Published Article (Research)

Influence of open-top chambers induced climate warming on secondary metabolic profile of culturally and medicinally important plants of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush

2025-09-25T04:59:45Z

Influence of open-top chambers induced climate warming on secondary metabolic profile of culturally and medicinally important plants of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush Saira Karimi, Muhammad Ali Nawaz, Saadia Naseem, Zahid Ali Plants native to colder climates, higher elevations, or semi-arid regions have more phenolic compounds in their organs. Faced with the current climate crisis, the effects of global heating with overgrazing pressure on natural pastures are not fully recognized in the Himalaya-Karakoram and Hindukush (HKH) region. The objective of this research was to investigate how biological active compound accumulation and concentration of high-elevation plants change under the influence of simulated climate warming which was induced by open-top chambers. The bioactive profiling plant species from experimental units were investigated through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and compared with control. That revealed a significant increase in the major phenolic acid and flavonoid compounds (Rutin, Quercetin, Myricetin, Gallic Acid, and Kaempferol). The accumulation of other minor compounds, such as Vanillic Acid, Syringic Acid, Ferulic Acid, and Catechin, showed species-specific variation in concentration. The species-specific responses indicated the dominant and positive adaptation species such as P. macrophylla, A. rupestris, A. penduncularis, P. hololeuca, P. alpina, and under stress could accumulate more secondary metabolites, explaining their capacity for adaptation. These species’ proliferation under a stressed climate and higher elevation with grazing pressure provides insightful information about their exploitation of phenolic compounds which may alter the environmental sustainability. Research Assistant Saira Karimi Research Cell

Heamatological and biochemical parameters with different serological status in dengue patients.

2026-01-01T04:29:08Z

Heamatological and biochemical parameters with different serological status in dengue patients. Huma Amin, Shameela Majeed, Wafa Omer, Shumaila Najeeb, Nadia Wali, Fatima tuz Zuhra Objective: To compare the hematological and biochemical parameters of dengue patients within different serological markers. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Carried out in a Tertiary Care Hospital at Rawalpindi. Period: August 2023 to December 2023. Methods: Of 250 seropositive dengue cases Hematological analysis was done by Mindray 3000 plus. For biochemical analysis Beckman &coulter, AU480 was used. Subjects were distributed into seven serogroups (NS1 positive, NS1+IgG, NS1+IgM positive, IgM positive, IgG positive, IgG+IgM, NS1, IgM+IgG and triple positive). Results were analyzed using SPSS software, ANOVA test was used, and means were compared in different groups. P value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: A total of 178 (71%) among study group were male. Mean age was found to be 37±13.8 years. NS1 antigen either in isolation or in combination was positive in 80%of patient at the time of presentation. The most affected parameters among the whole study cohort were low mean platelet count (81.90±49.2) and higher mean value of ALT (92.81±75.07). The mean value of haematological and biochemical parameters were studied in different serological groups. No significant difference of mean haemoglobin and platelet was observed in between different serological groups however Mean TLC differ significantly within these subgroups (p value = <0.05). The Mean values of various biochemical parameters did not exhibit any significant difference within the different serological groups. Conclusion:Dengue is more prevalent in young population and in males. Thrombocytopenia and elevated ALT levels were most common laboratory finding observed in these patients. NS1 was the most frequent marker at the time of presentation. Only Mean TLC (p value = <0.05) was observed to be significantly different in between different serological groups. Senior Prof Dr Wafa Omer Director Research Pathology BUCM

Heamatological and biochemical parameters with different serological status in dengue patients.

2026-01-13T05:24:54Z

Heamatological and biochemical parameters with different serological status in dengue patients. Huma Amin, Shameela Majeed, Wafa Omer, Shumaila Najeeb, Nadia Wali, Fatima tuz Zuhra Objective: To compare the hematological and biochemical parameters of dengue patients within different serological markers. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Carried out in a Tertiary Care Hospital at Rawalpindi. Period: August 2023 to December 2023. Methods: Of 250 seropositive dengue cases Hematological analysis was done by Mindray 3000 plus. For biochemical analysis Beckman &coulter, AU480 was used. Subjects were distributed into seven serogroups (NS1 positive, NS1+IgG, NS1+IgM positive, IgM positive, IgG positive, IgG+IgM, NS1, IgM+IgG and triple positive). Results were analyzed using SPSS software, ANOVA test was used, and means were compared in different groups. P value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: A total of 178 (71%) among study group were male. Mean age was found to be 37±13.8 years. NS1 antigen either in isolation or in combination was positive in 80%of patient at the time of presentation. The most affected parameters among the whole study cohort were low mean platelet count (81.90±49.2) and higher mean value of ALT (92.81±75.07). The mean value of haematological and biochemical parameters were studied in different serological groups. No significant difference of mean haemoglobin and platelet was observed in between different serological groups however Mean TLC differ significantly within these subgroups (p value = <0.05). The Mean values of various biochemical parameters did not exhibit any significant difference within the different serological groups. Conclusion: Dengue is more prevalent in young population and in males. Thrombocytopenia and elevated ALT levels were most common laboratory finding observed in these patients. NS1 was the most frequent marker at the time of presentation. Only Mean TLC (p value = <0.05) was observed to be significantly different in between different serological groups. Senior Prof Dr Wafa Omer Director Research Pathology BUCM

Investigating the pathogenic potential of PKC-eta UTR variants in cancer progression

2026-01-05T05:00:25Z

Investigating the pathogenic potential of PKC-eta UTR variants in cancer progression Tayyaba Hussain, Yasmin Badshah, Maria Shabbir, Fizzah Abid , Dilawar Khan, Janeen H. Trembley, Tayyaba Afsar, Ali Almajwal, Suhail Razak A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is a naturally occurring variation in genomic DNA. Untranslated regions (UTRs) are involved in the regulatory pathways of cells that influence transcriptional and translational mechanisms. PRKCH belongs to the Protein Kinase C (PKC) family, which regulates crucial cellular processes. Limited studies have explored the regulatory and functional impact of UTR variants of PRKCH through in silico and genotyping analysis.,which was the focus of the current study. Pathogenic potential of UTR variants was critically analyzed. Meanwhile, among the 3′UTR variants, the only variant rs14095 (A/G) was ranked as 1f by RegulomeDB and showed a allelic frequency in African populations. This variant also interacted with miRNA “hsa-miR-6074”, which has been reported to regulate “TRP channels” through the KEGG pathway. The 5′UTR variants, including rs114416617 G/A, rs145795985 G/A, rs1951964 C/G, and rs45582331 C/G showed allelic frequency in different populations along with their expression in various organs. Motifs were detected in these 4 variants of 5′UTR region. These variants exhibited a strong chromatin profile. hsa-miR-6074 was reported to regulate p53 signaling, melanoma, FoxO signaling, glioma, MAPK, IL-17, PD-L1, HIF1A, TRAF6, PTEN, carbon metabolism, autophagy, and cellular senescence related pathways. According to genotyping analysis, the mutated genotype (GG) of the 3′ UTR variant rs14095 was significantly associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) risk. In comparison, for the 5′ UTR variant, rs44582331, no significant association was observed between the mutated genotype (TT) and HCC. Furthermore, functional assays need to be carried out to experimentally validate the role of these UTR variants in cancer pathogenesis. Dr. Fizzah Abid IPFP Fellow Research Cell, BUCM