Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 98 in total

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  1. Silver nanoparticle conjugation affects antiacanthamoebic activities of amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole
    Anwar A, Siddiqui R, Hussain MA, Ahmed D, Shah MR, Khan NA
    Parasitol Res, 2018 Jan;117(1):265-271.
    PMID: 29218442 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5701-x
    Infectious diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, killing more than 15 million people worldwide. This is despite our advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and supportive care. Nanoparticles offer a promising technology to enhance drug efficacy and formation of effective vehicles for drug delivery. Here, we conjugated amphotericin B, nystatin (macrocyclic polyenes), and fluconazole (azole) with silver nanoparticles. Silver-conjugated drugs were synthesized successfully and characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Conjugated and unconjugated drugs were tested against Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype using amoebicidal assay and host cell cytotoxicity assay. Viability assays revealed that silver nanoparticles conjugated with amphotericin B (Amp-AgNPs) and nystatin (Nys-AgNPs) exhibited significant antiamoebic properties compared with drugs alone or AgNPs alone (P 
  2. Fulltext Synthesis of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine propylthioacetate coated gold nanoparticles and their antibacterial and photophysical activity
    Anwar A, Khalid S, Perveen S, Ahmed S, Siddiqui R, Khan NA, et al.
    J Nanobiotechnology, 2018 Jan 29;16(1):6.
    PMID: 29378569 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-017-0332-z
    BACKGROUND: Gold nanoparticles are useful candidate for drug delivery applications and are associated with enhancement in the bioavailability of coated drugs and/or therapeutic agent. Since, heterocyclic compounds are known to exhibit antimicrobial potential against variety of pathogens, we designed this study to evaluate the antibacterial effects of gold nanoparticles conjugation with new synthesized cationic ligand; 4-Dimethyl aminopyridinium propylthioacetate (DMAP-PTA) in comparison with pure compound and antibiotic drug Pefloxacin. Antibacterial activity of DMAP-PTA coated gold nanoparticles was investigated against a fecal strain of E. coli (ATCC 8739).

    RESULTS: A new dimethyl aminopyridine based stabilizing agent named as DMAP-PTA was synthesized and used for stabilization of gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles coated with DMAP-PTA abbreviated as DMAP-PTA-AuNPs were thoroughly characterized by UV-visible, FT-IR spectroscopic methods and transmission electron microscope before biological assay. DMAP-PTA, DMAP-PTA-AuNPs and Pefloxacin were examined for their antibacterial potential against E. coli, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined to be 300, 200 and 50 µg/mL respectively. Gold nanoparticles conjugation was found to significantly enhance the antibacterial activity of DMAP-PTA as compared to pure compound. Moreover, effects of DMAP-PTA-AuNPs on the antibacterial potential of Pefloxacin was also evaluated by combination therapy of 1:1 mixture of DMAP-PTA-AuNPs and Pefloxacin against E. coli in a wide range of concentrations from 5 to 300 µg/mL. The MIC of Pefloxacin + DMAP-PTA-AuNPs mixture was found to be 25 µg/mL as compared to Pefloxacin alone (50 µg/mL), which clearly indicates that DMAP-PTA-AuNPs increased the potency of Pefloxacin. AFM analysis was also carried out to show morphological changes occur in bacteria before and after treatment of test samples. Furthermore, DMAP-PTA-AuNPs showed high selectivity towards Pefloxacin in spectrophotometric drug recognition studies which offers tremendous potential for analytical applications.

    CONCLUSIONS: Gold nanoparticles conjugation was shown to enhance the antibacterial efficacy of DMAP-PTA ligand, while DMAP-PTA-AuNPs also induced synergistic effects on the potency of Pefloxacin against E. coli. DMAP-PTA-AuNPs were also developed as Pefloxacin probes in recognizing the drug in blood and water samples in the presence of other drugs.

  3. Fulltext Applications of Polyaniline-Based Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoparticles against Brain-Eating Amoebae
    Abdelnasir S, Mungroo MR, Chew J, Siddiqui R, Khan NA, Ahmad I, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2023 Mar 07;8(9):8237-8247.
    PMID: 36910978 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06050
    Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis are distressing infections of the central nervous system caused by brain-eating amoebae, namely, Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp., respectively, and present mortality rates of over 90%. No single drug has been approved for use against these infections, and current therapy is met with an array of obstacles including high toxicity and limited specificity. Thus, the development of alternative effective chemotherapeutic agents for the management of infections due to brain-eating amoebae is a crucial requirement to avert future mortalities. In this paper, we synthesized a conducting polymer-based nanocomposite entailing polyaniline (PANI) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and explored its anti-trophozoite and anti-cyst potentials against Acanthamoeba castellanii and Naegleria fowleri. The intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ultrastructural appearances of amoeba were also evaluated with treatment. Throughout, treatment with the 1:2 and 1:5 ratios of PANI/MoS2 at 100 μg/mL demonstrated significant anti-amoebic effects toward A. castellanii as well as N. fowleri, appraised to be ROS mediated and effectuate physical alterations to amoeba morphology. Further, cytocompatibility toward human keratinocyte skin cells (HaCaT) and primary human corneal epithelial cells (pHCEC) was noted. For the first time, polymer-based nanocomposites such as PANI/MoS2 are reported in this study as appealing options in the drug discovery for brain-eating amoebae infections.
  4. Repositioning of Guanabenz in Conjugation with Gold and Silver Nanoparticles against Pathogenic Amoebae Acanthamoeba castellanii and Naegleria fowleri
    Anwar A, Mungroo MR, Anwar A, Sullivan WJ, Khan NA, Siddiqui R
    ACS Infect Dis, 2019 Dec 13;5(12):2039-2046.
    PMID: 31612700 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00263
    Brain-eating amoebae cause devastating infections in the central nervous system of humans, resulting in a mortality rate of 95%. There are limited effective therapeutic options available clinically for treating granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and primary amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba castellanii (A. castellanii) and Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri), respectively. Here, we report for the first time that guanabenz conjugated to gold and silver nanoparticles has significant antiamoebic activity against both A. castellanii and N. fowleri. Gold and silver conjugated guanabenz nanoparticles were synthesized by the one-phase reduction method and were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. Both metals were facilely stabilized by the coating of guanabenz, which was examined by surface plasmon resonance determination. The average size of gold nanoconjugated guanabenz was found to be 60 nm, whereas silver nanoparticles were produced in a larger size distribution with the average diameter of around 100 nm. Guanabenz and its noble metal nanoconjugates exhibited potent antiamoebic effects in the range of 2.5 to 100 μM against both amoebae. Nanoparticle conjugation enhanced the antiamoebic effects of guanabenz, as more potent activity was observed at a lower effective concentration (2.5 and 5 μM) compared to the drug alone. Moreover, encystation and excystation assays revealed that guanabenz inhibits the interconversion between the trophozoite and cyst forms of A. castellanii. Cysticdal effects against N. fowleri were also observed. Notably, pretreatment of A. castellanii with guanabenz and its nanoconjugates exhibited a significant reduction in the host cell cytopathogenicity from 65% to 38% and 2% in case of gold and silver nanoconjugates, respectively. Moreover, the cytotoxic evaluation of guanabenz and its nanoconjugates revealed negligible cytotoxicity against human cells. Guanabenz is already approved for hypertension and crosses the blood-brain barrier; the results of our current study suggest that guanabenz and its conjugated gold and silver nanoparticles can be repurposed as a potential drug for treating brain-eating amoebic infections.
  5. Sunni Islamic perspectives on lab-grown sperm and eggs derived from stem cells - in vitro gametogenesis (IVG)
    Serour G, Ghaly M, Saifuddeen SM, Anwar A, Isa NM, Chin AHB
    New Bioeth, 2023 Jun;29(2):108-120.
    PMID: 36427532 DOI: 10.1080/20502877.2022.2142094
    An exciting development in the field of assisted reproductive technologies is In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG) that enables production of functional gametes from stem cells in the laboratory. Currently, development of this technology is still at an early stage and has demonstrated to work only in rodents. Upon critically examining the ethical dimensions of various possible IVG applications in human fertility treatment from a Sunni Islamic perspective, together with benefit-harm (maslahah-mafsadah) assessment; it is concluded that utilization of IVG, once its efficacy and safety are guaranteed, could be permissible by strictly adhering to Islamic ethical principles related to marriage, biological/genetic relatedness, sexual intercourse, and moral status of the embryo/fetus versus that of the gamete. As a result, IVG will be acceptable for treating primary infertility, age-related infertility, and preventing genetic diseases. However, it will be unacceptable for application in posthumous reproduction, donor gametes, genetic enhancement, and procreation in same-sex couples.
  6. Fulltext Catalytic activity of ethylbenzene with product selectivity by gold nanoparticles supported on zinc oxide
    Anwar A, Ma'amor A, Mahmud HNME, Basirun WJ, Abdullah I
    Turk J Chem, 2022;46(3):730-746.
    PMID: 37720623 DOI: 10.55730/1300-0527.3363
    The oxidation of ethylbenzene (EB) using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidizing agent was carried out in presence of gold nanoparticles (3 nm) supported on zinc oxide in acetonitrile solution. A higher selectivity towards acetophenone (ACP) as the major product, and a moderate selectivity towards other products such as 1-phenylethanol (PE), benzaldehyde (BZL), and benzoic acid (BzA) were observed using the prepared Au/ZnO nanocatalysts at 100 °C for 24 h. It is suggested the reaction produces an intermediate product, which is dimethylethyl-1-phenylethyl peroxide through a radical mechanism. A small amount of benzaldehyde was observed because benzaldehyde went autoxidation to form benzoic acid with the presence of oxidation agent of TBHP during reaction. The factors affecting the catalytic activity such as gold loading, calcination treatment at 300°C, type of solvent, reaction time, reaction temperature, oxidant to substrate molar ratio, catalyst weight, and solvent volume were studied. The gold nanoparticle catalyst synthesized by deposition precipitation method using urea was characterized by XRD, HRTEM, ATR-IR, XRF, and BET and offers a very selective reaction pathway for the oxidation of ethylbenzene.
  7. Fulltext My Family Stands Behind Me: Moderated Mediation Model of Family Support and Work Engagement
    Erum H, Abid G, Anwar A, Ijaz MF, Kee DMH
    Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ, 2021 Mar 30;11(2):321-333.
    PMID: 34708832 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe11020024
    Family motivation as a mediating mechanism is a novel and under-researched area in the field of positive organizational scholarship. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory (SET), this study empirically validates family motivation as a mediator between family support and work engagement. The process by Hayes (2013) was used to analyze time-lagged data collected from 356 employees of the education sector. Results confirm the mediating role of family motivation in the relationship between family support and work engagement and the moderating role of calling in the relationship between family support and family motivation. This study adds to the literature of family-work enrichment accounts by validating family support as a novel antecedent for family motivation and positive attitudes. The implications of the study are discussed.
  8. The increasing importance of novel deep eutectic solvents as potential effective antimicrobials and other medicinal properties
    Siddiqui R, Khodja A, Ibrahim T, Khamis M, Anwar A, Khan NA
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2023 Oct 04;39(12):330.
    PMID: 37792153 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03760-8
    With the rise of antibiotic resistance globally, coupled with evolving and emerging infectious diseases, there is an urgent need for the development of novel antimicrobials. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are a new generation of eutectic mixtures that depict promising attributes with several biological implications. DES exhibit unique properties such as low toxicity, biodegradability, and high thermal stability. Herein, the antimicrobial properties of DES and their mechanisms of action against a range of microorganisms, including bacteria, amoebae, fungi, viruses, and anti-cancer properties are reviewed. Overall, DES represent a promising class of novel antimicrobial agents as well as possessing other important biological attributes, however, future studies on DES are needed to investigate their underlying antimicrobial mechanism, as well as their in vivo effects, for use in the clinic and public at large.
  9. Fulltext Digital Students' Satisfaction With and Intention to Use Online Teaching Modes, Role of Big Five Personality Traits
    Mustafa S, Qiao Y, Yan X, Anwar A, Hao T, Rana S
    Front Psychol, 2022;13:956281.
    PMID: 35936293 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.956281
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, online teaching modes were found vital to continue students' learning process, but sustainable implementation of online teaching models is an area of concern for policymakers. Psychiatrists are also eager to know students' behavior toward learning and modes of teaching during COVID-19. We have drawn a model based on the big five personality traits to study students' satisfaction with online teaching modes and their adoption intentions toward online teaching modes. We have collected data from 718 bachelor's and master's level students from four different universities. We have applied the SEM-ANN dual-stage approach to test personality traits' influence and ranked them based on their normalized importance. The results revealed that agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness positively influence students' satisfaction with online teaching models, but that extraversion negatively influences their satisfaction. Agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism positively impact, but openness negatively influences. Conscientiousness does not affect adoption intention. Furthermore, agreeableness is the most significant, and conscientiousness is the least important factor for students to adopt online teaching modes. The findings of the study have useful perceptiveness for educational policymakers, academics, and psychiatrists.
  10. Natural Terpenes Inhibit the Cytopathogenicity of Naegleria fowleri Causing Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis in the Human Cell Line Model
    Rajendran K, Ahmed U, Meunier AC, Shaikh MF, Siddiqui R, Anwar A
    ACS Chem Neurosci, 2023 Dec 06;14(23):4105-4114.
    PMID: 37983556 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00258
    Naegleria fowleri is one of the free-living amoebae and is a causative agent of a lethal and rare central nervous system infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Despite the advancement in antimicrobial chemotherapy, the fatality rate in the reported cases is more than 95%. Most of the treatment drugs used against N. fowleri infection are repurposed drugs. Therefore, a large number of compounds have been tested against N. fowleri in vitro, but most of the compounds showed high toxicity. To overcome this, we evaluated the effectiveness of naturally occurring terpene compounds against N. fowleri. In this study, we evaluated the antiamoebic potential of natural compounds including Thymol, Borneol, Andrographolide, and Forskolin againstN. fowleri. Thymol showed the highest amoebicidal activity with IC50/24 h at 153.601 ± 19.6 μM. Two combinations of compounds Forskolin + Thymol and Forskolin + Borneol showed a higher effect on the viability of trophozoites as compared to compounds alone and hence showed a synergistic effect. The IC50 reported for Forskolin + Thymol was 81.30 ± 6.86 μM. Borneol showed maximum cysticidal activity with IC50/24 h at 192.605 ± 3.01 μM. Importantly, lactate dehydrogenase release testing revealed that all compounds displayed minimal cytotoxicity to human HaCaT, HeLa, and SH-SY5Y cell lines. The cytopathogenicity assay showed that Thymol and Borneol also significantly reduced the host cell cytotoxicity of pretreated amoeba toward the human HaCaT cell line. So, these terpene compounds hold potential as therapeutic agents against infections caused by N. fowleri and are potentially a step forward in drug development against this deadly pathogen as these compounds have also been reported to cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, an in vivo study using animal models is necessary to assess the efficacy of these compounds and the need for further research into the intranasal route of delivery for the treatment of these life-threatening infections.
  11. Fulltext Potential anti-amoebic effects of synthetic 1,4-benzothiazine derivatives against Acanthamoeba castellanii
    Alishba, Ahmed U, Taha M, Khan NA, Salar U, Khan KM, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jan 15;10(1):e23258.
    PMID: 38205285 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23258
    A rare but lethal central nervous system disease known as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) and potentially blinding Acanthamoeba keratitis are diseases caused by free-living Acanthamoeba. Currently, no therapeutic agent can completely eradicate or prevent GAE. Synthetic compounds are a likely source of bioactive compounds for developing new drugs. This study synthesized seventeen 1,4-benzothiazine derivatives (I -XVII) by a base-catalyzed one-pot reaction of 2-amino thiophenol with substituted bromo acetophenones. Different spectroscopic techniques, such as EI-MS, 1H-, and 13C NMR (only for the new compounds), were used for the structural characterization and conformation of compounds. These compounds were assessed for the first time against Acanthamoeba castellanii. All compounds showed anti-amoebic potential in vitro against A. castellanii, reducing its ability to encyst and excyst at 100 μM. Compounds IX, X, and XVI showed the most potent activities among all derivatives and significantly reduced the viability to 5.3 × 104 (p 
  12. From brown to green: are Asian economies on the right path? Assessing the role of green innovations and geopolitical risk on environmental quality
    Khan KA, Cong PT, Thang PD, Uyen PTM, Anwar A, Abbas A
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Jan 17.
    PMID: 38231329 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31613-2
    Preserving the sustainability of the natural environment has emerged as a critical focus on policy agendas worldwide. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between environmental quality and key determinants, focusing on geopolitical risk (GPR), green innovations (GI), economic growth, FDI, renewable energy consumption, and urbanization. Dataset is used for the time period of 1990-2020 across selected Asian economies including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Using load capacity factor (LCF) as a comprehensive proxy for environmental quality, the research utilizes panel quantile regression (QR) to provide empirical outcomes. Results of panel QR method reveal a negative impact of economic growth and GPR on LCF. On the other hand, green innovation, FDI, and renewable energy are found as supportive factors to boost environmental quality. In addition, urbanization also shows positive linkage with LCF. The application of Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) further validates the robustness of the findings. Adoption of green innovations, practicing sustainable growth patterns, transition toward cleaner energy practices, and integrated urban planning are advocated to enhance environmental quality among Asian nations. Based on empirical findings study suggests comprehensive policy measures that can help in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) including SDG-7 (energy efficiency), SDG-8 (sustainable economic growth), SDG-11 (sustainable cities), and SDG-13 (climate action) among Asian countries.
  13. Lactase can target cellular differentiation of Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype
    Simau FA, Ahmed U, Khan KM, Khan NA, Siddiqui R, Alharbi AM, et al.
    Parasitol Res, 2024 Jan 31;123(2):117.
    PMID: 38294565 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08131-2
    The free living Acanthamoeba spp. are ubiquitous amoebae associated with potentially blinding disease known as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and a fatal central nervous system infection granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). With the inherent ability of cellular differentiation, it can phenotypically transform to a dormant cyst form from an active trophozoite form. Acanthamoeba cysts are highly resistant to therapeutic agents as well as contact lens cleaning solutions. One way to tackle drug resistance against Acanthamoeba is by inhibiting the formation of cysts from trophozoites. The biochemical analysis showed that the major component of Acanthamoeba cyst wall is composed of carbohydrate moieties such as galactose and glucose. The disaccharide of galactose and glucose is lactose. In this study, we analyzed the potential of lactase enzyme to target carbohydrate moieties of cyst walls. Amoebicidal assessment showed that lactase was ineffective against trophozoite of A. castellanii but enhanced amoebicidal effects of chlorhexidine. The lactase enzyme did not show any toxicity against normal human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) at the tested range. Hence, lactase can be used for further assessment for development of potential therapeutic agents in the management of Acanthamoeba infection as well as formulation of effective contact lens disinfectants.
  14. Preclinical Development of a Novel Epitope-based DNA Vaccine Candidate against SARS-CoV-2 and Evaluation of Immunogenicity in BALB/c Mice
    Khalid K, Lim HX, Anwar A, Tan SH, Hwang JS, Ong SK, et al.
    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2024 Mar 12;25(3):60.
    PMID: 38472523 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-024-02778-x
    The protective efficacies of current licensed vaccines against COVID-19 have significantly reduced as a result of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) which carried multiple mutations in the Spike (S) protein. Considering that these vaccines were developed based on the S protein of the original SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain, we designed a recombinant plasmid DNA vaccine based on highly conserved and immunogenic B and T cell epitopes against SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and the Omicron VOC. Literature mining and bioinformatics were used to identify 6 immunogenic peptides from conserved regions of the SARS-CoV-2 S and membrane (M) proteins. Nucleotide sequences encoding these peptides representing highly conserved B and T cell epitopes were cloned into a pVAX1 vector to form the pVAX1/S2-6EHGFP recombinant DNA plasmid vaccine. The DNA vaccine was intranasally or intramuscularly administered to BALB/c mice and evaluations of humoral and cellular immune responses were performed. The intramuscular administration of pVAX1/S2-6EHGFP was associated with a significantly higher percentage of CD8+ T cells expressing IFN-γ when compared with the empty vector and PBS controls. Intramuscular or intranasal administrations of pVAX1/S2-6EHGFP resulted in robust IgG antibody responses. Sera from mice intramuscularly immunized with pVAX1/S2-6EHGFP were found to elicit neutralizing antibodies capable of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant with the ACE2 cell surface receptor. This study demonstrated that the DNA vaccine construct encoding highly conserved immunogenic B and T cell epitopes was capable of eliciting potent humoral and cellular immune responses in mice.
  15. Fulltext Nanoparticle-Terpene Fusion: A Game-Changer in Combating Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis Caused by Naegleria fowleri
    Rajendran K, Ahmed U, Meunier AC, Shaikh MF, Siddiqui R, Anwar A
    ACS Omega, 2024 Mar 12;9(10):11597-11607.
    PMID: 38497026 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08844
    Pathogenic Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) are opportunistic free-living amoebae and are the causative agents of a very rare but severe brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The fatality rate of PAM in reported cases is more than 95%. Most of the drugs used againstN. fowleri infections are repurposed drugs. Therefore, a large number of compounds have been tested againstN. fowleri in vitro, but most of the tested compounds showed high toxicity and an inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Andrographolide, forskolin, and borneol are important natural compounds that have shown various valuable biological properties. In the present study, the nanoconjugates (AND-AgNPs, BOR-AgNPs, and FOR-AgNPs) of these compounds were synthesized and assessed against both stages (trophozoite and cyst) ofN. fowleri for their antiamoebic and cysticidal potential in vitro. In addition, cytotoxicity and host cell pathogenicity were also evaluated in vitro. FOR-AgNPs were the most potent nanoconjugate and showed potent antiamoebic activity againstN. fowleriwith an IC50 of 26.35 μM. Nanoconjugates FOR-AgNPs, BOR-AgNPs, and AND-AgNPs also significantly inhibit the viability of N. fowleri cysts. Cytotoxicity assessment showed that these nanoconjugates caused minimum damage to human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT cells) at 100 μg/mL, while also effectively reducing the cytopathogenicity of N. fowleri trophozoites to the HaCaT cells. The outcomes of our experiments have unveiled substantial potential for AND-AgNPs, BOR-AgNPs, and FOR-AgNPs in the realm of developing innovative alternative therapeutic agents to combat infections caused by N. fowleri. This study represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of advanced strategies for managing such amoebic infections, laying the foundation for the development of novel and more effective therapeutic modalities in the fight against free-living amoebae.
  16. Shaping a greener future: The role of geopolitical risk, renewable energy and financial development on environmental sustainability using the LCC hypothesis
    Wang W, Balsalobre-Lorente D, Anwar A, Adebayo TS, Cong PT, Quynh NN, et al.
    J Environ Manage, 2024 Apr;357:120708.
    PMID: 38552512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120708
    The recent progress report of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2023 highlighted the extreme reactions of environmental degradation. This report also shows that the current efforts for achieving environmental sustainability (SDG 13) are inadequate and a comprehensive policy agenda is needed. However, the present literature has highlighted several determinants of environmental degradation but the influence of geopolitical risk on environmental quality (EQ) is relatively ignored. To fill this research gap and propose a inclusive policy structure for achieving the sustainable development goals. This study is the earliest attempt that delve into the effects o of geopolitical risk (GPR), financial development (FD), and renewable energy consumption (REC) on load capacity factor (LCF) under the framework of load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis for selected Asian countries during 1990-2020. In this regard, we use several preliminary sensitivity tests to check the features and reliability of the dataset. Similarly, we use panel quantile regression for investigating long-run relationships. The factual results affirm the existence of the LCC hypothesis in selected Asian countries. Our findings also show that geopolitical risk reduces environmental quality whereas financial development and REC increase environmental quality. Drawing from the empirical findings, this study suggests a holistic policy approach for achieving the targets of SDG 13 (climate change).
  17. Fulltext Antimicrobial activities of green synthesized gums-stabilized nanoparticles loaded with flavonoids
    Anwar A, Masri A, Rao K, Rajendran K, Khan NA, Shah MR, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 02 28;9(1):3122.
    PMID: 30816269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39528-0
    Herein, we report green synthesized nanoparticles based on stabilization by plant gums, loaded with citrus fruits flavonoids Hesperidin (HDN) and Naringin (NRG) as novel antimicrobial agents against brain-eating amoebae and multi-drug resistant bacteria. Nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized by using zetasizer, zeta potential, atomic force microscopy, ultravoilet-visible and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopic techniques. The size of these spherical nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 100-225 nm. The antiamoebic effects of these green synthesized Silver and Gold nanoparticles loaded with HDN and NRG were tested against Acanthamoeba castellanii and Naegleria fowleri, while antibacterial effects were evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1. Amoebicidal assays revealed that HDN loaded Silver nanoparticles stabilized by gum acacia (GA-AgNPs-HDN) quantitatively abolished amoeba viability by 100%, while NRG loaded Gold nanoparticles stabilized by gum tragacanth (GT-AuNPs-NRG) significantly reduced the viability of A. castellanii and N. fowleri at 50 µg per mL. Furthermore, these nanoparticles inhibited the encystation and excystation by more than 85%, as well as GA-AgNPs-HDN only completely obliterated amoeba-mediated host cells cytopathogenicity. Whereas, GA-AgNPs-HDN exhibited significant bactericidal effects against MRSA and E. coli K1 and reduced bacterial-mediated host cells cytotoxicity. Notably, when tested against human cells, these nanoparticles showed minimal (23%) cytotoxicity at even higher concentration of 100 µg per mL as compared to 50 µg per mL used for antimicrobial assays. Hence, these novel nanoparticles formulations hold potential as therapeutic agents against infections caused by brain-eating amoebae, as well as multi-drug resistant bacteria, and recommend a step forward in drug development.
  18. Anti-Acanthamoebic effects of silver-conjugated tetrazole nanoparticle
    Anwar A, Fatima I, Khan KM, Daalah M, Alawfi BS, Khan NA, et al.
    Exp Parasitol, 2024 Aug 13.
    PMID: 39147119 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108827
    Tetrazoles are five-membered ring aromatic heterocyclic molecules that consist of one carbon and four nitrogen atoms. Several tetrazole-based drugs have shown promising activities against bacteria, fungi, asthma, cancer, hypertension etc. The overall aim of this study was to determine anti-Acanthamoebic properties of tetrazoles and tetrazole-conjugated silver nanoparticles. Tetrazole-conjugated silver nanoparticles were synthesized and confirmed using ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, Dynamic light scattering, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Using amoebicidal, encystment, and excystment assays, the findings revealed that tetrazoles exhibited antiamoebic properties and these effects were enhanced when conjugated with silver nanoparticles. When tested for parasite killing, the minimum inhibitory concentration was reduced from ∼20μM with tetrazole alone to 10μM with tetrazole-conjugated silver nanoparticles. Importantly, conjugation with silver nanoparticles increased parasite-mediated human cell death in vitro, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release, but it reduced toxic effects of drugs alone on human cells. In cytopathogenicity assays, the minimum inhibitory concentration was reduced from ∼15μM with tetrazole alone to less than 50μM with tetrazole-conjugated silver nanoparticles. Overall, these results showed clearly that tetrazoles exhibit potent antiamoebic properties which can be enhanced by conjugation with silver nanoparticles and have potential role in the rational development of therapeutic interventions against parasitic infections such as keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis due to pathogenic Acanthamoeba.
  19. Examining clinical pharmacist interventions and identifying opioid medication-related issues in patients with cancer
    Anwar A, Malik N, Siddiqui A, Shrestha S, Bhutta OA, Mazhar S, et al.
    J Oncol Pharm Pract, 2024 Aug 28.
    PMID: 39196917 DOI: 10.1177/10781552241279027
    INTRODUCTION: Opioid medications are crucial for managing pain among patients with cancer. Yet, inappropriate prescribing and medication issues can compromise patient safety and quality of care. Clinical pharmacists play a significant role in optimizing opioid therapy and addressing issues related to opioid medication use.

    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine clinical pharmacist interventions and identify opioid medication-related issues in patients with cancer.

    METHOD: We conducted a retrospective observational study at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Lahore, Pakistan, conducting a chart review from 1st July 2021 to 31st December 2021.

    RESULTS: Out of 10,534 opioid medication orders, we documented a total of 974 interventions based on our inclusion criteria. Tramadol and morphine accounted for most of these interventions, comprising 49.27% (n = 475) and 40.04% (n = 386), respectively. Regarding clinical significance, 41.70% (n = 406) were deemed significant, while 37.36% (n = 365) were somewhat significant. The majority of interventions, i.e., 54.05% (n = 521), primarily aimed at optimizing patient outcomes, followed by a secondary aim of improvements in communication, i.e., 25.52% (n = 246).

    CONCLUSION: This study establishes the evaluation of clinical pharmacist interventions on opioid medication use in patients with cancer, an issue particularly in oncology settings in Pakistan. The findings emphasize the crucial role of clinical pharmacists in addressing issues related to opioid issue medications, thus improving patient safety and optimizing opioid use for patient well-being.

  20. Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Exhibit Anti-Acanthamoeba castellanii Properties by Inducing Necrotic Cell Death
    Ahmed U, Gew LT, Siddiqui R, Khan NA, Alharbi AM, Alhazmi A, et al.
    Acta Parasitol, 2024 Sep;69(3):1717-1723.
    PMID: 39153011 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00891-2
    PURPOSE: The treatment of amoebic infections is often problematic, largely due to delayed diagnosis, amoebae transformation into resistant cyst form, and lack of availability of effective chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we determined anti-Acanthamoeba castellanii properties of three metal oxide nanoparticles (TiO2, ZrO2, and Al2O3).

    METHODS: Amoebicidal assays were performed to determine whether metal oxide nanoparticles inhibit amoebae viability. Encystation assays were performed to test whether metal oxide nanoparticles inhibit cyst formation. By measuring lactate dehydrogenase release, cytotoxicity assays were performed to determine human cell damage. Hoechst 33342/PI staining was performed to determine programmed cell death (apoptosis) and necrosis in A. castellanii.

    RESULTS: TiO2-NPs significantly inhibited amoebae viability as observed through amoebicidal assays, as well as inhibited their phenotypic transformation as evident using encystation assays, and showed limited human cell damage as observed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase assays. Furthermore, TiO2-NPs altered parasite membranes and resulted in necrotic cell death as determined using double staining cell death assays with Hoechst33342/Propidium iodide (PI) observed through chromatin condensation. These findings suggest that TiO2-NPs offers a potential viable avenue in the rationale development of therapeutic interventions against Acanthamoeba infections.

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