Perspectives of medical students on the implementation of sub-internship rotation in year 5 surgical clerkship: A brief report from a private medical college in Pakistan.

This study aims to explore the perspectives of medical students on the newly introduced Surgical Sub-internship (SI) rotation in year 5 Surgical Clerkship. This cross-sectional study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from September 2022 to September 2023. A self-designed 5-point Likert scale-based evaluation form was created to explore students' perspectives regarding their one-week Surgical SI rotation.

Spatial distribution of heavy metal assessment in beach sediment due to bauxite mining in Kuantan, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.

The effect of open-pit bauxite mining on beach sediment contamination in the urban coastal environment of Kuantan City, Malaysia, was investigated. The contents of 11 heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, As, Ni, Cr, and Ag) in 30 samples from Kuantan beach sediment zones (supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal) were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry followed by contamination indexes, Pearson's correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The results indicated that Cd, As, Ni, and Ag values in beach sediment zones were significantly higher compared to background values.

Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Congenital Limb Anomalies in Eight Families.

Limb abnormalities are the second most frequent birth defects seen in infants, after congenital heart disease. Over the past 150 years, more than 50 classifications for limb malformations based on morphology and osseous anatomy have been presented. The goal of the current study is to investigate the genetic basis of congenital limb abnormalities in the Pakistani population.

Folic acid-targeted redox responsive polylactic acid-based nanoparticles co-delivering pirarubicin and salinomycin suppress breast cancer tumor growth .

Targeted cancer therapy using nanocarriers has emerged as a promising solution to the majority of drawbacks associated with conventional chemotherapy. The present research work describes the development of folic acid (FA)-targeted redox responsive [S-(PLA--PEG-CONH)] polymeric nanoparticles for the co-delivery of pirarubicin (Pira) and salinomycin (Sal). The nanoparticles' redox responsiveness arises from embedded disulfide bonds within the polymer, which gradually break in response to high GSH levels in tumors, enabling sustained drug release.

Assessing the quality of ChatGPT's responses to questions related to radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of information provided by ChatGPT, in response to frequently asked questions about radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for varicose veins.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. A set of 18 frequently asked questions regarding RFA for varicose veins were compiled from credible online sources and presented to ChatGPT twice, separately, using the new chat option.

Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and hemodialysis access failure in patients with end stage renal disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with an elevated risk of vascular access failure in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis. A comprehensive database search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane Central was performed. Studies reporting the values of NLR in both functional and non-functional AVF groups in ESRD patients were selected.

Concomitant Delivery of Pirarubicin and Salinomycin Synergistically Enhanced the Efficacy of Cancer Therapy and Reduced the Risk of Cancer Relapse.

Pirarubicin attracted considerable attention in clinical studies because of its high therapeutic efficacy and reduced toxicity in comparison with other anthracyclines. Nevertheless, ~ 30% patients undergoing PIRA treatment still experience relapse and metastasis. Clinical advancements unveiled that cancer stem cells (CSCs) residing in the tumor constitutes a major factor for such limitations and subsequently are the reason for treatment failure.

Comparison Between Pregabalin and Sertraline in the Treatment of Uremic Pruritus in Patients With Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Introduction Pruritus, a medical symptom also known as itch, is characterized by an unpleasant feeling coupled with the urge to scratch. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have symptoms of pruritus due to uremia, which has adversely affected their quality of life. The treatment protocol for CKD pruritus is still being debated due to its unclear etiopathogenesis.

Finite control set model predictive current control for three phase grid connected inverter with common mode voltage suppression.

This research introduces an advanced finite control set model predictive current control (FCS-MPCC) specifically tailored for three-phase grid-connected inverters, with a primary focus on the suppression of common mode voltage (CMV). CMV is known for causing a range of issues, including leakage currents, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and accelerated system degradation. The proposed control strategy employs a system model that predicts the inverter's future states, enabling the selection of optimal switching states from a finite set to achieve dual objectives: precise current control and effective CMV reduction, a meticulously designed cost function evaluates the potential switching states, balancing the accuracy of current tracking against the necessity to minimize CMV.

Aetiologies of Leg Pain among Patients Presenting to a Vascular Surgery Clinic.

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of different aetiologies of leg pain among patients visiting vascular surgery clinics.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Vascular Surgery Clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, between February 2021 and June 2023.

A reduced vector model predictive controller for a three-level neutral point clamped inverter with common-mode voltage suppression.

This paper presents a novel, state-of-the-art predictive control architecture that addresses the computational complexity and limitations of conventional predictive control methodologies while enhancing the performance efficacy of predictive control techniques applied to three-level voltage source converters (NPC inverters). This framework's main goal is to decrease the number of filtered voltage lifespan vectors in each sector, which will increase the overall efficiency of the control system and allow for common mode voltage reduction in three-level voltage source converters. Two particular tactics are described in order to accomplish this.

Predictors of cognitive impairment and its association with mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients: A prospective follow-up study.

Objective: To determine predictors of cognitive impairment (CI) and its association with mortality in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients.

Methods: This prospective follow up study was conducted at HD Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from September, 2021 to November, 2022. All patients undergoing MHD for more than three months and having age between 18-65 years were included while those with dialysis duration less than three months, history of neuropsychiatric illness was excluded.

Development of iodine based sustained release antimicrobial coatings for polyurethane voice prostheses.

Voice prostheses are known to fail in few weeks to several months of implantation due to the clogging mainly caused by microbial biofilm formation, which is a cause of concern. Iodine is a known broad-spectrum biocide and is reported to easily form complexes with various polymers. For long term device disinfection, strong iodine complexation that offers sustained iodine release for a prolonged period is essential.

Identification of allelic relationship and translocation region among chromosomal translocation lines that leads to less-seed watermelon.

Less-seed and seedless traits are desirable characteristics in watermelon (). Hybridization between watermelon chromosomal translocated lines and wild lines significantly reduced seed counts in the hybrid fruits, approaching even seedless. However, the allelic relationships and the chromosomal translocation breakpoints from different sources are unclear, which limits their utility in breeding practices.

Exploration of reducing and stabilizing phytoconstituents in Arisaema dracontium extract for the effective synthesis of Silver nanoparticles and evaluation of their antibacterial and toxicological proprties.

Medicinal plants have been widely used for their antimicrobial properties against various microorganisms. Arisaema dracontium a familiar medicinal plant, was analyzed and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using extracts of different parts of its shoot including leaves and stem. Further, the antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts such as ethyl acetate, n-hexane, ethanol, methanol, and chloroform extracts were analyzed.

A short report on the current landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in vascular surgery in Pakistan.

This study focuses on the current applications, potential, and challenges to Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in vascular surgery with specific emphasis on its relevance in Pakistan. Despite the benefits of AI in vascular surgery, there is a substantial gap in its adoption in Pakistan compared to global standards. In our context with limited resources and a scarcity of vascular surgeons, AI can serve as a promising solution.

Corrigendum: Comparative efficacy of non-electric cooling techniques to reduce nutrient solution temperature for the sustainable cultivation of summer vegetables in open-air hydroponics.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.

Phytogenic-Mediated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using the Seed Extract of and Its Integrated Potency against Multidrug Resistant Bacteria.

In the current research study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized via a green synthesis technique using the seed extract of . The study further intended to evaluate the potential synergistic effects of ZnO-NPs with antibiotics against multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. It was observed that seed extracts obtained by -hexane and methanolic solvents revealed the presence of constituents, such as tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids.