Browse publications by year: 2018

  1. Monomia lucida sp. nov., a new swimming crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) from the South China Sea
    Koch M, ĎuriŠ Z
    Zootaxa, 2018 Feb 27;4387(3):567-579.
    PMID: 29690481 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.3.9
    A new species of the portunid genus, Monomia Gistel, 1848, is described from the South China Sea in Vietnam. Monomia lucida sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to M. argentata (A. Milne-Edwards, 1861), which was originally described from Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. In addition to the stout, forward-directed anterolateral teeth of the carapace, the subrectangular sixth segment of the male pleon, and the long and slender laterally bent first gonopods, adults of the new species reach a greater size, and can also be distinguished from M. argentata by the colour pattern on the natatory dactylus. The independent specific status of M. lucida sp. nov. is also supported by molecular evidence. Aside from a comparison of this new species with other known congeners, new photographs of the holotype of M. samoensis (Ward, 1939) are also provided.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo; China; Color; Malaysia; Male; Sulfasalazine; Vietnam; Animal Shells; Islands
  2. Five new species of Cleruchus from the Oriental region and report of Anaphes quinquearticulatus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from India
    Manickavasagam S, Triapitsyn SV, Palanivel S
    Zootaxa, 2018 Feb 26;4387(1):134-156.
    PMID: 29690489 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.1.6
    An overview of the Oriental species of Cleruchus Enock (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is given, and its five newly described species as well as one undescribed species from Malaysia are keyed. The described new taxa are C. funiculatus Manickavasagam Palanivel sp. n., C. indicus Manickavasagam Palanivel sp. n. and C. orientalis Manickavasagam Palanivel sp. n., all from India, C. blimp Triapitsyn sp. n. from Brunei, and C. pmilb Triapitsyn sp. n. from Thailand. Anaphes quinquearticulatus Huber Triapitsyn is newly reported from India.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Brunei; Hymenoptera*; India; Malaysia; Thailand
  3. Fulltext The Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicines on the Quorum Sensing-Regulated Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
    Chong YM, How KY, Yin WF, Chan KG
    Molecules, 2018 04 21;23(4).
    PMID: 29690523 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040972
    The quorum sensing (QS) system has been used by many opportunistic pathogenic bacteria to coordinate their virulence determinants in relation to cell-population density. As antibiotic-resistant bacteria are on the rise, interference with QS has been regarded as a novel way to control bacterial infections. As such, many plant-based natural products have been widely explored for their therapeutic roles. These natural products may contain anti-QS compounds that could block QS signals generation or transmission to combat QS pathogens. In this study, we report the anti-QS activities of four different Chinese herbal plant extracts: Poria cum Radix pini, Angelica dahurica, Rhizoma cibotii and Schizonepeta tenuifolia, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. All the plants extracted using hexane, chloroform and methanol were tested and found to impair swarming motility and pyocyanin production in P.aeruginosa PAO1, particularly by Poria cum Radix pini. In addition, all the plant extracts also inhibited violacein production in C.violaceum CV026 up to 50% while bioluminescence activities were reduced in lux-based E. coli biosensors, pSB401 and pSB1075, up to about 57%. These anti-QS properties of the four medicinal plants are the first documentation that demonstrates a potential approach to attenuate pathogens’ virulence determinants.
    MeSH terms: Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*; Indoles/chemistry; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects*; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/physiology*; Pyocyanine/biosynthesis; Pyocyanine/chemistry; Virulence/drug effects; Virulence/genetics; Quorum Sensing/drug effects*
  4. Fulltext Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Rhus coriaria Extract in a Mouse Model of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
    Khalilpour S, Behnammanesh G, Suede F, Ezzat MO, Muniandy J, Tabana Y, et al.
    Biomedicines, 2018 Apr 23;6(2).
    PMID: 29690612 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines6020048
    Modulating oxidative stresses and inflammation can potentially prevent or alleviate the pathological conditions of diseases associated with the nervous system, including ischemic optic neuropathy. In this study we evaluated the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activities of Rhus coriaria (R. coriaria) extract in vivo. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for DPPH, ABTS and β⁻carotene were 6.79 ± 0.009 µg/mL, 10.94 ± 0.09 µg/mL, and 6.25 ± 0.06 µg/mL, respectively. Retinal ischemia was induced by optic nerve crush injury in albino Balb/c mice. The anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of R. coriaria (ERC) and linoleic acid (LA) on ocular ischemia was monitored using Fluorescence Molecular Tomography (FMT). Following optic nerve crush injury, the mice treated with 400 mg/kg of ERC and LA exhibited an 84.87% and 86.71% reduction of fluorescent signal (cathepsin activity) respectively. The results of this study provide strong scientific evidence for the neuroprotective activity of the ERC, identifying LA as one of the main components responsible for the effect. ERC may be useful and worthy of further development for its adjunctive utilization in the treatment of optic neuropathy.
  5. Human Amniotic Membrane with Aligned Electrospun Fiber as Scaffold for Aligned Tissue Regeneration
    Hasmad H, Yusof MR, Mohd Razi ZR, Hj Idrus RB, Chowdhury SR
    Tissue Eng Part C Methods, 2018 06;24(6):368-378.
    PMID: 29690856 DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2017.0447
    Fabrication of composite scaffolds is one of the strategies proposed to enhance the functionality of tissue-engineered scaffolds for improved tissue regeneration. By combining multiple elements together, unique biomimetic scaffolds with desirable physical and mechanical properties can be tailored for tissue-specific applications. Despite having a highly porous structure, the utility of electrospun fibers (EF) as scaffold is usually hampered by their insufficient mechanical strength. In this study, we attempted to produce a mechanically competent scaffold with cell-guiding ability by fabricating aligned poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) fibers on decellularized human amniotic membrane (HAM), known to possess favorable tensile and wound healing properties. Decellularization of HAM in 18.75 μg/mL of thermolysin followed by a brief treatment in 0.25 M sodium hydroxide efficiently removed the amniotic epithelium and preserved the ultrastructure of the underlying extracellular matrix. The electrospinning of 20% (w/v) PLGA 50:50 polymer on HAM yielded beadless fibers with straight morphology. Subsequent physical characterization revealed that EF-HAM scaffold with a 3-min fabrication had the most aligned fibers with the lowest fiber diameter in comparison with EF-HAM 5- and 7-min scaffolds. Hydrated EF-HAM scaffolds with 3-min deposition had a greater tensile strength than the other scaffolds despite having thinner fibers. Nevertheless, wet HAM and EF-HAMs regardless of the fiber thicknesses had a significantly lower Young's modulus, and hence, a higher elasticity compared with dry HAM and EF-HAMs. Biocompatibility analysis showed that the viability and migration rate of skeletal muscle cells on EF-HAMs were similar to control and HAM alone. Skeletal muscle cells seeded on HAM were shown to display random orientation, whereas cells on EF-HAM scaffolds were oriented along the alignment of the electrospun PLGA fibers. In summary, besides having good mechanical strength and elasticity, EF-HAM scaffold design decorated with aligned fiber topography holds a promising potential for use in the development of aligned tissue constructs.
    MeSH terms: Amnion/cytology*; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry*; Cells, Cultured; Extracellular Matrix/chemistry; Female; Humans; Materials Testing*; Polymers/chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal/cytology*; Tissue Engineering/methods*; Cell Proliferation; Tissue Scaffolds*; Nanofibers/chemistry*
  6. Fulltext The effect of regularly dosed paracetamol versus no paracetamol on renal function in Plasmodium knowlesi malaria (PACKNOW): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
    Cooper DJ, Plewes K, Grigg MJ, Rajahram GS, Piera KA, William T, et al.
    Trials, 2018 Apr 24;19(1):250.
    PMID: 29690924 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-018-2600-0
    BACKGROUND: Plasmodium knowlesi is the most common cause of human malaria in Malaysia. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication. AKI of any cause can have long-term consequences, including increased risk of chronic kidney disease, adverse cardiovascular events and increased mortality. Additional management strategies are therefore needed to reduce the frequency and severity of AKI in malaria. In falciparum malaria, cell-free haemoglobin (CFHb)-mediated oxidative damage contributes to AKI. The inexpensive and widely available drug paracetamol inhibits CFHb-induced lipid peroxidation via reduction of ferryl haem to the less toxic Fe3+ state, and has been shown to reduce oxidative damage and improve renal function in patients with sepsis complicated by haemolysis as well as in falciparum malaria. This study aims to assess the ability of regularly dosed paracetamol to reduce the incidence and severity of AKI in knowlesi malaria by attenuating haemolysis-induced oxidative damage.

    METHODS: PACKNOW is a two-arm, open-label randomised controlled trial of adjunctive paracetamol versus no paracetamol in patients aged ≥ 5 years with knowlesi malaria, conducted over a 2-year period at four hospital sites in Sabah, Malaysia. The primary endpoint of change in creatinine from enrolment to 72 h will be evaluated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using enrolment creatinine as a covariate. Secondary endpoints include longitudinal changes in markers of oxidative stress (plasma F2-isoprostanes and isofurans) and markers of endothelial activation/Weibel-Palade body release (angiopoietin-2, von Willebrand Factor, P-selectin, osteoprotegerin) over 72 h, as well as blood and urine biomarkers of AKI. This study will be powered to detect a difference between the two treatment arms in a clinically relevant population including adults and children with knowlesi malaria of any severity.

    DISCUSSION: Paracetamol is widely available and has an excellent safety profile; if a renoprotective effect is demonstrated, this trial will support the administration of regularly dosed paracetamol to all patients with knowlesi malaria. The secondary outcomes in this study will provide further insights into the pathophysiology of haemolysis-induced oxidative damage and acute kidney injury in knowlesi malaria and other haemolytic diseases.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03056391 . Registered on 12 October 2016.

    MeSH terms: Acetaminophen/administration & dosage*; Acetaminophen/adverse effects; Antioxidants/administration & dosage*; Antioxidants/adverse effects; Hemolysis/drug effects; Humans; Malaria/blood; Malaria/diagnosis; Malaria/drug therapy*; Malaria/parasitology; Malaysia; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Biomarkers/blood; Biomarkers/urine; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Plasmodium knowlesi/pathogenicity*; Treatment Outcome; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Acute Kidney Injury/diagnosis; Acute Kidney Injury/parasitology; Acute Kidney Injury/prevention & control*
  7. Fulltext Asia-Pacific working group consensus on non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: an update 2018
    Sung JJ, Chiu PW, Chan FKL, Lau JY, Goh KL, Ho LH, et al.
    Gut, 2018 10;67(10):1757-1768.
    PMID: 29691276 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2018-316276
    Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains an important emergency condition, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. As endoscopic therapy is the 'gold standard' of management, treatment of these patients can be considered in three stages: pre-endoscopic treatment, endoscopic haemostasis and post-endoscopic management. Since publication of the Asia-Pacific consensus on non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) 7 years ago, there have been significant advancements in the clinical management of patients in all three stages. These include pre-endoscopy risk stratification scores, blood and platelet transfusion, use of proton pump inhibitors; during endoscopy new haemostasis techniques (haemostatic powder spray and over-the-scope clips); and post-endoscopy management by second-look endoscopy and medication strategies. Emerging techniques, including capsule endoscopy and Doppler endoscopic probe in assessing adequacy of endoscopic therapy, and the pre-emptive use of angiographic embolisation, are attracting new attention. An emerging problem is the increasing use of dual antiplatelet agents and direct oral anticoagulants in patients with cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases. Guidelines on the discontinuation and then resumption of these agents in patients presenting with NVUGIB are very much needed. The Asia-Pacific Working Group examined recent evidence and recommends practical management guidelines in this updated consensus statement.
    MeSH terms: Embolization, Therapeutic/methods*; Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use*; Recurrence; Reoperation; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/methods*; Practice Guidelines as Topic*; Risk Assessment/methods; Patient Selection; Consensus; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
  8. Environmental Control of Vanadium Haloperoxidases and Halocarbon Emissions in Macroalgae
    Punitha T, Phang SM, Juan JC, Beardall J
    Mar Biotechnol (NY), 2018 Jun;20(3):282-303.
    PMID: 29691674 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-018-9820-x
    Vanadium-dependent haloperoxidases (V-HPO), able to catalyze the reaction of halide ions (Cl-, Br-, I-) with hydrogen peroxide, have a great influence on the production of halocarbons, which in turn are involved in atmospheric ozone destruction and global warming. The production of these haloperoxidases in macroalgae is influenced by changes in the surrounding environment. The first reported vanadium bromoperoxidase was discovered 40 years ago in the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum. Since that discovery, more studies have been conducted on the structure and mechanism of the enzyme, mainly focused on three types of V-HPO, the chloro- and bromoperoxidases and, more recently, the iodoperoxidase. Since aspects of environmental regulation of haloperoxidases are less well known, the present paper will focus on reviewing the factors which influence the production of these enzymes in macroalgae, particularly their interactions with reactive oxygen species (ROS).
    MeSH terms: Biotechnology/methods; Catalysis; Kinetics; Peroxidases/metabolism*; Seaweed/enzymology; Seaweed/metabolism*; Vanadium/metabolism*; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
  9. Fulltext Identification of characteristic aroma compounds in raw and thermally processed African giant snail (Achatina fulica)
    Lasekan O, Muniady M, Lin M, Dabaj F
    Chem Cent J, 2018 Apr 24;12(1):43.
    PMID: 29691719 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-018-0413-6
    BACKGROUND: Food flavor appreciation is one of the first signals along with food appearance and texture encountered by consumers during eating of food. Also, it is well known that flavor can strongly influence consumer's acceptability judgment. The increase in the consumption of snail meat across the world calls for the need to research into the aroma compounds responsible for the distinctive aroma notes of processed snail meat.

    RESULTS: The odorants responsible for the unique aroma notes in thermally processed giant African snail meats were evaluated by means of aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and odor activity values (OAVs) respectively. Results revealed significant differences in the aroma profiles of the raw and thermally processed snail meats. Whilst the aroma profile of the raw snail meat was dominated with the floral-like β-ionone and β-iso-methyl ionone, sweaty/cheesy-like butanoic acid, and the mushroom-like 1-octen-3-one, the boiled and fried samples were dominated with the thermally generated odorants like 2-methylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole and 2-acetylpyridine.

    CONCLUSION: Finally, results have shown that sotolon, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, 2-furanmethanethiol, 2-methylbutanal, 1-octen-3-one, octanal, furanone, 2-methoxyphenol, 2-acetylpyridine, 2-acetylthiazole, and 2-methylpyrazine contributed to the overall aroma of the thermally processed snail meat.

  10. Fulltext Author reply: Wei Gan JJ, Lia Gan JJ, Hsien Gan JJ, Lee KT. Lateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A safe and effective surgical approach. Indian J Urol 2018;34:45-50
    Gan JJ, Gan JJ, Gan JJ, Lee KT
    Indian J Urol, 2018;34(2):164.
    PMID: 29692515 DOI: 10.4103/iju.IJU_80_18
  11. Efficacy of pharmacist based diabetes educational interventions on clinical outcomes of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a network meta-analysis
    Bukhsh A, Khan TM, Lee SWH, Lee LH, Chan KG, Goh BH
    Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:339.
    PMID: 29692730 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00339
    Background: Comparative efficacy of different pharmacist based interventions on glycemic control of type 2 diabetes patients is unclear. This review aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of different pharmacist based interventions on clinical outcomes of type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across five databases from date of database inception to September 2017. All randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of pharmacist based interventions on type 2 diabetes patients were included for network meta-analysis (NMA). The protocol is available with PROSPERO (CRD42017078854). Results: A total of 43 studies, involving 6259 type 2 diabetes patients, were included. NMA demonstrated that all interventions significantly lowered glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels compared to usual care, but there was no statistical evidence from this study that one intervention was significantly better than the other for reducing HbA1c levels. Pharmacist based diabetes education plus pharmaceutical care showed maximum efficacy for reducing HbA1c levels [-0.86, 95% CI -0.983, -0.727; p < 0.001]. Pharmacist based diabetes education plus pharmaceutical care was observed to be statistically significant in lowering levels of systolic blood pressure [-4.94; 95%CI -8.65, -1.23] and triglycerides levels [-0.26, 95%CI -0.51, -0.01], as compared to the interventions which involved diabetes education by pharmacist, and for body mass index (BMI) [-0.57; 95%CI -1.25, -0.12] in comparison to diabetes education by health care team involving pharmacist as member. Conclusion: The findings of this review demonstrate that all interventions had a significantly positive effect on HbA1c, but there was no statistical evidence from this study that one intervention was significantly better than the other for achieving glycemic control.Pharmacist based diabetes education plus pharmaceutical care showed maximum efficacy on HbA1c and rest of the clinical outcomes.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*; Humans; Pharmacists*
  12. Antifungal Compound Isolated from Catharanthus roseus L. (Pink) for Biological Control of Root Rot Rubber Diseases
    Zahari R, Halimoon N, Ahmad MF, Ling SK
    Int J Anal Chem, 2018;2018:8150610.
    PMID: 29692811 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8150610
    Rigidoporus microporus, Ganoderma philippii, and Phellinus noxius are root rot rubber diseases and these fungi should be kept under control with environmentally safe compounds from the plant sources. Thus, an antifungal compound isolated from Catharanthus roseus was screened for its effectiveness in controlling the growth of these fungi. The antifungal compound isolated from C. roseus extract was determined through thin layer chromatography (TLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Each C. roseus of the DCM extracts was marked as CRD1, CRD2, CRD3, CRD4, CRD5, CRD6, and CRD7, respectively. TLC results showed that all of the C. roseus extracts peaked with red colour at Rf = 0.61 at 366 nm wavelength, except for CRD7. The CRD4 extract was found to be the most effective against R. microporus and G. philippii with inhibition zones of 3.5 and 1.9 mm, respectively, compared to that of other extracts. These extracts, however, were not effective against P. noxius. The CRD4 extract contained ursolic acid that was detected by NMR analysis and the compound could be developed as a biocontrol agent for controlling R. microporus and G. philippii. Moreover, little or no research has been done to study the effectiveness of C. roseus in controlling these fungi.
    MeSH terms: Antifungal Agents; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Color; Fungi; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Plant Extracts; Rubber; Triterpenes; Catharanthus; Ganoderma
  13. Fulltext Role of Uterine Artery Embolization in Pseudoaneurysm of Uterine Artery: A Rare Cause of Secondary Postpartum Hemorrhage
    Subramaniam S, Nadarajan C, Aziz ME
    Cureus, 2018 Feb 23;10(2):e2220.
    PMID: 29692958 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.2220
    Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon cause of secondary postpartum hemorrhage, although it carries a high mortality rate. The etiology includes vascular trauma during cesarean section, vaginal delivery, curettage or hysterotomy. We present a post-cesarean female who developed delayed hemorrhage and was diagnosed with left uterine artery pseudoaneurysm. Selective transcatheter arterial embolization was performed and the pseudoaneurysm was successfully obliterated. Angiographic embolization is a safe and efficient method of treatment of postpartum hemorrhage due to pseudoaneurysm in hemodynamically stable patients. Thus, it should be considered as a treatment option before opting for surgery in favorable cases.
    MeSH terms: Angiography; Cesarean Section; Curettage; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Humans; Pregnancy; Aneurysm, False; Hysterotomy; Uterine Artery
  14. Clausenidin Induces Caspase 8-Dependent Apoptosis and Suppresses Production of VEGF in Liver Cancer Cells
    Waziri PM, Abdullah R, Rosli R, Omar AR, Abdul AB, Kassim NK, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2018 Apr 25;19(4):917-922.
    PMID: 29693341
    Clausena excavata Burm f. is used by traditional healers to treat cancer patients in South East Asia. The use of the
    plant and its compounds is based on Asian folklore with little or no scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy
    The current study aimed to determine the effect of pure clausenidin isolated from C. excavata on caspase-8-induced cell
    death as well as angiogenesis in the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Caspase-8 and extrinsic death receptor
    protein expression was determined using spectrophotometry and protein profile arrays, respectively. Ultrastructural
    analysis of clausenidin-treated cells was conducted using transmission electron microscopy. In addition, anti-angiogenic
    effects of clausenidin were investigated by Western blot analysis. Clausenidin significantly (p<0.05) increased the
    activity of caspase-8 and expression of protein components of the death inducing signaling complex (DISC) in HepG2
    cells. Ultrastructural analysis of the clausenidin-treated HepG2 cells revealed morphological abnormalities typical of
    apoptosis. Furthermore, clausenidin significantly (p<0.05) decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth
    factor (VEGF). Therefore, clausenidin is a potential anti-angiogenic agent which may induce apoptosis of hepatocellular
    carcinoma cells.
    MeSH terms: Carbazoles/pharmacology*; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology*; Humans; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism; Liver Neoplasms/pathology; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Apoptosis/drug effects*; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Caspase 3/metabolism*; Clausena/chemistry*
  15. Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Two Different Two-Dose Human Papillomavirus Vaccines in Malaysia
    Van Kriekinge G, Sohn WY, Aljunid SM, Soon R, Yong CM, Chen J, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2018 Apr 25;19(4):933-940.
    PMID: 29693347
    Purpose: To comparatively evaluate the results of a 2-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme
    with the AS04-adjuvanted HPV16/18 vaccine (AS04-HPV-16/18v) or HPV-6/11/16/18 vaccine (4vHPVv), in addition
    to cervical cancer (CC) screening, in Malaysia. Methods: A lifetime Markov model replicating the natural history of
    HPV in 13-year-old girls was adapted to Malaysia to assess the impact of vaccination on pre-cancerous lesions, genital
    warts and CC cases, CC deaths, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs from the perspective of the Malaysian
    Ministry of Health. Vaccine effectiveness was based on efficacy and HPV type distribution. Both vaccines were assumed
    to have equal efficacy against vaccine-type HPV but differed for protection against non-vaccine types. Vaccine price
    parity was used and health and cost outcomes were discounted at 3%/annum. Sensitivity analyses tested the robustness
    of the results. Results: The model predicted that AS04-HPV-16/18v would result in 361 fewer CC cases and 115 fewer
    CC deaths than 4vHPVv, whereas 4vHPVv averted 4,241 cases of genital warts over the cohort’s lifetime. Discounted
    total costs showed savings of 18.50 million Malaysian Ringgits and 246 QALYs in favour of AS04-HPV-16/18v. In
    one-way sensitivity analyses, the discount rate was the most influential variable for costs and QALYs, but AS04-HPV-
    16/18v remained dominant throughout. A two-way sensitivity analysis to assess the longevity of cross-protection for both
    vaccines confirmed the base-case. Conclusions: In Malaysia, the use of AS04-HPV-16/18v, in addition to screening,
    was modelled to be dominant over 4vHPVv, with greater estimated CC benefits and lower costs.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/economics*; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology; Cost-Benefit Analysis*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Vaccination/economics*; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Papillomavirus Infections/complications; Papillomavirus Infections/drug therapy; Papillomavirus Infections/economics*; Papillomavirus Infections/virology; Human papillomavirus 16/drug effects*; Papillomavirus Vaccines/administration & dosage*; Papillomavirus Vaccines/economics*; Young Adult
  16. Measurement of the Splitting Function in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Ambrogi F, Asilar E, Bergauer T, et al.
    Phys Rev Lett, 2018 Apr 06;120(14):142302.
    PMID: 29694107 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.142302
    Data from heavy ion collisions suggest that the evolution of a parton shower is modified by interactions with the color charges in the dense partonic medium created in these collisions, but it is not known where in the shower evolution the modifications occur. The momentum ratio of the two leading partons, resolved as subjets, provides information about the parton shower evolution. This substructure observable, known as the splitting function, reflects the process of a parton splitting into two other partons and has been measured for jets with transverse momentum between 140 and 500 GeV, in pp and PbPb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV per nucleon pair. In central PbPb collisions, the splitting function indicates a more unbalanced momentum ratio, compared to peripheral PbPb and pp collisions.. The measurements are compared to various predictions from event generators and analytical calculations.
    MeSH terms: Color; Physiological Phenomena; Heavy Ions; Physical Phenomena; Nucleons
  17. Fulltext Suppression of Excited ϒ States Relative to the Ground State in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02  TeV
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Phys Rev Lett, 2018 Apr 06;120(14):142301.
    PMID: 29694144 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.142301
    The relative yields of ϒ mesons produced in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV and reconstructed via the dimuon decay channel are measured using data collected by the CMS experiment. Double ratios are formed by comparing the yields of the excited states, ϒ(2S) and ϒ(3S), to the ground state, ϒ(1S), in both Pb-Pb and pp collisions at the same center-of-mass energy. The double ratios, [ϒ(nS)/ϒ(1S)]_{Pb-Pb}/[ϒ(nS)/ϒ(1S)]_{pp}, are measured to be 0.308±0.055(stat)±0.019(syst) for the ϒ(2S) and less than 0.26 at 95% confidence level for the ϒ(3S). No significant ϒ(3S) signal is found in the Pb-Pb data. The double ratios are studied as a function of collision centrality, as well as ϒ transverse momentum and rapidity. No significant dependencies are observed.
    MeSH terms: Lead; Mental Processes; Mesons; Motion; Research; United States; Physical Phenomena
  18. Fulltext Decision making process and factors contributing to research participation among general practitioners: A grounded theory study
    Tong SF, Ng CJ, Lee VKM, Lee PY, Ismail IZ, Khoo EM, et al.
    PLoS One, 2018;13(4):e0196379.
    PMID: 29694439 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196379
    INTRODUCTION: The participation of general practitioners (GPs) in primary care research is variable and often poor. We aimed to develop a substantive and empirical theoretical framework to explain GPs' decision-making process to participate in research.
    METHODS: We used the grounded theory approach to construct a substantive theory to explain the decision-making process of GPs to participate in research activities. Five in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted among 21 GPs. Purposeful sampling followed by theoretical sampling were used to attempt saturation of the core category. Data were collected using semi-structured open-ended questions. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and checked prior to analysis. Open line-by-line coding followed by focus coding were used to arrive at a substantive theory. Memoing was used to help bring concepts to higher abstract levels.
    RESULTS: The GPs' decision to participate in research was attributed to their inner drive and appreciation for primary care research and their confidence in managing their social and research environments. The drive and appreciation for research motivated the GPs to undergo research training to enhance their research knowledge, skills and confidence. However, the critical step in the GPs' decision to participate in research was their ability to align their research agenda with priorities in their social environment, which included personal life goals, clinical practice and organisational culture. Perceived support for research, such as funding and technical expertise, facilitated the GPs' participation in research. In addition, prior experiences participating in research also influenced the GPs' confidence in taking part in future research.
    CONCLUSIONS: The key to GPs deciding to participate in research is whether the research agenda aligns with the priorities in their social environment. Therefore, research training is important, but should be included in further measures and should comply with GPs' social environments and research support.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Decision Making*; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Social Environment; Organizational Culture; Focus Groups; Qualitative Research; General Practitioners/psychology*; General Practitioners/ethics; Grounded Theory
  19. Characterization and identification of novel antidiabetic and anti-obesity peptides from camel milk protein hydrolysates
    Mudgil P, Kamal H, Yuen GC, Maqsood S
    Food Chem, 2018 Sep 01;259:46-54.
    PMID: 29680061 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.03.082
    In-vitro inhibitory properties of peptides released from camel milk proteins against dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), porcine pancreatic α-amylase (PPA), and porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) were studied. Results revealed that upon hydrolysis by different enzymes, camel milk proteins displayed dramatic increase in inhibition of DPP-IV and PPL, but slight improvement in PPA inhibition was noticed. Peptide sequencing revealed a total of 20 and 3 peptides for A9 and B9 hydrolysates respectively, obtained the score of 0.8 or more on peptide ranker and were categorized as potential DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. KDLWDDFKGL in A9 and MPSKPPLL in B9 were identified as most potent PPA inhibitory peptide. For PPL inhibition only 7 and 2 peptides qualified as PPL inhibitory peptides from hydrolysates A9 and B9, respectively. The present study report for the first time PPA and PPL inhibitory and only second for DPP-IV inhibitory potential of protein hydrolysates from camel milk.
  20. Consolidated Medication Review Algorithm to Improve Medications Use in Older Adults: Components, Scoring Scheme, and Implementation
    Thiruchelvam K, Wong PS, Kairuz T, Babar ZU, Hasan SS
    J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2018 08;19(8):717-718.
    PMID: 29680204 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.03.007
    MeSH terms: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Algorithms*; Female; Humans; Male; Geriatric Assessment/methods; Risk Assessment; Polypharmacy*; Medication Therapy Management/organization & administration*; Medication Adherence*; Quality Improvement
External Links