Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan - Tesis
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- PublicationThe screening of alpinia purpurata ethanol extract for selective anticancer activity in vitro(2025-01)Saidin, Nuraniessa JulianaCancer, including breast, cervical, and brain cancers, remains a major health challenge globally, requiring effective treatments. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of Alpinia purpurata ethanol extract and tamoxifen on HeLa, MCF-7, DTBRG, and Vero cells using the MTT assay and qualitative phytochemical tests to evaluate their potential as anticancer agents. The results revealed that the A. purpurata ethanol extract exhibited significant cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 18.19±1.5 μg/mL for HeLa, 158.70±1.1 μg/mL for MCF-7, 68.47±1.7 μg/mL for DTBRG, and 3.31±2.5 μg/mL for Vero cells. Tamoxifen, a well-established anticancer drug, demonstrated stronger cytotoxic effects, with IC50 values of 0.13±0.5 μg/mL for HeLa and 1.61±0.7 μg/mL for MCF-7 cells. However, tamoxifen exhibited higher toxicity to normal cells. In conclusion, Alpinia purpurata ethanol extract shows promising anticancer activity with selective toxicity towards cancerous cells, suggesting its potential for development as a safer alternative to tamoxifen
- PublicationInvestigation of exon 12 mutations in the janus kinase 2 (jak 2) gene among polycythemia vera patients from Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia(2025-01)Hanizam, Nur Hasya AthirahPolycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by excessive red blood cell production. While JAK2 V617F mutations have been extensively studied, mutations in JAK2 exon 12 remain under-explored. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of JAK2 exon 12 mutations among PV patients at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM) and explore their associations with clinical and hematological parameters. A total of 86 PV patients were screened for JAK2 exon 12 mutations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing. Patients were categorized into groups based on the presence of JAK2 exon 12 mutations, JAK2 V617F mutations, both mutations, or neither. Clinical data, including age, gender, splenomegaly, and thrombosis, were obtained from medical records. Hematological parameters, such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), were analyzed. Fifteen patients tested positive for JAK2 exon 12 mutations, revealing two mutation types such as insertion mutations and point mutations. Interestingly, co-occurrence of JAK2 V617F and exon 12 mutations was found in eight patients (9.32%), indicating the potential for complex genetic mechanisms. Patients with both JAK2 V617F and exon 12 mutations had the highest mean age and elevated platelet and WBC counts, indicating a more aggressive disease course. JAK2 V617F mutations were associated with higher rates of thrombosis and splenomegaly compared to exon 12-only mutations. Morphological analysis revealed hypercellularity in the bone marrow of JAK2 exon 12-positive patients, with significant erythroid and megakaryocytic proliferation. This study underscores the clinical significance of JAK2 exon 12 mutations, highlighting their distinct impact on disease progression and clinical features compared to JAK2 V617F mutations
- PublicationElucidating the role of dendritic cells and b cells in imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model(2025-08)Noor, Aina Akmal MohdPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterised by keratinocyte hyperproliferation and immune dysregulation. Although psoriasis is a T cell-mediated disease, increasing evidence suggests the important roles of dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells in initiating, sustaining and regulating psoriatic inflammation. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the roles of DCs and B cells in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model through a time-based analysis of immune responses in the skin, spleen and blood. BALB/c mice were divided into control (n=6) and IMQ-induced (n=6) groups, with samples collected on day 3, day 5 and day 7. Psoriasis-like inflammation was induced via topical IMQ application, leading to increased skinfold thickness, modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and splenomegaly compared to controls. Histological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome staining) revealed hallmark psoriasis features, including epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, immune cell infiltration and visible blood vessel observation, as well as increased immune cell density in the spleen. Notably, the white pulp of the spleen exhibited significant germinal centre (GC) enlargement, indicating heightened lymphoid activity. Flow cytometry was used to analyse DC and B cell dynamics across samples. The results demonstrated an increasing trend in CD11chi/+MHCII+ DC populations across all samples, accentuating their involvement in antigen presentation and immune activation. Concurrently, B220+CD38+ B cells increased in the spleen, while CD19+CD38+ B cells were significantly higher in the skin but decreased in the blood, suggesting distinct migration and activation dynamics. Subsequent gene expression analysis (RT-PCR) of CD11c, H2-Aa, BAFF, IL-10, IL-6 and CXCR5 revealed consistent upregulation in the IMQ-induced group, supporting a sustained inflammatory state driven by DC and B cell activation. ELISA-based cytokine analysis showed elevated serum levels of BAFF, IL-10 and IL-6 at each time point, further reinforcing their role in chronic inflammation and B cell activation. Overall, the increment of DC and B cell markers at both cellular and molecular levels, accompanied by elevated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, reflects a robust and evolving immune response. These findings affirm the successful establishment of the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse model and support the study objectives in elucidating the dynamic involvement of DCs and B cells during disease progression as well as offering a foundation for future therapeutic research
- PublicationEvaluation of the hemavision-28q fusion transcript for acute leukemia screening panel(2025-01)Tarannum, NowshinAcute leukemia is a hematopoietic cell malignancy characterized by excessive proliferation of immature blood cells, resulting in severe disruption of normal hematopoiesis. The accurate and timely discovery of genetic abnormalities, particularly chromosomal translocations, is crucial for effective acute leukemia diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy planning. This study compares the performance of the HemaVision-28Q kit, a real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)-based assay, to the HemaVision-28N assay, which uses nested PCR to detect fusion gene transcripts associated with acute leukemia. The goal was to evaluate HemaVision-28Q's sensitivity, specificity, and clinical value as a diagnostic tool, as well as its capacity to detect both positive and negative fusion transcript cases. Archived RNA samples from the peripheral blood and bone marrow of acute leukemia patients were examined using the HemaVision-28Q and HemaVision-28N assays. The HemaVision-28Q performed admirably, detecting 28 clinically important fusion gene transcripts quickly and consistently, including t(9;22) [BCR-ABL1], t(15;17) [PML-RARA], and inv(16) [CBFB-MYH11]. The assay was found to be highly sensitive and specific, with a faster turnaround time than HemaVision-28N. Its workflow reduced the need for labor-intensive stages such as gel electrophoresis, lowering the danger of contamination and making it an affordable and viable option for regular clinical diagnostics. In contrast, the HemaVision-28N assay, which provided thorough exon-level analysis of fusion genes, was time-consuming and required more technical knowledge. The study's findings emphasize the HemaVision-28Q kit as a dependable diagnostic option for acute leukemia, especially in clinical settings where speed and efficiency are critical
- PublicationIn vitro screening of piper sarmentosum ethanol extract for selective anticancer activity(2025-01)Zulkifli, NatasyaCancer is a serious global health issue. This study investigates on the specific anticancer efficacy of Piper sarmentosum ethanol extract, a medicinal plant used in Southeast Asia. The extract's cytotoxic effects were evaluated in vitro on three malignant cell lines: HeLa (human cervical cancer), MCF-7 (human breast cancer), and Glioma (human brain cancer). The study also examined its effects on two non-malignant cell lines, Vero (normal kidney epithelial cells) and WLR-68 (normal human liver cells). To assess cell viability, IC50 values were established using the MTT test. The extract demonstrated significant anticancer action, with IC50 values showing greater selectivity for malignant cells than non-malignant ones. Phytochemical research confirmed the existence of bioactive substances with medicinal potential, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The ethanol was used as extraction solvent due to its many advantages such as less toxic and have high polarity. The results demonstrated that P. sarmentosum extract has lower IC50 (2.20±1.10 μg/mL) for DBTRG cell line than Hela (44.18±15.60 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (29.95±1.20 μg/mL) cell lines. Comparing to the cytotoxicity effect of the extract towards non-malignant cell lines, the extract showed highest cytotoxic towards Vero cell line with IC50 value of (0.44±1.00 μg / mL) but no IC50 value detected on WLR-68 cell line. The saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids were presented but tannis was absent. The extract demonstrated substantial anticancer action, with IC50 values showing greater selectivity for malignant cells than non-malignant ones These findings demonstrate the potential of P. sarmentosum ethanol extract as an alternative and complementary cancer treatment, underlining its promising position in natural product-based therapies. Future research is recommended to better understand the mechanisms underlying its anticancer efficacy and to assess its therapeutic application