Aims: Laccase is a blue copper oxidase that catalyses four electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. It is able to oxidise aromatic compounds with molecular oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. The aim of this study was to screen for laccase producing basidiomycetes isolated from decaying woods and tree trunks around Kampar, Perak. Methodology and results: The isolated basidiomycetes were screened for their laccase activity on different agar plates supplemented with 2, 2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), guaiacol and Remazol Brillant Blue R (RBBR), respectively. In the presence of laccase, the colourless ABTS and guaiacol were oxidised to form blue-green and reddish-brown coloured zone around the fungal colony, respectively; whereas the blue RBBR was decolourised by the enzyme. Colour or colourless halo zones that are formed on the agar plates indicate the presence of ligninolytic enzyme activities. Isolates KA1 and TR9 indicated the highest enzymatic hydrolysis on ABTS plates with the halo zone ratio of 1.43  0.04 and 0.98  0.01, respectively. Based on the BLAST results from the amplicon of ITS1 and ITS4 primers, Isolates KA1 and TR9 were identified as Trametes lactinea and Pycnoporous coccineus, respectively. Under submerged fermentation, P. coccineus has higher laccase production (0.72 U/mL) compared with T. lactinea (0.16 U/mL). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Both T. lactinea and P. coccineus are potential strains for laccase production which can be used for dye decolourisation and degradation. Future studies will focus on the application of the laccase in textile dye degradation.
Laccase

Introduction: There is a lack of information on bone health status of premenopausal women in Malaysia. This study investigated the bone health status of premenopausal women and its associations with anthropometric, dietary and physical activity. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip and total body. Serum osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), beta-crosslaps were also determined. Results: A total of 73 Chinese premenopausal women were recruited in the study with a mean age of 39.3 � 5.0 years. Average BMI, body fat percentage and lean body mass were 22.2 � 3.4 kg/m2, 33.9 � 4.6% and 34.5 � 4.4 kg, respectively. Mean BMD at the spine, total hip, femoral neck, and total body were 1.025 � 0.118 g/cm2, 0.876 � 0.109 g/cm2, 0.739 � 0.110 g/cm2, and 1.061 � 0.755 g/cm2, respectively. Their serum beta-crosslaps and PTH were within normal range, but serum osteocalcin (8.5 � 4.2 ng/ml) was low. On average, calorie intake (1506 � 427 kcal/day) was below the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) while their calcium intake achieved only 67% of RNI. Their mean metabolic equivalent score (MET) was 771.4 � 926.1 mm/week. Body weight and related indices (BMI, lean mass, fat mass) were significantly positively correlated with BMD at all skeletal sites. Conclusion: The study revealed that Chinese premenopausal women in the Klang Valley have low calcium intake and low level of physical activity.

Higenamine was isolated originally from Aconiti tuber from Aconitum species and recently Higenamine was synthesized. The purpose of this study is to investigate the adrenergic effect of Higenamine on rabbit cardiovascular system. Blood pressure, cardic output, systemic vascular resistance and heart rate were measured after intravenous injection of Higenamine(2-100microg/kg/min). The effects of Higenamine were compared with those of other sympathomimetic drugs. The changes in the cardiovascular systems after pretreatment with Propranolol, Atenolol and Hexamethonium were also studied. The following results were obtained. 1) Higenamine increased the cardic output and the heart rate and decreased the blood pressure and the systemic vascular resistance. Those changes were dose-dependent. The duration of action of Higenamine was 5 to 8 minutes. 2) The effects of Higenamine were similar to those of Isoproterenol. The amount of Higenamine was more than 100 times the required amount of Isoproterenol in order to obtain the same casdiovascular effects. 3) The effects of Higenamine were blocked by Propranolol, The increase of cardic output and heart rate were blocked by Hexamethonium. Higenamine has stimulating action on beta1 and beta2 receptors. But Higenamine is much less potent than Isoproterenol.
Aconitum ; Adrenergic Agents* ; Atenolol ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System* ; Heart Rate ; Hexamethonium ; Injections, Intravenous ; Isoproterenol ; Propranolol ; Sympathomimetics ; Vascular Resistance

Pancreatic islet cell adenoma is a benign tumor of pancreatic beta-cell and a rare cause of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in children. The authors experienced a case of pancreatic islet cell adenoma(Insulinoma)in a 11 year and 8 month old male who had frequent loss of consciousness and seizure. Enucleation was done after localization of tumor by selective celiac artery angiography and abdominal computed tomography. Diagnosis was confirmed by histologic findings as pancreatic-adenoma, gyriform growth pattern. A brief review of related literature was made.
Adenoma* ; Angiography ; Celiac Artery ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypoglycemia ; Infant ; Islets of Langerhans ; Male ; Seizures ; Unconsciousness

Higenamine is known to possess stimulatory activity on beta-receptor of the heart. Chronotropic actions of higenamic were studied in spontaneously beating right atrial muscle isolated from rabbits. The frequency of spontaneous beating and the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium were examined. The relative threshold voltage was defined as the minimal voltage of the given impulse above which the right atrium could be paced at the frequency of 20% of higenamine was also observed. Higenamine caused the postive chronotropic effect. This response became prominent as the ca2+ concentration in the bathing solution lowered. When tetrodotoxin was added to the bathing solution, the effect of higenemine altered and became similar to that of epinephrine. Higenamine reduced the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium in the bathing solution with [ca2+] of 0.5mM. Such effect was abolished by tetrodotoxin. The effects of verapamill on the spontaneous rate and the relativel threshold voltage were inhibited by higenemine. The above results suggest that, aithough the main action og higenamine is on the Ca channel, higenamine also have a minor effect of augmenting the Na channel.
Baths ; Epinephrine ; Heart ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Rate ; Rabbits ; Tetrodotoxin ; Verapamil

The number of Kupffer cells was evaluated in hepatocellular carcinomas, including 18 primary lesions, 3 tumor emboli within the portal vein radicles and 4 metastatic lesions and in non-neoplastic liver adjacent to the primary lesions, to persue the origin of Kupffer cells dwelling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinomas of the sinusoidal(trabecular) type were carefully selected, and excluded were those carcinomas which showed inflammation or other changes evoking inflammation. The immunohistochemical stains for CD 68 and lysozyme were done to identify Kupffer cells and to draw the mean Kupffer cell number per high power microscopic field of each lesion. Kupffer cell was most numerous in primary lesions followed by tumor emboli and still fewer in metastatic lesions. The Kupffer cell number in the primary lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma was in turn smaller than that of the adjacent non-neoplastic liver. The results suggest that, during the early neoplastic transformation, sinusoids of the non-neoplastic liver could creep into the carcinomatous tissue accompanying Kupffer cells.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hantaan virus ; isolation & purification ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Singapore ; Travel

Introduction: The accurate measurement of the height of bedridden patients is difficult. Height assessment is required for the calculation of body mass index, which is crucial for determining the nutrition status of a patient. This study aimed to validate recumbent length measurement against the standing height measurement using soft and firm mattresses and to derive predictive equations to calculate the actual height of bedridden patients on mattresses with different firmness. Methods: Ninety-nine hospitalised participants (mean age 48.9±13.9 years; range 21–80 years) (49 men, 50 women) and 100 healthy participants (mean age 36.8±13.6 years; range 21–77 years) (50 men, 50 women) were recruited. Standing height was measured using a stadiometer. Recumbent length was measured using a 2 metre long measuring tape. Hospitalised participants lay on soft mattress and healthy participants on firm mattress. Results: Using Bland–Altman plot, 96% of hospitalised participants using soft mattress were within 2.5±2.7 cm (mean±2SD) whereas 97% of healthy participants using firm mattress were within 2.1±2.1 cm. The regression equation developed using firm mattress was Standing height (cm) = 0.993 x Recumbent length – 0.943; (r2=0.982). The regression equation developed using soft mattress was Standing height (cm) = 1.012 x Recumbent length – 4.477; (r2=0.981). Conclusion: We concluded that recumbent length is a valid clinical tool to estimate standing height. Standing height can be estimated from the predictive equations developed for patients lying on soft or firm mattresses.

Cytomegalovirus Infections/prevention & control* ; Educational Status ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Research

Upward migration of the peritoneal catheter of a subgaleo-peritoneal (SP) shunt and coiling into the subgaleal space is an extremely rare complication of a SP shunt. A 32-year-old male patient visited our hospital presenting with a large skull defect due to a prior craniectomy performed elsewhere. The patient underwent a cranioplasty with methylmetacrylate, but subsequently developed progressive pseudomeningocele and subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection. The patient underwent CSF diversion via a SP shunt. After SP shunting, the pseudomeningocele disappeared completely. Six months later, the patient presented with progressive scalp swelling. Skull X-ray showed migration and coiling of the distal catheter of the SP shunt. The patient was treated by removing the entire shunt catheter and the dura was covered with a subgaleal flap. We would like to report our experience with a very rare complication of subgaleo-peritoneal shunting.
Adult ; Catheters* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp ; Skull