Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 79 in total

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  1. Fulltext Do domestic innovations promote trade openness? Empirical evidence from emerging economies
    Khan MN, Jan AA, Asif M, Lai FW, Shad MK, Shadab S
    Heliyon, 2023 Dec;9(12):e22848.
    PMID: 38076083 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22848
    PURPOSE: Innovation activities have gained much importance due to their pivotal role in achieving economic growth - directly by increasing productivity and - indirectly by increasing the degree of trade openness. This study aims to focus on the indirect channel, a rarely explored area of research, especially in the context of emerging economies.

    METHODOLOGY: To achieve the aim of the study, four proxies of innovation (resident patent applications, nonresident patent applications, scientific and technical journal articles, and research and development expenditures) are used to establish a robust relationship between innovation activities and trade openness in BRICS economies. Panel data from 2000 to 2020 is obtained from World Development Indicators and Penn World Tables. Econometric techniques of panel data such as fixed effect and generalized least squares are employed to extract results from the specified models.

    FINDINGS: The findings of the study revealed that three proxies of innovation (i.e., resident patent applications, nonresident patent applications, scientific and technical journal articles) have a significant positive role in improving trade openness in the BRICS economies. However, the fourth proxy of innovation i.e., research and development expenditures had a negative impact on the degree of trade openness. Besides, innovation activities such as inflation rate and foreign direct investment have also influenced the degree of trade openness positively and significantly. Conversely, GDP per capita had a negative relationship with trade openness. Moreover, domestic investments showed a positive influence on the degree of trade openness while employment had a negative and insignificant influence on the degree of trade openness. Finally, the causality analysis revealed a one-way relationship running from innovations to trade openness.

    IMPLICATIONS: In view of the results obtained, the policymakers of the BRICS economies might focus on encouraging innovation activities to enhance the degree of trade openness. Increased trade openness will consequently contribute to economic growth enormously and thus the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDG-8). Policymakers are also suggested to encourage FDI inflows and further ensure a moderate inflation rate to improve the degree of trade openness and hence accelerate economic growth.

    ORIGINALITY: This study focused on examining the nexus between innovation activities and trade openness in emerging economies, which is indeed an interesting but rarely explored area of research. The findings of the study might help the policymakers of the BRICS economies in formulating policies regarding trade openness and innovation activities.

  2. Fulltext Antiangiogenic activity of sophorolipids extracted from refined bleached deodorized palm olein
    Kithur Mohamed S, Asif M, Nazari MV, Baharetha HM, Mahmood S, Yatim ARM, et al.
    Indian J Pharmacol, 2019 4 30;51(1):45-54.
    PMID: 31031467 DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_312_18
    OBJECTIVES: Sophorolipids (SLs) are a group of surface-active glycolipids produced by a type of nonpathogenic yeast Candida bombicola in the presence of vegetable oil through fermentation technology. SLs have shown antitumor activity; however, the mechanism of action underlying the anticancer activity of SLs is poorly understood. This work evaluated the anticancer activity of SLs fermented from palm oil by exploring its antiangiogenic activity.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SLs that were fermented and further characterized for their biochemical activities. Cytotoxicity study was performed to assess cytostatic properties. A series of in vitro and ex vivo angiogenesis assay was also carried out. The relative fold change in the expression of p53 mRNA by SLs was also studied.

    RESULTS: Altogether, the data show that SLs derived from palm oil fermentation process inhibited neovascularization in the ex vivo tissue segments and also the endothelial cell proliferation between 50% and 65% inhibition as a whole. The palm oil derived SLs also caused downregulation of the suppression level of vascular endothelial growth factor and also upregulate the p53 mRNA level. The analytical studies revealed the presence of high amount of phenolic compounds but with relatively weak antioxidant activity. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry studies revealed abundant amount of palmitic and oleic acid, the latter an established antiangiogenic agent, and the former being proangiogenic.

    CONCLUSION: Therefore, it can be concluded from this study that SLs derived from fermented palm oil have potent antiangiogenic activity which may be attributed by its oleic acid component.

  3. Fulltext COVID-19 and therapy with essential oils having antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties
    Asif M, Saleem M, Saadullah M, Yaseen HS, Al Zarzour R
    Inflammopharmacology, 2020 Oct;28(5):1153-1161.
    PMID: 32803479 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-020-00744-0
    Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global health threat. Unfortunately, there are very limited approved drugs available with established efficacy against the SARs-CoV-2 virus and its inflammatory complications. Vaccine development is actively being researched, but it may take over a year to become available to general public. Certain medications, for example, dexamethasone, antimalarials (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine), antiviral (remdesivir), and IL-6 receptor blocking monoclonal antibodies (tocilizumab), are used in various combinations as off-label medications to treat COVID-19. Essential oils (EOs) have long been known to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, bronchodilatory, and antiviral properties and are being proposed to have activity against SARC-CoV-2 virus. Owing to their lipophilic nature, EOs are advocated to penetrate viral membranes easily leading to membrane disruption. Moreover, EOs contain multiple active phytochemicals that can act synergistically on multiple stages of viral replication and also induce positive effects on host respiratory system including bronchodilation and mucus lysis. At present, only computer-aided docking and few in vitro studies are available which show anti-SARC-CoV-2 activities of EOs. In this review, role of EOs in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is discussed. A discussion on possible side effects associated with EOs as well as anti-corona virus claims made by EOs manufacturers are also highlighted. Based on the current knowledge a chemo-herbal (EOs) combination of the drugs could be a more feasible and effective approach to combat this viral pandemic.
  4. Fulltext Correction to: COVID‑19 and therapy with essential oils having antiviral, anti‑inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties
    Asif M, Saleem M, Saadullah M, Yaseen HS, Al Zarzour R
    Inflammopharmacology, 2021 Apr;29(2):577.
    PMID: 33609198 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-021-00788-w
  5. Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel fruits extract attenuated acute and chronic inflammation through modulation of the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in rat models
    Zia S, Saleem M, Asif M, Hussain K, Butt BZ
    Inflammopharmacology, 2022 Dec;30(6):2211-2227.
    PMID: 36223063 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01048-1
    Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of polyarticular tissues, characterised by progressive synovitis. Its prolonged treatment imparts a huge burden on the healthcare system and results in toxicity, which necessitates the search for safe, efficacious and cost-effective therapies. Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel is traditionally used for anti-inflammatory purposes; however, to the best of our knowledge, there is no detailed study reporting the in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of this plant. Therefore, in the current study, the methanol extract of D. malabarica (Desr.) Kostel fruit (mDMF) was evaluated for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potentials, along with its underlying mechanisms. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated via colorimetric and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. Different doses (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) of mDMF were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis actions in acute inflammatory (carrageenan and histamine-induced paw oedema) and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritis rat models. Levels of various pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers were estimated using ELISA and RT-PCR techniques. Paw samples were used for different histopathological and radiographic studies. Qualitative phytochemical and HPLC analyses indicated the presence of various polyphenolic compounds in mDMF, which exhibited marked antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay. mDMF showed time-dependent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects in in vivo models. ELISA assay data showed significant (p 
  6. Cross-linked chitosan/sepiolite composite for the adsorption of methylene blue and reactive orange 16
    Marrakchi F, Khanday WA, Asif M, Hameed BH
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2016 Dec;93(Pt A):1231-1239.
    PMID: 27663552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.09.069
    Cross-linked chitosan/sepiolite composite was prepared from sepiolite clay and chitosan, and was cross-linked using epichlorohydrin. Among the various weight ratio percentage of chitosan and sepiolite clay composites, CS50SP50 was selected as the best adsorbent for both methylene blue (MB) and reactive orange 16 (RO 16). At an optimum adsorbent dosage of 0.2g/100mL, the effects of initial dye concentration (25-400mg/L) and pH (3-11) on MB and RO 16 adsorption onto CS50SP50 composite were studied. Monolayer adsorption capacities of CS50SP50 composite for MB and RO 16 were 40.986mg/g and 190.965mg/g, respectively at 30°C. Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin isotherms applied on the adsorption data for both the dyes reveal that data fitted best for Freundlich model. For both the dyes pseudo-second-order kinetics were found to describe the adsorption process better than pseudo-first-order kinetics. The adsorption capacity of CS50SP50 composite for both the dyes was found better compared to previous studies thus making it potentially low-cost adsorbent for removal of both cationic and reactive dyes.
  7. Cross-linked beads of activated oil palm ash zeolite/chitosan composite as a bio-adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue and acid blue 29 dyes
    Khanday WA, Asif M, Hameed BH
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Feb;95:895-902.
    PMID: 27789331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.10.075
    Cross-linked beads of activated oil palm ash zeolite/chitosan (Z-AC/C) composite were prepared through the hydrothermal treatment of NaOH activated oil palm ash followed by beading with chitosan. The effects of initial dye concentration (50-400mg/L), temperature (30°C-50°C) and pH (3-13) on batch adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and acid blue 29 (AB29) were studied. Adsorption of both dyes was better described by Pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities of Z-AC/C were 151.51, 169.49, and 199.20mg/g for MB and 212.76, 238.09, and 270.27mg/g for AB29 at 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C, respectively.
  8. Mesoporous-activated carbon prepared from chitosan flakes via single-step sodium hydroxide activation for the adsorption of methylene blue
    Marrakchi F, Ahmed MJ, Khanday WA, Asif M, Hameed BH
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 May;98:233-239.
    PMID: 28147233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.01.119
    In this work, mesoporous-activated carbon (CSAC) was prepared from chitosan flakes (CS) via single-step sodium hydroxide activation for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB). CSAC was prepared using different impregnation ratios of NaOH:CS (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1) at 800°C for 90min. The adsorption performance of CSAC was evaluated for MB at different adsorption variables, such MB initial concentrations (25-400mg/L), solution pH (3-11), and temperature (30-50°C). The adsorption isotherm data of CSAC-MB were well fitted to Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity 143.53mg/g at 50°C. Best representation of kinetic data was obtained by the pseudo-second order model. CSAC exhibited excellent adsorption uptake for MB and can potentially be used for other cationic dyes.
  9. Fulltext β-Caryophyllene Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Angiogenesis in Colorectal Cancer Models
    Dahham SS, Tabana Y, Asif M, Ahmed M, Babu D, Hassan LE, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2021 Sep 29;22(19).
    PMID: 34638895 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910550
    Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP), a naturally occurring sesquiterpene abundantly found in cloves, hops, and cannabis, is the active candidate of a relatively new group of vascular-inhibiting compounds that aim to block existing tumor blood vessels. Previously, we have reported the anti-cancer properties of BCP by utilizing a series of in-vitro anti-tumor-related assays using human colorectal carcinoma cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of BCP on in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-vivo models of anti-angiogenic assays and evaluate its anti-cancer activity in xenograft tumor (both ectopic and orthotopic) mice models of human colorectal cancer. Computational structural analysis and an apoptosis antibody array were also performed to understand the molecular players underlying this effect. BCP exhibited strong anti-angiogenic activity by blocking the migration of endothelial cells, tube-like network formation, suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from human umbilical vein endothelial cells and sprouting of rat aorta microvessels. BCP has a probable binding at Site#0 on the surface of VEGFR2. Moreover, BCP significantly deformed the vascularization architecture compared to the negative control in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. BCP showed a remarkable reduction in tumor size and fluorescence molecular tomography signal intensity in all the mice treated with BCP, in a dose-dependent relationship, in ectopic and orthotopic tumor xenograft models, respectively. The histological analysis of the tumor from BCP-treated mice revealed a clear reduction of the density of vascularization. In addition, BCP induced apoptosis through downregulation of HSP60, HTRA, survivin, and XIAP, along with the upregulation of p21 expressions. These results suggest that BCP acts at multiple stages of angiogenesis and could be used as a promising therapeutic candidate to halt the growth of colorectal tumor cells.
  10. Fulltext Toxicological studies of Orthosiphon stamineus (Misai Kucing) standardized ethanol extract in combination with gemcitabine in athymic nude mice model
    Yehya AHS, Asif M, Kaur G, Hassan LEA, Al-Suede FSR, Abdul Majid AMS, et al.
    J Adv Res, 2019 Jan;15:59-68.
    PMID: 30581613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2018.05.006
    Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate among cancers due to its aggressive biology and lack of effective treatment. Gemcitabine, the first line anticancer drug has reduced efficacy due to acquired resistance. The current study evaluates the toxicological effects of Orthosiphon stamineus (O.s) and its marker compound (rosmarinic acid) in combination with gemcitabine. O.s (200 or 400 mg/kg/day) and rosmarinic acid (32 mg/kg/day) were administered orally and gemcitabine (10 mg/kg/3 days) intraperitoneally either alone or in combination treatment for fourteen days. Parameters including blood serum biochemistry, hematology, myeloid-erythroid ratio, incident of lethality, and histopathological analysis of liver, kidney, and spleen tissues were studied. Neither, individual drugs/extract nor chemo-herbal combinations at tested doses induced any toxicity and damage to organs in nude mice when compared to control group. Toxicological data obtained from this study will help to select the best doses of chemo-herbal combination for future pancreatic xenograft tumor studies.
  11. Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by mesoporous activated carbon prepared from H3PO4-activated langsat empty fruit bunch
    Njoku VO, Islam MA, Asif M, Hameed BH
    J Environ Manage, 2015 May 1;154:138-44.
    PMID: 25721981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.02.002
    The removal of toxic herbicide from wastewater is challenging due to the availability of suitable adsorbents. The Langsat empty fruit bunch is an agricultural waste and was used in this study as a cheap precursor to produce activated carbon for the adsorption of herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at different initial concentrations ranging from 50 to 400 mg/L. The produced Langsat empty fruit bunch activated carbon (LEFBAC) was mesoporous and had high surface area of 1065.65 m(2)/g with different active functional groups. The effect of shaking time, temperature and pH on 2,4-D removal were investigated using the batch technique. The adsorption capacity of 2,4-D by LEFBAC was decreased with increase in pH of solution whereas adsorption capacity increased with temperature. The adsorption data was well described by Langmuir isotherm followed by removal capacity of 261.2 mg/g at 30 °C. The results from this work showed that LEFBAC can be used as outstanding material for anionic herbicide uptake from wastewater.
  12. Mesoporous activated coconut shell-derived hydrochar prepared via hydrothermal carbonization-NaOH activation for methylene blue adsorption
    Islam MA, Ahmed MJ, Khanday WA, Asif M, Hameed BH
    J Environ Manage, 2017 Dec 01;203(Pt 1):237-244.
    PMID: 28783020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.029
    Mesoporous activated carbon was prepared using a hydrochar derived from coconut shell waste through hydrothermal carbonization and NaOH chemical activation process (COSHTC). Three sets of activated carbons were obtained with different hydrochar:NaOH impregnation ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3). Among these ratios, 1:3 (COSHTC3) exhibited the optimum adsorption for methylene blue (MB). COSHTC3 adsorbed MB with an initial concentration of 25-250 mg/L at pH 3-11 and 30 °C. The adsorption isotherm of MB on COSHTC3 demonstrated that Langmuir isotherm could be better applied at a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 200.01 mg/g at 30 °C. The data was well fitted to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model. These results show that the COSHTC3 prepared from low-cost agricultural waste (coconut shell) with average pore diameter 28.6 Å and surface area 876.14 m(2)/g acts as a better adsorbent for removal of cationic dyes and could pave the way for more low-cost adsorbents for dye removal.
  13. Fulltext Microencapsulation of fish oil using supercritical antisolvent process
    Karim FT, Ghafoor K, Ferdosh S, Al-Juhaimi F, Ali E, Yunus KB, et al.
    J Food Drug Anal, 2017 Jul;25(3):654-666.
    PMID: 28911651 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2016.11.017
    In order to improve the encapsulation process, a newly supercritical antisolvent process was developed to encapsulate fish oil using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as a polymer. Three factors, namely, temperature, pressure, and feed emulsion rate were optimized using response surface methodology. The suitability of the model for predicting the optimum response value was evaluated at the conditions of temperature at 60°C, pressure at 150 bar, and feed rate at 1.36 mL/min. At the optimum conditions, particle size of 58.35 μm was obtained. The surface morphology of the micronized fish oil was also evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy where it showed that particles formed spherical structures with no internal voids. Moreover, in vitro release of oil showed that there are significant differences of release percentage of oil between the formulations and the results proved that there was a significant decrease in the in vitro release of oil from the powder when the polymer concentration was high.
  14. Age estimation from structural changes of teeth and buccal alveolar bone level
    Koh KK, Tan JS, Nambiar P, Ibrahim N, Mutalik S, Khan Asif M
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2017 May;48:15-21.
    PMID: 28407514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2017.03.004
    Forensic odontology plays a vital role in the identification and age estimation of unknown deceased individuals. The purpose of this study is to estimate the chronological age from Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images by measuring the buccal alveolar bone level (ABL) to the cemento-enamel junction and to investigate the possibility of employing the age-related structural changes of teeth as studied by Gustafson. In addition, this study will determine the forensic reliability of employing CBCT images as a technique for dental age estimation. A total of 284 CBCT images of Malays and Chinese patients (150 females and 134 males), aged from 20 years and above were selected, measured and stages of age-related changes were recorded using the i-CAT Vision software. Lower first premolars of both left and right side of the jaw were chosen and the characteristics described by Gustafson, namely attrition, secondary dentine formation and periodontal recession were evaluated. Linear regression analysis was performed for the buccal bone level and the R values obtained were 0.85 and 0.82 for left and right side respectively. Gustafson's characteristics were analysed using multiple regression analysis with chronological age as the dependent variable. The results of the analysis showed R values ranged from 0.44 to 0.62. Therefore it can be safely concluded that the buccal bone level highly correlated with the chronological age and is consequently the most suitable age-related characteristic for forensic age estimation.
  15. Fulltext Tuberculosis deaths: are we measuring accurately?
    Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Qamar Uz Zaman M, Asif M
    J Pharm Policy Pract, 2014;7(1):16.
    PMID: 25838918 DOI: 10.1186/2052-3211-7-16
    Death among tuberculosis patients is one of the major reasons for non-attainment of 85% treatment success target set by World Health Organization. In this short paper, we evaluated whether the overall mortality rate in pulmonary tuberculosis is being affected by other comorbid conditions. All new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients (N =336), who started their treatment at the chest clinic of the Penang General Hospital, between March 2010 and February 2011, were followed-up until December 2011. Tuberculosis treatment outcomes were reported according to six treatment outcome categories recommended by World Health Organization. The outcome category 'died' was defined as 'a patient who died due to tuberculosis or other cause during tuberculosis treatment'. Our findings showed that out of 336 smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 59 (17.6%) died during treatment (mortality rate = 1.003 cases per 1000 person-days of follow-up). Among the deceased patients, the mean age was 55.8 years (SD =16.17) and 49 were male. According to the mortality review forms, 29 deaths were tuberculosis-related, while the remaining 30 patients died due to reasons other than tuberculosis. Cerebrovascular accident (n =7), septicaemia shock (n =4) and acute coronary syndrome (n =4) were the most common non-tuberculosis related reasons for mortality in the patients. If the 30 patients, for whom tuberculosis was incidental to death, are excluded from the final cohort, the proportion of patients in the 'died' outcome category could be reduced to 9.5%. The treatment outcome criterion (i.e., died) set by World Health Organization has limitations. Therefore, it requires improvement for more objective evaluation of the performance of the National Tuberculosis Program.
    Study site: Chest clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
  16. Fulltext Polymolecular botanical drug of Orthosiphon stamineus extract (C5OSEW5050ESA) as a complementary therapy to overcome gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells
    Yehya AHS, Asif M, Abdul Majid AMS, Oon CE
    J Tradit Complement Med, 2023 Jan;13(1):39-50.
    PMID: 36685076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2022.10.002
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gemcitabine remains the cornerstone of pancreatic cancer treatment, despite exhibiting a modest effect on patient survival due to the development of drug resistance. Nuvastatic™ polymolecular botanical drug Orthosiphon stamineus (O. stamineus) is a folklore Asian herbal medicine that is used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. However, little is known about the mechanism of actions of the Nuvastatic™ polymolecular botanical drug of O. stamineus as a complementary therapy in resistant pancreatic cancer. It is postulated that the proprietary O. stamineus extract formulation (ID: C5EOSEW5050ESA) in Nuvastatic™ may sensitise resistant pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. This study was conducted to assess the cytotoxic activity and synergistic effects of C5EOSEW5050ESA in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells.

    EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The effects of C5EOSEW5050ESA treatment on cell viability, multidrug-resistant genes, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cellular senescence, cell death, and Notch signalling pathway were evaluated in gemcitabine-resistant Panc-1 cells.

    RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: C5EOSEW5050ESA sensitised gemcitabine resistant cells towards C5EOSEW5050ESA-gemcitabine combination treatment by reducing the expression of multidrug-resistant genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in gemcitabine-resistant cells compared to the control group, possibly through the inhibition of Notch signalling. This study provides valuable insight into using C5EOSEW5050ESA as a potential complementary treatment for resistant pancreatic cancer.

  17. Fulltext Development and validation of RP-HPLC-UV method for the determination of Glipizide in human plasma
    Atif M, Khalid SH, Onn Kit GL, Sulaiman SA, Asif M, Chandersekaran A
    J Young Pharm, 2013 Mar;5(1):26-9.
    PMID: 24023449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jyp.2013.01.005
    A simple, sensitive and selective HPLC method with UV detection for determination of Glipizide in human plasma was developed. Liquid-liquid extraction method was used to extract the drug from the plasma samples. Chromatographic separation of Glipizide was achieved using C18 column (ZORBAX ODS 4.6 × 150 mm). The mobile phase was comprised of 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) adjusted to pH 4.25 with glacial acetic acid. The analysis was run at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min with an injection volume was 20 μL. The detector was operated at 275 nm. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 50-1600 ng/mL. Intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy values were below 15%. The limit of quantification was 50 ng/mL and the mean recovery was above 98%. Freeze-thaw, short-term, long-term and post-preparative stability studies showed that Glipizide in plasma sample was stable. The method may be successfully applied to analyze the Glipizide concentration in plasma samples for bioavailability and bioequivalence studies.
  18. Fulltext Enhancement in Cathodic Redox Reactions of Single-Chambered Microbial Fuel Cells with Castor Oil-Emitted Powder as Cathode Material
    Kumbar SS, Jadhav DA, Jarali CS, Talange DB, Afzal A, Khan SA, et al.
    Materials (Basel), 2021 Aug 09;14(16).
    PMID: 34442980 DOI: 10.3390/ma14164454
    Microbial fuel cell (MFC) would be a standalone solution for clean, sustainable energy and rural electrification. It can be used in addition to wastewater treatment for bioelectricity generation. Materials chosen for the membrane and electrodes are of low cost with suitable conducting ions and electrical properties. The prime objective of the present work is to enhance redox reactions by using novel and low-cost cathode catalysts synthesized from waste castor oil. Synthesized graphene has been used as an anode, castor oil-emitted carbon powder serves as a cathode, and clay material acts as a membrane. Three single-chambered MFC modules developed were used in the current study, and continuous readings were recorded. The maximum voltage achieved was 0.36 V for a 100 mL mixture of domestic wastewater and cow dung for an anodic chamber of 200 mL. The maximum power density obtained was 7280 mW/m2. In addition, a performance test was evaluated for another MFC with inoculums slurry, and a maximum voltage of 0.78 V and power density of 34.4093 mW/m2 with an anodic chamber of 50 mL was reported. The present study's findings show that such cathode catalysts can be a suitable option for practical applications of microbial fuel cells.
  19. The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Hematological Cancers
    Hussein N, Rajasuriar R, Khan AM, Lim YA, Gan GG
    Mol Cancer Res, 2024 Jan 02;22(1):7-20.
    PMID: 37906201 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-23-0080
    Humans are in a complex symbiotic relationship with a wide range of microbial organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The evolution and composition of the human microbiome can be an indicator of how it may affect human health and susceptibility to diseases. Microbiome alteration, termed as dysbiosis, has been linked to the pathogenesis and progression of hematological cancers. A variety of mechanisms, including epithelial barrier disruption, local chronic inflammation response trigger, antigen dis-sequestration, and molecular mimicry, have been proposed to be associated with gut microbiota. Dysbiosis may be induced or worsened by cancer therapies (such as chemotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) or infection. The use of antibiotics during treatment may also promote dysbiosis, with possible long-term consequences. The aim of this review is to provide a succinct summary of the current knowledge describing the role of the microbiome in hematological cancers, as well as its influence on their therapies. Modulation of the gut microbiome, involving modifying the composition of the beneficial microorganisms in the management and treatment of hematological cancers is also discussed. Additionally discussed are the latest developments in modeling approaches and tools used for computational analyses, interpretation and better understanding of the gut microbiome data.
  20. Fulltext Effect of Inlet Flow Strategies on the Dynamics of Pulsed Fluidized Bed of Nanopowder
    Ali SS, Arsad A, Roberts KL, Asif M
    Nanomaterials (Basel), 2023 Jan 11;13(2).
    PMID: 36678058 DOI: 10.3390/nano13020304
    The use of fluidization assistance can greatly enhance the fluidization hydrodynamics of powders that exhibit poor fluidization behavior. Compared to other assistance techniques, pulsed flow assistance is a promising technique for improving conventional fluidization because of its energy efficiency and ease of process implementation. However, the inlet flow configuration of pulsed flow can significantly affect the bed hydrodynamics. In this study, the conventional single drainage (SD) flow strategy was modified to purge the primary flow during the non-flow period of the pulse to eliminate pressure buildup in the inlet flow line while providing a second drainage path to the residual gas. The bed dynamics for both cases, namely, single drainage (SD) and modified double drainage (MDD), were carefully monitored by recording the overall and local pressure drop transients in different bed regions at two widely different pulsation frequencies of 0.05 and 0.25 Hz. The MDD strategy led to substantially faster bed dynamics and greater frictional pressure drop in lower bed regions with significantly mitigated segregation behavior. The spectral analysis of the local and global pressure transient data in the frequency domain revealed a pronounced difference between the two flow strategies. The application of the MDD inlet flow strategy eliminated the disturbances from the pulsed fluidized bed irrespective of the pulsation frequency.
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