Assessing multimodal emotion recognition in multiple sclerosis with a clinically accessible measure

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) negatively impacts cognition and has been associated with deficits in social cognition, including emotion recognition. There is a lack of research examining emotion recognition from multiple modalities in MS. The present study aimed to employ a clinically available measure to assess multimodal emotion recognition abilities among individuals with MS.

METHOD

Thirty-one people with MS and 21 control participants completed the Advanced Clinical Solutions Social Perceptions Subtest (ACS-SP), BICAMS, and measures of premorbid functioning, mood, and fatigue. ANCOVAs examined group differences in all outcomes while controlling for education. Correlational analyses examined potential correlates of emotion recognition in both groups.

RESULTS

The MS group performed significantly worse on the ACS-SP than the control group, F(1, 49) = 5.32, p = .025. Significant relationships between emotion recognition and cognitive functions were found only in the MS group, namely for information processing speed (r = 0.59, p < .001), verbal learning (r = 0.52, p = .003) and memory (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), and visuospatial learning (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and memory (r = 0.52, p = .003). Emotion recognition did not correlate with premorbid functioning, mood, or fatigue in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was the first to employ the ACS-SP to assess emotion recognition in MS. The results suggest that emotion recognition is impacted in MS and is related to other cognitive processes, such as information processing speed. The results provide information for clinicians amidst calls to include social cognition measures in standard MS assessments.

Fine-mapping of a major locus for Fusarium wilt resistance in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

KEY MESSAGE

Fine-mapping of a locus on chromosome 1 of flax identified an S-lectin receptor-like kinase (SRLK) as the most likely candidate for a major Fusarium wilt resistance gene. Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini, is a devastating disease in flax. Genetic resistance can counteract this disease and limit its spread. To map major genes for Fusarium wilt resistance, a recombinant inbred line population of more than 700 individuals derived from a cross between resistant cultivar 'Bison' and susceptible cultivar 'Novelty' was phenotyped in Fusarium wilt nurseries at two sites for two and three years, respectively. The population was genotyped with 4487 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Twenty-four QTLs were identified with IciMapping, 18 quantitative trait nucleotides with 3VmrMLM and 108 linkage disequilibrium blocks with RTM-GWAS. All models identified a major QTL on chromosome 1 that explained 20-48% of the genetic variance for Fusarium wilt resistance. The locus was estimated to span ~ 867 Kb but included a ~ 400 Kb unresolved region. Whole-genome sequencing of 'CDC Bethune', 'Bison' and 'Novelty' produced ~ 450 Kb continuous sequences of the locus. Annotation revealed 110 genes, of which six were considered candidate genes. Fine-mapping with 12 SNPs and 15 Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers narrowed down the interval to ~ 69 Kb, which comprised the candidate genes Lus10025882 and Lus10025891. The latter, a G-type S-lectin receptor-like kinase (SRLK) is the most likely resistance gene because it is the only polymorphic one. In addition, Fusarium wilt resistance genes previously isolated in tomato and Arabidopsis belonged to the SRLK class. The robust KASP markers can be used in marker-assisted breeding to select for this major Fusarium wilt resistance locus.

Interaction between gastric enzyme pepsin and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide in presence of sodium electrolytes: Exploration of micellization behavior

Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme used in the treatment of digestive disorders. In this study, we investigated the physicochemical properties of the tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and pepsin protein mixture in various sodium salt media within a temperature range of 300.55-320.55 K with 5 K intervals. The conductometric study of the TTAB+pepsin mixture revealed a reduction in the critical micelle concentration (CMC) in electrolyte media. The micellization of TTAB was delayed in the presence of pepsin. The CMC of the TTAB + pepsin mixture was found to depend on the concentrations of electrolytes and protein, as well as the temperature variations. The aggregation of the TTAB+pepsin mixture was hindered as a function of [pepsin] and increasing temperatures, while micellization was promoted in aqueous electrolyte solutions. The negative free energy changes (∆Gm0) indicated the spontaneous aggregation of the TTAB+pepsin mixture. Changes in enthalpy, entropy, molar heat capacities, transfer properties, and enthalpy-entropy compensation variables were calculated and illustrated rationally. The interaction forces between TTAB and pepsin protein in the experimental solvents were primarily hydrophobic and electrostatic (ion-dipole) in nature. An analysis of molecular docking revealed hydrophobic interactions as the main stabilizing forces in the TTAB-pepsin complex.

Promising drug candidates for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as alternatives to the classical medication metformin

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It is characterized by abnormal production of androgens, typically present in small quantities in females. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Irosustat (STX64), STX140, and compound 1G as new drug candidates for the treatment of letrozole-induced PCOS in female Wistar rats. 36 rats were divided into six groups of equal size. PCOS was induced in all groups, except the normal control group, by administering letrozole orally (1 mg/kg/day for 35 days). The onset of abnormal estrous cycle was confirmed by examining daily vaginal smears under a microscope. Subsequently, each rat group was assigned to a different treatment regimen, including one control group, one letrozole group, one metformin group (500 mg/kg/day) as a reference drug, and the other groups received a different drug candidate orally for 30 days. After treatment, blood collection was performed for biochemical measurements and determination of oxidative stress markers. The rats were dissected to separate ovaries and uterus for morphological, histological, and western blotting studies. Treatment with the drug candidates improved the ovaries and uterus weight measurements compared to the untreated PCOS group. The three tested drug candidates demonstrated promising improvements in lipid profile, blood glucose level, testosterone, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol levels. In addition, western blotting confirmed their promising effects on Akt, mTOR, and AMPK-α pathways. This study led to the discovery of three promising drug candidates for the management of PCOS as alternatives to metformin.

Physicochemical parameters and modes of interaction associated with the micelle formation of a mixture of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and cefixime trihydrate: effects of hydrotropes and temperature

The interaction between an antibiotic drug (cefixime trihydrate (CMT)) and a cationic surfactant (tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB)) was examined in the presence of both ionic and non-ionic hydrotropes (HTs) over the temperature range of 300.55 to 320.55 K. The values of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the TTAB + CMT mixture were experienced to have dwindled with an enhancement of the concentrations of resorcinol (ReSC), sodium benzoate (NaBz), sodium salicylate (NaS), while for the same system, a monotonically augmentation of CMC was observed in aq. 4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) solution. A gradual increase in CMC, as a function of temperature, was also observed. The values of the degree of counterion binding (β) for the TTAB + CMT mixture were experienced to be influenced by the concentrations of ReSC/NaBz/NaS/PABA and a change in temperature. The micellization process of TTAB + CMT was observed to be spontaneous (negative standard Gibbs free energy change (ΔG0m)) at all conditions studied. Also, the values of standard enthalpy change (ΔH0m) and entropy change (ΔS0m) were found negative and positive, respectively (with a few exceptions), for the test cases indicating an exothermic and enthalpy-entropy directed micellization process. The recommended interaction forces between the components in the micellar system are electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. In this study, the values of ΔC0m were negative in aqueous NaBz, ReSC, and PABA media, and positive in case of NaS. An excellent compensation scenario between the enthalpy and entropy for the CMT + TTAB mixed system in the investigated HTs solutions is well defined in the current work.

Supplementing sodium butyrate to limit-fed heifers: Effects on growth, coccidiosis, urinary purine derivatives, and apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility

The objective of this study was to assess the growth, apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients, the prevalence of coccidia, and purine derivatives in postweaning heifers when limit-fed a diet supplemented with sodium butyrate (SB). A 12 wk randomized complete block experiment was conducted using 24 Holstein heifers (92.8 d ± 1.9 d of age and initial body weight [BW] of 99.6 ± 15.2 kg [mean ± standard deviation]). Treatments were 100 g soybean meal (control; CON) and 0.75 g of SB/kg of BW + 100 g soybean meal (SB). Diets were formulated to contain 16.4% crude protein, 2.27 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), and fed at a feed out rate of 2.15% of BW on a dry matter basis. Intakes were recorded daily while growth measurements and BW were recorded weekly. Urine and fecal samples were taken every 2 wk. On d 42 through d 49 an apparent total-tract digestibility phase took place using acid detergent insoluble ash as a marker. Growth measurements were similar among treatments except CON heifers grew longer and tended to be taller at the withers. A trend was observed for CON animals to have lower levels of coccidian oocytes by week. Heifers fed SB had lower blood glucose levels and higher levels of ketones in their blood. Urinary volume was greater for heifers fed SB throughout the 12 wk study. Total purine derivatives were greater in CON heifers. Dry matter, organic matter and acid detergent fiber digestibilities were greater for heifers fed SB compared with CON heifers. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and ash digestibilities tended to be greater in heifers fed SB than in CON heifers. These results suggested no growth benefit of supplementing SB to limit-fed heifers; however, apparent total-tract fiber, ash, and crude protein digestibilities were improved in the SB fed heifers likely due to improved ruminal and intestinal development.

Facile Chemical Synthesis of Co-Ru-Based Heterometallic Supramolecular Polymer for Electrochemical Oxidation of Bisphenol A: Kinetics Study at the Electrode/Electrolyte Interface

Regardless of the adverse effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), its use in industry and in day-to-day life is increasing at a higher rate every year. In the present study, a simple and reliable chemical approach was used to develop an efficient BPA sensor based on a Co-Ru-based heterometallic supramolecular polymer (polyCoRu). Surface morphology and elemental analysis were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, functional group analysis was accomplished by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). UV-vis spectroscopy was used to confirm the complexation in the ratio of 0.5:0.5:1 (metal 1/metal 2/ligand). Electrochemical characterization of the synthesized polyCoRu was conducted using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. The study identified two distinct linear dynamic ranges for the detection of BPA, 0.197-2.94 and 3.5-17.72 μM. The regression equation was utilized to determine the sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD), resulting in values of 0.6 μA cm-2 μM-1 and 0.02 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The kinetics of BPA oxidation at the polyCoRu/GCE were investigated to evaluate the heterogeneous rate constant (k), charge transfer coefficient (α), and the number of electrons transferred during the oxidation and rate-determining step. A probable electrochemical reaction mechanism has been presented for further comprehending the phenomena occurring at the electrode surface. The practical applicability of the fabricated electrode was analyzed using tap water, resulting in a high percentage of recovery ranging from 96 to 105%. Furthermore, the reproducibility and stability data demonstrated the excellent performance of polyCoRu/GCE.

Intrinsic Properties of GO/RGO Bilayer Electrodes Dictate Their Inter-/Intralayer Intractability to Modulate Their Capacitance Performance

The demand for high-capacity energy storage along with high power output and faster charging has made supercapacitors a key area of energy research. The charge storage capacity of capacitors is largely dependent on the electrode materials utilized. To that end, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced GO (RGO) have been extensively employed for preparing supercapacitors. However, to date, no study has reported utilizing a GO/RGO bilayer electrode material for supercapacitor application. Herein, we report the synthesis of GO/RGO bilayer electrodes on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting substrates with four different combinations, namely, RGO-RGO, RGO-GO, GO-RGO, and GO-GO. Electrochemical capacitance analysis based on a symmetrical electrode configuration revealed that FTO-GO-RGO electrodes had the best areal capacitance performance. However, the highest specific areal capacitance (27.85 mF/cm²) for both symmetric/asymmetric configurations was achieved with FTO-GO-RGO as the anode and FTO-GO-GO as the cathode. The heterogeneous capacitance performance of the GO/RGO bilayer systems was analyzed based on structural characterization and computational simulation methods. Based on our analysis, we identified that inter-/intralayer molecular interaction of the GO/RGO bilayer sheets through the confinement pressure effect might have prompted their unique physicochemical properties. This work highlights the importance of probing multilayer GO/RGO electrode fabrication methods for preparation of high-capacity supercapacitors through fine-tuning their structural and molecular properties.

Development of a behavioural intervention for cognitive fatigability in multiple sclerosis: Protocol for a pilot and feasibility study

Background

Up to 90% of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) subjectively report fatigue as one of their worst symptoms. Fatigability is an objectively measured component of fatigue. Cognitive fatigability (CF) is a breakdown in task performance following sustained cognitive effort. There is a paucity of interventions targeting CF in MS. The prior success of behavioural interventions at improving subjective fatigue suggests that their adaptation may yield similar results for CF. Given the relationship between CF, sleep quality, and mood, a behavioural intervention targeting these factors, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), is warranted. Given the multidimensional nature of fatigue, a multifaceted approach targeting lifestyle factors and coping (e.g., fatigue management education supplemented by CBT for insomnia and exercise) might prove efficacious.

Aim

We describe a protocol for a pilot feasibility study to design and implement a multi-dimensional behavioural intervention to improve CF in PwMS.

Methods

Stage 1: development of a multi-dimensional group-based videoconference-delivered behavioural intervention based on a previously successful fatigue management program for PwMS. A facilitator manual will be drafted. Course material will focus on four themes: body (sleep and physical activity), mood (impact of depression and anxiety), mind (cognitive contributions), and context (pacing and communication). Stage 2: a needs assessment survey will be completed by 100 PwMS for input on what factors are important contributors to their CF. Modifications will be made to the course material and manual. Stage 3: the facilitator-delivered intervention will include 20 PwMS. After baseline assessment, participants will attend weekly 70-min videoconference group sessions for 8 weeks, including homework assignments. Follow-up assessment will re-evaluate outcomes. Stage 4: analysis and dissemination of results. The primary outcome is improvement in CF. Additional feasibility outcomes will determine if a randomized control trial (RCT) is pursued. Stage 5: refine the intervention based on outcomes and feedback from participants. Determining which aspects participants felt were most effective will help inform RCT design.

Conclusion

The long-term goal is to ensure that PwMS have access to effective interventions in real-world settings to improve quality of life and enhance their ability to participate in cognitively demanding activities that they enjoy.

The economic burden of TB faced by patients and affected families in Papua New Guinea

BACKGROUND The costs associated with TB disease can be catastrophic for patients, affecting health and socioeconomic outcomes. Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a high TB burden country and the costs associated with TB are unknown.METHODS We undertook a national survey of TB patients to determine the magnitude of costs associated with TB in PNG, the proportion of households with catastrophic costs and cost drivers. We used a cluster sampling approach and recruited TB patients from health facilities. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the costs and cost drivers and multivariate logistic regression to determine factors associated with catastrophic costs.RESULTS We interviewed 1,000 TB patients; 19 (1.9%) of them had multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Costs due to TB were attributable to income loss (64.4%), non-medical (29.9%) and medical (5.7%) expenses. Catastrophic costs were experienced by 33.9% (95% CI 31.0-36.9) of households and were associated with MDR-TB (aOR 4.47, 95% CI 1.21-16.50), hospitalization (aOR 3.94, 95% CI 2.69-5.77), being in the poorest (aOR 3.52, 95% CI 2.43-5.10) or middle wealth tertiles (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.03-2.21) or being employed (aOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.43-2.89).CONCLUSION The costs due to TB disease were catastrophic for one third of TB-affected households in PNG. Current support measures could be continued, while new cost mitigation interventions may be considered where needed.

Detection of Leptin Using Electrocatalyst Mediated Impedimetric Sensing

Obesity is a complex disorder associated with immense health consequences including high risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Abnormality in the thyroid gland, genetics, less physical activity, uptake of excessive diet, and leptin resistance are critical factors in the development of obesity. To determine the treatment strategy, understanding the pathophysiology of obesity is crucial. For instances, leptin resistance mediated obesity defined by the presence of excessive leptin hormone (Lep) in the systemic circulation is very common in diet induced obesity. Therefore, our hypothesis is that quantitative measurement of Lep from blood can help to identify individuals with Lep resistant mediated obesity and thereby guide toward a proper treatment strategy. In this work, we aim to utilize an electrochemical immunosensing platform for diagnosis of obesity by measuring the Lep content in systemic circulation. A porous carbon confined FeNi bimetallic system was synthesized with three different ratios of Fe and Ni ions using high temperature pyrolysis technique. The suitability of the sensor for detecting Lep was studied using both CV and EIS techniques. The limit of detection (LOD) for GCE was recorded as 157.4 fg/mL with a wide linear concentration range of 500 fg/mL to 80 ng/mL, while for SPCE the LOD was 184.9 fg/mL with a linear range of 500 fg/mL to 50 ng/mL. Finally, the feasibility and applicability of the sensor for Lep detection was tested with serum collected from high fat diet induced obese rats. The selectivity, sensitivity, storage, and experimental stability and reproducibility tests showed potential for this biosensor platform as a point-of-care Lep detection device.

Exploring the recent trends in perturbing the cellular signaling pathways in cancer by natural products

Cancer is commonly thought to be the product of irregular cell division. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the major cause of death globally. Nature offers an abundant supply of bioactive compounds with high therapeutic efficacy. Anticancer effects have been studied in a variety of phytochemicals found in nature. When Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anticancer drugs are combined with natural compounds, the effectiveness improves. Several agents have already progressed to clinical trials based on these promising results of natural compounds against various cancer forms. Natural compounds prevent cancer cell proliferation, development, and metastasis by inducing cell cycle arrest, activating intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), and down-regulating activated signaling pathways. These natural chemicals are known to affect numerous important cellular signaling pathways, such as NF-B, MAPK, Wnt, Notch, Akt, p53, AR, ER, and many others, to cause cell death signals and induce apoptosis in pre-cancerous or cancer cells without harming normal cells. As a result, non-toxic “natural drugs” taken from nature’s bounty could be effective for the prevention of tumor progression and/or therapy of human malignancies, either alone or in combination with conventional treatments. Natural compounds have also been shown in preclinical studies to improve the sensitivity of resistant cancers to currently available chemotherapy agents. To summarize, preclinical and clinical findings against cancer indicate that natural-sourced compounds have promising anticancer efficacy. The vital purpose of these studies is to target cellular signaling pathways in cancer by natural compounds.

Ionic liquid-mediated delivery of a BCL-2 inhibitor for topical treatment of skin melanoma

Skin melanoma is one of the most common cancer types in the United States and worldwide, and its incidence continues to grow. Primary skin melanoma can be removed surgically when feasible and if detected at an early stage. Anti-cancer drugs can be applied topically to treat skin cancer lesions and used as an adjunct to surgery to prevent the recurrence of tumor growth. We developed a topical formulation composed of Navitoclax (NAVI), a BCL-2 inhibitor that results in apoptosis, and an ionic liquid of choline octanoate (COA) to treat early-stage melanoma. NAVI is a small hydrophobic molecule that solubilizes at 20% (w/v) when dissolved in 50% COA. Although NAVI is a highly effective chemotherapeutic, it is equally thrombocytopenic. We found that COA-mediated topical delivery of NAVI enhanced its penetration into the skin and held the drug in the deeper skin layers for an extended period. Topical delivery of NAVI produced a higher cancer-cell killing efficacy than orally administrated NAVI. In vivo experiments in a mouse model of human melanoma-induced skin cancer confirmed the formulation's effectiveness via an apoptotic mechanism without any significant skin irritation or systemic absorption of NAVI. Overall, this topical approach may provide a safe and effective option for better managing skin cancer in the clinic.

Detection of Anticancer Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using VCAM1-Targeted Nanoprobes

Chemotherapy-induced cardiac toxicity is an undesirable yet very common effect that increases the risk of death and reduce the quality of life of individuals undergoing chemotherapy. However, no feasible methods and techniques are available to monitor and detect the degree of cardiotoxicity at an early stage. Therefore, in this project, we aim to develop a fluorescent nanoprobe to image the toxicity within the cardiac tissue induced by an anticancer drug. We have observed that vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) protein alone with collagen was overly expressed within the heart, when an animal was treated with doxorubicin (DOX), because of inflammation in the epithelial cells. We hypothesize that developing a VCAM1-targeted peptide-based (VHPKQHRGGSKGC) fluorescent nanoprobe can detect and visualize the affected heart. In this regard, we prepared a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle linked with VCAM1 peptide and rhodamine B (PLGA-VCAM1-RhB). Selective binding and higher accumulation of the PLGA-VCAM1-RhB nanoprobes were detected in DOX-treated human cardiomyocyte cells (HCMs) compared to the untreated cells. For in vivo studies, DOX (5 mg/kg) was injected via the tail vein once in two weeks for 6 weeks (3 injection total). PLGA-VCAM1-RhB and PLGA-RhB were injected via the tail vein after 1 week of the last dose of DOX, and images were taken 4 h after administration. A higher fluorescent signal of PLGA-RhB-VCAM-1 (48.62% ± 12.79%) was observed in DOX-treated animals compared to the untreated control PLGA-RhB (10.61% ± 4.90) within the heart, indicating the specificity and targeting ability of PLGA-VCAM1-RhB to the inflamed tissues. The quantified fluorescence intensity of the homogenized cardiac tissue of PLGA-RhB-VCAM1 showed 156% higher intensity than the healthy control group. We conclude that PLGA-VCAM1-RhB has the potential to bind inflamed cardiac cells, thereby detecting DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and damaged heart at an early stage.

Glycemic Status among Pregnant Women during 24th to 28th Gestational Age

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorder, which result in varying degrees of maternal hyperglycemia and pregnancy associated risk. Glucose intolerance usually returns to normal range within 6 weeks after delivery. This study was undertaken to determine the glycemic status who attended for antenatal care. This study enrolled pregnant women, with their gestational age between 24th - 28th weeks. This analytical cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2014 to June 2015. Total 135 subjects were selected to evaluate the glycemic status among Bangladeshi pregnant women attending BIRDEM General Hospital. Among them 41 were GDM subjects and 94 were non GDM subjects. The mean fasting plasma glucose values (mmol/L) and 2 hours after 75gm glucose values of GDM were 6.06±1.26 and 9.78±2.74 respectively compared to non GDM patients were 4.82±0.38 and 7.26±0.41 respectively and the mean of HbA₁C (%) of GDM and non GDM were 5.87±0.73 and 5.43±0.31 respectively.

Bile acid linked β-glucan nanoparticles for liver specific oral delivery of biologics

Oral delivery remains one of the most convenient routes for drug administration compared to intravenous, intramuscular, and via suppositories. However, due to the risk of degradation, and proteolysis of molecules in the acidic gastric medium, as well as the difficulty of transporting large molecules through the intestinal membrane, more than half of the therapeutic molecules are prohibited for oral administration. Moreover, most of the large molecules and biological therapeutics are not available in oral dosage form due to their instability in the stomach and inability of intestinal absorption. To achieve expected bioavailability, an orally administered therapeutic molecule must be protected within the stomach, and transportation facilitated via the small intestine. In this project, we have introduced a hybrid carrier, composed of Taurocholic Acid (TA) and β-Glucan (TAG), that is shown to be effective for the simultaneous protection of the biologics in acidic buffer and simulated gastric juice as well as facilitate enhanced absorption and transportation via the small intestine. In this project, we have used an eGFP encoded plasmid as a model biologic to prepare particles mediated with TAG. TAG show the potential of enhancing transfection and expression of eGFP as we have observed two fold higher expression in the cell upon coincubation for 4 h. In vivo studies on orally dosed mice showed that eGFP expression in the liver was significantly higher in TAG containing particles compared to particles without TAG. The findings suggest that the TAG carrier is capable of not only preserving biologics but also transporting them more efficiently to the liver. As a result, this strategy can be employed for a variety of liver-targeted therapeutic delivery to treat a variety of liver diseases.

Screening of in-vitro antibacterial activity of commercially available probiotics on food-borne pathogens along with their synergistic effects with synthetic drugs

Background

Probiotics are put forward as food to ensure the maintenance of the equilibrium of the intestinal flora. Prolonged usage of probiotics in food ingredients for human as well as in animal feed has not exposed any side effects yet. Present study attempted to justify the effects of some commercially available probiotics (Good-gut, Lubenna, Probio and Protein restro) and commonly used antibiotics (Streptomycin, Gentamycin, Ampicillin, Methicillin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Ceftrizone, Imepenem, Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline) on the bacteria which were previously isolated from food samples.

Methods

The anti-bacterial potential of the probiotics was aimed to be checked through the agar well diffusion method and the antibiogram of the synthetic drugs was determined by disc-diffusion method (Kirby Bauer technique). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the probiotics were examined through broth micro dilution assay.

Results

Almost all the probiotic samples exhibited antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria within the range of 10 mm–30 mm except Bacillus spp. and Salmonella spp. The lowest MIC values 3 mg/ml was determined with Luvena for Pseudomonas spp. and Shigella spp. while the maximum MIC 20 mg/ml was recorded for Good gut and Probio against Salmonella spp. and E. coli. Meanwhile, majority of the tested pathogens were detected to be resistant against more than one antibiotic as MDR strains except gentamycin, streptomycin and azithromycin. During the combination method, the zone diameter increased remarkably with a clear indication of synergistic effects compared to their individual activity.

Conclusion

This study substantiated that the deployment of a combination of two antibacterial medications in order to combat the multi-drug resistant bacteria would rather be efficacious than the application of either antimicrobial agent alone.

Demonstration of microbiological status of fresh fruits and determining the efficiency of different decontaminating agents against the isolated bacteria

Consumption of fresh fruits increases along with the promotion of healthier lifestyles. However, many foodborne illnesses have been reported due to the consumption of contaminated fruits. Fresh produces are subjected to various treatments for minimizing these outbreaks. The present study demonstrates the role of various simple household methods including water washing and some other common chemical treatments for the removal of bacterial load. By performing the spread plate technique, total heterotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were determined in 60 samples of 6 categories including Apple (Malus domestica); Grape (Vitis vinifera); Guava (Psidium guajava); Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa); Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana); Malabar plum (Syzygium cumini) before and after washing with tap water, hot water, 100 mg/L sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 50 mg/L calcium lactate, 4% acetic acid and 2 mL/L CleanAva for 20 mins at room temperature. All the tested solutions were found to be effective and reduced bacterial loads in fruits compared to the unwashed fruits samples (P<0.01). Treatment with NaOCl, calcium lactate, acetic acid and CleanAva was the more effective washing technique rather than hot water wash. Two to three log of the bacterial load was reduced when samples were subjected to treatment with chemical decontaminating agents. The efficiency of washing depends on the purity of water, and the types and concentration of the disinfectant solutions. An appropriate washing technique needs to implicate to diminish bacterial load and the risk of foodborne infections caused by fruits.

Silent Sinus Syndrome: A Case Report

To describe a case of silent sinus syndrome in the perspective of imaging studies, on 2 January 2020 we present this case of a 26-year-old Bangladeshi man with unilateral right facial asymmetry and no sino-nasal symptoms. He was referred to the Ophthalmology Department with complain of right palpebral ptosis and facial asymmetry for 7 months. On physical examination, painless enophthalmos and hypo globus of the right eye was seen. The computed tomography scan of the paranasal air sinuses showed opacification of the right maxillary sinus along with retraction of the walls of the sinus. Regardless of the clinical doubt, the conclusion can only be given by imaging studies, radiologist play a key role here.

Screening the efficacy of extracts of different spices in inhibiting the growth of foodborne bacterial isolates

Owing to the presence of a diverse group of phytochemicals, spices could be potential sources of antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The present investigation was aimed to determine and compare the antimicrobial activities of different spices. A total of 5 spices including cardamom (Seeds, Elettaria cardamomum), cinnamon (Barks, Cinnamomum verum), clove (Flower buds, Syzygium aromaticum), Indian bay leaf or Tejpat (Dried leaves, Cinnamomum tamala), and cumin (Seeds, Cuminum cyminum) were collected. Different extracts (crude, aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic) of spices were prepared and examined for antimicrobial activity against previously isolated foodborne bacterial isolates. Extracts from the tested spices showed significant inhibitory effects (mostly with >10 mm mean zone of inhibition) as revealed by the agar well diffusion technique. Clove among the tested spices was found to be the prominent one in eliminating foodborne pathogens. Methanolic extracts followed by ethanolic extracts were determined to be most effective against the bacterial isolates when the relative effectivity of different extracts was compared. The frequently encountered minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of the spices were 12 and 24 mg/mL, respectively. All the spice extracts showed considerable antimicrobial traits which validate their potential and applicability as natural food preservatives and decontaminants.

Theoretical and Experimental Insights into the Possible Interfacial Interactions between β-Glucan and Fat Molecules in Aqueous Media

Excessive body fat and high cholesterol are one of the leading reasons for triggering cardiovascular risk factors, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Beta-glucan (BG)-based dietary fibers are found to be effective for lowering fat digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the fat capturing mechanism of BG in aqueous medium is still elusive. In this report, we studied the dietary effect of barley-extracted BG on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, a model fat molecule) uptake and the impact of the aqueous medium on their interactions using computational modeling and experimental parameters. The possible microscale and macroscale molecular interactions between BG and DHA in an aqueous medium were analyzed through density functional theory (DFT), Monte-Carlo (MC), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. DFT analysis revealed that the BG polymer extends hydrogen bonding and nonbonding interactions with DHA. Bulk simulation with multiple DHA molecules on a long-chain BG showed that a viscous colloidal system is formed upon increasing DHA loading. Experimental size and zeta potential measurements also confirmed the electrostatic interaction between BG-DHA systems. Furthermore, simulated and experimental diffusion and viscosity measurements showed excellent agreement. These simulated and experimental results revealed the mechanistic pathway of how BG fibers form colloidal systems with fat molecules, which is probably responsible for BG-induced delayed fat digestion and further halting of fatty molecule absorption in the GI tract.

Assessment of sensory and microbiological quality of five marketed fish species at Dhaka city in Bangladesh

The study assessed the sensory quality and the bacterial condition in five nutritionally important fish species at Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Sensory defect points (DP) were analysed at in-situ conditions and microbiological attributes were conducted at laboratory condition. Sensory DP indicated fishes in retail markets (RM) were deteriorating and/or spoiled (DP >3 to <5) except live fishes. In super shops (SS), DP indicated excellent to good quality (DP >1 to <3) for all the fishes. The average total plate count (TPC) in the fishes from RM exceeds the permissible limit (PL) except for the fishes sold in live condition. A highly significant difference observed in the fishes sold in dead condition between RM and SS (p≤0.001). Correlation analysis revealed an insignificant relationship between sensory DP and TPC (p≥0.05) in the markets. The study recorded total coliform counts (TCC) was within the PL i.e., <100 MPN/g in both types of markets. Faecal coliform counts (FCC) were within the acceptable limit i.e., <10 MPN/g only in the fishes from super shops. Salmonella spp. and Vibrio cholerae was detected almost in all samples from retail markets while it was very less likely detected in SS. The study revealed that fish from both RM and SS is safe for human consumption but super shops possess better quality than retail markets.

From bad to worse: airline boarding changes in response to COVID-19

Airlines have introduced a back-to-front boarding process in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is motivated by the desire to reduce passengers' likelihood of passing close to seated passengers when they take their seats. However, our prior work on the risk of Ebola spread in aeroplanes suggested that the driving force for increased exposure to infection transmission risk is the clustering of passengers while waiting for others to stow their luggage and take their seats. In this work, we examine whether the new boarding processes lead to increased or decreased risk of infection spread. We also study the reasons behind the risk differences associated with different boarding processes. We accomplish this by simulating the new boarding processes using pedestrian dynamics and compare them against alternatives. Our results show that back-to-front boarding roughly doubles the infection exposure compared with random boarding. It also increases exposure by around 50% compared to a typical boarding process prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. While keeping middle seats empty yields a substantial reduction in exposure, our results show that the different boarding processes have similar relative strengths in this case as with middle seats occupied. We show that the increased exposure arises from the proximity between passengers moving in the aisle and while seated. Such exposure can be reduced significantly by prohibiting the use of overhead bins to stow luggage. Our results suggest that the new boarding procedures increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19 compared with prior ones and are substantially worse than a random boarding process.

Metal Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Sensing: Progress and Challenges in the Clinical Transition of Point-of-Care Testing

With the rise in public health awareness, research on point-of-care testing (POCT) has significantly advanced. Electrochemical biosensors (ECBs) are one of the most promising candidates for the future of POCT due to their quick and accurate response, ease of operation, and cost effectiveness. This review focuses on the use of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) for fabricating ECBs that has a potential to be used for POCT. The field has expanded remarkably from its initial enzymatic and immunosensor-based setups. This review provides a concise categorization of the ECBs to allow for a better understanding of the development process. The influence of structural aspects of MNPs in biocompatibility and effective sensor design has been explored. The advances in MNP-based ECBs for the detection of some of the most prominent cancer biomarkers (carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), Herceptin-2 (HER2), etc.) and small biomolecules (glucose, dopamine, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) have been discussed in detail. Additionally, the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ECBs have been briefly discussed. Beyond that, the limitations and challenges that ECBs face in clinical applications are examined and possible pathways for overcoming these limitations are discussed.

Green Synthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles by Using Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Tuber Extract and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activity

In this report, we discussed rapid, facile one-pot green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) by using tuber extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, and evaluated their antibacterial activity. AuNPs and AgNPs were synthesized by mixing their respective precursors (AgNO₃ and HAuCl₄) with tuber extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius as the bio-reducing agent. Characterization of AuNPs and AgNPs were confirmed by applying UV-vis spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). From UV-vis characterization, surface plasmon resonance spectra were found at 530 nm for AuNPs and 446 nm for AgNPs. XRD data confirmed that both synthesized nanoparticles were face-centered cubic in crystalline nature, and the average crystallite sizes for the assign peaks were 13.3 nm for AuNPs and 22.48 nm for AgNPs. FTIR data evaluated the characteristic peaks of different phytochemical components of tuber extract, which acted as the reducing agent, and possibly as stabilizing agents. The antibacterial activity of synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs were examined in Muller Hinton agar, against two Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria through the disc diffusion method. AuNPs did not show any inhibitory effect, while AgNPs showed good inhibitory effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Systematic Review on Apolipoprotein E: A Strong Genetic Cause of Hemorrhagic Stroke

Stroke is one of the commonest causes of mortality among the world. Hemorrhagic stroke accounts nearly 15% of all the strokes. Different risk factors have been identified, of them hypertension, anti-coagulation therapy and previous history of ischemic strokes are significant. Regarding the genetic causes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) monogenic causes play a small role. It was found that Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene has a strong association with ICH. This is a 299 amino acids long protein located in chromosome 19. APOE has three alleles, they are epsilon 2, 3 and 4. Total 10 meta-analysis were reviewed in this article which involved 52,705 participants. When looking for the association, ∈2 and ∈4 showed positive and ∈3 showed negative association with ICH. Association of ∈4 (OR mean 1.77) was stronger than that of ∈2 (OR mean 1.71).

Comparison of feeding behavior problems of hostel and non-hostel living children with ASD in Dhaka

Backgrounds

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution and differences of nutritional status and feeding behavior problems between the school going children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are living either at school hostel or at home with parents of the urban lower-middle-class population in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study where the children with ASD were randomly selected from 4 schools for children with special needs in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Written consent was taken from the parents of the children. Anthropometric and other nutrition referral data were taken directly from the children during school time. Demographic, parity and behavioral pediatrics feeding assessment scale (BPFAS) module have been interviewed through structured questionnaires from the parents. The referral scores have been applied to measure and compare the mean BPFAS scores.

Results

93 children have participated in this study (mean age 10.21 years). It was observed that BPFAS scores for &gt;10 years of age are higher in overall both groups of children (p = &lt;0.05). Parents from joint or bigger families reported higher feeding problems of their child living at home (p = &lt;0.05). Significant difference found in BPFAS score according to the number of siblings in the homegroup (52.0 vs. 81.8; p = &lt;0.01). Mean BPFAS score was higher in the hostel group if the children's parents were highly educated (p = &lt;0.05). No association found in feeding assessment and socio-economic status as we found the SES were quite similar in both groups.

Conclusions

In this preliminary data, we found that feeding behavior problems reported by parents are less in the hostel living children and also lower in comparatively higher aged children. This study is important for researchers and policymakers as it opens windows to think and do more research about the importance and impact of hostel disciplines and in-home family bonding for the healthy growth of children with ASD.

Key messages

Higher aged children are have less feeding problem in general. Keeping children with ASD at home in touch of family members have positive impact on their feeding problems and overall nutrition.

Comparison of commercially available food decontaminants with established methods of decontamination for household practices which are used to keep foods safe

The microbiological safety of food has been a major concern in Bangladesh following several reports of food borne outbreaks associated with contaminated food and vegetables. To minimize the outbreak, several studies suggested that decontamination is necessary before cooking. Washing with water is the most common technique for decontamination in Bangladesh. In order to ensure food safety, the use of different food washing agents is also becoming popular day by day. For this reason, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various sanitizers and treatment method for decontamination. In this study, several decontamination methods including washing with hot water, cold water, salt water, vinegar and commercially available food sanitizer to evaluate for their efficacy against different microorganisms. Here, salad vegetables were washed with various sanitizers and then microbiological analysis was done to reveal the bacterial and fungal load. This study revealed that most of the sanitizing methods were able to reduce microbial load minimum by 2 log CFU/g. Vinegar and hot water wash were the most effective method of decontamination compare to others with the former showing a 3 log CFU/g reduction. This can be concluded that common items like the use of vinegar and hot water were more effective than the commercial decontaminating agents available.

Computational Approach to Understanding the Electrocatalytic Reaction Mechanism for the Process of Electrochemical Oxidation of Nitrite at a Ni-Co-Based Heterometallo-Supramolecular Polymer

Here, we report a semiempirical quantum chemistry computational approach to understanding the electrocatalytic reaction mechanism (ERM) of a metallic supramolecular polymer (SMP) with nitrite through UV/vis spectral simulations of SMP with different metal oxidation states before and after interactions with nitrite. In one of our recent works, by analyzing the electrochemical experimental data, we showed that computational cyclic voltammetry simulation (CCVS) can be used to predict the possible ERM of heterometallo-SMP (HMSMP) during electrochemical oxidation of nitrite (Islam T.ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.2020, 2( (2), ), 273-284). However, CCVS cannot predict how the ERM happens at the molecular level. Thus, in this work, we simulated the interactions between the repeating unit (RU) of the HMSMP polyNiCo and nitrite to understand how the oxidation process took place at the molecular level. The RU for studying the ERM was confirmed through comparing the simulated UV/vis and IR spectra with the experimental spectra. Then, the simulations between the RU of the polyNiCo and various species of nitrite were done for gaining insights into the ERM. The simulations revealed that the first electron transfer (ET) occurred through coordination of NO₂ ^- with either of the metal centers during the two-electron-transfer oxidation of nitrite, while the second ET followed a ligand-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) and metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) pathway between the NO₂ species and the RU. This ET pathway has been proposed by analyzing the transition states (TSs), simulated UV/vis spectra, energy of the optimized systems, and highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) interactions from the simulations between the RU and nitrite species.

Microbiological quality analysis of different types of popular dried food items

The study was carried out to investigate the microbiological quality of dried foods which are very popular among kids. Moreover, people from all age groups like it, although adults do not take it on a regular basis, the total consumed amount among the adults are not negligible. Chips, biscuits, muesli, salted peanuts all are dried foods, and all of these can undergo microbial contamination due to the remaining water activity, environmental condition, production processing faults, humidity, temperature etc. In the current study, twenty-four samples were analyzed for microbial quality analysis. Six samples from each category of dried food were subjected to study for the presence of mesophilic organisms, coliforms, molds and other specific food pathogens. Of the samples studied, almost all were found to be contaminated with the mesophilic bacteria (104 -107CFU/g) and fungus (105 -107CFU/g). Survival of Vibrio spp. was absent and Salmonella spp. was found in only one sample. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Shigella spp. were found in many of the samples indicating the poor quality of the dried food items. Overall, the present study revealed that potato chips were highly contaminated by bacteria and fungi. Consuming such contaminated chips may cause foodborne illness that is a great threat to our health.

Use of Remdesivir in the Management of COVID-19: A Systematic Review on Current Evidences

The rapid progression of corona virus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become an unprecedented global concern. This systemic review aimed at evaluating the available evidence on efficacy, safety to identify any promising role for compassionate use of remdesivir in patient suffered for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as re-purposeful use. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective case series studies and case reports that evaluated use of remdesivir in COVID-19. The outcomes were mortality, recovery rate, length of hospital stay and clinical outcome. Though the drug remdesivir (RDV) is not approved by the FDA, still the "Emergency Use Authorization" (EUA) for compassionate use in severe cases is endorsed. After vigorous searching, screening and sorting of completed and published scientific evidences in electronic database, there were only 2 randomized control trial (RCT), 2 uncontrolled trials found until April 2020. We also included 3 published case reports to analyze the validity use of RDV because of the scarcity of evidence based reports. Remdesivir was thought to be one of the promising options for treating the patients of COVID-19 based on few laboratory experiments and reports from some compassionate use and case reports. The safety and efficacy of this drug in COVID-19 cases require high-quality evidence from well-designed and adequately-powered clinical trials with proper sample size for precise decision.

Microbiological status of some commonly available food items and the effects of microwave oven heat on the existence microflora

Foods are the major source of energy and nutrition for all the living organisms. Measuring food safety and security is a vital concern nowadays. The present study attempted to evaluate a complete microbiological profile of some popular food items collected from different restaurants along with their drug-resistant profile. The main focus of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 60 seconds microwave oven heat on the growth of microorganisms present in the collected food items. Presence of bacterial and fungal microbiological profiling of the food items and their drug-resistant pattern were determined through conventional cultural, biochemical and Kirby Bauer methods. After that, the food was heated in the microwave oven for 60 seconds. All the food items (chicken sandwich, French pizza, chicken pie, pasta, hot dog) were found to be highly contaminated with total viable bacteria and fungus up to 107CFU/g while the pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. was estimated up to 106CFU/g. After 60-second microwave oven heat treatment, the existence microbial load was significantly reduced. Meanwhile, fecal coliform was only detected in chicken sandwich before the heat treatment (102CFU/g) but that was completely eliminated by heat treatment. Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were found in untreated chicken pie, pasta and French pizza samples although after heat treatment the growth was 100% eliminated. Only in chicken sandwich, 2-log reduction of Staphylococcus spp. was notified after 60-second heat. Moreover, the identified bacteria were found to be 100% resistant against commonly used antibiotics but only streptomycin (10 µg), azithromycin (15 µg) and gentamycin (10 µg) were found as effective drugs against all the isolates. The presence of resistant strain in food is very alarming which indicates the poor management set up and lack of proper legislation in food sector. However, the 60-second microwave oven heat treatment was so effective to reduce the substantial amount of bacteria.

The Role of Histological Assessment of Distal Doughnut in Low Anterior Resection for Low Rectal Cancer

Anterior resection (AR), especially low anterior resection (LAR), for low rectal cancer and colorectal anastomosis is a technical challenge to surgeons. But by using circular stapling devices now it is possible make more LARs technically feasible. A stapled end-to-end colorectal anastomosis is increasingly adopted following a low anterior resection for low rectal cancer. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the department of Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from December 2015 to December 2016. The ensuing doughnuts created from the stapling device are routinely sent for histological analysis. However, its efficacy remains debatable. This study aims to determine the role of sending distal doughnut for histological examination following a stapled end-to-end colorectal anastomosis done in low anterior resection for low rectal cancers.

Outcomes in children treated for tuberculosis with the new dispersible fixed-dose combinations in Port Moresby

Setting

The new child-friendly fixed dose combinations (FDCs) were introduced at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea, in 2016 for the first-line treatment of children (aged <15 years) with tuberculosis (TB) who weighed <25 kg.

Objective

To describe the characteristics and outcomes for children treated with the new FDCs, and to identify risk factors for unfavourable treatment outcomes.

Design

This was a retrospective cohort study of all children treated for TB with the FDCs from August 2016 to August 2017.

Results

Of 713 children included, 488 (68%) were diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Only 6 (0.8%) TB cases were bacteriologically confirmed and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status was known in 50%. Treatment outcomes were favourable in 425 (60%) children. Of 288 children with unfavourable outcomes, there were 242 (84%) with loss to follow-up (LTFU) and 25 (8.4%) were known to have died. Children who were severely underweight (weight-for-age Z score <-3) on presentation were at greater risk of LTFU compared to children of normal weight on multivariable analysis (aRR 1.3, 95%CI 1.0-1.6, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Alternative models of care to decrease LTFU during treatment are needed, including integration with nutritional support. Improving diagnosis through microbiological confirmation of TB and HIV are major challenges to be addressed.

Ameliorative effects of ethanolic constituents of Bangladeshi propolis against tetracycline-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats

The study reports the phenolic composition of propolis from Bangladesh and its ameliorative effects against tetracycline-induced hepatonephrotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar Albino rats (n = 18) were randomly divided into three following groups: (1) normal control, (2) tetracycline-treatment (200 mg kg^-1  rat^-1 ), and (3) tetracycline (200 mg kg^-1  rat^-1 ) + propolis (100 mg kg^-1  rat^-1 ) treatments. The ethanolic extract of propolis contained major phenolic acids as well as a flavonoid, rutin. Oral exposure to tetracycline caused severe hepatic and renal damage as indicated by significant alterations in liver marker enzymes in rat serum: bilirubin and protein concentrations, lipid profile, and markers of kidney function when compared with controls. The observed biochemical perturbations were accompanied by histopathological changes. Co-administration with propolis extract, however, prevented the changes in biochemical parameters, as revealed by maintenance of cell membrane integrity and regulation of lipid profile and the conservation of the histoarchitecture. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Propolis is a resinous honeybee product which is becoming increasingly popular due to its potential contributions to human health. The phenolic compounds identified in propolis from Bangladesh were effective against tetracycline-induced hepatic and renal toxicity. Propolis may be a promising natural product in reducing the effects of chronic liver and kidney damage.

Abstract P6-14-04: Not presented

This abstract was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Mohd Taib NA, Islam T, Su TT, Musthaffa S, Abdullah Din N, Rahman Z, Mohamed KNB, Kaur S, Filza J, Shaheera F, Ellsworth Beaumont C. Not presented [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-14-04.

Porous tal palm carbon nanosheets: preparation, characterization and application for the simultaneous determination of dopamine and uric acid

A novel porous tal palm carbon nanosheet (PTPCN) material was synthesized from the leaves of Borassus flabellifer (tal palm) and used for developing an electrochemical sensor through modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) simply by drop-casting on it a solution of the material for the sensitive simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA), even in the presence of interfering species. The drop-casting solution was prepared by simply dispersing the PTPCNs in ethanol without using any other binding materials (e.g. Nafion). The surface morphologies of the PTPCNs were studied through field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HRTEM). Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XPS) studies revealed the chemical composition of the PTPCNs' surface. Their structural properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis confirmed the surface area and pore volume to be 1094.53 m² g^-1 and 0.74 cm³ g^-1, respectively, while Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore-size distribution showed the average pore size to be 22 nm. The sufficiently large surface area and pore-size distribution suggested better electrocatalytic properties compared to the average modifying materials. The modified electrode (PTPCNs/GCE) was characterized through impedimetric and CV techniques in standard potassium ferricyanide solution for evaluating their charge-transfer resistance and electrochemical properties. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 0.17 μM and 0.078 μM and the sensitivities were 1.2057 μA μM^-1 cm^-2 and 2.693 μA μM^-1 cm^-2 for UA and DA, respectively. The possible interactions that took place between the PTPCNs and the analytes that aided in the enhancement of the electroanalytical performance of the PTPCNs/GCE are discussed based on the experimental findings and established theoretical concepts. The PTPCNs/GCE was successfully employed for analyzing real samples, like dopamine injection and urine.

Improving Breast Health Literacy Through an Innovative Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Using the Know Your Lemons (KYL) Materials in Malaysia

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in Malaysia but has the worst survival in the Asia Pacific region. Main drivers identified in previous research include late-stage disease at presentation, poor adherence to treatment and sociocultural barriers. Factors affecting late presentations include lack of awareness on basic symptoms of BC and poor access to early detection. Although BC awareness campaigns have been done, Hadi et al., showed low BC awareness among university students in Malaysia. This is an evaluation of the “Show You Care, Be Aware” campaign that was done in University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in October 2017. The campaign was carried out using KYL materials through use of posters, awareness booths and public forums. The materials contain information on the normal breast, 12 symptoms of BC, information on breast self examination (BSE), screening and diagnostic (detection) pathways in Malay and English language. Aim: To evaluate the campaign effect on breast health literacy. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was conducted. The KYL materials were forward and backward translated by 2 native bilingual individuals. The context and content of the translation was ensured to be accurate and fitted into the KYL design. A total of 679 participants participated in the study. A self-designed questionnaire was used to assess effectiveness of the materials. Educational intervention sessions were provided in the form of KYL materials (leaflets, posters and banners) displayed in awareness booths in the campus. Discussion on leaflets and questions and answers, and practical demonstrations of BSE dummy were done. The questionnaire was administered through face to face interview. The data were analyzed via SPSS 20; descriptive and Wilcoxon matched paired signed rank test was performed. Results: 72% (n=492) of our participants were Malay, 19% (n=119) Chinese and 10% (n=68) Indians and others. Majority of our participants were female (94.2%), age 30 or below (61%), single (62.9%), had college or university education (85.7%). Most of our participants, 96.2% stated that the language used in the KYL materials were clear and understandable; 95.3% thought materials were attractive and 89.2% found them acceptable in Malaysian culture. 52.7% preferred Malay materials, 40.4% English and 6.5% in both Malay and English. The materials improved perceived knowledge on the process of detecting BC (96.5%). 92.8% agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident in recognizing the symptoms of BC themselves. There was an increase in self reported knowledge of BC; mean scores before and after exposure to KYL materials were 2.83 versus 4.30 respectively ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Health education using KYL materials promoted breast cancer awareness, confidence in detecting symptoms and knowing processes of diagnosis among urban and educated Malaysians. Future research in lower educated and rural communities in Malaysia is warranted.

The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Newly Diagnosed Malaysian Breast Cancer Patients

Background: The incidence of breast cancer has increased in South East Asian (SEA) women. Malaysia has the highest obesity rates in SEA. Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivorship Cohort (MyBCC) study is a hospital-based prospective cohort study that aims to study the association between lifestyle factors and overall survival and quality of life of Malaysian breast cancer patients. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with increasing levels of inflammatory cytokines and leptin that can stimulate cell proliferation through various mechanisms, hence indicating both an increased risk of developing breast cancer and a poorer prognosis. However, there is very scarce information available on the presence of MS among the newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. This is an early report of the presence of MS in the MyBCC study. Aim: We aim to evaluate the presence of MS among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and to determine the association of MS and sociodemographic factors. Methods: 370 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were interviewed at baseline. The anthropometric data (waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, body height and body fat percentage) and also blood for lipid profile and glucose profile were collected. The MS status of the patients was defined using a modified International Diabetes Federation worldwide definition; presence of central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 80 cm) and any of two or more of the following criteria: (i) raised triglyceride with ≥ 1.7 mmol/L, (ii) reduced HDL-cholesterol that < 1.3 mmol/L, (iii) diagnosed with hypertension and (iv) diagnosed with diabetes. Results: Among the 370 breast cancer patients, most were aged 51 years and above (258, 69.7%), were Chinese (180, 48.6%), had secondary school education level (168, 45.4%), had less than RM3500 household income (193, 52.2%) and were postmenopausal (250, 67.6%). Most of the patients were obese or overweight (268, 72.4%) and around half of the patients (190, 51.4%) had high body fat percentage. 140 patients had MS (37.8%). MS was significantly higher among patients aged 61 years and above (59, 42.1%) and 51 to 60 years (50, 35.7%) compared with 20 to 50 years of age group (31, 22.1%) ( P < 0.05). The patients with MS were significantly higher among Chinese ethnicity (57, 40.7%), unemployed (95, 70.4%), and postmenopausal (108, 77.1%) ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of MS is high in newly diagnosed Malaysian breast cancer patients. With longer follow-up, further analysis will be done to look at association with outcomes.

Application of Database and Data Science Techniques in the Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivorship Cohort STUDY

Background: Breast cancer is one of the leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. The Breast Cancer Resource Centre (BCRC) of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, started the Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivorship Cohort (MyBCC) study in 2012. Aim: As a further enhancement of the research, the MyBCC database has been developed to conduct the survey in a convenient way, which aims to predict the factors influencing different survival rate among patients from multiethnic origin using data science techniques. Methods: The database comprised of life style related data of the patients including demographic factors, information on other illness, clinical factors, quality of life, psychosocial support, physical activity, work related questions, depression score, family background, type of medication consumed and financial status of the patients. This paper presents an approach to build an automated workflow using the MySQL database management system and PHP, integrated with R and HTML for web display. Results: A relational database comprising 816 breast cancer patients' data were developed for the MyBCC cohort study. This database serves as the backend for the MyBCC application where researchers can register new patients' records, update and view the information of recruited patients by using the system in a more commodious environment than before. Besides, the MyBCC database has been integrated with R programming tool by deploying the RMySQL package to perform audits. A few important analysis using plotly package, leveraging the integration of R with database are presented. Conclusion: In this paper, the development of the MyBCC database is presented, with the aim to automate the manual process of data entry, storage and analysis for performing audits for the breast cancer cohort study. The integration of database with R for automated analysis of data are also shown using examples of predictions that can be generated using functions in R. This fully automated workflow reduces the workload and time taken in performing manual predictions using data sources stored in flat files.

Linguistic and Psychometric Validity of the Malay BREAST-Q in Women Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery in Malaysia

Background: BREAST-Q is a PROMs used to measure and assess patient satisfaction and quality of life before and after breast cancer surgery. BREAST-Q composed of 5 different modules and each module comprised of multiple scales. Each module has preoperative and postoperative versions to assess the impact of surgery. Four subscales with common items from the 5 modules: “satisfaction with the breast”, psychosocial, sexual and physical well-being were subjected to testing. Two other subscales, “satisfaction with overall outcomes” and “satisfaction with the care” were only validated linguistically. Currently, the BREAST-Q has already been translated into 25 languages. Linguistic and psychometric validation of BREAST-Q has not been performed in Malaysia. Aim: To translate the BREAST-Q into Malay language and perform psychometric validation. Methods: Translation of the English BREAST-Q to Malay language was done based on linguistic validation protocol provided by MAPI Research Trust. Content and face validation were performed to determine contextual accuracy, acceptability and understanding of the items. The finalised Malay BREAST-Q then underwent psychometric testing. Breast cancer patients (n=186) who were planned for breast cancer surgery were conveniently sampled at the breast clinic of UMMC between June 2015 to June 2016. Consented participants completed the questionnaire in the same visit following their diagnosis. Retest was done 2-3 weeks after the first questionnaire administration in 62 patients who were admitted for their surgery. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. Results: Content experts (4 breast surgeons) agreed the items in BREAST-Q comprehensively measured the concept of interest and I-CVI for each item was 1.0. Participants agreed the questionnaire was comprehensive and easy to understand. The average time taken to complete the questionnaire was 15.3 minutes. Test–retest analysis showed good reproducibility with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value of 0.71-0.98. Internal consistencies were good for all items in each subscale with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.83-0.95. The highest interitem correlation for each item with at least one other item in the construct ranged from 0.47 to 0.90. The lowest corrected item-total correlation (CITC) values ranged from 0.47 to 0.72. In exploratory factor analysis, the KMO values were excellent in all 4 subscales (0.76, 0.92, 0.91, and 0.86). Single factor was extracted in 3 subscales that explained more than 50% of the variance and 3 factors (breast pain, general pain, and discomfort) were extracted in “physical well-being” subscale that cumulatively explained more than 50% of the variance. Conclusion: The Malay BREAST-Q demonstrated good reliability, content and face validity, and excellent psychometric properties. Hence, we propose the use of the Malay BREAST-Q to measure patient reported outcomes among breast cancer patients in Malaysia undergoing breast cancer surgery.