Displaying publications 1101 - 1120 of 5421 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fulltext Mechanistic role of boswellic acids in Alzheimer's disease: Emphasis on anti-inflammatory properties
    Siddiqui A, Shah Z, Jahan RN, Othman I, Kumari Y
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2021 Dec;144:112250.
    PMID: 34607104 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112250
    The resin/gum of Boswellia species belonging to the family of Burseraceae is a naturally occurring mixture of bioactive compounds, which was traditionally used as a folk medicine to treat conditions like chronic inflammation. Several research studies have also explored its' therapeutic potential against multiple neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The main chemical constituents of this gum include boswellic acids (BAs) like 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β boswellic acid (AKBA) that possess potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in AD. It is also involved in inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cholinergic pathway and improve choline levels as well as its binding with nicotinic receptors to produce anti-inflammatory effects. Multiple shreds of evidence have demonstrated that BAs modulate key molecular targets and signalling pathways like 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase, Nrf2, NF-kB, cholinergic, amyloid-beta (Aβ), and neurofibrillary tangles formation (NFTs) that are involved in AD progression. The present review focuses on the possible mechanistic therapeutic role of BAs in modulating the 5-LOX/COX pathway in arachidonic acid metabolism, activating Nrf2 through binding of ARE, inhibiting NF-kB and AChE activity. In addition, an inhibition of amyloid plaques (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) induced neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation in AD by BAs is also discussed in this review. We have also highlighted that BAs possess beneficial effects in AD by targeting multiple molecular pathways and makes it an emerging drug candidate for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*; Alzheimer Disease/metabolism; Alzheimer Disease/pathology; Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology
  2. Fulltext Treosulfan and Fludarabine Conditioning for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Primary Immunodeficiency: UK Experience
    Slatter MA, Rao K, Abd Hamid IJ, Nademi Z, Chiesa R, Elfeky R, et al.
    Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant., 2018 03;24(3):529-536.
    PMID: 29155317 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.11.009
    We previously published results for 70 children who received conditioning with treosulfan and cyclophosphamide (n = 30) or fludarabine (n = 40) before undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for primary immunodeficiency (PID). Toxicity was lower and T cell chimerism was better in the patients receiving fludarabine, but cohort numbers were relatively small and follow-up was short. Here we report outcomes of 160 children who received homogeneous conditioning with treosulfan, fludarabine, and, in most cases, alemtuzumab (n = 124). The median age at transplantation was 1.36 years (range, .09 to 18.25 years). Donors included 73 matched unrelated, 54 1 to 3 antigen-mismatched unrelated, 12 matched sibling, 17 other matched family, and 4 haploidentical donors. Stem cell source was peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in 70, bone marrow in 49, and cord blood in 41. Median duration of follow-up was 4.3 years (range, .8 to 9.4 years). Overall survival was 83%. No patients had veno-occlusive disease. Seventy-four patients (46%) had acute GVHD, but only 14 (9%) greater than grade II. Four patients underwent successful retransplantation for graft loss or poor immune reconstitution. Another patient experienced graft rejection and died. There was no association between T cell chimerism >95% and stem cell source, but a significant association was seen between myeloid chimerism >95% and use of PBSCs without an increased risk of significant GVHD compared with other sources. All 11 patients with severe combined immunodeficiency diagnosed at birth were alive at up to 8.7 years of follow-up. Long-term studies are needed to determine late gonadotoxic effects, and pharmacokinetic studies are needed to identify whether specific targeting is advantageous. The combination of treosulfan, fludarabine, and alemtuzumab is associated with excellent results in HSCT for PID.
    Matched MeSH terms: Graft vs Host Disease/etiology; Graft vs Host Disease/mortality; Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control; Disease-Free Survival
  3. Clinical features and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease across the Asia Pacific region-the GO ASIA initiative
    Chan WK, Treeprasertsuk S, Imajo K, Nakajima A, Seki Y, Kasama K, et al.
    Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2018 Mar;47(6):816-825.
    PMID: 29333610 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14506
    BACKGROUND: The Gut and Obesity Asia (GO ASIA) workgroup was formed to study the relationships between obesity and gastrointestinal diseases in the Asia Pacific region.

    AIM: To study factors associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced fibrosis, and medical treatment of biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

    METHODS: Retrospective study of biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from centres in the GO ASIA Workgroup. Independent factors associated with NASH and with advanced fibrosis on binary logistic regression analyses in a training cohort were used for the development of their corresponding risk score, which were validated in a validation cohort.

    RESULTS: We included 1008 patients from nine centres across eight countries (NASH 62.9%, advanced fibrosis 17.2%). Independent predictors of NASH were body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 , diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, alanine aminotransferase ≥88 U/L and aspartate aminotransferase ≥38 U/L, constituting the Asia Pacific NASH risk score. A high score has a positive predictive value of 80%-83% for NASH. Independent predictors of advanced fibrosis were age ≥55 years, diabetes mellitus and platelet count <150 × 109 /L, constituting the Asia-Pacific NAFLD advanced fibrosis risk score. A low score has a negative predictive value of 95%-96% for advanced fibrosis. Only 1.7% of patients were referred for structured lifestyle program, 4.2% were on vitamin E, and 2.4% were on pioglitazone.

    CONCLUSIONS: More severe liver disease can be suspected or ruled out based on factors identified in this study. Utilisation of structured lifestyle program, vitamin E and pioglitazone was limited despite this being a cohort of biopsy-proven NAFLD patients with majority of patients having NASH.

    Matched MeSH terms: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/epidemiology*; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/therapy*
  4. A novel orally infected hamster model for Coxsackievirus A16 hand-foot-and-mouth disease and encephalomyelitis
    Hooi YT, Ong KC, Tan SH, Perera D, Wong KT
    Lab Invest, 2020 Sep;100(9):1262-1275.
    PMID: 32601355 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-0456-x
    Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) is one of the major causes of mild and self-limiting hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in young children, which may occasionally leads to serious neurological complications. In this study, we had developed a novel, consistent, orally infected CV-A16 HFMD hamster model with encephalomyelitis. Four groups of 7-day-old hamsters in a kinetic study were orally infected with mouse-adapted CV-A16 strains and sacrificed at 1-4 days post infection (dpi), respectively. Tissues were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry to detect viral antigens, in situ hybridization to detect viral RNA, and by viral titration. In a separate transmission experiment, orally infected index hamsters were housed together with contact hamsters to investigate oral and fecal viral shedding by virus culture and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At severe infection/death endpoints, index and contact hamster infection were also histopathologically analyzed. In the kinetic study, infected hamsters developed signs of infection at 4 dpi. Viral antigens/RNA were localized to brainstem (medulla/pons; reticular formation and motor trigeminal nucleus) and spinal cord anterior horn neurons, oral squamous epithelia and epidermis from 3 to 4 dpi. Salivary and lacrimal glands, myocardium, brown adipose tissue, intestinal smooth muscle, and skeletal muscle infection was also demonstrated. Viremia at 1 dpi and increasing viral titers in various tissues were observed from 2 dpi. In the transmission study, all contact hamsters developed disease 3-5 days later than index hamsters, but demonstrated similar histopathological findings at endpoint. Viral culture and RT-PCR positive oral washes and feces confirmed viral shedding. Our hamster model, orally infected by the natural route for human infection, confirmed CV-A16 neurotropism and demonstrated squamous epitheliotropism reminiscent of HFMD, attributes not found in other animal models. It should be useful to investigate neuropathogenesis, model person-to-person transmission, and for testing antiviral drugs and vaccines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Models, Animal*; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/diagnosis; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/virology*
  5. Evaluation of different clinical sample types in diagnosis of human enterovirus 71-associated hand-foot-and-mouth disease
    Ooi MH, Solomon T, Podin Y, Mohan A, Akin W, Yusuf MA, et al.
    J Clin Microbiol, 2007 Jun;45(6):1858-66.
    PMID: 17446325
    Human enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus A16 are important causes of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD). Like other enteroviruses, they can be isolated from a range of sterile and nonsterile sites, but which clinical sample, or combination of samples, is the most useful for laboratory diagnosis of HFMD is not clear. We attempted virus culture for 2,916 samples from 628 of 725 children with HFMD studied over a 3 1/2-year period, which included two large outbreaks. Overall, throat swabs were the single most useful specimen, being positive for any enterovirus for 288 (49%) of 592 patients with a full set of samples. Vesicle swabs were positive for 169 (48%) of 333 patients with vesicles, the yield being greater if two or more vesicles were swabbed. The combination of throat plus vesicle swabs enabled the identification of virus for 224 (67%) of the 333 patients with vesicles; for this patient group, just 27 (8%) extra patients were diagnosed when rectal and ulcer swabs were added. Of 259 patients without vesicles, use of the combination of throat plus rectal swab identified virus for 138 (53%). For 60 patients, virus was isolated from both vesicle and rectal swabs, but for 12 (20%) of these, the isolates differed. Such discordance occurred for just 11 (10%) of 112 patients with virus isolated from vesicle and throat swabs. During large HFMD outbreaks, we suggest collecting swabs from the throat plus one other site: vesicles, if these are present (at least two should be swabbed), or the rectum if there are no vesicles. Vesicle swabs give a high diagnostic yield, with the added advantage of being from a sterile site.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/diagnosis*; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/epidemiology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/virology
  6. Fulltext Untargeted serum metabolites profiling in high-fat diet mice supplemented with enhanced palm tocotrienol-rich fraction using UHPLC-MS
    Goon DE, Ab-Rahim S, Mohd Sakri AH, Mazlan M, Tan JK, Abdul Aziz M, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 Oct 25;11(1):21001.
    PMID: 34697380 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00454-9
    Excessive high fat dietary intake promotes risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and predisposed with oxidative stress. Palm based tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) has been reported able to ameliorate oxidative stress but exhibited poor bioavailability. Thus, we investigated whether an enhanced formulation of TRF in combination with palm kernel oil (medium-chain triglycerides) (ETRF) could ameliorate the effect of high-fat diet (HFD) on leptin-deficient male mice. All the animals were divided into HFD only (HFD group), HFD supplemented with ETRF (ETRF group) and HFD supplemented with TRF (TRF group) and HFD supplemented with PKO (PKO group). After 6 weeks, sera were collected for untargeted metabolite profiling using UHPLC-Orbitrap MS. Univariate analysis unveiled alternation in metabolites for bile acids, amino acids, fatty acids, sphingolipids, and alkaloids. Bile acids, lysine, arachidonic acid, and sphingolipids were downregulated while xanthine and hypoxanthine were upregulated in TRF and ETRF group. The regulation of these metabolites suggests that ETRF may promote better fatty acid oxidation, reduce oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory metabolites and acts as anti-inflammatory in fatty liver compared to TRF. Metabolites regulated by ETRF also provide insight of its role in fatty liver. However, further investigation is warranted to identify the mechanisms involved.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Models, Animal; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/etiology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology
  7. Display of the VP1 epitope of foot-and-mouth disease virus on bacteriophage T7 and its application in diagnosis
    Wong CL, Sieo CC, Tan WS
    J Virol Methods, 2013 Nov;193(2):611-9.
    PMID: 23933075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2013.07.053
    Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious epidemic disease threatening the cattle industry since the sixteenth century. In recent years, the development of diagnostic assays for FMD has benefited considerably from the advances of recombinant DNA technology. In this study, the immunodominant region of the capsid protein VP1 of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was fused to the T7 bacteriophage and expressed on the surface of the bacteriophage capsid protein. The recombinant protein of about 42 kDa was detected by the anti-T7 tag monoclonal antibody in Western blot analysis. Phage ELISA showed that both the vaccinated and positive infected bovine sera reacted significantly with the recombinant T7 particle. This study demonstrated the potential of the T7 phage displaying the VP1 epitope as a diagnostic reagent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Foot-and-Mouth Disease/diagnosis*; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/virology; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/genetics*
  8. Comparative long-term results of mitral valve repair in adults with chronic rheumatic disease and degenerative disease: is repair for "burnt-out" rheumatic disease still inferior to repair for degenerative disease in the current era?
    Dillon J, Yakub MA, Kong PK, Ramli MF, Jaffar N, Gaffar IF
    J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., 2015 Mar;149(3):771-7; discussion 777-9.
    PMID: 25308120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.08.066
    Mitral valve repair is perceived to be of limited durability for advanced rheumatic disease in adults. We aim to examine the long-term outcomes of repair for rheumatic disease, identify predictors of durability, and compare with repair for degenerative disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chronic Disease; Rheumatic Heart Disease/diagnosis; Rheumatic Heart Disease/mortality; Rheumatic Heart Disease/physiopathology; Rheumatic Heart Disease/surgery*; Disease-Free Survival
  9. Chimeric Newcastle disease virus nucleocapsid with parts of viral hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion proteins
    Rabu A, Tan WS, Kho CL, Omar AR, Yusoff K
    Acta Virol., 2002;46(4):211-7.
    PMID: 12693857
    The nucleocapsid (NP) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) self-assembled in Escherichia coli as ring-like and herringbone-like particles. Several chimeric NP proteins were constructed in which the antigenic regions of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins of NDV, myc epitope, and six histidines (a hexa-His tag) were linked to the C-terminus of the NP monomer. These chimeric proteins were expressed efficiently in soluble form in E. coli as detected by Western blot analysis. Electron microscopy of the purified products revealed that they self-assembled into ring-like particles. These chimeric particles exhibited antigenicity of the myc epitope, suggesting that the foreign sequences were exposed on the surface of the particles. Chickens inoculated with the chimeric particles mounted an immune response against NDV, suggesting the possibility of use of the ring-like particle as a carrier of immunogens in subunit vaccines and immunological reagents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Newcastle Disease/prevention & control*; Newcastle Disease/virology; Newcastle disease virus/genetics; Newcastle disease virus/immunology*; Newcastle disease virus/metabolism
  10. Fulltext Induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein of Newcastle disease virus Malaysian strain AF2240
    Ghrici M, El Zowalaty M, Omar AR, Ideris A
    Oncol Rep, 2013 Sep;30(3):1035-44.
    PMID: 23807159 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2573
    Newcastle disease virus (NDV) exerts its naturally occurring oncolysis possibly through the induction of apoptosis. We hypothesized that the binding of the virus to the cell via the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein may be sufficient to not only induce apoptosis but to induce a higher apoptosis level than the parental NDV AF2240 virus. NDV AF2240 induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was analyzed and quantified. In addition, the complete HN gene of NDV strain AF2240 was amplified, sequenced and cloned into the pDisplay eukaryotic expression vector. HN gene expression was first detected at the cell surface membrane of the transfected MCF-7 cells. HN induction of apoptosis in transfected MCF-7 cells was analyzed and quantified. The expression of the HN gene alone was able to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells but it was a less potent apoptosis inducer compared to the parental NDV AF2240 strain. In conclusion, the NDV AF2240 strain is a more suitable antitumor candidate agent than its recombinant HN gene unless the latter is further improved by additional modifications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Newcastle Disease/pathology*; Newcastle Disease/therapy; Newcastle Disease/virology; Newcastle disease virus/growth & development; Newcastle disease virus/metabolism*
  11. Fulltext Modelling person-to-person transmission in an Enterovirus A71 orally infected hamster model of hand-foot-and-mouth disease and encephalomyelitis
    Phyu WK, Ong KC, Wong KT
    Emerg Microbes Infect, 2017 Jul 12;6(7):e62.
    PMID: 28698666 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.49
    Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), which may be complicated by fatal encephalomyelitis. Although fecal-oral or oral-oral routes are important in person-to-person transmission, how viral shedding and exposure may predispose individuals to infection remains unknown. We investigated person-to-person transmission by using a model of HFMD and encephalomyelitis based on EV-A71 oral infection of 2-week-old hamsters. Animals (index animals) infected with 104 50% cell culture infective doses of virus uniformly developed severe disease four days post-infection (dpi), whereas littermate contacts developed severe disease after six to seven days of exposure to index animals. Virus was detected in oral washes and feces at 3-4 dpi in index animals and at three to eight days after exposure to index animals in littermate contact animals. In a second experiment, non-littermate contact animals exposed for 8 or 12 h to index animals developed the disease six and four days post-exposure, respectively. Tissues from killed index and contact animals, studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, exhibited mild inflammatory lesions and/or viral antigens/RNA in the squamous epithelia of the oral cavity, tongue, paws, skin, esophagus, gastric epithelium, salivary glands, lacrimal glands, central nervous system neurons, muscles (skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles) and liver. Orally shed viruses were probably derived from infected oral mucosa and salivary glands, whereas fecal viruses may have derived from these sites as well as from esophageal and gastric epithelia. Asymptomatic seroconversion in exposed mother hamsters was demonstrated. Our hamster model should be useful in studying person-to-person EV-A71 transmission and how drugs and vaccines may interrupt transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Models, Animal*; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/complications; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/physiopathology*; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/transmission*; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/virology
  12. Butyrylcholinesterase: A Multifaceted Pharmacological Target and Tool
    Ha ZY, Mathew S, Yeong KY
    Curr Protein Pept Sci, 2020;21(1):99-109.
    PMID: 31702488 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666191107094949
    Butyrylcholinesterase is a serine hydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of esters in the body. Unlike its sister enzyme acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase has a broad substrate scope and lower acetylcholine catalytic efficiency. The difference in tissue distribution and inhibitor sensitivity also points to its involvement external to cholinergic neurotransmission. Initial studies on butyrylcholinesterase showed that the inhibition of the enzyme led to the increment of brain acetylcholine levels. Further gene knockout studies suggested its involvement in the regulation of amyloid-beta, a brain pathogenic protein. Thus, it is an interesting target for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. The substrate scope of butyrylcholinesterase was recently found to include cocaine, as well as ghrelin, the "hunger hormone". These findings led to the development of recombinant butyrylcholinesterase mutants and viral gene therapy to combat cocaine addiction, along with in-depth studies on the significance of butyrylcholinesterase in obesity. It is observed that the pharmacological impact of butyrylcholinesterase increased in tandem with each reported finding. Not only is the enzyme now considered an important pharmacological target, it is also becoming an important tool to study the biological pathways in various diseases. Here, we review and summarize the biochemical properties of butyrylcholinesterase and its roles, as a cholinergic neurotransmitter, in various diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*; Alzheimer Disease/genetics; Alzheimer Disease/metabolism; Alzheimer Disease/pathology; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy*; Parkinson Disease/genetics; Parkinson Disease/metabolism; Parkinson Disease/pathology
  13. Predicting the risk of exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using home telehealth measurement data
    Mohktar MS, Redmond SJ, Antoniades NC, Rochford PD, Pretto JJ, Basilakis J, et al.
    Artif Intell Med, 2015 Jan;63(1):51-9.
    PMID: 25704112 DOI: 10.1016/j.artmed.2014.12.003
    BACKGROUND: The use of telehealth technologies to remotely monitor patients suffering chronic diseases may enable preemptive treatment of worsening health conditions before a significant deterioration in the subject's health status occurs, requiring hospital admission.
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a classification algorithm for the early identification of patients, with a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who appear to be at high risk of an imminent exacerbation event. The algorithm attempts to predict the patient's condition one day in advance, based on a comparison of their current physiological measurements against the distribution of their measurements over the previous month.
    METHOD: The proposed algorithm, which uses a classification and regression tree (CART), has been validated using telehealth measurement data recorded from patients with moderate/severe COPD living at home. The data were collected from February 2007 to January 2008, using a telehealth home monitoring unit.
    RESULTS: The CART algorithm can classify home telehealth measurement data into either a 'low risk' or 'high risk' category with 71.8% accuracy, 80.4% specificity and 61.1% sensitivity. The algorithm was able to detect a 'high risk' condition one day prior to patients actually being observed as having a worsening in their COPD condition, as defined by symptom and medication records.
    CONCLUSION: The CART analyses have shown that features extracted from three types of physiological measurements; forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), arterial oxygen saturation (SPO2) and weight have the most predictive power in stratifying the patients condition. This CART algorithm for early detection could trigger the initiation of timely treatment, thereby potentially reducing exacerbation severity and recovery time and improving the patient's health. This study highlights the potential usefulness of automated analysis of home telehealth data in the early detection of exacerbation events among COPD patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/blood; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis*; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology; Disease Eradication
  14. Fulltext Does the duration of smoking cessation have an impact on hospital admission and health-related quality of life amongst COPD patients?
    Abu Hassan H, Abd Aziz N, Hassan Y, Hassan F
    Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis, 2014;9:493-8.
    PMID: 24868154 DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S56637
    BACKGROUND: Lack of awareness among ex-smokers on the benefits of sustaining smoking cessation may be the main cause of their smoking relapse. This study explored health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and hospital admission amongst chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients according to the duration of smoking cessation.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study recruited COPD patients from a chest clinic who agreed to participate in a medication therapy-adherence program from January to June 2013. They were interviewed during their visits to obtain information regarding their smoking history and HRQoL. They were divided into three groups according to smoking status (sustained quitters, quit ≥5 years; quitters, quit <5 years; and smokers, smoking at least one cigarette/day). The effects of the duration of cessation on HRQoL and hospital admission were analyzed using a multinomial logistic model.
    RESULTS: A total of 117 participants with moderate COPD met the inclusion criteria, who were comprised of 41 sustained quitters, 40 quitters, and 36 smokers. Several features were similar across the groups. Most of them were married elderly men (aged >64 years) with low-to-middle level of education, who smoked more than 33 cigarettes per day and had high levels of adherence to the medication regimen. The results showed that sustained quitters were less likely to have respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm and dyspnea) than smokers (odds ratio 0.02, confidence interval 0-0.12; P<0.001). The hospital admission rate per year was increased in quitters compared to smokers (odds ratio 4.5, confidence interval 1.91-10.59; P<0.005).
    CONCLUSION: A longer duration of quitting smoking will increase the benefits to COPD patients, even if they experience increased episodic respiratory symptoms in the early period of the cessation. Thus, the findings of this study show the benefits of early smoking cessation.
    KEYWORDS: HRQoL; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); hospital admission and hospital stay
    Study site: Chest Clinic, Hospital Melaka, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/psychology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy*
  15. Alteration in lymphocyte responses, cytokine and chemokine profiles in chickens infected with genotype VII and VIII velogenic Newcastle disease virus
    Rasoli M, Yeap SK, Tan SW, Moeini H, Ideris A, Bejo MH, et al.
    Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 2014 Jan;37(1):11-21.
    PMID: 24225159 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2013.10.003
    Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious avian disease and one of the major causes of economic losses in the poultry industry. The emergence of virulent NDV genotypes and repeated outbreaks of NDV in vaccinated chickens have raised the need for fundamental studies on the virus-host interactions. In this study, the profiles of B and T lymphocytes and macrophages and differential expression of 26 immune-related genes in the spleen of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, infected with either the velogenic genotype VII NDV strain IBS002 or the genotype VIII NDV strain AF2240, were evaluated. A significant reduction in T lymphocyte population and an increase in the infiltration of IgM+ B cells and KUL01+ macrophages were detected in the infected spleens at 1, 3 and 4 days post-infection (dpi) (P<0.05). The gene expression profiles showed an up-regulation of CCLi3, CXCLi1, CXCLi2 (IL-8), IFN-γ, IL-12α, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, TLR7, MHCI, IL-17F and TNFSF13B (P<0.05). However, these two genotypes showed different cytokine expression patterns and viral load. IBS002 showed higher viral load than AF2240 in spleen at 3 and 4dpi and caused a more rapid up-regulation of CXCLi2, IFN-γ, IL-12α, IL-18, IL-1β, iNOS and IL-10 at 3dpi. Meanwhile, the expression levels of CCLI3, CXCLi1, IFN-γ, IL-12α, IL-1β and iNOS genes were significantly higher in AF2240 at 4dpi. In addition, the expression levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the IBS002-infected chickens at 3 and 4dpi. Hence, infection with velogenic genotype VII and VIII NDV induced different viral load and production of cytokines and chemokines associated with inflammatory reactions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Newcastle Disease/immunology*; Newcastle Disease/virology; Newcastle disease virus/genetics; Newcastle disease virus/immunology*
  16. Pathogenicity and molecular analysis of an infectious bursal disease virus isolated from Malaysian village chickens
    Tan DY, Hair-Bejo M, Omar AR, Aini I
    Avian Dis, 2004 Apr-Jun;48(2):410-6.
    PMID: 15283430
    The characteristics of the pathogenic infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) that infected avian species other than commercial chickens were largely unknown. In this study, by using in vivo and molecular methods, we had characterized an IBDV isolate (named 94268) isolated from an infectious bursal disease (IBD) outbreak in Malaysian village chickens--the adulterated descendant of the Southeast Asian jungle fowl (Gallus bankiva) that were commonly reared in the backyard. The 94268 isolate was grouped as the very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) strain because it caused severe lesions and a high mortality rate in village chickens (>88%) and experimentally infected specific-pathogen-free chickens (>66%). In addition, it possessed all of the vvIBDV molecular markers in its VP2 gene. Phylogenetic analysis using distance, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood methods revealed that 94268 was monophyletic with other vvIBDV isolates and closely related to the Malaysian vvIBDV isolates. Given that the VP2 gene of 94268 isolate was almost identical and evolutionarily closely related to other field IBDV isolates that affected the commercial chickens, we therefore concluded that IBD infections had spread across the farm boundary. IBD infection in the village chicken may represent an important part of the IBD epidemiology because these birds could harbor the vvIBDV strain and should not be overlooked in the control and prevention of the disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/veterinary*; Infectious bursal disease virus/genetics; Infectious bursal disease virus/isolation & purification*; Infectious bursal disease virus/pathogenicity
  17. Fulltext Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction of Palm Oil Improves Behavioral Impairments and Regulates Metabolic Pathways in AβPP/PS1 Mice
    Durani LW, Hamezah HS, Ibrahim NF, Yanagisawa D, Nasaruddin ML, Mori M, et al.
    J Alzheimers Dis, 2018;64(1):249-267.
    PMID: 29889072 DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170880
    We have recently shown that the tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil, a mixture of vitamin E analogs, improves amyloid pathology in vitro and in vivo. However, precise mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of long-term (10 months) TRF treatment on behavioral impairments and brain metabolites in (15 months old) AβPP/PS1 double transgenic (Tg) Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. The open field test, Morris water maze, and novel object recognition tasks revealed improved exploratory activity, spatial learning, and recognition memory, respectively, in TRF-treated Tg mice. Brain metabolite profiling of wild-type and Tg mice treated with and without TRF was performed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM)-orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Metabolic pathway analysis found perturbed metabolic pathways that linked to AD. TRF treatment partly ameliorated metabolic perturbations in Tg mouse hippocampus. The mechanism of this pre-emptive activity may occur via modulation of metabolic pathways dependent on Aβ interaction or independent of Aβ interaction.
    Matched MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease/complications; Alzheimer Disease/genetics; Alzheimer Disease/metabolism; Alzheimer Disease/pathology; Disease Models, Animal
  18. Fulltext Clinical phenotypes of COPD and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study
    Chai CS, Liam CK, Pang YK, Ng DL, Tan SB, Wong TS, et al.
    Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis, 2019 03 01;14:565-573.
    PMID: 30880946 DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S196109
    Introduction: The Spanish COPD guideline (GesEPOC) classifies COPD into four clinical phenotypes based on the exacerbation frequency and dominant clinical manifestations. In this study, we compared the disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with different clinical phenotypes.

    Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with COPD attending the respiratory medicine clinic of University of Malaya Medical Centre from 1 June 2017 to 31 May 2018. Disease-specific HRQoL was assessed by using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-c).

    Results: Of 189 patients, 28.6% were of non-exacerbator phenotype (NON-AE), 18.5% were of exacerbator with emphysema phenotype (AE NON-CB), 39.7% were of exacerbator with chronic bronchitis phenotype (AE CB), and 13.2% had asthma-COPD overlap syndrome phenotype (ACOS). The total CAT and SGRQ-c scores were significantly different between the clinical phenotypes (P<0.001). Patients who were AE CB had significantly higher total CAT score than those with ACOS (P=0.033), AE NON-CB (P=0.001), and NON-AE (P<0.001). Concerning SGRQ-c, patients who were AE CB also had a significantly higher total score than those with AE NON-CB (P=0.001) and NON-AE (P<0.001). However, the total SGRQ-c score of AE CB patients was only marginally higher than those who had ACOS (P=0.187). There was a significant difference in the score of each CAT item (except CAT 7) and SGRQ-c components between clinical phenotypes, with AE CB patients recording the highest score in each of them.

    Conclusion: Patients who were AE CB had significantly poorer HRQoL than other clinical phenotypes and recorded the worst score in each of the CAT items and SGRQ-c components. Therefore, AE CB patients may warrant a different treatment approach that focuses on the exacerbation and chronic bronchitis components.

    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Progression; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis*; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/psychology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy
  19. Fulltext Development of live attenuated Enterovirus 71 vaccine strains that confer protection against lethal challenge in mice
    Yee PTI, Tan SH, Ong KC, Tan KO, Wong KT, Hassan SS, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 03 18;9(1):4805.
    PMID: 30886246 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41285-z
    Besides causing mild hand, foot and mouth infections, Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is associated with neurological complications and fatality. With concerns about rising EV-A71 virulence, there is an urgency for more effective vaccines. The live attenuated vaccine (LAV) is a more valuable vaccine as it can elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses. A miRNA-based vaccine strain (pIY) carrying let-7a and miR-124a target genes in the EV-A71 genome which has a partial deletion in the 5'NTR (∆11 bp) and G64R mutation (3Dp°l) was designed. The viral RNA copy number and viral titers of the pIY strain were significantly lower in SHSY-5Y cells that expressed both let-7a and miR-124a. Inhibition of the cognate miRNAs expressed in RD and SHSY-5Y cells demonstrated de-repression of viral mRNA translation. A previously constructed multiply mutated strain, MMS and the pIY vaccine strain were assessed in their ability to protect 4-week old mice from hind limb paralysis. The MMS showed higher amounts of IFN-γ ex vivo than the pIY vaccine strain. There was absence of EV-A71 antigen in the skeletal muscles and spinal cord micrographs of mice vaccinated with the MMS and pIY strains. The MMS and pIY strains are promising LAV candidates developed against severe EV-A71 infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Models, Animal; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/diagnosis; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/immunology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/prevention & control*; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/virology
  20. Epidemiology, treatment, disposition and outcome of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD presenting to emergency departments in Australia and South East Asia: An AANZDEM study
    Kelly AM, Holdgate A, Keijzers G, Klim S, Graham CA, Craig S, et al.
    Respirology, 2018 07;23(7):681-686.
    PMID: 29394524 DOI: 10.1111/resp.13259
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a common presentation to emergency departments (ED) but data regarding its epidemiology and outcomes are scarce. We describe the epidemiology, clinical features, treatment and outcome of patients treated for AECOPD in ED.

    METHODS: This was a planned sub-study of patients with an ED diagnosis of AECOPD identified in the Asia, Australia and New Zealand Dyspnoea in Emergency Departments (AANZDEM) study. The AANZDEM was a prospective, interrupted time series cohort study conducted in 46 ED in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia over three 72-h periods in May, August and October 2014. Primary outcomes were patient epidemiology, clinical features, treatment and outcomes (hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality).

    RESULTS: Forty-six ED participated. There were 415 patients with an ED primary diagnosis of AECOPD (13.6% of the overall cohort; 95% CI: 12.5-14.9%). Median age was 73 years, 60% males and 65% arrived by ambulance. Ninety-one percent had an existing COPD diagnosis. Eighty percent of patients received inhaled bronchodilators, 66% received systemic corticosteroids and 57% of those with pH < 7.30 were treated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Seventy-eight percent of patients were admitted to hospital, 7% to an intensive care unit. In-hospital mortality was 4% and median LOS was 4 days (95% CI: 2-7).

    CONCLUSION: Patients treated in ED for AECOPD commonly arrive by ambulance, have a high admission rate and significant in-hospital mortality. Compliance with evidence-based treatments in ED is suboptimal affording an opportunity to improve care and potentially outcomes.

    Matched MeSH terms: Acute Disease; Disease Progression; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/mortality; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology*; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy*
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links