Advancements in Life Sciences (E-Journal, University of the Punjab)
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3D-Bioprinting: A stepping stone towards enhanced medical approaches
Get PDFIn the past few decades, tissue engineering has been seen unprecedented escalation driving the field of artificial tissue and organ construct and brought metamorphosis in regenerative medicine. Prime advancement has been attained through the expansion of novel biomanufacturing approaches to devise and convene cells in three dimensions to fabricate tissue contrive. Accompaniment manufacturing differently known as 3D bioprinting is leading prime innovation in a number of applications in life sciences such as tissue and organ construct, personalized drug dosing, cancer model and heart tissue engineering. Overall, this review summarizes most prevalent bioprinting technologies; including laser-based bioprinting, extrusion bioprinting, injection bioprinting, stereolithography as well as biomaterial such as bioink. It also explores 3D industries, approaches such as Biomimicry, autonomous self-assembly, mini tissues and biomedical applications. Existing challenges that impede clinical mileage of bioprinting are also discussed along with future prospective.Keywords: Bioprinting, tissue engineering, tissue and organ construct, medicinal approac
Rapid commercial conversion of agriculture land in Lahore Division, Pakistan
Get PDFBackground: Pakistan is experiencing rapid population growth and urbanization which require land in urban areas. Rapid commercial conversion of has dramatically changed agriculture land base. The present conversion policy is not capable to achieve principles and objectives of sustainability especially in agriculture areas.Methods: The methodology includes literature review and collection of data by using random systematic sampling technique. Surveys of key informants, adjoining neighbors and owners of properties were conducted in the field. The study is focused to identify the negative effects of commercial conversion of land uses; major causes of illegal conversion; major driving forces; actors behind the commercial conversion of agriculture land and profit maximization arising from increasing demand of commercial spaces, physical aging of residential building structure leading to obsolesces are the main contributing factors giving rise to commercial conversion of land uses in Lahore Division.Results: The researcher founded that main problems of study area resulting from illegal land conversion include shortage of parking space, security risks, harassment of LDA staff, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, destruction of social life, lack of utility services, abuse of land and poor governance.Conclusion: The commercial conversion is dimensioning agriculture land and development is taking place in piecemeal fashion. The study recommends the dire need of spatial planning, proper zoning, enforcement of value tax, sustainable commercial conversion policy, compact and mixed development policy, sustainable land use planning and development of a planning system with effective enforcement measures which itself guarantee a sustainable land use development and rational utilization of prime agriculture land. Keywords: Commercial Conversion, Land Use, Master Planning, Local Government, Driving Forces, Driving Actors and Agriculture Zon
Impact of IL28B gene variants (rs12979860) in peg-IFN therapy against Chronic Hepatitis B Pakistani patients
Get PDFBackground: Genome wide association studies elucidate that IL28B rs12979860 genetic polymorphism has a substantial role as a pretreatment predictor during PEG-IFN therapy in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, however its role in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is ambiguous.Methods: In this study, we have investigated the role of IL28B variant rs12979860 for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. 200 CHB patients were treated for 24 weeks, then we carried out our study on these patients. Moreover, all patients were investigated for IL28B rs12979860 genotypes CC, CT, TT through RT-PCR. Based on our preliminary results we categorized these patients into two groups i.e. Responder ¢R (n = 104) and Non-responder¢NR (n = 96).Results: The proportion of IL28B CC, CT, TT genotypes were in both responder and non-responder groups as (72.1%, 25.0%, 2.9% vs 53.1%, 40.6%, 6.2% respectively; P = 0.02). In this study CC was the most frequent genotype, which has significant outcome in PEG-IFN therapy in both R and NR groups (72.1% vs 53.1%) (P = 0.03), while CT and TT were found as (25.0% vs 40.6%) (P = 0.1, 2.09% vs 6.2%) (P = 0.3) respectively.Conclusion: Current study clearly demonstrates that IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism is a pretreatment predictor during PEG-IFN therapy in CHB infection, and patients with favorable genotype of rs12979860 (CC) may clear the virus than the non-favorable genotypes (CT, TT) in Pakistani population.
Saving human lives after natural disaster
Get PDFBackground: In order to secure human lives the post flood disaster management system of different countries of the world was studied at united nation level, international level, individual countries level and at Pakistan level. Flood 2010 affected 11 districts of Punjab adversely but the most affected district was district Muzaffer Garh that is why it was selected as case study. Methods: The methodology includes literature review at international level, national level & local level and collection of data from different key informants. The data has been collected by systematic random sampling. The collected data was then analyzed ascertain the problem with the help of different statistical data analysis techniques. The analysis has given rise to results which lead towards conclusions and finally on the basis of these conclusions recommendation has been made. Results: On the basis of analysis of data different problems have been observed. These relate to DRR based aspects, community participation, flood early warning system, socio economic and housing aspects, preparation of flood hazard maps, awareness to the people about flood prone areas, poor building control, livelihood and job opportunities, occupation of respondents, educational level and public facilities and utilities aspects. Conclusion: On the basis of these afore mentioned results it has been concluded that due to weaker foundation and weaker super structure of houses, lack of community participation, poor flood early warning system, non-preparation of flood hazard maps by District Disaster Management Authority and Tehsil Disaster Management Committee, un-awareness to the people about flood prone areas, lack of effective building control, insufficient livelihood and job opportunities for the people of flood affected areas, low education level and less number of educational and health facilities and non-provision of public facilities and utilities are the main problems which the people of facing in flood prone areas.
Detection and comparison of light metals in hair among workers of different industries using Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) for forensic casework
Get PDFBackground: The study was planned to evaluate the deposition of some metals in the scalp hair of the people working in the particular environment. Scalp hair samples were collected from different industry workers including pharmaceutical, textile and paint industry and analyzed for the determination of aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and sulfur (S). Hair analysis provides a better assessment of light metals present in the surroundings, as well as monitoring of variation of metals from place to place.Methods: The hair samples were collected from 21-55 years old employees working in industry for more than four years. Workers of the age less than 20 years and less than 4 years working experience were not including in this study. Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) system was used to detect the light metals from hair and probable matches were searched through National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library.Results: The metals Al, S, K and Ca concentration was found maximum in the pharmaceutical industry workers. i.e., 575.1 µg/g, 190.7 µg/g, 11.1 µg/g and 9.1 µg/g respectively. The minimum concentration so these metals was found in paint industry workers i.e. 103.7 µg/g, 8.87 µg/g, 2.3 µg/g, and 1.7µg/g respectively.Conclusion: Light metal concentrations in hair samples showed a significant positive correlation. Our findings can play vital role for health departments and industrial environmental management system (EMS) authorities in policy making and implementation. Taken all together, the workers were facing minor health implications in these industries and need immediate protective measures to remediate the current situation. Keywords: Forensic, Scalp Hair Analysis, Particle Induced X-ray Emissio
Production and Growth Performance of Malayan Gaur x Cattle Hybrid (Selembu) in Malaysia
Get PDFBackground: In 1980s, the first gaur x cattle hybrid (Selembu) was born in Malaysia. However the production and domestication of the animal faces many obstacles. The aim of this literature is to report the potential concept for introduction and production of Selembu through hybridization program in Malaysia. Data generated from this study will be useful to strengthen the concept for the production of Selembu for the benefit of the beef industry as well as conserving the genetics of the gaurs in the wild. Methods: Fresh semen was collected from three wild matured Malayan gaur bulls by TM-EEJ technique. The collected semen were evaluate for volume, motility, viability and concentration before undergo cryopreservation. Data on semen collection, analysis and cryopreservation were used as criteria for semen selection during AI into the cow. The conception rate was recorded in each inseminated group. Selembu calves were raised and evaluated their growth performance in farm environment. Results: As a result, we managed to collect and cryopreserve the semen from all three wild gaur bulls. The cryopreserved semen was thawed and insert into cows by AI technique. 13 out of 21 cows in the farm received the gaur semen successful pregnant with Selembu fetus. Conclusion: An improvement in farm management, animal husbandry, breeding program and conservation of wild gaur would benefit the production of Selembu in the future.
In vitro biochemical evaluation of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera pods on rat liver mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore and lipid peroxidation
Get PDFBackground: Moringa oleifera is a well-known world herbal plant for its amazing medicinal and nutritional properties. The effect of methanol extract of M. oleifera can be useful in managing diseases associated with mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore and lipid peroxidation.Methods: Evaluation was done at varying concentrations of the methanol pods extract on mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening (swelling) and Fe2+- H2O2-EDTA (Fenton reaction)-induced lipid peroxidation in vitro. Five male albino rats (weighed 120-250 g) were anaesthetized and sacrificed; the liver was excised and homogenized to obtain mitochondria pellets. This study analyzed the effect of varying concentrations of methanol pods extract of M. oleifera at 50, 150, and, 300 µg/ml respectively. The effects of M. oleifera varying concentration in vitro was determined using malondialdehyde reaction quantified at 532 nm in a UV- spectrophotometer as index for lipid peroxidation and spectrophotometric absorptions at 520 nm was observed as an index of mitochondrial membrane permeability pore respectively.Results: Varying concentrations of methanol pods extract of M. oleifera at 50, 150, and 300 µg/ml in the presence and absence of triggering agent (Ca2+) inhibited opening of mitochondria membrane permeability transition pore while 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mg/ml inhibited lipid peroxidation induced mitochondria of the rat liver respectively in a concentration dependent mode.Conclusion: The results suggest that methanol extract of M. oleifera pods at high concentrations (such as 300 µg/ml and 1.00 mg/ml respectively) may inhibit mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening and lipid peroxidation. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, mitochondria membrane permeability transition pore, lipid peroxidatio
Marker Assisted Selection for Relative Water Content, Excised leaf Water Loss and Cell Membrane Stability in Cotton
Get PDFBackground: Drought stress is a major limitation in agricultural productivity. In cotton, drought tolerance is a multi-genic trait. The quantitative trait loci (QTLs), conferring drought tolerance in cotton, could be exploited for stress breeding using marker assisted selection.Methods: We have screened drought related varieties of Pakistan using DNA markers to identify reported QTLs for drought tolerance. A total of 44 of these varieties were selected. All varieties were sown in the field to record relative water content, excised leaf water loss and cell membrane stability under drought stress condition. QTLs for relative water content, excised leaf water loss and cell membrane stability were checked from all varieties by using DNA markers NAU-2954, NAU-2715, NAU-6672, NAU-8406 and NAU-6790.Results: Genotypic and phenotypic results showed that the QTL for relative water content qtlRWC-1 present on chromosome 23, linked marker NAU-2954, could be a major QTL conferring drought tolerance in cotton. Using Marker Assisted Selection the variety CRIS-134 showed all concerned QTLs for drought tolerance.Conclusion: QTL for relative water content qtlRWC-1 could be a major QTL for drought stress tolerance in cotton. The variety CRIS-134 may be used for breeding drought tolerant cultivar
Optimization of sulphuric acid pre-treatment of Acacia saw dust through box-bhenken design for cellulase production by B. Subtilis
Get PDFBackground: Cellulases are enzymes which are capable of degrading lignocellulosic biomass. The current study is centred on optimization of dilute sulphuric acid pre-treatment of Acacia saw dust for maximizing cellulase production (CMCase and FPase). Hydrolysis or saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass is brought about by cellulases and the sugar thus released can be used for further bioethanol production.Methods: Box- Bhenken design (BBD) was employed for optimization of pre-treatment conditions for Acacia saw dust. Three variables i.e. sulphuric acid concentration (0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0% v/v), substrate concentration (5%,10% and15%) and reaction time (4h,6h and 8h) was optimized. The pre-treated saw dust was used in the study as a substrate for producing cellulase enzyme through submerged fermentation by Bacillus subtilis (K-18).Results: An optimum conditions i.e. (0.8% H2SO4 conc., 15% substrate conc. and 4h of reaction time) yielded highest filter paper activity (1.3617 IU/ml/min) and CMCase activity (0.7783 IU/ml/min). The suggested model was significant as revealed by F-value, coefficient of determination (R2) andP-value.Conclusion: Results concluded that pre-treated substrate (Acacia sawdust) significantly increased cellulase production as compared to untreated substrate that could be utilized for further biofuel production
Potential impact of microbial consortia in biomining and bioleaching of commercial metals
Get PDFBiomining is the use of microorganisms for the commercial extraction of lavish metals from ores and mines with least effect on environment. Microbes play vital role in bioleaching procedures in commercial mining. The bacterial cells are used to detoxify/replace waste cyanide, marginal biomass and activated carbon. These methods are preferred over conventional techniques due to energy efficient, low cost, environment friendly and production of useful by-products. At industrial scale, different microbial strains (Acidophilic, Sulphobacillus, Rhodococcus, Ferrimicrobium &chemolithotrophic) are deployed to boost the processes of copper and uranium bioleaching. About 20% of the world’s copper is extracted by using this technique. These extraction procedures involve oxidation of insoluble metal sulphides to soluble sulphates. The isolation of thermophilic microbes for mineral biooxidation increase the commercial extraction of minerals at industrial scale. The conventional pyrometallurgical techniques have environmental concerns as they result in depletion of high grade ores and release harmful gaseous. The microbe-assisted gold mining is expected to double the yield of gold and needs to be fully explored using diverse array of microbes. Bioleaching is simple and low cost method for the developing countries with large ore deposits. About 30 strains of microbes have been discovered so for with potential impact on bioleaching. With advances in molecular genetics, physiology and microbial genomics, more promising strains with increased bioactivities are possible. Further efforts are underway to culture diverse range of archaea and improving its genetic potential to be used as industrial tool for commercial bioleaching. The currents review enlightens the recent trends in biomining/bioleaching and implementation of modern biological approaches to engineer target microbes for commercial use