Molecular and genetic analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to pose significant challenges in healthcare settings due to its multi-drug resistance (MDR) and virulence. This retrospective study examines the molecular and resistance profiles of MRSA isolates from a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia, providing valuable insights into regional epidemiology. A total of 190 MRSA strains were analysed to assess antimicrobial susceptibility, genetic diversity, and virulence factors.

Trimethylamine N-oxide in cardiovascular disease: Pathophysiology and the potential role of statins.

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with the total number of cases increasing to 523 million in 2019. Despite the advent of new drugs, cardiovascular mortality has increased at an alarming rate of 53.7 % from 12.

Multi-level transcriptional regulation of embryonic sex determination and dosage compensation by the X-signal element .

The nuclear hormone receptor is known to be an embryonic X-signal element that represses , the sex-switch gene that is the master regulator of sex determination and dosage compensation. Several prior studies on function have suggested that may have additional downstream roles beyond the regulation of expression. In this study we characterize some of these additional roles of in regulating the dual processes of sex determination and dosage compensation during embryogenesis.

Comparative lifespan and healthspan of nonhuman primate species common to biomedical research.

There is a critical need to generate age- and sex-specific survival curves to characterize chronological aging consistently across nonhuman primates (NHP) used in biomedical research. Sex-specific Kaplan-Meier survival curves were computed in 12 translational aging models: baboon, bonnet macaque, chimpanzee, common marmoset, coppery titi monkey, cotton-top tamarin, cynomolgus macaque, Japanese macaque, pigtail macaque, rhesus macaque, squirrel monkey, and vervet/African green. After employing strict inclusion criteria, primary results are based on 12,269 NHPs that survived to adulthood and died of natural/health-related causes.

THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN-27 AND MICROALBUMIN: COVARIATE OF EARLY DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY.

Background: Heat shock protein-27 is the microprotein released from renal parenchyma during diabetic oxidative stress, while microalbumin is the plasma protein that appears in urine in diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted from Jan to Sep 2021 in the Physiology department, BMC, BMCH, Quetta. The current study included 105 patients with an age range from 30-50 years and was divided into three groups: i) a control group of healthy participants, ii) a diabetic risk group: participants without signs of diabetic nephropathy and diabetic duration from 1-5 years, iii) diabetic nephropathy group: participants having >30 mg/dl of v microalbumin in urine and diabetic duration from 5-10 years.

A survey to analyze the need of genetic counseling among doctors in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan with a population of approximately 200 million people faces a significant burden of genetic disorders. Higher preference for consanguinity (73%) is one of the significant reasons. Despite being a hub for rare genetic disorders, the country lacks professionally trained genetic counselors due to the absence of postgraduate degree programs or diplomas in genetic counseling.

The impact of a web-based prognostic calculator on prognostic confidence in outpatient palliative care.

Purpose: Clinicians are often uncertain about their prognostic estimates, which may impede prognostic communication and clinical decision-making. We assessed the impact of a web-based prognostic calculator on physicians' prognostic confidence.

Methods: In this prospective study, palliative care physicians estimated the prognosis of patients with advanced cancer in an outpatient clinic using the temporal, surprise, and probabilistic approaches for 6 m, 3 m, 2 m, 1 m, 2 w, 1 w, and 3 d.

Deep brain stimulation for post-stroke rehabilitation in Pakistan.

Stroke has a high prevalence in Pakistan, at an alarming rate of 250 per 100 000 people. Although various treatment options are available, they are not ideal for Pakistan due to their high cost, restricted availability, and time sensitivity. In 1997, the FDA-approved deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease and it was first performed in Pakistan in 2014.

Effectiveness of hypertonic saline with or without hyaluronic acid among patients with cystic fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The clinical effectiveness of hypertonic saline (HS) in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) can be compromised by adverse effects. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) in mitigating these negative occurrences.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was carried out using three electronic databases: Medline, Cochrane Central, and Embase.

ABO Discrepancy in a Patient With Plasma Cell Myeloma.

ABO discrepancies in plasma cell myeloma (PCM) present unique challenges in blood typing tests and transfusion management. We present the case of a 51-year-old male with PCM who exhibited discrepancies between forward and reverse blood grouping. Further investigation revealed that the patient's blood type was a variant of blood group B.

XOL-1 regulates developmental timing by modulating the H3K9 landscape in C. elegans early embryos.

Sex determination in the nematode C. elegans is controlled by the master regulator XOL-1 during embryogenesis. Expression of xol-1 is dependent on the ratio of X chromosomes and autosomes, which differs between XX hermaphrodites and XO males.

Changing Cancer Trends in District Dir, Pakistan: Epidemiological Insights From a 10-Year Hospital-Based Study.

Background More alarming than the rise of cancer globally is its discreet changing profiles over the years. According to our knowledge, no new studies on cancer have taken place in Dir since 2004. Hence, we aimed to provide and analyze the cancer trends in district Dir, Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), regarding its prevalence and incidence, and compare it nationally and internationally.

Huge Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) in Upper Gastrointestinal Masquerade Anaemia.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) represents a rare neoplasm affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is classified as a common nonepithelial tumor within the GI tract. It originates from the interstitial cells of Cajal, and GIST typically manifests with symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal bleeding. This case involves a 33-year-old male who presented with GI bleeding symptoms after eight months of treatment for anemia.

Vitamin D and Lipid Profiles in Infertile PCOS and Non-PCOS Females.

Objective: This research is aimed to explore the relationship between vitamin D and lipid profile in females with PCOS and non-PCOS infertile female subjects.

Study Design: Comparative descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan in collaboration with the Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre, from February 2021 to March 2023.

Ryzumvi: pioneering advances in countering drug-induced mydriasis.

This article discusses the prevalence and impact of pharmacologically-induced mydriasis, a condition where the pupil becomes excessively dilated due to certain drugs. It highlights the challenges faced by medical professionals in dealing with this condition and the limitations of current treatments, like pilocarpine and dapiprazole, which come with systemic side effects and specific contraindications, limiting their regular use. The article introduces Ryzumvi, a novel ophthalmic solution approved by the US FDA, which effectively reverses mydriasis caused by adrenergic agonists and antimuscarinic drugs.

"Long-term effects of center volume on transplant outcomes in adult kidney transplant recipients".

Background: The influence of center volume on kidney transplant outcomes is a topic of ongoing debate. In this study, we employed competing risk analyses to accurately estimate the marginal probability of graft failure in the presence of competing events, such as mortality from other causes with long-term outcomes. The incorporation of immunosuppression protocols and extended follow-up offers additional insights.

The influence of sociodemographic factors on parental health-seeking behavior for illnesses among the pediatric age group in Karachi: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Health-seeking behavior (HSB) is an individual's reaction to sickness, for which they seek medical attention, regardless of the form such care may take. Poor HSB is frequently associated with lower health outcomes and greater mortality and disease rates in a nation. Sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, family structure, occupation, ethnicity, and rates of literacy and poverty, can influence a person's HSB.

Factor Xa inhibitors vs. warfarin in patients with Hughes syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The optimal treatment regimen for patients with Hughes syndrome remains unclear. Therefore, the authors sought to compare the outcomes of warfarin vs. factor Xa inhibitors in patients with Hughes syndrome.