Extraction of biological hydroxyapatite from bovine bone for biomedical applications

Current biomedical field demands intensive research on cost-effective and high availability materials to fulfil its various applications. Owing to its similar characteristic to human bone, biological hydroxyapatite (HAp) has been used as an alternative in bone replacement and implantation. In this study, biological HAp was extracted from bovine bones via calcination. Powders calcined at 700 °C and 900 °C showed the presence of HAp. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis shows that the irregular morphology emerged and the size was increasing as the calcination temperature increased. By increasing the temperature of 1100 °C, β-TCP (beta-tricalcium phosphate) started to develop and influenced the ratio of Ca/P. At 900 °C, the Ca/P ratio obtained was 1.70, and closest to the theoretical ratio of Ca/P. The presence of trace elements like Ca, Mg, Sr Na, K and Zn in all samples are proved via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, and these elements help to enhance the bioactivity hence make it a good alternative in biomedical applications

Water quality assessment at Royal Belum State Park, Perak, Malaysia

This study demonstrated water quality study at the Royal Belum State Park, Perak. The Royal Belum State Park is one the major reservoir for water resource in Perak and under National Heritage Site UNESCO. The lake is surrounded by the reserved forest and rich with flora and fauna. The Royal Belum State Park is considered as one of the oldest, protected, undisturbed and pristine land mass in Peninsular Malaysia of more that 130 million years old. This lake provides biodiversity education, research, and ecotourism to the public. One of the major attractions is the houseboat. There are more than ten (10) houseboats operated every day due to the high demand from the local and international tourists. Due to this activity, water quality of the lake has been deteriorated and required short and long-term mitigation measures. Water quality study (ex-situ and in-situ measurements) was conducted at selected six (6) sampling locations (e.g., Royal Belum registration point, Sungai Tiang, Kg. Orang Asli, houseboat docking area, Kem Sg. Tiang and houseboat parking area). The water quality index (WQI) measurement of all sampling points is in the range of 60-80, indicating that the WQI value is under class II and III. The WQI values are significantly deteriorated by the concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The water quality at Kg.Orang Asli, Sg. Tiang and houseboat parking area slightly deteriorated compared to other sampling points. This is probably due the leakage of petrol from the houseboat, stagnant water at certain area of the lake (e.g., Kem. Sg. Tiang), discharge of wastewater and sullage water from the houseboat and unknown non-point source nearby the lake. Therefore, the Perak State Government, State Parks Corporation, and other relevant authority (e.g., NGOs) should play an important role to preserve and sustain the water quality at the Royal Belum State Park, Perak because this lake is one of significant source of clean water supply in Perak

Global perspective of familial hypercholesterolaemia: a cross-sectional study from the EAS Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC)

Background The European Atherosclerosis Society Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) global registry provides a platform for the global surveillance of familial hypercholesterolaemia through harmonisation and pooling of multinational data. In this study, we aimed to characterise the adult population with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and described how it is detected and managed globally. Methods Using FHSC global registry data, we did a cross-sectional assessment of adults (aged 18 years or older) with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of probable or definite heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia at the time they were entered into the registries. Data were assessed overall and by WHO regions, sex, and index versus non-index cases. Findings Of the 61 612 individuals in the registry, 42 167 adults (21 999 [53·6%] women) from 56 countries were included in the study. Of these, 31 798 (75·4%) were diagnosed with the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria, and 35 490 (84·2%) were from the WHO region of Europe. Median age of participants at entry in the registry was 46·2 years (IQR 34·3–58·0); median age at diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia was 44·4 years (32·5–56·5), with 40·2% of participants younger than 40 years when diagnosed. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors increased progressively with age and varied by WHO region. Prevalence of coronary disease was 17·4% (2·1% for stroke and 5·2% for peripheral artery disease), increasing with concentrations of untreated LDL cholesterol, and was about two times lower in women than in men. Among patients receiving lipid-lowering medications, 16 803 (81·1%) were receiving statins and 3691 (21·2%) were on combination therapy, with greater use of more potent lipid-lowering medication in men than in women. Median LDL cholesterol was 5·43 mmol/L (IQR 4·32–6·72) among patients not taking lipid-lowering medications and 4·23 mmol/L (3·20–5·66) among those taking them. Among patients taking lipid-lowering medications, 2·7% had LDL cholesterol lower than 1·8 mmol/L; the use of combination therapy, particularly with three drugs and with proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 inhibitors, was associated with a higher proportion and greater odds of having LDL cholesterol lower than 1·8 mmol/L. Compared with index cases, patients who were non-index cases were younger, with lower LDL cholesterol and lower prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases (all p<0·001). Interpretation Familial hypercholesterolaemia is diagnosed late. Guideline-recommended LDL cholesterol concentrations are infrequently achieved with single-drug therapy. Cardiovascular risk factors and presence of coronary disease were lower among non-index cases, who were diagnosed earlier. Earlier detection and greater use of combination therapies are required to reduce the global burden of familial hypercholesterolaemia. Funding Pfizer, Amgen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Sanofi–Aventis, Daiichi Sankyo, and Regeneron