Many cosmetic products, such as lipsticks, often use synthetic dyes that have raised safety concerns. As a result, natural pigments with antioxidant properties are preferred in cosmeceutical formulations as safer alternatives. Betacyanins and anthocyanins are both two water-soluble natural pigments known for their potent antioxidant activity. However, these pigments are sensitive and can degrade quickly when exposed to heat, pH changes, or light during formulation processes. Natural pigments often show limited stability in cosmetic formulations. To address this issue, advanced technologies, such as nanocarrier-based delivery systems (e.g., liposomes, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanocapsules), have been investigated to improve pigment retention and functionality. These have been combined with betacyanin and anthocyanin pigments to evaluate improvements in stability and antioxidant activity. Studies show that integrating these pigments with nanoparticles significantly reduces degradation and preserves their antioxidant effects. Nanotechnology presents a promising approach for enhancing their robustness in cosmeceutical formulations. Nevertheless, variability in pigment source, formulation scalability, and regulatory evaluation remains a challenge for clinical translation. In conclusion, this review highlights the potential of betacyanins and anthocyanins as natural pigments and the role of nanotechnology in enhancing their use in safer, more stable cosmetic formulations.
Early and rapid diagnosis of pathogens is crucial for preventing and controlling epidemic diseases. While traditional microbial detection methods serve their purpose, they often have limitations such as low sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, the CRISPR-Cas system is known for its high specificity, high sensitivity and robustness which offers a promising alternative for pathogen detection. This review provides an update on the CRISPR-Cas system, covering the history and classification of CRISPR-Cas systems. It also outlines the diverse CRISPR‑based strategies and summarizes recent advances in nucleic acid–based diagnostic methods for pathogenic detection, thus broadening the understanding of CRISPR’s diagnostic potential. The review also focuses on the different CRISPR-Cas systems-based detection of pathogenic microorganisms and recent advances of each nucleic acid-based detection method. This serves to enhance the understanding of the broader implications of the CRISPR system. Beyond the current state of CRISPR-Cas system applications, some of the challenges associated with CRISPR-Cas system usage are addressed, offering insights that could guide innovative solutions and advancements. This review looks ahead to future research perspectives by using CRISPR-Cas technology as a novel platform of next-generation diagnostics. By integrating the current applications, emerging challenges and diagnostic strategies, this review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR‑Cas systems. Additionally, this review sets itself apart by emphasizing system‑specific CRISPR‑Cas strategies that support the advancement of next‑generation diagnostic platforms.
Mesalamine (MES), widely prescribed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and explored for cancer repurposing, exhibits limited stability and non-selective biodistribution, emphasizing the need for efficient carrier systems to enhance the efficacy of the carrier system, it is necessary to control the drug loading during the synthesis procedure. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized mesalamine-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles (MES@nZIF-8) via a controlled-stirring approach and to assess the effect of reaction time (15 min, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h) on the MES loading and its physicochemical properties. Successful characterization techniques were proven by spectroscopic and electron microscopic procedure. A change from milky white to pale yellow was observed with longer stirring. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns matched simulated ZIF-8, indicating retained framework crystallinity across conditions. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed distinct band shifts at 1674 cm⁻¹, 2359 cm⁻¹, and 2341 cm⁻¹ at 48 h, consistent with enhanced drug–framework interactions at 48 h. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that particle size increased from 91.2 ± 10.77 nm (pristine nZIF-8) to 169.37 ± 25.86 nm (MES@nZIF-8) at 48 h, with hydrodynamic size rising from 229.97 ± 0.74 nm to 266.70 ± 4.32 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, thermal stability (TGA) declined with increasing reaction time. The highest EE (95.35 ± 0.02%) and DL (10.17%) were achieved at 48 h. These findings suggests that reaction time significantly modulates the physicochemical characteristics and stability of MES@nZIF-8, offering insight into the design of anti-inflammatory drug-loaded MOFs for pH-responsive drug delivery applications.
Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II, Hunter syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of iduronate-2-sulphatase (IDS), resulting in glycosaminoglycans (GAG) accumulation and progressive multi-system pathology. Enzyme replacement therapy improves somatic manifestations but has limited neurological benefit. Therefore, pharmacological chaperone therapy has been proposed as a mutation-dependent strategy to stabilise misfolded IDS variants with residual activity. This study evaluated the effect of heparin octadecasaccharides (HO18) in patient-derived fibroblasts representing five genotypes and in HEK293T cells expressing IDS mutants. HO18 treatment (15 µM, 96 hours) produced mutation-specific effects across both experimental systems, with GAG reduction observed only in selected IDS variants. In fibroblasts carrying the p.Ile360Arg variant, IDS activity increased by approximately 1.8-fold along with a marked reduction in GAG levels (~71%). Other genotypes showed partial responses, including increased IDS activity without significant GAG reduction or GAG reduction in the absence of detectable IDS activity enhancement. In recombinant systems, HO18 increased IDS activity in p.Asn63Asp (~1.2-fold) and reduced GAG accumulation in p.Asn63Asp and p.Leu314Pro variants, while catalytically inactive mutants showed no response. Overall, HO18 exhibited pharmacological chaperone-like effects in selected IDS variants but also produced mutation-specific outcomes not fully explained by IDS activity enhancement alone. These findings support further in vitro investigation of HO18 as a mutation-dependent small-molecule approach for IDS-related pathology, while highlighting the need to better understand how HO18 acts and to confirm its effects in in vivo models.
Wound repair can be disrupted by oxidative stress and enzymatic degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and current synthetic treatments are often limited by side effects. While the leaves and stems of Ipomoea pes-caprae are known for their bioactivity, the flowers remain largely unexplored for their therapeutic potential. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition, and wound healing potential of methanolic extracts from I. pes-caprae flowers (IPFME). Dried flowers were sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Extracts were screened for total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH assay), after which the methanolic extract (IPFME) was further evaluated for anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activity, cytotoxicity (MTT assay), and fibroblast migration (scratch assay). Methanol extraction produced the highest yield (11.6%) and phenolic content (0.38 mg GAE/g ± 0.003) compared to hexane and ethyl acetate extracts. Antioxidant analysis revealed strong radical scavenging activity with IPFME showing an IC₅₀ of 0.06 mg/mL close to gallic acid (0.02 mg/mL). In enzyme inhibition assays, IPFME inhibited collagenase activity by 38.5% and elastase activity by over 90% at 1 mg/mL with inhibition levels comparable to EGCG. Cytotoxicity testing on MRC-5 fibroblast cells revealed an IC₅₀ of 0.05 mg/mL, establishing safe, non-toxic concentrations for subsequent assays. Scratch assays further demonstrated accelerated wound closure, with IPFME-treated fibroblasts achieving 95% closure within 24 h, comparable to ascorbic acid (AA). These findings highlight I. pes-caprae flowers as a promising source of natural antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors with significant wound healing potential. This multifaceted bioactivity — neutralizing free radicals, inhibiting ECM-degrading enzymes, and promoting fibroblast migration positions the flower extract as a strong candidate for natural therapeutics targeting oxidative-stress-impaired wound healing.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted education systems worldwide, including in Malaysia, leading to the widespread closure of school facilities to control the situation. This development heightened parents’ awareness and concern about the quality of their children’s education. This study aimed to determine the parents’ perceptions towards their children online learning during the pandemic. This was a cross- sectional study conducted among the parents of secondary school children. The study based on online survey via Google Form. The questionnaire was mainly focused on parents’ perceptions on benefits, challenges, and involvement on their children’s online activities. Parents who were having secondary students were recruited using snowball technique which was a type of convenient sampling technique. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS (version 27). A total of 275 respondents participated in this study with the majority of parents agreeing that online learning could help their children develop technological competence (43.3%), followed by the ability to understand online learning materials (34.2%), despite the learning process being conducted through e-learning. However, parents claimed that their children could not maintain their concentration (31.3%) as well as their improvement in communication skill (30.5%). Most of the parents (62.5%) had limited time to accompany children’s learning activities. As a result, online learning emerged as a new and demanding task, compelling parents to adapt to the evolving educational norm. Overall, this study highlighted the positive impacts on the education sector during the pandemic.
Iodine is a crucial micronutrient for synthesizing thyroid hormones, vital for metabolism and development. It is an essential part of a healthy diet and can be found in various foods, including seafood and plants like seaweed. While raw food iodine data exists, iodine levels in prepared gravies, which are a staple routinely consumed component of the Malaysian diet, remain unestablished. Hence, this study selected the north (Kedah), central (Selangor) and east (Kelantan) regions to represent diverse geographical and culinary variations in Peninsular Malaysia where iodine deficiency reports vary. The aim of the study was to determine the iodine concentration in selected Malaysian gravies using ICP-MS and assess regional differences. The samples were first collected and prepared according to the Protocol for Sampling and Method of Analysis for Malaysian Food Composition and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). While comparing the gravy samples across the regions, the highest iodine content was found to be in gravies from the east region. The subsequent analysis showed that the highest iodine content was found in soy sauce mackerel fish gravy (K21/2), with a concentration of 134.10 ± 6.54 µg/100g. Meanwhile, the three lowest iodine concentrations were recorded in chicken Tom Yum, K08/3 (5.63 ± 0.99 µg/100g), followed by beef Tom Yum, K15/3 (6.98 ± 0.28 µg/100g), then soy sauce beef, K11/3 (7.95 ± 0.70 µg/100g). Spicy and Sour Tamarind Chicken gravy showed no significant difference, while all other gravies significantly differed in iodine levels between the regions (p<0.05). The results of this study underscore the need to increase iodine consumption among the Malaysian population through both raw and prepared foods. Further comprehensive studies are highly suggested to better understand how different preparation methods of Malaysian gravies impact iodine status and general nutritional health across various Malaysian populations.
A rapid increase in obesity prevalence has been observed in Pakistan. Multiple genetic and environmental factors disrupt energy homeostasis and increase body weight. BDNF regulates energy homeostasis, body mass index, and lipid parameters. Polymorphism of BDNF Val66Met rs6265 can disrupt energy homeostasis and alter BMI and lipid parameters. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the association of BDNF rs6265 with anthropometric and lipid profiles in obese Pakistani subjects and to evaluate the binding affinity of wild and mutant BDNF protein with tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB). This case-control study was conducted in the Pakistani population aged 20-59 years. A total of 66 obese and 66 control subjects were included. A total of 2 ml whole peripheral blood was collected. Genotyping analysis of variation in BDNF (rs6265) was determined by using PCR-RFLP. In-silico analysis of wild and mutant BDNF protein and TrkB was blind-docked with ClusPro. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis. Obese attributes had significantly greater neck circumference, body fat percentage, and lower high-density lipoprotein, as compared to healthy individuals (P<0.05). A significant association was observed between genotypic variation rs6265 and hip circumference, waist circumference, BMI, body fat percentage, and cholesterol (P<0.05). The AA genotype in obese subjects had the highest count contributing 56% of the obese samples, followed by GG, having a frequency of 44%. There was also a significant difference in both allelic and genotypic frequencies between the obese and normal subjects (P<0.05). BDNF rs6265 genotypes showed a significant association between obesity and its attributes. Docking results showed that the rs6265 polymorphism in BDNF reduced the binding affinity between BDNF and TrkB. These findings highlight the complex role of genetic factors in obesity and suggest that future studies may help inform personalized treatment approaches.
Airborne microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognised as a prominent environmental and public health concern, with evidence of human inhalation. However, their behaviour and fate within the respiratory system remain poorly understood. This review synthesises current knowledge on the mechanisms of MP inhalation and deposition in the respiratory tract, with particular emphasis on their interactions with the respiratory epithelial barrier. Physiochemical properties influencing MP deposition such as size, shape, density, and surface charge are discussed, alongside host-related factors including airway geometry, breathing patterns, and the influence of environmental humidity. The contributions of mucociliary clearance and macrophages as frontline defence against these pollutants are also reviewed. Critical evaluation of in vitro and in vivo experiments indicates that MPs cause epithelial barrier dysfunction, highlighting instances of endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and disturbances to tissue repair and development that could potentially aggravate respiratory diseases. Despite growing evidence of adverse effects, significant deficiencies remain in the existing scope of research, particularly on the chronic health consequences of airborne MP exposure. This review necessitates the need for long-term inhalation studies, more diverse representative particle models, and mechanistic investigations to clarify the long-term implications of airborne MP exposure on human health.
In recent years, anthocyanin-rich diets have garnered increasing attention for their cardioprotective health benefits. The primary objective of this study is to systematically review the literature on the vasorelaxation effects of anthocyanins and evaluate their therapeutic potential in the prevention and management of cardiovascular-related diseases. To ascertain the rigor in its methodology, this systematic literature review (SLR) adhered to guidelines outlined in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); the research question was formulated based on the mnemonics of Population, Interest, and Context (PICO), the inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on timeline publication, document type, language, and focus of the study which is anthocyanin vasorelaxation effects on cardiovascular; the quality was appraised based on six criteria, namely: whether the study’s purpose was clearly stated, the interest and usefulness of the work were presented, the methodology was clearly established, the core concepts were clearly defined, the work was compared with similar studies, and the study’s limitations were clearly acknowledged. The quality assessment process was conducted by the lead researcher, with the assistance of two co-researchers. Data extraction and analysis were conducted using thematic analysis. The analytical outcomes yielded two main themes. First theme is anthocyanins in the prevention and management of specific CVD conditions, which consist of three sub-themes: atherosclerosis, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction. The second theme is bioavailability and metabolism of anthocyanins, which later produced another three sub-themes, namely absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), influence of gut microbiota, and active metabolites and parent compounds. Referring to this SLR, there is an urgent need to identify the key anthocyanin-derived metabolites and clarify how gut microbiota influences their bioconversion and efficacy in cardiovascular protection. Further well-controlled human studies with standardized dosing and metabolite profiling are essential to validate these mechanisms and support their integration into personalized nutrition strategies.
Wound healing is a complex biological process influenced by oxidative stress, inflammation, and cytokine activity. Current treatments are costly, inefficient, and often result in scarring. This study evaluates the wound healing potential of curcumin-loaded Pluronic® (PF) nanoformulation, NanoCUR, by assessing its antioxidant capacity, cytotoxicity, and effects on inflammatory cytokines in vitro. NanoCUR was synthesized by thin-film hydration method and was further characterized. The antioxidant capacity of NanoCUR was assessed using FRAP assay, while its cytotoxicity was evaluated in 3T3-NIH fibroblast cells. The wound healing property was determined through migration assay, and the IL-6 and TNF-α levels were monitored in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by cytokine cytometry bead array (CBA). TNF-α expression was analyzed via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). NanoCUR was successfully synthesized, producing nanoparticles with uniform morphology, high encapsulation efficiency (96.39%), and improved aqueous solubility. At 100 µM and 150 µM, NanoCUR exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity (6.78- and 3.89-% fold increment) compared to CUR respectively. Reduced toxicity of NanoCUR (20.63 µM) was observed in 3T3-NIH fibroblasts with higher LC₅₀ values than CUR (14.16 µM) at 72h post treatment. NanoCUR enhanced fibroblast migration and wound closure by 1.45%, achieving complete wound closure at 5 μM within 72h, surpassing CUR. NanoCUR also demonstrated effective modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing IL-6 and TNF-α levels, with suppression of TNF-α expression, supporting NanoCUR’s anti-inflammatory mechanism at 5 µM and 10 µM. Collectively, the findings in the present study indicate that NanoCUR has improved antioxidant activity, biocompatibility, and cellular responses in vitro, which could serve as a fundamental basis to develop NanoCUR as a wound healing treatment.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative organism of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 disease. It is associated with systemic inflammatory response characterized by multiorgan involvement. Depending on the extent of involvement of the lungs, the infection can be categorized as mild, moderate, and severe. This retrospective case-control study aimed to assess the severity of COVID-19 infection using hematological parameters like total and differential white blood cell, platelet, and certain derived indices like neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI). The study was carried out at the tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai, India. The study included 455 COVID-19 patients who underwent treatment in the year 2020 (pre-vaccination period), aged more than 18 years, confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV‑2. There were mild (n=320), moderate (n=70), and severe (n=65) COVID-19 cases. Around 270 patients who attended the Department of General Medicine for ailments other than COVID-19 and who were negative for COVID-19 testing were treated as controls. NLR, SII and SIRI were noticeably elevated and were associated with severe form of the disease, reflecting heightened immune activation and dysregulation. Hematological abnormalities of white blood cells and platelets, highlight the impact of cytokine-mediated inflammation. SIRI and SII showed good receiver operating characteristics curve performances. SIRI was associated with other inflammatory variables better than SII. Thus, NLR, SII, and SIRI may serve as reliable, and cost-effective laboratory tests for assessing the severity of COVID-19 infection.
The relationship between urinary sodium excretion and obesity is a critical area of research to understand the interactions among dietary sodium, weight gain, and the initiation of public health interventions to address obesity. This study aims to determine the association between urinary sodium excretion and body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 216 adults aged 18-65 years old who were recruited using convenience sampling in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The overall mean urinary sodium was 274.00±127.57 mmol/L. Those with high levels of urinary sodium (T3) had significantly higher mean BMI (T3: 26.71±6.31 mmol/L; F=4.01, p=0.019). Age (F=6.24, p<0.001), occupational status (F=4.06, p=0.001), ethnicity (F=8.53, p<0.001), marital status (t=-3.61, p<0.001), and monthly household income (F=4.91, p<0.001). Hypertension (F=4.15, p<0.001) was also significantly associated with increased BMI. Multivariate linear regression model identified urinary sodium excretion concentration (Adjusted β=0.19, 95% CI=0.01, 0.03, p=0.003), ethnicity (Adjusted β=0.18, 95% CI=0.06, 1.10, p=0.030), occupational status (Adjusted β=-0.23, 95% CI=-0.97, -0.06, p=0.026), and having heart disease/stroke (Adjusted β=0.17, 95% CI=1.96, 13.43, p=0.009) were significantly associated with increased BMI. The findings highlight the need for a concerted effort and intervention towards a low-sodium or salt diet to maintain a normal BMI.
Breast cancer remains one of the primary causes of death among women globally. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug in breast cancer therapy. However, it is limited by the development of chemoresistance and its cardiotoxic effects. Curcumin (CUR), a natural anticancer agent is promising in promoting apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing the healthy cells. Therefore, this project aims to study the combined anticancer effects of DOX and CUR in the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the combined DOX and CUR was determined prior to subjecting the cells treated with IC50 of the drugs to cell viability (MTT and trypan blue), wound healing, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting CDH1 by using β-actin as the housekeeping gene. The IC50 determined was 0.8 µM and 20 µM for DOX and CUR, respectively. The cell viability of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 decreased in time-dependent manner; however, MCF-7 exhibited a sudden increase at 48 hours, suggesting potential development of resistance. Trypan blue exclusion test showed that both cells displayed decreased cell viability, with MDA-MB-231 displayed greater decrease in cell viability. The cell migration of MDA-MB-231 was lower than the untreated cells at 72 hours while for MCF-7, the cell migration was reduced at 24 and 48 hours. H&E staining revealed various apoptotic morphological changes in the treated cells. RT-PCR results showed that CDH1 expression was highest for MDA-MB-231 at 24 hours after the combined treatment, indicating reduced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), thus inhibited metastasis. In conclusion, the combined DOX and CUR treatment shows promising potential in enhancing the anticancer effects by reducing cell viability, inhibiting the cell migration pathway as well as inducing apoptosis execution, overall mitigating the limitations of the existing breast cancer therapies.
The theme "Beyond the Framework: Leaping between Disciplines" addresses the growing importance of cross-disciplinary research, particularly in Life Sciences, Medicine, and Biomedicine. This Special Issue, explores how research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries can lead to breakthroughs in complex health challenges. The convergence of these fields fosters innovation by integrating diverse methodologies, perspectives, and technologies. This Special Issue highlights the value of interdisciplinary approaches in advancing understanding of diseases, developing novel treatments, and improving patient outcomes. Our contributors delve into a wide range of topics, including regenerative medicine, personalized healthcare, and biomaterials, showcasing collaborative research that has led to significant advancements. By breaking down silos, researchers from these domains can create more holistic solutions to pressing health concerns such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic diseases. This issue aims to inspire researchers and clinicians to pursue collaborative projects that transcend traditional boundaries, fostering innovation and promoting sustainable healthcare solutions.
Breast cancer has been steadily increasing in recent years, becoming a worldwide concern. Recent advancements in drug discovery and drug therapy have improved the survival rates of breast cancer patients. However, the long-term application of conventional chemotherapy drugs causes chemoresistance, and high dosage leads to adverse toxicity effects. At this point, curcumin, which exerts multiple beneficial effects, could be a potential novel agent in breast cancer treatment. Recent studies have found out that the combination of curcumin with chemotherapy drugs is effective in resensitising cancer cells towards chemotherapy drugs as well as reducing the chemotherapy dosage. Moreover, in vitro, and in vivo studies on different breast cancer cell lines as well as human clinical trials have shown the synergistic potential of curcumin in anticancer activities. Hence, this review summarises the synergistic anticancer effects of curcumin in combination with conventional chemotherapy drugs. This review also provides critical insights into the cellular and molecular effects of curcumin in combination with chemotherapy, particularly in relation to their modulation of key signalling pathways. Given curcumin’s poor availability, recent advances in nanoformulations have shown promise in enhancing its therapeutic potential. Therefore, this review also highlights the nano-formulated curcumin in combination with nanopackaged chemotherapy drugs, laying the groundwork for future research. Finally, this review analyses the research gap and discusses the future prospects of breast cancer treatment. In short, the findings presented in this review provide remarkable insights into the mechanisms underlying novel curcumin-based combination therapies, with the hope of achieving significant improvements in breast cancer treatment in the near future.
In today's world, everyone wants to be happy and fulfilled in their life. Knowing what influences one's total level of life satisfaction becomes crucial as people negotiate the challenging terrain of education, personal development, and social obligations. This study evaluated the factors influencing life satisfaction among university students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and examined the relationship between altruism and life satisfaction among these individuals. Data were gathered for the cross-sectional study utilizing a convenience sampling technique. A survey is being distributed to 89 students through Google Forms. The questionnaire that was used to measure altruism was the Adapted Self-Report Altruism Scale, and to measure life satisfaction was the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The majority of students in university (68.5%) have a moderate level of life satisfaction. There is a positive relationship between life satisfaction with altruism and age group. In order to enhance university students' overall life satisfaction and mental health, further research should be done on how to cultivate altruistic behaviours is necessary.
The aim of the special issue is to expand knowledge on the recent achievements in Anatomy, Physiology and related basic, preclinical, and clinical sciences of the participants of the 2nd International Symposium: Frontiers in Anatomy and Physiology Research and Education, conducted by the Faculty of Medicine and Heath Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, in collaboration with the international partners on December 13-14, 2023, to strengthen international collaboration between Malaysian and overseas universities and to help all the readers of the journal to identify their own niche in research and international partnership. It is also aimed at motivation of young researchers to participate in the research competitions and win, to upgrade their own research and participate in the scientific networking. The scope of the publications in the Special Issue covers but is not limited to the scientific data obtained from research in clinical anatomy, histology, embryology, systemic physiology and pathophysiology, molecular medicine, physiology of cell membrane and single cells, histophysiology, animal studies, drug discovery, immunology and infectious diseases, inflammation and cancer, neurosciences and medical education. The keynote and the invited speakers are world-renowned scientists and physicians known for cutting-edge research and clinical practice. The papers and abstracts were peer-reviewed and selected for publication by the scientific committee of the Symposium formed by Malaysian and international researchers.
The transition in eating behaviour from infancy to toddlerhood can pose challenges for parents who are unfamiliar with strategies to address picky eating habits. This review aims to provide comprehensive studies on picky eating among children in Southeast Asia and its associated factors. Recent data from UNICEF in 2020 reveals a concerning 28% prevalence of stunting among Asian children, highlighting the need to address these dietary concerns. The increase in picky eating behaviors is closely linked to a lack of awareness regarding fundamental aspects of healthy eating habits, including portion control, balanced nutrition, and essential dietary principles. Furthermore, there is a lack of reliable questionnaires to assess children's food preferences in a manner suitable for their age. Recent research across different regions of Asia were examined, revealing diverse eating behaviours in children that impact their nutritional intake and may contribute to eating disorders, such as picky eating. It is crucial for parents to closely monitor their children's picky eating habits to gain a better understanding of their nutritional needs. Additionally, several family factors are identified as contributors to picky eating, including inconsistent meal preparation routines resulting in irregular eating patterns. Irregular mealtimes can disrupt hunger cues, while neglecting household chores may indirectly impact children's eating habits by creating a stressful environment that discourages them from eating. Identifying associated factors concerning picky eating among children in Asia is vital to highlight the need for developing suitable strategies and interventions that can effectively cater to the diverse needs across the region.
Drug abuse poses serious challenges in various countries worldwide. It causes the amount of oxidative stress to elevate and lead to the abnormality of physiological changes in the body. Concerning the varied of effects in this situation, this systematic review aimed to scrutinize the relation between drug addiction and the oxidative stress in animal models. A systematic literature search using PubMed via National Library of Medicine (NIH) with the keywords as follow: “Oxidative stress” or “oxidant” or “free radical” and “opioid” or “opioid drug addiction” or “animal opioid addiction”. A total of seven relevant articles underwent further analysis for data extraction. Tramadol was shown has an effect on testicular tissue abnormalities due to the presence of oxidative stress that change the gene expression, besides, it can lead to altered neurotransmitter in cerebral cortex. Morphine appear has different reaction of withdrawal symptoms in male and female. It also has greater elevation of symptoms when induced with naloxone. The combination of morphine and remifentanil reveal the changes in myocardium due to the oxidative stress changes, however, in combination with anakinra it happened to reduce the morphine tolerance which has the antinociceptive properties. Evidence indicate that chronic codeine administration can cause changes in liver function and DNA damage. Current research confirms that oxidative stress and drug addiction have an association leading to the disturbance of the body's normal physiology.
