Browse publications by year: 2018

Major Bioactive Compounds in Essential Oils Extracted From the Rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (L) Smith: A Mini-Review on the Anti-allergic and Immunomodulatory Properties

Tan JW, Israf DA, Tham CL

Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:652.
PMID: 29973880 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00652

Zingiber zerumbet (L) Smith is part of the Zingiberaceae family, one of the largest families of the plant kingdom. Z. zerumbet is a perennial, aromatic and tuberose plant that grows in humid locations where its center of distribution is located in the South-East Asia region. This plant has been traditionally used in foods and beverages and for ornamental purposes. Although many studies have reported on the biomedical applications of Z. zerumbet, the anti-allergic effects of Z. zerumbet and its major bioactive compounds have not yet been summarized in detail. Many major metabolites that have been reported to contain anti-allergic properties are terpene compounds which can be found in the essential oil extracted from the rhizomes of Z. zerumbet, such as zerumbone, limonene, and humulene. The rhizome is among the part of Z. zerumbet that has been widely used for many studies due to its exceptional biomedical applications. Most of these studies have shown that the essential oil, which can be obtained through hydro-distillation of the rhizomes from Z. zerumbet, is enriched with various active metabolites. Therefore, this mini-review provides an overview of the main aspects related to the anti-allergic and immunomodulatory properties of the major bioactive compounds found in the essential oils extracted from the rhizomes of Z. zerumbet, with the aim of demonstrating the importance of essential oil extracted from the rhizomes of Z. zerumbet and its bioactive compounds in the treatment of allergy and allergy-related diseases, in addition to other widely reported and extensively studied biomedical applications.
Fulltext Exploring the Leaves of Annona muricata L. as a Source of Potential Anti-inflammatory and Anticancer Agents

Abdul Wahab SM, Jantan I, Haque MA, Arshad L

Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:661.
PMID: 29973884 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00661

The use of anti-inflammatory natural products to treat inflammatory disorders for cancer prevention and therapy is an appealing area of interest in the last decades. Annona muricata L. is one of the many plant extracts that have been explored owing to their anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Different parts of A. muricata especially the leaves have been used for various ethnomedicinal purposes by traditional healers to treat several diseases including cancer, inflammation, diabetes, liver diseases, and abscesses. Some of these experience-based claims on the use of the plant have been transformed into evidence-based information by scientific investigations. The leaves of the plant have been extensively investigated for its diverse pharmacological aspects and found eminent for anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, most studies were not on the bioactive isolates which were responsible for the activities but were based on crude extracts of the plant. In this comprehensive review, all significant findings from previous investigations till date on the leaves of A. muricata, specifically on their anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities have been compiled. The toxicology of the plant which has been shown to be due to the presence of neurotoxic annaceous acetogenins and benzyltetrahydro-isoquinoline alkaloids has also been updated to provide recent information on its safety aspects. The present knowledge of the plant has been critically assessed, aimed at providing direction toward improving its prospect as a source of potential anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. The analysis will provide a new path for ensuring research on this plant to discover new agents to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer. Further in vitro and in vivo studies should be carried out to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory responses in relation to anticancer activity and more detail toxicity study to ensure they are safe for human consumption. Sufficient preclinical data and safety data generated will allow clinical trials to be pursued on this plant and its bioactive compounds.

MeSH terms: Abscess; Alkaloids; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Isoquinolines; Liver Diseases; Medicine, Traditional; Neoplasms; Plant Extracts; Annona; Acetogenins
Effects of Newcastle Disease Virus Infection on Chicken Intestinal Intraepithelial Natural Killer Cells

Abdolmaleki M, Yeap SK, Tan SW, Satharasinghe DA, Bello MB, Jahromi MZ, et al.

Front Immunol, 2018;9:1386.
PMID: 29973933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01386

The intestinal intraepithelial natural killer cells (IEL-NK) are among the earliest effectors of antiviral immunity in chicken. Unfortunately, their role during Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection remains obscure. Previous study has reported the development of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) known as 28-4, which is specifically directed against the CD3- IEL-NK cells. In the present study, we used this mAb to investigate the effects of velogenic and lentogenic NDV infection on avian IEL-NK cells. Our findings revealed that chickens infected with velogenic NDV strains have a reduced population of purified CD3-/28-4+ IEL-NK cells as determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the CD3-/28-4+ IEL-NK cells from chicken infected with velogenic NDV strains were shown to have a downregulated expression of activating receptors (CD69 and B-Lec), effector peptide (NK-LYSIN), and IFN gamma. On the contrary, the expression of the inhibitory receptor (B-NK) and bifunctional receptor (CHIR-AB1) were upregulated on these purified CD3-/28-4+ IEL-NK cells following velogenic NDV infection. Meanwhile, the lentogenic NDV demonstrated insignificant effects on both the total population of CD3-/28-4+ IEL-NK cells and the expression of their surface receptors. In addition, using real-time PCR and transmission electron microscopy, we showed that CD3-/28-4+ IEL-NK cells were susceptible to velogenic but not lentogenic NDV infection. These findings put together demonstrate the ability of different strains of NDV to manipulate the activating and inhibitory receptors of CD3-/28-4+ IEL-NK cells following infection. Further studies are, however, required to ascertain the functional importance of these findings during virulent or avirulent NDV infection.
Antibody-Mediated Therapy against HIV/AIDS: Where Are We Standing Now?

Awi NJ, Teow SY

J Pathog, 2018;2018:8724549.
PMID: 29973995 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8724549

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases are on the rise globally. To date, there is still no effective measure to eradicate the causative agent, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is being used in HIV/AIDS management, but it results in long-term medication and has major drawbacks such as multiple side effects, high cost, and increasing the generation rate of escape mutants. In addition, HAART does not control HIV-related complications, and hence more medications and further management are required. With this, other alternatives are urgently needed. In the past, small-molecule inhibitors have shown potent antiviral effects, and some of them are now being evaluated in clinical trials. The challenges in developing these small molecules for clinical use include the off-target effect, poor stability, and low bioavailability. On the other hand, antibody-mediated therapy has emerged as an important therapeutic modality for anti-HIV therapeutics development. Many antiviral antibodies, namely, broad neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against multiple strains of HIV, have shown promising effects in vitro and in animal studies; further studies are ongoing in clinical trials to evaluate their uses in clinical applications. This short review aims to discuss the current development of therapeutic antibodies against HIV and the challenges in adopting them for clinical use.

MeSH terms: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antiviral Agents; Biological Availability; Humans; HIV Infections; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Antibodies, Neutralizing
Fulltext Olanzapine-induced Cataract in a Teenage Girl

Lim CZ, Sonny Teo KS, Tai E

Cureus, 2018 Apr 30;10(4):e2553.
PMID: 29974009 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.2553

Cataract, defined as cloudiness of the lens, is a common adverse effect of first-generation antipsychotic medications. Newer generation antipsychotics, also known as atypical antipsychotics, are less commonly associated with cataract. A 19-year-old girl with underlying schizophrenia on olanzapine for the past two years complained of gradual blurring of vision in both eyes for four months prior to presentation. On examination, the best corrected visual acuity was counting finger in both eyes. The anterior segment examination showed bilateral diffuse cortical cataract precluding fundus examination. Systemic examination was unremarkable. Blood investigations revealed a high random blood sugar, which normalised after she was initiated on oral hypoglycemic medication. After bilateral lens aspiration, her visual acuity was 6/6 bilaterally. Olanzapine may be cataractogenic via its action as a serotonin antagonist, which results in reduced glucose responsiveness of the pancreatic beta-cells. Patients on anti-psychotic medication are at risk of developing diabetes mellitus and cataract compared to the general population. Screening for diabetes mellitus should be part of the follow-up of these patients. Ophthalmological evaluation is warranted in the presence of visual complaints.

MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Glucose; Cataract; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glucose; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Lens, Crystalline; Schizophrenia; Serotonin; Antipsychotic Agents; Visual Acuity; Young Adult
Malaysian Team Awarded the WHO Dr. Lee Jong-Wook Memorial Prize for Public Health

Nair HKR

Int J Low Extrem Wounds, 2018 06;17(2):134-135.
PMID: 29974798 DOI: 10.1177/1534734618784091
MeSH terms: Awards and Prizes*; Humans; Malaysia; Public Health*; Wounds and Injuries/therapy*
Vitamin D status and oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus

Lee WC, Mokhtar SS, Munisamy S, Yahaya S, Rasool AHG

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand), 2018 May 30;64(7):60-69.
PMID: 29974854

Diabetes mellitus is an epidemic that is gaining global concern. Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes induces the excess production of free radicals. The deleterious effects of excess free radicals are encountered by endogenous antioxidant defense system. Imbalance between free radicals production and antioxidants defense mechanisms leads to a condition known as "oxidative stress". Diabetes mellitus is associated with augmented oxidative stress that induced micro- and macrovascular complications, which presents a significant risk for cardiovascular events. Low vitamin D levels in the body have also been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of diabetes and enhanced oxidative stress. The article is to review available literature and summarize the relationship between oxidative stress and vitamin D levels in diabetes. We also review the effects of vitamin D analogs supplementation in improving oxidative stress in diabetics.

MeSH terms: Animals; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism*; Free Radicals/metabolism; Humans; Vitamin D/metabolism*; Vitamin D/therapeutic use; Biomarkers/metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Oxidative Stress*; Rats
Fulltext Effect of quantity and quality of pre-exercise carbohydrate meals on central fatigue

Khong TK, Selvanayagam VS, Hamzah SH, Yusof A

J Appl Physiol (1985), 2018 10 01;125(4):1021-1029.
PMID: 29975601 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00221.2018

Both the quantity and quality of pre-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) meals have been shown to improve endurance performance. However, their role in attenuating central fatigue (CF) is inconclusive. The use of neurophysiological techniques, such as voluntary activation (VA) and the central activation ratio (CAR), alongside maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and sustained MVC (sMVC) can provide information on CF. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of isocaloric pre-exercise meals: 1) a high versus low quantity of CHO and 2) a high quantity of CHO with a high versus low glycemic index (GI) on MVC, VA, and CAR following a 90-min run. The high and low quantity of CHO was 1.5 and 0.8 g/kg body wt, respectively, and high and low GI was ~75 and ~40, respectively. Blood insulin, serotonin, tryptophan, and gaseous exchange were also measured. High CHO preserved sMVC, VA, CAR, and serotonin postrunning with greater CHO oxidation and insulin response, whereas in low CHO, greater reductions in sMVC, VA, and CAR were accompanied by higher serotonin and fat oxidation with lower insulin response. These observations indicate central involvements. Meanwhile, high GI CHO better preserved force (sMVC), CAR, and tryptophan with greater CHO oxidation and insulin response compared with low GI. The findings of this study suggest that pre-exercise meals with varying quantity and quality of CHO can have an effect on CF, where greater CHO oxidation and insulin response found in both high CHO and high GI lead to attenuation of CF. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This paper examined the effects of carbohydrate interventions (high and low: quantity and quality wise) on central activity during prolonged exercise using mainly neurophysiological techniques along with gaseous exchange and blood insulin, serotonin, and tryptophan data.

MeSH terms: Adult; Dietary Carbohydrates*; Fatigue/prevention & control*; Humans; Insulin/blood; Male; Muscle Contraction; Oxidation-Reduction; Physical Endurance*; Serotonin/blood; Tryptophan/blood; Exercise; Cross-Over Studies; Glycemic Index*; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted*; Young Adult
Fulltext Effects of naturally-produced lovastatin on feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbiota and methane emissions in goats over a 12-week treatment period

Candyrine SCL, Mahadzir MF, Garba S, Jahromi MF, Ebrahimi M, Goh YM, et al.

PLoS One, 2018;13(7):e0199840.
PMID: 29975711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199840

Twenty male Saanen goats were randomly assigned to four levels of lovastatin supplementation and used to determine the optimal dosage and sustainability of naturally produced lovastatin from fermentation of palm kernel cake (PKC) with Aspergillus terreus on enteric methane (CH4) mitigation. The effects on ruminal microbiota, rumen fermentation, feed digestibility and health of animal were determined over three measuring periods (4-, 8- and 12-weeks) and the accumulation of lovastatin in tissues was determined at the end of the experiment. The diets contained 50% rice straw, 22.8% concentrates and 27.2% of various proportions of untreated or treated PKC to achieve the target daily intake level of 0 (Control), 2, 4 or 6 mg lovastatin/kg body weight (BW). Enteric CH4 emissions per dry matter intake (DMI), decreased significantly (P<0.05) and equivalent to 11% and 20.4%, respectively, for the 2 and 4 mg/kg BW groups as compared to the Control. No further decrease in CH4 emission thereafter with higher lovastatin supplementation. Lovastatin had no effect on feed digestibility and minor effect on rumen microbiota, and specifically did not reduce the populations of total methanogens and Methanobacteriales (responsible for CH4 production). Similarly, lovastatin had little effect on rumen fermentation characteristics except that the proportion of propionate increased, which led to a decreasing trend (P<0.08) in acetic: propionate ratio with increasing dosage of lovastatin. This suggests a shift in rumen fermentation pathway to favor propionate production which serves as H+ sink, partly explaining the observed CH4 reduction. No adverse physiological effects were noted in the animals except that treated PKC (containing lovastatin) was less palatable at the highest inclusion level. Lovastatin residues were detected in tissues of goats fed 6 mg lovastatin/kg BW at between 0.01 to 0.03 μg/g, which are very low.

MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Feed/analysis*; Biological Products/pharmacology; Diet/veterinary*; Digestion*; Fermentation*; Goats; Lovastatin/pharmacology*; Male; Methane/analysis*; Rumen/drug effects; Rumen/physiology*; Dietary Supplements; Microbiota*
Synthesis and characterization of anthill-eggshell composite adsorbent for removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution

Yusuff AS, Gbadamosi AO, Lala MA, Ngochindo JF

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 Jul;25(19):19143-19154.
PMID: 29725925 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2075-2

In this study, adsorption behavior of anthill-eggshell composite (AEC) for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) from aqueous solution was investigated. The raw AEC sample was thermally treated at 864 °C for 4 h and characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The effects of adsorption process variables including initial Cr6+ concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dosage on the Cr6+ removal efficiency were investigated using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Equilibrium adsorption isotherm and kinetic were also studied. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the three variables proved to be significant and the optimum conditions for Cr6+ adsorption were obtained to be 150 mg/L initial Cr6+ concentration, 45.04-min contact time, and 0.5 g adsorbent dosage, which resulted in 86.21% of Cr6+ adsorbed. Equilibrium isotherm study showed that Freundlich model fitted well to the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model appeared to better describe the experimental data. The study showed that mixed anthill-eggshell is a promising adsorbent for removing Cr6+ from aqueous solution.

MeSH terms: Adsorption; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Chromium; Egg Shell; Fluorescence; Fourier Analysis; Kinetics; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Radiography; X-Ray Diffraction; X-Rays; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Leptin and its receptor: can they help to differentiate chromophobe renal cell carcinoma from renal oncocytoma?

Ng KL, Del Vecchio SJ, Samaratunga H, Morais C, Rajandram R, Vesey DA, et al.

Pathology, 2018 Aug;50(5):504-510.
PMID: 29970253 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2018.01.007

One of the challenges in differentiating chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) from benign renal oncocytoma (RO) is overlapping morphology between the two subtypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of expression of leptin (Ob) and its receptor (ObR) in discriminating chRCC from RO. Sections from paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tumour nephrectomy specimens of 45 patients, made up of 30 chRCC (15 eosinophilic variant and 15 non-eosinophilic variant) and 15 RO, were used in this study. Samples (30) of clear cell RCC (ccRCC), the most common histological subtype, were used to verify staining patterns found by others in our cohort of Australasian patients. Matched morphologically normal non-cancer kidney tissues were included for each specimen. Sections were batch-immunostained using antibodies against Ob and ObR. Stained sections were digitally scanned using Aperio ImageScope, and the expression pattern of Ob and ObR was studied. In this cohort, male to female ratio was 2:1; median age was 64 (45-88 years); and median tumour size was 3.8 cm (range 1.2-18 cm). There were 47 (62.7%) T1, seven T2, 20 T3 and one T4 stage RCC. Two patients with ccRCC presented with metastases. Nuclear expression of Ob was significantly higher in RO compared with chRCC. The increased nuclear expression of Ob in RO compared with chRCC may be a useful aid in the difficult histological differentiation of RO from chRCC, especially eosinophilic variants of chRCC.

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnosis; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology*; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry/methods; Kidney/pathology; Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis; Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism*; Kidney Neoplasms/pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*; Adenoma, Oxyphilic/diagnosis; Adenoma, Oxyphilic/metabolism*; Adenoma, Oxyphilic/pathology; Leptin/metabolism*
Fulltext Counting the fish eaten rather than the fish caught

Allison EH, Mills DJ

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2018 07 17;115(29):7459-7461.
PMID: 29970416 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808755115
MeSH terms: Animals; Eating*; Fishes*
Association between polymorphisms of interleukin-17A G197A and interleukin-17F A7488G and risk of colorectal cancer

Samiei G, Yip WK, Leong PP, Jabar MF, Dusa NM, Mohtarrudin N, et al.

J Cancer Res Ther, 2018 Jun;14(Supplement):S299-S305.
PMID: 29970680 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.235345

Background: Interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F are inflammatory cytokines mainly produced by T helper 17 cells. IL-17A is known to be protumorigenic while IL-17F has a protective role in cancer. A number of studies have been conducted to determine the association between polymorphisms of IL-17AG197A (rs2275913) and IL-17FA7488G (rs763780) and risk of cancers. No studies have yet to be conducted to genotype the IL-17AG197A polymorphism in colorectal cancer (CRC).
Objective: To assess the association of IL-17AG197A and IL-17FA7488G polymorphisms with CRC risk.
Materials and Methods: We performed the genotyping by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method on blood samples from 80 healthy individuals and paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 70 CRC patients.
Results: Our study showed that IL-17A197AA genotype was significantly associated with an increased CRC risk with odds ratios of 6.08 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.25-16.42, P < 0.001) and 2.80 (95% CI: 1.23-6.35, P = 0.014), in comparison with GG and AG genotypes, respectively. However, IL-17FA7488G polymorphism was not significantly associated with CRC risk (P = 0.102). No significant association of IL-17AG197A and IL-17FA7488G polymorphisms with patient and tumor variables was found.
Conclusion: This report from Malaysia shows the relationship of IL-17A197AA genotype with susceptibility to CRC.

MeSH terms: Genotype; Humans; Malaysia; Polymorphism, Genetic; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Risk; Colorectal Neoplasms; Confidence Intervals; Odds Ratio; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Cytokines; Paraffin Embedding; Interleukin-17; Th17 Cells
Fulltext Leptospirosis Health Intervention Module Effect on Knowledge, Attitude, Belief, and Practice among Wet Market Workers in Northeastern Malaysia: An Intervention Study

Rahman MHAA, Hairon SM, Hamat RA, Jamaluddin TZMT, Shafei MN, Idris N, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018 07 03;15(7).
PMID: 29970799 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071396

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease which can be prevented by increasing awareness and promoting preventive health behaviours among high risk groups including wet market workers. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Leptospirosis Health Intervention Program (LHIP) in improving knowledge, attitude, belief and practice towards leptospirosis among wet market workers in Kelantan. This intervention study was conducted in two main wet markets in Kelantan involving 116 participants in each control and intervention groups. The health education intervention was based on Leptospirosis Health Intervention Module. The knowledge, attitude, belief and practice scores were measured before and six weeks after the intervention to examine the effect of the program. The results showed that knowledge (p < 0.001), attitude (p = 0.001), belief (p < 0.001) and practice (p < 0.001) scores changes were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. The adjusted mean differences were 12.93 (95% CI: 8.47, 17.39) for knowledge, 5.55 (95% CI: 2.28, 8.81) for attitude, 7.21 (95% CI: 3.43, 10.99) for belief and 7.35 (95% CI: 3.64, 11.05) for practice scores. Leptospirosis Health Intervention Program was an effective health educational tools to improve awareness and preventive behaviours among risk groups such as wet market workers.

MeSH terms: Adult; Awareness; Female; Food Handling*; Health Education/organization & administration*; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Leptospirosis/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors
Fulltext Automatic Annotation of Unlabeled Data from Smartphone-Based Motion and Location Sensors

Pius Owoh N, Mahinderjit Singh M, Zaaba ZF

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Jul 03;18(7).
PMID: 29970823 DOI: 10.3390/s18072134

Automatic data annotation eliminates most of the challenges we faced due to the manual methods of annotating sensor data. It significantly improves users’ experience during sensing activities since their active involvement in the labeling process is reduced. An unsupervised learning technique such as clustering can be used to automatically annotate sensor data. However, the lingering issue with clustering is the validation of generated clusters. In this paper, we adopted the k-means clustering algorithm for annotating unlabeled sensor data for the purpose of detecting sensitive location information of mobile crowd sensing users. Furthermore, we proposed a cluster validation index for the k-means algorithm, which is based on Multiple Pair-Frequency. Thereafter, we trained three classifiers (Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbor, and Naïve Bayes) using cluster labels generated from the k-means clustering algorithm. The accuracy, precision, and recall of these classifiers were evaluated during the classification of “non-sensitive” and “sensitive” data from motion and location sensors. Very high accuracy scores were recorded from Support Vector Machine and K-Nearest Neighbor classifiers while a fairly high accuracy score was recorded from the Naïve Bayes classifier. With the hybridized machine learning (unsupervised and supervised) technique presented in this paper, unlabeled sensor data was automatically annotated and then classified.

MeSH terms: Machine Learning; Unsupervised Machine Learning; Algorithms; Bayes Theorem; Motion; Cluster Analysis; Support Vector Machine; Data Curation
Fulltext Development of a Strategic Tool for Shared Decision-Making in the Use of Antidepressants among Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Focus Group Study

Zaini S, Manivanna Bharathy HA, Sulaiman AH, Singh Gill J, Ong Hui K, Zaman Huri H, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018 07 03;15(7).
PMID: 29970848 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071402

Shared decision-making (SDM) has been recognized as an important tool in the mental health field and considered as a crucial component of patient-centered care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a strategic tool towards the promotion and implementation of SDM in the use of antidepressants among patients with major depressive disorder. Nineteen doctors and 11 major depressive disorder patients who are involved in psychiatric outpatient clinic appointments were purposively selected and recruited to participate in one of six focus groups in a large teaching hospital in Malaysia. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic approach to identify current views on providing information needed for SDM practice towards its implementation in near future. Patients’ and doctors’ views were organized into six major themes, which are; summary of treatment options, correct ways of taking medication, potential side effects of treatments related to patients, sharing of case study related to the treatment options, cost of treatment options, and input from pharmacist. The information may be included in the SDM tool which can be useful to inform further research efforts and developments that contribute towards the successful implementation of SDM into clinical practice.

Study site: University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

MeSH terms: Adult; Antidepressive Agents/administration & dosage; Antidepressive Agents/adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*; Decision Making*; Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy*; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Female; Hospitals, Teaching; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Patient Participation/methods*; Physicians/psychology*; Focus Groups; Patient-Centered Care/methods; Qualitative Research
Fulltext Efficacy and Safety of Cyclosporine in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rahman FA, Abdullah SS, Manan WZWA, Tan LT, Neoh CF, Ming LC, et al.

Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:238.
PMID: 29970999 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00238

There are various studies that have addressed the use of Cyclosporine among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, to date there is hardly any concise and systematically structured evidence that debate on the efficacy and safety of Cyclosporine in AMI patients. The aim of this review is to systematically summarize the overall evidence from published trials, and to conduct a meta-analysis in order to determine the efficacy and safety of Cyclosporine vs. placebo or control among patients with AMI. All randomized control trial (RCT) published in English language from January 2000 to August 2017 were included for the systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of six RCTs met the inclusion and were hence included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Based on the performed meta-analysis, no significant difference was found between Cyclosporine and placebo in terms of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement (mean difference 1.88; 95% CI -0.99 to 4.74; P = 0.2), mortality rate (OR 1.01; 95% Cl 0.60 to 1.67, P = 0.98) and recurrent MI occurrence (OR 0.65; 95% Cl 0.29 to 1.45, P = 0.29), with no evidence of heterogeneity, when given to patients with AMI. Cyclosporine also did not significantly lessen the rate of rehospitalisation in AMI patients when compared to placebo (OR 0.91; 95% Cl 0.58 to 1.42, P = 0.68), with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 46%). There was also no significant improvement in heart failure events between Cyclosporine and placebo in AMI patients (OR 0.63; 95% Cl 0.31 to 1.29, P = 0.21; I2 = 80%). No serious adverse events were reported in Cyclosporine group across all studies suggesting that Cyclosporine is well tolerated when given to patients with AMI. The use of Cyclosporine in this group of patients, however, did not result in better clinical outcomes vs. placebo at improving LVEF, mortality rate, recurrent MI, rehospitalisation and heart failure event.

MeSH terms: Heart Failure; Humans; Language; Myocardial Infarction; Stroke Volume; Ventricular Function, Left; Cyclosporine
Fulltext Dislodged Bonded Molar Tube into Wound during Orthognathic Surgery

Shaeran TAT, Samsudin AR

Case Rep Dent, 2018;2018:6540945.
PMID: 29971169 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6540945

Introduction: Dislodgement of orthodontic appliance into operation wounds may occur while performing orthognathic surgery. Its occurrence is commonly associated with bonded upper molar tube.
Case Report: A 25-year-old gentleman presented with recurrent upper right vestibular abscess three months following a bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. A bonded molar orthodontic tube had dislodged into the wound during the operation. The clinical presentation initially mimics an odontogenic infection until our investigations revealed that it originated from the dislodged appliance. The abscess was drained, the wound site was explored, and the molar tube and neighbouring rigid fixation plates and screws were removed. The patient recovered well following the procedure.
Conclusion: Dislodged metal orthodontic appliance in oral wound acts as a foreign body that may exert allergic reactions, infection, or inflammation. Pre- and postoperative intraoral examination of fixed orthodontic appliances including its count should be recorded in orthognathic surgery protocol.

MeSH terms: Abscess; Foreign Bodies; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Metals; Molar; Odontogenesis; Orthodontic Appliances; Orthognathic Surgery
Self-assembled heteropolyacid on nitrogen-enriched carbon nanofiber for vanadium flow batteries

Etesami M, Abouzari-Lotf E, Sha'rani SS, Miyake M, Moozarm Nia P, Ripin A, et al.

Nanoscale, 2018 Jul 13;10(27):13212-13222.
PMID: 29971298 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr02450b

A novel polyoxometalate-based electrode was developed by incorporating phosphotungstic acid (PWA) in nylon-6,6 nanofiber, followed by carbonization. The developed PWA-carbon nanofiber (PWA-CNF) showed the characteristics of the dual-scale porosity of micro- and mesoporous substrate with surface area of around 684 m2 g-1. The compound exhibited excellent stability in vanadium electrolyte and battery cycling. Evaluation of electrocatalytic properties toward V2+/V3+ and VO2+/VO2+ redox couples indicated promising advantages in electron transfer kinetics and increasing energy efficiency, particularly for the VO2+/VO2+ couple. Moreover, the developed electrode exhibited substantially improved energy efficiency (14% higher than that of pristine carbon felt) in the single cell vanadium redox flow battery. This outstanding performance was attributed to high surface area and abundant oxygen-containing linkages in the developed electrode.

MeSH terms: Caprolactam; Carbon; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Electrons; Kinetics; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Phosphotungstic Acid; Polymers; Vanadium; Porosity; Tungsten Compounds; Nanofibers
Correction to: Consensus on best practice standards for Fracture Liaison Service in the Asia-Pacific region

Chan DD, Chang LY, Akesson KE, Mitchell P, Chen CH, Lewiecki EM, et al.

Arch Osteoporos, 2018 07 03;13(1):73.
PMID: 29971507 DOI: 10.1007/s11657-018-0485-x

In this article the name of the sixth author, E. Michael Lewiecki was rendered incorrectly. The publisher regrets this error and apologizes for the inconvenience caused.

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