Malaysian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
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Bioassay Guided Isolation of Polysaccharide Rich Fraction from Myrmecodia Platytyrae and its Bile Acid Binder Property
Full text linkBioassay guided isolation was done on the Myrmecodia platytyrae (MyP) extracts in order to find the best extract that can bind with bile acid. The function of bile acid binder is to reduce the reabsorption of bile acid in the intestine so that it will cause the decrease of cholesterol in the blood circulation. The extraction process was started by using different organic solvent such as hexane, toluene, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water. All extracts were tested its bile acid binding properties and the extract gave out highest activity was selected to be fractionated. The result showed that water extract has highest bile acid binding property (75%). Then, fractionation process was performed in order to find the best fraction from water extract that have bile acid binding property. The sub-fractionation processes were continued and the process only focussed to the fraction that has highest bile acid binding property until a white powder with 97.02 % carbohydrate was obtained. The powder was subjected to FTIR and was found to have glycosidic bond as shown by bands at 1141 until 1018 cm-1 which is a character of polysaccharide. The polysaccharide rich fraction was hydrolysed and subjected to HPLC to identify its monosaccharide groups. The result showed the presence of glucose and fructose were found to be among the major monosaccharides. This result suggested that the polysaccharide from MyP water extract with high bile acid binding property was gluco-fructan.
 
Evaluation of the Anti-mitotic and Bacteriostatic Activities of the Fruiting Bodies of Pleurotus Ostreatus (Jacq. Ex. Fr) P. Kumm. (Pleurotaceae)
Full text linkEdible mushrooms aside being taken as foods, are used in ethnomedicine in the management of various ailments notably tumours and related ailments whose pathophysiology are linked to oxidative stress. This study investigated the anti-mitotic, and antibacterial activities of the aqueous extract of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus based on ethno-medicine.The Allium cepa anti-mitotic assay model was used for anti-proliferative investigation of the defatted aqueous ethanol extract at concentration range of: 10.00 – 0.08 ng/mL following a two-fold serial dilution approach. Methotrexate (0.25 ng/mL) and portable water were used as reference standard for positive control and negative control respectively. The student t-test was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Antibacterial susceptibility evaluation against clinical isolates of selected pathogenic organisms: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aereus, and Bacillus subtilis was done using the Agar dilution method at 1000 and 10 µg/mL. The aqueous extract showed a dose and time dependent anti-mitotic activity with the three higher doses: 10.00, 5.00 and 2.50 ng/mL exhibiting complete inhibition of mitosis which was comparable to the reference drug methotrexate (0.25 ng/mL) after 96 hours incubation period. Although the aqueous extract was not bacteriocidal at the test concentration, a dose dependent bacteriostatic effect against E. coli, and B. subtilis was observed. The observed anti-mitotic activity of this mushroom validates its ethnomedicinal use in the treatment of tumours and related diseases.
 
An Investigation of Survival following Ovarian Cancer
Full text linkOvarian cancer is one of the most malignant gynaecological cancer for women. Women with ovarian cancer generally have a poor prognosis with short survival. In our study, an exploratory analysis was carried out using the data routinely collected on patients with ovarian cancer, who were diagnosed and treated in a large hospital in Sydney. Survival following the diagnosis of ovarian cancer was examined in relation to several important prognostic factors, including FIGO stage, age, residual disease and histologic type, aiming to evaluate the effect size of each factor and build up a predictive model for survival. The predicted survival provides valuable information for patients and their families, and is particularly important in helping clinician and hospital with the management of each patient with ovarian cancer.
 
The Pattern of Distribution of ABO Blood Groups in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria
Full text linkThe study was undertaken to assess the distribution of the ABO blood groups in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria. Blood group types of forty-three thousand, nine hundred and nineteen (43,919) people were collected from eight different hospitals in Kaduna metropolis over a period of four years. These hospitals are easily accessible by all groups and classes of people because of their location. Phenotypic and allelic frequencies were determined to understand the distribution pattern of the ABO blood groups. A chi-square test was carried out to test whether the population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The O blood group occurred with the highest frequency (44.13%), while the AB blood group had the lowest occurrence of 3.98%. Blood group A was more predominant (29.12%) than B blood group (22.77%). The O allele had the highest allelic frequency (0.67), while the A and B alleles were lower (0.19 and 0.14 respectively). The ABO blood group system was found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
 
Challenges Associated with Anti-epilepsy Medication and Use of Complementary or Alternative Medicines among People with Epilepsy in Rural Communities of Zimbabwe
Full text linkThe main objective of this study was to analyze challenges associated with anti-epilepsy medication and use of complementary or alternative medicines among people with epilepsy in rural communities of Zimbabwe. The study opted for qualitative research because it is culturally specific and data collected is contextually rich. The target population was people with epilepsy and caregivers of children with epilepsy and using a snowball sampling technique, a sample of 15 people with epilepsy and 5 caregivers of children with epilepsy was selected. The study purposively selected 2 traditional healers, 2 faith healers and 2 psychiatric nurses to have their insight on complementary and alternative medicines in the community and data was collected using face-to-face in-depth interviews. Findings revealed that anti-epilepsy medication is associated with a number of challenges in rural communities, chief among them that people with epilepsy are not informed about the side-effects of anti-epilepsy medication such as stomach upset, dizziness, blurred vision and sexual dysfunction. As a plateau to these anti-epilepsy medication side-effects, they make use of traditional and spiritual medicines either as complementary or alternative to anti-epilepsy medication. They are also facing challenges of Anti-Epilepsy Drugs shortages and long distances to health facilities and consequently, they opt for complementary or alternative medicines to sustain their livelihoods. The study recommends modern healthcare providers to supply people with epilepsy with adequate information on the side-effects of drugs. Healthcare providers must have enough information on complementary and alternative medicines. Traditional and faith healers must be accommodated in epilepsy treatment because of sociocultural aspects, and they too must be educated on the relevance of the modern healthcare system in epilepsy treatment. The study finally recommends a study on the multi-cultural approach of epilepsy management in Zimbabwe.
 
Softy – An Affordable Healthcare Product for Low Paid Female Workers at Readymade Garment Industry
Full text linkHistorically, manufacturing of Readymade Garment (RMG) had not been static in a particular country or region. On account of manufacturing cost, very specifically on wage hike issue, RMG manufacturing process has been shifted from developed countries like USA and UK to the least developed one like Bangladesh via Japan and Asian 4 Tigers’ economic region as water always flows downtrend. Traditionally, due to light nature/process of work, females and even some cases adolescent girls, are heavily employed in the sector. The various studies reveal that around 80 percent of total workforces in Bangladesh’s RMG sector is female i.e. 3.7 ml females of total 4.6 ml are directly employed in Bangladesh RMG sector. Though a huge number of females are employment yet, they have to struggle to meet their basic needs, where affordability of sanitary napkin is a far-reaching dream to them. The workers suffer from various diseases and the industry losses productivity due to absenteeism, migration, and on account of unhygienic menstrual management. Availability of low-cost sanitary napkin can ensure good health of the workforce, reduce migration and increase productivity. It’s a win-win situation for the workers and employers.
 
Accidental Swallowing of a Single Tooth Metal Crown of a Tooth in 38 Year Old Male Patient: A Case Report
Full text linkAspiration or ingestion of the foreign body is one of the serious emergency situations in dental practitioner’s point of view. Various dental materials, appliances or instruments which are smaller in size and other foreign bodies can come under this category. Foreign body ingestion or aspiration should be looked seriously, as complications can arise and patient may also require immediate surgical interventions in certain conditions. Every dental practitioner should know the basic management protocol for such situations. The present article reports a case of accidental ingestion of the metal crown, while removing on the dental chair.
 
Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticle using Cell-free Extract of Clinical Isolates Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli
Full text linkPresent study reports on biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles using cell free extract of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The cold extract is allowed to react with both 1mM and 10 mM solutions of HAuCl4 which showed a colour change from yellow to dark cherry red after 1 hr. Gold nanoparticle formation is confirmed with UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 547nm.The 10mM concentration is found to be better for synthesis of more NPs using E. coli. XRD pattern exhibited 2θ values38.18o, 44.39o, 64.58o, 77.55o of 2θ value, corresponding to Bragg’s diffraction at 111, 200, 220 and 311 plane of lattice structure closely matching with the standard values given in ICDD reference file. SEM analysis revealed morphological characteristics of nanoparticles of different sizes ranging from 70 to 200 nm. Thus, the present study throws new light on the suitability of E. coli as an alternative for conventional methods of chemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles.
 
Applications of Biological Diversity Information Systems towards Conservation at Lawachara National Park in Bangladesh
Full text linkThe study investigates a framework for Integrated Biological Diversity Information Systems (BDIS) with relevant rules and regulations that emphasize the need for interdisciplinary research collaborations at national, regional and global scales on nature conservation mechanisms at Lawachara National Park (LNP) in Bangladesh. To date, Bangladesh has no Integrated National Biodiversity Database with Clearing House Mechanisms. So, there is a lot of nature conserving problems faced on biodiversity management systems. The study integrates technological information from stakeholders like park manager, biological diversity specialists, network officers, ecological specialists, policy-makers, wildlife managers, academicians and relevant bodies. The study represents the uniqueness of the tools used to enhance conservation professionals on the national biodiversity strategic action plan through existing policies and technology, literature reviews, observations, interviews and reconnaissance findings. Approximately 64% of the respondents agreed for the development of Biological Diversity Information Systems (BDIS) for conserving nature at LNP. The study describes the essential information needed for comprehensive data exchange, data indexing, web-publication and reports on Convention on Biological Diversity with the help of Resources Information Management System. Finally, the study suggests future research trajectories using a new collaborative approach to drive the methodological agenda and recommends ways to further incorporate the information systems integrating next generations’ biodiversity conservation perspectives.
 
Morphometric and Topographic Study of Foramen Ovale in Indian Skulls
Full text linkForamen ovale is an important foramen for neurosurgeons and used for percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy in trigeminal neuralgia. The present study was undertaken to study anatomic variations in appearance, dimensions of foramen ovale and its location in relation to the zygomatic arch.
The study was conducted on 50 dry human skulls of known sex, available in the museum of Anatomy Dept. in G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur. The shape of foramen ovale and presence of any accessory bony structure like spur, spine, tubercle or bony plate were observed on both sides. The length and width of foramen ovale and its distance from articular tubercle and the anterior root of Zygomatic Arch was measured on both sides. The metric data was statistically analysed for bilateral symmetry and sexual dimorphism.
The shape of foramen ovale was typically oval in most of the skulls (66%). In 40% sides any accessory bony structure was not seen while bony plate in 45% sides, spine in 6% and bridge like bony septa dividing the foramen into two compartments in 2% was observed. The mean length and width of foramen ovale in male skulls was 7.50+/-0.90 mm and 4.20+/-0.70 mm and 7.7+/-1.00 mm and 3.9+/-0.80 mm in the female skulls. The mean distance of foramen ovale from articular tubercle on Zygomatic arch was 32.8 +/- 2.8 mm in males and 31.1 +/- 2.4 mm in females. The mean distance from anterior root of Zygomatic arch was 21.4 +/- 1.9 mm in males and 21.6 +/- 1.7 mm in females.
There was no significant difference in measurements of various metric parameters between right and left sides of foramen ovale (p>0.05) but highly significant difference was observed between male and female dimensions of all metric parameters.(p<0.001). Thus the foramen ovale does not exhibit bilateral symmetry but the sexual dimorphism is evident. The data is helpful for surgical practices.