This case report highlights about a patient with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) patient who presented with exaggerated compulsions related to bad smell. Methods: We report a case of a cleaner who encountered bad odors and responded with compulsive showering and wearing fresh clothes. His disorder is differentially diagnosed with similarities and differences between his disorder and that of olfactory reference syndrome, bromidrophobia and obsessive disgust to smell. Results: The treatment of choice for OCD is exposure and prevention therapy (EPT). We started the treatment with cognitive restructuring combined with our innovative spiritually oriented mindfulness and acceptance therapy. And to avoid the shortcoming of EPT of excessive anxiety to full-blown exposure and prevention, we have introduced novel adaptations that rendered our therapy to be more of the classical reciprocal inhibition and the gradual systematic desensitization techniques of Wolpe than the straight forward EPT. The reciprocal inhibition was presented by asking the patient to smell a rotten fish in a plastic bag and whenever his anxiety became unbearable the bag was closed and he inhaled the opposite fragrance of sprayed perfume while relaxing and breathing abdominally. Similar to systematic desensitization therapy, we repeated the whole process but gradually increased the time of smelling the rotten fish before enjoying its opposite fragrance. His improvement was dramatic, observed from the first session. After 4 sessions, he resumed his job and had no relapse, but he carried a bottle of his preferred perfume to counteract the bad smell. Conclusion: OCD reaction to smell may respond well with only cognitive-behaviour therapy.

For the development of 19-plex Y STR system and polymorphism studies in local ethnic populations sixteen markers of non-recombining regions (NRY) of Y chromosome, which show high power of discrimination among individuals, were selected in this study. Blood samples (600) were collected from the males of three most common castes of Pakistani population (Arain, Awan and Rajput) with different parent lineages. Three markers (DYS385a/b, DYS389I/II and YCAIIa/b) among 16 Y STRs are double-targeted regions of the Y chromosome and thus provide two polymorphic peaks for each respective primer set. These 16 Y-STRs were developed into Megaplex system for simultaneous amplification of all markers within the population. The overall power of discrimination observed in focused populations was 60.5%, 66.5% and 55% in Rajput, Awan and Arain casts respectively. This discrimination power will be helpful in human identification for forensic casework studies including sexual assaults and paternity testing.

For the development of 19-plex Y STR system and polymorphism studies in local ethnic populations sixteen markers of non-recombining regions (NRY) of Y chromosome, which show high power of discrimination among individuals, were selected in this study. Blood samples (600) were collected from the males of three most common castes of Pakistani population (Arain, Awan and Rajput) with different parent lineages. Three markers (DYS385a/b, DYS389I/II and YCAIIa/b) among 16 Y STRs are double-targeted regions of the Y chromosome and thus provide two polymorphic peaks for each respective primer set. These 16 Y-STRs were developed into Megaplex system for simultaneous amplification of all markers within the population. The overall power of discrimination observed in focused populations was 60.5%, 66.5% and 55% in Rajput, Awan and Arain casts respectively. This discrimination power will be helpful in human identification for forensic casework studies including sexual assaults and paternity testing.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality among men in the United States. While many prostate cancers are indolent, an important subset of patients experiences disease recurrence after conventional therapy and progresses to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is currently incurable. Thus, there is a critical need to identify biomarkers that will distinguish indolent from aggressive disease, as well as novel therapeutic targets for the prevention or treatment of CRPC. In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as an important class of biological molecules. LncRNAs are polyadenylated RNA species that share many similarities with protein-coding genes despite the fact that they are noncoding (not translated into proteins). They are usually transcribed by RNA polymerase II and exhibit the same epigenetic signatures as protein-coding genes. LncRNAs have also been implicated in the development and progression of variety of cancers, including prostate cancer. While a large number of lncRNAs exhibit tissue- and cancer-specific expression, their utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is just starting to be explored. In this review, we highlight recent findings on the functional role and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in the progression of prostate cancer and evaluate their use as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Objective: To determine antiacanthamoebic activity of natural and marketed honey samples.
Methods: Natural honey samples were collected directly from the bee hive and marketed honey samples were purchased from the local market in Karachi, Pakistan. Both honey samples were tested for their flavonoid content (quercetin equivalent per gram of the extract) and phenolic content (gallic acid equivalent per gram). Furthermore, their anti-oxidant activity was determined by measuring 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Using amoebistatic and amoebicidal assays, the effects of honey samples were tested against growth and viability of Acanthamoeba parasites.
Results: Natural honey exhibited potent amoebistatic and amoebicidal effects, in a concentration-dependent manner. Honey-treated Acanthamoeba castellanii showed loss of acanthopodia, following which amoebae detached, rounded up, reduced in size, decreased in cytoplasmic mass and they were observed floating in the culture medium. Importantly, honey-treated amoebae did not revive when inoculated in fresh growth medium, however, glycerol-treated amoebae exhibited viable trophozoite and active growth. In contrast, marketed honey samples varied in their efficacy against Acantha-moeba castellanii. The proportion of flavonoid, as determined by quercetin measurements and the proportion of phenolic, as determined by gallic acid measurements was higher in natural honey compared with marketed honey. Similarly, the antioxidant activity, as determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity was higher in natural honey vs. marketed honey.
Conclusions: This study shows that natural honey has antiacanthamoebic properties and possesses higher flavonoid, phenolic and antioxidant properties compared with the marketed honey. These findings are of concern to the public, health officials, and to the manufacturers regarding production of honey for medical applications.

Introduction: A few studies investigated the numerous potential endodontic uses of CBCT, including the examination of root canal morphology and presumed that CBCT was effective for the initial identification of such morphology; moreover CBCT is a reliable method for the detection of the MB2 canal when compared with the gold standard of physical sectioning of the specimen. The aim of this study was to identify the root and canal morphology of the maxillary first molars among Malaysians analysed by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: Maxillary first (n = 421) molars from Malaysian patients (n = 241) of Malay, Chinese and Indians inceptions were examined by two Endodontists using in vivo CBCT methods. The number and configuration of roots, the number of root canals, and the canal configuration according to Vertucci’s classification were determined. Results: Single roots were not found in maxillary first molars. The incidence of fused roots was 1.995% in the first molars between mesiobuccal and distobuccal roots. In (421) 3-rooted maxillary first molars, additional canals were found in 45.6% of the mesiobuccal (MB) roots and 0% of the distobuccal (DB) roots. Bilateral symmetry of the MB roots was found in 82.36% of the first molar. Only one tooth was found to have pulp stone inside the pulp chamber. Conclusions: The root and canal configuration of a Malaysian population showed different features from those of other populations. CBCT scans can enhance the understanding of root canal anatomy, with the potential of improving the outcome of endodontic treatment.

Monoclonal antibody-escape variant of dengue virus type 1 (MabEV DEN-1) was discovered and isolated in an outbreak of dengue in Klang Valley, Malaysia from December 2004 to March 2005. This study was done to investigate whether DEN152 (an isolate of MabEV DEN-1) is a product of recombination event or not. In addition, the non-synonymous mutations that correlate with the monoclonal antibody-escape variant were determined in this study. The genomes of DEN152 and two new DEN-1 isolates, DENB04 and DENK154 were completely sequenced, aligned, and compared. Phylogenetic tree was plotted and the recombination event on DEN152 was investigated. DEN152 is sub-grouped under genotype I and is closely related genetically to a DEN-1 isolated in Japan in 2004. DEN152 is not a recombinant product of any parental strains. Four amino acid substitutions were unique only to DEN 152. These amino acid substitutions were Ser[326]Leu, Ser[340]Leu at the deduced E protein, Ile[250]Thr at NS1 protein, and Thr[41]Ser at NS5 protein. Thus, DEN152 is an isolate of the emerging monoclonal antibody-escape variant DEN-1 that escaped diagnostic laboratory detection.

OBJECTIVES: Dengue epidemic is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that has gained considerable attention due to its injurious effects. The focus of this study is to statically analyze the nature of the dengue epidemic network in terms of whether it follows the features of a scale-free network or a random network. METHODS: A multifarious network of Aedes aegypti is addressed keeping the viewpoint of a complex system and modelled as a network. The dengue network has been transformed into a one-mode network from a two-mode network by utilizing projection methods. Furthermore, three network features have been analyzed, the power-law, clustering coefficient, and network visualization. In addition, five methods have been applied to calculate the global clustering coefficient. RESULTS: It has been observed that dengue epidemic follows a power-law, with the value of its exponent γ = −2.1. The value of the clustering coefficient is high for dengue cases, as weight of links. The minimum method showed the highest value among the methods used to calculate the coefficient. Network visualization showed the main areas. Moreover, the dengue situation did not remain the same throughout the observed period. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the network topology exhibits the features of a scale-free network instead of a random network. Focal hubs are highlighted and the critical period is found. Outcomes are important for the researchers, health officials, and policy makers who deal with arbovirus epidemic diseases. Zika virus and Chikungunya virus can also be modelled and analyzed in this manner.
Administrative Personnel ; Aedes ; Arboviruses ; Chikungunya virus ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue ; Humans ; Methods ; Zika Virus

Objective: To determine the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the male and female haematophagous caprine worms, Haemonchus contortus infecting Capra hircus, and their E/S products and also to analyse the effect of Haemonchus infection on the level of host SOD. Methods: The SOD activity was analysed by using the pyrogallol autoxidation assay and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by specific enzyme staining by riboflavin-nitroblue tetrazolium method. Results: The adult females were found to have higher enzyme activity than the male worms. Appreciable amount of SOD activity was also detected in the worm culture medium and female worms secreted more SOD in comparison to the male parasites. The SOD activity was negatively correlated to the worm burden. Statistically significant decrease in SOD activity (P<0.05) was observed in the heavily infected host tissue in comparison to the control non-infected host tissue. SOD profile of the crude extracts of both the sexes revealed polymorphism and a fast migrating activity band being characteristic of E/S products. The SOD activities were found highly sensitive to potassium cyanide indicating the Cu/Zn form of SOD. Conclusions: Haemonchus contortus is a key model parasite for drug and vaccine discovery. The presences of SOD activity in appreciable amount in the parasite as well as its E/S products indicate that it has a well-developed active antioxidant system to protect itself from the host immune attack. SOD could be the target for vaccine development which is the need of the hour as mass drug administration for parasite control has resulted in anthelmintic resistance across the globe and threatens the viability of sheep and goat industry in many regions of the world. The infection with Haemonchus causes a drastic reduction in SOD activity of the host tissue thus effecting its protective potential. One characteristic SOD band was found in the females which was not present in any other preparations and thus could be exploited for further studies on diagnostic/control measures.