Molecular Targets of Aptamers in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Cancer Detection, Therapeutic Applications, and Associated Mechanisms.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are among the most common cancers that impact the global population, with high mortality and low survival rates after breast and lung cancers. Identifying useful molecular targets in GI cancers are crucial for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcomes, however, limited by poor targeting and drug delivery system. Aptamers are often utilized in the field of biomarkers identification, targeting, and as a drug/inhibitor delivery cargo.

Phytochemicals of as a Future Promising Drug against SARS-CoV-2: Pharmacological Role, Molecular Mechanism, Molecular Docking Evaluation, and Efficient Delivery.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has killed millions of people since first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Intriguingly, (WS) has shown promising antiviral effects against numerous viral infections, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, which are contributed by its phytochemicals. This review focused on the updated testing of therapeutic efficacy and associated molecular mechanisms of WS extracts and their phytochemicals against SARS-CoV-2 infection in preclinical and clinical studies with the aim to develop a long-term solution against COVID-19.

Gene Polymorphism Influences Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis.

is a gene encoded for the excitatory amino acid transporter 2 which is responsible for glutamate reuptake from the synaptic cleft in the central nervous system. Recent studies have suggested that polymorphisms on glutamate transporters can affect drug dependence, leading to the development of neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders. Our study investigated the association of rs4755404 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the gene with methamphetamine (METH) dependence and METH-induced psychosis and mania in a Malaysian population.

Three Members of Transmembrane-4-Superfamily, TM4SF1, TM4SF4, and TM4SF5, as Emerging Anticancer Molecular Targets against Cancer Phenotypes and Chemoresistance.

There are six members of the transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF) that have similar topology and sequence homology. Physiologically, they regulate tissue differentiation, signal transduction pathways, cellular activation, proliferation, motility, adhesion, and angiogenesis. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated, among six TM4SF members, the regulatory roles of transmembrane 4 L6 domain family members, particularly TM4SF1, TM4SF4, and TM4SF5, in cancer angiogenesis, progression, and chemoresistance.

The metabolic and molecular mechanisms of α‑mangostin in cardiometabolic disorders (Review).

α‑mangostin is a xanthone predominantly encountered in . Extensive research has been carried out concerning the effects of this compound on various diseases, including obesity, cancer and metabolic disorders. The present review suggests that α‑mangostin exerts promising anti‑obesity, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects on various pathways in cardiometabolic diseases.

Matrix Metalloproteinases in Chemoresistance: Regulatory Roles, Molecular Interactions, and Potential Inhibitors.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Its treatments usually fail when the tumor has become malignant and metastasized. Metastasis is a key source of cancer recurrence, which often leads to resistance towards chemotherapeutic agents.

Different domains of dengue research in the Philippines: A systematic review and meta-analysis of questionnaire-based studies.

Background: Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease of humans worldwide, including southeast Asia region. This review provides a comprehensive overview of questionnaire-related dengue studies conducted in the Philippines and evaluates their reliability and validity in these surveys.

Methods: A review protocol constructed by a panel of experienced academic reviewers was used to formulate the methodology, research design, search strategy and selection criteria.

Covid-19 vaccine and its consequences in pregnancy: Brief review.

Pregnancy is linked to a higher incidence of severe Covid-19. It's critical to find safe vaccinations that elicit protective pregnant and fetal immune responses. This review summarises the rate of COVID-19 infection, maternal antibodies responsiveness, placenta antibody transmission, and adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy studied in epidemiological studies evaluating mRNA vaccines.

Comparison of Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices between Urban and Rural Secondary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Nutritional knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) may guide healthy meal choices. Here, nutritional KAP was compared across school students in Sabah based on locality and gender. A cross-sectional survey of students aged 15-19 years was conducted using multistage sampling.

Development and validation of a structured survey questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, preventive practice, and treatment-seeking behaviour regarding dengue among the resident population of Sabah, Malaysia: an exploratory factor analysis.

Background: Several studies have reported a significant association of knowledge, attitude and preventive practice (KAP) regarding dengue infection among community's resident in endemic areas. In this study we aimed to assess and develop a reliable and valid KAP survey on the subject of dengue that is suitable for the resident population of Sabah, Malaysia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to February 2020 involving 468 respondents.

Molecular Regulatory Roles of Long Non-coding RNA HOTTIP: An Overview in Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers presented an alarmingly high number of new cancer cases worldwide and are highly characterised by poor prognosis. The poor overall survival is mainly due to late detection and emerging challenges in treatment, particularly chemoresistance. Thus, the identification of novel molecular targets in GI cancer is highly regarded as the main focus.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with alcohol consumption among indigenous people in Sabah Borneo Island.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of alcohol use among a cohort of population in Sabah.

Design: This is a prospective, cohort study involving rural community residents.

Setting: Rural community resident at Bingkor, Keningau, Sabah.

Different Domains of Dengue Research in Malaysia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Questionnaire-Based Studies.

This review provided a systematic overview of the questionnaire-related dengue studies conducted in Malaysia and evaluated their reliability and validity used in the questionnaires. An extensive literature search was conducted using various electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and ScienceDirect. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) were selected as the preferred item reporting method.

A Comprehensive Review on Source, Types, Effects, Nanotechnology, Detection, and Therapeutic Management of Reactive Carbonyl Species Associated with Various Chronic Diseases.

Continuous oxidation of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids generate extremely reactive carbonyl species (RCS). Human body comprises some important RCS namely hexanal, acrolein, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, methylglyoxal, malondialdehyde, isolevuglandins, and 4-oxo-2- nonenal etc. These RCS damage important cellular components including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which manifests cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, multitude of adducts and crosslinks that are connected to ageing and various chronic diseases like inflammatory disease, atherosclerosis, cerebral ischemia, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disease.

Clinical and genetic risk factors for new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT) in major transplant centres in Malaysia.

Background: New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is associated with reduced patient and graft survival. This study examined the clinical and selected genetic factors associated with NODAT among renal-transplanted Malaysian patients.

Methods: This study included 168 non-diabetic patients (58% males, 69% of Chinese ethnicity) who received renal transplantation between 1st January 1994 to 31st December 2014, and were followed up in two major renal transplant centres in Malaysia.

Prevalence and risk factors of prehypertension in university students in Sabah, Borneo Island of East Malaysia.

Unhealthy lifestyle contributes mainly to an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases tend to increase in Malaysia. These diseases lead to an increased risk of end organ damage and cardiovascular complications. In this study, the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated risk factors among a cohort of university students in Sabah was determined.

Selective phytochemicals targeting pancreatic stellate cells as new anti-fibrotic agents for chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) have been widely accepted as a key precursor of excessive pancreatic fibrosis, which is a crucial hallmark of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and its formidable associated disease, pancreatic cancer (PC). Hence, anti-fibrotic therapy has been identified as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating CP and PC by targeting PSCs. Most of the anti-fibrotic agents have been limited to phase I/II clinical trials involving vitamin analogs, which are abundant in medicinal plants and have proved to be promising for clinical application.

Renal Transplant Outcomes in Spousal and Living-Related Donors in Malaysia.

Introduction: Studies have shown that a compatible human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match can confer a favourable effect on graft outcomes. We examined the outcomes of HLA matching in renal transplant donors in Malaysia.

Materials And Methods: A total of 140 patients who had compatible ABO blood type with negative T-cell lymphocytotoxicity crossmatch were included in the study and 25% of them were spousal transplant donors.

Prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infections in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common pathogen affecting the respiratory tract in infants. To date, there is limited data on RSV occurrence in Malaysia especially in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia which is significantly affected by the rainy (monsoon) season. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors (the presence of a male sibling and older school-age siblings, parental education level, monthly income, chronic lung disease, immunocompromised, being a passive smoker, multipara, breastfeeding, prematurity, congenital heart disease, nursery attendance, and rainy season) as well as clinical manifestations of RSV in hospitalized infants and children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).