MyMedR

Displaying all 6 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Detection of Hartmannella sp, a free-living amoeba from Sungai Setiu, Terengganu

Mat Amin N, Najmiah Mustaffa N, Md Arshad N

Trop Biomed, 2004 Dec;21(2):77-80.
PMID: 16493402

Hartmannella sp is one of the free-living amoebae that have the ability to infect animal tissues because it has been found in human's nasal mucosa, dog's bronchial and turkey's intestine. Treatment for diseases inflicted by free-living amoebae is difficult because most of them infect and damage the host's tissues, so preventive measures are better to take rather than to cure the diseases. In this study, water taken from several stations namely Kampung Padang, Kampung Besut, Ibu Bekalan Setiu, Kampung Tasik, Kampung Guntung, Kampung Nyatoh, Kampung Penarik and Kampung Mangkok) along Sungai Setiu, Terengganu was examined for the presence of Hartmannella sp. The results of this study indicated that only Ibu Bekalan Setiu station was found positive to have the amoeba. Detail results on the water quality and nutrient contents measured in relation to the distribution of the amoeba at Ibu Bekalan Setiu station are presented and discussed.
Metabolic Syndrome and Its Effect on the Brain: Possible Mechanism

Arshad N', Lin TS, Yahaya MF

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, 2018;17(8):595-603.
PMID: 30047340 DOI: 10.2174/1871527317666180724143258

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an interconnected group of physiological, biochemical, clinical and metabolic factors that directly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and mortality. Rising evidence suggests that MetS plays a significant role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Nonetheless, the factors linking this association has not yet been elucidated. As we are facing an increasing incidence of obesity and T2DM in all stages of life, understanding the association of MetS and neurodegenerative diseases is crucial to lessen the burden of the disease.
CONCLUSION: In this review, we will discuss the possible mechanisms which may relate the association between MetS and cognitive decline which include vascular damages, elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation.
Stingless Bee Honey Reduces Anxiety and Improves Memory of the Metabolic Disease-induced Rats

Arshad N', Lin TS, Yahaya MF

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, 2020;19(2):115-126.
PMID: 31957619 DOI: 10.2174/1871527319666200117105133

BACKGROUND: Scientific studies support the evidence of the involvement of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases through oxidative stress. Consumption of antioxidant compounds was found to be beneficial for brain-health as it reduced the brain oxidative stress level and improved cognitive performance in animals. Stingless bee honey or locally known as Kelulut Honey (KH) has high phenolic content and is widely used as a food supplement.
OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of KH on the brain of MetS-induced rats.
METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups; 8 weeks (C8) and 16 weeks control groups (C16), groups that received High-Carbohydrate High Fructose (HCHF) diet for 8 weeks (MS8) and 16 weeks (MS16), and a group that received HCHF for 16 weeks with KH supplemented for the last 35 days (KH).
RESULTS: Serum fasting blood glucose decreased in the KH group compared to the MS16 group. HDL levels were significantly decreased in MetS groups compared to control groups. Open field experiments showed that KH group exhibits less anxious behavior compared to the MetS group. Probe trial of Morris water maze demonstrated significant memory retention of KH group compared to the MS16 group. Nissl staining showed a significant decrease in the pyramidal hippocampal cells in the MS16 compared to the KH group.
CONCLUSION: KH has the ability to normalise blood glucose and reduce serum triglyceride and LDL levels in MetS rats, while behavior studies complement its effect on anxiety and memory. This shows a promising role of KH in attenuating neurodegenerative diseases through the antioxidant activity of its polyphenolic content.
Fulltext Coupled Plasma Filtration and Adsorption (CPFA): A Single Center Experience

Abdul Cader R, Abdul Gafor H, Mohd R, Yen Kong W, Arshad N, Kong N

Nephrourol Mon, 2013 Sep;5(4):891-6.
PMID: 24350088 DOI: 10.5812/numonthly.11904

Coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA) is a novel extracorporeal blood purification therapy for sepsis which adsorbs both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators from filtered plasma, thereby achieving early haemodynamic stability and a reduction in inotropic support requirement.
Fulltext Cytotoxic Effects of Pinnatane A Extracted from Walsura pinnata (Meliaceae) on Human Liver Cancer Cells

Zakaria N, Mahdzir MA, Yusoff M, Mohd Arshad N, Awang K, Nagoor NH

Molecules, 2018 Oct 23;23(11).
PMID: 30360475 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112733

BACKGROUND: Pinnatane A from the bark of Walsura pinnata was investigated for its anti-cancer properties by analyzing the cytotoxic activities and cell cycle arrest mechanism induced in two different liver cancer cell lines.
METHODS: A 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to analyze the pinnatane A selectivity in inducing cell death in cancer and normal cells. Various biological assays were carried out to analyze the anti-cancer properties of pinnatane A, such as a live/dead assay for cell death microscopic visualization, cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide (PI) to identify the cell cycle arrest phase, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (annexin V-FITC)/PI flow cytometry assay to measure percentage of cell populations at different stages of apoptosis and necrosis, and DNA fragmentation assay to verify the late stage of apoptosis.
RESULTS: The MTT assay identified pinnatane A prominent dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity effects in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, with minimal effect on normal cells. The live/dead assay showed significant cell death, while cell cycle analysis showed arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase in both cell lines. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation assays identified apoptotic cell death in Hep3B and necrotic cell death in HepG2 cell lines.
CONCLUSIONS: Pinnatane A has the potential for further development as a chemotherapeutic agent prominently against human liver cells.
CMV Infection Post Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in a Resource Limited Country

Sulaiman NY, Anuar NA, Arshad N, Cheong CS, Liong CC, Khairullah S, et al.

Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus, 2024 Jan;40(1):97-102.
PMID: 38312192 DOI: 10.1007/s12288-023-01655-0

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the common complications which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). As the seroprevalence of CMV infection in Malaysia is high, this study aims to determine the prevalence of CMV infection in patients post HSCT and to evaluate the associated risk factors. Patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT in adult ward from 2008 to 2020 at a tertiary teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were studied retrospectively. They were followed up for a minimum of 100 days post-HSCT to determine the incidence of CMV infection. CMV infection was defined according to CMV Drug Development Forum 2014. Risk factors such as type of transplant, serostatus of donor and patients, age, gender, race, presence of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and underlying disease were included for analysis. A total of 112 patients were included. Forty (35.7%) patients had CMV infection with median of onset recorded as 40 days (range 13-95 days). Only haplo-identical HSCT and presence of GVHD were identified as significant risk factors. Patients who had CMV infection had a lower median survival time although this was not statistically significant. The CMV infection rate was comparable with previous reports in Asia and as expected, higher than the western countries. Therefore, vigilant monitoring of CMV infection should be implemented especially in patients who had haplo-identical HSCT and acute GVHD.