The Rise of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and the Role of Convalescent Plasma Therapy for Management of Infections.

Novel therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 are continuing to emerge as the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic progresses. PCR remains the standard benchmark for initial diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, while advances in immunological profiling are guiding clinical treatment. The SARS-Cov-2 virus has undergone multiple mutations since its emergence in 2019, resulting in changes in virulence that have impacted on disease severity globally.

HD-ZIP Gene Family: Potential Roles in Improving Plant Growth and Regulating Stress-Responsive Mechanisms in Plants.

Exploring the molecular foundation of the gene-regulatory systems underlying agronomic parameters or/and plant responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses is crucial for crop improvement. Thus, transcription factors, which alone or in combination directly regulated the targeted gene expression levels, are appropriate players for enlightening agronomic parameters through genetic engineering. In this regard, homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) genes family concerned with enlightening plant growth and tolerance to environmental stresses are considered key players for crop improvement.

Population distribution and habitat analysis of Rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The Rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) belongs to family corvidae, order Passeriformes which includes about 100 species. The current study was conducted to gather information about the Population distribution and habitat analysis of D. vagabunda at District Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections among pregnant women attending maternity wards at two hospitals in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Background & Aim: Hepatitis B and C infections are global issues that are associated with a massive financial burden in developing countries where vertical transmission is the major mode and remains high. This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among 375 pregnant women attending antenatal care health facilities at Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC) Shahmansoor and District Head Quarter (DHQ) Hospital Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Methodology: From a total of 375 pregnant women selected using systematic random sampling from both hospitals, 10 ml of blood samples were collected and alienated serum was examined for indicators identification through the Immuno-Chromatographic Test (ICT) and 3rd Generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Hybrid nanofluid flow through a spinning Darcy-Forchheimer porous space with thermal radiation.

This work investigates numerically the solution of Darcy-Forchheimer flow for hybrid nanofluid by employing the slip conditions. Basically, the fluid flow is produced by a swirling disk and is exposed to thermal stratification along with non-linear thermal radiation for controlling the heat transfer of the flow system. In this investigation, the nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide have been suspended in water as base fluid.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of dietary vegetables using wastewater for irrigation in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Health assumptions to the population due to the utilization of contaminated vegetables have been a great concern all over the world. In this study, an investigation has been conducted to ascertain metal concentrations in the wastewater, soil and commonly consumed vegetables from the vicinity of Gadoon Industrial Estate Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and total solids (TS) and heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).

Occurrence of Hymenolepis diminuta: a potential helminth of zoonotic importance in murid rodents.

The study reveals the prevalence of a potential rodent-borne zoonotic helminth species, Hymenolepis diminuta in commensal rodents caught from irrigated and rain-fed areas of Swat, Pakistan. Three hundred and fifty rodents (269 rats and 81 mice) trapped during vegetative, flowering/fruiting and mature/harvesting stages of crops were studied from 2011-2013. Hymenolepisdiminuta eggs were identified on the basis of their shape, size, colour and markings on the surface of the egg shell and three pairs of embryonic hook-lets.

Honokiol: A review of its pharmacological potential and therapeutic insights.

Background: Honokiol is a pleiotropic compound which been isolated from Magnolia species such as Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia dealbata. Magnolia species Magnolia grandiflora is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases.

Purpose: The objective of this review is to summarize the pharmacological potential and therapeutic insights of honokiol.

Antioxidants Isolated from (Thunb.) Protect against Bacterial Infections and Diabetes in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat Model.

The increase in resistance of microbes against conventional drugs is currently a hot issue, whereas diabetes is another main cause of mortalities encountered throughout the world after cancer and heart attacks. New drug sources in the form of plants are investigated to get effective drugs for the mentioned diseases with minimum side effects. Thunb.

Exogenously Applied Gibberellic Acid Enhances Growth and Salinity Stress Tolerance of Maize through Modulating the Morpho-Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Attributes.

Soil salinity is the major limiting factor restricting plant growth and development. Little is known about the comparative and combined effects of gibberellic acid (GA) seed priming and foliar application on maize under salt stress. The current study determined the impact of different application methods of GA on morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of maize seedlings under three salinity stress treatments (no salinity, moderate salinity-6 dS m, and severe salinity-12 dS m).

Proteome-wide identification of S-sulphenylated cysteines in Brassica napus.

Deregulation of reduction-oxidation (redox) metabolism under environmental stresses results in enhanced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which ultimately leads to post-translational modifications (PTMs) of responsive proteins. Redox PTMs play an important role in regulation of protein function and cellular signalling. By means of large-scale redox proteomics, we studied reversible cysteine modification during the response to short-term salt stress in Brassica napus (B.

Genistein: An Integrative Overview of Its Mode of Action, Pharmacological Properties, and Health Benefits.

Genistein is an isoflavone first isolated from the brooming plant Dyer's L. and is widely distributed in the Fabaceae family. As an isoflavone, mammalian genistein exerts estrogen-like functions.

Functional nanoparticle reinforced starch-based adhesive emulsion: Toward robust stability and high bonding performance.

Sustainable bio-based adhesive is a promising substitute for petroleum-based adhesives to alleviate serious environmental and health problems. In this work, a nanoengineered starch-based adhesive was fabricated by grafting vinyl acetate (VAc) onto starch molecule and subsequently incorporating the functional nanoparticle [TiO-coupling-poly(butyl acrylate, BA), TKB] to overcome the drawbacks present in conventional nanocomposite adhesive. Results showed that the presence of BA altered the surface property of TKB, leading to improved dispersion.

Stigmasterol can be new steroidal drug for neurological disorders: Evidence of the GABAergic mechanism via receptor modulation.

Background: Gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA) receptors have been implicated in anxiety and epileptic disorders.

Hypothesis/purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of stigmasterol, a plant sterol (phytosterol) isolated from Artemisia indica Linn on neurological disorders.

Methods: Stigmasterol was evaluated on various recombinant GABA receptor subtypes expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and its anxiolytic and anticonvulsant potential was assessed using the elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark box (LDB) test, and pentylenetetrazole- (PTZ-) induced seizure paradigms.

Role of L. Fruits Extract in Combatting the Hematological and Hepatic Toxic Effects of Carbofuran.

L. is rich in numerous vital bioactive constituents, though it is an underutilized among the citrus genus. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the protective role of the fruit (CMF) methanol extract against carbofuran (CF)-induced toxicity in experimental rats.

Prevalence and determinants of stunting among preschool and school-going children in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.

Stunting is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed the prevalence of stunting and associated risk factors of stunting among preschool and school-going children in flood-affected areas of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted by visiting 656 households through multi-stage sampling.

Characterization of a Coliphage AS1 isolated from sewage effluent in Pakistan.

The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, which are posing a global health threat has developed the interest of scientists to use bacteriophages instead of conventional antibiotics therapy. In light of an increased interest in the use of phage as a bacterial control agent, the study aimed to isolate and characterize lytic phages from sewage effluent. During the current study, bacteriophage AS1 was isolated from sewage effluent against E.

Process and applications of alginate oligosaccharides with emphasis on health beneficial perspectives.

Alginates are linear polymers comprising 40% of the dry weight of algae possess various applications in food and biomedical industries. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), a degradation product of alginate, is now gaining much attention for their beneficial role in food, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Hence this review was aimed to compile the information on alginate and AOS (prepared from seaweeds) during 1994-2020.

Pharmacological evaluation of the gabapentin salicylaldehyde derivative, gabapentsal, against tonic and phasic pain models, inflammation, and pyrexia.

Gabapentinoids are effective drugs in most animal models of pain and inflammation with variable effects in humans. The current study evaluated the pharmacological activity of gabapentin (GBP) and its salicylaldehyde derivative (gabapentsal; [2-(1-(((2-hydroxybenzylidene) amino) methyl) cyclohexyl) acetic acid]; GPS) in well-established mouse models of nociceptive pain, inflammatory edema, and pyrexia at doses of 25-100 mg/kg. GPS allayed tonic visceral pain as reflected by acetic acid-induced nociception and it also diminished thermally induced nociception as a mimic of phasic thermal pain.

Fractional-calculus analysis of the transmission dynamics of the dengue infection.

In this research paper, a novel approach in dengue modeling with the asymptomatic carrier and reinfection via the fractional derivative is suggested to deeply interrogate the comprehensive transmission phenomena of dengue infection. The proposed system of dengue infection is represented in the Liouville-Caputo fractional framework and investigated for basic properties, that is, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness of the solution. We used the next-generation technique in order to determine the basic reproduction number R for the suggested model of dengue infection; moreover, we conduct a sensitivity test of R through a partial rank correlation coefficient technique to know the contribution of input factors on the output of R.

Docking-based virtual screening and identification of potential COVID-19 main protease inhibitors from brown algae.

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is a viral disease that causes acute respiratory syndrome, which has increased the morbidity and mortality rate throughout the world. World Health Organization has declared this COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic and classified health emergency throughout the world. In the recent past, outbreaks of SARS and MERS have shown the interspecies transmission potential of coronaviruses and limitations of already prescribed drugs to overcome this global public health issue.

Nanotechnology-based Approaches and Investigational Therapeutics against COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the novel coronavirus responsible for the current global pandemic, which first emerged in December 2019. This coronavirus has affected 217 countries worldwide, most of which have enacted non-remedial preventive measures, such as nationwide lockdowns, work from home, travel bans, and social isolation. Pharmacists, doctors, nurses, technologists, and other healthcare professionals have played pivotal roles during this pandemic.

Role of Withaferin A and Its Derivatives in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease: Recent Trends and Future Perspectives.

Globally, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorders associated with cognitive decline and memory deficits due to beta-amyloid deposition (Aβ) and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. To date, approximately 47 million people worldwide have AD. This figure will rise to an estimated 75.

Bioconvection Due to Gyrotactic Microorganisms in Couple Stress Hybrid Nanofluid Laminar Mixed Convection Incompressible Flow with Magnetic Nanoparticles and Chemical Reaction as Carrier for Targeted Drug Delivery through Porous Stretching Sheet.

In this paper, the steady electrically conducting hybrid nanofluid (CuO-Cu/blood) laminar-mixed convection incompressible flow at the stagnation-point with viscous and gyrotactic microorganisms is considered. Additionally, hybrid nanofluid flow over a horizontal porous stretching sheet along with an induced magnetic field and external magnetic field effectsthat can be used in biomedical fields, such as in drug delivery and the flow dynamics of the microcirculatory system. This investigation can also deliver a perfect view about the mass and heat transfer behavior of blood flow in a circulatory system and various hyperthermia treatments such as the treatment of cancer.

Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials.

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils.