IN VITRO ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITIES OF INDONESIAN MARINE SPONGE AAPTOS AAPTOS AND CALLYSPONGIA PSEUDORETICULATA EXTRACTS AND THEIR TOXICITY AGAINST Vibrio spp.

Vibriosis is one of diseases which often results in mass mortality of Penaeus monodon larval rearing systems. It attacks shrimp of all stages in zoea, mysis and shrimp postlarva stage. This disease is caused by Vibrio spp, particularly Vibrio harveyi (a luminescent bacterium). Several kinds of antibiotics and chemical material have been used to overcome the disease but they have side effects to environment and human. The searching of bioactive compounds as an alternative treatment has been done for multi purposes. In this study diethyl eter, butanol and aqueous extract of Indonesian sponges Aaptos aaptos and Callyspongia pseudoreticulata were tested for in vitro activity against Vibrio spp. and Vibrio harveyi by using disc diffusion method. The result showed that all extracts of Aaptos aaptos gave a positive antibacterial activity towards those pathogenic bacteria. Meanwhile, only butanol extract of Callyspongia pseudoreticulata obtained to exhibit an antibacterial activity on those pathogenic bacteria. The strong anti-vibrio activity were shown by butanol and aqueous extract of Aaptos aaptos with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.313 and 0.625 mg/mL, respectively. Whilst, the butanol extract of Callyspongia pseudoreticulata indicated a low antibacterial activity with the MIC value of 10 mg/mL. Toxicity of those active extracts was evaluated by Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BST). Interestingly, butanol and aqueous extracts of Aaptos aaptos did not show any toxic effect in Artemia salina larvae up to 8 x MIC (2.504 mg/mL and 5.000 mg/mL). It is the first report for the anti-vibr io activity of both Aaptos aaptos and Callyspongia pseudoreticulata. This results suggest that Aaptos aaptos has a potential to be used as a source of alternative compound to vibriosis prevention for mariculture

Deep Transcriptome Sequencing of Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients at Diagnosis, Remission and Relapse: Experience in 3 Malaysian Children in a Single Center Study

Among the many types of leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affects 20% of diagnosed hematological malignancies in pediatric patients (Meshinchi and Arceci, 2007; de Rooij et al., 2015). Standard chemotherapy regimen remains as the first line treatment for pediatric AML, however nearly 40% of AML patients may suffer from relapse and eventually die from the disease (de Rooij et al., 2015). Similarly, it has been reported that 50% of the pediatric AML relapsed within 12–18 months of diagnosis and 45% of those relapsed were not expected to survive (Creutzig et al., 2014). Despite advances in cytogenetic analysis through fluorescence in situ hybridization and multiplex PCR, there is still a need for a better and comprehensive molecular profiling. For instance, microarray has long been used to study the gene expression profiles of AML patients. The different profile of gene expression has enabled clinicians to tailor better treatment for patients and predict whether patients have the tendency to relapse (Goswami et al., 2009). In a recent study, Handschuch et al. reported that three genes, ANXA3, S100A9, and WT1 can differentiate between different prognostic types of AML (Handschuh et al., 2018). The study outcome was in agreement with another study conducted by Shimada et al. (2012), where a high expression of WT1 gene showed prognostic impact in pediatric AML (Shimada et al., 2012). Another study by Jo et al. (2015) reported that high expression of EVI1 and MEL1 could predict the prognosis of pediatric AML (Jo et al., 2015). However, none of the biomarkers identified from these studies have been translated into clinical use. Therefore, the search continues for additional promising biomarkers, notably novel transcripts, novel fusion genes and non-coding RNAs which are not represented in the microarray platform. Transcriptome sequencing through next generation sequencing represents an effective approach to discover new genetic information on gene expression which may contribute to tumorigenesis. Notably, several novel and rare fusion transcripts have been identified from AML patients via RNA-sequencing (Padella et al., 2015). A recent study combining whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing in pediatric cancers has identified 240 pathogenic variants with increased sensitivity (Rusch et al., 2018). Previous studies in relapsed AML have shown that the cells acquired additional genetic mutations that were either different or evolved from subclones of diagnostic blasts cells (Padella et al., 2015; Rusch et al., 2018). Nevertheless, little is known about the genetic changes at the transcriptomic level at diagnostic, remission and relapse stages of the same patients, especially in the Malaysian population

In vitro developmental study of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) polyembryoids from cell suspension using scanning electron microscopy

In the present study, we report the in vitro development of polyembryoids with identification of a definite stage that can be used for subsequent uniform plantlet regeneration in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Induction and maturation of polyembryoids was accomplished when cell suspension culture was transferred in MS (Murashige and Skoog, Physiol Plant 15:473–497, 1962) semisolid medium consisting of 30 g L−1 sucrose and 3.5 g L−1 gelrite® devoid of any plant growth regulator. Growth and development of cell suspension culture into polyembryoids were assessed by stereo and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify the sequential events as well as the differentiation that occur during each stage. Observations on the differentiation symptoms showed that the embryos pass through distinct morphological characteristics indicating distinctively varied stages. SEM observations indicated the development of extracellular network at an early stage of differentiation and acts as the structural marker of differentiation leading to the development of polyembryoids via formation of globular proembryo and haustorium. Eventually, a specific developmental stage comprising haustorium and torpedo-shaped structure was identified, for conservation, regeneration or multiplication, based on the embryogenic competence

Cardamonin, inhibits pro-inflammatory mediators in activated RAW 264.7 cells and whole blood

Some chalcones, such as hydroxychalcones have been reported previously to inhibit major pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species production by suppressing inducible enzyme expression via inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and nuclear translocation of critical transcription factors. In this report, the effects of cardamonin (2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxychalcone), a chalcone that we have previously isolated from Alpinia rafflesiana, was evaluated upon two cellular systems that are repeatedly used in the analysis of anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds namely RAW 264.7 cells and whole blood. Cardamonin inhibited NO and PGE2 production from lipopolysaccharide- and interferon-γ-induced RAW cells and whole blood with IC50 values of 11.4 μM and 26.8 μM, respectively. Analysis of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) secretion from whole blood either stimulated via the COX-1 or COX-2 pathway revealed that cardamonin inhibits the generation of TxB2 via both pathways with IC50 values of 2.9 and 1.1 μM, respectively. Analysis of IC50 ratios determined that cardamonin was more COX-2 selective in its inhibition of TxB2 with a ratio of 0.39. Cardamonin also inhibited the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and secretion of TNF-α from RAW 264.7 cells in a dose responsive manner with IC50 values of 12.8 μM and 4.6 μM, respectively. However, cardamonin was a moderate inhibitor of lipoxygenase activity when tested in an enzymatic assay system, in which not a single concentration tested was able to cause an inhibition of more than 50%. Our results suggest that cardamonin acts upon major pro-inflammatory mediators in a similar fashion as described by previous work on other closely related synthetic hydroxychalcones and strengthens the conclusion of the importance of the methoxyl moiety substitution on the 4′ or 6′ locations of the A benzene ring

Estimation of the product yield and collection efficiency of peripheral blood stem cell harvesting using peripheral blood CD34+ cells quantification / Habsah Aziz

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) have been used for transplantation since the early 1990s. CD34+ has been used as a marker of hematopoietic stem cells to determine the optimal timing for PBSC harvesting. However, a wide ranges of CD34+ cells cut-off values from 8/ul to 66/ul have been used to initiate PBSC harvesting in autologous patients. We performed here a study to determine the peripheral blood CD34+ cells cut-off value for the prediction of stem cell yield of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/kg body weight patients, to study the correlation between peripheral blood CD34+ cells and stem cell yield, to study the correlation between the day 1 post-apheresis and day 2 pre-apheresis CD34+ count and to study the collection efficiency of the apheresis protocol used. Forty eight patients with a total of 94 PBSC harvesting procedures were analyzed. All apheresis were performed using a COBE Spectra TM Apheresis System. Pre and post apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cells as well as the harvested CD34+ cell count were analysed using FACSCalibur flow cytometer. The CD34+ harvesting cut-off value was determined using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the correlation study was done using Pearson’s Correlation Analysis. The cut-off value of 27 cells/ul has been shown to predict a stem cell yield of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/ kg body weight with a single apheresis with 95% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity. Pre-apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cell count correlated well with the stem cell yields (r = 0.963 and p<0.001). The day 1 post-apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cell count correlates well with day 2 pre-apheresis count (r = 0.895), and a value of ≥ 25 cells/ul and may be able to predict the day 2 stem cell yield of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/ kg body weight. The median overall collection efficiency of the stem cell harvesting protocol was 63.7%. iv In conclusion, this study has shown that PB CD34+ count of 27 cells/ul will predict the stem cell yields of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/ kg body weight, and the apheresis protocol used for peripheral blood stem cell harvesting has gave satisfactory collection efficiency

Estimation of the product yield and collection efficiency of peripheral blood stem cell harvesting using peripheral blood CD34[+] cells quantification / Habsah Aziz

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) have been used for transplantation since the early 1990s. CD34+ has been used as a marker of hematopoietic stem cells to determine the optimal timing for PBSC harvesting. However, a wide ranges of CD34+ cells cut-off values from 8/ul to 66/ul have been used to initiate PBSC harvesting in autologous patients. We performed here a study to determine the peripheral blood CD34+ cells cut-off value for the prediction of stem cell yield of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/kg body weight patients, to study the correlation between peripheral blood CD34+ cells and stem cell yield, to study the correlation between the day 1 post-apheresis and day 2 pre-apheresis CD34+ count and to study the collection efficiency of the apheresis protocol used. Forty eight patients with a total of 94 PBSC harvesting procedures were analyzed. All apheresis were performed using a COBE Spectra TM Apheresis System. Pre and post apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cells as well as the harvested CD34+ cell count were analysed using FACSCalibur flow cytometer. The CD34+ harvesting cut-off value was determined using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the correlation study was done using Pearson’s Correlation Analysis. The cut-off value of 27 cells/ul has been shown to predict a stem cell yield of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/ kg body weight with a single apheresis with 95% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity. Pre-apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cell count correlated well with the stem cell yields (r = 0.963 and p<0.001). The day 1 post-apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cell count correlates well with day 2 pre-apheresis count (r = 0.895), and a value of ≥ 25 cells/ul and may be able to predict the day 2 stem cell yield of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/ kg body weight. The median overall collection efficiency of the stem cell harvesting protocol was 63.7%. In conclusion, this study has shown that PB CD34+ count of 27 cells/ul will predict the stem cell yields of 2 x106 CD34+ cells/ kg body weight, and the apheresis protocol used for peripheral blood stem cell harvesting has gave satisfactory collection efficiency

Gene Mutations as Emerging Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

It is believed that there are key differences in the genomic profile between adult and childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Relapse is the significant contributor of mortality in patients with AML and remains as the leading cause of cancer death among children, posing great challenges in the treatment of AML. The knowledge about the genomic lesions in childhood AML is still premature as most genomic events defined in children were derived from adult cohorts. However, the emerging technologies of next generation sequencing have narrowed the gap of knowledge in the biology of AML by the detection of gene mutations for each sub-type which have led to the improvement in terms of prognostication as well as the use of targeted therapies. In this review, we describe the recent understanding of the genomic landscape including the prevalence of mutation, prognostic impact, and targeted therapies that will provide an insight into the pathogenesis of AML relapse in both adult and childhood cases

Biosolids Management

© 2014 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved. Managing biosolids and wastewater is not an easy task. Requirements for higher degrees of wastewater treatment can increase the total volume of biosolids generated. The biosolids management options would be much complicated when the combination of more biosolids quantities, mixtures of biosolids, and increasing regulatory requirements have to be considered. In most of the treatment facilities, a large portion of total operating and maintenance costs is allocated for biosolids processing and disposal. This chapter will discuss in depth about biosolids management starting from the generation of the biosolids until they are ready to be reused or disposed of. The technological topics covered are biosolids production, classification of biosolids (primary, chemical, biological, other wastewater biosolids, etc.), biosolids treatment and processing (thickening, stabilization, conditioning, and dewatering), land application, and finally the use and disposal of biosolids

Decision tree method for fault causes classification based on RMS-DWT analysis in 275 kV transmission lines network

This paper presents a statistical algorithm for classification of fault causes on power transmission lines. The proposed algorithm is based upon the root mean square (RMS) current duration, voltage dip, and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) measured at the sending end of a line and the decision tree method, a commonly accessible measurable method. Fault duration of RMS current signal, voltage dip, and DWT gives concealed data of a fault signature as a contribution to decision tree calculation which is utilized to classify various fault causes. The proposed method was carried out in the MATLAB/SIMULINK programming platform based upon the information made with the fault analysis of the 275 kV sample transmission line considering wide variations in the operating conditions. The classifier performance of different parameters was also compared in a confusion matrix form to obtain the best classification results of the decision tree

Transient fault detection and location in power distribution network: a review of current practices and challenges in Malaysia

An auto-restoration tool to minimize the impact of faults is one of the critical requirements in a power distribution system. A fault-monitoring system is needed for practical remote supervision to identify faults and reduce their impacts, and thus reduce economic losses. An effective fault-monitoring system is beneficial to improve the reliability of a protection system when faults evolve. Therefore, fault monitoring could play an important role in enhancing the safety standards of systems. Among the various fault occurrences, the transient fault is a prominent cause in Malaysia power systems but gains less attention due to its ability of self-clearance, although sometimes it unnecessarily triggers the operation of protection systems. However, the transient fault is an issue that must be addressed based on its effect that can lead to outages and short-circuits if prolonged. In this study, the authors summarize the guidelines and related standards of fault interaction associated with a monitoring system. The necessity of transient fault detection and location techniques and their limitations, the need for signal processing, as well as recommended practices, are also discussed in this paper. Some of the practices from local power utility are also shared, indicating the current approaches, key challenges, and the opportunities for improvement of fault-monitoring systems due to transient fault, which can be correlated with the reviews provided