Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 1129 in total

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  1. Azmi SMN, Jamal P, Amid A
    MyJurnal
    Malaysia has a rich diversity of medicinal plants and some of them inhibit xanthine oxidase (XO), which can be introduced as new natural sources of gout medication and a substitute for synthetic xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI). The degree of XO inhibitory activity was determined by measuring the absorbance spectrophotometrically at 295 nm, which is associated with uric acid formation. Our preliminary screening study had employed the use of distilled water, 70% methanol and absolute ethanol to extract XOI from twenty parts of five plant species, namely, Averrhoa carambola, Carica papaya, Dimocarpus longan malesianus, Manilkara zapota and Salacca zalacca. These plants were selected based on their frequent medicinal usages by local folks. The results have shown that an aqueous extract of Carica papaya mature leaves has promising activity to inhibit XO up to 75.68 ± 0.1%. Statistical experimental design were employed to optimize the selected sample (dried Carica papaya leaves: distilled water) on extraction of XOI and the maximum XOI percentage of 86.93 ± 1.9% was obtained, which exhibited only 6.76% less than the activity exhibited by allopurinol (93.69 ± 0.2%), a commercial XOI. The comparison was made between allopurinol and optimized extract on the basis of IC50concentrations. Allopurinol showed IC50 value of 3.74 μg/ml that is considerably lower as compared to the optimized sample (4.33 μg/ml).
  2. Rahman A, Vasenwala SM, Iqbal M
    Hum Exp Toxicol, 2017 Aug;36(8):785-794.
    PMID: 27758841 DOI: 10.1177/0960327116665675
    Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) has been used widely as a potent vasodilator to treat heart conditions, such as angina pectoris and chronic heart failure. This study aims to elucidate the effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) administration, using GTN, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats. The results obtained demonstrated that NO generated by the administration of GTN affords protection against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and liver injury. Administration of CCl4resulted in a significant ( p < 0.001) increase in lipid peroxidation and tissue damage markers (aspartate and alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase) release in serum. Parallel to these changes, CCl4also caused downregulation of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and several fold induction in γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. Subsequent administration of GTN resulted in significant ( p < 0.001) recovery of GSH-metabolizing enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. Further, administration of NO inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), exacerbated CCl4-induced oxidative tissue injury. Overall, the study suggests that GTN might suppress oxidant-induced tissue injury and hepatotoxicity in rats.
  3. Khan SM, Anuar AK
    PMID: 918716
    Faecal samples from patients admitted to the District Hospital in Balik, Pulau, Penang revealed high infection rates for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms. The prevalence rates were Trichuris trichiura 51.7%, Ascaris lumbricoides 31.9% and hookworm 37.2%. The overall highest infection is among the Malays (79%), the least being among the Chinese (61.1%). The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was highest in the 11-20 age group. The prevalence of Trichura was highest in the 51-60 age group, Ascaris and Trichuris infections is higher among the males but hookworm infection is higher among the females. 72.6% of the patients were infected with at least one type of helminth and 32.9% of the patients were infected with at least 2 types of helminths.
  4. Islam N, Hasan M, Ali SM
    Med J Malaysia, 1977 Jun;31(4):322-5.
    PMID: 927240
  5. HAQ SM, SMYTH VO
    Med J Malaya, 1956 Dec;11(2):134-8.
    PMID: 13417937
  6. Touhidul IASM, Sorooshian S
    Sci Eng Ethics, 2019 10;25(5):1605-1607.
    PMID: 29717466 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-018-0055-z
    Communication is an essential part of all activities of organizations. However, it is affected by technology. Today, email and social media are popular methods of communication in organizations. Each of the listed methods has advantages and disadvantages which will be discussed in this letter which tries to drive the attention of organizations to the need for a standard and balanced approach toward communication.
  7. Gumel AM, Annuar MSM
    3 Biotech, 2016 Jun;6(1):24.
    PMID: 28330099 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-015-0355-9
    Enzymatic catalysis is considered to be among the most environmental friendly processes for the synthesis of fine chemicals. In this study, lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lecitase Ultra™) was used to catalyze the synthesis of flavor esters, i.e., methyl butanoate and methyl benzoate by esterification of the acids with methanol in a microfluidic system. Maximum reaction rates of 195 and 115 mM min(-1) corresponding to catalytic efficiencies (k cat/K M) of 0.30 and 0.24 min(-1) mM(-1) as well as yield conversion of 54 and 41 % were observed in methyl butanoate and methyl benzoate synthesis, respectively. Catalytic turnover (k cat) was higher for methyl butanoate synthesis. Rate of synthesis and yield decreased with increasing flow rates. For both esters, increase in microfluidic flow rate resulted in increased advective transport over molecular diffusion and reaction rate, thus lower conversion. In microfluidic synthesis using T. lanuginosus lipase, the following reaction conditions were 40 °C, flow rate 0.1 mL min(-1), and 123 U g(-1) enzyme loading found to be the optimum operating limits. The work demonstrated the application of enzyme(s) in a microreactor system for the synthesis of industrially important esters.
  8. Amin OS, Shwani SS
    BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Feb 15;2017.
    PMID: 28202488 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-219433
  9. Hasan MJ, Shamsuzzaman SM
    Malays J Pathol, 2017 Dec;39(3):277-283.
    PMID: 29279590
    BACKGROUND: The adeB gene in Acinetobacter baumannii regulates the bacterial internal drug efflux pump that plays a significant role in drug resistance. The aim of our study was to determine the occurrence of adeB gene in multidrug resistant and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM- 1) gene in imipenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from wound swab samples in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh.

    METHODS: A total of 345 wound swab samples were tested for bacterial pathogens. Acinetobacter baumannii was identified by culture and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was determined by the disc diffusion method according to CLSI standards. Extended spectrum beta-lactamases were screened using the double disc synergy technique. Gene encoding AdeB efflux pump and NDM-1 were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

    RESULTS: A total 22 (6.37%) Acinetobacter baumannii were identified from 345 wound swab samples and 20 (91%) of them were multidrug resistant. High resistance rates to some antibiotics were seen namely, cefotaxime (95%), amoxyclavulanic acid (90%) and ceftriaxone (82%). All the identified Acinetobacter baumannii were sensitive to colistin and 82% to imipenem. Two (9%) ESBL producing Acinetobacter baumannii strains were detected. adeB gene was detected in 16 (80%) out of 20 multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. 4 (18%) of 22 Acinetobacter baumannii were imipenem resistant. NDM-1 gene was detected in 2 (50%) of the imipenem resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii.

    CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide insight into the role of adeB gene as a potential regulator of drug resistance in Acinetobacter baumanni in Bangladesh. NDM-1 gene also contributes in developing such resistance for Acinetobacter baumannii.

  10. Kamal SM, Hassan CH
    J Family Reprod Health, 2013 Jun;7(2):73-86.
    PMID: 24971107
    Objective: To examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors affecting contraceptive use among tribal women of Bangladesh with focusing on son preference over daughter.
    Materials and methods: The study used data gathered through a cross sectional survey on four tribal communities resided in the Rangamati Hill District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. A multistage random sampling procedure was applied to collect data from 865 currently married women of whom 806 women were currently married, non-pregnant and had at least one living child, which are the basis of this study. The information was recorded in a pre-structured questionnaire. Simple cross tabulation, chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to analyzing data.
    Results: The contraceptive prevalence rate among the study tribal women was 73%. The multivariate analyses yielded quantitatively important and reliable estimates of likelihood of contraceptive use. Findings revealed that after controlling for other variables, the likelihood of contraceptive use was found not to be significant among women with at least one son than those who had only daughters, indicating no preference of son over daughter. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggests that home visitations by family planning workers, tribal identity, place of residence, husband's education, and type of family, television ownership, electricity connection in the household and number of times married are important determinants of any contraceptive method use among the tribal women.
    Conclusion. The contraceptive use rate among the disadvantaged tribal women was more than that of the national level. Door-step delivery services of modern methods should be reached and available targeting the poor and remote zones.
    Keywords: Bangladesh, Contraceptive use, Ethnic tribal women, Sex preference, Logistic regression
  11. Yusoff SM, Ibrahim J, Salleh A
    Malays J Nutr, 1995 Sep;1(2):171-8.
    PMID: 22692061
    The objective of the present experiments are to determine if sheep could safely consume high amount of PKC in their diets and if sheep's consumption of PKC require a chelating agent to tie up the high copper level in PKC to protect it against toxicity. Two experiments were carried out. Experiment 1, with four treatment groups of animals, using from 30 to 100% PKC, mixed with other feed ingredients except minerals. Mineral mixtures were separately mixed with Sodium Molybdate, acting as the chelating agent, and the mineral was offered in separate feed troughs ad.libitum, in the pens for each animal group. Although all groups gave high ADG, the animals in the 100% group had high copper in their blood, which were above4 the normal physiological level at the end of the experimental duration of three months. Three animals from this group died and their liver copper contents were very high. The groups fed up to 72% PKC in their ration did not show any significant elevation of copper or toxicity. Sheep fed similar proportions of ingredients in experiment 2, but with Molybdate incorporated together into all the four similar rations as in experiment 1, did not show any signs of toxicity or elevated blood copper. The animals in all groups produced high ADG. The experiment proved that sheep can take up to 100% PKC in their diet, but a chelating agent must be incorporated into the feed to ensure its sufficient uptake to protect it against toxicity. Giving Molybdate separately from the feed would not ensure sufficient intake of the chelating agent voluntarily. This would result in copper toxicity in the animals.
  12. Shaw DJ, Rosanowski SM
    Vet J, 2019 Aug;250:24-27.
    PMID: 31383416 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.05.015
    Epiglottic entrapment is a condition in racing horses, associated with abnormal respiratory noises and exercise intolerance. Epiglottic entrapment has been linked to both poor and superior athletic performance, leading to concerns regarding whether surgery is indicated, and whether surgical correction may have a deleterious effect on future race performance. The objective of the current study was to assess the race-day performance of horses racing with epiglottic entrapment and the effect of surgical correction on performance outcomes using an intra-oral technique in anaesthetised horses. A case-control study was conducted at the Singapore Turf Club from 2008 to 2011. Controls were selected 1:1 to cases, based on Malaysian Racing Authority number. The performance of horses racing with epiglottic entrapment was recorded and post-surgery race performance was described. Further, post-surgery race performance was compared between cases and with non-case controls. Twenty horses raced with epiglottic entrapment were retrospectively enrolled. There was a significant difference in racing performance in case horses racing with and without epiglottic entrapment (P 
  13. Praveena SM, Omar NA
    Food Chem, 2017 Nov 15;235:203-211.
    PMID: 28554627 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.049
    Heavy metal in rice studies has attracted a greater concern worldwide. However, there have been limited studies on marketed rice samples although it represents a vital ingestion portion for a real estimation of human health risk. This study was aimed to determine both total and bioaccessible of trace elements and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Al, Zn, As, Pb and Fe) in 22 varieties of cooked rice using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Both total and bioaccessible of trace elements and heavy metals were digested using closed-nitric acid digestion and Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) in vitro digestion model, respectively. Human health risks via Health Risk Assessment (HRA) were conducted to understand exposure risks involving adults and children representing Malaysian population. Zinc was the highest while As was the lowest contents for total and in their bioavailable forms. Four clusters were identified: (1) Pb, As, Co, Cd and Cr; (2) Cu and Al; (3) Fe and (4) Zn. For HRA, there was no any risks found from single element exposure. While potential carcinogenic health risks present for both adult and children from single As exposure (Life time Cancer Risk, LCR>1×10(-4)). Total Hazard Quotient values for adult and children were 27.0 and 18.0, respectively while total LCR values for adult and children were 0.0049 and 0.0032, respectively.
  14. Praveena SM, Aris AZ
    Environ Geochem Health, 2018 Apr;40(2):749-762.
    PMID: 28929262 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-017-0021-8
    This study aims to determine the status of potentially toxic element concentrations of road dust in a medium-sized city (Rawang, Malaysia). This study adopts source identification via enrichment factor, Pearson correlation analysis, and Fourier spectral analysis to identify sources of potentially toxic element concentrations in road dust in Rawang City, Malaysia. Health risk assessment was conducted to determine potential health risks (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks) among adults and children via multiple pathways (i.e., ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation). Mean of potentially toxic element concentrations were found in the order of Pb > Zn > Cr(IV) > Cu > Ni > Cd > As > Co. Source identification revealed that Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr(IV) are associated with anthropogenic sources in industrial and highly populated areas in northern and southern Rawang, cement factories in southern Rawang, as well as the rapid development and population growth in northwestern Rawang, which have resulted in high traffic congestion. Cobalt, Fe, and As are related to geological background and lithologies in Rawang. Pathway orders for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation, involving adults and children. Non-carcinogenic health risks in adults were attributed to Cr(IV), Pb, and Cd, whereas Cu, Cd, Cr(IV), Pb, and Zn were found to have non-carcinogenic health risks for children. Cd, Cr(IV), Pb, and As may induce carcinogenic risks in adults and children, and the total lifetime cancer risk values exceeded incremental lifetime.
  15. Aftab SMA, Ahmad KA
    PLoS One, 2017;12(8):e0183456.
    PMID: 28850622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183456
    The Humpback whale tubercles have been studied for more than a decade. Tubercle Leading Edge (TLE) effectively reduces the separation bubble size and helps in delaying stall. They are very effective in case of low Reynolds number flows. The current Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study is on NACA 4415 airfoil, at a Reynolds number 120,000. Two TLE shapes are tested on NACA 4415 airfoil. The tubercle designs implemented on the airfoil are sinusoidal and spherical. A parametric study is also carried out considering three amplitudes (0.025c, 0.05c and 0.075c), the wavelength (0.25c) is fixed. Structured mesh is utilized to generate grid and Transition SST turbulence model is used to capture the flow physics. Results clearly show spherical tubercles outperform sinusoidal tubercles. Furthermore experimental study considering spherical TLE is carried out at Reynolds number 200,000. The experimental results show that spherical TLE improve performance compared to clean airfoil.
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