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Fulltext Chitosan Nanoparticles as Carriers for the Delivery of ΦKAZ14 Bacteriophage for Oral Biological Control of Colibacillosis in Chickens

Adamu Ahmad K, Sabo Mohammed A, Abas F

Molecules, 2016 Mar 14;21(3):256.
PMID: 26985885 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21030256

The use of chitosan as a delivery carrier has attracted much attention in recent years. In this study, chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NP) and chitosan-ΦKAZ14 bacteriophage-loaded nanoparticles (C-ΦKAZ14 NP) were prepared by a simple coercavation method and characterized. The objective was to achieve an effective protection of bacteriophage from gastric acids and enzymes in the chicken gastrointestinal tract. The average particle sizes for CS-NP and C-ΦKAZ14 NP were 188 ± 7.4 and 176 ± 3.2 nm, respectively. The zeta potentials for CS-NP and C-ΦKAZ14 NP were 50 and 60 mV, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of C-ΦKAZ14 NP gave an onset temperature of -17.17 °C with a peak at 17.32 °C and final end set of 17.41 °C, while blank chitosan NP had an onset of -20.00 °C with a peak at -19.78 °C and final end set at -20.47. FT-IR spectroscopy data of both CS-NP and C-ΦKAZ14 NP were the same. Chitosan nanoparticles showed considerable protection of ΦKAZ14 bacteriophage against degradation by enzymes as evidenced in gel electrophoresis, whereby ΦKAZ14 bacteriophage encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles were protected whereas the naked ΦKAZ14 bacteriophage were degraded. C-ΦKAZ14 NP was non-toxic as shown by a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) toxicity assay. It was concluded that chitosan nanoparticles could be a potent carrier of ΦKAZ14 bacteriophage for oral therapy against colibacillosis in poultry.
Fulltext First report of postharvest stem end rot disease on MD2 pineapple fruits caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum in Malaysia

Kuruppu M, Siddiqui Y, Ahmad K, Ali A

Plant Dis, 2020 Dec 29.
PMID: 33373283 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-10-20-2318-PDN

Repeated sampling conducted from December 2019 to March 2020, and fruit of pineapple (Ananas comosus) var MD2 showing early stem end rot symptoms including brown and rotten fruit skin near the stem end region (Fig.1Aa) or darker skin with black discoloration (Fig.1Ab) indicated a consistent fungal infection. The samples (30 fruits from each location) were collected from store houses in three farmer fields with 60% disease incidence in Serdang, (3.0220oN,101.7055oE), Selangor, West Malaysia. The pulp of infected fruits appeared watery with characteristic spoilage odour. Symptomatic necrotic tissues from stem end region and skin were cut in to pieces (1x1cm), surface sterilized and plated onto potato dextrose agar amended aseptically with 0.5 g L-1 streptomycin sulphate. The plates were incubated at room temperature (28±2oC) in natural light conditions. Five days old cultures were light grey in colour and gradually turned dark brown to black with dense deeply tufted, mycelium as the culture aged (Fig.1B, C). Conidial morphology was observed using compound microscope (Olympus model BX-50F4, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with Dino-Eye. Branched mycelia with 0-1 septate arthospores were evident in 14 days old cultures (Fig.1D). Measured arthroconidia (5 to10x3 to 4.5µm) were ellipsoid to ovoid or round shaped, hyaline with an acutely rounded apex, truncate base, initially aseptate (Fig.1E) and arranged as chain at maturity (Fig.1F). The pathogen was identified through PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using ITS1 and ITS4 primers (White et al., 1990) and BLASTn homology search as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum based on 100% similarity to a reference sequence (accession number KJ648577) that was previously deposited (Mohd et al.,2013). The sequence was deposited in Gen Bank ( accession number MW082810). Pathogenicity test was performed using the mycelial plug inoculation method and repeated twice with five replicates. Healthy MD2 pineapple fruits were surface sterilized with 1% NaOCl solution for15 min. followed by washing with sterilized distilled water. One centimeter diameter PDA plug at the margin of actively growing seven days old cultures were inserted in each of two inoculation wounds made on the skin and stem end of each fruit then the wounds were wrapped with moist cotton wool. Non-colonized PDA plugs were used to inoculate the control fruits. Fruits were incubated under 85% RH at room temperature. Five days after inoculation, the fruits showed similar dark necrotic discoloration and confirmed as N.dimidiatum by PCR (Fig.1G). The Koch postulates were fulfilled by inoculation and re-isolation of the fungal pathogen. This pathogen has also been reported previously to cause economic losses on a number of other hosts, such as pitayah fruits in Israel and Malaysia (Erza et al., 2013; Mohd et al., 2013)) and almond in California (Mohomed et al., 2018). To our knowledge this is the first report of N. dimidiatum causing postharvest stem end rot on MD2 pineapple in Malaysia. It may have the possibility to develop postharvest economic losses to pineapple industry, if severely affected fruits with high population of the pathogen left unattended in store houses.
The Assessment of Acute Pain in Pre-Hospital Care Using Verbal Numerical Rating and Visual Analogue Scales

Ismail AK, Abdul Ghafar MA, Shamsuddin NS, Roslan NA, Kaharuddin H, Nik Muhamad NA

J Emerg Med, 2015 Sep;49(3):287-93.
PMID: 26022936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.02.043

Prehospital care (PHC) pain evaluation is an essential patient assessment to be performed by paramedics. Pain intensity is frequently assessed using Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS) or Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Substantial Effect of Fenugreek Seeds Aqueous Extract on Serum Estradiol Level in Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome Rat Model

Ben Hameid AS, Al-Sindi TA, Allow AK, Nafie EM, Alahmad BE, Faisal GG

Oman Med J, 2019 May;34(3):238-243.
PMID: 31110632 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2019.45

Objectives: Estradiol (E2) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fenugreek seed aqueous (FSA) extract on serum E2 levels in a rat model of OHSS.
Methods: A total of 34 female Sprague Dawley rats, aged 18 days old, weighing 40 to 45 g, were randomly divided into negative control, positive control, and treatment groups. A daily dose of 1500 mg/kg per body weight of FSA extract was administrated orally to rats in the treatment group for 13 days. On day eight of the study, OHSS was induced in both positive control and treated groups by subcutaneous injection of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin 50 IU for four consecutive days, followed by human chorionic gonadotropin 25 IU on the fifth day. The effect of FSA extract was evaluated by measuring the concentration of serum E2 using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: FSA extract reduced serum E2 level significantly in the treated OHSS model (p-value < 0.050) compared to the positive control group.
Conclusions: The finding has important implications on the development of female infertility adjuvant drugs for safe assisted reproduction technology cycles in terms of OHSS prevention.
Fulltext Effectiveness of Valsartan's Single-Pill Combination Therapies on Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients: Malaysian Single-Centre Real-World Experience

Yusof AKM, Halil NM, Jaffar N, Sabian IS, Looi ZL

Malays J Med Sci, 2023 Oct;30(5):116-128.
PMID: 37928782 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.5.10

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled hypertension can cause cardiovascular disease and is an important public health issue. Single-pill combination (SPC) therapies possess combined blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect and may improve compliance to treatment. This study assessed the effectiveness of valsartan (Val)-based SPC therapies in achieving BP control in hypertensive patients.
METHODS: This was a retrospective study. Data were extracted from the hybrid medical records of patients from the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Malaysia. Adults with established diagnosis of hypertension and on prescription of Val-based SPC therapies as part of routine medical care from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2018, with ≥ 1 year of follow-up were included. Primary endpoint was proportion of patients achieving therapeutic BP control (BP < 140/90 mmHg). Secondary outcomes included change from baseline (CFB) in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), and subgroup analysis was based on baseline SBP categories and presence of diabetes.
RESULTS: Study included 409 hypertensive patients. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of the population was 65.1 (10.6) years old, with male predominance (61.6%). Proportion of patients achieving target BP between baseline and follow-up were 57.0% (P < 0.001). Mean CFB in SBP and DBP were recorded as 19.52 mmHg and 7.47 mmHg, respectively. Over half of the patients achieved the target BP in all subgroups categorised by SBP at baseline, except the subgroup of SBP 160 mmHg-179 mmHg. SPC therapies were continued in 97.3% of patients at 1-year follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Patients using Val-based SPC therapies had significant reduction in BP with good tolerability, with 57% of patients achieving target BP over a prolonged 1-year follow-up period. Uptake of SPC therapy is warranted to improve patient care and outcomes in hypertension.
Fulltext Pinnatane A from the bark of Walsura pinnata Hassk

Mohamad K, Yusoff M, Awang K, Ahmad K, Ng SW

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2009;65(Pt 6):o1317.
PMID: 21583174 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536809015955

In the mol-ecule of pinnatane A, C(30)H(48)O(3), isolated from the bark of Walsura pinnata Hassk, the four cyclo-hexane rings adopt chair conformations; the carboxyl and hydr-oxy substituents occupy axial positions. The cyclo-hexene ring is envelope-shaped. Adjacent mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a chain running along the c axis.
Fulltext N'-{2-[2-(3-Methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl}acetamide

Ahmad K, Thomas NF, Nafiah MA, Awang K, Ng SW

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2009;65(Pt 6):o1290.
PMID: 21583151 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536809017401

In the title compound, C(17)H(17)NO(2), the phenyl-ene rings are bent with respect to the carbon-carbon double bond [dihedral angle between rings = 39.6 (1)°]. The acetamido group is twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring [dihedral angle = 44.2 (1)°] in order to form an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond to the acetamido group of an adjacent mol-ecule, generating a zigzag chain running along the c axis.
Fulltext N'-{2-[2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl}acetamide

Ahmad K, Thomas NF, Din MF, Awang K, Ng SW

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2009;65(Pt 6):o1289.
PMID: 21583150 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536809017395

In the title compound, C(17)H(17)NO(2), the phenyl-ene rings are nearly coplanar [dihedral angle 7.3 (1)°]. The acetamido group is twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring in order to form an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond to the acetamido group of an adjacent mol-ecule, generating a helical chain running along the b axis.
Addressing education of speech-language pathologists in the World Report on Disability: development of a speech-language pathology program in Malaysia

Ahmad K, Ibrahim H, Othman BF, Vong E

Int J Speech Lang Pathol, 2013 Feb;15(1):37-41.
PMID: 23323816 DOI: 10.3109/17549507.2012.757709

The current paper is a response to the Wiley, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall lead article regarding the application of the World Report on Disability (WRD) to people with communication disorders. The current paper directly addresses recommendation 5 (improvement of human resource capacity) and indirectly addresses recommendations 7, 8, and 9 (related to improving local knowledge and data on communicative disabilities) indirectly. The paper describes Malaysia's initiatives in the early 1990s, in developing its local professional capacity to provide services for people with communication disorders (PWCD). It charts the history of development of a local undergraduate entry-level degree program for speech-language pathology (SLP) from the point of conceptualization to full execution. The article provides glimpses to the processes and challenges faced by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as the pioneer university in the South East Asia region to undertake the training and education of the SLP profession and highlights relevant issues faced by newly introduced professions in a country where resources and practice traditions were previously unavailable. It underscores the important role played by government institutions and an international professional network in driving forward-looking policies to implement and sustain the program.
Fulltext Parents' awareness and knowledge of the special needs of their hearing-impaired child

Mukari SZ, Vandort S, Ahmad K, Saim L, Mohamed AS

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Mar;54(1):87-95.
PMID: 10972010

We surveyed parents of school-aged hearing impaired children to investigate their awareness and knowledge of the special needs of their child, especially in the area of the usage of hearing aids and methods of communication. Questionnaires were distributed to parents of hearing impaired children at 13 special schools for the deaf in Malaysia. Out of 1,267 questionnaires given out, 787 (62.1%) were completed and returned. Results of the survey indicated the majority of parents (68.6%) suspected hearing loss late, that is after their child's first birthday, and there was a significant time lag before the suspicion was confirmed. Over 82.8% of the children were diagnosed only after 1 year of age, with 41.3% being diagnosed after 3 years of age. Hearing aids were fitted late (mean = 5.32 years; SD = 2.66). Hearing aid ownership was influenced by the factors of socio-economic level and ethnic group (p < 0.01) whereas knowledge of use and proper care of the aids was influenced by socio-economic level (p < 0.01). Communication methods were generally inappropriate with 41.3% of the mothers and 48.5% of the fathers reporting ignorance of Bahasa Malaysia Kod Tangan, the sign language that is commonly used by their children. The parents' choice of communication method was not significantly influenced by socio-economic level or ethnic group. The study revealed the present inadequate state of services available for the rehabilitation of children with congenital hearing impairment.
Early Detection of Ganoderma Basal Stem Rot of Oil Palms Using Artificial Neural Network Spectral Analysis

Ahmadi P, Muharam FM, Ahmad K, Mansor S, Abu Seman I

Plant Dis, 2017 Jun;101(6):1009-1016.
PMID: 30682927 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-12-16-1699-RE

Ganoderma boninense is a causal agent of basal stem rot (BSR) and is responsible for a significant portion of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) losses, which can reach US$500 million a year in Southeast Asia. At the early stage of this disease, infected palms are symptomless, which imposes difficulties in detecting the disease. In spite of the availability of tissue and DNA sampling techniques, there is a particular need for replacing costly field data collection methods for detecting Ganoderma in its early stage with a technique derived from spectroscopic and imagery data. Therefore, this study was carried out to apply the artificial neural network (ANN) analysis technique for discriminating and classifying fungal infections in oil palm trees at an early stage using raw, first, and second derivative spectroradiometer datasets. These were acquired from 1,016 spectral signatures of foliar samples in four disease levels (T1: healthy, T2: mildly-infected, T3: moderately infected, and T4: severely infected). Most of the satisfactory results occurred in the visible range, especially in the green wavelength. The healthy oil palms and those which were infected by Ganoderma at an early stage (T2) were classified satisfactorily with an accuracy of 83.3%, and 100.0% in 540 to 550 nm, respectively, by ANN using first derivative spectral data. The results further indicated that the sensitive frond number modeled by ANN provided the highest accuracy of 100.0% for frond number 9 compared with frond 17. This study showed evidence that employment of ANN can predict the early infection of BSR disease on oil palm with a high degree of accuracy.
Voice therapy for Parkinson's disease via smartphone videoconference in Malaysia: A preliminary study

Chan MY, Chu SY, Ahmad K, Ibrahim NM

J Telemed Telecare, 2021 Apr;27(3):174-182.
PMID: 31431134 DOI: 10.1177/1357633X19870913

INTRODUCTION: Intensive voice therapy is one of the best evidence-based treatments to improve speech and voice difficulties to individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, accessibility to intensive voice therapy is highly challenging in Malaysia due to the lack of voice specialised speech-language therapists. This study examined the feasibility of using smartphone videoconference to deliver intensive voice therapy to individuals with PD in Malaysia.
METHODS: Intensive voice therapy was delivered to 11 adults with PD using a smartphone videoconference method via WhatsApp Messenger freeware. The therapy consisted of 12 sessions over four weeks and focused on increasing vocal loudness. Outcomes were assessed using objective, perceptual and quality-of-life measures pre and post treatment. Participant satisfaction with the telerehabilitation method was obtained via the Smartphone-Based Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire.
RESULTS: Significant gains were reported for sound pressure level in sustained vowels and monologue. Perceptual ratings showed significant improvements in overall mean severity and loudness after treatment. Mean scores of speech intelligibility and Voice Handicap Index-10 were significantly better post treatment. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the smartphone videoconference method.
DISCUSSION: Present results suggest that the smartphone videoconference method is feasible to deliver intensive voice therapy to individuals with PD to gain better speech and voice functions. Future studies need to address the standardisation of the system protocol to optimise this novel service delivery method in Malaysia.
The Unmet Needs of Stroke Survivors and Stroke Caregivers: A Systematic Narrative Review

Zawawi NSM, Aziz NA, Fisher R, Ahmad K, Walker MF

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis, 2020 Aug;29(8):104875.
PMID: 32689648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104875

INTRODUCTION: Facilitating stroke survivors and their caregivers to lead a fulfilling life after stroke requires service providers to think about their different needs. Poor post stroke care may lead to unmet needs in stroke survivors and stroke caregivers. This may compromise them in leading their lives optimally after stroke.
OBJECTIVES & METHODOLOGY: This systematic narrative review examines articles published from 1990 to 2017, generated from Ovid, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed. The search was also supplemented by an examination of reference lists for related articles via Scopus. We included 105 articles.
FINDINGS: We found that the type of unmet needs in stroke survivors and the contributing factors were substantially different from their caregivers. The unmet needs in stroke survivors ranged from health-related needs to re-integration into the community; while the unmet needs in stroke caregivers ranged from information needs to support in caring for the stroke survivors and caring for themselves. Additionally, the unmet needs in both groups were associated with different factors.
CONCLUSION: More research is required to understand the unmet needs of stroke survivors and stroke caregivers to improve the overall post-stroke care services.
Description of the Features and Vibratory Behaviors of the Nyquist Plot Analyzed From Laryngeal High-Speed Videoendoscopy Images

Mohd Khairuddin KA, Ahmad K, Mohd Ibrahim H, Yan Y

J Voice, 2020 Aug 26.
PMID: 32861565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.07.036

Facilitative playback-based subjective measures offer a more reliable evaluation of the vocal fold vibration than those derived from direct inspection of video playback. One of the measures is a Nyquist plot, which presents the analyzed cycle-to-cycle vibratory information in a graphical form. While the potential is evident, the information of the features of the Nyquist plot, which the evaluation is based on, is still incomplete. The current identified features and their vibratory behaviors may be inadequate to guarantee accurate interpretation of the findings. The present study aims to address this issue by examining the features of the Nyquist plot and their vibratory behaviors. A total of 56 young normophonic speakers, that is, 20 males and 36 females were recruited as the participants. Each of them underwent laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy to record the images of the vocal fold vibration, which were then analyzed to generate the Nyquist plots. The features were identified by inspecting the properties of the plot points forming the Nyquist plots. For each identified feature, its vibratory behaviors were examined. The results revealed four features: rim contour depicting the longitudinal phase difference; left edge shape signifying the glottal configuration, phase closure, and closed phase duration; rim width and rim pattern visualizing the regularity of glottal areas and the regularity of the intracycle variations, respectively. The findings present a more complete reference of the features and their vibratory behaviors that is pertinent for the Nyquist plot interpretation.
Fulltext Suppression of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae biofilm formation by Acacia mangium methanol leaf extract

Shafiei SNS, Ahmad K, Ikhsan NFM, Ismail SI, Sijam K

Braz J Biol, 2020 2 20;81(1):11-17.
PMID: 32074168 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.206124

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), a pathogen responsible for rice bacterial leaf blight, produces biofilm to protect viable Xoo cells from antimicrobial agents. A study was conducted to determine the potency of Acacia mangium methanol (AMMH) leaf extract as a Xoo biofilm inhibitor. Four concentrations (3.13, 6.25, 9.38, and 12.5 mg/mL) of AMMH leaf extract were tested for their ability to inhibit Xoo biofilm formation on a 96-well microtiter plate. The results showed that the negative controls had the highest O.D. values from other treatments, indicating the intense formation of biofilm. This was followed by the positive control (Streptomycin sulfate, 0.2 mg/mL) and AMMH leaf extract at concentration 3.13 mg/mL, which showed no significant differences in their O.D. values (1.96 and 1.57, respectively). All other treatments at concentrations of 6.25, 9.38, and 12.5 mg/mL showed no significant differences in their O.D. values (0.91, 0.79, and 0.53, respectively). For inhibition percentages, treatment with concentration 12.5 mg/mL gave the highest result (81.25%) followed by treatment at concentrations 6.25 and 9.38 mg/mL that showed no significant differences in their inhibition percentage (67.75% and 72.23%, respectively). Concentration 3.13 mg/mL resulted in 44.49% of biofilm inhibition and the positive control resulted in 30.75% of biofilm inhibition. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis of Xoo biofilm inhibition and breakdown showed the presence of non-viable Xoo cells and changes in aggregation size due to increase in AMMH leaf extract concentration. Control slides showed the absence of Xoo dead cells.
Fulltext Antifungal efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed extracts against Botrytis cinerea causing gray mold disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Ahmadu T, Ahmad K, Ismail SI, Rashed O, Asib N, Omar D

Braz J Biol, 2020 11 12;81(4):1007-1022.
PMID: 33175006 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.233173

Drawbacks associated with the use of chemical fungicides to control plant pathogenic fungi such as Botrytis cinerea stimulate the need for alternatives. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the antifungal potentials of Moringa oleifera extracts against B. cinerea. Phytochemical analysis using qualitative chemical tests revealed the presence of huge amount of crucial phytochemicals compounds like phenolic compounds, alkaloids and saponins in the M. oleifera leaf extract. Antifungal bioassay of the crude extracts indicated better mycelial growth inhibition by methanol leaf extract (99%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 5 mg/ml with 100% spore germination inhibition and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was 10 mg/ml with 98.10% mycelial growth inhibition using broth micro dilution and poisoned food techniques. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis led to the identification of 67 volatile chemical compounds in the leaf extract with 6-decenoic acid (Z)- (19.87%) was the predominant compound. Further chemical elucidation of the crude extracts performed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) showed the presence of non-volatile chemical compounds, mostly flavones, flavonoids and phenolic acids (i.e. quercetin and kaempferol). Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed positive effect of M. oleifera leaf extract on the treated conidia and mycelium of B. cinerea. Findings revealed that irreversible surface and ultra-structural changes with severe detrimental effects on conidia and mycelium morphology compared to control treatment. Overall findings suggested that M. oleifera leaf extract is a promising candidate for biological control of fungal pathogens, thus limiting overdependence on chemical fungicides.
Fulltext Current strategies and perspectives in detection and control of basal stem rot of oil palm

Siddiqui Y, Surendran A, Paterson RRM, Ali A, Ahmad K

Saudi J Biol Sci, 2021 May;28(5):2840-2849.
PMID: 34012325 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.016

The rapid expansion of oil palm (OP) has led to its emergence as a commodity of strategic global importance. Palm oil is used extensively in food and as a precursor for biodiesel. The oil generates export earnings and bolsters the economy of many countries, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. However, oil palms are prone to basal stem rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma boninense which is the most threatening disease of OP. The current control measures for BSR management including cultural practices, mechanical and chemical treatment have not proved satisfactory. Alternative control measures to overcome the G. boninense problem are focused on the use of biological control agents and many potential bioagents were identified with little proven practical application. Planting OP varieties resistant to G. boninense could provide the ideal long-term solution to basal stem rot. The total resistance of palms to G. boninense has not yet been reported, and few examples of partial resistances have been observed. Importantly, basidiospores are now recognized as the method by which the disease is spread, and control methods require to be revaluated because of this phenomenon. Many methods developed to prevent the spread of the disease effectively are only tested at nursery levels and are only reported in national journals inhibiting the development of useful techniques globally. The initial procedures employed by the fungus to infect the OP require consideration in terms of the physiology of the growth of the fungus and its possible control. This review assesses critically the progress that has been made in BSR development and management in OP.
Analysis Method for Laryngeal High-Speed Videoendoscopy: Development of the Criteria for the Measurement Input

Mohd Khairuddin KA, Ahmad K, Mohd Ibrahim H, Yan Y

J Voice, 2021 Jul;35(4):636-645.
PMID: 31864891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.12.005

Despite its clear advantages, laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (LHSV) has not yet been accepted as a routine imaging tool for the evaluation of vocal fold vibration due to the unavailability of methods to effectively analyze the huge number of images from the LHSV recording. Recently, a promising LHSV-based analysis method has been introduced. The ability of this analysis method in studying the vocal fold vibratory behaviors had been substantially demonstrated. However, some practical aspects of its clinical applications still require further attention. Most fundamental is that the criteria for the measurement input ie, a segment of interest (SOI), which has not been fully defined. Particularly, the length of the SOI and the location along the sample, where it needs to be selected require further confirmation. Meanwhile, the analysis using any options of a well-delineated glottal area demands verification. Without clear criteria for the SOI, it is difficult to demonstrate the relevance of this analysis method in clinical voice assessment. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to establish the criteria for the SOI, which involved the investigations on the length of the SOI and the location along the sample, where it needs to be selected, as well as the use of any options of a well-delineated glottal area for analysis. The participants in the present study consisted of 36 young normophonic females. The methods involved LHSV recording of the images of the vibrating vocal folds. The captured images were then analyzed using the method. The LHSV-based measures from the analyses were compared according to the specified procedures of each investigation. Results indicated that 2000 frames should be used as the SOI length. The SOI could be selected at any location along the sample as long as well-delineated glottal areas were observed. With the current findings, a more conclusive measurement protocol is available to ensure reliable LHSV-based measures. The findings further support this analysis method for clinical application, which in turn promote LHSV as a reliable laryngeal imaging tool in clinical setting.
Palm Olein Emulsion: a Novel Vehicle for Topical Drug Delivery of Betamethasone 17-Valerate

Ahmad K, Win T, Jaffri JM, Edueng K, Taher M

AAPS PharmSciTech, 2018 Jan;19(1):371-383.
PMID: 28744617 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-017-0843-9

This study aims to investigate the use of palm olein as the oil phase for betamethasone 17-valerate (BV) emulsions. The physicochemical properties of the formulations were characterized. In vitro drug release study was performed with the Hanson Vertical Diffusion Cell System; the samples were quantified with HPLC and the results were compared with commercial products. Optimized emulsion formulations were subjected to stability studies for 3 months at temperatures of 4, 25, and 40°C; the betamethasone 17-valerate content was analyzed using HPLC. The formulations produced mean particle size of 2-4 μm, viscosities of 50-250 mPa.s, and zeta potential between -45 and -68 mV. The rheological analyses showed that the emulsions exhibited pseudoplastic and viscoelastic behavior. The in vitro release of BV from palm olein emulsion through cellulose acetate was 4.5 times higher than that of commercial products and more BV molecules deposited in rat skin. Less than 4% of the drug was degraded in the formulations during the 3-month period when they were subjected to the three different temperatures. These findings indicate that palm olein-in-water emulsion can be an alternative vehicle for topical drug delivery system with superior permeability.
Patterns of recognition of Arabic consonants by non-native children with cochlear implants and normal hearing

Anis FN, Umat C, Ahmad K, Hamid BA

Cochlear Implants Int, 2019 01;20(1):12-22.
PMID: 30293522 DOI: 10.1080/14670100.2018.1530420

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the patterns of recognition of Arabic consonants, via information transmission analysis for phonological features, in a group of Malay children with normal hearing (NH) and cochlear implants (CI).
METHOD: A total of 336 and 616 acoustic tokens were collected from six CI and 11 NH Malay children, respectively. The groups were matched for hearing age and duration of exposure to Arabic sounds. All the 28 Arabic consonants in the form of consonant-vowel /a/ were presented randomly twice via a loudspeaker at approximately 65 dB SPL. The participants were asked to repeat verbally the stimulus heard in each presentation.
RESULTS: Within the native Malay perceptual space, the two groups responded differently to the Arabic consonants. The dispersed uncategorized assimilation in the CI group was distinct in the confusion matrix (CM), as compared to the NH children. Consonants /ħ/, /tˁ/, /sˁ/ and /ʁ/ were difficult for the CI children, while the most accurate item was /k/ (84%). The CI group transmitted significantly reduced information, especially for place feature transmission, then the NH group (p

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