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Optimization of operational parameters using RSM, ANN, and SVM in membrane integrated with rotating biological contactor

Waqas S, Harun NY, Arshad U, Laziz AM, Sow Mun SL, Bilad MR, et al.

Chemosphere, 2024 Feb;349:140830.
PMID: 38056711 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140830

Membrane fouling is a critical bottleneck to the widespread adoption of membrane separation processes. It diminishes the membrane permeability and results in high operational energy costs. The current study presents optimizing the operating parameters of a novel rotating biological contactor (RBC) integrated with an external membrane (RBC + ME) that combines membrane technology with an RBC. In the RBC + ME, the membrane panel is placed external to the bioreactor. Response surface methodology (RSM) is applied to optimize the membrane permeability through three operating parameters (hydraulic retention time (HRT), rotational disk speed, and sludge retention time (SRT)). The artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM) are implemented to depict the statistical modelling approach using experimental data sets. The results showed that all three operating parameters contribute significantly to the performance of the bioreactor. RSM revealed an optimum value of 40.7 rpm disk rotational speed, 18 h HRT and 12.4 d SRT, respectively. An ANN model with ten hidden layers provides the highest R2 value, while the SVM model with the Bayesian optimizer provides the highest R2. RSM, ANN, and SVM models reveal the highest R-square values of 0.97, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively. Machine learning techniques help predict the model based on the experimental results and training data sets.
Fulltext Frequency, geographical distribution and outcomes of pit viper bites in Malaysia consulted to Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) from 2017 to 2020

Qamruddin RM, Safferi RS, Mohamed Ismail Z, Salleh MS, Abd Hamid MNH, Frederic Ng VER, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2023 Aug;17(8):e0011569.
PMID: 37585486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011569

Not all pit viper species are present in every state of Malaysia and their distribution varies according to altitude. There is limited information on pit viper bite incidence and its geographical distribution. This was a cross-sectional study of confirmed pit viper bite cases referred to Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) from January 2017 to December 2020. Data was collected following the approval of institutional research ethics committee. Universal sampling methods were used. Confirmed pit viper bite cases in each state, geographical location and the antivenom used were reported. A total of 523 confirmed pit viper bite injuries occurred over the 4-year study period. The majority were Malaysians, male and young adults. Most were non-occupational related (83.9%) and involved the upper limbs (46.8%). The commonest pit viper species involved was Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus (23.7%). Green pit viper antivenom (GPAV) was the most frequent antivenom used (n = 51) with the majority of patients requiring only one dose (3 vials). This study provides a better appreciation of indigenous pit viper species distribution for each state and reflects the requirement of appropriate antivenom to be stocked in each state or district hospital.
Fulltext Feasibility of cardiac-based seizure detection and prediction: A systematic review of non-invasive wearable sensor-based studies

Seth EA, Watterson J, Xie J, Arulsamy A, Md Yusof HH, Ngadimon IW, et al.

Epilepsia Open, 2024 Feb;9(1):41-59.
PMID: 37881157 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12854

A reliable seizure detection or prediction device can potentially reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with epileptic seizures. Previous findings indicating alterations in cardiac activity during seizures suggest the usefulness of cardiac parameters for seizure detection or prediction. This study aims to examine available studies on seizure detection and prediction based on cardiac parameters using non-invasive wearable devices. The Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to systematically search according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Human studies that evaluated seizure detection or prediction based on cardiac parameters collected using wearable devices were included. The QUADAS-2 tool and proposed standards for validation for seizure detection devices were used for quality assessment. Twenty-four articles were identified and included in the analysis. Twenty studies evaluated seizure detection algorithms, and four studies focused on seizure prediction. Most studies used either a wrist-worn or chest-worn device for data acquisition. Among the seizure detection studies, cardiac parameters utilized for the algorithms mainly included heart rate (HR) (n = 11) or a combination of HR and heart rate variability (HRV) (n = 6). HR-based seizure detection studies collectively reported a sensitivity range of 56%-100% and a false alarm rate (FAR) of 0.02-8/h, with most studies performing retrospective validation of the algorithms. Three of the seizure prediction studies retrospectively validated multimodal algorithms, combining cardiac features with other physiological signals. Only one study prospectively validated their seizure prediction algorithm using HRV extracted from ECG data collected from a custom wearable device. These studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using cardiac parameters for seizure detection and prediction with wearable devices, with varying algorithmic performance. Many studies are in the proof-of-principle stage, and evidence for real-time detection or prediction is currently limited. Future studies should prioritize further refinement of the algorithm performance with prospective validation using large-scale longitudinal data. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This systematic review highlights the potential use of wearable devices, like wristbands, for detecting and predicting seizures via the measurement of heart activity. By reviewing 24 articles, it was found that most studies focused on using heart rate and changes in heart rate for seizure detection. There was a lack of studies looking at seizure prediction. The results were promising but most studies were not conducted in real-time. Therefore, more real-time studies are needed to verify the usage of heart activity-related wearable devices to detect seizures and even predict them, which will be beneficial to people with epilepsy.
Fulltext Exploring the natural products chemical space to abrogate the F3L-dsRNA interface of monkeypox virus to enhance the immune responses using molecular screening and free energy calculations

Suleman M, Ahmad T, Shah K, Albekairi NA, Alshammari A, Khan A, et al.

Front Pharmacol, 2023;14:1328308.
PMID: 38269277 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1328308

Amid the ongoing monkeypox outbreak, there is an urgent need for the rapid development of effective therapeutic interventions capable of countering the immune evasion mechanisms employed by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). The evasion strategy involves the binding of the F3L protein to dsRNA, resulting in diminished interferon (IFN) production. Consequently, our current research focuses on utilizing virtual drug screening techniques to target the RNA binding domain of the F3L protein. Out of the 954 compounds within the South African natural compound database, only four demonstrated notable docking scores: -6.55, -6.47, -6.37, and -6.35 kcal/mol. The dissociation constant (KD) analysis revealed a stronger binding affinity of the top hits 1-4 (-5.34, -5.32, -5.29, and -5.36 kcal/mol) with the F3L in the MPXV. All-atom simulations of the top-ranked hits 1 to 4 consistently exhibited stable dynamics, suggesting their potential to interact effectively with interface residues. This was further substantiated through analyses of parameters such as radius of gyration (Rg), Root Mean Square Fluctuation, and hydrogen bonding. Cumulative assessments of binding free energy confirmed the top-performing candidates among all the compounds, with values of -35.90, -52.74, -28.17, and -32.11 kcal/mol for top hits 1-4, respectively. These results indicate that compounds top hit 1-4 could hold significant promise for advancing innovative drug therapies, suggesting their suitability for both in vivo and in vitro experiments.
Fulltext Exposure to Misinformation, Risk Perception, and Confidence towards the Government as Factors Influencing Negative Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination in Malaysia

Mohamad E, Tham JS, Mohd Ajis SZ, Hamzah MR, Ayub SH, Tri Sakti AM, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Nov 08;19(22).
PMID: 36429342 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214623

INTRODUCTION: This study explored exposure to misinformation, COVID-19 risk perception, and confidence towards the government as predictors of negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out from 30 June to 30 August 2021 involving 775 respondents. The survey instrument for the questionnaire was an adaptation from various different studies consisting of five main variables: (1) misinformation about vaccination; (2) risk perception toward COVID-19; (3) attitudes toward the vaccination programme; (4) intention to get vaccinated; and (5) public confidence in the government in executing the vaccination programme.
RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that higher exposure to misinformation led to higher levels of negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. When the perceived risk of COVID-19 infection was high, mistrust of vaccine benefits was low but there were also higher worries about the future effects of the vaccine. Confidence in the government was associated with lower negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study may help develop an understanding of negative attitudes toward vaccinations in Malaysia and its contributing factors.
Insights into chitosan-based cellulose nanowhiskers reinforced nanocomposite material via deep eutectic solvent in green chemistry

Chang XX, Mubarak NM, Karri RR, Tan YH, Khalid M, Dehghani MH, et al.

Environ Res, 2023 Feb 15;219:115089.
PMID: 36529332 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115089

In the present work, the synthesis of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW)/chitosan nanocomposite films via deep eutectic solvents (DES) changing the chemical structures were carried out. It was observed that a pure chitosan film has broadband at 3180-3400 cm-1, indicating amide and hydroxyl groups. Upon CNW incorporation, the peak gets sharper and stronger and shifts to a greater wavelength. Further, the addition of DES infuses more elements of amide into the nanocomposite films. Moreover, the mechanical properties incorporating CNW filler into a chitosan matrix show an enhancement in tensile strength (TS), Young's modulus (YM), and elongation at break. The TS and YM increase while the elongation decrease as the CNW concentration increases. The YM of biocomposite films is increased to 723 MPa at 25% CNW into chitosan films. Besides, the TS has enhanced to 11.48 MPa at 15% CNW concentration in the biocomposite films. The elongation at break has decreased to 11.7% at 25% CNW concentration. Hence, incorporating CNW into the chitosan matrix via DES can still improve the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films. Therefore, the application of DES results in a lower YM and TS as the films are hygroscopic. In conclusion, DES can be considered the new green solvent media for synthesizing materials. It has the potential to replace ionic liquids due to its biodegradability and non-toxic properties while preserving the character of low-vapour pressure. Besides that, chitosan can be used as potential material for applications in process industries, such as the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, DES can be used as a green solvent and aim to reduce the toxic effect of chemicals on the environment during chemical production.
Fulltext Performance of a membrane fabricated from high-density polyethylene waste for dye separation in water

Zulfiani U, Junaidi A, Nareswari C, Ali BTI, Jaafar J, Widyanto AR, et al.

RSC Adv, 2023 Mar 08;13(12):7789-7797.
PMID: 36909764 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra07595d

Industrial growth can have a good impact on a country's economic growth, but it can also cause environmental problems, including water pollution. About 80% of industrial wastewater is discharged into the environment without treatment, of which 17-20% is dominated by dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) from the textile industry. Only about 5% of a textile dye is used in the dyeing process and the rest is discarded. This problem, of course, requires special handling considering the harmful effects to health. On the other hand, the abundance of plastic waste is increasing by 14% or 85 000 tons per year. This problem must be solved due to its film-forming properties. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is one type of plastic used as a membrane material. Therefore, in this study, HDPE plastic waste was utilized as a membrane for dye removal. In this study, HDPE plastic waste was fabricated via a thermal-induced phase-separation method using mineral oil as a solvent at various concentrations of 8%, 10%, 13%, and 15% (w/w). All the membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. The results showed that the HDPE membrane at a concentration of 15% displayed the best performance compared to the others in terms of MB rejection. The negative charge (-36.9) of the HDPE membrane was more effective for cationic dye removal compared to the anionic dye. The flux and rejection of HDPE 15% for 100 ppm MB and MO removal were 2.71 and 4.93 L m-2 h-1, and 99.72% and 89.8%, respectively. The pure water flux of the membrane was 15.01 L m-2 h-1 and the tensile strength was 0.3435 MPa.
A voltammetric immunosensor based on a nanoporous alumina millirod for detection of porcine serum albumin

Mahmud AH, Salahuddin NM, Md Jani AM, Abu Bakar NF, Zainal Abidin SAS, Mohd Zain Z, et al.

Food Chem, 2023 Jun 15;411:135493.
PMID: 36689871 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135493

A voltammetric immunosensor was developed for detection of porcine serum albumin (PSA) to identify raw meat products adulterated with pork. A novel strategy to fabricate multiple individual nanoporous alumina (NPA) millirods (length, 5.0 mm; diameter, 1.0 mm) as the biorecognition platform is described. Each NPA millirod was covalently bioconjugated with anti-PSA capturing antibodies (α-PSAC). Following immunocapture, the PSA bound to the α-PSAC/NPA millirod bioconjugate were tagged with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with anti-PSA detection antibodies as the signaling probe. Subsequently, the AuNPs were voltammetrically analyzed to quantify the target PSA. The immunosensor exhibited 100 % specificity and high sensitivity to PSA with a limit of detection (LoD) of 50 (range, 0-1000) pg/mL (R2 = 0.9907). Real-world applicability was successfully validated using pork/beef adulterated mixtures with a LoD of 0.05 % (w/w). Overall, the detection performance of the proposed immunosensor was excellent and, thus, is suitable for surveillance of food safety and quality.
Abrogation of ORF8-IRF3 binding interface with Carbon nanotube derivatives to rescue the host immune system against SARS-CoV-2 by using molecular screening and simulation approaches

Suleman M, Murshed A, Imran K, Khan A, Ali Z, Albekairi NA, et al.

BMC Chem, 2024 May 11;18(1):99.
PMID: 38734638 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01185-4

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has led to over six million deaths worldwide. In human immune system, the type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway plays a crucial role in fighting viral infections. However, the ORF8 protein of the virus evade the immune system by interacting with IRF3, hindering its nuclear translocation and consequently downregulate the type I IFN signaling pathway. To block the binding of ORF8-IRF3 and inhibit viral pathogenesis a quick discovery of an inhibitor molecule is needed. Therefore, in the present study, the interface between the ORF8 and IRF3 was targeted on a high-affinity carbon nanotube by using computational tools. After analysis of 62 carbon nanotubes by multiple docking with the induced fit model, the top five compounds with high docking scores of - 7.94 kcal/mol, - 7.92 kcal/mol, - 7.28 kcal/mol, - 7.19 kcal/mol and - 7.09 kcal/mol (top hit1-5) were found to have inhibitory activity against the ORF8-IRF3 complex. Molecular dynamics analysis of the complexes revealed the high compactness of residues, stable binding, and strong hydrogen binding network among the ORF8-nanotubes complexes. Moreover, the total binding free energy for top hit1-5 was calculated to be - 43.21 ± 0.90 kcal/mol, - 41.17 ± 0.99 kcal/mol, - 48.85 ± 0.62 kcal/mol, - 43.49 ± 0.77 kcal/mol, and - 31.18 ± 0.78 kcal/mol respectively. These results strongly suggest that the identified top five nanotubes (hit1-5) possess significant potential for advancing and exploring innovative drug therapies. This underscores their suitability for subsequent in vivo and in vitro experiments, marking them as promising candidates worthy of further investigation.
Assessment of the root and canal morphology in the permanent dentition of Saudi Arabian population using cone beam computed and micro-computed tomography - a systematic review

Mustafa M, Batul R, Karobari MI, Alamri HM, Abdulwahed A, Almokhatieb AA, et al.

BMC Oral Health, 2024 Mar 16;24(1):343.
PMID: 38493123 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04101-3

INTRODUCTION: Root canal treatment procedures require a thorough understanding of root and canal anatomy. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the morphological differences of teeth root and their canals assessed using cone-beam computed and micro-computed tomography in Saudi Arabian population.
METHODOLOGY: An electronic search was conducted in PubMed / Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases until January 2023 to retrieve related studies. "Root canal morphology," "Saudi Arabia," "Micro-CT," and "cone-beam computed tomography" were used as keywords. A modified version of previously published risk of bias assessment tool was used to determine the quality assessment of included studies.
RESULTS: The literature search revealed 47 studies that matched the criteria for inclusion, out of which 44 studies used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and three were micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) studies. According to the modified version of risk of bias assessment tool, the studies were categorized as low, moderate, and high risk of bias. A total of 47,612 samples were included which comprised of either maxillary teeth (5,412), or mandibular teeth (20,572), and mixed teeth (21,327). 265 samples were used in micro-CT studies while 47,347 teeth samples were used in CBCT studies. Among the CBCT studies, except for three, all the studies were retrospective studies. Frequently used imaging machine and software were 3D Accuitomo 170 and Morita's i-Dixel 3D imaging software respectively. Minimum and maximum voxel sizes were 75 and 300 μm, Vertucci's classification was mostly used to classify the root canal morphology of the teeth. The included micro-CT studies were in-vitro studies where SkyScan 1172 X-ray scanner was the imaging machine with pixel size ranging between 13.4 and 27.4 μm. Vertucci, Ahmed et al. and Pomeranz et al. classifications were applied to classify the root canal morphology.
CONCLUSION: This systematic review revealed wide variations in root and canal morphology of Saudi population using high resolution imaging techniques. Clinicians should be aware of the common and unusual root and canal anatomy before commencing root canal treatment. Future micro-CT studies are needed to provide additional qualitative and quantitative data presentations.
Fulltext Molecular screening of phytocompounds targeting the interface between influenza A NS1 and TRIM25 to enhance host immune responses

Suleman M, Sayaf AM, Khan A, Khan SA, Albekairi NA, Alshammari A, et al.

J Infect Public Health, 2024 Jul;17(7):102448.
PMID: 38815532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.05.005

BACKGROUND: Influenza A virus causes severe respiratory illnesses, especially in developing nations where most child deaths under 5 occur due to lower respiratory tract infections. The RIG-I protein acts as a sensor for viral dsRNA, triggering interferon production through K63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains synthesized by TRIM25. However, the influenza A virus's NS1 protein hinders this process by binding to TRIM25, disrupting its association with RIG-I and preventing downstream interferon signalling, contributing to the virus's evasion of the immune response.
METHODS: In our study we used structural-based drug designing, molecular simulation, and binding free energy approaches to identify the potent phytocompounds from various natural product databases (>100,000 compounds) able to inhibit the binding of NS1 with the TRIM25.
RESULTS: The molecular screening identified EA-8411902 and EA-19951545 from East African Natural Products Database, NA-390261 and NA-71 from North African Natural Products Database, SA-65230 and SA- 4477104 from South African Natural Compounds Database, NEA- 361 and NEA- 4524784 from North-East African Natural Products Database, TCM-4444713 and TCM-6056 from Traditional Chinese Medicines Database as top hits. The molecular docking and binding free energies results revealed that these compounds have high affinity with the specific active site residues (Leu95, Ser99, and Tyr89) involved in the interaction with TRIM25. Additionally, analysis of structural dynamics, binding free energy, and dissociation constants demonstrates a notably stronger binding affinity of these compounds with the NS1 protein. Moreover, all selected compounds exhibit exceptional ADMET properties, including high water solubility, gastrointestinal absorption, and an absence of hepatotoxicity, while adhering to Lipinski's rule.
CONCLUSION: Our molecular simulation findings highlight that the identified compounds demonstrate high affinity for specific active site residues involved in the NS1-TRIM25 interaction, exhibit exceptional ADMET properties, and adhere to drug-likeness criteria, thus presenting promising candidates for further development as antiviral agents against influenza A virus infections.
Exergy, exergoeconomic optimization and exergoenvironmental analysis of a hybrid solar, wind, and marine energy power system: A strategy for carbon-free electrical production

Zainul R, Basem A, J Alfaker M, Sharma P, Kumar A, Al-Bahrani M, et al.

Heliyon, 2024 Aug 30;10(16):e35171.
PMID: 39253151 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35171

In this research, aligned with global policies aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from traditional power plants, we developed a holistic energy system utilizing solar, wind, and ocean thermal energy sources, tailored to regions optimal for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). The selected site, characterized by favorable wind and solar conditions close to areas with high OTEC potential, is designed to meet the electricity needs of a coastal community. The system's core components include an Organic Rankine Cycle, turbines, thermoelectric elements, pumps, a heat exchanger, a wind turbine, and a solar collector. A detailed system analysis and thermodynamic evaluation based on thermodynamic principles were carried out using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. Key factors such as wind speed, solar radiation, and collector area were critical in determining system performance. To enhance the system's effectiveness, we conducted a comprehensive comparison of optimization algorithms, incorporating the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) and utilizing a Pareto front for value optimization. This approach significantly outperformed other algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Simulated Annealing (SA) in terms of system efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The developed system achieved an exergy efficiency of 14.46 % and a cost rate of $74.98 per hour, demonstrating its suitability for its intended functions. Moreover, exergoenvironmental evaluation was conducted for the proposed plant. The findings revealed that key component HEX has a high exergoenvironmental factor due to their use of hot water, which has zero unit exergoenvironmental impact. Additionally, pumps demonstrated a zero exergoenvironmental impact factor, indicating negligible component-related environmental impacts. Sensitivity analysis further evaluated critical performance parameters, revealing that increases in solar irradiation lead to decreased total system cost rates, while higher turbine temperatures resulted in a remarkable 14.08 % reduction in the system's cost rate. These results underscore the economic viability of operating the system at higher temperatures and strengthen the argument for its adoption from a financial perspective.
Frequency, geographical distribution, clinical characteristics, antivenom utilisation and outcomes of King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) bites in Malaysia

Renault A, Ng VERF, Goh WC, Hamid MNHA, Osman AMZ, Safferi RS, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2024 Jul 25;18(7):e0012359.
PMID: 39052675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012359

Snakebite envenomation remains an important, yet a neglected public health issue in most tropical and subtropical countries. Underdeveloped medical infrastructure, suboptimal medical services, poor documentation and failure to make snake-related injury a mandatory notifiable disease are important contributing factors. The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is a medically significant species encountered in Malaysia however, there have been few publications from the clinical perspective. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of King Cobra related injuries, geographical distribution, clinical presentation, type and frequency of antivenom utilization and the management outcome. This is a cross-sectional study of confirmed King Cobra related injuries consulted to Remote Envenomation Consultation Services (RECS) from 2015 to 2020. Data were extracted from the RECS database and descriptively analyzed. A total of 32 cases of King Cobra bite were identified. Most cases were from Peninsular Malaysia with the most frequent from the state of Pahang (n = 9, 28.1%). Most patients got bitten while attempting to catch or play with the snake (68.8%). Signs and symptoms of envenomation were documented in 24 (75.0%) cases and the most frequent systemic manifestation was ptosis (n = 13, 40.6%). Tracheal intubation and ventilatory support were required in 13 (40.6%) patients. Antivenom was administered to 22 (68.8%) patients with most (25.0%) receiving 10 vials (1 dose). The commonest antivenom used was monospecific King Cobra antivenom (50.0%) from Thai Red Cross. There was one death documented due to complications from necrotizing fasciitis and septicemia. Public awareness of the dangers and proper handling of King Cobras needs to be emphasised. Timely administration of the appropriate antivenom is the definitive treatment and leads to favorable outcomes.
A prospective multicentre study evaluating the performance of the modified simple biliary atresia scoring system in predicting biliary atresia

Mahat N, Chiang LW, Chen Y, Razak NHA, Abdullah MY, Sanmugam A, et al.

Pediatr Surg Int, 2024 Aug 27;40(1):244.
PMID: 39191932 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-024-05830-w

PURPOSE: Early diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) is critical for best outcomes, but is challenged by overlapping clinical manifestations with other causes of obstructive jaundice in neonates. We evaluate the performance of the modified Simple BA Scoring System (SBASS) in diagnosing BA.
METHODS: We performed a prospective, cross-sectional study on infants with cholestatic jaundice (June 2021-December 2022). Modified SBASS scoring was applied and compared to the eventual diagnosis (as per intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) and liver histopathology). The score (0-6), consists of gall bladder length 0.7(+ 2), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) ≥ 200 U/L (+ 2).
RESULTS: 73 were included: Fifty-two (71%) had BA. In the non-BA group, 6 (28%) had percutaneous cholangiography (PTC) while 15 (72%) had intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC). At a cut-off of 3, the modified SBASS showed sensitivity of 96.2%, specificity of 61.9% and overall accuracy of 86.3% in diagnosing BA. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.901. GGT had the highest sensitivity (94.2%), while triangular cord sign showed the highest specificity at 95.2%.
CONCLUSION: The SBASS provides a bedside, non-invasive scoring system for exclusion of BA in infantile cholestatic jaundice and reduces the likelihood of negative surgical explorations.
Fulltext Ag@WO3 core-shell nanocomposite for wide range photo detection

Saimon JA, Salim ET, Amin MH, Fakhri MA, Azzahrani AS, Ali ABM, et al.

Sci Rep, 2024 Nov 15;14(1):28192.
PMID: 39548127 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73360-5

This study successfully synthesized high-performance photodetectors based on Ag-WO3 core-shell heterostructures using a simple and economical two-step pulsed laser ablation in water method and has investigated the electrical characteristics of the Ag@WO3 nanocomposite heterojunction. The Hall effect tests indicate that the synthesized Ag@WO3 exhibits n-type conduction with a Hall mobility of 1.25 × 103 cm2V-1S-1. Dark current-voltage properties indicated that the created heterojunctions displayed rectification capabilities, with the highest rectification factor of around 1.71 seen at a 5 V bias. A photodetector's responsivity reveals the existence of two response peaks, which are situated in the ultraviolet and visible region. The photodetector demonstrates a rapid response time of less than 100 ms. The detectivity values for wavelengths of 350 nm and 490 nm were 35 × 1013 Jones and 28 × 1013 Jones, respectively. The n-Ag-WO3/n-Si photodetector achieved a maximum EQE of 11.5% in the ultraviolet wavelength when subjected to 3 V and illuminated with 350 nm (26 mW/cm2) light. The devices demonstrate rapid switching behavior with a rise time of 0.32 s and a fall time of 0.33 s. The time-dependent light response of a photodetector under illumination at 26 mW/cm2 is seen at a bias of 3 V. The light exhibits a rise and decay duration of 15 s, while the photocurrent gain is measured at 9µA. The photocurrent of devices exhibited a positive correlation with the incoming light intensity, suggesting that the junction has the potential to function as a photo detector.
Should Patients Who Have Periprosthetic Fractures Around the Hip or Knee Be Screened and Treated for Osteoporosis?

Mortazavi SMJ, Kalantar SH, Kajiyama S, Choon D, Palmer A, Cabrita H, et al.

J Arthroplasty, 2025 Feb;40(2S1):S10-S11.
PMID: 39461540 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2024.10.067
Fulltext Political economy analysis of health taxes (tobacco, alcohol drink and sugar-sweteened beverage): qualitative study of three provinces in Indonesia

Ahsan A, Amalia N, Rahmayanti KP, Adani N, Wiyono NH, Endawansa A, et al.

BMJ Open, 2024 Aug 06;14(8):e085863.
PMID: 39107020 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085863

OBJECTIVE: Efforts to implement health tax policies to control the consumption of harmful commodities and enhance public health outcomes have garnered substantial recognition globally. However, their successful adoption remains a complex endeavour. This investigates the challenges and opportunities surrounding health tax implementation, with a particular focus on subnational government in Indonesia, where the decentralisation context of health tax remains understudied.
DESIGN: Employing a qualitative methodology using a problem-driven political economy analysis approach.
SETTING: We are collecting data from a total of 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted between July and September 2022 in three provinces-Lampung, Special Region of/Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta and Bali, each chosen to represent a specific commodity: tobacco, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and alcoholic beverages-we explore the multifaceted dynamics of health tax policies.
PARTICIPANT: These FGDs involved a mean of 10 participants in each FGD, representing governmental institutions, non-governmental organisations and consumers.
RESULTS: Our findings reveal that health tax policies have the potential to contribute significantly to public health. Consumers understand tobacco's health risks, and cultural factors influence both tobacco and alcohol consumption. For SSBs, the consumers lack awareness of long-term health risks is concerning. Finally, bureaucratic complexiting and decentralised government hinder implementation for all three commodities.
CONCLUSION: Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of effective policy communication. It highlights the importance of earmarking health tax revenues for public health initiatives. It also reinforces the need to see health taxes as one intervention as part of a comprehensive public health approach including complementary non-fiscal measures like advertising restrictions and standardised packaging. Addressing these challenges is critical for realising the full potential of health tax policies.
Pachyphyllanone, a new cycloartane triterpenoid isolated from Aglaia pachyphylla and its cytotoxic activity

Safriansyah W, Juliansyah E, Rustaman, Naini AA, Farabi K, Azmi MN, et al.

J Asian Nat Prod Res, 2025 Jan 10.
PMID: 39791902 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2024.2446280

Aglaia pachyphylla is a species from the Aglaia genus (Meliaceae) and the chemical constituent has not been widely explored. A new cycloartane-type triterpenoid, pachyphyllanone (1), along with four known compounds (2-5) were isolated from Aglaia pachyphylla Miq. Furthermore, the structure of the new compound was elucidated by the interpretation of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D-NMR, as well as ECD and NMR calculations (DP4+ analysis). Compounds 1-5 showed cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 with IC50 values ranging from 160.74 to 299.75 μM.
Fulltext Role of biological Data Mining and Machine Learning Techniques in Detecting and Diagnosing the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Systematic Review

Albahri AS, Hamid RA, Alwan JK, Al-Qays ZT, Zaidan AA, Zaidan BB, et al.

J Med Syst, 2020 May 25;44(7):122.
PMID: 32451808 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-020-01582-x

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses that are common in many animal species, including camels, cattle, cats and bats. Animal CoVs, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV, and the new virus named SARS-CoV-2, rarely infect and spread among humans. On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of the resulting disease from this new CoV called 'COVID-19', as a 'public health emergency of international concern'. This global pandemic has affected almost the whole planet and caused the death of more than 315,131 patients as of the date of this article. In this context, publishers, journals and researchers are urged to research different domains and stop the spread of this deadly virus. The increasing interest in developing artificial intelligence (AI) applications has addressed several medical problems. However, such applications remain insufficient given the high potential threat posed by this virus to global public health. This systematic review addresses automated AI applications based on data mining and machine learning (ML) algorithms for detecting and diagnosing COVID-19. We aimed to obtain an overview of this critical virus, address the limitations of utilising data mining and ML algorithms, and provide the health sector with the benefits of this technique. We used five databases, namely, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus and performed three sequences of search queries between 2010 and 2020. Accurate exclusion criteria and selection strategy were applied to screen the obtained 1305 articles. Only eight articles were fully evaluated and included in this review, and this number only emphasised the insufficiency of research in this important area. After analysing all included studies, the results were distributed following the year of publication and the commonly used data mining and ML algorithms. The results found in all papers were discussed to find the gaps in all reviewed papers. Characteristics, such as motivations, challenges, limitations, recommendations, case studies, and features and classes used, were analysed in detail. This study reviewed the state-of-the-art techniques for CoV prediction algorithms based on data mining and ML assessment. The reliability and acceptability of extracted information and datasets from implemented technologies in the literature were considered. Findings showed that researchers must proceed with insights they gain, focus on identifying solutions for CoV problems, and introduce new improvements. The growing emphasis on data mining and ML techniques in medical fields can provide the right environment for change and improvement.
Fulltext Cucurbitacin L 2-O-β-Glucoside Demonstrates Apoptogenesis in Colon Adenocarcinoma Cells (HT-29): Involvement of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Regulation

Abdelwahab SI, Hassan LE, Abdul Majid AM, Yagi SM, Mohan S, Elhassan Taha MM, et al.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:490136.
PMID: 22685485 DOI: 10.1155/2012/490136

Emerging evidence suggests that reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species can contribute to diverse signalling pathways of inflammatory and tumour cells. Cucurbitacins are a group of highly oxygenated triterpenes. Many plants used in folk medicine to treat cancer have been found to contain cucurbitacins displaying potentially important anti-inflammatory actions. The current study was designed to investigate the anti-ROS and -RNS effects of cucurbitacin L 2-O-β-glucoside (CLG) and the role of these signaling factors in the apoptogenic effects of CLG on human colon cancer cells (HT-29). This natural cucurbitacin was isolated purely from Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (Cucurbitaceae). The results revealed that CLG was cytotoxic to HT-29. CLG increased significantly (P < 0.05) RNA and protein levels of caspase-3 in HT-29 cells when verified using a colorimetric assay and realtime qPCR, respectively. The results showed that lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/INF-γ) increased nitrous oxide (NO) production inR AW264.7macrophages, whereas N(G)-nitro-L-argininemethyl ester (L-NAME) and CLG curtailed it. This compound did not reveal any cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 macrophages and human normal liver cells (WRL-68) when tested using the MTT assay. Findings of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) assays demonstrate the antioxidant properties of CLG. The apoptogenic property of CLG on HT-29 cells is thus related to inhibition of reactive nitrogen and oxygen reactive species and the triggering of caspase-3-regulated apoptosis.

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