Browsing by Author "Muhammad Sohail Afzal"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    Association of ctla-4 polymorphisms and autoimmune type-1 diabetes mellitus susceptibility in Pakistani population
    (Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, 2018) Muhammad Sohail Afzal; Muhammad Yousaf Khan; Salman Akbar Malik; Rumesha Riaz; Muhammad Ali
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    A computational structural analysis of functional attributes of hypodermin a and b proteins: a way forward for vaccine development
    (Pak. J. Pharm. Sci, 2018) Irum Arif; Abdul Rauf Siddiqi; Haroon Ahmed; Inam Afzal; Muhammad Umer; Arooma Maryam; Rana Rehan Khalid; Saira Asif; Muhammad Sohail Afzal; Shabnum Shaheen; Sadaf Abdul Rauf; Ozyalin, Ozge; Simsek, Sami
    Hypodermosis is a parasitic disease of cattle. The pathogenicity of the disease is attributed to Hypodermin proteins (Hypodermin A, Hypodermin B and Hypodermin C). Studies suggest that Hypodermin proteins may be defined as Serine proteases and collagenases. The structure of both proteases Hypodermin A and Hypodermin B were modeled using the Swiss-model server followed by its validation using Procheck, Errat and Verify-3D. Afterwards, both Hypodermin A and Hypodermin B were docked against collagen in order to study its interaction with respective Hypodermin proteins. The structure of both Hypodermin A and Hypodermin B showed more bent towards hydrophobic nature as more beta sheets were present in them. Both structures were also superimposed to check out similarities and differences present between them. Serine, Aspartic acid, Histidine, Glutamic acid and Lysine are found as interacting residues that are involved in hydrogen bonding with collagen. The interactions are found in the active domain region of Hypodermin proteins. The interacting residues were present in the active region of the hypodermin proteins thus validating the docking studies. This study may help in the drug development against hypodermosis with least side effects.
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    Epidemiology of polio virus infection in Pakistan and possible risk factors for its transmission
    (Elsevier, 2016) Mahvish Kabir; Muhammad Sohail Afzal
    End Polio Pakistan program still has to overcome many hurdles; unfortunately on 8th February 2016 first polio case of the year has surfaced in Karachi. It seems that battle against polio demands little bit more conviction and motivation. WHO has set a goal of polio eradication in Pakistan till 2018, in order to evaluate the success of this target; polio eradication campaign in Pakistan has been analyzed in different perspectives. Our analysis indicated that major obstacles in eradication are low literacy rate, poor health infrastructure, lack of planning, natural disaster, economic crisis, counter insurgencies and almost no protection for polio health workers. WHO has allocated new funds to tackle this problem, now there is a need to spend this money more effectively; with proper planning and honest deployment of funds.
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    The first report of hepatitis b virus prevalence in skardu, gilgit baltistan: a neglected area of Pakistan
    (Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 2018) Ali Raza; Muhammad Saleem; Muhammad Sohail Afzal
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    HCV treatment with sofosbuvir in Pakistan; current scenario and future perspective
    (ournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research, 2018) Ayesha Khaliq; Imtiaz Ahmad; Muhammad Sohail Afzal
    Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a global problem with around 1.75 million new infections yearly. With approximate 70% chronicity rate about 399,000 people die each year from hepatitis C. Pakistan is endemic for this infection with 5-8% prevalence in general population. There are several HCV genotypes and antiviral therapies are genotype dependent. In Pakistan genotype 3a is dominant followed by diagnostically untypable HCV variants. Previously interferon based antiviral regimens were the only choice for HCV treatment in Pakistan. Recently sofosbuvir is introduced in Pakistan on heavily discount. Although sofosbuvir showed very good sustained virological response (SVR) globally but due to different ethnicity and genetic makeup, it is important to analyse the drug efficacy in Pakistan. Available limited data showed that overall SVR/rapid virological response (RVR) is very good. The current data is very limited and it is highly needed to have studies reporting the sofosbuvir treatment response from different ethnic groups from the whole country.
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    HIV outbreak in Pakistan
    (LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 2018) Muhammad Zaid; Muhammad Sohail Afzal
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    Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to cystic echinococcosis endemicity in Pakistan
    (Infectious diseases of poverty, 2018) Aisha Khan; Haroon Ahmed; Simsek, Sami; Kashf Naz; Muhammad Sohail Afzal; Waseem Haider; Sheikh Saeed Ahmad; Sumaira Farrakh; Weiping, Wu; Yayi, Guan
    Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a human and animal health problem in many endemic areas worldwide. It is considered a neglected zoonotic disease caused by the larval form (hydatid cyst) of Echinococcus spp. tapeworm. There are limited studies on echinococcosis in Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to find out recent knowledge, attitudes and practices on the occurrence of cystic echinococcosis in butchers and dog owners in both urban and rural areas of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad regions, Pakistan. The quantitative data was collected in the form of questionnaires to investigate the knowledge and awareness of CE among community members and their routine practices that were behind the factors involved in hydatid cyst infection. The practices and infrastructure of abattoirs/butcher shops and their role in transmission of cystic echinococcosis were also evaluated in the present study. Results: The participants involved in the study were dog owners and people who kept animals. A total of 400 people were interviewed and 289 questionnaires were received. The results showed that only 4.1% of people have heard about the disease, and 58.1% were closely associated with dogs. Sixty-three percent of dogs in study area were consuming uncooked organs (e.g. liver, lung, etc.) of slaughtered animals, while 100% of dogs at butcher shops were consuming uncooked organs. Home slaughtering was common in 20.06%. Among butchers, 32.3% had heard about zoonoses and 7.61% knew about CE. The statistical analysis showed that there was highly significant difference (P < 0.05) among most of the practices that were associated with the prevalence of CE. Conclusions: It was concluded from the present study that, the knowledge and awareness of CE among people of Rawalpindi/Islamabad were low. Because of dogs and poor knowledge of CE among community members and butchers, the transmission of echinococcosis is facilitated. Therefore, there is urgent need to strengthen awareness and health education among people, as well as proper practices related to the CE not only in the study area, but also in other areas of Pakistan.
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    Prevalence and treatment of untypable HCV variants in different districts of Punjab, Pakistan
    (Viral immunology, 2018) Ayesha Zafar; Muhammad Imran; Sarmad Zahoor; Zaheer Hussain Shah; Muhammad Ali; Muhammad Sohail Afzal
    In Pakistan, around 11 million people are infected with, at least, six circulating genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The viral burden is still on rise. HCV genotype determination is necessary to devise appropriate antiviral therapy. Previous reports highlight the prevalence circulating untypable (in diagnostic perspectives) HCV subtype in local Pakistani patients. Present study was designed to investigate the epidemiological distribution of genotypes in different districts of Punjab, Pakistan and focuses on prevalence of diagnostically untypable subtype and its possible antiviral therapy. A total of 8,353 HCV patients were included through 2011 to 2016 for determination of HCV prevalent genotypes in the local community. HCV genotyping was carried out using Ohno et al. method, and five cases of diagnostically untypable patients were treated with interferon-based antiviral regimen to find the possible treatment strategy. Of the 8,353 patients, the genotype 3a (n=6,650, 79.6%) was most significantly prevalent throughout the study period followed by undetermined genotype that is, untypable (n=1,377, 16.5%). The presence of untypable variants suggested that there are some novel or quasi species prevailing among HCV patients in local community. Five HCV patients infected with untypable genotype had been treated effectively with interferon alpha plus ribavirin therapy for 24 weeks at standard doses and achieved sustained virological response. This study highlighted an important aspect of HCV treatment for local Pakistani HCV patients. Untypable HCV variants could be treated with interferon-based antiviral regimens such as 3a genotype. The study raises the need of characterization of diagnostically untypable HCV variant. On the basis of these results, it can be proposed that until the availability of pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral for HCV treatment in Pakistan, interferon-based antiviral regimens will be of choice for majority of patients infected with 3a or untypable genotypes.
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    A retrospective analysis on the cystic echinococcosis cases occurred in northeastern Punjab province, Pakistan
    (Korean J Parasitol, 2018) Aisha Khan; Sarmad Zahoor; Haroon Ahmed; Uzma Malik; Rabia Amin Butt; Muhammad Sultanul Muzam; Gunyakti Kilinc, Seyma; Noorulain Noor; Saroosh Zahoor; Muhammad Sohail Afzal; Hamza Mansur; Shumaila Irum; Simsek, Sami
    A retrospective study was performed to report the case occurrence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in three hospitals of north-eastern region in Punjab Province, Pakistan. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical records of patients in 4 hospitals which were diagnosed with CE during 2012-2017. A total of 198 cases, 82 (41.4%) male and 116 (58.6%) females were detected as CE. The most Highest incidence was revealed in.... 21-30 years-old group (24.2%) followed by 41-50 (22.7%), 31-40 (16.2%), 11-20 (13.6%), 51-60 (8.1%), below 10 (5.5%), over 71 (5.1%) and 61-70 year-old group (4.5%). CE was detected in various organs of infected individuals. However, most of CE cases were detected in the liver (47.4%) and lung (18.6%). The present study indicated that CE is more or less prevalent in surveyed areas and one of the most important public health problems in Punjab Province, Pakistan.
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    SERO-prevalence of hepatitis b and c virus from rural areas of northern Punjab (Sargodha district), Pakistan
    (Tropical Biomedicine, 2015) Muhammad Sohail Afzal; Zaheer Hussain Shah
    Pakistan is endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with 10 and 11 million infections, respectively. The epidemiological studies of these virus showed that the information is only from few cities of the country and is relevant to high risk groups. It is of great importance to have an idea about the prevalence of infectious agents in general population to help in identification of hot spot for infections. Identification of hot spots will help in disease management for future. As the there is no report form district Sargodha (Punjab Province) so this study was designed to analyze the prevalence of HBV and HCV in general population. Blood samples of 2373 randomly selected individuals from six different tehsils were collected and were analyzed for HBV and HCV sero-positivity. An overall prevalence of both HBV and HCV in district Sargodha was 28.10% (667/2373). HCV prevalence was (20.01%) and HBV seropositivity was (8.09%). Males were more infected than females, and a significant difference was found in positive cases between male (58.77%) and female (41.22%). The most common routes of transmission of hepatitis virus in present study were shaving assisted by barbers in male patients 143 (21.43%), non sterile or used needles & syringes 127 (19.04%), dental surgical procedures 88 (13.19%), and sharing razors in males 49 (7.34%). In female patients a significant factor is labor and child birth process. Most cases of hepatitis were seen in mesons, farmers and house wives. The prevalence of HBV and HCV in general population of district Sargodha is very high. The study will help for better management of disease to contain the disease spread. The study highlighted that District Sargodha is endemic for these viral infections and it is highly warranted to carry out more studies to get better idea about the infection spread. Community education campaigns are also highly warranted to general population as well as high risk population to control future disease spread.