The age-old wisdom is that “women live longer than men”. Gender difference in life expectancy is becoming a worldwide phenomenon both in developed and developing countries. The process of ageing may be viewed from the perspectives of physical, psychological, and social-economic wellbeing. We investigated gender difference in understanding ageing in relation to life expectancy, fears relating to diseases and deteriorating economic status, and perceived old age comfort and their preparedness. Data were obtained from an online survey and in-person interview of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected from May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analysed using chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. There were varying views between men and women when it came to understanding ageing in relation to life expectancy, fears of ageing, deteriorating economic status and their perception of old age comfort. Women were more optimistic about living longer compared to men but feared more the consequences of old age diseases. In spite of displaying less concern about financial preparedness, women were, however, willing to cut down expenses, while men would prefer longer working hours to ensure a comfortable retirement

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality, but any meaningful improvement in its prognosis remains elusive. The lack of early diagnostic methods means that many patients only present when symptoms develop, such as obstructive jaundice. Once a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer has been made in a patient with obstructive jaundice, then a decision should be made if the patient is a candidate for surgical resection. Patients who are candidates for surgical resection generally do not need preoperative biliary drainage, unless they present with cholangitis, or if they require neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. If preoperative biliary drainage is to be done, then patient factors and local expertise should guide appropriate interventions. The evidence for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as a first-line therapy for biliary decompression is strong; However, the use of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage as well as endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage has generally not been found to be inferior. Finally, to ensure ongoing patency and minimize complications, an appropriate self-expanding metal stent should ideally be placed.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Drug Therapy ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Mortality ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Stents ; Ultrasonography

AIMTo assess the relation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in the internal spermatic vein blood compared to the peripheral venous blood.

METHODSSixty-eight infertile oligoasthenozoospemic patients associated with varicocele were investigated. During inguinal varicocelectomy, blood samples of internal spermatic as well as median cubital veins were withdrawn. Three ROS factors (malondialdehyde [MDA], hydrogen peroxide H(2)O(2), nitric oxide [NO]) and four antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [Cat], glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and vitamin C) were estimated in these blood samples.

RESULTSMean levels of tested ROS factors were significantly higher in the internal spermatic venous blood compared to those in the peripheral one (mean+/-SD) (MDA 18.7+/-1.4 nmol/mL vs. 15.4+/-1.4 nmol/mL, H(2)O(2) 43.6+/-8.0 micromol/mL vs. 30.8+/-8.1 micromol/mL, NO 2.3+/-0.5 nmol/L vs. 1.6+/-0.4 nmol/L, P<0.01). Mean levels of tested antioxidants were significantly lower in the internal spermatic venous blood compared to those in the peripheral one (superoxide dismutase 1 690.7+/-130.0 U/mL vs. 1 818.5+/-143.0 U/mL, catalase 38.9+/-6.1 mol/L vs. 47.9+/-10.2 mol/L, GPx 20.4+/-8.1 U/mL vs. 23.0+/-8.4 U/mL, vitamin C 0.3+/-0.1 vs. 0.4+/-0.1 mg/dL, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONInternal spermatic venous blood of infertile male cases associated with varicocele demonstrated elevated levels of ROS and decreased levels of antioxidants compared to peripheral venous circulation.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Catalase ; blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Infertility, Male ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Prospective Studies ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spermatic Cord ; blood supply ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Varicocele ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Veins ; enzymology ; metabolism

Background: Bamboo shoot has been used as a treatment for epilepsy in traditional Chinese medicine for generations to treat neuronal disorders such as convulsive, dizziness and headaches. 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-hba) is a non-flavonoid phenol found abundantly in Dendrocalamus asper shoots (bamboo), fruits (strawberries and apples) and flowers. Kv1.4 is a rapidly inactivating Shaker-related member of the voltage-gated potassium channels with two inactivation mechanisms; the fast N-type and slow C-type. It plays vital roles in repolarisation, hyperpolarisation and signaling the restoration of resting membrane potential through the regulation of the movement of K+ across the cellular membrane. Methods: Chemical compounds from Dendrocalamus asper bamboo shoots were purified and identified as major palmitic acids mixed with other minor fatty acids, palmitic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, lauric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and cholest-4-ene-3-one. The response of synthetic 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was tested on Kv1.4 potassium channel which was injected into viable oocytes that was extracted from Xenopus laevis. The current were detected by the two-microelectrode voltage clamp, holding potential starting from −80 mV with 20 mV stepup until +80 mV. Readings of treatments with 0.1% DMSO, 4-hba concentrations and K channel blockers were taken at +60 mV. The ratio of tail/peak amplitude is the index of the activity of the Kv1.4 channels with n ≥ 6 (number of oocytes tested). The decreases of the ratios of five different concentrations (1 μM, 10 μM, 100 μM, 1 mM and 2.5 mM) were compared with 0.1% DMSO as the control. Results: All concentration showed statistically significant results with P < 0.05 except for 100 μM. The normalised current of the 4-hba concentrations were compared with potassium channel blockers (TEA and 4-AP) and all groups showed statistically significant results. This study also showed that time taken for each concentration to affect Kv1.4 does not play any significant roles. Conclusion: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was found to be able to enhance the inactivation of Kv1.4 by lowering the membrane potential so that the abnormal neuronal firing can be inhibited. With IC50 slightly higher than 10 μM, increasing concentrations (100 μM, 1 mM and 2.5 mM) had shown to exhibit toxicity effects. The best concentration from this study is 10 μM with Hill slope of 0.1799.

A series of new 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (5a-j and 6a-j) have been designed and synthesized in four-steps. Sixteen compounds among the twenty compounds are reported for the first time. The compounds were characterized and confirmed by the FTIR, 1D- and 2D-NMR and HRMS analyses, and were tested against Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. Compound 5d was the most active against M. smegmatis with MIC value of 25 µM, and exhibited cidal activity with MBC of 68 µM, respectively. The time-kill assay showed the good killing rate at 77% with the combination of isoniazid (INH). In addition, checkboard assay confirmed the interaction of compound 5d was categorised as additive. Docking simulation has been performed to position 5d into the pantothenate synthetase active site with binding free energy value –8.6 kcal mol-1. It also occupied the same active site as that of standard native ligand with similar interactions, which clearly indicate their potential as pantothenate synthetase inhibitor.