Tocochromanols (tocopherols and tocotrienols) unitedly known as vitamin E, are the necessary antioxidant components of both human and animal diets. There is a considerable interest in plants with increased or customized vitamin E content, due to their potential health benefits. To quantify the tocochromanol content and determine the expression of a key tocotrienol biosynthesis gene among a set of contrasting red pericarp and light brown rice genotypes of advanced breeding lines together with their parents; expression pattern of homogentisate geranylgeranyl transferase (HGGT), the key gene was studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in milky and matured grain stages. Vitamin E analysis was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The chloroform-methanolic extracts prepared from red pericarp and light brown rice advanced breeding lines showed significant differences for vitamin E content. Averaged across all samples, the content of γ-tocotrienol > α-tocopherol > α-tocotrienol > γ-tocopherol > δ-tocotrienol, and total E vitamin content ranged from 10.30 to 31.65 µg/g. Genotype G37 (red pericarp) was found to have higher expression than G7 (light brown) and G33 (red pericarp) at both grain development stages but lower than both parents whereas their transcript levels were comparatively lower in mature grain, which indicates their possible regulation by plant growth stage. HPLC results of γ-tocotrienol content supported gene expression results with the exception of the recurrent parent MR219.
Clinical vampirism in psychiatric practice is very rare and usually associated with schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder or paraphilia. An Asian case of clinical vampirism is described. It is about a 24-year-old Malay female, paramedic student, who craved for blood since childhood. She injured her sister and herself so that she could access and drink blood. There was no associated psychosis or medical problems. The craving for blood may represent her underlying craving for parental love and attention.
Chumphon Horticultural Research Centre (CHRC) is Thailand’s main coconut research unit. CHRC has developed three coconut cultivars: Sawi Hybrid No. 1 (Malayan Yellow Dwarf x West African Tall: MYD x WAT), Chumphon Hybrid No. 60 (Thai Tall: THT x WAT) and Chumphon Hybrid No. 2 (MYD x THT). This study compared some chemical components in virgin coconut oil (VCO) from coconut hybrids with their parents. The VCO was extracted by cold pressing and fermentation methods, and was analyzed for fatty acid profiles, triacylglycerol profile, acid value, tocopherol content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radicals. The findings showed that hybrids contained lauric acid ranging from 46.63 to 48.34% of total fatty acid. Chumphon 60 had the highest lauric acid content, 48.34% of total fatty acids, which was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from that of the parents. In contrast, the cultivars from MYD, Sawi 1 and Chumphon 2, had significantly greater lauric acid content than the parent MYD (p ≤ 0.05). Cold pressing and fermentation provided an oil extraction yield of 25 and 20%, respectively. The proportions of lauric acid in VCO from these two methods were not significantly different (p > 0.05), but the cold pressing method resulted in higher tocopherol content (p ≤ 0.05). The VCO of Chumphon 60 from the cold pressed method had tocopherol content close to that of the parent WAT (p > 0.05) but significantly higher than that of the other parent THT (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, it contained the highest total phenolic contents among the three cultivars, 57.89 mg GAE/100 g oil, leading to antioxidant activity with a low EC50 of 0.53 mg GAE/ml. Overall, the hybrid of WAT x THT, Chumphon 60, was outstanding among the cultivars; it had the highest levels of lauric acid, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity.
Red coloured rice, has been shown to contain high levels of bioactive properties. The aim of this study was to quantify the major antioxidant compounds in the whole grain of two new red rice transgressive variants together with their parents which was determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method, measured in methanol extract. A Thailand commercial red rice was used as a control. Although, the ORAC values for some red rice samples were similar, they were higher than light brown rice control, MR219. The antioxidant capacity was also evaluated by ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay. FRAP result was well correlated with ORAC (r = 0.94).
Introduction: The goal of the present study was to examine the effect of alcohol consumption on sperm count and motility and the morphological changes in the seminiferous tubules of parent mice and their offspring. Methods: Animals were divided into two groups, Group 1 (alcohol group) of twelve male and twelve female mice, were given a daily dose of (3 g/kg body weight as 25%, v/v) ethanol by gastric gavage for four and eight weeks. Group 2 (control group) also of twelve male and twelve female mice; received normal access of food and water. After four weeks of treatment, the males and females in each group were allowed to mate, and ethanol treatment continued for up to another four weeks. Twelve male offspring from group 1 and twelve male offspring from group 2 were selected randomly and allowed to become mature. Male parent mice were killed at the 4th and 8th weeks of treatment, and their male offsprings were killed when they reached maturity age. Results: Physiological examination of the sperm solution showed that there was a significant decrease in sperm count and motility after 4 and 8 weeks of ethanol treatment in parent male mice, but this decrease was not significant in their adult offspring. Furthermore, histological investigations indicated testicular lesions in the parent male mice and their adult male offspring. Conclusion: Alcohol abuse has deleterious effects on the testes structure and on the sperm count and motility of the epididymal spermatozoa of both parent mice and their offspring.
The role of diet in the aetiology of dental caries occurrence has been questioned recently. Aim: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the relationship between dietary habits and dental caries among 105 children aged 2 to 5 years old in Kuala Lumpur. Methodology: Subjects were selected using convenient sampling method. Their body weight and height were measured and their dental check-up was performed by qualified dental nurses. A Structured questionnaire and 3-day food diaries were distributed to their parents/caretakers to obtain socio-demographic data, oral health practice and dietary habits of the subjects. The dft (decayed, filled teeth) score was used to describe dental caries incidence. Results: Caries was found in 36.6% subjects with mean dft score of 1.95±3.59 (range: 0-16). Energy (r=-0.334, p=0.008), carbohydrate (r=-0.353, p=0.005), fat (r=-0.325, p=0.01), protein (r=-0.264, p=0.038), and calcium (r=-0.470, p
An 8-year-old girl was noticed by her parents to be less attentive and she would respond only after being called several times. She had just recovered from an upper respiratory tract infection two weeks before. The parents brought her to see a primary care physician. The patient had no other complaints, and the rest of the history was unremarkable. Physical examination was normal except for the otoscopic findings shown below (Figure 1) Tuning fork tests indicated conductive deafness.
The present study aimed to determine levels of parents' satisfaction associated with the universal newborn hearing screening process in a university hospital setting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Despite major insecticide-based vector control programs, dengue continues to be a major threat to public health in urban areas. The reasons for this failure include the emergence of insecticide resistance and the narrowing of the spectrum of efficient products. Cigarette butts (CBs), the most commonly discarded piece of waste, also represent a major health hazard to human and animal life. CBs are impregnated with thousands of chemical compounds, many of which are highly toxic and none of which has history of resistance in mosquitoes. This study was performed to examine whether exposure to CB alters various biological parameters of parents and their progeny. We examined whether the mosquito changes its ovipositional behaviors, egg hatching, reproductive capacity, longevity and fecundity in response to CB exposure at three different concentrations. Females tended to prefer microcosms containing CBs for egg deposition than those with water only. There were equivalent rates of eclosion success among larvae from eggs that matured in CB and water environments. We also observed decreased life span among adults that survived CB exposure. Extracts of CB waste have detrimental effects on the fecundity and longevity of its offspring, while being attractive to its gravid females. These results altogether indicate that CB waste indirectly affect key adult life traits of Aedes aegypti and could conceivably be developed as a novel dengue vector control strategy, referring to previously documented direct toxicity on the larval stage. But this will require further research on CB waste effects on non-target organisms including humans.
The study used confirmatory factor analysis to ascertain support for the bifactor model of the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, based on parent and teacher ratings for a group of Malaysian children.
To investigate the impact of chronic suppurative lung disease (CSLD) on growth and lung function in the child as well as quality of life of the child and parent.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic debilitating illness with onset in early childhood. The objective of this study was to look at the impact of children with ADHD on their parents.
Tracheal agenesis is a rare congenital airway anomaly which presents as an airway emergency at birth. We report a case of late premature Chinese infant with tracheal agenesis type II (by Floyd's classification) who presented with severe respiratory distress at birth. He had multiple failed attempts at intubations with accidental oesophageal intubation and ventilation. Tracheal agenesis with tracheo-oesophageal fistula was suspected from an emergency optical laryngoesophagoscopy done. The infant was subsequently stabilized on oesophageal ventilation. The diagnosis was confirmed on CT scan and parents were counseled regarding the poor outcome and decided for withdrawal at day 7 of life.
Susceptibility to smoking is a reliable predictor of smoking initiation. This article describes its prevalence and associated factors among Malaysian school adolescents. Data were obtained from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2012, a nationwide representative sample of school adolescents. The overall prevalence of susceptibility to smoking was 6.0% and significantly higher among males (9.5%) compared with females (3.6%). Multivariable analyses revealed that males (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.70-4.18) and school adolescents of indigenous Sabahan or Sarawakian descents (aOR 1.62, 95%CI 1.21-2.18) were significantly more likely to be susceptible to smoking. Susceptible school adolescents had a slightly higher likelihood to have symptoms of stress (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02-1.70), anxiety (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.40), depression (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.96), including those whose one or both parents/guardians were smokers (aOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.21-1.82; aOR 2.33, 95% CI 1.22-4.44, respectively). The findings from this study point out the need for proactive measures to reduce smoking initiation among Malaysian adolescents with particular attention toward factors associated with susceptibility to smoking.
Study name: Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS)
This study evaluated the measurement invariance and agreement across parent and teacher ratings of the DSM-IV-TR oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms.
Dengue is life-threatening and the paediatric population is highly susceptible to complications. Deterioration can occur rapidly and ability to recognise early warning signs is crucial. This study aims to determine the knowledge and awareness of parents and carers and to predict their ability in recognising life-threatening symptoms and signs of dengue in children and to assess their health-seeking behaviour in dengue emergency. Methods This is a crosssectional study involving parents and carers of children ≤ 12 years old in schools and kindergartens in the Gombak district. Demographic details, knowledge on life-threatening symptoms and signs of dengue and health-seeking behaviour were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and knowledge scoring was done. The questionnaire was pilot tested with a Cronbach alpha of 0.82. The results were analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Results Total respondents were 866 with 44.8% men and 55.2% women. The mean age was 40.3 years (SD ± 5.7). Knowledge score of dengue life threatening features among respondents were good (30.0%) to average (56.8%). Respondents were able to recognise fever (98.5%), petechial rash (97.1%) and bleeding (65.2%) but were less able to recognise abdominal pain (22.3%) and passing less urine (28.2%) as life threatening dengue features. However, the ability to recognise fever is a poor predictor in recognising life threatening dengue in children compared to all other symptoms which were good predictors. A respondent that recognise stomach pain or neck stiffness were five times more likely to recognise life-threatening dengue. Respondents preferred to bring their children to the clinic (50.8%) or hospital (37.8%) themselves Instead of calling for ambulance. Worryingly, some would give antipyretics (3.6%) or wait for improvements (7.8%). Conclusion Concerted efforts by the schools, healthcare professionals and health authorities are required to educate parents and carers to identify life-threatening features of dengue and to improve their health seeking-behaviour.