Journal of Bashir Institute of Health Sciences

Computational Analysis of Epilepsy Mutations in the Kinesin Motor Domain of KIF1A

2026-02-11T04:40:47+00:00

The Kinesin Family Member-1A (KIF1A) gene encodes a motor protein crucial for axonal transport and synaptic vesicle transport in neurons. KIF1A mutations are associated with neurological disorders, including Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, Intellectual Disability, and Autism. Mutations in KIF1A have been found to increase the hyperactivity of the motor protein, altering the axonal transport of synaptic vesicles precursors. Mutant KIF1A proteins with hyperactive motor functions have been shown to increase excitatory synaptic transmission, suggesting a potential role in the development of epileptic seizures. This study emphasizes on the computational analysis of previous reported missense mutations of KIF1A causing epilepsy. Comparative protein models of normal and all selected mutations (R13C and A85D were identified in Japanese patient, T99M, T258M and R316W were found in Korean patients) was prepared. Pathogenic prediction was performed using Meta-SNP and PREDICT SNP, Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA software and molecular docking by using previously discovered drugs was performed using PyRx tool. All mutations were predicted highly pathogenic and reported to cause epilepsy with other associated symptoms. Compounds with highest binding affinity were selected for docking which binds with the receptor making it a successful docking. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the changes in their conserved regions making these mutations pathogenic. This study gives a time and cost-effective analysis of KIF1A gene causing epilepsy and genetic mutations that play a key role in development and cause of disease.

Orthodontic Awareness, Oral Self-Care, and Social Impact in Malocclusion: A Clinic-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Bhara Kahu

2025-12-17T04:27:53+00:00

Background: Oral Hygiene is important for overall health, and especially it is important for those patients who are suffering from malocclusion. Poor oral hygiene can cause several issues like infections, dental plague and affect overall health. Practicing toothbrushing, Fluoride toothpaste, interdental brushes, flossing, mouthwash, regular visits to dentists, and education can lead to the maintenance of good oral hygiene in malocclusion patients. Methods: This study was observational. Data were collected from Tariq Dental Clinic and Bashir Dental Hospital, Bhara Kahu, Islamabad. This study was conducted from August 2024 to November 2024. A random selection of 100 patients was used, using a pre-structured questionnaire with the help of a previous study. Results: The result of this study included a total of 100 patients, 69 male and 31 female. Distribution of patients according to their age and gender. 97% of patients clean their teeth. 93% use a toothbrush or toothpaste for brushing, 7% use Datun, finger and charcoal powder. Among all, 74% cleaned their tongue. 46% of respondents brush their teeth twice a day, 42% once a day, and 6% do not brush their teeth frequently. 34% use dental floss, 23% use wooden toothpicks and 18% use interdental brushes. 75% of the participants do not use tobacco. About 84% of participants heard about the Malalignment of teeth. Of the respondents, 74% were happy with the way their teeth looked, while 26% weren't. 16% of patients were not bullied due to malocclusion. 81% are aware of how malocclusion negatively affects the oral cavity, and 83% of people know that the alignment of teeth would affect their mastication. 76% think malalignment is caused due to external habits. After learning about the negative consequences of malocclusion, about 86% of the patients desired to have it corrected. Class I sagittal molar occlusion was found in 44% of the sample, while Class II and Class III were found in 40% and 16% of the sample, respectively. Conclusion: Most patients clean their teeth, using a toothbrush and clean their tongue, and most of them brush at least twice daily. Other cleaning tools or materials are an interdental brush, mouthwash and dental floss used daily. Most of the patients were aware of malocclusion, and they corrected its ill effects.

Barriers to access and utilization of dental services in the adult population of Twin Cities: a cross-sectional study

2026-02-17T05:49:41+00:00

Background: Oral hygiene is essential to overall health, influencing physical, mental, and social well-being. In spite of advancements in oral hygiene, significant inequalities remain, particularly in developing nations. This study aims to investigate the barriers to accessing and utilizing dental services in the adult population of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2024 to November 2024 in public and private dental clinics in the Twin Cities. An organized questionnaire appraised socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral traits, and barriers to dental service utilization. Results: The study population involved adult patients aged above 40 years, and data were analyzed using SPSS, with both descriptive and inferential statistical approaches. Out of 245 participants, 75.5% were from Rawalpindi and 24.5% from Islamabad, with a mean age of 50.2 years. Significant associations were found between socio-demographic factors and perceived barriers such as unaffordability and fear of dental treatment. Females, unemployed individuals, and those with lower education levels reported higher levels of dental anxiety and perceived barriers. The study highlights key demographic influences on dental service utilization and identifies financial constraints, anxiety, and social factors as major barriers. Conclusion: The analytic analysis of unaffordability indicates that gender, occupational status, and educational attainment are linked to the probability of financial constraint, as women, and in fact those persons working in lower-paying jobs or with a lower level of education, are more likely to suffer economic stress.

Frequency of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Hostelite Students, Peshawar, Pakistan

2026-04-06T05:15:37+00:00

Background: Gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori remains one of the most prevalent bacterial conditions worldwide, with particular burden in developing nations. Young adults living in communal settings are considered especially susceptible, yet data targeting hostelite university students in Pakistan are scarce.

Objective: This study sought to determine the prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity among hostelite undergraduates of NCS University System, Peshawar, and to explore the behavioural and environmental factors associated with infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed from February to July 2019 across three university hostels (two male, one female). Using convenient sampling, 152 students who had resided in the hostel for a minimum of three months were enrolled. Blood specimens were analysed by Immunochromatography Technique (ICT), and a structured questionnaire captured socio-demographic and lifestyle information. Data were processed in SPSS v.25.

Results: Of 152 participants (mean age 21.28 years; 127 male, 25 female), 59 (38.8%) were seropositive for H. pylori. Male students exhibited higher seropositivity (41%) than females (28%). Ex-smokers recorded the highest positivity rate of any smoking category (50%), while habitual tea consumers showed considerably greater infection frequency (41%) than non-drinkers (15.3%). Nearly all participants relied on unfiltered tube-well water, among whom seropositivity stood at 39.3%.

Conclusion: Approximately two in five hostelite students at NCS University System are infected with H. pylori. Unfiltered water, smoking history, and habitual tea consumption emerged as the most notable risk correlates. Targeted interventions addressing water quality, tobacco use, and health literacy within hostelite environments are strongly warranted.

Synthesis and Evaluation of 2-Mercaptobenzimidazole Mannich Base Derivatives as Carbonic Anhydrase II Inhibitors

2026-05-22T15:27:18+00:00

Background: Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are zinc-containing enzymes that catalyze the reversible conversion of carbon dioxide into bicarbonate. These enzymes play an important role in several physiological and pathological processes, including glaucoma, epilepsy, osteoporosis, and cancer. However, commonly used sulfonamide-based inhibitors often lack selectivity for specific isoforms, which can lead to unwanted side effects. The present study aimed to synthesize and investigate a series of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-based Mannich derivatives (2a–i) as potential non-classical inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase II (CA II).

Methods: The target compounds were prepared using a reflux condensation method and characterized through FTIR and proton NMR (¹H NMR) spectroscopy. Their biological potential was assessed by evaluating antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay, inhibitory activity against CA II through in vitro analysis, and binding interactions via molecular docking studies (PDB ID: 1A42).

Results: Among the synthesized compounds, 2h, 2f, 2e, and 2g demonstrated the strongest binding affinities in docking studies, with energies ranging from −8.3 to −7.6 kcal/mol. These compounds also exhibited notable CA II inhibitory activity, with IC₅₀ values between 182.20 and 222.21 µM. In addition, compound 2f showed the most significant antioxidant activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 5.11 µM.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that Mannich base derivatives of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole may serve as promising candidates for the development of novel, non-classical inhibitors of CA II.

Comparison of Frequency of GIT-Related Health Issues Between Day Scholar and Hostelite Undergraduate Students in Relation to Diet, Exercise and Smoking

2026-05-25T07:55:30+00:00

ABSTRACT

Background: Gastrointestinal (GIT) health is an important marker of individual well-being and may be impacted by diet, exercise, smoking, and living conditions. Undergraduate students represent a population particularly vulnerable to lifestyle-related GIT disorders, yet limited comparative data exist between hostelites and day scholars in Pakistan. To assess the difference in frequency of GIT health issues between hostelite and day scholar undergraduate students in relation to their dietary habits, exercise patterns, and smoking status. Methodology: We conducted a comparative descriptive cross-sectional study among 385 undergraduate students from institutions in Peshawar between 20th November 2023 and 12th January 2024. Convenience sampling was used for participant recruitment. Dietary intake and GIT symptoms were assessed using the Short-Form Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), respectively. Statistical analyses including independent samples t-tests, Spearman’s rank correlation for categorical variables, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation for continuous variables were performed using SPSS version 25. Results: Of 385 participants, 210 were day scholars and 175 were hostelites. Approximately 42–45% in each group reported none to minimal GIT complaints, and total GIT symptom scores did not differ significantly between groups (t = 0.109, p = 0.913). Day scholars had a higher mean Dietary Quality Score (DQS) than hostelites (9.62 ± 1.49 vs. 9.29 ± 1.60; p = 0.038). Current smoking was somewhat more common among day scholars (6.7% vs. 3.4%). Correlation analysis identified significant associations between GIT symptoms and both dietary quality (r = 0.177, p = 0.019) and smoking status (ρ = 0.179, p = 0.018) in hostelites only. Hunger pains were the only individual GSRS symptom significantly elevated in hostelites (p = 0.019). Conclusion: Overall GIT symptom burden was similar between day scholars and hostelites, though day scholars had significantly better dietary quality. Associations between diet, smoking, and GIT symptoms were observed only in hostelites, suggesting that residential living may heighten susceptibility to lifestyle-related GIT risk factors though causal conclusions cannot be drawn from this cross-sectional study.

Evaluation of Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers in Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: A Study from Tertiary Care Hospitals in Islamabad, Pakistan

2026-05-28T10:35:27+00:00

Background: Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common infection in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. It remains a major cause of increased mortality among these patients and contributes to prolonged hospital stay. Early diagnosis of VAP is often difficult because commonly used clinical and laboratory findings can also appear in other respiratory conditions and lack specificity. Serum inflammatory biomarkers such as Pro-calcitonin (PCT), C-reactive Protein (CRP) and White Blood Cells (WBCs) Count may improve diagnostic accuracy and help monitor the disease progression. Methodology: This study included 70 mechanically ventilated ICU patients diagnosed with VAP across the selected Tertiary Care Hospitals of Islamabad. Levels of PCT, CRP and WBCs were measured across three different points of time; during first 48 hours of mechanical ventilation (base-line value), at clinical suspicion of VAP and one week after the diagnosis of VAP. SPSS version 27 was used for the statistical analysis of data. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Serum PCT levels showed a significant rise from base-line value to the time of VAP suspicion and then a significant fall one week after VAP diagnosis (p < 0.001). CRP levels also increased at the time of suspicion and then decreased one week after diagnosis but the overall variation in its levels was not statistically significant (p = 0.116). WBCs Count only showed minimum fluctuation across the three time points without any statistically significant difference (p = 0.108). Conclusion: Among the evaluated biomarkers, PCT demonstrated greater diagnostic utility as compared to CRP and WBCs Count. Its dynamic changes closely reflected disease’s onset, progression and its response to treatment. These findings suggest that PCT is a more reliable biomarker for VAP than CRP and WBCs Count. These findings suggest the use of PCT as a clinical adjunct for the diagnosis and monitoring of VAP.