Browse publications by year: 2018

Fulltext Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking of Novel Indole-Aminoquinazoline Hybrids for Anticancer Properties

Mphahlele MJ, Mmonwa MM, Aro A, McGaw LJ, Choong YS

Int J Mol Sci, 2018 Jul 31;19(8).
PMID: 30065164 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082232

A series of indole-aminoquinazolines was prepared via amination of the 2-aryl-4-chloroquinazolines with the 7-amino-2-aryl-5-bromoindoles. It was then evaluated for cytotoxicity in vitro against human lung cancer (A549), epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), hepatocellular carcinoma (C3A), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. A combination on the quinazoline and indole moieties of a 2-phenyl and 2-(4-fluorophenyl) rings in compound 4b; 2-(4-fluorophenyl) and 3-chlorophenyl rings in compound 4f; or the two 2-(4-fluorophenyl) rings in compound 4g, resulted in significant and moderate activity against the Caco-2 and C3A cell lines. The indole-aminoquinazoline hybrids compounds 4f and 4g induced apoptosis in Caco-2 and C3A cells, and were also found to exhibit moderate (IC50 = 52.5 nM) and significant (IC50 = 40.7 nM) inhibitory activity towards epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) against gefitinib (IC50 = 38.9 nM). Molecular docking suggests that 4a⁻h could bind to the ATP region of EGFR like erlotinib.

MeSH terms: Aminoquinolines/chemistry*; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry; HeLa Cells; Humans; Indoles/chemistry*; Quinazolines/pharmacology; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/metabolism; Structure-Activity Relationship; Molecular Structure; Apoptosis/drug effects; Caco-2 Cells; Cell Line, Tumor; MCF-7 Cells; Molecular Docking Simulation*; A549 Cells
Fulltext Land Subsidence Susceptibility Mapping in South Korea Using Machine Learning Algorithms

Tien Bui D, Shahabi H, Shirzadi A, Chapi K, Pradhan B, Chen W, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Jul 31;18(8).
PMID: 30065216 DOI: 10.3390/s18082464

In this study, land subsidence susceptibility was assessed for a study area in South Korea by using four machine learning models including Bayesian Logistic Regression (BLR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Model Tree (LMT) and Alternate Decision Tree (ADTree). Eight conditioning factors were distinguished as the most important affecting factors on land subsidence of Jeong-am area, including slope angle, distance to drift, drift density, geology, distance to lineament, lineament density, land use and rock-mass rating (RMR) were applied to modelling. About 24 previously occurred land subsidence were surveyed and used as training dataset (70% of data) and validation dataset (30% of data) in the modelling process. Each studied model generated a land subsidence susceptibility map (LSSM). The maps were verified using several appropriate tools including statistical indices, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) and success rate (SR) and prediction rate (PR) curves. The results of this study indicated that the BLR model produced LSSM with higher acceptable accuracy and reliability compared to the other applied models, even though the other models also had reasonable results.
Fulltext A Solar Panel-Integrated Modified Planner Inverted F Antenna for Low Earth Orbit Remote Sensing Nanosatellite Communication System

Alam T, Islam MT, Ullah MA, Cho M

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Jul 31;18(8).
PMID: 30065233 DOI: 10.3390/s18082480

One of the most efficient methods to observe the impact of geographical, environmental, and geological changes is remote sensing. Nowadays, nanosatellites are being used to observe climate change using remote sensing technology. Communication between a remote sensing nanosatellite and Earth significantly depends upon antenna systems. Body-mounted solar panels are the main source of satellite operating power unless deployable solar panels are used. Lower ultra-high frequency (UHF) nanosatellite antenna design is a crucial challenge due to the physical size constraint and the need for solar panel integration. Moreover, nanosatellite space missions are vulnerable because of antenna and solar panel deployment complexity. This paper proposes a solar panel-integrated modified planner inverted F antenna (PIFA) to mitigate these crucial limitations. The antenna consists of a slotted rectangular radiating patch with coaxial probe feeding and a rectangular ground plane. The proposed antenna has achieved a -10 dB impedance bandwidth of 6.0 MHz (447.5 MHz⁻453.5 MHz) with a small-sized (80 mm× 90 mm× 0.5 mm) radiating element. In addition, the antenna achieved a maximum realized gain of 0.6 dB and a total efficiency of 67.45% with the nanosatellite structure and a solar panel. The challenges addressed by the proposed antenna are to ensure solar panel placement between the radiating element and the ground plane, and provide approximately 55% open space to allow solar irradiance into the solar panel.

MeSH terms: Geography; Geology; Solar Energy; Electric Impedance; Climate Change; Remote Sensing Technology
Fulltext Inhibitory effect of chemical and natural anti-browning agents on polyphenol oxidase from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Lim WY, Wong CW

J Food Sci Technol, 2018 Aug;55(8):3001-3007.
PMID: 30065409 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-018-3218-7

Food browning is undesirable as it causes deterioration in food quality and appearance. This phenomenon was related to polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which catalyzes conversion of phenolic compounds into o-quinones. The present work evaluated the use of chemical and natural anti-browning agents to prevent the browning of ginger PPO. Sodium metabisulfite (5 mM) is a better chemical inhibitor compared to l-cysteine and sodium chloride as 55.00% of ginger PPO inhibition was achieved. The percentage of inhibition increased as the concentration of anti-browning agents increases. The addition of heated onion, chili pepper and pineapple extracts exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on ginger PPO than unheated extracts. Heated chili pepper extract was the best natural inhibitor found in this study and it inhibited the ginger PPO (47.97%) mixed-competitively. Natural anti-browning agents have potential to be used to control the browning of ginger as well as other vegetables and fruits.
Fulltext Enzymatic synthesis of polyphenol glycosides catalyzed by transglycosylation reaction of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase derived from Trichoderma viride

Nazir S, Sulistyo J, Hashmi MI, Ho AL, Khan MS

J Food Sci Technol, 2018 Aug;55(8):3026-3034.
PMID: 30065412 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-018-3223-x

Present study was conducted to evaluate the ability of Trichoderma viride as a source of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase that has shown transglycosylation activity in the presence of polyphenolic constituents extracted from Moringa oleifera leaves as its acceptor and wheat flour as its substrate to catalyze synthesis of polyphenolic glycosides as transglycosylation (transfer) reaction products. The enzymatic synthesized polyphenolic glycosides were then purified using octa-dodecyl-functionalized silica gel column chromatography prior to analysis using thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography and identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The high performance liquid chromatogram performed that the isolated transglycosylation products had retention times and concentration at 1.446 min (0.0017 mg/ml), 1.431 min (0.14 mg/ml), and 1.474 min (0.012 mg/ml), respectively, compared to the retention time of arbutin (1.474 min) that was applied as authentic standard for polyphenol glycoside. Moreover, observation using 1H NMR as well as 13C NMR showed that structures of the transglycosylation products were identified as gallic acid-4-O-β-glucopyranoside, ellagicacid-4-O-β-glucopyranoside, and catechin-4'-O-glucopyranoside, respectively.

MeSH terms: Arbutin; Catechin; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Flour; Gallic Acid; Glycosides; Trichoderma; Triticum; Moringa oleifera; Silica Gel; Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Fulltext Simultaneous use of adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) flour as meat extender and fat replacer in reduced-fat beef meatballs (bebola daging)

Aslinah LNF, Mat Yusoff M, Ismail-Fitry MR

J Food Sci Technol, 2018 Aug;55(8):3241-3248.
PMID: 30065435 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-018-3256-1

Adzuki bean is high in protein and fiber with a potential to be used as meat extender and fat replacer in the meat product. Replacement of both the corn flour and fat with different percentages of adzuki beans flour (ABF) has successfully produced acceptable reduced fat meatballs. Meatballs with 100% (w/w) ABF replacement exhibited highest cooking yield and higher moisture content compared to meatballs without the flour, which indicates its ability to bind water. Increasing the ABF content also increased the hardness and chewiness of the meatballs, whilst decreasing their lightness and yellowness. Replacing the corn flour and fat contents with ABF has obviously decreased the fat and calorie contents of the meatballs, yet their protein and carbohydrate contents remained the same compared to control. The sensory test revealed that meatball samples with 25% (w/w) and 50% (w/w) ABF showed no significant difference compared to control but received highest overall acceptability among the panelists. This indicates that replacement of corn flour and fat with ABF especially at 50% (w/w) in the production of reduced fat meatballs resulted with better physicochemical properties and acceptable sensory compared to original meatballs.

MeSH terms: Cooking; Zea mays; Dietary Fiber; Flour; Hardness; Meat; Meat Products; Water; Vigna
Fulltext A Review of Medical Doppler Ultrasonography of Blood Flow in General and Especially in Common Carotid Artery

Oglat AA, Matjafri MZ, Suardi N, Oqlat MA, Abdelrahman MA, Oqlat AA

J Med Ultrasound, 2018 03 28;26(1):3-13.
PMID: 30065507 DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_11_17

Medical Doppler ultrasound is usually utilized in the clinical adjusting to evaluate and estimate blood flow in both the major (large) and the minor (tiny) vessels of the body. The normal and abnormal sign waveforms can be shown by spectral Doppler technique. The sign waveform is individual to each vessel. Thus, it is significant for the operator and the clinicians to understand the normal and abnormal diagnostic in a spectral Doppler show. The aim of this review is to explain the physical principles behind the medical Doppler ultrasound, also, to use some of the mathematical formulas utilized in the medical Doppler ultrasound examination. Furthermore, we discussed the color and spectral flow model of Doppler ultrasound. Finally, we explained spectral Doppler sign waveforms to show both the normal and abnormal signs waveforms that are individual to the common carotid artery, because these signs are important for both the radiologist and sonographer to perceive both the normal and abnormal in a spectral Doppler show.

MeSH terms: Angiography; Carotid Arteries; Ultrasonography; Carotid Artery, Common; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Radiologists
Fulltext Role of Penile Doppler as a Diagnostic Tool in Penile Fracture

Hassali MA, Nouri AI, Hamzah AA, Verma AK

J Med Ultrasound, 2018 03 28;26(1):48-51.
PMID: 30065514 DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_9_18

Penile fracture is defined as a traumatic rupture of either corpus cavernosum or the tunica albuginea; sometimes it can be both. It may be caused by exotic masturbation acts, sexual intercourse, or other trauma to this area. This can be accompanied by injury to the urethra, which is the cause of hematuria as a symptom for some patients. Typically, diagnosis of penile rupture or fracture depends on clinical examination and history told by the patients. We are stating the importance of medical imaging in the diagnosis of patients with penile fracture by presenting a case of patient suffered from penile fracture after a fall on his penis where it affected the erection of two-third of his penis. In which, the proper diagnosis by imaging studies and taking actions accordingly can save the patients from unnecessary surgeries that indeed increase the bill of the medical care directly and indirectly. Therefore, most patients can be diagnosed cost-effectively and treated surgically without a need to delay surgery, which is often the case if one was to resort to other investigations. Investigations such as retrograde urethrography for suspected urethral injury should only be used when the diagnosis of penile fracture is in doubt.

MeSH terms: Coitus; Diagnostic Imaging; Hematuria; Humans; Male; Masturbation; Penile Diseases; Penile Erection; Penis; Rupture; Urethra
Fulltext A Review of Suspension-Scattered Particles Used in Blood-Mimicking Fluid for Doppler Ultrasound Imaging

Oglat AA, Suardi N, Matjafri MZ, Oqlat MA, Abdelrahman MA, Oqlat AA

J Med Ultrasound, 2018;26(2):68-76.
PMID: 30065522 DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_1_17

Doppler ultrasound imaging system description and calibration need blood-mimicking fluids (BMFs) for the test target of medical ultrasound diagnostic tools, with known interior features and acoustic and physical properties of this fluid (BMF). Physical and acoustical properties determined in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard are specified as constant values, the materials used in the BMF preparation should have values similar to the IEC standard values. However, BMF is ready-made commercially from a field of medical usage, which may not be appropriate in the layout of ultrasound system or for an estimate of novel imaging mechanism. It is often eligible to have the capability to make sound properties and mimic blood arrangement for specific applications. In this review, sufficient BMF materials, liquids, and measures are described which have been generated by utilizing diverse operation mechanism and materials that have sculptured a range of biological systems.
Fulltext Neonatal tooth with Riga-Fide disease affecting breastfeeding: a case report

Jamani NA, Ardini YD, Harun NA

Int Breastfeed J, 2018;13:35.
PMID: 30065775 DOI: 10.1186/s13006-018-0176-7

Background: Neonatal teeth erupt during the neonatal period and natal teeth are the presence of teeth since birth. While rare, natal teeth and neonatal teeth can have a significant impact on breastfeeding. Neonatal teeth are less common, and although its exact etiology is still unknown, it can cause difficulties in breastfeeding to the mother and may eventually lead to discontinuation of breastfeeding. Other associated possible complications include tooth aspiration and sublingual ulceration. This paper was aimed to discuss the clinical features, complications, and management of neonatal tooth, in addition to its impact on breastfeeding and role in sublingual ulcer formation.
Case presentation: We present a baby girl who had a neonatal tooth with sublingual ulceration (Riga-Fede disease), which resulted in a difficulty to breastfeed for the baby and nipple pain to the mother. Following the extraction of the baby's tooth, she immediately continued breastfeeding, and her tongue ulcer healed well.
Conclusion: Extraction of the neonatal tooth promoted rapid healing of oral ulcers and the reestablishment of breastfeeding.

MeSH terms: Breast Feeding; Female; Humans; Infant; Mothers; Natal Teeth; Nipples; Pain; Pregnancy; Tongue Diseases; Tooth Eruption; Tooth, Deciduous; Ulcer; Oral Ulcer; Parturition
Fulltext A Review on the Extraction of Quantitative Retinal Microvascular Image Feature

Kipli K, Hoque ME, Lim LT, Mahmood MH, Sahari SK, Sapawi R, et al.

Comput Math Methods Med, 2018;2018:4019538.
PMID: 30065780 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4019538

Digital image processing is one of the most widely used computer vision technologies in biomedical engineering. In the present modern ophthalmological practice, biomarkers analysis through digital fundus image processing analysis greatly contributes to vision science. This further facilitates developments in medical imaging, enabling this robust technology to attain extensive scopes in biomedical engineering platform. Various diagnostic techniques are used to analyze retinal microvasculature image to enable geometric features measurements such as vessel tortuosity, branching angles, branching coefficient, vessel diameter, and fractal dimension. These extracted markers or characterized fundus digital image features provide insights and relates quantitative retinal vascular topography abnormalities to various pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, hypertensive retinopathy, transient ischemic attack, neovascular glaucoma, and cardiovascular diseases. Apart from that, this noninvasive research tool is automated, allowing it to be used in large-scale screening programs, and all are described in this present review paper. This paper will also review recent research on the image processing-based extraction techniques of the quantitative retinal microvascular feature. It mainly focuses on features associated with the early symptom of transient ischemic attack or sharp stroke.

MeSH terms: Fundus Oculi; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*; Retina; Fractals
Fulltext Epidemiology of tuberculosis and treatment outcomes among children in Pakistan: a 5 year retrospective study

Laghari M, Sulaiman SAS, Khan AH, Memon N

PeerJ, 2018;6:e5253.
PMID: 30065869 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5253

Background: Regardless of the advancement in medical technologies, the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children has remained a challenge. Childhood TB is rampant and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the trend of TB and treatment outcomes in children aged ≤14 years registered for TB treatment under DOTS course in three districts of Sindh, Pakistan.
Methods: For this retrospective study, records of TB children (≤14 years) registered for the treatment of TB from January 2011 to December 2015 in three districts of Pakistan, were collected. Demographic data, baseline weight, clinical manifestations, radiography, histopathology results and treatment outcomes were collected from TB unit registers.
Results: A total of 2,167 children were treated for TB during the study period. Of these, 1,199 (55.3%) were females and 1,242 (57.3%) were from urban areas. Over three-quarter of patients (76.9%) had pulmonary TB with 13.3% of sputum smear positive cases. The overall treatment success rate was 92.4%. In multivariate analysis, rural residents (OR: 2.146, p

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Attention; Child; Demography; Female; Humans; Male; Pakistan; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Sputum; Thinness; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Multivariate Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Treatment Failure
Fulltext Integrative machine learning analysis of multiple gene expression profiles in cervical cancer

Tan MS, Chang SW, Cheah PL, Yap HJ

PeerJ, 2018;6:e5285.
PMID: 30065881 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5285

Although most of the cervical cancer cases are reported to be closely related to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, there is a need to study genes that stand up differentially in the final actualization of cervical cancers following HPV infection. In this study, we proposed an integrative machine learning approach to analyse multiple gene expression profiles in cervical cancer in order to identify a set of genetic markers that are associated with and may eventually aid in the diagnosis or prognosis of cervical cancers. The proposed integrative analysis is composed of three steps: namely, (i) gene expression analysis of individual dataset; (ii) meta-analysis of multiple datasets; and (iii) feature selection and machine learning analysis. As a result, 21 gene expressions were identified through the integrative machine learning analysis which including seven supervised and one unsupervised methods. A functional analysis with GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) was performed on the selected 21-gene expression set and showed significant enrichment in a nine-potential gene expression signature, namely PEG3, SPON1, BTD and RPLP2 (upregulated genes) and PRDX3, COPB2, LSM3, SLC5A3 and AS1B (downregulated genes).

MeSH terms: Machine Learning; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Female; Genetic Markers; Humans; Prognosis; Transcriptional Activation; Up-Regulation; Papillomavirus Infections; Transcriptome
Fulltext Mental Health Conceptualization and Resilience Factors in the Kalasha Youth: An Indigenous Ethnic and Religious Minority Community in Pakistan

Choudhry FR, Khan TM, Park MS, Golden KJ

Front Public Health, 2018;6:187.
PMID: 30065918 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00187

The Kalasha are a religious, ethnic, and linguistic minority community in Pakistan. They are indigenous people living in remote valleys of the Hindu Kush Mountains in northern Pakistan, neighboring Afghanistan. The Kalasha are pastoral, as well as agricultural people to some extent, although they are increasingly facing pressures from globalization and social change, which may be influencing youth and community development. Their traditional world view dichotomizes and emphasizes on the division of the pure (Onjeshta) and the impure (Pragata). There remains a scarcity of literature on mental health and resilience of indigenous communities in South Asia and Pakistan generally, and the polytheistic Kalasha community specifically. Thus, the current study was conducted with the aim to explore the cultural protective factors (resilience) of the Kalasha youth (adolescents and emerging adults) and to explore their perceived etiological understandings and preferred interventions for mental health support systems. The theoretical framework of Bronfenbrenner's (1, 2) ecological systems model was used. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was conducted, considering the advantage of its idiographic approach and the "double hermeneutic" analytic process. This methodology was consistent with the aim to understand and make sense of mental health and resilience from the Kalasha indigenous perspective. A total of 12 in-depth interviews were conducted with adolescents and emerging adults (5 males, 7 females), along with ethnographic observations. The analysis revealed 3 superordinate themes of mental health perceptions and interventions, each with more specific emergent themes: (1) Psychological Resilience/Cultural Protective Factors Buffering Against Mental Health Problems (Intra-Communal Bonding & Sharing; Kalasha Festivals & Traditions; Purity Concept; Behavioral Practice of Happiness and Cognitive Patterns); (2) Perceived Causes of Mental Health Issues (Biological & Psychosocial; Supernatural & Spiritual; Environmental); and (3) Preferred Interventions [Shamanic Treatment; Ta'awiz (Amulets); Communal Sharing & Problem Solving; Medical Treatment; Herbal Methods]. The overall findings point to the need for developing culturally-sensitive and indigenous measures and therapeutic interventions. The findings highlighted the Kalasha cultural practices which may promote resilience. The findings also call for indigenous sources of knowledge to be considered when collaboratively designing public health programs.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Afghanistan; Cognition; Ethnic Groups; Female; Happiness; Holidays; Humans; Linguistics; Male; Mental Health; Minority Groups; Pakistan; Problem Solving; Public Health; Social Change; Ecosystem; Shamanism; Internationality; Population Groups; Resilience, Psychological; Protective Factors; Hermeneutics
Fulltext Relationship between High Temperature and Formation of Chalkiness and Their Effects on Quality of Rice

Nevame AYM, Emon RM, Malek MA, Hasan MM, Alam MA, Muharam FM, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2018;2018:1653721.
PMID: 30065932 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1653721

Occurrence of chalkiness in rice is attributed to genetic and environmental factors, especially high temperature (HT). The HT induces heat stress, which in turn compromises many grain qualities, especially transparency. Chalkiness in rice is commonly studied together with other quality traits such as amylose content, gel consistency, and protein storage. In addition to the fundamental QTLs, some other QTLs have been identified which accelerate chalkiness occurrence under HT condition. In this review, some of the relatively stable chalkiness, amylose content, and gel consistency related QTLs have been presented well. Genetically, HT effect on chalkiness is explained by the location of certain chalkiness gene in the vicinity of high-temperature-responsive genes. With regard to stable QTL distribution and availability of potential material resources, there is still feasibility to find out novel stable QTLs related to chalkiness under HT condition. A better understanding of those achievements is essential to develop new rice varieties with a reduced chalky grain percentage. Therefore, we propose the pyramiding of relatively stable and nonallelic QTLs controlling low chalkiness endosperm into adaptable rice varieties as pragmatic approach to mitigate HT effect.

MeSH terms: Amylose; Hot Temperature*; Oryza*; Temperature; Quantitative Trait Loci
Fulltext Prevalence, Genetic Heterogeneity, and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes at Farm Level: A Highlight of ERIC- and BOX-PCR to Reveal Genetic Diversity

Maurice Bilung L, Sin Chai L, Tahar AS, Ted CK, Apun K

Biomed Res Int, 2018;2018:3067494.
PMID: 30065935 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3067494

This study aimed to identify Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes, characterize the isolates, and determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes in fresh produce, fertilizer, and environmental samples from vegetable farms (organic and conventional farms). A total of 386 samples (vegetables, soil, water, and fertilizer with manure) were examined. The identification of bacterial isolates was performed using PCR and characterized using ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR. The discriminating power of the typing method was analyzed using Simpson's Index of Diversity. Thirty-four (n=34) Listeria isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the disc-diffusion technique. The PCR analysis revealed that Listeria spp. were present in 7.51% (29/386) of all the samples (vegetable, soil, fertilizer, and water). None of the samples examined were positive for the presence of L. monocytogenes. Percentages of 100% (15/15) and 73.30% (11/15) of the Listeria spp. isolated from vegetables, fertilizer, and soil from organic farm B had indistinguishable DNA fingerprints by using ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR, respectively. Listeria spp. isolated from 86 samples of vegetable, fertilizer, and environment of organic farm A and conventional farm C had distinct DNA fingerprints. Simpson's Index of Diversity, D, of ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR is 0.604 and 0.888, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that most of the Listeria spp. in this study were found to be resistant to ampicillin, rifampin, penicillin G, tetracycline, clindamycin, cephalothin, and ceftriaxone. The isolates had MAR index ranging between 0.31 and 0.85. In conclusion, hygienic measures at farm level are crucial to the reduction of Listeria transmission along the food chain.

MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial*; Food Microbiology*; Listeria/genetics; Listeria/isolation & purification; Genetic Variation; Prevalence; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Genetic Heterogeneity*; Farms
First genetic characterization of the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato in Peninsular Malaysia

Low VL, Prakash BK

Exp Appl Acarol, 2018 Jul;75(3):299-307.
PMID: 30066112 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0279-2

The brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is a species complex comprising three main mitochondrial lineages, namely tropical, temperate and southeast European lineages. Despite its medical and veterinary importance, little attention has been paid to the genetic lineage of this species in Southeast Asia. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. from Malaysia was investigated genetically, for the first time, using the mitochondria-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S) genes. Specifically, a pair of primers was developed to amplify the COI sequences in the present study. Both genes unambiguously assigned Malaysian material into the tropical lineage of R. sanguineus s.l. The 16S sequences were highly conserved; no variation site was observed. The COI sequences revealed slightly higher variation by recovering four haplotypes, one of which is restricted to the northernmost of Peninsular Malaysia. This finding will be a stepping stone in promoting more biological studies of this species complex in this region.

MeSH terms: Animals; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics; Dogs/parasitology*; Genetic Markers; Malaysia; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; DNA Primers; Rhipicephalus sanguineus/classification; Rhipicephalus sanguineus/genetics*
Fulltext Tissue culture and genetic transformation of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata): an overview

Gerszberg A

Planta, 2018 Nov;248(5):1037-1048.
PMID: 30066219 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-2961-3

The main goal of this publication is an overview of the biotechnological achievements concerning in vitro cultures and transformation of Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Faced with the requirements of the global food market, intensified work on the genetic transformation of economically important plants is carried out in laboratories around the world. The development of efficient procedures for their regeneration and transformation could be a good solution for obtaining, in a shorter time than by traditional methods, plants with desirable traits. Furthermore, conventional breeding methods are insufficient for crop genetic improvement not only because of being time-consuming but also because they are severely limited by sexual incompatibility barriers. This problem has been overcome by genetic engineering, which seems to be a very good technique for cabbage improvement. Despite the huge progress that has been made in the field of plant regeneration and transformation methods, up to now, no routine transformation procedure has been developed in the case of cabbage. This problem stems from the fact that the efficiency of cabbage transformation is closely related to the genotype and some varieties are recalcitrant to transformation. It is obvious that it is not possible to establish one universal regeneration and transformation protocol for all varieties of cabbage. Therefore, it seems fully justified to develop the above-mentioned procedures for individual economically important cultivars. Despite the obstacles of cabbage transformation in laboratories of many countries, especially those where this vegetable is extremely popular (e.g., China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan), such attempts are made. This article reviews the achievements in the field of tissue culture and cabbage transformation from the last two decades.

MeSH terms: Brassica/genetics*; Brassica/growth & development; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics*; Plants, Genetically Modified/growth & development
Canine and feline cutaneous screw-worm myiasis in Malaysia: clinical aspects in 76 cases

Han HS, Toh PY, Yoong HB, Loh HM, Tan LL, Ng YY

Vet Dermatol, 2018 Oct;29(5):442-e148.
PMID: 30066413 DOI: 10.1111/vde.12672

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous screw-worm myiasis in companion animals either due to the New World screw-worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax or the Old World screw-worm, Chrysomya bezziana, has been reported particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although treatment of screw-worm myiasis in dogs has been described, few studies have been conducted regarding its clinical and epidemiological aspects in companion animals.
OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical and epidemiological aspects of canine and feline screw-worm myiasis.
ANIMALS: Naturally infested dogs and cats, presented to five veterinary clinics in four Malaysian states from September 2017 to February 2018.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Cutaneous screw-worm myiasis was diagnosed based on clinical signs and visual examination of burrowing larvae within lesion. Age, breed, gender, anatomical site of infestation and suspected underlying predisposing causes were investigated.
RESULTS: A total of 55 dogs and 21 cats were included in the study. Intact male mixed breed dogs (mean age 58 months) and intact male domestic short hair cats (mean age 24 months) with suspected fight-related wounds were most commonly presented with exudative and ulcerative lesions associated with screw-worm myiasis. The most common anatomical sites of infestation in the dogs were the external ear canals, followed by the perineum and medial canthus. For the cats, the most commonly affected areas were paws and tail. Five cats with screw-worm myiasis were concurrently infected with sporotrichosis.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Aggression between unneutered animals is a likely underlying cause for cutaneous screw-worm myiasis in both cats and dogs. Sporotrichosis was also a potential predisposing cause for screw-worm myiasis in cats.

MeSH terms: Animals; Cat Diseases/epidemiology; Cat Diseases/parasitology*; Cat Diseases/pathology; Cats; Diptera; Dog Diseases/epidemiology; Dog Diseases/parasitology*; Dog Diseases/pathology; Dogs; Female; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Risk Factors; Screw Worm Infection/epidemiology; Screw Worm Infection/pathology; Screw Worm Infection/veterinary*; Skin/parasitology; Skin/pathology
Anticancer activities of a benzimidazole compound through sirtuin inhibition in colorectal cancer

Tan YJ, Lee YT, Yeong KY, Petersen SH, Kono K, Tan SC, et al.

Future Med Chem, 2018 Sep 01;10(17):2039-2057.
PMID: 30066578 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0052

AIM: This study aims to investigate the mode of action of a novel sirtuin inhibitor (BZD9L1) and its associated molecular pathways in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.
MATERIALS & METHODS: BZD9L1 was tested against metastatic CRC cell lines to evaluate cytotoxicity, cell cycle and apoptosis, senescence, apoptosis related genes and protein expressions, as well as effect against major cancer signaling pathways.
RESULTS & CONCLUSION: BZD9L1 reduced the viability, cell migration and colony forming ability of both HCT 116 and HT-29 metastatic CRC cell lines through apoptosis. BZD9L1 regulated major cancer pathways differently in CRC with different mutation profiles. BZD9L1 exhibited anticancer activities as a cytotoxic drug in CRC and as a promising therapeutic strategy in CRC treatment.

MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry*; Benzimidazoles/pharmacology*; Benzimidazoles/chemistry*; Cell Cycle/drug effects; Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology; Apoptosis/drug effects; HT29 Cells; Sirtuins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Sirtuins/metabolism; HCT116 Cells; Molecular Targeted Therapy

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