Role of Genetic Polymorphisms in Metastasis Suppressor Genes NME1 and MKK4 as Breast Cancer metastasis modifiers.

Breast cancer in women is a major health burden both in developed and developing countries and is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide. Although, the risk of developing breast cancer is modified by environment, lifestyle, genetics and a combination of these factors, the principal factor contributing to cancer-related deaths in cancer patients is metastasis. A class of genes, known as metastasis suppressor genes which play an important role in metastasis have been identified. Malfunction of these genes due to somatic mutation or epigenetic modulations, can influence metastatic dissemination. Genetic polymorphisms in metastatic suppressor genes like NME1 and MKK4 are not well studied in breast cancer. Given the importance of metastasis in the prognosis of breast cancer it makes sense to study such genotypes and their possible association with aggressiveness as well as prognosis of the cancer. Hence we analyzed the relationship between NME1 and MKK4 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in Kashmir, India.Digital copy of Thesis.University of Kashmir

A Survey of Weed Varieties in Samanabad, Lahore

A weed is an herbaceous plant that grows as a wild plant, and is considered a hindrance in the growth of preferred vegetation or cumbering the ground, and has no value for beauty or use. However, some weeds have roles in medicine, ecology and many other fields. A survey was conducted in Lahore to observe the weed varieties present in the area of Samanabad. The present study was carried out in May and June 2014.The primary purpose of the study was to gain knowledge about the availability of the total number of species present in this area. We also assessed whether these weeds were directly or indirectly beneficial for humans. Results of this study revealed a total of 33 species belonging to 20 different families which were collected and identified. Weeds were arranged in alphabetical order according to their respective families. Data inventory constitutes family name, botanical name, local name and life form. Results revealed the relative diversity of each family as Poaceae at 18.18% and Asteraceae at 15.15%. Out of 33 weed species, 64% were annual, 30% perennial and 6% biennial. The soil of the studied area was a hard, silty loam texture, with a slightly alkaline pH and low electrical conductivity. This study will be helpful in maintaining the flora of the Samanabad region

Comparison of Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 and Aldehyde Dehyrdogenase 2 Polymorphism in Esophageal Cancer Cases vs Controls in Kashmir

The esophageal cancer (EC) is the most common cancer in Kashmir and its causes are not yet clearly understood. The current study was designed with the aim of understanding the association of known genotypes in ADH2 and ALDH2 genes and role of local dietary habits like consumption of salt tea, socioeconomic status and smoking with esophageal cancer risk. We analyzed 50 histopathologically confirmed esophageal cancer cases and same number of age, sex, and region matched nonmalignant controls. The data on dietary history/tobacco consumption/family history of cancer/fruit consumption and economic status was collected through a well drafted questionnaire. Male and female ratio among 50 esophageal cancer patients registered came out to be 1:1.63 which is contrary to the previously reported 1:2. Highest number of esophageal cases turned out from southern region of Kashmir. The low fruit consumption (86.0%), low socio-economic status (70.00%) and very frequent consumption of salt tea (98%) were the common features in our cases which can be strong risk factors for EC in valley. The family history of the subjects turned out to be another potential risk factor for EC in Kashmir as about 22.00% of cases have family history of cancer. Most of the cases (74.00%) were smokers which is an established risk factor for EC. The genetic analysis of the cases and controls by PCR-CTPP method, for the genotypic frequencies in ADH2 and ALDH2 genes revealed that unlike other high risk regions, Kashmiri population has a different standing. ADH2 allele that encodes ADH enzyme with high activity or ALDH2 allele that encodes ALDH enzyme with particularly low activity lead to the accumulation of acetaldehyde and increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer. In the present cohort of cases, SNPs in ADH2 and ALDH2 do not confer any risk of esophageal cancer development in Kashmir. The frequency of ADH2*2 and ALDH2*2 mutant alleles was found to be 39.5% and 5% respectively. The results when compared with the mutant allele frequencies of the other high risk regions of EC support the fact that the mutant alleles of the two genes are highly frequent in East Asia only and in the rest of the world their frequencies are low

Evaluation of the effects of dental fluorosis (DF) on the oral health related life quality between 11–14 years school children in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa

Background: Teenagers' classroom absences were correlated with oral health issues including dental problems. In contrast to severe traumas, gingivitis and periodontal disease have been shown to have a negative effect on Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in teenagers. Objective: The research's objective was to evaluate how Dental fluorosis affected kids aged 11 to 14 in terms of their quality of life and condition-specific oral influence on daily performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted Between February 2021 and March 2022, to examine the effects of DF on OHRQoL among students aged 11 to 14 in Peshawar's fluoridated areas. 240 Peshawar-based school children between the ages of 11 and 14 took part in the research. Results: The mean CS OIDP score for high fluoridated areas was 38.84. Additionally, it demonstrates that students struggle most with socialising (7.87), which has the highest mean score, and eating (3.14), which has the lowest mean score. Conclusion: The findings of this research can serve as a warning to dental to conduct demographic research at the town and county level to identify risk variables and determine potential treatments and prevention methods

Influence of Anticaking Agents and Storage Conditions on Quality Characteristics of Spray Dried Apricot Powder: Shelf Life Prediction Studies Using Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) Model

Apricot powder was developed through spray drying using gum arabic as an encapsulating material at a concentration of 19%. Inlet air temperature, feed total soluble solids (TSS), feed flow rate, and atomization speed were 190 °C, 23.0 °C, 300.05 mL/h, and 17,433 rpm, respectively. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the influence of anticaking agents (tricalcium phosphate and silicon dioxide) and storage conditions (ambient and accelerated) on physicochemical, micrometric, and thermal characteristics of spray-dried apricot powder (SDAP) packaged in aluminum laminates. Both tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) improved the shelf life and quality of SDAP, with TCP being more effective, since a lower increase in water activity (aw), moisture content, degree of caking, hygroscopicity, and rehydration time was observed in TCP-treated samples followed by SiO2-treated samples than the control. Furthermore, flowability, glass transition temperature (Tg), and sticky-point temperature (Ts) of SDAP tended to decrease in a significant manner (p 2-treated samples under ambient and accelerated storage was 137 and 39 days, respectively, whereas the experimental values were 148 and 47 days, respectively. In conclusion, TCP proved more effective than SiO2 at preserving shelf life by preventing moisture ingress

In vitro bactericidal, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, anticoagulant, and hemolytic effect of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Allium sativum clove extract incubated at various temperatures

The current research aimed to evaluate in vitro biological activities of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using the Allium sativum clove extract. The stability of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles was evaluated via storage at 4°C, room temperature (37°C), and calcined at 300°C, 500°C, and 700°C. The antibacterial effect was evaluated using agar well, spread plate, biofilm reduction, and cell proliferation inhibition assays. The cytotoxic and antidiabetic effects were determined via brine shrimp lethality, protein kinase inhibition, and α-amylase inhibition assays. DPPH scavenging, iron-chelating, anticoagulant, and hemolytic effects were evaluated. The highest inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae was observed when freshly prepared, calcined (300°C), and stored nanoparticles (4°C and 37°C) were applied (9.66, 9.55, 7.33, and 6.65 mm) against freshly prepared and calcined at 700°C which showed the highest inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.55 and 7.66 mm). Cell viability assay, biofilm reduction assay, and spread plate method showed a significant antibacterial effect of freshly prepared silver nanoparticles. Freshly prepared and calcined nanoparticles at 300°C and 500°C possessed strong antioxidant and iron-chelating activity. Among all the synthesized silver nanoparticles, freshly prepared and calcined nanoparticles (300°C and 500°C) increases the prothrombin time. Silver nanoparticles possessed significant anticoagulant properties and less toxic at least concentration toward human RBCs. In brine shrimp lethality assay, freshly prepared nanoparticles showed a stronger toxic effect and caused high mortality of larvae. Protein kinase inhibition assay revealed that freshly prepared nanoparticles had the highest zone of inhibition (18.0 mm) at 50 µg/disc. Green-synthesized nanoparticles would be used as potential therapeutic agents to overcome both infectious and noninfectious diseases

Impaired mobility drives disability in psoriatic arthritis – An observational study from Karnataka Psoriatic Arthritis Cohort (KPsAC)

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with significant functional impairment. Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) is a reliable and validated outcome measure for a variety of arthritides including PsA. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the disability as an outcome measure in PsA using the Indian version of HAQ (I-HAQ). Methods: The I-HAQ was administered to PsA patients diagnosed as per the Classification Criteria for PsA. The I-HAQ comprises 12 questions (nine basic and three advanced activities of daily living (ADLs), on the standard HAQ format) relevant to the Indian population. Results: In the 549 participants, the mean I-HAQ was 0.31 (0.45) and 48.2% had mild-to-moderate disability (I-HAQ>0–1). Female gender, older age, higher skin, joint scores, and Disease Activity Index for PsA were associated with some disability (I-HAQ>0). Symmetric polyarthritis (0.34) and spondyloarthritis (0.32) had a significantly higher disability compared to other subsets. Analyzing the individual questions of I-HAQ, squatting in the toilet or sitting cross-legged on the floor (r = 0.78), walking 3 km (r = 0.77), and climbing a flight of stairs (r = 0.74) correlated maximally to the total I-HAQ. ADL which was affected most frequently was “climbing a flight of stairs.” I-HAQ was significantly lower in patients who had been on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for 6 months or more (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: The Indian version of HAQ-DI could be efficiently employed to assess outcomes in our cohort. Nearly half of the cohort had mild-to-moderate disability suggesting a high burden of inflammation. Higher joint activity scores are strongly associated with disability

Data_Sheet_1_Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific anti-spike IgM, IgG, and anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies during the second wave of the pandemic: A population-based cross-sectional survey across Kashmir, India.docx

BackgroundWithin Kashmir, which is one of the topographically distinct areas in the Himalayan belt of India, a total of 2,236 cumulative deaths occurred by the end of the second wave. We aimed to conduct this population-based study in the age group of 7 years and above to estimate the seropositivity and its attributes in Kashmir valley.MethodsWe conducted a community-based household-level cross-sectional study, with a multistage, population-stratified, probability-proportionate-to-size, cluster sampling method to select 400 participants from each of the 10 districts of Kashmir. We also selected a quota of healthcare workers, police personnel, and antenatal women from each of the districts. Households were selected from each cluster and all family members with age 7 years or more were invited to participate. Information was collected through a standardized questionnaire and entered into Epicollect 5 software. Trained healthcare personnel were assigned for collecting venous blood samples from each of the participants which were transferred and processed for immunological testing. Testing was done for the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific anti-spike IgM, IgG antibodies, and anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies. Weighted seropositivity was estimated along with the adjustment done for the sensitivity and specificity of the test used.FindingsThe data were collected from a total of 4,229 participants from the general population within the 10 districts of Kashmir. Our results showed that 84.84% (95% CI 84.51–85.18%) of the participants were seropositive in the weighted imputed data among the general population. In multiple logistic regression, the variables significantly affecting the seroprevalence were the age group 45–59 years (odds ratio of 0.73; 95% CI 0.67–0.78), self-reported history of comorbidity (odds ratio of 1.47; 95% CI 1.33–1.61), and positive vaccination history (odds ratio of 0.85; 95% CI 0.79–0.90) for anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies. The entire assessed variables showed a significant role during multiple logistic regression analysis for affecting IgM anti-spike antibodies with an odds ratio of 1.45 (95% CI 1.32–1.57) for age more than 60 years, 1.21 (95% CI 1.15–1.27) for the female gender, 0.87 (95% CI 0.82–0.92) for urban residents, 0.86 (95% CI 0.76–0.92) for self-reported comorbidity, and an odds ratio of 1.16 (95% CI 1.08–1.24) for a positive history of vaccination. The estimated infection fatality ratio was 0.033% (95% CI: 0.034–0.032%) between 22 May and 31 July 2021 against the seropositivity for IgM antibodies.InterpretationDuring the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, 84.84% (95% CI 84.51–85.18%) of participants from this population-based cross-sectional sample were seropositive against SARS-CoV-2. Despite a comparatively lower number of cases reported and lower vaccination coverage in the region, our study found such high seropositivity across all age groups, which indicates the higher number of subclinical and less severe unnoticed caseload in the community.</p