Human health risks of heavy metals in water and vegetables: a deterministic and probabilistic study in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

There is a growing global concern about the presence of heavy metals in the environment due to their detrimental effects on human health. These metals are eminent poisons with carcinogenic features that can harm organs such as brain, kidney, lungs, etc. This study investigated the human health risks associated with toxic metals such as lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) in drinking water and vegetable sources from Northern Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Environmental pollutants significantly impact health and quality of life. High levels of harmful metals in drinking water, vegetables, and soil can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, the prevalence of cancer is notably high, and heavy metals are considered among the possible risk factors.

Repeat modules and N-linked glycans define structure and antigenicity of a critical enterotoxigenic E. coli adhesin.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) cause hundreds of millions of cases of infectious diarrhea annually, predominantly in children from low-middle income regions. Notably, in children, as well as volunteers challenged with ETEC, diarrheal severity is significantly increased in blood group A (bgA) individuals. EtpA, is a secreted glycoprotein adhesin that functions as a blood group A lectin to promote critical interactions between ETEC and blood group A glycans on intestinal epithelia for effective bacterial adhesion and toxin delivery.

Host-derived CEACAM-laden vesicles engage enterotoxigenic for elimination and toxin neutralization.

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) cause hundreds of millions of diarrheal illnesses annually ranging from mildly symptomatic cases to severe, life-threatening cholera-like diarrhea. Although ETEC are associated with long-term sequelae including malnutrition, the acute diarrheal illness is largely self-limited. Recent studies indicate that in addition to causing diarrhea, the ETEC heat-labile toxin (LT) modulates the expression of many genes in intestinal epithelia, including carcinoembryonic cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) which ETEC exploit as receptors, enabling toxin delivery.

Host-derived CEACAM-laden vesicles engage enterotoxigenic for elimination and toxin neutralization.

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) cause hundreds of millions of diarrheal illnesses annually ranging from mildly symptomatic cases to severe, life-threatening cholera-like diarrhea. Although ETEC are associated with long-term sequelae including malnutrition, the acute diarrheal illness is largely self-limited. Recent studies indicate that in addition to causing diarrhea, the ETEC heat-labile toxin (LT) modulates the expression of many genes in intestinal epithelia, including carcinoembryonic cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) which ETEC exploit as receptors, enabling toxin delivery.

Preparation of a CPVC composite loose nanofiltration membrane based on plant polyphenols for effective dye wastewater treatment.

The textile industry's high-salinity wastewater presents a significant difficulty for fractioning salts and dyes. To fractionate the dyes and salts, a high-performance CPVC composite loose nanofiltration membrane (LNM) was fabricated by interfacial polymerization. The organic phase was obtained by crosslinking polyethylenimine (PEI) with tannic acid (TA) and gallic acid (GA) using TMC.

Lipid-based nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for cancer therapy.

Cancer is a severe disease that results in death in all countries of the world. A nano-based drug delivery approach is the best alternative, directly targeting cancer tumor cells with improved drug cellular uptake. Different types of nanoparticle-based drug carriers are advanced for the treatment of cancer, and to increase the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of cancer therapy, many substances have been looked into as drug carriers.

Synthesis of Silicon and Germanium Oxide Nanostructures via Photonic Curing; a Facile Approach to Scale Up Fabrication.

Silicon and Germanium oxide (SiO and GeO) nanostructures are promising materials for energy storage applications due to their potentially high energy density, large lithiation capacity (~10X carbon), low toxicity, low cost, and high thermal stability. This work reports a unique approach to achieving controlled synthesis of SiO and GeO nanostructures via photonic curing. Unlike conventional methods like rapid thermal annealing, quenching during pulsed photonic curing occurs rapidly (sub-millisecond), allowing the trapping of metastable states to form unique phases and nanostructures.

Recognition and detection technology for microplastic, its source and health effects.

Microplastic (MP) is ubiquitous in the environment which appeared as an immense intimidation to human and animal health. The plastic fragments significantly polluted the ocean, fresh water, food chain, and other food items. Inadequate maintenance, less knowledge of adverse influence along with inappropriate usage in addition throwing away of plastics items revolves present planet in to plastics planet.

Mechanism of hydrophobic gating in the acetylcholine receptor channel pore.

Neuromuscular acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are hetero-pentameric, ligand-gated ion channels. The binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) to two target sites promotes a global conformational change of the receptor that opens the channel and allows ion conduction through the channel pore. Here, by measuring free-energy changes from single-channel current recordings and using molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidate how a constricted hydrophobic region acts as a "gate" to regulate the channel opening in the pore of AChRs.

Cigarette smoking and air pollution exposure and their effects on cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has no socioeconomic, topographical, or sex limitations as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The significant drivers of CVD are cardio-metabolic, behavioral, environmental, and social risk factors. However, some significant risk factors for CVD (e.

Bispidine as a Versatile Scaffold: From Topological Hosts to Transmembrane Transporters.

The development of designer topological structures is a synthetically challenging endeavor. We present herein bispidine as a platform for the design of molecules with various topologies and functions. The bispidine-based acyclic molecule, which shows intriguing S-shape topology, is discussed.

Association of obesity and cardiovascular disease and progress in pharmacotherapy: what is next for obesity?

Obesity has recently emerged as one of the most severe health concerns. Obesity is a key autonomous risk factor for heart failure and contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic abnormalities. Obesity is caused by a metabolic imbalance, which occurs when calories burnt are fewer than the number of calories consumed.

Hepatoportal Sclerosis-A Clinicopathologic Review of 28 Cases.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to review a large series of cases with hepatoportal sclerosis (HPS) as a pathologically recognizable entity in liver tissue specimens and describe the associated clinical and radiographic manifestations, along with the outcomes of this entity.

Methods: Data were collected through a retrospective chart review.

Results: Twenty-eight patients were identified that had pathologically defined HPS.

Prevalence of intestinal nematodes infection in school children of urban areas of district Lower Dir, Pakistan.

Intestinal parasitism is the main cause of disease all over the world and described as a significant community health problem. The current study intended to find out the occurrence and identification of hazard factors linked with IPIs among 4-12 years aged shool-age children residing in Lower Dir district, Pakistan during 2019 - 2020. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted using a pre-arranged pre-tested survey.

Protein engineering and design in ion channels and receptors.

Acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) expressed at the neuromuscular junction synapses are typical allosteric proteins that shuttle between at least two stable conformational states: Closed (C) and Open (O). Agonist binding to their target sites on the receptor in the extracellular domain triggers a global C→O conformational change that results in an open channel pore that allows ion conduction. How the receptor senses the chemical signal of an agonist and communicates it to the channel pore, located ~50Å away, are key to understanding the receptor function.

Ameliorative Effect of Marine Macroalgae on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis and Associated Complications in Rats.

Objectives: Liver fibrosis is one of the serious health concern around the globe. Persistent exposure to drugs, toxicants, and pathogens may induce liver fibrosis. Marine macroalgae are globally consumed because of nutritive and medicinal value.

Stem cell induced inflammatory hypertrophy of the cauda equina.

Stem cell therapy can present clinicians with challenging clinical scenarios, as access to such treatments outpaces the research into their efficacy and safety due to the burgeoning trend of international travel to acquire stem cell therapy, or "stem cell tourism." Treatment of neurologic conditions remains an enticing potential application of stem cell therapy, often administered intrathecally. In response to such therapy, multiple adverse events have been described in the literature, including neoplasms, demyelinating disease, and seizures, among others.

Macrophage membrane coated nanoparticles: a biomimetic approach for enhanced and targeted delivery.

The enhanced and targeted drug delivery with low systemic toxicity and subsequent release of drugs is a major concern among researchers and pharmaceutics. In spite of greater advancement and discoveries in nanotherapeutics, the application of synthetic nanomaterials in clinics is still a challenging task due to immune barriers, limited blood circulation time, biodistribution and toxicity. In order to overcome these issues, cell membrane coated nanoparticles are widely employed for effective and targeted delivery.

Death caused by covid-19 in top ten countries in Asia affected by covid-19 pandemic with special reference to Pakistan.

The COVID-19 is a contagious viral disease, was first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and became the whole world on alert. The mortality rate in top most countries in Asia with special reference to Pakistan has been focused. Since February 26 to September 2020 the total confirmed cases and mortality rate was measured through Wikipedia and the notable journals.

Food handlers: an important reservoir of protozoans and helminth parasites of public health importance.

Food handlers plays a primary role in the transmission of pathogenically important protozoans and helminth parasites. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal pathogenic protozoans and helminth parasites among food handlers in and around University of Malakand, Lower Dir, Pakistan. Stool samples were collected from 642 food handlers (all of male) in a cross-sectional study from January to November, 2017.

Preparation of Cobalt Oxide-Reduced Graphitic Oxide Supercapacitor Electrode by Photothermal Processing.

We report a photonic technique to instantaneously synthesize cobalt oxide reduced graphitic oxide (CoO-rGO) supercapacitor electrodes. The electrode processing is achieved through rapidly heating the precursor material by irradiation of high-energy pulsed mostly visible light from a xenon lamp. Due to the short duration of the light pulse, we prepared the electrodes at room temperature instantaneously (ms), thus eliminating the several hours of processing times of the conventional techniques.