Comprehensive bioinformatics-based annotation and functional characterization of bovine chymosin protein revealed novel biological insights.

Chymosin, an aspartic protease present in the stomachs of young ruminants like cows (bovine), causes milk coagulation and cheese production through the breakdown of κ-casein peptide bonds at the Met105-Phe106 site. Bovine chymosin is first synthesized as a pre-prochymosin that is cleaved to produce the mature chymosin protein. Despite significant strides in research, our understanding of this crucial enzyme remains incomplete. The purpose of this work was to perform in silico evolutionary and functional analysis and to gain unique insights into the structure of this protein. For this, the sequence of Bos taurus chymosin from UniProt database was subjected to various bioinformatics analyses. We found that bovine chymosin is a low molecular weight and hydrophilic protein that has homologs in other Bovidae species. Two active sites of aspartic peptidases, along with a functional domain, were identified. Gene Ontology analysis further confirmed chymosin's involvement in proteolysis and aspartic endopeptidase activity. Potential disordered residues and post-translational modification sites were also uncovered. It was revealed that the secondary structure of bovine chymosin is comprised of beta strands (44.27%), coils (43.65%), and alpha helices (12.07%). A highly optimized 3D structure was also obtained. Moreover, crucial protein-protein interactions were unveiled. Altogether, these findings provide valuable insights that could guide future research on bovine chymosin and its biological roles.

Evaluation Of Normal Diameter Of Infra-Renal Aorta In A Pakistani Population Using Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: It is a common observation that the aortic size of Pakistani population is relatively less as compared to western population. Till now there is no study which has measured the dimensions of abdominal aorta in local population.The standard diameter of an artery across the body is critical for clinicians to recognize when an artery has become aneurysmal. This study aims to present the results of a local population's normal diameter of an infrarenal aorta and how it varies by age, gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA). METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Vascular Surgery Department, at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Peshawar, from July 2020 to November 2021.Participants in the study included all patients who underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen for any reason other than cardiovascular disease.The infrarenal abdominal aorta's mean internal diameter (anteroposterior and transverse diameter) was assessed. SPSS v 23 was used to analyze the data and present it as frequency and percentages. The Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the correlation between aortic diameters, weight, height, BMI, and BSA. RESULTS: Recruitment of a total of 250 patients was done in this study. Males were 194 (77.6%), while the rest were female patients. The patients' mean age was 39.6±12.8 years. The mean anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the infrarenal aorta was 16.13±2.32 mm. The mean transverse diameter (TD) was 15.96±2.34 mm. The infrarenal diameter of the aorta was smaller in women when compared to men, and the calibre of the aorta increased with the increasing age of the patients. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between their age and the average diameter of the infrarenal aorta (p<0.001) among both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and vascular surgeons will benefit from the findings in diagnosing and treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Hence, thoughtful consideration should be made before formulating intervention protocols.

Comparison of delta-tocotrienol and alpha-tocopherol effects on hepatic steatosis and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized double-blind active-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the efficacy of δ-tocotrienol with α-tocopherol in the treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS: This study was a double-blinded, active-controlled trial. The patients with NAFLD were randomly assigned to receive either δ-tocotrienol 300 mg or α-tocopherol 268 mg twice daily for 48 weeks. ENDPOINTS: The primary endpoints were change from baseline in fatty liver index (FLI), liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio (L/S ratio), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) at 48 weeks. Key secondary endpoints were change in markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and hepatocyte apoptosis. Clinical assessment, biochemical analysis, and computed tomography scan of the liver were conducted at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients (δ-tocotrienol = 50, α-tocopherol = 50) were randomized and included in the intention to treat analysis. Compared with baseline, there was a significant improvement (p < .001) in FLI, L/S ratio, HOMA-IR, and serum malondialdehyde in both groups at 48 weeks that was not significant between the two groups. However, there was a significantly greater decrease in body weight, serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, leptin, cytokeratin-18, and increase in adiponectin in the δ-tocotrienol group compared to the α-tocopherol group at 48 weeks (p < .05). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: δ-tocotrienol and α-tocopherol exerted equally beneficial effects in terms of improvement in hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD. However, δ-tocotrienol was more potent than α-tocopherol in reducing body weight, inflammation, and apoptosis associated with NAFLD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Sri Lankan Clinical Trials Registry (https://slctr.lk/SLCTR/2019/038).

Chest CT Severity Score as an Auxiliary Grading Tool to COVID-19 Pneumonia Imaging Classification: A Tertiary Care Experience in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE:   To identify utility of chest computed tomography severity score (CT-SS) as an additional tool to COVID-19 pneumonia imaging classification in assessing severity of COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive analytical study Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Radiology and Imaging, (AFIRI) Rawalpindi, from April 2020 to June 2020. METHODOLOGY: Five hundred suspected COVID-19 cases referred for high resolution computed tomography - chest were included in the study. Cases were categorised by radiological findings using COVID-19 pneumonia imaging classification, proposed in the radiological society of North America expert consensus statement on reporting chest CT findings related to COVID-19. CT-SS was calculated for all scans. Patients were clinically classified according to disease severity as per 'Diagnosis And Treatment Program of Pneumonia of New Coronavirus Infection' recommended by China's National Health Commission. The relationships between radiological findings, CT-SS, and clinical severity were explored. RESULTS: Based on the radiological findings, 298 cases were graded as typical, 34 as indeterminate, 15 as atypical, and 153 as negative for pneumonia. The apical and posterior basal segments of lower lobes were most commonly involved. The CT-SS showed higher values in patients of severe group as compared to those in moderate group (p < 0.05). CT-SS threshold for recognising severe COVID-19 was 18.5 (area under curve, 0.960), with 84.3% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity. CONCLUSION: In coherence with COVID-19 pneumonia imaging classification, CT-SS may provide a comprehensive and objective assessment of COVID-19 severity. Key Words: COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia, CT-SS, High resolution computed tomography.

Impact Of Lady Health Workers On The Contraceptive Prevalence Rate In District Mardan.

BACKGROUND: Pakistan being the 6th populous country with a population of 207,774,520, and a growth rate of 2.6%, if left unchecked can reach 335 million by 2050. The total demand of family planning in Pakistan is 55% while the contraceptive prevalence rate is 35% with an unmet need for family planning is 20%. METHODS: The contraceptive prevalence rate and frequently used contraceptive method in an area with Lady Health Worker services versus an area without Lady Health Worker services of union council Pat Baba were compared over a period of 6 months. 322 households were selected, 161 from LHW covered and 161 from LHW uncovered area of union council Pat Baba District Mardan. RESULTS: The knowledge of contraceptive methods was 98.1% in the women of covered area and this knowledge was 90.1% in the uncovered area in union council Pat Baba. The source of information for the women in the covered area was mostly LHWs 87% and in uncovered area 25.5% of the women were informed by the LHWs, followed by elderly family members 7.5% in the covered, and 37.9% of the women in uncovered area. The contraceptive prevalence rate was 59% in covered areas and in uncovered areas it was 51.6%. The most frequently used contraceptive method in covered area was condom 16.8% and in the uncovered area it was withdrawal method 26.1%. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between the LHWs presence on knowledge scores and contraceptive prevalence rate.

Molecular characterisation of Bacillus chitinase for bioconversion of chitin waste.

In this work chitin was extracted chemically from shrimp shells. Seventeen Bacillus isolates were screened for chitinolytic activity. The chitinolytic strains of Bt. were screened at different temperatures and pHs for their hydrolytic potentials. By using a pair of specific primers, endochitinase gene was amplified from SBS Bt-5 strain through PCR, and then cloned into pTZ57 TA cloning vector and transferred in Escherichia coli DH5α strain. The sequenced gene (GenBank Accession No: HE995800) consists of 2031 nucleotides capable of encoding 676 residues. The protein consisted of three functional domains with a calculated molecular mass of 74.53 kDa and a pI value of 5.83. The amino acid sequence of chi gene showed 99% similarity to the genes of Bt MR11 endochitinase, Bt serovar kurstaki chitinase (kchi), Bt strain MR21 endochitinase and Bacillus cereus B4264.

A cross-sectional case control study on genetic damage in individuals residing in the vicinity of a mobile phone base station.

Mobile phone base stations facilitate good communication, but the continuously emitting radiations from these stations have raised health concerns. Hence in this study, genetic damage using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was assessed in peripheral blood leukocytes of individuals residing in the vicinity of a mobile phone base station and comparing it to that in healthy controls. The power density in the area within 300 m from the base station exceeded the permissive limits and was significantly (p = 0.000) higher compared to the area from where control samples were collected. The study participants comprised 63 persons with residences near a mobile phone tower, and 28 healthy controls matched for gender, age, alcohol drinking and occupational sub-groups. Genetic damage parameters of DNA migration length, damage frequency (DF) and damage index were significantly (p = 0.000) elevated in the sample group compared to respective values in healthy controls. The female residents (n = 25) of the sample group had significantly (p = 0.004) elevated DF than the male residents (n = 38). The linear regression analysis further revealed daily mobile phone usage, location of residence and power density as significant predictors of genetic damage. The genetic damage evident in the participants of this study needs to be addressed against future disease-risk, which in addition to neurodegenerative disorders, may lead to cancer.