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Working together for carbon credit success
No full textTHE Prime Minister recently launched the Public-private Partnership Master Plan 2030 to strengthen the framework for public-private partnerships . Meanwhile, the first auction for Malaysian carbon credits was held by the Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) in July. In this instance, the Kuamut Rainforest Conservation Project is the first Malaysian carbon project to join the BCX, embarking on protecting and restoring 83,381ha of Sabah forest. It is note-worthy that the project is a public-private partnership
Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.: a comprehensive review of its pharmacology, phytochemicals, ethnobotanical uses, and therapeutic potential
No full textSaussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch., commonly known as costus, is a perennial herb that has been traditionally used in various indigenous medicinal systems across Asia. Its historical prominence in traditional remedies underscores the need to explore its phytochemical composition, pharmacological properties, and potential therapeutic benefits. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the available literature on the pharmacological properties, phytochemical constituents, ethnobotanical uses, and therapeutic potential of S. costus. An exhaustive search was performed across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed/MedLine, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, TRIP database, and Science Direct. Both experimental and clinical studies, as well as traditional ethnobotanical records, were considered for inclusion. The phytochemical analysis revealed that S. costus contains a plethora of bioactive compounds, including sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, and essential oils, which are responsible for its myriad of medicinal properties. The pharmacological studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects, among others. Ethnobotanical data showcased its extensive use in treating ailments like asthma, digestive disorders, and skin conditions. Some clinical trials also underscore its efficacy in certain health conditions, corroborating its traditional uses. S. costus possesses significant therapeutic potential, largely attributable to its rich phytochemical composition; the convergence of its traditional uses and modern pharmacological findings suggests promising avenues for future research, especially in drug development and understanding its mechanism of action in various ailments
Microwave-assisted upcycling of plastic waste to high-performance carbon anode for lithium-ion batteries
No full textThe increasing demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has emphasized the need for affordable and sustainable materials, prompting the exploration of waste upcycling to address global sustainability challenges. In this study, we efficiently converted polypropylene (PP) plastic waste from used centrifuge tubes into activated polypropylene carbon (APC) using microwave-assisted pyrolysis. The synthesis of APC was optimized using response surface methodology/central composite design (RSM/CCD). Based on the RSM results, the optimal conditions for PP plastic conversion into carbon were determined as follows: HNO3 concentration of 3.5 M, microwave temperature of 230 °C, and holding time of 25 min. Under these conditions, the obtained intensity ratio of Id/Ig in PP carbon was 0.681 ± 0.013, with an error of 6.81 ± 0.013 % between predicted and actual values. The physicochemical studies, including FESEM-EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, confirmed the successful synthesis of APC samples. The APC 800 material exhibited a well-organized three-dimensional structure characterized by large pores and mesopores, enabling fast ion transport in the electrode. As a result, the APC 800 electrode demonstrated an initial discharge capacity of 381.0 mAh/g, an improved initial coulombic efficiency of 85.1%, and excellent cycling stability after 100 cycles. Notably, the APC 800 electrode displayed remarkable rate performance, showing a reversible capacity of 355.1 mAh/g when the current density was reset to 0.2 A/g, highlighting its high electrochemical reversibility. The outstanding characteristics of APC 800 as an anode electrode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries suggest a promising future for its application in the field
Diving deep into fish allergen immunotherapy: Current knowledge and future directions
No full textFish allergy is one of the “big nine” categories of food allergens worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing with the higher demand for this nutritious food source. Fish allergies are a significant health concern as it is a leading cause of food anaphylaxis, accounting for 9% of all deaths from anaphylaxis. The gaps in treating fish allergies at present are the incomplete identification of fish allergens, lack of component-resolved diagnosis of fish allergens in the clinical setting, and the variability in sensitization profiles based on different fish consumption practices. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) improves tolerance towards accidental consumption of fish and is longer lasting than pharmacotherapy. Current practice or research of fish AIT ranges from the use of whole fish via oral desensitization, to the use of purified recombinant parvalbumin and its hypoallergenic variant, passive IgG immunization, and modifying the allergenicity of parvalbumin by changing the diet of farmed fish. However, the focus of fish allergen-based studies in the context of AIT has been restricted to parvalbumins. More research is required to understand the involvement of other fish allergens, and several other strategies of AIT including peptide vaccines, DNA vaccines, hybrid allergens, and the use of nanobodies that have the capacity to treat multiple allergens have been proposed. For AIT, other important aspects to consider are the route of desensitization, and the biomarkers to assess the success of immunotherapy. Finally, we also address several clinical considerations for fish AIT
Gold complexes and their molecular targets in colorectal cancer
No full textEven with the advent of various treatment modalities, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. A widely used treatment for metastatic CRC—platinum-based chemotherapy—is hampered by the lack of selectivity, inducing adverse side effects in patients, and the emergence of drug resistance, severely limiting their therapeutic efficacy. To overcome these limitations, researchers are exploring the potential of gold complexes as a promising alternative to treat CRC. Gold complexes have demonstrated potent anticancer activity, particularly through the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an antioxidant enzyme that is often upregulated in solid tumor cancers such as CRC. Herein, this review provides an overview of CRC and discusses the recent advances of gold complexes along with their modes of action in targeting CRC cells
Acceptability and tolerability of alcohol-based hand rubs among health workers and concessionaires in Malaysia during the COVID pandemic: a hospital-wide cross-sectional study using a modified WHO protocol
No full textThis study evaluated the acceptability and tolerability of three alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) at Sarawak General Hospital, Malaysia. Conducted from 12-26 November 2021 using a modified WHO Protocol, it involved a survey among health workers and concessionaires, with a 35% response rate (1,598 of 4,628 participants). The majority were nurses (60.8%), with the medical division most represented (28.4%). Most respondents (93.2%) used ABHRs at least five days a week and found them easily accessible (72.3%). Product B was the preferred ABHR (65%), primarily for its color and fragrance, surpassing WHO’s 50% approval rate in these aspects. However, no other product features met WHO criteria. There were no significant differences in self-reported skin tolerability across the products, and none achieved overall WHO approval. These results offer important insights for ABHR selection in developing countries and highlight the value of the WHO Protocol in assessing product acceptability and tolerability
Role of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in regulation of autophagy and nuclear factor-kappa Beta (NF-ĸβ) pathways in sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
No full textHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major global health problem with high incidence and mortality. Diagnosis of HCC at late stages and tumour heterogeneity in patients with different genetic profiles are known factors that complicate the disease treatment. HCC therapy becomes even more challenging in patients with drug resistance such as resistance to sorafenib, which is a common drug used in HCC patients. Sorafenib resistance can further aggravate HCC by regulating various oncogenic pathways such as autophagy and nuclear factor-kappa Beta (NF-ĸβ) signalling. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), is a nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylases that regulates various metabolic and oncogenic events such as cell survival, apoptosis, autophagy, tumourigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance in various cancers, but its role in HCC, particularly in sorafenib resistance is underexplored. In this study, we generated sorafenib-resistant HepG2 and Huh-7 liver cancer cell models to investigate the role of SIRT1 and its effect on autophagy and nuclear factor-kappa Beta (NF-ĸβ) signalling pathways. Western blot analysis showed increased SIRT1, altered autophagy pathway and activated NF-ĸβ signalling in sorafenib-resistant cells. SIRT1-silenced HCC cells demonstrated down-regulated autophagy in both parental and chemoresistant cells. This may occur through the deacetylation of key autophagy molecules such as FOXO3, beclin 1, ATGs and LC3 by SIRT1, highlighting the role of SIRT1 in autophagy induction. Silencing of SIRT1 also resulted in activated NF-ĸβ signalling. This is because SIRT1 failed to deacetylate p65 subunit of NF-κB, translocate the NF-κB from nucleus to cytoplasm, and suppress NF-κB activity due to the silencing. Hence, the NF-κB transcriptional activity was restored. These findings summarize the role of SIRT1 in autophagy/NF-ĸβ regulatory axis, with a similar trend observed in both parental and sorafenib-resistant cells. The present work promotes a better understanding of the role of SIRT1 in autophagy and NF-ĸβ signalling in HCC and sorafenib-resistant HCC. As some key proteins in these pathways are potential therapeutic targets, a better understanding of SIRT1/autophagy/NF-ĸβ axis could further improve the therapeutic strategies against HCC
The occurrence and probabilistic risk of exposure to parabens from bottled and hand-shaken teas in the general adult population of Taiwan
No full textParabens (PBs) are esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and there are growing concerns due to their potential to disrupt endocrine function and their wide use as preservatives in foodstuffs, including beverages. The consumption of bottled and hand-shaken teas is gradually replacing traditional tea consumption through brewing. However, no study has reported PB concentrations in different types of teas or packaging and their associated health risks. Our aim was to determine the concentration of PBs (methyl- (MetPB), ethyl- (EthPB), propyl- (PropPB), butyl-paraben (ButPB)) in green, black, and oolong teas in two varieties of products (bottled and hand-shaken teas), using UPLC-MS/MS. Additionally, we estimated the health risks associated with tea consumption in the general adult population of Taiwan. A Monte Carlo simulation was applied to estimate the distribution of daily PB intake through bottled (n = 79) and hand-shaken (n = 71) tea consumption. Our findings revealed geometric mean concentrations in bottled green/black/oolong teas were 714.1/631.2/532.1 ng/L for MetPB, 95.2/ 30.5/14.9 ng/L for EthPB, 77.9/28.3/non-detected (ND) ng/L for PropPB, and 69.3/26.6/ND ng/L for ButPB. Hand-shaken green/black/oolong teas exhibited concentrations of 867.5/2258/1307 ng/L for MetPB, 28.5/28.8/14.5 ng/L for EthPB, 25.4/18.3/17.8 ng/L for PropPB, and 30.3/18.0/15.5 ng/L for ButPB. The median MetPB concentrations in hand-shaken black (2333 ng/L) and oolong teas (1215 ng/L) were significantly higher than those in bottled black (595.4 ng/L) and oolong teas (489.3 ng/L). Conversely, median concentrations of EthPB, PropPB, and ButPB in bottled teas were significantly higher than those in hand-shaken teas. MetPB was the predominant PB, constituting 73.2–91.9% in bottled teas and 85–94% in hand-shaken teas. Our results showed no health risks associated with bottled or hand-shaken tea consumption based on reference doses. However, the study highlights the importance of continued vigilance given the potential chronic exposure to PBs from various sources, necessitating ongoing concern despite the absence of immediate risks from tea consumption
Sustainable leadership in Asean
Get PDFMALAYSIA will be the Asean chair for 2025 and has selected the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. Our country also stands to emerge as a leader in carbon credits in Asean. First and foremost, the abundant forest resources bestowed upon Malaysia provide a huge opportunity to develop a robust carbon credit market. However, the immediate financial gains from timber exportation often overshadow carbon credit initiative
A Bibliometric Analysis of Museum Visitors’ Experiences Research
Get PDFThis study identified research trends, intellectual connections, and social connections in the field of museum visitor experiences. It also outlines future research to understand existing scientific research and shed light on key areas of research. The study reviewed 407 articles published in peer-reviewed journal articles, which were generated from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis software VOSviewer and Harzing POP were used. Citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, bibliometric coupling, and co-occurrence analysis have been employed. Findings highlight the need for increased representation from scholars in the Global South to ensure a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of museum visitors’ experiences worldwide. Nine key research areas for future studies were identified: sustainability, mixed reality, social media, accessibility, emotion, co-creation, interpretation, exhibition, and museum visitors’ experience and engagement. The results benefit stakeholders and researchers by allowing them to stay informed about the latest developments and breakthroughs in the global academic landscape and visitors’ experiences in museums