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Synthesis of 2‐(2‐oxo‐2 H ‐chromen‐4‐yl)acetamides as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and molecular insights into binding interactions
No full textSixteen novel coumarin-based compounds are reported as potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The most active compound in this series, 5a (IC50 0.04 ± 0.01 µM), noncompetitively inhibited AChE with a higher potency than tacrine and galantamine. Compounds 5d, 5j, and 5 m showed a moderate antilipid peroxidation activity. The compounds showed cytotoxicity in the same range as the standard drugs in HEK-293 cells. Molecular docking demonstrated that 5a acted as a dual binding site inhibitor. The coumarin moiety occupied the peripheral anionic site and showed π-π interaction with Trp278. The tertiary amino group displayed significant cation-π interaction with Phe329. The aromatic group showed π-π interaction with Trp83 at the catalytic anionic site. The long chain of methylene lay along the gorge interacting with Phe330 via hydrophobic interaction. Molecular docking was applied to postulate the selectivity toward AChE of 5a in comparison with donepezil and tacrine. Structural insights into the selectivity of the coumarin derivatives toward huAChE were explored by molecular docking and 3D QSAR and molecular dynamics simulation for 20 ns. ADMET analysis suggested that the 2-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)acetamides showed a good pharmacokinetic profile and no hepatotoxicity. These coumarin derivatives showed high potential for further development as anti-Alzheimer agents. © 2019 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaf
A comparative study of radiation doses between phantom and patients via CT angiography of the intra-/extra-cranial, pulmonary, and abdominal/pelvic arteries
No full textThis study aimed to evaluate effective dose and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) of computed tomography angiography (CTA) examination using an anthropomorphic phantom. We included three CTA examination protocols to evaluate the intra- and extra-cranial arteries, pulmonary artery (CTPA), and abdominal vessels. Patient SSDEs were measured retrospectively to estimate patient dose, relative to the bodyweight of the patient and volume CT dose index (CTDIvol). Our findings revealed that the highest dose was absorbed by the left lobe of the thyroid gland during intra-/extra-cranial CTA and CTPA, that is, 14.11 ± 0.24 mGy and 16.20 ± 3.95 mGy, respectively. However, the highest absorbed dose in abdominal/pelvic CTA was the gonads (8.98 ± 0.30 mGy), while other radiosensitive organs in intra- and extra-cranial CTA, CTPA, and abdominal/pelvic CTA did not demonstrate significant differences between organs/structures with p value 0.88, 0.11, and 0.54, respectively. The estimated effective dose in intra-/extra-cranial CTA was lower in patients (0.80 ± 0.60 mSv) than in the phantom (0.83 mSv), but it was the opposite for CTPA, with the effective dose being higher in patients (7.54 ± 3.09 mSv) than in the phantom (6.68 mSv). Similar to the effective dose, only CTPA SSDEs were significantly higher in men than in women (19.74 ± 4.79 mGy versus 7.9 mGy). Effective dose and SSDE are clinically relevant parameters that can help estimate a more accurate patient dose based on a patient’s size. © 2019, Japanese Society of Radiological Technology and Japan Society of Medical Physics
Seismic fragility assessment for moment-resisting concrete frame with setback under repeated earthquakes
No full textAtmospheric hydrodeoxygenation of phenol as pyrolytic‐oil model compound for hydrocarbon production using Ag/TiO 2 catalyst
No full textHydrodeoxygenation (HDO) kinetics of phenol over Ag/TiO 2 catalyst was investigated at 415–600 K and 1 atm. The use of oxophilic TiO 2 support has improved phenol conversion due to its preferential activation of CO bond. Product analysis confirmed the occurrence of direct deoxygenation (DDO) and hydrogenation–dehydration (HYD) pathways to produce benzene and cyclohexane, respectively. Both phenol hydrogenolysis and hydrogenation steps are the respective rate-limiting steps for DDO and HYD pathways of phenol HDO over Ag/TiO 2 . Based on the transition state theory, negative entropy changes of activation during HDO indicated that the HDO reactants formed activated complexes that had more orderly bonding configurations prior to the hydrogenolysis, hydrogenation, and dehydration steps. Under the present conditions, the catalyst was stable after 4 hr of HDO runs and able to be regenerated via H 2 -activation and calcination in air at 553 K with at least 98.9% removal efficiency to remove coke deposits and reform Ag metal species after HDO. © 2019 Curtin University and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
National pediatric palliative care needs from hospital deaths
No full textObjective: The objective of this study was to estimate palliative care needs and to describe the cohort of children with life-limiting illnesses (LLI) dying in hospitals. Design: This study was a retrospective cohort study. The national hospital admissions database was reviewed and children who had died who had life-limiting illnesses were identified. Setting: This study was conducted at Ministry of Health hospitals, Malaysia. Patients: Children aged 18 years and below who had died between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2014. Main Outcome Measures: Life-limiting diagnoses based on Hain et al.'s directory of LLI or the ACT/RCPCH categories of life-limiting disease trajectories. Results: There were 8907 deaths and 3958 (44.4%) were that of children with LLI. The majority, 2531 (63.9%) of children with LLI were neonates, and the most common diagnosis was extreme prematurity <28 weeks with 676 children (26.7%). For the nonneonatal age group, the median age at admission was 42 months (1-216 months). A majority, 456 (32.0%) had diagnoses from the ICD-10 chapter 'Neoplasms' followed by 360 (25.3%) who had a diagnoses from 'Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities' and 139 (9.7%) with diagnoses from 'Disease of the nervous system.' While a majority of the terminal admissions were to the general ward, there were children from the nonneonatal age group, 202 (14.2%) who died in nonpediatric wards. Conclusion: Understanding the characteristics of children with LLI who die in hospitals could contribute toward a more efficient pediatric palliative care (PPC) service development. PPC service should include perinatal and neonatal palliative care. Palliative care education needs to extend to nonpediatric healthcare providers who also have to manage children with LLI. © 2019 Indian Journal of Palliative Care | Published by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow
Fabrication and characterization of mullite ceramic hollow fiber membrane from natural occurring ball clay
No full textThis work aims to study the physico-chemical and permeation properties of ceramic hollow fiber microfiltration (MF)membranes. Ball clay from Perak, Malaysia was used as an alternative starting material for membrane preparation. The membranes were prepared at various solid loadings (37.5 to 50 wt%)and sintering temperatures (1150 to 1300 °C)via phase inversion-based extrusion/sintering method. Prior to membrane fabrication, the as-received ball clay underwent pre-treatment and was characterized using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), laser diffraction particle size analyzer (Metasizer 3000), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD)and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Sintered hollow fiber membranes were characterized in terms of crystalline phase using thin-film XRD, surface morphology via scanning electron microscope (SEM), mechanical property using 3-point (3p)method, wall thickness, porosity, pore size distribution and permeation property. XRD patterns show that the ball clay contains 85.9% kaolinite, 9.5% illite, 3.6% quartz and 1% maghemite. After sintering, the major phase of the hollow fiber membranes transformed into mullite (91 to 94%)with minor traces of quartz. The membranes' properties strongly depend on both solid loading and sintering temperature. Moreover, when the hollow fiber membrane with solid loading of 47.5 wt% was sintered at 1250 °C, its mechanical strength (55.8 ± 5.8 MPa)was comparable to that of purity-based ceramic hollow fiber membranes. The membrane has an average porosity and pore size of about 50.5 ± 2.1% and 0.61 Μm, respectively, which are within microfiltration range, and has an average pure water flux of 1286 ± 181 L/m2.hr. Compared with its high purity metal oxide ceramic counterparts, this alternative ball clay-based hollow fiber membrane can be sintered at lower sintering temperature while exhibiting comparable mechanical strength and water flux. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
Online media’s role in public health information and communication sharing in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory coast)
No full textThe effects of health communication interventions are to reach a large number of individuals and communities, as Rogers and Storey, (1987) stated that these are possible within a specified period of time and through an organized set of communication activities. Hence, to promote vaccination and its well-being through health communication campaigns, as in the United States it requires efforts to inform the public about infectious diseases and the benefits of immunization (Paisley, 2001). Nowadays, health communication campaigns and interventions have used a variety of ways to send healthcare messages. However, the role and effectiveness of health communication has been discussed recently without information and communication technologies (ICTs) in improving health systems and healthcare services, particular in the developing countries, including Cote d’Ivoire. The hospitals in Cote d’Ivoire were lacking proper medical infrastructures, or they had outdated equipment. This has revealed the vulnerability of a few healthcare issues, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, etc. as they are quite widespread among the population. © BEIESP
Molecular detection and epidemiological risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection among cattle in Peninsular Malaysia
No full textEnteric protozoa infection among cattle may pose a threat to productivity and survival leading to negative impacts on the livestock industry. A number of these pathogens are also known to be zoonotic and are of public health concern. Despite the importance of these enteric protozoa to both animal and human health, there remains a paucity of published information on the epidemiological risk factors that may be associated with bovine cryptosporidiosis in Southeast Asia. The present study was undertaken to determine the molecular prevalence and associated risk factors for Cryptosporidium infection among beef and dairy cattle in Peninsular Malaysia. Faecal samples were collected from 824 cattle in 39 farms (526 beef and 298 dairy) situated in 33 locations throughout the country, and subjected to PCR detection for Cryptosporidium using primers targeting the 18S SSUrRNA gene. Epidemiological variables including host, environment and management factors were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the potential risk factors for infection. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium among the cattle was 12.5%, with significant difference in the infection rate among the various breeds. There was no significant effect of gender, and both the beef and dairy cattle were at similar odds for infection. The younger cattle had a significantly higher infection rate compared to the older animals. Multivariate analysis revealed that deworming practice, distance to human settlement, geographical location (zone) and farm management system were significant risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection. The cattle that were reared on farms located in the northeast of the country, closest (≤200 m) to human settlements, reared extensively, and dewormed every four months were at highest risk of infection. The present study constitutes the first attempt to analyze the multivariable epidemiological risk factors involved in bovine cryptosporidiosis in Malaysia and in Southeast Asia. It is envisaged that the data obtained will facilitate better control and prevention measures for Cryptosporidium infection among cattle in the region. Due to the potential zoonotic nature of the infection, serious steps should be instituted for animal treatment and biohazard waste management on local cattle farms. © 201
Intron retention is among six unreported AGL mutations identified in Malaysian GSD III patients
No full textBackground: Glycogen storage disease type III is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by deficiencies of the glycogen debranching enzyme. Mutations within the AGL gene have been found to be heterogeneous, with some common mutations being reported in certain populations. The mutation spectrum of AGL gene in the multi-ethnic Malaysian population is still unknown. Objective: The present study seeks to determine the mutation spectrum of the AGL gene in Malaysian population. Methods: A total of eleven patients (eight Malay, two Chinese and one Bajau) were investigated. Genomic DNA was extracted and subsequently the AGL gene was amplified using specific primers and sequenced. Mutations found were screened in 150 healthy control samples either by restriction enzyme digestion assay or TaqMan® SNP Genotyping assay. Results: We identified six unreported mutations (c.1423+1G>T, c.2914_2915delAA, c.3814_3815delAG, c.4333T>G, c.4490G>A, c.4531_4534delTGTC) along with three previously reported mutations (c.99C>T, c.1783C>T, c.2681+1G>A). One of the six unreported mutation causes abnormal splicing and results in retention of intron 12 of the mature transcript, while another is a termination read-through. One of the reported mutation c.2681+1G>A was recurrently found in the Malay patients (n = 7 alleles; 31.8%). Conclusion: The mutation spectrum of the AGL gene in Malaysian patients has shown considerable heterogeneity, and all unreported mutations were absent in all 150 healthy control samples tested. © 2019, The Genetics Society of Korea
Multidimensional poverty index of marginalized orang asli in Terengganu, Malaysia
No full textThe general interpretation of poverty line index (PLI) is the measurement of poverty in Malaysia. However, by using this unidimensional poverty approach, it does not truly reflect the status of those who are poor. It is only confined to addressing the income or expenses debate, which does not reflect the actual living standards of the poor. Therefore, this study introduce the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) as an alternative method of poverty measurement. MPI is capable of identifying “Who is Poor” among the underprivileged in society. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the Orang Asli society’s development and national policy from a multidimensional perspective. By applying the MPI to the Orang Asli population in Terengganu, this study is able to reveal the factors that have deprived the poor to the point of poverty.
There are four dimensions used in this study such as education, health, standard of living, and wealth. The result shows 97.1% of the Orang Asli in Terengganu is deprived in livestock followed by waste management at 96.6%, years of schooling at 83.4%, and only 58.9% as an income indicator. The result also indicates that Sungai Pergam village is poorer compared to other villages based on the MPI measured. These findings prove that MPI is able to reveal the real reason behind poverty with accuracy. Therefore, this mode of measurement can also be applied to other targeted groups in order to achieve more effective poverty eradication programs. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Pres