Anticancer Plants: Natural Products and Biotechnological Implements, 2018
In vitro interventions are exceedingly advantageous for large-scale propagation and conservation ... more In vitro interventions are exceedingly advantageous for large-scale propagation and conservation of plant biodiversity, involving endangered plant species as well as elite genotypes that produce commercial products. The importance of Catharanthus roseus in the treatment of several kinds of cancers such as skin cancer, breast cancer, lymph cancer, leukemia, and Hodgkin’s disease warrants persistent attention for the biotechnological improvement of this plant. Therefore, the present chapter provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the current use of biotechnological tools applied on propagation, genetic enhancement and conservation of C. roseus besides its implications to improve the plant in the future. Explants from this clonally propagated species can be easily harvested under field conditions using in vitro approaches. In vitro micropropagation methods affirm the accelerated duplication of disease-free material. Medium-term conservation can be attained by slow growth of plant material leading to the increased time interval between subsequent cultures. Synthetic seeds are also considered for short- to mid-term conservation and germplasm exchange. For long-term conservation, cryopreservation (in liquid nitrogen at −196 °C) permits storing of C. roseus germplasms for extended periods exclusive of any clonal variation. Besides micropropagation and conservation, the enhancement of secondary metabolites through hairy root culture and cell suspension culture and the use of molecular markers to detect somaclonal variation in C. roseus are also highlighted in this chapter.
Forest trees are less domesticated in comparison with the agricultural plants, and even the seed ... more Forest trees are less domesticated in comparison with the agricultural plants, and even the seed produced during breeding programs is genetically diverse. The increasing global need for food and fibre results in new demands for the efficiency of wood production. The exploitation of forest area emphasizes the importance of the immediate development of conservation strategies for forest tree species. Synthetic seed technology is an advanced and highly increasing forte of plant biotechnological research. For the last two decades, intensive research efforts have been made on synthetic seed production in a number of plant species. The technique involves the use of any meristematic tissue like shoot tip, nodal segment or somatic embryo for large-scale propagation and germplasm exchange between laboratories, thus lowering the dependence on micropropagation and minimizing its relevant expenditures. In most of forest species, seed propagation has not been successful because of heterozygosity of seeds, minute seed size, presence of reduced endosperm and low germination rate. Many species have desiccation-sensitive intermediate or recalcitrant seeds and can be stored for only a few weeks or months. Under these circumstances, increasing interest has been shown recently to use encapsulation technology for propagation and conservation. The technology also provides its importance in ex vitro conservation as the encapsulation protects the plant sample from the unfavourable effects of toxic cryoprotectants and post-storage damages. After an introduction on the main procedures for synseed preparation, this chapter provides information on the protocols that have been developed for the encapsulation of various explants from forest tree species.
The aim of the study was to explore the clinical impact of circulatory miR-126 as a candidate for... more The aim of the study was to explore the clinical impact of circulatory miR-126 as a candidate for novel biomarker in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and its protective role against hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) exposed HUVEC cellular injury. A total of 278 subjects, which included 153 subjects with angiographically confirmed CAD, 70 unstable angina subjects, and 55 healthy individuals, along with 18-hour HR-induced HUVECs were recruited in this study. Plasma miR-126 levels were significantly downregulated in stable and unstable CAD patients as well as 18-hour HR-exposed HUVECs as compared with controls. Stable and unstable CAD subjects were significantly differentiated from healthy individuals with a predictive value of AUC 0.903 and 0.923, respectively. Moreover, peripheral circulatory miR-126 expressions in elderly (71-90 years) stable and unstable CAD patients were comparatively lower than younger (30-50 years) subjects. The caspase-3 activity, intracellular ROS conce...
Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature, 2015
Robert Frost in “Death of a Hired Man” and Kiran Desai in The Inheritance of Loss expound two con... more Robert Frost in “Death of a Hired Man” and Kiran Desai in The Inheritance of Loss expound two contrasting notions of home. While Frost in his poem offers a solid notion of home evoking its physical and emotional aspects, Desai as a migrated Indian novelist talks about the loss of home, making it fluid it in her novel. Desai singles out two characters Jemubhai Propatlal Patel, widely known as the judge, and the poor cook's son Biju, to exemplify this fluid concept of home. They both consider London and New York as cities full of promise and possibility, and wish to leave the homeland, India, to make new homes there. Jemubhai visits London when studying law at Cambridge while Biju goes to New York to make a fortune, during the colonial and the postcolonial eras respectively. Harsh realities do not live up to their expectations. Jemubhai confronts an intolerable existence in the master's land due to his racial, linguistic and biological otherness. On the other hand, Biju suffer...
After a fluorene‐based anion exchange membrane (AEM) containing 1‐isopropyl‐2‐methylimidazolium w... more After a fluorene‐based anion exchange membrane (AEM) containing 1‐isopropyl‐2‐methylimidazolium with alkyl side chains was prepared, the membrane properties, including OH– conductivities, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, swelling ratio, and chemical and thermal stabilities of the obtained membrane were assessed. The synthesized membrane exhibited low water uptake and good dimensional stability with adequate hydroxide conductivity. For example, the AEM showed a swelling ratio of 7% and hydroxide conductivity of 46 mS cm−1 at 80 °C in liquid water. The chemical stability was investigated in 1 M NaOH solution at room temperature and at 80 °C. At both temperatures, degradation of the imidazolium cationic groups was observed, although the main chain was chemically stable. All results obtained from this research are expected to provide important direction and insight for AEM synthesis for practical applications in anion exchange membrane fuel cells.
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, 2018
The present work reports the prospective applicability of three indigenous rootstocks belonging t... more The present work reports the prospective applicability of three indigenous rootstocks belonging to different species viz. Nemutenga, Tayum and Tasi cultivars of north eastern Himalayan region for producing Citrus tristeza virus (CTV; a viral species of the Closterovirus genus) free quality planting materials of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) through micrografting or shoot-tip grafting (STG). The development of disease-free plants through STG is essential as CTV is in vivo transmissible through infected bud sticks. The technique of STG along with the diverse culture parameters like effect of sucrose, plant growth regulators, pre-treatment of scion and stock, effect of scion size after thermotherapy and grafting method was analysed. Among the three indigenous tested rootstocks, Nemutenga was found superior showing maximum STG success of 58.5%. STGs using scion size ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 mm, survival was up to 42.0% and completely virus-free. Pre-treatment of scion and stock with kinetin (1.0 mg L −1) was found more suitable than N 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and further increased the rate of micrografts. For further growth of micrografts, Murashige and Skoog medium fortified with 0.5 mg L −1 BAP and 0.1 mg L −1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) along with 5% sucrose resulted in maximum (56.8%) response. Considering the two techniques applied for STG, cleft grafting was found more suitable than inverted T grafting. Viral assessment with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed negative results for all plants from 0.3 to 0.5 mm scion while 0.7-mm scion-raised micrografts showed 60% negative with RT-PCR for CTV.
Rumex acetosa L. (Polygonaceae) is well known in traditional medicine for its therapeutic efficac... more Rumex acetosa L. (Polygonaceae) is well known in traditional medicine for its therapeutic efficacy as an antihypertensive. The study investigates antihypertensive potential of crude methanol extract (Ra.Cr) and fractions of Rumex acetosa in normotensive and hypertensive rat models and probes the underlying vascular mechanisms. Ra.Cr and its fractions were tested in vivo on normotensive and hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rats under anaesthesia for blood pressure lowering effect. In vitro experiments on rat and Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbit aortae were employed to probe the underlying vasorelaxant mechanism. In normotensive rats under anaesthesia, Ra.Cr caused fall in MAP (40 mmHg) at 50 mg/kg with % fall of 27.88 ± 4.55. Among the fractions tested, aqueous fraction was more potent at the dose of 50 mg/kg with % fall of 45.63 ± 2.84. In hypertensive rats under similar conditions, extract and fractions showed antihypertensive effect at same doses while aqueous fraction being more potent, e...
Pakistan Journal of Analytical & Environmental Chemistry, 2016
The plant based renewable biosorbents have extensively been investigated for removing water pollu... more The plant based renewable biosorbents have extensively been investigated for removing water pollutants. The present study describes the sequestering of metal ions by exploiting a low cost biomaterial derived from Tribulus tresstris as sorbent. The batch equilibrium studies have been carried out both with raw and chemically/thermally treated biomaterial as a function of pH, contact time, shaking speed and shaking time to decide the effectiveness of biosorbent. The sorbent was activated chemically by utilizing 0.1M HCl and 0.1M K 2 CO 3. A close muffle furnace was used for thermal treatment of the sorbent. The adsorption capacity was enhanced to 25% by thermal treatment and 54% by chemical treatment because of increase in pore volume and surface area. The greatest sorption was found for particle size of 200 µm with a 0.5 g dosage at pH 6 for 20 min at shaking speed 100 rpm. The FT-IR and SEM study was performed to discover the adsorption capacity of various functional groups and their binding mechanism. The adsorption data demonstrates that Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models were very much fitted to describe the adsorption behavior.
Medicinal plants are in huge demand since the consumption is widespread and ever-increasing globa... more Medicinal plants are in huge demand since the consumption is widespread and ever-increasing globally. The conventional breeding programs are generally environmental dependent; prone to different biotic and abiotic stresses as well as the secondary metabolite content is too low to harvest. In this context, developing polyploid individuals artificially would be a remarkable approach to increase vigor and attain this objective. Polyploids often exhibit some morphological features that are different or greater in forms than their diploid progenies. Polyploidization can be induced by quite a few antimitotic agents. The most frequently used antimitotic chemicals are colchicine, trifluralin, and oryzalin. The whole method of induced chromosome doubling consists of a series of steps, including an induction phase, regrowth phase, and a confirmation technique to evaluate the rate of achievement. The induction phase depends on different factors, such as explant types, antimitotic agents, its different concentrations, and exposure durations. To evaluate the accomplishment of polyploidization, morphological or anatomical observations are recorded as a rapid method. However, chromosome count and flow cytometry are the most eminent method for absolute confirmation. Despite significant prospects of polyploidization, there has been very little research on medicinal plants. The current review gives an overview of the different parameters of in vitro chromosome doubling, the history of the technique, and progress made over the last two decades.
Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification, also known as Fahr disease or Fahr's Syndrome or Bilatera... more Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification, also known as Fahr disease or Fahr's Syndrome or Bilateral StriatoPallidoDentate Calcinosis (BSPDC) is a rare, genetically dominant, inherited neurological disorder characterized by abnormal deposits of calcium in areas of the brain that control movement, including the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. A rare idiopathic disease which manifests in middle age characterized by punctate areas of non-arteriosclerotic calcination in parts of the gray and dentate nuclei, particularly of smaller brain vessels. The symptoms include mental and growth retardation, dystonic movements, and athetosis. May be caused by a malfunction of the glandula parathyreoidea. The term Fahr triad consists of symmetrical calcification of the basal ganglia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and hypofunction of the parathyroid gland. Treatment is directed toward minimizing symptoms. The prognosis for any individual with Fahr's Syndrome is variable and hard to predict. Progressive neurological deterioration generally results in disability and death.
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, Mar 31, 2012
James Joyce's "Araby" is essentially a teenage love story. Yet its texture, woven with the Orient... more James Joyce's "Araby" is essentially a teenage love story. Yet its texture, woven with the Orientalist metaphorical imageries, Eastern dictions-bazaar and Araby-and reference to the historical Araby bazaar, likens it to a latent Orientalist discourse. Orientalism divides the story into two parts. In one part, the Irish boy's fascination to the Orient is reflected and the other part is the negation of those popular ideas. The first one refers to Irish Orientalism that in the nineteenth and twentieth century offered Irish people an alternative cultural identity different from English Colonialism. Yet this identification of the Orient with a romantic refuge at first and then contrastively with a place of degeneration, depravity and despair explains James Joyce's ambivalence towards the matter of the Orient. Joyce, using the Orient as a tool to orient the boy to the reality of his existence in drab Dublin, teaches the young boy that escapist fascination to the Orient is a vain vision for an Irish. My article focuses on this dissolution of Irish Orientalism into the English-French Orientalism, a paradoxical representation of the Orient, and hopefully will revitalize the understanding of the story.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of Smad3, Smad7, and TGF-β1 in intrauterine adhesio... more The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of Smad3, Smad7, and TGF-β1 in intrauterine adhesion (IUA) patients and experimental rabbit models. 60 IUA patients, 30 control participants, and 18 female rabbits were enrolled in this study. We found that the plasma concentrations and protein expressions of TGF-β1 were significantly increased in patients and experimental rabbits compared to those in controls (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad3 were significantly elevated, while Smad7 level was markedly decreased in the patients and experimental rabbits compared with controls (P<0.05). This altered ratio recommended that IUA was positively correlated to the mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad3, Smad7, and TGF-β1 in blood and uterine tissue. Moreover, we used the specific inhibitor of Smad3 (SIS3) in experimental rabbit. SIS3 obviously reduced the mRNA and protein expression of smad3 and TGF-β1, while it increased Smad7 expression in the tr...
The oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Shanchol™ has shown protective efficacy lasting up to 5 years, ho... more The oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Shanchol™ has shown protective efficacy lasting up to 5 years, however, requirement for a cold chain limits its use in resource poor settings. The study was conducted to determine the safety and immunogenicity of Shanchol in adult participants in Bangladesh when stored at elevated temperatures. The study was conducted in Mirpur, Dhaka. Four groups of healthy adult participants received two doses of Shanchol™, kept under standard storage temperature (Group A; 2-8°C) or at elevated temperatures (Group B, 25°C; Group C, 37°C; Group D, 42°C) for 14 days, respectively. Vaccine specific antibody responses were determined. 145 participants were assigned to each group. Adverse events were mild not differing among groups. Vaccine stored at elevated temperatures remained stable with cumulative LPS content within admissible limits. Vibriocidal antibody responses were observed in all groups after each dose of vaccine at day 7 and 21 compared to pre-immune levels ...
Circulating microRNAs have been recognized as promising biomarkers for various diseases. The pres... more Circulating microRNAs have been recognized as promising biomarkers for various diseases. The present study aimed to explore the potential roles of circulating miR-149, miR-424 and miR-765 as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in middle-aged (40-60-year-old) patients. Sixty-five stable coronary artery disease patients (49-57 years old), 30 unstable coronary artery disease patients (49-58 years old), and 32 non-coronary artery disease patients (49--57 years old) who were matched for age, sex, smoking habits, hypertension and diabetes were enrolled in this study. Total RNA was isolated from plasma with TRIzol reagent. Circulating miRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Circulating miR-149 levels were decreased 4.49-fold in stable coronary artery disease patients (1.18 ± 0.84) and 5.09-fold in unstable coronary artery disease patients (1.04 ± 0.65) compared with non-coronary artery disease patients (5.30 ± 2.57) (...
Journal of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, 1988
well as introducing Muslims to aspects of the scientific miracle of the Qur'an. It is based on a ... more well as introducing Muslims to aspects of the scientific miracle of the Qur'an. It is based on a transcription of a lecture given by Dr. Bucaille in French. In this reprint, I decided to improve its presentation by simplifying the language and editing the text from an oral format to a pamphlet format. There were also passing references made by the author to material in his book, The Bible, the Qur'an and Science, which needed explanation. I took the liberty of including explanatory portions from his book where more detail was necessary. A few footnotes were also added for clarity and a hadeeth which the author mentioned was replaced due to its inauthenticity. There were also some corrections made to the historical material on the compilation of the Qur'an. It is my hope that these slight improvements will make this excellent work even more effective in presenting the final revelation of God to mankind.
The primary purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of the use of the intrauterine device... more The primary purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of the use of the intrauterine device (IUD) as an adjunctive treatment modality, for intrauterine adhesions (IUAs). All eligible literatures were identified by electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additional relevant articles were identified from citations in these publications. There were 28 studies included for a systematic review. Of these, 5 studies were eligible for meta-analysis and 23 for qualitative assessment only. Twenty-eight studies related to the use of IUDs as ancillary treatment following adhesiolysis were identified. Of these studies, 25 studies at least one of the following methods were carried out as ancillary treatment: Foley catheter, hyaluronic acid gel, hormonal therapy, or amnion graft in addition to the IUD. There was one study that used IUD therapy as a single ancillary treatment. In 2 studies, no adjunctive therapy was used after adhesiolysis. There was a wide range of...
Anticancer Plants: Natural Products and Biotechnological Implements, 2018
In vitro interventions are exceedingly advantageous for large-scale propagation and conservation ... more In vitro interventions are exceedingly advantageous for large-scale propagation and conservation of plant biodiversity, involving endangered plant species as well as elite genotypes that produce commercial products. The importance of Catharanthus roseus in the treatment of several kinds of cancers such as skin cancer, breast cancer, lymph cancer, leukemia, and Hodgkin’s disease warrants persistent attention for the biotechnological improvement of this plant. Therefore, the present chapter provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the current use of biotechnological tools applied on propagation, genetic enhancement and conservation of C. roseus besides its implications to improve the plant in the future. Explants from this clonally propagated species can be easily harvested under field conditions using in vitro approaches. In vitro micropropagation methods affirm the accelerated duplication of disease-free material. Medium-term conservation can be attained by slow growth of plant material leading to the increased time interval between subsequent cultures. Synthetic seeds are also considered for short- to mid-term conservation and germplasm exchange. For long-term conservation, cryopreservation (in liquid nitrogen at −196 °C) permits storing of C. roseus germplasms for extended periods exclusive of any clonal variation. Besides micropropagation and conservation, the enhancement of secondary metabolites through hairy root culture and cell suspension culture and the use of molecular markers to detect somaclonal variation in C. roseus are also highlighted in this chapter.
Forest trees are less domesticated in comparison with the agricultural plants, and even the seed ... more Forest trees are less domesticated in comparison with the agricultural plants, and even the seed produced during breeding programs is genetically diverse. The increasing global need for food and fibre results in new demands for the efficiency of wood production. The exploitation of forest area emphasizes the importance of the immediate development of conservation strategies for forest tree species. Synthetic seed technology is an advanced and highly increasing forte of plant biotechnological research. For the last two decades, intensive research efforts have been made on synthetic seed production in a number of plant species. The technique involves the use of any meristematic tissue like shoot tip, nodal segment or somatic embryo for large-scale propagation and germplasm exchange between laboratories, thus lowering the dependence on micropropagation and minimizing its relevant expenditures. In most of forest species, seed propagation has not been successful because of heterozygosity of seeds, minute seed size, presence of reduced endosperm and low germination rate. Many species have desiccation-sensitive intermediate or recalcitrant seeds and can be stored for only a few weeks or months. Under these circumstances, increasing interest has been shown recently to use encapsulation technology for propagation and conservation. The technology also provides its importance in ex vitro conservation as the encapsulation protects the plant sample from the unfavourable effects of toxic cryoprotectants and post-storage damages. After an introduction on the main procedures for synseed preparation, this chapter provides information on the protocols that have been developed for the encapsulation of various explants from forest tree species.
The aim of the study was to explore the clinical impact of circulatory miR-126 as a candidate for... more The aim of the study was to explore the clinical impact of circulatory miR-126 as a candidate for novel biomarker in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and its protective role against hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) exposed HUVEC cellular injury. A total of 278 subjects, which included 153 subjects with angiographically confirmed CAD, 70 unstable angina subjects, and 55 healthy individuals, along with 18-hour HR-induced HUVECs were recruited in this study. Plasma miR-126 levels were significantly downregulated in stable and unstable CAD patients as well as 18-hour HR-exposed HUVECs as compared with controls. Stable and unstable CAD subjects were significantly differentiated from healthy individuals with a predictive value of AUC 0.903 and 0.923, respectively. Moreover, peripheral circulatory miR-126 expressions in elderly (71-90 years) stable and unstable CAD patients were comparatively lower than younger (30-50 years) subjects. The caspase-3 activity, intracellular ROS conce...
Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature, 2015
Robert Frost in “Death of a Hired Man” and Kiran Desai in The Inheritance of Loss expound two con... more Robert Frost in “Death of a Hired Man” and Kiran Desai in The Inheritance of Loss expound two contrasting notions of home. While Frost in his poem offers a solid notion of home evoking its physical and emotional aspects, Desai as a migrated Indian novelist talks about the loss of home, making it fluid it in her novel. Desai singles out two characters Jemubhai Propatlal Patel, widely known as the judge, and the poor cook's son Biju, to exemplify this fluid concept of home. They both consider London and New York as cities full of promise and possibility, and wish to leave the homeland, India, to make new homes there. Jemubhai visits London when studying law at Cambridge while Biju goes to New York to make a fortune, during the colonial and the postcolonial eras respectively. Harsh realities do not live up to their expectations. Jemubhai confronts an intolerable existence in the master's land due to his racial, linguistic and biological otherness. On the other hand, Biju suffer...
After a fluorene‐based anion exchange membrane (AEM) containing 1‐isopropyl‐2‐methylimidazolium w... more After a fluorene‐based anion exchange membrane (AEM) containing 1‐isopropyl‐2‐methylimidazolium with alkyl side chains was prepared, the membrane properties, including OH– conductivities, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, swelling ratio, and chemical and thermal stabilities of the obtained membrane were assessed. The synthesized membrane exhibited low water uptake and good dimensional stability with adequate hydroxide conductivity. For example, the AEM showed a swelling ratio of 7% and hydroxide conductivity of 46 mS cm−1 at 80 °C in liquid water. The chemical stability was investigated in 1 M NaOH solution at room temperature and at 80 °C. At both temperatures, degradation of the imidazolium cationic groups was observed, although the main chain was chemically stable. All results obtained from this research are expected to provide important direction and insight for AEM synthesis for practical applications in anion exchange membrane fuel cells.
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, 2018
The present work reports the prospective applicability of three indigenous rootstocks belonging t... more The present work reports the prospective applicability of three indigenous rootstocks belonging to different species viz. Nemutenga, Tayum and Tasi cultivars of north eastern Himalayan region for producing Citrus tristeza virus (CTV; a viral species of the Closterovirus genus) free quality planting materials of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) through micrografting or shoot-tip grafting (STG). The development of disease-free plants through STG is essential as CTV is in vivo transmissible through infected bud sticks. The technique of STG along with the diverse culture parameters like effect of sucrose, plant growth regulators, pre-treatment of scion and stock, effect of scion size after thermotherapy and grafting method was analysed. Among the three indigenous tested rootstocks, Nemutenga was found superior showing maximum STG success of 58.5%. STGs using scion size ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 mm, survival was up to 42.0% and completely virus-free. Pre-treatment of scion and stock with kinetin (1.0 mg L −1) was found more suitable than N 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and further increased the rate of micrografts. For further growth of micrografts, Murashige and Skoog medium fortified with 0.5 mg L −1 BAP and 0.1 mg L −1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) along with 5% sucrose resulted in maximum (56.8%) response. Considering the two techniques applied for STG, cleft grafting was found more suitable than inverted T grafting. Viral assessment with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed negative results for all plants from 0.3 to 0.5 mm scion while 0.7-mm scion-raised micrografts showed 60% negative with RT-PCR for CTV.
Rumex acetosa L. (Polygonaceae) is well known in traditional medicine for its therapeutic efficac... more Rumex acetosa L. (Polygonaceae) is well known in traditional medicine for its therapeutic efficacy as an antihypertensive. The study investigates antihypertensive potential of crude methanol extract (Ra.Cr) and fractions of Rumex acetosa in normotensive and hypertensive rat models and probes the underlying vascular mechanisms. Ra.Cr and its fractions were tested in vivo on normotensive and hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rats under anaesthesia for blood pressure lowering effect. In vitro experiments on rat and Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbit aortae were employed to probe the underlying vasorelaxant mechanism. In normotensive rats under anaesthesia, Ra.Cr caused fall in MAP (40 mmHg) at 50 mg/kg with % fall of 27.88 ± 4.55. Among the fractions tested, aqueous fraction was more potent at the dose of 50 mg/kg with % fall of 45.63 ± 2.84. In hypertensive rats under similar conditions, extract and fractions showed antihypertensive effect at same doses while aqueous fraction being more potent, e...
Pakistan Journal of Analytical & Environmental Chemistry, 2016
The plant based renewable biosorbents have extensively been investigated for removing water pollu... more The plant based renewable biosorbents have extensively been investigated for removing water pollutants. The present study describes the sequestering of metal ions by exploiting a low cost biomaterial derived from Tribulus tresstris as sorbent. The batch equilibrium studies have been carried out both with raw and chemically/thermally treated biomaterial as a function of pH, contact time, shaking speed and shaking time to decide the effectiveness of biosorbent. The sorbent was activated chemically by utilizing 0.1M HCl and 0.1M K 2 CO 3. A close muffle furnace was used for thermal treatment of the sorbent. The adsorption capacity was enhanced to 25% by thermal treatment and 54% by chemical treatment because of increase in pore volume and surface area. The greatest sorption was found for particle size of 200 µm with a 0.5 g dosage at pH 6 for 20 min at shaking speed 100 rpm. The FT-IR and SEM study was performed to discover the adsorption capacity of various functional groups and their binding mechanism. The adsorption data demonstrates that Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models were very much fitted to describe the adsorption behavior.
Medicinal plants are in huge demand since the consumption is widespread and ever-increasing globa... more Medicinal plants are in huge demand since the consumption is widespread and ever-increasing globally. The conventional breeding programs are generally environmental dependent; prone to different biotic and abiotic stresses as well as the secondary metabolite content is too low to harvest. In this context, developing polyploid individuals artificially would be a remarkable approach to increase vigor and attain this objective. Polyploids often exhibit some morphological features that are different or greater in forms than their diploid progenies. Polyploidization can be induced by quite a few antimitotic agents. The most frequently used antimitotic chemicals are colchicine, trifluralin, and oryzalin. The whole method of induced chromosome doubling consists of a series of steps, including an induction phase, regrowth phase, and a confirmation technique to evaluate the rate of achievement. The induction phase depends on different factors, such as explant types, antimitotic agents, its different concentrations, and exposure durations. To evaluate the accomplishment of polyploidization, morphological or anatomical observations are recorded as a rapid method. However, chromosome count and flow cytometry are the most eminent method for absolute confirmation. Despite significant prospects of polyploidization, there has been very little research on medicinal plants. The current review gives an overview of the different parameters of in vitro chromosome doubling, the history of the technique, and progress made over the last two decades.
Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification, also known as Fahr disease or Fahr's Syndrome or Bilatera... more Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification, also known as Fahr disease or Fahr's Syndrome or Bilateral StriatoPallidoDentate Calcinosis (BSPDC) is a rare, genetically dominant, inherited neurological disorder characterized by abnormal deposits of calcium in areas of the brain that control movement, including the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. A rare idiopathic disease which manifests in middle age characterized by punctate areas of non-arteriosclerotic calcination in parts of the gray and dentate nuclei, particularly of smaller brain vessels. The symptoms include mental and growth retardation, dystonic movements, and athetosis. May be caused by a malfunction of the glandula parathyreoidea. The term Fahr triad consists of symmetrical calcification of the basal ganglia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and hypofunction of the parathyroid gland. Treatment is directed toward minimizing symptoms. The prognosis for any individual with Fahr's Syndrome is variable and hard to predict. Progressive neurological deterioration generally results in disability and death.
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, Mar 31, 2012
James Joyce's "Araby" is essentially a teenage love story. Yet its texture, woven with the Orient... more James Joyce's "Araby" is essentially a teenage love story. Yet its texture, woven with the Orientalist metaphorical imageries, Eastern dictions-bazaar and Araby-and reference to the historical Araby bazaar, likens it to a latent Orientalist discourse. Orientalism divides the story into two parts. In one part, the Irish boy's fascination to the Orient is reflected and the other part is the negation of those popular ideas. The first one refers to Irish Orientalism that in the nineteenth and twentieth century offered Irish people an alternative cultural identity different from English Colonialism. Yet this identification of the Orient with a romantic refuge at first and then contrastively with a place of degeneration, depravity and despair explains James Joyce's ambivalence towards the matter of the Orient. Joyce, using the Orient as a tool to orient the boy to the reality of his existence in drab Dublin, teaches the young boy that escapist fascination to the Orient is a vain vision for an Irish. My article focuses on this dissolution of Irish Orientalism into the English-French Orientalism, a paradoxical representation of the Orient, and hopefully will revitalize the understanding of the story.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of Smad3, Smad7, and TGF-β1 in intrauterine adhesio... more The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of Smad3, Smad7, and TGF-β1 in intrauterine adhesion (IUA) patients and experimental rabbit models. 60 IUA patients, 30 control participants, and 18 female rabbits were enrolled in this study. We found that the plasma concentrations and protein expressions of TGF-β1 were significantly increased in patients and experimental rabbits compared to those in controls (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad3 were significantly elevated, while Smad7 level was markedly decreased in the patients and experimental rabbits compared with controls (P<0.05). This altered ratio recommended that IUA was positively correlated to the mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad3, Smad7, and TGF-β1 in blood and uterine tissue. Moreover, we used the specific inhibitor of Smad3 (SIS3) in experimental rabbit. SIS3 obviously reduced the mRNA and protein expression of smad3 and TGF-β1, while it increased Smad7 expression in the tr...
The oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Shanchol™ has shown protective efficacy lasting up to 5 years, ho... more The oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Shanchol™ has shown protective efficacy lasting up to 5 years, however, requirement for a cold chain limits its use in resource poor settings. The study was conducted to determine the safety and immunogenicity of Shanchol in adult participants in Bangladesh when stored at elevated temperatures. The study was conducted in Mirpur, Dhaka. Four groups of healthy adult participants received two doses of Shanchol™, kept under standard storage temperature (Group A; 2-8°C) or at elevated temperatures (Group B, 25°C; Group C, 37°C; Group D, 42°C) for 14 days, respectively. Vaccine specific antibody responses were determined. 145 participants were assigned to each group. Adverse events were mild not differing among groups. Vaccine stored at elevated temperatures remained stable with cumulative LPS content within admissible limits. Vibriocidal antibody responses were observed in all groups after each dose of vaccine at day 7 and 21 compared to pre-immune levels ...
Circulating microRNAs have been recognized as promising biomarkers for various diseases. The pres... more Circulating microRNAs have been recognized as promising biomarkers for various diseases. The present study aimed to explore the potential roles of circulating miR-149, miR-424 and miR-765 as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in middle-aged (40-60-year-old) patients. Sixty-five stable coronary artery disease patients (49-57 years old), 30 unstable coronary artery disease patients (49-58 years old), and 32 non-coronary artery disease patients (49--57 years old) who were matched for age, sex, smoking habits, hypertension and diabetes were enrolled in this study. Total RNA was isolated from plasma with TRIzol reagent. Circulating miRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Circulating miR-149 levels were decreased 4.49-fold in stable coronary artery disease patients (1.18 ± 0.84) and 5.09-fold in unstable coronary artery disease patients (1.04 ± 0.65) compared with non-coronary artery disease patients (5.30 ± 2.57) (...
Journal of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, 1988
well as introducing Muslims to aspects of the scientific miracle of the Qur'an. It is based on a ... more well as introducing Muslims to aspects of the scientific miracle of the Qur'an. It is based on a transcription of a lecture given by Dr. Bucaille in French. In this reprint, I decided to improve its presentation by simplifying the language and editing the text from an oral format to a pamphlet format. There were also passing references made by the author to material in his book, The Bible, the Qur'an and Science, which needed explanation. I took the liberty of including explanatory portions from his book where more detail was necessary. A few footnotes were also added for clarity and a hadeeth which the author mentioned was replaced due to its inauthenticity. There were also some corrections made to the historical material on the compilation of the Qur'an. It is my hope that these slight improvements will make this excellent work even more effective in presenting the final revelation of God to mankind.
The primary purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of the use of the intrauterine device... more The primary purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of the use of the intrauterine device (IUD) as an adjunctive treatment modality, for intrauterine adhesions (IUAs). All eligible literatures were identified by electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additional relevant articles were identified from citations in these publications. There were 28 studies included for a systematic review. Of these, 5 studies were eligible for meta-analysis and 23 for qualitative assessment only. Twenty-eight studies related to the use of IUDs as ancillary treatment following adhesiolysis were identified. Of these studies, 25 studies at least one of the following methods were carried out as ancillary treatment: Foley catheter, hyaluronic acid gel, hormonal therapy, or amnion graft in addition to the IUD. There was one study that used IUD therapy as a single ancillary treatment. In 2 studies, no adjunctive therapy was used after adhesiolysis. There was a wide range of...
Uploads
Papers by Umme Salma