Publications by authors named "Ahmad Malik"

Serine proteases are involved in various ailments, including pancreatitis, and colon cancer. Based on substrate recognition serine proteases are classified into different groups. Trypsin and trypsin-like serine proteases are among most studied group of serine proteases.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote learning, heightening scrutiny of open-book examinations (OBEs) versus closed-book examinations (CBEs) within science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM) education. This study evaluates the efficacy of OBEs compared to CBEs on student performance and perceptions within STEM subjects, considering the emerging influence of sophisticated large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3.

Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review analysed peer-reviewed articles published from 2013, focusing on the impact of OBEs and CBEs on university STEM students.

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Ribonuclease A is a major hydrolyzing enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of RNA. The crystals of bovine pancreatic RNase A (bpRNase A) were grown at pH 5.5.

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Alpha-chymotrypsin is a serine protease. Its overexpression is responsible for several ailments, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autoimmune diseases, pancreatitis, and colon cancers. Therefore, the discovery of potent α-chymotrypsin inhibitors is essential for the treatment of the aforementioned ailments.

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Serine proteases are among the important groups of enzymes having significant roles in cell biology. Trypsin is a representative member of the serine superfamily of enzymes, produced by acinar cells of pancreas. It is a validated drug target for various ailments including pancreatitis and colorectal cancer.

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Background: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) may be linked to dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system, affecting collagen production and processing. These collagen abnormalities lead to a condition called dysautonomia. Findings underscore the need for further investigation into autonomic nervous system function in EDS which involves larger studies to strengthen the evidence of non-invasive screening tools like cardiovascular reflex tests.

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Background: Bempedoic Acid (BA) is a novel drug that has a potential to serve as an alternative to statins to decrease lipid levels and improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, particularly for statin-intolerant individuals. However, insufficient statistical power has limited our understanding of the efficacy and safety of BA. This meta-analysis utilizes the latest data to improve our knowledge of BA's effects on lipids and CVD with increased statistical power.

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Functionally characterizing the genetic alterations that drive pancreatic cancer is a prerequisite for precision medicine. Here, we perform somatic CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis screens to assess the transforming potential of 125 recurrently mutated pancreatic cancer genes, which revealed USP15 and SCAF1 as pancreatic tumor suppressors. Mechanistically, we find that USP15 functions in a haploinsufficient manner and that loss of USP15 or SCAF1 leads to reduced inflammatory TNFα, TGF-β and IL6 responses and increased sensitivity to PARP inhibition and Gemcitabine.

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Hypertension is a highly prevalent chronic disease that leads to a significant number of deaths and disabilities as a consequence of cardiovascular complications. However, there is insufficient information regarding research trends and performance assessments from South Asian countries, including Pakistan. In this review, we analyzed research data related to hypertension from Pakistan over the last 20 years (2003-2022).

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Background: Neurosurgery is a rapidly advancing surgical specialty. Social media has significantly impacted the landscape of advancements in the field of neurosurgery. Research on the subject of neurosurgery and social media plays a vital role in combating disability and mortality due to neurological diseases, especially in trauma-affected individuals by increasing cooperation and sharing of clinical experiences between neurosurgeons via social media.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tumor suppressor p53 (TP53) mutations in cancer lead to loss of its protective function and potential gain of oncogenic traits, with mutant forms often stabilized in tumors.
  • Researchers conducted CRISPR screens to identify factors that regulate the stability of wild-type and mutant p53, revealing that most regulators affect both, but some, like those for mutant p53 R337H, are specific to that mutant.
  • The study highlights FBXO42 as a positive regulator for certain p53 mutants and C16orf72/HAPSTR1 as a negative regulator linked to increased levels in breast cancer, suggesting potential targets for cancer therapy focused on p53 stability.
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Human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) play a central role in various physiological processes in the human body. HCAs catalyze the reversible hydration of CO into HCO, and hence maintains the fluid and pH balance. Overexpression of CA II is associated with diseases, such as glaucoma, and epilepsy.

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Article Synopsis
  • A consensus meeting of national hepatobiliary experts took place on May 26, 2023, at PKLI & RC, aiming to develop guidelines for managing hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA).
  • The meeting emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to manage hCCA effectively, highlighting diagnostic methods like CT and MRI for staging, as well as the importance of surgical resection for potentially curative treatment.
  • For patients with unresectable hCCA, options include liver transplantation and palliative chemotherapy, with guidelines suggesting personalized treatment plans based on local discussions.
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  • After a liver transplant, problems with bile ducts can happen, which can make it harder for patients to recover and keep their new liver.
  • One common issue is called anastomotic stricture (AS), which happens more often with living donor liver transplants compared to those from deceased donors.
  • In a special case, doctors used a new method to solve a complicated AS problem in a 63-year-old man, avoiding major surgeries that could cause more health issues.
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Retained surgical sponge is a relatively rare medical condition with potential serious medicolegal implications. The term "gossypiboma" is frequently used to describe this condition. We present a case of a 40-cm-long retained surgical sponge in a 43-year-old woman who presented with unexplained chronic abdominal pain for several years.

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Thorax disease is a life-threatening disease caused by bacterial infections that occur in the lungs. It could be deadly if not treated at the right time, so early diagnosis of thoracic diseases is vital. The suggested study can assist radiologists in more swiftly diagnosing thorax disorders and in the rapid airport screening of patients with a thorax disease, such as pneumonia.

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Background And Objective: Patient safety is a major concern in health care. Research is an important tool to minimize preventable errors. Research performance and trends evaluation need to be identified for future guidance.

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Objective: We aimed to compare the incidence of ureteric strictures between holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet and thulium fiber laser following ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. In the present era of miniaturization of endourologic armamentarium and better optics, how safe are lasers to fire inside ureter?

Materials And Methods: It is a prospective comparative study over a period of 2 years that included patients who underwent ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy for ureteric stones. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A underwent holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser lithotripsy and group B underwent thulium fiber laser lithotripsy.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought vaccination to the forefront of global attention. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, an mRNA vaccine that encodes the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) glycoprotein spike, has emerged as a significant player in global vaccination efforts. It is generated from lipid nanoparticles and has been subject to various regulatory approvals and authorizations.

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