Isolation and purification of membrane-bound cytochrome c from Proteus mirabilis

In the present studies, respiratory chain pathogenic bacterium, Proteus mirabilis, was investigated. In the first phase, growth profile study was performed to optimize the P. mirabilis growth. Maximum bacterial growth could be obtained between 10 – 12 h of culturing time. Down-stream processing was performed by using sonication, ultracentrifugation and detergent solubilization techniques. Partially purified respiratory contents were analyzed spectrophotometrically. Pyridine-ferrochrome and redoxspectra showed the presence of heme-c

Bedaquiline and clofazimine : successes and challenges

Bedaquiline, a novel therapeutic drug, and clofazimine, a re-purposed drug, are front-line therapies recommended by WHO to treat rifampicin-resistant or multidrugresistant tuberculosis. Both drugs have been in use in South Africa at least 10 years: bedaquiline since 2007 and clofazimine since 2010. The use of bedaquiline in programmatic settings in South Africa has reduced the risk of all-cause mortality threefold (hazard ratio 0·35, 95% CI 0·28–0·46)1 and achieved treatment success in at least 70% of patients.2 The inclusion of clofazimine in combination therapy has reduced treatment duration from 18–24 months to 9–12 months. South Africa has adopted both drugs extensively in the modified short and long regimens for rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. According to the electronic drug-resistant tuberculosis register, as of June 1, 2020, 29 193 individuals in South Africa have received bedaquiline, and 30 599 have received clofazimine. Emerging resistance and cross-resistance have been reported.http://www.thelancet.com/microbeam2021Medical Microbiolog

Bedaquiline and clofazimine : successes and challenges

Bedaquiline, a novel therapeutic drug, and clofazimine, a re-purposed drug, are front-line therapies recommended by WHO to treat rifampicin-resistant or multidrugresistant tuberculosis. Both drugs have been in use in South Africa at least 10 years: bedaquiline since 2007 and clofazimine since 2010. The use of bedaquiline in programmatic settings in South Africa has reduced the risk of all-cause mortality threefold (hazard ratio 0·35, 95% CI 0·28–0·46)1 and achieved treatment success in at least 70% of patients.2 The inclusion of clofazimine in combination therapy has reduced treatment duration from 18–24 months to 9–12 months. South Africa has adopted both drugs extensively in the modified short and long regimens for rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. According to the electronic drug-resistant tuberculosis register, as of June 1, 2020, 29 193 individuals in South Africa have received bedaquiline, and 30 599 have received clofazimine. Emerging resistance and cross-resistance have been reported.https://www.thelancet.com/microbeam2022Medical Microbiolog

Hindering and enabling factors towards ICT integration in schools: A developing country perspective

ICT in education has emerged as a widespread phenomenon and has been widely considered and explored. While remarkable achievement in ICT use in the teaching and learning process has been observed in the developed part of the world, schools in the developing countries still fail to do so. Pakistan, as a less developed country, has still been in its infancy stage of ICT integration in schools. The purpose of this paper was thus, to explore the existing state of affairs in relation to ICT integration in schools via reviewing both the hindering and enabling factors. The study employed a systemic review method to review the available research, conducted in Pakistan, in the last ten years. The results inform about several fundamental issues and provide a way forward towards effective ICT integration in the process of teaching and learning.

Effects of SRY (Sex Determining Region Y)-Box 9 (SOX9) and Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) genes transfection in chondrocytes seeded on three-dimensional scaffolds: gross observation and cell proliferation assay

Purpose: To evaluate the formation of in vitro 3D tissue constructs engineered from the SOX9 and TERT genes post-transfected chondrocytes seeded on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) based scaffolds. Methods: With the approval of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC,IIUM), the post-transfected rabbits’ chondrocytes were seeded on the prefabricated PLGA with and without fibrin scaffolds. The resulting constructs were cultured for three-week. This experiment setting examined the following groups: (1) non-transfected chondrocytes (control), (2) SOX9-transfected chondrocytes, (3) TERT-transfected chondrocytes and (4) SOX9/TERT-transfected chondrocytes; each seeded on PLGA and PLGA/fibrin scaffolds. All eight groups were evaluated for gross morphology and cells proliferation activity. Results: Grossly, all constructs shrunk in size. The PLGA/fibrin constructs showed a glass-like appearance throughout the culture. The chondrocytes seeded in PLGA/fibrin number showed an increment pattern from day-1 to -21 compared to chondrocytes seeded in PLGA only. The SOX9/TERT-transfected chondrocytes seeded on PLGA/fibrin showed a steadily increased growth pattern comparable to that of control group. Both SOX9 and TERT genes may have synergistic effect in maintaining cell proliferation activity in 3D scaffolds. Overall cellular growth pattern seemed better in PLGA/fibrin than PLGA alone. Besides, PLGA/fibrin constructs exhibited a more stable macroscopic structure throughout the in vitro culture making it a suitable candidate for implantation purpose. Further in vitro study involving construct’s weight, histology analysis, genes expression, biochemical assessments and in vivo implantation are currently underway

Matrix production in chondrocytes transfected with sex determining region Y-Box 9 and telomerase reverse transcriptase genes: an in vitro evaluation from monolayer culture to three-dimensional culture

Background:: This study aimed to observe the cartilaginous matrix production in SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9)- and/or telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-transfected chondrocytes from monolayer to three-dimensional (3D) culture. Methods:: The genes were transferred into chondrocytes at passage-1 (P1) via lipofection. The post-transfected chondrocytes (SOX9-, TERT- and SOX9/TERT) were analysed at P1, P2 and P3. The non-transfected group was used as control. The 3D culture was established using the chondrocytes seeded in a disc-shaped PLGA/fibrin and PLGA scaffolds. The resulting 3D “cells-scaffolds” constructs were analysed at week-1, -2 and -3. The histoarchitecture was evaluated using haematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue and safranin o stains. The quantitative sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content was measured using biochemical assay. The cartilage-specific markers expression were analysed via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:: All monolayer cultured chondrocytes showed flattened, fibroblast-like appearance throughout passages. Proteoglycan and sGAG were not detected at the pericellular matrix region of the chondrocytes. The sGAG content assay indicated the matrix production depletion in the culture. The cartilage-specific markers, COL2A1 and ACAN, were downregulated. However, the dedifferentiation marker, COL1A1 was upregulated. In 3D “cells-scaffolds” constructs, regardless of transfection groups, chondrocytes seeded in PLGA/fibrin showed a more uniform distribution and produced denser matrix than the PLGA group especially at week-3. Both sGAG and proteoglycan were clearly visualised in the constructs, supported by the increment of sGAG content, quantitatively. Both COL2A1 and ACAN were upregulated in SOX9/TERT-PLGA and SOX9/TERT-PLGA/fibrin respectively. While, COL1A1 was downregulated in SOX9/TERT-PLGA. Conclusion:: These findings indicated that the SOX9/TERT-transfected chondrocytes incorporation into 3D scaffolds facilitates the cartilage regeneration which is viable structurally and functionally. © 2019, The Korean Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society

Hybrid positron emission tomography–magnetic resonance of the heart:current state of the art and future applications

Hybrid Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance (PET-MR) imaging is a novel imaging modality with emerging applications for cardiovascular disease. PET-MR aims to combine the high spatial resolution morphological and functional assessment afforded by MRI with the ability of PET for quantification of metabolism, perfusion and inflammation. The fusion of these two modalities into a single imaging platform not only represents an opportunity to acquire complementary information from a single scan, but also allows motion correction for PET with reduction in ionising radiation. This article presents a brief overview of PET-MR technology followed by a review of the published literature on the clinical cardio-vascular applications of PET and MRI performed separately and with hybrid PET-MR

Mari belajar Bahasa Melayu siri 1

This book is produced to provide an overview of the acquisition of knowledge and skills of learning the Malay language to anyone interested. This book can serve as a guide to learn the basic things in the Malay language oral proficiency (listening and speaking) and to learn the basics of writing (reading and writing) using the Malay language. This book contains 54 units, each of which focuses on the main things in daily life. Beginning chapters deal with basics in everyday conversation such as recognizing letters and sounds, day, month, number, time, personal pronouns, direction words, measurements, shapes, for the reader to master the basics of word formation, and words that are often used in learn the Malay language according to the situation. The next unit includes family relationships, calls for family members, friends, and acquaintances with neighbors. Daily activities are also included such as activities in the classroom, in the public library, telephone conversations, on social media, business at the post office, at public transport stations, at home, in the kitchen, dealing at the Currency Exchange Counter, dealing at the bank, shopping at the supermarket, in the market, in the hospital or in the clinic. On weekends, readers can do exercise in the gym, in the recreation park, return to the village, go to the orchard, watch a movie, celebrate a birthday. In the next unit, during the public holiday or school holidays, readers are encouraged to celebrate festivals in Malaysia and travel together with friends or family to places of interest in Malaysia