Evaluation of the cytotoxic and antiviral effects of ethanol extract of three Opuntia species of Peste des Petits ruminant virus

Purpose: To assess in vitro the virocidal effects of different species of cactus plant on the lethal action of Peste des petits virus (PPRV).Method: Ethanol extracts of different cactus plants were obtained. A serial twofold dilution of the extracts was prepared. Cytotoxic and antiviral activities were examined through MTT assay at various concentrations. Vero cell lines were grown in 96 well plates up to an 80 % confluent monolayer. The plates were divided into two groups, one for antiviral and the other for cytotoxicity activity. The cells were exposed to various concentrations of the ethanol extracts to assess the cytotoxicity, whereas to assess the antiviral activity, PPRV was re-incubated with the extracts and then exposed to cells. MMT dye was added and the results were evaluated as cell survival (%).Results: At higher concentrations, i.e., 500 - 1000 μg/mL, ethanol extracts from all the Opuntia species displayed cytotoxic effects. The ethanol extract of OM exhibited the greatest antiviral potential of all the extracts, while the extract of Opuntia stricta (OS) was the least effective against PPRV in the cultured cells. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentration of Opuntia manocantha (OM), Opuntia delinii OD and Opuntia stricta (OS) with reference to antiviral activity. OM showed antiviral activity against PPRV from 3.25 to 125 μg/mL, OD antiviral activity from 31.25 to 62.5 ug/ml whereas OS showed antiviral activity at 2.5 μg/mLConclusion: The ethanol extract of Opuntia species reduces the infection of PPRV in Caprine. Keywords: Cactus, Opuntia spp., Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), Vero cell lin

In vitro evaluation of mutagenicity and genotoxicity of sitagliptin alone and in combination with artificial sweeteners

Purpose: To determine the in vitro genotoxicity and mutagenicity of sitagliptin alone and in combination with three commonly used artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame and acesulfame-k).Methods: The in vitro genotoxicity and mutagenicity of Sitagliptin alone and in combination with three popular artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame and acesulfame-k) were evaluated by Comet and Ames assays, respectively.Results: Sitagliptin demonstrated mutagenic potential only to TA 98 with S9 mix at a concentration of 3040 μg/plate. The mutagenicity of sitagliptin was enhanced when tested in combination with the artificial sweeteners. Furthermore, sitagliptin also caused pronounced DNA fragmentation at higher doses compared with negative control.Conclusion: At higher doses, sitagliptin showed both mutagenicity and genotoxicity. Thus, long-term use of artificial sweeteners with sitagliptin may lead to increase in both mutagenicity and genotoxicity.Keywords: Sitagliptin, Artificial sweeteners, Comet assay, DNA damage, Ames assay, Genotoxicity, Mutagenicit

Genetic association study of STAT4 Polymorphisms and type 1 diabetes in Pakistani children

The present study investigated the relationship of STAT4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs7574685, rs10181656, and rs3821236 with T1D susceptibility visiting tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. One hundred and fifty-five T1D patients and one hundred and five healthy individuals were enrolled. An expert endocrinologist collected the clinical data of T1D patients. The genotyping of three potential STAT4 SNPs was performed through Tetra ARMS-PCR assay. The relationship between SNPs and T1D susceptibility under several genetic models, including dominant, recessive, and codominant models, was assessed by regression analysis. All clinical features of T1D demonstrate a significant difference from control groups (P<0.01) except blindness. The characteristic biochemical analysis determined that participants with T1D had significantly higher fasting blood glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels than the control group (P<0.01). Genetic analysis of rs7574685 depicts GT genotype was found to be the risk allele for the development of T1D when compared to the control group. For rs10181656 and rs3821236, the GC genotype and GA genotype were observed to be the risk alleles in the T1D cases as compared to the control group (P=0.04, P<0.01, respectively). Genetic models showed that the STAT4 GG genotype of rs7574685 in the dominant model (OR=1.73, 95% CI=1.05-2.86), GC genotype of rs10181656 in the codominant model (OR=2.079, 95 % CI=1.16-3.71), and AA genotype of rs3821236 showed significant risk association with T1D (OR=3.486, 95% CI=1.72-7.03). It is concluded that the risk of T1D is highly correlated with the STAT4 variants of rs7574685 and rs10181656 among children of the Pakistani population

Association of STAT4 rs7574865 with sysceptibility to juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematous in Pakistani population

Association of STAT4 (signal transducer and activator of transcription4) haplotype tagged by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7574865 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was reported in different populations. This study was aimed to investigate a genetic association between STAT4 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs7574865) with susceptibility and clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus in Pakistani population. A total of 75 clinically diagnosed individuals affected with SLE were enrolled from Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Lahore. Sixty-eight healthy individuals of same ethnicity were also enrolled for this study. Clinical assessment of patients was done with the help of clinical features suggestive for SLE and some diagnostic tests specific for the disease were performed. SNP rs7574865 was genotyped by allele specific tetra ARMS PCR assay to check and compare the genotypic allele frequencies between SLE patients and healthy controls. Different statistical analysis ChiSquare, Fisher’s exact tests and binary Logistic Regression is performed to determine association of risk alleles with SLE in Pakistani population. p value less than >0.05 consider significant. This study showed the frequency of GG (28%), TT (12%), and GT alleles (60%) in SLE patients while controls showed allele frequencies of GG (5%), TT (29%) and GT (64%), respectively. The results showed that GG genotype and G allele in STAT4 rs7574865 was the risk allele for SLE while T allele proved to be the protective one for disease susceptibility when compared with healthy controls genotypic frequencies. This study suggests the strong association of SNP rs7574865 in STAT4 with the risk of SLE in Pakistani population. However, G allele showed no association with organ damage and immune disorder of SLE

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF TWO ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES ATROPA BELLADONNA AND MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA

Background: Plants are the natural source of antioxidants as well as antimicrobial compounds that has great potentials in pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, two medicinal plants Atropa belladonna and Matricaria chamomilla were collected from Northern areas of Pakistan. Materials and Methods: The extracts of the collected plants were obtained by microwave assisted extraction (MAE) with changing parameters, power level and time; methanol and ethanol were solvents used during extraction. The extracts of plants were tested against different bacterial strains. Results: It was observed that ethanolic extracts of Atropa belladonna has more significant antimicrobial activity against S.aureus than E.coli. In parallel, methanolic extract of Matricaria chamomilla showed greater significant antibacterial activity against S.aureus when compared with E.coli. In comparison, ethanolic extracts of Matricaria chamomilla has shown more significant results against S. aureus than E.coli (p≤0.05). Both plants had no antibacterial activity against S.typhi. The free radical scavenging activity observed by DPPH assay, indicate that both plants have antioxidant activity at all levels of concentrations in solvent tested during the present work. However, methanolic extracts had greater antioxidant activity when compared with ethanolic extracts. Conclusion: Present study is thus helpful in highlighting present potentials for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in the selected plants

Protection of vitamin A and E against toxicity induced by hydroquinone

383-388Use of cosmetics, particularly, dermal, such as skin whiteners, skin toners, antiaging and anti-wrinkles, etc., are not uncommon among people worldwide. Hydroquinone (HQ) is a gold standard skin whitening agent. Chronic use of HQ has been reported to cause various pathological conditions such as cancer, myelotoxicity, ochronosis, etc. Vitamin A (retinol)and E (tocopherol) are usually mixed with the HQ because of their antioxidant property. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic profile of hydroquinone alone and incombination with vitamin A and E. MTT cell culture assay was performed at different doses for cytotoxicity, whereas for genotoxicity Comet assay was performed. Hydroquinone showed a dose dependent increase in genotoxicity (P < 0.05) and cytoxicity. Vitarmins A and E combination controlled the cell damage by hydroquinone, thus increasing the cell survival percentage at doses where hydroquinone alone showed cell toxicity. The same results were obtained when the experiment was repeated with comet assay demonstrating the antioxidant and antigenotoxic activity of vitamin A and E. Overall, the results confirm that the genotoxicity and cytotxicity of HQ is effectively reduced by the vitamin A and E in combination

MHD Pulsatile Flow of Blood-Based Silver and Gold Nanoparticles between Two Concentric Cylinders

Pulsatory movements appear in a variety of fascinating applications involving periodic flow propagation and control. Pulsing encourages mixing and, as a result, mass and heat exchange with the boundaries. Pulsing also helps to decrease surface fouling by allowing solid particles to migrate. An exact solution of the Navier–Stokes equations for the transport of an incompressible viscous fluid in a channel with arbitrary pressure distribution is described in this study. The flow is defined by two primary parameters: the pulsation parameter, which is determined by the periodic pressure gradient, and the kinetic Reynolds number, which is determined by the pulsation frequency. The purpose of employing hybrid nanofluid (HNF) is to increase the base fluid’s thermal conductivity. We regard Ag and Au as nanoparticles (NPs) and blood as a base fluid for this phenomenon. Broadening this reveals that the consideration of nanoparticles has impressively extended the warm movement at the parcels of both turbulent and laminar frameworks. Attention is paid to the slope of speed, temperature, and voltage. The geometric model is therefore described using a symmetry technique. We developed the governing equation for this problem’s analytical solutions. The velocity and temperature fields solution is given in the form of the Bessel and modified Bessel functions. Graph results show the mathematical benefits of the current limits: for instance, Hartmann number M, solid volume part of nanoparticles ϕ, Reynolds number Reβ, Prandtl number Pr, intermittent slob limit, etc. The strain angles introduced in the stress contrast, frictional force, velocity profile, and temperature profile were obtained, and the characteristics of the vortex were investigated. Resources at various boundaries of the perceptual flow are examined. As with the final essence, the smoothest results are analyzed and recorded. It has also been discovered that the velocity may be regulated by the external magnetic field, which affects the temperature profiles and hence the heat transfer, which can be enhanced or lowered by mastering the magnetic field

Beta-Lactam Resistance Profile of E. Coli Isolated from Urinary Tract Infection Patients in Selected Hospitals within Gusau Metropolis

The emergence of antibiotic resistance, particularly beta-lactam resistance, poses a significant challenge in the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). This study aimed to investigate the beta-lactam resistance profile of E. coli isolated from UTI patients in selected hospitals within the Gusau metropolis. A total of 92 urine samples were collected from UTI patients attending selected hospitals in Gusau metropolis. Isolation and identification of E. coli were conducted using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Furthermore, phenotypic confirmation of beta-lactam resistance was carried out using double disc synergy testing (DDST). &nbsp;Out of 92 urine samples obtained from patients with UTIs, E. coli was identified in 19 samples (20.7%), out of the 19 E. coli isolates, ESBL production was detected in 9 (47.36%) based on the results of the DDST, and among the E. coli isolates tested, 12 (63.16%) exhibited resistance to beta-lactam (Ceftriaxone), while 5 (26.31%) showed intermediate susceptibility, and 2 (10.53%) were susceptible to this antibiotic. Results revealed a concerning prevalence of beta-lactam resistance among E. coli isolates, highlighting the urgent need for effective antimicrobial stewardship and infection control measures in the region