Three local maize cultivars, namely Jalal, Azam and Iqbal were inoculated with Bipolaris maydis a... more Three local maize cultivars, namely Jalal, Azam and Iqbal were inoculated with Bipolaris maydis at 6, 10, 14 leaf stages and tasseling stages. Cultivars were allotted to the main plots and growth stages to the subplots, each consisting of six rows, 3m long and 75cm apart. The central two rows of each sub-plot were inoculated with 104 conidia/ml concentration of the pathogens during summer 2013 at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Overall, Jalal registered the lowest disease severity (1.53) on a 0-5 scale while Iqbal was observed to have the highest disease severity (2.40). Among the growth stages inoculation at the 6-leaf stage resulted in the highest disease severity (2.78) and lowest yield (5328.2kg/ha) and yield components while inoculation at the tasseling stage was found to be the least effective in terms of disease severity (1.44) and reduction in yield and yield components. Similarly, a significant interaction between the cultivars and growth ...
Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology, 2019
Article Info Background: The vaccination status of HCWs working in Pakistani hospitals against th... more Article Info Background: The vaccination status of HCWs working in Pakistani hospitals against the hepatitis B virus is poorly known. This study aims to assess the vaccination status of hepatitis B among HCWs in Allied Hospital of Faisalabad. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018. Two groups of HCWs were included in the study. Group 1 consisted of doctors and nurses at different wards of the hospital, and group 2 included final year undergraduate and nursing students. A predesigned form was administered to record information regarding their demographic characteristics and history of vaccination. Next, about 5ml of blood was taken from each participant to check HBsAg. Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS V16.0 by descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results: From total 300 HCWs, 222 (74%) HCWs were female and 78 (26%) of them were male. The age of the participants was between 20-25. In addition, 135 (45%) HCWs were fully vaccinated, 36 (12%) HCWs were partially vaccinated, and 129 (43%) HCWs were never vaccinated against hepatitis B. 59.7% of vaccination cases were found in doctors followed by 49.2% and 26.9% in students and nurses, respectively. The major reason for not being vaccinated was lack of time in 93 (63.7%) HCWs. Conclusion: Despite existing recommendations and higher prevalence rates of hepatitis B in high-risk groups, about 40% of the HCWs were not vaccinated either due to unawareness or carelessness.
Background: Obesity is a global health problem. The chances of metabolic disorders such as type 2... more Background: Obesity is a global health problem. The chances of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, systemic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis are increased due to obesity. Objective: (1) To determine effects of high doses of atorvastatin on body weight, liver weight and liver/body weight ratio in albino rabbits. (2) To compare the effect of three increasing doses of ethanolic extract of Raphanus sativus leaf with high doses of atorvastatin on body weight, liver weight and liver/body weight ratio in albino rabbits. Study Design: Experimental study.
The developing countries like Pakistan are facing the problem of low girls’ school enrolment rate... more The developing countries like Pakistan are facing the problem of low girls’ school enrolment rate. The study estimates the determinants of girls’ school enrolment by employing Binary Probit modal using the PSLM data 2010/11.The results show that though the education of both mother and father affect positively the girls’ school enrolment, yet the former affects it more as compared to the latter. The relationship between age of children and school enrolment is of inverted ‘U’ shaped. Foreign remittances and land ownership have more chances to affect the female school enrolment. School distance and poverty are major problems for female school enrolment. Further, females have more chances of school enrolment in urban areas as compared to rural ones. The results at provincial level reveal that mother’s education has more chances to affect the probability of girls’ enrolment in Sindh followed by Punjab as compared to KPK and Baluchistan. At a policy level government should pay more attent...
LC/MS-based variant profiling of lipid A component of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides ofPasteurella... more LC/MS-based variant profiling of lipid A component of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides ofPasteurella multocidatype B:2, a causative agent of haemorrhagic septicaemia in water buffalo and cattle.
Zakat is an annual religious levy that is collected from rich Muslims and its proceeds are disbur... more Zakat is an annual religious levy that is collected from rich Muslims and its proceeds are disbursed among poor people of the society. It has many spiritual and social merits. For example, it purifies the hearts of zakat-givers as they give away a part of their wealth, one of the most precious things in their lives, seeking the pleasure of God without requiring any worldly gains whatsoever. It bridges the social gap between „haves‟ and „have-nots.‟ This study analyses, however, only economic consequences of Zakat for economic growth. They cannot be appreciated duly unless one understands the following concepts of modern economics; various theories of consumption, aggregate demand, stagnation thesis, consumption puzzle, marginal productivity of capital and Kuznets curve.
Background and objectives: Anwar Ratol is one of the most famous cultivar of mango in South Asia,... more Background and objectives: Anwar Ratol is one of the most famous cultivar of mango in South Asia, especially Pakistan. Mango leaves are left as food waste. This study evaluated the potential of mango (Anwar Ratol) leaves for their use against diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods: In this study, hydro-alcoholic extract of the plant leaves was prepared and evaluated by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the presence of phytochemicals. The plant extract was administered to Alloxan induced diabetic mice followed by evaluation through oral glucose tolerance test; determination of postprandial glucose, body weight, lipid profile and histopathological evaluation of pancreas. Results: Chemical evaluation revealed the presence of mangiferin, rhamnetin, catechin, epicatechin, iriflophenone 3-C-β-D-glucoside, gallic acid and other phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The plant extract exhibited a decrease in postprandial blo...
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Socioeconomic disparities in the community make some groups more vulnerable to dengue infection. ... more Socioeconomic disparities in the community make some groups more vulnerable to dengue infection. Fourteen dengue cases (IgM positive) served as index cases for the positive geographic cluster investigations. Of 292 individuals, the overall dengue seroprevalence was 22.9% (IgM positive 4.8%; IgG positive 18.1%). The highest (45%) seroprevalence was reported in the most socioeconomically vulnerable lower class, followed by the middle class (39%). Orthogonal comparisons showed that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in the prevalence of dengue. An integrated approach is required to control the menace through vector control strategies and improvement of socioeconomic conditions.
HIV-1 latency allows the virus to persist until reactivation, in a transcriptionally silent form ... more HIV-1 latency allows the virus to persist until reactivation, in a transcriptionally silent form in its cellular reservoirs despite the presence of effective cART. Such viral persistence represents a major barrier to HIV eradication since treatment interruption leads to rebound plasma viremia. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins have recently got a considerable attention in regulating HIV-1 post-integration latency as they are involved in the repression of proviral gene expression through the methylation of histones. This epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of HIV-1 latency. In fact, PcG proteins act in complexes and modulate the epigenetic signatures of integrated HIV-1 promoter. Key role played by PcG proteins in the molecular control of HIV-1 latency has led to hypothesize that PcG proteins may represent a valuable target for future HIV-1 therapy in purging HIV-1 reservoirs. In this regard, various small molecules have been synthesized or ...
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is widely prevalent and causes Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) in... more Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is widely prevalent and causes Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) in Basmati rice grown in different areas of Pakistan. There is a need to use environmentally safe approaches to overcome the loss of grain yield in rice due to this disease. The present study aimed to develop inocula, based on native antagonistic bacteria for biocontrol of BLB and to increase the yield of Super Basmati rice variety. Out of 512 bacteria isolated from the rice rhizosphere and screened for plant growth promoting determinants, the isolate BRp3 was found to be the best as it solubilized 97 µg/ mL phosphorus, produced 30 µg/mL phytohormone indole acetic acid and 15 mg/ L siderophores in vitro. The isolate BRp3 was found to be a Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing (accession no. HQ840693). This bacterium showed antagonism in vitro against different phytopathogens including Xoo and Fusarium spp. Strain BRp3 showed consistent pathogen suppression of different strains of BLB pathogen in rice. Mass spectrometric analysis detected the production of siderophores (1-hydroxy-phenazine, pyocyanin, and pyochellin), rhamnolipids and a series of already characterized 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinolines (HAQs) as well as novel 2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-alkylquinolines and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxy-2-alkylquinolines in crude extract of BRp3. These secondary metabolites might be responsible for the profound antibacterial activity of BRp3 against Xoo pathogen. Another contributing factor toward the suppression of the pathogen was the induction of defense related enzymes in the rice plant by the inoculated strain BRp3. When used as an inoculant in a field trial, this strain enhanced the grain and straw yields by 51 and 55%, respectively, over non-inoculated control. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) used in combination with immunofluorescence marker confirmed P. aeruginosa BRp3 in the rice rhizosphere under sterilized as well as field conditions. The results provide evidence that novel secondary metabolites produced by BRp3 may contribute to its activity as a biological control agent against Xoo and its potential to promote the growth and yield of Super Basmati rice.
This study showed the comparison between Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula (leaves and branch) ... more This study showed the comparison between Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula (leaves and branch) aqueous extracts for their ability to detoxify of aflatoxins B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 µg L −1 and AFB2; 50 µg L −1) by In Vitro assays and decontamination studies. Results indicated that O. basilicum leaves extract was found to be highly significant (P < 0.05) in degrading AFB1 and AFB2, i.e., 90.4 and 88.6%, respectively. However, O. basilicum branch, C. fistula leaves and branch extracts proved to be less efficient in degrading these aflatoxins, under optimized conditions, i.e., pH 8, temperature 30 • C and incubation period of 72 h. Moreover the antifungal activity of these plants extracts were also tested. The findings depicted that O. basilicum leaves extract showed maximum growth inhibition of aflatoxigenic isolates, i.e., 82-87% as compared to other tested plants extracts. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed that nine degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 were formed. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring and modification of lactone group indicating less toxicity as compared to parent compounds. Brine shrimps bioassay further confirmed the low toxicity of degraded products, showing that O. basilicum leaves extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins.
In this study aqueous extract of seeds and leaves of Trachyspermum ammi were evaluated for their ... more In this study aqueous extract of seeds and leaves of Trachyspermum ammi were evaluated for their ability to detoxify aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L(-1) and AFB2; 50 μg L(-1)) by in vitro and in vivo assays. Results indicated that T. ammi seeds extract was found to be significant (P < 0.05) in degrading AFB1 and AFB2 i.e., 92.8 and 91.9% respectively. However, T. ammi leaves extract proved to be less efficient in degrading these aflatoxins, under optimized conditions i.e., pH 8, temperature 30°C and incubation period of 72 h. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed that eight degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 were formed. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring and modification of lactone group indicating less toxicity as compared to parent compounds. Brine shrimps bioassay further confirmed the low toxicity of degraded products, showing that T. ammi seeds ext...
Background: Post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) is majorly caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). So, re... more Background: Post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) is majorly caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). So, recipients of blood/blood products, post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH), renal dialysis patients and intravenous drug users all represent high-risk groups for infection. The aim of the present research was to determine the prevalence of HCV antibody in β-thalassemia major patients visiting different tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: HCV seroprevalence and risk factors were studied in 200 β-thalassemia major patients (24 females, 176 males) with different age groups by second generation ELISA during January 2013 to May 2013. Confirmed β-thalassemia major patients from three different tertiary care hospitals were selected with special reference to age, age at the time of diagnosis, frequency of transfusion and present clinical status. Results: Among 200 patients, 82 (41%) were found reactive for HCV antibody with age range of 2 to 18 years with mean age of 8.5 years. Conclusion: This study showed that hemodialysis patients and β-thalassemia sufferers were at higher risk of having HCV infection; the prevalence being 41%.
Currently licensed typhoid vaccines are based on Vi capsular polysaccharides. Recent molecular re... more Currently licensed typhoid vaccines are based on Vi capsular polysaccharides. Recent molecular reports from typhoid endemic countries state that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) Vi negative strains occur naturally and cause typhoid fever which is indistinguishable from disease caused by Vi positive strains. Vaccine based on Vi polysaccharide may not protect patients if the invading S. Typhi are negative for Vi. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an essential component of S. Typhi outer membrane in which O-specific polysaccharide (OSP) is a protective antigen and universal candidate for vaccine development. In this study, S. Typhi Vi negative isolates were discriminated from Vi positive isolates through a duplex PCR using primers of fliC-d (599bp) and tviA (495bp) genes. The LPS of S. Typhi Vi negative isolates was extracted by hot phenol method and OSP was purified by core hydrolysis. The yield of extracted LPS was 91 mg/L and that of purified OSP was 49.14 mg/L of culture ...
This study explores the detoxification potential of Corymbia citriodora plant extracts against af... more This study explores the detoxification potential of Corymbia citriodora plant extracts against aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L −1 and AFB2; 50 μg L −1) in In vitro and In vivo assays. Detoxification was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by TLC and HPLC, respectively. The study was carried out by using different parameters of optimal temperature, pH and incubation time period. Results indicated that C. citriodora leaf extract(s) more effectively degrade AFB1 and AFB2 i.e. 95.21% and 92.95% respectively than C. citriodora branch extract, under optimized conditions. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products was done by LCMS/MS analysis. Ten degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 and their fragmentation pathways were proposed based on molecular formulas and MS/MS spectra. Toxicity of these degraded products was significantly reduced as compared to that of parent compounds because of the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring. The biological toxicity of degraded toxin was further analyzed by brine shrimps bioassay, which showed that only 17.5% mortality in larvae was recorded as compared to untreated toxin where 92.5% mortality was observed after 96hr of incubation. Therefore, our finding suggests that C. citriodora leaf extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins. Aflatoxins (AFs) are group of potent mycotoxins with mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive properties, are of particular importance because of their major occurrence and adverse effects on animal and human health 1,2. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that many basic foods could be contaminated by the mycotoxin producing fungi, which contributes to enormous global losses of food, approximately 1000 million metric tons each year 3. Among 18 different types of aflatoxins identified, the major members are aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 which chemically are coumarin derivatives with a fused dihydrofurofuran moiety. Aspergillus flavus produces AFB1 and AFB2, whereas, Aspergillus parasiticus produces AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 4,5. Among them, AFB1 has the greatest potential as an environmental carcinogen, with toxic effects on human via its direct or indirect consumption in food products 6. The European Union has enacted a very stringent aflatoxin tolerance threshold of 2 μ g/kg aflatoxin B1 and 4 μ g/kg total aflatoxins for nut and cereals for human consumption 7. Since aflatoxins can cause acute, subacute and chronic toxicity in animals and human,
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) establishes latency in resting memory CD4+ T cells an... more Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) establishes latency in resting memory CD4+ T cells and cells of myeloid lineage. In contrast to the T cells, cells of myeloid lineage are resistant to the HIV-1 induced cytopathic effect. Cells of myeloid lineage including macrophages are present in anatomical sanctuaries making them a difficult drug target. In addition, the long life span of macrophages as compared to the CD4+ T cells make them important viral reservoirs in infected individuals especially in the late stage of viral infection where CD4+ T cells are largely depleted. In the past decade, HIV-1 persistence in resting CD4+ T cells has gained considerable attention. It is currently believed that rebound viremia following cessation of combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) originates from this source. However, the clinical relevance of this reservoir has been questioned. It is suggested that the resting CD4+ T cells are only one source of residual viremia and other viral res...
This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the epidemiological and clinical features o... more This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the epidemiological and clinical features of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2011 and 2012. During the study period, anti-dengue IgM positive cases were reported in the postmonsoon period during the months of August-December. Certain hotspots for the dengue infection were identified in the city that coincide with the clusters of densely populated urban regions of the city. Out of total 299 IgM positive patients (male 218 and female 81); there were 239 dengue fever (DF) and 60 dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients. There was decrease in the median age of dengue patients from 31 years in 2011 to 21.5 years in 2012 (p,0.001). Abdominal pain was seen in 35% DHF patients followed by nausea in 28.3%, epistaxis in 25% and rash in 20% patients (p,0.05). Patients reported to be suffering from high-grade fever for an average of 8.83 days in DHF as compared to 5.82 days in DF before being hospitalized. Co-morbidities were found to be risk factor for the development of DHF in dengue patients. Clinical and laboratory features of dengue cases studied could be used for the early identification of patients at risk of severe dengue fever.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious human disease with fatal consequences. The most distressing... more Hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious human disease with fatal consequences. The most distressing aspect of hepatocellular carcinoma is the limited improvement in mortality (mortality rate of more than 90%). At present, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood and treatment options are often of limited efficacy. This review presents our current understanding of the burden of hepatocellular carcinoma on human health, pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as our knowledge of the physical barriers, cellular mechanisms and molecular elements that may be targets for therapeutic interventions and/ or the development of preventative measures. As the proposed findings present a major risk to public health, it is hoped that robust intervention measures will be introduced for aflatoxins monitoring and reduction in diet. Region World More developed regions Less developed regions Cases 782 134 648 Deaths 746 123 622 Percentage (%) 95 92 96 Table 1: Incidence of HCC in the world. There is poor prognosis of HCC, with majority of patients expiring within 5 years. The majority of the cases are from less developed regions [2].
The protease domain of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) has been targete... more The protease domain of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) has been targeted for inhibition by several direct-acting antiviral drugs. This approach has had marked success to treat infections caused by HCV genotype 1 predominant in the USA, Europe, and Japan. However, genotypes 3 and 4, dominant in developing countries, are resistant to a number of these drugs and little progress has been made towards understanding the structural basis of their drug resistivity. We have previously developed a 4D computational methodology, based on 3D structure modeling and molecular dynamics simulation, to analyze the active sites of the NS3 proteases of HCV-1b and 4a in relation to their catalytic activity and drug susceptibility. Here, we improved the methodology, extended the analysis to include genotype 3a (predominant in South Asia including Pakistan), and compared the results of the three genotypes (1b, 3a and 4a). The 4D analyses of the interactions between the catalytic triad residues (His57, Asp81, and Ser139) indicate conformational instability of the catalytic site in HCV-3a and 4a compared to that of HCV-1b NS3 protease. The divergence is gradual and genotypedependent, with HCV-1b being the most stable, HCV-4a being the most unstable and HCV-3a representing an intermediate state. These results suggest that the structural dynamics behavior, more than the rigid structure, could be related to the altered catalytic activity and drug susceptibility seen in NS3 proteases of HCV-3a and 4a.
Background: Aberrant DNA methylation profiles are a characteristic feature of almost all types of... more Background: Aberrant DNA methylation profiles are a characteristic feature of almost all types of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and play an important role in carcinogenesis. In spite of the accumulating evidence that suggests appearance of such aberrations at precancerous stages, very little effort has been invested to investigate such possible methylation events in patients at risk of developing HCC i.e. those suffering from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis (LC). We reasoned that such an analysis could lead to the identification of novel predictive biomarkers as well as potential drug targets. Methods: Promoter methylation status of two Wnt inhibitors SFRP2 and DKK1 was quantitatively analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing in a series of liver biopsy samples. These biopsies were collected from HCV-infected individuals suffering from chronic hepatitis (CH; n = 15), liver cirrhosis (LC; n = 13) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 41). DNA isolated from infection free normal livers (N; n =10) was used as control. Results: Our analysis revealed that both of the genomic loci were significantly hypermethylated in CH patients' livers as compared to normal controls (p = 0.0136 & 0.0084 for SFRP2 and DKK1, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test). DNA methylation levels for both loci were also significantly higher in all the diseased cohorts as compared to normal controls (p < 0.0001 and = 0.0011 for SFRP2 and DKK1, respectively; Kruskal-Wallis test). However, a comparison between three disease cohorts (CH, LC & HCC) revealed no significant difference in levels of DNA methylation at DKK1 promoter. In contrast, a progressive increase in DNA methylation levels was observed at the SFRP2 promoter (i.e. N < CH & LC < HCC). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that in HCV infected liver tissues hypermethylation at promoter regions of key cancer related genes SFRP2 and DKK1, appears early at CH and LC stages, long before the appearance of HCC.
Three local maize cultivars, namely Jalal, Azam and Iqbal were inoculated with Bipolaris maydis a... more Three local maize cultivars, namely Jalal, Azam and Iqbal were inoculated with Bipolaris maydis at 6, 10, 14 leaf stages and tasseling stages. Cultivars were allotted to the main plots and growth stages to the subplots, each consisting of six rows, 3m long and 75cm apart. The central two rows of each sub-plot were inoculated with 104 conidia/ml concentration of the pathogens during summer 2013 at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Overall, Jalal registered the lowest disease severity (1.53) on a 0-5 scale while Iqbal was observed to have the highest disease severity (2.40). Among the growth stages inoculation at the 6-leaf stage resulted in the highest disease severity (2.78) and lowest yield (5328.2kg/ha) and yield components while inoculation at the tasseling stage was found to be the least effective in terms of disease severity (1.44) and reduction in yield and yield components. Similarly, a significant interaction between the cultivars and growth ...
Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology, 2019
Article Info Background: The vaccination status of HCWs working in Pakistani hospitals against th... more Article Info Background: The vaccination status of HCWs working in Pakistani hospitals against the hepatitis B virus is poorly known. This study aims to assess the vaccination status of hepatitis B among HCWs in Allied Hospital of Faisalabad. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018. Two groups of HCWs were included in the study. Group 1 consisted of doctors and nurses at different wards of the hospital, and group 2 included final year undergraduate and nursing students. A predesigned form was administered to record information regarding their demographic characteristics and history of vaccination. Next, about 5ml of blood was taken from each participant to check HBsAg. Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS V16.0 by descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results: From total 300 HCWs, 222 (74%) HCWs were female and 78 (26%) of them were male. The age of the participants was between 20-25. In addition, 135 (45%) HCWs were fully vaccinated, 36 (12%) HCWs were partially vaccinated, and 129 (43%) HCWs were never vaccinated against hepatitis B. 59.7% of vaccination cases were found in doctors followed by 49.2% and 26.9% in students and nurses, respectively. The major reason for not being vaccinated was lack of time in 93 (63.7%) HCWs. Conclusion: Despite existing recommendations and higher prevalence rates of hepatitis B in high-risk groups, about 40% of the HCWs were not vaccinated either due to unawareness or carelessness.
Background: Obesity is a global health problem. The chances of metabolic disorders such as type 2... more Background: Obesity is a global health problem. The chances of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, systemic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis are increased due to obesity. Objective: (1) To determine effects of high doses of atorvastatin on body weight, liver weight and liver/body weight ratio in albino rabbits. (2) To compare the effect of three increasing doses of ethanolic extract of Raphanus sativus leaf with high doses of atorvastatin on body weight, liver weight and liver/body weight ratio in albino rabbits. Study Design: Experimental study.
The developing countries like Pakistan are facing the problem of low girls’ school enrolment rate... more The developing countries like Pakistan are facing the problem of low girls’ school enrolment rate. The study estimates the determinants of girls’ school enrolment by employing Binary Probit modal using the PSLM data 2010/11.The results show that though the education of both mother and father affect positively the girls’ school enrolment, yet the former affects it more as compared to the latter. The relationship between age of children and school enrolment is of inverted ‘U’ shaped. Foreign remittances and land ownership have more chances to affect the female school enrolment. School distance and poverty are major problems for female school enrolment. Further, females have more chances of school enrolment in urban areas as compared to rural ones. The results at provincial level reveal that mother’s education has more chances to affect the probability of girls’ enrolment in Sindh followed by Punjab as compared to KPK and Baluchistan. At a policy level government should pay more attent...
LC/MS-based variant profiling of lipid A component of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides ofPasteurella... more LC/MS-based variant profiling of lipid A component of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides ofPasteurella multocidatype B:2, a causative agent of haemorrhagic septicaemia in water buffalo and cattle.
Zakat is an annual religious levy that is collected from rich Muslims and its proceeds are disbur... more Zakat is an annual religious levy that is collected from rich Muslims and its proceeds are disbursed among poor people of the society. It has many spiritual and social merits. For example, it purifies the hearts of zakat-givers as they give away a part of their wealth, one of the most precious things in their lives, seeking the pleasure of God without requiring any worldly gains whatsoever. It bridges the social gap between „haves‟ and „have-nots.‟ This study analyses, however, only economic consequences of Zakat for economic growth. They cannot be appreciated duly unless one understands the following concepts of modern economics; various theories of consumption, aggregate demand, stagnation thesis, consumption puzzle, marginal productivity of capital and Kuznets curve.
Background and objectives: Anwar Ratol is one of the most famous cultivar of mango in South Asia,... more Background and objectives: Anwar Ratol is one of the most famous cultivar of mango in South Asia, especially Pakistan. Mango leaves are left as food waste. This study evaluated the potential of mango (Anwar Ratol) leaves for their use against diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods: In this study, hydro-alcoholic extract of the plant leaves was prepared and evaluated by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the presence of phytochemicals. The plant extract was administered to Alloxan induced diabetic mice followed by evaluation through oral glucose tolerance test; determination of postprandial glucose, body weight, lipid profile and histopathological evaluation of pancreas. Results: Chemical evaluation revealed the presence of mangiferin, rhamnetin, catechin, epicatechin, iriflophenone 3-C-β-D-glucoside, gallic acid and other phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The plant extract exhibited a decrease in postprandial blo...
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Socioeconomic disparities in the community make some groups more vulnerable to dengue infection. ... more Socioeconomic disparities in the community make some groups more vulnerable to dengue infection. Fourteen dengue cases (IgM positive) served as index cases for the positive geographic cluster investigations. Of 292 individuals, the overall dengue seroprevalence was 22.9% (IgM positive 4.8%; IgG positive 18.1%). The highest (45%) seroprevalence was reported in the most socioeconomically vulnerable lower class, followed by the middle class (39%). Orthogonal comparisons showed that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in the prevalence of dengue. An integrated approach is required to control the menace through vector control strategies and improvement of socioeconomic conditions.
HIV-1 latency allows the virus to persist until reactivation, in a transcriptionally silent form ... more HIV-1 latency allows the virus to persist until reactivation, in a transcriptionally silent form in its cellular reservoirs despite the presence of effective cART. Such viral persistence represents a major barrier to HIV eradication since treatment interruption leads to rebound plasma viremia. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins have recently got a considerable attention in regulating HIV-1 post-integration latency as they are involved in the repression of proviral gene expression through the methylation of histones. This epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of HIV-1 latency. In fact, PcG proteins act in complexes and modulate the epigenetic signatures of integrated HIV-1 promoter. Key role played by PcG proteins in the molecular control of HIV-1 latency has led to hypothesize that PcG proteins may represent a valuable target for future HIV-1 therapy in purging HIV-1 reservoirs. In this regard, various small molecules have been synthesized or ...
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is widely prevalent and causes Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) in... more Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is widely prevalent and causes Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) in Basmati rice grown in different areas of Pakistan. There is a need to use environmentally safe approaches to overcome the loss of grain yield in rice due to this disease. The present study aimed to develop inocula, based on native antagonistic bacteria for biocontrol of BLB and to increase the yield of Super Basmati rice variety. Out of 512 bacteria isolated from the rice rhizosphere and screened for plant growth promoting determinants, the isolate BRp3 was found to be the best as it solubilized 97 µg/ mL phosphorus, produced 30 µg/mL phytohormone indole acetic acid and 15 mg/ L siderophores in vitro. The isolate BRp3 was found to be a Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing (accession no. HQ840693). This bacterium showed antagonism in vitro against different phytopathogens including Xoo and Fusarium spp. Strain BRp3 showed consistent pathogen suppression of different strains of BLB pathogen in rice. Mass spectrometric analysis detected the production of siderophores (1-hydroxy-phenazine, pyocyanin, and pyochellin), rhamnolipids and a series of already characterized 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinolines (HAQs) as well as novel 2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-alkylquinolines and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxy-2-alkylquinolines in crude extract of BRp3. These secondary metabolites might be responsible for the profound antibacterial activity of BRp3 against Xoo pathogen. Another contributing factor toward the suppression of the pathogen was the induction of defense related enzymes in the rice plant by the inoculated strain BRp3. When used as an inoculant in a field trial, this strain enhanced the grain and straw yields by 51 and 55%, respectively, over non-inoculated control. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) used in combination with immunofluorescence marker confirmed P. aeruginosa BRp3 in the rice rhizosphere under sterilized as well as field conditions. The results provide evidence that novel secondary metabolites produced by BRp3 may contribute to its activity as a biological control agent against Xoo and its potential to promote the growth and yield of Super Basmati rice.
This study showed the comparison between Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula (leaves and branch) ... more This study showed the comparison between Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula (leaves and branch) aqueous extracts for their ability to detoxify of aflatoxins B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 µg L −1 and AFB2; 50 µg L −1) by In Vitro assays and decontamination studies. Results indicated that O. basilicum leaves extract was found to be highly significant (P < 0.05) in degrading AFB1 and AFB2, i.e., 90.4 and 88.6%, respectively. However, O. basilicum branch, C. fistula leaves and branch extracts proved to be less efficient in degrading these aflatoxins, under optimized conditions, i.e., pH 8, temperature 30 • C and incubation period of 72 h. Moreover the antifungal activity of these plants extracts were also tested. The findings depicted that O. basilicum leaves extract showed maximum growth inhibition of aflatoxigenic isolates, i.e., 82-87% as compared to other tested plants extracts. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed that nine degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 were formed. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring and modification of lactone group indicating less toxicity as compared to parent compounds. Brine shrimps bioassay further confirmed the low toxicity of degraded products, showing that O. basilicum leaves extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins.
In this study aqueous extract of seeds and leaves of Trachyspermum ammi were evaluated for their ... more In this study aqueous extract of seeds and leaves of Trachyspermum ammi were evaluated for their ability to detoxify aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L(-1) and AFB2; 50 μg L(-1)) by in vitro and in vivo assays. Results indicated that T. ammi seeds extract was found to be significant (P < 0.05) in degrading AFB1 and AFB2 i.e., 92.8 and 91.9% respectively. However, T. ammi leaves extract proved to be less efficient in degrading these aflatoxins, under optimized conditions i.e., pH 8, temperature 30°C and incubation period of 72 h. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed that eight degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 were formed. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring and modification of lactone group indicating less toxicity as compared to parent compounds. Brine shrimps bioassay further confirmed the low toxicity of degraded products, showing that T. ammi seeds ext...
Background: Post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) is majorly caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). So, re... more Background: Post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) is majorly caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). So, recipients of blood/blood products, post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH), renal dialysis patients and intravenous drug users all represent high-risk groups for infection. The aim of the present research was to determine the prevalence of HCV antibody in β-thalassemia major patients visiting different tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: HCV seroprevalence and risk factors were studied in 200 β-thalassemia major patients (24 females, 176 males) with different age groups by second generation ELISA during January 2013 to May 2013. Confirmed β-thalassemia major patients from three different tertiary care hospitals were selected with special reference to age, age at the time of diagnosis, frequency of transfusion and present clinical status. Results: Among 200 patients, 82 (41%) were found reactive for HCV antibody with age range of 2 to 18 years with mean age of 8.5 years. Conclusion: This study showed that hemodialysis patients and β-thalassemia sufferers were at higher risk of having HCV infection; the prevalence being 41%.
Currently licensed typhoid vaccines are based on Vi capsular polysaccharides. Recent molecular re... more Currently licensed typhoid vaccines are based on Vi capsular polysaccharides. Recent molecular reports from typhoid endemic countries state that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) Vi negative strains occur naturally and cause typhoid fever which is indistinguishable from disease caused by Vi positive strains. Vaccine based on Vi polysaccharide may not protect patients if the invading S. Typhi are negative for Vi. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an essential component of S. Typhi outer membrane in which O-specific polysaccharide (OSP) is a protective antigen and universal candidate for vaccine development. In this study, S. Typhi Vi negative isolates were discriminated from Vi positive isolates through a duplex PCR using primers of fliC-d (599bp) and tviA (495bp) genes. The LPS of S. Typhi Vi negative isolates was extracted by hot phenol method and OSP was purified by core hydrolysis. The yield of extracted LPS was 91 mg/L and that of purified OSP was 49.14 mg/L of culture ...
This study explores the detoxification potential of Corymbia citriodora plant extracts against af... more This study explores the detoxification potential of Corymbia citriodora plant extracts against aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L −1 and AFB2; 50 μg L −1) in In vitro and In vivo assays. Detoxification was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by TLC and HPLC, respectively. The study was carried out by using different parameters of optimal temperature, pH and incubation time period. Results indicated that C. citriodora leaf extract(s) more effectively degrade AFB1 and AFB2 i.e. 95.21% and 92.95% respectively than C. citriodora branch extract, under optimized conditions. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products was done by LCMS/MS analysis. Ten degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 and their fragmentation pathways were proposed based on molecular formulas and MS/MS spectra. Toxicity of these degraded products was significantly reduced as compared to that of parent compounds because of the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring. The biological toxicity of degraded toxin was further analyzed by brine shrimps bioassay, which showed that only 17.5% mortality in larvae was recorded as compared to untreated toxin where 92.5% mortality was observed after 96hr of incubation. Therefore, our finding suggests that C. citriodora leaf extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins. Aflatoxins (AFs) are group of potent mycotoxins with mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive properties, are of particular importance because of their major occurrence and adverse effects on animal and human health 1,2. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that many basic foods could be contaminated by the mycotoxin producing fungi, which contributes to enormous global losses of food, approximately 1000 million metric tons each year 3. Among 18 different types of aflatoxins identified, the major members are aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 which chemically are coumarin derivatives with a fused dihydrofurofuran moiety. Aspergillus flavus produces AFB1 and AFB2, whereas, Aspergillus parasiticus produces AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 4,5. Among them, AFB1 has the greatest potential as an environmental carcinogen, with toxic effects on human via its direct or indirect consumption in food products 6. The European Union has enacted a very stringent aflatoxin tolerance threshold of 2 μ g/kg aflatoxin B1 and 4 μ g/kg total aflatoxins for nut and cereals for human consumption 7. Since aflatoxins can cause acute, subacute and chronic toxicity in animals and human,
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) establishes latency in resting memory CD4+ T cells an... more Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) establishes latency in resting memory CD4+ T cells and cells of myeloid lineage. In contrast to the T cells, cells of myeloid lineage are resistant to the HIV-1 induced cytopathic effect. Cells of myeloid lineage including macrophages are present in anatomical sanctuaries making them a difficult drug target. In addition, the long life span of macrophages as compared to the CD4+ T cells make them important viral reservoirs in infected individuals especially in the late stage of viral infection where CD4+ T cells are largely depleted. In the past decade, HIV-1 persistence in resting CD4+ T cells has gained considerable attention. It is currently believed that rebound viremia following cessation of combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) originates from this source. However, the clinical relevance of this reservoir has been questioned. It is suggested that the resting CD4+ T cells are only one source of residual viremia and other viral res...
This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the epidemiological and clinical features o... more This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the epidemiological and clinical features of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2011 and 2012. During the study period, anti-dengue IgM positive cases were reported in the postmonsoon period during the months of August-December. Certain hotspots for the dengue infection were identified in the city that coincide with the clusters of densely populated urban regions of the city. Out of total 299 IgM positive patients (male 218 and female 81); there were 239 dengue fever (DF) and 60 dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients. There was decrease in the median age of dengue patients from 31 years in 2011 to 21.5 years in 2012 (p,0.001). Abdominal pain was seen in 35% DHF patients followed by nausea in 28.3%, epistaxis in 25% and rash in 20% patients (p,0.05). Patients reported to be suffering from high-grade fever for an average of 8.83 days in DHF as compared to 5.82 days in DF before being hospitalized. Co-morbidities were found to be risk factor for the development of DHF in dengue patients. Clinical and laboratory features of dengue cases studied could be used for the early identification of patients at risk of severe dengue fever.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious human disease with fatal consequences. The most distressing... more Hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious human disease with fatal consequences. The most distressing aspect of hepatocellular carcinoma is the limited improvement in mortality (mortality rate of more than 90%). At present, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood and treatment options are often of limited efficacy. This review presents our current understanding of the burden of hepatocellular carcinoma on human health, pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as our knowledge of the physical barriers, cellular mechanisms and molecular elements that may be targets for therapeutic interventions and/ or the development of preventative measures. As the proposed findings present a major risk to public health, it is hoped that robust intervention measures will be introduced for aflatoxins monitoring and reduction in diet. Region World More developed regions Less developed regions Cases 782 134 648 Deaths 746 123 622 Percentage (%) 95 92 96 Table 1: Incidence of HCC in the world. There is poor prognosis of HCC, with majority of patients expiring within 5 years. The majority of the cases are from less developed regions [2].
The protease domain of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) has been targete... more The protease domain of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) has been targeted for inhibition by several direct-acting antiviral drugs. This approach has had marked success to treat infections caused by HCV genotype 1 predominant in the USA, Europe, and Japan. However, genotypes 3 and 4, dominant in developing countries, are resistant to a number of these drugs and little progress has been made towards understanding the structural basis of their drug resistivity. We have previously developed a 4D computational methodology, based on 3D structure modeling and molecular dynamics simulation, to analyze the active sites of the NS3 proteases of HCV-1b and 4a in relation to their catalytic activity and drug susceptibility. Here, we improved the methodology, extended the analysis to include genotype 3a (predominant in South Asia including Pakistan), and compared the results of the three genotypes (1b, 3a and 4a). The 4D analyses of the interactions between the catalytic triad residues (His57, Asp81, and Ser139) indicate conformational instability of the catalytic site in HCV-3a and 4a compared to that of HCV-1b NS3 protease. The divergence is gradual and genotypedependent, with HCV-1b being the most stable, HCV-4a being the most unstable and HCV-3a representing an intermediate state. These results suggest that the structural dynamics behavior, more than the rigid structure, could be related to the altered catalytic activity and drug susceptibility seen in NS3 proteases of HCV-3a and 4a.
Background: Aberrant DNA methylation profiles are a characteristic feature of almost all types of... more Background: Aberrant DNA methylation profiles are a characteristic feature of almost all types of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and play an important role in carcinogenesis. In spite of the accumulating evidence that suggests appearance of such aberrations at precancerous stages, very little effort has been invested to investigate such possible methylation events in patients at risk of developing HCC i.e. those suffering from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis (LC). We reasoned that such an analysis could lead to the identification of novel predictive biomarkers as well as potential drug targets. Methods: Promoter methylation status of two Wnt inhibitors SFRP2 and DKK1 was quantitatively analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing in a series of liver biopsy samples. These biopsies were collected from HCV-infected individuals suffering from chronic hepatitis (CH; n = 15), liver cirrhosis (LC; n = 13) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 41). DNA isolated from infection free normal livers (N; n =10) was used as control. Results: Our analysis revealed that both of the genomic loci were significantly hypermethylated in CH patients' livers as compared to normal controls (p = 0.0136 & 0.0084 for SFRP2 and DKK1, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test). DNA methylation levels for both loci were also significantly higher in all the diseased cohorts as compared to normal controls (p < 0.0001 and = 0.0011 for SFRP2 and DKK1, respectively; Kruskal-Wallis test). However, a comparison between three disease cohorts (CH, LC & HCC) revealed no significant difference in levels of DNA methylation at DKK1 promoter. In contrast, a progressive increase in DNA methylation levels was observed at the SFRP2 promoter (i.e. N < CH & LC < HCC). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that in HCV infected liver tissues hypermethylation at promoter regions of key cancer related genes SFRP2 and DKK1, appears early at CH and LC stages, long before the appearance of HCC.
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Papers by mazhar iqbal