The Effect of Berberine, a Drug From Chinese Folk Medicine, on Serum and Urinary Uric Acid Levels in Rats With Hyperuricemia.

Background The principal manifestation of hyperuricemia is gout. Many drugs are in use nowadays to treat gout, but they are linked with multiple side effects. The present study observed berberine (from Chinese folk medicine) on serum and urinary uric acid levels in rats with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia.

Tracing the anticancer compound [Ru(η-p-cymene)(8-oxyquinolinato)Cl] in a biological environment by mass spectrometric methods.

Ruthenium-based complexes have attracted attention as promising anticancer candidates due to their lower general toxicity than the widely used platinum drugs. The complex [Ru(η-p-cymene)(8-oxyquinolinato)Cl] 1 has shown significant cytotoxic activity in cancer cells, independent of the cellular uptake. In an attempt to rationalize this finding, we investigated the fate of 1 in cells as well as developed an analysis method for 1 and its derivatives based on molecular mass spectrometry.

Utilization of Solid Waste from Brick Industry and Hydrated Lime in Self-Compacting Cement Pastes.

The huge amount of solid waste from the brick manufacturing industry can be used as a cement replacement. However, replacement exceeding 10% causes a reduction in strength due to the slowing of the pozzolanic reaction. Therefore, in this study, the pozzolanic potential of brick waste is enhanced using ultrafine brick powder with hydrated lime (HL).

COVID-19-Induced Mesenteric Thrombosis.

Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea (most common among gastrointestinal symptoms), nausea/vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, abnormal liver enzymes, and pancreatitis, are being increasingly recognized in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Moreover, COVID-19 has also been implicated in coagulopathy, especially in patients with severe disease. Here, we report a case of acute intestinal ischemia secondary to superior mesenteric thrombosis in a young female patient with mild COVID-19.

Potential Utility of Cell Free High Mobility Group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) as a Prognostic Biomarker in Liquid Biopsies of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Locoregional spread is a frequent finding in oral cancer which dictates poor prognosis. HMGA2 expression has been linked to malignant traits of oral cancer in tissue biopsies however, data on HMGA2 expression in liquid biopsies in oral cancer is sparse. Purpose of this study was to explore prognostic relevance of HMGA2 in liquid biopsies of oral cancer patients.

Cytostatic Action of Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Androgen Receptor-Null Prostate Cancer Cells.

Androgen receptor (AR)-null prostate tumors have been observed in 11-24% of patients. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are overexpressed in prostate tumors. Therefore, HDAC inhibitors (Jazz90 and Jazz167) were examined in AR-null prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145).

Impact of the Metal Center and Leaving Group on the Anticancer Activity of Organometallic Complexes of Pyridine-2-carbothioamide.

Ru(cym)Cl (cym = η--cymene) complexes of pyridinecarbothioamides have shown potential for development as orally active anticancer metallodrugs, underlined by their high selectivity towards plectin as the molecular target. In order to investigate the impact of the metal center on the anticancer activity and their physicochemical properties, the Os(cym), Rh- and Ir(Cp*) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) analogues of the most promising and orally active compound plecstatin were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction analysis. Dissolution in aqueous medium results in quick ligand exchange reactions; however, over time no further changes in the H NMR spectra were observed.

Mustards-Derived Terpyridine-Platinum Complexes as Anticancer Agents: DNA Alkylation vs Coordination.

The development of bifunctional platinum complexes with the ability to interact with DNA different binding modes is of interest in anticancer metallodrug research. Therefore, we report platinum(II) terpyridine complexes to target DNA by coordination and/or through a tethered alkylating moiety. The platinum complexes were evaluated for their antiproliferative properties against the human cancer cell lines HCT116 (colorectal), SW480 (colon), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung), and SiHa (cervix) and generally exhibited potent antiproliferative activity although lower than their respective terpyridine ligands.

COVID-19 Induced Myocarditis: A Rare Cause of Heart Failure.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing lung injury has been well documented in the literature recently. They do so primarily by binding to the membrane-bound form of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors. However, since these receptors are also expressed in the heart and blood vessels, coronavirus can also cause damage to these organs by binding to the ACE-2 receptors.

Pollen morphological assessment of specific selected species of district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan under LM and SEM.

Around 30 pollen samples, 16 families and 25 genera that were gathered, identified and preserved from 6 different localities of District Sheikhupura. Light and scanning electron microscopy was done for all collected flora. Out of the total samples, 43% specie was identified as herbs, 23% as shrubs, and 33% were identified as trees.

Novel mutant camelina and jatropha as valuable feedstocks for biodiesel production.

Novel mutant camelina has become a crop of interest inspired by its short growing season, low harvesting costs and high oil composition. Despite those advantages, limited research has been done on novel mutant lines to determine applicability for biodiesel production. Jatropha is an extremely hardy, frugal and high oil yielding plant species.

Breaking the Intracellular Redox Balance with Diselenium Nanoparticles for Maximizing Chemotherapy Efficacy on Patient-Derived Xenograft Models.

Excessive oxidative stress in cancer cells can induce cancer cell death. Anticancer activity and drug resistance of chemotherapy are closely related to the redox state of tumor cells. Herein, five lipophilic Pt(IV) prodrugs were synthesized on the basis of the most widely used anticancer drug cisplatin, whose anticancer efficacy and drug resistance are closely related to the intracellular redox state.

A systematic review on chromatography-based method validation for quantification of vancomycin in biological matrices.

A fully validated bioanalytical methods are prerequisite for pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies as well as for therapeutic drug monitoring. Due to high pharmacokinetic variability and narrow therapeutic index, vancomycin requires reliable quantification methods for therapeutic drug monitoring. To identify published chromatographic based bioanalytical methods for vancomycin in current systematic review, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched.

Reinfection of COVID-19 in Pakistan: A First Case Report.

Since its spread across the world, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a severe public health threat, and many unanswered questions about COVID-19 remain. Antibodies have been detected a few days after the onset of infection, and in some patients, these antibodies wane quickly. To date, it is unknown whether all infected patients induce an adequate protective immune response or how long this effect remains.

Spectrum and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Micro-Organisms Associated With Neonatal Sepsis in a Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries. Its causative bacteria and their respective sensitivity patterns are different in each hospital and region. The objective of this study was to determine the causative bacteria and their antibiotics sensitivity patterns at the neonatal unit.

A Rare Case of Hemichorea-Hemiballismus Due to Chronic Uncontrolled Hyperglycemia.

Chronic uncontrolled hyperglycemia is a rare yet important cause of hemichorea-hemiballismus and very common among postmenopausal women. This case report illustrates the importance of recognizing hyperglycemia as a potential cause of hemiballismus. There is a need to differentiate hyperglycaemic intracranial changes from other intracranial pathologies, as prompt glycemic control can help improve hemiballistic symptoms and prevent a more aggressive or invasive workup.

Energy Drinks and Atrial Fibrillation: An Unusual Case of Caution.

The most well-known type of cardiovascular arrhythmia in the United States and worldwide is atrial fibrillation (AF). Generally, 2.3 million individuals are determined to have AF in the United States.

Predictive topology refinements in distributed stream processing system.

Cloud computing has evolved the big data technologies to a consolidated paradigm with SPaaS (Streaming processing-as-a-service). With a number of enterprises offering cloud-based solutions to end-users and other small enterprises, there has been a boom in the volume of data, creating interest of both industry and academia in big data analytics, streaming applications, and social networking applications. With the companies shifting to cloud-based solutions as a service paradigm, the competition grows in the market.

Fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol based fast dissolving oral strips of sumatriptan succinate and metoclopramide HCL.

Migraine is a throbbing condition, usually associated with nausea and vomiting and requires concurrent administration of anti-migraine along with anti-emetic therapy. The current study was undertaken with an aim to fabricate fast dissolving oral strips (FDOSs) containing Sumatriptan succinate (anti-migraine) and Metoclopramide HCl (anti-emetic) in combination without involving any superdisintegrant. Hydrophilic polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used alone with three concentrations of 100, 125, and 150 mg using variable concentrations of glycerol.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered by the Death of Pets (Cats): Two Case Reports.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy otherwise called stress cardiomyopathy, which results in debilitating of a segment of heart muscles, is a sort of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, set off by stress. We describe two case reports of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by the significant stressful event being the death of pet cats. The rare nature of the type of stressor and the manifestation is something to be considered by healthcare providers.

Meningitis as an Initial Presentation of COVID-19: A Case Report.

The common presenting symptoms of fever, fatigue, and mild respiratory symptoms like dry cough, are associated with COVID-19, however, patients can also develop neurological manifestations like headache, anosmia, hyposmia, dysgeusia, meningitis, encephalitis, and acute cerebrovascular accidents during the disease. Although very rare, these neurological manifestations are sometimes the sole initial presenting complaint of COVID-19. This case report discusses patients where the initial presenting symptoms seemed to be exclusive to meningitis but the later diagnosis was COVID-19.

A Review of the Risk Factors Associated With Poor Outcomes in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its rapid spread throughout the globe is of much concern. With little known about the peculiar virus and the changing mortality and morbidity, we attempt to review the risk factors associated with significant outcome.  We conducted a review of the information available in medical journals published on COVID-19 risk factors associated with poor outcomes using PubMed®, Google Scholar, and material published online.