Biological and green synthesis of nanomaterial is a superior choice over chemical and physical methods due to nanoscale attributes implanted in a green chemistry matrix, have sparked a lot of ...interest for their potential uses in a variety of sectors. This research investigates the growing relevance of nanocomposites manufactured using ecologically friendly, green technologies. The transition to green synthesis correlates with the worldwide drive for environmentally sound procedures, limiting the use of traditional harsh synthetic techniques. Herein, manganese was decorated on ZnO NPs via reducing agent of Withania-extract and confirmed by UV-spectrophotometry with highest peak at 1:2 ratio precursors, and having lower bandgap energy (3.3 eV). XRD showed the sharp peaks and confirms the formation of nanoparticles, having particle size in range of 11-14 nm. SEM confirmed amorphous tetragonal structure while EDX spectroscopy showed the presence of Zn and Mn in all composition. Green synthesized Mn-decorated ZnO-NPs screened against bacterial strains and exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. To check further, applicability of synthesized Mn-decorated Zn nanocomposites, their photocatalytic activity against toxic water pollutants (methylene blue (MB) dye) were also investigated and results showed that 53.8% degradation of MB was done successfully. Furthermore, the installation of green chemistry in synthesizing nanocomposites by using plant extract matrix optimizes antibacterial characteristics, antioxidant and biodegradability, helping to build sustainable green Mn decorated ZnO nanomaterial. This work, explains how biologically friendly Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposites can help reduce the environmental impact of traditional packaging materials. Based on these findings, it was determined that nanocomposites derived from biological resources should be produced on a wide scale to eradicate environmental and water contaminants through degradation.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Salinity is the major abiotic stress among others that determines crop productivity. The primary goal is to examine the impact of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the growth, metabolism, and ...defense systems of pea plants in simulated stress conditions. The ZnO NPs were synthesized via a chemical process and characterized by UV, XRD, and SEM. The ZnO NPs application (50 and 100) ppm and salt (50 mM and 100 mM) concentrations were carried out individually and in combination. At 50 ppm ZnO NPs the results revealed both positive and negative effects, demonstrating an increase in the root length and other growth parameters, along with a decrease in Malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. However, different concentrations of salt (50 mM and 100 mM) had an overall negative impact on all assessed parameters. In exploring the combined effects of ZnO NPs and salt, various concentrations yielded different outcomes. Significantly, only 50 mM NaCl combined with 50 ppm ZnO NPs demonstrated positive effects on pea physiology, leading to a substantial increase in root length and improvement in other physiological parameters. Moreover, this treatment resulted in decreased levels of MAD, Glycine betaine, and hydrogen peroxide. Conversely, all other treatments exhibited negative effects on the assessed parameters, possibly due to the high concentrations of both stressors. The findings offered valuble reference data for research on the impact of salinity on growth parameters of future agriculture crop.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Combating the limitations of chemical approach, a Phyto-reflexive surface decorated ZnO nanoparticles were synthesis for enhanced activity against resistant infectious agent and toxic dyes. ...Flower-like ZnO nanostructure with average size of 30 nm and 25 nm using chemical method and Phyto-synthesised respectively. Prepared ZnO nano-flowers have been characterised by UV (UV–visible spectrometry), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), HRTEM (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy) and EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy). Anti-bacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exhibited 78%, 88% inhibition for chemical prepared ZnO NFs and Phyto-reflexive surface modified ZnO NFs exhibited 85%, 94% compared to Ciprofloxacin. MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) values against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa of biological ZnO NFs, were calculated as 62.5 and 125 ug/ml and 125 and 250 ug/ml for chemically synthesized ZnO NFs respectively. Anti-fungal activity against Aspergillusniger and CandidaAlbicans showed 78%, 80% activity with chemically ZnO NFs and 91%, 100% inhibition with biologically ZnO NFs. Anti-oxidant potential determination revealed 56.5% and 67.8% activity at 50 mg/mL with chemical and biological ZnO NF respectively. Furthermore, Degradation of methylene blue (MB) using ZnO NFs up to 78% using chemically prepared and 90% using Phyto-reflexive ZnO NFs. Thus, the comparative analysis concluded, Phyto-reflexive surface modified synthesis of ZnO NFs improved infections activity against pathogens and photocatalytic activity for hazardous chemicals.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
Background
Impaired vision is one of the commonest and most disabling consequence following stroke. Among all visual impairments, eye movement disorders are found in 70% of stroke patients ...which include nystagmus, strabismus, gaze palsies, disconjugate eye movements and cranial nerve palsies. They have a wide ranging impact on balance and activities of daily livings by creating difficulties in maintaining normal alignment and appropriate movement of eyes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of visual scanning exercises in addition to task specific approach on balance and activities of daily livings in post stroke patients with eye movement disorders.
Methods
This study is a randomized controlled trial and was conducted in the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital from May 2019 to October 2020. A sample of 64 patients was recruited and randomly allocated into experimental and control group. 32 patients in experimental group were treated with visual scanning exercises along with task specific approach and 32 patients in control group were treated with task specific approach alone. Pre and post assessment of balance and activities of daily livings was assessed on BERG BALANCE SCALE and BARTHEL INDEX SCALE at baseline and at 4
th
week.
Results
Intra-group analysis of BERG BALANCE SCALE in experimental group showed statistically significant result (
p
< 0.05) in all items except in items 4, 13 and 14 respectively. Intra-group analysis of BERG BALANCE SCALE in control group showed statistically significant result (
p
< 0.05) in items 3, 5, 8 and 12 respectively, whereas remaining all items showed statistically insignificant result. Intra-group analysis of BARTHEL INDEX SCALE in experimental group showed statistically significant result in all items (
p
< 0.05) except in items 9 and 10 respectively. Intra-group analysis of BARTHEL INDEX in control group showed statistically significant result (
p
< 0.05) in items 1, 3, 4 and 8 respectively whereas remaining all items showed statistically insignificant result. Inter-group analysis showed statistically significant result in total scores of BERG BALANCE SCALE (
p
= 0.000) and BARTHEL INEX SCALE (
p
= 0.033).
Conclusion
Visual scanning exercises along with task specific approach were found to be more effective in comparison to task specific approach alone.
Trial registration
Trial registration number: IRCT20190717044237N1, trial registration date: 10/11/2019,
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Currently, the whole world is facing the coronavirus disease‐19 pandemic. As of now, approximately 0.15 million people around the globe are infected with the novel coronavirus. In the last decade, ...two strains of the coronavirus family, severe acute respiratory syndrome‐related coronavirus and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, also resulted in epidemics in south Asian and the Middle Eastern countries with high mortality rate. This scenario demands the development of a putative vaccine which may provide immunity against all current and new evolving coronavirus strains. In this study, we designed an epitope‐based vaccine using an immunoinformatic approach. This vaccine may protect against all coronavirus strains. The vaccine is developed by considering the geographical distribution of coronavirus strains and host genetics (Chinese population). Nine experimentally validated epitopes sequences from coronavirus strains were used to derive the variants considering the conservancy in all strains. Further, the binding affinities of all derived variants were checked with most abundant human leukocyte antigen alleles in the Chinese population. Three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I epitopes from spike glycoprotein and nucleoprotein showed sufficient binding while one MHC Class II epitope from spike glycoprotein was found to be an effective binder. A cocktail of these epitopes gave more than 95% population coverage in the Chinese population. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulation supported the aforementioned predictions. Further, in vivo studies are needed to confirm the immunogenic potential of these vaccines.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. is an important fruit crop in Pakistan; however, a constant decline in its production is noted due biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly disease ...infestation. Fungal pathogens are the major disease-causing agents; therefore, their identification is necessary for devising management options. This study explored Taxila, Wah-Cantt, Tret, Chatar, Murree, Kalar-Kahar, Choa-Saidan-Shah and Khan-Pur districts in the Punjab and Khyber Paktoon Khawa (KPK) provinces of Pakistan to explore the diversity of fungal pathogens associated with loquat. The samples were collected from these districts and their microscopic characterizations were accomplished for reliable identification. Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Aspergilus flavis, Botrytis cinerea, Chaetomium globosum, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae and Phomopsis sp. were the fungal pathogens infesting loquat in the study area. The isolates of A. alternata and C. lunata were isolated from leaf spots and fruit rot, while the isolates of L. theobromae were associated with twig dieback. The remaining pathogens were allied with fruit rot. The nucleotide evidence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2) were computed from all the pathogens and submitted in the database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). For multigene analysis, beta-tubulin (BT) gene and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) regions were explored for A. alternata and C. lunata isolates, respectively. The virulence scales of leaf spots, fruit rot, and twig dieback diseases of loquat were developed for the first time through this study. It is the first comprehensive study with morpho-molecular identification, and newly developed virulence scales of the fungal pathogens associated with loquat, which improves the understanding of these destructive diseases.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
With rapid growth of population, global food demand and environmental stressors such as heavy metal contamination are threatening task for researchers. However, advent of nanotechnology in recent ...years has emerged as a promising solution to these challenges. The present study aimed was to investigated the effect of biosynthesized Fe2O3-NPs in the mitigation of Cr stress on Triticum aestivum. Phyto-Synthesized Fe2O3-NPs were prepared and confirmed by Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectra at peak at 299 nm. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed presence of Fe–O. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a round with irregular patterns of Fe2O3-NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a crystalline rhombohedral structure. The zeta potential (ZP) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements of Fe2O3-NPs with values of −20.6 mV, suggesting appropriate physical stability. Morphological analysis of Triticum aestivum in presence of Fe2O3-NPs showed a significant decrease in shoot, root length 18% and 24% respectively and weight 18% and 26% under stress of 350 ppm concentration of Cr. On contrary, Fe2O3-NPs showed an increase in root and shoot length of 8% and 12% and weight 19% and 30% respectively. Fe2O3-NPs improved antioxidant enzyme activities like Superoxide dismutase, Peroxidase, Catalase, and Ascorbate Peroxidase by reducing the effect of Cr. Histochemical analysis also showed an improvement in the viability and permeability of cells on Fe2O3-NPs application. In conclusion, this study confirmed the potential of Fe2O3-NPs to improve the performance of T. aestivum under Cr stress by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To evaluate the spectrum of isolated hollow visceral perforations in patients presenting with abdominal blunt trauma.
The observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted at the ...surgical ward of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from July 1, 2020, to June 31, 2021, and comprised patients who presented in the emergency department after blunt trauma to abdomen without any open wound. Findings of hollow visceral injury were confirmed on exploration laparotomy. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.
Of the 216 patients, 173(80.9%) were male and 43(19.9%) were female. The overall mean age was 42±9.7 years. Most of the blunt trauma abdomen cases were caused by motor vehicle accidents 59(27.3%). The most common hollow viscus affected was jejunum 42(19.4%), followed by transverse colon 29(13.4%). The most common type of injury observed was single complete disruption of hollow viscus 74(34.2%).
The most common hollow organ affected by blunt trauma to the abdomen was jejunum, followed by transverse colon, and motor vehicle accidents were the major cause of these injuries.
To discover DNA ligands against a predetermined receptor protein complex, we introduce a comprehensive version of ligand-guided selection (LIGS). LIGS is, itself, a variant of systematic evolution of ...ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Herein, we have optimized LIGS to identify higher affinity aptamers with high specificity. In addition, we demonstrate the expandability of LIGS by performing specific aptamer elution at 25°C, utilizing multiple monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against cultured cells and primary cells obtained from human donors expressing the same receptor. Eluted LIGS libraries obtained through Illumina high-throughput (HT) DNA sequencing were analyzed by bioinformatics tools to discover five DNA aptamers with apparent affinities ranging from 3.06 ± 0.485 nM to 325 ± 62.7 nM against the target, T cell receptor-cluster of differentiation epsilon (TCR-CD3ε) expressed on human T cells. The specificity of the aptamers was validated utilizing multiple strategies, including competitive binding analysis and a double-knockout Jurkat cell line generated by CRISPR technology. The cross-competition experiments using labeled and unlabeled aptamers revealed that all five aptamers compete for the same binding site. Collectively, the data in this report introduce a modified LIGS strategy as a universal platform to identify highly specific multiple aptamers toward multi-component receptor proteins in their native state without changing the cell-surface landscape.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Pneumoperitoneum caused by a perforated appendix is extremely rare. We encountered a case of a 24 years old male presented in the emergency department of EAST surgical ward of MAYO Hospital Lahore ...with a history of epigastric pain for 10 days, which later became generalized. Chest X-ray showed free air under the right hemidiaphragm. On the basis of clinical examination and radiological correlations diagnosis of duodenal ulcer perforation was made. On exploration of abdomen through midline incision it was found to be a perforated appendix at its tip. The body and base of the appendix was normal. No per operative and postoperative complications were encountered and the patient discharged on the second postoperative day. Biopsy of appendix showed acute inflammation of appendix.
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