Displaying publications 281 - 300 of 575 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fulltext Comparing CxBladder to Urine Cytology as Adjunct to Cystoscopy in Surveillance of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer-A Pilot Study
    Chai CA, Yeoh WS, Rajandram R, Aung KP, Ong TA, Kuppusamy S, et al.
    Front Surg, 2021;8:659292.
    PMID: 34055868 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.659292
    Purpose: Guidelines advocate cystoscopy surveillance (CS) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) post-resection. However, cystoscopy is operator dependent and may miss upper tract lesions or carcinoma in-situ (CIS). Urine cytology is a common adjunct but lacks sensitivity and specificity in detecting recurrence. A new mRNA biomarker (CxBladder) was compared with urine cytology as an adjunct to cystoscopy in detecting a positive cystoscopy findings during surveillance cystoscopy in our center. Materials and Methods: Consented patients older than 18, undergoing CS for NMIBC, provide paired urine samples for cytology and CxBladder test. Patients with positive cystoscopy findings would undergo re-Trans Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT). Results: Thirty-five patients were enrolled from April to June 2019. Seven contaminated urine samples were excluded. The remaining cohort of 23 (82%) and 5 (18%) females had a mean age of 66.69 (36-89). Eight (29%) patients with positive cystoscopy finding underwent TURBT. All 8 patients also had positive CxBladder result. This shows that CxBladder has a sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%, specificity of 75% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 62% in predicting a positive cystoscopy finding. TURBT Histo-pathological findings showed Low-grade Ta NMIBC in one patient (4%), and 7 (25%) patients had inflammatory changes. Urine cytology was only positive in one patient with a positive cystoscopy finding. This led to a sensitivity of merely 13% and NPV of 74%, while specificity and PPV was 100% in predicting a positive cystoscopy finding. Conclusion: CxBladder had high NPV and sensitivity which accurately predicted suspicious cystoscopy findings leading to further investigation. It has great potential for use as adjunct to cystoscopy for surveillance of NMIBC.
  2. Recognition of S100 proteins by Signal Inhibitory Receptor on Leukocytes-1 negatively regulates human neutrophils
    Rumpret M, von Richthofen HJ, van der Linden M, Westerlaken GHA, Talavera Ormeño C, Low TY, et al.
    Eur J Immunol, 2021 Jun 19.
    PMID: 34145909 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149278
    Signal inhibitory receptor on leukocytes-1 (SIRL-1) is an inhibitory receptor with a hitherto unknown ligand, and is expressed on human monocytes and neutrophils. SIRL-1 inhibits myeloid effector functions such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, we identify S100 proteins as SIRL-1 ligands. S100 proteins are composed of two calcium-binding domains. Various S100 proteins are damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from damaged cells, after which they initiate inflammation by ligating activating receptors on immune cells. We now show that the inhibitory SIRL-1 recognizes individual calcium-binding domains of all tested S100 proteins. Blocking SIRL-1 on human neutrophils enhanced S100 protein S100A6-induced ROS production, showing that S100A6 suppresses neutrophil ROS production via SIRL-1. Taken together, SIRL-1 is an inhibitory receptor recognizing the S100 protein family of DAMPs. This may help limit tissue damage induced by activated neutrophils.
  3. Fulltext In vitro antioxidant activity of Ficus carica L. latex from 18 different cultivars
    Shahinuzzaman M, Yaakob Z, Anuar FH, Akhtar P, Kadir NHA, Hasan AKM, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2020 07 02;10(1):10852.
    PMID: 32616768 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67765-1
    As synthetic antioxidants that are widely used in foods are known to cause detrimental health effects, studies on natural additives as potential antioxidants are becoming increasingly important. In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of Ficus carica Linn latex from 18 cultivars were investigated. The TPC of latex was calculated using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were used for antioxidant activity assessment. The bioactive compounds from F. carica latex were extracted via maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with 75% ethanol as solvent. Under the same extraction conditions, the latex of cultivar 'White Genoa' showed the highest antioxidant activity of 65.91% ± 1.73% and 61.07% ± 1.65% in DPPH, 98.96% ± 1.06% and 83.04% ± 2.16% in ABTS, and 27.08 ± 0.34 and 24.94 ± 0.84 mg TE/g latex in FRAP assay via maceration and UAE, respectively. The TPC of 'White Genoa' was 315.26 ± 6.14 and 298.52 ± 9.20 µg GAE/mL via the two extraction methods, respectively. The overall results of this work showed that F. carica latex is a potential natural source of antioxidants. This finding is useful for further advancements in the fields of food supplements, food additives and drug synthesis in the future.
  4. Molecular detection of Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Asir Province, Saudi Arabia
    Alshahrani MY, Alanazi AD, Alouffi AS, Abdullah HHAM, Allam AM, Mahmoud MS, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Sep 01;37(3):587-598.
    PMID: 33612774 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.3.587
    Knowledge of molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens in camels in Saudi Arabia is very limited; few molecular epidemiological studies have been under taken. This study was to detect Anaplasma spp. and Piroplasma spp. in camels from Asir Province, Saudi Arabia. A total of 150 blood samples were collected from camels in Asir Province and investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that targeted 18S rRNA and 23S rRNA to detect the DNA of Piroplasma spp. and Anaplasma spp., respectively. The positive samples for 23S rRNA were assayed again by PCR targeting the 16S rRNA. All the blood samples were free from Piroplasma spp. infection. Three camels (2%) were found to be positive for Anaplasma infection through use of PCR that targeted the 23S rRNA gene. There were no significant differences between ages or sexes in the camels that tested positive for Anaplasma. All positive Anaplasma infections were recorded in camels that were infested by ticks. Two Anaplasma sequences for the16S rRNA gene were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MN882724 and MN882725. They recorded 99.16% and 99.34% similarities (respectively) with KF843825.1 (Candidatus Anaplasma camelii reported in Unizah, Saudi Arabia). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the two sequences recorded in this study were close to each other; both were located in one cluster with Candidatus Anaplasma camelii isolates that were recorded before in the adjacent areas of Unizah in Saudi Arabia and Iran. In conclusion: two new Anaplasma genotypes close to Candidatus Anaplasma camelii were found in camels in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia for the first time. The camels in this province were found to be free of Piroplasma infection.
  5. Fulltext Effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on clinical periodontal variables and salivary resistin levels in obese Asians
    Akram Z, Baharuddin NA, Vaithilingam RD, Rahim ZH, Chinna K, Krishna VG, et al.
    J Oral Sci, 2017 Mar 31;59(1):93-102.
    PMID: 28049964 DOI: 10.2334/josnusd.16-0127
    This study investigated changes in periodontal outcomes after nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) and evaluated associations of change in salivary resistin level with periodontal outcomes in obese Malaysians with chronic periodontitis. Sixty-two obese adults with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into a test group (n = 31), which received NSPT, and a control group (n = 31), which received no treatment. Plaque score (PS), gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after NSPT. Salivary resistin levels were evaluated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PS was significantly lower in patients who received NSPT than in the control group at 6 and 12 weeks (P < 0.05). In the NSPT group the percentages of sites with shallow and moderate pockets decreased significantly, but there was no significant change in deep pockets. Resistin levels significantly decreased after NSPT (P < 0.05). Change in salivary resistin level was not significantly associated with periodontal outcomes. In obese Malaysians, NSPT significantly improved PS and GBI, and improved PPD and CAL for shallow and moderately deep pockets but not for deep pockets. Salivary resistin level was not associated with improvement in either periodontal variable.
  6. Doped silica fibre thermoluminescence measurements of radiation dose in the use of 223Ra
    Bradley, Sani SFA, Shafiqah ASS, Collins SM, Hugtenburg RP, Rashid HAA, et al.
    Appl Radiat Isot, 2018 Aug;138:65-72.
    PMID: 28427834 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.04.019
    Using tailor-made sub-mm dimension doped-silica fibres, thermoluminescent dosimetric studies have been performed for α-emitting sources of 223RaCl2 (the basis of the Bayer Healthcare product Xofigo®). The use of 223RaCl2 in the palliative treatment of bone metastases resulting from late-stage castration-resistant prostate cancer focuses on its favourable uptake in metabolically active bone metastases. Such treatment benefits from the high linear energy transfer (LET) and associated short path length (<100µm) of the α-particles emitted by 223Ra and its decay progeny. In seeking to provide for in vitro dosimetry of the α-particles originating from the 223Ra decay series, investigation has been made of the TL yield of various forms of Ge-doped SiO2 fibres, including photonic crystal fibre (PCF) collapsed, PCF uncollapsed, flat and single-mode fibres. Irradiations of the fibres were performed at the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Notable features are the considerable sensitivity of the dosimeters and an effective atomic number Zeff approaching that of bone, the glass fibres offering the added advantage of being able to be placed directly into liquid. The outcome of present research is expected to inform development of doped fibre dosimeters of versatile utility, including for applications as detailed herein.
  7. Insulin Receptor Isoform Variations in Prostate Cancer Cells
    Perks CM, Zielinska HA, Wang J, Jarrett C, Frankow A, Ladomery MR, et al.
    Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2016;7:132.
    PMID: 27733843
    Men who develop prostate cancer (PCa) increasingly have one of the co-morbidities associated with a Western lifestyle that are characterized by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and increased expression of insulin-like growth factors-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II. Each have been associated with poor prognosis and more aggressive cancers that exhibit increased metabolism and increased glucose uptake. The insulin receptor (IR) has two splice isoforms IR-A and IR-B: IR-A has a higher affinity for IGF-II comparable to that for insulin, whereas the IR-B isoform predominantly just binds to insulin. In this study, we assessed alterations in the IR-A and IR-B isoform ratio and associated changes in cell proliferation and migration of PCa cell lines following exposure to altered concentrations of glucose and treatment with IGF-II and insulin. We observed that where IR-B predominated insulin had a greater effect on migration than IGF-II and IGF-II was more effective when IR-A was the main isoform. With regard to proliferation IGF-II was more effective than insulin regardless of which isoform was dominant. We assessed the abundance of the IR isoforms both in vivo and in vitro and observed that the majority of the tissue samples and cell lines expressed more IR-A than IR-B. Alterations in the isoforms in response to changes in their hormonal milieu could have a profound impact on how malignant cells behave and play a role in promoting carcinogenesis. A greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying changes in alternative splicing of the IR may provide additional targets for future cancer therapies.
  8. Radioluminescence sensing of radiology exposures using P-doped silica optical fibres
    Bradley DA, Zubair HT, Oresegun A, Louay GT, Ariffin A, Khandaker MU, et al.
    Appl Radiat Isot, 2018 Nov;141:176-181.
    PMID: 29673719 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2018.02.025
    In previous work we investigated the real-time radioluminescence (RL) yield of Ge-doped silica fibres and Al2O3 nanodot media, sensing electron- and x-ray energies and intensities at values familiarly obtained in external beam radiotherapy. The observation of an appreciable low-dose sensitivity has given rise to the realisation that there is strong potential for use of RL dosimetry in diagnostic radiology. Herein use has been made of P-doped silica optical fibre, 2 mm diameter, also including a 271 µm cylindrical doped core. With developing needs for versatile x-ray imaging dosimetry, preliminary investigations have been made covering the range of diagnostic x-ray tube potentials 30 kVp to 120 kVp, demonstrating linearity of RL with kVp as well as in terms of the current-time (mAs) product. RL yields also accord with the inverse-square law. Given typical radiographic-examination exposure durations from tens- to a few hundred milliseconds, particular value is found in the ability to record the influence of x-ray generator performance on the growth and decay of beam intensity, from initiation to termination.
  9. Fulltext Effect of various food processing and handling methods on preservation of natural antioxidants in fruits and vegetables
    Al-Juhaimi F, Ghafoor K, Özcan MM, Jahurul MHA, Babiker EE, Jinap S, et al.
    J Food Sci Technol, 2018 Oct;55(10):3872-3880.
    PMID: 30228385 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-018-3370-0
    Bioactive compounds from plant sources are generally categorized as natural antioxidants with well-known health benefits. The health-promoting characteristics of natural antioxidants include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and hepatic effects as well as free radical scavenging. Herein, a comprehensive and comparative review are presented about the effects of conventional (thermal and mechanical) and relatively new (non-thermal) processing methods on phytochemicals and discussed the importance of implementing the use of those methods that could be of very helpful retaining the quality of the bioactive compounds in plant-based foods. Plant-based foods rich in phenolics, vitamin C, carotenoids, and other compounds undergo a range of processing operations before they are consumed. Most of these methods involve thermal treatments of fruits, stems, leaves, and roots. These techniques have varying effects on bioactive compounds and their activities, and the magnitude of these effects depends on process parameters such as temperature, time, and the food matrix. Thermal processing can be detrimental to bioactive compounds while nonthermal procedures may not cause significant deterioration of important health-promoting phytochemicals and in some cases can improve their bio-activity and bio-availability. The detrimental effects of conventional processing on the quality of natural antioxidants have been compared to the effects of innovative nonthermal food treatments such as gamma and ultraviolet irradiation, ultraviolet light, pulsed electric fields, and high hydrostatic pressure.
  10. Identification of Novel Sesamol Dimers with Unusual Methylenedioxy Ring-Opening Skeleton and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities
    Murthy S, Hazli UHAM, Kong KW, Mai CW, Leong CO, Rahman NA, et al.
    Curr Org Synth, 2019;16(8):1166-1173.
    PMID: 31984923 DOI: 10.2174/1570179416666191003095253
    BACKGROUND: Sesamol is a widely used antioxidant for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The oxidation products of this compound may be accumulated in foods or ingested. Little is known about its effect on human health.

    OBJECTIVE: It is of great interest to identify the oxidation products of sesamol that may be beneficial to humans. This study was undertaken to identify the oxidation products of sesamol and investigate their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the ferricyanide oxidation approach, four oxidation products of sesamol (2, 3, 20 & 21) have been identified. Structural elucidation of these compounds was established on the basis of their detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis, mass spectrometry and x-ray crystallography. Additionally, a formation mechanism of compound 20 was proposed based on high-resolution mass spectrometry-fragmentation method. The antioxidant activities of these compounds were determined by the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of these compounds was evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines as well as non-cancerous cells.

    RESULTS: Two oxidation products of sesamol were found to contain an unusual methylenedioxy ring-opening skeleton, as evidenced by spectroscopic and x-ray crystallographic data. Among all compounds, 20 displayed impressive antiproliferative activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines yet remained non-toxic to noncancerous cells. The antioxidant activities of compound 20 are significantly weaker than sesamol as determined by the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays.

    CONCLUSION: The oxidation products of sesamol could be a valuable source of bioactive molecules. Compound 20 may be used as a potential lead molecule for cancer studies.

  11. From Endodontic Therapy to Regenerative Endodontics: New Wine in Old Bottles
    Lim GS, Wey MC, Azami NH, Noor NSM, Lau MN, Haque N, et al.
    Curr Stem Cell Res Ther, 2021;16(5):577-588.
    PMID: 33198618 DOI: 10.2174/1574888X15999201116162256
    The concept of regenerative endodontics wherein one can replace damaged pulp structures and recuperate the functionality in erstwhile necrotic and infected root canal systems has been a cutting-edge technology. Though the notion started as early as the 1960s, even before the discovery of stem cells and regenerative medicine, it was in the 2000s that this procedure gained momentum. Ever since then, researchers continue to discover its essential benefit to immature teeth and its ability to overcome the caveats of endodontic therapy, which is commonly known as root canal treatment. Further, through this therapy, one can redevelop root even in immature teeth with necrotic pulps, which overall helps in maintaining skeletal and dental development. Past literature indicates that regenerative endodontic procedures seem to be successful, especially when compared with other conventional techniques such as Mineral Trioxide Aggregate apexification. Besides, many clinicians have begun to apply regenerative endodontic procedures to mature teeth in adult patients, with several clinical case reports that have shown complete resolution of signs and symptoms of pulp necrosis. Generally, the three most desirable outcomes anticipated by clinicians from this procedure include resolution of clinical signs and symptoms, root maturation and redevelopment of the neurogenesis process. Despite this, whether these objectives and true regeneration of the pulp/dentin complex are achieved is still a question mark. Following the discovery that regenerative endodontics indeed is a stem cell-based treatment, addressing the fundamental issue surrounding stem cells might assist in achieving all identified clinical outcomes while favoring tissue formation that closely resembles the pulp-dentin complex.
  12. The effect of feeding black soldier fly larvae on growth performance, protein, and fat content of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
    Aisyah HN, Athirah ZAR, Hanani WR, Arshad SS, Hassim HA, Nazarudin MF, et al.
    Vet World, 2022 Oct;15(10):2453-2457.
    PMID: 36425138 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.2453-2457
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: In the aquaculture industry, the crucial goal is to minimize production costs, especially feeding costs, without significant side effects. Black soldier fly larva (BSFL) is a locally available, eco-friendly, and sustainable source that is high in crude protein (42% dry matter [DM]) and fat (35% DM). This study aimed to determine the growth performance along with the composition of crude fat and protein in red hybrid fingerlings after the addition of BSFL into the diet.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 fingerlings of uniform size (mean initial weight of 1.46 ± 0.06 g) were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 10) (A, B, C, and D) per tank (1 m × 2 m × 1 m). For 21 days, Group A (control group) was fed with 100% commercial diet; Group B was fed with 90% commercial fish diet + 10% BSFL; Group C was fed with 80% commercial fish diet + 20% BSFL; and Group D was fed with 70% commercial fish diet + 30% BSFL. Feed efficiency, growth performance, and proximate composition analysis were performed on the fish.

    RESULTS: The results displayed that the group with the highest BSFL percentage had a greater effect on protein and fat composition than the control group. The proximate composition analysis of fish-fed diet revealed that an increase in the level of BSFL inclusion increases the protein content in the fish. In comparison to the other groups, the experimental diet with 30% BSFL inclusion has the highest levels of crude protein (80.30% DM) and fat (2.90% DM).

    CONCLUSION: It is concluded that incorporating BSFL into a commercial diet for red hybrid tilapia fingerlings increased crude protein and fat composition, providing an alternative protein and fat source in fish diets.

  13. Delayed endochondral ossification in early medial coronoid disease (MCD): a morphological and immunohistochemical evaluation in growing Labrador retrievers
    Lau SF, Hazewinkel HA, Grinwis GC, Wolschrijn CF, Siebelt M, Vernooij JC, et al.
    Vet J, 2013 Sep;197(3):731-8.
    PMID: 23746870 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.04.021
    Medial coronoid disease (MCD) is a common joint disease of dogs. It has a multifactorial aetiology, but the relationship between known causal factors and the disease has yet to be elucidated. As most of the published literature is clinical and it reports changes associated with advanced disease, it is not known whether the changes reflect the cause or consequences of the condition. The aim of this study was to investigate early micromorphological changes occurring in articular cartilage and to describe the postnatal development of the medial coronoid process (MCP) before MCD develops. Three litters of MCD-prone young Labrador retrievers were purpose-bred from a dam and two sires with MCD. Comparisons of the micromorphological appearance of the MCP in MCD-negative and MCD-positive joints demonstrated that MCD was initially associated with a disturbance of endochondral ossification, namely a delay in the calcification of the calcifying zone, without concurrent abnormalities in the superficial layers of the joint cartilage. Cartilage canals containing patent blood vessels were only detected in dogs <12 weeks old, but the role of these channels in impaired ossification requires further investigation. Retained hyaline cartilage might ossify as the disease progresses, but weak areas can develop into cracks between the retained cartilage and the subchondral bone, leading to cleft formation and fragmentation of the MCP.
  14. Photonic crystal fibre as a potential medium for radiotherapy dosimetry
    Begum M, Rahman AKMM, Abdul-Rashid HA, Yusoff Z, Mat Nawi SN, Khandaker MU, et al.
    Appl Radiat Isot, 2021 Aug;174:109771.
    PMID: 34048992 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109771
    Present study concerns the key thermoluminescence (TL) properties of photonic crystal fibres (PCFs), seeking development of alternatively structured TL materials that are able to offer a advantages over existing passive dosimeters. In terms of their internal structure and light guiding properties the PCFs, collapsed and structured, differ significantly from that of conventional optical fibres. To investigate the dosimetric parameters of the PCFs use was made of a linear accelerator producing a 6 MV photon beam, delivering doses ranging from 0.5 Gy to 8 Gy. The parameters studied included TL response, linearity index, glow curves, relative sensitivity and TL signal fading, the results being compared against those obtained using TLD-100 chips. At 4 Gy photon dose the Ge-doped collapsed PCFs were found to provide a response 27 × that of structured PCF, also giving a TL yield similar to that of standard TLD-100 chips. Over post-irradiation periods of 15 and 30 days collapsed PCF TL signal fading were 8% and 17% respectively, with corresponding values of 37% and 64% for the structured PCF. Trapping parameters including the order of kinetics (b), activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s-1) were assessed with Chen's peak shape method. Lifetime of trapping centre was found to be (2.36 E+03) s and (9.03 E +01) s regarding the collapsed and structured PCF respectively with 6 Gy of photon beam. For the Ge-doped collapsed PCF, the high TL yield, sensitivity and low fading provide the basis of a highly promising system of TLD for radiotherapy applications.
  15. Genetic diversity of secreted protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (SPATR) of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Malaysia
    Azlan UW, Lau YL, Hamid MHA, Jelip J, Ooi CH, Mudin RN, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2022 Dec 01;39(4):504-510.
    PMID: 36602208 DOI: 10.47665/tb.39.4.006
    The Plasmodium knowlesi secreted protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (PkSPATR) is an important protein that helps in the parasite's invasion into the host cell. This protein has been regarded as one of the potential vaccine candidates against P. knowlesi infection. This study investigates the genetic diversity and natural selection of PkSPATR gene of P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Malaysia. PCR amplification of the full length PkSPATR gene was performed on 60 blood samples of infected P. knowlesi patients from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. The amplified PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis of PkSPATR from Malaysia showed higher nucleotide diversity (CDS p: 0.01462) than previously reported Plasmodium vivax PvSPATR (p = 0.0003). PkSPATR from Peninsular Malaysia was observed to have slightly higher diversity (CDS p: 0.01307) than those from Malaysian Borneo (CDS p: 0.01212). Natural selection analysis on PkSPATR indicated significant purifying selection. Multiple amino acid sequence alignment revealed 69 polymorphic sites. The phylogenetic tree and haplotype network did not show any distinct clustering of PkSPATR. The low genetic diversity level, natural selection and absence of clustering implied functional constrains of the PkSPATR protein.
  16. Fulltext Cortical signals analysis to recognize intralimb mobility using modified RNN and various EEG quantities
    Al-Quraishi MS, Tan WH, Elamvazuthi I, Ooi CP, Saad NM, Al-Hiyali MI, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 May 15;10(9):e30406.
    PMID: 38726180 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30406
    Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are critical in interpreting sensorimotor activities for predicting body movements. However, their efficacy in identifying intralimb movements, such as the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot, remains suboptimal. This study aims to explore whether various EEG signal quantities can effectively recognize intralimb movements to facilitate the development of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) devices for foot rehabilitation. This research involved twenty-two healthy, right-handed participants. EEG data were collected using 21 electrodes positioned over the motor cortex, while two electromyography (EMG) electrodes recorded the onset of ankle joint movements. The study focused on analyzing slow cortical potential (SCP) and sensorimotor rhythms (SMR) in alpha and beta bands from the EEG. Five key features-fourth-order Autoregressive feature, variance, waveform length, standard deviation, and permutation entropy-were extracted. A modified Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) including Long Short-term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) algorithms was developed for movement recognition. These were compared against conventional machine learning algorithms, including nonlinear Support Vector Machine (SVM) and k Nearest Neighbourhood (kNN) classifiers. The performance of the proposed models was assessed using two data schemes: within-subject and across-subjects. The findings demonstrated that the GRU and LSTM models significantly outperformed traditional machine learning algorithms in recognizing different EEG signal quantities for intralimb movement. The study indicates that deep learning models, particularly GRU and LSTM, hold superior potential over standard machine learning techniques in identifying intralimb movements using EEG signals. Where the accuracies of LSTM for within and across subjects were 98.87 ± 1.80 % and 87.38 ± 0.86 % respectively. Whereas the accuracy of GRU within and across subjects were 99.18 ± 1.28 % and 86.44 ± 0.69 % respectively. This advancement could significantly benefit the development of BCI devices aimed at foot rehabilitation, suggesting a new avenue for enhancing physical therapy outcomes.
  17. Role of norepinephrine & angiotensin II in the neural control of renal sodium & water handling in spontaneously hypertensive rats
    Salman IM, Sattar MA, Ameer OZ, Abdullah NA, Yam MF, Salman HM, et al.
    Indian J Med Res, 2010 Jun;131:786-92.
    PMID: 20571167
    A wealth of information concerning the essential role of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in the regulation of renal function and mean arterial blood pressure homeostasis has been established. However, many important parameters with which RSNA interacts are yet to be explicitly characterized. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of acute renal denervation (ARD) on sodium and water excretory responses to intravenous (iv) infusions of either norepinephrine (NE) or angiotensin II (Ang II) in anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
  18. Fulltext Enhancement in the Physico-Mechanical Functions of Seaweed Biopolymer Film via Embedding Fillers for Plasticulture Application-A Comparison with Conventional Biodegradable Mulch Film
    M H, Chong EWN, Jafarzadeh S, Paridah MT, Gopakumar DA, Tajarudin HA, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2019 Jan 26;11(2).
    PMID: 30960194 DOI: 10.3390/polym11020210
    This study aimed to compare the performance of fabricated microbially induced precipitated calcium carbonate⁻ (MB⁻CaCO₃) based red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) bio-polymer film and commercial calcium carbonate⁻ (C⁻CaCO₃) based red seaweed bio-film with the conventional biodegradable mulch film. To the best of our knowledge, there has been limited research on the application of commercial CaCO₃ (C⁻CaCO₃) and microbially induced CaCO₃ (MB⁻CaCO₃) as fillers for the preparation of films from seaweed bio-polymer and comparison with biodegradable commercial plasticulture packaging. The results revealed that the mechanical, contact angle, and biodegradability properties of the polymer composite films incorporated with C⁻CaCO₃ and MB⁻CaCO₃ fillers were comparable or even superior than the conventional biodegradable mulch film. The seaweed polymer film incorporated with MB⁻CaCO₃ showed the highest contact angle of 100.94°, whereas conventional biodegradable mulch film showed a contact angle of 90.25°. The enhanced contact angle of MB⁻CaCO₃ resulted in high barrier properties, which is highly desired in the current scenario for plasticulture packaging application. The water vapor permeability of MB⁻CaCO₃ based seaweed films was low (2.05 ± 1.06 g·m/m²·s·Pa) when compared to conventional mulch film (2.68 ± 0.35 g·m/m²·s·Pa), which makes the fabricated film an ideal candidate for plasticulture application. The highest tensile strength (TS) was achieved by seaweed-based film filled with commercial CaCO₃ (84.92% higher than conventional mulch film). SEM images of the fractured surfaces of the fabricated films revealed the strong interaction between seaweed and fillers. Furthermore, composite films incorporated with MB⁻CaCO₃ promote brighter film, better water barrier, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability compared to C⁻CaCO₃ based seaweed polymer film and conventional mulch film. From this demonstrated work, it can be concluded that the fabricated MB⁻CaCO₃ based seaweed biopolymer film will be a promising candidate for plasticulture and agricultural application.
  19. Fulltext Factors affecting implementation of tuberculosis contact investigation and tuberculosis preventive therapy among children in Sabah, East Malaysia: A qualitative study
    Goroh MMD, van den Boogaard CHA, Lukman KA, Lowbridge C, Juin WK, William T, et al.
    PLoS One, 2023;18(5):e0285534.
    PMID: 37167225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285534
    Contact investigation and TB preventive treatment of children under five years of age who are close contacts of a TB case is a key component of TB prevention. However, the uptake of TB preventive treatment is low in many high-TB burden settings. This study explores factors affecting the implementation of TB contact investigation and preventive treatment among children in Malaysia's city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah State. This study was conducted in three primary health clinics between 2019 and 2020. We purposively sampled 34 parents and guardians of child contacts eligible for TB preventive treatment, and 25 healthcare providers involved in the management of child contacts. We conducted thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to illicit factors affecting implementation and uptake of TB contact investigation and TB preventive therapy. Six main themes emerged from the analyses-four of these relating to contact investigation and two relating to TB preventive therapy. Factors affecting TB contact investigation were addressed under system related factors (external factors, stakeholder collaboration, healthcare workers' and clients' concerns), clinic related factors (perceived performance, clinic schedule, and space), healthcare worker related factors (cooperation, commitment, knowledge, misconception, counselling and communication) and patient and contact related factors (cooperation and commitment). Factors affecting TB preventive treatment delivery were addressed under guardian related factors (cooperation, commitment, knowledge and misconception) and treatment related factors (child-friendly form and adverse effects). To address gaps and barriers identified in our study, we recommend developing system capacity to maintain routine contact investigation and preventive treatment in the context of external program risks, providing training to healthcare workers to address misconceptions, safeguarding vulnerable clients against the risk of detention and deportation while accessing care, ensuring public and private services are provided regardless of migration status, and improving processes and resources for contact investigation and preventive treatment.
  20. Fulltext The Challenges and Future Perspective of Woven Kenaf Reinforcement in Thermoset Polymer Composites in Malaysia: A Review
    Lee CH, Khalina A, Nurazzi NM, Norli A, Harussani MM, Rafiqah SA, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Apr 25;13(9).
    PMID: 33922885 DOI: 10.3390/polym13091390
    In this review, the challenges faced by woven kenaf thermoset polymer composites in Malaysia were addressed with respect to three major aspects: woven kenaf reinforcement quality, Malaysian citizen awareness of woven kenaf thermoset composite products, and government supports. Kenaf plantations were introduced in Malaysia in the last two decades, but have generally not produced much kenaf composite product that has been widely accepted by the public. However, woven kenaf fiber enhances the thermoset composites to a similar degree or better than other natural fibers, especially with respect to impact resistance. Woven kenaf composites have been applied in automotive structural studies in Malaysia, yet they are still far from commercialization. Hence, this review discusses the kenaf fiber woven in Malaysia, thermoset and bio-based thermoset polymers, thermoset composite processing methods and, most importantly, the challenges faced in Malaysia. This review sets guidelines, provides an overview, and shares knowledge as to the potential challenges currently faced by woven kenaf reinforcements in thermoset polymer composites, allowing researchers to shift their interests and plans for conducting future studies on woven kenaf thermoset polymer composites.
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links