Family Planning practices among the parents of beta thalassemia major patients in Makran division, Balochistan: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of family planning practice among the parents of children affected with beta thalassemia major (BTM) and to determine the relationship between various factors and family planning practice in Makran division Balochistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 190 parents having BTM children registered in thalassemia care centers throughout the Makran division from May 2023 to October 2023. The structured questionnaire was used and data was collected using the non-probability convenience technique.

Personality and Attachment Patterns in Patients with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures in Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate personality and relationship patterns in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and compare them to patients with epilepsy and healthy controls. A total of 68 participants were recruited (mean age = 29.8 ± 9.

Identification of a novel mutation in the gene in low phytate Basmati rice mutant and development of CAPS marker for marker-assisted breeding.

Low phytate level is a desirable trait because it promotes mineral bioavailability and thus offers a solution to tackle mineral deficiencies. The objectives of the present study were to characterize low phytate (lpa) Basmati rice mutants for the identification of novel mutations in target gene(s) and to develop a PCR-based CAPS (cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence) marker for low phytate Basmati rice. For this purpose, cultivar Super Basmati (Q4) was irradiated with gamma rays (Co source) and three mutants named Q1 (lpa-5-9), Q2 (lpa-9-13), and Q3 (lpa-59-14) were isolated.

Blood transfusions in craniotomy for tumor resection: Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes.

Background: Blood transfusions (BT) are often needed in neurosurgical procedures, especially craniotomies for tumor resections, due to risks of anemia, ischemic brain injury, and hemorrhage. However, BT may increase the risk of perioperative complications. This study aimed to determine the incidence, associated factors, and outcomes of BT in patients undergoing craniotomy for intracranial tumor resection.

Modern Plant Breeding for Achieving Global Food Security.

Modern plant breeding technologies have played a central role in addressing global food security challenges. These technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multi-omics analysis, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), genome editing and transgenics, machine learning, and speed breeding, have been improving crop yield and quality as well as crop adaptability under climate change conditions, such as tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, identification, searching, assessment, and combining desirable integrated (morphological, physiological, and biochemical) attributes have been achieved with greater accuracy, efficiency, time, and cost-effectiveness, all of which are essential to meeting global food demands.

A Novel Energy Replenishment Algorithm to Increase the Network Performance of Rechargeable Wireless Sensor Networks.

The emerging wireless energy transfer technology enables sensor nodes to maintain perpetual operation. However, maximizing the network performance while preserving short charging delay is a great challenge. In this work, a Wireless Mobile Charger (MC) and a directional charger (DC) were deployed to transmit wireless energy to the sensor node to improve the network's throughput.

CLINICAL EFFICACY OF ORAL AZITHROMYCIN VERSUS OTHER ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS IN THE TREATMENT OF TYPHOID PATIENTS ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS.

Background: Typhoid is a major health concern. Drug-resistant cases of typhoid have given rise to new debates. Azithromycin has shown adequate results.

Nuclear integration of MYB36 and APX-1 genes impart heat tolerance in wheat.

Elevated temperatures during grain filling stage, exceeding the optimal range by 3-4 °C, not only results in a substantial yield reduction in wheat by 10-50% but activates disease and insect infestation. In this research, we introduced heat-tolerant MYB36 and APX-1 gene cassettes into wheat, employing an efficient Agrobacterium mediated transformation protocol, demonstrating higher transformation efficiency. The study encompassed the assembly of MYB36 and APX-1 gene cassettes, and confirmation of gene products in Agrobacterium, followed by the transformation of the MYB36 and APX-1 genes into wheat explants.

Motivators and Barriers to Career Choices in Community Medicine Among Medical Students in South Punjab, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background Community medicine plays a vital role in public health, yet research on medical students' career choices in this field is limited, especially in underserved areas like South Punjab, Pakistan. This study explores the factors that influence undergraduate medical students' interest in pursuing a career in community medicine. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 305 fourth- and final-year undergraduate medical students from various colleges in South Punjab.

Genome editing for improvement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in cereals.

Global agricultural production must quadruple by 2050 to fulfil the needs of a growing global population, but climate change exacerbates the difficulty. Cereals are a very important source of food for the world population. Improved cultivars are needed, with better resistance to abiotic stresses like drought, salt, and increasing temperatures, and resilience to biotic stressors like bacterial and fungal infections, and pest infestation.

Decoding molecular mechanisms: brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.

The complex morphological, anatomical, physiological, and chemical mechanisms within the aging brain have been the hot topic of research for centuries. The aging process alters the brain structure that affects functions and cognitions, but the worsening of such processes contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Beyond these observable, mild morphological shifts, significant functional modifications in neurotransmission and neuronal activity critically influence the aging brain.

Malnutrition and Its Influence on Sepsis Outcomes in Elderly Patients.

Background: Malnutrition is common among the elderly and has significant implications for hospitalization outcomes. This is particularly true for severe illnesses such as sepsis, given age-related physiological changes and comorbidities.

Objective: This study examined how malnutrition affected hospitalization outcomes in older adults admitted for sepsis.

Spatial Resolution for X-ray Excited Luminescence Chemical Imaging (XELCI).

Measuring chemical concentrations at the surface of implanted medical devices is important for elucidating the local biochemical environment, especially during implant infection. Although chemical indicator dyes enable chemical measurements in vitro, they are usually ineffective when measuring through tissue because the background obscures the dye signal and scattering dramatically reduces the spatial resolution. X-ray excited luminescent chemical imaging (XELCI) is a recent imaging modality which overcomes these limitations using a focused X-ray beam to excite a small spot of red light on scintillator-coated medical implants with well-defined location (because X-rays are minimally scattered) and low background.

The Potential Impact of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Cancer Survival and Recurrence: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASis), specifically angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), are widely used antihypertensives. Their impact on the prognostic outcomes among patients with cancer has been subject to scrutiny and debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of RASis on survival in patients with cancer.

Letter to Editor: Cystic vestibular schwannoma - a subgroup analysis from a comparative study between radiosurgery and microsurgery.

This letter evaluates the recent study on the management of cystic vestibular schwannomas (VS) compared to solid VS, focusing on the clinical outcomes of surgery (SURGERY) and radiosurgery (SRS). The study offers significant insights into the differences between these tumor types, emphasizing the challenges posed by cystic VS, including rapid growth, enhanced peritumoral adhesion, and worse post-operative facial nerve outcomes. Notably, cystic VS are associated with higher recurrence rates and poorer preoperative status.