A study on the performance of Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts from 2005-2010 by using Net Asset Value approach

This paper is to understand the definition and the development of REIT in Malaysia and further examine performance of Malaysia REIT based on the Net Asset Value approach (NAV). This study also assesses the noise theory and explains why Malaysia REIT trade at NAV premium and NAV discount. Annual data series for annual closing price of the thirteen listed real estate investment trusts (ARREIT, AXREIT, TWREIT, AMFIRST, BSDREIT, AHP, AHP2, ALAQAR, HEKTAR, UOAREIT, QCAPITAL, ATRIUM and STAREIT) are obtained from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, also called Bursa Malaysia for the study period from 2005 to 2010. Information about total asset, total liabilities and number of shares outstanding are getting from the 13 MREIT’s respective annual financial report. The result showed that AHP2 has the lowest NAV value among the thirteen listed REIT in Malaysia and traded at NAV discount. This was compatible with the NAV discount in NAV approach. NAV discounts below the current stock prices are reflection of poor current and future prospects for firm earnings, mistakes in financing and operations decision. AXREIT is traded at NAV discount due to the irrational behaviour of investors in noise trader theory and not because it’s poor performance. Investors are overly optimistic about AXREIT according to noise theory. Overall, MREIT are traded at NAV premium. In conclusion, MREIT are generally much better companies in terms of disclosure, transparency, share liquidity, corporate democracy and depth of management

Polysaccharides from the root of Angelica sinensis promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the PI3K/AKT pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dozens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas have been used for promotion of "blood production" for centuries, and we are interested in developing novel thrombopoietic medicines from these TCMs. Our previous studies have demonstrated the hematopoietic effects of DangGui BuXue Tong (DBT), a formula composed of <it>Radix Angelicae Sinensis </it>and <it>Radix Astragali </it>in animal and cellular models. As a step further to identify and characterize the active chemical components of DBT, we tested the hematopoietic and particularly, thrombopoietic effects of polysaccharide-enriched fractions from the root of <it>Radix Angelicae Sinensis </it>(APS) in this study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A myelosuppression mouse model was treated with APS (10 mg/kg/day). Peripheral blood cells from APS, thrombopoietin and vehicle-treated samples were then counted at different time-points. Using the colony-forming unit (CFU) assays, we determined the effects of APS on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and megakaryocytic lineages. Using a megakaryocytic cell line M-07e as model, we analyzed the cellular apoptosis progression with and without APS treatment by Annexin V, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Caspase 3 assays. Last, the anti-apoptotic effect of APS on cells treated with Ly294002, a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinse inhibitor (PI3K) was also tested.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In animal models, APS significantly enhanced not only the recovery of platelets, other blood cells and their progenitor cells, but also the formation of Colony Forming Unit (CFU). In M-07e cells, we observed the anti-apoptotic effect of APS. Treatment by Ly294002 alone increased the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis. However, addition of APS to Ly294002-treated cells significantly reduced the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>APS promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in the mouse model. This effect likely resulted from the anti-apoptosis activity of APS and is likely to involve the PI3K/AKT pathway.</p

Characterization of in Vitro Modified Human Very Low-Density Lipoprotein Particles and Phospholipids by Capillary Electrophoresis

A simple capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method was used to characterize human very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles for four healthy donors. One major peak was observed for native, in vitro oxidized and glycated VLDL particles. The effective mobilities and peak areas of the capillary electrophoresis (CE) profiles showed good reproducibility and precision. The mobility of the oxidized VLDL peak was higher than that of the native VLDL. The mobility of the glycated VLDL peak was similar to that of the native VLDL. Phospholipids isolated from VLDL particles were analyzed by our recently developed micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with a high-salt stacking method. At absorbance 200 nm, the native VLDL phospholipids showed a major peak and a minor peak for each donor. For oxidized VLDL phospholipids, the area of the major peak reduced for three donors, possibly due to phospholipid decomposition. For glycated VLDL phospholipids, the peak mobilities were more positive than native VLDL phospholipids for two donors, possibly due to phospholipid-linked advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Very interestingly, at absorbance 234 nm, the major peak of oxidized VLDL phospholipids was resolved as two peaks for each donor, possibly due to conjugated dienes formed upon oxidation

Chemical Analysis of C‑Reactive Protein Synthesized by Human Aortic Endothelial Cells Under Oxidative Stress

C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a clinical biomarker of inflammation, and high levels of CRP correlate with cardiovascular disease. The objectives of this study were to test our hypothesis that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induces the release of CRP from human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and to optimize several analytical methods to identify CRP released from cultured cells in a model of atherogenic stress. HAECs were incubated with copper<i>-</i>oxidized LDL, and the supernatant was subsequently purified by diethylaminoethyl chromatography and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We identified an optimal buffer for the elution of CRP, which contained 0.05 M sodium phosphate and 2.0 M NaCl (pH 4.5). Purified CRP was digested with trypsin and subjected to high-performance LC with an optimal mobile phase of acetonitrile–water containing 0.1% formic acid (50:50, v/v) and an optimal mobile phase flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. We identified optimal parameters for MS/MS analysis of CRP, including sheath gas pressure (80 psi), capillary temperature (275 °C), collision energy (25%), tube lens offset (−5 V), auxiliary gas pressure (0 psi), and isolation width of parent ion (<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> value = 3). Characterization of CRP was based on the extracted ion chromatograms and selected multiple-reaction monitoring spectra of three peptides (peptide-1, -2, and -3) derived from trypsin-digested intact CRP standard. CRP peptide-2 and peptide-3 were identified in the supernatant of ox-LDL-treated HAECs. Confirmation of CRP was based on LC-MS/MS and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of CRP in purified HAEC supernatant, as well as real-time PCR analysis of CRP mRNA levels in HAECs