Browse publications by year: 2020

  1. Venkataswamy P, Samudrala Venkatesiah S, Rao RS, Banavar SR, Patil S, Augustine D, et al.
    J Oral Pathol Med, 2020 Dec 01.
    PMID: 33259689 DOI: 10.1111/jop.13144
    BACKGROUND: The prognosis of hyperproliferative skin lesions, such as psoriasis, basal cell carcinoma, and non-melanoma skin cancers, is significantly benefited from the levels of tazarotene-induced gene-1 (TIG3) expression and subsequent treatment with tazarotene. Such observations suggest that TIG3 could be used as a biomarker for apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation. The current study aimed to evaluate the expression of TIG3 in normal oral mucosa (NOM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared with normal skin (NS) and skin squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC) using immunohistochemistry.

    METHODS: Seventeen cases each of SSCC, OSCC, NOM, and NS were evaluated. Each section was immunohistochemically stained with a rabbit polyclonal TIG3 antibody. The entire procedure was blinded and evaluated by 5 observers. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test.

    RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in TIG3 protein expression in OSCC and SSCC compared with that in NOM and NS (P = 0.008). The progressive loss of expression was observed as the grade of both malignancies increased. However, there was no significant difference in the expression among the normal tissue groups and within SCC groups of similar grades.

    CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the loss of TIG3 is an important event in carcinogenesis. TIG3 acts as a regulator of keratinocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation. Therefore, TIG3 could be a potential biomarker to differentiate aggressive and non-aggressive neoplasms.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Differentiation; Immunohistochemistry; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Nicotinic Acids; Prognosis; Psoriasis; Rabbits; Skin Neoplasms; Biomarkers; Keratinocytes; Chi-Square Distribution; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Carcinogenesis
  2. Citation: Diabetes Education Manual 2020. Petaling Jaya: Malaysian Diabetes Educators Society; 2020

    Older version: First Edition (2016)
    https://mdes.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Final_Diabetes_Edu_Manual_hires_facing_pg.compressed.pdf
    MeSH terms: Diabetes Mellitus; Education; Humans; Malaysia
  3. Sarini Ahmad Wakid, Nurul Syafiqah Zaharin
    MyJurnal
    The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Vernonia cinerea, Peperomia
    pellucida and combination of Vernonia cinerea and Peperomia pellucida. These two herbs are pants that
    often grow at random in different environments but are not commercialized due to the fact that no
    comprehensive study of the importance of their use. The extract was prepared with methanol respectively.
    1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay were used to study their antioxidant activity. The extracts
    were compared with commercial antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The highest scavenging
    effect from peel extract was presented by Vernonia cinerea with the value of 76.3% scavenging activity
    (IC50 = 2.909), followed by the combination of Vernonia cinerea and Peperomia pellucida (71.21%
    scavenging activity; IC50 = 5.274) and Peperomia pellucida with value of 68.3% scavenging activity (IC50
    = 5.572). BHT showed the lowest IC50 value 1.71 with the scavenging activity 90.0%. Low IC50 value will
    indicates the strong ability of the extracts to act as DPPH scavenger.
    MeSH terms: Methanol; Antioxidants; Biphenyl Compounds; Butylated Hydroxytoluene; Picrates; Plant Extracts; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Vernonia; Peperomia
  4. Hairenanorashikin Sharip, Rafidah Supar
    MyJurnal
    This experimental study investigated the significant different in image quality and dose between different
    automatic exposure of exposure parameter (AOP) mode in full field digital mammography (FFDM) system.
    CIRS012A and PMMA breast phantom (4cm, 5cm and 6 cm thickness) were used as subject using
    Senographe Essential FFDM system. TLD chip was used as dose measurement tool. Exposures were taken
    in cranio-caudal projection. 2 radiographers with more than 10 years of working experience in performing
    mammography scored the image independently. Kappa finds a good agreement between raters (kappa
    value=0.9, p0.05). DOSE mode is the preferred selection in optimizing between dose and image quality.
    MeSH terms: Mammography; Phantoms, Imaging; Polymethyl Methacrylate
  5. Siti Radhiah Omar, Fauzan Aminuddin, Latiffah Karim, Nursyahida Suhaimi, Siti Nazirah Omar
    MyJurnal
    This research aimed to determine the total antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of the papaya
    seeds. These papaya seeds then were introduced into the prepared ice cream to determine the effect of the
    papaya seeds to the physicochemical and the acceptability of ice cream by making four different
    formulations (Control, 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% of papaya seeds). Two methods namely free radical
    scavenging assay (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were used to determine the total
    antioxidant activity of the papaya seeds, whereas total phenolic content was determined by FolinCiocalteu’s method (TPC). The papaya seeds showed high total phenolic content in the TPC analysis result.
    Furthermore, DPPH and FRAP showed high antioxidant activity of the papaya seeds. Acceptability of the
    ice cream was conducted by sensory evaluation and the results showed that the control (0.0%) papaya seeds
    ice cream formulation was the most favorable by the panelists followed by 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% papaya
    seeds formulation. In conclusion, the papaya seeds are proven to contain antioxidants by the results given
    in DPPH, FRAP, and TPC tests. Surprisingly, the papaya seeds also did not affect the physicochemical of
    the ice cream and the ice cream was accepted by the panelists.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants; Free Radicals; Ice Cream; Phenols; Seeds; Vegetables; Carica
  6. Tengku Shafazila Tengku Saharuddin, Lailatun Nazirah Ozair, Ayuni Shahira Zulkifli, Nursarah Syazwani Hairul Shah, Nur Syafiqah Sahidan
    MyJurnal
    Ginger essential oils (GEO) are natural products with antibacteria properties consisting of many different volatile
    compounds have high potential to be used in many applications. In this study, the ginger GEO was successfully
    encapsulated in chitosan as a carrier agent using a spray drying technique. The extraction of Zingiber officinale
    (ginger) essential oil is performed by steam distillation method. The GEO was encapsulated in chitosan as a carrier
    agents at 1:3, GEO:chitosan ratio by using spray drying technique. GEO together with encapsulated GEO were
    further assayed for antimicrobial activity by disc-diffusion method. For characterization of encapsulated GEO,
    Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were
    used. FTIR analysis revealed that there was no existence of a new functional group in the encapsulated GEO
    showing that there is only physical interaction between GEO and chitosan. Besides, FESEM analysis showed the
    encapsulated GEO were in micro in sizes and possessed spherical shape with smooth and porous surface.
    Furthermore, Both GEO and encapsulated GEO showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against Escheriachia coli,
    Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi with encapsulated GEO possessed higher in
    the activities for all studied bacteria compared to GEO. The encapsulated GEO demonstrated a superior performance
    against Salmonella typhi with the inhibition zone of 22.5 mm compared to GEO only 13.5 mm. The results obtained
    indicated that due to the volatility and instability of the GEO when exposed to environmental factors, its encapsulation considerably improve and enhanced its performance.
    MeSH terms: Biological Products; Drug Compounding; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Oils, Volatile; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salmonella typhi; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Steam; Volatilization; Porosity; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Ginger; Chitosan; Distillation
  7. Wan Syazehan Ruznan, Suraya Ahmad Suhaimi, Nazzuha Pairan, Aimi Umairah Mazlan, Anis Naziihah Azrain, Intan Shahirah Md Rosli, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Fibres from banana’s stem are abundantly available in Malaysia. This study focused on the production
    of woven fabric from banana pseudo-stem fibres. Yarn made of 100% banana stem and 100% cotton
    yarn were produced. Two types of retting techniques were conducted, which are water retting and
    retting using softening agent. The fibres were spun and weaved into plain weave fabric. All specimens
    were evaluated for yarn twist, yarn evenness, yarn linear density and selected fabric physical
    properties. The results obtained showed that banana stem fabric treated with softening agent has lower
    area density and higher thickness. Weft sample retted in softening agent has higher bending length and
    flexural rigidity than sample retted in water. This might be due to the decrement of yarn’s stiffness,
    which eases the insertion of yarn during shedding process. Weft sample retted in water has lower
    bending length due to coarser yarn and tends to break easily. It is found that retting banana stem fibres
    with softening agent affect the yarn linear density, area density, fabric stiffness properties and flexural
    rigidity of the fabric.
    MeSH terms: Gossypium; Malaysia; Textiles; Water; Musa; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
  8. Abdullah NDT, Radzuwan R, Ab Dini MN
    MyJurnal DOI: 10.24191/joa.v8i2.10107
    Purpose: To examine the relationship between sleeping quality and behavioural outcomes of UiTM Seremban 3 students.
    Methods and sample: A quantitative approach using a modified questionnaire of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Score was employed to examine the sleeping quality and modified version of the Adolescent Behavioral Checklist was used to obtain the response on the behavioural of UiTM Seremban 3, students. 428 respondents from three (3) faculties in the Seremban campus
    participated in this study.
    Findings: The result shows that there is a significant relationship between sleeping quality and behavioural outcomes of the students (r=.118, p<0.05).
    Discussion and Conclusion: This study revealed that there is no significant relationship between sleeping quality and positive behavioural outcomes. However, the result indicated that there is a weak relationship between sleep quality and negative behavioural outcomes. The behaviours of the respondents tend to become
    more negative if they were having poor quality of sleep. The results also suggest that poor sleep quality is not only prevalent among college students but are also associated with negative behavioural outcomes. Therefore, sleeping quality should be considered in the management of students’ health and there is a need for an investigation for possible intervention on sleeping quality of the college students.
    Keywords: sleeping quality, behavioural outcomes, college students
    Study site: University Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Seremban 3, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sleep; Students; Universities
  9. Khor, Poy Hua, Muhamad Hairiss B Ishak, Lim, Khong Chiu
    MyJurnal
    This study evaluates the depression, anxiety, and stress level among student members of armed uniform
    body at Universiti Teknologi MARA Perlis Branch. Universiti Teknologi MARA Perlis Branch offered
    15 co-curriculum activities included SUKSIS, Komander Kesatria, Bomba, and Angkatan Pertahanan
    Awam Malaysia. Unfortunately, in the selection system of co-curriculum activities, some students did
    not have the opportunity to select curriculum activities of their choice and interest. Questionnaire
    developed by Lovibond and Lovibond’s (1995) entitled Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS21) was issued to 120 student members of SUKSIS, Komander Kesatria, Bomba, and Angkatan
    Pertahanan Awam Malaysia. In terms of the level of mental health, the student members of SUKSIS
    and Komander Kesatria suffered mild level of depression, while members of Bomba and Angkatan
    Pertahanan Awam Malaysia experienced normal level of depression. In relation to anxiety level,
    members of Suksis and Komander Kesatria suffered moderate level of anxiety, while members of
    Bomba and Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia experienced mild level of anxiety. Although the
    members of Komander Kesatria, Bomba and Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia experienced normal
    level of stress, the members of SUKSIS armed uniform body are mildly stressed. These findings provide
    an insight on mental health among students of tertiary education which is a very serious health issue
    that demands further exploration for development of effective co-curriculum activities. Hopefully,
    future researchers could relate this health issue with studies on other populations and demographic
    characteristics.
    MeSH terms: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Curriculum; Demography; Depression; Humans; Malaysia; Mental Health; Surveys and Questionnaires; Stress, Psychological; Students
  10. Rosli Noormi, Raba’atun Adawiyah Shamsuddin, Anis Raihana Abdullah, Hidayah Yahaya, Liana Mohd Zulkamal, Muhammad Amar Rosly, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Knowledge of species richness and distribution is decisive for the composition of conservation areas. Plants typically contain many bioactive compounds are used for medicinal purposes for several disease treatment. This study aimed to identify the plant species distribution in area of UiTM Kuala Pilah, providing research scientific data and to contribute to knowledge of the use of the plants as therapeutic resources. Three quadrat frames (1x1 m), which was labeled as Set 1, 2 and 3 was developed, in each set consists of 4 plots (A, B, C and D). Characteristics of plant species were recorded, identified and classified into their respective groups. Our findings show that the most representative classes were Magnoliopsida with the total value of 71.43%, followed by Liliopsida (17.86%) and Lecanoromycetes (10.71%). A total of 28 plant species belonging to 18 families were identified in all sets with the largest family of Rubiaceae. The most distribution species are Desmodium triflorum, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Flavoparmelia caperata, Xanthoria elegans and Phlyctis argena. Most of the plant possesses their potential to treat skin diseases, fever, ulcers and diabetes as well as digestive problems with their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study suggests that study site and plant species can be delineated as an important area to preserve these therapeutic resources. Finally, this study could also be useful for preliminary screening of potential therapeutic plant found in the study area and useful for the researchers in the pursuit of novel drug discovery.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Diabetes Mellitus; Malaysia; Plants, Medicinal*; Rubiaceae; Drug Discovery
  11. Nurain Azmi, Sabirin Mustafa, Nur Hazirah Mohd Yunos, Wan Nor Azlin Wan Mohd Sakri, Muhammad Nazzim Abdul Halim, Amin Aadenan
    MyJurnal
    In this paper, a simple analysis yet a straight forward method of determining the Planck’s constant by
    evaluating the stopping potential of five different colors of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is presented.
    The study aimed to identify the Planck’s constant based on the relationship between the potential
    difference of LEDs to their respective frequencies under room temperature with low illumination of
    ambient light by applying a simple theoretical analysis. The experiment was performed by connecting
    the circuit in series connection and the voltage reading of LEDs were recorded and then presented in a
    graph of frequency, f versus stopping voltage, Vo. To determine the Planck’s constant, the best fit line
    was analyzed and the centroid was also identified in order to find the minimum and maximum errors
    due the gradient of the graph. From the analysis, results showed that the Planck constant value was
    (5.997 ± 1.520) × 10–34 J.s with approximately 10% of deviation from the actual value. This
    demonstrates that a simple analysis can be utilized to determine the Planck’s constant for the purpose
    of the laboratory teaching and learning at the undergraduate level and can be served as a starting point
    for the students to understand the concept of quantization of energy in Modern Physics more
    effectively. This is to further suggest that the Planck’s constant can be identified via a low-cost and
    unsophisticated experimental setup.
    MeSH terms: Color; Humans; Learning; Physics; Reading; Students; Temperature
  12. Nor Azlan AYH, Katas H, Habideen NH, Mh Busra MF
    Saudi Pharm J, 2020 Nov;28(11):1420-1430.
    PMID: 33250649 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.09.007
    Diabetic wounds are difficult to treat due to multiple causes, including reduced blood flow and bacterial infections. Reduced blood flow is associated with overexpression of prostaglandin transporter (PGT) gene, induced by hyperglycaemia which causing poor vascularization and healing of the wound. Recently, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been biosynthesized using cold and hot sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerotis extracts (CLRE and HLRE, respectively) and capped with chitosan (CS) to produce biocompatible antibacterial nanocomposites. The AuNPs have shown to produce biostatic effects against selected gram positive and negative bacteria. Therefore, in this study, a dual therapy for diabetic wound consisting Dicer subtract small interfering RNA (DsiRNA) and AuNPs was developed to improve vascularization by inhibiting PGT gene expression and preventing bacterial infection, respectively. The nanocomposites were incorporated into thermoresponsive gel, made of pluronic and polyethylene glycol. The particle size of AuNPs synthesized using CLRE (AuNPs-CLRE) and HLRE (AuNPs-HLRE) was 202 ± 49 and 190 ± 31 nm, respectively with positive surface charge (+30 to + 45 mV). The thermoresponsive gels containing DsiRNA-AuNPs gelled at 32 ± 1 °C and released the active agents in sufficient amount with good texture and rheological profiles for topical application. DsiRNA-AuNPs and those incorporated into thermoresponsive pluronic gels demonstrated high cell viability, proliferation and cell migration rate via in vitro cultured cells of human dermal fibroblasts, indicating their non-cytotoxicity and wound healing properties. Taken together, the thermoresponsive gels are expected to be useful as a potential dressing that promotes healing of diabetic wounds.
    MeSH terms: Bandages; Cell Survival; Gold; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Particle Size; Polyethylene Glycols; Wound Healing; Poloxamer; RNA, Small Interfering; Ribonuclease III; Chitosan; DEAD-box RNA Helicases; Nanocomposites; Metal Nanoparticles
  13. Raza A, Ahmadian A, Rafiq M, Salahshour S, Naveed M, Ferrara M, et al.
    Adv Differ Equ, 2020;2020(1):663.
    PMID: 33250928 DOI: 10.1186/s13662-020-03116-8
    In this manuscript, we investigate a nonlinear delayed model to study the dynamics of human-immunodeficiency-virus in the population. For analysis, we find the equilibria of a susceptible-infectious-immune system with a delay term. The well-established tools such as the Routh-Hurwitz criterion, Volterra-Lyapunov function, and Lasalle invariance principle are presented to investigate the stability of the model. The reproduction number and sensitivity of parameters are investigated. If the delay tactics are decreased, then the disease is endemic. On the other hand, if the delay tactics are increased then the disease is controlled in the population. The effect of the delay tactics with subpopulations is investigated. More precisely, all parameters are dependent on delay terms. In the end, to give the strength to a theoretical analysis of the model, a computer simulation is presented.
    MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases; Computer Simulation; Humans; Immune System; HIV Infections; Nonlinear Dynamics
  14. Chan KH, Lee CH, Sharif SZ, Hayati F, Sallapan S
    Ann Med Surg (Lond), 2020 Dec;60:438-441.
    PMID: 33251002 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.11.035
    Background: Metastatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) to the breast are very rare entities.

    Case presentation: A 26-year-old lady presented with anterior neck swelling with symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome for 6 months. Imaging study revealed a mediastinal mass which was preceded with core biopsy which was consistent with high-grade small cell NETs. Despite second-line adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, her disease became advanced which was confirmed via restaging scan. There were bilateral breast lesions discovered during the scan which was deemed to be metastatic NETs histologically. Despite prompt initiation of treatment, she succumbed 1 year after the radiotherapy due to disease progression.

    Conclusion: High suspicion of an index is needed for diagnosis when patients with known primary NETs present with suspicious breast lesions. Triple assessment is mandatory, however histopathology assessment and immunohistochemistry staining are the mainstay of diagnosis.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Radionuclide Imaging; Staining and Labeling; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Disease Progression; Neuroendocrine Cells; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle
  15. Liau LL, Al-Masawa ME, Koh B, Looi QH, Foo JB, Lee SH, et al.
    Front Pediatr, 2020;8:591693.
    PMID: 33251167 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.591693
    Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be derived from various tissue sources, such as the bone marrow (BMSCs), adipose tissue (ADSCs), umbilical cord (UC-MSCs) and umbilical cord blood (UCB-MSCs). Clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the potential of MSCs in ameliorating neonatal diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In preclinical studies, MSC therapy has been tested for the treatment of various neonatal diseases affecting the heart, eye, gut, and brain as well as sepsis. Up to date, the number of clinical trials using MSCs to treat neonatal diseases is still limited. The data reported thus far positioned MSC therapy as safe with positive outcomes. However, most of these trials are still preliminary and generally smaller in scale. Larger trials with more appropriate controls and a longer follow-up period need to be conducted to prove the safety and efficacy of the therapy more conclusively. This review discusses the current application of MSCs in treating neonatal diseases, its mechanism of action and future direction of this novel therapy, including the potential of using MSC-derived extracellular vesicles instead of the cells to treat various clinical conditions in the newborn.
    MeSH terms: Extracellular Vesicles; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Adipose Tissue; Bone Marrow; Brain; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Fetal Blood; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Umbilical Cord; Sepsis; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
  16. Dhingra S, Rahman NAA, Peile E, Rahman M, Sartelli M, Hassali MA, et al.
    Front Public Health, 2020;8:535668.
    PMID: 33251170 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.535668
    Antibiotics changed medical practice by significantly decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with bacterial infection. However, infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death in the world. There is global concern about the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which affects both developed and developing countries. AMR is a public health challenge with extensive health, economic, and societal implications. This paper sets AMR in context, starting with the history of antibiotics, including the discovery of penicillin and the golden era of antibiotics, before exploring the problems and challenges we now face due to AMR. Among the factors discussed is the low level of development of new antimicrobials and the irrational prescribing of antibiotics in developed and developing countries. A fundamental problem is the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding antibiotics among medical practitioners, and we explore this aspect in some depth, including a discussion on the KAP among medical students. We conclude with suggestions on how to address this public health threat, including recommendations on training medical students about antibiotics, and strategies to overcome the problems of irrational antibiotic prescribing and AMR.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Infective Agents*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use; Humans; Public Health; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  17. Kurniawansyah IS, Rusdiana T, Sopyan I, Ramoko H, Wahab HA, Subarnas A
    Heliyon, 2020 Nov;6(11):e05365.
    PMID: 33251348 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05365
    Background: Conventional drug delivery systems have some major drawbacks such as low bioavailability, short residence time and rapid precorneal drainage. An in situ gel drug delivery system provides several benefits, such as prolonged pharmacological duration of action, simpler production techniques, and low cost of manufacturing. This research aims to get the optimum formula of chloramphenicol in situ gel based on the physical evaluation.

    Methods: The effects of independent variables (poloxamer 407 and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) concentration) on various dependent variables (gelling capacity, pH and viscosity) were investigated by using 32 factorial design and organoleptic evaluation was done with descriptive analysis.

    Results: The optimized formula of chloramphenicol in situ gel yielded 9 variations of poloxamer 407 and HPMC bases composition in % w/v as follows, F1 (5; 0.45), F2 (7.5; 0.45), F3 (10; 0.45), F4 (5; 0.725), F5 (7.5; 0.725), F6 (10; 0.725), F7 (5; 1), F8 (7.5; 1), F9 (10; 1). The results indicated that the organoleptic, pH, and gelling capacity parameters matched all formulas (F1-F9), however, the viscosity parameter only matched F3, F6, F8, and F9. Based on factorial design, F6 had the best formula with desirability value of 0.54, but the design recommended that formula with the composition bases of poloxamer 407 and HPMC at the ratio of 8.16 % w/v and 0.77 % w/v, respectively, was the optimum formula with a desirability value of 0.69.

    Conclusion: All formulas have met the Indonesian pharmacopoeia requirements based on the physical evaluation, especially formula 6 (F6), which was supported by the result of factorial design analysis.

    MeSH terms: Biological Availability; Chloramphenicol; Colloids; Drainage; Gels; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Indonesia; Methylcellulose; Sensation; Viscosity; Drug Delivery Systems; Poloxamer; Hypromellose Derivatives
  18. Ab Rahman MF, Rusli A, Misman MA, Rashid AA
    ACS Omega, 2020 Nov 24;5(46):30329-30335.
    PMID: 33251468 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04964
    With increased awareness on the importance of gloves arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, people are expected to continue using them even after the pandemic recedes. This scenario in a way increased the rubber solid waste disposal problem; therefore, the production of biodegradable gloves may be an option to overcome this problem. However, the need to study the shelf life of biodegradable gloves is crucial before commercialization. There are well-established models to address the failure properties of gloves as stated in the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) D7160. In this study, polysaccharide-based material-filled natural rubber latex (PFNRL) gloves, which are biodegradable gloves, were subjected to an accelerated aging process at different temperatures of 50-80 °C for 1-120 days. Prediction models based on Arrhenius and shift factors were used to estimate the shelf life of the PFNRL gloves. Based on the results obtained, the estimated time for the PFNRL gloves to retain 75% of their tensile strength at shelf temperature (30 °C) based on Arrhenius and shift factor models was 2.8 years. Verification on the activation energy based on the shift factor model indicated that the shelf life of PFNRL gloves is 2.9 years, which is only a 3.6% difference. The value obtained is aligned with the requirement in accordance with ASTM D7160, which states that only up to a maximum of 3 years' shelf life is allowed for the gloves under accelerated aging conditions.
    MeSH terms: Aging; Humans; Latex; Polysaccharides; Refuse Disposal; Rubber; Temperature; Tensile Strength; United States; Gloves, Protective; Physical Phenomena; Pandemics
  19. Bergman K, Henriksson PJG, Hornborg S, Troell M, Borthwick L, Jonell M, et al.
    Environ Sci Technol, 2020 12 15;54(24):16062-16070.
    PMID: 33251804 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01100
    Seafood is seen as promising for more sustainable diets. The increasing production in land-based closed Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RASs) has overcome many local environmental challenges with traditional open net-pen systems such as eutrophication. The energy needed to maintain suitable water quality, with associated emissions, has however been seen as challenging from a global perspective. This study uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to investigate the environmental performance and improvement potentials of a commercial RAS farm of tilapia and Clarias in Sweden. The environmental impact categories and indicators considered were freshwater eutrophication, climate change, energy demand, land use, and dependency on animal-source feed inputs per kg of fillet. We found that feed production contributed most to all environmental impacts (between 67 and 98%) except for energy demand for tilapia, contradicting previous findings that farm-level energy use is a driver of environmental pressures. The main improvement potentials include improved by-product utilization and use of a larger proportion of plant-based feed ingredients. Together with further smaller improvement potential identified, this suggests that RASs may play a more important role in a future, environmentally sustainable food system.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Feed/analysis; Fisheries*; Life Cycle Stages; Sweden; Aquaculture*
  20. Jin-Ying Wong, Yin Ng Z, Mehta M, Shukla SD, Panneerselvam J, Madheswaran T, et al.
    Nanomedicine (Lond), 2020 12;15(30):2955-2970.
    PMID: 33252322 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2020-0260
    Aim: In this study, curcumin was encapsulated in niosomes (Nio-Curc) to increase its effectiveness for the treatment of asthma. Materials & methods: The formulation underwent various physicochemical characterization experiments, an in vitro release study, molecular simulations and was evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Results: Results showed that Nio-Curc had a mean particle size of 284.93 ± 14.27 nm, zeta potential of -46.93 and encapsulation efficacy of 99.62%, which demonstrates optimized physicochemical characteristics. Curcumin release in vitro could be sustained for up to 24 h. Additionally, Nio-Curc effectively reduced mRNA transcript expression of pro-inflammatory markers; IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α in immortalized human airway basal cell line (BCi-NS1.1). Conclusion: In this study, we have demonstrated that Nio-Curc mitigated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers in an in vitro study, which could be applied to treatment of asthma with further studies.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asthma; Cell Line; Curcumin; Humans; Liposomes; Particle Size; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Interleukin-1beta
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