Hydrogels are solid-like materials that are widely used in medicine, particularly as wound dressings, due to their ability to retain moisture, protect wounds from external contaminants, and remain permeable to oxygen. In this research, hydrogels were fabricated using chitosan, pectin, gelatin, stingless bee honey, and the incorporation of medicinal plant extracts to enhance their therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to fabricate hydrogels incorporating three different medicinal plants and to evaluate their physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological characteristics, as well as to identify the most suitable medicinal plant for wound-dressing applications. FTIR analysis of hydrogel with and without plant extracts confirmed the presence of functional groups associated with the polymers, honey, and plant extracts. Swelling testing revealed a high water absorption capability and this demonstrated their ability to maintain a moist healing environment. XRD analysis exhibited amorphous structures for all samples, indicating that the addition of plant extracts did not alter their crystallinity. Mechanical testing showed that extract-loaded hydrogels exhibited Young’s modulus values of 0.10-0.19 MPa compared to 0.20 MPa for the control, suggesting reduced stiffness upon extract incorporation, with Ulam Raja formulations showing the greatest reduction from 0.18 MPa to 0.10 MPa as extract loading increased. Biocompatibility assessment using human osteoblast cells showed no cytotoxic effects in all hydrogel formulations, with cell densities increasing from 6.09 ´ 106 cells/mL at Day 0 to 1.10 ´ 107-4.70 ´ 107 cells/mL at Day 5, under the current experimental conditions.
Peat swamp forests in Malaysia harbor diverse amphibian and reptile populations, yet these ecosystems remain understudied and undervalued in conservation efforts. This study presents the first assessment of amphibian and reptile diversity in Terengganu's peat swamp forests. A survey conducted in 2019 at Mak Jintan peat swamp forest employed Visual Encounter Survey (VES), Acoustic Encounter Survey (AES) and collapsible trap methods. We recorded 68 individuals comprising 15 amphibian species from five families and eight reptile species from eight families. Amphibian diversity (H'= 2.3552) exceeded that of reptiles (H'= 1.7260). An updated checklist for peninsular Malaysia's peat swamp forests now includes at least 129 species from 22 families. This research enhances our understanding of herpetofauna diversity in peninsular Malaysia's peat swamp forests and provides recommendations for their conservation.
Stingless bees propolis is increasingly recognized as a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in health and skincare. Conventional ethanol-based extraction raises concerns due to skin irritation and regulatory restrictions, underscoring the need for safer alternatives. This study evaluated plant-based oils as bio-friendly plant-based extraction media for Geniotrigona thoracica propolis, using coconut (COP), olive (OOP), and sunflower (SOP) oils, with ethanol (EEP) and water (WEP) as comparators. Recoverable extract yields were determined, while total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were quantified using Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Phytochemical composition was profiled by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antioxidant activities were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while cytotoxicity towards human keratinocytes (HaCaT) was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. COP achieved the highest recoverable extract yield (10.00%) and TPC (54.40 mg GAE/g), statistically comparable to EEP (53.50 mg GAE/g) but significantly higher than other extracts. TFC was greatest in EEP (66.54 mg QE/g), followed by COP (46.55 mg QE/g). GC-MS analysis revealed distinct chemical fingerprints across extracts, encompassing fatty acids, esters, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and phenolic derivatives. COP exhibited significantly stronger DPPH radical scavenging capacity (50.85 ± 8.70%) than all other extracts, while its ferric reducing capacity (659.00 µM Fe²⁺) was comparable to EEP (597.37 µM Fe²⁺). For ABTS, EEP (33.13 ± 4.48%) and COP (26.60 ± 2.88%) did not differ significantly and were both higher than the other extracts. All extracts were non-toxic to HaCaT cells at the concentrations tested. Overall, coconut oil demonstrated a favorable balance of phytochemical recovery, strong antioxidant activity, and cytocompatibility, supporting its potential as a plant-based extraction medium for bio-friendly propolis-based dermatological formulations.
Caspase (CASP) family members have been proposedare frequently employed as pharmacodynamic biomarkers for monitoringto evaluate anticancer therapeutic responses, yet their prognostic relevance across malignancies remains incompletely characterizedunderexplored. The present investigation systematically assessed the prognostic potentialclinical utility of seven proapoptosis-associated caspase genes (CASP2/3/6/7/8/9/10) across pan-cancer cohorts usingas pan-cancer prognostic indicators. Iintegrative analysis of TIMER2.0, PrognoScan, and GEPIA2 databases. The screening identified CASP6 and CASP9 as candidate survival-associated geneskey survival predictors:; elevated CASP6 expression correlated with favorable outcomes in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and colon adenocarcinoma, while high CASP9 levels were associated with improvedpredicted ameliorative survival in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP). TIMER2.0 immune events analysis revealed CASP6-associated distinct immune microenvironment remodeling in KIRC, characterized by coordinated infiltration withof B cells, CD4+ T cells, and myeloid populations. UALCAN methylation profiling demonstrated tumor-specific promoter hypermethylation of CASP6 in KIRC and CASP9 in KIRP, which is strongly correlated with transcriptional downregulation. cBioPortal analysis identified missense mutations (CASP6- E16G/K238R in colon adenocarcinoma; CASP9- S133F in KIRP) classified as variants of uncertain significance. Through multi-omics integrationvalidation, CASP6 emerged as a candidaterobust transcriptional biomarker forin KIRC, with expression levels stratifyingshowing potential associations with therapeutic response probabilities. These findings establishedsuggest that caspase expression signature may serve as complementary tools for prognostic stratification in renal malignancies.
In investigations involving firearms, crime scene reconstruction plays a crucial role in establishing the circumstances and details surrounding the incident. Typically, cardboard is used as a substitute substrate during such reconstructions to simulate the gunfire impact distribution pattern. However, this practice may raise questions in legal proceedings, particularly regarding the accuracy and reliability of using cardboard to represent human flesh. Such concerns could potentially undermine the evidentiary value of the reconstruction and its ability to meet the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt for any criminal investigation. Considering this, the objective of the present study is to evaluate whether significant differences exist in gunshot residue (GSR) distribution patterns and particle distribution between cardboard and meat substrates, thereby assessing the validity of using cardboard as a stand-in material in forensic reconstructions. Bovine meat was used as the meat substitute to test residue GSR patterns. A P99 automatic pistol with 9 mm ammunition was used, and the person who fired the gun was right-handed, between 165–175 cm tall and weighed between 80–90 kg. The experiment was conducted in two parts. In the first part, the gun was fired at 4 different distances and in the second part, the gun was fired at 4 different angles. Each distance and angle were tested five times on both cardboard and meat. Altogether, the experiment involved 70 samples. The results were evaluated by visually examining the GSR distribution patterns and statistically analysing the GSR particle distribution using statistical tests of significance. The visual analysis showed no major differences between cardboard and meat at most distances, except at 5 cm, where a noticeable difference in the GSR pattern was observed. However, the analysis showed that the p-values were above 0.05, which means there was no significant difference between the groups, so the null hypothesis was accepted. Overall, the study found no significant differences in GSR patterns or particle counts between cardboard and meat substrates, regardless of the distance or angle of the shots. This finding is important for crime scene reconstruction, as it addresses concerns about the reliability of using cardboard in gunshot reenactments. While concerns have been raised regarding the suitability of cardboard as a tissue simulant, the present findings indicate no significant difference in GSR distribution between cardboard and meat substrates under the tested conditions.
