Browse publications by year: 2018

  1. Alazzawi MMJ, Husein A, Alam MK, Hassan R, Shaari R, Azlina A, et al.
    Prog Orthod, 2018 Apr 16;19(1):10.
    PMID: 29658096 DOI: 10.1186/s40510-018-0208-2
    BACKGROUND: Quality bone regeneration, which leads to the improvement of bone remodeling, is essential for orthodontic treatment. In order to improve bone regeneration and increase the amount of tooth movement, different techniques have been implemented. The object of this study is to compare the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), and their combination on bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement.

    METHODS: Eighty (80) male, 6-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were grouped in to four groups, the first group was irradiated with (940 nm) diode laser, second group with LIPUS, and third group with combination of both LLLT and LIPUS. A forth group used was a control group in an incomplete block split-mouth design. The LLLT and LIPUS were used to treat the area around the moving tooth once a day on days 0-7, then the experiment was ended in each experimental endpoint (1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days). For amount of tooth movement, models were imaged and analyzed. Histological examination was performed after staining with (hematoxylin and eosin) and (alizarin red and Alcian Blue) stain. One step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR was also performed to elucidate the gene expression of RANK, RANKL, OPG, and RUNX-2.

    RESULTS: The amount of tooth movement, the histological bone remodeling, and the RT-PCR were significantly greater in the treatment groups than that in the control group. Among the treatment groups, the combination group was the highest and the LIPUS group was the lowest.

    CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that LLLT and LIPUS can enhance the velocity of tooth movement and improve the quality of bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement.

    MeSH terms: Ultrasonic Waves*; Animals; Male; Maxilla; Staining and Labeling; Tooth Movement*; Bone Remodeling*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Low-Level Light Therapy/methods*; Rats; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  2. Uraoka T, Oka S, Ichihara S, Iwatate M, Tamai N, Kawamura T, et al.
    Dig Endosc, 2018 04;30 Suppl 1:36-40.
    PMID: 29658642 DOI: 10.1111/den.13060
    MeSH terms: Colonic Polyps/pathology*; Colonic Polyps/surgery; Colonoscopy/methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; Coloring Agents/pharmacology*; Female; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Surveys and Questionnaires*; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology*; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery; Treatment Outcome; Endoscopic Mucosal Resection/methods*; Endoscopic Mucosal Resection/trends
  3. Jucker T, Bongalov B, Burslem DFRP, Nilus R, Dalponte M, Lewis SL, et al.
    Ecol Lett, 2018 07;21(7):989-1000.
    PMID: 29659115 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12964
    Topography is a key driver of tropical forest structure and composition, as it constrains local nutrient and hydraulic conditions within which trees grow. Yet, we do not fully understand how changes in forest physiognomy driven by topography impact other emergent properties of forests, such as their aboveground carbon density (ACD). Working in Borneo - at a site where 70-m-tall forests in alluvial valleys rapidly transition to stunted heath forests on nutrient-depleted dip slopes - we combined field data with airborne laser scanning and hyperspectral imaging to characterise how topography shapes the vertical structure, wood density, diversity and ACD of nearly 15 km2 of old-growth forest. We found that subtle differences in elevation - which control soil chemistry and hydrology - profoundly influenced the structure, composition and diversity of the canopy. Capturing these processes was critical to explaining landscape-scale heterogeneity in ACD, highlighting how emerging remote sensing technologies can provide new insights into long-standing ecological questions.
    MeSH terms: Borneo; Trees; Tropical Climate*; Remote Sensing Technology; Forests*
  4. Mohamed Ramli N, Giatsis C, Md Yusoff F, Verreth J, Verdegem M
    PLoS One, 2018;13(4):e0195862.
    PMID: 29659617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195862
    The experimental set-up of this study mimicked recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) where water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and turbidity were controlled and wastes produced by fish and feeding were converted to inorganic forms. A key process in the RAS was the conversion of ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate through nitrification. It was hypothesized that algae inclusion in RAS would improve the ammonia removal from the water; thereby improving RAS water quality and stability. To test this hypothesis, the stability of the microbiota community composition in a freshwater RAS with (RAS+A) or without algae (RAS-A) was challenged by introducing an acute pH drop (from pH 7 to 4 during three hours) to the system. Stigeoclonium nanum, a periphytic freshwater microalga was used in this study. No significant effect of the algae presence was found on the resistance to the acute pH drop on ammonia conversion to nitrite and nitrite conversion to nitrate. Also the resilience of the ammonia conversion to the pH drop disruption was not affected by the addition of algae. This could be due to the low biomass of algae achieved in the RAS. However, with regard to the conversion step of nitrite to nitrate, RAS+A was significantly more resilient than RAS-A. In terms of overall bacterial communities, the composition and predictive function of the bacterial communities was significantly different between RAS+A and RAS-A.
    MeSH terms: Chlorophyta*; Ammonia/chemistry; Bacteria/classification; Bacteria/genetics; Fresh Water*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*; Nitrogen/chemistry; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; Water Microbiology; Aquaculture*; Biodiversity; Metagenome; Metagenomics/methods; Water Quality
  5. Tan SH, Prepageran N
    QJM, 2018 Oct 01;111(10):743.
    PMID: 29660085 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcy084
  6. Lim IL, Loo AVP, Subrayan V, Khang TF, See MH, Alip A, et al.
    Breast, 2018 Jun;39:117-122.
    PMID: 29660599 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2018.04.003
    It is now increasingly common for breast cancer patients to receive adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for a period of up to 10 years. As survival rate increases, managing tamoxifen ocular toxicities is important for patients' quality of life. Macular pigments in photoreceptor cells protect against free radical damage, which can cause macular degeneration. By reducing macular pigment concentration, tamoxifen may increase the risk of macular degeneration. Here, we compared macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and central macular thickness between breast cancer patients on tamoxifen adjuvant therapy (n = 70), and a control group (n = 72). Multiple regression analysis indicated that MPOD decreases with increasing tamoxifen dosage, up to a threshold of about 20 g, after which MPOD plateaus out. Mean MPOD in the treatment group (mean = 0.40) was significantly lower (p-value = 0.02) compared to the control group (mean = 0.47) for the left eye, and for the right eye (treatment mean = 0.39; control mean = 0.48; p-value = 0.009). No significant difference in mean central macular thickness was found between the treatment and the control group (p-values > 0.4). In the control group, MPOD and central macular thickness showed significant correlation (r∼0.30; p-values 
    MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Macula Lutea/drug effects*; Macula Lutea/pathology; Macular Degeneration/chemically induced; Middle Aged; Regression Analysis; Tamoxifen/administration & dosage; Tamoxifen/adverse effects*; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/adverse effects*; Macular Pigment/metabolism*
  7. Abd Muain MF, Cheo KH, Omar MN, Amir Hamzah AS, Lim HN, Salleh AB, et al.
    Bioelectrochemistry, 2018 Aug;122:199-205.
    PMID: 29660648 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.04.004
    Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) is the major structural protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The presence of anti-HBcAg antibody in a blood serum indicates that a person has been exposed to HBV. This study demonstrated that the immobilization of HBcAg onto the gold nanoparticles-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-en-AuNPs) nanocomposite could be used as an antigen-functionalized surface to sense the presence of anti-HBcAg. The modified rGO-en-AuNPs/HBcAg was then allowed to undergo impedimetric detection of anti-HBcAg with anti-estradiol antibody and bovine serum albumin as the interferences. Upon successful detection of anti-HBcAg in spiked buffer samples, impedimetric detection of the antibody was then further carried out in spiked human serum samples. The electrochemical response showed a linear relationship between electron transfer resistance and the concentration of anti-HBcAg ranging from 3.91ngmL-1 to 125.00ngmL-1 with lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 3.80ngmL-1 at 3σm-1. This established method exhibits potential as a fast and convenient way to detect anti-HBcAg.
    MeSH terms: Gold/chemistry*; Graphite/chemistry*; Hepatitis B/blood; Hepatitis B/diagnosis; Hepatitis B/virology; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/analysis*; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/blood; Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification*; Humans; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxides/chemistry; Biosensing Techniques/methods*; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry*; Limit of Detection
  8. Hashim N, Onwude DI, Osman MS
    J Food Sci, 2018 May;83(5):1271-1279.
    PMID: 29660789 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.14127
    Commodities originating from tropical and subtropical climes are prone to chilling injury (CI). This injury could affect the quality and marketing potential of mango after harvest. This will later affect the quality of the produce and subsequent consumer acceptance. In this study, the appearance of CI symptoms in mango was evaluated non-destructively using multispectral imaging. The fruit were stored at 4 °C to induce CI and 12 °C to preserve the quality of the control samples for 4 days before they were taken out and stored at ambient temperature for 24 hr. Measurements using multispectral imaging and standard reference methods were conducted before and after storage. The performance of multispectral imaging was compared using standard reference properties including moisture content (MC), total soluble solids (TSS) content, firmness, pH, and color. Least square support vector machine (LS-SVM) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) were used to discriminate CI samples with those of control and before storage, respectively. The statistical results demonstrated significant changes in the reference quality properties of samples before and after storage. The results also revealed that multispectral parameters have a strong correlation with the reference parameters of L* , a* , TSS, and MC. The MC and L* were found to be the best reference parameters in identifying the severity of CI in mangoes. PCA and LS-SVM analysis indicated that the fruit were successfully classified into their categories, that is, before storage, control, and CI. This indicated that the multispectral imaging technique is feasible for detecting CI in mangoes during postharvest storage and processing.

    PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This paper demonstrates a fast, easy, and accurate method of identifying the effect of cold storage on mango, nondestructively. The method presented in this paper can be used industrially to efficiently differentiate different fruits from each other after low temperature storage.

    MeSH terms: Cold Temperature; Color; Fruit; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Temperature; Cryopreservation; Least-Squares Analysis; Chills; Principal Component Analysis; Mangifera; Marketing; Support Vector Machine
  9. Au A
    Adv Clin Chem, 2018 03 08;85:31-69.
    PMID: 29655461 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2018.02.002
    Ischemic stroke is a sudden loss of brain function due to the reduction of blood flow. Brain tissues cease to function with subsequent activation of the ischemic cascade. Metabolomics and lipidomics are modern disciplines that characterize the metabolites and lipid components of a biological system, respectively. Because the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke is heterogeneous and multifactorial, it is crucial to establish comprehensive metabolomic and lipidomic approaches to elucidate these alterations in this disease. Fortunately, metabolomic and lipidomic studies have the distinct advantages of identifying tissue/mechanism-specific biomarkers, predicting treatment and clinical outcome, and improving our understanding of the pathophysiologic basis of disease states. Therefore, recent applications of these analytical approaches in the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke were discussed. In addition, the emerging roles of metabolomics and lipidomics on ischemic stroke were summarized, in order to gain new insights into the mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke and in the search for novel metabolite biomarkers and their related pathways.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Brain/metabolism*; Brain/pathology; Brain Ischemia/metabolism*; Brain Ischemia/pathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/instrumentation; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods; Mass Spectrometry/instrumentation; Mass Spectrometry/methods; Lipid Metabolism*; Metabolomics/instrumentation; Metabolomics/methods*
  10. Girling JE, Hawthorne SCJ, Marino JL, Nur Azurah AG, Grover SR, Jayasinghe YL
    J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 2018 Oct;31(5):459-467.
    PMID: 29655581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2018.04.001
    STUDY OBJECTIVE: No studies have specifically considered paternal understanding of menstruation. This study aimed to establish the degree of understanding of fathers of adolescent girls with menstrual symptoms relative to mothers.
    DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional survey-based study. Adolescent patients attending an outpatient gynecology clinic for dysmenorrhea and/or heavy menstrual bleeding and their parents were invited to complete surveys.
    PARTICIPANTS: Sixty surveys were completed (24 of 40 daughters, 20 of 40 mothers, 16 of 40 fathers).
    INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surveys aimed to test parents' understanding of menstrual symptoms and potential medications, as well as fathers' concerns with their daughters' health.
    RESULTS: The fathers' knowledge of menstrual symptoms was poorer than mothers, although most knew heavy menstrual bleeding (15/16, 94%) and mood swings (14/16, 87%). Many parents answered "don't know" or did not answer questions about potential consequences of medications, although parents were clearly concerned about side effects. Most fathers (13/16, 81%) were open to discussing menstrual concerns with daughters; however, only 54% (13/24) of daughters were open to such discussions. Of fathers, 81% (13/16) were sympathetic/concerned, 56% (9/16) felt helpless, and 13% (2/16) were frustrated when daughters were in pain. When asked about effects, 88% (14/16) of fathers (79% [15/20] of mothers) were worried about their daughter's welfare and 63% (10/16) (55% [11/20] of mothers) about schooling.
    CONCLUSION: We present, to our knowledge, the first insight into fathers' knowledge of their daughters' menstrual health. Overall, parents have an incomplete picture of menstrual symptoms. Even in this cohort, which could be expected to be well informed because of their daughters' attendance at a tertiary hospital, it is clear that further knowledge would assist them caring for their daughters.
    Study site: Adolescent Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic, Royal Children’s Hospital, Victoria, Australia
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Attitude to Health*; Australia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Male; Menstruation*; Nuclear Family/psychology*; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Parents/psychology*; Young Adult
  11. Lai SL, Mustafa MR, Wong PF
    Phytomedicine, 2018 Mar 15;42:144-151.
    PMID: 29655680 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.03.027
    BACKGROUND: Targeting autophagy is emerging as a promising strategy in cancer therapeutics in recent years. Autophagy can be modulated to drive cancer cell deaths that are notoriously resistant to apoptotic-inducing drugs. In addition, autophagy has been implicated as a prosurvival mechanism in mediating cancer chemoresistance. Our previous study has demonstrated that Panduratin A (PA), a plant-derived active compound exploits ER-stress-mediated apoptosis as its cytotoxic mechanism on melanoma.

    PURPOSE: Our previous proteomics analysis revealed that treatment with PA resulted in the upregulation of an autophagy marker, LC3B in melanoma cells. Therefore, the present study sought to investigate the role of PA-induced autophagy in melanoma cells.

    METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy was performed for examination of autophagic ultra-structures in PA-treated A375 cells. Cytoplasmic LC3B and p62/SQSMT1 punctate structures were detected using immunofluorescene staining. Expression levels of LC3B II, p62/SQSMT1, ATG 12, Beclin 1, phospho S6 (ser235/236), phospho AMPK (Thr172) and cleaved PARP were evaluated by western blotting.

    RESULTS: Autophagosomes, autolysosomes and punctuates of LC3 proteins could be observed in PA-treated A375 cells. PA-induced autophagy in A375 melanoma cells was found to be mediated through the inhibition of mTOR signaling and activation of AMPK pathway. Furthermore, we showed that PA-induced apoptosis was increased in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor, signifying the cytoprotective effect of PA-induced autophagy in melanoma cells.

    CONCLUSION: Taken together, results from the present study suggest that the inhibition of autophagy by targeting mTOR and AMPK could potentiate the cytotoxicity effects of PA on melanoma cells.

    MeSH terms: Autophagy/drug effects*; Humans; Melanoma/drug therapy*; Melanoma/metabolism; Melanoma/pathology; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism; Signal Transduction/drug effects; Apoptosis/drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Chalcones/pharmacology*; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism*; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*; Beclin-1/metabolism; Sequestosome-1 Protein/metabolism
  12. Lee MK, Lim KH, Millns P, Mohankumar SK, Ng ST, Tan CS, et al.
    Phytomedicine, 2018 Mar 15;42:172-179.
    PMID: 29655683 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.03.025
    BACKGROUND: Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden is a popular medicinal mushroom used for centuries in Southeast Asia to treat asthma and chronic cough. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of this mushroom on airways patency.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The composition of L. rhinocerotis TM02 cultivar was analyzed. Organ bath experiment was employed to study the bronchodilator effect of Lignosus rhinocerotis cold water extract (CWE) on rat isolated airways. Trachea and bronchus were removed from male Sprague-Dawley rats, cut into rings of 2 mm, pre-contracted with carbachol before adding CWE into the bath in increasing concentrations. To investigate the influence of incubation time, tissues were exposed to intervals of 5, 15 and 30 min between CWE concentrations after pre-contraction with carbachol in subsequent protocol. Next, tissues were pre-incubated with CWE before the addition of different contractile agents, carbachol and 5-hydroxytrptamine (5-HT). The bronchodilator effect of CWE was compared with salmeterol and ipratropium. In order to uncover the mechanism of action of CWE, the role of beta-adrenoceptor, potassium and calcium channels was investigated.

    RESULTS: Composition analysis of TM02 cultivar revealed the presence of β-glucans and derivatives of adenosine. The extract fully relaxed the trachea at 3.75 mg/ml (p 

    MeSH terms: Animals; Asthma/drug therapy; Bronchi/drug effects*; Bronchi/physiology; Bronchodilator Agents/pharmacology*; Bronchodilator Agents/chemistry; Calcium/metabolism*; Carbachol/pharmacology; Male; Muscle Contraction/drug effects; Organ Culture Techniques; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry; Polyporaceae/chemistry*; Serotonin/pharmacology; Trachea/drug effects*; Trachea/physiology; Potassium Channels/metabolism; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism
  13. Haga Y, Suzuki M, Matsumura C, Okuno T, Tsurukawa M, Fujimori K, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 Jun;25(17):16446-16454.
    PMID: 29656357 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1927-0
    In this study, we analyzed hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) in urine of both PCB transport workers and PCB researchers. A method to monitor OH-PCB in urine was developed. Urine was solid-phase extracted with 0.1% ammonia/ methanol (v/v) and glucuronic acid/sulfate conjugates and then decomposed using β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase. After alkaline digestion/derivatization, the concentration of OH-PCBs was determined by HRGC/HRMS-SIM. In the first sampling campaign, the worker's OH-PCB levels increased several fold after the PCB waste transportation work, indicating exposure to PCBs. The concentration of OH-PCBs in PCB transport workers' urine (0.55~11 μg/g creatinine (Cre)) was higher than in PCB researchers' urine (
    MeSH terms: Environmental Pollutants/analysis*; Environmental Pollutants/chemistry; Humans; Hydroxylation; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis*; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/chemistry; Urine/chemistry*; Biomarkers
  14. Endarti D, Riewpaiboon A, Thavorncharoensap M, Praditsitthikorn N, Hutubessy R, Kristina SA
    Value Health Reg Issues, 2018 May;15:50-55.
    PMID: 29474178 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2017.07.008
    OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into the most suitable foreign value set among Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, and UK value sets for calculating the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire index score (utility) among patients with cervical cancer in Indonesia.

    METHODS: Data from 87 patients with cervical cancer recruited from a referral hospital in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia, from an earlier study of health-related quality of life were used in this study. The differences among the utility scores derived from the four value sets were determined using the Friedman test. Performance of the psychometric properties of the four value sets versus visual analogue scale (VAS) was assessed. Intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots were used to test the agreement among the utility scores. Spearman ρ correlation coefficients were used to assess convergent validity between utility scores and patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. With respect to known-group validity, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine the differences in utility according to the stages of cancer.

    RESULTS: There was significant difference among utility scores derived from the four value sets, among which the Malaysian value set yielded higher utility than the other three value sets. Utility obtained from the Malaysian value set had more agreements with VAS than the other value sets versus VAS (intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plot tests results). As for the validity, the four value sets showed equivalent psychometric properties as those that resulted from convergent and known-group validity tests.

    CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of an Indonesian value set, the Malaysian value set was more preferable to be used compared with the other value sets. Further studies on the development of an Indonesian value set need to be conducted.

    MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/psychology*; Female; Humans; Indonesia; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Psychometrics/methods*; Quality of Life/psychology*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; Reproducibility of Results; Models, Statistical; Quality-Adjusted Life Years*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/statistics & numerical data*; Visual Analog Scale
  15. Loh JY, Kay GL, Ting ASY
    Mar Biotechnol (NY), 2018 Jun;20(3):353-362.
    PMID: 29654379 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-018-9813-9
    Predominance of beneficial bacteria helps to establish a healthy microbiota in fish gastrointestinal system and thus to reduce emerging pathogen. In this study, the colonization efficacy of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis CF4MRS in Artemia franciscana and its potential as a probiotic in suppressing Edwardsiella sp. infection were investigated in vivo. The colonization extent of the bioencapsulated L. lactis was established through visualization of gfp gene-transformed L. lactis in A. franciscana. Here, we demonstrate that when A. franciscana is administrated with L. lactis at 108 CFU mL-1 for 8 h, the highest relative percentage of survival (RPS = 50.0) is observed after inoculation with Edwardsiella sp. The total counts of L. lactis entrapped in Artemia were the highest (ranged from 3.2 to 5.1 × 108 CFU mL-1), when 108-109 CFU mL-1 of L. lactis was used as starting inoculum, with the bioencapsulation performed within 8-24 h. Fluorescent microscopy showed gfp-transformed L. lactis colonized the external trunk surfaces, mid-gut and locomotion antennules of the A. franciscana nauplii. These illustrations elucidate the efficiency of colonization of L. lactis in the gastrointestinal tract and on the body surfaces of Artemia. In conclusion, L. lactis subsp. lactis CF4MRS shows a good efficacy of colonization in Artemia and has the potential for biocontrol/probiotic activity against Edwardsiella sp. infection.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Artemia/microbiology*; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/prevention & control*; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Lactococcus lactis/physiology*; Probiotics; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology
  16. Kawarada O, Zen K, Hozawa K, Ayabe S, Huang HL, Choi D, et al.
    Cardiovasc Interv Ther, 2018 Oct;33(4):297-312.
    PMID: 29654408 DOI: 10.1007/s12928-018-0523-z
    The burden of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetes in Asia is projected to increase. Asia also has the highest incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the world. Therefore, most Asian patients with PAD might have diabetic PAD or ESRD-related PAD. Given these pandemic conditions, critical limb ischemia (CLI) with diabetes or ESRD, the most advanced and challenging subset of PAD, is an emerging public health issue in Asian countries. Given that diabetic and ESRD-related CLI have complex pathophysiology that involve arterial insufficiency, bacterial infection, neuropathy, and foot deformity, a coordinated approach that involves endovascular therapy and wound care is vital. Recently, there is increasing interaction among cardiologists, vascular surgeons, radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and plastic surgeons beyond specialty and country boundaries in Asia. This article is intended to share practical Asian multidisciplinary consensus statement on the collaboration between endovascular therapy and wound care for CLI.
    MeSH terms: Amputation/methods; Asia; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Ischemia/complications; Ischemia/therapy*; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Diabetic Foot/complications; Diabetic Foot/therapy*; Consensus; Lower Extremity/blood supply; Lower Extremity/surgery; Endovascular Procedures/methods*; Wound Closure Techniques; Peripheral Arterial Disease/complications; Peripheral Arterial Disease/diagnosis; Peripheral Arterial Disease/therapy*; Intersectoral Collaboration
  17. Odhaib KJ, Adeyemi KD, Ahmed MA, Jahromi MF, Jusoh S, Samsudin AA, et al.
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2018 Jun;50(5):1011-1023.
    PMID: 29654500 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-018-1525-7
    The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa L. seeds, Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaves and their combination on rumen metabolism, nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, immune response and blood metabolites in Dorper lambs. Twenty-four entire male Dorper lambs (18.68 ± 0.6 kg, 4-5 months old) were randomly assigned to a concentrate mixture containing on a dry matter basis either, no supplement (control, T1), 1% R. officinalis leaves (T2), 1% N. sativa seeds (T3) or 1% R. officinalis leaves +1% N. sativa seeds (T4). The lambs had ad libitum access to urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) and were raised for 90 days. Supplemented lambs had greater (P 
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Feed/analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Basophils/drug effects; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Diet/veterinary; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism; Immunoglobulin A/chemistry; Immunoglobulin G/chemistry; Immune System/drug effects; Male; Neutrophils/drug effects; Oryza; Rumen/metabolism*; Rumen/microbiology*; Seeds/chemistry*; Urea; Plant Leaves/chemistry*; Dietary Supplements; Rosmarinus/chemistry*; Nigella sativa/chemistry*; Sheep, Domestic/growth & development; Sheep, Domestic/immunology; Sheep, Domestic/metabolism; Ruminococcus
  18. Iakunchykova O, Meteliuk A, Zelenev A, Mazhnaya A, Tracy M, Altice FL
    Int J Drug Policy, 2018 Jul;57:11-17.
    PMID: 29655101 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.03.022
    BACKGROUND: Among the estimated 340,000 people who inject drugs (PWID) in Ukraine, HCV prevalence is approximately 70%. As HCV treatment availability increases, an assessment of the HCV treatment cascade is needed to guide HCV prevention and treatment strategies.

    METHODS: Opioid dependent PWID were interviewed and tested for HIV and HCV in five Ukrainian cities from January 2014 to March 2015. Logistic regression was used to examine the independent correlates of two cascade steps: a) anti-HCV positive status awareness; b) chronic HCV confirmation; and of c) annual HCV testing for PWID.

    RESULTS: Among 1613 PWID, 1002 (62.1%) had anti-HCV positive test result, of which 568 (56.7%) were aware of it before the study and 346 (34.5%) reported previous confirmatory testing for chronic HCV. Independent correlates of being aware they had anti-HCV positivity included: current [AOR: 3.08; 95%CI: 2.16-4.40] or prior [AOR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.27-2.68] opioid agonistic treatment (OAT) experience, relative to no prior OAT, living in Lviv [AOR: 0.50; 95%CI: 0.31-0.81] or Odesa [AOR: 2.73; 95%CI: 1.51-4.93] relative to Kyiv and being aware of having HIV [AOR: 4.10; 95%CI: 2.99-5.62]. Independent correlates of confirming HCV infection among those who were aware of their anti-HCV positive status included: current OAT [AOR: 2.00; 95%CI: 1.24-3.23], relative to prior OAT, the middle income category [AOR: 1.74, 95%CI: 1.15-2.63], relative to the lowest, and receiving ART [AOR: 4.54; 95%CI: 2.85-7.23]. Among 1613 PWID, 918 (56.9%) were either HCV negative or not aware of their HCV positive status, of which 198 (21.6%) reported recent anti-HCV test (during last 12 month). Recent anti-HCV test in this group was associated with current [AOR: 7.17; 95%CI: 4.63-11.13] or prior [AOR: 2.24; 95%CI: 1.32-3.81] OAT experience, relative to no prior OAT.

    CONCLUSION: Encouraging PWID to participate in OAT may be an effective strategy to diagnose and link PWID who are HCV positive to care. Among HIV negative participants, regular HCV testing may be ensured by participation in OAT. More studies are needed to assess HCV treatment utilization among PWID in Ukraine and OAT as a possible way to retain them in treatment.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Awareness*; Female; Hepatitis C/complications; Hepatitis C/epidemiology*; Hepatitis C/psychology*; Humans; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data; Ukraine/epidemiology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/psychology*; Young Adult; Opiate Substitution Treatment/psychology
  19. Debabrata P, Sivakumar M
    Chemosphere, 2018 Aug;204:101-108.
    PMID: 29655102 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.014
    Dicofol, an extensively used organochlorine pesticide and a recommended Stockholm convention persistent organic pollutant (POP) candidate is well known for its endocrine disruptive properties. The sonochemical degradation of Dicofol in aqueous media has been investigated using a 20-kHz probe type sonicator with power inputs from 150 to 450 W. The degradation rate was determined as a function of concentration of Dicofol, solution pH, bulk phase temperature, ultrasonic power density and H2O2 addition. At optimum operating conditions, the pseudo-first-order degradation rate constant (k) was determined to be 0.032 min-1 and the extent of degradation was found to be 86% within 60 min of ultrasound treatment. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis indicated the presence of degraded products. The obtained results of Dicofol degradation and control experiments in the presence of H2O2 and radical scavenger test suggest thermal decomposition along with radical attack at bubble-vapor interface to be the dominant degradation pathway. Sonochemical treatment is effective and promising for successful removal of harmful pesticides such as Dicofol and superior removal efficiency for other POPs is expected in the near future with the successful implementation of ultrasound-based wastewater treatment.
    MeSH terms: Dicofol/chemistry*; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Pesticides/chemistry; Temperature; Ultrasonics; Endocrine Disruptors/chemistry; Halogenation
  20. Tan SN, Sim SP
    BMC Cancer, 2018 04 12;18(1):409.
    PMID: 29649994 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4327-4
    BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) increases the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) while nasopharyngeal reflux is known to be one of the major aetiological factors of CRS. Bile acid (BA), the component of gastric duodenal contents, has been recognised as a carcinogen. BA-induced apoptosis was suggested to be involved in human malignancies. Cells have the potential and tendency to survive apoptosis. However, cells that evade apoptosis upon erroneous DNA repair may carry chromosome rearrangements. Apoptotic nuclease, caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease (CAD) has been implicated in mediating translocation in leukaemia. We hypothesised that BA-induced apoptosis may cause chromosome breaks mediated by CAD leading to chromosome rearrangement in NPC. This study targeted the AF9 gene located at 9p22 because 9p22 is one of the most common deletion sites in NPC.

    METHODS: We tested the ability of BA at neutral and acidic pH in inducing phosphatidylserine (PS) externalisation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption, and caspase 3/7 activity in normal nasopharyngeal epithelial (NP69) and NPC (TWO4) cells. Inverse-PCR (IPCR) was employed to detect AF9 gene cleavages. To investigate the role of CAD in mediating these cleavages, caspase inhibition was performed. IPCR bands representing AF9 cleaved fragments were sequenced.

    RESULTS: BA-treated cells showed higher levels of PS externalisation, ROS production, MMP loss and caspase 3/7 activity than untreated control cells. The effect of BA in the induction of these intracellular events was enhanced by acid. BA at neutral and acidic pH also induced significant cleavage of the AF9 gene. These BA-induced gene cleavages were inhibited by Z-DEVD-FMK, a caspase-3 inhibitor. Intriguingly, a few chromosome breaks were identified within the AF9 region that was previously reported to participate in reciprocal translocation between the mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) and AF9 genes in an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patient.

    CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a role for BA-induced apoptosis in mediating chromosome rearrangements in NPC. In addition, CAD may be a key player in chromosome cleavages mediated by BA-induced apoptosis. Persistent exposure of sinonasal tract to gastric duodenal refluxate may increase genomic instability in surviving cells.

    MeSH terms: Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism*; Bile Acids and Salts/pharmacology; Chromosome Aberrations; Epithelial Cells/drug effects; Epithelial Cells/metabolism*; Humans; Nasal Mucosa/drug effects; Nasal Mucosa/metabolism*; Nasopharynx/metabolism*; Biomarkers; Apoptosis/drug effects; Apoptosis/genetics*; Reactive Oxygen Species; Respiratory Mucosa/drug effects; Respiratory Mucosa/metabolism*; Intracellular Space/metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Caspase 3/metabolism
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