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Objective: To determine the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of pathogens responsible for superadded bacterial infection in COVID-19 patients and correlate the association of these infections with serological markers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan Pakistan, from Jan to Dec 2021. Methodology: A total of 290 patients having positive RT-PCR for SARS CoV-2 were included. All samples were processed per Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) protocols. API 20E and API 20NE were used for the identification of Gramnegative rods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method.Serological markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), total leucocyte count (TLC) and serum Ferritin, were determined and compared for significance in positive and negative culture cases.Results: A total of 75 patients had positive bacterial cultures. Among these, 42(56%) were blood culture, 26(35 %) were respiratory culture and 7(9%) were urine culture. Commonly isolated organisms were Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, i.e., 23(31%), 20(27%), 13(17%), and 12(16%) respectively. CRP, TLC and S. ferritin were markedly raised in superadded bacterial infection compared to patients with COVID-19 infection only. Conclusion: The frequency of superadded bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients is high. The pathogens isolated in these cases were multidrug-resistant, reflecting mostly hospital-acquired flora. The association of serological markers in depicting superadded infection is statistically significant and may be used to screen for superadded bacterial infection in COVID-19 patients.

PurposeThis paper examines the extreme dependence and asymmetric risk spillovers between crude oil futures and ten US stock sector indices (consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials, health care, industrials, information technology, materials, telecommunication and utilities) before and during COVID-19 outbreak. This study is based on the rationale that stock sectors exhibit heterogeneity in their response to oil prices depending on whether they are classified as oil-intensive or non-oil-intensive sectors and the possible time variation in the dependence and risk spillover effects.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ static and dynamic symmetric and asymmetric copula models as well as Conditional Value at Risk (VaR) (CoVaR). Finally, they use robustness tests to validate their results.FindingsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, crude oil returns showed an asymmetric tail dependence with all stock sector returns, except health care and industrials (materials), where an average (symmetric tail) dependence is identified. During the COVID-19 pandemic, crude oil returns exhibit a lower tail dependency with the returns of all stock sectors, except financials and consumer discretionary. Furthermore, there is evidence of downside and upside risk asymmetric spillovers from crude oil to stock sectors and vice versa. Finally, the risk spillovers from stock sectors to crude oil are higher than those from crude oil to stock sectors, and they significantly increase during the pandemic.Originality/valueThere is heterogeneity in the linkages and the asymmetric bidirectional systemic risk between crude oil and US economic sectors during bearish and bullish market conditions; this study is the first to investigate the average and extreme tail dependence and asymmetric spillovers between crude oil and US stock sectors.

In this paper, we investigate the nonlinear dependence dynamics among eight cryptocurrencies (Monero, Bitcoin, Dash, Litecoin, Stellar, XRP, Ethereum, and Nem) by applying time-varying copulas. We also examine the upside and downside spillovers between cryptocurrencies and equity markets by a conditional Value-at-Risk (CoVaR) approach. We show that the dynamics of dependence of the portfolio of cryptocurrencies reveal both symmetric and asymmetric features, with the symmetric dynamics being more predominant. NEM and Ethereum have the largest downside and upside CoVaR spillovers on the world equity index, respectively. The largest downside CoVaR spillovers from the world equity index are to NEM followed by Stellar, and the largest upside spillovers are to Ethereum followed by NEM. Stellar and Bitcoin exhibit the largest downside and upside CoVaR spillovers on the Americas equity index. The largest downside CoVaR spillovers from the Americas equity index are to Stellar and NEM, and those on the upside are to Ethereum and NEM. In addition, we find that most cryptocurrencies exhibit safe haven or hedge properties more often than rare metals and diamonds for daily equity indices. Finally, we conduct an out-of-sample analysis of optimal-weighting portfolio strategies based on C-vine copulas using cryptocurrencies and equity indices that entails forward-looking measures of risk that are economically significant, which outperform benchmark strategies. PID2020-114646RB-C43 NRF2020S1A5B8103268 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

We examine the nonlinear dependence dynamics and downside and upside risk spillovers between oil prices and world food prices captured by a world food price index and its subcategories of dairy, cereals, vegetable oil, and sugar. We draw our empirical results using static and dynamic bivariate copulas, Value-at-Risk (VaR) and conditional VaR (CoVaR) methods. Our empirical findings reveal that oil prices and aggregate food prices, as measured by the world food price index, independently move during market upturns and downturns. However, lower and upper tail dependence is observed between oil prices and cereals, vegetable oil, and sugar prices. We also identify upside and downside asymmetric risk spillovers from individual food commodities to oil and from oil to food commodities. Oil prices most strongly affect sugar and vegetable oil prices (downside and upside) whereas oil prices are most strongly impacted in the downside and upside by vegetable oil and sugar prices, respectively. The implications of the results are discussed.

This paper examines the dependence structure and the portfolio allocation characteristics of a main industrial portfolio metals (gold, platinum, palladium, aluminum, silver, copper, zinc, lead, and nickel), and of an agricultural commodities portfolio (wheat, corn, soybeans, coffee, sugar cane, sugar beets, cocoa, cotton, and lumber). Our methodology is based on regular vine copulas and the conditional Value-at-Risk. The motivation to investigate the dependence structure and connectedness between agricultural, and metal commodities is to identify ways in which agricultural and metal commodities can hedge each other and to explore the possibilities of parallel investments. The results indicate that the dependence dynamics of the main metals portfolio are characterized by symmetric features. However, the dependence dynamics of the agricultural commodities portfolio are characterized by symmetric and asymmetric features; symmetric dynamics are predominant. Finally, the metal commodities portfolio is observed to be less risky for financial resource allocation during the global financial crisis. NRF-2022S1A5A2A01038422 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are at a high risk for developing cardiovascular complications. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) can detect early functional impairment before structural abnormalities develop. It remains unknown if reduced GLS is associated with reduced survival in patients with MM. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients diagnosed with MM between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2017 at our institution. Patients with a 2D transthoracic echocardiogram completed within 1 year of MM diagnosis, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 40%, and no history of myocardial infarction prior to MM diagnosis were included. GLS was measured using an artificial-intelligence-powered software (EchoGo Core), with reduced GLS defined as an absolute value of 9.6, LVEF/GLS > 4.1, higher LV mass index, and low-voltage ECG. A Total of 126 (52.1%) deaths occurred during follow-up. Overall survival was lower among patients with reduced GLS (adjusted HR: 1.81, CI: 1.07–3.05).

This paper investigates the tail dependence dynamics and asymmetric risk spillovers between the futures of four important precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) and seven leading currencies (EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD, CHF, and CNY) before and during the COVID-19 crisis using the time-varying-parameter copula and the conditional Value-at-Risk (CoVaR) method. The results show the symmetric dependence between currencies and precious metals before the COVID-19 crisis. In contrast, we show negative and positive tail asymmetric dependences during the pandemic crisis. The COVID-19 crisis significantly amplifies the magnitude of spillover effects among the studied markets where the AUD currency exhibits the largest transmission and reception of downside and upside spillover to/from most precious metals before and during the pandemic crisis. Currency investors and portfolio managers could use the obtained results to better hedge and manage their investment positions when markets are affected by health crises. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Objective To determine clinical features and biochemical markers in COVID-19 patients at a tertiary care hospital, in Multan. Study design Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan, Pakistan, from March to June 2020. Methodology Sixty-three cases of all ages admitted in Isolation ward, Combined Military Hospital, Multan with COVID-19 were included. Clinical features like fever, cough and shortness of breath were recorded. Blood sample was collected in plain tube for biochemical features like serum albumin, ferritin, AST, LDH, CRP and urea, which were analysed in Pathology Department of the Hospital. Association of the clinical features and these biochemical markers were determined. Results In 63 patients, only one (1.6%) patient was between 1 to 12 years, 42 (66.7 %) belonged to 13 to 45 years while 20 (31.7%) patients were between 46 to 95 years. Mean age was 41.39+15.68 years. Forty-eight (76.2%) patients were males and 15 (23.8%) females. Thirteen (20.6%) patients presented with fever, 14 (22.2%) had productive cough and only 3 (4.8%) patients were aware of known history of contact. Median (IQR) value of serum ferritin, LDH, albumin, AST, CRP and urea were 176.5 (252) ng/ml, 284 (96) IU/L, 42 (7) g/L, 28 (22) U/L, 3.9 (11) mg/L and 4.25 (1.6) mmol/L, respectively. Conclusion Pakistani patients with COVID-19 disease showed variable pattern of clinical features. Specific biochemical markers, particularly serum ferritin, may help in diagnosis. Key Words: Covid-19, Clinical features, Biochemical features, Multan, Pakistan.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the regional interdependence structure of energy equities in the US and in the EU. Based on weekly stock prices of 28 big energy firms in the two regions fro...

Introduction: Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a robust LV systolic function measure used to detect subtle chemotherapy cardiotoxicity. However, inter-reader and inter-vendor variabilities compromise the clinical value of longitudinal follow-up of GLS. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based, fully automated measurement of longitudinal strain may be more reliable compared with human interpretation. Methods: We studied 52 transthoracic echocardiographic examinations randomly selected from a Cardio-oncology registry. All subjects received anthracycline-based chemotherapy in 2016-2019. AI-based longitudinal strain was assessed by EchoGo Core using standard 2- and 4-chamber apical views. Two readers verified the myocardium tracing by AI and found no errors. Longitudinal strain results by EchoGo were compared to GLS measured by conventional software (TomTec and Philips QLAB) using standard 3-, 2- and 4-chamber apical views. Results: AI-based longitudinal strain analysis was feasible in 51/52 (98%) transthoracic echocardiographic studies. The mean longitudinal strain was -17.3±3.3% for EchoGo, -16.9±2.4% for TomTec and -17.5±3.1% for QLAB. Bland-Altman analysis showed a bias of -0.4 ± 2.7% and 95% limits of -5.7 to 4.9% between EchoGo longitudinal strain and TomTec GLS (Figure 1A). A bias of 0.2 ± 3.3% and 95% limits of -6.2 to 6.6% between EchoGo longitudinal strain and QLAB GLS (Figure 1B) were seen. The bias between TomTec GLS and QLAB GLS was 0.6 ±2.2% (Figure 1C). The inter-reader correlation coefficients of TomTec GLS and QLAB GLS were 0.57 and 0.71, respectively. Conclusions: This novel AI-based longitudinal strain analysis was feasible in the majority of echocardiograms without any operator input. The bias between EchoGo longitudinal strain and conventional software appears small. AI-based myocardial strain analysis may reduce variabilities and facilitate longitudinal follow-up of GLS in Cardio-oncology patients.

Background and objective The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise; currently, it affects around five million people in the United States (US) and the prevalence is expected to rise from 2.42% in 2012 to 2.97% in 2030. HF is a leading cause of hospitalizations and readmissions, accounting for a major economic burden to the US healthcare system. Obesity is a widely accepted risk factor of HF; however, data regarding its independent association with HF mortality and morbidity is heterogeneous. Globally, more than two-thirds of deaths attributable to high body mass index (BMI) are due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study aimed to investigate the potential role of obesity (BMI >30 Kg/m2) in HF patients in terms of 30-day readmissions, in-hospital mortality, and the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). Methods In this single-center, retrospective study, all adult (age: >18 years) patients who were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of HF at the Abington Jefferson Hospital from January 2015 to January 2018 were included. Demographic characteristics were collected manually from electronic medical records. Outcomes were 30-day readmission due to HF, all-cause in-hospital mortality, and requirement for NIPPV. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association of obesity with HF outcomes. Results A total of 1,000 patients were initially studied, of these 800 patients were included in the final analysis based on the inclusion criteria. Obese patients showed higher odds for 30-day readmissions and the use of NIPPV compared to non-obese patients. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality in obese vs. non-obese patients. Conclusions Based on our findings, BMI >30 Kg/m2 is an independent risk factor for HF readmissions. Additionally, our results highlight the importance of guidelines-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HF exacerbation, a low threshold for use of NIPPV in obese patients, promotion of lifestyle modifications including weight loss, and early follow-up after discharge to prevent HF readmissions in the obese population.

Purpose This study aims to empirically investigate the effect of financial reporting quality (FRQ) and audit quality (AQ) on the investment efficiency (IE) for the firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange during the period 2007-2014. Design/methodology The authors use pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression which cluster at the firm and year level to test the hypotheses. For sensitivity check, the authors also account for reverse causality and cross-sectional dependence by using the GMM and FGLS regression methods. Furthermore, the authors built their theoretical arguments based on alignment hypothesis of the agency theory and resource-based view of the firm. Findings The findings suggest that higher FRQ and AQ are associated with higher IE. The results for these particular estimates are robust when tested using alternative estimation techniques. Overall, the outcomes of this study are in line with the arguments presented by the alignment hypothesis of the agency theory and resource-based view of the firm. Practical implications This study is fruitful for policymakers’ and investors. This study finds that the audit done by the Big 4 also reduces the information gap and, thus, reduces the moral hazard and adverse selection problems, thereby enhancing the IE. Originality The authors extend the debate on determinates of IE and highlight two monitoring mechanisms: FRQ and AQ. The authors further extend the literature on the economic consequences of AQ in terms of IE, as proposed by Francis (2011). For the first time, this study investigates the impact of AQ on IE in a setting where minority shareholder risk of exploitation is high relative to other markets in Asia.

This paper investigates the time-varying spillovers among cryptocurrency, green and fossil fuel investments. Using a TVP-VAR network connectedness model, we find that the spillovers among cryptocurrency, green and fossil fuel assets vary over time and that they are more pronounced during crisis periods. Our results also reveal asymmetric spillovers among these assets, where negative return spillovers are larger than positive return spillovers. We conclude our paper by discussing the implications of our results for policymakers and investors.

While a bulk of literature in the last two decades confirms a nonlinear relationship between inflation and output growth, the inflation thresholds above which it reduces output growth remain high for developing countries compared to their developed counterparts. Cukierman et al. (Am Econ Rev 82(3):537–555, 1992) posit that the developing economies observe strong political instability and polarization, which makes inflation tax optimal choice for these countries. This study empirically supports these views by using an innovative threshold model and system GMM approaches for a large panel of 113 economies over the period 1981–2015. Moreover, our results show a minimum level of institutional quality above which the inflation–growth relationship is negative and below it is nonexistent.

This study examines frequency volatility spillovers, connectedness and the nonlinear dependence between the European emission allowance (EUA) prices and renewable energy indices. For this purpose, we use a time-scale spillover index and different copula functions. The results show a dominance of short-term volatility spillovers between carbon prices and renewable energy indices over their long-term counterpart. More importantly, the spillover strength is high between carbon prices and both S&P clean energy and wind energy indices in the short term. Meanwhile, a strong spillover is most pronounced between the clean energy indices and the carbon price in the long term. Furthermore, the carbon price is predominantly the receiver of spillovers from the clean energy indices irrespective of the time horizon. Using dynamic copula, we show positive and dynamic dependence between the carbon prices and both clean and solar indices, whereas an asymmetric tail dependence between carbon prices and renewables, technology and wind indices.

Aims Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is induced in injured and remodelling tissues, and modulates cellular phenotype, while contributing to matrix cross-linking. Our study tested the hypothesis that tTG may be expressed in the pressure-overloaded myocardium, and may regulate cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis and chamber remodelling. Methods and results In order to test the hypothesis, wild-type and tTG null mice were subjected to pressure overload induced through transverse aortic constriction. Moreover, we used isolated cardiac fibroblasts and macrophages to dissect the mechanisms of tTG-mediated actions. tTG expression was upregulated in the pressure-overloaded mouse heart and was localized in cardiomyocytes, interstitial cells, and in the extracellular matrix. In contrast, expression of transglutaminases 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and FXIII was not induced in the remodelling myocardium. In vitro, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 stimulated tTG synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts and in macrophages through distinct signalling pathways. tTG null mice had increased mortality and enhanced ventricular dilation following pressure overload, but were protected from diastolic dysfunction. tTG loss was associated with a hypercellular cardiac interstitium, reduced collagen cross-linking, and with accentuated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 activity in the pressure-overloaded myocardium. In vitro, tTG did not modulate TGF-β-mediated responses in cardiac fibroblasts; however, tTG loss was associated with accentuated proliferative activity. Moreover, when bound to the matrix, recombinant tTG induced synthesis of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 through transamidase-independent actions. Conclusions Following pressure overload, endogenous tTG mediates matrix cross-linking, while protecting the remodelling myocardium from dilation by exerting matrix-preserving actions.

To determine diagnostic accuracy of human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation test in differentiating androgen insensitivity syndrome and 5-alpha reductase deficiency, keeping testosterone to dihydrotestosterone ratio as the gold standard.The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December, 2016, and comprised patients aged 01 day to 20 years having XY chromosomes on karyotyping and with a spectrum of phenotypes. Blood samples were collected from each subject for basal serum testosterone, serum luteinizing hormone and serum follicular stimulating hormone level. Human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation test was performed in every subject as per the protocol. Sandwich chemiluminescence immunoassay technique was used to analyse serum samples. Serum dihydrotestosterone level was also detected to determine testosterone and dihydrotestosterone ratio. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. .Of the 104 subjects with a mean age of 1.78}0.95 years,96(92.3%) were diagnosed as cases of androgen insensitivity syndrome on the basis of human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation response level, which was 2-9 times of basal serum testosterone level. Also, 8(7.7%) subjects were diagnosed to have 5-alpha reductase deficiency syndrome. In such subjects, post-human chorionic gonadotropins response level of serum testosterone was more than 10 times of the basal level.The human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation test was found to be comparable to testosterone-to dihydrotestosterone ratio in differentiating between case of androgen insensitivity syndrome and 5-alpha reductase deficiency.

This paper examines the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on the spillover between ten US and Chinese equity sectors. We use Copula and Conditional Value at Risk approaches. The results show evidence of asymmetric tail dependence during the COVID-19 outbreak with the exception of the Utilities sector, where a symmetric tail dependence is found. Moreover, we find time-varying bidirectional asymmetric risk spillovers from the US to China and vice versa. The risk spillover is higher from the US to China before COVID-19 and from China to the US during COVD-19 spread, which is significantly intensified between March 2020 and April 2020.

Nonlinear, symmetric, and asymmetric dependence characteristics in energy equity sectors matter to portfolio investors and risk managers because of the risks and diversification opportunities they entail. Specifically, nonlinear dependence dynamics between assets are harder to predict, monitor, and manage, and can make investment positions go wrong unexpectedly. In this paper, we investigate whether the dependence dynamics of US and Canadian large-capitalized energy equity portfolios are nonlinear, symmetric, or asymmetric. We draw our results by implementing a robust copula approach based on time-varying parameter copulas and vine copula methods. Both time varying parameter and vine-copula methods indicate that the Canadian energy sector portfolio is driven by nonlinear negative tail asymmetric dependence during the global financial crisis and when the full sample period is employed. On the other hand, it displays nonlinear symmetric dependence during the oil price crisis, implying the need for close monitoring and rebalancing and a more continuous assessment of long investment positions. The US energy sector portfolio is driven by positive tail asymmetric dependence, and by symmetric dependence dynamics during crisis and non-crisis periods.

We investigate the dynamics of efficiency and long memory, and the impact of trading volume on the efficiency of returns and volatilities of four major traded currencies, namely, the EUR, GBP, CHF and JPY. We do so by implementing full sample and rolling window multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) and a quantile-on-quantile (QQ) approach. This paper sheds new light by employing high frequency (5-min interval) data spanning from Jan 1, 2007 to Dec 31, 2016. Realized volatilities are estimated using Andersen et al.’s (2001) measure, while the QQ method employed is drawn from Sim and Zhou (2015). We find evidence of higher efficiency levels in the JPY and CHF currency markets. The impact of trading volume on efficiency is only significant for the JPY and CHF currencies. The GBP currency appears to be the least efficient, followed by the EUR. Implications of the results are discussed.

Left ventricular dysfunction increases left atrial pressures and causes atrial remodeling. In human subjects, increased left atrial size is a powerful predictor of mortality and adverse events in a broad range of cardiac pathologic conditions. Moreover, structural remodeling of the atrium plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial tachyarrhythmias. Despite the potential value of the atrium in assessment of functional endpoints in myocardial disease, atrial pathologic alterations in mouse models of left ventricular disease have not been systematically investigated. Our study describes the geometric, morphologic, and structural changes in experimental mouse models of cardiac pressure overload (induced through transverse aortic constriction), myocardial infarction, and diabetes. Morphometric and histological analysis showed that pressure overload was associated with left atrial dilation, increased left atrial mass, loss of myofibrillar content in a subset of atrial cardiomyocytes, atrial cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and atrial fibrosis. In mice undergoing nonreperfused myocardial infarction protocols, marked left ventricular systolic dysfunction was associated with left atrial enlargement, atrial cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and atrial fibrosis. Both infarcted animals and pressure overloaded mice exhibited attenuation and perturbed localization of atrial connexin-43 immunoreactivity, suggesting gap junctional remodeling. In the absence of injury, obese diabetic db/db mice had diastolic dysfunction associated with atrial dilation, atrial cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and mild atrial fibrosis. Considering the challenges in assessment of clinically relevant functional endpoints in mouse models of heart disease, study of atrial geometry and morphology may serve as an important new tool for evaluation of ventricular function.

This study explores the hedging effectiveness of oil and gold assets in Pakistani stock market. We incorporate three multivariate GARCH models for hedging potential of oil and gold assets in stock market of Pakistan. The DCC model is found fitted among others for empirical analysis. The empirical results indicate that the asymmetric effect is positive (negative) providing that negative shocks tend to increase (decrease) volatility in future more than positive shocks of the same magnitude for stock market and oil (gold). During the Global Financial Crisis 2007-2009, the study finds a positive trend in correlations between oil-stock pair suggesting a lack of portfolio diversi cation bene t of oil when added in stock portfolio. However, a more prominent negative trend in correlations between gold-stock pair shows that gold proves a potential safe haven asset for stocks in Pakistan. The results also reveal that investors must adjust their hedging position in oil and gold assets for their portfolio of stocks across the study period, as the optimal hedge ratios for stock-oil/gold pairs are dynamic in nature. Overall, the average negative values of hedging efffectiveness indicate that unhedged portfolio performs better than the hedged ones. These results contain implications for different stakeholders including policymakers, portfolio managers, domestic and international investors.

The β-galactoside–binding animal lectin galectin-3 is predominantly expressed by activated macrophages and is a promising biomarker for patients with heart failure. Galectin-3 regulates inflammatory and fibrotic responses; however, its role in cardiac remodeling remains unclear. We hypothesized that galectin-3 may be up-regulated in the pressure-overloaded myocardium and regulate hypertrophy and fibrosis. In normal mouse myocardium, galectin-3 was constitutively expressed in macrophages and was localized in atrial but not ventricular cardiomyocytes. In a mouse model of transverse aortic constriction, galectin-3 expression was markedly up-regulated in the pressure-overloaded myocardium. Early up-regulation of galectin-3 was localized in subpopulations of macrophages and myofibroblasts; however, after 7 to 28 days of transverse aortic constriction, a subset of cardiomyocytes in fibrotic areas contained large amounts of galectin-3. In vitro , cytokine stimulation suppressed galectin-3 synthesis by macrophages and cardiac fibroblasts. Correlation studies revealed that cardiomyocyte- but not macrophage-specific galectin-3 localization was associated with adverse remodeling and dysfunction. Galectin-3 knockout mice exhibited accelerated cardiac hypertrophy after 7 days of pressure overload, whereas female galectin-3 knockouts had delayed dilation after 28 days of transverse aortic constriction. However, galectin-3 loss did not affect survival, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in the pressure-overloaded heart. Despite its potential role as a prognostic biomarker, galectin-3 is not a critical modulator of cardiac fibrosis but may delay the hypertrophic response.

The availability and scarcity of both surface and ground water alongwith adverse impacts of contaminated water have become major problems in Pakistan. Groundwater arsenic contamination in the southern part of the country has exponentially endangered the human life and complicated the efforts to provide safe drinking water in the arsenic contaminated areas. To gauge the adverse impacts amongst the affected population, household survey in Basti Rasul Pur district Rahim Yar Khan was conducted on core socio-economic indicators such as household conditions, sex ratio, earning sources, literacy, health morbidity, water borne diseases, drinking water contamination, education, employment and unemployment, expenditure on hospitalization for drawing best possible conclusions. Resultantly, sex ratio observed was about 1.01% for adults and 9.8 % for children. A total of 77 % water samples were found with arsenic contamination, due to which 50 % people were found with arsencosis symptoms and 60% of their earnings were being spent on hospitalization. Due to poverty and illiteracy, the entire population was un-aware of the adverse impacts of drinking water arsenic contamination. There is a dire need of installation of sustainable community based arsenic mitigation technologies for provisioning of safe drinking water to affected community.