MATERIAL AND METHOD: 25 healthy electronic cigarette smokers and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy non-smokers were included in the study. RNFL, GCL, IPL and choroidal thickness were measured by SD-OCT using an automated programme. After normality tests, an independent sample t-test was used to analyse the differences in RNFL, GCL, IPL, and choroidal thickness values between the groups.
RESULTS: The mean age of electronic cigarette smokers and non-smokers was 33.68 and 33.64 years, respectively. The mean smoking history was 6.6 years (range 5-8 years). Most of the participants smoked 2-5 ml of e-liquid per day (52%), while 36% smoked more than 5 ml and 12% smoked less than 2 ml per day. The mean intraocular pressure in the electronic cigarette smoker group was 15.0 mmHg, while the non-smoker group was 15.32 mmHg. The mean axial length in the electronic cigarette smoker group and non-smoker group was 23.36 and 23.63 mm, respectively. No significant difference was observed regarding RNFL, GCL, IPL or choroidal thickness between both groups.
CONCLUSION: The thickness of the RNFL, GCL, IPL, and choroid was found to be similar in both the healthy electronic cigarette smokers and non-smokers groups.
METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional design involving Form 4 secondary school students from Terengganu. Hemoglobin variants were analyzed using CE (CAPILLARYS2 Flex-Piercing System) and HPLC (VARIANT II). Molecular testing, including multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplification refractory mutation system-PCR techniques, was carried out to detect alpha thalassemia mutations.
RESULTS: The prevalence of Hb CS revealed 92.2% heterozygous (mean zone 2 CE peak value of 0.7%), 7.2% compound heterozygous (mean zone 2 CE peak value of 1.2%), and 0.5% homozygous cases (mean zone 2 CE peak value of 4.5%).
CONCLUSION: The study highlights a significant prevalence of Hb CS among the Terengganu population, with heterozygous cases being the most common. The peak values in zone 2 CE varied significantly among the heterozygous, compound heterozygous, and homozygous HbCS cases, indicating the potential utility of these measurements in distinguishing between different clinical phenotypes.
METHODS: A nested case-control analysis was conducted on 3,160 eligible participants with renal profile data from The Malaysian Cohort project. CKD status was determined by estimated glomerular filtration rate using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Multiple logistic regression analysis using the likelihood ratio method was used to identify the factors and their interaction with CKD.
RESULTS: This study suggested five factors associated with CKD: gender, ethnicity, physical activity, atherogenic plasma index (AIP), and systolic blood pressure. There was an interaction between AIP and gender, with increased odds of CKD among men with high AIP.
CONCLUSIONS: As CKD is mainly asymptomatic until it is in the later stages, these five factors serve as valuable tools for predicting CKD and enhancing the identification of at-risk individuals, particularly among men with elevated AIP. Future studies should focus on using these factors, especially in preventing new CKD cases and their progression.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the phytochemical composition of 7 varieties growing in different conditions at various geographical locations. We also aimed to establish the quality control markers for the authentication of these varieties.
METHODS: We applied untargeted UHPLC-TOFMS metabolomics to discriminate 100 leaf samples of F. deltoidea collected from 6 locations in Malaysia. A genetic analysis on 21 leaf samples was also performed to validate the chemotaxonomy differentiation.
RESULTS: The PCA and HCA analysis revealed the existence of 3 chemotypes based on the differentiation in the flavonoid content. The PLS-DA analysis identified 15 glycosylated flavone markers together with 1 furanocoumarin. These markers were always consistent for the respective varieties, regardless of the geographical locations and growing conditions. The chemotaxonomy differentiation was in agreement with the DNA sequencing. In particular, var. bilobata accession which showed divergent morphology was also differentiated by the chemical fingerprints and genotype.
CONCLUSION: Chemotype differentiation based on the flavonoid fingerprints along with the proposed markers provide a powerful identification tool to complement morphology and genetic analyses for the quality control of raw materials and products from F. deltoidea.
PURPOSE: The present study aims to look at the association between CH and severity of OSAS, and whether CH could be another link between OSAS and the development of glaucoma.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational study at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Patients undergoing polysomnography for assessment of OSAS were recruited. We measured central corneal thickness (CCT) using optical biometry, and CH using ocular response analysis. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and Humphrey visual field (HVF) indices were also measured. The Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) divided patients into normal, mild, moderate, and severe OSAS categories. The normal and mild categories (47.9%) were then collectively called group 1, and the moderate and severe categories (52.1%) were called group 2. T tests, Pearson correlation tests, and general linear model analysis were performed, with P .05). CH correlated negatively with AHI (r = -0.229, P = .013) and positively with lowest oxygen saturation (r = 0.213, P = .022).
CONCLUSIONS: CH is lower in moderate/severe OSAS than in normal/mild cases. This may be another link between OSAS and the development of glaucoma; further studies are indicated to determine the significance of this connection.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 27 patients with symptoms of OSAS seen at a tertiary institutional center and 25 normal controls performed between June 2015 and June 2016. All patients and controls underwent a polysomnography (PSG) test and were diagnosed with OSAS based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Patients are those with OSAS symptoms and had AHI > 5, whereas controls are staffs from the ophthalmology clinic without clinical criteria for OSAS and had PSG result of AHI
MATERIALS/METHODS: Twelve- to fourteen-week-old CAV-1 knockout (KO) and genetically matched wild-type (WT) male mice were randomized by genotype to one of two dietary regimens: ad libitum (ad lib) food intake or 40% CR for 4 weeks. Three weeks following the onset of dietary restriction, all groups were assessed for insulin sensitivity. At the end of the study, all groups were assessed for fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipids, corticosterone levels and blood pressure (BP). Aldosterone secretion was determined from acutely isolated Zona Glomerulosa cells.
RESULTS: We confirmed that the CAV-1 KO mice on the ad lib diet display a phenotype consistent with the cardiometabolic syndrome, as shown by higher systolic BP (SBP), plasma glucose, HOMA-IR and aldosterone levels despite lower body weight compared with WT mice on the ad lib diet. CAV-1 KO mice maintained their body weight on the ad lib diet, but had substantially greater weight loss with CR, as compared to caloric restricted WT mice. CR-mediated changes in weight were associated with dramatic improvements in glucose and insulin tolerance in both genotypes. These responses to CR, however, were more robust in CAV-1KO vs. WT mice and were accompanied by reductions in plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR in CAV-1KO but not WT mice. Surprisingly, in the CAV-1 KO, but not in WT mice, CR was associated with increased SBP and aldosterone levels, suggesting that in CAV-1 KO mice CR induced an increase in some CV risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS: CR improved the metabolic phenotype in CAV-1 KO mice by increasing insulin sensitivity; nevertheless, this intervention also increased CV risk by inappropriate adaptive responses in the RAAS and BP.
METHODS: A total of 15 PD bags (3 bags for each type of PD solution) containing meropenem and heparin and 24 PD bags (3 bags for each type of PD solution) containing PIP/TZB and heparin were prepared and stored at 4°C for 168 hours. The same bags were stored at 25°C for 3 hours followed by 10 hours at 37°C. An aliquot withdrawn before storage and at defined time points was analyzed for the concentration of meropenem, PIP, TZB, and heparin using high-performance liquid chromatography. Samples were also analysed for particle content, pH and color change, and the anticoagulant activity of heparin.
RESULTS: Meropenem and heparin retained more than 90% of their initial concentration in 4 out of 5 types of PD solutions when stored at 4°C for 168 hours, followed by storage at 25°C for 3 hours and then at 37°C for 10 hours. Piperacillin/tazobactam and heparin were found to be stable in all 8 types of PD solutions when stored under the same conditions. Heparin retained more than 98% of its initial anticoagulant activity throughout the study period. No evidence of particle formation, color change, or pH change was observed at any time under the storage conditions employed in the study.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides clinically important information on the stability of meropenem and PIP/TZB, each in combination with heparin, in different PD solutions. The use of meropenem-heparin admixed in pH-neutral PD solutions for the treatment of PDAP should be avoided, given the observed suboptimal stability of meropenem.
METHODS: A total of 110 putatively healthy and non-obese subjects were divided into three groups according to their level of VF and BP. Common carotid artery BFV was measured using a developed portable Doppler ultrasound measurement system.
RESULTS: The most pronounced peak systolic velocity (S1) was lower (p < 0.05) in the hypertensive group and the peak diastolic velocity (D) was significantly lower in the pre-hypertensive group than in the normotensive group. There were differences in velocity reflection and resistive indices between the hypertensive and other two BP groups. The higher VF group had significantly lower S1 and D velocities and resistive and vascular elasticity indices. By contrast, the velocity reflection index was larger in the higher VF group.
CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that there were significant differences in the BFV among non-obese subjects who differed in level of VF and BP. This study confirms that a putatively increasing VF and BP level is associated with the development of hypertension.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop an ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method for achieving a high extraction yield of anthraquinones using the response surface methodology (RSM), Box-Behnken design (BBD), and a recycling preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) protocol for isolation of anthraquinones from C. singueana.
METHODOLOGY: Optimisation of UAE was performed using the Box-Behnken experimental design. Recycling preparative HPLC was employed to isolate anthraquinones from the root extract of C. singueana.
RESULTS: The BBD was well-described by a quadratic polynomial model (R2 = 0.9751). The predicted optimal UAE conditions for a high extraction yield were obtained at: extraction time 25.00 min, temperature 50°C and solvent-sample ratio of 10 mL/g. Under the predicted conditions, the experimental value (1.65 ± 0.07%) closely agreed to the predicted yield (1.64%). The obtained crude extract of C. singueana root was subsequently purified to afford eight anthraquinones.
CONCLUSION: The extraction protocol described here is suitable for large-scale extraction of anthraquinones from plant extracts.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 150 Malay PACG patients between April 2014 and August 2016. Ocular examination was performed including Humphrey visual field (HVF) 24-2 analysis assessment. On the basis of the 2 consecutive reliable HVFs, the severity of glaucoma was scored according to modified Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) by 2 masked investigators and classified as mild, moderate, and severe. Those with retinal diseases, neurological diseases, memory problem, and myopia ≥4 diopters were excluded. Their smoking status and details were obtained by validated questionnaire from Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES). The duration of smoking, number of cigarettes per day, and pack/year was also documented. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted.
RESULTS: There was a significant association between education level and severity of PACG (P=0.001). However, there was no significant association between cigarette smoking and severity of glaucoma (P=0.080). On the basis of multivariate analysis, a linear association was identified between cigarette smoked per day (adjusted b=0.73; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.45; P<0.001) and body mass index (adjusted b=0.32; 95% CI: 0.07, 1.35; P=0.032) with AGIS score.
CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between cigarette smoking and severity of PACG. Cigarette smoked per day among the smokers was associated with severity of PACG. However, because of the detrimental effect of smoking, cessation of smoking should be advocated to PACG patients.