A highly optimized and sensitive bowtie shape-based SPR biosensor for different analyte detection.

With advancements in photonic technologies, photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) have become crucial components in developing highly sensitive and efficient biosensors. This paper presents an optimized bowtie-shaped PCF biosensor that leverages surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena for enhanced refractive index (RI) sensing. The proposed design uses an external sensing mechanism to effectively characterize performance across an RI range of 1.

Bioremediation of dissolved organic compounds in produced water from oil and gas operations using Chlorella sorokiniana: a sustainable approach.

The sustainable treatment of petroleum-derived produced water (PW), a significant byproduct of oil and gas extraction, presents a persistent problem due to the presence of organic pollutants. This study examines the potential of the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana (C. sorokiniana) for the bioremediation of dissolved organic pollutants in PW.

Municipal Solid and Plastic Waste Co-pyrolysis Towards Sustainable Renewable Fuel and Carbon Materials: A Comprehensive Review.

The substantial rise in global energy demand, propelled by industrial expansion, population growth, and transportation needs, poses a formidable challenge. The concurrent urbanization places pressure on the disposal of solid municipal solid waste and the management of plastic waste. Addressing the global waste crisis requires innovative and sustainable garbage disposal solutions with an environmentally friendly approach.

Efflux pump gene single-nucleotide variants associated with resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with discrepant drug genotypes.

Introduction: Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) genomes can predict multidrug resistance (MDR) but not all phenotype-genotype correlations can be explained. We investigated SNVs in efflux pumps (EPs) in the context of M.

Tumefactive Crohn's Disease Mimicking Colon Carcinoma in a Young Female: A Case Report.

Tumefactive Crohn's disease is a rare form of Crohn's disease that may mimic colon carcinoma macroscopically. This case report describes a 28-year-old female who presented with right-sided abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass that had persisted for over a month. Multiple hospitalizations failed to provide an accurate diagnosis until an exploratory laparotomy revealed that the "mass" was the cecum and a perforated ascending colon.

Shotgun metagenomics and computational profiling of the plastisphere microbiome: unveiling the potential of enzymatic production and plastic degradation.

Plastic pollution is one of the most resilient types of pollution and is considered a global environmental threat, particularly in the marine environment. This study aimed to identify plastic-degrading bacteria from the plastisphere and their pharmaceutical and therapeutic potential. We collected samples from soil and aquatic plastisphere to identify the bacterial communities using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatic tools.

Comparative evaluation of low-cost ceramic membrane and polymeric micro membrane in algal membrane photobioreactor for wastewater treatment.

Algal-bacterial membrane photobioreactor (AMPBR) is proven as a highly energy-efficient process for treating domestic wastewater. This study compared the application of polymeric micro-membrane (PMM) and a low-cost ceramic membrane (LCM) to the AMPBR process for treating domestic wastewater with low and high organic pollution levels. Experiments were conducted over 57 days using two PMM-AMPBRs and two LCM-AMPBRs, operating on a 12-h dark/light cycle in a continuous mode.

From Fibroids to Fasciitis: A Rare Case of Necrotizing Fasciitis Post-Abdominal Hysterectomy.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening bacterial infection characterized by rapid tissue destruction and systemic inflammation. Although it is rare, it can occur at surgical incision sites in procedures such as open abdominal hysterectomy. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent sepsis and multi-organ failure.

Whole-genome sequencing reveals genotypic resistance in phenotypically susceptible clinical isolates.

Background: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex strains have revealed insights about genetic variants associated with drug resistance (DR). Rapid genome-based diagnostics are being sought for specific and sensitive identification of DR; however, correct prediction of resistance genotypes requires both informatics tools and understanding of available evidence. We analyzed WGS datasets from phenotypically susceptible MTB strains using MTB resistance identification software.

Ceftriaxone resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A identified in a case of enteric fever: first case report from Pakistan.

Background: Enteric fever is an acute systemic infectious disease associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), with a global burden of 14.3 million cases. Cases of enteric fever or paratyphoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A (S.

A rare case of duodenal angiodysplasia-a case report.

Gastrointestinal bleeding can be manifested as a variety of symptoms and, often, it is difficult to classify as upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding on mere symptomatology. This is a case report of a similar kind of patient who initially was diagnosed with fresh per rectum bleeding, subsequently diagnosed as bleeding angiodysplasia in duodenal diverticulum by a series of investigations and management including urgent oesophageal-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD), laparotomy, followed by computerized tomography-angiogram. As diagnosis was established after laparotomy, the patient was kept intubated and IR selective embolization was performed.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella isolated from food products in the region of Casablanca, Morocco.

Introduction: Salmonellosis is a foodborne bacterial disease responsible for food epidemics around the world. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and diversity of Salmonella serotypes in several food products isolated at the Casablanca Regional Analysis and Research Laboratory and to test their resistance to different antimicrobials.

Methodology: The isolation and identification of Salmonella were performed according to Moroccan standard 08.

An extremely rare complication of intestinal stoma formation: parastomal evisceration 1-year post-loop ileostomy.

Intestinal stoma formation is an important and frequently performed procedure in emergency and elective general surgery. Parastomal evisceration is an extremely rare complication of stoma formation. The literature to date consists of a small number of case reports only.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma-a diagnostic challenge.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer originating primarily from the peritoneum with a poor prognosis and non-specific clinical presentation. We present a case of a 60-year-old male, retired metallurgy engineer who initially presented with shortness of breath, lethargy, weight loss, vague abdominal pain and night sweats. Extensive workup for almost 2 months finally leads to the diagnosis of primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma based on immunohistochemical analysis of loss of BAP1 .

Fouling and Performance Investigation of Membrane Distillation at Elevated Recoveries for Seawater Desalination and Wastewater Reclamation.

This study reports on the impact of elevated recovery (i.e., 80%, 85%, and 90%) on the fouling and performance of air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) with real seawater and landfill leachate wastewater samples using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer membranes.

Assessment of CO biofixation and bioenergy potential of microalga through its biomass pyrolysis, and elucidation of pyrolysis reaction kinetics modeling and artificial neural network.

This study investigates CO biofixation and pyrolytic kinetics of microalga using model-fitting and model-free methods. Microalga was grown in two different media. The highest rate of CO fixation (0.

Evolutionary history and introduction of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha VOC/B.1.1.7 in Pakistan through international travelers.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continue to emerge, and their identification is important for the public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Genomic sequencing provides robust information but may not always be accessible, and therefore, mutation-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approaches can be used for rapid identification of known variants. International travelers arriving in Karachi between December 2020 and February 2021 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR.

Variants associated with Bedaquiline (BDQ) resistance identified in Rv0678 and efflux pump genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from BDQ naïve TB patients in Pakistan.

Background: Mutations in the Rv0678, pepQ and atpE genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) have been reported to be associated with reduced antimycobacterial susceptibility to bedaquiline (BDQ). Resistance conferring mutations in treatment naïve MTB strains is likely to have implications for BDQ based new drug regimen that aim to shorten treatment duration. We therefore investigated the genetic basis of resistance to BDQ in MTB clinical isolates from BDQ naïve TB patients from Pakistan.

Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio between benign and malignant thyroid nodule.

Objectives: To determine the relationship of Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) values with the benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods: In this cross-sectional clinical study conducted from September 1 2020 to February 28 2021, we included 216 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi Pakistan. After thyroidectomy specimens were sent for pathologic examination.

Lipid A-Ara4N as an alternate pathway for (colistin) resistance in Klebsiella pneumonia isolates in Pakistan.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore mechanism of colistin resistance amongst Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates through plasmid mediated mcr-1 gene in Pakistan. Carbapenem and Colistin resistant K. pneumoniae isolates (n  = 34) stored at - 80 °C as part of the Aga Khan University Clinical Laboratory strain bank were randomly selected and subjected to mcr-1 gene PCR.

Upregulated type I interferon responses in asymptomatic COVID-19 infection are associated with improved clinical outcome.

Understanding key host protective mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection can help improve treatment modalities for COVID-19. We used a blood transcriptome approach to study biomarkers associated with differing severity of COVID-19, comparing severe and mild Symptomatic disease with Asymptomatic COVID-19 and uninfected Controls. There was suppression of antigen presentation but upregulation of inflammatory and viral mRNA translation associated pathways in Symptomatic as compared with Asymptomatic cases.

Hybrid support vector regression and crow search algorithm for modeling and multiobjective optimization of microalgae-based wastewater treatment.

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment (and biomass production) is an environmentally benign and energetically efficient technique as compared to traditional practices. The present study is focused on optimization of the major treatment variables such as temperature, light-dark cycle (LD), and nitrogen (N)-to-phosphate (P) ratio (N/P) for the elimination of N and P from tertiary municipal wastewater utilizing Chlorella kessleri microalgae species. In this regard, a hybrid support vector regression (SVR) technique integrated with the crow search algorithm has been applied as a novel modeling/optimization tool.

Higher entropy observed in SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the first COVID-19 wave in Pakistan.

Background: We investigated the genome diversity of SARS-CoV-2 associated with the early COVID-19 period to investigate evolution of the virus in Pakistan.

Materials And Methods: We studied ninety SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated between March and October 2020. Whole genome sequences from our laboratory and available genomes were used to investigate phylogeny, genetic variantion and mutation rates of SARS-CoV-2 strains in Pakistan.

Kinetics of Oxidative Cracking of n-Hexane to Light Olefins using Lattice Oxygen of a VO /SrO-γAl O Catalyst.

The kinetics of oxidative cracking of n-hexane to light olefins using the lattice oxygen of VO /SrO-γAl O catalysts has been investigated. Kinetic experiments were conducted in a CREC Riser Simulator (CERC: Chemical Reactor Engineering Center), which mimics fluidized bed reactors. The catalyst's performance is partly attributed to the moderate interaction between active VO species and the SrO-γAl O support.