Publications by authors named "Amir Hamza"

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be a critical stimulant for inducing the proliferation of glioma cancer cells. In our study, we observed that GST-RhoA binds to pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in vitro. While EGF reduced the levels of RhoA protein, it significantly increased p-Y42 RhoA, as well as PKM1 and PKM2 in LN18 glioma cell line.

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Cell migration is a crucial contributor to metastasis, a critical process associated with the mortality of cancer patients. The initiation of metastasis is triggered by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), along with the changes in the expression of EMT marker proteins. Inflammation plays a significant role in carcinogenesis and metastasis.

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Inflammation plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis, primarily mediated by NF-κB. RhoA GTPases are instrumental in regulating the activation of NF-κB. Specifically, the phosphorylation of Tyrosine 42 on RhoA ensures the activation of NF-κB by directly activating the IKKβ associated with IKKγ (NEMO).

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Background: In addition to erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence is the most common functional limitation after radical prostatectomy (RPE) for prostate cancer (PCa). The German S3 guideline recommends informing patients about possible effects of the therapy options, including incontinence. However, only little data on continence from routine care in German-speaking countries after RPE are currently available, which makes it difficult to inform patients.

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In the tumor microenvironment (TME), communication between cancer cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) through secreted extracellular proteins promotes cancer progression. Here, we observed that co-culturing cancer cells (4T1) and macrophage cells (Raw264.7) significantly enhanced superoxide production in both cell types.

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Arthropod species diversity enhances ecosystem productivity and sustainability by increasing pollination and biological control services. Although, it is declining rapidly due to conventional agricultural intensification, organic agriculture with reduced reliance on agronomic inputs can regenerate ecosystems' resilience and restore them. Here, we report whether hexapod communities differ on both types of farming systems in small-scale field plot experiments, wherein Maize variety AG-589 was grown organically and conventionally in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

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This paper presents a deep neural network (DNN) based design optimization methodology for dual-axis microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) capacitive accelerometer. The proposed methodology considers the geometric design parameters and operating conditions of the MEMS accelerometer as input parameters and allows to analyze the effect of the individual design parameters on the output responses of the sensor using a single model. Moreover, a DNN-based model allows to simultaneously optimize the multiple output responses of the MEMS accelerometers in an efficient manner.

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Primary malignant melanoma of the urinary tract is a rare entity with less than 50 cases reported worldwide. The following case concerns a 64-year-old woman whom we first saw in our emergency room due to gross haematuria. As part of the subsequent diagnostic investigation, we detected a primary malignant melanoma of the bladder and the urethra.

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Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the marine environment, posing a significant threat to marine biota. The contribution of anthropogenic and terrestrial sources to the aquatic ecosystem has led to an increase in MPs findings, and their abundance in aquatic biota has been reported to be of concern. MPs are formed mainly via photo degradation of macroplastics (large plastic debris), and their release into the environment is a result of the degradation of additives.

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In the past few decades, contamination of urban children's parks (UCPs) with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has been attracting more and more interest; however, assessment of eco-environmental and child exposure risks particularly in developing countries remains limited. The current study investigated PTE (Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) concentrations, potential sources, and their health risk assessment in UCP soils of 12 major cities in Pakistan. The results showed that the mean concentration of Ni exceeded the SEPA-permissible limit in all UCP sites, while other PTEs were found to be within acceptable limits.

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This paper presents a systematic and efficient design approach for the two degree-of-freedom (2-DoF) capacitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer by using combined design and analysis of computer experiments (DACE) and Gaussian process (GP) modelling. Multiple output responses of the MEMS accelerometer including natural frequency, proof mass displacement, pull-in voltage, capacitance change, and Brownian noise equivalent acceleration (BNEA) are optimized simultaneously with respect to the geometric design parameters, environmental conditions, and microfabrication process constraints. The sampling design space is created using DACE based Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) technique and corresponding output responses are obtained using multiphysics coupled field electro-thermal-structural interaction based finite element method (FEM) simulations.

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This study aims to explore the impact of climate change on health, including local adaptation strategies. A mixed-method approach has been used in this study. The results reveal that increasing the frequency of flooding, severity of riverbank erosion and drought, and rising disease outbreak are the highest indicators of climate change perceived by riverine island (char) dwellers, which is similar to the observed data.

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Article Synopsis
  • * PKM2 is highly expressed in cancer cells and embryos, functioning both as a metabolic enzyme and a transcriptional regulator, while its counterpart PKM1 is dominant in differentiated cells.
  • * PKM2's posttranslational modifications allow it to relocate to the nucleus to regulate gene transcription and phosphorylate proteins, highlighting its importance in various cells like astrocytes and cancer cells for processes such as lactate production and energy supply.
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This paper presents a new design of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based low-g accelerometer utilizing mode-localization effect in the three degree-of-freedom (3-DoF) weakly coupled MEMS resonators. Two sets of the 3-DoF mechanically coupled resonators are used on either side of the single proof mass and difference in the amplitude ratio of two resonator sets is considered as an output metric for the input acceleration measurement. The proof mass is electrostatically coupled to the perturbation resonators and for the sensitivity and input dynamic range tuning of MEMS accelerometer, electrostatic electrodes are used with each resonator in two sets of 3-DoF coupled resonators.

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This paper presents microfabrication process-driven design of a multi-degree of freedom (multi-DoF) non-resonant electrostatic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscope by considering the design constraints of commercially available low-cost and widely-used silicon-on-insulator multi-user MEMS processes (SOIMUMPs), with silicon as a structural material. The proposed design consists of a 3-DoF drive mode oscillator with the concept of addition of a collider mass which transmits energy from the drive mass to the passive sense mass. In the sense direction, 2-DoF sense mode oscillator is used to achieve dynamically-amplified displacement in the sense mass.

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The genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 (CYPs)drug-metabolizing enzymes are well studied in human populations for drug safety and efficacy. CYP2C9 is a highly polymorphic CYP enzyme that oxidizing the indigenous compounds and xenobiotics. The present study was pursued to evaluate the genetic variation across the CYP2C9 gene among major groups of the Pakistani population.

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The following is a case of an 81-year-old male adult who presented to our emergency department with signs of urosepsis. The patient came with an indwelling urinary catheter due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Extended diagnostic investigation demonstrated an infected urachal cyst as the cause of infection, which was surgically treated.

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The following is a case report of a 54-year-old female who presented with persistent macrohaematuria with bladder tamponade three weeks after percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Angiography revealed an intrarenal aneurysm, which was closed by coiling, resulting in complete cessation of bleeding.

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Optimal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in cellular physiological function. For production of intracellular superoxide, NADPH oxidase is one of the sources. Rac1/2 and RhoA GTPases are involved in regulation of NADPH oxidase activity and Tyr42 phosphorylation of RhoA (p-Tyr42 RhoA) seems significant in this regard as it was recently shown that hydrogen peroxide was able to increase p-Tyr42 RhoA levels.

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Mutations in the SMPX gene can disrupt the regular activity of the SMPX protein, which is involved in the hearing process. Recent reports showing a link between nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in SMPX and hearing loss, thus classifying deleterious SNPs in SMPX will be an uphill task before designing a more extensive population study. In this study, damaging nsSNPs of SMPX from the dbSNP database were identified by using 13 bioinformatics tools.

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Background: Photodynamic Diagnosis (PDD) is widely used today for the diagnosis and treatment of superficial bladder cancer. This study aimed to analyse the impact of using this technique on recurrence rate, residual tumour rate and progression-free survival.

Materials And Methods: We conducted this study retrospectively in our unit between 10/2014 and 02/2018.

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. Brain computer interface (BCI) is a combination of software and hardware communication protocols that allow brain to control external devices. Main purpose of BCI controlled external devices is to provide communication medium for disabled persons.

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Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in various clinical endpoints in patients with reconstructive surgery by renal partial nephrectomy for tumors up to 4 cm compared to tumors larger than 4 cm.

Material And Methods: A total of 170 partial renal resection patients that presented malignant tumors were included in the retrospective study. Data was analyzed retrospectively based on internal clinic files, as well as a questionnaire to enhance the follow-up clinical outcomes data obtained.

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Background: Resistant arterial hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are interlinked via sympathetic overactivity. Baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) is a well tolerated therapy, which has been shown to reduce BP in patients with resistant hypertension. The effects of BAT in patients with resistant hypertension and end stage renal disease have not been reported.

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