Technical and financial feasibility of a chemicals recovery and energy and water production from a dairy wastewater treatment plant.

Due to the high volume of wastewater produced from dairy factories, it is necessary to integrate a water recovery process with the treatment plant. Today, bipolar membrane electrodialysis units (BMEUs) are increasingly developed for wastewater treatment and reutilizing. This article aims to develop and evaluate (technical and cost analyses) a combined BMEU/batch reverse osmosis unit (BROU) process for the recovery of chemicals and water from the dairy wastewater plant.

Peptide-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy.

A monster called cancer is still one of the most challenging human problems and one of the leading causes of death in the world. Different types of treatment methods are used for cancer therapy; however, there are challenges such as high cost and harmful side effects in using these methods. Recent years have witnessed a surge in the development of therapeutic peptides for a wide range of diseases, notably cancer.

NK cells direct the perspective approaches to cancer immunotherapy.

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells with cytotoxic potentials to kill cancerous cells in several mechanisms, which could be implied for cancer therapy. While potent, their antitumor activities specially for solid tumors impaired by inadequate tumor infiltration, suppressive tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated stroma cells, and tumor-supportive immune cells. Therefore, manipulating or reprogramming these barriers by prospective strategies might improve current immunotherapies in the clinic or introduce novel NK-based immunotherapies.

Small but mighty: How microRNAs drive the deadly progression of cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma, also referred to as CCA, is a highly complex epithelial malignancy that can impact various organs and regions of the body, including the perihilar, intrahepatic, and distal organs. This cancer is characterized by the malignant growth of the epithelial lining in the bile ducts, which spans the entire biliary tree and is accountable for disease progression. The current state of affairs concerning CCA is concerning, with poor prognoses, high recurrence rates, and dismal long-term survival rates significantly burden healthcare facilities worldwide.

STAT3 signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a candidate therapeutic target.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis which is lethal in over 90% of cases despite the standard therapies. Mainly activated by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key transcription factor, capable of exerting the expression of multitude of genes involved in survival. Moreover, STAT3 activity is regulated by the interleukin 28 receptor α (IL28RA) and glutathione s-transferase mu-3 (GSTM3), up-regulation of both contributes to the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway and inflammatory bowel disease: Current status and future prospects.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic life-limiting disease of gastrointestinal tract characterized by widespread enteric inflammation. IBD is a multifactorial disease, and different environmental, microbial, and immune-related factors give rise to the development of disease. Among several factors, the preponderance of pro-inflammatory T helper 17 cells over the anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells augments inflammation in the intestinal mucosa.

The Role of Ferroptosis in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. Its high prevalence, especially in the elderly, and its negative impact on physical function make it a leading cause of disability in the elderly. Joint pain as well joint stiffness are the common classic signs of OA.

Cognitive perspective of osteoporosis among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Malaysian case.

Introduction: Osteoporosis and diabetes are highly prevalent diseases. In addition, there is increasing evidence that diabetes is a common risk factor for decreasing bone mineral density and developing osteoporosis and fractures. Data on bone abnormalities in T2DM patients appear to be contradictory and complex, and the exact underlying mechanism is still unclear.

A Diverse Spectrum of Immune Complex- and Complement-Mediated Kidney Diseases Is Associated With Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Introduction: There are limited reports on kidney biopsy findings in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Methods: We initiated a multi-institutional, retrospective review of kidney biopsy findings in patients with active and treated MCL.

Results: A total of 30 patients with MCL and kidney biopsies were identified, with a median age of 67 (range 48-87) years, 73% of whom were men.

Five-year retrospective review in gynecologic cytopathology: is it time to amend?

Introduction: According to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments 1988 regulations, 5-year retrospective review (5YRR) of normal Papanicolaou tests in patients with a newly diagnosed high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or above (HSIL+) is mandatory. Since this mandate has been in place, a multitude of changes have taken place in the screening and management guidelines of cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the role of this mandate in our laboratory and to investigate the lessons learned.

A comprehensive view of knowledge and osteoporosis status among type 2 diabetes mellitus in Malaysia: A cross sectional study.

Background: osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus are highly prevalent diseases that have potentially devastating effects on health and socioeconomic status.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess: 1) the level of osteoporosis knowledge among T2DM patients; 2) the correlation, associations or differences of demographic characteristics, diabetes-related variable, as well as, lipid and blood pressure profiles with osteoporosis knowledge; and 3) the correlation between T-score measurement using quantitative ultrasound scan (QUS) and osteoporosis knowledge.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was chosen, where data was collected using a self-report structured questionnaire using osteoporosis knowledge - Malay version questionnaire (OKT-M) among T2DM patients.

The Prevalence of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis Among Malaysian Type 2 Diabetic Patients Using Quantitative Ultrasound Densitometer.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis are both chronic conditions and the relationship between them is complex.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of Low Bone Mineral density (LBMD, ., osteopenia and osteoporosis), as well as, the difference and associations between Quantitative Ultrasound Scan (QUS) parameters with socio-demographic data and clinical related data among T2DM in Penang, Malaysia.

Knowledge and pharmaceutical care practice regarding inhaled therapy among registered and unregistered pharmacists: an urgent need for a patient-oriented health care educational program in Iraq.

Background: Inadequate inhaled aerosol device demonstration and technique by health care professionals can lead to poor disease control. The aims of this study were to develop and validate Knowledge of Aerosol Tool (KAT) among registered and unregistered pharmacists and to assess the pharmaceutical care practice among registered pharmacists.

Methods: The KAT and pharmaceutical care practice questionnaires were developed and modified from previous reports, then an observational cross-sectional study with a convenience sample size of 340 was carried out among registered and unregistered pharmacists.

Psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS-M) among Type 2 diabetic patients.

Aims: The aims of this study were to translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malaysian version of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS-M) among type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM) and to assess the correlation between osteoporosis knowledge, health belief and self-efficacy scales, as well as assess the osteoporosis risk in the sample population using quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS).

Methods: A standard 'forward-backward' procedure was used to translate OHBS into the Malay language, which was then validated with a convenience sample of 250 T2DM. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were carried out using QUS at the calcaneus.

Osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus: what do we know, and what we can do?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a pandemic and chronic metabolic disorder with substantial morbidity and mortality. In addition, osteoporosis (OP) is a silent disease with a harmful impact on morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this systematic review focuses on the relationship between OP and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Psychometric properties and osteoprotective behaviors among type 2 diabetic patients: osteoporosis self-efficacy scale Malay version (OSES-M).

Unlabelled: In type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM), only 22 % have normal bone mineral density and almost three quarters of the sample population had low self-efficacy towards osteoporosis. These results reflect the need for screening and educational programs to increase the awareness of T2DM towards osteoporosis.

Introduction: Our aim was to translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the osteoporosis self-efficacy scale (OSES-M) among T2DM and to determine the best cut-off value with optimum sensitivity and specificity.

Psychometric properties of Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool and self-management behaviours among Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients.

Osteoporosis is a major growing public health problem and it is clear that much needs to be done to bridge the gap between patients and practitioners. However, the educator must have a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching and learning that are done. Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool (OKT) provides an important strategy for healthcare professionals to start early intervention for patients who are at risk of osteoporosis.

Solubilization of beclomethasone dipropionate in sterically stabilized phospholipid nanomicelles (SSMs): physicochemical and in vitro evaluations.

Background: The local treatment of lung disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via pulmonary drug delivery offers many advantages over oral or intravenous routes of administration. This is because direct deposition of a drug at the diseased site increases local drug concentrations, which improves the pulmonary receptor occupancy and reduces the overall dose required, therefore reducing the side effects that result from high drug doses. From a clinical point of view, although jet nebulizers have been used for aerosol delivery of water-soluble compounds and micronized suspensions, their use with hydrophobic drugs has been inadequate.

Physician adherence to hypertension treatment guidelines and drug acquisition costs of antihypertensive drugs at the cardiac clinic: a pilot study.

Prescribing pattern surveys are one of the pharmacoepidemiological techniques that provide an unbiased picture of prescribing habits. Prescription surveys permit the identification of suboptimal prescribing patterns for further evaluation. The aims of this study were to determine the prescribing trend, adherence of the prescribers to the guideline, and the impact of drug expenditure on drug utilization at the cardiac clinic of Penang Hospital, Malaysia.

Rehydrated sterically stabilized phospholipid nanomicelles of budesonide for nebulization: physicochemical characterization and in vitro, in vivo evaluations.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids provide unique systems for local treatment of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the use of poorly soluble drugs for nebulization has been inadequate, and many patients rely on large doses to achieve optimal control of their disease. Theoretically, nanotechnology with a sustained-release formulation may provide a favorable therapeutic index.