Noor Lide Abu Kassim

Carica papaya induces in vitro thrombopoietic cytokines secretion by mesenchymal stem cells and haematopoietic cells

BackgroundUse of Carica papaya leaf extracts, reported to improve thrombocyte counts in dengue patients, demands further analysis on the underlying mechanism of its thrombopoietic cytokines inductionMethodsIn vitro cultures of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) were treated with unripe papaya pulp juice (UPJ) to evaluate its potential to induce thrombopoietic cytokines (IL-6 and SCF)ResultsIn vitro scratch gap closure was significantly faster (p < .05) in SHED culture treated with UPJ. IL-6 concentration was significantly increased (p < .05) in SHED and PBL culture supernatant when treated with UPJ. SCF synthesis in SHED culture was also significantly increased (p < .05) when treated with UPJConclusionIn vitro upregulated synthesis of IL −6 and SCF both in PBL and SHED reveals the potential mechanism of unripe papaya to induce thrombopoietic cytokines synthesis in cells of hematopoietic and mesenchymal origin.

The need to quantify authors’ relative intellectual contributions in a multi-author paper

Measuring the contribution of each author of a multi-author paper has been a long standing concern. As a possible solution to this, we propose a list of intellectual activities and logistic support activities that might be involved in the production of a research paper. We then develop a quantitative approach to estimate an author’s relative intellectual contribution to a published work. An author’s relative intellectual contribution is calculated as the percent contribution of an author to each intellectual activity involved in the production of the paper multiplied by a weighing factor for each intellectual activity. The relative intellectual contribution calculated in this way can be used to determine the position of an author in the author list of a paper. Second, a corrected citation index for each author, called the T-index, can be calculated by multiplying the relative intellectual contribution by the total citations received by a paper. The proposed approach can be used to measure the impact of an author of a multi-authored paper in a more accurate way than either giving each author full credit or dividing credit equally. Our proposal not only resolves the long standing concern for the fair distribution of each author’s credit depending on his/her contribution, but it will also, hopefully, discourage addition of non-contributing authors to a paper.

Autologous serum supplement favours in vitro regenerative paracrine factors synthesis

Foetal bovine serum (FBS) is often the serum supplement of choice for in vitro human cell culture. This study compares the effect of FBS and autologous human serum (AuHS) supplement in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture to prepare secretome.

Influence of Support Group Intervention on Quality of Life of Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivors

Given that breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer affecting Malaysian women and its low survival rate, this study investigates the possible influence of support group intervention on quality of life (QOL). It also examines the interrelationships between QOL subdomains as research has shown the influence of emotional expression on psychological and physical well-being. Rasch analysis was implemented to examine perception of QOL and the comparability of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General and Breast Cancer scales (FACT-G and FACT-B) of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy inventory. Results indicated that perception of QOL may be influenced by factors other than support group intervention. The FACT-G and FACT-B scales were comparable in the measurement of QOL for breast cancer, and the interrelationships between the QOL subdomains were supported. The findings of this study accentuate the importance of focusing support group interventions on improvement of emotional well-being to maintain patients’ QOL despite the cancer.

Indicators of Integration of Islamic Values in Human Knowledge

The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is committed to the Integration of Islamic values in the Human Knowledge (IOHK), which is the core of its vision and mission. One of the main concerns of IOHK is to determine indicators to evaluate the implementation of IHOK at IIUM and other Malaysian public institutions of higher learning. This study aims to explore the psychometric properties of a set of indicators measuring the integration of Islamic values in the curriculum at IIUM using the Rasch Measurement Model. This study utilized the survey method, with a 65-item questionnaire developed based on the literature review and data taken from focus group discussions. The items were divided into seven subconstructs: Belief in IOHK (BI), Content of IOHK (CO), Teaching and Learning Process (TL), Evaluation (EV), Purpose of IOHK (PS), Product (PR), and Student Improvement (SI). A total of 324 academic staff randomly selected from various faculties at IIUM completed the questionnaire. The statistical software Winsteps, version 3.72.1, was used to conduct the analysis of the polytomous data collected. The Rasch analysis showed that overall item and person reliability values were very high (0.99 and 0.96, respectively), with item separation 10.51 and person separation 4.81. All items had positive point measure correlation coefficients, with few items below 0.3. Fit statistics estimates showed that all items were within the recommended acceptable range (0.5–1.50), except 5 items on BI subconstruct. Variance explained by measures, indicated useful measurement (52.4 %) with the variance explained by the first contrast in the residual less than 10 %. The item and person means measures were well matched, 0.0 and 0.05 logit, respectively. There were no gaps in the middle of the item distribution, but quite wide gaps were seen at the upper and lower ends of the scale. Some items were overlapping; however, they measure different aspects. The instrument as it stands provides useful measures. Nonetheless, the items related to BI and SI and the gaps at the opposite ends of the scale require qualitative investigation.