Browse publications by year: 2021

  1. Jacob SA, Chong EY, Goh SL, Palanisamy UD
    Mhealth, 2021;7:29.
    PMID: 33898598 DOI: 10.21037/mhealth.2020.01.04
    Background: Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) patients have trouble communicating with community pharmacists and accessing the healthcare system. This study explored the views on a proposed mobile health (mHealth) app in terms of design and features, that will be able to bridge the communication gap between community pharmacists and DHH patients.

    Methods: A community-based participatory research method was utilized. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Malaysian sign language (BIM) with a total of 10 DHH individuals. Respondents were recruited using purposive sampling. Video-recordings were transcribed and analyzed using a thematic approach.

    Results: Two themes emerged: (I) challenges and scepticism of the healthcare system; and (II) features of the mHealth app. Respondents expressed fears and concerns about accessing healthcare services, and stressed on the need for sign language interpreters. There were also concerns about data privacy and security. With regard to app features, the majority preferred videos instead of text to convey information about their disease and medication, due to their lower literacy levels.

    Conclusions: For an mHealth app to be effective, app designers must ensure the app is individualised according to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the target audience. Pharmacists should also educate patients on the potential benefits of the app in terms of assisting patients with their medicine-taking.

    MeSH terms: Literacy; Fear; Health Services Accessibility; Hearing; Humans; Linguistics; Pharmacists; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sign Language; Focus Groups; Telemedicine; Privacy; Hearing Loss; Community-Based Participatory Research; Mobile Applications
  2. Adewole MO, Onifade AA, Abdullah FA, Kasali F, Ismail AIM
    Int J Appl Comput Math, 2021;7(3):67.
    PMID: 33898652 DOI: 10.1007/s40819-021-01014-5
    To understand the dynamics of COVID-19 in Nigeria, a mathematical model which incorporates the key compartments and parameters regarding COVID-19 in Nigeria is formulated. The basic reproduction number is obtained which is then used to analyze the stability of the disease-free equilibrium solution of the model. The model is calibrated using data obtained from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and key parameters of the model are estimated. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the influence of the parameters in curtailing the disease. Using Pontryagin's maximum principle, time-dependent intervention strategies are optimized in order to suppress the transmission of the virus. Numerical simulations are then used to explore various optimal control solutions involving single and multiple controls. Our results suggest that strict intervention effort is required for quick suppression of the disease.
  3. Zaini MF, Sarudin A, Muhammad MM, Osman Z, Mohamed Redzwan HF, Al-Muhsin MA
    Data Brief, 2021 Jun;36:107013.
    PMID: 33898671 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107013
    House Building Tips is the title of a classic text containing historical information on early house construction in Malay communities. These tips were written by a scholar with knowledge of house construction through observation of the surrounding environment. In Malaysia, written sources or records of house construction are scarce and underexposed. As such, this research was conducted to guarantee the written legacy of the construction of Malay houses. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a statistical data source of house building tips that is laden with Malay ingenuity and identity. The wordlists generated from this study can become a source of reference for the field of Malay architecture. Accordingly, this study utilises the quantitative method by applying the Linguistic Corpus Statistical Approach; these data utilise specific corpus development procedures, beginning with text collection, scanning and cleaning processes, text annotation, and data storing in plain text. Next, the data analysis procedure utilises a corpus software, LancsBox, to generate specialised wordlists. The bubble graphs are developed based on these wordlists through the Tableau software, and illustrate the most used lexical items with the raw and relative frequency values. This facilitates searches for, and the reading of, architectural words and architectural word references. These data represent written sources that need to be preserved and become points of reference concerning Malay architectural ingenuity and identity.
    MeSH terms: Linguistics; Malaysia; Names; Reading; Software; Writing; Information Storage and Retrieval
  4. Ramli NA, Ali N, Hamzah S, Yatim NI
    Heliyon, 2021 Apr;7(4):e06649.
    PMID: 33898810 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06649
    Nutraceuticals from natural sources have shown potential new leads in functional food products. Despite a broad range of health-promoting effects, these compounds are easily oxidized and unstable, making their utilization as nutraceutical ingredients limited. In this study, the encapsulated stingless bees' propolis in liposome was prepared using soy phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol by thin-film hydration technique. Three different formulations of phosphatidylcholine composition and cholesterol prepared by weight ratio was conducted to extract high propolis encapsulation. Physicochemical changes in the result of the encapsulation process are briefly discussed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. A dynamic light-scattering instrument was used to measure the hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. The increment of the liposomal size was observed when the concentration of extract loaded increased. In comparing three formulations, F2 (8:1 w/w) presented the best formulation as it yielded small nanoparticles of 275.9 nm with high encapsulation efficiency (66.9%). F1 (6:1 w/w) formed large particles of liposomes with 422.8 nm, while F3 (10:1 w/w) showed low encapsulation efficiency with (by) 38.7%. The liposome encapsulation will provide an effective nanocarrier system to protect and deliver the flavonoids extracted from stingless bees' propolis.
  5. Alara OR, Abdurahman NH, Ukaegbu CI
    Curr Res Food Sci, 2021;4:200-214.
    PMID: 33899007 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2021.03.011
    Phenolic compounds are parts of secondary metabolites mostly found in plant species with enormous structural diversities. They can exist as glycosides or aglycones; matrix or free-bound compounds; and comprising mostly polymerized or monomer structures. Additionally, these compounds are not universally dispensed within plants with varied stability. This has contributed to challenging extraction processes; implying that employing a single step or inappropriate extraction technique might change the recovery of phenolic components from the plant samples. Hence, it is important to select an appropriate extraction method so as to recover the targeted phenolic compounds. This is will helps to recover substantial yields from the sample matrix. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on the phenolic compounds and several methods of extraction that are used to obtaining them from plant materials. These extraction methods includes both conventional and unconventional techniques.
    MeSH terms: Digitalis Glycosides; Glycosides; Phenols; Plants
  6. Nazarzadeh Zare E, Mudhoo A, Ali Khan M, Otero M, Bundhoo ZMA, Patel M, et al.
    Small, 2021 Aug;17(34):e2007840.
    PMID: 33899324 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202007840
    A noticeable interest and steady rise in research studies reporting the design and assessment of smart adsorbents for sequestering aqueous metal ions and xenobiotics has occurred in the last decade. This motivates compiling and reviewing the characteristics, potentials, and performances of this new adsorbent generation's metal ion and xenobiotics sequestration. Herein, stimuli-responsive adsorbents that respond to its media (as internal triggers; e.g., pH and temperature) or external triggers (e.g., magnetic field and light) are highlighted. Readers are then introduced to selective adsorbents that selectively capture materials of interest. This is followed by a discussion of self-healing and self-cleaning adsorbents. Finally, the review ends with research gaps in material designs.
  7. Sallehuddin H, Tan MP, Blundell A, Gordon A, Masud T
    Gerontol Geriatr Educ, 2021 04 26;43(4):456-467.
    PMID: 33899702 DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2021.1914027
    Malaysia is becoming an aging nation, with 32 medical schools providing 5,000 graduates every year. The extent these graduates have been trained in core concepts in geriatric medicine remains unclear. This work aims to describe the current state of teaching provision on aging and geriatric medicine to the medical undergraduates in Malaysia. A survey was developed by geriatric medicine experts from the Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine (MSGM) to review the teaching provision based on the recommended MSGM Undergraduate Geriatric Medicine Curriculum and was sent to all medical schools across the country. The response rate was 50% (16 out of 32 medical schools). Among 16 medical schools, 10 (62.5%) delivered the learning outcomes as part of an integrated curriculum, and five via a mixed geriatric and integrated curriculum at varying degrees of completeness, ranging from 19% to 94%. One particular medical school did not deliver any of the core topics as part of its undergraduate curriculum. It has been identified that the strongest barrier to delivery was lack of expertise, followed by the fact that the topics were not included in the current curriculum. Improvement in teaching provision should be implemented through a concerted effort to adopt a geriatric medical curriculum nationwide, while future research should aim at the interventions taken to address the barriers in its provision.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Undergraduate*; Humans; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools, Medical; Teaching
  8. Mohd Mydin FH, Othman S, Choo WY, Hairi NNM, Hairi FM, Syed Karim SN, et al.
    J Elder Abuse Negl, 2021 04 25;33(2):151-167.
    PMID: 33899705 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2021.1919272
    This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of Supporting Family Doctors to Address Elder Abuse (SAFE) educational intervention among family doctors practicing at public primary care clinics in Malaysia. SAFE is an intensive, multimodal, locally tailored, and culturally sensitive face-to-face educational intervention on elder abuse. A significant mean score improvement of knowledge [Baseline: 5.33 (SD:1.33) to 6-month post-intervention: 6.45 (SD: 1.35); p<0.001] and perceived behavioral control [Baseline: 50.83 (SD: 8.87) to six-month post-intervention: 56.16 (SD: 9.56); p<0.001] observed in the intervention group compared to the control group. No significant difference in attitude, subjective norm, and practice scores between the two groups over time. SAFE educational intervention for family doctors was effective to improve but not sustainable knowledge and perceived behavioral control toward elder abuse identification and management. We recommend SAFE educational intervention as part of the continuous medical education for family doctors supplemented with a change in organization and national policy.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Humans; Malaysia; Physicians*
  9. Chen C, Gopinath SCB, Anbu P
    Nanoscale Res Lett, 2021 Apr 26;16(1):68.
    PMID: 33900481 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-021-03527-w
    Sepsis is an extreme condition involving a physical response to severe microbial infection and causes fatal and life-threatening issues. Sepsis generates during the chemicals release with the immune system into the bloodstream for fighting against an infection, which causes the inflammation and leads to the medical emergency. A complexed longitudinal zeolite and iron oxide nanocomposite was extracted from coal mine fly ash and utilized to improve the surface characteristics of the capacitance biosensor to identify sepsis attacks. Anti-interleukin-3 (anti-IL-3) antibody was attached to the zeolite- and iron oxide-complexed capacitance electrode surface through an amine linker to interact with the sepsis biomarker IL-3. The morphological and chemical components of the nanocomplex were investigated by FESEM, FETEM, and EDX analyses. At approximately 30 nm, the longitudinal zeolite and iron oxide nanocomposite aided in attaining the limit of IL-3 detection of 3 pg/mL on the linear curve, with a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9673 [y = 1.638x - 1.1847]. A lower detection limit was achieved in the dose-dependent range (3-100 pg/mL) due to the higher amount of antibody immobilization on the sensing surface due to the nanomaterials and the improved surface current. Furthermore, control experiments with relevant biomolecules did not show capacitance changes, and spiked IL-3 in human serum increased capacitance, indicating the specific and selective detection of IL-3. This study identifies and quantifies IL-3 via potentially useful methods and helps in diagnosing sepsis attack.
  10. Veerasamy R, Rajak H
    Turk J Pharm Sci, 2021 04 20;18(2):151-156.
    PMID: 33900700 DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2020.45556
    Objectives: The present study aimed to establish significant and validated quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models for neuraminidase inhibitors and correlate their physicochemical, steric, and electrostatic properties with their anti-influenza activity.

    Materials and Methods: We have developed and validated 2D and 3D QSAR models by using multiple linear regression, partial least square regression, and k-nearest neighbor-molecular field analysis methods.

    Results: 2D QSAR models had q2: 0.950 and pred_r2: 0.877 and 3D QSAR models had q2: 0.899 and pred_r2: 0.957. These results showed that the models werere predictive.

    Conclusion: Parameters such as hydrogen count and hydrophilicity were involved in 2D QSAR models. The 3D QSAR study revealed that steric and hydrophobic descriptors were negatively contributed to neuraminidase inhibitory activity. The results of this study could be used as platform for design of better anti-influenza drugs.

    MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hydrogen; Neuraminidase; Multivariate Analysis; Linear Models; Least-Squares Analysis; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Static Electricity; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  11. Alakbari FS, Mohyaldinn ME, Ayoub MA, Muhsan AS, Hussein IA
    PLoS One, 2021;16(4):e0250466.
    PMID: 33901240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250466
    Sand management is essential for enhancing the production in oil and gas reservoirs. The critical total drawdown (CTD) is used as a reliable indicator of the onset of sand production; hence, its accurate prediction is very important. There are many published CTD prediction correlations in literature. However, the accuracy of most of these models is questionable. Therefore, further improvement in CTD prediction is needed for more effective and successful sand control. This article presents a robust and accurate fuzzy logic (FL) model for predicting the CTD. Literature on 23 wells of the North Adriatic Sea was used to develop the model. The used data were split into 70% training sets and 30% testing sets. Trend analysis was conducted to verify that the developed model follows the correct physical behavior trends of the input parameters. Some statistical analyses were performed to check the model's reliability and accuracy as compared to the published correlations. The results demonstrated that the proposed FL model substantially outperforms the current published correlations and shows higher prediction accuracy. These results were verified using the highest correlation coefficient, the lowest average absolute percent relative error (AAPRE), the lowest maximum error (max. AAPRE), the lowest standard deviation (SD), and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE). Results showed that the lowest AAPRE is 8.6%, whereas the highest correlation coefficient is 0.9947. These values of AAPRE (<10%) indicate that the FL model could predicts the CTD more accurately than other published models (>20% AAPRE). Moreover, further analysis indicated the robustness of the FL model, because it follows the trends of all physical parameters affecting the CTD.
    MeSH terms: Models, Theoretical*; Statistics as Topic; Stress, Mechanical; Time Factors; Fuzzy Logic*; Oil and Gas Fields/chemistry*
  12. Sharma N, Khurana N, Muthuraman A, Utreja P
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2021 Jul 15;903:174112.
    PMID: 33901458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174112
    In the present study, we investigated the anti-Parkinson's effect of vanillic acid (VA) (12 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg p.o.) against rotenone (2 mg/kg s.c.) induced Parkinson's disease (PD) in rats. The continuous administration of rotenone for 35 days resulted in rigidity in muscles, catalepsy, and decrease in locomotor activity, body weight, and rearing behaviour along with the generation of oxidative stress in the brain (rise in the TBARS, and SAG level and reduced CAT, and GSH levels). Co-treatment of VA and levodopa-carbidopa (100 mg/kg + 25 mg/kg p.o.) lead to a significant (P 
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/therapeutic use*; Antiparkinson Agents/pharmacology; Antiparkinson Agents/therapeutic use; Behavior, Animal/drug effects; Body Weight/drug effects; Carbidopa/pharmacology; Carbidopa/therapeutic use; Catalase/metabolism; Catalepsy/chemically induced; Catalepsy/drug therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine/metabolism; Drug Combinations; Postural Balance/drug effects; Female; Glutathione/metabolism; Levodopa/pharmacology; Levodopa/therapeutic use; Locomotion/drug effects; Male; Mesencephalon/drug effects; Mesencephalon/metabolism; Mesencephalon/pathology; Muscular Diseases/chemically induced; Muscular Diseases/drug therapy; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy*; Parkinson Disease/etiology; Rotenone/toxicity; Superoxides/metabolism; Vanillic Acid/pharmacology*; Vanillic Acid/therapeutic use*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Rats
  13. Cheng T, Shuang W, Ye D, Zhang W, Yang Z, Fang W, et al.
    Cell Signal, 2021 08;84:110013.
    PMID: 33901578 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110013
    Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common subtype of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and causes many deaths. Numerous medical studies have suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert their biological functions on ccRCC. Herein, functions of lncRNA SNHG16 in ccRCC cells and the mechanism mediated by SNHG16 were investigated. The expression levels of SNHG16 and its downstream genes in ccRCC cells and RCC tissues were examined utilizing reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. Cell counting kit-8 and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were performed to evaluate the proliferation of ccRCC cells, and flow cytometry analyses were employed to determine the apoptosis of ccRCC cells. Western blot analysis was applied to examine protein levels associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. The combination between SNHG16 and miRNA as well as miRNA and its target gene were explored by luciferase reporter, RNA pull down, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The significant upregulation of SNHG16 was observed in RCC tissues and ccRCC cells. SNHG16 downregulation inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of ccRCC cells. In addition, SNHG16 served as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-1301-3p, and STARD9 was a target gene of miR-1301-3p in ccRCC cells. SNHG16 upregulated STARD9 expression by binding with miR-1301-3p in ccRCC cells. Rescue assays validated that SNHG16 promoted ccRCC cell promotion and induced ccRCC cell apoptosis by upregulating STARD9 expression. In conclusions, SNHG16 promotes ccRCC cell proliferation and suppresses ccRCC cell apoptosis via interaction with miR-1301-3p to upregulate STARD9 expression in ccRCC cells.
  14. Hassan R, Othman N, Mansor SM, Müller CP, Hassan Z
    Brain Res Bull, 2021 07;172:139-150.
    PMID: 33901587 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.04.018
    Mitragyna speciosa, also known as kratom, has been used for mitigating the severity of opioid withdrawal in humans. Its main indole alkaloid, mitragynine, has been considered as a pharmacotherapy for pain conditions and opioid replacement therapy. However, at high doses, chronic mitragynine may also have an addiction potential. The effects of chronic action of mitragynine in the brain are still unknown. The present study developed a mitragynine withdrawal model in rats and used it for a proteomic analysis of mitragynine withdrawal effects. Mitragynine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered daily over a period of 14 days and then withdrawn. A proteomic analysis revealed that from a total of 1524 proteins identified, 31 proteins were upregulated, and 3 proteins were downregulated in the mitragynine withdrawal model. The Rab35 protein expression increased most profoundly in the mitragynine withdrawal group as compared to vehicle group. Therefore, it is proposed that Rab35 in the brain might be considered as a potential biomarker during mitragynine withdrawal and might be valuable target protein in developing new pharmacotherapies in the future.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Behavior, Animal/drug effects; Brain/metabolism*; Male; Plant Extracts/adverse effects*; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/metabolism*; Biomarkers/metabolism; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism*; Mitragyna*; Proteomics; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids/adverse effects*; Rats
  15. Rosenthal VD, Duszynska W, Ider BE, Gurskis V, Al-Ruzzieh MA, Myatra SN, et al.
    Am J Infect Control, 2021 Oct;49(10):1267-1274.
    PMID: 33901588 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.04.077
    BACKGROUND: We report the results of INICC surveillance study from 2013 to 2018, in 664 intensive care units (ICUs) in 133 cities, of 45 countries, from Latin-America, Europe, Africa, Eastern-Mediterranean, Southeast-Asia, and Western-Pacific.

    METHODS: Prospective data from patients hospitalized in ICUs were collected through INICC Surveillance Online System. CDC-NHSN definitions for device-associated healthcare-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied.

    RESULTS: We collected data from 428,847 patients, for an aggregate of 2,815,402 bed-days, 1,468,216 central line (CL)-days, 1,053,330 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days, 1,740,776 urinary catheter (UC)-days. We found 7,785 CL-associated bloodstream infections (CLAB), 12,085 ventilator-associated events (VAE), and 5,509 UC-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Pooled DA-HAI rates were 5.91% and 9.01 DA-HAIs/1,000 bed-days. Pooled CLAB rate was 5.30/1,000 CL-days; VAE rate was 11.47/1,000 MV-days, and CAUTI rate was 3.16/1,000 UC-days. P aeruginosa was non-susceptible (NS) to imipenem in 52.72% of cases; to colistin in 10.38%; to ceftazidime in 50%; to ciprofloxacin in 40.28%; and to amikacin in 34.05%. Klebsiella spp was NS to imipenem in 49.16%; to ceftazidime in 78.01%; to ciprofloxacin in 66.26%; and to amikacin in 42.45%. coagulase-negative Staphylococci and S aureus were NS to oxacillin in 91.44% and 56.03%, respectively. Enterococcus spp was NS to vancomycin in 42.31% of the cases.

    CONCLUSIONS: DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance are high and continuous efforts are needed to reduce them.

  16. Mawazi SM, Doolaanea AA, Hadi HA, Chatterjee B
    Int J Pharm, 2021 Jun 01;602:120638.
    PMID: 33901596 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120638
    Crystallinity plays a vital role in the pharmaceutical industry. It affects drug manufacturing, development processes, and the stability of pharmaceutical dosage forms. An objective of this study was to measure and analyze the carbamazepine (CBZ) crystallinity before and after formulation. Moreover, it intended to determine the extent to which the crystallinity of CBZ would affect the drug loading, the particle size, and the release of CBZ from the microparticles. The CBZ microparticles were prepared by encapsulating CBZ in ethyl cellulose (EC) polymer using a solvent evaporation method. EC was used here as a release modifier polymer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an aqueous phase stabilizer. Factorial design was used to prepare the CBZ microparticle formulations, including polymer concentration, solvent (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), PVA concentrations factor, the homogenization time, and homogenization speed. The crystallinity of CBZ was calculated utilizing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis. The crystallinity was calculated from the enthalpy of CBZ. Enthalpy was analyzed from the area under the curve peak of CBZ standard and CBZ-loaded microparticles. DSC and ATR-FTIR assessed the possible interaction between CBZ and excipients in the microparticle. The prepared CBZ microparticles showed various changes in the crystallinity rate of CBZ. The changes in the rate of CBZ crystallinity had different effects on the particle size, the drug loading, and the release of CBZ from the polymer. Statistically, all studied factors significantly affected the crystallinity of CBZ after formulation to microparticles.
    MeSH terms: Acetates; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Carbamazepine; Cellulose; Drug Industry; Excipients; Methylene Chloride; Particle Size; Polymers; Polyvinyl Alcohol; Reference Standards; Solvents; Thermodynamics; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  17. Azman NI, Wan-Mustapha WN, Goh YM, Hassim HA, Selamat J, Samsudin NIP
    Int J Food Microbiol, 2021 Jun 02;347:109205.
    PMID: 33901942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109205
    The present work aimed to determine the prevalence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus section Flavi on different types of dairy goat's feed samples obtained from four dairy goat's farms around the central region of Peninsular Malaysia, and to examine the effects of climatic conditions (temperature, relative humidity) of the dairy goat's farms, and their feeding and storage practices on the fungal prevalence of different types of dairy goat's feed. A total of 60 goat's feed samples were obtained, and their proximate composition and water activity were determined, following which they were cultivated on DRBC and AFPA for total fungal load and Aspergillus section Flavi load determination, respectively. Fungal isolates were identified morphologically, and toxigenicity potentials of Aspergillus section Flavi isolates were determined using CCA. The temperature and relative humidity data of all farms were obtained from the Malaysian Meteorological Department. The total fungal loads (on DRBC) of the goat's feed samples were log 0.767 to 7.071 CFU/g which included the common feed contaminants such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. The Aspergillus section Flavi loads (on AFPA) were log 0.667 to 3.206 CFU/g. Farm A yielded the highest number of Aspergillus section Flavi isolates as well as the highest number of aflatoxigenic isolates. It was found that climatic conditions and different practices between farms positively influenced the fungal prevalence on goat's feed samples based on the Pearson correlation analysis. The prevalence of mycotoxigenic isolates on goat's feed warrants for urgent intervention to ensure that goats are being fed with nutritionally adequate and safe feed. The presence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus section Flavi isolates indicates the risk of aflatoxin B1 contamination on the goat's feed, aflatoxicosis development in the goats, and aflatoxin M1 bio-transformation in the goat's milk. This is a potential threat to the flourishing goat's milk industry in Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Feed/microbiology*; Aspergillus/isolation & purification*; Fusarium/isolation & purification*; Goats; Malaysia; Milk; Penicillium/isolation & purification*; Prevalence; Aflatoxin B1/metabolism; Farms
  18. Joni AAM, Mohamat-Yusuff F, Noor NAM, Mohamed KN, Ash'aari ZH, Kusin FM, et al.
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2021 Jun;167:112276.
    PMID: 33901978 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112276
    This paper aims to study the spatial and temporal patterns of selected agricultural runoff, specifically in terms of glyphosate, nitrate, and ammonia in bottom water, as well as their possible sources, within an active cockle farming area in Bagan Pasir, Perak, Malaysia. Samples were taken along the cockle farming area from March to November 2019. Glyphosate was analyzed using HPLC with both extraction and derivatization methods using 9-fluorenyl-methyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl), while nitrate and ammonia levels were determined using the standard Hach method. Generally, glyphosate, nitrate, and ammonia were present within the study site with the average concentration of 37.44 ± 12.27 μg/l, 1.65 ± 0.52 mg/l, and 0.37 ± 0.19 mg/l, respectively. The results suggest that glyphosate and nitrate might be derived from an inland source, while a uniform and low level of ammonia suggested might originate from lithogenic origins. Continuous monitoring remains encouraged.
    MeSH terms: Agriculture; Animals; Environmental Monitoring; Malaysia; Water; Cardiidae*
  19. Courage C, Oliver KL, Park EJ, Cameron JM, Grabińska KA, Muona M, et al.
    Am J Hum Genet, 2021 04 01;108(4):722-738.
    PMID: 33798445 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.03.013
    Progressive myoclonus epilepsies (PMEs) comprise a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous rare diseases. Over 70% of PME cases can now be molecularly solved. Known PME genes encode a variety of proteins, many involved in lysosomal and endosomal function. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in 84 (78 unrelated) unsolved PME-affected individuals, with or without additional family members, to discover novel causes. We identified likely disease-causing variants in 24 out of 78 (31%) unrelated individuals, despite previous genetic analyses. The diagnostic yield was significantly higher for individuals studied as trios or families (14/28) versus singletons (10/50) (OR = 3.9, p value = 0.01, Fisher's exact test). The 24 likely solved cases of PME involved 18 genes. First, we found and functionally validated five heterozygous variants in NUS1 and DHDDS and a homozygous variant in ALG10, with no previous disease associations. All three genes are involved in dolichol-dependent protein glycosylation, a pathway not previously implicated in PME. Second, we independently validate SEMA6B as a dominant PME gene in two unrelated individuals. Third, in five families, we identified variants in established PME genes; three with intronic or copy-number changes (CLN6, GBA, NEU1) and two very rare causes (ASAH1, CERS1). Fourth, we found a group of genes usually associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, but here, remarkably, presenting as PME, with or without prior developmental delay. Our systematic analysis of these cases suggests that the small residuum of unsolved cases will most likely be a collection of very rare, genetically heterogeneous etiologies.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Dolichol/metabolism*; Female; Glycosylation; Humans; Introns/genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation/genetics*; Cohort Studies; Age of Onset; Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive/classification; Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive/genetics*; Young Adult; DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics
  20. Subramaniam B, Arshad NM, Malagobadan S, Misran M, Nyamathulla S, Mun KS, et al.
    Pharmaceutics, 2021 Mar 24;13(4).
    PMID: 33804975 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13040439
    1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) extracted from the rhizomes of Alpinia conchigera Griff (Zingiberaceae) has been shown to deregulate the NF-ĸB signaling pathway and induce apoptosis-mediated cell death in many cancer types. However, ACA is a hydrophobic ester, with poor solubility in an aqueous medium, limited bioavailability, and nonspecific targeting in vivo. To address these problems, ACA was encapsulated in a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) anchored with plerixafor octahydrochloride (AMD3100) to promote targeted delivery towards C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)-expressing prostate cancer cells. The NLC was prepared using the melt and high sheer homogenization method, and it exhibited ideal physico-chemical properties, successful encapsulation and modification, and sustained rate of drug release. Furthermore, it demonstrated time-based and improved cellular uptake, and improved cytotoxic and anti-metastatic properties on PC-3 cells in vitro. Additionally, the in vivo animal tumor model revealed significant anti-tumor efficacy and reduction in pro-tumorigenic markers in comparison to the placebo, without affecting the weight and physiological states of the nude mice. Overall, ACA-loaded NLC with AMD3100 surface modification was successfully prepared with evidence of substantial anti-cancer efficacy. These results suggest the potential use of AMD3100-modified NLCs as a targeting carrier for cytotoxic drugs towards CXCR4-expressing cancer cells.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Benzyl Alcohols; Biological Availability; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Esters; Heterocyclic Compounds; Humans; Lipids; Male; Mice, Nude; Prostatic Neoplasms; Solubility; Signal Transduction; NF-kappa B; Cell Death; Apoptosis; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; Receptors, Chemokine; Rhizome; Zingiberaceae; Alpinia; Mice; Drug Liberation
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