Browse publications by year: 2018

  1. Sharif Hossain ABM, Uddin MM, Fawzi M, Veettil VN
    Data Brief, 2018 Apr;17:1245-1252.
    PMID: 29845096 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.02.053
    The nano-cellulose derived nano-biofilm keeps a magnificent role in medical, biomedical, bioengineering and pharmaceutical industries. Plant biomaterial is naturally organic and biodegradable. This study has been highlighted as one of the strategy introducing biomass based nano-bioplastic (nanobiofilm) to solve dependency on petroleum and environment pollution because of non-degradable plastic. The data study was carried out to investigate the nano-biopolymer (nanocellulose) based nano-biofilm data from corn leaf biomass coming after bioprocess technology without chemicals. Corn leaf biomass was used to produce biodegradable nano-bioplastic for medical and biomedical and other industrial uses. Data on water absorption, odor, pH, cellulose content, shape and firmness, color coating and tensile strength test have been exhibited under standardization of ASTM (American standard for testing and materials). Moreover, the chemical elements of nanobiofilm like K+, CO3--, Cl-, Na+ showed standard data using the EN (166).
    MeSH terms: Biocompatible Materials; Biopolymers; Callosities; Cellulose; Zea mays; Drug Industry; Petroleum; Plastics; Tensile Strength; United States; Water; Biofilms; Plant Leaves; Biomass; Bioengineering
  2. Satar NA, Fakiruddin KS, Lim MN, Mok PL, Zakaria N, Fakharuzi NA, et al.
    Oncol Rep, 2018 Aug;40(2):669-681.
    PMID: 29845263 DOI: 10.3892/or.2018.6461
    Through the specific identification and direct targeting of cancer stem cells (CSCs), it is believed that a better treatment efficacy of cancer may be achieved. Hence, the present study aimed to identify a CSC subpopulation from adenocarcinoma cells (A549) as a model of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Ιnitially, we sorted two subpopulations known as the triple‑positive (EpCAM+/CD166+/CD44+) and triple‑negative (EpCAM-/CD166-/CD44-) subpopulation using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Sorted cells were subsequently evaluated for proliferation and chemotherapy-resistance using a viability assay and were further characterized for their clonal heterogeneity, self-renewal characteristics, cellular migration, alkaline dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and the expression of stemness-related genes. According to our findings the triple‑positive subpopulation revealed significantly higher (P<0.01) proliferation activity, exhibited better clonogenicity, was mostly comprised of holoclones and had markedly bigger (P<0.001) spheroid formation indicating a better self-renewal capacity. A relatively higher resistance to both 5‑fluouracil and cisplatin with 80% expression of ALDH was observed in the triple‑positive subpopulation, compared to only 67% detected in the triple‑negative subpopulation indicated that high ALDH activity contributed to greater chemotherapy-resistance characteristics. Higher percentage of migrated cells was observed in the triple‑positive subpopulation with 56% cellular migration being detected, compared to only 19% in the triple‑negative subpopulation on day 2. This was similarly observed on day 3 in the triple‑positive subpopulation with 36% higher cellular migration compared to the triple‑negative subpopulation. Consistently, elevated levels of the stem cell genes such as REX1 and SSEA4 were also found in the triple‑positive subpopulation indicating that the subpopulation displayed a strong characteristic of pluripotency. In conclusion, our study revealed that the triple‑positive subpopulation demonstrated similar characteristics to CSCs compared to the triple‑negative subpopulation. It also confirmed the feasibility of using the triple‑positive (EpCAM+/CD166+/CD44+) marker as a novel candidate marker that may lead to the development of novel therapies targeting CSCs of NSCLC.
    MeSH terms: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics*; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology; Cell Movement/drug effects; Cell Movement/genetics; Cisplatin/pharmacology; Humans; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms/genetics*; Lung Neoplasms/pathology; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics; Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects; Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology*; Antigens, CD44/genetics; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*; Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule/genetics; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Cell Proliferation/genetics; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule/genetics; A549 Cells
  3. Kumar A, Sandhu N, Dixit S, Yadav S, Swamy BPM, Shamsudin NAA
    Rice (N Y), 2018 May 29;11(1):35.
    PMID: 29845495 DOI: 10.1186/s12284-018-0227-0
    BACKGROUND: Marker-assisted breeding will move forward from introgressing single/multiple genes governing a single trait to multiple genes governing multiple traits to combat emerging biotic and abiotic stresses related to climate change and to enhance rice productivity. MAS will need to address concerns about the population size needed to introgress together more than two genes/QTLs. In the present study, grain yield and genotypic data from different generations (F3 to F8) for five marker-assisted breeding programs were analyzed to understand the effectiveness of synergistic effect of phenotyping and genotyping in early generations on selection of better progenies.

    RESULTS: Based on class analysis of the QTL combinations, the identified superior QTL classes in F3/BC1F3/BC2F3 generations with positive QTL x QTL and QTL x background interactions that were captured through phenotyping maintained its superiority in yield under non-stress (NS) and reproductive-stage drought stress (RS) across advanced generations in all five studies. The marker-assisted selection breeding strategy combining both genotyping and phenotyping in early generation significantly reduced the number of genotypes to be carried forward. The strategy presented in this study providing genotyping and phenotyping cost savings of 25-68% compared with the traditional marker-assisted selection approach. The QTL classes, Sub1 + qDTY 1.1  + qDTY 2.1  + qDTY 3.1 and Sub1 + qDTY 2.1  + qDTY 3.1 in Swarna-Sub1, Sub1 + qDTY 1.1  + qDTY 1.2 , Sub1 + qDTY 1.1  + qDTY 2.2 and Sub1 + qDTY 2.2  + qDTY 12.1 in IR64-Sub1, qDTY 2.2  + qDTY 4.1 in Samba Mahsuri, Sub1 + qDTY 3.1  + qDTY 6.1  + qDTY 6.2 and Sub1 + qDTY 6.1  + qDTY 6.2 in TDK1-Sub1 and qDTY 12.1  + qDTY 3.1 and qDTY 2.2  + qDTY 3.1 in MR219 had shown better and consistent performance under NS and RS across generations over other QTL classes.

    CONCLUSION: "Deployment of this procedure will save time and resources and will allow breeders to focus and advance only germplasm with high probability of improved performance. The identification of superior QTL classes and capture of positive QTL x QTL and QTL x background interactions in early generation and their consistent performance in subsequent generations across five backgrounds supports the efficacy of a combined MAS breeding strategy".

  4. Xu Z, Nan W, Zhang X, Sun Y, Yang J, Lu K, et al.
    J Mol Neurosci, 2018 Jun;65(2):222-233.
    PMID: 29845511 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1075-5
    Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising prospect for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the underlying mechanisms by which MSCs mediate positive effects are still unclear. We speculated that MSCs mediate microglial autophagy and enhance the clearance of Aβ. To test this hypothesis, we cultured BV2 microglial cells with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium (ucMSCs-CM) in the presence or absence of Aβ25-35 oligomers. We investigated BV2 cell proliferation, cell death, and Aβ25-35 phagocytosis as well as protein expression levels of LC3, Beclin-1, p62, insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), and neprilysin (Nep) with western blotting. The results showed that ucMSCs-CM inhibited the proliferation and decreased cell death of BV2 cells induced by Aβ25-35. ucMSCs-CM also promoted the phagocytosis of Aβ25-35 by BV2 cells and changed the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3, Beclin-1, and p62. Treatment also upregulated the expression of Aβ-degrading enzymes IDE and Nep. Furthermore, the culture medium in BV2 cells with Aβ25-35 and ucMSCs-CM prevented neuronal cell SH-SY5Y from cell death compared to control medium without ucMSCs-CM. Altogether, these data suggested that ucMSCs-CM protect microglial and neuronal cells from Aβ25-35-induced cell death and promote Aβ phagocytosis by modulating autophagy and enhancing the expression of Aβ-degrading enzymes in microglia.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Autophagy*; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Insulysin/genetics; Insulysin/metabolism; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism; Peptide Fragments/metabolism*; Phagocytosis*; Umbilical Cord/cytology; Neprilysin/genetics; Neprilysin/metabolism; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism*; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism; Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology; Microglia/drug effects; Microglia/metabolism*; Cell Line, Tumor; Mice; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/metabolism*; Proteolysis*; Beclin-1/genetics; Beclin-1/metabolism
  5. Indirayani I, Kalok A, Nik Ismail NA, Shah SA, Lim PS, Mohamed Ismail NA, et al.
    J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 2018 Aug;44(8):1458-1465.
    PMID: 29845672 DOI: 10.1111/jog.13686
    AIM: Sodium pentosan polysulfate (Na-PPS) is a plant-based agent that has similar action with low-molecular-weight heparin. It inhibits factor Xa, preventing blood clot formation. To date, its use in clinical practice as thromboprophylaxis agent is still limited. In addition, the efficacy and safety profile of this agent was not robustly reported globally, especially for countries with major Muslim population. We hypothesized that Na-PPS was equally effective as the standard thromboprophylaxis. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety of Na-PPS against standard agent (fondaparinux or enoxaparin).

    METHODS: This was a randomized control, open-label trial. Women underwent major gynecological surgery were randomized to receive either subcutaneous 50 mg of Na-PPS twice daily or subcutaneous enoxaparin 40 mg once daily. Fondaparinux 2.5 mg once daily was given to Muslim women as an alternative to enoxaparin. The treatment was started 6 h postoperatively, for at least 3 days. All the patients received thromboembolic deterrent stockings. The primary efficacy outcome was venous thromboembolism up to 3 days postsurgery. The main safety outcomes were minor and major bleeding.

    RESULTS: Among 109 participants, there was no incidence of venous thromboembolism. None of the women developed major bleeding. Minor bleeding was observed in 28.3% (15/53) and 5.4% (3/56) of Na-PPS and standard thromboprophylaxis group, respectively (P = 0.001).

    CONCLUSION: Na-PPS was associated with increased risk of minor bleeding. There was insufficient data to conclude its efficacy as thromboprophylaxis. Further research is needed to evaluate Na-PPS safety as a standard thromboprophylactic agent.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Anticoagulants/administration & dosage; Anticoagulants/adverse effects; Anticoagulants/pharmacology*; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester/administration & dosage; Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester/adverse effects; Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester/pharmacology*; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control*; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures*; Thromboembolism/prevention & control*; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)*; Enoxaparin/pharmacology; Postoperative Hemorrhage/chemically induced*
  6. Kue CS, Ng SY, Voon SH, Kamkaew A, Chung LY, Kiew LV, et al.
    Photochem Photobiol Sci, 2018 Nov 01;17(11):1691-1708.
    PMID: 29845993 DOI: 10.1039/c8pp00113h
    BODIPYs are photosensitizers activatable by light to generate highly reactive singlet oxygen (1O2) from molecular oxygen, leading to tissue damage in the photoirradiated region. Despite their extraordinary photophysical characteristics, they are not featured in clinical photodynamic therapy. This review discusses the recent advances in the design and/or modifications of BODIPYs since 2013, to improve their potential in photodynamic cancer therapy and related areas.
    MeSH terms: Neoplasms; Oxygen; Photochemotherapy; Molecular Structure; Photosensitizing Agents; Singlet Oxygen
  7. Jeevaratnam K, Salvage SC, Li M, Huang CL
    Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2018 Dec;1433(1):18-28.
    PMID: 29846007 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13861
    Alterations in cellular levels of the second messenger 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate ([cAMP]i ) regulate a wide range of physiologically important cellular signaling processes in numerous cell types. Osteoclasts are terminally differentiated, multinucleated cells specialized for bone resorption. Their systemic regulator, calcitonin, triggers morphometrically and pharmacologically distinct retraction (R) and quiescence (Q) effects on cell-spread area and protrusion-retraction motility, respectively, paralleling its inhibition of bone resorption. Q effects were reproduced by cholera toxin-mediated Gs -protein activation known to increase [cAMP]i , unaccompanied by the [Ca2+ ]i changes contrastingly associated with R effects. We explore a hypothesis implicating cAMP signaling involving guanine nucleotide-exchange activation of the small GTPase Ras-proximate-1 (Rap1) by exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac). Rap1 activates integrin clustering, cell adhesion to bone matrix, associated cytoskeletal modifications and signaling processes, and transmembrane transduction functions. Epac activation enhanced, whereas Epac inhibition or shRNA-mediated knockdown compromised, the appearance of markers for osteoclast differentiation and motility following stimulation by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL). Deficiencies in talin and Rap1 compromised in vivo bone resorption, producing osteopetrotic phenotypes in genetically modified murine models. Translational implications of an Epac-Rap1 signaling hypothesis in relationship to N-bisphosphonate actions on prenylation and membrane localization of small GTPases are discussed.
    MeSH terms: Cyclic AMP/metabolism*; Animals; Bone Resorption/metabolism; Calcitonin/metabolism; Cell Movement; Diphosphonates/pharmacology; Humans; Models, Biological; Osteoclasts/cytology; Osteoclasts/drug effects; Osteoclasts/metabolism*; Osteoporosis/drug therapy; Osteoporosis/metabolism; Osteoporosis/pathology; Second Messenger Systems; Signal Transduction; Integrins/metabolism; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism; Calcium Signaling; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/metabolism; rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism; Bone Density Conservation Agents/pharmacology; Translational Medical Research
  8. Aurpibul L, Kariminia A, Vibol U, Fong MS, Le ON, Hansudewechakul R, et al.
    Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2018 Aug;37(8):788-793.
    PMID: 29846357 DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001901
    BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B (HBV)-HIV coinfection is associated with liver inflammation, which can progress to liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We determined HBV seroprevalence in children and adolescents participating in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database.

    METHODS: A multisite cross-sectional study was conducted in HIV-infected patients currently <25 years old receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) who had HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), or HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs) or HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) tested during 2012-2013. HBV coinfection was defined as having either a positive HBsAg test or being anti-HBc positive and anti-HBs negative, reflective of past HBV infection. HBV seroprotection was defined as having a positive anti-HBs test.

    RESULTS: A total of 3380 patients from 6 countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and India) were included. The current median (interquartile range) age was 11.2 (7.8-15.1) years. Of the 2755 patients (81.5%) with HBsAg testing, 130 (4.7%) were positive. Of 1558 (46%) with anti-HBc testing, 77 (4.9%) were positive. Thirteen of 1037 patients with all 3 tests were anti-HBc positive and HBsAg and anti-HBs negative. One child was positive for anti-HBc and negative for anti-HBs but did not have HBsAg tested. The prevalence of HBV coinfection was 144/2759 (5.2%) (95% confidence interval: 4.4-6.1). Of 1093 patients (32%) with anti-HBs testing, 257 (23.5%; confidence interval: 21.0-26.0) had positive tests representing HBV seroprotection.

    CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of HBV coinfection in this cohort of Asian HIV-infected children and adolescents on ART was 5.2%. The majority of children and adolescents tested in this cohort (76.5%) did not have protective HBV antibody. The finding supports HBV screening of HIV-infected children and adolescents to guide revaccination, the use of ART with anti-HBV activity and future monitoring.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Alanine Transaminase/blood; Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA, Viral/blood; Female; Hepatitis B/epidemiology*; Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood; Humans; Male; Cohort Studies; HIV Infections/complications; HIV Infections/epidemiology; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Databases, Factual; Treatment Outcome; Hepatitis B, Chronic/epidemiology; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/adverse effects; Anti-Retroviral Agents/adverse effects; Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use*; Young Adult; Coinfection/drug therapy; Coinfection/epidemiology*; Coinfection/virology
  9. Alias MA, Buenzli PR
    Biomech Model Mechanobiol, 2018 Oct;17(5):1357-1371.
    PMID: 29846824 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-018-1031-x
    The geometric control of bone tissue growth plays a significant role in bone remodelling, age-related bone loss, and tissue engineering. However, how exactly geometry influences the behaviour of bone-forming cells remains elusive. Geometry modulates cell populations collectively through the evolving space available to the cells, but it may also modulate the individual behaviours of cells. To factor out the collective influence of geometry and gain access to the geometric regulation of individual cell behaviours, we develop a mathematical model of the infilling of cortical bone pores and use it with available experimental data on cortical infilling rates. Testing different possible modes of geometric controls of individual cell behaviours consistent with the experimental data, we find that efficient smoothing of irregular pores only occurs when cell secretory rate is controlled by porosity rather than curvature. This porosity control suggests the convergence of a large scale of intercellular signalling to single bone-forming cells, consistent with that provided by the osteocyte network in response to mechanical stimulus. After validating the mathematical model with the histological record of a real cortical pore infilling, we explore the infilling of a population of randomly generated initial pore shapes. We find that amongst all the geometric regulations considered, the collective influence of curvature on cell crowding is a dominant factor for how fast cortical bone pores infill, and we suggest that the irregularity of cement lines thereby explains some of the variability in double labelling data as well as the overall speed of osteon infilling.
    MeSH terms: Bone and Bones; Bone Development; Haversian System; Models, Theoretical; Osteocytes; Osteoporosis; Secretory Rate; Porosity; Bone Remodeling; Tissue Engineering; Cortical Bone
  10. Solarin SA, Al-Mulali U, Gan GGG, Shahbaz M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 Aug;25(23):22641-22657.
    PMID: 29846898 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2392-5
    The aim of this research is to explore the effect of biomass energy consumption on CO2 emissions in 80 developed and developing countries. To achieve robustness, the system generalised method of moment was used and several control variables were incorporated into the model including real GDP, fossil fuel consumption, hydroelectricity production, urbanisation, population, foreign direct investment, financial development, institutional quality and the Kyoto protocol. Relying on the classification of the World Bank, the countries were categorised to developed and developing countries. We also used a dynamic common correlated effects estimator. The results consistently show that biomass energy as well as fossil fuel consumption generate more CO2 emissions. A closer look at the results show that a 100% increase in biomass consumption (tonnes per capita) will increase CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) within the range of 2 to 47%. An increase of biomass energy intensity (biomass consumption in tonnes divided by real gross domestic product) of 100% will increase CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) within the range of 4 to 47%. An increase of fossil fuel consumption (tonnes of oil equivalent per capita) by 100% will increase CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) within the range of 35 to 55%. The results further show that real GDP urbanisation and population increase CO2 emissions. However, hydroelectricity and institutional quality decrease CO2 emissions. It is further observed that financial development, foreign direct investment and openness decrease CO2 emissions in the developed countries, but the opposite results are found for the developing nations. The results also show that the Kyoto Protocol reduces emission and that Environmental Kuznets Curve exists. Among the policy implications of the foregoing results is the necessity of substituting fossil fuels with other types of renewable energy (such as hydropower) rather than biomass energy for reduction of emission to be achieved.
    MeSH terms: Air Pollution/analysis*; Carbon Dioxide/analysis*; Developing Countries*; Energy-Generating Resources*; Biomass*; Developed Countries*
  11. Tela Abba H, Wan Hassan WMS, Saleh MA, Aliyu AS, Ramli AT, Abdulsalam H
    Isotopes Environ Health Stud, 2018 Oct;54(5):522-534.
    PMID: 29847152 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2018.1474879
    The Jos Plateau has been reported to have elevated levels of natural background radiation. A few earlier studies have measured the levels of natural radioactivity for specific locations in the area. Our interest is to investigate how geology of the study area influences the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides. Thus, the activity concentrations of terrestrial radionuclides in soil samples collected across the geological formations of the Jos Plateau were determined by gamma spectrometry technique. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to exceed their corresponding world reference values of 35, 40 and 400 Bq kg-1, respectively. Data were compared using statistical methods, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests. The results revealed in some instances significant influences of geological types on the activity concentrations in the area. The spatial distribution maps of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were geostatistically interpolated by ordinary Kriging method using ArcGIS software.
    MeSH terms: Background Radiation; Geology/methods; Geology/statistics & numerical data*; Nigeria; Potassium Radioisotopes/analysis*; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Monitoring/methods; Radium/analysis*; Soil/chemistry*; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis; Spectrometry, Gamma/methods; Thorium/analysis*
  12. Rajendran Royan NR, Sulong AB, Yuhana NY, Chen RS, Ab Ghani MH, Ahmad S
    PLoS One, 2018;13(5):e0197345.
    PMID: 29847568 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197345
    The use of rice husks (RH) to reinforce polymers in biocomposites are increasing tremendously. However, the incompatibility between the hydrophilic RH fibers and the hydrophobic thermoplastic matrices leads to unsatisfactory biocomposites. Surface modification of the fiber surface was carried out to improve the adhesion between fiber and matrix. In this study, the effect of surface modification of RH via alkali, acid and ultraviolet-ozonolysis (UV/O3) treatments on the properties of composites recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) composites was investigated. The untreated and treated RH were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The composites containing 30 wt% of RH (treated and untreated) were then prepared via extrusion and followed by compression molding. As compared to untreated RH, all surface treated RH exhibited rougher surface and showed improved adhesion with rHDPE matrix. Tensile strength of UV/O3-treated RH composites showed an optimum result at 18.37 MPa which improved about 5% in comparison to the composites filled with untreated RH. UV/O3 treatment promotes shorter processing time and lesser raw material waste during treatment process where this is beneficial for commercialization in the future developments of wood plastic composites (WPCs). Therefore, UV/O3 treatment can be served as an alternative new method to modify RH surface in order to improve the adhesion between hydrophilic RH fibre and hydrophobic rHDPE polymer matrix.
    MeSH terms: Acids/chemistry; Alkalies/chemistry; Materials Testing; Ozone*; Oryza*; Tensile Strength; Ultraviolet Rays*; Wettability; Polyethylene/chemistry; Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry*
  13. Cheah HY, Gallon E, Dumoulin F, Hoe SZ, Japundžić-Žigon N, Glumac S, et al.
    Mol Pharm, 2018 07 02;15(7):2594-2605.
    PMID: 29763568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00132
    We previously developed a new zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) derivative (Pc 1) conjugated to poly-L-glutamic acid (PGA) (1-PG) to address the limitations of ZnPc as part of an antitumor photodynamic therapy approach, which include hydrophobicity, phototoxicity, and nonselectivity in biodistribution and tumor targeting. During this study, we discovered that 1-PG possessed high near-infrared (NIR) light absorptivity (λmax = 675 nm), good singlet oxygen generation efficiency in an aqueous environment, and enhanced photocytotoxic efficacy and cancer cell uptake in vitro. In the current study, we discovered that 1-PG accumulated in 4T1 mouse mammary tumors, with a retention time of up to 48 h. Furthermore, as part of an antitumor PDT, low dose 1-PG (2 mg of Pc 1 equivalent/kg) induced a greater tumor volume reduction (-74 ± 5%) when compared to high dose ZnPc (8 mg/kg, -50 ± 12%). At higher treatment doses (8 mg of Pc 1 equivalent/kg), 1-PG reduced tumor volume maximally (-91 ± 6%) and suppressed tumor size to a minimal level for up to 15 days. The kidney, liver, and lungs of the mice treated with 1-PG (both low and high doses) were free from 4T1 tumor metastasis at the end of the study. Telemetry-spectral-echocardiography studies also revealed that PGA (65 mg/kg) produced insignificant changes to the cardiovascular physiology of Wistar-Kyoto rats when administered in vivo. Results indicate that PGA displays an excellent cardiovascular safety profile, underlining its suitability for application as a nanodrug carrier in vivo. These current findings indicate the potential of 1-PG as a useful photosensitizer candidate for clinical PDT.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Echocardiography; Humans; Indoles/administration & dosage*; Indoles/adverse effects; Indoles/pharmacokinetics; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Neoplasms/pathology; Organometallic Compounds/administration & dosage*; Organometallic Compounds/adverse effects; Organometallic Compounds/pharmacokinetics; Photochemotherapy/adverse effects; Photochemotherapy/methods*; Polyglutamic Acid/chemistry; Rats, Inbred WKY; Tissue Distribution; Photosensitizing Agents/administration & dosage*; Photosensitizing Agents/adverse effects; Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacokinetics; Cell Line, Tumor/transplantation; Mice; Rats; Nanoconjugates/chemistry*; Cardiotoxicity/etiology
  14. Gorain B, Choudhury H, Pandey M, Kesharwani P, Abeer MM, Tekade RK, et al.
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2018 Aug;104:496-508.
    PMID: 29800914 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.05.066
    Myocardial infarction (cardiac tissue death) is among the most prevalent causes of death among the cardiac patients due to the inability of self-repair in cardiac tissues. Myocardial tissue engineering is regarded as one of the most realistic strategies for repairing damaged cardiac tissue. However, hindrance in transduction of electric signals across the cardiomyocytes due to insulating properties of polymeric materials worsens the clinical viability of myocardial tissue engineering. Aligned and conductive scaffolds based on Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have gained remarkable recognition due to their exceptional attributes which provide synthetic but viable microenvironment for regeneration of engineered cardiomyocytes. This review presents an overview and critical analysis of pharmaceutical implications and therapeutic feasibility of CNT based scaffolds in improving the cardiac tissue regeneration and functionality. The expository analysis of the available evidence revealed that inclusion of single- or multi-walled CNT into fibrous, polymeric, and elastomeric scaffolds results in significant improvement in electrical stimulation and signal transduction through cardiomyocytes. Moreover, incorporation of CNT in engineering scaffolds showed a greater potential of augmenting cardiomyocyte proliferation, differentiation, and maturation and has improved synchronous beating of cardiomyocytes. Despite promising ability of CNT in promoting functionality of cardiomyocytes, their presence in scaffolds resulted in substantial improvement in mechanical properties and structural integrity. Conclusively, this review provides new insight into the remarkable potential of CNT aligned scaffolds in improving the functionality of engineered cardiac tissue and signifies their feasibility in cardiac tissue regenerative medicines and stem cell therapy.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Regeneration/drug effects*; Tissue Engineering/methods; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects*; Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry*; Nanoparticles/chemistry*; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry*
  15. Teoh CS, Lee SY, Chiang SK, Chew TK, Goh AS
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2018 May 26;19(5):1229-1236.
    PMID: 29801406
    Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with double expression of c-MYC and BCL2 protein is
    associated with dismal outcome after treatment with R-CHOP. Local data on disease burden and survival outcome in
    DLBCL is limited. We investigated the prognostic values of c-MYC/BCL2 protein co-expression and cell of origin
    subtypes using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to determine their associations with multiethnic groups under
    resource limited setting. Methods: This was a retrospective study which recruited 104 patients in between June 2012
    and December 2015 for IHC review and analysis. Result: We demonstrated that patients with high International
    Prognostic Index (IPI) (score 3-5) and co-expression of c-MYC/BCL2 protein had significant inferior overall survival
    (OS) and event free survival (EFS) respectively (P<0.05). c-MYC/BCL2 protein co-expression was more common in
    non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) (P=0.048) and contributed to adverse prognosis in this group of patients (OS,
    P=0.004; EFS, P=0.005). In multivariate analysis, double-protein co-expression was a significant independent predictor
    of inferior outcome after adjusted for IPI and cell of origin subtypes (OS hazard ratio [HR], 2.11; 95% CI, 1.01 to 4.04;
    P=0.048; EFS HR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.05 to 5.04; P=0.036). In addition, non-GCB subtype was more common than GCB
    in Malays (60% vs 40%, P=0.106) and Chinese (81.2% vs 18.8%, P=0.042). Indians had more DLBCL without c-MYC/
    BCL2 protein co-expression compared to double-protein positive cases (66.7% vs 33.3%, P=0.414). Otherwise, the
    prognostic impact of ethnicity on survival outcome was insignificant (P=0.961). Conclusion: c-MYC/BCL2 protein
    co-expression in non-GCB subtype constituted a unique group with extremely inferior outcome regardless of ethnicity.
    Gene expression profile (GEP) may possibly provide insights into the cause of discrepancies in DLBCL subtypes and
    protein expression among the multiethnic groups.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*; Survival Rate; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism*; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/metabolism; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/mortality*; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology*; Germinal Center/metabolism*; Germinal Center/pathology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism*; Young Adult
  16. Low JSY, Chew LL, Ng CC, Goh HC, Lehette P, Chong VC
    J Therm Biol, 2018 May;74:14-22.
    PMID: 29801619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.02.012
    Heat shock response (HSR), in terms of transcription regulation of two heat shock proteins genes hsp70 and hsp90), was analysed in a widespread tropical copepod Pseudodiaptomus annandalei. The mRNA transcripts of both genes were quantified after copepods at a salinity of 20 underwent an acclimation process involving an initial acclimation temperature of 29 °C, followed by gradual thermal ramping to the target exposure temperature range of 24-36 °C. The respective cellular HSR and organismal metabolism, measured by respiratory activity at exposure temperatures, were compared. The fold change in mRNA expression for both hsp70 and hsp90 (8-9 fold) peaks at 32 °C, which is very close to 32.4 °C, the upper thermal optimum for respiration in the species. Unexpectedly, the modelled HSR curves peak at only 3 °C (hsp90) and 3.5 °C (hsp70) above the mean water temperature (29.32 °C) of the copepod in the field. We propose that copepods in tropical waters adopt a preparative HSR strategy, early at the upper limit of its thermal optimum, due to the narrow thermal range of its habitat thus precluding substantial energy demand at higher temperatures. However, the model suggests that the species could survive to at least 36 °C with short acclimation time. Nevertheless, the significant overlap between its thermal range of hsp synthesis and the narrow temperature range of its habitat also suggests that any unprecedented rise in sea temperature would have a detrimental effect on the species.
    MeSH terms: Acclimatization*; Animals; RNA, Messenger/metabolism; Stress, Physiological*; Temperature*; Tropical Climate; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism; Heat-Shock Response*; Copepoda/metabolism*; Estuaries
  17. Azra MN, Chen JC, Ikhwanuddin M, Abol-Munafi AB
    J Therm Biol, 2018 May;74:234-240.
    PMID: 29801633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.04.002
    Owing to its potential market value, the blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus is of great economic importance. The temperature of water significantly affects the physiological function and production efficiency of these crabs. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine the critical thermal minimum (CTMin), critical thermal maximum (CTMax), acclimation response ratio (ARR), escaping temperature (Tesc), and locomotor behavior of P. pelagicus instars at 20 °C, 24 °C, 28 °C, 32 °C, and 36 °C. The CTMax ranged from 39.05 °C to 44.38 °C, while the CTMin ranged from 13.05 °C to 19.30 °C, and both increased directly with temperature. The ARR ranged from 0.25 to 0.51. The movement of crabs (walking before molting) correlated positively with the acclimation temperature. These results indicate that the parameters evaluated varied with temperature. Furthermore, the high CTMax indicates the potential of this species to adapt to a wide range of temperatures. In addition, the implications of these findings for portunid crabs behavior and distribution in their natural habitat are also discussed.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Brachyura/physiology*; Locomotion; Temperature; Thermotolerance*
  18. Mujtaba G, Shuib L, Raj RG, Rajandram R, Shaikh K
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2018 Jul;57:41-50.
    PMID: 29801951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2017.07.001
    OBJECTIVES: Automatic text classification techniques are useful for classifying plaintext medical documents. This study aims to automatically predict the cause of death from free text forensic autopsy reports by comparing various schemes for feature extraction, term weighing or feature value representation, text classification, and feature reduction.

    METHODS: For experiments, the autopsy reports belonging to eight different causes of death were collected, preprocessed and converted into 43 master feature vectors using various schemes for feature extraction, representation, and reduction. The six different text classification techniques were applied on these 43 master feature vectors to construct a classification model that can predict the cause of death. Finally, classification model performance was evaluated using four performance measures i.e. overall accuracy, macro precision, macro-F-measure, and macro recall.

    RESULTS: From experiments, it was found that that unigram features obtained the highest performance compared to bigram, trigram, and hybrid-gram features. Furthermore, in feature representation schemes, term frequency, and term frequency with inverse document frequency obtained similar and better results when compared with binary frequency, and normalized term frequency with inverse document frequency. Furthermore, the chi-square feature reduction approach outperformed Pearson correlation, and information gain approaches. Finally, in text classification algorithms, support vector machine classifier outperforms random forest, Naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbor, decision tree, and ensemble-voted classifier.

    CONCLUSION: Our results and comparisons hold practical importance and serve as references for future works. Moreover, the comparison outputs will act as state-of-art techniques to compare future proposals with existing automated text classification techniques.

    MeSH terms: Machine Learning; Autopsy*; Cause of Death*; Documentation/classification*; Humans; Natural Language Processing; Terminology as Topic*
  19. Praveena SM
    Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2018 Oct;75(3):415-423.
    PMID: 29802419 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-018-0537-7
    This study was designed to determine the particle size distribution and develop road dust index combining source and transport factors involving road dust for dust pollution quantification in Rawang. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify possible sources of potentially toxic elements and spot major pollution areas in Rawang. The health risks (carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic) to adults and children were assessed using the hazard index and total lifetime cancer Risk, respectively. A total of 75 road dust samples were collected and particle sizes (1000, 500, 250, 160, 125 and 63 µm) were determined. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn and As) in particle size of 63 µm were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the highest grain size of 250 µm has contributed almost more than 25% of atmospheric particulate pollution. The highest potentially toxic element concentration was Pb (593.3 mg/kg), whereas the lowest was Co (5.6 mg/kg). Road dust index output indicated that pollution risk fell into moderate levels in eastern and northern areas of Rawang. Similarly, PCA results revealed that potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cr) were linked with anthropogenic sources (urbanization process, industrial and commercial growth, urban traffic congestion) in northern and southern parts of Rawang. Cobalt and As concentrations were explained mainly from natural sources. Noncarcinogenic risk by hazard index value more than 1.0 was indicated for adults and children. Similarly, carcinogenic risk by total lifetime cancer risk value also showed carcinogenic risks among adults and children.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Cadmium; Carcinogens; Child; Coal; Cobalt; Dust; Environmental Pollution; Humans; Industry; Lead; Neoplasms; Particle Size; Urbanization; Zinc; Principal Component Analysis
  20. Abdalkareem EA, Ong CY, Lim BH, Khoo BY
    Cytotechnology, 2018 Oct;70(5):1363-1374.
    PMID: 29802489 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-018-0228-2
    The interleukin-21 (IL-21) protein was found to be expressed at an elevated level in clinical samples of colorectal cancer patients without or with a parasitic infection that were collected from Sudan in our previous study. The IL-21 gene in HT29 and HCT116 cells was then correlated to cell proliferation and cell migration, as well as the cellular mechanisms associated with gene expressions in our present study. Our results demonstrated that silencing the IL-21 gene in HCT116 cells increased the cytotoxic level and fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF4) mRNA expression in the cancer cells. Moreover, specific gene silencing reduced the migration of cancer cells compared to non-silenced cancer cells. These events were not observed in IL-21-silenced HT29 cells. Neutralizing FGF4 in conditioned medium of IL-21-silenced HCT116 cells further increased the cytotoxic level and restored the migratory activity of HCT116 cells in the culture compared to silencing the IL-21 gene alone in the cancer cells. Our results indicate the importance of both silencing the IL-21 gene and co-expression of the FGF4 protein in HCT116 cells, which pave the way for the discovery of important factors to be used as biomarkers for the design of drugs or cost-effective supplements to effectively treat the patients having infectious disease and HCT116 cells of colorectal cancer simultaneously in the future.
    MeSH terms: Cell Movement; Humans; Interleukins; Parasitic Diseases; RNA, Messenger; Sudan; Colorectal Neoplasms; Biomarkers; Culture Media, Conditioned; HT29 Cells; Gene Silencing; HCT116 Cells; Cell Proliferation; Fibroblast Growth Factor 4
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