Toxicities of CAR T-cell therapy: a review of current literature.

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) design, first invented by Zelig Eshhar, paved the way for the use of genetically modified T-cells in targeted therapy against cancer cells. Since then, it has gone through many generations, especially with the integration of co-stimulation in the second and third-generation CARs. However, it also mounts a hyperactive immune response named as cytokine release syndrome with the release of several cytokines eventually resulting in multiple end-organ toxicities.

Plasma random glucose levels at hospital admission predicting worse outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing PCI: A case series.

Background: The effects of impaired plasma glucose levels on predicting clinical outcomes and in-hospital events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated random blood glucose at admission and its association with clinical outcomes in STEMI patients treated with PCI.

Methods: Patients with STEMI undergoing PCI were enrolled and were divided into 4 tertiles according to random blood glucose levels.

COVID-19 infection among pregnant and non-pregnant women: Comparison of biochemical markers and outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic, A retrospective cohort study.

Background: & Objectives: We conducted this single-centered retrospective study including female patients infected with COVID-19 with aim to compare laboratory findings and the outcomes between pregnant and non-pregnant women infected with COVID-19. Previous data rendered pregnant women as vulnerable population for COVID-19

Methods: We included 131 patients in our analysis out of which 60 were pregnant females and rest 71 were non-pregnant females.

Results: Factors like fatigue, total leukocyte count (TLC) and neutrophils were higher in pregnant patients, while mean age, fever, hemoglobin, ferritin, D-dimer and use of mechanical ventilation was lower in pregnant patients as compared to non-pregnant females.

Phosphorus Nutrient Management through Synchronization of Application Methods and Rates in Wheat and Maize Crops.

Management of inorganic fertilizer is very important to obtain maximum crop yield and improved nutrient use efficiency in cereal crops. Fixation of phosphatic fertilizers in alkaline soils due to calcareousness is one of the major hurdles. It induces phosphorus nutritional stress that can decrease the yield of maize and wheat.

Some Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms during Seed-to-Seedling Transition in Tomato as Influenced by Garlic Allelochemicals.

The effects of aqueous garlic extracts (AGEs), diallyl disulfide (DADS), and allicin (AAS) were investigated during seed-to-seedling transition of tomato. Independent bioassays were performed including seed priming with AGE (0, 100, and 200 µg∙mL), germination under the allelochemical influence of AGE, DADS, and AAS, and germination under volatile application of AGE. Noticeable differences in germination indices and seedling growth (particularly root growth and fresh weights) were observed in a dose-dependent manner.

Root order-based traits of Manchurian walnut & larch and their plasticity under interspecific competition.

Manchurian walnut and larch are key timber species of northeast China but information on (fine) root traits of both species is scarce. Plasticity of root traits in mixed plantations has been studied rarely although this could give important insights into mechanisms of root competition. This study examined root traits by branching order in 30-yr-old monocultures and their plasticity in mixed plantations.

Investigation of Staphylococcus aureus, prevailing in the environment of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

The hospital environment plays an important role in the spread of microorganisms, including multi drug resistant (MDR) strains. Patients can acquire Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which can reside in the clinical setup that are not cleaned and can spread through air droplets, bed clothing, and healthcare workers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of S.

Potential drug-drug interactions in medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Background Patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) present with severe and life-threatening illnesses. Most of them suffer from various comorbidities. They usually receive complex pharmacotherapy with large number of medicines which increase the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs).

New cholinesterase inhibitory constituents from Lonicera quinquelocularis.

A phytochemical investigation on the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Lonicera quinquelocularis (whole plant) led to the first time isolation of one new phthalate; bis(7-acetoxy-2-ethyl-5-methylheptyl) phthalate (3) and two new benzoates; neopentyl-4-ethoxy-3, 5-bis (3-methyl-2-butenyl benzoate (4) and neopentyl-4-hydroxy-3, 5-bis (3-methyl-2-butenyl benzoate (5) along with two known compounds bis (2-ethylhexyl phthalate (1) and dioctyl phthalate (2). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with available data in the literature. All the compounds (1-5) were tested for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities in dose dependent manner.

Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cytotoxic, Phytotoxic, Insecticidal, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Geranium wallichianum.

The present study describes the phytochemical investigations of the crude extracts of rhizomes and leaves of Geranium wallichianum. The crude extracts were fractionated to obtain n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions, which were subjected to different biological activities and enzyme inhibition assays to explore the therapeutic potential of this medicinally important herb. The results indicated that the crude extracts and different fractions of rhizomes and leaves showed varied degree of antimicrobial activities and enzyme inhibitions in different assays.

Isolation of medical students: communication barrier and its effect on career.

Background: Communication barriers affect student-student interaction and student-patient interaction. This study is aimed at exploring the social, cultural and academic spheres where medical students feel getting isolated.

Method: Questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was undertaken at Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad in the month of July, 2013.