Role of Nigella sativa and a number of its antioxidant constituents towards azoxymethane-induced genotoxic effects and colon cancer in rats

This study examined the chemopreventive effect of Nigella sativa and some of its antioxidant constituents on a number of colon cancer biomarkers in rats induced with azoxymethane (AOM). Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into ten subgroups: vehicle (1-5) and experimental (6-10). The rats in each group were fed one of the following diets: basal diet, (200 mg/kg) Nigella sativa, (0.2 mg/kg) selenium, (1.2 mg/kg) all-trans-retinol plus (100 mg/kg) DL-alpha-tocopherol and (10 mg/kg) thymoquinone, respectively. Only rats in subgroups 6-10 were injected with AOM (15 mg/kg) once per week for 2 weeks. Both groups were fed their respective diets for 5 weeks. Then they were killed and examined for colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Our result showed that only vitamin supplementation was effective on ACF. Nigella sativa revealed inhibitory effects only on DNA damage (day 34) in the AOM-treated rat group. Alternatively, selenium, thymoquinone and vitamins inhibited the MDA content in the liver. Although the exact mechanisms involved in the protective role of Nigella sativa against the initiation of colon carcinogenesis are not clearly understood, the results suggest that its inhibitory effects might depend on the combined competitive inhibition of various antioxidant constituents of this plant.     

Effects of the components of hormone therapy on matrix metalloproteinases in breast-cancer cells: an in vitro study

We describe our experience of over 300 cycles of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and report clinical pregnancy rates (35%-67%) that support using this technology to screen for genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. In clinical practice for over ten years, PGD offers couples the earliest form of genetic screening and may help improve ongoing pregnancy rates in poor-prognosis patients.     

Ligneous inflammation involving the female genital tract

Ligneous inflammation is a rare disease characterized by progressive growth of ligneous plaques on mucosal surfaces. Involvement of the female genital tract is an unusual condition. We present a patient with multifocal ligneous inflammation involving her genital tract, oral mucosa and conjunctiva. Plasminogen functional activity was 18% of normal (reference: 55-145%). Molecular analysis exhibited that her genetic status is homozygous for a combination of three polymorphisms. But no true mutation could be found in all 19 exons of the plasminogen gene. We did not observe any clinical changes, although plasminogen activity has improved in the course of 5 months of oral contraceptive therapy Most gynecologists are unfamiliar with this diagnosis and pathologists with wide experience in gynecology are unaware of this disease. However, the histology of lesions is characteristic and a diagnosis can be made quite easily once it has been considered.     

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impair sexual function in Malaysian women

IntroductionFemale sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent sexual health problem that does not spare the women in Malaysia, a nation with a conservative multiethnic society.AimTo investigate the prevalence of FSD and the potential risk factors that may impair sexual function among women at a primary care setting in Malaysia.Main Outcome MeasureThe prevalence, the risk factors, and the main predictors for FSD were measured among these women.MethodsA validated Malay version of the Female Sexual Function Index was used to assess FSD. A total of 230 married women aged 18–70 years participated in this study. The sociodemographic and marital profiles of women who had FSD and those who did not were compared; the risk factors for FSD were determined.ResultsThe majority of the respondents were younger than 50 years old, predominantly Malays, and had a higher academic achievement. The prevalence of FSD in the primary care population was 29.6%. The prevalence of women with lack of orgasms, low sexual arousal, lack of lubrication, sexual dissatisfaction, and sexual pain were 59.1%, 60.9%, 50.4%, 52.2%, and 67.8%, respectively.ConclusionThe risk factors for FSD are older age, Malays, married longer (more than 14 years), having less sexual intercourse (less than 1–2 times a week), having more children, married to an older husband (aged >42 years), and having a higher academic status. Lack of lubrication is found to be the main predictor for FSD in this study. Is lack of lubrication a cause or a complication of FSD? Prospective research is needed in the near future. Sidi H, Puteh SEW, Abdullah N, and Midin M. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impair sexual function in Malaysian women.     

Aramid-wrapped CNT hybrid sol–gel sorbent for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

This work describes the preparation of an analytical microextraction sorbent using a simple and versatile sol–gel hybrid composite, i.e., aramid oligomers wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covalently bonded to a porous silica network. To overcome the inherent shortcomings of the CNTs'' solubility and dispersion in both organic phases and in the sol–gel solution, the outer surface of the CNTs was initially functionalized with carboxylic acid groups and then reacted with both aramid oligomers and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). The obtained sorbent was characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Using sol–gel chemistry, the functionalized CNTs were coated onto SPME fibers and used in conjunction with GC-MS for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and soil samples. Excellent repeatability (run-to-run RSD% ∼ 8) and reproducibility (fiber-to-fiber RSD% ∼ 6) were achieved in addition to low LODs (0.10–0.30 ng mL⁻¹) and noticeable recovery%. The present method of sorbent preparation led to enhanced thermal and chemical stabilities, a long sorbent lifetime and good affinity towards PAHs. Moreover, the present sorbent enhanced the extraction capability by more than 30% compared to that of commercially available PDMS counterparts.

This work describes the preparation of an analytical microextraction sorbent using a simple and versatile sol–gel hybrid composite, i.e., aramid oligomers wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covalently bonded to a porous silica network.     

Prenatal Bisphenol a Exposure and Postnatal Trans Fat Diet Alter Small Intestinal Morphology and Its Global DNA Methylation in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats,Leading to Obesity Development

In this study, we aimed to determine whether a postnatal trans fat diet (TFD) could aggravate prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure effects on offspring’s small intestine and adulthood obesity, due to the relatively sparse findings on how the interaction between these two variables interrupt the small intestinal cells. Twelve pregnant rats were administered with either unspiked drinking water (control; CTL) or BPA-spiked drinking water throughout pregnancy. Twelve weaned pups from each pregnancy group were then given either a normal diet (ND) or TFD from postnatal week (PNW) 3 until PNW14, divided into control offspring on normal diet (CTL-ND), BPA-exposed offspring on normal diet (BPA-ND), control offspring on trans fat diet (CTL-TFD), and BPA offspring on trans fat diet (BPA-TFD) groups. Body weight (BW), waist circumference, and food and water intake were measured weekly in offspring. At PNW14, small intestines were collected for global DNA methylation and histological analyses. Marked differences in BW were observed starting at PNW9 in BPA-TFD (389.5 ± 10.0 g; p < 0.05) relative to CTL-ND (339.0 ± 7.2 g), which persisted until PNW13 (505.0 ± 15.6 g). In contrast, water and food intake between offspring were significantly different (p < 0.01–0.05) at earlier ages only (PNW4–6 and PNW7–9, respectively). Furthermore, substantial differences in the general parameters of the intestinal structures were exclusive to ileum crypt length alone, whereby both BPA-ND (150.5 ± 5.1 μm; p < 0.001), and BPA-TFD (130.3 ± 9.9 μm; p < 0.05) were significantly longer than CTL-ND (96.8 ± 8.9 μm). Moreover, BPA-ND (2.898 ± 0.147%; p < 0.05) demonstrated global small intestinal hypermethylation when compared to CTL-ND and CTL-TFD (1.973 ± 0.232% and 1.913 ± 0.256%, respectively). Prenatal BPA exposure may significantly affect offspring’s physiological parameters and intestinal function. Additionally, our data suggest that there might be compensatory responses to postnatal TFD in the combined BPA prenatal group (BPA-TFD).     

The role of electronic medical records in improving health care quality: A quasi-experimental study

The Teleprimary Care—Oral Health Clinical Information System (TPC-OHCIS) is an updated electronic medical record (EMR) that has been applied in Malaysian primary healthcare. Recognizing the level of patient satisfaction following EMR implementation is crucial for assessing the performance of health care services. Hence, the main objective of this study was to compare the level of patient satisfaction between EMR-based clinics and paper-based clinics.The study was a quasi-experimental design that used a control group and was conducted among patients in 14 public primary healthcare facilities in the Seremban district of Malaysia from May 10, to June 30, 2021. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the validated Short-Form Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, which consisted of 7 subscales. All data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.A total of 321 patients consented to participate in this study, and 48.9% of them were from EMR clinics. The mean score for the communication subscale was the highest at 4.08 and 3.96 at EMR-adopted clinics and paper-based record clinics. There were significant differences in general satisfaction and communication subscales, with higher patient satisfaction found in clinics using EMR.With the utilization of EMR, patient satisfaction and communication in delivering healthcare services have improved.