The present study investigated the (i) socio-demographic predictors of psychological distress, (ii) socio-demographic predictors of satisfaction from online classes, and (iii) the relationship ...between psychological distress and satisfaction from online classes among university students of Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire-based survey was conducted. A total of 2220 respondents that was enrolled at the University of the Punjab (PU), University of Management and Technology (UMT), and the University of Central Punjab (UCP) were involved in the current study. Data were collected at a 64% response rate and analyzed with SPSS IBM Version 21.0. Results revealed that approximately 41% of the students were facing severe psychological distress while about 65% were found unsatisfied with online classes. Besides, a linear negative relationship between the independent variable, i.e. psychological distress and the dependent variable, i.e. satisfaction from online classes was found. Therefore, to minimize the level of psychological distress and increase students’ satisfaction with online classes it is highly recommended to take precautionary measures by the relevant stakeholders.
COVID-19, Pandemic, Panic, Stress management, Psychological impact, Students.
The multifaceted role of IL-12 in cancer Habiba, Um e; Rafiq, Mussarat; Khawar, Muhammad Babar ...
Advances in cancer biology - metastasis,
10/2022, Letnik:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Interleukin-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine having many family members IL-23, IL-27, IL-35, and recently discovered IL-39, produced by macrophages and dendritic cells. IL-12 is an effector cytokine ...and engages in anti-tumor and many immunotherapies as IL-12 DNA expression, Th1 helper cells, and natural killer cells. IL-12 stimulates interferon γ (INF-γ) synthesis by the activation of STAT4 which then differentiates the Th1 helper cells with the T-bet transcription, playing an important role in cancer treatment. This review focuses on the role of IL-12 family as an antitumor agent as understanding the biology and molecular mechanism of IL-12 family members is crucial for designing new therapeutic strategies against different cancers.
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) have gained high repute in drug delivery systems owing to their relatively higher efficacy as natural drug delivery vehicles. The current literature has advanced the use ...of EVs in drug delivery through exploring various aspects including their biogenesis, characterization, and nanoengineering techniques thereby leading them from laboratory to clinical use with optimized good laboratory practices. In this timely review, we summarize the current status of EVs characterizations and recent updates on nanoengineering of EVs regarding Cargo loading and surface fabrication. Further, we have also reviewed current progress in clinical translation and implications of EVs in clinical trials together with future recommendations.
Background: Extremophiles are a hot topic in the field of biotechnology for their immense potential and applications in multiple industries.
Objectives: The present review aims to sum up the ...potential applications of alkalophilic protease-producing bacteria and their optimized growth requirement. The isolation, characterization, and optimization of various isolates (especially of genus Bacillus) from different harsh niches, including soil samples from deserts and soil having decaying matters, wastewaters from industries, soda lakes, and alkaline springs have been reported in this review.
Methodology: All the relevant papers published from 2013-2020 were looked over numerous sources like Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Research Gate, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science.
Results: Most of the microbial life found in extreme alkaline habitats are found to form a variety of enzymes and an array of other substances of biotechnological interests. These enzymes, especially proteases, are exploited in industries globally because of their ability to withstand rigorous industrial reactions and conditions.
Conclusion: Though a number of alkalophilic protease-producing bacteria have been isolated, still a large number of these micro-organisms are unidentified. The current demand for biotechnological products from them appeals to the need for isolation of unidentified bacteria.
Emerging role of lipophagy in liver disorders Nazeer, Bismillah; Khawar, Muhammad Babar; Khalid, Muhammad Usman ...
Molecular and cellular biochemistry,
2024/1, Letnik:
479, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Lipophagy is a selective degradation of lipids by a lysosomal-mediated pathway, and dysregulation of lipophagy is linked with the pathological hallmark of many liver diseases. Downregulation of ...lipophagy in liver cells results in abnormal accumulation of LDs (Lipid droplets) in hepatocytes which is a characteristic feature of several liver pathologies such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Contrarily, upregulation of lipophagy in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is associated with hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Lipid metabolism reprogramming in violent cancer cells contributes to the progression of liver cancer. In this review, we have summarized the recent studies focusing on various components of the lipophagic machinery that can be modulated for their potential role as therapeutic agents against a wide range of liver diseases.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived messengers which have been playing an important role in the inflammation and pathogenesis of lung diseases. EVs contain varieties of DNA, RNA, and ...membrane receptors through which they work as a delivery system for bioactive molecules as well as intracellular communicators. EV signaling mediates tumor progression and metastasis. EVs are linked with many diseases and perform a diagnostic role in lung injury and inflammation so are used to diagnose the severity of diseases. EVs containing a variety of biomolecules communicate with the recipient cells during pathophysiological mechanisms thereby acquiring the attention of clinicians toward the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of EVs in different lung diseases. In this review, we summarize the role of EVs in inflammation with an emphasis on their potential as a novel candidate in the diagnostics and therapeutics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and sarcoidosis.
Lipids are integral cellular components that act as substrates for energy provision, signaling molecules, and essential constituents of biological membranes along with a variety of other biological ...functions. Despite their significance, lipid accumulation may result in lipotoxicity, impair autophagy, and lysosomal function that may lead to certain diseases and metabolic syndromes like obesity and even cell death. Therefore, these lipids are continuously recycled and redistributed by the process of selective autophagy specifically termed as lipophagy. This selective form of autophagy employs lysosomes for the maintenance of cellular lipid homeostasis. In this review, we have reviewed the current literature about how lipid droplets (LDs) are recruited towards lysosomes, cross-talk between a variety of autophagy receptors present on LD surface and lysosomes, and lipid hydrolysis by lysosomal enzymes. In addition to it, we have tried to answer most of the possible questions related to lipophagy regulation at different levels. Moreover, in the last part of this review, we have discussed some of the pathological states due to the accumulation of these LDs and their possible treatments under the light of currently available findings.
Natural killer (NK) cells are considered to be the foremost fighters of our innate immune system against foreign invaders and thus tend to promptly latch onto the virus‐infected and tumor/cancerous ...cells, killing them through phagocytosis. At present, the application of genetically engineered Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) receptors ensures a guaranteed optimistic response with NK cells and would not allow the affected cells to dodge or escape unchecked. Hence the specificity and uniqueness of CAR‐NK cells over CAR‐T therapy make them a better immunotherapeutic choice to reduce the load of trafficking of numerous tumor cells near the healthy cell populations in a more intact way than offered by CAR‐T immunotherapy. Our review mainly focuses on the preclinical, clinical, and recent advances in clinical research trials and further strategies to achieve an augmented and efficient cure against solid tumors.
Moringa Oleifera is an interesting plant used in Asian traditional medicine. In this study, in vitro antibacterial and cytotoxic evaluation of sequential extracts (aqueous, ethanol, and chloroform) ...of Moringa Oleifera was carried out. The antibacterial analysis was estimated with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by micro dilution of Moringa Oleifera against common poultry pathogens Clostridium perfringens type A and Escherichia coli, while cytotoxic evaluation was estimated by the reduction in cell viability due to apoptosis or necrosis by metabolic events in the presence and absence of crude extracts or tested component. The aqueous extract shows the highest percentage yield (45/50gm) succeeded by ethanol extract (5.5gm/50gm) and chloroform extract (0.2gm/50gm). In our study, the zone of inhibition of sequential extracts of Moringa Oleifera against Haemophilus species are highest for chloroform (17mm), intermediate for ethanol (13mm), and lowest for aqueous extract (12.3mm). For chloroform extract the CSP was calculated at 10 different concentrations, 2000 µg/ml, 1000µg/ml, 500µg/ml, 250µg/ml, 125µg/ml, 62.5µg/ml, 31.25µg/ml, 15.63µg/ml, 7.81µg/ml and 3.91µg/ml .The results for cell survival percentage (CSP) in the present research are 26%, 46%, 58%, 55%, 60%, 63%, 62%, 59%, 68% and 82% respectively. The CSP results of chloroform extract indicated that it is toxic for cells at ≥1000µg/ml. At 1000µg/ml concentration CSP was 46% which is > 50% and therefore it is cytotoxic. At higher concentrations, chloroform is more cytotoxic than hexane because at > 1000µg/ml the cell survival percentage was recorded to be < 50%. For ethanol extract CSP was calculated at 10 concentrations, 6000µg/ml, 3000µg/ml, 1500µg/ml, 750µg/ml, 375µg/ml, 187.5µg/ml, 93.75µg/ml, 46.85µg/ml, 23.43µg/ml and 11.71µg/ml. The CSP values are 18%, 48%, 60%, 58%, 69%, 56%, 59%, 74%, 57% and 78% respectively which indicate that at concentrations ≥3000µg/ml the chloroform extract is toxic for cells. At a concentration less than 3000µg/ml, the CSP is more than 50%. So, as compared to hexane and chloroform, ethanol extract is less toxic at higher concentrations. Cytotoxicity of aqueous extract was calculated at 10 concentrations, 5000µg/ml, 2500µg/ml, 1250µg/ml, 625µg/ml, 312.5µg/ml, 156.25µg/ml, 78.125µg/ml, 39.06µg/ml, 19.53µg/ml and 9.76µg/ml. The CSP values are 8%, 18%, 42%, 56%, 54%, 59%, 55%, 62% 59% and 66% respectively. At a concentration ≥625µg/ml, the aqueous extract is toxic for cells. The CSP at 625µg/ml is 42%, hence toxic for cells. The cell survival percentage is more than 50% at a concentration > 625µg/ml, indicating that aqueous extract is more toxic to the cell than the rest of the three (Hexane, Chloroform, Ethanol extracts) at higher concentrations.
Background: Ebola hemorrhagic fever, also called Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), is caused by a member of Filoviridae family known as Ebola Virus (EBOV). The incubation period of this virus is 2 to 21 ...days and initial symptoms may include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. Objectives: The study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of awareness sessions about EVD among university population. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out post awareness sessions at different universities of Lahore and data was compared with data of medical personnel. Results: Our study indicated that 75% of university population have gained the knowledge about Ebola virus disease after the awareness session. Conclusion: The present study concludes that awareness sessions about EVD are highly effective in spreading basic knowledge about the disease, therefore, it is recommended to use multidimensional approaches such as seminars, awareness campaigns, presentations and social media etc. to increase awareness of diseases so that the possible outbreak of this disease in Pakistan could be prevented.
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