Efficacy of the muscle energy technique versus the strain-counter strain technique on immediate deactivation of myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscle

Aims and objectives: Thisstudy aimed to check the comparative efficacy of the Muscle EnergyTechnique versus the Strain-Counter Strain technique on immediate deactivation ofmyofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Study design: The study comprised acomparative analytical design to compare and contrast the two study interventions. Place andduration of the study: The research was conducted in the Department of Physical therapy,Allied hospital Faisalabad for 6 months. Patients and methods: Based on inclusion andexclusion criteria, 40 subjects were enrolled in the study using the convenient samplingmethod. The subjects were divided into two groups; group A (n=20) received a single sessionof baseline treatment with themuscle energy technique, while group B (n=20)received a singlesession of baseline treatment with the strain-counter strain technique. The subjects wereevaluated through the pressure-pain threshold (algometer), Numeric Pain Rating Scale, andModified Bournemouth Questionnaire as pre-intervention and post-intervention measuringtools for pain and functional status. Results: The data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.Within group analysis showed a significant difference between pre- values and post values ofpressure-pain threshold, Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Modified BournemouthQuestionnaire in both groups (P<0.05). Between group analysis was done using independentsample t test. It also showed significant difference (P<0.05) in post mean values between thetwo group subjects in all three outcomes. The post-mean values for the strain-counter straingroup were slightly more improved than the Muscle Energy Technique group. Conclusion:The strain-counter strain technique is found more effective than the Muscle Energy Techniquefor immediate deactivation of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET ON SMES PERFORMANCE: AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN: Dr. Nadia Nasir, Shama Urooj, Humaira Qudsia Yousaf, Mahwish Zafar, Saqib Manzoor

Purpose: The study is an effort to identify the effects of strategic innovation on performance of small and medium enterprises of Pakistan. The study evaluated the effects of product innovation, process innovation and market innovation on performance of small and medium enterprises of Pakistan.  Design/Methodology/Approach: The sample was drawn from the 102 small and medium enterprises which were operating in the Pakistan. Data was collected from employees of the small and medium size enterprises operating in Pakistan. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed through SPSS software.  Findings: The findings of the study show a positive relationship between innovation and performance. Results proved that introducing new products helps the small and medium size enterprises to increase their performance, or enhancement of current product also helps small and medium size enterprises to increase the performance. Implications/Originality/Value: The study concludes that in current competitive business environment, it is necessary for firm to be innovative in their products, processes and market to enhance their performance. Study findings conclude that strategic innovation is one of the most important factors of the firm for their performanc

Antibiotic resistance and cagA gene correlation: A looming crisis of Helicobacter pylori

AIM: To determine antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in Pakistan and its correlation with host and pathogen associated factors

Reprisal of Schima superba to Mn stress and exploration of its defense mechanism through transcriptomic analysis

One of the most diverse protein families, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, play a role in disease resistance, heavy metal tolerance, and food absorption.Differentially expressed genes contribute in the investigation of plant defense mechanisms under varying stress conditions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in Mn metal stress, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to explore the differential gene expression in Schima superba with the comparison of control. A total of 79.84 G clean data was generated and 6558 DEGs were identified in response to Mn metal stress. Differentially expressed genes were found to be involved in defense, signaling pathways, oxidative burst, transcription factors and stress responses. Genes important in metal transport were more expressive in Mn stress than control plants. The investigation of cis-acting regions in the ABC family indicated that these genes might be targeted by a large variety of trans-acting elements to control a variety of stress circumstances. Moreover, genes involved in defense responses, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and signal transduction in S. superba were highly induced in Mn stress. Twenty ABC transporters were variably expressed on 1st, 5th, and 10th day of Mn treatment, according to the qRT PCR data. Inclusively, our findings provide an indispensable foundation for an advanced understanding of the metal resistance mechanisms. Our study will enrich the sequence information of S. superba in a public database and would provide a new understanding of the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance and detoxification.Y

DataSheet_2_Reprisal of Schima superba to Mn stress and exploration of its defense mechanism through transcriptomic analysis.pdf

One of the most diverse protein families, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, play a role in disease resistance, heavy metal tolerance, and food absorption.Differentially expressed genes contribute in the investigation of plant defense mechanisms under varying stress conditions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in Mn metal stress, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to explore the differential gene expression in Schima superba with the comparison of control. A total of 79.84 G clean data was generated and 6558 DEGs were identified in response to Mn metal stress. Differentially expressed genes were found to be involved in defense, signaling pathways, oxidative burst, transcription factors and stress responses. Genes important in metal transport were more expressive in Mn stress than control plants. The investigation of cis-acting regions in the ABC family indicated that these genes might be targeted by a large variety of trans-acting elements to control a variety of stress circumstances. Moreover, genes involved in defense responses, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and signal transduction in S. superba were highly induced in Mn stress. Twenty ABC transporters were variably expressed on 1st, 5th, and 10th day of Mn treatment, according to the qRT PCR data. Inclusively, our findings provide an indispensable foundation for an advanced understanding of the metal resistance mechanisms. Our study will enrich the sequence information of S. superba in a public database and would provide a new understanding of the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance and detoxification.</p

DataSheet_1_Reprisal of Schima superba to Mn stress and exploration of its defense mechanism through transcriptomic analysis.pdf

One of the most diverse protein families, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, play a role in disease resistance, heavy metal tolerance, and food absorption.Differentially expressed genes contribute in the investigation of plant defense mechanisms under varying stress conditions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in Mn metal stress, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to explore the differential gene expression in Schima superba with the comparison of control. A total of 79.84 G clean data was generated and 6558 DEGs were identified in response to Mn metal stress. Differentially expressed genes were found to be involved in defense, signaling pathways, oxidative burst, transcription factors and stress responses. Genes important in metal transport were more expressive in Mn stress than control plants. The investigation of cis-acting regions in the ABC family indicated that these genes might be targeted by a large variety of trans-acting elements to control a variety of stress circumstances. Moreover, genes involved in defense responses, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and signal transduction in S. superba were highly induced in Mn stress. Twenty ABC transporters were variably expressed on 1st, 5th, and 10th day of Mn treatment, according to the qRT PCR data. Inclusively, our findings provide an indispensable foundation for an advanced understanding of the metal resistance mechanisms. Our study will enrich the sequence information of S. superba in a public database and would provide a new understanding of the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance and detoxification.</p

BAD, a Proapoptotic Protein, Escapes ERK/RSK Phosphorylation in Deguelin and siRNA-Treated HeLa Cells

<div><p>This study has been undertaken to explore the therapeutic effects of deguelin and specific siRNAs in HeLa cells. The data provided clearly show the silencing of ERK 1/2 with siRNAs and inhibition of ERK1/2 with deguelin treatment in HeLa cells. Additionally, we are providing information that deguelin binds directly to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 in the hydrophobic grooves, thereby releasing BAD and BAX from dimerization with these proteins. This results in increased apoptotic activity through the intrinsic pathway involved in rupture of mitochondrial membrane and release of cytochrome C. Evidence for inhibition of ERK1/2 by deguelin and escape of BAD phosphorylation at serine 112 through ERK/RSK pathway has been further fortified by obtaining similar results by silencing ERK 1/2 each with specific siRNAs. Increase in BAD after treatment with deguelin or siRNAs has been interpreted to mean that deguelin acts through several alternative pathways and therefore can be used as effective therapeutic agent.</p></div

The binding of deguelin molecule on ERK-1 and ERK-2 near the ATP binding site.

<p>Docking was carried out using bio-informative tools as described in materials and methods. It may be observed that the molecule binds to ERK1/2 in the ATP pocket, thereby, preventing the phosphorylation of ERK.</p

The figure shows the blotting of various proteins isolated from normal cells and those treated with various doses of either deguelin or transfected with siRNAs specific for silencing of ERK1/2.

<p>(A) Cells transfected with various doses of ERK-1 specific siRNA. (B) Cells transfected with various doses of ERK-2 specific siRNA. (C) BAD expression in cells transfected with either ERK-1 or ERK-2 siRNAs. (D) ERK-1 and ERK-2, (E) BAD, (F) Bcl-xl, (G) BAX and (H) Cytochrome-C levels in cells treated with various doses of deguelin. (I) The house-keeping control (β-actin).</p

Docking of deguelin on anti-apoptotic proteins.

<p>(A) Structure of deguelin arrow indicates the binding of deguelin on Bcl-2 (B) The docking of deguelin on BH3 domain of hydrophobic group of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl (C) Binding of deguelin on MCL-1 (D) Binding of deguelin molecule on ERK-1 near the ATP binding site. Docking was carried out using bio-informative tools as described in materials and methods.</p