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Fulltext SNF3 as High Affinity Glucose Sensor and Its Function in Supporting the Viability of Candida glabrata under Glucose-Limited Environment

Ng TS, Chew SY, Rangasamy P, Mohd Desa MN, Sandai D, Chong PP, et al.

Front Microbiol, 2015;6:1334.
PMID: 26648919 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01334

Candida glabrata is an emerging human fungal pathogen that has efficacious nutrient sensing and responsiveness ability. It can be seen through its ability to thrive in diverse range of nutrient limited-human anatomical sites. Therefore, nutrient sensing particularly glucose sensing is thought to be crucial in contributing to the development and fitness of the pathogen. This study aimed to elucidate the role of SNF3 (Sucrose Non Fermenting 3) as a glucose sensor and its possible role in contributing to the fitness and survivability of C. glabrata in glucose-limited environment. The SNF3 knockout strain was constructed and subjected to different glucose concentrations to evaluate its growth, biofilm formation, amphotericin B susceptibility, ex vivo survivability and effects on the transcriptional profiling of the sugar receptor repressor (SRR) pathway-related genes. The CgSNF3Δ strain showed a retarded growth in low glucose environments (0.01 and 0.1%) in both fermentation and respiration-preferred conditions but grew well in high glucose concentration environments (1 and 2%). It was also found to be more susceptible to amphotericin B in low glucose environment (0.1%) and macrophage engulfment but showed no difference in the biofilm formation capability. The deletion of SNF3 also resulted in the down-regulation of about half of hexose transporters genes (four out of nine). Overall, the deletion of SNF3 causes significant reduction in the ability of C. glabrata to sense limited surrounding glucose and consequently disrupts its competency to transport and perform the uptake of this critical nutrient. This study highlighted the role of SNF3 as a high affinity glucose sensor and its role in aiding the survivability of C. glabrata particularly in glucose limited environment.
Salvadora persica L. chewing stick and standard toothbrush as anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis tool: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Adam FA, Mohd N, Rani H, Baharin B, Mohd Yusof MYP

J Ethnopharmacol, 2021 Jun 28;274:113882.
PMID: 33513418 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113882

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salvadora persica L. chewing stick, commonly known as miswak is still being used as an oral hygiene tool for plaque control and prevention against gingivitis. Various studies have reported on the therapeutics and prophylactic effects particularly on periodontal disease. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of S. persica chewing stick compared to the standard toothbrush for anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic search of literature was done from the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar. Literature that fulfilled eligibility criteria was identified. Data measuring plaque score and bleeding score were extracted. Qualitative and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: From 1736 titles and abstracts screened, eight articles were utilized for qualitative analysis, while five were selected for meta-analysis. The pooled effect estimates of SMD and 95% CI were -0.07 [-0.60 to 0.45] with an χ2 statistic of 0.32 (p = 0.0001), I2 = 80% as anti-plaque function and 95% CI were -2.07 [-4.05 to -0.10] with an χ2 statistic of 1.67 (p = 0.02), I2 = 82%.
CONCLUSION: S. persica chewing stick is a tool that could control plaque, comparable to a standard toothbrush. Further, it has a better anti-gingivitis effect and can be used as an alternative.
Fulltext The Influence of Ficus deltoidea in Preserving Alveolar Bone in Ovariectomized Rats

Omar NI, Baharin B, Lau SF, Ibrahim N, Mohd N, Ahmad Fauzi A, et al.

Vet Med Int, 2020;2020:8862489.
PMID: 33456747 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8862489

Ficus deltoidea has been shown to possess antioxidant properties that could prevent the development of chronic inflammatory bone diseases. In this study, the efficacy of F. deltoidea in preventing alveolar bone resorption in osteoporotic rats induced by ovariectomy (OVX) was investigated. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 6) consisting of sham-operated (SO), ovariectomized control (OVXN), ovariectomized treated with estrogen (OVXP), and ovariectomized treated with F. deltoidea extract (OVXF). At the beginning of the study, two nonovariectomized, healthy rats were sacrificed to serve as baseline (BL). Treatment of the rats commenced two weeks after ovariectomy-the OVXP rats that served as positive control received Premarin® (64.5 μg/kg body weight), while OVXF rats were given F. deltoidea (800 mg/kg body weight); both agents were administered orally for two months. The negative control group of rats (OVXN) and the SO group received deionized water, also administered via oral gavage. At necropsy, morphometric assessment of the interradicular bone of the first molar was carried out using a micro-CT scanner, while quantification of osteoclasts and osteoblasts was performed histologically. The results showed that no statistically significant differences among the groups (p > 0.05) for bone morphometric assessment. However, trabecular thickness in the OVXF group was similar to BL, while trabecular separation and alveolar bone loss height were lower than those of the OVXN group. Histologically, the OVXF group demonstrated a significantly lower number of osteoclasts and a higher number of osteoblasts compared with OVXN (p=0.008 and p=0.019, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, F. deltoidea has the capacity to prevent alveolar bone loss in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis rats by potentially preserving trabecular bone microarchitecture and to decrease osteoclast and increase osteoblast cell count.
The value of life and accident costing: a willingness-to-pay study amongst motorcyclists in Malaysia

Mohd Fauzi MY, Nor Ghani MN, Radin Umar RS, Ahmad Hariza H

Appl Health Econ Health Policy, 2004;3(1):5-8.
PMID: 15702934

Motorcyclists constitute a large proportion of total road casualties in Asian countries Unfortunately, studies conducted for the purpose of evaluating the cost of traffic crashes, and cost-benefit analyses of safety interventions, are almost nonexistent in these countries. The loss-of-output approach to valuing life has been used for many years, yet this method has also long been criticised as it results in significant resource misallocation. This study attempts to overcome this problem by estimating the value of a statistical life among motorcyclists using the willingness-to-pay method that is commonly used in developed countries. The study recommends adopting a value of MYR1.1 million (almost five times the previous estimate) per statistical life for public policy analysis involving motorcycle safety.
Fulltext Tonabersat Prevents Inflammatory Damage in the Central Nervous System by Blocking Connexin43 Hemichannels

Kim Y, Griffin JM, Nor MNM, Zhang J, Freestone PS, Danesh-Meyer HV, et al.

Neurotherapeutics, 2017 Oct;14(4):1148-1165.
PMID: 28560708 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-017-0536-9

The cis benzopyran compound tonabersat (SB-220453) has previously been reported to inhibit connexin26 expression in the brain by attenuating the p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. We show here that tonabersat directly inhibits connexin43 hemichannel opening. Connexin43 hemichannels have been called "pathological pores" based upon their role in secondary lesion spread, edema, inflammation, and neuronal loss following central nervous system injuries, as well as in chronic inflammatory disease. Both connexin43 hemichannels and pannexin channels released adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during ischemia in an in vitro ischemia model, but only connexin43 hemichannels contributed to ATP release during reperfusion. Tonabersat inhibited connexin43 hemichannel-mediated ATP release during both ischemia and reperfusion phases, with direct channel block confirmed using electrophysiology. Tonabersat also reduced connexin43 gap junction coupling in vitro, but only at higher concentrations, with junctional plaques internalized and degraded via the lysosomal pathway. Systemic delivery of tonabersat in a rat bright-light retinal damage model (a model for dry age-related macular degeneration) resulted in significantly improved functional outcomes assessed using electroretinography. Tonabersat also prevented thinning of the retina, especially the outer nuclear layer and choroid, assessed using optical coherence tomography. We conclude that tonabersat, already given orally to over 1000 humans in clinical trials (as a potential treatment for, and prophylactic treatment of, migraine because it was thought to inhibit cortical spreading depression), is a connexin hemichannel inhibitor and may have the potential to be a novel treatment of central nervous system injury and chronic neuroinflammatory disease.
Fulltext Tuberculous arthritis of the ankle joint masquerading as rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with lupus nephritis

Ismail MNB, Rahim SMA

Clin Med (Lond), 2021 Jan;21(1):e108-e109.
PMID: 33479090 DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0882

Tuberculosis is an airborne multisystemic disease which primarily infects the lungs. Isolated tuberculous arthritis is rare. We present a case of a 41-year-old woman with a known case of lupus nephritis class IV who complained of pain and swelling over her left ankle joint for several months. She was treated for rheumatoid arthritis and was started with immunosuppressive agents. However, she did not improve with treatment and was later diagnosed with tuberculous arthritis based on a molecular study from joint aspiration. She was started on antituberculosis medication and showed improvement. We highlight the challenges in reaching the diagnosis and the importance of including tuberculous arthritis in differential diagnoses in cases with persistent ankle swelling.
Fulltext Validation of the knowledge, attitude and perceived practice of asthma instrument among community pharmacists using Rasch analysis

Akram W, Hussein MS, Ahmad S, Mamat MN, Ismail NE

Saudi Pharm J, 2015 Oct;23(5):499-503.
PMID: 26594115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2015.01.011

There is no instrument which collectively assesses the knowledge, attitude and perceived practice of asthma among community pharmacists. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the instrument which measured the knowledge, attitude and perceived practice of asthma among community pharmacists by producing empirical evidence of validity and reliability of the items using Rasch model (Bond & Fox software®) for dichotomous and polytomous data. This baseline study recruited 33 community pharmacists from Penang, Malaysia. The results showed that all PTMEA Corr were in positive values, where an item was able to distinguish between the ability of respondents. Based on the MNSQ infit and outfit range (0.60-1.40), out of 55 items, 2 items from the instrument were suggested to be removed. The findings indicated that the instrument fitted with Rasch measurement model and showed the acceptable reliability values of 0.88 and 0.83 and 0.79 for knowledge, attitude and perceived practice respectively.