The association of ABCB1 gene polymorphism with clinical response to carbamazepine monotherapy in patients with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a common neurological disease but around 30% of patients fail to respond to antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. Genetic variation of the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B, member 1 (ABCB1) gene, a drug efflux transporter may infer treatment resistance by decreasing gastrointestinal absorption and preventing AED entry into the brain. This study examined the impact of ABCB1 genetic variants on carbamazepine responsiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood of 104 epileptic patients. Genotyping of 3 ABCB1 variants (c.C3435T, c.G2677T/A and c.C1236T) was undertaken using validated TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Plasma carbamazepine levels were measured at 3 and 6 months following the initial dose using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) alongside clinical outcomes evaluation. RESULTS: Nonresponse to carbamazepine (CBZ) was associated significantly with the ABCB1 variants c.C3435T, c.G2677T/A, c.C1236T and TTT, TTC haplotypes (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between variants and plasma CBZ level (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that variant alleles of the ABCB1 gene and TTT, TTC haplotypes were significantly associated with CBZ resistance without affecting the plasma level of carbamazepine. The findings of this study may help to predict patient's response to treatment ultimately it will improve the personalized and evidence based treatment choice of patients with epilepsy.

Biological investigations of Aspergillus ficuum via in vivo, in vitro and in silico analyses.

Serious human health impacts have been observed worldwide due to several life-threatening diseases such as cancer, candidiasis, hepatic coma, and gastritis etc. Exploration of nature for the treatment of such fatal diseases is an area of immense interest for the scientific community. Based on this idea, the genus Aspergillus was selected to discover its hidden therapeutic potential. The genus Aspergillus is known to possess several biologically active compounds. The current research aimed to assess the biological and pharmacological potency of the extracts of less-studied Aspergillus ficuum (FCBP-DNA-1266) (A. ficuum) employing experimental and bioinformatics approaches. The disc diffusion method was used for the antifungal investigation, and the MTT assay was performed to assess the anticancer effects. Mice were employed as an in vivo model to evaluate the antispasmodic effects. A standard spectrophotometric technique was applied to gauge the urease inhibitory activity. The antifungal studies indicate that both n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts were significantly active against Candida albicans (C. albicans) with their zone of inhibitions (ZOI) values reported as 19 ± 1.06 mm and 25 ± 0.55 mm, respectively at a dose of 30 µg.mL-1. In vitro cytotoxicity assay against HeLa, fibroblast 3T3, prostate PC3, and breast MCF-7 cancer cell lines was performed. The ethyl acetate extract of A. ficuum was found to be significantly active against MCF-7 with its IC50 value of 43.88 µg.mL-1. However, no substantial effects on the percent cell death of HeLa cancer cell lines were observed. In addition, the A. ficuum extracts also inhibited the urease enzyme compared to standard thiourea. The antispasmodic activity of A. ficuum extract was assessed by an in vivo model and the results demonstrated promising activity at 150 mg.kg-1. Molecular docking results also supported the antifungal, anticancer, and antiurease potency of A. ficuum extract. Overall, the results display promising aspects of A. ficuum extract as a future pharmacological source.

Insights into metabolic and pharmacological profiling of Aspergillus ficuum through bioinformatics and experimental techniques.

BACKGROUND: Recently, numerous novel bioactive fungal metabolites have been identified that possess broad therapeutic activities including anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antioxidant, and antitumor. The fungal mycochemicals as well as extracts have increased the interest of the scientific community in drug discovery research through a combination approach such as, molecular metabolic, pharmacological and computational techniques. Therefore, the natural fungus Aspergillus ficuum (A. ficuum) (FCBP-DNA-1266) was selected for metabolic and pharmacological profiling in this study. RESULTS: The metabolic profile of A. ficuum was explored for the first time and revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as choline sulfate, noruron, hydroxyvittatine, aurasperone D, cetrimonium, kurilensoside, heneicosane, nonadecane and eicosane. Similarly, a pharmacological screen of A. ficuum was performed for the first time in in vivo and in vitro models. Interestingly, both the ethyl acetate and n-hexane fractions of A. ficuum were found to be more active against Bacillus subtilis among five tested bacteria with their zone of inhibition (ZOI) values of 21.00 mm ±1.00 and 23.00 mm ±1.00, at a concentration of 150 µgmL-1 respectively. Similarly, a significant decrease (P<0.001) and (P<0.01) in paw edema was observed in A. ficuum-treated animals at doses of 50 and 150 mgkg-1, respectively, reflecting its potent anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, the docking results supported the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of A. ficuum. In addition, the crude extract demonstrated no acute toxicity and the highest percent radical scavenging was recorded for both n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts. CONCLUSION: The metabolic profile of A. ficuum indicated the presence of biological relevant compounds. A. ficuum extract exhibited potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects supported by docking results. Furthermore, A. ficuum extract demonstrated the highest percentage of radical scavenging activity along with no acute toxicity.

Molecular docking and dynamic simulations of Cefixime, Etoposide and Nebrodenside A against the pathogenic proteins of SARS-CoV-2.

The catastrophe of the coronavirus continues from one part of the world to another, and hardly a country is left without its devastations. Millions of people were infected and several hundred thousand died of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world. There is no clear targeted drug therapy available for the treatment of the patients. The discovery of vaccines is not enough to curtail its spread and disastrous implications. An instantly qualifying approach is needed to utilize the current drugs and isolated compounds. The purpose of this work is to determine potent inhibitors against the target proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For this purpose, molecular docking study of pathogenic spike glycoproteins (S), nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N), an envelope protein (E), two drugs i.e., cefixime, etoposide, and a previously isolated compound nebrodenside A is performed. Promising results were obtained via complimentary analysis of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations performed for the complexes of three proteins with etoposide drug. Minimum values were recorded for the docking scores and binding energies of the complexes. These results were further supported by the RMSD, RMSF data for the stability of proteins and ligands. Additionally, ligand properties and ligand-protein contacts were also explained with histograms of every simulation trajectory. The computational studies confirmed that cefixime, etoposide, and nebrodenoside A can be used as potent inhibitors of COVID-19. Nevertheless, additional experimental investigations and validation of the selected candidates are mandatory to confirm their applicability for clinical trials.

Radiological outcome of acute subtrochanteric fractures fixed with Recon intramedullary nailing, a retrospective case series.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological outcome of acute subtrochanteric fractures fixed with Recon intramedullary nail. Charts of 48 patients with subtrochanteric fractures treated with Recon IM Nailing from January 2014 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty (62%) patients were male and 18 (38%) were female. The mean age was 52±7 years. The most common mechanism of injury was road traffic accident (RTA) which was in 27 (56%) patients followed by a history of fall in 18 (38%) patients. Mean Radiological Healing time was 14±2 weeks. The mean duration of surgery was 2.27±1 hours while Mean Hospital Stay was 5±2 days. Four patients had delayed fracture healing. This study suggests that intramedullary nailing in Recon Mode is a reliable and effective device especially for subtrochanteric fractures, leading to a high rate of bone union and minimal complications.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Silver Nano Fibers in Humidity, Ammonia, and Temperature Sensing.

The promising chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties of silver from nano scale to bulk level make it useful to be used in a variety of applications in the biomedical and electronic fields. Recently, several methods have been proposed and applied for the small-scale and mass production of silver in the form of nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanofibers. In this research, we have proposed a novel method for the fabrication of silver nano fibers (AgNFs) that is environmentally friendly and can be easily deployed for large-scale production. Moreover, the proposed technique is easy for device fabrication in different applications. To validate the properties, the synthesized silver nanofibers have been examined through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Further, the synthesized silver nanofibers have been deposited over sensors for Relative humidity (RH), Ammonia (NH3), and temperature sensing applications. The sensor was of a resistive type, and found 4.3 kΩ for relative humidity (RH %) 30-90%, 400 kΩ for NH3 (40,000 ppm), and 5 MΩ for temperature sensing (69 °C). The durability and speed of the sensor verified through repetitive, response, and recovery tests of the sensor in a humidity and gas chamber. It was observed that the sensor took 13 s to respond, 27 s to measure the maximum value, and took 33 s to regain its minimum value. Furthermore, it was observed that at lower frequencies and higher concentration of NH3, the response of the device was excellent. Furthermore, the device has linear and repetitive responses, is cost-effective, and is easy to fabricate.

Taking a step down on the reconstruction ladder for head and neck reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Most of the head and neck cancers are time-critical and need urgent surgical treatment. Our unit is one of the departments in the region, at the forefront in treating head and neck cancers in Pakistan. We have continued treating these patients in the COVID-19 pandemic with certain modified protocols. The objective of this study is to share our experience and approach towards head and neck reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: There were a total of 31 patients, 20 (64.5%) were males and 11 (35.4%) patients were females. The mean age of patients was 52 years. Patients presented with different pathologies, i.e. Squamous cell carcinoma n = 26 (83.8%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma n = 2 (6.4%), adenoid cystic carcinoma n = 2 (6.4%) and mucormycosis n = 1 (3%). The reconstruction was done with loco-regional flaps like temporalis muscle flap n = 12 (38.7%), Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap n = 8 (25.8%), supraclavicular artery flap n = 10 (32.2%) and combination of fore-head, temporalis major and cheek rotation flaps n = 1 (3%). Defects involved different regions like maxilla n = 11 (35.4%), buccal mucosa n = 6 (19.3%), tongue with floor of mouth n = 6 (19.3%), mandible n = 4 (12.9%), parotid gland, mastoid n = 3 (9.6%) and combination of defects n = 1 (3%). Metal reconstruction plate was used in 3 (9.6%) patients with mandibular defects. All flaps survived, with the maximum follow-up of 8 months and minimum follow-up of 6 months. CONCLUSION: Pedicled flaps are proving as the workhorse for head and neck reconstruction in unique global health crisis. Vigilant use of proper PPE and adherence to the ethical principles proves to be the only shield that will benefit patients, HCW and health system.

Research developments in the syntheses, anti-inflammatory activities and structure-activity relationships of pyrimidines.

Pyrimidines are aromatic heterocyclic compounds that contain two nitrogen atoms at positions 1 and 3 of the six-membered ring. Numerous natural and synthetic pyrimidines are known to exist. They display a range of pharmacological effects including antioxidants, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antituberculosis, and anti-inflammatory. This review sums up recent developments in the synthesis, anti-inflammatory effects, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of pyrimidine derivatives. Numerous methods for the synthesis of pyrimidines are described. Anti-inflammatory effects of pyrimidines are attributed to their inhibitory response versus the expression and activities of certain vital inflammatory mediators namely prostaglandin E2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor κB, leukotrienes, and some interleukins. Literature studies reveal that a large number of pyrimidines exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects. SARs of numerous pyrimidines have been discussed in detail. Several possible research guidelines and suggestions for the development of new pyrimidines as anti-inflammatory agents are also given. Detailed SAR analysis and prospects together provide clues for the synthesis of novel pyrimidine analogs possessing enhanced anti-inflammatory activities with minimum toxicity.

Synergistic Effect Of Oral Allopurinol And Intralesional Sodium Stibogluconate In The Treatment Of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is an endemic disease and a major public health problem throughout the world. Its geographic distribution has been extended over the past few years in Pakistan. The available treatment options of Leishmaniasis are limited and mostly parenteral, and hence a nontoxic oral alternative therapy is urgently needed to overcome the problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of Allopurinol as an adjunct therapy along with conventional intra-lesional sodium Stibogluconate in the treatment of cutaneous Leishmaniasis. METHODS: This single blinded randomized controlled trial was carried out at the tertiary care hospitals of district Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of one hundred and sixty-four (164) patients of age range from 19-56 years, consisting of both genders were included in this study. All subjects were randomly allocated to Group-1 and Group-2 where each group had 82 patients of comparable age and genders. Group-1 patients were given an intra-lesional injection of sodium Stibogluconate at a dose of 1-5 ml depending on the lesion size, where one ml injection contained 100 mg of the drug. Group-2 patients were given combination therapy of oral Allopurinol (20 mg/kg/day in divided doses) along with the same intra-lesional sodium Stibogluconate dose as group-1 until complete cure of the lesion. RESULTS: Combination therapy of sodium Stibogluconate along with Allopurinol was found superior to sodium Stibogluconate alone in terms of duration of treatment. Group-1, patients who received only sodium Stibogluconate required prolonged treatment duration of 6-9 weeks depending upon the lesion size, while group-2 patients who received combination therapy of sodium Stibogluconate and Allopurinol responded more quickly and their lesions cured in 3-6 weeks depending upon the lesion size. CONCLUSIONS: Oral Allopurinol has a synergistic effect when used with intra-lesional sodium Stibogluconate and effectively reduces the treatment duration required for complete cure of cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Treatment duration was reduced by 3 weeks in the present study when combination therapy was given to the patients of cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Three Years Analysis Of Poisoning Cases Of Forensic Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.

BACKGROUND: Poison is defined as any substance which harms, endangers or even kills a person irrespective of the quality or quantity. Pakistan is a developing country and farming is the major occupation of the majority of the population. Due to the easy availability and increased use of pesticides, the accidental and suicidal poisoning is very common. The objective of the study is to find out the most common poison used by the people in the general population and its frequency in our setup. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection was undertaken in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Khyber Medical College (KMC) Peshawar to determine the frequency of different poisons detected in various samples brought to the toxicological laboratory. A three-year data (1stJanuary 2014 to 31 December 2016) was retrieved from Forensic Laboratory of KMC, Peshawar. Different methods were used for the detection of poisons. All the cases coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were included whereas; cases from other provinces were excluded. RESULTS: The study revealed that poisoning was more common among females and the most common age group affected was 21-25 years. The incidence of positive cases was more in Peshawar district followed by Swat district. The common poison detected was phosphine (wheat pill). CONCLUSIONS: Female and young people from Peshawar and Swat are more prone to Aluminum Phosphide (wheat pill) poison. It is a dangerous and lethal poison, so healthcare workers at emergency department ought to be prepared for such cases. Furthermore, its routine use as a domestic pesticide has to be strictly prohibited by creating awareness among the public.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and association with low birth weight in displaced population following conflict in Malakand division, Pakistan: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The northern part of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan experienced armed conflict since September 2007 till the autumn of 2011. Conflict involved widespread insurgency activity and military intervention including in 2009 internally displacing the 2.5 million people of the valley of Swat to live in camps, with relatives, or in rented accommodation across the region for approximately 4 months. It was during this period the current study was conducted to determine whether Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in pregnant women was independently associated with Low Birth Weight (LBW) in an area affected by conflict and militancy. METHODS: A case control study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals of district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Two hundred twenty-five cases (neonates with birth weight <  2.5 kg) and 225 controls (neonates with birth weight of > 2.5 kg) were enrolled within 24 h of delivery. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was assessed through the MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0, a validated questionnaire along with the birth weight of the newborn. Maternal anthropometry, anemia and other sociodemographic details were also obtained during data collection. Data was analyzed using statistical package (STATA version 14). Logistic regression analysis of the association between LBW and all variables collected with a p-value of < 0.25 on uni-variate analysis were entered. RESULTS: A total of 450 newborn and mother pairs participated in the study with 225 cases and 225 controls. On univariate analysis factors significantly associated with LBW include: less than 5 years of paternal schooling and PTSD. On logistic regression, PTSD was independently associated with low birth weight in the presence of other factors like maternal/paternal schooling, gravida, history of preterm, BMI of the mother and maternal anemia. CONCLUSION: PTSD was found to be independently associated with LBW. In light of the current findings and other similar literature, intervention programs should be considered for pregnant women exposed to traumatic events.

Two years analysis of acute poisoning in patients presented to Emergency Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad.

BACKGROUND: Acute poisoning is one of the most common causes of poisoning worldwide and is the fourth leading cause of death. It is either accidental or suicidal and causes a high mortality and morbidity. It is more common in males due to prolonged occupational exposure. The objective of this study is to find the pattern of acute poisoning and its relation with demographic variables in the emergency department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on patients of acute intoxication brought to the emergency department of Ayub Teaching Hospital in the year 2017-18. Data was analyzed by SPSS-16.0 and presented as tables and figures. Chi-square test was applied at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients, 48 (63.16%) females and 28 (36.84%) males were included during the period. Mean age was 24.12±9.058 years. Thirty-nine (51.32)% cases belonged to rural areas and 37 (48.68)% were from urban areas. Cases of medicinal poisoning were 25 (32.89%) followed by 19 (25%) cases of organophosphate poisoning. Most cases of poisoning 36 (47.4%) were presented in the night shift. Thirty-one (40.79%) cases were brought to the hospital within 1-2 hours of incident. Cases of intentional poisoning were 51 (67.11%) while 25(32.89%) were due to accidental poisoning. CONCLUSION: Females within the age group 21-35 belonging to rural areas were more prone to poisoning. The common type of poisoning is medicinal poisoning. Most patients were presented to the emergency in the night shift within 1-2 hours of intoxication.

Correction to: Health seeking behaviour, delayed presentation and its impact among oral cancer patients in Pakistan: a retrospective qualitative study.

In the original publication of this article [1], an author's name needs to be revised from Babar Tasneen Shaikh to Babar Tasneem Shaikh.

Health seeking behaviour, delayed presentation and its impact among oral cancer patients in Pakistan: a retrospective qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Delayed diagnosis of Oral Cancer (OC) can mean a difference in quality and expectancy of life for the patient. This delay could be from the healthcare side, or more importantly from the patient's side. Globally, there are studies enumerating the causes for delays from the patients' side in seeking healthcare for Oral Cancer; however, no similar research is found in the context of Pakistan. This study endeavoured to understand the health seeking behaviour, reasons for delay in consultation and the impact on OC patients' lives. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with randomly selected OC patients at a private sector tertiary care facility in Islamabad (who met the inclusion criteria of having successfully been treated for Oral Cancer) which caters to the most diverse population for the treatment of Oral Cancer. Theoretical saturation was achieved at 14 interviews. All participants gave verbal consent for participation, which was recorded prior to the interviews. RESULTS: Patients (age range 43-68 years) had received the surgical treatment and radiation. The reported delay before seeking a proper medical advice ranged from 1 month to 2 years. Lack of awareness about OC risk factors, symptoms, and whom to approach for treatment were the main reasons. Most respondents relied on self-treatment considering the non-healing wound/ulcer to be a minor issue until they were advised a consultation with a specialist. Treatment started within 1-3 months after a confirmed diagnosis on biopsy. The reported average expenditure on treatment was US$5000-10,000, mostly covered through a private health insurance and others borrowed the money. CONCLUSION: A socio-behavioural change campaign for the general population can result in earlier presentation of the OC, minimizing the financial burden on the patient as well as the health system, and improving the quality of life of the patients.

Results Of Immediate Facial Nerve Reconstruction In Patients Undergoing Parotid Tumour Resection.

BACKGROUND: Facial nerve is usually sacrificed in total parotidectomy. The objective of this study is to present results of immediate reconstruction of facial nerve in total parotidectomy cases where facial nerve is sacrificed. METHODS: This is a prospective study done in patients who had total parotidectomy including facial nerve and immediate reconstruction was done with inter-positional nerve grafts (sural n=12 and greater auricular n=10) from December 2017 till February 2018 by single surgeon (MR). Wounds were closed primarily (n=15), local flap (n=2) and free flap (n=5). Clinical evaluation was done at four months minimum follow up (those operated in January to February 2018) and eight months maximum follow up (those operated in December 2017), for facial nerve functional recovery using House and Brackmann grading system by single author (MR). RESULTS: Total of 22 (male n=7, female n=15) patients included in study from December 2017 till February 2018. Sural nerve grafts were used in 54% (n=12) and greater auricular nerve grafts in 45% (n=10) patients for reconstruction of facial nerve. On clinical evaluation using House and Brackmann grading system, showed grade V (n=4), grade IV (n=7), grade III (n=8) and grade II (n=3) repairs. CONCLUSIONS: Although primary end to end facial nerve repair is ideal but in situation where a significant segment of nerve is lost or where the repair is under tension, inter-positional nerve grafting is a simple and reliable reconstructive technique with good outcomes.

Comparison Of Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer In Adult And Paediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Free tissue transfer is a routine practice in adults with good success rates. Further advances in techniques and microsurgical skills have proved that free tissue transfer in paediatric population is feasible, reliable and safe. METHODS: This study is conducted to compare anastomosis duration, total general anaesthesia duration, hospital stay and outcomes of flaps (survival, partial loss, complete loss, complications) in paediatric group (age <15 years) and adult group (15-70 years age). All patients with large soft tissue defects, congenital defects, traumatic defects and post tumour extirpation were included in this study from December 1st 2017 to May 30th 2018. These patients underwent different microsurgical procedures, the reconstructive armamentarium included use of Latissimus dorsi flap, Anterolateral thigh flap, Fibula flap, Radial forearm flap, functioning Gracillis muscle, iliac crest flap, deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap and Rectus abdominis muscle flap. Post-traumatic defects were the commonest indication of free tissue transfer in Paediatric population while post tumour extirpation defects were commonest defects encountered in adult population.. RESULTS: On average the total anaesthesia duration is slightly shorter in paediatric group than in adult patients while anastomosis duration is slightly shorter in adults then in paediatric patients. The overall complication rate is comparable in both groups and all the flaps survived well. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical free tissue transfer can be confidently attempted in children and their results are comparable with those of adult group.

Hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene using Pd-promoted Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts coupled with ionic liquids at ambient operating conditions.

Sulfur compounds in fuel oils are a major source of atmospheric pollution. This study is focused on the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) via the coupled application of 0.5 wt% Pd-loaded Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts with ionic liquids (ILs) at ambient temperature (120 °C) and pressure (1 MPa H2). The enhanced HDS activity of the solid catalysts coupled with [BMIM]BF4, [(CH3)4N]Cl, [EMIM]AlCl4, and [(n-C8H17)(C4H9)3P]Br was credited to the synergism between hydrogenation by the former and extractive desulfurization and better H2 transport by the latter, which was confirmed by DFT simulation. The Pd-loaded catalysts ranked highest by activity i.e. Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 > Pd-Co-Mo/Al2O3 > Ni-Mo/Al2O3 > Co-Mo/Al2O3. With mild experimental conditions of 1 MPa H2 pressure and 120 °C temperature and an oil : IL ratio of 10 : 3.3, DBT conversion was enhanced from 21% (by blank Ni-Mo/Al2O3) to 70% by Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 coupled with [(n-C8H17)(C4H9)3P]Br. The interaction of polarizable delocalized bonds (in DBT) and van der Waals forces influenced the higher solubility in ILs and hence led to higher DBT conversion. The IL was recycled four times with minimal loss of activity. Fresh and spent catalysts were characterized by FESEM, ICP-MS, EDX, XRD, XPS and BET surface area techniques. GC-MS analysis revealed biphenyl as the major HDS product. This study presents a considerable advance to the classical HDS processes in terms of mild operating conditions, cost-effectiveness, and simplified mechanization, and hence can be envisaged as an alternative approach for fuel oil processing.

Research advances on anticancer activities of matrine and its derivatives: An updated overview.

Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality, only overcome by cardiovascular diseases, and has caused more than 8.7 million deaths in 2015 all over the world. This figure is expected to rise to about 13.1 million by 2030. In order to prevent or cure this fatal illness, substantial efforts have been devoted to develop and discover new anticancer drugs with same or better antitumor activity but lesser toxicity. Matrine is an alkaloid isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait. For decades, matrine and its derivatives have been studied as antineoplastic agents which predominantly work by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of cancer cells. The mechanism responsible for the anticancer activity of matrine can be recognized via up-regulating or down-regulating expression of the cancer related molecules, eventually causing tumor cell death. This review summarizes research developments of matrine and its derivatives as anticancer agents. A few possible research directions, suggestions and clues for future work on the development of novel matrine-based anticancer agents with improved expected activities and lesser toxicity have also been provided.