In this study, Al matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with Al/Cu core-shell particles were synthe... more In this study, Al matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with Al/Cu core-shell particles were synthesized by hot pressing. The Al/Cu particulate reinforcements were pre-synthesized by galvanic replacement. The effect of the volume fraction of reinforcement on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-hardness and compression tests. The strength of the composite becomes 2.25 times the matrix by using 20 vol.% core-shell reinforcements containing only 6 vol.% Cu. Further, with increasing volume fraction of Al/Cu reinforcement, the degree of in-situ transformation of Cu into intermetallic also increases. Consequently, a specially tailored microstructure can be obtained by controlling the volume fraction of the reinforcement and its interfacial reaction with the matrix, which can improve the mechanical strength of composites without considerably compromising on fracture strain. The findings of this work provide stronger implications for the industry to fabricate viable engineering structures.
This paper examines the cognitive determinants of entrepreneurs regarding intentions to adopt/or ... more This paper examines the cognitive determinants of entrepreneurs regarding intentions to adopt/or not marketing approach in SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Anhui, China. Ajzens (1991) model of predicting human and organization behavior i.e. TPB (Theory of planned behavior) was used to determine the cognitive behavior through attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control in addition with salient beliefs. Data was collected randomly across different industrial sectors with different levels of sales and number of employees. Results of 172 SMEs in Anhui, China show that attitude or behavioral beliefs , perception of entrepreneurs regarding advantages or disadvantages of the factors influencing entrepreneurs intentions to adopt marketing approach in their firms and subjective norms or normative beliefs, the social referents influencing entrepreneurs intention to adopt marketing approach i.e. corporate culture, seem to influence and considered to be the main determinan...
The art of weaving has been quickly advancing step by step. In contrast to woven textures, sewed ... more The art of weaving has been quickly advancing step by step. In contrast to woven textures, sewed textures are famous for their shape fitting properties; mollify handle, bulker nature and high expansion at low pressure. Fabric can be made attractive by means of ornamentation and designing. Stripe is one means by which attractive fabric can be produced which added extra values of that product Fabric can be made attractive by means of ornamentation and designing.
Different types of infectious diseases can be treated with the help of plants which are the riche... more Different types of infectious diseases can be treated with the help of plants which are the richest source of medicines. In undertaken study selected medicinal plants was screened for their antimicrobial activity. Chloroform and in vitro crude extracts of Withania somnifera and Otostegia limbata was checked for antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp. Ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera and Otostegia limbata plants showed variable results on the basis of their antibacterial activity against selected microorganisms. Maximum zone of inhibition of Withania somnifera i.e., 21 mm was observed against S.aureus whereas 20 mm inhibitory zone was reported against Salmonella spp, E. coli showed a moderate zone of inhibition of 18 mm, followed by P. aeruginosa i.e., 16 mm. Plant extracts showed least activity against Klebsiella spp (10 mm). After applying ethanolic extract of Otostegia limbata again...
Frequent environmental contaminants within microbiology laboratory create not only diagnostic qua... more Frequent environmental contaminants within microbiology laboratory create not only diagnostic quandaries but also poses major risk for health care workers and patients. Objective of our study was to isolate and identify the common laboratory contaminant bacteria with an ultimate goal to reduce false positive culture reports as well as Laboratory acquired infections. The study was conducted in laboratory of Microbiology Department Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat from March 2014 to June 2014. Total 5 samples were collected from different areas of laboratory including table, floor, clothing, air, and incubator. Out of 5 collected samples, growth was observed. Out of 5 culture positive samples total 22 bacterial contaminants were isolated and identified by various biochemical tests. Out of 22 bacterial contaminants, 8 (36.36%) was Staphylococcus epidermis's which was the most common contaminants. 7 (31.81%) was Bacillus subtilis which was the second most common cont...
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2020
In this paper, we present the palynostratigraphy, petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)... more In this paper, we present the palynostratigraphy, petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations to evaluate hydrocarbon reservoir potential of the Jurassic clastic-carbonate mixed sequence of the Kala Chitta Range, northwest Pakistan. The chronostratigraphic sub-divisions of the diverse lithologies within the sequence were made by using palynostratigraphy. The clastic dominated sequence of Datta Formation was assigned Toarcian-Bajocian age, while the Shinawari Formation was deposited during the Bajocian-middle Bathonian. The carbonate shoal facies of the Samana Suk Formation showed late Bathonian-Tithonian time of deposition. The primary and secondary porosities augmented by the plug porosity and permeability data suggest that the sandstone of Datta Formation is an excellent reservoir. The dominance of diverse matrix within the Shinawari Formation occluded the primary porosity. However, based on dissolution and dolomitization, the Shinawa...
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Grain quality improvement is a key target for rice breeders, along with yield. It is a multigenic... more Grain quality improvement is a key target for rice breeders, along with yield. It is a multigenic trait that is simultaneously influenced by many factors. Over the past few decades, breeding for semi-dwarf cultivars and hybrids has significantly contributed to the attainment of high yield demands but reduced grain quality, which thus needs the attention of researchers. The availability of rice genome sequences has facilitated gene discovery, targeted mutagenesis, and revealed functional aspects of rice grain quality attributes. Some success has been achieved through the application of molecular markers to understand the genetic mechanisms for better rice grain quality; however, researchers have opted for novel strategies. Genomic alteration employing genome editing technologies (GETs) like clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) for reverse genetics has opened new avenues of research in the life sciences, including for ri...
Authors' Contributions NK, NuA and AA executed the experimental work. FA and MD wrote the article... more Authors' Contributions NK, NuA and AA executed the experimental work. FA and MD wrote the article. KuR, SB, AH and MuR helped in preparation of article.
Apigenin is being used by humans in the form of plant extract for the treatment of a number of di... more Apigenin is being used by humans in the form of plant extract for the treatment of a number of disorders and inflammatory conditions, until its discovery as a core compound. Apigenin, chemically known as 4′, 5, 7,-trihydroxyflavone is a yellow crystalline powder belonging to the flavone class, that is the aglycone of several naturally occurring glycosides. It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. Numerous pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-toxicant, anti-cancer, etc., are attributed to apigenin. Research has shown that apigenin has numerous molecular targets involved in inflammation. Based on the in vivo, in vitro, and clinical trial studies suggested that apigenin is a potent therapeutic agent to overcome diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and various type of cancers. Delayed plasma clearance and slow decomposition in liver increases its systemic bioavailability, and makes it a strong therapeutic agent in pharmaceutical studies. In the present review, detailed accounts of the properties of apigenin have been discussed.
Chewing of betel quid, smoking and alcohol consumption are all associated with higher incidences ... more Chewing of betel quid, smoking and alcohol consumption are all associated with higher incidences of oral cancer. Genetic damage can be detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using human centromeric probes. In the present study FISH was performed on buccal epithelial cells of pan masala and gutkha chewers alone with and without additional tobacco smoking and/or alcohol consumption. The study comprised of 1500 male individuals. The present study found the highest frequency of micronuclei without a centromeric region (MN(-)) among gutkha users who also smoked and drank (P < 0.05). A significant increase in cells having micronuclei with a centromeric region (MN(+)) was observed among pan masala users who also smoked (P < 0.05). The study reveals that the clastogenic effects of pan masala/gutkha increase with smoking and alcohol consumption, but aneugenic effects were also observed among the pan masala chewers who smoked.
Generation of neurons from patient fibroblasts using a combination of developmentally defined tra... more Generation of neurons from patient fibroblasts using a combination of developmentally defined transcription factors has great potential in disease modelling, as well as ultimately for use in regeneration and repair. However, generation of physiologically mature neurons in vitro remains problematic. Here we demonstrate the cell-cycle-dependent phosphorylation of a key reprogramming transcription factor, Ascl1, on multiple serine-proline sites. This multisite phosphorylation is a crucial regulator of the ability of Ascl1 to drive neuronal differentiation and maturation in vivo in the developing embryo; a phosphomutant form of Ascl1 shows substantially enhanced neuronal induction activity in Xenopus embryos. Mechanistically, we see that this un(der)phosphorylated Ascl1 is resistant to inhibition by both cyclin-dependent kinase activity and Notch signalling, both of which normally limit its neurogenic potential. Ascl1 is a central component of reprogramming transcription factor cocktail...
In the present study, we studied the effect of Genistein against the hepatotoxicity induced by N-... more In the present study, we studied the effect of Genistein against the hepatotoxicity induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). NDEA is present in almost all kinds of food stuff and has been reported to be a hepatocarcinogen. The male rats were exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/mL) dissolved in drinking water separately and along with 25, 50, 100 mg/mL of Genistein for 21 days. The activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in blood serum. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, micronucleus frequency and DNA damage (Comet assay) were performed on rat hepatocytes. The results of the study reveal that the treatment of NDEA along with Genistein showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the levels of blood serum enzymes i.e., SGOT, SGPT, ALP and LDH (Po0.05). The HE staining of histological sections of the liver also revealed a protective effect of Genistein. A significant dose-dependent reduction in the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content was observed in rats exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/mL) along with Genistein (Po0.05). The results obtained for the comet assay in rat hepatocytes showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the mean tail length (Po0.05). Thus the present study supports the hepatoprotective role of Genistein.
In the present study the comet assay was performed in buccal epithelial cells to evaluate DNA dam... more In the present study the comet assay was performed in buccal epithelial cells to evaluate DNA damage among pan masala or gutkha chewers and smokers. The assay is a rapid, suitable and sensitive method for detecting various forms of DNA damage at individual cell level. The study comprises 300 individuals of which 50 individuals were gutkha chewers along with smoking, 50 individuals were pan masala chewers along with smoking, 50 individuals were gutkha chewers, 50 individuals were pan masala chewers, 50 individuals were smokers and 50 individuals were non-users (control) or not having any addiction. Comet tail length was observed to measure the extent of DNA damage. In all groups a significant increase in the tail length was observed as compared to the non-users (control). The highest tail length was observed among gutkha chewers along with smoking (36.9 ± 3.60). The results of the present study suggest that the panmasala and gutkha are genotoxic agents and induce DNA damage.
The role ofCentella asiaticaL. leaf extract was studied on the transgenicDrosophilamodel flies ex... more The role ofCentella asiaticaL. leaf extract was studied on the transgenicDrosophilamodel flies expressing normal human alpha synuclein (h-αS) in the neurons. The leaf extract was prepared in acetone and was subjected to GC-MS analysis.C. asiaticaextract at final concentration of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 μL/mL was mixed with the diet and the flies were allowed feeding on it for 24 days. The effect of extract was studied on the climbing ability, activity pattern, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, glutathione content, and glutathione-S-transferase activity in the brains of transgenicDrosophila. The exposure of extract to PD model flies results in a significant delay in the loss of climbing ability and activity pattern and reduced the oxidative stress (P<0.05) in the brains of PD flies as compared to untreated PD flies. The results suggest thatC. asiaticaleaf extract is potent in reducing the PD symptoms in transgenicDrosophilamodel of Parkinson’s disease.
During development of the central nervous system, the transition from progenitor maintenance to d... more During development of the central nervous system, the transition from progenitor maintenance to differentiation is directly triggered by a lengthening of the cell cycle that occurs as development progresses. However, the mechanistic basis of this regulation is unknown. The proneural transcription factor Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) acts as a master regulator of neuronal differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that Ngn2 is phosphorylated on multiple serine-proline sites in response to rising cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) levels. This multi-site phosphorylation results in quantitative inhibition of the ability of Ngn2 to induce neurogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, multi-site phosphorylation inhibits binding of Ngn2 to E box DNA, and inhibition of DNA binding depends on the number of phosphorylation sites available, quantitatively controlling promoter occupancy in a rheostat-like manner. Neuronal differentiation driven by a mutant of Ngn2 that cannot be phosphorylated by cdks is no...
Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) controls neuronal differentiation cell-autonomously by transcriptional activa... more Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) controls neuronal differentiation cell-autonomously by transcriptional activation of targets such as NeuroD, while simultaneously controlling progenitor maintenance non-cell-autonomously by upregulating Delta expression and Notch signalling. Reduction in Cdk-dependent multisite phosphorylation of Ngn2 enhances its promoter binding affinity. This leads specifically to an increase in neuronal differentiation without an apparent increase in progenitor maintenance via Delta-Notch signalling, although the mechanism underlying this imbalance remains unclear. Here we show in Xenopus embryos and mouse P19 cells that the NeuroD promoter is substantially more sensitive to the phosphorylation status of Ngn2 than the Delta promoter, and that this can be attributed to differences in the ease of promoter activation. In addition, we also show that the phosphorylation status of Ngn2 regulates sensitivity to Notch signalling. These observations explain how Ngn2 post-translational...
Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Saudi Society for G... more Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Saudi Society for Geosciences. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com".
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 2011
Background: A gap remains between evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of heart failure and... more Background: A gap remains between evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of heart failure and current pharmacologic and device therapy. The reasons for this are multiple, including the failure to recognize the benefit of increased therapeutic intervention in an otherwise stable patient. The Seattle Heart Failure Model is an accurate predictive tool that allows the clinician to quantitatively assess the influence of pharmacologic and device therapy on heart failure. We hypothesized that graphically demonstrating the improvement in survival by such a tool may well modify physician practice behavior. Methods: We examined 50 randomly selected patients from 10 primary care physicians as having heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40%. Twenty-one data elements were entered into the Seattle Heart Failure Model to create a survival estimate before and after implementation of interventions known to be beneficial, both pharmacologic (addition of ACE/ARB, statin, ±-blocker, aldosterone blocker) and device-based (consideration for AICD, BiV pacer, BiV ICD). The influence of therapeutic change was presented in a focused clinical session with the primary care physician. Results: The mean age of the population examined was 73 ± 10 years. The cohort was comprised of 66 % males, mean weight 90 ± 21kg, with NYHA class 2.2 ± 0.5 symptoms. Ischemic etiology was identified in 72% with a mean left ventricular EF of 28 ± 7 %. Laboratory data included mean Hgb 13.1 ± 2g/dL with 19 ± 7% lymphocytes, mean total cholesterol of 166 ± 47mg/dL and mean sodium of 140 ± 3mmol/L. In the 50 patients examined, we altered device or medical therapy in 82%. This included advancement of medical therapy in 50%, consideration for device referral in 10%, or both (medical therapy and device referral) in 22 %. This augmentation of therapy resulted in an increase in estimated mean life expectancy from 8.8 years to 10.9 years (p < 0.001). In addition, referring physicians generally believed this tool would enhance patient acceptance of additional therapies. Conclusion: Use of the Seattle Heart Failure Model significantly impacted intensification of heart failure therapy in this ambulatory heart failure population
In this study, Al matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with Al/Cu core-shell particles were synthe... more In this study, Al matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with Al/Cu core-shell particles were synthesized by hot pressing. The Al/Cu particulate reinforcements were pre-synthesized by galvanic replacement. The effect of the volume fraction of reinforcement on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-hardness and compression tests. The strength of the composite becomes 2.25 times the matrix by using 20 vol.% core-shell reinforcements containing only 6 vol.% Cu. Further, with increasing volume fraction of Al/Cu reinforcement, the degree of in-situ transformation of Cu into intermetallic also increases. Consequently, a specially tailored microstructure can be obtained by controlling the volume fraction of the reinforcement and its interfacial reaction with the matrix, which can improve the mechanical strength of composites without considerably compromising on fracture strain. The findings of this work provide stronger implications for the industry to fabricate viable engineering structures.
This paper examines the cognitive determinants of entrepreneurs regarding intentions to adopt/or ... more This paper examines the cognitive determinants of entrepreneurs regarding intentions to adopt/or not marketing approach in SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Anhui, China. Ajzens (1991) model of predicting human and organization behavior i.e. TPB (Theory of planned behavior) was used to determine the cognitive behavior through attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control in addition with salient beliefs. Data was collected randomly across different industrial sectors with different levels of sales and number of employees. Results of 172 SMEs in Anhui, China show that attitude or behavioral beliefs , perception of entrepreneurs regarding advantages or disadvantages of the factors influencing entrepreneurs intentions to adopt marketing approach in their firms and subjective norms or normative beliefs, the social referents influencing entrepreneurs intention to adopt marketing approach i.e. corporate culture, seem to influence and considered to be the main determinan...
The art of weaving has been quickly advancing step by step. In contrast to woven textures, sewed ... more The art of weaving has been quickly advancing step by step. In contrast to woven textures, sewed textures are famous for their shape fitting properties; mollify handle, bulker nature and high expansion at low pressure. Fabric can be made attractive by means of ornamentation and designing. Stripe is one means by which attractive fabric can be produced which added extra values of that product Fabric can be made attractive by means of ornamentation and designing.
Different types of infectious diseases can be treated with the help of plants which are the riche... more Different types of infectious diseases can be treated with the help of plants which are the richest source of medicines. In undertaken study selected medicinal plants was screened for their antimicrobial activity. Chloroform and in vitro crude extracts of Withania somnifera and Otostegia limbata was checked for antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp. Ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera and Otostegia limbata plants showed variable results on the basis of their antibacterial activity against selected microorganisms. Maximum zone of inhibition of Withania somnifera i.e., 21 mm was observed against S.aureus whereas 20 mm inhibitory zone was reported against Salmonella spp, E. coli showed a moderate zone of inhibition of 18 mm, followed by P. aeruginosa i.e., 16 mm. Plant extracts showed least activity against Klebsiella spp (10 mm). After applying ethanolic extract of Otostegia limbata again...
Frequent environmental contaminants within microbiology laboratory create not only diagnostic qua... more Frequent environmental contaminants within microbiology laboratory create not only diagnostic quandaries but also poses major risk for health care workers and patients. Objective of our study was to isolate and identify the common laboratory contaminant bacteria with an ultimate goal to reduce false positive culture reports as well as Laboratory acquired infections. The study was conducted in laboratory of Microbiology Department Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat from March 2014 to June 2014. Total 5 samples were collected from different areas of laboratory including table, floor, clothing, air, and incubator. Out of 5 collected samples, growth was observed. Out of 5 culture positive samples total 22 bacterial contaminants were isolated and identified by various biochemical tests. Out of 22 bacterial contaminants, 8 (36.36%) was Staphylococcus epidermis's which was the most common contaminants. 7 (31.81%) was Bacillus subtilis which was the second most common cont...
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2020
In this paper, we present the palynostratigraphy, petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)... more In this paper, we present the palynostratigraphy, petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations to evaluate hydrocarbon reservoir potential of the Jurassic clastic-carbonate mixed sequence of the Kala Chitta Range, northwest Pakistan. The chronostratigraphic sub-divisions of the diverse lithologies within the sequence were made by using palynostratigraphy. The clastic dominated sequence of Datta Formation was assigned Toarcian-Bajocian age, while the Shinawari Formation was deposited during the Bajocian-middle Bathonian. The carbonate shoal facies of the Samana Suk Formation showed late Bathonian-Tithonian time of deposition. The primary and secondary porosities augmented by the plug porosity and permeability data suggest that the sandstone of Datta Formation is an excellent reservoir. The dominance of diverse matrix within the Shinawari Formation occluded the primary porosity. However, based on dissolution and dolomitization, the Shinawa...
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Grain quality improvement is a key target for rice breeders, along with yield. It is a multigenic... more Grain quality improvement is a key target for rice breeders, along with yield. It is a multigenic trait that is simultaneously influenced by many factors. Over the past few decades, breeding for semi-dwarf cultivars and hybrids has significantly contributed to the attainment of high yield demands but reduced grain quality, which thus needs the attention of researchers. The availability of rice genome sequences has facilitated gene discovery, targeted mutagenesis, and revealed functional aspects of rice grain quality attributes. Some success has been achieved through the application of molecular markers to understand the genetic mechanisms for better rice grain quality; however, researchers have opted for novel strategies. Genomic alteration employing genome editing technologies (GETs) like clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) for reverse genetics has opened new avenues of research in the life sciences, including for ri...
Authors' Contributions NK, NuA and AA executed the experimental work. FA and MD wrote the article... more Authors' Contributions NK, NuA and AA executed the experimental work. FA and MD wrote the article. KuR, SB, AH and MuR helped in preparation of article.
Apigenin is being used by humans in the form of plant extract for the treatment of a number of di... more Apigenin is being used by humans in the form of plant extract for the treatment of a number of disorders and inflammatory conditions, until its discovery as a core compound. Apigenin, chemically known as 4′, 5, 7,-trihydroxyflavone is a yellow crystalline powder belonging to the flavone class, that is the aglycone of several naturally occurring glycosides. It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. Numerous pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-toxicant, anti-cancer, etc., are attributed to apigenin. Research has shown that apigenin has numerous molecular targets involved in inflammation. Based on the in vivo, in vitro, and clinical trial studies suggested that apigenin is a potent therapeutic agent to overcome diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and various type of cancers. Delayed plasma clearance and slow decomposition in liver increases its systemic bioavailability, and makes it a strong therapeutic agent in pharmaceutical studies. In the present review, detailed accounts of the properties of apigenin have been discussed.
Chewing of betel quid, smoking and alcohol consumption are all associated with higher incidences ... more Chewing of betel quid, smoking and alcohol consumption are all associated with higher incidences of oral cancer. Genetic damage can be detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using human centromeric probes. In the present study FISH was performed on buccal epithelial cells of pan masala and gutkha chewers alone with and without additional tobacco smoking and/or alcohol consumption. The study comprised of 1500 male individuals. The present study found the highest frequency of micronuclei without a centromeric region (MN(-)) among gutkha users who also smoked and drank (P < 0.05). A significant increase in cells having micronuclei with a centromeric region (MN(+)) was observed among pan masala users who also smoked (P < 0.05). The study reveals that the clastogenic effects of pan masala/gutkha increase with smoking and alcohol consumption, but aneugenic effects were also observed among the pan masala chewers who smoked.
Generation of neurons from patient fibroblasts using a combination of developmentally defined tra... more Generation of neurons from patient fibroblasts using a combination of developmentally defined transcription factors has great potential in disease modelling, as well as ultimately for use in regeneration and repair. However, generation of physiologically mature neurons in vitro remains problematic. Here we demonstrate the cell-cycle-dependent phosphorylation of a key reprogramming transcription factor, Ascl1, on multiple serine-proline sites. This multisite phosphorylation is a crucial regulator of the ability of Ascl1 to drive neuronal differentiation and maturation in vivo in the developing embryo; a phosphomutant form of Ascl1 shows substantially enhanced neuronal induction activity in Xenopus embryos. Mechanistically, we see that this un(der)phosphorylated Ascl1 is resistant to inhibition by both cyclin-dependent kinase activity and Notch signalling, both of which normally limit its neurogenic potential. Ascl1 is a central component of reprogramming transcription factor cocktail...
In the present study, we studied the effect of Genistein against the hepatotoxicity induced by N-... more In the present study, we studied the effect of Genistein against the hepatotoxicity induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). NDEA is present in almost all kinds of food stuff and has been reported to be a hepatocarcinogen. The male rats were exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/mL) dissolved in drinking water separately and along with 25, 50, 100 mg/mL of Genistein for 21 days. The activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in blood serum. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, micronucleus frequency and DNA damage (Comet assay) were performed on rat hepatocytes. The results of the study reveal that the treatment of NDEA along with Genistein showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the levels of blood serum enzymes i.e., SGOT, SGPT, ALP and LDH (Po0.05). The HE staining of histological sections of the liver also revealed a protective effect of Genistein. A significant dose-dependent reduction in the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content was observed in rats exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/mL) along with Genistein (Po0.05). The results obtained for the comet assay in rat hepatocytes showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the mean tail length (Po0.05). Thus the present study supports the hepatoprotective role of Genistein.
In the present study the comet assay was performed in buccal epithelial cells to evaluate DNA dam... more In the present study the comet assay was performed in buccal epithelial cells to evaluate DNA damage among pan masala or gutkha chewers and smokers. The assay is a rapid, suitable and sensitive method for detecting various forms of DNA damage at individual cell level. The study comprises 300 individuals of which 50 individuals were gutkha chewers along with smoking, 50 individuals were pan masala chewers along with smoking, 50 individuals were gutkha chewers, 50 individuals were pan masala chewers, 50 individuals were smokers and 50 individuals were non-users (control) or not having any addiction. Comet tail length was observed to measure the extent of DNA damage. In all groups a significant increase in the tail length was observed as compared to the non-users (control). The highest tail length was observed among gutkha chewers along with smoking (36.9 ± 3.60). The results of the present study suggest that the panmasala and gutkha are genotoxic agents and induce DNA damage.
The role ofCentella asiaticaL. leaf extract was studied on the transgenicDrosophilamodel flies ex... more The role ofCentella asiaticaL. leaf extract was studied on the transgenicDrosophilamodel flies expressing normal human alpha synuclein (h-αS) in the neurons. The leaf extract was prepared in acetone and was subjected to GC-MS analysis.C. asiaticaextract at final concentration of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 μL/mL was mixed with the diet and the flies were allowed feeding on it for 24 days. The effect of extract was studied on the climbing ability, activity pattern, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, glutathione content, and glutathione-S-transferase activity in the brains of transgenicDrosophila. The exposure of extract to PD model flies results in a significant delay in the loss of climbing ability and activity pattern and reduced the oxidative stress (P<0.05) in the brains of PD flies as compared to untreated PD flies. The results suggest thatC. asiaticaleaf extract is potent in reducing the PD symptoms in transgenicDrosophilamodel of Parkinson’s disease.
During development of the central nervous system, the transition from progenitor maintenance to d... more During development of the central nervous system, the transition from progenitor maintenance to differentiation is directly triggered by a lengthening of the cell cycle that occurs as development progresses. However, the mechanistic basis of this regulation is unknown. The proneural transcription factor Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) acts as a master regulator of neuronal differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that Ngn2 is phosphorylated on multiple serine-proline sites in response to rising cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) levels. This multi-site phosphorylation results in quantitative inhibition of the ability of Ngn2 to induce neurogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, multi-site phosphorylation inhibits binding of Ngn2 to E box DNA, and inhibition of DNA binding depends on the number of phosphorylation sites available, quantitatively controlling promoter occupancy in a rheostat-like manner. Neuronal differentiation driven by a mutant of Ngn2 that cannot be phosphorylated by cdks is no...
Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) controls neuronal differentiation cell-autonomously by transcriptional activa... more Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) controls neuronal differentiation cell-autonomously by transcriptional activation of targets such as NeuroD, while simultaneously controlling progenitor maintenance non-cell-autonomously by upregulating Delta expression and Notch signalling. Reduction in Cdk-dependent multisite phosphorylation of Ngn2 enhances its promoter binding affinity. This leads specifically to an increase in neuronal differentiation without an apparent increase in progenitor maintenance via Delta-Notch signalling, although the mechanism underlying this imbalance remains unclear. Here we show in Xenopus embryos and mouse P19 cells that the NeuroD promoter is substantially more sensitive to the phosphorylation status of Ngn2 than the Delta promoter, and that this can be attributed to differences in the ease of promoter activation. In addition, we also show that the phosphorylation status of Ngn2 regulates sensitivity to Notch signalling. These observations explain how Ngn2 post-translational...
Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Saudi Society for G... more Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Saudi Society for Geosciences. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com".
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 2011
Background: A gap remains between evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of heart failure and... more Background: A gap remains between evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of heart failure and current pharmacologic and device therapy. The reasons for this are multiple, including the failure to recognize the benefit of increased therapeutic intervention in an otherwise stable patient. The Seattle Heart Failure Model is an accurate predictive tool that allows the clinician to quantitatively assess the influence of pharmacologic and device therapy on heart failure. We hypothesized that graphically demonstrating the improvement in survival by such a tool may well modify physician practice behavior. Methods: We examined 50 randomly selected patients from 10 primary care physicians as having heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40%. Twenty-one data elements were entered into the Seattle Heart Failure Model to create a survival estimate before and after implementation of interventions known to be beneficial, both pharmacologic (addition of ACE/ARB, statin, ±-blocker, aldosterone blocker) and device-based (consideration for AICD, BiV pacer, BiV ICD). The influence of therapeutic change was presented in a focused clinical session with the primary care physician. Results: The mean age of the population examined was 73 ± 10 years. The cohort was comprised of 66 % males, mean weight 90 ± 21kg, with NYHA class 2.2 ± 0.5 symptoms. Ischemic etiology was identified in 72% with a mean left ventricular EF of 28 ± 7 %. Laboratory data included mean Hgb 13.1 ± 2g/dL with 19 ± 7% lymphocytes, mean total cholesterol of 166 ± 47mg/dL and mean sodium of 140 ± 3mmol/L. In the 50 patients examined, we altered device or medical therapy in 82%. This included advancement of medical therapy in 50%, consideration for device referral in 10%, or both (medical therapy and device referral) in 22 %. This augmentation of therapy resulted in an increase in estimated mean life expectancy from 8.8 years to 10.9 years (p < 0.001). In addition, referring physicians generally believed this tool would enhance patient acceptance of additional therapies. Conclusion: Use of the Seattle Heart Failure Model significantly impacted intensification of heart failure therapy in this ambulatory heart failure population
Uploads
Papers by Fahad Ali