Displaying publications 3741 - 3760 of 8055 in total

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  1. Tan HY, Sieo CC, Lee CM, Abdullah N, Liang JB, Ho YW
    J Microbiol, 2011 Jun;49(3):492-8.
    PMID: 21717338 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-011-0319-7
    Molecular diversity of rumen archaeal populations from bovine rumen fluid incubated with or without condensed tannins was investigated using 16S rRNA gene libraries. The predominant order of rumen archaea in the 16S rRNA gene libraries of the control and condensed tannins treatment was found to belong to a novel group of rumen archaea that is distantly related to the order Thermoplasmatales, with 59.5% (15 phylotypes) and 81.43% (21 phylotypes) of the total clones from the control and treatment clone libraries, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene library of the control was found to have higher proportions of methanogens from the orders Methanomicrobiales (32%) and Methanobacteriales (8.5%) as compared to those found in the condensed tannins treatment clone library in both orders (16.88% and 1.68% respectively). The phylotype distributed in the order Methanosarcinales was only found in the control clone library. The study indicated that condensed tannins could alter the diversity of bovine rumen methanogens.
  2. Ahmad FU, Sattar MA, Rathore HA, Abdullah MH, Tan S, Abdullah NA, et al.
    Ren Fail, 2012;34(2):203-10.
    PMID: 22229751 DOI: 10.3109/0886022X.2011.643365
    The coexistence of hypertension and diabetes results in the rapid development of nephropathy. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is claimed to control the vascular and renal functions. This study tested the hypothesis that exogenous H2S lowers the blood pressure and decreases the progression of nephropathy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) that were diabetic. Eighteen SHR were divided into three groups: SHR, SHR diabetic, and SHR diabetic treated with a group of Wistar-Kyoto rats serving as normotensive nondiabetic control. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) in two groups and one diabetic group received sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a H2S donor for 5 weeks. Blood pressure was measured in conscious and anesthetized states and renal cortical blood perfusion in acute studies. Plasma and urinary H2S levels, creatinine concentrations, and electrolytes were measured on three different occasions throughout the 35-day period. Diabetic SHR had higher blood pressure, lower plasma and urinary H2S levels, and renal dysfunction as evidenced by increased plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance, and decreased urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio and renal cortical blood perfusion. NaHS reduced blood pressure, increased H2S levels in plasma and urinary excretion, and reversed the STZ-induced renal dysfunction. The findings of this study suggest that the administration of exogenous H2S lowers the blood pressure and confers protection against the progression of STZ-induced nephropathy in SHR.
  3. Tan HP, Wong DZ, Ling SK, Chuah CH, Kadir HA
    Fitoterapia, 2012 Jan;83(1):223-9.
    PMID: 22093753 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2011.10.019
    The galloylated cyanogenic glucosides based on prunasin (1-7), gallotannins (8-14), ellagitannins (15-17), ellagic acid derivatives (18, 19) and gallic acid (20) isolated from the leaves of Phyllagathis rotundifolia (Melastomataceae) were investigated for their neuroprotective activity against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidative damage in NG108-15 hybridoma cell line. Among these compounds, the gallotannins and ellagitannins exhibited remarkable neuroprotective activities against oxidative damage in vitro as compared to galloylated cyanogenic glucosides and ellagic acid derivatives in a dose-dependent manner. They could be explored further as potential natural neuroprotectors in various remedies of neurodegenerative diseases.
  4. Lee SH, Ooi SK, Mahadi NM, Tan MW, Nathan S
    PLoS One, 2011;6(3):e16707.
    PMID: 21408228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016707
    Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease of significant morbidity and mortality in both human and animals in endemic areas. Much remains to be known about the contributions of genotypic variations within the bacteria and the host, and environmental factors that lead to the manifestation of the clinical symptoms of melioidosis.
  5. Lau GL, Sieo CC, Tan WS, Hair-Bejo M, Jalila A, Ho YW
    Poult Sci, 2010 Dec;89(12):2589-96.
    PMID: 21076096 DOI: 10.3382/ps.2010-00904
    The efficacy of bacteriophage EC1, a lytic bacteriophage, against Escherichia coli O78:K80, which causes colibacillosis in poultry, was determined in the present study. A total of 480 one-day-old birds were randomly assigned to 4 treatments groups, each with 4 pens of 30 birds. Birds from the control groups (groups I and II) received PBS (pH 7.4) or 10(10) pfu of bacteriophage EC1, respectively. Group III consisted of birds challenged with 10(8) cfu of E. coli O78:K80 and treated with 10(10) pfu of bacteriophage EC1 at 2 h postinfection, whereas birds from group IV were challenged with 10(8) cfu of E. coli O78:K80 only. All the materials were introduced into the birds by intratracheal inoculation. Based on the results of the present study, the infection was found to be less severe in the treated E. coli-challenged group. Mean total viable cell counts of E. coli identified on eosin methylene blue agar (designated EMB + E. coli) in the lungs were significantly lower in treated, E. coli-challenged birds than in untreated, E. coli-challenged birds on d 1 and 2 postinfection. The EMB + E. coli isolation frequency was also lower in treated birds; no E. coli was detectable in blood samples on any sampling day, and E. coli were isolated only in the liver, heart, and spleen of treated chickens at a ratio of 2/6, 1/6, and 3/6, respectively, at d 1 postinfection. The BW of birds from the E. coli-challenged group treated with bacteriophage EC1 were not significantly different from those of birds from both control groups but were 15.4% higher than those of the untreated, E. coli-challenged group on d 21 postinfection. The total mortality rate of birds during the 3-wk experimental period decreased from 83.3% in the untreated, E. coli-challenged birds (group IV) to 13.3% in birds treated with bacteriophage EC1 (group III). These results suggest that bacteriophage EC1 is effective in vivo and could be used to treat colibacillosis in chickens.
  6. Cheong LZ, Tan CP, Long K, Affandi Yusoff MS, Lai OM
    J Sci Food Agric, 2010 Oct;90(13):2310-7.
    PMID: 20661900 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.4088
    Diacylglycerol (DAG), which has health-enhancing properties, is sometimes added to bakery shortening to produce baked products with enhanced physical functionality. Nevertheless, the quantity present is often too little to exert any positive healthful effects. This research aimed to produce bakery shortenings containing significant amounts of palm diacyglycerol (PDG). Physicochemical, textural and viscoelastic properties of the PDG bakery shortenings during 3 months storage were evaluated and compared with those of commercial bakery shortening (CS).
  7. Haerian BS, Lim KS, Tan CT, Raymond AA, Mohamed Z
    Pharmacogenomics, 2011 May;12(5):713-25.
    PMID: 21391884 DOI: 10.2217/pgs.10.212
    Several studies demonstrated a link between ABCB1 gene variants and the response to treatment in epilepsy, but the results have been inconclusive. Here, we performed the first haplotype meta-analysis to examine the association of haplotypes of ABCB1 common variants with the response to treatment in epilepsy.
  8. Tan PC, Khine PP, Sabdin NH, Vallikkannu N, Sulaiman S
    J Ultrasound Med, 2011 Feb;30(2):227-33.
    PMID: 21266561
    OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cervical length changes after membrane sweeping and the effect of cervical shortening on pregnancy outcomes.

    METHODS: Low-risk women at 40 weeks' gestation undergoing membrane sweeping to expedite labor were recruited. Participants were scheduled for labor induction at 41 weeks' gestation. Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed immediately before and after membrane sweeping to measure the cervical length. Three presweep and postsweep cervical lengths were measured. The shortest lengths before and after the sweep were taken as the representative lengths. The effect of membrane sweeping on cervical length was analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of cervical shortening on labor induction and the mode of delivery.

    RESULTS: For the 160 participants, the mean presweep cervical length ± SD was 21.0 ± 10.0 mm; the postsweep length was 23.8 ± 10.9 mm, an average increase of 2.8 ± 0.6 mm (P < .001). Cervical shortening after membrane sweeping was noted in 53 of 160 cases (33%). Cervical shortening was associated with a reduction in all-cause cesarean delivery but not labor induction on bivariate analysis. After adjustment for maternal age, parity, presweep Bishop score, postsweep cervical length, oxytocin augmentation, epidural analgesia, and meconium-stained fluid, cervical shortening after membrane sweeping was independently predictive of a reduction in cesarean deliveries (adjusted odds ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.90; P = .034).

    CONCLUSIONS: Membrane sweeping was associated with lengthening of the cervix. A shortened cervix after sweeping was independently predictive of vaginal delivery.

  9. Azaman SN, Ramakrishnan NR, Tan JS, Rahim RA, Abdullah MP, Ariff AB
    Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2010 Aug;56(4):141-50.
    PMID: 20604747 DOI: 10.1042/BA20100104
    Induction strategies for the periplasmic production of recombinant human IFN-alpha2b (interferon-alpha2b) by recombinant Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami 2(DE3) were optimized in shake-flask cultures using response surface methodology based on the central composite design. The factors included in the present study were induction point, which related to the attenuance of the cell culture, IPTG (isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactoside) concentration and induction temperature. Second-order polynomial models were used to correlate the abovementioned factors to soluble periplasmic IFN-alpha2b formation and percentage of soluble IFN-alpha2b translocated to the periplasmic space of E. coli. The models were found to be significant and subsequently validated. The proposed induction strategies consisted of induction at an attenuance of 4 (measured as D600), IPTG concentration of 0.05 mM and temperature of 25 degrees C. The optimized induction strategy reduced inclusion-body formation as evidenced by electron microscopy and yielded 323.8 ng/ml of IFN-alpha2b in the periplasmic space with translocation of 74% of the total soluble product. In comparison with the non-optimized condition, soluble periplasmic production and the percentage of soluble IFN-alpha2b translocated to the periplasmic space obtained in optimized induction strategies were increased by approx. 20-fold and 1.4-fold respectively.
  10. Edwin Shiaw CS, Shiran MS, Cheah YK, Tan GC, Sabariah AR
    Med J Malaysia, 2010 Jun;65(2):133-7.
    PMID: 23756798 MyJurnal
    This study was done to evaluate various DNA and RNA extractions from archival FFPE tissues. A total of 30 FFPE blocks from the years of 2004 to 2006 were assessed with each modified and adapted method. Extraction protocols evaluated include the modified enzymatic extraction method (Method A), Chelex-100 extraction method (Method B), heat-induced retrieval in alkaline solution extraction method (Methods C and D) and one commercial FFPE DNA Extraction kit (Qiagen, Crawley, UK). For RNA extraction, 2 extraction protocols were evaluated including the enzymatic extraction method (Method 1), and Chelex-100 RNA extraction method (Method 2). Results show that the modified enzymatic extraction method (Method A) is an efficient DNA extraction protocol, while for RNA extraction, the enzymatic method (Method 1) and the Chelex-100 RNA extraction method (Method 2) are equally efficient RNA extraction protocols.
  11. Chew YL, Chan EW, Tan PL, Lim YY, Stanslas J, Goh JK
    PMID: 21306653 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-12
    Many medicinal plants from Leguminosae family can be found easily in Malaysia. These plants have been used as traditional medicines by local ethnic groups, where they are prepared as decoction, pastes for wound infections, and some have been eaten as salad. This paper focused on the assessment of antioxidant potential, antibacterial activity and classes of phytochemicals of nine plants from the Leguminosae family.
  12. Goh KJ, Tian S, Shahrizaila N, Ng CW, Tan CT
    Amyotroph Lateral Scler, 2011 Mar;12(2):124-9.
    PMID: 21039118 DOI: 10.3109/17482968.2010.527986
    Our objective was to determine the survival and prognostic factors of motor neuron disease (MND) in a multi-ethnic cohort of Malaysian patients. All patients seen at a university medical centre between January 2000 and December 2009 had their case records reviewed for demographic, clinical and follow-up data. Mortality data, if unavailable from records, were obtained by telephone interview of relatives or from the national mortality registry. Of the 73 patients, 64.4% were Chinese, 19.2% Malays and 16.4% Indians. Male: female ratio was 1.43: 1. Mean age at onset was 51.5 + 11.3 years. Onset was spinal in 75.3% and bulbar in 24.7% of the patients; 94.5% were ALS and 5.5% were progressive muscular atrophy (PMA). Overall median survival was 44.9 + 5.8 months. Ethnic Indians had shorter interval from symptom onset to diagnosis and shorter median survival compared to non-Indians. On Cox proportional hazards analysis, poor prognostic factors were bulbar onset, shorter interval from symptom onset to diagnosis and worse functional score at presentation. In conclusion, age of onset and median survival duration are similar to previous reports in Asians. Clinical features and prognostic factors are similar to other populations. In our cohort, ethnic Indians had more rapid disease course accounting for their shorter survival.
  13. Tan SJ, Low YY, Choo YM, Abdullah Z, Etoh T, Hayashi M, et al.
    J Nat Prod, 2010 Nov 29;73(11):1891-7.
    PMID: 21043460 DOI: 10.1021/np100552b
    A total of 25 alkaloids were isolated from the leaf and stem-bark extracts of Alstonia spatulata, of which five are new alkaloids of the strychnan type (alstolucines A-E, 1-5) and the other, a new alkaloid of the secoangustilobine A type (alstolobine A, 6). The structures of these alkaloids were established using NMR and MS analysis and, in the case of alstolucine B (2), also confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. A reinvestigation of the stereochemical assignment of scholaricine (13) by NMR and X-ray analyses indicated that the configuration at C-20 required revision. Alkaloids 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 13 reversed multidrug resistance in vincristine-resistant KB cells.
  14. Wong WK, Tan ZN, Lim BH, Mohamed Z, Olivos-Garcia A, Noordin R
    Parasitol Res, 2011 Feb;108(2):425-30.
    PMID: 20922423 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2083-8
    Entamoeba histolytica is the etiologic agent for amoebiasis. The excretory-secretory (ES) products of the trophozoites contain virulence factors and antigens useful for diagnostic applications. Contaminants from serum supplements and dead trophozoites impede analysis of ES. Therefore, a protein-free medium that can sustain maximum viability of E. histolytica trophozoites for the longest time duration will enable collection of contaminant-free and higher yield of ES products. In the present study, we compared the efficacy of four types of media in maintaining ≥ 95% trophozoite viability namely Roswell Memorial Park Institute (RPMI-1640), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), phosphate-buffered saline for amoeba (PBS-A), and Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). Concurrently, the effect of adding L: -cysteine and ascorbic acid (C&A) to each medium on the parasite viability was also compared. DMEM and RPMI 1640 showed higher viabilities as compared to PBS-A and HBSS. Only RPMI 1640 showed no statistical difference with the control medium for the first 4 h, however the ≥ 95% viability was only maintained for the first 2 h. The other protein-free media showed differences from the serum- and vitamin-free TYI-S-33 control media even after 1 h of incubation. When supplemented with C&A, all media were found to sustain higher trophozoite viabilities than those without the supplements. HBSS-C&A, DMEM-C&A, and RPMI 1640-C&A demonstrated no difference (P>0.05) in parasite viabilities when compared with the control medium throughout the 8-h incubation period. DMEM-C&A showed an eightfold increment in time duration of sustaining ≥ 95% parasite viability, i.e. 8 h, as compared to DMEM alone. Both RPMI 1640-C&A and HBSS-C&A revealed fourfold and threefold increments (i.e., 8 and 6 h, respectively), whereas PBS-A-C&A showed only one fold improvement (i.e., 2 h) as compared to the respective media without C&A. Thus, C&A-supplemented DMEM or RPMI are recommended for collection of ES products.
  15. Chook JB, Ngeow YF, Yap SF, Tan TC, Mohamed R
    J Med Virol, 2011 Apr;83(4):594-601.
    PMID: 21328372 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.22016
    Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and high liver iron deposits have both been associated with the development of cirrhosis. Among HBV factors, genotype and mutations in the basal core promoter (BCP) and precore regions have been most frequently studied but the evidence for a positive association with cirrhosis has been inconsistent. In this study, sera from persons with chronic HBV infection with and without cirrhosis were used for whole HBV genome analysis and for the estimation of serum iron marker (serum iron or ferritin) levels. Single codon analysis showed that the precore wild-type, TGG (nt 1,895-1,897), gave the highest accuracy (77.5%) for the identification of cirrhosis compared to other codons. When TGG was analyzed together with the precore start codon wild-type, ATG (nt 1,814-1,816), the accuracy was improved to 80.0% (odds ratio=35.29; 95% confidence interval=3.87-321.93; Phi=0.629; P<0.001). When the serum iron marker was included for analysis, it was clear that a combination of a precore wild-type and high serum iron marker gave a better accuracy (90.0%) (odds ratio=107.67; 95% confidence interval=10.21-1,135.59; Phi=0.804; P<0.001) for the identification of cirrhosis than either biomarker alone. It appeared that a combined use of both these biomarkers might help to predict the development of cirrhosis in a person with chronic HBV infection, but longitudinal studies are required to test this hypothesis.
  16. Yiew SK, Khor LY, Tan ML, Pang CL, Chai VY, Kanachamy SS, et al.
    Obes Res Clin Pract, 2010 Oct-Dec;4(4):e247-342.
    PMID: 24345699 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2010.03.002
    Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are expressed in adipose tissue, where PPARs are nuclear receptors that function as transcription regulators of the expression of UCPs, mitochondria proteins which uncouple protons in exchange of heat released. The PPARα L162V; PPARγ2 C161T; UCP1 -3826A/G; UCP2 45 bp Ins/Del and -866G/A; and UCP3 -55C/T gene polymorphisms have been previously associated with obesity in different populations, but with inconclusive findings. This study was to investigate the prevalence of these gene polymorphisms and their possible association with obesity in a cohort of Malaysian university students in Kuala Lumpur. Random convenience sampling was performed with informed consents and anthropometric measurements were taken. Mouthwash samples were obtained for genomic DNA extraction and genotyping was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Out of the 256 subjects (140 males and 116 females), 170 were lean and 86 were overweight/obese. The mutated PPARα L162V; PPARγ2 C161T; UCP1 -3826A/G; UCP2 45 bp Ins/Del and -866G/A; and UCP3 -55C/T allele frequencies were 0.006, 0.36, 0.58, 0.12, 0.56 and 0.34, respectively. This study failed to find significant differences in the anthropometric indicators of obesity (Body Mass Index, Waist-Hip Ratio and Total Body Fat) between the genotypes of all the PPAR and UCP gene variants. Overall, the genotype and allele distributions were also not significantly different between genders and BMI status. In conclusion, overweight/obesity is not prevalent among the Malaysian university students and the PPAR and UCP gene polymorphisms are not associated with obesity.:
  17. 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.
  18. Ho K, Ang LW, Tan BH, Tang CS, Ooi PL, James L, et al.
    J Infect, 2011 Apr;62(4):263-70.
    PMID: 21315108 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2011.02.001
    OBJECTIVES: We conducted an epidemiological review of the chikungunya fever situation in Singapore and described the measures taken to prevent the chikungunya virus from becoming entrenched in the tropical city-state.
    METHODS: All laboratory-confirmed cases and outbreak investigation reports maintained by the Communicable Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, and Aedes mosquito surveillance data obtained by the National Environment Agency during the period 2006 and 2009 were reviewed and analysed.
    RESULTS: Sporadic cases were imported into Singapore until the first local transmission occurred in an urban area where Aedes aegypti was the predominant vector. Subsequent introduction of a mutant viral strain (A226V) in early 2008 resulted in the rapid spread to suburban and rural areas where Aedes albopictus was the primary vector. 1072 cases including 812 (75.7%) indigenous cases were reported. The main sources of importation were India and Malaysia. Foreign contract workers were identified as high-risk for indigenous infections.
    CONCLUSIONS: The disease was successfully brought under control through aggressive vector control measures directed at A. albopictus. Although the incidence has sharply declined since January 2009, a high degree of vigilance is maintained to prevent a recurrence of epidemic transmission which can occur even with a well-established nationwide mosquito control programme.
  19. Tan LH, Fong MY, Mahmud R, Muslim A, Lau YL, Kamarulzaman A
    Parasitol Int, 2011 Jan;60(1):111-3.
    PMID: 20951228 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.09.010
    Five local Malaysian patients with clinical manifestations consistent with lymphatic filariasis were referred to our medical centre between 2003 and 2006. Although no microfilariae (mf) were detected in their nocturnal blood samples, all were diagnosed to have lymphatic filariasis on the basis of clinical findings and positive serology results. PCR on their blood samples revealed that two of the patients were infected with Brugia pahangi, an animal filarial worm hitherto not known to cause human disease in the natural environment. All the patients were successfully treated with anti-filarial drugs: four patients were treated with a combination of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole, and one with doxycycline. Four of them were residents of Petaling Jaya, a residential suburbia located 10 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur city, Malaysia. The fifth patient was a frequent visitor of the suburbia. This suburbia has no history or record of B. malayi infection. The most likely vector of the worm was Armigeres subalbatus as extensive entomological surveys within the suburbia revealed only adult females of this mosquito species were infected with B. pahangi larvae. Wild monkeys caught in the suburbia were free from B. pahangi mf, but domestic cats were mf positive. This suggests that infected cats might be the source of the zoonotic infection in the suburbia.
  20. Tan SH, Rizman-Idid M, Mohd-Aris E, Kurahashi H, Mohamed Z
    Forensic Sci Int, 2010 Jun 15;199(1-3):43-9.
    PMID: 20392577 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.02.034
    Insect larvae and adult insects found on human corpses provide important clues for the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). Among all necrophagous insects, flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) are considered as carrion flies of forensic importance. DNA variations of 17 Malaysian, two Indonesian and one Japanese flesh fly species are analysed using the mitochondrial COI and COII. These two DNA regions were useful for identifying most species experimented. However, characterisation of the species was not sufficiently made in the case of Sarcophaga javanica. Seventeen Malaysian species of forensic importance were successfully clustered into distinct clades and grouped into the six species groups: peregrina, albiceps, dux, pattoni, princeps and ruficornis. These groups correspond with generic or subgeneric taxa of the subfamily Sarcophaginae: Boettcherisca, Parasarcophaga, Liosarcophaga, Sarcorohdendorfia-Lioproctia, Harpagophalla-Seniorwhitea and Liopygia. The genetic variations found in COI and COII can be applied not only to identify the species of forensic importance, but also to understand the taxonomic positions, generic or subgeneric status, of the sarcophagine species.
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