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Histological changes in testes of rats treated with testosterone, nandrolone, and stanozolol

Mohd Mutalip SS, Surindar Singh GK, Mohd Shah A, Mohamad M, Mani V, Hussin SN

Iran J Reprod Med, 2013 Aug;11(8):653-8.
PMID: 24639803

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is being used in medical treatments, but AAS also was identified to have the risks of adverse effects towards patients and consumers health.
Fulltext Phylogenetic relationships of Malaysian monkeys, Cercopithecidae, based on mitochondrial cytochrome c sequences

Md-Zain BM, Mohamad M, Ernie-Muneerah MA, Ampeng A, Jasmi A, Lakim M, et al.

Genet. Mol. Res., 2010;9(4):1987-96.
PMID: 20927717 DOI: 10.4238/vol9-4gmr942

Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase II (COII) gene sequences of Malaysian Cercopithecidae were examined to ascertain their phylogenetic relationships. Colobinae were represented by the genera Presbytis, Trachypithecus and Nasalis, while the genus Macaca represented Cercopithecinae. DNA amplification and sequencing of the COII gene was performed on 16 samples. Symphalangus syndactylus (Hylobatidae) was used as the outgroup. Data were analyzed using both character (maximum parsimony) and distance (neighbor-joining) methods. Tree topologies indicated that Colobinae and Cercopithecinae have their own distinct monophyletic clade. This result was well supported by bootstrap values and genetic distances derived from the Kimura-2-parameter algorithm. Separation of Macaca nemestrina from M. fascicularis was also well supported by bootstrap values. In addition, tree topologies indicate a good resolution of the Colobinae phylogenetic relationships at the intergeneric level, but with low bootstrap support. The position of Nasalis remained problematic in both trees. Overall, COII is a good gene candidate for portraying the phylogenetic relationships of Malaysian primates at the inter- and intra-subfamily levels.
Fulltext Pharmacological evaluation of aqueous root extract of Selayak Hitam: lack of oxytocic activity

Gan EK, Abdul Razak D, Mohamad M, Lajis R, Tan KC, Sam TW

Med J Malaysia, 1984 Mar;39(1):42-7.
PMID: 6513839

Aqueous root extract of Selayak Hitam a plant commonly found in Malaysian jungles and reported to have abortifacient property was screened for oxytocic effect. Results obtained from in vitro experiments on isolated uterus preparation from both pregnant and non pregnant rats and in vivo experiments on uterus contraction in rats in situ, showed that the extract lacks oxytocic effect. It is concluded that the alleged abortifacient property if any, is not mediated through oxytocin or oxytocic-like effect.
Fulltext Pharmacological evaluation of aqueous root extract of Selayak Hitam: teratogenic and possible abortifacient effect

Abdul Razak D, Gan EK, Mohamad M, Lajis R, Sam TW

Med J Malaysia, 1984 Mar;39(1):48-51.
PMID: 6513840

Studies made on aqueous root extract of Selayak Hitam, a plant alleged to possess abortifacient activity in pregnant mothers established that the extract is teratogenic and did in fact cause abortion in mice. It was also observed that the aqueous root extract is relatively toxic as judged by the number of deaths occuring following administration of the extract. The mechanism by which abortion is brought about is unknown but it is possible that the abortifacient effect is due to the induced teratogenic activity, brought about by the extract.
Fulltext Metabolite profiling of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees. young and mature leaves at different harvest ages using 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach

Tajidin NE, Shaari K, Maulidiani M, Salleh NS, Ketaren BR, Mohamad M

Sci Rep, 2019 11 14;9(1):16766.
PMID: 31727911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52905-z

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees. is considered as the herb of the future due to its precious chemical compounds, andrographolide (ANDRO), neoandrographolide (NAG) and 14-deoxyandrographolide (DAG). This study aims to profile the metabolites in young and mature leaf at six different harvest ages using 1HNMR-based metabolomics combined with multivariate data analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated noticeable and clear discrimination between young and mature leaves. A comparison of the leaves stage indicated that young leaves were separated from mature leaves due to its larger quantity of ANDRO, NAG, DAG, glucose and sucrose. These similar metabolites are also responsible for the PCA separation into five clusters representing the harvest age at 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 weeks of leaves extract. Loading plots revealed that most of the ANDRO and NAG signals were present when the plant reached at the pre-flowering stage or 18 weeks after sowing (WAS). As a conclusion, A. paniculata young leaves at pre-flowering harvest age were found to be richer in ANDRO, NAG and DAG compared to mature leaves while glucose and choline increased with harvest age. Therefore, young leaves of A. paniculata should be harvested at 18 WAS in order to produce superior quality plant extracts for further applications by the herbal, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
Fulltext Relationships between dietary nutrients intake and lipid levels with functional MRI dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation

Lau H, Shahar S, Mohamad M, Rajab NF, Yahya HM, Din NC, et al.

Clin Interv Aging, 2019;14:43-51.
PMID: 30613138 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S183425

Background: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a key node in the cognitive control network that supports working memory. DLPFC dysfunction is related to cognitive impairment. It has been suggested that dietary components and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) play a vital role in brain health and cognitive function.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between dietary nutrient intake and lipid levels with functional MRI (fMRI) brain activation in DLPFC among older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Participants and methods: A total of 15 community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment, aged ≥60 years, participated in this cross-sectional study at selected senior citizen clubs in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The 7-day recall Diet History Questionnaire was used to assess participants' dietary nutrient intake. Fasting blood samples were also collected for lipid profile assessment. All participants performed N-back (0- and 1-back) working memory tasks during fMRI scanning. DLPFC (Brodmann's areas 9 and 46, and inferior, middle, and superior frontal gyrus) was identified as a region of interest for analysis.
Results: Positive associations were observed between dietary intake of energy, protein, cholesterol, vitamins B6 and B12, potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and HDL-C with DLPFC activation (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that vitamin B6 intake, β=0.505, t (14)=3.29, P=0.023, and Digit Symbol score, β=0.413, t (14)=2.89, P=0.045; R2=0.748, were positively related to DLPFC activation.
Conclusion: Increased vitamin B6 intake and cognitive processing speed were related to greater activation in the DLPFC region, which was responsible for working memory, executive function, attention, planning, and decision making. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the association.
Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in pregnancy

Daud S, Zahid AZM, Mohamad M, Abdullah B, Mohamad NAN

Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2019 11;300(5):1279-1285.
PMID: 31435778 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-019-05273-y

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction during pregnancy and to determine its associated factors.
METHODS: This 6-month cross-sectional study adopted convenience sampling; inclusion criteria were healthy pregnant women, sexually active and living together with their partner for 3 months prior to recruitment into this study. Women who received advice to avoid sexual intercourse, with any medical illness and/or those conceived via assisted reproductive technology were excluded. Participants filled in a questionnaire consisting of demographic details and Malay Version Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS 24.0; categorical data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher exact test.
RESULTS: One hundred pregnant women with a mean age of 31 + 4.31 years old participated. By using the cut-off FSFI score of 26.55, 81 (81%) participants were diagnosed to have sexual dysfunction. The mean FSFI score was 20.41 ± 8.45 (range 2.6-33.5; median 23.6). All the mean FSFI scores of first, second and third trimesters were low with 22.80 ± 10.67, 23.81 ± 7.18 and 18.74 ± 8.43, respectively. The mean score for desire, arousal, satisfaction and pain were significantly lower in the third trimester than earlier gestation. There was a significant difference in the incidence of difficulties in desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction and pain between first and second trimester combined, as compared to the third trimester of pregnancy. Trimester of pregnancy was found to have a significant association with the incidence of sexual dysfunction.
CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction among pregnant women is a significant burden. Despite being a common health problem, it is often neglected.
Fulltext Does traditional asian vegetables (ulam) consumption correlate with brain activity using fMRI? A study among aging adults from low-income households

You YX, Shahar S, Mohamad M, Yahya HM, Haron H, Abdul Hamid H

J Magn Reson Imaging, 2020 04;51(4):1142-1153.
PMID: 31386268 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26891

BACKGROUND: Working memory and cognitive flexibility are supported by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Aging adults from low-income households are individuals with a high risk of cognitive decline who incorporate ulam in their daily diet.
PURPOSE: To examine relationship between ulam consumption and the working memory and cognitive flexibility among aging adults from low-income households who are more susceptible to cognitive decline.
STUDY TYPE: Cross-sectional.
POPULATION/SUBJECTS: Thirty-two aging adults (45-75 years old).
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Task-based fMRI, 3.0T, T1 -weighted anatomical images, T2 *-weighted imaging data.
ASSESSMENT: The dietary and ulam consumption were assessed using the respective validated Dietary History and semiquantitative Food Frequency questionnaires. Working memory and cognitive flexibility were evaluated by using neuropsychological batteries (ie, mini-mental state examination [MMSE], Digit Span, and Rey auditory verbal learning test [RAVLT]) and task-based fMRI (N-back and Stroop Color Word Test [SCWT]). Brodmann's areas 9 and 46 were the regions of interest (ROIs) of DLPFC activation.
STATISTICAL TESTS: Multiple linear regression used to understand the relationship between ulam consumption and the working memory and cognitive flexibility, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the difference of working memory and cognitive flexibility among four percentiles of ulam consumption, after age, gender, and education years adjustments. Significance was decided by two-sided, P
Hemispheric Lateralization of Auditory Working Memory Regions During Stochastic Resonance: An fMRI Study

Othman EA, Yusoff AN, Mohamad M, Abdul Manan H, Abd Hamid AI, Giampietro V

J Magn Reson Imaging, 2020 06;51(6):1821-1828.
PMID: 31794119 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27016

BACKGROUND: The auditory and prefrontal cortex supports auditory working memory processing. Many neuroimaging studies have shown hemispheric lateralization of auditory working memory brain regions in the presence of background noise, but few studies have focused on the lateralization of these regions during stochastic resonance.
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of stochastic resonance on lateralization of auditory working memory regions, and also to examine the brain-behavior relationship during stochastic resonance.
STUDY TYPE: Cross-sectional.
POPULATION/SUBJECTS: Forty healthy young adults (18-24 years old).
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0T, T1 , and T2 *-weighted imaging.
ASSESSMENT: The auditory working memory performance was assessed using a backward recall task. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity during task performance. Functional MRI data were analyzed using SPM12 and WFU PickAtlas.
STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way independent analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted on the behavioral and functional data to examine the main effect of noise level on performance (P
Lithological constraints on resource economies shape the mycorrhizal composition of a Bornean rain forest

Weemstra M, Peay KG, Davies SJ, Mohamad M, Itoh A, Tan S, et al.

New Phytol, 2020 10;228(1):253-268.
PMID: 32436227 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16672

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) produce contrasting plant-soil feedbacks, but how these feedbacks are constrained by lithology is poorly understood. We investigated the hypothesis that lithological drivers of soil fertility filter plant resource economic strategies in ways that influence the relative fitness of trees with AMF or EMF symbioses in a Bornean rain forest containing species with both mycorrhizal strategies. Using forest inventory data on 1245 tree species, we found that although AMF-hosting trees had greater relative dominance on all soil types, with declining lithological soil fertility EMF-hosting trees became more dominant. Data on 13 leaf traits and wood density for a total of 150 species showed that variation was almost always associated with soil type, whereas for six leaf traits (structural properties; carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus ratios, nitrogen isotopes), variation was also associated with mycorrhizal strategy. EMF-hosting species had slower leaf economics than AMF-hosts, demonstrating the central role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant resource economies. At the global scale, climate has been shown to shape forest mycorrhizal composition, but here we show that in communities it depends on soil lithology, suggesting scale-dependent abiotic factors influence feedbacks underlying the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal strategies.
Fulltext The effects of six months Persicaria minor extract supplement among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial

Lau H, Shahar S, Mohamad M, Rajab NF, Yahya HM, Din NC, et al.

BMC Complement Med Ther, 2020 Oct 19;20(1):315.
PMID: 33076878 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03092-2

BACKGROUND: Persicaria minor extract exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has potential effects on cognitive function and mood. However, the effects of P.minor on brain activation and biomarkers have not been studied among older adults. This multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study aimed to investigate the effect of 6 months P.minor extract supplement (Biokesum®) on cognition, mood, biomarkers, and brain activation among older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
METHOD: A total of 36 Malaysian community-dwelling older adults with MCI (60-75-year-old) were randomized into Biokesum® (n = 18) and placebo group (n = 18). Each subject consumed one capsule of Biokesum® (250 mg/capsule) or placebo (maltodextrin, 280 mg/capsule) twice daily for 6 months. Cognitive function and mood were assessed at baseline, 3rd, and 6th-month using neuropsychological tests (MMSE, Digit Span, RAVLT, Digit Symbol, and Visual Reproduction) and Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire. Blood lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and biomarkers (MDA, LPO, COX-2, iNOS, and BDNF) were measured at baseline and 6th month. By the end of the intervention, there were 30 compliers (Biokesum®: N = 15; Placebo: N = 15) and 6 dropouts. For brain activation assessment, 15 subsamples (Biokesum®: N = 8; Placebo: N = 7) completed N-back and Stroop tasks during fMRI scanning at baseline and 6th month. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's area 9 and 46) was identified as a region of interest (ROI) for brain activation analysis using SPM software.
RESULTS: Two-way mixed ANOVA analysis showed significant improvements in Visual Reproduction II (p = 0.012, partial η2 = 0.470), tension (p = 0.042, partial η2 = 0.147), anger (p = 0.010, partial η2 = 0.207), confusion (p = 0.041, partial η2 = 0.148), total negative subscales (p = 0.043, partial η2 = 0.145), BDNF (p = 0.020, partial η2 = 0.179) and triglyceride (p = 0.029, partial η2 = 0.237) following 6 months of Biokesum® supplementation. Preliminary finding also demonstrated significant improvement at 0-back task-induced right DLPFC activation (p = 0.028, partial η2 = 0.652) among subsamples in Biokesum® group. No adverse events were reported at the end of the study.
CONCLUSION: Six months Biokesum® supplementation potentially improved visual memory, negative mood, BDNF, and triglyceride levels among older adults with MCI. Significant findings on brain activation at the right DPLFC must be considered as preliminary.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered on 30th August 2019 [ ISRC TN12417552 ].
Relative bioavailability of the hydrochloride, sulphate and ethyl carbonate salts of quinine

Jamaludin A, Mohamad M, Navaratnam V, Selliah K, Tan SC, Wernsdorfer WH, et al.

Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1988 Feb;25(2):261-3.
PMID: 3358888

The hydrochloride, sulphate and ethylcarbonate salts of quinine were given in single oral doses (600 mg base equivalent) to nine healthy male subjects according to a cross-over design. No statistically significant differences were noted in the plasma drug concentration-time profiles although inter- and intra-subject variation in AUC, Cmax and tmax values was appreciable. The ethylcarbonate salt may be preferred for use in paediatric patients because of its neutral taste.
Fulltext Characterization and Kinetic Studies of Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Polymer Inclusion Membrane for the Malachite Green Extraction

Soo JAL, Makhtar MMZ, Shoparwe NF, Otitoju TA, Mohamad M, Tan LS, et al.

Membranes (Basel), 2021 Aug 31;11(9).
PMID: 34564493 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11090676

Textile industry effluent contains a high amount of toxic colorants. These dyes are carcinogenic and threats to the environment and living beings. In this study, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) was used as the based polymer for PIMs with bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (B2EHP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as the carrier and plasticizer. The fabricated PIMs were employed to extract the cation dye (Malachite Green; MG) from the feeding phase. PIMs were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle, water uptake, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ions exchange capacity. The performance of the PIMs was investigated under various conditions such as percentage of carrier and initial dye concentration. With permeability and flux values of 0.1188 cm/min and 1.1913 mg cm/min, PIM produced with 18% w/w PVDF-co-HFP, 21% w/w B2EHP, 1% w/w DOP and 40% w/w THF and was able to achieve more than 97% of MG extraction. The experimental data were then fitted with a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, and the calculated R2 value was ~0.99. This shows that the data has a good fit with the PSO model. PIM is a potential alternative technology in textile industry effluent treatment; however, the right formulation is crucial for developing a highly efficient membrane.
Fulltext Systematic Performance Comparison of Fe3+/Fe0/Peroxymonosulfate and Fe3+/Fe0/Peroxydisulfate Systems for Organics Removal

Oh WD, Ho YC, Mohamad M, Ho CD, Ravi R, Lim JW

Materials (Basel), 2021 Sep 14;14(18).
PMID: 34576510 DOI: 10.3390/ma14185284

Activated zero-valent iron (Ac-ZVI) coupled with Fe3+ was employed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS) for acid orange 7 (AO7) removal. Fe3+ was used to promote Fe2+ liberation from Ac-ZVI as an active species for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The factors affecting AO7 degradation, namely, the Ac-ZVI:Fe3+ ratio, PMS/PDS dosage, and pH, were compared. In both PMS and PDS systems, the AO7 degradation rate increased gradually with increasing Fe3+ concentration at fixed Ac-ZVI loading due to the Fe3+-promoted liberation of Fe2+ from Ac-ZVI. The AO7 degradation rate increased with increasing PMS/PDS dosage due to the greater amount of ROS generated. The degradation rate in the PDS system decreased while the degradation rate in the PMS system increased with increasing pH due to the difference in the PDS and PMS activation mechanisms. On the basis of the radical scavenging study, sulfate radical was identified as the dominant ROS in both systems. The physicochemical properties of pristine and used Ac-ZVI were characterized, indicating that the used Ac-ZVI had an increased BET specific surface area due to the formation of Fe2O3 nanoparticles during PMS/PDS activation. Nevertheless, both systems displayed good reusability and stability for at least three cycles, indicating that the systems are promising for pollutant removal.
Fulltext Community-acquired bacteremia in Paediatrics: Epidemiology, aetiology and patterns of antimicrobial resistance in a tertiary care centre, Malaysia

Nor Azizah A, Mohd Nor F, Mohamad M, Zainal Abidin AS, Ariza A, Mohd Nor NS, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2016 Jun;71(3):117-21.
PMID: 27495884 MyJurnal

Bacteremia continues to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality despite the existence of numerous antimicrobial agents. this study aimed to provide a Malaysian perspective on paediatric community-acquired bacteraemia based on the documentation of epidemiology and antimicrobial profile of the isolated pathogens.
Optoelectronic properties of naphtho[2, 1-b:6, 5-b']difuran derivatives for photovoltaic application: a computational study

Chaudhry AR, Ahmed R, Irfan A, Mohamad M, Muhammad S, Ul Haq B, et al.

J Mol Model, 2016 Oct;22(10):248.
PMID: 27683259

Some important optoelectronic properties of naphtho[2,1-b:6,5-b']difuran (DPNDF) and its two derivatives have been limelighted by applying the density functional theory (DFT). Due to their low cost, high stability and earth abundance, the DPNDF and its derivatives are considered as potential organic semiconductor materials for their optoelectronics applications. Highly proficient derivatives are obtained systematically by attaching -CN (cyanide) to DPNDF at various sites. Our calculations indicate that DPNDF has a wide and direct band gap with an energy gap of 3.157 eV. Whereas the band gaps of its derivatives are found to be decreased by 88 meV for derivative "a" and 300 meV for derivative "b" as a consequence of p orbitals present in C and N atoms in derivative structures. The narrowing of the energy gap and density of states for the derivatives of DPNDF in the present investigation suggest that energy gap can be engineered for desirable optoelectronic applications via derivatives designing. Furthermore, their obtained results for optical parameters such as the dielectric and conductivity functions, reflectivity, refractive index, and the extinction coefficients endorses their aptness for optoelectronic applications. Graphical Abstract Real part of dielectric function for derivative "b".
Rapid-synthesis of zeolite T via sonochemical-assisted hydrothermal growth method

Jusoh N, Yeong YF, Mohamad M, Lau KK, M Shariff A

Ultrason Sonochem, 2017 01;34:273-280.
PMID: 27773246 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2016.05.033

Sonochemical-assisted method has been identified as one of the potential pre-treatment methods which could reduce the formation duration of zeolite as well as other microporous and mesoporous materials. In the present work, zeolite T was synthesized via sonochemical-assisted pre-treatment prior to hydrothermal growth. The durations for sonochemical-assisted pre-treatment were varied from 30min to 90min. Meanwhile, the hydrothermal growth durations were ranged from 0.5 to 3days. The physicochemical properties of the resulting samples were characterized using XRD, FESEM, FTIR and BET. As verified by XRD, the samples synthesized via hydrothermal growth durations of 1, 2 and 3days and sonochemical-assisted pre-treatment durations of 60min and 90min demonstrated zeolite T structure. The samples which underwent sonochemical-assisted pre-treatment duration of 60min yielded higher crystallinity with negligible change of zeolite T morphology. Overall, the lengthy synthesis duration of zeolite T has been successfully reduced from 7days to 1day by applying sonochemical-assisted pre-treatment of 60min, while synthesis duration of 0.5days via sonochemical-assisted pre-treatment of 60min was not sufficient to produce zeolite T structure.
Roles of MicroRNA21 and MicroRNA29a in Regulating Cell Adhesion Related Genes in Bone Metastasis Secondary to Prostate Cancer

Mohamad M, Wahab NA, Yunus R, Murad NA, Zainuddin ZM, Sundaram M, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2016;17(7):3437-45.
PMID: 27509989

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing concern in the role of microRNA (miRNA) in the pathogenesis of bone metastasis (BM) secondary to prostate cancer (CaP). In this exploratory study, we hypothesized that the expression of vinculin (VCL) and chemokine X3C ligand 1 (CX3CL1) might be downregulated in clinical samples, most likely due to the posttranscriptional modification by microRNAs. Targeted genes would be upregulated upon transfection of the bone metastatic prostate cancer cell line, PC3, with specific microRNA inhibitors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: MicroRNA software predicted that miR21 targets VCL while miR29a targets CX3CL1. Twenty benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 16 high grade CaP formalinfixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) specimens were analysed. From the bone scan results, high grade CaP samples were further classified into CaP with no BM and CaP with BM. Transient transfection with respective microRNA inhibitors was done in both RWPE1 (normal) and PC3 cell lines. QPCR was performed in all FFPE samples and transfected cell lines to measure VCL and CX3CL1 levels.
RESULTS: QPCR confirmed that VCL messenger RNA (mRNA) was significantly down regulated while CX3CL1 was upregulated in all FFPE specimens. Transient transfection with microRNA inhibitors in PC3 cells followed by qPCR of the targeted genes showed that VCL mRNA was significantly up regulated while CX3CL1 mRNA was significantly downregulated compared to the RWPE1 case.
CONCLUSIONS: The downregulation of VCL in FFPE specimens is most likely regulated by miR21 based on the in vitro evidence but the exact mechanism of how miR21 can regulate VCL is unclear. Upregulated in CaP, CX3CL1 was found not regulated by miR29a. More microRNA screening is required to understand the regulation of this chemokine in CaP with bone metastasis. Understanding miRNAmRNA interactions may provide additional knowledge for individualized study of cancers.
Effects of white noise on word recall performance and brain activity in healthy adolescents with normal and low auditory working memory

Othman E, Yusoff AN, Mohamad M, Abdul Manan H, Abd Hamid AI, Giampietro V

Exp Brain Res, 2020 Apr;238(4):945-956.
PMID: 32179941 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05765-3

The present study examined the impact of white noise on word recall performance and brain activity in 40 healthy adolescents, split in two groups (normal and low) depending on their auditory working memory capacity (AWMC). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants performed a backward recall task under four different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions: 15, 10, 5, and 0-dB SNR. Behaviorally, normal AWMC individuals scored significantly higher than low AWMC individuals across noise levels. Whole-brain analyses showed brain activation not to be statistically different between groups across noise levels. In the normal group, a significant positive relationship was found between performance and number of activated voxels in the right superior frontal gyrus. In the low group, significant positive correlations were found between performance and number of activated voxels in left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, and left anterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that the strategic structure involved in the enhancement of AWM performance may differ in normal and low AWMC individuals.
Fulltext Antibacterial Activity of Ikarugamycin against Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells In Vitro Infection Model

Saeed SI, Aklilu E, Mohammedsalih KM, Adekola AA, Mergani AE, Mohamad M, et al.

Biology (Basel), 2021 Sep 25;10(10).
PMID: 34681057 DOI: 10.3390/biology10100958

Staphylococcus aureus is an ubiquitous and versatile pathogen associated with a wide range of diseases. In animals, this bacterium is one of the causative agents of bovine mastitis, responsible for huge economic losses in the dairy industry. Besides the development of antibiotic resistance, the intracellular survival of S. aureus within udder cells has rendered many antibiotics ineffective, leading to therapeutic failure. Our study therefore aims to investigate the in vitro bactericidal activity of ikarugamycin (IKA) against intracellular S. aureus using a bovine mammary epithelial cells (Mac-T cells) infection model and determine the cytotoxic effect. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was used to determine the antibacterial activity of IKA, and Mac-T cells were infected with S. aureus using gentamicin protection assay. IKA intracellular antibacterial activity assays were used to determine the bactericidal activity of IKA against intracellular S. aureus. The cytotoxicity of IKA against Mac-T cells was evaluated using the resazurin assay. We showed that, S. aureus is susceptible to IKA with a MIC value of 0.6 μg/mL. IKA at 4 × MIC and 8 × MIC have bactericidal activity by reducing 3 and 5 logs10 CFU/mL of S. aureus in the first six-hour of treatment respectively. In addition, IKA demonstrated intracellular killing activity by killing 90% of intracellular S. aureus at 5 μg/mL. This level is comparatively lower than 9.2 μg/mL determined as the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of IKA required to kill 50% of Mac-T cells, highlighting a lower concentration required for bactericidal effect compared to the cytotoxic effect. The study highlighted that importance of IKA as a potential antibiotic candidate to be explored for the in vivo efficacy in treating S. aureus mastitis.

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