Sediment quality assessments in relation to socio-economic development in Kampung Tekek, Tioman Island, Pahang during survey in August 2015

The study to identify the sediment quality changes affected by the increasing human activities along the coastal environment in Kampung Tekek, Tioman Island has been conducted in August 2015. In total, 15 surface sediment samples were collected from three transects in the bay of Kampung Tekek to be analyzed with particle size analyzer (PSA) and loss on ignition (LOI) methods. The results demonstrates good relationship between grain size classification, sediment sorting, skewness and kurtosis which shows differences between the coarser grain and poorly sorted zone up to the finest grain and best sorted zone. However, the highest percentages of sediment composition were recorded to be sand content (23 to 64%) with a mean of 48%, followed with silt content (29 to 68%) with a mean of 43%. The total organic matter (TOM) were ranged from 4.88 to 14.15% with a mean value of 7.61%. This sediment texture contains mostly fine and medium silts could expose potent threat to the coral reefs in the bay of Kampung Tekek due to sedimentation and higher partitioning of contaminants in sediment

Design and synthesis of a novel mPGES-1 lead inhibitor guided by 3D-QSAR CoMFA

The search of novel mPGES-1 inhibitors has recently intensified probably due to the superior safety in comparison to existing anti-inflammatory drugs. Although two mPGES-1 inhibitors have entered clinical trials, none has yet reached the market. In this study, we performed modifications guided by 3D-QSAR CoMFA on 2, which is an unsymmetrical curcumin derivative with low binding affinity towards mPGES-1. To counter the PAINS properties predicted for 2, the diketone linker was replaced with a pyrazole ring. On the other hand, both prenyl and carboxylate ester groups were introduced to improve the activity. When tested in vitro, 11 suppressed PGE2 biosynthesis in activated macrophages and showed promising human mPGES-1 inhibition in microsomes of interleukin-1β-stimulated A549 cells. Altogether, 11 has been identified as a potential mPGES-1 inhibitor and could be a promising lead for a novel class of mPGES-1 inhibitors

Effects of age and tocotrienol-rich fraction on mitochondrial respiratory complexes in the hippocampus of rats

Mitochondrial dysfunction is common in the brain with age. Prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction at an early age may protect the brain against neurodegeneration in later life. Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) has been reported to be neuroprotective in old rats, but its effect remains unknown for middle-aged animals. This study aimed to determine the effect of TRF on activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in the hippocampus of middle-aged rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: young control (3 months old), adult control (12 months old), adult rats supplemented with palm kernel oil (PKO) as the vehicle, and adult rats supplemented with TRF by gavage at 200 mg/kg body weight/day for 3 months. At the end of the supplementation, activities of complex I, I+III, II, II+III, III, IV, and citrate synthase in the isolated mitochondria of the hippocampus were measured by spectrophotometry. Complex II activity was higher, while citrate synthase activity was lower in adult rats than in young rats. A decrease of citrate synthase activity suggests loss of mitochondrial mass and intactness in the hippocampus at middle age. Interestingly, PKO-treated adult rats had lower complex I and IV activities, but higher complex I+III activity than adult control rats. These findings indicate PKO modulated activities of the complexes. In TRF-treated adult rats, the complex I activity was higher, while the complex IV activity was lower than PKO-treated adult rats. TRF restored the complex I activity and may have the potential to reverse complex I deficiency

Design and synthesis of a novel mPGES-1 lead inhibitor guided by 3D-QSAR CoMFA

The search of novel mPGES-1 inhibitors has recently intensified probably due to the superior safety in comparison to existing anti-inflammatory drugs. Although two mPGES-1 inhibitors have entered clinical trials, none has yet reached the market. In this study, we performed modifications guided by 3D-QSAR CoMFA on 2, which is an unsymmetrical curcumin derivative with low binding affinity towards mPGES-1. To counter the PAINS properties predicted for 2, the diketone linker was replaced with a pyrazole ring. On the other hand, both prenyl and carboxylate ester groups were introduced to improve the activity. When tested in vitro, 11 suppressed PGE2 biosynthesis in activated macrophages and showed promising human mPGES-1 inhibition in microsomes of interleukin-1β-stimulated A549 cells. Altogether, 11 has been identified as a potential mPGES-1 inhibitor and could be a promising lead for a novel class of mPGES-1 inhibitors

Prevalence, transitions and factors predicting transition between frailty states among rural community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia

Objectives This study aims to describe the prevalence and transitions of frailty among rural-community dwelling older adults in Malaysia and to analyse factors associated with different states of frailty transition. Frailty was conceptualized using modified Fried phenotype from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Design This is a prospective longitudinal study with 12-months follow up among older adults in Malaysia. Setting Kuala Pilah, a district in Negeri Sembilan, which is one of the fourteen states in Malaysia. Participants 2,324 community-dwelling older Malaysians aged 60 years and older. Results The overall prevalence of frailty in this study was 9.4% (95% CI 7.8–11.2). The prevalence increased at least three-fold with every 10 years of age. This increase was seen higher in women compared to men. Being frail was significantly associated with older age, women, and respondents with a higher number of chronic diseases, poor cognitive function and low socioeconomic status (p<0.05). During the 12-months follow-up, our study showed that the transition towards greater frailty states were more likely (22.9%) than transition toward lesser frailty states (19.9%) while majority (57.2%) Remained unchanged. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that presence of low physical activity increased the likelihood of worsening transition towards greater frailty states by three times (OR 2.9, 95% CI 2.2–3.7) and lowered the likelihood of transition towards lesser frailty states (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2–0.4). Conclusion Frailty is reported among one in every eleven older adults in this study. The prevalence increased across age groups and was higher among women than men. Frailty possesses a dynamic status due to its potential reversibility. This reversibility makes it a cornerstone to delay frailty progression. Our study noted that physical activity conferred the greatest benefit as a modifiable factor in frailty prevention

sj-docx-1-aph-10.1177_10105395241238092 – Supplemental material for Prevalence of Co-Occurrence of Physical Frailty and Malnutrition and Its Associated Factors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in a Rural District, Malaysia

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-aph-10.1177_10105395241238092 for Prevalence of Co-Occurrence of Physical Frailty and Malnutrition and Its Associated Factors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in a Rural District, Malaysia by Musastika Mustaffa, Noran Naqiah Hairi, Hazreen Abdul Majid, Wan Yuen Choo, Farizah Mohd Hairi, Devi Peramalah, Shathanapriya Kandiben, Zainudin Mohd Ali, Inayah Abdul Razak, Norliana Ismail, Rajini Sooryanarayana, Nur Sakinah Ahmad and Awang Bulgiba in Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health</p