The present work was conducted to study the comparative efficacy of two anti-protozoan (babesicidal) drugs on the recovery and health of horses. A total of 80 horses, showing typical clinical symptoms of the disease, were selected for this study; the presence of babesiosis was confirmed through blood smear examination. These animals were divided into two groups i.e. A and B. Horses of Group A, were treated with diminazene diaceturate, while horses of Group B were treated with diminazene aceturate. Efficacy of the drugs was determined by the reversal of clinical signs and a negative blood smear examination. The efficacy of diminazene diaceturate was demonstrated to be 80% while diminazene aceturate was found to have 90% efficacy against babesiosis.

Novel conjugate 2,6-Diisopropylphenol-Oleic acid (2,6P-OLA) has shown potent anticancer activity on various cancer cell lines (Khan et al. Lipids 47:973-986, 2012). In the present study, the protein-or/ and DNA-binding property of 2,6P-OLA was evaluated that could predict its potential toxic effect, in vitro. Preferential structural stability and interaction mechanism of 2,6P-OLA to human serum albumin (HSA) and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was used as model molecules, employing fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and circular dichroism (CD) methods. The binding and apoptotic activities of conjugate were determined on bacterial recombinant DNA, pBR322 and human cancer cell line, HeLa, respectively. FS studies showed a strong conjugate binding affinity to HSA with overall binding constant of K = 7.66 (±0.03) × 10(2) M(-1). Higher concentration induced detectable changes in the CD spectrum of HSA. The conjugate complexation altered HSA secondary conformation by an increase in α-helices and decrease in β-sheets. Flourescence quenching studies with CT-DNA exhibited K = 1.215 × 10(2) L mol(-1) where 2,6P-OLA efficiently displaced the ethidium bromide (EtBr) bound DNA indicating its strong competition with EtBr for intercalation. Similarly, 2,6P-OLA was able to partially bind pBR322, resulting in decrease the intensity of EtBr gradually. The conjugate significantly reduced survival of HeLa cells. Morphological studies revealed altered cell morphology, suggesting apoptotic death of HeLa cells. Overall, our data shows that 2,6P-OLA bind well with both HSA and DNA and possessed anticancer activities.

Abstract:The under lying cause of non-A-non-b hepatitis (NANBH) in most of the cases is Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) which leads to liver cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcenoma (HCC). A limitation in the control of the disease is the failure to develop vaccine due to high rate of mutation in viral isolates. Detection of antibodies to HCV is an important indication of past and present infection in enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) but this has many limitations in low risk groups. The most sensitive assay is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which has detection limit of 2000 viral genomes per ml of human serum. Nine out of fifty patients were selected on the basis of inclusion criteria. Only 4 parameters i.e Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Serum Bilirubin and Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) were raised above normal. They returned to normal by chemotherapy indicating the success of treatment but side effects and relapses were also observed. Alpha interferon ("INF) and ribavirin combination chemotherapy has success rate of almost 40%. It is suggested on the basis of study that this combination should not be used as first line treatment, also there is need to educate both doctors and patients to go for liver biopsies for treatment before and after chemotherapy for ensured treatment.

HCV core region, being most conserved, in the whole genome can be used as a diagnostic marker in enzyme linked immuno-sorbant assay development. However, quasi species nature of HCV during its replication in host is the major hindrance in developing an effective therapeutic agent. Recombinant fusion protein for HCV immuno-assay from core region was prepared by PCR amplification and subsequent cloning in expression vector P ET32a which was expressed by iso-propyl thio-B-galactosides (IPTG) in E. coli strain D E3 followed by purification by affinity chromatography. Fusion protein as an antigen reacted with human antisera containing antibodies. This HCV specific immuno-assay development based on recombinant HCV core protein will be the foundation in developing antiviral immuno-assays in Pakistan.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) are incorporated in books to enhance students’ critical thinking. It is essential to know the level of HOTS offered in the prescribed curriculum and the extent to which it is covered in exams. This study analyses the higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) introduced in the prescribed curriculum and tested in the exams. The study used a qualitative content analysis approach to analyze each chapter’s Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and exercises questions of the grade 8th science book to categorize the question statements in view of Bloom’s taxonomy and nine predetermined categories of Socratic questions. The results indicate that the prescribed curriculum has comparatively more emphasis on developing HOTS than the tested curriculum does. The book analysis showed that SLOs support HOTS incorporation, but exercise questions and Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) exams tend towards Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS). Book exercises and exams should be improved and aligned with SLOs to incorporate HOTS in students. Moreover, book and exam criteria need to be revised to enhance higher-order thinking skills in students.