Employers’ perspective of workplace breastfeeding support in Karachi,Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

Background

Breastfeeding is considered to be an important measure to achieve optimum health outcomes for children, women’s return to work has frequently been found to be a main contributor to the early discontinuation of breastfeeding. The aim of the study is to assess workplace breastfeeding support provided to working mothers in Pakistan.

Method

A workplace based cross-sectional survey was conducted from April through December 2014. Employers from a representative sample of 297 workplaces were interviewed on pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The response rate was 93.7 %. Prevalence of workplace breastfeeding facilities were assessed in the light of World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) guidelines.

Results

Among non-physical facilities, all workplaces offered 3 months paid maternity leave, 45 % of the sites were offering task adjustment to mothers during lactation period. Only 15 % of the sites were offering breastfeeding breaks to working mothers. Physical facilities that include a breastfeeding corner, refrigerator for storing breast milk, breast milk pump and nursery for childcare were provided in less than 7 % of the sites. Multinational organizations provided better support compared to national organizations.

Conclusion

Support for continuation of breastfeeding by working women at workplaces is inadequate; hence, women discontinue breastfeeding earlier than planned. Policies need to be developed and enforced, employers and employees need to be educated and supportive environment needs to be created to encourage and facilitate breastfeeding friendly worksite environment.

     

The genetic association study of TP53 polymorphisms in Saudi obese patients

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by low grade chronic inflammation. Rare and novel mutations in genes which are vital in several key pathways have been reported to alter the energy expenditure which regulates body weight. The TP53 or p53 gene plays a prominent role in regulating various metabolic activities such as glycolysis, lipolysis, and glycogen synthesis. Recent genome-wide association studies reported that tumor suppressor gene p53 variants play a critical role in the predisposition of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Till date, no reports are available from the Arabian population; hence the present study was intended to assess the association between p53 variants with risk of obesity development in the Saudi population. We have selected three p53 polymorphisms, rs1642785 (C > G), and rs9894946 (A > G), and rs1042522 (Pro72Arg; C > G) and assessed their association with obesity risk in the Saudi population. Phenotypic and biochemical parameters were also evaluated to check their association with p53 genotypes and obesity. Genotyping was carried out on 136 obese and 122 normal samples. We observed that there is significantly increased prevalence p52 Pro72Arg (rs1042522) polymorphism in obese persons when compared to controls at GG genotype in overall comparison (OR: 2.169, 95% CI: 1.086-4.334, p = 0.02716). Male obese subjects showed three-fold higher risk at GG genotype (OR: 3.275, 95% CI: 1.230-8.716, p = 0.01560) and two-fold risk at G allele (OR: 1.827, 95% CI: 1.128-2.958, p = 0.01388) of p53 variant Pro72Arg respectively. This variant has also shown significant influence on cholesterol, LDL level, and random insulin levels in obese subjects (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, p53 Pro72Arg variant is highly prevalent among obese individuals and may act as a genetic modifier for obesity development among Saudis.     

Discovery and evaluation of novel FAAH inhibitors in neuropathic pain model

Conceptual design and modification of urea moiety in chemotype PF-3845/04457845, the bench marking irreversible inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), led to discovery of a novel nicotinamide-based lead 12a having reversible mechanism of action. Focused SAR around the pyridine heterocycle (Ar) in 12a (Tables 1 and 2) resulted into four shortlisted compounds, (?)-12a, (?)-12i, (?)-12l–m. The required (?)-enantiomers were obtained via diastereomeric resolution of a novel chiral dissymmetric intermediate 15. Based on comparative profile of FAAH potency, metabolic stability in liver microsome, liability of inhibiting major hCYP450 isoforms, rat PK, and brain penetration ability, two SAR optimized compounds, (?)-12l and (?)-12m, were selected for efficacy study in rat model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Both the compounds exhibited dose related antihyperalgesic effects, when treated with 3–30?mg/kg po for 7?days. The effects at 30?mg/kg are comparable to that of PF-04457845 (10?mg/kg) and Tramadol (40?mg/kg).     

CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized through green chemistry are biocompatible: In vitro and in vivo assessment

Widespread use of cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) is found in almost all areas of research due to their distinctive properties. CeO₂ NPs synthesized via green chemistry have been characterized for antioxidant, phytochemical, and biological potential. Physical characterization through scanning electron microscopy, XRD, and TGA showed that the NPs are circular in shape, 20‐25 nm in size, and stable in a wide range of temperature. NPs display significant antioxidant (32.7% free radical scavenging activity) and antileishmanial (IC₅₀ 48 µg mL^?1) properties. In vitro toxicity tested against lymphocytes verified that NPs are biocompatible (99.38% viability of lymphocytes at 2.5 μg mL^?1). In vivo toxicity experiments showed no harmful effects on rat serum chemistry and histology of various organs and did not even change the concentration of antioxidative enzymes, total protein contents, lipid peroxidation, and nitrosative stress. These observations are in line with the statement that plant‐based synthesis of CeO₂ NPs lessens or nullifies in vitro and in vivo toxicity and hence CeO₂ NPs are regarded as a safe and biocompatible material to be used in drug delivery.     

3D-QSAR studies of Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors using a docking based alignment

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) deactivates the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP by cleaving the penultimate proline or alanine from the N-terminal (P1-position) of the peptide. Inhibition of this enzyme will prevent the degradation of the incretin hormones and maintain glucose homeostasis; this makes it an attractive target for the development of drugs for diabetes. This paper reports 3D-QSAR analysis of several DPP-IV inhibitors, which were aligned by the receptor-based technique. The conformation of the molecules in the active site was obtained through docking methods. The QSAR models were generated on two training sets composed of 74 and 25 molecules which included phenylalanine, thiazolidine, and fluorinated pyrrolidine analogs. The 3D-QSAR models are robust with statistically significant r², q², and values. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models were used to design some new inhibitors with several fold higher binding affinity. Figure The CoMFA contours around molecule D1T155 (a) steric contours - favored (green); disfavored (yellow) (b) electrostatic contours - electropositive (blue); electronegative (red)     

Chemiluminescence Emission during Reactions between Superoxide and Selected Aliphatic and Aromatic Halocarbons in Aprotic Media

The reactions between superoxide free radical anion (.O⁻₂) with the halocarbons CCl₄, CHCl₃, BrCH₂CH₂Br(EDB), decachloro-biphenyl (DCBP), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) results in the emission of chemiluminescence (CL). The chemiluminescence reactions are characterized as having biphasic second order kinetics, CL wavelengths between 350 nm and 650 nm, and exhibiting perturbation by chemicals reactive with singlet oxygen. These data suggest that singlet oxygen species are the excited state responsible for the light emissions. Polarographic studies confirm .O⁻₂ consumption and halide release in the reactions, while gas liquid chromatography and NBT reduction demonstrate the decomposition of the halocarbons into products. A chemiluminescent reaction mechanism is proposed involving reductive dehalogenation of the halocarbons and the generation of singlet oxygen. The significance of singlet oxygen generation is discussed with respect to a general mechanism for explaining the rapid initiation of lipid peroxidative membrane damage in halocarbon toxigenicity in animal and plant tissues.     

PKC-beta1 isoform activation is required for EGF-induced NF-kappaB inactivation and IkappaBalpha stabilization and protection of F-actin assembly and barrier function in enterocyte monolayers

Using monolayers of intestinal Caco-2 cells, we reported that activation of NF-kappaB is required for oxidative disruption and that EGF protects against this injury but the mechanism remains unclear. Activation of the PKC-beta1 isoform is key to monolayer barrier integrity. We hypothesized that EGF-induced activation of PKC-beta1 prevents oxidant-induced activation of NF-kappaB and the consequences of NF-kappaB activation, F-actin, and barrier dysfunction. We used wild-type (WT) and transfected cells. The latter were transfected with varying levels of cDNA to overexpress or underexpress PKC-beta1. Cells were pretreated with EGF or PKC modulators +/- oxidant. Pretreatment with EGF protected monolayers by increasing native PKC-beta1 activity, decreasing IkappaBalpha phosphorylation/degradation, suppressing NF-kappaB activation (p50/p65 subunit nuclear translocation/activity), enhancing stable actin (increased F-actin-to-G-actin ratio), increasing stability of actin cytoskeleton, and reducing barrier hyperpermeability. Cells stably overexpressing PKC-beta1 were protected by low, previously nonprotective doses of EGF or modulators. In these clones, we found enhanced IkappaBalpha stabilization, NF-kappaB inactivation, actin stability, and barrier function. Low doses of the modulators led to increases in PKC-beta1 in the particulate fractions, indicating activation. Stably inhibiting endogenous PKC-beta1 substantially prevented all measures of EGF's protection against NF-kappaB activation. We conclude that EGF-mediated protection against oxidant disruption of the intestinal barrier function requires PKC-beta1 activation and NF-kappaB suppression. The molecular event underlying this unique effect of PKC-beta1 involves inhibition of phosphorylation and increases in stabilization of IkappaBalpha. The ability to inhibit the dynamics of NF-kappaB/IkappaBalpha and F-actin disassembly is a novel mechanism not previously attributed to the classic subfamily of PKC isoforms.     

Theta-isoform of PKC is required for alterations in cytoskeletal dynamics and barrier permeability in intestinal epithelium: a novel function for PKC-theta

Using intestinal Caco-2 cells, we previously showed that assembly of cytoskeleton is required for monolayer barrier function, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Because the -isoform of PKC is present in wild-type (WT) intestinal cells, we hypothesized that PKC- is crucial for changes in cytoskeletal and barrier dynamics. We have created the first multiple sets of gastrointestinal cell clones transfected with varying levels of cDNA to stably inhibit native PKC- (antisense, AS; dominant negative, DN) or to express its activity (sense). We studied transfected and WT Caco-2 cells. First, relative to WT cells, AS clones underexpressing PKC- showed monolayer injury as indicated by decreased native PKC- activity, reduced tubulin phosphorylation, increased tubulin disassembly (decreased polymerized and increased monomeric pools), reduced architectural integrity of microtubules, reduced stability of occludin, and increased barrier hyperpermeability. In these AS clones, PKC- was substantially reduced in the particulate fractions, indicating its inactivation. In WT cells, 82-kDa PKC- was constitutively active and coassociated with 50-kDa tubulin, forming an endogenous PKC-/tubulin complex. Second, DN transfection to inhibit the endogenous PKC- led to similar destabilizing effects on monolayers, including cytoskeletal hypophosphorylation, depolymerization, and instability as well as barrier disruption. Third, stable overexpression of PKC- led to a mostly cytosolic distribution of -isoform (<10% in particulate fractions), indicating its inactivation. In these sense clones, we also found disruption of occludin and microtubule assembly and increased barrier dysfunction. In conclusion, 1) PKC- isoform is required for changes in the cytoskeletal assembly and barrier permeability in intestinal monolayers, and 2) the molecular event underlying this novel biological effect of PKC- involves changes in phosphorylation and/or assembly of the subunit components of the cytoskeleton. The ability to alter the cytoskeletal and barrier dynamics is a unique function not previously attributed to PKC-. microtubules; tubulin; occludin; epithelial barrier permeability; protein kinase C isoform     

The characterisation of novel secreted Ly-6 proteins from rat urine by the combined use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, microbore high performance liquid chromatography and expressed sequence tag data

A proteomic study of rat urine was undertaken using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, microbore high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing. Five known urinary proteins were identified but two novel peptide fragments matched a large number of rat expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a liver library. By combining protein chemical and nucleotide data, two 101-residue open reading frames with 90% amino acid identity were determined, rat urinary protein 1 (RUP-1) and RUP-2. The data established signal peptide removal and provided evidence for N-glycosylation. A third related sequence, rat spleen protein (RSP-1) was confirmed from EST searches. These three proteins have been submitted to SWISS-PROT as P81827, P81828 and Q9QXN2, respectively. A fourth novel homologue was found in porcine and bovine ESTs from embryo libraries. Alignment with known homologues showed conserved cysteine positions characteristic of a secreted subfamily of Ly-6 proteins. In two cases, antineoplastic urinary protein and caltrin, these homologues have unverified functional annotations. The RUP sequences showed high scoring matches to three unrelated rat mRNAs subsequently established to be chimeric. Two of these share extended sectional identity to RUP-1 but the third may represent another novel Ly-6 homologue. These chimeras have caused serious annotation errors in secondary databases.