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Prostate specific antigen was identified and characterized first time in 1977. There is no doubt that the PSA has significant role in prostate cancer diagnosis with help of Digital Rectal Examination and biopsy. Study design: This study was designed to assess the level of PSA in prostate cancer patients before and after the treatment given to patients. To determine the specific and precise finding regarding the tumors stages, the cancer biomarkers are handy and helpful. For this purpose researchers monitor changes in the cell on chromosomal level by comparing primary tumor with secondary tumor. The prostate-specific gene kallikrein 3 (KLK3), encodes PSA located on chromosome 19q13.4. KLK2 and KLK4 genes are also present here which are present in a family of fifteen closely related serine proteases. Setting: Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: Jan 2014 to Dec 2014. Material and methods: We use the PSA (Human) CLIA Kit which is a solid phase two site immunoassay. One antibody was coated on the surface of the microtiter wells and another antibody (used as a tracer) was labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The PSA molecules present in the standard solution or serum were "sandwiched" between the two antibodies. Results: All prostate cancer patients had highly variable serum PSA values ranging from 12.90 ng/mL to 193.5 ng/mL. The post treatment PSA analysis revealed that the increase level of PSA (15%) which showed that the PSA level increased after the treatment. Whereas in all other 17 patients the PSA level was found to decreased. Our study also shows that sometime PSA level is increased by non-cancer associated benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, medications and environment and diet alterations. Conclusions: This study indicated that PSA serum level has a useful role in diagnosis of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) provide promisingly, organic–inorganic, clean hybrid, cost effective and efficient molecular solar cell devices. Due to their distinct and multifunctional qualities, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures are promising materials used to create photoanodes for DSSCs due to the availability of larger surface area than bulk sheet substance, effectual light-dispersing centers, and when mixed with titanium dioxide they produce a core–shell formation that diminishes the coalition rate and provide direct charge. Moreover, ZnO thin sheets have been broadly observed due of its potential application in various fields i.e. piezoelectric, photovoltaic, pyroelectric and optoelectronic utilization. This review studies the recent advances in the fabrication of zinc oxide-based photovoltaics; synthesis of ZnO nanostructures with variable morphologies including thin sheets, nanotubes, nanorods, nanoflowers, nanofibers and factors that control the growth and morphologies of these nanospecies and part of crystallographic planes for the fabrication of various zinc oxide nanoshapes. In the next part of this paper, numerous fabrication routes — doped and undoped ZnO thin films — are discussed and different parameters of photovoltaics are investigated, e.g. efficiency pre and post annealing temperatures, fill factors spinning speed and coating time, additives, nature of precursor which impacts on morphological and optical parameters of these sheets. In short, this review is dedicated to the ZnO photoanode, its properties, issues related to ZnO photoanode, various improvement approaches, fabrication methods successfully trialled so far followed by market potential of the DSSC technology, conclusion and recommendations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, VSM and two probe DC conductivity measurements. XRD pattern indicated the existence of a sole cubic phase of Fe3O4 with Miller indices (2 2 0), (3 1 1), (5 1 1), (4 4 0). An average size of magnetic nanoparticles was about 22.9 nm and it was reduced to 21.3 nm and 19.4 nm after 1 wt. %. and 2 wt. % coating of PEG-6000, respectively. The morphology and size of the samples were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). EDX spectra confirmed the coating of PEG on magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetic properties were examined by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Saturation magnetization (Ms) decreased as the concentration of PEG increased in the magnetic material. Electrical properties of uncoated and polymer coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles were studied by two-probe conductivity meter. This study concluded that the thermal flow of charge in polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles can be evaluated at micro and nano level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]