evaluation of favipiravir-associated potential new drugs against polymerase enzyme of SARS-CoV-2.

Millions of lives have been lost to the deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are essential scientific tools in combating viral infections. This study focused on the RdRp inhibitor favipiravir, exploring new analogs by substituting the fluorine atom on the pyrazine ring with both homocyclic and heterocyclic moieties.

Direct synthesis, characterization, and studies of simple chalcones as potential antimicrobial and antileishmanial agents.

Chalcone represents a vital biosynthetic scaffold owing to its numerous therapeutic effects. The present study was intended to synthesize 17 chalcone derivatives (-) by direct coupling of substituted acetophenones and benzaldehyde. The target chalcones were characterized by spectroscopic analyses followed by their antimicrobial, and antileishmanial investigations with reference to standard drugs.

Advances in liposomes loaded with photoresponse materials for cancer therapy.

Cancer treatment is presently a significant challenge in the medical domain, wherein the primary modalities of intervention include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. However, these therapeutic modalities carry side effects. Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have emerged as promising modalities for the treatment of tumors in recent years.

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.

Integrating network pharmacology and experimental verification to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of Buzhong Yiqi decoction in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Among all types of cancers, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits the highest mortality rate with a five-year survival rate below 17% for patients. The Buzhong Yiqi decoction (BZYQD), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been reported to exhibit clinical efficacy in the treatment of NSCLC. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive.

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.

Management of a giant lymphocele following varicose vein surgery: a case report.

Background: A lymphocele or lymphocyst is formed when lymphatic fluid accumulates in a space, following disruption of lymphatic channels. Here, we report a case of a giant lymphocele in a middle-aged female, who underwent Trendelenburg operation (saphenofemoral junction ligation) for varicose veins of her right lower limb.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old Pakistani Punjabi female presented to the plastic surgery outpatient department with a history of painful, progressive swelling of the right groin and medial aspect of the right thigh for 4 months.

Recent Advances on the Antimicrobial Activities of Schiff Bases and their Metal Complexes: An Updated Overview.

Schiff bases represent a valuable class of organic compounds, synthesized via condensation of primary amines with ketones or aldehydes. They are renowned for possessing innumerable applications in agricultural chemistry, organic synthesis, chemical and biological sensing, coating, polymer and resin industries, catalysis, coordination chemistry, and drug designing. Schiff bases contain imine or azomethine (-C=N-) functional groups which are important pharmacophores for the design and synthesis of lead bioactive compounds.

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.

Evaluation of potential bacterial protease inhibitor properties of selected hydroxyquinoline derivatives: an docking and molecular dynamics simulation approach.

Antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) is a severe global threat to public health. The increasing emergence of drug-resistant bacteria requires the discovery of novel antibacterial agents. Quinoline derivatives have previously been reported to exhibit antimalarial, antiviral, antitumor, antiulcer, antioxidant and, most interestingly, antibacterial properties.

Synthesis of novel silica encapsulated spiropyran-based thermochromic materials.

A series of novel spiropyrans were synthesized through the condensation of substituted 3,3-dimethyl-2-methyleneindoline with different nitro-substituted -hydroxy aromatic aldehydes. Indoles were initially substituted with a variety of alkanes and esters moieties. The substituted 3,3-dimethyl-2-methyleneindoline was then reacted with nitro-substituted -hydroxy aromatic aldehydes to yield the respective spiropyrans.

Facile synthesis, antibacterial and protease inhibition studies of β-amino alcohols prepared via ring opening of epoxides.

A green ultrasound assisted convenient approach has been reported for the ring opening of epoxides. As a result, a series of N-phenyl piperazine and morpholine based β-amino alcohols has been synthesized under ultrasound irradiation in DMSO for 60 minutes at 70°C. This methodology showed excellent tolerance with various epoxides and provided excellent yields upto 96%.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT): Our Experience in Pakistan With Locally Made Dressing.

Introduction Worldwide numbers of patients suffering from complex wounds appear to increase annually. These patients present with acute, sub-acute and chronic wounds which can be difficult to manage. Management of these patients typically requires a multi-disciplinary approach by a plastic surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon and infectious disease control team.

Resection and Reconstructive Options in the Management of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans of the Head and Neck.

Objective To discuss resection and various reconstructive options in patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). Methods This study was conducted at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from May 2018 to December 2019. All patients aged 20 years or above of either gender who were diagnosed to have DFSP over this period were included in the study.