Displaying publications 21 - 36 of 36 in total

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  1. Chahil JK, Munretnam K, Samsudin N, Lye SH, Hashim NA, Ramzi NH, et al.
    Indian J Clin Biochem, 2015 Apr;30(2):134-9.
    PMID: 25883419 DOI: 10.1007/s12291-013-0414-0
    Genome-wide association studies have discovered multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the risk of common diseases. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the replication of previously published SNPs that showed statistical significance for breast cancer in the Malaysian population. In this case-control study, 80 subjects for each group were recruited from various hospitals in Malaysia. A total of 768 SNPs were genotyped and analyzed to distinguish risk and protective alleles. A total of three SNPs were found to be associated with increased risk of breast cancer while six SNPs showed protective effect. All nine were statistically significant SNPs (p ≤ 0.01), five SNPs from previous studies were successfully replicated in our study. Significant modifiable (diet) and non-modifiable (family history of breast cancer in first degree relative) risk factors were also observed. We identified nine SNPs from this study to be either conferring susceptibility or protection to breast cancer which may serve as potential markers in risk prediction.
  2. Amir Hashim NA, Ab-Rahim S, Wan Ngah WZ, Nathan S, Ab Mutalib NS, Sagap I, et al.
    Bioimpacts, 2021;11(1):33-43.
    PMID: 33469506 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2021.05
    Introduction:
    The serum metabolomics approach has been used to identify metabolite biomarkers that can diagnose colorectal cancer (CRC) accurately and specifically. However, the biomarkers identified differ between studies suggesting that more studies need to be performed to understand the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, this study aimed to identify biomarkers and affected metabolic pathways in Malaysian CRC patients.
    Methods:
    Serum from 50 healthy controls and 50 CRC patients were collected at UKM Medical Centre. The samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile and untargeted metabolomics profile determined using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOFMS, Agilent USA). The data were analysed using Mass Profiler Professional (Agilent, USA) software. The panel of biomarkers determined were then used to identify CRC from a new set of 20 matched samples.
    Results:
    Eleven differential metabolites were identified whose levels were significantly different between CRC patients compared to normal controls. Based on the analysis of the area under the curve, 7 of these metabolites showed high sensitivity and specificity as biomarkers. The use of the 11 metabolites on a new set of samples was able to differentiate CRC from normal samples with 80% accuracy. These metabolites were hypoxanthine, acetylcarnitine, xanthine, uric acid, tyrosine, methionine, lysoPC, lysoPE, citric acid, 5-oxoproline, and pipercolic acid. The data also showed that the most perturbed pathways in CRC were purine, catecholamine, and amino acid metabolisms.
    Conclusion:
    Serum metabolomics profiling can be used to identify distinguishing biomarkers for CRC as well as to further our knowledge of its pathophysiological mechanisms.
  3. Aljumaily MM, Alsaadi MA, Binti Hashim NA, Mjalli FS, Alsalhy QF, Khan AL, et al.
    Biotechnol Prog, 2020 05;36(3):e2963.
    PMID: 31943942 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2963
    To overcome the biofouling challenge which faces membrane water treatment processed, the novel superhydrophobic carbon nanomaterials impregnated on/powder activated carbon (CNMs/PAC) was utilized to successfully design prepare an antimicrobial membrane. The research was conducted following a systematic statistical design of experiments technique considering various parameters of composite membrane fabrication. The impact of these parameters of composite membrane on Staphylococcus aureus growth was investigated. The bacteria growth was analyzed through spectrophotometer and SEM. The effect of CNMs' hydrophobicity on the bacterial colonies revealed a decrease in the abundance of bacterial colonies and an alteration in structure with increasing the hydrophobicity. The results revealed that the optimum preparative conditions for carbon loading CNMs/PAC was 363.04 mg with a polymer concentration of 22.64 g/100 g, and a casting knife thickness of 133.91 μm. These conditions have resulted in decreasing the number of bacteria colonies to about 7.56 CFU. Our results provided a strong evidence on the antibacterial effect and consequently on the antibiofouling potential of CNMs/PAC in membrane.
  4. Hasan SW, Said SM, Sabri MF, Bakar AS, Hashim NA, Hasnan MM, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2016 07 06;6:29328.
    PMID: 27381946 DOI: 10.1038/srep29328
    Thermo-Electrochemical cells (Thermocells/TECs) transform thermal energy into electricity by means of electrochemical potential disequilibrium between electrodes induced by a temperature gradient (ΔT). Heat conduction across the terminals of the cell is one of the primary reasons for device inefficiency. Herein, we embed Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) (PVDF) membrane in thermocells to mitigate the heat transfer effects - we refer to these membrane-thermocells as MTECs. At a ΔT of 12 K, an improvement in the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the TEC from 1.3 mV to 2.8 mV is obtained by employment of the membrane. The PVDF membrane is employed at three different locations between the electrodes i.e. x = 2 mm, 5 mm, and 8 mm where 'x' defines the distance between the cathode and PVDF membrane. We found that the membrane position at x = 5 mm achieves the closest internal ∆T (i.e. 8.8 K) to the externally applied ΔT of 10 K and corresponding power density is 254 nWcm(-2); 78% higher than the conventional TEC. Finally, a thermal resistivity model based on infrared thermography explains mass and heat transfer within the thermocells.
  5. Dieng H, The CC, Satho T, Miake F, Wydiamala E, Kassim NFA, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2019 Jun;194:93-99.
    PMID: 30922800 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.03.027
    Sound and its reception are crucial for reproduction, survival, and population maintenance of many animals. In insects, low-frequency vibrations facilitate sexual interactions, whereas noise disrupts the perception of signals from conspecifics and hosts. Despite evidence that mosquitoes respond to sound frequencies beyond fundamental ranges, including songs, and that males and females need to struggle to harmonize their flight tones, the behavioral impacts of music as control targets remain unexplored. In this study, we examined the effects of electronic music (Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites by Skrillex) on foraging, host attack, and sexual activities of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Adults were presented with two sound environments (music-off or music-on). Discrepancies in visitation, blood feeding, and copulation patterns were compared between environments with and without music. Ae. aegypti females maintained in the music-off environment initiated host visits earlier than those in the music-on environment. They visited the host significantly less often in the music-on than the music-off condition. Females exposed to music attacked hosts much later than their non-exposed peers. The occurrence of blood feeding activity was lower when music was being played. Adults exposed to music copulated far less often than their counterparts kept in an environment where there was no music. In addition to providing insight into the auditory sensitivity of Ae. aegypti to sound, our results indicated the vulnerability of its key vectorial capacity traits to electronic music. The observation that such music can delay host attack, reduce blood feeding, and disrupt mating provides new avenues for the development of music-based personal protective and control measures against Aedes-borne diseases.
  6. Almansoori S, Alsters SI, Yiorkas AM, Nor Hashim NA, Walters RG, Chahal HS, et al.
    Int J Obes (Lond), 2024 Jan 31.
    PMID: 38297031 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01476-9
    BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The genetic architecture of extreme non-syndromic obesity in adults remains to be elucidated. A range of genes are known to cause monogenic obesity, but even when pathogenic mutations are present, there may be variable penetrance.

    METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was carried out on a 15-year-old male proband of Pakistani ancestry who had severe obesity. This was followed by family segregation analysis, using Sanger sequencing. We also undertook re-analysis of WES data from 91 unrelated adults with severe obesity (86% white European ancestry) from the Personalised Medicine for Morbid Obesity (PMMO) cohort, recruited from the UK National Health Service.

    RESULTS: We identified an oligogenic mode of inheritance of obesity in the proband's family-this provided the impetus to reanalyze existing sequence data in a separate dataset. Analysis of PMMO participant data revealed two further patients who carried more than one rare, predicted-deleterious mutation in a known monogenic obesity gene. In all three cases, the genes involved had known autosomal dominant inheritance, with incomplete penetrance.

    CONCLUSION: Oligogenic inheritance may explain some of the variable penetrance in Mendelian forms of obesity. We caution clinicians and researchers to avoid confining sequence analysis to individual genes and, in particular, not to stop looking when the first potentially-causative mutation is found.

  7. Velapasamy S, Alex L, Chahil JK, Lye SH, Munretnam K, Hashim NA, et al.
    Genet Test Mol Biomarkers, 2013 Jan;17(1):62-8.
    PMID: 23113749 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2012.0223
    The identification of high-risk individuals can help to improve early cancer detection and patient survival. Risk assessment, however, can only be accomplished if the risk factors are known. To date, the genetic risk factors for ovarian cancer, other than mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes, have never been systematically explored in Malaysia. The present study aims to identify from a panel of cancer-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), those associated with ovarian cancer risk in Malaysia.
  8. Ahmad Ruzaidi DA, Mahat MM, Mohamed Sofian Z, Nor Hashim NA, Osman H, Nawawi MA, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Aug 28;13(17).
    PMID: 34502941 DOI: 10.3390/polym13172901
    Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of electro-conductive chitosan-gelatin-agar (Cs-Gel-Agar) based PEDOT: PSS hydrogels for tissue engineering. Cs-Gel-Agar porous hydrogels with 0-2.0% (v/v) PEDOT: PSS were fabricated using a thermal reverse casting method where low melting agarose served as the pore template. Sample characterizations were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Our results showed enhanced electrical conductivity of the cs-gel-agar hydrogels when mixed with DMSO-doped PEDOT: PSS wherein the optimum mixing ratio was observed at 1% (v/v) with a conductivity value of 3.35 × 10-4 S cm-1. However, increasing the PEDOT: PSS content up to 1.5 % (v/v) resulted in reduced conductivity to 3.28 × 10-4 S cm-1. We conducted in vitro stability tests on the porous hydrogels using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution and investigated the hydrogels' performances through physical observations and ATR-FTIR characterization. The present study provides promising preliminary data on the potential use of Cs-Gel-Agar-based PEDOT: PSS hydrogel for tissue engineering, and these, hence, warrant further investigation to assess their capability as biocompatible scaffolds.
  9. Aljumaily MM, Alsaadi MA, Das R, Hamid SBA, Hashim NA, AlOmar MK, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2018 02 09;8(1):2778.
    PMID: 29426860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21051-3
    Demand is increasing for superhydrophobic materials in many applications, such as membrane distillation, separation and special coating technologies. In this study, we report a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to fabricate superhydrophobic carbon nanomaterials (CNM) on nickel (Ni)-doped powder activated carbon (PAC). The reaction temperature, reaction time and H2/C2H2 gas ratio were optimized to achieve the optimum contact angle (CA) and carbon yield (CY). For the highest CY (380%) and CA (177°), the optimal reaction temperatures were 702 °C and 687 °C, respectively. However, both the reaction time (40 min) and gas ratio (1.0) were found to have similar effects on CY and CA. Based on the Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images, the CNM could be categorized into two main groups: a) carbon spheres (CS) free carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and b) CS mixed with CNFs, which were formed at 650 and 750 °C, respectively. Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis also support this finding. The hydrophobicity of the CNM, expressed by the CA, follows the trend of CS-mixed CNFs (CA: 177°) > CS-free CNFs (CA: 167°) > PAC/Ni (CA: 65°). This paves the way for future applications of synthesized CNM to fabricate water-repellent industrial-grade technologies.
  10. Ramzi NH, Chahil JK, Lye SH, Munretnam K, Sahadevappa KI, Velapasamy S, et al.
    Indian J Med Res, 2014 Jun;139(6):873-82.
    PMID: 25109722
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is second only to breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Malaysia. In the Asia-Pacific area, it is the highest emerging gastrointestinal cancer. The aim of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and environmental factors associated with CRC risk in Malaysia from a panel of cancer associated SNPs.
  11. Dieng H, Hassan RB, Hassan AA, Ghani IA, Abang FB, Satho T, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2015 May;145:68-78.
    PMID: 25617636 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.01.004
    Even with continuous vector control, dengue is still a growing threat to public health in Southeast Asia. Main causes comprise difficulties in identifying productive breeding sites and inappropriate targeted chemical interventions. In this region, rural families keep live birds in backyards and dengue mosquitoes have been reported in containers in the cages. To focus on this particular breeding site, we examined the capacity of bird fecal matter (BFM) from the spotted dove, to support Aedes albopictus larval growth. The impact of BFM larval uptake on some adult fitness traits influencing vectorial capacity was also investigated. In serial bioassays involving a high and low larval density (HD and LD), BFM and larval standard food (LSF) affected differently larval development. At HD, development was longer in the BFM environment. There were no appreciable mortality differences between the two treatments, which resulted in similar pupation and adult emergence successes. BFM treatment produced a better gender balance. There were comparable levels of blood uptake and egg production in BFM and LSF females at LD; that was not the case for the HD one, which resulted in bigger adults. BFM and LSF females displayed equivalent lifespans; in males, this parameter was shorter in those derived from the BFM/LD treatment. Taken together these results suggest that bird defecations successfully support the development of Ae. albopictus. Due to their cryptic aspects, containers used to supply water to encaged birds may not have been targeted by chemical interventions.
  12. Dieng H, Rajasaygar S, Ahmad AH, Rawi CS, Ahmad H, Satho T, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2014 Feb;130:123-30.
    PMID: 24239749 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.11.001
    Despite major insecticide-based vector control programs, dengue continues to be a major threat to public health in urban areas. The reasons for this failure include the emergence of insecticide resistance and the narrowing of the spectrum of efficient products. Cigarette butts (CBs), the most commonly discarded piece of waste, also represent a major health hazard to human and animal life. CBs are impregnated with thousands of chemical compounds, many of which are highly toxic and none of which has history of resistance in mosquitoes. This study was performed to examine whether exposure to CB alters various biological parameters of parents and their progeny. We examined whether the mosquito changes its ovipositional behaviors, egg hatching, reproductive capacity, longevity and fecundity in response to CB exposure at three different concentrations. Females tended to prefer microcosms containing CBs for egg deposition than those with water only. There were equivalent rates of eclosion success among larvae from eggs that matured in CB and water environments. We also observed decreased life span among adults that survived CB exposure. Extracts of CB waste have detrimental effects on the fecundity and longevity of its offspring, while being attractive to its gravid females. These results altogether indicate that CB waste indirectly affect key adult life traits of Aedes aegypti and could conceivably be developed as a novel dengue vector control strategy, referring to previously documented direct toxicity on the larval stage. But this will require further research on CB waste effects on non-target organisms including humans.
  13. Ariaratnam S, Krishnapillai AD, Daher AM, Fadzil MA, Razali S, Omar SA, et al.
    Lipids Health Dis, 2017 Feb 28;16(1):50.
    PMID: 28245847 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-017-0438-1
    BACKGROUND: The scarcity of data about coping styles with a biochemical marker namely lipid profile, potentially associated with cardiovascular risk factors is most striking among professionals working in public university. Hence, this research aimed to investigate the relationship between coping styles and lipid profile comprising total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein-cholesterol) and LDL-cholesterol (Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) among this group of professionals.

    METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted among staff from a tertiary education centre. Subjects were contacted to ascertain their medical history. A total of 320 subjects were interviewed and 195 subjects were eligible and subsequently recruited on a suitable date for taking blood and administration of the questionnaires. The subjects completed questionnaires pertaining to demographic details and coping styles. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to measure the strength of association between lipid profile and coping styles.

    RESULTS: Majority of the subjects were non-academic staff (60.0%), female (67.2%), Malay (91.8%), married (52.3%) and educated until Diploma level (34.9%). Academic staff scored significantly higher mean scores in task-oriented coping styles (Mean = 64.12). Non-academic staff scored significantly higher mean scores in emotion (Mean = 48.05) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (Mean = 57.61). Malay subjects had significantly higher mean scores in emotion (Mean = 47.14) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (Mean = 55.23). Non-malay subjects (Mean = 66.00) attained significantly higher mean scores in task-oriented coping styles. Single/divorced/widowed individuals scored significantly higher mean scores in emotion (Mean = 48.13) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (Mean = 56.86). There was a significant negative correlation between TC (r = -0.162) and LDL (r = -0.168) with avoidance-oriented coping styles (p = 0.023, p = 0.019 respectively).

    CONCLUSION: Avoidance-oriented coping style was more likely to engender favourable lipid profile. Hence, assessment of coping styles would certainly assist health care practitioners in predicting subjects who would be at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

  14. Satho T, Dieng H, Ahmad MH, Ellias SB, Hassan AA, Abang F, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2015 May 14;8:272.
    PMID: 25966847 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0874-6
    BACKGROUND: Dengue is a prevalent arboviral disease and the development of insecticide resistance among its vectors impedes endeavors to control it. Coffee is drunk by millions of people daily worldwide, which is associated with the discarding of large amounts of waste. Coffee and its waste contain large amounts of chemicals many of which are highly toxic and none of which have a history of resistance in mosquitoes. Once in solution, coffee is brownish in colour, resembling leaf infusion, which is highly attractive to gravid mosquitoes. To anticipate the environmental issues related to the increasing popularity of coffee as a drink, and also to combat insecticide resistance, we explored the deterrence potentials of coffee leachates against the ovipositing and embryonic stages of the dengue vector, Aedes albopictus.

    METHODS: In a series of choice, no-choice, and embryo toxicity bioassays, we examined changes in the ovipositional behaviours and larval eclosion of Ae. albopictus in response to coffee extracts at different concentrations.

    RESULTS: Oviposition responses were extremely low when ovicups holding highly concentrated extract (HCE) of coffee were the only oviposition sites. Gravid females retained increased numbers of mature eggs until 5 days post-blood feeding. When provided an opportunity to oviposit in cups containing coffee extracts and with water, egg deposition occurred at lower rates in those containing coffee, and HCE cups were far less attractive to females than those containing water only. Females that successfully developed in a coffee environment preferentially oviposited in such cups when in competition with preferred oviposition sites (water cups), but this trait did not continue into the fourth generation. Larval eclosion occurred at lower rates among eggs that matured in a coffee environment, especially among those that were maintained on HCE-moistened substrates.

    CONCLUSIONS: The observations of the present study indicate a pronounced vulnerability of Ae. albopictus to the presence of coffee in its habitats during the early phases of its life cycle. The observations that coffee repels gravid females and inhibits larval eclosion provide novel possibilities in the search for novel oviposition deterrents and anti-larval eclosion agents against dengue vectors.

  15. Fountoulakis KN, Karakatsoulis G, Abraham S, Adorjan K, Ahmed HU, Alarcón RD, et al.
    Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 2022 Jan;54:21-40.
    PMID: 34758422 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.10.004
    INTRODUCTION: There are few published empirical data on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, and until now, there is no large international study.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire gathered data from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively.

    STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables.

    RESULTS: Probable depression was detected in 17.80% and distress in 16.71%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (31.82% vs. 13.07%). At least half of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop depression was associated with history of Bipolar disorder and self-harm/attempts (RR = 5.88). Suicidality was not increased in persons without a history of any mental disorder. Based on these results a model was developed.

    CONCLUSIONS: The final model revealed multiple vulnerabilities and an interplay leading from simple anxiety to probable depression and suicidality through distress. This could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable. Future research and interventions should specifically focus on them.

  16. Fountoulakis KN, Vrublevska J, Abraham S, Adorjan K, Ahmed HU, Alarcón RD, et al.
    J Affect Disord, 2024 Feb 19.
    PMID: 38382816 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.050
    BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant mental health challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations, including non-binary gender individuals. The COMET international study aimed to investigate specific risk factors for clinical depression or distress during the pandemic, also in these special populations.

    METHODS: Chi-square tests were used for initial screening to select only those variables which would show an initial significance. Risk Ratios (RR) were calculated, and a Multiple Backward Stepwise Linear Regression Analysis (MBSLRA) was followed with those variables given significant results at screening and with the presence of distress or depression or the lack of both of them.

    RESULTS: The most important risk factors for depression were female (RR = 1.59-5.49) and non-binary gender (RR = 1.56-7.41), unemployment (RR = 1.41-6.57), not working during lockdowns (RR = 1.43-5.79), bad general health (RR = 2.74-9.98), chronic somatic disorder (RR = 1.22-5.57), history of mental disorders (depression RR = 2.31-9.47; suicide attempt RR = 2.33-9.75; psychosis RR = 2.14-10.08; Bipolar disorder RR = 2.75-12.86), smoking status (RR = 1.15-5.31) and substance use (RR = 1.77-8.01). The risk factors for distress or depression that survived MBSLRA were younger age, being widowed, living alone, bad general health, being a carer, chronic somatic disorder, not working during lockdowns, being single, self-reported history of depression, bipolar disorder, self-harm, suicide attempts and of other mental disorders, smoking, alcohol, and substance use.

    CONCLUSIONS: Targeted preventive interventions are crucial to safeguard the mental health of vulnerable groups, emphasizing the importance of diverse samples in future research.

    LIMITATIONS: Online data collection may have resulted in the underrepresentation of certain population groups.

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