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Challenges for prison governors and staff in implementing the Healthy Prisons Agenda in English prisons. Public Health 2018; 162:91-97. [PMID: 29990617 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the two decades that have passed since the World Health Organisation established the Healthy Prisons Agenda, there has been no research conducted to investigate barriers and challenges prison managerial and operational staff encounter in implementing the Agenda in the English prison context. This article debates sectoral, institutional and occupational challenges perceived to hinder effective implementation of the Agenda, based on a qualitative study involving prison governors and operational staff. STUDY DESIGN Qualitative study taking a grounded theory approach. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 participants comprising prison governors, prison officers and external stakeholders with key strategic and operational roles across the prison estate. The interviews were analysed and coded into themes using constant comparative method. RESULTS The research identified a range of managerial and operational factors that impeded recognition, acceptance and successful implementation of the Healthy Prisons Agenda. These were found to be associated with scarcity of resources, low prioritisation, perceived low importance, and pressures at operational, managerial and strategic levels to adhere to standard operating procedures. Security, control and discipline tended to supersede other imperatives considered of secondary importance to the effective running of prisons. CONCLUSIONS Sustainability of the Healthy Prisons Agenda can only be assured by raising its significance and importance across prison hierarchies and within policies and practices through which operational and strategic objectives are realised. This means achieving wholesale commitment by prisons-among staff at all levels-towards public health goals that are fundamental to a successful and effective criminal justice system.
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Erythrodermic pityriasis rubra pilaris managed at home: intensive community care followed by ustekinumab. Clin Exp Dermatol 2018; 43:749-751. [PMID: 29779249 DOI: 10.1111/ced.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Selected Herbal Leaves: An Overview. IOP CONFERENCE SERIES: MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2018; 358:012037. [DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/358/1/012037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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54
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Gaps between industrialist and academia in commercializing research products: industrial perspectives. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i6s.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Infant asphyxia detection using autoencoders trained on locally linear embedded-reduced Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient (MFCC) features. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i3s.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Detection of asphyxia in infants using deep learning Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) trained on Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient (MFCC) features extracted from cry sounds. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i3s.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Agarwood oil quality classifier using machine learning. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i4s.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Synthesized and extending the Bidentate Schiff base complexes using multilayer feedforward neural network. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i4s.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Comparison between MPC and PID control for compact hydro distillation process. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i4s.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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60
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Statistical analysis of agarwood oil compounds in discriminating the quality of agarwood oil. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i4s.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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61
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Design and development of plasma antenna for wi-fi application. JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i5s.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Stress during puberty facilitates precancerous prostate lesions in adult rats. Exp Oncol 2017; 39:269-275. [PMID: 29284780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Puberty can be a critical period for the long-term development of diseases, especially for stress-related disorders that depend on neuroendocrine and immune responses. Some organs like the prostate are prone to diseases that result from neuroendocrine or immune challenges, such as cancer. AIM In the present study, we assessed the long-term effects of an acute pubertal stressor (immune-challenge) on the development of precancerous lesions in adult rats, and compared them with testosterone-induced prostatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pubertal male rats received a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline during puberty (5 weeks old). At adulthood (8 weeks old) males were subcutaneously implanted with either an empty capsule or filled with testosterone propionate (100 mg/kg). This resulted in a total of five groups: 1) intact untreated, 2) saline-treated and implanted with a blank capsule, 3) saline-treated and implanted with a testosterone capsule, 4) LPS-treated and implanted with a blank capsule, 5) LPS-treated and implanted with a testosterone capsule. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrified and their prostates processed for histology (hematoxylin and eosin stain) and blood serum processed for hormone analysis (testosterone and corticosterone). RESULTS Males treated with LPS (stressed during puberty via immune challenge) expressed epithelium dysplasia (specially in the ventral prostate), anisocytosis, presence of mononuclear cells, anisokariosis, non-basal polarity, abnormal nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, proplastic myoepithelium, and granular content in the lumen. These histological alterations were similar, but less severe than those observed in males implanted with testosterone during adulthood. CONCLUSION These results indicate that pubertal exposure to an immune challenge (stress) facilitates the long-term development of prostatic lesions in adult male rats.
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Follicular regulatory T cell dynamics in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissue during very early treatment initiation in HIV-1 clade C infection. J Virus Erad 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/s2055-6640(20)30547-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Network: Outcome & Determinant Factors. The Hospital Serdang Experience. Int J Cardiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.09.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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TRENDS AND PREDICTORS OF 2-YEAR ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.3245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN NUTRITIONAL STATUS; SARCOPENIA PROGRESSION IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.2088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Predicting type 2 diabetes using genetic and environmental risk factors in a multi-ethnic Malaysian cohort. Public Health 2017; 149:31-38. [PMID: 28528225 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Malaysia has a high and rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). While environmental (non-genetic) risk factors for the disease are well established, the role of genetic variations and gene-environment interactions remain understudied in this population. This study aimed to estimate the relative contributions of environmental and genetic risk factors to T2D in Malaysia and also to assess evidence for gene-environment interactions that may explain additional risk variation. STUDY DESIGN This was a case-control study including 1604 Malays, 1654 Chinese and 1728 Indians from the Malaysian Cohort Project. METHODS The proportion of T2D risk variance explained by known genetic and environmental factors was assessed by fitting multivariable logistic regression models and evaluating McFadden's pseudo R2 and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). Models with and without the genetic risk score (GRS) were compared using the log likelihood ratio Chi-squared test and AUCs. Multiplicative interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors was assessed via logistic regression within and across ancestral groups. Interactions were assessed for the GRS and its 62 constituent variants. RESULTS The models including environmental risk factors only had pseudo R2 values of 16.5-28.3% and AUC of 0.75-0.83. Incorporating a genetic score aggregating 62 T2D-associated risk variants significantly increased the model fit (likelihood ratio P-value of 2.50 × 10-4-4.83 × 10-12) and increased the pseudo R2 by about 1-2% and AUC by 1-3%. None of the gene-environment interactions reached significance after multiple testing adjustment, either for the GRS or individual variants. For individual variants, 33 out of 310 tested associations showed nominal statistical significance with 0.001 < P < 0.05. CONCLUSION This study suggests that known genetic risk variants contribute a significant but small amount to overall T2D risk variation in Malaysian population groups. If gene-environment interactions involving common genetic variants exist, they are likely of small effect, requiring substantially larger samples for detection.
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Pregnancy outcome and cord blood cotinine level: A cross-sectional comparative study between secondhand smokers and non-secondhand smokers. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017; 214:86-90. [PMID: 28494268 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the pregnancy outcome and cord blood cotinine levels between secondhand smokers and non-secondhand smokers. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional comparative study in a Malaysian tertiary obstetric hospital involving 200 non-smoking pregnant women at term, of whom 100 were secondhand smokers and 100 were non-secondhand smokers. Those with multiple pregnancies, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30kg/m2 or who delivered by Caesarean section were excluded. The participants' basic demographic details, delivery details, neonatal outcome and placental weight were recorded. Umbilical cord blood samples were obtained, and cord blood cotinine levels were measured with a Cotinine ELISA kit. The primary outcomes were baby's birth weight, length, and head circumference, Apgar score at 5min and placental weight. The secondary outcome was difference in cord blood cotinine levels between the two groups and the correlation of these differences with the neonatal outcome. RESULTS The secondhand smoker group had significantly lower baby weight (2.94±0.31kg vs 3.05±0.40kg), head circumference (30.87±2.35cm vs 37.13±2.36cm), length (46.58±1.95cm vs 51.53±2.05cm) and placental weight (520±73.5g vs 596±61.3g) and significantly higher cord blood cotinine levels (16.35±12.84ng/mL vs 0.56±0.22ng/mL). Cord blood cotinine levels had significant negative correlations with placental weight (r=-0.461), baby's weight (r=-0.297), baby's head circumference (r=-0.501) and baby's length (r=-0.374). CONCLUSION Secondhand smoke increases the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (newborns'anthropometric measurements and placental weight) and causes higher cord blood cotinine levels.
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Development of a conceptual model for risk-based quality management system. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS EXCELLENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/14783363.2017.1310617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Efficient photoelectrodes from anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays decorated with particles/rods/3D microflower rutile crystals for photoelectrochemical water splitting. J Solid State Electrochem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10008-017-3523-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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71
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Renal dysfunction in patients taking fumaric acid esters - a retrospective cross-sectional study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2016; 31:686-691. [DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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72
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Autophagy and fibroids: autophagy related proteins ATG4 and ATG10 are defected in human uterine fibroids with high frequency. Fertil Steril 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.07.811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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74
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BM-MSC Accelerates Acute Stroke Recovery in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Phase II/III Study. Cytotherapy 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2016.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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75
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Effect of copulation on potentially precancerous prostate lesions, serum testosterone and prolactin levels in rats. Exp Oncol 2016; 38:73-79. [PMID: 27356573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The prostate is an exocrine reproductive gland that participates in ejaculation and it is prone to diseases, including cancer. AIM In the pre-sent study, we assessed the long-term effects of copulation on the development of precancerous lesions in rats, and compared them with testosterone-induced prostatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS One group of Wistar males was given 10 copulatory sessions to one ejaculation with ovariectomized, hormone-primed females. Sessions occurred twice per week for a total of ten trials. A second group was exposed to females during the same trials, but physical contact was prevented. In addition, each group received a subcutaneous implant in the back either filled with testosterone propionate (T, 100 mg/kg) or empty. This resulted in four subgroups: 1) Control + No sex, 2) Control + Sex, 3) T + No sex and 4) T + Sex. Two days after the 10(th) trial all the males were sacrificed for prostate histo-logy (H&E) and hormone analysis (testosterone and prolactin). RESULTS Males from the group Control + No sex expressed normal histo-logy. However, those in the groups Control + Sex and T + No sex expressed metaplasia and dysplasia in both the dorsolateral and ventral portions of the prostate, respectively. Interestingly, males from the group T + Sex expressed dysplasia in the dorsolateral prostate only, but not in the ventral prostate. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that constant copulation may facilitate the development of prostatic lesions in males with normal levels of testosterone. However, copulation induces less lesions in the ventral prostate of males treated with testosterone.
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Wettability of CNT-Doped Solder under Isothermal Aging. MATERIALS SCIENCE FORUM 2016; 857:76-78. [DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.857.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Wettability for lead free solder 99.0Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu (SAC237) with addition of different weight percentage carbon nanotube after thermal treatment was investigated. SAC 237 solder powder with flux was mixed with 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% and 0.04% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form SAC-CNTs solder paste. Printed solder paste on test board with Cu surface finish was then reflow under 270°C temperature and isothermal aging at 150°C for 0,200 and 400 hours. Wettability of SAC-CNT solder was determined by measuring contact angle using optical microscope and image analyzer. As a result, from reflow process right through 400 hours of thermal aging, SAC237 with 0.04% CNT has the lowest contact angle as compared to other SAC-CNTs and SAC237 solder. As a conclusion, addition of carbon nanotubes into solder SAC237 improved their wettability on Cu substrate, especially at 0.04% of CNTs.
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Quantifying tuberculosis burden and underrepresentation in Malaysia, 1990-2014. Int J Infect Dis 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.02.752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Epidemiology of drug-resistant tuberculosis among children and adolescents in South Africa, 2005-2010. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2016; 19:663-9. [PMID: 25946356 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.14.0879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents diagnosed with resistance to any anti-tuberculosis drug (drug-resistant tuberculosis; DR-TB) in South Africa. DESIGN We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all children (<13 years) and adolescents (13 to <18 years) with DR-TB at specialty hospitals in four South African provinces from 2005 to 2010. RESULTS During the review period, 774 children and adolescents (median age 11.3 years) were diagnosed with DR-TB at selected facilities. A high proportion of patients had a history of previous TB treatment (285/631; 45.2%), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (375/685; 54.7%), contact with a TB case (347/454; 76.4%), and smear-positive (443/729; 60.8%), cavitary (253/680, 38.7%) disease. Eighty-two per cent of patients with HIV infection received antiretroviral therapy. Of 626 patients diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), 561 (89.6%) received a regimen consistent with national guidelines; the median length of treatment was 22 months (IQR 16-25). Among 400 patients with any DR-TB and a known outcome, 20.3% died during treatment. CONCLUSION Pediatric DR-TB in these provinces is characterized by complex clinical features at diagnosis, with one in five children dying during treatment. History of previous treatment and contact with a TB patient indicate opportunities for earlier diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes.
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Erratum to: Facile one-step process for synthesis of vertically aligned cobalt oxide doped TiO2 nanotube arrays for solar energy conversion. J Solid State Electrochem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10008-015-2992-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Malaysia: can ABHR purchasing data used to measure hand hygiene compliance? Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2015. [PMCID: PMC4475172 DOI: 10.1186/2047-2994-4-s1-p296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Performance evaluation of three commercial molecular assays for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical specimens in a high TB-HIV-burden setting. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:508. [PMID: 26553046 PMCID: PMC4640418 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1229-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A major challenge faced by countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) is early detection especially in individuals with paucibacillary disease which is common in HIV endemic settings. Remarkable efforts have been made globally to accelerate the development and expansion of new diagnostic technologies that allow better and earlier diagnosis of active tuberculosis particularly directly from clinical specimens with a few commercial options available. These include GenoType MTBDRplus Version 2.0 (Hain Lifescience), Xpert® MTB/RIF (Cepheid) and Anyplex™ plus MTB/NTM/DR-TB Real-time detection (Seegene). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of these three commercial molecular assays for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from clinical specimens in a high TB-HIV-burden setting. METHODS This was a retrospective laboratory-based study using stored remnant sediments from clinical specimens of presumptive pulmonary TB cases. A stratified sample of smear positive TB, smear negative TB and TB culture negatives was included. All the samples were tested on the three molecular assays following the manufacturers' instructions; except for Anyplex™plus, for which DNA extraction was performed using the NucliSENS® easyMAG® platform (bioMerieux). Samples were also processed for liquid TB culture and time-to-culture positivity was recorded. RESULTS Of the 90 sediments processed, 81 were analyzable across all three systems. The overall sensitivity was highest for Xpert® MTB/RIF (89.1%) followed by GenoType MTBDRplus (70.9%) and Anyplex™ plus (65.5%). The specificity and sensitivity in smear positive cases was comparable across all systems. There was a significant difference in sensitivity between Xpert® MTB/RIF and the other two assays for smear-negative cases (P < 0.05). The performance in cases where the time-to-culture positivity was ≥ 20 days was also significantly poorer for both Anyplex™ plus and GenoType MTBDRplus compared to Xpert® MTB/RIF (P < 0.05). Xpert® MTB/RIF achieved 100% specificity, while Anyplex™ plus and GenoType MTBDRplus achieved 96.2 and 92.3% respectively. CONCLUSION The Xpert® MTB/RIF was superior to the other two assays for the detection of TB in smear negative specimens notably when bacterial loads are very low in sputum. It is important that studies reporting on test performance stratify their results by time-to-culture positivity to accurately assess clinical performance especially in high HIV settings.
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Characterizing the genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes in a Malaysian multi-ethnic cohort. Diabet Med 2015; 32:1377-84. [PMID: 25711284 DOI: 10.1111/dme.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To characterize the association with Type 2 diabetes of known Type 2 diabetes risk variants in people in Malaysia of Malay, Chinese and Indian ancestry who participated in the Malaysian Cohort project. METHODS We genotyped 1604 people of Malay ancestry (722 cases, 882 controls), 1654 of Chinese ancestry (819 cases, 835 controls) and 1728 of Indian ancestry (851 cases, 877 controls). First, 62 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms previously associated with Type 2 diabetes were assessed for association via logistic regression within ancestral groups and then across ancestral groups using a meta-analysis. Second, estimated odds ratios were assessed for excess directional concordance with previously studied populations. Third, a genetic risk score aggregating allele dosage across the candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms was tested for association within and across ancestral groups. RESULTS After Bonferroni correction, seven individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with Type 2 diabetes in the combined Malaysian sample. We observed a highly significant excess in concordance of effect directions between Malaysian and previously studied populations. The genetic risk score was strongly associated with Type 2 diabetes in all Malaysian groups, explaining from 1.0 to 1.7% of total Type 2 diabetes risk variance. CONCLUSION This study suggests there is substantial overlap of the genetic risk alleles underlying Type 2 diabetes in Malaysian and other populations.
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Three stage cultivation process of facultative strain of Chlorella sorokiniana for treating dairy farm effluent and lipid enhancement. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 80:346-356. [PMID: 26043271 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Reserve lipids of microalgae are promising for biodiesel production. However, economically feasible and sustainable energy production from microalgae requires optimization of cultivation conditions for both biomass yield and lipid production of microalgae. Biomass yield and lipid production in microalgae are a contradictory problem because required conditions for both targets are different. Simultaneously, the mass cultivation of microalgae for biofuel production also depends extremely on the performance of the microalgae strains used. In this study a green unicellular microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana (DS6) isolated from the holding tanks of farm wastewater treatment plant using multi-step screening and acclimation procedures was found high-lipid producing facultative heterotrophic microalgae strain capable of growing on dairy farm effluent (DFE) for biodiesel feedstock and wastewater treatment. Morphological features and the phylogenetic analysis for the 18S rRNA identified the isolated strains. A novel three stage cultivation process of facultative strain of C. sorokiniana was examined for lipid production.
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P15.03 Development of a new cem reporter t-cells (gxr-cells) viral inhibition assay (via) for elucidating the role of class-i-hla alleles on the inhibitory capacity of hiv-1-specific cd8 +t-cells. Br J Vener Dis 2015. [DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052270.544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Selected Bacteraemic Isolates from South African Public Sector Hospitals, 2010. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/10158782.2011.11441461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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86
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Age and sex differences in c-Fos expression and serum corticosterone concentration following LPS treatment. Neuroscience 2015; 305:293-301. [PMID: 26117716 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to an immune challenge during peripuberty/adolescence, but not in adulthood, can cause enduring alterations in reproductive and non-reproductive behaviors. This suggests that the peripubertal/adolescent brain might respond differently to a stressor, like an immune challenge, than the adult brain. The goal of this study was to examine whether there are age and sex differences in the acute response to an immune challenge. To examine this research question, we investigated c-Fos expression in various brain regions. Corticosterone (CORT) concentration in the serum was quantified to examine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) responsiveness. Results showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS; a bacterial endotoxin) treatment, induced a significant increase in the number of c-Fos immunoreactive cells in adult male and female mice compared to their saline controls. However, in peripubertal/adolescent mice, LPS treatment failed to increase the number of c-Fos immunoreactive cells in both male and female mice compared to their saline controls. LPS treatment also significantly increased serum CORT concentration in all mice regardless of sex and age. However, adult female mice treated with LPS showed significantly greater serum CORT concentration compared to adult and peripubertal/adolescent males and peripubertal/adolescent females treated with LPS. These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that there are important age and sex differences in acute immune response, which may allude to mechanisms for the enduring behavioral alterations, observed previously in mice exposed to an immune challenge during puberty but not in adulthood.
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Psychosocial factors and obesity in 17 high-, middle- and low-income countries: the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiologic study. Int J Obes (Lond) 2015; 39:1217-23. [PMID: 25869608 PMCID: PMC4766924 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Psychosocial stress has been proposed to contribute to obesity, particularly abdominal, or central obesity, through chronic activation of the neuroendocrine systems. However, these putative relationships are complex and dependent on country and cultural context. We investigated the association between psychosocial factors and general and abdominal obesity in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiologic study. Subjects/Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study enrolled 151 966 individuals aged 35–70 years from 628 urban and rural communities in 17 high-, middle- and low-income countries. Data were collected for 125 290 individuals regarding education, anthropometrics, hypertension/diabetes, tobacco/alcohol use, diet and psychosocial factors (self-perceived stress and depression). Results: After standardization for age, sex, country income and urban/rural location, the proportion with obesity (body mass index ⩾30 kg m−2) increased from 15.7% in 40 831 individuals with no stress to 20.5% in 7720 individuals with permanent stress, with corresponding proportions for ethnicity- and sex-specific central obesity of 48.6% and 53.5%, respectively (P<0.0001 for both). Associations between stress and hypertension/diabetes tended to be inverse. Estimating the total effect of permanent stress with age, sex, physical activity, education and region as confounders, no relationship between stress and obesity persisted (adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) for obesity 1.04 (95% confidence interval: 0.99–1.10)). There was no relationship between ethnicity- and sex-specific central obesity (adjusted PR 1.00 (0.97–1.02)). Stratification by region yielded inconsistent associations. Depression was weakly but independently linked to obesity (PR 1.08 (1.04–1.12)), and very marginally to abdominal obesity (PR 1.01 (1.00–1.03)). Conclusions: Although individuals with permanent stress tended to be slightly more obese, there was no overall independent effect and no evidence that abdominal obesity or its consequences (hypertension, diabetes) increased with higher levels of stress or depression. This study does not support a causal link between psychosocial factors and abdominal obesity.
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121 * AUDIT OF TRAUMA PRACTICE IN A TERTIARY REFERRAL THORACIC SURGICAL CENTRE IN THE UK. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivu276.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Drug survival of fumaric acid esters for psoriasis: a retrospective study. Br J Dermatol 2014; 171:397-402. [PMID: 24471408 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fumaric acid esters (FAEs) have been used for over 30 years in the management of psoriasis. OBJECTIVES To determine drug survival of FAEs in patients with psoriasis, treatment-limiting adverse drug events and the range of effective drug doses. METHODS A retrospective, single-centre study assessing all patients commenced on FAEs between October 2003 and July 2012. Demographic data, length of treatment, reasons for discontinuation of FAEs, side-effects and range of doses were recorded. RESULTS Two hundred and forty-nine patients [160 (64%) male] were included. The mean age at which FAEs were commenced was 44·5 years (range 17-82 years). The mean length of treatment was 28 months (range 1 week to 106 months). In patients who were commenced on FAEs ≥ 4 years before inclusion in this study, the 4-year drug survival was 60% (64/107). FAEs were discontinued in 146/249 patients (59%); this was due to lack of efficacy in 59/146 (40%) and gastrointestinal upset in 39/146 (27%). A very low dose of FAEs (< 240 mg daily) was successful in maintaining control of psoriasis in 26 (10%) patients. The mean treatment duration of these patients was 64 months (range 32-106 months). CONCLUSIONS Fumaric acid esters have a 4-year drug survival rate of 60%, which compares favourably with reported 4-year survival rates of 40% for etanercept and adalimumab and 70% for infliximab. Longer drug survival is more likely in the significant subgroup of patients in whom a very low dose of FAEs is sufficient to control disease. The reasons for this are unclear.
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Kinetische Untersuchungen zur Wasserstoffübertragung von Dihydropyridinen auf Hydrazyle / Kinetic Investigation on the Hydrogen Transfer from Dihydropyridines to Hydrazyls. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG SECTION B-A JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES 2014. [DOI: 10.1515/znb-1981-0323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The results of a kinetic study on the hydrogen transfer between different dihydropyridines and mono-, bis-and trishydrazyls of the tricyanobenzene series are described. The reactions have been found to obey in all cases a second-order law. The influences of solvent medium, redox-potentials of the reactants and temperature on the rates of reactions have been investigated.
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Cohort Profile: The Malaysian Cohort (TMC) project: a prospective study of non-communicable diseases in a multi-ethnic population. Int J Epidemiol 2014; 44:423-31. [PMID: 24729425 PMCID: PMC4469794 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyu089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Malaysian Cohort study was initiated in 2005 by the Malaysian government. The top-down approach to this population-based cohort study ensured the allocation of sufficient funding for the project which aimed to recruit 100 000 individuals aged 35–70 years. Participants were recruited from rural and urban areas as well as from various socioeconomic groups. The main objectives of the study were to identify risk factors, to study gene-environment interaction and to discover biomarkers for the early detection of cancers and other diseases. At recruitment, a questionnaire-based interview was conducted, biophysical measurements were performed and biospecimens were collected, processed and stored. Baseline investigations included fasting blood sugar, fasting lipid profile, renal profile and full blood count. From April 2006 to the end of September 2012 we recruited a total of 106 527participants. The baseline prevalence data showed 16.6% participants with diabetes, 46.5% with hypertension, 44.9% with hypercholesterolaemia and 17.7% with obesity. The follow-up phase commenced in June 2013. This is the most comprehensive and biggest cohort study in Malaysia, and has become a valuable resource for epidemiological and biological research. For information on collaboration and also data access, investigators can contact the project leader at (rahmanj@ppukm.ukm.edu.my).
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Whole-genome sequencing for TB drug resistance determination. Int J Infect Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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Geospatial analysis and identification of space-time clusters of MDR-TB in South Africa, 2006-2012. Int J Infect Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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96
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Association of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes and treatment outcome in pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Tshwane metropolitan area. Int J Infect Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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97
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Comparative evaluation of the Alpha Tec ® NAC-PAC™ Red against a conventional NALC-NaOH method for decontamination of sputum samples for tuberculosis testing. Int J Infect Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improves clinical disability in patients with acute middle cerebral artery infarct. Cytotherapy 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2014.01.284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Risk factors of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Kuala Lumpur. Int J Infect Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of paediatric TB. Int J Infect Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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