Determination of aflatoxins in rice from Penang, Malaysia by dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction and LC-MS/MS.

Rice is one of the crops cultivated in Malaysia, and it is the main diet for most of the population. In this study, dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (DLLME) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to develop, optimise and validate a reliable, easy-to-use and quick approach to detect aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) and aflatoxin G2 (AFG2). The extraction recoveries in DLLME were enhanced by the addition of 5% salt, utilising chloroform as the extraction solvent and acetonitrile as the dispersive solvent.

Evaluation of Wrist-Worn Photoplethysmography Trackers with an Electrocardiogram in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Validation Study.

Purpose: Photoplethysmography measurement of heart rate with wrist-worn trackers has been introduced in healthy individuals. However, additional consideration is necessary for patients with ischemic heart disease, and the available evidence is limited. The study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of heart rate measures by a wrist-worn photoplethysmography (PPG) tracker compared to an electrocardiogram (ECG) during incremental treadmill exercise among patients with ischemic heart disease.

Glycemic biomarkers in children with drug-resistant epilepsy on various types of ketogenic diet therapies: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and modified glucose-ketone index (mGKI) in children on different types of ketogenic diet (KD) for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, with attempts to evaluate their relationships with components of diet regime and other biomarkers.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in children with drug resistant epilepsy aged between 6 months and 18 years, who were on various types of KD therapies without any change in regime for at least 3 months. Parental interview, review of medical records, and a single measurement for blood ketone, HbA1c, and plasma carnitine were performed.

Effects of prolonged running in the heat and cool environments on selected physiological parameters and salivary lysozyme responses.

Introduction: Lysozyme is one of the salivary antimicrobial proteins which act as the "first line of defence" at the mucosal surface. The effects of prolonged exercise in the hot and cool environments among recreational athletes on salivary lysozyme responses are very limited in the literature, especially in the Asian countries.

Objective: To determine the effects of prolonged running in the hot and cool environments on selected physiological parameters and salivary lysozyme responses among recreational athletes.

The effects of combined probiotic ingestion and circuit training on muscular strength and power and cytokine responses in young males.

To our knowledge, the efficacy of combined probiotic supplementation with circuit training has not been evaluated. Thus, we investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation combined with circuit training on isokinetic muscular strength and power and cytokine responses in young males. Forty-eight healthy sedentary young males were recruited and randomised into 4 separate groups: sedentary placebo control, probiotics (P), circuit training with placebo (CT), and circuit training with probiotics (CTP).

Effects of probiotics supplementation and circuit training on immune responses among sedentary young males.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that probiotics may have positive benefits on immune responses following endurance exercise. However, little attention has been given to its possible beneficial effects on immune responses following resistance exercise.

Methods: Forty-one healthy sedentary males were recruited and randomised into four groups: sedentary control with placebo (C), probiotics (P), circuit training with placebo (Ex), and circuit training with probiotics (PEx) groups.

Effect of ultraviolet light irradiation on bond strength of fiber post: Evaluation of surface characteristic and bonded area of fiber post with resin cement.

Objective: Fiber post is cemented to a root canal to restore coronal tooth structure. This research aims to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on bond strength of fiber post with resin cement.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 of the two types of fiber posts, namely, FRC Prostec (FRC) and Fiber KOR (KOR), were used for the experiment.