Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

How Pakistan's Media Spreads The Message About Reproductive And Sexual Health, Syed H. Abidi, Muhammad Raees, Syed Ali

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Abstract, issue, and pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Gossypiboma: An Unrecognized And Under-Reported Problem In Pakistan, Abdul Rehman, Noor-Ul-Ain Baloch, Muhammad Awais

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis Caused By Naegleria Fowleri: An Old Enemy Presenting New Challenges, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

First discovered in 1899, Naegleria fowleri is a protist pathogen, known to infect the central nervous system and produce primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. The most distressing aspect is that the fatality rate has remained more than 95%, despite our advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and supportive care. Although rare worldwide, most cases have been reported in the United States, Australia, and Europe (France). A large number of cases in developing countries go unnoticed. In particular, religious, recreational, and cultural practices such as ritual ablution and/or purifications, Ayurveda, and the use of neti pots for nasal irrigation can contribute to this devastating infection. …

Low Doses Of Colony-Stimulating Factors Lead To Resolution Of Neutropenia In Cancer Patients Through Increased Levels Of Dihydrofolate Reductase, Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal, Ikram Ali Burney

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Low doses of granulocyte- colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage- colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have been shown to be beneficial in reducing duration of systemic antibiotic therapy and in-patient hospitalization by decreasing the period of neutropenia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Since the underlying mechanism is unclear, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the administration of G-CSF and GM-CSF in two different doses (low dose and standard dose) would result into resolution of neutropenia with concomitant increase in multiple forms of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR, a pivotal enzyme in the pathway of de novo DNA synthesis). Thirty …

Trans Fatty Acids – A Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease, Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Trans fatty acids (TFA) are produced either by hydrogenation of unsaturated oils or by biohydrogenation in the stomach of ruminant animals. Vanaspati ghee and margarine have high contents of TFA. A number of studies have shown an association of TFA consumption and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This increased risk is because TFA increase the ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization have come up with the recommendation that the contents of TFA in human dietary fat should be reduced to less than 4%. There is high …

Gossypiboma Diagnosed Fifteen Years After A Cesarean Section: A Case Report, Abdul Rehman, Noor Ul-Ain Baloch, Muhammad Awais

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Gossypiboma, a retained surgical sponge, is a rare complication following any surgical procedure and is primarily a result of human error. Such patients often have vague clinical presentations and the diagnosis often comes as a surprise. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman who had a long-standing history of lower abdominal discomfort. She was diagnosed with a gossypiboma fifteen years after a cesarean section. All general physicians, surgeons and radiologists must be aware of this rare but clinically significant entity.

Self-Reported Attitudes And Behaviours Of Medical Students In Pakistan Regarding Academic Misconduct: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kulsoom Ghias, Ghulam Rehmani Lakho, Hamna Asim, Iqbal Syed Azam, Sheikh Abdul Saeed

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Honesty and integrity are key attributes of an ethically competent physician. However, academic misconduct, which includes but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying documentation, is common in medical colleges across the world. The purpose of this study is to describe differences in the self-reported attitudes and behaviours of medical students regarding academic misconduct depending on gender, year of study and type of medical institution in Pakistan.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with medical students from one private and one public sector medical college. A pre-coded questionnaire about attitudes and behaviours regarding plagiarism, lying, cheating and …

Interactions Of Neuropathogenic Escherichia Coli K1 (Rs218) And Its Derivatives Lacking Genomic Islands With Phagocytic Acanthamoeba Castellanii And Nonphagocytic Brain Endothelial Cells, Farzana Abubakar Yousuf, Zuhair Yousuf, Junaid Iqbal, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Hafsa Khan, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Here we determined the role of various genomic islands in E. coli K1 interactions with phagocytic A. castellanii and nonphagocytic brain microvascular endothelial cells. The findings revealed that the genomic islands deletion mutants of RS218 related to toxins (peptide toxin, alpha -hemolysin), adhesins (P fimbriae, F17-like fimbriae, nonfimbrial adhesins, Hek, and hemagglutinin), protein secretion system (T1SS for hemolysin), invasins (IbeA, CNF1), metabolism (D-serine catabolism, dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, and glyoxylate metabolism) showed reduced interactions with both A. castellanii and brain microvascular endothelial cells. Interestingly, the deletion of RS218-derived genomic island 21 containing adhesins (P fimbriae, F17-like fimbriae, nonfimbrial adhesins, Hek, and hemagglutinin), …

Cholesterol-Cholate-Butterfat Diet Offers Multi-Organ Dysfunction In Rats, Humaira Jamshed, Jamshed Arslan, Anwar-Ul-Hassan Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Comparable to commercial expensive high-fat diets, cholesterol-cholate-butterfat (CCB) diet has also been used to induce hyperlipidemia in rats. Our objective was to explore its influence on multiple organs. Consequence of fasting was also analysed.
Methods: Rats in groups 1 and 2 received normal diet (ND) whereas groups 3 and 4 received CCB-diet. Food was withdrawn daily for two hours from groups 2 (ND-F) and 4 (CCB-F). Blood was collected at fourth and sixth week for biochemical estimation; Morris water maze was done in the sixth week for learning ability and memory; after which aortae were isolated for vascular reactivity. …

Culturable Aerobic And Facultative Anaerobic Intestinal Bacterial Flora Of Black Cobra (Naja Naja Karachiensis) In Southern Pakistan, Junaid Iqbal, Mehwish Sagheer, Nazneen Tabassum, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Using morphological analysis and biochemical testing, here for the first time, we determined the culturable gut bacterial flora (aerobes and facultative anaerobes) in the venomous Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) from South Asia. The findings revealed that these snakes inhabit potentially pathogenic bacteria including Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella sp., Moraxella sp., Bacillus sp., Ochrobactrum anthropi, and Providencia rettgeri. These findings are of concern, as injury from snake bite can result in wound infections and tissue necrosis leading to sepsis/necrotizing fasciitis and/or expose consumers of snake meat/medicine in the community to infections.

Treating Cancer With Heat: Hyperthermia As Promising Strategy To Enhance Apoptosis, Kanwal Ahmed, Syed Faisal Zaidi

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

The fundamental idea and the effects of heat on cancer cells are well known. However, the results obtained in therapy by hyperthermia (HT) alone have been only partially satisfactory. Treatment at temperatures between .40 and 44 degrees C is cytotoxic for cells in an environment with a low oxygen partial pressure and low pH, conditions that are found specifically within tumour tissue, due to insufficient blood perfusion. Under such conditions radiotherapy is less effective, and systemically applied cytotoxic agents will reach such areas in lower concentrations than in well-perfused areas. Therefore, clinically, it is preferred to use hyperthermia in combination …

Serene Threonine Kinase 39 Gene Single Nucleotide A-G Polymorphism Rs35929607 Is Weakly Associated With Essential Hypertension In Population Of Tharparkar, Pakistan, Loung Vasandas Umedani, Bushra Chaudhry, Vikram Mehraj, Muhammad Ishaq

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objective: To study the prevalence of Serine Threonine Kinase-39 A-G polymorphism rs3592960 in rural population.
Methods: The random, cross-sectional study was carried out from 2009 to 2010 on 528 subjects in Tharparkar, Pakistan. Data was recorded excluding cases of secondary hypertension. Normotensives were used as the controls and hypertensives as the cases. Genotyping was carried out by tetra-primer amplification refraction mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method and the data was analysed statistically with SPSS-14.
Results: The association of Serine Threonine Kinase-39 rs35929607 with essential hypertension was as 3.07 (95% confidence interval 2.10-4.49) units/mmHg per G allele (p = 0.001). Raised systolic …

Acanthamoeba Castellanii Of The T4 Genotype Is A Potential Environmental Host For Enterobacter Aerogenes And Aeromonas Hydrophila, Farzana Abubakar Yousuf, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Acanthamoeba can interact with a wide range of microorganisms such as viruses, algae, yeasts, protists and bacteria including Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae, Helicobacter pylori, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium spp., and Escherichia coli. In this capacity, Acanthamoeba has been suggested as a vector in the transmission of bacterial pathogens to the susceptible hosts.
Methods: Here, we used a keratitis isolate of A. castellanii of the T4 genotype and studied its interactions with two bacterial genera which have not been tested before, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Aeromonas hydrophila, as well as E. coli. Assays were performed to determine bacterial association with …

Epidemiological Ins And Outs Of Helicobacter Pylori: A Review, Jibran Sualeh Muhammad, Syed Faisal Zaidi, Toshiro Sugiyama

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Helicobacter pylori infection is now recognised as a worldwide problem. It is the most common cause of chronic gastritis, and is strongly linked to peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. A comprehensive understanding of epidemiological ins and outs of H. pylori infection is very important in solving the patho-physiological enigma and might help in leading towards better management and prognosis of infection. This article presents a review of the literature on the epidemiology of H. pylori infection from 2006 to 2011. The authors used Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms 'Helicobacter' with 'epidemiology,' 'transmission' or 'risk factor' to search PubMed database. …

Photochemotherapeutic Strategies Against Acanthamoeba Keratitis, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Here, we determined the potential of photochemotherapy, namely the application of photodynamic compounds followed by exposure to a suitable source of UV-visible radiation against corneal pathogen, Acanthamoeba. Organometallic macromolecule, tin porphyrin [Sn(IV)porphyrin] was synthesized and purity confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The Sn(IV)porphyrin was tested against a keratitis isolate of Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype using growth and viability assays. The effects of Sn(IV)porphyrin on A. castellanii binding to and cytopathogenicity of human corneal epithelial cells in vitro were tested. The metalloporphyrin showed potent amoebistatic effects. The tin porphyrin inhibited amoebae binding to and cytopathogenicity of corneal …

Intestinal, Airway, And Cardiovascular Relaxant Activities Of Thymoquinone, Muhammad Nabeel Ghayur, Anwar Hussain Gilani, Luke Jeffrey Janssen

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Thymoquinone (TQ) is a bioactive component found in many medicinal herbs. In this study, we report the smooth and cardiac muscle relaxant activities of this compound. TQ concentration dependently suppressed spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum while also relaxed high K+-(80 mM) induced contractions in jejunum and guinea-pig ileum, indicating activity at voltage-operated Ca++ channels (VOCC). Further, TQ displaced Ca++ concentration-response curves, obtained in a Ca++-free environment, to the right, showing blockade of VOCC. Similar activity was observed with verapamil, a standard VOCC blocker. TQ also exhibited nonadrenergic relaxation of agonist-induced contractions in guinea-pig trachea. When tested in fluo-4-loaded mouse lung slices, …

Effects Of Betel Nut On Cardiovascular Risk Factors In A Rat Model, Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal, Naseema Mehboobali, Ghulam Haider, Shahid Pervez, Iqbal Azam

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Areca nut (commonly known as betel nut) chewing has been shown to be associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mechanism by which betel nut ingestion could lead to development of CVD is not precisely known; however, dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and inflammation could be some of the potential risk factors. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of two dosages of betel nut on homocysteinemia, inflammation and some of the components of metabolic syndrome, such as hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol, obesity and fasting hyperglycemia in a rat model.
Methods: Thirty-six adult female Sprague Dawley rats, aged 10–12 …

The Role Of Src Kinase In The Biology And Pathogenesis Of Acanthamoeba Castellanii, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Junaid Iqbal, Marie-Josee Maugueret, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Acanthamoeba species are the causative agents of fatal granulomatous encephalitis in humans. Haematogenous spread is thought to be a primary step, followed by blood-brain barrier penetration, in the transmission of Acanthmaoeba into the central nervous system, but the associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the role of Src, a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase in the biology and pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba.
Methods: Amoebistatic and amoebicidal assays were performed by incubating amoeba in the presence of Src kinase-selective inhibitor, PP2 (4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine) and its inactive analog, PP3 (4-amino-7-phenylpyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine). Using this inhibitor, the role of Src kinase in A. castellanii interactions …

Studies On Antidyslipidemic Effects Of Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) Fruit, Leaves And Root Extracts., Saf-Ur Rehman Mandukhail, Nauman Aziz, Anwar Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: The objective of present study was to provide the pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Morinda citrifolia Linn in dyslipidemia using the aqueous-ethanolic extracts of its fruits (Mc.Cr.F), leaves (Mc.Cr.L) and roots (Mc.Cr.R). Results: Mc.Cr.F, Mc.Cr.L and Mc.Cr.R showed antidyslipidemic effects in both triton (WR-1339) and high fat diet-induced dyslipidemic rat models to variable extents. All three extracts caused reduction in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in triton-induced dyslipidemia. In high fat diet-induced dyslipidemia all these extracts caused significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), atherogenic index and TC/HDL ratio. Mc.Cr.R extract also caused increase …

Antispasmodic And Vasodilator Activities Of Morinda Citrifolia Root Extract Are Mediated Through Blockade Of Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels, Anwarul Hassan Gilani, Saf-Ur-Rehman Mandukhail, Javeid Iqbal, Masoom Yasinzai, Nauman Aziz, Aslam Khan, Najeeb-Ur-Rehman

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is an edible plant with wide range of medicinal uses. It occurs exclusively in tropical climate zone from India through Southeast Asia and Australia to Eastern Polynesia and Hawaii. The objective of this study was to explore the possible mode(s) of action for its antispasmodic, vasodilator and cardio-suppressant effects to rationalize its medicinal use in gut and cardiovascular disorders. Methods: Isolated tissue preparations such as, rabbit jejunum, rat and rabbit aorta and guinea pig atria were used to test the antispasmodic and cardiovascular relaxant effects and the possible mode of action(s) of the 70% aqueous-ethanolic extract …

Effect Of Chronic Treatment With A Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor On Reproductive Parameters In Male Rat, Sheikh A Saeed, Naheed Anwar, Khalid M Khan, Noorjehan Sarfraz

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Indomethacin is a member of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly used for treatment of gout, arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions. It has been shown to inhibit ovarian prostaglandins synthesis in mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. However, the effects of its chronic administration on male reproductive functions remain largely unknown. Using rat as a model, we studied the effect of chronic treatment with indomethacin on the male reproductive system.

METHODS: Testosterone was measured in the serum, testicular tissue, and testicular interstitial fluid by radioimmunoassay. Moreover, we also studied the direct effect of indomethacin in vitro on luteinizing hormone stimulated testosterone …

Genetic Variations In A Well Conserved 5-Untranslated Region Of Hepatitis C Virus Genome Isolated In Pakistan, Anila Yasmeen, Anwar Ali Siddiqui, Saeed Hamidb, Taranum Sultana, Wasim Jafri, Mats A.A. Perssonc

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

The diversity and extent of sequence variations between hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates from Pakistan were studied and the probable effects of these variations were assessed on secondary viral structures. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis was performed on 33 samples, of which 25 were typed as genotype 3 by RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and 8 remained unresolved. Rooted neighbour-joining (NJ) tree revealed that 28 isolates were HCV type 3a and 5 isolates were typed as 3b. The majority of unresolved samples clustered in a different branch of genotype 3, supported by a bootstrap value of 71%. Another, cluster, cluster I, …

Hepatitis B Virus Subgenotypes D1 And D3 Are Prevalent In Pakistan, Anwar Ali Siddiqui, Saeeda Baig, Runu Chakravarty Runu Chakravarty, Tariq Moatter

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background:

As the hepatitis B genotyping is important for assessing its clinical implications and geographical distribution, the sub-genotypes have been found useful for determination of specific genomic markers related to hepatocarcinogenesis. In Pakistan, there is no reported data on molecular evolutionary analysis of HBV. A study was, therefore, much needed to evaluate the spectra of mutations present in the strains prevalent here.

Findings:

To confirm specificity of PCR typing, phylogenetic analysis of the pre-S1 region and the divergence was studied through 13 sequences of 362 bp (accession number EF432765 – EF432777). A total of 315 serum samples, selected from HBsAg …

In Vitro And In Vivo Anthelmintic Activity Of Terminalia Arjuna Bark, Hafiz Allah Bachaya, Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Nisar Khan, Abdul Jabbar, Anwar Hassan Gilani, Islam-Ud Din

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) bark locally used as an anthelmintic. Lethal median concentration (LC50 values) of methanolic extract of T. arjuna bark in egg hatch and larval development tests against Haemonchus contortus ova and larva were found to be 645.65 and 467.74 μg mL-1, respectively. Inadult motility assay, efficacy of the extract was evident by the mortality of H. contortus at different hours post exposure. Invivo results revealed maximum (87.3%) egg count percent reduction (ECR) in sheep treated with crude methanolic extract @ 3 g kg-1 body …

Altered Expression Of Cell Cycle And Apoptotic Proteins In Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection., Saira Sarfraz, Saeed Hamid, Anwar Ali Siddiqui, Snawar Hussain, Shahid Pervez, Graeme Alexander

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: A disrupted cell cycle progression of hepatocytes was reported in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which can contribute significantly in the associated pathogenesis. The present study aimed to further elaborate these disruptions by evaluating the expression of key cell cycle and apoptotic proteins in chronic HCV infection with particular reference to genotype 3. Archival liver biopsy specimens of chronic HCV-infection (n = 46) and normal histology (n = 5) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against proliferation marker Mcm-2, G1 phase marker Cyclin D1, S phase marker Cyclin A, cell cycle regulators p21 (CDK inhibitor) and p53 (tumor …

Offsprings Of Hypertensive Parents Have Higher Blood Pressure And Bmi, Syed Faraz Kazim, Muhammad Bilal Salman, Akbar Jaleel Zubairi, Aisha Afzal, Usman Ahmad, Philippe M Frossard

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Ginger Facilitates Cholinergic Activity Possibly Due To Blockade Of Muscarinic Autoreceptors In Rat Stomach Fundus, Muhammad N. Ghayur, Adil H. Khan, Anwarul H. Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a universally known food plant reputed for its medicinal use in gastrointestinal disorders as a prokinetic and laxative. We recently showed that 70% aqueous-methanolic extract of ginger (Zo.Cr) exhibits prokinetic activity in rats via activation of post-synaptic muscarinic M3 receptor in rat stomach fundus. In view of the physiological significance of pre-synaptic muscarinic M1 and M2 autoreceptors, this study was undertaken to further look into the possible mode of action of the prokinetic effect of ginger through inhibition of pre-synaptic muscarinic receptors. Isolated tissue bath experiments were performed with Sprague-Dawley rat stomach fundus strip preparations immersed …

Hiv/Aids In Pakistan: The Battle Begins, Mohammad A. Rai, Haider J. Warraich, Syed H. Ali, Vivek R. Nerurkar

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Pakistan, the second most populous Muslim nation in the world, has started to finally experience and confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The country had been relatively safe from any indigenous HIV cases for around two decades, with most of the infections being attributable to deported HIV positive migrants from the Gulf States. However, the virus finally seems to have found a home-base, as evidenced by the recent HIV outbreaks among the injection drug user community. Extremely high-risk behavior has also been documented among Hijras (sex workers) and long-distance truck drivers. The weak government response coupled with the extremely distressing social demographics …

Total Parotidectomy Under Local Anesthesia: A Novel Technique, Kamran Shahid, Bilal Karim Siddiqui, Muhammad Hammad Tahir, Salman Bin Ayub, Ghulam Murtaza Memon, Adnan Yousuf, Arif Hussain, Osmani, Abdul Karim Siddiqui

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Parotidectomy is a common procedure usually done for a parotid mass necessitating a histological diagnosis. Operation is normally performed under General anesthesia with a nerve stimulator to facilitate facial nerve stimulation. We describe a new technique with reports of three cases, making total parotidectomy under local anesthesia possible. The ascending cervical branch of cervical plexus and the auriculotemporal nerve were anesthetized by bupivacaine 0.25% (2mg/kg) and lignocaine with adrenaline 7 mg/kg. Effective onset of anesthesia was within 15-25 minutes and the operations lasted between 2-3 hours without any complications. This offers advantage in high-risk patients where general anesthesia is contraindicated. …

Beta-Lactamase: An Ideal Reporter System For Monitoring Gene Expression In Live Eukaryotic Cells, Sohail A. Qureshi

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

To gain insightful information about the mechanisms through which genes are activated and repressed requires gene reporter systems that are sensitive, robust, and cost-effective. Although numerous reporter gene technologies are commercially available, none are as sophisticated and user-friendly as beta-lactamase (BLA) when it comes to studying gene expression in live cells. This article presents an overview of the BLA technology and describes how it can be exploited for studying rare events such as homologous recombination in somatic cells and be used to deliver any DNA sequence of choice anywhere within the genome.