Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Ruki J, Hong CF, Yi CS, Shing PT, Julai NN, Jobli AF
    PMID: 40075043 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-025-36219-4
    Aggregate quality is critical to long-term pavement performance and increased maintenance costs. Choosing the right aggregates is essential to sustainable roads. For areas like Sarawak, Malaysia, knowledge of the characteristics of the locally available aggregate is an essential for optimizing their use in construction projects. The aim of this paper is to conduct a thorough investigation into physical and mechanical properties of rock aggregates from various localities in Sarawak, Malaysia, where the location information can give some inference on its suitability for pavement construction use. The research assesses key aggregate characteristics that are measured through a series of laboratory testing which typically includes Flakiness Index, Aggregate Crushing Value, Water Absorption Test, and Los Angeles Abrasion Value. The results are presented in a descriptive way, providing the characteristics of aggregates sourced from various quarries at different locations throughout Sarawak. The results are compared and evaluated against Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Malaysia standards, thereby providing information on the suitability of aggregate properties for pavement construction. This study therefore increases the knowledge of regional aggregate sources in Sarawak.
  2. Ma S
    Sci Rep, 2025 Mar 12;15(1):8600.
    PMID: 40075111 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86522-w
    Badminton, a dynamic and fast-paced racket sport, demands a unique combination of physical, technical, and cognitive abilities from its players. This study investigates the impact of a tailored core strength training program on the specialized performance of elite badminton athletes, with the aim of unlocking their full potential and improving overall well-being. The research involved a cohort of national-level badminton players who underwent a 12-week core strength training intervention. The program was designed using principles of progressive overload and targeted the development of core stability, power, and explosiveness-essential attributes for high-level badminton performance. Throughout the study, the athletes' progress was evaluated through a comprehensive assessment battery, including measures of shot velocity, agility, jump height, and sport-specific technical proficiency. Additionally, the researchers examined the impact of the training regimen on the athletes' mental health and resilience, using validated psychological questionnaires. The results show that the core strength training program led to significant improvements in the athletes' explosive shot power, stability, and agility-key determinants of badminton success. Notably, the intervention also had a positive effect on the participants' mental well-being, with increased levels of self-confidence, focus, and emotional regulation reported. This study utilized an artificial neural network (ANN) to investigate the relationships between core stability, core power, and performance indicators (agility, jump height, mental well-being) to predict and optimize conditions for enhancing specialized athletic performance. The ANN model demonstrated the ability to capture complex, nonlinear relationships and provide accurate predictions. These results suggest that integrating core-focused training into the preparation of elite badminton athletes can be a crucial strategy for enhancing their specialized performance, reducing injury risk, and promoting holistic well-being. The study shows the importance of tailored, sport-specific approaches to athletic development and provides valuable insights for coaches, sports scientists, and healthcare professionals working with high-performance badminton players.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Neural Networks (Computer)*; Resistance Training/methods; Young Adult
  3. Krisnan L, Yusof A, Marathamuthu S, Selvanayagam VS
    Sci Rep, 2025 Mar 13;15(1):8620.
    PMID: 40075151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-93626-w
    This study examined the number of contractions required for an isometric plantar flexion familiarization. Twenty-six males were separated into two independent Groups: Group A: where five contractions were initiated on the dominant limb (right) followed by the contralateral limb; and Group B, initiated by the non-dominant limb (left) followed by the dominant limb. Participants carried out a 5-s maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), with an interpolated twitch administered to the tibial nerve. In Group A, both the dominant and non-dominant limbs required two contractions for familiarization, whereas in Group B, the dominant limb required two contractions, and the non-dominant limb required three (p 
    MeSH terms: Adult; Electromyography; Humans; Male; Tibial Nerve/physiology; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology; Young Adult
  4. Khan EEA, Arifin WN, Musa KI
    BMC Public Health, 2025 Mar 12;25(1):982.
    PMID: 40075378 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22156-x
    BACKGROUND: The caregiving role for stroke survivors profoundly impacts one's quality of life, presenting distinct challenges and rewards. The Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire (AC-QoL) methodically evaluates caregivers' well-being across diverse dimensions. This study aims to translate, culturally adapt and validate the Malay version of AC-QoL.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done. The translation was conducted in ten steps including forwards and back translation. Six experts were recruited for content validation of clarity, comprehension and relevancy of the items. Ten subjects from the target population were recruited for face validation of clarity and comprehension. For confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), all eligible caregivers were recruited until the sample size of 222 subjects was satisfied.

    RESULTS: For content validity, two items had low Item-level Content Validity Index and were suggested for rephrasing. The following face validity had an acceptable Item-level Face Validity Index between 0.9 and 1 for all items. In CFA, four items were suggested to be removed due to low factor loading. The final model had Robust Comparative Fit Index of 0.889, Robust Tucker-Lewis Index of 0.877, Robust Root Mean Square Error of Approximation of 0.066 (95%CI: 0.059,0.072) and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual of 0.064. The composite reliability for all factors were between 0.77 and 0.91 respectively. Significant difference was observed when the mean total quality of life score was compared among caregivers with different depression, anxiety and stress status. As for test-retest reliability, it was found that the questionnaire had good intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.86 (95%CI: 1.08,4.35).

    CONCLUSIONS: The Malay version of AC-QoL demonstrates satisfactory validity and reliability, suitable for evaluating the quality of life among informal caregivers of stroke survivors in Malaysia. The questionnaire serves as a comprehensive tool for one-time assessments and holds promise for gauging intervention effectiveness.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Psychometrics/instrumentation; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards; Translations; Reproducibility of Results; Survivors/psychology
  5. Leong KY, Tham SK, Poh CL
    Virol J, 2025 Mar 12;22(1):71.
    PMID: 40075519 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-025-02645-6
    Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have emerged as a transformative platform in modern vaccinology. mRNA vaccine is a powerful alternative to traditional vaccines due to their high potency, safety, and efficacy, coupled with the ability for rapid clinical development, scalability and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing. Initially conceptualized in the 1970s, the first study about the effectiveness of a mRNA vaccine against influenza was conducted in 1993. Since then, the development of mRNA vaccines has rapidly gained significance, especially in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Their unprecedented success during the COVID-19 pandemic, as demonstrated by the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, highlighted their transformative potential. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the mRNA vaccine technology, detailing the structure of the mRNA vaccine and its mechanism of action in inducing immunity. Advancements in nanotechnology, particularly lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as delivery vehicles, have revolutionized the field. The manufacturing processes, including upstream production, downstream purification, and formulation are also reviewed. The clinical progress of mRNA vaccines targeting viruses causing infectious diseases is discussed, emphasizing their versatility and therapeutic potential. Despite their success, the mRNA vaccine platform faces several challenges, including improved stability to reduce dependence on cold chain logistics in transport, enhanced delivery mechanisms to target specific tissues or cells, and addressing the risk of rare adverse events. High costs associated with encapsulation in LNPs and the potential for unequal global access further complicate their widespread adoption. As the world continues to confront emerging viral threats, overcoming these challenges will be essential to fully harness the potential of mRNA vaccines. It is anticipated that mRNA vaccines will play a major role in defining and shaping the future of global health.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Immunization/methods; Liposomes
  6. Mohd Amin NH, Junaidi MUM, Amir Z, Hashim NA, Hizaddin HF, Ahmad AL, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2025 Feb 25;17(5).
    PMID: 40076108 DOI: 10.3390/polym17050615
    The increasing demand for high-purity hydrogen (H2) as renewable energy sources is driving advancements in membrane technology, which is essential for achieving efficient gas separation. Polyimide (PI) membranes have become an emerging option for H2/CO2 separation due to its excellent thermal stability and stability under harsh conditions. However, the neat PI membrane suffers performance loss due to CO2 plasticization effect and an encountered trade-off limit between permeability and selectivity. Therefore, membrane modification by crosslinking and blending emerged as a recent strategy to enhance the membrane's performance and properties. This paper provides: (1) An overview of the possible method to do the modification in PI membranes, including the advantages and challenges of the membrane modification types; (2) As blending and crosslinking is the most popular modification for the PI membrane, their roles in enhancing membrane properties for improved H2/CO2 separation are discussed; (3) The critical parameters of the blending and crosslinking processes are also clarified for the optimal purification process; (4) The future outlook for H2/CO2 separation using membrane technology is discussed, aiming to provide commercialization strategy for optimal H2/CO2 separation. Thus, this review could provide guidelines for the readers to implement changes that significantly enhance the membrane's features for high-purity H2 production.
  7. Zhao R, Amanvermez Y, Pei J, Castro-Ramirez F, Rapsey C, Garcia C, et al.
    PMID: 40077833 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14145
    BACKGROUND: The prevalence of mental health problems among college students has increased over the past decade. Even when mental health services are available, many students still struggle to access these services. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the rates at which students actively seek or consider using formal help and to determine the main reasons for not seeking help.

    METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase to identify studies on help-seeking behaviors, intentions, and barriers to help-seeking among college students with mental health problems. Random effect models were used to calculate the pooled proportions.

    RESULTS: Of the 8,919 identified studies, 62 met the inclusion criteria and were included (n = 53 on help-seeking behaviors, n = 21 on help-seeking intentions, and n = 14 on treatment barriers). The pooled prevalence of active help-seeking behaviors was 28% (179,915/435,768 individuals; 95% CI: 23%-33%, I2 = 99.6%), and the aggregated prevalence of help-seeking intentions was 41% (62,456/80161 individuals; 95% CI: 26%-58%, I2 = 99.8%). Common barriers reported by students included a preference to address issues on their own, time constraints, insufficient knowledge of accessible resources, and a perceived lack of need for professional help.

    CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the gap between the mental health needs of the students and their actual help-seeking rates. Although personal barriers are common, systemic or contextual challenges also affect college students' help-seeking behaviors.

  8. Boonyuen U, Jacob BAC, Chamchoy K, Pengsuk N, Talukam S, Petcharat C, et al.
    Trop Med Int Health, 2025 Mar 13.
    PMID: 40078033 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.14105
    Accurate diagnosis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is crucial for relapse malaria treatment using 8-aminoquinolines (primaquine and tafenoquine), which can trigger haemolytic anaemia in G6PD-deficient individuals. This is particularly important in regions where the prevalence of G6PD deficiency exceeds 3%-5%, including Southeast Asia and Thailand. While quantitative phenotypic tests can identify women with intermediate activity who may be at risk, they cannot unambiguously identify heterozygous females who require appropriate counselling. This study aimed to develop a genetic test for G6PD deficiency using high-resolution melting curve analysis, which enables zygosity identification of 15 G6PD alleles. In 557 samples collected from four locations in Thailand, the prevalence of G6PD deficiency based on indirect enzyme assay was 6.10%, with 8.08% exhibiting intermediate deficiency. The developed high-resolution melting assays demonstrated excellent performance, achieving 100% sensitivity and specificity in detecting G6PD alleles compared with Sanger sequencing. Genotypic variations were observed across four geographic locations, with the combination of c.1311C>T and c.1365-13T>C being the most common genotype. Compound mutations, notably G6PD Viangchan (c.871G>A, c.1311C>T and c.1365-13T>C), accounted for 15.26% of detected mutations. The high-resolution melting assays also identified the double mutation G6PD Chinese-4 + Canton and G6PD Radlowo, a variant found for the first time in Thailand. Biochemical and structural characterisation revealed that these variants significantly reduced catalytic activity by destabilising protein structure, particularly in the case of the Radlowo mutation. The refinement of these high-resolution melting assays presents a highly accurate and high-throughput platform that can improve patient care by enabling precise diagnosis, supporting genetic counselling and guiding public health efforts to manage G6PD deficiency-especially crucial in malaria-endemic regions where 8-aminoquinoline therapies pose a risk to deficient individuals.
  9. Li S, Luo Y, Cao Y, Li F, Jin H, Mi J
    Front Physiol, 2025;16:1435810.
    PMID: 40078369 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1435810
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of physical and mental fatigue of different intensities (mild, moderate or severe) on basketball shooting accuracy, with the aim of informing more effective training protocols and competition strategies.

    METHODS: Literature searches were conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO databases up to 25 June 2024. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were specified, and data extraction sheets were prepared. Study quality was assessed by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool in Review Manager 5.4, and Stata18.0 software was used for heterogeneity analysis, subgroup analysis, forest plots, stratification analysis, and bias assessment.

    RESULTS: Moderate physical fatigue affected two-point shooting accuracy (P < 0.01),severe physical fatigue affected both two-point (P = 0.02) and three-point shooting accuracy (p < 0.01),with severe physical fatigue showing a greater detrimental impact on three-point shooting accuracy, while two-point shooting accuracy may vary under specific conditions. Additionally, adolescent athletes were less affected by severe physical fatigue compared to adult athletes or those with longer training experience. Moderate mental fatigue also significantly reduced free-throw accuracy (p < 0.01).

    CONCLUSION: The shooting accuracy of basketball players was significantly affected by moderate and severe physical fatigue. Severe physical fatigue notably adversely affected the accuracy of three-point shooting relative to moderate fatigue; Additionally, moderate mental fatigue significantly reduced free-throw accuracy, which may be attributed to a decline in cognitive executive functions, highlighting the importance of fatigue management in sports training.

    SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#myprospero, identifier CRD42024539553.

  10. Sterling MJ, Price BW, Lees DC
    Zookeys, 2025;1229:297-368.
    PMID: 40078454 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1229.119155
    The genus Topiris Walker, 1863 is revised. This genus, previously neglected or deemed unrecognisable, comprised only Walker's damaged and misrepaired type specimen of Topiriscandidella Walker, 1863. Evidence is provided that this specimen was collected by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1855-56 in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The mitogenome of this specimen was assembled using low coverage whole genome sequencing (genome skimming). The COI-5P portion of this mitogenome (658 bp) differs by 1-3 bp from two haplotypes sequenced from early 1990's Brunei specimens. Another specimen recently discovered at NHMUK with an identical label to that of the type perfectly matches the Brunei specimens in its genitalia. Based on these four specimens, we present a fuller description of the morphology of T.candidella. Topiris includes the following additional species authored by Sterling and Lees: Topirisalbidella sp. nov., T.albogrisella sp. nov., T.cinderella sp. nov., T.digiticosta sp. nov., T.lacteella sp. nov., T.madonna sp. nov., T.meyricki sp. nov., T.ochrotincta sp. nov., T.schneeweissella sp. nov., T.sericella sp. nov., and T.thunbergella sp. nov. The following new combinations are also established: T.salva (Meyrick, 1932), comb. nov. and T.sampitella (Lvovsky, 2014), comb. nov. The type of Athrypsiastissalva Meyrick is confirmed as lost and so a neotype and paraneotype of this species are designated. A published mitogenome of "Linoclostisgonatias" is shown to be correctly identified as T.salva, and references to L.gonatias, identified in some literature as a pest of Theaceae, are likely misidentified. The genus Topiris is divided into three groups, the candidella group, the salva group, and the albidella group, based on characters in the male genitalia. The candidella group and albidella group are supported sub-clades of Topiris. The phylogenetic placement of Topiris and Athrypsiastis within 'core' Xyloryctidae (as subtended by its type species, X.luteotactella) is confirmed by analysis of COI and seven nuclear genes, whereas the genera Eumenodora Meyrick, 1906 and Izatha Walker, 1864 do not fall within this clade. The morphology of Athrypsiastisphaeoleuca Meyrick, 1910 (the type species of Athrypsiastis; Xyloryctidae) is more fully described. The following new species authored by Sterling and Lees are described: Athrypsiastischeesmanae sp. nov., A.edelweissella sp. nov., and A.penumbrella sp. nov. Two taxa are newly combined: Athrypsiastishalmaherella (Lvovsky, 2014), comb. nov. and Paralectarosiflora (Meyrick, 1930), comb. nov.
  11. Yap CK, Al-Mutairi KA
    Front Public Health, 2025;13:1552122.
    PMID: 40078765 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1552122
    This study provides a comprehensive review of the research surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear incident, focusing on its far-reaching impacts on human health, and environmental contamination. Based on the Scopus database, 258 relevant papers were identified using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. These papers were metal-analyzed and quantitatively analyzed using a similarity map generated through VOSViewer in order to visualize key themes and their interconnections. The research highlights critical areas such as radiation-induced health effects, ecological damage, and the implications for sustainable energy practices. Additionally, this review explores the alignment of these findings with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly UNSDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), UNSDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), UNSDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), UNSDG 13 (Climate Action), and UNSDG 15 (Life on Land). By synthesizing existing research, this study emphasizes the importance of integrating safety protocols, environmental rehabilitation, and sustainable energy policies to prevent and to mitigate the impacts of future nuclear incidents.
    MeSH terms: Humans; United Nations; Chernobyl Nuclear Accident*
  12. Findlay-Wilson S, Thakur N, Crossley L, Easterbrook L, Salguero FJ, Ruedas-Torres I, et al.
    Front Immunol, 2025;16:1517244.
    PMID: 40078997 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1517244
    INTRODUCTION: Nipah virus (NiV) is one of a group of highly pathogenic viruses classified within the Henipavirus genus. Since 2012 at least 11 new henipa-like viruses have been identified, including from new locations and reservoir hosts; the pathogenicity of these new viruses has yet to be determined, but two of them have been associated with morbidity, including fatalities.

    METHODS: The efficacy and cross-reactivity of two vaccine candidates derived from the soluble glycoproteins of both NiV and Hendra virus (HeV) was evaluated in our recently established hamster model.

    RESULTS: Both vaccine preparations resulted in strong humoral responses against NiV antigenic targets, demonstrating cross-reactive immunity. Efficacy was determined through challenge of hamsters with NiV Malaysian (NiV-M) strain. 100% of the hamsters survived a lethal challenge dose after prime/boost immunisation with glycoproteins derived from both NiV and HeV in the presence of adjuvant, with clinical signs and pathology being significantly reduced in immunised animals.

    DISCUSSION: This is first time the NiV and HeV soluble glycoproteins have been compared in the NiV-M hamster challenge model in the presence of Alhydrogel and AddaVax, providing evidence that glycoproteins from closely related henipavirus species can provide cross-protectivity against infection from alternate henipaviruses, supporting the potential of an effective pan-henipavirus vaccine for use in a frontline outbreak response.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Disease Models, Animal*; Female; Cricetinae; Mesocricetus; Viral Vaccines/immunology; Hendra Virus/immunology
  13. Kaleh AM, Singh P, Ooi Chua K, Harikrishna JA
    Ann Bot, 2025 Feb 19;135(3):387-402.
    PMID: 39279216 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae166
    BACKGROUND: Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been shown to improve plant growth and stress tolerance through mechanisms including improved access to nutrients and biotic competition with pathogens. As such, the use of PGPB can help to address challenges to crop productivity, but information on interactions between PGPB and their plant hosts, especially at the level of gene regulation, is distributed across diverse studies involving several different plants and PGPB.

    SCOPE: For this review, we analysed recent research publications reporting specifically on plant transcription factor (TF) expression in association with PGPB, to determine if there are any common findings and to identify gaps that offer opportunities for focused future research.

    CONCLUSIONS: The inoculation of plants with PGPB elicits a dynamic and temporal response. Initially, there is an upregulation of defence-responsive TFs, followed by their downregulation in an intermediate phase, and finally, another upregulation, providing longer term stress tolerance. PGPB priming activates plant defences in the form of induced systemic resistance (ISR), often via the MAMP/MAPK pathways and involving one or more of the major plant hormone-signalling pathways and their crosstalk. Following PGPB priming, the TF families most commonly reported as expressed across different plants and for different pathogens are ERF and WRKY, while the TFs most commonly expressed across different plants for different abiotic stresses are ERF and DREB. There were inconsistencies between studies regarding the timing of the shift from the initial phase to the intermediate phase, and some of the TFs expressed during this process have not been fully characterized. This calls for more research to investigate the regulatory functions and phases of TF expression, to enhance crop resilience. Most reports on abiotic stresses have focused on salinity and drought, with fewer studies addressing nutrient deficiency, heavy metals, flooding and other stresses, highlighting the need for further research in these areas.

    MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism; Plant Proteins/genetics; Plant Proteins/metabolism; Plants/metabolism; Plants/microbiology; Stress, Physiological*; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  14. Akowuah GA, Sabbagh BA, Palanirajan VK, Chew YL, Chin JH, Ahmad M
    J Complement Integr Med, 2025 Mar 01;22(1):134-141.
    PMID: 39710889 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2024-0217
    OBJECTIVES: Vernonia amygdalina Del. leaves are used in traditional Southeast Asia and Africa medicinal practices. Metformin is used for diabetes management. This study investigated the effect of a single dose of aqueous leaf extract of V. amygdalina on metformin pharmacokinetics in diabetic rats.

    METHODS: Diabetic rats were randomly assigned to four groups, with six rats in each group. Group 1 was administered distilled water. Group 2 was administered V. amygdalina aqueous leaf extract alone. Group 3 was administered metformin alone. Group 4 was co-administered V. amygdalina extract plus metformin. Blood was collected at predetermined intervals, and plasma metformin levels were measured with liquid chromatography. The area under the curve (AUC0-t), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to reach Cmax (Tmax), half-life (t1/2), and clearance (CL), were calculated based on noncompartment analysis. The effect of the extract on CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and UGT activities was determined using a Fluorometric Screening Kit.

    RESULTS: The combined treatment altered the pharmacokinetic parameters of metformin. The Tmax increased from 90±0.18 min to 180±0.13 min and the Cmax, increased from 0.91±0.32 μg/mL to 2.153±0.28 μg/mL. Additionally, the AUC(0-t) increased from 118.25±1.37 μg min mL-1 to 301.006±1.96 μg min mL-1 and the t1/2 increased from 34.69±0.61 min to 101.321±0.55 min. However, the CL rate was decreased. The extract inhibited CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzyme activities.

    CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of pharmacokinetic parameters by the extract suggests potential herb-drug interactions.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Male; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Herb-Drug Interactions*; Rats; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors/pharmacology; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors/pharmacology; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9/metabolism
  15. Lau TTV, Puah SM, Chua KH
    J Fish Dis, 2025 Mar 11.
    PMID: 40067207 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.14112
    Aeromonas veronii has emerged as an important fish pathogen that poses threats to the aquaculture industry worldwide, and rapid detection is essential to minimise negative economic impact. In this study, a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed to rapidly detect A. veronii, targeting a gene encoding GGDEF domain-containing diguanylate cyclase. The entire LAMP reaction could be completed in 30 min at 65°C based on colour change from pink to yellow. In addition, the assay demonstrated 100% specificity with no cross reaction with other common fish pathogens. The detection limit (LOD) was 500 pg/μL using purified plasmid and 1.72 × 105 cfu/mL (equivalent to 1.72 × 102 cfu/reaction) using crude genomic DNA extracted from the pure culture of A. veronii ATCC 9071. LAMP demonstrated comparable performance to conventional PCR using 57 bacterial isolates, with 100% (20/20) specificity, 91.9% (34/37) sensitivity, 94.7% (54/57) accuracy and a 0.888 Cohen's kappa value. Lastly, the LOD of LAMP in a spiked water sample was 1.72 × 105 cfu/mL (equivalent to 3.44 × 103 cfu/reaction). Overall, our LAMP assay has a high level of diagnostic agreement with conventional PCR and can be used as a valuable tool for the rapid detection of A. veronii from environmental samples.
  16. Chong SL, Zhu Y, Wang Q, Caporal P, Roa JD, Chamorro FIP, et al.
    JAMA Netw Open, 2025 Mar 03;8(3):e250438.
    PMID: 40067302 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0438
    IMPORTANCE: The use of hypertonic saline (HTS) vs mannitol in the control of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to neurotrauma is debated.

    OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality and functional outcomes of treatment with 3% HTS vs 20% mannitol among children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at risk of elevated ICP.

    DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted between June 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, at 28 participating pediatric intensive care units in the Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine in Asia Network (PACCMAN) and the Red Colaborativa Pediátrica de Latinoamérica (LARed) in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The study included children (aged <18 years) with moderate to severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score ≤13).

    EXPOSURE: Treatment with 3% HTS compared with 20% mannitol.

    MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Multiple log-binomial regression analysis was performed for mortality, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed for discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scores and 3-month Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended Pediatric Version (GOS-E-Peds) scores. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was also performed using the propensity score method to control for baseline imbalance between groups.

    RESULTS: This study included 445 children with a median age of 5.0 (IQR, 2.0-11.0) years. More than half of the patients (279 [62.7%]) were boys, and 344 (77.3%) had severe TBI. Overall, 184 children (41.3%) received 3% HTS, 82 (18.4%) received 20% mannitol, 69 (15.5%) received both agents, and 110 (24.7%) received neither agent. The mortality rate was 7.1% (13 of 184 patients) in the HTS group and 11.0% (9 of 82 patients) in the mannitol group (P = .34). After adjusting for age, sex, presence of child abuse, time between injury and hospital arrival, lowest GCS score in the first 24 hours, and presence of extradural hemorrhage, no between-group differences in mortality, hospital discharge PCPC scores, or 3-month GOS-E-Peds scores were observed.

    CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study of children with moderate to severe TBI, the use of HTS was not associated with increased survival or improved functional outcomes compared with mannitol. Future large multicenter randomized clinical trials are required to validate these findings.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Asia/epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Diuretics, Osmotic/therapeutic use; Europe; Female; Humans; Infant; Latin America; Male; Prospective Studies; Saline Solution, Hypertonic/therapeutic use; Glasgow Coma Scale; Treatment Outcome; Intracranial Hypertension/drug therapy; Intracranial Hypertension/etiology
  17. Al-Khawlani MA, Al-Madhagi WM, Sabati AM, ALomaisi SAMA, Al-Najar M
    PMID: 40067440 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-03905-6
    Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) vitamins are of interest in preventative and protective strategies in cardiovascular disease. However, the safety and efficacy of vitamin B6 has been questioned. The aim of this study was to study the protective effect of pyridoxine, amlodipine, and their combination against vasopressin-induced angina model in rats. The administration of vasopressin (1 IU/kg, i.v.) to the rats elevated the S-wave level of the electrocardiogram reflecting the presence of subendocardial ischemia, whereas it decreased of the heart rate, resulting in the increase of the cardiac enzymes, creatine kinase MB (CK MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In the vasopressin-induced angina model, oral administration of pyridoxine in dose of 5, 7, 10 mg/kg revealed dose-dependent suppression of vasopressin-triggered of ST elevation and in reduced of heart rat. In addition, pyridoxine produced dose-dependent suppression of cardiac enzymes, creatine kinase MB (CK MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) more than amlodipine and isosorbide; while in contrast, the combination of pyridoxine with amlodipine resulted in a trend towards increased adverse cardiovascular events; pyridoxine in dose 7 mg/kg was found to be more potent than pyridoxine in doses 5, 10 mg/kg, amlodipine and isosorbide on vasopressin-induced angina in rats. Pyridoxine in dose of (5, 7 mg) prevents cardiac necrosis and artery well thickened on vasopressin-induced angina modal. Pyridoxine's protective effects may be mediated by improved endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function, reduction of homocysteine levels, and modulation of sympathetic activity. Pyridoxine at optimal doses shows promise as a novel therapeutic agent for coronary heart disease prevention, warranting further investigation into its potential clinical applications.
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