Background: Prawns and shrimp are a frequent cause of seafood allergy mediated by IgE antibodies. Penaeus monodon and Penaeus latisulcatus, commonly known as black tiger prawn and king prawn, respectively, are among the most frequently consumed prawns in Malaysia. The aim of thi s study was to identify the IgE-binding proteins of these 2 prawn species. Methods: Raw and boiled prawn extracts were prepared and then resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). IgE-immunoblotting was then performed using sera from patients with positive skin prick tests to the raw prawn extracts. Results: SDS-PAGE analysis of the raw extracts of both prawn species revealed 23 protein bands; the boiled extracts yielded fewer protein bands. The bands in the range of 40 to 100 kDa were sensitive to heat and therefore were not found in the boiled extracts. Immunoblot of raw extracts of black tiger prawns and king prawns yielded 14 and 11 IgE-binding proteins, respectively, with molecular weights of between 15 and 200 kDa. Proteins at 36, 42, and 49 kDa were detected as the major allergens in both species of prawns. A protein of 75 kDa was also identified as a major allergen in black tiger prawns. Other potential allergens were also observed at various molecular masses. Conclusion: Proteins of 36, 42, and 49 kDa were identified as the major allergens of both species of prawns. The 36 and 42 kDa proteins are hypothesised to be tropomyosin and arginine kinase, respectively. A high molecular weight protein of 75 kDa was found to be an additional major allergen in black tiger prawns.

Introduction: Immunosuppressive state due to haematological malignancies and chemotherapy may cause disruption to wound healing despite optimum conventional treatment and standard wound dressing. Non-healing wounds are predisposed to infection whereas chemotherapy dose reductions or interruptions are associated with poor survival. Background: Mononuclear cells contain progenitor cells including haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells and fibroblasts which facilitate wound healing through cytokines, growth factor secretions, cell-cell interactions and provision of extracellular matrix scaffolding. Clinical applications of autologous mononuclear cells therapy in wound healing in non-malignant patients with critical limb ischaemia have been reported with remarkable outcome. Methods: We report three patients with haematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy, who received autologous mononuclear cells implantation to treat non-healing wound after optimum conventional wound care. The sources of mononuclear cells (MNC) were from bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood (PB) and mobilised PB cells (mPB-MNC) using granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The cells were directly implanted into wound and below epidermis. Wound sizes and adverse effects from implantation were assessed at regular intervals. Results: All patients achieved wound healing within three months following autologous mononuclear cells implantation. No implantation adverse effects were observed. Conclusions: Autologous mononuclear cells therapy is a feasible alternative to conventional wound care to promote complete healing in non-healing wounds compounded by morbid factors such as haematological malignancies, chemotherapy, diabetes mellitus (DM), infections and prolonged immobility.

Oxidative stress involved in various pathological conditions. Plants have been proven to act as a natural exogenousantioxidant. The aim of this research is to investigate the protective effects of Etlingera coccinea leaves aqueous extracton autoxidation-induced ox brain homogenate. The brain homogenate was divided into 7 groups: control group withPBS solution, positive control group with 100 μg/ml ascorbic acid, test group with 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml of E.coccinea. The antioxidant potential of E. coccinea aqueous extract has been evaluated by antioxidant capacity assaysuch as Total phenolic content (TPC), radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP).Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were also measured at 0 hr and 1 hr after37°C water bath incubation to determine the antioxidant status and oxidative damage. TPC assay showed (4.85 ± 0.28)mg GAE/g of dry weight of E. coccinea leaves. Based on DPPH and FRAP assay, E. coccinea aqueous extract showed adose-dependent antioxidant activity. MDA level in the 50 μg/ml E. coccinea was significantly lower compared to the othergroups (p < 0.05). The SOD activity was significantly increase in 400 μg/ml E. coccinea (p < 0.05) compared to othergroups. E. coccinea at the dose of 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml showed significant increase in GSH level compared to othergroups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml of E. coccinea leave aqueous extracts exhibited a potentialprotective effect on autoxidation-induced ox brain h

Malaysia is one of the countries that have signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The WHO FCTC is a form of evidence-based agreement that recognises the right of all people to attain the highest standard of health. Policies established by the government were in line with the WHO requirements to gazette the nationwide smoking ban so that enforcement measures can be taken to control smoking activities in public places. The purpose of this scoping review is to give an overview of the extent of knowledge, attitude, and the perception of the public on smoking ban policies implemented in Malaysia. The keyword search strategy was as follows: smoking AND policy AND Malaysia AND (knowledge OR attitude OR perception) for publications between the year 2015-2021, conducted through several databases including Medline (search results of 5 publications), Web of Science (search results of 9 publications) and Scopus (search results of 19 publications). A total of 12 articles were considered relevant to answer the research objectives. We found that the level of knowledge, attitude, and perception of the public towards the smoking ban policy in Malaysia was still defective and inadequate. Therefore, it is hoped that the results of this multifactorial relationship study could cultivate governance in administration and governmental policies to imbue competency and efficiency.

Objective: To study antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities of the isolation of alkaloids from the active dichloromethane extract of Alseodaphne corneri. Methods: Phytochemical studies of the crude extract led to the isolation of six alkaloids using recycle high performance liquid chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography. The antiplasmodial activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using the histidine-rich protein II assay. The isolated alkaloids were also tested for their antioxidant activity using three different assays; DPPH, ferric reducing ability of plasma and metal chelating assays. Results: Malaria infection caused the formation of free radicals which subsequently led to oxidative stress and apoptosis. The antioxidant properties of the alkaloids under investigation revealed that in addition to the antiplasmodial activity, the alkaloids could also prevent oxidative stress. (+)-laurotetanine and (+)-norstephasubine exhibited strong antiplasmodial activities with IC