Evaluation of Anthropometric Parameters of Central Obesity among Professional Drivers: A Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis

Different anthropometric parameters have been proposed for assessing central obesity. The diagnostic performance of these anthropometric parameters and their ability to correctly measure central obesity for the professional community, like drivers, is questionable and needs to be assessed. The study aimed to examine the diagnostic performance of anthropometric parameters as indicators of central obesity in drivers as measured by waist circumference (WC) and to determine the best cut-off values for these parameters that would identify obese drivers. Anthropometric measurements from a cross-sectional sample of 197 professional drivers were taken under standard protocol. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to examine the diagnostic performance and to determine the optimal cut-off point of each anthropometric parameter to identify centrally obese drivers. It was found that WC had a significant positive correlation with all other obesity indicators. The ROC curve analysis indicated that all the parameters analyzed had a good performance, but the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) had a more predictive value of the area under the curve (AUC). Optimal cut-offs to identify central obesity in drivers were 0.55, 2.06, 0.95, and 25.44 for WHtR, conicity index, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index, respectively. These cut-off points for different indicators can be used to detect central obesity for drivers.

Median Regression Analysis of Gender-wise Income Gap in Punjab, Pakistan

This paper primarily examines the impact of gender on the monthly income of the working class in Punjab, Pakistan. The relevant data have been obtained from Pakistan Labour Force Survey (2008-9). A special case of quantile regression i.e. the median regression is used for the desired investigation. In addition to gender, the other covariates are marital status, area of residence, level of education, job type and status etc. As in many other regions and countries, the male workers in Punjab tend to have higher average income and the income tend to increase with increase in level of education. The workers with permanent jobs earn more as compared to temporary job holders

Investigating Long-Range Dependence of Emerging Asian Stock Markets Using Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis

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Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Brassica

The edible parts of Brassica plants are a rich source of phytochemical compounds which possess strong antioxidant potential. These plants contain a variety of phytochemical compound including phenolics, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids (zeaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene), alkaloids, phytosterols chlorophyll, glucosinolates, terpenoids, and glycosides. These plants possess strong antioxidant potential in terms of metal reducing, metal chelating, lipid reducing and free radical scavenging activities. These also have a positive effect on the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Among various species of genus Brassica studied for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity, Brassica oleracea leaves, florets and seeds have better phytochemical and antioxidant profile. Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa and Brassica nigra are also the phytochemical and antioxidant rich species of genus Brassica. The phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of Brassica plants make them the preferable candidates for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications

Phytochemical Composition: Antioxidant Potential and Biological Activities of Corn

Corn seeds are used as a nutritional source for humans, and the stem and leaves are utilized as fodder for cattle throughout the world. Corn silk and corn cob are usually discarded as waste. This chapter highlights the nutritional as well as medicinal importance of various parts of corn plant. All parts of corn plant are good source of a variety of bioactive phytochemical compounds which possess antioxidant potential. The principal phytochemicals present in corn seed and corn silk include polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, glycosides, carotenoids, and polysaccharides of biological importance, reducing compounds and some water-soluble vitamins. The presence of these phytochemicals makes corn a medicinal plant which shows various biological activities particularly the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antiproliferative, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and renal-protective activities. On the account of its high antioxidant potential, all parts of corn plant can be used for the management of oxidative stress and the treatment of various diseases

Studies on bronchodilator and cardiac stimulant activities of Urginea indica

This study was designed to evaluate bronchodilator and cardio-tonic effects of Urginea indica to provide rational for these medicinal uses. U. indica bulb extract was studied on rabbit tracheal and guinea-pig atrial preparations mounted in tissue baths under simulated physiological conditions. U. indica inhibited carbachol (1 µM) and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in rabbit trachea, similar to dicyclomine, suggesting the presence of anticholinergic and calcium channel blocking (CCB) mechanisms in U. indica. Anticholinergic and CCB effects of U. indica were respectively confirmed when it shifted the carbachol and Ca2+ concentration-response curves rightwards, similar to dicyclomine. U. indica (0.01-1 mg/mL) increased force of guinea-pig atrial contractions without significantly affecting the rate. These data, indicating that U. indica possesses the bronchodilator activity possibly mediated through a combination of anticholinergic and Ca2+ antagonist mechanisms together with selective positive inotropic effect, provide rational for medicinal applications of U. indica in airways and cardiac disorders

The calmodulin-like calcium binding protein EhCaBP3 of Entamoeba histolytica regulates phagocytosis and is involved in actin dynamics

Phagocytosis is required for proliferation and pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica and erythrophagocytosis is considered to be a marker of invasive amoebiasis. Ca2+ has been found to play a central role in the process of phagocytosis. However, the molecular mechanisms and the signalling mediated by Ca2+ still remain largely unknown. Here we show that Calmodulin-like calcium binding protein EhCaBP3 of E. histolytica is directly involved in disease pathomechanism by its capacity to participate in cytoskeleton dynamics and scission machinery during erythrophagocytosis. Using imaging techniques EhCaBP3 was found in phagocytic cups and newly formed phagosomes along with actin and myosin IB. In vitro studies confirmed that EhCaBP3 directly binds actin, and affected both its polymerization and bundling activity. Moreover, it also binds myosin 1B in the presence of Ca2+. In cells where EhCaBP3 expression was down regulated by antisense RNA, the level of RBC uptake was reduced, myosin IB was found to be absent at the site of pseudopod cup closure and the time taken for phagocytosis increased, suggesting that EhCaBP3 along with myosin 1B mediate the closure of phagocytic cups. Experiments with EhCaBP3 mutant defective in Ca2+ -binding showed that Ca2+ binding is required for phagosome formation. Liposome binding assay revealed that EhCaBP3 recruitment and enrichment to membrane is independent of any cellular protein as it binds directly to phosphatidylserine. Taken together, our results suggest a novel pathway mediating phagocytosis in E. histolytica, and an unusual mechanism of modulation of cytoskeleton dynamics by two calcium binding proteins, EhCaBP1 and EhCaBP3 with mostly non-overlapping functions

Comprehensive evaluation of wheat operation during COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan.

The whole world is confronting under extreme danger from COVID-19 pandemic. Which spread rapidly including an agro-based developing state like Pakistan. Right now this year "Rabi" crop season has safely ended during this pandemic. Wheat-crop operations are depended on environmental conditions and different operational safety measures. Farmworkers are the key individuals, as they are exposed to various environmental, health, safety, biological, and respiratory hazards. Due to COVID-19, there are about more than three thousand (3000) mortalities and one hundred eight thousand (18, 0000) plus persons have been effected, however this number increases further rapidly. The key purpose of this review-study is to highlight the timely adopted safe strategies and their impacts on the yield of wheat along with farmworkers under some Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) during wheat operations, enabling food security, self-sustainably and securing of farmers in the context of COVID-19. Various actions have been taken worldwide, but a developing state like Pakistan with minimum resources, has made well-organized planning and strategies to sustain the production of wheat with public awareness. We highlighting government efforts to-combat this fatal pandemic, where it has directly impacted the crop yield and also the economy of the state. Whereas, especially during this period, uplifting of economy through agriculture sector, needs to overcome the same management deficiencies from other sectors. Pakistani Government has adopted and implemented different key steps for fighting against COVID-19 include: i. Government command along with incentive approach, ii. Mutual coordination among stakeholders, local governments, and farmers, iii. Continuous inspection setup, and iv. Provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)

Phylogenetic and chronological analysis of proteins causing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases

It is evident that Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's) have many similarities at cellular and molecular level as they carry parallel mechanisms including protein aggregation and inclusion body formation caused by protein mis-folding. The main objective of this study was to have detailed insight on variation and resemblance among these proteins. One hundred and four protein sequences, both directly and indirectly involved in disease mechanism to perform phylogenetic analysis revealing insight on evolutionary relationship among these proteins, were selected. The percentage of replicate trees, in which the associated taxa clustered together in the bootstrap test, was 1000 replicates. Various statistical tests were performed for the confirmation of results e.g., Tajma's Neutrality Test showed D gt 6, nucleotide diversity π gt 0.6 and ps value as greater than 1. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the protein sequences of neurodegenerative diseases had high sequence similarity and identity to each other as depicted by the evolutionary tree. It showed the similar mechanism of evolving from each other and had similar mechanism of generating mis-folding leading towards symptoms of disease