School of Life Sciences

Background: Excessive nerve growth factor (NGF) is commonly found in the follicular fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Furthermore, oocytes from PCOS patients exhibit lower developmental competence. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between excessive NGF and low oocyte competence in vitro. Methods: Excessive NGF was added to mouse cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured in vitro to investigate meiotic maturation of the oocyte. After culture, mRNA expression levels of Pfkp and Ldha genes in cumulus cells (CCs) and Gdf9, Bmp15 and Fgf8 genes in oocytes, were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We also investigated the mRNA content of Pfkp and Ldha in CCs from PCOS and non-PCOS patients. Results: Excessive NGF significantly inhibited oocyte meiotic maturation. The inhibitory effect was mediated by the NGF high-affinity receptor, NTRK1. mRNA content of Pfkp and Ldha genes in CCs was significantly reduced by excessive NGF stimulation. Moreover, the expression levels of Gdf9, Bmp15 and Fgf8 were also decreased in oocytes, and was induced by excessive NGF-stimulated CCs. In addition, lower expression levels of Pfkp and Ldha in CCs were identified in Chinese PCOS patients with excessive NGF (PCOS, 22 ± 2.63 ng/ml, n = 13; non-PCOS, 7.18 ± 2.42 ng/ml, n = 9; p < 0. 01) in the follicular fluid, suggesting a potential association between excessive NGF and decreased glycolysis in the CCs of women with PCOS. Conclusions: Excessive NGF impairs bidirectional communication between oocyte and cumulus cells, which might be related to low oocyte competence.

traditional medicine in many countries 12 for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, acidosis, hemorrhage, and respiratory pathologies. 13,14 Pomegranate contains a number of polyphenol, including anthocyanins, minor flavonoids, and punicalagin, which is the most important member of ellagitannins family. The studies conducted before used pomegranate juice and punicalagin with a combination of other polyphenols. Punicalagin (PU) is the largest polyphenol among the pomegranate ellagitannins, and it is responsible for most of the antioxidant activity. 15 Punicalagin with other polyphenols was found to be a potent antioxidant in protecting nitric oxide than grape juice, blueberry juice, red wine, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. 16 Very few studies can be found about the usage of punicalagin against oxidative stress induced testicular damage leading to infertility. 17,18 It has already been demonstrated that treatment of mice with Pomegranate juice for several days can prevent oxidative stress induced damage in testes. 8 However, whether punicalagin (PU, purity ≥98%) can also alone alleviate LPS induced oxidative stress damage in testis is unknown. In this study, oxidative stress was induced in the testes by intraperitoneal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which resulted in disruption of spermatogenesis. We focused on the possible role of punicalagin in oxidative stress-induced damage and infertility in mice testes.

Punicalagin (PU) is a known antioxidant. The present study examined PU to protect against lead-induced oxidative stress (OS) testicular damage in mice. Significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) after intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate (LA) indicated enormous generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Lead-induced OS has a direct effect on the differentiation of spermatogonial cells, showing a significant decline in sperm count. Supplementation of PU significantly changes values of LPO and glutathione (GSH) with a concomitant increase in sperm count, a marked decrease in the abnormal sperms, and a decline in the morphologically abnormal sperm population. Moreover, the histopathological evaluation of testes and epididymides showed severe changes in mice treated with LA. PU significantly induced nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2-like 2 (Nrf2) expression and phase II enzymes, and data suggest that PU may inhibit OS through Nrf2 activation. The fertility test proved that PU might play an important role in male infertility treatment, especially in the type of infertility induced by OS.

Excessive nerve growth factor (NGF) is commonly found in the follicular fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Furthermore, oocytes from PCOS patients exhibit lower developmental competence. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between excessive NGF and low oocyte competence in vitro. Excessive NGF was added to mouse cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured in vitro to investigate meiotic maturation of the oocyte. After culture, mRNA expression levels of Pfkp and Ldha genes in cumulus cells (CCs) and Gdf9, Bmp15 and Fgf8 genes in oocytes, were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We also investigated the mRNA content of Pfkp and Ldha in CCs from PCOS and non-PCOS patients. Excessive NGF significantly inhibited oocyte meiotic maturation. The inhibitory effect was mediated by the NGF high-affinity receptor, NTRK1. mRNA content of Pfkp and Ldha genes in CCs was significantly reduced by excessive NGF stimulation. Mo...

The establishment of pregnancy in human necessitates appropriate decidualization of stromal cells, which involves steroids regulated periodic transformation of endometrial stromal cells during menstrual cycle. However, the potential molecular regulatory mechanism underlying the initiation and maintenance of decidualization in humans is yet to be fully elucidated. In this investigation, we document that SOX4 is a key regulator of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) decidualization by directly regulating FOXO1 expression as revealed by whole genomic binding of SOX4 assay and RNA-Seq. Besides, our immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry results unravel that SOX4 modulates progesterone receptor (PGR) stability through repressing E3 ubiquitin ligase HERC4 mediated degradation. More importantly, we provide evidence that dysregulated SOX4-HERC4-PGR axis is a potential cause of defective decidualization and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) in IVF patients. In summary, this study e...

Enlargement of the tissues of the uterus or lining of the uterus is called endometriosis. This is very common disease known a days I young women's world wide. Tissues similar to endometrium is formed and change independently menstrual cycle. Common systems; 1) Pain 2) Heavy bleeding /period lasts more than 7 days 3) Infertility stages of endometriosis 4) Constant fatigue minimal 5) Ovarian cyst mild 6) Painful ovulation moderate severe Discussion or Next Steps Endometriosis in Pakistan Introduction Methods Some of famous Plants and their effects against endometriosis

Water is the basic need for the survival of all living organisms; however, its contamination has caused disastrous effects on human health. Almost 80% of the total population in Pakistan is forced to use unsafe drinking water due to the scarcity of clean water sources. To assess, the risk involved and to monitor the amount of Arsenic and bacterial growth in drinking water, water samples were collected from different government schools and underdeveloped areas of Multan, Pakistan. Moreover, water samples were collected by randomly visiting areas and were sent for laboratory analysis to determine and detect the arsenic amount along with other parameters including aesthetic, physical, chemical, and bacteriological growth. The results indicated that all the data collected from Govt. schools and developed locality were having a large amount of arsenic in drinking water. A huge amount of Coliform growth was found in the Peer colony water, which indicated a highly unhealthy intensity of pollutant water for the population residing in this area. Therefore, urgent and regular monitoring of drinking water in Multan was required to prevent such contamination.

Thymic CD4(+) FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical for the development of immunological tolerance and immune homeostasis and requires contributions of both thymic dendritic and epithelial cells. Although B cells have been reported to be present within the thymus, there has not hitherto been a definition of their role in immune cell development and, in particular, whether or how they contribute to the Treg cellular thymic compartment. Herein, using both phenotypic and functional approaches, we demonstrate that thymic B cells contribute to the maintenance of thymic Treg cells and, using an in vitro culture system, demonstrate that thymic B cells contribute to the size of the thymic Treg compartment via cell-cell MHC II contact and the involvement of two independent co-stimulatory pathways that include interactions between the CD40/CD80/CD86 co-stimulatory molecules. Our data also suggest that thymic B cells promote the generation of thymic Treg cell precursors (pre-Treg cel...

The MeOH extract of leaves of Polyalthia suberosa Roxb. (Annonaceae) was screened for its antibacterial, analgesic, Antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activities. The extract showed moderate anti-bacterial activity against Vibrio cholerae, Sheigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus saprophyticus. It also produced significant (P<0.01) writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced writhing in mice at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg, which was comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium. Moreover, when tested for its antidiarrhoeal effects on castor oil induced diarrhea in mice, it decreased the frequency of defecation and increased mean latent period significantly (P<0.01) at the dose of 500 mg/kg comparable to the standard drug loperamide. The extract also exhibited high level of cytotoxicity in brine shrimp lethality bioassay (LC 50 : 30 µg/ml). The overall results tend to suggest the antibacterial, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activities of the extract.

A simple, selective and rapid reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RPHPLC) method for the analysis of esomeprazole has been developed and validated. The separation was achieved from HPLC Column (Prevail C8, 5µ, 4.6 mm x 150 mm) with a mobile phase consisting of HPLC grade acetonitrile and phosphate buffer solution (35:65) at a flow rate of 1ml/min with UV detection at 280nm. The method was specific and it was observed that no interference with diluents. The proposed method was accurate with 99.12% recovery for esomeprazole and precise (%RSD of area of system precision, % RSD of assay of method precision and Intermediate precision were found to be 0.09%, 0.21% and 0.43% respectively). From the linearity study the correlation coefficient is found to be 1.0000, which indicated that the method was linear over 10% to 150% range. The method was found robust for possible changes. Therefore, this method can be used as a more convenient and efficient option for the analysis of esomeprazole to establish the quality of the drug substance during routine analysis with consistent and reproducible results.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical properties and cytotoxicity potential for ethanolic extract of Senna siamea leaf. Identification of the chemical constituents of plant extract was determined following the standard procedures. In phytochemical screening, the crude extract was tested for the presence of different chemical groups like reducing sugar, tannins, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, gums, alkaloids and glycosides. Cytotoxicity potential was assessed by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay method. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of tannins, steroids and glycosides. Incase of cytotoxicity assay, the extract showed moderate cytotoxic activity having LC 50 value of 68.633 μg/ml. The present study concludes that the leaf of Senna siamea may be a potential source of cytotoxic compounds. The next step would be to isolate the individual compounds responsible for the observed activity and the probable mechanism of action of it.

The ethanolic extract of leaves of Diospyros blancoi were investigated for potential pharmacological activities. Chemical groups were investigated,
Antioxidant, Antidiarrheal, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic properties of the extract were investigated by using different suitable reagents; 1, 1-diphenyl-
2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay; zone of inhibition method; brine shrimp lethality bioassay and castor oil induced diarrhea
inhibition respectively. There were tannins and alkaloids in the leaves extract. It had statistically significant free radical scavenging activity with an IC50
of 15±0.6 (3.63–86.50) μg mL-1. In case of antidiarrheal activity test, the extract produced 2.81 (±0.2) h and 3.29 (±0.3) h latent period of diarrheal
induction for 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of leaves extract respectively whereas the positive standard showed 3.88 (± 0.2) h and Control showed 1.30 (±
0.1) h of latent period. The extract also showed significant antimicrobial activities and significant lethality to brine shrimp with LC50 value at 1.56 μg/mL.
Different chemical substances present in the leaves might be responsible for biological activities found in this study. The results of the study support the
traditional uses of Diospyros blancoi and could be the basis of further investigations in future including isolation of novel compounds.

A simple, selective and rapid reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RPHPLC) method for the analysis of Ciclesonide has been developed and validated. The separation was achieved from HPLC Column (Waters Symmetry C18 5 µ; 4.6 mm x 250 mm) with a mobile phase consisting of 85 volume of Ethanol with 15 volume of Millie-Q-Water at a flow rate of 1.10 ml/min with UV detection at 242 nm. The method is specific and it is observed that no interference with diluents. The proposed method is accurate with 99.6 % recovery for Ciclesonide and precise (% RSD of area of system precision, % RSD of assay of method precision and Intermediate precision are found to be 0.20 %, 0.20 % and 0.20 % respectively). From the linearity study the correlation coefficient is found to be 0.9999, which indicates that the method is linear over 10 % to 150 % range. The method is found robust for possible changes. Therefore, this method can be used as a more convenient and efficient option for the analysis of Ciclesonide to establish the quality of the drug substance during routine analysis with consistent and reproducible results.

In the present study crude Ethanolic extract of Feronia limonia leaf was investigated for possible phytochemical properties and pharmacological activities. For the phytochemical screening crude extract was tested for the presence of different chemical groups and presence of alkaloids, steroid, tannins and flavonoids are identified. The biological interest of these compounds, coupled with the use of the plant in traditional medicine was the basis to investigate analgesic activity of leaves extract of Feronia limonia. Analgesic activity of the crude extract was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing model of pain in mice. The crude leaves extract of F. limonia produced 23.74% and 45.32% writhing inhibition in mice at oral doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weights of mice respectively while the standard drug, Diclofenac-sodium showed 50.36% inhibition at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. The study supports the medicinal value of this plant but future research will be needed to isolate the active principle as well.