Five strains of phytase-producing, gram-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile, small, stout, rod-shaped, strictly anaerobic, fermentative bacteria were isolated from the rumens of cattle in Malaysia. All five strains had morphological, physiological and biochemical features in common. Although these strains had many physiological and biochemical characteristics that were identical to those of the Mitsuokella multacida type strain (ATCC 27723T), they could be distinguished from this species by means of the following characteristics: a smaller cell size (1.2-2.4 microm long and 0.6-0.8 microm wide); a lower final pH value (3.8-4.0) in peptone/yeast extract/glucose broth; inhibition by 0.001% brilliant green; insensitivity to kanamycin (100 microg ml(-1)) and penicillin (10 microg ml(-1)); a higher optimum growth temperature (approx. 42 degrees C); the ability to grow at 45 and 47 degrees C; the ability to ferment glycerol, sorbitol and amidon; and the inability to ferment mannitol, rhamnose, D-tagatose and melezitose. The G+C content of the type strain (M 9T) of these five strains was 56.9 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of type strain M 9T indicated that the strain falls within the genus Mitsuokella. The sequence similarity between type strain M 9T and Mitsuokella multacida was 98.7%. The DNA-DNA relatedness between type strain M 9T and Mitsuokella multacida type strain DSM 20544T (= ATCC 27723T) was 63.8%, indicating that, in spite of a high level of similarity for the 16S rRNA gene sequence, type strain M 9T is independent of Mitsuokella multacida at the species level. On the basis of these results, a new species, Mitsuokella jalaludinii sp. nov., is proposed for these strains. The type strain is M 9T (= DSM 13811T = ATCC BAA-307T).
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of factor V Leiden mutation in Malay women with recurrent spontaneous abortion and to clarify the contribution of the factor V Leiden mutation to recurrent miscarriages in these women.
DESIGN: A prospective case control study between June 1999 and April 2000.
SETTING: Hospital University Science of Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, and Maternal and Child Health Clinic, Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Malaysia.
SAMPLES: A total of 46 Malay women with a history of three or more first or second trimester miscarriages were studied. The control group consisted of 46 parous women without obstetric complications.
METHODS: Diagnosis of factor V Leiden mutation was made by examination of factor V Leiden allele product following Mnl I digestion of factor V Leiden alleles amplified by polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS: None of the 46 women with recurrent spontaneous abortion carried the mutation. Also, we found no subject carrying the factor V Leiden alleles in the control group.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that that there is no association between the factor V Leiden mutation and recurrent spontaneous abortion in the Malay population.
We evaluated the efficacy of supplementation of active Mitsuokella jalaludinii culture (AMJC) on the growth performance, nutrient use, and mineral concentrations in tibia bone and plasma of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal diets. Dietary treatments included low-nonphytate P (NPP) feed (containing 0.24% and 0.232% NPP for chicks from 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively), low-NPP feed added with different levels of AMJC (equivalent to 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 U phytase/kg of feed), and normal-NPP feed (containing 0.46 and 0.354% NPP for chicks from 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively). Supplementation of AMJC to low-NPP feed increased (P < 0.05) weight gain and feed intake and decreased (P < 0.05) feed:gain ratio of chickens during the whole experiment (Days 1 to 42). Supplementation of AMJC increased (P < 0.05) the AME value, digestibility of DM and CP, and retention of P, Ca, and Cu. Mn retention in broilers was only increased (P < 0.05) by AMJC supplementation from 18 to 20 d of age, and Zn retention was improved (P < 0.05) only at a high level of AMJC (equivalent to 1,000 U phytase/kg of feed) supplementation. Chicks fed low-NPP feed added with AMJC had similar tibia ash percentages as those fed the normal-NPP diet. Generally, supplementing AMJC to low-NPP feed increased (P < 0.05) Ca, decreased significantly (P < 0.05) Mn and Cu, but did not affect Zn and P concentrations in tibia ash. Supplementing AMJC also increased (P < 0.05) plasma P but had no effect on plasma Ca or Mn. Plasma Zn concentration was increased only when a high level of AMJC (equivalent to 1,000 U phytase/kg of feed) was used. In conclusion, AMJC supplementation to low-NPP feed improved growth performance; AME value; digestibility of CP and DM; use of Ca, P, and Cu; and bone mineralization.
BACKGROUND: Identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is of major concern in surgery of the thyroid gland. The purpose of this study was to review the surgical anatomy of the nerve and to describe its relationship to other important structures.
METHODS: A total of 325 patients were accrued in this prospective non-randomized study from January 1999 to December 2000. All patients who had total, subtotal and hemithyroidectomies were included in this study. Each side of the thyroid gland was considered as a separate unit in the analysis of the results.
RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy-six patients had thyroidectomies as their primary operation, while 49 patients had them as a reoperative procedure. There were 276 women and 46 men (6:1 female to male ratio) with a mean age of 43.1 years (range: 10-84 years). The total number of dissections was 502. The RLN was clearly identified in 491 (97.8%) dissections: single trunk in 323 dissections (65.8%), two extralaryngeal branches in 164 dissections (33.4%), and three extralaryngeal branches in three dissections (0.6%). One non-recurrent laryngeal nerve was encountered (0.2%) in the series. The proximity of the RLN to the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) was noted in 444 (90.4%) dissections: 372 (83.8%) nerves were described to be posterior and intertwined between the branches of the ITA, and in 72 (16.2%) RLNs, they were observed to be anterior to the ITA. The close association of RLN to an enlarged tubercle of Zuckerkandl was documented in 381 dissections (73.7%). A total of 231 RLNs (60.8%) was seen in the tracheoesophageal groove, 18 (4.9%) nerves were observed to be lateral to the trachea, and in 109 (28.3%), they were posterior in location. Of concern in 23 (6.0%) dissections the RLN was on the anterior surface of the thyroid gland, which is at highest risk of injury before curving down to pass behind the tubercle of Zuckerkandl. It appears that the anterior course of the RLN was seen more often in the reoperative procedures to the thyroid gland (20%).
CONCLUSIONS: Although various methods of localizing the RLN have been described, surgeons should be aware of the variations and have a thorough knowledge of normal anatomy in order to achieve a high standard of care. This will ensure the integrity and safety of the RLN in thyroid surgery. The anatomical variation may be minor in degree, but is of great importance as it may affect the outcome of the surgery and the patient's quality of life.
The effects of pH, temperature, phytate, glucose, phosphate and surfactants on the phytase production of Mitsuokella jalaludinii, a new bacterial species from the rumen of cattle, were evaluated.
The effects of different carbon and nitrogen sources on phytase production by Mitsuokella jalaludinii were evaluated and the optimization of rice bran (RB) and soybean milk (SM) concentrations in the medium for phytase production was also determined.
1. The effects of a mixture of 12 Lactobacillus strains (LC) on the growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, serum lipids and weight of organs of broiler chickens were studied from 1 to 42 d of age. 2. One hundred and thirty-six 1-d-old male broiler chicks were assigned at random to two dietary treatments: a basal diet (control), and a basal diet with 0.1% LC. 3. The supplementation of LC in broiler diets improved the body weight gain and feed conversion rate from 1 to 42 d of age and was effective in reducing abdominal fat deposition but only after 28 d of age. 4. The LC diets reduced serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in broilers from 21 to 42 d of age. However, there was no significant difference in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol between control and LC-fed broilers. There was also no significant difference in the weights of organs of control and LC-fed broilers. 5. The results indicated that the mixture of 12 Lactobacillus strains have a hypolipidaemic effect on broilers.
To determine influenza vaccine effectiveness against clinically defined influenza-like illness among Malaysian pilgrims attending the Haj in Saudi Arabia.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women. There is a marked geographical difference in the worldwide incidence of breast cancer, with a higher incidence in developed countries compared to developing countries. From 1998 to 2001, new cases of breast cancer presenting to the breast clinics at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, were reviewed; the race, age and stage at presentation were analysed. Of 774 cases seen in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, only 5.2% (40/774) were impalpable breast cancers diagnosed on mammography. The prevalent age group was 40 to 49 years, and the median age was 50 years. The average size of the tumour was 5.4 cm in diameter. Malay women appear to have larger tumours and a later stage at presentation than other ethnic groups; 50% to 60% were in late stages (Stages 3 and 4). During the same period, 752 new cases of breast cancer were seen in the University Malaya Medical Centre. The average tumour size was 4.2 cm, and 30% to 40% were in late stages. The age incidence was similar. The delay in presentation of breast cancer was attributed to a strong belief in traditional medicine, the negative perception of the disease, poverty and poor education, coupled with fear and denial. A prospective, population-based study is required to determine the demographic pattern of breast cancer and the factors delaying presentation. These findings will have important implications in future programmes to promote the early detection of breast cancer, as well as in understanding geographical as well as racial variations in the incidence of breast cancer.
This study was designed to investigate the surface properties especially surface porosity of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) using scanning electron microscopy. PHB granules were sprinkled on the double-sided sticky tape attached on a SEM aluminium stub and sputtered with gold(10nm thickness) in a Polaron SC515 Coater, following which the samples were placed into the SEM specimen chamber for viewing and recording. Scanning electron micrographs with different magnification of PHB surface revealed multiple pores with different sizes.
1. Diabetes and hypertension are both associated with an increased risk of renal disease and are associated with neuropathies, which can cause defective autonomic control of major organs including the kidney. This study aimed to examine the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtype(s) involved in mediating adrenergically induced renal vasoconstriction in a rat model of diabetes and hypertension. 2. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 220-280 g, were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone 7-day poststreptozotocin (55 mg x kg(-1) i.p.) treatment. The reductions in renal blood flow (RBF) induced by increasing frequencies of electrical renal nerve stimulation (RNS), close intrarenal bolus doses of noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) or methoxamine were determined before and after administration of nitrendipine (Nit), 5-methylurapidil (5-MeU), chloroethylclonidine (CEC) and BMY 7378. 3. In the nondiabetic SHR group, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 146+/-6 mmHg, RBF was 28.0+/-1.4 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and blood glucose was 112.3+/-4.7 mg x dl(-1), and in the diabetic SHR Group, MAP was 144+/-3 mmHg, RBF 26.9+/-1.3 ml(-1) min x kg(-1) and blood glucose 316.2+/-10.5 mg x dl(-1). Nit, 5-MeU and BMY 7378 blunted all the adrenergically induced renal vasoconstrictor responses in SHR and diabetic SHR by 25-35% (all P<0.05), but in diabetic rats the responses induced by RNS and NA treated with 5-MeU were not changed. By contrast, during the administration of CEC, vasoconstrictor responses to all agonists were enhanced by 20-25% (all P<0.05) in both the SHR and diabetic SHR. 4. These findings suggest that alpha(1A) and alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor subtypes contribute in mediating the adrenergically induced constriction of the renal vasculature in both the SHR and diabetic SHR. There was also an indication of a greater contribution of presynaptic adrenoceptors, that is, alpha(1B)-, and/or alpha(2)-subtypes.
Measurement of prevertebral soft tissue is commonly used to assess prevertebral abnormalities, such as retropharyngeal abscess or injury to the cervical spine. In the presence of goitres, the widened prevertebral tissue seen on plain lateral neck radiograph may be diagnostic of an enlarged tubercle of Zuckerkandl (ZT), which may be responsible for most pressure symptoms. The aim of this study was to substantiate the value of plain lateral neck radiographs in preoperative demonstration of enlarged ZT.
This study was done to determine the prevalence of dental anomalies and facial profile abnormality and its association with the non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) as compared to the non-cleft children. A comparative cross sectional study was conducted where the case group consist of 98 non-syndromic CLP children-unilateral (UCLP) and bilateral (BCLP) who attended the Combined Clinic at Kota Bharu Dental Clinic (KBDC) while the comparison group comprised of 109 non-cleft children who attended the outpatient clinic at KBDC. Their ages were between 3 to 12 years old. Clinical oral and facial profile examinations were carried out to look for dental anomalies (morphology, number and alignment of teeth) and facial profile abnormality. The prevalence of anomalies in morphology of teeth in CLP (24.5%) and non-cleft (10.1%), number of teeth in CLP (44.9%) and non-cleft (7.3%), mal-alignment in CLP (79.6%) and non-cleft (27.5%) and facial profile abnormality in CLP (26.5%) and non-cleft (9.1 %). There was a significant association between CLP and anomalies in morphology, number, mal-alignment and abnormality in facial profile; (p < 0.05). Therefore, there was a high prevalence and risk of dental anomalies and facial profile abnormality in the CLP children compared to the non-cleft children.
Large goitres are common in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa. Nonetheless, large fungating goitres are extremely rare and represent a unique challenge to surgeons. Surgery should always be considered, when the general condition of the patient permits, to provide a better quality of life as it offers the only hope of long-term survival. The potential gain with surgery is that it allows maximum benefit for more effective radioactive iodine ablation and radiotherapy treatment. We report two cases of large fungating thyroid cancers complicated by anaemia and foul-smelling discharge.
Presurgical orthopaedics has been employed since the 1950s as an adjunctive neonatal therapy for the correction of cleft lip and palate. It is accepted that presurgical orthopaedic plates facilitate lip repair and balanced orofacial growth.
Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of beta-glucanase produced by transformed Lactobacillus strains on the intestinal characteristics and feed passage rate of broiler chickens fed barley-based diets. Supplementation of transformed Lactobacillus strains to the diet of chickens significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the intestinal fluid viscosity by 21 to 46% compared with chickens fed an unsupplemented diet or a diet supplemented with parental Lactobacillus strains. The relative weights of pancreas, liver, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, ceca, and colon were reduced (P < 0.05) by 6 to 27%, and the relative length of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and ceca was reduced (P < 0.05) by 8 to 15%. Histological examination of the intestinal tissues showed that the jejunal villus height of chickens fed a diet supplemented with transformed Lactobacillus strains was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of chickens fed other dietary treatments. The transformed Lactobacillus strains were found to reduce (P < 0.05) the time of feed passage rate by 2.2 h. Supplementation of transformed Lactobacillus strains to the diet improved the intestinal characteristics and feed, passage rate of the chickens.
Paediatric minor head injuries (MHI) are just as common in both bigger and smaller towns in Malaysia. Urban-based MHI are due more to motor vehicular injuries compared to rural-based MHI which are mainly due to non-motor vehicular injuries. The main objectives of this study were to compare incidence of admitted patients to accident and emergency departments of hospitals in two different settings in Malaysia, namely: Ipoh (urban-based) and Kota Bharu (rural-based); and to correlate to demographical characteristics, types of accident, clinical signs and symptoms, radiological and computed tomography (CT) findings, management; and finally, to determine clinical predictors of intracranial injury in MHI.
In this study, we assessed the susceptibility of 12 Lactobacillus strains, all of which had been isolated from the gastrointestinal tracts of chicken, to three antibiotics (chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline) used commonly as selective markers in transformation studies of lactic acid bacteria. Among these strains, 17%, 58%, and 25% were found to exhibit a high degree of resistance to 200 microg/ml of tetracycline, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol, respectively. Seven of the 12 Lactobacillus strains exhibiting resistance to at least 50 microg/ml of chloramphenicol or erythromycin, and five strains exhibiting resistance to at least 50 microg/ml of tetracycline, were subsequently subjected to plasmid curing with chemical curing agents, such as novobiocin, acriflavin, SDS, and ethidium bromide. In no cases did the antibiotic resistance of these strains prove to be curable, with the exception of the erythromycin resistance exhibited by five Lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus I16 and I26, L. fermentum I24 and C17, and L. brevis C10). Analysis of the plasmid profiles of these five cured derivatives revealed that all of the derivatives, except for L. acidophilus I16, possessed profiles similar to those of wild-type strains. The curing of L. acidophilus I16 was accompanied by the loss of 4.4 kb, 6.1 kb, and 11.5 kb plasmids.
The effects of beta-glucanase expressed by transformed Lactobacillus strains on growth performance, apparent digestibilities of dry matter and crude protein, and apparent metabolisable energy were studied. Two hundred and forty 1-d-old chicks (Avian-43) were randomly divided into three dietary treatment groups and fed with the following diets: (i) basal diet (control) (BD); (ii) basal diet with parental Lactobacillus strains (BDP) and (iii) basal diet with transformed Lactobacillus strains (BDT). At 21 d of age, the body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the BDT-fed chickens were significantly improved. At 14 and 21 d of age, the proportions of dry matter in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caeca and excreta of chickens given the BDT diet were significantly higher than those of chickens given the BD and BDP diets. Apparent metabolisable energy, digestibilities of crude protein and dry matter were also significantly improved (by 3.5, 5.6 and 3.5%, respectively) by the BDT diet. These results showed that the transformed Lactobacillus strains improved digestibility as well as enhanced the growth performance of chickens.
Enzymatic methods have been used to cleave the C- or N-terminus polyhistidine tags from histidine tagged proteins following expanded bed purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). This study assesses the use of Factor Xa and a genetically engineered exopeptidase dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-1 (DAPase-1) for the removal of C-terminus and N-terminus polyhistidine tags, respectively. Model proteins consisting of maltose binding protein (MBP) having a C- or N-terminal polyhistidine tag were used. Digestion of the hexahistidine tag of MBP-His(6) by Factor Xa and HT15-MBP by DAPase-1 was successful. The time taken to complete the conversion of MBP-His(6) to MBP was 16 h, as judged by SDS-PAGE and Western blots against anti-His antibody. When the detagged protein was purified using subtractive IMAC, the yield was moderate at 71% although the overall recovery was high at 95%. Likewise, a yield of 79% and a recovery of 97% was obtained when digestion was performed with using "on-column" tag digestion. On-column tag digestion involves cleavage of histidine tag from polyhistidine tagged proteins that are still bound to the IMAC column. Digestion of an N-terminal polyhistidine tag from HT15-MBP (1 mg/mL) by the DAPase-I system was superior to the results obtained with Factor Xa with a higher yield and recovery of 99% and 95%, respectively. The digestion by DAPase-I system was faster and was complete at 5 h as opposed to 16 h for Factor Xa. The detagged MBP proteins were isolated from the digestion mixtures using a simple subtractive IMAC column procedure with the detagged protein appearing in the flowthrough and washing fractions while residual dipeptides and DAPase-I (which was engineered to exhibit a poly-His tail) were adsorbed to the column. FPLC analysis using a MonoS cation exchanger was performed to understand and monitor the progress and time course of DAPase-I digestion of HT15-MBP to MBP. Optimization of process variables such as temperature, protein concentration, and enzyme activity was developed for the DAPase-I digesting system on HT15-MBP to MBP. In short, this study proved that the use of either Factor Xa or DAPase-I for the digestion of polyhistidine tags is simple and efficient and can be carried out under mild reaction conditions.