This is a novel study of the depth of penetration of bonding agents (BA) by using a
miniaturised CT-scan, XMT.The Linear Attenuation Coefficient describes the fraction of a beam of
x-rays or gamma rays that is absorbed or scattered per unit thickness of the absorber. The higher
the LAC, the more opaque the image is. (Copied from article).
The development of treatment strategies for periodontitis that maximise the
effectiveness of antibiotics is highly desirable. Azithromycin is proving to be an effective antibiotic
for treatment of refractory periodontitis which works by binding to the outer membrane of Gramnegative bacteria and subsequently inhibits protein synthesis. Lactoferrin is a membrane-active
host antimicrobial protein and so the objective of this study was to determine whether the effect
of azithromycin (AZM) against example periodontopathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis and
Tannerella forsythia) could be potentiated by lactoferrin. (Copied from article).
Cancer is one of the global health problems that has a detrimental effect
to a person's life. However, chemotherapeutic agents success are subject to the side
effects due to lack of specificity in the drug delivery system to cancer cells and an
increase risk of systemic toxicity to the normal cells. Polyamine transport system (PTS)
is one of the potential pathways for transporting anticancer agent into specific cancer
cells. This is due to the upregulation of PTS in cancer cells compared to normal cells for
the proliferation activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity effect
of putrescine-sulphur analogues type 1 (PSA-1) and type 2 (PSA-2) on human lung
adenocarcinoma cells (A549), human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8) and
human breast adenocarcinoma cell (MCF-7).
Premature ejaculation (PE) reduces sexual satisfaction and quality of life.
Both SSRI Fluoxetine and Dapoxetine have been used in the treatment of PE. Fluoxetine
is used as off-label treatment meanwhile Dapoxetine is the first SSRI specifically
designed for PE with short half-life and few side effects. (Copied from article).
Eventration of the diaphragm is caused by weakened musculature of the diaphragm. This can occur in one or
both hemidiaphragms. Symptoms may be minimal and it is usually detected incidentally on chest radiograph
which would show an elevation of the diaphragm. We report and discuss a case of eventration of right
diaphragm in a patient presented with a lobulated lung mass on chest radiograph.
Evidence suggests that several genes; including MYO1H, play an important role in the
etiology of Class III malocclusion. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in marker rs10850110 (locus
12q24.11) within MYO1H gene has been associated with the incidence of mandibular prognathism
(MP). MYO is a class 1 myosin that is responsible for the synthesis of Matrilin-1; an important
protein involved in the formation of cartilage's extracellular matrix, hence is implicated in the
formation of mandibular condyle cartilage. This study aimed to detect the presence of MYO1H
(rs10850110) SNP and to determine its genotype and allele distribution in MP patient in the local
population. (Copied from article).
The integration of human knowledge between the medical and health care sciences with revealed knowledge was established since the era of Al-Razi (Rhazes), Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), AlZahrawi (Albucasis) and others. However, the glorious period of Islamic medicine gradually declined after the period of 'Abbasiyyah and 'Uthmaniyyah. At present, many scholars tend to separate the modern medicine and the revealed knowledge, resulting in the disconnection between these two fields. There is little to suggest the presence of reference collections that integrate the Qur’an and Hadith with medicine. This review aimed to fill that gap. Relevant Qur’anic verses and authentic Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him; henceforth PBUH) in relation to a specific field in medicine i.e. the anatomy of human musculoskeletal system was extracted. The musculoskeletal system is unique in which it forms the ‘backbone’ of normal human posture. The system plays a vital role in maintaining human daily activities. From this review, it is noted that many Qur’anic verses and Hadith relate to the musculoskeletal system. A few examples include the number human joints and its relationship with the daily prayers (Salah), the daily charitable act recommended to all Muslim, the coccyx bone that is indestructible and shall be the source for human resurrection during the hereafter, and others. These examples necessitate for a more in-depth analysis to enlighten the revealed knowledge from the medical perspective.
Schwannomas are benign slow growing lesions arising from the Schwann cells that ensheath the axons of the peripheral, cranial and autonomic nervous systems. Intracranial schwannomas develop from the facial nerve much more rarely than from the vestibular or trigeminal nerves. Ancient schwannoma is an unusual histological variant of this rare disease. A 48 years old man who had recurrent facial nerve paralysis and right external auditory mass is presented in this case report.
A 43-year-old man presented with acute extensive anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. During coronary angiogram, a segment of myocardial bridging was noted in the mid-segment of left anterior descending artery. The association of myocardial bridging and an anterior ST segment elevation is rarely reported in the medical literature. Myocardial bridging is caused by systolic compression of a coronary artery by overlying myocardium tissue. It is a rare coronary artery anomaly, which usually has a benign prognosis despite some case reports of myocardial ischemia leading to myocardial infarction, lethal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We report one such case of myocardial bridging that was complicated with acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction.
Atherosclerosis in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a growing health problem, especially in developing countries. Hyperlipidemia is known as a dominant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Eurycoma Longifolia (EL) also known as Malaysian Ginseng/ Tongkat Ali on the testosterone level, biochemical changes of lipid profile and intima media thickness (IMT) in rats fed on high-fat diet. Twenty young, adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were housed for 12 weeks. After one week of acclimatization, they were randomly divided into four groups of 5 animals each and treated for 12 weeks as follow: Group ND was given only normal diet, group NDEL was given normal diet and EL extracts (15mg/kg) dissolved in distilled water, group HFD was given only high fat diet and group HFDEL was given high fat diet and EL extracts (15mg/kg). Rats which were treated with EL (NDEL and HFDEL) showed a significant increase (p
Quorum sensing controls a wide spectrum of processes and phenotypic
behaviours including biofilm formation that helps in the survival and virulence of
bacteria in hosts. Thus, anti-quorum sensing is suggested to combat bacterial infections.
This study aimed to evaluate the anti-biofilm forming and anti-quorum sensing activities
which may contribute to the anti-bacterial effect of ethanol and aqueous extracts of
Orthosiphon stamineus and Andrographis paniculata leaves and stems. (Copied from article).
Squamous cell carcinoma is reported as one of the most common types of cancer with
increasing numbers of occurrence. Luvunga scandens is a plant possessing many bioactivities and
general health effects, yet its anti-proliferative effect is under reported and need to be
scientifically evaluated. (Copied from article).
Dental plaque is a structurally and functionally organized biofilm. Modern molecular
biological techniques have identified about 1000 different bacterial species in the dental biofilm,
twice as many as can be cultured. Inherent resistance of biofilm bacteria to conventional
antibiotics is alarming. It induces antibiotic resistance to an order of three or more in magnitude
greater than those displayed by planktonic bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is the most dominant
bacterial species isolated from the saliva and dental plaques. One of the reasons for its
pathogenicity is its ability to form biofilms. In this study, the resistance of S. aureus biofilms
against a eries of metal-antibiotics, an alternative to the conventional antibiotics, was
investigated. (Copied from article).
Medicinal plants become very important in our days for their therapeutic benefits to humankind. It sustains human health, and it is commonly known as herbal medicines since ancient times. Annona muricata is a heart-shaped fruit that is consumed raw or as the fruit juice in the tropical area. A. muricata is used in traditional and alternative medicine to treat different ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, respiratory and skin illness, inflammation and cancer. A. muricata contains essential anticancer agents named acetogenins that play the significant role in various cancer types. Acetogenins are strong nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase inhibitors of the cancer cell's mitochondrial membrane but showed neurotoxic effects in rats. Therefore, acetogenins need to be further investigated to determine the exact mechanisms of action, long-term safety, optimal dosage, and potential side effects. Given the extensive studies on A. muricata, this review focuses on the phytochemistry, medicinal uses, biological activities and the mechanisms of action for the fruit extracts and acetogenins, to stimulate further studies on the fruit pulp used for human consumption.
Introduction: Honey has potent bactericidal activity against many pathogenic organisms, including various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of Malaysian honey against different species of human pathogens using optimized honey broth media. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activity of honey against standard strains of Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria and yeast was tested in vitro by the broth dilution method using 10%-100% w/v concentrations prepared in tryptic soy broth. Results: Streptococcus pyogenes was the most sensitive pathogen, it was completely inhibited by 30% honey broth medium. The most resistant were E. faecalis, S. aureus and MRSA, but they were all completely inhibited by 80% honey broth medium. Conclusion: Honey is shown to possess antimicrobial activity against human Gram-positive and negative medically important bacteria.
Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a frequently encountered clinical condition in children. Based on DSM IV-TR criteria it can be sub-classified into three distinct types namely hyperactiveimpulsive, inattentive and combined. Materials and Methods: In the present study, salivary antioxidant activity (AOA) in children with ADHD was compared with age-matched normal control subjects, both as a whole and also with regard to the three subtypes. Additionally, the effect of therapy on the altered AOA levels was investigated following short term (
A 35-year-old Jordanian gentleman presented with worsening right iliac fossa pain of three-day durations with vomiting, loose stool and intermittent fever. He later underwent laparoscopic surgery, which was subsequently converted to open laparotomy. Intraoperatively, there was thickened bowel with multiple mesenteric lymph nodes, and also thrombosis of the small bowel vein supplying the affected bowel lesion, the diagnosis which was later confi rmed with the histopathological report. Resection with end-to-end anastomosis was done during the surgery. Within one-week post laparotomy, he developed another progressive abdominal pain and distension, vomiting and no bowel opening. He was sent for another exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperatively, there was a gangrenous small bowel segment measuring 130 cm, with an intact large bowel and previous anastomotic site. Resection of 150 cm of the small bowel was subsequently done.
Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Many experimental studies have elucidated
the role of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Apolipoprotein
E is a plasma protein that is found to have antioxidant properties, and it also protects against atherosclerosis.
Interestingly, the biological function of apolipoprotein E is strongly affected by polymorphisms in its gene.
Based on this evidence, our aim was to investigate the association of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms with
essential hypertension.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in Malaysia as well as in other countries. It is associated with many risk factors, such as increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and autonomic dysfunction and arterial stiffness. The objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of arterial stiffness and to assess its association with dyslipidemia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a rural community in Malaysia involving 146 subjects. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire which included three sections – sociodemographic characteristics, personal profile, and past medical history. In addition, Seca Body Meter (Seca 220) was used to measure height and weight. Sphygmomanometer (OMRON Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor HEM 907) and SphygmoCor-AtCor MM3 SERIAL/RS-232 were used for blood pressure and augmentation index (AIx) measurement. Data were analysed using the SPSS for Windows, Version 18.0. Results: The mean age of respondents was 49.5 years, SD±15.6. The prevalence of arterial stiffness was 23.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 16.44 – 30.16). The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 82.9% (95% CI: 76.79 – 89.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that total cholesterol was significantly associated with arterial stiffness (OR=4.56, CI 1.10-18.90). Conclusion: The prevalence of dyslipidemia was high. Despite an insignificant association between dyslipidemia and AIx, there is a significant association between TC level and AIx.
Introduction: The notion of competency in pre-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) personnel is mainly focused on the professional proficiency that he/she has to provide intervention outside of hospital setting. Consequently, the effectiveness of pre-hospital EMS performance very much depends upon the capability of the personnel at the scene and as well during transport to the definitive care center. The aim of this study is to appraise and explore the competency of pre-hospital care staff and provide strategies for improvement.
Methods: A mixed method approach combining the qualitative and quantitative study design. Of 134 staffs only 111(82.84%) returned the questionnaire. Nine semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions were performed. The main informants were nurses/assistant medical officers, nurse/assistant medical officer administrators, and emergency physicians.
Results: From the quantitative finding on the competency of staff handling pre-hospital EMS, all had the essential knowledge and skills. However, most of them reported not having good knowledge and skills for invasive procedures (31%-61%), include giving medications (61%-66%). The qualitative information provided insight about the issues and strategies for the personnel in regards to competency. All the relevant qualitative data were merged into 5 categories relating issues and 5 categories to strategies that could affect the competency of the personnel.
Conclusion: Pre-hospital EMS systems need to consider that the competency of pre-hospital EMS personnel has to come along with the responsible attitude of the staff itself, the support of medical direction, clear protocol for guiding them whenever needed, and continuous professional-development courses require them to maintain their professional proficiency.