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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.
Development of chitosan edible film incorporated with Chrysanthemum morifolium essential oil

Tan LF, Elaine E, Pui LP, Nyam KL, Yusof YA

Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment, 2021 1 16;20(1):55-66.
PMID: 33449520 DOI: 10.17306/J.AFS.0771

BACKGROUND: Biodegradable food packaging has improved in quality with recent research incorporating natural extracts for functionality purposes. This research aims to develop chitosan film with Chrysanthemum morifolium essential oil to improve the shelf life of fresh raw chicken and beef.
METHODS: 1.5% (w/v) chitosan films with Chrysanthemum morifolium essential oil (0% to 6% (v/v)) were produced through homogenization, the casting of a film solution in a petri dish and convection drying. The edible film was evaluated in terms of its physical (color, thickness, water vapor permeability), mechanical (puncture strength, tensile strength, elongation at break) and chemical properties (antioxidant assay, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)).
RESULTS: With an increasing concentration of Chrysanthemum morifolium in the chitosan film, the test values of physical properties such as tensile strength, puncture force, and elongation at break declined significantly. However, the thickness, water permeability, and color profile (L*, a*, b*) values of the chitosan film increased. Similarly, the scavenging effect of antioxidant assay increased (from 4.97% to 18.63%) with a rise in Chrysanthemum morifolium concentration. 2%, 3%, and 4% of Chrysanthemum morifolium in the chitosan film showed a significant inhibition zone ranging from 2.67 mm to 3.82 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, a spoilage bacterium that is commonly found in chicken and beef products. The storage and pH tests showed that 4% of Chrysanthemum morifolium in the film maintained pH level (safe to consume), and the shelf life was extended from 3 days to 5 days of meat storage.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the incorporation of 4% (v/v) Chrysanthemum morifolium extract into 1.5% (w/v) chitosan film extends the storage duration of raw meat products noticeably by reducing Staphylococcus aureus activity. Therefore, it increases the quality of the edible film as an environmentally friendly food packaging material so that it can act as a substitute for the use of plastic bags. Future studies will be conducted on improving the tensile strength of the edible film to increase the feasibility of using it in the food industry. In addition, the microstructure and surface morphology of the edible film can be further determined.
Fulltext Decoding the Clinical Significance of Immunoglobulin G4 in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tan LF, Sakthiswary R, Veshaaliini UR, Shaharir SS, Wahab AA, Aziz S, et al.

J Clin Med, 2023 Jul 17;12(14).
PMID: 37510831 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144716

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 accounts for 4-6% of the total IgG in a healthy human. Several evidence-based studies have suggested that the level of IgG4 is significantly elevated in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The clinical significance of IgG4 in RA with regard to disease activity, severity, and treatment response remains elusive. We consecutively recruited 174 patients with RA from our rheumatology clinic. All subjects were assessed for their disease activity based on DAS28, radiographic joint damage based on the Modified Sharp Score (MSS), the functional capacity based on the Health Assessment Questionnaire -Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and treatment responsiveness using the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. The serum IgG4 of the recruited subjects was measured via the ELISA test. The mean serum IgG4 level was 60.23 ± 30.08 mg/dL. We found that serum IgG4 had significant positive correlations with disease activity (r = 0.406; p < 0.001), ESR (r = 0.155; p = 0.041), CRP (r = 0.269; p < 0.001), joint damage (r = 0.195; p = 0.012) and functional disability (r = 0.909; p < 0.001). Subjects with elevated IgG4 (IgG4 > 86 mg/dL) had significantly higher ESR, CRP, HAQ-DI, and DAS 28 and a poorer treatment response compared to the group with non-elevated IgG4. After multivariate analysis, only HAQ-DI (OR = 4.229, 95% CI 1.302, 15.751, p = 0.018) and DAS28 (OR = 3.743, 95% CI 1.062, 13.193, p = 0.040) remained significantly associated with elevated serum IgG4. The preliminary findings of this study could suggest serum IgG4 to be a potential biomarker of disease activity and functional disability in RA.
Evaluation of phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of a new polyherbal formulation TC-16: additive, synergistic or antagonistic?

Yap VL, Tan LF, Rajagopal M, Wiart C, Selvaraja M, Leong MY, et al.

BMC Complement Med Ther, 2023 Mar 28;23(1):93.
PMID: 36978110 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03921-0

BACKGROUND: Scientific literature has demonstrated the association of free radicals in the aetiology of various chronic diseases. Hence, the identification of potent antioxidants remains a useful task. The combination of multiple herbs in polyherbal formulations (PHF) is often associated with greater therapeutic efficacy due to synergistic interactions. However, antagonism can occur in natural product mixtures and the resultant antioxidant potential might not always be the additive value of the antioxidant properties of each component. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the phytochemicals, antioxidative potential and interaction among the herbs in TC-16, a new PHF comprising Curcuma longa L., Zingiber officinale var. Bentong, Piper nigrum L., Citrofortunella microcarpa (Bunge) Wijnands and Apis dorsata honey.
METHODS: TC-16 was screened for phytochemicals. Phenolic and flavonoid contents of TC-16 and its individual ingredients were determined, followed by assessment of antioxidant properties using in vitro assays including 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and β-carotene bleaching (BCB) assays. Interactions among the herbs were also investigated by calculating the difference in antioxidant activity and combination index.
RESULTS: Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and glycosides were present in TC-16. TC-16 possessed the highest phenolic (46.14 ± 1.40 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (132.69 ± 1.43 mg CE/g) contents following C. longa. Synergistic antioxidant activity among the herbs was evident in ORAC and BCB assays which uses mainly hydrogen atom transfer-based antioxidant mechanisms.
CONCLUSIONS: TC-16 demonstrated roles in combating free radicals. In a PHF, synergistic interaction among the herbs is observed in some but not all mechanisms. Mechanisms showing synergistic interactions should be highlighted to maximise the beneficial property of the PHF.
Fulltext Safety attitudes, burnout and well-being among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an Indo-Pacific regional cross-sectional study

Kanneganti A, Tan BYQ, Nik Ab Rahman NH, Leow AS, Denning M, Goh ET, et al.

Singapore Med J, 2023 Nov;64(11):667-676.
PMID: 35139631 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2022014

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact in Asia and has placed significant burden on already stretched healthcare systems. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the safety attitudes among healthcare workers (HCWs), as well as their associated demographic and occupational factors, and measures of burnout, depression and anxiety.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study utilising snowball sampling was performed involving doctors, nurses and allied health professions from 23 hospitals in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia between 29 May 2020 and 13 July 2020. This survey collated demographic data and workplace conditions and included three validated questionnaires: the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We performed multivariate mixed-model regression to assess independent associations with the SAQ total percentage agree rate (PAR).
RESULTS: We obtained 3,163 responses. The SAQ total PARs were found to be 35.7%, 15.0%, 51.0% and 3.3% among the respondents from Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia, respectively. Burnout scores were highest among respondents from Indonesia and lowest among respondents from India (70.9%-85.4% vs. 56.3%-63.6%, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that meeting burnout and depression thresholds and shifts lasting ≥12 h were significantly associated with lower SAQ total PAR.
CONCLUSION: Addressing the factors contributing to high burnout and depression and placing strict limits on work hours per shift may contribute significantly towards improving safety culture among HCWs and should remain priorities during the pandemic.