http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/12740 2026-04-22T08:10:50Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16521 Title: Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS): Its biology and drug targets for treating diabetic nephropathy Authors: Maryam Zain; Awan, Fazli Rabbi Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disorder of hyperglycemia caused by a combination of biochemical, molecular and genetic factors, which leads to the dysfunction of various organs including kidneys. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes that results due to poor glycemic control. Several molecular and biochemical pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DN. Of these, the Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) is considered as a key pathway. RAAS involves various subsystems which contribute to the development of DN. Mutations in several genes of the RAAS pathway have been associated with the development of DN. These genes or their products present them as therapeutic targets for potent drugs to control or prevent DN, and development of new drugs for targeting the RAAS. Drugs in use for DN are mainly the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme(ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptors Blockers (ARB) and renin inhibitors which play important roles in reducingDN. Hence, the present review is focused on the pathophysiology and genetic factors for DN by exploring the RAASpathway and emphasizing the benefits of blocking this pathway to control and prevent DN. 2014-09-20T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16520 Title: Prostate cancer: Leading and misleading routes to TRAIL of death Authors: Farooq, Ammad Ahmad; Qureshi, Muhammad Zahid; Abdur Rehman; Nogueira, Daniele Rubert; Awan, Imrana Iftikhar; Adeela Shahid Abstract: Prostate cancer is a multifaceted disease that arises because of misrepresentation of linear and integrated signaling cascades that regulate gene network in normal and cancer cells. Programmed cell death is modulated by intracellular regulators within each cell and various lines of evidence suggest that there is under- expression and overexpression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene subsets respectively. Apoptosis is a response to the cellular microenvironment, and the cell microenvironment can be regulated by multiple signaling cascades at a higher organizational level by suppressing survival signals notably at genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Unquestionably, drug-discovery approaches over the last decade aiming at neutralizing anti-apoptotic proteins, over-expressing pro-apoptotic proteins and enhancing the cell surface appearance of TRAIL receptors have revolutionized our current information about inducing and maximizing TRAIL mediated signaling in resistant prostate cancer phenotype. In this mini-review we outline outstanding developments in the field of prostate cancer that have played a rolein understanding the underlying mechanisms that control TRAIL mediated apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, which may be helpful in the development of cancer therapies based on the apoptotic pathway 2014-09-20T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16507 Title: REPORT A comparative study of loratidine physiochemical properties from different brands Authors: Safila Naveed; Huma Dilshad; Sheeba Urooj Abstract: Loratidine is a piperidine derivative resemble to azatadine long acting non sedating commonly used for the treatment of allergic condition like watery or itchy eyes, runny nose, chronic urticaria or throat itching. In the present study different brands of loratidine were evaluated for the weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution. Dissolution release study performed by using paddle method (USP 2) in 900 ml of 0.1N HCl at 50 rpm. The physicochemical of loratidine did not give any variation. By this study we conclude that all parameter for physicochemical properties like weight variation, hardness of tablets, friability, their disintegration time and the dissolution release study for all the brands of loratidine that are available in Karachi meet the British pharmacopoeia (BP) and United State pharmacopoeia (USP) specification for quality control analysis.Weight variation, hardness and friability value requirement was complied by all brands .Disintegration time for all brands was less than 15 minutes complying the BP/USP recommendation. All brands showed more than 80 % drug release within 45 minutes. The present findings suggest that almost all the brands of loratidine meet the BP/USP specification for QC analysis. 2018-12-05T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16506 Title: REPORT Attenuation of apomorphine induced behavioral sensitization in rats pre-treated with tryptophan Authors: Muhammad Farhan; Darakshan Jabeen Haleem Abstract: Psychostimulants substances, some of which are abused by humans, are generally believed to produce sensitization effects when they are repeatedly administered to animals. Apomorphine, a non-narcotic derivative of morphine, having agonistic property for dopamine in order to produce psycho stimulant-like effects. Meanwhile, chronic administration leads to behavioral sensitization. Therefore, present study destine to produce desensitization in animals by the repeated administration of tryptophan (100 mg/kg), thereafter treated with apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg) to observe the intensity of sensitization in rats pre-treated with tryptophan. Apomorphine on acute administration known to increase motor activity whereas repeated treatment of apomorphine initiates the sensitization of motor behavior. It is expected that the intensity of apomorphine induced sensitization would be affected in tryptophan-treated rats. Present study provide the clear-cut evidence that chronic treatment of apomorphine arouses the motor behavior of animals in both novel and anxiolytic model over the saline treated animals, whereas hypo locomotive behavior was seen in animals pre-treated with tryptophan, provides the evidence that preliminary treatment of tryptophan perturbs the apomorphine induced sensitization in animals. The discoveries present an inventive methodology for amplifying the remedial utilization of apomorphine and traditional psychostimulants. 2018-12-04T00:00:00Z