Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory condition of the intestine, resulting from an increase in oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators. In this study, the extract of endophytic bacterium Rhizobium aegyptiacum was prepared for the first time using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In addition, also for the first time, the protective potential of R. aegyptiacum was revealed using an in vivo rat model of UC. The animals were grouped into four categories: normal control (group I), R. aegyptiacum (group II), acetic acid (AA)‍-induced UC (group III), and R. aegyptiacum-treated AA-induced UC (group IV). In group IV, R. aegyptiacum was administered at 0.2 mg/kg daily for one week before and two weeks after the induction of UC. After sacrificing the rats on the last day of the experiment, colon tissues were collected and subjected to histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical investigations. There was a remarkable improvement in the histological findings of the colon tissues in group IV, as revealed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Normal mucosal surfaces covered with a straight, intact, and thin brush border were revealed. Goblet cells appeared magenta in color, and there was a significant decrease in the distribution of collagen fibers in the mucosa and submucosal connective tissues. All these findings were comparable to the respective characteristics of the control group. Regarding cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immunostaining, a weak immune reaction was shown in most cells. Moreover, the colon tissues were examined using a scanning electron microscope, which confirmed the results of histological assessment. A regular polygonal unit pattern was seen with crypt orifices of different sizes and numerous goblet cells. Furthermore, the levels of catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interlukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined in the colonic tissues of the different groups using colorimetric assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In comparison with group III, group IV exhibited a significant rise (P<0.05) in the CAT level but a substantial decline (P<0.05) in the NO, MPO, and inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and IL-1β) levels. Based on reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the tumor necrosis factor-‍α (TNF-‍α) gene expression was upregulated in group III, which was significantly downregulated (P<0.05) by treatment with R. aegyptiacum in group IV. On the contrary, the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene was substantially upregulated in group IV. Our findings imply that the oral consumption of R. aegyptiacum ameliorates AA-induced UC in rats by restoring and reestablishing the mucosal integrity, in addition to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Accordingly, R. aegyptiacum is potentially effective and beneficial in human UC therapy, which needs to be further investigated in future work.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/prevention & control* ; Rats ; Male ; Rhizobium ; Disease Models, Animal ; Colon/pathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Oxidative Stress ; Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism*

Introduction: Doctors are known to deal with high occupational stress, causing increased risk of depression, anxiety and stress.Nevertheless, the prevalence and associatedfactors of depression, anxiety and stress among registered doctorsworking in 24 public hospitals in Sabah, Malaysia are not known yet. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using convenient sampling from September-October 2018. The data of 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was collected via online link anonymously. Results: Among 314 doctors, majority of them were females (62.1%), mean age 29 (SD 2.72), non-Sabahan (82.8%), Malays (46.8%), not married (78.3%) and medical officers (93.6%). Prevalence of severe/extremely severe anxiety symptoms was 27.4%,depression (22.9%) and stress (18.5%). Doctors perceiving themselves to be depressed, anxious and/or stressed were more likely to develop the corresponding symptoms. Females and Chinese were twice more likely to report anxiety symptoms. Being married had protective effect against depressive symptoms, while working in same hospital for longer time had a significant but weak protective effect against anxiety and stress symptoms. Conclusions: Mental health issue among doctors is substantial and need to be addressed effectively for the benefit of their life, patients and country.

A disaster is a natural or man-made (or technological) hazard resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment. It is a phenomenon that can cause damage to life and property and destroy the economic, social and cultural life of the people; and overwhelms the capacity of the community to cope with the event. The recent tragic aviation accidents in 2014 involving Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17 shocked the world in an unprecedented manner. This paper focuses on the Malaysian experience in the MH17 mission in Ukraine as well as the first ever international Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operation for the Malaysian DVI team. The DVI operations in Hilversum, the Netherlands were well described in stages. The Netherlands’ Landelijk Team Forensische Opsporing as the lead DVI team in Hilversum operated systematically, ensuring the success of the whole mission. This paper discusses the lessons learned by the Malaysian team on proper DVI structure, inter- and intra-agency cooperation, facilities planning and set up, logistics and health and safety aspects, as well as effective communication and collaboration with other international delegates. Several issues and challenges faced by the Malaysian team were also documented. In addition, the authors shared views, opinions and recommendations for a more comprehensive DVI operation in the future.

An RT-PCR assay detected the t(4;11) translocation in two infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Case P76 was a 10-month-old, female infant, who presented with a WBC of 137.4 x 10(9)/l and a pre-pre-B ALL immunophenotype. Case P120 was a 6-month-old female infant, with a WBC > 615 x 10(9)/l and a pre-pre-B ALL immunophenotype. RT-PCR of cDNA from both these cases generated a 656 bp and a 542 bp respectively, which sequencing confirmed as t(4;11) fusion transcripts. The primers and conditions selected for this assay are compatible with a one-step multiplex PCR for the main translocations in childhood ALL.
Lower case tea ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; L ; Lower case ecks