Transcriptomic and in silico analysis of BLACE (B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia expressed), a new non-coding RNA, as a diagnostic biomarker in B-cell ALL.

ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) is a type of hematological malignancy that involves developmental and differentiation arrest at the lymphoblast stage. BLACE, a gene specifically expressed in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia shows little or no expression in mature B-lymphocytes. The current pilot study involves transcriptional analysis of BLACE in B-cell ALL patients.

Endobronchial growth: Tumor or tuberculosis.

Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is characterized by tuberculosis infection of the tracheobronchial tree. It has variable presentation but tumorous growth-like presentation in bronchus is very rare. The clinical and radiological features are non-specific, which creates a diagnostic dilemma.

Antibody designing against IIIabc junction (JIIIabc) of HCV IRES through affinity maturation; RNA-Antibody docking and interaction analysis.

Hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded RNA based virus which can cause chronic HCV and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV genotype 3a has relatively higher rate of fibrosis progression, prevalence of steatosis and incidence of HCC. Despite HCVs variation in genomic sequence, the 5' untranslated region containing internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is highly conserved among all genotypes.

Interaction Analysis of Adenovirus L5 Protein With Pancreatic Cancer Cell Surface Receptor to Analyze Its Affinity for Oncolytic Virus Therapy.

This study seeks to investigate the interaction profile of the L5 protein of oncolytic adenovirus with the overexpressed surface receptors of pancreatic cancer. This is an important area of research because pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies with a very low patient survival rate. Multiple therapies to date to improve the survival rate are reported; however, they show a comparatively low success rate.

Chitosan-curcumin complexation to develop functionalized nanosystems with enhanced antimicrobial activity against hetero-resistant gastric pathogen.

With the apparent stagnation in the antibiotic discovery and the propagation of multidrug resistance, Helicobacter pylori associated gastric infections are hard to eradicate. In pursuance of alternative medicines, in this study, covalent modification of chitosan (CS) polymer with curcumin (Cur) was accomplished. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy elucidated the covalent interaction between Cur and CS with characteristic peak of imine functional group (C=N).

Genetic polymorphism of the prostasin gene in hypertensive pregnant Pakistani females.

Objective: The study was performed to investigate the association of hypertension in pregnancy with prostasin gene polymorphism in Pakistani females.

Methods: This case-control study was performed at University of Karachi, Pakistan from April 2018 to May 2019. A total of 160 females, including 90 hypertensives and 70 healthy pregnant females, were recruited by purposive sampling after obtaining informed written consent.

Association between preeclampsia and prostasin polymorphism in Pakistani females.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between a prostasin gene variations and the development of preeclampsia in a Pakistani female population. Methods: This was a case-control study carried out at University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan between May 2018 and 2019. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at rs12597511 locus was examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses in 76 preeclamptic and 74 normotensive expecting mothers.

Designing, synthesis and characterization of 2-aminothiazole-4-carboxylate Schiff bases; antimicrobial evaluation against multidrug resistant strains and molecular docking.

Background: 2-Aminothiazoles are significant class of organic medicinal compounds utilized as starting material for the synthesis of diverse range of heterocyclic analogues with promising therapeutic roles as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-HIV, antioxidant, antitumor, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory & analgesic agents.

Experimental: Eight compounds 1a, 2a-2g were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and NMR (H and C). Evaluation of antibacterial potential against multi-drug resistant clinical isolates was performed and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined.

Influence of smoking on lung functions in young adults.

Objectives: To determine the effect of smoking on forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec. and the ratio between the two.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in two Karachi-based medical colleges, Dow International Medical College and Bahria University Medical and Dental College between March 2010 and February 2011.