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Abstract The aim of the present research was to investigate the presence of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) in blood samples from cows raised with irrigated wastewater, as well as in the wastewater itself, in the North-western region of Pakistan. A total of 60 blood samples were collected from five different locations in Kohat, namely Tappi Road (TR), Pindi Road (PR), Gul Malik Road (GMR), Markaz Road (MR), and a control group. The samples of both i.e. cow blood and wastewater were analyzed for the concentrations of heavy metals. The highest concentration of Cd was detected in the MR site with a mean value of 0.03 mg/L, and the highest concentration of Cu (0.04 mg/L) was recorded in the TR site, while the lowest level was found in the control group with a mean of 0.002 mg/L in blood samples. The highest Cr and Pb concentrations were found at the PR site, with mean values of 0.03 and 0.07 mg/L, respectively, whereas the control group had the lowest concentrations, with mean values of 0.002 and 0.01 mg/L. Similarly, heavy metal concentrations were analyzed in wastewater used for irrigation in the study area. Results indicated elevated concentrations of Cu and Cr in wastewater, although they remained below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended values except for Cr (0.13 mg/L) in the GMR site, which exceeded permissible limits. Cd and Pb concentrations in wastewater were relatively low, but Cd concentration surpassed WHO limits, particularly with a mean concentration of 0.08 mg/L in the TR site. Comparison between heavy metal concentrations in blood and wastewater revealed higher values of Cd and Pb in blood samples than in wastewater, while Cu and Cr concentrations were higher in water compared to blood. Additionally, elevated levels of Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), antioxidant enzyme Catalase (CAT), and oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected in blood samples. Cluster and principal component analyses were employed to assess heavy metal toxicity among the groups, indicating potential long-term adverse health effects on animals, transfer to humans, and toxicity in living organisms.

Background: The health literacy and numeracy skills of women in Pakistan are very low compared to other low- and middle-income countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to improve the health literacy and numeracy skills of unschooled women in Northern Pakistan by developing a Maternal and Child Health Calendar (MCHC). The MCHC utilizes locally contextualized icons to promote and enhance service utilization and maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. Methods: We conducted a qualitative exploratory study design to understand the experiences and usefulness of the MCHC among women. We recruited the participants using purposive sampling. Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted individual interviews with nine Key informants, that is, Agha Khan Rural Support Staff and Community-based savings group staff and five focus group discussions with unschooled women. We followed Braun and Clarke’s steps to conduct an inductive thematic data analysis. Results: The findings of our study are categorized into the following themes: (1) the benefits of using MCHC, (2) the usefulness of the MCHC in women’s healthcare decision-making, (3) empowerment of poorly schooled women, (4) enabling numeracy and record-keeping skills, (5) MCHC implementation challenges, and (6) participants suggestions to improve the MCHC. Our findings revealed that the MCHC improved the health literacy and numeracy of illiterate or less educated women by using localized images to help them comprehend their own and their children’s health. Additionally, it effectively empowered these women in their healthcare decision-making, such as discussing family planning with their husbands. Women also suggested modifying some images in the MCHC to enhance their clarity and usefulness. Conclusion: The MCHC has the potential to safely and sustainably build basic MCH literacy and numeracy skills among both literate and illiterate women in Northern Pakistan. Further research is needed to assess its potential as a stand-alone intervention to improve MCH outcomes.

The widespread global adoption of wind energy sources has established a significant presence in the existing power grid. However, the massive integration of intermittent wind energy poses forecasting errors, prompting the need for supplementary reserves from conventional energy sources with increased operational expenses and carbon emissions. Hence, to facilitate the seamless operation of large-scale wind-integrated power grids, it is imperative to harness the potential of renewable energy sources and leverage flexible loads to deliver power-balancing services. In this research, dynamic real-time power dispatch strategies have been developed for the Automatic Generation Control (AGC) system to integrate the reserve capacities of conventional generation units and wind power plants and utilize the demand response capabilities of flexible loads for power balancing services. A comprehensive power system grid model was developed in DigSilent PowerFactory software, consisting of coal-based energy systems, wind energy systems, gas turbines, and cold storage units as flexible loads. The study is divided into different case studies to assess the impact of each scenario on system operation in mitigating the forecasting errors of wind power plants. Further, a comparative analysis was performed to illustrate the effectiveness of each case study. The analysis showed that Case Study III, where reserves are provided by coal energy systems and cold storage units, yielded the highest reduction in Positive Regulation (PR) and Negative Regulation (NR) errors, at 89.0% and 94.15%, respectively. Conversely, Case Study IV demonstrated the least reduction in errors, with 67.82% in PR and 78.41% in NR. However, it indicates that reserves can be supplied from wind energy systems and flexible loads without the support of conventional power plants.

Microplastics (MPs) are small plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, which have become a common environmental contaminant, spreading across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Concerns have been raised about the impact of microplastics on animal health and nutrition due to their accumulation and potential transfer through the food chain. This review aims to summarize current knowledge about microplastics in animal nutrition, with a focus on their occurrence, sources, routes of exposure, and potential effects on animal physiology and metabolism. Animals can consume microplastics through a variety of routes, including direct consumption of contaminated food, uptake from contaminated water, and ingestion of organisms that have already consumed microplastics. MPs have been found in a variety of animal species, including fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates, highlighting the possibility of widespread exposure and bioaccumulation. MPs can interact with the gastrointestinal tract after being ingested, potentially influencing nutrient absorption, gut microbiota composition, and overall digestive efficiency. MPs may also act as carriers for other chemical pollutants, potentially increasing their bioavailability and toxic effects on animals. While some studies indicate that microplastics may cause adverse effects in animals such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of endocrine functions, the overall health effects and long-term consequences of microplastic (MP) exposure in animal nutrition remain unknown. Furthermore, the review discusses the potential consequences of microplastics in animal-derived food products, considering the human health risks associated with their consumption.

Key Clinical Message Early screening and management of postpartum posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can reduce hospital stay and complications. Obstetricians, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, and even general physicians should be aware of PRES since its presentation is variable.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution for tackling antibiotic resistance in monogastric animals, providing innovative methods to enhance animal health and well-being. This review explores the novel use of nanotechnology-based nanomaterials as substitutes for antibiotics in monogastric animals. With growing global concerns about antibiotic resistance and the need for sustainable practices in animal husbandry, nanotechnology offers a compelling avenue to address these challenges. The objectives of this review are to find out the potential of nanomaterials in improving animal health while reducing reliance on conventional antibiotics. We examine various forms of nanomaterials and their roles in promoting gut health and also emphasize fresh perspectives brought by integrating nanotechnology into animal healthcare. Additionally, we delve into the mechanisms underlying the antibacterial properties of nanomaterials and their effectiveness in combating microbial resistance. By shedding light on the transformative role of nanotechnology in animal production systems. This review contributes to our understanding of how nanotechnology can provide safer and more sustainable alternatives to antibiotics.

Short-term load forecasting (STLF) is vital in effectively managing the reserve requirement in modern power grids. Subsequently, it supports the grid operator in making effective and economical decisions during the power balancing operation. Therefore, this study comprehensively reviews STLF methods, including time series analysis, regression-based frameworks, artificial neural networks (ANNs), and hybrid models that employ different forecasting approaches. Detailed mathematical and graphical analyses and a comparative evaluation of these methods are provided, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Further, the study proposes a hybrid CNN-LSTM model comprised of Convolutional neural networks (CNN) for feature extraction of high dimensional data and Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks to boost the model’s efficiency for temporal sequence prediction. This study assessed the model using a comprehensive dataset from Pakistan’s NTDC national grid. The analysis revealed superior performance in short-term load prediction, achieving enhanced accuracy. For single-step forecasting, the model yielded an RMSE of 538.71, MAE of 371.97, and MAPE of 2.72. In 24-hour forecasting, it achieved an RMSE of 951.94, MAE of 656.35, and MAPE of 4.72 on the NTDC dataset. Moreover, the model has outperformed previous models in comparison using the AEP dataset, demonstrating its superiority in enhancing reserve management and balancing supply and demand in modern electricity networks.

The most frequent and dangerous hazard to the electrical insulation of high voltage (HV) and high field (HF) equipment is partial discharges (PD). The development of PD activity is both a cause and an indicator of insulation degradation, which could ultimately lead to insulation breakdown. For electrical power equipment to operate safely and dependably, continuous and efficient PD monitoring must be conveniently performed to prevent associated damages and any harm to electrical power equipment. This work presents the design of a new UHF antenna for detecting PD in medium-voltage gas-insulated applications. The working frequency band of the proposed UHF antenna is 370 MHz–1300 MHz, which translates into a total bandwidth of 930 MHz UHF frequency band. Over the whole operating frequency of the antenna, the return loss is less than -10dB. Recently, an eco-friendly insulating gas, HFO1336mzz(E), is considered to be a good substitute for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in medium-voltage gas-insulated equipment (MV-GIE). The HFO(E) gas in a mixture with CO2 can reach the dielectric strength of SF6 gas. Hence, the HFO(E)/CO2 gas mixture’s partial discharge properties are systematically investigated in this research work. In particular, a detailed examination focuses on the partial discharge extinction voltage (PDEV) and partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) under varying electric field conditions at different gas pressure levels and mixing ratios. The PDIV of the HFO(E)/CO2 gas mixture exhibited a linear-saturation rising pattern with both mixing ratio and gas pressure, mirroring the trend observed in SF6 when the HFO(E) gas concentration ranged between 25% and 30%.

This study investigates the nexus between rising temperatures and household energy consumption using data from respondents' electricity bills in the ''China Residential Energy Consumption Survey.'' Our analysis reveals a significant correlation, with an 8.9 % increase in yearly energy consumption observed when the average temperature exceeds 32 °C. Additionally, we explore potential shifts in power usage due to global warming by integrating baseline estimates with daily temperature forecasts from eight contemporary climate models. Our findings project alarming trends: without interventions to curb greenhouse gas emissions, home electricity consumption could surge by 9.59–30.09 % in the medium term and by 9.77–47.70 % in the long run. By shedding light on these critical connections, our research underscores the urgent need for policy actions to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on energy consumption patterns.

The surging electricity demand in Pakistan has led to frequent blackouts, prompting government initiatives to expand power plant capacities and improve the national grid. The government prioritizes integrating large-scale renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to reduce dependence on conventional power plants. However, the intermittency of renewables leads to forecasting errors, requiring extra power reserves from conventional units, thereby escalating operational costs and CO2 emissions. The country currently utilizes a manual mechanism for power balancing operations, overlooking critical grid constraints of the transmission line loadings. In such conditions, injecting large-scale power from renewables can lead to significant fluctuations in line power flows, risking transmission line loadings and compromising the system’s secure operation. Hence, this paper has developed an automatic generation control (AGC) model for the highly wind-integrated power system to alleviate line congestions in the network and enhance the economic operation of the system. The study utilizes the Pakistan power system as a case study to simulate the proposed model. The developed real-time power dispatch strategy for the AGC system considers the constraints of the transmission line to avoid congestion. It integrates wind energy as operating reserves to enhance the economic operation of the system. When managing line congestion, it identifies overloaded bus lines and adjusts power regulation accordingly while compensating for shortfalls by augmenting transmitted power from regional grid stations. However, it maintains a constant dispatch ratio without line overloads, aligned with generation capacities. Additionally, the strategy integrates reserve power from the wind power plant and traditional generating units to further improve economic operations. Simulations have been conducted using PowerFactory software, employing the eight-bus and five-machine models to replicate the characteristics of the Pakistan power system. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed AGC design in mitigating transmission line congestion of power systems that are heavily integrated with wind energy sources while simultaneously ensuring the economic operation of generating units.

Glipizide, a poor water-soluble drug belongs to BCS class II. The proposed work aimed to enhance the solubility of glipizide by preparing solid dispersions, using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Solvent evaporation method was used for the preparation of glipizide solid dispersions. Solid dispersions were prepared in four different drug-to-polymer ratios i.e. 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. Mainly effect of three polymers (PVP K30, PVP K90 and PEG 6000) was evaluated on the solubility and dissolution of glipizide. The in-vitro dissolution of all prepared formulations was performed under pH 6.8 at 37°C using USP type II apparatus. In-vitro dissolution results revealed that the formulations having high concentrations of the polymer showed enhanced solubility. Enhancements in the solubility and rate of dissolution of the drug were noted in solid dispersion formulations compared to the physical blends and pure drug. Solid dispersions containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone exhibited a more favorable pattern of drug release compared to the corresponding solid dispersions with PEG. An increase in the maximum solubility of the drug within the solid dispersion systems was observed in all instances. Two solid dispersion formulations were optimized and formulated into immediate-release tablets, which passed all the pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopoeial tests. Fourier transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to indicate drug: polymer interactions in solid state. Analysis of the solid dispersion samples through characterization tests indicated the compatibility between the drug and the polymer.

Objectives: This study aims to find if any significant correlation exists between C-reactive protein and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as an indirect measure of inflammation. Methods: We selected 983 patients with any inflammatory condition who presented to a tertiary care hospital and were admitted in medical wards or Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of KRL Hospital Islamabad from December 2021 to December 2022. The study was a cross sectional study and convenience sampling was done. The patients were categorized into five groups depending upon their pathophysiology. Kolmogorov Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of the data, and Spearman’s coefficient was used to calculate the correlation between NLR and CRP. Results: A total of 983 patients were included. Mean CRP and NLR levels were 89.9±3.2 and 7.06±0.24, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between CRP-NLR in the infectious, non-infectious non-inflammatory, and malignancy groups (0.420, 0.381, 0.642, p <0.01), and inflammatory group (0.322, p <0.05), and no correlation with chronic diseases. Conclusion: A significant correlation was shown to exist between CRP and NLR in patients with malignancies, noninfective non-inflammatory, inflammatory, and infective conditions and can therefore be used interchangeably to detect the presence of inflammation. Further exploration of these associations may contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the intricate relationships between different markers of inflammation and response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health issue in India, with high incidence and mortality. The current literature on post-TB sequelae functional defects focuses heavily on spirometry, with conflicting obstruction vs. restriction data, lacks advanced statistical analysis, and has insufficient data on diffusion limitation and functional impairment. Objective: This study aimed to thoroughly evaluate post-tubercular sequelae after treatment, assessing chest radiology, spirometry, diffusing capacity, and exercise capacity. Methods: A total of 85 patients were studied at a university teaching hospital in Mysuru. The data collected included characteristics, comorbidities, smoking history, and respiratory symptoms. The investigations included spirometry, DLCO, chest X-rays with scoring, and 6MWT. Results: Of the patients, 70% had abnormal X-rays post-treatment, correlating with reduced lung function. Additionally, 70% had impaired spirometry with obstructive/restrictive patterns, and 62.2% had reduced DLCO, with females at higher risk. Smoking increased the risk of sequelae. Conclusions: Most patients had residual radiological/lung function abnormalities post-treatment. Advanced analyses provide insights into obstructive vs. restrictive defects. Ongoing research should explore pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic modalities to minimize long-term post-TB disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Asthma control in pregnant women remains of utmost importance; suboptimal control can have adverse repercussions on both fetal and maternal health. The objective was to identify the factors that affect asthma control in pregnant Pakistani women presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional research was conducted at KRL General Hospital between 1st November 2022 to 30th April 2023. Non-probability technique was used to sample one hundred and forty-five pregnant women with confirmed bronchial asthma irrespective of their trimester presented. Data regarding demographics and factors affecting asthma control was collected. Results: The mean age was 30.39 ± 4.33 years, with two-thirds (65%) being multiparous. Approximately 48% of participants were non-compliant with treatment, and less than 40% achieved adequate asthma control. A chi-squared test applied showed that multiparity (p = 0.003), treatment compliance (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), and proper inhaler technique (p < 0.001) were statistically significant factors affecting asthma control in pregnant women while, the level of education and household income did not exhibit a significant association. Multiple regression analysis qualified higher BMI, multiparity, treatment compliance, and inhaler technique as significant predictors of asthma control amongst pregnant women. Conclusion: Ensuring asthma control during pregnancy is important. This study identified BMI, multiparity, inhaler technique, and treatment compliance as factors that affect asthma control in pregnant women. Addressing these factors through regular antenatal check-ups can significantly mitigate risks and promote the optimal health of both maternal and fetal lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify a correlation between the clinical parameters and CT chest severity score in COVID-19. Methods: A total of 205 RT-PCR positive patients were included in this descriptive cross-sectional study with convenience sampling from November 2020 to June 2021 in KRL Hospital. The study population was stratified in disease severity as per the WHO's guidelines. Clinical and radiological characteristics were compared in survivors and non survivors to draw conclusion Results: The mean age was 57 years and the majority of the patients 57% were male. Overall mortality was 22% and the mean CT severity score was 18. Non survivors were more tachypneic, hypoxic, had a higher CT chest severity score, higher clinical severity, more comorbid condition and higher TLC, D-Dimers, LDH, CRP, NLR. Raised CT severity score showed a conclusive correlation with greater disease severity. One way ANOVA showed a significant difference between mean CT severity score amongst different disease categories. Conclusion: Higher CT severity score corresponds to a higher clinical severity and higher chances of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness and safety of silicone oil as tamponade in vitrectomy performed for isolated cases of vitreous hemorrhage in patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy. Study Design: Quasi experimental. Place and Duration of Study: Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital, Karachi from October 2022 to March 2023. Methods: Forty two cases of advanced diabetic retinopathy (either sex), with developing vitreous hemorrhage (active bleeding) were enrolled through convenient sampling. Demographic characteristics and pre-operative examination of eyes including Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), indirect ophthalmoscopy, gonioscopy and ultrasonography (in cases where fundus was not visible) were performed. All the patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Silicone oil was used as tamponade. Post-operative follow up was at first week after surgery and repeated at 3rd month and 6th month. Effect of silicon oil tamponade on rebleeding after surgery was specifically observed. Anatomical outcome and side effects were also noted during the study period. Results: Out of 42 cases, re-bleed occurred in 2 cases (4.76 %). However, IOP was raised in 3cases (7.1%) and cataract formed in 2 cases (4.76%). No other side effect was observed throughout the study period. Conclusion: Use of silicone oil as tamponade effectively decreases re-bleeding in patients of advanced diabetic retinopathy after vitrectomy. However, few complications such as increased intraocular pressure and cataract can occur that are manageable both medically and surgically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health burden caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Fibronectin (Fn) facilitates Mtb attachment to host cells. We studied the Fn levels in smear-positive TB patients to assess its correlation with disease severity based on sputum smears and chest X-rays. Methods: Newly detected consecutive sputum AFB-positive pulmonary TB patients (n = 78) and healthy control subjects (n = 11) were included. The mycobacterial load in the sputum smear was assessed by IUATLD classification, ranging from 0 to 3. The severity of pulmonary involvement was assessed radiologically in terms of both the number of zones involved (0–6) and as localized (up to 2 zones), moderate (3–4 zones), or extensive (5–6 zones). The serum human fibronectin levels were measured by using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Catalogue No: CK-bio-11486, Shanghai Coon Koon Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China). Results: The PTB patients showed lower Fn levels (102.4 ± 26.7) compared with the controls (108.8 ± 6.8), but they were not statistically significant. Higher AFB smear grades had lower Fn levels. The chest X-ray zones involved were inversely correlated with Fn levels. The Fn levels, adjusted for age and gender, decreased with increased mycobacterial load and the number of chest radiograph zones affected. A Fn level <109.39 g/mL predicted greater TB severity (sensitivity of 67.57% and specificity of 90.38%), while a level <99.32 pg/mL predicted severity based on the chest radiology (sensitivity of 84.21% and specificity of 100%). Conclusions: The Fn levels are lower in tuberculosis patients and are negatively correlated with severity based on sputum mycobacterial load and chest radiographs. The Fn levels may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing TB severity, which could have implications for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Telemedicine is a promising solution to the challenges of delivering equitable and quality primary healthcare, especially in LMICs. This review evaluated peer-reviewed literature on telehealth interventions in Indian primary care published from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2021, from PubMed, Scopus, TRIP, Google Scholar, Indian Kanoon, and Cochrane database The majority of Indian studies focus on key health issues like maternal and child health, mental health, diabetes, infectious diseases, and hypertension, mainly through patient education, monitoring, and diagnostics. Yet, there’s a lack of research on telemedicine’s cost-effectiveness, communication among providers, and the role of leadership in its quality and accessibility. The current research has gaps, including small sample sizes and inconsistent methodologies, which hamper the evaluation of telemedicine’s effectiveness. India's varied healthcare landscape, technological limitations, and social factors further challenge telemedicine's adoption. Despite regulatory efforts, issues like the digital divide and data privacy persist. Addressing these challenges with a context-aware, technologically driven approach is crucial for enhancing healthcare through telemedicine in India.

Staggered vegetation patches (central and outer) in an open channel have a significant effect on flow structure and river geomorphology. Although investigation on vegetation patches has been done in the past, however none of the past studies was carried out for varying submergence conditions from outer to central patches or for layered staggered patches with varying submergence. This knowledge gap has been attempted to bridge in this study. In this research work, a numerical technique has been used to analyze the flow behavior in a riverine flow by modeling central and outer vegetation patches as rigid elements in a rectangular channel. The influence of various vegetation patch configurations and submergence conditions were studied on flow characteristics. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package FLUENT was used for simulation purposes. Results showed that the flow in the central region of the channel was highly non-uniform, having a longitudinal distribution of velocities with alternating peaks and troughs throughout the central portion of the channel. However, in the outer regions, the velocity pattern acquired sawtooth distribution inside the patch regions (PR) but stabilized in the free regions (FR). Outer FR has 9% less velocities as compared to central FR. Moreover, the inflection point in velocity profiles and the bulge in contour plots was observed which triggered the shear layer at the top of submerged vegetation and at the interface of outer FR and central PR or vice versa. A complex pattern of secondary flow was also observed due to the turbulence anisotropy in the channel and its magnitude ranged from 0.1 to 3.7% of average velocity U. The results also showed that the state of submergence has a notable effect on the flow blockage and percentage of discharge passing through various regions.

Meloidogyne enterolobii is an extremely important plant parasitic nematode. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an essential worldwide vegetable, and M. enterolobii poses a major threat to its production. The present research investigated the effects of different levels of inoculum density of M. enterolobii (100, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 second-stage juveniles (J2s)/plant) on tomato growth, physiological, and biochemical changes at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-inoculation (dpi). The negative impact of M. enterolobii on plants gradually increased when the inoculum level increased. Therefore, M. enterolobii population densities (500–2000 J2s/plant) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced plant growth, photosynthetic pigmentation, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence compared to control plants, while the low population density (100 J2s/plant) showed very little influence. Furthermore, plants with the highest M. enterolobii inoculum (2000 J2s/plant) exhibited a greater number of egg masses and galls. The inoculum densities of M. enterolobii exhibited a notable correlation with the significant elevation of both malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels, which are recognized as very detrimental stresses in plants. Similarly, a rise in the activity of several defensive antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), indicates the defensive mechanism used to combat the oxidative destruction produced by M. enterolobii. The specific activity of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (ASA) increased as potent antioxidant defense molecules in response to induced oxidative damage. In addition, our findings also demonstrated that the highest population density (2000 J2s/plant) increased the secondary metabolites responsible for scavenging oxidative stress in the plants. However, further research is required to explore the underlying reasons for this phenomenon and to develop efficient chemical or biocontrol strategies for managing M. enterolobii.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of modified extended right lobe graft (MERLG) and modified right lobe graft (MRLG) in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT)., Methods: This retrospective study was performed at the Liver transplant department of the Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Gambat, Pakistan, from March 2019 to September 2020. The outcomes of 20 MERLG donors and recipients were compared to those of 74 MRLG donors and recipients. Demographics, operative parameters, complications, hospital stay, and one-year survival were compared between the two groups., Results: The mean graft volume of the MERLG group was more (637.10 ± 71.35 g) than in the MRLG group (562.27 ± 57.77 g), (p= 0.001). Donor blood loss was higher in the MERLG group (680.10±170.60 ml) compared to the MRLG group (650.23±190.65 ml), p=0.527. In addition, the operative time was longer in the MERLG group (345.80±76.90 min) than in the MRLG group (318.12±100.80 min) (p= 0.257). The MERLG recipients were sicker (mean MELD score of 22.54±3.67) than the MRLG (18.86±4.37) (p=0.001). The drain output was higher in the MRLG group (1340 ± 470.32 ml) than in the MERLG group (1110 ± 450.60 ml) (P =0.045). No significant difference was found when comparing postoperative laboratory results and complications between the donor and recipient groups (p >0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a 95% one-year survival in MERLG group compared to 90.7% in the MRLG group (p=0.549)., Conclusion: With appropriate technical expertise, MERLGs are technically safe and feasible in LDLT donors without any added risks. MERLGs also yielded better outcomes in sick recipients., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)