Impact of orientation of carbohydrate binding modules family 22 and 6 on the catalytic activity of Thermotoga maritima xylanase XynB.

Xylanase XynB of the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima, which belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 10 (GH10), does not have an associated carbohydrate binding module (CBM) in the native state. CBM6 and CBM22 from a thermophile Clostridium thermocellum were fused to the catalytic domain of XynB (XynB-C) to determine the effects on activity and other properties. XynB-B22C and XynB-CB22, produced by fusing CBM22 to the N- and C-terminal of XynB-C, showed 1.

Gold Nanorod Mediated Chlorhexidine Microparticle Formation and Near-Infrared Light Induced Release.

Gold nanorods (GNR) are good light harvesting species for elaboration of near-infrared (NIR) responsive drug delivery systems. Herein, chlorhexidine microparticles are grown directly on the surface of gold nanorods and then stabilized with polyelectrolyte multilayer encapsulation, producing novel composite drug-GNR particles with high drug loading and NIR light sensitivity. Crystallization of chlorhexidine is caused by the ionic strength of the chloride solution that has been demonstrated via formation of a homogeneous porous spherical structure at 0.

Molecular detection of Isoniazid, Rifampin and Ethambutol resistance to M. tuberculosis and M. bovis in multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients in Pakistan.

The various aspects of MDR-TB, type of pathogen, different drug sensitive methods and mutation (s) in specific genes were determined. The histone-like protein (hupB) gene of M. tuberculosis was targeted by using primer sets: N & S and M & S (produced 645 bp & 318 bp fragment respectively).

Association Patterns of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene (NOS3) Variant Glu298Asp with Blood Pressure and Serum Lipid Levels in Subjects with Coronary Artery Disease from Pakistan.

Nitric oxide is an important antiatherosclerotic agent. The main determinant of nitric oxide levels is enzyme nitric oxide synthase encoded by the NOS3 gene, the common variants in this gene may be responsible for variations in plasma enzyme levels. The association of NOS3 variants with coronary artery disease (CAD) varies in different ethnicities.

Genomic profile of a patient with triple negative essential thrombocythemia, unresponsive to therapy: A case report and literature review.

Clonal analysis of patients with triple negative myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) has provided evidence of additional aberrations, including epigenetic alterations. To discover such novel genetic aberrations, patients were screened through next-generation sequencing using a myeloid sequencing panel of 54 genes using a genetic analyser. Genetic variants in 28 genes, including , and were identified in a triple negative essential thrombocythemia (ET) patient.

A pre-operative clinical scoring system to distinguish perforation risk with pediatric appendicitis.

Importance: Appendicitis is a common, potentially serious pediatric disease. An important factor in determining management strategy [whether/when to perform appendectomy, duration of antibiotic therapy/hospitalization, etc.] and predicting outcome is distinguishing whether perforation is present.

Alpha thalassemia deletions found in suspected cases of beta thalassemia major in Pakistani population.

Background & Objective: Alpha (α) thalassemia is a hereditary disorder and is caused by deletions or mutations in globin genes. It is present in two clinically significant forms: hemoglobin Bart hydrops fetalis (Hb Bart) syndrome and hemoglobin H (HbH) disease. It is highly prevalent in South-East Asia or Mediterranean countries.

Assessing liver proteins and enzymes of medical workers exposed to ionizing radiation (IR).

The cross-sectional study was conducted to examine hepatic function via liver enzymes/proteins assessments, along with the estimation of an inflammatory response from C-reactive protein (CRP)-which is a liver-synthesized protein. The liver function tests with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin (BBN), and CRP test were conducted for radiation-exposed workers-REW (n = 32) and radiation-unexposed workers-RUW (n = 21). The annual average effective doses (AAED) were measured from thermoluminescent dosimeter.

Synthesis of novel chlorhexidine spheres with controlled release from a UDMA-HEMA resin using ultrasound.

Objective: Establish the release kinetics of new chlorhexidine particles incorporated in a dental resin, and with the application of ultrasound.

Methods: Spherical chlorhexidine particles (SCP) were synthesized (5wt%), freeze dried and incorporated into UDMA-HEMA resins. Chlorhexidine diacetate (CDP) (5wt%) was similarly incorporated in separate resins.

Role of Glioblastoma Craniotomy Related to Patient Survival: A 10-Year Survey in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

A total of 270 glioblastoma patients were treated for tumor resection during 2004 to 2014. The following variables were examined: patient age group (PAG) and percent of the extent of resection (EOR) in four types of resections: gross total resection (GTR), subtotal resection (STR), partial resection (PR), and biopsy/decompression (BD). The Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) was used and the average survival time noted.

In-vitro Study on Temperature Changes in the Pulp Chamber Due to Thermo-Cure Glass Ionomer Cements.

The application of the Glass Ionomer Cements in clinical dentistry is recommended due to properties such as fluoride release, chemical adhesion to tooth, negligible setting shrinkage, and coefficient of thermal expansion close to tooth, low creep, and good color stability. However, the cement is vulnerable to early exposure to moisture due to slow setting characteristics. The uses of external energy such as ultrasound and radiant heat (Thermo-curing) have been reported to provide acceleration of the setting chemistry and enhance physical properties.

Characterization of intermediate state of myoglobin in the presence of PEG 10 under physiological conditions.

The macromolecular crowding progressively has been gaining prominence in recent years as it acts as a sword with double-edge on protein stability and folding, i.e., showing assorted results of having both stabilizing and destabilizing effects.

Genetic risk analysis of coronary artery disease in Pakistani subjects using a genetic risk score of 21 variants.

Background And Aims: Conventional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors like age, gender, blood lipids, hypertension and smoking have been the basis of CAD risk prediction algorithms, but provide only modest discrimination. Genetic risk score (GRS) may provide improved discrimination over and above conventional risk factors. Here we analyzed the genetic risk of CAD in subjects from Pakistan, using a GRS of 21 variants in 18 genes and examined whether the GRS is associated with blood lipid levels.

Molecular detection of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis and hematological and biochemical analyses in agricultural sprayers exposed to pesticides: A cross-sectional study in Punjab, Pakistan during 2014-2016.

We determined the correlation between a pesticide exposure, physical health and susceptibility toward tuberculosis along with hematological indices and liver enzymes' alterations in sprayers exposed to pesticides. Molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis was detected by targeting histone-like protein (hupB) gene. The WBC (white blood cells) and RBC (red blood cells) levels of male sprayers and non-sprayers were significantly different (P<0.

Common variants in the genes of triglyceride and HDL-C metabolism lack association with coronary artery disease in the Pakistani subjects.

Background: Serum Triglyceride (TG) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels are modifiable coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. Polymorphisms in the genes regulating TG and HDL-C levels contribute to the development of CAD. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of four such single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the genes for Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) (rs328, rs1801177), Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) (rs66279) and Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) (rs708272) on HDL-C and TG levels and to examine the association of these SNPs with CAD risk.

Superior septal approach versus left atrial approach for mitral valve replacement: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of superior septal approach and left atrial approach for mitral valve replacement.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised records of patients who had undergone isolated mitral valve replacement from May 2003 to April 2012. Cases were reviewed for the outcomes [primary: loss of normal sinus rhythm; secondary: complications, residual defect and mortality].

Comparative genomics of two jute species and insight into fibre biogenesis.

Jute (Corchorus sp.) is one of the most important sources of natural fibre, covering ∼80% of global bast fibre production. Only Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis are commercially cultivated, though there are more than 100 Corchorus species in the Malvaceae family.

Unraveling the stereochemical and dynamic aspects of the catalytic site of bacterial peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase.

Bacterial peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (Pth; EC 3.1.1.

Comparing a Perceptual and an Automated Vision-Based Method for Lie Detection in Younger Children.

The present study investigates how easily it can be detected whether a child is being truthful or not in a game situation, and it explores the cue validity of bodily movements for such type of classification. To achieve this, we introduce an innovative methodology - the combination of perception studies (in which eye-tracking technology is being used) and automated movement analysis. Film fragments from truthful and deceptive children were shown to human judges who were given the task to decide whether the recorded child was being truthful or not.

Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among Female Juvenile Offenders.

Inmates of Juvenile Developmental Centers are the special group of youth population who are in conflict with law. They are vulnerable to psychiatric illness. The objective of this study was to see the prevalence and type of psychiatric disorders in institutionalized female juvenile offenders and non-offenders of same age, sex and socioeconomic group in the community.

WHO/INRUD prescribing indicators and prescribing trends of antibiotics in the Accident and Emergency Department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Pakistan.

A descriptive, retrospective and cross sectional study was conducted to assess the prescribing practices and antibiotic use patterns in the Accident and Emergency department of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. A sample of 4320 prescriptions (systematic random sampling) was drawn out of a total of 1,080,000 prescriptions written during the period 1st January-31st December 2014. The standard World Health Organization/International Network for Rational Use of Drugs prescribing indicators were used to determine the prescribing practices of physicians.

Electrospun poly(lactic acid) fibers containing novel chlorhexidine particles with sustained antibacterial activity.

The treatment of persistent infections often requires a high local drug concentration and sustained release of antimicrobial agents. This paper proposes the use of novel electrospinning of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers containing uncoated and encapsulated chlorhexidine particles. Chlorhexidine particles with a mean (SD) diameter of 17.

Size-dependent studies of macromolecular crowding on the thermodynamic stability, structure and functional activity of proteins: in vitro and in silico approaches.

Background: The environment inside cells in which proteins fold and function are quite different from that of the dilute buffer solutions often used during in vitro experiments. The presence of large amounts of macromolecules of varying shapes, sizes and compositions makes the intracellular milieu extremely crowded.

Scope Of Review: The overall concentration of macromolecules ranges from 50 to 400gl, and they occupy 10-40% of the total cellular volume.

Prediction of groundwater flowing well zone at An-Najif Province, central Iraq using evidential belief functions model and GIS.

The objective of this study is to delineate groundwater flowing well zone potential in An-Najif Province of Iraq in a data-driven evidential belief function model developed in a geographical information system (GIS) environment. An inventory map of 68 groundwater flowing wells was prepared through field survey. Seventy percent or 43 wells were used for training the evidential belief functions model and the reset 30 % or 19 wells were used for validation of the model.