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  1. Diverse Plasmids Harboring blaCTX-M-15 in Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 Isolates from Several Asian Countries
    Kim SY, Ko KS
    Microb Drug Resist, 2019 Mar;25(2):227-232.
    PMID: 30212274 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2018.0020
    To reveal whether an increase of CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 isolates is due to clonal dissemination across the countries, plasmids (pHK02-026, pM16-13, pIN03-01, and pTH02-34) were extracted from four K. pneumoniae isolates collected in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, respectively. Complete sequencing of blaCTX-M-15-carrying plasmids was performed. In addition to the four plasmids, a previously sequenced plasmid (pKP12226) of a K. pneumoniae ST11 isolate from Korea was included in the analysis. While pIN03-01 and pTH02-34, which belonged to the incompatibility group IncX3, showed nearly the same structure, the others of IncF1A or IncFII exhibited very different structures. The number and kinds of antibiotic genes found in the plasmids were also different from each other. Cryptic prophage genes were identified in all five blaCTX-M-15-harboring plasmids from the ST11 isolates; P1-like region in pKP12226, CPZ-55 prophage region in pHK02-026, phage shock operon pspFABCD in pM16-13, and SPBc2 prophage yokD in pIN03-01 and pTH02-34. The plasmids with blaCTX-M-15 in the prevailing K. pneumoniae ST11 isolates in Asian countries might emerge from diverse origins by recombination. The prevalence of CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae ST11 clone in Asian countries is not mainly due to the dissemination of a single strain.
  2. A Comparative Study on the Constitutional Right to Health in the Western Pacific Region Countries
    Choi S, Park S, Kim SY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2018 07;30(5):458-469.
    PMID: 30051720 DOI: 10.1177/1010539518789351
    We examined the constitutional provisions on the right to health in the Western Pacific region countries and compared universal health coverage (UHC) achievement. In 9 of the 11 countries, the constitution had provisions related to health rights, of which 7 countries also included details related to the health care system. Additionally, 5 countries also had provisions for the vulnerable. The countries with weak state obligation and no clear provisions on health rights (China and Laos) all recorded low UHC achievement scores. Australia and Malaysia, which do not have constitutional provisions regarding health, have achieved high UHC achievement scores. Constitution is the supreme law of a country and the basis for developing and implementing health and medical laws and policies. In addition, laws or constitutions that regulate the rights to health can help gain access to health care. Follow-up research related to the constitutional right to health will be needed.
  3. Prediction of evapotranspiration variance in the Budyko framework with the incorporation of soil storage and runoff
    Jun C, Narimani R, Yeh PJ, Kim SY, Wu C
    Sci Total Environ, 2024 May 15;925:171839.
    PMID: 38513843 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171839
    Water availability needs to be accurately assessed to understand and effectively manage hydrologic environments. However, the estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is prone to errors due to the complex interactions that occur between the atmosphere, the Earth's surface, and vegetation cover. This paper proposes a novel approach for analyzing the sources of inaccuracy in estimating the annual ET using the Budyko framework (BF), particularly temporal variability in precipitation (P), potential evapotranspiration (EP), runoff (R), and the change in soil storage (ΔS). Error decomposition is employed to determine the individual contributions of P, R, EP, and ΔS to the ET error variance at 12 locations in the state of Illinois using a dataset covering a 22-year period. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first BF-based investigation that considers R in the error decomposition of the predicted ET variance. The ET error variance increases with the variance in the P and R in Illinois and decreases with the covariance between these two variables. In addition, when accounting for ΔS in the BF, the scenario in which ΔS affects the total available water (i.e., P) is reliable, with a low prediction error and a 13.87 % lower root mean square error compared with the scenario in which the effect of ΔS is negligible. We thus recommend the inclusion of ΔS and R as key variables in the BF to improve water budget estimations.
  4. Fulltext Asymmetric Open-Closed Dimer Mechanism of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthase PhaC
    Chek MF, Kim SY, Mori T, Tan HT, Sudesh K, Hakoshima T
    iScience, 2020 May 22;23(5):101084.
    PMID: 32388399 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101084
    Biodegradable polyester polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a promising bioplastic material for industrial use as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics. PHA synthase PhaC forms an active dimer to polymerize acyl moieties from the substrate acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) into PHA polymers. Here we present the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of PhaC from Chromobacterium sp. USM2, bound to CoA. The structure reveals an asymmetric dimer, in which one protomer adopts an open conformation bound to CoA, whereas the other adopts a closed conformation in a CoA-free form. The open conformation is stabilized by the asymmetric dimerization and enables PhaC to accommodate CoA and also to create the product egress path. The bound CoA molecule has its β-mercaptoethanolamine moiety extended into the active site with the terminal SH group close to active center Cys291, enabling formation of the reaction intermediate by acylation of Cys291.
  5. Fulltext Structure of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase PhaC from Chromobacterium sp. USM2, producing biodegradable plastics
    Chek MF, Kim SY, Mori T, Arsad H, Samian MR, Sudesh K, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2017 07 13;7(1):5312.
    PMID: 28706283 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05509-4
    Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a promising candidate for use as an alternative bioplastic to replace petroleum-based plastics. Our understanding of PHA synthase PhaC is poor due to the paucity of available three-dimensional structural information. Here we present a high-resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of PhaC from Chromobacterium sp. USM2, PhaC Cs -CAT. The structure shows that PhaC Cs -CAT forms an α/β hydrolase fold comprising α/β core and CAP subdomains. The active site containing Cys291, Asp447 and His477 is located at the bottom of the cavity, which is filled with water molecules and is covered by the partly disordered CAP subdomain. We designated our structure as the closed form, which is distinct from the recently reported catalytic domain from Cupriavidus necator (PhaC Cn -CAT). Structural comparison showed PhaC Cn -CAT adopting a partially open form maintaining a narrow substrate access channel to the active site, but no product egress. PhaC Cs -CAT forms a face-to-face dimer mediated by the CAP subdomains. This arrangement of the dimer is also distinct from that of the PhaC Cn -CAT dimer. These findings suggest that the CAP subdomain should undergo a conformational change during catalytic activity that involves rearrangement of the dimer to facilitate substrate entry and product formation and egress from the active site.
  6. Fulltext Anti-icing performance on aluminum surfaces and proposed model for freezing time calculation
    Nguyen VH, Nguyen BD, Pham HT, Lam SS, Vo DN, Shokouhimehr M, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 Feb 11;11(1):3641.
    PMID: 33574397 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80886-x
    In this work, we proposed a facile approach to fabricate a superhydrophobic surface for anti-icing performance in terms of adhesive strength and freezing time. A hierarchical structure was generated on as-received Al plates using a wet etching method and followed with a low energy chemical compound coating. Surfaces after treatment exhibited the great water repellent properties with a high contact angle and extremely low sliding angle. An anti-icing investigation was carried out by using a custom-built apparatus and demonstrated the expected low adhesion and freezing time for icephobic applications. In addition, we proposed a model for calculating the freezing time. The experimented results were compared with theoretical calculation and demonstrated the good agreement, illustrating the importance of theoretical contribution in design icephobic surfaces. Therefore, this study provides a guideline for the understanding of icing phenomena and designing of icephobic surfaces.
  7. Fulltext Author Correction: Anti-icing performance on aluminum surfaces and proposed model for freezing time calculation
    Nguyen VH, Nguyen BD, Pham HT, Lam SS, Vo DN, Shokouhimehr M, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 Apr 26;11(1):9349.
    PMID: 33903628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88230-7
  8. Fulltext Development of Cu3N electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium
    Sajeev A, Paul AM, Nivetha R, Gothandapani K, Gopal TS, Jacob G, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2022 Feb 07;12(1):2004.
    PMID: 35132114 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05953-x
    A wide variety of electrocatalysts has been evolved for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and it is reasonable to carry out HER with low cost electrocatalyst and a good efficiency. In this study, Cu3N was synthesized by nitridation of Cu2O and further utilized as an electrocatalyst towards HER. The developed Cu3N electrocatalyst was tested and results showed a low overpotential and moderate Tafel slope value (overpotential: 149.18 mV and Tafel slope 63.28 mV/dec at 10 mA/cm2) in alkaline medium with a charge transfer resistance value as calculated from electrochemical impendence spectroscopy being 1.44 Ω. Further from the experimental results, it was observed that the reaction kinetics was governed by Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism. Moreover, Cu3N has shown an improved rate of electron transfer and enhanced accessible active sites, due to its structural properties and electrical conductivity. Thus the overall results show an excellent electrochemical performance, leading to a new pathway for the synthesis of low cost electrocatalyst for energy conversion and storage.
  9. Fulltext The one health perspective to improve environmental surveillance of zoonotic viruses: lessons from COVID-19 and outlook beyond
    Leifels M, Khalilur Rahman O, Sam IC, Cheng D, Chua FJD, Nainani D, et al.
    ISME Commun, 2022;2(1):107.
    PMID: 36338866 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00191-8
    The human population has doubled in the last 50 years from about 3.7 billion to approximately 7.8 billion. With this rapid expansion, more people live in close contact with wildlife, livestock, and pets, which in turn creates increasing opportunities for zoonotic diseases to pass between animals and people. At present an estimated 75% of all emerging virus-associated infectious diseases possess a zoonotic origin, and outbreaks of Zika, Ebola and COVID-19 in the past decade showed their huge disruptive potential on the global economy. Here, we describe how One Health inspired environmental surveillance campaigns have emerged as the preferred tools to monitor human-adjacent environments for known and yet to be discovered infectious diseases, and how they can complement classical clinical diagnostics. We highlight the importance of environmental factors concerning interactions between animals, pathogens and/or humans that drive the emergence of zoonoses, and the methodologies currently proposed to monitor them-the surveillance of wastewater, for example, was identified as one of the main tools to assess the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by public health professionals and policy makers during the COVID-19 pandemic. One-Health driven approaches that facilitate surveillance, thus harbour the potential of preparing humanity for future pandemics caused by aetiological agents with environmental reservoirs. Via the example of COVID-19 and other viral diseases, we propose that wastewater surveillance is a useful complement to clinical diagnosis as it is centralized, robust, cost-effective, and relatively easy to implement.
  10. Integrated farming system producing zero emissions and sustainable livelihood for small-scale cattle farms: Case study in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
    Thanh Hai L, Tran QB, Tra VT, Nguyen TPT, Le TN, Schnitzer H, et al.
    Environ Pollut, 2020 Oct;265(Pt B):114853.
    PMID: 32480006 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114853
    This study proposes an integrated cattle breeding and cultivation system that provides zero emission and sustainable livelihood for the community in rural areas. The proposed integrated farming system improves agricultural productivity and environmental and sanitation conditions, minimizes the amount of waste, and increases the family income up to 41.55%. Several waste types can be recycled and transformed into valuable products, such as energy for cooking, organic fertilizer for crops, and cattle feed for breeding. Wastewater effluent from the biogas tank can be treated by biochar and results show that it then meets the standards for irrigation purposes. Also, the waste flow from cattle breeding supplies enough nutrients to cultivate plants, and the plants grown supply are adequate food for the 30 cows living on the farm. This research shows that the use of an integrated farming system could achieve zero-emission goal. Thereby, it provides a sustainable livelihood for cattle breeding family farms. The proposed integrated cattle breeding and cultivation system improves agricultural productivity, environmental and increases the farmer income up to 41.55%.
  11. Fulltext Contemporary fluid management, humidity, and patent ductus arteriosus management strategy for premature infants among 336 hospitals in Asia
    Hsieh YC, Jeng MJ, Lin MC, Lin YJ, Rohsiswatmo R, Dewi R, et al.
    Front Pediatr, 2024;12:1336299.
    PMID: 38487471 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1336299
    OBJECTIVES: The management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a critical concern in premature infants, and different hospitals may have varying treatment policies, fluid management strategies, and incubator humidity. The Asian Neonatal Network Collaboration (AsianNeo) collected data on prematurity care details from hospitals across Asian countries. The aim of this study was to provide a survey of the current practices in the management of PDA in premature infants in Asian countries.

    METHODS: AsianNeo performed a cross-sectional international questionnaire survey in 2022 to assess the human and physical resources of hospitals and clinical management of very preterm infants. The survey covered various aspects of hospitals resources and clinical management, and data were collected from 337 hospitals across Asia. The data collected were used to compare hospitals resources and clinical management of preterm infants between areas and economic status.

    RESULTS: The policy of PDA management for preterm infants varied across Asian countries in AsianNeo. Hospitals in Northeast Asia were more likely to perform PDA ligation (p 

  12. Fulltext Prevalence and perceptions of flavour capsule cigarettes among adults who smoke in Brazil, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Mexico: findings from the ITC surveys
    Kyriakos CN, Erinoso O, Driezen P, Thrasher JF, Katanoda K, Quah ACK, et al.
    BMJ Open, 2024 Apr 19;14(4):e083080.
    PMID: 38642995 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083080
    INTRODUCTION: The global market of flavour capsule cigarettes (FCCs) has grown significantly over the past decade; however, prevalence data exist for only a few countries. This study examined prevalence and perceptions of FCCs among adults who smoke across five countries.

    METHODS: Cross-sectional data among adults who smoked cigarettes came from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project Surveys-Brazil (2016/2017), Japan (2021), Republic of Korea (2021), Malaysia (2020) and Mexico (2021). FCCs use was measured based on reporting one's usual/current brand or favourite variety has flavour capsule(s). Perceptions of the harmfulness of one's usual brand versus other brands were compared between those who used capsules versus no capsules. Adjusted logistic regression models examined correlates of FCC use.

    RESULTS: There were substantial differences in the prevalence of FCC use among adults who smoke across the five countries: Mexico (50.3% in 2021), Republic of Korea (31.8% in 2021), Malaysia (26.5% in 2020), Japan (21.6% in 2021) and Brazil (6.7% in 2016/2017). Correlates of FCC use varied across countries. Capsule use was positively associated with being female in Japan and Mexico, younger age in Japan, Republic of Korea and Malaysia, high education in Brazil, Japan and Mexico, non-daily smoking in Republic of Korea, and having plans to quit in Japan and Republic of Korea. There was no consistent pattern of consumer perceptions of brand harmfulness.

    CONCLUSION: Our study documented the high prevalence of FCCs in some countries, pointing to the need to develop and implement regulatory strategies to control these attractive products.

  13. Fulltext Variations in medical practice of retinopathy of prematurity among 8 Asian countries from an international survey
    Youn YA, Kim SY, Cho SJ, Chang YS, Miyake F, Kusuda S, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2023 Sep 20;13(1):15602.
    PMID: 37730731 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42432-3
    Advances in perinatal care have led to the increased survival of preterm infants with subsequent neonatal morbidities, such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study aims to compare the differences of neonatal healthcare systems, resources, and clinical practice concerning ROP in Asia with review of current literature. An on-line survey at the institutional level was sent to the directors of 336 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in 8 collaborating national neonatal networks through the Asian Neonatal Network Collaboration (AsianNeo). ROP screening was performed in infants born at
  14. Fulltext Disruptive environmental chemicals and cellular mechanisms that confer resistance to cell death
    Narayanan KB, Ali M, Barclay BJ, Cheng QS, D'Abronzo L, Dornetshuber-Fleiss R, et al.
    Carcinogenesis, 2015 Jun;36 Suppl 1:S89-110.
    PMID: 26106145 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgv032
    Cell death is a process of dying within biological cells that are ceasing to function. This process is essential in regulating organism development, tissue homeostasis, and to eliminate cells in the body that are irreparably damaged. In general, dysfunction in normal cellular death is tightly linked to cancer progression. Specifically, the up-regulation of pro-survival factors, including oncogenic factors and antiapoptotic signaling pathways, and the down-regulation of pro-apoptotic factors, including tumor suppressive factors, confers resistance to cell death in tumor cells, which supports the emergence of a fully immortalized cellular phenotype. This review considers the potential relevance of ubiquitous environmental chemical exposures that have been shown to disrupt key pathways and mechanisms associated with this sort of dysfunction. Specifically, bisphenol A, chlorothalonil, dibutyl phthalate, dichlorvos, lindane, linuron, methoxychlor and oxyfluorfen are discussed as prototypical chemical disruptors; as their effects relate to resistance to cell death, as constituents within environmental mixtures and as potential contributors to environmental carcinogenesis.
  15. Poster presentations
    Aksu F, Topacoglu H, Arman C, Atac A, Tetik S, Hasanovic A, et al.
    Surg Radiol Anat, 2009 Sep;31 Suppl 1:95-229.
    PMID: 27392492 DOI: 10.1007/BF03371486
    Conference abstracts: Malaysia in affiliation
    (1). PO-211. AGE-SPECIFIC STRESS-MODULATED
    CHANGES OF SPLENIC IMMUNOARCHITECTURE
    IN THE GROWING BODY. Marina Yurievna Kapitonova, Syed Baharom Syed Ahmad Fuad, Flossie Jayakaran; Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
    syedbaharom@salam.uitm.edu.my
    (2). PO-213. A DETAILED OSTEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE ANOMALOUS GROOVES NEAR THE
    MASTOID NOTCH OF THE SKULL. ISrijit Das, 2Normadiah Kassim, lAzian Latiff, IFarihah Suhaimi, INorzana Ghafar, lKhin Pa Pa Hlaing, lIsraa Maatoq, IFaizah Othman; I Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2 Department of Anatomy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. das_sri jit23@rediffmail.com
    (3). PO-21S. FIRST LUMBRICAL MUSCLE OF THE
    PALM: A DETAILED ANATOMICAL STUDY WITH
    CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS. Srijit Das, Azian Latiff, Parihah Suhaimi, Norzana Ghafar, Khin Pa Pa Hlaing, Israa Maatoq, Paizah Othman; Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. das_srijit23@rediffmail.com
    (4). PO-336. IMPROVEMENT IN EXPERIMENTALLY
    INDUCED INFRACTED CARDIAC FUNCTION
    FOLLOWING TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN
    UMBILICAL CORD MATRIX-DERIVED
    MESENCHYMAL CELLS. lSeyed Noureddin Nematollahi-Mahani, lMastafa Latifpour, 2Masood Deilami, 3Behzad Soroure-Azimzadeh, lSeyed
    Hasan Eftekharvaghefi, 4Fatemeh Nabipour, 5Hamid
    Najafipour, 6Nouzar Nakhaee, 7Mohammad Yaghoobi, 8Rana Eftekharvaghefi, 9Parvin Salehinejad, IOHasan Azizi; 1 Department of Anatomy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 2 Department of Cardiosurgery, Hazrat-e Zahra Hospital, Kerman, Iran; 3 Department of Cardiology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 4 Department of Pathology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 5 Department of Physiology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 6 Department of Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 7 Department
    of Biotechnology, Research Institute of Environmental Science, International Center for Science, High Technology & Environmental Science, Kerman, Iran; 8 Students Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 9 Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia,
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 10 Department of Stem Cell, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. nnematollahi@kmu.ac.ir
    (5).
  16. Fulltext Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)
    Klionsky DJ, Abdelmohsen K, Abe A, Abedin MJ, Abeliovich H, Acevedo Arozena A, et al.
    Autophagy, 2016;12(1):1-222.
    PMID: 26799652 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356
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