formed by erythrocytes surrounding transfected mammalian COS-7 cells which expressed PkDBPαII. The assay result revealed a significant difference in the binding level. The number of rosettes scored for Fya+/b+ was 1.64-fold higher than that of Fya+/b- (155.50 ± 34.32 and 94.75 ± 23.16 rosettes, respectively; t(6) = -2.935, P = 0.026).
CONCLUSIONS: The erythrocyte-binding assay provided a simple approach to quantitatively determine the binding level of PkDBPαII to the erythrocyte Duffy antigen. Using this assay, PkDBPαII was found to display higher binding to Fya+/b+ erythrocytes than to Fya+/b- erythrocytes.

MeSH terms: Alleles; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan/genetics; Antigens, Protozoan/metabolism*; Cercopithecus aethiops; Duffy Blood-Group System/genetics*; Duffy Blood-Group System/metabolism*; Erythrocytes/metabolism*; Humans; Phenotype; Protein Binding; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism*; Protozoan Proteins/genetics; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism*; Plasmodium knowlesi/immunology*; COS Cells
Fulltext Probiotic potentials of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from fermented durian (Tempoyak), a Malaysian traditional condiment

Ahmad A, Yap WB, Kofli NT, Ghazali AR

Food Sci Nutr, 2018 Sep;6(6):1370-1377.
PMID: 30258578 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.672

Lactic acid bacterium isolated from fermented durian (tempoyak) was investigated for its potentials as a probiotic strain. Bacterial tolerance toward gastrointestinal environment, adhesion, and cytotoxic activity in human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 was evaluated. 16S rRNA sequencing identified the lactic acid bacterium as Lactobacillus plantarum. The bacterium demonstrated good tolerance toward gastrointestinal pH 2.0 and 0.3% bile salts. It showed strong adhesive capacity in human intestinal cell line, HT-29, with an adhesion index of 159 ± 10. Cytotoxicity of L. plantarum was investigated using both live bacterial cells (BC) and cell-free supernatant (CFS). Findings showed that both BC and CFS of L. plantarum reduced proliferation of HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells using MTT assay. The results imply potential probiotic properties of L. plantarum isolated from tempoyak.
Fulltext A phylogenetic taxonomy of the Cyrtodactylus peguensis group (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) with descriptions of two new species from Myanmar

Grismer LL, Wood PL, Quah ESH, Murdoch ML, Grismer MS, Herr MW, et al.

PeerJ, 2018;6:e5575.
PMID: 30258710 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5575

A phylogenetic taxonomy of species in the Cyrtodactylus peguensis group from the Ayeyarwady Basin of Myanmar is constructed based on color pattern, morphology, and molecular systematic analyses using the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2. Newly collected samples from the type locality of C. peguensis and other localities indicate that this clade is endemic to central Myanmar and contains at least seven species, four of which are undescribed. Three species, including C. peguensis occur in the low hills of the Bago Yoma Range within the central portion of the Ayeyarwady Basin. Two of these, C. myintkyawthurai sp. nov. from the northern and central Bago Yoma and C. meersi sp. nov. which is syntopic with C. peguensis in the southern Bago Yoma are described herein. As more lowland hilly areas bordering, and within the Ayeyarwady Basin are surveyed, more new species of this group are likely to be discovered. These discoveries continue the recent surge of descriptions of new species of Cyrtodactylus that are being discovered in Myanmar.
Fulltext Corrigendum to "Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Preoperative Staging and Work-Up of Patients Affected by Invasive Lobular Carcinoma or Invasive Ductolobular Carcinoma"

Selvi V, Nori J, Meattini I, Francolini G, Morelli N, De Benedetto D, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2018;2018:9056239.
PMID: 30258852 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9056239

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1569060.].

MeSH terms: Humans
Fulltext EDX-SEM-XRF data from selected Precambrian Basement Complex rock samples in part of Southwestern Nigeria

Kayode JS, Yusup Y, Nawawi MNM, Ariffin KS, Kalil AE, Tagwa MG

Data Brief, 2018 Oct;20:1525-1531.
PMID: 30258956 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.09.014

Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis, EDX mapping, Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM, together with X-ray Fluorescence Analysis, XRF, was carried out to extract the needed data from some metamorphic rock samples in part of the Nigerian Southwestern Precambrian Basement Complex, NSPBC. The foremost aim is to obtain the detail subsurface geological structures of the rocks within the area and to enhanced understanding of the processes and the types of metamorphic evolution in the area. The techniques involved qualitative and quantitative data analysis of the major, minor and radioactive elements present in the samples of rocks analyzed. The data helped to experimentally evaluate the rocks microstructures, and to also explore the development of magmatic and metamorphic mechanisms for the recognition of textual associations in the area. Applications of the EDX, SEM, and XRF data analysis are effortlessly done to determine the varied mixtures of Si, Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Na, in the presence of O existing in the rocks samples.The data helped in the classification and perceptive of these rocks and it was considered as a necessary tool in the knowledge of the metamorphism and origin of the Basement Complex rocks through measurement of the intensity of the emitted X-ray and its characteristics.

MeSH terms: Elements, Radioactive; Fluorescence; Geology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nigeria; Plant Extracts; Radiography; X-Rays; Knowledge
An Overview of Circular RNAs

Awasthi R, Singh AK, Mishra G, Maurya A, Chellappan DK, Gupta G, et al.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 2018 9 28;1087:3-14.
PMID: 30259353 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-1426-1_1

Circular RNAs (cirRNAs) are long, noncoding endogenous RNA molecules and covalently closed continuous loop without 5'-3' polarity and polyadenylated tail which are largely concentrated in the nucleus. CirRNA regulates gene expression by modulating microRNAs and functions as potential biomarker. CirRNAs can translate in vivo to link between their expression and disease. They are resistant to RNA exonuclease and can convert to the linear RNA by microRNA which can then act as competitor to endogenous RNA. This chapter summarizes the evolutionary conservation and expression of cirRNAs, their identification, highlighting various computational approaches on cirRNA, and translation with a focus on the breakthroughs and the challenges in this new field.

MeSH terms: Gene Expression Regulation/genetics; RNA/analysis; RNA/genetics*; RNA/chemistry; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; Protein Biosynthesis; Blotting, Northern; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Computational Biology; MicroRNAs/genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding/analysis; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding/chemistry

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