METHODS: This was an experimental study conducted at five hospitals and 20 primary health care clinics in the state of Perak. Adults over 18 years of age were recruited using sequential sampling. The first phase of data collection consisted of a pre-intervention assessment, an educational session, and an immediate post-intervention assessment. Each educational session was conducted by trained pharmacists and lasted approximately 15 min for each participant. A two-week post-intervention assessment was then conducted via a phone call to re-assess the participants using the same questionnaire.
RESULTS: Out of 300 questionnaires distributed, 234 were completed for our study. The mean age of participants was 40.7 ± 14.6 years old. Most of the respondents were female (143, 61.1%), Malay (162, 69.2%), and had tertiary education (162, 69.2%). A mean score was generated for each domain, with knowledge towards antibiotic resistance: 2.83 ± 1.28 pre-intervention, 3.76 ± 0.62 immediate post-intervention, and 3.67 ± 0.78 two-weeks post-intervention (total score: 4.00); knowledge towards antibiotic use: 2.03 ± 1.56 pre-intervention, 4.56 ± 1.46 immediate post-intervention, and 4.32 ± 1.48 two-weeks post-intervention (total score: 6.00); perception towards antibiotic use: 2.83 ± 1.38 pre-intervention, 4.25 ± 1.06 immediate post-intervention, and 4.22 ± 1.02 two-weeks post-intervention (total score: 5.00). Significant improvement in the mean scores were found before and after intervention in all domains (p
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of a five-minute mindful breathing practice performed three times per day for three months on perceived stress and mindfulness among patients with cancer.
METHODS: This longitudinal, randomized controlled study used a two-group, pre-/post-study design. Patients with distress scores of 4 or higher were randomized into two study arms. Participants in the intervention group were educated on mindfulness and guided on how to perform a five-minute mindful breathing practice. Perceived stress and mindfulness were assessed at baseline, one month postintervention, and three months postintervention.
FINDINGS: Both groups had no significant difference in perceived stress and mindfulness scores at baseline. At three months, the intervention group reported a significant reduction in stress and an increase in mindfulness.
AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-glucan prepared from L. rhinocerotis using an enzymatic method on epithelial restitution during intestinal mucosal damage.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on FT-IR, MALDI-TOF-MS, HPSEC-MALLS-RID, and AFM, the structure of polysaccharides from L. rhinocerotis was analysed. In addition, polysaccharides were used to test for wound healing activity in IEC-6 cells by measuring cell migration, proliferation, and expression of cell division control protein 42, Rac-1, RhoA, and Par-3.
RESULTS: β-glucan was extracted using enzyme-assisted extraction, and a yield of approximately 8.5 ± 0.8% was obtained from the dried biomass. The β-glucan extracted by enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of polysaccharides was composed entirely of D-glucose with a total carbohydrate content of 95.5 ± 3.2%. The results of HPLC, FTIR, and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses revealed EAEP to be confirmed as β-glucan. The molecular weight of prepared β-glucan was found to be 5.315 × 104 g/mol by HPSEC-MALLS-RID. Furthermore, mucosal wound healing studies showed that the treatment of IEC-6 with a β-glucan concentration of 200 μg/mL promoted cell migration and proliferation, and it enhanced the protein expression of cell division control protein 42, Rac-1, RhoA, and Par-3.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals that the prepared β-glucan accelerates intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and migration via activation of Rho-dependent pathway. Hence, β-glucan can be employed as a prospective therapeutic agent for the treatment of diseases associated with gastrointestinal mucosal damage, such as peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.
METHODS: CYP2D6 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. CYP2D6-antiarthritic compound interactions were studied using in vitro enzyme kinetics assay and molecular docking.
RESULTS: The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based dextromethorphan O-demethylase assay was established as CYP2D6 marker. All glucosamines and chondroitins weakly inhibited CYP2D6 (IC50 values >300 µM). Diacerein exhibited moderate inhibition with IC50 and K i values of 34.99 and 38.27 µM, respectively. Its major metabolite, rhein displayed stronger inhibition potencies (IC50=26.22 μM and K i =32.27 μM). Both compounds exhibited mixed-mode of inhibition. In silico molecular dockings further supported data from the in vitro study. From in vitro-in vivo extrapolation, rhein presented an area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) ratio of 1.5, indicating low potential to cause in vivo inhibition.
CONCLUSIONS: Glucosamine, chondroitin and diacerein unlikely cause clinical interaction with the drug substrates of CYP2D6. Rhein, exhibits only low potential to cause in vivo inhibition.