There are a growing number of studies conducted in different parts of the world to understand the genetic etiology of urinary bladder cancer (UBC), which is a life- threatening disorder. Therefore to find the susceptible genetic loci we conducted a case-control genetic association study on Pakistani urothelial carcinoma patients (N = 200) and healthy controls (N = 200). For this purpose, four types of sequence variations were studied viz. VNTR polymorphism of eNOS, Alu repeat variation of ACE gene, null polymorphisms of GSTT and GSTM genes and selected common variants of GSTP1, MTHFR, PSCA, TNFα, p21, TP53, CYP1B1, XPD, XRCC1, CAV1, PON1, IGFBP3, VEGFA, LEP, LEPR, PPARγ genes as well as intergenic 8q24 region. In addition to an overall risk assessment, these polymorphisms were also analyzed with respect to the smoking status as well as with respect to tumor grade and stage. Haplotype-based association analysis of variants residing in linkage disequilibrium were also carried out and a gene-gene interaction was studied with reference to combined genotype analysis of functionally related genes. The risk variants of GSTM, LEPR, ACE, PSCA and 8q24.21 locus (rs9642880 and rs6983267) were found to be associated with significantly higher risk while IGFBP3 variant and haplotypes of CAV1 and MTHFR were found to be associated with reduced risk of UBC in the overall comparison of cases and controls. In the gene-smoking interaction CYP1B1, p21 (Ser allele), ACE and rs9642880 conferred a high UBC risk in smokers while LEPR and PSCA variants were found to be associated with increased risk of bladder oncogenesis in non-smokers only. In addition, p21 (Arg allele) was found to be associated with reduced UBC susceptibility in smokers while IGFBP3 and CAV1 haplotypes protected against urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in non-smokers only. GSTM0 and the risk allele of rs6983267 did not show a gene-smoking interaction because of their significant risk contribution in both smoker and non-smoker groups. With reference to tumor grade and stage, a trend of similar genetic etiologies was observed in low grade and non-invasive tumor, while the high grade and invasive tumor types were also found to have common genetic etiologies which were different from the former group. GSTM0, LEPR and rs9642880 were found to be associated with enhanced risk of low grade as well as non-invasive bladder carcinoma. GSTT0, CAV1, PSCA and PPARγ were found to predispose individuals to an elevated risk of ixhigh grade and invasive tumor. ACE and rs6983267 were non-specifically associated with both low and high grades as well as with non-invasive and invasive tumors. IGFBP3 SNP protected against low and high grade as well as against non-invasive stage. The haplotypes of MTHFR were found to confer a high risk of non-invasive tumor while providing protection against MIBC. In brief, the present study revealed the association of some of the genetic variants to the overall disease susceptibility in addition to some gene-smoking and gene-gene interactions.
Dr. Isrār Aḥmad was born on 26th April, 1932A. D/1350A. H. in Ḥiṣār District (India). He was an active member and General Secretary of The Muslim Students Federation for the period 1945-46 A. D. He stood first in Matriculation Exam in 1366A. H/1947A. D in District Ḥiṣār attaining 4th position among the Muslim students of Punjāb. During schooling, he was greatly inspired by the poetry of ‘Allāma Muḥammad Iqbāl (d:1357A. H/1938A. D) and picked up the will to strive for the renaissance of Islām. In Oct-Nov 1947A. D, he came over to Pākistān with a caravan undertaking a tiresome journey of twenty days by traveling on foot. In 1368A. H/1949A. D, he passed F. Sc. from Government College Lāhore, securing 4th position in Punjāb University. He did his MBBS from King Edward Medical College, Lāhore in 1374A. H/1954A. D. Dr. Isrār established the Qur’ān Study Circle and Islamic Hostel at Montgomery (Sāhīwāl) in 1960-61A. D. In 1962A. D, he performed his first pilgrimage with his parents. He passed his M. A. (in Islāmic studies) from Karāchī University in 1965A. D securing 1st position. Thereafter, he set up a private clinic and Qur’ānic Circle at Lāhore. In 1391A. H/1971A. D, he proceeded again for the pilgrimage. It was that period of time when he decided to give up the medical practice and dedicate the rest of his life to serving Dīn. In 1972A. D, Dr. Isrār Aḥmad established Central Anjuman Khuddām al-Qur’ān at Krishan Nagar in Lāhore to propagate the teachings of the Qur’ān. In 1975A. D, he founded an organization with the name of Tanẓīm-e-Islāmī for the supremacy and establishment of Dīn. In the times of President General Ẓiā al-Haq (d: 1409A. H/1988A. D), Dr. Isrār Aḥmad was nominated as...
This study focused on how gender roles change from traditional to modern society with the impact of globalization by exploring the role of culture, technology, and environment. Globalization is the integration process that may affect human wellbeing, environment, economic development, and societal prosperity worldwide. A qualitative method was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 12 participants comprising of generation X (1965-1979), generation Y (1980-1994), and generation Z (1995-2004). Participants were sampled purposively. Through thematic analysis 10 major themes were discovered; (i) Perceived traditional gender roles, (ii) Transitional gender roles, (iii) Practicing traditional gender roles, (iv) Socio-cultural and family pressure, (v) Adopting new behavioral characteristics by females, (vi) Technology paved new ways and convenience, (vii) Negative aspects of Technology, (viii) Sensitized gender concept, (ix) Exposure to a hazardous environment, and (x) Social deconstruction of gender roles. The following information was found with regard to different generations and genders: (i) The element of acceptance and change is more evident in generation Z than in generation X; (ii) The male respondents are more persistent in traditional gender roles; (iii) The influence of technology on changing gender roles is more evident among the female participants; and (iv) Generation X and Y have more stereotypical views on gender roles than generation Z. The implication of this study is that gender roles are changing significantly over time in Pakistan due to globalization and technological development.
In the current study, PPy and its composites with V2O5 were synthesized in aqueous medium by chemical oxidation polymerization method using FeCl3.6H2O as an oxidant. The materials were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopic, XRD, TGA, SEM, EDX techniques, surface area and pore size analyzer, UV-visible spectrophotometry and LCR-meter. The FT-IR results confirmed the successful synthesis of PPy and PPy/V2O5 composites. The XRD study showed the amorphous and crystalline nature of PPy and PPy/V2O5 composites, respectively. The TGA analyses showed slight increase in the thermal stability of the composites. The SEM data ratified the porous nature of PPy and PPy/V2O5 composites. The BET surface area of the samples was found to increase with the increase in the content of V2O5. The UV-visible spectrophotometry confirmed the doping of PPy in the composites. The electrical properties of the samples showed their semiconducting nature. The resistance of the samples was found to be dependent on temperature and V2O5 content in the composites. Afterward, the electrochemical gas sensing behavior of the samples was evaluated for ammonia and some common organic liquid vapors. The results showed that the composites were more sensitive and selective towards ammonia and therefore, further studied with respect to V2O5 content in the composites, temperature and ammonia concentration. Among the studied samples, PPy/V2O5 composites with 8wt.% of V2O5 showed best sensitivity response toward ammonia at 25 oC in the range of 5 to 200 ppm with LOD 1.4 ppm. The sensitivity, response and recovery time of this composite was determined from dynamic response curve at 10ppm ammonia and found to be 19.5%, 10.5 and 81.6 s, respectively. The highly selective ammonia sensing performance of PPy/8%V2O5 composites 18 may be due the incorporation of V2O5 in PPy and could be declared as a promising candidate for sensitive gas sensors.