ABSTRACT
The screening of plants for medicinal purposes represents an effort to discover newer, safer, and possibly more effective drugs. Design of the present study was made aiming to the optimization of the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Eucalyptus tereticornis [leaves] and Nigella sativa [seeds] against bacteria belongings to both Gram-positive [Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus] and Gram-negative [Escherichia coli] spectrum by using response surface methodology. 20 g powder of each E. tereticornis [leaf] and N. sativa [seeds] were mixed with 200ml of ethanol at room temperature, and then it was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min to separate the supernatants, and allowed to dry in order to obtain ethanol free extracts. A fresh bacterial culture of 100microl of test microorganism was inoculated onto media and spread homogeneously. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts showed that all the concentrations tested were effective against the test microorganisms. The diameters of zones of inhibition exhibited by S. aureus PCSIR-83 were in the range of 0-28mm, E. coli PCSIR-102 [0-28mm] and B. subtilis PCSIR-05 [15-26mm]. The combination of N. sativa [15mg/micro l] and E. tereticornis [20mg/micro l] were found most effective at pH 9.0 and temperature 35°C. Our results clearly indicate that Gram positive bacteria showed more sensitivity than Gram-negative bacteria
ABSTRACT
Context: The use of nanotechnology in medicine and more specifically drug delivery is set to spread rapidly. Currently many substances are under investigation for drug delivery and more specifically for cancer therapy
Evidence Acquisition: Nanodiamonds [NDs] have contributed significantly in the development of highly efficient and successful drug delivery systems, and in stem cell therapy. Drug delivery through NDs is an intricate and complex process that deserves special attention to unravel underlying molecular mechanisms in order to overcome certain bottlenecks associated with it. It has already been established that NDs based drug delivery systems have excellent biocompatibility, nontoxicity, photostability and facile surface functionalization properties
Results: There is mounting evidence that suggests that such conjugated delivery systems well retain the properties of nanoparticles like small size, large surface area to volume ratio that provide greater biocatalytic activity to the attached drug in terms of selectivity, loading and stability
Conclusions: NDs based drug delivery systems may form the basis for the development of effective novel drug delivery vehicles with salient features that may facilitate their utility in fluorescence imaging, target specificity and sustained release
ABSTRACT
A multi-centred study was designed to collect dengue epidemiologic data from government and registered private hospitals/clinics and maintained archive of frozen specimens in bio-bank to be used for future dengue epidemic control program, and assess the epidemiology of dengue fever (DF) by evaluating biochemical and oxidative status of patients. ELISA IgM antibodies test was done to confirm DF. From August 2010 to December 2011, 101 confirmed blood samples of DF patients referred to pathology lab of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were subjected to the epidemiologic assessment by evaluating the biochemical and physiological indices and alterations of circulating antioxidants. Clinical features of DF patients and effect of fever on blood components and serum proteins of liver were recorded. The hospital stay in DF, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) showed significant difference. Significant increases in serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) (P=0.000), aspartate amino transferase (AST) (P=0.000), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.000), malondialdehyde (MDA) along with significant decreases in total protein (TP) (P=0.000), reduced glutathione (GSH) (P=0.000), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) (P=0.000), and sialic acid contents (P=0.016) were observed. A positive correlation existed between bound sialic acid levels, liver enzymes and circulating antioxidants (r=0.656, P=0.016). In the present study, alterations of circulating antioxidants in DF suggest that DF might be a metabolic response to an acute, self-limiting tropical viral infection, and a consequence of the viral inflammatory process.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Antioxidants , Metabolism , Biomarkers , Blood , China , Dengue , Classification , Diagnosis , Metabolism , Diagnosis, Differential , Immunoglobulin M , MetabolismABSTRACT
To investigate the potential harmful effects of potassium dichromate and magnesium sulphate causing oxidative stress and reproductive toxicity in adult male mice model. The experimental work was conducted on sixty male mice [Mus musculus] divided into three groups. Mice in group B and C received potassium dichromate and magnesium sulphate of 5.0 and 500 mg/Kg body weight/ml respectively, for sixty days. The blood sample was analyzed to assess oxidative stress and cellular damage. Results showed high malondialdehyde [MDA] and low levels of antioxidant enzymes [catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]] in both potassium dichromate and magnesium sulphate administrated groups as compared to control group. Reduced number of sperm count and excessive destruction of testicular follicles, including destruction of spermatids, leydig cells and sertoli cells, were also seen in both groups. We concluded from present study that potassium dichromate and magnesium sulphate causes oxidative stress by generation of reactive oxygen species [ROS] and causing DNA damage in testicular cells leading to adverse reproductive abnormalities
ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to investigate variations in the levels of thyroid hormones [T3, T4] in breast and ovarian cancers patients. A total 120 subjects were recruited [without thyroid history] divided into three groups; A, B and C. Group A as control with healthy individuals. While group B and group C were consisting of breast cancer and ovarian cancer patient respectively. Blood samples [5 ml] were taken and analyzed to estimate the levels of serum T3 [tri-iodothyronine] and T4 [thyroxin] hormones. Statistically significant difference [P=0.000* and P=0.017*] was obtained among all groups. A significant increase in T3 [P=0.000*] and T4 [0.005*] levels was observed among breast cancer patients as compared to healthy controls. While for ovarian cancer patients conflicting results were found for T3 and T4 levels in the serum i.e. insignificant difference was found in T3 [P=0.209] and T4 [P=0.050] as compared to control. Our results showed that in the breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients the thyroid hormone [T3 and T4] level has been altered from the normal ranges as compared to the normal healthy individuals. We conclude that hyperthyroidism has profound effects on breast cancer and ovarian cancer cells proliferation
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Ovarian Neoplasms , Triiodothyronine , Thyroxine , Thyroid Hormones , HyperthyroidismABSTRACT
Oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC] is considered to be a serious life threatening issue for almost two decades. The objective of this study was to evaluate the over production of lipid peroxidation [LPO] byproducts and disturbances in antioxidant defense system in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in OSCC patients were estimated and compared the sensitivity and specificity of circulating biomarkers [MDA, Sialic acid, Catalase, SOD, GSH and Neuraminidase] with B-2 microglobulin [B-2MG] at different thresholds in blood and saliva using receiver operating characteristics [ROC] curve design. Our results showed that the levels of MDA and Sialic acid were significantly increased in plasma of OSCC patients as compared to healthy subjects whereas antioxidant level was significantly decreased. ROC analysis indicated that MDA in saliva is a better diagnostic tool as compared to MDA in blood and B-2MG in blood is better diagnostic marker as compared to B-2MG level in saliva
ABSTRACT
To characterize the disease causing mutation in a large consanguineous Pakistani family with severe Mal de Meleda [MDM] or keratosis palmoplantaris transgrediens, a rare autosomal recessive skin disorder. Single nucleotide polymorphism [SNPs] genotyping was performed using the GeneChip Mapping 250K array [Affymetrix]. Homozygosity mapping and sorting of genomic regions were performed with dedicated software called AutoSNPa. Selected regions were further investigated by genotyping with microsatellite markers derived from known and novel polymorphic repeats. Two-point LOD score calculation was performed by using the MLINK of Fastlink computer package. All three coding exons of ARS [component B] gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Sequencing of all the coding exons of ARS [component B] gene in the affected individuals revealed a recurrent missense mutation in exon 3 at base pair 256 from Guanine to Alanine [256G>A] and as a result the amino acid Glycine is replaced by Arginine at position 86 [G86R]. This finding will facilitate control of affected MDM births in the Pakistani families