The Role of Robotics in Cardiac Surgery: Innovations, Outcomes, and Future Prospects.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the use of robotic technology in medical surgery, especially in heart surgery. Many advancements in surgery have been made possible by the development of these robotic devices, such as the da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, California, United States). These advancements include improved ergonomics, three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and increased dexterity.

Radiological Outcomes According to the Matta Score After the Surgical Fixation of Acetabular Fractures.

Background Acetabular fractures, a rising concern in developing countries, pose a significant challenge due to their complexity and association with post-operative complications. Often caused by high-energy mechanisms like falls and motor vehicle accidents, these fractures require accurate reduction to prevent long-term issues and the potential need for hip replacement. This study investigates the radiological outcomes of acetabular fracture surgery at six months, focusing on the effectiveness of achieving anatomical reduction using the Matta criteria in a low-and middle-income country (LMIC) setting.

Host-microbiome determinants of ready-to-use supplemental food efficacy in acute childhood malnutrition.

Ready-to-use supplemental foods (RUSF) are energy-dense meals formulated to prevent and treat moderate and severe childhood acute malnutrition (MAM and SAM) in high-risk settings. Although lifesaving, the degree and durability of weight recovery with RUSF is unpredictable. We examined whether environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and gut microbiota perturbations are risk factors for RUSF failure in a birth cohort of 416 rural Pakistani children followed for growth, common childhood illnesses, and biomarkers from blood, urine, and stool.

THE CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF SCABIES IN PATIENTS PRESENTING TO DERMATOLOGY OUTPATIENTS DEPARTMENT AT AYUB TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABBOTTABAD.

Background: Scabies is a significant skin problem in the developing countries due to its increased incidence, complications and financial implications. The aim of this study is to highlight the endemicity of scabies in our population and its clinical manifestations including various complications. The study was conducted to determine the frequency and clinical manifestations of scabies in patients presented to dermatology outpatient department (opd), Ayub teaching hospital, Abbottabad.

Anthropometry relationship with duodenal histologic features of children with environmental enteric dysfunction: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a precursor of growth faltering in children living in impoverished conditions who are frequently exposed to environmental toxins and enteropathogens, leading to small bowel inflammatory, malabsorptive, and permeability derangements and low-grade chronic systemic inflammation.

Objectives: We explored the association between anthropometrics and duodenal histologic features of EED among children from 3 lower middle-income country centers.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Pakistani children (n = 63) with wasting, Bangladesh children (n = 116) with stunting or at risk for stunting (height-for-age Z score [HAZ] <-1 but ≥-2), and Zambian children (n = 108) with wasting or stunting received nutritional intervention.

Multiplexed immunohistochemical evaluation of small bowel inflammatory and epithelial parameters in environmental enteric dysfunction.

Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is characterized by reduced absorptive capacity and barrier function of the small intestine, leading to poor ponderal and linear childhood growth.

Objectives: To further define gene expression patterns that are associated with EED to uncover new pathophysiology of this disorder.

Methods: Duodenal biopsies from cohorts of children with EED from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zambia were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) to interrogate gene products that distinguished differentiation and various biochemical pathways in immune and epithelial cells, some identified by prior bulk RNA sequence analyses.

Why do understorey palm fruits turn from red to white and then black when ripe?

Becc., a tropical forest understorey palm, is observed to have fruits that appear red in colour when unripe, turning pink, then white, purple and finally black in colour as they ripen. We monitored 13 fruiting palms in rainforest fragments and recorded the consumption of fruits by animals via camera traps.

Nutrient dataset development via FAO/INFOODS approach for infant nutritional survey in rural Matiari, Pakistan.

To accurately evaluate dietary intake, multiple resources are necessary, including serving-size modules, pictures, and questionnaires that are used to gather information during surveys. One critical component is the accessibility of food composition data at the national or regional level, which is required to determine dietary intake. Food Agriculture Organization/International Network of Food Data Systems (FAO/INFOODs) tools are useful for developing high-quality food composition data.

The Effect of Stimulation Intensity, Sampling Frequency, and Sample Synchronization in TMS-EEG on the TMS Pulse Artifact Amplitude and Duration.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coupled with electroencephalography (EEG) possesses diagnostic and therapeutic benefits. However, TMS provokes a large pulse artifact that momentarily obscures the cortical response, presenting a significant challenge for EEG data interpretation. We examined how stimulation intensity (SI), EEG sampling frequency (Fs) and synchronization of stimulation with EEG sampling influence the amplitude and duration of the pulse artifact.

Toxic elements identified in breast milk of mothers residing in water contaminated region of Sindh and their impact on infants' growth patterns: A case-control study.

Breast milk is a vital source of nutrition for breastfed infants, providing essential nutrients and elements but, in some cases, toxic ones. This is the first case-control study that investigated the elemental profile of breast milk samples collected from mothers residing in Matiari (Sindh), a region with insufficient industrial waste management, and its potential impact on infants' anthropometrics. Precisely, 62 milk samples, including 42 cases and 20 controls, were analyzed using the ICP-MS technique.

Aspartate Aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) as a Novel Score in Early Detection of Complicated Dengue Fever.

Introduction: The occurrence of dengue fever presents a considerable burden for public health care in developing countries. This study aims to validate APRI as predictor score for severity of dengue fever so that catastrophic events could be prevented, and early triage can save lives.

Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was done on dengue positive patients from August to November 2023.

A shared group of bacterial taxa in the duodenal microbiota of undernourished Pakistani children with environmental enteric dysfunction.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical syndrome of altered small intestinal function postulated to be an important contributor to childhood undernutrition. The role of small intestinal bacterial communities in the pathophysiology of EED is poorly defined due to a paucity of studies where there has been a direct collection of small intestinal samples from undernourished children. Sixty-three members of a Pakistani cohort identified as being acutely malnourished between 3 and 6 months of age and whose wasting (weight-for-length -score [WLZ]) failed to improve after a 2-month nutritional intervention underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

Nonsynonymous mutations in VEGF receptor binding domain alter the efficacy of bevacizumab treatment.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediated angiogenesis is crucial for tumor progression. Isoforms of VEGF bind to different VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) to initiate angiogenesis specific cellular signaling. Inhibitors that target both the receptors and ligands are in clinical use to impede angiogenesis.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Evaluation of Risk Factors and Their Impact on Postoperative Outcomes.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT), also known as talar osteochondritis dissecans, is minor fracture to the articular cartilage of the talas subchondral bone it is associated with. The literature regarding its impact on patient demographics on post-operative associations of OLT-related repairs is lacking. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was retrospectively reviewed, collecting data on patients with an OLT procedure between the 2008 through 2016.

A matched-control study on the impact of depressive disorders following lumbar fusion for adult spinal deformity: an analysis of a nationwide administrative database.

Purpose: In recent years, depression rates have been on the rise, resulting in soaring mental health issues globally. There is paucity of literature about the impact of depression on lumbar fusion for adult spine deformity. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether patients with depressive disorders undergoing lumbar deformity fusion have higher rates of (1) in-hospital length of stay; (2) ninety-day medical and surgical complications; and (3) medical reimbursement.

Persuasive COVID-19 vaccination campaigns on Facebook and nationwide vaccination coverage in Ukraine, India, and Pakistan.

Social media platforms have a wide and influential reach, and as such provide an opportunity to increase vaccine uptake. To date, there is no large-scale, robust evidence on the offline effects of online messaging campaigns. We aimed to test whether pre-tested, persuasive messaging campaigns from UNICEF, disseminated on Facebook, influenced COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ukraine, India, and Pakistan.

Towards online surface water quality monitoring technology: A review.

The exponential growth of human population and anthropogenic activities have led to the increase of global surface water contamination especially in river, lakes and ocean. Safe and clean surface water sources are crucial to human health and well-being, aquatic ecosystem, environment and economy. Thus, water monitoring is vital to ensure minimal and controllable contamination in the water sources.

Impact of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection on environmental enteric dysfunction and growth of malnourished children in Pakistan: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARI) are assumed to be major drivers of growth and likely contribute to environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), which is a precursor to childhood malnutrition. In the present study, we checked the correlation between diarrhoeal/ARI burden and EED using a novel duodenal histological index.

Methods: Between November 2017 and July 2019, a total of 365 infants with weight-for-height Z scores (WHZ score) of <-2 were enrolled, and 51 infants with WHZ scores of >0 and height-for-age Z scores (HAZ scores) of >-1 were selected as age-matched healthy controls.

Spectroscopic investigation of phase transformation of calcium oxalate dehydrates (renal calculi) using acidic Bryophyllum pinnatom powder.

Urolithiasis is one of most common renal disorders, characterized by the formation of kidney stones (renal calculi) through the crystallization process within the urinary system. The frequently observed renal calculi are calcium oxalate renal calculi and treatment is done by shock wave method or lithotripsy which is harmful for other cells of the internal system. The objective of this work was to evaluate in vitro diagnosis of calcium oxalate kidney stones in the aqueous solution of Bryophyllum pinnatum.

Effects of myo-inositol vs. metformin on hormonal and metabolic parameters in women with PCOS: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the most prevalent hormonal disorder in females. Over the years, metformin (MET) has become the first-line choice of treatment; however, due to its gastrointestinal side effects, a more recent drug, myo-inositol (MI), has been introduced. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effects of MET and MI on hormonal and metabolic parameters.

Comparison of baseline demographics and risk factors for aseptic loosening following primary total elbow arthroplasty.

Background: Aseptic loosening is a feared complication following total elbow arthroplasty (TEA); however, literature regarding factors that may contribute to this complication is limited. The aims of this investigation were to: (1) compare baseline demographics of patients who developed aseptic loosening following primary TEA; and (2) identify patient-specific risk factors for the development of loosening.

Methods: Retrospective analysis using a nationwide claims database was performed to identify patients who underwent primary TEA and developed aseptic loosening within 2 years (study n = 307, control n = 10,741).