Browse publications by year: 2018

  1. Fulltext Commentary: Genome Sequence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus VP152 Strain Isolated From Penaeus indicus in Malaysia
    Allnutt T, Yan CZY, Crowley TM, Gan HM
    Front Microbiol, 2018;9:865.
    PMID: 29765369 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00865
  2. Fulltext Isolation and Characterisation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Rat Bone Marrow and the Endosteal Niche: A Comparative Study
    Yusop N, Battersby P, Alraies A, Sloan AJ, Moseley R, Waddington RJ
    Stem Cells Int, 2018;2018:6869128.
    PMID: 29765418 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6869128
    Within bone, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exist within the bone marrow stroma (BM-MSC) and the endosteal niche, as cells lining compact bone (CB-MSCs). This study isolated and characterised heterogeneous MSC populations from each niche and subsequently investigated the effects of extensive cell expansion, analysing population doublings (PDs)/cellular senescence, colony-forming efficiencies (CFEs), MSC cell marker expression, and osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation. CB-MSCs and BM-MSCs demonstrated similar morphologies and PDs, reaching 100 PDs. Both populations exhibited consistent telomere lengths (12-17 kb), minimal senescence, and positive telomerase expression. CB-MSCs (PD15) had significantly lower CFEs than PD50. CB-MSCs and BM-MSCs both expressed MSC (CD73/CD90/CD105); embryonic (Nanog) and osteogenic markers (Runx2, osteocalcin) but no hematopoietic markers (CD45). CB-MSCs (PD15) strongly expressed Oct4 and p16INK4A. At early PDs, CB-MSCs possessed a strong osteogenic potency and low potency for adipogenesis, whilst BM-MSCs possessed greater overall bipotentiality for osteogenesis and adipogenesis. At PD50, CB-MSCs demonstrated reduced potency for both osteogenesis and adipogenesis, compared to BM-MSCs at equivalent PDs. This study demonstrates similarities in proliferative and mesenchymal cell characteristics between CB-MSCs and BM-MSCs, but contrasting multipotentiality. Such findings support further comparisons of human CB-MSCs and BM-MSCs, facilitating selection of optimal MSC populations for regenerative medicine purposes.
  3. Fulltext Determination of carcinogenic herbicides in milk samples using green non-ionic silicone surfactant of cloud point extraction and spectrophotometry
    Mohd NI, Zain NNM, Raoov M, Mohamad S
    R Soc Open Sci, 2018 Apr;5(4):171500.
    PMID: 29765632 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171500
    A new cloud point methodology was successfully used for the extraction of carcinogenic pesticides in milk samples as a prior step to their determination by spectrophotometry. In this work, non-ionic silicone surfactant, also known as 3-(3-hydroxypropyl-heptatrimethylxyloxane), was chosen as a green extraction solvent because of its structure and properties. The effect of different parameters, such as the type of surfactant, concentration and volume of surfactant, pH, salt, temperature, incubation time and water content on the cloud point extraction of carcinogenic pesticides such as atrazine and propazine, was studied in detail and a set of optimum conditions was established. A good correlation coefficient (R2 ) in the range of 0.991-0.997 for all calibration curves was obtained. The limit of detection was 1.06 µg l-1 (atrazine) and 1.22 µg l-1 (propazine), and the limit of quantitation was 3.54 µg l-1 (atrazine) and 4.07 µg l-1 (propazine). Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 81-108% were determined in milk samples at 5 and 1000 µg l-1, respectively, with low relative standard deviation, n = 3 of 0.301-7.45% in milk matrices. The proposed method is very convenient, rapid, cost-effective and environmentally friendly for food analysis.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Atrazine; Calibration; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Food Analysis; Milk; Pesticides; Silicones; Sodium Chloride; Spectrophotometry; Surface-Active Agents; Temperature; Triazines; Water; Limit of Detection
  4. Fulltext Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analyses of bis-[N,N-bis-(2-meth-oxy-eth-yl)di-thio-carbamato-κ2S,S']di-n-butyl-tin(IV) and [N-(2-meth-oxy-eth-yl)-N-methyl-dithio-carbamato-κ2S,S']tri-phenyl-tin(IV)
    Mohamad R, Awang N, Kamaludin NF, Jotani MM, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2018 Mar 01;74(Pt 3):302-308.
    PMID: 29765711 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989018001901
    The crystal and mol-ecular structures of the two title organotin di-thio-carbamate compounds, [Sn(C4H9)2(C7H14NO2S2)2], (I), and [Sn(C6H5)3(C5H10NOS2)], (II), are described. Both structures feature asymmetrically bound di-thio-carbamate ligands leading to a skew-trapezoidal bipyramidal geometry for the metal atom in (I) and a distorted tetra-hedral geometry in (II). The complete mol-ecule of (I) is generated by a crystallographic twofold axis (Sn site symmetry 2). In the crystal of (I), mol-ecules self-assemble into a supra-molecular array parallel to (10-1) via methyl-ene-C-H⋯O(meth-oxy) inter-actions. In the crystal of (II), supra-molecular dimers are formed via pairs of weak phenyl-C-H⋯π(phen-yl) contacts. In each of (I) and (II), the specified assemblies connect into a three-dimensional architecture without directional inter-actions between them. Hirshfeld surface analyses confirm the importance of H⋯H contacts in the mol-ecular packing of each of (I) and (II), and in the case of (I), highlight the importance of short meth-oxy-H⋯H(but-yl) contacts between layers.
    MeSH terms: Carbamates; Crystallography; Heterocyclic Compounds; Ligands; Metals; Organotin Compounds; Physical Phenomena
  5. Fulltext (4-Nitro-phen-yl)methyl 2,3-di-hydro-1H-pyrrole-1-carboxyl-ate: crystal structure and Hirshfeld analysis
    Zukerman-Schpector J, Soto-Monsalve M, De Almeida Santos RH, Garcia ALL, Correia CRD, Jotani MM, et al.
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2018 Mar 01;74(Pt 3):371-375.
    PMID: 29765726 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989018002451
    In the title compound, C12H12N2O4, the di-hydro-pyrrole ring is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0049 Å) and is nearly coplanar with the adjacent C2O2 residue [dihedral angle = 4.56 (9)°], which links to the 4-nitro-benzene substituent [dihedral angle = 4.58 (8)°]. The mol-ecule is concave, with the outer rings lying to the same side of the central C2O2 residue and being inclined to each other [dihedral angle = 8.30 (7)°]. In the crystal, supra-molecular layers parallel to (10-5) are sustained by nitro-benzene-C-H⋯O(carbon-yl) and pyrrole-C-H⋯O(nitro) inter-actions. The layers are connected into a three-dimensional architecture by π(pyrrole)-π(nitro-benzene) stacking [inter-centroid separation = 3.7414 (10) Å] and nitro-O⋯π(pyrrole) inter-actions.
  6. Fulltext (1R,2S,5R)-5-Methyl-2-[2-(4-nitro-phen-yl)propan-2-yl]cyclo-hexyl 2-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-2,5-di-hydro-1H-pyrrole-1-carboxyl-ate: crystal structure and Hirshfeld analysis
    Zukerman-Schpector J, Soto-Monsalve M, De Almeida Santos RH, Machado AHL, Correia CRD, Jotani MM, et al.
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2018 Mar 01;74(Pt 3):414-418.
    PMID: 29765735 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989018003092
    In the title compound, C28H34N2O5, the adjacent ester and nitro-benzene substituents are connected via an intra-molecular methyl-ene-C-H⋯π(nitrobenzene) inter-action and the mol-ecule approximates to a U-shape. The di-hydro-pyrrole ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) is almost co-planar with the carboxyl-ate residue [Cm-N-C1-Oc (m = methine, c = carbox-yl) torsion angle = 1.8 (4)°] but is orthogonal to the 4-meth-oxy-benzene ring [dihedral angle = 84.34 (17)°]. In the crystal, methyl-ene-C-H⋯O(carbon-yl) inter-actions lead to linear supra-molecular chains along the b-axis direction, which pack without directional inter-actions between them. The analysis of the calculated Hirshfeld surface points to the importance of weak inter-atomic H⋯H, O⋯H/H⋯O and C⋯H/H⋯C contacts in the crystal.
  7. Fulltext (E)-1,3-Bis(anthracen-9-yl)prop-2-en-1-one: crystal structure and DFT study
    Zainuri DA, Razak IA, Arshad S
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2018 Apr 01;74(Pt 4):492-496.
    PMID: 29765753 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989018003791
    The title compound, C31H20O, was synthesized using a Claisen-Schmidt condensation. The enone group adopts an s-trans conformation and the anthracene ring systems are twisted at angles of 85.21 (19) and 83.98 (19)° from the enone plane. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected into chains along [100] via weak C-H⋯π inter-actions. The observed band gap of 3.03 eV is in excellent agreement with that (3.07 eV) calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates a high percentage of C⋯H/H⋯C (41.2%) contacts in the crystal.
  8. Fulltext Solid-state fermentation of oil palm frond petiole for lignin peroxidase and xylanase-rich cocktail production
    Mohamad Ikubar MR, Abdul Manan M, Md Salleh M, Yahya A
    3 Biotech, 2018 May;8(5):259.
    PMID: 29765817 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1268-1
    In current practice, oil palm frond leaflets and stems are re-used for soil nutrient recycling, while the petioles are typically burned. Frond petioles have high commercialization value, attributed to high lignocellulose fiber content and abundant of juice containing free reducing sugars. Pressed petiole fiber is the subject of interest in this study for the production of lignocellulolytic enzyme. The initial characterization showed the combination of 0.125 mm frond particle size and 60% moisture content provided a surface area of 42.3 m2/g, porosity of 12.8%, and density of 1.2 g/cm3, which facilitated fungal solid-state fermentation. Among the several species of Aspergillus and Trichoderma tested, Aspergillus awamori MMS4 yielded the highest xylanase (109 IU/g) and cellulase (12 IU/g), while Trichoderma virens UKM1 yielded the highest lignin peroxidase (222 IU/g). Crude enzyme cocktail also contained various sugar residues, mainly glucose and xylose (0.1-0.4 g/L), from the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. FT-IR analysis of the fermented petioles observed reduction in cellulose crystallinity (I900/1098), cellulose-lignin (I900/1511), and lignin-hemicellulose (I1511/1738) linkages. The study demonstrated successful bioconversion of chemically untreated frond petioles into lignin peroxidase and xylanase-rich enzyme cocktail under SSF condition.
    MeSH terms: Cellulase; Cellulose; Fermentation; Glucose; Hydrolysis; Lignin; Particle Size; Soil; Trichoderma; Xylose; Porosity
  9. Fulltext Association between muscle activity and overjet in class II malocclusion with surface electromyography
    Nishi SE, Basri R, Rahman NA, Husein A, Alam MK
    J Orthod Sci, 2018;7:3.
    PMID: 29765915 DOI: 10.4103/jos.JOS_74_17
    OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the association and correlation between the overjet and muscle activity (the masseter and temporalis muscles) in patient with Class II malocclusion in different genders using surface electromyography (sEMG).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The overjet (measured clinically) and electromyographical activity (rest, chew, post chew rest, clench and post clench rest) of the masseter and temporalis muscle of class II malocclusion patient were assessed in 18 patients (3 males and 15 females) from the School of Dental Science, Hospital University Sains Malaysia.

    RESULTS: The results were compared by simple linear regression test to evaluate the association between overjet and muscle activity in different genders. Class II malocclusion patients with increased overjet group showed significant association with masseter muscle activity on chewing stage (P = 0.005, F = 6.081 and adj-R2 = 0.473). Left temporalis muscle in class II malocclusion showed a significant linear association (P = 0.014, F = 0.812 and adj-R2= -0.034) with gender during clench.

    CONCLUSION: In conclusion, class II malocclusion patient with increased overjet can affect masticatory muscle function and as well as clench force may differ in gender.

  10. Fulltext Ultraviolet Light-Assisted Copper Oxide Nanowires Hydrogen Gas Sensor
    Sihar N, Tiong TY, Dee CF, Ooi PC, Hamzah AA, Mohamed MA, et al.
    Nanoscale Res Lett, 2018 May 15;13(1):150.
    PMID: 29766297 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-018-2566-6
    We fabricated copper oxide nanowires (CuO NWs) ultraviolet (UV) light-assisted hydrogen gas sensor. The fabricated sensor shows promising sensor response behavior towards 100 ppm of H2 at room temperature and elevated temperature at 100 °C when exposed to UV light (3.0 mW/cm2). One hundred-cycle device stability test has been performed, and it is found that for sample elevated at 100 °C, the UV-activated sample achieved stability in the first cycle as compared to the sample without UV irradiation which needed about 10 cycles to achieve stability at the initial stage, whereas the sample tested at room temperature was able to stabilize with the aid of UV irradiation. This indicates that with the aid of UV light, after some "warming up" time, it is possible for the conventional CuO NW sensor which normally work at elevated temperature to function at room temperature because UV source is speculated to play a dominant role to increase the interaction of the surface of CuO NWs and hydrogen gas molecules absorbed after the light exposure.
  11. Metabolomic analysis and biochemical changes in the urine and serum of streptozotocin-induced normal- and obese-diabetic rats
    Mediani A, Abas F, Maulidiani M, Abu Bakar Sajak A, Khatib A, Tan CP, et al.
    J Physiol Biochem, 2018 May 15.
    PMID: 29766441 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-018-0631-3
    Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that can affect metabolism of glucose and other metabolites. In this study, the normal- and obese-diabetic rats were compared to understand the diabetes disorders of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. This was done by evaluating their urine metabolites using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics and comparing with controls at different time points, considering the induction periods of obesity and diabetes. The biochemical parameters of the serum were also investigated. The obese-diabetic model was developed by feeding the rats a high-fat diet and inducing diabetic conditions with a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (25 mg/kg bw). However, the normal rats were induced by a high dose of STZ (55 mg/kg bw). A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model showed the biomarkers of both DM types compared to control. The synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, tricarboxylic (TCA) cycles, and amino acid pathways were the ones most involved in the variation with the highest impact. The diabetic groups also exhibited a noticeable increase in the plasma glucose level and lipid profile disorders compared to the control. There was also an increase in the plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and a decline in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of diabetic rats. The normal-diabetic rats exhibited the highest effect of all parameters compared to the obese-diabetic rats in the advancement of the DM period. This finding can build a platform to understand the metabolic and biochemical complications of both types of DM and can generate ideas for finding targeted drugs.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Glucose; Ketone Bodies; Lipoproteins, HDL; Obesity; Protons; Streptozocin; Discriminant Analysis; Least-Squares Analysis; Rats; Metabolomics; Diet, High-Fat; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  12. GABAA receptors: Various stoichiometrics of subunit arrangement in α1β3 and α1β3ε receptors
    Has ATC, Chebib M
    Curr Pharm Des, 2018;24(17):1839-1844.
    PMID: 29766792 DOI: 10.2174/1381612824666180515123921
    GABAA receptors are members of the Cys-loop family of ligand-gated ion channels which mediate most inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. These receptors are pentameric assemblies of individual subunits, including α1-6, β1-3, γ1-3, δ, ε, π, θ and ρ1-3. The majority of receptors are comprised of α, β and γ or δ subunits. Depending on the subunit composition, the receptors are located in either the synapses or extrasynaptic regions. The most abundant receptors are α1βγ2 receptors, which are activated and modulated by a variety of pharmacologically and clinically unrelated agents such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, anaesthetics and neurosteroids, all of which bind at distinct binding sites located within the receptor complex. However, compared to αβγ, the binary αβ receptors lack a benzodiazepine α-γ2 interface. In pentameric αβ receptors, the third subunit is replaced with either an α1 or a β3 subunit leading to two distinct receptors that differ in subunit stoichiometry, 2α:3β or 3α:2β. The consequence of this is that 3α:2β receptors contain an α-α interface whereas 2α:3β receptors contain a β-β interface. Apart from the replacement of γ by α1 or β3 in binary receptors, the incorporation of ε subunit into GABAA receptors might be more complicated. As the ε subunit is not only capable of substituting the γ subunit, but also replacing the α/β subunits, receptors with altered stoichiometry and different pharmacological properties are produced. The different subunit arrangement of the receptors potentially constructs novel binding sites which may become new targets of the current or new drugs.
    MeSH terms: Anesthetics/pharmacology*; Barbiturates/pharmacology*; Benzodiazepines/pharmacology*; Humans; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism*; Neurotransmitter Agents/pharmacology*; GABA-A Receptor Agonists/pharmacology*
  13. Fulltext Methamphetamine-induced internal carotid artery vasospasm: A rapidly fatal stroke
    Ng CF, Chong CY
    Neurol India, 2018 5 17;66(3):826-827.
    PMID: 29766948 DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.232337
  14. Fulltext Virus vector-mediated genetic modification of brain tumor stromal cells after intravenous delivery
    Volak A, LeRoy SG, Natasan JS, Park DJ, Cheah PS, Maus A, et al.
    J Neurooncol, 2018 Sep;139(2):293-305.
    PMID: 29767307 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-018-2889-2
    The malignant primary brain tumor, glioblastoma (GBM) is generally incurable. New approaches are desperately needed. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated delivery of anti-tumor transgenes is a promising strategy, however direct injection leads to focal transgene spread in tumor and rapid tumor division dilutes out the extra-chromosomal AAV genome, limiting duration of transgene expression. Intravenous (IV) injection gives widespread distribution of AAV in normal brain, however poor transgene expression in tumor, and high expression in non-target cells which may lead to ineffective therapy and high toxicity, respectively. Delivery of transgenes encoding secreted, anti-tumor proteins to tumor stromal cells may provide a more stable and localized reservoir of therapy as they are more differentiated than fast-dividing tumor cells. Reactive astrocytes and tumor-associated macrophage/microglia (TAMs) are stromal cells that comprise a large portion of the tumor mass and are associated with tumorigenesis. In mouse models of GBM, we used IV delivery of exosome-associated AAV vectors driving green fluorescent protein expression by specific promoters (NF-κB-responsive promoter and a truncated glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter), to obtain targeted transduction of TAMs and reactive astrocytes, respectively, while avoiding transgene expression in the periphery. We used our approach to express the potent, yet toxic anti-tumor cytokine, interferon beta, in tumor stroma of a mouse model of GBM, and achieved a modest, yet significant enhancement in survival compared to controls. Noninvasive genetic modification of tumor microenvironment represents a promising approach for therapy against cancers. Additionally, the vectors described here may facilitate basic research in the study of tumor stromal cells in situ.
    MeSH terms: Dependovirus/genetics*; Animals; Astrocytes/cytology; Astrocytes/metabolism*; Brain Neoplasms/genetics; Brain Neoplasms/pathology; Brain Neoplasms/therapy*; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Nude; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Genetic Therapy*; Interferon-beta/genetics*; Stromal Cells/cytology; Stromal Cells/metabolism*; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism; Mice
  15. Effectiveness of adjunct psychotherapy for cancer treatment: a review
    Chen Y, Ahmad M
    Future Oncol, 2018 Jun;14(15):1487-1496.
    PMID: 29767550 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2017-0671
    Psychotherapies were offered to alleviate psychological and physical symptoms; however, most psychological interventions were only delivered after cancer treatment. Newly diagnosed cancer patients experienced psychological distress while waiting for treatments. This review paper focused on randomized control trial studies, aimed to investigate the effectiveness of psychological intervention among newly diagnosed cancer patients. Eight randomized control trial papers were found in recent 10 year period through electronic database. A moderate to large effect size was detected on the outcomes, ranging from 0.43 to 0.89. This indicated that psychological-based prehabilitation with standard care yielded better outcomes than standard care alone. Psychological-based prehabilitation provides evidence in its effectiveness to reduce psychological distress, functional impairment, recurrence of cancer, numbers of immune reactivity and sleeping quality; however, inconsistent with longer survival result among cancer patients. In conclusion, psychological-based prehabilitation before cancer treatment is necessary for better treatment outcome, and future research is needed to investigate more directly the outcome.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Neoplasms; Psychotherapy; Recurrence; Research; Stress, Psychological; Treatment Outcome
  16. Differential attenuation of Marek's disease virus-induced tumours and late-Marek's disease virus-induced immunosuppression
    Faiz NM, Cortes AL, Guy JS, Reddy SM, Gimeno IM
    J Gen Virol, 2018 07;99(7):927-936.
    PMID: 29767614 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001076
    Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a herpesvirus that induces lymphoma and a variety of non-neoplastic syndromes in chickens. Furthermore, very virulent plus (vv+) MDVs induce a form of immunosuppression (late-MDV-IS) that might involve both neoplastic and non-neoplastic mechanisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the attenuation of MDV-induced tumours and late-MDV-IS occurs simultaneously or can be dissociated. The immunosuppressive ability of three viruses derived from vv+ MDV strain 686 (wild-type 686, the somewhat attenuated molecular clone 686-BAC, and the nononcogenic molecular clone lacking the two copies of the oncogene meq 686-BACΔMEQ) was evaluated. Late-MDV-IS was evaluated indirectly by assessing the negative effect of MDV strains on the protection conferred by infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) vaccines. Our results showed that the ability to induce late-MDV-IS was attenuated before the ability to induce tumours. Strain 686 induced both tumours and late-MDV-IS, 686-BAC induced tumours but did not induce late-MDV-IS and 686-BACΔMEQ did not induce either tumours or late-MDV-IS. Further comparison of strains 686 and 686-BAC revealed that strain 686 reduced the humoral immune responses to ILTV (1132 vs 2167) more severely, showed higher levels of meq transcripts (2.1E+09 vs 4.98E+8) and higher expression of MDV microRNAs (mdv1-miR-M4-5p and mdv1-miR-M2-3p) in the spleen, and further reduced the percentage of CD45+-MHC-I+splenocytes (13 vs32 %) compared to molecular clone 686-BAC. This study suggests that the immunosuppressive ability of MDV might follow a continuous spectrum and only the most virulent MDVs can overcome a certain threshold level and induce clinical MDV-IS in the ILT model.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis; Herpesvirus 1, Gallid/genetics; Herpesvirus 1, Gallid/immunology*; Herpesvirus 1, Gallid/pathogenicity; Chickens; Female; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/genetics; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/immunology; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/veterinary*; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/virology; Lymphoma/genetics; Lymphoma/immunology; Lymphoma/veterinary*; Lymphoma/virology; Marek Disease/genetics; Marek Disease/immunology*; Marek Disease/pathology; Marek Disease/virology; Herpesvirus 2, Gallid/genetics; Herpesvirus 2, Gallid/immunology*; Herpesvirus 2, Gallid/pathogenicity; RNA, Viral/genetics; RNA, Viral/immunology; Species Specificity; Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage; Virulence; MicroRNAs/genetics; MicroRNAs/immunology; Immunity, Humoral/drug effects; Carcinogenesis/genetics; Carcinogenesis/immunology*; Carcinogenesis/pathology
  17. THE CONSISTENCY OF EXPOSURE INDICATOR VALUES IN DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY SYSTEMS
    Jamil A, Mohd MI, Zain NM
    Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2018 Dec 01;182(4):413-418.
    PMID: 29767799 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy082
    After years of establishment of computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR), manufacturers have introduced exposure indicator/index (EI) as a feedback mechanism for patient dose. However, EI consistency is uncertain for CR. Most manufacturers recommended EI values in a range of numbers for all examination, instead of giving the exact range for a specific body part, raising a concern of inappropriate exposure given to the patient in clinical practice. The aims of this study were to investigate the EI consistency in DR systems produced in constant exposure parameters and clinical condition, and to determine the interaction between the anatomical part and EI. A phantom study of skull, chest, abdomen and hand was carried out and four systems were used for comparison-Fuji CR, Carestream CR, Siemens DR and Carestream DR. For each projection, the phantom positioning and exposure parameters were set according to the standard clinical practice. All exposure parameters and clinical conditions were kept constant. Twenty (20) exposures were taken for each projection and the EI was recorded. Findings showed that EI is not consistent in DR systems despite constant exposure parameters and clinical condition except in Siemens DR, through skull examination. Statistical analysis showed a significant interaction between anatomical parts and EI values (P < 0.05). EI alone was proven to be less reliable to provide technologist a correct feedback on exposure level. The interaction between anatomical parts and EI values intensifies the need for an anatomical-specific EI values set by all manufacturers for accurate feedback on the exposure parameters used and the detector entrance dose.
    MeSH terms: Abdomen/radiation effects; Radiation Exposure/analysis*; Body Burden; Hand/radiation effects; Humans; Models, Anatomic; Radiographic Image Enhancement/instrumentation*; Radiographic Image Enhancement/standards*; Radiometry/instrumentation*; Radiometry/standards*; Skull/radiation effects; Thorax/radiation effects; Reproducibility of Results
  18. Fulltext Optimisation of preparation conditions for Ti nanowires and suitability as an antibacterial material
    Munisparan T, Yang ECY, Paramasivam R, Dahlan NA, Pushpamalar J
    IET Nanobiotechnol, 2018 Jun;12(4):429-435.
    PMID: 29768225 DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2017.0186
    Ultrafine titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanowires were synthesised using a hydrothermal method with different volumes of ethylene glycol (EG) and annealing temperatures. It shows that sodium titanate nanowires synthesised using 5 and 10 ml EG, which annealed at 400°C produced TiO2 nanowires that correspond to a photochemically active phase, which is anatase. The influences of annealing temperatures (400-600°C) on the morphological arrangement of TiO2 nanowires were evident in the field emission scanning electron microscopy. The annealing temperature of 500°C led to agglomeration, which formed a mixture of TiO2 nanoparticles and nanowires. High thermal stability of TiO2 nanowires revealed by thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum showed the presence of the Ti-O-Ti vibrations as evidenced due to TiO2 lattices. An antibacterial study using TiO2 nanowires toward Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed large zones of inhibition that indicated susceptibility of the microbe toward TiO2. Growth kinetic analysis shows that addition of TiO2 has reduced optical density (OD) suggesting an inhibition of the growth of bacteria. These results indicate TiO2 nanowires can be effectively used as an antimicrobial agent against gram-bacteria. The TiO2 nanowires could be exploited in the medical, packaging and detergent formulation industries and wastewater treatment.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry*; Escherichia coli/drug effects; Hot Temperature; Titanium/pharmacology; Titanium/chemistry*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Nanowires/chemistry*
  19. Improvement of bone turnover markers and bone mineral density following treatment of primary aldosteronism
    Loh HH, Kamaruddin NA, Zakaria R, Sukor N
    Minerva Endocrinol., 2018 Jun;43(2):117-125.
    PMID: 28001017 DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1977.16.02553-0
    BACKGROUND: Recent studies showed association between hyperaldosteronism and low bone density among patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) due to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Our objective is to assess bone turnover markers (BTM) and bone mineral density (BMD) of PA patients compared to essential hypertension.

    METHODS: This was an open-label, prospective, case-controlled study, conducted over 12 months. Fifty-two consecutive patients referred for secondary hypertension were screened. Eighteen patients with confirmed PA (diagnosis based on the Endocrine Society clinical guideline) and seventeen matched controls with essential hypertension were recruited. BTM (CTX and P1NP), BMD, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and bone profile were assessed at baseline and three months following treatment among the PA patients. Calcium intake was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Primary outcomes were the changes of bone markers and BMD following treatment of PA, and their relation to other parameters.

    RESULTS: PA patients had significantly lower serum calcium and higher iPTH despite comparable vitamin D levels with control group. Both BTM were significantly higher among the PA group. BMD of lumbar spine, neck of femur and distal radius did not differ between groups. Three months following treatment, there were significant: 1) reduction in BTM; 2) improvement in the lumbar spine BMD; 3) reduction in iPTH level; and 4) increment of serum 25-OH vitamin D level.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support that bone loss and potential fracture risk among PA patients are likely a result of aldosterone-mediated secondary hyperparathyroidism. Patients with early PA may already exhibit increased bone turnover despite no significant changes in BMD.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Hyperaldosteronism/blood*; Hyperaldosteronism/drug therapy*; Hypertension/drug therapy; Hypertension/etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Biomarkers/blood*; Bone Density*; Case-Control Studies; Bone Remodeling*
  20. Systematics of the combtooth blenny clade Omobranchus (Blenniidae: Omobranchini), with notes on early life history stages
    Gibbs S, Hundt PJ, Nelson A, Egan JP, Tongnunui P, Simons AM
    Zootaxa, 2018 Jan 03;4369(2):270-280.
    PMID: 29689891 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4369.2.7
    The combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) genus Omobranchus contains small, cryptobenthic fishes common to nearshore habitats throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Recent molecular systematic studies have resolved Omobranchus as monophyletic but little research has been done to resolve species-level relationships. Herein, phylogenetic analyses of one mitochondrial (CO1) and four nuclear (ENC1, myh6, sreb2, and tbr1) genes provide evidence for the monophyly of Omobranchus and support for the elongatus and banditus species group. Sampling of multiple individuals from widespread species (O. ferox, O. punctatus, and O. elongatus) suggested that the Thai-Malay Peninsula is a phylogeographic break that may be a historic barrier to gene flow. Additionally, common meristics and other morphological characters are used to describe an early life history stage of O. ferox and O. punctatus.
    MeSH terms: Animals; DNA, Mitochondrial; Fishes; Malaysia; Perciformes*; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Evolution, Molecular; Phylogeography
External Links