Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 508 in total

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  1. Badli-Sham BH, Syafiq MF, Aziz MSA, Mohd Jalil NR, Awang MT, Othman MNA, et al.
    Zookeys, 2023;1157:43-93.
    PMID: 37398628 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1157.95873
    Amphibians of Sekayu lowland forest have been studied more than a decade, with discoveries of new records of species showing no sign of abating between the years 2003 to 2020, indicating the remarkably rich diversity of anurans in this forest. Despite ceaseless anthropogenic activities in this area, this study successfully recorded 52 species of amphibians from 32 genera in the lowland forest of Sekayu. The species composition consisted of a single species from the family Ichthyophiidae and 51 species of anurans of 31 genera and six families. The number of species recorded has steadily increased especially during more recent surveys from 2015 to 2020. This study augments the total number of amphibian species recorded from Hulu Terengganu by ten additional species, increasing the total to 70 species for the district.
  2. Chin LF, Kong SM, Seng HL, Tiong YL, Neo KE, Maah MJ, et al.
    J Biol Inorg Chem, 2012 Oct;17(7):1093-105.
    PMID: 22825726 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-012-0923-y
    Two ternary Zn(II) complexes, with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as the main ligand and a carboxylate-containing ligand [dipicolinate (dipico) or L-threoninate (L-Thr)] as the subsidiary ligand, were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform IR, UV, and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, molar conductivity, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. X-ray structure analysis shows that both [Zn(phen)(dipico)(H(2)O)]·H(2)O (1) and [Zn(phen)(L-Thr)(H(2)O)Cl]·2H(2)O (2) have octahedral geometry about the Zn(II) atom. Both complexes can inhibit topoisomerase I, and have better anticancer activity than cisplatin against nasopharyngeal cancer cell lines, HK1 and HONE-1, with concentrations causing 50 % inhibition of cell proliferation (IC(50)) in the low micromolar range. Complex 2 has the highest therapeutic index for HK1. Both Zn(II) complexes can induce cell death by apoptosis. Changing the subsidiary ligand in the Zn(II) complexes affects the UV-fluorescence spectral properties of the coordinated phen ligand, the binding affinity for some DNA sequences, nucleobase sequence-selective binding, the phase at which cell cycle progression was arrested for treated cancer cells, and their therapeutic index.
  3. Esa NM, Yunus WM, Ahmad MB, Basri M, Razak CN, Salleh AB
    Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1998 Dec 13;864:489-92.
    PMID: 9928130
  4. Mostafa SS, Awal MA, Ahmad M, Rashid MA
    Springerplus, 2016;5(1):1522.
    PMID: 27652095 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-3170-9
    Some people cannot produce sound although their facial muscles work properly due to having problem in their vocal cords. Therefore, recognition of alphabets as well as sentences uttered by these voiceless people is a complex task. This paper proposes a novel method to solve this problem using non-invasive surface Electromyogram (sEMG). Firstly, eleven Bangla vowels are pronounced and sEMG signals are recorded at the same time. Different features are extracted and mRMR feature selection algorithm is then applied to select prominent feature subset from the large feature vector. After that, these prominent features subset is applied in the Artificial Neural Network for vowel classification. This novel Bangla vowel classification method can offer a significant contribution in voice synthesis as well as in speech communication. The result of this experiment shows an overall accuracy of 82.3 % with fewer features compared to other studies in different languages.
  5. Effendi-Tenang I, Tan MP, Khaliddin N, Jamaluddin Ahmad M, Amir NN, Kamaruzzaman SB, et al.
    Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 2020 06 26;90:104165.
    PMID: 32650156 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104165
    INTRODUCTION: Published literature on vision impairment and cognitive function amongst older Malaysians remains scarce. This study investigates the association between vision impairment and cognitive function in an older Malaysian population.

    METHODS: Subjects aged 55 years and above from the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study with available information on vision and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were included. Data were obtained through a home-based interview and hospital-based health check by trained researchers. Visual acuity (VA) was assessed with logMAR score with vision impairment defined as VA 6/18 or worse in the better-seeing eye. Cognition was evaluated using the MoCA-Blind scoring procedure. Those with a MoCA-Blind score of <19/22 were considered to have cognitive impairment.

    RESULTS: Data was available for 1144 participants, mean (SD) age = 68.57 (±7.23) years. Vision impairment was present in 143 (12.5 %) and 758 (66.3 %) had MoCA-Blind score of <19. Subjects with vision impairment were less likely to have a MoCA-Blind score of ≥19 (16.8 % vs 36.2 %, p < 0.001). Vision impairment was associated with poorer MoCA-Blind scores after adjustments for age, gender, and ethnicity (β = 2.064; 95 % CI, -1.282 to 3.320; P = 0.003). In those who had > 6 years of education attainment, vision impairment was associated with a significant reduction of cognitive function and remained so after adjustment for age and gender (β = 1.863; 95 % CI, 1.081-3.209; P = 0.025).

    CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that vision impairment correlates with cognitive decline. Therefore, maintaining good vision is an important interventional strategy for preventing cognitive decline in older adults.

  6. Atangwho IJ, Yin KB, Umar MI, Ahmad M, Asmawi MZ
    PMID: 25358757 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-426
    This study evaluated the impact of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) on the transcription of key enzymes involved in cellular modulation of glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats in a bid to understand the possible anti-diabetic mechanism of VA.
  7. Tan CS, Ch'ng YS, Loh YC, Zaini Asmawi M, Ahmad M, Yam MF
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2017 Mar 06;199:149-160.
    PMID: 28161542 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.02.001
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) is one of the herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and serves as an envoy medicinal. Since G. uralensis plays a major role in the anti-hypertensive TCM formulae, we believe that G. uralensis might possess vasorelaxation activity.

    AIM OF THE STUDY: This study is designed to investigate the vasorelaxation effect of G. uralensis from various extracts and to study its pharmacology effect.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The vasorelaxation effect of G. uralensis extracts were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague Dawley rats.

    RESULTS: Among these three extracts of G. uralensis, 50% ethanolic extract (EFG) showed the strongest vasorelaxation activity. EFG caused the relaxation of the aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine either in the presence or absence of endothelium and pre-contracted with potassium chloride in endothelium-intact aortic ring. Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, methylene blue, or 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one inhibit the vasorelaxation effect of EFG in the presence of endothelium. On the other hand, in the presence of the potassium channel blockers (tetraethylammonium and barium chloride), the vasorelaxation effect of EFG was not affected, but glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine did inhibit the vasorelaxation effect of EFG. With indomethacin, atropine and propranolol, the vasorelaxation effect by EFG was significantly reduced. EFG was also found to be effective in reducing Ca(2+) release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and the blocking of calcium channels.

    CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that EFG is involved in the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway.

  8. Ch'ng YS, Tan CS, Loh YC, Ahmad M, Zaini Asmawi M, Yam MF
    J Pharmacopuncture, 2016 Jun;19(2):145-54.
    PMID: 27386148 DOI: 10.3831/KPI.2016.19.016
    The aim of this paper is to investigate the activities of Malaysian local herbs (Clinacanthus nutans Lindau, Strobilanthes crispus, Murdannia bracteata, Elephantopus scaber Linn., Pereskia bleo, Pereskia grandifolia Haw., Vernonia amygdalina, and Swietenia macrophylla King) for anti-hypertensive and vasorelaxant activity. An infrared (IR) macro-fingerprinting technique consisting of conventional fourier transform IR (FTIR), second-derivative IR (SD-IR), and two-dimensional correlation IR (2D-correlation IR) analyses were used to determine the main constituents and the fingerprints of the Malaysian local herbs.
  9. Ch'ng YS, Loh YC, Tan CS, Ahmad M, Asmawi MZ, Wan Omar WM, et al.
    Pharm Biol, 2017 Dec;55(1):2083-2094.
    PMID: 28832263 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1357735
    CONTEXT: Vernonia amygdalina Del. (VA) (Asteraceae) is commonly used to treat hypertension in Malaysia.

    OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the vasorelaxant mechanism of VA ethanol extract (VAE) and analyzes its tri-step FTIR spectroscopy fingerprint.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried VA leaves were extracted with ethanol through maceration and concentrated using rotary evaporator before freeze-dried. The vasorelaxant activity and the underlying mechanisms of VAE using the cumulative concentration (0.01-2.55 mg/mL at 20-min intervals) were evaluated on aortic rings isolated from Sprague Dawley rats in the presence of antagonists.

    RESULTS: The tri-step FTIR spectroscopy showed that VAE contains alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins. VAE caused the relaxation of pre-contracted aortic rings in the presence and absence of endothelium with EC50 of 0.057 ± 0.006 and 0.430 ± 0.196 mg/mL, respectively. In the presence of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (EC50 0.971 ± 0.459 mg/mL), methylene blue (EC50 1.203 ± 0.426 mg/mL), indomethacin (EC50 2.128 ± 1.218 mg/mL), atropine (EC50 0.470 ± 0.325 mg/mL), and propranolol (EC50 0.314 ± 0.032 mg/mL), relaxation stimulated by VAE was significantly reduced. VAE acted on potassium channels, with its vasorelaxation effects significantly reduced by tetraethylammonium, 4-aminopyridine, barium chloride, and glibenclamide (EC50 0.548 ± 0.184, 0.158 ± 0.012, 0.847 ± 0.342, and 0.304 ± 0.075 mg/mL, respectively). VAE was also found to be active in reducing Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and blocking calcium channels.

    CONCLUSIONS: The vasorelaxation effect of VAE involves upregulation of NO/cGMP and PGI2 signalling pathways, and modulation of calcium/potassium channels, and muscarinic and β2-adrenergic receptor levels.

  10. Tan CS, Loh YC, Ch'ng YS, Ng CH, Yeap ZQ, Ahmad M, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2019 Mar 25;232:135-144.
    PMID: 30543913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.12.014
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Citrus reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen pi) was widely used as an important ingredient in the prescription of TCM to treat phlegm fluid retention type hypertension. Since Chen pi is involved in treatment as antihypertensive TCM formula, we have reasonable expectation in believing that it might possess vasorelaxant activity.

    AIM OF THE STUDY: This study is designed to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of Chen pi and to study its pharmacology effects.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The vasorelaxant effect of water extract of Chen pi (CRW) were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague Dawley rats. The fingerprint of Chen pi and the extracts were developed with quantification of hesperidin content by HPTLC.

    RESULTS: CRW exhibited the strongest vasorelaxant activity. CRW caused the relaxation of the phenylephrine pre-contracted aortic rings in the presence and absence of endothelium as well as in potassium chloride pre-contracted endothelium-intact aortic ring. The incubation of propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor blocker), atropine (muscarinic receptor blocker), Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NO synthase inhibitor), ODQ (sGC inhibitor), indomethacin (COX inhibitor), 4-aminopyridine (KV blocker), barium chloride (Kir blocker), and glibenclamide (KATP blocker) significantly reduced the vasorelaxant effects of CRW. CRW was also found to be active in reducing Ca2+ releases from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and suppressing the voltage-operated calcium channels.

    CONCLUSION: The vasorelaxant effect of CRW on rat aorta involves NO/sGC, calcium and potassium channels, muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptors.

  11. Yam MF, Tan CS, Ahmad M, Ruan S
    Am J Chin Med, 2016;44(7):1413-1439.
    PMID: 27785939
    Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an important plant in traditional folk medicine that is used to treat hypertension and kidney stones. In humans, this plant has been tested as an addition regiment for antihypertensive treatment. Among the treatments for hypertension, O. stamineus had been to have diuretic and vasorelaxant effects in animal models. There is still very little information regarding the vasorelaxant effect of O. stamineus. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the vasorelaxant activity and mechanism of action of the fractions of O. stamineus. The vasorelaxant activity and the underlying mechanisms of the chloroform fraction of the 50% methanolic extract of O. stamineus (CF) was evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague Dawley rats. CF caused relaxation of the aortic ring pre-contracted with phenylephrine in the presence and absence of endothelium, and pre-contracted with potassium chloride in endothelium-intact aortic ring. In the presence of endothelium, both indomethacin (a nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and [Formula: see text]-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-[Formula: see text]]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, selective soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor) had a small effect on the vasorelaxation response. On the other hand, in the presence of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), methylene blue (cyclic guanosine monophosphate lowering agent), tetraethylammonium ([Formula: see text], nonselective calcium activator [Formula: see text] channel blocker), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, voltage-dependent [Formula: see text] channel blocker), barium chloride ([Formula: see text], inwardly rectifying [Formula: see text] channel blocker), glibenclamide (nonspecific ATP-sensitive [Formula: see text] channel blocker), atropine (muscarinic receptor blocker) and propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor blocker), the vasorelaxant effect significantly reduced the relaxation stimulated by CF. CF was also found to be active in reducing [Formula: see text] release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and blocking calcium channels.
  12. Loh YC, Tan CS, Ch'ng YS, Ahmad M, Asmawi MZ, Yam MF
    J Med Food, 2017 Mar;20(3):265-278.
    PMID: 28296594 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3836
    Recently, a new syndromic disease combination theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for hypertensive treatment has been introduced. In the wake of this new concept, a new science-based TCM formula that counteracts various syndromes is needed. The objective of this study was to develop such a formula. Five of the most clinically prescribed TCM herbs that work on different syndromes, namely Gastrodia elata, Uncaria rhynchophylla, Pueraria thomsonii, Panax notoginseng, and Alisma orientale, were selected for this study. The fingerprints of these five herbs were analyzed by tri-step Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Three different solvents, 95% ethanol, 50% ethanol, and distilled water, were used for the maceration of the herbs and their vasodilatory effects were studied using in vitro precontracted aortic ring model. Among these, the 50% ethanolic extracts of G. elata (GE50) and A. orientale (AO50), and 95% ethanolic extracts of U. rhynchophylla (UR95), P. thomsonii (PT95), and P. notoginseng (PN95) were found to be the most effective for eliciting vasodilation. Thus, these five extracts were used for orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group studies by using L25 (5(5)) formula. The best combination ratio for GE50, UR95, PT95, PN95, and AO50, which was assigned as Formula 1 (F1), was found at EC0, EC25, EC20, EC20, and EC10, respectively. The vasodilatory effect of the extracts prepared from different extraction methods using F1 ratio was also studied. From the results, the EC50 and Rmax of total 50% ethanolic extract of five herbs using F1 ratio (F1-2) were 0.028 ± 0.005 mg/mL and 101.71% ± 3.64%, with better values than F1 (0.104 ± 0.014 mg/mL and 97.80% ± 3.12%, respectively). In conclusion, the optimum ratio and appropriate extraction method (F1-2) for the new TCM formula were revealed.
  13. Ch'ng YS, Loh YC, Tan CS, Ahmad M, Asmawi MZ, Wan Omar WM, et al.
    J Med Food, 2018 Mar;21(3):289-301.
    PMID: 29420109 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.4008
    The seeds of Swietenia macrophylla King (SM) (Meliaceae) are used as a folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension in Malaysia. However, the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of SM seeds are still not widely studied. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the in vivo antihypertensive effects and in vitro mechanism of vasorelaxation of a 50% ethanolic SM seed extract (SM50) and the fingerprint of SM50 was developed through tri-step Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The vasorelaxant activity and the underlying mechanisms of SM50 were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats in the presence of antagonists. The pharmacological effect of SM50 was investigated by oral administration of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) with three different doses of SM50 (1000, 500, and 250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks and their systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values were measured weekly using tail-cuff method. The tri-step FTIR macro-fingerprint of SM50 showed that SM50 contains stachyose, flavonoids, limonoids, and ester, which may contribute to its vasorelaxant effect. The results showed that the vasorelaxant activity of SM50 was mostly attributed to channel-linked receptors pathways through the blockage of voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCC). SM50 also acts as both potassium channels opener and inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R) inhibitor, followed by β2-adrenergic pathway, and ultimately mediated through the nitric oxide/soluble guanylyl cyclase/cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (NO/sGC/cGMP) signaling pathways. The treatment of SM50 also significantly decreased the SBP and DBP in SHRs. In conclusion, the antihypertensive mechanism of SM50 was mediated by VOCC, K+ channels, IP3R, G-protein-coupled β2-adrenergic receptor, and followed by NO/sGC/cGMP signaling mechanism pathways in descending order. The data suggested that SM50 has the potential to be used as a herbal medicament to treat hypertension.
  14. Ahmad M, Roy RA, Kamarudin AG
    Int Endod J, 1994 Jan;27(1):26-31.
    PMID: 7806408
    The present study was undertaken to see if there was any variability in the power output of Piezon-Master 400 ultrasonic files when driven using different generators, tranducers and file holders. The displacement amplitude of the oscillating tip of the file in air was used as a measure of the power output. The results showed that there was considerable variability in the power output of Piezon-Master 400 ultrasonic files of similar size and length when driven using different generators, transducers and file holders. In consideration of this, it is recommended that a calibration device be incorporated in the ultrasonic unit so that the operator will have some knowledge of when the unit is working at its maximum efficiency.
  15. Nadeem M, Ahmad M, Saeed MA, Shaari A, Riaz S, Naseem S, et al.
    IET Nanobiotechnol, 2015 Jun;9(3):136-41.
    PMID: 26023157 DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2014.0012
    Nanoparticles as solid colloidal particles are extensively studied and used as anticancer drug delivery agents because of their physical properties. This current research aims to prepare water base suspension of uncoated iron oxide nanoparticles and their biodistribution study to different organs, especially the brain, by using a single photon emission computed tomography gamma camera. The water-based suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles was synthesised by a reformed version of the co-precipitation method and labelled with Tc99m for intravenous injection. The nanoparticles were injected without surface modification. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques were used for characterisation. Peaks of XRD and EDS indicate that the particles are magnetite and exist in aqueous suspension. The average diameter of iron oxide nanoparticles without any surface coating determined by TEM is 10 nm. These particles are capable of evading the reticuloendothelial system and can cross the blood-brain barrier in the rabbit. The labelling efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles labelled with Tc99m is 85%, which is good for the biodistribution study. The sufficient amount of iron oxide nanoparticles concentration in the brain as compared with the surrounding soft tissues and their long blood retention time indicates that the water-based suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles may be an option for drug delivery into the brain.
  16. Rani R, Kumar S, Kaiwartya O, Khasawneh AM, Lloret J, Al-Khasawneh MA, et al.
    Sensors (Basel), 2021 Mar 08;21(5).
    PMID: 33800227 DOI: 10.3390/s21051883
    Postquantum cryptography for elevating security against attacks by quantum computers in the Internet of Everything (IoE) is still in its infancy. Most postquantum based cryptosystems have longer keys and signature sizes and require more computations that span several orders of magnitude in energy consumption and computation time, hence the sizes of the keys and signature are considered as another aspect of security by green design. To address these issues, the security solutions should migrate to the advanced and potent methods for protection against quantum attacks and offer energy efficient and faster cryptocomputations. In this context, a novel security framework Lightweight Postquantum ID-based Signature (LPQS) for secure communication in the IoE environment is presented. The proposed LPQS framework incorporates a supersingular isogeny curve to present a digital signature with small key sizes which is quantum-resistant. To reduce the size of the keys, compressed curves are used and the validation of the signature depends on the commutative property of the curves. The unforgeability of LPQS under an adaptively chosen message attack is proved. Security analysis and the experimental validation of LPQS are performed under a realistic software simulation environment to assess its lightweight performance considering embedded nodes. It is evident that the size of keys and the signature of LPQS is smaller than that of existing signature-based postquantum security techniques for IoE. It is robust in the postquantum environment and efficient in terms of energy and computations.
  17. Ahmad M, Roy RA, Kamarudin AG, Safar M
    Int Endod J, 1993 Mar;26(2):120-4.
    PMID: 8330934
    The pattern of oscillation of a Piezon-Master 400 ultrasonic file driven by a piezoelectric transducer was studied in air and on water. In addition, the displacement amplitudes of the files were measured. The findings were compared with those observed with the Cavi-Endo unit reported in another study (Ahmad 1969). It was observed that the file vibrated such that a standing wave was formed on the file and it exhibited points of maximum deflection (antinode) and points of minimum deflection (node) with the largest deflection occurring at the apical end. This pattern of oscillation was similar to that exhibited by the Cavi-Endo file which employed a magnetostrictive transducer. However, the displacement amplitudes were very much higher than those exhibited by the Cavi-Endo. It is considered that the 120 degrees angle of the file holder inherent in the Piezon-Master 400 unit and the more effective power transmission with the piezoelectric transducer may have contributed to the large amplitudes.
  18. Ibrahim N, Che Din N, Ahmad M, Amit N, Ghazali SE, Wahab S, et al.
    BMC Public Health, 2019 Jun 13;19(Suppl 4):553.
    PMID: 31196009 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6861-7
    BACKGROUND: The high number of adolescents and young adults harbouring suicidal ideation, as reported by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, is alarming. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the association between social support and spiritual wellbeing in predicting suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents.

    METHODS: A total of 176 adolescents in selected urban areas in the states of Wilayah Persekutuan and Selangor were selected. The Suicide Ideation Scale (SIS) was used to measure the level of severity or tendency of suicidal ideation. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to measure the perceived social support received by the respondent while the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (SWBS) was used to measure the religious wellbeing (RWB), the existential wellbeing (EWB) and the overall score of spiritual wellbeing (SWB).

    RESULTS: The study found that both RWB and EWB showed significant negative correlation with suicidal ideation. Similarly, support from family and friends also showed a negative correlation with suicidal ideation. Further analysis using multiple regressions showed that RWB and SWB, and family support predict suicidal ideation in adolescents.

    CONCLUSION: Spiritual wellbeing in combination with family support plays a major role in predicting suicidal ideation. Therefore, intervention for encompassing spirituality and family support may contribute to a more positive outcome in suicidal adolescents.

  19. Azhar S, Hassali MA, Ibrahim MI, Ahmad M, Masood I, Shafie AA
    Hum Resour Health, 2009;7:54.
    PMID: 19594916 DOI: 10.1186/1478-4491-7-54
    During the past few years, the pharmacy profession has expanded significantly in terms of professional services delivery and now has been recognized as an important profession in the multidisciplinary provision of health care. In contrast to the situation in developed countries, pharmacists in developing countries are still underutilized and their role as health care professionals is not deemed important by either the community or other health care providers. The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of pharmacists in developing countries, particularly in Pakistan. The paper draws on the literature related to the socioeconomic and health status of Pakistan's population, along with background on the pharmacy profession in the country in the context of the current directions of health care. The paper highlights the current scenario and portrays the pharmacy profession in Pakistan. It concludes that although the pharmacy profession in Pakistan is continuously evolving, the health care system of Pakistan has yet to recognize the pharmacist's role. This lack of recognition is due to the limited interaction of pharmacists with the public. Pharmacists in Pakistan are concerned about their present professional role in the health care system. The main problem they are facing is the shortage of pharmacists in pharmacies. Moreover, their services are focused towards management more than towards customers. For these reasons, the pharmacist's role as a health care professional is not familiar to the public.
  20. Eid AM, El-Enshasy HA, Aziz R, Elmarzugi NA
    Int J Nanomedicine, 2014;9:4685-95.
    PMID: 25336948 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S66180
    There is an increasing trend among pharmaceutical industries to use natural bioactive materials as medicinal agents and to use new technologies such as self-nanoemulsifying systems. The solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs can be enhanced by self-nanoemulsifying systems. Swietenia oil is frequently used because of its antimicrobial, antimutagenic, and anticancer bioactive medical properties. This study was conducted to develop self-nanoemulsifying systems for Swietenia oil that will enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of the oil. The self-emulsifying systems developed for Swietenia oil in this study were constructed using ternary phase diagrams and contained the nonionic surfactants Labrasol(®), Tween 20, Capmul(®), and Labrafil(®). The effect of these surfactants on the formulation was examined. The mean droplet size of Swietenia oil as well as their distribution, appearance, viscosity, and spreading times were studied to find the optimum formula, which contained droplets that were less than 200 nm. The next step was to test the anti-inflammatory properties of the optimum formula using a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test. The results from this test were compared to the oil solution. Different oil/surfactants mixtures had various emulsification properties that were related to the size of their droplets. Tween 20 is a good surfactant to use in self-emulsifying systems because it produces droplets of nano-size. Mixtures of Capmul/Labrasol at a ratio of 2:1 and Labrafil/Tween 20 at a ratio of 1:2 were able to produce self-nanoemulsifying formulations containing Swietenia oil concentrations that ranged from 20%-50%. Nanoemulsion occurred when the size of the droplets fell below 200 nm with low size distribution (<0.3) after being gently mixed with water. It was found that the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance value affected the ternary phase diagram behavior of Swietenia oil and surfactants. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of Swietenia oil were greater in the self-nanoemulsifying systems than in the oil solution.
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