Past studies have shown that healthcare professionals may lack awareness and knowledge regarding oxygen therapy, and its implementation often has several obstacles. This study was carried out to ...investigate the effect of an educational program about oxygen therapy on nurses' knowledge and practices.
This cross-sectional, quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2022 at the pediatric department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, where 160 nurses from primary and secondary health centers attended an educational program delivered in the pediatric department. The pre-test-post-test approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the structured educational program. The independent variable was the educational program, and the dependent variable was the nurses' knowledge and practice about oxygen toxicity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., New York, USA). The data were tabulated as means and standard deviations for numerical values and frequency percentages for categorical values. The student's
-test and the chi-square test were applied to investigate any associations among variables.
The average test scores before and after the implementation of the educational program were 10.75±2.65 and 17.52±2.04, respectively. The average post-test score was greater than that of the pre-test, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001).
The study found that after the implementation of the educational program, the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding oxygen therapy improved significantly, with the majority showing a positive attitude toward the program.
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was firstly reported from Wuhan city of China and found as a highly contagious, transmittable and pathogenic viral infection. The World Health ...Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic since its emergence from China. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (nsp-12) is a complex with nsp-7 and nsp-8 cofactors and is a major constituent of viral replication and RNA synthesis machinery. In the current study, the RdRp of the virus was selected as a receptor protein for computational drug discovery. Computational homology modelling was done in order to find the hidden secondary structures and structural assessment of the viral protein to target them via antiviral drugs. The study was based on molecular docking of different phytochemicals to check their potentials against viral replicative proteins. Out of 200 ligands used in this study from different plants, the best ten were selected based on drug discovery parameters such as S-score, ligand interactions, hydrophobic interactions and druglikeness. The ten best selected ligands were found to be verbenalin, epigallocatechin, swertisin, nobiletin, pinoresinol, caftaric acid, hesperetin, islandicin, neochlorogenic acid and sesamin that exploit the potency as antagonists of viral protein. Among binding interactions of all ligands, Arg339 centred as the main interacting residue among almost all the ligands. Till now, many antiviral agents have shown potency in only mild cases of SARS-CoV-2, but no effective drug has been found for critical pulmonary cases. In clinical trials, many broad-spectrum antiviral agents have been still in trial periods of testing against SARS-CoV-2. Till date, no effective drug or vaccine has been validated with significant efficacy and potency against the SARS-CoV-2; therefore, there is an urgent need to design effective vaccine against nCoV-19 infection.
Ribosomal protein genes are among the most highly expressed genes in most cell types. Their products are generally essential for ribosome synthesis, which is the cornerstone for cell growth and ...proliferation. Many cellular resources are dedicated to producing ribosomal proteins and thus this process needs to be regulated in ways that carefully balance the supply of nascent ribosomal proteins with the demand for new ribosomes. Ribosomal protein genes have classically been viewed as a uniform interconnected regulon regulated in eukaryotic cells by target of rapamycin and protein kinase A pathway in response to changes in growth conditions and/or cellular status. However, recent literature depicts a more complex picture in which the amount of ribosomal proteins produced varies between genes in response to two overlapping regulatory circuits. The first includes the classical general ribosome‐producing program and the second is a gene‐specific feature responsible for fine‐tuning the amount of ribosomal proteins produced from each individual ribosomal gene. Unlike the general pathway that is mainly controlled at the level of transcription and translation, this specific regulation of ribosomal protein genes is largely achieved through changes in pre‐mRNA splicing efficiency and mRNA stability. By combining general and specific regulation, the cell can coordinate ribosome production, while allowing functional specialization and diversity. Here we review the many ways ribosomal protein genes are regulated, with special focus on the emerging role of posttranscriptional regulatory events in fine‐tuning the expression of ribosomal protein genes and its role in controlling the potential variation in ribosome functions.
This article is categorized under:
Translation > Ribosome Biogenesis
Translation > Ribosome Structure/Function
Translation > Translation Regulation
Global circuit of ribosome synthesis.
The COVID-19 puzzle: a global nightmare Mahrosh, Hafiza Salaha; Mustafa, Ghulam
Environment, development and sustainability,
09/2021, Letnik:
23, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
In December 2019, WHO was informed with several unknown pneumonia cases and later it was found as highly contagious, transmittable and pathogenic viral infection. The novel coronavirus (nCoV-19) was ...firstly reported from Wuhan city in China. COVID-19 has raised the concern of the world since its emergence from China. The WHO has declared an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Till now 6,057,853 confirmed cases with 371,166 deaths have been reported from approximately 213 countries of the world. The aim of this study is to discuss all the aspects related to recently discovered novel coronavirus. The article, therefore, provides a comprehensive study on the genomic, epidemiological, social, clinical and environmental aspects of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 uses human ACE2 receptor as a ligand to bind and transmit its genome just like the SARS-CoV. The clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 are very non-specific and include fever, sore throat, wheezing, rales, headache and rhinorrhoea with round-glass pulmonary opacifications shadowing in X-ray. Many antiviral drugs show efficacy but only in mild to moderate infection levels. Though efforts on development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine have been started earlier as soon as the pandemic was emerged, till date no effective drug or vaccine has been validated with significant efficacy against the disease; therefore, there is a dire need to design effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Multiple vaccine candidates are still in evaluation and exploratory stages on different clinical models with potential results on different animals and human models. mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1, Ad5-nCoV, INO-4800, LV-SMENP-DC and pathogen-specific aAPC are the most advanced and potential drug candidates against COVID-19. Recent studies have revealed any attractive vaccine candidates as promising therapeutic agents based on different strategies of vaccines. Here, the rationale of this review was also to provide an overview of the pathogenesis of the virus and summarize the updated potential vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2.
Pyrochlore structure based compounds have shown valuable interest in practical applications because of their structure tunability and stability. In this context, the stability of pyrochlore structure ...in a particular phase is quite essential for practical optimization of valuable dielectric and impedance characteristics of rare-earth zirconates. Thus, in the present work, a series of Nd substituted lanthanum zirconates were synthesized to investigate its effect on the structural, morphological, electrical and dielectric properties. Structural analysis confirmed the formation of sustainable pyrochlore phase in all the samples having space group Fd3m. A drastic reduction in grain size with Nd substitution was visualized by the images obtained using a field-emission scanning electron microscope. The electrical impedance spectroscopy was performed to check the frequency response of the dielectric behaviour, giving tenable information about changes in electrical permittivity due to Nd substitution. Impedance analysis shows a contribution of grains and grain boundaries in these heterogeneous zirconate samples. These regions are easily distinguishable in the sense of their electrical conductivity and impedance characteristics. The conductivity values obtained were lying in the range of nano-Farad predicted these materials to be used as solid oxide fuel cells.
The circumsporozoite protein of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (PfCSP) is the main target of antibodies that prevent the infection and disease, as shown in animal models. However, ...the limited efficacy of the PfCSP-based vaccine RTS,S calls for a better understanding of the mechanisms driving the development of the most potent human PfCSP antibodies and identification of their target epitopes. By characterizing 200 human monoclonal PfCSP antibodies induced by sporozoite immunization, we establish that the most potent antibodies bind around a conserved (N/D)PNANPN(V/A) core. High antibody affinity to the core correlates with protection from parasitemia in mice and evolves around the recognition of NANP motifs. The data suggest that the rational design of a next-generation PfCSP vaccine that elicits high-affinity antibody responses against the core epitope will promote the induction of protective humoral immune responses.
Madam, Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel positive single-strand RNA virus that is the causative agent of COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China, at the end of December 2019. Since the ...beginning of 2020, this virus has taken the world by storm, brought the globe to an absolute crawl for the last two years, and overburdened healthcare facilities in numerous countries. The Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is transmitted via aerosolized droplets, and once the virus finds itself inside the host's body, it undergoes an incubation period between 6-7 days. After the viral incubation period passes, the patient suffers from fever, cough, dyspnea, myalgia, and, in severe cases, hypoxia that requires hospitalization and mechanical ventilation.1 The pathogenesis of COVID-19 involves the dysregulation of the host immune response, which may lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in the host. The dysfunction of the host's immune response involves the hyperactivation of the humoral pathway, resulting in the overproduction of interleukin-6. Elevated levels of Interleukin-6 may lead to the development of numerous pathologies like respiratory failure, shock, and multiorgan dysfunction. This derangement of the host immune response would act as a potential target for several therapeutic agents to relieve COVID-19 symptoms.2 One such therapeutic agent is Toculimizab, which is a recombinant humanized anti-interleukin 6 receptor monoclonal antibody that functions by binding to membrane IL-6 R, thus preventing the formation of the complex with IL-6 and blocking the signal transmission. It is used in several inflammatory immune diseases such as Systemic Sclerosis, Giant Cell Arteritis, Takayasu Arteritis, etc. Tocilizumab has been shown to improve the hyperinflammatory and hypercoagulable state of COVID- 19 patients by reducing the circulating inflammatory biomarkers.3 To support the use and clinical efficacy of Tocilizumab in the hospitalized patient, a 2021 metaanalysis by Kyriakopoilous C. et al. showed the effects of Tocilizumab on mortality amongst Hospitalized COVID-19 patients and to see whether mechanical ventilation would be necessary once Tocilizumab was administered. This research was a combination of observational studies and randomized control trials. The results revealed a reduction in mortalities among 27,004 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In the meta-analysis observational studies, there was an overall 31% decrease in mortality In the randomized control trials, there was an 11% decrease in mortality, along with a 19% decrease in the need for mechanical ventilation, showing that Tocilizumab was beneficial for all hospitalized patients.4
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•Facile sonication-assisted hydrothermal technique was used to prepare pure Co3O4-based electrode materials.•The prepared samples/composites were tested as anode material for sodium-ion ...batteries.•Electrochemical tests confirm Co2.98Zn0.02O4/CNTs as a highly stable and efficient electrode material.
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Advantageous utilization of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) requires superior performance, enriched with cost-effective anode materials, having excellent storage capability, high conductivity, and structural stability. Hybrid structures based on inorganic metal oxides and organic nano-carbons are evolving as satisfactory electrode materials for the next-generation SIBs owing to their exceptional properties. In this study, Co2.98Zn0.02O4/CNTs hybrid is synthesized using a facile hydrothermal followed by a solvothermal route. As prepared hybrid has been utilized as an anode in a Na half cell and the results are compared with Co2.98Zn0.02O4 and bare Co3O4 anodes. Galvanostatic charge-discharge profiles revealed a high reversible capacity of 721 mAh g−1 for the electrode containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) i.e. Co2.98Zn0.02O4/CNTs exhibiting remarkable coulombic efficiency of 99% as compared to the other two electrodes. The hybrid anode showed improved capacity retention (289 mAh g−1) after 100 cycles as computed from the cyclic test which is much higher than bare Co3O4. The rate capability test of Co2.98Zn0.02O4/CNTs showed that specific capacity retained as high as 138 mAh g−1@10 C which is an outstanding rate performance, whereas bare Co3O4 couldn’t perform even after 0.5 C. Sodium insertion/extraction is also improved for Co2.98Zn0.02O4/CNTs, as revealed by electrochemical impedance and diffusion coefficient. From these findings, it is inferred that carbon-based Zn-doped Co3O4 hybrid electrode materials can be a superior combination for high-performance and fast charging future SIBs.
The increased complexity of sample matrices resulted in the requirement of specific and sensitive molecular recognition systems. Although molecular imprinting is an old idea, its potential as ...molecular recognition tool in analytical chemistry has been revived in recent times. This review intended to comprehensively discuss and evaluate the recent progress in the applications of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in analytical chemistry. A concise introduction for new readers in the field is followed by the comprehensive critical review of these developments in MIP technology and their applications in analytical chemistry. This review is divided into three sections namely, extraction, sensors and chromatography. The three sections are further separated into several sub-sections. The applications related to compound extraction are subdivided into extraction of toxins and bioactive compound extraction. MIPs as sensors are subdivided into luminescence probes, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and electrochemical sensors. Finally, the MIP applications as stationary phase for chromatography are elaborated. This section is subdivided into HPLC and capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The significant aspects of applications of the molecular imprinting polymers in analytical chemistry are evaluated focusing majorly on literature appeared in last five years.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
To explore the electrochemical performance, we synthesized a series of Ni-substituted ZnMn2O4 using sol‒gel auto-combustion route. The formation of the tetragonal phase for ZnMn2O4 and its ...transformation into a cubic phase upon Ni substitution is confirmed by the X-ray diffraction technique. Morphology analysis revealed that average particle size is increased from 150 to 250 nm when contents of Ni are increased from x = 0.0 to x = 1.0, respectively. Employing cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge and discharge test, it is observed that pure ZnMn2O4 has a specific discharge capacity of 11.2 F/g which decreased to 8.49 F/g for ZnMn2O4. The tuning of this electrochemical performance is accredited to its hierarchical structure which facilitates charge transfer, large reaction surface area, and good structure stability. All these results validate that Zn1-xNixMn2O4 composites are a suitable candidate as electrode material in supercapacitors.
•Zn1-xNixMn2O4 (x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) nano-spheres were synthesized using sol-gel auto-combustion method.•Phase transformation from tetragonal to cubic was confirmed by XRD.•Particle size slightly increased with increase of substitution contents.•Doping of Ni in place of Zn enhanced the electrochemical properties.•Outcomes of cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge discharge test suggested that Zn1-xNixMn2O4 possessed ideal capacitive behavior, excellent electrochemical reversibility and rate capability.
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