Publications by authors named "Muhammad Nisar"

This study aimed to identify differentially expressed non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) associated with preterm birth (PTB) and determine biological pathways being influenced in the context of PTB. We processed cell-free RNA sequencing data and identified seventeen differentially expressed (DE) ncRNAs that could be involved in the onset of PTB. Per the validation via customized RT-qPCR, the recorded variations in expressions of eleven ncRNAs were concordant with the analyses.

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Objective: This study evaluated the incidence, causes, and predictors of intraoperative conversion from off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (ONCAB), identifying risk factors to improve surgical planning.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study included patients who underwent OPCAB at the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, Peshawar, Pakistan, between December 8, 2021, and December 7, 2023. Among 714 patients, 27 (3.

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  • * Withania somnifera, or Ashwagandha, contains Withaferin A (WFA), a compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties that shows promise against various cancers with low toxicity.
  • * WFA's anticancer mechanisms include inducing apoptosis and inhibiting key signaling pathways, showing effectiveness in preclinical studies across several cancer types; further clinical trials are needed to confirm its potential in human treatment.
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A significant proportion of men with prostate cancer will experience biochemical recurrence (BCR), which is characterized by an elevation in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after receiving treatment with curative intent. Imaging plays an important role in the management of patients with BCR. It can help identify sites of recurrence to determine the most appropriate management strategies, ranging from salvage treatment for local recurrences to systemic treatments for those with advanced, distant disease.

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The treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the lower urinary tract and prostate gland can alter the anatomy and physiology of these regions. The radiologist should be familiar with the commonly performed procedures for conditions affecting the lower urinary tract as well as the expected and unexpected posttreatment appearance on imaging.

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Objectives: Aromatase inhibitor induced bone loss (AIBL) is a recognised adverse event with resultant increase in fracture risk. We aimed to determine the real-world impact of the 2017 consensus guidelines on AIBL and see if it is effective in fracture prevention.

Methods: Over a 7-year study period, 1001 women prescribed AI were split in two groups.

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Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) is a redox-active quinone molecule with significant implications for human health. Originally identified as a bacterial cofactor, PQQ has since been lauded for its diverse biological and therapeutic activities. It serves as an essential cofactor for oxidative enzymes that are vital for mitochondrial function and ATP synthesis.

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  • Drug resistance is a major challenge in treating head and neck cancers, prompting the development of a new platform to visualize and analyze the molecular changes associated with this resistance.
  • Researchers identified 2364 differentially expressed molecules linked to drug resistance in HNC, including various types of RNAs and proteins, with 255 identified as key driver genes.
  • A publicly-accessible database, HNCDrugResDb, was created to help users explore molecular alterations and signaling pathways involved in drug resistance, with tools to predict resistance likelihood based on gene expression, aiming to enhance future drug discovery and personalized medicine.
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Background: Pakistan reported 1.57 million COVID-19 cases between 2020 and 2022, based on approximately 30.6 million SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) tests conducted.

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The rapid evolution of drone technology has introduced unprecedented challenges in security, particularly concerning the threat of unconventional drone and swarm attacks. In order to deal with threats, drones need to be classified by intercepting their Radio Frequency (RF) signals. With the arrival of Sixth Generation (6G) networks, it is required to develop sophisticated methods to properly categorize drone signals in order to achieve optimal resource sharing, high-security levels, and mobility management.

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Independent control of electromagnetic (EM) waves by metasurfaces for multiple tasks are highly desired and is the recent hot topic of research. In this work we contribute a polarization insensitive frequency multiplexed 2-bit coding metasurface to control the Terahertz (THz) waves in the two operating bands independently. In this regard, as a first step a cascaded meta-atom composed of square rings and/or square metallic patches separated by two polyimide substrates is designed and optimized that provides sixteen independent distinct discrete phases in the reflection geometry.

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Background: In early 2021, the 10-valent Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) was replaced with 13-valent (PCV13) by the federal directorate of immunization (FDI), Pakistan. We assessed the impact of a higher valent vaccine, PCV13, on the serotype distribution of nasopharyngeal carriage in rural Pakistan.

Methods: Children <2 years were randomly selected from two rural union councils of Matiari, Sindh in Pakistan between September-October,2022.

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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Alphavirus and is responsible for causing Chikungunya fever, a type of arboviral fever. Despite extensive research, the pathogenic mechanism of CHIKV within host cells remains unclear. In this study, an in-silico approach was used to predict that CHIKV produces micro-RNAs that target host-specific genes associated with host cellular regulatory pathways.

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  • Hospital handwashing basins are identified as a source of healthcare-associated infections due to biofilms that can harbor harmful microbes and promote antibiotic resistance.
  • The study aimed to analyze the diversity of microbial communities in biofilms from faucets and drains in hospital versus residential handbasins using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
  • Results showed diverse and potentially pathogenic microbes, highlighting significant differences in biofilm communities between hospitals and residences, but not between faucet and drain locations within hospitals, indicating a need for further research on infection control strategies.
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Laboratory and field assays of three sets of experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of different phagostimulants alone and in combination with other phagostimulant lure sources, such as ammonium acetate, DAP, and acetic acid, on the attractancy of both sexes of . In the first experiment, the laboratory olfactometer study revealed that out of eleven phagostimulants, banana, mulberry, mango, guava, molasses, and protein hydrolysate exhibited moderate attractancy (15.2-60.

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Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a significant cause of maternal mortality worldwide. The classification and treatment of hypertension in pregnancy remain debated. We aim to compare the effectiveness of the revised 2017 ACC/AHA blood pressure threshold in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes.

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is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, and its prevalence in potable water is a significant public health issue. Water stagnation within buildings increases the risk of However, there are limited studies investigating how stagnation arising through intermittent usage affects proliferation and the studies that are available do not consider viable but non culturable (VBNC) . This study used a model plumbing system to examine how intermittent water stagnation affects both VBNC and culturable .

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Background: Maternal undernutrition is a direct risk factor for infant growth faltering.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of postnatal balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation in lactating women and azithromycin (AZ) in infants on infant growth outcomes.

Methods: A randomized controlled superiority trial of lactating mother-newborn dyads was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan.

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Historical legacies of colonialism affect the distribution and control of scientific knowledge today, including within the pathogen genomics field, which remains dominated by high-income countries (HICs). We discuss the imperatives for decolonising pathogen genomics, including the need for more equitable representation, collaboration, and capacity-strengthening, and the shared responsibilities that both low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and HICs have in this endeavour. By highlighting examples from LMICs, we illuminate the pathways and challenges that researchers in LMICs face in the bid to gain autonomy in this crucial domain.

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In this study, we conducted first-principles calculations interfaced with Boltzmann transport theory to examine the carrier-dependent thermoelectric properties of CrS Te (: 0, 1, 2) dichalcogenides monolayers. We conducted a systematic analysis of the structural, phonon band structures, elastic properties, electronic structures, and thermoelectric properties, of electron (e) and hole (h) doped CrS Te (: 0, 1, 2) dichalcogenides monolayers. The studied 2D TMDCs exhibit structural stability, as indicated by the negative formation energy.

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  • A lot of pregnant women around the world have a health problem called anemia, which is especially common in low-income places like rural Pakistan.
  • In a study in Karachi, midwives helped treat anemia with IV iron therapy, and a lot of women showed improvement after the treatment.
  • The study showed that many women moved from being very anemic to healthier levels after receiving this special care, which suggests that this midwife-led approach can really help pregnant women.
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Structural symmetry breaking plays a pivotal role in fine-tuning the properties of nano-layered materials. Here, based on the first-principles approaches we propose a Janus monolayer of metallic CoSb by breaking the out-of-plane structural symmetry. Specifically, within the CoSb monolayer by replacing the top-layer 'Sb' with 'As' atoms entirely, the Janus CoAsSb monolayer can be formed, whose structure is confirmed structural optimization and molecular dynamics simulations.

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, an aquatic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is a frequent cause of gastroenteritis with diarrhea and gastrointestinal severe disease. Despite decades of research, discovering a licensed and globally accessible vaccine is still years away. Developing a putative vaccine that can combat the infection by boosting population immunity against is direly needed.

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A malignant tumor is a frequent and common disease that severely threatens human health. Many mechanisms, such as cell signaling pathway, anti-apoptosis mechanism, cell stemness, metabolism, and cell phenotype, have been studied to explain the reasons for chemotherapy, radioresistance, and tumor recurrences in antitumor treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are important tumor cell subclasses that can potentially organize and regulate stem cell properties.

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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a significant complication of many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), although the clinical presentation, severity and outlook may vary widely between individuals. Despite the prevalence, there are no specific guidelines addressing the issue of screening, diagnosis and management of ILD across this diverse group. Guidelines from the ACR and EULAR are expected, but there is a need for UK-specific guidelines that consider the framework of the UK National Health Service, local licensing and funding strategies.

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