Recent Advances in Sorafenib based Nanoformulation for Enhanced Cancer Therapy

Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor has gained significant attention in cancer therapy. However, the clinical use of sorafenib is limited by poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties, and undesirable side effects including anorexia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and severe skin toxicity. To overcome these drawbacks, the encapsulation of sorafenib into nanocarriers is an effective strategy. With advancements in nanotechnology, sorafenib[1]based nanoformulation has been developed to enhance their targetability and bioavailability. Various strategies, such as ligand-mediated targeting and stimuli-responsive systems, enable selective drug delivery to cancer cells while overcoming multidrug resistance. This editorial highlights the recent advances in sorafenib-based nanoformulation (liposomal, polymer, metallic) for improved cancer therapy

In vitro Anti-Cancer Effect of Polymeric Nanoparticles Encapsulating Caralluma tuberculata in Cancer Cells

Rapidly evolving drug delivery systems employ therapeutic agents (liposomes, polymers, and nanospheres) to achieve optimum therapeutic and targeted effects with declined side effects to cure chronic diseases like cancer. Nano-formulation of a natural product i.e., Caralluma tuberculata (Ct) extract, has been used as an effective combinational therapy with enhanced biocompatibility owing to its strong anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-tumor potential. Ct extract was prepared using three solvents (EtOH, MeOH, and CHCl3) amongst which methanolic Ct extract exhibited the highest percentage yield (9.6%). Qualitative phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography (TLC), and antioxidant assays (DPPH assay and H2O2 assay) were performed. The percentage free radical scavenging values were found to be 86.25% (IC50=140.1μg/ml) and 88% (IC50=14.22μg/ml) at 1000 μg/ml concentration for both assays respectively. Methanolic Ct extract was then encapsulated in chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CS-TPP) nanoparticles using ionic gelation method with an encapsulation efficiency of 87%. Characterization showed uniform size distribution of 140nm particle size using DLS and encapsulation of Ct extract inside CS-TPP nanoparticles was confirmed by UV spectrophotometry and FTIR. Ct loaded CS-TPP nanoparticles showed less than or equal to 5% hemolytic activity at concentrations of 15.62μg/ml, 31.25μg/ml, 62.5μg/ml, and 125μg/ml, suggesting its safer usage at lower concentration. Rhodamine conjugated Ct loaded CS-TPP nanoparticles showed significant uptake efficiency in breast cancer cells compared to control. Ct extract and the nanoformulation were treated against triple negative breast cancer cell lines (Cal-51) for the evaluation of cytotoxicity exhibiting 30-40% (IC50=122.3μg/ml) and up to 75% (IC50=14.39μg/ml) cytotoxicity respectively. The study paves way for the encapsulation of medicinal plants in polymeric nanoparticles to achieve safer and highly efficient drug delivery systems

PREVALENT RISK FACTORS OF HCV TRANSMISSION IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS (HCWS) IN PAKISTAN

Objective: To study and analyze the prevalent risk factors of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission in Health Care Workers (HCWs) in PakistanMethods: A literature survey (2005-2012) was conducted from the available literatures to identify the most prominent risk factors and prevalence rate of HCV affected workers in Pakistan. Health care workers include doctors, nurses, paramedical staffs, dispensers, laboratory technicians and pharmacists. The most common risk factors associated with the high incidence rate of HCV in HCWs are lack of well-trained paramedical staff and their non-scientific behavior, improper disposal of hospital waste, lack of sterilization facilities, poor infrastructure, direct exposure to blood and its products and finally needle stick injury.Results: The mean prevalence of HCV in HCWs is 4.46%±2, with the highest prevalence (6%) in Islamabad and Rawalpindi area.Conclusion: We recommend for the HCWs to become aware of the possible risks of HCV spread and minimize the complications of hospital care. The government should have to initiate awareness program on HCV infection among health care professionals.Â

Booklet 3 bahasa: Berhenti Merokok akan Mencegah Kanker Paru (Quitting Smoking will Prevent Lung Cancer)

Booklet is an education tool. It is used by the ex-smoker as educator on suspect lung cancer patients, who still smoking. The booklet consists of 3 parts. First: information about smoking and its dangers, secondf: the ex-smoker unique story to quit smoking and the third: calendar monitoring, that is used by the patient to record number of cigarettes smoked per-day. The booklet is given to the patient in order it can be read at home and inspire them to get healthier

Alleviation of drought stress through foliar application of thiamine in two varieties of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Drought stress poorly impacts many morphological and physio-biochemical processes in plants. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants are highly nutritious crops destined for human consumption; however, their productivity is threatened under drought stress. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is well-known essential micronutrient, acting as a cofactor in key metabolic processes. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the protective effect of foliar application of thiamine (0, 250, and 500 ppm) on two varieties of pea plants under drought stress. Here, we conducted the pot experiment at the Government College Women University, Faisalabad, to investigate the physio-biochemical and morphological traits of two pea varieties (sarsabz and metior) grown under drought stress and thiamine treatment. Drought stress was applied to plants after germination period of 1 month. Results showed that root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, number of pods, leaf area, total soluble sugars, total phenolics, total protein contents, catalase, peroxidase, and mineral ions were reduced against drought stress. However, the application of thiamine (both 250 and 500 ppm) overcome the stress and also enhances these parameters, and significantly increases the antioxidant activities (catalase and peroxidase). Moreover, the performance of sarsabz was better under control and drought stress conditions than metior variety. In conclusion, the exogenous application of thiamine enabled the plants to withstand drought stress conditions by regulating several physiological and biochemical mechanisms. In agriculture, it is a great latent to alleviate the antagonistic impact of drought stress on crops through the foliar application of thiamine

A low-cost intervention for cleaner drinking water in Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To pilot test an inexpensive, home-based water decontamination and storage system in a low-income neighborhood of Karachi.Methods: Fifty households received a 20-L plastic water storage vessel with a high-quality spout and a regular supply of diluted hypochlorite solution. Twenty-five control households were recruited. Water samples were collected at baseline and during unannounced follow-up visits 1, 3, 6, and 10 weeks later.Results: Baseline drinking water samples among intervention households were contaminated with a mean 9397 colony-forming units (cfu)/100 mL of thermotolerant coliforms compared with a mean 10,990 cfu/100 mL from controls. After intervention the mean concentration of thermotolerant coliforms decreased by 99.8% among the intervention households compared with an 8% reduction among controls. Two years after vessel distribution, 34 (68%) of the families were still using the vessel. Thirteen of the households had stopped using their vessel because it had broken after more than 6 months of use, a pattern most consistent with ultraviolet radiation-induced degradation of the plastic.CONCLUSIONS: In a highly contaminated environment, a specifically designed water storage container and in-home water chlorination was acceptable and markedly improved water quality. Where plastic water vessels will be exposed to substantial sunlight, ultraviolet light stabilizers should be incorporated into the plastic

Berhenti Merokok akan Mencegah Kanker Paru Quitting Smoking will Prevent Lung Cancer تمباکو نوشی چھوڑنے سے پھيپھڑوں کے کينسر کو روکنے کے لئے

B u k u i n i b e r j u d u l,”Berhenti Merokok akan Mencegah Kanker Paru” terdiri dari 3 (tiga) bahasa yaitu: Indonesia, Inggris dan Urdu. Buku ini disusun sebagai rasa keprihatinan penulis setelah mengetahui bahwa banyak orang yang mengalami kanker paru akibat merokok namun tidak dapat meninggalkan rokok sampai orang tersebut meninggal karena kanker paru akibat merokok. Atas dasar inilah buku tersebut diterbitkan, dalam rangka membantu orang-orang yang mengalami suspek kanker paru dan bagaimana cara mengurangi jumlah batang rokok setiap hari. Buku ini dapat menjadi pegangan khususnya bagi yang menderita suspek kanker paru untuk tidak menjadi pasien kanker paru. Edisi pertama buku ini terdiri dari; 1) Informasi tentang hubungan merokok dan kejadian kanker paru; 2) P e n g a l a m a n p e r o k o k sebelumnya yang sudah b e r h e n t i m e r o k o k ; 3 ) Kalender monitoring untuk pengambilan keputusan mengurangi jumlah batang rokok setiap hari. Demikian b u k u i n i d a p a t m e m p e r m u d a h p r o s e s pengambilan keputusan untuk mengurangi jumlah batang rokok atau berhenti merokok demi menjaga paru-paru yang sehat. Sebagai akhir kata tiada gading yang tak retak, tentu saja buku ini masih jauh dari s e m p u r n a , k a r e n a i t u sumbang saran pembaca atau pengguna buku ini akan selalu penulis tunggu dalam rangka perbaikan edisi selanjutnya

Investigation of japanese encephalitis virus as a cause of acute encephalitis in southern Pakistan, april 2015-january 2018

Background: Japanese encephalitis (JE) occurs in fewer than 1% of JE virus (JEV) infections, often with catastrophic sequelae including death and neuropsychiatric disability. JEV transmission in Pakistan was documented in 1980s and 1990s, but recent evidence is lacking. Our objective was to investigate JEV as a cause of acute encephalitis in Pakistan.Methods: Persons aged ≥1 month with possible JE admitted to two acute care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan from April 2015 to January 2018 were enrolled. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or serum samples were tested for JEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) using the InBios JE DetectTM assay. Positive or equivocal samples had confirmatory testing using plaque reduction neutralization tests.Results: Among 227 patients, testing was performed on CSF in 174 (77%) and on serum in 53 (23%) patients. Six of eight patient samples positive or equivocal for JEV IgM had sufficient volume for confirmatory testing. One patient had evidence of recent West Nile virus (WNV) neurologic infection based on CSF testing. One patient each had recent dengue virus (DENV) infection and WNV infection based on serum results. Recent flavivirus infections were identified in two persons, one each based on CSF and serum results. Specific flaviviruses could not be identified due to serologic cross-reactivity. For the sixth person, JEV neutralizing antibodies were confirmed in CSF but there was insufficient volume for further testing.Conclusions: Hospital-based JE surveillance in Karachi, Pakistan could not confirm or exclude local JEV transmission. Nonetheless, Pakistan remains at risk for JE due to presence of the mosquito vector, amplifying hosts, and rice irrigation. Laboratory surveillance for JE should continue among persons with acute encephalitis. However, in view of serological cross-reactivity, confirmatory testing of JE IgM positive samples at a reference laboratory is essential

Phyto-Therapeutic and Nanomedicinal Approaches to Cure Alzheimer’s Disease: Present Status and Future Opportunities

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive inability manifested due to the accumulation of β-amyloid, formation of hyper phosphorylated neurofibrillary tangles, and a malfunctioned cholinergic system. The degeneration integrity of the neuronal network can appear long after the onset of the disease. Nanotechnology-based interventions have opened an exciting area via theranostics of AD in terms of tailored nanomedicine, which are able to target and deliver drugs across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The exciting interface existing between medicinal plants and nanotechnology is an emerging marvel in medicine, which has delivered promising results in the treatment of AD. In order to assess the potential applications of the medicinal plants, their derived components, and various nanomedicinal approaches, a review of literature was deemed as necessary. In the present review, numerous phytochemicals and various feats in nanomedicine for the treatment of AD have been discussed mechanistically for the first time. Furthermore, recent trends in nanotechnology such as green synthesis of metal nanoparticles with reference to the treatment of AD have been elaborated. Foreseeing the recent progress, we hope that the interface of medicinal plants and nanotechnology will lead to highly effective theranostic strategies for the treatment of AD in the near future