Browse publications by year: 2021

Fulltext Role of different types of nanomaterials against diagnosis, prevention and therapy of COVID-19

Ghaemi F, Amiri A, Bajuri MY, Yuhana NY, Ferrara M

Sustain Cities Soc, 2021 Sep;72:103046.
PMID: 34055576 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103046

In 2019, a novel type of coronavirus emerged in China called SARS-COV-2, known COVID-19, threatens global health and possesses negative impact on people's quality of life, leading to an urgent need for its diagnosis and remedy. On the other hand, the presence of hazardous infectious waste led to the increase of the risk of transmitting the virus by individuals and by hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, in this review, we survey previous researches on nanomaterials that can be effective for guiding strategies to deal with the current COVID-19 pandemic and also decrease the hazardous infectious waste in the environment. We highlight the contribution of nanomaterials that possess potential to therapy, prevention, detect targeted virus proteins and also can be useful for large population screening, for the development of environmental sensors and filters. Besides, we investigate the possibilities of employing the nanomaterials in antiviral research and treatment development, examining the role of nanomaterials in antiviral- drug design, including the importance of nanomaterials in drug delivery and vaccination, and for the production of medical equipment. Nanomaterials-based technologies not only contribute to the ongoing SARS- CoV-2 research efforts but can also provide platforms and tools for the understanding, protection, detection and treatment of future viral diseases.
Fulltext Comparing CxBladder to Urine Cytology as Adjunct to Cystoscopy in Surveillance of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer-A Pilot Study

Chai CA, Yeoh WS, Rajandram R, Aung KP, Ong TA, Kuppusamy S, et al.

Front Surg, 2021;8:659292.
PMID: 34055868 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.659292

Purpose: Guidelines advocate cystoscopy surveillance (CS) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) post-resection. However, cystoscopy is operator dependent and may miss upper tract lesions or carcinoma in-situ (CIS). Urine cytology is a common adjunct but lacks sensitivity and specificity in detecting recurrence. A new mRNA biomarker (CxBladder) was compared with urine cytology as an adjunct to cystoscopy in detecting a positive cystoscopy findings during surveillance cystoscopy in our center. Materials and Methods: Consented patients older than 18, undergoing CS for NMIBC, provide paired urine samples for cytology and CxBladder test. Patients with positive cystoscopy findings would undergo re-Trans Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT). Results: Thirty-five patients were enrolled from April to June 2019. Seven contaminated urine samples were excluded. The remaining cohort of 23 (82%) and 5 (18%) females had a mean age of 66.69 (36-89). Eight (29%) patients with positive cystoscopy finding underwent TURBT. All 8 patients also had positive CxBladder result. This shows that CxBladder has a sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%, specificity of 75% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 62% in predicting a positive cystoscopy finding. TURBT Histo-pathological findings showed Low-grade Ta NMIBC in one patient (4%), and 7 (25%) patients had inflammatory changes. Urine cytology was only positive in one patient with a positive cystoscopy finding. This led to a sensitivity of merely 13% and NPV of 74%, while specificity and PPV was 100% in predicting a positive cystoscopy finding. Conclusion: CxBladder had high NPV and sensitivity which accurately predicted suspicious cystoscopy findings leading to further investigation. It has great potential for use as adjunct to cystoscopy for surveillance of NMIBC.

MeSH terms: Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Cystoscopy; Cytodiagnosis; Cytological Techniques; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Predictive Value of Tests; RNA, Messenger; Sensitivity and Specificity; Cohort Studies; Biomarkers; Cystectomy
Fulltext Graphene Wrapping of Electrospun Nanofibers for Enhanced Electrochemical Sensing

Tsiamis A, Diaz Sanchez F, Hartikainen N, Chung M, Mitra S, Lim YC, et al.

ACS Omega, 2021 Apr 27;6(16):10568-10577.
PMID: 34056211 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05823

This paper presents a scalable method of developing ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensors. This is achieved by maximizing sensor conductivity through graphene wrapping of carbonized electrospun nanofibers. The effectiveness of the graphene wrap was determined visually by scanning electron microscopy and chemically by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The sensing performance of different electrode samples was electrochemically characterized using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, with the graphene-wrapped carbonized nanofiber electrode showing significantly improved performance. The graphene-wrapped carbonized nanofibers exhibited a relative conductivity of ∼14 times and an electroactive surface area of ∼2 times greater compared to the bare screen-printed carbon electrode despite experiencing inhibitive effects from the carbon glue used to bind the samples to the electrode. The results indicate potential for a highly conductive, inert sensing platform.
Fulltext Influence of Irradiation Time on the Structural and Optical Characteristics of CuSe Nanoparticles Synthesized via Microwave-Assisted Technique

Shitu IG, Liew JYC, Talib ZA, Baqiah H, Awang Kechik MM, Ahmad Kamarudin M, et al.

ACS Omega, 2021 Apr 27;6(16):10698-10708.
PMID: 34056223 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00148

A rapid, sustainable, and ecologically sound approach is urgently needed for the production of semiconductor nanomaterials. CuSe nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a microwave-assisted technique using CuCl2·2H2O and Na2SeO3 as the starting materials. The role of the irradiation time was considered as the primary concern to regulate the size and possibly the shape of the synthesized nanoparticles. A range of characterization techniques was used to elucidate the structural and optical properties of the fabricated nanoparticles, which included X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy (Raman), UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The mean crystallite size of the CuSe hexagonal (Klockmannite) crystal structure increased from 21.35 to 99.85 nm with the increase in irradiation time. At the same time, the microstrain and dislocation density decreased from 7.90 × 10-4 to 1.560 × 10-4 and 4.68 × 10-2 to 1.00 × 10-2 nm-2, respectively. Three Raman vibrational bands attributed to CuSe NPs have been identified in the Raman spectrum. Irradiation time was also seen to play a critical role in the NP optical band gap during the synthesis. The decrease in the optical band gap from 1.85 to 1.60 eV is attributed to the increase in the crystallite size when the irradiation time was increased. At 400 nm excitation wavelength, a strong orange emission centered at 610 nm was observed from the PL measurement. The PL intensity is found to increase with an increase in irradiation time, which is attributed to the improvement in crystallinity at higher irradiation time. Therefore, the results obtained in this study could be of great benefit in the field of photonics, solar cells, and optoelectronic applications.

MeSH terms: Copper; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microwaves; Semiconductors; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; X-Ray Diffraction; X-Rays; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Citrus sinensis; Nanostructures; Nanoparticles; Optics and Photonics
Fulltext Toxicological Screening of 4-Phenyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[h]quinolin-2(1H)-one: A New Potential Candidate for Alzheimer's Treatment

Anwar F, Saleem U, Rehman AU, Ahmad B, Ismail T, Mirza MU, et al.

ACS Omega, 2021 Apr 27;6(16):10897-10909.
PMID: 34056243 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00654

Toxicity studies are necessary for the development of a new drug. Naphthalene is a bicyclic molecule and is easy to derivatize. In our previous study, a derivative of naphthalene (4-phenyl,3,4-dihydrobenzoquinoline-2(H)one) was synthesized and reported its in vitro activity on different enzymes. This study was a probe to investigate the toxicity potential of that compound (SF3). Acute oral (425), subacute (407), and teratogenicity (414) studies were planned according to their respective guidelines given by organization of economic cooperation and development (OECD). Acute oral, subacute, and teratogenicity studies were carried out on 2000, 5-40, and 40 mg/kg doses. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. Vital organs were excised for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde) and histopathological analysis. LD 50 of SF3 was higher than 2000 mg/kg. In acute and subacute studies, levels of alkaline phosphates and aspartate transaminase were increased. Teratogenicity showed no resorptions, no skeletal or soft tissue abnormalities, and no cleft pallet. Oxidative stress biomarkers were close to the normal, and no increase in the malondialdehyde level was seen. Histopathological studies revealed normal tissue architecture of the selected organs, except kidney, in acute oral and subacute toxicity studies at 40 mg/kg. The study concluded that SF3 is safer if used as a drug.
Fulltext Release Mechanisms and Kinetic Models of Gypsum-Sulfur-Zeolite-Coated Urea Sealed with Microcrystalline Wax for Regulated Dissolution

Eghbali Babadi F, Yunus R, Masoudi Soltani S, Shotipruk A

ACS Omega, 2021 May 04;6(17):11144-11154.
PMID: 34056270 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04353

In this study, a mineral-based coated urea was fabricated in a rotary pan coater using a mixture of gypsum/sulfur/zeolite (G25S25Z50) as an effective and low-cost coating material. The effects of different coating compositions on the dissolution rate of urea and the crushing strength and morphology of the coated urea were investigated. A 25:25:50 (wt %) mixture of gypsum/sulfur/zeolite (G25S25Z50) increased the coating effectiveness to 34.1% with the highest crushing strength (31.06 N). The effectiveness of coated urea was further improved to 46.6% with the addition of a microcrystalline wax (3%) as a sealant. Furthermore, the release mechanisms of various urea fertilizers were determined by fitting the release profiles with six mathematical models, namely, the zeroth-order, first-order, second-order, Higuchi, Ritger & Peppas, and Kopcha models. The results showed that the release mechanism of the uncoated urea and all other coated urea followed the Ritger & Peppas model, suggesting the diffusional release from nonswellable delivery systems. In addition, due to the increased mass-transfer resistance, the kinetic constant was decreased from 0.2233 for uncoated urea to 0.1338 for G25S25Z50-coated urea and was further decreased to 0.0985 when 3% Witcovar 146 sealant was applied.

MeSH terms: Calcium Sulfate; Diffusion; Drug Compounding; Fertilizers; Kinetics; Models, Theoretical; Solubility; Sulfur; Urea; Zeolites
Fulltext Synthesis and Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Activity Studies of Novel 3-Amino-2-hydroxybenzofused 2-Phospha-γ-lactones

Balam SK, Soora Harinath J, Krishnammagari SK, Gajjala RR, Polireddy K, Baki VB, et al.

ACS Omega, 2021 May 04;6(17):11375-11388.
PMID: 34056293 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00360

A series of 3-amino-2-hydroxybenzofused 2-phosphalactones (4a-l) has been synthesized from the Kabachnik-Fields reaction via a facile route from a one-pot three-component reaction of diphenylphosphite with various 2-hydroxybenzaldehyes and heterocyclic amines in a new way of expansion. The in vitro anti-cell proliferation studies by MTT assay have revealed them as potential Panc-1, Miapaca-2, and BxPC-3 pancreatic cell growth inhibitors, and the same is supported by molecular docking, QSAR, and ADMET studies. The MTT assay of their SAHA derivatives against the same cell lines evidenced them as potential HDAC inhibitors and identified 4a, 4b, and 4k substituted with 1,3-thiazol, 1,3,4-thiadiazol, and 5-sulfanyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol moieties on phenyl and diethylamino phenyl rings as potential ones. Additionally, the flow cytometric analyses of 4a, 4b, and 4k against BxPC-3 cells revealed compound 4k as a lead compound that arrests the S phase cell cycle growth at low micromolar concentrations. The ADMET properties have ascertained their inherent pharmacokinetic potentiality, and the wholesome results prompted us to report it as the first study on anti-pancreatic cancer activity of cyclic α-aminophosphonates. Ultimately, this study serves as a good contribution to update the existing knowledge on the anticancer organophosphorus heterocyclic compounds and elevates the scope for generation of new anticancer drugs. Further, the studies like QSAR, drug properties, toxicity risks, and bioactivity scores predicted for them have ascertained the synthesized compounds as newer and potential drug candidates. Hence, this study had augmented the array of α-aminophosphonates by adding a new collection of 3-amino-2-hydroxybenzofused 2-phosphalactones, a class of cyclic α-aminophosphonates, to it, which proved them as potential anti-pancreatic cancer agents.

MeSH terms: Amines; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Cycle; Cell Division; Cell Line; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Family Characteristics; Growth Inhibitors; Heterocyclic Compounds; Lead; Neoplasms; S Phase; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Cell Proliferation; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Molecular Docking Simulation
Fulltext Practical Route for the Low-Temperature Growth of Large-Area Bilayer Graphene on Polycrystalline Nickel by Cold-Wall Chemical Vapor Deposition

Shazni Mohammad Haniff MA, Zainal Ariffin NH, Ooi PC, Mohd Razip Wee MF, Mohamed MA, Hamzah AA, et al.

ACS Omega, 2021 May 11;6(18):12143-12154.
PMID: 34056368 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00841

We report a practical chemical vapor deposition (CVD) route to produce bilayer graphene on a polycrystalline Ni film from liquid benzene (C6H6) source at a temperature as low as 400 °C in a vertical cold-wall reaction chamber. The low activation energy of C6H6 and the low solubility of carbon in Ni at such a low temperature play a key role in enabling the growth of large-area bilayer graphene in a controlled manner by a Ni surface-mediated reaction. All experiments performed using this method are reproducible with growth capabilities up to an 8 in. wafer-scale substrate. Raman spectra analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and selective area electron diffraction studies confirm the growth of Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene with good uniformity over large areas. Electrical characterization studies indicate that the bilayer graphene behaves much like a semiconductor with predominant p-type doping. These findings provide important insights into the wafer-scale fabrication of low-temperature CVD bilayer graphene for next-generation nanoelectronics.
Fulltext Gut Bacteria of Rattus rattus (Rat) Produce Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Lipopeptides

Akbar N, Siddiqui R, Iqbal M, Sagathevan K, Kim KS, Habib F, et al.

ACS Omega, 2021 May 11;6(18):12261-12273.
PMID: 34056379 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01137

Among several animals, Rattus rattus (rat) lives in polluted environments and feeds on organic waste/small invertebrates, suggesting the presence of inherent mechanisms to thwart infections. In this study, we isolated gut bacteria of rats for their antibacterial activities. Using antibacterial assays, the findings showed that the conditioned media from selected bacteria exhibited bactericidal activities against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli K1, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Salmonella enterica) and Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) pathogenic bacteria. The conditioned media retained their antibacterial properties upon heat treatment at boiling temperature for 10 min. Using MTT assays, the conditioned media showed minimal cytotoxic effects against human keratinocyte cells. Active conditioned media were subjected to tandem mass spectrometry, and the results showed that conditioned media from Bacillus subtilis produced a large repertoire of surfactin and iturin A (lipopeptides) molecules. To our knowledge, this is the first report of isolation of lipopeptides from bacteria isolated from the rat gut. In short, these findings are important and provide a platform to develop effective antibacterial drugs.

MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacillus cereus; Bacillus subtilis; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Escherichia coli; Hot Temperature; Humans; Invertebrates; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Serratia marcescens; Streptococcus pyogenes; Temperature; Keratinocytes; Culture Media, Conditioned; Salmonella enterica; Rats; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Lipopeptides
Assessing the probability of having attained 16 years of age in juveniles using third molar development in a sample of South Indian population

Saranya K, Ponnada SR, Cheruvathoor JJ, Jacob S, Kandukuri G, Mudigonda M, et al.

J Forensic Odontostomatol, 2021 Apr 30;1(39):16-23.
PMID: 34057154

Juvenile crime or delinquency has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent times. In many countries, including India, the minimum age for criminal responsibility is 16 years. The present study aimed to estimate the probability of a south Indian adolescent either being or being older than the legally relevant age of 16 years using Demirjian's tooth formation stages. Orthopantomograms (OPG) of 640 south Indian adolescents (320 boys and 320 girls) aged between 12 and 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. In each OPG, Demirjian's formation stage of the mandibular left third molar was recorded and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Descriptive and Pearsons correlation statistics were performed. The empirical probabilities were provided relative to the medico-legal question of predicting 16 years of age. The distribution of age throughout the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile follows a logical distribution pattern horizontally and vertically. Pearson's correlation statistics showed a strong positive correlation between the Demirjian's stages and age for both sexes. Therefore, it can be concluded that stage "F" can be used to predict the attainment of age equal to or older than 16 years with a probability of 93.9% for boys and 96.6% for girls.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Age Determination by Teeth*; Child; Female; Humans; India/epidemiology; Male; Probability; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
Abstracts of 13th Malaysian International ORL-HNS Congress in conjunction with 7th Conference of Asian Society of Head and Neck Oncology (ASHNOKL 2021)

Med J Malaysia, 2021 Jun;76(Suppl 1):1-89.
PMID: 34057161
Fulltext A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial of the I-PLAN Intervention to Promote Hearing Aid Use Among First-Time Adult Hearing Aid Users

Ismail AH, Munro KJ, Armitage CJ, Marsden A, Dawes PD

Trends Hear, 2021 6 1;25:2331216520969472.
PMID: 34057373 DOI: 10.1177/2331216520969472

Suboptimal hearing aid use negatively impacts health and well-being. The aim of this study was to conduct a controlled trial of a behavior change intervention to promote hearing aid use. This study was a quasi-randomized controlled trial with two arms. A total of 160 first-time hearing aid users were recruited at their hearing aid fitting appointments. The control arm received standard care. In addition to standard care, the intervention arm received I-PLAN, which comprised (a) information about the consequences of hearing aid use/nonuse, (b) reminder prompt to use the hearing aids, and (c) an action plan. The primary outcome, measured at 6 weeks, was self-reported proportion of time the hearing aid was used in situations that caused hearing difficulty. Secondary outcomes were data-logged hearing aid use, self-reported hearing aid benefit, self-regulation, and habit formation. The results showed that the proportion of time the hearing aids were used in situations that caused hearing difficulty was similar in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in any outcome measure including data-logged hearing aid use. The relatively high levels of hearing aid use across research participants may have limited the potential for the intervention to impact on hearing aid use. Although the intervention materials proved acceptable and deliverable, future intervention trials should target suboptimal hearing aid users.

MeSH terms: Adult; Hearing; Hearing Aids*; Hearing Tests; Humans; Hearing Loss*; Self Report
Concurrent anti-stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery for advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery and SUI: an Asian perspective footnote from the Pan-Asia meeting

Lo TS, Tan YL

Int Urogynecol J, 2021 06;32(6):1329-1330.
PMID: 34057542 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-021-04879-8
MeSH terms: Asia; Humans; Urinary Incontinence, Stress*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Pelvic Organ Prolapse*
The role of regional myocardial topography post-myocardial infarction on infarct extension

Leong CO, Leong CN, Liew YM, Al Abed A, Aziz YFA, Chee KH, et al.

Int J Numer Method Biomed Eng, 2021 08;37(8):e3501.
PMID: 34057819 DOI: 10.1002/cnm.3501

Infarct extension involves necrosis of healthy myocardium in the border zone (BZ), progressively enlarging the infarct zone (IZ) and recruiting the remote zone (RZ) into the BZ, eventually leading to heart failure. The mechanisms underlying infarct extension remain unclear, but myocyte stretching has been suggested as the most likely cause. Using human patient-specific left-ventricular (LV) numerical simulations established from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of myocardial infarction (MI) patients, the correlation between infarct extension and regional mechanics abnormality was investigated by analysing the fibre stress-strain loops (FSSLs). FSSL abnormality was characterised using the directional regional external work (DREW) index, which measures FSSL area and loop direction. Sensitivity studies were also performed to investigate the effect of infarct stiffness on regional myocardial mechanics and potential for infarct extension. We found that infarct extension was correlated to severely abnormal FSSL in the form of counter-clockwise loop at the RZ close to the infarct, as indicated by negative DREW values. In regions demonstrating negative DREW values, we observed substantial fibre stretching in the isovolumic relaxation (IVR) phase accompanied by a reduced rate of systolic shortening. Such stretching in IVR phase in part of the RZ was due to its inability to withstand the high LV pressure that was still present and possibly caused by regional myocardial stiffness inhomogeneity. Further analysis revealed that the occurrence of severely abnormal FSSL due to IVR fibre stretching near the RZ-BZ boundary was due to a large amount of surrounding infarcted tissue, or an excessively stiff IZ.

MeSH terms: Heart; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Myocardium*; Systole
Fulltext Salivary and imaging-based biomarkers of radiation therapy-induced xerostomia

Atif S, Wahab NA, Ghafoor S, Saeed MQ, Ahmad A

J Pak Med Assoc, 2021 Mar;71(3):938-942.
PMID: 34057953 DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.1115

Biomarkers are anatomical characteristics or naturally occurring measurable molecules indicating physiological or pathological state of an individual. These biomarkers have the potential to detect or predict diseases at an early stage, which is particularly beneficial in timely management of common complications of radiation therapy done in head and neck cancer treatment regime. Xerostomia is one of the most common oral complaints of radiation therapy. Saliva has an abundance of protein biomarkers; however, those related to post-radiation therapy xerostomia need to be explored further. Textural and imaging-based biomarkers are helpful in predicting xerostomia in such patients. This narrative review provides an account of salivary protein and imaging-based biomarkers of radiation therapy-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

MeSH terms: Diagnostic Imaging; Humans; Saliva; Biomarkers
Fulltext A snapshot of the global policies and practices of medicine use reviews by community pharmacist in chronic diseases: A narrative review

Mubarak N, Raja SA, Khan TM, Zin CS

J Pak Med Assoc, 2021 Mar;71(3):950-965.
PMID: 34057955 DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.058

Medicine use review is a tool to improve medication adherence and safety. Current narrative review was planned to explore global policies and practices of medicine use review by community pharmacists in chronic diseases and its impact and way forward for low- and middle-income countries. Key words, such as ″medicine use review″, ″medication therapy management″ and ″community pharmacy″ were used for search on PubMed and CINAHL databases for articles published from 2004 to 2019. Medicine use review has opened an avenue of ongoing collaboration between community pharmacists and general practitioners. High-income countries have witnessed a gradual yet cautious adoption of these services through effective policy shift. In terms of practices and impact, the situation in high-income countries was promising where on an average ″type-II″ medicine use review was widely in practice and had improved clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes in chronic disease. However, in low- and middle-income countries, a paucity of effective policies was noted. Nevertheless, an emergent recognition of the potential of community pharmacists to contribute to the management of chronic diseases was evident.

MeSH terms: Chronic Disease; Humans; Pharmacists*; Medication Therapy Management*; Medication Adherence; Policy
A new antigen detection ELISA for the diagnosis of Strongyloides infection

Balachandra D, Rahumatullah A, Lim TS, Mustafa FH, Ahmad H, Anuar NS, et al.

Acta Trop, 2021 Sep;221:105986.
PMID: 34058161 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105986

Serodiagnosis is an essential component of the laboratory diagnosis of Strongyloides infection and is usually performed using an indirect IgG antibody test. A direct antigen detection method can complement the IgG assay, particularly for detecting early infection and post-treatment follow-up. In the present study, a recombinant scFv monoclonal antibody against NIE recombinant protein (rMAb23) that we had previously produced was used to develop a Strongyloides antigen detection ELISA (SsAg-ELISA). The assay is based on detecting immune complexes of circulating NIE antigens bound to Strongyloides-specific IgG antibodies. The optimized ELISA parameters were 10 µg/mL of rMAb23 coated on microtitre plate wells, 2% skim milk as blocking reagent, 1:100 serum dilution, and 1:1000 goat anti-human IgG F(ab')2 conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Four groups of serum samples were used, i.e., Strongyloides-positive serum samples categorized into Groups IA and IB; the former were from probable chronic infections and the latter from probable early/acute infections. Strongyloides-negative samples comprising Groups II (healthy samples) and III (other infections); the latter were from eleven different types of other parasitic infections. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.00, cut-off optical density (OD405) of 0.5002, and 100% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The results of the commercial IgG-ELISA and SsAg-ELISA from Group IA were found to be moderately correlated (r = 0.416; p

MeSH terms: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Antigens, Helminth; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Strongyloides
Preparation and photodynamic bactericidal effects of curcumin-β-cyclodextrin complex

Lai D, Zhou A, Tan BK, Tang Y, Sarah Hamzah S, Zhang Z, et al.

Food Chem, 2021 Nov 01;361:130117.
PMID: 34058659 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130117

To overcome the poor water solubility of curcumin, a curcumin-β-cyclodextrin (Cur-β-CD) complex was prepared as a novel photosensitizer. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to verify the formation of Cur-β-CD. Furthermore, the ROS generation capacity and photodynamic bactericidal effect were measured to confirm this Cur-β-CD complex kept photodynamic activity of curcumin. The result showed Cur-β-CD could effectively generate ROS upon blue-light irradiation. The plate count assay demonstrated Cur-β-CD complex possess desirable photodynamic antibacterial effect against food-borne pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. The cell morphology determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed Cur-β-CD could cause cell deformation, surface collapse and cell structure damage of the bacteria, resulting in the leakage of cytoplasmic; while agarose gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE further illustrated the inactivation mechanisms by Cur-β-CD involve bacterial DNA damage and protein degradation.

MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry*; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Curcumin/pharmacology; Curcumin/chemistry*; Escherichia coli/drug effects; Light; Listeria monocytogenes/drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; X-Ray Diffraction; Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology; Photosensitizing Agents/chemistry*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; beta-Cyclodextrins/pharmacology; beta-Cyclodextrins/chemistry*
Temporal association of maternal weight gain with early-term and preterm birth and low birth weight babies

Jan Mohamed HJ, Lim PY, Loy SL, Chang KH, Abdullah AFL

J Chin Med Assoc, 2021 07 01;84(7):722-727.
PMID: 34050107 DOI: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000557

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight and preterm or early-term babies may have a higher risk of poor health. One of the main factors is the weight gain of a pregnant woman during gestational weeks in the second and third trimesters. Changes in weight over a month in a pregnant woman might also have an impact on infant outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal weight at different time points and low birth weight and preterm or early-term babies (premature babies).
METHODS: A total of 156 pregnant women were recruited. Maternal weight was collected at different gestational weeks. Maternal age, body mass index, delivery mode, delivery week, and infant weight were also recorded. Maternal data were restructured into a person-period format before mixed-effects multiple logistic regression was used. Various weight variables with either a fixed effect or time-varying effects were tested in the model.
RESULTS: Thirty (19.23%) women had delivered low birth weight or premature babies. Multiple logistic regression model demonstrated that mothers with higher increases in weight at 32 weeks of gestation than that in the predelivery stage had a lower probability of having a low birth weight or premature baby (odds ratio [OR] = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.49-0.85; p < 0.001). Women with a weight increase of more than 2 kg in a 4-week gestation period had a higher probability of having a low birth weight or premature baby than those with an increment of <1 kg (OR = 8.43; 95% CI, 2.90-24.54; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: An increase in weight gain after 32 weeks was shown to reduce the risk of low birth weight and premature babies. Maternal weight monitoring was suggested to be conducted every 4 weeks to minimize the chance of having a low birth weight and premature baby.
Fulltext COVID-19 and dynamics of environmental awareness, sustainable consumption and social responsibility in Malaysia

Ali Q, Parveen S, Yaacob H, Zaini Z, Sarbini NA

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Oct;28(40):56199-56218.
PMID: 34050516 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14612-z

Despite a profound evidence of the human unsustainable behaviours' impact on the environment, stark disparities prevail on this narrative especially in the context of the current epidemiological situation ushered by the COVID-19. The ongoing pandemic is a global public health concern due to its sagacious impacts on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and people's quality of life. This study primarily focuses on analysing the impact of COVID-19 (COV) on the environmental awareness (EA), sustainable consumption (SC) and social responsibility (SR). Additionally, we aspire to investigate the impact of demographics of generations and religion on the proposed nexus in this study. The data was collected from 700 participants of different age groups and religious backgrounds in Malaysia, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse this data and test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that COVID-19 has a significantly positive impact on EA, SC and SR, and the generations and religiosity moderate the relationship between COVID-19 and its impact on sustainable behaviours. This study contributes to analyse the difference in the perception of EA, SC and SR among the people that eventually will stimulate the scientific reasoning among the governments, policymakers and scientists to develop a holistic framework to combat unprecedented event such as COVID-19 and ensure the authentication of sustainable environment and exceptional quality of life. The policymakers in Malaysia may use the findings of this study to inspect the social and environmental aspects of the people during the transformation events.

MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources*; Environment; Humans; Malaysia; Quality of Life; Social Responsibility*

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