The effects of hip- and ankle-focused exercise intervention on dynamic knee valgus: a systematic review

Background A range of non-contact injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament tear, and patellofemoral pain syndrome are caused by disordered knee joint loading from excessive dynamic knee valgus (DKV). Previous systematic reviews showed that DKV could be modified through the influence of hip strength and ankle range of motion. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effects of exercise intervention which involved either top-down or bottom-up kinetic chains on minimizing DKV in male and female adults and adolescents, with and without existing knee pain. Methodology Electronic searches were conducted in SAGE, Science Direct, SCOPUS, and Pubmed. The search strategy consisted of medical subject headings and free-text search keywords, synonyms and variations of ‘exercise intervention,’ ‘knee alignment,’ ‘dynamic knee valgus’, ‘knee abduction’ that were merged via the Boolean operator ‘AND’ and ‘OR’. The search was conducted on full-text journals that documented the impact of the exercise intervention program involving either the bottom-up or top-down DKV mechanism on the knee kinematics. Furthermore, exercise intervention in this review should last at least one week which included two or three sessions per week. This review also considered both men and women of all ages with a healthy or symptomatic knee problem. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed by Cochrane risk assessment tool. The protocol of this review was registered at PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021219121). Results Ten studies with a total of 423 participants (male = 22.7%, female = 77.3%; adults = 249, adolescents = 123; pre-adolescent = 51) met the inclusion criteria of this review. Seven studies showed the significant effects of the exercise intervention program (range from two weeks to ten weeks) on reducing DKV. The exercise training in these seven studies focused on muscle groups directly attached to the knee joint such as hamstrings and gastrocnemius. The remaining three studies did not show significant improvement in DKV after the exercise intervention (range between eight weeks to twelve weeks) probably because they focused on trunk and back muscles instead of muscles crossing the knee joint. Conclusion Exercises targeting specific knee-joint muscles, either from top-down or bottom-up kinetic chain, are likely to reduce DKV formation. These results may assist athletes and coaches to develop effective exercise program that could minimize DKV and ultimately prevent lower limb injuries

Telehealth Model in Improving Health Service during COVID-19 Pandemic

Research studying the effectiveness of the telehealth model is needed to strengthen the results of this study. Objectives: This review aimed to systematically describe, evaluate, and conclude regarding the telehealth model that can improve the quality of health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out on four databases namely Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and ProQuest to identify studies written in English in the last three years on the implementation of telehealth in improving the quality of health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Result: Based on the 11 studies that have been analyzed, the telehealth models used in improving health services are video, audio, Virtual Urgent Care, and web-based. Telehealth can improve the quality of health services in rural and urban areas. Conclusion: Synchronous/real-time telehealth through video is the most widely used model in improving health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore

Syzygium polyanthum protects against hypertensive induced kidney damage in spontaneous hypertensive rat model

Syzygium polyanthum is traditionally used as anti-hypertensive agent. However, the nephroprotective effects of S. polyanthum against hypertensive induced chronic kidney disease has yet to be elucidated. This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant properties and nephroprotective effects of aqueous extract of S. polyanthum (AESP) in the spontaneous hypertensive rat model (SHR). The phytochemical constituent was identified using the phytochemical screening and HPLC methods. The in vitro antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Fifty male SHR were equally divided into 5 groups, (n=10/group); Untreated-SHR, 20 mg/kg Losartan-treated SHR, 1500 mg/kg AESP treated SHR, 1750 mg/kg AESP treated SHR and 2250 mg/kg AESP treated SHR, while 10 male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as control. Losartan and AESP were administered by oral gavage. Rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks of experiment. The phytochemicals include phenolics, flavonoids and alkaloids were identified. AESP has high antioxidant activity as shown by antioxidant assays. AESP normalised systolic blood pressure (p<0.05) and significantly improved renal function (p<0.05). AESP also significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.05) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the serum as compared to untreated-SHR group (p<0.05). Ultrastructure of renal damage improved by supplementation of AESP. Conclusively, S. polyanthum is potential to alleviate hypertensive induced chronic kidney disease through its antioxidant properties

Accounting for Islamic finance

This book is an effort to document the application of the Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS) on Islamic finance transactions in Islamic banking, takaful entities and Islamic asset management in Malaysia. There are 15 chapters in this book which are divided into four parts. Part I, which covers Chapters 1 to 3, provides a background on Islamic finance development in Malaysia and sets the scene to the rest of the chapters in this book. Chapter 1 discusses the differences between Islamic and conventional financial institutions which comprise banking, takaful and asset management companies. Chapter 2 explains Malaysia’s journey on Islamic banking where, among others, it entails discussion on development of regulatory requirements on Islamic finance since 1983 and using accrual accounting for Islamic finance transactions. While Chapter 3 focuses on the adoption of accounting standards by the Islamic financial institutions and its implications on Islamic finance. Parts II to IV that cover 12 chapters, discuss the application of MFRSs on assets, liabilities, income, expenses and equity of Islamic banks, takaful entities and Islamic asset management companies. The discussion on assets, liabilities and equity look at definition/nature, recognition, measurement as well as presentation and disclosure of the items in the financial statements of these entities. Parts II and III that cover Islamic banking and takaful entities respectively, also include an introduction chapter on understanding of Islamic banks’ and takaful entities’ financial statements as well as a brief discussion on future consideration of accounting standards for those entities, given the continuous development of the accounting standards affecting them. It is our hope that this book would instil the knowledge of applying MFRSs on Islamic finance transactions among the students of universities and institute of higher learning as well as provide useful reference materials in teaching the application of MFRS on Islamic finance transactions. In addition, this book could be a point of reference that explains and clarifies the rationale behind current applications of MFRS for Islamic finance either for Islamic financial institutions or other industries

Telehealth Model in Improving Health Service During COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: This review aimed to systematically describe, evaluate, and conclude regarding the telehealth model that can improve the quality of health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out on four databases namely Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and ProQuest to identify studies written in English in the last three years on the implementation of telehealth in improving the quality of health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Result: Based on the 11 studies that have been analyzed, the telehealth models used in improving health services are video, audio, Virtual Urgent Care, and web-based. Telehealth can improve the quality of health services in rural and urban areas

Morphological evaluation of aortic vessel in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) Models

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been well established as a suitable model for hypertension research, but little is known about the morphology of hypertensive vascular remodeling in this model. The present study was designed to investigate the structural changes of blood vessels in 6 months aged SHR in comparison to their corresponding model, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). The study utilised 12 male rats; which were equally divided into 6 SHR and 6 WKY. During dissection, thoracic aorta was harvested for histological examination. To evaluate the morphological appearance of SHR and WKY, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain was done. Whereas Scanning electron microscopy was applied to view the ultrastructure of the vessel. The result shows that the aorta histology of WKY looks normal; depicted by showing smooth intima with a single layer of endothelial cells. In contrast with SHR, the structure was slightly distorted and thicker intima observed; suggesting vascular remodeling has occurred

Genomic analysis of a functional haloacid-degrading gene of Bacillus megaterium strain BHS1 isolated from Blue Lake (Mavi Gölü, Turkey)

Purpose: Bacillus megaterium strain BHS1, isolated from an alkaline water sample taken from Mavi Gölü (Blue Lake, Turkey), can grow on minimal medium containing 2,2-dichloropropionic acid. We characterized this bacterium at the genomic level. Methods: The HiSeq platform was used to carry out genome sequencing, de novo assembly, and scaffolding with strain BHS1. Next, genome data were analyzed to demarcate DNA regions containing protein-coding genes and determine the function of certain BHS1 genes. Finally, results from a colorimetric chloride ion–release assay demonstrated that strain BHS1 produces dehalogenase. Results: De novo assembly of the BHS1 genomic sequence revealed a genome size of ~ 5.37 Mb with an average G+C content of 38%. The predicted nuclear genome harbors 5509 protein-coding genes, 1353 tRNA genes, 67 rRNA genes, and 6 non-coding (mRNA) genes. Genomic mapping of strain BHS1 revealed its amenability to synthesize two families of dehalogenases (Cof-type haloacid dehalogenase IIB family hydrolase and haloacid dehalogenase type II), suggesting that these enzymes can participate in the catabolism of halogenated organic acids. The mapping identified seven Na+ /H+ antiporter subunits that are vital for adaptation of the bacterium to an alkaline environment. Apart from a pairwise analysis to the well-established L-2-haloacid dehalogenases, whole-cell analysis strongly suggested that the haloacid dehalogenase type II might act stereospecifically on L-2-chloropropionic acid, D,L-2-chloropropionic acid, and 2,2-dichloropropionic acid. Whole-cell studies confirmed the utilization of these three substrates and the gene’s role in dehalogenation. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the full genome sequence for strain BHS1, which enabled the characterization of selected genes having specific metabolic activities and their roles in the biodegradation of halogenated compounds