Whole-exome sequencing identifies a novel LRAT mutation underlying retinitis punctata albescens in a consanguineous Pakistani family

Muhammad Naeem,전미연,Obaid Ur Rahman,Fazal Rahim,Muhammad Naeem,강창수 한국유전학회 2015 Genes & Genomics Vol.37 No.10

Retinitis punctata albescens (RPA) is an ocular disease characterized by decreased visual acuity, night blindness, atropic maculopathy, and pigmentary retinopathy. Multiple genes have been linked to the etiology of RPA. In this study, we investigated the genetic causes of RPA in a consanguineous Pakistani family with multiple affected individuals. We performed whole-exome sequencing of seven family members, and screened variants co-segregating with RPA in recessive fashion. Bioinformatic and in silico analyses revealed that all affected individuals were homozygous for a novel mutation that substitutes glycine with arginine at position 66 (c.196 G[C) in exon 2 of the lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) that converts all-trans retinol to 11-cis retinal in the retinal pigment epithelium. This mutation was not present in 217 unrelated Pakistani control subjects nor in the Exome Aggregation Consortium database containing exome data from 60,638 individuals worldwide. Mutations in the LRAT gene were previously found from the patients with Leber congenital amaurosis and retinal dystrophy, however, we report first time that disruptions in this gene are also associated with RPA.

Prediction of the Current-Voltage Characteristics and the Bipolar Resistive Switching Mechanism in Polymer-Based Sandwiched Structures

Muhammad Naeem Awais,Muhammad Naeem Shehzad 한국물리학회 2019 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.75 No.5

The prediction of the current-voltage (IV) characteristics of resistive switching devices has remained a challenge before their physical realization. This research work addresses the prediction of the IV characteristics and the bipolar switching mechanism of polymer-based resistive switches by examining their structures before their fabrication. The research was carried out through an analytical study of the device structure, thereby correlating the predicted IV curve to the \textit{in-situ} IV characteristics of the device. Different types of the device structures were considered, depending upon the work function of the top and the bottom electrodes and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of the sandwiched layer. We concluded that the defects/traps within the sandwiched layer lead to the interface effect being the dominant switching mechanism driving the polymer-based resistive switches. Furthermore, we also found that the devices following the interface effect are driven from trap-limited space-charge-limited current (SCLC) conduction to trap-free SCLC conduction as their current conduction mechanisms.

Residual effects of monoammonium phosphate, gypsum and elemental sulfur on cadmium phytoavailability and translocation from soil to wheat in an effluent irrigated field

Qayyum, Muhammad Farooq,Rehman, Muhammad Zia ur,Ali, Shafaqat,Rizwan, Muhammad,Naeem, Asif,Maqsood, Muhammad Aamer,Khalid, Hinnan,Rinklebe, Jö,rg,Ok, Yong Sik Elsevier 2017 CHEMOSPHERE - Vol.174 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in agricultural soils is one of the major threats to food security. The application of inorganic amendments such as mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), gypsum and elemental sulfur (S) could alleviate the negative effects of Cd in crops. However, their long-term residual effects on decreasing Cd uptake in latter crops remain unclear. A field that had previously been applied with treatments including control and 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8% by weight of each MAP, gypsum and S, and grown with wheat and rice and thereafter wheat in the rotation was selected for this study. Wheat (<I>Triticum aestivum</I> L.) was grown in the same field as the third crop without further application of amendments to evaluate the residual effects of the amendments on Cd uptake by wheat. Plants were harvested at maturity and grain, and straw yield along with Cd concentration in soil, straw, and grains was determined. The addition of MAP and gypsum significantly increased wheat growth and yield and decreased Cd accumulation in straw and grains compared to control while the reverse was found in S application. Both MAP and gypsum decreased AB-DTPA extractable Cd in soil while S increased the bioavailable Cd in soil. Both MAP and gypsum increased the Cd immobilization in the soil and S decreased Cd immobilization in a dose-additive manner. We conclude that MAP and gypsum had a significant residual effect on decreasing Cd uptake in wheat. The cost-benefit ratio revealed that gypsum is an effective amendment for decreasing Cd concentration in plants.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Residual monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and gypsum reduced the Cd uptake in wheat. </LI> <LI> Amendment of residual elemental sulfur (S) increased Cd uptake in plants. </LI> <LI> Gypsum had the highest cost-benefit ratio compared with MAP and elemental S. </LI> <LI> Gypsum may be used to enhance crop production in Cd-contaminated soils. </LI> </UL> </P>

Effects of elastic medium on buckling of microtubules due to bending and torsion

Taj, Muhammad,Hussain, Muzamal,Afsar, Muhammad A.,Safeer, Muhammad,Ahmad, Manzoor,Naeem, Muhammad N.,Badshah, Noor,Khan, Arshad,Tounsi, Abdelouahed Techno-Press 2020 Advances in concrete construction Vol.9 No.5

Microtubules buckle under bending and torsion and this property has been studied for free microtubules before using orthotropic elastic shell model. But as microtubules are embedded in other elastic filaments and it is experimentally showed that these elastic filaments affect the critical buckling moment and critical buckling torque of the microtubules. To prove that, we developed orthotropic Winkler like model and demonstrated that the critical buckling moment and critical buckling torque of the microtubules are orders of higher magnitude than those found for free microtubules. Our results show that Critical buckling moment is about 6.04 nNnm for which the corresponding curvature is about θ = 1.33 rad /㎛ for embedded MTs, and critical buckling torque is 0.9 nNnm for the angle of 1.33 rad/㎛. Our results well proved the experimental findings.

Effects of peripartal glucose precursor supplementation on lactation performance and metabolic health of primiparous and multiparous dairy cows

Akhtar Muhammad Uzair,Hifzulrahman,Pasha Talat Naseer,Avais Muhammad,Khan Nauman,Chishti Ghazanfar Ali,Ali Mubashar,Imran Muhammad,Tahir Muhammad Naeem,Naveed-ul-Haque Muhammad 아세아·태평양축산학회 2023 Animal Bioscience Vol.36 No.6

Objective: Hyperketonemia remains a major metabolic issue of serious milk production and a major health concern in early lactation cows. Oral supplementation of glucose precursors (GP) can be used to prevent hyperketonemia in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to compare the beneficial effects of orally supplementing a mixture of GP on metabolic health indicators and milk production status of primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) dairy cows. Methods: Twenty-eight Holstein cows were blocked by expected date of parturition, previous lactation yield, and parity. The cows were randomly allocated to one of the four treatment groups (n = 7 cows/group) based on their parity and GP supplementation: i) PP cows fed basal diet only (PP-CON), ii) PP cows with oral supplementation of GP (PP-GP), iii) MP cows fed basal diet only (MP-CON), and iv) MP cows with oral supplementation of GP (MP-GP). Glucose precursor (glycoline liquid) was orally drenched (300 mL/d) in GP cows from 7 days prepartum through 7 days postpartum. Other than GP supplementation, all cows were fed similar pre- and postpartum basal diets. Results: In both pre- and postpartum periods, serum glucose concentration was increased, whereas β-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acids were decreased in GP cows compared with the CON cows. Milk yield and milk components were statistically not different between GP and CON cows over the first 9 week of lactation. The yield of actual milk, energycorrected milk, 63-days cumulative milk, colostrum yield, and calf birth weight remained higher in MP cows compared with PP cows. Conclusion: Oral drenching of GP around calving can be recommended to successfully improve the metabolic health and reduce the negative effects of hyperketonemia not only in MP but also in PP dairy cows.

Biocompatibility of cobalt iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in male rabbits

Furhan Iqbal,Tanveer Ahmad Tabish,Muhammad Naeem Ashiq,Muhammad Azeem Ullah,Shahid Iqbal,Muhammad Latif,Muhammad Ali,Muhammad Fahad Ehsan 한국화학공학회 2016 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.33 No.7

Present study was conducted to study the in vivo biocompatibility of cobalt iron oxide magnetic nano-particles (CoFe2O4 MNPs) in rabbits. CoFe2O4 MNPs were synthesized by the conventional micro emulsion technique in crystallite size range of 30 to 50 nm. The lattice constant (a) and cell volume were found to be 8.386 Å and 589.75 Å3, respectively, revealed by XRD. Subject animals were divided in three groups--low dose, high dose and control group without nanoparticles implantation for biocompatibility evaluation. CoFe2O4 was intraperitoneally implanted in rabbits: low dose (1mg CoFe2O4/Kg body weight) and high dose (10mg CoFe2O4/Kg body weight). Blood, serum and histological study of vital organs (liver, heart, kidney and spleen) were carried out in seven days of time protocol after sacrificing of animals. Results indicated that CoFe2O4 had drastically affected the blood chemistry in a dose-dependent manner as RDWa (P=0.01), Platelet (P<0.001) and Plateletcrit (P<0.001) concentrations reduced significantly in low dose and high dose CoFe2O4 treatments as compared to sham treated control group. Histological analysis revealed that CoFe2O4 exposure resulted in disordered and abnormal histology of liver, kidney and that of muscles at surgical site. It is concluded that CoFe2O4 has low biocompatibility and higher toxicity levels in living system at the applied doses.

Advances in colon-targeted nano-drug delivery systems: challenges and solutions

Muhammad Naeem,Uzma Azeem Awan,Fazli Subhan,Jiafu Cao,Shwe Phyu Hlaing,이주호,임은옥,YunJinJung,유진욱 대한약학회 2020 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.43 No.1

Nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) for colontargeteddrug delivery are an active area of research onlocal diseases aff ecting the colon, such as ulcerative colitis,Crohn’s disease, colon cancer, and for the delivery of peptideor protein drugs and vaccinations. In particular, targetednano-drug delivery to the colon is advantageous for colonspecific diseases because nanoparticles can accumulate indiseased parts, improve the effi cacies of therapeutics, andenable localized treatments, which reduces systemic toxicity. However, there are many hurdles, such as burst drug release,enzyme and acidic degradation of drug and carrier in thestomach, pH variations, mucus entrapment, and systemicuptake in the upper small intestine, which could challengeand compromise the successful delivery of NDDS to thecolon. With advancements in NDDS, it may be possible toovercome these challenges leading to effi cient drug deliveryfor colon-specifi c disorders. This review describes a fewof the potential colon-specifi c drug delivery areas and thechallenges faced by colon-targeted orally administered deliverysystems, and provides an updated summary of recentadvances in the development of orally administered NDDSfor colon targeting, and the future advances in this research.

Non-local orthotropic elastic shell model for vibration analysis of protein microtubules

Muhammad Taj,Afnan Majeed,Muzamal Hussain,Muhammad N. Naeem,Muhammad Safeer,Manzoor Ahmad,Hidayat Ullah Khan,Abdelouahed Tounsi 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2020 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.25 No.3

Vibrational analysis in microtubules is examined based on the nonlocal theory of elasticity. The complete analytical formulas for wave velocity are obtained and the results reveal that the small scale effects can reduce the frequency, especially for large longitudinal wave-vector and large circumferential wave number. It is seen that the small scale effects are more significant for smaller wave length. The methods and results may also support the design and application of nano devices such as micro sound generator etc. The effects of small scale parameters can increase vibrational frequencies of the protein microtubules and cannot be overlooked in the analysis of vibrating phenomena. The results for different modes with nonlocal effect are checked.

Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of budesonide in experimental colitis with enzyme/pH dual-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles

Naeem, Muhammad,Cao, Jiafu,Choi, Moonjeong,Kim, Woo Seong,Moon, Hyung Ryong,Lee, Bok Luel,Kim, Min-Soo,Jung, Yunjin,Yoo, Jin-Wook Dove Medical Press 2015 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE Vol.10 No.-

<P>Current colon-targeted drug-delivery approaches for colitis therapy often utilize single pH-triggered systems, which are less reliable due to the variation of gut pH in individuals and in disease conditions. Herein, we prepared budesonide-loaded dual-sensitive nanoparticles using enzyme-sensitive azo-polyurethane and pH-sensitive methacrylate copolymer for the treatment of colitis. The therapeutic potential of the enzyme/pH dual-sensitive nanoparticles was evaluated using a rat colitis model and compared to single pH-triggered nanoparticles. Clinical activity scores, colon/body weight ratios, myeloperoxidase activity, and proinflammatory cytokine levels were markedly decreased by dual-sensitive nanoparticles compared to single pH-triggered nanoparticles and budesonide solution. Moreover, dual-sensitive nanoparticles accumulated selectively in inflamed segments of the colon. In addition, dual-sensitive nanoparticle plasma concentrations were lower than single pH-triggered nanoparticles, and no noticeable in vitro or in vivo toxicity was observed. Our results demonstrate that enzyme/pH dual-sensitive nanoparticles are an effective and safe colon-targeted delivery system for colitis therapy.</P>

Resistive Switching and Current Conduction Mechanism in Full Organic Resistive Switch with the Sandwiched Structure of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate)/Poly(4-vinylphenol)/Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate)

Muhammad Naeem Awais,최경현 대한금속·재료학회 2014 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.10 No.3

The paper reported the fabrication of full organic resistive switch (FORS) with the sandwich structure of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS)/poly(4-vinylphenol)(PVP)/poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS). The fabricated FORS elucidated reversible bipolar resistive switching behavior at higher operational voltage between −20 V and +30 V. The switching mechanism in the FORS device was attributed to the hole injection through PEDOT:PSS electrode and filling of trap sites in the PVP sandwiched layer by the limited injection. Current conduction mechanisms were concluded and supported by the charge transport governing physical laws. The dominant current conduction mechanism in the fabricated FORS was attributed to the transition from trap-limited space charge limited current (SCLC) conduction to trap-free SCLC conduction mechanism. The robustness of the fabricated FORS was tested over 100 multiple voltage sweeps.