Ethidium bromide (Et-Br) is a widely used fluorescent dye in molecular biology and biotechnology laboratories for visualizing nucleic acids in agarose gel electrophoresis. However, concerns have been raised about its environmental impact and potential health risks due to its persistence and toxicity. The potential accumulation and long-term effects on the environment necessitate the removal of Et-Br from water.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuroasian J Hepatogastroenterol
January 2024
Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic autoimmune enteropathy triggered by dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Celiac disease affects 0.6-1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the biological and clinical impact of copy number aberrations (CNAs) on the development of precision therapies in cancer remains an unmet challenge. Genetic amplification of chromosome 1q (chr1q-amp) is a major CNA conferring an adverse prognosis in several types of cancer, including in the blood cancer multiple myeloma (MM). Although several genes across chromosome 1 (chr1q) portend high-risk MM disease, the underpinning molecular etiology remains elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCross-reactivity among the two diverse viruses is believed to originate from the concept of antibodies recognizing similar epitopes on the two viral surfaces. Cross-reactive antibody responses have been seen in previous variants of SARS and SARS-CoV-2, but little is known about the cross reactivity with other similar RNA viruses like HIV-1. In the present study, we examined the reactivity the SARS-CoV-2 directed antibodies, via spike, immunized mice sera and demonstrated whether they conferred any cross-reactive neutralization against HIV-1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Obstet Gynaecol India
June 2021
Introduction: Fetal hydrops is a serious condition which has high morbidity and mortality. Incidences of immune hydrops have decreased by manifold after introduction of anti-D immunoglobulin. Intra-uterine fetal blood transfusion revolutionized the treatment of these affected fetuses after diagnosis of immune fetal hydrops.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Antimicrobial-resistant HAI (Healthcare associated infection) are a global challenge due to their impact on patient outcome. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (AMSP) is needed at institutional and national levels. Assessment of core capacities for AMSP is an important starting point to initiate nationwide AMSP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground It is estimated that approximately 10 million individuals in Pakistan are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Historically, it was very difficult not just to cure but even treat HCV as available options did not have desirable outcomes. However, the approval of directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs has revolutionized treatment and management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem in Pakistan. In view of the serious socioeconomic consequences, identifying patient characteristics and the current treatment for the disease will enhance HBV regulation and its medical management. Aims To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and current management status of patients infected by HBV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibodies are widely used not only as therapeutic agents but also as research tools and diagnostic agents, and extensive efforts have been made to generate antibodies that have higher affinity. It was recently reported that introduction of charged residues into the framework region of an antibody improved its affinity; however, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we used kinetic and thermodynamic analyses of the antibody-antigen interaction to investigate the molecular mechanism by which an antibody with introduced charged residues recognizes its antigen with higher affinity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe conserved function of protein phosphorylation, catalysed by members of protein kinase superfamily, is regulated in different ways in different kinase families. Further, differences in activating triggers, cellular localisation, domain architecture and substrate specificity between kinase families are also well known. While the transfer of γ-phosphate from ATP to the hydroxyl group of Ser/Thr/Tyr is mediated by a conserved Asp, the characteristic functional and regulatory sites are specialized at the level of families or sub-families.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Coll Physicians Surg Pak
November 2016
Casein phosphopeptides-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) is a bioactive agent with a base of milk products, which has been formulated from two parts: casein phosphopeptides (CPP) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). CPP was produced from milk protein casein and has a remarkable ability to stabilize calcium phosphate in solution and to substantially increase the level of calcium phosphate in dental plaque. CPP-ACP buffers the free calcium and phosphate ion activities, thereby helping to maintain a state of supersaturation with respect to tooth enamel, reducing demineralisation and promoting remineralisation.
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