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Fulltext Effect of integration of oxalic acid and hot water treatments on postharvest quality of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L. cv. Anak Sekolah) under modified atmosphere packaging

Hafiz AFA, Keat YW, Ali A

J Food Sci Technol, 2017 Jun;54(7):2181-2185.
PMID: 28720977 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-2645-1

The shelf life of rambutan is often limited due to rapid water loss from the spinterns and browning of the pericarp. An integrated approach, which combined hot water treatment (HWT) (56 °C for 1 min), oxalic acid (OA) dip (10% for 10 min) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), was used to study their effectiveness on the quality of rambutan during storage (10 °C, 90-95% relative humidity). Significant differences were observed in rambutan quality with the combination of MAP + HWT + OA after 20 days of storage. This treatment combination resulted into better retention of firmness and colour (L and a* values) than in the control. Change in the total soluble solid content was significantly delayed however the titratable acidity showed no significant change in comparison to the control at the end of storage.
Fulltext Fitness to practise for doctors and medical students with mental issues in Malaysia

Muhammad Darwiis Abdullah, Aiman Faiz Ahmad Fuad, Hafiz Ilmie Rahman, Mark Tan Kiak Min

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2019;4(1):22-29.
MyJurnal

Mental illness is expected to become the second biggest health problem affecting Malaysians by 2020. Doctors and medical students are more prone to mental illness compared to the general population. However, they are often reluctant to and resist seeking help because of stigma and a (strong) sense of shame. This can lead to detrimental consequences for themselves and their patients. That said, a doctor with a mental illness receiving appropriate treatment and who is in a stable condition may still be permitted to practise provided patient safety is not compromised. Determining this is a key responsibility of a healthcare regulator like the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC). Using some prominent cases to illustrate this point, this article reviews the MMC guideline on ‘Managing Impaired Registered Medical Practitioners’. In the absence of similar local guidelines for medical students, we also allude to the UK General Medical Council’s guideline on ‘Supporting Medical Students with Mental Health Conditions’. The article recommends that doctors and medical students with mental illness should seek help; outlines a number of factors to consider in deciding whether a doctor should continue practising; and explores alternative career paths in instances where they should not. The article concludes that appropriate support goes a long way for doctors and medical students who grapple with mental health issues in that there is hope and a way through a seemingly devastating situation.
Fulltext Gamma-radiation mutagenesis of Hibiscus cannabinus L. V36 variety: radiosensitivity study, phenotypic characterization and multivariate analysis to explain variation among selected M1 progenies

Mohd Zulmadi Sani, Faiz Ahmad, Mustapha Akil, Zaiton Ahmad, Affrida Abu Hassan, Abdul Rahim Harun, et al.

Jurnal Sains Nuklear Malaysia, 2017;29(2):21-32.
MyJurnal

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is one of the world’s most economically important fiber crops particularly in Asia-Pacific region. Mutation induction is a method to increase genetic divergence associated with selection, recombination, or a combination of these approaches in plant breeding. One of preliminary procedures for an execellent mutation breeding program is the radiosensitivity study to determine the optimal doses for irradiation. A total of 10 different doses of acute gamma rays (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 1700 and 2000 Gy) from ceasium-137 source were applied to the seeds of V 36 kenaf variety. The irradiated seeds including the control were planted in trough for 30 days. The gamma irradiation effects on several parameters such as seedling survival percentages, plant height, root length, shoot fresh weight, root frest weight, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were analysed. From the radiosensitivity curve, the LD50 and LD25 values were estimated at 810 and 310 Gy, respectively. Two doses (200 Gy and 300 Gy) based on LD25 were chosen for evaluating the effects of gamma irradiation on morphological traits in M1 generation. Irradiated and non-irradiated seeds were planted in the field at Beseri, Perlis. About 10 phenotypic traits of irradiated plants were observed and evaluated against the controls. Cluster analysis on M1 progenies showed that the mutation could be classified into eight genotypic groups. The first two components from principal component analysis explained about 77.99% of variation. Number of seeds per pod, weight of seeds per plant and dry stem biomass play an important role in explaining the variation since they showed positive correlated values for the first component analysis. Morphological changes such as flower shape, flower colour, and leaf shape were also observed in M1 generation. The findings of this study are important in determining the effectiveness of these doses in generating mutations on kenaf plant and subsequent breeding program to develop new kenaf varieties with enhanced quality traits.
Fulltext A review on gamma greenhouse as a chronic gamma irradiation facility for plant breeding and improvement program

Faiz Ahmad, Zaiton Ahmad, Affrida Abu Hassan, Sakinah Ariffin, Norazlina Noordin, Shakinah Salleh, et al.

Jurnal Sains Nuklear Malaysia, 2018;30(1):8-18.
MyJurnal

The research on radiation induced mutation has been conducted as one of the promising method of plant breeding in Malaysia since 1980s. Nuclear Malaysia is leading research institute inMalaysia conducting plant mutationbreeding research. Gamma Greenhousefacility located in Nuclear Malaysiais one of the irradiation facilitiesto serve as a chronic irradiation facility for inducing mutation in various organisms including plants, fungi and microbes.Chronic irradiation refers to the exposure of materials at a lower dose rate over a long period of time. Previous studies have shown that this type of irradiation can minimize radiation damages to living materials and produces a wider mutation spectrum, therefore is very useful for trait improvements in irradiated organisms. Experiments on induce mutation using Gamma Greenhouse facility for crop improvement program have been conducted since its first operation in 2009. Various plant species including ornamental and herbal plants, food crops and industrial crops have been irradiated to improve their traits such as higher yield and biomass, pest and disease tolerance, higher bioactive compounds, longer bloom time and many others. Most of these crop improvement programs were done through collaborations with other agencies in Malaysia such as universities, research institutes and government departments. A number of publications on crop improvement using Gamma Greenhouse have been published inlocal and international journals as well as seminar presentations at national and international levels. The outputs from induced mutation via chronic radiation using Gamma Greenhouse could be of great interest for plant breeders dealing with improvement and development of new cultivars. This paper discusses the activities and achievement in plant breeding and improvement using Gamma Greenhouse Facility in Malaysia.
Fulltext Influence of breastfeeding pattern on cardiovascular disease risks during adulthood: a review

Noorsuzana Mohd Shariff, Naim Faiz Ahmad Imran, Nurshafiqa Aqila Abdul Wahab, Zaid Abd Halim, Siti Hawa Hashim, Nizuwan Azman, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(201):0-0.
MyJurnal

Infant feeding is thought to modulate cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. This possible association between patterns of feeding with development of cardiovascular disease later in life provides the opportunity for early intervention and prevention strategies. Among all the feeding methods applied, breastfeeding is thought to be the best method and is said to be attributable to future health benefits. How- ever, current evidence from the literature is weak and inconsistent to advocate risk factors management. Therefore, this narrative review aims to provide current findings in assessing the association of breastfeeding pattern and risk of developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. We searched three databases (MEDLINE, PubMed and Google Scholar) from year 2000 to 11 July 2018. Findings on the association between breastfeeding and cardiovascular risk factors are equivocal, although positive trend of beneficial effects of breastfeeding in reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood was reported in majority of the studies. Future research should address all limitations that were identified by previous studies such as bias of study design and heterogeneity of samples to establish the association between breastfeeding pattern and cardiovascular disease in later life.
The effects of genotypes and media composition on callogenesis, regeneration and cell suspension culture of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

Ahmad A, Tahir Ul Qamar M, Shoukat A, Aslam MM, Tariq M, Hakiman M, et al.

PeerJ, 2021;9:e11464.
PMID: 34113490 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11464

Background: Chamomile is an important herb being used widely for medicinal purposes. Its multitherapeutic, cosmetic, and nutritional values have been established through years of traditional and scientific use and research. Increased use of medicinal plants necessitates rational use as well as sustainable production of such genetic resources. Plant in vitro micro-propagation poses unique opportunities for sustainable production of medicinal herbs, their regrowth and conservation. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different explants, plant growth regulators (PGRs) combinations and media type on callogenesis, in vitro regeneration and cell suspension of six chamomile genotypes to enhance its sustainable production.
Methods: The shoot, lateral sprout, and leaf derived explants of six chamomile genotypes including Isfahan, Shiraz, Kazeron, Goral, Sharokashari and Presso were used for direct and indirect regeneration. For indirect regeneration various doses of NAA and kinetin were used to induce calli which were cultured on MS media containing PGRs for direct and indirect regeneration. Later, cell suspension was established and morphological characterization of CrO3 stained cells was carried out using microscopy.
Results and Discussion: Our findings revealed that the highest callus percentage and callus volume were observed from lateral sprouts and shoots of genotype Isfahan on MS medium containing 1 mg/L NAA and 1 mg/L kinetin. The in vitro regeneration was found to be genotype dependent while 77% and 77.5% was the highest percentage for indirect and direct regeneration, respectively. Additionally, the maximum shoot number (two shoots/explant) and shoot length (2.22 cm) were also observed in Isfahan genotype. Cell suspension culture showed the highest fresh weight (18.59 g) and dry weight (1.707 g) with 0.75 g inoculum of the callus derived from lateral sprouts cultured on MS medium. Microscopy of CrO3 stained cells was carried on each 3rd day for 27 days that revealed larger and spongier cells in the early days as compared to final days when the cell number was greater but cell size was smaller.
Conclusion: The callogenesis, organogenesis, and cell suspension culture of chamomile may be genotype dependent. Hence, optimization of media ingredients and culture conditions is of utmost importance for devising tissue culture based conservation strategy of any chamomile genotype and secondary metabolite production.