Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 76 in total

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  1. WITHDRAWN: Improving classification of protein binders for virtual drug screening by novel swarm-based feature selection techniques
    Li J, Fong S, Siu S, Mohammed S, Fiaidhi J, Wong KK
    Comput Med Imaging Graph, 2016 Sep 30.
    PMID: 27717712 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2016.08.004
    This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
  2. WITHDRAWN: Adaptive Swarm Balancing Algorithms for rare-event prediction in imbalanced healthcare data
    Li J, Liu LS, Fong S, Wong RK, Mohammed S, Fiaidhi J, et al.
    Comput Med Imaging Graph, 2016 May 10.
    PMID: 27236411 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2016.05.001
    This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
  3. Fulltext Voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) mutations associated with pyrethroid insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti (L.) from two districts of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: baseline information for a Wolbachia release program
    Endersby-Harshman NM, Ali A, Alhumrani B, Alkuriji MA, Al-Fageeh MB, Al-Malik A, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2021 Jul 12;14(1):361.
    PMID: 34247634 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04867-3
    BACKGROUND: Dengue suppression often relies on control of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, through applications of insecticides of which the pyrethroid group has played a dominant role. Insecticide resistance is prevalent in Ae. aegypti around the world, and the resulting reduction of insecticide efficacy is likely to exacerbate the impact of dengue. Dengue has been a public health problem in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Jeddah, since its discovery there in the 1990s, and insecticide use for vector control is widespread throughout the city. An alternative approach to insecticide use, based on blocking dengue transmission in mosquitoes by the endosymbiont Wolbachia, is being trialed in Jeddah following the success of this approach in Australia and Malaysia. Knowledge of insecticide resistance status of mosquito populations in Jeddah is a prerequisite for establishing a Wolbachia-based dengue control program as releases of Wolbachia mosquitoes succeed when resistance status of the release population is similar to that of the wild population.

    METHODS: WHO resistance bioassays of mosquitoes with deltamethrin, permethrin and DDT were used in conjunction with TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assays to characterize mutation profiles of Ae. aegypti.

    RESULTS: Screening of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc), the pyrethroid target site, revealed mutations at codons 989, 1016 and 1534 in Ae. aegypti from two districts of Jeddah. The triple mutant homozygote (1016G/1534C/989P) was confirmed from Al Safa and Al Rawabi. Bioassays with pyrethroids (Type I and II) and DDT showed that mosquitoes were resistant to each of these compounds based on WHO definitions. An association between Vssc mutations and resistance was established for the Type II pyrethroid, deltamethrin, with one genotype (989P/1016G/1534F) conferring a survival advantage over two others (989S/1016V/1534C and the triple heterozygote). An indication of synergism of Type I pyrethroid activity with piperonyl butoxide suggests that detoxification by cytochrome P450s accounts for some of the pyrethroid resistance response in Ae. aegypti populations from Jeddah.

    CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a baseline for monitoring and management of resistance as well as knowledge of Vssc genotype frequencies required in Wolbachia release populations to ensure homogeneity with the target field population. Vssc mutation haplotypes observed show some similarity with those from Ae. aegypti in southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, but the presence of the triple mutant haplotype in three genotypes indicates that the species in this region may have a unique population history.

  4. Vitamin D deficiency: A single centre analysis of patients from 136 countries
    Haq A, Svobodová J, Imran S, Stanford C, Razzaque MS
    J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 2016 11;164:209-213.
    PMID: 26877203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.02.007
    Vitamin D deficiency is a global problem, thought to be related to lack of sunlight exposure, and usually accompanied by reduced dietary intake. This study was designed to determine vitamin D status of 60,979 patients admitted to the Burjeel Hospital of VPS healthcare in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 2012 to September 2014. The total concentrations of vitamin D [25(OH)D] of all the studied patients were measured in a single laboratory. Of the studied patients, 57.5% were female and 42.5% were male. Serum 25(OH)D (total) measurements showed 82.5% of the studied patients have vitamin D deficiency to insufficiency. 26.4% of females and 18.4% of males have extreme deficiency of 25(OH)D. There was higher variability of vitamin D in group of females then males according to coefficient of variation. In our studied cohort teenagers (13-19 years) have shown the lowest levels of serum vitamin D (data not shown and will be communicated as a separate publication). The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is significantly high among population of UAE, Saudi Arabia and many Middle Eastern countries, especially among women, despite abundant sunshine. 86.1% UAE nationals and 78.9% visitors of other nationalities were found <75nmol/L of 25(OH)D. 28.4% of UAE nationals and 17.5% of visitors of other nationalities have extreme deficiency of 25(OH)D. Our results are significant, as all of our patients are residing permanently in the UAE or visitors that has yearlong sunlight. In addition, measuring 25(OH)D concentrations in a single laboratory minimized test level variations. Our current study formed the basis of further studies to determine if vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency can aggravate systemic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes or obesity that are also wide-spread in the Middle Eastern region.
  5. Fulltext UPLC-MS-Based Metabolomics Profiling for α-Glucosidase Inhibiting Property of Parkia speciosa Pods
    Saleh MSM, Jalil J, Mustafa NH, Ramli FF, Asmadi AY, Kamisah Y
    Life (Basel), 2021 Jan 22;11(2).
    PMID: 33499128 DOI: 10.3390/life11020078
    Parkia speciosa is a food plant that grows indigenously in Southeast Asia. A great deal of interest has been paid to this plant due to its traditional uses in the treatment of several diseases. The pods contain many beneficial secondary metabolites with potential applications in medicine and cosmetics. However, studies on their phytochemical properties are still lacking. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to profile the bioactive compounds of P. speciosa pods collected from six different regions of Malaysia through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. This study applied metabolomics to elucidate the differences between P. speciosa populations found naturally in the different locations and to characterize potential α-glucosidase inhibitors from P. speciosa pods. P. speciosa collected from different regions of Malaysia showed good α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.45-0.76 μg/mL. The samples from the northern and northeastern parts of Peninsular Malaysia showed the highest activity. Using UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, 25 metabolites were identified in the pods of P. speciosa. The findings unveiled that the pods of P. speciosa collected from different locations exhibit different levels of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The pods are a natural source of potent antidiabetic bioactive compounds.
  6. The impact of law enforcement on dispensing antibiotics without prescription: a multi-methods study from Saudi Arabia
    Alrasheedy AA, Alsalloum MA, Almuqbil FA, Almuzaini MA, Aba Alkhayl BS, Albishri AS, et al.
    Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2020 01;18(1):87-97.
    PMID: 31834825 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1705156
    Background: Dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription (DAwP) has been widely practised among community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia despite being illegal. However, in May 2018, the law and regulations were enforced alongside fines. Consequently, we wanted to evaluate the impact of these changes.Methods: A study was conducted among 116 community pharmacies in two phases. A pre-law enforcement phase between December 2017 and March 2018 and a post-law enforcement phase one year later. Each phase consisted of a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey and a simulated client method (SCM) approach. In the SCM, clients presented with either pharyngitis or urinary tract infections (UTI). In SCM, for each phase, all 116 pharmacies were visited with one of the scenarios.Results: Before the law enforcement, 70.7% of community pharmacists reported that DAwP was common with 96.6% and 87.7% of participating pharmacies dispensed antibiotics without a prescription for pharyngitis and UTI respectively. After the law enforcement, only 12.9% reported that DAwP is still a common practice, with only 12.1% and 5.2% dispensing antibiotics without prescriptions for pharyngitis and UTI respectively.Conclusion: law enforcement was effective. However, there is still further scope for improvement. This could include further educational activities with pharmacists, physicians and the public.
  7. Fulltext The impact of infectious diseases consultation on the management and outcomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia in adults: a retrospective cohort study
    Chiong F, Wasef MS, Liew KC, Cowan R, Tsai D, Lee YP, et al.
    BMC Infect Dis, 2021 Jul 09;21(1):671.
    PMID: 34243714 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06372-5
    BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia (PAB) is associated with high mortality. The benefits of infectious diseases consultation (IDC) has been demonstrated in Staphylococcal aureus bacteraemia and other complex infections. Impact of IDC in PAB is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of IDC on the management and outcomes in patients with PAB.

    METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort single-centre study from 1 November 2006 to 29 May 2019, in all adult patients admitted with first episode of PAB. Data collected included demographics, clinical management and outcomes for PAB and whether IDC occurred. In addition, 29 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) stored isolates were available for Illumina whole genome sequencing to investigate if pathogen factors contributed to the mortality.

    RESULTS: A total of 128 cases of PAB were identified, 71% received IDC. Patients who received IDC were less likely to receive inappropriate duration of antibiotic therapy (4.4%; vs 67.6%; p 

  8. Taxonomy development for term standardization in activity resulting from medication review processes: a Delphi study
    Alharthi MS, Scott S, Hughes C, Bond C, Hatah E, Bryant L, et al.
    Int J Pharm Pract, 2024 Mar 06;32(2):180-185.
    PMID: 38387608 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riae002
    BACKGROUND: Medication review (MR) is the systematic assessment of a patient's medications for safety and effectiveness by a healthcare professional. The language used to describe MR activity, such as stopped medicine and increased dose, should be consistent across studies to assist researchers compare how different services operate and identify their mechanism of impact.

    AIM: To develop an international taxonomy of standardized terms and activity definitions related to medication reviews.

    METHOD: This was a three-stage Delphi-based consensus study with international medication review experts. A systematic review provided MR activity terms for the survey. Experts rated their consensus on each activity term and its definition on a Likert scale and provided written feedback. The consensus was 75% panel agreement. At each stage, consensus elements were retained, and feedback was used to revise definitions.

    RESULTS: Seven experts were recruited for the study (response rate 15.2%) from four countries: the United Kingdom (n = 4), New Zealand (n = 1), Australia (n = 1), and Malaysia (n = 1). The following terms achieved consensus: the term Medication as a descriptor for MR terms; discontinue medication, start medication, dose increase, dose decrease, dosage form change, and medication safety and efficacy monitor to describe MR activity; Educate to describe the delivery of healthcare professionals and patients/carers education.

    CONCLUSION: Standardized medication review activity terms and definitions have been selected for universal adoption in all future MR research to facilitate a meaningful comparison of process evaluations within different settings.

  9. Fulltext Systematic review of MCDM approach applied to the medical case studies of COVID-19: trends, bibliographic analysis, challenges, motivations, recommendations, and future directions
    Alamoodi AH, Zaidan BB, Albahri OS, Garfan S, Ahmaro IYY, Mohammed RT, et al.
    Complex Intell Systems, 2023 Feb 03.
    PMID: 36777815 DOI: 10.1007/s40747-023-00972-1
    When COVID-19 spread in China in December 2019, thousands of studies have focused on this pandemic. Each presents a unique perspective that reflects the pandemic's main scientific disciplines. For example, social scientists are concerned with reducing the psychological impact on the human mental state especially during lockdown periods. Computer scientists focus on establishing fast and accurate computerized tools to assist in diagnosing, preventing, and recovering from the disease. Medical scientists and doctors, or the frontliners, are the main heroes who received, treated, and worked with the millions of cases at the expense of their own health. Some of them have continued to work even at the expense of their lives. All these studies enforce the multidisciplinary work where scientists from different academic disciplines (social, environmental, technological, etc.) join forces to produce research for beneficial outcomes during the crisis. One of the many branches is computer science along with its various technologies, including artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, decision support systems (DSS), and many more. Among the most notable DSS utilization is those related to multicriterion decision making (MCDM), which is applied in various applications and across many contexts, including business, social, technological and medical. Owing to its importance in developing proper decision regimens and prevention strategies with precise judgment, it is deemed a noteworthy topic of extensive exploration, especially in the context of COVID-19-related medical applications. The present study is a comprehensive review of COVID-19-related medical case studies with MCDM using a systematic review protocol. PRISMA methodology is utilized to obtain a final set of (n = 35) articles from four major scientific databases (ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, and Web of Science). The final set of articles is categorized into taxonomy comprising five groups: (1) diagnosis (n = 6), (2) safety (n = 11), (3) hospital (n = 8), (4) treatment (n = 4), and (5) review (n = 3). A bibliographic analysis is also presented on the basis of annual scientific production, country scientific production, co-occurrence, and co-authorship. A comprehensive discussion is also presented to discuss the main challenges, motivations, and recommendations in using MCDM research in COVID-19-related medial case studies. Lastly, we identify critical research gaps with their corresponding solutions and detailed methodologies to serve as a guide for future directions. In conclusion, MCDM can be utilized in the medical field effectively to optimize the resources and make the best choices particularly during pandemics and natural disasters.
  10. Fulltext Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): As an Antidepressant
    Siddiqui MJ, Saleh MSM, Basharuddin SNBB, Zamri SHB, Mohd Najib MHB, Che Ibrahim MZB, et al.
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2018 12 21;10(4):173-180.
    PMID: 30568374 DOI: 10.4103/JPBS.JPBS_83_18
    Saffron, Crocus sativus (Iridaceae), is a perennial herb, which earned its popularity as both medicine and spice. It is an inhabitant of different mountainous regions of Asia Minor to Greece, Western Asia, Egypt, and India. The benefits of saffron as an antidepressant are well-documented. Almost 150 volatile and nonvolatile compounds are obtained from the chemical analysis of this plant. Fewer than 50 constituents elucidated and identified so far showed phytochemical characteristics. The major bioactive compounds identified are safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin, which are responsible for its aroma as well as its bitter taste. This review is an attempt to encompass the methods of analysis and pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of saffron followed by its efficacious and safe potential.
  11. Fulltext S100A4 overexpression proves to be independent marker for breast cancer progression
    Ismail NI, Kaur G, Hashim H, Hassan MS
    Cancer Cell Int, 2008 Sep 05;8:12.
    PMID: 18771601 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2867-8-12
    BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and cause of deaths in women around the world. Oncogene amplification usually occurs late in tumor progression and correlates well with aggressiveness of tumor. In fact the function of the S100A4 protein and its role in metastasis is unclear at present. The purpose of the study was to determine the expression of S100A4 protein in the invasion status and metastatic potential of breast cancer by using tissue microarray and to determine its role in breast cancer based on the expression of S100A4 gene product.

    METHODS: S100A4 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using commercially available tissue microarray containing malignant and normal breast tissue cores from 216 patients.

    RESULTS: S100A4 was absent in normal breast tissues while positive in 45.1% of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) node negative and 48.8% of infiltrating lobular carcinoma node negative. In paired samples, S100A4 protein was expressed in 13.5% of IDC node positive cases and 35.1% of matched lymph node metastasis.

    CONCLUSION: S100A4 protein expression appears widely expressed in early and advanced breast cancer stages compared with normal breast. Our study suggests S100A4 may play a role in breast cancer progression and may prove to be an independent marker of breast cancer which appears to be down regulated in more advanced stages of breast cancer.

  12. Role of fish oil in human health and possible mechanism to reduce the inflammation
    Ellulu MS, Khaza'ai H, Abed Y, Rahmat A, Ismail P, Ranneh Y
    Inflammopharmacology, 2015 Jun;23(2-3):79-89.
    PMID: 25676565 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-015-0228-1
    The roles of Omega-3 FAs are inflammation antagonists, while Omega-6 FAs are precursors for inflammation. The plant form of Omega-3 FAs is the short-chain α-linolenic acid, and the marine forms are the long-chain fatty acids: docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Omega-3 FAs have unlimited usages, and they are considered as omnipotent since they may benefit heart health, improve brain function, reduce cancer risks and improve people's moods. Omega-3 FAs also have several important biological effects on a range of cellular functions that may decrease the onset of heart diseases and reduce mortality among patients with coronary heart disease, possibly by stabilizing the heart's rhythm and by reducing blood clotting. Some review studies have described the beneficial roles of Omega-3 FAs in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, and other conditions, including inflammation. Studies of the effect of Omega-3 FAs gathered from studies in diseased and healthy population. CVDs including atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome were the major fields of investigation. In studies of obesity, as the central obesity increased, the level of adipocyte synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were increased and the level of anti-inflammatory adiponectin was decreased indicating a state of inflammation. The level of C reactive protein (CRP) synthesized from hepatocyte is increased by the influence of IL-6. CRP can be considered as a marker of systemic inflammation associated with increased risks of CVDs. In molecular studies, Omega-3 FAs have direct effects on reducing the inflammatory state by reducing IL-6, TNF-α, CRP and many other factors. While the appropriate dosage along with the administrative duration is not known, the scientific evidence-based recommendations for daily intake are not modified.
  13. Reimagining the NICU: a human-centered design approach to healthcare innovation
    Mohammed S, Savage T, Smith J, Shepley MM, White RD
    J Perinatol, 2023 Dec;43(Suppl 1):40-44.
    PMID: 38086966 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-023-01794-2
    Design charettes have been utilized in architectural and design practice to generate innovative ideas. The Reimagining Workshop is a version that combines practical and blue-sky thinking to improve healthcare facility design. The workshop engages diverse stakeholders who follow a human-centered design framework. The Reimagining the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit workshop sought to generate ideas for the future, optimal NICU without specific site or client constraints. Key themes include family-centered care, technology-enabled care, neighborhood and village design and investing in the care team. Recommendations include a supportive physical environment, celebrating milestones, complementary and alternative medicine, enhancing the transition of care, aiding the transition period, and leveraging technology. The workshop showcased the potential for transformative change in NICU design and provided a roadmap for future advancements. These findings can inform regulatory standards for NICU design and drive improvements in family-centered care, patient experiences, and outcomes within the NICU environment.
  14. Fulltext Recombinant bromelain production in Escherichia coli: process optimization in shake flask culture by response surface methodology
    Muntari B, Amid A, Mel M, Jami MS, Salleh HM
    AMB Express, 2012;2:12.
    PMID: 22336426 DOI: 10.1186/2191-0855-2-12
    Bromelain, a cysteine protease with various therapeutic and industrial applications, was expressed in Escherichia coli, BL21-AI clone, under different cultivation conditions (post-induction temperature, L-arabinose concentration and post-induction period). The optimized conditions by response surface methodology using face centered central composite design were 0.2% (w/v) L-arabinose, 8 hr and 25°C. The analysis of variance coupled with larger value of R2 (0.989) showed that the quadratic model used for the prediction was highly significant (p < 0.05). Under the optimized conditions, the model produced bromelain activity of 9.2 U/mg while validation experiments gave bromelain activity of 9.6 ± 0.02 U/mg at 0.15% (w/v) L-arabinose, 8 hr and 27°C. This study had innovatively developed cultivation conditions for better production of recombinant bromelain in shake flask culture.
  15. Fulltext Rare Late Pleistocene-early Holocene human mandibles from the Niah Caves (Sarawak, Borneo)
    Curnoe D, Datan I, Zhao JX, Leh Moi Ung C, Aubert M, Sauffi MS, et al.
    PLoS One, 2018;13(6):e0196633.
    PMID: 29874227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196633
    The skeletal remains of Late Pleistocene-early Holocene humans are exceptionally rare in island Southeast Asia. As a result, the identity and physical adaptations of the early inhabitants of the region are poorly known. One archaeological locality that has historically been important for understanding the peopling of island Southeast Asia is the Niah Caves in the northeast of Borneo. Here we present the results of direct Uranium-series dating and the first published descriptions of three partial human mandibles from the West Mouth of the Niah Caves recovered during excavations by the Harrissons in 1957. One of them (mandible E/B1 100") is somewhat younger than the 'Deep Skull' with a best dating estimate of c30-28 ka (at 2σ), while the other two mandibles (D/N5 42-48" and E/W 33 24-36") are dated to a minimum of c11.0-10.5 ka (at 2σ) and c10.0-9.0 ka (at 2σ). Jaw E/B1 100" is unusually small and robust compared with other Late Pleistocene mandibles suggesting that it may have been ontogenetically altered through masticatory strain under a model of phenotypic plasticity. Possible dietary causes could include the consumption of tough or dried meats or palm plants, behaviours which have been documented previously in the archaeological record of the Niah Caves. Our work suggests a long history back to before the LGM of economic strategies involving the exploitation of raw plant foods or perhaps dried and stored meat resources. This offers new insights into the economic strategies of Late Pleistocene-early Holocene hunter-gatherers living in, or adjacent to, tropical rainforests.
  16. Fulltext RAC1 Missense Mutations in Developmental Disorders with Diverse Phenotypes
    Reijnders MRF, Ansor NM, Kousi M, Yue WW, Tan PL, Clarkson K, et al.
    Am J Hum Genet, 2017 Sep 07;101(3):466-477.
    PMID: 28886345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.08.007
    RAC1 is a widely studied Rho GTPase, a class of molecules that modulate numerous cellular functions essential for normal development. RAC1 is highly conserved across species and is under strict mutational constraint. We report seven individuals with distinct de novo missense RAC1 mutations and varying degrees of developmental delay, brain malformations, and additional phenotypes. Four individuals, each harboring one of c.53G>A (p.Cys18Tyr), c.116A>G (p.Asn39Ser), c.218C>T (p.Pro73Leu), and c.470G>A (p.Cys157Tyr) variants, were microcephalic, with head circumferences between -2.5 to -5 SD. In contrast, two individuals with c.151G>A (p.Val51Met) and c.151G>C (p.Val51Leu) alleles were macrocephalic with head circumferences of +4.16 and +4.5 SD. One individual harboring a c.190T>G (p.Tyr64Asp) allele had head circumference in the normal range. Collectively, we observed an extraordinary spread of ∼10 SD of head circumferences orchestrated by distinct mutations in the same gene. In silico modeling, mouse fibroblasts spreading assays, and in vivo overexpression assays using zebrafish as a surrogate model demonstrated that the p.Cys18Tyr and p.Asn39Ser RAC1 variants function as dominant-negative alleles and result in microcephaly, reduced neuronal proliferation, and cerebellar abnormalities in vivo. Conversely, the p.Tyr64Asp substitution is constitutively active. The remaining mutations are probably weakly dominant negative or their effects are context dependent. These findings highlight the importance of RAC1 in neuronal development. Along with TRIO and HACE1, a sub-category of rare developmental disorders is emerging with RAC1 as the central player. We show that ultra-rare disorders caused by private, non-recurrent missense mutations that result in varying phenotypes are challenging to dissect, but can be delineated through focused international collaboration.
  17. Fulltext Quantitative MS-Based Proteomics: Comparing the MCF-7 Cellular Response to Hypoxia and a 2-Oxoglutarate Analogue
    Bush JT, Chan MC, Mohammed S, Schofield CJ
    Chembiochem, 2020 06 02;21(11):1647-1655.
    PMID: 31919953 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900719
    The hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are key transcription factors in determining cellular responses involving alterations in protein levels in response to limited oxygen availability in animal cells. 2-Oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases play key roles in regulating levels of HIF and its transcriptional activity. We describe MS-based proteomics studies in which we compared the results of subjecting human breast cancer MCF-7 cells to hypoxia or treating them with a cell-penetrating derivative (dimethyl N-oxalylglycine; DMOG) of the stable 2OG analogue N-oxalylglycine. The proteomic results are consistent with reported transcriptomic analyses and support the proposed key roles of 2OG-dependent HIF prolyl- and asparaginyl-hydroxylases in the hypoxic response. Differences between the data sets for hypoxia and DMOG might reflect context-dependent effects or HIF-independent effects of DMOG.
  18. Production of cationic antifungal peptides from kenaf seed protein as natural bio preservatives to prolong the shelf-life of tomato puree
    Arulrajah B, Muhialdin BJ, Qoms MS, Zarei M, Hussin ASM, Hasan H, et al.
    Int J Food Microbiol, 2021 Dec 02;359:109418.
    PMID: 34607033 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109418
    This study determined the favourable fermentation conditions for the production of antifungal peptides from kenaf seeds and their effectiveness in extending the shelf-life of tomato puree. The optimum fermentation conditions for the maximum activity of the antifungal peptides were 8.4% (w/v), 7 days and 3.7% for substrate/water ratio, fermentation time and glucose concentration, respectively. Eight cationic peptides of low molecular weight ranging from 840 to 1876 Da were identified in kenaf seed peptides mixture (KSPM). The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of KSPM against Fusarium sp. were 0.18 mg/mL and 0.70 mg/mL, respectively, while those for Aspergillus niger were 1.41 mg/mL and 2.81 mg/mL respectively. KSPM exhibited a fungicidal effect and a prolonged lag phase, with increased fungal membrane permeability as the concentration of KSPM increased, as evidenced by the release of intracellular constituents. The treatment of tomato puree with 1000 mg/kg KSPM delayed fungal growth for up to 14 and 23 days at 25 °C and 4 °C respectively, significantly reducing Aspergillus niger and Fusarium sp. counts. In conclusion, kenaf seed peptides prepared by lacto-fermentation possess antifungal activity, hence can be applied as natural bio preservatives to extend the shelf-life of food products such as tomato puree.
  19. Fulltext Prevalence of stress among medical students: a comparative study between public and private medical schools in Bangladesh
    Eva EO, Islam MZ, Mosaddek AS, Rahman MF, Rozario RJ, Iftekhar AF, et al.
    BMC Res Notes, 2015;8:327.
    PMID: 26223786 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1295-5
    Throughout the world all health professionals face stress because of time-pressures, workload, multiple roles and emotional issues. Stress does not only exist among the health professionals but also in medical students. Bangladesh has currently 77 medical colleges 54 of which are private. This study was designed to collect baseline data of stress-level among Bangladeshi students, which we believe will form the basis for further in depth studies.
  20. Fulltext Prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine reactogenicity among Bangladeshi physicians
    Majumder MAA, Lutfor AB, Rabbi AMF, Alam ABMM, Rahman M, Saha N, et al.
    FASEB Bioadv, 2022 Jun;4(6):379-390.
    PMID: 35601057 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2021-00158
    Increased COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy presents a major hurdle in global efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of adverse events after the first dose of the Covishield (AstraZeneca) vaccine among physicians in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire for physicians (n = 916) in Bangladesh. Physicians who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine were included. The study was carried out from April 12 to May 31, 2021. More than 58% of respondents (n = 533) reported one or more adverse events. Soreness of the injected arm (71.9%), tiredness (56.1%), fever (54.4%), soreness of muscles (48.4%), headache (41.5%) and sleeping more than usual (26.8%) were the most commonly reported adverse events. Most vaccine-related reactogenicities were reported by the younger cohorts (<45 years). The majority of respondents reported severity of reactogenicity as "mild," experienced on the day of vaccination, and lasting for 1-3 days. The most common reactogenicity was pain at the injection site; the second most common was tiredness. Almost half (49.2%) of the physicians took acetaminophen (paracetamol) to minimize the effects of vaccine reactogenicity. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that physicians with diabetes and hypertension (OR = 2.729 95% CI: 1.282-5.089) and asthma with other comorbidities (OR = 1.885 95% CI: 1.001-3.551) had a significantly higher risk of vaccine-related reactogenicities than physicians without comorbidities. Further safety studies with larger cohorts are required to monitor vaccine safety and provide assurance to potential vaccine recipients.
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