Exploring the Potential Use of Withania somnifera in Leprosy and Lepra Reactions: A Molecular Docking Approach.

Introduction: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a traditional herb that is cur-rently commercially available for treating a variety of illnesses. By evaluating and verifying docking affinity scores, it is possible to explore the potential of the plant for treating leprosy and lepra-reaction as off-label use.

Methods: The sitoindosides were used as ligands along with thalidomide in docking against targets, such as M.

Applying interprofessional simulation to improve knowledge, attitude and practice in hospital- acquired infection control among health professionals.

Background: This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of an innovative approach using interprofessional simulation scenarios (IPSS) in improving knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of hospital-acquired infection control (HAIC) among health professionals.

Methods: The interventional study was conducted in a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from surgical, intensive care, and other units.

Echovirus serotypes circulating in Malaysia from 2002 to 2013.

Objective: To identify the circulating serotypes of human echovirus in Malaysia from 2002 to 2013.

Methods: A total of 31 retrospective samples from non-polio acute flacid paralysis, hand-food-and-mouth disease, viral meningitis and enterovirus cases were subjected to amplification of partial VP1 gene by RT-PCR.

Results: Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the partial sequences identified presence of human echovirus and human coxsackie viruses.

Congenital rubella syndrome: a review of laboratory data from 2002 to 2011.

Rubella infection in pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to fetal anomalies, commonly known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The objective of our study was to analyze the serological test results among infants suspected of having CRS aged < or = 12 months compared with their clinical status. Between January 2002 and December 2011, 3,279 serum samples from infants aged < or = 12 months from government hospitals in Malaysia were examined for rubella specific IgM and IgG antibodies using a Axsym, automated analyzer (Abbott Laboratories).

Noninvasive fluorescence excitation spectroscopy for the diagnosis of oral neoplasia in vivo.

Fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (FES) is an emerging approach to cancer detection. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the diagnostic potential of FES technique for the detection and characterization of normal and cancerous oral lesions in vivo. Fluorescence excitation (FE) spectra from oral mucosa were recorded in the spectral range of 340 to 600 nm at 635 nm emission using a fiberoptic probe spectrofluorometer to obtain spectra from the buccal mucosa of 30 sites of 15 healthy volunteers and 15 sites of 10 cancerous patients.