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Fulltext Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness changes after pan-retinal photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy

Goh. SY, Ropilah, AR, Othmaliza, O, Mushawiahti, M

Journal of Surgical Academia, 2016;6(1):4-9.
MyJurnal

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease involving microangiopathic changes in response to chronic hyperglycaemia and pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) is currently the mainstay of treatment for proliferative retinopathy. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) on retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with diabetic retinopathy using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This was a prospective longitudinal study. Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or very severe non-(N)PDR requiring laser treatment were included in the study. PRP was performed by a single trained personnel. Peripapillary RNFL located 3.4 mm around the optic disc was evaluated using time-domain OCT. Examination was performed before treatment, and 2 and 4 months after laser treatment. In total, 39 subjects (39 eyes) were recruited into this study. Twenty-nine patients had PDR and 10 had very severe NPDR. Mean age was 54.97 ± 8.38 years. Male and female genders were almost equally distributed with 18 males and 21 females. Median thickness of average RNFL at baseline was 108.8 um (interquartile range [IQR] 35.3). At two months post-procedure, average RNFL thickness significantly increased to 117.4 (IQR 28.6; P = 0.006). Although, other quadrants revealed a similar trend of increasing thickness at two months but it was not significant. At 4 months post-laser treatment, RNFL thickness in all quadrants reduced to baseline levels with insignificant changes of thickness compared to prior to laser treatment. There was also no significant association between changes in RNFL thickness and HbA1c levels (P = 0.77). In conclusion, PRP causes transient thickening of the RNFL which recovers within 4 months post-laser treatment. At the same time, poor sugar control has no direct influence on the RNFL changes after PRP.
Use of a New External Fixator for the Correction of Fixed Flexion Deformity of the Fingers

Siow YS, Ahmad TS, Goh SY

Hand Surg, 1999 Dec;4(2):167-174.
PMID: 11089175

Three patients with severe fixed flexion deformity of the fingers caused by trauma were reported. As an alternative treatment, a new mini external fixator was used to correct the deformities. The use of this device has made treatment of contractures simpler and more predictable. Gradual distraction and straightening was applied to loosen and extend the joints, followed by a period of mobilisation while still on the device. In all the three patients, this experimental device and approach led to improvement of the fixed flexion deformities. With use of this device, surgical release may not be necessary.
Fulltext Complete Genome Sequence of Pandoraea pnomenusa 3kgm, a Quorum-Sensing Strain Isolated from a Former Landfill Site

Chan KG, Yin WF, Goh SY

Genome Announc, 2014;2(3).
PMID: 24812228 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00427-14

Pandoraea pnomenusa strain 3kgm has been identified as a quorum-sensing strain isolated from soil. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of P. pnomenusa strain 3kgm by using the Pacific Biosciences single-molecule real-time (PacBio RS SMRT) sequencer high-resolution technology.
Ultra-slow oscillations in cortical networks in vitro

Mok SY, Nadasdy Z, Lim YM, Goh SY

Neuroscience, 2012 Mar 29;206:17-24.
PMID: 22266346 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.01.009

An ultra-slow oscillation (<0.01 Hz) in the network-wide activity of dissociated cortical networks is described in this article. This slow rhythm is characterized by the recurrence of clusters of large synchronized bursts of activity lasting approximately 1-3 min, separated by an almost equivalent interval of relatively smaller bursts. Such rhythmic activity was detected in cultures starting from the fourth week in vitro. Our analysis revealed that the propagation motifs of constituent bursts were strongly conserved across multiple oscillation cycles, and these motifs were more consistent at the electrode level compared with the neuronal level.
A device to facilitate preparation of high-density neural cell cultures in MEAs

Mok SY, Lim YM, Goh SY

J Neurosci Methods, 2009 May 15;179(2):284-91.
PMID: 19428539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.02.009

A device to facilitate high-density seeding of dissociated neural cells on planar multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) is presented in this paper. The device comprises a metal cover with two concentric cylinders-the outer cylinder fits tightly on to the external diameter of a MEA to hold it in place and an inner cylinder holds a central glass tube for introducing a cell suspension over the electrode area of the MEA. An O-ring is placed at the bottom of the inner cylinder and the glass tube to provide a fluid-tight seal between the glass tube and the MEA electrode surface. The volume of cell suspension in the glass tube is varied according to the desired plating density. After plating, the device can be lifted from the MEA without leaving any residue on the contact surface. The device has enabled us to increase and control the plating density of neural cell suspension with low viability, and to prepare successful primary cultures from cryopreserved neurons and glia. The cultures of cryopreserved dissociated cortical neurons that we have grown in this manner remained spontaneously active over months, exhibited stable development and similar network characteristics as reported by other researchers.
Fulltext Review of insulin-associated hypoglycemia and its impact on the management of diabetes in Southeast Asian countries

Goh SY, Hussein Z, Rudijanto A

J Diabetes Investig, 2017 Sep;8(5):635-645.
PMID: 28236664 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.12647

Although the incidence of diabetes is rising in Southeast Asia, there is limited information regarding the incidence and manifestation of insulin-associated hypoglycemia. The aim of the present review was to discuss what is currently known regarding insulin-associated hypoglycemia in Southeast Asia, including its known incidence and impact in the region, and how the Southeast Asian population with diabetes differs from other populations. We found a paucity of data regarding the incidence of hypoglycemia in Southeast Asia, which has contributed to the adoption of Western guidelines. This might not be appropriate, as Southeast Asians have a range of etiological, educational and cultural differences from Western populations with diabetes that might place them at greater risk of hypoglycemia if not managed optimally. For example, Southeast Asians with type 2 diabetes tend to be younger, with lower body mass indexes than their Western counterparts, and the management of type 2 diabetes with premixed insulin preparations is more common in Southeast Asia. Both of these factors might result in higher rates of hypoglycemia. In addition, Southeast Asians are often poorly educated about hypoglycemia and its management, including during Ramadan fasting. We conclude there is a need for more information about Southeast Asian populations with diabetes to assist with the construction of more appropriate national and regional guidelines for the management of hypoglycemia, more closely aligned to patient demographics, behaviors and treatment practices. Such bespoke guidelines might result in a greater degree of implementation and adherence within clinical practice in Southeast Asian nations.
Effect of mindfulness meditation on brain-computer interface performance

Tan LF, Dienes Z, Jansari A, Goh SY

Conscious Cogn, 2014 Jan;23:12-21.
PMID: 24275085 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2013.10.010

Electroencephalogram based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable stroke and motor neuron disease patients to communicate and control devices. Mindfulness meditation has been claimed to enhance metacognitive regulation. The current study explores whether mindfulness meditation training can thus improve the performance of BCI users. To eliminate the possibility of expectation of improvement influencing the results, we introduced a music training condition. A norming study found that both meditation and music interventions elicited clear expectations for improvement on the BCI task, with the strength of expectation being closely matched. In the main 12 week intervention study, seventy-six healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups: a meditation training group; a music training group; and a no treatment control group. The mindfulness meditation training group obtained a significantly higher BCI accuracy compared to both the music training and no-treatment control groups after the intervention, indicating effects of meditation above and beyond expectancy effects.
The role of neuron-glia interactions in the emergence of ultra-slow oscillations

Chan SC, Mok SY, Ng DW, Goh SY

Biol Cybern, 2017 Dec;111(5-6):459-472.
PMID: 29128889 DOI: 10.1007/s00422-017-0740-z

Ultra-slow cortical oscillatory activity of 1-100 mHz has been recorded in human by electroencephalography and in dissociated cultures of cortical rat neurons, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study presents a computational model of ultra-slow oscillatory activity based on the interaction between neurons and astrocytes. We predict that the frequency of these oscillations closely depends on activation of astrocytes in the network, which is reflected by oscillations of their intracellular calcium concentrations with periods between tens of seconds and minutes. An increase of intracellular calcium in astrocytes triggers the release of adenosine triphosphate from these cells which may alter transmission at nearby synapses by increasing or decreasing neurotransmitter release. These results provide theoretical support for the emerging awareness of astrocytes as active players in the regulation of neural activity and identify neuron-astrocyte interactions as a potential primary mechanism for the emergence of ultra-slow cortical oscillations.
Switching from biphasic human insulin to biphasic insulin aspart 30 in type 2 diabetes: results from the ASEAN subgroup of the A₁chieve study

Hussein Z, Lim-Abrahan MA, Jain AB, Goh SY, Soewondo P

Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2013 Apr;100 Suppl 1:S24-9.
PMID: 23647714 DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8227(13)70006-8

Aim: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) in ASEAN type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients switched from biphasic human insulin (BHI) in the non-interventional 24-week A₁chieve study.

Methods: Indonesian, Malaysian, Filipino and Singaporean patients switched from BHI to BIAsp 30 at their physicians' discretion were included. The incidence of serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs), including major hypoglycaemia was the primary endpoint. Changes in hypoglycaemia, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG), lipids, body weight and systolic blood pressure were also evaluated. Quality of life (QoL) was measured using the EQ-5D questionnaire.

Results: For the 465 patients included (mean ± SD age: 56 ± 10.3 years, diabetes duration: 9.7 ± 7.1 years, baseline HbA1c: 9.4 ± 1.8%), the mean pre-study BHI dose was 0.62 ± 0.28 IU/kg and 63.4% were dosing BHI twice daily (bid). The mean baseline BIAsp 30 dose was 0.65 ± 0.27 U/kg, titrated up to 0.71 ± 0.28 U/kg over 24 weeks, and most patients continued bid dosing. No SADRs or major hypoglycaemic episodes were reported. The proportion of patients reporting overall hypoglycaemia decreased significantly from 10.8% at baseline to 3.4% at Week 24 (p < 0.0001). Significant improvements in glycaemic control were noted (HbA1c: -1.4 ± 1.7%, FPG: -56.7 ± 72.5 mg/dL, post-breakfast PPPG: -84.8 ± 82.8 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Mean QoL improved by +6.6 ± 14.6 points (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: BIAsp 30 was well-tolerated and significantly increased glycaemic control in this ASEAN subgroup poorly controlled on BHI.
Complete mitochondrial genome reveals genetic diversity of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae)

Yong HS, Song SL, Eamsobhana P, Goh SY, Lim PE

Acta Trop, 2015 Dec;152:157-164.
PMID: 26348256 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.09.001

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic parasite that causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Earlier work on its mitochondrial genome was based on long polymerase chain reaction method. To date, only the mitogenome of the isolates from China has been studied. We report here the complete mitogenome of the Thailand isolate based on next generation sequencing and compare the genetic diversity with other isolates. The mitogenome of the Thailand isolate (13,519bp) is longer than those of the China isolates (13,497-13,502bp). Five protein-coding genes (atp6, cox1, cox2, cob, nad2) show variations in length among the isolates. The stop codon of the Thailand isolate differs from the China and Taiwan isolates in 4 genes (atp6, cob, nad2, nad6). Additionally, the Thailand isolate has 4 incomplete T stop codon compared to 3 in the China and Taiwan isolates. The control region is longer in the Thailand isolate (258bp) than the China (230-236bp) and Taiwan (237bp) isolates. The intergenic sequence between nad4 and cox1 genes in the Thailand isolate lacks 2bp (indels) at the 5'-end of the sequence as well as differs at 7 other sites compared to the China and Taiwan isolates. In the Thailand isolate, 18 tRNAs lack the entire TΨC-arm, compared to 17 in the China isolate and 16 in the Taiwan isolate. Phylogenetic analyses based on 36 mt-genes, 12 PCGs, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and control region all indicate closer genetic affinity between the China and Taiwan isolates compared to the Thailand isolate. Based on 36 mt-genes, the inter-isolate genetic distance varies from p=3.2% between China and Taiwan isolates to p=11.6% between Thailand and China isolates. The mitogenome will be useful for population, phylogenetics and phylogeography studies.
Fulltext Quorum sensing activity of Citrobacter amalonaticus L8A, a bacterium isolated from dental plaque

Goh SY, Khan SA, Tee KK, Abu Kasim NH, Yin WF, Chan KG

Sci Rep, 2016;6:20702.
PMID: 26860259 DOI: 10.1038/srep20702

Cell-cell communication is also known as quorum sensing (QS) that happens in the bacterial cells with the aim to regulate their genes expression in response to increased cell density. In this study, a bacterium (L8A) isolated from dental plaque biofilm was identified as Citrobacter amalonaticus by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Its N-acylhomoserine-lactone (AHL) production was screened by using two types of AHL biosensors namely Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Escherichia coli [pSB401]. Citrobacter amalonaticus strain L8A was identified and confirmed producing numerous types of AHL namely N-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL), N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL) and N-hexadecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C16-HSL). We performed the whole genome sequence analysis of this oral isolate where its genome sequence reveals the presence of QS signal synthase gene and our work will pave the ways to study the function of the related QS genes in this bacterium.
Iodization of village water supply in the control of endemic iodine deficiency in rural Sarawak, Malaysia

Foo LC, Zainab T, Goh SY, Letchuman GR, Nafikudin M, Doraisingam P, et al.

Biomed Environ Sci, 1996 Sep;9(2-3):236-41.
PMID: 8886337

A simple water iodizing system, which incorporates the Venturi principle in combination with the controlled release mechanism of a silicone-sodium iodide elastomer, for the iodization of rural piped-water supply in the control of endemic iodine deficiency has been developed and its effectiveness evaluated in three Iban longhouse villages in the iodine-deficient district of Lubok Antu, Sarawak. Urines were collected for iodine assays from women aged 15-40 years before and at 6 and 12 months after the connection of the iodinating device; goiter assessment was performed on the women at the start and end of the 1-year study. Water samples were collected for iodine assays at 2-weekly intervals. In all three villages, significant and sustained increases in median urinary iodine excretions, reaching levels recommended for an iodine-sufficient population, were observed; goitre prevalences were reduced in all the villages (by 22.6% to 35.8%). The iodine levels in the water ranged from 34 micrograms/l to 212 micrograms/L. In the control village, median urinary iodine excretions remained essentially unchanged but a small increase in goiter prevalence was observed. The iodized water was well received by the villagers and no adverse effects of water iodization were observed. The system functioned unattended throughout the one year period. The cost of providing supplemental iodine via the iodizing device is approximately 60 cents (U.S.) per family per year which is affordable by either the Government or the villagers. It is concluded that the iodizing system offers a new cost-effective strategy for the control of endemic iodine deficiency in Sarawak and may have applications in other areas with similar water sources.
Optimizing cryopreservation of mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cell layer to improve production of murine embryonic stem cell outgrowth

Norzaiwin NF, Goh SY, Chung JW, Wan Khadijah WE, Abdullah RB

Rom J Morphol Embryol, 2016;57(4):1357-1363.
PMID: 28174804

The inconsistency of efficiency in murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) production might be associated with the differences in preparation and cryopreservation of the feeder cell layer. As the cryopreservation of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) declined the quality of MEF as feeder cell layer, an effective protocol should be determined to produce murine ESC on frozen-thawed feeder cell layer as efficient on fresh feeder cell layer. Under appropriate culture conditions, isolated inner cell mass (ICM) of murine blastocyst will form ESC and be maintained in undifferentiated state. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the most optimum freezing density and equilibration duration for cryopreserving MEF feeder cell layer and to determine the effect of fresh and frozen-thawed feeder cell layer on murine ESC production. Freezing density of 5×106 cells÷mL gave a significantly higher viability rate than 0.5×106 cells÷mL (68.08% vs. 59.78%, p<0.05) and comparable with 2×106 cells÷mL. The viability rates of frozen-thawed MEF derived from 15 minutes equilibration was significantly higher than 20 hours equilibration (79.4% vs. 68.08, p<0.05). There were no significant differences between fresh and frozen-thawed MEF feeder cell layer for percent successful attachment of blastocysts, consecutive passages of murine ESC up to passage 3. In conclusion, freezing density of 5×106 cells÷mL and 15 minutes equilibration duration are optimizing the cryopreservation of MEF feeder cell layer to subsequently improve the production of murine ESC.
Fulltext Characterization of Der f 22 - a paralogue of the major allergen Der f 2

Reginald K, Tan CL, Chen S, Yuen L, Goh SY, Chew FT

Sci Rep, 2018 08 06;8(1):11743.
PMID: 30082894 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30224-z

We previously identified an expressed sequence tag clone, Der f 22, showing 41% amino acid identity to published Der f 2, and show that both genes are possible paralogues. The objective of this study was to characterize the genomic, proteomic and immunological functions Der f 22 and Der f 2. The full-length sequence of Der f 2 and Der f 22 coded for mature proteins of 129 and 135 amino acids respectively, both containing 6 cysteine residues. Phylogenetic analysis of known group 2 allergens and their homologues from our expressed sequence tag library showed that Der f 22 is a paralogue of Der f 2. Both Der f 2 and Der f 22 were single gene products with one intron. Both allergens showed specific IgE-binding to over 40% of the atopic patients, with limited of cross-reactivity. Both allergens were detected at the gut region of D. farinae by immunostaining. Der f 22 is an important allergen with significant IgE reactivity among the atopic population, and should be considered in the diagnostic panel and evaluated as future hypoallergen vaccine therapeutic target.
Diversity of microbiota associated with symptomatic and non-symptomatic bacterial wilt-diseased banana plants determined using 16S rRNA metagenome sequencing

Suhaimi NSM, Goh SY, Ajam N, Othman RY, Chan KG, Thong KL

World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2017 Aug 21;33(9):168.
PMID: 28828756 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-017-2336-0

Banana is one of the most important fruits cultivated in Malaysia, and it provides many health benefits. However, bacterial wilt disease, which attacks bananas, inflicts major losses on the banana industry in Malaysia. To understand the complex interactions of the microbiota of bacterial wilt-diseased banana plants, we first determined the bacterial communities residing in the pseudostems of infected (symptomatic) and diseased-free (non-symptomatic) banana plants. We characterized the associated microorganisms using the targeted 16S rRNA metagenomics sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Taxonomic classifications revealed 17 and nine known bacterial phyla in the tissues of non-symptomatic and symptomatic plants, respectively. Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria (accounted for more than 99% of the 16S rRNA gene fragments) were the two most abundant phyla in both plants. The five major genera found in both plant samples were Ralstonia, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, Flavobacterium, and Pseudomonas. Ralstonia was more abundant in symptomatic plant (59% out of the entire genera) as compared to those in the non-symptomatic plant (only 36%). Our data revealed that 102 bacterial genera were only assigned to the non-symptomatic plant. Overall, this study indicated that more diverse and abundant microbiota were associated with the non-symptomatic bacterial wilt-diseased banana plant as compared to the symptomatic plant. The higher diversity of endophytic microbiota in the non-symptomatic banana plant could be an indication of pathogen suppression which delayed or prevented the disease expression. This comparative study of the microbiota in the two plant conditions might provide caveats for potential biological control strategies.
Fulltext Prevalence of diabetes complications in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with baseline characteristics in the multinational A1chieve study

Litwak L, Goh SY, Hussein Z, Malek R, Prusty V, Khamseh ME

Diabetol Metab Syndr, 2013 Oct 24;5(1):57.
PMID: 24228724 DOI: 10.1186/1758-5996-5-57

BACKGROUND: Current International Diabetes Federation guidelines recommend a target HbA1c <7.0%, but many people with diabetes worldwide find this difficult to achieve, increasing their risk of developing complications. This publication examines the prevalence of diabetes complications and its association with baseline characteristics in people with type 2 diabetes who participated in the A1chieve study.
METHODS: A1chieve was a 24-week, multinational, open-label, observational study of 66,726 people with type 2 diabetes who had begun using biphasic insulin aspart 30, insulin aspart, or insulin detemir in routine clinical care. Participants were enrolled from 28 countries across four continents (Asia, Africa, Europe and South America). Baseline measurements of disease characteristics included: glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting (FPG) and post-prandial plasma glucose (PPG), high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (H- or LDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and body mass index (BMI). Data on complications and use of vascular disease preventative drugs were collected.
RESULTS: Complication rates were high (27.2% had macrovascular complications and 53.5% had microvascular complications), particularly in Russia, and use of vascular disease preventative drugs was lower than expected. Age, BMI, diabetes duration, LDL-C, and SBP were positively associated, and HDL-C negatively associated, with macro- and microvascular complications (all p
Fulltext Hypoglycaemia among Insulin-Treated Patients with Diabetes: Southeast Asia Cohort of IO HAT Study

Pathan F, Goh SY, Rudijanto A, Gadekar A, Jain A, Nicodemus N

J ASEAN Fed Endocr Soc, 2018;33(1):28-36.
PMID: 33442108 DOI: 10.15605/jafes.033.01.05

Objective: To provide real-world data on hypoglycaemia incidence in patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) from the Southeast Asian cohort of the International Operations Hypoglycaemia Assessment Tool (IO HAT) study.
Methodology: IO HAT was a non-interventional, multicentre, 6-month retrospective and 4-week prospective study of hypoglycaemic events among insulin-treated adults with T1D or T2D, including four countries in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh). Data were collected using a two-part self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ1 for retrospective and SAQ2 for prospective). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients experiencing at least one hypoglycaemic event during the 4-week prospective observational period (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02306681).
Results: A total of 2594 patients completed SAQ1. Nearly all patients reported experiencing any hypoglycaemic event in the 4-week prospective period (T1D, 100%; T2D, 97.3%), with all patients reporting higher rates in the prospective versus retrospective period. Severe hypoglycaemia was also reported higher prospectively (57.2% and 76.9%) than retrospectively (33.9% and 12.2%) in both T1D and T2D, respectively. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia was reported higher retrospectively than prospectively.
Conclusion: Incidence of any and severe hypoglycaemia in the Southeast Asian cohort of IO HAT was higher prospectively versus retrospectively, suggesting hypoglycaemia has previously been under-reported in this region.
Fulltext Unusual multiple production of N-acylhomoserine lactones a by Burkholderia sp. strain C10B isolated from dentine caries

Goh SY, Tan WS, Khan SA, Chew HP, Abu Kasim NH, Yin WF, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2014;14(5):8940-9.
PMID: 24854358 DOI: 10.3390/s140508940

Bacteria realize the ability to communicate by production of quorum sensing (QS) molecules called autoinducers, which regulate the physiological activities in their ecological niches. The oral cavity could be a potential area for the presence of QS bacteria. In this study, we report the isolation of a QS bacterial isolate C10B from dentine caries. Preliminary screening using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 biosensor showed that isolate C10B was able to produce N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). This bacterium was further identified as a member of Burkholderia, an opportunistic pathogen. The isolated Burkholderia sp. was confirmed to produce N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL), N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) and N-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C12-HSL).
Fulltext Mitochondrial Genome Supports Sibling Species of Angiostrongylus costaricensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae)

Yong HS, Song SL, Eamsobhana P, Goh SY, Lim PE, Chow WL, et al.

PLoS One, 2015;10(7):e0134581.
PMID: 26230642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134581

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a zoonotic parasitic nematode that causes abdominal or intestinal angiostrongyliasis in humans. It is endemic to the Americas. Although the mitochondrial genome of the Brazil taxon has been published, there is no available mitochondrial genome data on the Costa Rica taxon. We report here the complete mitochondrial genome of the Costa Rica taxon and its genetic differentiation from the Brazil taxon. The whole mitochondrial genome was obtained from next-generation sequencing of genomic DNA. It had a total length of 13,652 bp, comprising 36 genes (12 protein-coding genes-PCGs, 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA genes) and a control region (A + T rich non-coding region). It is longer than that of the Brazil taxon (13,585 bp). The larger mitogenome size of the Costa Rica taxon is due to the size of the control region as the Brazil taxon has a shorter length (265 bp) than the Costa Rica taxon (318 bp). The size of 6 PCGs and the start codon for ATP6, CYTB and NAD5 genes are different between the Costa Rica and Brazil taxa. Additionally, the two taxa differ in the stop codon of 6 PCGs. Molecular phylogeny based on 12 PCGs was concordant with two rRNA, 22 tRNA and 36 mitochondrial genes. The two taxa have a genetic distance of p = 16.2% based on 12 PCGs, p = 15.3% based on 36 mitochondrial genes, p = 13.1% based on 2 rRNA genes and p = 10.7% based on 22 tRNA genes, indicating status of sibling species. The Costa Rica and Brazil taxa of A. costaricensis are proposed to be accorded specific status as members of a species complex.
Fulltext Randomised controlled clinical trial of a structured cognitive rehabilitation in patients with attention deficit following mild traumatic brain injury: study protocol

Hamzah N, Narayanan V, Ramli N, Mustapha NA, Mohammad Tahir NA, Tan LK, et al.

BMJ Open, 2019 09 18;9(9):e028711.
PMID: 31537559 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028711

OBJECTIVES: To measure the clinical, structural and functional changes of an individualised structured cognitive rehabilitation in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) population.
SETTING: A single centre study, Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged between 18 and 60 years with mTBI as a result of road traffic accident, with no previous history of head trauma, minimum of 9 years education and abnormal cognition at 3 months will be included. The exclusion criteria include pre-existing chronic illness or neurological/psychiatric condition, long-term medication that affects cognitive/psychological status, clinical evidence of substance intoxication at the time of injury and major polytrauma. Based on multiple estimated calculations, the minimum intended sample size is 50 participants (Cohen's d effect size=0.35; alpha level of 0.05; 85% power to detect statistical significance; 40% attrition rate).
INTERVENTIONS: Intervention group will receive individualised structured cognitive rehabilitation. Control group will receive the best patient-centred care for attention disorders. Therapy frequency for both groups will be 1 hour per week for 12 weeks.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: Neuropsychological Assessment Battery-Screening Module (S-NAB) scores. Secondary: Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) parameters and Goal Attainment Scaling score (GAS).
RESULTS: Results will include descriptive statistics of population demographics, CogniPlus cognitive program and metacognitive strategies. The effect of intervention will be the effect size of S-NAB scores and mean GAS T scores. DTI parameters will be compared between groups via repeated measure analysis. Correlation analysis of outcome measures will be calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient.
CONCLUSION: This is a complex clinical intervention with multiple outcome measures to provide a comprehensive evidence-based treatment model.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee UMMC (MREC ID NO: 2016928-4293). The findings of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03237676.

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