Dynamics of Team-Based Learning in Molecular Biology: Insights and Reflections From Undergraduate Medical Students.

Objective: To investigate the dynamics of collaborative learning in team-based learning (TBL) through students' reflections and feedback.

Methods: A phenomenological mixed-methods approach was adopted where the survey and reflections were conducted concurrently after the TBL session and the results were analyzed. The study employed a mini-cluster technique to include all first-year MBBS students of batch 2023-24 with an age range between 19 and 22 years.

Maternal high fat diet exposure modifies amniotic fluid metabolites and expands group 3 innate lymphoid cells dependent on the maternal microbiome and MyD88-signaling.

Background: Maternal high fat diet (mHFD) exposure expands IL-17 producing group 3 innate lymphoid cells (IL17 ILC3) in the small intestine of neonatal murine offspring and increases their susceptibility to intestinal inflammation. How mHFD modulates innate immunity in the fetal offspring remains unclear.

Methods: Dams were exposed to 60% high fat diet or maintained on regular diet (RD) prior to and during mating.

Asplenia-Associated Babesiosis: A Quagmire Traversed by Exchange Transfusion.

Babesiosis is a potentially life-threatening tick-borne parasitic infection. Severe disease in splenectomized individuals may require exchange transfusion. A 58-year-old male with a history of splenectomy presented with 2 weeks of subjective fever, weakness, and abdominal pain.

Covalently Functionalized Leakage-Free Healable Phase-Change Interface Materials with Extraordinary High-Thermal Conductivity and Low-Thermal Resistance.

Phase-change materials (PCMs) have received considerable attention to take advantage of both pad-type and grease-type thermal interface materials (TIMs). However, the critical drawbacks of leaking, non-recyclability, and low thermal conductivity (κ) hinder industrial applications of PCM TIMs. Here, leakage-free healable PCM TIMs with extraordinarily high κ and low total thermal resistance (R ) are reported.

Racial disparities in comorbidities of patients with psoriatic arthritis.

There have been significant advances in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Despite these advances, racial and ethnic disparities in clinical outcomes may still exist in patients with PsA. We aimed to examine the racial differences in clinical characteristics, medication usage and comorbidities in PsA patients.

Pelvic actinomycosis presenting as a single episode of postmenopausal bleeding in a 60-year-old woman whose intrauterine contraceptive device had been removed 10 years previously: A case report.

Actinomycosis is a rare opportunistic infection caused by bacteria entering tissue through a disruption in the normal mucosal barrier and spreading in a slow, progressive manner. Patients often present with mass lesions and abscesses which mimic malignancy. We present the case of a 60-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with a single episode of spotting with no other symptoms.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in Pregnancy: A Review.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of connective tissue disorders that can result in a range of complications during pregnancy. Pregnant EDS patients generally have a favourable outcome, but those with vascular EDS are more likely to suffer from severe maternal complications. Early diagnosis of EDS and subtype characterization can aid in pre-pregnancy counselling, planning of antenatal care, risk assessment of obstetric and neonatal complications, and influence both obstetric and anaesthetic management of these patients.

Mechanistic study of interaction between IL-22 and HCV core protein in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma among liver transplant recipients.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects more than 170 million people worldwide that represents a major threat to global public health. Several viruses including HCV have developed mechanisms against the cellular responses essentially "hijacking" the antiviral responses generated against it. Interleukin 22 activated JAK-STAT pathways are responsible for several functions including liver regeneration, antiviral responses and cell cycle regulation.

IL-22 in hepatocyte's survival of Pakistani patients with end stage liver disease: an insight into IL 22 mediated hepato-regenerative pathway.

Hepatitis is the principal cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decompensated cirrhosis. HCC is amongst the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Current therapeutic options have proven to be unsuccessful in treating this disease due to multifactorial nature of the disease.

Purinoceptor expression in hepatocellular virus (HCV)-induced and non-HCV hepatocellular carcinoma: an insight into the proviral role of the P2X4 receptor.

The basic idea behind this study was to discover the association and prevalence of purinoceptors in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and non-HCV hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immunohistochemistry was performed to study the expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors on ex-planted liver tissue samples that were collected from HCC patients. Antibodies specific for the P2X4 and P2X7 receptors were used to target the specific receptors and secondary antibody was used with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) detection system to visualize the color change in case of any positive expression There was a substantial increase in P2X4 receptor expression in HCV induced HCC as compared to non-HCV HCC.

Association between Genetic Polymorphism and Risk of von Willebrand Disease in Pakistan.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited, genetically and clinically heterogeneous hemorrhagic disorder. The most common cause of this disease is mutation in the gene that encodes protein von Willebrand factor (VWF) which is responsible for blood clotting. The current study was designed to investigate the role of genetic polymorphisms with the onset of VWD in population of Pakistan.

Molecular spectrum of TSHβ subunit gene defects in central hypothyroidism in the UK and Ireland.

Objective: Homozygous mutations in the TSH beta subunit gene (TSHB) result in severe, isolated, central congenital hypothyroidism (CCH). This entity evades diagnosis in TSH-based congenital hypothyroidism (CH) screening programmes in the UK and Ireland. Accordingly, genetic diagnosis, enabling ascertainment of affected relatives in families, is critical for prompt diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.

IL-22: a promising candidate to inhibit viral-induced liver disease progression and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a growing concern all over the world. With the number of patients rising exponentially with each passing day, HCC is a problem that needs immediate attention. Currently, available treatment strategies focus on controlling the damage after the development of HCC.

Association of adipokines with obesity in children and adolescents.

Background: Childhood obesity is a global epidemic and is associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders. Several adipokines including resistin, visfatin, leptin and adiponectin are synthesized and secreted by adipocytes, which play an important role in obesity.

Patients & Methods: A total of 90 subjects (60 controls and 30 obese) between the ages of 5 and 18 years were selected.

Adipocytokines in subjects with and without ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Objective Of The Study: To investigate adipocytokines in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and to develop an association between them.

Methods: In this study plasma adiponectin, leptin and Interleukin 6 (IL 6) concentration were measured by ELISA. Blood glucose and lipid profile was done by standard kit methods.

Skin-reducing mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction as an indispensable tool in the provision of oncoplastic breast services.

Background: Skin-reducing mastectomy (SRM) is a method of immediate breast reconstruction derived from a Wise breast reduction incision pattern that enables immediate subpectoral implant placement after mastectomy. Its virtue lies in the manner it provides for adequate implant coverage using muscle and a deepithelialized dermal flap, thus reducing the risk of implant extrusion and providing good inframammary contour. Our experience with this technique is elaborated.

The role of freehand needle core biopsy in the diagnosis of isolated axillary lymphadenopathy.

Patients with isolated axillary lymphadenopathy are often referred to rapid-access breast clinics for diagnostic evaluation. In the absence of a discernable breast primary, tissue diagnosis has conventionally been pursued using open biopsy. We aimed to assess the value of freehand needle core biopsy (FNCB) as an alternative to this.

Renal amyloidosis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

We report a case of a rare disorder of renal amyloidosis occurring as a complication of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in a 16-year-old adolescent male. He presented with generalized edema and hypertension. The laboratory work-up showed nephrotic-range proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia and normal renal function despite bilateral shrunken kidneys revealed by the abdominal ultrasound.

Maternal deaths in a developing country: a study from the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan 1988-1999.

Objective: The maternal deaths occurring over a twelve-year period (1988-1999) in a tertiary referral center were reviewed. The purpose of the study was to assess the causes of these maternal deaths.

Setting: The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi, Pakistan.

Cultural stability of Streptomyces fradiae in the production of xylose isomerase: studies in shake flasks.

Comprehensive studies of pure colonies of Streptomyces fradiae in the production of xylose isomerase by submerged fermentation at shake flask level revealed poor culture stability with respect to enzyme production, biomass formation, degree of pigmentation, quantity of glucose and xylose utilization, level of enzyme in cell-free culture broth and final pH of the fermentation medium. The results serve to stress obligatory evaluation of culture stability of Streptomyces strains in determining their suitability for use in developing fermentation processes for commercial exploitation.