The prevalence of human rotavirus enteritis in children admitted to the gastroenteritis ward of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital was studied in 1982. Human rotavirus in the stool of the patients was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The survey showed that rotavirus enteritis in children were observed throughout the year, with two broad peaks of rotavirus infection occurring around March and September. The lowest incidence was recorded in July, however, no prolonged period of low prevalence of rotavirus enteritis was observed. The average prevalence for the whole of 1982 was 40% of the total diarrhoeal cases. No significant relationship was noted between the prevalence of the disease and rainfall.
This retrospective study examined the G/P type of rotavirus in RNA samples that have previously been e-typed by RNA-PAGE in 1996. The results were then compared to 2007 samples to ascertain the extent of changes that may have occurred in this 11-years time interval. The G and P genotypes were determined by hemi-nested PCR and further analysed by phylogenetic study. In 1996, the G/P combination G1P[8], G(UT)P[8] and G1P(UT) prevalence rate were 81%, 9% and 7%, respectively. As expected, the G9 genotype which has already emerged worldwide was identified in 42% of the 2007 samples with the remaining 33% G1P[8] and 25% G1P(UT) Analysis of the RNA pattern showed that majority of the isolates were long e-type in both series, nevertheless minor differences within electropherotypes were observed. Genetic diversity in some strains of the human group A rotaviruses was analysed by phylogenetic methods. These findings will help in the decision to introduce rotavirus vaccines within the next decade.
The primary objectives of this study were to investigate incidence of abnormal ovarian cyclicity (AOC) and its type in dairy and beef cows with prolonged postpartum period (>90 days) and in heifers that fail to conceive. A total of 53 animals were included in the study: 17 Friesian crosses, 16 Braford crosses, eight Brangus crosses, and 12 local Kedah-Kelantan (KKX) crosses. These animals were initially checked for absence of pregnancy via palpation per rectum. Blood samples for progesterone analysis were obtained twice a week for 2 to 3 months following their spontaneous oestrous cycle, and all animals were rechecked for pregnancy at the end of the study. Progesterone analysis indicated that 33.9% of the total animals were having AOC: 18.9% with cessation of ovarian cyclicity, 9.4% with prolonged luteal phases (PLP), and 5.7% short luteal phases. The highest incidence was observed in Brangus crosses (62.5%), followed by Braford crosses (43.8%), and Friesian crosses (35.3%). In contrast, no AOC was observed in the local KKX breeds, and all of them were found to be pregnant at the end of the study. A significant difference (p < 0.05) in the incidence of AOC and its type was observed between Kedah-Kelantan crosses and the other breeds. Although not significant (p > 0.05), Friesian crosses showed a higher percentage incidence of AOC than beef cows (40% vs 36.4%), with major types being PLP (26.7%) in dairy and cessation of ovarian cycle (27.3%) in beef cows. Compared with beef heifers, beef cows showed a higher percentage of AOC (36.4% vs 28.6%) where again, cessation of cyclicity was the predominant abnormality. In conclusion, AOC reflected by abnormal endocrine pattern is a possible cause of reduction in fertility for dairy and beef cows beyond 90 days postpartum and heifers that fail to conceive.
The bark extract of Melicope subunifoliolata (Stapf) T.G. Hartley showed competitive muscarinic receptor binding activity. Six polymethoxyflavones [melibentin (1); melisimplexin (3); 3,3',4',5,7-pentamethoxyflavone (4); meliternatin (5); 3,5,8-trimethoxy-3',4',6,7-bismethylenedioxyflavone (6); and isokanugin (7)] and one furanocoumarin [5-methoxy-8-geranyloxypsoralen (2)] were isolated from the bark extract. Compounds 2 and 6 were isolated for the first time from M. subunifoliolata. The methoxyflavones (compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) show moderate inhibition in a muscarinic receptor binding assay, while the furanocoumarin (compound 2) is inactive. The potency of the methoxyflavones to inhibit [(3)H]NMS-muscarinic receptor binding is influenced by the position and number of methoxy substitution. The results suggest these compounds are probably muscarinic modulators, agonists or partial agonists/antagonists.
The Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is on the verge of extinction in Malaysia. At the Sumatran rhinoceros Conservation Centre in Sungai Dusun, the reproductive behaviour of two female and two male rhinoceroses were studied for 8-10 months during attempts to breed them in captivity. Due to the paucity of scientific information on the reproductive biology of the Sumatran rhinoceros, this study was conducted to obtain information on the reproductive behaviour of this species. The male rhino was introduced to a female rhino in the morning for 1-2 h daily in order to observe for behavioural oestrus. Observations were made on the signs of oestrus and mating behaviour. Oestrus was determined by receptivity towards the male and lasted about 24 h. Common signs of oestrus were an increase in frequency of urine spraying, tail raising or swinging, anogenital and other contacts. Although the males exhibited mounting, the inability of the male to achieve intromission was poor. The study demonstrated that the pattern of courtship and copulation of the captive Sumatran rhinos were comparable with those of other rhino species, reported previously by other scientists and flehmen reflex was also exhibited by the male Sumatran rhinos. In a captive breeding programme, it is recommended that only an oestral female is introduced into a male enclosure due to the male solitary behaviour and to avoid serious injuries inflicted onto the females.
The Helicobacter pylori infection rate was determined in 124 consecutive patients with duodenal ulcers (DU), gastric ulcers (GU), duodenal erosions or gastric erosions diagnosed by endoscopy at a single institution in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia in 1996-97. Biopsies of the gastric antrum and body were subjected to the urease test, Gram staining of impression smears, culture and histopathological examination. Serology was undertaken on all patients using a locally validated commercial kit. Infection was defined as a positive result in at least one test. The infection rates were 20% (10/50), 21.2% (7/33), 16.7% (1/6) and 17.1% (6/35) in DU, GU, duodenal erosion and gastric erosion patients, respectively. The infection rate among Malays [7.0%, (6/86)] was lower than in non-Malays [47.4% (18/38)] (P < 0.001). There was a higher infection rate among males, who constituted 62.1% (77/124) of the sample. Seventy-eight patients (62.9%) were receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 33 patients (26.6%) were neither receiving NSAIDs nor were infected with H. pylori. The H. pylori infection rate among peptic ulcer patients in this predominantly Malay rural population appears to be the lowest reported in the world thus far. Empirical H. pylori eradication therapy in peptic ulcer patients is clearly not indicated in this community. The possible reasons for the low prevalence of H. pylori infection are discussed.
A blocking test was incorporated into the commercial IDEIA Adenovirus test (DAKO Diagnostics Ltd., Cambridgeshire, UK) to detect false positive results when faecal specimens were tested for adenovirus antigen. Immune rabbit serum raised against pooled adenovirus particles from human faecal specimens, together with the pre-immune serum, was used. Assessment of positive showed that false positives were produced under two different conditions: when results were based on visual determination instead of a cut-off value determined from photometric reading, and when absorbance values were not immediately read at the end of the test. Under the optimum condition for reading and assessment of test results (immediate reading and photometric determination), 11% of 65 adenovirus-positive samples were checked by the blocking ELISA as false positives. The rest of the specimens showed blocking of positive absorbance values by 70 to 98%. ELISA was found to be more sensitive than immune electron microscopy on samples with lower antigen concentration.
The group A rotavirus staphylococcal co-agglutination test was evaluated and its sensitivity and specificity compared with an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a commercial latex agglutination test (Rotalex). In addition, the storage stability of the staphylococcal reagents was ascertained. Examination of 136 clarified suspensions of diarrhoeal faeces by the staphylococcal co-agglutination test revealed a high proportion of false positives (26%) and uninterpretable results (34%) due to non-specific agglutination. Non-specific agglutination could be removed effectively by prior absorption of the clarified faecal specimens with unsensitized staphylococci. The staphylococcal co-agglutination test was less sensitive and specific than the in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay but was comparable to the Rotalex slide latex agglutination test. The staphylococcal reagents have a shelf life of at least 29 weeks.
A 12-month study was carried out on the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus in urban and suburban Malaysian children. Analysis of faecal samples from 973 hospitalized diarrhoeic children by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis detected 268 rotaviruses (28%). All isolates were group A rotaviruses, which produced 22 electropherotypes: 16 (91.5%) with long RNA migration patterns and 6 (8.5%) with short patterns. One of the long-pattern electropherotypes was the predominant strain (71.1% of the total electropherotypes) isolated during this study. Although 3 other strains were detected sporadically over the study period, 16 others were present only during the first 7 months and 2 others were confined to the last 5 months. Long- and short-pattern electropherotypes were found to co-circulate extensively. There was a significant association of short-pattern electropherotypes with infection in older children. In addition, the prevalence of vomiting and mean duration of diarrhoea were significantly associated with different electropherotypes.
This study examined the temporal distribution of rotavirus genotypes in Malaysia. Rotaviruses from children with diarrhea admitted to hospitals in 1996 (n = 93) and 2007 (n = 12) in two different regions of Peninsular (West) Malaysia were analyzed for their G and P genotypes using a hemi-nested RT-PCR assay. In the 2007 samples, the dominant strain was G9P[8]. It was identified in 42% of the samples. Different strains all possessing the G1 genotype were identified in the rest of the samples. In contrast, 81% of the samples collected in 1996 were the G1P[8] strain. No strains with G9 genotype were detected in samples collected in 1996.
A study was conducted to profile the plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations and establish the length of oestrous cycle in the Rusa timorensis during the breeding season. Five healthy hinds were selected for peripheral blood sampling twice weekly to gauge the P4 levels by radioimmunoassay, at the start of the breeding season indicated by rutting behaviours of sexually active males. The hinds were polyestrous as proven by the cyclic trend of P4 levels. After the presumptive oestrus indicated by the lowest P4 concentrations (0.20±0.09ng/ml), this ovarian hormone was markedly elevated on day 7 of the cycle (0.78±0.20ng/ml), reached its peak (2.61±0.23ng/ml, P<0.05) on day 14, and then declined to the basal level in the subsequent oestrus. The mean oestrous cycle length in R. timorensis during the breeding season was 19.2 days with a range of 18-21 days, and the pattern of circulating progesterone during the oestrous cycle of the R. timorensis is similar to those of other deer species. It was also observed that the length of oestrous cycle of R. timorensis determined by gauging the progesterone levels and observation of the oestrous behaviours as well as changes in the cellular pattern of vaginal epithelial cells are highly consistent.
The distributions of the D1S80 alleles and genotypes in the Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore were determined by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AMP-FLP) analysis. The distributions of the observed genotypes for the three races conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The system was applied to 19 families whose paternity had been established by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. In all cases, Mendelian inheritance of the alleles at the D1S80 locus could be demonstrated. D1S80 typing on DNA recovered by differential extraction of forensic specimens which included vaginal swabs, urethral swabs and seminal stains yielded consistent results.
A 1 year longitudinal study of 156 Malaysian children from urban and suburban areas in the Klang Valley revealed that the incidence rate of diarrhoea was 23.6 per 100 person-year with abnormal faeces reported on 0.26% of the total days of observation. Diarrhoea cases were detected in children from all socioeconomic classes. Rotavirus was isolated from 12% of the diarrheic children and asymptomatic rotavirus infection occurred in 3.2% of the children. All rotaviruses isolated were group A rotaviruses with long electrophoretypic pattern.
We screened more than 60 Malaysian plants against two species of insects and found that Melicope subunifoliolata (Stapf) T.G. Hartley (Rutaceae) showed strong feeding deterrent activity against Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. (Curculionidae) and very good larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera). One anti-insect compound, meliternatin (3,5-dimethoxy-3',4',6,7-bismethylendioxyflavone) (6) and six other minor polyoxygenated flavones were isolated from M. subunifoliolata.
Aging processes affect the brain in many ways, ranging from cellular to functional levels which lead to cognitive decline and increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the potentials of Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 on brain health including cognitive and memory functions during aging and the impacts of high fat diet during a 12-week period. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into six groups: (1) young animals on normal diet (ND, (2) young animals on a high fat diet (HFD), (3) aged animals on ND, (4) aged animals on HFD, (5) aged animals on HFD and L. plantarum DR7 (109 cfu/day) and (6) aged animals receiving HFD and lovastatin. To induce ageing, all rats in group 3 to 6 were injected sub-cutaneously at 600 mg/kg/day of D-galactose daily. The administration of DR7 has reduced anxiety accompanied by enhanced memory during behavioural assessments in aged-HFD rats (P<0.05). Hippocampal concentration of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased during aging but reduced upon administration of both statin and DR7. Expressions of hippocampal neurotransmitters and apoptosis genes showed reduced expressions of indoleamine dioxygenase and P53 accompanied by increased expression of TPH1 in aged- HFD rats administered with DR7, indicating potential effects of DR7 along the pathways of serotonin and oxidative senescence. This study provided an insight into potentials of L. plantarum DR7 as a prospective dietary strategy to improve cognitive functions during aging. This study provided an insight into potentials of L. plantarum DR7 as a prospective dietary strategy to improve cognitive functions during aging.
This study aimed to evaluate the anti-ageing effects of different strains of lactobacilli putative probiotics on an ageing rat model as induced by D-galactose and a high fat diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high fat diet (54% kcal fat) and injected with D-galactose daily for 12 weeks to induce ageing. The effects of putative probiotic strains on age-related impairment such as telomere length, plasma lipid peroxidation, hepatic 5'adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression, as well as endurance performance were evaluated. Administration of statin, Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 (LP-DR7), Lactobacillus fermentum DR9 (LF-DR9), and Lactobacillus reuteri 8513d (LR-8513d) significantly reduced the shortening of telomere and increased the expression of AMPK subunit-α1 (P<0.05). Plasma lipid peroxidation was lower (P<0.05) in groups administered with statin and LF-DR9 as compared to the control. AMPK subunit-α2 was elevated in rats administered with LP-DR7 as compared to the control (P<0.05). Using an in vivo ageing rat model, the current study has illustrated the potentials of lactobacilli putative probiotics in alleviation of age-related impairment in a strain-dependent manner.