The Potential of Eight Plasma Proteins as Biomarkers in Redefining Leptospirosis Diagnosis.

Leptospirosis, a notifiable endemic disease in Malaysia, has higher mortality rates than regional dengue fever. Diverse clinical symptoms and limited diagnostic methods complicate leptospirosis diagnosis. The demand for accurate biomarker-based diagnostics is increasing.

Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018.

Background And Objectives: While influenza circulates year-round in Malaysia, research data on its incidence is scarce. Yet, this information is vital to the improvement of public health through evidence-based policies. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the trends and financial costs of influenza.

Effects of HSV-G47Δ Oncolytic Virus on Telomerase and Telomere Length Alterations in Glioblastoma Multiforme Cancer Stem Cells Under Hypoxia and Normoxia Conditions.

Background: Due to the existence of tumor stem cells with tumorigenicity properties and resistance patterns, treatment of glioblastoma is not easy. Hypoxia is a major concern in glioblastoma therapy. Telomerase activity and telomere length alterations have been known to play a critical role in glioblastoma progression and invasion.

Genomics data of strain HP364 and strain SC295 isolated from rodents captured from human leptospirosis outbreak areas in Selangor, Malaysia.

We report complete genome sequences of two isolates, strain HP364 and strain SC295. The genome sizes of strain HP364 and strain SC295 were 3,874,738 bp and 4,063,712 bp, respectively. Both genomes have been deposited in NCBI GenBank.

Meta-analysis and moderator analysis of the seroprevalence of hepatitis E in South-Eastern Asia.

By 2030, the World Health Organization wants to decrease viral hepatitis incidence and mortality by 90% and 65%, respectively. One of the agents responsible for the increased burden of viral hepatitis is the hepatitis E virus (HEV). This emerging pathogen is prevalent worldwide causing both acute and chronic infection.

A Malaysian consensus recommendation for the prevention of influenza in older persons.

Background: Older persons are at high-risk of developing severe complications from influenza. This consensus statement was developed to provide guidance on appropriate influenza prevention strategies relevant to the Malaysian healthcare setting.

Methods: Under the initiative of the Malaysian Influenza Working Group (MIWG), a panel comprising 11 multi-speciality physicians was convened to develop a consensus statement.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Efforts are ongoing by researchers globally to develop new drugs or repurpose existing ones for treating COVID-19. Thus, this led to the use of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used for treating influenza A and B viruses, as a trial drug for COVID-19. However, available evidence from clinical studies has shown conflicting results on the effectiveness of oseltamivir in COVID-19 treatment.

Human herpesvirus 6A and 6B and polyomavirus JC and BK infections in renal cell carcinoma and their relationship with p53, p16INK4a, Ki-67, and nuclear factor-kappa B expression.

There are a limited number of studies regarding the involvement of viruses in the development and pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this study, we aimed to discover whether human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and 6B (HHV-6B) and human polyomavirus JC (JCV) and BK (BKV) are associated with RCC and the expression of p53, p16INK4a, Ki-67, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in patients with RCC. A total of 122 histologically confirmed RCC tissue specimens and 96 specimens of their corresponding peritumoral tissues were included in this prospective study.

The evaluation expression of non-coding RNAs in response to HSV-G47∆ oncolytic virus infection in glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive astrocytes brain tumor. Glioblastoma cancer stem cells and hypoxia conditions are well-known major obstacles in treatment. Studies have revealed that non-coding RNAs serve a critical role in glioblastoma progression, invasion, and resistance to chemo-radiotherapy.

Impact of Gene Disruption: Decreasing Staphylococcal Biofilm and Alteration of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiles.

expresses diverse proteins at different stages of growth. The immunodominant staphylococcal antigen A (IsaA) is one of the proteins that is constitutively produced by during colonisation and infection. SACOL2584 (or ) is the gene that encodes this protein.

Pulmonary haemorrhage as the earliest sign of severe leptospirosis in hamster model challenged with Leptospira interrogans strain HP358.

Background: Severe leptospirosis is challenging as it could evolve rapidly and potentially fatal if appropriate management is not performed. An understanding of the progression and pathophysiology of Leptospira infection is important to determine the early changes that could be potentially used to predict the severe occurrence of leptospirosis. This study aimed to understand the kinetics pathogenesis of Leptospira interrogans strain HP358 in the hamster model and identify the early parameters that could be used as biomarkers to predict severe leptospirosis.

Epstein-Barr virus infection is associated with the nuclear factor-kappa B p65 signaling pathway in renal cell carcinoma.

Background: There have been few studies regarding viral involvement in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of this study was to examine the possible association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection with clinicopathological features and cellular biomarkers including p53, p16INK4a, Ki-67 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in RCC tumors.

Methods: In this prospective study, 122 histologically confirmed Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded RCC tissue specimens along with 96 specimens of their corresponding peritumoral tissues and 23 samples of blunt renal injuries were subjected to nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) in order to amplify EBV DNA sequences.

Hepatitis E Virus: An emerging enigmatic and underestimated pathogen.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus causing hepatitis E disease. The virus is of one serotype but has diverse genotypes infecting both humans and animals. Based on evidence from seroprevalence studies, about 2 billion people are estimated to have been infected with HEV globally.

and Virulence Analysis of Species Isolated From Environments and Rodents in Leptospirosis Outbreak Areas in Malaysia.

The zoonotic disease leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic species of the genus . With the advancement of studies in leptospirosis, several new species are being reported. It has always been a query, whether species, serovars, and strains isolated from different geographical locations contribute to the difference in the disease presentations and severity.

Predictors of severe leptospirosis: a multicentre observational study from Central Malaysia.

Background: Leptospirosis is a re-emerging disease with vast clinical presentations, that ranges from subclinical or mild to severe and fatal outcomes. Leptospirosis can be managed well if diagnosed earlier, however, similar clinical presentations by several other febrile illnesses or co-infections, and laboratory diagnostic challenges due to the biphasic nature of the illness, often result in mis- or underdiagnosis, thereby lead to severe illness. Identification of clinical predictors for the severe form of the disease plays a crucial role in reducing disease complication and mortality.

Bioinformatics analysis of rhinovirus capsid proteins VP1-4 sequences for cross-serotype vaccine development.

Background: Rhinoviruses (RV) are associated with the development and exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They've also been linked to more severe diseases like pneumonia, acute bronchiolitis, croup, and otitis media. Because of the hypervariable sequences in the same serotypes, no effective vaccine against rhinoviruses has been developed to date.

Comparison of influenza surveillance systems in Australia, China, Malaysia and expert recommendations for influenza control.

Background: The Western Pacific Region (WPR) is exposed each year to seasonal influenza and is often the source of new influenza virus variants and novel pathogen emergence. National influenza surveillance systems play a critical role in detecting emerging viruses, monitoring influenza epidemics, improving public disease awareness and promoting pandemic preparedness, but vary widely across WPR countries. The aim of this study is to improve existing influenza surveillance systems by systematically comparing selected WPR influenza surveillance systems.

Tailoring drug co-delivery nanosystem for mitigating U-87 stem cells drug resistance.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent form of brain tumor, which generally has a poor prognosis. According to consensus, recurrence of the tumor and chemotherapy resistance acquisition are the two distinguishing features of GBM originated from glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). To eliminate these obstacles inherent in GBM chemotherapy, targeting GSCs through a smart drug delivery system has come to the front position of GBM therapeutics.

Genomic data of HP358 isolated from rodent captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia.

The data provided in this article is the genomic sequence of new isolate, strain HP358 ( HP358) isolated from rodent, , captured from the human leptospirosis suspected area, in forest environment, Hulu Perdik, Selangor. The kidney of the rodent was cultured, and the genomic DNA of pure isolate was extracted and sequenced. The assembly of genome generated 118 contigs with N50 of 133,176bp.

Distribution of pathogenic Leptospira in environmental water and soils of selected recreational forests in Perak, Malaysia.

Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic disease endemic in tropical regions. Aiming at assessing the potential infection risks via recreational exposure, the molecular prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira in 14 amenity forests in five selected districts of the state of Perak was determined. Water and soil samples along streams and waterfalls were subjected to culture of leptospires and the pathogenic Leptospira spp.

Inhibition of Autophagy Does Not Affect Innate Cytokine Production in Human Lung Epithelial Cells During Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the major causes of childhood acute lower respiratory tract infection worldwide. Autophagy is an intracellular pathway involved in nutrient recycling. Recently, autophagy has been reported to play a role in regulating host cytokine response to several viruses, including vesicular stomatitis virus and human immunodeficiency virus.

The Role of Subinhibitory Concentrations of Daptomycin and Tigecycline in Modulating Virulence in .

() infections are notoriously complicated by the ability of the organism to grow in biofilms and are difficult to eradicate with antimicrobial therapy. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the influence of sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of daptomycin and tigecycline antibiotics on biofilm adhesion factors and exoproteins expressions by clinical isolates. Six clinical isolates representing positive biofilm clones (3 methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and 3 methicillin-resistant (MRSA)) were grown with sub-MICs (0.

A systematic review of the epidemiology of Hepatitis E virus infection in South - Eastern Asia.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging zoonotic viral disease, with an increasingly international public health challenge. Despite the concerns that the global disease burden may be underestimated. Therefore, evaluation of the disease epidemiology in South - eastern Asia through a systematic review will assist in unraveling the burden of the disease in the subregion.

Combined PCR and MAT improves the early diagnosis of the biphasic illness leptospirosis.

The diagnosis of leptospirosis remains a challenge due to its non-specific symptoms and the biphasic nature of the illness. A comprehensive diagnosis that includes both molecular (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) and serology is vital for early detection of leptospirosis and to avoid misdiagnosis. However, not all samples could be subjected to both tests (serology and molecular) due to budget limitation, infrastructure, and technical expertise at least in resource-limited countries.