A Case Report on Blood in Breastmilk: Safety Issues and Islamic Ruling

This case study demonstrates a 33-year old nursing mother who had noticed that her breastmilk had traces of blood giving the appearance of a strawberry coloured milk while expressing for her infant. This is an uncommon encounter but important issue to raise concern among Muslim nursing mothers in terms of medical safety and Islamic ruling of the standpoint of legal theorists (usul al-fiqh) and legal maxim (qawai’id fiqhiyyah)

IFSS, TG, FT-IR spectra of impregnated sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibres and mechanical properties of their composites.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of resin impregnation on the interfacial shear strength (IFSS), thermogravimetric (TG) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibres. In addition, the effect of resin impregnation on the mechanical properties of sugar palm fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester (UP) composites was also studied. The fibres were impregnated with UP via vacuum resin impregnation process at a pressure of 600 mmHg for 5 min. Composites of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % fibre loadings were fabricated and tested for tensile and flexural properties. It was observed that the impregnation process caused the fibres to be enclosed by UP resin and this gave a strong influence to the increase of its interfacial bonding by the increase of its IFSS from single fibre pull-out test. It was also observed with TG and FT-IR spectra that the impregnated fibre had lower moisture uptake than the control and there was no significant increase in thermal stability of the impregnated fibre. The sequence of fibre decomposition started from the evaporation of moisture, hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and finally ash content and the presence of these components were proven by FT-IR spectra. For the composite specimens, due to the high interfacial bonding of the impregnated fibre and the matrix, the impregnated composites showed consistently higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, flexural strength, flexural modulus and toughness than the control samples. It was also observed that 30 % fibre loading gave optimum properties

Norms for Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among Secondary School Students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Introduction: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) has been widely used as a tool to detect eating disorders. We aimed to identify the EDE-Q normative data among secondary school students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving four secondary schools in an urban area. The respondents of secondary school students were selected using stratified sampling. Results: There were 298 teenagers 12 to 17 years of age who participated in the study. The EDE-Q mean scores ± standard deviation was 1.27 ± 1.08 for the total score (Global Score), 0.78 ± 0.95 for Restraint Domain, 1.02 ± 1.03 for Eating Concern, 1.76 ± 1.55 for Shape Concern and 1.54 ± 1.43 for Weight Concern. Conclusion: Mean values obtained from this study were relatively lower when compared to western populations. Shape Concern and Weight Concern had higher scores compared to the other domains. These values are useful for EDE-Q interpretation in Malaysia

Efficient Photoelectrochemical Performance of Gamma Irradiated gC3N4 and its g-C3N4@BiVO4 Heterojunction for Solar Water Splitting

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the American Chemical Society via the DOI in this recordComprehensive experimental and density functional theory simulations have been performed for the enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of gamma irradiated g-C3N4 and its heterojunction with BiVO4. The structure and morphology of g-C3N4@BiVO4 as a heterojunction were analyzed and verified from the correlation of experimental and theoretical data. It is found that gamma radiations have changed the bonding structure of g-C3N4 which ultimately reduces the optical bandgap energy. Moreover, the performance of gamma-irradiated g-C3N4 is two-fold, compared to that of non-irradiated one; increases from 3.59 to 5.86 µAcm-2 at 1.23 V versus Ag/AgCl in 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte solution (pH 7). Finally, it is observed that the performance of gamma irradiated g-C3N4 in g-C3N4@BiVO4 heterojunction increased from 0.53 mA cm-2 to 1.38 mA cm-2, compared to that of the non–irradiated one. In summary, it has been concluded that gamma-irradiated g-C3N4 and its heterojunction is potentially be applied in PEC solar water splitting.National University of Malaysi

Hybrid off-river augmentation system as an alternative raw water resource: the hydrogeochemistry of abandoned mining ponds

The use of water from abandoned mining ponds under a hybrid off-river augmentation system (HORAS) has been initiated as an alternative water resource for raw water. However, it raises the questions over the safety of the use of such waters. In this study, the hydrogeochemical analysis of the waters is presented to assess the degree to which the water has been contaminated. Comparisons were made between sampling sites, i.e. abandoned mining ponds, active sand mining ponds and the receiving streams within Bestari Jaya, Selangor River basin. The aqueous geochemistry analysis showed different hydrochemical signatures of major elements between sites, indicating different sources of minerals in the water. Discharges from the sand mining ponds were found to contain elevated availability of dissolved concentrations of iron, manganese, lead, copper and zinc, among others. However, the quality of the water (from the main river) that is supplied for potable water consumption is at a satisfactory level despite being partly sourced from the abandoned mining ponds. In fact, all the metal concentrations detected were well below the Malaysia Ministry of Health guideline limits for untreated raw water. In addition, the results of the geochemical index analysis (i.e. geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor and modified contamination factor) showed that the rivers and abandoned mining ponds were generally unpolluted with respect to the metals found in sediments

Elemental hydrochemistry assessment on its variation and quality status in Langat River, Western Peninsular Malaysia.

This paper discusses the hydrochemistry variation and its quality status in Langat River, based on the chemistry of major ions, metal concentrations and suitability for drinking purposes. Water samples were collected from 30 different stations to assess their hydrochemical characteristics. The physico-chemical parameters selected were temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, dissolved oxygen , pH, redox potential, HCO3, Cl, SO4, NO3, Ca, Na, K, Mg, 27Al, 138Ba, 9Be, 111Cd, 59Co, 63Cu, 52Cr, 57Fe, 55Mn, 60Ni, 208Pb, 80Se and 66Zn to investigate the variation of the constituents in the river water. Most of the parameters comply with the Drinking Water Quality Standard of the World Health Organization and the Malaysian National Standard for Drinking Water Quality by the Malaysia Ministry of Health except for EC, TDS, Cl, HCO3, SO4, Na, Mg, Al, Fe and Se. The results show that the Langat River is unsuitable for drinking purposes directly without treatment

An ultraviolet B condition that affects growth and defense in Arabidopsis

Ultraviolet B light (UV-B, 280-315 nm) is the shortest wavelength of the solar spectrum reaching the surface of the Earth. It has profound effects on plants, ranging from growth regulation to severe metabolic changes. Low level UV-B mainly causes photomorphogenic effects while higher levels can induce stress, yet these effects tend to overlap. Here we identified a condition that allows growth reduction without obvious detrimental stress in wild type Arabidopsis rosette plants. This condition was used to study the effects of a daily UV-B dose on plant characteristics of UV-B adapted plants in detail. Exploration of the transcriptome of developing leaves indicated downregulation of genes involved in stomata formation by UV-B, while at the same time genes involved in photoprotective pigment biosynthesis were upregulated. These findings correspond with a decreased stomatal density and increased UV-B absorbing pigments. Gene ontology analysis revealed upregulation of defense related genes and meta-analysis showed substantial overlap of the UV-B regulated transcriptome with transcriptomes of salicylate and jasmonate treated as well as herbivore exposed plants. Feeding experiments showed that caterpillars of Spodoptera littoralis are directly affected by UV-B, while performance of the aphid Myzus persicae is diminished by a plant mediated process

Study of puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris L.), and the important roles of its chemical ingredients

Puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris L.) is an annual to perennial herb belonging to family Zygophyllaceae. Different parts of this plant are known to have variety of chemical components that are of great medicinal importance such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroidal saponins, flavanol, and number of flavonoid derivatives. The surveys of interest were indexed in “PubMed”, “SciFinder”, “Elsevier”, and “Web of Science”. The present review aims to present the most up-to-date findings and results regarding the pharmaceutical advantages and health benefits of Tribulus terrestris in an organic life. This review presents the most important phytochemical and pharmacological data with an emphasis on the prominent information related to the pharmacological studies, chemical composition, mechanisms of action, and toxicological data. This plant possesses strong aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, diuretic, and hepatoprotective potentials along with significant antibacterial, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiurolithic, and cardiotonic properties. T. terrestris products are particularly popular in sport. It can also boost the capacity of absorption and effectiveness of the central nervous system. Due to its pharmacological activities Tribulus terrestris is a high potential medicinal herb and the suggestion is to increases by doing research in safety and efficacy

Rectoanal intussusception presenting as prolapsed anal mass

INTRODUCTION: Rectoanal intussusception is an invagination of the rectal wall into the lumen of the rectum. It is very rare to present as mass protruding from the anus. METHODS: We report a case of very rare presentation of adult rectoanal intussusception. CASE REPORT A 54 years-old healthy lady with presenting complain of mass protruding from the anus and per rectal bleeding for one day prior. Clinical examination revealed prolapsed anal mass with carpet like polyp and abundance of mucus discharge. There was no abdominal mass or tenderness. Mass was successfully reduced manually. Colonoscopy showed polypoidal growth at the rectum at 8cm from anus and biopsy was taken. we proceed with low anterior resection and intraoperatively noted rectoanal intussusception. Histopathological examination did showed tubullovilious adenoma with low grade dysplasia. Post-operative course complicated with anastomotic leak which required laparotomy, washout and drainage. She was then discharged well on post-operative day 13. CONCLUSION Rectoanal intussusception can present as prolapse through the anus in adults on rare occasions and should be investigated before definitive treatment. To preserve sphincter function, an initial reduction of colorectal intussusception should be attempted before surgery