Hydrogeochemical characteristics, source distribution, and health risk of high-fluoride groundwater in Swabi, Pakistan.

This paper evaluated fluoride (F) pollution in drinking groundwater sources, which causes severe fluorosis and other human health concerns in Swabi, Pakistan. We determined F concentration, prevalence, enrichment, distribution, and health hazards from water ingestion in Swabi, Pakistan. Therefore, 126 groundwater and 18 surface water samples were collected to analyze F and other geochemical tracers to understand groundwater enrichment and F mobilization in aquatic systems.

A novel homozygous missense variant in causes cone dystrophy in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Background: Cone dystrophy is a heterogeneous hereditary retinal disorder with disease symptoms appearing in the late first or early second decades of life.

Methods: A consanguineous Pakistani family with three affected individuals underwent detailed clinical and genetic investigation.

Results: The proband, a 63-years old male, showed severely reduced day vision, a visual acuity of counting fingers (CF), color vision deficiency, high myopia and photophobia.

Evaluating a rapid molecular assay in a mobile laboratory for improved diagnosis of dengue in Bangladesh.

Objectives: Dengue emerged as a significant health threat in endemic regions in recent years. However, inconsistent diagnostic accuracy in sequential dengue infections necessitate improved testing methods to ensure effective management of dengue cases. Here, we evaluated a portable, rapid, and sensitive molecular assay-reverse transcriptase recombinase polymerase amplification assay (RT-RAA)-utilizing a mobile suitcase laboratory to detect infections in suspected dengue cases in Bangladesh.

Impact of microbial activity on fluoride release from sediments in areas with high fluoride groundwater: Mechanisms, sources and the lithology diversity.

This study explores the interplay between microbial activity and sediment lithology in influencing fluoride release from sediments. Sediment samples, collected from Yuncheng Basin: a region known for significant groundwater fluoride contamination, exhibit fluoride concentrations well above the global average, ranging from 206.2 mg/kg to 780.

Identification of a novel first-generation HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF152_DG) among people living with HIV in Karachi, Pakistan.

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to characterize a novel circulating recombinant form of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) among people living with HIV in Karachi, Pakistan. We conducted near-full-length genome (NFLG) sequencing on eight samples exhibiting D/G recombination signals in the gene region. We successfully obtained NFLG sequences (790-9,614; with reference to the HXB2 genome) from four of the eight samples and then conducted phylogenetic and recombination analyses on them.

Integrated Approach to Hydrogeochemical Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Major Industrial Zone of Punjab, Pakistan.

Groundwater contamination with arsenic (As) is a significant concern in Pakistan's Punjab Province. This study analyzed 69 groundwater samples from Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Multan to understand hydrogeochemistry, health impacts, contamination sources, and drinking suitability. Results revealed varying as concentrations across districts, with distinctive cation and anion orders.

Occurrence of toxic elements in river areas along drains and groundwater resources: source of contamination and associated health risk.

The objective of the current research was to examine the water quality of the River Ravi and the River Sutlej, with a specific focus on potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Additionally, we sought to monitor the sources of pollution in these rivers by gathering samples from the primary drains that carry industrial and municipal waste into these water bodies. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of PTEs in surface water on groundwater quality by collecting groundwater samples from nearby populated areas.

Hydrogeochemical characteristics, stable isotopes, positive matrix factorization, source apportionment, and health risk of high fluoride groundwater in semiarid region.

Chronic exposure to high fluoride (F) levels in groundwater causes community fluorosis and non-carcinogenic health concerns in local people. This study described occurrence, dental fluorosis, and origin of high F-groundwater using δH and δO isotopes at semiarid Gilgit, Pakistan. Therefore, groundwater (n = 85) was collected and analyzed for F concentrations using ion-chromatography.

Distinct genetic clusters in HIV-1 CRF01_AE-infected patients induced variable degrees of CD4 T-cell loss.

Unlabelled: CRF01_AE strains have been shown to form multiple transmission clusters in China, and some clusters have disparate pathogenicity in Chinese men who have sex with men. This study focused on other CRF01_AE clusters prevalent in heterosexual populations. The CD4 T-cell counts from both cross-section data in National HIV Molecular Epidemiology Survey and seropositive cohort data were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the CRF01_AE clusters and other HIV-1 sub-types.

Hydrogeochemistry and prediction of arsenic contamination in groundwater of Vehari, Pakistan: comparison of artificial neural network, random forest and logistic regression models.

Arsenic contamination in the groundwater occurs in various parts of the world due to anthropogenic and natural sources, adversely affecting human health and ecosystems. The current study intends to examine the groundwater hydrogeochemistry containing elevated arsenic (As), predict As levels in groundwater, and determine the aptness of groundwater for drinking in the Vehari district, Pakistan. Four hundred groundwater samples from the study region were collected for physiochemical analysis.

Covid-19 Vaccine safety and adverse event analysis from Pakistan.

Covid immunization commenced on 2nd Feb 2021 in Pakistan and as of 7th Sep 2021, over 84 million vaccine doses were administered in Pakistan, of which 72% procured by the government, 22% received through Covax and 6% were donated. The vaccines rolled out nationally included: Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSinoBIO (China), AstraZeneca (UK), Moderna and Pfizer (USA), Sputnik (Russia), and PakVac (China/Pakistan). About half of the eligible population in Pakistan (63 m) had received at least one dose of Covid vaccine as of Sep 2021.

Integrated approach to hydrogeochemical appraisal of groundwater quality concerning arsenic contamination and its suitability analysis for drinking purposes using water quality index.

Arsenic (As), contamination in drinking groundwater resources is commonly environmental problem in many developing countries including Pakistan, with significant human health risk reports. In order to examine the groundwater quality concerning As contamination, its geochemical behavior along with physicochemical parameters, 42 samples were collected from community tube wells from District Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. The results showed the concentration of elevated As, its source of mobilization, and associated public health risk.

Characterization of HIV-1 CRF02_AG/A3/G unique recombinant forms identified among children in Larkana, Pakistan.

Co-circulation of different human immunodeficiency virus type 1 HIV-1 subtypes among infected populations can lead to the generation of new recombinants. In Pakistan, subtype A1 and CRF02_AG are the dominant strains circulating among key populations. The high prevalence of new HIV infections among the key populations highlights the possibility of recombination between the dominant strains, which can lead to the generation of new recombinants.

The spectrum of opportunistic infections and malignancies among women on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia.

AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome; CI: confidence interval; EPHI: Ethiopian Public Health Institute; HAART: highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; HR: hazard ratio; Mg/dl: milligram per deciliter; TB: tuberculosis; PCP: pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; ZJU: Zhejiang University.

Geochemical control, water quality indexing, source distribution, and potential health risk of fluoride and arsenic in groundwater: Occurrence, sources apportionment, and positive matrix factorization model.

Fluoride (F), and arsenic (As) in the groundwater cause health problems in developing countries, including Pakistan. We evaluated the occurrence, distribution, sources apportionment, and health hazards of F, and As in the groundwater of Mardan, Pakistan. Therefore, groundwater samples (n = 130) were collected and then analyzed for F, and As by ion-chromatography (IC) and Inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS).

HIV-1 Disease Progression and Drug Resistance Mutations among Children on First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopia.

High rates of disease progression and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) among adults taking highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in Sub-Saharan Africa were previously documented. However, children were generally not considered despite their greater risk. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate HIV-1 disease progression and drug resistance mutation among children on first-line antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia.

Potentially toxic metals contamination, health risk, and source apportionment in the agricultural soils around industrial areas, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, India: a multivariate statistical approach.

Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) contamination in the soil poses a serious danger to people's health by direct or indirect exposure, and generally it occurs by consuming food grown in these soils. The present study assessed the pollution levels and risk to human health upon sustained exposure to PTM concentrations in the area's centuries-old glass industry clusters of the city of Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Soil sampling (0-15 cm) was done in farmers' fields within a 1 km radius of six industrial clusters.

A Novel Intronic Deletion in PDE6B Causes Autosomal Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa by Interfering with RNA Splicing.

Introduction: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare degenerative retinal disease caused by mutations in approximately seventy genes. Currently, despite the availability of large-scale DNA sequencing technologies, ∼30-40% of patients still cannot be diagnosed at the molecular level. In this study, we investigated a novel intronic deletion of PDE6B, encoding the beta subunit of phosphodiesterase 6 in association with recessive RP.

A novel homozygous missense substitution p.Thr313Ile in the PDE6B gene underlies autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most frequent hereditary retinal diseases that often starts with night blindness and eventually leads to legal blindness. Our study aimed to identify the underlying genetic cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Methods: Following a detailed ophthalmological examination of the patients by an ophthalmologist, whole-exome sequencing was performed on the proband's DNA to delineate the genetic cause of RP in the family.

Groundwater Quality, Health Risk Assessment, and Source Distribution of Heavy Metals Contamination around Chromite Mines: Application of GIS, Sustainable Groundwater Management, Geostatistics, PCAMLR, and PMF Receptor Model.

Groundwater contamination by heavy metals (HMs) released by weathering and mineral dissolution of granite, gneisses, ultramafic, and basaltic rock composition causes human health concerns worldwide. This paper evaluated the heavy metals (HMs) concentrations and physicochemical variables of groundwater around enriched chromite mines of Malakand, Pakistan, with particular emphasis on water quality, hydro-geochemistry, spatial distribution, geochemical speciation, and human health impacts. To better understand the groundwater hydrogeochemical profile and HMs enrichment, groundwater samples were collected from the mining region (n = 35), non-mining region (n = 20), and chromite mines water (n = 5) and then analyzed using ICPMS (Agilent 7500 ICPMS).

Universal HIV testing and the impact of late diagnosis on disease stage among adults in urban Ethiopia.

Background: Treatment as prevention evolved into the universal HIV test-and-treat (UTT) strategy, which entails testing to the general population and treatment to every people living with HIV. We investigated universal testing (UT) performance and its determinants in urban Ethiopia and explore magnitude of late diagnosis and its impact on disease stages.

Method: We used data from the Ethiopia Population Based HIV Impact assessment (EPHIA), conducted in 2017/2018 which was a cross-sectional and household-based study.

Survival and Predictors of Mortality among Adults Initiating Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study (2007-2019).

Background: Studies have shown high early mortality after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We examined change in three-year survival and predictors of mortality of patients initiating HAART in Ethiopia since 2007 to 2019.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 47 health facilities (HFs) using records of 11,013 adult patients initiating HAART from 2007 to 2019.