Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 165 in total

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  1. Fulltext Antioxidant activity of hispidin oligomers from medicinal fungi: a DFT study
    El Hassane A, Shah SA, Hassan NB, El Moussaoui N, Ahmad R, Zulkefeli M, et al.
    Molecules, 2014;19(3):3489-507.
    PMID: 24662069 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19033489
    Hispidin oligomers are styrylpyrone pigments isolated from the medicinal fungi Inonotus xeranticus and Phellinus linteus. They exhibit diverse biological activities and strong free radical scavenging activity. To rationalize the antioxidant activity of a series of four hispidin oligomers and determine the favored mechanism involved in free radical scavenging, DFT calculations were carried out at the B3P86/6-31+G (d, p) level of theory in gas and solvent. The results showed that bond dissociation enthalpies of OH groups of hispidin oligomers (ArOH) and spin density delocalization of related radicals (ArO•) are the appropriate parameters to clarify the differences between the observed antioxidant activities for the four oligomers. The effect of the number of hydroxyl groups and presence of a catechol moiety conjugated to a double bond on the antioxidant activity were determined. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies showed that the PC-ET mechanism is the main mechanism involved in free radical scavenging. The spin density distribution over phenoxyl radicals allows a better understanding of the hispidin oligomers formation.
  2. Fulltext Restless legs syndrome and its associated risk factors in Parkinson's disease
    Azmin S, Khairul Anuar AM, Nafisah WY, Tan HJ, Raymond AA, Hanita O, et al.
    Parkinsons Dis, 2013;2013:535613.
    PMID: 24455416 DOI: 10.1155/2013/535613
    Introduction. Restless legs syndrome has been shown to negatively impact the quality of life of patients. Studies have shown an association between restless legs syndrome and Parkinson's disease. We attempted to investigate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome in Parkinson's disease patients and to identify associated risk factors. Method. This was a cross-sectional study among patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Exclusion criterion was a Mini Mental State Examination score of less than 21/30. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criterion was used to identify patients with restless legs syndrome. Results. A total of 113 patients were recruited. The prevalence rate of restless legs syndrome in our cohort was 9.7% and was significantly associated with a younger onset of Parkinson's disease (P = 0.023), male gender (P = 0.045), higher Mini Mental State Examination score (P = 0.004), and less advanced Hoehn & Yahr stage (P = 0.014). Conclusion. The prevalence rate of restless legs syndrome in our Parkinson's disease population is in keeping with other studies published worldwide. The significance of the association between a younger onset of Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome needs to be further investigated.
  3. Fulltext The effects of calcitriol with calcium carbonate supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in chronic kidney disease patients' with low vitamin D
    Mustafar RB, Mohd R, Miswan NA, Bain A, Cader R, Gafor AH, et al.
    Cent Eur J Immunol, 2014;39(2):236-42.
    PMID: 26155130 DOI: 10.5114/ceji.2014.43729
    Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients' are at risk of low vitamin D and chronic inflammation. We studied the effect of 12 weeks calcitriol and calcium carbonate supplementation on inflammatory mediators serum; interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
  4. Waist circumference and not body mass index as the outcome of a group weight intervention for patients with severe mental illness
    Nik Jaafar NR, Midin M, Mahadevan R, Sinniah A, Rahman AH, Ming W, et al.
    Compr Psychiatry, 2014 Jan;55 Suppl 1:S60-4.
    PMID: 24139853 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.09.002
    OBJECTIVE: Most weight interventions among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) used body mass index (BMI) as outcome measure but excluded waist circumference (WC) although the latter is a stronger predictor of obesity complications. This study aimed to assess a weight-management program consisting of education, exercise and behavioural techniques for patients with SMI using weight parameters including WC as the outcome measures.
    METHODS: A group intervention was carried out as part of psychiatric outpatient community service. It used structured modules on diet, exercise and related topics comprising of education and exercises sessions with a total of 12-week duration. The participants were outpatients with SMI recruited through referrals to the program by the treating doctor. The participants' body weight, BMI and WC were measured at the baseline, fortnightly and at the end of the program.
    RESULTS: A total of 27 patients participated in the program which was carried out in 6 cycles. The pre- and post-intervention comparisons analysis of the weight parameters found a significant reduction in the WC (mean=3.878 cm+5.165, p=0.001) while no significant changes were recorded in body weight and BMI.
    CONCLUSION: Small but significant loss in WC and possibly weight maintenance were achieved using this non-pharmacological intervention. Modest loss in WC may have an impact on reducing the risk of obesity-related health risks.
    Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  5. Biotransformation of 17α-ethynyl substituted steroidal drugs with microbial and plant cell cultures: a review
    Shah SA, Sultan S, Hassan NB, Muhammad FK, Faridz MA, Hussain FB, et al.
    Steroids, 2013 Dec 20;78(14):1312-24.
    PMID: 24135562 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2013.10.001
    Structural modification of steroids through whole-cell biocatalysis is an invaluable procedure for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key intermediates. Modifications could be carried out with regio- and stereospecificity at positions hardly available for chemical agents. Much attention has been focused recently on the biotransformation of 17α-ethynyl substituted steroidal drugs using fungi, bacteria and plant cell cultures in order to obtained novel biologically active compounds with diverse structure features. Present article includes studies on biotransformation on 17α-ethynyl substituted steroidal drugs using microorganisms and plant cell cultures. Various experimental and structural elucidation methods used in biotransformational processes are also highlighted.
  6. Physician, heal thyself: the paradox of anxiety amongst house officers and work in a teaching hospital
    Tan SM, Jong SC, Chan LF, Jamaludin NA, Phang CK, Jamaluddin NS, et al.
    Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;5 Suppl 1:74-81.
    PMID: 23857841 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12048
    Anxiety among house officers may impair functioning and health care delivery. This study aimed to determine the association between anxiety among house officers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, sociodemographic and work-related factors.
  7. Correlates of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian university students
    Shamsuddin K, Fadzil F, Ismail WS, Shah SA, Omar K, Muhammad NA, et al.
    Asian J Psychiatr, 2013 Aug;6(4):318-23.
    PMID: 23810140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2013.01.014
    University students face not only challenges related with independent living, but also academic challenges. This predisposes them to depression, anxiety and stress, which are fairly common.
  8. Externalizing and internalizing syndromes in relation to school truancy among adolescents in high-risk urban schools
    Nik Jaafar NR, Tuti Iryani MD, Wan Salwina WI, Fairuz Nazri AR, Kamal NA, Prakash RJ, et al.
    Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;5 Suppl 1:27-34.
    PMID: 23857834 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12072
    To examine the relationship between externalizing/internalizing syndromes and school truancy among Form Four (10th grade) students attending "high-risk" schools in Kuala Lumpur.
  9. Functional remission and employment among patients with schizophrenia in Malaysia
    Dahlan R, Midin M, Shah SA, Nik Jaafar NR, Abdul Rahman FN, Baharudin A, et al.
    Compr Psychiatry, 2014 Jan;55 Suppl 1:S46-51.
    PMID: 23679983 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.03.007
    The study aimed to determine the rates of functional remission and employment as well as the factors associated with functional remission among patients with Schizophrenia, receiving community psychiatric service in an urban setting in Malaysia.
  10. Behavioral and emotional problems in a Kuala Lumpur children's home
    Abd Rahman FN, Mohd Daud TI, Nik Jaafar NR, Shah SA, Tan SM, Wan Ismail WS
    Pediatr Int, 2013 Aug;55(4):422-7.
    PMID: 23617604 DOI: 10.1111/ped.12115
    There is a dearth of studies on behavioral and emotional problems in residential care children in Malaysia. This study describes the behavioral and emotional problems in a sample of children in a government residential care home and compares them with their classmates living with their birth parents.
  11. The use of warning lights and siren by the ambulance crew in the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
    Ismail AK, Mohd Salleh NI, Hamdan NA, Mohd Jawi MI, Abdul Razak SN, Md Jamal S, et al.
    Eur J Emerg Med, 2012 Dec;19(6):408-9.
    PMID: 22343753 DOI: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e328351e62e
  12. Assessment of body fluid status in hemodialysis patients using the body composition monitor measurement technique
    Mamat R, Kong NC, Ba'in A, Shah SA, Cader R, Wong V, et al.
    J Clin Nurs, 2012 Oct;21(19-20):2879-85.
    PMID: 22646855 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04091.x
    The main objective of the study was to correlate the target dry weight in haemodialysis (HD) patients as assessed clinically by nephrologists to those measured by the Body Composition Monitor (BCM - Fresenius) machine. The second objective was to compare pre and postdialysis changes of extracellular fluid and clinical parameters.
  13. Fulltext Phytochemical and cytotoxic investigations of Curcuma mangga rhizomes
    Malek SN, Lee GS, Hong SL, Yaacob H, Wahab NA, Faizal Weber JF, et al.
    Molecules, 2011 May 31;16(6):4539-48.
    PMID: 21629182 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16064539
    Investigations on the cytotoxic effects of the crude methanol and fractionated extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate) C. mangga against six human cancer cell lines, namely the hormone-dependent breast cell line (MCF-7), nasopharyngeal epidermoid cell line (KB), lung cell line (A549), cervical cell line (Ca Ski), colon cell lines (HCT 116 and HT-29), and one non-cancer human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) were conducted using an in-vitro neutral red cytotoxicity assay. The crude methanol and fractionated extracts (hexane and ethyl acetate) displayed good cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, KB, A549, Ca Ski and HT-29 cell lines, but exerted no damage on the MRC-5 line. Chemical investigation from the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions resulted in the isolation of seven pure compounds, namely (E)-labda-8(17),12-dien-15,16-dial (1), (E)-15,16-bisnor-labda-8(17),11-dien-13-on (2), zerumin A (3), β-sitosterol, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bis-demethoxycurcumin. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited high cytotoxic effects against all six selected cancer cell lines, while compounds 2 showed no anti-proliferative activity on the tested cell lines. Compound 1 also demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against the normal cell line MRC-5. This paper reports for the first time the cytotoxic activities of C. mangga extracts on KB, A549, Ca Ski, HT-29 and MRC-5, and the occurrence of compound 2 and 3 in C. mangga.
  14. Eight year survival among breast cancer Malaysian women from University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
    Al-Naggar RA, Isa ZM, Shah SA, Nor MI, Chen R, Ismail F, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2009;10(6):1075-8.
    PMID: 20192587
    Survival after diagnosis of cancer is one of the major outcome measurements and a key criterion for assessing quality of cancer control related to both the preventive and the therapeutic level. The purpose of this study was to determine the 8-year survival time in Malaysia based on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. A retrospective study of 472 Malaysian women with breast cancer from the Medical Record Department at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) was therefore performed with survival analysis carried out using the Kaplan-Meier with log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox-regression for multivariate analysis. Women who had cancer or family history of cancer had a longer 8-year survival time (p = 0.008) compared with others who did not have such a history. Tamoxifen use, positive oestrogen receptor status, and race were prognostic indicators for 8-year survival time (p = 0.036, p = 0.018, p = 0.053, respectively) in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that being Malays and having no family history of cancer were independent prognostic factors for shorter survival time (p = 0.008, p = 0.012, respectively). In conclusion, being Chinese and having a family history of cancer are predictors of longer survival among the Malaysian breast cancer women.
  15. Serum Vitamin D levels in patients with chronic kidney disease
    Rozita M, Noorul Afidza M, Ruslinda M, Cader R, Halim AG, Kong CT, et al.
    EXCLI J, 2013;12:511-20.
    PMID: 26933400
    Hypovitaminosis D is reported to be associated with several medical complications. Recent studies have reported a high worldwide prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the general population (up to 80 %). This is even higher in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increases with advancing stages of CKD.
  16. Poor Knowledge and Practice Towards Breast Cancer among Women in Baghdad City, Iraq
    Hasan TN, Shah SA, Hassan MR, Safian N, Azhar ZI, Syed Abdul Rahim SS, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(15):6669-72.
    PMID: 26434892
    BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among females worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice about breast cancer and its related factors among women in Baghdad city, Iraq.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 508 women aged 18 to 55 years from four non-governmental organizations (NGO) in Baghdad city, Iraq. A self-administered questionnaire on breast cancer knowledge and practice was distributed to participants during weekly activity of the NGO.

    RESULTS: A total of 61.2% of the respondents had poor knowledge, only 30.3% performed breast self-examination (BSE) and 41.8% said that they did not know the technique to perform BSE. Associations between knowledge and marital status and age were significant. For practice, working status, education, age and family income were significant. After controlling for cofounders, the most important contributing factors for poor knowledge among respondents were marital status and not performing BSE, with adjusted odds ratio of 1.6 and 1.8 respectively.

    CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer knowledge and practice of BSE are poor among women in Baghdad city, Iraq. More promotion regarding breast cancer signs and symptoms and also how to perform BSE should be conducted using media such as television and internet as these constituted the main sources of information for most women in our study.

  17. Vaccine hesitancy towards childhood immunisation amongst urban pregnant mothers in Malaysia
    Kalok A, Loh SYE, Chew KT, Abdul Aziz NH, Shah SA, Ahmad S, et al.
    Vaccine, 2020 02 24;38(9):2183-2189.
    PMID: 32001070 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.01.043
    BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex behaviour which involves various degrees of indecision about specific vaccines or vaccination uptake. Access to antenatal care had been associated with positive vaccine behavior.

    OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy towards childhood immunisation amongst urban pregnant mothers and the associated socio-demographic factors.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1081 women who received antenatal care at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Vaccine hesitancy was assessed using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) Survey in both English and validated Malay versions. The sociodemographic data of the mothers and their partners, source of vaccine information and reasons for hesitancy were analysed.

    RESULTS: Eighty-six (8.0%) pregnant mothers were vaccine hesitant. Ethnicity, religion, number of children, educational level and employment status were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. Multivariable analysis showed that a low level of education was the most significant risk factor (p 

  18. Chitosan based thermosensitive injectable hydrogels for controlled delivery of loxoprofen: development, characterization and in-vivo evaluation
    Ahmad U, Sohail M, Ahmad M, Minhas MU, Khan S, Hussain Z, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2019 May 15;129:233-245.
    PMID: 30738157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.02.031
    Oral drug delivery is natural, most acceptable and desirable route for nearly all drugs, but many drugs like NSAIDs when delivered by this route cause gastrointestinal irritation, gastric bleeding, ulcers, and many undesirable effects which limits their usage by oral delivery. Moreover, it is almost impossible to control the release of a drug in a targeted location in body. We developed thermo-responsive chitosan-co-poly(N-isopropyl-acrylamide) injectable hydrogel as an alternative for the gastro-protective and controlled delivery of loxoprofen sodium as a model drug. A free radical polymerization technique was used to synthesize thermo-responsive hydrogel by cross-linking chitosan HCl with NIPAAM using glutaraldehyde as cross-linker. Confirmation of crosslinked hydrogel structure was done by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The thermal stability of hydrogel was confirmed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to evaluate the structural morphology of cross-linked hydrogel. To evaluate the rheological behavior of hydrogel with increasing temperature, rheological study was performed. Swelling and in vitro drug release studies were carried out under various temperature and pH conditions. The swelling study revealed that maximum swelling was observed at low pH (pH 1.2) and low temperature (25 °C) compared to the high range of pH and temperature and it resulted in quick release of the drug. The high range of pH (7.4) and temperature (37 °C) however caused controlled release of the drug. The in vivo evaluation of the developed hydrogel in rabbits demonstrated the controlled release behavior of fabricated system.
  19. Synthesis of novel derivatives of oxindole, their urease inhibition and molecular docking studies
    Taha M, Ismail NH, Khan A, Shah SA, Anwar A, Halim SA, et al.
    Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2015 Aug 15;25(16):3285-9.
    PMID: 26077497 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.05.069
    We synthesized a series of novel 5-24 derivatives of oxindole. The synthesis started from 5-chlorooxindole, which was condensed with methyl 4-carboxybezoate and result in the formation of benzolyester derivatives of oxindole which was then treated with hydrazine hydrate. The oxindole benzoylhydrazide was treated with aryl acetophenones and aldehydes to get target compounds 5-24. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for urease inhibition; the compound 5 (IC50 = 13.00 ± 0.35 μM) and 11 (IC50 = 19.20 ± 0.50 μM) showed potent activity as compared to the standard drug thiourea (IC50 = 21.00 ± 0.01 μM). Other compounds showed moderate to weak activity. All synthetic compounds were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques including (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, IR and EI MS. The molecular interactions of the active compounds within the binding site of urease enzyme were studied through molecular docking simulations.
  20. New class of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from the stem bark of Knema laurina and their structural insights
    Akhtar MN, Lam KW, Abas F, Maulidiani, Ahmad S, Shah SA, et al.
    Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2011 Jul 1;21(13):4097-103.
    PMID: 21641207 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.04.065
    Bioassay-guided extraction of the stem bark of Knema laurina showed the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of DCM and hexane fractions. Further repeated column chromatography of hexane and DCM fractions resulted in the isolation and purification of five alkenyl phenol and salicylic acid derivatives. New compounds, (+)-2-hydroxy-6-(10'-hydroxypentadec-8'(E)-enyl)benzoic acid (1) and 3-pentadec-10'(Z)-enylphenol (2), along with known 3-heptadec-10'(Z)-enylphenol (3), 2-hydroxy-6-(pentadec-10'(Z)-enyl)benzoic acid (4), and 2-hydroxy-6-(10'(Z)-heptadecenyl)benzoic acid (5) were isolated from the stem bark of this plant. Compounds (1-5) were tested for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by the 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and chemical derivatizations. Compound 5 showed strong acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity with IC(50) of 0.573 ± 0.0260 μM. Docking studies of compound 5 indicated that the phenolic compound with an elongated side chain could possibly penetrate deep into the active site of the enzyme and arrange itself through π-π interaction, H-bonding, and hydrophobic contacts with some critical residues along the complex geometry of the active gorge.
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