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Dyslipidemia is associated with increased arterial stiffness (AS) which may lead to hypertension. Among the methods to assess AS are carotid-femoral and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Dyslipidemia is also known to trigger inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the commonest inflammatory markers measured in the clinical setting. However, the association between inflammation and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in people with dyslipidemia is less studied. Therefore, this review investigated the association between inflammation (as measured by CRP) and PWV in dyslipidemia patients. The search of the literature was conducted via PubMed and Scopus database. The keywords used were “aortic stiffness” OR “arterial stiffness” OR “pulse wave velocity” OR “vascular stiffness” OR “carotid femoral pulse wave velocity” OR “pulse wave analysis” AND “inflammation” OR “c reactive protein” OR “c-reactive protein” OR “high sensitivity c reactive protein” AND “dyslipidemia” OR “hyperlipidemia” OR “hypercholesterolemia” OR “hyperlipoproteinemia” OR “hypertriglyceridemia”. The following criteria were used: (1) only full-length original articles published in English language, (2) articles that reported the association between arterial stiffness measured as carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) or brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and CRP or high-sensitivity CRP, and (3) study involving human subjects. The search identified 957 articles published between 1980 and February 2020. Only eight articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were used for data extraction. Five of the studies were cross-sectional studies while another three studies were interventional studies. Seven out of eight papers found a significant positive association between AS and CRP, and the correlation ranged from mild to moderate association (Pearson r=0.33 to r=0.624). In conclusion, inflammation is associated with increased PWV in patients with dyslipidemia. This supports the involvement of inflammation in the development of AS in dyslipidemia.

الملخص: أهداف البحث: يلعب الالتهاب دورا رئيسا في التسبب في تصلب الشرايين. يعتبر بيبرسارمنتوسوم عشب له أنشطة كمضاد للأكسدة ومكافحة تصلب الشرايين. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم الخصائص المضادة للالتهابات من المستخلص المائي لبيبر سارمنتوسوم في الخلايا البطانية للوريد السري البشري. طرق البحث: تم تقسيم الخلايا البطانية للوريد السري البشري إلى ست مجموعات؛ التحكم، والعلاج بواسطة ١٠ نانوجرام ⁄ مل لعامل نخر الورم –ألفا، والعلاج المشترك ١٠ نانوجرام⁄ مل لعامل نخر الورم –ألفا بأربعة تراكيز مختلفة من المستخلص المائي لبيبر سارمنتوسوم (١٠٠, ١٥٠, ٢٥٠ و٣٠٠ نانوجرام ⁄ مل) لمدة ٢٤ ساعة. بعد ذلك، تم استخراج البروتين من المركب-١ لالتصاق الخلايا الوعائية، والمركب-١ للالتصاق بين الخلايا، وتم قياس ي ٩٣٧ لالتصاق الخلايا الأحادية والعامل النووي-كابا ب والبروتين ٦٥ في الخلايا البطانية للوريد السري البشري. النتائج: حفز العلاج بعامل نخر الورم-ألفا الخلايا البطانية للوريد السري البشري مع المستخلص المائي لبيبر سارمنتوسوم في تركيزات مختلفة خفض استخراج البروتين من المركب-١ لالتصاق الخلايا الوعائية والمركب-١ للالتصاق بين الخلايا بطريقة تعتمد على –الجرعة. علاوة على ذلك، منع المستخلص المائي لبيبر سارمنتوسوم أيضا عامل نخر الورم –ألفا ي ٩٣٧ تحفيز التصاق الخلايا الأحادية إلى الخلايا البطانية للوريد السري البشري. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، خفض المستخلص المائي لبيبر سارمنتوسوم عامل نخر الورم-ألفا من تحفيز العامل النووي –كابا ب والبروتين ٦٥ معتمدا على الجرعة. الاستنتاجات: أظهرت النتائج أن المستخلص المائي لبيبر سارمنتوسوم حظر عامل نخر الورم- ألفا الناجم عن المركب-١ لالتصاق الخلايا الوعائية والمركب-١ للالتصاق بين الخلايا من خلال آلية تنطوي على العامل النووي –كابا ب. Abstract: Objectives: Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Piper sarmentosum is an herb with antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of an aqueous extract of P. sarmentosum (AEPS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: HUVECs were divided into six groups: control, treatment with 10 ng/ml TNF-α, and co-treatment of 10 ng/ml TNF-α with four different concentrations of AEPS (100, 150, 250, and 300 μg/ml) for 24 h. Subsequently, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein expression, U937 monocyte cells adhesion, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 expression in HUVECs were measured. Results: Treatment of TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs with AEPS at different concentrations resulted in decreased VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AEPS also inhibited TNF-α-stimulated U937 monocyte cells adhesion to HUVECs. In addition, AEPS reduced TNF-α-induced NF-κB p65 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: The results indicated that AEPS suppressed TNF-α-induced VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression NF-κB signaling. الكلمات المفتاحية: الخلايا البطانية للوريد السري البشري, الالتهاب, المركب-١ الالتصاق بين الخلايا, بيبر سارمنتوسوم, المركب-١ التصاق الخلايا الوعائية, Keywords: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, Inflammation, Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, Piper sarmentosum, Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1

This study was to investigate the effects of Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS) on the proliferation and quantitative gene expression of adult human nasal septum chondrocytes in monolayer culture expansion and the formation of tissue engineered hyaline cartilage. Effects of ITS on human nasal septum chondrocytes monolayer culture expansion and gene expression were evaluated in various culture media either added with 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 1ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor plus 1ng/mL transforming growth factor or both serum and growth factors supplementation in comparison with medium added with 10%FBS. Chondrocytes cultured in medium added with 2% fetal bovine serum and growth factors either supplemented with or without ITS were then mixed with pluronic F-127 hydrogel for in vivo tissue engineered cartilage formation in nude mice model. Engineered tissues were removed after 8 weeks of implantation and evaluated with histological staining, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and quantitative gene expression analysis. ITS promoted human chondrocytes proliferation and reduced chondrocytes dedifferentiation in media supplemented with serum and growth factors. ITS with 2% FBS and growth factors provided 15-fold increased in chondrocytes number by the end of the culture period compared to the standard culture medium used in chondrocytes culture (medium added with 10% FBS). Engineered tissue resulted from ITS supplementation demonstrated higher quality of cartilage formation. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated the benefits of ITS supplementation in human chondrocytes monolayer culture and tissue engineering cartilage formation.

Engineering education focuses chiefly on students' ability to solve problems. While most engineering students are proficient in solving paper questions, they may not be proficient at providing optimal solutions to pragmatic project-based problems that require systematic learning strategy, innovation, problem-solving, and execution. The present study aims to determine whether an enhanced Project-based learning (PBL) with appropriate innovative interventions leads to increased students' ability to achieve better learning and project outcomes. The interventions refer to incorporating added learning and facilitating methods, namely, (1) use of mind-maps; (2) employment of analogies; and (3) use of round-table discussions. The study was conducted with a total number of 60 first-time PBL students equally divided into two classes with one serving as an experimental class and another as a control class. In addition, one class of students had a lower academic standing compared to the other (control). The rubric for the project-based module included a written knowledge test and a scenario-based oral examination to test knowledge and problem-solving skills, a artefact demonstration to evaluate artefact's performance. A major finding of this study was that there were significant differences in knowledge scores, problem-solving ability and artefact performance between students undergoing conventional and enhanced PBL methods. It could also be inferred from this study that students who had undergone enhanced PBL method designed better systems and had better performing artefacts than those who were subjected to the conventional PBL approach. Finally, it was concluded that incorporating enhanced learning and facilitating methods to group-centric, project-based driven education provided a more fertile environment to promote better learning experience and improved problem-solving ability which could eventually lead to developing innovative and pragmatic solutions to real-world engineering problems.

This study aims to compare and evaluate the learning ability and performance differences between two groups of students undergoing project-based learning (PjBL), with one group having prior PjBL experience, while the other group is being freshly exposed to PjBL. More specifically, it examines if there are significant differences in knowledge score, problem-solving ability, and eventual project-deliverable outcomes between the two sets of students. Performances were compared via qualitative and quantitative analyses. Key findings have indicated a significant increase in fundamental formative knowledge; enhanced problem-solving abilities; and production of better performing artefacts with regard to the set of design skills between experienced and first-time PjBL groups. This study also highlighted that experienced PjBL students have less conflicts within their groups, and are more receptive to PjBL compared to first-time PjBL students. Results from this study provide a starting point for educators to seek new learning/facilitating strategies that are relevant based on the experience and learning styles of students.

The present work investigated the chemopreventive and immunoadjuvant properties of edible bird's nest (EBN) extract on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Specifically, the cytotoxicity level of EBN extracts (HMG, EHMG, pHMG) against MCF-7, human immune cells of cytotoxic T cells, and monocytes (CD8+ and CD14+) were evaluated by measuring the production of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic molecules released in single and co-culture of MCF-7, CD8+, and CD14+ cells, before and after EBN treatment. The highest cytotoxic effect towards MCF-7 using IC50 of 15 µg/mL was demonstrated by HMG but no effects on CD8+ and CD14+, with cell viability of more than 90%. At the mRNA level, activated CD8+ and CD14+ depicted increased pro-apoptotic gene expression after HMG treatment in co-culture. Additionally, HMG treatment increased apoptosis by down-regulating the regulation of anti-apoptotic genes and up-regulating the pro-apoptotic genes in MCF-7. ELISA and multiplex assay reflected increased pro-apoptotic factors, and decreased anti-apoptotic soluble factors, by non-activated and activated CD8+ and CD14+, in a single or co-culture with MCF-7 after HMG treatment. In conclusion, HMG extract possesses immunoadjuvant properties that can be a potential anticancer agent without causing any deleterious effects on the human immune cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviewed 231 cases of spinal cord injury treated in Singapore. Data on demographic characteristics, common causes (mostly falls and traffic accidents), types of spinal damage, and outcomes are reported. Following rehabilitation, 68 patients were able to ambulate independently and 45 patients achieved independence in activities of daily living, but only 21.6% were gainfully employed. (DB)

Graphene is a promising candidate for use as a cushioning/filler material in composites due to its extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties. When added to composite materials, graphene can improve the composite's overall strength, durability, and impact resistance. One of the primary benefits of using graphene as a cushioning/filler material in composite materials is its high strength-to-weight ratio. Graphene is one of the most robust materials known to man, and when added to composite materials, it can significantly increase their strength without adding much weight. Another benefit is its high thermal conductivity. Graphene can dissipate heat quickly and efficiently, which can be advantageous in applications where thermal management is critical, such as electronics and aerospace. The addition of graphene can reduce the amount of energy transferred during impact, reducing the risk of damage or failure of the composite material. In addition to its thermal and mechanical properties, graphene is highly chemically resistant, making it ideal for use in harsh environments. It is also relatively inexpensive compared to other high-performance materials, making it an attractive option for large-scale industrial applications. Overall, graphene has the potential to revolutionize the use of composite materials by providing a high-strength, lightweight, and thermally conductive cushioning/filler material that can improve the durability and performance of composite materials in a diverse range of applications. Various application in diverse field has been elaborated in this review work.