Surveillance, anticoagulation, or filter in calf vein thrombosis.

Objective: This study compared the efficacy and complication rates of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters for calf vein thrombosis (CVT) vs conservative treatment with or without anticoagulation.

Methods: Vascular laboratory studies of patients who had an isolated CVT (anterior and posterior tibialis, peroneal, soleal, and gastrocnemius veins) from April 2009 to January 2014 were retrospectively analyzed from a single institution. Of 647 patients with isolated CVT, 285 (44%) received an IVC filter, and 362 (56%) received medical treatment alone (38.

New Developments in Interventional Oncology: Liver Metastases From Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Although hepatic excision is the first-line treatment for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), few patients are candidates. Locoregional therapy (LRT) encompasses minimally invasive techniques practiced by interventional radiology.

A systematic review of the prognostic value of lymph node ratio, number of positive nodes and total nodes examined in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common pancreatic cancer. Five-year overall survival is currently 3.3-6.

The structural, morphological and thermal properties of grafted pH-sensitive interpenetrating highly porous polymeric composites of sodium alginate/acrylic acid copolymers for controlled delivery of diclofenac potassium.

In present investigation new formulations of Sodium Alginate/Acrylic acid hydrogels with high porous structure were synthesized by free radical polymerization technique for the controlled drug delivery of analgesic agent to colon. Many structural parameters like molecular weight between crosslinks ( ), crosslink density ( ), volume interaction parameter ( ), Flory Huggins water interaction parameter and diffusion coefficient () were calculated. Water uptake studies was conducted in different USP phosphate buffer solutions.

Serotonin and arginine-vasopressin mediate sex differences in the regulation of dominance and aggression by the social brain.

There are profound sex differences in the incidence of many psychiatric disorders. Although these disorders are frequently linked to social stress and to deficits in social engagement, little is known about sex differences in the neural mechanisms that underlie these phenomena. Phenotypes characterized by dominance, competitive aggression, and active coping strategies appear to be more resilient to psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with those characterized by subordinate status and the lack of aggressiveness.

Prospective study of avian influenza H9 infection in commercial poultry farms of Punjab Province and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan.

A prospective study was conducted from November 2013 to February 2014 to estimate the spatial clustering; cumulative incidence and risk factors associated with avian influenza (AI) subtype H9 infection on commercial poultry farms of Pakistan. A total of 400 farms were enrolled and followed during the study period. Among these, 109 farms submitted samples suspected for AI to the laboratory, and only 47 farms were confirmed positive by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) test.

Water Pipe (shisha) Use and Legislation Awareness Against Shisha Smoking Among Medical Students: A study from Karachi, Pakistan.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of shisha smoking; its associated factors and awareness among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan following the imposition of nationwide shisha ban. A cross sectional study was conducted among medical students of two medical universities, namely Sindh Medical College and Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan from October till December 2014. A total of 422 participants were included.

Enhanced mechanical, thermal and antimicrobial properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide/starch/silver nanocomposites films.

In the present work, synthesis of poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide/starch/silver (PVA/GO/Starch/Ag) nanocomposites films is reported. Such films have been characterized and investigated for their mechanical, thermal and antimicrobial properties. The exfoliation of GO in the PVA matrix occurs owing to the non-covalent interactions of the polymer chains of PVA and hydrophilic surface of the GO layers.

Behavioral effects of Citrus limon and Punica granatum combinations in rats.

Dietary supplements are becoming more influential as viable treatment for common chronic diseases and to promote normal development and functions of all system including brain. Disorders like anxiety and depression may be managed through healthier variations is dietary pattern, since there are indications that diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins diminish anxiety and depression. Hence this investigation was planned to assess the behavioral effects of Citrus limon and Punica granatum in two combination doses i.

Routes of early enteral nutrition following oesophagectomy.

Introduction Oesophagectomy for cancer is a challenging procedure with a five-year overall survival rate of 15-20%. Early enteral nutrition following oesophagectomy is a crucial component of the postoperative recovery and carries a significant impact on the outcome. Different methods of enteral feeding were conducted in our unit.

Use of Resting Non-hyperemic Indices for Avoidance of Fractional Flow Reserve Measurement: The Goal of 100% Accuracy.

Objectives: Recent studies have suggested that fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement can be avoided by using similar ranges of baseline mean coronary pressure (Pd) to mean aortic pressure (Pa) ratio (0.88-0.95).

LOW BONE MINERAL DENSITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.

Background: Osteoporosis is an early and common feature in rheumatoid arthritis. Apart from other manifestations, Osteoporosis is an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis whichmay result in increased risk of fractures, morbidity mortality, and associated healthcare costs. This study evaluates bone mineral density changes in patients withrheumatoid arthritis of recent-onset.

Liquid crystals based sensing platform-technological aspects.

In bulk phase, liquid crystalline molecules are organized due to non-covalent interactions and due to delicate nature of the present forces; this organization can easily be disrupted by any small external stimuli. This delicate nature of force balance in liquid crystals organization forms the basis of Liquid-crystals based sensing scheme which has been exploited by many researchers for the optical visualization and sensing of many biological interactions as well as detection of number of analytes. In this review, we present not only an overview of the state of the art in liquid crystals based sensing scheme but also highlight its limitations.

A rapid phenotyping method for adult plant resistance to leaf rust in wheat.

Background: Leaf rust (LR), caused by Puccinia triticina and is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The most sustainable method for controlling rust diseases is deployment of cultivars incorporating adult plant resistance (APR).

Anticoagulant, antiplatelet and antianemic effects of Punica granatum (pomegranate) juice in rabbits.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is a good source of minerals and phytochemicals with diverse pharmacological activities such as anxiolytic, antidepressant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Effects of P.

G-Protein-Coupled Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptors and Their Regulation of AKT Signaling.

A hallmark of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is their ability to recognize and respond to chemically diverse ligands. Lysophospholipids constitute a relatively recent addition to these ligands and carry out their biological functions by activating G-proteins coupled to a large family of cell-surface receptors. This review aims to highlight salient features of cell signaling by one class of these receptors, known as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors, in the context of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway activation.

Can contracted out health facilities improve access, equity, and quality of maternal and newborn health services? Evidence from Pakistan.

Background: The case of contracting out government health services to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been weak for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services, with documented gains being mainly in curative services. We present an in-depth assessment of the comparative advantages of contracting out on MNCH access, quality, and equity, using a case study from Pakistan.

Methods: An end-line, cross-sectional assessment was conducted of government facilities contracted out to a large national NGO and government-managed centres serving as controls, in two remote rural districts of Pakistan.

l-Cysteine improves antioxidant enzyme activity, post-thaw quality and fertility of Nili-Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.

The effects of l-cysteine in extender on antioxidant enzymes profile during cryopreservation, post-thaw quality parameters and in vivo fertility of Nili-Ravi buffalo bull spermatozoa were studied. Semen samples from 4 buffalo bulls were diluted in Tris-citric acid-based extender having different concentrations of l-cysteine (0.0, 0.

Locoregional Therapies for Primary and Secondary Hepatic Malignancies.

Management of hepatic malignancies is a multidisciplinary task with the involvement of hepatologists, medical/surgical oncologists, transplant surgeons, and interventional radiologists. The patients should be selected for a specific targeted therapy after multidisciplinary consensus. Interventional oncology has established its role in the management of hepatic malignancies.

Trehalose improves semen antioxidant enzymes activity, post-thaw quality, and fertility in Nili Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Our objectives were to study the effect of trehalose in extender on (1) antioxidant enzymes profile during cryopreservation (after dilution, before freezing, and after thawing), (2) in vitro quality (after thawing), and (3) in vivo fertility of Nili Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa. Semen samples (n = 20) from four buffalo bulls were diluted in Tris-citric acid-based extender having different concentrations of trehalose (0.0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mM) and frozen in French straws.

TRAIL and targeting cancer cells: between promises and obstacles.

Targeting cancer cells is one of the challenges of current treatment strategies. TRAIL represents a promising therapeutic approach and over the past decades there was an increased interest in targeting TRAIL signaling to treat cancer. Indeed, TRAIL can specifically target cancer cells and exhibits very low cytotoxicity towards normal cells.

From Eye Drops to ICU, a Case Report of Three Side Effects of Ophthalmic Timolol Maleate in the Same Patient.

Timolol Maleate (also called Timolol) is a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocker and a class II antiarrhythmic drug, which is used to treat intraocular hypertension. It has been reported to cause systemic side effects especially in elderly patients with other comorbidities. These side effects are due to systemic absorption of the drug and it is known that Timolol is measurable in the serum following ophthalmic use.

Frequency of low bone mineral density in spondyloarthropathy presenting at a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: To determine the frequency and risk factors of low bone mineral density in patients with spondyloarthropathies.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology Department of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi between June and November 2014, and comprised spondyloarthritis patients whose bone mineral density of lumbar spine and hips was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Variables like disease duration, diagnosis, human leukocyte antigen subtype B27, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity Index, Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index, Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index were measured along with outcomes, differentiating between osteopenia and/or osteoporosis.

Functional Connectivity Alterations in Epilepsy from Resting-State Functional MRI.

The study of functional brain connectivity alterations induced by neurological disorders and their analysis from resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rfMRI) is generally considered to be a challenging task. The main challenge lies in determining and interpreting the large-scale connectivity of brain regions when studying neurological disorders such as epilepsy. We tackle this challenging task by studying the cortical region connectivity using a novel approach for clustering the rfMRI time series signals and by identifying discriminant functional connections using a novel difference statistic measure.