Displaying publications 561 - 580 of 4601 in total

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  1. Fulltext The relationship between telomere length and beekeeping among Malaysians
    Nasir NF, Kannan TP, Sulaiman SA, Shamsuddin S, Azlina A, Stangaciu S
    Age (Dordr), 2015 Jun;37(3):9797.
    PMID: 26028466 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-015-9797-6
    The belief that beekeepers live longer than anyone else is present since ages. However, no research has been done to explore the longevity of life in beekeepers. Here, we investigated the telomere length in 30 male beekeepers and 30 male non-beekeepers and associated them with the longevity of life using Southern analysis of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) generated by Hinf I/Rsa I digestion of human genomic DNA using TeloTAGGG Telomere Length Assay. Interestingly, we found that the telomere length of male beekeepers was significantly longer than those of male non-beekeepers with a p value of less than 0.05, suggesting that beekeepers may have longer life compared to non-beekeepers. We further found that the consumption of bee products for a long period and frequent consumption of bee products per day are associated with telomere length. An increase of year in consuming bee products is associated with a mean increase in telomere length of 0.258 kbp. In addition, an increase in frequency of eating bee products per day was also associated with a mean increase of 2.66 kbp in telomere length. These results suggested that bee products might play some roles in telomere length maintenance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Pressure/physiology; Telomere Homeostasis/physiology*
  2. Comparative proteomic analysis of oil palm leaves infected with Ganoderma boninense revealed changes in proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and immunity and defense
    Jeffery Daim LD, Ooi TE, Ithnin N, Mohd Yusof H, Kulaveerasingam H, Abdul Majid N, et al.
    Electrophoresis, 2015 Aug;36(15):1699-710.
    PMID: 25930948 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201400608
    The basidiomycete fungal pathogen Ganoderma boninense is the causative agent for the incurable basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm. This disease causes significant annual crop losses in the oil palm industry. Currently, there is no effective method for disease control and elimination, nor is any molecular marker for early detection of the disease available. An understanding of how BSR affects protein expression in plants may help identify and/or assist in the development of an early detection protocol. Although the mode of infection of BSR disease is primarily via the root system, defense-related genes have been shown to be expressed in both the root and leafs. Thus, to provide an insight into the changes in the global protein expression profile in infected plants, comparative 2DE was performed on leaf tissues sampled from palms with and without artificial inoculation of the Ganoderma fungus. Comparative 2DE revealed that 54 protein spots changed in abundance. A total of 51 protein spots were successfully identified by LC-QTOF MS/MS. The majority of these proteins were those involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism as well as immunity and defense.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Leaves/physiology; Protein Interaction Maps/physiology
  3. Fulltext Analysis of human standing balance by largest lyapunov exponent
    Liu K, Wang H, Xiao J, Taha Z
    Comput Intell Neurosci, 2015;2015:158478.
    PMID: 25866500 DOI: 10.1155/2015/158478
    The purpose of this research is to analyse the relationship between nonlinear dynamic character and individuals' standing balance by the largest Lyapunov exponent, which is regarded as a metric for assessing standing balance. According to previous study, the largest Lyapunov exponent from centre of pressure time series could not well quantify the human balance ability. In this research, two improvements were made. Firstly, an external stimulus was applied to feet in the form of continuous horizontal sinusoidal motion by a moving platform. Secondly, a multiaccelerometer subsystem was adopted. Twenty healthy volunteers participated in this experiment. A new metric, coordinated largest Lyapunov exponent was proposed, which reflected the relationship of body segments by integrating multidimensional largest Lyapunov exponent values. By using this metric in actual standing performance under sinusoidal stimulus, an obvious relationship between the new metric and the actual balance ability was found in the majority of the subjects. These results show that the sinusoidal stimulus can make human balance characteristics more obvious, which is beneficial to assess balance, and balance is determined by the ability of coordinating all body segments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Postural Balance/physiology*; Posture/physiology*
  4. Fulltext Preload-based starling-like control for rotary blood pumps: numerical comparison with pulsatility control and constant speed operation
    Mansouri M, Salamonsen RF, Lim E, Akmeliawati R, Lovell NH
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0121413.
    PMID: 25849979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121413
    In this study, we evaluate a preload-based Starling-like controller for implantable rotary blood pumps (IRBPs) using left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (PLVED) as the feedback variable. Simulations are conducted using a validated mathematical model. The controller emulates the response of the natural left ventricle (LV) to changes in PLVED. We report the performance of the preload-based Starling-like controller in comparison with our recently designed pulsatility controller and constant speed operation. In handling the transition from a baseline state to test states, which include vigorous exercise, blood loss and a major reduction in the LV contractility (LVC), the preload controller outperformed pulsatility control and constant speed operation in all three test scenarios. In exercise, preload-control achieved an increase of 54% in mean pump flow ([Formula: see text]) with minimum loading on the LV, while pulsatility control achieved only a 5% increase in flow and a decrease in mean pump speed. In a hemorrhage scenario, the preload control maintained the greatest safety margin against LV suction. PLVED for the preload controller was 4.9 mmHg, compared with 0.4 mmHg for the pulsatility controller and 0.2 mmHg for the constant speed mode. This was associated with an adequate mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 84 mmHg. In transition to low LVC, [Formula: see text] for preload control remained constant at 5.22 L/min with a PLVED of 8.0 mmHg. With regards to pulsatility control, [Formula: see text] fell to the nonviable level of 2.4 L/min with an associated PLVED of 16 mmHg and a MAP of 55 mmHg. Consequently, pulsatility control was deemed inferior to constant speed mode with a PLVED of 11 mmHg and a [Formula: see text] of 5.13 L/min in low LVC scenario. We conclude that pulsatility control imposes a danger to the patient in the severely reduced LVC scenario, which can be overcome by using a preload-based Starling-like control approach.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pulsatile Flow/physiology*; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology*
  5. Evaluation of miniature manometric techniques for the measurement of esophageal body pressure waves
    Shanmuganathan G, Ritz MA, Holloway RH, Di Matteo AC, Omari TI
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2000 Dec;15(12):1362-9.
    PMID: 11197044
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Perfused miniature manometric assemblies with lumina of 0.4-0.5 mm i.d. have been developed. Reduced luminal size offers the advantages of reduced assembly bulk and increased assembly complexity with greater numbers of lumina and lower manometric infusion volumes because of a slower perfusion rate. This study investigated the recording fidelity of miniature manometric assemblies in the measurement of esophageal peristalsis.

    METHODS: Four miniature manometric assemblies, each containing manometric lumina of either 0.4 or 0.5 mm i.d., were evaluated at 100 and 180 cm lengths. The fidelity of miniature manometric luminal recordings were evaluated in vivo during esophageal peristalsis by using a simultaneous comparison with the standard lumina and an intraluminal strain gauge.

    RESULTS: During esophageal peristalsis, miniature manometric lumina recorded the peak amplitude of pressure waves, with an accuracy at perfusion rates of 0.04 mL/min (0.4 mm, i.d.) and 0.15 mL/min (0.5 mm, i.d.).

    CONCLUSION: Miniature manometric assemblies of lengths that are practical for use in humans are suitable for recording esophageal peristalsis.

    Matched MeSH terms: Esophagus/physiology*; Peristalsis/physiology*
  6. Anthropometric and physiological profiles of active blind Malaysian males
    Singh R, Singh HJ
    J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 1993 Dec;33(4):378-82.
    PMID: 8035586
    Cardiopulmonary capacities of twelve adults (aged between 14 to 44 years) with varying degrees of blindness engaged in regular recreational activities were compared with twelve age-matched normal sighted healthy males (control group) who were also involved in regular recreational activities. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) was measured directly during exhaustive exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Forced vital capacity, leg strength and power were determined by spirometry, standing long jump and vertical jump respectively. No significant differences in VO2max, forced vital capacity and leg strength and power were observed between the blind and the control groups. No anthropometric differences were evident between the two groups. The results show therefore that the visually handicapped who are active can have a similar level of physical fitness, lung function and explosive leg strength as those of their active sighted counterparts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscles/physiology; Physical Fitness/physiology*
  7. [Observation of a photosensitive syndrome in Macaca nemestrina (author's transl)]
    Balzamo E
    Rev Electroencephalogr Neurophysiol Clin, 1981 Nov;11(2):289-93.
    PMID: 7323374
    Out of a group of 12 M. nemestrina (originating from Malaysia), 9 adults had shown clinical signs induced by ILS at 25 c/sec. Six of them (3 males, 3 females) were very photosensitive; however, only 2 presented eyelid and/or head jerks after the end of ILS (level 4), but never a generalized seizure. Tactile periorbital stimuli favoured myoclonus. In all but the two of level 4, the intensity of clinical signs varied from one day to the next. In all implanted adult macaques, spontaneous paroxysmal EEG activities were seen during slow sleep in mostly anterior areas, but also during waking and REM sleep in some of them; however, their occurrence depended upon the individual and were not in all cases related to their level of photosensitivity. During ILS, paroxysmal discharges (spikes and waves and/or polyspikes and waves), isolated or in bursts at 3-4/sec were bilateral and symmetrical. They started in fronto-rolandic regions, then became generalized. This observation constitutes a new fact since the discovery, in 1966, of the photomyoclonic syndrome of Papio papio, Macaca nemestrina being another species of subhuman primates with a marked predisposition to photosensitive epilepsy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Macaca/physiology*; Macaca nemestrina/physiology*
  8. Aedes albopictus in North America: probable introduction in used tires from northern Asia
    Hawley WA, Reiter P, Copeland RS, Pumpuni CB, Craig GB
    Science, 1987 May 29;236(4805):1114-6.
    PMID: 3576225
    North American strains of Aedes albopictus, an Asian mosquito recently introduced into the Western Hemisphere, exhibit photoperiodic sensitivity and cold-hardiness characteristics similar to strains originating from temperate zone Asia. Trade statistics for used tire imports, the most likely mode of introduction, also indicate a north Asian origin. Aedes albopictus, an important vector of dengue and a potential vector of many other arboviral diseases, may therefore have the capability of infesting much of temperate North America.
    Matched MeSH terms: Insect Vectors/physiology; Ovum/physiology
  9. Fulltext Influence of maternal factors and sex of newborn on birthweight
    Yadav H
    Med J Malaysia, 1988 Sep;43(3):224-8.
    PMID: 3241580
    Matched MeSH terms: Infant, Newborn/physiology*; Pregnancy/physiology*
  10. Feeding and ranging in the agile gibbon
    Gittins SP
    Folia Primatol., 1982;38(1-2):39-71.
    PMID: 7095661
    Matched MeSH terms: Hylobates/physiology*; Hominidae/physiology*
  11. Lysogenicity of the strains of Vibrio cholerae, biotype eltor recently isolated in various countries
    Ohashi M, Terayama T, Ushioda H, Kudoh Y, Tsuno M, Sakai S
    Microbiol. Immunol., 1981;25(6):613-6.
    PMID: 7278707
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteriophages/physiology*; Vibrio cholerae/physiology*
  12. Fulltext Establishment of a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) breeding colony in Malaysia: a feasibility study
    Werner RM, Montrey RD, Roberts CR, Tsoy AC, Huxsoll DL
    Lab. Anim. Sci., 1980 Jun;30(3):571-4.
    PMID: 7431858
    A breeding colony utilizing a harem mating system was established to study the feasibility of breeding cynomoglus monkeys, Macaca fascicularis, in Malaysia. Two groups consisting of 10 females and one male each were evaluated over a 3 period. Forty births were recorded; one was stillborn, 11 died while nursing, and 28 were weaned. The average time to wean offspring was 230 days with an average weight at weaning of 0.858 kg. The average time for conception to take place after weaning was 50 days. Of the 20 breeder females, six produced three offspring each, nine produced two offspring each, four produced one offspring each and one remained barren throughout the project. Three different weaning systems were evaluated. The best method was caging the mother-infant pair within or adjacent to the breeding room followed by a two-part cage system which allowed the infant to continue nursing and also obtain solid food inaccessible to the mother.
    Matched MeSH terms: Macaca/physiology*; Macaca fascicularis/physiology*
  13. Human placental lactogen physiological role in pregnancy
    Ong HC
    Med J Malaysia, 1976 Mar;30(3):165-7.
    PMID: 958050
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/physiology; Placental Lactogen/physiology*
  14. Fulltext Hawkmoths produce anti-bat ultrasound
    Barber JR, Kawahara AY
    Biol Lett, 2013 Aug 23;9(4):20130161.
    PMID: 23825084 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0161
    Bats and moths have been engaged in aerial warfare for nearly 65 Myr. This arms race has produced a suite of counter-adaptations in moths, including bat-detecting ears. One set of defensive strategies involves the active production of sound; tiger moths' ultrasonic replies to bat attack have been shown to startle bats, warn the predators of bad taste and jam their biosonar. Here, we report that hawkmoths in the Choerocampina produce entirely ultrasonic sounds in response to tactile stimulation and the playback of biosonar attack sequences. Males do so by grating modified scraper scales on the outer surface of the genital valves against the inner margin of the last abdominal tergum. Preliminary data indicate that females also produce ultrasound to touch and playback of echolocation attack, but they do so with an entirely different mechanism. The anti-bat function of these sounds is unknown but might include startling, cross-family acoustic mimicry, warning of unprofitability or physical defence and/or jamming of echolocation. Hawkmoths present a novel and tractable system to study both the function and evolution of anti-bat defences.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chiroptera/physiology*; Moths/physiology*
  15. Transcriptome-wide effects of expansin gene manipulation in etiolated Arabidopsis seedling
    Ilias IA, Negishi K, Yasue K, Jomura N, Morohashi K, Baharum SN, et al.
    J Plant Res, 2019 Mar;132(2):159-172.
    PMID: 30341720 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-018-1067-0
    Expansin is a non-enzymatic protein which plays a pivotal role in cell wall loosening by inducing stress relaxation and extension in the plant cell wall. Previous studies on Arabidopsis, Petunia × hybrida, and tomato demonstrated that the suppression of expansin gene expression reduced plant growth but expansin overexpression does not necessarily promotes growth. In this study, both expansin gene suppression and overexpression in dark-grown transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings resulted in reduced hypocotyl length at late growth stages with a more pronounced effect for the overexpression. This defect in hypocotyl elongation raises questions about the molecular effect of expansin gene manipulation. RNA-seq analysis of the transcriptomic changes between day 3 and day 5 seedlings for both transgenic lines found numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including transcription factors and hormone-related genes involved in different aspects of cell wall development. These DEGs imply that the observed hypocotyl growth retardation is a consequence of the concerted effect of regulatory factors and multiple cell-wall related genes, which are important for cell wall remodelling during rapid hypocotyl elongation. This is further supported by co-expression analysis through network-centric approach of differential network cluster analysis. This first transcriptome-wide study of expansin manipulation explains why the effect of expansin overexpression is greater than suppression and provides insights into the dynamic nature of molecular regulation during etiolation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cell Wall/physiology*; Plant Proteins/physiology*
  16. Alpha-hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP): a modulatory factor in β-thalassemia
    Che Yaacob NS, Islam MA, Alsaleh H, Ibrahim IK, Hassan R
    Int J Hematol, 2020 Mar;111(3):352-359.
    PMID: 31894534 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-019-02806-8
    Hemoglobin (Hb) is an iron-containing metalloprotein that transports oxygen molecules from the lungs to the rest of the human body. Among the different variants of Hb, HbA1 is the most common and is composed of two alpha (αHb) and two beta globin chains (βHb) constructing a heterotetrameric protein complex (α2β2). Due to the higher number of AHSP genes, there is a tendency to produce approximately twice as much of α subunit as β subunit. Therefore, there is a chance of presenting excess α subunit leftover in human blood plasma; excess subunits subsequently bind with each other and aggregates β-thalassemia occurs due to lack of or reduced numbers of βHb subunit. Alpha-hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) is a scavenger protein which acts as a molecular chaperon by reversibly binding with free αHb forming a complex (AHSP-αHb) that prevents aggregation and precipitation preventing deleterious effects towards developing serious human diseases including β-thalassemia. Clinical severity worsens if mutations in AHSP gene co-occur in patients with β-thalassemia. Considering the mechanism of action of AHSP and its contribution to ameliorating β-thalassemia severity, it could potentially be used as a modulatory agent in the treatment of β-thalassemia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Proteins/physiology*; Molecular Chaperones/physiology*
  17. Fulltext Relations of Bedtime Mobile Phone Use to Cognitive Functioning, Academic Performance, and Sleep Quality in Undergraduate Students
    Ragupathi D, Ibrahim N, Tan KA, Andrew BN
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 09 29;17(19).
    PMID: 33003445 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197131
    The present cross-sectional study examined the relations of bedtime mobile phone use to cognitive functioning, academic performance, and sleep quality in a sample of undergraduate students. Three hundred eighty-five undergraduate students completed a self-administered questionnaire containing sociodemographic variables, bedtime mobile phone use, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (attention and verbal memory). At bivariate level, increased scores in bedtime mobile phone use were significantly correlated with decreased scores in academic performance and sleep quality. Our multivariate findings show that increased scores in bedtime mobile phone use uniquely predicted decreased scores in academic performance and sleep quality, while controlling for gender, age, and ethnicity. Further untangling the relations of bedtime mobile phone use to academic performance and sleep quality may prove complex. Future studies with longitudinal data are needed to examine the bidirectional effect that bedtime mobile phone use may have on academic performance and sleep quality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*; Sleep/physiology*
  18. The retrospect and prospect of the applications of biotechnology in Phoenix dactylifera L
    Gantait S, El-Dawayati MM, Panigrahi J, Labrooy C, Verma SK
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2018 Oct;102(19):8229-8259.
    PMID: 30054703 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9232-x
    Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit trees that contribute a major part to the economy of Middle East and North African countries. It is quintessentially called "tree of life" owing to its resilience to adverse climatic conditions, along with manifold nutritional-cum-medicinal attributes that comes from its fruits and other plant parts. Being a tree with such immense utility, it has gained substantial attention of tree breeders for its genetic advancement via in vitro biotechnological interventions. Herein, an extensive review of biotechnological research advances in date palm has been consolidated as one of the major research achievements during the past two decades. This article compares the different biotechnological techniques used in this species such as: tissue and organ culture, bioreactor-mediated large-scale propagation, cell suspension culture, embryogenic culture, protoplast culture, conservation (for short- and long-term) of germplasms, in vitro mutagenesis, in vitro selection against biotic and abiotic stresses, secondary metabolite production in vitro, and genetic transformation. This review provides an insight on crop improvement and breeding programs for improved yield and quality fruits; besides, it would undeniably facilitate the tissue culture-based research on date palm for accelerated propagation and enhanced production of quality planting materials, along with conservation and exchange of germplasms, and genetic engineering. In addition, the unexplored research methodologies and major bottlenecks identified in this review should be contemplated on in near future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Protoplasts/physiology; Phoeniceae/physiology*
  19. Fulltext Reduced body sizes in climate-impacted Borneo moth assemblages are primarily explained by range shifts
    Wu CH, Holloway JD, Hill JK, Thomas CD, Chen IC, Ho CK
    Nat Commun, 2019 10 10;10(1):4612.
    PMID: 31601806 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12655-y
    Both community composition changes due to species redistribution and within-species size shifts may alter body-size structures under climate warming. Here we assess the relative contribution of these processes in community-level body-size changes in tropical moth assemblages that moved uphill during a period of warming. Based on resurvey data for seven assemblages of geometrid moths (>8000 individuals) on Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo, in 1965 and 2007, we show significant wing-length reduction (mean shrinkage of 1.3% per species). Range shifts explain most size restructuring, due to uphill shifts of relatively small species, especially at high elevations. Overall, mean forewing length shrank by ca. 5%, much of which is accounted for by species range boundary shifts (3.9%), followed by within-boundary distribution changes (0.5%), and within-species size shrinkage (0.6%). We conclude that the effects of range shifting predominate, but considering species physiological responses is also important for understanding community size reorganization under climate warming.
    Matched MeSH terms: Moths/physiology*; Body Size/physiology*
  20. Exercise prevents leptin-induced increase in blood pressure in Sprague-Dawley rats
    Farhana K, Effendi I, Caszo B, Satar NA, Singh HJ
    J Physiol Biochem, 2014 Jun;70(2):417-23.
    PMID: 24711061 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-014-0319-2
    Although leptin has been shown to increase blood pressure (BP), it is however unclear if this increase can be prevented by exercise. This study therefore investigated the effect of leptin treatment with concurrent exercise on blood pressure (BP), sodium output, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in normotensive rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-270 g were divided into four groups consisting of a control group (n = 6), leptin-treated (n = 8), non-leptin-treated exercise group (n = 8), and a leptin-treated exercise group (n = 8). Leptin was given subcutaneously daily for 14 days (60 μg/kg/day). Animals were exercised on a treadmill for 30 min at a speed of 0.5 m/s and at 5° incline four times per week. Measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and collection of urine samples for estimation of sodium and creatinine was done once a week. Serum samples were collected at the end of the experiment for determination of sodium, creatinine and ET-1. At day 14, mean SBP and serum ET-1 level in the leptin-treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group whereas mean SBP and serum ET-1 level was significantly lower in the leptin-treated exercise group than those in leptin-treated and control groups. Creatinine clearance, urinary sodium excretion, and urine output were not different between the four groups. Regular treadmill exercise prevents leptin-induced increases in SBP in rats, which might in part result from increased urinary sodium excretion and preventing the leptin-induced increases in serum ET-1 concentration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Pressure/physiology*; Leptin/physiology*
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