MyMedR

Burkholderia cepacia: a rare cause of bacterial keratitis

Ibrahim M, Yap JY

BMJ Case Rep, 2018 Apr 25;2018.

PMID: 29695396 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224552

We describe the first clinical case of Burkholderia cepacia keratitis registered in Southeast Asia. A man in his mid-70s with underlying poorly controlled diabetes mellitus came with complaints of painful red left eye for 4 days. This was accompanied with photophobia and blurring of vision after being injured by a wooden particle while cutting grass. Slit-lamp examination showed a paracentral anterior corneal stromal infiltrates with overlying epithelial defect. Culture of the corneal smear isolated B. cepacia that was sensitive to ceftazidime, meropenem and bactrim (trimethorprim and sulfomethoxazole). Topical ceftazidime was given intensively to the patient and the infection resolved after 6 weeks of treatment.

Paraneoplastic optic neuropathy secondary to adenocarcinoma of the lung

Yap JY, Wan HItam WH, Abdul Halim S, Masnon NA

BMJ Case Rep, 2021 May 12;14(5).

PMID: 33980562 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-242082

We describe an uncommon cause of paraneoplastic optic neuropathy in adenocarcinoma of the lung. A 45-year-old healthy woman presented with seizure and encephalitis, followed by an acute visual loss in both eyes for 1 week. Her visual acuity was no perception of light in the right eye and hand movement in the left eye. There was a generalised restriction of extraocular muscle movements in both eyes. Funduscopy showed a bilateral pale optic disc. A paraneoplastic antigen autoimmune profile showed a positive anti-CV2/CRMP-5 antibody. CT of the thorax revealed the presence of right apical lung mass, confirmed to be adenocarcinoma through a biopsy. She was scheduled for lung lobectomy and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, her health deteriorated and she passed away eventually.

Effects of drying on total polyphenols content and antioxidant properties of Carica papaya leaves

Yap JY, Hii CL, Ong SP, Lim KH, Abas F, Pin KY

J Sci Food Agric, 2020 May;100(7):2932-2937.

PMID: 32031257 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10320

BACKGROUND: Papaya is widely grown in Malaysia and normally only the fruits are consumed. Other parts of the plant such as leaves, roots, bark, peel, seeds and pulp are also known to have medicinal properties and have been used to treat various diseases. Papaya leaves also contain flavonoids, alkaloids phenolic compounds and cynogenetic compounds, and are also reported to be able to treat dengue fever.

RESULTS: Studies were carried out on drying of papaya leaves using hot air (60, 70 and 80 °C), shade and freeze drying. Effective diffusivities were estimated ranging from 2.09 × 10-12 to 2.18 × 10-12 m2 s-1 from hot air drying, which are within the order of magnitudes reported for most agricultural and food products. The activation energy to initiate drying showed a relatively low value (2.11 kJ mol-1 ) as a result of the thin leave layer that eased moisture diffusion. In terms of total polyphenols content and antioxidant activities, freeze-dried sample showed a significantly higher (P

Microalgae biorefinery: High value products perspectives

Chew KW, Yap JY, Show PL, Suan NH, Juan JC, Ling TC, et al.

Bioresour Technol, 2017 Apr;229:53-62.

PMID: 28107722 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.01.006

Microalgae have received much interest as a biofuel feedstock in response to the uprising energy crisis, climate change and depletion of natural sources. Development of microalgal biofuels from microalgae does not satisfy the economic feasibility of overwhelming capital investments and operations. Hence, high-value co-products have been produced through the extraction of a fraction of algae to improve the economics of a microalgae biorefinery. Examples of these high-value products are pigments, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins and anti-oxidants, with applications in cosmetics, nutritional and pharmaceuticals industries. To promote the sustainability of this process, an innovative microalgae biorefinery structure is implemented through the production of multiple products in the form of high value products and biofuel. This review presents the current challenges in the extraction of high value products from microalgae and its integration in the biorefinery. The economic potential assessment of microalgae biorefinery was evaluated to highlight the feasibility of the process.

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