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Narhari P, Haseeb A, Lee S, Singh VA

Indian J Orthop, 2018 12 12;52(6):682-683.
PMID: 30532313 DOI: 10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_141_18
Effects of antenatal, postpartum and post-weaning melatonin supplementation on blood pressure and renal antioxidant enzyme activities in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Lee SK, Sirajudeen KN, Sundaram A, Zakaria R, Singh HJ

J Physiol Biochem, 2011 Jun;67(2):249-57.
PMID: 21210316 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-010-0070-2

Although melatonin lowers blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), its effect following antenatal and postpartum supplementation on the subsequent development of hypertension in SHR pups remains unknown. To investigate this, SHR dams were given melatonin in drinking water (10 mg/kg body weight/day) from day 1 of pregnancy until day 21 postpartum. After weaning, a group of male pups continued to receive melatonin till the age of 16 weeks (Mel-SHR), while no further melatonin was given to another group of male pups (Maternal-Mel-SHR). Controls received plain drinking water. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, after which the kidneys were collected for analysis of antioxidant enzyme profiles. SBP was significantly lower till the age of 8 weeks in Maternal-Mel-SHR and Mel-SHR than that in the controls, after which no significant difference was evident in SBP between the controls and Maternal-Mel-SHR. SBP in Mel-SHR was lower than that in controls and Maternal-Mel-SHR at 12 and 16 weeks of age. Renal glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione s-transferase (GST) activities, levels of total glutathione and relative GPx-1 protein were significantly higher in Mel-SHR. GPx protein was however significantly higher in Mel-SHR. No significant differences were evident between the three groups in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase. In conclusion, it appears that while antenatal and postpartum melatonin supplementation decreases the rate of rise in blood pressure in SHR offspring, it however does not alter the tendency of offspring of SHR to develop hypertension.
Glutathione system in young spontaneously hypertensive rats

Lee SK, Arunkumar S, Sirajudeen KN, Singh HJ

J Physiol Biochem, 2010 Dec;66(4):321-7.
PMID: 20680541 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-010-0038-2

Glutathione (GSH) forms a part of the antioxidant system that plays a vital role in preventing oxidative stress, and an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant system has been linked to the pathogenesis of hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of the GSH system in the kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Components of the GSH system, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and total GSH content, were measured in the kidneys of 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks old SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Systolic blood pressure of SHR was significantly higher from the age of 6 weeks onwards compared with age-matched WKY rats. GPx activity in the SHR was significantly lower from the age of 8 weeks onwards when compared to that in age-matched WKY rats. No significant differences were evident in the GPx-1 protein abundance, and its relative mRNA levels, GR, GST activity, and total GSH content between SHR and age-matched WKY rats. The lower GPx activity suggests of an impairment of the GSH system in the SHR, which might be due to an abnormality in its protein rather than non-availability of a cofactor. Its role in the development of hypertension in SHR however remains unclear.
Effect of cross-fostering on renal anti-oxidant/oxidant status and development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Lee SK, Sirajudeen KN, Sundaram A, Zakaria R, Singh HJ

Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol, 2011 Dec;38(12):854-9.
PMID: 21973174 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2011.05624.x

1. The hypotensive effect of cross-fostering in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is thought to involve adjustments in renal function. However, its association with renal anti-oxidant/oxidant balance during cross-fostering is not known. 2. The present study examined the effect of cross-fostering and in-fostering of 1-day-old offspring between SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) dams on renal anti-oxidant/oxidant status and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Renal anti-oxidant/oxidant status and SBP were determined in the offspring from 4-16 weeks of age. 3. Cross-fostered SHR had significantly lower SBP than in-fostered SHR at 6, 8 and 12 weeks, but not at 16 weeks (127 ± 1 vs 144 ± 2, 138 ± 1 vs 160 ± 1, 174 ± 2 vs 184 ± 2 and 199 ± 2 vs 194 ± 3 mmHg at 6, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, respectively). No differences in SBP were evident between cross-fostered and in-fostered WKY rats. There were no significant differences in levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl and total anti-oxidant status (TAS) or superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activity between cross-fostered and in-fostered SHR or WKY offspring. However, compared with WKY rats, catalase activity was higher at 6 and 16 weeks, TAS was higher at 16 weeks and GPx activity and TBARS were lower at 16 weeks in SHR. 4. It appears that cross-fostering of SHR offspring to WKY dams during the early postnatal period causes a transient delay in the rise in blood pressure in SHR and that this does not involve the renal anti-oxidant/oxidant system.
In situ determination of the static inductance and resistance of a plasma focus capacitor bank

Saw SH, Lee S, Roy F, Chong PL, Vengadeswaran V, Sidik AS, et al.

Rev Sci Instrum, 2010 May;81(5):053505.
PMID: 20515137 DOI: 10.1063/1.3429207

The static (unloaded) electrical parameters of a capacitor bank are of utmost importance for the purpose of modeling the system as a whole when the capacitor bank is discharged into its dynamic electromagnetic load. Using a physical short circuit across the electromagnetic load is usually technically difficult and is unnecessary. The discharge can be operated at the highest pressure permissible in order to minimize current sheet motion, thus simulating zero dynamic load, to enable bank parameters, static inductance L(0), and resistance r(0) to be obtained using lightly damped sinusoid equations given the bank capacitance C(0). However, for a plasma focus, even at the highest permissible pressure it is found that there is significant residual motion, so that the assumption of a zero dynamic load introduces unacceptable errors into the determination of the circuit parameters. To overcome this problem, the Lee model code is used to fit the computed current trace to the measured current waveform. Hence the dynamics is incorporated into the solution and the capacitor bank parameters are computed using the Lee model code, and more accurate static bank parameters are obtained.
Infected pancreatic pseudocyst following severe dengue infection

Lee SL, Ng CY, Sidhu J

Med J Malaysia, 2021 Nov;76(6):927-929.
PMID: 34806688

Severe dengue infection is life threatening as it can result in fatal complications such as intractable bleeding from coagulopathy, multiorgan failure from shock and haemophagocytic syndrome. There have been case reports of atypical manifestation of severe dengue infection such as pancreatitis, Guillian-Barre's syndrome, perforated viscus and myocarditis. However, to our knowledge, pancreatic pseudocyst from dengue-related pancreatitis has never been reported in the literature. We hereby report a case of infected pancreatic pseudocyst in a patient with persistent pyrexia, abdominal pain and raised inflammatory markers 10 weeks from the onset of severe dengue infection. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided transluminal drainage of the infected pancreatic pseudocyst with lumen-apposing metallic stent (LAMS) was performed with good clinical and radiological outcome.
Fulltext The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Singla RK, De R, Efferth T, Mezzetti B, Sahab Uddin M, Sanusi, et al.

Phytomedicine, 2023 Jan;108:154520.
PMID: 36334386 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154520

BACKGROUND: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools.
METHODS: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events.
Fulltext [Zinc induces normoxic accumulation of transcriptionally active hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha in mammary epithelial cells]

Lee SY, Mustafa S, Ching YW, Shafee N

Mol Biol (Mosk), 2017 3 3;51(1):104-110.
PMID: 28251972 DOI: 10.7868/S0026898417010116

Both zinc and the α-subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) play important roles in the remodelling of mammary gland tissues. In the present study, we examined the level and the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α in mammary cells upon zinc treatment. In MCF-7 mammary adenocarcinoma and MCF-10A mammary epithelial cell lines, the toxicity levels of zinc differ. Interestingly, both cell lines overexpress HIF-1α following zinc treatment. As it was evident from an up-regulation of its specific target gene CA9 that encodes carbonic anhydrase IX, the stabilized HIF-1α translocated to the nucleus and was transcriptionally active. Hence, we conclude that zinc causes normoxic accumulation of transcriptionally active HIF-1α by interfering with its post-translational regulation.
Fulltext Results of plasma radiative compression investigation in the PF-24 device operated with D2, Ar and (100%-x)D2+x%Ar mixtures obtained using the 5-phase Lee model code

Marciniak Ł, Akel M, Kulińska A, Lee S, Scholz M, Saw SH

Appl Radiat Isot, 2022 Jan 21;182:110118.
PMID: 35091151 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110118

The article presents new results for plasma radiative compression in high-current discharges in the z-pinch configuration. The results are based on the 113 discharges performed in the plasma-focus PF-24 device operated with D2, Ar and (100%-x)D2+xAr mixtures, with Ar pressure fractions x ≈ 3-60% (mole fractions). The constant initial total pressure is about 2.9 mbar and the constant initial pressure of Ar is 1.2 mbar. Each experimental discharge was simulated individually using the 5-phase Lee model code to carry out the fitting procedure of the total discharge current waveform. The results from these 113 computed discharges fitted to the corresponding 113 experimental discharges show that the increase of the effective atomic number of the gas mixture increases the probability of occurrence of plasma radiative compression phenomenon. Relatively weak radiative compression was found for part of the discharges in 15-60% range of Ar mole fractions and in Ar, while the stronger radiative compression occurred for part of discharges in Ar only. This is because there was too little total x-ray line radiation emission during the equilibrium pinch lifetime related to the very small amount of swept up mass and the low current flow through pinched plasma, represented by the decreasing values of model parameters as the Ar mole fraction increases. The results show that the main pinch parameters influencing the occurrence and strength of radiative compression are: total x-ray line emission yield, effective atomic number, initial pinch radius, initial pinch ion number density and initial pinch ion/electron temperature.
The effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of chicken skin gelatin/tapioca starch composite films in food packaging

Lee SW, Said NS, Sarbon NM

J Food Sci Technol, 2021 Nov;58(11):4294-4302.
PMID: 34538912 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-020-04904-6

The aim of this study was to characterize chicken skin gelatin/tapioca starch composite films with varying concentrations (0-5%) of zinc oxide nanoparticles using the casting technique. The incorporation of 5% zinc oxide nanoparticles increased the water vapor permeation (1.52-1.93 × 10-7 gmm/cm2hPa) and melting temperature of the films. The tensile strength (22.96-50.43 MPa) was increased, while elongation at break decreased with increasing concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The structures of the films were also investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The inhibitory zones for both the gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) (16-20 mm) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) (15-20 mm) bacteria were larger in the film with 5% zinc oxide. Overall, chicken skin gelatin-tapioca starch composite films with 3% zinc oxide nanoparticles were found to have the optimal formulation, demonstrating good physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties. Gelatin-based composite films with nanoparticle incorporation show strong potential for use in biodegradable food packaging materials.
Fulltext Knowledge and Attitude of Pharmacy Students Regarding Geriatric Care: Questionnaire-Based Analysis in Malaysia

Blebil AQ, Dujaili JA, Mohammed AH, Thiruchelvam K, Lee S, Elkalmi R, et al.

Adv Med Educ Pract, 2022;13:95-102.
PMID: 35082550 DOI: 10.2147/AMEP.S344872

Introduction: There is a predicted growth of up to 17% in an older adult of Malaysian above 60 years of age by 2040. This will increase the workload of almost every healthcare provider to ensure optimal geriatric care.
Purpose: This study aimed to assess pharmacy students' knowledge and attitudes towards geriatric pharmacy education and older patients to determine their preparation in delivering appropriate medical care to the geriatric population.
Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among pharmacy students in different Malaysian universities. The survey included several sections to assess multiple aspects such as sociodemographic information, assessment of knowledge using a validated 28-item Geriatric Knowledge Assessment Scale (GKAS), and attitudes towards geriatrics education.
Results: The response rate was around 70% of the respondents. The mean (± standard deviation) age of the cohort was 22.28 (±1.12) years. Despite around 78% of pharmacy students claiming that their knowledge of geriatric care is adequate, their GKAS score showed that only around 20% have high geriatric knowledge. Around 80% of them showed a positive attitude on the importance of taking courses focused on geriatric care and demonstrated interest to further knowledge and training in geriatric care. However, more than half of the students were uncertain of their answers towards their attitudes regarding older patients.
Conclusion: Given the growing role of pharmacists in the ageing population, this study highlights the importance of geriatric care education among potential pharmacists. Therefore, we urge the need to improve/develop geriatrics education and training into the pharmacy curriculum to ensure sufficient preparation for actual practice after graduation.
Analysis of lolB gene sequence and its use in the development of a PCR assay for the detection of Vibrio cholerae

Lalitha P, Siti Suraiya MN, Lim KL, Lee SY, Nur Haslindawaty AR, Chan YY, et al.

J Microbiol Methods, 2008 Sep;75(1):142-4.
PMID: 18579241 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2008.05.001

A PCR assay has been developed based on a lolB (hemM) gene, which was found to be highly conserved among the Vibrio cholerae species but non-conserved among the other enteric bacteria. The lolB PCR detected all O1, O139 and non-O1/non-O139 serogroup and biotypes of V. cholerae. The analytical specificity of this assay was 100% while the analytical sensitivity was 10 pg/microL and 10(3) CFU/mL at DNA and bacterial level respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 98.5% and 100% respectively.
Fulltext Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia in splenectomised thalassaemic patient from Malaysia

Deris ZZ, Leow VM, Wan Hassan WM, Nik Lah NA, Lee SY, Siti Hawa H, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2009 Dec;26(3):320-5.
PMID: 20237446

Vibrio cholerae infection is mainly caused acute diarrhoea disease. Bacteraemia due to non-O1 V. cholerae is rare and mainly reported in liver cirrhotic patients. We report one case of non-O1 V. cholerae bacteraemia in splenectomised thalassaemic patient who presented with septic shock secondary to abdominal sepsis. She had undergone emergency laporatomy and was managed in the intensive care unit for nine days. She was treated with meropenem and doxycyline and discharged well after fourteen days of admission. The V. cholerae was identified by API 20NE, serotype and polymerase chain reaction showed as non-O1, non-O139 strain. Besides known cholera-like toxin and El Tor hemolysin, with increasing reported cases of V. cholerae bacteraemia, there is possibility of other virulence factors that allow this organism to invade the bloodstream.
Fulltext Outcome of patients presenting with idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy) in a tertiary centre--a five year experience

Tang IP, Lee SC, Shashinder S, Raman R

Med J Malaysia, 2009 Jun;64(2):155-8.
PMID: 20058577

This is a retrospective study. The objective of this study is to review the factors influencing the outcome of treatment for the patients presented with idiopathic facial nerve paralysis. The demographic data, clinical presentation and management of 84 patients with idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy) were collected from the medical record office, reviewed and analyzed from 2000 to 2005. Thirty-four (72.3%) out of 47 patients who were treated with oral prednisolone alone, fully recovered from Bell's palsy meanwhile 36 (97%) out of 37 patients who were treated with combination of oral prednisolone and acyclovir fully recovered. The difference was statistically significant. 42 (93.3%) out of 45 patients who presented within three days to our clinic, fully recovered while 28 (71.8%) out of 39 patients presented later then three days had full recovery from Bell's palsy. The difference was statistically significant. The outcome of full recovery is better with the patients treated with combined acyclovir and prednisolone compared with prednisolone alone. The patients who were treated after three days of clinical presentation, who were more than 50 years of age, who had concurrent chronic medical illness and facial nerve paralysis HB Grade IV to VI during initial presentation have reduced chance of full recovery of facial nerve paralysis.
Fulltext Ethnicity influences the gut microbiota of individuals sharing a geographical location: a cross-sectional study from a middle-income country

Dwiyanto J, Hussain MH, Reidpath D, Ong KS, Qasim A, Lee SWH, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 01 29;11(1):2618.
PMID: 33514807 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82311-3

No studies have investigated the influence of ethnicity in a multi-ethnic middle-income country with a long-standing history of co-habitation. Stool samples from 214 Malaysian community members (46 Malay, 65 Chinese, 49 Indian, and 54 Jakun) were collected. The gut microbiota of the participants was investigated using 16S amplicon sequencing. Ethnicity exhibited the largest effect size across participants (PERMANOVA Pseudo-F = 4.24, R2 = 0.06, p = 0.001). Notably, the influence of ethnicity on the gut microbiota was retained even after controlling for all demographic, dietary factors and other covariates which were significantly associated with the gut microbiome (PERMANOVA Pseudo-F = 1.67, R2 = 0.02, p = 0.002). Our result suggested that lifestyle, dietary, and uncharacterized differences collectively drive the gut microbiota variation across ethnicity, making ethnicity a reliable proxy for both identified and unidentified lifestyle and dietary variation across ethnic groups from the same community.
Fulltext Measurement of differential cross sections for Z boson production in association with jets in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Ambrogi F, Asilar E, Bergauer T, et al.

Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2018;78(11):965.
PMID: 30881214 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-6373-0

The production of a Z boson, decaying to two charged leptons, in association with jets in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is measured. Data recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC are used that correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.19 fb -1 . The cross section is measured as a function of the jet multiplicity and its dependence on the transverse momentum of the Z boson, the jet kinematic variables (transverse momentum and rapidity), the scalar sum of the jet momenta, which quantifies the hadronic activity, and the balance in transverse momentum between the reconstructed jet recoil and the Z boson. The measurements are compared with predictions from four different calculations. The first two merge matrix elements with different parton multiplicities in the final state and parton showering, one of which includes one-loop corrections. The third is a fixed-order calculation with next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy for the process with a Z boson and one parton in the final state. The fourth combines the fully differential next-to-next-to-leading order calculation of the process with no parton in the final state with next-to-next-to-leading logarithm resummation and parton showering.
Fulltext An atypical case of retropharyngeal abscess with long blind tract treated with Ryle's tube drainage

Tang ML, Lee SC, Phoon MP

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Dec;66(5):501-3.
PMID: 22390112

A 10 year-old Iban girl presented with severe odynophagia for 4 days and subcutaneous emphysema. Clinically, her neck was tender with crepitus. Lateral neck radiograph showed multiple linear radiolucent shadows at retropharyngeal space. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscope revealed a tunnel behind upper oesophagus with slough and there was pooling of saliva at pyriform sinus. Feeding via nasogastric tube was started and empirical treatment for fungal and bacterial infection was commenced. Subsequent computed tomography of neck and thorax showed a 15-long blind tract at subglottic region posterior to oesophagus (prevertebral region), extending to superior mediastinum just before carina at T3/T4 level, represent abscess. Hourly suctioning of the remaining abscess in the blind tract with 10ml-syringe was done.
Nurse-family interaction in Malaysian palliative care settings: a focused literature review

Namasivayam P, O Connor M, Barnett T, Lee S, Peters L

Int J Palliat Nurs, 2011 Oct;17(10):507-13.
PMID: 22068121 DOI: 10.12968/ijpn.2011.17.10.507

Palliative care in Malaysia developed in the 1990s to improve the quality of life of people with advanced cancer. Like many other countries, Malaysia faces its own challenges in providing palliative care to patients and their families. In Malaysian culture, families play a significant part in providing care to the dying. Connecting with families in patient care is therefore important. This paper reports a focused literature review evaluating studies on the care of the families of terminally ill people in palliative care environments in Malaysia.
Fulltext Clonorchiasis/opisthorchiasis in Malaysians case reports and review

Shekhar KC, Nazarina AR, Lee SH, Pathmanathan R

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Jun;50(2):182-6.
PMID: 7565193

Clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis are snail-transmitted trematode infections. The disease is endemic in many parts of Asia. Local case reports have been predominantly in Chinese with a history of travel to endemic countries. Thus far, 20 cases of liver fluke infestation have been reported in this country. This report presents another two cases of clonorchiasis and a case of opisthorchiasis. We also briefly review pertinent aspects of the disease.
Transition of water demand and treatment plant overcapacity: a case study of the Seoul Metropolitan City, Korea

Lee S, Park H

Water Sci Technol, 2010;61(12):3129-40.
PMID: 20555209 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2010.454

This study deals with the overcapacity problem of water treatment plants in Korea, and mainly discusses status, causes, and engineering options. To this end, we first statistically analyze the recent trend of demand, revealing that the demands of small- and mid-size systems are still increasing while that of large-size systems is now decreasing. Since the existing approach to plan capacity implicitly assumes that demand will increase at a regular rate, we estimate excess capacities and system utilizations of large-size systems. From these results it is found that the large-size systems are suffering from serious overcapacity, thus necessitating that engineers make very difficult decisions given that systems are still expanding the capacities of plants due to a lack of awareness of the current demand trend. For other systems where there is a better understanding of the transition of demand, planners have ceased to expand plants or have closed down relatively old plants in efforts to reduce O&M costs. To address this problem, quick recognition of the transition of demand is being highlighted by the concepts of integrated resources management and cybernetics. Therefore, we examined how quickly the new trend of the Seoul case could be precisely recognized and appropriately addressed. Using the Bayesian parameter estimation method, we found that a new trend can be recognized six years after the transition of demand.

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