Forensic entomology of high-rise buildings in Malaysia: Three case reports

Abstract. The distributions of flies are not only confined to ground level but can also be at higher altitudes. Here, we report three forensic cases involving dipterans in high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Case 1 involved a corpse of adult female found at the top floor of a fifteen-story apartment. Case 2 dealt with a body of a 75-year-old female discovered in a bedroom on the eleventh floor of an eighteen-story building, while Case 3 was a 52-year-old male found in his fifth floor shop house. Interestingly, entomological analysis revealed that all corpses were infested with similar Dipterans: Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) and sarcophagid (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). The first two species were commonly associated with corpses found indoors at ground level. We noted the additional occurrence of blowflies Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae in Case 2 and Case 3, respectively. Findings from this study are significant as they demonstrate that certain groups of fly can locate dead bodies even in high-rise buildings. Forensic entomofauna research on corpses found at high elevation is scarce and our study has highlighted the peculiarity of the fly species involved in Malaysia

Proceeding of The International Seminar on Chemistry

Abstract Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammoniacal nitrogen were the problematic parameters in landfill leachate treatment. Combination of activated carbon and zeolite as filter medium may reduce this problem. This study was conducted to find treatment alternative by combining the low cost adsorbent such as limestone and rice husk carbon waste and ordinary adsorbent media, activated carbon and zeolite as a single media. All the adsorption media was crushed and sieved to a particle size of 150µm. The optimum ratio was predicted by mean of a batch equilibrium experiments. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) was used as a binder at 30 percent by weight. Activated carbon and rice husk carbon was grouped as a hydrophobic media where the optimum ratio was 1:1. Zeolite and limestone was in hydrophilic media group which the best ratio was 3:1. The ratio for hydrophilic and hydrophobic media had been chosen as 7:1 accordingly to adsorption behavior of ammoniacal nitrogen and organic constituents (COD) to the media. The optimum conditions for adsorption batch study were found at pH 7, 200rpm in shaking speed and 90 minutes of contact time. The results showed that the equilibrium data were fitted and favorable adsorption by both of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms while Langmuir isotherms was slightly better fitted for ammoniacal nitrogen and Freundlich was good for COD removal in term of regression coefficients (R 2 ). Langmuir adsorption capacities (Q) for ammonia and COD were 43.47mg/g and 256.41mg/g respectively while Freundlich (K F ) were 0.00135mg/g and 0.03891mg/g respectively

Detection of p53 Gene Mutations by Single Strand Conformation Polymorphisms Analysis in Various Human Liver Cancer Cell Lines Using a Non-radioactive Mini Gel Electrophoresis System

Abstract Previous studies have reported that human liver cancer cells derived from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), for example, Alexander (PLC/PRF/5), have p53 gene mutations in different codons. Detection of these mutations by single strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) has been reported useful in p53 mutation studies in HCC. The aim of this study was to determine whether SSCP analysis using a mini gel electrophoresis system, followed by visualisation of electrophoretic band using silver staining was able to detect the p53 gene mutations. Exons 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the p53 gene of five human HCC cell lines (Alexander, HLE, HLF, HuH7 and HepG2) and two normal liver cell lines (Chang and WRL-68) were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR products were later subjected to SSCP analysis. Our results showed that the migration patterns for exon 7 in the HCC cell lines, Alexander, HLE and HLF, were different from those of the normal cell lines, Chang and WRL-68. However, the cell lines HepG2 and HuH7 demonstrated the same migration patterns as those of the two normal cell lines. For exon 6, all of the cell lines except HuH7, showed the same mobility shifts with the presence of a band. For exons 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the migration patterns for all HCC cell lines were as those of the normal cell lines. Further examination by direct sequencing confirmed the presence of mutations in the respective HCC cell lines in exons 6 and 7 of the p53 gene. In conclusion, p53 gene mutations could be detected and differentiated using our SSCP protocol

Research Article Status of Emotional Intelligence (EI) Level of Biomedical Science Programme in Kuala Lumpur

Abstract: Emotional Intelligence (EI) is part of those who regulate their emotions according to a logically consistent of emotional functioning. This cross-sectional study is carried out among year 1 to 3 students of Biomedical Science Programme in Kuala Lumpur The questionnaire is based on three criteria which are intrapersonal ability, stress management and general mood. The sample size is 135 students by using stratified random sampling. The general objective of this study is to determine the emotional intelligence level of Biomedical Science students among socio demographic factor. The results showed the mean of EI male students (111.84±12.92 S.D.) is lower than that in female students (112.02±10.23 S.D.), the mean of EI among student staying in campus (112.55±10.947 S.D.) are higher than cam us student staying off-campus (110.76±10.274 S.D.) and the mean of EI among first year (114.35±13.32 S.D.) is the highest compared to that in Year 2 (113.16±9.592 S.D.) and Year 3 (109.93±10.169 S.D.). However there was no significance mean difference of EI between gender, year of study and residences (p>0.05). In conclusion, Emotional Intelligence (EI) is at average level (79.7%) and it was not depending on gender year of study and residences

Antiproliferative activity and apoptosis induction by gelam honey on liver cancer cell

Abstract Gelam honey is a Malaysian monofloral honey produced b

Potential Leaching of Hazardous Metal Ions From Soldered Orthodontic Appliance

ABSTRACT Orthodontic soldered appliances used in a dynamic environment of the oral cavity may undergo corrosion process hence exposing patients to possible toxic effect of metal ions released from the process. This exploratory study aimed to assess and compare the leaching potential of hazardous metal ions from two types of silver soldered orthodontic appliance and to determine the conformity of the leached metal ions with the established health and safety standards published by World Health Organisation (WHO). Two types of soldered appliances (Transpalatal arch and Quad helix) were immersed in solutions with pH 2.5 to 5.5 (Hydrochloric acid) for a prolonged period of 22 weeks. The release of silver (Ag) and nickel (Ni) was determined by using a spectrophotometer. Results showed that metal ions were released the highest in the most extreme acidic condition (pH 2.5) and the pattern of metal release was dissimilar between types of metal ion and pH. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the release of ions between two types of soldered appliance and some of the metal release exceeded safety value published by WHO. Leaching of metal ions from silver soldered appliance immersed in acidic solutions was observed in this study. The potential of metal toxicity carried by this appliance must be carefully considered when advocating this appliance to patients