Haruan or Channa striatus is source of protein that is widely consumed in the region and its extract
is well known for having medical values. It is of great advantage if this product could be taken
orally rather than by injection because the oral route of drug delivery is still preferred by the vast
majority of patients. However protein and peptides can be denatured or degraded by the acidic pH
of the stomach and the presence of endogenous enzymes. In order to protect or prevent digestion
and degradation of the protein in the stomach and to ensure the protein reaches the gastro
intestinal (GI) tract, Carboxymethyl Starch (CMS) nanogel system was developed using electron
irradiation method. However stability of HTE during the irradiation process needed to be studied
before being developed further. In this study, the HTE was irradiated using electron beams. Its
stability was analysed in terms of physical and chemical changes by looking at colour difference,
melting point by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and molecular bonds by using
Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) respectively. The results of this study were that no apparent
colour difference was observed with HTE before and after irradiation. These observations were
supported by the FTIR and DSC results that showed that there were no changes in molecular bonds
and melting point, compared between no irradiation and irradiation HTE during electron
irradiation up to 10 kGy. Statistically the test showed no significant difference at p < 0.005 between
melting temperatures.
A photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor with excellent sensitivity and detection toward copper (II) ions (Cu2+) was developed using a cadmium sulphide-reduced graphene oxide (CdS-rGO) nanocomposite on an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface, with triethanolamine (TEA) used as the sacrificial electron donor. The CdS nanoparticles were initially synthesized via the aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) method using cadmium acetate and thiourea as the precursors to Cd2+ and S2-, respectively. Graphene oxide (GO) was then dip-coated onto the CdS electrode and sintered under an argon gas flow (50 mL/min) for the reduction process. The nanostructured CdS was adhered securely to the ITO by a continuous network of rGO that also acted as an avenue to intensify the transfer of electrons from the conduction band of CdS. The photoelectrochemical results indicated that the ITO/CdS-rGO photoelectrode could facilitate broad UV-visible light absorption, which would lead to a higher and steady-state photocurrent response in the presence of TEA in 0.1 M KCl. The photocurrent decreased with an increase in the concentration of Cu2+ ions. The photoelectrode response for Cu2+ ion detection had a linear range of 0.5-120 μM, with a limit of detection (LoD) of 16 nM. The proposed PEC sensor displayed ultra-sensitivity and good selectivity toward Cu2+ ion detection.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X-linked red blood cell enzymopathy common in malaria endemic areas. Individuals affected by this disease show a wide variety of clinical signs including neonatal jaundice. In this preliminary report we describe the heterogeneity of G6PD deficient gene in neonatal jaundice in the Malay population in Kelantan. Thirteen G6PD deficient Malay neonates with hyperbilirubinemia were subjected to mutation analysis of the G6PD gene for known candidate mutations. Molecular defects were identified in the 13 patients studied. Though all of these were mis-sense mutations, identified nucleotide changes were heterogeneous. Six patients were found to have a C to T nucleotide change at nucleotide 563 of the G6PD gene (C563T), corresponding to G6PD Mediterranean; three cases had a single nucleotide change at T383C (G6PD Vanua Lava), two cases had G487A (G6PD Mahidol) and two cases had G1376T (G6PD Canton). These findings suggest that there are heterogeneous mutations of the G6PD gene associated with neonatal jaundice in the Malay population in Kelantan.
A multi-functional hybrid of cellulose acetate with cadmium sulfide and Methylene blue (CA/CdS/MB) in a bead composition was synthesized and investigated as a photosensor-adsorbent for the rapid, selective, and sensitive detection, and adsorption of Cu(II) ions. These hybrid CA-modified beads are composed of multiple adsorption active sites and possess a surface area of 58 cm2 g-1. They are an efficient adsorbent with a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.57 mg g-1. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) detection of Cu(II) was accomplished by modifying the beads on a glassy carbon electrode. The beads containing 20 mmol of sulfur displayed the widest linear analytical range (0.1-290 nM) and the lowest detection limit (16.9 nM) for Cu(II) with high selectivity and reliable reproducibility. The successful application of the beads has provided a new insight for the selection of a responsive photoactive material for a PEC assay, as well as an effective adsorbent material for Cu(II) ions. Graphical abstract A multi-functional hybrid of cellulose acetate with cadmium sulfide and Methylene blue (CA/CdS/MB) in a bead composition was synthesized and investigated as a photosensor-adsorbent for the rapid, selective and sensitive detection and adsorption of Cu(II) ions.
The purpose of this paper is to determine the performance of employees employed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia and Indonesia, also to examine the employee's quality of life affected by COVID-19. The current study is aimed to critically determine the performance of employees employed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author has analyzed and reviewed various sources of articles, reports, and documents from previous research and literature. The findings explain that working from home has provided advantages and disadvantages for both the employees and the organization and is responsible for the decrease in employee productivity. In addition, the findings conclude that the fact that working from home is generally not feasible because many areas of work cannot be done from home, although for many employees, working from home has provided a work-life balance.
This study gains insights into what drives the ASEAN-5 equity markets. Using several wavelet approaches, we examine the correlation between the ASEAN-5 equity markets with the daily new Covid-19 cases and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DowJones), the lead-lag relationships and level of disorder (or randomness) between the ASEAN-5 domestic equity markets and DowJones between February 15 to May 30, 2019 (pre-period) and February 15 to May 30, 2020 (during the pandemic period) respectively. The pandemic period is further divided into three different phases; the beginning (February), mid (March and April), and end (May) of the period. This study finds that Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore equity markets react to Covid-19 cases at the beginning of the pandemic phase, whereas, Thailand and the Philippines showed coherency during the mid-period. As the pandemic progresses (mid-period), all ASEAN-5 equity markets exhibited strong coherence with the DowJones Index. However, at the end of the sample period, no coherency was observed among the ASEAN-5 equity markets, local Covid-19 cases, and DowJones index. This study has two main contributions to the literature: First, we provide insights on equity markets' reactions during an epidemic/pandemic crisis in the emerging markets, specifically, the ASEAN-5 countries, which is a less studied area. Second, examining the impact of the Covid-19 and DowJones Index on the ASEAN-5 equity markets using the wavelet method is a novel approach that captures both the time and frequency dimensions. The results of this study have a significant contribution to investors and regulators, particularly in navigating the new 'normal' and data-driven era.
Among major reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exhibits dual roles in plant metabolism. Low levels of H2O2 modulate many biological/physiological processes in plants; whereas, its high level can cause damage to cell structures, having severe consequences. Thus, steady-state level of cellular H2O2 must be tightly regulated. Glutathione peroxidases (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) are two major ROS-scavenging enzymes which catalyze the reduction of H2O2 in order to prevent potential H2O2-derived cellular damage. Employing bioinformatics approaches, this study presents a comparative evaluation of both GPX and APX in 18 different plant species, and provides valuable insights into the nature and complex regulation of these enzymes. Herein, (a) potential GPX and APX genes/proteins from 18 different plant species were identified, (b) their exon/intron organization were analyzed, (c) detailed information about their physicochemical properties were provided, (d) conserved motif signatures of GPX and APX were identified, (e) their phylogenetic trees and 3D models were constructed, (f) protein-protein interaction networks were generated, and finally (g) GPX and APX gene expression profiles were analyzed. Study outcomes enlightened GPX and APX as major H2O2-scavenging enzymes at their structural and functional levels, which could be used in future studies in the current direction.
In this study, a disposable and simple electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen. In this method, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were mixed with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to modify the surface of screen-printed carbon electrode (SPE). Initially, AgNPs-rGO modified-SPEs were fabricated by using simple electrochemical deposition method. Then the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was immobilized between the primary antibody and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibody onto AgNPs-rGO modified-SPEs to fabricate a sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor. The proposed method could detect the CEA with a linear range of 0.05-0.50µgmL-1 and a detection limit down to 0.035µgmL-1 as compared to its non-sandwich counterpart, which yielded a linear range of 0.05-0.40µgmL-1, with a detection limit of 0.042µgmL-1. The immunosensor showed good performance in the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen, exhibiting a simple, rapid and low-cost. The immunosensor showed a higher sensitivity than an enzymeless sensor.
Oil palm mesocarp fiber was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. The pretreated slurries were separated by filtration, pretreated liquids and solids were characterized. An enzymatic digestibility study was performed for both pretreated slurries and solids to understand the effect of soluble inhibitors generated during the pretreatment process. The highest glucose yield obtained from pretreated slurries was 70.1%, and gradually decreased with higher pretreatment severities. The highest glucose yield obtained in pretreated solids was 100%, after pretreatment at 210°C for 20min. In order to study the inhibitory effects of compounds generated during pretreatment with cellulase, technical grade solutions that mimic the pretreated liquid were prepared and their effect on Acremonium cellulase activity was monitored using Avicel. Xylo-oligomers and tannic acid were identified as powerful inhibitors of Acremonium cellulase, and the lowest hydrolysis rate of Avicel of 0.18g/g-glucose released/L/h was obtained from tannic acid.
The equitable access to quality healthcare by Malaysians has consistently been the primary objective of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The epidemiological transition to chronic illnesses, advances in medical technology, escalating healthcare costs and rising patient expectations has necessitated the strategic use of information systems in healthcare delivery. Malaysia has broken new ground by implementing a nationwide network to address inadequate access to healthcare, as well as to lower costs and achieve better health outcomes. Teleconsultation refers to the electronic transmission of medical information and services from one site to another using telecommunication technologies. This technology transforms the healthcare system by rapidly matching patient needs with the appropriate level of care however geographically remote they may be. Our findings suggest that even in these early stages of implementation, teleconsultation has led to cost savings, a more efficient allocation of resources, enhanced diagnostic options and better health outcomes.
This study employed Bacillus spp. with α-amylase production isolated from Malaysian hot spring for domestic kitchen food waste treatment contained grains, vegetables, chicken and tuna that mimic the food waste discharge from domestic kitchens in Malaysian household. Results showed that Bacillus licheniformis HULUB1 and Bacillus subtilis SUNGB2 possess excellent amylolytic properties. Highest α-amylase activity was obtained when both isolates were cultivated at pH 6.0 and 65 °C with concentrations of 18.15 U/mL for HULUB1 and 22.14 U/mL for SUNGB2. Stability of α-amylase with significant levels of enzyme activity were recorded at 55-85 °C and pH 5.0-9.0. The extracted mixed α-amylase of HULUB1 and SUNGB2 showed greatest reduction were achieved at day 12 with 45% ± 0.03 solid content at 65 °C. While the mixed culture of HULUB1 and SUNGB2 displayed an enhanced effect on the food waste contents reduction with 43% ± 0.02 solid content at 45 °C after day 12. The findings showed that the combination of the two Bacillus spp. isolates possessed degradation of food wastes at faster rate than α-amylase. It was also pointed out that the standard food waste (SFW) and the treatment process assimilated for this study was suitable for the growth of Bacillus spp.
Malic enzyme (ME) plays a vital role in determining the extent of lipid accumulation in oleaginous fungi being the major provider of NADPH for the activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS). We report here the first direct evidence of the existence of a lipogenic multienzyme complex (the lipid metabolon) involving ME, FAS, ATP: citrate lyase (ACL), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), pyruvate carboxylase (PC) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in Cunninghamella bainieri 2A1. Cell-free extracts prepared from cells taken in both growth and lipid accumulation phases were prepared by protoplasting and subjected to Blue Native (BN)-PAGE coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A high molecular mass complex (approx. 3.2 MDa) consisting of the above enzymes was detected during lipid accumulation phase indicating positive evidence of multienzyme complex formation. The complex was not detected in cells during the balanced phase of growth or when lipid accumulation ceased, suggesting that it was transiently formed only during lipogenesis.
Small biomolecules play a critical role in the fundamental processes that sustain life and are essential for the proper functioning of the human body. The detection of small biomolecules has garnered significant interest in various fields, including disease diagnosis and medicine. Electrochemical techniques are commonly employed in the detection of critical biomolecules through the principle of redox reactions. It is also a very convenient, cheap, simple, fast, and accurate measurement method in analytical chemistry. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are a unique type of metal-organic framework (MOF) composed of porous crystals with extended three-dimensional structures. These frameworks are made up of metal ions and imidazolate linkers, which form a highly porous and stable structure. In addition to their many advantages in other applications, ZIFs have emerged as promising candidates for electrochemical sensors. Their large surface area, pore diameter, and stability make them ideal for use in sensing applications, particularly in the detection of small molecules and ions. This review summarizes the critical role of small biomolecules in the human body, the standard features of electrochemical analysis, and the utilization of various types of ZIF materials (including carbon composites, metal-based composites, ZIF polymer materials, and ZIF-derived materials) for the detection of important small biomolecules in human body fluids. Lastly, we provide an overview of the current status, challenges, and future outlook for research on ZIF materials.
Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a xenobiotic metabolising enzyme (XME), which may modify susceptibility in certain ethnic groups, showing ethnic dependent polymorphism. The aim of this study was to determine GSTM1, GSTM3 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms in a Malaysian population in Kuala Lumpur.
Electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is a powerful technique to monitor real-time cell behavior. In this study, an ECIS biosensor formed using two interdigitated electrode structures (IDEs) was used to monitor cell behavior and its response to toxicants. Three different sensors with varied electrode spacing were first modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics and then fabricated and tested. The silver/silver chloride IDEs were fabricated using a screen-printing technique and incorporated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cell culture wells. To study the effectiveness of the biosensor, A549 lung carcinoma cells were seeded in the culture wells together with collagen as an extracellular matrix (ECM) to promote cell attachment on electrodes. A549 cells were cultured in the chambers and impedance measurements were taken at 12-h intervals for 120 h. Cell index (CI) for both designs were calculated from the impedance measurement and plotted in comparison with the growth profile of the cells in T-flasks. To verify that the ECIS biosensor can also be used to study cell response to toxicants, the A549 cells were also treated with anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel, and its responses were monitored over 5 days. Both simulation and experimental results show better sensitivity for smaller spacing between electrodes. Graphical abstract The fabricated impedance biosensor used screen-printed silver/silver chloride IDEs. Simulation and experimental results show better sensitivity for smaller between electrodes.
Nowadays, increasing the risk for copper leaching into the drinking water in homes, hotels and schools has become unresolved issues all around the countries such as Canada, the United States, and Malaysia. The leaching of copper in tap water is due to a combination of acidic water, damaged pipes, and corroded plumbing fixtures. To remedy this global problem, a triple interconnected structure of CdS/Au/GQDs was designed as a photo-to-electron conversion medium for a real time and selective visible-light-prompt photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for Cu2+ ions in real water samples. The synergistic interaction of the CdS/Au/GQDs enabled the smooth transportation of charge carriers to the charge collector and provided a channel to inhibit the charge recombination reaction. Thus, a detection limit of 2.27 nM was obtained, which is 10,000 fold lower than that of WHO's Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (∼30 μM). The photocurrent reduction was negligible after 30 days of storage under ambient conditions, suggesting the high stability of photoelectrode. Moreover, the real-time monitoring of Cu2+ ions in real samples was performed with satisfactory results, confirming the capability of the investigated photoelectrode as the most practical detector for trace amounts of Cu2+ ions.
Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a leading cause of death in cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy. The latest guidelines emphasize stratifying the patients in terms of CAT risks periodically. Multiple risk assessment models (RAMs) were developed to classify patients and guide thromboprophylaxis to high-risk patients. This study aimed to discuss and highlight different RAMs across various malignancy types with their related advantages and disadvantages. A scoping review was conducted using predefined search terms in three scientific databases, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed. The search for studies was restricted to original research articles that reported risk assessment models published in the last thirteen years (between 2008 and 2021) to cover the most recently published evidence following the development of the principal risk assessment score in 2008. Data charting of the relevant trials, scores, advantages, and disadvantages were done iteratively considering the malignancy type. Of the initially identified 1115 studies, 39 studies with over 67,680 patients were included in the review. In solid organ malignancy, nine risk assessment scores were generated. The first and most known Khorana risk score still offers the best available risk assessment model when used for high-risk populations with a threshold of 2 and above. However, KRS has a limitation of failure to stratify low-risk patients. The COMPASS-CAT score showed the best performance in the lung carcinoma patients who have a higher prevalence of thrombosis than other malignancy subtypes. In testicular germ cell tumours, Bezan et al RAM is a validated good discriminatory RAM for this malignancy subtype. CAT in haematological malignancy seems to be under-investigated and has multiple disease-related, and treatment-related confounding factors. AL-Ani et al score performed efficiently in acute leukemia. In multiple myeloma, both SAVED and IMPEDED VTE scores showed good performance. Despite the availability of different disease-specific scores in lymphoma-related thrombosis, the standard of care needs to be redefined.
Discovering the distinctive photophysical properties of semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) has made these a popular subject in recent advances in nanotechnology-related analytical methods. Semiconductor NPs are well-known materials that have been widely used in photovoltaic devices such as optical sensors and bioimaging, and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), as well as for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The use of a narrow-bandgap semiconductor such as CdS NPs in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) detection of chemicals and biological molecules plays a key role as a photosensitizer and promotes some specific advantages in light-harvesting media. Their size-controlled optical and electrical properties make NPs fascinating and promising materials for a variety of nanoscale photovoltaic devices. Moreover, charge injection from the narrow bandgap to the adjacent material leads to efficient charge separation and prolongs the electron lifetime by the elimination of the charge carrier recombination probability. In this regard, a single photon enables the production of multiple photogenerated charge carriers in CdS NPs, which subsequently boosts the effectiveness of the photovoltaic devices. In particular, the present review article highlights the recent emerging PEC detection methods based on CdS NPs, specifically related to the direct and indirect interactions of NPs with target analytes. The current opportunities and challenges in achieving real-world applications of CdS-based PEC sensing are also presented.
Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is a devastating metabolic derangement that leads to increased morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic test accuracy of bioelectrical impedance analysis derived-phase angle (PhA) in detecting PEW among HD patients. This was a multi-centre, cross-sectional study conducted amongst 152 multi-ethnic HD patients in Klang Valley, Malaysia. PEW was assessed using the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism criteria as the reference method. PhA was measured using a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy at 50 kHz. Multiple and logistic regressions were used to determine factors associated with PhA and PEW diagnosis, respectively. A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was used to establish the gender-specific PhA cut-offs to detect PEW. PEW existed in 21.1% of the HD patients. PhA was found as an independent predictor of PEW (adjOR = 0.308, p = 0.001), with acceptable to excellent discriminative performance (adjAUCmale = 0.809; adjAUCfemale = 0.719). Male patients had higher PhA cut-off compared to female patients (4.26° vs. 3.30°). We concluded that PhA is a valid and pragmatic biomarker to detect PEW in multi-ethnic Malaysian HD patients and a gender-specific cut-off is necessary, attributed to the gender differences in body composition.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium sp. parasite. Infection results in heightened pro-inflammatory response which contributes to the pathophysiology of the disease. To mitigate the overwhelming cytokine response, host-directed therapy is a plausible approach. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), a serine/threonine kinase plays a pivotal role in the regulation of inflammatory response during pathogenic infections. The present study was conducted to investigate the chemo-suppressive and cytokine-modulating effects of insulin administration in malaria-infected mice and the involvement of GSK3β. Intraperitoneal administrations of 0.3 and 0.5 U/kg body weight insulin each for four consecutive days into Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbN)-infected mice resulted in chemo-suppression exceeding 60% and improved median survival time of infected mice (20.5 days and 19 days respectively compared to 15.5 days for non-treated control). Western analysis revealed that pGSK3β (Ser9) intensity in brain samples from insulin-treated (0.3 and 0.5 U/kg body weight) infected mice each were 0.6 and 2.2 times respectively than that in control. In liver samples, pGSK3β (Ser9) intensity from insulin-treated infected mice were significantly higher (4.8 and 16.1 fold for 0.3 and 0.5 U/kg bw respectively) than that in control. Insulin administration decreased both brain and liver pNF-κB p65 (Ser536) intensities (to 0.8 and 0.6 times for 0.3 U/kg bw insulin; and to 0.2 and 0.1 times for 0.5 U/kg bw insulin respectively compared to control). Insulin treatment (0.5 U/kg bw) also significantly decreased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α (3.3 times) and IFN-γ (4.9 times)) whilst significantly increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 (4.9 fold) and IL-10 (2.1 fold)) in PbN-infected mice. Results from this study demonstrated that the cytokinemodulating effects of insulin at least in part involve inhibition of GSK3β and consequent inhibition of the activation of NF-κB p65 suggesting insulin as a potential adjunctive therapeutic for malaria.