Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS, Thiruchelvam K
    Australas J Dermatol, 2025 Feb 06.
    PMID: 39912292 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.14428
    This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of spironolactone for moderate to severe acne in adult women by synthesising data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The meta-analysis demonstrated that spironolactone significantly increased the odds of treatment success, with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 2.51 compared to placebo or doxycycline. This analysis supports spironolactone as a highly effective treatment for moderate to severe acne in adult women, particularly in hormonally driven cases. Its efficacy, combined with its role as an alternative to long-term antibiotic therapy, makes it a valuable option for acne management in women population.
  2. Goldin K, Liu Y, Rosenke R, Prado-Smith J, Flagg M, de Wit E
    J Infect Dis, 2025 Feb 04;231(1):219-229.
    PMID: 38842160 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae300
    BACKGROUND: Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic virus that causes severe respiratory disease and meningoencephalitis. The pathophysiology of Nipah virus meningoencephalitis is poorly understood.

    METHODS: We have collected the brains of African green monkeys during multiple Nipah virus, Bangladesh studies, resulting in 14 brains with Nipah virus-associated lesions.

    RESULTS: The lesions seen in the brain of African green monkeys infected with Nipah virus, Bangladesh were very similar to those observed in humans with Nipah virus, Malaysia infection. We observed viral RNA and antigen within neurons and endothelial cells, within encephalitis foci and in uninflamed portions of the central nervous system (CNS). CD8+ T cells had a consistently high prevalence in CNS lesions. We developed a UNet model for quantifying and visualizing inflammation in the brain in a high-throughput and unbiased manner. While CD8+ T cells had a consistently high prevalence in CNS lesions, the model revealed that CD68+ cells were numerically the immune cell with the highest prevalence in the CNS of Nipah virus-infected animals.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides an in-depth analysis on Nipah virus infection in the brains of primates, and similarities between lesions in patients and the animals in our study validate this model.

    MeSH terms: Acute Disease; Animals; Bangladesh; Cercopithecus aethiops; Convalescence; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Malaysia; Meningoencephalitis/immunology; Meningoencephalitis/pathology; Meningoencephalitis/virology; Neurons/pathology; Neurons/virology; RNA, Viral; Nipah Virus*
  3. Shuhiamy NNA, Lee W, Didi FI, Song MH, Shin CH, Cho TJ
    J Pediatr Orthop, 2025 Mar 01;45(3):e291-e298.
    PMID: 39482994 DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002860
    BACKGROUND: An intramedullary rodding is the preferred fixation method in limb stabilization of OI patients. However, the intramedullary rod may not provide adequate fixation and rotational stability, especially in adolescents and adults. The incorporation of adjunctive plate fixation alongside intramedullary rodding has been introduced to enhance this stability, although its complications remain insufficiently understood. The goal of this study was to explore the outcomes of adjunctive plating in conjunction with intramedullary rodding for limb stabilization in OI patients, emphasizing the complications related to the plates during the healing phase and following plate removal.

    METHODS: This retrospective study examined 74 limb segments from 45 patients with OI who underwent intramedullary rodding and adjunctive plating from 2008 to 2022. Criteria for inclusion comprised surgical treatment followed by a minimum of 2 years of follow-up or complication before that time point. The need for adjunctive plating arose from inadequate fixation, rotational instability, and persistent cortical gaps with intramedullary rodding alone. Medical records and follow-up radiographs were reviewed to assess the healing of the target lesion and any complications.

    RESULTS: The study encompassed 30 males and 15 females, ranging in age from 4 to 38 years, with 51 femoral and 23 tibial segments receiving treatment. Union was successfully achieved in 63 cases (85.3%), with an average union time of 14.4 months. Plates were subsequently removed in 62 cases after an average duration of 18.0 months. Before union, 11 revision surgeries were performed in 4 peri-implant fractures, 1 screw pull-out, and 6 failure of union. One sustained peri-implant fracture after the union. Following the removal of plates, complications included 10 refractures at screw sites, 3 progressive angulations at the previously targeted lesions, and 1 osteomyelitis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that half of the refractures occurred within 1.8 years postplate removal. The overall complication showed borderline significance ( P =0.056) among age groups. All the plate-related complications occurred at the diaphyseal, unicortical screws.

    CONCLUSIONS: Plate fixation, when used as an adjunct to intramedullary rodding, effectively stabilizes limbs in OI patients when intramedullary rods alone are inadequate. Nevertheless, given the significant risks associated with plate-related complications, adjunctive plating should be employed selectively only in instances where the union is unlikely to be achieved with intramedullary rodding alone.

    LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-case series.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Bone Plates*; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Femoral Fractures/surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Tibial Fractures/surgery; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
  4. Mohd Afandi NS, Ismail MN
    PMID: 39902761 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2025.2460520
    Hevea brasiliensis is the most efficient crop for latex production and has been the main source for global commercialisation since 1876. However, little is known about its glycosylation properties. Studying glycoproteomics has been challenging due to analytical difficulties and the heterogeneous nature of glycans. In this study, we extracted natural rubber latex (NRL) proteins, purify peptide/glycopeptide mixtures and isolate glycopeptides using HILIC, SAX, and TiO2 enrichment methods. TiO2 showed high selectivity compared to SAX and HILIC, retaining unique proteins and glycans based on hydrophilicity. We identified proteins using LC-MS/MS and PEAKS Studio 7.5. These methods significantly improved protein coverage compared to non-enriched samples. Three glycoproteins (patatin, REF, and glucan endo-1,3-beta-D-glucosidase) and seven internationally recognised allergens (hev b 1, hev b 2, hev b 3, hev b 5, hev b 7, hev b 14, and hev b 15) were identified. These enrichment methods not only helped identify glycoproteins but also improved protein sequence coverage.
  5. Deza DC, Alcedo J, Lafuente M, López FJ, Perez-Aisa Á, Pavoni M, et al.
    Am J Gastroenterol, 2025 Feb 04.
    PMID: 39902822 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003351
    AIM: To evaluate the prescriptions patterns, effectiveness, and safety of adding probiotics to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, in Europe.

    DESIGN: International, prospective, non-interventional registry of the clinical practice of the European gastroenterologists. Data were collected and quality reviewed until March 2021 at AEG-REDCap. The effectiveness was evaluated by modified intention-to-treat analysis, differentiating by geographic areas. Adverse events (AE) were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe.

    RESULTS: Overall, 36,699 treatments were recorded, where 8,233 (22%) were prescribed with probiotics. Probiotics use was associated with higher effectiveness in the overall analysis (OR 1.631 [95% CI 1.456-1.828]), as well as in triple (1.702 [1.403-2.065]), quadruple (1.383 [0.996-1.920]), bismuth quadruple (1.248 [1.003-1.554] and sequential therapies (3.690 [2.686-5.069]). Lactobacillus genus was associated with a higher therapy effectiveness in Eastern Europe when triple (OR: 2.625 [CI 1.911, 3.606]) and bismuth quadruple (OR: 1.587 [CI 1.117, 2.254]) first-line therapies were prescribed. In Central Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with a decrease in both the overall incidence of AEs (0.656 [0.516, 0.888]) as well as severe AEs (0.312; [0.217, 0.449]). Bifidobacterium genus was associated with lower overall (OR: 0.725 [95% CI 0.592-0.888]) and severe (OR: 0.254 [0.185-0.347]) AEs; and Saccharomyces was associated with reduced overall (OR: 0.54 [CI 0.32-0.91]) and severe (OR 0.257 [CI 0.123-0.536]) AEs under quadruple-bismuth regimen.

    CONCLUSIONS: In Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with higher effectiveness and safety of H. pylori eradication therapy. Lactobacillus improved treatment effectiveness, while Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces were associated with a better safety profile.

  6. Mohd Akbar SS, Azmie NAA, Mohd Ali M
    J Food Sci, 2025 Feb;90(2):e70023.
    PMID: 39902949 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.70023
    Chilies are usually packed and stored after harvesting for sale, which can result in quality loss and affect the edibility of the product. This study aimed to determine the effect of temperature on the physicochemical properties of red and green chilies during postharvest storage at three different temperatures (0, 5, and 25°C). The physicochemical analysis of chilies was conducted for 9 days to determine color changes, texture, pH, total soluble solids, and total phenolic content (TPC). All test data were statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between physicochemical properties and the TPC. The study found that the TPC values decreased significantly at all temperatures for both red and green chilies. At 5°C, the TPC values were 3.42 mg GAE/g extract and 2.23 mg GAE/g extract for red and green chilies, respectively. The red chilies showed the lowest values of texture and TPC at 0°C, indicating poor preservation. The green chilies at 0°C had higher TPC values (4.74 mg GAE/g extract) but suffered from high firmness loss, whereas 25°C led to microbial growth. Therefore, the overall quality and market acceptability of both red and green chilies were ideal at 5°C due to better preservation of physical appearance. In conclusion, the ideal storage condition at 5°C can reduce qualitative and postharvest losses of red and green chilies by maintaining better texture and acceptable TPC values.
    MeSH terms: Color; Food Preservation/methods; Fruit/chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Temperature*
  7. Wongphutorn P, Worasith C, Kopolrat KY, Eamudomkarn C, Pitaksakulrat O, Hongsrichan N, et al.
    Microbiol Spectr, 2025 Feb 04.
    PMID: 39902967 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02368-24
    Strongyloides stercoralis infection is a neglected tropical disease with a global distribution. Serodiagnosis is a sensitive method, but improving its performance and simplifying into a point-of-care test (POCT) are needed. This study aimed to improve the diagnostic performance of serological tests using partially purified Strongyloides ratti antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunochromatographic test (ICT). Crude S. ratti antigen was purified by an IgG affinity column to partition the antigen into flow-through, washing fraction (WF), and elution fractions. Optimized ELISA and ICT using crude and antigen fractions were used to analyze sera from three groups of subjects. Group 1 comprised subjects with proven strongyloidiasis, Group 2 were subjects with other parasitic infections, and Group 3 were negative parasitic infections. The diagnostic performance and Kappa agreement of the serological tests were analyzed and compared, using larvae detection as the reference test (fecal examination). The results showed that the WF was the most efficient antigen in terms of sensitivity and specificity, as determined by the ELISA and ICT. Kappa's agreement between fecal examination and WF-ELISA was moderate (Kappa = 0.52), and WF-ICT was almost perfect (Kappa = 0.94). The WF antigen reduced cross-reactivity to other parasitic infections, that is, Opisthorchis viverrini, Taenia spp., and hookworms, compared to crude S. ratti antigen when assessed by ELISA and ICT. We concluded that the WF of purified S. ratti improved the ELISA and ICT diagnostic performance, and the latter assay format could be used as a POCT for screening and controlling strongyloidiasis.IMPORTANCEThis study aimed to improve the serological diagnosis of strongyloidiasis, a disease caused by infection with the intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, by evaluating the impact of Strongyloides ratti antigen purification using an IgG affinity column for detecting parasite-specific IgG in serum via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatographic test (ICT) formats. Compared to crude S. ratti antigen, the washing fraction (WF) of the purified antigen demonstrated significantly improved sensitivity and specificity in both ELISA and ICT, achieving strong diagnostic concordance with the gold-standard fecal examination. Furthermore, the WF antigen fraction exhibited reduced cross-reactivity with coinfections caused by the liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini), tapeworms (Taenia spp.), and hookworms. These findings underscore antigen purification as a promising strategy to enhance the accuracy of strongyloidiasis serodiagnosis.
  8. Shchipanov NA, Tumasian PA, Kuptsov AV, Raspopova AA, Kasatkin MV, Kalinin AA, et al.
    Environ Monit Assess, 2025 Feb 04;197(3):234.
    PMID: 39903331 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-025-13694-3
    Due to their resilience, various biological systems under environmental changes typically exhibit nonlinear responses with sudden, abrupt shifts. Although such shifts are theoretically expected, few studies traced state-and-transition dynamics in nature (Liu et al., Science 317:1513-1516, 2007). We analysed 18 years' data to trace biomass patterns, species assemblages and small mammals' population trajectories in spontaneously growing forest on formerly ploughed field, hereafter, the postagrogenic forest, and in unmanaged former pasture, hereafter, the grassland. The clear response at individual, populational and ecosystem scales triggered by extraordinary 2010 drought was observed. In the postagrogenic forest, transitioning to the historical ecosystem state, we found a shift from the grassland type of the small mammals' biomass pattern to the forest type with the abrupt reorganisation of the small mammals' community. In the grassland, a relatively steady novel ecosystem, we revealed only a long-term diminishing of total small mammals' biomass, i.e. a regime shift, while maintaining the same functional structure. The changes were based on population response. The bank vole did not show any population reaction, which testifies the ability of individuals to tolerate the drought. The common shrew experienced a population depression, which in postagrogenic forest resulted in the regimen shift after recovery, but in the grassland in only temporal decline with following return to the initial state. The root vole showed a delayed population response with the general decline of population in the grassland, and population collapse in the postagrogenic forest. Therefore, the same impact triggered various responses among different species and resulted in different effects in the successional and steady ecosystems.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Arvicolinae/physiology; Environmental Monitoring; Mammals*; Population Dynamics; Russia; Shrews/physiology; Biomass; Droughts*; Forests*; Grassland*
  9. Hamim FM, Durairajanayagam D, Daud SB, Singh HJ
    Reprod Fertil Dev, 2025 Feb;37.
    PMID: 39903601 DOI: 10.1071/RD24196
    Fecundity is declining in humans, which is partly due to male infertility. Poor sperm parameters, the main contributors to male infertility, are associated with sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits. Long periods of sedentary work lead to visceral adiposity and persistently elevated scrotal temperatures, which adversely affect spermatogenesis. Apart from increasing scrotal temperatures, excessive visceral adiposity exacerbates adipocyte dysfunction with increased pro-inflammatory adipokine release, like leptin. These, together with the increased scrotal temperature, are responsible for the poor sperm quality. The importance of regular physical activity in male fertility remains a matter of debate, as not all forms of exercises have been found to benefit sperm function. Sperm parameters are, nevertheless, somewhat better in active than in sedentary men. It now appears that low-to-moderate intensity exercises are more beneficial for male reproductive health than high-intensity exercises, which have a negative effect on spermatozoa. Low-to-moderate intensity exercises, in general, improve the overall organ-system function in the body, improve the management of body weight and oxidative stress, consequently improving sperm parameters. The detrimental effects of high-intensity exercises on spermatozoa result from disruption in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal-axis, raised testicular temperature and increased oxidative stress. It, therefore, seems that not all types of exercises are beneficial for male reproductive health. Although some low-to-moderate intensity exercises improve male reproductive function, there remains a need to identify the best form of low-to-moderate intensity exercises, particularly those that do not increase testicular temperature or oxidative stress, to help maintain normal body weight and male reproductive health.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Male; Reproduction/physiology; Spermatogenesis/physiology; Spermatozoa/physiology
  10. Gao G, Su X, Liu S, Wang P, Chen JJ, Liu T, et al.
    Int Immunopharmacol, 2025 Mar 06;149:114190.
    PMID: 39904045 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114190
    Renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) apoptosis is the key factor in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) leading to mitochondrial Ca2+ overload is one of the causes of apoptosis in RTECs. Corni Fructus (CF) is an herbal medicine, developed and applied as a functional food, and it is commonly used to treat DKD. Cornuside (Cor) is one of the main chemical components in CF. This research seeks to investigate the function of Cor in DKD and delve into its possible mechanisms. Cor significantly improved renal function and ameliorated renal pathological changes of db/db mice. Bioinformatics analyses suggested that the modulation of endoplasmic reticulum-induced intrinsic apoptosis pathway was a primary mechanism by which Cor ameliorated DKD. TUNEL assays and flow cytometry assays indicated that Cor effectively inhibited RTECs apoptosis in db/db mice and AGE-induced HK-2 cells. Further experimental studies showed that Cor mitigated ERS by inhibiting the activation of PERK/ATF4/CHOP signal pathway and down-regulation of VDAC1 protein expression, thus alleviating mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. More importantly, Cor directly targeted NEDD4 to facilitate VDAC1 degradation. Notably, the silencing of NEDD4 nearly abolished Cor's inhibitory effects on mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and apoptosis. In conclusion, Cor modulated Ca2+ homeostasis by alleviating ERS and targeting NEDD4, thus mitigating apoptosis of RTECs in DKD. These findings indicate that Cor has the potential for the treatment and drug development of DKD.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cell Line; Humans; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL*; Mitochondria/drug effects; Mitochondria/metabolism; Signal Transduction/drug effects; Cornus/chemistry; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1/metabolism; Mice; Activating Transcription Factor 4/metabolism; Transcription Factor CHOP/metabolism
  11. Lee ZY, Lim KS, Fong SL, Rahmat K, Mon KY, Tan CT
    Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 2025 Jan 28;249:108766.
    PMID: 39904105 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2025.108766
    INTRODUCTION: Ictal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) provides additional information on the localisation of the epileptogenic zone. However, ictal SPECT is labour-intensive and expensive. We have developed a more affordable protocol with a single SPECT radiotracer session during a 48-hour video-EEG monitoring (VEM). This study aimed to determine the success rate of ictal SPECT with a single SPECT session (HMPAO or ECD).

    METHODS: This retrospective observational study included all VEM cases performed in the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 1st January 2011 to 30th April 2024, with SPECT as part of the pre-surgical evaluation.

    RESULTS: A total of 189 cases were included. The mean age was 33.3 years old (range 9-68), and 105 (55.6 %) were male. The mean baseline seizure frequency before VEM was 21.8 per month. The mean number of seizures recorded during a 48-hour VEM was 10.9. A total of 44 (23.3 %) patients had ictal SPECT with a single SPECT session. Ictal SPECT was significantly associated with a higher number of seizures during 48-hour VEM (31.5 ± 58.7 vs 4.4 ± 6.3, p 

  12. Reda A, Victor Amaechi C, Shahin MA
    J Environ Manage, 2025 Feb;375:124180.
    PMID: 39904233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124180
    Unpiggable pipelines, often inaccessible for traditional pigging operations, pose significant risks due to residual hydrocarbons and limited inspection options. This paper presents an optimized methodology for flushing, de-oiling, and abandoning unpiggable subsea pipelines, specifically designed to address the unique environmental and regulatory challenges in the Arabian Gulf. The paper introduces an innovative approach that integrates advanced modeling tools ‒ OLGA for internal flow assurance and CORMIX for pollutant dispersion analysis ‒ to manage oil-in-water (OIW) concentrations effectively, ensuring compliance with the stringent 15-ppm discharge limit. The proposed methodology not only mitigates residual contamination risks but also enhances operational efficiency and regulatory compliance through adaptive measures. By addressing plateauing contaminant removal rates and leveraging region-specific environmental data, the current study provides actionable guidance for sustainable decommissioning of subsea pipelines. The findings hold broad applicability for projects in environmentally sensitive marine ecosystems, hence, supporting global efforts toward environmentally responsible decommissioning practices.
    MeSH terms: Water Pollutants, Chemical*
  13. Antu UB, Roy TK, Roshid MM, Mitu PR, Barman MK, Tazry J, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2025 Feb 02;303:140570.
    PMID: 39904432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140570
    Nanocellulose, a promising green material derived from various bio-sources, has potentiality on and off-site in the agricultural sector. Due to its special qualities, which include high strength, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility, it is a material that may be used in a variety of industries, especially agriculture. This review explores in this article production processes, post-processing procedures, and uses of nanocellulose in soil fertility increment and sustainable agriculture. A variety of plant materials, agricultural waste, and even microbes can be used to isolate nanocellulose. Nanocellulose is produced using both top-down and bottom-up methods, each of which has benefits and limitations of its own. It can be applied as nano-biofertilizer in agriculture to enhance beneficial microbial activity, increase nutrient availability, and improve soil health. Moreover, nanocellulose can be used in fertilizer and pesticide formulations with controlled releases to increase efficacy and lessen environmental effects. Innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture are provided by nanocellulose technologies, which also support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those pertaining to eradicating hunger and encouraging responsible consumption. Nanocellulose promotes climate action and ecosystem preservation by increasing resource efficiency and decreasing dependency on hazardous chemicals, ultimately leading to the development of a circular bioeconomy. Nonetheless, there are still issues with the high cost of production and the energy-intensive isolation procedures. Despite its various potentialities, challenges such as high production costs, environmental concerns, and regulatory issues must be addressed for nanocellulose to be widely adopted and effectively integrated into farming practices.
  14. Amin M, Rahardjo KKE, Panosa AE, Satyantini WH, Mukti AT, Ali M, et al.
    Fish Shellfish Immunol, 2025 Mar;158:110171.
    PMID: 39904479 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110171
    The etiological agent of white feces disease (WFD) infecting Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei in Indonesia farms remains obscure. The present study aimed to identify possible causative agents of WFD infection in Pacific white shrimps cultured in Indonesian farms. WFD-infected and healthy samples (shrimp gut and rearing water) were collected from 8 commercial shrimp farms in East Java, Indonesia followed by bacterial community profiling using HiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The results showed that the microbiota composition in the guts of WFD-infected shrimps was significantly different (p 
    MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal Microbiome*; Animals; Bacteria/classification; Bacteria/genetics; Bacteria/isolation & purification; Indonesia; Phylogeny; Aquaculture
  15. Rehman S, Saleem S, Zahra ST, Jabeen A
    Violence Vict, 2025 Feb 03.
    PMID: 39904531 DOI: 10.1891/VV-2024-0132
    In the Pakistani cultural context, dating violence is a pervasive issue that poses significant risks to mental health. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences and expressions of young adults who have faced dating violence, with a focus on informing counseling and early intervention. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis of semistructured interviews with 10 young adults (5 men and 5 women) aged 18-25 years, we identified superordinate themes of psychological, emotional, and physical modes of dating violence. Subordinate themes revealed a range of controlling and manipulating, stalking and surveillance, intimidating, isolation, communication gap, exploiting emotional dependency, ridiculing, lowering self-esteem and identity erosion, emotional distancing and neglect, humiliation and degradation, devaluation and defame, physical assault and injury, property damage, coercing or attempting sexual contact, and restraining and confinement. Our findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive intervention of dating violence in Pakistan including the integration of psychological support and emotional counseling, where societal pressure, family expectations, and gender roles exacerbate the abuse. This study contributes significantly to the understanding of dating violence in Pakistan and underscores the importance of tailored interventions to mitigate its devastating effects on mental health.
  16. Leong PY, Tan WQ, Choo WS
    FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2025 Feb 04.
    PMID: 39904546 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaf020
    Antibiotic resistance and the persistence of sessile cells within biofilms complicate the eradication of biofilm-related infections using conventional antibiotics. This highlights the necessity for alternate therapy methods. The objective of this study was to investigate the biofilm destruction activity of α-tocopherol against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on polystyrene. α-Tocopherol showed significant biofilm destruction activity on the pre-formed biofilms of S. aureus (45-46%), Pr. mirabilis (42-54%) and Ps. aeruginosa (28%). Resazurin assay showed that α-tocopherol disrupted all bacteria biofilms without interfering with their cell viability. Scanning electron microscope images showed lower bacterial cell count and less compacted cell aggregates on polystyrene surfaces after treatment with alpha-tocopherol. This study demonstrated the biofilm destruction activity of alpha-tocopherol against S. aureus, Pr. mirabilis and Ps. aeruginosa. α-Tocopherol could potentially be used to decrease biofilm-associated infections of these bacteria.
  17. Kwok FY, Hui MT, Thomas Joseph C, Hanim Binti Mohamad A, Bakhtiar MF
    PMID: 39904571 DOI: 10.1177/0310057X241284655
    Diagnosis of perioperative anaphylaxis (POA) and identification of causative agents remain challenging. This study aimed to describe the estimated incidence, characteristics and causative agents of POA in Malaysia. This is a retrospective review of all cases of suspected POA referred to the only anaesthetic allergy centre in Malaysia from March 2014 to December 2022. One hundred and ninety patients with suspected POA of Grade 2 and above were included. Data on clinical presentation, severity, management, serum tryptase and subsequent allergy workup (including skin and serum testing results) of these patients were extracted from the database. Dynamic tryptase was elevated in half of the cases where tryptase results were available and skin tests were positive in 96% of these cases. Skin testing was positive in 113 patients (60%) overall, and more than 70% of Grades 3 and 4 anaphylaxis cases. Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) and antibiotics were the most commonly identified causative agents (27.4% and 23% respectively). The commonest NMBAs were rocuronium and atracurium, both commonly cross-reacting with cisatracurium. The overall cross-reactivity rate among NMBAs was 58%. For antibiotics, the commonest causative agents were cefuroxime, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Using these data, the estimated incidence of Grades 2-4 POA over this period in Malaysia was approximately 1 in 30,000 anaesthetics. However, owing to the voluntary nature of reporting, it is possible that this is an underestimate, particularly in relation to some milder Grade 2 cases which may have gone unrecognised or unreported.
  18. Zulkeflee NN, Mustapha Kamil Y, Mashohor S, Abu Bakar MH
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2025 Feb 01.
    PMID: 39904660 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2025.117200
    This work demonstrates a label-free dual-sensing biosensor utilizing cascaded single-mode tapered fiber (SMTF) for the concurrent detection of Dengue II envelope (E) and SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) proteins. Two fiber tapers of different dimensions were employed in-line, with each taper functionalized with specific complementary antibodies to the targeted antigens. The cascaded interferometric effect yielded composite spectral output that exhibited discrete response toward localized refractive index changes due to binding of antigens and antibodies. Consistent red shifts were observed with increasing concentration of the targeted analyte, which led to sensitivity values of 6.91 nm/nM for SMTF1 and 9.96 nm/nM for SMTF2, with a detection limit of 0.1 pM. This dual-sensing platform demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity, rapid response times, and the potential for integration into portable diagnostic devices, presenting it as a promising tool for point-of-care diagnostics and simultaneous detection of multiple disease biomarkers.
  19. Nahin KH, Nirob JH, Taki AA, Haque MA, SinghSingh NS, Paul LC, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 04;15(1):4215.
    PMID: 39905042 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88174-2
    This paper introduces the design and exploration of a compact, high-performance multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna for 6G applications operating in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. Leveraging a meta learner-based stacked generalization ensemble strategy, this study integrates classical machine learning techniques with an optimized multi-feature stacked ensemble to predict antenna properties with greater accuracy. Specifically, a neural network is applied as a base learner for predicting antenna parameters, resulting in increased predictive performance, achieving R², EVS, MSE, RMSE, and MAE values of 0.96, 0.998, 0.00842, 0.00453, and 0.00999, respectively. Utilizing regression-based machine learning, antenna parameters are optimized to attain dual-band resonance with bandwidths of 3.34 THz and 1 THz across two bands, ensuring robust data throughput and communication stability. The antenna, designed with dimensions of 70 × 280 μm², demonstrates a maximum gain of 15.82 dB, excellent isolation exceeding - 32.9 dB, and remarkable efficiency of 99.8%, underscoring its suitability for high-density, high-speed 6G environments. The design methodology integrates CST simulations and an RLC equivalent circuit model, substantiated by ADS simulations, with comparable reflection coefficients validating the accuracy of the models. With its compact footprint, broad bandwidth, and optimized isolation and efficiency, the proposed MIMO antenna is positioned as an ideal candidate for future 6G communication applications.
  20. Gong Y, Said F, Haq W, Gong J, Aksar I
    Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 04;15(1):4212.
    PMID: 39905199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87343-7
    The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to unprecedented transformation of consumer behaviors. Despite the abundance of research on this subject, less is known about why and how consumers processed health information and subsequently decided to purchase food during the pandemic. This study employed a survey questionnaire to collect the data. The sample size consisted of 590 consumers in China. The data were analyzed via SPSS and SmartPLS version 3.2.9 to explore the relationships among variables. The results showed that health information-seeking behavior has a significant impact on healthy food product purchasing intention. Similarly, health-related internet use also has a positive impact on health information seeking. Moreover, the impact of motivation for healthy eating on health information seeking is significant. The results indicate a significant moderating role of social influence (i.e., interaction between health information seeking and healthy food product purchasing intention). Multigroup analysis revealed differences between income and age in terms of health-related internet use and purchasing intention. This study assessed healthy food product purchasing intention in a timely manner by incorporating health communication. variables and social influence into consumer behavior research in the context of COVID-19. It thus expands the extant literature and provides insights into the knowledge and practices concerned.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; China; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Intention*; Young Adult; Functional Food*; Information Seeking Behavior*; Pandemics
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