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Allele-specific PCR for a cost-effective & time-efficient diagnostic screening of spinal muscular atrophy

Marini M, Sasongko TH, Watihayati MS, Atif AB, Hayati F, Gunadi, et al.

Indian J Med Res, 2012;135:31-5.
PMID: 22382180

Genetic diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is complicated by the presence of SMN2 gene as majority of SMA patients show absence or deletion of SMN1 gene. PCR may amplify both the genes non selectively in presence of high amount of DNA. We evaluated whether allele-specific PCR for diagnostic screening of SMA is reliable in the presence of high amount of genomic DNA, which is commonly used when performing diagnostic screening using restriction enzymes.
Fulltext Compliance with dietary guidelines affects capillary recruitment in healthy middle-aged men and women

Govoni V, Sanders TAB, Reidlinger DP, Darzi J, Berry SEE, Goff LM, et al.

Eur J Nutr, 2017 Apr;56(3):1037-1044.
PMID: 26746219 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-1151-3

PURPOSE: Healthy microcirculation is important to maintain the health of tissues and organs, most notably the heart, kidney and retina. Single components of the diet such as salt, lipids and polyphenols may influence microcirculation, but the effects of dietary patterns that are consistent with current dietary guidelines are uncertain. It was hypothesized that compliance to UK dietary guidelines would have a favourable effect on skin capillary density/recruitment compared with a traditional British diet (control diet).
METHODS: A 12-week randomized controlled trial in men and women aged 40-70 years was used to test whether skin microcirculation, measured by skin video-capillaroscopy on the dorsum of the finger, influenced functional capillary density (number of capillaries perfused under basal conditions), structural capillary density (number of anatomical capillaries perfused during finger cuff inflation) and capillary recruitment (percentage difference between structural and functional capillary density).
RESULTS: Microvascular measures were available for 137 subjects out of the 165 participants randomized to treatment. There was evidence of compliance to the dietary intervention, and participants randomized to follow dietary guidelines showed significant falls in resting supine systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure of 3.5, 2.6 and 2.9 mmHg compared to the control diet. There was no evidence of differences in capillary density, but capillary recruitment was 3.5 % (95 % CI 0.2, 6.9) greater (P = 0.04) on dietary guidelines compared with control.
CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to dietary guidelines may help maintain a healthy microcirculation in middle-aged men and women. This study is registered at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN92382106.
FOXP3 regulatory T cells on prognosis of breast cancer

Usman AN, Ahmad M, Sinrang AW, Natsir S, Takko AB, Ariyandy A, et al.

Breast Dis, 2023;42(1):213-218.
PMID: 37458005 DOI: 10.3233/BD-239002

BACKGROUND: FOXP3 Tregs have been found in breast cancer patients, both humoral and tumor. Survival or prognosis of breast cancer patients seems to correlate with the increase and decrease in FOXP3 Treg.
OBJECTIVES: This review aims to provide insights regarding the FOXP3 Tregs involved and their mechanisms in breast cancer prognosis.
METHODS: The literature study method is used from primary and secondary libraries. The library search used online-based search instruments such as NCBI-PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier. The data obtained were then arranged according to the framework, data on the relationship between FOXP3 Regulatory T Cells and breast cancer, and writing a journal review was carried out according to the given format. Regulators (Tregs) can inhibit anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor growth. Tregs also play a role in inhibiting cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells by inhibiting the release of granules from CD8+, where CD8+ is important in killing tumor cells. FOXP3 is a Treg-specific biomarker and plays an important role in the development and function of Tregs.
RESULTS: Studies on the presence of FOXP3+ Tregs in tumors have shown controversial results. Studies in some tumors reported the presence of FOXP3+, indicating a poor prognosis, whereas studies in other tumors found that FOXP3+ correlated with a good prognosis.
CONCLUSION: Regulatory T lymphocytes and TILs in invasive breast carcinoma are still not established. Therefore, further research on the Effect of FOXP3 expression of regulatory T lymphocytes on breast cancer is still important.
Biomechanical and radiological assessment of immediate implants for alveolar ridge preservation

Al Qabbani A, Al Kawas S, Enezei H, Razak NHA, Al Bayatti SW, Samsudin AR, et al.

Dent Res J (Isfahan), 2018;15(6):420-429.
PMID: 30534170

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of immediate implant placement for alveolar bone augmentation and preservation with bovine bone graft following atraumatic tooth extraction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective interventional study with convenient sampling (n = 10). Thirty patients aged between 18 and 40 years, who needed noncomplicated tooth extraction of mandibular premolar tooth, were sequentially divided equally into three groups. In Group I, simple extraction was done and the empty extraction socket left to heal conventionally. In Group II, extraction sockets were filled with lyophilized bovine granules only. In Group III, immediate implants were placed into extraction sockets, and the buccal gap was also filled with bovine granules. All groups were subjected to cone beam computed tomography scan for radiological evaluation. Assessment of biomechanical stability (radiofrequency analysis [RFA] was performed at 9 months postoperative for Group III to assess the degree of secondary stability of the implants using Osstell. Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was applied when comparing within each group at three different time intervals, whereas one-way ANOVA was applied followed by post hoc-tukey test when comparing between groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Radiological assessment reveals a significant difference of bone resorption in alveolar dimension within Group I; 1.49 mm (P = 0.002), and 0.82 mm (P = 0.005), respectively, between day 0 and 3 months. Comparison between Group I and III showed a highly significant difference of bone resorption in ridge width at 3 months 2.56 mm (P = 0.001) and at 9 months interval 3.2 mm (P < 0.001). High RFA values demonstrating an excellent biomechanical stability were observed in Group III at 9 months postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: The insertion of immediate implants in extraction sockets with bovine bone augmentation of the buccal gap was able to preserve a greater amount of alveolar ridge volume.
Microplastics in the environment: An urgent need for coordinated waste management policies and strategies

Amesho KTT, Chinglenthoiba C, Samsudin MSAB, Lani MN, Pandey A, Desa MNM, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2023 Oct 15;344:118713.
PMID: 37567004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118713

Microplastics (MPs) have become a prevalent environmental concern, exerting detrimental effects on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as human health. Addressing this urgent issue necessitates the implementation of coordinated waste management policies and strategies. In this study, we present a comprehensive review focusing on key results and the underlying mechanisms associated with microplastics. We examine their sources and pathways, elucidate their ecological and human health impacts, and evaluate the current state of waste management policies. By drawing upon recent research and pertinent case studies, we propose a range of practical solutions, encompassing enhanced recycling and waste reduction measures, product redesign, and innovative technological interventions. Moreover, we emphasize the imperative for collaboration and cooperation across sectors and jurisdictions to effectively tackle this pressing environmental challenge. The findings of this study contribute to the broader understanding of microplastics and provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders alike.
Health-related quality of life in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis: A systematic literature review

Choon SE, De La Cruz C, Wolf P, Jha RK, Fischer KI, Goncalves-Bradley DC, et al.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2024 Feb;38(2):265-280.
PMID: 37750484 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19530

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, chronic, neutrophilic inflammatory skin disease characterized by episodes of widespread eruption of sterile, macroscopic pustules that can be accompanied by systemic inflammation and symptoms. A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis were conducted to determine the impact of GPP on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported severity of symptoms and to compare its impact to patients with plaque psoriasis (plaque PsO). Searches were undertaken in Embase, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library from 1 January 2002 to 15 September 2022. Screening was carried out by two reviewers independently. Outcome measures included generic (e.g. EQ-5D, SF-36) and dermatology-specific (e.g. DLQI) clinical outcome assessments, and other relevant patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) (e.g. severity of pain measured by a numerical rating scale). Overall, 20 studies were found to be eligible for inclusion, of which seven also had data for plaque PsO. The DLQI was the most frequently reported outcome measure (16 out of 20 studies). When reported, mean DLQI (SD) scores varied from 5.7 (1.2) to 15.8 (9.6) across the studies, indicating a moderate to very large effect on HRQoL; the wide range of scores and large SDs were explained by the small population sizes (n ≤ 12 for all studies except two). Similar ranges and large SDs were also observed for other measures within individual studies. However, in general, people with GPP reported a greater impact of their skin condition on HRQoL, when compared to people with plaque PsO (i.e. higher DLQI scores) and higher severity for itch, pain and fatigue. This systematic review highlighted the need for studies with a larger population size, a better understanding of the impact of cutaneous and extracutaneous symptoms and comorbidities on HRQoL during and between GPP flares, and outcome measures specifically tailored to the unique symptoms and the natural course/history of GPP.
A Review on the Mechanisms, Applications, and Clinical Trials of Advanced Technologies in the Transdermal Drug Delivery System

Abdul Aziz AF, Beh YQ, Farahiyah II, Syahrul Azmir S, Kee PE, Helal Uddin ABM, et al.

Curr Pharm Biotechnol, 2024 Aug 22.
PMID: 39177135 DOI: 10.2174/0113892010318519240813053106

Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems (TDDS) have emerged as a promising method for administering therapeutic agents due to their non-invasive nature and patient-friendly approach. However, the effectiveness of this system is limited to drugs with specific physicochemical properties that allow for transdermal delivery as the skin acts as a barrier. To address this limitation, researchers have been exploring alternative approaches to improve drug delivery through the stratum corneum, ensuring consistent drug distribution at controlled rates. Thirdgeneration delivery systems have been developed to facilitate the delivery of various drugs across the skin barrier by disrupting the stratum corneum while protecting deeper skin tissues from injury. This review has explored various approaches that have gained popularity in enhancing drug delivery through TDDS, including microneedle-mediated, nanoparticle-enabled, thermal ablation-enhanced, and electroporation-driven delivery systems. It has discussed the mechanisms of drug delivery and potential applications for different types of drugs and detailed the clinical studies. This review has also highlighted the significant advancements in TDDS, offering valuable insights into both the pharmaceutical field and biomedical applications. The continued exploration and refinement of these delivery systems, particularly with the incorporation of Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning, hold promise for expanding the scope of therapeutic interventions.
Use of Comparative Genomics To Resolve an Unusual Case of Aminoglycoside Susceptibility in the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei in Bangladesh

Kaestli M, Farook S, Jilani MSA, Anwar S, Siddiqui TA, Mayo M, et al.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2024 Sep 03.
PMID: 39226893 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0144

Melioidosis is an emerging tropical infectious disease with a rising global burden caused by the environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is endemic in Southeast and South Asia, including Bangladesh. A rare aminoglycoside-susceptible B. pseudomallei isolate (Y2019) has recently been reported from a melioidosis patient in Dhaka, Bangladesh. To understand the geographical origins of Y2019, we subjected it and 10 other isolates from Bangladesh to whole-genome sequencing. In a phylogenetic tree with a global set of B. pseudomallei genomes, most Bangladeshi genomes clustered tightly within the Asian clade. In contrast, Y2019 was closely related to ST881 isolates from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, a gentamicin-sensitive sequence type, suggesting infection in Borneo. Y2019 also contained the same gentamicin sensitivity conferring nonsynonymous mutation in the drug efflux pump encoding the amrB gene. In the absence of a full travel history, whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics tools have revealed the likely origin of this rare isolate.
Thermoluminescence dosimetry properties and kinetic parameters of lithium potassium borate glass co-doped with titanium and magnesium oxides

Hashim S, Alajerami YS, Ramli AT, Ghoshal SK, Saleh MA, Abdul Kadir AB, et al.

Appl Radiat Isot, 2014 Sep;91:126-30.
PMID: 24929526 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.05.023

Lithium potassium borate (LKB) glasses co-doped with TiO2 and MgO were prepared using the melt quenching technique. The glasses were cut into transparent chips and exposed to gamma rays of (60)Co to study their thermoluminescence (TL) properties. The TL glow curve of the Ti-doped material featured a single prominent peak at 230 °C. Additional incorporation of MgO as a co-activator enhanced the TL intensity threefold. LKB:Ti,Mg is a low-Z material (Z(eff)=8.89) with slow signal fading. Its radiation sensitivity is 12 times lower that the sensitivity of TLD-100. The dose response is linear at doses up to 10(3) Gy. The trap parameters, such as the kinetics order, activation energy, and frequency factor, which are related to the glow peak, were determined using TolAnal software.
Cytotoxic evaluation of biomechanically improved crosslinked ovine collagen on human dermal fibroblasts

Awang MA, Firdaus MA, Busra MB, Chowdhury SR, Fadilah NR, Wan Hamirul WK, et al.

Biomed Mater Eng, 2014;24(4):1715-24.
PMID: 24948455 DOI: 10.3233/BME-140983

Earlier studies in our laboratory demonstrated that collagen extracted from ovine tendon is biocompatible towards human dermal fibroblast. To be able to use this collagen as a scaffold in skin tissue engineering, a mechanically stronger scaffold is required that can withstand manipulation before transplantation. This study was conducted to improve the mechanical strength of this collagen sponge using chemical crosslinkers, and evaluate their effect on physical, chemical and biocompatible properties. Collagen sponge was crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and glutaraldehyde (GA). Tensile test, FTIR study and mercury porosimetry were used to evaluate mechanical properties, chemical property and porosity, respectively. MTT assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of crosslinked collagen sponge on human dermal fibroblasts. The FTIR study confirmed the successful crosslinking of collagen sponge. Crosslinking with EDC and GA significantly increased the mechanical strength of collagen sponge, with GA being more superior. Crosslinking of collagen sponge significantly reduced the porosity and the effect was predominant in GA-crosslinked collagen sponge. The GA-crosslinked collagen showed significantly lower, 60% cell viability towards human dermal fibroblasts compared to that of EDC-crosslinked collagen, 80% and non-crosslinked collagen, 100%. Although the mechanical strength was better when using GA but the more toxic effect on dermal fibroblast makes EDC a more suitable crosslinker for future skin tissue engineering.
Two closely spaced nonsense mutations in the DMD gene in a Malaysian family

Rani AQ, Malueka RG, Sasongko TH, Awano H, Lee T, Yagi M, et al.

Mol Genet Metab, 2011 Jul;103(3):303-4.
PMID: 21514860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2011.04.002

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), identification of one nonsense mutation in the DMD gene has been considered an endpoint of genetic diagnosis. Here, we identified two closely spaced nonsense mutations in the DMD gene. In a Malaysian DMD patient two nonsense mutations (p.234S>X and p.249Q>X, respectively) were identified within exon 8. The proband's mother carried both mutations on one allele. Multiple mutations may explain the occasional discrepancies between genotype and phenotype in dystrophinopathy.
Fulltext Pregnancy, Primary Aldosteronism, and Adrenal CTNNB1 Mutations

Teo AE, Garg S, Shaikh LH, Zhou J, Karet Frankl FE, Gurnell M, et al.

N Engl J Med, 2015 Oct 08;373(15):1429-36.
PMID: 26397949 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1504869

Recent discoveries of somatic mutations permit the recognition of subtypes of aldosterone-producing adenomas with distinct clinical presentations and pathological features. Here we describe three women with hyperaldosteronism, two who presented in pregnancy and one who presented after menopause. Their aldosterone-producing adenomas harbored activating mutations of CTNNB1, encoding β-catenin in the Wnt cell-differentiation pathway, and expressed LHCGR and GNRHR, encoding gonadal receptors, at levels that were more than 100 times as high as the levels in other aldosterone-producing adenomas. The mutations stimulate Wnt activation and cause adrenocortical cells to de-differentiate toward their common adrenal-gonadal precursor cell type. (Funded by grants from the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and others.).
Fulltext DACH1, a zona glomerulosa selective gene in the human adrenal, activates transforming growth factor-β signaling and suppresses aldosterone secretion

Zhou J, Shaikh LH, Neogi SG, McFarlane I, Zhao W, Figg N, et al.

Hypertension, 2015 May;65(5):1103-10.
PMID: 25776071 DOI: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000025

Common somatic mutations in CACNAID and ATP1A1 may define a subgroup of smaller, zona glomerulosa (ZG)-like aldosterone-producing adenomas. We have therefore sought signature ZG genes, which may provide insight into the frequency and pathogenesis of ZG-like aldosterone-producing adenomas. Twenty-one pairs of zona fasciculata and ZG and 14 paired aldosterone-producing adenomas from 14 patients with Conn's syndrome and 7 patients with pheochromocytoma were assayed by the Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array. Validation by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed on genes >10-fold upregulated in ZG (compared with zona fasciculata) and >10-fold upregulated in aldosterone-producing adenomas (compared with ZG). DACH1, a gene associated with tumor progression, was further analyzed. The role of DACH1 on steroidogenesis, transforming growth factor-β, and Wnt signaling activity was assessed in the human adrenocortical cell line, H295R. Immunohistochemistry confirmed selective expression of DACH1 in human ZG. Silencing of DACH1 in H295R cells increased CYP11B2 mRNA levels and aldosterone production, whereas overexpression of DACH1 decreased aldosterone production. Overexpression of DACH1 in H295R cells activated the transforming growth factor-β and canonical Wnt signaling pathways but inhibited the noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway. Stimulation of primary human adrenal cells with angiotensin II decreased DACH1 mRNA expression. Interestingly, there was little overlap between our top ZG genes and those in rodent ZG. In conclusion, (1) the transcriptome profile of human ZG differs from rodent ZG, (2) DACH1 inhibits aldosterone secretion in human adrenals, and (3) transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway is activated in DACH1 overexpressed cells and may mediate inhibition of aldosterone secretion in human adrenals.
Source, distribution and emerging threat of micro- and nanoplastics to marine organism and human health: Socio-economic impact and management strategies

Mofijur M, Ahmed SF, Rahman SMA, Arafat Siddiki SY, Islam ABMS, Shahabuddin M, et al.

Environ Res, 2021 04;195:110857.
PMID: 33581088 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110857

The nature of micro- and nanoplastics and their harmful consequences has drawn significant attention in recent years in the context of environmental protection. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of the existing literature related to this evolving subject, focusing on the documented human health and marine environment impacts of micro- and nanoplastics and including a discussion of the economic challenges and strategies to mitigate this waste problem. The study highlights the micro- and nanoplastics distribution across various trophic levels of the food web, and in different organs in infected animals which is possible due to their reduced size and their lightweight, multi-coloured and abundant features. Consequently, micro- and nanoplastics pose significant risks to marine organisms and human health in the form of cytotoxicity, acute reactions, and undesirable immune responses. They affect several sectors including aquaculture, agriculture, fisheries, transportation, industrial sectors, power generation, tourism, and local authorities causing considerable economic losses. This can be minimised by identifying key sources of environmental plastic contamination and educating the public, thus reducing the transfer of micro- and nanoplastics into the environment. Furthermore, the exploitation of the potential of microorganisms, particularly those from marine origins that can degrade plastics, could offer an enhanced and environmentally sound approach to mitigate micro- and nanoplastics pollution.
Improved functional assessment of osteoarthritic knee joint after chondrogenically induced cell treatment

Ude CC, Ng MH, Chen CH, Htwe O, Amaramalar NS, Hassan S, et al.

Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 2015 Aug;23(8):1294-306.
PMID: 25887366 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.04.003

OBJECTIVES: Our previous studies on osteoarthritis (OA) revealed positive outcome after chondrogenically induced cells treatment. Presently, the functional improvements of these treated OA knee joints were quantified followed by evaluation of the mechanical properties of the engineered cartilages.
METHODS: Baseline electromyogram (EMGs) were conducted at week 0 (pre-OA), on the locomotory muscles of nine un-castrated male sheep (Siamese long tail cross) divided into controls, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs), before OA inductions. Subsequent recordings were performed at week 7 and week 31 which were post-OA and post-treatments. Afterwards, the compression tests of the regenerated cartilage were performed.
RESULTS: Post-treatment EMG analysis revealed that the control sheep retained significant reductions in amplitudes at the right medial gluteus, vastus lateralis and bicep femoris, whereas BMSCs and ADSCs samples had no further significant reductions (P < 0.05). Grossly and histologically, the treated knee joints demonstrated the presence of regenerated neo cartilages evidenced by the fluorescence of PKH26 tracker. Based on the International Cartilage Repair Society scores (ICRS), they had significantly lower grades than the controls (P < 0.05). The compression moduli of the native cartilages and the engineered cartilages differed significantly at the tibia plateau, patella femoral groove and the patella; whereas at the medial femoral condyle, they had similar moduli of 0.69 MPa and 0.40-0.64 MPa respectively. Their compression strengths at all four regions were within ±10 MPa.
CONCLUSION: The tissue engineered cartilages provided evidence of functional recoveries associated to the structural regenerations, and their mechanical properties were comparable with the native cartilage.
KEYWORDS: Cartilage; Cell therapy; Function; Osteoarthritis; Regeneration
Fulltext BIOSOLVE-IV-registry: Safety and performance of the Magmaris scaffold: 12-month outcomes of the first cohort of 1,075 patients

Verheye S, Wlodarczak A, Montorsi P, Torzewski J, Bennett J, Haude M, et al.

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv, 2021 Jul 01;98(1):E1-E8.
PMID: 32881396 DOI: 10.1002/ccd.29260

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the safety and performance of the Magmaris sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable magnesium scaffold in a large patient population.
BACKGROUND: Magmaris has shown good outcomes in small-sized controlled trials, but further data are needed to confirm its usability, safety, and performance.
METHODS: BIOSOLVE-IV is an international, single arm, multicenter registry including patients with a maximum of two single de novo lesions. Follow-up is scheduled up to 5 years; the primary outcome is target lesion failure (TLF) at 12 months.
RESULTS: A total of 1,075 patients with 1,121 lesions were enrolled. Mean patient age was 61.3 ± 10.5 years and 19.2% (n = 206) presented with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Lesions were 3.2 ± 0.3 mm in diameter and 14.9 ± 4.2 mm long; 5.1% (n = 57) were bifurcation lesions. Device success was 97.3% (n = 1,129) and procedure success 98.9% (n = 1,063). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of TLF at 12 months was 4.3% [95% confidence interval, CI: 3.2, 5.7] consisting of 3.9% target lesion revascularizations, 0.2% cardiac death, and 1.1% target-vessel myocardial infarction. Definite/probable scaffold thrombosis occurred in five patients (0.5% [95% CI: 0.2, 1.1]), thereof four after early discontinuation of antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy.
CONCLUSION: BIOSOLVE-IV confirms the safety and performance of the Magmaris scaffold in a large population with excellent device and procedure success and a very good safety profile up to 12 months in a low-risk population.
Fulltext Methotrexate-Loaded Gelatin and Polyvinyl Alcohol (Gel/PVA) Hydrogel as a pH-Sensitive Matrix

Akhlaq M, Azad AK, Ullah I, Nawaz A, Safdar M, Bhattacharya T, et al.

Polymers (Basel), 2021 Jul 14;13(14).
PMID: 34301057 DOI: 10.3390/polym13142300

The aim was to formulate and evaluate Gel/PVA hydrogels as a pH-sensitive matrix to deliver methotrexate (MTX) to colon. The primed Gel/PVA hydrogels were subjected to evaluation for swelling behavior, diffusion coefficient, sol-gel characteristic and porosity using an acidic (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer (PBS) (pH 6.8 & pH 7.4) media. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed to evaluate the chemical compatibility of the Gel/PVA hydrogel. The shape alteration and release of Gel/PVA hydrogel was conducted at pH 1.2, pH 6.8 and pH 7.4. The drug release kinetic mechanism was determined using various kinetic equations. The physicochemical evaluation tests and drug release profile results were found to be significant (p < 0.01). However, it was dependent on the polymers' concentration, the pH of the release media and the amount of the cross-linking agent. Hydrogels containing the maximum amount of gel showed a dynamic equilibrium of 10.09 ± 0.18 and drug release of 93.75 ± 0.13% at pH 1.2. The kinetic models showed the release of MTX from the Gel/PVA hydrogel was non-Fickian. The results confirmed that the newly formed Gel/PVA hydrogels are potential drug delivery systems for a controlled delivery of MTX to the colon.
Fulltext Nutritional status of children below five years in Malaysia: Anthropometric analyses from the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey III (NHMS, 2006)

Khor GL, Noor Safiza MN, Jamalludin AB, Jamaiyah H, Geeta A, Kee CC, et al.

Malays J Nutr, 2009 Sep;15(2):121-36.
PMID: 22691811 MyJurnal

The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS III) was conducted in 2006 on a nationally representative sample of population in Malaysia. Over 21,000 children aged 0-17.9 years were measured for body weight and stature according to the protocol of the World Health Organization. This article describes the nutritional status of children aged 0-59.9 months. Mean z score for weightfor-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age were compared with the z-scores tables of the WHO standards. The overall prevalence of underweight and stunting of the children were 12.9% and 17.2% respectively. These levels included 2.4% severe underweight and 6.0% severe stunting. In terms of z scores, the age group of 0-5.9 months showed the best nutritional status with mean WAZ of -0.33 (95%CI: -0.52, 0.15) and -0.40 (-0.57, 0.24) for boys and girls respectively, while mean HAZ was 0.64 (0.38, 0.89) for boys and 0.76 (0.54, 0.98) for girls. Mean HAZ and WAZ status was least satisfactory after about 6 months, suggesting a faltering in growth rate at an age that coincides with dependence on complementary feeding. Prevalence of overweight based on BMI-for-age for the sexes combined was 6.4%, while that based on WAZ was 3.4%. The NHMS III results indicate that Malaysian children have better nutritional status compared to children under 5 years in neighbouring countries. In order to meet the targets set in the National Plan of Nutrition (2006-2015), more effective intervention programmes are needed to accelerate the reduction of underweight and stunting, and to arrest the rise of overweight in young children.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2006)
In vivo skin dose measurement using MOSkin detectors in tangential breast radiotherapy

Jong WL, Ung NM, Wong JH, Ng KH, Wan Ishak WZ, Abdul Malik R, et al.

Phys Med, 2016 Nov;32(11):1466-1474.
PMID: 27842982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.10.022

The purpose of this study is to measure patient skin dose in tangential breast radiotherapy. Treatment planning dose calculation algorithm such as Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) and in vivo dosimetry techniques such as radiochromic film can be used to accurately monitor radiation doses at tissue depths, but they are inaccurate for skin dose measurement. A MOSFET-based (MOSkin) detector was used to measure skin dose in this study. Tangential breast radiotherapies ("bolus" and "no bolus") were simulated on an anthropomorphic phantom and the skin doses were measured. Skin doses were also measured in 13 patients undergoing each of the techniques. In the patient study, the EBT2 measurements and PBC calculation tended to over-estimate the skin dose compared with the MOSkin detector (p<0.05) in the "no bolus radiotherapy". No significant differences were observed in the "bolus radiotherapy" (p>0.05). The results from patients were similar to that of the phantom study. This shows that the EBT2 measurement and PBC calculation, while able to predict accurate doses at tissue depths, are inaccurate in predicting doses at build-up regions. The clinical application of the MOSkin detectors showed that the average total skin doses received by patients were 1662±129cGy (medial) and 1893±199cGy (lateral) during "no bolus radiotherapy". The average total skin doses were 4030±72cGy (medial) and 4004±91cGy (lateral) for "bolus radiotherapy". In some cases, patient skin doses were shown to exceed the dose toxicity level for skin erythema. Hence, a suitable device for in vivo dosimetry is necessary to accurately determine skin dose.
Fulltext Hybrid artificial neural network and structural equation modelling techniques: a survey

Albahri AS, Alnoor A, Zaidan AA, Albahri OS, Hameed H, Zaidan BB, et al.

Complex Intell Systems, 2022;8(2):1781-1801.
PMID: 34777975 DOI: 10.1007/s40747-021-00503-w

Topical treatments with structural equation modelling (SEM) and an artificial neural network (ANN), including a wide range of concepts, benefits, challenges and anxieties, have emerged in various fields and are becoming increasingly important. Although SEM can determine relationships amongst unobserved constructs (i.e. independent, mediator, moderator, control and dependent variables), it is insufficient for providing non-compensatory relationships amongst constructs. In contrast with previous studies, a newly proposed methodology that involves a dual-stage analysis of SEM and ANN was performed to provide linear and non-compensatory relationships amongst constructs. Consequently, numerous distinct types of studies in diverse sectors have conducted hybrid SEM-ANN analysis. Accordingly, the current work supplements the academic literature with a systematic review that includes all major SEM-ANN techniques used in 11 industries published in the past 6 years. This study presents a state-of-the-art SEM-ANN classification taxonomy based on industries and compares the effort in various domains to that classification. To achieve this objective, we examined the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus and IEEE Xplore ® databases to retrieve 239 articles from 2016 to 2021. The obtained articles were filtered on the basis of inclusion criteria, and 60 studies were selected and classified under 11 categories. This multi-field systematic study uncovered new research possibilities, motivations, challenges, limitations and recommendations that must be addressed for the synergistic integration of multidisciplinary studies. It contributed two points of potential future work resulting from the developed taxonomy. First, the importance of the determinants of play, musical and art therapy adoption amongst autistic children within the healthcare sector is the most important consideration for future investigations. In this context, the second potential future work can use SEM-ANN to determine the barriers to adopting sensing-enhanced therapy amongst autistic children to satisfy the recommendations provided by the healthcare sector. The analysis indicates that the manufacturing and technology sectors have conducted the most number of investigations, whereas the construction and small- and medium-sized enterprise sectors have conducted the least. This study will provide a helpful reference to academics and practitioners by providing guidance and insightful knowledge for future studies.

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