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Abstract Nanobiotechnology is the study of small biological structures ranging in size of 1-100nm. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a versatile inorganic molecule having strong antimicrobial, disinfecting and drying properties, useful in production of medicines. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are metallic nano-particles with high catalytic, biological and UV-blockage properties. Aim of this study is to synthesize cost-effective and eco-friendly ZnO-NPs by using zinc-acetate-dihydrate and Lallemantia royleana seed-extract as reducing, stabilizing and capping agent. Biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized by various analytical techniques. The characteristic peak of ZnO-NPs was measured at ∼382nm. FT-IR analysis revealed polysaccharide nature of L. royleana-extract and their functional group’s interaction with ZnO-NPs responsible for reduction and stabilization. SEM and XRD results revealed hexagonal-wurtzite structure of ZnO-NPs with average size of 18.26 nm. These ZnO-NPs possess strong anti-hemolytic and catalytic potentials. Our study showed that ZnO-NPs degrade organic pollutants effectively and can be useful for the purification of industrial effluents in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is slowly progressing respiratory disease that leads to alveoli blockage and difficulty in breathing. The objective of this study was to determine the association of 1359 G/A polymorphism of central cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Pakistani population. Materials & Methods: We investigated CNR1 single nucleotide polymorphism at the location 1359 G/A (p.Thr453Th; rs1049353) in 180 COPD patients and 194 healthy individuals In Department of Biology, Virtual University, Lahore, Pakistan in 2014-2015. DNA samples were extracted from venous leukocytes by using standard method, amplified (PCR) and digested (RFLP). Restriction digests were evaluated by 8% polyacrylamide gel. Frequencies of homozygous and heterozygous variants of 1359 G/A polymorphism were analyzed. Results: Genotype distribution AA, GG, GA of CNR1 gene in COPD patients was 1.1%, 68.3% and 30.5% versus controls 3.1%, 56.0% and 40.8% respectively. The heterozygous genotype distribution (GA) was observed higher in patients 68.3% than controls 56%. Allele frequencies A and G of CNR1 gene were 0.311 and 0.688 in controls versus 0.353 and 0.646 in patients respectively. The A allele variant frequency was higher in patients 35.3% than controls 31.1%. Results indicated that polymorphism of CNR1 gene located at 1359 may have association with COPD disease. Conclusions: Our study gave clue for association of COPD with 1359 G/A polymorphism of central cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene in Pakistani population. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship of CNR1 gene to COPD by larger sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of stress management training on decreasing stress and increasing emotional intelligence among university students. This study was completed using repeated measure design with a sample of 96 students experiencing high level of stress screened out through perceived stress contacted at Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan. The sample was randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 46) and control groups (n = 50). Pre and post data on measures of stress, emotional intelligence, and academic achievement were collected from both groups before and after the administration of stress management training. The data were analyzed by employing independent sample t-tests and ANCOVA. Significant differences were found on the scores of stress, emotional intelligence, and academic achievement between experimental and control group. Stress management intervention was found efficient for controlling stress and decreasing emotional intelligence and academic achievement at < .001. From the present findings, stress management intervention seems absolutely effective in decreasing the stress among students. The intervention can be considered as practicable method to reduce the stress level and to enhance the emotional intelligence among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Role of CB1 receptor (encoded by CNR1 gene) in many physiological and pathophysiological functions has been reported. It has been studied that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 1359 G/A (p. Thr453Th; rs1049353) of CNR1 gene alters normal function of CB1 receptor. Present study is a try to have a look on molecular epidemiological structure of1359 G/. A polymorphism in Pakistani population in ambition to cope the related diseases (schizophrenia, stress disorders, alcohol dependent diseases etc). Samples of DNA used in current research were extracted from blood of 194 healthy Pakistani subjects by using standard methods. We have used Google search engine for comparison of our results with other healthy subjects of related researches from world. The said populations are; English-Irish, Chinese, Japanese, European- American, German African-American, Italian and Turkish populations. Present study discovered significant variations in allele frequency distributions. We refer this difference to the change of the environment and geographical status. This is the first work on the polymorphism of CNR1 gene 1359 G/A allele frequency and its genotype in healthy Pakistani subjects in comparison to other healthy populations from the world as well as SAARC countries up to our knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]