Targeting colorectal cancer at the level of nuclear pore complex.

Background: Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are the architectures entrenched in nuclear envelop of a cell that regulate the nucleo-cytoplasmic transportation of materials, such as proteins and RNAs for proper functioning of a cell. The appropriate localization of proteins and RNAs within the cell is essential for its normal functionality. For such a complex transportation of materials across the NPC, around 60 proteins are involved comprising nucleoporins, karyopherins and RAN system proteins that play a vital role in NPC's structure formation, cargo translocation across NPC, and cargoes' rapid directed transportation respectively.

Pakistan's HIV high-risk populations: Critical appraisal of failure to curtail spread beyond key populations.

Pakistan has been a hub of several HIV outbreaks over the last 2 decades, with four major outbreaks being registered since 2018. There has been a recent rise in HIV infections, especially in high-risk populations, mainly consisting of people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, prisoners, the transgender women community, and female sex workers. Consistently poor infection control practices, unregulated unsafe blood transfusion, questionable ethical practices by healthcare providers, and a general lack of awareness are the main drivers of recent HIV outbreaks, with these issues exacerbated by the presence of untrained health care providers.

Review of sepsis in Pakistan: how far have we come?

Pakistan is a low-middle-income country (LMIC) with a high burden of sepsis, yet there is a profound dearth of data regarding sepsis with no comprehensive review. In Pakistan, access to competent healthcare services is delayed and in places, often not available. Patients may present with sepsis after common community-acquired infections; the commonest sources of sepsis are the respiratory tract followed by the urinary tract.

Bone marrow necrosis and fat embolism syndrome in sickle cell disease during COVID-19 infection treated successfully with sequential red cell and plasma exchange.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare life-threatening condition that is particularly seen in milder forms of sickle cell disease (SCD). Widespread systemic fat emboli are generated in the context of extensive bone marrow necrosis. Multi-organ failure with a high morbidity and mortality may quickly develop.

Hypertension as an Independent Risk Factor for In-Patient Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Multicenter Study.

Despite the lack of direct evidence that hypertension increases the likelihood of new infections, hypertension is known to be the most common comorbid condition in COVID-19 patients and also a major risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. The literature review suggests that data is heterogeneous in terms of the association of hypertension with mortality. Hence, it remains a topic of interest whether hypertension is associated with COVID-19 disease severity and mortality.

SARS-CoV-2 induced coagulopathy and potential role of anticoagulation: Scoping review of literature.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can vary on a spectrum of asymptomatic disease to rarer manifestations like hypercoagulability especially among elderly patients admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) and those with preexisting comorbidities. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon is still unclear, however studies have shown an association with elevated cytokines and severe inflammatory response which encompasses this disease. Hypercoagulability can be limited to the lungs, or present as systemic manifestations of arterial and venous thrombosis leading to mortal outcomes.

Zinc-induced hypocupremia and pancytopenia, from zinc supplementation to its toxicity, a case report.

According to one estimate, zinc supplementation is widely used in the USA by almost 37% of the elderly population above age 71. Zinc has perceived benefits of immune system enhancement without realizing the harmful effects when used in excess. One of its under-recognized side effects is hypocupremia or copper deficiency due to excessive gastrointestinal losses as excessive zinc in the gut competes with copper for absorption.

Nanomedicine: A Promising Way to Manage Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating disease of the aging population characterized by the progressive and slow brain decay due to the formation of extracellular plaques in the hippocampus. AD cells encompass tangles of twisted strands of aggregated microtubule binding proteins surrounded by plaques. Delivering corresponding drugs in the brain to deal with these clinical pathologies, we face a naturally built strong, protective barrier between circulating blood and brain cells called the blood-brain barrier (BBB).