Browse publications by year: 2021

  1. Thiruchelvam K, Byles J, Hasan SS, Egan N, Kairuz T
    Int J Clin Pharm, 2021 Dec;43(6):1619-1629.
    PMID: 34091857 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-021-01294-3
    Background Polypharmacy is an important consideration for the provision of Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs) among older women given their enhanced risk of medication-related problems and admission to residential aged care (RAC). Objectives To determine the prevalence of the use of RMMRs among older women in RAC, and the association between RMMRs and polypharmacy, medications, and costs. Setting Older Australian women aged 79-84 years in 2005 who had at least one Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme record, received a service in aged care, and consented to data linkage. Methods Generalised estimating equations were used to determine the association between polypharmacy and RMMRs, while adjusting for confounding variables. Main outcome measures Prevalence of the use of RMMRs among older women in RAC, association between RMMRs and polypharmacy, medications, and costs. Results Most participants did not have continuous polypharmacy and did not receive RMMRs from 2005 [451 (67.4%)] until 2017 [666 (66.6%)]. Participants with continuous polypharmacy were 17% more likely to receive a RMMR (risk ratio 1.17; 95% confidence interval 1.11, 1.25). Participants in their final year of life and residing in outer regional/remote/very remote Australia were less likely to receive RMMRs. Out-of-pocket medication costs increased over time, and alendronate and aspirin were common contributors to polypharmacy among participants who received RMMRs. Conclusion Polypharmacy was associated with receiving RMMRs and around two-thirds of women who are entitled to a RMMR never received one. There is potential to improve the use of medicines by increasing awareness of the service among eligible individuals, their carers and health care professionals.
  2. Saad MF, Cheah WL, Hazmi H
    J Prev Med Public Health, 2021 May;54(3):199-207.
    PMID: 34092066 DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.20.584
    OBJECTIVES: Physical inactivity is the fourth leading global risk factor for mortality, followed by obesity. The combination of these risk factors is associated with non-communicable diseases, impaired physical function, and declining mental function. The World Health Organization recommends physical activity to reduce the mortality rate. Thus, this study examined the effects on anthropometric measurements of a 12-week walking program for elderly people in Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia with a 7000-step goal and weekly group walking activities.

    METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted involving 109 elderly people with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m2. BMI, body composition, and average daily steps were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, and repeated-measures analysis of variance with the paired t-test for post-hoc analysis was conducted.

    RESULTS: In total, 48 participants in the intervention group and 61 participants in the control group completed the study. A significant interaction was found between time and group. The post-hoc analysis showed a significant difference between pre-intervention and post-intervention (within the intervention group). The post-intervention analysis revealed an increase in the mean number of daily steps by 3571.59, with decreases in body weight (-2.20 kg), BMI (-0.94 kg/m2), body fat percentage (-3.52%), visceral fat percentage (-1.29%) and waist circumference (-2.91 cm). Skeletal muscle percentage also showed a significant increase (1.67%).

    CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week walking program combining a 7000-step goals with weekly group walking activities had a significant effect on the anthropometric measurements of previously inactive and overweight/obese elderly people.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Goals*; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Exercise/psychology; Body Mass Index; Walking/physiology; Walking/psychology; Walking/statistics & numerical data*; Overweight/psychology; Overweight/therapy*
  3. Parmin NA, Hashim U, Gopinath SCB, Nadzirah S, Salimi MN, Voon CH, et al.
    Crit Rev Anal Chem, 2021 Jun 07.
    PMID: 34092138 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2021.1890543
    The importance of nanotechnology in medical applications especially with biomedical sensing devices is undoubted. Several medical diagnostics have been developed by taking the advantage of nanomaterials, especially with electrical biosensors. Biosensors have been predominantly used for the quantification of different clinical biomarkers toward detection, screening, and follow-up the treatment. At present, ovarian cancer is one of the severe complications that cannot be identified until it becomes most dangerous as the advanced stage. Based on the American Cancer Society, 20% of cases involved in the detection of ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an early stage and 80% diagnosed at the later stages. The patient just has a common digestive problem and stomach ache as early symptoms and people used to ignore these symptoms. Micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) is classified as small non-coding RNAs, their expressions change due to the association of cancer development and progression. This article reviews and discusses on the currently available strategies for the early detection of ovarian cancers using miRNA as a biomarker associated with electrical biosensors. A unique miRNA-based biomarker detections are specially highlighted with biosensor platforms to diagnose ovarian cancer.
    MeSH terms: American Cancer Society; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms; Stomach; United States; Biosensing Techniques; Biomarkers; MicroRNAs; Nanotechnology; Nanostructures; Early Detection of Cancer
  4. Kow CS, Hasan SS, Wong PS, Verma RK
    Clin Exp Hypertens, 2021 Oct 03;43(7):633-641.
    PMID: 34092170 DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2021.1925683
    Background: The endemic of hypertension along with high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in Southeast Asia indicates an important role for high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to optimize the management of hypertension. However, there was no reported quality appraisal of the CPGs for the management of hypertension in Southeast Asia.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate methodological quality across the CPGs for the management of hypertension in Southeast Asia with a validated quality appraisal tool.Methods: The CPGs for the management of hypertension in Southeast Asia were retrieved from the websites of the Ministry of Health or cardiovascular specialty societies of the individual countries of Southeast Asia. Two reviewers with academic backgrounds independently appraised the methodological quality of all the included CPGs using the Appraisal of Guideline ResEarch and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument.Results: Six CPGs were identified, each of them from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Vietnam. The highest-scoring quality domain was 'clarity of presentation' (mean=78.7 ± 14.6%), whereas the lowest-scoring quality domains were 'applicability' and 'editorial independence' (mean=8.4 ± 6.0% and mean=8.3 ± 18.6%, respectively). Except for the CPG originated from Malaysia which was "recommended" for use in practice (standardized score for three domains was ≥50.0%), the remaining five CPGs were "weakly recommended" for use in practice (standardized score for one to two domains was ≥50%).Conclusion: More efforts are needed to improve the quality of the developed CPGs for the management of hypertension in Southeast Asia.
  5. Arcari L, Engel J, Freiwald T, Zhou H, Zainal H, Gawor M, et al.
    J Cardiovasc Magn Reson, 2021 06 07;23(1):71.
    PMID: 34092229 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-021-00762-z
    BACKGROUND: High sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) are often elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated with both cardiovascular remodeling and outcome. Relationship between these biomarkers and quantitative imaging measures of myocardial fibrosis and edema by T1 and T2 mapping remains unknown.

    METHODS: Consecutive patients with established CKD and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 

    MeSH terms: Edema; Fibrosis; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Peptide Fragments; Predictive Value of Tests; Biomarkers; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain*
  6. Tagod M, Adeleke AQ, Moshood TD
    J Safety Res, 2021 06;77:139-150.
    PMID: 34092304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2021.02.011
    INTRODUCTION: The construction industry in Malaysia has been bedevilled by myriads of risk issues that have hampered its smooth operations in recent times. This paper is an empirical assessment that aims to examine the effect of coercive pressure on the relationship between organizational structure and construction risk management among construction industry in Malaysia.

    METHOD: Based on the proposed model, a quantitative method was employed to obtain data from G7 construction industry operating within the peninsular Malaysia. Out of the 180 copies of questionnaire, 165 copies were properly filled, returned, and used for the analysis. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the obtained data.

    RESULTS: The findings of the study affirmed that specialization, centralization, and management of risk by the construction industry had positive correlation.

    CONCLUSIONS: As anticipated, coercive pressure had positive moderating correlation with both formalization and the management of risk by the construction industry. Similarly, it was also found that in the course of carrying out construction activities, coercive pressure made significant interactive influence on formalization, specialization, and centralization. Practical Applications: Coercive pressure reduced the frequency of accidents among workers in the process of carrying out construction works.

    MeSH terms: Accidents, Occupational/statistics & numerical data*; Malaysia; Risk Management/organization & administration; Risk Management/statistics & numerical data*; Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data*; Construction Industry/organization & administration*; Construction Industry/statistics & numerical data
  7. Ponvel P, Shahar S, Singh DKA, Ludin AFM, Rajikan R, Rajab NF, et al.
    J Alzheimers Dis, 2021;82(2):673-687.
    PMID: 34092633 DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201607
    BACKGROUND: Cognitive frailty (CF) is identified as one of the main precursors of dementia. Multidomain intervention has been found to delay or prevent the onset of CF.

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of our present study is to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive, multidomain intervention on CF; to evaluate its cost effectiveness and the factors influencing adherence toward this intensive intervention.

    METHODS: A total of 1,000 community dwelling older adults, aged 60 years and above will be screened for CF. This randomized controlled trial involves recruitment of 330 older adults with CF from urban, semi-urban, and rural areas in Malaysia. Multidomain intervention comprised of physical, nutritional, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects will be provided to participants in the experimental group (n = 165). The control group (n = 165) will continue their usual care with their physician. Primary outcomes include CF status, physical function, psychosocial and nutritional status as well as cognitive performance. Vascular health and gut microbiome will be assessed using blood and stool samples. A 24-month intensive intervention will be prescribed to the participants and its sustainability will be assessed for the following 12 months. The effective intervention strategies will be integrated as a personalized telerehabilitation package for the reversal of CF for future use.

    RESULTS: The multidomain intervention developed from this trial is expected to be cost effective compared to usual care as well as able is to reverse CF.

    CONCLUSION: This project will be part of the World-Wide FINGERS (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) Network, of which common identifiable data will be shared and harmonized among the consortia.

    MeSH terms: Telerehabilitation/methods; Aged; Cognition/physiology*; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Mass Screening/methods; Program Evaluation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Frail Elderly/psychology*; Independent Living; Healthy Diet/methods*
  8. Vijakumaran U, Yazid MD, Hj Idrus RB, Abdul Rahman MR, Sulaiman N
    Front Pharmacol, 2021;12:663266.
    PMID: 34093194 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.663266
    Objective: Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a polyphenol of olive plant is well known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. The aim of this systematic search is to highlight the scientific evidence evaluating molecular efficiency of HT in halting the progression of intimal hyperplasia (IH), which is a clinical condition arises from endothelial inflammation. Methods: A systematic search was performed through PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, based on pre-set keywords which are Hydroxytyrosol OR 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol, AND Intimal hyperplasia OR Neointimal hyperplasia OR Endothelial OR Smooth muscles. Eighteen in vitro and three in vitro and in vivo studies were selected based on a pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Based on evidence gathered, HT was found to upregulate PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways and supresses inflammatory factors and mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, E-selectin, P-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in endothelial vascularization and functioning. Two studies revealed HT disrupted vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) cell cycle by dephosphorylating ERK1/2 and AKT pathways. Therefore, HT was proven to promote endothelization and inhibit vascular SMCs migration thus hampering IH development. However, none of these studies described the effect of HT collectively in both vascular endothelial cells (EC) and SMCs in IH ex vivo model. Conclusions: Evidence from this concise review provides an insight on HT regulation of molecular pathways in reendothelization and inhibition of VSMCs migration. Henceforth, we propose effect of HT on IH prevention could be further elucidated through in vivo and ex vivo model.
  9. Mat Dawi N, Namazi H, Maresova P
    Front Psychol, 2021;12:616749.
    PMID: 34093307 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.616749
    Preventive behavior adoption is the key to reduce the possibility of getting COVID-19 infection. This paper aims to examine the determinants of intention to adopt preventive behavior by incorporating perception of e-government information and services and perception of social media into the theory of reasoned action. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among Malaysian residents. Four hundred four valid responses were obtained and used for data analysis. A partial least-square-based path analysis revealed direct effects of attitude and subjective norm in predicting intention to adopt preventive behavior. In addition, perception of e-government information and services and perception of social media were found to be significant predictors of attitude toward preventive behavior. The findings highlight the importance of digital platforms in improving people's attitudes toward preventive behavior and in turn contain the spread of the infectious disease.
    MeSH terms: Attitude; Communicable Diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Government; Humans; Perception; Surveys and Questionnaires; Least-Squares Analysis; Intention; Social Media
  10. Nur Husna SM, Tan HT, Md Shukri N, Mohd Ashari NS, Wong KK
    Front Immunol, 2021;12:663626.
    PMID: 34093555 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663626
    Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder affecting up to 40% of the population worldwide and it usually persists throughout life. Nasal epithelial barrier constitutes the first line of defense against invasion of harmful pathogens or aeroallergens. Cell junctions comprising of tight junctions (TJs), adherens junctions, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes form the nasal epithelial barrier. Impairment of TJ molecules plays causative roles in the pathogenesis of AR. In this review, we describe and discuss the components of TJs and their disruption leading to development of AR, as well as regulation of TJs expression by epigenetic changes, neuro-immune interaction, epithelial-derived cytokines (thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-25 and IL-33), T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-13) and innate lymphoid cells. These growing evidence support the development of novel therapeutic approaches to restore nasal epithelial TJs expression in AR patients.
  11. Chiu HI, Che Mood CNA, Mohamad Zain NN, Ramachandran MR, Yahaya N, Nik Mohamed Kamal NNS, et al.
    Bioinorg Chem Appl, 2021;2021:9920890.
    PMID: 34093698 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9920890
    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) previously synthesised using leaf (AgNP-L) and stem (AgNP-S) extracts of Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans) were tested to evaluate antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activities. The AgNPs showed good inhibition against bacteria, but not fungi. The inhibition results showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with 11.35 mm (AgNP-L) and 11.52 mm (AgNP-S), while the lowest inhibition was against Escherichia coli (E. coli) with 9.22 mm (AgNP-L) and 9.25 mm (AgNP-S) in the disc diffusion method. The same trend of results was noted in the well diffusion method. The IC50 of AgNP-L and AgNP-S in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays was 417.05 μg/mL and 434.60 μg/mL, as well as 304.31 μg/mL and 326.83 μg/mL, respectively. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay showed that AgNP-L [872.389 μmol/L Fe(II)] and AgNP-S [612.770 μmol/L Fe(II)] exhibited significantly (p 
  12. Pervaiz R, Faisal F, Rahman SU, Chander R, Ali A
    Air Qual Atmos Health, 2021;14(11):1773-1784.
    PMID: 34093896 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-021-01052-4
    This study is an attempt to explain the nexus between health expenditures, GDP, human development index (HDI), CO2 emissions (COEM), renewable energy (RENE), financial development (FD) and electricity consumption (EC) using data from 2000Q1 to 2014Q4 for Brazil, India, China and South Africa. The study applies CIPS and CADF to determine the integration order. The tests confirmed the unique order of integration. The study further uses the Westerlund panel cointegration, which suggests the existence of a long-run relationship. Moreover, the panels dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) are applied to ascertain the long-run elasticity. The health expenditure and electricity consumption affect the COEM positively. Moreover, HDI and RE affect COEM negatively. The study further confirms the existence of an N-shaped EKC in the long run. The pairwise Dumitrescu and Hurlin, Econ Model 29:1450-1460, (2012) test is used to uncover the direction of the association between the variables. The findings obtained from DH confirm a bidirectional causality between HDI and FD. Likewise, another bidirectional causal relationship has also been found between FD and EC. The findings of our study advocate policies in the direction of HDI and health expenditure by adopting RENE. This study highlights the importance of RENE, which can facilitate a reduction in carbon emissions and decreasing health expenditures. Moreover, the financial sector needs to be improved to create entrepreneurship opportunities for the public in improving the HDI in ensuring sustainable development.
  13. Qader AQ, Abdul Hamid H
    Radiol Case Rep, 2021 Jul;16(7):1907-1911.
    PMID: 34093935 DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.04.059
    Gastric volvulus is an uncommon disorder with an unknown incidence, unless it stays in the back of the diagnostician's mind, diagnosis of gastric volvulus, which can have significant morbidity and mortality associated with it, can be easily missed and can present either in the acute or chronic setting with variable symptoms. When it occurs in the acute scenario, patients present with severe epigastric pain and retching without vomiting. Together with inability to pass nasogastric tube, they constitute Borchardt's triad. The presence of a hiatal hernia with persistent vomiting despite initial antiemetic treatment should trigger one to think of gastric volvulus, despite the patient appearing very stable. We report a case which presented in our hospital with abdominal pain and vomiting. As Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy shows hiatal hernia and peptic ulcer. Primary gastric volvulus occurs in the absence of any defect in the diaphragm or adjacent organ pathology and may be caused by weakening of gastric supports. As conclusion; Gastric volvulus is a surgical case, requiring early diagnosis and aggressive management, as a delay results into complications like gangrene and perforation which substantially increase the morbidity and mortality in these patients, and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is the best modality for diagnosis of gastric volvulus.
    MeSH terms: Antiemetics; Diaphragm; Gangrene; Hernia, Hiatal; Hospitals; Humans; Peptic Ulcer; Stomach Volvulus; Tomography; Vomiting; Abdominal Pain; Incidence; Endoscopy, Digestive System; Early Diagnosis
  14. Wong YP, Tan GC, Mukari SAM, Palaniandy K
    Int J Clin Exp Pathol, 2021;14(5):627-632.
    PMID: 34093948
    Heterotopic ossification (HO), a synonym for osseous metaplasia, is a pathological phenomenon, characterized by abnormal bone formation outside the skeletal system observed commonly in various neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. HO occurring in meningioma is exceptionally rare. We reportherein an unusual case of spinal meningioma containing numerous calcified psammoma bodies and extensive HO in a 75-year-old woman, who presented with progressive worsening bilateral lower limb weakness and numbness. The presence of remarkable bone formation within a meningioma is controversial among pathologists; while some regard them as psammomatous meningioma as the primary diagnosis, others prefer osteoblastic meningioma, a form of metaplastic meningioma. There is compelling molecular data to advocate that HO is an active disease process involving metaplastic (osseous) differentiation of meningioma stroma mesenchymal stem-like cells, but not the meningothelial-derived tumor cells. Henceforth, the term "metaplastic meningioma" may not be appropriate in this context. A plausible designation as "psammomatous meningioma with osseous metaplasia" defines this entity more accurately. This paper highlights the need for a unifying nomenclature to reduce diagnostic controversy caused by conflicting terms in the literature. The possible pathogenesis of this intriguing phenomenon is discussed.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Bone Diseases; Cell Differentiation; Female; Humans; Hypesthesia; Meningeal Neoplasms; Meningioma; Metaplasia; Ossification, Heterotopic; Osteogenesis; Lower Extremity; Pathologists
  15. Lim SY, Abu Samah MF, Pereirasamy L, Chew BS, Hyder Ali IA
    Respirol Case Rep, 2021 Jul;9(7):e00790.
    PMID: 34094575 DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.790
    A case of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) was diagnosed in a 53-year-old man, who presented with prolonged cough and recurrent respiratory tract infection. Bronchoscopy revealed exostosis over the anterolateral wall of trachea and main bronchi sparing the posterior membranous wall. The endobronchial biopsy subsequently revealed ossification of the cartilage. To date, the aetiology of this condition remains unknown, and treatment is mainly symptomatic, emphasizing on timely management of recurrent respiratory infections. Bronchoscopy or surgical intervention is usually reserved for symptomatic patients with severe airway narrowing and airflow obstruction.
  16. Hasani WSR, Ganapathy SS, Lin CZ, Rifin HM, Bahari MN, Ghazali MH, et al.
    Western Pac Surveill Response J, 2021 02 16;12(1):46-52.
    PMID: 34094624 DOI: 10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.3.007
    Background: Pre-existing comorbidities can predict severe disease requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission among COVID-19 cases. We compared comorbidities, clinical features and other predictive factors between COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission for intubation/mechanical ventilation and all other COVID-19 cases in Selangor, Malaysia.

    Method: Field data collected during the COVID-19 outbreak in Selangor, Malaysia, up to 13 April 2020 were used, comprising socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities and presenting symptoms of COVID-19 cases. ICU admission was determined from medical records. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ICU admission requiring intubation/mechanical ventilation among COVID-19 cases.

    Results: A total of 1287 COVID-19-positive cases were included for analysis. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (15.5%) and diabetes (11.0%). More than one third of cases presented with fever (43.8%) or cough (37.1%). Of the 25 cases that required intubation/mechanical ventilation, 68.0% had hypertension, 88.0% had fever, 40.0% had dyspnoea and 44.0% were lethargic. Multivariate regression showed that cases that required intubation/mechanical ventilation had significantly higher odds of being older (aged 360 years) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.9] and having hypertension (aOR = 5.7), fever (aOR = 9.8), dyspnoea (aOR = 9.6) or lethargy (aOR = 7.9) than cases that did not require intubation/mechanical ventilation.

    Conclusion: The COVID-19 cases in Selangor, Malaysia requiring intubation/mechanical ventilation were significantly older, with a higher proportion of hypertension and symptoms of fever, dyspnoea and lethargy. These risk factors have been reported previously for severe COVID-19 cases, and highlight the role that ageing and underlying comorbidities play in severe outcomes to respiratory disease.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data*; Humans; Hypertension/complications*; Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Respiration, Artificial/statistics & numerical data*; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index*; Comorbidity*; Diabetes Complications*
  17. Parvin F, Tareq SM
    Appl Water Sci, 2021;11(6):100.
    PMID: 34094797 DOI: 10.1007/s13201-021-01431-3
    Dumping of solid waste in the non-engineered landfill is very common in the developing countries. Among the different disadvantages of this kind of landfilling, leachate is the major concern to public health, which is a toxic byproduct generated from the landfill; and can percolate to the ground water and consequently migrate in surface water. Using systematic review on published data, the present study endeavors to compare the leachate contamination potential of four major landfills of Bangladesh, named Amin Bazar, Matuail, Mogla Bazar and Rowfabad; which are situated in 3 of the 6 big mega cities of Bangladesh and assessed the effects of leachate leakage on surrounding water body as well as on human health. This study, for the first time calculated the leachate pollution index (LPI) for the landfill sites of Bangladesh and found that the LPI of Matuail landfill site (19.81) is much higher which is comparable to some polluted landfill sites of India and Malaysia. The concentrations of several potentially toxic metals found in the surface and ground water in the vicinity of the landfill sites were above the maximum permissible limit values of department of Environment, Bangladesh and World Health Organization (WHO). The human health risk index for toxic heavy metals in different vegetables and rice grain showed high health risk potential for Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn. The total carcinogenic risk for Ni and Pb are found very high in the edible plants near those landfill sites, suggesting the risk of Ni and Pb induced carcinogenesis by the consumption of those plants. The present conditions of surface, ground water and agriculture products near the landfill sites of Bangladesh are much frightening to the biota and local inhabitants.

    Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13201-021-01431-3.

  18. Seddighi Chaharborj S, Seddighi Chaharborj S, Hassanzadeh Asl J, Phang PS
    Results Phys, 2021 Jul;26:104311.
    PMID: 34094820 DOI: 10.1016/j.rinp.2021.104311
    In 2019, a new infectious disease called pandemic COVID-19 began to spread from Wuhan, China. In spite of the efforts to stop the disease, being out of the control of the governments it spread rapidly all over the world. From then on, much research has been done in the world with the aim of controlling this contagious disease. A mathematical model for modeling the spread of COVID-19 and also controlling the spread of the disease has been presented in this paper. We find the disease-free equilibrium points as trivial equilibrium (TE), virus absenteeism equilibrium (VAE) and virus incidence equilibrium (VIE) for the proposed model; and at the trivial equilibrium point for the presented dynamic system we obtain the Jacobian matrix so as to be used in finding the largest eigenvalue. Radius spectral method has been used for finding the reproductive number. In the following, by adding a controller to the model and also using the theory of optimal control, we can improve the performance of the model. We must have a correct understanding of the system i.e. how it works, the various variables affecting the system, and the interaction of the variables on each other. To search for the optimal values, we need to use an appropriate optimization method. Given the limitations and needs of the problem, the aim of the optimization is to find the best solutions, to find conditions that result in the maximum of susceptiblity, the minimum of infection, and optimal quarantination.
  19. Ab Halim AAB, Rafii MY, Osman MB, Oladosu Y, Chukwu SC
    Biomed Res Int, 2021;2021:8350136.
    PMID: 34095311 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8350136
    High kernel elongation (HKE) is one of the high-quality characteristics in rice. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of ageing treatments, gene actions, and inheritance pattern of kernel elongation on cooking quality in two populations of rice and determine the path of influence and contribution of other traits to kernel elongation in rice. Two rice populations derived from crosses between MR219 × Mahsuri Mutan and MR219 × Basmati 370 were used. The breeding materials included two F1 progenies from the two populations, and their respective parents were grown in four different batches at a week interval to synchronize the flowering between the female and male plants. Scaling tests and generation means analysis were carried out to determine ageing effects and estimate additive-dominance gene action and epistasis. The estimation of gene interaction was based on quantitative traits. Path coefficient analysis was done using SAS software version 9.4 to determine the path of influence (direct or indirect) of six quantitative traits on HKE. Results obtained showed that nonallelic gene interaction was observed in all traits. The results before ageing and after ageing showed significant differences in all traits, while the gene interaction changed after ageing. The HKE value improved after ageing, suggesting that ageing is an external factor that could influence gene expression. The epistasis effect for HKE obtained from the cross Mahsuri Mutan × MR219 showed duplicate epistasis while that obtained from a cross between Basmati 370 × MR219 showed complimentary epistasis. Besides, the heritability of HKE was higher in Basmati 370 × MR219 compared to that obtained in Mahsuri Mutan × MR219. The path analysis showed that the cooked grain length and length-width ratio positively significantly affected HKE. It was concluded that ageing treatment is an external factor that could improve the expression of HKE. The findings from this study would be useful to breeders in the selection and development of new specialty (HKE) rice varieties.
    MeSH terms: Plant Breeding/methods; Age Factors; Crosses, Genetic; Epistasis, Genetic/genetics; Phenotype; Oryza/genetics*; Oryza/growth & development*; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics; Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics
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