Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Priyadharshini M, Ahmed MS, Pradhoshini KP, Santhanabharathi B, Ahmed MFS, Alam L, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Jun;31(29):41388-41401.
    PMID: 37171725 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27339-w
    The current study sought to determine the levels of radioactivity and heavy metal contamination in 22 dried fish samples collected in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The study found that there were substantial heavy metals concentrations for Pb, Mn, Cr, Co, and Cd. The concentration of heavy metal Pb being alarmingly high (32.85 to 42.09 mg/kg), followed by Cd (2.18 mg/kg to 3.51 mg/kg) than the permissible limit of WHO (2.17 mg/kg) for Pb and (0.05 mg/kg) for Cd. In terms of radioactivity, the gross alpha activity in the dried fish samples ranged 6.25 ± 0.12 to 48.21 ± 0.11 Bg/kg with an average of 20.35 Bg/kg and with a gross beta activity from 6.48 ± 0.02 to 479.47 ± 0.65 Bg/kg, for an average of 136.83 Bg/kg. The study found that the internal radiation dose that people receive upon consuming the fish species Sphyraena obtusata, Rachycentron canadum, Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, Synodontidae, Carangoides malabaricus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomberomorus commerson, Sillago sihama, Gerres subfasciatus, and Amblypharyngodon mola is above the ICRP-recommended limit of less than 1 mSv/year. Annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and total excessive lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged 0.488 µSv year-1 and 0.004 µSv year-1 respectively, the values of AGDE being higher than the global average value. The findings of the study indicate that the analyzed dried fish samples are contaminated with Pb and Cd, which shall pose cancer risk to the consumers as a result.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Fishes*; Food Contamination/analysis; Humans; India; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis; Seafood/analysis; Risk Assessment
  2. Chhablani J, Filloy A, Chong V, Wu L, Fong K
    Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther, 2024 Aug;48:104217.
    PMID: 38759862 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104217
    MeSH terms: Chronic Disease; Humans; Hyperplasia; Laser Therapy/methods
  3. Houge G, Bratland E, Aukrust I, Tveten K, Žukauskaitė G, Sansovic I, et al.
    Eur J Hum Genet, 2024 Jul;32(7):858-863.
    PMID: 38778080 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01617-8
    The ABC and ACMG variant classification systems were compared by asking mainly European clinical laboratories to classify variants in 10 challenging cases using both systems, and to state if the variant in question would be reported as a relevant result or not as a measure of clinical utility. In contrast to the ABC system, the ACMG system was not made to guide variant reporting but to determine the likelihood of pathogenicity. Nevertheless, this comparison is justified since the ACMG class determines variant reporting in many laboratories. Forty-three laboratories participated in the survey. In seven cases, the classification system used did not influence the reporting likelihood when variants labeled as "maybe report" after ACMG-based classification were included. In three cases of population frequent but disease-associated variants, there was a difference in favor of reporting after ABC classification. A possible reason is that ABC step C (standard variant comments) allows a variant to be reported in one clinical setting but not another, e.g., based on Bayesian-based likelihood calculation of clinical relevance. Finally, the selection of ACMG criteria was compared between 36 laboratories. When excluding criteria used by less than four laboratories (<10%), the average concordance rate was 46%. Taken together, ABC-based classification is more clear-cut than ACMG-based classification since molecular and clinical information is handled separately, and variant reporting can be adapted to the clinical question and phenotype. Furthermore, variants do not get a clinically inappropriate label, like pathogenic when not pathogenic in a clinical context, or variant of unknown significance when the significance is known.
    MeSH terms: Genetic Testing/methods; Genetic Testing/standards; Humans; Genetic Variation*
  4. Donkor A, Adotey PN, Ofori EO, Ayitey JA, Ferguson C, Luckett T, et al.
    JCO Glob Oncol, 2024 May;10:e2400014.
    PMID: 38815191 DOI: 10.1200/GO.24.00014
    PURPOSE: There is limited information on preferences for place of care and death among patients with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim was to report the prevalence and determinants of preferences for end-of-life place of care and death among patients with cancer in LMICs and identify concordance between the preferred and actual place of death.

    METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was conducted. Four electronic databases were searched to identify studies of any design that reported on the preferred and actual place of care and death of patients with cancer in LMICs. A random-effects meta-analysis estimated pooled prevalences, with 95% CI, with subgroup analyses for region and risk of bias.

    RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included. Of 3,837 patients with cancer, 62% (95% CI, 49 to 75) preferred to die at home; however, the prevalence of actual home death was 37% (95% CI, 13 to 60). Subgroup analyses found that preferences for home as place of death varied from 55% (95% CI, 41 to 69) for Asia to 64% (95% CI, 57 to 71) for South America and 72% (95% CI, 48 to 97) for Africa. The concordance between the preferred and actual place of death was 48% (95% CI, 41 to 55) for South Africa and 92% (95% CI, 88 to 95) for Malaysia. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of preferred home death included performance status and patients with breast cancer.

    CONCLUSION: There is very little literature from LMICs on the preferences for end-of-life place of care and death among patients with cancer. Rigorous research is needed to help understand how preferences of patients with cancer change during their journey through cancer.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Prevalence
  5. Suleman M, Sayaf AM, Khan A, Khan SA, Albekairi NA, Alshammari A, et al.
    J Infect Public Health, 2024 Jul;17(7):102448.
    PMID: 38815532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.05.005
    BACKGROUND: Influenza A virus causes severe respiratory illnesses, especially in developing nations where most child deaths under 5 occur due to lower respiratory tract infections. The RIG-I protein acts as a sensor for viral dsRNA, triggering interferon production through K63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains synthesized by TRIM25. However, the influenza A virus's NS1 protein hinders this process by binding to TRIM25, disrupting its association with RIG-I and preventing downstream interferon signalling, contributing to the virus's evasion of the immune response.

    METHODS: In our study we used structural-based drug designing, molecular simulation, and binding free energy approaches to identify the potent phytocompounds from various natural product databases (>100,000 compounds) able to inhibit the binding of NS1 with the TRIM25.

    RESULTS: The molecular screening identified EA-8411902 and EA-19951545 from East African Natural Products Database, NA-390261 and NA-71 from North African Natural Products Database, SA-65230 and SA- 4477104 from South African Natural Compounds Database, NEA- 361 and NEA- 4524784 from North-East African Natural Products Database, TCM-4444713 and TCM-6056 from Traditional Chinese Medicines Database as top hits. The molecular docking and binding free energies results revealed that these compounds have high affinity with the specific active site residues (Leu95, Ser99, and Tyr89) involved in the interaction with TRIM25. Additionally, analysis of structural dynamics, binding free energy, and dissociation constants demonstrates a notably stronger binding affinity of these compounds with the NS1 protein. Moreover, all selected compounds exhibit exceptional ADMET properties, including high water solubility, gastrointestinal absorption, and an absence of hepatotoxicity, while adhering to Lipinski's rule.

    CONCLUSION: Our molecular simulation findings highlight that the identified compounds demonstrate high affinity for specific active site residues involved in the NS1-TRIM25 interaction, exhibit exceptional ADMET properties, and adhere to drug-likeness criteria, thus presenting promising candidates for further development as antiviral agents against influenza A virus infections.

    MeSH terms: Antiviral Agents/pharmacology; Antiviral Agents/chemistry; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Humans; Influenza A virus/drug effects; Influenza A virus/immunology; Protein Binding*; Transcription Factors/genetics; Transcription Factors/metabolism; Transcription Factors/chemistry; Drug Design; Molecular Docking Simulation*; Phytochemicals/pharmacology; Phytochemicals/chemistry
  6. Cheng A, Sadali NM, Rejab NA, Uludag A
    Planta, 2024 Jun 03;260(1):14.
    PMID: 38829418 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04449-4
    Significant past, present, and potential future research into the organellar (plastid and mitochondrial) genomes of gymnosperms that can provide insight into the unknown origin and evolution of plants is highlighted. Gymnosperms are vascular seed plants that predominated the ancient world before their sister clade, angiosperms, took over during the Late Cretaceous. The divergence of gymnosperms and angiosperms took place around 300 Mya, with the latter evolving into the diverse group of flowering plants that dominate the plant kingdom today. Although gymnosperms have reportedly made some evolutionary innovations, the literature on their genome advances, particularly their organellar (plastid and mitochondrial) genomes, is relatively scattered and fragmented. While organellar genomes can shed light on plant origin and evolution, they are frequently overlooked, due in part to their limited contribution to gene expression and lack of evolutionary dynamics when compared to nuclear genomes. A better understanding of gymnosperm organellar genomes is critical because they reveal genetic changes that have contributed to their unique adaptations and ecological success, potentially aiding in plant survival, enhancement, and biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change. This review reveals significant information and gaps in the existing knowledge base of organellar genomes in gymnosperms, as well as the challenges and research needed to unravel their complexity.
    MeSH terms: Biological Evolution; Phylogeny; Evolution, Molecular; Genome, Plastid/genetics
  7. Cheah YX, Cheah WL, Hazmi H
    Indian J Public Health, 2024 Jan 01;68(1):66-74.
    PMID: 38847636 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_543_23
    BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a significant public health issue affecting working adults because it can increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases.

    OBJECTIVES: The objective is to determine the outcomes of a multi-component workplace environmental intervention that incorporated physical activity self-regulation (PASR) to promote physical activity (PA) among employees.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a 6-month intervention with a two-group, parallel, quasi-experimental study. A total of 11 workplaces were randomly assigned to intervention group (IG) or control group (CG) using a 1:1 allocation ratio. In each group, 84 eligible participants were recruited. The IG was exposed to the organizational support and the PA support components throughout the study. The PASR Scale, International PA Questionnaire, and pedometer were used to measure the outcome at the baseline, 3rd-month, and 6th-month follow-ups, respectively. The repeated measures-analysis of variance analysis was used to determine the changes in the PASR skills, MET-min/week, and step/week over time.

    RESULTS: The IG had 75 participants (51 females and 24 males) and the CG had 73 participants (52 females and 21 males) at the 6th-month follow-up. Despite there was no statistically significant difference in the outcomes between groups over time, the IG showed significant improvements in total PASR (ηp2 = 0.021), goal setting (ηp2 = 0.024), total MET-min/week (ηp2 = 0.031), housework-related PA (ηp2 = 0.101), and step/week (ηp2 = 0.827) throughout this intervention.

    CONCLUSION: This intervention was found to be effective in improving the PASR skills, MET-min/week, and step/week of IG participants. Meanwhile, because some effect sizes were small, these findings should be interpreted with caution.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Exercise*; Workplace*
  8. Liao Z, Alrosan M, Alu'datt MH, Tan TC
    J Food Sci, 2024 Jul;89(7):3878-3893.
    PMID: 38865248 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17143
    The popularity of royal jelly (RJ) as a functional food has attracted attention from various industries, especially nutraceuticals, due to the increasing demand from health enthusiasts. Sebacic acid, 10-hydroxy decanoic acid, and trans-10-hydroxy-2-decanoic acid are the primary medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) within RJ responsible for their health benefits. This review aims to consolidate information on these MCFAs' metabolic relationship and health functionalities in nutraceutical applications. We also investigated the natural characteristics mediated by these MCFAs and their metabolism in organisms. Finally, the production of these MCFAs using conventional (from castor oil) and alternative (from RJ) pathways was also discussed. This review can be a reference for using them as functional ingredients in nutraceutical industries.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Dietary Supplements*; Functional Food
  9. Adnan AI, Ong MY, Mohamed H, Chia SR, Milano J, Nomanbhay S
    Bioresour Technol, 2024 Aug;406:131028.
    PMID: 38914237 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131028
    This study represents the first investigation of bio-succinic acid (bio-SA) production with methane enrichment using carbon-dioxide-fixating bacteria in the co-culture of ragi tapai and macroalgae, Chaetomorpha. Microwave irradiation has also been introduced to enhance the biochemical processes as it could provide rapid and selective heating of substrates. In this research, microwave irradiation was applied on ragi tapai as a pre-treatment process. Factors such as microwave irradiation dose on ragi tapai, Chaetomorpha ratio in the co-culture, and pH value were studied. Optimal conditions were identified using Design-Expert software, resulting in optimal experimental biomethane and bio-SA production of 85.7 % and 0.65 g/L, respectively, at a microwave dose of 1.45 W/g, Chaetomorpha ratio of 0.9 and pH value of 7.8. The study provides valuable insights into microwave control for promoting simultaneous methane enrichment and bio-SA production, potentially reducing costs associated with CO2 capture and storage and biogas upgrading.
    MeSH terms: Carbon Dioxide/metabolism; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Microwaves*; Coculture Techniques; Biofuels*
  10. Zhang B, Deng H, Ren J, Legrand FD, Ahmad Yusof H, Zhang R, et al.
    BMJ Open, 2024 Jun 26;14(6):e080315.
    PMID: 38926142 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080315
    BACKGROUND: The prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is on the rise globally, and the use of antidepressant medications for its treatment does not usually result in full remission. However, the combination of physical exercise and psychotherapy for the treatment of MDD increase the rate of full remission among patients. This three-armed, parallel-group, double-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to assess and compare the effects between the combination of exergame and acceptance and commitment therapy (e-ACT) programme, ACT only and treatment-as-usual (TAU) control groups on the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, the degree of experiential avoidance and quality of life (QoL) and the serum levels of depression biomarkers (such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, C-reactive protein and vascular endothelial growth factor) among patients with MDD across three time points.

    METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This RCT will recruit 126 patients with MDD who will be randomised using stratified permuted block randomisation into three groups, which are the combined e-ACT programme, ACT-only and TAU control groups in a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. The participants in the e-ACT and ACT-only intervention groups will undergo once a week intervention sessions for 8 weeks. Assessments will be carried out through three time points, such as the pre-intervention assessment (t0), assessment immediately after completion of the intervention at 8 weeks (t1) and assessment at 24 weeks after completion of the intervention (t2). During each assessment, the primary outcome to be assessed includes the severity of depression symptoms, while the secondary outcomes to be assessed are the severity of anxiety symptoms, experiential avoidance, QoL and depression biomarkers.

    ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval of this study was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM/JEPeM/PP/23050420). The findings of the study will be published in academic peer-reviewed journals.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05812001 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Registered on 12 April 2023.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Double-Blind Method; Exercise Therapy/methods; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Biomarkers/blood; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Video Games; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/blood
  11. Wittenberg RE, Gauvreau K, Duggan CP, Du X, Giang D, Jayanthi K, et al.
    J Am Heart Assoc, 2024 Jul 02;13(13):e032662.
    PMID: 38934862 DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.032662
    BACKGROUND: High energy requirements and poor feeding can lead to growth failure in patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD), but effects of preoperative malnutrition on surgical outcomes are poorly understood, especially in low-resource settings.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed a cohort of children <5 years of age undergoing VSD closure at 60 global centers participating in the International Quality Improvement Collaborative for Congenital Heart Disease, 2015 to 2020. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for in-hospital death and major infection and adjusted coefficients for duration of intensive care unit stay for 4 measures of malnutrition: severe wasting (weight-for-height Z score,

    MeSH terms: Child, Preschool; Female; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects; Humans; Infant; Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data; Male; Nutritional Status; Postoperative Complications/mortality; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Hospital Mortality*; Risk Assessment
  12. Lee ZY, Lee WH, Lim JS, Ali AAA, Loo JSE, Wibowo A, et al.
    Life Sci, 2024 Sep 01;352:122868.
    PMID: 38936604 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122868
    Membrane trafficking within the Golgi apparatus plays a pivotal role in the intracellular transportation of lipids and proteins. Dysregulation of this process can give rise to various pathological manifestations, including cancer. Exploiting Golgi defects, cancer cells capitalise on aberrant membrane trafficking to facilitate signal transduction, proliferation, invasion, immune modulation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Despite the identification of several molecular signalling pathways associated with Golgi abnormalities, there remains a lack of approved drugs specifically targeting cancer cells through the manipulation of the Golgi apparatus. In the initial section of this comprehensive review, the focus is directed towards delineating the abnormal Golgi genes and proteins implicated in carcinogenesis. Subsequently, a thorough examination is conducted on the impact of these variations on Golgi function, encompassing aspects such as vesicular trafficking, glycosylation, autophagy, oxidative mechanisms, and pH alterations. Lastly, the review provides a current update on promising Golgi apparatus-targeted inhibitors undergoing preclinical and/or clinical trials, offering insights into their potential as therapeutic interventions. Significantly more effort is required to advance these potential inhibitors to benefit patients in clinical settings.
  13. Wee NK, Git KA, Lee WJ, Raval G, Pattokhov A, Ho ELM, et al.
    Korean J Radiol, 2024 Jul;25(7):603-612.
    PMID: 38942454 DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2024.0419
    Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining recognition in the radiology domain as a greater number of radiologists are becoming AI-literate. However, the adoption and implementation of AI solutions in clinical settings have been slow, with points of contention. A group of AI users comprising mainly clinical radiologists across various Asian countries, including India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan, formed the working group. This study aimed to draft position statements regarding the application and clinical deployment of AI in radiology. The primary aim is to raise awareness among the general public, promote professional interest and discussion, clarify ethical considerations when implementing AI technology, and engage the radiology profession in the ever-changing clinical practice. These position statements highlight pertinent issues that need to be addressed between care providers and care recipients. More importantly, this will help legalize the use of non-human instruments in clinical deployment without compromising ethical considerations, decision-making precision, and clinical professional standards. We base our study on four main principles of medical care-respect for patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
    MeSH terms: Artificial Intelligence*; Asia; Humans; Radiology*; Societies, Medical
  14. Leong BQZ, Hussain Ismail AM, Wong HK, Estudillo AJ
    Cogn Neuropsychol, 2024 Jul 02.
    PMID: 38953598 DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2024.2371384
    Although it is generally assumed that face recognition relies on holistic processing, whether face recognition deficits observed in Developmental Prosopagnosics (DPs) can be explained by impaired holistic processing is currently under debate. The mixed findings from past studies could be the consequence of DP's heterogeneous deficit nature and the use of different measures of holistic processing-the inversion, part-whole, and composite tasks-which showed a poor association among each other. The present study aimed to gain further insight into the role of holistic processing in DPs. Groups of DPs and neurotypicals completed three tests measuring holistic face processing and non-face objects (i.e., Navon task). At a group level, DPs showed (1) diminished, but not absent, inversion and part-whole effects, (2) comparable magnitudes of the composite face effect and (3) global precedence effect in the Navon task. However, single-case analyses showed that these holistic processing deficits in DPs are heterogeneous.
  15. Tan ECH, Weng Onn S, Montalvo S
    J Strength Cond Res, 2024 Sep 01;38(9):e529-e533.
    PMID: 38953840 DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004854
    Erik, HT, Onn, SW, and Montalvo, S. Vertical jump height with artificial intelligence through a cell phone: a validity and reliability report. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): e529-e533, 2024-This study estimated the reliability and validity of an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven model in the My Jump 2 (My Jump Lab ) for estimating vertical jump height compared with the Force Platform (FP). The cross-sectional study involved 88 athletes (33 female and 55 male athletes), performing a total of 264 countermovement jumps with hands on hips. "Jump heights were simultaneously measured using the FP and the My Jump 2 app." The FP estimated jump heights using the impulse-momentum method, whereas My Jump 2 used the flight-time method, with the latter using an AI feature for automated detection of jump take-off and landing. Results indicated high reliability for the AI model (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC 1,3 ] = 0.980, coefficient of variation [CV] = 4.12) and FP (ICC 1,3 = 0.990, CV = 2.92). Validity assessment showed strong agreement between the AI model and FP (ICC 2,k = 0.973). This was also supported by the Bland-Altman analysis, and the ordinary least products regression revealed no significant systematic or proportional bias. The AI-driven model in My Jump 2 is highly reliable and valid for estimating jump height. Strength and conditioning professionals may use the AI-based mobile app for accurate jump height measurements, offering a practical and efficient alternative to traditional methods.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Artificial Intelligence*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise Test/methods; Female; Humans; Male; Reproducibility of Results; Cell Phones; Athletic Performance/physiology; Young Adult; Athletes; Mobile Applications
  16. Khan SS, Kour D, Kaur T, Sharma A, Kumar S, Kumari S, et al.
    Curr Microbiol, 2024 Jul 01;81(8):251.
    PMID: 38954017 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03772-z
    A new area of biotechnology is nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is an emerging field that aims to develope various substances with nano-dimensions that have utilization in the various sectors of pharmaceuticals, bio prospecting, human activities and biomedical applications. An essential stage in the development of nanotechnology is the creation of nanoparticles. To increase their biological uses, eco-friendly material synthesis processes are becoming increasingly important. Recent years have shown a lot of interest in nanostructured materials due to their beneficial and unique characteristics compared to their polycrystalline counterparts. The fascinating performance of nanomaterials in electronics, optics, and photonics has generated a lot of interest. An eco-friendly approach of creating nanoparticles has emerged in order to get around the drawbacks of conventional techniques. Today, a wide range of nanoparticles have been created by employing various microbes, and their potential in numerous cutting-edge technological fields have been investigated. These particles have well-defined chemical compositions, sizes, and morphologies. The green production of nanoparticles mostly uses plants and microbes. Hence, the use of microbial nanotechnology in agriculture and plant science is the main emphasis of this review. The present review highlights the methods of biological synthesis of nanoparticles available with a major focus on microbially synthesized nanoparticles, parameters and biochemistry involved. Further, it takes into account the genetic engineering and synthetic biology involved in microbial nanobiosynthesis to the construction of microbial nanofactories.
    MeSH terms: Bacteria/genetics; Bacteria/metabolism; Biotechnology/methods; Nanostructures/chemistry; Synthetic Biology/methods
  17. Apanaskevich DA
    Syst Parasitol, 2024 Jul 02;101(4):48.
    PMID: 38954098 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-024-10172-1
    Ixodes abramovi n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae) is described based on females ex various rodents (Rodentia: Muridae) from Malaysia and Vietnam. Females of this new species are similar to those of some other Oriental species of the subgenus Ixodes Latreille, 1795 such as I. granulatus Supino, 1897 and I. werneri Kohls, 1950, from which they can be distinguished by the size of scutum, length of cornua, shape and length of auriculae and length of spurs on coxae.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Female; Malaysia; Muridae/parasitology; Species Specificity*; Vietnam
  18. Ed-Dra A, Abdallah EM, Sulieman AME, Anarghou H
    Vet Res Commun, 2024 Jul 02.
    PMID: 38954256 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10455-4
    Campylobacter is a major foodborne and zoonotic pathogen, causing severe human infections and imposing a substantial economic burden on global public health. The ongoing spread and emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains across various fields exacerbate therapeutic challenges, raising the incidence of diseases and fatalities. Medicinal plants, renowned for their abundance in secondary metabolites, exhibit proven efficacy in inhibiting various foodborne and zoonotic pathogens, presenting sustainable alternatives to ensure food safety. This review aims to synthesize recent insights from peer-reviewed journals on the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter species, elucidate the in vitro antibacterial activity of medicinal plant compounds against Campylobacter by delineating underlying mechanisms, and explore the application of these compounds in controlling Campylobacter in food. Additionally, we discuss recent advancements and future prospects of employing medicinal plant compounds in food products to mitigate foodborne pathogens, particularly Campylobacter. In conclusion, we argue that medicinal plant compounds can be used as effective and sustainable sources for developing new antimicrobial alternatives to counteract the dissemination of MDR Campylobacter strains.
  19. Sia CS, Tey BT, Goh BH, Low LE
    Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2024 Sep;241:114051.
    PMID: 38954935 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114051
    There has been a surge in effort in the development of various solid nanoparticles as Pickering emulsion stabilizers in the past decades. Regardless, the exploration of stabilizers that simultaneously stabilize and deliver bioactive has been limited. For this, liposomes with amphiphilic nature have been introduced as Pickering emulsion stabilizers but these nano-sized vesicles lack targeting specificity. Therefore in this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) encapsulated within liposomes (MLP) were used as Pickering emulsion stabilizers to prepare pH and magnetic-responsive Pickering emulsions. A stable MLP-stabilized Pickering emulsion formulation was established by varying the MLP pH, concentration, and oil loading during the emulsification process. The primary stabilization mechanism of the emulsion under pH variation was identified to be largely associated with the MLP phosphate group deprotonation. When subjected to sequential pH adjustment to imitate the gastrointestinal digestion pH environment, a recovery in Pickering emulsion integrity was observed as the pH changes from acidic to alkaline. By incorporating SPION, the Pickering emulsion can be guided to the targeted site under the influence of a magnetic field without compromising emulsion stability. Overall, the results demonstrated the potential of MLP-stabilized Pickering emulsion as a dual pH- and magnetic-responsive drug delivery carrier with the ability to co-encapsulate hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive.
    MeSH terms: Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Particle Size; Magnetite Nanoparticles/chemistry
  20. Ott S, Dresen E, Lee ZY, Müller-Wirtz LM, Procopiuc L, Ekrami E, et al.
    J Crit Care, 2024 Oct;83:154853.
    PMID: 38955117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2024.154853
    PURPOSE: Cardiac surgery, post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS), and temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) provoke substantial inflammation. We therefore investigated whether a selenium-based, anti-inflammatory strategy would benefit PCCS patients treated with tMCS in a post-hoc analysis of the sustain CSX trial.

    METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of patients receiving tMCS for PCCS in the Sustain CSX trial, which investigated the effects of high-dose selenium on postoperative organ dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients.

    PRIMARY OUTCOME: duration of tMCS therapy.

    SECONDARY OUTCOMES: postoperative organ dysfunction and 30-day mortality.

    RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were treated with tMCS for PCCS. There was no difference in the median duration of tMCS between the selenium and the placebo group (3 days [IQR: 1-6] vs. 2 days [IQR: 1-7], p = 0.52). Median dialysis duration was longer in the selenium group (1.5 days [0-21.8] vs. 0 days [0-1.8], p = 0.048). There was no difference in 30-day mortality (53% vs. 41%, OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.32-6.47, p = 0.62).

    CONCLUSION: In this explorative study, a perioperative high-dose selenium-supplementation did not show beneficial effects on organ dysfunctions and mortality rates in patients with PCCS receiving tMCS.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Female; Cardiac Surgical Procedures*; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Organ Failure/etiology; Multiple Organ Failure/mortality; Multiple Organ Failure/prevention & control
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