Inhibiting Intracellular α-Adrenoceptor Surface Translocation Using Decoy Peptides: Identification of an Essential Role of the C-Terminus in Receptor Trafficking.

The G protein-coupled α-adrenoceptor subtype C (abbreviated α-AR) has been implicated in peripheral vascular conditions and diseases such as cold feet-hands, Raynaud's phenomenon, and scleroderma, contributing to morbidity and mortality. Microvascular α-adrenoceptors are expressed in specialized smooth muscle cells and mediate constriction under physiological conditions and the occlusion of blood supply involving vasospastic episodes and tissue damage under pathological conditions. A crucial step for receptor biological activity is the cell surface trafficking of intracellular receptors, triggered by cAMP-Epac-Rap1A GTPase signaling, which involves protein-protein association with the actin-binding protein filamin-2, mediated by critical amino acid residues in the last 14 amino acids of the receptor carboxyl (C)-terminus.

Prospective Nutraceutical Effects of Cinnamon Derivatives Against Insulin Resistance in Type II Diabetes Mellitus-Evidence From the Literature.

Apart from advances in pharmaceutical antidiabetic agents, efforts are being made toward hypoglycemic agents derived from natural sources. Cinnamon has been reported to have significant benefits for human health, particularly as an anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anti-hypertriglyceridemic agent. The phytochemicals in cinnamon can be extracted from different parts of plant by distillation and solvent extraction.

Effectiveness of international virtual training on biorisk management in the context of COVID-19.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in enormous increases in laboratory activities to keep pace with diagnostic testing and research efforts. However, traditional training, technical assistance, and capacity-building approaches were disrupted by the travel and movement restrictions put in place to control the spread of the disease. To address the needs of laboratorians and managers to conduct laboratory activities safely and securely during the pandemic, a highly interactive virtual training (IVT) workshop on biorisk management during COVID-19 was conducted through active learning strategies that connected speakers with participants.

Dengue and Chikungunya virus co-infection in major metropolitan cities of provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A multi-center study.

Dengue has become endemic in Pakistan with annual recurrence. A sudden increase in the dengue cases was reported from Rawalpindi in 2016, while an outbreak occurred for the first time in Peshawar in 2017. Therefore, a multi-center study was carried out to determine the circulating dengue virus (DENV) serotypes and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) co-infection in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar cities in 2016-18.

Association of FcγRIIa Polymorphism with Clinical Outcome of Dengue Infection: First Insight from Pakistan.

Dengue illness has been a major health concern in Pakistan during the last decade. Dengue infection can result in a spectrum of clinically distinct outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic infection to potentially life-threatening forms of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). A single-nucleotide polymorphism in FcγRIIa (rs1801274) results in altered affinity of the receptor for different subclasses of immunoglobulin G, and is a key player in determining the susceptibility to or protection from severe clinical infection of dengue.

Comparison of in-house developed ELISA with HPLC for measurement of hba1c.

In-house developed ELISA for HbA1c was evaluated in comparison with Bio-Rad D-10 Dual Program (HPLC). % HbA1c was estimated using said methods in 40 blood samples. Intra and inter assay coefficient of variation (CV) were in acceptable range i.