Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Chee SY
    Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 2023 Dec;115:105135.
    PMID: 37487457 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105135
    In their twilight years, spatial disorientation can cause significant challenges for older adults, leading them to become perpetually disoriented or rely more on environmental cues and others for navigation. Unfortunately, wayfinding within senior living facilities is often an afterthought for senior living facility planners. This study explores the lived experiences of older adults coping with spatial disorientation and wayfinding in senior living facilities and the consequential impact on their physical, social, and psychosocial well-being. Data were collected from 28 older adults in six senior living facilities within three urban locations. The study used one-on-one, semi-structured, in-depth interviews and the Modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen analysis method guided by Moustakas' transcendental phenomenology. Five primary themes emerged: spatial disorientation, wayfinding, self-evident stimuli, visual cues and constancies, and digital wayfinding decision junctions. Through a "looking out from the inside" approach, the findings have valuable implications for academics, senior-friendly environments, government policymakers, hospitality and healthcare industries.
    MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological*; Aged; Confusion; Cues*; Humans
  2. Chaudhary MN, Lim VC, Sahimin N, Faller EM, Regmi P, Aryal N, et al.
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2023;54:102620.
    PMID: 37487946 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102620
    BACKGROUND: Annually, 600 million individuals are affected by food-borne diseases (FBD), alongside 425,000 fatalities. Improving the general public knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices in, (KAP) food safety is necessary for minimizing FBD transmission. In Malaysia, migrant workers account for 11.1% of the workforce, with a high proportion involved in food and beverage services. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to evaluate the current food safety KAP, and (ii) to identify the strategies to promote food safety awareness, among migrant workers across occupational sectors in Klang Valley.

    METHOD: A survey was conducted with 403 migrant workers through phone interviews and online self-administered questionnaires. Piecewise structural equation modelling and multinomial regression were applied to identify predictor variables for food safety KAP and to explore differences across nationalities.

    RESULTS: The respondents were Nepalese, Filipino and Indonesian. The majority were male, working in the services industry, had completed high school, aged between 30 and 39 years and had worked in Malaysia for less than ten years. Knowledge was significantly correlated with attitudes and practices. Female respondents had lower knowledge and attitude scores while younger respondents had lower knowledge scores. Indonesian and Filipino respondents had lower knowledge and attitudes scores than Nepalese respondents. Understanding food safety information from social media was positively correlated with the respondents' food safety knowledge and practices.

    CONCLUSION: These findings highlighted: (i) the need to target female, younger, Indonesian and Filipino migrant workers, and (ii) the potential of social media to improve public awareness of food safety and hygienic practices.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Foodborne Diseases*; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transients and Migrants*; Food Safety
  3. Chen Z, Wang W, Abdul Razak SR, Han T, Ahmad NH, Li X
    Cell Death Dis, 2023 Jul 24;14(7):460.
    PMID: 37488128 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05930-w
    Ferroptosis is a recently discovered essential type of cell death that is mainly characterized by iron overload and lipid peroxidation. Emerging evidence suggests that ferroptosis is a double-edged sword in human cancer. However, the precise underlying molecular mechanisms and their differential roles in tumorigenesis are unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarize and briefly present the key pathways of ferroptosis, paying special attention to the regulation of ferroptosis as well as its dual role as an oncogenic and as a tumor suppressor event in various human cancers. Moreover, multiple pharmacological ferroptosis activators are summarized, and the prospect of targeting ferroptosis in cancer therapy is further elucidated.
    MeSH terms: Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Cell Death; Iron Overload*; Carcinogenesis/genetics
  4. Zubair HT, Bradley DA, Khairina MD, Oresegun A, Basaif A, Othman J, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2023 Jul 24;13(1):11918.
    PMID: 37488183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39180-9
    We have developed a radioluminescence-based survey meter for use in industries in which there is involvement in naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), also in support of those needing to detect other weak emitters of radiation. The functionality of the system confronts particular shortcomings of the handheld survey meters that are currently being made use of. The device couples a LYSO:Ce scintillator with a photodetector via a polymer optical fibre waveguide, allowing for "intrinsically safe" inspection within pipework, separators, valves and other such component pieces. The small-diameter optical fibre probe is electrically passive, immune to electromagnetic interference, and chemically inert. The readout circuit is entirely incorporated within a handheld casing housing a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detection circuit and a microprocessor circuit connected to an LCD display. A 15 m long flexible PMMA optical fibre waveguide is butt coupled to an ABS plastic probe that retains the LYSO:Ce scintillator. Initial tests have included the use of lab-based mixed gamma-ray sources, measurements being made in concert with a reference conventional GM survey-meter. Characterization, via NORM sources at a decontamination facility, has shown useful sensitivity, covering the dose-rate range 0.10- to 28 µSv h-1 (R-squared 0.966), extending to 80 µSv/h as demonstrated in use of a Cs-137 source. The system is shown to provide an effective tool for detection of radioactivity within hard to access locations, in particular for sources emitting at low radiation levels, down to values that approach background.
  5. Kabir MA, Iqbal MM, Nandi SK, Khanam M, Sumon MAA, Tahiluddin AB, et al.
    BMC Zool, 2023 Jul 24;8(1):10.
    PMID: 37488631 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-023-00172-x
    Long-whiskered catfish Sperata aor is a freshwater catfish known for its supreme flesh quality and fast growth, whose captive-reared broodstock denotes a difficult challenge for aquaculture. The reproductive dysfunctions in long-whiskered catfish raised in tank conditions were observed by comparing tissue biochemical composition and ovarian histology of wild female broodstock. Sixty (60) female broodstocks were used in the current study, consisting of 30 reared at sandy-muddy soil tank bottoms in captive conditions and 30 wild individuals collected from the haor basin during the breeding season. The fish reproductive state was investigated using the biometric and reproductive parameters, biochemical composition and levels of amino acids in the different tissues, and histological analysis of ovarian development. Results revealed that the biometrical parameters of wild and captive female broodstocks exhibited no remarkable difference (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, the wild fish had remarkably higher (p  0.05). However, two essential amino acids (EAA), i.e., lysine and phenylalanine, and two non-essential amino acids, i.e., glutamic acid and glycine, were highly significant differences (p 
  6. Buie MJ, Quan J, Windsor JW, Coward S, Hansen TM, King JA, et al.
    Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2023 Aug;21(9):2211-2221.
    PMID: 35863682 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.06.030
    BACKGROUND & AIMS: The evolving epidemiologic patterns of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) throughout the world, in conjunction with advances in therapeutic treatments, may influence hospitalization rates of IBD. We performed a systematic review with temporal analysis of hospitalization rates for IBD across the world in the 21st century.

    METHODS: We systematically reviewed Medline and Embase for population-based studies reporting hospitalization rates for IBD, Crohn's disease (CD), or ulcerative colitis (UC) in the 21st century. Log-linear models were used to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) with associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Random-effects meta-analysis pooled country-level AAPCs. Data were stratified by the epidemiologic stage of a region: compounding prevalence (stage 3) in North America, Western Europe, and Oceania vs acceleration of incidence (stage 2) in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America vs emergence (stage 1) in developing countries.

    RESULTS: Hospitalization rates for a primary diagnosis of IBD were stable in countries in stage 3 (AAPC, -0.13%; 95% CI, -0.72 to 0.97), CD (AAPC, 0.20%; 95% CI, -1.78 to 2.17), and UC (AAPC, 0.02%; 95% CI, -0.91 to 0.94). In contrast, hospitalization rates for a primary diagnosis were increasing in countries in stage 2 for IBD (AAPC, 4.44%; 95% CI, 2.75 to 6.14), CD (AAPC, 8.34%; 95% CI, 4.38 to 12.29), and UC (AAPC, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.29 to 6.52). No population-based studies were available for developing regions in stage 1 (emergence).

    CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization rates for IBD are stabilizing in countries in stage 3, whereas newly industrialized countries in stage 2 have rapidly increasing hospitalization rates, contributing to an increasing burden on global health care systems.

    MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence
  7. El Menyiy N, Aboulaghras S, Bakrim S, Moubachir R, Taha D, Khalid A, et al.
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2023 Sep;165:115159.
    PMID: 37481929 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115159
    Plant bioactive molecules could play key preventive and therapeutic roles in chronological aging and the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases, often accompanied by increased oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation. Dietary antioxidants, including genkwanin, could decrease oxidative stress and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines or pathways. The present study is the first comprehensive review of genkwanin, a methoxyflavone found in several plant species. Indeed, natural sources, and pharmacokinetics of genkwanin, the biological properties were discussed and highlighted in detail. This review analyzed and considered all original studies related to identification, isolation, quantification, investigation of the biological and pharmacological properties of genkwanin. We consulted all published papers in peer-reviewed journals in the English language from the inception of each database to 12 May 2023. Different phytochemical demonstrated that genkwanin is a non-glycosylated flavone found and isolated from several medicinal plants such as Genkwa Flos, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Leonurus sibiricus. In vitro and in vivo biological and pharmacological investigations showed that Genkwanin exhibits remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, genkwanin, via activation of glucokinase, has shown antihyperglycemic activity with a potential role against metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Additionally, it revealed cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and assisting against neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, genkwanin showed other biological properties like antitumor capability, antibacterial, antiviral, and dermato-protective effects. The involved mechanisms include sub-cellular, cellular and molecular actions at different levels such as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Despite the findings from preclinical studies that have demonstrated the effects of genkwanin and its diverse mechanisms of action, additional research is required to comprehensively explore its therapeutic potential. Primarily, extensive studies should be carried out to enhance our understanding of the molecule's pharmacodynamic actions and pharmacokinetic pathways. Moreover, toxicological and clinical investigations should be undertaken to assess the safety and clinical efficacy of genkwanin. These forthcoming studies are of utmost importance in fully unlocking the potential of this molecule in the realm of therapeutic applications.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Antioxidants/therapeutic use; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Cytokines/metabolism
  8. Farghadani R, Naidu R
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2023 Sep;165:115170.
    PMID: 37481930 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115170
    Breast cancer is a leadingcause of cancer-related deaths in women globally, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being an aggressive subtype that lacks targeted therapies and is associated with a poor prognosis. Polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds in plants, have been investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy for TNBC. This review provides an overview of the anticancer effects of polyphenols in TNBC and their mechanisms of action. Several polyphenols, including resveratrol, quercetin, kaempferol, genistein, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, apigenin, fisetin, hesperetin and luteolin, have been shown to inhibit TNBC cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest, promote apoptosis, and suppress migration/invasion in preclinical models. The molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer effects involve the modulation of several signalling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, STATT, and NF-κB pathways. Polyphenols also exhibit synergistic effects with chemotherapy drugs, making them promising candidates for combination therapy. The review also highlights clinical trials investigating the potential use of polyphenols, individually or in combination therapy, against breast cancer. This review deepens the under-standing of the mechanism of action of respective polyphenols and provides valuable insights into the potential use of polyphenols as a therapeutic strategy for TNBC, and lays the groundwork for future research in this area.
    MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Apoptosis; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Polyphenols/pharmacology; Polyphenols/therapeutic use
  9. Arni LA, Hapiz A, Jawad AH, Abdulhameed AS, ALOthman ZA, Wilson LD
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Sep 01;248:125943.
    PMID: 37482164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125943
    Herein, a novel nanohybrid composite of magnetic chitosan-salicylaldehyde/nanoclay (MCH-SAL/NCLA) was hydrothermally synthesized for removal of azo dye (acid red 88, AR88) from simulated wastewater. Response surface methodology combined with the Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD) was applied with 29 experiments to assess the impact of adsorption variables, that include A: % NCLA loading (0-50), B: MCH-SAL/NCLA dose (0.02-0.1 g/100 mL), C: pH (4-10), and time D: (10-90 min) on AR88 dye adsorption. The highest AR88 removal (75.16 %) as per desirability function was attained at the optimum conditions (NCLA loading = 41.8 %, dosage = 0.06 g/100 mL, solution pH = 4, and time = 86. 17 min). The kinetic and equilibrium adsorption results of AR88 by MCH-SAL/NCLA reveal that the process follows the pseudo-first-order and Temkin models. The MCH-SAL/NCLA composite has a maximum adsorption capacity (173.5 mg/g) with the AR88 dye. The adsorption of AR88 onto the MCH-SAL/NCLA surface is determined by a variety of processes, including electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, n-π, and n-π interactions. This research revealed that MCH-SAL/NCLA can be used as a versatile and efficient bio-adsorbent for azo dye removal from contaminated wastewater.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Azo Compounds/chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Water Pollutants, Chemical*; Magnetic Phenomena; Waste Water
  10. Jithendra P, Mohamed JMM, Annamalai D, Al-Serwi RH, Ibrahim AM, El-Sherbiny M, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Sep 01;248:125948.
    PMID: 37482169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125948
    The chondrogenic efficacy of aloe vera blended collagen-chitosan (COL-CS-AV) porous scaffold was investigated using articular chondrocytes in a standard condition. Cytocompatibility was analyzed using fluorescent dyes (calcein AM/ethidium bromide) and the viable cells were quantified by MTT assay. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of ECM was estimated by using 1, 9-Dimethyl methylene Blue (DMMB). The total RNA content was quantified and the cartilage specific genes (col2a1, Acan) were amplified by reverse transcription-PCR from the cell lysate of the scaffolds. Histological examination was made using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), safranin-O, masson's trichrome, alcian blue, and alizarin red to stain the specific component of ECM secreted on the construct. The cartilage specific collagen type II was estimated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal type II collagen antibody. The results of these studies proved that COL-CS-AV scaffold has more chondrogenic efficacy than COL-CS, thus the aloe vera blend COL-CS-AV scaffold might be used as suitable candidate for cartilage tissue engineering.
    MeSH terms: Aloe*; Cartilage/metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Collagen/chemistry; Chondrocytes/metabolism; Tissue Engineering/methods; Collagen Type II/metabolism; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry
  11. Tan D, Mohd Nasir NF, Abdul Manan H, Yahya N
    Cancer Radiother, 2023 Sep;27(5):398-406.
    PMID: 37482464 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2023.05.001
    PURPOSE: This study aims to perform a comprehensive systematic review of deep learning (DL) models in predicting RT-induced toxicity.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Embase databases from the earliest record up to September 2022. Related studies on deep learning models for radiotherapy toxicity prediction were selected based on predefined PICOS criteria.

    RESULTS: Fourteen studies of radiotherapy-treated patients on different types of cancer [prostate (n=2), HNC (n=4), liver (n=2), lung (n=4), cervical (n=1), and oesophagus (n=1)] were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Information regarding patient characteristics and model development was summarized. Several approaches, such as ensemble learning, data augmentation, and transfer learning, that were utilized by selected studies were discussed.

    CONCLUSION: Deep learning techniques are able to produce a consistent performance for toxicity prediction. Future research using large and diverse datasets and standardization of the study methodologies are required to improve the consistency of the research output.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Male; Neoplasms*
  12. Raji YE, Toung OP, Taib NM, Sekawi ZB
    Sci Rep, 2023 Jul 23;13(1):11880.
    PMID: 37482578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37941-0
    By 2030, the World Health Organization wants to decrease viral hepatitis incidence and mortality by 90% and 65%, respectively. One of the agents responsible for the increased burden of viral hepatitis is the hepatitis E virus (HEV). This emerging pathogen is prevalent worldwide causing both acute and chronic infection. The rising risk profile of HEV has become a source of increased global public health concern. Despite this challenge, South-Eastern Asia (SEA), where many at-risk people are found, lacks uniform HEV prevalence data. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the overall prevalence of hepatitis E in SEA. Using R statistical software, a random effect model was used to estimate the logit-transformed prevalence. Moderator analyses were used to investigate the potential sources of variation. Thirty-two studies comprising 29,944 with 6806 anti-HEV antibody-positive individuals were evaluated. The overall HEV seroprevalence in SEA was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17-27) with high heterogeneity. At the country level, Laos has the highest prevalence estimate of 39% (CI: 16-69). Also, the studied population, year of publication, duration of sampling, and diagnostic method are significant HEV prevalence predictors accounting for 22.61% of the observed heterogeneity. The high HEV prevalence found in this study necessitates coordinated national and regional efforts to combat this emerging disease.
    MeSH terms: Far East; Hepatitis Antibodies; Humans; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Hepatitis E virus*
  13. Bibi F, Ilyas N, Saeed M, Shabir S, Shati AA, Alfaifi MY, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Dec;30(60):125197-125213.
    PMID: 37482589 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28765-6
    The prevalence of organic solid waste worldwide has turned into a problem that requires comprehensive treatment on all fronts. The amount of agricultural waste generated by agro-based industries has more than triplet. It not only pollutes the environment but also wastes a lot of beneficial biomass resources. These wastes may be utilized as a different option/source for the manufacturing of many goods, including biogas, biofertilizers, biofuel, mushrooms and tempeh as the primary ingredients in numerous industries. Utilizing agro-industrial wastes as good raw materials may provide cost reduction and lower environmental pollution levels. Agro-industrial wastes are converted into biofuels, enzymes, vitamin supplements, antioxidants, livestock feed, antibiotics, biofertilizers and other compounds via solid-state fermentation (SSF). By definition, SSF is a method used when there is little to no free water available. As a result, it permits the use of solid materials as biotransformation substrates. Through SSF methods, a variety of microorganisms are employed to produce these worthwhile things. SSFs are therefore reviewed and discussed along with their impact on the production of value-added items. This review will provide thorough essential details information on recycling and the use of agricultural waste.
    MeSH terms: Agriculture*; Fermentation; Biofuels; Solid Waste
  14. Tong KTX, Tan IS, Foo HCY, Show PL, Lam MK, Wong MK
    Bioengineered, 2023 Dec;14(1):246-289.
    PMID: 37482680 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2236842
    The imminent need for transition to a circular biorefinery using microbial fuel cells (MFC), based on the valorization of renewable resources, will ameliorate the carbon footprint induced by industrialization. MFC catalyzed by bioelectrochemical process drew significant attention initially for its exceptional potential for integrated production of biochemicals and bioenergy. Nonetheless, the associated costly bioproduct production and slow microbial kinetics have constrained its commercialization. This review encompasses the potential and development of macroalgal biomass as a substrate in the MFC system for L-lactic acid (L-LA) and bioelectricity generation. Besides, an insight into the state-of-the-art technological advancement in the MFC system is also deliberated in detail. Investigations in recent years have shown that MFC developed with different anolyte enhances power density from several µW/m2 up to 8160 mW/m2. Further, this review provides a plausible picture of macroalgal-based L-LA and bioelectricity circular biorefinery in the MFC system for future research directions.
    MeSH terms: Bioelectric Energy Sources*; Electricity; Electrodes; Biomass
  15. Haque J, Zulkifli MFR, Ismail N, Quraishi MA, Mohd Ghazali MS, Berdimurodov E, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2023 Jul 18;8(28):24797-24812.
    PMID: 37483193 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00366
    Three novel natural amino acid-derived sodium L-2-(1-imidazolyl) alkanoic acids (IZSs), namely, sodium 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-methylpentanoate (IZS-L), sodium 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-3-phenylpropanoate (IZS-P), and sodium 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-(methylthio)butanoate (IZS-M), were investigated as corrosion inhibitors. The IZSs were synthesized following the green chemistry principles, and their structure was characterized using FTIR and NMR techniques. The corrosion study results reveal that a moderate concentration of IZSs (having low solution conductivity) showed potential corrosion inhibition for mild steel in artificial seawater. At longer immersion, IZS-P forms a uniform protective film and exhibits the potential inhibition efficiency of 82.46% at 8.4 mmol L-1. Tafel polarization results reveal that IZS-P and IZS-M act as mixed types with an anodic predominantly corrosion inhibitor. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results signify that IZSs inhibit mild steel corrosion through the formation of an inhibitor film on the metal surface, which was further confirmed by the FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XPS studies. DFT result shows that in IZS-P, the benzylic group (-CH2-Ph) has greater electron distribution compared to isobutyl (-CH2CH(CH3)2) in IZS-L and methythioethyl group (-CH2CH2SCH3) which supported the corrosion inhibition performance at longer immersion [IZS-P (82.46%) > IZS-M (67.19%) > IZS-L (24.77%)].
  16. Thu Tran HT, Nguyen PM, Van Nguyen H, Chong TV, Bubanja V, Van Vo H
    ACS Omega, 2023 Jul 18;8(28):25424-25431.
    PMID: 37483209 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02914
    This work studied hydrogen adsorption by a two-dimensional silicon carbide using a combined molecular dynamics and density functional theory approach. The geometrical properties of partially and fully hydrogenated structures were investigated, considering the effect of zero-point energy. The preferred hydrogen atom location is on top of silicon atoms. The hydrogen interaction energies were obtained for the first time as the attractive force. For fully hydrogenated 2D SiC, the chair-like conformer is the most stable configuration, and the next is the boat-like conformer, while the table-like structure is not stable. The coverage and arrangement of the adsorbed hydrogen atoms significantly influence the values of the direct/indirect bandgaps of the considered systems, increasing the bandgap to 4.07, 3.64, and 4.41 eV for chair-like, table-like, and boat-like, respectively. Their dynamical stability was investigated by phonon dispersion calculations. The obtained results can serve as a guide for the application of hydrogenated two-dimensional silicon carbide in optoelectronic applications in manufacturing innovation.
  17. Abdulhafiz F, Mohammed A, Reduan MFH, Hamzah Z, Kari ZA, Téllez-Isaías G
    Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e18069.
    PMID: 37483701 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18069
    Hyperuricemia has become a significant public-health concern in recent years, and the available treatments have been reported to have an adverse side effect on patients. Alocasia longiloba has been used traditionally in Malaysia for treating gout, inflammation, and wounds. However, the plant has not been investigated for its effects on hyperuricemia. This study investigated the anti-hyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory effects of A. longiloba extracts in hyperuricemic rats induced by potassium oxonate (250 mg/kg body weight). Rats were given A. longiloba extracts or a standard drug for two-week, and blood and tissue samples were collected for analysis. Results show that A. longiloba extracts significantly reduced serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemic rats and inhibited xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in the liver and kidney, which could be the mechanism underlying the urate-lowering effects. The extracts also significantly (p 
  18. Hussain SM, Shahzad F, Katbar NM, Jamshed W, Eid MR, Kamel A, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e17668.
    PMID: 37483748 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17668
    The goal of this research is to investigate the effects of Ohmic heating, heat generation, and viscous dissipative flow on magneto (MHD) boundary-layer heat transmission flowing of Jeffrey nanofluid across a stretchable surface using the Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li (KKL) model. Engine oil serves as the primary fluid and is suspended with copper oxide nanomolecules. The governing equations that regulate the flowing and heat transmission fields are partial-differential equations (PDEs) that are then converted to a model of non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) via similarity transformation. The resultant ODEs are numerically resolved using a Keller box technique via MATLAB software that is suggested. Diagrams and tables are used to express the effects of various normal liquids, nanomolecule sizes, magneto parameters, Prandtl, Deborah, and Eckert numbers on the velocity field and temperature field. The outcomes display that the copper oxide-engine oil nanofluid has a lower velocity, drag force, and Nusselt number than the plain liquid, although the introduction of nanoparticles raises the heat. The heat transference rate is reduced by Eckert number, size of nanomolecules, and magneto parameter rising. Whilst, Deborah number is shown to enhance both the drag-force factor and the heat transfer rate. Furthermore, the discoveries reported are advantageous to upgrading incandescent lighting bulbs, heating, and cooling equipment, filament-generating light, energy generation, multiple heating devices, and other similar devices.
  19. Aldhaher A, Shahabipour F, Shaito A, Al-Assaf S, Elnour AAM, Sallam EB, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e17050.
    PMID: 37483767 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17050
    Repairing significant bone defects remains a critical challenge, raising the clinical demand to design novel bone biomaterials that incorporate osteogenic and angiogenic properties to support the regeneration of vascularized bone. Bioactive glass scaffolds can stimulate angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In addition, natural or synthetic polymers exhibit structural similarity with extracellular matrix (ECM) components and have superior biocompatibility and biodegradability. Thus, there is a need to prepare composite scaffolds of hydrogels for vascularized bone, which incorporate to improve the mechanical properties and bioactivity of natural polymers. In addition, those composites' 3-dimensional (3D) form offer regenerative benefits such as direct doping of the scaffold with ions. This review presents a comprehensive discussion of composite scaffolds incorporated with BaG, focusing on their effects on osteo-inductivity and angiogenic properties. Moreover, the adaptation of the ion-doped hydrogel composite scaffold into a 3D scaffold for the generation of vascularized bone tissue is exposed. Finally, we highlight the challenges and future of manufacturing such biomaterials.
External Links