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Iftikhar U, Ahmed M, Saeed H, Saleem N, Bashir A, Farooq MS, Kamran SH, Saleem Z. Comparative safety and efficacy of conventional interferon versus pegylated-interferon based therapy for HCV: A retrospective cohort study from Gujranwala, Pakistan. Pak J Pharm Sci 2020; 33:2037-2045. [PMID: 33824111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies on risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of hepatitis C are known to the world. However, no data is available about the safety and efficacy of anti-hepatitis C therapy among the patients of Gujranwala, Pakistan. This retrospective study compared two dosage forms of interferon; conventional interferon (IR) and Pegylated interferon (PIR) in 370 Hepatitis C patients selected through non probability convenient sampling technique. Clinical data were collected related to therapy outcomes at the start of therapy, after each follow up and at the end of therapy. The study indicated that HCV 3 was the most prevalent genotype of hepatitis C. Main side effects associated with therapies were pain at injection site (PIR; 49%, IR; 48%), inflammation at injection site (PIR; 34%, IR; 48%), fever (PIR; 56.12%, IR; 61.5%), myalgia (PIR; 24.5%,IR; 22.99%), malaise (PIR; 7.14%, IR; 5.75%), anorexia (PIR; 46%, IR; 39%), vomiting (PIR; 43%, IR; 41%), irritability (PIR; 4%, IR; 11.5%) and impaired concentration (PIR; 13%, IR; 21). The sustained viral response rate was significantly better in PIR group as compared to IR group (PIR; 80.61%, IR; 66.67%). In conclusion Pegylated interferon based therapy showed better clinical response with less adverse events as compared to conventional interferon based therapy. However, there is dire need to shift from these intravenous dosage forms to relatively new oral dosage forms for the treatment of hepatitis C to further improve clinical outcome and minimize the risks of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Iftikhar
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mobasher Ahmed
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Saeed
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nouman Saleem
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Sairah Hafeez Kamran
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical & Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zikria Saleem
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan/ Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
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Khair KU, Farid M, Ashraf U, Zubair M, Rizwan M, Farid S, Ishaq HK, Iftikhar U, Ali S. Citric acid enhanced phytoextraction of nickel (Ni) and alleviate Mentha piperita (L.) from Ni-induced physiological and biochemical damages. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020; 27:27010-27022. [PMID: 32385815 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08978-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Phytoremediation is considered one of the well-established and sustainable techniques for the removal of heavy metals and metalloids from contaminated sites. The metal extraction ability of the plants can be enhanced by using suitable organic materials in combination with metal-tolerant plants. This experiment was carried out to investigate the phytoextraction potential of Mentha piperita L. for nickel (Ni) with and without citric acid (CA) amendment in hydroponic experiment. The experiment was performed in controlled glass containers with continuous aeration in complete randomized design (CRD). Juvenile M. piperita plants were treated with different concentrations of Ni (100, 250, and 500 μM) alone and/or combined with CA (5 mM). After harvesting the plants, the morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes as well as Ni concentrations in different tissues of M. piperita plants were measured. Results revealed that Ni stress significantly decreased the plant agronomic traits, photosynthesis in comparison to control. Nickel stress enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities and caused the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in M. piperita. The CA treatment under Ni stress significantly improved the plant morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics when compared with Ni treatments alone. The results demonstrated that CA enhanced the Ni concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves up to 138.2%, 54.2%, and 38%, respectively, compared to Ni-only-treated plants. The improvement in plant growth with CA under Ni stress indicated that CA is beneficial for Ni phytoextraction by using tolerant plant species. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashaf Ul Khair
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan
| | - Mujahid Farid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan.
| | - Umair Ashraf
- Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, 54770, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zubair
- Department of Chemistry, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Sheharyaar Farid
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Khuzama Ishaq
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan
| | - Usman Iftikhar
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Shafaqat Ali
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
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Jacobs C, Singh T, Gorti G, Iftikhar U, Saeed S, Syed A, Abbas F, Ahmad B, Bhadwal S, Siderius C. Patterns of outdoor exposure to heat in three South Asian cities. Sci Total Environ 2019; 674:264-278. [PMID: 31004902 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Low socio-economic status has been widely recognized as a significant factor in enhancing a person's vulnerability to climate change including vulnerability to changes in temperature. Yet, little is known about exposure to heat within cities in developing countries, and even less about exposure within informal neighbourhoods in those countries. This paper presents an assessment of exposure to outdoor heat in the South Asian cities Delhi, Dhaka, and Faisalabad. The temporal evolution of exposure to heat is evaluated, as well as intra-urban differences, using meteorological measurements from mobile and stationary devices (April-September 2016). Exposure to heat is compared between low-income and other neighbourhoods in these cities. Results are expressed in terms of air temperature and in terms of the thermal indices Heat Index (HI), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at walking level. Conditions classified as dangerous to very dangerous, and likely to impede productivity, are observed almost every day of the measurement period during daytime, even when air temperature drops after the onset of the monsoon. It is recommended to cast heat warnings in terms of thermal indices instead of just temperature. Our results nuance the idea that people living in informal neighbourhoods are consistently more exposed to heat than people living in more prosperous neighbourhoods. During night-time, exposure does tend to be enhanced in densely-built informal neighbourhoods, but not if the low-income neighbourhoods are more open, or if they are embedded in green/blue areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cor Jacobs
- Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Tanya Singh
- Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ganesh Gorti
- The Energy and Resources Institute, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, New Delhi, India
| | - Usman Iftikhar
- Government College University, Faculty of Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Salar Saeed
- Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Abu Syed
- Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Nansen-Bangladesh International Centre for Coastal, Ocean and Climate Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Farhat Abbas
- Government College University, Faculty of Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Bashir Ahmad
- National Agricultural Research Center, Climate, Energy and Water Resources Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Suruchi Bhadwal
- The Energy and Resources Institute, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, New Delhi, India
| | - Christian Siderius
- Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands; London School of Economics and Political Science, Grantham Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
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Iftikhar U, Shaw J, Bilston L, Har B, Schnell G. CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY IN OUT OF HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARREST (OHCA): A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DECISION MAKING. Can J Cardiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2017.07.250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Tauqeer HM, Ali S, Rizwan M, Ali Q, Saeed R, Iftikhar U, Ahmad R, Farid M, Abbasi GH. Phytoremediation of heavy metals by Alternanthera bettzickiana: Growth and physiological response. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2016; 126:138-146. [PMID: 26748375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The present study was aimed to evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of Alternanthera Bettzickiana (Regel) G. Nicholson plant subjected to different levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) stress. A. bettzickiana was able to accumulate Cd and Pb in different plant parts and total uptake of both metals was higher in shoots than roots. Plant growth, biomass and photosynthetic pigments increased with increasing metal concentrations, up to 1.0 mM, in soil and then decreased with higher metal levels. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased under lower metal levels (0.5 and 1.0 mM) while decreased at higher metal levels (2.0 mM). Leaf and root electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents decreased at lower metal levels (≤1.0 mM) while increased at higher levels. The present study clearly signifies the potential of A. bettzickiana plant towards Cd and Pb tolerance and accumulation especially at lower metal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Muhammad Tauqeer
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Jalapur Jattan Road, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Shafaqat Ali
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Qasim Ali
- Department of Botany, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Rashid Saeed
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Jalapur Jattan Road, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Usman Iftikhar
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Rehan Ahmad
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Mujahid Farid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Jalapur Jattan Road, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Ghulam Hassan Abbasi
- Department of Soil Science University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
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Huynh T, Gagnon R, Iftikhar U, Rinfret S, Mansour S, Montigny M, Afilalo M, Kouz S, Lauzon C, Nguyen M, Harvey R, Eisenberg M, L'Allier P, Tardif J, Schampaert E. LONGTERM RECURRENT ISCHEMIC CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AMONG PATIENTS WITH ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE AMI-QUÉBEC REGISTRY. Can J Cardiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2015.07.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Umar Hayat M, Waqas A, Ali S, Farid M, Ahmad R, Muhammad Tauqeer H, Iftikhar U, Hannan F. DETERMINATION OF LEAD (Pb), IRON (Fe) AND MANGANESE (Mn) CONCENTRATION IN SEWAGE WATER AND VEGETABLE LEAF SAMPLES. J microb biotech food sci 2015. [DOI: 10.15414/jmbfs.2015.4.5.387-392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Application of waste water for irrigation purposes has increased over the past years. This waste water contains high amounts of trace elements and heavy metals.Many of these are non-essential and toxic to plants, animals and human beings. The use of polluted water in the immediate surroundings of big cities in Pakistan is a common practice for growing of vegetables. When this water applied for long time in irrigation, these heavy metals may accumulate in soil and that may be toxic to plants and also cause deterioration of soil. The present study revealed that heavy metal content was above the toxicity level in leafy vegetables grown in the area of Lahore. This study showed that among the different tested plant species, the amount of heavy metals was more in leaves than fruits. Plants whose fruits grow below the soil showed higher concentration of heavy metals while other showed less concentration whose edible portion was above the ground level. Leafy vegetables (spinach, cabbage, coriander etc) showed higher concentration in leaves than in fruits. The concentration of heavy metals in upper layer of soil (0 -15 cm) is higher than the lower layer (15-30 cm). The reason behind is that the upper layer was receiving sewage water permanently while the penetration of sewage water below 15 cm was less. The increase in heavy metal accumulation in different plant species and their different parts is not constant and is not in proportion to the increase in heavy metal concentration in soil irrigated with sewage wastewater.
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Mutter A, Iftikhar U, Doonan R, Gomez Y, Bacon S, Daskalopoulou S. 564 Longitudinal Study of Arterial Stiffness and Vessel Hemodynamics Post- Exercise in Young, Healthy Smokers and Non-Smokers. Can J Cardiol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2012.07.513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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