Acetic and lactic acid bacteria on fermented cocoa beans were maximally 2.0×10(6) and 1.9×10(6) c.f.u./g wet wt, respectively. Acetic and lactic acids were detected on the second and fourth days of fermentation and were maximally 140 and 45 mg/10 g beans, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the sizes of the relevant microbial populations and the amounts of acids produced during fermentation.
This study determines the trace metal content in Anadara Granosa L., a popular seafood amongst South-East-Asians. Using the technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) identification has been made of the presence of 17 trace metals including elements which are classified as toxic (As, Br, Cs) and those which are rare-earths (Eu, Ce, Lu, Tb, Yb).
The incidence of breastfeeding among 96 mothers (88/96 were Malays) who were attending various clinics at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital and Kota Bharu General Hospital was about 95%. The feeding patterns show that about 72% of mothers gave mixed feedings (breastmilk plus infant formula) while only 30% gave exclusive breastmilk to their infants in the first six months. Two main reasons for giving mixed feedings were that mothers had to start working soon after giving birth and reported "insufficient milk". Mixed feedings were seen to be more prevalent in the higher income group mothers (> RM1000 per month). About 64% of them who breastfed their child continued to do so beyond 6 months. Regarding their knowledge on breastfeeding, most mothers (98%) knew that breastmilk is good for baby's health, economical, strengthens bonding between mother and child, and was sufficient for the sustenance of the baby. However, when asked about colostrum, 66% of mothers who breastfed their child threw away the colostrum before feeding; some of the reasons given were that colostrum is dirty, and not suitable for the baby's health and it might cause some diseases.
A retrospective study involving 102 adults with dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) was conducted to investigate the demographic aspect, clinical presenting features, laboratory investigations, complications, and mortality associated with the disease. The clinical diagnosis of DHF was in accordance with WHO recommendations. Epistaxis, gingivitis, haematemesis and gastritis were among the common complications. Platelet levels tended to decline from a higher value on admission (mean 67,000/mm3) to lower levels on subsequent days, with the lowest (mean 61,000/mm3) being on day 6 of the fever. Hyponatraemia (46.8%) was commonly observed. Morbidity of DHF was significant (29.4%) but the case fatality rate remained low (2.0%) in our adults, suggesting that adults are less likely than children to suffer from shock syndrome.
Dysfunction of the host immune system in cancer patients can be due to a number of reasons including suppression of tumour associated antigen reactive lymphocytes by regulatory T (Treg) cells. In this study, we used flow cytometry to determine the phenotype and relative abundance of the tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from 47 enzymatically dissociated tumour specimens from patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. The expression of both effector and regulatory markers on the TILs were determined by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Analysis revealed CD8(+) T cells (23.4+/-2.1%) were predominant in TILs, followed by CD4(+) T cells (12.6+/-1.7%) and CD56(+) natural killer cells (6.4+/-0.7%). The CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was 0.8+/-0.9%. Of the CD8(+) cells, there was a higher number (68.4+/-3.5%) that expressed the effector phenotype, namely, CD8(+)CD28(+) and about 46% of this subset expressed the activation marker, CD25. Thus, a lower number of infiltrating CD8(+) T cells (31.6+/-2.8%) expressed the marker for the suppressor phenotype, CD8(+)CD28(-). Of the CD4(+) T cells, 59.6+/-3.9% expressed the marker for the regulatory phenotype, CD4(+)CD25(+). About 43.6+/-3.8% CD4(+)CD25(+) subset co-expressed both the CD152 and FOXP3, the Treg-associated molecules. A positive correlation was found between the presence of CD4(+)CD25(+) subset and age (> or =50 years old) (r=0.51; p=0.045). However, no significant correlation between tumour stage and CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was found. In addition, we also found that the CD4(+)CD25(-) subset correlated with the expression of the nuclear oestrogen receptor (ER)-alpha in the tumour cells (r=0.45; p=0.040). In conclusion, we detected the presence of cells expressing the markers for Tregs (CD4(+)CD25(+)) and suppressor (CD8(+)CD28(-)) in the tumour microenvironment. This is the first report of the relative abundance of Treg co-expressing CD152 and FOXP3 in breast carcinoma.
An intensified esterification process was operated by circulating 10 l of reaction mixtures, consisting of palm oil fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and glycerol in hexane, through a packed-bed reactor (PBR) filled with 10 kg of delipidated rice bran lipase (RBL). The influence of the process parameters, such as reaction temperature and type of water-removal agent, on the performance of this intensified esterification process were investigated. The highest degree of esterification (61%) was achieved at a reaction temperature of 65 masculineC, using silica gels as the water-removal agent. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis showed that the major composition of the esterified product was diacylglycerol.
Pulse-wave analysis (PWA) combined with pharmacological challenges has recently been used as a method to measure endothelial function. This involved administration of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), followed by salbutamol as endothelium-independent and -dependent vasodilators, respectively. The duration of GTN effect needs to be established before the administration of salbutamol. Baseline augmentation index (AIx) and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurements were taken in 11 healthy female subjects (mean age 23.27 +/- 3.66 years). Sublingual GTN 0.5 mg was administered for 3 min, followed by AIx and PWV measurements every 5 min till 20 min and then every 10 min until 40 min post-GTN. Maximum change in AIx post-GTN was at 3 min with a mean change from the baseline of -17.86% +/- 4.40% (p < 0.001). There were no significant changes noted after 30 and 40 min with mean change being -0.82% +/- 2.61% and 0.14% +/- 3.20%, respectively (p > 0.05). Significant changes in PWV were noted at 5 and 10 min with the mean change of -0.33 +/- 0.36 m/s and -0.33 +/- 0.35 m/s, respectively (p = 0.01). There were no further changes noted at 15 min and thereafter (p > 0.05). A duration of at least 30 min after GTN is required for AIx and PWV values to reach their baseline. Thus, the administration of salbutamol should be given only after 30 min of sublingual GTN for the assessment of endothelial function.
A 50-year-old friendly and attractive Chinese lady was examined by the Primary Care Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya. Her requests for treatment included implants and crowns. Two periapical radiographs of teeth 16 and 48 were taken to aid diagnosis. Interestingly, pin-like radio-opaque objects were found over the crown of the impacted tooth 15 and also tooth 17. These objects were initially interpreted as silver points or radiographic artifacts but further investigation employing panoramic radiography revealed the distribution of more radio-opaque objects in the orofacial region. Based on a review of the literature and the opinion of experienced radiology and oral surgery lecturers, these foreign radio-opaque objects were diagnosed as susuks or charm needles.
Obstruction remains as an important cause of failure in the eruption of a tooth. In this article, a 15-year-old girl was presented with retained upper left primary canine (63) and first primary molar (64), while the contralateral permanent canine (13) and premolars (14 and 15) have erupted. Upon radiographic examination, a mass which was diagnosed later to be compound odontome was detected. The treatment consisted of surgical removal of the odontome, extraction of the primary canine (63) and left permanent canine (23), and transplantation of the permanent canine (23). The management of this case and the literature related to autotransplantation are discussed.
This study proposed an oil palm by-product as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] from aqueous solution. Adsorption of Cr (VI) by sulphuric acid and heat-treated oil palm fibre was conducted using batch tests. The influence of pH, contact time, initial chromium concentration and adsorbent dosage on the removal of Cr (VI) from the solutions was investigated. The optimum initial pH for maximum uptake of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution was found to be 1.5. The removal efficiency was found to correlate with the initial Cr (VI) concentration, adsorbent dosage as well as the contact time between Cr (VI) and the adsorbent. The adsorption kinetics tested with pseudo first order and pseudo second order models yielded high R(2) values from 0.9254 to 0.9870 and from 0.9936 to 0.9998, respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant difference between the R(2) values of the two models at 99% confidence level. The Freundlich isotherm (R(2)=0.8778) described Cr (VI) adsorption slightly better than the Langmuir isotherm (R(2)=0.8715). Difficulty in desorption of Cr (VI) suggests the suitability of treated oil palm fibre as a single-use adsorbent for Cr (VI) removal from aqueous solution.
In the title compound, C(14)H(18)N(2)O(3)S, the butyl acetate fragment and the benzoyl group adopt a cis-trans configuration, respectively, with respect to the thiono S atom across the C-N bonds. In the crystal packing, the mol-ecules are linked by inter-molecular N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form a one-dimensional chain along the c axis. The terminal butyl C atom is disordered with occupancies 0.82 (2)and 0.18 (2).
The title compound, C(13)H(16)N(2)O(3)S, is a thio-urea derivative with benzoyl and propoxycarbonyl-methyl groups attached to the two terminal N atoms. These groups adopt trans and cis configurations, respectively, with respect to the S atom across the thio-urea C-N bonds. The compound crystallizes in the P2(1)/c space group with Z = 8, resulting in two unique molecules in the asymmetric unit linked by C-H⋯S and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a one-dimensional zigzag chain along the c axis.
The title compound, C(12)H(14)N(2)O(3)S, adopts a cis-trans geometry of the thio-urea group and is stabilized by intra-molecular hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl O atoms and the H atom of the thio-amide group and by a C-H⋯S interaction. Mol-ecules are linked by two inter-molecular hydrogen bonds (C-H⋯O and N-H⋯O), forming a one-dimensional chain parallel to the c axis.
In the title compound, C(11)H(12)N(2)O(3)S, the methyl acetate and benzoyl groups adopt a cis-trans configuration with respect to the thiono S atom across the C-N bonds. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond is observed. In the crystal packing, mol-ecules are linked by inter-molecular N-H⋯S and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form a two-dimensional network lying parallel to (101).
Genomic and transcriptomic alterations that affect cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and invasion, commonly occur in breast oncogenesis. Epidemiological evidence has proven that the risk of breast cancer predisposition varies among different ethnicities. This study aims to identify the transcriptome changes that commonly occur during the transition of normal breast epithelium to carcinoma in three local ethnic groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians). The gene expression patterns of 43 breast carcinomas with 43 patient-matched normal breast tissues were investigated using Affymetrix U133A GeneChip (containing 22,283 probe sets targeting approximately 18,400 different transcripts) and analyzed with GeneSpring GX10. Our findings revealed a total of 33 significantly differentially expressed genes, which showed>2-fold change at a 99.9% confidence interval level (p<0.001). The significantly differentially expressed genes included CD24, CD36, CD9, TACSTD1, TACSTD2, HBB, LEP, LPL, AKR1C1, AKR1C2 and AKR1C3. Our results indicate that the vast majority of gene expression changes, from normal breast epithelial to carcinoma, found in our three major ethnic populations are similar to those in the Caucasian population. Further study of the differentially expressed genes identified in our present study is needed to search for potential breast tumor biomarkers. This will eventually help to improve the therapeutic and treatment strategies for breast cancer patients in the future.
The GATA3 gene is a potential tumour marker and putative tumour suppressor gene in breast cancer. Its expression is associated with better prognosis and disease free survival in breast cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate GATA3 transcriptome expression and mutation in breast carcinomas and correlate its expression with oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), lymph node (LN) status, tumour grade and c-erbB-2 expression. Twenty-two breast infiltrating ductal carcinomas and paired normal tissues were used in Branch DNA assay to detect GATA3 mRNA expression. Normalized data for GATA3 mRNA expression were grouped according to the ER, PR and LN status, tumour grade and c-erbB-2 expression of the tumours. Statistical significance was tested using t-test and ANOVA at 95% confidence interval level. Mutational analysis of GATA3 was performed by direct sequencing of the coding regions of GATA3 mRNA. Our findings showed that GATA3 gene were over-expressed and under-expressed by > 2 fold change in 12 and 4 tested samples, respectively. Eighty per cent of ER positive breast carcinomas were GATA3 positive. There was a statistically significant correlation between GATA3 expression and ER at 95% confidence interval level between the study groups. On the contrary, GATA3 expression was not statistically significant with PR, LN, tumour grade and c-erbB-2 expression in our study. In addition, we observed that there was no mutation in mRNA coding region in 16 breast carcinomas that showed GATA3 differential gene expression. Our preliminary results suggested that GATA3 is linked to the ER. This scenario suggests that GATA3 may play a crucial role in oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients. Whether GATA3 expression is involved in regulating tumour cell growth in oestrogen responsive breast cancer is a key question that remains to be answered.
The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(22)H(18)N(4)O(2)S(2), lies across a crystallographic inversion centre. The central benzene ring forms dihedral angles of 29.39 (9) and 79.11 (12)°, respectively, with the thio-urea unit and the terminal phenyl ring. Intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate two S(6) ring motifs. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into chains along [10] by inter-molecular N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds.
IN THE TITLE COMPOUND [SYSTEMATIC NAME: 1-(3-phenyl-prop-2-eno-yl)thio-urea], C(10)H(10)N(2)OS, the acetyl-thio-urea fragment and the phenyl ring adopt an E configuration. The roughly planar but-2-enoyl-thio-urea fragment [maximum deviation = 0.053 (3) Å] forms a dihedral of 10.54 (11)° with the phenyl ring. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into sheets parallel to (100) by N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds.