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Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 76 in total

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Chemopreventive effects of standardized papaya leaf fraction on oxidatively stressed human liver cells

Tan SA, Goya L, Ramanathan S, Sulaiman SF, Alam M, Navaratnam V

Food Res Int, 2014 Oct;64:387-395.
PMID: 30011665 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2014.06.040

Extract from papaya leaves, a waste material from fruit farms in Malaysia was previously reported to possess remarkable antioxidative activities. In this study, papaya leaf extract was separated into fractions of different polarities [petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), n-butanol (NB) and water (W) fractions]. The aim of this research was to determine the most active fraction in terms of its chemopreventive effects towards oxidative stress and the chemical constituents involved. The cytoprotective nature of the papaya fractions was observed against t-BOOH-induced oxidative stress on HepG2 liver cell line. ROS assay indicated that only PE and EA effectively reduced the increment of radical due to the pro-oxidant, t-BOOH. Nevertheless, PE was a stronger ROS scavenger by demonstrating ROS reducing activity in a dose-dependent manner to the basal level. This fraction was also found to inhibit cell death caused by t-BOOH toxicity, attenuating lactate dehydrogenase enzyme leakage by more than 90% (p<0.05). In addition, gene expression of phase II antioxidant enzymes (hmox-1 and nqo-1) and their transcription factor (nrf-2) were shown to be upregulated upon PE treatment during a time-course study. A GC-MS fingerprint of the active fraction was subsequently obtained with standardization using the marker compound; α-tocopherol, a well known antioxidant. However, this pure compound was not as effective as its corresponding PE concentrations in ROS reduction. Hence, PE of papaya leaf extract was a strong antioxidant and cytoprotectant with tremendous potential to be harnessed into the next therapeutic remedy against oxidative stress of the liver.
A systematic review of the computerized tools and digital techniques applied to fabricate nasal, auricular, orbital and ocular prostheses for facial defect rehabilitation

Farook TH, Jamayet NB, Abdullah JY, Rajion ZA, Alam MK

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2020 Jun;121(3):268-277.
PMID: 31610244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2019.10.003

A systematic review was conducted in early 2019 to evaluate the articles published that dealt with digital workflow, CAD, rapid prototyping and digital image processing in the rehabilitation by maxillofacial prosthetics. The objective of the review was to primarily identify the recorded cases of orofacial rehabilitation made by maxillofacial prosthetics using computer assisted 3D printing. Secondary objectives were to analyze the methods of data acquisition recorded with challenges and limitations documented with various software in the workflow. Articles were searched from Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar based on the predetermined eligibility criteria. Thirty-nine selected papers from 1992 to 2019 were then read and categorized according to type of prosthesis described in the papers. For nasal prostheses, Common Methods of data acquisition mentioned were computed tomography, photogrammetry and laser scanners. After image processing, computer aided design (CAD) was used to design and merge the prosthesis to the peripheral healthy tissue. Designing and printing the mold was more preferred. Moisture and muscle movement affected the overall fit especially for prostheses directly designed and printed. For auricular prostheses, laser scanning was most preferred. For unilateral defects, CAD was used to mirror the healthy tissue over to the defect side. Authors emphasized on the need of digital library for prostheses selection, especially for bilateral defects. Printing the mold and conventionally creating the prosthesis was most preferred due to issues of proper fit and color matching. Orbital prostheses follow a similar workflow as auricular prosthesis. 3D photogrammetry and laser scans were more preferred and directly printing the prosthesis was favored in various instance. However, ocular prostheses fabrication was recorded to be a challenge due to difficulties in appropriate volume reconstruction and inability to mirror healthy globe. Only successful cases of digitally designed and printed iris were noted.
A virtual analysis of the precision and accuracy of 3-dimensional ear casts generated from smartphone camera images

Farook TH, Rashid F, Jamayet NB, Abdullah JY, Dudley J, Khursheed Alam M

J Prosthet Dent, 2022 Oct;128(4):830-836.
PMID: 33642077 DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2020.12.041

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The anatomic complexity of the ear challenges conventional maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. The introduction of specialized scanning hardware integrated into computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) workflows has mitigated these challenges. Currently, the scanning hardware required for digital data acquisition is expensive and not readily available for prosthodontists in developing regions.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this virtual analysis study was to compare the accuracy and precision of 3-dimensional (3D) ear models generated by scanning gypsum casts with a smartphone camera and a desktop laser scanner.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six ear casts were fabricated from green dental gypsum and scanned with a laser scanner. The resultant 3D models were exported as standard tessellation language (STL) files. A stereophotogrammetry system was fabricated by using a motorized turntable and an automated microcontroller photograph capturing interface. A total of 48 images were captured from 2 angles on the arc (20 degrees and 40 degrees from the base of the turntable) with an image overlap of 15 degrees, controlled by a stepper motor. Ear 1 was placed on the turntable and captured 5 times with smartphone 1 and tested for precision. Then, ears 1 to 6 were scanned once with a laser scanner and with smartphones 1 and 2. The images were converted into 3D casts and compared for accuracy against their laser scanned counterparts for surface area, volume, interpoint mismatches, and spatial overlap. Acceptability thresholds were set at <0.5 mm for interpoint mismatches and >0.70 for spatial overlap.
RESULTS: The test for smartphone precision in comparison with that of the laser scanner showed a difference in surface area of 774.22 ±295.27 mm2 (6.9% less area) and in volume of 4228.60 ±2276.89 mm3 (13.4% more volume). Both acceptability thresholds were also met. The test for accuracy among smartphones 1, 2, and the laser scanner showed no statistically significant differences (P>.05) in all 4 parameters among the groups while also meeting both acceptability thresholds.
CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone cameras used to capture 48 overlapping gypsum cast ear images in a controlled environment generated 3D models parametrically similar to those produced by standard laser scanners.
Fulltext Acoustic emission corrosion feature extraction and severity prediction using hybrid wavelet packet transform and linear support vector classifier

May Z, Alam MK, Nayan NA, Rahman NAA, Mahmud MS

PLoS One, 2021;16(12):e0261040.
PMID: 34914761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261040

Corrosion in carbon-steel pipelines leads to failure, which is a major cause of breakdown maintenance in the oil and gas industries. The acoustic emission (AE) signal is a reliable method for corrosion detection and classification in the modern Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system. The efficiency of this system in detection and classification mainly depends on the suitable AE features. Therefore, many feature extraction and classification methods have been developed for corrosion detection and severity assessment. However, the extraction of appropriate AE features and classification of various levels of corrosion utilizing these extracted features are still challenging issues. To overcome these issues, this article proposes a hybrid machine learning approach that combines Wavelet Packet Transform (WPT) integrated with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for multiresolution feature extraction and Linear Support Vector Classifier (L-SVC) for predicting corrosion severity levels. A Laboratory-based Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) test was performed on carbon-steel samples for AE data acquisition over a different time span. AE signals were collected at a high sampling rate with a sound well AE sensor using AEWin software. Simulation results show a linear relationship between the proposed approach-based extracted AE features and the corrosion process. For multi-class problems, three corrosion severity stages have been made based on the corrosion rate over time and AE activity. The ANOVA test results indicate the significance within and between the feature-groups where F-values (F-value>1) rejects the null hypothesis and P-values (P-value<0.05) are less than the significance level. The utilized L-SVC classifier achieves higher prediction accuracy of 99.0% than the accuracy of other benchmarked classifiers. Findings of our proposed machine learning approach confirm that it can be effectively utilized for corrosion detection and severity assessment in SHM applications.
Fulltext Assessment of heavy metals contamination and human health risk in shrimp collected from different farms and rivers at Khulna-Satkhira region, Bangladesh

Sarkar T, Alam MM, Parvin N, Fardous Z, Chowdhury AZ, Hossain S, et al.

Toxicol Rep, 2016;3:346-350.
PMID: 28959555 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2016.03.003

This study is aimed to assess the heavy metals contamination and health risk in Shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Penaeus monodon) collected from Khulna-Satkhira region in Bangladesh. The results showed that the Pb concentrations (0.52-1.16 mg/kg) in all shrimp samples of farms were higher than the recommended limit. The Cd levels (0.05-0.13 mg/kg) in all samples and Cr levels in all farms except tissue content at Satkhira farm were higher than the permissible limits. The individual concentration of Pb, Cd, and Cr between shrimp tissue and shell in all rivers and farms were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) were estimated to assess the non-carcinogenic health risks. Shrimp samples from all locations under the current study were found to be safe for consumption, the possibility of health risk associated with non-carcinogenic effect is very low for continuous consumption for 30 years.
Fulltext Multivariate modelling analysis for prediction of glycidyl esters and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) formation in periodically heated palm oil

Nor Mahiran SNS, Abd Kadir NH, Maulidiani M, Tengku Mohamad TR, Gooderham NJ, Alam M

Heliyon, 2023 Oct;9(10):e20413.
PMID: 37780749 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20413

Palm oil is a vegetable oil that is widely used for cooking and deep-frying because of its affordability. However, repeatedly heated palm oil is also prone to oxidation due to its significant content of unsaturated fatty acids and other chemical toxicants such as glycidyl esters and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD). Initially, the physicochemical properties such as colour, viscosity, peroxide, p-anisidine and total oxidation (TOTOX) of periodically heated palm oil were investigated. Chemical profiling and fingerprinting of six different brands of palm cooking oil during heating cycles between 90 and 360 min were conducted using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) metabolomics. In addition, the multivariate analysis was employed to evaluate the 1H NMR spectroscopic pattern of repeatedly heated palm oil with the corresponding physicochemical properties. The FTIR metabolomics showed significant different of the chemical fingerprinting subjected to heating duration, which in agreement with the result of 1H NMR metabolomics. Partial least squares (PLS) model revealed that most of the physicochemical properties of periodically heated palm oil are positively correlated (R2 values of 0.98-0.99) to their spectroscopic pattern. Based on the findings, the color of the oils darkened with increased heating time. The peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (p-AnV), and total oxidation (TOTOX) values increased significantly due to degradation of unsaturated compounds and oxidation products formed. We identified targeted metabolites (probable carcinogens) such as 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and glycidyl ester (GE), indicating the conversion of 3-MCPD to GE in repeatedly heated oils based on PCA and OPLSDA models. Our correlation analysis of NMR and physicochemical properties has shown that the conversion of 3-MCPD to GE was significantly increased from 180 to 360 min cooking time. The combination spectroscopic techniques with physicochemical properties are a reliable and robust methods to evaluate the characteristics, stability and chemical's structure changes of periodically heated palm oil, which may contribute to probable carcinogens development. This study has proven that combination of NMR and physicochemical analysis may predict the formation of the probable carcinogens of heated cooking oil over time which emphasizing the need to avoid certain heating cycles to mitigate formation of probable carcinogens during cooking process.
Evaluation of the cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and molecular docking of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles derived from pumpkin seeds

Kadir NHA, Murugan N, Khan AA, Sandrasegaran A, Khan AU, Alam M

Microsc Res Tech, 2024 Mar;87(3):602-615.
PMID: 38018343 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24437

This study aimed to investigate the characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) produced from Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin seeds) and their selective cytotoxic effectiveness on human colon cancer cells (HCT 116) and African Green Monkey Kidney, Vero cells. The study also investigated the antioxidant activity of ZnONPs. The study also examined ZnONPs' antioxidant properties. This was motivated by the limited research on the comparative cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs on normal and HCT116 cells. The ZnO NPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Transmission Electron Microscope/Selected Area Electron Diffraction (TEM/SAED), and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) for determination of chemical fingerprinting, heat stability, size, and morphology of the elements, respectively. Based on the results, ZnO NPs from pumpkins were found to be less than 5 μm and agglomerates in nature. Furthermore, the ZnO NPs fingerprinting and SEM-EDX element analysis were similar to previous literature, suggesting the sample was proven as ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs also stable at a temperature of 380°C indicating that the green material is quite robust at 60-400°C. The cell viability of Vero cells and HCT 116 cell line were measured at two different time points (24 and 48 h) to assess the cytotoxicity effects of ZnO NP on these cells using AlamarBlue assay. Cytotoxic results have shown that ZnO NPs did not inhibit Vero cells but were slightly toxic to cancer cells, with a dose-response curve IC50 = ~409.7 μg/mL. This green synthesis of ZnO NPs was found to be non-toxic to normal cells but has a slight cytotoxicity effect on HCT 116 cells. A theoretical study used molecular docking to investigate nanoparticle interaction with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), exploring its mechanism in inhibiting CDK2's role in cancer. Further study should be carried out to determine suitable concentrations for cytotoxicity studies. Additionally, DPPH has a significant antioxidant capacity, with an IC50 of 142.857 μg/mL. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Pumpkin seed extracts facilitated a rapid, high-yielding, and environmentally friendly synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to investigate the optical properties, scalability, size, shape, dispersity, and stability of ZnO NPs. The cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs on Vero and HCT 116 cells was assessed, showing no inhibition of Vero cells and cytotoxicity of cancer cells. The DPPH assay was also used to investigate the antioxidant potential of biogenic nanoparticles. A molecular docking study was performed to investigate the interaction of ZnO NPs with CDK2 and to explore the mechanism by which they inhibit CDK2's role in cancer.
Fulltext Perovskite materials in X-ray detection and imaging: recent progress, challenges, and future prospects

Miah MH, Khandaker MU, Aminul Islam M, Nur-E-Alam M, Osman H, Ullah MH

RSC Adv, 2024 Feb 21;14(10):6656-6698.
PMID: 38390503 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra00433g

Perovskite materials have attracted significant attention as innovative and efficient X-ray detectors owing to their unique properties compared to traditional X-ray detectors. Herein, chronologically, we present an in-depth analysis of X-ray detection technologies employing organic-inorganic hybrids (OIHs), all-inorganic and lead-free perovskite material-based single crystals (SCs), thin/thick films and wafers. Particularly, this review systematically scrutinizes the advancement of the diverse synthesis methods, structural modifications, and device architectures exploited to enhance the radiation sensing performance. In addition, a critical analysis of the crucial factors affecting the performance of the devices is also provided. Our findings revealed that the improvement from single crystallization techniques dominated the film and wafer growth techniques. The probable reason for this is that SC-based devices display a lower trap density, higher resistivity, large carrier mobility and lifetime compared to film- and wafer-based devices. Ultimately, devices with SCs showed outstanding sensitivity and the lowest detectable dose rate (LDDR). These results are superior to some traditional X-ray detectors such as amorphous selenium and CZT. In addition, the limited performance of film-based devices is attributed to the defect formation in the bulk film, surfaces, and grain boundaries. However, wafer-based devices showed the worst performance because of the formation of voids, which impede the movement of charge carriers. We also observed that by performing structural modification, various research groups achieved high-performance devices together with stability. Finally, by fusing the findings from diverse research works, we provide a valuable resource for researchers in the field of X-ray detection, imaging and materials science. Ultimately, this review will serve as a roadmap for directing the difficulties associated with perovskite materials in X-ray detection and imaging, proposing insights into the recent status, challenges, and promising directions for future research.
Fulltext The Genomic Blueprint of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi P-stx-12

Ong SY, Pratap CB, Wan X, Hou S, Rahman AY, Saito JA, et al.

Stand Genomic Sci, 2013;7(3):483-96.
PMID: 24019994 DOI: 10.4056/sigs.3286690

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium. It belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae in the class Gammaproteobacteria, and has the capability of residing in the human gallbladder by forming a biofilm and hence causing the person to become a typhoid carrier. Here we present the complete genome of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhi strain P-stx-12, which was isolated from a chronic carrier in Varanasi, India. The complete genome comprises a 4,768,352 bp chromosome with a total of 98 RNA genes, 4,691 protein-coding genes and a 181,431 bp plasmid. Genome analysis revealed that the organism is closely related to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strain Ty2 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strain CT18, although their genome structure is slightly different.
Fulltext Complete genome sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi P-stx-12

Ong SY, Pratap CB, Wan X, Hou S, Abdul Rahman AY, Saito JA, et al.

J Bacteriol, 2012 Apr;194(8):2115-6.
PMID: 22461552 DOI: 10.1128/JB.00121-12

We report here the complete genome sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi P-stx-12, a clinical isolate obtained from a typhoid carrier in India.
Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton community and functional groups in a tropical river

Haque MA, Jewel MAS, Akhi MM, Atique U, Paul AK, Iqbal S, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2021 Oct 08;193(11):704.
PMID: 34623504 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09500-5

Functional classification of phytoplankton could be a valuable tool in water quality monitoring in the eutrophic riverine ecosystems. This study is novel from the Bangladeshi perspective. In this study, phytoplankton cell density and diversity were studied with particular reference to the functional groups (FGs) approach during pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon at four sampling stations in Karatoya River, Bangladesh. A total of 54 phytoplankton species were recorded under four classes, viz. Chlorophyceae (21 species) Cyanophyceae (16 species), Bacillariophyceae (15 species), and Euglenophyceae (2 species). A significantly higher total cell density of phytoplankton was detected during the pre-monsoon season (24.20 × 103 cells/l), while the lowest in monsoon (9.43 × 103 cells/l). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index varied significantly (F = 16.109, P = 000), with the highest value recorded during the post-monsoon season. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) identified significant variations among the three seasons (P M/MP/X1 was considered the most abundant FG in the Karatoya River. FGs of the Karatoya River were influenced mainly by the nutrients (PO4-P and NO3-N) enrichments. As a novel investigation on FGs of phytoplankton in Bangladesh, this study recommends additional surveys in other rivers and floodplains to improve our understanding of phytoplankton diversity and functional groups.
Fulltext The trend in exclusive breastfeeding practice and its association with maternal employment in Bangladesh: A multilevel analysis

Ahmmed F, Hossain MJ, Sutopa TS, Al-Mamun M, Alam M, Islam MR, et al.

Front Public Health, 2022;10:988016.
PMID: 36504941 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.988016

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is essential for infant and child health. This study aimed to explore the trend in the EBF over the last decade in Bangladesh and investigated if there was a significant association with maternal employment by analyzing the data extracted from three consecutive nationally representative surveys: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) of 2011, 2014, and 2017-2018. Prevalence of EBF (95% confidence interval) with the Cochran-Armitage test was reported to see the trend in EBF. A chi-square (χ2) test was applied to find the potential factors associated with EBF. Finally, a three-level logistic regression was utilized to find the significant association between maternal employment and EBF while adjusting other covariates. We observed no increase in the practice of EBF over the last decade (P = 0.632). The prevalence of EBF was 64.9% (95% CI: 61.41, 68.18) in 2011, followed by 60.1% (95% CI: 56.25, 64) in 2014, and 64.9% (95% CI: 61.82, 67.91) in 2017. Regression results showed that employed mothers had 24% (p < 0.05) lower odds of EBF than unemployed mothers. Early initiation of breastfeeding was also found to be significantly associated [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.22, P < 0.05] with EBF. Government and policymakers must come forward with new interventions to increase the practice of EBF, providing basic education and campaigns on the topic of EBF. Maternity leave should be extended up to 6 months of the child's age to achieve an optimal level of EBF.
Vertical distributions of radionuclides along the tourist-attractive Marayon Tong Hill in the Bandarban district of Bangladesh

Siraz MMM, Roy D, Dewan MJ, Alam MS, A M J, Rashid MB, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2023 Feb 10;195(3):382.
PMID: 36759352 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-10921-7

This is the first attempt in the world to depict the vertical distribution of radionuclides in the soil samples along several heights (900 feet, 1550 feet, and 1650 feet) of Marayon Tong hill in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bandarban by HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K were found to be 37.15 ± 3.76 Bqkg-1, 19.69 ± 2.15 Bqkg-1, and 347.82 ± 24.50 Bqkg-1, respectively, where in most cases, 232Th exceeded the world average value of 30 Bqkg-1. According to soil characterization, soils ranged from slightly acidic to moderately acidic, with low soluble salts. The radium equivalent activity, outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate, external and internal hazard indices, external and internal effective dose rates, gamma level index, and excess lifetime cancer risk were evaluated and found to be below the recommended or world average values; but a measurable activity of 137Cs was found at soils collected from ground level and at an altitude of 1550 feet, which possibly arises from the nuclear fallout. The evaluation of cumulative radiation doses to the inhabitants via periodic measurement is recommended due to the elevated levels of 232Th.This pioneering work in mapping the vertical distribution of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) can be an essential factual baseline data for the scientific community that may be used to evaluate the variation in NORMs in the future, especially after the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh in 2024.
Evaluation of radioactivity in soil and rock samples from an undiscovered sea beach in the southeastern coastline of Bangladesh and associated health risk

Siraz MMM, Kamal MH, Khan ZH, Alam MS, Al Mahmud J, Rashid MB, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2023 Aug 10;195(9):1028.
PMID: 37558890 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11636-5

This study marks the first-ever assessment of radiological hazards linked to the sands and rocks of Patuartek Sea Beach, situated along one of the world's longest sea beaches in Cox' Bazar of Bangladesh. Through the utilization of an HPGe detector, a comprehensive analysis of the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40 K was conducted, and their activity ranged from 7 to 23 Bq/kg, 9-58 Bq/kg, and 172-340 Bq/kg, respectively, in soils, and 19-24 Bq/kg, 27-39 Bq/kg, and 340-410 Bq/kg, respectively, in rocks. Some sand samples exhibited elevated levels of 232Th, while the rock samples displayed higher levels of 40 K compared to the global average. The radiological hazard parameters were assessed, and no values surpassed the recommended limits set by several international organizations. Hence, the sands and rocks of Patuartek sea beach pose no significant radiological risk to the residents or tourists. The findings of this study provide crucial insights for the development of a radiological baseline map in the country, which is important due to the commissioning of the country's first nuclear power plant Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The data may also stimulate interest in the rare-earth minerals present in the area, which is important for the electronics industry, thorium-based nuclear fuel cycles.
Fulltext A study on measuring the 222Rn in the Buriganga River and tap water of the megacity Dhaka

Alam MS, Siraz MMM, A M J, Das SC, Bradley DA, Khandaker MU, et al.

PLoS One, 2023;18(5):e0286267.
PMID: 37220107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286267

Radon (222Rn), an inert gas, is considered a silent killer due to its carcinogenic characteristics. Dhaka city is situated on the banks of the Buriganga River, which is regarded as the lifeline of Dhaka city because it serves as a significant source of the city's water supply for domestic and industrial purposes. Thirty water samples (10 tap water from Dhaka city and 20 surface samples from the Buriganga River) were collected and analyzed using a RAD H2O accessory for 222Rn concentration. The average 222Rn concentration in tap and river water was 1.54 ± 0.38 Bq/L and 0.68 ± 0.29 Bq/L, respectively. All the values were found below the maximum contamination limit (MCL) of 11.1 Bq/L set by the USEPA, the WHO-recommended safe limit of 100 Bq/L, and the UNSCEAR suggested range of 4-40 Bq/L. The mean values of the total annual effective doses due to inhalation and ingestion were calculated to be 9.77 μSv/y and 4.29 μSv/y for tap water and river water, respectively. Although all these values were well below the permissible limit of 100 μSv/y proposed by WHO, they cannot be neglected because of the hazardous nature of 222Rn, especially considering their entry to the human body via inhalation and ingestion pathways. The obtained data may serve as a reference for future 222Rn-related works.
Evaluation of transfer factors of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides from soil to grass and mango in the northern region of Bangladesh

Siraz MMM, Das SK, Mondol MS, Alam MS, Al Mahmud J, Rashid MB, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2023 Apr 17;195(5):579.
PMID: 37067680 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11223-8

Bangladesh is a rapidly developing country, which is vulnerable to various types of pollution due to the large-scale industrial and associated human activities that might potentially affect the locally harvested foodstuffs. Therefore, the transfer factor is an essential tool to assess the safety of foodstuffs due to the presence of natural radioactivity in environmental matrix and/or strata. This is a first study of its kind conducted in a well-known region for mango farming in Bangladesh, measuring the uptake of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) by grass and mango from soil to assess the ingestion doses to humans. The HPGe gamma-ray detector was used to determine the concentrations of NORMs in samples of soil (20), grass (10), and mango (10), which were then used to calculate the transfer factors of soil to grass and soil to mango. Average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in associated soil samples (47.27 ± 4.10, 64.49 ± 4.32, 421.60 ± 28.85) of mango and 226Ra and 232Th in associated soil samples (45.07 ± 3.93, 52.17 ± 3.95) of grass were found to exceed the world average values. The average transfer factors (TFs) for mango were obtained in the order of 40K(0.80) > 226Ra (0.61) > 232Th (0.31), and for grass, it shows the order of 40K (0.78) > 232Th (0.64) > 226Ra (0.56). However, a few values (3 mango samples and 3 grass samples) of the estimated TFs exceeded the recommended limits. Moreover, Bangladesh lacks the transfer factors for most of the food crops; therefore, calculation of TFs in the major agricultural products is required all over Bangladesh, especially the foodstuffs produced near the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.
Fulltext Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Therapeutic Potential in Cancer: Mechanism of Action and Clinical Implications

Kciuk M, Alam M, Ali N, Rashid S, Głowacka P, Sundaraj R, et al.

Molecules, 2023 Jul 06;28(13).
PMID: 37446908 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135246

Cellular signaling pathways involved in the maintenance of the equilibrium between cell proliferation and apoptosis have emerged as rational targets that can be exploited in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant phenolic compound found in green tea. It has been shown to regulate multiple crucial cellular signaling pathways, including those mediated by EGFR, JAK-STAT, MAPKs, NF-κB, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, and others. Deregulation of the abovementioned pathways is involved in the pathophysiology of cancer. It has been demonstrated that EGCG may exert anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and apoptosis-inducing effects or induce epigenetic changes. Furthermore, preclinical and clinical studies suggest that EGCG may be used in the treatment of numerous disorders, including cancer. This review aims to summarize the existing knowledge regarding the biological properties of EGCG, especially in the context of cancer treatment and prophylaxis.
Fulltext Measurement of radioactivity in soils of Karamjal and Harbaria mangrove forest of Sundarbans for establishment of radiological database

Siraz MMM, A M J, Alam MS, Rashid MB, Hossain Z, Khandaker MU, et al.

PLoS One, 2023;18(10):e0289113.
PMID: 37856554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289113

This work presents the first in-depth study of soil radioactivity in the mangrove forest of Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans. It used HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to measure the amount of natural radioactivity in soil samples from Karamjal and Harbaria sites of the world's largest mangrove forest. The activity concentrations of most of the 226Ra (14±2 Bqkg-1 to 35±4 Bqkg-1) and 232Th (30±5 Bqkg-1 to 50±9 Bqkg-1) lie within the world average values, but the 40K concentration (370± 44 Bqkg-1 to 660±72 Bqkg-1) was found to have exceeded the world average value. The evaluation of radiological hazard parameters revealed that the outdoor absorbed dose rate (maximum 73.25 nGyh-1) and outdoor annual effective dose (maximum 0.09 mSvy-1) for most samples exceeded the corresponding world average values. The elevated concentration of 40K is mainly due to the salinity intrusion, usage of fertilizers and agricultural runoff, and migration of waste effluents along the riverbanks. Being the pioneering comprehensive research on the Bangladesh side of the Sundarbans, this study forms a baseline radioactivity for the Sundarbans before the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.
Assessment of radioactivity level and associated radiological hazard in fertilizer from Dhaka

Siraz MMM, Al Mahmud J, Alam MS, Rashid MB, Hossain Z, Osman H, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2024 Jan 23;196(2):192.
PMID: 38263472 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12328-4

Miners, factory workers, traders, end-users, and foodstuff consumers all run the risk of encountering health hazards derived from the presence of elevated levels of radiation in fertilizers, as these groups often come into direct or indirect contact with fertilizers as well as raw materials throughout various linked processes such as mineral extractions, fertilizer production, agricultural practices. A total of 30 samples of various kinds of fertilizer produced in different factories in Dhaka megacity were analyzed to quantify the concentrations of primordial radionuclides using HPGe detector. Among the analyzed samples, average (range) concentration of 40K was found to be 9920 ± 1091 (8700 ± 957-11,500 ± 1265), 9100 ± 1001 (8600 ± 946-9600 ± 1056), 2565 ± 282 (2540 ± 279-2590 ± 285), and 3560 ± 392 (2620 ± 288-4500 ± 495) Bq/kg in the samples of Muriate of Potash Fertilizer, Sulphate of Potash Fertilizer, Humic Acid Fertilizer, and NPKS Fertilizer, respectively. Elevated concentration of 226Ra was found in Triple Super Phosphate Fertilizer with a mean (range) of 335 ± 37 (290 ± 32-380 ± 42) Bq/kg. The higher activity of 40K can be linked to the greater levels of elemental potassium in phosphate fertilizer. Elevated concentrations of radionuclides may also result from variations in chemical processes as well as the local geology of the mining areas where the raw materials were extracted for fertilizer production. Numerous fertilizer brands surpass prescribed limits for various hazardous parameters, presenting significant health risks to factory workers, farmers, and consumers of agricultural products. This study provides baseline information on the radioactivity of fertilizers, which could be used to develop mitigation methods, establish national fertilizer usage limits, justify regulatory frameworks, and raise public awareness of fertilizer overuse. The findings of the study could potentially help to explore the impact of fertilizer on the food chain.
Fulltext Impact of various aligner auxiliaries on orthodontic activity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Khursheed Alam M, Hajeer MY, Shqaidef A, Alswairki HJ, Alfawzan AA, Shrivastava D, et al.

Saudi Dent J, 2024 Feb;36(2):199-207.
PMID: 38419986 DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.10.013

BACKGROUND: It is imperative to analyze the forces and moments produced by various auxiliaries in order to select the optimal attachments and, eventually, to maximize the efficacy and efficiency of orthodontic therapy. Through this investigation, we aimed to highlight the impact of various aligner auxiliaries on orthodontic activity in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment on a pre/post treatment protocol basis.
METHODS: After a thorough search of the online journals, a total of 482 documents were found using keywords such as "Orthodontic Treatment", "Aligner Auxiliaries", "Elastic Ligatures" and "Tooth Movement." The database research, elimination of duplicate studies, data extraction and risk of bias were performed by the authors independently. This systematic review and network meta-analysis included prospective studies and clinical trials to evaluate research that had looked at the impact of various aligner auxiliaries on orthodontic activity in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.
RESULTS: Eight investigations of varying designs were selected for this review. The majority of investigations revealed that aligner auxiliaries significantly improve anterior root torque, rotation, and mesio-distal (M-D) movement, as well as posterior anchoring. They also significantly improved anterior root rotation. However, few studies have presented inconsistent or non-statistically significant findings.
CONCLUSION: Auxiliaries for aligners also appear to improve extrusion and other orthodontic movements, but there is insufficient evidence to support these claims. No research has examined posterior bucco-lingual expansion or tilting. Clarification of the effect of attachments and their related variables requires additional clinical investigations.

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