Explore the vast range of titles available.

Targeting the serine biosynthesis pathway enzymes has turned up as a novel strategy for anti-cancer therapeutics. 3- Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 3-Phosphoglyceric acid (3-PG) into 3-Phosphohydroxy pyruvate (3-PPyr) in the first step of serine synthesis pathway and perform a critical role in cancer progression. PHGDH has been reported to be overexpressed in different types of cancers and emerged as a novel target for cancer therapeutics. During this study, virtual screening tools were used for the identification of inhibitors of PHGDH. A library of phenolic compounds was docked against two binding sites of PHGDH using Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) software. Out of 169 virtually tested compounds, Salvianolic acid C and Schizotenuin F possess good binding potential to co-factor binding site of PHGDH while Salvianolic acid I and Chicoric acid were identified as the best binding compounds toward the substrate binding site of PHGDH. The top selected compounds were evaluated for different physiochemical and ADMET properties, the obtained results showed that none of these hit compounds violated the Pfizer Rule and they possess acceptable ADMET profiles. Further, a commercially available hit compound, Chicoric acid, was evaluated for its anti-cancer potential against PHGDH-expressing gastric cancer cell lines (MGC-803 and SGC-7901) as well as cell lines with low expression of PHGDH (MCF-7 and MDA-MB2-31), which demonstrated that Chicoric acid possesses selective cytotoxicity toward PHGDH expressing cancer cell lines. Thus, this study has unveiled the potential of phenolic compounds, which could serve as novel candidates for the development of PHGDH inhibitors as anti-cancer agents.

For liquid crystal display‐based devices, the memory sub‐system and backlight consume a notable amount of energy, posing a critical concern, especially for portable devices. This work introduces an integrated display system (IDS) aimed at combining technologies for energy‐efficient memory usage and backlight power optimization, which have been addressed independently until now in the existing literature. Two modifications of approximated memory are proposed to find an optimal scheme for energy‐efficient memory usage as part of the proposed IDS schemes. Additionally, three distinct IDS schemes are proposed and compared to identify an optimum solution, ensuring energy efficiency maximization while maintaining image quality for each image. Experimental results demonstrate that 42.19% of energy consumption in memory access and 37.57% of the backlight power consumption can be reduced, while maintaining the image quality in terms of two different metrics. This work proposes an integrated display system to simultaneously reduce energy consumption in memory usage and backlight of display devices, which are addressed independently in the existing literature. The proposed scheme can process images adaptively to reduce energy consumption while maintaining image quality.

Background and Aims Self‐medication, while convenient for managing minor illnesses, poses significant public health risks when practiced without adequate knowledge or oversight. In Bangladesh, especially in urban areas, self‐medication is common, driven by inadequate regulation and low public awareness. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of self‐medication among adults in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods A cross‐sectional descriptive study was conducted from January to December 2023 in Badda, Dhaka. A total of 361 adults who attempted to purchase medications without a prescription were interviewed using a semi‐structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi‐square tests were applied to examine associations. Results Among 361 participants, 330 (91.4%, 95% CI: 88.1–94.0) reported illness in the previous 3 months, and 198 (60.0%, 95% CI: 54.6–65.1) of these self‐medicated. The most common ailments treated were cough (86; 43.4%), headache (72; 36.4%), and acidity (40; 20.2%). Frequently used medicines included analgesics (96; 48.5%), anti‐ulcer agents (65; 32.8%), and antibiotics (55; 27.8%). While 128 (64.8%) reported having knowledge of the medicines they used, many altered dosages (147;40.7%) or discontinued treatment prematurely (165;45.7%). Among self‐medicators, 82 (41.3%) experienced side effects. Of those who self‐medicated with antibiotics, 53 (26.8%) discontinued treatment early. Conclusion Despite widespread awareness of its risks, self‐medication remains common and often unsafe among urban adults in Dhaka. Strengthening public education, enforcing regulations, and improving access to affordable healthcare are essential to promote safer self‐care practices.

Ensuring the quality of fresh-cut vegetables is the greatest challenge for the food industry and is equally as important to consumers (and their health). Several investigations have proven the necessity of advanced technology for detecting foreign materials (FMs) in fresh-cut vegetables. In this study, the possibility of using near infrared spectral analysis as a potential technique was investigated to identify various types of FMs in seven common fresh-cut vegetables by selecting important wavebands. Various waveband selection methods, such as the weighted regression coefficient (WRC), variable importance in projection (VIP), sequential feature selection (SFS), successive projection algorithm (SPA), and interval PLS (iPLS), were used to investigate the optimal multispectral wavebands to classify the FMs and vegetables. The application of selected wavebands was further tested using NIR imaging, and the results showed good potentiality by identifying 99 out of 107 FMs. The results indicate the high applicability of the multispectral NIR imaging technique to detect FMs in fresh-cut vegetables for industrial application.

Chitin is the most versatile and promising biomaterial after cellulose which can primarily be isolated from crustacean exoskeleton. It has great economic values because of their excellent chemical and biological properties, and their biomedical and industrial applications. This research work aims to report the yield and quality of chitin which has been isolated from crustacean’s waste of shellfish industry of Pakistan using chemical method alternating sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The physicochemical properties of chitin extracted from shrimps were compared with commercial standard chitin (C9213) procured from Sigma-Aldrich. The yield obtained of isolated chitin was 23.78% with ash and moisture contents of 0.05% and 6.3% respectively. A low percentage of moisture and ash contents in isolated chitin indicate the efficiency of the extraction protocol employed. This shrimp's chitin compares with standard chitin using FTIR spectroscopy, proton solid-state NMR (1HSSNMR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal behavior of chitin (both standard and samples) was checked with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both standard and extracted samples of chitins exhibited similar physicochemical and structural properties. The biological behavior of samples was also checked with different biological activities, which showed much dependence on the structure and concentration of samples.

Trace-element or heavy-metal pollution has emerged as a serious concern in terms of both environmental and human health issues. This study measured six trace and toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in four marine fish and shrimp species to assess their accumulation levels and evaluate the risks to human health. The mean concentrations of the metals in fish and shrimp species (Labeo bata, Sillaginopsis panijus, Platycepalus fuscus, and Penaeus monodon) followed the decreasing order of Zn (40.8 ± 9.7 μg/g) > Cu (17.8 ± 7.1 μg/g) > Pb (6.2 ± 1.8 μg/g) > Ni (0.4 ± 0.3 μg/g) > Cd (0.06 ± 0.02 μg/g > Cr (below detection level). Among the metals, only Pb in finfish and Pb, Cu, and Zn in shrimp samples exceeded the national recommended limits, representing possible risks to consumers. The mean metal concentrations in the studied fish/shrimp species followed the descending order of P. monodon > S. panijus > P. fuscus > L. bata, which implies that bottom dwellers and omnivores had higher levels of metals. However, the estimated daily intake (EDI) concentrations of Zn and Cu for the studied species were lower than the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). In addition, the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI or TTHQ) values for all species were < 1, indicating that consumers might not experience carcinogenic health risks. A strong significant (p < 0.05) correlation between Cu and Pb (r = 0.623) and Zn and Cu (r = −0.871) indicated they were from the same source of origin. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated possible anthropogenic sources of toxic metals in the study area, specifically industrial wastes and agricultural chemicals.

Shrimp is one of the major export products in South Asian countries and also an eminent source of nutrition for humans. Hence, any negative effect of this industry may affect not only the country’s economy but also human health. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess heavy metal contamination and associated human health risks in cultured shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and aquaculture sludge collected from three shrimp farms of the Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh. The results showed that among the eight metals studied, Pb (17.75 ± 1.5 mg/kg) and Cu (9.43 ± 2.8 mg/kg) levels in all shrimp samples were higher than the recommended limit, whereas the concentrations of Cd (0.09 ± 0.03 mg/kg), Mn (4.83 ± 2.2 mg/kg), As (0.04 ± 0.02 mg/kg), Hg (0.02 ± 0.006 mg/kg), Zn (18.89 ± 2.9 mg/kg) and Cr (0.69 ± 0.6 mg/kg) were within the permissible level. The concentrations of Mn (1043.37 ± 59.8 mg/kg), Cr (30.38 ± 2.1 mg/kg), Zn (74.72 ± 1.13 mg/kg) and Cu (31.14 ± 1.4 mg/kg) in the sludge of all farms were higher than the recommended limit, whereas the concentrations of Pb (20.23 ± 1.9 mg/kg), Cd (0.09 ± 0.2 mg/kg), As (0.44 ± 0.34 mg/kg) and Hg (0.08 ± 0.02 mg/kg) in all sludge samples were lower than the threshold limits. However, the estimated daily intake (EDI), targeted hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) assessed for potential human health risk implications suggested that Pb and Cr may pose non-carcinogenic health effects, although carcinogenic risks (CR) values were acceptable for consumers. However, the pollution load index (PLI) of the studied area was below 1, which indicates low deterioration of the area. Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and contamination factor (CF) analyses revealed that study area is unpolluted and sludge is enriched with metals in the following order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd > Hg > Pb > As.

BACKGROUND/AIMSMalarial infection, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by female Anopheles mosquito, is still a serious public health concern, especially in endemic areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Pakistan. The study aims to investigate the frequency of malarial infection in district Faisalabad.MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted across the district Faisalabad to study the frequency of malarial infection. Blood samples were collected from 1460 suspected malaria cases between May 2023 and April 2024 at various government sector hospitals across the six administrative units (tehsil) of district, Faisalabad. For the purpose of the diagnosis of malarial patients, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods were employed.RESULTSRDTs detected 649 (44.4%) positive cases, while microscopy and PCR detected 452 (30.6%) and 459 (31.4%) cases, respectively. Among Plasmodium species, P. vivax was the most frequently detected, followed by P. falciparum and mixed infections. Significant differences were observed in diagnostic outcomes across the three methods. Notably, 55 RDT-positive cases were found to be negative by both microscopy and PCR, indicating potential false positives due to antigen persistence. The highest positivity rate was observed in the 1-15 years age group among males as well as in the months of June and July. These findings highlight the need for confirmatory diagnostics alongside RDTs to improve accuracy and support malaria surveillance and control efforts in endemic regions. Positivity rates varied across municipalities, with Faisalabad city showing the highest burden.CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that while RDTs offer rapid malaria detection, they are prone to false positives due to persistent parasite antigens, especially in mixed infections. PCR and microscopy provided more accurate results and revealed significant differences in diagnostic outcomes. Moreover, the study highlights a significant frequency of malaria in district Faisalabad, with P. vivax being the dominant species. The data indicate higher susceptibility among males and children aged 1-15 years, particularly during the peak months of June and July. These findings highlight the need for confirmatory diagnostics to accompany further investigations. RDTs to improve accuracy and support malaria surveillance and control efforts in endemic regions.

Streblus asper (Moraceae) is traditionally used for neurological and febrile disorders, but its pharmacological basis remains unclear. This study evaluated the S. asper leaf methanolic extract (SAL‐ME) for anxiolytic, antidepressant, sedative, and antipyretic activities using Swiss albino mice and in silico docking analyses. Behavioral assays included the elevated plus maze, hole‐board, forced swim, tail suspension, hole cross, and open field tests, while brewer’s yeast‐induced pyrexia was used to assess antipyretic activity. SAL‐ME (200 and 400 mg/kg) produced dose‐dependent effects, significantly reducing immobility time ( p < 0.001), increasing open‐arm exploration ( p < 0.01), and suppressing locomotor activity, indicating antidepressant, anxiolytic, and sedative actions. A significant antipyretic effect was observed at 400 mg/kg, with a marked reduction in rectal temperature within 3 h posttreatment ( p < 0.01). Molecular docking analysis revealed notable binding affinities of octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, D‐pinitol, α‐D‐glucopyranoside, myo‐inositol, and butanedioic acid with target proteins associated with GABAergic, serotonergic, and prostaglandin‐mediated pathways. Collectively, these findings suggest that SAL‐ME exerts dose‐dependent, multitarget pharmacological effects, supporting its potential as a phytotherapeutic candidate for CNS disorders and fever.

The present study aimed to determine the degree of changes in the histological architecture of the liver, gills, kidneys, and muscles of fish Oreochromis niloticus collected from different polluted river sites. Fish samples collected from the Faisalabad Fish Hatchery and upstream of Chakbandi drain acted as a control. Necrosis, hemorrhage, and epithelial hyperplasia were observed in the gills of fish inhabiting the river downstream of the Chakbandi drain entrance. Liver tissues were found to be affected by vacuolated cytoplasm, bile duct proliferation, melanomacrophages, and necrosis. In kidney tissues, shrinkage of the renal cortex, necrosis, and destructive renal tubules were observed. Histopathology of muscles indicates the presence of hypertrophy and swollen myofibers. In contrast, upstream specimens of fish exhibited mild tissue alterations. Histopathology of gills tissue showed vacuolization. Liver tissues indicated the presence of hypertrophy and more frequent Kupffer cells than usual. The vacuolation was also observed in kidney tissues. Muscle tissues expressed splitting of muscle fibres and degeneration in muscle bundles. However, sections of tissues collected from farmed fish have normal morphology and no anomalies. The histopathological assessment indicated various cellular, biochemical, and histological changes in response to the contamination in the vicinity of the fish.