Detection and cloning of Phospholipase C‐zeta (PLCζ) gene fragments from testes of Rattus tiomanicus (Malayan wood rat).

PLC‐zeta is a novel, sperm‐specific phospholipase‐C that is highly effective in causing Ca2+ oscillation and activation in mouse eggs during fertilization. Upon sperm‐oocyte fusion, PLC‐zeta diffuse into the oocyte cytosol and stimulate the inositol1, 4, 5‐trisphosphate (IP3) pathway thus increasing IP3 levels and activating IP3 receptor‐mediated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. This event will trigger oocyte activation, essential for embryo development. The importance of PLC‐zeta was demonstrated when PLC‐zeta removal from sperm extracts stops Ca2+ release in eggs. In addition, sperm from transgenic mice expressing short hairpin RNAs targeting PLC‐zeta mRNA has been shown to reduce PLC‐zeta protein and significantly disturbs the calcium oscillatory behavior of eggs inseminated with these sperm. Rattus tiomanicus (Malayan wood rat) is the predominant rodent pest targeting oil palm estates in Malaysia. Various methods have been used to control their population. In the current study, PLC‐zeta expression was detected using one‐step RT‐PCR from the testes. The PLC‐zeta sequence of R. tiomanicus showed strong similarity on alignment with PLC‐zeta sequence of R. norvegicus. Discovery of a highly conserved PLC‐zeta among rodents and understanding of the molecular properties of PLC‐zeta can lead to further development of alternative approaches of controlling them in a more environmental friendly way. Disruption of the expression of PLC‐zeta in R. tomianicus could lead to poor fertility in the male thus lowering the population of this pest and its deleterious effects to the agriculture sector especially oil palm, one of the most broadly grown crops in South East Asia

Narrative problem-based learning in biomedical sciences

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a process of acquiring knowledge based on the problem given. This method will give understanding on the underlying problem. PBL improves teaching practices by replacing traditional teaching methods. It reduces the passive information giving process thus making undergraduate education a platform for life¬long learning. PBL reverses the traditional approach to teaching and learning. Problem based learning is a method of teaching and learning where the students need to be proactive in their discussion. Case studies were given and students were required to explore from all aspect of Biomedical Science to help them to understand the situation underlying it. Narrative Problem-based Learning was based on non_ction events. It was taken from the experience of those who underwent the events. Triggers presented in each topic were aimed to help final year Biomedical students to integrate knowledge gained throughout their study in the field of Biomedical Sciences

Culture conflict amongst Malaysian children

Culture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution. Culture is in our lives and relationships, giving us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments, and ideas of self and others. Though cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing conflict and attempts to resolve conflict in imperceptible ways. Two things that are essential to remember about culture: they are always changing, and they relate to the symbolic dimension of life. The symbolic dimension is the place where we are constantly making meaning and enacting our identities. Cultural messages from the groups we belong in giving us information about what is meaningful or important, and who we are in the world and in relation to others. Therefore, this paper will discuss the culture conflict undergo by children in Malaysia arise from different cultural groups i.e ethnicity, from generation, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, ability and disability, and religious affiliation, language, and gender. The study sample comprises from 30 primary school students from three locations; urban, city and rural areas in Malaysia. Data were gathered using recording, interview, and questionnaire. Data will be analysed by using socio-pragmatic approach. The outcome of the research also indicated that aspects of context and cognition have also played an important role to overcome the cultural conflicts among Malaysian children

Study of indications for cardiac device implantation and utilisation in Fabry cardiomyopathy

Background: Fabry disease is a treatable X-linked condition leading to progressive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia and premature death. Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias contribute significantly to adverse prognosis; however, guidance to determine which patients require cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is sparse. We aimed to evaluate indications for implantation practice in the UK and quantify device utilisation. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included demographic, clinical and imaging data from patients in four of the largest UK Fabry centres. Ninety patients with Fabry disease were identified with CIEDs implanted between June 2001 and February 2018 (FD-CIED group). To investigate differences in clinical and imaging markers between those with and without devices, these patients were compared with 276 patients without a CIED (FD-control). Results: In the FD-CIED group, 92% of patients with permanent pacemakers but only 28% with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators had a class 1 indication for implantation. A further 44% of patients had defibrillators inserted for primary prevention outside of current guidance. The burden of arrhythmia requiring treatment in the FD-CIED group was high (asymptomatic atrial fibrillation: 29%; non-sustained ventricular tachycardia requiring medical therapy alone: 26%; sustained ventricular tachycardia needing anti-tachycardia pacing/defibrillation: 28%). Those with devices were older, had greater LV mass, more scar tissue and larger atrial size. Conclusions: Arrhythmias are common in Fabry patients. Those with cardiac devices had high rates of atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulation and ventricular arrhythmia needing device treatment. These are as high as those in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, supporting the need for Fabry-specific indications for device implantation

Medical Care Capacity for Influenza Outbreaks, Los Angeles

In December 1997, media reported hospital overcrowding and “the worst [flu epidemic] in the past two decades” in Los Angeles County (LAC). We found that rates of pneumonia and influenza deaths, hospitalizations, and claims were substantially higher for the 1997–98 influenza season than the previous six seasons. Hours of emergency medical services (EMS) diversion (when emergency departments could not receive incoming patients) peaked during the influenza seasons studied; the number of EMS diversion hours per season also increased during the seasons 1993–94 to 1997–98, suggesting a decrease in medical care capacity during influenza seasons. Over the seven influenza seasons studied, the number of licensed beds decreased 12%, while the LAC population increased 5%. Our findings suggest that the capacity of health-care systems to handle patient visits during influenza seasons is diminishing

Assessing for Cardiotoxicity from Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants with Advanced Multimodality Imaging Techniques.

BACKGROUND: High failure rates of metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants prompted regulatory authorities to issue worldwide safety alerts. Circulating cobalt from these implants causes rare but fatal autopsy-diagnosed cardiotoxicity. There is concern that milder cardiotoxicity may be common and underrecognized. Although blood metal ion levels are easily measured and can be used to track local toxicity, there are no noninvasive tests for organ deposition. We sought to detect correlation between blood metal ions and a comprehensive panel of established markers of early cardiotoxicity. METHODS: Ninety patients were recruited into this prospective single-center blinded study. Patients were divided into 3 age and sex-matched groups according to implant type and whole-blood metal ion levels. Group-A patients had a ceramic-on-ceramic [CoC] bearing; Group B, an MoM bearing and low blood metal ion levels; and Group C, an MoM bearing and high blood metal-ion levels. All patients underwent detailed cardiovascular phenotyping using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with T2*, T1, and extracellular volume mapping; echocardiography; and cardiac blood biomarker sampling. T2* is a novel CMR biomarker of tissue metal loading. RESULTS: Blood cobalt levels differed significantly among groups A, B, and C (mean and standard deviation [SD], 0.17 ± 0.08, 2.47 ± 1.81, and 30.0 ± 29.1 ppb, respectively) and between group A and groups B and C combined. No significant between-group differences were found in the left atrial or ventricle size, ejection fraction (on CMR or echocardiography), T1 or T2* values, extracellular volume, B-type natriuretic peptide level, or troponin level, and all values were within normal ranges. There was no relationship between cobalt levels and ejection fraction (R = 0.022, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.185 to 0.229) or T2* values (R = 0.108, 95% CI = -0.105 to 0.312). CONCLUSIONS: Using the best available technologies, we did not find that high (but not extreme) blood cobalt and chromium levels had any significant cardiotoxic effect on patients with an MoM hip implant. There were negligible-to-weak correlations between elevated blood metal ion levels and ejection fraction even at the extremes of the 95% CI, which excludes any clinically important association. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence