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  1. Fulltext Use of Antihypertensive Drugs and Ischemic Stroke Severity - Is There a Role for Angiotensin-II?
    Hwong WY, Bots ML, Selvarajah S, Abdul Aziz Z, Sidek NN, Spiering W, et al.
    PLoS One, 2016;11(11):e0166524.
    PMID: 27846309 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166524
    BACKGROUND: The increase in angiotensin II (Ang II) formation by selected antihypertensive drugs is said to exhibit neuroprotective properties, but this translation into improvement in clinical outcomes has been inconclusive. We undertook a study to investigate the relationship between types of antihypertensive drugs used prior to a stroke event and ischemic stroke severity. We hypothesized that use of antihypertensive drugs that increase Ang II formation (Ang II increasers) would reduce ischemic stroke severity when compared to antihypertensive drugs that suppress Ang II formation (Ang II suppressors).

    METHODS: From the Malaysian National Neurology Registry, we included hypertensive patients with first ischemic stroke who presented within 48 hours from ictus. Antihypertensive drugs were divided into Ang II increasers (angiotensin-I receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and diuretics) and Ang II suppressors (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and beta blockers). We evaluated stroke severity during admission with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). We performed a multivariable logistic regression with the score being dichotomized at 15. Scores of less than 15 were categorized as less severe stroke.

    RESULTS: A total of 710 patients were included. ACEIs was the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drug in patients using Ang II suppressors (74%) and CCBs, in patients prescribed with Ang II increasers at 77%. There was no significant difference in the severity of ischemic stroke between patients who were using Ang II increasers in comparison to patients with Ang II suppressors (OR: 1.32, 95%CI: 0.83-2.10, p = 0.24).

    CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that use of antihypertensive drugs that increase Ang II formation was not associated with less severe ischemic stroke as compared to use of antihypertensive drugs that suppress Ang II formation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use
  2. Fulltext Ursodeoxycholic acid prevents ventricular conduction slowing and arrhythmia by restoring T-type calcium current in fetuses during cholestasis
    Adeyemi O, Alvarez-Laviada A, Schultz F, Ibrahim E, Trauner M, Williamson C, et al.
    PLoS One, 2017;12(9):e0183167.
    PMID: 28934223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183167
    BACKGROUND: Increased maternal serum bile acid concentrations in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) are associated with fetal cardiac arrhythmias. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been shown to demonstrate anti-arrhythmic properties via preventing ICP-associated cardiac conduction slowing and development of reentrant arrhythmias, although the cellular mechanism is still being elucidated.

    METHODS: High-resolution fluorescent optical mapping of electrical activity and electrocardiogram measurements were used to characterize effects of UDCA on one-day-old neonatal and adult female Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. ICP was modelled by perfusion of taurocholic acid (TC, 400μM). Whole-cell calcium currents were recorded from neonatal rat and human fetal cardiomyocytes.

    RESULTS: TC significantly prolonged the PR interval by 11.0±3.5% (P<0.05) and slowed ventricular conduction velocity (CV) by 38.9±5.1% (P<0.05) exclusively in neonatal and not in maternal hearts. A similar CV decline was observed with the selective T-type calcium current (ICa,T) blocker mibefradil 1μM (23.0±6.2%, P<0.05), but not with the L-type calcium current (ICa,L) blocker nifedipine 1μM (6.9±6.6%, NS). The sodium channel blocker lidocaine (30μM) reduced CV by 60.4±4.5% (P<0.05). UDCA co-treatment was protective against CV slowing induced by TC and mibefradil, but not against lidocaine. UDCA prevented the TC-induced reduction in the ICa,T density in both isolated human fetal (-10.2±1.5 versus -5.5±0.9 pA/pF, P<0.05) and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (-22.3±1.1 versus -9.6±0.8 pA/pF, P<0.0001), whereas UDCA had limited efficacy on the ICa,L.

    CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that ICa,T plays a significant role in ICP-associated fetal cardiac conduction slowing and arrhythmogenesis, and is an important component of the fetus-specific anti-arrhythmic activity of UDCA.

    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium/pharmacology; Calcium Channels, T-Type/metabolism*
  3. Fulltext Upregulation of Brain's Calcium Binding Proteins in Mitragynine Dependence: A Potential Cellular Mechanism to Addiction
    Basheer M, Hassan Z, Gam LH
    Int J Med Sci, 2023;20(1):102-113.
    PMID: 36619231 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.78861
    Background: Mitragyna speciosa Korth or Kratom is widely used traditionally for its medicinal values. The major alkaloid content of kratom leaves is mitragynine, which binds to opioid receptors to give opioid-like effects. This study aimed to analyse the brain proteome of animals that displayed addictive behaviors. Design and Methods: Six groups (n=6-8) of rats made up of negative control, positive control using morphine (10 mg/kg), and treatment groups at low (1mg/kg) and high doses of mitragynine (30 mg/kg) for 1 and 4 days. The rats' behaviors were evaluated and subsequently the rats' brains were harvested for proteomic analysis that was performed by using 2D gel electrophoresis and LC/MS/MS. Results: The rats developed physical dependence only on day 4 following morphine and mitragynine (1 and 30mg/kg) treatments. Among the proteins that were up-regulated in treatment groups were four calcium-binding proteins, namely calretinin, F-actin, annexin A3 and beta-centractin. Conclusions: Upregulation of calretinin acted as low Ca2+ buffering upon the blockage of Ca2+ ion channel by mitragynine in the brain, which subsequently caused a reduction of GABA released and inversely increased the dopamine secretions that contributed to dependence indicators.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium-Binding Proteins*
  4. Upgrading producer gas quality from rubber wood gasification in a radio frequency tar thermocatalytic treatment reactor
    Anis S, Zainal ZA
    Bioresour Technol, 2013 Dec;150:328-37.
    PMID: 24185417 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.10.010
    This study focused on improving the producer gas quality using radio frequency (RF) tar thermocatalytic treatment reactor. The producer gas containing tar, particles and water was directly passed at a particular flow rate into the RF reactor at various temperatures for catalytic and thermal treatments. Thermal treatment generates higher heating value of 5.76 MJ Nm(-3) at 1200°C. Catalytic treatments using both dolomite and Y-zeolite provide high tar and particles conversion efficiencies of about 97% on average. The result also showed that light poly-aromatic hydrocarbons especially naphthalene and aromatic compounds particularly benzene and toluene were still found even at higher reaction temperatures. Low energy intensive RF tar thermocatalytic treatment was found to be effective for upgrading the producer gas quality to meet the end user requirements and increasing its energy content.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Carbonate/chemistry
  5. Unusually high genetic diversity in the Bornean Limnonectes kuhlii-like fanged frogs (Anura: Dicroglossidae)
    Matsui M, Kuraishi N, Eto K, Hamidy A, Nishikawa K, Shimada T, et al.
    Mol Phylogenet Evol, 2016 09;102:305-19.
    PMID: 27374495 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.06.009
    A fanged frog Limnonectes kuhlii was once thought to be wide-ranging in Southeast Asia, but is now confined to its type locality Java through recent phylogenetic studies, which clarified heterospecific status of non-Javanese populations, and monophyly of Bornean populations. However, large genetic differences among Bornean populations suggest occurrence of cryptic species, which we test using dense geographic sampling. We estimated the phylogenetic relationships among samples of Bornean populations together with their putative relatives from the continental Southeast Asia, using 2517bp sequences of the 12S rRNA, tRNA(val), and 16S rRNA of mitochondrial DNA, and 2367bp sequences of the NCX1, POMC, and RAG1 of nuclear genes. In the mtDNA trees, Bornean L. kuhlii-like frogs formed a monophyletic group split into 18 species lineages including L. hikidai, with the deepest phylogenetic split separating L. cintalubang from the remaining species. Almost all of these lineages co-occur geographically, and two to three lineages were found syntopically in each locality. Co-occurrence of more than one lineage may be maintained by differential morphology and microhabitat selection. These syntopic lineages should be regarded as distinct species. Our results clearly indicate that taxonomic revision is urgent to clarify many evolutionary problems of Bornean L. kuhlii-like frogs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/genetics; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/metabolism; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/chemistry
  6. Underlying mechanism of vasorelaxant effect exerted by 3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone in rats aortic ring
    Tew WY, Tan CS, Asmawi MZ, Yam MF
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2020 Aug 05;880:173123.
    PMID: 32335091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173123
    Morin (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone) is a yellow coloured natural flavonoid found in plants of the Moraceae family. This favonoid is easily sources from readily available fruits, vegetables and eve certain beverages. Among the sources that was identified, it is clear that morin is most abundantly found in almond, old fustic, Indian guava, and Osage orange. Multiple studies have suggested that morin has multiple therapeutic actions and possess potential to be a functional potent drug. Previous studies demonstrated that morin is capable of resolving deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertension and possess strong vasorelaxant properties. However, the exact mechanisms remains unknown. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the in vitro mechanism of morin-induced vasorelaxant effects. The underlying mechanisms of morin's vasorelaxant activities were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats. Results from the study demonstrated morin causing vasodilatory reaction in phenylephrine and potassium chloride pre-contracted endothelium-intact aortic rings with the effect being significantly affected in endothelium-denuded aortic rings. Pre-incubation of the aortic rings with ODQ (selective cGMP-independent sGC inhibitor), indomethacin (nonselective COX inhibitor), L-NAME (endothelial nitric oxide inhibitor), propranolol (β2-adrenegic receptors blocker), and atropine (muscarinic receptors blocker) significantly reduced the vasorelaxant effect of morin. It was also found to be able to reduce the intracellular calcium level by blocking VOCC and calcium intake from the extracellular environment and the intracellular release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The present study showed that the vasorelaxant effect of morin potentially involves the NO/sGC, muscarinic receptors, β2-adrenegic receptors, and calcium channels.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium/metabolism; Calcium Channels/physiology
  7. Fulltext Ultrastructural assessment of fresh, capacitated and acrosome-reacted Jermasia goat sperm by electron microscopy
    Hashida, N.H., Abdullah, R.B.
    ASM Science Journal, 2008;2(1):65-73.
    MyJurnal
    This study was carried out to compare the ultrastructure of fresh, capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm. The sperm was treated with heparin for capacitation and calcium ionophore for acrosome reaction induction. Sperm samples were then prepared for ultrastructural studies and examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultrastructural changes in plasma and acrosomal membranes, shape of the mitochondria and outer dense fibres, in capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm were evident. The plasma membrane of fresh sperm was loosely fitted around the sperm head and the acrosomal membrane was closely opposed to the nucleus. The plasma and acrosomal membranes of the capacitated sperm were expanded, but disintegrated in the acrosome-reacted sperm. Mitochondria of fresh sperm appeared to be rounded in shape with plasma membrane closely opposed to it and the nine outer dense fibres were almost regular rounded in shape. However, in both capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm, the mitochondria were almost regular and elongated in shape whilst the outer dense fibres were irregular in shape in the capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm. There were no noticeable morphological changes found in the axonemal complexes in fresh, capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm. Ultrastructural studies are able to provide detailed information on sequential events involving numerous physiological changes during fertilization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Ionophores
  8. Fulltext UVC dosage effects on the physico-chemical properties of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) juice
    Mohd-Hanif H, Shamsudin R, Adzahan NM
    Food Sci Biotechnol, 2016;25(Suppl 1):63-67.
    PMID: 30263487 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-016-0099-2
    Lime juice is in high demand due to a sour taste. Commercial thermal pasteurization extends juice shelf-life; however, fruit juice subjected to thermal pasteurization tends to change color and lose vitamin content. Lime juice was irradiated with ultraviolet-C (UVC) at dosages of 22.76, 30.19, and 44.24 mJ/cm2 to investigate effects on the physicochemical properties of lime juice. pH values of lime juice did not change while total soluble solids, turbidity, titratable acidity, sweetness, and color values of lime juice did change after UV treatments. Changes in quality index indicators were prominent at the highest UV dosage of 44.24 mJ/cm2. A low UVC dosage was effective for treatment of lime juice with minimal changes in juice properties.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Compounds
  9. Fulltext Two new Phlegmariurus species (Lycopodiaceae) and one new combination from Peninsular Malaysia
    Kiew R, Kamin I
    PhytoKeys, 2018.
    PMID: 29706787 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.96.20878
    Two new species, Phlegmariurus iminii Kiew (Lycopodiaceae) from limestone karst and P. monticola Kiew from montane habitats, are described from Peninsular Malaysia and a new combination is made for Phlegmariurus pinifolius (Trevis.) Kiew. Phlegmariurus iminii, known from a single hill threatened by quarrying, is Critically Endangered; while P. monticola and P. pinifolius that are relatively widespread are of Least Concern.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Carbonate
  10. Two new Bent-toed Geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex from Peninsular Malaysia and multiple instances of convergent adaptation to limestone forest ecosystems
    Grismer LL, Wood PL, Anuar S, Grismer MS, Quah ES, Murdoch ML, et al.
    Zootaxa, 2016 Apr 25;4105(5):401-29.
    PMID: 27394789 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4105.5.1
    A new species of limestone cave-adapted gecko of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex, C. hidupselamanya sp. nov., is described from an isolated karst formation at Felda Chiku 7, Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia. This formation is scheduled to be completely quarried for its mineral content. From what we know about the life history of C. hidupselamanya sp. nov., this will result in its extinction. A new limestone forest-adapted species, C. lenggongensis sp. nov., from the Lenggong Valley, Perak was previously considered to be conspecific with C. bintangrendah but a re-evaluation of morphological, color pattern, molecular, and habitat preference indicates that it too is a unique lineage worthy of specific recognition. Fortunately C. lenggongensis sp. nov. is not facing extinction because its habitat is protected by the UNESCO Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley due to the archaeological significance of that region. Both new species can be distinguished from all other species of Cyrtodactylus based on molecular evidence from the mitochondrial gene ND2 and its flanking tRNAs as well as having unique combinations of morphological and color pattern characteristics. Using a time-calibrated BEAST analysis we inferred that the evolution of a limestone habitat preference and its apparently attendant morphological and color pattern adaptations evolved independently at least four times in the C. pulchellus complex between 26.1 and 0.78 mya.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Carbonate
  11. Twenty-four-hour urine constituents in stone formers: a study from the northeast part of Peninsular Malaysia
    Hussein NS, Sadiq SM, Kamaliah MD, Norakmal AW, Gohar MN
    Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl, 2013 May;24(3):630-7.
    PMID: 23640651
    Urolithiasis is a common disease with increasing incidence and prevalence world-wide, probably more common in industrialized countries. The metabolic evaluation of 24-h urine collection has been considered as part of the management of urinary stone patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 24-h urine constituents in stone formers and its relation to demographic data in the northeast part of Peninsular Malaysia. One hundred and six patients were recruited in this study from two hospitals in the same geographical region; 96 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and an informed consent was obtained from all subjects. The 24-h urine was collected in sterile bottles with a preservative agent and calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, magnesium and phosphate were tested using commercial kits on a Roche Hitachi 912 chemistry analyzer. The age (mean ± SD) of 96 patients was 56.45 ± 13.43 years and 82.3% of the patients were male while 17.7% were female. The 24-h urine abnormalities were hypercalciuria (14.5%), hyperoxaluria (61.4%), hypocitraturia (57.2%), hyperuricouria (19.7%), hypomagnesuria (59.3%) and hyperphosphaturia (12.5%). Hyperoxaluria (61.4%) was the most common abnormality detected during the analysis of 24-h urine constituents in contradiction to industrial countries, where hypercalciuria was the most common finding. The high frequencies of hypomagnesuria and hypocitraturia reflect the important role of magnesium and citrate in stone formation and their prophylactic role in the treatment of urinary stone disease in the given population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium/urine
  12. Twenty-four hour and spot urine metabolic evaluations: correlations versus agreements
    Hong YH, Dublin N, Razack AH, Mohd MA, Husain R
    Urology, 2010 Jun;75(6):1294-8.
    PMID: 19914693 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2009.08.061
    OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlations and agreements between the solute/creatinine ratios from the 24-hour and early morning spot urine samples for metabolic evaluation in stone-formers given the various pitfalls with the 24-hour urinary metabolic evaluation in stone-formers.
    METHODS: 30 urinary stone-formers out of an initial 62 recruited provided a complete 24-hour urine and early morning spot urine samples for metabolic evaluation. Pearson correlation and Bland and Altman Test were used to assess the correlations and agreements.
    RESULTS: Significant correlations were established between the 24-hour urinary solute excretions and the corresponding early morning spot urine solute/creatinine ratios for calcium, magnesium, urate, potassium, oxalate, citrate, and the Differential Gibb's free energy value of calcium oxalate DG(CaOx) values. However, all these solute/creatinine measurements between the 24-hour and early morning spot urine samples were judged to be not within the acceptable limits based on the estimated "limit of agreement" by the Bland and Altman Test of Agreement. Diurnal circadian rhythm and postprandial excretion surge are thought to be responsible for the disagreements.
    CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the early morning spot urine is not suitable to be used interchangeably to replace the 24-hour urine collection in the evaluation of urinary metabolic abnormalities in stone-formers. A good correlation does not translate to an agreement between the 2 measurements.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Oxalate/urine
  13. Fulltext Tunable Open Circuit Voltage by Engineering Inorganic Cesium Lead Bromide/Iodide Perovskite Solar Cells
    Ng CH, Ripolles TS, Hamada K, Teo SH, Lim HN, Bisquert J, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2018 02 06;8(1):2482.
    PMID: 29410450 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20228-0
    Perovskite solar cells based on series of inorganic cesium lead bromide and iodide mixture, CsPbBr3-xI x , where x varies between 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 molar ratio were synthesized by two step-sequential deposition at ambient condition to design the variations of wide band gap light absorbers. A device with high overall photoconversion efficiency of 3.98 % was obtained when small amount of iodide (CsPbBr2.9I0.1) was used as the perovskite and spiro-OMeTAD as the hole transport material (HTM). We investigated the origin of variation in open circuit voltage, Voc which was shown to be mainly dependent on two factors, which are the band gap of the perovskite and the work function of the HTM. An increment in Voc was observed for the device with larger perovskite band gap, while keeping the electron and hole extraction contacts the same. Besides, the usage of bilayer P3HT/MoO3 with deeper HOMO level as HTM instead of spiro-OMeTAD, thus increased the Voc from 1.16 V to 1.3 V for CsPbBr3 solar cell, although the photocurrent is lowered due to charge extraction issues. The stability studies confirmed that the addition of small amount of iodide into the CsPbBr3 is necessarily to stabilize the cell performance over time.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Compounds
  14. Tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (TCP-HA) bone scaffold as potential candidate for the formation of tissue engineered bone
    Sulaiman SB, Keong TK, Cheng CH, Saim AB, Idrus RB
    Indian J Med Res, 2013 Jun;137(6):1093-101.
    PMID: 23852290
    Various materials have been used as scaffolds to suit different demands in tissue engineering. One of the most important criteria is that the scaffold must be biocompatible. This study was carried out to investigate the potential of HA or TCP/HA scaffold seeded with osteogenic induced sheep marrow cells (SMCs) for bone tissue engineering.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Phosphates/chemistry*
  15. Fulltext Trends in post osteoporotic hip fracture care from 2010 to 2014 in a private hospital in Malaysia
    Yeap SS, Nur Fazirah MFR, Nur Aisyah C, Zahari Sham SY, Samsudin IN, C Thambiah S, et al.
    Osteoporos Sarcopenia, 2017 Jun;3(2):112-116.
    PMID: 30775514 DOI: 10.1016/j.afos.2017.05.001
    Objective: Following an osteoporotic fracture, pharmacological treatment is recommended to increase bone mineral density and prevent future fractures. However, the rate of starting treatment after an osteoporotic hip fracture remains low. The objective of this study was to survey the treatment rate following a low-trauma hip fracture at a tertiary private hospital in Malaysia over a period of 5 years.

    Methods: The computerised hospital discharge records were searched using the terms "hip," "femur," "femoral," "trochanteric," "fracture," or "total hip replacement" for all patients over the age of 50, admitted between 2010 and 2014. The medical charts were obtained and manually searched for demographic data and treatment information. Hip operations done for non-low-trauma-related fracture and arthritis were excluded.

    Results: Three hundred seventy patients over the age of 50 years were admitted with a hip fracture, of which 258 (69.7%) were low trauma, presumed osteoporotic, hip fractures. The median age was 79.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 12.0). Following a hip fracture, 36.8% (95 of 258) of the patients received treatment, but out of these, 24.2% (23 of 95) were on calcium/vitamin D only. The median duration of treatment was 1 month (IQR, 2.5). In 2010, 56.7% of the patients received treatment, significantly more than subsequent years 2011-2014, where approximately only 30% received treatment.

    Conclusions: Following a low-trauma hip fracture, approximately 72% of patients were not started on active antiosteoporosis therapy. Of those who were, the median duration of treatment was 1 month. This represents a missed opportunity for the prevention of future fractures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium
  16. Fulltext Trend in dietary calcium intake among elderly in Kuantan, Pahang
    Maisalihah Zamzuri, Aliza Haslinda Hamirudin, Norain Zainudin, Suriati Sidek, Nor Azlina A. Rahman
    International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 2019;3(4):884-893.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Dietary calcium intake is important in body system regulation. Inadequate intake
    among elderly may lead to various health issues such as osteoporosis and hip fracture. In order to counter the problem, this study was carried out to identify dietary calcium intake among elderly in Kuantan, Pahang. Methods: A face to face interviewer-administered session was done individually with seventy-nine (n=79) subjects aged ≥60 years to collect data on sociodemographic background, health status and dietary intake. Diet history method was used to obtain information related to dietary intake and analyzed using Nutritionist Pro Software. P-value was set at p
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium, Dietary
  17. Fulltext Treatment of Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia Type 1 With the Calcilytic NPSP795 (SHP635)
    Roberts MS, Gafni RI, Brillante B, Guthrie LC, Streit J, Gash D, et al.
    J. Bone Miner. Res., 2019 09;34(9):1609-1618.
    PMID: 31063613 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3747
    Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 1 (ADH1) is a rare form of hypoparathyroidism caused by heterozygous, gain-of-function mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor gene (CAR). Individuals are hypocalcemic with inappropriately low parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and relative hypercalciuria. Calcilytics are negative allosteric modulators of the extracellular calcium receptor (CaR) and therefore may have therapeutic benefits in ADH1. Five adults with ADH1 due to four distinct CAR mutations received escalating doses of the calcilytic compound NPSP795 (SHP635) on 3 consecutive days. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety were assessed. Parallel in vitro testing with subject CaR mutations assessed the effects of NPSP795 on cytoplasmic calcium concentrations (Ca2+i ), and ERK and p38MAPK phosphorylation. These effects were correlated with clinical responses to administration of NPSP795. NPSP795 increased plasma PTH levels in a concentration-dependent manner up to 129% above baseline (p = 0.013) at the highest exposure levels. Fractional excretion of calcium (FECa) trended down but not significantly so. Blood ionized calcium levels remained stable during NPSP795 infusion despite fasting, no calcitriol supplementation, and little calcium supplementation. NPSP795 was generally safe and well-tolerated. There was significant variability in response clinically across genotypes. In vitro, all mutant CaRs were half-maximally activated (EC50 ) at lower concentrations of extracellular calcium (Ca2+o ) compared to wild-type (WT) CaR; NPSP795 exposure increased the EC50 for all CaR activity readouts. However, the in vitro responses to NPSP795 did not correlate with any clinical parameters. NPSP795 increased plasma PTH levels in subjects with ADH1 in a dose-dependent manner, and thus, serves as proof-of-concept that calcilytics could be an effective treatment for ADH1. Albeit all mutations appear to be activating at the CaR, in vitro observations were not predictive of the in vivo phenotype or the response to calcilytics, suggesting that other parameters impact the response to the drug. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Compounds/adverse effects; Calcium Compounds/pharmacokinetics; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use*
  18. Fulltext Treatment Of Waste Engine Oil Using Optimized Acid/Clay Refining Method
    Fathin Nadhirah Binti Kamal Ariffin, Yusilawati Ahmad Nor, Sarina Sulaiman, Nur Ayuni Jamal
    Biological and Natural Resources Engineering Journal, 2019;2(2):37-48.
    MyJurnal
    This paper addresses the treatment of waste engine oils (WEO) by acid/clay refining method using glacial acetic acid. An optimization of the process parameters in terms of settling time, stirring speed and mixing temperature for treating the WEO was performed using Response Surface Methodology to improve the quality of treated lubricating oil. The quality of the treated WEO (Castrol brand) was evaluated in terms of viscosity index and flash point value. The treated fuel quality is found to have about 95% similarity to the fresh oil used as a standard at the settling time of 24 hours, temperature of 50 °C and mixing speed of 150 rpm. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) showed that settling time plays the most significant parameters of the process followed by the mixing temperature. Solid contaminants which were collected after the treatment were analyzed using SEM-EDS. They contained rough heteregenous shaped particles with elements such as carbon (97%), calcium (1.12%), zinc (0.74%), sulphur (0.73%) and phosphorus (0.29%). Then, four different brands of WEO (Liqui Moly, Castrol, Shell and Pennzoil) were treated at the optimized conditions to determine the feasibility of the method to treat any brands of WEO. It can be concluded that the optimized treatement method is suitable to treat most of WEO. The findings of this study provide the information on the best process condition for treating WEO as well as the solid contaminants present in it.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium, Dietary
  19. Treat the graft to improve the regenerative ability of the host
    Mamidi MK, Pal R, Govindasamy V, Zakaria Z, Bhonde R
    Med Hypotheses, 2011 Apr;76(4):599-601.
    PMID: 21277690 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.01.010
    The staggering number of publications featuring the use of stem cells has revolutionized regenerative medicine research. Preclinical studies indicate that allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be useful for the treatment of several clinical disorders, including sepsis, acute renal failure, acute myocardial infarction, and more recently, acute lung injury (ALI). However, considerable success would not be obtained in clinical trials due to poor survival of transplanted cells under the influence of inflammatory conditions. Despite robust approaches like cellular reprogramming, scaffolds and conditioned media have been tested to overcome this problem; however the success rate of these approaches remain questionable. Recently, pretreatment of bioactive compounds in vitro have been shown to suppress cell apoptosis and promote cell survival. Quite likely a similar phenomenon can take place in vivo. Based on such studies, we hypothesize that MSCs derived from human post-natal tissues could be conditioned and prepared for targeted disease therapy. Depending on the disease condition, the MSCs could be treated prior to delivery with appropriate bioactive compounds to allow them survive longer and perform a better role as biocatalyst. The advantage of this approach could be the tailor made availability of MSCs preconditioned with appropriate bioactive compounds for disease specific therapy. Therefore, the choice of suitable bioactive molecule is likely to enhance the efficacy of targeted stem cell therapy and preconditioning may provide a novel strategy in maximizing biological and functional properties of MSCs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Atorvastatin Calcium
  20. Fulltext Transport and retention of engineered Al2O3, TiO2, and SiO2 nanoparticles through various sedimentary rocks
    Bayat AE, Junin R, Shamshirband S, Chong WT
    Sci Rep, 2015;5:14264.
    PMID: 26373598 DOI: 10.1038/srep14264
    Engineered aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are utilized in a broad range of applications; causing noticeable quantities of these materials to be released into the environment. Issues of how and where these particles are distributed into the subsurface aquatic environment remain as major challenges for those in environmental engineering. In this study, transport and retention of Al2O3, TiO2, and SiO2 NPs through various saturated porous media were investigated. Vertical columns were packed with quartz-sand, limestone, and dolomite grains. The NPs were introduced as a pulse suspended in aqueous solutions and breakthrough curves in the column outlet were generated using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. It was found that Al2O3 and TiO2 NPs are easily transported through limestone and dolomite porous media whereas NPs recoveries were achieved two times higher than those found in the quartz-sand. The highest and lowest SiO2-NPs recoveries were also achieved from the quartz-sand and limestone columns, respectively. The experimental results closely replicated the general trends predicted by the filtration and DLVO calculations. Overall, NPs mobility through a porous medium was found to be strongly dependent on NP surface charge, NP suspension stability against deposition, and porous medium surface charge and roughness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium Carbonate
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