Development of Timolol Maleate-Loaded Poloxamer-co-Poly (acrylic acid) based hydrogel for controlled drug delivery.

Free radical polymerization technique was used to formulate Poloxamer-188 based hydrogels for controlled delivery. A total of seven formulations were formulated with varying concentrations of polymer, monomer ad cross linker. In order to assess the structural properties of the formulated hydrogels, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were carried out.

ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF PHLORETIN COMPOUND PURIFIED FROM IRAQI MALUS DOMESTICA L. (APPLE) LEAVES.

The present study was dealing with a Polyphenolic compound known as Phloretin. Phloretin (Ph), a dihydrochalcone, was determined qualitatively and quantitatively in different aerial parts for Iraqi Malus domestica (apple), cv." Ibrahimi" included leaves, petioles, stems, fruit pulp, and peels extracts.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Towards Osteoporosis Among Adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2023.

Background: Osteoporosis, the silent epidemic, is defined as a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low mineral bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis is considered a burden to global economic, social, and health development. Osteoporosis exerts a substantial global influence, markedly influencing rates of illness and death on a broad scale.

The role of angiotensin receptor blockers in treating epilepsy: a review.

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease with a global prevalence of 70 million people. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 5 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Anti-seizure drugs are the treatment of choice.

Measuring the impact of monoclonal antibody therapies.

Objective: Monoclonal antibody (Mab) treatments have significantly improved the quality and quantity of life, but they are some of the most expensive treatments, resulting in a degree of hesitancy to introduce new Mab agents. A system for estimating the effect of Mab drugs, in general, would optimally inform health strategy and fully realize how a single scientific discovery can deliver health benefits. We evaluated such a method with several well-established Mab regimens.

A blood-based circulating microbial metagenomic panel for early diagnosis and prognosis of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates the potential clinical significance of specific microbial signatures as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, in multiple cancers. However, to date, no studies have systematically interrogated circulating metagenome profiling in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients, particularly as novel non-invasive, early detection, surveillance and prognostic classifiers.

Methods: Metagenome sequencing was performed on 81 serum specimens collected across EAC spectrum, with sequencing reads classified using Bracken and MetaPhlAn3.

Prebiotic potential of enzymatically prepared resistant starch in reshaping gut microbiota and their respond to body physiology.

The increase in consumer demand for high-quality food products has led to growth in the use of new technologies and ingredients. Resistant starch (RS) is a recently recognised source of fibre and has received much attention for its potential health benefits and functional properties. However, knowledge about the fate of RS in modulating complex intestinal communities, the microbial members involved in its degradation, enhancement of microbial metabolites, and its functional role in body physiology is still limited.

CSF-1R inhibitor, pexidartinib, sensitizes esophageal adenocarcinoma to PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade in a rat model.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths. Pexidartinib, a multi-gene tyrosine kinase inhibitor, through targeting colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) receptor (CSF-1R), down modulates macrophage-mediated pro-survival tumor signaling. Previously, CSF-1R inhibitors have successfully shown to enhance antitumor activity of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors by suppressing tumor immune evasion, in solid tumors.

Choriocarcinoma syndrome: A rare presentation of testicular germ cell tumour.

Germ cell tumours (GCT) are the most common malignancy in men between the ages of 15 and 35 years. Pure choriocarcinoma is a very rare entity of non- seminomatous germ cell tumour and comprises only 1% -3% of all the testicular tumours. Choriocarcinoma syndrome is a clinical condition in which haemorrhage occurs from the metastatic sites with elevated level of the Beta-Human Chorionic gonadotropin (Beta -HCG).

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Paediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma; A Retrospective Review.

Introduction: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. This paper aimed to assess the stage, site and treatment outcome among RMS patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed from January 2011 to December 2017 of patients that presented to the Department of Paediatric Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, for the management of RMS.

Analysis of 114 Pedigrees of Renal Stone Patients: A Retrospective Review.

Background:  Renal and ureteric stones (RS) can form due to genetic, metabolic, environmental, and diet-hydration related factors. Studies have shown that patients with family history (FH) of RS have higher likelihood of recurrence.

Materials And Methods:  We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study on 114 pedigrees to investigate the impact of FH on recurrence of RS and examine patterns of inheritance.

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Short-Term Survival Analyses of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma.

Objective Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) arises from melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells in the skin. CMM constitutes less than 5% of all cutaneous malignancies worldwide but is associated with the highest mortality rate among all skin cancers. The objective of this study was to examine the profile of clinicopathological factors, survival analyses, recurrence rate, metastatic rates, and the management of CMM at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pregnancy outcomes and risk of placental malaria after artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: a WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Malaria in pregnancy, including asymptomatic infection, has a detrimental impact on foetal development. Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis was conducted to compare the association between antimalarial treatments and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including placental malaria, accompanied with the gestational age at diagnosis of uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection.

Methods: A systematic review and one-stage IPD meta-analysis of studies assessing the efficacy of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments for patent microscopic uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection (hereinafter uncomplicated falciparum malaria) in pregnancy was conducted.

Simultaneous X-ray Video-Fluoroscopy and Pulsed Ultrasound Velocimetry Analyses of the Pharyngeal Phase of Swallowing of Boluses with Different Rheological Properties.

The Ultrasound Velocity Profiling (UVP) technique allows real-time, non-invasive flow mapping of a fluid along a 1D-measuring line. This study explores the possibility of using the UVP technique and X-ray video-fluoroscopy (XVF) to elucidate the deglutition process with the focus on bolus rheology. By positioning the UVP probe so that the pulsed ultrasonic beam passes behind the air-filled trachea, the bolus flow in the pharynx can be measured.

Efficacy of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: a protocol for systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis.

Introduction: Pregnant women are more vulnerable to malaria leading to adverse impact on both mothers and fetuses. However, knowledge on the efficacy and safety of antimalarials in pregnancy is limited by the paucity of randomised control trials and the lack of standardised protocols in this special subpopulation. Pooling individual patient data (IPD) for meta-analysis could address in part these limitations to summarise accurately the currently available evidence on treatment efficacy and risk factors for treatment failure.

Malnutrition, Sepsis, and Tumor Lysis Syndrome Are Associated with Increased Rate of Acute Mortality in Mature B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in a Pediatric Population-Study from Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

Background: Outcomes of pediatric mature B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in resource-challenged countries are negatively affected by an increased rate of early and toxic deaths. Aim of this study is to assess the rate of acute mortality and define significant risk factors present in children with mature B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was done of patients with B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from January 2012 till December 2016.

Optimal Duration of Follow-up for Assessing Antimalarial Efficacy in Pregnancy: A Retrospective Analysis of a Cohort Followed Up Until Delivery on the Thailand-Myanmar Border.

Background: Follow-up for 28-42 days is recommended by the World Health Organization to assess antimalarial drug efficacy for nonpregnant populations. This study aimed to determine the optimal duration for pregnant women, as no specific guidance currently exists.

Methods: The distributions of time to recrudescence (treatment failure), confirmed by polymerase chain reaction genotyping for different antimalarial drugs in pregnancy, were analyzed by accelerated failure time models using secondary data on microscopically confirmed recurrent falciparum malaria collected in prospective studies on the Thailand-Myanmar border between 1994 and 2010.

The effect of dose on the antimalarial efficacy of artesunate-mefloquine against malaria: a protocol for systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis.

Introduction: Antimalarial posology based on weight bands leaves patients at the margins vulnerable to receiving either lower or higher weight-adjusted (mg/kg) dosages. This article aims to describe the protocol for systematic review and individual patient meta-analysis (MA) for a study of the distribution of artesunate and mefloquine dosage administered in patients with uncomplicated malaria treated with an artesunate-mefloquine (AS-MQ) regimen. Relationship between mg/kg dose and therapeutic outcomes will be assessed through a one-stage individual participant data (IPD) MA.

A Single Institution's Experience with Cytogenetic and MRD Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Objective: To determine the frequency of cytogenetic type and its significance in the prognostic outcome of the pediatric patients in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), aged 1 to 15 years, and also determine the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) in the management of the condition.

Study Design: An observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Pediatric Oncology Ward, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Lahore, from January 2015 to July 2017.

Fungal Infections In Paediatric Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia While On Induction Chemotherapy.

Background: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is one of the most common haematological malignancies seen in children. Despite steadily improving long-term outcomes, infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children receiving therapy for leukaemia. The incidence and risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) continue to rise.

Excellent Outcomes of Grey Zone Lymphoma: Case Series of Paediatric Patients Treated at a Single Centre.

Our objective was to review clinical presentation, treatment protocol used and its efficacy and effectiveness in patients of grey zone lymphoma during last 5 years at our centre. A retrospective chart review of children below 18 years of age was done from 2011 to 2016. A proforma was devised for this purpose and the findings of cases detected during the specified period were noted over it.

Morbidity and mortality outcomes in neonates who were transferred from home and hospitals to the only neonatal intensive care unit in Guinea: a descriptive report using routinely collected health data.

Background: The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for neonatal mortality has identified its reduction as one of the main targets to be achieved by 2030. We provide a descriptive report on neonatal outcomes from the only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Guinea.

Methods: Data collection took place between November 2004 and May 2005 at the NICU of the Institute of Child Health in the capital, Conakry.

Complex interactions between malaria and malnutrition: a systematic literature review.

Background: Despite substantial improvement in the control of malaria and decreased prevalence of malnutrition over the past two decades, both conditions remain heavy burdens that cause hundreds of thousands of deaths in children in resource-poor countries every year. Better understanding of the complex interactions between malaria and malnutrition is crucial for optimally targeting interventions where both conditions co-exist. This systematic review aimed to assess the evidence of the interplay between malaria and malnutrition.