Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 39 in total

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  1. Kirubakari B, Chen Y, Sasidharan S
    PMID: 31113347 DOI: 10.2174/1871523018666190522112902
    BACKGROUND: Polyalthia longifolia is a popular medicinal plant and has been widely used as a traditional remedy for centuries in curing of various ailments. The purpose of this study was conducted to determine the in situ antimicrobial synergistic effects between Polyalthia longifolia leaf ethyl acetate fraction (PLEAF) and ampicillin against MRSA local isolate by using modern microscopy technique.

    METHODS: Hence, the evaluation of the synergistic activity of PLEAF and ampicillin against MRSA local isolate was conducted with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

    RESULTS: The combinational effect of PLEAF fraction and ampicillin exhibited significant antibacterial activity against MRSA. Bacterial cells observations showed invagination, impaired cell division, extensive wrinkles, cell shrinkage, the appearance of a rougher cell with fibrous matrix and clustered cells which confirmed the synergistic effect of PLEAF and ampicillin against MRSA local isolate by SEM.

    CONCLUSION: Conclusively, the in situ SEM observation proved the synergistic antimicrobial activity between PLEAF fraction and ampicillin to destroy the MRSA resistance bacteria which is an important aspect of PLEAF fraction to be used in the future combinational therapy.

    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  2. Razak HA, Wahid NBA, Latif MT
    Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2019 Nov;77(4):587-593.
    PMID: 31359072 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00656-3
    Anionic surfactants are one of the pollutants derived from particulate matter (PM) and adversely affect the health of living organisms. In this study, the compositions of surfactants extracted from PM and vehicle soot collected in an urban area were investigated. A high-volume air sampler was used to collect PM sample at urban area based on coarse (> 1.5 µm) and fine (electron microscope. Results revealed that the MBAS concentration was dominated by fine mode particles (6.03 ± 3.97 µmol g-1), whereas heavy-duty vehicles, such as buses, demonstrated the highest surfactant concentration with an average value of 0.340 ± 0.180 µmol g-1. The structure of collected PM for all samples mostly appeared to be an irregular shape with the size range of ultrafine particles (0.05-0.2 µm). The emission of surfactants from diesel and petrol vehicles, especially at urban areas, should be a major concern, because they could negatively affect human health and the environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  3. Chai WL, Moharamzadeh K, Brook IM, Van Noort R
    Biotech Histochem, 2011 Aug;86(4):242-54.
    PMID: 20392135 DOI: 10.3109/10520291003707916
    The success of dental implant treatment depends on the healing of both hard and soft tissues. While osseointegration provides initial success, the biological seal of the peri-implant soft tissue is crucial for maintaining the long term success of implants. Most studies of the biological seal of peri-implant tissues are based on animal or monolayer cell culture models. To understand the mechanisms of soft tissue attachment and the factors affecting the integrity of the soft tissue around the implants, it is essential to obtain good quality histological sections for microscopic examination. The nature of the specimens, however, which consist of both metal implant and soft peri-implant tissues, poses difficulties in preparing the specimens for histomorphometric analysis of the implant-soft tissue interface. We review various methods that have been used for the implant-tissue interface investigation with particular focus on the soft tissue. The different methods are classified and the advantages and limitations of the different techniques are highlighted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  4. Torey A, Sasidharan S
    Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2011 Aug;15(8):875-82.
    PMID: 21845797
    Candida (C.) albicans infection in its biofilm mode of growth has taken centre point with the increasing recognition of its role in human infections due to the development of resistance to the commonly used antibiotic or phenotypic adaptation within the biofilm. Hence, in this study the inhibitory effect of methanol extract of Cassia (C.) spectabilis leaves was evaluated against biofilm forming C. albicans.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  5. Jensen K, Caira JN
    Folia Parasitol., 2006 Sep;53(3):189-207.
    PMID: 17120499
    As part of a metazoan parasite survey of elasmobranchs from Malaysian Borneo, specimens of Rhoptrobothrium Shipley et Hornell, 1906 were collected from the eagle rays Aetomylaeus maculatus (Gray) and Aetomylaeus niehofii (Bloch et Schneider). The type species is redescribed from its type host, and a neotype specimen is designated. In addition, three new species of Rhoptrobothrium are described: R. chongi sp. n., R. gambangi sp. n. and R. limae sp. n. Rhoptrobothrium myliobatidis conspicuously differs from the three new species in its lack of a secondary areola; R. limae is distinguished from R. chongi and R. gambangi based on its greater total length; R. chongi possesses conspicuously stalked remi, while R. gambangi possesses short remi, often folded anteriorly. Rhoptrobothrium is somewhat unusual among tetraphyllideans in its possession of a "metascolex," a character it shares with other taxa in the Thysanocephalinae (i.e., Myzocephalus Shipley et Hornell, 1906, Myzophyllobothrium Shipley et Hornell, 1906 and Thysanocephalum Linton, 1889). The morphology of the "metascolex" of Rhoptrobothrium is investigated and new terminology is suggested to standardise the names given to structures constituting a metascolex. As a result, Rhoptrobothrium is considered to possess cephalic peduncle extensions, termed remi. In Rhoptrobothrium, each remus bears, at its distal end, a primary areola, and, in the case of the three new species, also a secondary areola proximal to the primary areola. Myzocephalus and Myzophyllobothrium are tentatively considered to possess remi; the configuration of the "metascolex" of Thysanocephalum, however, is not considered homologous to the condition in the other three genera currently placed in the Thysanocephalinae.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  6. Ahmad MR, Nakajima M, Kojima M, Kojima S, Homma M, Fukuda T
    IEEE Trans Nanobioscience, 2012 Mar;11(1):70-8.
    PMID: 22275723 DOI: 10.1109/TNB.2011.2179809
    In this paper, single cells adhesion force was measured using a nanofork. The nanofork was used to pick up a single cell on a line array substrate inside an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The line array substrate was used to provide small gaps between the single cells and the substrate. Therefore, the nanofork could be inserted through these gaps in order to successfully pick up a single cell. Adhesion force was measured during the cell pick-up process from the deflection of the cantilever beam. The nanofork was fabricated using focused ion beam (FIB) etching process while the line array substrate was fabricated using nanoimprinting technology. As to investigate the effect of contact area on the strength of the adhesion force, two sizes of gap distance of line array substrate were used, i.e., 1 μm and 2 μm. Results showed that cells attached on the 1 μm gap line array substrate required more force to be released as compared to the cells attached on the 1 μm gap line array substrate.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  7. Hasnain MS, Nayak AK, Singh M, Tabish M, Ansari MT, Ara TJ
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2016 Feb;83:71-7.
    PMID: 26608007 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.11.044
    Alginate-based bipolymeric-nanobioceramic composite matrices for sustained drug release were developed through incorporation of nano-hydroxyapatite [nHAp] powders within ionotropically-gelled calcium ion-induced alginate-poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) blends polymeric systems. nHAp powders were synthesized by precipitation technique using calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and orthophosphoric acid [H3PO4] as raw materials. The average particle size of these was synthesized. nHAp powders was found as 19.04 nm and used to prepare nHAp-alginate-PVP beads containing DS. These beads exhibited drug entrapment efficiency (%) of 65.82±1.88 to 94.45±3.72% and average bead sizes of 0.98±0.07 to 1.23±0.15 mm. These beads were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform-infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses. Various nHAp-alginate-PVP beads containing DS exhibited prolonged sustained drug release and followed the Koresmeyer-Peppas model of drug release (R2=0.9908-0.9978) with non-Fickian release (anomalous transport) mechanism (n=0.73-0.84) for drug release over 8 h.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  8. Miswan Z, Lukman SK, Abd Majid FA, Loke MF, Saidin S, Hermawan H
    Int J Pharm, 2016 Dec 30;515(1-2):460-466.
    PMID: 27793709 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.10.056
    Active ingredients of ginsenoside, Rg1 and Re, are able to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and promote the growth of vascular endothelial cells. These capabilities are of interest for developing a novel drug-eluting stent to potentially solve the current problem of late-stent thrombosis and poor endotheliazation. Therefore, this study was aimed to incorporate ginsenoside into degradable coating of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Drug mixture composed of ginseng extract and 10% to 50% of PLGA (xPLGA/g) was coated on electropolished stainless steel 316L substrate by using a dip coating technique. The coating was characterized principally by using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle analysis, while the drug release profile of ginsenosides Rg1 and Re was determined by using mass spectrometry at a one month immersion period. Full and homogenous coating coverage with acceptable wettability was found on the 30PLGA/g specimen. All specimens underwent initial burst release dependent on their composition. The 30PLGA/g and 50PLGA/g specimens demonstrated a controlled drug release profile having a combination of diffusion- and swelling-controlled mechanisms of PLGA. The study suggests that the 30PLGA/g coated specimen expresses an optimum composition which is seen as practicable for developing a controlled release drug-eluting stent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  9. Taib IS, Budin SB, Siti Nor Ain SM, Mohamed J, Louis SR, Das S, et al.
    J Zhejiang Univ Sci B, 2009 Nov;10(11):813-9.
    PMID: 19882755 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B0920199
    Litsea elliptica Blume leaves have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs because of its antimutagenicity, chemopreventative and insecticidal properties. In this study, the toxic effects of L. elliptica essential oil against Sprague-Dawley rat's red blood cells (RBCs) were evaluated. L. elliptica essential oil was given by oral gavage 5 times per week for 3 treated groups in the doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/(kg body weight), respectively, and the control group received distilled water. Full blood count, RBC osmotic fragility, RBC morphological changes, and RBC membrane lipid were analyzed 28 d after the treatment. Although L. elliptica essential oil administration had significantly different effects on hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) in the experimental groups as compared to the control group (P<0.05), the values were still within the normal range. L. elliptica induced morphological changes of RBC into the form of echinocyte. The percentage of echinocyte increased significantly among the treated groups in a dose-response manner (P<0.001). The concentrations of RBC membrane phospholipids and cholesterol of all treated groups were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.001). However, the RBC membrane osmotic fragility and total proteins of RBC membrane findings did not differ significantly between control and treated groups (P>0.05). It is concluded that structural changes in the RBC membrane due to L. elliptica essential oil administration did not cause severe membrane damage.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  10. Siew EL, Rajab NF, Osman AB, Sudesh K, Inayat-Hussain SH
    J Biomed Mater Res A, 2009 Dec;91(3):786-94.
    PMID: 19051306 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.32290
    Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are naturally occurring biopolyesters that have great potential in the medical field. However, the leachables resulting from sterilization process of the biomaterials may exert toxic effect including genetic damage. Here, we demonstrate that although gamma-irradiation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-50 mol % 4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] did not cause any change in the morphology by scanning electron microscopy, there was a significant degradation of this copolymer where the molecular weight was reduced by 37% after sterilization indicating the generation of leachables. Therefore, further investigation on the ability of the extract of this poststerilized copolymer to induce mutagenic effect was performed using Ames test (S. typhimurium strains TA1535 and TA1537) and umu test (S. typhimurium strain TA1535/pSK1002). Additionally, the capability of the extract to induce clastogenic effect was determined using Chinese hamster lung V79 fibroblast cells. Our results showed that with and without the presence of S9 metabolic activation, no mutagenic effects were observed in both Ames and umu tests when treated with P(3HB-co-4HB) extract. Similarly, treatment of P(3HB-co-4HB) extract in V79 fibroblast cells showed no significant production of micronuclei when compared with the positive control (Mitomycin C). Together, these results indicate that leachables of poststerilized P(3HB-co-4HB) cause no mutagenic and clastogenic effects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  11. Khuzaimah N, Nour UM, Maitra S
    J Environ Sci Eng, 2011 Jul;53(3):257-62.
    PMID: 23029925
    The presence of heavy metals in the environment results in a number of environmental problems. In this study, the potential of Rambai stem (Baccaurea motleyana) of Malaysia in removing nickel ion from aqueous solution has been evaluated. The raw material used in this study was obtained from local orchard. The collected material passed through physical preparation and treatment process. The adsorbent was thoroughly characterized by SEM, EDX and FTIR studies. The effect of initial nickel concentration, dosage of adsorbent and pH on the adsorption process were investigated. The highest adsorption capacity obtained at weak acidic conditions (pH 4-5) when dosage and initial concentrations are 0.1 and 30 ppm respectively. The percentage of removal of nickel from the solution was found to be 51%. The experimental data fitted well in Freundlich isotherms indicating the adsorption of nickel on Rambai stem (Baccaurea motleyana) followed heterogenous surface phenomena.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  12. Nasuha N, Hameed BH, Din AT
    J Hazard Mater, 2010 Mar 15;175(1-3):126-32.
    PMID: 19879046 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.09.138
    The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution using a low-cost adsorbent, rejected tea (RT), has been studied by batch adsorption technique. The adsorption experiments were carried out under different conditions of initial concentration (50-500 mg/L), solution pH 3-12, RT dose (0.05-1g) and temperature (30-50 degrees C). The equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the equilibrium adsorption was best described by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum monolayer adsorption capacities found to be 147, 154 and 156 mg/g at 30, 40 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Three kinetic models, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion were employed to describe the adsorption mechanism. The experimental results showed that the pseudo-second-order equation is the best model that describes the adsorption behavior with the coefficient of correlation R(2)>or=0.99. The results suggested that RT has high potential to be used as effective adsorbent for MB removal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  13. Salman JM, Hameed BH
    J Hazard Mater, 2010 Mar 15;175(1-3):133-7.
    PMID: 19879687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.09.139
    Oil palm fronds (OPF) were used to prepare activated carbon (PFAC) using physiochemical activation method, which consisted of potassium hydroxide (KOH) treatment and carbon dioxide gasification. The effects of the preparation variables, which were activation temperature, activation time and chemical impregnation ratios (KOH: char by weight), on the carbon yield and bentazon removal were investigated. Based on the central composite design (CCD), two factor interaction (2FI) and quadratic models were, respectively, employed to correlate the PFAC preparation variables to the bentazon removal and carbon yield. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the most influential factor on each experimental design response was identified. The optimum conditions for preparing activated carbon from OPF were found as follows: activation temperature of 850 degrees C, activation time of 1h and KOH:char ratio of 3.75:1. The predicted and experimental results for removal of bentazon and yield of PFAC were 99.85%, 20.5 and 98.1%, 21.6%, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  14. Adzmi F, Meon S, Musa MH, Yusuf NA
    J Microencapsul, 2012;29(3):205-10.
    PMID: 22309479 DOI: 10.3109/02652048.2012.659286
    Microencapsulation is a process by which tiny parcels of an active ingredient are packaged within a second material for the purpose of shielding the active ingredient from the surrounding environment. This study aims to determine the ability of the microencapsulation technique to improve the viability of Trichoderma harzianum UPM40 originally isolated from healthy groundnut roots as effective biological control agents (BCAs). Alginate was used as the carrier for controlled release, and montmorillonite clay (MMT) served as the filler. The encapsulated Ca-alginate-MMT beads were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FTIR results showed the interaction between the functional groups of alginate and MMT in the Ca-alginate-MMT beads. Peaks at 1595, 1420 and 1020 cm(-1) characterised alginate, and peaks at 1028 and 453 cm(-1) characterised MMT; both sets of peaks appeared in the Ca-alginate-MMT FTIR spectrum. The TGA analysis showed an improvement in the thermal stability of the Ca-alginate-MMT beads compared with the alginate beads alone. SEM analysis revealed a homogeneous distribution of the MMT particles throughout the alginate matrix. T. harzianum UPM40 was successfully encapsulated in the Ca-alginate-MMT beads. Storage analysis of the encapsulated T. harzianum UPM40 showed that the low storage temperature of 5°C resulted in significantly (p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  15. Sim KS, Kiani MA, Nia ME, Tso CP
    J Microsc, 2014 Jan;253(1):1-11.
    PMID: 24164248 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12089
    A new technique based on cubic spline interpolation with Savitzky-Golay noise reduction filtering is designed to estimate signal-to-noise ratio of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. This approach is found to present better result when compared with two existing techniques: nearest neighbourhood and first-order interpolation. When applied to evaluate the quality of SEM images, noise can be eliminated efficiently with optimal choice of scan rate from real-time SEM images, without generating corruption or increasing scanning time.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  16. Sim KS, Tan YY, Lai MA, Tso CP, Lim WK
    J Microsc, 2010 Apr 1;238(1):44-56.
    PMID: 20384837 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03328.x
    An exponential contrast stretching (ECS) technique is developed to reduce the charging effects on scanning electron microscope images. Compared to some of the conventional histogram equalization methods, such as bi-histogram equalization and recursive mean-separate histogram equalization, the proposed ECS method yields better image compensation. Diode sample chips with insulating and conductive surfaces are used as test samples to evaluate the efficiency of the developed algorithm. The algorithm is implemented in software with a frame grabber card, forming the front-end video capture element.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  17. Sim KS, Ting HY, Lai MA, Tso CP
    J Microsc, 2009 Jun;234(3):243-50.
    PMID: 19493101 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03167.x
    An improvement to the previously proposed Canny optimization technique for scanning electron microscope image colorization is reported. The additional process is adaptive tuning, where colour tuning is performed adaptively, based on comparing the original luminance values with calculated luminance values. The complete adaptive Canny optimization technique gives significantly better mechanical contrast on scanning electron microscope grey-scale images than do existing methods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  18. Sim KS, Thong LW, Ting HY, Tso CP
    J Microsc, 2010 Feb;237(2):111-8.
    PMID: 20096041 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03325.x
    Interpolation techniques that are used for image magnification to obtain more useful details of the surface such as morphology and mechanical contrast usually rely on the signal information distributed around edges and areas of sharp changes and these signal information can also be used to predict missing details from the sample image. However, many of these interpolation methods tend to smooth or blur out image details around the edges. In the present study, a Lagrange time delay estimation interpolator method is proposed and this method only requires a small filter order and has no noticeable estimation bias. Comparing results with the original scanning electron microscope magnification and results of various other interpolation methods, the Lagrange time delay estimation interpolator is found to be more efficient, more robust and easier to execute.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  19. Shanmugapriya, Vijayarathna S, Sasidharan S
    Microsc Microanal, 2019 10;25(5):1263-1272.
    PMID: 31383043 DOI: 10.1017/S1431927619014776
    Several microscopy methods have been developed to assess the morphological changes in cells in the investigations of the mode of cell death in response to a stimulus. Our recent finding on the treatment of the IC50 concentration (26.67 μg/mL) of Polyalthia longifolia leaf extract indicated the induction of apoptotic cell death via the regulation of miRNA in HeLa cells. Hence, the current study was conducted to validate the function of these downregulated microRNAs in P. longifolia-treated HeLa cells using microscopic approaches. These include scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI)-based fluorescent microscopy techniques by observing the morphological alterations to cells after transfection with mimic miRNA. Interestingly, the morphological changes observed in this study demonstrated the apoptotic hallmarks, for instance, cell blebbing, cell shrinkage, cytoplasmic and nuclear condensation, vacuolization, cytoplasmic extrusion, and the formation of apoptotic bodies, which proved the role of dysregulated miRNAs in apoptotic HeLa cell death after treatment with the P. longifolia leaf extract. Conclusively, the current study proved the crucial role of downregulated miR-484 and miR-221-5p in the induction of apoptotic cell death in P. longifolia-treated HeLa cells using three approaches-SEM, TEM, and AO/PI-based fluorescent microscope.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods
  20. Sim KS, Tso CP, Law KK
    Microsc Res Tech, 2008 Apr;71(4):315-24.
    PMID: 18172898 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20558
    The mixed Lagrange time-delay estimation autoregressive (MLTDEAR) model is proposed as a solution to estimate image noise variance. The only information available to the proposed estimator is a corrupted image and the nature of additive white noise. The image autocorrelation function is calculated and used to obtain the MLTDEAR model coefficients; the relationship between the MLTDEAR and linear prediction models is utilized to estimate the model coefficients. The forward-backward prediction is then used to obtain the predictor coefficients; the MLTDEAR model coefficients and prior samples of zero-offset autocorrelation values are next used to predict the power of the noise-free image. Furthermore, the fundamental performance limit of the signal and noise estimation, as derived from the Cramer-Rao inequality, is presented.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
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