An unceasing problem: soil-transmitted helminthiases in rural Malaysian communities

Despite great development in socioeconomic status throughout 50 years of independence, Malaysia is still plagued with soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH). STH continue to have a significant impact on public health particularly in rural communities. In order to determine the prevalence of STH among rural Orang Asli children and to investigate the possible risk factors affecting the pattern of this prevalence, fecal samples were collected from 292 Orang Asli primary schoolchildren (145 males and 147 females) age 7-12 years, from Pos Betau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. The samples were examined by Kato-Katz and Harada Mori techniques. Socioeconomic data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. The overall prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infections were 67.8, 95.5 and 13.4%, respectively. Twenty-nine point eight percent of the children had heavy trichuriasis, while 22.3% had heavy ascariasis. Sixty-seven point seven percent of the children had mixed infections. Age > 10 years (p = 0.016), no toilet in the house (p = 0.012), working mother (p = 0.040), low household income (p = 0.033), and large family size (p = 0.028) were identified as risk factors for ascariasis. Logistic regression confirmed low income, no toilet in the house and working mother as significant risk factors for ascariasis. The prevalence of STH is still very high in rural Malaysian communities. STH may also contribute to other health problems such as micronutrient deficiencies, protein-energy malnutrition and poor educational achievement. Public health personnel need to reassess current control measures and identify innovative and integrated ways in order to reduce STH significantly in rural communities.     

A neutral glycoprotease of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 specifically cleaves O-sialoglycoproteins.

A neutral metalloprotease with marked specificity for an O-sialoglycoprotein has been isolated from culture supernatants of Pasteurella haemolytica A1. The 35-kDa enzyme cleaves human erythrocyte glycophorin A, which is O glycosylated, but does not cleave N-glycosylated proteins or nonglycosylated proteins. Glycophorin A was cleaved when it was present in situ in erythrocyte ghost plasma membranes or when it was free in solution. The glycoprotease did not hydrolyze glycophorin A from which sialate residues had been removed by neuraminidase treatment. An immobilized preparation of the enzyme cleaved glycophorin A at several positions, with a major site of cleavage at Arg-31-Asp-32. The glycoprotease is inhibited by EDTA, citrate, and ascorbate, but inhibition appears to be due to the masking of metal ion activators rather than to their removal. The enzyme is not inhibited by phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of other bacterial neutral metalloproteases.     

Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability of Asiaticoside,Madecassoside and Asiatic Acid in Porcine Brain Endothelial Cell Model

Neurotherapeutic potentials of Centella asiatica and its reputation to boost memory, prevent cognitive deficits and improve brain functions are widely acknowledged. The plant's bioactive compounds, i.e. asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid were reported to have central nervous system (CNS) actions, particularly in protecting the brain against neurodegenerative disorders. Hence, it is important for these compounds to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to be clinically effective therapeutics. This study aimed to explore the capability of asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid to cross the BBB using in vitro BBB model from primary porcine brain endothelial cells (PBECs). Our findings showed that asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid are highly BBB permeable with apparent permeability (P_app) of 70.61 ± 6.60, 53.31 ± 12.55 and 50.94 ± 10.91 × 10^?6 cm/s respectively. No evidence of cytotoxicity and tight junction disruption of the PBECs were observed in the presence of these compounds. Asiatic acid showed cytoprotective effect towards the PBECs against oxidative stress. This study reported for the first time that Centella asiatica compounds demonstrated high capability to cross the BBB, comparable to central nervous system drugs, and therefore warrant further development as therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

A review of in vitro and in vivo methods and their correlations to assess mouthfeel of solid oral dosage forms

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Allergic reaction to abciximab with atypical manifestations

Abciximab (ReoPro, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana) is an intravenous agent that had been approved for treatment of acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary interventions. It is a chimeric monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor with a potential for the development of an immune response to variable portions within the antigen binding site following its administration.We describe a 58-year-old man who developed sudden headache, short of breath, choking and restlessness after receiving Abciximab for coronary intervention. Discontinuation of abciximab and administration of intravenous fluids, steroid and antihistamines led to improvement of his symptoms gradually.     

The role of radiologic,clinical and biochemical parameters in prediction of stroke mortality

Objectives:To assess National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), stroke volume, biochemical, and blood parameters for the prediction of one-month mortality in stroke patientsMethods:The study had retrospective design and 75 patients were involved that presented to a hospital Emergency Department between January 2016 and December 2017 in Adiyaman, Turkey diagnosed with acute ischemic cerebral infarction. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether mortality occurred within one month. Values for NIHSS, stroke volume, Glasgow Coma Scale, and blood parameters were compared between the groups.Results:Values for Glasgow Coma Scale p=0.002, NIHSS p=0.001, stroke volume p=0.003, monocyte/HDL ratio p=0.047, neutrophils p=0.01, white blood cell p=0.007, calcium p=0.016, and albumin p=0.027 were statistically significant for the prediction of one-month mortality. There were no significant differences between the groups for other parameters.Conclusion:The clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings individually provide significant support for the short-term prognosis of stroke. The evaluation of these results together can provide a clearer advance understanding of a prognosis to better manage the course of the disease and prevent death.

Stroke is the third most common cause of death for patients presenting to emergency departments worldwide.1 Thus, to foresee possible mortality and morbidity in stroke cases, adoption of the right treatment and follow-up approach is important.2 The quality of the health service in a hospital emergency department depends on the successful prediction of the course of the disease and the clinical picture that may arise. Being aware of the prognosis of the disease in advance is important not only for making optimal treatment decisions but also for correctly informing the patient and managing health expenditures.In the literature, clinical parameters such as C reactive protein (CRP), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and routine blood parameters such as albumin, infarct volume on admission, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score have previously been defined for the prediction of mortality in stroke cases.2-5 Pro-brain natriuretic peptides and pro-atrial natriuretic peptides, 2 other biochemical parameters that are not among the routine blood parameters, have also been shown to be important markers of stroke prognosis.6,7This study aimed to evaluate the association of clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters with one-month mortality in patients that presented to the emergency service and received a diagnosis of ischemic stroke.     

Prevalence of pre-diabetes and associated risk factors in an adult Omani population

The Sultanate of Oman has experienced an epidemiological transition over the last 4 decades with rising tide of non-communicable disease such as type-2 diabetes. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of pre-diabetes and explore the associated demographic, clinical and biochemical risk factors among a semi-urban Omani population. A semi-urban satellite town, Bidbid, located about 30 km west of the capital, Muscat, was selected as the study setting. The targeted participants were Omani adults (18 to 60 years old) who had resided in Bidbid municipality for at least 6 months prior to enrollment in the study. Using multistage random sampling, 1,600 Bidbid residents were invited to participate in the study. The study protocol gathered data on the socio-demographic and clinical backgrounds of the participants. Participants’ impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and cholesterol and triglyceride levels were then measured. The study surveyed 1,313 individuals (490 men and 823 women) out of 1,600 who had been invited to participate. The participation rate was higher among women than men (91.5% compared to 54.3%). A total of 459 individuals (35% of participants) were diagnosed as pre-diabetic by either the IGT or IFG test; 121 (9%) were pre-diabetic by virtue of both measurements. Male gender, advanced age and obesity were each independently associated with higher prevalence of pre-diabetes. Increased prevalence of pre-diabetes also correlated with the indices of hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidaemia. Pre-diabetes is a substantial health problem in Oman that may present a significant challenge to the national healthcare system in the near future. Customized interventions targeting groups with high risk of pre-diabetes, especially men, the elderly and the obese, are urgently needed.