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  1. Fulltext The Emergence of Edible and Food-Application Coatings for Food Packaging: A Review
    Iversen LJL, Rovina K, Vonnie JM, Matanjun P, Erna KH, 'Aqilah NMN, et al.
    Molecules, 2022 Aug 31;27(17).
    PMID: 36080371 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175604
    Food packaging was not as important in the past as it is now, because the world has more people but fewer food resources. Food packaging will become more prevalent and go from being a nice-to-have to an essential feature of modern life. Food packaging has grown to be an important industry sector in today's world of more people and more food. Food packaging innovation faces significant challenges in extending perishable food products' shelf life and contributing to meeting daily nutrient requirements as people nowadays are searching for foods that offer additional health advantages. Modern food preservation techniques have two objectives: process viability and safe, environmentally friendly end products. Long-term storage techniques can include the use of edible coatings and films. This article gives a succinct overview of the supplies and procedures used to coat food products with conventional packaging films and coatings. The key findings summarizing the biodegradable packaging materials are emphasized for their ability to prolong the freshness and flavor of a wide range of food items; films and edible coatings are highlighted as viable alternatives to traditional packaging methods. We discuss the safety concerns and opportunities presented by applying edible films and coatings, allowing it to be used as quality indicators for time-sensitive foods.
  2. Fulltext Exploring the knowledge, attitude and practice towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness: A prescriptive insight by the community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates
    Jairoun AA, Al-Hemyari SS, Shahwan M, Alorfi NM, El-Dahiyat F, Hossain MS, et al.
    PLoS One, 2022;17(8):e0273209.
    PMID: 36006935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273209
    BACKGROUND: Proper disaster preparedness by community pharmacists has the potential to counter many of the factors that cause threats and high-risk outcomes. Their preparedness and awareness may also help health practitioners and governments to improve disaster response planning.

    OBJECTIVES: This aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted over the ten months among licensed community pharmacists who had three months' professional experience or more. Face-to-face interviews were carried out and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors influencing aboucine preparedness and readiness. SPSS Version 24 was used to analyze the data collected.

    RESULTS: A total of 500 community pharmacists participated in the study. The average knowledge score was 25.6% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [21.7%, 29.4%]. Better knowledge scores were observed in the male gender (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.05-3.72), participants aged ≥ 31 years old (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.16-7.6), postgraduates (OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.6-7.3), participants from independent Pharmacies (OR 6.5; 95% CI 4.04-10.4 3), chief pharmacists (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.86-5.07), participants with 16 years and more experience years (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.063-5.522) and participants who graduated from regional/international universities (OR 5.92; 95% CI 2.65-13.2). Better attitude and practice about disaster medicine preparedness were observed in postgraduates (OR 2.54; 95% CI 1.26-pharmacists from independent pharmacies (OR 1.35; 95% CI 2.43-2,.66), and chief pharmacists (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.17-1.35).

    CONCLUSIONS: It's essential to provide a continuing education program using different educational strategies urgently needed to improve community pharmacy competencies (e.g. knowledge attitudes, and perceptions) to improve the skills and practices regarding disaster medicine preparedness and readiness.

  3. Letter to the editor: In vitro digestion and radiolabeling characteristics of Vital® for gastric emptying scintigraphy
    Tagiling N, Ngo HW, Sahran NF, Mohamad Kamarulzaman MD, Wong MK, Mustaffa N, et al.
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2024 Nov;39(11):2465-2467.
    PMID: 39188097 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16729
  4. Bilateral intermediate uveitis in a healthy teenager with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children secondary to COVID-19 infection
    Sim AYC, Naffi AA, Fai TS, Kori N, Zaidi WAW, Periyasamy P, et al.
    J Med Virol, 2022 Apr;94(4):1269-1271.
    PMID: 34897747 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27521
  5. Fulltext Histopathological Study of the Lungs of Mice Receiving Human Secretory IgA and Challenged with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
    Alvarez N, Infante JF, Borrero R, Mata D, Payan JB, Hossain MM, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2014 May;21(3):31-7.
    PMID: 25246833 MyJurnal
    Humoral and cellular immune responses are associated with protection against extracellular and intracellular pathogens, respectively. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of receiving human secretory immunoglobulin A (hsIgA) on the histopathology of the lungs of mice challenged with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  6. Fulltext Ameliorative Effects of Aquilaria malaccensis Leaves Aqueous Extract on Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Male Rats
    Razak RNHA, Ismail F, Isa MLM, Wahab AYA, Muhammad H, Ramli R, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Jan;26(1):44-57.
    PMID: 30914892 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.1.4
    Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used anti-neoplastic and immunosuppressive agent that is associated with adverse side effects including reproductive toxicity. Aquilaria malaccensis (AM) is a traditional medicinal plant which was reported to exhibit high anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging properties. The present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of AM leaves extract on sperm quality following toxic exposure to CP.

    Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into eight groups of six rats (n = 6): control, CP only (200 mg kg-1), AM only (100 mg kg-1, 300 mg kg-1 and 500 mg kg-1) and CP + AM (100 mg kg-1, 300 mg kg-1 and 500 mg kg-1). Animals were sacrificed after 63 days of treatment and the sperm from the caudal epididymis was taken for sperm analysis.

    Results: The body and the reproductive organs weight, sperm count and motility did not differ between CP and other groups (P > 0.05). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in percentage of the dead and abnormal sperm were seen in the CP alone treated group compared to the control group. Co-administration of AM to the CP exposed rats significantly reduced the (P < 0.05) percentage of abnormal sperm as compared to the CP only group.

    Conclusion: Overall, the present results represent the potential of AM to protect against CP induced reproductive toxicity.

  7. Design, synthesis, structural characterization, cytotoxicity and computational studies of Usnic acid derivative as potential anti-breast cancer agent against MCF7 and T47D cell lines
    Roney M, Wong KKV, Uddin MN, Rullah K, Septama AW, Antika LD, et al.
    Comput Biol Chem, 2024 Dec 02;115:108303.
    PMID: 39657281 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108303
    Development of novel inhibitors is necessary to counteract the rising prevalence of breast cancer (BC) in women in recent years, as evidenced by the side-effect profiles of a few clinically approved inhibitors. In this study, the usnic acid derivative (UA1) was synthesized due to the effectiveness of usnic acid (UA) against BC cell line. Furthermore, the structure of synthesized compound was determined using FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, and HMBC spectroscopic techniques. The anticancer potential of UA1 was assessed using the MTT assay on two different cell lines of BC including MCF7 and T47D. To ascertain the binding affinity and stability of the docking complex, further procedures included the in silico molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, principal component analysis, and binding free energy experiments. The cytotoxicity results show that the UA1 exhibits strong antitumor activities and comparable effects against BC cell lines with the IC50 values of 9.21 µM for MCF7 cell and 14.8 µM for T47D cell, respectively, where the positive control cisplatin showed the IC50 values of 8.95 µM for MCF7 cell and 10.9 µM for T47D cell. Additionally, the molecular docking results of UA1 showed that it interacts strongly into the active site of target protein. Molecular dynamics simulation results also revealed that the docking complex was formed stability with the RMSD and RMSF values of 0.50 nm and 0.19 nm, respectively. According to the PCA analysis, the target protein displays good conformational space behaviour when bound with UA1. Furthermore, the UA1 showed the free binding energy value of -18.52 kcal/mol with the target protein, which indicating that UA1 may prevent BC.
  8. The vascular effects of peppermint (Mentha longifolia. L) on aorta in a mouse model: an ex-vivo and computational study
    Alkharfy KM, Ahmad A, Almuaijel S, Bin Hashim A, Raish M, Jan BL, et al.
    J Biomol Struct Dyn, 2024 Dec 11.
    PMID: 39663630 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2439616
    The present study examined the vascular effects of peppermint or mint (Mentha longifolia L.) using an abdominal aortic rings model. Concentration-response curves for mint oil were generated after precontracting isolated mouse aorta with phenylephrine. The effect of different receptor antagonists and ion channel or enzyme inhibitors on the vasorelaxant potential of mint oil were studied. Molecular docking studies were conducted using computational techniques to investigate the potential interactions between the bioactive constituents of mint oil and key vascular targets. The tension of aortic rings, which had been contracted by phenylephrine, relaxed as a function of the concentration of mint oil (0.0002-2 mg/mL). Pretreatment of the rings with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME), a nonselective β-blocker (propranolol), and a muscarinic receptor blocker (atropine) didn't show significant resistance to the vasodilatory effects of the mint oil. The vasodilatory effects of mint oil were significantly diminished when the rings were pretreated with glibenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. In addition, indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, did influence mint oil's tension in the preparations precontracted with phenylephrine. The present findings imply that ATP-sensitive K+ channels activation, blocking of Ca2+ channels, and inhibition of COX play a role in mediating the mint oil-induced vasorelaxation. Molecular docking studies of mint oil constituents showed that β-Elemene and Aromadendrene can interact with K+ and Ca2+ channels through various hydrophobic interactions with key amino acid residues. Additional work is needed to confirm the possible beneficial application of mint oil or its constituents in regulating the vascular tone.
  9. Post-impact disaster surveillance - a medical reconnaissance team at tsunami-struck sri lanka
    Mohamad N, Abu Bakar NH, Mohamed NA, Baharudin KA, Noh AY, Ahmad R, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):79-83.
    PMID: 22593659 MyJurnal
    Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine are two specialties which are similar in the multidisciplinary involvement during the acute phase of the disaster. Recently, there was an increase in the number of disasters in the world but not many physicians are familiar with the principles for dealing with such situations, the unique organizational demands, coordination and the urgent need for medical assistance and relief. This case report delineates our experiences at a tsunami disaster area and the approach to setting up a medical relief team in the affected area. A medical reconnaissance team comprising of an emergency doctor from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (H.U.S.M) and two MERCY Malaysia members was assembled. The team flew to Colombo on day 5 after the tsunami with medical supplies and related materials. The mission started from December 31(st) 2004 until January 8(th) 2005. Our surveillance area covered the Southern and Eastern Province with a total distance of 1700 km along the coast. The strategies employed during this medical reconnaissance included risk analysis, devising a resources matrix, developing lines of communication and rapport with other relief teams, Sri Lankan government agencies, and local and international non-government organizations. As a result, our team was able to set up a medical relief camp and distribute the relief items to the tsunami victims. In conclusion, the Disaster Emergency Medical Assistant Team (DEMAT) from H.U.S.M and MERCY Malaysia were able to set up and provide medical relief with our limited resources to a large scale disaster situation.
  10. Cu(II) complexes based on benzimidazole ligands: synthesis, characterization, DFT, molecular docking & bioactivity study
    Hamali MA, Roney M, Dubey A, Uddin MN, Zulkifli NA, Fasihi Mohd Aluwi MF, et al.
    Future Med Chem, 2024;16(23):2535-2546.
    PMID: 39530504 DOI: 10.1080/17568919.2024.2419353
    Aim: The biggest cause of cancer deaths globally was lung cancer. New cancer fighting drugs are needed due to the rising number of cancer patients and cancer cells' treatment resistance.Results: Two Cu(II) complexes, synthesized from ligands based on 2-aminomethyl benzimidazole and salicylaldehyde derivatives, were designed and evaluated for their effectiveness against A549 lung cancer. The compounds were subjected to computational calculation using Density Functional Theory (DFT) to gather information on their reactivity. Furthermore, molecular docking are utilized to simulate the interaction between the compound and the MPP-9 protein. The synthesis of the ligands and their Cu(II) metal complexes are efficient and straightforward. The complexation between copper atom and the ligand are in 1:1 ratio. The MTT assay of the compounds against A549 lung carcinoma reveals that the both Cu(II) complexes good cytotoxicity activity, in comparison to their respective ligands. The low HOMO-LUMO band gap based on the DFT calculation predicts the high reactivity of the compounds. Furthermore, the low binding energy and the numbers of interactions of the Cu(II) complexes with MMP-9 protein binding site coincide with the antiproliferative activity tested in vitro.Conclusion: The cytotoxicity studies performed for Cu(L1Br) are promising, indicating a good candidate for a future drug.
  11. 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.
  12. Fulltext Design and simulation of CsPb.625Zn.375IBr2-based perovskite solar cells with different charge transport layers for efficiency enhancement
    Hossain MK, Islam MA, Uddin MS, Paramasivam P, Hamid JA, Alshgari RA, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Dec 03;14(1):30142.
    PMID: 39627336 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-81797-x
    In this work, CsPb.625Zn.375IBr2-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are numerically simulated and optimized under ideal lighting conditions using the SCAPS-1D simulator. We investigate how various hole transport layers (HTL) including Zn3P2, PTAA, MoS2, MoO3, MEH-PPV, GaAs, CuAlO2, Cu2Te, ZnTe, MoTe2, CMTS, CNTS, CZTS, CZTSe and electron transport layers (ETL) such as CdS, SnS2, ZnSe, PC60BM interact with the devices' functionality. Following HTL material optimization, a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.59% was observed for the FTO/SnS2/CsPb.625Zn.375IBr2/MoS2/Au structure, with MoS2 proving to be a more economical option. The remainder of the investigation is done following the HTL optimization. We study how the performance of the PSC is affected by varying the materials of the ETL and to improve the PCE of the device, we finally optimized the thickness, charge carrier densities, and defect densities of the absorber, ETL, and HTL. In the end, the optimized arrangement produced a VOC of 0.583 V, a JSC of 43.95 mA/cm2, an FF of 82.17%, and a PCE of 21.05% for the FTO/ZnSe/CsPb.625Zn.375IBr2/MoS2/Au structure. We also examine the effects of temperature, shunt resistance, series resistance, generation rate, recombination rate, current-voltage (JV) curve, and quantum efficiency (QE) properties to learn more about the performance of the optimized device. At 300 K, the optimized device provides the highest thermal stability. Our research shows the promise of CsPb.625Zn.375IBr2-based PSCs and offers insightful information for further development and improvement.
  13. RNA interference: a promising biotechnological approach to combat plant pathogens, mechanism and future prospects
    Ali A, Shahbaz M, Ölmez F, Fatima N, Umar UUD, Ali MA, et al.
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2024 Oct 03;40(11):339.
    PMID: 39358476 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04143-3
    Plant pathogens and other biological pests represent significant obstacles to crop Protection worldwide. Even though there are many effective conventional methods for controlling plant diseases, new methods that are also effective, environmentally safe, and cost-effective are required. While plant breeding has traditionally been used to manipulate the plant genome to develop resistant cultivars for controlling plant diseases, the emergence of genetic engineering has introduced a completely new approach to render plants resistant to bacteria, nematodes, fungi, and viruses. The RNA interference (RNAi) approach has recently emerged as a potentially useful tool for mitigating the inherent risks associated with the development of conventional transgenics. These risks include the use of specific transgenes, gene control sequences, or marker genes. Utilizing RNAi to silence certain genes is a promising solution to this dilemma as disease-resistant transgenic plants can be generated within a legislative structure. Recent investigations have shown that using target double stranded RNAs via an effective vector system can produce significant silencing effects. Both dsRNA-containing crop sprays and transgenic plants carrying RNAi vectors have proven effective in controlling plant diseases that threaten commercially significant crop species. This article discusses the methods and applications of the most recent RNAi technology for reducing plant diseases to ensure sustainable agricultural yields.
  14. Potential of water-soluble chitosan Schiff bases extracted from Metapenaeus dobsoni shells as effective corrosion inhibitors
    Azmi CNA, Azahar SS, Shamsulazri NAN, Hamidon TS, Hussin MH, Nee TW, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Dec;282(Pt 4):137200.
    PMID: 39489239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137200
    Corrosion causes significant economic losses and structural failures in industries, highlighting the need for eco-friendly inhibitors. Chitosan (CS), a biodegradable and non-toxic biopolymer, shows potential, though its limited water solubility restricts its applications. To overcome this challenge, this study presents the synthesis of two water-soluble chitosan Schiff bases (CSBs) derived from the shells of Metapenaeus dobsoni (M. dobsoni). The extracted CS exhibits a remarkable degree of deacetylation exceeding 95 %, which was subsequently modified through reactions with o-vanillin (2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) (CSB I) and 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (CSB II). Structural characterization using spectroscopic techniques confirmed the successful formation of CSBs. Electrochemical measurements were employed to assess the corrosion resistance of mild steel in 0.5 M HCl with varying concentrations of CSB I and CSB II. The results revealed superior corrosion inhibition by CSB II (% IE = 94.48 %) compared to CSB I (% IE = 88.80 %). The methoxy group in CSB II contributed to its higher electron density and enhanced adsorption, leading to better surface coverage and corrosion resistance. Both inhibitors followed the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting a mix of physisorption and chemisorption. These CSBs are promising for corrosion control in industries like pipelines, storage tanks, construction materials, and acid pickling.
  15. Fulltext Psychological and Livelihood Impacts of COVID-19 on Bangladeshi Lower Income People
    Paul A, Nath TK, Mahanta J, Sultana NN, Kayes ASMI, Noon SJ, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2021 01;33(1):100-108.
    PMID: 33289393 DOI: 10.1177/1010539520977304
    The objective of this research is to understand the psychological and livelihood-related impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Bangladeshi lower income group people who depend on daily earnings for their living. Following the convenience sampling method, 576 respondents were interviewed for quantitative data and 30 in-depth interviews for qualitative information in several districts of Bangladesh. To 94.1% respondents, livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with an overall score of 3.20 ± 0.77 on a 4-point Likert-type scale. In comparison to unemployed respondents, daily workers have been hardly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak (odds ratio [OR] = 7.957; P < .01), and so they are going outside more frequently in search of jobs (OR = 9.984, P < .01). Due to fear of COVID-19 infection and lack of livelihood means, respondents (76.6%) have been stressed out (overall score 3.19 ± 0.81 on a 4-point Likert-type scale), and those working in industries (OR = 5.818, P < .01), farmers (OR = 3.029, P < .05), and day laborers (OR = 2.651, P < .05) have been highly stressed.
  16. Randomised controlled trial on effects of topical insulin compared to artificial tears and normal saline on tear inflammatory mediator levels and clinical parameters in diabetics with dry eye disease
    Atikah A, Suzana M, Wan Haslina WAH, Norshamsiah MD, Mushawiahti M, Birinder KSS, et al.
    Cont Lens Anterior Eye, 2024 Dec 15.
    PMID: 39676005 DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2024.102346
    PURPOSE: To assess the short-term effects of topical insulin (TI) as compared to topical Systane UltraTM (Alcon, USA) as artificial tears (AT) and topical normal saline (NS) on tear inflammatory mediators; interleukin 1-alpha (IL-1a), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and clinical dry eye parameters in diabetics with dry eye disease (DDED).

    METHODS: In this randomized, multi-arm parallel single-centre trial, 73 diabetics with dry eye disease (30 female and 43 male) aged 18 to 50 years were recruited. They were randomly assigned to four weeks of treatment of either TI 0.5 unit/drop, AT or NS four times per day. Tear sample analysis and clinical parameters of dry eye (Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal Oxford score and Schirmers test) were evaluated at baseline and four weeks later. Objective clinical parameters for corneal Oxford score and tear break-up time were assessed by two masked investigators.

    RESULTS: Significant reduction was seen in all inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1a, IL-6 and MMP-9) in all treatment groups at 4 weeks. In addition, inflammatory biomarkers demonstrated a significant reduction with TI (p 

  17. Fulltext Ultra-compact quintuple-band terahertz metamaterial biosensor for enhanced blood cancer diagnostics
    Hamza MN, Tariqul Islam M, Lavadiya S, Ud Din I, Sanches B, Koziel S, et al.
    PLoS One, 2025;20(1):e0313874.
    PMID: 39787168 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313874
    Cancer and its diverse variations pose one of the most significant threats to human health and well-being. One of the most aggressive forms is blood cancer, originating from bone marrow cells and disrupting the production of normal blood cells. The incidence of blood cancer is steadily increasing, driven by both genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, early detection is crucial as it enhances treatment outcomes and improves success rates. However, accurate diagnosis is challenging due to the inherent similarities between normal and cancerous cells. Although various techniques are available for blood cancer identification, high-frequency imaging techniques have recently shown promise, particularly for real-time monitoring. Notably, terahertz (THz) frequencies offer unique advantages for biomedical applications. This research proposes an innovative terahertz metamaterial-based biosensor for high-efficacy blood cancer detection. The proposed structure is ultra-compact and operates across five bands within the range of 0.6 to 1.2 THz. It is constructed using a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dielectric layer and two aluminum (Al) layers, with the top layer serving as a base for the THz-range resonator. Careful design, architectural arrangement, and optimization of the geometry parameters allow for achieving nearly perfect absorption rates (>95%) across all operating bands. The properties of the proposed sensor are extensively evaluated through full-wave electromagnetic (EM) analysis, which includes assessing the refractive index and the distribution of the electric field at individual working frequencies. The suitability for blood cancer diagnosis has been validated by integrating the sensor into a microwave imaging (MWI) system and conducting comprehensive simulation studies. These studies underscore the device's capability to detect abnormalities, particularly in distinguishing between healthy and cancerous cells. Benchmarking against state-of-the-art biosensors in recent literature indicates that the proposed sensor is highly competitive in terms of major performance indicators while maintaining a compact size.
  18. Internet use and addiction among medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia
    Haque M, Rahman NA, Majumder MA, Haque SZ, Kamal ZM, Islam Z, et al.
    Psychol Res Behav Manag, 2016;9:297-307.
    PMID: 27881928
    BACKGROUND: The use of Internet has now become indispensable, and the technology has revolutionized the medical education and practice worldwide. Currently, medical students and professionals have an enormous opportunity to keep them always updated with the exponential growth of knowledge because of potential progression of Internet throughout the world that enables them to become a lifelong learner. Internet addiction is a widespread phenomenon among students and academicians at universities in Malaysia. Students use the Internet for recreational purpose and personal and professional development. The Internet has become an integral part of day-to-day life of the university students, including medical students. The aim of the present study was to examine the Internet use and addiction among students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which a questionnaire, Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire, developed by the Center for Internet Addiction, USA, was used. One hundred forty-nine medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin participated in this study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software.

    RESULTS: The mean scores were 44.9±14.05 and 41.4±13.05 for male and female participants, respectively, which indicated that both the genders were suffering from mild Internet addiction.

    CONCLUSION: This study shows almost similar level of Internet usage among medical students irrespective of their socioeconomic background, with no statistically significant (p>0.05) differences, except among the years of study (p=0.007). Overall, from the research data and having worked with this cohort very closely, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin medical students can be labeled as wonted and recurring users of the Internet. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to define as Internet addicts or pathological users of the Internet because of small sample size and cross-sectional study.

  19. Fulltext Neurological Sequelae of Post-COVID-19 Fatigue: A Narrative Review of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV-Mediated Cerebrovascular Complications
    Che Mohd Nassir CMN, Che Ramli MD, Jaffer U, Abdul Hamid H, Mehat MZ, Mohamad Ghazali M, et al.
    Curr Issues Mol Biol, 2024 Nov 28;46(12):13565-13582.
    PMID: 39727939 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46120811
    Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global pandemic affecting millions of people's lives, which has led to 'post-COVID-19 fatigue'. Alarmingly, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only infects the lungs but also influences the heart and brain. Endothelial cell dysfunction and hypercoagulation, which we know occur with this infection, lead to thrombo-inflammation that can manifest as many myriad cardio-cerebrovascular disorders, such as brain fog, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, etc. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with oxidative stress, protein aggregation, cytokine storm, and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Accordingly, the identification of molecular targets involved in these actions could provide strategies for preventing and treating this disease. In particular, the very common enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) has recently been identified as a candidate co-receptor for the cell entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with its involvement in infection. In addition, DPPIV has been reported as a co-receptor for some viruses such as Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It mediates immunologic reactions and diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension, which have been considered the prime risk factors for stroke among other types of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Unlike angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), DPPIV has been implicated in aggravating the course of infection due to its disruptive effect on inflammatory signaling networks and the neuro-glia-vascular unit. Regarding the neurological, physiological, and molecular grounds governing post-COVID-19 fatigue, this review focuses on DPPIV as one of such reasons that progressively establishes cerebrovascular grievances following SARS-CoV infection.
  20. Comprehensive Insights Into the Combinatorial Uses of Selected Phytochemicals in Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Isothiocyanates, Quinones, Carotenoids, and Alkaloids
    Deng X, Yang Z, Han M, Ismail N, Esa NM, Razis AFA, et al.
    Phytother Res, 2025 Jan;39(1):413-452.
    PMID: 39557422 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8378
    Despite the advancement in cancer diagnosis and treatment, colorectal cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Given the high recurrence rate of colorectal cancer even after surgical resection, chemotherapy has been clinically used to improve the treatment outcomes of colorectal cancer. However, chemotherapy is well-known for its toxic side effects. Thus, phytochemicals have been widely studied in recent years as preventive and therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer owing to their relatively low toxicity. Moreover, combinatorial uses of phytochemicals with other natural compounds or with drugs may amplify the positive outcomes of colorectal cancer prevention and treatment by intervening in multiple signaling pathways and targets. This review summarized the combinatorial use of several well-studied groups of phytochemicals, that is, isothiocyanates, quinones, carotenoids, and alkaloids, in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer, and suggested it as a potential approach to improve the anticancer efficacy of single compounds and minimize the toxic side effects associated with conventional drugs. Notably, we generalized the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical experiments-based molecular mechanisms whereby the selected phytochemicals in combination with other compounds exerted anti-colorectal cancer effects by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell invasion, and tumor growth. Overall, this review provides a reference and new perspective to propel further advancements in research and development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer.
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