Biosynthesis of Graphene and Investigation of Antibacterial Activity of Graphene-parthenium hysterophorous Nanocomposite

Abstract There is a great interest to use carbon-based material like graphene and graphene oxide in biomedical applications due to its flexibility to be functionalized with bio-active molecules. Herein, graphene and graphene-based nanocomposites were biosynthesized by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite using aqueous extract of Parthenium hysterophorous (P-H) as a surfactant. A set of five thin film samples of graphene was prepared from graphene suspension by vacuum filtration method. Samples were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and XRD, which revealed successful synthesis of graphene. Graphene/P-H(G/P-H) nanocomposites comprising varied ratios of graphene and P-H were prepared and their antibacterial activity was investigated by agar well diffusion method. The experimental results indicated that G/P-H nanocomposite have higher antibacterial activity than graphene alone, and bioactivity of G/P-H nanocomposite was found to be controlled by the fraction of graphene in the composite.

Evaluating Journal Impact Factor: a systematic survey of the pros and cons, and overview of alternative measures

Journal Impact Factor (JIF) has several intrinsic flaws, which highlight its inability to adequately measure citation distributions or indicate journal quality. Despite these flaws, JIF is still widely used within the academic community, resulting in the propagation of potentially misleading information. A critical review of the usefulness of JIF is needed including an overview of the literature to identify viable alternative metrics. The objectives of this study are: (1) to assess the usefulness of JIF by compiling and comparing its advantages and disadvantages; (2) to record the differential uses of JIF within research environments; and (3) to summarize and compare viable alternative measures to JIF. Methods: Three separate literature search strategies using MEDLINE and Web of Science were completed to address the three study objectives. Each search was completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results were compiled in tabular format and analyzed based on reporting frequency. Results: For objective (1), 84 studies were included in qualitative analysis. It was found that the recorded advantages of JIF were outweighed by disadvantages (18 disadvantages vs. 9 advantages). For objective (2), 653 records were included in a qualitative analysis. JIF was found to be most commonly used in journal ranking (n = 653, 100%) and calculation of scientific research productivity (n = 367, 56.2%). For objective (3), 65 works were included in qualitative analysis. These articles revealed 45 alternatives, which includes 18 alternatives that improve on highly reported disadvantages of JIF. Conclusion: JIF has many disadvantages and is applied beyond its original intent, leading to inaccurate information. Several metrics have been identified to improve on certain disadvantages of JIF. Integrated Impact Indicator (I3) shows great promise as an alternative to JIF. However, further scientometric analysis is needed to assess its properties.(AU)

Neuroprotective potential of polydatin against motor abnormalities and dopaminergic neuronal loss in rotenone induced Parkinson model / Potencial neuroprotector de la polidatina contra las anomalías motoras y la pérdida neuronal dopaminérgica en un modelo de Parkinson inducido por la rotenona

Among the neurodegenerative disorders, Parkinson disease (PD) is ranked as second most common. The pathological hallmark is selective degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the nigro-striatal regions of brain with appearance of the Lewy bodies. Present study explores the neuro-protective potential of polydatin in terms of amelioration of degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in nigro-striatal regions of brain and distorted neuromotor behavior in the rotenone model of Parkinson's disease. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group A (control), Group B (rotenone treated) and Group C (rotenone+polydatin treated). Rotenone was administrated intraperitoneally (i.p) at a dose of 3 mg/kg/body weight while polydatin was given i.p. at a dose of 50 mg/ kg/body weight for four weeks. Then, animals were sacrificed; substantia nigra (SN) & striatum isolated from brain and five micron thick sections were prepared. Cresyl violet (CV), H&E and Immuno-histochemical staining using anti-TH antibody was done. Motor behavior was assessed weekly throughout the experiment using five different methods. Rotenone treated parkinsonian animals showed deterioration of motor behavior, weight loss, loss of dopaminergic neurons and diminished immune-reactivity in the sections from the nigrostriatal regions of these animals Polydatin+rotenone treatment showed contradicting effects to parkinsonism, with amelioration in weight loss, neuro-motor behavior, dopaminergic loss and immune-reactivity against dopaminergic neurons. Present study revealed a neuro-protective potential of polydatin in animal model of PD by ameliorating the neuro-motor abnormalities and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in nigrostriatal regions.

Entre los trastornos neurodegenerativos, la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) se clasifica como la segunda más común. El sello patológico es la degeneración selectiva de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en las regiones nigro-estriatales del cerebro, con la aparición de los cuerpos de Lewy. El presente estudio explora el potencial de protección neuronal de la polidatina en términos de la mejora de la degeneración de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en las regiones nigro-estriatales del cerebro y el comportamiento neuromotor distorsionado en el modelo de rotenona de la enfermedad de Parkinson. Treinta y seis ratas macho Sprague Dawley se dividieron en tres grupos: Grupo A (control), Grupo B (tratado con rotenona) y Grupo C (tratamiento con rotenona + polidatina). La rotenona se administró por vía intraperitoneal (i.p.) a una dosis de 3 mg/kg/peso corporal, mientras que la polidatina se administró i.p. a una dosis de 50 mg/kg/ peso corporal durante cuatro semanas. Posteriormente, los animales fueron sacrificados. Se aislaron la substantia nigra (SN) y cuerpo estriado de los cerebros y se realizaron secciones de cinco micras de espesor. Se realizó una tinción de violeta de cresilo (CV), H&E y tinción inmunohistoquímica usando anticuerpo anti-TH. El comportamiento motriz se evaluó semanalmente durante todo el experimento utilizando cinco métodos diferentes. Los animales parkinsonianos tratados con rotenona mostraron deterioro del comportamiento motriz, pérdida de peso, pérdida de neuronas dopaminérgicas y disminución de la reactividad inmune en las secciones de las regiones nigroestriadas. El tratamiento con polidatina + rotenona mostró efectos contrarios al parkinsonismo, con mejoría en la pérdida de peso, en el comportamiento motor, en la pérdida dopaminérgica y en la reactividad inmune contra las neuronas dopaminérgicas. El presente estudio reveló un potencial de protección neuronal de la polidatina en el modelo animal de la EP al mejorar las anomalías neuro-motoras y la degeneración de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en las regiones nigroestriatales.

Acute hypotensive and diuretic activities of Berberis vulgaris root bark aqueous extract in normal rats

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous administration of Berberis vulgaris root bark aqueous extract (BRBD) on the cardiovascular and renal functions of healthy normotensive rats. The different doses of BRBD 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg were administered intravenously (i.v) in normal rats. Blood pressure, diuretic activity and serum renal profile were analyzed. Intravenous injection of BRBD at the different doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg showed a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (P<0.001). At different doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg, the hypotensive effect remained for more than one hour. Single dose administration of BRBD at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg caused a significant increase in urine output (P<0.001) as compared to the control rats. Serum renal profile test (albumin, Urea, Uric Acid, creatinine and BUN) did not show any significant alteration. The authors conclude that the BRBD is a potent hypotensive and possesses diuretic potential

A Case of Sub Hepatic Perforated Appendicitis Presented as Multiple Gas Containing Subcapsular Hepatic Abscesses.

Appendicitis is the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis can often be made clinically. When the appendix is situated in an abnormal position, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis becomes difficult. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of subhepatic appendicitis might lead to perforations of the appendix, which is a clinical emergency. Liver abscess as a complication of appendicitis was first described in 1898 by Dieulafoy. The majority of pyogenic liver abscesses are caused by infection originating in the biliary or intestinal tracts. Pyogenic liver abscess is a rare complication of acute appendicitis. Multiple pyogenic liver abscesses are not frequently reported in the literature, but the overall mortality is high, if left with no treatment or not treated early. We have reported a case of subhepatic perforated appendix presented with multiple subcapsular liver abscesses.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of lycopus europaeus on laboratory animals.

Aims: To evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extract of Lycopus europaeus on experimental animal models. Methodology: The analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate, acetic acid induced writhing and formalin induced writhing method in Swiss Albino mice divided into 4 different groups (control, standard diclofenac sodium and extract at two different doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW). The extract was also investigated for the anti-inflammatory effect on Long Evans rats using carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. For anti-inflammatory study, 24 rats were divided into 4 different groups each receiving either distilled water, standard drug or the extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids and terpenoids. The extract elicited a highly significant (p<0.001) analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner on hot plate method, acetic acid induced writhing test and also on both the early and late phases of formalin test at the doses employed. In the hot plate method, the extract increased the reaction time of heat sensation to 60.81% and 66.52% at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW respectively while that of the standard drug was 57.40% at the 3rd hour of study. In acetic acid induced writhing test, the percent inhibition of writhing response by the extract was 62.87% and 70.66% at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses respectively (p<0.001) which were even better than the standard drug diclofenac sodium (50.30%). The extract also significantly inhibited the licking response at the dose of 500 mg/kg in both the early phase (55.11%, p<0.01) and the late phase (66.43%, p<0.01) of formalin test while the standard drug inhibited by 52.27% and 72.03%, respectively. The oral administration of the extract significantly (p<0.001) inhibited inflammatory response induced by carrageenan in a dose dependent fashion. The most prominent inhibition of 61.68% (250 mg/kg) and 73.65% (500 mg/kg) were observed at the 4th hour of study. Conclusion: The central and peripheral analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory effect of the methanolic extract of Lycopus europaeus may be due to the presence of various chemical constituents specially flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids or terpenoids. These experimental findings would further establish the scientific basis of the traditional uses of the plant in the management and/or control of pain as well as inflammatory conditions.Keywords: Basic needs, biodiversity conservation, women’s basic understanding.

Molecular epidemiology of β-thalassemia in Pakistan: Far reaching implications.

Background: β -Thalassaemia, an autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy, is one of the commonest genetically transmitted disorders throughout the world. Collective measures including carrier identification, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis are required for preventing β-thalassemia. Aim: To achieve this objective, Identification of the spectrum of genetic mutations, especially for various ethnic backgrounds in Pakistan. Therefore, we designed a cross sectional prospective study to identify the frequency of various gene mutations in different ethnic groups of Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Over a 5-year period, DNA from 648 blood samples {including specimens of chorionic villus sampling (CVS)} were analyzed for the twelve most common β-thalassemia mutations found in the Pakistani population by a Multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Each sample was analyzed for the mutation as well as the normal gene, appropriate with negative and positive controls, and reagent blanks. Results: Out of 648 samples mutations were identified in 640 (98.75%) samples by multiplex ARMS. 8 common β-thalassemia mutations were identified in 8 different ethnic groups accounting for 93.9% of the β-thalasemia alleles. Conclusions: Based on the outcome of this study a cost effective proposal is formulated for detection of β-thalassemia mutations.

Assessment of genetic diversity among Pakistani wheat (Triticum aestivum L) advanced breeding lines using RAPD and SDS-PAGE

Genetic diversity was assessed among 32 advanced wheat breeding lines included in the National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (2006-07) of Pakistan using molecular (DNA) and biochemical (SDS-PAGE) markers. Of the 72 RAPD primers used for initial screening, 15 were found polymorphic. A total of 140 bands (61.4 percent polymorphic) were generated by the 15 random decamer primers. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.94 for rainfed and from 0.70 to 0.93 for the normal seeding date group. Cluster analysis using the unweighted pair group method of arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustered the 32 advanced wheat breeding lines into one major and three small groups. Maximum level of polymorphism (90 percent) was observed for the primer OPA-05. Lines N9 and N11 showed the least genetic similarities (0.70-0.82 and 0.71-0.83, respectively) with rest of the lines studied. Line RF1 had the maximum similarity (0.81-0.94) with other lines. Wheat lines included in the normal seeding date were relatively distantly related than those in the rainfed group. Seed storage protein analysis produced 19 subunits ranging from 29-120KDa. Similarity coefficients ranged from 0.53 to 1.0 for the normal seeding date and from 0.47 to 1.0 for the rainfed group. High molecular weight subunits (particularly 120KDa) showed greater polymorphism than the lower molecular weight subunits. Narrow genetic base was observed in wheat lines included in the rainfed group. DNA fingerprinting of advanced breeding lines may help to avoid release of varieties with narrow genetic base in the future.