Rizwan Shukat

The growing consumption of thermally processed minced red meat products in developing urban centers necessitates rigorous evaluation of their nutritional quality and safety attributes. This study systematically examines the proximate composition and hygienic status of beef seekh kababs marketed as street-vended ready-to-eat products in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Samples obtained from commercial vendors were comparatively analyzed alongside a laboratory-standardized formulation prepared under controlled hygienic conditions. Key compositional parameters, including moisture, crude protein, and crude fat contents, were determined using established analytical procedures. The results demonstrated statistically significant variations (p < 0.05) in proximate constituents between street-vended and standardized samples, reflecting inconsistencies in raw material selection, formulation practices, and thermal processing conditions. Such disparities not only influence nutritional quality but may also predispose products to reduced shelf stability and elevated microbial susceptibility. The findings underscore an existing research and regulatory gap in quality standardization for informal meat sectors and highlight the necessity for implementing structured hygienic protocols, compositional benchmarks, and monitoring frameworks to ensure consumer safety and nutritional consistency.

Various researches have publicized that different parts of Curcuma longa plant possess therapeutic potential to tackle dyslipidemia and associated inflammatory issues which is one of the key contributory factors leading to the oxidative stress, cardiovascular diseases and other associated metabolic problems. The current study was done to explore the ability of Curcuma longa rhizome extract to regulate lipids in rabbits with induced dyslipidemia. The Soxhlet method was used to create the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa rhizome. The obtained extract was applied on experimental rabbits in this trial. For this purpose, 25 healthy rabbits were arranged to accomplish the trial. These rabbits were then divided into five groups, with five rabbits in each group; the healthy rabbits were fed a regular diet, while the NC (Negative Control) rabbits were given a normal diet. The remaining 20 rabbits were given a high-fat diet on a regular basis for 28 days, and then they received a dose-dependent ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa rhizome on a regular basis for two months. This caused dyslipidemia in the rabbits. Rabbits in the PC (Positive Control) group had dyslipidemia and were fed a normal diet, whereas the G1, G2, and G3 groups also had dyslipidemia but were given varying dosages of Curcuma longa rhizome extract (50, 100, and 150 mg per kilogram of body weight, respectively). Every 15 days, blood samples were taken and analyzed to determine the serum lipid profile in order to assess the effectiveness of the prescribed medication. A significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (49.01±2.1mg/dL), total cholesterol (80.18± 3.4mg/dL) and triglycerides (49.01±2.1mg/dL) was seen in G2 (P<0.05), on the other hand there was a significant improvement in the high-density lipoprotein level (40.39±1.7mg/dL) of G2 in comparison to that of other groups. Findings of this study suggest that giving the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa rhizome (at 100 mg/kg) orally to G2 on a regular basis for 60 days reduced the lipid profile of dyslipidemic rabbits by significantly lowering their low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) levels and raising their high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) by‐products (leaves, stems, stalks) (CBP) were successfully utilized in muffins as a model system and their feasibility of incorporation was investigated. CBP powder‐based muffin formulations were made by the progressive replacement of wheat flour (WF) with 10%, 20%, and 30% of CBP. The physicochemical, pasting properties, antioxidant potential, textural characteristics, and sensorial attributes were analyzed. Substitution of CBP significantly (p < .05) resulted in an upsurge in crude protein, crude fiber, minerals, total phenolics, and total flavonoid contents, as well as total antioxidant activity values of muffins. The pasting properties were influenced by monitoring an increase in peak, breakdown, final, and setback viscosities. Although the addition of an increasing amount of CBP improved the nutritional characteristics, however, the increased level of replacement (>10%) had significant adverse effects on baking and physical characteristics. The specific loaf volume of the developed muffins decreased the crumb color which became darker, and enriched muffins were hardened in texture. Furthermore, sensory evaluation confirmed the positive effects of CBP incorporation only up to 10%. Overall, present results highlighted that supplementation of wheat muffins with 10% CBP is a beneficial approach to enrich them with nutrients and intensify their antioxidant potential.

Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is a significant pathological condition that causes morbidity and mortality in 80% of preterm infants and 50-60% of full-term newborns worldwide. NNJ can result in a variety of serious complications, including irreversible brain damage and, in severe cases, death. It is very critical for mothers to detect neonatal jaundice in the early stages of babies, so proper treatment, such as therapy, can begin. Mother knowledge, attitude, and practices are extremely important in the lives of newborn babies all over the world. This study was carried out in District Headquarters Hospital, KPK, Pakistan, to determine mothers' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding neonatal jaundice. A significant relationship between postnatal mothers’ knowledge and attitude toward neonatal jaundice was recorded in the current study. Almost 55% of mothers have a neutral attitude toward neonatal jaundice while 30% and 15% have a positive and negative attitude, respectively. The majority of mothers (30.75%) were between the ages of 21 and 25, while 25.75 and 24.50% were between the ages of 26-30 and 31-35, respectively. 64.250% of mothers were stay-at-home mothers, while 35.75% worked for the government. Illiterate (26.75%), primary (25.00%), middle (25.75%), higher (14.75%), and graduation (6.25%) level mothers participated, according to the data. Babies born to middle-class mothers had the highest rate of jaundice, followed by illiterate, primary, secondary, and graduate mothers. It was found that 55.50% of mothers had female babies and 44.50% of mothers had male babies. The majority of mothers (80.25%) were aware that jaundice changed skin colour, whereas 19.75% of mothers had a negative attitude toward skin colour. According to the majority of mothers, jaundice is a dangerous disease, while only 11.75% of mothers respond negatively. The participants in this study have a positive attitude toward Neonatal jaundice, their management measures and practices are ineffective and filled with misconceptions. More research on KAP in females is required. Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Practices; Neonate; Pakistan

Icariin (ICA) is a naturally occurring phytochemical agent primarily extracted from Epimedium Brevicornum Maxim (Family Berberidaceae) with a broad spectrum of bioactivities. Endometritis is a uterine disease that causes enormous losses in the dairy industry worldwide. In this study, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of ICA were investigated against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endometritis in mice to investigate possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Sixty heathy female Kunming mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 15), namely control, LPS, LPS + ICA, and ICA groups. The endometritis was induced by intrauterine infusion of 50 µL of LPS (1 mg/mL). After 24 h of onset of LPS-induced endometritis, ICA groups were injected thrice by ICA intraperitoneally six hours apart. Histopathological examination, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used in this study. Histological alterations revealed that ICA markedly mitigated uterine tissue injury caused by LPS. The results showed that the ICA inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) and boosted the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10). Additionally, ICA modulated the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) induced by LPS. The administration of ICA significantly (p < 0.05) improved the mRNA and protein expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4. The western blotting and ELISA finding revealed that the ICA repressed LPS-triggered NF-κB pathway activation. Moreover, ICA improved the antioxidant defense system via activation of the Nrf2 pathway. The results revealed that ICA up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of Nuclear erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) under LPS exposure. Conclusively, our findings strongly suggested that ICA protects endometritis caused by LPS by suppressing TLR4-associated NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways. Altogether, these innovative findings may pave the way for future studies into the therapeutic application of ICA to protect humans and animals against endometritis.

Endometritis is the inflammatory response of the endometrial lining of the uterus and is associated with low conception rates, early embryonic mortality, and prolonged inter-calving intervals, and thus poses huge economic losses to the dairy industry worldwide. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GnRb1) is a natural compound obtained from the roots of Panax ginseng, having several pharmacological and biological properties. However, the anti-inflammatory properties of GnRb1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged endometritis through the TLR4-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway has not yet been researched. This study was planned to evaluate the mechanisms of how GnRb1 rescues LPS-induced endometritis. In the present research, histopathological findings revealed that GnRb1 ameliorated LPS-triggered uterine injury. The ELISA and RT-qPCR assay findings indicated that GnRb1 suppressed the expression level of pro-inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and boosted the level of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine. Furthermore, the molecular study suggested that GnRb1 attenuated TLR4-mediated NF-κB signaling. The results demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of GnRb1 in the mouse model of LPS-triggered endometritis via the inhibition of the TLR4-associated NF-κB pathway. Taken together, this study provides a baseline for the protective effect of GnRb1 to treat endometritis in both humans and animals.