Evaluation of an in-house IgM/IgG lateral flow assay for serodiagnosis of human brucellosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of an in-house lateral flow assay (LFA) for the detection of IgM/IgG anti-Brucella antibodies for rapid serodiagnosis of human brucellosis. Three groups of sera samples including 476 from high-risk individuals, 27 from culture-confirmed patients, and 43 from healthy blood donors were used for evaluation of LFA. In comparison with iELISA, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of LFA were >95%, >99%, and 99% respectively.

Alterations in Carbohydrate Quantities in Freeze-Dried, Relative to Fresh or Frozen Maize Leaf Disks.

For various reasons, leaves are occasionally lyophilized prior to storage at -80 °C and preparing extracts. Soluble carbohydrate identity and quantity from maize leaf disks were ascertained in two separate years using anion exchange HPLC with pulsed electrochemical detection. Analyses were made from disks after freezing in liquid nitrogen with or without subsequent lyophilization (both years) or directly after removal from plants with or without lyophilization (only in the second year).

Design and evaluation of molecular organogel based on folic acid as a potential green drug carrier for oral route.

Objective: The low molecular weight organogels are interesting carriers for pharmaceutical compounds. However, their uses are limited due to the toxicity burden of the organic solvent used. Hence, this study aimed to prepare organogel using folic acid (FA) in different concentrations as a gelator for propylene glycol (PG) biocompatible solvent.

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.

Characteristic of Cleft Lip and Palate Cases Attended to Khoula Hospital Cleft Center.

Unlabelled: Cleft lip and/or palate are one of the most common birth defects around the world. This cross sectional study aimed to study characteristic of cleft lip and plate cases attended Khaula Hospital Cleft Center.

Methods: The data were collected from Plastic Surgery Department of Khaula Hospital Muscat, Oman, between years 2010 and 2019.

Rhizobacterial species richness improves sorghum growth and soil nutrient synergism in a nutrient-poor greenhouse soil.

Although microbes influence plant growth, little is known about the impact of microbial diversity on plant fitness trade-offs, intraspecific-interactions, and soil nutrient dynamics in the context of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research. The BEF theory states that higher species richness can enhance ecosystem functioning. Thus, we hypothesize that rhizobacterial species richness will alter sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.

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.

Improved Draft Genome Sequence of sp. Strain LKL04, a Bacterial Endophyte Associated with Switchgrass Plants.

We report here the genome assembly and analysis of strain sp. LKL04, a Gram-positive bacterial endophyte isolated from switchgrass plants () grown on a reclaimed coal-mining site. The 2.

Culturable endophytic fungal communities associated with plants in organic and conventional farming systems and their effects on plant growth.

As compared to organic farming system, conventional farming system relies on higher inputs of synthetic agrochemicals, which may reduce the abundance, diversity, and beneficial effects of plant endophytic fungal communities. This study compares the diversity and abundance of culturable endophytic fungal communities associated with four plant species -corn, tomato, pepper, and watermelon grown in separate organic and conventional fields. In all, 740 fungal isolates were identified, of which 550 were from the organic fields and 190 from the conventional ones.

Validation and Assessment of Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Among Iraqi General Population.

Background: Poor quality of life, fractures and disability are the consequences of preventable osteoporosis.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to validate and assess Osteoporosis Self-efficacy Scale (OSES-A) Arabic version among Iraqi general population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a random cluster sampling method from the community was used.

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.

Comparative evaluation of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin glargine (Glaritus) and Lantus in healthy subjects: a double-blind, randomized clamp study.

Aims: The objective of the study was to compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of an insulin glargine formulation, Glaritus (test) with the innovator's formulation Lantus (reference) using the euglycemic clamp technique in a single-dose, double-blind, randomized, two sequences, four-period replicate crossover study in healthy volunteers (n = 40).

Methods: Subjects received subcutaneous administration of the insulin glargine (0.4 IU/kg) formulation at two occasions for test and reference and a 20% glucose solution was infused at variable rate to maintain euglycemia for 24 h.

Psychometric properties and assessment of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale among the general Arabic population.

Background: Any educational program should be implemented with a good understanding of the population's beliefs. Therefore, the aims of this study were to validate the Arabic version of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS-A) and assess the osteoprotective attitude among the Iraqi population.

Methods: A cross-sectional design, with a random cluster sampling method from the community, was used.

Optimum Design of PIλDμ Controller for an Automatic Voltage Regulator System Using Combinatorial Test Design.

Combinatorial test design is a plan of test that aims to reduce the amount of test cases systematically by choosing a subset of the test cases based on the combination of input variables. The subset covers all possible combinations of a given strength and hence tries to match the effectiveness of the exhaustive set. This mechanism of reduction has been used successfully in software testing research with t-way testing (where t indicates the interaction strength of combinations).

A new multiobjective performance criterion used in PID tuning optimization algorithms.

In PID controller design, an optimization algorithm is commonly employed to search for the optimal controller parameters. The optimization algorithm is based on a specific performance criterion which is defined by an objective or cost function. To this end, different objective functions have been proposed in the literature to optimize the response of the controlled system.

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.

Monoclonal and bispecific antibodies as novel therapeutics.

Gene amplification, over-expression, and mutation of growth factors, or the receptors themselves, causes increased signaling through receptor kinases, which has been implicated in many human cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. Tumor growth has been shown to be decreased by interrupting this process of extensive growth factor-mediated signaling by directly targeting either the surface receptor or the ligand and thereby preventing cell survival and promoting apoptosis. Monoclonal antibodies have long been eyed as a potential new class of therapeutics targeting cancer and other diseases.

Susceptibility of different rat tissues to non-enzymatic protein glycosylation in experimental diabetes.

Hyperglycemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by alloxan and maintained for 2, 6 and 10 weeks without insulin treatment. Levels of glycosylated plasma proteins, hemoglobin and glycosylated tissue proteins of aorta, heart, kidney, liver and brain were estimated at these intervals. Protein glycosylation was observed to increase linearly as a function of period of hyperglycemia in all the tissues studied, except brain, in the following order: aorta > heart > kidney > liver.