The structure and distribution of organelles within developing goat oocytes at various stages of incubation were studied. In oocytes with 5 or more layers of cumulus cells, at 0 h of incubation, the zona pellucida had developed although zonation was not evident. Lipid bodies were present but no mitochondria were observed. At 20 h, the zona pellucida had differentiated into thicker and thinner regions. Clusters of membrane-bound electron-transparent bodies were present in the perivitelline space. The mitochondria were fully developed, distributed evenly and usually in close proximity with dilated endoplasmic reticula. Cortical granules were distributed at the periphery. At 40 h of incubation, a number of mitochondria was hooded. In oocytes of 2 to 4 layers of cumulus cells at 0 h, the zona pellucida was penetrated by cumulus cell processes, and the mitochondria were not well developed. However, in 20-h incubated oocytes, fully developed mitochondria, many of which were hooded, could be observed. Clusters of membrane-bound electron-transparent bodies were also observed, while cortical granules were at the periphery. In cumulus-free oocytes, zonation within the zona pellucida was indistinct. Very few vesicles and lipid bodies were observed. At 20 h, mitochondria were sparsely distributed and were not well developed and lacked cristae. At 40 h, the zona pellucida was less compact, and the membrane-bound electron-transparent bodies were less numerous compared with those of the other groups. Endoplasmic reticula were not dilated, and cortical granules were few and had no definite pattern of distribution.
Attempts in current health care practice to make health care more accessible, effective, and efficient through the use of information technology could include implementation of computer-based dietary menu generation. While several of such systems already exist, their focus is mainly to assist healthy individuals calculate their calorie intake and to help monitor the selection of menus based upon a prespecified calorie value. Although these prove to be helpful in some ways, they are not suitable for monitoring, planning, and managing patients' dietary needs and requirements. This paper presents a Web-based application that simulates the process of menu suggestions according to a standard practice employed by dietitians.
In this study, the bacteriostatic effect of Piper betle and Psidium guajava extracts on selected early dental plaque bacteria was investigated based on changes in the doubling time (g) and specific growth rates (micro). Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus mitis and Actinomyces sp. were cultured in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) in the presence and absence of the extracts. The growth of bacteria was monitored periodically every 15 min over a period of 9 h to allow for a complete growth cycle. Growth profiles of the bacteria in the presence of the extracts were compared to those in the absence and deviation in the g and micro were determined and analyzed. It was found that the g and mu were affected by both extracts. At 4 mg mL(-1) of P. betle the g-values for S. sanguinis and S. mitis were increased by 12.0- and 10.4-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). At similar concentration P. guajava increased the g-value by 1.8- and 2.6 -fold, respectively (p < 0.05). The effect on Actinomyces sp. was observed at a much lower magnitude. It appears that P. betle and P. guajava extracts have bacteriostatic effect on the plaque bacteria by creating a stressed environment that had suppressed the growth and propagation of the cells. Within the context of the dental plaque, this would ensure the attainment of thin and healthy plaque. Thus, decoctions of these plants would be suitable if used in the control of dental plaque.
3-Oxoolean-1-en-28-oic acid, isolated from the bark of Walsura pinnata Hassk, crystallized from n-hexane as an n-hexane 0.25-solvent 0.25-hydrate, C(30)H(46)O(3)·0.25C(6)H(14)·0.25H(2)O. There are two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound. The three six-membered cyclo-hexane rings in each mol-ecule adopt chair conformations and the carboxyl substituent occupies an axial/equatorial position. The two independent mol-ecules are linked by a pair of O-H(carbox-yl)⋯O hydrogen bonds into a dimer. The n-hexane mol-ecule is disordered about a twofold rotation axis and the water mol-ecule lies on a twofold rotation axis. In addition, the cyclo-hexone carbonyl group of one of the independent mol-ecules is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.75 and 0.25.
In the mol-ecule of pinnatane A, C(30)H(48)O(3), isolated from the bark of Walsura pinnata Hassk, the four cyclo-hexane rings adopt chair conformations; the carboxyl and hydr-oxy substituents occupy axial positions. The cyclo-hexene ring is envelope-shaped. Adjacent mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a chain running along the c axis.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified as one of the significant risk factors for motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). In the interest of public safety, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of OSA and its associated factors among express bus drivers in Malaysia. Identifying factors or conditions related with OSA is very important because they can be used as indicators to subject a person to a confirmatory diagnosis using polysomnography testing.
The potential use of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) oil blends in food applications such as frying oil and salad dressings were investigated. The frying strength of palm-based MLCT oil with different antioxidants under deep frying conditions was assessed. Palm-based MLCT oil showed better thermal-resistant oxidative strength than refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm olein throughout the five consecutive days of frying. Sensory evaluation and rancidity assessment on fried chips showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between chips fried in RBD palm olein and palm-based MLCT oil. MLCT-based salad dressings treated with different antioxidants showed similar rheological behaviors as compared to soybean based salad dressings. The overall quality of the physical appearance and organoleptic acceptability based on quantitative descriptive analysis showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in all salad dressings. These findings indicated that MLCT-based oil blends can be used as healthy functional oil for daily consumption.
The title compound, C(17)H(16)N(2)O(3), has an E conformation about the azobenzene (-N=N-) linkage. The benzene rings are twisted slightly with respect to each other [6.79 (9)°], while the dihedral angle between the plane through the carb-oxy group and the attached benzene ring is 3.2 (2)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are oriented with the carb-oxy groups head-to-head, forming O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded inversion dimers. These dimers are connected by C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonds into layers lying parallel to the (013) plane.
In the title compound, C26H24N2O2, the benzimidazole ring system is almost planar [maximum displacement = 0.025 (1) Å] and makes dihedral angles of 80.48 (5) and 41.57 (5)° with the benzene rings, which are inclined to one another by 65.33 (6)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via C-H⋯π and weak π-π inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.8070 (7) Å and inter-planar distance = 3.6160 (5) Å].
Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has a pleiotropic role either as a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine in inflammatory related diseases. The role and involvement of IL-27 during malaria was investigated and the effects of modulating its release on the production of major inflammatory cytokines and the histopathological consequences in major affected organs during the infection were evaluated. Results showed that IL-27 concentration was significantly elevated throughout the infection but no positive correlation with the parasitaemia development observed. Augmentation of IL-27 significantly elevated the release of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 whereas antagonising and neutralising IL-27 produced the opposite. A significant elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-6) was also observed, both during augmentation and inhibition of IL-27. Thus, it is suggested that IL-27 exerts an anti-inflammatory activity in the Th1 type response by signalling the production of IL-10 during malaria. Histopathological examination showed sequestration of PRBC in the microvasculature of major organs in malarial mice. Other significant histopathological changes include hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the Kupffer cells in the liver, hyaline membrane formation in lung tissue, enlargement of the white and red pulp followed by the disappearance of germinal centre of the spleen, and tubular vacuolation of the kidney tissues. In conclusion, it is suggested that IL-27 may possibly acts as an anti-inflammatory cytokine during the infection. Modulation of its release produced a positive impact on inflammatory cytokine production during the infection, suggesting its potential in malaria immunotherapy, in which the host may benefit from its inhibition.
Quaternary alkaloids are the major alkaloids isolated from Tinospora species. A previous study pointed to the necessary presence of quaternary nitrogens for strong acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity in such alkaloids. Repeated column chromatography of the vine of Tinospora crispa extract led to the isolation of one new protoberberine alkaloid, 4,13-dihydroxy-2,8,9-trimethoxydibenzo[a,g]quinolizinium (1), along with six known alkaloids-dihydrodiscretamine (2), columbamine (3), magnoflorine (4), N-formylannonaine (5), N-formylnornuciferine (6), and N-trans-feruloyltyramine (7). The seven compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Two known alkaloids, namely, dihydrodiscretamine and columbamine are reported for the first time for this plant. The compounds were tested for AChE inhibitory activity using Ellman's method. In the AChE inhibition assay, only columbamine (3) showed strong activity with IC50 48.1 µM. The structure-activity relationships derived from these results suggest that the quaternary nitrogen in the skeleton has some effect, but that a high degree of methoxylation is more important for acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
Objective: Adherence to medication is essential for maximising the outcomes of patients with schizophrenia as the consequences of poor adherence are devastating. The study aimed to compare medication adherence between patients with relapse schizophrenia and those attending psychiatric follow-up clinics, and to determine the factors affecting adherence.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 70 patients with schizophrenia who were divided equally into 2 groups. Medication adherence was assessed with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Appropriate instruments were used to measure insight, social support, and psychopathology. Various socio-demographic and clinical variables were explored to find associations with medication adherence.
Results: Medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia was poor; 51% of the patients did not adhere to a medication regimen. Adherence was better in outpatients with schizophrenia (61%) than in relapse cases (39%), although the difference was not statistically significant (t = 1.70; p = 0.09). Besides, relapse patients had significant higher number of admission (X2 = 22.95; p < 0.05) and severe psychopathology (t = –29.96; p < 0.05), while perceived social support was significantly better in outpatients with schizophrenia (t = 2.90; p < 0.05). Frequency of admission (adjusted b = –0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.99 to -0.10; p < 0.05) and psychopathology (adjusted b = –0.12; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.01; p < 0.05) were also significantly associated with medication adherence.
Conclusion: Medication adherence among both groups of patients with schizophrenia was poor. If adherence is addressed appropriately, the number of admissions and severity of psychopathology could be improved.
Key words: Patient compliance; Psychopathology; Schizophrenia; Social support
Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)
The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C17H18O3, comprises three independent mol-ecules with similar geometries. In each mol-ecule, the carbonyl group is twisted away from the napthalene ring system, making dihedral angles of 1.0 (2), 1.05 (19)° and 1.5 (2)°. The butene group in all three mol-ecules are disordered over two sets of sites, with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.664 (6):0.336 (6). In the crystal, mol-ecules are oriented with respect to their carbonyl groups, forming head-to-head dimers via O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Adjacent dimers are further inter-connected by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains along the a-axis direction. The crystal structure is further stabilized by weak C-H⋯π inter-actions.
The title compound, C16H14N2O3, has an E conformation about the azo-benzene [-N=N- = 1.2481 (16) Å] linkage. The benzene rings are almost coplanar [dihedral angle = 1.36 (7)°]. The O atoms of the carb-oxy-lic acid group are disordered over two sets of sites and were refined with an occupancy ratio of 0.5:0.5. The two disordered components of the carb-oxy-lic acid group make dihedral angles of 1.5 (14) and 3.8 (12)° with the benzene ring to which they are attached. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via pairs of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. The dimers are connected via C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons lying parallel to [120]. These ribbons are linked via C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming slabs parallel to (001).
In this study, a novel fibrous membrane of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend was successfully fabricated by electrospinning technique and characterized. The concentration of HEC (5%) with PVA (15%) was optimized, blended in different ratios (30-50%) and electrospun to get smooth nanofibers. Nanofibrous membranes were made water insoluble by chemically cross-linking by glutaraldehyde and used as scaffolds for the skin tissue engineering. The microstructure, morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the blended HEC/PVA nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning colorimetry, universal testing machine and thermogravimetric analysis. Cytotoxicity studies on these nanofibrous scaffolds were carried out using human melanoma cells by the MTT assays. The cells were able to attach and spread in the nanofibrous scaffolds as shown by the SEM images. These preliminary results show that these nanofibrous scaffolds that supports cell adhesion and proliferation is promising for skin tissue engineering.
The aim of this research is to develop biocompatible nanofibrous mats using hydroxyethyl cellulose with improved cellular adhesion profiles and stability and use these fibrous mats as potential scaffold for skin tissue engineering. Glutaraldehyde was used to treat the scaffolds water insoluble as well as improve their biostability for possible use in biomedical applications. Electrospinning of hydroxyethyl cellulose (5 wt%) with poly(vinyl alcohol) (15 wt%) incorporated with and without collagen was blended at (1:1:1) and (1:1) ratios, respectively, and was evaluated for optimal criteria as tissue engineering scaffolds. The nanofibrous mats were crosslinked and characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the mean diameters of blend nanofibers were gradually increased after chemically crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was carried out to understand chemical interactions in the presence of aldehyde groups. Thermal characterization results showed that the stability of hydroxyethyl cellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) and hydroxyethyl cellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol)/collagen nanofibers was increased with glutaraldehyde treatment. Studies on cell-scaffolds interaction were carried out by culturing human fibroblast (hFOB) cells on the nanofibers by assessing the growth, proliferation, and morphologies of cells. The scanning electron microscope results show that better cell proliferation and attachment appeared on hydroxyethyl cellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol)/collagen substrates after 7 days of culturing, thus, promoting the potential of electrospun scaffolds as a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications.
The title compound, C23H22FN5S, exists in a trans conformation with respect to the methene C=C and the acyclic N=C bonds. The 1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione ring makes dihedral angles of 88.66 (9) and 84.51 (10)°, respectively, with the indole and benzene rings. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with an R 2 (2)(8) ring motif. The dimers are linked via C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming chains along [1-10]. The chains are linked via π-π inter-actions involving inversion-related triazole rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.4340 (13) Å], forming layers parallel to the ab plane.