Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus from rural areas of northern Punjab (Sargodha District), Pakistan.

Pakistan is endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with 10 and 11 million infections, respectively. The epidemiological studies of these virus showed that the information is only from few cities of the country and is relevant to high risk groups. It is of great importance to have an idea about the prevalence of infectious agents in general population to help in identification of hot spot for infections.

Dangerous liaisons: complement, coagulation, and kallikrein/kinin cross-talk act as a linchpin in the events leading to thromboinflammation.

Innate immunity is fundamental to our defense against microorganisms. Physiologically, the intravascular innate immune system acts as a purging system that identifies and removes foreign substances leading to thromboinflammatory responses, tissue remodeling, and repair. It is also a key contributor to the adverse effects observed in many diseases and therapies involving biomaterials and therapeutic cells/organs.

3D Porous Graphene by Low-Temperature Plasma Welding for Bone Implants.

3D scaffolds of graphene, possessing ultra-low density, macroporous microstructure, and high yield strength and stiffness can be developed by a novel plasma welding process. The bonding between adjacent graphene sheets is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The high degree of biocompatibility along with high porosity and good mechanical properties makes graphene an ideal material for use as body implants.

Control of IBMIR Induced by Fresh and Cryopreserved Hepatocytes by Low Molecular Weight Dextran Sulfate Versus Heparin.

Rapid destruction of hepatocytes after hepatocyte transplantation has hampered the application of this procedure clinically. The instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) is a plausible underlying cause for this cell loss. The present study was designed to evaluate the capacity of low molecular weight dextran sulfate (LMW-DS) to control these initial reactions from the innate immune system.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Synthesized Quaternary Ammonium Polyamidoamine Dendrimers and Dendritic Polymer Network.

Water treatment to mitigate microbial contaminants is a major challenge across globe paving the way to develop novel antimicrobial compounds. We aim at architecting antibacterial moiety eventually catering to vast water treatment industry. In this research study, quaternary ammonium functionalized polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and PAMAM-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) dendritic polymer network were synthesized.

Difficult Laryngeal Exposure in Microlaryngoscopy: Can it be Predicted Preoperatively?

The aim of the present study was to identify preoperative clinical predictors for difficult laryngeal exposure (DLE) and to define a simple grading system for laryngeal exposure. This is a prospective descriptive study carried out in a tertiary teaching hospital in South India. Patients above 18 years undergoing microlaryngoscopy had presurgical evaluation of 11 physical parameters.

Effect of route of inoculation on replication of avian influenza virus (H9N2) and interferon gene expression in guinea fowl (Numida meleagridis).

The study was designed to investigate the replication of a re-assortant H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) and induction of the interferon (IFNγ) response after aerosol or intranasal inoculation with the virus in guinea fowl. To determine virus shedding pattern, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and tissue specimens of trachea, lungs, spleen and caecal tonsils were collected post-inoculation (pi). Infected guinea fowl showed mild clinical signs, while negative control guinea fowl remained healthy and active throughout the experiment irrespective of the inoculation route.

A vaginal drug delivery model.

Efficient drug delivery at vaginal cavity is often a challenge owing to its peculiar physiological variations including vast differences in pH. Keeping in view this attribute of the target site, the current work was aimed at developing formulation strategies which could overcome this and successfully deliver molecules like itraconazole through SLNs. Optimized SLNs with the given composition was selected for further development into mucoadhesive and thermosensitive gel.

ACE grading-A proposed endoscopic grading system for adenoids and its clinical correlation.

Objectives: To propose a novel endoscopic adenoid grading system using a rigid nasal endoscope and to study its correlation with the clinical diagnosis.

Methodology: Prerecorded video clips of rigid nasal endoscopy taken during endoscopic adenoidectomy were retrieved. Otolaryngology consultants blinded to the clinical diagnosis of the child were presented these videos and asked to grade the adenoid hypertrophy as per the proposed endoscopic ACE (Airway/Choana/Eustachian tube) grading system.

Endoscopic Repair of CSF Rhinorrhea: An Institutional Experience.

Introduction: Endoscopic repair is considered the treatment of choice in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. The aim of our study was to analyze the etiopathogenesis of CSF rhinorrhea, the outcome of treatment and the causes of failure in a developing-country setting.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated with endoscopic repair for CSF rhinorrhea at a tertiary care hospital in southern India from January 2002 to December 2009 identified 36 patients, the majority of them being women.

Heparinization of cell surfaces with short peptide-conjugated PEG-lipid regulates thromboinflammation in transplantation of human MSCs and hepatocytes.

Unlabelled: Infusion of therapeutic cells into humans is associated with immune responses, including thromboinflammation, which result in a large loss of transplanted cells. To address these problems, heparinization of the cell surfaces was achieved by a cell-surface modification technique using polyethylene glycol-conjugated phospholipid (PEG-lipid) derivatives. A short heparin-binding peptide was conjugated to the PEG-lipid for immobilization of heparin conjugates on the surface of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human hepatocytes.

Indentation Tests Reveal Geometry-Regulated Stiffening of Nanotube Junctions.

Here we report a unique method to locally determine the mechanical response of individual covalent junctions between carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in various configurations such as "X", "Y", and "Λ"-like. The setup is based on in situ indentation using a picoindenter integrated within a scanning electron microscope. This allows for precise mapping between junction geometry and mechanical behavior and uncovers geometry-regulated junction stiffening.

A far-field radio-frequency experimental exposure system with unrestrained mice.

Many studies have been performed on exploring the effects of radio-frequency (RF) energy on biological function in vivo. In particular, gene expression results have been inconclusive due, in part, to a lack of a standardized experimental procedure. This research describes a new far field RF exposure system for unrestrained murine models that reduces experimental error.

Design and In Vivo Test of a Batteryless and Fully Wireless Implantable Asynchronous Pacing System.

Unlabelled: Goal: The aim of this study is to develop a novel fully wireless and batteryless technology for cardiac pacing.

Methods: This technology uses radio frequency (RF) energy to power the implanted electrode in the heart. An implantable electrode antenna was designed for 1.

Visible light functioning photocatalyst based on Al2O3 doped Mn3O4 nanomaterial for the degradation of organic toxin.

Al2O3 doped Mn3O4 nanomaterial was synthesized by low-temperature stirring method and applied as a catalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants under solar light for prospective environmental applications. The morphological and physiochemical structure of the synthesized solar photocatalyst was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FESEM showed a mixture of nanowires and aggregated nanoparticles.

Risk mapping of bovine hypodermosis using geographical information system (GIS) in cattle of subtropical region, Pakistan.

Introduction: Hypodermosis is an ectoparasitic disease of cattle caused by Hypoderma lineatum and Hypoderma bovis. It is an important health problem of cattle, leading to considerable economic losses. There are various factors that are involved in the spread of this disease such as herd size, location, temperature, humidity, and precipitation.

Cell Surface Engineering for Regulation of Immune Reactions in Cell Therapy.

Transplantation of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans (islets) is a promising cell therapy for treating insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus. Islet transplantation is a minimally-invasive technique involving relatively simple surgery. However, after intraportal transplantation, the transplanted islets are attacked by the recipient's immune system, because they activate a number of systems, including coagulation, complement response, inflammation, immune rejection, and recurrence of autoimmune disease.

Thromboinflammation in Therapeutic Medicine.

Thromboinflammation is primarily triggered by the humoral innate immune system, which mainly consists of the cascade systems of the blood, i.e., the complement, contact/coagulation and fibrinolytic systems.

Assessment of Periodontal Status of Konda Reddy Tribe in Bhadrachalam, Khammam District, India.

Background: Though great strides have been taken globally in the fight against oral diseases, problems persist especially among poor, disadvantaged and socially marginalised communities like tribes. Konda Reddies are one of the most primitive tribes of Bhadrachalam who because of their isolation, inaccessibility to dental resources and lack of dental knowledge follow traditional methods of oral hygiene practices, which are found to be inadequate to maintain oral health.

Aim And Objectives: To assess the periodontal status of Konda reddy tribes residing in Bhadrachalam of Khammam district, India.

Chemical composition and medicinal significance of Fagonia cretica: a review.

Members of the family Zygophyllaceae are distributed in arid areas of the world and are traditionally used against various health insults ranging from skin lesions to lethal cancer. Fagonia cretica Linn. is a plant having novel compounds responsive in diseases that are still considered as incurable or are curable with serious side effects.

Therapy of heavy menstrual bleeding in Korea: Subanalysis and results from a multinational clinical trial in the Asian region investigating the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system versus conventional therapy.

Objective: To compare real-life clinical outcomes with the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and conventional medical therapies (CMTs), including combined oral contraceptives and oral progestins in the treatment of idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in South Korea.

Methods: This prospective, observational cohort study recruited a total of 647 women aged 18 to 45 years, diagnosed with HMB from 8 countries in Asia, including 209 women from South Korea (LNG-IUS, 169; CMTs, 40), who were followed up to one year. The primary outcome was cumulative continuation rate (still treated with LNG-IUS and CMTs) at 12 months.

Efficient solar photocatalyst based on cobalt oxide/iron oxide composite nanofibers for the detoxification of organic pollutants.

A Co3O4/Fe2O3 composite nanofiber-based solar photocatalyst has been prepared, and its catalytic performance was evaluated by degrading acridine orange (AO) and brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) beneath solar light. The morphological and physiochemical structure of the synthesized solar photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FESEM indicates that the Co3O4/Fe2O3 composite has fiber-like nanostructures with an average diameter of approximately 20 nm.