Publications by authors named "Jun Wong"

L. is an evergreen tree that belongs to the Gnetaceae family and is commonly used as a vegetable and medicinal plant among indigenous people. The key goal of this study was to assess the antibacterial efficacy of ethanolic leaf extract (EGLE) against six food-borne pathogens.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aim: The utility of renal replacement therapy (RRT) before liver transplant (LT) in patients without end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD-IV/V) is debatable and lacks data support. We aimed to evaluate the impact of RRT on patients undergoing LT.

Methods: We used the National Readmission Database (2016-2019) to identify all index hospitalizations undergoing RRT before LT (cases).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The research aimed to explore the potential of palm kernel meal (PKM) as a sustainable source of cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs) for active food packaging. The CNPs were isolated using a combination of chemical techniques, such as alkaline treatment, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis. The characterization of the CNPs was analysed using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible spectroscopy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Non-selective beta-blockers (NSBBs) have a role in the management of portal hypertension. They are currently advocated in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) based on Baveno-VII consensus. Current survey aimed to evaluate the practice and perceptions of prescribing NSBBs in portal hypertension by gastroenterologists and hepatologists in Asia-Pacific region in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Antibiotic resistance critically limits treatment options for infection caused by opportunistic pathogens such as enterococci. Here, we investigate the antibiotic and immunological activity of the anticancer agent mitoxantrone (MTX) in vitro and in vivo against vancomycin-resistant (VRE). We show that, in vitro, MTX is a potent antibiotic against Gram-positive bacteria through induction of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We have employed in situ electrochemical shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the CO reduction reaction (CORR) on Cu single-crystal surfaces under various conditions. Coadsorbed and structure-/potential-dependent surface species, including *CO, Cu-O , and Cu-OH , were identified using electrochemical spectroscopy and isotope labeling. The relative abundance of *OH follows a "volcano" trend with applied potentials in aqueous solutions, which is yet absent in absolute alcoholic solutions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Wound infections are often polymicrobial in nature, biofilm associated and therefore tolerant to antibiotic therapy, and associated with delayed healing. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are among the most frequently cultured pathogens from wound infections. However, little is known about the frequency or consequence of E.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Interpreting radiographic lesions on dental radiographs is a challenging process especially for novice learners, and there is a lack of tools available to support this diagnostic process. This study introduced dental students to two diagnostic aids with contrasting reasoning approaches-ORAD DDx, which uses an analytic, forward reasoning approach, and a Radiographic Atlas, which emphasizes a non-analytic, backward reasoning approach. We compared the effectiveness of ORAD DDx and the Atlas in improving students' diagnostic accuracy and their ability to recall features of radiographic lesions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Electrochemical reduction of CO to value-added chemicals and fuels is a promising strategy to sustain pressing renewable energy demands and to address climate change issues. Direct observation of reaction intermediates during the CO reduction reaction will contribute to mechanistic understandings and thus promote the design of catalysts with the desired activity, selectivity, and stability. Herein, we combined in situ electrochemical shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations to investigate the CORR process on Cu single-crystal surfaces in various electrolytes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Skin Interstitial Fluid (ISF) is an alternative source for biomarkers. Herein, a highly swellable microneedle patch (MNP) to rapidly extract ISF painlessly and bloodlessly is presented. The MNP is made of crosslinked methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) and dissolvable hyaluronic acid (HA) with the optimal balance of mechanical strength (0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The contribution of biofilms to virulence and as a barrier to treatment is well-established for Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, both nosocomial pathogens frequently isolated from biofilm-associated infections. Despite frequent co-isolation, their interactions in biofilms have not been well-characterized. We report that in combination, these two species can give rise to augmented biofilms biomass that is dependent on the activation of E.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) is critical for stringent climate change mitigation but is commercially and technologically immature and resource intensive. State and federal fuel and climate policies can drive first markets for BECCS in California. We develop a spatially explicit optimization model to assess niche markets for renewable natural gas (RNG) production with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) from waste biomass in California.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Responsible stewardship of temperate forests can address key challenges posed by climate change through sequestering carbon, producing low-carbon products, and mitigating climate risks. Forest thinning and fuel reduction can mitigate climate-related risks like catastrophic wildfire. These treatments are often cost prohibitive, though, in part because of low demand for low-value wood "residues.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that can post-transcriptionally regulate the genes involved in critical cellular processes. The aberrant expressions of oncogenic or tumor suppressor miRNAs have been associated with cancer progression and malignancies. This resulted in the dysregulation of signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis and survival, metastasis, cancer recurrence and chemoresistance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We aimed to assess the social and demographic factors determining the level of awareness of the signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in an East London female population and determine if awareness was related to adverse outcomes. This was a prospective, observational study using a structured questionnaire to assess awareness of EP. A retrospective analysis of a database of EP patients was used to assess the association between adverse clinical outcomes and knowledge about EP.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bacterial pathogens encounter a variety of nutritional environments in the human host, including nutrient metal restriction and overload. Uptake of manganese (Mn) is essential for growth and virulence; however, it is not known how this organism prevents Mn toxicity. In this study, we examine the role of the highly conserved MntE transporter in Mn homeostasis and virulence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the section on initial attachment and in Figure 1 it was erroneously indicated that enterococcal surface protein (Esp) binds collagen and fibrinogen. The text and figure were changed to remove this binding interaction both online and in the pdf. The authors apologize for any confusion caused.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Enterococci are ubiquitous members of the human gut microbiota and frequent causes of biofilm-associated opportunistic infections. Enterococci cause 25% of all catheter-associated urinary tract infections, are frequently isolated in wounds and are increasingly found in infective endocarditis, and all of these infections are associated with biofilms. Enterococcal biofilms are intrinsically tolerant to antimicrobials and thus are a serious impediment for treating infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely used by bacterial pathogens as an effective weapon against bacterial competitors and is also deployed against host eukaryotic cells in some cases. It is a contractile nanomachine which delivers toxic effector proteins directly into target cells by dynamic cycles of assembly and firing. Bacterial cells adopt distinct post-translational regulatory strategies for deployment of the T6SS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are invaluable research tools for studying gene functions in mammalian cells. siRNAs are mainly produced by chemical synthesis or by enzymatic digestion of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced in vitro. Recently, bacterial cells, engineered with ectopic plant viral siRNA binding protein p19, have enabled the production of "recombinant" siRNAs (pro-siRNAs).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A previously healthy man presented with fever for 2 days and rapidly progressive purpuric rash for 1 day. He progressed into hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation and refractory shock despite resuscitation and early antibiotic commencement. Blood culture grew This case report highlights the fact that purpura fulminans can be a rare presentation of infection as well.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The proposed Men's Health Index (MHI) aims to provide a practical and systematic framework for comprehensively assessing and stratifying older men with the intention of optimising their health and functional status.

Materials And Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed from 1980 to 2012. We specifically looked for instruments which: assess men's health, frailty and fitness; predict life expectancy, mortality and morbidities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key mediator of retinal vascular permeability (RVP), there may be additional humoral contributors. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induces endothelial cell separation, regulates expression of cell adhesion molecules and is increased in the vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of HGF on RVP and retinal hemodynamics and delineate the signaling pathways.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pressure-induced unfolding of 23-kDa protein from spinach photosystem II has been systematically investigated at various experimental conditions. Thermodynamic equilibrium studies indicate that the protein is very sensitive to pressure. At 20 degrees C and pH 5.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To present a case of rapid and durable recovery of visual function in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and optic nerve head hemangioblastoma after systemic treatment with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitor SU5416.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: Visual function parameters, including visual acuity, automated visual field, and contrast sensitivity, were evaluated using standardized methods repeatedly over a 15-month period.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF