Aconitum lycoctonum L. (Ranunculaceae) mediated biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles as potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antidiabetic agents.

In this study, a polar extract of Aconitum lycoctonum L. was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), followed by their characterization using different techniques and evaluation of their potential as antioxidants, amylase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The formation of AgNPs was detected by a color change, from transparent to dark brown, within 15 min and a surface resonance peak at 460 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. The FTIR spectra confirmed the involvement of various biomolecules in the synthesis of AgNPs. The average diameter of these spherical AgNPs was 67 nm, as shown by the scanning electron micrograph. The inhibition zones showed that the synthesized nanoparticles inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and negative bacteria. FRAP and DPPH assays were used to demonstrate the antioxidant potential of AgNPs. The highest value of FRAP (50.47% AAE/mL) was detected at a concentration of 90 ppm and a DPPH scavenging activity of 69.63% GAE was detected at a concentration of 20 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs. 500 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs were quite efficient in causing 91.78% denaturation of ovalbumin. The AgNPs mediated by A. lycoctonum also showed an inhibitory effect on α-amylase. Therefore, AgNPs synthesized from A. lycoctonum may serve as potential candidates for antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agents.

Genetic Characterization of Advance Bread Wheat Lines for Yield and Stripe Rust Resistance.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a prominent grain crop. The goal of the current experiment was to examine the genetic potential of advanced bread wheat genotypes for yield and stripe rust resistance. Ninety-three bread wheat genotypes including three varieties (Kohat-2017, Pakistan-2013, and Morocco) were field tested in augmented design as observational nurseries at three locations (i.e., Kohat, Nowshera, and Peshawar) during the 2018-19 crop season. Various parameters related to yield and stripe rust resistance showed significant differences among genotypes for most of the characters with few exceptions. The analysis of variance revealed significant variations for all the genotypes for all the traits at all three sites with few exceptions where nonsignificant differences were noticed among genotypes. Averaged over three locations, genotypes exhibiting maximum desirable values for yield and yield components were KT-86 (325 tillers) for tillers m-2, KT-50 (2.86 g) for grain weight spike-1, KT-49 (41.6 g) for 1000-grain weight, KT-50 (74 grains) for grains spikes-1, KT-55 (4.76 g) for spike weight, and KT-36 and KT-072 (4586 kg ha-1) for grain yield. Correlation analysis revealed that grain yield had a significant positive correlation with grain spike-1 and grain weight spike-1 at Kohat, with grains spike-1, tillers m-2, and grain weight spike-1 at Nowshera, and with plant height, spike weight, 1000-grain weight, and tillers m-2 at Peshawar. Molecular marker data and host response in the field at the adult stage revealed that Yr15 and Yr10 are both still effective in providing adequate resistance to wheat against prevalent races of stripe rust. Four lines showing desirable lower average coefficient of infection (ACI) values without carrying Yr15 and Yr10 genes show the presence of unique/new resistance gene(s) in the genetic composition of these four lines. Genotype KT-072 (4586 kg ha-1 and 1.3 ACI), KT-07 (4416 kg ha-1 and 4.3 ACI), KT-10 (4346 kg ha-1 and 1.0 ACI), and KT-62 (4338 kg ha-1 and 2.7 ACI) showed maximum values for grain yield and low desirable ACI values, and these lines could be recommended for general cultivation after procedural requirements of variety release.

Yield and Safety Profile of Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of Lymph Nodes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the re-biopsy rate, positive yield and safety profile of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in cervical lymph nodes in terms of its complications and repeat procedures. STUDY DESIGN: An analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Dow University Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from June to December 2013. METHODOLOGY: Eighty neck swellings, which were found to be lymph nodes on ultrasound, underwent ultrasound guided FNAC, from outpatients. Lymph nodes which were included in the study were those that were not easily palpable, located near major blood vessels, where patient refused of direct palpation and wanted image guided FNAC, those directly sent by physician for image guided FNAC and where blind biopsy remained inconclusive. Patients who refused on explanation or did not give consent were excluded. Complications and repeat biopsy were noted. RESULTS: This study consisted of 80 cases, of which 51 cases (63.75%) were female and 29 cases (36.25%) were male. Repeat biopsy was required in 1 case (1.6%). There were no procedure-related complications. Atotal of 44 cases (55%) revealed evidence suggesting or confirming the existence of tuberculosis. Rest of the others showed other benign lesions, reactive lymphadenopathy and malignancy. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound guided FNAC is a safe procedure with low re-biopsy rate that aids diagnosis. The predominant cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in this study was tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Age and site of Colonic Neoplastic Lesions: Implications of screening in South Asia.

UNLABELLED: Objective : To evaluate the Age of patients and the site of Colonic Neoplastic Lesions (CNL) and to determine the appropriate screening strategy for Colorectal Carcinoma (CRC) (sigmoidoscopy versus colonoscopy) in our population. Methods : This is a cross sectional study. Data of all patients more than 16 years of age who underwent full colonoscopic examination at the Aga Khan University hospital between January 2011 till December 2013 and were diagnosed to have CRC or advanced adenomas (defined as polyp more than 1 cm and/or having villous morphology on histology) was recorded. Lesions found distal to the splenic flexure were characterized as distal lesions and while lesions found between the splenic flexure and the cecum were characterized as proximal lesions. RESULTS: During the study period colonic neoplastic lesions were found in 217 patients; 186 (85.7%) patients had CRC and 31(14.3%) patients had advanced adenomatous polyps. Mean age was 55.8±14 years and amongst them 72 (33.2%) patients were less than 50 years of age while 145 (66.8%) were more than 50 years. In 144 (66.4%) patients lesions were located in the distal colon, 65 (30%) had lesions in the proximal colon while in 8 (3.7%) patients the neoplastic lesions were found both in the proximal and distal colon. The predominant symptoms were bleeding per rectum in 39.6% of patients followed by weight loss in 31.8% of patients. Only 3 patients had familial syndromes with multiple polyps. When patients younger than 50 years of age were compared with patients more than 50 years there was no statistically significant difference between the site of neoplastic lesion as well as the presenting symptoms. (p value 0.85). CONCLUSION: Colonic Neoplastic Lesions presented at younger age in our study population and one third of the lesions were found in the right sided colon. Hence screening for CNLs should be implied at an earlier age preferably with colonoscopy. More population based data is required to further validate our results.

Mediastinal enteric cyst.

A 20-year-old female presented with complaints of right-sided chest pain, cough, fever and shortness of breath for the preceding one-and-a-half year. Air entry was decreased over the middle and lower chest. Computed tomography scan of the chest revealed a cystic lesion with thick margins present in the right hemi-thorax. The cyst was excised by posterolateral thoracotomy. Histopathology revealed it to be mediastinal enteric cyst with intestinal and pancreatic tissue.