Browse publications by year: 2020

  1. Hadi JM, Aziz SB, R Saeed S, Brza MA, Abdulwahid RT, Hamsan MH, et al.
    Membranes (Basel), 2020 Nov 21;10(11).
    PMID: 33233480 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10110363
    In this study, biopolymer composite electrolytes based on chitosan:ammonium iodide:Zn(II)-complex plasticized with glycerol were successfully prepared using the solution casting technique. Various electrical and electrochemical parameters of the biopolymer composite electrolytes' films were evaluated prior to device application. The highest conducting plasticized membrane was found to have a conductivity of 1.17 × 10-4 S/cm. It is shown that the number density, mobility, and diffusion coefficient of cations and anions fractions are increased with the glycerol amount. Field emission scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques are used to study the morphology and structure of the films. The non-Debye type of relaxation process was confirmed from the peak appearance of the dielectric relaxation study. The obtained transference number of ions (cations and anions) and electrons for the highest conducting sample were identified to be 0.98 and 0.02, respectively. Linear sweep voltammetry shows that the electrochemical stability of the highest conducting plasticized system is 1.37 V. The cyclic voltammetry response displayed no redox reaction peaks over its entire potential range. It was discovered that the addition of Zn(II)-complex and glycerol plasticizer improved the electric double-layer capacitor device performances. Numerous crucial parameters of the electric double-layer capacitor device were obtained from the charge-discharge profile. The prepared electric double-layer capacitor device showed that the initial values of specific capacitance, equivalence series resistance, energy density, and power density are 36 F/g, 177 Ω, 4.1 Wh/kg, and 480 W/kg, respectively.
  2. Usman F, Dennis JO, Mkawi EM, Al-Hadeethi Y, Meriaudeau F, Ferrell TL, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2020 Nov 20;12(11).
    PMID: 33233844 DOI: 10.3390/polym12112750
    This work reports the use of a ternary composite that integrates p-Toluene sulfonic acid doped polyaniline (PANI), chitosan, and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as the active sensing layer of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. The SPR sensor is intended for application in the non-invasive monitoring and screening of diabetes through the detection of low concentrations of acetone vapour of less than or equal to 5 ppm, which falls within the range of breath acetone concentration in diabetic patients. The ternary composite film was spin-coated on a 50-nm-thick gold layer at 6000 rpm for 30 s. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of the ternary composite samples were characterized by FTIR, UV-VIS, FESEM, EDX, AFM, XPS, and TGA and the response to acetone vapour at different concentrations in the range of 0.5 ppm to 5 ppm was measured at room temperature using SPR technique. The ternary composite-based SPR sensor showed good sensitivity and linearity towards acetone vapour in the range considered. It was determined that the sensor could detect acetone vapour down to 0.88 ppb with a sensitivity of 0.69 degree/ppm with a linearity correlation coefficient of 0.997 in the average SPR angular shift as a function of the acetone vapour concentration in air. The selectivity, repeatability, reversibility, and stability of the sensor were also studied. The acetone response was 87%, 94%, and 99% higher compared to common interfering volatile organic compounds such as propanol, methanol, and ethanol, respectively. The attained lowest detection limit (LOD) of 0.88 ppb confirms the potential for the utilisation of the sensor in the non-invasive monitoring and screening of diabetes.
  3. M Hussain FB, Al-Khdhairawi AAQ, Kok Sing H, Muhammad Low AL, Anouar EH, Thomas NF, et al.
    J Nat Prod, 2020 12 24;83(12):3493-3501.
    PMID: 33233893 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01105
    Svalbardines A and B (1 and 2) and annularin K (3) were isolated from cultures of Poaceicola sp. E1PB, an endophyte isolated from the petals of Papaver dahlianum from Svalbard, Norway. Svalbardine A (1) is a pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-4-one, a new analogue of citromycetin. Svalbardine B (2) displays an unprecedented carbon skeleton based on a 5'-benzyl-spiro[chroman-3,7'-isochromene]-4,8'-dione core. Annularin K (3) is a hydroxylated derivative of annularin D. The structure of these new polyketides, along with those of known compounds 4-6, was established by spectrometric analysis, including extensive ESI-CID-MS
    n
    processing in the case of svalbardine B (2).
    MeSH terms: Ascomycota; Carbon; Chromans; Norway; Papaver; Pyrones; Skeleton; Svalbard; Endophytes; Polyketides
  4. Romli MH, Cheema MS, Mehat MZ, Md Hashim NF, Abdul Hamid H
    BMJ Open, 2020 Nov 23;10(11):e041153.
    PMID: 33234650 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041153
    INTRODUCTION: Rapid technology development due to the introduction of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Internet of Things has created a demand and gradual transition from traditional teaching and learning to technology-based learning in higher education, including healthcare education. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this process, with educators now required to quickly adapt to and adopt such changes. The abundance of available systematic reviews has made the effectiveness of such approaches ambiguous especially in healthcare education. Therefore, a protocol of the overview of systematic reviews (OoSR) is planned to extrapolate the effectiveness of technology-based learning in undergraduate healthcare education.

    METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Scopus, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection databases were selected. Screening was conducted independently by at least two authors and the decision for inclusion was done through discussion or involvement of an arbiter against a predetermined criteria. Included articles will be evaluated for quality using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews and Risk of Bias in Systematic Review tools, while primary systematic review articles will be cross-checked and reported for any overlapping using the 'corrected covered area' method. Only narrative synthesis will be employed according to the predefined themes into two major dimensions-theory and knowledge generation (focusing on cognitive taxonomy due to its ability to be generalised across disciplines), and clinical-based competence (focusing on psychomotor and affective taxonomies due to discipline-specific influence). The type of technology used will be identified and extracted.

    ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The OoSR involves analysis of secondary data from published literature, thus ethical approval is not required. The findings will provide a valuable insight for policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers in terms of technology-based learning implementation and gaps identification. The findings will be published in several reports due to the extensiveness of the topic and will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conferences.

    PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD4202017974.

    MeSH terms: Curriculum*; Education, Medical/methods*; Educational Status; Health Personnel/education*; Humans; Learning*; Students*
  5. Abudula T, Gauthaman K, Mostafavi A, Alshahrie A, Salah N, Morganti P, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2020 11 24;10(1):20428.
    PMID: 33235239 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76971-w
    Non-healing wounds have placed an enormous stress on both patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Severe complications induced by these wounds can lead to limb amputation or even death and urgently require more effective treatments. Electrospun scaffolds have great potential for improving wound healing treatments by providing controlled drug delivery. Previously, we developed fibrous scaffolds from complex carbohydrate polymers [i.e. chitin-lignin (CL) gels]. However, their application was limited by solubility and undesirable burst drug release. Here, a coaxial electrospinning is applied to encapsulate the CL gels with polycaprolactone (PCL). Presence of a PCL shell layer thus provides longer shelf-life for the CL gels in a wet environment and sustainable drug release. Antibiotics loaded into core-shell fibrous platform effectively inhibit both gram-positive and -negative bacteria without inducting observable cytotoxicity. Therefore, PCL coated CL fibrous gel platforms appear to be good candidates for controlled drug release based wound dressing applications.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Bandages; Capsules; Chitin/chemistry*; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Stability; Gels/chemical synthesis; Gels/chemistry; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects; Gram-Negative Bacteria/growth & development; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria/growth & development; Humans; Lignin/chemistry*; Polyesters/chemistry*; Wound Healing/drug effects; NIH 3T3 Cells; Mice; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/drug effects
  6. Melo JO, Padilha MAO, Barbosa RTA, Alonso WJ, Vittor AY, Laporta GZ
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Jun;37(2):513-535.
    PMID: 33235398
    After a centenary fight against malaria, Brazil has seen an opportunity for change with the proposal of the malaria elimination policy set by the Brazilian government, in line with malaria elimination policies in other Latin American countries. Brazilian malaria experts regard eliminating malaria by 2030 to be within reach. Herein we evaluated the likelihood that malaria elimination can be accomplished in Brazil through systematic review of the literature on malaria elimination in Brazil and epidemiological analysis. Fifty-two articles referring to malaria eradication/elimination in Brazil were analyzed to identify challenges and technological breakthroughs for controlling malaria. Monthly deaths (1979-2016) and monthly severe malaria cases (1998-2018) were analyzed according to age groups, geographic region and parasite species. As a result, we observed that the declining malaria burden was mostly attributable to a decline in Plasmodium falciparum-malaria. At the same time, the proportional increase of Plasmodium vivax-malaria in comparison with P. falciparum-malaria was notable. This niche replacement mechanism was discussed in the reviewed literature. In addition, the challenges to P. vivax-malaria elimination outnumbered the available technological breakthroughs. Although accumulated and basic information exists on mosquito vector biology, the lack of specific knowledge about mosquito vector taxonomy and ecology may hamper current attempts at stopping malaria in the country. An impressive reduction in malaria hospitalizations and mortality was seen in Brazil in the past 3 decades. Eliminating malaria deaths in children less than 5 years and P. falciparum severe cases may be achievable goals under the current malaria policy until 2030. However, eliminating P. vivax malaria transmission and morbidity seems unattainable with the available tools. Therefore, complete malaria elimination in Brazil in the near future is unlikely.
    MeSH terms: Antimalarials/therapeutic use*; Brazil/epidemiology; Humans; Malaria/epidemiology*; Malaria/parasitology; Malaria/prevention & control; Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology*; Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology; Malaria, Falciparum/prevention & control; Malaria, Vivax/epidemiology*; Malaria, Vivax/parasitology; Malaria, Vivax/prevention & control; Policy; Disease Eradication
  7. Ekeuku SO, Pang KL, Chin KY
    Drug Des Devel Ther, 2020;14:4963-4974.
    PMID: 33235437 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S280520
    Palmatine is a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid with various pharmacological properties. Given its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, palmatine may be able to impede the effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its related diseases triggered by inflammation and oxidative stress. This review summarises the existing literature about the effects of palmatine supplementation on MetS and its complications. The evidence shows that palmatine could protect against MetS, and cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, which might be associated with MetS. These protective effects are mediated by the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of palmatine. Although preclinical experiments have demonstrated the efficacy of palmatine against MetS and its related diseases, no human clinical trials have been performed to validate these effects. This research gap should be bridged to validate the efficacy and safety of palmatine supplementation in protecting humans against MetS and its related diseases.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/adverse effects; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Berberine Alkaloids/adverse effects; Berberine Alkaloids/pharmacology*; Humans; Inflammation/drug therapy*; Inflammation/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Metabolic Syndrome X/drug therapy*; Metabolic Syndrome X/metabolism
  8. Saeed M, Isnani AC, Khan SA, Khamis N
    Pak J Med Sci, 2020 11 26;36(7):1698-1702.
    PMID: 33235600 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.36.7.1778
    Objective: A paradigm shift towards a PBL bidirectional dialogic feedback can enhance learners' performance. This study aimed to investigate undergraduate medical students' perceptions of their PBL feedback.

    Methods: We sent e-mail invitations to a web-based survey to year one and two students at College of Medicine, King Saud University. Items included the process, content, and benefits of PBL feedback.

    Results: Of 209 respondents, 110 (53%) were first and 99 (47%) were second-year students. About 50% agreed that the feedback was regularly provided at scheduled timing and 72% perceived feedback environment as non-threatening. Agreement rates that the tutors asked students first to assess their performance, tell them what went well, what the areas for improvement are and develop with them an improvement plan were 59%, 61%, 61% and 52%, respectively. 61% agreed that tutors judged performance not personality. More year one students significantly agreed that the PBL feedback helped them to improve their knowledge acquisition and non-technical skills.

    Conclusion: Many of our PBL tutors have started the shift to a dialogic bi-directional feedback. We recommend continuing the faculty development efforts, peer-reviewing, and seeking student's feedback within the academic quality satisfaction surveys.

    MeSH terms: Faculty; Feedback; Humans; Personal Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students, Medical; Universities; Internet; Electronic Mail
  9. Moshiri A, Tekyieh Maroof N, Mohammad Sharifi A
    Iran J Basic Med Sci, 2020 Nov;23(11):1426-1438.
    PMID: 33235700 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2020.46228.10707
    Objectives: We investigated the role of various biomaterials on cell viability and in healing of an experimentally induced femoral bone hole model in rats.

    Materials and Methods: Cell viability and cytotoxicity of gelatin (Gel; 50 µg/µl), chitosan (Chi; 20 µg/µl), hydroxyapatite (HA; 50 µg/µl), nanohydroxyapatite (nHA; 10 µg/µl), three-calcium phosphate (TCP; 50 µg/µl) and strontium carbonate (Sr; 10 µg/µl) were evaluated on hADSCs via MTT assay. In vivo femoral drill-bone hole model was produced in rats that were either left untreated or treated with autograft, Gel, Chi, HA, nHA, TCP and Sr, respectively. The animals were euthanized after 30 days. Their bone holes were evaluated by gross-pathology, histopathology, SEM and radiography. Also, their dry matter, bone ash and mineral density were measured.

    Results: Both the Gel and Chi showed cytotoxicity, while nHA had no role on cytotoxicity and cell-viability. All the HA, TCP and Sr significantly improved cell viability when compared to controls (P<0.05). Both the Gel and Chi had no role on osteoconduction and osteoinduction. Compared to HA, nHA showed superior role in increasing new bone formation, mineral density and ash (P<0.05). In contrast to HA and nHA, both the TCP and Sr showed superior morphological, radiographical and biochemical properties on bone healing (P<0.05). TCP and Sr showed the most effective osteoconduction and osteoinduction, respectively. In the Sr group, the most mature type of osteons formed.

    Conclusion: Various biomaterials have different in vivo efficacy during bone regeneration. TCP was found to be the best material for osteoconduction and Sr for osteoinduction.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Bone Regeneration; Calcium Phosphates; Carbonates; Cell Survival; Gelatin; Haversian System; Osteogenesis; Radiography; Strontium; Durapatite; Chitosan; Rats; Autografts
  10. Lim A, Janssen SMJ, Satel J
    Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci, 2020 12;20(6):1349-1364.
    PMID: 33236297 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00846-w
    Inhibition of return is characterized by delayed responses to previously attended locations when the interval between stimuli is long enough. The present study employed steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) as a measure of attentional modulation to explore the nature and time course of input- and output-based inhibitory cueing mechanisms that each slow response times at previously stimulated locations under different experimental conditions. The neural effects of behavioral inhibition were examined by comparing post-cue SSVEPs between cued and uncued locations measured across two tasks that differed only in the response modality (saccadic or manual response to targets). Grand averages of SSVEP amplitudes for each condition showed a reduction in amplitude at cued locations in the window of 100-500 ms post-cue, revealing an early, short-term decrease in the responses of neurons that can be attributed to sensory adaptation, regardless of response modality. Because primary visual cortex has been found to be one of the major sources of SSVEP signals, the results suggest that the SSVEP modulations observed were caused by input-based inhibition that occurred in V1, or visual areas earlier than V1, as a consequence of reduced visual input activity at previously cued locations. No SSVEP modulations were observed in either response condition late in the cue-target interval, suggesting that neither late input- nor output-based IOR modulates SSVEPs. These findings provide further electrophysiological support for the theory of multiple mechanisms contributing to behavioral cueing effects.
    MeSH terms: Attention; Electroencephalography; Evoked Potentials, Visual*; Humans; Inhibition (Psychology)*; Photic Stimulation; Reaction Time; Saccades
  11. Lim SC, Yap YC, Barmania S, Govender V, Danhoundo G, Remme M
    Sex Reprod Health Matters, 2020 Dec;28(2):1842153.
    PMID: 33236973 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2020.1842153
    Despite increasing calls to integrate and prioritise sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in universal health coverage (UHC) processes, several SRH services have remained a low priority in countries' UHC plans. This study aims to understand the priority-setting process of SRH interventions in the context of UHC, drawing on the Malaysian experience. A realist evaluation framework was adopted to examine the priority-setting process for three SRH tracer interventions: pregnancy, safe delivery and post-natal care; gender-based violence (GBV) services; and abortion-related services. The study used a qualitative multi-method design, including a literature and document review, and 20 in-depth key informant interviews, to explore the context-mechanism-outcome configurations that influenced and explained the priority-setting process. Four key advocacy strategies were identified for the effective prioritisation of SRH services, namely: (1) generating public demand and social support, (2) linking SRH issues with public agendas or international commitments, (3) engaging champions that are internal and external to the public health sector, and (4) reframing SRH issues as public health issues. While these strategies successfully triggered mechanisms, such as mutual understanding and increased buy-in of policymakers to prioritise SRH services, the level and extent of prioritisation was affected by both inner and outer contextual factors, in particular the socio-cultural and political context. Priority-setting is a political decision-making process that reflects societal values and norms. Efforts to integrate SRH services in UHC processes need both to make technical arguments and to find strategies to overcome barriers related to societal values (including certain socio-cultural and religious norms). This is particularly important for sensitive SRH services, like GBV and safe abortion, and for certain populations.
    MeSH terms: Health Priorities*; Health Services Accessibility*; Humans; Malaysia; Policy Making; Politics; Social Values; Universal Coverage/organization & administration*; Reproductive Health Services*; Qualitative Research; Reproductive Health/standards*; Strategic Planning
  12. Mitsuwan W, Sangkanu S, Romyasamit C, Kaewjai C, Jimoh TO, de Lourdes Pereira M, et al.
    PMID: 33238231 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.11.001
    Curcuma longa and Curcumin have been documented to have a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects, including anti-Acanthamoeba activity. Hence, this study sought to explore the anti-adhesion activity of C. longa extract and Curcumin against Acanthamoeba triangularis trophozoites and cysts in plastic and contact lenses. Our results showed that C. longa extract and Curcumin significantly inhibited the adhesion of A. triangularis trophozoites and cysts to the plastic surface, as investigated by the crystal violet assay (P 
    MeSH terms: Acanthamoeba*; Animals; Curcumin*; Cysts*; Plant Extracts; Plastics; Polystyrenes; Rhizome; Curcuma; Trophozoites
  13. Sama Naziyah Shaban, Abdelkader Elbadawy Abbas Ashour, Khairani Idah Mokhtar, Solachuddin JauhariAriefIchwan, Basma Ezzat Mustafa Alahmad
    Ann Dent, 2020;27(1):50-54.
    MyJurnal
    Natural products have demonstrated various activities beneficial to general health. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) has been reported in many studies for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, flaxseed extracts have skin wound healing activity and potential for treating oral ulcers.L. usitatissimum was extracted using 70% ethanol via soxhlet method and gas chromatography mass spectrum (GC-MS) was used to analyze the components of L. usitatissimum extract. The crude flaxseed oil were applied to human oral fibroblasts (HOrF), and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess the cell viability after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Scratched HOrF cells were treated with crude flaxseed oil and healing was monitored per wound healing assay. GC-MS indicate that the major components present in L. usitatissimum oil extract are linolic, palmitic and oleic acid. L. usitatissimum crude oil extract showed high proliferation effect on HOrF cells at 24 and 48 hours, while the highest proliferation effect was recorded at 72 hours post-treatment. The wound healing assay results showed that healing activity of HOrF cells occurred as soon as 18 hours post-treatment when treated with L. usitatissimum crude oil extract. L. usitatissimum crude oil extract has proliferating and healing effects on HOrF cell line. Therefore, it can be considered as a potential promising oral wound healing agent.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Biological Products; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Survival; Humans; Linseed Oil; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Petroleum; Tetrazolium Salts; Wound Healing; Oral Ulcer; Oleic Acid; Flax
  14. Mohd Shahminan Ibrahim, Wen, Yap Kai, Gonzalez, Maria Angela Garcia, Noor Azlin Yahya
    Ann Dent, 2020;27(1):41-49.
    MyJurnal
    This study compared the surface roughness of selected tooth coloured restorative materials that were polished according to manufacturers’ instructions and Sof-Lex. It also assessed the surface roughness of polished materials after thermocycling.Filtek Z350XT, Beautifil-Bulk Restorative and Cention N, were used in this study. A stainless steel mould (10mm diameter x 2mm height) was used to fabricate 75 cylindrical specimens: 15 Filtek Z350XT (FZ), 30 Beautifil-Bulk Restorative (BB) and 30 Cention N (CN). All 15 FZ specimens were polished with Sof-Lex. Fifteen BB and CN specimens were polished according to manufacturers’ instructions. The remaining fifteen BB and CN specimens were polished using Sof-Lex. All the specimens were subjected to thermocycling (1000 cycles). Surface roughness was assessed quantitatively with profilometry after specimen preparation (Mylar stage), polishingand thermocycling. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0 at α=0.05. When polished according to manufacturers’ instructions, BB had the lowest mean surface roughness (Ra) values (0.13±0.01μm) followed sequentially by CN (0.14±0.03μm) and FZ (0.15±0.02μm). The differences were not statistically significant. When polished with Sof-Lex, BB exhibited the smoothest surface (0.116±0.03μm) followed sequentially by and FZ (0.150±0.02μm) and CN (0.157±0.02μm). Thermocycling caused an increase in the Ra. The differences were statistically significant. All materials tested had Ra values below the threshold value of 0.2 μm at Mylar stage and after polishing with their recommended polishing system and Sof-Lex. Thermocycling produced rougher surfaces that did not exceed the threshold Ra value. Polishability was material dependent.
    MeSH terms: Composite Resins; Polyethylene Terephthalates; Stainless Steel
  15. Nor Azlida Mohd Nor, Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof, Wan Nurazreena Wan Hassan, Mohd ZambriMohamed Makhbul
    Ann Dent, 2020;27(1):33-40.
    MyJurnal
    Dental quackery has been a problem for decades and is becoming a major concern in many countries, including Malaysia. Recent development of a new service offered by quacks in Malaysia is “fake braces”, which alarmed dental professionals. The fake braces appear similar to the professionally fitted orthodontic appliances comprising of archwires that are secured on brackets by coloured ligatures except they are fitted by unqualified individuals who have no formal clinical training. In addition, the orthodontic materials and dental equipment used for this illegal service were substandard and unregulated. Therefore, such fitted appliances are harmful to the teeth and oral health. Efforts to record the extent of fake braces practice and its oral health consequences have been challenging as they are marketed through the social media, and the victims were either reluctant to come forward or did not know the appropriate channel to file a complaint to the health authority. This is an expert opinion paperwith theaimsto highlight typical presentation of fake braces, modus operandi of fake braces providers, the harmful effects of fake braces on the patient’s oral health, the role of social media advertising in promoting fake braces, and the impacts to the illegal providers.
    MeSH terms: Braces; Dental Equipment; Expert Testimony; Filing; Humans; Malaysia; Oral Health; Orthodontic Appliances; Quackery; Social Media
  16. Namazi H, Aghasian E, Ala TS
    Technol Health Care, 2020;28(1):57-66.
    PMID: 31104032 DOI: 10.3233/THC-181579
    Analysis of human brain activity is an important topic in human neuroscience. Human brain activity can be studied by analyzing the electroencephalography (EEG) signal. In this way, scientists have employed several techniques that investigate nonlinear dynamics of EEG signals. Fractal theory as a promising technique has shown its capabilities to analyze the nonlinear dynamics of time series. Since EEG signals have fractal patterns, in this research we analyze the variations of fractal dynamics of EEG signals between four datasets that were collected from healthy subjects with open-eyes and close-eyes conditions, patients with epilepsy who did and patients who did not face seizures. The obtained results showed that EEG signal during seizure has greatest complexity and the EEG signal during the seizure-free interval has lowest complexity. In order to verify the obtained results in case of fractal analysis, we employ approximate entropy, which indicates the randomness of time series. The obtained results in case of approximate entropy certified the fractal analysis results. The obtained results in this research show the effectiveness of fractal theory to investigate the nonlinear structure of EEG signal between different conditions.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Electroencephalography/methods*; Epilepsy/pathology*; Humans; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*; Fractals
  17. Lu YQ
    Intern Emerg Med, 2020 Nov;15(8):1553-1554.
    PMID: 32232784 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-020-02321-3
    MeSH terms: China/ethnology; Cough/ethnology; Cough/etiology; Female; Fever/ethnology; Fever/etiology; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis*; Pneumonia, Viral/ethnology; Pneumonia, Viral/transmission; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods; Travel; Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis*; Coronavirus Infections/ethnology; Coronavirus Infections/transmission; Pandemics
  18. Baticulon RE, Nga VDW, Sobana M, Bahuri NFA, Wittayanakorn N
    World Neurosurg, 2020 12;144:332.
    PMID: 33227873 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.09.086
    MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern; Humans; Pneumonia, Viral*; Coronavirus Infections*; Pandemics*
  19. Ninyio NN, Ho KL, Omar AR, Tan WS, Iqbal M, Mariatulqabtiah AR
    Vaccines (Basel), 2020 Nov 19;8(4).
    PMID: 33227887 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040694
    Epizootics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have resulted in the deaths of millions of birds leading to huge financial losses to the poultry industry worldwide. The roles of migratory wild birds in the harbouring, mutation, and transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), and the lack of broad-spectrum prophylactic vaccines present imminent threats of a global panzootic. To prevent this, control measures that include effective AIV surveillance programmes, treatment regimens, and universal vaccines are being developed and analysed for their effectiveness. We reviewed the epidemiology of AIVs with regards to past avian influenza (AI) outbreaks in birds. The AIV surveillance programmes in wild and domestic birds, as well as their roles in AI control were also evaluated. We discussed the limitations of the currently used AI vaccines, which necessitated the development of a universal vaccine. We evaluated the current development of AI vaccines based upon virus-like particles (VLPs), particularly those displaying the matrix-2 ectodomain (M2e) peptide. Finally, we highlighted the prospects of these VLP vaccines as universal vaccines with the potential of preventing an AI panzootic.
  20. Basit MA, Kadir AA, Loh TC, Abdul Aziz S, Salleh A, Zakaria ZA, et al.
    Animals (Basel), 2020 Nov 19;10(11).
    PMID: 33227911 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112150
    The current experiment was designed to estimate the comparative efficacy of selected phytobiotics Persicaria odorata leaf meal (POLM) and Piper betle leaf meal (PBLM) with halquinol, and tetracycline in broiler chickens. The 150-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary groups. The dietary supplementation groups were the basal diet (BD), which served as the negative control (NC), and BD + 0.2 g/kg tetracycline, which served as the positive control (PC); BD + 0.03 g/kg halquinol (HAL), BD + 8 g/kg POLM (Po8), and BD + 4 g/kg PBLM (Pb4) were the treatment groups. Growth performance, gut morphology, ileal digestibility, and cecal microbiota composition were measured. On day 21, the body weight gain (BWG) was enhanced (p < 0.05) in the broiler chickens fed on phytobiotics (Po8 and Pb4) relative to the NC group, however, on day 42 and in terms of overall growth performance, BWG was enhanced (p < 0.05 in diets (Po8, Pb4, HAL and PC) in comparison with the NC group. Conversely, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded reduced (p < 0.05) in Pb4, Po8, HAL, and PC group in comparison with the NC group. Supplementation of phytobiotics (Po8 and Pb4), HAL and PC, positively improved the gut morphology compared to the NC group. Furthermore, the maximum (p < 0.05) villus height (VH) in duodenum and jejunum was observed in broilers fed on diet Pb4. Supplementation of phytobiotics, HAL and PC, improved (p < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter (DM) (except for HAL), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and ash compared to the NC group. Dietary supplementation of phytobiotics (Po8 and Pb4), HAL and PC, significantly reduced the E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus (except for HAL) counts compared to the NC group. However, supplementation of Pb4 resulted in significantly decreased total anaerobic bacteria and Clostridium spp. counts compared to the NC group. In addition, supplementation of phytobiotics significantly increased the Lactobacillus count compared to HAL, PC, and NC groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of phytobiotics improved the gut morphology, positively modulated and maintained the dynamics of cecal microbiota with enhanced nutrient digestibility, thus, increased the growth performance. Based on current results, phytobiotics could be used as an alternative to AGPs for sustainable broiler chicken production.
    MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Animals; Bacteria, Anaerobic; Body Weight; Cecum; Chickens; Chloroquinolinols; Clostridium; Diet; Duodenum; Escherichia coli; Ether; Ileum; Jejunum; Lactobacillus; Plant Extracts; Salmonella; Staphylococcus aureus; Tetracyclines; Dietary Supplements; Piper betle
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