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Fulltext Caecocentral Scotoma: A Rare Presentation of Optic Perineuritis

Mohamad SA, Zunaina E, Wan Hitam WH

Cureus, 2019 Nov 08;11(11):e6101.
PMID: 31886042 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6101

Optic perineuritis (OPN) is a subtype of optic neuritis (ON) in which the inflammatory process involves meningeal sheath surrounding the optic nerve. Clinically, OPN simulates ON. However, in contrast to ON, patient with OPN shows sparing of central vision, improves dramatically with high-dose corticosteroid, are more likely to experience recurrence after stopping treatment. We report a rare case of caecocentral scotoma observed in a female with typical ON symptoms. Her magnetic resonance imaging showed features in line with OPN. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone 1 g/day for five days followed by slow tapering dose of oral prednisolone for one month. Her vision improved dramatically with a resolution of visual field defect. No relapses seen within two years of follow-up.
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for confirming thin layer chromatography (TLC) findings in inborn errors of metabolism children in Malaysia

Yahya NA, Ismail Z, Embong KH, Mohamad SA

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995;26 Suppl 1:130-3.
PMID: 8629091

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) is recently used for confirming the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) especially amino acid disorders in Malaysian children. The method of HPLC used is a precolumn derivatization of amino acids with phenylisothiocyanate and is separated by reversed phase chromatography using 3.9 x 300 mm free amino acid columns and is detected by a UV/Vis detector. The samples are obtained from cases suspected of inborn errors of metabolism, especially of amino acid disorders, which are detected clinically by pediatricians. Initially, samples from patients suspected of inborn errors of metabolism, either urine or serum, are run on one-dimensional thin layer chromatography and supplementary chemical tests to detect the abnormal bands and associated abnormalities respectively. Positive samples are further run on HPLC to determine the specific amino acids abnormality. An examples of a case of maple syrup urine disease is discussed, based on the thin layer chromatography findings and HPLC findings.
Fulltext Frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila and Chlamydia spp. among patients with atypical pneumonia in Tehran

Noori Goodarzi N, Pourmand MR, Rajabpour M, Arfaatabar M, Mosadegh M, Syed Mohamad SA

New Microbes New Infect, 2020 Sep;37:100744.
PMID: 32953125 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100744

Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila and Chlamydia pneumoniae are the most common bacterial agents, which account for 15-40%, 2-15% and 5-10% of atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) respectively. These agents are mostly associated with infection in the outpatient setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of these pathogens among patients with CAP attending outpatient clinics in Tehran. A cross-sectional study was carried out of 150 patients attending to educational hospitals in Tehran with CAP. M. pneumoniae, L. pneumophila and Chlamydia spp. were detected by PCR assay, targeting the P1 adhesion gene, macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) gene and 16S rRNA gene respectively from throat swabs obtained from each patient. A total of 86 (57.3%) of 150 patients were women; median age was 50 years (interquartile range, 35-65 years). M. pneumoniae, L. pneumophila and Chlamydia spp. were detected in 37 (24.7%), 25 (16.7%) and 11 (7.3%) patients respectively; of these, 66 patients (44%) were infected at least by one of these three pathogens. The frequency of L. pneumophila was significantly higher among patients over 60 years old (p 0.03). Coinfection was detected in seven patients (4.7%); six were infected by M. pneumoniae and L. pneumophila, and only one was infected by L. pneumophila and Chlamydia spp. M. pneumoniae was the most prevalent agent of atypical CAP, and L. pneumophila was more likely to infect elderly rather than younger people. Further studies on the prevalence of CAP and its aetiologic agents are needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of CAP patients.
Fulltext Atypical Ocular Toxoplasmosis With Remote Vasculitis and Kyrieleis Plaques

Teng Siew T, Mohamad SA, Sudarno R, Md Said H

Cureus, 2024 Jan;16(1):e52756.
PMID: 38389616 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52756

Retinal vasculitis is common in ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) and typically occurs in the same quadrant as retinochoroiditis. This is a case of atypical ocular toxoplasmosis with remote vasculitis distant from the retinochoroiditis lesion. Examination of the left fundus showed the classic posterior segment finding of "headlight in the fog" in the absence of a chorioretinal scar. Retinal vasculitis was noted in all four quadrants at the periphery far from the retinitis area. A presumptive diagnosis of acute panuveitis secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis was made despite the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Toxoplasmosis antibody being pending. The patient was treated empirically with oral sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim for eight weeks and received both oral and topical corticosteroids. His symptoms and ocular signs have significantly improved. This case report highlights an atypical remote localization of vasculitis with the classic appearance of retinochoroiditis and vitritis, which is highly due to toxoplasmosis. Early initiation of antibiotic therapy is recommended despite pending serology to ensure a good final visual and ocular outcome.
Fulltext Light After Darkness: A Case Report of Isolated Optic Perineuritis

Abdul Rahman Z, Mohamad SA, Abdul Hamid H

Cureus, 2024 Mar;16(3):e55811.
PMID: 38586634 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55811

This is a report on remarkable visual recovery from blindness in a case of isolated optic perineuritis (OPN). A 68-year-old Chinese lady presented with a two-week history of progressive painless bilateral vision loss. Her vision was 6/18 on the right eye and no perception of light (NPL) on the left eye with positive relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). Fundus showed hyperaemic and swollen optic disc bilaterally. MRI of the brain and orbit revealed hyperintense periventricular white matter lesions, possibly early changes of multiple sclerosis (MS), and perineural enhancement of optic nerve bilaterally, consistent with OPN. All other investigations were negative. Intravenous methylprednisolone 1g/day for three days was started, followed with oral prednisolone, tapered in three months. At the third month of follow-up, her vision had improved to 6/12 on the left and 6/9 on the right. The hyperaemic and swollen disc has resolved. Intravenous megadose corticosteroid treatment is an effective first-line treatment for OPN.
Fractionation and Biological Activities of Water-Soluble Polysaccharides from Sclerotium of Tiger Milk Medicinal Mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Agaricomycetes)

Keong CY, B V, Daker M, Hamzah MY, Mohamad SA, Lan J, et al.

Int J Med Mushrooms, 2016;18(2):141-54.
PMID: 27279536 DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v18.i2.50

This study investigated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and the direct cytotoxic effect of Lignosus rhinocerotis fractions, especially the polysaccharide fraction, on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. L. rhinocerotis crude extract was obtained through hot water extraction. The precipitate saturated with 30% ammonium sulfate was purified with ion-exchanged chromatography. Gel permeation chromatography multiangle laser light scattering analysis equipped with light scattering and UV signals revealed two district groups of polymers. A total of four peaks were observed in the total carbohydrate test. Fraction C, which was the second region of the second peak eluted with 0.3 M NaOH, showed the highest integrated molecular weight, whereas fraction E had the lowest integrated molecular weight of 19,790 Da. Fraction A contained the highest β-D-glucan content. Enzymatic analysis showed that most of the polysaccharide fractions contained β-1-3 and β-1-6 skeletal backbones. The peak eluted with 0.6 M NaOH was separated in fraction D (flask 89-92) and fraction E (93-96). The results showed that fraction E expressed higher antioxidant activities than fraction D whereas fraction D expressed higher chelating activity than fraction E. The extract saturated with 30% ammonium sulfate exhibited higher reducing power than the extract saturated with 100% ammonium sulfate. Fractions D and E significantly inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. There was no apparent difference in the viability of cells exposed or unexposed to L. rhinocerotis fractions.
A new symmetrical tetramer oligostilbenoid containing tetrahydrofuran ring from the stem bark of Dryobalanops lanceolata

Ahmat N, Wibowo A, Mohamad SA, Low AL, Sufian AS, Yusof MI, et al.

J Asian Nat Prod Res, 2014;16(11):1099-107.
PMID: 25034352 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2014.938059

A new tetramer oligostilbenoid possessing tetrahydrofuran ring, malaysianol C (1), was isolated from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Dryobalanops lanceolata, together with four known oligostilbenoids nepalensinol E (2), ϵ-viniferin (3), laevifonol (4), and ampelopsin F (5). The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence. The antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using resazurin microtitre-plate assay, whereas the cytotoxic activity was tested using MTT assay. The plausible biogenetic routes of the isolated compounds are also discussed.
Malaysianol B, an oligostilbenoid derivative from Dryobalanops lanceolata

Wibowo A, Ahmat N, Hamzah AS, Low AL, Mohamad SA, Khong HY, et al.

Fitoterapia, 2012 Dec;83(8):1569-75.
PMID: 22982329 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.09.004

A new oligostilbenoid tetramer, malaysianol B (1), was isolated from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Dryobalanops lanceolata along with seven oligostilbenoids tetramers; hopeaphenol (2), stenophyllol A (3), nepalensinol B (4), vaticanol B (5) and C (6), upunaphenol D (7), and flexuosol A (8). The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data evidence. The antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using resazurin microtitre-plate assay.
Fulltext In Vitro Evaluations and In Vivo Toxicity and Efficacy Studies of MFM501 against MRSA

Johari SA, Mohtar M, Syed Mohamad SA, Mohammat MF, Sahdan R, Mohamed A, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2017;2017:8032865.
PMID: 28536702 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8032865

Previously we have discovered a synthetically derived pyrrolidone alkaloid, MFM501, exhibiting good inhibitory activity against 53 MRSA and MSSA isolates with low cytotoxicity against three normal cell-lines with IC50 values at >625 µg/ml. Time-kill assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, in vivo oral acute toxicity test, and mice peritonitis model were carried out in this study. In the time-kill study, MFM501 showed a less than 3 log10 decrease in bacterial colony concentration value (CFU/ml) which represented a bacteriostatic action while displaying a time-dependent inhibitory mechanism. Following that, SEM analysis suggested that MFM501 may exert its inhibitory activity via cytoplasmic membrane disruption. Moreover, MFM501 showed no toxicity effect on treated mice at an estimated median acute lethal dose (LD50) value of more than 300 mg/kg and less than 2000 mg/kg. For the efficacy test, a mean effective dose (ED50) of 87.16 mg/kg was obtained via a single dose oral administration. Our data demonstrated that MFM501 has the potential to be developed further as a new, safe, and effective oral-delivered antibacterial agent against MRSA isolates.
Fulltext Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and Neuroprotection, What Is New? An Up-To-Date Systematic Review

Abd Mutalib N, Syed Mohamad SA, Jusril NA, Hasbullah NI, Mohd Amin MCI, Ismail NH

Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2023 May 07;16(5).
PMID: 37242494 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050712

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the potential role of probiotics has become prominent in the discoveries of neurotherapy against neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exhibit neuroprotective properties and exert their effects via various mechanisms of actions. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of LAB on neuroprotection reported in the literature.
METHODS: A database search on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct revealed a total of 467 references, of which 25 were included in this review based on inclusion criteria which comprises 7 in vitro, 16 in vivo, and 2 clinical studies.
RESULTS: From the studies, LAB treatment alone or in probiotics formulations demonstrated significant neuroprotective activities. In animals and humans, LAB probiotics supplementation has improved memory and cognitive performance mainly via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite promising findings, due to limited studies available in the literature, further studies still need to be explored regarding synergistic effects, efficacy, and optimum dosage of LAB oral bacteriotherapy as treatment or prevention against neurodegenerative diseases.