Introduction:: Halitosis, or bad breath, is a prevalent health concern with social and psychological implications. This study investigated the knowledge of halitosis among undergraduate students at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), focusing on health-science (HS) and non-health-science (non-HS) students. The research aimed to contribute to the understanding of halitosis within the context of undergraduate student populations and the impact of health science-based programmes. Methods:: The study was conducted among 4108 undergraduate UBD students using a self-administered, closed-ended online questionnaire. Results:: 279 students from five UBD undergraduate faculties participated in the study giving a response rate of 6.79%. HS students exhibited significantly higher awareness of factors contributing to halitosis, including smoking, tooth cavities, incorrect teeth cleaning, gastrointestinal tract disease, tonsillitis and certain medications. Furthermore, HS students reported receiving more educational material on halitosis (24.1% vs. 2.3%). Both HS and non-HS students primarily relied on dentists (62.0% vs. 56.1%) for halitosis consultations. In terms of self-perception, no significant difference was found between the two groups. The vast majority of students agreed that halitosis could negatively impact a person's life (92.8%). 49.1% of the respondents have been told that they have bad breath and felt embarrassed. Conclusion: The greater level of halitosis-related knowledge in HS students indicates the positive impact of HS programs and the potential need for educational initiatives among non-HS students. Halitosis presents a potentially significant issue in the sample, reflecting the relevance of its physical and psychological impact. Broader research with larger and more diverse samples is necessary to improve generalisability.

Contrast Media ; Gadolinium ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mass Screening

OBJECTIVETo characterize the Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) antigen(s) recognized by moribound amoebic liver abscess hamsters.

METHODSCrude soluble antigen of E. histolytica was probed with sera of moribund hamsters in 1D- and 2D-Western blot analyses. The antigenic protein was then sent for tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The corresponding gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21-AI to produce the recombinant E. histolytica ADP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (EhACS) protein. A customised ELISA was developed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the recombinant protein.

RESULTSA ∼75 kDa protein band with a pI value of 5.91-6.5 was found to be antigenic; and not detected by sera of hamsters in the control group. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed the protein to be the 77 kDa E. histolytica ADP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (EhACS). The customised ELISA results revealed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity when tested against infected (n=31) and control group hamsters (n=5) serum samples, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThis finding suggested the significant role of EhACS as a biomarker for moribund hamsters with acute amoebic liver abscess (ALA) infection. It is deemed pertinent that future studies explore the potential roles of EhACS in better understanding the pathogenesis of ALA; and in the development of vaccine and diagnostic tests to control ALA in human populations.

Objective: To characterize the Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) antigen(s) recognized by moribound amoebic liver abscess hamsters. Methods: Crude soluble antigen of E. histolytica was probed with sera of moribund hamsters in 1D- and 2D-Western blot analyses. The antigenic protein was then sent for tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The corresponding gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21-AI to produce the recombinant E. histolytica ADP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (EhACS) protein. A customised ELISA was developed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the recombinant protein. Results: A ~75 kDa protein band with a pI value of 5.91-6.5 was found to be antigenic; and not detected by sera of hamsters in the control group. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed the protein to be the 77 kDa E. histolytica ADP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (EhACS). The customised ELISA results revealed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity when tested against infected (n=31) and control group hamsters (n=5) serum samples, respectively. Conclusions: This finding suggested the significant role of EhACS as a biomarker for moribund hamsters with acute amoebic liver abscess (ALA) infection. It is deemed pertinent that future studies explore the potential roles of EhACS in better understanding the pathogenesis of ALA; and in the development of vaccine and diagnostic tests to control ALA in human populations.