scholarly journals Insect community in riparian zones of Sungai Sepetang, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Chukai of Peninsular Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur-Athirah Abdullah ◽  
Siti Nur Fatehah Radzi ◽  
Lailatul-Nadhirah Asri ◽  
Nor Shafikah Idris ◽  
Shahril Husin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Average Distance ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Sonneratia Caseolaris ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Three Rivers

Riparian areas hold vast number of flora and fauna with exceptional contributions to the ecosystem. A study was conducted in Sungai Sepetang, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Chukai to identify the insect community in a riparian zone of Peninsular Malaysia. Sampling was conducted in six consecutive months from December 2017 to May 2018 during both day and night using sweep nets. Twenty sampling stations (S1-S20) had been assembled along the riverbanks with an average distance of 200 m between each station. The 17,530 collected insects were from 11 orders and consisted of Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Blattodea, Thysanoptera, Mantodea and Odonata. The three most abundant orders were Diptera (33.84%; 5933 individuals), Coleoptera (28.82%; 5053 individuals) and Hemiptera (25.62%: 4491 individuals). The collected insect community consisted of different guilds such as the scavenger, predator, herbivore, pollinator and parasitoid. Sungai Sepetang and Sungai Rembau were dominated by mangrove flora, Sonneratia caseolaris (Myrtales: Lythraceae), while Sungai Chukai was dominated by Barringtonia racemosa. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the composition of insects between the three rivers though clustering analysis showed that the insect communities in Sungai Sepetang and Sungai Rembau were 100% similar compared to Sungai Chukai which consisted of a totally different community. There is a significant negative correlation between abundance of insects with salinity and wind speed at Sungai Chukai and Sungai Sepetang.

Pediatric Cataract Surgery: Comparison between Ages at Surgery and Contrast Sensitivity Outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Aquirina Caesari Putri ◽  
Rozalina Loebis
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Cataract Extraction ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Natural World ◽  
P Value ◽  
Pediatric Cataract ◽  
Low Contrast ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Pediatric cataracts are major causes of children’s blindness. Surgery has proven to be beneficial in terms of visual function prognosis. Contrast sensitivity evaluation after surgery is as important as visual acuity considering that natural world consists of various objects in low-to-medium contrasts. The purpose of this study is to analyze the difference of contrast sensitivity outcomes based on ages at surgery. Method: Retrospective data of children with pediatric developmental cataract from July 2013 to November 2015 were collected. All children who underwent cataract surgery at 60-months-old or less were randomized into two groups, ≤24 months and >24-to-60 months. Contrast sensitivity was then examined with preferential-looking method using Hiding Heidi low-contrast test face chart. The main outcome measures were contrast sensitivity of both groups. Age-at-evaluation, cataract onset, duration of follow-up, duration of deprivation and visual acuity were also noted. Result: Of 14 children (23 eyes), 11 eyes (47,8%) were in ≤24 months group, 12eyes (52,2%) were in >24-to-60 months group. All eyes underwent cataract extraction and similar type of intraocular lens implantation. Mean age-at-surgery was 28,2 months±16,8 (SD). Mean contrast sensitivity for each group was 47,50 %±42,29 and 18,33%±27,38, respectively, with p-value 0,031. Further analysis of Spearman’s correlation test demonstrated significant negative correlation (rs = -0,559; p = 0,006) between the two groups. Conclusion: There was statistically significant difference in contrast sensitivity between those who underwent surgery at ≤24 months and >24-to-60 months. Children who underwent surgery at older ages tend to have better contrast sensitivity afterwards.

scholarly journals Perceived quality of care among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the north east region of peninsular Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noorfariza Nordin ◽  
Suhaily Mohd Hairon ◽  
Najib Majdi Yaacob ◽  
Anees Abdul Hamid ◽  
Seoparjoo Azmel Mohd Isa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
East Region ◽  
Perceived Quality Of Care ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are best managed by a chronic care model that is associated with enhanced quality of care and improved patient outcome. Assessing patients’ perceived quality of care is crucial in improving the healthcare delivery system. Hence, this study determined the perceived quality of care among people with T2DM and explored its associations with (i) sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and (ii) types of healthcare clinics to guide future planning. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 20 primary healthcare clinics in the North East Region of Peninsular Malaysia and people with T2DM as the sampling unit was conducted from February to May 2019. The pro forma checklist, interview-guided Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11, and Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (Malay version; PACIC-M) questionnaire were used for data collection. Univariate analysis and linear regression were used to determine the status of perceived quality of care and the factors associated with the perceived quality of care, respectively. Results Overall, data from 772 participants were analyzed. The majority was from the Malay ethnic group (95.6%) with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 8.91% (2.30). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) of the number of medical officers available at each clinic was 6 (7), with Family Doctor Concept (FDC) clinics having a higher number of medical officers than non-FDC clinics (p = 0.001). The overall mean (SD) PACIC-M score was 2.65 (0.54) with no significant difference between scores of patients treated in the two clinic types (p = 0.806). Higher perceived quality of care was associated with lower number of medical officers (adjusted regression coefficient [Adj.β], − 0.021; p-value [p], 0.001), and greater doctor–patient interaction in all domains: distress relief (Adj.β, 0.033; p, < 0.001), rapport (Adj.β, 0.056; p, < 0.001), and interaction outcome (Adj.β, 0.022; p, 0.003). Conclusion Although there was no significant difference found between clinic type, this study reflects that patients are comfortable when managed by the same doctor, which may support a better doctor-patient interaction. A larger specialized primary care workforce could improve diabetes care in Malaysia.

Spatial and seasonal variability of emergent aquatic insects and nearshore spiders in a subtropical estuary

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha J. Zapata ◽  
S. Mažeika P. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Insects ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Aquatic Insect ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Subtropical Estuary ◽  
Adult Aquatic Insects

Variability in the density and distribution of adult aquatic insects is an important factor mediating aquatic-to-terrestrial nutritional subsidies in freshwater ecosystems, yet less is understood about insect-facilitated subsidy dynamics in estuaries. We surveyed emergent (i.e. adult) aquatic insects and nearshore orb-weaving spiders of the families Tetragnathidae and Araneidae in a subtropical estuary of Florida (USA). Emergent insect community composition varied seasonally and spatially; densities were lower at high- than low-salinity sites. At high-salinity sites, emergent insects exhibited lower dispersal ability and a higher prevalence of univoltinism than low- and mid-salinity assemblages. Orb-weaving spider density most strongly tracked emergent insect density rates at low- and mid-salinity sites. Tetragnatha body condition was 96% higher at high-salinity sites than at low-salinity sites. Our findings contribute to our understanding of aquatic insect communities in estuarine ecosystems and indicate that aquatic insects may provide important nutritional subsidies to riparian consumers despite their depressed abundance and diversity compared with freshwater ecosystems.

scholarly journals Functional relationship between woody plants and insect communities in response to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infestation in the Three Gorges Reservoir region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuang Wang ◽  
Lijuan Zhao ◽  
Jiaqi Liu ◽  
Yajie Yang ◽  
Juan Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Functional Relationship ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Bursaphelenchus Xylophilus ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Masson Pine

To study the effect of the invasion of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus on the functional relationship between woody plants and insect communities, the populations of tree species and insect communities were investigative in the Masson pine forests with different infestation durations of B. xylophilus. In this study, the number of Pinus massoniana began to decrease sharply, whereas the total number of other tree species in the arboreal layer increased gradually with the infestation duration of B. xylophilus. The principal component analysis ordination biplot shows that there was a significant change in the spatial distribution of woody plant species in different Masson pine forest stands. Additionally, a total of 7,188 insect specimens was obtained. The insect population showed an upward trend in stand types with the increase of pine wilt disease infection periods, which demonstrated that the insect community had been significantly affected by the invasion of B. xylophilus. The structure of insect functional groups changed from herbivorous (He) > omnivorous (Om) > predatory (Pr) > parasitic (Pa) > detritivorous (De) in the control stand to He > Pa > Om, De > Pr after B. xylophilus infestation in the forests. The results showed that the populations of He, Pa, and De increased after the invasion of B. xylophilus, but the populations of Pr decreased. Moreover, the redundancy analysis ordination bi-plots reflected the complicated functional relationship between woody plant communities and insects after the invasion of B. xylophilus. The present study provides insights into the changes in the community structure of woody plants and insects, as well as the functional relationship between woody plant communities and insect communities after invasion of B. xylophilus.

scholarly journals Joint regulation of cell size and cell number in the wing blade of Drosophila melanogaster

1997 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
JENNIE McCABE ◽  
VERNON FRENCH ◽  
LINDA PARTRIDGE
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Cell Area ◽  
Wing Area ◽  
Compensatory Control ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Compensatory Regulation

We used Drosophila melanogaster to test for compensatory control of cell area and cell number in the regulation of total wing area. In two random bred wild-type base stocks collected from different geographic locations we found a negative association between the area and the number of cells in the wing blade. Three replicate lines were selected for increased or decreased wing area, with cell area maintained at the same level as in the three controls. After eight generations of selection, despite a large and highly significant difference in wing area between the large, control and small selection lines, cell area did not differ significantly between them. Rather, the difference in wing area between selection regimes was attributable to differences in cell number. Over the course of selection, the initially significant negative correlation between cell area and cell number in the wing increased, providing evidence for compensatory regulation of cell area and cell number. As a result of the increasingly negative association between the two traits, the variance in wing area declined as selection proceeded. It will be important to discover the mechanisms underlying the compensatory regulation of cell area and cell number.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Testing to Determine Cd Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability in Contaminated Rice in Relation to Mouse Chow

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuo Sun ◽  
Xiaofang Zhou ◽  
Zhian Li ◽  
Ping Zhuang
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Content ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Chow Group ◽  
Oral Bioaccessibility ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Extraction Test ◽  
In Vivo Testing ◽  
Distribution In Organs

A combination of an in vitro physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and an in vivo mouse model was used to determine Cd oral bioaccessibility and estimate bioavailability in Cd-contaminated rice. The PBET found lower Cd bioaccessibility in the intestinal stage (40–50%) than in the gastric stage (93–98%) for both rice and mouse chow. No significant difference was found in Cd bioaccessibility between contaminated rice and Cd-amended mouse chow in the gastric or gastrointestinal phase (except for rice 1). The result of the in vivo bioassay revealed that Cd absorption in the kidney or liver of mice fed with contaminated rice were significantly higher than in the mouse chow group containing an equal Cd concentration. Correlation analysis between concentrations of different elements in mouse chow or rice and Cd concentrations in mice kidney or liver showed that Fe, Ca, Cu, and Zn had significant negative correlation (r2 > 0.7, p < 0.01). These results suggest that nutritional elements in the diet could affect Cd absorption and distribution in organs and that different food matrices may result in unequal Cd health risks at an equal Cd concentration due to the specific mineral content of food.

No effect of escitalopram versus placebo on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy individuals: a randomised trial

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla Knorr ◽  
Pernille Koefoed ◽  
Mia H. Greisen Soendergaard ◽  
Maj Vinberg ◽  
Ulrik Gether ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Bdnf Mrna ◽  
Significant Difference

ObjectiveBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) seems to play an important role in the course of depression including the response to antidepressants in patients with depression. We aimed to study the effect of an antidepressant intervention on peripheral BDNF in healthy individuals with a family history of depression.MethodsWe measured changes in BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and whole-blood BDNF levels in 80 healthy first-degree relatives of patients with depression randomly allocated to receive daily tablets of escitalopram 10 mg versus placebo for 4 weeks.ResultsWe found no statistically significant difference between the escitalopram and the placebo group in the change in BDNF mRNA expression and whole-blood BDNF levels. Post hoc analyses showed a statistically significant negative correlation between plasma escitalopram concentration and change in whole-blood BDNF levels in the escitalopram-treated group.ConclusionThe results of this randomised trial suggest that escitalopram 10 mg has no effect on peripheral BDNF levels in healthy individuals.

scholarly journals Influence of Maternal Glycemic Status (HbA1c) at Delivery and Risk of Hypoglycemia in Infants of Diabetic Mothers

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-88
Author(s):  
Mst Nurun Nahar Begum ◽  
M Quamrul Hassan ◽  
Maherun Nessa ◽  
Kishwar Azad
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Hba1c Level ◽  
Glycosylated Hemoglobin ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Glycemic Status ◽  
Infants Of Diabetic Mothers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Diabetic Mothers

Objective: To examine the influence of maternal HbA1c level at delivery and risk of hypoglycemia in infants of diabetic mothers. Method: This case-control study was done with sixty neonates born to diabetic mothers in BIRDEM hospital. Out of sixty neonates, 30 neonates who developed hypoglycemia during the first 24 hours of age were considered as cases and another 30 neonates who did not develop hypoglycemia during the first 24 hours were considered as controls. Maternal glycemic status was examined by measurement of Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and level of <6 % considered good control. Babies were screened for hypoglycemia at birth, then 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hours of life. Blood glucose value of less than 2.6 mmol/l was considered as hypoglycemia. Results: Clinical characteristics of newborns and their mothers of cases and controls did not show any significant difference. In majority of cases (73.3%) hypoglycemia was detected by 6 hours of age. Most of babies were asymptomatic (93.3%). Majority of mothers (76.7%) in controls and 46.7% of were in good glycemic controls (HbA1c <6%). The mean HbA1c level of mothers of cases was significantly higher than that of control mothers (6.02 ± 0.98 vs 5.44 ± 0.78; P = 0.014) and significant negative correlation between maternal HbA1c and blood glucose level of neonates ( r=0.422 p= 0.001). Conclusion: There is an association between maternal HbA1c level and neonatal hypoglycemia in infants of diabetic mothers.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/birdem.v2i2.12308 (Birdem Med J 2012; 2(2): 84-88)

scholarly journals Yield and Safety of Transjugular Versus Percutaneous Liver Biopsies in Suspected Cases of Diffuse Liver Disease and Correlation of Yield of Transjugular Liver Biopsy with Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mousam Dey ◽  
Simi Das ◽  
Argha Chatterjee ◽  
Agnibha Dutta ◽  
Ranajoy Ghosh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Biopsy ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Diagnostic Yield ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Major Complication ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient ◽  
Transjugular Liver Biopsy ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Liver biopsy is indicated in both diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse liver diseases. Conventionally, percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) is used, as it is easily available, affordable and has a shorter procedure time, whereas transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is used in the setting of ascites and coagulopathy. Our aim is to evaluate the diagnostic yield of TJLB in comparison to PLB with tract embolization. Our secondary aims were to evaluate whether there is any difference in rate of major and minor complications between the two procedures and evaluate whether there is any correlation between diagnostic yield of TJLB and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Methods In this retrospective study, we included a total of consecutive 123 patients who underwent liver biopsy through percutaneous (n = 97) and transjugular route (n = 26). We compared the yield of the specimen based on the number of complete portal tracts (CPT). Results There was no significant difference between mean CPT in TJLB and PLB specimens (mean CPT of TJLB and PLB were 10.9 ± 2.7 and 11.6 ±2.5, respectively [p = 0.566]). There was a moderate but significant negative correlation between the total number of CPT and HVPG in the TJLB group (Spearman’s rho − 0.58) (p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in minor complication between the two procedures. Only one patient who underwent PLB developed major complication and none of TLJB procedure had any major complication. Conclusion Yield of tissue and complication rates are comparable in TJLB and PLB groups. Yield of tissue in TJLB have intermediate but significant negative correlation with HVPG.

scholarly journals Calcitriol Elevation Is Associated with a Higher Risk of Refractory Hypercalcemia of Malignancy in Solid Tumors

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. e1115-e1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq Chukir ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Katherine Hoffman ◽  
John P Bilezikian ◽  
Azeez Farooki
Keyword(s):  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Hematologic Malignancies ◽  
Antiresorptive Therapy ◽  
Hypercalcemia Of Malignancy ◽  
Metastatic Lesions ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is a common complication of advanced cancer. PTH-independent HCM may be mediated through different mechanisms: (1) humoral HCM, caused by the secretion of PTH-related peptide (PTHrP), (2) local osteolysis resulting from metastatic lesions, and (3) calcitriol-mediated hypercalcemia. Calcitriol-mediated HCM in patients with nonlymphomatous solid tumors is thought to be rare. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review from 2008 to 2017 to characterize further patients at our institution with solid tumors who had HCM with concomitant elevations in calcitriol. Patients with PTH-dependent hypercalcemia and patients with evidence of granulomatous disease were excluded, as were patients with hematologic malignancies. We hypothesized that patients with HCM and elevated calcitriol levels would respond less favorably to treatment with antiresorptive therapy compared with patients with HCM but without calcitriol elevation. We also aimed to assess mortality and determine if PTHrP and phosphorus levels correlate with calcitriol because both factors may alter calcitriol levels. Results Of 101 eligible patients, calcitriol was elevated in 45 (45%). PTHrP was elevated in 76% of patients with elevated calcitriol compared with 52% of patients without calcitriol elevation. The mean PTHrP value did not differ between patients with HCM and elevated calcitriol (36.3 ± 22 pg/mL) and those without calcitriol elevation (37.4 ± 19 pg/mL). Those with elevated calcitriol levels generally did not respond completely to antiresorptive treatment (80% incomplete response rate), whereas most patients without an elevation in calcitriol responded well to antiresorptive treatment (78% response rate: P &lt; .001). There was no significant difference in the percentage of patients with metastatic bone disease among the 2 groups (49% vs. 55%, respectively). There was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups (P = .14). A weak but significant negative correlation was found between phosphorus and calcitriol (Pearson r = -0.261, P = .016). This correlation was only significant in patients without calcitriol elevation (Pearson r = -0.4, P = .0082). Also, a significant negative correlation was found between PTHrP and phosphorus, again only in patients without calcitriol elevation. Discussion In the setting of HCM, patients with calcitriol elevation are much less likely to respond to antiresorptive therapy than patients without calcitriol elevation. Because calcitriol elevation did not appear to be correlated with hypophosphatemia or elevated PTHrP, it would appear that calcitriol production under these conditions is autonomous, and not subject to normal physiological controls. These observations indicate that calcitriol elevations in patients with HCM have clinical significance.

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