Primary Adrenal Insufficiency in Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 - A Case Report and Literature Review

Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome (APS) type 1 is a rare autosomal recessive disorder secondary to AIRE gene mutation, that is classically characterized by autoimmune hypoparathyroidism, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and Addison’s disease. A review of the literature shows that these disease manifestations may present in any order in different age groups. Patients with APS type 1 are also at risk for other endocrinopathies. We present the case of a female patient with a history of APS type 1 and type 1 diabetes who presented with new onset hypoglycemia and decreased insulin requirement and was diagnosed with new onset adrenal insufficiency due to Addison’s disease. One challenge we experienced in this patient diagnosed with concomitant autoimmune hypoparathyroidism and adrenal insufficiency was regulation of serum calcium, as cortisol replacement therapy contributes to urinary calcium loss. The goal calcium level is thus maintained at the lower limit of normal

Enhancement of Rectenna Performance using Artificial Magnetic Conductor for Energy Harvesting Applications

This paper brings together an understanding on Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) and rectenna in energy harvesting applications. The rectenna is built upon a combination of a low profile antenna like dipole or patch microstrip with the presence of a rectifying circuit as well as a filter to act as an RF to DC converter. In wireless power transmission, the focal problem is that the total capture of the RF energy is totally low. Thus, with the aim of capturing maximum power, the receiving antenna is supposed to be designed applicably by taking contemplation of several aspects especially the gain. AMC helps to improve the performance of an antenna, hence enhancing the execution of wireless power transmission system of the rectenna. Wireless sensor network is one of the application in wireless power transmission system that applied the approach of energy harvesting, where it is considered to be a practical and deployable solution for today’s technology. Two designs of AMC had been proposed; a rectangular AMC using RO3003 substrate and a square AMC using RO3010 substrate. Simulation results show that the square AMC gives better performance through gain enhancement by 3.529 dB of a half-wave wire dipole antenna with an overall size of 122.45 mm x 122.45 mm

A novel mobile web application for an integrated medical and emergency model

The current situation of medical, healthcare and emergency related system in Malaysia shows that it is mostly separated and not fully computerized. The fully computerizing and combining of medical healthcare and emergency systems will lead to produce a Novel Integrated Medical and Emergency system. This integrated system is being divided into three main parts which is the web based medical and emergency system, intelligent agent, and mobility. The system contains a database that will communicate and cooperated with intelligent agent and mobility. The main drawbacks for the current medical, healthcare, and emergency systems in Malaysia include: Difficulty in searching and reviewing up to date records for patient, doctor, hospital, drug, etc since many of such records are still kept in filing cabinet

A study of the removal of some toxic metals In tap water by coffee grounds

This research is a study about the removal of toxic metals such as iron and chromium in tap water using coffee grounds as filters. Three samples of tap waters from different areas were collected, one sample from HUSM, one from Nurani Hostel and another one from D'Village (restaurant outside the campus). The purpose of collecting water samples from different areas is to determine whether the water from different tap water sources have different concentration of the metals concerned. Three different types of commercial coffee brands were selected to constitute different thickness of the coffee bed which were composed of fine, medium and coarse particles. This is to study the relevance of the coffee texture in the removal of the metals and the reason for selection of a variety thickness of coffee beds is to investigate the significance of the coffee bed thickness in the removal of metals. In the preparation of coffee, equal amounts of different types of coffee grounds were allowed to be in contact with different type of water, maintaining a constant time in which the coffee is in contact with water. In the first step, the concentration of the chromium and iron in the three samples of water was determined using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The concentration of metals in the tap water samples were found to be very low, especially chromium. Therefore, the water samples had to be acid digested, complexed with a chelating agent and extracted by methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) to give a higher concentration of the metals. After the concentration of the metals in water samples were obtained, coffee was prepared using water from the same samples. As three different types of coffee were used and along with three different sources of water, a total of nine coffee extracts were prepared. The coffee extracts were oxidized first to remove the organic matter. Concentration of total iron was determined by direct AAS while that of chromium was estimated after MIBK treatment

Immunohistochemical Study of Androgen Receptor Expression in Estrogen Receptor-Negative Invasive Breast Carcinoma and its Relation with Clinicopathologic Factors

BACKGROUND: Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast carcinomas lack the expression of ER and they have no targeted hormone therapies. The androgen receptor (AR) is a newly emerge biomarker. Detecting AR in these tumors may provide a target for future therapies. AIM: The aim of the study is to examine the immunohistochemical expression profiles of AR protein in ER-negative invasive breast carcinomas and to assess the relation between AR expression and the clinicopathologic factors such as age, tumor size, tumor grade, tumor type, immunohistochemical type, lymph node status, and Ki67 expression. METHODS: Sixty paraffin blocks of ER-negative invasive breast carcinoma cases were stained immunohistochemically by AR. Positive expression was defined as ≥1% nuclear staining. RESULTS: AR positivity was detected in 55% of the studied cases. The positive cases were scored by H-score with a median=117, and a range of 3–285 and by Allred score with a median=7, and a range of 3-8. AR is expressed in 60.9% of triple-negative breast carcinoma cases. AR expression was higher in older age, and there were significant positive correlations between the degree of AR expression (AR%, AR intensity, and H-score) and age (p=0.050, 0.007, 0.033, respectively). There was non-significant negative correlation between Ki67% and the degree of AR expression (AR%, AR intensity, H-score, and Allred score). Regarding different histological types, tumor grade, tumor size, lymph node status, and immunohistochemical types, there was no significant difference between AR positive and AR negative cases. CONCLUSION: AR is frequently expressed in ER-negative invasive breast carcinoma; especially in older age, and in a large number of triple-negative subtypes. This may give chance to benefit from future AR target therapy. We recommend further research work on AR expression in the special histologic subtypes of ER-negative breast carcinoma and in the triple negative group

Leaf photosynthetic characteristics in eight shaded Malaysian filmy ferns

Resumen. Las características fotosintéticas de ocho Malasia Hymenophyllaceae helechos membranosos de hábitats sombreados fueron investigados en este estudio. El contenido de clorofila fue mayor en Trichomanes meifolium, seguido por Cephalomanes obscurum, Hymenophyllum serrulatum, H. denticulatum, H. javanicum, H. acanthoides, H. y H. exsertum blandum con valores que van desde 3,3 hasta 8,6 mg/g peso fresco. El contenido de proteína soluble fue notablemente alta en H. serrulatum, con valores de 53 ± 3,50 mg/g, seguido por H. denticulatum, H. acanthoides, T. meifolium y las otras especies. La relación proteína:clorofila en los helechos fue baja como se esperaba, excepto en H. serrulatum, H. acanthoides y H. denticulatum. Número y tamaño de cloroplasto oscilaron entre las 34 y 138 por perfil de célula y entre 4,8 a 6,5 μm de diámetro, en el Hymenophyllaceae. Mediciones de la eficiencia cuántica de cuatro Hymenophyllaceae spp. mostraron valores de Fv / Fm que oscilan entre 0,73 a 0,81. El Hymenophyllaceae spp. también mostró baja en las tasas de asimilación de CO 2 in vivo y los puntos de saturación, que oscila entre 5 a 15 μmol CO 2 /m 2 /s y por debajo de 150 μmol/m 2 /s, respectivamente. Los hallazgos se añaden a nuestra comprensión de cómo los helechos membranosos se adaptan y prosperan en sus hábitats húmedos y sombríos. Palabras clave: Ciencia de las plantas; Fotosíntesis; Helechos vaporosos; Hymenophyllaceae; Hábitats sombreados. Abstract. The photosynthetic characteristics of eight Malaysian Hymenophyllaceae filmy ferns from shady habitats were investigated in this study. Chlorophyll content was highest in Trichomanes meifolium, followed by Cephalomanes obscurum, Hymenophyllum serrulatum, H. denticulatum, H. javanicum, H. acanthoides, H. exsertum and H. blandum, with values ranging from 3.3 to 8.6 mg/g fresh weight. Soluble protein content was remarkably high in H. serrulatum, with values of 53 ± 3.50 mg/g, followed by H. denticulatum, H. acanthoides, T. meifolium and the other species. Protein to chlorophyll ratios in the filmy ferns were low as expected, except for in H. serrulatum, H. acanthoides and H. denticulatum. Chloroplast number and size ranged between 34 to 138 per cell profile, and between 4.8 to 6.5 μm in diameter, in the Hymenophyllaceae. Quantum efficiency measurements in four Hymenophyllaceae spp. exhibited Fv/Fm values ranging between 0.73 to 0.81. The Hymenophyllaceae spp. also showed low in vivo CO 2 assimilatory rates and light saturation points, ranging between 5 to 15 μmol CO 2 /m 2 /s and below 150 μmol/m 2 /s, respectively. The findings add further to our understanding on how the filmy ferns adapt and thrive in their humid and shady habitats

Identification of differentially expressed genes in developing cotton fibers (Gossypium hirsutum L) through differential display

Cotton fibers are differentiated, non-dividing cells that originate from the epidermal layer of developing ovules. To identify genes involved in cotton fiber development, we performed non-radioactive differential display reverse transcriptase PCR (DDRT-PCR) on the purified mRNA. This technique was tested on mRNA isolated from five different developmental stages of cotton fiber including 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 DPA (days after pollination). The mRNA purified from total RNA was reversibly transcribed using three anchored oligo-dT primers. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of each cDNA preparation was carried out in combination with seven arbitrary primers. The amplified products were resolved on 1% agarose gel containing ethidium bromide. DNA was extracted from seventeen differentially expressed bands and cloned in pTZ57R/T vector. The sequencing and BLAST search analysis indicated that 12 of the differentially expressed genes matched the previously characterized genes, while 3 of them matched the uncharacterized sequences of cotton fiber expressed sequence tags (ESTs) reported previously to be associated with cotton fiber and 2 of the clones had homology with putative proteins. The technique can be used to efficiently identify differentially expressed genes and can be expanded to large scale studies by increasing the number of random decamers