A Case Report Of COVID-19 Re-Infection

Spectrum of coronavirus disease continues to unfold as time passes. It has created health and economic crisis all over the world. Being a new virus, means less information on behavior and a lot to learn for its immunity. It was assumed initially that reinfection was less likely. Once exposed, we will develop antibodies and will be safe. But now we have a case of Covid-19 reinfection, depicting that despite of exposure and having IgG Antibody titer, reinfection occurred within 6 months. &nbsp

Microstructural transformations and Grain growth in alumina nanoprecursors

Alumina nanoprecursors with a range of average particle size and narrow distribution manifested two different grain and pore growth during mictrostructural developments. Densification temperature decreases in general with the decrease in average particle size though the distribution of particle size as a function of heating rate manifested different grain growth and subsequent densification. At low heating rate, 5oC the particles tend to show bimodal grain growth with bigger average grain, about 3 micron and densified at elevated temperatures, 1600oC. While at ten times elevated heating rate, 50sC, the particles tend to show normal grain growth with desirable average grain, 1bout 1 micron and densified at comparatively 200oC degrees lower temperature. Keywords:Alumina, densification, grain growth, pore closure. DOI: 10.7176/CMR/14-4-04 Publication date:November 30th, 202

Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the conserved ESTs regions of Gossypium arboreum

Exploring genetic variation in Gossypium arboreum L. germplasm is useful as it contains many important genes conferring resistance to different stresses. In limited earlier studies, low level of genetic diversity was found by using conventional DNA marker systems which may impede future genome mapping studies. In the present investigation, we explored the extent of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) among 30 conserved regions of Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) of low copy genes between two genotypes of G. arboreum. A total of 27 SNPs including 21 substitutions and 6 Insertions and deletions (Indels) in 7804 bp were found between these genotypes with a frequency of one SNP per 371 bp and one Indel after every 1300 bp. Out of these SNPs, 52% were transitions, whilst 48% SNPs were transversion. In conclusion, SNPs are expedient markers that can explore polymorphism in highly conserved sequences where other markers are not effective

Bioinformatics: A Way Forward to Explore “Plant Omics”

Bioinformatics, a computer-assisted science aiming at managing a huge volume of genomic data, is an emerging discipline that combines the power of computers, mathematical algorithms, and statistical concepts to solve multiple genetic/biological puzzles. This science has progressed parallel to the evolution of genome-sequencing tools, for example, the next-generation sequencing technologies, that resulted in arranging and analyzing the genome-sequencing information of large genomes. Synergism of “plant omics” and bioinformatics set a firm foundation for deducing ancestral karyotype of multiple plant families, predicting genes, etc. Second, the huge genomic data can be assembled to acquire maximum information from a voluminous “omics” data. The science of bioinformatics is handicapped due to lack of appropriate computational procedures in assembling sequencing reads of the homologs occurring in complex genomes like cotton (2n = 4x = 52), wheat (2n = 6x = 42), etc., and shortage of multidisciplinary-oriented trained manpower. In addition, the rapid expansion of sequencing data restricts the potential of acquisitioning, storing, distributing, and analyzing the genomic information. In future, inventions of high-tech computational tools and skills together with improved biological expertise would provide better insight into the genomes, and this information would be helpful in sustaining crop productivities on this planet

Comparative analysis of hyoscine in wild-type and in vitro grown Datura innoxia by high performance liquid chromatography

Purpose: To compare the hyoscine contents of Datura innoxia plant grown in the wild and that grown in vitro.Methods: For callus induction from leaf explants, 15 combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, gibberellic acid, benzyl amino purine and kinetin were used. For regeneration of shoots, 8 combinations of BAP, kinetin and indole butyric acid (IBA) were tested. Different concentrations of IBA were used for rooting. The hyoscine contents of the wild and in vitro samples was initially identified by TLC and subsequently quantified by high performance liquid chromatography using hyoscine N-butyl bromide as standard.Results: For callus induction, 2,4-D at 2 mg/L produced maximum calli (96 %). Maximum shoots regeneration was obtained with 2 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L kinetin. IBA at 0.5 mg/L induced good rooting. Substantial amount of hyoscine was detected in the extracts of in vitro grown plants through TLC and HPLC. Wild root, stem and leaves exhibited higher amounts (approx. 2 μg/mL) of hyoscine than the parts of in vitro grown plants. Green callus grown in vitro contained a maximum concentration of hyoscine (1.01 μg/mL) followed by leaf (0.82 μg/mL) and brown callus (0.432 μg/mL).Conclusion: The callus cultures of D. innoxia are capable of yielding good amounts of hyoscine, and therefore can be exploited to increase hyoscine production using chemical/hormone treatments on a large scale. Thus, this study provides a sustainable and efficient way for the sustainable production of a natural hyoscine product via in vitro-grown D. innoxia cultures.Keywords: Datura innoxia, Hyoscine, Callus, Hyoscine, Explant, Gibberellic acid, Benzyl amino purine, Kineti

Temperature Extremes in Cotton Production and Mitigation Strategies

Cotton is an important cash crop, providing raw material for different industries and plays crucial role in the economy of several countries. It requires optimum temperature for economic production and causes reduced yield otherwise. Extreme temperature, more importantly, high temperature causes serious yield reduction in cotton by affecting its physiology, biochemistry and quality leading to poor agronomic produce. Freezing temperature also affect the germination percentage and seedling establishment. Several breeding and genomics based studies were conducted to improve the cotton production under high and low temperature stress in cotton. Here we overviewed several agronomic practices to mitigate the effect of extreme temperature, and multiple breeding and molecular approaches to enhance the genetic potential of cotton for temperature tolerance by Marker assisted selection or transgenic approach

In-situ synthesis of 3D ultra-small gold augmented graphene hybrid for highly sensitive electrochemical binding capability

The fascinating properties of graphene can be augmented with other nanomaterials to generate hybrids to design innovative applications. Contrary to the conventional methodologies, we showed a novel yet simple, in-situ, biological approach which allowed for the effective growth of gold nanostructures on graphene surfaces (3D Au NS@GO). The morphology of the obtained hybrid consisted of sheets of graphene, anchoring uniform dispersion of ultra-small gold nanostructures of about 2-8 nm diameter. Surface plasmon resonance at 380 nm confirmed the nano-regimen of the hybrid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the utilization of amine spacers to host gold ions leading to nucleation and growth. The exceptional positive surface potential of 55 mV suggest that the hybrid as an ideal support for electrocatalysis. Ultimately, the hybrid was found to be an efficient receptor material for electrochemical performance towards the binding of uric acid which is an important biomolecule of human metabolism. The designed material enabled the detection of uric acid concentrations as low as 30 nM. This synthesis strategy is highly suitable to design new hybrid materials with interesting morphology and outstanding properties for the identification of clinically relevant biomolecules

ROLE OF SONOELASTOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF THYROID NODULES

Thyroid nodular disease is one of the most common endocrine disorder. B mode ultrasound provides useful characteristic information about thyroid nodules but it has noticeably low accuracy to differentiate benign from malignant. Fine needle aspiration is widely been used in differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules but it is an invasive procedure. Sonoelastography is a newly developed non- invasive technique which uses ultrasound and gives information about the stiffness of tissue. It estimates the hardness of thyroid lesions in association with adjacent tissues and assists in the differentiation of benign from malignant nodules.Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the role sonoelastography in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Methods:This study was conducted on 72 Patients of age between 18-80 years of either gender at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) Pakistan, from 25 March 2019 to 23 August 2019 for duration of five months. Elastography was performed using Toshiba Aplio 500.  Patient having one or more solid nodules in thyroid on conventional ultrasound examination were included in the study and the sonoelastography of nodules was confirmed with histopathological findings of nodules. Results: A total 72 participants were included in our study. The mean age of participants was 42.11 years. Gender distribution shows that 51.4% (n=37) were male and 48.6% (n=35) were female. Sonoelastographic strain ratio of 55.6% nodules (n=40) was more than 2.1(malignant feature) and 44.4% nodules (n=32) have less than 2.1 (benign). Histopathology showed 56.9% of participants (n=41) have malignant nodules and 43.1% (n=31) have benign nodules. The comparison of sonoelastography and histopathology in reference with nodules shows that the results of histopathology and sonoelastography were same and support each other. Conclusion: Sonoelastography is non-invasive and cost-effective imaging technique to diagnose thyroid nodules either benign or malignant. Keywords: Ultrasound Elastography, Thyroid Nodules, Benign, Malignant, Fine Needle Aspiration. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/66-08 Publication date:September 30th 201