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  1. Reduction of hexavalent chromium using Aerva lanata L.: elucidation of reduction mechanism and identification of active principles
    Poonkuzhali K, Rajeswari V, Saravanakumar T, Viswanathamurthi P, Park SM, Govarthanan M, et al.
    J Hazard Mater, 2014 May 15;272:89-95.
    PMID: 24681590 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.03.001
    The effluent discharge treatment for controlling the environment from non biodegradable metal contaminants using plant extract is an efficient technique. The reduction of hexavalent chromium by abundantly available weed, Aerva lanata L. was investigated using batch equilibrium technique. The variables studied were Cr(VI) concentration, Aerva lanata L. dose, contact time, pH, temperature and agitation speed. Cyclic voltammetry and ICP-MS analysis confirmed the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Electrochemical analysis proved that, the chromium has not been degraded and the valency of the chromium has only been changed. ICP-MS analysis shows that 100ng/L of hexavalent chromium was reduced to 97.01ng/L trivalent chromium. These results suggest that components present in the Aerva lanata L. are responsible for the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The prime components ferulic acid, kaempherol and β-carboline present in the Aerva lanata L. may be responsible for the reduction of Cr(VI) as evident from LC-MS analysis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Spectrometry/methods; Water Purification/methods
  2. A physicochemical investigation of membrane fouling in cold microfiltration of skim milk
    Tan TJ, Wang D, Moraru CI
    J Dairy Sci, 2014;97(8):4759-71.
    PMID: 24881794 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-7957
    The main challenge in microfiltration (MF) is membrane fouling, which leads to a significant decline in permeate flux and a change in membrane selectivity over time. This work aims to elucidate the mechanisms of membrane fouling in cold MF of skim milk by identifying and quantifying the proteins and minerals involved in external and internal membrane fouling. Microfiltration was conducted using a 1.4-μm ceramic membrane, at a temperature of 6±1°C, cross-flow velocity of 6m/s, and transmembrane pressure of 159kPa, for 90min. Internal and external foulants were extracted from a ceramic membrane both after a brief contact between the membrane and skim milk, to evaluate instantaneous adsorption of foulants, and after MF. Four foulant streams were collected: weakly attached external foulants, weakly attached internal foulants, strongly attached external foulants, and strongly attached internal foulants. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed that all major milk proteins were present in all foulant streams. Proteins did appear to be the major cause of membrane fouling. Proteomics analysis of the foulants indicated elevated levels of serum proteins as compared with milk in the foulant fractions collected from the adsorption study. Caseins were preferentially introduced into the fouling layer during MF, when transmembrane pressure was applied, as confirmed both by proteomics and mineral analyses. The knowledge generated in this study advances the understanding of fouling mechanisms in cold MF of skim milk and can be used to identify solutions for minimizing membrane fouling and increasing the efficiency of milk MF.
    Matched MeSH terms: Filtration/methods*; Proteomics/methods
  3. Fulltext Production and characterization of a polyclonal antibody of anti-rLipL21-IgG against leptospira for early detection of acute leptospirosis
    Seenichamy A, Bahaman AR, Mutalib AR, Khairani-Bejo S
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:592858.
    PMID: 24860824 DOI: 10.1155/2014/592858
    Leptospirosis is one of the zoonotic diseases in animals and humans throughout the world. LipL21 is one of the important surface-exposed lipoproteins in leptospires and the most effective cross protective immunogenic antigen. It is widely considered as a diagnostic marker for leptospirosis. In this study, we evaluated the serodiagnostic potential of LipL21 protein of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona. We have successfully amplified, cloned, and expressed LipL21 in E. coli and evaluated its specificity by immunoblotting. Purified recombinant LipL21 (rLipL21) was inoculated into rabbits for the production of polyclonal antibody. Characterization of the purified IgG antibody against rLipL21 was performed by cross reactivity assay. Only sera from leptospirosis patients and rabbit hyperimmune sera recognized rLipL21 while the nonleptospirosis control sera showed no reaction in immunoblotting. We confirmed that anti-rLipL21-IgG antibody cross reacted with and detected only pathogenic leptospiral species and it did not react with nonpathogenic leptospires and other bacterial species. Results observed showed that anti-rLipL21-IgG antibody has high specificity and sensitivity to leptospires. The findings indicated that the antibody could be used in a diagnostic assay for detection of leptospires or their proteins in the early phase of infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Immunoassay/methods; Serologic Tests/methods
  4. Fulltext Comparative performance of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for screening antepartum depression
    Zhong Q, Gelaye B, Rondon M, Sánchez SE, García PJ, Sánchez E, et al.
    J Affect Disord, 2014 Jun;162:1-7.
    PMID: 24766996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.03.028
    OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of two widely used screening scales: the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) among pregnant Peruvian women.
    METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1517 women receiving prenatal care from February 2012 to March 2013. A structured interview was used to collect data using PHQ-9 and EPDS. We examined reliability, construct and concurrent validity between two scales using internal consistency indices, factor structures, correlations, and Cohen׳s kappa.
    RESULTS: Both scales had good internal consistency (Cronbach׳s alpha>0.8). Correlation between PHQ-9 and EPDS scores was fair (rho=0.52). Based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA), both scales yielded a two-factor structure. EFA including all items from PHQ-9 and EPDS yielded four factors, namely, "somatization", "depression and suicidal ideation", "anxiety and depression", and "anhedonia". The agreement between the two scales was generally fair at different cutoff scores with the highest Cohen׳s kappa being 0.46.
    CONCLUSIONS: Both the PHQ-9 and EPDS are reliable and valid scales for antepartum depression assessment. The PHQ-9 captures somatic symptoms, while EPDS detects depressive symptoms comorbid with anxiety during early pregnancy. Our findings suggest simultaneous administration of both scales may improve identification of antepartum depressive disorders in clinical settings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Screening/methods*; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods*
  5. Current aspects in immunosensors
    Gopinath SC, Tang TH, Citartan M, Chen Y, Lakshmipriya T
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2014 Jul 15;57:292-302.
    PMID: 24607580 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.02.029
    Sensing applications can be used to report biomolecular interactions in order to elucidate the functions of molecules. The use of an analyte and a ligand is a common set-up in sensor development. For several decades, antibodies have been considered to be potential analytes or ligands for development of so-called "immunosensors." In an immunosensor, formation of the complex between antibody and antigen transduces the signal, which is measurable in various ways (e.g., both labeled and label-free based detection). Success of an immunosensor depends on various factors, including surface functionalization, antibody orientation, density of the antibody on the sensor platform, and configuration of the immunosensor. Careful optimization of these factors can generate clear-cut results for any immunosensor. Herein, current aspects, involved in the generated immunosensors, are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Immunoassay/methods; Biosensing Techniques/methods
  6. Fulltext Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for acute muscle injury: a systematic review
    Hamid MS, Yusof A, Mohamed Ali MR
    PLoS One, 2014;9(2):e90538.
    PMID: 24587389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090538
    INTRODUCTION: Acute muscle injury is one of the commonest injuries that often result in loss of training and competition time. The best management for muscle injury has not been identified. Sports medicine practitioners used several approaches in attempt to accelerate time to recovery from muscle injury. More recently growing interest focussed on autologous blood product injection.
    METHODS: A literature search was conducted systematically using OvidMEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus and CINAHL databases to retrieve articles published until December 2012. Controlled trials and controlled laboratory studies comparing different strategies to promote early recovery of muscle injury were included. The methodological quality of studies was assessed.
    RESULTS: There are limited studies on the effects of PRP therapy for muscle injury. Three in vivo laboratory studies and one pilot human study were reviewed. The laboratory studies reported histological evidence on significant acceleration of muscle healing in animals treated with autologous conditioned serum (ACS), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet rich fibrin matrix (PRFM). A pilot human study found athletes treated with repeated ACS injection recovers significantly faster than retrospective controls.
    CONCLUSION: Several in vivo laboratory studies suggest beneficial effects of ACS, PRP and PRFM in accelerating muscle recovery. Evidence to suggest similar effects on humans is however limited, as valuable information from robust human controlled trials is still not available at this moment. Hence, more studies of satisfactory methodological quality with platelet-rich plasma interventions on muscle injury are justified.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sports Medicine/methods; Platelet Transfusion/methods
  7. Fulltext Evaluation of three rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of human infections with Plasmodium knowlesi
    Foster D, Cox-Singh J, Mohamad DS, Krishna S, Chin PP, Singh B
    Malar J, 2014;13:60.
    PMID: 24548805 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-60
    Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite of Southeast Asian macaques, infects humans and can cause fatal malaria. It is difficult to diagnose by microscopy because of morphological similarity to Plasmodium malariae. Nested PCR assay is the most accurate method to distinguish P. knowlesi from other Plasmodium species but is not cost effective in resource-poor settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are recommended for settings where malaria is prevalent. In this study, the effectiveness of three RDTs in detecting P. knowlesi from fresh and frozen patient blood samples was evaluated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*; Parasitology/methods*
  8. The use of sonication treatment to decellularize aortic tissues for preparation of bioscaffolds
    Azhim A, Syazwani N, Morimoto Y, Furukawa KS, Ushida T
    J Biomater Appl, 2014 Jul;29(1):130-41.
    PMID: 24384523 DOI: 10.1177/0885328213517579
    A novel decellularization method using sonication treatment is described. Sonication treatment is the combination of physical and chemical agents. These methods will disrupt cell membrane and release cell contents to external environments. The cell removal was facilitated by subsequent rinsing of sodium dodecyl sulfate detergents. Sonication treatment is used in the preparation of complete decellularized bioscaffolds. The aim of this study is to confirm the usefulness of sonication treatment for preparation of biological scaffolds. In this study, samples of aortic tissues are decellularized by sonication treatment at frequency of 170 kHz in 0.1% and 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate detergents for 10-h treatment time. The relation between decellularization and sonication parameters such as dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, and pH is investigated. Histological analysis and biomechanical testing is performed to evaluate cell removal efficiency as well as changes in biomechanical properties. Minimal inflammation response elicit by bioscaffolds is confirmed by xenogeneic implantation and immunohistochemistry. Sonication treatment is able to produce complete decellularized tissue suggesting that these treatments could be applied widely as one of the decellularization method.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sonication/methods*; Tissue Engineering/methods*
  9. Fulltext Automated bone age assessment: motivation, taxonomies, and challenges
    Mansourvar M, Ismail MA, Herawan T, Raj RG, Kareem SA, Nasaruddin FH
    Comput Math Methods Med, 2013;2013:391626.
    PMID: 24454534 DOI: 10.1155/2013/391626
    Bone age assessment (BAA) of unknown people is one of the most important topics in clinical procedure for evaluation of biological maturity of children. BAA is performed usually by comparing an X-ray of left hand wrist with an atlas of known sample bones. Recently, BAA has gained remarkable ground from academia and medicine. Manual methods of BAA are time-consuming and prone to observer variability. This is a motivation for developing automated methods of BAA. However, there is considerable research on the automated assessment, much of which are still in the experimental stage. This survey provides taxonomy of automated BAA approaches and discusses the challenges. Finally, we present suggestions for future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Age Determination by Skeleton/methods*; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods*
  10. Fulltext Authentication of Nigella sativa seed oil in binary and ternary mixtures with corn oil and soybean oil using FTIR spectroscopy coupled with partial least square
    Rohman A, Ariani R
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:740142.
    PMID: 24319381 DOI: 10.1155/2013/740142
    Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with multivariate calibration of partial least square (PLS) was developed and optimized for the analysis of Nigella seed oil (NSO) in binary and ternary mixtures with corn oil (CO) and soybean oil (SO). Based on PLS modeling performed, quantitative analysis of NSO in binary mixtures with CO carried out using the second derivative FTIR spectra at combined frequencies of 2977-3028, 1666-1739, and 740-1446 cm(-1) revealed the highest value of coefficient of determination (R (2), 0.9984) and the lowest value of root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC, 1.34% v/v). NSO in binary mixtures with SO is successfully determined at the combined frequencies of 2985-3024 and 752-1755 cm(-1) using the first derivative FTIR spectra with R (2) and RMSEC values of 0.9970 and 0.47% v/v, respectively. Meanwhile, the second derivative FTIR spectra at the combined frequencies of 2977-3028 cm(-1), 1666-1739 cm(-1), and 740-1446 cm(-1) were selected for quantitative analysis of NSO in ternary mixture with CO and SO with R (2) and RMSEC values of 0.9993 and 0.86% v/v, respectively. The results showed that FTIR spectrophotometry is an accurate technique for the quantitative analysis of NSO in binary and ternary mixtures with CO and SO.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Analysis/methods*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared/methods*
  11. Effect of mindfulness meditation on brain-computer interface performance
    Tan LF, Dienes Z, Jansari A, Goh SY
    Conscious Cogn, 2014 Jan;23:12-21.
    PMID: 24275085 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2013.10.010
    Electroencephalogram based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable stroke and motor neuron disease patients to communicate and control devices. Mindfulness meditation has been claimed to enhance metacognitive regulation. The current study explores whether mindfulness meditation training can thus improve the performance of BCI users. To eliminate the possibility of expectation of improvement influencing the results, we introduced a music training condition. A norming study found that both meditation and music interventions elicited clear expectations for improvement on the BCI task, with the strength of expectation being closely matched. In the main 12 week intervention study, seventy-six healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups: a meditation training group; a music training group; and a no treatment control group. The mindfulness meditation training group obtained a significantly higher BCI accuracy compared to both the music training and no-treatment control groups after the intervention, indicating effects of meditation above and beyond expectancy effects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Electroencephalography/methods; Mindfulness/methods*
  12. Determination of polar aromatic amines using newly synthesized sol-gel titanium (IV) butoxide cyanopropyltriethoxysilane as solid phase extraction sorbent
    Miskam M, Abu Bakar NK, Mohamad S
    Talanta, 2014 Mar;120:450-5.
    PMID: 24468395 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.12.037
    A solid phase extraction (SPE) method has been developed using a newly synthesized titanium (IV) butoxide-cyanopropyltriethoxysilane (Ti-CNPrTEOS) sorbent for polar selective extraction of aromatic amines in river water sample. The effect of different parameters on the extraction recovery was studied using the SPE method. The applicability of the sorbents for the extraction of polar aromatic amines by the SPE was extensively studied and evaluated as a function of pH, conditioning solvent, sample loading volume, elution solvent and elution solvent volume. The optimum experimental conditions were sample at pH 7, dichloromethane as conditioning solvent, 10 mL sample loading volume and 5 mL of acetonitrile as the eluting solvent. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for solid phase extraction using Ti-CNPrTEOS SPE sorbent (0.01-0.2; 0.03-0.61 µg L(-1)) were lower compared with those achieved using Si-CN SPE sorbent (0.25-1.50; 1.96-3.59 µg L(-1)) and C18 SPE sorbent (0.37-0.98; 1.87-2.87 µg L(-1)) with higher selectivity towards the extraction of polar aromatic amines. The optimized procedure was successfully applied for the solid phase extraction method of selected aromatic amines in river water, waste water and tap water samples prior to the gas chromatography-flame ionization detector separation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chromatography, Gas/methods; Solid Phase Extraction/methods*
  13. Vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of furfurals and patulin in fruit juices
    Abu-Bakar NB, Makahleh A, Saad B
    Talanta, 2014 Mar;120:47-54.
    PMID: 24468341 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.11.081
    A fast and simple solvent microextraction technique using salting out-vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (salting out-VALLME) was developed for the extraction of furfurals (2-furfural (2-F), 3-furfural (3-F), 5-methylfurfural (5-MF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF)) and patulin (PAT) in fruit juice samples. The optimum extraction conditions for 5 mL sample were: extraction solvent, 1-hexanol; volume of extractant, 200 µL; vortex time, 45 s; salt addition, 20%. The simultaneous determination of the furfurals and PAT were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The separation was performed using ODS Hypersil C18 column (4.6 mm i.d × 250 mm, 5 μm) under gradient elution. The detection wavelengths used for all compounds were 280 nm except for 3-F (210 nm). The furfurals and PAT were successfully separated in less than 9 min. Good linearities (r(2)>0.99) were obtained within the range 1-5000 μg L(-1) for all compounds except for 3-F (10-5000 µg L(-1)) and PAT (0.5-100 μg L(-1)). The limits of detection (0.28-3.2 µg L(-1)) were estimated at S/N ratio of 3. The validated salting out-VALLME-HPLC method was applied for the analysis of furfurals and PAT in fruit juice samples (apple, mango and grape).
    Matched MeSH terms: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods; Liquid Phase Microextraction/methods*
  14. Current approaches in antiviral drug discovery against the Flaviviridae family
    Baharuddin A, Hassan AA, Sheng GC, Nasir SB, Othman S, Yusof R, et al.
    Curr Pharm Des, 2014;20(21):3428-44.
    PMID: 24001228
    Viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family primarily spread through arthropod vectors, and are the major causes of illness and death around the globe. The Flaviviridae family consists of 3 genera which include the Flavivirus genus (type species, yellow fever virus) as the largest genus, the Hepacivirus (type species, hepatitis C virus) and the Pestivirus (type species, bovine virus diarrhea). The flaviviruses (Flavivirus genus) are small RNA viruses transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks that take over host cell machinery in order to propagate. However, hepaciviruses and pestiviruses are not antropod-borne. Despite the extensive research and public health concern associated with flavivirus diseases, to date, there is no specific treatment available for any flavivirus infections, though commercially available vaccines for yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and tick-born encephalitis exist. Due to the global threat of viral pandemics, there is an urgent need for new drugs. In many countries, patients with severe cases of flavivirus infections are treated only by supportive care, which includes intravenous fluids, hospitalization, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections. This review discusses the strategies used towards the discovery of antiviral drugs, focusing on rational drug design against Dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus (WNV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Yellow Fever virus (YFV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Only modified peptidic, nonpeptidic, natural compounds and fragment-based inhibitors (typically of mass less than 300 Da) against structural and non-structural proteins are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Discovery/methods*; Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods
  15. Fulltext Robot-assisted radiofrequency ablation of primary and secondary liver tumours: early experience
    Abdullah BJ, Yeong CH, Goh KL, Yoong BK, Ho GF, Yim CC, et al.
    Eur Radiol, 2014 Jan;24(1):79-85.
    PMID: 23928933 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-013-2979-7
    OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography (CT)-compatible robots, both commercial and research-based, have been developed with the intention of increasing the accuracy of needle placement and potentially improving the outcomes of therapies in addition to reducing clinical staff and patient exposure to radiation during CT fluoroscopy. In the case of highly inaccessible lesions that require multiple plane angulations, robotically assisted needles may improve biopsy access and targeted drug delivery therapy by avoidance of the straight line path of normal linear needles.

    METHODS: We report our preliminary experience of performing radiofrequency ablation of the liver using a robotic-assisted CT guidance system on 11 patients (17 lesions).

    RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted planning and needle placement appears to have high accuracy, is technically easier than the non-robotic-assisted procedure, and involves a significantly lower radiation dose to both patient and support staff.

    KEY POINTS: • An early experience of robotic-assisted radiofrequency ablation is reported • Robotic-assisted RFA improves accuracy of hepatic lesion targeting • Robotic-assisted RFA makes the procedure technically easier with significant lower radiation dose.

    Matched MeSH terms: Catheter Ablation/methods*; Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods*
  16. Gelsolin and ceruloplasmin as potential predictive biomarkers for cervical cancer by 2D-DIGE proteomics analysis
    Lokamani I, Looi ML, Md Ali SA, Mohd Dali AZ, Ahmad Annuar MA, Jamal R
    Pathol Oncol Res, 2014 Jan;20(1):119-29.
    PMID: 23925487 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-013-9670-9
    This study aimed to identify candidate proteins which may serve as potential biological markers for cervical cancer using 2D-DIGE. Serum samples of controls, patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3), squamous cell carcinoma of early (SCC I and II) and late (SCC III and IV) stage were subjected to 2D-DIGE. Differentially expressed spots were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Validation of candidate proteins in serum and tissue samples were then performed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis respectively. A total of 20 differentially expressed proteins were identified. These proteins were found to play key roles in the apoptosis pathway, complement system, various types of transportation such as hormones, fatty acids, lipid, vitamin E and drug transportation, coagulation cascade, regulation of iron and immunologic response. Based on their functional relevancy to the progression of various cancers, 4 proteins namely the complement factor H, CD5-like antigen, gelsolin and ceruloplasmin were chosen for further validation using ELISA. Biological network analysis showed that ceruloplasmin and gelsolin are closely interacted with the oncogene NF-κb. These two proteins were further validated using the IHC. Gelsolin and ceruloplasmin may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for the progression of high grade lesions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Proteomics/methods; Two-Dimensional Difference Gel Electrophoresis/methods
  17. Evaluation of serological transfusion-transmitted viral diseases and mutliplex nucleic acid testing in malaysian blood donors
    Yaseen SG, Ahmed SA, Johan MF, Kiron R, Daher AM
    Transfus Apher Sci, 2013 Dec;49(3):647-51.
    PMID: 23890575 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2013.07.003
    Transmission of infectious diseases is a recognized complication of blood transfusion and blood products. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) may contribute to improved efficiency of blood screening and thereby increase the safety margin for transfused blood.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Transfusion/methods*; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods*
  18. Extraction agents for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil in soil washing technologies
    Lau EV, Gan S, Ng HK, Poh PE
    Environ Pollut, 2014 Jan;184:640-9.
    PMID: 24100092 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.09.010
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil have been recognised as a serious health and environmental issue due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. One of the commonly employed soil remediation techniques to clean up such contamination is soil washing or solvent extraction. The main factor which governs the efficiency of this process is the solubility of PAHs in the extraction agent. Past field-scale soil washing treatments for PAH-contaminated soil have mainly employed organic solvents or water which is either toxic and costly or inefficient in removing higher molecular weight PAHs. Thus, the present article aims to provide a review and discussion of the alternative extraction agents that have been studied, including surfactants, biosurfactants, microemulsions, natural surfactants, cyclodextrins, vegetable oil and solution with solid phase particles. These extraction agents have been found to remove PAHs from soil at percentages ranging from 47 to 100% for various PAHs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chemical Fractionation/methods; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods*
  19. Fulltext Sandstorm appearance of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis incidentally detected in a young, asymptomatic male
    Ch'ng LS, Bux SI, Liam CK, Rahman NA, Ho CY
    Korean J Radiol, 2013 Sep-Oct;14(5):859-62.
    PMID: 24043987 DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2013.14.5.859
    Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare chronic disease with paucity of symptoms in contrast to the imaging findings. We present a case of a 24-year-old Malay man having an incidental abnormal pre-employment chest radiograph of dense micronodular opacities giving the classical "sandstorm" appearance. High-resolution computed tomography of the lungs showed microcalcifications with subpleural cystic changes. Open lung biopsy showed calcospherites within the alveolar spaces. The radiological and histopathological findings were characteristic of PAM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods
  20. Real-time polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis and quantitation of negative strand of chikungunya virus
    Chiam CW, Chan YF, Loong SK, Yong SS, Hooi PS, Sam IC
    Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 2013 Oct;77(2):133-7.
    PMID: 23886793 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.06.018
    Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is useful for diagnosis and studying virus replication. We developed positive- and negative-strand qRT-PCR assays to detect nsP3 of chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a positive-strand RNA alphavirus that causes epidemic fever, rash, and arthritis. The positive- and negative-strand qRT-PCR assays had limits of quantification of 1 and 3 log10 RNA copies/reaction, respectively. Compared to a published E1 diagnostic assay using 30 laboratory-confirmed clinical samples, the positive-strand nsP3 qRT-PCR assay had higher R(2) and efficiency and detected more positive samples. Peak viral load of 12.9 log(10) RNA copies/mL was reached on day 2 of illness, and RNA was detectable up to day 9, even in the presence of anti-CHIKV IgM. There was no correlation between viral load and persistent arthralgia. The positive-strand nsP3 assay is suitable for diagnosis, while the negative-strand nsP3 assay, which uses tagged primers to increase specificity, is useful for study of active viral replication kinetics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Virology/methods; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*
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