Publications by authors named "Razak S"

Uropathogens, particularly bacteria, can infect any part of the urinary tract and cause bacteriuria. Our study aimed to examine the antibiotic-resistant profile, associated risk factors, and phenotypic and genotypic features of ESBL, carbapenemase, and mcr resistance genes in multidrug-resistant bacteria. Samples were inoculated on culture media, identified using standard biochemical tests, and species confirmation was performed via 16S rRNA gene amplification.

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Background: Viral hepatitis is the major contributor to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies indicated that the co-infection of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus also prompts liver damage progression. Therefore, in the present study, the prevalence of HCV-HBV co-infection and the impact of HCV-HBV co-infection on the progression of liver damage was evaluated amongst the HCV-infected patients in Pakistan.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study explores how variations in the PRKCG gene's non-coding regions, specifically the 3' and 5' UTRs, affect gene expression and post-transcriptional regulation, focusing on variants that could influence transcription factor binding and RNA interactions.
  • - Out of 419 UTR variants analyzed, 325 were deemed functionally significant, with specific variants linked to RNA binding proteins and regulatory mechanisms like histone modifications, as well as interactions with certain miRNAs in cancer.
  • - Findings reveal that these non-coding variants may alter mRNA structure and affect splicing efficiency, emphasizing their potential role in developing targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases.
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Background: The enhancement of ocular drug delivery is achieved by using biopolymer carriers in liquid ophthalmic preparations. Using natural polysaccharides to formulate ocular medications is attractive because they are economical and readily available. The primary goal of the study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of Tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP)/Hyaluronic acid (HA) containing Rohto eye drops (TSP/HA drops) in alleviating the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) under dry environmental conditions using controlled environmental chamber (CEC).

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Over the past few decades, there has been increasing interest in using probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics. Researchers have conducted studies to investigate bacterial strains for their probiotic potential. Like other animals, fish also have several bacterial strains in their gut that possess probiotic properties, although this is limited to Bacillus species.

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Background And Aim: The healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) can be hindered by the susceptibility of the surrounding intact skin to pro-inflammatory proteases. A conditioned media, known as PTT-6, derived from mesenchymal stem cells found in the lining of red deer umbilical cords, has been formulated to protect the intact peri-wound skin of DFUs. The aim is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PTT-6 in managing peri-wound intact skin in hard-to-heal DFUs.

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Background: New strains of SARS-CoV-2 are continually emerging worldwide. Recently, WHO warned of a severe new wave in Europe. Current vaccines cannot fully prevent reinfection in vaccinated individuals.

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Introduction: The evolving landscape of general practice (GP)/family medicine (FM) in the post-COVID-19 era, focussing on integrating telemedicine and remote consultations requires a new definition for this specialty. Hence, a broader consensus-based definition of post-COVID-19 GP/FM is warranted.

Methods: This study involved a modified electronic Delphi technique involving 27 specialists working in primary care recruited via convenient and snowball sampling.

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The oncogene xCT plays an indispensable role in tumor growth by protecting cancer cells from oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Emerging evidence indicated xCT function is tightly controlled by posttranslational modifications, especially ubiquitination. However, it still remains unclear what specific regulatory mechanism of xCT by ubiquitin ligases in human cancers.

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Efficient wound and burn healing is crucial for minimising complications, preventing infections, and enhancing overall well-being, necessitating the development of innovative strategies. This study aimed to formulate a novel thin film combining chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, tannic acid, and beeswax for improved wound healing applications. Several formulations, incorporating chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, tannic acid, and beeswax in various percentages, were utilized to deposit thin films via the solvent evaporation technique, Mechanical properties, morphology, antioxidant activity, antibacterial efficacy, and wound healing potential were evaluated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a blood cancer linked to the Philadelphia chromosome and influenced by various genes, including ADGRE2, which could serve as a therapeutic marker.
  • The study investigates the impact of non-synonymous SNPs in the ADGRE2 gene on CML's progression using computational tools to assess variant pathogenicity.
  • Results showed that the TT genotype of the rs765071211 SNP was significantly associated with CML patients, indicating its potential as a clinical marker for the disease.
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Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global health concern. Due to late diagnosis and limited therapeutic strategies, HCC based mortality rate is exponentially increasing globally. Genetic predisposition is a non-avoidable intrinsic factor that could alter the genome sequence, ultimately leading to HCC.

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Objective: Strong performance in neurosurgical sub-internships is a vital component of a successful residency application and requires adequate familiarity with clinical knowledge and technical skills that may not be covered in standard medical school curricula. Accordingly, a need exists for immersive and comprehensive sub-internship preparation programs that respect time and resource limitations, are optimized based on longitudinal student feedback, provide opportunities for mentorship, and foster enthusiasm for neurosurgery. Therefore, residents at a single institution designed and implemented a comprehensive curriculum for a 1-day sub-internship academy.

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Bryophyllum pinnatum is used to cure infections worldwide. Although the flavonoids of this plant are well known, it is still unknown how much of the plant's Ag and ZnO nanoparticles are beneficial. In the current research work, silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared using Bryophyllum pinnatum extract.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study looks at how pomegranate peel might help with diabetes and other health issues.
  • Researchers tested the peel for its abilities to fight problems like inflammation and high blood sugar by analyzing the substances it contains.
  • They found that some compounds in the peel could potentially help reduce diabetes by interacting well with a protein linked to the disease.
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a gastrointestinal disease linked with GIT microbial dysbiosis. The present study has targeted the comparative analysis of virulent factor FadA from gut-associated bacteria of CRC patients () and healthy individuals (). For this purpose, FadA protein sequences of fifteen strains of and four strains of , were retrieved from the UniProt database.

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ABO discrepancies in plasma cell myeloma (PCM) present unique challenges in blood typing tests and transfusion management. We present the case of a 51-year-old male with PCM who exhibited discrepancies between forward and reverse blood grouping. Further investigation revealed that the patient's blood type was a variant of blood group B.

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Article Synopsis
  • Variations in untranslated regions (UTR) of the PRKCZ gene impact regulatory pathways, which can affect diseases related to the heart, nervous system, and cancer.
  • The study analyzed data on PRKCZ variants to assess their effects on transcription factor and microRNA binding sites, utilizing various bioinformatics tools to examine RNA structure and gene expression.
  • Results showed that multiple UTR variants, especially in the 5' and 3' regions, significantly impacted binding sites and RNA structure, indicating that PRKCZ is a gene with limited tolerance for genetic variation.
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Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an independent predictor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalence increases with age, but little is known about the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and ED, especially among men with a high risk of CVD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ED among men aged ≥40 years with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with HGS.

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Background: Previous literature has demonstrated associations between grit and positive educational and psychological outcomes, such as higher academic grades, lower attrition rates in medical training, and protection from burnout. However, the predictors of grit have yet to be studied, particularly among medical students in Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the level of grit and its predictors among Malaysian medical students.

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The production of renewable materials from alternative sources is becoming increasingly important to reduce the detrimental environmental effects of their non-renewable counterparts and natural resources, while making them more economical and sustainable. Chemical surfactants, which are highly toxic and non-biodegradable, are used in a wide range of industrial and environmental applications harming humans, animals, plants, and other entities. Chemical surfactants can be substituted with biosurfactants (BS), which are produced by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and yeast.

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Background: Medicinal plant-mediated combinational therapies have gained importance globally due to minimal side effects and enhanced treatment outcomes compared to single-drug modalities. We aimed to analyze the cytotoxic potential of each conventional treatment i.e.

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