Displaying publications 21 - 36 of 36 in total

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  1. Soh JY, Chiang WC, Huang CH, Woo CK, Ibrahim I, Heng K, et al.
    World Allergy Organ J, 2017;10(1):3.
    PMID: 28232856 DOI: 10.1186/s40413-016-0136-x
    BACKGROUND: Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics added to commercial milk formula of infants and mothers. In recent years, cases of allergy related to GOS in atopic children have been reported in the South East Asian region.

    CASE PRESENTATIONS: We describe a series of pregnant (n = 4) and lactating mothers (n = 2) who developed anaphylactic reactions after consumption of maternal milk formula containing GOS. All six subjects had pre-existing atopy and a positive skin prick test to GOS and 5/5 of the subjects who were tested had positive basophil activation tests to GOS. All of the mothers and their babies had normal neonatal outcomes after the reactions.

    CONCLUSIONS: The supplementation of GOS into milk and beverages in the Asian region should take into account the rare chance of allergenicity of GOS in the atopic population.

  2. Hafsan H, Mahmood Saleh M, Baban J, Mohammed F, Ahmed Hamza T, Ibrahim I, et al.
    Arch Razi Inst, 2023 Feb;78(1):107-114.
    PMID: 37312704 DOI: 10.22092/ARI.2022.359524.2443
    Phytic acid is a stored form of phosphorus in cereals, 65 to 70% of phosphorus in plant sources is phytate, and broilers are only able to use part of the phosphorus in plant sources. To meet the needs of chickens, it is necessary to use other artificial resources, which not only impose part of the cost of the breeding period because of its presence in the manure but is one of the factors polluting the environment. This study aimed to use different levels of phytase enzyme to reduce dietary phosphorus levels. 600 Ross 308 broilers were used in this experiment with five treatments and six replications, and in each replication, 20 chickens were used in a completely randomized design (CRD). Experimental treatments include 1) basal diet (control) 2) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus 3) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 1250 (FTU) phytase enzyme 4) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 2500 (FTU) phytase enzyme 5) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 5000 (FTU) phytase enzyme. The evaluated traits included weekly feed intake, weekly weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, ash, calcium, and bone phosphorus. The use of phytase enzyme in different diets had no significant effect on food intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). However, the use of phytase in different diets significantly affected the percentage of Gizzard, Heart, Liver, Proventriculus, and Spleen (P<0.05). The most changes were the increase in the ratio of feed intake and weight gain in the fourth week compared to the third week so that the changes in the ratio of feed intake ranged from 1.85 to 1.91, and this ratio for weight gain also ranged from 3.12 to 3.86 was recorded, and the lowest feed conversion ratio was obtained at the same age. The percentage of raw ash in broiler chickens was significantly increased by adding dietary phytase. The lowest amount of ash, calcium, and phosphorus belonged to the second group (diets with low phosphorus and no enzyme). The difference between the other groups and the control was not significant. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio with the addition of phytase enzyme were not affected by phosphorus reduction and had no significant effect on carcass characteristics. Environmental pollution can be prevented by reducing the level of dietary phosphorus and reducing excreted phosphorus.
  3. Al-Tahitah A, Al-Awlaqi MA, Habtoor N, Thabet SS, Abdulrab M, Ibrahim I
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21178.
    PMID: 37928031 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21178
    This study seeks to understand and explore how women social entrepreneurs select their employees and how this can affect their social impact. This study has two objectives. The first is to explore the most attractive employees' employability characteristics chosen by women entrepreneurs. The second objective was to explore the relationship between employability characteristics and the social impact of the social enterprises. This study used an exploratory quantitative paradigm to reach the study's findings. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) explores employability characteristics the women social entrepreneurs select and the relationship between the selected employability characteristics and the social impact of the women's social enterprises. The data were collected using a cross-sectional questionnaire. Data were collected from 382 employees working in 174 female social enterprises. Women social entrepreneurs were found to prefer employees with high interpersonal skills, high ethics, high physical abilities, high abilities to learn, high implicit knowledge, high reliability, and low soft skills. Linking these employability skills to social impact revealed that implicit knowledge and interpersonal skills are the most influential. A paucity of research discusses how women social entrepreneurs recruit their employees. This problem is getting worse when it comes to small social enterprises. This study led to a discussion about employability characteristics in women's social enterprises and their impact on social impact.
  4. Khammas ASA, Mahmud R, Hassan HA, Ibrahim I, Mohammed SS
    J Ultrasound, 2023 Mar;26(1):13-38.
    PMID: 36040577 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-022-00712-0
    INTRODUCTION: Plantar fasciitis (PFS) is described by an intense pain over medial tubercle of calcaneus, increased with the first step after waking up, after rest and during weightbearing activity. It is the most common cause of plantar heel pain in adults with the prevalence estimated 10% of the general population. Ultrasound imaging is commonly being used to measure the PF thickness, evaluate the efficacy of different treatments and a guide therapeutic technique in patients with PFS. The objective of this study was to systematically review the studies that were previously published to evaluate the role of ultrasound in the assessment of PF in patients with PFS.

    METHODS: A systematic search was carried out over the last 5 years from 2017 to 2022 on basis the following electronic databases: Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer and PubMed. The keywords that used in the searching were: ultrasound, sonography, ultrasonography, plantar fasciitis, imaging of plantar fascia, physiotherapy of plantar fasciitis, interventional treatment of plantar fasciitis, randomized controlled trial of plantar fasciitis and interventional ultrasound. The review focused on the assessment of PF in patients with PFS underwent different interventions using B-mode, shear wave elastography (SWE) and color Doppler ultrasound.

    RESULTS: During the search process, 1661 were recorded using the proper keywords from 2017 to 2022 in which 666 original articles were found after removing the review and duplicated articles. Of these, thirty articles met the inclusion criteria and included in this review. The articles have assessed the PF in patients with PFS under different conditions using different ultrasound modes. Twenty-six articles evaluated the effectiveness of different treatment on PF in patients with PFS using different ultrasound modes. In 8 of 26 articles, the ultrasound was used as both an assessment tool of PF and guide therapeutic technique in patients with PFS. In 18 articles, the ultrasound was used as only assessment tool to identify the PF thickness and its observation changes in patients with PFS. Four articles compared the PF thickness and its intrafascial changes between patients with PFS and healthy subjects.

    CONCLUSION: The ultrasound can be a reliable tool in assessment the effect of different interventions on PF by evaluating its thickness, echogenicity and stiffness changes in patients with PFS. There were different methods and treatments were used among the studies.

  5. Zhou F, Lim HN, Ibrahim I, Endot NA, Malek EA, Gowthaman NSK
    Chempluschem, 2024 May;89(5):e202300686.
    PMID: 38261267 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300686
    The incorporation of noble metals with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are conducive to the simultaneous electrochemical detection of analytes owing to multiple accessible reaction sites. Herein, Au@Cu-metal organic framework (Au@Cu-MOF) is successfully synthesized and modified as a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), which serves as an excellent electrocatalyst for the oxidation of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA). The sensor shows a linear range from 10 μM to 1000 μM, with sensitivity and detection limit of 0.231 μA μM-1 cm-2 and 3.40 μM for DA, and 0.275 μA μM-1 cm-2 and 10.36 μM for UA. Au@Cu-MOF could realize the individual and simultaneous electrochemical sensing of DA and UA, with distinguishable oxidation peak potentials. Moreover, it exhibits reproducibility, repeatability, and stability. Ultimately, the sensor provides an avenue for an ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical detection of DA and UA.
  6. Khammas ASA, Mahmud R, Hassan HA, Ibrahim I, Mohammed SS
    J Ultrasound, 2024 Sep;27(3):487-500.
    PMID: 37917407 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-023-00833-0
    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of manual physiotherapy on clinical outcomes, morphology of plantar fascia (PF), thicknesses of calcaneal fat pad (CFP) and Kager's fat pad (KFP) with ultrasound imaging in plantar fasciitis (PFS) patients. Also, to evaluate the PF thickness, pain and foot functional outcomes among PFS phases.

    METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 122 subjects divided into three groups: group A (40 patients with PFS) underwent manual physiotherapy, group B (42 patients with PFS) without any intervention and group C (40 healthy subjects) were matched by age, gender and BMI with each patient in group A and B. The following outcomes were evaluated at baseline and one-month of follow-ups: morphology of PF and thicknesses of CFP and KFP, pain, foot functional limitation.

    RESULTS: PF thickness was significantly thickened in group A and B compared to group C (P 

  7. Idris J, Shirai Y, Andou Y, Mohd Ali AA, Othman MR, Ibrahim I, et al.
    Waste Manag Res, 2016 Feb;34(2):176-80.
    PMID: 26612557 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X15616472
    An appropriate technology for waste utilisation, especially for a large amount of abundant pressed-shredded oil palm empty fruit bunch (OFEFB), is important for the oil palm industry. Self-sustained pyrolysis, whereby oil palm biomass was combusted by itself to provide the heat for pyrolysis without an electrical heater, is more preferable owing to its simplicity, ease of operation and low energy requirement. In this study, biochar production under self-sustained pyrolysis of oil palm biomass in the form of oil palm empty fruit bunch was tested in a 3-t large-scale pool-type reactor. During the pyrolysis process, the biomass was loaded layer by layer when the smoke appeared on the top, to minimise the entrance of oxygen. This method had significantly increased the yield of biochar. In our previous report, we have tested on a 30-kg pilot-scale capacity under self-sustained pyrolysis and found that the higher heating value (HHV) obtained was 22.6-24.7 MJ kg(-1) with a 23.5%-25.0% yield. In this scaled-up study, a 3-t large-scale procedure produced HHV of 22.0-24.3 MJ kg(-1) with a 30%-34% yield based on a wet-weight basis. The maximum self-sustained pyrolysis temperature for the large-scale procedure can reach between 600 °C and 700 °C. We concluded that large-scale biochar production under self-sustained pyrolysis was successfully conducted owing to the comparable biochar produced, compared with medium-scale and other studies with an electrical heating element, making it an appropriate technology for waste utilisation, particularly for the oil palm industry.
  8. Lai DS, Osman AF, Adnan SA, Ibrahim I, Alrashdi AA, Ahmad Salimi MN, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Mar 15;13(6).
    PMID: 33803984 DOI: 10.3390/polym13060897
    Thermoplastic starch (TPS) hybrid bio-composite films containing microcrystalline cellulose (C) and nano-bentonite (B) as hybrid fillers were studied to replace the conventional non-degradable plastic in packaging applications. Raw oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) was subjected to chemical treatment and acid hydrolysis to obtain C filler. B filler was ultra-sonicated for better dispersion in the TPS films to improve the filler-matrix interactions. The morphology and structure of fillers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TPS hybrid bio-composite films were produced by the casting method with different ratios of B and C fillers. The best ratio of B/C was determined through the data of the tensile test. FTIR analysis proved the molecular interactions between the TPS and the hybrid fillers due to the presence of polar groups in their structure. XRD analysis confirmed the intercalation of the TPS chains between the B inter-platelets as a result of well-developed interactions between the TPS and hybrid fillers. SEM images suggested that more plastic deformation occurred in the fractured surface of the TPS hybrid bio-composite film due to the higher degree of stretching after being subjected to tensile loading. Overall, the results indicate that incorporating the hybrid B/C fillers could tremendously improve the mechanical properties of the films. The best ratio of B/C in the TPS was found to be 4:1, in which the tensile strength (8.52MPa), Young's modulus (42.0 MPa), elongation at break (116.4%) and tensile toughness of the film were increased by 92%, 146%, 156% and 338%, respectively. The significantly improved strength, modulus, flexibility and toughness of the film indicate the benefits of using the hybrid fillers, since these features are useful for the development of sustainable flexible packaging film.
  9. Samsudin MH, Hassan MA, Idris J, Ramli N, Mohd Yusoff MZ, Ibrahim I, et al.
    Waste Manag Res, 2019 May;37(5):551-555.
    PMID: 30727859 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X18823953
    A one-step self-sustained carbonization of coconut shell biomass, carried out in a brick reactor at a relatively low temperature of 300-500°C, successfully produced a biochar-derived adsorbent with 308 m2/g surface area, 2 nm pore diameter, and 0.15 cm3/g total pore volume. The coconut shell biochar qualifies as a nano-adsorbent, supported by scanning electron microscope images, which showed well-developed nano-pores on the surface of the biochar structure, even though there was no separate activation process. This is the first report whereby coconut shell can be converted to biochar-derived nano-adsorbent at a low carbonization temperature, without the need of the activation process. This is superior to previous reports on biochar produced from oil palm empty fruit bunch.
  10. Lim JH, Lim CK, Ibrahim I, Syahrul J, Mohamed Zabil MH, Zakaria NF, et al.
    JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2020 06 01;8(6):e13808.
    PMID: 32478665 DOI: 10.2196/13808
    BACKGROUND: With the unprecedented growth of mobile technology, a plethora of dialysis diet apps have been developed to promote patient dietary self-management. Nevertheless, the utility of such apps remains questionable.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the content, features, and quality of commercial dialysis diet apps for adult dialysis patients.

    METHODS: This study consisted of a quantitative content analysis of commercial dialysis diet apps downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store available in the Asian marketplace, searched for using the following keywords in English: dialysis diet and diet for kidney disease. Free and paid apps available in English that provide nutrition information for adult dialysis patients were included. Apps that were not relevant to the dialysis diet, not meant for patient self-management, or redundant were excluded. Apps were evaluated for language medium (subscore=1), credibility (subscore=1), food database (subscore=1), valuable features (subscore=12), health-behavior theory constructs (subscore=60), and technical quality (subscore=25). The relationships among the variables of interest were determined by Pearson correlation. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the features that contribute to greater technical quality of dialysis diet apps. Statistical significance was defined as P

  11. Al-Fasih MY, Mohamad ME, Ibrahim IS, Ahmad Y, Ariffin MAM, Sarbini NN, et al.
    PLoS One, 2021;16(5):e0252050.
    PMID: 34015027 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252050
    Effects of different surface textures on the interface shear strength, interface slip, and failure modes of the concrete-to-concrete bond are examined through finite element numerical model and experimental methods in the presence of the horizontal load with 'push-off' technique under different normal stresses. Three different surface textures are considered; smooth, indented, and transversely roughened to finish the top surfaces of the concrete bases. In the three-dimensional modeling via the ABAQUS solver, the Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) is used to simulate the interface shear failure. It is observed that the interface shear strength increases with the applied normal stress. The transversely roughened surface achieves the highest interface shear strength compared with those finished with the indented and smooth approaches. The smooth and indented surfaces are controlled by the adhesive failure mode while the transversely roughened surface is dominated by the cohesive failure mode. Also, it is observed that the CZM approach can accurately model the interface shear failure with 3-29% differences between the modeled and the experimental test findings.
  12. Ibrahim I, Salehmin MNI, Balachandran K, Hil Me MF, Loh KS, Abu Bakar MH, et al.
    Front Microbiol, 2023;14:1192187.
    PMID: 37520357 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1192187
    Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging electrochemical technology currently being researched as a CO2 sequestration method to address climate change. MES can convert CO2 from pollution or waste materials into various carbon compounds with low energy requirements using electrogenic microbes as biocatalysts. However, the critical component in this technology, the cathode, still needs to perform more effectively than other conventional CO2 reduction methods because of poor selectivity, complex metabolism pathways of microbes, and high material cost. These characteristics lead to the weak interactions of microbes and cathode electrocatalytic activities. These approaches range from cathode modification using conventional engineering approaches to new fabrication methods. Aside from cathode development, the operating procedure also plays a critical function and strategy to optimize electrosynthesis production in reducing operating costs, such as hybridization and integration of MES. If this technology could be realized, it would offer a new way to utilize excess CO2 from industries and generate profitable commodities in the future to replace fossil fuel-derived products. In recent years, several potential approaches have been tested and studied to boost the capabilities of CO2-reducing bio-cathodes regarding surface morphology, current density, and biocompatibility, which would be further elaborated. This compilation aims to showcase that the achievements of MES have significantly improved and the future direction this is going with some recommendations. Highlights - MES approach in carbon sequestration using the biotic component.- The role of microbes as biocatalysts in MES and their metabolic pathways are discussed.- Methods and materials used to modify biocathode for enhancing CO2 reduction are presented.
  13. Shazleen Ibrahim I, Starlin Chellathurai M, Mahmood S, Hakim Azmi A, Harun N, Ulul Ilmie Ahmad Nazri M, et al.
    Int J Pharm, 2024 Feb 15;651:123735.
    PMID: 38142874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123735
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be one of the most prevalent and deadliest forms of cancer worldwide, despite notable advancements in its management. The prognosis for metastatic CRC remains discouraging, with a relative 5-year survival rate for stage IV CRC patients. Conventional treatments for advanced malignancies such as chemotherapy, often face limitations in effectively targeting cancer cells resulting in off-target distribution and significant side effects. In the quest for better strategies, researchers have explored numerous alternatives. Among these, nanoparticles (NPs) specifically liposomes have emerged as one of the most promising candidates in developing targeted delivery systems for cancer therapeutics. This review discusses the current approaches employing functionalised liposomes to overcome major biological barriers in therapeutics delivery for CRC treatment. We have also shared our perspectives on the technological development of liposomes for future clinical use and highlighted a few useful insights on the material choices for future research work in CRC.
  14. Rohmah N, Yusuf A, Hargono R, Laksono AD, Masruroh, Sujoso ADP, et al.
    Malays Fam Physician, 2021 Nov 30;16(3):16-22.
    PMID: 34938389 DOI: 10.51866/oa1020
    Introduction: The contraceptive prevalence rate in Indonesia has not experienced much improvement, which has led to an increase in the number of pregnancies. This study aimed to analyse the barriers to contraception use among women of childbearing age in rural Indonesia.

    Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with data from the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) of 2017. The independent variables were age, employment status, education, marital status, wealth status, health insurance and parity. The dependent variable was the use of contraception. The statistical significance was set at p <0.05 using bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression.

    Results: The study showed that the age group of 45-49 years (OR 0.199; 95% CI 0.149-0.266), secondary education (OR 2.227; 95% CI 2.060-2.514), women married/living with their partner (OR 43.752; 95% CI: 35.484-53.946), wealth status: middle (OR 1.492; 95% CI 1.400-1.589) and multipara (OR 2.524; 95% CI: 2.328-2.737) exhibited the increased use of contraception among women of childbearing age in rural Indonesia.

    Conclusion: The variables proven to represent obstacles to contraceptive use among women of childbearing age in rural Indonesia include old age, no education, no husband/partner, poverty and already having one child.

  15. Ali Abed Wahab B, Ain Salehen N, Abdulla MA, A J Jabbar A, Abdel Aziz Ibrahim I, Almaimani G, et al.
    SAGE Open Med, 2023;11:20503121231216585.
    PMID: 38078205 DOI: 10.1177/20503121231216585
    OBJECTIVES: Pinostrobin (5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone; PN) is a natural active ingredient with numerous biological activities extensively utilized in tumour chemotherapy. The present study investigates the chemo-preventive potentials of PN on azoxymethane-mediated colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats.

    METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats clustered into five groups, normal control (A) and cancer controls were subcutaneously injected with normal saline and 15 mg/kg azoxymethane, respectively, and nourished on 10% tween 20 and fed on 10% tween 20; reference control (C), injected with 15 mg/kg azoxymethane and injected (intraperitoneal) with 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); D and E rat groups received a subcutaneous injection of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane and nourished on 30 and 60 mg/kg of PN, respectively.

    RESULTS: The acute toxicity trial showed a lack of any abnormal signs or mortality in rats ingested with 250 and 500 mg/kg of PN. The gross morphology of colon tissues revealed significantly lower total colonic aberrant crypt foci incidence in PN-treated rats than that of cancer controls. Histological examination of colon tissues showed increased aberrant crypt foci availability with bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells and higher depletion of the submucosal glands in cancer controls. PN treatment caused positive modulation of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl-2) proteins and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10). Moreover, rats fed on PN had significantly higher antioxidants (superoxide dismutase) and lower malondialdehyde concentrations in their colon tissue homogenates.

    CONCLUSION: The chemoprotective efficiency of PN against azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci is shown by lower aberrant crypt foci values and higher aberrant crypt foci inhibition percentage, possibly through augmentation of genes responsible for apoptotic cascade and inflammations originating from azoxymethane oxidative stress insults.

  16. Abdul-Aziz Ahmed K, Jabbar AAJ, Abdulla MA, Zuhair Alamri Z, Ain Salehen N, Abdel Aziz Ibrahim I, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Jan 08;14(1):813.
    PMID: 38191592 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50947-y
    Mangiferin (MF) is a natural C-glucosylxantone compound that has many substantial curative potentials against numerous illnesses including cancers. The present study's goal is to appraise the chemo preventive possessions of MF on azoxymethane (AOM)-mediated colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Rats clustered into 5 groups, negative control (A), inoculated subcutaneously with normal saline twice and nourished on 0.5% CMC; groups B-E injected twice with 15 mg/kg azoxymethane followed by ingestion of 0.5% CMC (B, cancer control); intraperitoneal inoculation of 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (C, reference rats) or nourished on 30 mg/kg (D) and 60 mg/kg (E) of MF. Results of gross morphology of colorectal specimens showed significantly lower total colonic ACF incidence in MF-treated rats than that of cancer controls. The colon tissue examination of cancer control rats showed increased ACF availability with bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells, and higher depletion of the submucosal glands compared to MF-treated rats. Mangiferin treatment caused increased regulation of pro-apoptotic (increased Bax) proteins and reduced the β-catenin) proteins expression. Moreover, rats fed on MF had significantly higher glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in their colonic tissue homogenates. Mangiferin supplementation significantly down-shifted pro-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor-α and interleukine-6) and up-shifted anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukine-10) based on serum analysis. The chemo-protective mechanistic of MF against AOM-induced ACF, shown by lower ACF values and colon tissue penetration, could be correlated with its positive modulation of apoptotic cascade, antioxidant enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines originating from AOM oxidative stress insults.
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