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Extensive research work has been done for the estimation of population mean using bivariate auxiliary information based on conventional measures. Conventional measures of the auxiliary variables provide suspicious results in the presence of outliers/extreme values. However, non-conventional measures of the auxiliary variables include quartile deviation, mid-range, inter-quartile range, quartile average, tri-mean, Hodge-Lehmann estimator etc. give efficient results in case of extreme values. Unfortunately, non-conventional measures are not used by survey practitioners to enhance the estimation of unknown population parameters using bivariate auxiliary information. In this article, difference-cum-exponential-type estimators for population mean utilizing bivariate auxiliary information based on non-conventional measures under simple and stratified random sampling schemes have been suggested. Mathematical properties such as bias and mean squared error are derived. To support theoretical findings, various real-life applications are used to confirm the superiority of the suggested estimators as compared to the competing estimators under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of sodium and potassium abnormalities associated with acute gastroenteritis in children and its complications. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pediatric Medicine Department of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from Jan to Dec 2019. Methodology: Two hundred and eighteen children were recruited in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. After taking informed consent, their demographic data recorded, blood samples were taken and examined for serum sodium and potassium levels. The complications arising from sodium and potassium abnormalities were also noted. Results: There were 101 (46.3%) males while 117 (53.7%) females with male to female ratio of 1:1.2. Mean age was 1.87 ± 1.30 years. 42 (19.2%) children had sodium abnormality, 93 (42.7%) children had potassium abnormalities and 83 (38.1%) children had no abnormality. Out of 29 (13.3%) children had complications while 189 (86.7%) children were without complications. Conclusion: We concluded that 42 (19.2%) children had sodium abnormality, 93 (42.7%) children had potassium abnormalities and 13.3% patients developed complication. This can be prevented by implementing hygienic practices, routine vaccinations and prompt rehydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship of kinesiophobia/fear-avoidance beliefs with balance and mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from January 2019 to June 2019. A total of 64 knee osteoarthritis patients (both male and female) between the ages of 40-60 years were included in this study. Diagnosed knee osteoarthritis patients of both genders with age 40 years and above having Kallgren Lawrence Classification Grade I, II, and III were included in this study. A fear-avoidance belief questionnaire was used to identify kinesiophobia/fear-avoidance belief. The Step-up test and Functional Reach test were used to measure balance and the timed up and go test was used to measure mobility. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to find out the normal distribution. The relationship between fear-avoidance belief and balance and mobility was examined using Spearman’s test of correlation. Results: The results of this study depicted that there was a weak negative correlation between kinesiophobia and balance (r= -0.259, P= 0.039) showing that with increasing kinesiophobia, there is a decrease in balance while there was a weak correlation between kinseiophobia and mobility. (r= 0.26, P= 0.841). Conclusion: Balance and mobility are negatively affected by kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Thus, kinesiophobia is an important psychological construct to be considered in the assessment and treatment of knee osteoarthritic patients to decrease balance-related impairments and reduce the fall risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the orthologs of the five genes of congenital hypothyroidism NIS, PAX8, DUOX2, FOXE1, NKX2-1 that are involved in the development of the thyroid gland., Methods: The study was conducted at INMOL Cancer Hospital, Lahore in September 2017 and comprised of finding gene orthologs, phylogenetic tree and domains of NIS, PAX8, DUOX2, FOXE1, NKX2-1 which were studied using different bioinformatics tools, including FASTA, BLAST, ENSEMBL, UniProt, MultiAlin, to find out the important domains involved in the mutations of these genes., Results: Genes showed consensus sequence / motifs involved in congenital hypothyroidism. Phylogenetic results showed that these genes shared some common motifs. Phylogenetic trees revealed sub-clusters with high protein homology., Conclusions: Genes involved in congenital hypothyroidism were found to have a consensus sequence motifs.

A 31-year-old man presented with seizures and cerebellar symptoms on a background of weight loss and lethargy. He was found to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and following radiological imaging, was commenced on treatment for presumed cerebral toxoplasmosis. Due to a lack of response, both clinically and on interval imaging, a positron-emission tomography-computed tomography and brain biopsy were undertaken, which demonstrated high-grade primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Awareness amongst both clinicians and radiologists of the multifarious patterns of intra-cranial involvement in patients with HIV is, therefore, of utmost importance, as the treatment and prognosis of these entities are entirely different., Competing Interests: The authors declare they have no personal or financial relationship which may have influenced them in writing this article., (© 2017. The Authors.)

Adult Burkitt's lymphoma emerged as an AIDS-defining condition in the 1980s. We describe a case of HIV-associated adult Burkitt's lymphoma diagnosed and treated with high-dose chemotherapy in our institution, complicated by unusual bilateral renal vein tumour thrombi and tumour lysis syndrome. We believe this unique case highlights the need for early recognition of current and potential complications on staging computed tomography imaging, as well as successful use of a high-dose chemotherapy regimen., Competing Interests: The authors declare they have no personal or financial relationship which may have influenced them in writing this article., (© 2017. The Authors.)