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Fulltext Comparative effect of Piper betle, Chlorella vulgaris and tocotrienol-rich fraction on antioxidant enzymes activity in cellular ageing of human diploid fibroblasts

Makpol S, Yeoh TW, Ruslam FA, Arifin KT, Yusof YA

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2013;13:210.
PMID: 23948056 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-210

Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) undergo a limited number of cellular divisions in culture and progressively reach a state of irreversible growth arrest, a process termed cellular ageing. Even though beneficial effects of Piper betle, Chlorella vulgaris and tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) have been reported, ongoing studies in relation to ageing is of interest to determine possible protective effects that may reverse the effect of ageing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of P. betle, C. vulgaris and TRF in preventing cellular ageing of HDFs by determining the activity of antioxidant enzymes viz.; catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase.
Fulltext Perception of content and non-content expert facilitators of PBL according to students' performance levels

Ismail NA, Alias E, Arifin KT, Damanhuri MH, Karim NA, Aan GJ

Pak J Med Sci, 2015 Nov-Dec;31(6):1537-41.
PMID: 26870131 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.316.8691

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centred learning system that involves multidisciplinary fields focused on problem solving. Facilitators of PBL are not necessarily content experts but little is known on how this concept has affected the outcomes of PBL sessions in learning Medical Biochemistry. We aimed to evaluate the impact of having the content expert as a facilitator in conducting PBL.
Fulltext High sPLA2-IIA level is associated with eicosanoid metabolism in patients with bacterial sepsis syndrome

Ahmad NS, Tan TL, Arifin KT, Ngah WZW, Yusof YAM

PLoS One, 2020;15(3):e0230285.
PMID: 32160261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230285

The aim of this study was to determine the association between secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (sPLA2-IIA) and eicosanoid pathway metabolites in patients with bacterial sepsis syndrome (BSS). Levels of sPLA2-IIA, eicosanoids prostaglandin (PG)E2, PGD synthase were quantified in the sera from patients confirmed to have bacterial sepsis (BS; N = 45), bacterial severe sepsis/septic shock (BSS/SS; N = 35) and healthy subjects (N = 45). Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 activities were analyzed from cell lysate. Serum levels of sPLA2-IIA, PGE2, and PGDS increased significantly in patients with BS and BSS/SS compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). COX-2 activity was significantly increased in patients with BS compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05), but not COX-1 activity. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that sPLA2-IIA and PGE2 were independent factors predicting BSS severity. In conclusion, high level of sPLA2-IIA is associated with eicosanoid metabolism in patients with BSS.
Mucosal brushings for nasal specific IgE to predict house dust mite driven allergic rhinitis

Hamizan AW, Alvarado R, Arifin KT, Zahedi FD, Sian NC, Jumaat AF, et al.

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2023 Apr 17.
PMID: 37061936 DOI: 10.12932/AP-031122-1495

BACKGROUND: Skin prick testing and serological identification of allergen specific immunoglobulin E (spIgE) are standard tests for allergic rhinitis but can only identify systemic responses. In contrast, nasal allergen challenge (NAC), directly assess localized nasal mucosal reactivity, but is time consuming. Identification of spIgE from nasal brushings (nasal spIgE) is an alternative technique.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of nasal spIgE compared to NAC in order predict house dust mite (HDM) driven AR.
METHODS: A diagnostic cross-sectional study involving adult rhinitis patients was performed. Sensitization to HDM allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), Dermatophagoides farina (DF) were assessed serologically and/or skin prick test, nasal brushing and NAC. Patients with both positive systemic test and NAC were defined to have HDM driven AR, while patients with a positive systemic test and negative NAC were defined to have non-clinically relevant HDM sensitization. The performance of nasal spIgE to predict positive NAC was determined using the receiver operating curve. The chosen cut-off was then used to predict HDM driven AR among those with positive systemic test.
RESULTS: 118 patients (29.42 ± 9.32 years, 61.9% female) were included. Nasal spIgE was predictive of positive NAC (AUC 0.93, 95%CI: 0.88-0.98, p < 0.01). Among those with positive systemic test, the cut-off value of >0.14 kUA/L was able to predict HDM AR from incidental HDM sensitization with 92% sensitivity and 86% specificity.
CONCLUSIONS: Nasal spIgE is comparable to NAC. A cut-off value of >0.14 kUA/L identifies HDM-driven AR from incidental sensitization among patients with positive systemic tests for allergy.
Fulltext An Amperometric Biosensor for the Determination of Bacterial Sepsis Biomarker, Secretory Phospholipase Group 2-IIA Using a Tri-Enzyme System

Nik Mansor NN, Leong TT, Safitri E, Futra D, Ahmad NS, Nasuruddin DN, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Feb 26;18(3).
PMID: 29495352 DOI: 10.3390/s18030686

A tri-enzyme system consisting of choline kinase/choline oxidase/horseradish peroxidase was used in the rapid and specific determination of the biomarker for bacterial sepsis infection, secretory phospholipase Group 2-IIA (sPLA2-IIA). These enzymes were individually immobilized onto the acrylic microspheres via succinimide groups for the preparation of an electrochemical biosensor. The reaction of sPLA2-IIA with its substrate initiated a cascading enzymatic reaction in the tri-enzyme system that led to the final production of hydrogen peroxide, which presence was indicated by the redox characteristics of potassium ferricyanide, K₃Fe(CN)₆. An amperometric biosensor based on enzyme conjugated acrylic microspheres and gold nanoparticles composite coated onto a carbon-paste screen printed electrode (SPE) was fabricated and the current measurement was performed at a low potential of 0.20 V. This enzymatic biosensor gave a linear range 0.01-100 ng/mL (R² = 0.98304) with a detection limit recorded at 5 × 10-3 ng/mL towards sPLA2-IIA. Moreover, the biosensor showed good reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.04% (n = 5). The biosensor response was reliable up to 25 days of storage at 4 °C. Analysis of human serum samples for sPLA2-IIA indicated that the biosensor has potential for rapid bacterial sepsis diagnosis in hospital emergency department.