Distribution, prevalence and diversity of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting one-humped camels from Southwest Punjab, Pakistan.

In tropical countries like Pakistan, ticks are the most prevalent vectors for transmitting diseases to wild and domestic animals leading to their morbidity and mortality. In the present study, a total of 593 ticks infesting one-humped camels (n = 244) were collected during April till June 2021 from two tehsils of Layyah district located in Punjab (Pakistan) in order to investigate their diversity, prevalence and distribution. Data analysis revealed that camels located in Tehsil Choubara were significantly more tick infested than camels from Tehsil Layyah (P = 0.

Widespread Evolution of Molecular Resistance to Snake Venom α-Neurotoxins in Vertebrates.

Venomous snakes are important subjects of study in evolution, ecology, and biomedicine. Many venomous snakes have alpha-neurotoxins (α-neurotoxins) in their venom. These toxins bind the alpha-1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis and asphyxia.

A Taxon-Specific and High-Throughput Method for Measuring Ligand Binding to Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.

The binding of compounds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is of great interest in biomedical research. However, progress in this area is hampered by the lack of a high-throughput, cost-effective, and taxonomically flexible platform. Current methods are low-throughput, consume large quantities of sample, or are taxonomically limited in which targets can be tested.

Spatial model for risk prediction and sub-national prioritization to aid poliovirus eradication in Pakistan.

Background: Pakistan is one of only three countries where poliovirus circulation remains endemic. For the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program, identifying high risk districts is essential to target interventions and allocate limited resources.

Methods: Using a hierarchical Bayesian framework we developed a spatial Poisson hurdle model to jointly model the probability of one or more paralytic polio cases, and the number of cases that would be detected in the event of an outbreak.

Hazardous Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Ecosystem.

Although nanoparticles (NPs) have made incredible progress in the field of nanotechnology and biomedical research and their applications are demanded throughout industrial world particularly over the past decades, little is known about the fate of nanoparticles in ecosystem. Concerning the biosafety of nanotechnology, nanotoxicity is going to be the second most priority of nanotechnology that needs to be properly addressed. This review covers the chemical as well as the biological concerns about nanoparticles particularly titanium dioxide (TiO) NPs and emphasizes the toxicological profile of TiO at the molecular level in both in vitro and in vivo systems.

Physical and balance performance following exercise induced muscle damage in male soccer players.

[Purpose] The present study aimed to determine the changes in physical and balance performance following exercise-induced muscle damage using a sport-specific protocol. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen collegiate soccer players were asked to perform a sport-specific sprint protocol to induce muscle damage. The markers of muscle damage (soreness, range of motion, limb girth, muscle strength, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), physical performance (speed, agility and power) and balance (static and dynamic balance) were assessed at baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours following the sprint protocol.

Progress and peril: poliomyelitis eradication efforts in Pakistan, 1994-2013.

Pakistan is one of 3 countries where transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus (WPV) has never been interrupted. Numbers of confirmed polio cases have declined by >90% from preeradication levels, although outbreaks occurred during 2008-2013. During 2012 and 2013, 58 and 93 WPV cases, respectively, were reported, almost all of which were due to WPV type 1.

In-silico identification and characterization of organic and inorganic chemical stress responding genes in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

To study the life processes of all eukaryotes, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is a significant model organism. It is also one of the best models to study the responses of genes at transcriptional level. In a living organism, gene expression is changed by chemical stresses.

Concomitant pseudopolymorphs of 10-deacetyl baccatin III.

Three new solvates [mono-dimethyl sulfoxide (mono-DMSO), mono-dimethyl acetamide (mono-DMA) and mono-dimethyl formamide (mono-DMF)] of 10-Deacetyl baccatin III, were generated by slow evaporation in DMSO, DMF, and DMSO/DMA (1:1) solvent systems respectively. Two concomitant forms mono-DMSO(a new form) and di-DMSO (a known form) were obtained in the DMSO solvent system. Yet two other concomitant forms mono-DMA (a new form) and di-DMSO (a known form) were obtained in DMSO/DMA (1:1) solvent system.

Development and validation of a stability indicating HPLC method for simultaneous determination of four novel fluoroquinolone dimers as potential antibacterial agents.

A series of novel 6-fluoro1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinoline carboxylic acid dimers were synthesized as potential antibacterial agents from commercially available substituted fluorobenzoic acids. A stability indicating HPLC method was developed to determine these novel fluoroquinolone dimers using a systematic method development approach. Samples were subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation; and analyzed to demonstrate the specificity and stability indicating ability of the developed method.

A validated CE method for determining dimethylsulfate a carcinogen and chloroacetyl chloride a potential genotoxin at trace levels in drug substances.

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoretic method was developed for determining dimethyl sulfate a possible human carcinogen and mutagen and chloroacetyl chloride a potential genotoxic agent at trace levels in pharmaceutical drug substances by indirect photometric detection. A systematic screening of various anionic probes was performed to obtain the best separation conditions and sensitivity. High sensitivities with low quantification and detection levels were achieved for dimethylsulfate and chloroacetyl chloride using a background electrolyte (BGE) containing 5 mM pyridine dicarboxylic acid as the probe ion.

Pulmonary complications associated with head and neck cancer surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of short-term pulmonary complications in the patients undergoing various head and neck cancer surgeries in our setup and to assess possible risk factors responsible for these complications.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from July 2005 till August 2006.

Etiology and pattern of maxillofacial injuries in the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the etiology and pattern of maxillofacial injuries in the Armed Forces of Pakistan in terms of anatomical distribution of injuries.

Design: A descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: January 2001 to Jan 2004 at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, AFID, Rawalpindi.

Chiral separation of Frovatriptan isomers by HPLC using amylose based chiral stationary phase.

A stereospecific HPLC method for separation of Frovatriptan enantiomers in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulations was developed and validated on a normal-phase amylose derivertized chiral column. The effects of the organic modifiers namely 2-propanol, ethanol and diethyl amine (DEA) in the mobile phase were optimized to obtain the best enantiomeric separation. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 200-6150 ng/mL, with a regression coefficient (R(2)) of 0.

A validated chiral CE method for Frovatriptan, using cyclodextrin as chiral selector.

A cyclodextrin modified capillary zone electrophoretic method has been developed for the evaluation of chiral purity of Frovatriptan using sulfobutyl ether beta cyclodextrin (SB-beta-CD) as the chiral selector. The method is highly specific, accurate and reproducible. The method was optimized with a systematic method development approach by optimizing the pH of electrolyte, attempting the separation in different classes of chiral selectors and modifying parameters such as cyclodextrin concentration and the organic modifier type and concentration.

Adrenal Pseudocysts: Evidence of Their Posthemorrhagic Nature.

Hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocysts are uncommon nonneoplastic lesions that have been reported as secondary to intraparenchymal hemorrhage or alternatively related to endothelial (vascular) cysts. Ultrastructural and ammunohistochemical evidence in support of the latter has been presented, but the exact nature of hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocysts remains poorly defined. We evaluated six surgical specimens of hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocysts using immunohistochemical staining for CD31 and CD34, as well as conventional histochemistry.