This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties of stems and leaves of hexane and methanolic extracts of Pluchea indica. Methanolic extract of leaves showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 24.45 ± 0.34 µg/ml) and total phenolic contents (573.52 ± 6.2 mg GAE/100 g crude extract), in DPPH radical scavenging and Folin-Ciocalteu assays respectively, however, it failed to inhibit acetylcholinesterase in TLC bioautographic detection. The rest of plant extracts, including methanolic extract of stems, hexane extract of both leaves and stems, were detected to have acetylcholinesterase inhibitory properties. Hexane extract of both leaves and stems exhibited lower or negligible level of antioxidant activity and phenolic contents. Pluchea indica may provide a potential natural source of bioactive compounds, and maybe beneficial to the human health.
Ten solvents were used to extract phytochemicals from the peel of Carica papaya cv. Sekaki/
Hong Kong to evaluate antibacterial activities and determine chemical composition of Carica
papaya cv. Sekaki/Hong Kong seeds. The antibacterial activities of ten solvent extracts were
tested against 14 microorganisms vis Shigella sonnei, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia
coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Proteus mirabilis,
Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Corynebacterium diphtheria,
Clostridium perfringens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis using disk diffusion
test (DDT). The Carica papaya seed of ACN and MeOH extracts inhibited 11 microorganisms,
indicating their broad spectrum activity. The disk diffusion test exhibited moderate and clear
inhibition on C. diphtheria, S. pneumonia, B. subtilis and C. perfringens. MeOH extract
inhibited S. enteritidis, V. vulnificus, P. mirabilis and B. cereus with the lowest MIC at 11.25
mg/mL each, thus was chosen as the best extract. The hierarchy of extract potency can be
ranked as MeOH > acetone > ACN > CHCL3 > hexane > DE = PE > EtOH > DCM based
on clear and moderate inhibition and the lowest MIC. TPC and TFC of the extracts ranged
between 4.83 to 22.59 mg GAE/g DW and 1.32 (water) and 17.15 mg QE/g DW respectively.
The GC/MS analysis of MeOH extract identified potential antibacterial compounds such as
isothiocyanatomethyl benzene, 9-octadecenoic acid, hexadecanoic acid and β-sitosterol. The
Carica papaya seed cv. Sekaki/ Hong Kong possessed significant antibacterial activities when
extracted by different solvents in particular MeOH solvent.
The EQ-5D is a quality of life instrument that measures five dimensions of health. This study investigated the reliability and validity of its use in the Malaysian dialysis population. Test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity were assessed. Responses of 86 subjects who completed both surveys were used in analysis. Test-retest reliability using Cohen's kappa was acceptable in four out of five dimensions, with the exception of self-care. Convergent validity was present. Discriminant validity was found in only two out of six hypotheses tested. In conclusion, the EQ-5D has potential in this population but further study is required.
The study was conducted to determine whether the clinical targets for the control of diabetes recommended by American Diabetes Association can be met in the context of routine diabetes practice. This cross-sectional study was undertaken on 211 type 2 diabetic patients at the Outpatients Diabetes Clinic, Hospital Universisti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Kubang Kerian, Kelantan between the year 2001-2002. Patients' physical examination and their medical history as well as their family history were obtained by administering a structured questionnaire. Samples of patients' venous blood during fasting were taken and analysed for plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin and lipid profile. Analysis showed that many patients had comorbidities or complications. A large number of them had poor glycaemic control (73%). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 75% and 85% subjects were > or = 130 and > or = 80 mmHg, respectively. Body Mass Index (BMI) values of 66% of the patients were outside the clinical target (BMI > or = 25 in male and > or = 24 kg/m2 in female). The lipid profile showed that 96% of the patients had at least one lipid value outside the clinical target level. In this study, 70% of the patients had total cholesterol > or = 5.2 mmol/L, 87% had LDL cholesterol > or = 2.6 mmol/L, 57% had HDL cholesterol less than the normal range, < or = 1.15 mmol/L in men and < or = 1.4 mmol/L in women, while 46% had triglycerides > or = 1.71 mmol/L. Complications of diabetes were observed in 48% of the total number of patients. As for the patients' systolic blood pressure, age and duration of diabetes were found to have significant effects. Older subjects with a longer duration of diabetes were more hypertensive. Variables that had significant effects on BMI were age, duration of diabetes, glycaemic control and gender. Younger females and newly diagnosed subjects with better glycaemic control (A1C < 7%) were found to have higher BMI values. The overall clinical targets were suboptimal. The prevalence of hyperlipidaemia and hypertension was high. It is imperative that better treatment strategies and methods be adopted to enhance diabetes control and reduce long-term complications of the disease.
Study site: Outpatients Diabetes Clinic, Hospital Universisti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)
Ten solvents were used to extract phytochemicals from the peel of Carica papaya cv.
Sekaki/Hong Kong to determine their antibacterial activities. Moderate to clear inhibition on
Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium
perfringens were obtained from the disk diffusion test out of fourteen pathogens tested.
Petroleum ether extract, the most potent extract, showed moderate inhibition towards C.
diphtheriae and S. pneumoniae at MIC of 5.63 mg/mL and 1.40 mg/mL. Polar solvents
gave higher yield, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents than nonpolar solvents. Extract
yields were 10.9 to 84.1 mg/g in polar solvents and 3.9 to 20.3 mg/g in non-polar solvents.
Twenty eight compounds were identified in petroleum extracts through GC/MS analysis.
Among the compounds identified were fatty acids, esters, alkane, tocopherols and sterols.
9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid was the most abundant compound.
Two hundred and eleven (211) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were on treatment and monitored for complications at the Outpatient Diabetes Clinic in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian between 2001 - 2002 were selected for the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain their medical and family history. Physical examination was performed and fasting venous blood sample was collected for plasma glucose and A1C analysis. Of the total 211 patients, only 4 % were on diet treatment alone, 37 % of them were on mono therapy while 59 % were on combination of therapies. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > 7.2 mmol/L and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels ≥ 7 % were observed in 60 % and 73 % of type 2 diabetic patients, respectively. Glycated hemoglobin level of 28 % of the subjects were < 7 %; 36 % were between 7 - 9 % and 36 % were more than 9 %. The worst glycaemic control was observed in Malay patients. A1C of Malay and non-Malay subjects were 8.7 ± 2.3 % and 7.7 ± 1.7 %, respectively. Younger patients (age group < 50 years) had significantly higher mean A1C than elderly patients. Duration of diabetes had a clear influence on glycaemic level. Patients with recently diagnosed diabetes (duration of disease < 5 years) had the best glycaemic control. In this study a large proportion of the patients had poor glycaemic control. The variables with significant effects on glycaemic control were ethnicity, age and duration of diabetes mellitus. Better treatment strategies and methods should be used to improve diabetes control and to reduce long-term complications of diabetes.
Study site: Outpatient diabetic clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia
The purpose of the present study was to examine the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N) from synthetic wastewater using limestone (LS) and granular activated carbon (GAC) mixture as low cost adsorbent. In batch study, optimum shaking and settling times were 150 and 120 min, respectively. The LS-GAC mixture ratio of 25:15 removed about 58% NH4-N. The smaller particle size of medium yielded higher adsorption capacity. The equilibrium adsorption data followed the Freundlich isotherm (R2 > 0.98) but it showed weak bond. Adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo second-order rate model (R2 > 0.93). The upflow column showed that higher flow rate and initial concentration resulted in shorter column saturation time. The study showed that the usage of GAC could be reduced by combining GAC with LS for the removal of NH4-N from wastewater; thus reducing the cost of treatment.
The implementation of a suitable solid waste management programme with appropriate methods of recycling as an inherent element is vital to the alleviation of the problems associated with solid waste generation, handling and disposal, environmental conservation, public hygiene, etc. The present work is a case study on solid waste collection and recycling practices in Nibong Tebal town, Penang, Malaysia. The amount and types of domestic waste generated, household participation in recycling, identification of existing problems related to the implementation of the recycling programme, etc. formed the basis of this study. Surveys (interviews/questionnaires) and on-site observations were conducted to gather information on the solid waste collection and recycling practice of the residents. A focus group of 60 individuals was selected and their response to a questionnaire, prepared according to a Likert scale, was obtained and analysed. The majority of the respondents expressed concerns about recycling and wanted more to be done in this regard. Illegal collection, aesthetically displeasing sites and a lack of public awareness were problems of major concern. Issues related to inadequate funding and manpower as well as end market are also addressed and suggestions made.
Leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve is rare [1]. [Camera, A., Piccirillo, G., Tranfa, F., Rosa, N., Frigeri, F., Martinelli, V., Rotoloi, B. (1993) "Optic nerve involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia", Leuk. Lymph. 11, 153-155]. Radiotherapy should be given urgently to all patients with optic nerve infiltrate to restore their vision [2]. [Rosenthal, A. (1983) "Ocular manifestation of leukemia", Ophthalmology 90, 899-905]. We report a case of a unilateral optic nerve relapse 7 months after diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a 17-year-old boy who had been off treatment for 6 weeks. The ocular symptoms was initially diagnosed as primary optic neuritis and treated with corticosteroids resulting in temporary clinical recovery. Radiation therapy for ocular leukemia that was commenced 2 months after the onset of symptoms failed to reverse the visual loss. The lack of a reliable and effective tool to diagnose ocular leukemia at an early stage has resulted in significant treatment delay and poor visual outcome.
The National Medicines Use Survey (NMUS) which started in 2004 and is still ongoing was conducted with the intent to continuously and systematically collect data on the use of medicines, to provide an overview on the use of medicines in Malaysia. The objective of the NMUS is therefore to quantify the present state and time trends of medicines utilization at various levels of our health care system whether national, regional, local or institutional. From the data available, for the Year 2005, the most commonly used medicine in Malaysia were anti-diabetic medications, of which glibenclamide is the most common followed by metformin, were the top 2 of the list of drugs utilized in DDD/1000 population/day. Collectively, however, taking into account the various antihypertensives by therapeutic groups, anti-hypertensive medicines were more commonly used than anti-diabetics. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the two most prevalent chronic disorders in the country and thus, such high medicines utilization rates for these conditions are to be expected. From the general practice prescription data, it was estimated that a patient with hypertension was prescribed a median of only one (1) anti-hypertensive medication. This means, the vast majority of patients (81%) were on monotherapy, which is hardly sufficient to achieve treatment target. Clearly then, given the prevalence of hypertension, many patients were not on drug treatment at all, and of those treated, their drug treatment are likely to be inadequate.
Bax is essential for apoptosis in normal cells. However, overexpression of Bcl-2 enhances cell survival by suppressing apoptosis in cells subjected to apoptosis-inducing stimuli. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl-2) and biochemical markers in type 2 diabetics mellitus.