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Delay sowing of wheat is a common problem in Punjab that exacerbates serious yield loss. To reduce yield loss and improve yield, different combinations of foliar-applied bioregulator and micronutrients, control (CK), zinc (Zn), boron (B), thiourea (TU), Zn + B (ZnB), Zn + TU (ZnTU), B + TU (BTU), Zn + B + TU (ZnBTU) were applied at booting and grain filling stages in delayed sown wheat in 2017–18 and 2018–19. The results showed that ZnBTU treatment significantly increased leaf area index by 25.06% and 23.21%, spike length by 15.11% and 19.65% in 2017 and 2018, respectively, compared to CK. The ZnBTU treatment also increased 1000-grain weight by 21.96% and 22.01% in 2017 and 2018, respectively, compared to CK. Similarly, higher Zn, B and N contents in straw and grain were recoded for ZnBTU treatment which was statistically similar to ZnB and ZnTU treatments. Overall, ZnBTU treatment also increased the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance by 46.67%, 26.03%, 76.25% and decreased internal CO2 by 28.18%, compared to CK, respectively. Moreover, ZnBTU also recorded the highest grain yield in 2017–18 (25.05%) and 2018–19 (28.49%) than CK. In conclusion, foliar application of ZnBTU at the booting and grain filling stages of delayed sown wheat could be a promising strategy to increase grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most of the antibiotics currently used in pediatrics are either unlicensed or being prescribed outside the specifications of product label (off-label prescribing). The aim of this study was to assess the extent of off-label antibiotic use in pediatrics. Methodology: A six month longitudinal off-label antibiotic utilization survey was carried out from January to June, 2018. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect detailed information for each pediatric patient admitted to participating health center. The data included basic demographic and clinical diagnosis with details of prescribed antibiotics (formulation, dose, dosage, route of administration and indication for use). Data were analyzed using Social packages for Statistical Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Results: Of 1,810 admissions, 1,795 (99.2%) patients received antibiotics. Out of these, a total of 451 (25.1%) patients (326 patients admitted in the medical ward and 125 patients in ICUs) received at least one unlicensed/off-label antibiotic. Antibiotics were predominantly prescribed for the treatment of infections (n = 311, 69.0%). The majority of the pediatric patients who received off-label antibiotic suffered from respiratory tract infections (n = 223, 49.4%), skin and soft tissue infections (n = 53, 11.8%), gastrointestinal tract infections (n = 56, 12.4%) and other infections (n = 46, 10.2%). Co-amoxiclav (n = 190, 42.1%) was the most frequently off-label prescribed antibiotic to pediatric patients. An inappropriate dose for patients (n = 430, 95.3%) was the most frequent cause of prescribing off-label antibiotics. Conclusions: Further evaluation of health and economic outcomes of off-label prescribing and determinants influencing the drug choice is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the demographic variance in location and histopathological findings of esophageal carcinoma in Punjab-Pakistan. Study Design: Observational cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Multicentre Tertiary Care Hospitals of Combined Military Hospital/Pak Emirates Military Hospital/Army Medical College Rawalpindi, Combined Military Hospital Kharian and Combined Military Hospital Multan from 2010 to 2017. Methodology: Patients with dysphagia and histopathology proven malignancy were included in this study. All patients had undergone flexible upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients with lesions other than carcinoma, causing dysphagia and those with inconclusive histopathology were excluded from our study. The morphological site of the carcinoma were divided into upper, middle, lower and at gastro-esophageal junction. Histo pathologically proven carcinoma of esophagus was reviewed for subtype of grading differentiation. Statistical analysis was done using IBM version SPSS 22. Results: Out of 150 patients, 85 (57%) were males and 65 (43%) were females. Their age ranged between 30 to 85 ± 12.33. Among one hundred and fifty patients 107 (71.33%) had Squamous Cell Carcinoma, 42 (28%), Adenocarcinoma and metastasis in two cases. Frequency of distribution of esophageal carcinoma in North, East and South Districts of Punjab was 73%, 18% and 9% respectively. Esophageal Carcinoma in upper, middle, lower and Gastroesophageal junction was 22.5%, 35%, 15% and 27.5% respectively. Frequency of well differentiated SCC was 46 (30.6%) and well differentiated AC 31 (20.7%) respectively. Conclusion: SCC with male preponderance is more common in North of Punjab. Lower 1/3rd and GE junction esophageal tumor are the commonest sites in all North, East and South Punjab. Histopathological differentiation revealed Well Differentiated SCC along with significant rise in Adeno-carcinomas compared to previous national studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Subancistrocerus pakistanensis Qasim, Carpenter et Rafique sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Pakistan, based on several specimens collected in the Multan Region. Genus Subancistrocerus is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]