Lactase can target cellular differentiation of Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype

The free living Acanthamoeba spp. are ubiquitous amoebae associated with potentially blinding disease known as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and a fatal central nervous system infection granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). With the inherent ability of cellular differentiation, it can phenotypically transform to a dormant cyst form from an active trophozoite form. Acanthamoeba cysts are highly resistant to therapeutic agents as well as contact lens cleaning solutions. One way to tackle drug resistance against Acanthamoeba is by inhibiting the formation of cysts from trophozoites. The biochemical analysis showed that the major component of Acanthamoeba cyst wall is composed of carbohydrate moieties such as galactose and glucose. The disaccharide of galactose and glucose is lactose. In this study, we analyzed the potential of lactase enzyme to target carbohydrate moieties of cyst walls. Amoebicidal assessment showed that lactase was ineffective against trophozoite of A. castellanii but enhanced amoebicidal effects of chlorhexidine. The lactase enzyme did not show any toxicity against normal human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) at the tested range. Hence, lactase can be used for further assessment for development of potential therapeutic agents in the management of Acanthamoeba infection as well as formulation of effective contact lens disinfectants

Dietary exposure to acrylamide among the Malaysian adult population

This study aimed to estimate the Malaysian adult population's current dietary exposure and margin of exposure (MOE) to the carcinogenic processing contaminant, acrylamide. A total of 448 samples from 11 types of processed foods were collected randomly throughout Malaysia in the year 2015 and 2016. Acrylamide was analysed in samples using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 μg/kg and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 25 μg/kg. The highest average level of acrylamide (772 ± 752 μg/kg) was found in potato crisps, followed by French fries (415 ± 914 μg/kg) and biscuits (245 ± 195 μg/kg). The total acrylamide exposure for the adult Malaysian was 0.229 and 1.77 μg/kg body weight per day for average and high consumers, respectively. The MOE were 741 and 1875 for the average consumer based on cancer and non-cancer effects of acrylamide, respectively. Meanwhile, for high consumers, the MOE is 96 for cancer and 243 for non-cancer effects. These findings indicate potential carcinogenic risks from acrylamide exposure among Malaysian adults, especially in Malay and other Bumiputra groups compared to Chinese, Indian, and other ethnic groups, while non-cancer effects appeared less concerning

Self-Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemics: Everyday Discourse on a New Social Phenomenon among University Students

The COVID-19 pandemic was the first experience for the largest part of the world’s population of a new disease that spread rapidly across continents, a global threat to which unprecedented restrictive measures were elaborated. The purpose of the study was to analyse the everyday discourse on self-isolation among student youth based on the Theory of Social Representations. The study was conducted in two time periods corresponding to two “waves” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia (“first wave”: from 18, June to 10, July, 2020, and “second wave”: from 12, October to 18, November, 2020). The sample included 275 Russian university students (9.5 % male) aged 17 to 27 years. The main tool to reveal the social representations was free associations technique. The survey was conducted in online format via Google-forms. Comparison of the structure and content of social representations on self-isolation as a new social phenomenon at different stages of the pandemic made it possible to reveal their emergence and dynamics among student youth: (1) the opposition between voluntariness and coercion was characteristic of the everyday understanding of selfisolation at the very beginning of the pandemic, and (2) psychological experiences associated with the pandemic and the self-isolation caused by it turn out to be key further. In general, research findings show that self-isolation is understood by university students as a search for “pluses” in a situation of forced restrictions

Third-Year Student Nurses: Coping With The Challenges Of Management Postings In Private Universities

By embracing a growth mindset, building strong support networks, mastering time management, and developing leadership skills, student nurses are well-prepared to meet the challenges of their profession. The final year of nursing education marks a significant milestone for student nurses. For third-year students in private universities, the culmination of their training often involves a rigorous management posting

Parental Impact of Cultural Values on the Uptake of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination by Their Daughters: A Protocol of Qualitative Meta-synthesis

The aim of this systematic review is to explore how parents’ perspectives on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination are influenced by their cultural values, specifically with regard to their daughters. Adolescent girls are generally the primary targets for HPV vaccination and, in the majority of countries, parents/legal guardians have overall authority on this issue. However, it appears that cultural values could prove a powerful indicator in the parental choices that affect the uptake of HPV vaccination, which therefore needs to be carefully considered. Thus, exploring parents’ views is critical in improving HPV vaccination coverage. Methods: A systematic literature search will be conducted using CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PubMed and Science Direct to identify eligible studies published in the English language. Two reviewers will select the studies independently and the quality of the studies will be evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklists. Thematic synthesis methods will be used to report themes specific to cultural values. Discussion: It is predicted that the results of the proposed review will be beneficial to identify and understand the culturally-related facilitators and barriers to the HPV vaccination of young women, as they are central to the HPV vaccination programme. Once concerns raised by parents are understood more fully, relevant interventions can be developed to address these concerns. This information is also crucial to the development of strategies to optimise HPV vaccine coverage among this population group by policy makers. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (2024) 20(2): 379-384. doi:10.47836/mjmhs.20.2.4

Specifics of cyberbullying need to be addressed

Recent data indicates a rise in reported cases of cyberbullying among adults over the age of 20. However, research shows that cyberbullying affects individuals of all ages, with many incidents going unreported due to stigma or under-reporting. While the psychological effects of cyberbullying can vary, the detrimental impacts - emotionally, financially, legally, and socially - are the same across all age groups

Health benefits, pharmacological properties, and metabolism of cannabinol: A comprehensive review

Cannabinol (CBN) is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa. Although overshadowed by its more well-known counterparts, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), CBN has been gaining attention due to its potential therapeutic properties. This review aims to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological actions of CBN. CBN interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), primarily targeting the CB2 and CB1 cannabinoid receptors. It acts as a partial agonist for both receptors, modulating their activity and downstream signaling pathways. Through these interactions, CBN exhibits diverse effects on various physiological processes, including pain perception, inflammation, immune response, and neuroprotection. Moreover, CBN has been shown to affect non-cannabinoid receptors, including transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and serotonin receptors. These interactions contribute to the modulation of pain, inflammation, and mood regulation. The molecular mechanisms of CBN also involve its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. CBN has been found to reduce oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibiting inflammatory mediators. This antioxidant activity potentially contributes to its neuroprotective effects and may have implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, CBN exhibits potential antimicrobial activity, acting against various bacteria, fungi, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The underlying mechanisms of this antimicrobial effect are still being elucidated, but may involve disruption of microbial cell membranes and interference with microbial biofilm formation. The molecular mechanisms underlying CBN's pharmacological actions involve its interactions with the ECS, modulation of non-cannabinoid receptors, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and potential antimicrobial activity. Further research is needed to fully understand the therapeutic potential of CBN and its role in various disease states, paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Due to its multiple interests, the isolation and synthesis of CBN has been investigated by several approaches. CBN synthesis involves various approaches, including oxidative conversions, isomerization reactions, enzymatic transformations, and biotransformation techniques. Advancements in synthetic methodologies and innovative strategies continue to contribute to the efficient production of CBN. Further research and optimization are necessary to enhance yields, purity, and scalability of the synthesis processes

Integrating Health Literacy Into Daily Nursing Care: A Guide To Empowering Patients

Efforts to educate and empower patients are impactful and help them take an active role in their own care. Every patient has a fundamental right to clear and understandable information about their disease, treatment, and prognosis. This knowledge is crucial because it empowers patients to make informed decisions about their own care

Malaysian Carrageenophyte Kappapphycus species inhibit Lipopolysaccharides-induced Neuroinflammation by suppressing the AKT/NFxB and ERK signaling pathways in BV2 Microglia

Neuroinflammation is normally caused by the stimulation of microglia and astrocytes with the production of proinflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as well as the generation of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Unregulated activities and overproduction of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines will cause neuronal death, which will trigger the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Kappaphycus alvarezii and Kappaphycus malesianus are red algae cultivated in Semporna, Sabah, East Malaysia. They are remarkable with their k-carrageenans, which have been widely used as a thickening agent in food, cosmetics, and the nutraceutical industry. Kappaphycus spp. have been reported with several pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-viral, and anti-cancer effects. However, limited research has focused on their neurological effects. Therefore, it is our interest to explore and compare the bioactivity of K. alvarezii and K. malesianus from the neuroprotective aspect. This study aimed to investigate the anti-neuroinflammatory activity in K. alvarezii and K. malesianus crude extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, and methanol extracts) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cell line and their underlying mechanisms. Cell viability assay (MTT assay) was used to examine the percentage of viable BV2 microglial cell line after treating with the respective K. alvarezii and K. malesianus crude extracts. Nitric oxide inhibition assay (Griess assay) was used to investigate the nitric oxide inhibitory activity of all crude extracts, while the crude extract with the highest nitric oxide inhibitory activity was used for western blot and ELISA analyses to investigate the proinflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines (TNF-⍺, IL-6 and IL-1β) expression in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cell line. The potential compound(s) in the extract with the highest promising anti-neuroinflammatory effect were identified using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Our results indicated that all extracts of both seaweeds had maintained cell viability above 80% at the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL, except for K. malesianus ethanol extract (69.7% ± 0.31 mg/mL). K. alvarezii ethyl acetate extract and K. malesianus methanol extract indicated the highest nitric oxide inhibitory activity without showing significant cytotoxicity towards the BV2 microglial cell line. Thus, K. alvarezii ethyl acetate and K. malesianus methanol extract were selected to further evaluate their proinflammatory mediators and proinflammatory cytokines expressions, and signaling pathways. The results disclosed that K. malesianus methanol extract demonstrated higher inhibitory activity in the formation of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines via AKT/NF-B and ERK pathways. According to the LC-MS analysis for K. malesianus methanol extract, three known bioactive compounds were identified with anti-neuroinflammatory activities, namely, 2,6-nonadien-1-ol, prosopinine, and eplerenone. In conclusion, all K. alvarezii and K. malesianus extracts showed inhibitory activity on nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines production, which may contribute to the anti-neuroinflammatory activity. Moreover, western blot results explained that K. Alvarezii and K. malesianus extracts had contributed to anti-neuroinflammatory activity through inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 production via AKT/NF-B and ERK pathways. K. malesianus methanol extract is the most potent extract and may act as a potent anti-neuroinflammatory therapy in the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders

Protective Mechanisms of Polyphenol-Enriched Blueberry Preparation in Preventing Inflammation in the Skin against UVB-Induced Damage in an Animal Model

UVB significantly impacts the occurrence of cutaneous disorders, ranging from inflammatory to neoplastic diseases. Polyphenols derived from plants have been found to exhibit photoprotective effects against various factors that contribute to skin cancer. During the fermentation of the polyphenol-enriched blueberry preparation (PEBP), small oligomers of polyphenols were released, thus enhancing their photoprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PEBP on UVB-induced skin inflammation. Topical preparations of polyphenols were applied to the skin of dorsally shaved mice. Mice were subsequently exposed to UVB and were sacrificed 90 min after UVB exposure. This study revealed that pretreatment with PEBP significantly inhibited UVB-induced recruitment of mast and neutrophil cells and prevented the loss of skin thickness. Furthermore, the findings show that PEBP treatment resulted in the downregulation of miR-210, 146a, and 155 and the upregulation of miR-200c and miR-205 compared to the UVB-irradiated mice. Additionally, PEBP was found to reduce the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα, inhibiting COX-2 and increasing IL-10 after UVB exposure. Moreover, DNA methylation analysis indicated that PEBP might potentially reduce the activation of inflammation-related pathways such as MAPK, Wnt, Notch, and PI3K-AKT signaling. Our finding suggests that topical application of PEBP treatment may effectively prevent UVB-induced skin damage by inhibiting inflammation