Knowledge, attitude and practices associated with COVID-19 among undergraduate students from Malaysian public universities during the endemic phase: a cross-sectional study.

Background: After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia began the transition to the endemic phase. students at higher education institutes are among those who were affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and deserve further attention. Hence, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) associated with COVID-19 among public university undergraduate students in Malaysia during the endemic phase.

IL-8 and PI3K pathway influence the susceptibility of TRAIL-sensitive colorectal cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cell death.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an apoptosis inducer that exhibits an ideal therapeutic safety profile with less adverse effects than conventional chemotherapy. However, the occurrence of TRAIL resistance has been reported in various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Substantial efforts have been channelled towards managing TRAIL resistance including identifying molecular targets.

Phyto-fabricated ZnO nanoparticles for anticancer, photo-antimicrobial effect on carbapenem-resistant/sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa and removal of tetracycline.

Alternanthera sessilis (AS) leaf extract was used to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Bioanalytical characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) confirmed the formation of crystalline ZnO NPs with average sizes of 40 nm. The AS-ZnO NPs antimicrobial activity was analyzed under dark (D) and white light (WL) conditions.

Role of cell surface proteins and toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of .

Objectives: Pneumococcal cell wall (PCW) is an inflammatory component in . The cell surface proteins and the toll-like receptors (TLR) signaling response were investigated in the human lung epithelial (A549) cells inoculated with PCW of different serotypes.

Materials And Methods: The presence of genes encoding these proteins was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Insights into the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer: A systematic review and bioinformatic analysis of gene expression.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, mainly due to metastasis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex cellular process that drives CRC metastasis, regulated by changes in EMT-associated gene expression. However, while numerous genes have been identified as EMT regulators through various in vivo and in vitro studies, little is known about the genes that are differentially expressed in CRC tumour tissue and their signalling pathway in regulating EMT.

Anticancer effect of aromatic isoniazid derivatives in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Current treatments for stomach cancer are often effective in curing cancer. However, these treatments can also have significant side effects, and they may not be effective in all cases. Hence synthetic compounds exhibit promise as potential agents for cancer treatment.

Naturally Occurring Phytochemicals to Target Breast Cancer Cell Signaling.

Almost 70% of clinically used antineoplastic drugs are originated from natural products such as plants, marine organism, and microorganisms and some of them are also structurally modified natural products. The naturally occurring drugs may specifically act as inducers of selective cytotoxicity, anti-metastatic, anti-mutagenic, anti-angiogenesis, antioxidant accelerators, apoptosis inducers, autophagy inducers, and cell cycle inhibitors in cancer therapy. Precisely, several reports have demonstrated the involvement of naturally occurring anti-breast cancer drugs in regulating the expression of oncogenic and tumor suppressors associated with carcinogen metabolism and signaling pathways.

Genotypic characteristics of Uropathogenic isolated from complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) and asymptomatic bacteriuria-a relational analysis.

Background: Uropathogenic (UPEC) is the predominant agent causing various categories of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Although existing data reveals that UPEC harboured numerous virulence determinants to aid its survival in the urinary tract, the reason behind the occurrence of differences in the clinical severity of uninary tract infections (UTI) demonstrated by the UPEC infection is poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the distribution of virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance among different phylogroups of UPEC isolated from various clinical categories of cUTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) isolates.

Effective Therapeutic Options for Melioidosis: Antibiotics versus Phage Therapy.

Melioidosis, also known as Whitmore's disease, is a potentially fatal infection caused by the Gram-negative bacteria with a mortality rate of 10-50%. The condition is a "glanders-like" illness prevalent in Southeast Asian and Northern Australian regions and can affect humans, animals, and sometimes plants. Melioidosis received the epithet "the great mimicker" owing to its vast spectrum of non-specific clinical manifestations, such as localised abscesses, septicaemia, pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and encephalomyelitis, which often lead to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment.

One Health surveillance approaches for melioidosis and glanders: The Malaysian perspective.

The One Health concept was initiated to promote the integration of human, animal, and environmental ecosystems into healthcare to ensure effective control and the sustainable governance of multifaceted health matters. Climate change, deforestation, and rigorous farming disrupt the environment, which serves as the natural habitat for many animals and microbes, increasing the likelihood of disease transmission between humans and animals. Melioidosis (neglected tropical diseases) and glanders are of humans and animals caused by the gram-negative bacteria and its close relative , respectively.

Characterisation of Non-Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Based on Their Clinical and Molecular Profile in Malaysia.

Non-carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant (NC-CRKP) confers carbapenem resistance through a combination of chromosomal mutations and acquired non-carbapenemase resistance mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and molecular profiles of NC-CRKP isolated from patients in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia from January 2013 to October 2019. During the study period, 54 NC-CRKP-infected/colonised patients' isolates were obtained.

Demonstrating the utility of Escherichia coli asymptomatic bacteriuria isolates' virulence profile towards diagnosis and management-A preliminary analysis.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a significant condition associated with pregnancy and is considered as prognostic for the development of symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI). However, treating all ASB increases the use of antibiotics and leads to the development of multidrug resistance (MDR).

Zerumbone mediates apoptosis and induces secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in breast carcinoma cell culture.

Objectives: To investigate the potential anti-breast cancer activity of zerumbone in regulating apoptotic mediators and cytokines in comparison with paclitaxel (positive control).

Materials And Methods: In this study, assays such as viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, cell cycle, DNA fragmentation, and cytokines were carried out on MCF-7 cells after treatment with zerumbone and paclitaxel.

Results: The results showed that zerumbone demonstrated a higher (18-fold) IC value (126.

Genomic comparison and phenotypic profiling of small colony variants of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) is an intracellular pathogen that causes melioidosis, a life-threatening infection in humans. The bacterium is able to form small colony variants (SCVs) as part of the adaptive features in response to environmental stress.

OneHealth Approaches Contribute Towards Antimicrobial Resistance: Malaysian Perspective.

On a global scale, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a One Health challenge due to the continual and increased development and distribution of resistant microbes and genes among humans, animals, and the environment. These sectors contribute to the increase in AMR, as antibiotics are widely used in healthcare to treat or prevent bacterial infection; as growth enhancers, therapeutics and metaphylactics in animal husbandry; and transmitted in the environment through irrigation using wastewater or inappropriate disposal and treatment of human and agricultural waste. However, there is a major drawback in terms of the lack of research assessing the coexistence of AMR in these sectors.

Comparative expression of pro-inflammatory and apoptotic biosignatures in chronic HBV-infected patients with and without liver cirrhosis.

The interplay of immune mediators is paramount to optimal host anti-viral immune responses, especially against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Here, we investigated the dynamic changes in host immune responses in chronic HBV-infected individuals with and without liver cirrhosis by examining the signatures of apoptosis and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and cytotoxic proteins. A total of 40 chronic HBV patients with and without liver cirrhosis were studied for plasma levels of immune mediators, and signatures of apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Hijacking of the Host's Immune Surveillance Radars by .

() causes melioidosis, a potentially fatal disease for which no licensed vaccine is available thus far. The host-pathogen interactions in infection largely remain the tip of the iceberg. The pathological manifestations are protean ranging from acute to chronic involving one or more visceral organs leading to septic shock, especially in individuals with underlying conditions similar to COVID-19.

Cytotoxic Activity of Isoniazid Derivative in Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Isoniazid is an antibiotic used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Previously, we found that the isoniazid derivative (E)-N'-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzylidene) isonicotinohydrazide (ITHB4) could be developed as novel antimycobacterial agent by lead optimization. We further explored the ability of this compound compared to zerumbone in inhibiting the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Overview of the distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei sequence types and the Emergence of sequence type 1342 in Malaysia.

Burkholderia pseudomallei, a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes melioidosis, is of public health importance in endemic areas including Malaysia. An investigation of the molecular epidemiology links of B. pseudomallei would contribute to better understanding of the clonal relationships, transmission dynamics and evolutionary change.

Prevalence and association of pks+ Escherichia coli with colorectal cancer in patients at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) from the B2 phylogenetic group is implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) as it possesses a genomic island, termed polyketide synthetase (pks), which codes for the synthesis of colibactin, a genotoxin that induces DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, mutations and chromosomal instability in eukaryotic cells. The aim of this study was to detect and compare the prevalence of E.

Transcriptome analysis of Burkholderia pseudomallei SCV reveals an association with virulence, stress resistance and intracellular persistence.

Differences in expression of potential virulence and survival genes were associated with B. pseudomallei colony morphology variants. Microarray was used to investigate B.

Melioidosis in Malaysia: Incidence, Clinical Challenges, and Advances in Understanding Pathogenesis.

Malaysia is an endemic hot spot for melioidosis; however, a comprehensive picture of the burden of disease, clinical presentations, and challenges faced in diagnosis and treatment of melioidosis is not available. This review provides a nonexhaustive overview of epidemiological data, clinical studies, risk factors, and mortality rates from available literature and case reports. Clinical patterns of melioidosis are generally consistent with those from South and Southeast Asia in terms of common primary presentations with diabetes as a major risk factor.

Relapse of chronic melioidosis in a paediatric cystic fibrosis patient: first case report from Malaysia.

Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, which is a potentially life threatening disease endemic in Southeast Asian countries. In Malaysia, cystic fibrosis (CF) is an uncommon condition. The association between CF and B.

Adhesion and invasion attributes of Burkholderia pseudomallei are dependent on airway surface liquid and glucose concentrations in lung epithelial cells.

Physiological constituents in airway surface liquids (ASL) appear to impact the adherence and invasion potentials of Burkholderia pseudomallei contributing to recrudescent melioidosis. Here, we investigated the factors present in ASL that is likely to influence bacterial adhesion and invasion leading to improved understanding of bacterial pathogenesis. Six B.

Host-Adaptation of Burkholderia pseudomallei Alters Metabolism and Virulence: a Global Proteome Analysis.

Little is known about the evolution, adaptation and pathogenesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei within host during acute melioidosis infection. Melioidosis is a potential life threatening disease contracted through inhalation, ingestion, inoculation or direct entry of the organism into the blood stream via wounds or skin abrasions from contaminated soil and water. Environmental B.