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Chua HM, Moshawih S, Kifli N, Goh HP, Ming LC. Insights into the computer-aided drug design and discovery based on anthraquinone scaffold for cancer treatment: A systematic review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301396. [PMID: 38776291 PMCID: PMC11111074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the search for better anticancer drugs, computer-aided drug design (CADD) techniques play an indispensable role in facilitating the lengthy and costly drug discovery process especially when natural products are involved. Anthraquinone is one of the most widely-recognized natural products with anticancer properties. This review aimed to systematically assess and synthesize evidence on the utilization of CADD techniques centered on the anthraquinone scaffold for cancer treatment. METHODS The conduct and reporting of this review were done in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guideline. The protocol was registered in the "International prospective register of systematic reviews" database (PROSPERO: CRD42023432904) and also published recently. The search strategy was designed based on the combination of concept 1 "CADD or virtual screening", concept 2 "anthraquinone" and concept 3 "cancer". The search was executed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and MedRxiv on 30 June 2023. RESULTS Databases searching retrieved a total of 317 records. After deduplication and applying the eligibility criteria, the final review ended up with 32 articles in which 3 articles were found by citation searching. The CADD methods used in the studies were either structure-based alone (69%) or combined with ligand-based methods via parallel (9%) or sequential (22%) approaches. Molecular docking was performed in all studies, with Glide and AutoDock being the most popular commercial and public software used respectively. Protein data bank was used in most studies to retrieve the crystal structure of the targets of interest while the main ligand databases were PubChem and Zinc. The utilization of in-silico techniques has enabled a deeper dive into the structural, biological and pharmacological properties of anthraquinone derivatives, revealing their remarkable anticancer properties in an all-rounded fashion. CONCLUSION By harnessing the power of computational tools and leveraging the natural diversity of anthraquinone compounds, researchers can expedite the development of better drugs to address the unmet medical needs in cancer treatment by improving the treatment outcome for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ming Chua
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Said Moshawih
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
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Goh MPY, Samsul RN, Mohaimin AW, Goh HP, Zaini NH, Kifli N, Ahmad N. The Analgesic Potential of Litsea Species: A Systematic Review. Molecules 2024; 29:2079. [PMID: 38731572 PMCID: PMC11085224 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Various plant species from the Litsea genus have been claimed to be beneficial for pain relief. The PRISMA approach was adopted to identify studies that reported analgesic properties of plants from the Litsea genus. Out of 450 records returned, 19 primary studies revealed the analgesic potential of nine Litsea species including (1) Litsea cubeba, (2) Litsea elliptibacea, (3) Litsea japonica, (4) Litsea glutinosa, (5) Litsea glaucescens, (6) Litsea guatemalensis, (7) Litsea lancifolia, (8) Litsea liyuyingi and (9) Litsea monopetala. Six of the species, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9, demonstrated peripheral antinociceptive properties as they inhibited acetic-acid-induced writhing in animal models. Species 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9 further showed effects via the central analgesic route at the spinal level by increasing the latencies of heat stimulated-nocifensive responses in the tail flick assay. The hot plate assay also revealed the efficacies of 4 and 9 at the supraspinal level. Species 6 was reported to ameliorate hyperalgesia induced via partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). The antinociceptive effects of 1 and 3 were attributed to the regulatory effects of their bioactive compounds on inflammatory mediators. As for 2 and 5, their analgesic effect may be a result of their activity with the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) which disrupted the pain-stimulating actions of 5-HT. Antinociceptive activities were documented for various major compounds of the Litsea plants. Overall, the findings suggested Litsea species as good sources of antinociceptive compounds that can be further developed to complement or substitute prescription drugs for pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Poh Yik Goh
- Herbal Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei; (M.P.Y.G.); (R.N.S.); (A.W.M.); (N.K.)
- PAP Rashidah Saádatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei;
| | - Raudhatun Na’emah Samsul
- Herbal Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei; (M.P.Y.G.); (R.N.S.); (A.W.M.); (N.K.)
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei
| | - Amal Widaad Mohaimin
- Herbal Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei; (M.P.Y.G.); (R.N.S.); (A.W.M.); (N.K.)
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Saádatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei;
| | - Nurul Hazlina Zaini
- UBD Botanical Research Centre, Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei;
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- Herbal Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei; (M.P.Y.G.); (R.N.S.); (A.W.M.); (N.K.)
- PAP Rashidah Saádatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei;
| | - Norhayati Ahmad
- Herbal Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei; (M.P.Y.G.); (R.N.S.); (A.W.M.); (N.K.)
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei
- UBD Botanical Research Centre, Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan BE 1410, Brunei;
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Moshawih S, Jarrar Q, Bahrin AA, Lim AF, Ming L, Goh HP. Evaluating NSAIDs in SARS-CoV-2: Immunomodulatory mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25734. [PMID: 38356603 PMCID: PMC10864964 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely recognized for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Amidst the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the role of NSAIDs in modulating viral and bacterial infections has become a critical area of research, sparking debates and necessitating a thorough review. This review examines the multifaceted interactions between NSAIDs, immune responses, and infections. Focusing on the immunomodulatory mechanisms of NSAIDs in SARS-CoV-2 and their implications for other viral and bacterial infections, we aim to provide clarity and direction for future therapeutic strategies. NSAIDs demonstrate a dual role in infectious diseases. They reduce inflammation by decreasing neutrophil recruitment and cytokine release, yet potentially compromise antiviral defense mechanisms. They also modulate cytokine storms in SARS-CoV-2 and exhibit the potential to enhance anti-tumor immunity by inhibiting tumor-induced COX-2/PGE2 signaling. Specific NSAIDs have shown efficacy in inhibiting viral replication. The review highlights NSAIDs' synergy with other medications, like COX inhibitors and immunotherapy agents, in augmenting therapeutic effects. Notably, the World Health Organization's analysis found no substantial link between NSAIDs and the worsening of viral respiratory infections. The findings underscore NSAIDs' complex role in infection management. Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing therapeutic approaches in current and future pandemics. However, their dual nature warrants cautious application, particularly in vulnerable populations. NSAIDs present a paradoxical impact on immune responses in viral and bacterial infections. While offering potential benefits, their usage in infectious diseases, especially SARS-CoV-2, demands a nuanced understanding to balance therapeutic advantages against possible adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said Moshawih
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Qais Jarrar
- Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdul Alim Bahrin
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Ai Fern Lim
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Long Ming
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, 47500, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
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Xuan YW, Goh HP, Rehman IU, Shafqat N, Al-Worafi YM, Ming LC, Hermansyah A. Assessing consumers' perception and demand on the community pharmacists' dispensing. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 16:162. [PMID: 38031133 PMCID: PMC10685624 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-023-00609-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to assess the general public's perception of services provided by community pharmacies, their willingness to utilize these services, their satisfaction with and understanding of community pharmacists, and their views on dispensing separation and pharmacy medicines (P medicines). METHODS An online cross-sectional study was conducted, in which questionnaires were distributed among the general public. A novel questionnaire was designed and validated specifically for this study. It was composed of six sections: demographics, pharmacy usage and service preferences, understanding and satisfaction with pharmacists, views on dispensing separation, private community pharmacies, and knowledge of P medicines. Statistical analyses such as one-way ANOVA, independent t test, and binary logistic regression were employed, with a p value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS The study received 222 responses. The majority of the respondents were females within the 20-29-year-old age group (62.2%). Most respondents preferred to consult doctors for medical treatment, with their primary reason for visiting community pharmacies being to collect prescribed medicines. About 52.7% of respondents expressed their willingness to avail of screening services and treatment for minor illnesses at community pharmacies. A statistically significant difference was found among different age groups regarding their views on the dispensing separation system, with those aged 41-50 years demonstrating higher scores. However, the binary logistic regression analysis did not reveal any statistical significance when comparing the understanding of P medicines among respondents. CONCLUSIONS In general, the public prefers to consult doctors for medical treatment and visit community pharmacies predominantly to collect prescriptions or purchase over-the-counter medications. Nonetheless, they are also open to utilizing services provided by community pharmacists, particularly screening services and treatment for minor illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yapp Wen Xuan
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei.
| | - Inayat Ur Rehman
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Naeem Shafqat
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei
| | - Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi
- College of Medical Sciences, Azal University for Human Development, Sana'a, Yemen
- College of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology of Fujairah, P.O. Box 2202, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia.
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Zafar R, Rehman IU, Shah Y, Ming LC, Goh HP, Goh KW. Comparative analysis of potential drug-drug interactions in a public and private hospital among chronic kidney disease patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A retrospective cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291417. [PMID: 37773947 PMCID: PMC10540949 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health challenge due to its rising incidence, mortality, and morbidity. Patients with kidney diseases often suffer from various comorbid conditions, making them susceptible to potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) due to polypharmacy and multiple prescribers. Inappropriate prescriptions for CKD patients and their consequences in the form of pDDIs are a major challenge in Pakistan. AIM This study aimed to compare the incidence and associated risk factors of pDDIs among a public and private sector hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. METHOD A retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted to compare pDDIs among public and private sector hospitals from January 2023 to February 2023. Patients profile data for the full year starting from January 1 2022 to December 302022, was accessed All adult patients aged 18 years and above, of both genders, who currently have or have previously been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were included. For assessing pDDIs, patient data was retrieved and checked using Lexicomp UpToDate® for severity and documentation of potential drug-drug interactions. RESULTS A total of 358 patients' data was retrieved (with n = 179 in each hospital); however, due to incomplete data, n = 4 patients were excluded from the final analysis. The prevalence of pDDIs was found to be significantly higher in private hospitals (84.7%) than in public hospitals (26.6%), with a p-value <0.001. Patients in the age category of 41-60 years (AOR = 6.2; p = 0.008) and those prescribed a higher number of drugs (AOR = 1.2; p = 0.027) were independently associated with pDDIs in private hospitals, while the higher number of prescribed drugs (AOR = 2.9; p = <0.001) was an independent risk factor for pDDIs in public hospitals. The majority of pDDIs (79.0%) were of moderate severity, and a significant number of patients (15.1%) also experienced major pDDIs, with a p-value <0.001. The majority of pDDIs had fair documentation for reliability rating in both public and private hospitals. CONCLUSION The prevalence of pDDIs was higher among CKD patients at private hospitals, and most of the pDDIs were of moderate severity. A considerable number of patients also experienced major pDDIs. The risk of experiencing pDDIs was found to be higher in older patients and among those prescribed a higher number of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roheena Zafar
- Department of Pharmacy, Garden Campus, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
- Department of Pharmacy, North West General Hospital and Research Center, Hayatabad Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Inayat Ur Rehman
- Department of Pharmacy, Garden Campus, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Yasar Shah
- Department of Pharmacy, Garden Campus, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
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Moshawih S, Goh HP, Kifli N, Darwesh MAE, Ardianto C, Goh KW, Ming LC. Identification and optimization of TDP1 inhibitors from anthraquinone and chalcone derivatives: consensus scoring virtual screening and molecular simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-25. [PMID: 37697727 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2256870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Virtual screening aims to identify and rank compounds with drug/lead-like properties based on their affinity for the protein target. We developed a methodology that integrates structure- and ligand-based screening approaches to enhance hit rates against the TDP1 protein within a database of anthraquinone and chalcone derivatives, followed by evaluation of prioritized compounds through molecular simulations. This technique is particularly useful for training set imbalances. Four screening methods were used: QSAR, pharmacophore, shape similarity, and docking. Each method was individually trained to score compounds, and the scores were fused to create parallel Z-score fusion. The QSAR models exhibited satisfactory R2 values (0.84 to 0.75), whereas the pharmacophoric and shape similarity models demonstrated excellent performance (ROC:0.82-0.88). Docking enrichment analysis identified 6N0D as the optimal TDP1 crystal structure (ROC = 0.73). Remarkably, the consensus scoring method surpassed other screening methods, achieving the highest ROC value of 0.98. Docking screening prioritized compounds with binding modes resembling the co-crystallized ligands, whereas MMGBSA, consensus, and docking produced dynamic simulations that were as stable as the co-crystallized ligands. Additionally, the QSAR-selected compounds exhibited binding modes similar to those of commercially available TDP1 inhibitors. In this study, a strong correlation was found between the inhibitory concentrations and binding energy values of commercialized TDP1 inhibitors, indicating that the top-ranked compounds are expected to have potent inhibitory effects in the nano-/micromolar range. The results of this study establish that consensus scoring can be used as an adaptable mainstay virtual screening methodology, pending subsequent experimental validation for affirmation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said Moshawih
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | | | | | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, Malaysia
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Chua HM, Moshawih S, Goh HP, Ming LC, Kifli N. Insights into the computer-aided drug design and discovery based on anthraquinone scaffold for cancer treatment: A protocol for systematic review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290948. [PMID: 37656730 PMCID: PMC10473489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
There is still unmet medical need in cancer treatment mainly due to drug resistance and adverse drug events. Therefore, the search for better drugs is essential. Computer-aided drug design (CADD) and discovery tools are useful to streamline the lengthy and costly drug development process. Anthraquinones are a group of naturally occurring compounds with unique scaffold that exert various biological properties including anticancer activities. This protocol describes a systematic review that provide insights into the computer-aided drug design and discovery based on anthraquinone scaffold for cancer treatment. It was prepared in accordance with the "Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines, and published in the "International prospective register of systematic reviews" database (PROSPERO: CRD42023432904). Search strategies will be developed based on the combination of relevant keywords and executed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and MedRxiv. Only original studies that employed CADD as primary tool in virtual screening for the purpose of designing or discovering anti-cancer drugs involving anthraquinone scaffold published in English language will be included. Two independent reviewers will be involved to screen and select the papers, extract the data and assess the risk of bias. Apart from exploring the trends and types of CADD methods used, the target proteins of these compounds in cancer treatment will also be revealed in this review. It is believed that the outcome of this study could be utilized to support the ongoing research in similar area with better quality and greater probability of success, consequently optimizing the resources in subsequent in vitro, in vivo, non-clinical and clinical development. It will also serve as an evidence based scientific guide for new research to design novel anthraquinone-derived drug with improved efficacy and safety profile for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ming Chua
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Said Moshawih
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- School of Medical and Lifesciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAP Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
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Juperi RNAA, Goh HP, Rehman IU, Lee KS, Ming LC, Hermansyah A. Evaluating healthcare professionals' perceptions of dispensing separation and sale of pharmacy medicine in Brunei Darussalam. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 16:101. [PMID: 37620839 PMCID: PMC10463969 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-023-00594-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacy medicine (P) is obtained exclusively from a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist. This study aims to understand the perception of healthcare professionals towards the dispensing separation, as well as the dispensing of pharmacy medicine by community pharmacies to enhance patient health outcomes in Brunei Darussalam. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st March 2023 and 20th April 2023 among healthcare professionals. A newly designed and validated questionnaire was used. Its face and content validity, along with internal consistency, was adequately established. Convenient sampling was employed to recruit participants for the study. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA was performed, considering a p-value < 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS The study compiled data from 108 participants, comprising doctors (38.9%) and pharmacy technicians (45.4%). Approximately 28.7% of respondents had 11-20 years of healthcare experience, while 25.9% had less than 5 years. Nearly all respondents (98.1%) agreed on the vital role pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play in prescription checks. A significant number of participants (93.5%) agreed that Brunei's current medicine dispensing system needs improvement. The mean total score for the perception of medicine dispensing in Brunei was 3.79 ± 1.103. A statistically significant difference was found between the perception score and the respondents' profession (p = 0.018), but not with their age, experience, or place of work. Respondents' awareness score showed no statistically significant correlation with their profession, age, experience, or place of work. CONCLUSION The study underscores the necessity for more patient-centered care in community pharmacies in Brunei Darussalam. The country's healthcare professionals should recognize the potential advantages of expanding pharmacy services. However, to implement these services successfully, regulatory restrictions and infrastructure limitations must be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei.
| | - Inayat Ur Rehman
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Kah Seng Lee
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia.
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Shaik Mohamed Sayed UF, Moshawih S, Goh HP, Kifli N, Gupta G, Singh SK, Chellappan DK, Dua K, Hermansyah A, Ser HL, Ming LC, Goh BH. Natural products as novel anti-obesity agents: insights into mechanisms of action and potential for therapeutic management. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1182937. [PMID: 37408757 PMCID: PMC10318930 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1182937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity affects more than 10% of the adult population globally. Despite the introduction of diverse medications aimed at combating fat accumulation and obesity, a significant number of these pharmaceutical interventions are linked to substantial occurrences of severe adverse events, occasionally leading to their withdrawal from the market. Natural products serve as attractive sources for anti-obesity agents as many of them can alter the host metabolic processes and maintain glucose homeostasis via metabolic and thermogenic stimulation, appetite regulation, pancreatic lipase and amylase inhibition, insulin sensitivity enhancing, adipogenesis inhibition and adipocyte apoptosis induction. In this review, we shed light on the biological processes that control energy balance and thermogenesis as well as metabolic pathways in white adipose tissue browning, we also highlight the anti-obesity potential of natural products with their mechanism of action. Based on previous findings, the crucial proteins and molecular pathways involved in adipose tissue browning and lipolysis induction are uncoupling protein-1, PR domain containing 16, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in addition to Sirtuin-1 and AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Given that some phytochemicals can also lower proinflammatory substances like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1 secreted from adipose tissue and change the production of adipokines like leptin and adiponectin, which are important regulators of body weight, natural products represent a treasure trove for anti-obesity agents. In conclusion, conducting comprehensive research on natural products holds the potential to accelerate the development of an improved obesity management strategy characterized by heightened efficacy and reduced incidence of side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Said Moshawih
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas AirlanggaSurabaya, Indonesia
| | - Hooi Leng Ser
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas AirlanggaSurabaya, Indonesia
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Muhammad Haskani NH, Ming LC, Dhaliwal JS, Wee DVT, Goh BH, Ali M, Shaharuddin S, Goh KW, Goh HP. Diabetes Mellitus and Its Therapy in Brunei Darussalam - A Critical Revisit. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17:1131-1136. [PMID: 37124833 PMCID: PMC10132290 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s366152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Diabetes is becoming an increasingly common condition across the world including Brunei Darussalam. Bruneian population, although is relatively small, represents a miniature urban community of neighbouring Southeast Asian countries as they share similar dietary and ethnicity patterns. Thus, it would be valuable to examine the findings of studies conducted among Bruneians. This study aimed to identify and review research related to the practice of patients with DM in Brunei Darussalam in order to identify associated factors influencing diabetic medication knowledge and adherence. Methods This narrative review analyzed literature related to DM and its therapy in Brunei Darussalam. Other issues consisting of knowledge and adherence related to DM were also explored. Databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar) were used to search literature published up to May 2022. Search terms "diabetes mellitus", "Brunei" combined using Boolean operator were used. Results and Discussion Conducting appropriate studies in Brunei Darussalam can benefit the government and policymakers to implement effective measures and programmes to combat the diabetes epidemic. Despite the government's efforts, additional relevant stakeholders must be included in order to work together and engage in these initiatives in order to increase diabetes awareness, give people the power to make healthy decisions, and ultimately reduce the prevalence of diabetes in Brunei Darussalam. Patients' medication knowledge proficiency plays a main component of ensuring appropriate and safe use of medication prescribed to them. Conclusion Relatively poor medication knowledge and inappropriate diabetes-related practices were observed in studies conducted in Brunei Darussalam. However, no study has been done which directly measures both medication awareness and compliance among Brunei Darussalam T2DM patients. Future studies can focus on the relation between these two factors in different geographical locations of the world that are characterized by different diabetes-related practices and culture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Daniel Vui Teck Wee
- Pharmacy Department, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Ministry of Health, Belait, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Majid Ali
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al Bukayriyah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shazwani Shaharuddin
- Pharmacy Department, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Ministry of Health, Belait, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
- Correspondence: Hui Poh Goh, PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam, Email
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Dhaliwal JS, Moshawih S, Goh KW, Loy MJ, Hossain MS, Hermansyah A, Kotra V, Kifli N, Goh HP, Dhaliwal SKS, Yassin H, Ming LC. Pharmacotherapeutics Applications and Chemistry of Chalcone Derivatives. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27207062. [PMID: 36296655 PMCID: PMC9607940 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27207062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chalcones have been well examined in the extant literature and demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. A detailed evaluation of the purported health benefits of chalcone and its derivatives, including molecular mechanisms of pharmacological activities, can be further explored. Therefore, this review aimed to describe the main characteristics of chalcone and its derivatives, including their method synthesis and pharmacotherapeutics applications with molecular mechanisms. The presence of the reactive α,β-unsaturated system in the chalcone’s rings showed different potential pharmacological properties, including inhibitory activity on enzymes, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antiprotozoal, and anti-filarial activity. Changing the structure by adding substituent groups to the aromatic ring can increase potency, reduce toxicity, and broaden pharmacological action. This report also summarized the potential health benefits of chalcone derivatives, particularly antimicrobial activity. We found that several chalcone compounds can inhibit diverse targets of antibiotic-resistance development pathways; therefore, they overcome resistance, and bacteria become susceptible to antibacterial compounds. A few chalcone compounds were more active than conventional antibiotics, like vancomycin and tetracycline. On another note, a series of pyran-fused chalcones and trichalcones can block the NF-B signaling complement system implicated in inflammation, and several compounds demonstrated more potent lipoxygenase inhibition than NSAIDs, such as indomethacin. This report integrated discussion from the domains of medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and diverse pharmacological applications, particularly for the development of new anti-infective agents that could be a useful reference for pharmaceutical scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
- Correspondence: (J.S.D.); (A.H.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Said Moshawih
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
| | - Mei Jun Loy
- Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81300, Malaysia
| | - Md. Sanower Hossain
- Centre for Sustainability of Ecosystem and Earth Resources (Pusat ALAM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Kuantan 26300, Malaysia
| | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
- Correspondence: (J.S.D.); (A.H.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Vijay Kotra
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Quest International University, Ipoh 30250, Malaysia
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | | | - Hayati Yassin
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
- Correspondence: (J.S.D.); (A.H.); (L.C.M.)
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Abdul Nasir HH, Goh HP, Wee DVT, Goh KW, Lee KS, Hermansyah A, Al-Worafi YM, Ming LC. Economic Analysis of Patient's Own Medication, Unit-Use and Ward Stock Utilization: Results of the First Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:11350. [PMID: 36141623 PMCID: PMC9517008 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medication wastage is causing a cost burden to the healthcare system that is worth millions of dollars. An economic and ecological friendly intervention such as using a patient's own medications (POM) has proven to reduce wastage and save the cost spent by the hospital. The potential benefits of using POM in inpatient settings have yet to be explored in a country with universal health coverage. This study aimed to pilot test the POM intervention in an adult ward setting and to perform the economic analysis of using POM and ward stock during hospitalization. METHODS A prospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the patients admitted to the medical and surgical wards in a public hospital located in Brunei Darussalam between February 2022 and April 2022. Hospitalized adults above 18 years old with regular medications with a minimum length of stay of 48 h and a maximum length of stay of 21 days were included in the study. These eligible patients were divided into a POM group and a non-POM group. The economic analysis of using POM was performed by calculating the direct cost per unit of medication used during admission (from unit-use, ward stock and POM) and comparing the cost spent for both groups. Expired ward stock deemed as medication wastage was determined. Medical research ethics were approved, and all participating patients had given their written informed consent before enrolling in this study. RESULTS A total of 112 patients aged 63.2 ± 15.8 years participated in this study. The average cost of medication supplied by the inpatient pharmacy for the non-POM group was USD 21.60 ± 34.20 per patient, whereas, for the POM group, it was approximately USD 13.00 ± 18.30 per patient, with a mean difference of USD 8.60 ± 5.17 per patient (95% CI: -3.95, 27.47, p ≥ 0.05). The use of POM minimized 54.03% (USD 625.04) of the total cost spent by the hospital for the POM group within the period of the study. CONCLUSION The pilot study showed that the supplied medication cost per patient was not significantly different between the POM and non-POM groups. Nevertheless, the utilization of POM during hospitalization is capable of reducing at least 50% of the total cost spent on inpatient medications by the hospital. The use of POM during hospitalization also helped in reducing the total time spent on the medication process per patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | - Daniel Vui Teck Wee
- Pharmacy Department, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Ministry of Health, Belait, Kuala Belait KA1131, Brunei
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Sciences and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 78100, Malaysia
| | - Kah Seng Lee
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya 63000, Malaysia
| | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi
- College of Medical Sciences, Azal University for Human Development, Amran P.O. Box 447, Yemen
- College of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology of Fujairah, Fujairah P.O. Box 2202, United Arab Emirates
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
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Ming LC, Azmi NHR, Goh HP, Chaw LL, Goh KW, Elkudssiah Ismail N, Paneerselvam GS, Hermansyah A. Cosmetics: What Do Bruneian Female Adults Believe? Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:10584. [PMID: 36078298 PMCID: PMC9518480 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aimed to measure the level of attitudes and the current practices of the female community in Brunei Darussalam regarding the usage of cosmetics. METHODS An online survey was conducted using a non-probabilistic snowball sampling approach via the social media channels WhatsApp and Instagram. The inclusion criteria were female Bruneian citizens or permanent residents, aged between 18 and 65 years old, who can understand English or Malay, and use cosmetic products at least once a day. RESULTS A total of 445 participants responded to the online survey. Most of the participants agreed that the use of cosmetic products improves one's physical appearance to the public (391, 87.8%) and also improves self-confidence (405, 91.1%). There were significant differences in monthly cosmetic product expenses and participants' attitudes about safe cosmetic use (p = 0.001). No significant changes in the individuals' attitudes based on their age or educational level were observed. Overall, the participants had a good level of cosmetic safety practice. Almost half of the participants use social media to obtain information regarding what cosmetics to use or purchase. CONCLUSION There is a medium to high level of attitude and a high level of practice regarding the safe use of cosmetics among Bruneian female adults. Social media was the main source of information for the respondents, followed by friend circle and family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Chiau Ming
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE-1410, Brunei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Nur Hafizah Raudhah Azmi
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE-1410, Brunei
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE-1410, Brunei
| | - Li Ling Chaw
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE-1410, Brunei
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
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Muhammad Haskani NH, Goh HP, Wee DVT, Hermansyah A, Goh KW, Ming LC. Medication Knowledge and Adherence in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Brunei Darussalam: A Pioneer Study in Brunei Darussalam. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19127470. [PMID: 35742719 PMCID: PMC9224316 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aim: The present study measured the medication knowledge and medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes in Brunei Darussalam. Demographic details and diabetes knowledge were also evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted via the administration of a structured questionnaire consisting of 4 sections via a face-to-face interview. Results: A total of 118 participants were interviewed. A majority of the participants were aged 40 years or above (106, 89.8%). The mean number of total medications that the participants were taking was 7.36 ± 2.87 and the mean number of antidiabetic medications was 2.39 ± 1.06. As for the antidiabetic therapy, the largest proportion of the participants were taking oral antidiabetic medications only (87, 73.73%). In the diabetes knowledge section of the questionnaire, more than half of the participants (63, 53.34%) scored higher than the acquired mean score. Family history, education level, and total medications taken were significantly correlated with diabetes knowledge. However, in the medication knowledge section of the questionnaire, the mean score (3.37 ± 1.38) was below the intended score for good knowledge. Medication knowledge has been significantly associated with gender, family history and total medications taken. A majority of the participants reported non-adherence (74, 62.71%) due to various reasons. In this study, those of the Malay race were significantly correlated with adherence to their medication regimen. This study also revealed that there is no significant relationship between diabetes knowledge, medication knowledge and medication adherence. Conclusions: The present study provides insights in regard to patients with type 2 diabetes in Brunei Darussalam and their knowledge towards the disease as well as their medications. Despite the lack of significance between the variables, the rate of non-adherence is still alarming. Further studies are required to better understand the barriers to non-adherence in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei; (N.H.M.H.); (L.C.M.)
- Correspondence: (H.P.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Daniel Vui Teck Wee
- Pharmacy Department, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait KA1131, Brunei;
| | - Andi Hermansyah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
- Correspondence: (H.P.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Sciences and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia;
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei; (N.H.M.H.); (L.C.M.)
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
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Moshawih S, Goh HP, Kifli N, Idris AC, Yassin H, Kotra V, Goh KW, Liew KB, Ming LC. Synergy between machine learning and natural products cheminformatics: Application to the lead discovery of anthraquinone derivatives. Chem Biol Drug Des 2022; 100:185-217. [PMID: 35490393 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cheminformatics utilizing machine learning (ML) techniques have opened up a new horizon in drug discovery. This is owing to vast chemical space expansion with rocketing numbers of expected hits and lead compounds that match druggable macromolecular targets, in particular from natural compounds. Due to the natural products' (NP) structural complexity, uniqueness, and diversity, they could occupy a bigger space in pharmaceuticals, allowing the industry to pursue more selective leads in the nanomolar range of binding affinity. ML is an essential part of each step of the drug design pipeline, such as target prediction, compound library preparation, and lead optimization. Notably, molecular mechanic and dynamic simulations, induced docking, and free energy perturbations are essential in predicting best binding poses, binding free energy values, and molecular mechanics force fields. Those applications have leveraged from artificial intelligence (AI), which decreases the computational costs required for such costly simulations. This review aimed to describe chemical space and compound libraries related to NPs. High-throughput screening utilized for fractionating NPs and high-throughput virtual screening and their strategies, and significance, are reviewed. Particular emphasis was given to AI approaches, ML tools, algorithms, and techniques, especially in drug discovery of macrocyclic compounds and approaches in computer-aided and ML-based drug discovery. Anthraquinone derivatives were discussed as a source of new lead compounds that can be developed using ML tools for diverse medicinal uses such as cancer, infectious diseases, and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the power of principal component analysis in understanding relevant protein conformations, and molecular modeling of protein-ligand interaction were also presented. Apart from being a concise reference for cheminformatics, this review is a useful text to understand the application of ML-based algorithms to molecular dynamics simulation and in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said Moshawih
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Azam Che Idris
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Hayati Yassin
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Vijay Kotra
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Quest International University, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Kai Bin Liew
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
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Kow CS, Lee L, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS, Ming LC, Goh HP. The effect of colchicine on mortality outcome and duration of hospital stay in patients with COVID-19: A meta-analysis of randomized trials. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:255-264. [PMID: 34970856 PMCID: PMC8767506 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overactivation of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome can lead to severe illness in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The NLRP3 inhibitor, colchicine, therefore, appears to be promising for the treatment of COVID-19. AIMS We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of randomized trials investigating the effect of colchicine in patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS & METHODS We systematically searched electronic databases and clinical trial registries (up to October 17, 2021) for eligible studies. The outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and duration of hospital stay. Meta-analysis with the random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR) of mortality and 95% confidence interval (CI). The pooled standardized mean difference of duration of hospital stay with 95% CI between colchicine users and non-colchicine users was estimated using Cohen's d index. RESULTS The meta-analyses revealed no significant difference in the odds of mortality (pooled OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.53-1.07), but a significant reduction in the duration of hospital stay with the use of colchicine (pooled standardized mean difference = -0.59; 95% CI: -1.06 to -0.13). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The ability of colchicine to reduce the length of stay in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is consistent with its potential to prevent clinical deterioration via inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome. Nevertheless, such beneficial effects of colchicine did not translate into mortality benefits in patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia Siang Kow
- School of Postgraduate StudiesInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
- School of PharmacyMonash University MalaysiaSubang JayaSelangorMalaysia
| | - Learn‐Han Lee
- Novel Bacteria and Drug Discovery Research Group (NBDD), Microbiome and Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSubang JayaSelangorMalaysia
| | | | - Syed Shahzad Hasan
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of HuddersfieldHuddersfieldUK
- School of Biomedical Sciences and PharmacyUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanAustralia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health SciencesUniversiti Brunei DarussalamGadongBrunei Darussalam
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health SciencesUniversiti Brunei DarussalamGadongBrunei Darussalam
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Bahrin AA, Moshawih S, Dhaliwal JS, Kanakal MM, Khan A, Lee KS, Goh BH, Goh HP, Kifli N, Ming LC. Cancer protective effects of plums: A systematic review. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 146:112568. [PMID: 34963086 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Plums is one of the most cultivated stone fruits due to its fast growing popularity. It has various traditionally recognized health benefits. There are two main commercial types of plums: the European plum (Prunus domestica) and the Japanese plum (Prunus salicina), each having many varieties. Researchers are gathering further evidence of pharmacological effects for plums by scientifically studying its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. A systematic review analysing the literature related to the effects of plums on prevention and treatment of cancer is warranted. This is the first review examining the cancer-related effects of plums. Antioxidation properties of the active constituents of plum were also compared. Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, Medxriv and Cochrane Library databases, from their date of inception until July 2021 were utilized. The risk of bias was assessed using CONSORT checklist. A total of 6639 studies were screened and eventually only 54 studies were included. Full-text review of included studies revealed that plum extracts were rich in antioxidants. Overall, most of the studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were in vitro and a few clinical studies involving in vivo work. Therefore, it would be beneficial to perform more studies on animals or humans, to confirm that the result obtained from these in vitro studies are able to be extrapolated in a wider range of applications. Further clinical and in vivo studies are warranted to validate plums as a functional food for treatment and prevention of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Alim Bahrin
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Said Moshawih
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | | | - Abdullah Khan
- School of Pharmacy, KPJ Healthcare University College, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Kah Seng Lee
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam.
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18
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Zawawi NA, Abdul Halim Zaki I, Ming LC, Goh HP, Zulkifly HH. Anticoagulation Control in Different Ethnic Groups Receiving Vitamin K Antagonist for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:736143. [PMID: 34869639 PMCID: PMC8635010 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.736143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin K antagonist such as warfarin reduces the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Since warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index, its administration needs to be regularly monitored to avoid any adverse clinical outcomes such as stroke and bleeding. The quality of anticoagulation control with warfarin therapy can be measured by using time in therapeutic range (TTR). This review focuses on the prevalence of AF, quality of anticoagulation control (TTR) and adverse clinical outcome in AF patients within different ethnic groups receiving warfarin therapy for stroke prevention. A literature search was conducted in Embase and PubMed using keywords of “prevalence,” “atrial fibrillation,” “stroke prevention,” “oral anticoagulants,” “warfarin,” “ethnicities,” “race” “time in therapeutic range,” “adverse clinical outcome,” “stroke, bleeding.” Articles published by 1st February 2020 were included. Forty-one studies were included in the final review consisting of AF prevalence (n = 14 studies), time in therapeutic range (n = 18 studies), adverse clinical outcome (n = 9 studies) within different ethnic groups. Findings indicate that higher prevalence of AF but better anticoagulation control among the Whites as compared to other ethnicities. Of note, non-whites had higher risk of strokes and bleeding outcomes while on warfarin therapy. Addressing disparities in prevention and healthcare resource allocation could potentially improve AF-related outcomes in minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Azyyati Zawawi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Bandar Puncak Alam, Malaysia
| | - Izzati Abdul Halim Zaki
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Bandar Puncak Alam, Malaysia.,Cardiology Therapeutics Research Group, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei
| | - Hanis Hanum Zulkifly
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Bandar Puncak Alam, Malaysia.,Cardiology Therapeutics Research Group, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam, Malaysia
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19
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Ang LP, Ng PW, Lean YL, Kotra V, Kifli N, Goh HP, Lee KS, Sarker MMR, Al-Worafi YM, Ming LC. Herbal products containing aristolochic acids: A call to revisit the context of safety. J Herb Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2021.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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20
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Ke H, Kao S, Lee K, Takahashi K, Goh HP, Linton A. The minimum standard of care for managing malignant pleural mesothelioma in developing nations within the Asia-Pacific Region. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2021; 18:177-190. [PMID: 34161674 DOI: 10.1111/ajco.13611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an incurable malignancy associated with high symptom burden and poor prognosis. The relationship between asbestos exposure and MPM incidence is well-established. The incidence rate of MPM in Australia and New Zealand is among the highest globally. Matching the experience of other nations with legal restrictions on asbestos, incidence is expected to fall. In contrast, the incidence of MPM is rising in the developing nations of the Asia-Pacific as consumption and mining (albeit to a lesser extent) of asbestos continues. The incidence of MPM in these nations is currently low or unknown, reflecting insufficient latency periods since industrial use of asbestos, deficient resources for accurate diagnosis, and lack of occupational disease or cancer registries. The landscape of treatment for MPM is rapidly changing with combination immunotherapy now demonstrating improved survival in the first-line setting. Considering vast global inequity in access to anticancer treatments, establishing minimum standard of care for MPM in developing nations is of greater significance. Here, we review the evidence that form the basis of our minimum-standard recommendations for diagnosis, systemic treatment, management of recurrent pleural effusions, and symptom management. We also briefly review evidence-based treatment that may be considered for those with access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Ke
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Steven Kao
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ken Takahashi
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
| | - Anthony Linton
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Law ZJ, Khoo XH, Lim PT, Goh BH, Ming LC, Lee WL, Goh HP. Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Chemoresistance in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:629888. [PMID: 33768115 PMCID: PMC7985159 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.629888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) remains a cancer with poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Even with multimodal treatment options available for OSCC, tumor drug resistance is still a persistent problem, leading to increased tumor invasiveness among OSCC patients. An emerging trend of thought proposes that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a role in facilitating tumor progression and chemoresistance via signaling between tumor cells. In particular, exosomes and microvesicles are heavily implicated in this process by various studies. Where primary studies into a particular EV-mediated chemoresistance mechanism in OSCC are limited, similar studies on other cancer cell types will be used in the discussion below to provide ideas for a new line of investigation into OSCC chemoresistance. By understanding how EVs are or may be involved in OSCC chemoresistance, novel targeted therapies such as EV inhibition may be an effective alternative to current treatment options in the near future. In this review, the current understandings on OSCC drug mechanisms under the novel context of exosomes and microvesicles were reviewed, including shuttling of miRNA content, drug efflux, alteration of vesicular pH, anti-apoptotic signaling, modulation of DNA damage repair, immunomodulation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and maintenance of tumor by cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu-Jun Law
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Xin Hui Khoo
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pei Tee Lim
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Wai-Leng Lee
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
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22
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Ng SL, Khaw KY, Ong YS, Goh HP, Kifli N, Teh SP, Ming LC, Kotra V, Goh BH. Licorice: A Potential Herb in Overcoming SARS-CoV-2 Infections. J Evid Based Integr Med 2021; 26:2515690X21996662. [PMID: 33787349 PMCID: PMC8020229 DOI: 10.1177/2515690x21996662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of the global pandemic outbreak due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been challenging with no exact dedicated treatment nor established vaccines at the beginning of the pandemic. Nonetheless, the situation seems to be better controlled with the recent COVID-19 vaccines roll-out globally as active immunisation to prevent COVID-19. The extensive usage and trials done in recent outbreak in China has shown the effectiveness of traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) in improving the wellbeing of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment guidelines has listed a number of recommended concoctions meant for COVID-19 patients. Licorice, more commonly known as Gancao in Chinese Pinyin, is known as one of the most frequently used ingredients in TCM prescriptions for treatment of epidemic diseases. Interestingly, it is deemed as food ingredient as well, where it is normally used in Western cuisines' desserts and sweets. The surprising fact that licorice appeared in the top 10 main ingredients used in TCM prescriptions in COVID-19 has drawn great attention from researchers in revealing its biological potential in overcoming this disease. To date, there are no comprehensive review on licorice and its benefits when used in COVID-19. Thus, in this current review, the possible benefits, mechanism of actions, safety and limitations of licorice were explored in hope to provide a quick reference guide for its preclinical and clinical experimental set-up in this very critical moment of pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swee Li Ng
- Biofunctional Molecul Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Kooi-Yeong Khaw
- Biofunctional Molecul Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Yong Sze Ong
- Biofunctional Molecul Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Siew Phooi Teh
- Biofunctional Molecul Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Vijay Kotra
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Quest International University, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecul Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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23
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Ming LC, Untong N, Aliudin NA, Osili N, Kifli N, Tan CS, Goh KW, Ng PW, Al-Worafi YM, Lee KS, Goh HP. Mobile Health Apps on COVID-19 Launched in the Early Days of the Pandemic: Content Analysis and Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e19796. [PMID: 32609622 PMCID: PMC7505686 DOI: 10.2196/19796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mobile health (mHealth) app use is a major concern because of the possible dissemination of misinformation that could harm the users. Particularly, it can be difficult for health care professionals to recommend a suitable app for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) education and self-monitoring purposes. Objective This study aims to analyze and evaluate the contents as well as features of COVID-19 mobile apps. The findings are instrumental in helping health care professionals to identify suitable mobile apps for COVID-19 self-monitoring and education. The results of the mobile apps’ assessment could potentially help mobile app developers improve or modify their existing mobile app designs to achieve optimal outcomes. Methods The search for the mHealth apps available in the android-based Play Store and the iOS-based App Store was conducted between April 18 and May 5, 2020. The region of the App Store where we performed the search was the United States, and a virtual private network app was used to locate and access COVID-19 mobile apps from all countries on the Google Play Store. The inclusion criteria were apps that are related to COVID-19 with no restriction in language type. The basic features assessment criteria used for comparison were the requirement for free subscription, internet connection, education or advisory content, size of the app, ability to export data, and automated data entry. The functionality of the apps was assessed according to knowledge (information on COVID-19), tracing or mapping of COVID-19 cases, home monitoring surveillance, online consultation with a health authority, and official apps run by health authorities. Results Of the 223 COVID-19–related mobile apps, only 30 (19.9%) found in the App Store and 28 (44.4%) in the Play Store matched the inclusion criteria. In the basic features assessment, most App Store (10/30, 33.3%) and Play Store (10/28, 35.7%) apps scored 4 out of 7 points. Meanwhile, the outcome of the functionality assessment for most App Store apps (13/30, 43.3%) was a score of 3 compared to android-based apps (10/28, 35.7%), which scored 2 (out of the maximum 5 points). Evaluation of the basic functions showed that 75.0% (n=36) of the 48 included mobile apps do not require a subscription, 56.3% (n=27) provide symptom advice, and 41.7% (n=20) have educational content. In terms of the specific functions, more than half of the included mobile apps are official mobile apps maintained by a health authority for COVID-19 information provision. Around 37.5% (n=18) and 31.3% (n=15) of the mobile apps have tracing or mapping and home monitoring surveillance functions, respectively, with only 17% (n=8) of the mobile apps equipped with an online consultation function. Conclusions Most iOS-based apps incorporate infographic mapping of COVID-19 cases, while most android-based apps incorporate home monitoring surveillance features instead of providing focused educational content on COVID-19. It is important to evaluate the contents and features of COVID-19 mobile apps to guide users in choosing a suitable mobile app based on their requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Chiau Ming
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Noorazrina Untong
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nur Amalina Aliudin
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Norliza Osili
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nurolaini Kifli
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Ching Siang Tan
- School of Pharmacy, KPJ Healthcare University College, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia
| | - Pit Wei Ng
- Department of Pharmacy, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology of Fujairah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.,College of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Kah Seng Lee
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
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24
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Hamdan NKA, Lean QY, Neoh CF, Abdullah AH, Lim SM, Ramasamy K, Al-Worafi YM, Goh KW, Goh HP, Ming LC, Lua PL. Knowledge and Perception of Facial Candling for Allergic Rhinitis among University Staff and Students. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020; 2020:5713134. [PMID: 32831870 PMCID: PMC7422475 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5713134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Facial candling is a traditional method used for relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aims to investigate the knowledge and perception of facial candling in a sample of staff and students in a public university in Malaysia. METHODS An online questionnaire survey method was used. Based on sample size calculation, a total of 1,508 UiTM staff and students from ten selected campuses of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) were invited to participate in this survey. An up-to-date e-mail list of staff in the selected campuses was used as the sampling frame for the study, whereas the students were recruited from the official university student Facebook portal. RESULTS A total of 788 respondents participated in this survey, 72.2% of them knew about facial candling, though only 35.4% had tried the treatment. Approximately one-fifth of respondents agreed that facial candling might treat AR. It was found that a higher number of users than nonusers agreed that facial candling was a traditional medicine (78.9% vs 55.0%); could be used on the face and ears (83.5% vs 45.4%); and could be self-administered at home (83.5 vs 45.4%). Interestingly, more than half of them were uncertain about its long-term effects and adverse reactions. CONCLUSION This study confirms the facial candling use among patients with AR although the percentage is low. The patients and general public need to be better informed about the use of facial candling in AR and its associated risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Khaleeda Athiraah Hamdan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Qi Ying Lean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Bertam Campus, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Vector-borne Diseases Research Group (VERDI), Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences CoRe, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chin Fen Neoh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Amir Heberd Abdullah
- Vector-borne Diseases Research Group (VERDI), Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences CoRe, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bertam Campus, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Siong Meng Lim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kalavathy Ramasamy
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen
- College of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology Faujairah, Fujairah, UAE
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Pei Lin Lua
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
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25
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Shahpawee NS, Chaw LL, Muharram SH, Goh HP, Hussain Z, Ming LC. University Students' Antibiotic Use and Knowledge of Antimicrobial Resistance: What Are the Common Myths? Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9060349. [PMID: 32575716 PMCID: PMC7344439 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9060349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to assess antibiotic usage and knowledge regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among undergraduate students of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), public university located in Brunei Darussalam. A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was adapted from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Antibiotic resistance: Multi-country public awareness” survey distributed online. Students at the UBD were invited to participate in the online survey through internal email. The questionnaire consisted of five sections: demographic information, antibiotic usage, knowledge on antibiotics, antibiotic resistance (AMR), and use of antibiotics in agriculture. The data were analyzed descriptively and appropriate inferential statistics were used accordingly. A total of 130 students returned a completed questionnaire. The result of the study found that 51% (n = 66) of the students had good level of knowledge of antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance with a mean total knowledge score of nine out of 14. Of note, 76% (n = 99) of the respondents mistakenly believed that antibiotic resistance is the result of the body becoming resistant to antibiotics. Only 14% (n = 18) of the respondents were found to have poor knowledge on antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in the study. Misconceptions in regards to the use of antibiotics for conditions related to viral illnesses like cold and flu (41%, n = 53) were noticed among the respondents in our study. Thus, improving knowledge on antibiotics is crucial to address these beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Shaheera Shahpawee
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; (N.S.S.); (L.L.C.); (S.H.M.); (H.P.G.)
| | - Li Ling Chaw
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; (N.S.S.); (L.L.C.); (S.H.M.); (H.P.G.)
| | - Siti Hanna Muharram
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; (N.S.S.); (L.L.C.); (S.H.M.); (H.P.G.)
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; (N.S.S.); (L.L.C.); (S.H.M.); (H.P.G.)
| | - Zahid Hussain
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra 2617, Australia;
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; (N.S.S.); (L.L.C.); (S.H.M.); (H.P.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Catherine Cunningham
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB), Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei.
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB), Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei
| | - David Koh
- Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB), Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei.,Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Abstract
On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology in the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, China. The agent responsible was subsequently identified as a coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2. The WHO declared this disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at the end of January 2020. This event evoked a sense of déjà vu, as it has many similarities to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) of 2002-2003. Both illnesses were caused by a zoonotic novel coronavirus, both originated during winter in China and both spread rapidly all over the world. However, the case-fatality rate of SARS (9.6%) is higher than that of COVID-19 (<4%). Another zoonotic novel coronavirus, MERS-CoV, was responsible for the Middle East respiratory syndrome, which had a case-fatality rate of 34%. Our experiences in coping with the previous coronavirus outbreaks have better equipped us to face the challenges posed by COVID-19, especially in the health care setting. Among the insights gained from the past outbreaks were: outbreaks caused by viruses are hazardous to healthcare workers; the impact of the disease extends beyond the infection; general principles of prevention and control are effective in containing the disease; the disease poses both a public health as well as an occupational health threat; and emerging infectious diseases pose a continuing threat to the world. Given the perspectives gained and lessons learnt from these past events, we should be better prepared to face the current COVID-19 outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Koh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
- SSH School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Poh Goh
- PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
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