Safety profile of subacute oral administration of ethanolic extract of Gracilaria manilaensis Yamamoto & Trono

Gracilaria manilaensis is a red seaweed found in some regions of Peninsula Malaysia. In vitro studies have demonstrated that G. manilaensis has neuritogenic, neuroprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, suggesting that it could be developed into health supplement. However, the effects of oral consumption of G. manilaensis have not yet been evaluated in vivo. The present study evaluated the safety of sub-acute oral consumption of G. manilaensis ethanolic extract. 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg kg-1 G. manilaensis ethanolic extracts and distilled water (control) were administered to adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=3 per group) by oral gavage for 28 days. Our results showed that the G. manilaensis ethanolic extract did not induce abnormal behaviour, body weight changes, or affect the mortality rate between treatment and control groups. There were no abnormal haematological and biochemical findings, except that 500 mg kg-1 G. manilaensis ethanolic extract may affect renal function, as urea levels and urea/creatinine ratio were lower when compared to other treatment groups. Gross necropsy did not reveal any abnormalities in the vital organs in all groups. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the percentage relative weight of organs between treatment and control groups. In conclusion, the findings showed that daily oral consumption of G. manilaensis ethanolic extracts at 250 mg kg-1 or lower for 28 days was safe. The findings from this study provide a basis for future studies to investigate the in vivo health promoting effects of G. manilaensis

Applications of photodynamic therapy in keratitis

Keratitis is corneal inflammatory disease which may be caused by several reason such as an injury, allergy, as well as a microbial infection. Besides these, overexposure to ultraviolet light and unhygienic practice of contact lenses are also associated with keratitis. Based on the cause of keratitis, different lines of treatments are recommended. Photodynamic therapy is a promising approach that utilizes light activated compounds to instigate either killing or healing mechanism to treat various diseases including both communicable and non-communicable diseases. This review focuses on clinically-important patent applications and the recent literature for the use of photodynamic therapy against keratitis

A Bibliometric Analysis of Museum Visitors’ Experiences Research

This study identified research trends, intellectual connections, and social connections in the field of museum visitor experiences. It also outlines future research to understand existing scientific research and shed light on key areas of research. The study reviewed 407 articles published in peer-reviewed journal articles, which were generated from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis software VOSviewer and Harzing POP were used. Citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, bibliometric coupling, and co-occurrence analysis have been employed. Findings highlight the need for increased representation from scholars in the Global South to ensure a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of museum visitors’ experiences worldwide. Nine key research areas for future studies were identified: sustainability, mixed reality, social media, accessibility, emotion, co-creation, interpretation, exhibition, and museum visitors’ experience and engagement. The results benefit stakeholders and researchers by allowing them to stay informed about the latest developments and breakthroughs in the global academic landscape and visitors’ experiences in museums

Physical work environment satisfaction and productivity of working adults in Malaysia

Studies have established that satisfaction with the physical work environment has an impact on individual productivity. This study investigated the influence of physical work environment satisfaction (including environmental design, welfare facilities, work organization, equipment and tools, and health and safety) on the productivity of Malaysian employees as they gradually return to physical workplaces post-pandemic. A total of 253 working adults (135 males, 118 females, mean age = 39.00 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. The results supported the hypotheses that the physical work environment collectively, and environmental design and tools and equipment specifically, predict employee productivity. These findings emphasize the importance for organizations to consistently maintain satisfaction with the physical work environment in order to enhance employee productivity

Continuities and discontinuities in the cultural evolution of global consciousness

Global consciousness (GC), encompassing cosmopolitan orientation, global orientations (i.e. openness to multicultural experiences) and identification with all humanity, is a relatively stable individual difference that is strongly associated with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours, less ingroup favouritism and prejudice, and greater pandemic prevention safety behaviours. Little is known about how it is socialized in everyday life. Using stratified samples from six societies, socializing institution factors correlating positively with GC were education, white collar work (and its higher income) and religiosity. However, GC also decreased with increasing age, contradicting a ‘wisdom of elders’ transmission of social learning, and not replicating typical findings that general prosociality increases with age. Longitudinal findings were that empathy-building, network-enhancing elements like getting married or welcoming a new infant, increased GC the most across a three-month interval. Instrumental gains like receiving a promotion (or getting a better job) also showed positive effects. Less intuitively, death of a close-other enhanced rather than reduced GC. Perhaps this was achieved through the ritualized management of meaning where a sense of the smallness of self is associated with growth of empathy for the human condition, as a more discontinuous or opportunistic form of culture-based learning. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis’

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.: a comprehensive review of its pharmacology, phytochemicals, ethnobotanical uses, and therapeutic potential

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch., commonly known as costus, is a perennial herb that has been traditionally used in various indigenous medicinal systems across Asia. Its historical prominence in traditional remedies underscores the need to explore its phytochemical composition, pharmacological properties, and potential therapeutic benefits. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the available literature on the pharmacological properties, phytochemical constituents, ethnobotanical uses, and therapeutic potential of S. costus. An exhaustive search was performed across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed/MedLine, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, TRIP database, and Science Direct. Both experimental and clinical studies, as well as traditional ethnobotanical records, were considered for inclusion. The phytochemical analysis revealed that S. costus contains a plethora of bioactive compounds, including sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, and essential oils, which are responsible for its myriad of medicinal properties. The pharmacological studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects, among others. Ethnobotanical data showcased its extensive use in treating ailments like asthma, digestive disorders, and skin conditions. Some clinical trials also underscore its efficacy in certain health conditions, corroborating its traditional uses. S. costus possesses significant therapeutic potential, largely attributable to its rich phytochemical composition; the convergence of its traditional uses and modern pharmacological findings suggests promising avenues for future research, especially in drug development and understanding its mechanism of action in various ailments

Diving deep into fish allergen immunotherapy: Current knowledge and future directions

Fish allergy is one of the “big nine” categories of food allergens worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing with the higher demand for this nutritious food source. Fish allergies are a significant health concern as it is a leading cause of food anaphylaxis, accounting for 9% of all deaths from anaphylaxis. The gaps in treating fish allergies at present are the incomplete identification of fish allergens, lack of component-resolved diagnosis of fish allergens in the clinical setting, and the variability in sensitization profiles based on different fish consumption practices. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) improves tolerance towards accidental consumption of fish and is longer lasting than pharmacotherapy. Current practice or research of fish AIT ranges from the use of whole fish via oral desensitization, to the use of purified recombinant parvalbumin and its hypoallergenic variant, passive IgG immunization, and modifying the allergenicity of parvalbumin by changing the diet of farmed fish. However, the focus of fish allergen-based studies in the context of AIT has been restricted to parvalbumins. More research is required to understand the involvement of other fish allergens, and several other strategies of AIT including peptide vaccines, DNA vaccines, hybrid allergens, and the use of nanobodies that have the capacity to treat multiple allergens have been proposed. For AIT, other important aspects to consider are the route of desensitization, and the biomarkers to assess the success of immunotherapy. Finally, we also address several clinical considerations for fish AIT

Anticancer potential of metal and metal oxide nanoparticle in combination with Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil for colorectal cancer treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest cancer type globally, necessitating effective treatments to reduce its burden. Chemotherapeutic drugs are common in cancer treatment; however, their side effects cause patients’ discomfort and immense pain. Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained attention for their anti-cancer properties and synergistic effects with chemo drugs, however, there is a knowledge gap when it comes to understanding and evaluating the safety and toxicity of these NPs to human cells, organs and human as a whole thus the need to research ways to make NPs more biocompatible and effective. The NPs used in this study were synthesised by our collaborators including among them new metal complex NPs such as nickel-doped zinc NPs. In this study, we tested 14 newly synthesised metal and metal oxide NPs against colorectal cell lines (HCT116 and HT-29) in 2D and 3D spheroid models, examining their anti-cancer ability and their synergy with cisplatin or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Nickel oxide and Nickel: Zinc (Ni:Zn) NPs demonstrated promising selectivity and anticancer activities for the first time. In 2D models, IC50 (inhibitory concentration that causes 50% cell death) for Nickel oxide and Ni:Zn NPs against HCT116 were 30.56 and 16.73 μg/ml, respectively, while in HT-29, the IC50 were 4.51 and 1.16 μg/ml, respectively. However, the efficacy of NPs was restricted in 3D tumour models. In combination with cisplatin or 5-FU, sub-inhibitory Nickel oxide and Ni: Zn NPs showed synergism in most models, except HT-29 3D. Cytotoxicity tests on normal cell lines, CCD 112 (colon), HUVEC (vascular endothelia), and NHDF (dermal fibroblasts), showed relatively lower IC50 for NPs compared to cancer cells except for slight cytotoxicity observed in HUVEC treated with Nickel oxide NPs and in CCD112 treated with Ni: Zn NPs. Mechanistic studies revealed significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HT-29 cells treated with Nickel oxide NPs only. Nickel oxide NPs combined with cisplatin and 5-FU and Ni: Zn NPS combined with cisplatin showed significant release of superoxide (SO) against HCT116 cells. HT-29 cells treated with nickel oxide NPs combined with cisplatin and all combinations of Ni: Zn NPs has shown a significant release of SO. From the apoptosis and necrosis assay, HCT116 treated with Nickel oxide NPs and its combination has shown a significant apoptotic effect while only the combinations of Ni: Zn NPs showed a significant apoptotic effect. Nickel oxide NPs, cisplatin and Nickel oxide NPs combined with 5-FU as well as Ni: Zn NPs only, Ni: Zn NPs cisplatin and 5-Fu was able to lowered the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HCT116. Overall, our study highlights the anti-cancer action and potential synergistic effects of newly synthesised Nickel oxide and Ni: Zn NPs with chemotherapeutic drugs, Cisplatin and 5-FU. These NPs warrant further modifications to improve their cancer-targeting specificity and cytotoxicity. Their potentials to be developed into nanocarriers should also be explored

Biological agents for synthesis of nanoparticles and their applications against plant pathogens

In terms of cost-efficiency, biocompatibility, environmental friendliness, and scalability, green nanoparticle (NP) synthesis is a novel field of nanotechnology that outperforms both physical and chemical approaches. Plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae have lately been used to produce metals and metal oxide nanoparticles as an alternate method. The development of alternative strategies to restrict the growth of hazardous bacteria, as well as the building of resistance by germs to various antibiotics, led to the introduction of nanoparticles as novel antimicrobial agents. Metal oxides have been found to form oxide monolayer structures for drug delivery when they react with a transporter's surface. Metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as biomedical materials in recent years, with applications in immunotherapy, tissue treatment, diagnostics, regenerative medicine, wound healing, dentistry, and biosensing platforms. Biotoxicology and its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral characteristics were hotly contested. Metal oxide nanoparticles have tremendous applicability and commercial value, as evidenced by important discoveries in the realm of nanobiomedicine in terms of locations and amounts. This paper describes the production of nanometal oxides from various green materials, as well as their applications

Acceptability and tolerability of alcohol-based hand rubs among health workers and concessionaires in Malaysia during the COVID pandemic: a hospital-wide cross-sectional study using a modified WHO protocol

This study evaluated the acceptability and tolerability of three alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) at Sarawak General Hospital, Malaysia. Conducted from 12-26 November 2021 using a modified WHO Protocol, it involved a survey among health workers and concessionaires, with a 35% response rate (1,598 of 4,628 participants). The majority were nurses (60.8%), with the medical division most represented (28.4%). Most respondents (93.2%) used ABHRs at least five days a week and found them easily accessible (72.3%). Product B was the preferred ABHR (65%), primarily for its color and fragrance, surpassing WHO’s 50% approval rate in these aspects. However, no other product features met WHO criteria. There were no significant differences in self-reported skin tolerability across the products, and none achieved overall WHO approval. These results offer important insights for ABHR selection in developing countries and highlight the value of the WHO Protocol in assessing product acceptability and tolerability