Assessment of growth, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential of urban tree species in greenbelts.

This study assessed the growth, biomass, and carbon storage potential of four urban tree species-Pinus roxburghii, Broussonetia papyrifera, Jacaranda mimosifolia, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis-in Islamabad's greenbelts. Sampling was conducted using a quadrat method, covering five sites (F-9, G-8, H-8, I-8, Zero-Point), with 400 trees analyzed. Growth parameters such as diameter at breast height (DBH), height, aboveground biomass (AGB), aboveground carbon density (ACD), belowground carbon density (BCD), basal area (BA), and volume were measured.

Synthesis, molecular docking, ADMET studies and antimicrobial activities of coumarin-chalcone hybrid derivatives.

The exploitation of naturally derived drugs can become a replacement for ineffective drugs due to the relentless antimicrobial resistance. A series of natural-product-based coumarin-chalcones () were synthesised facile Steglich esterification. The coumarin-chalcones () showed effective inhibition against (7-13 mm) and (8-12 mm) in comparison to the standard drug ampicillin and coumarin alone.

Facile Synthesis and Applications of Flavonoid-Heterocyclic Derivatives.

Flavonoids belong to the polyphenol group that naturally exists in fruits, vegetables, tea, and grains. Flavonoids, as secondary metabolites, show indispensable contributions to biolog-ical processes and the responses of plants to numerous environmental factors. The bioactivity of flavonoids depends on C6-C3-C6 ring substitution patterns that exhibit bioactive antioxidant, an-timicrobial, antifungal, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Molecular characterization of human adenoviruses associated with pediatric respiratory infections in Karachi, Pakistan.

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are a diverse group of viruses associated with respiratory infections in humans worldwide. However, there is a lack of research on the genetic diversity and epidemiology of HAdVs in Pakistan. This study characterized HAdVs in pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections in Karachi, Pakistan, between 2022 and 2023.

Determination of hepatitis C virus subtype prevalent in Sindh, Pakistan: a phylogenetic analysis.

Hepatitis is a major public health issue, affecting 10-17 million people worldwide, with its prevalence continuously increasing. The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for liver related diseases, which include liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and chronic hepatitis. Pakistan is experiencing a serious rise in HCV cases.

Cocrystals of a coumarin derivative: an efficient approach towards anti-leishmanial cocrystals against MIL-resistant Leishmania tropica.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic tropical disease with numerous clinical manifestations. One of the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) known for causing ulcerative lesions on the skin.

Study of drug resistance-associated genetic mutations, and phylo-genetic analysis of HCV in the Province of Sindh, Pakistan.

Current management of HCV infection is based on Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs (DAAs). However, resistance-associated mutations, especially in the NS3 and NS5B regions are gradually decreasing the efficacy of DAAs. The aim of the current study was to identify such mutations in the NS3, and NS5B genes in DAAs treatment-naïve Pakistani chronic HCV 3a patients.

New cocrystals of heterocyclic drugs: structural, antileishmanial, larvicidal and urease inhibition studies.

Many heterocycles have been developed as drugs due to their capacity to interact productively with biological systems. The present study aimed to synthesize cocrystals of the heterocyclic antitubercular agent pyrazinamide (PYZ, 1, BCS III) and the commercially available anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine (CBZ, 2, BCS class II) to study the effect of cocrystallization on the stability and biological activities of these drugs. Two new cocrystals, namely, pyrazinamide-homophthalic acid (1/1) (PYZ:HMA, 3) and carbamazepine-5-chlorosalicylic acid (1/1) (CBZ:5-SA, 4), were synthesized.

Repurposing of US-FDA approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M) by using STD-NMR spectroscopy, in silico studies and antiviral assays.

SARS-CoV-2 Main protease (M) is a well-known drug target against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Identification of M inhibitors is vigorously pursued due to its crucial role in viral replication. The present study was aimed to identify M inhibitors via repurposing of US-FDA approved drugs by STD-NMR spectroscopy.

Anti-leishmanial physalins-Phytochemical investigation, in vitro evaluation against clinical and MIL-resistant L. tropica strains and in silico studies.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major health problem in over 98 countries of the world, including Pakistan. The current treatments are associated with a number of adverse effects and availability problem of drugs. Therefore, there is an urgent need of easily available and cost effective treatments of CL- in Pakistan.

COVID-19 independently predicts poor outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke- Insights from a multicenter study from Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.

Background: Ischemic stroke associated with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been well recognized by now. Few studies have compared COVID related versus unrelated strokes. We intend to report on a large group of Asian patients from two countries and compare COVID with non-COVID strokes admitted during the same time period.

Identification of quinoline derivatives as growth inhibitors of MDR pathogen .

This study was aimed to identify compounds with significant inhibitory potential against multidrug-resistant (MDR), multidrug-sensitive and clinical isolates of . Antibacterial activity of the nitroquinoline derivatives was assessed by micro-plate Alamar Blue assay. Nitroquinoline derivatives , and showed inhibitory activity against MDR .

Genome sequencing and analysis of genomic diversity in the locally transmitted SARS-CoV-2 in Pakistan.

Surveillance of genetic diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 is extremely important to detect the emergence of more infectious and deadly strains of the virus. In this study, we evaluated mutational events in the SARS-CoV-2 genomes through whole genome sequencing. The samples were collected from COVID-19 patients in different major cities of Pakistan during the four waves of the pandemic (May 2020 to July 2021) and subjected to whole genome sequencing.

16S metagenomics dataset of and rhizosphere from Kallar Syedan Punjab, Pakistan.

Plant microbiome referred to as plant second genome, plays pivotal role in determination of vigor and productivity of plant. Current high-throughput sequence technologies provide remarkable insight into microbial diversity and host microbe interaction. The obtained dataset aimed to reveal the core bacterial community residing the rhizosphere of two leading cereal crops and grown in different seasons at the same geographical area.

Frequency of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Dubai, UAE-A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background And Purpose: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), also known as cerebral dural venous thrombosis, is not a very common cause of stroke. It has a diverse clinical presentation, with multiple predisposing factors and imaging findings. The incidence of CVT varies in different studies.

Rice straw biochar in combination with farmyard manure mitigates bromoxynil toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Herbicide residues in agriculture commodities are a serious threat for human health and crop production. We investigated the efficient utilization of rice straw biochar and farmyard manure as organic amendments in mitigating the bromoxynil residues in leaves, grain, husk and root tissues of wheat plants. Growth and yield of wheat plants were also examined under field conditions through a 02-year field experiment.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Mukia maderaspatana (L) and their biological activities.

Nanotechnology is a field of science that consists of atoms, molecules and supramolecular molecules that create nanoparticles ranging in size from 1-100nm. Silver nanoparticles are widely used that are considered as effective antimicrobial agents. In this paper, the antioxidant activity of biosynthesized SNPs were analyzed by the DPPPH activity, hydrogen peroxide activity, hydroxyl RSA, TAC, TFC; their results confirmed that the phenolic compounds of this plant peels extracts enhanced the antioxidant and antiglycation activity with respect to silver nanoparticles.

Antimicrobial and synergistic activity of thiazoline derivatives in combination with conventional antibiotics against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from abscess drainage samples.

Emergence and spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus strains is becoming major challenge in treatment of soft tissue infections. This study aimed to explore antimicrobial and synergistic antimicrobial potential of three commercially available thiazoline derivatives (2-amino-2-thiazoline, 2-thiazoline-2-thiol and 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline) against MDR Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from abscess drainage samples (n=20). MDR Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay and were further subjected to molecular identification by 16srRNA amplification and DNA sequencing.

Probiotic potential of Saccharomyces strains isolated from Litchi chinensis (Lychee fruit).

Recently, probiotic yeasts have become an interesting topic of research all over the world. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well proven probiotic yeast against several gastrointestinal diseases. Current study aimed to explore the probiotic potential and antibacterial properties of Saccharomyces strains isolated from fresh lychee fruits available in local markets of Karachi, Pakistan.

Mesomeric Effects of Azobenzene Bearing Natural Product-Based Molecules for Liquid Crystal Materials: An Overview.

Latest progress in the liquid crystal (LC) field related to azo molecules incorporated into natural product- based moieties for the improvement of LC texture and mesomeric phases has received great interest among researchers. A LC containing natural product-based moieties i.e.

Characterization of bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of Triticum aestivum L.

The plant microbiome influence plant health, yield and vigor and has attained a considerable attention in the present era. In the current study, native bacterial community composition and diversity colonizing Triticum aestivum L. rhizosphere at two distant geographical locations including Mirpur Azad Kashmir and Islamabad was elucidated.

and anticandidal activity of (L.) sprague seeds ethanolic extract and thymol-containing hexanes fraction.

is the causative agent of candidiasis in immunocompromised and diseased individuals. The current study was designed to evaluate the antifungal activity of (L.) Sprague seeds ethanolic extract and hexanes fraction against , both and .

Case series of rare Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease where periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive eosinophilic material accumulates in the alveoli of the lungs. Here we describe two cases of young males who presented with dynpnoea and weight loss. The HRCT scan of the chest in both cases showed the typical "crazy-paving" pattern and lung biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of PAP.

Harmaline and its Derivatives Against the Infectious Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli.

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in the treatment of infectious diseases. The MDR in urinary tract infection causing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, has made treatment of UTI very difficult.

Objective: The aims of the current study were to synthesize a library of harmaline derivatives, and to evaluate their activity against various strains of multi-drug resistance (MDR) E.

Self-medication with antibiotics among non-medical university students of Karachi: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of self -medication with antibiotics is quite high in developing countries as opposed to developed countries. Antibiotics are often taken erroneously for certain ailments, without having the appropriate knowledge of their use. This carries potential risks for the individual as well as the community, in form of several side effects such as antibiotic resistance.