Electrochemical Deposited Nickel Nanowires: Influence of Deposition Bath Temperature on the Morphology and Physical Properties

This paper investigates the influence of the electrolytic bath temperature on the morphology and physical properties of nickel (Ni) nanowires electrochemically deposited into the anodic alumina oxide porous membrane (AAO). The synthesis was performed using nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4.6H2O) and boric acid (H3BO3) as an electrolytic bath for the electrochemical deposition of Ni nanowires. During the experiment, the electrolyte bath temperature varied from 40°C, 80°C, and 120°C. After the electrochemical deposition process, AAO templates cleaned with distilled water preceding to dissolution in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to obtain free-standing Ni nanowires. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis were employed to characterize the morphology and physical properties of the synthesized Ni nanowires. Finding reveals the electrodeposition bath temperature significantly influences the morphology and physical properties of the synthesized Ni nanowires. Rougher surface texture, larger crystal size, and longer Ni nanowires obtained as the deposition bath temperature increased

Intestinal parasites in various animals at a zoo in Malaysia

A survey was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites from different groups of mammals housed in a zoological garden in Malaysia. A total of 197 faecal samples were collected randomly from various primates (99), hoofed mammals (70) and feline (28). It was discovered that 89.3% of feline, 54.5% of primates and 45.7% of hoofed mammals were infected with intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites found in primates were Balantidium coli (19.2%), Cryptosporidium spp. (14.1%), hookworm (10.1%), Trichuris spp. (5.1%), Ascaris (4.0%) and Blastocystis spp. (2.0%). For hoofed mammals, hookworm had the highest prevalence (34.3%) followed by Trichuris spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (5.7%). Meanwhile, for feline, Toxocara cati was the most prevalent (64.3%), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (14.3%), Spirometra spp. (7.1%), and hookworm (3.6%). Animals that were infected were all asymptomatic with low parasite load. Routine monitoring of the presence of parasites in animals kept in the zoo is imperative in assisting zoo management in the formulation and implementation of preventive and control measures against the spread of infectious parasitic diseases among animals within the zoo or to humans

Toxoplasmosis in HIV and non HIV prisoners in Malaysia

This is the first Malaysian study to determine the trend and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in HIV and non-HIV among prisoners in terms of socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics, clinical presentations and haematological distributions. Blood samples from 303 participants, comprising 133 HIV positive and 170 HIV negative inmates were collected in EDTA and plain tubes. Two mls of each blood sample in plain tubes were centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 minutes and the sera obtained were subjected to ELISA for detection of Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibody towards Toxoplasma antigen. Seropositive samples for Toxoplasma IgM or both Toxoplasma IgM and IgG were further tested with Novalisa Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity test to rule out acute from latent infections. Blood in EDTA tubes were sent to Clinical Diagnostic Lab (CDL), University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur for complete blood count and differential count analysis. Overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was detected in 41.9% (127 out of 303) of the participants. Anti-T. gondii antibodies was detected in 63.2% (84 out of 133) of HIV positive subjects and in 25.3% (43 out of 170) of HIV negative subjects. Seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was significantly higher in HIV positive than in HIV negative subjects (OR = 5.06; 95% CI = 3.09-8.30; p < 0.001). The rate of T. gondii seropositivity increased significantly in those aged 40 years and above, HIV positive individuals and those with history of drug abuse. White blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils and basophils counts decreased significantly in those infected with Toxoplasma. Creating awareness about T. gondii infection and follow-up of their status is recommended. Moreover, screening of T. gondii infection in HIV-infected individuals should be considered for better treatment and management, including control and prevention

Nontypeable haemophilus influenzae induces sustained lung oxidative stress and protease expression

© 2015 King et al. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a prevalent bacterium found in a variety of chronic respiratory diseases. The role of this bacterium in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation is not well defined. In this study we examined the effect of NTHi on two important lung inflammatory processes 1), oxidative stress and 2), protease expression. Bronchoalveolar macrophages were obtained from 121 human subjects, blood neutrophils from 15 subjects, and human-lung fibroblast and epithelial cell lines from 16 subjects. Cells were stimulated with NTHi to measure the effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and extracellular trap formation. We also measured the production of the oxidant, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in the lungs of mice infected with this bacterium. NTHi induced widespread production of 3-NT in mouse lungs. This bacterium induced significantly increased ROS production in human fibroblasts, epithelial cells, macrophages and neutrophils; with the highest levels in the phagocytic cells. In human macrophages NTHi caused a sustained, extracellular production of ROS that increased over time. The production of ROS was associated with the formation of macrophage extracellular trap-like structures which co-expressed the protease metalloproteinase-12. The formation of the macrophage extracellular trap-like structures was markedly inhibited by the addition of DNase. In this study we have demonstrated that NTHi induces lung oxidative stress with macrophage extracellular trap formation and associated protease expression. DNase inhibited the formation of extracellular traps

Distribution of mosquito larvae in various breeding sites in National Zoo Malaysia

Mosquitoes are principal vectors of major vector-borne diseases. They are widely found throughout urban and rural areas in Malaysia. They are responsible for various vectorborne diseases such as dengue, malaria, filariasis and encephalitis. A total of 158 mosquito larvae specimens were collected from the National Zoo, Malaysia, from 11 types of breeding habitats during the study period from end of May 2007 to July 2007. Aedes albopictus was the predominant species (35.4%), followed by Tripteroides aranoides (26.6%), Lutzia halifaxii (11.4%), Aedes alboscutellatus (10.1%), Aedes caecus (8.9%), Armigeres spp. (4.4%), Malaya genurostris (2.5%) and Culex vishnui (0.6%). It is important to have a mosquito free environment in a public place like the zoo. Routine larval surveillance should be implemented for an effective mosquito control program in order to reduce mosquito population

Spatial pattern of 2009 dengue distribution in Kuala Lumpur using GIS application

In the last few years in Malaysia, dengue fever has increased dramatically and has caused huge public health concerns. The present study aimed to establish a spatial distribution of dengue cases in the city of Kuala Lumpur using a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial statistical tools. Collation of data from 1,618 dengue cases in 2009 was obtained from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). These data were processed and then converted into GIS format. Information on the average monthly rainfall was also used to correlate with the distribution pattern of dengue cases. To asses the spatial distribution of dengue cases, Average Nearest Neighbor (ANN) Analysis was applied together with spatial analysis with the ESRI ArcGIS V9.3 programme. Results indicated that the distribution of dengue cases in Kuala Lumpur for the year 2009 was spatially clustered with R value less than 1 (R = 0.42; z-scores = - 4.47; p < 0.001). Nevertheless, when this pattern was further analyzed according to month by each zone within Kuala Lumpur, two distinct patterns were observed which include a clustered pattern (R value 1) between August and November. In addition, the mean monthly rainfall has not influenced the distribution pattern of the dengue cases. Implementation of control measures is more difficult for dispersed pattern compared to clustered pattern. From this study, it was found that distribution pattern of dengue cases in Kuala Lumpur in 2009 was spatially distributed (dispersed or clustered) rather than cases occurring randomly. It was proven that by using GIS and spatial statistic tools, we can determine the spatial distribution between dengue and population. Utilization of GIS tools is vital in assisting health agencies, epidemiologist, public health officer, town planner and relevant authorities in developing efficient control measures and contingency programmes to effectively combat dengue fever

HBV DNA suppression during entecavir treatment in previously treated children with chronic hepatitis B

The aim of this study was to assess HBV DNA suppression after 24 weeks of treatment with entecavir in previously treated children with CHB. Thirty children aged 5–17 years (25 males and 5 females) with CHB were treated with entecavir 0.5 or 1 mg daily. Twenty-two children were HBeAg-positive, eight were HBeAg-negative, and in eight HBV polymerase mutations were detected. After 24 weeks of treatment, mean and median HBV DNA levels and ALT activity were lower versus baseline, overall and in both subgroups. The overall median HBV DNA level decreased from 1.2 x 107 IU/mL to 3.3 x 102 IU/mL (p < 0.000004), in HBeAg-positive from 7.8x107 IU/mL to 6.3x103 IU/mL (p < 0.00004), and in HBeAg-negative from 2.5x104 IU/mL to 5.01x101 IU/mL (p < 0.03). The serum HBV DNA disappearance was observed in 7/8 (88%) HBeAg-negative and in 5/22 (23%) HBeAg-positive patients. The overall mean ALT activity decreased from 164+ 290 U/L to 34.1+ 18.9 U/L (p < 0.000007), in HBeAg-positive from 214+326 U/L to 38.59+19.2 U/L (p < 0.000074), and in HBeAg-negative from 27+14 U/L to 20+8 U/L (p < 0.03). Twenty-four weeks of treatment with entecavir results in suppression of HBV DNA in a substantial proportion of children previously treated ineffectively with CHB

Seroprevalence of dengue amongst inhabitants of the semi-forested and forest fringe areas of peninsular Malaysia

Dengue is an endemic disease in the urban areas of the tropics and subtropics regions of the world. Its significance in the semi-forested and forest fringe areas, however, has not been well described. The present study investigated the seroprevalence of dengue amongst the indigenous or Orang Asli communities of peninsular Malaysia and correlated it with the population, socio-economic and geographical attributes of the communities’ surroundings