Antioxidants: Natural Antibiotics

The aim of this current piece of writing is to draw the attention of readers and researchers toward the natural antioxidants that can take the place of synthetic antibiotics to avoid bacterial resistance and gastrotoxicity/nephrotoxicity. Antioxidants such as polyphenols, vitamins, and carotenoids are the organic compounds mainly extracted from natural sources and dominantly involved in boosting the defense system of organisms. The main public health-related issue over the globe is ever-growing bacterial resistance to synthetic antibiotics, which is being continuously reported during the last decade. Further, the pipeline of the development of new synthetic antibacterial agents to replace the resistant antibiotics in clinical set-up is gradually drying up. This scenario originated the concept to revive the interest toward natural antibacterial products due to their chemical diversity, which provide important therapeutic effect and make the microbes unable to copy them for creating resistance. Natural products, especially polyphenols had been seen in antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammation, and antiviral activities with encouraging results. In this chapter, we will focus over the role of natural antioxidants as antibacterial agents

Recent advances in the synthesis of triazole derivatives

Triazole ring system has attracted a continuously growing interest of synthetic organic chemists and those dealing with the medicinal compounds due to its versatile potential to interact with biological systems. The triazole compounds possess a wide range of biological activities and are especially focused for antifungal behavior. In thisreview article, we have summarized the recent developmentsin the synthetic methodologies of this ring system. The main focus was on the methodologies which deal with the facile and convenient synthesis

Potential of biomass for bioenergy in Pakistan based on present case and future perspectives

Authors have no conflict of interest and would like to acknowledge the National University of Sciences&Technology (NUST), Pakistan.Peer reviewedPostprin

Localization Mechanisms of Radiopharmaceuticals

Scintigraphic techniques have opened a new era of developments in the localization of infectious and cancerous foci. Diseases area targeting mechanisms of radiopharmaceuticals encompasses visualization, characterization, and measurement of physiological and biological functioning at targeted sites in addition to measure the area and density of the disease. The accumulation of a radiopharmaceutical at specific organ is based upon numerous processes such as enzymatic interactions, receptor binding site, transport of chemical species and elimination of damaged cells from circulation by a normal metabolic process. PET and SPECT are developing scanning techniques that provides effective diagnostic tool to identify pathophysiology of diseased cells. In this chapter, we are exploring and explaining different mechanisms of radiopharmaceutical localization for imaging and therapeutic processes. The knowledge of these mechanisms will help to develop target based new radiopharmaceuticals using variety of medically used radioisotopes either for imaging or therapy of diseased cells

Perceptions about the cause of schizophrenia and the subsequent help seeking behavior in a Pakistani population – results of a cross-sectional survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a cultural variability around the perception of what causes the syndrome of schizophrenia. Generally patients with schizophrenia are considered dangerous. They are isolated and treatment is delayed. Studies have shown favorable prognosis with good family and social support, early diagnosis and management. Duration of untreated psychosis is a bad prognostic indicator. We aimed to determine the perceptions regarding the etiology of schizophrenia and the subsequent help seeking behavior.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 404 people at the out patient departments of Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. Data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Questions were related to a vignette of a young man displaying schizophrenic behavior. Data was analyzed on SPSS v 14.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of the participants was 31.4 years (range = 18–72) and 77% of them were males. The majorities were graduates (61.9%) and employed (50%). Only 30% of the participants attributed 'mental illness' as the main cause of psychotic symptoms while a large number thought of 'God's will' (32.3%), 'superstitious ideas' (33.1%), 'loneliness' (24.8%) and 'unemployment' (19.3%) as the main cause. Mental illness as the single most important cause was reported by only 22%. As far as management is concerned, only 40% reported psychiatric consultation to be the single most important management step. Other responses included spiritual healing (19.5%) and Sociachanges (10.6) while 14.8% of respondents said that they would do nothing. Gender, age, family system and education level were significantly associated with the beliefs about the cause of schizophrenia (p < 0.05). While these variables plus 'religious inclination' and 'beliefs about cause' were significantly associated with the help seeking behavior of the participants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite majority of the study population being well educated, only a few recognized schizophrenia as a mental illness and many held superstitious beliefs. A vast majority of Pakistanis have non-biomedical beliefs about the cause of schizophrenia. Their help seeking behavior in this regard is inappropriate and detrimental to the health of schizophrenic patients. Areas for future research have been identified.</p