Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are chronic conditions that have drawn robust interest from the scientific community. Phytotherapeutic agents are becoming an important source of chemicals for the treatment and management of NDDs. Various secondary metabolites have been isolated from Melicope lunu-ankenda plant leaves, including phenolic acid derivatives. However, their neuroprotective activity remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study is to elucidate the in vitro neuroprotective activity of 7-geranyloxycinnamic acid isolated from Melicope lunu-ankenda leaves. The neuroprotective activity was evaluated in differentiated human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells by monitoring cell viability using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Moreover, the potential to impair apoptosis in differentiated cells was investigated employing the Annexin V-FITC assay, acridine orange and propidium iodide (AO/PI) staining, and fluorescence microscopy. Morphological assessment and ultrastructural analysis were performed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the effect of 7-geranyloxycinnamic acid on surface morphology and internal features of the differentiated cells. Pre-treatment of neuronal cells with 7-geranyloxycinnamic acid significantly protected the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells against H2O2-induced apoptosis. Cytoskeleton and cytoplasmic inclusion were similarly protected by the 7-geranyloxycinnamic acid treatment. The present findings demonstrate the neuroprotective potential of 7-geranyloxycinnamic acid against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in neuronal cells, which is an established hallmark of neuronal disorders.
In this study, series of non-ionic surfactants from Span and Tween are evaluated for their ability to affect the viscosity profile of cyclopentane hydrate slurry. The surfactants; Span 20, Span 40, Span 80, Tween 20, Tween 40 and Tween 80 were selected and tested to provide different hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance values and allow evaluation their solubility impact on hydrate formation and growth time. The study was performed by using a HAAKE ViscotesterTM 500 at 2 °C and a surfactant concentration ranging from 0.1 wt%-1 wt%. The solubility characteristic of the non-ionic surfactants changed the hydrate slurry in different ways with surfactants type and varying concentration. The rheological measurement suggested that oil-soluble Span surfactants was generally inhibitive to hydrate formation by extending the hydrate induction time. However, an opposite effect was observed for the Tween surfactants. On the other hand, both Span and Tween demonstrated promoting effect to accelerate hydrate growth time of cyclopentane hydrate formation. The average hydrate crystallization growth time of the blank sample was reduced by 86% and 68% by Tween and Span surfactants at 1 wt%, respectively. The findings in this study are useful to understand the rheological behavior of surfactants in hydrate slurry.
Mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and electrical breakdown of polypropylene/lignin/kenaf core fiber (PP/L/KCF) composite were studied. PP/L, PP/KCF and PP/L/KCF composites with different fiber and lignin loading was prepared using a compounding process. Pure PP was served as control. The results revealed that tensile and flexural properties of the PP/L/KCF was retained after addition of lignin and kenaf core fibers. Thermal stability of the PP composites improved compared to pure PP polymer. As for thermal conductivity, no significant difference was observed between PP composites and pure PP. However, PP/L/KCF composite has higher thermal diffusivity. All the PP composites produced are good insulating materials that are suitable for building. All PP composites passed withstand voltage test in air and oil state as stipulated in IEC 60641-3 except PP/L in oil state. SEM micrograph showed that better interaction and adhesion between polymer matrix, lignin and kenaf core fibers was observed and reflected on the better tensile strength recorded in PP/L/KCF composite. This study has successfully filled the gap of knowledge on using lignin and kenaf fibers as PP insulator composite materials. Therefore, it can be concluded that PP/Lignin/KCF has high potential as an insulating material.
In this study, we hypothesized that different strains of Lactobacillus can alleviate hyperlipidemia and liver steatosis via activation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme that is involved in cellular energy homeostasis, in aged rats. Male rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and injected with D-galactose daily over 12 weeks to induce aging. Treatments included (n = 6) (i) normal diet (ND), (ii) HFD, (iii) HFD-statin (lovastatin 2 mg/kg/day), (iv) HFD-Lactobacillus fermentum DR9 (10 log CFU/day), (v) HFD-Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 (10 log CFU/day), and (vi) HFD-Lactobacillus reuteri 8513d (10 log CFU/day). Rats administered with statin, DR9, and 8513d reduced serum total cholesterol levels after eight weeks (p < 0.05), while the administration of DR7 reduced serum triglycerides level after 12 weeks (p < 0.05) as compared to the HFD control. A more prominent effect was observed from the administration of DR7, where positive effects were observed, ranging from hepatic gene expressions to liver histology as compared to the control (p < 0.05); downregulation of hepatic lipid synthesis and β-oxidation gene stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), upregulation of hepatic sterol excretion genes of ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 5 and 8 (ABCG5 and ABCG8), lesser degree of liver steatosis, and upregulation of hepatic energy metabolisms genes AMPKα1 and AMPKα2. Taken altogether, this study illustrated that the administration of selected Lactobacillus strains led to improved lipid profiles via activation of energy and lipid metabolisms, suggesting the potentials of Lactobacillus as a promising natural intervention for alleviation of cardiovascular and liver diseases.
MeSH terms: Aging/metabolism*; Aging/pathology; Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents/pharmacology; Fatty Liver/therapy*; Hyperlipidemias/therapy*; Lactobacillus/pathogenicity; Lipoproteins/genetics; Lipoproteins/metabolism; Liver/drug effects; Liver/growth & development; Liver/metabolism; Male; Protein Kinases/genetics; Protein Kinases/metabolism*; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase/genetics; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase/metabolism; Up-Regulation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Probiotics/administration & dosage; Probiotics/therapeutic use*; Lipid Metabolism; Rats; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 5/genetics; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 5/metabolism; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 8/genetics; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 8/metabolism
The development of nanocomposites has swiftly changed the horizon of drug delivery systems in defining a new platform. Major understanding of the interaction of nanocomposites with cells and how the interaction influences intracellular uptake is an important aspect to study in order to ensure successful utilisation of the nanocomposites. Studies have suggested that the nanocomposites' ability to permeate into biological cells is attributable to their well-defined physicochemical properties with nanoscale size, which is relevant to the nanoscale components of biology and cellular organelles. The functionalized graphene oxide coated with polyethylene glycol, loaded with protocatechuic acid and folic acid (GOP-PCA-FA) nanocomposite intracellular uptake was analysed using transmission electron microscope. The accumulation of fluorescent-labelled nanocomposites in the HepG2 cell was also analysed using a fluorescent microscope. In vitro cellular uptake showed that there was uptake of the drug from 24 h into the cells and the release study using fluorescently tagged nanocomposite demonstrated that release and accumulation were observed at 24 h and 48 h. Moreover, the migration ability of tumor cells is a key step in tumor progression which was observed 48 h after treatment. The GOP serves as a potential nanocarrier system which is capable of improving the therapeutic efficacy of drugs and biomolecules in medical as well as pharmaceutical applications through the enhanced intracellular release and accumulation of the encapsulated drugs. Nonetheless, it is essential to analyse the translocation of our newly developed GOP-PCA-FA, and its efficiency for drug delivery, effective cellular uptake, and abundant intracellular accumulation would be compromised by possible untoward side effects.
Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle have been linked to the occurrence of non-communicable diseases. This study's purpose was to determine physical activity levels and sedentary behaviours among primary healthcare workers in Perak, Malaysia, as well as associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 12 health clinics in Perak, Malaysia, to determine physical activity levels, sedentary behaviours and factors associated with physical inactivity among primary healthcare workers. Each respondent completed a self-administered questionnaire relating to socio-demographic characteristics, including anthropometric measurements such as body mass index, waist circumference and body fat percentage, and the English and Malay version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 261 primary healthcare workers participated in this study; 45.6% were classified as physically inactive, spending a median of five hours daily engaged in sedentary behaviours. In terms of metabolic equivalent min per week, male workers had significantly higher physical activity than females. Self-reported health status and longer sitting times were significantly associated with physical inactivity. Logistic regression showed that poor health status was 1.84 times less likely to be associated with physical activity (p = 0.036, Confidence Interval = 1.04-3.24). Due to the high prevalence of physical inactivity, action is needed to increase physical activity among healthcare workers.
MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Personnel*; Humans; Leisure Activities; Malaysia; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Exercise*; Sedentary Lifestyle*
The key aroma constituents in the volatile fractions isolated FROM two differently processed fry breads by solvent-assisted flavor evaporation were characterized by an aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Twenty-two compounds were identified with flavor dilution (FD) factor ranges of 2-516. Among them, 13 compounds (FD ≥ 16) were quantified by stable isotope dilution assays and analyzed by odor activity values (OAVs). Of these, 11 compounds had OAVs ≥ 1, and the highest concentrations were determined for δ-decalactone and 2,3-butanedione. Two recombination models of the fry breads showed similarity to the corresponding fry breads. Omission tests confirmed that aroma-active constituents, such as δ-decalactone (oily/peach), 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (roasty/popcorn-like), 3-methylbutanal (malty), methional (baked potato-like), 2,3-butanedione (buttery), phenyl acetaldehyde (flowery), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (deep-fried), butanoic acid, and 3-methylbutanoic acid, were the key aroma constituents of fry bread. In addition, 3-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (smoky) and 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone were also identified as important aroma constituents of fry bread.
Declines in crop yield due to pests and diseases require the development of safe, green and eco-friendly pesticide formulations. A major problem faced by the agricultural industry is the use of conventional agrochemicals that contribute broad-spectrum effects towards the environment and organisms. As a result of this issue, researchers are currently developing various pesticide formulations using different nanotechnology approaches. The progress and opportunities in developing nanoemulsions as carriers for plant protection or nanodelivery systems for agrochemicals in agricultural practice have been the subject of intense research. New unique chemical and biologic properties have resulted in a promising pesticide nanoformulations for crop protection. These innovations-particularly the nanoemulsion-based agrochemicals-are capable of enhancing the solubility of active ingredients, improving agrochemical bioavailability, and improving stability and wettability properties during the application, thus resulting in better efficacy for pest control and treatment. All of these-together with various preparation methods towards a greener and environmentally friendly agrochemicals-are also discussed and summarized in this review.
In this study, Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) powders are prepared by a solution synthesis method. The effects of two reducing agents on crystal structure and morphology and electrochemical properties are investigated. Preliminary studies on reducing agents such as oxalic acid and citric acid, are used to reduce the vanadium (V) precursor. The oxalic acid-assisted synthesis induces smaller particles (30 nm) compared with the citric acid-assisted synthesis (70 nm). The LVP powders obtained by the oxalic acid exhibit a higher specific capacity (124 mAh g-1 at 1C) and better cycling performance (122 mAh g-1 following 50 cycles at 1C rate) than those for the citric acid. This is due to their higher electronic conductivity caused by carbon coating and downsizing the particles. The charge-discharge plateaus obtained from cyclic voltammetry are in good agreement with galvanostatic cycling profiles.
MeSH terms: Electric Conductivity; Electrodes; Lithium/chemistry*; Electric Power Supplies*; Vanadium Compounds/chemistry*; Reducing Agents/chemistry*; Citric Acid/chemistry*; Oxalic Acid/chemistry*; Nanocomposites/chemistry*
Being biodegradable and biocompatible are crucial characteristics for biomaterial used for medical and biomedical applications. Vegetable oil-based polyols are known to contribute both the biodegradability and biocompatibility of polyurethanes; however, petrochemical-based polyols were often incorporated to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethane. In this work, palm oil-based polyester polyol (PPP) derived from epoxidized palm olein and glutaric acid was reacted with isophorone diisocyanate to produce an aliphatic polyurethane, without the incorporation of any commercial petrochemical-based polyol. The effects of water content and isocyanate index were investigated. The polyurethanes produced consisted of > 90% porosity with interconnected micropores and macropores (37-1700 µm) and PU 1.0 possessed tensile strength and compression stress of 111 kPa and 64 kPa. The polyurethanes with comparable thermal stability, yet susceptible to enzymatic degradation with 7-59% of mass loss after 4 weeks of treatment. The polyurethanes demonstrated superior water uptake (up to 450%) and did not induce significant changes in pH of the medium. The chemical changes of the polyurethanes after enzymatic degradation were evaluated by FTIR and TGA analyses. The polyurethanes showed cell viability of 53.43% and 80.37% after 1 and 10 day(s) of cytotoxicity test; and cell adhesion and proliferation in cell adhesion test. The polyurethanes produced demonstrated its potential as biomaterial for soft tissue engineering applications.
Cataracts are the second most prioritized eye disease in the world. Cataracts are an expensive treatment because surgery is the only method that can treat the disease. This study aims to analyze the cost effectiveness of each operating procedure. Specifically, phacoemulsification and Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) with Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) as the effectiveness indicator is used. This study is an observational analytic study with a prospective framework. The sample size is 130 patients who have undergone phacoemulsification and 25 patients who have undergone SICS. The DALY for phacoemulsification at Day-7 (D-7) is 0.3204, and at Day-21 (D-21), it is 0.3204, while the DALY for SICS at D-7 is 0.3060, and at D-21, it is 0.3158. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for cataract surgery at D-7 is USD $1872.49, and at D-21, it is USD $5861.71, whereas the Indonesian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is USD $4174.90. In conclusion, the phacoemulsification technique is more cost effective than the SICS technique. The ICER value is very cost effective at D-7 post-surgery compared to at D-21 post-surgery because the ICER is less than 1 GDP per capita per DALY.
MeSH terms: Cataract*; Cataract Extraction/methods*; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Humans; Indonesia; Prospective Studies; Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Falls are among the main causes of injuries in elderly individuals. Balance and mobility impairment are major indicators of fall risk in this group. The objective of this research was to develop a fall risk feedback system that operates in real time using an inertial sensor-based instrumented cane. Based on inertial sensor data, the proposed system estimates the kinematics (contact phase and orientation) of the cane. First, the contact phase of the cane was estimated by a convolutional neural network. Next, various algorithms for the cane orientation estimation were compared and validated using an optical motion capture system. The proposed cane contact phase prediction model achieved higher accuracy than the previous models. In the cane orientation estimation, the Madgwick filter yielded the best results overall. Finally, the proposed system was able to estimate both the contact phase and orientation in real time in a single-board computer.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a disease that is highly associated with the latent infection of Epstein-Barr virus. The absence of obvious clinical signs at the early stage of the disease has made early diagnosis practically impossible, thereby promoting the establishment and progression of the disease. To enhance the stride for a reliable and less invasive tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC, we synopsize biomarkers belonging to the two most implicated biological domains (oncogenes and tumor suppressors) in NPC disease. Since no single biomarker is sufficient for diagnosis and prognosis, coupled with the fact that the known established methods such as methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex methylation-specific PCR, microarray assays, etc., can only accommodate a few biomarkers, we propose a 10-biomarker panel (KIT, LMP1, PIKC3A, miR-141, and miR-18a/b (oncogenic) and p16, RASSF1A, DAP-kinase, miR-9, and miR-26a (tumor suppressors)) based on their diagnostic and prognostic values. This marker set could be explored in a multilevel or single unified assay for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC. If carefully harnessed and standardized, it is hoped that the proposed marker set would help transform the diagnostic and prognostic realm of NPC, and ultimately, help prevent the life-threatening late-stage NPC disease.
A series of liquid crystal molecules with two Schiff base linking units and a cinnamaldehyde core with different terminal groups were synthesized and characterized. The intermediates of 4-heptyloxybenzaldehyde (1a) and 4-dodeyloxybenzaldehyde (1b) were synthesized through the alkylation of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with a series of bromoalkane. A condensation reaction of cinnamaldehyde, 1,4-phenylenediamine and a series of substituted benzaldehydes with different terminal groups such as bromo, chloro, hydroxy, cinnamaldehyde, hydrogen, methoxy, heptyloxy and dodecyloxy produced a series of new cinnamaldehyde-based compounds, 2-9, respectively. All these compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and CHN elemental analysis. The liquid crystal properties of these compounds were determined using polarized optical microscopy (POM), and their transitions were further confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compounds with chloro, bromo, methoxy, heptyloxy, and dodecyloxy substituents are mesogenic compounds with nematic phase behavior. However, the other compounds were found to be non-mesogenic without any mesophase transitions. The structure-property relationship was investigated in order to study the effect of different terminal groups and Schiff base linking units on the liquid crystalline behavior of these compounds.
Macrophage activation is a key event that triggers inflammatory response. The activation is accompanied by metabolic shift such as upregulated glucose metabolism. There are accumulating evidences showing the anti-inflammatory activity of Momordica charantia. However, the effects of M. charantia on inflammatory response and glucose metabolism in activated macrophages have not been fully established. The present study aimed to examine the effect of M. charantia in modulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and perturbed glucose metabolism in RAW264.7 murine macrophages. The results showed that LPS-induced NF-κB (p65) nuclear translocation was inhibited by M. charantia treatment. In addition, M. charantia was found to reduce the expression of inflammatory genes including IL6, TNF-α, IL1β, COX2, iNOS, and IL10 in LPS-treated macrophages. Furthermore, the data showed that M. charantia reduced the expression of GLUT1 and HK2 genes and lactate production (-28%), resulting in suppression of glycolysis. Notably, its effect on GLUT1 gene expression was found to be independent of LPS-induced inflammation. A further experiment also indicated that the bioactivities of M. charantia may be attributed to its key bioactive compound, charantin. Taken together, the study provided supporting evidences showing the potential of M. charantia for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
Polymer electrolytes and composites have prevailed in the high performance and mobile marketplace during recent years. Polymer-based solid electrolytes possess the benefits of low flammability, excellent flexibility, good thermal stability, as well as higher safety. Several researchers have paid attention to the optical properties of polymer electrolytes and their composites. In the present review paper, first, the characteristics, fundamentals, advantages and principles of various types of polymer electrolytes were discussed. Afterward, the characteristics and performance of various polymer hosts on the basis of specific essential and newly published works were described. New developments in various approaches to investigate the optical properties of polymer electrolytes were emphasized. The last part of the review devoted to the optical band gap study using two methods: Tauc's model and optical dielectric loss parameter. Based on recently published literature sufficient quantum mechanical backgrounds were provided to support the applicability of the optical dielectric loss parameter for the band gap study. In this review paper, it was demonstrated that both Tauc's model and optical dielectric loss should be studied to specify the type of electron transition and estimate the optical band gap accurately. Other parameters such as absorption coefficient, refractive index and optical dielectric constant were also explored.
The materials for additive manufacturing (AM) technology have grown substantially over the last few years to fulfill industrial needs. Despite that, the use of bio-based composites for improved mechanical properties and biodegradation is still not fully explored. This limits the universal expansion of AM-fabricated products due to the incompatibility of the products made from petroleum-derived resources. The development of naturally-derived polymers for AM materials is promising with the increasing number of studies in recent years owing to their biodegradation and biocompatibility. Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer that possesses many favorable properties to be incorporated into AM materials, which have been continuously focused on in recent years. This critical review discusses the development of AM technologies and materials, cellulose-based polymers, cellulose-based three-dimensional (3D) printing filaments, liquid deposition modeling of cellulose, and four-dimensional (4D) printing of cellulose-based materials. Cellulose-based AM material applications and the limitations with future developments are also reviewed.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that is frequently associated with food refusal, limited food repertoire and high-frequency single food intake mainly among children with ASD. Provision of nutrition can be very challenging due to the fact of these behavioural problems, either for the parents or special educators. Healthy nutrition is associated with providing and consuming nutritious food with results being in a good state of health. Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among 20 participants at a National Autism Centre to explore their understanding towards healthy nutrition. They were parents and special educators who were actively involved with children with ASD. A series of discussions were transcribed verbatim, and four researchers examined each transcript. Inductive analysis linking codes into main thematic categories was conducted using the constant comparison approach across the full data set. The outcome suggested that participants had limited knowledge relating to the proper dietary and nutritional needs of the children. The key messages from the discussion provide a foundation on the development of a nutrition education module which involves primary caretakers of children with ASD.
The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on colon cancer have been well documented but specific structural modifications of curcumin have been shown to possess greater growth-suppressive potential on colon cancer than curcumin. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the anti-cancer properties of curcumin analogue-MS13, a diarylpentanoid on the cytotoxicity, anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity of primary (SW480) and metastatic (SW620) human colon cancer cells. A cell viability assay showed that MS13 has greater cytotoxicity effect on SW480 (EC50: 7.5 ± 2.8 µM) and SW620 (EC50: 5.7 ± 2.4 µM) compared to curcumin (SW480, EC50: 30.6 ± 1.4 µM) and SW620, EC50: 26.8 ± 2.1 µM). Treatment with MS13 at two different doses 1X EC50 and 2X EC50 suppressed the colon cancer cells growth with lower cytotoxicity against normal cells. A greater anti-proliferative effect was also observed in MS13 treated colon cancer cells compared to curcumin at 48 and 72 h. Subsequent analysis on the induction of apoptosis showed that MS13 treated cells exhibited morphological features associated with apoptosis. The findings are also consistent with cellular apoptotic activities shown by increased caspase-3 activity and decreased Bcl-2 protein level in both colon cancer cell lines. In conclusion, MS13 able to suppress colon cancer cell growth by inhibiting cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in primary and metastatic human colon cancer cells.
The need for environmental protection and water pollution control has led to the development of different sensors for determining many kinds of pollutants in water. Ammonia nitrogen presence is an important indicator of water quality in environmental monitoring applications. In this paper, a high sensitivity sensor for monitoring ammonia nitrogen concentration in water using a tapered microfiber interferometer (MFI) as a sensor platform and a broad supercontinuum laser as the light source is realized. The MFI is fabricated to the waist diameter of 8 µm producing a strong interference pattern due to the coupling of the fundamental mode with the cladding mode. The MFI sensor is investigated for a low concentration of ammonia nitrogen in water in the wide wavelength range from 1500-1800 nm with a high-power signal provided by the supercontinuum source. The broad source allows optical sensing characteristics of the MFI to be evaluated at four different wavelengths (1505, 1605, 1705, and 1785 nm) upon exposure towards various ammonia nitrogen concentrations. The highest sensitivity of 0.099 nm/ppm that indicates the wavelength shift is observed at 1785 nm operating wavelength. The response is linear in the ammonia nitrogen range of 5-30 ppm with the best measurement resolution calculated to be 0.5 ppm. The low concentration ammonia nitrogen detected by the MFI in the unique infrared region reveals the potential application of this optical fiber-based sensor for rivers and drinking water monitoring.
MeSH terms: Ammonia; Conservation of Natural Resources; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Interferometry; Lasers; Nitrogen; Rivers; Optical Fibers; Water Quality; Drinking Water