66 research outputs found

    Effect of Tertiarybutylhydroquinone on the stability of fried banana chips

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    Perbandingan kestabilan terhadap pengoksidanan ke atas kerepek pisang yang digoreng dalam minyak kelapa sawit olein yang mengandungi antioksidan, tertiary"butylhydroquinone, dan minyak kelapa sawit olein tanpa antioksidan telah dikaji. Nilai-nilai peroksid d{m anisidin bagi minyak yang diekstrak dan kerepek yang disimpan pada suhu 60° C menjelaskan kerepek pisang yang digoreng dalam minyak mengandungi tertiarybu tylhydroquinone memperolehi kestabilan yang lebih baik terhadap jangkamasa penyimpanan bagi kerepek tersebu

    Clubfoot: The Treatment Outcome Using Quantitative Assessment of Deformity.

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    The recent trend in management of congenital idiopathic clubfoot tends towards conservative treatment. This study reviews the outcomes of treatment in our practice using the quantitative clubfoot assessment of the deformity (QCAD). Methods: Thirty patients (38 cases of clubfoot) with congenital idiopathic clubfoot treated at Sarawak General Hospital were followed-up for a mean of 3.6 years. The quantitative assessment consists of limb anthropometric measurement and the Pirani deformity severity score. Results: There were 15 boys and 15 girls, with a mean age of 4.4 years (range, 13m - 8y). Most patients were of the Malay race (67%), followed by Chinese (23%) and others (10%). Eight patients suffered from bilateral congenital idiopathic clubfoot (33%), 12 were left unilateral (40%) and 10 were right unilateral (27%). Out of the total of 30 patients, 12 were treated conservatively with serial casting and 18 patients were treated surgically after resistance to serial casting at the age of nine months. At follow-up, there were significant differences between the surgical group (2.57 ± 1.45); (0.86 ± 0.36) and conservative group (0.7 ± 0.81); (0.34 ± 0.35) respectively (p < 0.05) regarding the mean difference in mid-leg circumference and foot length discrepancy in patients with unilateral clubfoot. There were no significant difference noted between groups with regards to results of the Pirani score, leg length discrepancy and mean difference of mid-foot circumference. Conclusion: There were significant differences in calf atrophy and foot length discrepancy when comparing surgically treated clubfoot patient compared to conservatively treated patients. Conservative treatment of clubfoot is the preferred method of treatment while surgical treatment may be necessary in more resistant cases

    Design of Mechanical Bracing Device for Clubfoot Treatment

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    Clubfoot is one of the complex three-dimensional deformities of the foot. In Malaysia, clubfoot remains a significant problem and yields an unpredictable outcome due to the late presentation for treatment and ignorance of parents. Invasive and non-invasive treatment is applied for clubfoot. However, relapse can occur after the treatment, and the patient needs to use a bracing device for post-treatment maintenance. In this paper, the design of a new mechanical bracing device for clubfoot treatment is presented. Engineering design approach was applied to the device development. Problem identification and customer requirement, conceptual design, preliminary design, detail design and final design were conducted before the fabrication process. The device consists of adjustable foot width, dorsiflexion, shoe, a horizontal plate, foot pad and foot height. The prototype was fabricated, and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis was conducted for evaluation purpose. The device consists of multiadjustable joint that can be considered as a new concept for the bracing device

    A resampling-based meta-analysis for detection of differential gene expression in breast cancer

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accuracy in the diagnosis of breast cancer and classification of cancer subtypes has improved over the years with the development of well-established immunohistopathological criteria. More recently, diagnostic gene-sets at the mRNA expression level have been tested as better predictors of disease state. However, breast cancer is heterogeneous in nature; thus extraction of differentially expressed gene-sets that stably distinguish normal tissue from various pathologies poses challenges. Meta-analysis of high-throughput expression data using a collection of statistical methodologies leads to the identification of robust tumor gene expression signatures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A resampling-based meta-analysis strategy, which involves the use of resampling and application of distribution statistics in combination to assess the degree of significance in differential expression between sample classes, was developed. Two independent microarray datasets that contain normal breast, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) samples were used for the meta-analysis. Expression of the genes, selected from the gene list for classification of normal breast samples and breast tumors encompassing both the ILC and IDC subtypes were tested on 10 independent primary IDC samples and matched non-tumor controls by real-time qRT-PCR. Other existing breast cancer microarray datasets were used in support of the resampling-based meta-analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The two independent microarray studies were found to be comparable, although differing in their experimental methodologies (Pearson correlation coefficient, R = 0.9389 and R = 0.8465 for ductal and lobular samples, respectively). The resampling-based meta-analysis has led to the identification of a highly stable set of genes for classification of normal breast samples and breast tumors encompassing both the ILC and IDC subtypes. The expression results of the selected genes obtained through real-time qRT-PCR supported the meta-analysis results.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The proposed meta-analysis approach has the ability to detect a set of differentially expressed genes with the least amount of within-group variability, thus providing highly stable gene lists for class prediction. Increased statistical power and stringent filtering criteria used in the present study also make identification of novel candidate genes possible and may provide further insight to improve our understanding of breast cancer development.</p

    ENIGMA-anxiety working group : Rationale for and organization of large-scale neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders

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    Altres ajuts: Anxiety Disorders Research Network European College of Neuropsychopharmacology; Claude Leon Postdoctoral Fellowship; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, 44541416-TRR58); EU7th Frame Work Marie Curie Actions International Staff Exchange Scheme grant 'European and South African Research Network in Anxiety Disorders' (EUSARNAD); Geestkracht programme of the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, 10-000-1002); Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program within the National Institute of Mental Health under the Intramural Research Program (NIMH-IRP, MH002781); National Institute of Mental Health under the Intramural Research Program (NIMH-IRP, ZIA-MH-002782); SA Medical Research Council; U.S. National Institutes of Health grants (P01 AG026572, P01 AG055367, P41 EB015922, R01 AG060610, R56 AG058854, RF1 AG051710, U54 EB020403).Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and disabling but seem particularly tractable to investigation with translational neuroscience methodologies. Neuroimaging has informed our understanding of the neurobiology of anxiety disorders, but research has been limited by small sample sizes and low statistical power, as well as heterogenous imaging methodology. The ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group has brought together researchers from around the world, in a harmonized and coordinated effort to address these challenges and generate more robust and reproducible findings. This paper elaborates on the concepts and methods informing the work of the working group to date, and describes the initial approach of the four subgroups studying generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. At present, the ENIGMA-Anxiety database contains information about more than 100 unique samples, from 16 countries and 59 institutes. Future directions include examining additional imaging modalities, integrating imaging and genetic data, and collaborating with other ENIGMA working groups. The ENIGMA consortium creates synergy at the intersection of global mental health and clinical neuroscience, and the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group extends the promise of this approach to neuroimaging research on anxiety disorders

    Controversy and Consensus on Indications for Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in Male Infertility: A Global Survey, Current Guidelines, and Expert Recommendations

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    Purpose: Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing was recently added to the sixth edition of the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. Many conditions and risk factors have been associated with elevated SDF; therefore, it is important to identify the population of infertile men who might benefit from this test. The purpose of this study was to investigate global practices related to indications for SDF testing, compare the relevant professional society guideline recommendations, and provide expert recommendations. Materials and Methods: Clinicians managing male infertility were invited to take part in a global online survey on SDF clinical practices. This was conducted following the CHERRIES checklist criteria. The responses were compared to professional society guideline recommendations related to SDF and the appropriate available evidence. Expert recommendations on indications for SDF testing were then formulated, and the Delphi method was used to reach consensus. Results: The survey was completed by 436 experts from 55 countries. Almost 75% of respondents test for SDF in all or some men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, 39% order it routinely in the work-up of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and 62.2% investigate SDF in smokers. While 47% of reproductive urologists test SDF to support the decision for varicocele repair surgery when conventional semen parameters are normal, significantly fewer general urologists (23%; p=0.008) do the same. Nearly 70% would assess SDF before assisted reproductive technologies (ART), either always or for certain conditions. Recurrent ART failure is a common indication for SDF testing. Very few society recommendations were found regarding SDF testing. Conclusions: This article presents the largest global survey on the indications for SDF testing in infertile men, and demonstrates diverse practices. Furthermore, it highlights the paucity of professional society guideline recommendations. Expert recommendations are proposed to help guide clinicians
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