Advancements in Life Sciences, volume 2, issue 3
Published online: 25-May-2015
ISSN 2310-5380
IN THIS ISSUE
Review Articles:
Potent Implications of miRNA in Cancer Biology – A Brief Review
Zeeshan Javed, Muhammad Zaheer Iqbal, Muhammad Umair Latif, Hafiz Muhammad Farooq Yaqub, Qamar Raza Qadri, pages 106-109
Read Abstract Groundbreaking findings through high-throughput technologies have deepened our understanding on an intricate interplay between products of coding sequences and noncoding RNAs. Increasingly it is being realized that miRNA, produced from what was previously considered as "genomic trash" have revolutionized the field of molecular and translational oncology. Overwhelmingly accumulating in-vitro and in-vivo studies have demonstrated that miRNA are key players involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene network in numerous human pathologies including cancer. In this review we have attempted to provide recent advancements related to multifaceted roles played by miRNA in modulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Dengue: pathogenesis, prevention and treatment – A mini review
Tahir Hussain, Muhsin Jamal, Tayyab-ur-Rehman, Saadia Andleeb, pages 110-114
Read Abstract Dengue is a threatening tropical disease which has become the cause of significant mortality, morbidity and economic burden. Dengue is an epidemic in over 100 countries, and it causes up to 25000 deaths every year. There is no specific cure available for the disease, hence fluid resuscitation is the only ultimate treatment given to patients in severe conditions. Dengue is more threatening in Southeast Asia, where it is the leading cause of deaths in children, and where all four serotypes of the dengue virus and the vector, Aedes aegypti, are endemic. In last few decades, an overwhelming increase was seen in dengue infections around the world and it is estimated that two fifths of the world's population is now at risk from dengue with the mortality rate of about 5%. To control dengue infection, combination of care measures are utilized which depends on the symptoms and severity of the fever, including oral rehydration solution or isotonic intravenous fluids and/or blood transfusions. Currently, the only effective way of preventing the dengue epidemics is eliminating the vector. This review covers pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of dengue infection.
Full Length Research Articles:
Status of oxidative stress in breast cancer patients in Pakistani population
Sara Javed, Muhammad Ali, Fatima Ali, Sanam Saiqa Anwar, Nadia Wajid, pages 115-118
Read Abstract Background: Breast cancer is a major risk factor to the health of women around the globe and every year more than one million women are diagnosed with it. Pakistan is considered on the highest risk of breast cancer among Asian countries. One of the major reasons associated with higher incidence rate is oxidative stress condition in Pakistani women. The aim of this study was to analyze oxidative stress in patients with breast cancer in local population. Methods: Activity of antioxidant enzymes i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, level of reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in the blood samples of breast cancer patients. To emphasize the results and the extent of lipid peroxidation in terms of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) level were also evaluated. All the activities from cancer patients were compared with those of healthy people taken as control. Results: The levels of GSH and MDA were found higher in the patients as compared to control group. While, activity of SOD and catalase enzymes was low in the diseased group.Conclusion: Our study shows a significant oxidative stress in breast cancer patients in local population.
Study of drug mediated effects in mice: Histology based findings
Mehwish Altaf, Sidra Hasnain, Muhammad RaziUllah Khan, Muhammad Wasim Khan, pages 119-124
Read Abstract Background: Drugs induce numerous kinds of pharmacological effects in different body organs. For protecting organs from damage and destruction from drugs, the study of such effects is extremely important. Rapidly accumulating experimental data has opened new horizons for a comprehensive re-conceptualization of chemical modulated changes in histological features of body tissues. Methods: In this study we studied dextromethorphan, ethanol, methanol and midazolam induced changes in histological specimen from different organs in post-treated mice. Results: No pathological changes were observed in heart, liver and kidney by administering dextromethorphan at a dose of 61 mg/kg. While, ethanol causes pathological changes in heart, liver and kidney tissue at high dose i.e. 2000 mg/kg. Gross Pathological changes were observed in heart, liver and kidney by giving midazolam at a dose of 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: Dextromethorphan showed lesser side effects and is less toxic as compared with other drugs, such as, ethanol, methanol and midazolam. Lesser toxic effects were observed when drugs were administered alone, but in combination, these drugs produced higher toxic effects.
Morphological and biochemical characterization of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae isolates collected from Punjab during 2013
Hafiz Muhammad Imran Arshad, Saima Naureen, Kamran Saleem, Safdar Ali, Tanzila Jabeen, Muhammad Masood Babar, pages 125-130
Read Abstract Background: Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice occupies the most significant position among various potentially important bacterial diseases all over Pakistan. The first important step towards the management of this disease is the characterization of the pathogen. Methods: Survey was conducted and disease samples were collected from 9 different locations of Punjab. Isolation and characterization by biochemical tests was done from the diseased samples under standard conditions in the laboratory. For pathogenicity and virulence characterization, all isolates were inoculated on IR-24, Basmati super and Basmati-2000 varieties. Data was recorded after three weeks of inoculation. Results: 30 isolates of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) were purified from the diseased plants of different geographical origin which had very similar morphological and biochemical characteristics. PXo-20 (causing 51.35% leaf damage) and PXo-16 (causing 50.05% leaf damage) were found most virulent for Basmati Super and Basmati-2000.Conclusion: The presence of highly virulent isolates in Sheikhupura is alarming and there is dire need to incorporate new resistance genes in commercial rice cultivars to cope with BLB.
Short Coummnications:
Estimation of Different Biochemical Intensities in Drinking Water from Eastern Region of Lahore City
Muhammad Adnan Shan, Fazeelat Tahira, Muhammad Shafique, Manzoor Hussain, Rukhsana Perveen, Muhammad Shahzad, Farhana Ehsan, Muhammad Saqib Shahzad, Ziaur Rahman, Qurban Ali, Muhammad Iqbal, pages 131-134
Read Abstract Background: Lahore is city of over 8 million population with consumption of over 350 million gallons of fresh water per day. The present study was undertaken to determine the suitability of ground water from different areas of Mughalpura Lahore which is being used for drinking purposes. Methods: The ionic concentration of TDS (total dissolved solids), TSS (total suspended solids), calcium, magnesium, sulphate, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate and alkalinity in the collected water samples was determined. The concentration of heavy metals like Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, As, Pb and Fe was estimated by applying American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods. The EC (electrical conductivity), pH, BOD (biological oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) values of the water were also measured. Data was statistically analyzed through analysis of variance technique. Results: Increasing concentrations of heavy metals like Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, As, Pb, Fe and TDS, TSS, calcium, magnesium, sulphate, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate and alkalinity were obtained. The observed values of EC, BOD and COD were also high in range. Only the pH value obtained was in the range of WHO standards. Conclusion: It was concluded from correlation among various chemical components in water like Ca+2, Mg+2, HCO3- and SO4-2 that this water is not safe for drinking according to WHO standards. The correlation among alkalinity, pH, Ca+2, Cl-, EC, HCO3-, SO4-2, TH and TSS further suggested that the samples with higher amount of these components must not be used for drinking purposes by animals and human.
Detection of bacterial load in drinking water samples by 16s rRNA ribotyping and RAPD analysis
Mariyam Zameer, Saleha Mahmood, Zubaria Mushtaq, Bushra Tabasum, Qurban Ali, Nasir Mahmood, Nadia Jamil, Soniya Munir, pages 135-141
Read Abstract Background: Safe and healthy drinking water is inaccessible to more than 20% of the world population. Among some major risks to safety of potable water, contamination with pathogenic microorganisms is the most alarming and harmful Therefore, it is needed to develop and implement fast and accurate methods for the detection of bacterial contamination in water. Methods: Biological analysis of drinking water samples obtained from nine different collection points of Lahore city was carried out and total of six different bacterial strains were isolated. Biochemical characterization was done under standard laboratory conditions. Molecular identification of these isolates was done by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Results: The drinking water sample collected from Punjab University showed highest bacterial count 1066/0.5 ml of drinking water while residential area of University of the Punjab contained least number of bacterial counts i.e., 38/0.5 ml of drinking water. Amplification patterns of isolates SZ1, SZ3, SZ4 and SZ6 obtained by RAPD were found similar to genus Bacillus. While, SZ2 and SZ5 had unique amplification patterns identical to Bacillus megaterium. All the six bacterial strains were tested for the presence of protease, lipase, cellulase, and amylase. Strain SZ2 gave positive result for all of them except amylase. Conclusion: Tube well water of Punjab University area of Lahore is safe for drinking purpose except admin block tube. It is recommended to monitor the bacteriological load of drinking water at regular intervals in order to control water borne bacterial diseases.
