The Role of Fermented Pickles in Shaping Gut Microbiota and Immune Response in Women: A Community-Based Trial in Pakistan.

A gut microbiome-targeted diet can potentially mitigate chronic diseases like malnutrition. In a prospective 12-week intervention trial, we evaluated the effects of six different plant-based fermented pickles (∼50g/day) on clinical, inflammatory, and gut-microbiome parameters in women (n=230) in a rural setting with a high prevalence of undernutrition. Blood was collected at two, whereas stool was collected at three timepoints.

Functional and Esthetic Outcomes of Either Surgically or Conservatively Treated Anterior Frontal Sinus Wall Fractures: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Frontal sinus fractures (FSFs) can lead to a range of clinical challenges, including facial deformity, impaired facial sensation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, sinus drainage impairment, chronic sinus pain and mucocele formation. The optimal management approach, whether surgical or conservative, remains a topic of ongoing discussion.

Diagnostic accuracy of low dose CT-Scan abdomen in patients with clinical features of acute appendicitis.

Background & Objective: Acute appendicitis is one of the commonest causes of acute abdominal pain presenting to emergency department (ED) and Computerized Tomography scan (CT) is considered gold standard for its diagnosis. Internationally Low Dose Computerized Tomography scan (LDCT) in emergency department is recommended as a beneficial tool to diagnose acute appendicitis with less exposure to radiation and reduction in the rate of negative laparotomy. Local trials are needed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of LDCT as the first line imaging test for acute appendicitis.

Leaching and vertical distribution of Fe and Zn citrate nanoparticles in Indian red soil.

This research aims to address common constraints in the effective utilization of plant nutrients in soil, such as fixation, mobility, leaching, and reactions with soil colloids. To mitigate these issues, Fe and Zn citrate nanoparticles were synthesized and applied as nanochelators in a reconstructed soil profile column. We evaluated the mobility, release, and leaching behaviors of these nanoparticles.

Inflammation and Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphism: Impact on All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in Mexican Women on Dialysis.

Mineral bone disease (MBD) is common in dialysis patients. Genetics and the hormonal environment influence the clinical picture and outcomes of women. This study aimed to determine how these factors affect mortality.

Synthesis of reduced graphene oxide supported FeCu and its environmental applications.

A significant share of wastewater produced during different processes is released to the surroundings without further treatment. Therefore, polluted water sources are triggering diseases like typhoid. To avoid this, various techniques have been developed for the removal of contaminants from the water.

Pneumococcal carriage and changes in serotype distribution post- PCV13 introduction in children in Matiari, Pakistan.

Background: In early 2021, the 10-valent Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) was replaced with 13-valent (PCV13) by the federal directorate of immunization (FDI), Pakistan. We assessed the impact of a higher valent vaccine, PCV13, on the serotype distribution of nasopharyngeal carriage in rural Pakistan.

Methods: Children <2 years were randomly selected from two rural union councils of Matiari, Sindh in Pakistan between September-October,2022.

Remote monitoring of automated peritoneal dialysis reduces mortality, adverse events, and hospitalizations: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background And Hypothesis: Remote monitoring (RM) of patients on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) prevent complications and improve treatment quality. We analyzed the effect of RM-APD on mortality and complications related to cardiovascular disease (VD), fluid overload and insufficient dialysis efficiency.

Methods: In a cluster-randomized, open-label, controlled trial, 21 hospitals with APD programs were assigned to use either RM-APD (10 hospitals; 403 patients) or conventional APD (11 hospitals; 398 patients) for the treatment of adult patients starting PD.

Comparative genomic analysis of HAB-5 reveals genes associated with antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting activities.

HAB-5 is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) that exhibits several biotechnological traits, such as enhancing plant growth, colonizing the rhizosphere, and engaging in biocontrol activities. In this study, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of HAB-5 using the single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing platform by Pacific Biosciences (PacBio; United States), which has a circular chromosome with a total length of 4,083,597 bp and a G + C content of 44.21%.

Exploring the Unknown: Appreciating the Challenges of Non-compaction Cardiomyopathy.

Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC), or non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM), is defined by pronounced left ventricular trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses connecting with the ventricular cavity. Patients with NCCM can be asymptomatic or have severe complications, including heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, and sudden cardiac death. Our case discusses a patient with shortness of breath who was found to have a newly decreased ejection fraction.

Handgrip strength and mortality in a cohort of kidney failure patients: Comparative analysis of different normalization methods.

Objectives: Reduced handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. We analyzed and compared associations of HGS with mortality risk in dialysis patients, using different normalization methods of HGS.

Methods: HGS and clinical and laboratory parameters were measured in a cohort of 446 incident dialysis patients (median age 56 y, 62% men).

Prevalence of chronic non-cancer pain among military veterans: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Introduction: Chronic non-cancer pain is common among military veterans; however, the prevalence is uncertain. This information gap complicates policy decisions and resource planning to ensure veterans have access to healthcare services that align with their needs.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science from inception to 9 February 2023 for observational studies reporting the prevalence of chronic non-cancer pain among military veterans.

Epigenetic clocks indicate that kidney transplantation and not dialysis mitigate the effects of renal ageing.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an age-related disease that displays multiple features of accelerated ageing. It is currently unclear whether the two treatment options for end-stage kidney disease (dialysis and kidney transplantation [KT]) ameliorate the accelerated uremic ageing process.

Methods: Data on clinical variables and blood DNA methylation (DNAm) from CKD stage G3-G5 patients were used to estimate biological age based on blood biomarkers (phenotypic age [PA], n = 333), skin autofluorescence (SAF age, n = 199) and DNAm (Horvath, Hannum and PhenoAge clocks, n = 47).

COVID-19 promotes endothelial dysfunction and thrombogenicity: role of proinflammatory cytokines/SGLT2 prooxidant pathway.

Background: COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Although cytokines have a predominant role in endothelium damage, the precise molecular mechanisms are far from being elucidated.

Objectives: The present study hypothesized that inflammation in patients with COVID-19 contributes to endothelial dysfunction through redox-sensitive SGLT2 overexpression and investigated the protective effect of SGLT2 inhibition by empagliflozin.

Qualitative Review of National Nutrition Surveillance Systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Unlabelled: The World Food Conference in 1974 emphasized the significance of establishing global nutrition surveillance to monitor and address nutritional challenges effectively. However, many countries, especially in the EMRO region, continue to encounter substantial difficulties in regularly generating disaggregated data on nutrition. The current study aimed to review the existing nutrition surveillance systems in the region and to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the challenges they face in functioning optimally.

Impact of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection on environmental enteric dysfunction and growth of malnourished children in Pakistan: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARI) are assumed to be major drivers of growth and likely contribute to environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), which is a precursor to childhood malnutrition. In the present study, we checked the correlation between diarrhoeal/ARI burden and EED using a novel duodenal histological index.

Methods: Between November 2017 and July 2019, a total of 365 infants with weight-for-height Z scores (WHZ score) of <-2 were enrolled, and 51 infants with WHZ scores of >0 and height-for-age Z scores (HAZ scores) of >-1 were selected as age-matched healthy controls.

Phenylacetylglutamine and trimethylamine N-oxide: Two uremic players, different actions.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients exhibit a heightened cardiovascular (CV) risk which may be partially explained by increased medial vascular calcification. Although gut-derived uremic toxin trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with calcium-phosphate deposition, studies investigating phenylacetylglutamine's (PAG) pro-calcifying potential are missing.

Methods: The effect of TMAO and PAG in vascular calcification was investigated using 120 kidney failure patients undergoing living-donor kidney transplantation (LD-KTx), in an observational, cross-sectional manner.

Interleukin-6-to-Albumin Ratio as a Superior Predictor of Mortality in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients.

Introduction: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), high interleukin-6 (IL-6) and low albumin circulating concentrations are associated with worse outcomes. We examined the IL-6-to-albumin ratio (IAR) as a predictor of risk of death in incident dialysis patients.

Methods: In 428 incident dialysis patients (median age 56 years, 62% men, 31% diabetes mellitus, 38% cardiovascular disease [CVD]), plasma IL-6 and albumin were measured at baseline to calculate IAR.

Central obesity as assessed by conicity index and a-body shape index associates with cardiovascular risk factors and mortality in kidney failure patients.

Background: Anthropometric indices of central obesity, waist circumference (WC), conicity index (CI), and a-body shape index (ABSI), are prognostic indicators of cardiovascular (CV) risk. The association of CI and ABSI with other CV risk indices, markers of nutritional status and inflammation, and clinical outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 (CKD5) patients was investigated.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study with longitudinal follow up of 203 clinically stable patients with CKD5 (median age 56 years; 68% males, 17% diabetics, 22% with CV disease, and 39% malnourished), we investigated CI and ABSI and their associations with atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Framingham CV risk score (FRS), Agatston scoring of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and aortic valve calcium (AVC), handgrip strength (HGS), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Decreasing incidence of knee arthroscopy in Sweden between 2002 and 2016: a nationwide register-based study.

Background And Purpose: Several randomized trials have demonstrated the lack of effect of arthroscopic lavage as treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). These results have in turn resulted in a change in Swedish guidelines and reimbursement. We aimed to investigate the use of knee arthroscopies in Sweden between 2002 and 2016.

The effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on hepcidin-25 and erythropoiesis in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Hepcidin is considered to play a central role in the pathophysiology of renal anemia. Recent studies in healthy individuals have demonstrated a suppressive effect of vitamin D (VD) on the expression of hepcidin. In this post-hoc analysis based on a randomized controlled study, we evaluated the effect of supplementing chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (stage G3-G4) with a high daily dose of native VD on serum levels of hepcidin-25, the hepcidin/ferritin ratio, as well as on markers of erythropoiesis.

Subsurface groundwater aquifer mapping and quality characterization in Matiari district, Sindh, Pakistan.

Groundwater, is an alternative resource, is used as a supplement for irrigation as well as drinking purposes in Pakistan. This paper aims to determine the quantum and quality of groundwater in Matiari district of Sindh, Pakistan, through Electrical Resistivity Survey (ERS). The ERS was conducted at 52 location points using the ABEM Terrameter SAS 4000.

Research Priorities Among Canadian Military Veterans Living With Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Introduction: Chronic pain is a debilitating problem that disproportionately affects military veterans. We completed a qualitative study that identified 20 research priorities of Canadian veterans living with chronic noncancer pain. The aim of this study was to establish the generalizability of these priorities.