Arsenic Toxicity on Ludwigia octovalvis in Spiked Sand

Wilting, especially of the leaves, was observed as an initial symptom of arsenate [As(V)] to Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P. H. Raven. The plants tolerated As(V) levels of 39 mg kg^?1 for as long as 35 days of exposure. After 91 days, the maximum concentration of As uptake in the plant occurred at As(V) concentration of 65 mg kg^?1 while As concentration in the stems, roots and leaves were 6139.9 ± 829.5, 1284.5 ± 242.9 and 1126.1 ± 117.2 mg kg^?1, respectively. In conclusion, As(V) could cause toxic effects in L. octovalvis and the plants could uptake and accumulate As in plant tissues.     

C-27 and C-3 Glucosylation of Diosgenin by Cell Suspension Cultures of Costus Speciosus

Abstract

3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1″ → 2′)-β-D-glucopyranosyl], 27-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-spirost-5-ene-3β,27-diol was isolated from cell suspension cultures of Costus speciosus, following incubation with diosgenin, and its structure was elucidated using a combination of one- and two-dimensional ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data, and positive and negative ion ESMS spectral data.     

Facial Fractures in Kajang Hospital,Malaysia: A 5-Year Review

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the demographic data as well as other relevant data pertaining to the management of patients with maxillofacial injury in a Malaysian government regional hospital. Study Design: Medical records of 313 patients who sustained maxillofacial injury treated in Kajang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia over a 5-year period (1998–2002) were collected. Data regarding age, gender and race, etiology of injury, site of injury, other associated injuries and treatment undertaken were analyzed. Results: Two hundred and forty-nine male (79.6%) and 64 female patients (20.4%) were treated for maxillofacial trauma. The patients' age range from 1 to 67 years old, with a median age of 23 years old. A high number of Malays (60.1%) sustained maxillofacial injury, followed by Indians (16%), Chinese (13.4%) and other races (10.5%). Road traffic accident was the main etiology for maxillofacial injury with 230 cases (73.5%), followed by fall (16.6%), assault (5.4%), industrial accident (2.6%), sports injuries (0.6%) and others (1.3%). Mandibular fractures were the most common, occurring in 83.1% of the cases while the midfacial fractures accounted for 16.9%. Majority of patients were treated with closed reduction and intermaxillary fixation (88.1%) and 11.9% underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Conclusion: Road traffic accident involving motorcyclists was the main cause of maxillofacial trauma in Malaysia. The most common facial fracture was the mandibular fracture. Non-surgical manipulation of fracture was the most common treatment carried out in this hospital.     

体外震波碎石治疗小儿上尿道结石：（附14例报告）

应用国产ＪＴ－ＥＳＷＬ－Ⅲ型碎石机治疗小儿上尿道结石１４例，其中双肾结石２例，输尿管结石４例；结石大小５ｍｍ×４ｍｍ～５０ｍｍ×３５ｍｍ；７８％患者在肌注安定镇痛药下行碎石治疗，避免了全麻的副作用。所有结石均完全粉碎，无严重并发症，１个月结石排空率为９２％。认为体外震波碎石不仅可用于门诊小儿上尿道结石的碎石治疗，而且可用于治疗小儿复杂性、多发性肾结石。     

Establishment and characterization of Asian oral cancer cell lines as in vitro models to study a disease prevalent in Asia

We have established 3 cell lines ORL-48, -115 and -136 from surgically resected specimens obtained from untreated primary human oral squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity. The in vitro growth characteristics, epithelial origin, in vitro anchorage independency, human papilloma-virus (HPV) infection, microsatellite instability status, karyotype and the status of various cell cycle regulators and gatekeepers of these cell lines were investigated. All 3 cell lines grew as monolayers with doubling times ranging between 26.4 and 40.8 h and were immortal. Karyotyping confirmed that these cell lines were of human origin with multiple random losses and gains of entire chromosomes and regions of chromosomes. Immunohistochemistry staining of cytokeratins confirmed the epithelial origin of these cell lines, and the low degree of anchorage independency expressed by these cell lines suggests non-transformed phenotypes. Genetic analysis identified mutations in the p53 gene in all cell lines and hypermethylation of p16INK4a in ORL-48 and -136. Analysis of MDM2 and EGFR expression indicated MDM2 overexpression in ORL-48 and EGFR overexpression in ORL-136 in comparison to the protein levels in normal oral keratinocytes. Analysis of the BAT-26 polyadenine repeat sequence and MLH-1 and MSH-2 repair enzymes demonstrated that all 3 cell lines were microsatellite stable. The role of HPV in driving carcinogenesis in these tumours was negated by the absence of HPV. Finally, analysis of the tissues from which these cell lines were derived indicated that the cell lines were genetically representative of the tumours, and, therefore, are useful tools in the understanding of the molecular changes associated with oral cancers.     

Adults' perceived prevalence of enteric fever predicts laboratory-validated incidence of typhoid fever in children

This study was undertaken to develop a model to predict the incidence of typhoid in children based on adults' perception of prevalence of enteric fever in the wider community. Typhoid cases among children, aged 5-15 years, from epidemic regions in five Asian countries were confirmed with a positive Salmonella Typhi culture of the blood sample. Estimates of the prevalence of enteric fever were obtained from random samples of adults in the same study sites. Regression models were used for establishing the prediction equation. The percentages of enteric fever reported by adults and cases of typhoid incidence per 100,000, detected through blood culture were 4.7 and 24.18 for Viet Nam, 3.8 and 29.20 for China, 26.3 and 180.33 for Indonesia, 66.0 and 454.15 for India, and 52.7 and 407.18 for Pakistan respectively. An established prediction equation was: incidence of typhoid (1/100,000= -2.6946 + 7.2296 x reported prevalence of enteric fever (%) (F=31.7, p<0.01; R2=0.992). Using adults' perception of prevalence of disease as the basis for estimating its incidence in children provides a cost-effective behavioural epidemiologic method to facilitate prevention and control of the disease.     

Validation of nutritional screening tools against anthropometric and functional assessments among elderly people in selangor

This cross sectional study was conducted to determine the validity of three screening tools, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), Malnutrition Risk Screening Tool for Community (MRST-C) and Malnutrition Risk Screening Tool for Hospital (MRST-H) among elderly people at health clinics. The screening tools were validated against anthropometric and functional assessments. The anthropometric assessments that were carried out included body weight, height, arm span, body mass index (BMI), calf circumference (CC) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC). A set of questionnaire on manual dexterity, muscular strength, instrumental activities daily living (IADL) and cognitive status was used to assess functional abilities. A total of 156 subjects were recruited from rural (38 subjects) and urban (118 subjects) health clinics at Sabak Bernam and Cheras respectively. Subjects' age ranged from 60 to 83 years old, with 44.2% were men and 55.8% women. The prevalence of muscle wasting among the subjects assessed from MUAC and CC were both 7.0%. MNA-SF had the highest correlation with BMI (r = 0.497, p<0.001), followed by MUAC (r = 0.398, p<0.001), CC (r = 0.473, p<0.001), cognitive assessment (r = 0.229, p<0.001) and handgrip strength (r = 0.209, p<0.001). Whilst MRST-C had the highest correlation with IADL score (r =-0.320, p<0.001) and MRST-H had the highest correlation with the lock and key test (r = -0.325, p<0.01). Sensitivity was the highest for MNA-SF (93.2%), followed by MRST-H (52.5%) and MRST-C (25.8%). Specificity was the highest for MRST-H (97.3%), followed by MRST-C (90.8%) and MNA-SF (79.4%). Positive predictive value (PPV) for MRST-H, MNA-SF and MRST-C was 55.5%, 18.2% and 14.1%, respectively. In conclusion, among the screening tools being validated, MNA-SF is considered the most appropriate tool to be used in health clinics for identification of elderly individuals who are at high risk of malnutrition.     

Effectiveness of chemotherapy counselling on self-esteem and psychological affects among cancer patients in Malaysia: Randomized controlled trial

Objectives

The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate the outcomes of chemotherapy counselling based on the “Managing Patients on Chemotherapy” module on self-esteem and psychological affect (anxiety, depression) of cancer patients by pharmacists in ten selected government hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia.