Diagnostic Accuracy of Creatinine-Based Equations for eGFR Estimation in Pakistanis: Evaluation of the European Kidney Function Consortium Equation vs the CKD-EPI Pakistan Equation.

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is prevalent in Pakistan, necessitating accurate diagnostic methods. This study evaluates the CKD-EPI 2009, CKD-EPI 2021, CKD-EPI Pak, MDRD, and EKFC equations against creatinine clearance (CrCl) to determine their diagnostic accuracy for CKD in the Pakistani population.

Methods: n a retrospective cross-sectional study, data from 2,310 participants aged 18-70 were analyzed at The Aga Khan University in Karachi.

Comparative analysis of the whole transcriptome landscapes of muscle and adipose tissue in Qinchuan beef cattle.

Background: Muscle and adipose tissue are the most critical indicators of beef quality, and their development and function are regulated by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). However, the differential regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs in muscle and adipose tissue remain unclear.

Results: In this study, 2,343 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs), 235 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), 95 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) and 54 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were identified in longissimus dorsi muscle (LD), subcutaneous fat (SF) and perirenal fat (VF) in Qinchuan beef cattle.

Psychological factors, lifestyle habits, and their association with gastroesophageal reflux disease among Egyptian university students: A cross-sectional study.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition among university students that is associated with various lifestyle and psychological factors. The study aims to evaluate the association of psychological factors, physical activity, and dietary habits with the prevalence of GERD among university students in Egypt. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2024 to May 2024, selecting students from different universities in Egypt.

In Silico design and molecular dynamics analysis of imidazole derivatives as selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the inflammatory pathway, is the target for various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective inhibitors known as coxibs. This study focuses on the development of novel imidazole derivatives as COX-2 inhibitors, utilizing a Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) approach to enhance binding affinity and selectivity. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock Vina, revealing binding energies of -6.

Improving natural red pigment production by Streptomyces phaeolivaceus strain GH27 for functionalization of textiles with in silico ADME prediction.

The red pigment was recovered from the S. phaeolivaceus GH27 isolate, which was molecularly identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and submitted to GenBank as OQ145635.1.

Macrophage Activation Syndrome in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematous Triggered by Tuberculous Meningitis.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), is characterized by systemic uncontrolled inflammation resulting from immune dysregulation secondary to various triggers, including genetics, infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is an immune dysregulation phenomenon, in which an underlying rheumatological disease is present. We report a rare, interesting case of a middle-aged female, with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flare complicated by macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), in which tuberculous meningitis (TBM) was the identified trigger.

Impact of Heart Transplant Allocation Changes on Waitlist Mortality and Clinical Practice in Pediatric and Adult Patients With Congenital Heart Disease and Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The United Network of Organ Sharing made changes to the priority for allocation of hearts for transplantation (HT) in 2016 for pediatric patients and 2018 for adult patients. Although recent work has evaluated the impact of the revised allocation systems on mechanical circulatory support practices and waitlist outcomes, there are limited data that focus more specifically on the impact of the allocation changes on patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) or cardiomyopathy and how these relationships might differ in pediatric and adult patients.

Methods: The United Network of Organ Sharing database was queried for pediatric (<18 years of age) and adult (18-50 years of age) patients with a CHD or cardiomyopathy diagnosis listed for HT.

Comparative study between using a stapler and hand sewing in bullectomy.

Introduction: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a life-threatening thoracic condition that could be either primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in the absence of an underlying lung disease or secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) in the presence of an underlying lung disease. In the case of recurrent, contralateral spontaneous pneumothorax or persistent air leak with a chest drain, surgery with bullectomy associated with pleurectomy or pleurodesis is the gold standard management.

Aim: To compare two different techniques for bullectomy, either by using staplers or by hand sewing.

Necessity of Tendoachilles Tenotomy in Patients With Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV) Treated Using the Ponseti Technique: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Aim: This study aims to determine how often Achilles tenotomy is performed on patients who have congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) and have been managed with Ponseti serial casts.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cohort study took place from November 2021 to May 2023 in the orthopedic unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan. About 38 pediatric patients with CTEV, who received treatment in the form of Ponseti casting, were enrolled in the study.

Plasma effects on bacterial time-kill dynamics; insights from a PKPD modelling analysis.

In vitro time-kill curve (TKC) experiments are an important part of the pharmacokinetic- pharmacodynamic (PKPD) characterisation of antibiotics. Traditional TKCs use Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB), which lacks specific plasma components that could potentially influence the bacterial growth and killing dynamics, and affect translation to in vivo. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plasma on the PKPD characterisation of two antibiotics; cefazolin and clindamycin.

Ln-MOF in production of durable antimicrobial and UV-Protective fluorescent cotton fabric for potential application in military textiles.

Industrialization of military textiles faces many challenges and some requirements such as durability, protection and suitability for hostile environment must be provided. Herein, fluorescent protective cotton with ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-protection and antimicrobial property was currently prepared via the immobilization of lanthanide-metal organic framework (Ln-MOF). Cotton fabrics were primarily activated via cationization process with 3-Chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride to obtain the cationized cotton (Q-cotton).

Whole-Exome Sequencing, Mutational Signature Analysis, and Outcome in Multiple Myeloma-A Pilot Study.

The complex and heterogeneous genomic landscape of multiple myeloma (MM) and many of its clinical and prognostic implications remains to be understood. In other cancers, such as breast cancer, using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and molecular signatures in clinical practice has revolutionized classification, prognostic prediction, and patient management. However, such integration is still in its early stages in MM.

Portal Hypertension Unmasked-Cavernous Transformation of the Portal Vein Following Portal Vein Thrombosis in a 9-Year-Old Female: A Case Report.

This case demonstrates the complex dynamics of cavernous transformation of the portal vein and portal vein thrombus due to umbilical cord infection in a child and its consequences, namely portal hypertension. This abnormal process has to be understood for proper treatment and stresses the importance of a thorough assessment of such patients.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices, and vaccination coverage of medical students toward hepatitis B virus in North Sudan, 2023.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global health issue, particularly among healthcare personnel, including students because of its occupational exposure pattern. Healthcare Workers and medical students are recommended to have better knowledge, attitudes and good practices and vaccination toward infection control in general and HBV in particular. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students from North Sudan regarding HBV and its vaccination coverage.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Factors Among Food Handlers in East Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are a significant public health concern, especially among food handlers, who can transmit these infections to the public through food preparation and handling. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in the East African region.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis on intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers involved a comprehensive search across various databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and the institution's library registers.

Evaluation of the antibacterial and antibiofilm effect of mycosynthesized silver and selenium nanoparticles and their synergistic effect with antibiotics on nosocomial bacteria.

Background: The healthcare sector faces a growing threat from the rise of highly resistant microorganisms, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR P. aeruginosa). Facing the challenge of antibiotic resistance, nanoparticles have surfaced as promising substitutes for antimicrobial therapy.

Eco-friendly synthesis of CuO/g-C₃N₄/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites for efficient magnetic micro-solid phase extraction (M-μ-SPE) of trace cadmium from food and water samples.

In this study, a green synthesis method for synthesizing a novel nanocomposite (CuO/g-C₃N₄/Fe₃O₄) utilizing renewable dragon fruit peels as the primary raw material was developed. Hydrothermal and thermal decomposition techniques were used for nanocomposite synthesis. This nanocomposite was subsequently employed for the separation and preconcentration of Cd(II) from various environments, including food and water samples.

Enhancing Access to Mental Health Services for Antepartum and Postpartum Women Through Telemental Health Services at Wellbeing Centers in Selected Health Facilities in Bangladesh: Implementation Research.

Background: Globally, 10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women experience mental disorders. In Bangladesh, nearly 50% of mothers face common mental disorders, but mental health services and trained professionals to serve their needs are scarce. To address this, the government of Bangladesh's Non-Communicable Disease Control program initiated "Wellbeing Centers," telemental health services in selected public hospitals.

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome in children and adolescents: A systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing evidence on Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) in the pediatric population, focusing on clinical features, diagnostic challenges, treatment outcomes, and prognosis.

Background: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is a rare headache disorder caused by idiopathic inflammation of the cavernous sinus, orbital apex, or orbit, resulting in neuro-ophthalmological manifestations. It is uniquely characterized by cranial nerve palsies and often responds well to steroids.

When Elevated Creatinine Is Not What It Seems: Intraperitoneal Urinary Leak Mimicking Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is typically classified as prerenal, renal, or postrenal in etiology, with postrenal often referring to obstructive causes. However, certain uncommon conditions, such as intraperitoneal urinary leaks, may not fit clearly into these categories. In patients with a recent history of pelvic procedure, a complication such as intraperitoneal urinary leak can mimic AKI due to urine reabsorption across the peritoneum.

Automatic detection, classification, and segmentation of sagittal MR images for diagnosing prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.

Magnetic resonance (MR) images are commonly used to diagnose prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID). However, for a computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system, distinguishing between pathological abnormalities of PLID in MR images is a challenging and intricate task. Here, we propose a comprehensive model for the automatic detection and cropping of regions of interest (ROI) from sagittal MR images using the YOLOv8 framework to solve this challenge.

Development of Betalain-immobilized polylactic acid nanofibers as a green and sustainable sensor for toxic ammonia.

Ammonia has been an important industrial colorless agent. Exposure to gaseous ammonia results in organ damage or even death. Herein, an environmentally friendly colorimetric detector for aqueous and gaseous ammonia was prepared utilizing vapochromic polylactic acid nanofibers.

Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) interpretation competency is vital to ensure the timely initiation of life-saving treatment for emergent ECG conditions. This competency has not been well-studied among pediatric and child health residents. Hence, the study aimed to determine the competency in ECG interpretation and its predictors among residents at the National University of Ethiopia.

Efficacy of Scapular Functional and Cervical Isometric Exercises in the Management of Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Comparative Trial.

The global rise in work-related musculoskeletal ailments has led to issues like neck discomfort, scapular muscle dysfunction, reduced neck mobility, and functional limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of scapular functional exercises (SFE) and cervical isometric exercises (CIE) on pain, cervical range of motion (CROM), and functional limitations in individuals with chronic mechanical neck pain (CMNP). A two-arm, parallel group pretest-post-test randomized comparative trial was conducted.