Mutagenicity of CORAGRAF (natural coral) and REKAGRAF (hydroxyapatite) was tested in Ames test with and without an external metabolic activation system (S9). The test revealed no mutagenic activity of both locally produced osseous substitutes.
Base Pair Mismatch/drug effects ; Biotransformation/physiology ; Bone Substitutes/*toxicity ; Calcium Carbonate/*toxicity ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Hydroxyapatites/*toxicity ; *Materials Testing ; *Mutagenicity Tests ; Salmonella typhimurium/genetics

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a hereditary material located in mitochondria and is normally maternally inherited. Mutational analysis performed on mtDNA proved that the mutations are closely related with a number of genetic illnesses, besides being exploitable for forensic identification. Those findings imply the importance of mtDNA in the scientific field. MtDNA can be found in abundance in tooth dentin where it is kept protected by the enamel, the hardest outer part of the tooth. In this study, two techniques of mtDNA extraction were compared to determine the efficacy between the two techniques. Teeth used for the study was collected from Dental Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. After the removal of tooth from the tooth socket of the patient, the tooth was kept at -20C until use. Later, pulp tissue and enamel was excised using dental bur and only the root dentin was utilized for the isolation of mtDNA by crushing it mechanically into powdered form. MtDNA was extracted using the two published methods, Pfeifer and Budowle and then subjected to spectrophotometry DNA quantification and purity, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of hypervariable-two region of mtDNA, followed by DNA sequencing to analyze the reliability of the extraction techniques. In conclusion, both techniques proved to be efficient and capable for the extraction of mtDNA from tooth dentin.

This study evaluates the cytotoxic and mutagenic effect of synthetic hydroxyapatite granules (source: School of Material and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia) in the bone marrow cells of mice. Mice are exposed to synthetic hydroxyapatite granules, the bone marrow cells are collected and observed for chromosome aberrations. No chromosome aberrations were noticed in the animals exposed to distilled water (negative control) and to the test substance, synthetic hydroxyapatite granules (treatment) groups. Chromosome aberrations were observed in the animals exposed to Mitomycin C (positive control group). There was no indication of cytotoxicity due to synthetic hydroxyapatite granules in the animals as revealed by the mitotic index. Hence, synthetic hydroxyapatite granules are considered non-mutagenic under the prevailing test conditions.
Bone Marrow Cells/*drug effects ; Bone Substitutes/*toxicity ; *Chromosome Aberrations ; Durapatite/*toxicity ; *Mutagenicity Tests

The present study is aimed at finding the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of dense form of synthetic hydroxyapatite (Source: School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia) in the blood of sheep. The biomaterial was implanted in the tibia of Malin, an indigenous sheep breed of Malaysia. Blood was collected from the sheep before implantation of the biomaterial, cultured and a karyological study was made. Six weeks after implantation, blood was collected from the same animal, cultured and screened for chromosome aberrations. The mitotic indices and karyological analysis indicated that the implantation of synthetic hydroxyapatite (dense form) did not produce any cytotoxicity or chromosome aberrations in the blood of sheep.
Biocompatible Materials/*toxicity ; Bone Substitutes/*toxicity ; Bone and Bones/pathology ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; *Chromosome Aberrations ; Hydroxyapatites/*toxicity ; Karyotyping ; *Mutagenicity Tests ; *Prostheses and Implants ; Sheep

Some of the beneficial biocompatible properties of hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2]; the major component and an essential ingredient of normal bone and teeth, are that it is rapidly integrated into the human body and will bond to bone forming indistinguishable unions. But, before new materials are approved for medical use, mutagenesis systems to exclude cytotoxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic properties are applied worldwide. This study aimed to detect any chromosomal aberrations induced by the synthetic hydroxyapatite granules [Manufactured by Universiti Sains Malaysia, (USM) Penang, Malaysia] in the bone marrow cells of mice. The mitotic indices of the groups treated with synthetic hydroxyapatite granules did not show any significant difference as compared to the negative control group treated with distilled water. Also the groups of mice treated with synthetic hydroxyapatite granules and distilled water did not induce significant change in chromosome aberrations as compared to the positive control group treated with Mitomycin C. The mitotic indices and chromosomal analyses indicate that under the present test conditions, synthetic hydroxyapatite granules (manufactured by USM) are non cytotoxic and do not induce chromosome aberrations in the bone marrow cells of mice.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Durapatite

Background: Regarding the long-term safety issues with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and the clinical predominance of dual bronchodilators in enhancing treatment outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ICS is no longer a “preferred therapy” according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease except on top of a dual bronchodilator. This has necessitated a change in the current therapy for many COPD patients. Objective: To determine a standardised algorithm to reassess and personalise the treatment COPD patients based on the available evidence. Methods: A consensus statement was agreed upon by a panel of pulmonologists in from 11 institutes in Malaysia whose members formed this consensus group. Results: According to the consensus, which was unanimously adopted, all COPD patients who are currently receiving an ICS-based treatment should be reassessed based on the presence of co-existence of asthma or high eosinophil counts and frequency of moderate or severe exacerbations in the previous 12 months. When that the patients meet any of the aforementioned criteria, then the patient can continue taking ICS-based therapy. However, if the patients do not meet the criteria, then the treatment of patients need to be personalised based on whether the patient is currently receiving long-acting beta-agonists (LABA)/ICS or triple therapy. Conclusion: A flowchart of the consensus providing a guidance to Malaysian clinicians was elucidated based on evidences and international guidelines that identifies the right patients who should receive inhaled corticosteroids and enable to switch non ICS based therapies in patients less likely to benefit from such treatments.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to describe the accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis, both community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospitalacquired pneumonia (HAP). Secondary objectives were describing the choice of antibiotics used, pathogens isolated, and predictive parameters in diagnosing pneumonia. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study to determine the accuracy of the diagnosis of CAP and HAP admitted to Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar. All patients aged ≥12 years admitted to the general medical ward with the diagnosis of CAP or HAP were included in the study. Chest radiograph interpretation was done by certified radiologists. An accurate diagnosis of pneumonia was defined by clinical signs and symptoms of pneumonia supported by radiographical evidence. Results: A total of 159 patients were enrolled into the study from January 2018 to February 2018. Of these only 59(37.1%) cases were accurately diagnosed as pneumonia. Amongst those with pneumonia diagnosis made by the emergency department, medical officers and specialists of medical department; 65.4%, 60% and 47.3% respectively were not pneumonia. Amoxicillin with clavulanate and azithromycin were amongst the most common first choice of antibiotic used (46.5%). In this study, pathogens were isolated either by blood culture or sputum culture in only 20 (12.6%) patients. There was no significant predictive parameter identified in this study, which included white cell counts, Creactive protein (CRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and Pao2/FiO2 ratio. Conclusion: About two-thirds of patients diagnosed with pneumonia did not have a compatible radiological finding. Better tools and systems are needed to aid in the diagnosis of pneumonia

Aims: Metarhizium anisopliae is an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) that exists naturally in the environment and potentially be used as a biological control agent against many insect pests. This study aims to evaluate the effect of nutrient additives on the yield and viability of M. anisopliae spore and to determine the optimum incubation period for maximum spore production. Methodology and results: In this study, M. anisopliae was cultivated by solid-state fermentation using rice as a growth medium. Three different nutrient additives were examined which aimed to maximize the production of M. anisopliae spores. Among the three nutrient additives evaluated, yeast (1.84 ± 0.04 g) supported better growth and spore production than molasses (0.58 ± 0.04 g) and palm oil (0.47 ± 0.09 g). The incubation period between 2-6 weeks produced higher spore yield (0.97 ± 0.02 g spores) at week 4 with a better spore viability (86.30 ± 0.45%) at week 2. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Hence, it is suggested that the optimum incubation period is between 2 and 6 weeks after inoculation, and M. anisopliae could be mass produced in large quantities on rice substrate with the addition of yeast as the nutrient additives.
Biological Control Agents ; Microbial Viability ; Metarhizium