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Nowadays, nanotechnology is growing very fast, appearing every day in many fields related to this nanotechnology. In the present study silica nanoparticles (Si NPs) were synthesized, their surface was modified using a silazane and mesoporous Si NPs were further used for the loading tocopherol acetate. Si NPs were synthesized from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of NaOH, with an easily handled, well known Stober method. In this, procedure TEOS was used as a source of silica and treated with NaOH and H2O, undergoing condensation and hydrolysis reactions to produce Si NPs. These Si NPs were then modified by the hexamethyl silazane to avoid agglomeration and can be used easily for targeted delivery, as smart carriers. In the end, tocopherol acetate was successfully loaded in the modified Si NPs and different parameters were recorded for optimum loading. All the samples were characterized through SEM XRD, FTIR, BET and UV-VIS spectroscopy. XRD peaks reveled the typical peak of mesoporous Si NPs appeared at 2θ = 22°. The pore size was found to be 2.45 nm. BET surface area was found to be 694.29 m2/g. FTIR presented the main peaks of functional groups at 1600 cm-1, 1000 cm-1 and 2900 cm-1 respectively. Modified Si NPs were synthesized and characterized, and the tocopherol was loaded inside the mesoporous Si NPs successfully. These experiments showed that mesoporous Si NPs can be used as smart carriers to deliver broad types of drugs efficiently.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare OPG (orthopantomogram) in locating impacted canines with CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) scans of the same patients. METHODOLOGY: The cross-sectional study was carried out on the OPG (orthopantomogram) and CBCT (Cone-Beam Computed Tomography) of 27 patients (17 females and 10 males) presenting with impacted permanent maxillary canines. Thirty-five impacted canines were subsequently assessed on the four guidelines devised by McSherry and Pitt and applied to the panoramic films and CBCT scans. RESULTS: The results show weak agreement for the canine’s angle to the midline and the canine’s horizontal root apex position (k value=0.55, 0.46, respectively). Moreover, significant differences were found between the OPG (orthopantomogram) and the CBCT (Cone-Beam Computed Tomography) for all the variables using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test (p=.000) CONCLUSION: The results showed a significant difference in the 2D and 3D images of impacted maxillary canines, which can produce different diagnoses, and therefore treatment plans. OPG (Orthopantomogram) cannot be completely relied upon for the routine diagnosis of impacted canines.

As sentinels of our immune system dendritic cells (DCs) rely on efficient cell migration for patrolling peripheral tissues and delivering sampled antigens to secondary lymphoid organs for the activation of T-cells. Dynamic actin polymerization is key to their macropinocytic and migratory properties. Both major actin nucleation machineries, formins and the Arp2/3 complex, are critical for different aspects of DC functionality, by driving the generation of linear and branched actin filaments, respectively. However, the importance of a third group of actin nucleators, the Ena/VASP family, has not been addressed yet. Here, we show that the two family members Evl and VASP are expressed in murine DCs and that their loss negatively affects DC macropinocytosis, spreading, and migration. Our interactome analysis reveals Ena/VASP proteins to be ideally positioned for orchestrating the different actin nucleation pathways by binding to the formin mDia1 as well as to the WAVE regulatory complex, a stimulator of Arp2/3. In fact, Evl/VASP deficient murine DCs are more vulnerable to inhibition of Arp2/3 demonstrating that Ena/VASP proteins contribute to the robustness and efficiency of DC migration., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Visweshwaran, Nayab, Hoffmann, Gil, Liu, Kühne and Maritzen.)

Objective: This research aimed to quantitatively assess the general public's awareness, attitude and perception of polio and its vaccination in Peshawar KPK, Pakistan., Methods: We conducted a survey-based study to understand the surge in polio cases from 2015 to 2019 in the Peshawar city of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. A pre-tested questionnaire-based study was conducted in 2019 to assess the attitude and general perception of residents of Peshawar KPK towards polio vaccination., Results: Out of 241 country-wide polio cases, 63 (26.1%) polio cases were reported in Peshawar city from 2015-2019. The questionnaire revealed that individuals between 18-30 years of age had sufficient knowledge (65.1%) about polio. Male and female participants had equal awareness (~ 43%). Participants with higher education (45.9%), those with better financial status (49.5%), individuals with children < 5 years of age (46.4%), and those who had experience of a polio patient (63.1%) had better knowledge. Participants inhabiting the central city were better aware (50.5%) of polio than individuals living in the outskirts., Conclusion: The data indicated that poor knowledge and negative attitudes of people towards polio vaccination are the main causes of the polio eradication program's failure. Moreover, religious beliefs, unchecked migration between the Pak-Afghan border, and lack of knowledge about polio vaccination are identified as critical barriers to polio eradication.

Background: Lack of infrastructure for disposal of effluents in industries leads to severe pollution of natural resources in developing countries. These pollutants accompanied by solid waste are equally hazardous to biological growth. Natural attenuation of these pollutants was evidenced that involved degradation by native microbial communities. The current study encompasses the isolation of pesticide-degrading bacteria from the vicinity of pesticide manufacturing industries., Methods: The isolation and identification of biodegrading microbes was done. An enrichment culture technique was used to isolate the selected pesticide-degrading bacteria from industrial waste., Results: Around 20 different strains were isolated, among which six isolates showed significant pesticide biodegrading activity. After 16S rRNA analysis, two isolated bacteria were identified as Acinetobacter baumannii (5B) and Acidothiobacillus ferroxidans , and the remaining four were identified as different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1A, 2B, 3C, 4D). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed their evolution from a common ancestor. All strains showed distinctive degradation ability up to 36 hours. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains 1A and 4D showed highest degradation percentage of about 80% for DDT, and P. aeruginosa strain 3C showed highest degradation percentage, i.e. , 78% for aldrin whilst in the case of malathion, A. baumannii and A. ferroxidans have shown considerable degradation percentages of 53% and 54%, respectively. Overall, the degradation trend showed that all the selected strains can utilize the given pesticides as sole carbon energy sources even at a concentration of 50 mg/mL., Conclusion: This study provided strong evidence for utilizing these strains to remove persistent residual pesticide; thus, it gives potential for soil treatment and restoration., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2021 Asim et al.)

Background & Objectives: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is a vector borne pathogen, well-known for causing endemic hemorrhagic fever in Asia, Europe and Africa. There is no specific drug or vaccine available against CCHFV. The recent upsurge of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever around the globe has made it a major health issue and this demands investigation for specific inhibitors to viral proteins. The objective of this study was to assess inhibitors that may have the potential to dock CCHFV nucleoprotein which plays an important role in viral assembly., Methods: We performed structure-based virtual screening and molecular docking by using potent inhibitors against nucleoprotein of CCHFV. Screening was performed by a webserver, MtiOpenScreen which gave 1000 drug-like molecules from PubChem. PyRx Autodock vina was utilized to dock the protein. The docking poses were observed for interaction analysis by LigPlot+. This study provided ten potential candidates capable of binding to the active site of NP of CCHFV. The selected hits were then subjected to toxicity prediction by ProTox-II., Results: Four hits were identified that specifically dock nucleoprotein at the presumed binding site. Furthermore, these compounds have less binding energy i.e., 9.7 kcal/mol, 9.8 kcal/mol and 10.4 kcal/mol and with equal toxicity measures when compared to an FDA approved drug., Interpretation & Conclusion: This study illustrates that virtual screening is an efficient in silico approach to identify target-specific inhibitors. Researchers in this area who investigate drugs or synthesize agents against CCHFV with better efficacy could utilize reported inhibitors rather than trying random compounds ambivalently., Competing Interests: None

Probiotic bacteria are of utmost importance owing to their extensive utilisation in dairy products and in the prevention of various intestinal diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the probiotic properties of bacteriocin-producing isolates of Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from traditional Pakistani yoghurt. In this study, ten bacteriocin-producing isolates were selected to screen for the probiotic property. The isolates showed resistance to acidic pH (6-6.5), bile salt (0.01-1%), and 1-7% NaCl salt and showed good growth at acidic pH and antibacterial activity against ten different foodborne pathogens. Interestingly, these isolates were proved to be effective against Actinobacter baumannii but least effective against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A few isolates were found to be resistant to some antibiotics like vancomycim, gentamycin, erythromycin, streptomycin, and clindamycin. Our results provide strong evidence in favour of traditional Pakistani yoghurts as a potential source of bacteriocin-producing bacteria with an added benefit of the probiotic property. Specifically, LBh5 was considered a good probiotic isolate as compared to other isolates used in the study. Further extensive research should be done on isolation and characterisation of probiotic isolates from local fermented foods, and then, these isolates should be used in the development of probiotic enriched food supplements in Pakistan., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Mahreen Ul Hassan et al.)

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely known for their probiotic activities for centuries. These bacteria synthesise some secretory proteinaceous toxins, bacteriocins, which help destroy similar or interrelated bacterial strains. This study was aimed at characterising bacteriocins extracted from Lactobacillus spp. found in yoghurt and assessing their bactericidal effect on foodborne bacteria. Twelve isolated Lactobacillus spp. were examined to produce bacteriocins by the organic solvent extraction method. Bacteriocins produced by two of these strains, Lactobacillus helveticus (BLh) and Lactobacillus plantarum (BLp), showed the most significant antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii . Analysis of SDS-PAGE showed that L . plantarum and L . helveticus bacteriocins have a molecular weight of ~10 kDa and ~15 kDa, respectively. L . plantarum (BLp) bacteriocin was heat stable while L . helveticus (BLh) bacteriocin was heat labile. Both bacteriocins have shown activity at acidic pH. Exposure to a UV light enhances the activity of the BLh; however, it had negligible effects on the BLp. Different proteolytic enzymes confirmed the proteinaceous nature of both the bacteriocins. From this study, it was concluded that bacteriocin extracts from L . helveticus (BLh) can be considered a preferable candidate against foodborne pathogens as compared to L . plantarum (BLp). These partially purified bacteriocins should be further processed to attain purified product that could be useful for food spoilage and preservation purposes., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Mahreen Ul Hassan et al.)