Withanolide Metabolites Inhibit PI3K/AKT and MAPK Pro-Survival Pathways and Induce Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive disease and, despite advances, its treatment remains challenging. Therefore, it remains important to identify new agents for the management of this disease. Withanolides, a group of steroidal lactones found in Solanaceae plants are of potential interest due to their reported anticancer activities in different settings.

Association of Interleukin 10 (IL-10) Gene with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of Its Promotor Region G/A 1082.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine with lower circulating levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Cytokines such as IL-10 downregulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which impair proper function of insulin. So any mutation in the IL-10 gene results in increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, which in turn affect insulin action and cause T2DM.

Adherence to oral anticancer chemotherapies and estimation of the economic burden associated with unused medicines.

Background The list of oral and expensive chemotherapy agents has lengthened over the last few years and has created unique medication adherence concerns. In a real-life setting, patients often do not take their medications as prescribed. This pattern is associated with poor outcomes and increased health care costs.

Pyrethroid-Induced Organ Toxicity and Anti-Oxidant-Supplemented Amelioration of Toxicity and Organ Damage: The Protective Roles of Ascorbic Acid and α-Tocopherol.

The pyrethroid toxicants, fatal at high doses, are found as remnants of crop pesticides and ingredients of commercially available insecticides. The toxic effects of high-content insecticidal pyrethroid formulations are available in 0.05 g, 1.

Investigation of antioxidant and anti-nociceptive potential of isoxazolone, pyrazolone derivatives, and their molecular docking studies.

A series of new isoxazolone (3a-d) and pyrazolone (4a-d) derivatives were synthesized and assessed for their antioxidant and analgesic activity. Among synthesized compounds, 3b and 4b having nitro (NO ) group show high analgesic activity at a dose of 6 mg/kg. Analgesic activity was further proceeded to explore the contribution of opioidergic mechanisms in the mediation of analgesic effects.

Folate targeted lipid chitosan hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced anti-tumor efficacy.

Folic acid is often used for active targeting of tumor cells to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Here, folic acid was conjugated with chitosan and folate-conjugated chitosan-lipid hybrid nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method using anionic lipid. These nanoparticles were in size range of 200 to 400 nm with spherical shape.

The efficacy of CoO loaded WO sheets for the enhanced photocatalytic removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in natural sunlight exposure.

Owing to the promising photocatalytic performance, the sheet-like WO was modified by depositing nanostructured CoO at the surface. The appearance of the varying dual absorption edges in the optical analysis exposed the composite nature of the synthesized materials. The structural analysis revealed the deposition of CoO particles at the surface without altering the lattice of WO however, during the processing the cracking of disc was also evidenced.

A computational subtractive genome analysis for the characterization of novel drug targets in Klebsiella pneumonia strain PittNDM01.

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae had been reported previously, which needs rapid attention. Currently, Pittsburgh University Hospital reported a new strain of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae that was co-producing OXA-232 and NDM-1 named as PittNDM01. This strain is resistant to almost all beta-lactam antibiotics such as Carbapenem as well as to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides.

Influence of Rifampicin Pre-treatment on the In vivo Pharmacokinetics of Metoclopramide in Pakistani Healthy Volunteers Following Concurrent Oral Administration.

Background: Metoclopramide is metabolized by various cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes such as CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. Rifampicin is a non-selective inducer of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP enzymes such as CYP3A4 and others.

Objective: This study was aimed at the evaluation of rifampicin's enzyme induction effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of orally administered metoclopramide.

Validation and clinical interpretation of the St George's respiratory questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-C) after adaptation to Malaysian language and culture, in patients with COPD.

Background: Cultural differences affect the administration and results of health status questionnaires. "Cross cultural adaptation" ensures retention of psychometric properties such as validity and reliability at an item and/or scale level.

Objective: To develop a Malaysian version of St George's respiratory COPD specific questionnaire (SGRQ-CM), to evaluate the full spectrum of psychometric properties (reliability, validity and responsiveness), to test the factor structure and to assess minimum clinically important difference for the SGRQ-CM, to be used in population of Malaysia.

Prevalence and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders among tertiary hospitals in Pakistan; findings and implications.

Introduction: Mental health and neurological disorders are prevalent in Pakistan. However, there are considerable concerns with their management due to issues of access, availability of trained personnel and stigma alongside paucity of such data. Consequently, there is a need to document current treatment approaches starting with tertiary hospitals in Pakistan where patients with more severe mental and neurological disorders are typically treated.

Non-Adherence to Prescribed Antihypertensives in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare Settings in Islamabad, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of non-adherence to antihypertensive medication among patients with hypertension attending various healthcare settings in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected healthcare facilities between September 2017 and December 2018. The study was conducted in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare settings in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Genotoxic And Cytotoxic Effects Of Oral Vanadyl Sulphate.

Background: Vanadyl sulphate is available as herbal medicine against diabetes mellitus and body building supplement, over the counter worldwide. The available data on its safety is controversial and inadequate. The objective of this study was to analyse its safety in usual therapeutic dose range.

Comparison Of The Effects Of Broiler And Domestic Chicken Meat On Serum Testosterone And Luteinizing Hormone Levels In Rats.

Background: The aim of study is to evaluate and compare the effects of broiler chicken fed with commercially available feed and chicken fed with organic diet on serum testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone levels in Sprague Dawley rats. It was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Multi-Disciplinary Laboratory of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad from November 2017 to April 2019.

Methods: Ninety male early weaned Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assorted into three groups (n=30).

Journey of begomovirus betasatellite molecules: from satellites to indispensable partners.

Betasatellites are a group of circular, single-stranded DNA molecules that are frequently found to be associated with monopartite begomoviruses of the family Geminiviridae. Betasatellites require their helper viruses for replication, movement, and encapsidation and they are often essential for induction of typical disease symptoms. The βC1 protein encoded by betasatellites is multifunctional that participates in diverse cellular events.

Video game-based and conventional therapies in patients of neurological deficits: an experimental study.

Purpose: In the past few years, medicine has upgraded its therapeutic techniques and practices, with the use of various modern methods that are due to advancement in technology and sciences. It is recognized that the physical health of the patients is significantly associated to their mental state, their motivation and engagement in overcoming the illness. This paper presents experimental comparison between virtual reality (VR) technology and conventional mode of therapy for physical rehabilitation among patients of neurological deficits.

Satisfaction Level of Tuberculosis Patients Regarding Their Access to TB Care and Prevention Services, Delivered Through a Public-Private Mix Model in Pakistan.

Objective: The private healthcare providers (PHCP) are believed to improve access to healthcare services in public-private mix (PPM) projects, as they are considered first point of contact for healthcare. The purpose of this study was to determine the satisfaction level of tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Design: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was carried out during November and December 2017 for 572 under-treatment patients registered with PHCPs in the PPM project.

Antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of ZnO-based nano-formulations.

Introduction: Nanoparticles (NPs) can be toxic due to their nano-range sizes. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has good biocompatibility and is commercially used in cosmetics. Moreover, ZnO NPs have potential biomedical uses, but their safety remains unclear.

The economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Europe: results from a systematic review of the literature.

Objectives: To find the economic burden of COPD and to identify the key cost drivers in the management of COPD patients across different European countries.

Background: COPD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and is associated with considerable economic burden on the individual and society. It limits the daily activities and working ability of the patients.

Potential Anticancer Properties and Mechanisms of Action of Formononetin.

Nature, a vast reservoir of pharmacologically active molecules, has been most promising source of drug leads for the cure of various pathological conditions. Formononetin is one of the bioactive isoflavones isolated from different plants mainly from and . Formononetin has been well-documented for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties.

Novel nonsense variants in SLURP1 and DSG1 cause palmoplantar keratoderma in Pakistani families.

Background: Inherited palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous and phenotypically diverse group of genodermatoses characterized by hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles. More than 20 genes have been reported to be associated with PPKs including desmoglein 1 (DSG1) a key molecular component for epidermal adhesion and differentiation. Mal de Meleda (MDM) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by transgrediens PPK, associated with mutations in the secreted LY6/PLAUR domain containing 1 (SLURP1) gene.

Anxiety, Depression, and Obsessive-compulsive Disorder in a Recently Diagnosed Case of Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune condition that frequently affects women. It is a progressive, debilitating disease that has widespread manifestations, targeting different organs of the body with potentially fatal consequences due to lung and kidney involvement. Women with this disease mostly present with Raynaud's phenomenon along with symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Curcumol: From Plant Roots to Cancer Roots.

Natural products, an infinite treasure of bioactive scaffolds, have provided an excellent reservoir for the discovery of drugs since millennium. These naturally occurring, biologically active and therapeutically effective chemical entities have emerged as novel paradigm for the prevention of various diseases. This review aims to give an update on the sources as well as pharmacological profile of curcumol, a pharmacologically active sesquiterpenoid, which is an imperative bioactive constituent of several plants mainly from genus .

Heterochelates of metals as an effective anti - Urease agents couple with their docking studies.

The current article discusses the activities of several synthesized metal heterochelates in in-vitro as anti-ulcer agents followed by their docking study. For this purpose, two important ligands like 8-hydroxyquinoline and DL-methionine were used in synthesis of heterochelates of metal including Cr (III), Mn (II), Fe (III), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II). It was observed that these complexes showed excellent urease inhibition activities in which thiourea was the standard having IC value 21.