Bioelectricity generation, by Shewanella oneidensis (S. oneidensis) MR-1, has become particularly alluring, thanks to its extraordinary prospects for energy production, pollution treatment, and biosynthesis. Attempts to improve its technological output by modification of S. oneidensis MR-1 remains complicated, expensive and inefficient. Herein, we report on the augmentation of S. oneidensis MR-1 with carbon dots (CDs). The CDs-fed cells show accelerated extracellular electron transfer and metabolic rate, with increased intracellular charge, higher adenosine triphosphate level, quicker substrate consumption and more abundant extracellular secretion. Meanwhile, the CDs promote cellular adhesion, electronegativity, and biofilm formation. In bioelectrical systems the CDs-fed cells increase the maximum current value, 7.34 fold, and power output, 6.46 fold. The enhancement efficacy is found to be strongly dependent on the surface charge of the CDs. This work demonstrates a simple, costeffective and efficient route to improve bioelectricity generation of S. oneidensis MR-1, holding promise in all relevant technologies.

Background:Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes may be changed over time. Epidemiological Studies on distribution patterns of HCV genotypes in Pakistani population might assist for better treatment options and preventive strategies.Objectives:This study was conducted to determine distribution patterns of HCV genotypes in different geographical regions of Pakistan.Patients and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 1818 randomly selected patients from different geographical regions of Pakistan, diagnosed with HCV infection by the third generation Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), were included between April 2011 and December 2013. HCV RNA was detected in serum samples of patients by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) of the core region. Qualitative PCR was performed to determine viral load. HCV genotyping was performed by RT-nested PCR using type-specific primers of the core region. Frequency of different genotypes among patients was assessed according to gender, age and geographical region at the time of sampling.Results:Of 1818 HCV RNA positive samples, HCV genotypes PCR fragments were detected in 1552 (85.5%) samples. HCV genotype 3a was the predominant genotype (39.4%) followed by genotype 2a (24.93%). HCV genotype 3 was the predominant genotype in Punjab and Sindh regions, while genotype 2 was the most predominant genotype in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and the second predominant genotype after genotype 3 in Sindh region. The incidence of genotype 2a is increasing in our country with decrease in the incidence of genotype 3a. A higher incidence of HCV various genotypes were observed among male patients and those younger than 45 years.Conclusions:This study may facilitate treatment options and preventive strategies in Pakistan.

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Determination of an individual's hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes prior to antiviral therapy has become increasingly important for the clinical management and prognosis of HCV infection. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of HCV genotypes in HCV infected patients of district Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Serum samples of 117 seropositive patients were screened for HCV-RNA by using reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) and then PCR positive samples were subjected to HCV genotyping. Out of 117 seropositive samples, 110 samples were found positive by PCR analysis. Genotype 3a was the most prevalent one detected in 38% of patients, followed by genotype 3b in 21% of patients, and then genotype 2a in 12% of patients. However 21% of HCV-PCR positive samples could not be genotyped by method used in this study. Genotype 3a was the most prevalent genotype in patients of all age groups and its prevalence was found high among patients with increasing age (>34 years). Moreover, genotypes 3a and 3b were found to be the most prevalent genotypes in patients with history of shaving by barbers, receiving multiple injections, and dental procedures. In conclusion there is need of further investigation of genotypes of HCV by using more sensitive assays and considering large sample size in district Bannu.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) affects 1% of women under 40, leading to infertility. The clinical symptoms of the POF include hypoestrogenism, lack of mature follicles, hypergonadotropinism, and amenorrhea. POF can be caused due to genetic defects, autoimmune illnesses, and environmental factors. The conventional treatment of POF remains a limited success rate. Therefore, an innovative treatment strategy like the regeneration of premature ovaries by using human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) can be a choice. To summarize all the theoretical frameworks for additional research and clinical trials, this review article highlights all the results, pros, and cons of the hUC-MSCs used to treat POF. So far, the data shows promising results regarding the treatment of POF using hUC-MSCs. Several properties like relatively low immunogenicity, multipotency, multiple origins, affordability, convenience in production, high efficacy, and donor/recipient friendliness make hUC-MSCs a good choice for treating basic POF. It has been reported that hUC-MSCs impact and enhance all stages of injured tissue regeneration by concurrently stimulating numerous pathways in a paracrine manner, which are involved in the control of ovarian fibrosis, angiogenesis, immune system modulation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, some studies demonstrated that stem cell treatment could lead to hormone-level restoration, follicular activation, and functional restoration of the ovaries. Therefore, all the results in hand regarding the use of hUC-MSCs for the treatment of POF encourage researchers for further clinical trials, which will overcome the ongoing challenges and make this treatment strategy applicable to the clinic in the near future. Graphical Abstract