Browse publications by year: 2018

Gut microbiome: Microflora association with obesity and obesity-related comorbidities

Lone JB, Koh WY, Parray HA, Paek WK, Lim J, Rather IA, et al.

Microb Pathog, 2018 Nov;124:266-271.
PMID: 30138755 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.08.036

Obesity and obesity-related comorbidities have transformed into a global epidemic. The number of people suffering from obesity has increased dramatically within the past few decades. This rise in obesity cannot alone be explained by genetic factors; however, diet, environment, lifestyle, and presence of other diseases undoubtedly contribute towards obesity etiology. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that alterations in the gut microbial diversity and composition have a role to play in energy assimilation, storage, and expenditure. In this review, the impact of gut microbiota composition on metabolic functionalities, and potential therapeutics such as gut microbial modulation to manage obesity and its associated comorbidities are highlighted. Optimistically, an understanding of the gut microbiome could facilitate the innovative clinical strategies to restore the normal gut flora and improve lifestyle-related diseases in the future.

MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Diet; Health Expenditures; Life Style; Obesity; Comorbidity; Reproductive History
Antigenic potential of a recombinant polyvalent DNA vaccine against pathogenic leptospiral infection

Garba B, Bahaman AR, Zakaria Z, Bejo SK, Mutalib AR, Bande F, et al.

Microb Pathog, 2018 Nov;124:136-144.
PMID: 30138761 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.08.028

Leptospirosis is a serious epidemic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species. The disease is endemic in most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Currently, there is no effective polyvalent vaccine for prevention against most of the circulating serovars. Moreover, development of an efficient leptospiral vaccine capable of stimulating cross-protective immune responses against a wide range of serovars remains a daunting challenge. This, in part, is associated with the extensive diversity and variation of leptospiral serovars from region to region. In this study, a multi-epitope DNA vaccine encoding highly immunogenic epitopes from LipL32 and LipL41 was designed using in-silico approach. The DNA encoding antigenic epitopes was constructed from conserved pathogenic Leptospira genes (LipL32 and LipL41). Immunization of golden Syrian hamsters with the multi-epitope chimeric DNA vaccine resulted in the production of both agglutinating and neutralizing antibodies as evidence by MAT and in-vitro growth inhibition tests respectively. The antibodies produced reacted against eight different serovars and significantly reduced renal colonization following in vivo challenge. The vaccine was also able to significantly reduce renal colonization which is a very important factor responsible for persistence of leptospires among susceptible and reservoir animal hosts. In conclusion, the leptospiral multi-epitope chimeric DNA vaccine can serve as a potentially effective and safe vaccine against infection with different pathogenic leptospiral serovars.

MeSH terms: Agglutination Tests; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial/blood; Epitopes/genetics; Epitopes/immunology; Antigens, Bacterial/genetics; Antigens, Bacterial/immunology*; Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage; Bacterial Vaccines/genetics; Bacterial Vaccines/immunology*; Disease Models, Animal; Kidney/microbiology; Leptospira/genetics; Leptospira/immunology*; Leptospirosis/immunology; Leptospirosis/prevention & control*; Mesocricetus; Neutralization Tests; Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage; Vaccines, DNA/genetics; Vaccines, DNA/immunology*; Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
Asymmetrical meta-methoxylated diarylpentanoids: Rational design, synthesis and anti-cancer evaluation in-vitro

Leong SW, Chia SL, Abas F, Yusoff K

Eur J Med Chem, 2018 Sep 05;157:716-728.
PMID: 30138803 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.08.039

In the present study, a series of forty-five asymmetrical meta-methoxylated diarylpentanoids have been synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their in-vitro anti-cancer potential. Among the forty-five analogs, three compounds (20, 33 and 42) have been identified as lead compounds due to their excellent inhibition against five human cancer cell lines including SW620, A549, EJ28, HT1080 and MCF-7. Structure-activity relationship study on cytotoxicity of tested compounds suggested that the presence of meta-oxygenated phenyl ring played a critical role in enhancing their cytotoxic effects. Compounds 33 and 42 in particular, exhibited strongest cytotoxicity against tested cell lines with the IC50 values ranging from 1.1 to 4.3 μM. Subsequent colony formation assay on SW620 cell line showed that both compounds 33 and 42 possessed strong anti-proliferative activity. In addition, flow cytometry based experiments revealed that these compounds could trigger intracellular ROS production thus inducing G2/M-phase cell arrest and apoptosis. All these results suggested that poly meta-oxygenated diarylpentnoid is a promising scaffold which deserved further modification and investigation in the development of natural product-based anti-cancer drug.

MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry; Curcumin/chemical synthesis; Curcumin/pharmacology*; Curcumin/chemistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Drug Design*; Molecular Structure; Apoptosis/drug effects; Reactive Oxygen Species/analysis; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Cell Proliferation/drug effects
Molecular dynamics simulations suggest changes in electrostatic interactions as a potential mechanism through which serine phosphorylation inhibits DNA polymerase β activity

Homouz D, Joyce-Tan KH, ShahirShamsir M, Moustafa IM, Idriss HT

J Mol Graph Model, 2018 09;84:236-241.
PMID: 30138833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2018.08.007

DNA polymerase β is a 39 kDa enzyme that is a major component of Base Excision Repair in human cells. The enzyme comprises two major domains, a 31 kDa domain responsible for the polymerase activity and an 8 kDa domain, which bind ssDNA and has a deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) lyase activity. DNA polymerase β was shown to be phosphorylated in vitro with protein kinase C (PKC) at serines 44 and 55 (S44 and S55), resulting in loss of its polymerase enzymic activity, but not its ability to bind ssDNA. In this study, we investigate the potential phosphorylation-induced structural changes for DNA polymerase β using molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations show drastic conformational changes of the polymerase structure as a result of S44 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation-induced conformational changes transform the closed (active) enzyme structure into an open one. Further analysis of the results points to a key hydrogen bond and newly formed salt bridges as potential drivers of these structural fluctuations. The changes observed with S55/44 and S55 phosphorylation were less dramatic and the integrity of the H-bond was not compromised. Thus the phosphorylation of S44 is the major contributor to structural fluctuations that lead to loss of enzymatic activity.

MeSH terms: Hydrogen Bonding; Phosphorylation; Protein Conformation; Serine/chemistry*; Structure-Activity Relationship; DNA Polymerase beta/metabolism; DNA Polymerase beta/chemistry*; Static Electricity*; Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
Removal of acetaminophen from synthetic wastewater in a fixed-bed column adsorption using low-cost coconut shell waste pretreated with NaOH, HNO3, ozone, and/or chitosan

Yanyan L, Kurniawan TA, Zhu M, Ouyang T, Avtar R, Dzarfan Othman MH, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2018 Nov 15;226:365-376.
PMID: 30138836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.032

Acetaminophen (Ace) is a trace pollutant widely found in sewage treatment plant (STP) wastewater. We test the feasibility of coconut shell waste, a low cost adsorbent from coconut industry, for removing Ace from synthetic solution in a fixed-bed column adsorption. To enhance its performance, the surface of granular activated carbon (GAC) was pre-treated with NaOH, HNO3, ozone, and/or chitosan respectively. The results show that the chemical modification of the GAC's surface with various chemicals has enhanced its Ace removal during the column operations. Among the modified adsorbents, the ozone-treated GAC stands out for the highest Ace adsorption capacity (38.2 mg/g) under the following conditions: 40 mg/L of Ace concentration, 2 mL/min of flow rate, 45 cm of bed depth. Both the Thomas and the Yoon-Nelson models are applicable to simulate the experimental results of the column operations with their adsorption capacities: ozone-treated GAC (20.88 mg/g) > chitosan-coated GAC (16.67 mg/g) > HNO3-treated GAC (11.09 mg/g) > NaOH-treated GAC (7.57 mg/g) > as-received GAC (2.84 mg/g). This suggests that the ozone-treated GAC is promising and suitable for Ace removal in a fixed-bed reactor.

MeSH terms: Acetaminophen/isolation & purification*; Acetaminophen/chemistry; Adsorption; Carbon; Cocos; Ozone; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry; Water Purification*; Chitosan; Waste Water
Fulltext Construction and validation of a mammalian expression vector for in utero electroporation study of mir-3099 in the Mouse Neocortex

Shahidee Zainal Abidin, Han-Chung Lee, Sze-Zheng Fam, Syahril Abdullah, Norshariza Nordin, Pike-See Cheah, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(101):20-29.
MyJurnal

Introduction: MiR-3099 was reported to play a role in neuronal cell differentiation/function in the brain during late embryonic and early neonatal development. To further explore its potential regulatory effects on embryonic brain development, this study aims to construct and validate an expression vector of miR-3099 for future gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies. Methods: pCAG-eGFP vector was modified to include IRES2 and miR-3099 with 150bp upstream and downstream genomic sequences. The newly constructed vector, pCAG-miR-3099-IRES2-eGFP, consists of CAG promoter. The in vitro expression level of miR-3099 was measured using stem-loop RT-qPCR after it was transfected into 293FT cell. Later, the vector was electroporated into the embryonic brain at E15.5. Three days later, the E18.5 embryonic brain was harvested and cryopreserved. Immunohistochemistry was performed by using antibody against eGFP to validate the in utero expression of the transgene in the neocortex of the brain. Results: Our finding showed that, the expression level of miR-3099 was significantly upregulated (p

MeSH terms: Antibodies; Cell Differentiation; Immunohistochemistry; Transfection; Electroporation; Transgenes; Neocortex; Genomics; MicroRNAs
Fulltext Expression profiling of genes involved in the development and function of skeletal muscles in ts1cje mouse model of Down Syndrome

Pike-See Cheah, Usman Bala, King-Hwa Ling

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(101):12-19.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). Motor dysfunction due to hypotonia has limited labour productivity and have significant effects on socio-economic status in DS individuals. Ts1Cje, a mouse model of DS that exhibits muscle weakness was employed, to investigate the expression profile of selected trisomic and disomic genes involved in skeletal muscle structure and function. Methods: Quadriceps and triceps were harvested from the Ts1Cje (C57BL/6) postnatal day 60-70 mice and corresponding wild-type littermates. Total RNA extracted from these tissues was subjected for quantitative expression profiling of three trisomic genes (Itsn1, Synj1 and Rcan1) involved in neurotransmission and six disomic genes (Lamc1, Leprel1, Myl6b, Msn, Pgm5 and Tmod1) essential for maintenance of muscle structure and function. Real-time quantitative PCR method was used for the profiling. Results: Differential gene expression in DS is reflected by 1.5-fold or more increase in the level of expression as predicted by the gene dosage imbalance hypothesis. The analysis showed no significant changes in the expression level of trisomic genes (Itsn1, Synj1 and Rcan1). On contrary, disomic genes, Leprel1 and Pgm5, were upregulated for more than 1.5-fold in DS quadriceps whereas Lamc1, Myl6b and Pgm5 were upregulated for more than 1.5 fold in DS triceps as compared to the wild-type group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the dysregulation of Lamc1, Leprel1, Myl6b and Pgm5 genes is associated to muscle weakness seen in Ts1Cje and may play a role in molecular pathogenesis of muscle weakness in DS.

MeSH terms: Animals; Chromosomes, Human; Down Syndrome; Humans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Muscle Hypotonia; Synaptic Transmission; Paresis; Prader-Willi Syndrome; RNA; Trisomy; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Muscle, Skeletal; Gene Dosage; Muscle Weakness; Mice
Fulltext The association of reported respiratory symptoms among children in Malaysia with particulate matter exposure in municipal solid waste landfills

Dora Esphylin, Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail, Sarva Mangala Praveena, Zailina Hashim, Emilia Zainal Abidin

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(101):2-11.
MyJurnal

Background: Prolonged exposure of heavy metals in the respirable particulate matter (PM10) from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills may affect children health. Objective: To investigate the association of reported respiratory symptom with heavy metals in PM10, with heavy metals in fingernails among children residing close to MSW landfills. Methods: Two groups of children age 7 to 12 years old were involved in this cross-sectional study. Those residing within 3 km radius from a landfill were the exposed group and those residing more than 3 km radius as the unexposed group. Questionnaires adapted from American Thoracic Society were applied in the survey. Fingernails were used as biomarker. Ten heavy metals elements in PM and fingernail samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: The cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and lead concentrations in PM around the MSW landfills and residential areas exceeded the Canada and USEPA standard permissible limit. Heavy metals in fingernails (p

MeSH terms: Air Pollutants; Cadmium; Canada; Chromium; Copper; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Lead; Manganese; Nails; Nickel; Surveys and Questionnaires; Radius; Respiration; Mass Spectrometry; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Biomarkers; Cell Respiration; Metals, Heavy; Particulate Matter; Solid Waste; Waste Disposal Facilities
Fulltext Cytomegalovirus infection associated with Atypical Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in a Preterm Neonate: a case report

Aisha Fadhilah Abang Abdullah, Zurina Zainudin, Dg. Zuraini Sahadan

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):97-99.
MyJurnal

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is frequently isolated from neonates. Symptomatic infection is only apparent in 10% of affected babies with particular predilection for the reticuloendothelial and central nervous system. Isolated respiratory system involvement is rarely encountered. We report a case of a premature 32 weeks infant who required prolonged oxygen dependency and treated for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis was only discovered after detection of CMV DNA in the bronchoalveolar lavage. A high level of clinical awareness is crucial as a definite diagnosis and treatment will significantly alter the morbidity and the cost of therapy.

MeSH terms: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Cytomegalovirus; DNA; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Nervous System; Oxygen; Pneumonia; Respiratory System; Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Fulltext Retinoblastoma in an older child: a case report

Ong, Wu Zhuan, Jamalia Rahmat, Ramasamy, Sunder, Amir Samsudin

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):93-96.
MyJurnal

Retinoblastoma is a rare intraocular malignant tumour more commonly seen in children below five years of age. We presented a rare case of retinoblastoma in an older child. A nine-year-old girl noticed that she had loss of vision OS following a fall at home. Her vision was 6/6 OD and only light perception OS. Examination of the left eye revealed an extensive exudative retinal detachment. Her right eye examination was unremarkable. CT scan showed a left eye intraocular mass with calcification. EUA revealed a mixed endophytic and exophytic mass with extensive exudative retinal detachment. Family members consented to left eye enucleation and histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Post enucleation, patient is doing well with a prosthetic eye. In conclusion, any unexplained visual loss in children regardless of age warrants a full ophthalmological examination as the possibility of retinoblastoma cannot be ruled out.

MeSH terms: Calcification, Physiologic; Calcinosis; Child; Eye, Artificial; Female; Humans; Retinal Detachment; Retinoblastoma; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Eye Enucleation
Fulltext Awake fibre optic intubation with Dexmedetomidine for Ludwig Angina with severe Trismus

Mohd Zulfakar Mazlan, Nik Abdullah Nik Mohammad, Mohamad Hasyizan Hasan, Irfan Mohamad, Zeti Norfidiyati Salmuna, Roselinda Ab Rahman

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):89-92.
MyJurnal

Ludwig angina is a submandibular space cellulitis secondary to oral cavity infection. It is strongly associated with difficult intubation due to limitation in the mouth opening. The presentation of Ludwig angina varies according to the severity of the infection. The extreme presentations include upper airway obstruction and respiratory failure. We present a female teenager with right submandibular abscess as the consequence of Ludwig angina, who was planned for incision and drainage. Successful awake fibre optic intubation was performed as a method of induction due to trismus, deferring the need for tracheostomy.

MeSH terms: Abscess; Adolescent; Airway Obstruction; Cellulitis; Communicable Diseases; Drainage; Female; Fiber Optic Technology; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Ludwig's Angina; Respiratory Insufficiency; Tracheostomy; Trismus
Fulltext A review on determinants of depression among adult prisoner

Rao, Gunenthira, Rosliza Abdul Manaf, Halimatus Sakdiah Minhat

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):75-87.
MyJurnal

Prisoner tend to be marginalized and deprived that it burdens them with psychological trauma, predominantly depression. This review will identify the determinants of depression among adult inmates. Literatures published from 2012 to March 2017 were searched from various databases. Inclusion criteria were English full text, adults with a diagnosis of depression while exclusion criteria were diagnostic instruments, clinical or drug trials. The review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement reporting. A total of 168 studies were identified although only 14 studies were eligible for final review. Factors associated with inmates’ depression range from the potentially modifiable to non-modifiable. Recognized modifiable factors were psychological, family support, and environment while non-modifiable were biological, demographic, individual, and social. Determinants identified should be addressed in formulation of better targeting therapy, in terms of both prevention and treatment of depression among inmates.
Fulltext Introduction to customized occupational safety and health website and its effectiveness in improving Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) among police officers

Irniza Rasdi, Nadia Farhana Ismail, Andy, Shin Shyen Kong, Suhainizam Muhammad Saliluddin

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):67-73.
MyJurnal

Introduction: The prevalence of stress among Malaysian police is high in which 38.8% polices have severe stress related to work resources and workplace environment. Psychosocial safety climate is one of the indicators that can be used to avoid psychosocial health problems. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the risk factors of psychosocial safety climate and to measure the effectiveness of a customised safety website in improving the safety climate. Methodology: This study involved 105 police officers who were randomly selected from nine different departments in PDRM Bukit Aman. A survey adapted from previous study was used to determine the psychosocial safety climate levels among respondents. Then, occupational safety website was introduced to the respondents and being used for two weeks. Lastly, post survey was done to see the difference of psychosocial safety climate before and after the use of the website. Results and Discussion: Findings showed that team psychological safety (r=0.381, p= , p=

MeSH terms: Amantadine; Environment; Health Resources; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Organizational Culture; Prevalence; Occupational Health; Police; Workplace
Fulltext The effectiveness of the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2015 (OSH-MP 15) in enhancing government leadership and preventive workplace

Norhafizah Yaacob, Shamsul B.M. Tamrin, Ng, Yee Guan, How, Vivien, Rozanah A. Rahman, Zerguine, Haroun, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):57-66.
MyJurnal

Background: Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan for Malaysia 2015 was intended to increase awareness, knowledge and commitment to Occupational Safety and Health in all undertaking to reduce the number of injuries, diseases and fatalities. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Occupational Safety Health Master Plan for Malaysia 2015 (OSH-MP 15) in enhancing government leadership and preventive workplace culture. Methods: This cross sectional study covered all the states in Malaysia, constituting of 309 employers, 350 Occupational Safety Health practitioners and 360 employees as respondents. There were three questionnaires for three different groups which were employers, Occupational Safety Health practitioners and general employees. The respondents were selected through random sampling. Results: For strategy 1, there was a significant difference in mean of effectiveness of OSH-MP15 between sectors for general workers [F (11, 348) =12.06, p= =

MeSH terms: Accidents, Occupational; Cross-Sectional Studies; Government; Leadership; Malaysia; Mortuary Practice; Surveys and Questionnaires; Occupational Health; Workplace
Fulltext A comparison between measured Maxillopharyngeal angle on lateral cervical radiograph with modified Mallampati classification in predicting difficult Larnygoscopy: a blinded interventional study

Mohamad Hasyizan Hassan, Eng, Ming Fung, Rhendra Hardy Mohd Zaini, Shamsul Kamalrujan Hassan, Seevaunnamtum, Praveena, Mohd Zulfakar Mazlan, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):51-56.
MyJurnal

Background: Existing techniques of predicting difficult laryngoscopy are inadequate requiring evaluation of Maxillopharyngeal Angle (MP-A) on lateral cervical radiograph described. Objectives: This study aimed to compare MP-A test with Modified Mallapati Test (MMT) in predicting their diagnostic values and Area Under Curve of Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUCROCC) of both test. Methods: This is a double blinded interventional study of 93 patients. Each patient’s MMT score was assessed during preoperative assessment and subsequent MP-A test done by obtaining lateral cervical radiograph with the head in neutral position. Laryngeal view was assessed using Cormack-Lehane grade after induction of anesthesia, was used as reference standard to determine the diagnostic values of MMT and MP-A respectively. Results: The MP-A compared to MMT in predicting difficult larngoscopy had higher sensitivity (77.78 vs 44.44) specificity (88.10 vs 67.86) and accuracy (87.10 vs 65.59) with higher Odd Ratio(26.12 vs 1.68). The AUCROCC was significantly higher in MP-A test 0.83(95%CI: 0.67, 0.99) (P = 0.001) vs MMT 0.56(95%CI: 0.36, 0.76) (P = 0.546) with LR+ of 6.53 vs 1.38. Conclusion: The Maxillopharyngeal Angle test was superior in predicting difficult laryngoscopy as compared to Modified Mallampati Test.
Fulltext Breastfeeding practice, support, and self- efficacy among working mothers in a rural health clinic in Selangor

Aneesa Abdul Rashid, Nurainul Hana Shamsuddin, Raja Dalila Athirah Raja Malek Ridhuan, Nurin Amalina Sallahuddin, Devaraj, Navin Kumar

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):39-49.
MyJurnal

Introduction: In first six months of life, breastfeeding is the recommended form of feeding by the World Health Organisation for the growing child. To enable the working mother to continue this noble practice, adequate workplace breastfeeding support and self- efficacy is needed. This study aims to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding among working mothers of children aged three months to two years and factors associated with breastfeeding practice including workplace support and mother’s self-efficacy. Method: This is a cross sectional questionnaire study carried out in a rural Health Clinic in Selangor using socio-demographic data, Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS), and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF). This study was conducted for a period of three months from April to June 2015. The respondents were employed Malaysian mothers of healthy infants aged three months to two years. A total of 84 participants were involved in the study. Data analysis was done with SPSS 22.Results: The prevalence of breastfeeding among working mothers were high at 97.6%. We found significant association of breastfeeding practice with workplace breastfeeding support (p=0.005) and self-efficacy (p= 0.017). We also noted a significant correlation between breastfeeding workplace support and breast feeding self-efficacy (r= 0.40, p

MeSH terms: Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Breast Feeding*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Self Efficacy
Impaired vasocontractile responses to adenosine in chorionic vessels of human term placenta from pregnant women with pre-existing and gestational diabetes

Razak AA, Leach L, Ralevic V

Diab Vasc Dis Res, 2018 11;15(6):528-540.
PMID: 30130976 DOI: 10.1177/1479164118790904

BACKGROUND: There is clinical and experimental evidence for altered adenosine signalling in the fetoplacental circulation in pregnancies complicated by diabetes, leading to adenosine accumulation in the placenta. However, the consequence for fetoplacental vasocontractility is unclear. This study examined contractility to adenosine of chorionic vessels from type 1 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus and normal pregnancies.
METHODS: Chorionic arteries and veins were isolated from human placenta from normal, gestational diabetes mellitus and type 1 diabetes mellitus pregnancies. Isometric tension recording measured responses to adenosine and the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619 (thromboxane A2 mediates fetoplacental vasoconstriction to adenosine). Adenosine and thromboxane prostanoid receptor protein expression was determined by immunoblotting.
RESULTS: Adenosine elicited contractions in chorionic arteries and veins which were impaired in both gestational diabetes mellitus and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Contractions to potassium chloride were unchanged. Adenosine A2A and A2B receptor protein levels were not different in gestational diabetes mellitus and normal pregnancies. Contractions to U46619 were unaltered in gestational diabetes mellitus arteries and increased in type 1 diabetes mellitus arteries. Overnight storage of vessels restored contractility to adenosine in gestational diabetes mellitus arteries and normalized contraction to U46619 in type 1 diabetes mellitus arteries.
CONCLUSION: These data are consistent with the concept of aberrant adenosine signalling in diabetes; they show for the first time that this involves impaired adenosine contractility of the fetoplacental vasculature.

MeSH terms: Adenosine/pharmacology*; Arteries/drug effects*; Arteries/metabolism; Arteries/physiopathology; Chorion/blood supply*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/physiopathology*; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics/diagnosis; Pregnancy in Diabetics/metabolism; Pregnancy in Diabetics/physiopathology*; Vasoconstriction/drug effects*; Vasoconstrictor Agents/pharmacology*; Veins/drug effects*; Veins/metabolism; Veins/physiopathology; Signal Transduction/drug effects; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes, Gestational/diagnosis; Diabetes, Gestational/metabolism; Diabetes, Gestational/physiopathology*; 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid/pharmacology; Receptor, Adenosine A3/metabolism; Receptor, Adenosine A2B/metabolism; Receptor, Adenosine A2A/metabolism; Term Birth
Characterization of Roselle calyx from different geographical origins

Juhari NH, Bredie WLP, Toldam-Andersen TB, Petersen MA

Food Res Int, 2018 10;112:378-389.
PMID: 30131149 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.06.049

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is considered an underexploited food crop with nutritional and large scale processing potential. Roselle can be utilized as a functional food, mainly due to being rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins, other phytochemicals, and natural color. Although Roselle has been widely planted and consumed, little is known about the composition of aroma profiles. In this study, seventeen samples of dried Roselle calyx were collected from eight countries and the aroma profiles were determined by dynamic headspace sampling and GC-MS and GC-olfactometry. Furthermore, total soluble solids, pH, and color L* a* b* were determined, and sugars and acids were measured using ion chromatography. There were significant (p 

MeSH terms: Acids/analysis; Color; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Odors/analysis*; Smell*; Hibiscus/growth & development; Hibiscus/metabolism*; Flowers/growth & development; Flowers/metabolism*; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism*; Olfactometry
Fulltext Discovery of New Genes Involved in Curli Production by a Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain from the Highly Virulent O45:K1:H7 Lineage

Nhu NTK, Phan MD, Peters KM, Lo AW, Forde BM, Min Chong T, et al.

mBio, 2018 08 21;9(4).
PMID: 30131362 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01462-18

Curli are bacterial surface-associated amyloid fibers that bind to the dye Congo red (CR) and facilitate uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) biofilm formation and protection against host innate defenses. Here we sequenced the genome of the curli-producing UPEC pyelonephritis strain MS7163 and showed it belongs to the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 neonatal meningitis-associated clone. MS7163 produced curli at human physiological temperature, and this correlated with biofilm growth, resistance of sessile cells to the human cationic peptide cathelicidin, and enhanced colonization of the mouse bladder. We devised a forward genetic screen using CR staining as a proxy for curli production and identified 41 genes that were required for optimal CR binding, of which 19 genes were essential for curli synthesis. Ten of these genes were novel or poorly characterized with respect to curli synthesis and included genes involved in purine de novo biosynthesis, a regulator that controls the Rcs phosphorelay system, and a novel repressor of curli production (referred to as rcpA). The involvement of these genes in curli production was confirmed by the construction of defined mutants and their complementation. The mutants did not express the curli major subunit CsgA and failed to produce curli based on CR binding. Mutation of purF (the first gene in the purine biosynthesis pathway) and rcpA also led to attenuated colonization of the mouse bladder. Overall, this work has provided new insight into the regulation of curli and the role of these amyloid fibers in UPEC biofilm formation and pathogenesis.IMPORTANCE Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains are the most common cause of urinary tract infection, a disease increasingly associated with escalating antibiotic resistance. UPEC strains possess multiple surface-associated factors that enable their colonization of the urinary tract, including fimbriae, curli, and autotransporters. Curli are extracellular amyloid fibers that enhance UPEC virulence and promote biofilm formation. Here we examined the function and regulation of curli in a UPEC pyelonephritis strain belonging to the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 neonatal meningitis-associated clone. Curli expression at human physiological temperature led to increased biofilm formation, resistance of sessile cells to the human cationic peptide LL-37, and enhanced bladder colonization. Using a comprehensive genetic screen, we identified multiple genes involved in curli production, including several that were novel or poorly characterized with respect to curli synthesis. In total, this study demonstrates an important role for curli as a UPEC virulence factor that promotes biofilm formation, resistance, and pathogenesis.

MeSH terms: Amyloid/genetics*; Animals; Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology; Female; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mutation; Pyelonephritis/microbiology; Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology; Virulence; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Biofilms/growth & development; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics*; Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism; Virulence Factors/genetics*; Mice; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli/genetics*; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli/pathogenicity
Fulltext Corrigendum: Plant-derived immunomodulators: an insight on their preclinical evaluation and clinical trials

Jantan I, Ahmad W, Bukhari SNA

Front Plant Sci, 2018 08 13;9:1178.
PMID: 30131822 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01178

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00655.].

MeSH terms: Humans

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