Objective To investigate characteristics and ultrasonic imaging of the nano-scale ultrasound-enhanced contrast in vivo. Methods Nano-scale microbubbles were prepared by machine vibration and low speed centrifugation. The surface morphology and average size distribution of microbuble were measured. The contrast-enhanced effect of the hahn-scale microbubbles in the normal rabbit liver was observed,and compared with micro-scale microbubbles. Results The nano-scale microbubbles had a good shape and uniform distribution by light microscope and transmission electron microscope, with average diameter of 623.4 nm and surface electric potential of 1.3 inV. The contrast imaging study in vivo showed the nano-scale microbubbles could significantly enhance ultrasonic imaging of rabbit livers, which had no obvious difference with micro-scale microbubbles. Conclusions The nano-scale ultrasound contrast agent is stable and effective for the enhancement of ultrasound imaging, which is based on development of miniaturizing targeting ultrasound contrast agent.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Bradycardia ; etiology ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Carotid Artery, Common ; abnormalities ; Heart Block ; etiology ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; abnormalities ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; etiology ; Thromboembolism ; complications ; Torsades de Pointes ; etiology

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aged ; Antigens, CD20 ; analysis ; CD79 Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male

Introduction: Jellyfish stings are the most frequently reported marine animal envenomation worldwide. However, data on jellyfish sting from Malaysia remains obscure due to inadequate research. Methods: We investigated the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment of patients presenting at the emergency department of Langkawi Hospital between January 2012 and December 2014. Secondary data on the nature of the incident, patient demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment were retrieved from the patients’ medical records. Descriptive statistics were presented for all patient variables. Results: A total of 759 patients presented with jellyfish stings during the 3-year study period, with highest number of visits in July, October, November, and December. The mean patient age was 26.7 years (SD: 12.14), 59.4% were men, 68.1% were foreigners or international tourists, and 40.4% were stung between 12.00 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. At least 90 patients presented with mild Irukandji or Irukandji-like syndromes. Most of the jellyfish stings occurred at Chenang Beach (590 reported cases), followed by Tengah Beach and Kok Beach. Most patients were treated symptomatically, and no deaths following a jellyfish sting was reported during the study period. Conclusion: There is a need for public health interventions for both local and international tourists who visit Langkawi Island. Preventive steps and education on initial treatment at the incident site could elevate public awareness and decrease the adverse effects of jellyfish stings.
Cnidaria ; Cnidarian Venoms

Objective To explore the value of diagnostic ultrasound mediated microbubble destruction in improving the myocardial perfusion and left ventricular systolic function when cooperated with the mecsenchymal stem cells(MSCs) transplantation in rabbit myocardial ischemia. Methods One week after myocardial ischemia (MI) modeling,36 rabbits were divided into 3 groups,the control group(group Ⅰ) ,intravenous injection of MSCs group(group Ⅱ) and ultrasound + microbubble + MSCs group (group Ⅲ). Myocardial contrast enhancement (MCE) was performed and quantification analysis of anterior wall was assessed with Photoshop. Left ventrieular systolic function was assessed with M-mode echocardiography and bi-plane Simpson's method. CD34 expression in heart was detected with immunohistochemisty(IHC). Western blotting was applied to detect the level of VEGF in three groups. Results The differences of gray scale analyzed with histogram of Photoshop in anterior wall of ischemia myocardium between the group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ or group Ⅲ were significant,and P value was 0. 032 and 0. 000 , respectively. There were significant differences of FS between group Ⅲ (30. 43±4.09)% and group Ⅱ (26.29±2.93)%, P<0.01, and similar to group Ⅰ (19.28 ± 2.84)%. The difference of EF(%) between group Ⅲ and group Ⅱ was significant [(61.5±5.8 vs 53.6±4. 71), P<0. 05] ,or markedly significant between group Ⅲ and group Ⅰ [(61.5±5.8 vs 42.6± 5.0), P <0.01]. EF(%) assessed with bi-plane Simpson's method was significantly increased from (34.64 ± 4.59) in group Ⅰ to (41.78 ± 4.21) in group Ⅱ and (48.6±3.96) in group Ⅲ. The expression of CD34 assessed with immunohistochemistry was the highest in group Ⅲ. The level of VEGF with western blotting in group Ⅲ was significantly higher than other two groups. Conclusions It is an efficacious transplantation means of MSCs infusion under the ultrasound mediated microbubles destruction in improving the myocardial perfusion and cardiac systolic function.

Introduction: Home visits are complex processes for clients and occupational therapists. Despite the benefits of home visits, the numbers of home visits being conducted are decreasing in international settings due to service constraints or client reluctance. Published international studies may not be applicable to Malaysia due to cultural and geodemographic differences relating to the home context. This study aimed to explore the experience of occupational therapists in Malaysia in conducting home visits. Materials and Methods: A focus group discussion was conducted with seven occupational therapists in one teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. The group session was audio-recorded, transcribed, summarised and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Themes developed were: i) client factors inhibiting effective service provision, ii) uninformed policies and guidelines, and iii) professional identity and growth. Conclusions: Our study has revealed major challenges for Malaysian occupational therapists with regards to conducting home visits. Future studies should now evaluate factors underlying reluctance to participate in home visits and effective strategies to overcome these difficulties.
House Calls ; Occupational Therapy

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a leading cause of encephalitis, exists as quasispecies in clinical isolates. Using a limiting dilution method combined with immunohistochemistry to detect viral antigens, 10 biological clones were isolated and purified from a clinical JEV isolate (CNS138/9) derived from an autopsy brain. These biological clones were tested for neurovirulence in SK-N-MC and NIE-115 neuronal cells, and a 2-week-old, footpad-infected, JE mouse model. Nine clones were found to be neurovirulent; one clone neuroattenuated. Although further studies are needed to determine genotypic differences, if any, in these clones, the limiting dilution purification and neurovirulence testing methods described herein should be useful for phenotypic studies of quasispecies of neurotropic viruses in general, and JEV and other flaviviruses in particular.

In this study, we evaluated the difference ot biological characteristics in the MERS-CoV infected mice model in prior to transduction with different dosage of human DPP4. Firstly, we transduced different dosage of DPP4 (high or low) into mice, and then challenged them with MERS-CoV in order to establish the model. After establishment of mice model, we observed the clinical signs of disease, virus replication, immunopathogenesis and antibody response. The results indicated that the infected mice showed typical pneumonia, virus replication, histological lesions, and neutralizing antibody production. Moreover, the high dosage group was superior to the low dosage group. Fourteen days after infection, the specific antibody to virus structural protein and neutralizing antibody were analyzed, the high dosage group induced higher level antibody. In summary, the MERS-CoV infected mice model were established prior transduction with DPP4, and the level of DPP4 influenced the clinical signs of disease, virus replication and antibody response in this model.
Animals ; Coronavirus Infections ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; genetics ; physiology

Cardiology ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Troponin ; blood

In the retina, pH fluctuations may play an important role in adapting retinal responses to different light intensities and are involved in the fine tuning of visual perception. Acidosis occurs in the subretinal space (SRS) under pathological conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although it is well known that many transporters in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells can maintain pH homeostasis efficiently, other receptors in RPE may also be involved in sensing acidosis, such as acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). In this study, we investigated whether ASIC1a was expressed in the RPE cells and whether it was involved in the function of these cells. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze the ASIC1a expression in ARPE-19 cells during oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Furthermore, inhibition or over-expression of ASIC1a in RPE cells was obtained using inhibitors (amiloride and PCTx1) or by the transfection of cDNA encoding hASIC1a. Cell viability was determined by using the MTT assay. The real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting results showed that both the mRNA and protein of ASIC1a were expressed in RPE cells. Inhibition of ASICs by amiloride in normal RPE cells resulted in cell death, indicating that ASICs play an important physiological role in RPE cells. Furthermore, over-expression of ASIC1a in RPE cells prolonged cell survival under oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2). In conclusion, ASIC1a is functionally expressed in RPE cells and may play an important role in the physiological function of RPE cells by protecting them from oxidative stress.
Acid Sensing Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Ion Channel Gating ; physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; cytology ; metabolism