The spatial-temporal effects of energy consumption and institutional quality on CO emission: evidence from Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has boosted economic development while harming the ecology. It is vital to track its CO emissions to guide the BRI toward a green future and low carbon. Our research contributes to these goals in two ways.

Assessing the effect of energy consumption and food production from agriculture on environmental degradation in Pakistan: Does institutional quality matter?

The nexus between food production (FP), energy consumption (EC), institutional quality (IQ), and ecological degradation (ED) has important implications for environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, environmental degradation caused by FP is widely ignored, especially in Pakistan. To fill this void, we investigated the impact of energy use, FP, and IQ on Pakistan's environmental degradation between 1990 and 2021.

Food security and environmental degradation: Do institutional quality and human capital make a difference?

The nexus between food security (FS), institutional quality (IQ), human capital (HC), and environmental deterioration (ED) has important implications for ecological sustainability. Yet, environmental deterioration resulting from food security activities is a widely ignored topic, particularly in BRI countries. To address this gap, we examined the influence of food security, human capital and institutional quality on the environmental deterioration of BRI countries from 1984 to 2019.

Green Environment-Social Protection Interaction and Food Security in Africa.

Expanding food production to commensurate with population growth has often come at a cost resulting from environmental problems. Industries generate pollutants that destroy the environment and negatively affect the level of food security. These trends threaten the sustainability of food systems and undermine the capacity to meet food security needs.

Do BRI policy and institutional quality influence economic growth and environmental quality? An empirical analysis from South Asian countries affiliated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

The effect of quality institutions on growth-environmental nexus is a generally ignored topic, especially in South Asia economies affiliated with the belt and road initiatives (BRIs). To fill this gap, we have examined the effect of BRI policy, economic freedom (EF), and institutional quality (IQ) on growth-environmental nexus in the South Asian region from 1984 to 2019. We have used CO emission as a proxy for the environment in this study.

Episomal reprogramming of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients derived CD3 T cells towards induced pluripotent stem cells.

Objective: To derive Duchenne muscular dystrophy patient specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from CD3T cells of DMD patients using episomal reprogramming and characterization of these DMD-iPSCs using immunofluorescence to confirm their pluripotent state.

Methods: DMD patients were selected based upon their clinical history and examination. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood of DMD patients (n=3) by density gradient centrifugation and were used to generate DMD patient specific T cells (DMD-T cells) using rhIL-2, plate bound anti CD3 antibody and T cell specific media along with specific culture conditions that promote T cell expansion.

Megaprepuce: A New Surgical Technique with Excellent Cosmetic and Functional Results.

Congenital megaprepuce (CMP) is a malformation consisting of redundant inner foreskin, normal penile shaft, and severe phimosis. The excess inner prepuce pushes the penile shaft deeper causing the appearance of a buried penis. We describe a novel surgical technique using dartos fascial flaps to reconstruct the prepuce giving excellent cosmetic and functional results.

The Satisfactory Surgical Outcome of Posterior Fossa Brain Tumors in Children at Civil Hospital, Karachi.

Introduction: Posterior fossa brain tumor is the most devastating forms of human illness, primarily because of the limited space within the posterior fossa, the potential involvement of vital brain stem nuclei, and the mass effect causes obstructive hydrocephalus. Posterior fossa tumors are more common in children than adults.

The Objective Of The Study: To find out the satisfactory surgical outcome of posterior fossa brain tumors in children at Civil hospital, Karachi.

Comparison of Phenytoin versus Levetiracetam in Early Seizure Prophylaxis after Traumatic Brain Injury, at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of phenytoin and levetiracetam for seizure prophylaxis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Subjects And Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over a period of 6 months, at a tertiary health care center in Karachi, Pakistan. Patients with TBI were divided into two groups.

Robot Docking Time: Cumulative Summation Analysis of a Procedure-Independent Learning Curve in Pediatric Urology.

Purpose: The learning curve is an important method of assessment of progression in the use of a new technique or device and, in the field of robotic surgery, is most commonly described for individual procedures, often concentrating on console time and outcomes. We contemplated whether a learning curve of the similar nature and duration was exhibited in the procedure-independent variable of docking time.

Materials And Methods: The time from first incision to end of robot docking was found for a single surgeon's first 55 robotic cases, which encompassed a range of pediatric urological procedures.

Single-stage urethroplasty with buccal mucosal inlay graft for stricture caused by balanitis xerotica obliterans in boys: Outcomes in the medium term.

Introduction: Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) is a common condition that can affect the foreskin, glans, meatus, and urethra, and rarely can also involve urethra leading to stricture. Numerous procedures have been suggested to treat urethral stricture secondary to BXO but these have had variable results.

Objective: We describe the first prospective study of a single stage buccal mucosal inlay grafting in children with urethral strictures resistant to existing remedies.

Robotic Pyeloplasty in Children: A "Barbed" Shortcut.

Introduction: Dismembered pyeloplasty remains the gold standard for the treatment of pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO). Robotic approach to this procedure has proven its efficacy and is gaining popularity. The introduction of barbed sutures such as "V-Loc™" (Covidien) has provided an addition to the sutures available for pyeloplasty.

Preliminary Experience with Instillation of Triamcinolone Acetonide into the Urethra for Idiopathic Urethritis: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Background: Idiopathic bulbar urethritis (IBU) is characterized by hematuria ± dysuria without infection. Symptoms result from inflammation of the bulbar urethra, distal to external sphincter. IBU is difficult to manage and there is no recommended therapy.

Frequency of infection associated with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement.

Objective: To compare the frequency of infection in protocol-based and random ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement in patients with hydrocephalus.

Methods: The prospective, observational study was conducted at Civil Hospital, Karachi, from October 2014 to March 2015, and comprised patients having ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement who were randomly categorised into Group A that had protocol-based procedure and Group B that had random shunt placement. All patients were followed up for six months to record final outcomes after surgery.

Role of intraoperative ultrasound in achieving complete resection of intra-axial solid brain tumours.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of completeness of resection for intra-axial solid brain tumours with the help of intra-operative ultrasound to detect residual brain tumour.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi, from September 2009 to June 2010 and comprised patients with intra-axial solid brain lesion. During operation following standard craniotomy, multi-plane sonographic examination was performed using intra-operative ultrasound for tumour localisation and calculation of dimension, followed by tumour resection in the standard fashion.

Computer Based Assessment (CBA): Perception of residents at Dow University of Health Sciences.

Unlabelled: Background and objective : During the past few years, Computer-based assessment (CBA) has gained popularkity as a testing modality. This assessment offers several advantages over paper based assessment (PBA) testing. The objective of this study was to find out residents' perception of this method of assessment.

Magnetic Resonance Image findings of Spinal Tuberclosis at first presentation.

Background: Spinal tuberculosis presents in various pathological patterns. The clinical presentation and often the management depend on exact pathological findings. Objective of study was to evaluate the Pathology of spinal tuberculosis as depicted by MRI findings in 119 consecutive cases of spinal TB.

Pleomorphic adenoma of hard palate: an experience.

Introduction: Pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary glands of hard palate is a rare benign tumour. It usually presents as slow growing submucosal mass on hard palate. The purpose of this study was to collect observational data regarding age, size, symptoms, CT findings and treatment of pleomorphic adenoma of hard palate.

Lumbar disc degenerative disease: disc degeneration symptoms and magnetic resonance image findings.

Study Design: Cross sectional and observational.

Purpose: To evaluate the different aspects of lumbar disc degenerative disc disease and relate them with magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings and symptoms.

Overview Of Literature: Lumbar disc degenerative disease has now been proven as the most common cause of low back pain throughout the world.

Outcome of open transcortical approach in the management of intraventricular lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of management of intraventricular lesions operated by an open transcortical (nonendoscopic) approach.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Neurosurgery, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January 2009 to December 2011, with six months follow-up.

Intracranial cystic chondroma: a case report.

Introduction: Intracranial chondromas are rare benign tumors with an incidence of 0.2% to 0.3% of all intracranial tumors.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: an atypical astrocytoma.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is rare primary neoplasm of brain. Despite its pleomorphic appearance, it has a relatively good prognosis. We report a case of biopsy proven pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma in a young male who presented with visual and sensory symptoms, classical neuroimaging findings and showed remarkable recovery, post surgery.

Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma.

Spinal intradural intramedullary tuberculoma is extremely rare entity of tuberculosis involving the nervous system. Because of its atypical symptomatology, it must be considered in differential diagnosis of spinal cord lesions, especially where prevalence of tuberculosis is high. In this case report this atypical disease is described where good outcome was achieved by surgical excision of the intramedullary lesion followed by antituberculous therapy.

Caecal amoeboma simulating malignant neoplasia, ileocaecal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease.

We report two cases of amoeboma of caecum. The patients were initially diagnosed with acute appendicitis but a large cecal mass was found on surgery, giving the gross impression of tumor, Ileocaecal tuberculosis or Crohn's disease necessitating right hemicolectomy. On histopathological examination, the mass was found to be 'Amoeboma'.