Antihyperglycemic and antioxidative effects of Lygodium microphyllum in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Objective: The antihyperglycemic and antioxidative effects of L. microphyllum were evaluated by using in vivo methods in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods:Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by injecting alloxan through intravenous (i. v) at a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight. Aqueous extract of L. microphyllum at different doses (400, 200 and 100 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally (orogastric intubation) for 14 d. Blood glucose and oxidative stress markers were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining method were used to examine the pancreatic tissues. Results: At the 14 d interval, fasting blood glucose showed a reduction in serum glucose levels in animals pretreated with L. microphyllum compared with alloxan alone treated group. Oxidative stress was noticed in rat’s pancreatic tissue as evidenced by a significant decrease in glutathione level, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase activities. Malondialdehyde showed a significant increase compared to the normal saline-treated control group. Serum biochemistry and oxidative stress markers were consistent with the pancreatic histopathological studies. Treatment of diabetic rats with L. microphyllum at a dose level of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight leaves extract for 14 d significantly prevented these alterations and attenuated alloxan-induced oxidative stress (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the antihyperglycemic potential of L. microphyllum might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. Thus, it is concluded that L. microphyllum may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress

Tekanan kerja dalam kalangan anggota bomba di balai bomba dan penyelamat KLIA, Selangor

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji tekanan kerja dalam kalangan anggota bomba di Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat KLIA dengan mengkhususkan kepada tiga objektif, iaitu (i) untuk mengenalpasti faktor tekanan kerja dominan, (ii) tahap tekanan kerja, dan (iii) hubungan antara tekanan kerja dengan demografi (umur, taraf pendidikan, status perkahwinan, tempoh perkhidmatan). Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kuantitatif melalui borang kaji selidik dengan melibatkan seramai 75 anggota bomba sebagai responden. Analisis dalam kajian ini melibatkan analisis statistik deskriptif dan inferensi. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa faktor tekanan kerja dominan dalam kalangan responden adalah faktor struktur dan iklim. Manakala tahap tekanan kerja berada pada kedudukan yang tinggi bagi kesemua faktor tekanan kerja. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan bahawa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara tekanan kerja dengan umur dan status perkahwinan responden, namun taraf pendidikan dan tempoh perkhidmatan menunjukkan sebaliknya. Kajian ini dirujuk penting agar pihak berkepentingan, terutama pihak pengurusan bomba untuk melaksanakan strategi yang agresif bagi mengurangkan tekanan kerja dalam kalangan anggotanya demi kesejahteraan hidup mereka. (Abstract by author

Tunable rectangular ring resonator filter with embedded shunt barium strontium titanate capacitors

Design of a low loss tunable bandpass filter using a microstrip ring resonator is presented. The tunability is achieved through the use of embedded shunt parallel plate variable capacitor implemented into the Low Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) substrate using thick film Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) paste. Measured data on the filter response, loss, and tunability in the frequency of 10 GHz and 12 GHz is presented. Results show filters produced low insertion loss with narrow tenability range

Whole-genome sequencing of streptomycin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain SBH145 from Sabah, Malaysia

This paper reports on the whole-genome sequencing of a streptomycin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain that was isolated from a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis in Sabah state of Malaysian Borneo. The strain belongs to the EAI2-Manila family of lineage 1 and is clustered with M. tuberculosis strains from the Philippines, India, and Taiwan

Islamic vs. conventional banking: Business model, efficiency and stability

How different are Islamic banks from conventional banks? Does the recent crisis justify a closer look at the Sharia-compliant business model for banking? When comparing conventional and Islamic banks, controlling for time-variant country-fixed effects, we find few significant differences in business orientation. There is evidence however, that Islamic banks are less cost-effective, but have a higher intermediation ratio, higher asset quality and are better capitalized. We also find large cross-country variation in the differences between conventional and Islamic banks as well as across Islamic banks of different sizes. Furthermore, we find that Islamic banks are better capitalized, have higher asset quality and are less likely to disintermediate during crises. The better stock performance of listed Islamic banks during the recent crisis is also due to their higher capitalization and better asset quality

Adolescent to Adolescent Transformation Program- Nurturing, Enhancing and Promoting Adolescents’ Healthy Habit (ATAP-NEPAH): Curbing Social Problems Among Adolescents in Kelantan Through Peer-To-Peer Health Education

The objectives of ATAP-NEPAH are to enhance and nurture healthy habits among adolescents as well as to empower adolescents in inculcating these healthy habits among them. Health education through peer-to-peer approach is used to instill the knowledge on important areas such as sexual and reproductive health, smoking, substance abuse, illegal street racing (rempit) and mental health. Specific modules were developed by experts (lecturers) in multidisciplinary fields in collaboration with Malaysian Association for Adolescent Health (MAAH), National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB), Reproductive Health Association of Kelantan (REHAK) and Rhaudatus Sakinah Kelantan. The trained Medical Students Facilitator Team (MSFT) of USM became trainers to secondary one school students. The selected school students were trained by the medical students to become peer educators to their juniors and peers. There was improvement in the readiness level of peer educators, knowledge and attitude towards healthy habits and risky behaviors of other school students after the intervention

Antioxidant and Antihypergl Ycemic activities of Lygodium Microphyllum against Alloxan-Induced Diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder that affects more than 415 million people worldwide. Lygodium microphyllum or better known as Old World Climbing Fem from the family Lygodiaceae, is an invasive climbing fem species that is distributed around Sabah Borneo and possesses many medicinal values in treating several diseases and for health care maintenance. The present study was designed to evaluate the antihyperglycemic potential of L. microphy/lum leaves extract against alloxan induced diabetes in rats. In vitro studies have shown that the extract possessed strong antioxidant activity and has ability to scavenge DPPH free radicals effectively. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of pharmaceutically active compounds of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and steroids. Total phenolic content of leaves was found to be 966.7 ± 0.03 mg/lOOg dried sample. The total flavonoid content of leaves was found to be 42.9 ± 0.01 mg/100g dried sample. Besides that, experiments designed for antihyperglycemic activity of L. microphy/lum against alloxan induced diabetes in rats. Body weight and blood glucose level were measured on interval of 14 days. Thirty-six Sprague Dawley rats were taken and randomly divided into six groups (n=6). Injection of alloxan (i.v.) at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight in rats resulted in a significant increase in serum glucose as compared to saline treated control. Also, oxidative stress was noticed in pancreatic tissue as evidenced by a significant decrease in glutathione level, glutathione reductase, glutathione-s-transferase, catalase activities, also a significant increase in malondialdehyde when compared to normal saline treated control group. Pancreases were also examined histopathologically by haematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress markers were consistent with the pancreatic histopathological studies. Treatment of diabetic rats with L. microphyllum at a dose level of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight leaves extract for 14 days significantly prevented these alterations and attenuated alloxan-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, the aqueous extract of L. microphy//um may be a good source of natural antioxidant. The results of the present study indicates that the antihyperglycemic potentials of L. microphy/lum might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. Thus, it concluded that L. microphy/lum may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress

Detection of copper (II) ion on chitosan film using microstrip ring resonator

The detection of copper (II) ion (Cu2+), using chitosan film and ring resonator is presented in this paper. Chitosan has the ability to adsorb metal ion due to abundant reactive amino and hydroxyl groups. The adsorption amount is confirmed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and the mechanism of ion conduction in the film, due to adsorption of Cu2+ ion was examined using impedance spectroscopy. The film was then introduced to ring resonator to detect the presence of Cu2+ ion at a frequency of 5 GHz. Results show that the film can adsorb Cu2+ ion at low concentration of 1 mg/l and the ring resonator together with chitosan film is able to detect the presence and changes in Cu2+ ion concentration from the shift in the resonance frequency. This shift in the resonance frequency was then used to calculate the Q factor and effective permittivity of the chitosan film

Chitosan-Bentonite crosslinked film as indicator for copper (II) ions adsorption

This paper reports on chitosan/bentonite crosslinked (ChB-ECH) film for removal of Cu (II). The effects of chitosan/bentonite ratio on the removal percentage were studied along with the effect of different Cu (II) concentration and the contact time on the film adsorption capacity, qt. The electrical properties of the film are studied, before and after the adsorption occurred, by using impedance spectroscopy for different parameters such as DC conductivity, the complex dielectric constants (ε′ and ε″) and complex electrical modulas (M′ and M″). The results showed that the chitosan/bentonite ratio of 3:1 produces highest removal percentage at 29%, while the contact time of 120 minutes was found to be optimum. An increment in the DC conductivity of the ChB-ECH film's was observed up to 10−7 S/cm as the removal percentage of film increased. The film with the highest Cu (II) adsorb also showed the highest value for ε′ and ε″ while exhibiting non-Derby behavior. Shifting of peak amplitude of the M″ towards the higher frequency was also observed as the Cu (II) adsorption in the film increased. The results showed that all the electrical parameters can be utilized to determine the amount of adsorbed copper (II) in chitosan/bentonite film

Sodium-based chitosan polymer embedded with copper selenide (CuSe) flexible film for high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency

Efficient shielding materials are extremely important to minimize the effect of electromagnetic interference. Currently, various composite materials are being investigated with different shielding efficiencies reported. In this paper, a flexible and free-standing sodium-based chitosan (CH/Na) polymer with copper selenide (CuSe) filler was prepared for electromagnetic shielding. The CH/Na/CuSe polymer matrix was prepared via the direct casting technique at different wt% of CuSe, varying from 2 to 20 wt%. The polymer matrix was then characterised by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to confirm the interaction between the CH/Na and CuSe. The XRD results revealed that the CH/Na/CuSe polymer was successfully formed. Improvement in the electrical conductivity was confirmed by an impedance spectroscopy measurement. The highest electrical conduction recorded was at 3.69 × 10−5 S/cm for CH/Na/CuSe polymer matrix with 20 wt% CuSe. An increase in total electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency (SET) of up to 20 dB (99% EM power shield) was achieved, and it can be increased up to 34 dB (99.9% EM power shield) with the thickness of the polymer increased