Current Progress and Future Prospect of Wheat Genetics Research towards an Enhanced Nitrogen Use Efficiency.

To improve the yield and quality of wheat is of great importance for food security worldwide. One of the most effective and significant approaches to achieve this goal is to enhance the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in wheat. In this review, a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved in the process of the wheat nitrogen uptake, assimilation and remobilization of nitrogen in wheat were introduced.

Hepatitis C prevalence and elimination planning in Pakistan, a bottom-up approach accounting for provincial variation.

In Pakistan, substantial changes to hepatitis C virus (HCV) programming and treatment have occurred since the 2008 nationwide serosurvey estimated a 4.8% anti-HCV prevalence. In the absence of an updated national study, this analysis uses provincial data to estimate a national prevalence and the interventions needed to achieve elimination.

Yield-Related QTL Clusters and the Potential Candidate Genes in Two Wheat DH Populations.

In the present study, four large-scale field trials using two doubled haploid wheat populations were conducted in different environments for two years. Grain protein content (GPC) and 21 other yield-related traits were investigated. A total of 227 QTL were mapped on 18 chromosomes, which formed 35 QTL clusters.

Introgression of an expressed HMW 1Ay glutenin subunit allele into bread wheat cv. Lincoln increases grain protein content and breadmaking quality without yield penalty.

An expressed HMW glutenin subunit Glu-Ay showed positive impacts on a range of wheat processing quality and yield traits. The grain protein compositions are significantly optimised for baking, resulting in a better breadmaking quality. The unique breadmaking properties of wheat flour are related to the quality and quantity of high-molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) present in the grain.

NAM gene allelic composition and its relation to grain-filling duration and nitrogen utilisation efficiency of Australian wheat.

Optimising nitrogen fertiliser management in combination with using high nitrogen efficient wheat cultivars is the most effective strategy to maximise productivity in a cost-efficient manner. The present study was designed to investigate the associations between nitrogen utilisation efficiency (NUtE) and the allelic composition of the NAM genes in Australian wheat cultivars. As results, the non-functional NAM-B1 allele was more responsive to the nitrogen levels and increased NUtE significantly, leading to a higher grain yield but reduced grain protein content.

Health informatics to optimize complex laboratory developed test configurations.

Background: Configuration of complex Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) is a time-consuming and complicated task, potentially leading to inconsistent LDTs in which features constraints remain unresolved and important features could remain unselected.

Objective: Our objective is to address these issues by presenting an automated, health informatics solution which autonomously optimizes feature selection in complex LDTs through Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The optimization goal is to minimize inconsistencies and configuration time, and maximize the number of selected features.

An improved MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry procedure and a novel DNA marker for identifying over-expressed Bx7 glutenin protein subunit in wheat.

Wheat bread-making quality is mainly determined by glutenin proteins in the grain, which exist in a wide range of variable alleles with differential influence on processing attributes. A recently identified allele, Bx7 over-expression (Bx7(oe) ), has been showing highly significant positive effects on wheat dough strength over the normally expressed Bx7 allele. SDS-PAGE and normal RP-HPLC procedures failed to separate the two alleles.

Identification of technical item flaws leads to improvement of the quality of single best Multiple Choice Questions.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify technical item flaws in the multiple choice questions submitted for the final exams for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Methods: This descriptive analytical study was carried out in Islamic International Medical College (IIMC). The Data was collected from the MCQ's submitted by the faculty for the final exams for the year 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Does entry test make any difference on the future performance of medical students?

Objective: To observe the influence/efficiency of entry test in the selection of students for MBBS. To see the effect of FSC and Entry test marks on the future performance of students in the coming years.

Methods: This was an Analytical Prospective Longitudinal study carried out in a private medical college from December 2009 to April 2011.

Outcome of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in aplastic anaemia.

Objective: To analyze factors associated with survival, rejection and graft versus host disease in aplastic anaemia patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) from HLA matched sibling donors.

Study Design: Analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July 2001 to June 2010.

Deferiprone challenge test for monitoring iron overload in hepatitis positive thalassemic major patients.

Viral hepatitis is common among beta-thalassemia major (BTM) children in Pakistan. Transfusional iron overload in BTM is usually monitored by serum ferritin. But its levels are falsely raised in viral hepatitis and do not reflect the true iron body burden in thalassemic patients.

Formulation and evaluation of antisebum secretion effects of sea buckthorn w/o emulsion.

Purpose: This study was designed to formulate and evaluate the anti-sebum secretion effects of a topical skin-care cream (w/o emulsion) of sea buckthorn versus its vehicle (Base) as control.

Materials And Methods: Concentrated sea buckthorn (H.rhamnoides) fruit extract was entrapped in the inner aqueous phase of w/o emulsion.

External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS) in haematology at National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Objective: To document overall performance and improvement, if any, gained through participation in an International External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS).

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Haematology Department, Public Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January 1996 to December 2006.

Malignant tumors of the minor salivary glands in northern Pakistan: a clinicopathological study.

Background: Malignant tumors of the minor salivary glands comprise a small but significant proportion of oral cancers. We analyzed this group of tumors in our population.

Methods: The records of all cases of malignant minor salivary gland tumors diagnosed at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, during a period of 10 years (1994-2003) are described.

A crimean - congo haemorrhagic Fever outbreak in northern balochistan.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, predictors of fatal outcome (PFO), and management effects of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) patients during an outbreak in Northern Balochistan.

Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Fatima Jinnah Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, from June to October, 2001.

Peripheral blood-based polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: The rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, particularly those that represent a public health problem, like tuberculosis, is a challenging problem. By using nucleic acid amplification techniques like PCR, one may be able to diagnose, the disease on the day of arrival of specimen in the laboratory. For diagnosis of tuberculosis by direct methods like PCR, specimens from site of infection are required.

The pattern of malignant tumours: tumour registry data analysis, AFIP, Rawalpindi, Pakistan (1992-2001).

Objective: To provide information regarding frequency of malignant tumours through data retrieved from pathology based tumour registry of AFIP, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Methods: All malignant tumours recorded with the AFIP tumour registry over a period of 10 years (1992-2001) were analysed in terms of age group, gender and type of tumour with relation to site. A comparison with the previously published material from same setting, national and international studies were also done.

Dengue fever in malaria endemic areas.

Objective: To determine the clinical presentation and frequency of dengue fever in patients presenting with acute febrile illness.

Design: Observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Attock in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi from November 2003 to October 2004.

Prevalence of prothrombin gene mutation (G-A 20210 A) in general population: a pilot study.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of prothrombin gene mutation in a sample population from Pakistan. Two hundred apparently healthy unrelated adults (older than 18 years) were included in the study. The sample population comprised 100 Punjabis (male 50, female 50) and 100 Pathans (male 50, female 50).

Chicken pox associated thrombocytopenia in adults.

Objective: To determine the frequency and magnitude of thrombocytopenia associated with chicken pox in adults.

Design: Observational descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Attock, from July 2003 to June 2004.

Clinicopathological features of childhood visceral leishmaniasis in Azad Jammu & Kashmir Pakistan.

Background: In Pakistan visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Northern Areas and Northwest Frontier Province; the areas which lack adequate diagnostic facilities. This study describes the clinical and laboratory features in 61 cases of childhood VL.

Efficacy and adverse effects of oral iron chelator deferiprone (l1, 1,2- dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one) in patients with beta thalassaemia major in Pakistan.

Background: Deferiprone (DFP,L1) is a bidentate oral iron chelator which binds to iron in a 3:1 ratio. It has the potential advantage of reduced cost and increased compliance. We conducted a study in order to determine the efficacy and adverse effects of DFP in Pakistani thalassaemic patients.

Pneumocystis carinii and Trichosporon beigelii pneumonia following allogeneic haemopoeitic stem cell transplantation.

Pneumocystis Carinii and Trichosporon beigelii are opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a young lady who underwent haemopoeitic stem cell transplantation for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This 25 years old female developed fever, dry cough and rapidly progressive dyspnoea during post transplant neutropenia and was found to be suffering from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Effect of HCV infection on hepatic fibrosis in patients of thalassaemia major.

Objective: To investigate the effect of HCV infection on hepatic fibrosis in patients of thalassaemia major with iron overload in order to modify Pesaro criteria for classification into prognostic groups for allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplant in these patients.

Design: Cross-sectional comparative study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Center and Departments of Pediatrics of Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2003 to June 2004.

Estimation of ionized calcium, total calcium and albumin corrected calcium for the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia of malignancy.

Objective: To measure levels of ionized calcium, total calcium and albumin corrected calcium in patients with different malignant disorders for the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia of malignancy.

Design: A case control comparative study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Department of Oncology CMH, Rawalpindi from March 2003 to December 2003.