Antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of seven grape cultivars against six strains of bacteria

Background: Grape (Vitis spp.) is one of the most widely grown fruit crops in the world. It contains large amounts of phenolic compounds which have antimicrobial properties. Many efforts have been done to discover new antimicrobial compounds from various kinds of natural sources to benefit mankind. The current study is aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the methanolic extract of different cultivars of grapes against six bacterial strains.Methods: In the present study, the antibacterial activity of different concentrations (25, 50 and 100mg/mL) of methanolic leaf extracts of seven cultivars of grape (Red Globe, Autumn Royal, Crimson, Thompson, Sundarkhani, Perlette and King’s Ruby) was tested against six strains of bacteria (Proteus sp., Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium septicum) using agar well diffusion method.Results: The methanolic leaf extract of all the cultivars showed significant antibacterial activity, suppressing the growth of all the six bacterial strains tested. The inhibition zones against the different bacteria ranged from 12.6 mm to 29.6 mm. The highest zones of inhibition were produced by Proteus sp. (29.6 mm), Pseudomonas sp. (27 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (27 mm), E. coli (26 mm), Streptococcus viridans (23.3 mm) and Clostridium septicum (21.0mm) at 100 mg/mL concentrations of different cultivars.Conclusion: This study confirms that Vitis vinifera methanolic leaf extracts have inhibitory activity against all the tested microorganisms and is worthy of further investigation.Keywords: Vitis vinefera; Antibacterial activity; Proteus sp.; Streptococcus viridans; E. coli; Pseudomonas sp.; MRSA; Clostridium septicum; Agar well diffusio

PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH IN ASIA

ABSTRACT Life expectancy (LE) is considered as one of key health outcome and a major indicator of human development as well. Wide ranges of socioeconomic and demographic factors have major impact on life expectancy rate at birth in various countries. Association of several socioeconomic factors with life expectancy at birth and the influencing factors in forty countries of Asia has been explored in this paper. Less surprisingly the results and discussions obtained in this paper are in agreement with previous research. A close relationship between several socioeconomic variables and life expectancy at birth is found. Principal components analysis (PCA) and backward regression is performed on quantitative secondary data collected from various databases which shows that life expectancy at birth is statistically significant at 5% level of significance and have positive association with four factors extracted from PCA. Strong significant positive correlation is found between life expectancy at birth and health expenditures, gross national income, good governance and healthy life. However crude birth rate, crude death rate and infant mortality rate has negative relationship with life expectancy at birth which shows life expectancy at birth decreases as crude birth rate, crude death rate and infant mortality rate increases. The reference year for this study is 2012

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in type II diabetic patients in a health facility in Karachi, Pakistan

Purpose: To study the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in known diabetic patients attending the diabetes outpatient department (OPD) of Sind Government Hospital (SGH), New Karachi Township (NKT), Pakistan.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out at the diabetic OPD of SGH, NKT over the period of 17 months from March 2013 to August 2014. The selected patients were interviewed based on a questionnaire; laboratory investigations were performed and examination of the eye was conducted by a specialist ophthalmologist. One hundred and fifty four (154) subjects out of 305 patients contacted fully completed the study. Stratification of the data on gender basis was done, after which one-way ANOVA, χ2 test of correlation, binary logistic regression and relative risk analyses were carried out using SPSS-20.Results: It was found that 66 % men of normal weight (χ2 = 4.667, p < 0.05) and 60.7 % overweight women (χ2 = 5.143, p < 0.05) were more likely to present with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Prevalence of DR in this target population was 42.86 % (N = 66). Background DR (56 %) and maculopathy (23 %) were more prevalent than advanced conditions of the disease. There was no gender-based preponderance for the presentation of DR (χ2 = 0.663; p > 0.05), nor was this seen in different ethnic groups.Conclusion: DR is prevalent in the target population and, therefore, emphasis should be on the education of the local population of New Karachi Township on how to attain euglycemic state with regular medication, diet and exercise to avoid development and progress of DR.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Diabetic retinopathy, Medication, Euglycemia, Microvascular complication

The Challenges Experienced during Data Collection on Pensioners’ Time Use in Bahawalpur Division, Pakistan

Collecting data is a crucial part of the research process. In this article we highlight the problems and challenges we encountered while collecting data for the time use of pensioners in Pakistan, a developing country. We faced some anticipated as well as unanticipated problems and challenges while conducting interviews with pensioners for our research. The unforeseen challenges included inappropriate conduct of data providers with a female researcher, lack of funds, time management issues, a decline in response, and security issues in the field. We end the article with the recommendations to overcome those challenges and hence improving the data collection procedure and providing guidelines for societal data collection not only in rural Punjab, Pakistan, but indeed for those working in any underdeveloped and rural society

Enteric Fever as an Antecedent to Development of Miller-Fisher Syndrome and Possible Role of COVID-19 Vaccination

Summary: Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an immune-mediated demyelinating disorder. Miller-Fisher Syndrome is an uncommon subtype of GBS. It is characterized by findings of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Here we present the case of Miller-Fisher Syndrome following an episode of typhoidal diarrhea. The presentation was of rapidly progressing weakness beginning in the lower extremity with diplopia. Examination revealed diminished reflexes. CSF testing revealed albuminocytologic dissociation which was later supported by neurophysiological testing. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). We conclude that Miller-Fisher syndrome should be considered in the diagnostic workup of patients presenting with new sensorimotor deficits following diarrheal illnesses and/or COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Early recognition is essential given the propensity of GBS to cause life-threatening respiratory failure and prompt IVIG administration is associated with a better prognosis. Keywords: Enteric Fever, Miller-Fisher Syndrome, COVID-19, Vaccinatio

Purification and Characterization of a Nonspecific Lipid Transfer Protein 1 (nsLTP1) from Ajwain (\u3cem\u3eTrachyspermum ammi\u3c/em\u3e) Seeds

Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) belongs to the family Umbelliferae, is commonly used in traditional, and folk medicine due to its carminative, stimulant, antiseptic, diuretic, antihypertensive, and hepatoprotective activities. Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) reported from various plants are known to be involved in transferring lipids between membranes and in plants defense response. Here, we describe the complete primary structure of a monomeric non-specific lipid transfer protein 1 (nsLTP1), with molecular weight of 9.66 kDa, from ajwain seeds. The nsLTP1 has been purified by combination of chromatographic techniques, and further characterized by mass spectrometry, and Edman degradation. The ajwain nsLTP1 is comprised of 91 amino acids, with eight conserved cysteine residues. The amino acid sequence based predicted three dimensional (3D) structure is composed of four α-helices stabilized by four disulfide bonds, and a long C-terminal tail. The predicted model was verified by using different computational tools; i.e. ERRAT, verify 3D web server, and PROCHECK. The docking of ajwain nsLTP1 with ligands; myristic acid (MYR), and oleic acid (OLE) was performed, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to validate the docking results. The findings suggested that amino acids; Leu11, Leu12, Ala55, Ala56, Val15, Tyr59, and Leu62 are pivotal for the binding of lipid molecules with ajwain nsLTP1

Third ventricular tumors: A comprehensive literature review

Third ventricle tumors are uncommon and account for 0.6 - 0.9% of all the brain tumors. Tumors of the third ventricle are classified into primary tumors, such as colloid cysts, choroid plexus papillomas, and ependymomas, or secondary tumors, such as craniopharyngiomas, optic nerve gliomas, pineal tumors, and meningiomas. Third ventricular tumors are uncommon, and their treatment involves significant morbidity and mortality. The colloid cyst has a better surgical outcome and many approaches are available to achieve a complete cure. Choroid plexus papilloma is also a common tumor documented with its treatment majorly based on surgical resection. In addition to multiple treatment options for craniopharyngiomas, surgery is the most preferred treatment option. Ependymomas also have few treatment options, with surgical resection adopted as the first line of treatment

A multidisciplinary approach to triage patients with breast disease during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience from a tertiary care center in the developing world

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a need to prioritize care because of limitation of resources. Owing to the heterogeneity and high prevalence of breast cancers, the need to prioritize care in this vulnerable population is essential. While various medical societies have published recommendations to manage breast disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, most are focused on the Western world and do not necessarily address the challenges of a resource-limited setting.Aim: In this article, we describe our institutional approach for prioritizing care for patients presenting with breast disease.Methods and results: The breast disease management guidelines were developed and approved with the expertise of the Multidisciplinary Breast Program Leadership Committee (BPLC) of the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. These guidelines were inspired, adapted, and modified keeping in view the needs of our resource-limited healthcare system. These recommendations are also congruent with the ethical guidelines developed by the Center of Biomedical Ethics and Culture (CBEC) at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi. Our institutional recommendations outline a framework to triage patients based on the urgency of care, scheduling conflicts, and tumor board recommendations, optimizing healthcare workers\u27 schedules, operating room reallocation, and protocols. We also describe the Virtual Blended Clinics , a resource-friendly means of conducting virtual clinics and a comprehensive plan for transitioning back into the post-COVID routine.Conclusion: Our institutional experience may be considered as a guide during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for triaging care in a resource-limited setting; however, these are not meant to be universally applicable, and individual cases must be tailored based on physicians\u27 clinical judgment to provide the best quality care

X-ray Diffraction, Electronic Circular Dichroism, and Quantum Mechanics (TD-DFT) Investigations on 4 Dehydroxyaltersolanol A, a Secondary Metabolite from Endophytic Fungus Nigrospora oryzae

Background and objectives: A tetrahydro anthraquinone derivative, 4-dehydroxyaltersolanol A, has been obtained from Nigrospora oryzae, which was isolated from Uncaria borneensis Havil as an endophytic fungus. This is a recently described compound whose stereochemistry was assumed from biogenetic considerations. However, using ECD spectral analysis in combination with TD-DFT calculations, its stereochemistry could be determined unambiguously. Method: In the current research, the selected TH1P45 culture was analysed using semi-preparative HPLC, which led to the isolation of six secondary metabolites, including 4-dehydroxyaltersolanol A (1). We have further presented full evidence of the stereochemistry of compound 1. With the help of quantum calculations, we also determined the mechanism by which this compound degrades in solution. Results: The analysis of TH1P45 culture led to the isolation of six secondary metabolites, including 4-dehydroxyaltersolanol A, three anthraquinone derivatives (macrosporin, bostrycin and altersolanol B), and two pyrones (pestalopyrone and hydroxypestalopyrone). Conclusion: A full evidence of the stereochemistry of compound 1 with the help of the combination of X-ray crystallography, ECD, and TD-DFT quantum calculations, allowed unambiguously assigning the absolute stereochemistry of 4 dehydroxyaltersolanol A as 1S,2R,3S as correctly assumed by Proksh and collaborators from biogenetic considerations