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  1. Serum IL-6 and IL-1-ra with sequential organ failure assessment scores in septic patients receiving high-volume haemofiltration and continuous venovenous haemofiltration
    Ghani RA, Zainudin S, Ctkong N, Rahman AF, Wafa SR, Mohamad M, et al.
    Nephrology (Carlton), 2006 Oct;11(5):386-93.
    PMID: 17014550
    Sepsis is characterized by an uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators leading to immunoparalysis, cellular and humoral dysfunction, multiorgan dysfunction and death. This study evaluated the efficacy of high-volume haemofiltration (HVHF) compared with continuous venovenous haemofiltration (CVVH) in removing these inflammatory mediators. Clinical responses were assessed with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score.
    Matched MeSH terms: Multiple Organ Failure/blood*; Biomarkers/blood; Interleukin-6/blood*; Sepsis/blood*; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein/blood*
  2. Serum iron status in Orang Asli children living in endemic areas of soil-transmitted helminths
    Aini UN, Al-Mekhlafi MS, Azlin M, Shaik A, Sa'iah A, Fatmah MS, et al.
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2007;16(4):724-30.
    PMID: 18042535
    We conducted a cross sectional study to examine the association of intestinal parasitic infections and protein energy malnutrition (PEM) with iron-status indicators and anaemia among Orang Asli children in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 281 children aged 2 - 15 years were studied. The data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis for blood and faecal samples. All children were infected either by A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura or hookworm and almost 19%, 26% and 3% of the children had severe infection of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection respectively. The prevalence of giardiasis among them was 24.9%. Overall, 41.5% of the children were anaemic (haemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL). Of these 61.0% of the children had iron deficiency and 36.5% had iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), which accounted for 88.0% of anaemia in this population. Severe trichuriasis had the most significant correlation with anaemia and iron deficiency in this population. It contributed to low concentrations of haemoglobin, serum iron and serum ferritin and high total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Significant underweight and stunting were associated with low concentrations of haemoglobin and serum iron while significant wasting was significantly associated with low concentration of serum ferritin. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that severe trichuriasis was a strong predictor of IDA. It also confirmed that children who were significantly underweight and whose mother was working were independent predictors of IDA in this population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Helminthiasis/blood; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/blood*; Iron/blood*; Protein-Energy Malnutrition/blood*; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/blood*
  3. Effects of Strobilanthes crispus tea aqueous extracts on glucose and lipid profile in normal and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats
    Fadzelly AB, Asmah R, Fauziah O
    Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2006 Mar;61(1):7-12.
    PMID: 16688478
    Strobilanthes crispus (Acanthaceae) has been used traditionally as antidiabetic, diuretic, antilytic, and laxative and has been proven scientifically to possess high antioxidant activity, anti-AIDS, and anticancer properties. It is commonly consumed in the form of herbal tea. The ethnopharmacological value of this plant, such as the development of nutraceutical S. crispus herbal tea (fermented and unfermented) and assessment of their antihyperglycemic properties were investigated. The antidiabetic properties of S. crispus fermented and unfermented tea was carried out in normal and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic rats for 21 days. Glucose and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) were determined at day 0 (baseline), day 7, and day 21. The results showed that the hot water extract of both fermented and unfermented S. crispus tea reduced blood glucose in hyperglycaemic rats. S. crispus unfermented tea also reduced glucose level in normal rat. Both fermented and unfermented S. crispus tea also showed to improve lipid profile. Antioxidant and polyphenol content that present in the extracts might contribute to the antihyperglycemic and antilipidemic properties. Further study is needed to be carried out in pre-clinical and clinical environment to prove its efficacy in human.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/drug effects; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood; Lipids/blood
  4. Improvement in C-reactive protein and advanced glycosylation end-products in poorly controlled diabetics is independent of glucose control
    Md Isa SH, Najihah I, Nazaimoon WM, Kamarudin NA, Umar NA, Mat NH, et al.
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2006 Apr;72(1):48-52.
    PMID: 16253380 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2005.09.011
    We studied the efficacy of four different treatment regimens (sulphonylurea and metformin+/-acarbose versus glimepiride and rosiglitazone versus glimepiride and bedtime NPH insulin versus multiple actrapid and NPH insulin injections) in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes subjects on hs-CRP, VCAM-1 and AGE at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Multiple insulin injections rapidly improved HbA(1c) by 0.6+/-0.9% (p<0.005), 1.2+/-1.3% (p<0.0005) and 1.3+/-1.4% (p<0.0005) at week 4, at week 8 and week 12, respectively. Subjects who continued their existing combination treatment of sulphonylurea, metformin+/-acarbose also showed a significant reduction in HbA(1c) (p<0.05). Although effective in reducing glycemic parameters, there was no reduction in CRP levels in either treatment group. The treatment regimen consisting of rosiglitazone and glimepiride significantly lowered hs-CRP by -2.6 (3.9) mg/L (p<0.05) at week 12 in spite of no improvement in blood glucose. AGE improved in all groups irrespective of type of treatment, glycaemic control and CRP levels. Our data indicate rapid glycaemic control alone does not necessarily result in improvement in markers of inflammation in type 2 diabetes patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/metabolism*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood*; Glycosylation End Products, Advanced/blood*; Fructosamine/blood
  5. Fulltext The diagnostic sensitivity of dengue rapid test assays is significantly enhanced by using a combined antigen and antibody testing approach
    Fry SR, Meyer M, Semple MG, Simmons CP, Sekaran SD, Huang JX, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2011 Jun;5(6):e1199.
    PMID: 21713023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001199
    BACKGROUND: Serological tests for IgM and IgG are routinely used in clinical laboratories for the rapid diagnosis of dengue and can differentiate between primary and secondary infections. Dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) has been identified as an early marker for acute dengue, and is typically present between days 1-9 post-onset of illness but following seroconversion it can be difficult to detect in serum.
    AIMS: To evaluate the performance of a newly developed Panbio® Dengue Early Rapid test for NS1 and determine if it can improve diagnostic sensitivity when used in combination with a commercial IgM/IgG rapid test.
    METHODOLOGY: The clinical performance of the Dengue Early Rapid was evaluated in a retrospective study in Vietnam with 198 acute laboratory-confirmed positive and 100 negative samples. The performance of the Dengue Early Rapid in combination with the IgM/IgG Rapid test was also evaluated in Malaysia with 263 laboratory-confirmed positive and 30 negative samples.
    KEY RESULTS: In Vietnam the sensitivity and specificity of the test was 69.2% (95% CI: 62.8% to 75.6%) and 96% (95% CI: 92.2% to 99.8) respectively. In Malaysia the performance was similar with 68.9% sensitivity (95% CI: 61.8% to 76.1%) and 96.7% specificity (95% CI: 82.8% to 99.9%) compared to RT-PCR. Importantly, when the Dengue Early Rapid test was used in combination with the IgM/IgG test the sensitivity increased to 93.0%. When the two tests were compared at each day post-onset of illness there was clear differentiation between the antigen and antibody markers.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that using dengue NS1 antigen detection in combination with anti-glycoprotein E IgM and IgG serology can significantly increase the sensitivity of acute dengue diagnosis and extends the possible window of detection to include very early acute samples and enhances the clinical utility of rapid immunochromatographic testing for dengue.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antibodies, Viral/blood; Antigens, Viral/blood*; Immunoglobulin G/blood; Immunoglobulin M/blood; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/blood
  6. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha P2 promoter variants associate with insulin resistance
    Saif-Ali R, Harun R, Al-Jassabi S, Wan Ngah WZ
    Acta Biochim. Pol., 2011;58(2):179-86.
    PMID: 21633728
    This study aimed to investigate the associations of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) alpha single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotype with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome parameters. Nine SNPs spanning the HNF4 alpha P2 promoter (rs4810424, rs1884613 and rs1884614) and coding region (rs2144908, rs6031551, rs6031552, rs1885088, rs1028583 and rs3818247) were genotyped in 160 subjects without diabetes or metabolic syndrome. The HNF4 alpha P2 promoter SNPs rs4810424, rs1884613 and rs1884614 were associated with insulin resistance (p = 0.017; 0.037; 0.024) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03; 0.035; 0.039). The intron 1D SNP rs2144908 was associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (p = 0.020) and the intron 9 SNP rs3818247 showed association with systolic (p = 0.02) and diastolic (p = 0.034) blood pressure. HNF4 alpha common haplotype CCCGTC associated with higher insulin resistance (p = 0.022), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (p = 0.035) and lower HDLc (p = 0.001). In conclusion, subjects with HNF4 alpha P2 variants and haplotypes have been shown to have a higher insulin resistance and are therefore at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; C-Peptide/blood; Lipids/blood; Metabolic Syndrome X/blood
  7. Chelation therapy with desferrioxamine does not normalize ferritin level but attenuates oxidative damage and improves total antioxidant level in Malaysian Chinese beta-thalassaemia major patients
    Kuppusamy UR, Tan JA
    West Indian Med J, 2011 Jan;60(1):3-8.
    PMID: 21809703
    Beta-thalassaemia major causes severe anaemia and patients with it may be transfusion-dependent for life. Regular blood transfusions cause iron-overload that leads to oxidative damage which can hasten mortality. The objective of this research was to study the oxidant-antioxidant indices in beta-thalassaemia major patients at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) who were on desferrioxamine-chelation or without chelation therapy. Blood was collected from 39 Chinese patients and 20 controls. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates (PBMC) were extracted and biochemical tests to evaluate oxidative stress were performed. Oxidative stress was evident in these patients as advanced oxidized protein products (AOPP) and lipid hydroperoxides were elevated, whereas glutathione peroxidase activity and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were reduced. The catalase activity in the patients' PBMC was elevated, possibly as a compensatory mechanism for the reduced glutathione peroxidase activity in both red blood cells and PBMC. The lower FRAP and higher AOPP levels in the non-chelated patients compared with the chelated patients were indicative of a lower oxidative stress level in the chelated patients. The ferritin levels in the chelated and non-chelated patients were high and the mean levels of liver enzyme activities in the majority of patients were elevated regardless of chelation therapy. In conclusion, this study indicates that desferrioxamine chelation therapy does not normalize ferritin level but attenuates oxidative damage and improves total antioxidant level in Malaysian Chinese beta-thalassaemia major patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ferritins/blood*; Glutathione Peroxidase/blood; Lipid Peroxides/blood; Xanthine Oxidase/blood; beta-Thalassemia/blood*
  8. Glycaemic control in relation to xanthine oxidase and antioxidant indices in Malaysian Type 2 diabetes patients
    Kuppusamy UR, Indran M, Rokiah P
    Diabet Med, 2005 Oct;22(10):1343-6.
    PMID: 16176194 DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01630.x
    Aims: Increased oxidative stress and oxidative damage are present in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to assess the oxidative stress levels in the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia and to study the association between glycaemic control and oxidant-antioxidant levels in these patients.

    Methods: Oxidative indices and glycaemic control were assessed in 650 Type 2 DM patients and 280 healthy age-matched controls by known established methods.

    Results: Type 2 DM patients had significantly lower levels of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidant (FRAP) and increased levels of HbA(1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) when compared with control subjects. Markers of oxidative stress were more apparent in Indian patients compared with Malay and Chinese patients. Correlation analysis of oxidant-antioxidant parameters as a function of HbA(1c) in each ethnic group revealed a strong association of HbA(1c) with oxidative indices.

    Conclusions: The present study provides evidence for the possible contribution of XO to oxidative stress and the pathophysiology of diabetes. HbA(1c) remains an important marker of glycaemic control for the management of Type 2 DM, but other confounding factors that predispose or lead to oxidative stress should also be taken into consideration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/analysis*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood; Xanthine Oxidase/blood*; Biomarkers/blood
  9. Effect of des-aspartate-angiotensin I on the actions of angiotensin II in the isolated renal and mesenteric vasculature of hypertensive and STZ-induced diabetic rats
    Dharmani M, Mustafa MR, Achike FI, Sim MK
    Regul. Pept., 2005 Jul 15;129(1-3):213-9.
    PMID: 15927718
    The present study investigated the action of des-aspartate-angiotensin I (DAA-I) on the pressor action of angiotensin II in the renal and mesenteric vasculature of WKY, SHR and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Angiotensin II-induced a dose-dependent pressor response in the renal vasculature. Compared to the WKY, the pressor response was enhanced in the SHR and reduced in the STZ-induced diabetic rat. DAA-I attenuated the angiotensin II pressor action in renal vasculature of WKY and SHR. The attenuation was observed for DAA-I concentration as low as 10(-18) M and was more prominent in SHR. However, the ability of DAA-I to reduce angiotensin II response was lost in the STZ-induced diabetic kidney. Instead, enhancement of angiotensin II pressor response was seen at the lower doses of the octapeptide. The effect of DAA-I was not inhibited by PD123319, an AT2 receptor antagonist, and indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor in both WKY and SHR, indicating that its action was not mediated by angiotensin AT2 receptor and prostaglandins. The pressor responses to angiotensin II in mesenteric vascular bed were also dose-dependent but smaller in magnitude compared to the renal vasculature. The responses were significantly smaller in SHR but no significant difference was observed between STZ-induced diabetic and WKY rat. Similarly, PD123319 and indomethacin had no effect on the action of DAA-I. The findings reiterate a regulatory role for DAA-I in vascular bed of the kidney and mesentery. By being active at circulating level, DAA-I subserves a physiological role. This function appears to be present in animals with diseased state of hypertension and diabetes. It is likely that DAA-I functions are modified to accommodate the ongoing vascular remodeling.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Pressure/drug effects; Blood Vessels/metabolism; Kidney/blood supply
  10. Fulltext Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA by PCR following microwave treatment of serum and whole blood
    Meganathan P, Singh S, Ling LY, Singh J, Subrayan V, Nissapatorn V
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2010 Mar;41(2):265-73.
    PMID: 20578507
    Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in blood by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may facilitate early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in different groups of patients. We evaluated this approach in 42 patients presenting with ocular or psychotic diseases by comparing the sensitivity and specificity of PCR after heat treatment using a microwave oven with a standard genomic DNA extraction method for paired serum and whole blood samples. The presence of serum IgM and IgG antibodies against T. gondii was detected using a standard commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and enzyme immunoassay for IgG avidity test. Of 42 whole blood samples, PCR after microwave treatment was positive in 8 samples with a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 100% compared to 11 samples positive by the extraction method. Although none of 42 sera samples was PCR positive by the extraction method, 7 specimens were positive after microwave treatment. This is the first study to use a microwave heat treatment, which is simple, rapid and a promising alternative method, in detecting small amounts of T. gondii DNA in human blood. Furthermore, irradiation of blood samples with microwaves allows incorporation of PCR into a practical tool for routine clinical assessment of patients with Toxoplasma infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Immunoglobulin G/blood; Immunoglobulin M/blood; Toxoplasmosis/blood*; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular/blood; DNA, Protozoan/blood*
  11. CYP3A4 genetic polymorphism influences repaglinide's pharmacokinetics
    Ruzilawati AB, Gan SH
    Pharmacology, 2010;85(6):357-64.
    PMID: 20523106 DOI: 10.1159/000302731
    AIM: To investigate the effects of CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 enzymes on repaglinide's pharmacokinetics in healthy Malaysian subjects.

    METHODS: Subjects (n = 121) received oral repaglinide (4 mg). Blood samples were taken at 0, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min and serum concentrations of repaglinide were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Subjects were also genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for CYP3A4*4, *5 and*18 and by an allele-specific multiplex PCR for CYP2C8*2, *3, *4 and *5 alleles.

    RESULTS: The allele frequencies of CYP2C8*1, *2, *3, *4 and *5 were 95.04, 0.40, 0.40, 0 and 4.13%, respectively. The frequencies of the CYP3A4*1, *4, *5 and *18 alleles were 97.93, 0, 0 and 2.07%, respectively. CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 genotypes were not significantly associated with repaglinide's blood glucose-lowering effect. However, the CYP3A4 genotype significantly influenced some of repaglinide's pharmacokinetics, where the mean elimination rate constant was 44.0% lower (p = 0.04) and the mean half-life was 33.8% higher (p = 0.04) in subjects with the CYP3A4*1/*18 genotype as compared to those with the normal CYP3A4*1/*1 genotype. This result confirms that CYP3A4 plays a large role in metabolizing repaglinide.

    CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A4, specifically CYP3A4*18, play a major role in contributing to the interindividual variability in repaglinide's pharmacokinetics.

    Matched MeSH terms: Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases/blood; Carbamates/blood; Hypoglycemic Agents/blood; Piperidines/blood; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A/blood
  12. Fulltext Evaluation of a commercial SD dengue virus NS1 antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection
    Wang SM, Sekaran SD
    J Clin Microbiol, 2010 Aug;48(8):2793-7.
    PMID: 20573879 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02142-09
    Early definitive diagnosis of dengue virus infection may help in the timely management of dengue virus infection. We evaluated the Standard Diagnostics (SD, South Korea) dengue virus nonstructural protein NS1 antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SD dengue NS1 Ag ELISA) for the detection of dengue virus NS1 antigen in patients' sera, using a total of 399 serum samples in a comparison with real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, an in-house IgM capture (MAC)-ELISA, and a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Of the 320 dengue sera, 205 (64%) tested positive for NS1 antigen compared to 300 (93.75%) by either MAC-ELISA or RT-PCR, 161 (50.31%) by RT-PCR, and 226 (70.36%) by MAC-ELISA only. The assay was able to detect NS1 antigen in convalescent-phase sera until day 14 of infection. The NS1 detection rate is inversely proportional while the IgM detection rate is directly proportional to the presence of IgG antibodies. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the SD dengue NS1 Ag ELISA in the detection of "confirmed dengue virus" sera are 76.76% and 98.31%, respectively. This suggests that the SD kit is highly specific and sensitive for the detection of NS1 antigen. However, caution is needed when the kit is used as a single assay, as detection in samples that contained the virus was only about 81.97%. Combining this assay with an IgM and/or IgG assay will increase the sensitivity of detection, especially in areas with a higher prevalence of secondary dengue virus infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antibodies, Viral/blood; Antigens, Viral/blood*; Immunoglobulin M/blood; RNA, Viral/blood; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/blood*
  13. Quality of diabetes care in low- and middle-income Asian and Middle Eastern countries (1993-2012): 20-year systematic review
    Shivashankar R, Kirk K, Kim WC, Rouse C, Tandon N, Narayan KM, et al.
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2015 Feb;107(2):203-23.
    PMID: 25529849 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2014.11.004
    To assess the extent to which people with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) of Asia and the Middle East met evidence-based care recommendations through a systematic review of published literature.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus/blood; Cholesterol, LDL/blood; Biomarkers/blood
  14. A study exploring the association of attitude and treatment satisfaction with glycaemic level among gestational diabetes mellitus patients
    Hussain Z, Yusoff ZM, Sulaiman SA
    Prim Care Diabetes, 2015 Aug;9(4):275-82.
    PMID: 25457621 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2014.10.002
    AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate attitude and treatment satisfaction of women suffering from GDM and their association with glycaemic level.
    METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in antenatal clinic of Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia from June to December 2013 on the sample of 175 patients. Data was collected through modified version of Diabetes Integration Scale (ATT-19) and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires (DSTQs). Glycaemic level was evaluated in terms of Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG). Three most recent values of FPG (mmol/l) were taken from patients medical profiles and their mean was calculated. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.
    RESULTS: A total of 166 patients were included in final analysis. Only 35 (21.1%) patients had positive attitude and 122 (73.5%) of patients had adequate treatment satisfaction. There was no significant association of total mean ATT-19 score with age, ethnicity, educational level, occupational status, family history and type of therapy. For treatment satisfaction statistically significant association was present only between total mean treatment satisfaction score and educational level. Patients with negative attitude and inadequate treatment satisfaction had higher mean glycaemic level.
    CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that more than two folds of patients were satisfied with their ongoing treatment but majority of the patients were feeling difficulty in active coping measures for the management of GDM.
    KEYWORDS: Attitude; GDM; Glycaemic level; Treatment satisfaction

    Study site: antenatal clinic of Hospital Pulau Pinang
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/drug effects*; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Biomarkers/blood; Diabetes, Gestational/blood
  15. Fulltext High seroprevalence of echinococossis, schistosomiasis and toxoplasmosis among the populations in Babati and Monduli districts, Tanzania
    Khan MB, Sonaimuthu P, Lau YL, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Mahmud R, Kavana N, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:505.
    PMID: 25388913 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0505-7
    The neglected tropical diseases, echinococcosis, schistosomiasis and toxoplasmosis are all globally widespread zoonotic diseases with potentially harmful consequences. There is very limited data available on the prevalence of these infections, except for schistosmiasis, in underdeveloped countries. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis, Schistosoma mansoni, and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in populations from the Monduli and Babati districts in Tanzania.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antibodies, Helminth/blood*; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood*; Echinococcosis/blood*; Schistosomiasis/blood*; Toxoplasmosis/blood*
  16. Are ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) proteins targets for autoantibodies in demyelinating neuropathies?
    Miyaji K, Shahrizaila N, Umapathi T, Chan YC, Hirata K, Yuki N
    Hum Immunol, 2014 Nov;75(11):1089-91.
    PMID: 25286001 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.09.010
    Ezrin, radixin and moesin, which are strongly expressed in the Schwann cell microvilli, are putative targets for autoantibodies in acute or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP or CIDP). An association between anti-moesin IgG antibodies and cytomegalovirus-related AIDP has been postulated. None of 41 AIDP patients, including 8 cytomegalovirus-related AIDP patients, and 23 CIDP had IgG or IgM antibodies to ezrin, radixin and moesin; whereas, one patient with cytomegalovirus-related AIDP had anti-ezrin IgM antibodies. Ezrin, radixin and moesin are unlikely targets for autoantibodies in AIDP and CIDP, and the association of anti-moesin antibodies with cytomegalovirus-related AIDP was not confirmed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Autoantibodies/blood; Immunoglobulin G/blood; Immunoglobulin M/blood; Guillain-Barre Syndrome/blood; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating/blood
  17. The combined effect of hypoxia and nutritional status on metabolic and ionoregulatory responses of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
    Moyson S, Liew HJ, Diricx M, Sinha AK, Blust R, De Boeck G
    Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol, 2015 Jan;179:133-43.
    PMID: 25263807 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.09.017
    In the present study, the combined effects of hypoxia and nutritional status were examined in common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a relatively hypoxia tolerant cyprinid. Fish were either fed or fasted and were exposed to hypoxia (1.5-1.8mg O2L(-1)) at or slightly above their critical oxygen concentration during 1, 3 or 7days followed by a 7day recovery period. Ventilation initially increased during hypoxia, but fasted fish had lower ventilation frequencies than fed fish. In fed fish, ventilation returned to control levels during hypoxia, while in fasted fish recovery only occurred after reoxygenation. Due to this, C. carpio managed, at least in part, to maintain aerobic metabolism during hypoxia: muscle and plasma lactate levels remained relatively stable although they tended to be higher in fed fish (despite higher ventilation rates). However, during recovery, compensatory responses differed greatly between both feeding regimes: plasma lactate in fed fish increased with a simultaneous breakdown of liver glycogen indicating increased energy use, while fasted fish seemed to economize energy and recycle decreasing plasma lactate levels into increasing liver glycogen levels. Protein was used under both feeding regimes during hypoxia and subsequent recovery: protein levels reduced mainly in liver for fed fish and in muscle for fasted fish. Overall, nutritional status had a greater impact on energy reserves than the lack of oxygen with a lower hepatosomatic index and lower glycogen stores in fasted fish. Fasted fish transiently increased Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity under hypoxia, but in general ionoregulatory balance proved to be only slightly disturbed, showing that sufficient energy was left for ion regulation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/blood; Carps/blood; Fasting/blood; Ions/blood; Lactic Acid/blood
  18. Fulltext Chlorophytum borivilianum root extract maintains near normal blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile levels and prevents oxidative stress in the pancreas of streptozotocin-induced adult male diabetic rats
    Giribabu N, Kumar KE, Rekha SS, Muniandy S, Salleh N
    Int J Med Sci, 2014;11(11):1172-84.
    PMID: 25249786 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.9056
    The effect of C. borivilianum root on blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbAIc), insulin and lipid profile levels in diabetes mellitus are not fully understood. This study therefore investigated the effect of C. borivilianum root on the above parameters and oxidative stress of the pancreas in diabetes.
    METHODS: C. borivilianum root aqueous extract (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) was administered to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced male diabetic rats for 28 days. Body weight, blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, lipid profile levels and glucose homeostasis indices were determined. Histopathological changes and oxidative stress parameters i.e. lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzymes activity levels of the pancreas were investigated.
    RESULTS: C. borivilianum root extract treatment to diabetic rats maintained near normal body weight, blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile and insulin levels with higher HOMA-β cell functioning index, number of Islets/pancreas, number of β-cells/Islets however with lower HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) index as compared to non-treated diabetic rats. Negative correlations between serum insulin and blood glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels were observed. C. borivilianum root extract administration prevented the increase in lipid peroxidation and the decrease in activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) with mild histopathological changes in the pancreas of diabetic rats.
    CONCLUSIONS: C. borivilianum root maintains near normal levels of these metabolites and prevented oxidative stress-induced damage to the pancreas in diabetes.
    KEYWORDS: Chlorophytum borivilianum; diabetes; glucose; lipid profile; oxidative stress.; pancreas
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Glucose/drug effects*; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood*; Insulin/blood*; Lipids/blood*
  19. ACE2 activation by xanthenone prevents leptin-induced increases in blood pressure and proteinuria during pregnancy in Sprague-Dawley rats
    Ibrahim HS, Froemming GR, Omar E, Singh HJ
    Reprod Toxicol, 2014 Nov;49:155-61.
    PMID: 25205467 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.08.006
    This study investigates the effect of ACE2 activation on leptin-induced changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), proteinuria, endothelial activation and ACE2 expression during pregnancy in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pregnant rats were given subcutaneous injection of either saline, or leptin, or leptin plus xanthenone (ACE2 activator), or xanthenone (XTN) alone. SBP, serum ACE, ACE2, endothelin-1, E-selectin and ICAM-1 levels were estimated; also their gene expressions were determined in the kidney and aorta respectively. Compared to control, SBP was higher in the leptin-only treated group (P<0.001) and lower in rats treated with xanthenone alone (P<0.01). Proteinuria, markers of endothelial activation were significantly higher than controls in leptin-only treated rats (P<0.05). ACE2 activity and expression were lower in leptin-only treated rats when compared to controls (P<0.05). It seems, leptin administration during pregnancy significantly increases SBP, proteinuria, endothelial activation, but decreases ACE2 level and expression. These effects are prevented by concurrent administration of xanthenone.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Pressure/drug effects*; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/blood; E-Selectin/blood; Endothelin-1/blood
  20. Fulltext Vitamin D status in Malaysian men and its associated factors
    Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S, Ibrahim S, Mohamed IN, Wan Ngah WZ
    Nutrients, 2014 Nov 26;6(12):5419-33.
    PMID: 25431881 DOI: 10.3390/nu6125419
    Vitamin D insufficiency is a global health problem. The data on vitamin D status in Malaysian men is insufficient. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D status among Chinese and Malay men in Malaysia and its associating factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 383 men aged 20 years and above, residing in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Their age, ethnicity, body anthropometry and calcaneal speed of sound (SOS) were recorded. Their fasting blood was collected for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), intact parathyroid (PTH), total calcium and inorganic phosphate assays. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D level <30 nmol/L and insufficiency as a serum 25(OH)D level between 30 and 50 nmol/L. The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 0.5%, and insufficiency was 22.7%. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were more prevalent in the Malays compared to the Chinese. Being Chinese, older in age, having lower body mass index (BMI) and a high physical activity status were associated significantly with a higher serum 25(OH)D level (p < 0.05). The serum PTH level was inversely associated with the serum 25(OH)D level (p < 0.05). As a conclusion, a significant proportion of Malaysian men have vitamin D insufficiency, although deficiency is uncommon. Steps should be taken to correct the vitamin D status of these men.
    Matched MeSH terms: Parathyroid Hormone/blood; Phosphates/blood; Vitamin D/blood; Vitamin D Deficiency/blood*; Biomarkers/blood
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