Search

The article presents a study on the comparison for the techniwues used for detection of blood parasite Theileria annulata in cattle in Pakistan. The authors carry out the study to investigate the prevalence of Theileria annulata in cattle from the Peshawar and Kohat districts in the province of Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa. They compare the parasite detection techniques PCR amplification and Giesma stainining, and found out the PCR amplification is a much more sensitive tool. They state that no significant risk factors observed associated with the spread of the disease.

Vegetation structures and dynamics are the result of interactions between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem. The present study was designed to investigate vegetation structure and species diversity along various environmental variables in the Yakhtangay Hills of the Hindu-Himalayan Mountain Pakistan, by using multivariate statistical analysis. Quadrat quantitative method was used for the sampling of vegetation. PC-ORD version 5 software was used to classify the vegetation into different plants communities using cluster analysis. The results of regression analysis among various edaphic variables shows that soil organic matter, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, CaCO 3 and moisture contents shows a significant positive correlation with species abundance, while the soil pH has inverse relationship with plant species abundance. Similarly, species richness increases with increase in soil organic matter, CaCO 3 and moisture contents, while decrease with increase in soil pH, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity (p < 0.05). The vegetation was classified into four major plant communities and their respective indicators were identified using indicator species analysis. Indicator species analysis reflects the indicators of the study area are mostly the indicators to the Himalayan or moist temperate ecosystem. These indicators could be considered for micro-habitat conservation and respective ecosystem management plans not only in the study area but also in other region with similar sort of environmental conditions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal deaths across the world. Gram-negative rods such as Klebsiella and E. coli are major cause of sepsis in neonates. With a mortality rate of 1-4 deaths per thousand live births, sepsis is the second most important cause of neonatal deaths in the developing countries. The present study was designed to determine the occurrence of Gram-negative bacteria in neonatal sepsis and to find antibiotic susceptibility of isolated microbes. Blood samples of 100 neonates (1-89 days old) were sub cultured on MacConkey's and Blood agar for isolation of Gram-negative bacteria. A total of four bacterial species were isolated including Klebsiella (35.71%), E. coli (28.57%), Acinetobacter (21.42%) and Proteus (14.28%). Gram-negative bacteria were isolated more commonly from EOS (early onset sepsis) as compared to LOS (late onset sepsis). Klebsiella isolates from neonates showed sensitivity to imipenem (70%) followed by ceftazidime (40%) and cefotaxime (40%) and high resistance was shown by sulfamethoxazole (80%) and amikacin (70%). E. coli associated with neonatal sepsis were sensitive to imipenem (63%) while highly resistant to cefotaxime (75%) and ciprofloxacin (62%). For Acinetobacter high sensitivity was found for ceftazidime (50%) and resistance was shown to ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole (100%). Proteus showed high sensitivity to amikacin (75%) and high resistance to imipenem and ciprofloxacin (75%). In conclusion, Gram-negative associated neonatal sepsis was found in the studied subjects and drug resistance was observed to clinically used antibiotics.

This study investigated the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), molybdenum (Mo) and manganese (Mn) in water and soil of the Chitral city, Pakistan. For this purpose, water (n = 66) and soil (n = 48) samples were collected from various locations of the Chitral city and analyzed for the PTE concentrations. Determined PTE concentrations were evaluated for the human and ecological potential risk. Results revealed that hazard quotient through water consumption was less than the threshold limit (1). However, for soil, the Fe mean hazard index (HI > 1) value for children only surpassed the threshold limits. The mean cancer risk index values via soil exposure were higher (RI > 1 × 10 -4 ) through consumption of Co, Ni and Cd for children and only Co for adults. Contamination factor (CF) values for Mo, Cd and Fe were found very high, considerable and moderate for 79%, 8% and 77% of sampling sites, respectively. Geoaccumulation index (I geo ) showed that soils were moderately-heavily polluted due to Mo. Potential ecological risk index (PERI) values exhibited considerable risk with an average risk index value in the range 190 < RI < 380. Higher values of CF, I geo and PERI revealed the presence of pollution and pose risk to ecological environment.

Acute coronary artery syndrome (ACS) is the major cause of mortality in Pakistan with genetic and environmental influence on the incidence of the disease. This case-control study was designed to find out if a correlation is existing between ACS and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes XPD [at codon 751, rs 13181 (Lys to Gln)] and XRCC1 [at codon 399, rs25487 (Arg to Gln); 280, rs25489 (Arg to His) and 194, rs 1799782 (Arg to Trp)] either individually or in various combination with each other (haplotype analysis). The objective of this study was to find out the association of various studied risk factors and serum lipid profile of the subjects with the disease, if any. PCR-RFLP method was used to determine genotype at specific codon in 221 subjects (115 ACS patients and 106 healthy controls) from Southern Punjab population. Genotypic and allelic frequency distribution among the cases and controls revealed that all the studied SNPs were not individually associated with the ACS. Haplotype analysis revealed that subjects having wild type combination of all three XRCC1 SNPs had greater susceptibility to ACS than any other studied genotypic combinations. Analysis of risk factors revealed that hypertension (P<0.001), age (P=0.05), education (P<0.001), gender (P<0.001), family history (P=0.005), smoking habit (P=0.002) and diabetes (P<0.001) were significantly associated with the incidence of ACS. Serum lipid profile analysis indicated that cholesterol level was significantly higher (P=0.048) in patients (161.5mg/dL) than controls (142.1mg/dL) while triglyceride remained unaffected (P=0.87) when compared between the two treatments.

The Lawrencepur sand had remained refrigerated during a long period of glaciations in the study area. Owing to its derivation from the granitic rocks of the Himalayas and its preservation under glacial environment, the sand grains are still fresh and may contain high level of primordial radioactivity. For that reason, radiological hazards of Lawrencepur sand were assessed using a high-purity germanium gamma spectrometry technique. The average activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were found to be 15.97±3.05, 27.98±4.89 and 498.20±15.91 Bq kg(-1), respectively. These values are higher than those of the sands of many countries of the world but lower than those of some of the Pakistani, Indian and Egyptian sands. The outdoor and indoor hazard indices and annual effective doses of the Lawrencepur sand are higher than those of some of the sand deposits of European, African and American countries but lower than those of nearby Pakistani and Indian sands. However, the hazard indices and annual effective doses of the Lawrencepur sand are within the safe limits. Overall, the Lawrencepur sand does not pose any radiological health hazard as a building material.

Background: Fractures of the mandibular angle are common and comprise 31% of all mandibular fractures. Multiple recent studies report a 2-3 fold increased risk for mandibular angle fractures when un-erupted mandibular third molars are present. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of un-erupted mandibular third molar in mandibular angle fractures., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad from April to October 2009. One hundred and two patients were included both from the outdoor and ward on consecutive non-probability sampling base. Data were recorded on a structured Performa and analysed using SPSS-16., Results: A hemi-mandible containing un-erupted mandibular third molar was seen to have a 1.41 times the risk of mandibular angle fracture then a hemi-mandible containing an erupted mandibular third molar., Conclusion: The presence of unerupted mandibular third molar is associated with an increased risk for mandibular angle fracture.

Objective: To review the medical records of patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical presentation, mode of diagnosis, and stage of disease at a tertiary care centre of Pakistan., Method: The medical records of 47 patients consecutively diagnosed with sarcoidosis from 2003 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The sociodemographic characteristics, clinical presentation, mode of diagnosis, organs involved, stage of disease and follow up were reviewed., Results: Out of 47 patients, 26 (55%) were female and 21 male. Cough and shortness of breath were the main presenting symptoms. Mode of diagnosis was gallium scan in 27 patients, biopsy in 16 patients and High Resolution CT scan in 3 patients. Asymptomatic patients at presentation did not require any treatment and did well on follow up. Eighteen patients required steroid therapy which was slowly tapered off. Two patients required azathioprin in addition to steroids., Conclusion: Sarcoidosis is a diagnostic challenge in countries where tuberculosis is endemic, however physicians still need to keep sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis due to clinical, histological and radiological similarities between the two conditions

Objectives: Perception and attitude regarding prenatal screening and induced abortion vary across different populations. This study assesses the attitudes and perceptions regarding prenatal screening and induced abortion among Pakistani adults., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among adults (18+) coming to the Aga Khan University Hospital, a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan., Results: Majority (65%) of the study population had knowledge about prenatal screening and it was acceptable to most (85.5%) of them. Significant proportion had high acceptance for induced abortion (23%) of a fetus that has serious congenital anomalies. On the other hand, 15% were unwilling to consider termination of pregnancy (TOP) in any circumstances. Women had more favorable attitude toward induced abortion. Most of the respondents (63%) were in favor of abortion if fetal death was imminent as a result of a congenital abnormality. Majority wanted mutual consultation of husband and wife for making decision regarding induced abortion (84%)., Conclusion: There was a considerable discord in opinion about abortion in the study population. Health care providers should involve both parents in making decisions about abortions and counsel them adequately about congenital disorders., (Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)