Role of cell surface proteins and toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of .

Objectives: Pneumococcal cell wall (PCW) is an inflammatory component in . The cell surface proteins and the toll-like receptors (TLR) signaling response were investigated in the human lung epithelial (A549) cells inoculated with PCW of different serotypes.

Materials And Methods: The presence of genes encoding these proteins was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Naturally Occurring Phytochemicals to Target Breast Cancer Cell Signaling.

Almost 70% of clinically used antineoplastic drugs are originated from natural products such as plants, marine organism, and microorganisms and some of them are also structurally modified natural products. The naturally occurring drugs may specifically act as inducers of selective cytotoxicity, anti-metastatic, anti-mutagenic, anti-angiogenesis, antioxidant accelerators, apoptosis inducers, autophagy inducers, and cell cycle inhibitors in cancer therapy. Precisely, several reports have demonstrated the involvement of naturally occurring anti-breast cancer drugs in regulating the expression of oncogenic and tumor suppressors associated with carcinogen metabolism and signaling pathways.

Metabolic Syndrome Screening and Nutritional Status of Patients with Psoriasis: A Scoping Review.

Patients with plaque psoriasis have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. However, no studies have assessed the nutritional status or screening methods of this population. This review aimed to identify and summarise metabolic syndrome screening criteria and the tools/methods used in nutrition assessment in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Genotypic characteristics of Uropathogenic isolated from complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) and asymptomatic bacteriuria-a relational analysis.

Background: Uropathogenic (UPEC) is the predominant agent causing various categories of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Although existing data reveals that UPEC harboured numerous virulence determinants to aid its survival in the urinary tract, the reason behind the occurrence of differences in the clinical severity of uninary tract infections (UTI) demonstrated by the UPEC infection is poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the distribution of virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance among different phylogroups of UPEC isolated from various clinical categories of cUTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) isolates.

Effective Therapeutic Options for Melioidosis: Antibiotics versus Phage Therapy.

Melioidosis, also known as Whitmore's disease, is a potentially fatal infection caused by the Gram-negative bacteria with a mortality rate of 10-50%. The condition is a "glanders-like" illness prevalent in Southeast Asian and Northern Australian regions and can affect humans, animals, and sometimes plants. Melioidosis received the epithet "the great mimicker" owing to its vast spectrum of non-specific clinical manifestations, such as localised abscesses, septicaemia, pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and encephalomyelitis, which often lead to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment.

Association between vision and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in Selangor, Malaysia.

Aim: To determine the association between distance and near visual acuity (VA) and cognitive function among older adults in Selangor, Malaysia.

Methods: A total of 230 older adults (age ≥60y) participated in this study. Habitual distance and near VA were measured using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Chart and Lighthouse Near Visual Acuity Chart, respectively.

One Health surveillance approaches for melioidosis and glanders: The Malaysian perspective.

The One Health concept was initiated to promote the integration of human, animal, and environmental ecosystems into healthcare to ensure effective control and the sustainable governance of multifaceted health matters. Climate change, deforestation, and rigorous farming disrupt the environment, which serves as the natural habitat for many animals and microbes, increasing the likelihood of disease transmission between humans and animals. Melioidosis (neglected tropical diseases) and glanders are of humans and animals caused by the gram-negative bacteria and its close relative , respectively.

Knowledge and Compliance among Contact Lens Wearers Living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Many factors determine the success of wearing contact lens, including knowledge and compliance towards lens care. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and compliance between two groups of adult contact lens wearers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Methods: A total of 60 participants aged 18-30 years old volunteered to participate in this study (30 participants prescribed contact lenses at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia [UKM] optometry clinic and 30 participants fitted at private practices).

Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds of Targeting the Efflux Protein of Multidrug-Resistant (LAC-4 Strain).

() is one of the major representative aetiologies of recalcitrant nosocomial infections. Genotypic and phenotypic alterations in have resulted in a significant surge in multidrug resistance (MDR). Of all the factors responsible for the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), efflux protein pumps play a paramount role.

Biofilm-Associated Agr and Sar Quorum Sensing Systems of Are Inhibited by 3-Hydroxybenzoic Acid Derived from .

Biofilm-producing () is less sensitive to conventional antibiotics than free-living planktonic cells. Here, we evaluated the antibiofilm activity of () and one of its constituent compounds 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (3-HBA) against multi-drug-resistant . We performed gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) to identify the major constituents in the methanolic extract of .

Effect of Cryopreservation Method Supported with Biochemical Analyses in the Axillary Bud of Jewel Orchid, .

This study investigated conserving an endangered terrestrial jewel orchid using in vitro grown axillary buds. Excised segments of axillary buds (4-5 mm in length) were precultured on a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.2 M sucrose for 24 h and osmoprotected in a loading solution for 20 min.

Zerumbone mediates apoptosis and induces secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in breast carcinoma cell culture.

Objectives: To investigate the potential anti-breast cancer activity of zerumbone in regulating apoptotic mediators and cytokines in comparison with paclitaxel (positive control).

Materials And Methods: In this study, assays such as viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, cell cycle, DNA fragmentation, and cytokines were carried out on MCF-7 cells after treatment with zerumbone and paclitaxel.

Results: The results showed that zerumbone demonstrated a higher (18-fold) IC value (126.

Genomic comparison and phenotypic profiling of small colony variants of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) is an intracellular pathogen that causes melioidosis, a life-threatening infection in humans. The bacterium is able to form small colony variants (SCVs) as part of the adaptive features in response to environmental stress.

Role of Polyphenol in Regulating Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Apoptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is known as one of the driving sources of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). DN prevalence continues to increase in every corner of the world andthat has been a major concern to healthcare professionals as DN is the key driver of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) morbidity and mortality. Hyperglycaemia is closely connected with the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that cause oxidative stress response as well as numerous cellular and molecular modifications.

OneHealth Approaches Contribute Towards Antimicrobial Resistance: Malaysian Perspective.

On a global scale, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a One Health challenge due to the continual and increased development and distribution of resistant microbes and genes among humans, animals, and the environment. These sectors contribute to the increase in AMR, as antibiotics are widely used in healthcare to treat or prevent bacterial infection; as growth enhancers, therapeutics and metaphylactics in animal husbandry; and transmitted in the environment through irrigation using wastewater or inappropriate disposal and treatment of human and agricultural waste. However, there is a major drawback in terms of the lack of research assessing the coexistence of AMR in these sectors.

Hijacking of the Host's Immune Surveillance Radars by .

() causes melioidosis, a potentially fatal disease for which no licensed vaccine is available thus far. The host-pathogen interactions in infection largely remain the tip of the iceberg. The pathological manifestations are protean ranging from acute to chronic involving one or more visceral organs leading to septic shock, especially in individuals with underlying conditions similar to COVID-19.

Cytotoxic Activity of Isoniazid Derivative in Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Isoniazid is an antibiotic used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Previously, we found that the isoniazid derivative (E)-N'-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzylidene) isonicotinohydrazide (ITHB4) could be developed as novel antimycobacterial agent by lead optimization. We further explored the ability of this compound compared to zerumbone in inhibiting the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Overview of the distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei sequence types and the Emergence of sequence type 1342 in Malaysia.

Burkholderia pseudomallei, a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes melioidosis, is of public health importance in endemic areas including Malaysia. An investigation of the molecular epidemiology links of B. pseudomallei would contribute to better understanding of the clonal relationships, transmission dynamics and evolutionary change.

Experimental exposure of crude culture filtrate upregulates PD-1 on T lymphocytes.

is the causative agent for melioidosis. Because of its intracellular nature, the bacterium is capable of replicating within a plethora of eukaryotic cell lines. can remain dormant within host cells without symptoms for years, causing recrudescent infections.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: The Possible Therapeutic Roles of Phenolic Acids.

As the powerhouse of the cells, mitochondria play a very important role in ensuring that cells continue to function. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the main factors contributing to the development of cardiomyopathy in diabetes mellitus. In early development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), patients present with myocardial fibrosis, dysfunctional remodeling and diastolic dysfunction, which later develop into systolic dysfunction and eventually heart failure.

Prevalence and association of pks+ Escherichia coli with colorectal cancer in patients at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) from the B2 phylogenetic group is implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) as it possesses a genomic island, termed polyketide synthetase (pks), which codes for the synthesis of colibactin, a genotoxin that induces DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, mutations and chromosomal instability in eukaryotic cells. The aim of this study was to detect and compare the prevalence of E.

Intracellular survival and innate immune evasion of Burkholderia cepacia: Improved understanding of quorum sensing-controlled virulence factors, biofilm, and inhibitors.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are opportunistic pathogens implicated with nosocomial infections, and high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). B. cepacia are naturally resistant to different classes of antibiotics, and can subvert the host innate immune responses by producing quorum sensing (QS) controlled virulence factors and biofilms.

Transcriptome analysis of Burkholderia pseudomallei SCV reveals an association with virulence, stress resistance and intracellular persistence.

Differences in expression of potential virulence and survival genes were associated with B. pseudomallei colony morphology variants. Microarray was used to investigate B.