Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 143 in total

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  1. Fulltext A Rare Case of Obliterated Femoral Canal in Atypical Femoral Shaft Fracture Related to Bisphosphonate Therapy
    Febrian Kunta Adjie R, Bajuri MY, Nik Abdullah NA, Leong JF
    Cureus, 2023 Sep;15(9):e45441.
    PMID: 37859907 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45441
    Bisphosphonates have been accepted as the first-line treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Atypical femoral shaft fracture is one of the side effects of long-term bisphosphonate therapy. The mainstay treatment of this atypical fracture is bisphosphonates cessation and stabilization with internal fixation. We are reporting a rare case of a blocked intramedullary femoral canal found during surgery of an 85-year-old Indian lady with an atypical femoral shaft fracture related to her five-year alendronate therapy. We found difficulty in passing the guidewire through the fracture site during the closed method, which renders open reduction to manage the obliterated intramedullary canal. The importance of changing decisions intraoperatively should be highlighted to avoid further complications. Fracture union is achieved during our follow-up in the clinic.
  2. Fulltext InNetGAN: Inception Network-Based Generative Adversarial Network for Denoising Low-Dose Computed Tomography
    Kulathilake KASH, Abdullah NA, Bandara AMRR, Lai KW
    J Healthc Eng, 2021;2021:9975762.
    PMID: 34552709 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9975762
    Low-dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) has gained a great deal of attention in clinical procedures due to its ability to reduce the patient's risk of exposure to the X-ray radiation. However, reducing the X-ray dose increases the quantum noise and artifacts in the acquired LDCT images. As a result, it produces visually low-quality LDCT images that adversely affect the disease diagnosing and treatment planning in clinical procedures. Deep Learning (DL) has recently become the cutting-edge technology of LDCT denoising due to its high performance and data-driven execution compared to conventional denoising approaches. Although the DL-based models perform fairly well in LDCT noise reduction, some noise components are still retained in denoised LDCT images. One reason for this noise retention is the direct transmission of feature maps through the skip connections of contraction and extraction path-based DL modes. Therefore, in this study, we propose a Generative Adversarial Network with Inception network modules (InNetGAN) as a solution for filtering the noise transmission through skip connections and preserving the texture and fine structure of LDCT images. The proposed Generator is modeled based on the U-net architecture. The skip connections in the U-net architecture are modified with three different inception network modules to filter out the noise in the feature maps passing over them. The quantitative and qualitative experimental results have shown the performance of the InNetGAN model in reducing noise and preserving the subtle structures and texture details in LDCT images compared to the other state-of-the-art denoising algorithms.
  3. Fulltext In vivo evaluation of ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale rhizomes for its protective effect against liver cirrhosis
    Abdulaziz Bardi D, Halabi MF, Abdullah NA, Rouhollahi E, Hajrezaie M, Abdulla MA
    Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:918460.
    PMID: 24396831 DOI: 10.1155/2013/918460
    Zingiber officinale is a traditional medicine against various disorders including liver diseases.The aim of this study was to assess the hepatoprotective activity of the ethanolic extract of rhizomes of Z. officinale (ERZO) against thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Five groups of male Sprague Dawley have been used. In group 1 rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of normal saline while groups 2-5 received thioacetamide (TAA, 200 mg/kg; i.p.) for induction of liver cirrhosis, thrice weekly for eight weeks. Group 3 received 50 mg/kg of silymarin. The rats in groups 4 and 5 received 250 and 500 mg/kg of ERZO (dissolved in 10% Tween), respectively. Hepatic damage was assessed grossly and microscopically for all of the groups. Results confirmed the induction of liver cirrhosis in group 2 whilst administration of silymarin or ERZO significantly reduced the impact of thioacetamide toxicity. These groups decreased fibrosis of the liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry assessment against proliferating cell nuclear antigen did not show remarkable proliferation in the ERZO-treated rats when compared with group 2. Moreover, factions of the ERZO extract were tested on Hep-G2 cells and showed antiproliferative activity (IC50 38-60 μ g/mL). This study showed hepatoprotective effect of ERZO.
  4. Uterotrophic, fetotoxic and abortifacient effect of a Malaysian variety of Plumbago rosea L. on isolated rat uterus and pregnant mice
    Abdul Sattar M, Abdullah NA, Khan MA, Dewa A, Samshia D
    Pak J Biol Sci, 2007 Mar 01;10(5):763-7.
    PMID: 19069860
    Traditionally Plumbago rosea L. is used as an abortifacient in the Southeast Asian region. Methanolic root extract of a local species of Plumbago rosea L. was studied to evaluate its traditional antifertility claim. Interestingly, it was found to possess dose related inhibitory effect on uterine contractile responses elicited by oxytocic agents on isolated uteri of pregnant and pseudo-pregnant rats. Furthermore, it was found to possess significant (p < 0.05) fetotoxic activity along with mild abortive potential in pregnant mice when given orally at high doses (400 and 800 mg kg(-1)) once daily for ten days starting from day 10 of gestation. The results derived indicated possible presence of utero-active compound (s) in this plant that inhibited oxytocic agents induced uterine motility. Moreover, pronounced fetotoxic and mild abortifacient potentials observed at higher doses in pregnant mice might support its accredited traditional use to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
  5. Fulltext Oral health knowledge, attitude and practice among parents of children with craniofacial syndromes
    Rosnan NA, Mohamad Faithal NFA, Azizi NZ, Hariri F, Abdullah NA
    J Clin Pediatr Dent, 2024 Jan;48(1):163-170.
    PMID: 38239169 DOI: 10.22514/jocpd.2024.018
    Parents play an important role in caring for their children's oral health, especially for those with craniofacial deformities. In this study, we analyzed the oral health knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among parents of children of 1 to 16 years-of-age with craniofacial syndromes (CS) at Universiti Malaya Medical Center (UMMC), Malaysia. This was a case-controlled study conducted between March and December 2021 involving 30 parents of children with CS and 30 parents of normal children as controls. A modified validated KAP questionnaire was distributed to all parents. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 26.0 and descriptive analysis was performed, with data expressed as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage (%). Most respondents from both groups were mothers (73.3%) between 31 to 40 years-of-age. Both groups of parents had similar levels of oral health knowledge; there was no significant difference between the two groups for 10 of the KAP questions (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant different between the two groups with regards to two 2 relating to the definition of plaque and its relationship to dental caries (p = 0.035 and p = 0.032, respectively). Some parents of CS children believed that primary teeth were not important (23.33%) and were not concerned if their children showed changes in tooth color (26.67%). Despite parental acknowledgement of ideal practice, both groups of children showed irregular dental attendance and reduced toothbrushing frequency. Parents of children with CS had a similar depth of oral health knowledge and a slightly reduced positive attitude when compared to parents in the control group. However, both groups of parents had poor knowledge relating to the transmission and causes of dental caries. Healthcare providers should increase their awareness strategies for parents to be more aware of the ways to improve their children's oral health.
  6. A taxonomic review of Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae: Landrevinae)
    Tan MK, Muhammad AA, Abdullah NA, Japir R, Chung AYC
    Zootaxa, 2024 Feb 13;5410(2):267-279.
    PMID: 38480244 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5410.2.7
    The taxonomy of the crickets from the genus Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 is reviewed. Two species new to science are described here, one from Peninsular Malaysia (part of Malay Peninsula) and another from East Malaysia (part of Borneo): Odontogryllodes undatus Tan, Muhammad & Abdullah sp. nov. from Panti Forest Reserve and Odontogryllodes magnus Tan, Japir & Chung sp. nov. from Tenompok Forest Reserve, respectively. We also present an updated key to the species of Odontogryllodes. In total, nine species are currently known.
  7. Fulltext Phenolic composition, antioxidant, anti-wrinkles and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of cocoa pod extract
    Karim AA, Azlan A, Ismail A, Hashim P, Abd Gani SS, Zainudin BH, et al.
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014 Oct 07;14:381.
    PMID: 25292439 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-381
    BACKGROUND: Cocoa pod is an outer part of cocoa fruits being discarded during cocoa bean processing. Authors found out that data on its usage in literature as cosmetic materials was not recorded in vast. In this study, cocoa pod extract was investigated for its potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

    METHODS: Cocoa pod extract (CPE) composition was accomplished using UHPLC. The antioxidant capacity were measured using scavenging assay of 1,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene bleaching assay (BCB) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Inhibiting effect on skin degradation enzymes was carried out using elastase and collagenase assays. The skin whitening effect of CPE was determined based on mushroom tyrosinase assay and sun screening effect (UV-absorbance at 200-400 nm wavelength).

    RESULTS: LC-MS/MS data showed the presence of carboxylic acid, phenolic acid, fatty acid, flavonoids (flavonol and flavones), stilbenoids and terpenoids in CPE. Results for antioxidant activity exhibited that CPE possessed good antioxidant activity, based on the mechanism of the assays compared with ascorbic acid (AA) and standardized pine bark extract (PBE); DPPH: AA > CPE > PBE; FRAP: PBE > CPE > AA; and BCB: BHT > CPE > PBE. Cocoa pod extract showed better action against elastase and collagenase enzymes in comparison with PBE and AA. Higher inhibition towards tyrosinase enzyme was exhibited by CPE than kojic acid and AA, although lower than PBE. CPE induced proliferation when tested on human fibroblast cell at low concentration. CPE also exhibited a potential as UVB sunscreen despite its low performance as a UVA sunscreen agent.

    CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the CPE has high potential as a cosmetic ingredient due to its anti-wrinkle, skin whitening, and sunscreen effects.

  8. Fulltext Examining job involvement and perceived organizational support toward organizational commitment: job insecurity as mediator
    Hngoi CL, Abdullah NA, Wan Sulaiman WS, Zaiedy Nor NI
    Front Psychol, 2024;15:1290122.
    PMID: 38348260 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1290122
    This study delves into the intricate relationships among job involvement (JI), perceived organizational support (POS), job insecurity (JIS), and organizational commitment (OC), with a particular focus on the mediating role of JIS within the context of the Malaysian private sector. The research delves into the antecedents of job insecurity and organizational commitment, offering insights to enhance commitment. Our study involved 440 employees in the Malaysian private sector, utilizing self-report questionnaires administered online. Notably, our findings underscore the significance of employment flexibility, job positions, and tenure in shaping JIS. Furthermore, we identify significant relationships among the variables: POS negatively predicts JIS, while JI, JIS, and POS collectively predict OC, with JIS partially mediating the POS-OC relationship. These empirically-grounded insights offer actionable guidance for organizations, empowering human resources practitioners to craft effective talent retention strategies and allocate resources strategically. In doing so, organizations can enhance employee productivity and bolster organizational commitment, ultimately contributing to sustained success in a dynamic work environment. These findings hold valuable implications for human resources practitioners, guiding the development of talent retention strategies and resource allocation to enhance employee productivity.
  9. Fulltext Chronic Administration of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Leaves Extract Attenuates Hyperglycaemic-Induced Oxidative Stress and Improves Renal Histopathology and Function in Experimental Diabetes
    Rajavel V, Abdul Sattar MZ, Abdulla MA, Kassim NM, Abdullah NA
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:195367.
    PMID: 23243433 DOI: 10.1155/2012/195367
    Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves extract (OPLE) has antioxidant properties and because oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), we tested the hypothesis that OPLE prevents diabetes renal oxidative stress, attenuating injury. Sprague-Dawley rats received OPLE (200 and 500 mg kg(-1)) for 4 and 12 weeks after diabetes induction (streptozotocin 60 mg kg(-1)). Blood glucose level, body and kidney weights, urine flow rate (UFR), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and proteinuria were assessed. Oxidative stress variables such as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxides (LPO) were quantified. Renal morphology was analysed, and plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) was measured. Diabetic rats demonstrated increase in blood glucose and decreased body and increased kidney weights. Renal dysfunction (proteinuria, elevations in UFR and GFR) was observed in association with increases in LPO, 8-OHdG, and TGF-β1 and a decrease in GSH. Histological evaluation of diabetic kidney demonstrated glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. OPLE attenuated renal dysfunction, improved oxidative stress markers, and reduced renal pathology in diabetic animals. These results suggest OPLE improves renal dysfunction and pathology in diabetes by reducing oxidative stress; furthermore, the protective effect of OPLE against renal damage in diabetes depends on the dose of OPLE as well as progression of DN.
  10. Silica exposure is associated with an increased risk of developing ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis in an Asian population: evidence from the Malaysian MyEIRA case-control study
    Yahya A, Bengtsson C, Larsson P, Too CL, Mustafa AN, Abdullah NA, et al.
    Mod Rheumatol, 2014 Mar;24(2):271-4.
    PMID: 24593203 DOI: 10.3109/14397595.2013.854076
    OBJECTIVES: Silica exposure has been associated with an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially among smokers. In this study, we aimed at examining the association between silica exposure (and its interaction with smoking) and the risk of RA in the Malaysian population.
    METHODS: In total, 149 cases and 213 matched controls, all men, were included between August 2005 and December 2009. A case was defined as a person with early diagnosed RA using the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. Controls were randomly selected matched on sex, age and residential area. Silica exposure was defined as exposure to stone dust, rock drilling or stone crushing, and smoking status was categorized as ever/never cigarette smoking.
    RESULTS: An increased risk of anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive RA (OR = 2.4, 95 % CI 1.0-5.6) was observed among those exposed to silica. Ever-smokers exposed to silica had a particularly high risk of developing ACPA-positive RA (OR = 7.5, 95 % CI 2.3-24.2), compared with never-smokers not exposed to silica. No association was found regarding ACPA-negative RA.
    CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that exposure to both silica and cigarette smoke comprise risks for developing RA in the Malaysian genetic context. The findings expand a link between environmental lung exposures and ACPA-positive RA to Asian populations.
  11. Renal denervation restores the baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in Wistar-Kyoto rats with cisplatin-induced renal failure
    Khan SA, Sattar MA, Rathore HA, Abdulla MH, Ud Din Ahmad F, Ahmad A, et al.
    Acta Physiol (Oxf), 2014 Mar;210(3):690-700.
    PMID: 24438102 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12237
    There is evidence that in chronic renal failure, the sympathetic nervous system is activated. This study investigated the role of the renal innervation in suppressing high- and low-pressure baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in cisplatin-induced renal failure.
  12. Hydrogen sulphide and tempol treatments improve the blood pressure and renal excretory responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats
    Ahmad FU, Sattar MA, Rathore HA, Tan YC, Akhtar S, Jin OH, et al.
    Ren Fail, 2014 May;36(4):598-605.
    PMID: 24502512 DOI: 10.3109/0886022X.2014.882218
    Oxidative stress and suppressed H2S production lead to increased renal vascular resistance, disturbed glomerular hemodynamics, and abnormal renal sodium and water handling, contribute to the pathogenesis and maintenance of essential hypertension in man and the spontaneously hypertensive rat. This study investigated the impact of H2S and tempol alone and in combination on blood pressure and renal hemodynamics and excretory functions in the SHR. Groups of WKY rats or SHR (n=6) were treated for 4 weeks either as controls or received NaHS (SHR+NaHS), tempol (SHR+Tempol), or NaHS plus tempol (SHR+NaHS +Tempol). Metabolic studies were performed on days 0, 14, and 28, thereafter animals were anaesthetized to measure renal hemodynamics and plasma oxidative and antioxidant markers. SHR control rats had higher mean arterial blood pressure (140.0 ± 2 vs. 100.0 ± 3 mmHg), lower plasma and urinary H2S, creatinine clearance, urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion, and oxidative stress compared to WKY (all p<0.05). Treatment either with NaHS or with tempol alone decreased blood pressure and oxidative stress and improved renal hemodynamic and excretory function compared to untreated SHR. Combined NaHS and tempol therapy in SHRs caused larger decreases in blood pressure (∼20-22% vs. ∼11-15% and ∼10-14%), increases in creatinine clearance, urinary sodium excretion and fractional sodium excretion and up-regulated the antioxidant status compared to each agent alone (all p<0.05). These findings demonstrated that H2S and tempol together resulted in greater reductions in blood pressure and normalization of kidney function compared with either compound alone.
  13. Chemoprevention of colonic aberrant crypt foci by Gynura procumbens in rats
    Shwter AN, Abdullah NA, Alshawsh MA, Alsalahi A, Hajrezaei M, Almaqrami AA, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2014 Feb 12;151(3):1194-1201.
    PMID: 24393787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.12.044
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gynura procumbens is commonly used as a traditional medicinal plant in Malaysia for treatment of many diseases. To investigate the chemopreventive properties of Gynura procumbens on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats.

    METHODS: Five groups of adult male rats were used in this experiment. Normal/control group; the rats were injected subcutaneously with 15 mg/kg of sterile normal saline once a week for two weeks, and orally administered with 10% Tween 20 (5 mL/kg). Carcinogen and treatment groups; the rats were injected subcutaneously each with 15 mg/kg body weight AOM once a week for 2 weeks and were continued to be fed for two months, respectively with 10% Tween 20, 500 and 250mg/kg body weight plant extracts. Reference group; the rats were injected subcutaneously with 15 mg/kg body weight AOM once a week for 2 weeks, and injected intraperitoneally with fluorouracil 35 mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days.

    RESULT: Total ACF detected in methylene blue stained whole mounts of rat colon were 21, 23and 130 in rats fed with 500, 250 mg/kg body weight treatment and carcinogen groups, respectively. Treatment with high and low doses of the plant extract led to83.6% and 82.2% decrease in the total crypts in the groups fed 500 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg Gynura procumbens respectively compared to carcinogen group. Immunohistochemical staining of ACF showed suppressed azoxymethane induced colonic cell proliferation and Bcl-2 expression. Glutathione-S-transfarase and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in treated rats compared to carcinogen groups.

    CONCLUSION: Gynura procumbens reduced the incidence of AOM induced ACF. The findings showed that Gynura procumbens may have antiproliferative and antioxidative properties. Moreover, Gynura procumbens possesses the medicinal properties to prevent colon cancer.

  14. Antioxidant and cardio protective effect of palm oil leaves extract (standardized ethanolic fraction) in rats' model of saturated fats induced metabolic disorders
    Ibraheem ZO, Satar M, Abdullah NA, Rathore H, Tan YC, Uldin F, et al.
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2014 Jan;27(1):1-9.
    PMID: 24374430
    Recently, it is suggested to use POLE (palm oil leaf extract) as a nutraceutical health product in food industry due to its newly discovered content of polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins. In the experiment, the antioxidant and anti-lipid-peroxidation activities of the extract were confirmed using; DPPH (1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil) radical scavenging activity, ferric ion induced lipid peroxidation inhibition, reducing power and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity assays. The cardio-protective activity was studied in vivo using a model of metabolic syndrome induced by high fat diet. Lipid profile, obesity indices, renal tubular handling of water and electrolytes, blood pressure and arterial stiffness were measured at the end of the treatment period. Sprague Dawley rats weighing 150-200 g were divided into six groups, viz; group C; was treated as a negative control and fed with standard rodents chow, group H; was treated as a positive control and fed with an experimental diet enriched with saturated free fatty acids for 8 weeks, groups HP0.5, HP1 and HP2 which were fed with 0.5,1 and 2 g/kg (body weight) /day of POLE orally during the last 24 days of the high fat diet feeding period and group P; fed with highest dose of POLE. Results revealed that POLE possesses a cardio-protective effect which is ascribed to its content of polyphenols.
  15. Survival rate of breast cancer patients in Malaysia: a population-based study
    Abdullah NA, Wan Mahiyuddin WR, Muhammad NA, Ali ZM, Ibrahim L, Ibrahim Tamim NS, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(8):4591-4.
    PMID: 24083707
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women. Other than hospital-based results, there are no documented population-based survival rates of Malaysian women for breast cancers. This population- based retrospective cohort study was therefore conducted. Data were obtained from Health Informatics Centre, Ministry of Health Malaysia, National Cancer Registry and National Registration Department for the period from 1st Jan 2000 to 31st December 2005. Cases were captured by ICD-10 and linked to death certificates to identify the status. Only complete data were analysed. Survival time was calculated from the estimated date of diagnosis to the date of death or date of loss to follow-up. Observed survival rates were estimated by Kaplan- Meier method using SPSS Statistical Software version 17. A total of 10,230 complete data sets were analysed. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.6 years old. The overall 5-year survival rate was 49% with median survival time of 68.1 months. Indian women had a higher survival rate of 54% compared to Chinese women (49%) and Malays (45%). The overall 5-year survival rate of breast cancer patient among Malaysian women was still low for the cohort of 2000 to 2005 as compared to survival rates in developed nations. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the strategies for early detection and intervention.
  16. The effects of tempol on renal function and hemodynamics in cyclosporine-induced renal insufficiency rats
    Chia TY, Sattar MA, Abdulla MH, Rathore HA, Ahmad Fu, Kaur G, et al.
    Ren Fail, 2013 Aug;35(7):978-88.
    PMID: 23822648 DOI: 10.3109/0886022X.2013.809563
    This study investigated the effects of tempol, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic and L-NAME, a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor on the renal function and hemodynamics in cyclosporine A (CsA) induced renal insufficiency rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either vehicle (C), tempol (T, 1 mmol/L in drinking fluid), L-NAME (L, 1 mmol/L in drinking fluid), CsA (Cs, 25 mg/kg/day via gavage), CsA plus tempol (TCs), CsA plus L-NAME (LCs) or CsA plus a combination of tempol and L-NAME (TLCs) for 21 consecutive days. At the end of treatment regimen, the renal responses to noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE), methoxamine and angiotensin II (Ang II) were determined. Cs and LCs rats had lower creatinine clearance (0.7 ± 0.1 and 0.6 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.2 mL/min/kg) and fractional excretion of sodium (0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.17 ± 0.01 vs. 0.67 ± 0.04%) but higher systolic blood pressure (145 ± 2 and 178 ± 4 vs. 116 ± 2) compared to the control (all p NA, PE and Ang II were lower than control by ∼35-48% (all p 
  17. Fulltext Isolation and enhancement of a homogenous in vitro human Hertwig's epithelial root sheath cell population
    Farea M, Halim AS, Abdullah NA, Lim CK, Mokhtar KI, Berahim Z, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2013;14(6):11157-70.
    PMID: 23712356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140611157
    Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) cells play a pivotal role during root formation of the tooth and are able to form cementum-like tissue. The aim of the present study was to establish a HERS cell line for molecular and biochemical studies using a selective digestion method. Selective digestion was performed by the application of trypsin-EDTA for 2 min, which led to the detachment of fibroblast-like-cells, with the rounded cells attached to the culture plate. The HERS cells displayed a typical cuboidal/squamous-shaped appearance. Characterization of the HERS cells using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis showed that these cells expressed pan-cytokeratin, E-cadherin, and p63 as epithelial markers. Moreover, RT-PCR confirmed that these cells expressed epithelial-related genes, such as cytokeratin 14, E-cadherin, and ΔNp63. Additionally, HERS cells showed low expression of CD44 and CD105 with absence of CD34 and amelogenin expressions. In conclusion, HERS cells have been successfully isolated using a selective digestion method, thus enabling future studies on the roles of these cells in the formation of cementum-like tissue in vitro.
  18. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing ACPA-positive but not ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis in Asian populations: evidence from the Malaysian MyEIRA case-control study
    Yahya A, Bengtsson C, Lai TC, Larsson PT, Mustafa AN, Abdullah NA, et al.
    Mod Rheumatol, 2012 Aug;22(4):524-31.
    PMID: 22006120 DOI: 10.1007/s10165-011-0544-2
    We investigated the association between cigarette smoking and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Malaysian population. A total of 1,056 RA patients and 1,416 matched controls aged 18-70 years within a defined area of Peninsular Malaysia were evaluated in a case-control study between August 2005 and December 2009. A case was defined as a person with early diagnosed RA using the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. Controls were randomly selected matched for sex, age, and residential area. Cases and controls answered a questionnaire on a broad range of issues, including lifestyle factors and smoking habits wherein current and former smoking was classified as ever-smoking. The presence of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) was determined for cases and controls. We found that ever-smokers had an increased risk of developing ACPA-positive RA [odds ratio (OR) = 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-9.2] but not ACPA-negative RA (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.3-2.0), compared with never-smokers. A significant dose-response relationship between cumulative dose of smoking and risk of ACPA-positive RA was observed (<20 pack-years OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.1-9.8; at least 20 pack-years OR = 5.2, 95% CI 1.6-17.6). Hence, smoking is associated with an increased risk of ACPA-positive RA in the Malaysian population, in which the genetic context is similar to several other Asian countries.
  19. Special focus on the role of α(1D)-adrenoreceptors in the assessment of renal tubular sodium re-absorptive responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats subjected to high sodium diet
    Kazi RN, Sattar MA, Abdullah NA, Khan MA, Rathore HA, Abdulla MH, et al.
    Yakugaku Zasshi, 2011 Mar;131(3):431-6.
    PMID: 21372540
    α(1D)-adrenoceptors are involved in the genesis/maintenance of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study aims to investigate the role of α(1D)-adrenoceptors in the antinatriuretic and antidiuretic responses in SHR subjected to high sodium (SHRHNa) and normal sodium (SHRNNa) intake for six weeks. Renal inulin clearance study was performed in which the antinatriuretic and antidiuretic responses to phenylephrine were examined in the presence and absence of α(₁D)-adrenoceptors blocker BMY7378. Data, mean±S.E.M. were subjected to ANOVA with significance at p<0.05. Results show that feeding SHR for six weeks with high salt did not cause any change in blood pressure. SHRHNa had higher (all p<0.05) urine flow rate (UFR), fractional and absolute excretion of sodium (FE(Na) and U(Na)V) compared to SHRNNa. Phenylephrine infusion produced significant reduction in UFR, FE(Na) and U(Na)V in both SHRHNa and SHRNNa. The antidiuretic and antinatriuretic responses to phenylephrine in both groups were attenuated in the presence of BMY7378. Moreover, the antidiuretic and antinatriuretic responses to phenylephrine and BMY7378 were independent on any significant changes in renal and glomerular hemodynamics in both groups. Thus we conclude that high sodium intake did not bring any further increase in blood pressure of SHR, however, it results in exaggerated natriuresis and diuresis in SHRHNa. Irrespective of dietary sodium changes, α₁-adrenoceptors are involved in mediating the antinatriuretic and antidiuretic responses to phenylephrine in SHR. Further, high sodium intake did not significantly influence the functionality of α(₁D)-adrenoceptors in mediating the adrenergically induced antinatriuresis and antidiuresis.
  20. Renal ischemic injury affects renal hemodynamics and excretory functions in Sprague Dawley rats: involvement of renal sympathetic tone
    Salman IM, Sattar MA, Abdullah NA, Ameer OZ, Yam MF, Kaur G, et al.
    Ren Fail, 2010 Jan;32(1):96-102.
    PMID: 20113274 DOI: 10.3109/08860220903389196
    The role of renal sympathetic nerves in the pathogenesis of ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) and the immediate changes in the renal excretory functions following renal ischemia were investigated. Two groups of male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were anesthetized (pentobarbitone sodium, 60 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and subjected to unilateral renal ischemia by clamping the left renal artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion. In group 1, the renal nerves were electrically stimulated and the responses in the renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were recorded, while group 2 was used to study the early changes in the renal functions following renal ischemia. In post-ischemic animals, basal RBF and the renal vasoconstrictor reperfusion to renal nerve stimulation (RNS) were significantly lower (all p < 0.05 vs. control). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), basal RVR, urine flow rate (UFR), absolute and fractional excretions of sodium (U(Na)V and FE(Na)), and potassium (U(K)V and FE(K)) were higher in ARF rats (all p < 0.05 vs. control). Post-ischemic animals showed markedly lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p < 0.05 vs. control). No appreciable differences were observed in urinary sodium to potassium ratio (U(Na)/U(K)) during the early reperfusion phase of renal ischemia (p > 0.05 vs. control). The data suggest an immediate involvement of renal sympathetic nerve action in the pathogenesis of ischemic ARF primarily through altered renal hemodynamics. Diuresis, natriuresis, and kaliuresis due to impaired renal tubular functions are typical responses to renal ischemia and of comparable magnitudes.
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