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Bandar Alosaimi,1 Abdullah A Saeed,2 Ali A Mustafa,3 Waleed A AlJabr,1 Munirah A Batarfi,4 Mauawia A Hamza1,5 1Research Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2Nile College, Khartoum, Sudan; 3College of Health Sciences & Nursing, Al-Rayan Colleges, Almadinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4College of Medicine, King Saud Ibn Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 5Faculty of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Bandar Alosaimi, Research Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Email balosaimi@kfmc.med.saBackground: Retention of basic biomedical sciences knowledge is of great importance in medical practice. This study aimed to provide some insights into medical interns’ ability to recall theoretical knowledge of medical microbiology and to explore factors that affect its retention.Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between January and March 2019, an anonymized questionnaire with 10 validated multiple-choice questions about medical microbiology was distributed as hard copies to test the ability to recall knowledge of Saudi medical interns in three tertiary training hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results: A total of 300 medical interns [164 females (54.7%) and 136 males (45.3%)], in three major tertiary medical care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, voluntarily participated in the study. Almost a third of participants, 107 (36.4%), graduated from medical schools adopting a traditional curriculum, whereas 184 (63.6%) graduated from medical schools adopting problem-based learning (PBL) instructional approach. The overall mean score out of 10 marks was 3.9± 1.8 with almost 82% failures scoring less than six marks. Both total and pass/fail grades were significantly associated with interns who graduated from private colleges. Scores were not significantly associated with any of the investigated parameters except type of college (governmental vs private) with a p-value of 0.049.Conclusion: The current study revealed an overall poor recall of knowledge in microbiology among interns. Our findings suggest a need for a careful revision of curriculum to correct deficiencies, particularly in teaching medical microbiology. Integration of basic sciences is required as well as aligning teaching of basic medical sciences with clinical skills.Keywords: prior knowledge, microbiology curriculum, medical intern, Saudi Arabia

Résumé : Cet article questionne les compétences numériques des étudiants inscrits en 2ème année Master du français à l’université d’El Oued. L’objectif de notre recherche est de définir le profil de sortie des étudiants en compétences numériques. Pour réaliser cette étude, nous avons adressé un questionnaire de 15 questions tout en s’appuyant sur le référentiel DigComp. Les résultats de cette enquête nous indiquent que les étudiants sont bien familiarisés au monde numérique. Toutefois, ils expriment un manque de formation en compétences numériques spécifiques. Mots-clés : Intégration ; TIC ; Compétences numériques ; Le référentiel DigComp

Abstract Phononic crystals (PnCs) emerge as an innovative sensor technology, especially for high-performance sensing applications. This study strives to advance this field by developing new designs of PnC structures that exhibit stability in the face of construction imperfections and deformations, focusing on the evolution of topological PnCs (TPnCs). These designs could be promising to overcome the problem of instability involved in most of the theoretical PnC sensors when they emerge in experimental verification. In particular, the fabrication process of any design could collide with some fluctuations in controlling the size of each component. Thus, Fano resonance is introduced through a one-dimensional (1D) quasiperiodic TPnC. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to observe Fano modes in liquid cavities through 1D PnCs. Various quasiperiodic PnC designs are employed to detect the temperature of alcohols (specifically propanol) across an extensive temperature range (160–240 °C). The effects of many geometrical parameters on the sensor stability, such as material thicknesses, are studied. Numerical findings demonstrated that the designed quasiperiodic topological PnCs based on Fibonacci sequence of the second order proved superior performance. This sensing tool provides sensitivity, quality factor and figure-of-merit values of 104,533.33 Hz/°C, 223.69 and 0.5221 (/°C), respectively, through temperature detection of propanol in the range of 160–240 °C.

This study applied Negative Binomial models to examine the social-demographic determinants of bike-sharing station capacity. It used social-demographic data from Smart Location Database and over 7,000 bike-sharing stations located in the United States. Results revealed that the station's city, households with no cars, the percentage of workers aged 18–64, gas prices, the Caucasian population, gross residential density on unprotected land, intersection density, and low to medium-earning workers are associated with the increase in station capacity. Contrarily, station capacity decreased with vehicle miles traveled and the number of high-earning workers. Findings are crucial to planners and operators in improving bike-sharing operations.

Background Physician transfer is an alternate option to patient transfer for expedient performance of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic review to identify studies that evaluate the effect of physician transfer in patients with acute ischemic stroke who undergo mechanical thrombectomy. A search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was undertaken, and data were extracted. A statistical pooling with random‐effects meta‐analysis was performed to examine the odds of reduced time interval between stroke onset and recanalization, functional independence, death, and angiographic recanalization. A total of 12 studies (11 nonrandomized observational studies and 1 nonrandomized controlled trial) were included, with a total of 1894 patients. Physician transfer was associated with a significantly shorter time interval between stroke onset and recanalization with a pooled mean difference estimate of −62.08 (95% CI, −112.56 to −11.61]; P=0.016; 8 studies involving 1419 patients) with high between‐study heterogeneity in the estimates (I2=90.6%). The odds for functional independence at 90 days were significantly higher (odds ratio, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.00–1.66]; P=0.046; 7 studies with 1222 patients) with physician transfer with low between‐study heterogeneity (I2=0%). Physician transfer was not associated with higher odds of near‐complete or complete angiographic recanalization (odds ratio, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.89–1.57; P=0.25; I2=2.8%; 11 studies with 1856 subjects). Conclusions Physician transfer was associated with a significant reduction in the mean of time interval between symptom onset and recanalization and increased odds for functional independence at 90 days with physician transfer compared with patient transfer among patients who undergo mechanical thrombectomy.

Sorghum protein ingredients show promising applications, given that sorghum is a resilient grain with high protein content and bioactive components, such as tannins, in certain genotypes. This study aimed to investigate the production and characterization of sorghum protein ingredients extracted from both tannin-free and tannin-rich cultivars, along with an examination of their behavior in aqueous suspensions. The use of high-pressure homogenization to improve ingredient dispersibility was also assessed. Protein extracts exhibited protein contents ranging from 50 to 67 g/100 g (wet basis), with the highest values obtained in tannin-free samples. Total lipid contents were between 18 and 26 g/100 g (wet basis), with a high contribution of free fatty acids (68–76 g/100 g lipids), and tocopherol contents ranged from 1080 to 2039 µg/g total lipids. This is substantially higher than the lipid content in flours, implying an accumulation of lipids during the protein extraction process. While the dispersibility of the protein extracts in aqueous media was initially limited, high-pressure homogenization proved effective in reducing the average size of the particles in suspension, from 9–66 µm to 1.8–2.5 µm. This processing step significantly enhanced protein dispersibility by up to 288 %, especially for the tannin-rich samples.

Clean water scarcity is an escalating global concern, necessitating the development of innovative membrane technologies. This mini review explores the multifaceted realm of membrane technology, a field increasingly engaging researchers and academics. Polymeric membranes find application in diverse domains, spanning gas separation, packaging films, protective coatings, and crucially, water purification techniques like reverse osmosis and various filtration methods. This review predominantly focuses on pressure-driven membrane processes, a classification evolving in selectivity from nanofiltration to microfiltration. It further dissects these processes based on natural and synthetic polymeric membranes. Notably, this work delves into the pivotal role of polymeric membranes in heavy metal water purification, emphasizing the evolving landscape of membrane technologies. Three notable membrane types under scrutiny are Mixed Matrix Membranes, Thin Film Layer Membranes, and membranes incorporating polymer inclusions. Their versatility and applications in diverse sectors showcase the burgeoning potential of polymeric membranes. Furthermore, this review outlines the future applications of polymeric membranes, delineating their indispensable role in nanofiltration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and complexation-enhanced ultrafiltration. The compelling attributes of reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, and pervaporation in advancing water purification are also expounded upon. The review culminates by providing an insight into the structural intricacies of polymeric membranes, shedding light on their diverse applications and their pivotal role in addressing the global water crisis. The dynamic and evolving landscape of membrane technology underscores the crucial need for continued research and innovation in this domain to tackle water pollution and scarcity effectively. As we venture further into the 21st century, the multifaceted applications of polymeric membranes are set to play an instrumental role in safeguarding our most precious resource—clean and sustainable water.

Abstract Objective Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the fifth most important grain produced in the world. Interest for cultivating sorghum is increasing all over the world in the context of climate change, due to its low input and water requirements. Like other cultivated cereals, sorghum has significant nutritional value thanks to its protein, carbohydrate and dietary fiber content, these latter mainly consisting of cell wall polysaccharides. This work describes for the first time a transcriptomic analysis dedicated to identify the genes involved in the biosynthesis and remodelling of cell walls both in the endosperm and outer layers of sorghum grain during its development. Further analysis of these transcriptomic data will improve our understanding of cell wall assembly, which is a key component of grain quality. Data description This research delineates the steps of our analysis, starting with the cultivation conditions and the grain harvest at different stages of development, followed by the laser microdissection applied to separate the endosperm from the outer layers. It also describes the procedures implemented to generate RNA libraries and to obtain a normalized and filtered table of transcript counts, and finally determine the number of putative cell wall-related genes already listed in literature.

Among the most important formations to be deposited during the Tertiary period was the Jeribe Formation. It has been investigated in two wells (Mn-1 and Mn-2) in the eastern Iraqi Dyala Government's Mansuria Oil Field. To identify fauna, 65 thin sections are examined under a microscope. Benthonic Foraminifera and limestone, occasionally dolomitized, make up its composition. There are twenty species of coralline and foraminiferan algae known to science. There were two unique biozones in the range. These biozones are the Ammonia beccria Linne Range Zone (Middle Miocene) and the Borelis melo curdica (Reichel) Range Zone (Early Miocene). The age of the formation was estimated to be Early Middle-Miocene based on these biozones of Foraminifera and other fossils such as gastropods, pelecypods, coral, fossils, Brayozoa, shell fragments, Echinoderm, echinoid plate, and echinoid spine.

Maize (Zea mays L.) plays a significant role as a fodder crop, supporting rural populations and livestock. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, there is a shortage of green fodder due to the unbalanced use of fertiliser and improper selection of maize varieties for fodder production. This research aimed to address the need for quality fodder by studying the effects of nitrogen (N) on new maize varieties, ultimately enhancing livestock production and agricultural sustainability. The experiment took place in the summer of 2022 at the Cereal Crop Research Institute in Pakistan. Adopting an RCB design with three replications, fodder maize varieties (Jalal, Kaptan and Jumbo) were tested with four N levels (0, 100, 150, 200 kg N ha−1) applied during sowing, knee (V4), and silking stages. The data upon analysis revealed that different maize varieties had a significant impact on the studied parameters. Maize varieties affected days to tasselling and silking, with the Jumbo variety recording the longest duration (59 and 62, respectively). Similar results were observed for days to milking, with the Jumbo variety taking the longest time (80 days). It also recorded a higher leaf number (11.5), leaf area (478 cm−2) and leaf area index (3.4). Fresh fodder (67,777 kg ha−1) and dry fodder yield (23,424 kg ha−1) were higher for the Jumbo variety. In terms of N application, tasselling (59) and silking (62) took more days when 150 and 200 kg N ha−1 was applied compared to the control. Compared to the control plots (83 days), 200 kg N delayed the milking stage by 10 days. A higher but statistically similar leaf count, leaf area and leaf area index were recorded with 150 and 200 kg N ha−1. The plant height of maize was also higher, with 150 (196 cm) and 200 kg N ha−1 (202 cm). Lastly, a higher fresh fodder and dry fodder yield was associated with 150 and 200 kg N ha−1. Based on these results, the Jumbo variety, with the application of 150 kg N ha−1, is recommended for cultivation for economic feasibility and to obtain a higher fodder yield of maize.

Introduction/purpose: This article presents the bending examination of advanced-generation composite structures with specific properties exposed to different loads. Methods: This paper thus proposes and introduces a new generalized five-variable shear strain theory for calculating the static response of functionally graded rectangular plates made of ceramic and metal. Notably, our theory eliminates the need for a shear correction factor and ensures zero-shear stress conditions on both the upper and lower surfaces. Numerical investigations are introduced to interpret the influences of loading conditions and variations of power of functionally graded material, modulus ratio, aspect ratio, and thickness ratio on the bending behavior of FGPs. These analyzes are then compared to the results available in the literature. Results: Preliminary results include a comparative analysis with standard higher-order shear deformation theories (PSDPT, ESDPT, SSDPT), as well as Mindlin and Kirchhoff theories (FSDPT and CPT). Conclusion: Our theory contributes alongside established theories in the field, providing valuable insights into the static thermomechanical response of functionally graded rectangular plates. This encompasses the influence of volume fraction exponent values on non-dimensional displacements and stresses, the impact of aspect ratios on deflection, and the effects of the thermal field on deflection and stresses. Numerical examples of the bending examination of advanced-generation composite structures with specific properties exposed to different loads demonstrate the accuracy of the present theory.

Abstract Detecting of the levels of greenhouse gases in the air with high precision and low cost is a very urgent demand for environmental protection. Phononic crystals (PnCs) represent a novel sensor technology, particularly for high-performance sensing applications. This study has been conducted by using two PnC designs (periodic and quasi-periodic) to detect the CO2 pollution in the surrounding air through a wide range of concentrations (0–100%) and temperatures (0–180 °C). The detection process is physically dependent on the displacement of Fano resonance modes. The performance of the sensor is demonstrated for the periodic and Fibonacci quasi-periodic (S3 and S4 sequences) structures. In this regard, the numerical findings revealed that the periodic PnC provides a better performance than the quasi-periodic one with a sensitivity of 31.5 MHz, the quality factor (Q), along with a figure of merit (FOM) of 280 and 95, respectively. In addition, the temperature effects on the Fano resonance mode position were examined. The results showed a pronounced temperature sensitivity with a value of 13.4 MHz/°C through a temperature range of 0–60 °C. The transfer matrix approach has been utilized for modeling the acoustic wave propagation through each PnC design. Accordingly, the proposed sensor has the potential to be implemented in many industrial and biomedical applications as it can be used as a monitor for other greenhouse gases.

IntroductionIn March 2023, a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak was declared in Kagera region, Northwestern Tanzania. This was the first MVD outbreak in the country. We describe the epidemiological characteristics of MVD cases and contacts.MethodsThe Ministry of Health activated an outbreak response team. Outbreak investigation methods were applied to cases identified through MVD standard case definitions and confirmed through reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). All identified case contacts were added into the contact listing form and followed up in-person daily for any signs or symptoms for 21 days. Data collected from various forms was managed and analyzed using Excel and QGIS software for mapping.ResultsA total of nine MVD cases were reported with eight laboratory-confirmed and one probable. Two of the reported cases were frontline healthcare workers and seven were family related members. Cases were children and adults between 1-59 years of age with a median age of 34 years. Six were males. Six cases died equivalent to a case fatality rate (CFR) of 66.7%. A total of 212 individuals were identified as contacts and two (2) became cases. The outbreak was localized in two geo-administrative wards (Maruku and Kanyangereko) of Bukoba District Council.ConclusionTransmission during this outbreak occurred among family members and healthcare workers who provided care to the cases. The delay in detection aggravated the spread and possibly the consequent fatality but once confirmed the swift response stemmed further transmission containing the disease at the epicenter wards. The outbreak lasted for 72 days but as the origin is still unknown, further research is required to explore the source of this outbreak.

IntroductionPost-stroke dysphagia is common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality, rendering bedside screening of significant clinical importance. Using voice as a biomarker coupled with deep learning has the potential to improve patient access to screening and mitigate the subjectivity associated with detecting voice change, a component of several validated screening protocols.MethodsIn this single-center study, we developed a proof-of-concept model for automated dysphagia screening and evaluated the performance of this model on training and testing cohorts. Patients were admitted to a comprehensive stroke center, where primary English speakers could follow commands without significant aphasia and participated on a rolling basis. The primary outcome was classification either as a pass or fail equivalent using a dysphagia screening test as a label. Voice data was recorded from patients who spoke a standardized set of vowels, words, and sentences from the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Seventy patients were recruited and 68 were included in the analysis, with 40 in training and 28 in testing cohorts, respectively. Speech from patients was segmented into 1,579 audio clips, from which 6,655 Mel-spectrogram images were computed and used as inputs for deep-learning models (DenseNet and ConvNext, separately and together). Clip-level and participant-level swallowing status predictions were obtained through a voting method.ResultsThe models demonstrated clip-level dysphagia screening sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 77% (F1 = 0.73, AUC = 0.80 [95% CI: 0.78–0.82]). At the participant level, the sensitivity and specificity were 89 and 79%, respectively (F1 = 0.81, AUC = 0.91 [95% CI: 0.77–1.05]).DiscussionThis study is the first to demonstrate the feasibility of applying deep learning to classify vocalizations to detect post-stroke dysphagia. Our findings suggest potential for enhancing dysphagia screening in clinical settings. https://github.com/UofTNeurology/masa-open-source.

Aim: Patients infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are at a higher risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the recent advancement of antiviral therapy, many patients still cannot respond to existing therapies. Hence, to detect the changes in liver function earlier, non-invasive methods are needed. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in essential biological process as well as human cancer. LncRNAs may be used as biomarkers in human diseases. Thus, in this study, we purposed to analyze the expression levels of lncRNAs (HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), maternally expressed 3 (MEG-3), highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC)) in patients with hepatitis B virus and healthy volunteers. Methods: We selected three lncRNAs as candidate lncRNAs based on their association with liver disease. Whole blood samples were collected from 40 patients with HBV and 48 healthy volunteers. The expression levels of all the samples were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Statistical analysis was implemented using GraphPad Prism software. A p-value lower than 0.05 was statistically meaningful. Results: The expression levels of HOTAIR and HULC were remarkably upregulated in the plasma of the patients with HBV compared with healthy control (p Conclusion: Our findings showed that the expression of HOTAIR and HULC in plasma might be new promising diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers for HBV.

Background IRF2BPL (interferon regulatory factor 2-binding protein-like) gene is an intronless gene present ubiquitously in the human body, including the brain. Pathogenic variants lead to neurodegeneration and present with phenotypic features of a neurological disorder, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, epilepsy, dystonia, neurodevelopmental regression, loss of motor skills and cerebellar ataxia.Case We present a case of a 9-year-old boy who was brought to the emergency department with generalised tonic-clonic seizures and mild hypotonia. A history included neurological regression. After insignificant lab and imaging results, the patient underwent genetic testing, revealing a novel pathogenic mutation in the IRF2BPL gene (heterozygous variant), which had never been reported in the literature before. An autosomal dominant loss of function mutation was demonstrated, denoting in DNA as NM_0 24 496 c.911 C>T, which results in premature protein termination (p.Glu494).Conclusion Our case highlights the importance of early recognition of the neurological symptoms associated with various IRF2BPL gene mutations so that a timely multidisciplinary management approach can be provided.

This paper aims to produce an optimization methodology for a truss for minimal stress on critical sections using Machine learning models. This is done by varying the height and length of the truss span and applying live loads on different joints. The optimization of the truss is done through feed forward with back propagation artificial neural network model, The optimized truss is modelled and analysed using finite element and stiffness software. The paper presents the results and identifies the best dimensions for the truss design with a safety factor.

Abstract Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) were identified as allergens in a large variety of pollens and foods, including cereals. LTPs belong to the prolamin superfamily and display an α-helical fold, with a bundle of four α-helices held together by four disulfide bonds. Wheat LTP1 is involved in allergic reactions to food. To identify critical structural elements of antibody binding to wheat LTP1, we used site-directed mutagenesis on wheat recombinant LTP1 to target: (i) sequence conservation and/or structure flexibility or (ii) each disulfide bond. We evaluated the modifications induced by these mutations on LTP1 secondary structure by synchrotron radiation circular dichroism and on its antigenicity with patient’s sera and with mouse monoclonal antibodies. Disruption of the C28–C73 disulfide bond significantly affected IgE-binding and caused protein denaturation, while removing C13–C27 bond decreased LTP1 antigenicity and slightly modified LTP1 overall folding. In addition, we showed Lys72 to be a key residue; the K72A mutation did not affect global folding but modified the local 3D structure of LTP1 and strongly reduced IgE-binding. This work revealed a cluster of residues (C13, C27, C28, C73 and K72), four of which embedded in disulfide bonds, which play a critical role in LTP1 antigenicity.

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radars provide various advantages as compared to conventional radars. Among these advantages, improved angular diversity feature is being explored for future fully autonomous vehicles. Improved angular diversity requires use of orthogonal waveforms at transmit as well as receive sides. This orthogonality between waveforms is critical as the cross-correlation between signals can inhibit the detection of weaker targets due to sidelobes of stronger targets. This paper investigates the Reiterative Minimum Mean Squared Error (RMMSE) mismatch filter design for range sidelobes reduction for a Slow-Time Phase-Coded (ST-PC) Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) MIMO radar. Initially, the performance degradation of RMMSE filter is analyzed for improperly decoded received pulses. It is then shown mathematically that proper decoding of received pulses requires phase compensation related to any phase distortions caused due to doppler and spatial locations of targets. To cater for these phase distortions, it is proposed to re-adjust the traditional order of operations in radar signal processing to doppler, angle and range. Additionally, it is also proposed to incorporate sidelobes decoherence for further suppression of sidelobes. This is achieved by modification of the structured covariance matrix of baseline single-input RMMSE mismatch filter. The modified structured covariance matrix is proposed to include the range estimates corresponding to each transmitter. These proposed modifications provide additional sidelobes suppression while it also provides additional fidelity for target peaks. The proposed approach is demonstrated through simulations as well as field experiments. Superior performance in terms of range sidelobes suppression is observed when compared with baseline RMMSE and traditional Hanning windowed range response.

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has a broad clinical spectrum, from asymptomatic to multi-organ dysfunction. Acute cerebrovascular events associated with coronavirus disease 2019 are mainly due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-induced prothrombotic state. Bilateral basal ganglia ischemia is rarely reported. Case presentation We report the case of a 64-year-old Asian (Pakistani) gentleman who presented initially with fever, cough, and shortness of breath, likely due to respiratory involvement by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Later, he developed bilateral lower limb pain, followed by confusion and decreased level of consciousness. Accentuated large hypodense opacities were seen in the left and right basal ganglia, with mass effects on the left frontal horn. Conclusion This case demonstrates the importance of neuroimaging in the effective management of patients with neurological signs associated with coronavirus disease 2019.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for finding BRAFV600E mutation in melanoma patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, Jan 2018 to Apr 2019. Methodology: Hundred histologically confirmed cases of melanoma aged between 18-80 years were included over a period of one year. To create the tissue microarray and to conduct immunohistochemistry with VE1 antibody melanoma lesion samples were selected. Results: Ninety-four cases out of 100, were melanoma positive for BRAFV600E detected on immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a monoclonal antibody. The skin was the primary site in seventy-nine (79%) patients, unknown (metastatic) in nineteen and uveal was only in two cases. The diagnostic significance of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for detecting the BRAFV600E mutation in melanoma patients was independent of age, site and stage at diagnosis (p-value

Wheat crops are highly sensitive to high temperatures during their reproductive and grain-filling phases. We hypothesized that potassium could increase thermotolerance in wheat during grain filling by protecting cellular organelles, particularly chlorophyll, from heat injury. Two wheat genotypes, Ujala-16 (relatively heat tolerant) and Anaj-17 (relatively susceptible) were grown in pots and were submitted to 4 and 8 days of heat stress under polythene sheets 1 week after anthesis. One day before the onset of heat stress, 2% potassium (K) as K2SO4 was sprayed on all the plants. Flag leaves from both genotypes were collected after 4 and 8 days of heat stress. Leaf physiology changes were measured to quantify heat damage and to understand the K-induced recovery mechanism. The crop was harvested 125 days after sowing, and grain yield data were collected. Increasing duration of heat stress significantly impaired leaf physiology and grain yield of both studied wheat genotypes. Compared with control (under optimum temperature), 4 and 8 days heat-stressed plants produced 11 and 19% lesser grain yield per spike (averaged across genotypes and in the second years of study), respectively. Likewise, 4- and 8-days heat-stressed plants had 15 and 37% (averaged across genotypes and in the second years of study) lower flag leaf photosynthesis, respectively, compared with control plants. Across the genotypes, 8-days heat caused significantly more grain yield loss in Anaj-17 during the second year than in Ujala-16. Foliar K significantly restored leaf chlorophyll, Pn, Fv/Fm by reducing cellular membrane damage in the heat-stressed plants. This physiological recovery and activation of the plant defensive system by K under high-temperature stress protected the growth and grain development. For example, K–treated plants produced 19% higher 1,000 grain weight in 8 days of heat stress (across genotypes and in the second years of study) compared with water-treated plants under the hot environment of the respective thermal regime. Our study suggests that wheat performance under terminal heat stress can be improved through the exogenous application of K.

Abstract Objectives Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is commonly known to cause morbidity in patients on hemodialysis, making them prone to chronic mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and also adversely impact quality of life. In this study, we examined the association of quality of life, anxiety, and depression with restless leg syndrome in the hemodialysis patients at Karachi Institute of Kidney Diseases. Results About 26.7% of the participants reported RLS among the sample size Presence of RLS was not associated with quality of life, depression, and anxiety. However, p-values

Objective: To analyze the histological spectrum of pediatric brain tumors (PBT) in Pakistani population and to compare the results with international data. Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2015 and Dec 2019. Methodology: This data was analyzed using the latest World Health Organization (WHO) classification of Tumors of Central Nervous System 2016. The cases were divided in 5 categories according to age (0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11 & 12-14 years). Results: A total of 43 cases were included in the study. Of these cases, 26 (60.46%) were male and 17 (39.5%) were female. Male to female ratio was 1.5-1. The 6-8 year age group had the highest number of tumors while 0-2 year age group had the least. Mean age of diagnosis was 7.6 years. Ependymoma wasthe most common morphological type with 12 cases (28%) followed by pilocytic astrocytoma, diffuse glioma with 10 cases each (23%) and medulloblastoma with 9 cases (21%). Least common tumor subtype was Ewing sarcoma. Ependymoma were mostly of grade 3 (64%), pilocytic astrocytoma and medulloblastoma were of grade 1 and grade 4 respectively by definition, and diffuse gliomas were mainly of grade 2 (57%) type. Conclusion: Ependymoma and pilocytic astrocytomaare the most frequent types of pediatric brain tumors in our region which follows the same trend as mentioned in western and regional literature.

Objective: To determine the frequency of Immunohistochemical expression of P16 in low grade urothelial carcinoma patients. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from May 2018 to Jul 2019. Methodology: A total of 120 formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded blocks from patients having low grade urothelial carcinomawere included in the study and were stainedimmunohistochemically with P16 antibody. Expression of P16 was noted by two independent pathologists and nuclear stain of strong intensity was taken as positive. Results: There were 91 (76%) males and 29 (24%) females with age range from 18-85 years (mean 67.19 ± 11.5 years) female to male ratio was 1:3. P16 stain was positive in (70.8%) and negative in 37 (31%) of low gradeurothelial carcinoma cases. Conclusion: The p-16 is expressed in a significant number of urothelial carcinomas (low grade) and this marker could be used in routine practice for early identification of patients at high risk of progression to advanced stage.

Objective: To determine the frequency of change in diagnosis and level of errors in cases referred to Armed Forces Institute of Pathology for second opinion and their impact on modifications of treatment and prognosis. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, form Mar to Oct 2017 Methodology: All the cases referred for review diagnosis were tested by applying panel of immunohistochemical markers and special stains on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections as decided on morphology. Level of errors were defined as level I error: minor discrepancy with no impact on management, level II: minor discrepancy with impact on management, level III: main category remains same but there was change/confirmation of specific diagnostic entity with an impact on management and level IV: gross changes in diagnosis with significant impact on management. Level IV was further subdivided into IV a: benign misdiagnosed as malignant, IV b: malignant misdiagnosed as benign and IV c: changes in tumor subtype. Results: A total of 100 cases, where review diagnosis was changed were included. Minor discrepancies (level I and level II) were observed in only 7% cases with little or no impact on the management. Most frequent discrepancy observed as Level III in 75% cases. Major discrepancy (Level IV errors) was noted in 18% cases. Conclusion: There were high discrepancy rates between previous diagnosis and review diagnosis. The higher use of extended panels of immunohistochemistry markers were the most likely explanations.

The study examined the relationship between psychometric status, neuromuscular, and biochemical markers of fatigue in response to an intensified training (IT) period in soccer. Fifteen professional soccer players volunteered to participate in the study (mean ± SD: age: 25 ± 1 years; body height: 179 ± 7 cm, body mass: 73.7 ± 16.2 kg, experience: 13.2 ± 3 years). Training load, monotony, strain, Hooper index and total quality recovery (TQR) were determined for each training session during a 2-week of IT. Counter-movement jump (CMJ) and biochemical responses [testosterone, cortisol, testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (T/C ratio), creatine kinase, and C-reactive protein] were collected before and after IT. Results showed that IT induced significant increases in cortisol, creatine kinase and C-reactive protein and significant decreases in T/C ratio and CMJ performance from before to after IT (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p 0.05). Training loads were positively correlated with Hooper index (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with total quality recovery (p < 0.05). Hooper index was positively correlated with cortisol (p < 0.05), T/C ratio (p < 0.01), and creatine kinase (p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with CMJ (p < 0.05). Furthermore, TQR was negatively correlated with T/C ratio (p < 0.01), creatine kinase (p < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (p < 0.05), and positively correlated with CMJ (p < 0.01). Neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, and change in the anabolic/catabolic state induced by the IT were related to well-being and perceived recovery state among professional soccer players.

Background: Penetrating neck injury is a major trauma mechanism present in about 5%–10% of trauma patients with an estimated mortality of 3%–10%. The management of these injuries is dependent on the anatomical level of injury. Objectives: The objective of the study was to document the clinical and operative findings as well as the treatment outcome among our patients who underwent neck exploration for penetrating neck injuries. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients who had neck exploration for penetrating neck injury between January 2012 and December 2018 was done. Results: Thirty-five patients all of whom had surgical neck exploration were included. The age ranged from 15 to 62 years with a male: female of 7.8:1. The mean age was 30.7 years with standard deviation of ± 12.5 years and the peak age of occurrence of 20–29 years. The mechanism of injury was commonly arrow injury in 9 (25.7%) and suicidal cutthroat in 7 (20%) patients. Thirty-two (91.4%) patients presented with stable vital signs. Zone II neck injuries were most prevalent, seen in 23 (65.7%) patients. Laryngeal injury in 7 (20%) and soft-tissue injury in 7 (20%) of the patients were the most common intraoperative findings. The complication rate of 17.1% with a mortality rate of 2.9% was recorded. There was a statistically significant association between the presence of vascular injury and the development of complications after exploration (Chi-square = 5.666, P = 0.017). It was also a significant positive predictor of complication following neck exploration (odds ratio = 0.017, P = 0.048). Conclusion: Male young adults were most involved, commonly from arrow and stab injuries. Although laryngeal and soft-tissue injuries were predominant, vascular injuries were most associated with postoperative complications.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of 1 vs. 2 sessions per week of equal-volume sprint training on explosive, high-intensity and endurance-intensive performances among young soccer players. Thirtysix young male soccer players were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups that performed either a single weekly sprint training session (ST1, n = 18, age: 17.2 ± 0.8 years) or two weekly sprint training sessions (ST2, n = 18; age: 17.1 ± 0.9 years) of equal weekly and total volume, in addition to their regular soccer training regimen. Linear sprinting (10 m, 20 m, 30 m, and flying 10 m), T-test agility, countermovement jump (CMJ) and maximal oxygen consumption were assessed one week before (T1), in the middle (T2) and immediately after the 10 weeks of training (T3). A large magnitude and statistically significant main effect for time was found in all the assessed variables after both training interventions (all p 0.05; ES

Abstract Cytidine deaminase (CDA) deficiency causes pyrimidine pool disequilibrium. We previously reported that the excess cellular dC and dCTP resulting from CDA deficiency jeopardizes genome stability, decreasing basal poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) activity and increasing ultrafine anaphase bridge (UFB) formation. Here, we investigated the mechanism underlying the decrease in PARP-1 activity in CDA-deficient cells. PARP-1 activity is dependent on intracellular NAD+ concentration. We therefore hypothesized that defects of the NAD+ salvage pathway might result in decreases in PARP-1 activity. We found that the inhibition or depletion of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD+ salvage biosynthesis pathway, mimicked CDA deficiency, resulting in a decrease in basal PARP-1 activity, regardless of NAD+ levels. Furthermore, the expression of exogenous wild-type NAMPT fully restored basal PARP-1 activity and prevented the increase in UFB frequency in CDA-deficient cells. No such effect was observed with the catalytic mutant. Our findings demonstrate that (1) the inhibition of NAMPT activity in CDA-proficient cells lowers basal PARP-1 activity, and (2) the expression of exogenous wild-type NAMPT, but not of the catalytic mutant, fully restores basal PARP-1 activity in CDA-deficient cells; these results strongly suggest that basal PARP-1 activity in CDA-deficient cells decreases due to a reduction of NAMPT activity.

The main ingredient in the daily salad dish is the leaves of Lactuca sativa, while the stems are usually discarded and not eaten. This study was conducted to compare the stems and leaves of two selected L. sativa varieties (L. sativa var. longifolia L. and L. sativa var. capitata L.) related to the preliminary phytochemical investigation, nutrient content, DPPH assay, and in vitro anticoagulant activity by determination of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The findings revealed almost the same phytoconstituents in the leaves and stems of each variety, such as terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, and others. Exceptionally, tannins have only been detected in the leaves. Compared to the stems, the leaves of both varieties showed statistically significantly higher levels of raw protein and raw fat. For the DPPH assay, the leaves of both varieties have a statistically significantly higher antioxidant activity than the stems. The leaves and stem extract of the two selected varieties showed a significant prolongation of PT (P

Objective: Sheep farming is an important source of livelihood in the southern Khyber Pakhtun Khwa province of Pakistan where they are reared under extensive system (ES). This system has limitations of improper feeding, rearing, and management which negatively affect their productivity. The pres¬ent study compares different rearing systems and their stresses on fertility, behavior, and growth rate potential of two sheep breeds of Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Eighty ewes were selected; forty each from Damani and Balkhi breeds reared in semi-intensive system (SIS) and ES at Paharpur district, Dera Ismail Khan. Blood samples were collected in triplicate on days 0, 14, and 28 of May, and the molecular and behavioral stress, growth, and fertility rates were recorded. Results: The highest growth and fertility rate were observed in both the breeds in SIS than in ES (p < 0.01). The values of stress indicators (cortisol, heat shock protein (HSP-70)) and behavioral stress parameters were found lower in Damani breed as compared to Balkhi breed in both rearing systems (p < 0.01). All the molecular stress and behavioral stress parameters were negatively associated with metabolic hormones (T3 and T4) (p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed among all the molecular stress and behavioral stress parameters (p < 0.01). Similarly, T3 and T4 were positively interlinked to one another (p < 0.01). Conclusion: It was concluded that both Damani and Balkhi sheep showed lower stress levels and better fertility and growth parameter in SIS than ES system of rearing. Local Damani breed exhibited well tolerant ability and genetic adaptation to the local environment as compared to Balkhi breed. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(1.000): 170-176]

Recently, the pollution of fresh water with heavy metals due to technological and industrial breakthroughs has reached record levels. Therefore, monitoring these metals in fresh water has become essentially urgent. Meanwhile, the conventional periodic one-dimensional phononic crystals can provide a novel platform for detecting the pollution of heavy metals in fresh water with high sensitivity. A simplified design of a defective, one-dimensional phononic crystals (1D-PnC) structure is introduced in this paper. The sensor is designed from a lead-epoxy multilayer with a central defect layer filled with an aqueous solution from cadmium bromide (CdBr2). The formation of a resonant peak through the transmittance spectrum is highly expected. This study primarily aims to monitor and detect the concentration of cadmium bromide in pure water based on shifting the position of this resonant peak. Notably, any change in cadmium bromide concentration can affect the acoustic properties of cadmium bromide directly. The transfer matrix method has been used to calculate the transmission spectra of the incident acoustic wave. The numerical findings are mainly based on the optimization of the cadmium bromide layer thickness, lead layer thickness, epoxy layer thickness, and the number of periods to investigate the most optimum sensor performance. The introduced sensor in this study has provided a remarkably high sensitivity (S = 1904.25 Hz) within a concentration range of (0–10,000 ppm). The proposed sensor provides a quality factor (QF), a resolution, and a figure of merit of 1398.51752, 48,875,750 Hz, and 4.12088 × 10−5 (/ppm), respectively. Accordingly, this sensor can be a potentially robust base for a promising platform to detect small concentrations of heavy metal ions in fresh water.

There is evidence for the effectiveness of youth combined plyometric and sprint with change of direction (COD) training. However, the evidence is not well-known regarding the in-season effects of biological age (peak height velocity—PHV) on the motor adaptive processes following combined plyometric and COD with ball training (P-CODBT) in youth soccer players. This study aimed to examine the in-season effects of P-CODBT (8 weeks and twice a week) on the athletic performances of male youth soccer players, circa- and post-PHV. In a randomized controlled training study with pre-to-post measurements, forty-eight male players were assigned into two experimental (performing P-CODBT; n = 12 × circa-PHV and n = 12 × post-PHV) and two control groups (CONG; n = 12 × circa-PHV and n = 12 × post-PHV). The pre- and post-training participants were assessed for their anthropometric, linear sprinting with and without a ball, COD speed with and without a ball, vertical jump, dynamic balance, and endurance-intensive performances. After the intervention, the experimental condition induced significant (all p < 0.0001) and small to large effect size (ES = 0.263–3.471) additional gains only on explosive measures compared to CONG. Both the experimental (all p < 0.0001; ES = 0.338–1.908) and control (p = 0.011–0.0001; ES = 0.2–1.8) groups improved their athletic performances over the training period. The improvements generated by p-CODBT were not affected by biological age. In-season short-term P-CODBT (twice a week) could be safe way to generate benefits in explosive performances in youth soccer players, which are relevant components of match-winning actions in soccer.

Objective: To correlate different cytomorphological presentations of cervical lymphadenitis suspected for Myco-bacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis detection by geneXpert on aspirated material. Study Design: Comparative, cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi, Jan 2017 to Nov 2018. Methodology: Fine needle aspirates of total 100 patients with cervical lymphadenitis suspected for Mycobac-terium Tuberculosis were included and the cytomorphology was compared with geneXpert. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 100 cases were included. A total of 78 cases were positive for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis while 22 cases were negative when compared with molecular analysis on aspirated material. Positivity for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by geneXpert was seen in 93% of cases with both caseous necrosis and granulomas, 80% of cases with caseous necrosis only, 80% of cases having granulomas along with neutrophilic abscess, 70% of cases showing granulomas and 14% of cases with neutrophilic abscess (p-value

The genetic and developmental mechanisms involved in limb formation are relatively well documented, but how these mechanisms are modulated by changes in chondrocyte physiology to produce differences in limb bone length remains unclear. Here, we used high throughput RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to probe the developmental genetic basis of variation in limb bone length in Longshanks, a mouse model of experimental evolution. We find that increased tibia length in Longshanks is associated with altered expression of a few key endochondral ossification genes such as Npr3, Dlk1, Sox9, and Sfrp1, as well reduced expression of Fxyd2, a facultative subunit of the cell membrane-bound Na+/K+ ATPase pump (NKA). Next, using murine tibia and cell cultures, we show a dynamic role for NKA in chondrocyte differentiation and in bone length regulation. Specifically, we show that pharmacological inhibition of NKA disrupts chondrocyte differentiation, by upregulating expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers (Prrx1, Serpina3n), downregulation of chondrogenesis marker Sox9, and altered expression of extracellular matrix genes (e.g., collagens) associated with proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes. Together, Longshanks and in vitro data suggest a broader developmental and evolutionary role of NKA in regulating limb length diversity.

Short- to middle-term plyometric training has been shown to be an effective method to promote youth fitness and health. However, there is no knowledge of previous studies that investigated the sex and age effects on physical fitness following different PT surfaces (i.e., firm vs. sand) in schoolchildren. This study examined the effects of age and sex on explosive and high-intensity responses following plyometric training (4 weeks, twice/week) performed on firm vs. sand surfaces in untrained schoolchildren. Ninety girls and ninety boys (under 8: age = 7.1 ± 0.5 and 7.1 ± 0.4 years; under 10: age = 9.0 ± 0.4 and 9.0 ± 0.5 years; under 12: age = 11.0 ± 0.5 and 11.0 ± 0.5 years, respectively) participated in a randomized and parallel training design with pre-to-post testing. Participants were allocated (i.e., 30 boys and 30 girls for each group) into either two experimental groups (firm group: performing plyometrics on a clay surface and sand group: performing plyometrics on a dry surface of 20 cm deep sand) or a control group (CG, habitual physical education classes) within their corresponding age groups. Children were tested for sprint, jumping and change of direction speed performances before and after 4 weeks of plyometric training. Both experimental groups induced more significant improvements in all assessed variables than CG (p < 0.0001; effect size > 0.80), whereas both surfaces induced similar improvements (p > 0.05). Older boys achieved better performances than their younger counterparts (p < 0.05) and older girls (p < 0.0001), respectively. This finding showed that age and sex could affect explosive and high-intensity performances during childhood after a short-term plyometric training. In contrast, the training-induced fitness changes were not influenced by the type of surface.

Objective: To determine the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of transducer like enhancer of split 1 (TLE-1) in diagnosed cases of synovial sarcoma (SS). Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Jan 2017 to Jun 2018. Methodology: In our study, 60 cases of SS diagnosed on hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) morphology, IHC expression of CD99 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were retrieved from archive of Histopathology department AFIP Rawalpindi. Patient’s age, gender, tumor site and histologic type were noted. IHC for TLE-1 was applied and results were recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 60 cases were included in which 33 were males and 27 were females. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Mean age of the study patients was 36.6 ± 15 years. SS was found be more common in soft tissues of limbs/ extremities around tendons sheaths (76%); other sites being lungs, head & neck and retroperitoneum. Out of 60 cases of SS, 42 (70%) cases were monophasic, while 15 (25%) and 3 (5%) cases were biphasic and poorly differentiated SS, respectively. A total of 90% samples (n=54) showed immunoreactivity for TLE-1 (p=0.023) out of which 61% samples (n=33) had diffuse (2+) nuclear staining while 21 (39%) showed weak to moderate nuclear staining for TLE-1. However, 6 (10%) cases did not show nuclear staining for TLE-1. Conclusion: TLE-1 was found to be a novel marker which was extremely helpful in diagnosis of SS, especially in cases where diagnostic challenge arises when other spindle cell neoplasms are considered in the differential diagnosis and in laboratory set ups where advanced facilities of molecular testing by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is not available.

Plyometric training (PT) has been found to be effective for children’s fitness. However, no study has examined the effects of sex on physical fitness adaptations from surface-type PT in children. This study compared the effects of short-term surface-type PT (firm vs. sand) on the physical fitness of schoolchildren of both sexes. Sixty girls (age = 10.00 ± 1.15 years) and sixty boys (age = 10.02 ± 1.12 years) participated in a short-term (4 weeks), randomized and parallel PT design with pre-to-post measurements. Children were divided into two experimental groups (firm group: PT performed on a clay surface, 20 boys and 20 girls; sand group: PT performed on a dry surface of 20 cm deep sand, 20 boys and 20 girls) and a control group (CG, 20 boys and 20 girls). Squat jump, standing long jump, 20 m sprint, 5-10-5 shuttle, dynamic balance, and maximal aerobic velocity were measured at baseline and after intervention. Both experimental groups showed greater pre-post changes in all assessed variables than the CG (p < 0.0001). No significant differences in pre-post changes were observed relative to surface type or sex (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that a twice-weekly PT program induced physical fitness improvements, which may have transfer to health status during childhood. Additionally, surface type and sex did not affect the training-induced changes in physical fitness.

Pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a natural pre-infectious stilbenoid toxin, is a terpenoid polyphenol compound principally found in the Vitaceae family in the heartwood of Pinus spp. (e.g., Pinus sylvestris) and in pine leaf (Pinus densiflora). It provides defense mechanisms against pathogens and insects for many plants. Stilbenoids are mostly found in berries and fruits but can also be found in other types of plants, such as mosses and ferns. This review outlined prior research on pinosylvin, including its sources, the technologies used for its extraction, purification, identification, and characterization, its biological and pharmacological properties, and its toxicity. The collected data on pinosylvin was managed using different scientific research databases such as PubMed, SciFinder, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. In this study, the findings focused on pinosylvin to understand its pharmacological and biological activities as well as its chemical characterization to explore its potential therapeutic approaches for the development of novel drugs. This analysis demonstrated that pinosylvin has beneficial effects for various therapeutic purposes such as antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-allergic, and other biological functions. It has shown numerous and diverse actions through its ability to block, interfere, and/or stimulate the major cellular targets responsible for several disorders.

Les premiers cas d'infection dus à un nouveau Coronavirus, le SARS-CoV-2 ont été enregistrés en Chine en décembre 2019. Cette maladie, désormais appelée COVID-19, a été déclarée comme pandémie par l´Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) trois mois après soit en mars 2020. Le plus souvent à l´origine d´un syndrome infectieux sans gravité, associant à différents degrés des symptômes bénins (fièvre, toux, myalgies, céphalées et éventuels troubles digestifs). Le SARS-Cov-2 peut être à l´origine de pathologies pulmonaires graves et parfois de décès. Les données sur les conséquences pendant la grossesse sont limitées. À l'heure actuelle, les données concernant l'infection par SARS-CoV-2 sont rassurantes et n'indiquent pas un nombre d'infection plus élevé ni un risque surajouté de complications chez la femme enceinte par rapport à la population générale. Quelques exceptionnels cas de mortalité maternelle existent, mais surviennent le plus souvent sur des terrains qui présentent d'autres pathologies, particulièrement la pré-éclampsie. L´objectif de notre travail est de rapporter les données cliniques, biologiques et évolutives materno-fœtales, à travers une étude rétrospective au sein de l´Hôpital Militaire Marocain COVID-19 de Benslimane, s´étalant sur une période de 3 mois allant du 21 juillet au 21 octobre 2020.

Implication Statement An Internal Medicine (IM) specific, near-peer mentorship program was initiated at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) in 2017. Medical students were paired with IM resident mentors in an effort to improve career decision-making. Additionally, residents had the opportunity to formally teach mentees various high-yield IM topics. Program evaluation was completed using data from three participant cohorts, and showed that the program had a positive impact on students’ career decision making. Given the program’s flexible nature and ease of implementation, it is well suited for adaptation at other institutions.

In the study reported on here we examined the extent of pre-service teachers’ supportiveness for educational inclusion (EI) of students with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties (SPMLD) in order to identify their attitudinal predictors, as well as the challenges faced in such a process. An attitudinal survey with 33 items was developed to collect data from 542 participants. The results show that the attitudes/beliefs of pre-service teachers (ABpST) regarding inclusion were moderate to positive and strengthened across the teachers’ knowledge and experiences. However, some variations, based on their characteristics and study constructs were revealed. The findings also illustrate the combined effects of practical knowledge and courses, besides teaching and working experiences in shaping ABpST attitudes towards inclusion of SPMLD students. The implications of these results for educators and national education institutions and other international universities are discussed.

A variety of aquatic training regimens have been found to be beneficial for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in multiple domains. This study investigated and compared the efficacy of two aquatic training regimens (technical vs. game-based) on gross motor skills, stereotypy behavior and emotion regulation in children with ASD. Twenty-two autistic children were randomly assigned into three groups: two experimental groups performed either a technical aquatic program or a game-based aquatic program and a control group. Participants were assessed before and after an 8-week training period, with the Test of Gross Motor Development, the stereotypy subscale of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Checklist. A significant effect for time was found in gross motor skills and stereotypy behavior in both experimental groups. An improvement in gross motor skills was observed in both experimental groups compared to the control group. A small pre-post change effect in emotion functioning was found in all groups. No significant differences were observed between the experimental groups in all assessed variables. Our findings provide additional evidence suggesting the effectiveness of beneficial effects of aquatic activities on the motor and social skills that underpin the hypothesis that motor and intellectual domains are highly interrelated in autistic children.

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important health problem across the world affecting the adult population with an enormous social and economic burden. Calcium regulation is also affected in patients with CKD, and related to several disorders including vascular calcifications, mineral bone disorders, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Upper zone of growth plate and cartilage matrix (UCMA) is vitamin K-dependent protein (VKDP) and acts as a calcification inhibitor in the cardiovascular system. The molecular mechanism of UCMA action remains unclear in CKD. In the current study, we aimed to investigate serum total UCMA levels and its association with calcium metabolism parameters in CKD patients including hemodialysis (HD) patients. Thirty-seven patients with CKD stage 3-5, 41 HD patients, and 34 healthy individuals were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Serum UCMA and calcification related protein levels (Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), Osteocalcin (OC), and Fetuin-A) were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Calcium mineral disorder parameters (Serum Ca, P, iPTH) were quantified with routine techniques. We, for the first time, report the potential biomarker role of UCMA in CKD including HD. Serum total UCMA levels were significantly higher in patients with CKD including HD patients than the healthy controls. Also, serum UCMA levels showed negative correlations with serum calcium, and eGFR, while showed positive relationships with P, iPTH, MGP, OC. Increased total UCMA levels may have a role in the Ca metabolism disorder and related to the pathogenesis of Vascular Calcification in patients with CKD.

Objective: To evaluate ER and PR expression in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) and to determine its association with clinical stage. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Histopathology department, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Rawalpindi, from Mar to Oct 2017. Material and Methods: A total of thirty three (n=33) histologically confirmed EOCs were analyzed. ER and PR expression status was assessed by immunohistochemistry using Allred scoring system and was compared with the clinical stage defined by The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. Results: A total of thirty three (n=33) females were enrolled. Mean age of the study females was 50.8 ± 12.9 years. Most frequent histologic type was serous carcinoma (SC) 60.6% (n=20) followed by mucinous carcinoma (MC) 15.2% (n=5), endometrioid carcinoma (EC) 9.1% (n=3), clear cell carcinoma (CC) 9.1% (n=3), Brenner tumor (MBT) 3% (n=1) and seromucinous carcinoma (SMC) 3% (n=1). Most patients were in clinical stage I 61% (n=20) followed by stage II 24%, (n=8) and stage III 15% (n=5). Among SC, 90.0% (n=18/20) were ER and 65% (n=13/20) were PR-positive. All MC and CC were ER/PR negative. Two of the three ECs were ER and one was PR-positive. Higher percentage of stage I tumors exhibited ER 65% (n=13/20) and PR 45% (n=9/20) positive status (p>0.5). The correlation was very weak positive between clinical stages and both ER and PR scores (Allred) r=0.11 and 0.15 respectively p>0.05. Conclusion: Higher percentages of stage I tumors exhibited ER and PR positive status yet not statistically significant from stage II/III. Estimation of ER and PR receptor status may help to select the women with ovarian malignancy for hormonal therapy, which is more likely to improve the response rate.

Objective: To compare the technique of paramedian with midline approach of subarachnoid block in terms of number of attempts and frequency of success rate in elderly patients undergoing elective lower body surgeries. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at Anaesthesia department of Combined Military Hospital Lahore. Six months from Jan 2014 to Jun 2014. Material and Methods: One hundred and seventy elderly patients were scheduled for lower body surgery, using spinal anaesthesia. They were randomized to either Midline approach (n=85) or Paramedian approach (n=85) by lottery method. The outcome measures number of attempts and success rate were noted in both groups and analyzed using SPSS version 18. Results: The successful block in first attempt was 95.3% in Paramedian group and 58.8% in Midline group. Mean number of attempts in paramedian group was 1.24 ± 0.52 as compared to 1.95 ± 0.97 in midline group. A p-value