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Aims: Heavy metals are significant environmental pollutants and toxic to life and chromium (Cr) (VI) is one of them being discharged in the environment due to many human activities. The leather industry uses Cr(VI) salt in the tanning process, which is discharged untreated and becomes a source of many diseases. The use of microbes to remove metals is a cost-effective and clean method. The present study aims to isolate local and native microbes for Cr(VI) removal from tannery wastewater and enhance their capacity to bioremediate the tannery wastewater. Further, efficiency in free and immobilized forms was also checked. Methodology and results: Microbes were isolated from a local tannery wastewater outlet and after many rounds of minimum inhibitory concentration, and concentration of 500 µg/mL was found to be that concentration at which microbes could survive, above which they died. The sequencing of 16S rRNA and its analysis showed that it was closely related to Staphylococcus saprophyticus and in the given study, it was named B6. At 37 °C, pH 7.5 and 120 h of incubation, it removed 77% Cr(VI) from the reaction mixture. B6 was exposed to UV to obtain mutant. Exposure of 15 min to a UV lamp gave mutant MB6, which showed a removal capacity of 77% after 72 h only. Cr(VI) removal capacity of the mutant was then analyzed in the free and attached form where coal and sodium alginate were used as solid surfaces. Mutants immobilized on coal showed 91% Cr(VI) removal after 96 h, while sodium alginate showed 58% Cr(VI) removal in 120 h, thus showing coal as a more effective surface for adsorption. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Our present study shows the use of cheap and environmentally friendly methods to remediate tannery wastewater, which is a big problem in a country like Pakistan. Pakistan is the second largest producer of leather but lacks a wastewater treatment facility. So, this method offers in-situ wastewater treatment, which can be further enhanced in different ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present invention was undertaken to study and determine the effect of potassium metabisulphite (6%) and potassium sorbate (350 ppm) treatments on the nutritional quality of osmotically-dehydrated, infrared- and microwave-blanched dried mango slices (local cultivars “Chaunsa” and “Fajri”) stored for the period of 6 months under ambient conditions. The studied parameters included physical characteristics such as water activity, non-enzymatic browning, and color values, chemical parameters such as moisture, ash, fiber, acidity and content of proteins, sugars, vitamin C, total carotenoids, and sensory attributes such as appearance, flavor and texture. Vitamin C content in osmotically-dried mango slices was higher than that of IR and MW blanched dried mango slices but the content of vitamin C of both cultivars was lower than of the fresh mango samples (Chaunsa: 135 mg/100 g, Fajri: 94 mg/100 g). Significant loss was noticed in total carotenoids content of both the cultivars with passage of time because of their susceptibility to oxidative loss caused by dry heat. No growth of yeast and mold was detected in potassium sorbate-treated dried mango slices due to their preservative effect. From the point of view of the composition and sensory quality, dried mango slices of both the cultivars have excellent nutritional qualities.

Healthcare systems worldwide are struggling to find ways to fund the cost of innovative treatments such as gene therapies, regenerative medicine, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). As the world's best known mAbs are close to facing patent expirations, the biosimilars market is poised to grow with the hope of bringing prices down for cancer treatment and autoimmune disorders, however, this has yet to be realized. The development costs of biosimilars are significantly higher than their generic equivalents due to therapeutic equivalence trials and higher manufacturing costs. It is imperative that academics and relevant companies understand the costs and stages associated with biologics processing. This article brings these costs to the forefront with a focus on biosimilars being developed for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). mAbs have remarkably changed the treatment landscape, establishing their superior efficacy over traditional small chemicals. Five blockbuster TNFα mAbs, considered as first line biologics against RA, are either at the end of their patent life or have already expired and manufacturers are seeking to capture a significant portion of that market. Although in principle, market-share should be available, withstanding that the challenges regarding the compliance and regulations are being resolved, particularly with regards to variation in the glycosylation patterns and challenges associated with manufacturing. Glycan variants can significantly affect the quality attributes requiring characterization throughout production. Successful penetration of biologics can drive down prices and this will be a welcome change for patients and the healthcare providers. Herein we review the biologic TNFα inhibitors, which are on the market, in development, and the challenges being faced by biosimilar manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with prevalence all over the world. Several therapeutics with different modes of action are available to deal with the disease but have failed to produce universal response leaving a large proportion of patients untreated. This is due to complex pathogenesis comprising a network of signaling pathways. By controlling one pathway, the pathogenesis continues through complementary pathways. Janus kinase and bruton's tyrosine kinase regulates a number of T-cell and B-cell mediated signaling pathways ranging from cytokine expression and antibody production to the bone resorption and cartilage destruction. We propose a dual trap to control this pathogenesis in the form of dual JAK3/BTK inhibitor. Using the computer-aided drug designing techniques, we developed dual JAK3 and BTK inhibitors based on quinoxaline derivatives which show appreciable dual inhibition in enzyme assays. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever report on dual JAK3/BTK inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biochemical significance of Hyaluronic acid in liver fibrosis among chronic hepatitis C patients to eliminate repetitive liver biopsies. METHODOLOGY: Cross Sectional Comparative Analytical Study at FPGMI, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from January 2017 to December 2017. This cross-sectional study, included patients of chronic hepatitis C (n = 250) along with controls (n =100). Serum hyaluronic acid assay (patients & controls) was performed using enzyme linked binding protein assay, using a capture molecule known as hyaluronic acid binding protein (HABP) along with quantitative Echelon (Echelon biosciences Inc. USA) used as reference standard. RESULTS: Total 350 participant both male and females participated for this study from these 350 samples, 100 normal samples were recruited as control group and 250 diagnosed cases of chronic hepatitis C patients were recruited as case study group. Serum Hyaluronic acid was significantly (P<0.001) elevated in patients (195.77 ±6.67) compared to controls (110.2 ±0.79) irrespective of gender involvement. CONCLUSION: The current findings showed significant involvement of HA in early prognosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis among chronic HCV patients that would probably useful to reduce repetitive liver biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]