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Fulltext Effectiveness of the Laser Application in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Systematic Review of 1172 Patients

Zwiri A, Alrawashdeh MA, Khan M, Ahmad WMAW, Kassim NK, Ahmed Asif J, et al.

Pain Res Manag, 2020;2020:5971032.
PMID: 33005278 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5971032

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser application in temporomandibular joint disorder.
Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched systematically with restricting the languages to only English and year (January 2001 to March 2020), and studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Study quality and publication bias were assessed by using the Robvis, a software package of R statistical software.
Results: This systematic review included 32 studies (1172 patients) based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies reported significant reduction of pain by the use of the laser during TMD treatment. Two-thirds of the study (78.13%) found a better outcome comparing with conventional one. According to Robvis, 84.4% of the studies were high methodological studies with low risk of bias.
Conclusion: TMD patients suffer with continuous pain for long time even after conventional treatment. Laser therapy shows a promising outcome of pain reduction for TMD patients. Therefore, laser therapy can be recommended for the TMD patients' better outcome. This trial is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020177562).
Quantitative correlation between counterion (X) affinity to cationic micelles and X-induced micellar growth for X = 2,4-; 2,5-; 2,6- and 3,4-dichlorobenzoate ions

Yusof NS, Razak NA, Khan MN

J Oleo Sci, 2013;62(5):257-69.
PMID: 23648400

A semi empirical kinetic (SEK) method has been used to determine the ratio of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) micellar binding constants of counterion X⁻ and Br⁻ (a reference counterion), i.e. K(X)/K(Br) (=R(X)(Br)). The values of K(X) and K(Br) have been derived from the kinetic parameters obtained in the presence spherical/non-spherical and spherical micelles, respectively. This rather new method gives the respective mean values of R(X)(Br) as 45±2, 25±3, 4.7±0.6 and 119±10 for X=2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6- and 3,4-Cl₂C₆H₃CO₂⁻ (Cl₂Bz'Na). Literature lacks the report on the values of R(X)(Br) for all X except for X=2,6-Cl₂C₆H₃CO₂⁻ (2,6-Cl2Bz'⁻) for which the reported value is 5.0. Rheological properties, such as shear thinning behavior, reveal indirectly the presence of wormlike micelles (WM) in the CTABr micellar solutions containing MX for all X except X=2,6-Cl₂Bz'⁻. The micelles remain spherical within [2,6-Cl₂Bz'⁻] range 0.01-0.34 M at 0.015 M CTABr. The maxima of the plots of zero shear viscosity, η₀, (obtained from the initial plateau region of flow curves, i.e. η vs. γ curve) vs. [MX] (MX=2,4-, 2,5- and 3,4-Cl₂Bz'Na) at 0.015 M CTABr also support indirectly the presence of linear, entangled and branched WM.
Quantitative correlation between counterion-affinity to cationic micelles and counterion-induced micellar growth

Yusof NS, Khan MN

Adv Colloid Interface Sci, 2013 Jun;193-194:12-23.
PMID: 23582713 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2013.03.002

The fascinating and serendipitous discovery, in 1976, of the characteristic viscoelastic behavior of wormlike micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium salicylate (CTASa) surfactant solution at ~2×10(-4) M CTASa became a catalyst for an increasing interest in both industrial application and mechanism of the origin of micellar growth of this and related wormlike micellar systems. It has been perceived for more than three decades, based upon qualitative evidence, that the extent of the strength of the counterion (X) binding to ionic micelles determines the counterion-induced micellar structural transition from spherical-to-small rodlike-to-linear long stiff/flexible rodlike/wormlike-to-entangled wormlike micelles. This perception predicts the presence of a possible quantitative correlation of counterionic micellar binding constants (KX) with counterion-induced micellar growth. The quantitative estimation of counterion binding affinity to cationic micelles, in terms of the values of the degree of counterion binding (βX), is concluded to be either inefficient or unreliable for moderately hydrophobic counterions (such as substituted benzoate ions). The values of KX, measured in terms of conventional ion exchange constants (KX(Y)), can provide a quantitative correlation between KX or KX(Y) (with a reference counterion Y=Cl(-) or Br(-)) and counterion-induced ionic micellar growth. A recent new semi-empirical kinetic (SEK) method provides the estimation of KX(Y) for Y=Br as well as ratio of counterionic micellar binding constants KX/KBr (= RX(Br)) where the values of KBr and KX have been derived from the kinetic parameters in the presence of cationic spherical and nonspherical micelles, respectively. The SEK method has been used to determine the values of KX(Br) or RX(Br) for X=2-, 3- and 4-ClC6H4CO2(-). Rheometric measurements on aqueous CTABr/MX (MX=2-,3- and 4-ClBzNa) solutions containing 0.015 M CTABr and varying values of [MX] reveal the presence of spherical micelles for MX=2-ClBzNa and long linear as well as entangled wormlike micelles for MX=3- and 4-ClBzNa. The respective values of KX(Br) or RX(Br) of 5.7, 50 and 48 for X=2-, 3- and 4-ClBz(-) give a quantitative correlation with the rheometric measurements of the structural features of micelles of 0.015 M CTABr solutions containing 2-, 3- and 4 ClBzNa.
Quantitative correlation of counterion (X) affinity to ionic micelles and X- and temperature-induced micellar growth (spherical-wormlike micelles-vesicles) for X = 5-methyl- and 5-methoxysalicylate ions

Yusof NS, Khan MN

J Phys Chem B, 2012 Feb 23;116(7):2065-74.
PMID: 22272582 DOI: 10.1021/jp210467p

The semiempirical kinetic method has been used to determine the ratio of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTABr, micellar binding constants of counterions X (K(X)) and Br (K(Br)), i.e., K(X)/K(Br) (= R(X)(Br)) for X = dianionic 5-methyl- and 5-methoxysalicylate ions. The values of K(X) and K(Br) have been derived from the kinetic parameters obtained in the presence of spherical/nonspherical and spherical micelles, respectively. The values of R(X)(Br) remain essentially independent of [CTABr] within its range 0.005-0.015 M for both dianionic 5-methyl- and 5-methoxysalicylate ions. The increase in temperature from 35 to 55 °C decreases the values of R(X)(Br) from 796 to 53 for 5-methylsalicylate ions and from 89 to 7.0 for 5-methoxysalicylate ions. Rheological properties of 0.015 M CTABr solutions containing ≥0.01 M counterionic salt, M(2)X, show indirectly the presence of unilamellar vesicles, ULV, and long linear, entangled, and branched wormlike micelles, WM, at, respectively, 35 and 55 °C for X = dianionic 5-methylsalicylate ion. However, such studies show WM and probable spherical micelles, SM, at, respectively, 35 and 55 °C for X = dianionic 5-methoxysalicylate ions. It has been shown that, at a constant [CTABr], the micellar structural transitions from SM-to-WM-to-vesicles may be correlated quantitatively with the values of R(X)(Br) regardless of whether such micellar structural transitions occur due to variation in the values of [M(2)X] at a constant temperature or due to variation in temperature at a constant [M(2)X].
Kinetic and rheological measurements of the effects of inert 2-, 3- and 4-bromobenzoate ions on the cationic micellar-mediated rate of piperidinolysis of ionized phenyl salicylate

Yusof NS, Niyaz Khan M

J Colloid Interface Sci, 2011 May 1;357(1):121-8.
PMID: 21333302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.01.061

The effects of the concentration of inert organic salts, [MX], (MX=2-, 3- and 4-BrBzNa with BrBzNa=BrC(6)H(4)CO(2)Na) on the rate of piperidinolysis of ionized phenyl salicylate (PS(-)) have been rationalized in terms of pseudophase micellar (PM) coupled with an empirical equation. The appearance of induction concentration in the plots of k(obs) versus [MX] (where k(obs) is pseudo-first-order rate constants for the reaction of piperidine (Pip) with PS(-)) is attributed to the occurrence of two or more than two independent ion exchange processes between different counterions at the cationic micellar surface. The derived kinetic equation, in terms of PM model coupled with an empirical equation, gives empirical parameters F(X/S) and K(X/S) whose magnitudes lead to the calculation of usual ion exchange constant K(X)(Br) (=K(X)/K(Br) with K(X) and K(Br) representing cationic micellar binding constants of counterions X(-) and Br(-), respectively). The value of F(X/S) measures the fraction of S(-) (=PS(-)) ions transferred from the cationic micellar pseudophase to the aqueous phase by the optimum value of [MX] due to ion exchange X(-)/S(-). Similarly, the value of K(X/S) measures the ability of X(-) ions to expel S(-) ions from cationic micellar pseudophase to aqueous phase through ion exchange X(-)/S(-). This rather new technique gives the respective values of K(X)(Br) as 8.8±0.3, 71±6 and 62±5 for X(-)=2-, 3- and 4-BrBz(-). Rheological measurements reveal the shear thinning behavior of all the surfactant solutions at 15mM CTABr (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) indicating indirectly the presence of rodlike micelles. The plots of shear viscosity (η) at a constant shear rate (γ), i.e. η(γ), versus [MX] at 15 mM CTABr exhibit maxima for MX=3-BrBzNa and 4-BrBzNa while for MX=2-BrBzNa, the viscosity maximum appears to be missing. Such viscosity maxima are generally formed in surfactant solutions containing long stiff and flexible rodlike micelles with entangled and branched/multiconnected networks. Thus, 15 mM CTABr solutions at different [MX] contain long stiff and flexible rodlike micelles for MX=3- and 4-BrBzNa and short rodlike micelles for MX=2-BrBzNa.
Determination of an ion exchange constant by the use of a kinetic probe: a new semiempirical kinetic approach involving the effects of 3-F- and 4-F-substituted benzoates on the rate of piperidinolysis of anionic phenyl salicylate in aqueous cationic micelles

Yusof NS, Khan MN

Langmuir, 2010 Jul 6;26(13):10627-35.
PMID: 20524703 DOI: 10.1021/la100863q

Pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for the nucleophilic substitution reaction of piperidine (Pip) with ionized phenyl salicylate (PS(-)), obtained at a constant [Pip](T) (= 0.1 M), [PS(-)](T) (= 2 x 10(-4) M), [CTABr](T) (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide), < or = 0.06 M NaOH, and a varying concentration of MX (= 3-FC(6)H(4)CO(2)Na, 3-FBzNa and 4-FC(6)H(4)CO(2)Na, 4-FBzNa), follow the kinetic relationship k(obs) = (k(0) + thetaK(X/S)[MX])/(1 + K(X/S)[MX]) which is derived by the use of the pseudophase micellar (PM) model coupled with an empirical equation. The empirical equation explains the effects of [MX] on CTABr micellar binding constant (K(S)) of PS(-) that occur through X(-)/PS(-) ion exchange. Empirical constants theta and K(X/S) give the parameters F(X/S) and K(X/S), respectively. The magnitude of F(X/S) gives the measure of the fraction of micellized PS(-) transferred to the aqueous phase by the limiting concentration of X(-) through X(-)/PS(-) ion exchange. The values of F(X/S) and K(X/S) have been used to determine the usual thermodynamic ion exchange constant (K(X)(Y)) for ion exchange process X(-)/Y(-) on the CTABr micellar surface. The values of K(X)(Br) (where Br = Y) have been calculated for X = 3-FBzNa and 4-FBzNa. The mean values of K(X)(Br) are 12.8 +/- 0.9 and 13.4 +/- 0.6 for X(-) = 3-FBz(-) and 4-FBz(-), respectively. Nearly 3-fold-larger values of K(X)(Br) for X = 3-FBz(-) and 4-FBz(-) than those for X = Bz(-), 2-ClBz(-), 2-CH(3)Bz(-), and the 2,6-dichlorobenzoate ion (2,6-Cl(2)Bz(-)) are attributed to the presence of wormlike micelles in the presence of > 50 mM 3-FBz(-) and 4-FBz(-) in the [CTABr](T) range of 5-15 mM. Rheological properties such as shear thinning behavior of plots of shear viscosity versus the shear rate at a constant [3-FBz(-)] or [4-FBz(-)] as well as shear viscosity (at a constant shear rate) maxima as a function of the concentrations of 3-FBz(-) and 4-FBz(-) support the conclusion, derived from the values of K(X)(Br), for the probable presence of wormlike/viscoelastic micellar solutions under the conditions of the present study.
Stigmasterol: An adjuvant for beta lactam antibiotics against beta-lactamase positive clinical isolates

Yenn TW, Arslan Khan M, Amiera Syuhada N, Chean Ring L, Ibrahim D, Tan WN

Steroids, 2017 Dec;128:68-71.
PMID: 29104098 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.10.016

The emergence of beta lactamase producing bacterial strains eliminated the use of beta lactam antibiotics as chemotherapeutic alternative. Beta lactam antibiotics can be coupled with non-antibiotic adjuvants to combat these multidrug resistant strains. We study the synergistic antibiotic effect of stigmasterol as adjuvant of ampicillin against clinical isolates. Ampicillin was used in this study as a beta lactam antibiotic model. All test bacteria were beta lactamase producing clinical isolates. The combination showed significantly better antibiotic activity on all bacteria tested. The two test substances have synergistic antibiotic activity, and the effect was observed in both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The synergistic antibiotic effect of stigmasterol and ampicillin was evident by the low fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index on Checkerboard Assay. The results suggest that the combination of ampicillin and stigmasterol acts additively in the treatment of infections caused by beta-lactamase producing pathogens. In bacterial growth reduction assay, ampicillin and stigmasterol alone exhibited very weak inhibitory effect on the bacterial growth, relative to ethanol control. Comparatively, combination of stigmasterol-ampicillin greatly reduced the colony counts at least by 98.7%. In conclusion, we found synergistic effects of stigmasterol and ampicillin against beta lactamase producing clinical isolates. This finding is important as it shows potential application of stigmasterol as an antibiotic adjuvant.
Fulltext Current trends in water-in-diesel emulsion as a fuel

Yahaya Khan M, Abdul Karim ZA, Hagos FY, Aziz AR, Tan IM

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:527472.
PMID: 24563631 DOI: 10.1155/2014/527472

Water-in-diesel emulsion (WiDE) is an alternative fuel for CI engines that can be employed with the existing engine setup with no additional engine retrofitting. It has benefits of simultaneous reduction of both NO x and particulate matters in addition to its impact in the combustion efficiency improvement, although this needs further investigation. This review paper addresses the type of emulsion, the microexplosion phenomenon, emulsion stability and physiochemical improvement, and effect of water content on the combustion and emissions of WiDE fuel. The review also covers the recent experimental methodologies used in the investigation of WiDE for both transport and stationary engine applications. In this review, the fuel injection pump and spray nozzle arrangement has been found to be the most critical components as far as the secondary atomization is concerned and further investigation of the effect of these components in the microexplosion of the emulsion is suggested to be center of focus.
Evaluating ionic liquids for its potential as eco-friendly solvents for naproxen removal from water sources using COSMO-RS: Computational and experimental validation

Warsi Khan H, Kaif Khan M, Moniruzzaman M, Al Mesfer MK, Danish M, Irshad K, et al.

Environ Res, 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 1):116058.
PMID: 37178749 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116058

An emerging contaminant of concern in aqueous streams is naproxen. Due to its poor solubility, non-biodegradability, and pharmaceutically active nature, the separation is challenging. Conventional solvents employed for naproxen are toxic and harmful. Ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted great attention as greener solubilizing and separating agent for various pharmaceuticals. ILs have found extensive usage as solvents in nanotechnological processes involving enzymatic reactions and whole cells. The employment of ILs can enhance the effectiveness and productivity of such bioprocesses. To avoid cumbersome experimental screening, in this study, conductor like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) was used to screen ILs. Thirty anions and eight cations from various families were chosen. Activity coefficient at infinite dilution, capacity, selectivity, performance index, molecular interactions using σ-profiles and interaction energies were used to make predictions about solubility. According to the findings, quaternary ammonium cations, highly electronegative, and food-grade anions will form excellent ionic liquid combinations for solubilizing naproxen and hence will be better separating agents. This research will contribute easy designing of ionic liquid-based separation technologies for naproxen. In different separation technologies, ionic liquids can be employed as extractants, carriers, adsorbents, and absorbents.
Infection control in the Indo-Pak subcontinent: averting the aftermath of the worst flooding in 60 years

Umair Khan M, Ahmad A, Patel I

Disaster Med Public Health Prep, 2014 Oct;8(5):461.
PMID: 25325828 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2014.105
Fulltext The need for redesigned pharmacy practice courses in Pakistan: the perspectives of senior pharmacy students

Umair Khan M, Ahmad A, Hussain K, Salam A, Hasnain ZU, Patel I

J Educ Eval Health Prof, 2015;12:27.
PMID: 26072905 DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.27

In Pakistan, courses in pharmacy practice, which are an essential component of the PharmD curriculum, were launched with the aim of strengthening pharmacy practice overall and enabling pharmacy students to cope with the challenges involved in meeting real-world healthcare needs. Since very little research has assessed the efficacy of such courses, we aimed to evaluate students' perceptions of pharmacy practice courses and their opinions about whether their current knowledge of the topics covered in pharmacy practice courses is adequate for future practice.
Fulltext Comparison of the knowledge, attitudes, and perception of barriers regarding adverse drug reaction reporting between pharmacy and medical students in Pakistan

Umair Khan M, Ahmad A, Ejaz A, Ata Rizvi S, Sardar A, Hussain K, et al.

J Educ Eval Health Prof, 2015;12:28.
PMID: 26072906 DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.28

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to compare the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacy and medical students regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs), as well as their perceptions of barriers to ADR reporting, in a Higher Education Commission-recognised Pakistani university.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year pharmacy (n=91) and medical (n=108) students in Pakistan from June 1 to July 31, 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The responses of pharmacy students were compared to those of medical students.
RESULTS: Pharmacy students had a significantly better knowledge of ADRs than medical students (mean±SD, 5.61±1.78 vs. 3.23±1.60; P<0.001). Gender showed a significant relationship to knowledge about ADRs, and male participants were apparently more knowledgeable than their female counterparts (P<0.001). The attitudes of pharmacy students regarding their capability to handle and report ADRs were significantly more positive than those of medical students (P<0.05). In comparison to pharmacy students, a lack of knowledge of where and how to report ADRs was the main barrier that medical students perceived to ADR reporting (P=0.001).
CONCLUSION: Final-year pharmacy students exhibited more knowledge about ADRs and showed more positive attitudes regarding their capacity to handle and report ADRs than final-year medical students.
KEYWORDS: Comparison; Medical; Pakistan; Pharmacovigilance; Pharmacy; Students
Fulltext Author Correction: Insights into isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of adsorption of acid blue 113 from an aqueous solution of nutraceutical industrial fennel seed spent

Taqui SN, Syed AA, Mubarak NM, Farade RA, Khan MAM, Kalam MA, et al.

Sci Rep, 2024 Jan 30;14(1):2474.
PMID: 38291216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53033-z
Fulltext Insights into isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of adsorption of acid blue 113 from an aqueous solution of nutraceutical industrial fennel seed spent

Taqui SN, Syed AA, Mubarak NM, Farade RA, Khan MAM, Kalam MA, et al.

Sci Rep, 2023 Dec 19;13(1):22665.
PMID: 38114620 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49471-w

Research studies have been carried out to accentuate Fennel Seed Spent, a by-product of the Nutraceutical Industry, as an inexpensive, recyclable and operational biosorbent for bioremediation of Acid Blue 113 (AB113) in simulated water-dye samples and textile industrial effluent (TIE). The physical process of adhesion of AB113 on the surface of the biosorbent depends on various parameters, such as the initial amount of the dye, amount and expanse of the biosorbent particles, pH of the solution and temperature of the medium. The data obtained was analyzed using three two-parameter and five three-parameter adsorption isotherm models to glean the adsorbent affinities and interaction mechanism of the adsorbate molecules and adsorbent surface. The adsorption feature study is conducted employing models of Weber-Morris, pseudo 1st and 2nd order, diffusion film model, Dumwald-Wagner and Avrami model. The study through 2nd order pseudo and Avrami models produced complementary results for the authentication of experimental data. The thermodynamic features, ΔG0, ΔH0, and ΔS0 of the adsorption process are acclaimed to be almost spontaneous, physical in nature and endothermic in their manifestation. Surface characterization was carried out using Scanner Electron Microscopy, and identification and determination of chemical species and molecular structure was performed using Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). Maximum adsorption evaluated using statistical optimization with different combinations of five independent variables to study the individual as well as combined effects by Fractional Factorial Experimental Design (FFED) was 236.18 mg g-1 under optimized conditions; pH of 2, adsorbent dosage of 0.500 g L-1, and an initial dye concentration of 209.47 mg L-1 for an adsorption time of 126.62 min with orbital shaking of 165 rpm at temperature 49.95 °C.
Fulltext Autophagic Degradation of Misfolded Nuclear Receptor Co-repressor (NCoR) Is Linked to the Growth of Tumor Cells in HBX Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Tan SY, Visvanathan S, Abu Hassan R, Khan M

Front Oncol, 2019;9:1335.
PMID: 31850220 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01335

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is causally linked to hepatocellular injury and cell death, which are followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after a long latent period. The HBV derived X protein (HBX) is the most potent carcinogenic factor for HCC, however, the molecular mechanism of HBX-induced transformation of hepatic cells in HCC is poorly understood. We have shown that nuclear receptor co-repressor (NCoR) is essential for the spatial repression of global transcription by the promyelocytic leukemia oncogenic domains (PODs), a frequent target of viral oncoproteins like HBX and that disintegration of PODs due to misfolded conformation dependent loss (MCDL) of NCoR is linked to promyelocytic and monocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Given the key role of NCoR in cellular homeostasis across various tissue subtypes, we hypothesized that HBX-induced MCDL of NCoR might be linked to HCC through similar mechanism. Based on this hypothesis, the conformation of NCoR in HCC derived tumor cells and primary human tissue sections were analyzed and a selective MCDL of NCoR in HBX positive HCC cells was identified. HBX triggered the misfolding of NCoR through ubiquitination, followed by its degradation by autophagy, thus suggesting a cross talk between ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP) in MCDL of NCoR in HBX positive HCC cells. SiRNA-induced NCoR ablation selectively impaired the growth and survival of HBX positive HCC cells, suggesting a role of MCDL in the growth and survival of HBX positive HCC cells. These finding identify a possible crosstalk between UPS and ALP in the misfolding and loss of NCoR in HBX positive HCC cells and suggest a role of autophagic recycling of misfolded NCoR in the activation of oncogenic metabolic signaling in HCC. The misfolded NCoR reported in this study represents a novel conformation based molecular target which could be valuable in the design and development of tumor cell specific diagnostic and therapeutic approach for HBX positive HCC.
Fulltext Teledentistry as a Supportive Tool for Dentists in Pakistan

Subhan R, Ismail WA, Musharraf S, Khan M, Hafeez R, Alam MK

Biomed Res Int, 2021;2021:8757859.
PMID: 34540998 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8757859

The current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced dentists to seek different options for delivering healthcare services other than the in-person direct examination in clinical practice. Teledentistry is one of the options for remote patient care and monitoring. Objective. The present survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and perception of the dentists in Pakistan regarding teledentistry as an emergent supportive tool. Materials and Methods. A self-administered, close-ended, and prevalidated survey questionnaire was used, comprising 21 questions, and distributed electronically via e-mail, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger to evaluate the knowledge and perception of dentists regarding teledentistry. The data collected was compiled in a systematic manner and analyzed in terms of frequency (yes/no). Results. Out of a total of 350 dentists, 325 responded to the questionnaire, and it was seen that 62.5% of them did not have knowledge about teledentistry prior to COVID-19. 65.8% of dentists considered the practice of teledentistry in nonpandemic situations in the future. Conclusion. In the present study, it was observed that most of the dental professionals had inadequate knowledge about teledentistry before COVID-19, but the awareness and perception regarding teledentistry were currently satisfactory among the dental professionals in Pakistan. This emerging trend gives a positive hope for the implementation of teledentistry in the healthcare setup of Pakistan in the near future, as it will prove to be beneficial for safe dental practice during times of pandemic and even after.
Fulltext Geographic wormhole detection in wireless sensor networks

Sookhak M, Akhundzada A, Sookhak A, Eslaminejad M, Gani A, Khurram Khan M, et al.

PLoS One, 2015;10(1):e0115324.
PMID: 25602616 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115324

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are ubiquitous and pervasive, and therefore; highly susceptible to a number of security attacks. Denial of Service (DoS) attack is considered the most dominant and a major threat to WSNs. Moreover, the wormhole attack represents one of the potential forms of the Denial of Service (DoS) attack. Besides, crafting the wormhole attack is comparatively simple; though, its detection is nontrivial. On the contrary, the extant wormhole defense methods need both specialized hardware and strong assumptions to defend against static and dynamic wormhole attack. The ensuing paper introduces a novel scheme to detect wormhole attacks in a geographic routing protocol (DWGRP). The main contribution of this paper is to detect malicious nodes and select the best and the most reliable neighbors based on pairwise key pre-distribution technique and the beacon packet. Moreover, this novel technique is not subject to any specific assumption, requirement, or specialized hardware, such as a precise synchronized clock. The proposed detection method is validated by comparisons with several related techniques in the literature, such as Received Signal Strength (RSS), Authentication of Nodes Scheme (ANS), Wormhole Detection uses Hound Packet (WHOP), and Wormhole Detection with Neighborhood Information (WDI) using the NS-2 simulator. The analysis of the simulations shows promising results with low False Detection Rate (FDR) in the geographic routing protocols.
Fulltext Towards dynamic remote data auditing in computational clouds

Sookhak M, Akhunzada A, Gani A, Khurram Khan M, Anuar NB

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:269357.
PMID: 25121114 DOI: 10.1155/2014/269357

Cloud computing is a significant shift of computational paradigm where computing as a utility and storing data remotely have a great potential. Enterprise and businesses are now more interested in outsourcing their data to the cloud to lessen the burden of local data storage and maintenance. However, the outsourced data and the computation outcomes are not continuously trustworthy due to the lack of control and physical possession of the data owners. To better streamline this issue, researchers have now focused on designing remote data auditing (RDA) techniques. The majority of these techniques, however, are only applicable for static archive data and are not subject to audit the dynamically updated outsourced data. We propose an effectual RDA technique based on algebraic signature properties for cloud storage system and also present a new data structure capable of efficiently supporting dynamic data operations like append, insert, modify, and delete. Moreover, this data structure empowers our method to be applicable for large-scale data with minimum computation cost. The comparative analysis with the state-of-the-art RDA schemes shows that the proposed scheme is secure and highly efficient in terms of the computation and communication overhead on the auditor and server.
Fulltext Utilization of CRISPR-Mediated Tools for Studying Functional Genomics in Hematological Malignancies: An Overview on the Current Perspectives, Challenges, and Clinical Implications

Solayappan M, Azlan A, Khor KZ, Yik MY, Khan M, Yusoff NM, et al.

Front Genet, 2021;12:767298.
PMID: 35154242 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.767298

Hematological malignancies (HM) are a group of neoplastic diseases that are usually heterogenous in nature due to the complex underlying genetic aberrations in which collaborating mutations enable cells to evade checkpoints that normally safeguard it against DNA damage and other disruptions of healthy cell growth. Research regarding chromosomal structural rearrangements and alterations, gene mutations, and functionality are currently being carried out to understand the genomics of these abnormalities. It is also becoming more evident that cross talk between the functional changes in transcription and proteins gives the characteristics of the disease although specific mutations may induce unique phenotypes. Functional genomics is vital in this aspect as it measures the complete genetic change in cancerous cells and seeks to integrate the dynamic changes in these networks to elucidate various cancer phenotypes. The advent of CRISPR technology has indeed provided a superfluity of benefits to mankind, as this versatile technology enables DNA editing in the genome. The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a precise genome editing tool, and it has revolutionized methodologies in the field of hematology. Currently, there are various CRISPR systems that are used to perform robust site-specific gene editing to study HM. Furthermore, experimental approaches that are based on CRISPR technology have created promising tools for developing effective hematological therapeutics. Therefore, this review will focus on diverse applications of CRISPR-based gene-editing tools in HM and its potential future trajectory. Collectively, this review will demonstrate the key roles of different CRISPR systems that are being used in HM, and the literature will be a representation of a critical step toward further understanding the biology of HM and the development of potential therapeutic approaches.
Lignin nanoparticles-reduced graphene oxide based hydrogel: A novel strategy for environmental applications

Sohni S, Hassan T, Khan SB, Akhtar K, Bakhsh EM, Hashim R, et al.

Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Jan 15;225:1426-1436.
PMID: 36436599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.200

In this work, facile fabrication of lignin nanoparticles (LNP)-based three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (rGO@LNP) has been demonstrated as a novel strategy for environmental applications. Herein, LNP were facilely synthesized from walnut shell waste through a direct chemical route. These LNP were incorporated into the continuous porous network of rGO network to fabricate rGO@LNP hydrogel. Characterization studies were carried out using various analytical techniques viz. scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The efficiency of rGO@LNP hydrogel as adsorptive platform was evaluated by employing methylene blue and Pb2+ as model pollutants, whilst the effect of various experimental parameters was ascertained for optimal performance. Furthermore, Agar well diffusion method was used to check the antibacterial activities of the hydrogel using two bacterial pathogenic strains, i.e. Klebsiella pneumoniae (gram negative) and Enterococcus faecalis (gram positive). Results showed that after the inclusion of LNP into rGO hydrogel, there was a marked improvement in pollutant's uptake ability and compared to bare LNP and rGO, the composite hydrogel showed enhanced bactericidal effect. Overall, this approach is outstanding because of the synergy of functional properties of nano-lignin and rGO due to multi-interaction sites in the resulting hydrogel. The results presented herein support the application of rGO@LNP as innovative water filter material for scavenging broad spectrum pollutants and bactericidal properties.

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