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IntroductionMalnutrition contributes to approximately 45% of deaths among under 5 years children in low and middle-income countries. Poor maternal knowledge and failure to comply with recommended Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are known risk factors for malnutrition but there are inconsistencies in the literature. Therefore, this cross-sectional study of 100 mother–child pairs in district Gujranwala aimed to assess maternal nutritional literacy (MNL) and maternal feeding practices (MFP) and their ultimate impacts on child growth.MethodsA researcher administered questionnaire that was the combination of WHO model questionnaires and FAO Nutrition-related KAP model questionnaires was used to collect the data from mothers while and anthropometric measurements of children were taken by following the standard methods.ResultsResults showed that 57% of mothers had average nutritional knowledge and feeding practices were not satisfactory. Only 12% of mothers-initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, 7% of infants were exclusively breastfed, while 27.27% continued to be breastfed beyond 1 year. Complementary foods were timely introduced to 53% of infants, 47% received minimum meal frequency and 34% met the minimum dietary diversity criteria. Additionally, the consumption of unhealthy foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and zero consumption of fruits and vegetables was practiced by 71, 23, and 27% of infants and young children, respectively. Prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight was 19, 9, 12, and 12%, respectively. A non-significant association was observed between MNL and MFP with growth outcomes with a few exceptions. The odds of being wasted (β = 1.903, OR = 6.706, p < 0.05) and underweight (β = 1.732, OR = 5.654, p < 0.05) are higher among children who had vaginal birth. Higher odds of being stunted (β = 2.173, OR = 8.788, p < 0.05) were observed among those whose mothers had middle school education compared to those having higher education.ConclusionOverall results indicated a dire need not only to create nutritional awareness among mothers in Gujranwala but also to provide a support system for mothers to help them implement standard feeding practices.

Anxiety is a state of mind with some fear that affects physical health by disrupting neurotransmission and hormonal control. Both diet (inadequate and unhealthy dietary patterns) and environment (social and financial factors) trigger its progression; therefore, diet is considered to have a significant involvement in its prevention or adjunct therapy. A unique nutrient profile and bioactive ingredients are seen in fruits to provide health outcomes beyond nutritive properties. The relaxing potential of such fruits is attributed to the functional nature and therapeutic ingredients i.e., catecholamines, myricetin, quercetin, betalains, etc. that enhance the efficiency of hormones, neurotransmitters, and metabolic pathways. This review presented certain fruits having positive associations with mental health and anxiety amelioration. Various types of research evidenced the anxiolytic effect of certain fruits through clinical trials. Among them, berries, opuntia, and black pepper also have shown anxiety-relieving effects in clinical studies by restoring antioxidant enzymes, hormonal modulations, and managing neurotransmitters. Citrus species are loaded with flavonoids which are involved in the expression of GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) to calm the nervous system. Some other fruits also potentiate memory and cognition when taken in ample amounts owing to their secondary metabolites. Thus, the incorporation of such fruits into a regular diet has been found to have a significant impact on mental well-being and brain health.

The valorization of industrial byproducts is rising as a new dawn and has become a creative area of research for the scientists. Sericin is being a good resource of starting materials since it can be recovered and recycled. The research aimed to modify cotton fabric by sericin-TiO2 nanocomposite (STNc) for enhancement its antibacterial and self-cleaning properties. STNc were prepared using tetraisopropylorthotitanate (TIOT) and sericin with proportions 2:1, 2:2 and 1:2. The obtained STNc possesses anatase phase of TiO2 nanoparticles having an average 22.9 nm particle sizes. The STNc coated cotton samples were prepared with three different weight fractions of STNc and citric acid (2:1:2, 2:2:1 and 1:2:2). The incorporation of STNc onto cotton fabric was examined by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The antibacterial activity of STNc coated cotton fabrics was investigated against drug resistant bacterium viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas 4A and Escherichia coli. The STNc coated cotton fabric exhibited effective resistance against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial properties of STNc coated cotton fabrics were depended with the fraction of STNc. The uncoated and STNc coated cotton fabrics were stained with coffee and then irradiated on sunlight for 0, 30, 60, 90 h and UV light for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 h. A noticeable decrease in the coffee stain's appearance was observed after 90 h sunlight and 10 h UV light exposure for STNc coated cotton fabric. The reusability of photo exposed samples was evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy.

Recently, with increased longevity and extensive media attention on healthcare matters, there is a growing consciousness among the population regarding the potential advantages of nutritional assistance in managing and preventing diseases. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants that are considered highly indispensable functional foods as well as nutraceuticals. Ulcerative colitis is an intestinal inflammatory disorder, whose foremost therapeutic strategy is epitomized by synthetic anti-inflammatory medicines. Nevertheless, they are frequently accompanied by many complications that brought the interest of the scientists towards natural products. In this context, several studies asserted the anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols such as anthocyanins, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), catechins, tannic acid (TA), resveratrol, and proanthocyanidins (PAC) by inhibiting the levels proinflammatory mediators and stimulated the expression of Nrf-2 dependent enzymes. However, the practical applications of polyphenols are constrained due to their poor bioavailability, and inefficient delivery to target organs, tissues, and cells. Therefore, the polyphenol's interactions with proteins in the form of polyphenol-protein particles provide a strategy to curtail the enzymatic hydrolysis and oxidative disintegration of polyphenols in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) while increasing the bioactivity. The potential to prompt therapeutic efficacy could be attributed at least in part, to enhanced bioavailability in the intestines. This review aims to provide evidence favoring the nutraceutical potential of polyphenol-protein particles in ulcerative colitis (UC) and their mechanism and EGCG-keratinocyte growth factor, EGCG-ovalbumin, resveratrol-β-lactoglobulin, curcumin, and resveratrol-zein and Chinese mesona polysaccharides, and dihydrocaffeic acid modified with hyaluronic acid, EGCG, and KPV based particles were found to be promising in the alleviation of this condition. It examines the mechanisms involved in the formation of these particles through covalent and non-covalent interactions, offering insights into their structural and functional characteristics. The discussion also extends to the nutraceutical potential of these particles, emphasizing their bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiallergic, and antihyperlipidemic effects. Additionally, their practical applications in food systems are evaluated, specifically their roles in stabilizing emulsions, delivering nutraceuticals, and serving as functional ingredients to enhance food quality, safety, and shelf life. The review further highlights emerging technologies for the development and preservation of polyphenol-protein particles, including advanced processing methods, nanotechnology, molecular interaction techniques, enzymatic modifications, polysaccharide cross-linking, and fermentation-based strategies. By integrating these aspects, the review aims to present an in-depth understanding of polyphenol-protein particles, addressing existing knowledge gaps and proposing future research directions, specifically as therapeutic agents for UC.

ABSTRACT Weaning is a crucial stage in an infant's development when they gradually move from being breastfed to receiving complementary foods. The typical age for introducing weaning foods is 4–6 months. This period is often characterized by rapid weight gain, so proper nutrition essential for optimal growth and development. Foods with a balanced nutrition are very important for regulating metabolism for healthy growth of children. Cereal grains and legumes have a major role in both commercial and homemade weaning foods. In developing countries, cereals and legumes are the optimal choices for producing nutrient‐dense, high‐protein, and high‐energy weaning foods. It is crucial to research and develop composite legume blends for their expanded utilization as weaning foods. Understanding the importance of complementary foods and introducing them appropriately are critical to the health and development of the infant. Furthermore, fortification and supplementation with minerals and vitamins can play a vital role in such foods. This article provides an overview of recommendations made by health authorities in relation to the onset of weaning, types/combination of foods, and infant dietary requirements and highlights the importance of including legumes in the weaning diet to address nutrient deficiencies, particularly in regions with high rates of malnutrition.

ABSTRACTFood fortification processes are used to improve the functional and dietary characteristics of the final product. The basic aim of the current study was to evaluate the ginger (Zingiber officinalis, Roscoe) fortification in yogurt and to improve its functionality. For this purpose, ginger at different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) was added to yogurt. The results showed a significant influence (p

Anxiety affects a quarter of people globally. It can be treated with medicinal plants i.e., Lavendula angustifolia, with anxiolytic compounds, and fruits such as banana, with mood-stabilizing vitamins and minerals. Functional baking products are being designed to address prevalent nutritional issues. Bagels are bakery products made by cold fermentation. Therefore, the present study was designed to make therapeutic bagels by incorporating lavender and banana peel powder to evaluate the anxiolytic effect. Whole wheat was used to prepare the control treatment. The combination of whole wheat flour and banana peel powder (90:10) was used to make subsequent three treatments with lavender (T0: 0 ml, T1: 5 ml, T2: 10 ml, and T3: 15 ml). Sensory evaluation declared T2 as the most acceptable one. Thus, it was selected for a daily intervention lasting 2–3 weeks. There was a significant (p

Abstract 17 Y-chromosomal STRs which are part of the Yfiler Amplification Kit were investigated in 493 unrelated Pakistani individuals belonging to the Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, and Pathan ethnic groups. We have assessed the forensic parameters and population genetic structure for each group. Among the 493 unrelated individuals from four ethnic groups (128 Baloch, 122 Pathan, 108 Punjabi, and 135 Sindhi), 82 haplotypes were observed with haplotype diversity (HD) of 0.9906 in Baloch, 102 haplotypes with HD value of 0.9957 in Pathans, 80 haplotypes with HD value of 0.9924 in Punjabi, and 105 haplotypes with HD value of 0.9945 in the Sindhi population. The overall gene diversity for Baloch, Pathan, Punjabi, and Sindhi populations was 0.6367, 0.6479, 0.6657, and 0.6112, respectively. The results had shown us that Pakistani populations do not have a unique set of genes but share the genetic affinity with regional (Central Asia and Northern India) populations. The observed low gene diversity (heterozygosity) values may be because of endogamy trends and this observation is equally supported by the results of forensic parameters which are mostly static across 4 combinations (minimal STRs, extended 11 Y-STRs, Powerplex 12 Y System, and Yfiler 17 Y-STRs) of STRs in these four populations.

Abstract Terpenoids from natural plant sources are valuable for their diverse biological activities that have important roles in the medical and agrochemical industries. In this study, we assessed the antioxidant, antifungal, and aphicidal activities of a mixture of spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol from the leaves of Citrullus colocynthis. We used 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) to assess antioxidant activity, and we measured antifungal activity using mycelium growth inhibition assays with three pathogenic fungi, Magnaporthe grisea, Rhizoctonia solani, and Phytophthora infestans. Aphicidal activity against adults of Myzus persicae was determined using in vitro and in vivo assays. Spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol exhibited moderate antioxidant activity, even at lower concentrations: 19.98% at 0.78 µg mL−1, 31.52% at 3.0 µg mL−1, 36.61% at 12.5 µg mL−1, and 49.76% at 50 µg mL−1. Spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol showed reasonable levels of fungicidal activity toward R. solani and M. grisea, with EC50 values of 129.5 and 206.1 µg mL−1 , respectively. The positive controls boscalid and carbendazim were highly effective against all fungi except boscalid for M. grisea (EC50 = 868 µg mL−1) and carbendazim for P. infestans (EC50 = 8721 µg mL−1). Significant insecticidal activity was observed in both residual and greenhouse assays, with LC50 values of 42.46, 54.86, and 180.9 µg mL−1 and 32.71, 42.46, and 173.8 µg mL−1 at 72, 48, and 24 h, respectively. The antioxidant activity of spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol was strongly positively correlated with their antifungal and insecticidal activity. Spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol therefore show good antioxidant and aphicidal activity with moderate fungicidal activity, making them suitable candidates for an alternative to synthetic agents.

Food intake and body weight regulation are of special interest for meeting today's lifestyle essential requirements. Since balanced energy intake and expenditure are crucial for healthy living, high levels of energy intake are associated with obesity. Hence, regulation of energy intake occurs through short- and long-term signals as complex central and peripheral physiological signals control food intake. This work aims to explore and compile the main factors influencing satiating efficiency of foods by updating recent knowledge to point out new perspectives on the potential drivers of satiety interfering with food intake regulation. Human internal factors such as genetics, gender, age, nutritional status, gastrointestinal satiety signals, gut enzymes, gastric emptying rate, gut microbiota, individual behavioral response to foods, sleep and circadian rhythms are likely to be important in determining satiety. Besides, the external factors (environmental and behavioral) impacting satiety efficiency are highlighted. Based on mechanisms related to food consumption and dietary patterns several physical, physiological, and psychological factors affect satiety or satiation. A complex network of endocrine and neuroendocrine mechanisms controls the satiety pathways. In response to food intake and other behavioral cues, gut signals enable endocrine systems to target the brain. Intestinal and gastric signals interact with neural pathways in the central nervous system to halt eating or induce satiety. Moreover, complex food composition and structures result in considerable variation in satiety responses for different food groups. A better understanding of foods and factors impacting the efficiency of satiety could be helpful in making smart food choices and dietary recommendations for a healthy lifestyle based on updated scientific evidence.

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) complete control region coverage of 111 individuals from Kalash population of Pakistan has been presented for forensic applications and to infer their genetic parameters. We detected in total 14 different haplotypes with only five unique and nine shared by more than one individual. This population has come up with quite lower haplotype diversity (0.8393) and very higher random match probability (0.1682), and ultimately lower power of discrimination (0.832). Additionally, haplogroup distribution reveals the genetic ancestry of Kalash, mainly from West Eurasia (98.8%) and very little from South Asia (0.9%). Neither African lineages nor East Asian genetic segments were detected among these Kalash. This study will contribute to the database development for forensic applications as well as to track the evolutionary highlights of this ethnic group.

The global prevalence of obesity is alarmingly high and is impacting both developed and underdeveloped countries, beyond the borders of ethnicity, sex, and age. On the other hand, the global interest in dieting has increased, and people are obsessed with certain fad diets, assuming them as a magic bullet for their long-term problems. A fad diet is a popular dietary pattern known to be a quick fix for obesity. These diets are quite appealing due to the proposed claims, but the lack of scientific evidence is a big question mark. Such diets are often marketed with specific claims that defy the basic principles of biochemistry and nutritional adequacy. These diets may have protective effects against obesity and certain chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and certain cancers. Limited evidence exists to support the proposed claims; rather certain studies suggest the negative health consequences of long-term adherence to such dietary patterns. Many fad diets have emerged in the previous few decades. This review article will explore the current evidence related to the health impacts of some most popular diets: Atkins diet, ketogenic diet, Paleolithic diet, Mediterranean diet, vegetarian diet, intermittent fasting and detox diet.

Forensic science has been helping law enforcement agencies in better understanding and presenting the evidence in the court of law. In certain situations, when conventional forensic methods of investigations cannot make better conclusions with more specific accuracy, then molecular techniques do help in reaching the acquired accuracy in the results regarding the identification of evidence. Advanced molecular techniques, which are using Deoxyribose Nucleic acid (DNA), Ribose Nucleic Acid (RNA), and protein molecules to produce forensically important information from the samples recovered at the crime scene. DNA can only distinguish among individuals but is unable to discriminate the type of samples originated from the same sample. For this RNA has become a molecule of interest for its different levels of expressionin different cells/tissues of an individual. RNA molecules of different types are being used to build up models for several purposes (injury-age, new-born age, molecular cause of death, etc.). Modern techniques like Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Microarray are being used for the detection of RNA molecules of interest both in the form of its abundance and as a unique molecular detection. This script will help in understanding the importance of RNA application in forensic sciences by providing an overview of the research done to date and the techniques being used for this purpose.

The SARS pandemic produces new avenues to discover and anticipate the variations made in SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) and how human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor ideally becomes congenial with “S” region of this virus and in consequence ofits spread in human species all over the globe. At the end of 2019, the earliest wave of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was notified from Wuhan-Hubei China and thereafter spread globally. COVID-19 infection got widespread and upto now, 2,776,224 active cases, 334,058 deceased and 2,078,505-recovered cases have been reported. Morbidity and mortality rate vary in every region which pondered the researcher to look into the linkage between a different variant of the SARS-CoV-2 with disease severity along with other determining factors like climatic changes, diagnostic techniques, hospitals and laboratory quality control measures.

The core objective of forensic DNA typing is developing DNA profiles from biological evidence for personal identification. The present study was designed to check the validation of the IrisPlex system and the Prevalence of eye colour in the Pakhtoon population residing within the Malakand Division. Methods: Eye colour digital photographs and buccal swab samples of 893 individuals of different age groups were collected. Multiplexed SNaPshot single base extension chemistry was used, and the genotypic results were analysed. Snapshot data were used for eye colour prediction through the IrisPlex and FROG-kb tool. Results: The results of the present study found brown eye colour to be the most prevalent eye colour in comparison to intermediate and blue coloured. Overall, individuals with brown-coloured eyes possess CT (46.84%) and TT (53.16%) genotypes. Blue eye-coloured individuals are solely of the CC genotype, while individuals of intermediate eye colour carry CT (45.15%) and CC (53.85%) genotypes in rs12913832 SNP in the HERC2 gene. It was also revealed that brown-coloured eyes individuals were dominant among all age groups followed by intermediate and blue. Statistical analysis between particular variables and eye colour showed a significant p-value (SLC45A2 gene, rs12913832 SNP in HERC2 gene, rs1393350 SNP in SLC45A2, districts and gender. The rest of the SNPs were non-significant with eye colour, respectively. The rs12896399 SNP and SNP rs1800407 were found significant with rs16891982 SNP. The result also demonstrated that the study group differs from the world population based on eye colour. The two eye colour prediction results were compared, and it was discovered that IrisPlex and FROG-Kb had similar higher prediction ratios for Brown and Blue eye colour. Conclusions: The results of the current study revealed brown eye colour to be the most prevalent amongst members of the local population of Pakhtoon ethnicity in the Malakand Division of northern Pakistan. A set of contemporary human DNA samples with known phenotypes are used in this research to evaluate the custom panel’s prediction accuracy. With the aid of this forensic test, DNA typing can be supplemented with details about the appearance of the person from whom the sample was taken in cases involving missing persons, ancient human remains, and trace samples. This study may be helpful for future population genetics and forensics studies.

Background: Short tandem repeats (STRs) have gained considerable attention in family search (Y-chromosomal STRs), complex paternity identification (X-chromosomal STRs), routine forensic personal identification (autosomal STRs) and population genetics. Aim: To explore the forensic characteristics of 23 autosomal STRs included in the Huaxia Platinum system in the South Pakistan Hazara population and investigate the genetic similarities and differences between Hazara and 54 worldwide reference populations. Subjects and methods: Variation of the 23 autosomal STRs included in the Huaxia Platinum system was first investigated and reported in a sample of 261 Quetta Hazara in Balochistan Province, Southwest Pakistan. Results: The combined power of discrimination is 0.999999999999999999999999999 and combined power of exclusion is 0.99999999989596 in Quetta Hazara. Comprehensive population comparisons between Hazara and another 13 Eurasian populations based on genotype data, as well as between Hazara and 54 worldwide populations based on the allele frequency distribution, were conducted. Multidimensional scaling plots, principal component analysis, and neighbour-joining phylogenetic trees consistently demonstrated that Pakistan Hazara harbours close affinities with neighbouring Turkic-speaking populations. Model-based genetic structure analysis further suggests that Quetta Hazara derives about half its ancestry directly from the East Asians. Conclusion: Twenty-five forensic-related markers included in the Huaxia Platinum system can be used for forensic practice in the Central Asia Hazara population. Quetta Hazara has a close genetic relationship with the Turkic-speaking populations of Uyghur and Kazakh. Further whole-genome sequencing of Hazara needs to be conducted to validate the observed genetic structure and reconstruct the fine-scale population history of Hazara.

ABSTRACT Background Microsatellites or short tandem repeats (STRs) are considered the gold standard for forensic investigations and autosomal STRs are used for routine forensic personal identification. Aim To provide a precise population database on an extended set of STRs which has never been done before and explore the forensic characteristics of 20 autosomal STRs. Subjects and methods In the current study, we explored the genetic characteristics of 20 STRs loci in 1138 unrelated Han individuals using Goldeneye® 20A multiplex amplification system kit in the Liaoning Han population. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis based on the Nei's standard genetic distance was performed between the Han population and other relevant populations. Results A total of 253 alleles were observed while allelic frequencies ranged from 0.00043 to 0.5369. The combined discrimination power was 99.99999999999999999999789% and the combined exclusion power was 99.999998231%. Most of the loci were in HWE while only five pairs were out of LE. Population genetic analysis showed that the Han population has similarities with other East Asian populations. Conclusion GoldenEyeTM 20A kit detects high diversity in the Liaoning Han population. These STRs which are part of this kit can be used for forensic investigations. Population genetic analysis showed that the Han population is different from the minority populations of Xinjiang.

Determination of post mortem interval is done with various methods depending upon the condition of the dead body and the circumstances in which it is found. Ruling out foul play in unnatural deaths has been an enigma of a sort for forensic pathologists and scientists all over the world. The methods to determine the cause and manner of death keep on emerging with ongoing researches in the fields of forensic sciences. Many methods have been devised to determine cause, manner and specifically time since death. Forensic entomology is one such field that aids in determination of time since death, especially in putrefied corpses found in different habitats in mysterious unknown circumstances. The field keeps on emerging with the advent of new techniques on molecular level, including DNA analysis and identification based on entomological data that has diversified over the years. The standards and guidelines for entomological data collection and processing needed for implication on the crime scene must be revised now and again for assistance of crime scene investigators, scientists, entomologists and pathologists. Various factors must be considered while processing entomological data that affect post mortem intervals. The keen study of life cycles, groups of similar insects, valid and standard methods of insect collection, breeding and identification can give a lead on cause, manner, time, place and circumstances of unknown or unnatural deaths.

Abstract Background Dalian is a city formed in the 1880s in Liaoning province, Northeastern China with a population of 6.69 million now. Han is the largest ethnic group not only across Mainland China (92%) and Taiwan (97%) but also considered to be the largest ethnic group of the world contributing to above 18% of world's population. Methods In the current study, we genotyped Goldeneye® 20Y System loci in 879 unrelated male individuals from the Han ethnic group in Dalian city and calculated the forensic parameters of the 20 Y‐STR loci. Results In total, we observed 855 haplotypes, among which 835 (94.99%) were unique. The discrimination capacity (DC) of overall Goldeneye® 20Y System is 97.27% and it slightly reduces to 96.93% when only Y‐filer® set of 17 Y‐STRs were used, which mitigates using the extended set of markers in this population. We found DYS388 showed the lowest gene diversity (0.5151), whereas DYS389II showed the highest gene diversity (0.7621) in single copy Y‐STR, and DYS385 showed the highest gene diversity (0.9683) among all. Conclusion Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis based upon pairwise Rst genetic distance showed difference among Han population from the east to the west and from the north to the south. We also predicted haplogroups using Y‐STR haplotypes, which showed the dominance of Haplogroup O (65.2%) followed by Haplogroup C (14.5%) in Dalian Han population. Moreover, we found 10 individuals showed a null allele at the DYS448 in our samples. We also performed linear discriminatory analysis (LDA) between Han and other prominent Chinese minority ethnic groups. We presented Y‐STRs data in the Y‐Chromosome Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD) for the future forensic and other usage.

Human Parainfluenza Virus (HPIV) Type-1, which is an anti-sense ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus belonging to the paramyxoviridae family, induces upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The infections caused by the HPIV Type-1 virus are usually confined to northwestern regions of America. HPIV-1 causes infections through the virulence of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein, which plays a key role in the attachment of the viral particle with the host’s receptor cells. To the best of our knowledge, there is no effective antiviral drugs or vaccines being developed to combat the infection caused by HPIV-1. In the current study, a multiple epitope-based vaccine was designed against HPIV-1 by taking the viral HN protein as a probable vaccine candidate. The multiple epitopes were selected in accordance with their allergenicity, antigenicity and toxicity scoring. The determined epitopes of the HN protein were connected simultaneously using specific conjugates along with an adjuvant to construct the subunit vaccine, with an antigenicity score of 0.6406. The constructed vaccine model was docked with various Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) and was computationally cloned in a pET28a (+) vector to analyze the expression of vaccine sequence in the biological system. Immune stimulations carried out by the C-ImmSim Server showed an excellent result of the body’s defense system against the constructed vaccine model. The AllerTop tool predicted that the construct was non-allergen with and without the adjuvant sequence, and the VaxiJen 2.0 with 0.4 threshold predicted that the construct was antigenic, while the Toxinpred predicted that the construct was non-toxic. Protparam results showed that the selected protein was stable with 36.48 instability index (II) scores. The Grand average of Hydropathicity or GRAVY score indicated that the constructed protein was hydrophilic in nature. Aliphatic index values (93.53) confirmed that the construct was thermostable. This integrated computational approach shows that the constructed vaccine model has a potential to combat laryngotracheobronchitis infections caused by HPIV-I.

Silybum marianum L. is a therapeutic plant belonging to the family Asteraceae, which has exhibited silymarin, a principal component used to cure various physiochemical disorders. The study appraised the phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity and chemical analysis of an extract from the seed, stem and leaves. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis was evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent method and aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively. While the antioxidant activity was determined by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and acetate buffer in ferric chloride (FRAP) assay, respectively, the chemical profile was evaluated by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) assay. The study outcomes identified that alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and catcholic tannins were present in seed, stem and leaves extracts except for saponins and Gallic tannins. Whereas, phenols were absent only in seed extract. Quantitative analysis revealed the presence of phenols and flavonoids in appreciable amounts of 21.79 (GAE/g), 129.66 (QE/g) and 17.29 (GAE/g), 114.29 (QE/g) from the leaves and stem extract, respectively. Similarly, all extracts expressed reasonable DPPH inhibition (IC50) and FRAP reducing power such as 75.98, 72.39 and 63.21% and 46.60, 51.40 and 41.30 mmol/g from the seeds, stem and leaves extract, respectively. Additionally, chemical analysis revealed the existence of 6, 8 and 9 chemical compounds from the seeds, stem and leaves extract, respectively, corresponding to 99.95, 99.96 and 98.89% of the whole extract. The chemical compound, Dibutyl phthalate was reported from all extracts while, Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester and Silane, (1,1-dimethylethyl), dimethyl (phenylmethoxy) were reported only from the seed and leaves extract. Moreover, Methyl stearate was also a major compound reported from all extracts except for seed extract. It is demonstrable that extracts from different parts of S. marianum possess significant antioxidant activity, as well as valuable chemical compounds accountable for therapeutic effects that might be incorporated as an alternative to synthetic chemical agents.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) constitutes a group of risk factors that may increase the risk of cancer and other health problems. Nowadays, researchers are focusing on food compounds that could prevent many chronic diseases. Thus, people are shifting from dietary supplements towards healthy nutritional approaches. As a nutritious and natural food source, purple carrot (Daucus carota spp. Sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) roots could have an important role in the prevention of MetS as well as cancer. This review provides deep insight into the role of purple carrot’s main bioactive compounds and their effectiveness against MetS and cancer. Phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanin, present in purple carrot roots may be especially productive in avoiding or delaying the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVDs), obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Anthocyanins and other phenolics are successful in reducing metabolic changes and inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory effects. Many researchers have made efforts to employ this vegetable in the prevention and treatment of MetS and cancer. However, more advanced studies are required for the identification of its detailed role, effectiveness, suitable intake, and the effect of its bioactive compounds against these diseases.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly induces health-associated infections in a variety of species other than humans. Over the years, the opportunistic pathogen has developed resistance against commonly used antibiotics. Since most P. aeruginosa strains are multi-drug resistant, regular antibiotic treatment of its infections is becoming a dire concern, shifting the global focus towards the development of alternate antimicrobial approaches. Pyocins are one of the most diverse antimicrobial peptide combinations produced by bacteria. They have potent antimicrobial properties, mainly against bacteria from the same phylogenetic group. P. aeruginosa, whether from clinical or environmental origins, produce several different pyocins that show inhibitory activity against other multi-drug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa. They are, therefore, good candidates for alternate therapeutic antimicrobials because they have a unique mode of action that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria by attacking their biofilms. Here, we review pseudomonas-derived antimicrobial pyocins with great therapeutic potential against multi-drug-resistant P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]