An Analysis of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) Performed at the Institute of Kidney Disease, Pakistan: Stone Clearance and Complications.

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the preferred treatment for large renal stones, yet variability in outcomes arises from patient-specific factors and institutional practices. Understanding complications and predictors of success is essential to improving procedural efficacy.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate stone clearance rates, complications classified using the Clavien-Dindo system, and predictors of PCNL outcomes, with a focus on improving lower calyx stone clearance.

Investigating the Effects of Nosocomial Infection Among Acute Leukemia Patients: Insights From the 2020 National Inpatient Sample.

Background: Rising nosocomial infections pose high risks, especially for immunocompromised leukemia patients, necessitating targeted research to enhance patient care and outcomes.The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of nosocomial infections (CDI) on patients hospitalized with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods: Our study was a retrospective analysis of adult patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of ALL or AML, using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for 2020.

Effects of functionalized nanoplastics on oxidative stress in the mussel Mytilus coruscus.

In the marine environment, various weathering effects on micro or nanoplastics lead to surface modifications, which in turn alter their toxic effects on aquatic organisms. This study investigated the impact of three types of nanoplastics (NPs, NPs-NH, NPs-COOH) on the antioxidant capacity of Mytilus coruscus gills, mantle, and hemolymph over 28 days. Analyzed key antioxidant stress indicators (CAT, SOD, GSH, GSH-Px, MDA, HO) and conducted IBR and PCA analyses to evaluate the toxic effects of modified nanoplastics.

Design of dual peak star shaped metamaterial absorber for S and C band sensing applications.

This paper presents the detailed design configuration and investigation of a small-scale dual-band metamaterial absorber (MTMA) for solid and liquid sensing applications. The overall dimension of the MTMA unit cell is 10 × 10 × 1.57 mm and constitutes an affordable FR-4 substrate.

Impact of Cachexia on Chemotherapy Efficacy and Survival in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objective: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, with limited curative options and high rates of cachexia, a debilitating syndrome associated with poor prognosis. While previous research has linked sarcopenia to poor outcomes in PC, the correlation between cachexia and treatment outcomes remains underexplored. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the association between cachexia and overall survival and time to treatment failure in advanced PC patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy.

Enhancing agricultural sustainability through optimization of the slaughterhouse sludge compost for elimination of parasites and coliforms.

For a sustainable ecology, slaughterhouse sludge must be managed effectively in preview of the parasitic or coliforms' spill over to the community. In order to determine the effectiveness of a customized biological decomposer solution in lowering the parasitic eggs and coliform bacteria, three composting units (Unit 1, Unit 2, and Unit 3) were treated with its different amounts. Over a period of 60 days, pH, temperature, humidity, number of the parasitic eggs per gram (EPG) of faecal material, viability of eggs, and coliform counts were evaluated.

The changing landscape of geriatric care in acute myeloid leukemia: a 5-year analysis of inpatient mortality predictors, trends in mortality, and chemotherapy use.

Background: This study examined inpatient mortality factors in geriatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using data from the 2016 to 2020 National Inpatient Sample.

Methods: Identifying patients through ICD-10 codes, a total of 127,985 individuals with AML were classified into age categories as follows: 50.58% were 65 to 74 years, 37.

Double Trouble: COVID-19 Infection Exacerbates Sickle Cell Crisis Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients-Insights from National Inpatient Sample 2020.

This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on patients with sickle cell crisis (SCC) using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data for the year 2020. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted utilizing International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes to identify adults who were admitted with a principal diagnosis of sickle cell crisis. The primary outcomes examined were inpatient mortality, while the secondary outcomes assessed included morbidity, hospital length of stay, and resource utilization.

Bio-based microplastic polylactic acid exerts the similar toxic effects to traditional petroleum-based microplastic polystyrene in mussels.

Microplastics (MPs) have accumulated in the oceans, causing adverse effects on marine organisms and the environment. Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) is considered as an excellent substitute for traditional petroleum-based plastics, but it is difficult to degrade completely and easily become MPs in the marine environment. To test the ecological risk of bio-based PLA, we exposed thick-shelled mussels (Mytilus coruscus) to bio-based PLA and petroleum-based polystyrene (PS) (at 10, 10, and 10 particles/L) for 14 days.

A multi-objective optimisation approach with improved pareto-optimal solutions to enhance economic and environmental dispatch in power systems.

This work implements the recently developed nth state Markovian jumping particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm with local search (NS-MJPSOloc) awareness method to address the economic/environmental dispatch (EED) problem. The proposed approach, known as the Non-dominated Sorting Multi-objective PSO with Local Best (NS-MJPSOloc), aims to enhance the performance of the PSO algorithm in multi-objective optimisation problems. This is achieved by redefining the concept of best local candidates within the search space of multi-objective optimisation.

Pros and cons of live kidney donation in prediabetics: A critical review and way forward.

There is shortage of organs, including kidneys, worldwide. Along with deceased kidney transplantation, there is a significant rise in live kidney donation. The prevalence of prediabetes (PD), including impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance, is on the rise across the globe.

Predictive Ability of LRINEC Score for Lower Extremity Amputation in Moderate to Severe Diabetic Foot Infection.

Objective: To assess the predictive ability of the laboratory risk indicator for necrotising fasciitis (LRINEC) score for lower extremity amputation in patients with moderate to severe diabetic foot infection (DFI).

Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from June to September 2023.

Evaluating Transperineal Prostate Biopsies Performed by a New Operator: A Prospective Clinical Audit at Dorset County Hospital.

Introduction The transperineal (TP) approach for prostate biopsy offers advantages such as a low risk of infection, the ability to target lesions in difficult locations, and a rapid acquisition of proficiency. This prospective clinical audit aims to evaluate the outcomes and patient experiences of TP prostate biopsies performed by a new operator to determine the feasibility of adopting the TP biopsy as the primary method for prostate evaluations. Methods The study included all patients who underwent a TP prostate biopsy from August 1 to September 30, 2022, at Dorset County Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust.

Cross enclosed square split ring resonator based on D.N.G. metamaterial absorber for X-band glucose sensing application.

This article presents a novel real-time meta-material (MM) sensor based on a non-invasive method that operates in microwave frequency ranges at 8.524 GHz to measure blood glucose levels with quality factor 184 is designed and fabricated. A cross enclosed between two square shapes produces a strong interaction between glucose samples and electromagnetic waves.

Late thrombosis of Gore Cardioform septal occluder device in a patient with history of patent foramen ovale closure.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a flaplike opening in the fossa ovalis; between the septum primum and secundum. It is highly prevalent with approximately 25% of the population having a PFO. It is usually asymptomatic but can rarely cause paradoxical embolism leading to stroke and/or significant right to left shunting causing hypoxia.

Independent predictors of mortality and 5-year trends in mortality and resource utilization in hospitalized patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Background: This retrospective study analyzed factors influencing all-cause inpatient mortality in 80,930 adult patients (2016-2020) with diffuse large B cell lymphoma using the National Inpatient Sample database.

Methods: Utilizing ICD-10 codes, patients were identified, and statistical analysis was conducted using STATA. Fisher's exact and Student's tests compared proportions and variables, multivariate logistic regression examined mortality predictors, and a 5-year longitudinal analysis identified mortality and resource utilization trends.

Efficacy and safety of thermobalancing therapy with Dr Allen's Device for chronic low back pain: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation and non-specific low back pain are common conditions that seriously affect patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although empirical evidence has demonstrated that novel Thermobalancing therapy and Dr Allen's Device can relieve chronic low back pain, there have been no randomised controlled trials for these indications.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of Dr Allen's Device in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and non-specific low back pain (NSLBP).

Outcome of Neuromuscular Electrodiagnostic Testing in Children.

This study aimed to describe the spectrum of the results of neuromuscular electrodiagnostic investigations performed by age and pathology in paediatric patients. This retrospective observational study took place from January 2019 to December 2021. Electrodiagnostic records of paediatric patients (birth to 15 years) were referred to the electromyography (EMG) laboratory for EMG and nerve conduction study (NCS).

Effectiveness of Distal Sodium Channel Block in Managing Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To find the effectiveness of distal sodium channel blocks in managing lumbosacral radicular syndrome.

Study Design: Open-labelled, non-randomised, single-group, prospective, pilot study. Place and Duration of the Study: Pain Clinic of Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFIRM) Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to June 2022.