Gender Differences in Nicotine Induced Dyslipidemia and Hyperglycemia in Mice
Pages 33-38
Samina Bano and Shabana Saeed

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.05

Published: 20 January 2014

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in nicotine treated male and female mice and to evaluate gender related differences. For these purposes adult male and female BALB/C mice were subjected to chronic nicotine treatment (3.08mg/100ml in drinking water) for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, albumin, corticosterone and lipid profile levels were determined. Body weight changes were also monitored. We have found that nicotine treatment raises total cholesterol and glucose levels more in male as compared to female mice. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were increased by 35% (P<0.01) only in male mice. However rise in triglycerides were greater in females (28%) than males (21%) when compared with their respective controls. Serum albumin levels were increased in both sexes showing 13% greater increase in males as compared to females. However nicotine treatment had no effect on high density lipoprotein cholesterol, corticosterone levels and body weights in both genders. It is concluded that nicotine use is positively associated with LDL-C in males; the results are discussed in relation to prevalence of metabolic syndrome andrisk of cardiovascular events in nicotine users.

Isolation of a New Steroidal Glycoalkaloid from Solanum xanthocarpum
Pages 615-624
Parveen Fazil and Rahat Azhar Ali

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.04

Published: 13 January 2014

Abstract: A new steroidal glycoalkaloid was isolated from barries of Solanum xanthocarpum, together with two other known steroidal glycoalkaloids. The structure of new steroidal glycoalkaloid was elucidated as O-(3){ α-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2_gal)- β-D- galactopyranosyl}-solasodine on the basis of spectroscopic analysis as well as comparison with reported spectroscopic data of related compounds.

Reformulation of Adams-Moulton Block Methods as a Sub-Class of Two Step Runge-Kutta Method
Pages 20-27
Udaya Collins Okechukwu

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.03

Published: 10 January 2014

Abstract: Adams-Moulton methods for k = 2 and k = 3 were constructed together with their continuous forms using multi-step collocation methods. The continuous forms were then evaluated at various grid points to produce the block Adams-Moulton methods.

The block methods were then reformulated as a sub-class of two step Runge-Kutta methods (TSRK). Both the Adams and the reformulated methods were applied to solve initial value problems and the reformulated methods proved superior in terms of stability.

PB1-F2 Amino Acids Regulate Influenza A Viral Polymerase Activity
Pages 1-6
Yumi Ueda, Motoko Tanaka, Yukihiro Kyan, Mitsutaka Yoshida, Kenji Sasahara and Kyoko Shinya

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.01

Published: 03 January 2014

Abstract: In 2001, the 11th influenza A viral protein PB1-F2 was detected and found to be encoded by an alternative open reading frame in the PB1 polymerase gene. PB1-F2 has several unique functions, including roles in promoting apoptosis, increasing inflammation, and regulating viral polymerase activity. This study focused on a single PB1-F2 function: regulation of polymerase activity. We constructed a minigenome system to determine the influence of PB1-F2 amino acid (aa) mutations on polymerase activity. We examined four types of aa mutations: three species-specific aa mutations and one mutation that alters pathogenicity in mice. We discovered that an arginine (R) residue at aa position 29 is highly conserved in avian-derived virus strains. Introducing this mutation into mammalian strain A/WSN/33 (H1N1) led to a marked increase in polymerase activity in mammalian cells.These findings suggest that as PB1-F2 in H5N1 viruses regulates viral polymerase activity, it could be targeted for control of avian influenza infection and drug discovery.

Socio-Agricultural Correlation and Regionalization: A Case of the Districts of Pakistan
Pages 7-19
Razzaq Ahmed, Khalida Mahmood and Anila Kausar

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.02

Published: 03 January 2014

Abstract: The main economic activity of a large segment of population in Pakistan is agriculture. The contrasting pattern of topography and uneven distribution of resources create a wide difference in socio-agricultural relationship among the different administrative districts of the country. The study aims to investigate the correlation based on a number of variables extracted from different sectors of Pakistan’s agriculture and social infrastructure. In order to study the regionalization multivariate analysis has been done for hundred districts of Pakistan. The results produced, show sharp variation of regional disparity among the different districts of Pakistan. A clear cut longitudinal east-west divide is visible from the outcome of the study. The provinces of Punjab and Sindh, consisting of fertile plains of river Indus and its tributaries stand out with better socio-agricultural correlation. The western provinces of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Balochistan, surrounded by mountains and plateau depict a deprived scene in terms of socio-agricultural well-being. In Pakistan districts are very vital for resource planning and development. These administrative units have a mix of both rural and urban activities that is why this study becomes more significant for future district planning decisions.