Beneficial effects of n-hexane bark extract of Onosma echioides L. on diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Onosma echioides Linn (Boraginaceae) is the most frequently used curative herb widely used for kidney obstruction, sciatic pain, and gout. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of n-hexane bark extract of O. echioides (OE) L. root in vivo against Streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in SD rats. For in vivo activity, the experiment was categorized into five different groups (n = 5). Group-I was considered as nondiabetic/normal control (NC) treated with 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Group II as diabetic control, Group-III, IV, and V served as diabetic treated with OE 50, OE 100, and pregabalin at a dose of 50, 100, and 10 mg/kg body weight, orally, respectively. Body weight, blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, behavioral studies (motor coordination test, thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, locomotor activity, oxidative biomarkers (thio barbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH], and catalase), and histopathology of the sciatic nerve were performed. Treatment with OE showed a dose-dependent increase in neuroprotective activity by improving the myelination and decreasing the axonal swelling of nerve fibers. The verdicts of behavioral activities showed a remarkable effect on animals after the treatment of extract and standard drug pregabalin. In conclusion, our findings supported the traditional application of OE and explored its importance in the management of diabetic neuropathy. Additional clinical experiments may provide novel therapeutic drugs for diabetes and its complications.     

On Computations for Thermal Radiation in MHD Channel Flow with Heat and Mass Transfer

This study examines the simultaneous effects of heat and mass transfer on the three-dimensional boundary layer flow of viscous fluid between two infinite parallel plates. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and thermal radiation effects are present. The governing problems are first modeled and then solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). Influence of several embedded parameters on the velocity, concentration and temperature fields are described.     

Insight from γC1 protein model for implication in cotton leaf curl disease

DNA γ is approximately half of the size of Begomovirus DNA. It encodes a γC1 gene that is conserved in position and size. This gene has the capacity to encode a 13 to 14 kDa protein comprising 118 amino acid residues. It has been shown earlier that γC1 protein is necessary for inducing symptoms of cotton leaf curl disease. The structure for γC1 (CLCuDγ01-Pakistan) is still unknown. Therefore, a model of γC1 (CLCuDγ01-Pakistan) was developed using DoBo and I-TASSER servers followed by validation by PROCHECK and VERIFY 3D servers. The developed model provides an insight in a role for this multifunctional protein in causing Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD). A possible function of this protein might be the suppression of RNAsilencing in cotton plants.     

Role of Bioactive Peptides in Reducing the Severity of Hypertension with the Inhibition of ACE

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Bovine milk protein, fermented with LC (Lactobacillus casei) was used to evaluate its ACE inhibitory activity in-vitro. After evaluating...     

Baseline NT-ProBNP level predicts success of cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with flecainide

BackgroundPatients with acute-onset symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) can be treated with flecainide. However, flecainide may induce arrhythmias and/or exaggerate heart failure. Therefore, validated markers to predict the efficacy of flecainide and prevent adverse effects are required. We hypothesised that lower NT-proBNP plasma levels correlate with higher success rates of cardioversion with flecainide in patients with AF.MethodsIn this prospective single-centre study, we included 112 subsequent patients with acute-onset (< 24 h) symptomatic AF. Patients with symptoms of heart failure and ECG signs of ischaemia were excluded. Baseline laboratory measurements, including NT-proBNP, were done. Echocardiograms were performed ~ 2 weeks after restoration of SR.ResultsCardioversion with flecainide was successful in 91 patients (87 %). NT-proBNP was lower in patients with successful cardioversion (P < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated NT-proBNP as an independent predictor of successful cardioversion. A cut-off NT-proBNP value of 1550 pg/ml provided optimal test accuracy to predict successful cardioversion.ConclusionIn patients with < 24 h of symptomatic AF, NT-proBNP levels up to 1550 pg/ml correlate with high success rates (94 %) of cardioversion with flecainide. Conversely, NT-proBNP higher than 1550 pg/ml correlates with poor success rates (36 %). Further research is needed to validate the predictive value of NT-proBNP for successful cardioversion with flecainide.     

“Down syndrome: an insight of the disease”

Down syndrome (DS) is one of the commonest disorders with huge medical and social cost. DS is associated with number of phenotypes including congenital heart defects, leukemia, Alzeihmer’s disease, Hirschsprung disease etc. DS individuals are affected by these phenotypes to a variable extent thus understanding the cause of this variation is a key challenge. In the present review article, we emphasize an overview of DS, DS-associated phenotypes diagnosis and management of the disease. The genes or miRNA involved in Down syndrome associated Alzheimer’s disease, congenital heart defects (AVSD), leukemia including AMKL and ALL, hypertension and Hirschprung disease are discussed in this article. Moreover, we have also reviewed various prenatal diagnostic method from karyotyping to rapid molecular methods -  MLPA, FISH, QF-PCR, PSQ, NGS and noninvasive prenatal diagnosis in detail.     

Health risk assessment due to exposure of arsenic contamination in drinking water of district Shiekhupura,Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude and health impacts of As in drinking water. Drinking water samples (n?=?60) were collected from twenty different sites of Shiekhupura District (Pakistan). Health risk assessment through average daily dose (ADD), hazard indices (HI), hazard quotient (HQ), carcinogenic risk (CR), and cancer indices (CI) for dermal and oral exposure were determined. Results revealed that As concentration ranged from 2 to 900?µg?L^?1 in water samples, which was significantly greater than the safe limit of As (10?µg?L^?1) in water. Health risk assessment of As showed that ADD (1.07E?02–9.85E?04), HQ (1.06E+01–9.85E+00), and CR (1.60E?02–9.85E?04) for oral exposure and ADD (1.03E?05–9.69E?06), HQ (1.19E?02–7.96E?03), and CR (1.11E?05–8.98E?05) for dermal exposure which were exceeded the toxic risk index value. Comparison of the two exposure pathways indicated that the oral exposure is much higher risk than the dermal contact. Both values of HI and CI were greater than WHO limit. It is concluded that residents of study area are at higher risk of As induced diseases and carcinogenicity.     

Activin A affects feeding by promoting the inner diameter and muscle development of the pharynx and oesophagus in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Activin A belongs to the superfamily of transforming growth factor-β and plays an important role in hormone regulation and tissue development. However, few research studies have been conducted on the effect of activin A on feeding organs in fish. In this study, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were treated with 1 ng ml^–1 activin A for 8 days continuously. The haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining section results revealed that the transverse inner diameter of the pharynx and oesophagus significantly increased on the third and eighth days after treatment compared with the control group (P < 0.05). On the eighth day, the cross-sectional area of the pharyngeal muscle increased by 8638 μm² compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The RNA in situ hybridization results also showed that the expression of skeletal muscle-specific genes (myog and myod) was significantly increased in pharyngeal muscle on the eighth day. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR results showed the expression of gh gene was significantly increased on the eighth day (P < 0.05). At the same time, more larvae in activin A group were able to feed larger brine shrimp (Artemia) than in the control group on the eighth day. In conclusion, activin A could affect feeding by promoting the inner diameter and muscle development of the pharynx and oesophagus in zebrafish larvae. This study is the first to report that the development of the pharynx and oesophagus can directly affect food intake in fish larvae, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of food intake of fish at an early stage.     

Molybdenum supply increases root system growth of winter wheat by enhancing nitric oxide accumulation and expression of NRT genes

Plant and Soil - Success in agronomic biofortification of maize and wheat is highly variable. This study aimed to elucidate the differences in uptake and translocation of foliar-applied zinc (Zn)...