Browse publications by year: 2020

  1. Lew B, Kõlves K, Osman A, Abu Talib M, Ibrahim N, Siau CS, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(8):e0237329.
    PMID: 32822365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237329
    BACKGROUND: Although the suicide rate in China has decreased over the past 20 years, there have been reports that the younger age group has been experiencing an increased incidence of completed suicide. Given that undergraduate groups are at higher risks of suicidality, it is important to monitor and screen for risk factors for suicidal ideation and behaviors to ensure their well-being.

    OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk and protective factors contributing to suicidality among undergraduate college students in seven provinces in China.

    METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 13,387 college students from seven universities in Ningxia, Shandong, Shanghai, Jilin, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires.

    RESULTS: Higher scores in the psychological strain, depression, anxiety, stress, and psychache (psychological risk factors for suicidality) and lower scores in self-esteem and purpose in life (psychological protective factors against suicidality) were associated with increased suicidality among undergraduate students in China. Demographic factors which were associated with higher risks of suicidality were female gender, younger age, bad academic results, were an only child, non-participation in school associations, and had an urban household registration. Perceived good health was protective against suicidality.

    CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the common risk and protective factors for suicidality among Chinese undergraduate students is useful in developing interventions targeted at this population and to guide public health policies on suicide in China.

    MeSH terms: Anxiety/complications; Anxiety/epidemiology; Anxiety/psychology; China/epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/complications; Depression/epidemiology; Depression/psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Self Concept*; Stress, Psychological/complications; Stress, Psychological/epidemiology; Stress, Psychological/psychology; Students/psychology*; Students/statistics & numerical data; Suicide/prevention & control*; Suicide/psychology; Suicide/statistics & numerical data; Universities/statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; Suicidal Ideation*; Protective Factors
  2. Mohd Rasdi R, Ahrari S
    PLoS One, 2020;15(8):e0237838.
    PMID: 32822400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237838
    Derived from the social cognitive career theory (SCCT), the present study developed a model for the empirical examination of factors affecting the life satisfaction of university students. A random-effects meta-analysis of zero-order correlations observed the results of 16 studies (20 samples, n = 7,967), and associations among the SCCT variables were examined by using a meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) according to a pooled correlation matrix. An alternative model was offered and then assessed. The findings showed a satisfactory fit of the new model as compared to the original SCCT. The results demonstrated support for the alternative model of SCCT in predicting life satisfaction. The present study suggested that researchers should embrace this alternative model when synthesizing SCCT factors. Limitations and avenues for future research were put forward for further consideration.
    MeSH terms: Cognition; Goals; Humans; Motivation; Personal Satisfaction*; Personality; Prognosis; Students/psychology*; Students/statistics & numerical data; Universities; Models, Statistical; Self Efficacy; Social Theory*; Psychosocial Support Systems
  3. Ibau C, Arshad MKM, Gopinath SCB, Nuzaihan M N M, Fathil MFM, Shamsuddin SA
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2020 Nov 01;162:1924-1936.
    PMID: 32822729 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.08.125
    This work explores Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) detection for a highly-sensitive quantification of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in Faradaic (f-EIS) and non-Faradaic modes (nf-EIS). Immobilization of monoclonal antibody specific to PSA (anti-PSA) was performed using 1-ethyl-3-dimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide crosslinking agents in order to conjugate carboxylic (-COOH) terminated group of 16-Mercaptoundecanoic acid with amine (-NH3+) on anti-PSA epitope. This approach offers simple and efficient approach to form a strong, covalently bound thiol-gold (SAu) for a reliable SAM layer formation. Studies on the topographic of pristine Au-IDE surface were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy techniques, meanwhile a 3-dimensional optical surface profiler, Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy techniques were used to validate the successful functionalization steps on the sensor transducer surface. Detection of PSA in f-EIS mode was carried out by measuring the response in charge transfer resistance (Rct) and impedance change (Z), meanwhile in nf-EIS mode, the changes in device capacitance was monitored. In f-EIS mode, the sensor reveals a logarithmic detection of PSA in a range of 100 ng/ml down to 0.01 ng/ml in Phosphate Buffered Saline with a recorded sensitivity of 2.412 kΩ/log10 ([PSA] ng/ml) and the limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.01 ng/ml. The nf-EIS detection mode yields a logarithmic detection range of 5000 ng/ml down to 0.5 ng/ml, with a sensitivity of 8.570 nF/log10 ([PSA] ng/ml) and an LOD of 0.5 ng/ml. The developed bio-assay yields great device stability, specificity to PSA and repeatability of detection that would pave its way for the future development into portable lab-on-chip bio-sensing system.
    MeSH terms: Antigens, Surface/analysis*; Gold/chemistry; Humans; Male; Microelectrodes; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis; Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II/analysis*; Metal Nanoparticles; Early Detection of Cancer
  4. Reis PCJ, Ruiz-González C, Crevecoeur S, Soued C, Prairie YT
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Dec 15;748:141374.
    PMID: 32823225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141374
    Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) present in the water column mitigate methane (CH4) emissions from hydropower complexes to the atmosphere. By creating a discontinuity in rivers, dams cause large environmental variations, including in CH4 and oxygen concentrations, between upstream, reservoir, and downstream segments. Although highest freshwater methanotrophic activity is often detected at low oxygen concentrations, CH4 oxidation in well-oxygenated downstream rivers below dams has also been reported. Here we combined DNA and RNA high-throughput sequencing with microscopic enumeration (by CARD-FISH) and biogeochemical data to investigate the abundance, composition, and potential activity of MOB taxa from upstream to downstream waters in the tropical hydropower complex Batang Ai (Malaysia). High relative abundance of MOB (up to 61% in 16S rRNA sequences and 19% in cell counts) and enrichment of stable isotopic signatures of CH4 (up to 0‰) were detected in the hypoxic hypolimnion of the reservoir and in the outflowing downstream river. MOB community shifts along the river-reservoir system reflected environmental sorting of taxa and an interrupted hydrologic connectivity in which downstream MOB communities resembled reservoir's hypolimnetic communities but differed from upstream and surface reservoir communities. In downstream waters, CH4 oxidation was accompanied by fast cell growth of particular MOB taxa. Our results suggest that rapid shifts in active MOB communities allow the mitigation of CH4 emissions from different zones of hydropower complexes, including in quickly re-oxygenated rivers downstream of dams.
    MeSH terms: Malaysia; Oxidation-Reduction; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; Rivers
  5. Low JSY, Thevarajah TM, Chang SW, Goh BT, Khor SM
    Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2020 Dec;40(8):1191-1209.
    PMID: 32811205 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2020.1808582
    Cardiovascular disease is a major global health issue. In particular, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) requires urgent attention and early diagnosis. The use of point-of-care diagnostics has resulted in the improved management of cardiovascular disease, but a major drawback is that the performance of POC devices does not rival that of central laboratory tests. Recently, many studies and advances have been made in the field of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), including the development of POC biosensors that utilize this detection method. Here, we present a review of the strengths and limitations of these emerging SERS-based biosensors for AMI diagnosis. The ability of SERS to multiplex sensing against existing POC detection methods are compared and discussed. Furthermore, SERS calibration-free methods that have recently been explored to minimize the inconvenience and eliminate the limitations caused by the limited linear range and interassay differences found in the calibration curves are outlined. In addition, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) in SERS techniques to promote multivariate analysis and enhance diagnostic accuracy are discussed. The future prospects for SERS-based POC devices that include wearable POC SERS devices toward predictive, personalized medicine following the Fourth Industrial Revolution are proposed.
    MeSH terms: Point-of-Care Testing*; Artificial Intelligence; Humans; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis*; Prognosis; Spectrum Analysis, Raman/instrumentation; Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods*; Biosensing Techniques/instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques/methods; Point-of-Care Systems
  6. Aljabali AAA, Bakshi HA, Satija S, Metha M, Prasher P, Ennab RM, et al.
    Pharm Nanotechnol, 2020;8(4):323-353.
    PMID: 32811406 DOI: 10.2174/2211738508999200817163335
    BACKGROUND: The newly emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, first reported in December 2019, has infected about five and a half million people globally and resulted in nearly 9063264 deaths until the 24th of June 2020. Nevertheless, the highly contagious virus has instigated an unimaginably rapid response from scientific and medical communities.

    OBJECTIVES: Pioneering research on molecular mechanisms underlying the viral transmission, molecular pathogenicity, and potential treatments will be highlighted in this review. The development of antiviral drugs specific to SARS-CoV-2 is a complicated and tedious process. To accelerate scientific discoveries and advancement, researchers are consolidating available data from associated coronaviruses into a single pipeline, which can be readily made available to vaccine developers.

    METHODS: In order to find studies evaluating the COVID-19 virus epidemiology, repurposed drugs and potential vaccines, web searches and bibliographical bases have been used with keywords that matches the content of this review.

    RESULTS: The published results of SARS-CoV-2 structures and interactomics have been used to identify potential therapeutic candidates. We illustrate recent publications on SARS-CoV-2, concerning its molecular, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics, and focus on innovative diagnostics technologies in the production pipeline. This objective of this review is to enhance the comprehension of the unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and strengthen future control measures.

    Lay Summary: An innovative analysis is evaluating the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to increase knowledge of possible viral detection methods, which highlights several new technology limitations and advantages. We have assessed some drugs currently for patients (Lopinavir, Ritonavir, Anakinra and Interferon beta 1a), as the feasibility of COVID-19 specific antivirals is not presently known. The study explores the race toward vaccine development and highlights some significant trials and candidates in various clinical phases. This research addresses critical knowledge gaps by identifying repurposed drugs currently under clinical trials. Findings will be fed back rapidly to the researchers interested in COVID 19 and support the evidence and potential of possible therapeutics and small molecules with their mode of action.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Antiviral Agents/adverse effects; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use*; Humans; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy*; Pneumonia, Viral/immunology; Pneumonia, Viral/transmission; Pneumonia, Viral/virology; Viral Vaccines/adverse effects; Viral Vaccines/therapeutic use*; Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy*; Coronavirus Infections/immunology; Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections/transmission; Coronavirus Infections/virology; Drug Discovery*; Drug Repositioning; Pandemics
  7. AlMatar M, Albarri O, Makky EA, Var I, Köksal F
    Mini Rev Med Chem, 2020;20(18):1908-1916.
    PMID: 32811410 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666200818211405
    The need for new therapeutics and drug delivery systems has become necessary owing to the public health concern associated with the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Among the newly discovered therapeutic agents is cefiderocol, which was discovered by Shionogi Company, Japan as an injectable siderophore cephalosporin. Just like the other β-lactam antibiotics, cefiderocol exhibits antibacterial activity via cell wall synthesis inhibition, especially in Gram negative bacteria (GNB); it binds to the penicillin-binding proteins, but its unique attribute is that it crosses the periplasmic space of bacteria owing to its siderophore-like attribute; it also resists the activity of β-lactamases. Among all the synthesized compounds with the modified C-7 side chain, cefiderocol (3) presented the best and well-balanced activity against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram negative bacteria, including those that are resistant to carbapenem. İn this article, an overview of the recent studies on cefiderocol was presented.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Cephalosporins/chemical synthesis; Cephalosporins/pharmacology*; Cephalosporins/chemistry; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects*; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Structure; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/drug effects*
  8. Wong LP, Alias H, Bhoo-Pathy N, Chung I, Chong YC, Kalra S, et al.
    J Headache Pain, 2020 Aug 18;21(1):104.
    PMID: 32811428 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-020-01172-9
    An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
    MeSH terms: Humans
  9. Melson E, Davitadze M, Aftab M, Ng CY, Ooi E, Blaggan P, et al.
    BMC Med Educ, 2020 Aug 18;20(1):274.
    PMID: 32811488 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02190-6
    BACKGROUND: Simulation-based learning (SBL) has been increasingly used in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical training curricula. The aim of Simulation via Instant Messaging-Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) is to create a simple virtual learning environment to improve trainees' self-reported confidence in diabetes and Endocrinology.

    METHODS: This study was done as part of the continuous professional development for Health Education England West Midlands speciality trainees in diabetes and Endocrinology. Standardized transcripts of anonymized real-life endocrinology (endocrine session) and diabetes cases (diabetes session) were used in the simulation model. Trainees interacted with moderators through WhatsApp® in this model. All cases were then discussed in detail by a consultant endocrinologist with reference to local, national and international guidelines. Trainee acceptance rate and improvement in their self-reported confidence levels post-simulation were assessed.

    RESULTS: 70.8% (n = 17/24) and 75% (n = 18/24) strongly agreed the simulation session accommodated their personal learning style and the session was engaging. 66.7% (n = 16/24) strongly felt that the simulation was worth their time. In the endocrine session, there was a significant improvement in trainees' confidence in the management of craniopharyngioma (p = 0.0179) and acromegaly (p = 0.0025). There was a trend towards improved confidence levels to manage Cushing's disease and macroprolactinoma. In diabetes session, there was a significant improvement in trainees' confidence to interpret continuous glucose monitor readings (p = 0.01). There was a trend towards improvement for managing monogenic diabetes, hypoglycaemic unawareness and interpreting Libre readings. Overall, there was a significant improvement in trainees' confidence in managing cases that were discussed post-simulation.

    CONCLUSION: SIMBA is an effective learning model to improve trainees' confidence to manage various diabetes and endocrine case scenarios. More sessions with a variety of other speciality case scenarios are needed to further assess SIMBA's effectiveness and application in other areas of medical training.

    MeSH terms: Clinical Competence; Curriculum; England; Humans
  10. Shimoda K, Nishimura A, Sunggip C, Ito T, Nishiyama K, Kato Y, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2020 08 18;10(1):13926.
    PMID: 32811872 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70956-5
    Cardiac tissue remodeling caused by hemodynamic overload is a major clinical outcome of heart failure. Uridine-responsive purinergic P2Y6 receptor (P2Y6R) contributes to the progression of cardiovascular remodeling in rodents, but it is not known whether inhibition of P2Y6R prevents or promotes heart failure. We demonstrate that inhibition of P2Y6R promotes pressure overload-induced sudden death and heart failure in mice. In neonatal cardiomyocytes, knockdown of P2Y6R significantly attenuated hypertrophic growth and cell death caused by hypotonic stimulation, indicating the involvement of P2Y6R in mechanical stress-induced myocardial dysfunction. Unexpectedly, compared with wild-type mice, deletion of P2Y6R promoted pressure overload-induced sudden death, as well as cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of P2Y6R also exhibited cardiac dysfunction and severe fibrosis. In contrast, P2Y6R deletion had little impact on oxidative stress-mediated cardiac dysfunction induced by doxorubicin treatment. These findings provide overwhelming evidence that systemic inhibition of P2Y6R exacerbates pressure overload-induced heart failure in mice, although P2Y6R in cardiomyocytes contributes to the progression of cardiac fibrosis.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Doxorubicin/pharmacology; Fibrosis/genetics; Heart Failure/physiopathology*; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Stress, Mechanical; Signal Transduction/genetics; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P2/genetics; Receptors, Purinergic P2/metabolism*; Oxidative Stress/physiology; Ventricular Remodeling/genetics*; Ventricular Remodeling/physiology; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism; Mice; Rats
  11. Al Farraj DA, Hadibarata T, Yuniarto A, Alkufeidy RM, Alshammari MK, Syafiuddin A
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2020 Dec;43(12):2305-2314.
    PMID: 32812060 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-020-02415-4
    The present study aimed to determine the degradation and transformation of three-ring PAHs phenanthrene and anthracene by Cryptococcus sp. MR22 and Halomonas sp. BR04 under halophilic conditions. The growth progress of Cryptococcus sp. MR22 and Halomonas sp. BR04 on anthracene and phenanthrene was monitored by colony-forming unit (CFU) technique. The growth of the bacteria was maintained at a maximum concentration of 200 mg/L of all tested hydrocarbon, indicating that Cryptococcus sp. MR22 and Halomonas sp. BR04 significantly perform in the removal of the PAH-contaminated medium at low concentrations. The fit model to represent the biodegradation kinetics of both PAHs was first-order rate equation The extract prepared from cells supplemented with three different substrates exhibited some enzymes such as hydroxylase, dioxygenase, laccase and peroxidase. The results suggest that both strains had an impressive ability in the degradation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon but also could tolerate in the extreme salinity condition.
    MeSH terms: Alkanes/chemistry; Anthracenes/chemistry; Bacteria/metabolism*; Biodegradation, Environmental*; Cryptococcus; Hydrocarbons/chemistry*; Industrial Microbiology; Phenanthrenes/chemistry*; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/metabolism*; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/chemistry*; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Salts; Geologic Sediments/microbiology*; Salicylic Acid/chemistry; Halomonas/metabolism
  12. Yusoh NA, Ahmad H, Gill MR
    ChemMedChem, 2020 Nov 18;15(22):2121-2135.
    PMID: 32812709 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000391
    Platinum drugs are heavily used first-line chemotherapeutic agents for many solid tumours and have stimulated substantial interest in the biological activity of DNA-binding metal complexes. These complexes generate DNA lesions which trigger the activation of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways that are essential to maintain genomic integrity. Cancer cells exploit this intrinsic DNA repair network to counteract many types of chemotherapies. Now, advances in the molecular biology of cancer has paved the way for the combination of DDR inhibitors such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) and agents that induce high levels of DNA replication stress or single-strand break damage for synergistic cancer cell killing. In this review, we summarise early-stage, preclinical and clinical findings exploring platinum and emerging ruthenium anti-cancer complexes alongside PARPi in combination therapy for cancer and also describe emerging work on the ability of ruthenium and gold complexes to directly inhibit PARP activity.
    MeSH terms: Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/pharmacology*; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry; Gold/pharmacology; Gold/chemistry; Humans; Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Neoplasms/metabolism; Platinum/pharmacology; Platinum/chemistry; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism*; Ruthenium/pharmacology; Ruthenium/chemistry; Coordination Complexes/chemical synthesis; Coordination Complexes/pharmacology*; Coordination Complexes/chemistry
  13. Dk Yeak R, Liew SK
    Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc, 2020 Jul;54(4):465-468.
    PMID: 32812879 DOI: 10.5152/j.aott.2020.20035
    We present a rare case of a patient with concurrent fat embolism and pulmonary embolism, in a closed femur fracture with patent foramen ovale (PFO). A 24-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a closed left midshaft femur fracture. He developed fat embolism syndrome (FES) on day 3 of admission, and plating was performed. The D-dimer concentration was also high, which raised the suspicion of pulmonary artery embolism. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) revealed right inferior lobar pulmonary artery embolism and FES. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TEE) was performed, which showed a PFO. The presence of a PFO in patients with pulmonary embolism increases the risk of systemic embolism. Therefore, we recommend the routine echocardiogram for patients with pulmonary embolism to exclude any cardiac defect in causing right-to-left shunts, which predisposes the patient to paradoxical embolism.
    MeSH terms: Echocardiography/methods; Humans; Humeral Fractures/diagnosis; Humeral Fractures/therapy; Male; Patient Care Management/methods; Radius Fractures/diagnosis; Radius Fractures/therapy; Embolism, Paradoxical/prevention & control*; Young Adult; Computed Tomography Angiography/methods
  14. Ibrahim Alzamel LG, Abdullah KL, Chong MC, Chua YP
    J Egypt Public Health Assoc, 2020 Aug 14;95(1):20.
    PMID: 32813099 DOI: 10.1186/s42506-020-00048-9
    BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors influencing nurses' turnover intention, particularly the work life quality and commitment to organization, is important to all countries suffering from nursing shortage. The study aims to determine the mediating role of commitment to organization on work life quality and its relationship with turnover intention among Malaysian nurses.

    METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design, using a self-report survey was conducted on 430 nurses from a teaching hospital from February to April 2019. A structural equation model version 3 was used for testing study hypotheses.

    RESULTS: The mediating effect (indirect effect) of organizational commitment on the relationship between work life quality and turnover intention (QWL→OC→IT) was negative with path coefficient - 0.234, whereas the direct effect of work life quality on turnover intention (QWL→IT) was negative with smaller path coefficient - 0.228. This means that the relationship between work life quality and turnover intention was partially mediated by the organizational commitment (P < 0.001).

    CONCLUSION: Organizational commitment has a negative partial mediating effect between work life quality of nurses and intention of turnover in teaching hospitals where the organizational commitment significantly reduced the nurses' intention to leave. The study findings can guide nursing managers to be carefully attended to the levels of nurses' commitment to their organization.

    MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Nurse Administrators; Personnel Turnover; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Intention; Self Report
  15. McAllister CT, Hnida JA, Fisher SR, Del Pinto LA, Quah ESH
    Syst Parasitol, 2020 10;97(5):529-534.
    PMID: 32813222 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-020-09929-1
    A new species of Acroeimeria Paperna & Landsberg, 1989 is described from the spotted house gecko, Gekko monarchus (Schlegel) from Peninsular Malaysia. Oöcysts of Acroeimeria grismeri n. sp. are spheroidal to subspheroidal with a smooth bi-layered wall, measure on average 18.4 × 17.3 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; a micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent but variable polar granule(s) are present, commonly in Brownian movement. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure on average 8.6 × 6.7 µm, L/W 1.3; Stieda, sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of numerous spheroidal granules in the center of the sporocyst. This is the initial species of coccidian reported from G. monarchus and one of the few reported from any reptile from Peninsular Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Lizards/parasitology*; Malaysia; Species Specificity; Eimeriidae/classification*; Eimeriidae/cytology
  16. Rabby MII, Hossain F
    Sao Paulo Med J, 2020 8 20;138(5):441-456.
    PMID: 32813843 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2020.0208.R1.15062020
    BACKGROUND: The dangerous SARS-CoV-2 virus first emerged in China in December 2019 and has rapidly spread worldwide. Currently, it has affected more than 2,850,000 people. No vaccine or drug is available yet, and therefore researchers and scientists are striving to identify potential drugs or vaccines for combating this virus. We were unable to find any review of the literature or analysis on ongoing registered clinical trials that reported diagnostic tests, therapeutics, vaccines and devices for COVID-19 along with estimated enrollment, participants' ages, study type, start and completion date, status, treatment/intervention and country.

    OBJECTIVE: To review ongoing trials relating to COVID-19.

    METHODS: A systematic search for clinical trials was conducted in the ClinicalTrials.gov database up to April 12, 2020. A total of 339 trials relating to COVID-19 were analyzed and key information on each trial was recorded.

    RESULTS: Most of the trials were being conducted in the United States and completion of most of them was expected by May 2020. They were mostly on drugs and treatment, while a minority were on diagnostic tests. The analysis showed that hydroxychloroquine was investigated in most of the trials. The trials identified were categorized into five classes: a) diagnostic tests; b) therapeutics; c) biologics and vaccines; d) devices and products; and e) others.

    CONCLUSION: The trials identified have potential against COVID-19 that can be applied in treatment processes after the necessary investigations and experiments. Additionally, the items identified were organized in a proper way, which can assist in current research activities.

    MeSH terms: Clinical Trials as Topic*; Humans; Pneumonia, Viral*; United States; Coronavirus Infections*; Pandemics*
  17. Tang KS
    Life Sci, 2020 Oct 15;259:118287.
    PMID: 32814066 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118287
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that requires immediate attention. Oxidative stress that leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species is a contributing factor to the disease progression by promoting synthesis and deposition of amyloid-β, the main hallmark protein in AD. It has been previously demonstrated that nanoyttria possesses antioxidant properties and can alleviate cellular oxidative injury in various toxicity and disease models. This review proposed that nanoyttria could be used for the treatment of AD. In this paper, the evidence on the antioxidant potential of nanoyttria is presented and its prospects on AD therapy are discussed.
    MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Animal Diseases; Antioxidants; Attention; Oxidation-Reduction; Reactive Oxygen Species; Oxidative Stress; Disease Progression; Neurodegenerative Diseases
  18. Xu YJ, Jiang F, Song J, Yang X, Shu N, Yuan L, et al.
    J Agric Food Chem, 2020 Aug 19;68(33):8847-8854.
    PMID: 32806128 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03539
    The thermal pretreatment of oilseed prior to oil extraction could increase the oil yield and improve the oil quality. Phenolic compounds are important antioxidants in rapeseed oil. In this study, we investigated the impact of thermal pretreatment method on the rapeseed oil based on phenolic compound levels. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis showed that the phenolic compound contents in the microwave-pretreated oil were higher than those in the oven- and infrared-treated oils. Sinapic acid (SA) and canolol (CA), which are the top two phenolic compounds in rapeseed oil, exerted well 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 8.45 and 8.80 μmol/L. The cell experiment uncovered that SA and CA have significant biological activities related to rapeseed oil quality, including increase of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), alleviation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytotoxicity of HepG2 cells after the intake of excessive oleic acid. Further investigation indicated that SA and CA reduced cell apoptosis rate through Bax-Bcl-2-caspase-3 and p53-Bax-Bcl-2-caspase-3, respectively. Taken together, our findings suggest that microwave pretreatment is the best method to improve the content of phenolic compounds in rapeseed oil compared with oven and infrared pretreatments.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants/isolation & purification; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Antioxidants/chemistry; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; Hot Temperature; Humans; Microwaves; Phenols/isolation & purification*; Phenols/chemistry*; Seeds/chemistry; Brassica napus/chemistry*; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Hep G2 Cells
  19. Ong YS, Bañobre-López M, Costa Lima SA, Reis S
    Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 2020 Nov;116:111255.
    PMID: 32806240 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111255
    Methotrexate (MTX), an anti-neoplastic agent used for breast cancer treatment, has restricted clinical applications due to poor water solubility, non-specific targeting and adverse side effects. To overcome these limitations, MTX was co-encapsulated with an active-targeting platform known as superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in a lipid-based homing system, nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC). This multi-modal therapeutic regime was successfully formulated with good colloidal stability, bio- and hemo-compatibility. MTX-SPIONs co-loaded NLC was time-dependent cytotoxic towards MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line with IC50 values of 137 μg/mL and 12 μg/mL at 48 and 72 h, respectively. The MTX-SPIONs co-loaded NLC was internalized in the MDA-MB-231 cells via caveolae-mediated endocytosis in a time-dependent manner, and the superparamagnetic properties were sufficient to induce, under a magnetic field, a localized temperature increase at cellular level resulting in apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, MTX-SPIONs co-loaded NLC is a potential magnetic guiding multi-modal therapeutic system for the treatment of breast cancer.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Cell Line, Tumor; Nanomedicine; MCF-7 Cells
  20. Sharma C, Ansari S, Ansari MS, Satsangee SP, Srivastava MM
    Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 2020 Nov;116:111153.
    PMID: 32806256 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111153
    In present work, we demonstrate a single step environmentally benign approach to synthesize Au/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) using aqueous extract of Clove buds for the first time. Clove bud's (CB) extract has proficiency to act as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the formation of Au/Ag BMNPs. In presence of extract, AuIII and AgI are reduced competitively within same solution and produce Au/Ag alloy NPs. The kinetics besides the formation of NPs was studied using UV-visible spectroscopy and efficiency of the extract was monitored by varying contact time, temperature, pH and extract concentration. The electron microscopic studies revealed the presence of NPs with peculiar morphology at alkaline pH. Further, the existence of Au and Ag atoms was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that Eugenol in the extract is mainly responsible for the production of NPs which are also surrounded by various phytochemicals. Zeta potential of all the NPs is found to be negative which prevents their agglomeration due to inter-repulsion and the biosynthesized Au/Ag BMNPs revealed greater catalytic efficiency for the degradation of methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP). Significant enhancement induced by BMNPs compared to individual monometallic nanoparticles (MMNPs) was assigned to the synergistic effect of MMNPs and coating of phytochemicals present in the CB extract.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants; Gold; Plant Extracts; Silver; Syzygium*; Metal Nanoparticles*
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