Corrigendum: Stylopine: a potential natural metabolite to block vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in osteosarcoma therapy

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signals cell survival, cell migration, osteogenesis, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and vascular permeability by binding to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer, majorly affects young adults. Activation of VEGFR-2 signaling is a therapeutic target for osteosarcoma. The present study aimed to evaluate the potency of stylopine in regulation of the VEGFR-2 signaling pathway and its anti-tumour effect human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. The in silico study on benzylisoquinoline alkaloids was carried out for analyzing and shortlisting of compounds using a virtual screening, Lipinski’s rule, bioavailability graphical RADAR plot, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and molecular docking studies. Among the benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, stylopine was selected and subjected to in-vitro studies against human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. Various experiments such as MTT assay, EtBr/AO staining, mitochondrial membrane potential assessment, transwell migration assay, gene expression analysis by a quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method, SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting were performed to evaluate its anti-tumour effect as compared to standard axitinib. The MTT assay indicates that stylopine inhibits cell proliferation in MG-63 cells. Similarly, as confirmed by the EtBr/Ao staining method, the MMP assay indicates that stylopine induces mitochondrial membrane damage and apoptosis as compared to axitinib. Moreover, stylopine inhibits the VEGF-165 induced MG-63 cell migration by a trans-well migration assay. The immunoblotting and qRT-PCR analysis showed that stylopine inhibits the VEGF-165 induced VEGFR2 expression in MG-63 cells. It is concluded that stylopine has potential to regulate VEGFR2 and can inhibit osteosarcoma cells to offer a new drug candidate for the treatment of bone cancer in future

The occurrence and probabilistic risk of exposure to parabens from bottled and hand-shaken teas in the general adult population of Taiwan

Parabens (PBs) are esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and there are growing concerns due to their potential to disrupt endocrine function and their wide use as preservatives in foodstuffs, including beverages. The consumption of bottled and hand-shaken teas is gradually replacing traditional tea consumption through brewing. However, no study has reported PB concentrations in different types of teas or packaging and their associated health risks. Our aim was to determine the concentration of PBs (methyl- (MetPB), ethyl- (EthPB), propyl- (PropPB), butyl-paraben (ButPB)) in green, black, and oolong teas in two varieties of products (bottled and hand-shaken teas), using UPLC-MS/MS. Additionally, we estimated the health risks associated with tea consumption in the general adult population of Taiwan. A Monte Carlo simulation was applied to estimate the distribution of daily PB intake through bottled (n = 79) and hand-shaken (n = 71) tea consumption. Our findings revealed geometric mean concentrations in bottled green/black/oolong teas were 714.1/631.2/532.1 ng/L for MetPB, 95.2/ 30.5/14.9 ng/L for EthPB, 77.9/28.3/non-detected (ND) ng/L for PropPB, and 69.3/26.6/ND ng/L for ButPB. Hand-shaken green/black/oolong teas exhibited concentrations of 867.5/2258/1307 ng/L for MetPB, 28.5/28.8/14.5 ng/L for EthPB, 25.4/18.3/17.8 ng/L for PropPB, and 30.3/18.0/15.5 ng/L for ButPB. The median MetPB concentrations in hand-shaken black (2333 ng/L) and oolong teas (1215 ng/L) were significantly higher than those in bottled black (595.4 ng/L) and oolong teas (489.3 ng/L). Conversely, median concentrations of EthPB, PropPB, and ButPB in bottled teas were significantly higher than those in hand-shaken teas. MetPB was the predominant PB, constituting 73.2–91.9% in bottled teas and 85–94% in hand-shaken teas. Our results showed no health risks associated with bottled or hand-shaken tea consumption based on reference doses. However, the study highlights the importance of continued vigilance given the potential chronic exposure to PBs from various sources, necessitating ongoing concern despite the absence of immediate risks from tea consumption

The management of low-skilled migrant workforces within the construction industry in Malaysia: conservation of resources perspectives

Low-skilled migrant workers (LSMW) constituted a marginalized group that society often overlooked, despite their aspirations for improved wages and living conditions in foreign host countries. Regrettably, they frequently endured not only precarious work conditions but also discrimination based on factors such as skin color, language, beliefs, norms, and culture. This unjust treatment perpetuated the cycle of societal and economic inequalities, as organizations played a significant role in redistributing wealth among various stakeholders. Workplace inequalities affect LSMWs' emotions, causing both happiness and pain. These existing disparities further exacerbated the already dire circumstances faced by LSMW, resulting in a range of psychological and mental health issues while simultaneously depleting their limited resources. This study revolved around the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, which constituted a pivotal lens for dissecting the amassed data. Embedded within this theoretical framework, the investigation delved deeply into the multifaceted assortment of resources attainable to LSMW, categorically segregated as material, social, and personal resources. These resources assumed a critical role in empowering LSMW to navigate the complex landscape of workplace inequalities and discrimination. Migrant workers employed a combination of silent and active coping strategies, leveraging personal, material, and social resources to navigate unfair treatment. Material resources, particularly money, played a crucial role in increasing overall happiness, with remittances and luxurious gifts to family members having a lasting impact on well-being. Some workers found solace in vacationing or working at holiday destinations, alleviating negative emotions. Significantly, a qualitative research strategy was embraced, employing the Grounded Theory methodology to intricately investigate the unique spectrum of resources available to LSMW. Grounded Theory, recognized as a systematic research approach, was instrumental in unearthing fundamental themes directly from the compiled data. This method facilitated the extraction of invaluable insights that inherently reside within the data itself. Malaysia, originally a diverse multi-ethnic population, is a developing country that heavily relied on LSMW from neighboring countries. This thesis delved particularly into the construction industry in Malaysia, accommodating the amalgamation of LSMW predominantly from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Data collection process were by means of interviews with 30 LSMWs and 4 supervisors. This research contributes significantly to the literature on coping with migration and intercultural management through three key theoretical advancements: Firstly, the study provided a comprehensive narrative, shedding light on the personal, material, and social resources that assisted each ethnic group in their coping efforts and adaptation while facing discrimination and workplace inequality. Secondly, management styles were identified that were relevant and effective in better addressing workplace inequalities experienced by LSMW. Lastly, this thesis developed a framework that established a link between the management style adopted by supervisors and the coping mechanisms needed by LSMW. This framework supported supervisors and managers in providing adequate support and fostering the well-being and resilience of migrant workers. The contributions of this research extended beyond theory, offering practical implications for developing countries. By addressing the unique challenges faced by LSMW and proposing strategies for managing workplace inequalities, this study fostered positive change and promoted social justice and inclusivity in the labor market

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of white coat use among medical students during clinical practice (LAUNDERKAP): A cross-sectional study

Background Recent studies found white coats to be reservoirs for bacteria and medical students did not conform to proper hygiene measures when using these white coats. We investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of medical students toward white coat use in clinical settings (LAUNDERKAP). Methods A validated, online-based survey was disseminated to 670 students from four Malaysian medical schools via random sampling. Scores were classified into good, moderate, or poor knowledge and practice, and positive, neutral, or negative attitude. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the relationship between demographic variables and knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Results A total of 492/670 students responded (response rate: 73.4%). A majority showed negative attitudes (n = 246, 50%), poor knowledge (n = 294, 59.8%), and moderate practice (n = 239, 48.6%). Senior and clinical year students had more negative attitudes. Male students had higher knowledge, while students from private medical schools and preclinical years had better practice. There was a significant relationship between attitude and practice (r = 0.224, P < .01), as well as knowledge and practice (r = 0.111, P < .05). Conclusions The results demonstrate the need for more education to improve medical students’ infection control practices. Our results can also guide decision-making among administrators on the role of white coats as part of medical student attire

Serum Stabilities and Antiviral Activities of Chemically Modified Peptides Against Dengue Serotypes 1–4

Dengue presents a major public health concern in over 100 countries due to the absence of an effective vaccine and antiviral therapy against all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. Several antiviral peptides were previously reported to inhibit at least three or all four DENV serotypes. Chemical modifications such as d-amino acid substitutions, polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylation, and cyclization could be applied to peptides to improve their biological activities and stability in serum. The PEGylated peptide 3 (PEG-P3) was identified to be the most promising antiviral candidate as it demonstrated good inhibitory effects against all four DENV serotypes during the pre- and post-infection stages, Based on the RP-HPLC and LC/MS analysis, peptide 4 was identified to be more stable in human serum than peptide 3, with 78.9 % and 41.6 % of the peptides remaining after 72 h of incubation in human serum, respectively. Both peptides were also able to retain their antiviral activities against specific DENV serotypes after 72 h incubation in human serum. PEG-P3 was found to be more stable than the unmodified peptide 3 with 89.4 % of PEG-P3 remaining in the human serum after 72 h of incubation. PEG-P3 was able to retain its inhibitory effects against DENV-1 to 4 after 72 h of incubation in human serum. This study provided insights into the antiviral activities and stabilities of the unmodified and chemically modified peptides in human serum

Nanogel-based drug delivery system as a treatment modality for diverse diseases: Are we there yet?

Traditional drug delivery systems (DDSs) are often associated with poor drug solubility, low bioavailability, and side effects, which severely limits the therapeutic potential of existing encapsulated drugs. A promising alternative to these conventional DDSs is a nanogel-based DDS. Possessing dual characteristics of both nanoparticles and hydrogels, nanogels have the capacity to transport and release drugs to the target site in a controlled manner while protecting encapsulated drugs from enzymatic degradation. With this, the therapeutic benefits of available drugs will be potentiated, and their side effects will be limited. Due to their tunability in size and chemical properties, nanogels can be functionalized to carry drugs of different properties. Given these merits, the potential of nanogel-based DDSs is currently being investigated as a treatment modality for various diseases. Among the diseases focused in this review are cancer, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, and ophthalmic conditions. To provide context, the synthesis and characterization of nanogels along with their delivery process to the target site is briefly reviewed. Besides, the challenges faced by researchers in translating nanogel-based treatments from preclinical to clinical practice are also discussed. The three identified challenges are (I) reproducibility and scalability; (II) enhanced site targeting, penetration and bioavailability; and (III) biocompatibility and safety of nanogels. Nonetheless, fueled by continuous development, nanogel-based drug carriers will be the future of drug delivery. To achieve this, future studies should focus on overcoming the aforementioned obstacles while providing evidence of safety to ensure the continued progress of ongoing developments towards clinical trials and ultimately, implementation for the benefit of patients

So chef, does a PhD matter? A Malaysian perspective(s) on Bucher and Lee

This paper offers a critical reflection on the challenges culinary professionals encounter when venturing into academia. We directly respond to Bucher and Lee's (2023) article, "Dear chef, do you really want a PhD?". Bucher and Lee aptly illuminated the intricacies, challenges, hurdles, and barriers that chefs face when pursuing a doctoral education in the hospitality academy. We add to Bucher and Lee's work, providing not only a more nuanced perspective, but also a counternarrative from two different voices acknowledging; (i) the voluntary pursuit of a PhD driven by personal choice and, (ii) the compelled pursuit imposed by organisational pressures. This reflective analysis aims to deepen the understanding of the multifaceted dynamics involved in the intersection of culinary expertise and academic pursuits

Bioactive substances of cyanobacteria and microalgae: Sources, metabolism, and anticancer

Cyanobacteria and microalgae contain various phytochemicals, including bioactive components in the form of secondary metabolites, namely flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and tannins, with remarkable anticancer effects. This review highlights the recent advances in bioactive compounds, with potential anticancer activity, produced by cyanobacteria and microalgae. Previous in vitro investigations showed that many of these bioactive compounds exhibit potent effects against different human cancer types, such as leukemia and breast cancers. Multiple mechanisms implicated in the antitumor effect of these compounds were elucidated, including their ability to target cellular, subcellular, and molecular checkpoints linked to cancer development and promotion. Recent findings have highlighted various mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds produced by cyanobacteria and microalgae, including induction of autophagy and apoptosis, inhibition of telomerase and protein kinases, as well as modulation of epigenetic modifications. In vivo investigations have demonstrated a potent anti-angiogenesis effect on solid tumors, as well as a reduction in tumor volume. Some of these compounds were examined in clinical investigations for certain types of cancers, making them potent candidates/scaffolds for antitumor drug development

Determination of radon concentration in bottled drinking water of Dhaka City

Among all natural radiation sources, exposure to radon (222Rn) is considered as the most hazardous to human health. Recognizing the significance of water in preserving a healthy life style, assessing the 222Rn activity in drinking water is crucial. The 222Rn activity concentration was measured in 20 different branded bottled drinking waters purchased from Dhaka city using both alpha and gamma-ray spectrometry systems. Activity concentrations of 222Rn in bottled water obtained via RAD7 detector varied from 0.1 ± 0.02 Bq/L to 0.42 ± 0.01 Bq/L with an average value of 0.26 ± 0.02, while the value varied from 0.12 ± 0.01 Bq/L to 0.52 ± 0.31 Bq/L with an average value of 0.29 ± 0.09 by HPGe detector. The obtained results show lower concentrations when compared with other studies around the world as well as the US-EPA reference level of 11.1 Bq l−1 or 300 pCi l−1. The total annual effective dose calculated for different age groups and internal organ doses were found below the action level recommended by WHO (0.1 mSv y−1) and ICRP (3–10 mSv y−1), due to 222Rn, 3H and 40K in drinking water. Based on the obtained radon concentration and concomitant dose values, this study suggested negligible health hazards due to the consumption of bottled drinking water in Bangladesh. The results of this study could serve as a reference data for future studies in the area and beyond