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A sustainable method for oxidizing phenanthrene in tropical soil using natural iron as a catalyst in a slurry phase reactor with persulfate assistance

Qutob M, Rafatullah M, Muhammad SA, Siddiqui MR, Alam M

Environ Sci Process Impacts, 2024 Jul 08.
PMID: 38973648 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00328d

The presence of impurities is a significant restriction to the use of natural iron minerals as catalysts in the advanced oxidation process (AOP), especially if applied for soil remediation. This study evaluated the catalytic activity of tropical soil, which has relatively low impurities and naturally contains iron, for the remediation of phenanthrene (PHE) contamination. The system showed good performance, and the best result was 81% PHE removal after 24 h under experimental conditions of pH 7, [PHE]0 = 300 mg/50 g soil, temperature 55 °C, air flow = 260 mL min-1, and [persulfate]0 = 20 mg kg-1, while the mineralization was 61%. Nevertheless, certain limitations were noted in the soil matrix following the remediation procedure, including the appearance of cracks in the soil aggregate, reduction in the crystal size of the soil particles, and decline in the iron and aluminium contents. The results confirmed that the radicals play a major role in the remediation process. SO4˙- was more dominant than O2˙-, while HO˙ played a minor role. Additionally, the by-products were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and the degradation pathway of PHE is proposed. Toxicity assessment tests were performed by using a computational method. In spite of the challenges, this research achieved notable progress in soil remediation, taking a significant step forward in implementing the AOP without catalysts to activate oxidants and remove PHE within the soil. Also, this approach supports sustainability by reducing the need for extra materials and providing an environmentally friendly way of soil remediation.
Measuring spatial inequalities in maternal and child mortalities in Pakistan: evidence from geographically weighted regression

Muhammad FS, Shahabudin SM, Talib MBA

BMC Public Health, 2024 Aug 16;24(1):2229.
PMID: 39152373 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19682-5

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, the death probability of a child and mother is more significant than in developed countries; these inequalities in health outcomes are unfair. The present study encompasses a spatial analysis of maternal and child mortalities in Pakistan. The study aims to estimate the District Mortality Index (DMI), measure the inequality ratio and slope, and ascertain the spatial impact of numerous factors on DMI scores across Pakistani districts.
METHOD: This study used micro-level household datasets from multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS) to estimate the DMI. To find out how different the DMI scores were, the inequality ratio and slope were used. This study further utilized spatial autocorrelation tests to determine the magnitude and location of the spatial dependence of the clusters with high and low mortality rates. The Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model was also applied to examine the spatial impact of socioeconomic, environmental, health, and housing attributes on DMI.
RESULTS: The inequality ratio for DMI showed that the upper decile districts are 16 times more prone to mortalities than districts in the lower decile, and the districts of Baluchistan depicted extreme spatial heterogeneity in terms of DMI. The findings of the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) and Moran's test confirmed spatial homogeneity in all mortalities among the districts in Pakistan. The H-H clusters of maternal mortality and DMI were in Baluchistan, and the H-H clusters of child mortality were seen in Punjab. The results of GWR showed that the wealth index quintile has a significant spatial impact on DMI; however, improved sanitation, handwashing practices, and antenatal care adversely influenced DMI scores.
CONCLUSION: The findings reveal a significant disparity in DMI and spatial relationships among all mortalities in Pakistan's districts. Additionally, socioeconomic, environmental, health, and housing variables have an impact on DMI. Notably, spatial proximity among individuals who are at risk of death occurs in areas with elevated mortality rates. Policymakers may mitigate these mortalities by focusing on vulnerable zones and implementing measures such as raising public awareness, enhancing healthcare services, and improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Eight-and-a-Half Syndrome Secondary to Acute Brainstem Infarction

Muhammad H, Chan WS, Jaafar J, Wan Hitam WH

Cureus, 2024 Jul;16(7):e65138.
PMID: 39171063 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65138

Eight-and-a-half syndrome is a rare neuro-ophthalmologic condition, which is characterized by ipsilateral horizontal gaze palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO), and ipsilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy. We report a case of eight-and-a-half syndrome secondary to acute brainstem infarction. A 55-year-old gentleman with underlying diabetes mellitus and hypertension presented with a sudden onset of double vision in the right lateral gaze for one day. On examination, there was a limitation in the left eye horizontal eye movement with limited right eye adduction. Further neurological examination revealed left lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed an acute infarct involving the left side of the thalamus extending to the left side of the midbrain, pons, and medulla. He was diagnosed with eight-and-a-half syndrome secondary to acute brainstem infarction. The patient was referred to the neuromedical team, where he was treated with anti-platelet medications. He showed gradual improvement on follow-up and had complete resolution of ophthalmoplegia after three months. There was only minimal residual facial nerve weakness. Eight-and-a-half syndrome has a localizing value to the dorsal tegmentum of the pons. It requires thorough neurological examination and imaging studies for accurate diagnosis and management. This case highlights the potential for a significant recovery in patients with eight-and-a-half syndrome when timely and appropriate treatment is administered.
Remediation of benzo[α]pyrene contaminated soil using iron naturally bearing in tropical soil: A new frontier in catalyst-free in soil remediation

Qutob M, Rafatullah M, Muhammad SA, Siddiqui MR, Alam M

Chemosphere, 2024 Sep 06;364:143291.
PMID: 39243904 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143291

Nature iron is considered one of the promising catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that are utilized for soil remediation from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the existence of anions, cations, and organic matter in soils considered impurities that restricted the utilization of iron that was harnessed naturally in the soil matrix and reduced the catalytic performance. In this regard, tropical soil naturally containing iron and relatively poor with impurities was artificially contaminated with 100 mg/50 g benzo[α]pyrene (B[α]P) and remediated using a slurry phase reactor supported with persulfate (PS). The results indicated that tropical soil containing iron and relatively poor with impurities capable of activating the oxidants and formation of radicals which successfully degraded B[α]P. The optimum removal result was 86% and obtained under the following conditions airflow = 260 mL/min, temperature 55 °C, pH 7, and [PS]0 = 1.0 g/L, at the same experimental conditions soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization was 48%. After the remediation process, there was a significant reduction in iron and aluminum contents, which considered the drawbacks of this system. Experiments to scavenge reactive species highlighted O2•- and SO4•- as the main radicals that oxidized B[α]P. Additionally, monitoring of by-products post-remediation aimed to assess toxicity and elucidate degradation pathways. Mutagenicity tests yielded positive results for two B[α]P by-products. The toxicity tests considered were the lethal concentration of 50% (LC50 96 h) for fat-head minnows revealed that all B[α]P by-products were less toxic than the parent pollutant itself. This research marks a significant advancement in soil remediation by advancing the use of the AOP method, removing the requirement for additional catalysts in the AOP system for the removal of B[α]P from soil.
Fulltext Levosulpiride for Premature Ejaculation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Arshad A, Irfan M, Inam M, Hussain NHN, Ismail SB

Am J Mens Health, 2022;16(5):15579883221124832.
PMID: 36154321 DOI: 10.1177/15579883221124832

Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the major causes of sexual dysfunction. Levosulpiride is an off-label medicine used to treat PE, but no review on its efficacy exists. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the efficacy of levosulpiride in treating PE. Databases PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing levosulpiride with placebo or other medicine were selected. Odds ratio (OR) of improved intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) was calculated. A total of 97 articles were retrieved from database search, of which only four RCTs containing 203 men met the selection criteria. All four RCTs were included in systematic review while only two were included in meta-analysis. A high selection and detection bias was found in both of these studies. Meta-analysis also showed the odds of improving IELT in PE patients using levosulpiride to be significantly higher (p < .05) compared with those who used placebo, OR: 100.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) [13.12-774.90], I2 = 0%. Odds of improving IELT for > 5 min (500% improvement) were also significantly higher (p < .05) compared with the placebo groups (OR: 38.88, 95% CI [5.12-295.29], I2 = 0%). The odds of improving IELT for > 1 min, but < 5 min were also significantly higher (p < .05) than placebo groups (OR: 32.84, 95% CI [4.15-259.75], I2 = 0%). Levosulpiride improved IELT, but even so, limited studies are available on this topic. Additional research is thus required to support the present review's findings.
Fulltext Proposal of integrated clinical pathway in the management of perioperative recurrent laryngeal nerve injury post thyroid and parathyroid surgery

Mahmud KA, Azman M, Muhammad R, Mat Baki M

Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 25;15(1):6811.
PMID: 40000673 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86642-3

Early intervention is the current paradigm shift in the management of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury post thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. Thus, an integrated clinical pathway is needed to enable early detection of RLN injury. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted from 2015 until 2021 in a single tertiary centre. A clinical pathway was developed where routine perioperative laryngeal assessments were implemented for all patients who underwent thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. Following an RLN injury, early surgical intervention was performed for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Data on patient demographics, risk factors, timing of RLN injury detection and type of intervention received were recorded in a proforma and analysed. 397 patients were included, involving 660 nerves at risk. The incidences of permanent RLN injury following thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy were 5% and 1.8% respectively. The usage of intraoperative neuromonitoring was the only significant factor that affected the RLN injury according to multivariate analysis. 15% of RLN injuries were detected intraoperatively and 98% within two days. 70% of patients with UVFP received intervention in less than two weeks. The integrated clinical pathway has improved the validity of RLN injury incidence. It allows early detection of RLN injury and facilitates immediate intervention.
Taxonomy and bioacoustics of some crickets (Orthoptera: Grylloidea) from Panti Forest Reserve (Peninsular Malaysia: Johor)

Tan MK, Muhammad AA, Gorochov AV, Abdullah NA

Zootaxa, 2024 Aug 29;5501(1):1-38.
PMID: 39647127 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5501.1.1

Orthopteran surveys were recently conducted at the Panti Forest Reserve in Johor State of Peninsular Malaysia. Based on new material, three species new to science are described here: Agryllus sori Tan, Muhammad & Gorochov, sp. nov. (Gryllidae: Gryllinae), Malayzacla panti Tan, Muhammad & Gorochov, gen. et sp. nov. (Phalangopsidae: Phalangopsinae) and Parendacustes (Parendacustes) aduncus Tan, Muhammad & Gorochov, sp. nov. (Phalangopsidae: Phalangopsinae). The calling songs of five species are described here for the first time: Agryllus sori Tan, Muhammad & Gorochov, sp. nov., Duolandrevus (Bejorama) firmus tiomani Gorochov, 2016 (Gryllidae: Landrevinae), Malayzacla panti Tan, Muhammad & Gorochov, gen. et sp. nov., Parendacustes (Parendacustes) aduncus Tan, Muhammad & Gorochov, sp. nov. and Trellius (Protrellius) helverseni tioman Gorochov, 2011 (Phalangopsidae: Phaloriinae). New locality records in Panti Forest Reserve for five species are also presented here: Duolandrevus (Bejorama) firmus tiomani Gorochov, 2016, Duolandrevus (Bejorama) parvulus Gorochov, 2016, Brevimunda trilineata Tan, Japir, Chung & Robillard, 2022 (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae), Zamunda fuscirostris (Chopard, 1969) (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae) and Trellius (Protrellius) helverseni tioman Gorochov, 2011.
Fulltext Senile Scleral Plaque Mimicking an Intraocular Foreign Body

Muhammad H, Chan WS, Jaafar J, Wan Hitam WH

Cureus, 2025 Feb;17(2):e78410.
PMID: 40046385 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78410

Senile scleral plaques are localized, calcified deposits typically occurring bilaterally in elderly patients and are often asymptomatic. They usually appear near the insertion of the rectus muscles and are associated with age-related changes in the sclera. In rare cases, a senile scleral plaque can occur unilaterally and may mimic the appearance of an intraocular foreign body (IOFB) especially in a post-traumatic case. We report a case of a unilateral senile scleral plaque. A 65-year-old gentleman presented with left eye pain and blurring of vision while hammering a nail into the wall at home. On examination, his visual acuity was 6/24 in the right eye and 6/60 in the left eye. On his left eye, there was a conjunctival laceration at eight o'clock. His left anterior chamber was shallow with the presence of cells 3+. His left pupil was irregular with an area of sphincter tear at eight o'clock. His left lens was posteriorly dislocated. Computed tomography (CT) of the orbit revealed a hyperdense opacity temporally, which was suspicious of an intraocular foreign body. He underwent examination under anesthesia with phacofragmentation and pars plana vitrectomy for his posteriorly dislocated crystalline lens. Intraoperatively, there was the presence of a senile scleral plaque at the temporal region, with no evidence of an intraocular foreign body. He underwent a scleral fixated intraocular lens implantation later on, and postoperatively, his visual acuity for his left eye was 6/6. He remains well with good vision throughout his follow-up. Although less common, the unilateral presentation of senile scleral plaques should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperdense orbital lesions in elderly patients. The potential for senile scleral plaques to mimic intraocular foreign bodies underscores the importance of thorough clinical evaluation and the careful interpretation of imaging studies in patients presenting with ocular trauma. A thorough clinical evaluation, coupled with a cautious interpretation of radiologic findings, is essential in guiding appropriate management and ensuring optimal visual outcomes.
Bone Lengthening Radius using Limb Reconstruction System - A Successful Treatment for Radius Shortening: A Case Report

Muhammad-Zaidulkhair MR, Tan RS, Kamarul IK

Malays Orthop J, 2024 Nov;18(3):84-87.
PMID: 39691571 DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.2411.013

Fractures of the distal radius are the most common type of forearm fractures seen in children. The most serious outcome of physeal injuries is growth arrest, which can result in deformity and even significant differences in limb length. Therefore, we'd like to share our experience with treating a patient whose left radius stopped growing after she had a physeal injury in an accident. Case presentation: we encountered a 10-year-old girl, who was involved in a road traffic accident. She sustained closed fracture distal end left radius (Salter Harris 2). She sought medical assistance late, so osteoclasis, open reduction, and a k-wire on her left radius to fix the fracture, however it was complicated with growth arrest of left radius after the bone united. It was observed that her left radius was around 4cm shorter than her right. She had an osteotomy performed on her left radius and a LRS implanted. After six months post-surgery, there was no visible shortening of her left upper limb, and the radius had grown by around 4cm. There was no neurovascular impairment after left radius lengthening. After a year had passed after her operation, the patient said she had no complaints about her left upper limb. Despite the prevalence of the ilizarov method, the monorail external fixator, also known as LRS, is an option for bone lengthening of the radius. The LRS was utilised in our situation, and the results demonstrated its usefulness.
Fulltext Determinants of treatment outcome in children with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a tertiary care hospital experience

Sarwar S, Sajid M, Mukhtar S, Ahmad R, Sarwar S, Mukhtar M, et al.

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis, 2026 Sep 07;96(3).
PMID: 40421489 DOI: 10.4081/monaldi.2025.3367

This study aimed to analyze the significant factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children under 18. This observational study was conducted at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, at the Programmatic Management Unit of the National Tuberculosis Control Program of Pakistan. The data were collected retrospectively using the Electronic Nominal Recording Reporting System records for all the eligible drug-resistant tuberculosis patients registered at the study sites between June 2014 and September 2022. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes. This study included 88 children. Of the 88 patients, 64 (72.8%) completed their treatment successfully. A total of 13 patients (14.8%) died, 2 (2.3%) had treatment failure, and 9 (10.2%) were lost to follow-up. Factors significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes included a history of use of second-line drugs and those with favorable interim treatment outcomes (negative association). The overall treatment success rate among the children was 72.8%, which can be further improved by reducing loss to follow-up and rational use of second-line drugs in treating drug-sensitive tuberculosis. This can be done by devising a careful, targeted treatment regimen and patient education.
Study on the inhibitory effects of guava leaves extract in broiler chickens experimentally challenged with Salmonella gallinarum

Muhammad F, Mohammed AR, Gulbeena S, Asfand YK, Muhammad M, Aftab S

Trop Biomed, 2026 Sep 01;43(3):304-312.
PMID: 42960649 DOI: 10.47665/tb.43.3.009

The current study aimed to explore the phytochemical composition of guava (Psidium guajava) leaves extract and to assess its antimicrobial activity. This was done by in vitro assays, such as agar well diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and in vivo antimicrobial testing in broiler chickens experimentally infected with Salmonella gallinarum (SG). Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenols, and saponins. The zone of inhibition (ZOI) of guava leaves extract against SG according to the agar well diffusion assay was concentration-dependent. MIC was found to be 6.25 mg/mL. In the case of the in vivo study, 150 day-old broiler chicks were obtained and separated into five groups (A, B, C, D, and E). Group A was the control group that was not infected. Group B (preventive) was treated with the extract on days 4, 5 and 6 and then inoculated with SG (3×108 CFU/mL) on day 7. Group C: SG was infected but untreated. On day 7, group D was inoculated with SG and once clinical symptoms were experienced, the extract of guava leaves was used on days 11, 12 and 13. On day 7, Group E was inoculated and on days 11, 12 and 13 the standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin was administered. Hematological and serum biochemical evaluations on days 7, 14, and 21 demonstrated that guava leaves extract exerted a potent antimicrobial effect against Salmonella gallinarum, with efficacy comparable to the standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin in the in vivo model. All treated groups had their severity of gross and histopathological changes reduced by guava leaves extract. It is interesting to note that the conventional antibiotic ciprofloxacin was less effective in in vitro and in vivo analyses. The conclusion was that guava leaves extract is a strong antimicrobial agent against Salmonella gallinarum in broiler chickens.
Assessing and anticipating environmental challenges in Lahore, Pakistan: future implications of air pollution on sustainable development and environmental governance

Nasar-U-Minallah M, Jabbar M, Zia S, Perveen N

Environ Monit Assess, 2024 Aug 30;196(9):865.
PMID: 39212804 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12925-3

Urban environment and air quality are changing primarily due to land use land cover (LULC) changes, economic activity, and urbanization. Air pollution has been increasingly acknowledged as a major issue for cities due to its extensive effects on health and well-being. As the second most populous city in the country, Lahore faces alarming levels of air pollutants, which induced this study to focus on the pervasive issue of air pollution in Lahore. For this, the study collected air pollutants data from the Environmental Protection Department of Punjab and analyzed them using the ARIMA model. In the research results, both the observed data and predictive models uncovered concerning trends in pollutant concentrations, ultimately portraying a concerning picture for air quality management. Carbon monoxide (CO) levels show a consistent rise, surpassing Pakistan's environmental standards by 2025. Similarly, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations escalate, exceeding prescribed standards. Ground-level ozone (O3) also demonstrates a substantial increase, surpassing standards by 2025. Both PM2.5 and PM10 exhibit marked upward trends, projected to exceed recommended limits, particularly PM10 throughout the study year. The Air Quality Index exhibits an observable upward trend, fluctuating between 70 and 442 from 2015 to 2020. Similarly, a positive correlation was found between population growth and land use conversion into residential areas. Projections suggest a continuous increase, potentially hitting a severe level of 500 during winter by 2025. These findings point to an impending air pollution crisis, demanding urgent action to address the hazardous situation in the city. The study recommends that urban air pollution should be reduced, and the negative health effects of air pollution should be minimized using vegetation barriers, screens, and greening initiatives. Strict regulations and monitoring initiatives need to be put in place in big cities to monitor pollution and vegetation.
Simulating thermal dynamics in skin tissues using finite volume method: Insights for thermal therapies

Saqib M, Hasnain S, Farman M, Hafez M, Hincal E

Sci Prog, 2026;109(4):368504261491450.
PMID: 42976247 DOI: 10.1177/00368504261491450

Accurate prediction of the temperature field in breast tissue is central to thermal diagnostics and to hyperthermia treatment planning. This study develops a two-dimensional transient bioheat model based on the Chen-Holmes equation which, unlike the classical Pennes formulation, accounts for the directional transport of heat by blood flow. The governing equation is solved using an implicit finite volume method (FVM) on a rectangular tissue domain with isothermal conditions on the left and bottom boundaries, a zero-flux condition on the right boundary, and a convective condition at the skin surface (y = H). A uniform velocity field with horizontal dominance (u > v) is introduced to represent the predominantly lateral convective transport between the chest wall and the nipple. Three blood-perfusion laws, constant, linear and non-linear, are examined to capture the temperature-dependent vascular response. To the authors' knowledge, this particular combination of a horizontally dominant convective field, temperature-dependent perfusion laws and a convective skin boundary has not previously been examined together for breast tissue. The solver is verified by a grid-convergence study and benchmarked against published numerical results, showing close agreement throughout the transient and steady states, with tissue temperatures confined to the physiological 30 to 40 °C range; no experimental or clinical validation is undertaken. The results show that higher tissue and blood thermal conductivities, together with the horizontal-dominant velocity, produce faster and more uniform heat dispersion along the x-axis; raising the convective coefficient markedly increases surface cooling; and the non-linear perfusion model delivers the strongest temperature-dependent feedback, suppressing overheating in high-temperature regions while the constant model yields the most uniform but least adaptive field. Together these features offer a physically motivated description of heat transfer in perfused breast tissue and provide a basis for further work on thermal-therapy and diagnostic applications.
Synthesis, enzyme inhibition and molecular docking studies of 1-Arylsulfonyl-4-phenylpiperazine derivatives

Abbasi MA, Anwar A, Rehman A, Siddiqui SZ, Rubab K, Shah SAA, et al.

Pak J Pharm Sci, 2017 Sep;30(5):1715-1724.
PMID: 29084694

Heterocyclic molecules have been frequently investigated to possess various biological activities during the last few decades. The present work elaborates the synthesis and enzymatic inhibition potentials of a series of sulfonamides. A series of 1-arylsulfonyl-4-Phenylpiperazine (3a-n) geared up by the reaction of 1-phenylpiperazine (1) and different (un)substituted alkyl/arylsulfonyl chlorides (2a-n), under defined pH control using water as a reaction medium. The synthesized molecules were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR and EI-MS spectral data. The enzyme inhibition study was carried on α-glucosidase, lipoxygenase (LOX), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) enzymes supported by docking simulation studies and the IC50 values rendered a few of the synthesized molecules as moderate inhibitors of these enzymes where, the compound 3e exhibited comparatively better potency against α-glucosidase enzyme. The synthesized compounds showed weak or no inhibition against LOX, AChE and BChE enzymes.
2-{[5-(Substituted-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}-N-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)acetamides: New bi-heterocycles as possible therapeutic agents

Ramzan MS, Abbasi MA, Rehman A, Siddiqui SZ, Shah SAA, Ashraf M, et al.

Pak J Pharm Sci, 2018 May;31(3(Supplementary)):1051-1059.
PMID: 29731443

An electrophile, N-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-2-bromoacetamide (3), was synthesized by the reaction of 1,3-thiazole-2-amine (1) and 2-bromoethanoyl bromide (2) in an aqueous medium. A series of carboxylic acids, 7a-j, were converted into 1,3,4-oxadiazole heterocyclic core, through a series of three steps. The final compounds, 8a-j, were synthesized by stirring 7a-j and 3 in an aprotic polar solvent. The structural elucidation of the synthesized compounds was supported by IR, EI-MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectral data. Title compounds were evaluated for enzyme inhibition against cholinesterases and α-glucosidase enzymes and their cytotoxic behavior was monitored using brine shrimp assay. The enzyme inhibitor potential of compounds was supported by molecular docking studies.
A review on geopolymers as emerging materials for the adsorption of heavy metals and dyes

Siyal AA, Shamsuddin MR, Khan MI, Rabat NE, Zulfiqar M, Man Z, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2018 Oct 15;224:327-339.
PMID: 30056352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.07.046

The world water resources are contaminated due to discharge of a large number of pollutants from industrial and domestic sources. A variety of a single and multiple units of physical, chemical, and biological processes are employed for pollutants removal from wastewater. Adsorption is the most widely utilized process due to high efficiency, simple procedure and cost effectiveness. This paper reviews the research work carried out on the use of geopolymer materials for the adsorption of heavy metals and dyes. Geopolymers possess good surface properties, heterogeneous microstructure and amorphous structure. The performance of geopolymers in the removal of heavy metals and dyes is reported comparable to other materials. The pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models mostly fit to the adsorption data suggesting homogeneous distribution of adsorption sites with the formation of monolayer adsorbate on the surface of geopolymers. Adsorption of heavy metals and dyes onto geopolymers is spontaneous, endothermic and entropy driven process. Future research should focus on the enhancement of geopolymer performance, testing on pollutants other than heavy metals and dyes, and verification on real wastewater in continuous operation.
A hybrid of Cuckoo Search and Minimization of Metabolic Adjustment to optimize metabolites production in genome-scale models

Arif MA, Mohamad MS, Abd Latif MS, Deris S, Remli MA, Mohd Daud K, et al.

Comput Biol Med, 2018 11 01;102:112-119.
PMID: 30267898 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2018.09.015

Metabolic engineering involves the modification and alteration of metabolic pathways to improve the production of desired substance. The modification can be made using in silico gene knockout simulation that is able to predict and analyse the disrupted genes which may enhance the metabolites production. Global optimization algorithms have been widely used for identifying gene knockout strategies. However, their productions were less than theoretical maximum and the algorithms are easily trapped into local optima. These algorithms also require a very large computation time to obtain acceptable results. This is due to the complexity of the metabolic models which are high dimensional and contain thousands of reactions. In this paper, a hybrid algorithm of Cuckoo Search and Minimization of Metabolic Adjustment is proposed to overcome the aforementioned problems. The hybrid algorithm searches for the near-optimal set of gene knockouts that leads to the overproduction of metabolites. Computational experiments on two sets of genome-scale metabolic models demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is better than the previous works in terms of growth rate, Biomass Product Couple Yield, and computation time.
A novel five-step synthetic route to 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives with potent α-glucosidase inhibitory potential and their in silico studies

Iftikhar M, Shahnawaz, Saleem M, Riaz N, Aziz-Ur-Rehman, Ahmed I, et al.

Arch Pharm (Weinheim), 2019 Dec;352(12):e1900095.
PMID: 31544284 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.201900095

A series of new N-aryl/aralkyl derivatives of 2-methyl-2-{5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2ylthiol}acetamide were synthesized by successive conversions of 4-chlorobenzoic acid (a) into ethyl 4-chlorobenzoate (1), 4-chlorobenzoylhydrazide (2) and 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol (3), respectively. The required array of compounds (6a-n) was obtained by the reaction of 1,3,4-oxadiazole (3) with various electrophiles (5a-n) in the presence of DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide) and sodium hydroxide at room temperature. The structural determination of these compounds was done by infrared, 1 H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), 13 C-NMR, electron ionization mass spectrometry, and high-resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry analyses. All compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. Compounds 6a, 6c-e, 6g, and 6i were found to be promising inhibitors of α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 81.72 ± 1.18, 52.73 ± 1.16, 62.62 ± 1.15, 56.34 ± 1.17, 86.35 ± 1.17, 52.63 ± 1.16 µM, respectively. Molecular modeling and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) predictions supported the findings. The current synthesized library of compounds was achieved by utilizing very common raw materials in such a way that the synthesized compounds may prove to be promising drug leads.
Knowledge and Attitudes of Maintaining Bone Health among Post-Menopausal Women in Malaysia

Mohd Hatta NNKN, Nurumal MS, Isa MLM, Daud A, Ibrahim M, Sharifudin MA, et al.

Cent Asian J Glob Health, 2019;8(1):348.
PMID: 32002313 DOI: 10.5195/cajgh.2019.348

Introduction: Public awareness of osteoporosis is low among women in the developing countries. Health education was shown to be effective in improving knowledge and awareness on maintaining bone health. This study aims to identify the level of knowledge and attitudes among post-menopausal women in Malaysia on achieving bone health throughout the menopausal transition period.
Methods: A total of 116 post-menopausal female patients of orthopedic menopause clinic were recruited using a purposive sampling approach. Data on osteoporosis awareness and knowledge were collected using validated structured questionnaires Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Tool and Osteoporosis Attitude Knowledge Test. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between post-menopausal women's socio-demographic characteristics and their knowledge and attitude towards maintaining bone health.
Results: Participants' age ranged between 49 and 82 years (61.84, SD=7.87). The knowledge of osteoporosis varied significantly by age (p=0.014) and education (p=0.001) among the studied population. No significant diffrences were found for participants' attitude towards bone health.
Conclusion: This study showed that the age and education levels have significantly different knowledge of bone health.
α-Glucosidase inhibitory potential and hemolytic evaluation of newly synthesized 3,4,5-trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazole derivatives

Nafeesa K, Aziz-Ur-Rehman -, Abbasi MA, Siddiqui SZ, Rasool S, Ali Shah SA, et al.

Pak J Pharm Sci, 2019 Nov;32(6):2651-2658.
PMID: 31969298

A series of 1, 2, 4-triazole derivatives bearing piperidine moiety has been introduced as new anti-diabetic drug candidates with least cytotoxicity. p-Chlorophenylsulfonyl chloride (1) and ethyl nipecotate (2) were the starting reagents that resulted into corresponding 3,4,5-trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazole (6) through a series of steps. A series of electrophiles, 9a-e, were synthesized by reacting 4-bromobutyryl chloride (7) with differently substituted aromatic amines (8a-e) under basic aqueous medium. Target derivatives, 10a-e, were synthesized by the reaction of compound 6 with N-aryl-4-bromobutanamides (9a-e) in an aprotic solvent. Structures of all the derivatives were verified by spectroscopic analysis using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and EIMS. Most of the derivatives revealed moderate to good α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with reference to acarbose. The moderate hemolytic potential demonstrated least toxicity.

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