Hg(II) sensing, catalytic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer potential of Garcinia mangostana and α-mangostin mediated silver nanoparticles.

This study reports synthesis of Garcinia mangostana fruit pericarp (unwanted waste material) and α-mangostin mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These AgNPs were efficiently produced using 1:10 (extract and salt) ratio under stirring and heating, which was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band in UV-Visible spectroscopic analysis, and size of 73-91 nm determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The synthesized AgNPs were used for Hg(II) detection in tap water, where the limits of detection and quantification were 2.

Antioxidant, antibacterial, and catalytic performance of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles of , , and .

(Anacardiaceae) containing abundant glucopyranosidal constituents, is traditionally used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcer, dysentery, and diarrhea. (Polygonaceae) widely distributed in Pakistan, has traditional importance in treating wound healing, jaundice, rheumatism, and skin diseases. (Myrtaceae), a rich source of essential oils, saponins, triterpenoids, phloroglucinols, and flavonoids is used in industries, perfumes, nutrition, and cosmetics.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of simple ZnO and metal doped ZnO nanoparticles.

The objective of this study was to synthesize pure ZnO and metal doped ZnO nano-particles, determine its physical, chemical characteristics and antibacterial activity against selected bacterial strains. Pure ZnO was synthesized and metals including Manganese (Mn), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu) and Silver (Ag) were doped with ZnO to produce nanoparticles through co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used for detection of synthesized nanoparticles, their crystalline structures, size and other chemical characteristics.

Structural and Functional Impact of Damaging Nonsynonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (nsSNPs) on Human VPS35 Protein Using Computational Approaches.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. Mutations in retromer complex subunit and VPS35 represent the second most common cause of late-onset familial Parkinson's disease. The mutation in VPS35 can disrupt the normal protein functions resulting in Parkinson's disease.

Drug repositioning against COVID-19: a first line treatment.

COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has shaken our health and wealth foundations. Although COVID-19 vaccines will become available allowing for attenuation of disease progression rates, distribution of vaccines can create other challenges and delays. Hence repurposed drugs against SARS-CoV-2 can be an attractive parallel strategy that can be integrated into routine clinical practice even in poorly-resourced countries.

Drug designing against NSP15 of SARS-COV2 via high throughput computational screening and structural dynamics approach.

The rapid outbreak of the COVID-19 also known as SARS-CoV2 has been declared pandemic with serious global concern. As there is no effective therapeutic against COVID-19, there is an urgent need for explicit treatment against it. The focused objective of the current study is to propose promising drug candidates against the newly identified potential therapeutic target (endonuclease, NSP15) of SARS-CoV2.

Characterization of natural gums via elemental and chemometric analyses, synthesis of silver nanoparticles, and biological and catalytic applications.

Gums; composed of polysaccharides, carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals, are high molecular weight hydrophilic compounds with several biological applications. This study describes the nutritional and toxic elements content, chemical composition, synthesis of silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs), and pharmacological and catalytic properties of Prunus armeniaca (apricot), Prunus domestica (plums), Prunus persica (peaches), Acacia modesta (phulai), Acacia arabica (kikar), and Salmalia malabarica (silk cotton tree) gums. The elemental contents were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Structural modeling studies of aldehyde dehydrogenase X: insights into key interactions in the tetrameric assembly of the isoenzyme.

Human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase is a member of superfamily of multisubunit enzymes, catalyzing the conversion of a broad range of aldehydes to corresponding acids via the NAD (P) (+)-dependent irreversible reaction. They play an important role in the detoxification of acetaldehyde, in the development of alcohol sensitivity and human alcohol-related disorders. The study aimed to understand the role of conserved residues by comparing similarities and differences between the two isoenzymes.

Structural bioinformatics of Vibrio cholerae aminopeptidase A (PepA) monomer.

Aminopeptidase A (PepA) is a metalloexopeptidase found in Vibrio cholerae .It functions as a transcriptional repressor in regulatory cascade that controls virulence gene expression in V. cholerae.

Low oxygen affinity in reptilian hemoglobin D: prediction of residue interactions in Geochelone carbonaria HbD by homology modeling.

The homology model of hemoglobin D from Geochelone carbonaria, the red-footed tortoise was predicted using the 3D structure coordinates of Geochelone gigantea hemoglobin D as the template. The model was built using the program, MODELLER (8v1) and evaluated with PROCHECK and PROSA. The present study features an in-depth analysis of the 3D model and its conformational changes brought about with variations in its environment.

Homology modeling of hemagglutinin/protease [HA/P (vibriolysin)] from Vibrio cholerae: sequence comparision, residue interactions and molecular mechanism.

Vibrio cholerae produces a zinc-containing and calcium-stabilized soluble hemagglutinin/protease, which has been earlier shown to have the ability to cleave several physiologically important substrates including mucin, fibronectin and lactoferin. This study presents homology modeling of hemagglutinin/protease (vibriolysin) from Vibrio cholerae in the presence of inhibitor HPI [N-(1-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)-phenylalanyl-alpha-aspargine]. The 3D structure was predicted based on its sequence homology with Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase (PAE).

Severe postburn contracture of cheek mucosa leading to false temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

A case of burn injury to lips and cheek mucosa is reported who developed severe contracture of cheek mucosa leading to inability to open mouth. Patient was misdiagnosed as a case of temporomandibular ankylosis and was managed on those lines to no relief. When the contracture was released and soft tissue defect repaired with nasolabial flap, patient gained near normal mouth opening.

Five cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare and often fatal fungal infection in immunocompromised patients. We encountered three women and two men with diabetes and mucormycosis in a period of 4 years. Two of the patients died.

Incidence and causes of maxillofacial skeletal injuries at the Mayo Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Between January 2001 and December 2002, we studied a total of 702 patients with facial skeletal injuries, of whom 590 (84%) were male and 112 (16%) female. Injuries were most common (218 patients, 31%) in the third decade of life and there were 167 (24%) in the second decade. The most common cause was road traffic collisions (382 patients, 54%) and the second most common was a fall from a height (135 patients, 19%).