58 research outputs found
Food Security Challenges Emanating from COVID-19
No full textFood security is a multidimensional notion and it can be achieved at individual, domestic, regional,
countrywide and global levels. This is achieved when all individuals, at all times, have physical and economic
access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food to fulfill their intake needs and food choices for an active and
healthy life. As a result of COVID-19, global activity has witnessed an exceptional decline. The physical
distance, school closures, trade restrictions, and country lockdowns for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic
have led to escalated nutritional challenges globally. Food insecurity is defined as the persistent concern about
access to sufficient and affordable food at all times. Food insecurity causes stress in people. This review aimed
to evaluate the extent of disruption and break in the chain of continuity of food security as a result of the COVID-
19 pandemic. The review perused peculiar causes of food insecurity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
along with measures to counter them for the attainment of sufficient food security. This review article
methodology was inclusive of the utilization of three search engines. These included PubMed, Google as well as
Google Scholar. The keywords included food security, food chain, challenges as well as COVID-19, and health
outcomes. Articles were included based on being published from the year 2008-2023. Out of 66 articles, 50
were included (75%). The food availability having deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food
security globally leading to various adverse health outcomes. Also, this has added to the burden of hunger and
malnutrition across the globe. A special focus on agriculture can aid in dealing with the shortage of food. The
COVID-19 pandemic has culminated in tremendous detrimental repercussions on food security. Food chain
improvement and efficiency can be of pivotal importance in connection with the food security challenges
having ensued following the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to cite this: Junejo S, Javaid Q, Lateef M. Food Security Challenges Emanating from COVID-19. Life and Science. 2024; 5(4): 573-. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.57
Determination of Serum C-reactive Protein Levels in Breast Cancer by Enzyme Linked Immunoassay Technique
No full textNovel Crown Ether-Functionalized Fusidic Acid Butyl Ester: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, In Silico ADMET, and Molecular Docking Studies
No full textCrown ethers have gained importance in the field of medicine because of their resemblance to natural ionophores like valinomycin. With the goal of developing new pharmacologically important crown ethers, a novel series of crown ethers linked with Fusidic acid butyl ester 10a–d were synthesized and characterized by means of their 1H NMR, 13C NMR DEPT-135, FT-IR, and mass spectrometry. In vitro antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of all crown ethers along with the precursor Fusidic acid butyl ester were examined and compared to the standard butylated hydroxyanisole and acarbose, respectively. Compounds (FABE-16-crown-4) 10b and (FABE-19-crown-5) 10c showed high antioxidant potential with the IC50 = 22.5 ± 0.2 μM and 32.1 ± 0.3 μM, respectively, when compared to the standard BHA (IC50 = 44.2 ± 0.34 μM). To understand the binding mode of the compounds, molecular docking investigations were performed using human antioxidant protein, peroxiredoxin 5. Molecular docking studies revealed higher docking scores (−6.5 and −6.7 kcal/mol) for the highly active compounds 10c and 10b, respectively, than standard BHA (−5.3 kcal/mol). Synthesized crown ethers exhibited moderate α-glucosidase inhibition with (IC50 = 23.5 ± 0.2 to 76.5 ± 0.1 μM) when compared to acarbose as standard (IC50 = 5.2 ± 0.8 μM). The in silico ADMET predictions indicated that the prepared compounds obeyed (bRO5) and Veber’s rule for the acceptance as orally administered drugs and indicated that all the prepared crown ethers exhibited calculated values of drug likeness parameters in acceptable ranges that showed good potential of these molecules for further drug development investigations
Relationship of Age, BMI, Serum Calcium and Estradiol with BMD in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Females
No full textIntroduction: The current study was designed to investigate the relationship of age, body mass index (BMI), serum calcium and estradiol with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal females with and without osteoporosis.
Subjects & Methods: One hundred females were included in this study and were divided into two groups (fifty in each group): postmenopausal females without osteoporosis (age: 54.36 ± 0.51 yrs) and postmenopausal females with osteoporosis (age: 59.92 ± 0.68 yrs). BMD assessment was done on calcaneous by peripheral ultrasound bone densitometry and T scores were calculated. Serum estradiol was measured by ELIZA and calcium levels were determined by using spectrophotometric kit.
Results: BMD was significantly lower in postmenopausal osteoporotic females as compared to postmenopausal non-osteoporotic females which indicated increased bone loss in osteoporotic group. Serum calcium levels were significantly lower in postmenopausal females with osteoporosis (8.73 ± 0.08) as compared to postmenopausal females without osteoporosis (9.04 ± 0.09). BMD was correlated with body weight ( r= 0.50, p<0.05; r= 0.45, p<0.05) and BMI (r=0.61, p<0.01; r= 0.31, p<0.05) in both groups. Negative correlation of BMD was found with age (r= -0.67, p<0.01r= -0.57, p<0.05) and calcium (r= -0.44, p<0.05; r= -0.38, p<0.05) in postmenopausal females with and without osteoporosis respectively. Osteopenia was detected in postmenopausal females without osteoporosis.
Conclusion: It is concluded that increasing age, low body weight, low BMI, and low BMD are few of the contributing factors to osteoporosi
Exploring the Elements of Magic Realism in American Literature with Reference to the Works of Gabriel García Márquez In, Particularly “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”
No full textThis research paper examines how Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Márquez employs magic realism in his writings. This essay will look at the literary representations of reality and dreams in the twenty-first century. He used this strategy to create a plausible scenario that is influenced by Columbian culture in the book One Hundred Years of Solitude. The author wants to raise issues about the absurdity of life and encourage self-actualization. The mythical settlement of Macondo is situated in a realistic environment with some fantastic aspects. This study demonstrates how magic realism psychoanalysis may address some of the most challenging and important subjects in literature
Chemistry, alpha-glucosidase and radical scavenging properties of uranyl(VI) hydrazide complexes
No full textBackground: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antitumoral activities among others are essential characteristics in the development of novel therapeutic compounds. Acid hydrazides can form complexation with certain metal ions that positively enhance these biological characteristics. Objective: Five new complexes of uranium with hydrazide ligands were synthesized at room temperature. Methods: The characterization was done by spectroscopic methods (ESI-Mass, IR, 1H-NMR, 13CNMR), CHN analysis and conductivity measurements. Metal complexes along with their respective ligands were further screened for their antioxidant (DPPH, superoxide and nitric oxide free radicals) properties and enzyme inhibition (?-glucosidase) activities. Results: Elemental and spectral data indicate octahedral geometry around uranyl (UO2 2+) species. Magnetic moments indicate the diamagnetic nature of uranyl(VI) ion in the complex in solid state. IC50 values showed potential antioxidant behavior of uranyl complexes demonstrating interesting structure-activity relationships. In general, hydrazide ligands were not active against superoxide and nitric oxide radicals while varying degree of results were observed against DPPH radical whereas all uranyl-complexes showed promising radical scavenging activities against all of them. Promising inhibitory potential was displayed by UO2 +2 hydrazide complexes against ?- glucosidases whereas free hydrazide ligands were inactive. Conclusion: Structure function relationship demonstrates that the nature of ligand, position of substituent, electronic and steric effects are significant factors affecting the radical scavenging and enzyme inhibition activities of the compounds. - 2019 Bentham Science Publishers.Authors are thankful to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for financial support (�The National Research Grants Program for Universities', Grant No. 1862/R&D/10).Scopu
Decreased muscle strength in adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis animal model: A relationship to behavioural assessments
No full textRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder with unknown aetiology. Patients suffering from RA face persistent pain due to joint inflammation, and tissue destruction. Behavioural phenotyping is an approach to target the role of different behavioural traits associated with disease progression. The study aimed to assess behavioural patterns associated with decreased muscle strength in the adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis animal model. The study was conducted on male Albino Wister rats (n = 30) [Control, Vehicle, and Disease groups]. After taking ethical approvals RA was induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) intradermally base of tail. The weight of animals, macroscopic analysis of inflammatory signs, and arthritic scores were measured weekly. Grip strength, ganglia-based movement, cataleptic activity, and motor-coordination-related behaviours were assessed among the groups. Radiographs and spleen index assay were performed followed by data analysis using one-way and two-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). A significant decrease in weight and an increase in arthritic scores among the diseased group was observed. Behavioural analyses confirmed that diseased animals had significantly decreased grip strength and increased cataleptic activity with less motor coordination. Radiographic images and spleen index assay confirmed the pattern of RA. Therefore, it can be suggested that the development of the disease animal model is an effective approach to identifying the disease progression and associated behavioural changes. Moreover, this prepared laboratory animal model may be utilised for pathway analyses to understand the key role of immune regulators and genetic insight into molecular pathways associated with acute and chronic phases of RA
Preussiate, a new urease inhibitory chalcone from <i>Dioscorea preussii</i> Pax
No full textThe phytochemical investigation of the aqueous methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Dioscorea preussii, led to the isolation of a new chalcone preussiate (1) along with 10 other compounds including xanthomicrol (2), cholestan-3-one (3), arjunolic acid (4), tormentic acid (5), ursolic acid (6), betulin (7), lupeol (8), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (9), isovanillin (10) and vanillic acid (11), being reported for the first time from this plant. Their structures were established by spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR spectroscopy. All the isolates were subjected to the biological screening but only showed antioxidant and urease inhibitory properties. The compounds 1,8 and 11 displayed the most potent urease inhibitory properties with IC50 values, 22.4, 33.3 and 35.7 µM, respectively, while 3 was moderately active. The compound 11 showed potent antioxidant activity among all the tested isolates with an IC50 value of 45.3 µM.</p
Facile one-pot syntheses of new C-28 esters of oleanolic acid and studies on their antiproliferative effect on T cells
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