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Abstract Background Bt technology has played significant role in controlling bollworms and increasing cotton yield in earlier days of its introduction, a subsequent decline in yield became apparent over time. This decline may be attributed to various environmental factors, pest dynamics, or combination of both. Therefore, the present biophysical survey and questionnaire were designed to evaluate the impact of Bt cotton on bollworms management and its effect on reducing spray costs, targeting farmers with varied landholdings and educational backgrounds. Additionally, data on farmers' cultivated varieties and the prevalence of bollworms and sucking insects in their fields were recorded. Subsequently, about eleven thousand cotton samples from farmer fields were tested for Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Vip3A genes by strip test. Results In this analysis, 83% of the farmers planting approved varieties believe that Bt technology control bollworms, while 17% hold contradictory views. Similarly, among farmers cultivating unapproved varieties, 77% agree on effectiveness of Bt technology against bollworms, while 23% disagree. On the other hand, 67% of farmers planting approved varieties believe that Bt technology does not reduce spray costs, while 33% agree with the effectiveness. Similarly, 78% of farmers cultivating unapproved varieties express doubt regarding its role to reduce spray costs, while 22% are in favour of this notion. Differences in opinions on the effectiveness of Bt cotton in controlling bollworms and reducing spray cost between farmers planting unapproved and approved varieties may stem from several factors. One major cause is the heavy infestation of sucking insects, which is probably due to the narrow genetic variation of the cultivated varieties. Additionally, the widespread cultivation of unapproved varieties (21.67%) is also an important factor to cause different opinions on the effectiveness of Bt cotton. Conclusion Based on our findings, we propose that the ineffective control of pests on cotton crop may be attributed to large scale cultivation of unapproved varieties and non-inclusion of double and triple transgene technologies in country’s sowing plan. On the basis of our findings, we suggest cotton breeders, regulatory bodies and legislative bodies to discourage the cultivation of unapproved varieties and impure seed. Moreover, the adoption of double and triple Bt genes in cottons with a broad genetic variation could facilitate the revival of the cotton industry, and presenting a promising way forward.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare, autoinflammatory bone disorder most often seen in children and adolescents characterized by recurrent episodes of sterile osteolytic osseous lesions. Diagnosing CRMO requires the exclusion of other conditions, which is often challenging due to its varied presentations and progression. However, adult-onset CRMO and exclusive spinal cases are extremely rare events, highlighting the importance of this case. Our case presents a 38-year-old female with chronic back pain for 6 months of postepidural anesthesia during a C-section. The pain was progressive, exacerbated by movement, and partially relieved by painkillers. The patient had tenderness on physical examination in the thoracolumbar region. MRI of the spine showed multiple endplate changes, and extensive laboratory tests and biopsy ruled out infectious cause and malignancy, leading to the diagnosis of CRMO. The connection between pain and epidural anesthesia was only an incidental finding. The patient was treated effectively with steroids and etanercept. CRMO is mainly a childhood disease, with adult cases being very rare. Isolated spinal involvement in CRMO is particularly rare and can make the diagnosis challenging. This case highlights that CRMO should be considered in adults with an atypical isolated spinal lesion. NSAIDs are the main treatment, with corticosteroids and TNF inhibitors used in unresponsive cases. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness of CRMO's potential to present in adults with atypical isolated spinal lesions, which could lead to more timely and accurate diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pre- and post-mean scores of Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) and Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS), and to assess supervisor and student satisfaction with Mini-CEX and DOPS over time among final year medical undergraduates. METHODS: This study was conducted on 90 final year medical students at a Private Medical College in Karachi from May 2022 to November 2022. Pre- and post-testing involved Objective Structured Clinical Examination before and after the last session of DOPS and Mini-CEX, comprising six stations. Workshops on Mini-CEX and DOPS were conducted for supervisors and students before pre-testing. Core clinical competencies included history taking, physical examination, counselling skills, critical thinking, professionalism, organization, management skills, and overall clinical performance. Data was analysed through SPSS version-23. RESULTS: Over six months, 1080 encounters were conducted among 90 students in six sessions. Mean pre-test score for Mini-CEX was 13.78±3.61 and for DOPS was 11.57±3.0, with post-test scores of 43.61±3.38 and 42.28±1.8, respectively (p-value

This research paper aims to investigate linguistic features in science and technology-based TED talks. The study combined quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the characteristics of technical and non-technical language use in TED talks. First of all, the researchers identify the distinctions of linguistic features described by Biber's Multidimensional Analysis (MDA) framework, using Involved vs. Informational, Explicit vs. Situation-Dependent, and Overt Expression of Persuasion dimensions. By retaining this framework, this study analyzed the inherent variability and peculiarities of TED talks, revealing their preference for narrative, entertaining, and informative broadcasts. Then, to explain the most important technical and non-technical vocabulary highlighted in the TED talk, identified by AntConc software, recognized words were tagged using Parts of Speech (POS) software and then processed using Longman English Grammar. In addition, the frequency of linguistic features exhibited by speakers when explaining complex technical principles to lay audiences is discussed, such as nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. The findings show that both technical and non-technical vocabulary are often used in TED lectures and that presenters use a variety of language tactics to express complicated technical concepts to a wide audience. The results show that TED speeches are becoming a distinct language variety. This study aids in the development of public speaking skills and assesses the efficacy of various communication approaches by providing insights into the format and usage of TED speeches. Future studies might examine whether or not other public speeches have similar linguistic characteristics or whether they arespecific to TED presentations.

Background: Obesity and overweight, the fifth noticeable reason for worldwide mortality, has been found directly related to cardiovascular illness and sudden death. This study aimed to evaluate anthropometric measurements including; a Body Shape Index (ABSI), Waist-Height Ratio (WHtR), Abdominal Volume Index (AVI) and Conicity Index (CI), the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Methods: This case-control study was conducted at BMSI, Jinnah Post Graduate Hospital from March ‎2019 to September 2020. Participants selected (n=105 adults, aged 30-50 years) were divided into three groups (35 each). Group A: patients with diabetes 5 years of diabetes with microalbuminuria and Group C: healthy individuals. All measurements were estimated twice. Data was analyzed by SPSS and the mean difference was found by ANOVA. Linear regression was applied to predict variables and p

Objectives: The Primary objective was to find the frequency of Sarcoid Uveitis among the patients pre- sented with Uveitis.The secondary objective was to follow the patients of sarcoid uveitis over treat- ment.. Methods: We did an observational prospective study, after acquiring ethical review letter from IRB Medicine department outpatient services of Jinnah Medical College Hospital Korangi was used where patients with Uveitis were referred for evaluation of systemic disease during jan 2019 to dec 2020. These patients underwent history, examination and biochemical and radiological investigations and were followed over a period of 1 year to see response to treatment. Results: A total of 372 patients presented with established uveitis out of which 36 patients i.e. 66 eyes presented to our eye clinic with decrease in vision with a mean age of 42±2 years. Among 36 patients, 89% presented with redness of eye and 72% presented with eye pain where as 8 % pre- sented with photophobia and floaters. Biochemically >10mg/dl calcium was observed in 18(50%) pa- tients and ACE level was found to be more than 40nmol/ml/min in 30(83.3%) patients. Among them 32 (88.9%) patients showed resolved inflammation whereas 2(5.56%) showed a change in inflamma- tion and 2(5.56%) showed no change. Conclusion: We found sarcoid uveitis as fairly common cause of uveitis. The patients were treated with the standard treatment of steroids and immunosuppressants i.e. Azathioprine and we concluded that use of steroids and immunosuppressant improved the outcome in our patients. The patients re- sponded fairly well to the designed treatment.

Aims: The efficacy of three isolates of endophytic Penicillium species that have shown significant suppressive effect on root rotting fungi in our previous study were further evaluated in pots and field plot experiments for their effect on root diseases of okra, induction of systemic resistance and physiochemical properties of okra fruit. Methods and Results: Aqueous suspensions of endophytic Penicillium and Pseudomonas monteilii were applied in pots and field plots using okra as test plant. Data on the fungal infection of roots, plant growth, plant resistance markers like polyphenol, salicylic acid and antioxidant status of plant were determined. These isolates significantly suppressed root diseases and induced systemic resistance via increasing level of resistance markers, polyphenol and salicylic acid besides improving antioxidant activity of Penicillium and P. monteilii‐treated plants as compared to control plants. GC‐MS analysis of n‐hexane extract of mycelium of P. nigricans revealed the presence of 15 different volatile compounds. Conclusions: Endophytic Penicillium and P. monteilii have potential against root‐infecting fungi of okra and can improve plant growth and yield. Significance and Impact of the Study: Endophytic Penicillium species and P. monteilii can suppress root rotting fungi by direct mechanism or induction of systemic resistance in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study objective: To assess temporal changes in clinical profile and in-hospital outcome of patients with amyloidosis presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, NSTEMI. Design/setting: We conducted a retrospective observational study using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Main outcomes: Primary outcome of interest was trend in adjusted in-hospital mortality in patients with amyloidosis presenting with NSTEMI from 2010 to 2020. Our secondary outcomes were trend in rate of coronary revascularization, and trend in duration of hospitalization. Results: We identified 272,896 hospitalizations for amyloidosis. There was a temporal increase in incidence of NSTEMI among patients aged 18-44 years from 15.5 % to 28.0 %, a reverse trend was observed in 45–64 years: 22.1 % to 17.7 %, p = 0.043. There was no statistically significant difference in rate of coronary revascularization from 2010 to 2020; 16.3 % to 14.2 %, p = 0.86. We observed an increased odds of all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients with NSTEMI compared to those without NSTEMI (aOR = 2.2, 95 % CI: 1.9–2.6, p

This research work includes the fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) by green construction approach using Wisteria sinensis leaves extract. Due to its eco-friendly approach, the synthesis of iron oxide NPs (Fe2O3 NPs) using various plant sources, such as plant parts, and microbial cells have gained a lot of attention in recent years. Cost-effectiveness and ease of availability make Wisteria sinensis leaves extract a potential candidate for the construction of iron oxide NPs. The various key features like biocompatibility, non-toxicity capping, and stabilizing agents present in biological sources are advantageous for usage in a variety of applications. The phytoconstituents present in the leaf extract of Wisteria sinensis serve as reducing and stabilizing agents. The biologically fabricated (Fe2O3 NPs) were analyzed using FT-IR, XRD, UV–vis spectroscopy, and SEM. In the present work, the antioxidant and photocatalytic dye degradation efficiency of Fe2O3 NPs has been studied. The dye degradation efficiency of methylene blue dye was found to be 87% at 180 min upon exposure to sunlight. The capacity of Fe2O3 NPs to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate free radicals (DPPH) was examined using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The study compared the radical scavenging activity (RSA) of Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) with that of the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. The results demonstrated that Fe2O3 NPs have a greater ability to scavenge radicals than ascorbic acid. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Fe2O3 NPs was observed to range from 0.12 to 0.17. Furthermore, Fe2O3 NPs displayed the highest antifungal activity, with an inhibition zone of 26.8 mm against F. oxysporum. These findings suggest that the biologically synthesized Fe2O3 NPs possess potent antimicrobial and dye degradation properties.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy individuals with myopic and hypermetropic eyes, using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Akil bin Abdul Qadir Institute of Ophthalmology, Karachi, Pakistan from January 2015 to June 2015. Methods: In this study, 300 eyes were included were examined using standard protocols by a single examiner. Subjects with a history of diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy, raised intraocular pressure (> 21mmHg), and previous intraocular or laser surgery were excluded from the study. The mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was calculated in both myopic and hypermetropic eyes. Results: The mean global retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in myopic eyes was found to be 93.98 ± 8.57 μm. In hypermetropic eyes, it was found to be 101.00 ± 6.58. This variation was found to be statistically significant with p-value of 0.001. Conclusion: We concluded that individuals with myopic eyes had significantly reduced retinal nerve fiber layer thickness whereas those with hypermetropic eyes showed an insignificant increase in RNFLT compared to emmetropic eyes. How to cite this: Mukhtar S, Hassan N, Lakhani M, Fatima U, Shaheen S, Raza I. Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness (RNFLT) in Myopic & Hypermetropic Eyes in a Subset of Pakistani Population. Life and Science. 2024; 5(1): 54-60. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.480

Abstract The sugar will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) members in Arabidopsis, AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 are the important sucrose efflux transporters that act synergistically to perform distinct physiological roles. These two transporters are involved in apoplasmic phloem loading, seed filling, and sugar level alteration at the site of pathogen infection. Here, we performed the structural analysis of the sucrose binding pocket of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 using molecular docking followed by rigorous molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We observed that the sucrose molecule binds inside the central cavity and in the middle of the transmembrane (TM) region of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12, that allows the alternate access to the sucrose molecule from either side of the membrane during transport. Both AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12, shares the similar amino acid residues that interact with sucrose molecule. Further, to achieve more insights on the role of these two transporters in other plant species, we did the phylogenetic and the in‐silico analyses of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs from 39 economically important plants. We reported the extensive information on the gene structure, protein domain and cis‐acting regulatory elements of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs from different plants. The cis‐elements analysis indicates the involvement of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs in plant development and also during abiotic and biotic stresses. Both in silico and in planta expression analysis indicated AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 are well‐expressed in the Arabidopsis leaf tissues. However, the orthologs of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 showed the differential expression pattern with high or no transcript expression in the leaf tissues of different plants. Overall, these results offer the new insights into the functions and regulation of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs from different plant species. This might be helpful in conducting the future studies to understand the role of these two crucial transporters in Arabidopsis and other crop plants.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of joints with 0.24% global prevalence. Numerous pharmacological agents are available for the management of RA, but they are associated with many adverse effects. Alternative therapies for disease management are urgently needed. Colebrookea oppositifolia (CO) is an important herb with various traditional uses and pharmacological actions. In the present study, anti-arthritic effect of ethanolic extract of Colebrookea oppositifolia (EECO) leaves was evaluated in pristane induced arthritic rats (PIA) and compared to methotrexate by assessing body weight, clinical score of inflammation and histopathology. Aims & Objectives: To study anti-arthritic effect of C. oppositifolia on a rat model of pristane induced arthritis. Place and duration of study: This experimental study was conducted in Animal House of Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore from March to September 2019. Material & Methods: Total forty female Sprague Dawley rats were categorized into five equal groups (n=8). Group A (normal control), group B (disease control). Group C and D belonged to low dose (250mg/kg) and high dose (500mg/kg) EECO treated groups respectively, while group E was methotrexate treated group. Arthritis was induced within two weeks by single intradermal injection of pristane on day 0 in groups B, C, D and E. At Day 15, treatment was initiated and at day 28 paw joint sections were taken for histopathology. Data input and analysis was done by using IBM SPSS version • p value ?0.05 was considered significant. Results: At week 4, significant increase (approximately 16%) in body weight was observed in all treated groups as compared to disease control. A significant reduction (more than 50%) in clinical score of arthritis was observed in all treated groups compared to diseased control group in which clinical score was 14.50±0.2. All extract and MTX treated groups showed significant improvement (p

This research studies the use of intensifiers in the aftermath of COVID-19 tweets by Pakistani Twitter users (using English as non-native English speakers). It further compares the use of intensifiers in Pakistani tweets with that of the contemporary English speech data, popularly known as COCA. Three types of analyses (distributional analysis, adjectival collocations, and semantic prosody) have been performed on the target (COVID-19 Pakistani tweets) and reference (COCA) data. Most frequently occurring intensifiers in the Pakistani English tweets are ‘very’ (Urdu بہت) and ‘so’ and these results correspond with the American contemporary data. The data was analyzed in terms of ‘adjectival collocations’ as well. To see the combination of the frequently occurring intensifiers with the neighboring adjectives, five most frequently used adjectives (good, true, nice, bad, and hard) were examined in both the reference and the local tweets data. The results bring forth different patterns of adjectival collocation in the reference and target data. The intensifier ‘so’ hasn’t been coupled with ‘bad and ‘hard’ in the target data. Similarly, ‘very’ hasn’t been combined with ‘nice’ and ‘hard’ in the target data. In the reference data, ‘very’ is used with all the adjectives; however, ‘so’ doesn’t occur with the selected adjectives. The results of ‘semantic prosody’ data reveal some differences and similarities between the two corpora. The results align with the previous researches (Ito and Tagliamonte, 2003, and Tagliamonte and Roberts, 2005) that suggest ‘very’, ‘really’, and ‘so’ as the top most intensifiers used in the British and the American data. The study of adjectival collocation and semantic prosody in the reference and the local tweets data allow us infer that the study can be valuable for the academicians and social media users as it highlights striking differences between the two corpora. Further, this study can be expanded into different dimensions using different types of datain order to find generalized patternsin the native English and Pakistani social media data.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent episodes of breathlessness and wheezing. Keeping in view the problems in asthma control and side effects of available medication, there is a need for alternative treatments with better efficacies and fewer side effects. Atorvastatin is a statin that blocks HMG CoA reductase enzyme found in the liver, inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol. Blockade of this pathway also inhibits production of GTPases which are involved in airway inflammation, airway remodeling and contraction of smooth muscles of the bronchi. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the symptomatic control in mild to moderate and uncontrolled asthma patients using standard treatment versus its combination with atorvastatin. Place and duration of study: This study was conducted in Pulmonology Department of Lahore General Hospital; Lahore over a 4-week duration from October 2018 till February 2019. Material & Methods: Patients of mild to moderate and uncontrolled asthma were enrolled in this study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into two groups by lottery method, Group 1 and Group 2, with 34 patients in each group. Group 1 was continued with standard therapy of asthma and the Group 2 was administered atorvastatin 40 mg, once daily in addition to standard therapy for 4 weeks. The control of asthma before and after treatment was assessed based on Global Initiative for asthma (GINA) guideline questionnaire score. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 22 was used for analysis of data. P-Value < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Nonsignificant results were obtained when comparison between the groups was made based on GINA guidelines questionnaire score by Mann Whitney Utest Conclusion: It was concluded that atorvastatin has no role in symptomatic control in patients of mild to moderate and uncontrolled asthma.

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Bacopa monnieri has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, alone or in combination with other herbs, as a memory and learning enhancer, sedative, and anti-epileptic. This review aimed to highlight the health benefits of B. monnieri extracts (BME), focusing on anti-cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We examined the clinical studies on phytochemistry and pharmacological application of BME. We further highlighted the mechanism of action of these extracts in varying types of cancer and their therapeutic implications. In addition, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanism in therapeutic interventions, toxicities, safety concerns and synergistic potential in cognition and neuroprotection. Overall, this review provides deeper insights into the therapeutic implications of Brahmi as a lead formulation for treating neurological disorders and exerting cognitive-enhancing effects.

By taking variable temperature, we consider an MHD boundary layer flow past a flat plate with radiation, joule heating, and viscous dissipation effects. The suitable similarity transformation is used to obtain ODEs from governing non-linear coupled PDEs, which are solved by the engaging shooting method. The mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy due to addition of dissipation; the temperature variations in the fluid and their characteristics are investigated. On a two-dimensional flow, the impacts of the temperature power coefficient (n), Prandtl (Pr) and Eckert numbers (Ec), and the magnetic parameter (M), are graphically presented. The rate of heat transfer is calculated for different parameters and presented in the form of tables. It is found that as the Eckert number grows, the temperature profile increases, and as the Prandtl number increases, the temperature profile reduces.

Objective: To investigate the mutation in Vangl1 gene in patients of myelomeningocele. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2017 to December 2017 in the Dow Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Karachi, after approval from the ethics review committee of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and comprised clinically diagnosed infants and 10 healthy individuals from the outpatient department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Several anatomical parameters were considered, such as size and site of the cyst. Blood samples were drawn and polymerase chain reaction was conducted for the identification of mutation in Vangl1 gene. Mutation analysis was carried out by aligning the sequence with the reference sequence. Results: Of the 60 subjects, 50(83.3%) were cases with age range 0-10 years, and 10(16.6%) were age matched controls. Majority of the patients 44 (88%) were aged

This work includes green synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) by using Alstoniascholaris, which is indigenous to many countries such as China, Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India. Its pharmacological activities include antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, analgesic, antitussive, and anti-diarrheal activities. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of bio-inspired magnesium oxide nanoparticles, MgO NPs, were investigated. MgO NPs were prepared by using the leaf extract of Alstonia scholaris, followed by characterization using EDX, XRD, and SEM techniques. The crystallite size of magnesium oxide nanoparticles was 19.57 nm. XRD analysis confirmed the crystallinity and the purity of MgO NPs. Anti-inflammatory activity was carried out to observe inhibition of protein denaturation. Since the IC50 of MgO nanoparticles was lower than the standard, it was found to be more effective. IC50 values were compared, and results reveal that bioinspired MgO NPs undergo more scavenging of free radicals than standard (ascorbic acid) MgO NPs. These MgO nanoparticles are useful in cosmetics such as scrubs, moisturizers, and an active ingredient in microdermabrasion and in formulating effective drugs for maintaining the protein structure of the body, which will reduce inflammation.

In the present work, copper oxide nanoparticles have been fabricated by using a biological method. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have received more attention than other metal oxides due to their distinctive properties and applications. Plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has gained the attention of researchers because of its simple and ecologically sustainable approach. The biosynthesis of CuO NPs included the use of Passiflora edulis leaf extract that acts as a stabilizing and reducing agent. A non-toxic, cost-effective, and ecologically acceptable method was the use of plant leaf extract in the biogenesis of nanoscale materials. UV-vis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques were used to examine the biologically produced copper oxide nanoparticles. The findings of the SEM examination, which gives morphological information, demonstrate that the synthesized NPs have a spherical shape and have an average particle size of between 60 and 65 nm. CuO has been further investigated in the current study as a photo-catalyst in the methylene blue (MB) dye degradation and as an antioxidant in free radical scavenging activities. The decolorization efficiency was approximately 93% after 160 min. Furthermore, CuO nanoparticles were tested for antioxidant performance by scavenging 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate free radicals (DPPH) and evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The result showed that biologically synthesized CuO NPs can be used as an effective antioxidant. The half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 of copper oxide nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 0.13–0.20.

Background: Work-related stress has always been an important concern in medical practice. Occupational stress and pressure in the medical profession, social expectations, training schedule, hostile job environment, and time management issues are the specific stressors in medical practice. Definite steps must be taken to overcome the effects of occupational stress. The aim of this study is to measure the level of occupational stress and its associated factors among house officers of Dow University of Health Science Ojha Campus, Karachi. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2018 to July 2018, including 100 house officers from different departments including M.B.B.S., Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), Nursing, and Institute of Medical Technology (IMT). Informed consent was given to all those house officers who were working at the time of the study and fulfilled the inclusion criteria i.e., age 24-30 years, both male and females. Medical professionals, age >30 years, any infectious diseases were excluded. Self-designed questionnaire for demographics and workplace stress scale questionnaire based on 8 parts was used for stress evaluation and data recording. The collected data was then analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version and the ANOVA test was applied. Results: Almost equal level of stress among house officers of different departments was observed. Results were compared among different departments as mean stress level i.e. DPT *19±5.679, IMT 21.08 ± 5.627, IoN as 19.08 ± 4.890 and MBBS as 19.40 ± 4.907. According to the study results, there was no significant difference in stress level between house officers of different departments. Conclusion: Continuous or progressive stress is commonly seen among young medical professionals and is more challenging to prove their work and identity in an exhausting work environment. So, there is a need for awareness to reduce burn out and stress management strategies should be taken for improvement of mental health among young health professionals.

N-acetyl-5-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) plays crucial role in improving the growth, brain development, brain health maintenance, and immunity enhancement of infants. Commercially, it is used in the production of antiviral drugs, infant milk formulas, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical products. Because of the rapidly increasing demand, metabolic engineering approach has attracted increasing attention for NeuAc biosynthesis. However, knowledge of metabolite flux in biosynthetic pathways is one of the major challenges in the practice of metabolic engineering. So, an understanding of the flux of NeuAc is needed to determine its cellular level at real time. The analysis of the flux can only be performed using a tool that has the capacity to measure metabolite level in cells without affecting other metabolic processes. A Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based genetically-encoded nanosensor has been generated in this study to monitor the level of NeuAc in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Sialic acid periplasmic binding protein (SiaP) from Haemophilus influenzae was exploited as a sensory element for the generation of nanosensor. The enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) and Venus were used as Fluroscence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) pair. The nanosensor, which was termed fluorescent indicator protein for sialic acid (FLIP-SA), was successfully transformed into, and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. The expressed protein of the nanosensor was isolated and purified. The purified nanosensor protein was characterized to assess the affinity, specificity, and stability in the pH range. The developed nanosensor exhibited FRET change after addition to NeuAc. The developed nanosensor was highly specific, exhibited pH stability, and detected NeuAc levels in the nanomolar to milimolar range. FLIP-SA was successfully introduced in bacterial and yeast cells and reported the real-time intracellular levels of NeuAc non-invasively. The FLIP-SA is an excellent tool for the metabolic flux analysis of the NeuAc biosynthetic pathway and, thus, may help unravel the regulatory mechanism of the metabolic pathway of NeuAc. Furthermore, FLIP-SA can be used for the high-throughput screening of E. coli mutant libraries for varied NeuAc production levels.

Objective: The current research was draft to contrast the variation in levels of Prolactin (PRL), Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in female rodents by experimentally producing hypothyroidism. Methods: The Animal House of Dow University of Health science was used for the purpose of doing this research which was almost completed in a period of 10 months. The total number of 30 rodents of Wistar Albino species were taken to use in this research. Only adult healthy female rodents weighing between 180-200 gm were included in the study and animals which were found to be slow and lethargic were excluded from the study. These rats were separated into two parts by dividing them into two groups of fifteen animals each. The primary group received the regular normal diet and routine tap water for six weeks and was labeled as the control group whereas the other group was forced to accept Carbimazole (Antithyroid drug) through feeding tube by mixing 0.02% / ml of regular drinking water for a period of six weeks. After six weeks all the rats were slaughtered. The cardiac puncture of animal was done in order to collect blood. Analysis of Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone and Prolactin was carried out by using the ELISA kits on serum of animal which was centrifuged and separated. Results: The result observed for control group showed a mean value ± standard deviation(SD) of 5.13 ± 1.39 mIU/ml for Follicle Stimulating Hormone. In the same group the mean value ± SD observed for Luteinizing Hormone was 8.38 ± 16.02 mIU/ml and for PRL was 0.40 ± 0.05 ng/ml respectively. The second group that is the hypothyroid group revealed a mean value ± (SD) of 5.89 ± 1.63 mIU/ml for Follicle Stimulating Hormone. For Luteinizing Hormones in hypothyroid group, the mean value ± SD turned out to be 9.30 ± 13.34 mIU/ml whereas the mean value ± SD observed for Prolactin in hypothyroid group was 0.62 ± 0.12 ng/ml. The information was entered on SPSS version 16. This information was analysed by applying an independent sample t-test in between the two groups to compare the levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone and PRL. The p-value was observed which turned out to be insignificant for Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone but quite remarkable for Prolactin. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism created by an antithyroid drug (Carbimazole) leads to a remarkable rise in the levels of PRL regardless of the changes in levels of gonadotropins which may lead to the sterility in females.

The endothelium responds to numerous chemical and mechanical factors in regulating vascular tone, blood pressure, and blood flow. The endothelial volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) has been proposed to be mechanosensitive and thereby sense fluid flow and hydrostatic pressure to regulate vascular function. Here, we show that the leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8a, LRRC8A (SWELL1), is required for VRAC in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Endothelial LRRC8A regulates AKT-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling under basal, stretch, and shear-flow stimulation, forms a GRB2-Cav1-eNOS signaling complex, and is required for endothelial cell alignment to laminar shear flow. Endothelium-restricted Lrrc8a KO mice develop hypertension in response to chronic angiotensin-II infusion and exhibit impaired retinal blood flow with both diffuse and focal blood vessel narrowing in the setting of type 2 diabetes (T2D). These data demonstrate that LRRC8A regulates AKT-eNOS in endothelium and is required for maintaining vascular function, particularly in the setting of T2D.

Abstract Objective: The overall incidence of Phrygian cap is about 04%. It is an anomaly of gall bladder found congenitally. It can be a misguided pathological diagnosis often seen mimicking a liver mass on imaging of the hepatobiliary tree. Although Phrygian cap is a congenital anomaly, it does not show any pathological significance, In light of this condition, the purpose of this research was to find out the congenital anomalies of the gallbladder through magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) along with its clinical significance. Methods: A total of 377 patients were selected with a number of 192 females and 185 males, with ages ranging from 16-90 years, with a mean age of 48 years, who had undergone MRCP for diagnosed stone in gallbladder or bile duct on a clinical basis, carcinoma of pancreas and inflammatory changes of pancreatic and/or bile ducts. The patient's imaging was done using a 1.5-T superconductive magnet which was four-channel phase-arrayed body coil and breath-holding technique was utilized, using multi-sliced T2-weighting half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE), MIP reconstruction, and also single-shot T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo sequence rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) having a varying thickness of slices. Results: The MRCP imaging results demonstrated extra hepatic biliary tract anomalies in 94 out of the 377 patients which represented a frequency of 24.93%. However, a Phrygian cap was found to be present in 6 patients with a frequency of 1.6% with 4 females and 2 males. Conclusion: From the results that we achieved, it was made quite apparent that congenital anomalies can be classified as a complex spectrum of variations that have a propensity to occur on a regular basis, emphasizing their value for attention in clinical as well as surgical settings along with the need to be readily identifiable with MRCP.

In the process of software development, regression testing is one of the major activities that is done after making modifications in the current system or whenever a software system evolves. But, the test suite size increases with the addition of new test cases and it becomes in-efficient because of the occurrence of redundant, broken, and obsolete test cases. For that reason, it results in additional time and budget to run all these test cases. Many researchers have proposed computational intelligence and conventional approaches for dealing with this problem and they have achieved an optimized test suite by selecting, minimizing or reducing, and prioritizing test cases. Currently, most of these optimization approaches are single objective and static in nature. But, it is mandatory to use multi-objective dynamic approaches for optimization due to the advancements in information technology and associated market challenges. Therefore, we have proposed three variants of self-tunable Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference System i.e. TLBO-ANFIS, FA-ANFIS, and HS-ANFIS, for multi-objective regression test suites optimization. Two benchmark test suites are used for evaluating the proposed ANFIS variants. The performance of proposed ANFIS variants is measured using Standard Deviation and Root Mean Square Error. A comparison of experimental results is also done with six existing methods i.e. GA-ANFIS, PSO-ANFIS, MOGA, NSGA-II, MOPSO, and TOPSIS and it is concluded that the proposed method effectively reduces the size of regression test suite without a reduction in the fault detection rate.

Recent years has seen a tremendous increase in processing requirements of present-day embedded system applications. Embedded systems consist of multiple processing elements (PEs) connected to each other using different types of interfaces. Many complicated tasks are accomplished by embedded systems in varied settings, which may introduce errors during inter-processor communication. Testing such systems is tremendously difficult and challenging from testing non-real time systems. A major part of testing real time embedded systems involves ensuring accuracy and timing in synchronous inter-process communication More specifically, the synchronization and inter-processor communication of real-time applications makes testing a challenging task and due to the demand for higher data rate increases, day-by-day, making testing of such systems even more complex. This paper presents a novel frame work that uses multiple instances of simulators with physical high-speed serial interfaces to emulate any real time embedded system communication. The framework presents a testing technique that detects all faults related to synchronization of high-speed synchronous serial interfaces in a systematic manner. The novelty of our approach is to simulate communication across multiple processors in a simulation environment for detecting and localizing bugs. We verify this framework using a case study consisting of an embedded software defined radio (SDR) system. The test results show the applicability of our approach in fixing bugs that relates to synchronization issues that otherwise are very hard to find and fix in very complicated systems, such as SDR.

The use of an automated biopsy device, and real-time ultrasound for percutaneous kidney biopsies (PKBs) has improved the likelihood of obtaining adequate tissue for diagnosis and also has reduced the complications associated with the procedure. We aimed to determine the frequency and type of complications associated with PKB and to determine the diagnostic yield. It was a retrospective file-based review of cases who underwent PKB of native kidney between January 2003 and December 2013 at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. PKBs were performed by trained nephrologists or radiologists using an automated device with a 16/18-gauge needle under real-time ultrasound. The data obtained included age, gender, clinical and histopathological diagnosis, and complications associated with the procedure (minor: hematuria, local infections, and hematoma; major: transfusions, severe infections, surgery, nephrectomy, arteriography, embolism, and death. Yield of the procedure was based on the number of glomeruli obtained. Patients having major complications were compared with the patients who had minor or no complications. A total of 433 native kidney biopsies were performed. The mean age of the patients was 41 ± 15.9 years, and 58% of the patients were male. The main histological findings were membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (17.6%) followed by focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (16.4%) and interstitial nephritis (13.9%). Majority of the procedures were performed by nephrologists (67.4%). The overall complication rate was 14.2%. Among those, 21 patients (4.8%) had a major complication while the others had minor complications. Of those who had a major complication, 17 patients required blood transfusion(s) and had hematuria or a major hematoma, three had prolonged hospitalization >24 hours, and one patient required surgical intervention. Only 10 procedures (2.3%) had inadequate tissue to establish the histopathologic diagnosis. PKB under real-time ultrasound guidance is a safe and efficacious procedure to establish the histological diagnosis of the renal disease.

Objective: To determine the frequency of symptomatic osteoarthritis in general population of Karachi presenting with joint pain. Introduction: People easily get tired due to heavy duty occupations to keep pace with the society. Arthralgia commonly called as “Joint pain” is one of the most frequently observed complain, especially in individuals aged 50 above. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) from 1st November 2013 to 25th November 2013. The data was collected from 316 patients presenting to the department of rheumatology and orthopedics with joint pain. A structured questionnaire was designed based on the clinical symptomatology of osteoarthritis. It was administered to the participants aged above 18 yrs. old. 17.7% of males and 82.3% of females participated in the study. Result: Out of 316 patients with joint pain, 71.2% (n=225) were diagnosed osteoarthritis on the basis of symptoms present with a high prevalence in females than males. The most common joints to be involved in osteoarthritis were found to be knee joint (90.2%) and hip joint (55.7%). The majority of the patients (n=109) had an X-ray of their joint and n=125 was getting analgesics as an effective therapy for osteoarthritis. Conclusion: The frequency of osteoarthritis is increasing in Karachi with globalization due to high level occupational stress along with recreational activity stress and other contributive factors. Female predominance as compare to that of man is quite alarming that needs to be controlled for maintaining future quality of life and providing ease for daily activities.

Background Alternaria brassicae, the causal organism of Alternaria blight, is a necrotroph infecting crops of the Brassicaceae family at all growth stages. To circumvent this problem, several disease management strategies are being used in the field, and disease-resistant varieties have also been developed. However, no strategy has proven completely successful, owing to the high variability in virulence among A. brassicae isolates, which causes a diverse spectrum of symptoms. Nonhost resistance (NHR) is a robust and broad-spectrum defense mechanism available in plants, and the exploitation of gene pools from plant species that are nonhost to A. brassicae could serve as novel sources of resistance. Methodology We searched the literature using key words relevant to this study in various search engines, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, as well as certain journal websites. The literature was retrieved, sorted, and mined to extract data pertinent to the present review. Results In this review, we have comprehensively covered the recent progress made in developing Alternaria blight resistance in Brassica crops by exploiting host germplasm. We also enumerate the potential NHR sources available for A. brassicae and the NHR layers possibly operating against this pathogen. In addition, we propose different strategies for identifying NHR-related genes from nonhost plants and testing their relevance in imparting broad-spectrum resistance when transferred to host plants. Conclusion This review will help broaden the current knowledge base pertaining to the resistance sources available in host germplasm, the exploitation of NHR mechanisms, and their applications in protecting Brassica crops from Alternaria blight. The insights might also be applicable to a wider repertoire of plant pathogens.

We report the synthesis of MnO nanoparticles (AI-MnO NAPs) using biological molecules of Abutilon indicum leaf extract. Further, they were evaluated for antibacterial and cytotoxicity activity against different pathogenic microbes (Escherichia coli, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) and HeLa cancerous cells. Synthesized NAPs were also investigated for photocatalytic dye degradation potential against methylene blue (MB), and adsorption activity against Cr(VI) was also determined. Results from Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful synthesis of NAPs with spherical morphology and crystalline nature. Biological activity results demonstrated that synthesized AI-MnO NAPs exhibited significant antibacterial and cytotoxicity propensities against pathogenic microbes and cancerous cells, respectively, compared with plant extract. Moreover, synthesized AI-MnO NAPs demonstrated the comparable biological activities results to standard drugs. These excellent biological activities results are attributed to the existence of the plant’s biological molecules on their surfaces and small particle size (synergetic effect). Synthesized NAPs displayed better MB-photocatalyzing properties under sunlight than an ultraviolet lamp. The Cr(VI) adsorption result showed that synthesized NAPs efficiently adsorbed more Cr(VI) at higher acidic pH than at basic pH. Hence, the current findings suggest that Abutilon indicum is a valuable source for tailoring the potential of NAPs toward various enhanced biological, photocatalytic, and adsorption activities. Consequently, the plant’s biological molecule-mediated synthesized AI-MnO NAPs could be excellent contenders for future therapeutic applications.

The research discussed in this paper aims to study the impact of video footages on the academic performance of students. Video footages are usually inserted into video lectures — in addition to the verbal narration of any examples by the teachers — to explain and simplify concepts. Similarly, in conventional classrooms, teachers verbally narrate examples to clarify concepts — but, in this case, students have to rely on their imagination and previous exposure to similar situations to develop an understanding of the concepts. A two-phase experiment was designed to compare these two teaching methods. A sample of 70 participants was drawn from non-psychology students in the Virtual University of Pakistan; and two groups, Group A and Group B, each with 35 participants, were formed through random assignment of the students. In the first phase of the experiment, members of Group A were taught through a 24-minute video lecture on psychology, which had four chunks of video footage in it. After the lecture, the students' academic learning was measured through a multiple-choice test with 27 items, which was developed by incorporating an equal number of questions on three levels of Bloom's taxonomy (viz. understanding, comprehension and application). The item levels were decided after agreement by three examiners who had at least three years of experience of developing such questions. In the second phase, a lecture with similar content was taught to Group B. The only difference was in the mode of delivery: in this case, the content was conveyed verbally and no video footages were used. The same test of students' learning was employed to get the scores of Group B. In addition, a qualitative study, involving data gathered through participants' feedback on the performance of the learning facilitators and weaknesses in both teaching modes was collected in order to explore the participants' perceptions and experiences of the phenomenon being studied. The results indicated that the two groups were significantly different in terms of academic achievement. The mean values suggested that those who were taught through video footages showed a higher level of academic learning than those who received a traditional verbal narration lecture. In addition, the students reported that the video footages and examples facilitated their learning, and helped them to remain focused and motivated in class. The findings have broad implications for teachers, content developers, academic policy-makers and producers involved in the production of academic content.

Objectives: To assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding blood donation among medical and non-medical students of Karachi. Methods: Research Venue: The institutes included Dow Medical College (DMC), Sindh Medical College (SMC), NED, Karachi University (KU), IBA, Sir Syed University of Engineering &Technology (SSUET) and others. Subjects: The age of sample ranges between 18-25 yrs. Sample size was 500 students; 250 medical n 250 non- medical. Study Design and Duration: A cross sectional study was conducted in various institutes of Karachi from 1st Oct, 2008 to 1st March, 2009; through aÊpre-tested close-endedÊquestionnaire in English. Its designÊwas simple and aimed at student's level of understanding.ÊÊThe topics addressed included knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation. Results: Among 500 individuals, 38 out of 250 medical students (15.2%) while 50 out of 250 non-medical students (20%) were donors. Altogether 17.6% students were donors out of which 5.4%Êwere regular donors. Major reasons for donation among medical students were 'humanity' (63%), family and friends; and among non-medical students were ‘humanity’ (46%), family and friends. Reasons for non-donation among medical students were 'no one ever asked me' (59.4%), "i'm too weak", "services not trustworthy" and "future weakness" and among non-medical students were 'no one ever asked me' (36%), "future weakness", "services not trustworthy", "afraid of needles". Source of motivation among medical student donors was "self" (47.3%) while among non-medical was "friends" (36%). Most medical donors donated at blood bank (42.1%), while non- medical at hospital (64%).15.9% donors faced complications after blood donation. Conclusion: There is lack of motivation and misconceptions regarding blood donation among the students. This needs encouragements regarding blood donation particularly through electronic media

Approaches to brain tumour diagnosis and detecting recurrence after treatment are costly and significantly invasive. Developing peripheral-sample liquid biopsy tools is the key to enhancing our ability to prognosticate brain tumour subtypes and molecular heterogeneity. The present scoping review was designed to discuss current updates in liquid biopsy tools for diagnosis and guiding clinical management of brain tumours; we evaluated the literature within the context of low-and-middle-income country challenges. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular vesicle-associated biomarkers, protein biomarkers, microRNAs, and serum metabolites are discussed with the collation of current data supporting their utility in liquid biopsy. Further challenges to implanting liquid biopsy tools at a systematic level are highlighted.

The incidence and prevalence of brain tumours have steadily increased within low- and middle-income countries, similar to patterns seen in high-income countries. In addition to the epidemiological landscape of brain tumours in Pakistan, it is important to consider the economics of brain tumour diagnosis and management to inform policy on neuro-oncological healthcare service delivery. The challenges associated with conducting economic evaluations in LMICs include the ability to receive funding for country-specific estimates, dearth of existing data and methodological development, and the need for investment in economic evaluations of health. Economic evaluations are most useful when funding support is given to country-specific initiatives to allocate resources. Cost and cost components must also be meticulously collected to enable accurate calculations of economic evidence for the decision-making process. To put neuro-oncological care at the forefront of the national health agenda, it is crucial for vigorous epidemiological and economic evidence to be available for policymakers.

Surgical removal remains the primary treatment for most brain tumours. However, radiosurgery presents an effective, less invasive alternative or additional treatment for certain types. Our goal was to explore radiosurgery's roles in treating various brain tumours, focussing on its application in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We reviewed all relevant systematic reviews, metaanalyses, and guidelines to determine the most effective radiosurgical approaches. Additionally, we consulted a panel of experts with over ten years of experience in LMICs, such as Pakistan. For brain tumours, stereotactic radiosurgery should generally follow a confirmed histopathological diagnosis. Exceptions include tumours identified through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), like Vestibular Schwannoma (VS), pre-diagnosed Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), multiple typical meningiomas, and metastases with a known histology from another site. While radiosurgery is gaining traction as a primary and adjunct treatment in some LMICs, the lack of regional guidelines, trained personnel, and collaboration among specialists hinders its wider adoption. Addressing these gaps is crucial for expanding radiosurgical care in these regions.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have historically been under-represented in clinical trials, leading to a disparity in evidence-based recommendations for the management of neurooncological conditions. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a scoping review to assess the current literature on clinical trials in neuro-oncology from LMICs. The eligibility criteria for inclusion in this review included clinical trials registered and conducted with human subjects, with available English language text or translation, and focussed on neuro-oncological cases. The literature search strategy captured 408 articles, of which 61 met these criteria, with a significant number of randomised controlled trials from specific LMICs. The review found that LMIC clinical trials have contributed significantly to understanding surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiation therapy interventions for brain tumours, paediatric cancers, and the repurposing of drugs as new targets in neuro-oncology. These findings highlight the potential for expanding clinical trials research in neuro-oncology in LMICs, which may significantly impact global understanding and management of these conditions, particularly from diverse populations from the global south.

Vestibular Schwannoma (VS), previously known as acoustic neuroma, constitutes the majority of tumours found in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Most guidelines for managing CPA tumours have been developed by high-income countries (HICs). However, these guidelines often fall short in addressing the unique challenges encountered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Pakistan. In LMICs, issues related to a limited healthcare workforce, inadequate infrastructure, and constrained financial resources hinder the effective implementation of these HIC-derived guidelines. Additionally, it has been observed that VS tends to present at a larger size in LMICs compared to HICs. Given that VS is the predominant type of CPA tumour and other types are covered under separate guidelines, this article aims to provide practical, contextspecific recommendations for the screening, diagnosis, and management of Vestibular Schwannoma in LMIC settings. Our focus is to bridge the gap in care strategies and adapt them to the resource constraints and clinical realities of LMICs.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and implementation of a novel approach for intraoperative brain smears within the operating room, which is augmented with deep learning technology., Materials and Methods: This study is designed as an observational to evaluate the feasibility and implementation of using an innovative approach to intraoperative brain smears within the operating room, augmented with deep learning technology. The study will be conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, from May 2024 to July 2026, with an estimated sample size of 258. A neurosurgical trainee, trained by the study neuropathologist, will prepare and examine the smears under a microscope in the operating room. The findings of the trainee will be documented and compared to routine intraoperative consultations (smear and/or frozen section) and final histopathology results obtained from the pathology department. Additionally, the study will incorporate artificial intelligence tools to assist with the interpretation of smear and a telepathology interface to enable consultation from an off-site neuropathologist., Conclusions: The results of this study will hold significant potential to revolutionise neurosurgery practices in lowand middle-income countries by introducing a cost-effective, efficient, and high-quality intraoperative consultation method to settings that currently lack the necessary infrastructure and expertise. The implementation of this innovative approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes and increase access to intraoperative diagnosis, thereby addressing a significant unmet need in LMICs.

Objective: To develop the country's first brain tumour surgery lab in resource-constrained settings, for training young neurosurgeons and residents., Methods: A workshop was developed using mixed-fidelity models for assessing and training a participant's psychomotor skills, hand-eye coordination, and teaching the principles of brain tumour surgery. Affordable noncadaveric models were used to compare and contrast the benefit of each teaching model. Within the existing space for wet labs at our institution, 8 different dissection stations were set up with adequate space for 2 people to work at a time. Each station was equipped with an operating room-Caliber microscope, a lighting system and a camera linked to a screen and high-powered electric drills and basic surgical equipment., Results: Our team was able to develop and use 3D-printed skull models and animal brain models for training in complex approaches and craniotomy., Conclusions: Surgical simulation training, in a cost-effective manner, provides the benefit of training residents and students in neurosurgical techniques in a safe, controlled environment leading to improvement in skills and technique.