Phase-Engineered Dichalcogenides/Fluorine-Free VCT (T = OH, O) Heterostructures for pH-Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

This research addresses the pH-dependency limitation in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) by creating heterostructures through the chemical bonding between 2D-dichalcogenides and VCT (T = OH, O) planes. The one-step solvothermal synthesis employed in this study constructs a synergistically interacted 1T phase of, e.g.

The Clinical Outcome of Early Periprosthetic Joint Infections Caused by and Managed by Surgical Debridement in an Era of Increasing Resistance.

Introduction: A risk factor for the failure of surgical debridement in patients with early periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) is the presence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most isolated microorganisms in PJI and is associated with emerging resistance patterns. We aimed to assess the antibiotic resistance patterns of in early PJIs treated with surgical debridement and correlate them to clinical outcomes.

A flexible and sensitive electrochemical sensing platform based on dimethyl sulfoxide modified carbon cloth: towards the detection of dopamine and carvedilol.

The determination of neurotransmitters and adrenoreceptor drugs is highly essential due to their specific functions in the human body. In this work, the determination of carvedilol (CAR) and dopamine (DA) was carried out using carbon cloth (CC), which was modified using a facile strategy of drop-casting dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). This induced the formation of functional groups without any loss in the structural integrity of CC.

Ru-W modified graphitic carbon nitride by a monomer complexation synthesis approach from a tailored polyoxometalate: towards electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide released by cells.

Detection of hydrogen peroxide (HO) from cell cultures is important for monitoring different diseases. Here, g-CN (gCN) was incorporated into well-defined clusters of RuW (RuW-gCN) through monomer complexation of Ru-substituted phosphotungstate and melamine for electrochemical detection of HO. RuW-gCN exhibited enhanced electrochemical sensing properties in comparison to its constituents due to the synergic effects between RuW and gCN.

Lifting the Mask on Musculoskeletal Manifestations of COVID-19: Results of an Interview-Based Study.

Background: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is considered a multi-system disease that might present with or develop complications during the acute phase of illness. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of musculoskeletal (MSK) manifestations in patients with COVID-19 infection and investigate their clinical correlations.

Methods: This study was carried out on 110 patients with a history of RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Pharmacogenetics of induction therapy-related toxicities in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with UKALL 2003 protocol.

Chemotherapy related toxicities have been the major factor limiting the success of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) induction therapy. Several factors, including the pharmacogenetics of asparaginase and anthracyclines, could contribute to difference in treatment outcome in ALL. We investigated the significance of variations in genes involved in hepatic and cardiac toxicity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Genetic Contribution to Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common congenital problems in neonates. The basis for CHD is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental components. The elucidation of genetic components remains difficult because it is a genetically heterogeneous disease.

Genetic risk score (GRS) constructed from polymorphisms in the PON1, IL-6, ITGB3, and ALDH2 genes is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease in Pakistani subjects.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major killer in today's world. Pakistan is also affected by this non-communicable disease like other countries. It is a multifactorial disease and is influenced by many gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.

GWAS implicated risk variants in different genes contribute additively to increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Pakistani subjects.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the single most important cause of mortality worldwide. Many candidate and GWAS genetic variants have been identified in the recent years. In the current study, we selected six SNPs from various genes that have originally been identified in GWAS studies and examined the association of SNPs individually and as a genetic risk score (GRS) with CAD and blood lipid levels in the Pakistani subjects.

Common variants in the genes of triglyceride and HDL-C metabolism lack association with coronary artery disease in the Pakistani subjects.

Background: Serum Triglyceride (TG) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels are modifiable coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. Polymorphisms in the genes regulating TG and HDL-C levels contribute to the development of CAD. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of four such single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the genes for Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) (rs328, rs1801177), Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) (rs66279) and Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) (rs708272) on HDL-C and TG levels and to examine the association of these SNPs with CAD risk.

rs3751812, a common variant in fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, is associated with serum high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Pakistani individuals.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a common variant of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene, rs3751812 in obese Pakistani individuals, compare this effect with nonobese controls of the same ethnicity, and then correlate it with serum lipid profile and anthropometric parameters.

Methods: We genotyped 475 samples using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and high- (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were measured.

Association of the leptin receptor Gln223 Arg polymorphism with lipid profile in obese Pakistani subjects.

Objective: Leptin receptor gene (LEPR) encodes a receptor for leptin hormone expressed in hypothalamus and single nucleotide polymorphisms in LEPR may have a considerable effect on obesity phenotype. The aim of this study was to investigate an extensively studied LEPR polymorphism Gln223 Arg in a Pakistani study group and its association patterns with different serum biochemical parameters.

Methods: The study included 250 obese and 225 nonobese subjects.

Quantitative evaluation of anterior chamber parameters using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in primary angle closure mechanisms.

Background: To evaluate different mechanisms of primary angle closure and to quantify anterior chamber parameters in these mechanisms using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in an Asian population.

Design: Hospital-based cross-sectional observational study.

Participants: Forty-eight consecutive patients with primary angle closure glaucoma.

Do shapes and dimensions of scleral flap and sclerostomy influence aqueous outflow in trabeculectomy? A finite element simulation approach.

Background/aim: This study aimed to provide an objective assessment of the effects on the aqueous outflow rate of various geometries of the scleral flap and sclerostomy created in trabeculectomy.

Method: Computer-based models and simulations of this surgical procedure were used to investigate the relative effects of various shapes and dimensions of scleral flap and sclerostomy on the aqueous outflow.

Result: In these computer simulations, increasing scleral flap size was found to be associated with an increase of 48.

Changes in retinal nerve fibre layer, optic nerve head morphology, and visual field after acute primary angle closure.

Aims/purpose: To determine and correlate the long-term changes in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, optic nerve head (ONH) morphology, and visual fields after a single episode of acute primary angle closure (APAC).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study of patients at National University Hospital (Singapore) from 2000 to 2006 after an episode of unilateral APAC. The peripapillary and macular RNFL were measured using Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ONH configuration was assessed using Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT)-III.

Naked gene therapy of hepatocyte growth factor for dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is progressive and relapsing disease. To explore the therapeutic effects of naked gene therapy of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on UC, the SRalpha promoter driving HGF gene was intrarectally administered to the mice in which colitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Expression of the transgene was seen in surface epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae.

Measurement of the visual contribution to postural steadiness from the COP movement: methodology and reliability.

We studied the reliability of different measures of the visual contribution to postural steadiness by recording the postural sway during standing with eyes open (EO) or eyes closed (EC). The COP trajectory was recorded in 21 subjects aged 42-61 standing on a firm or foam support. The improvement of postural steadiness due to vision was measured with a higher reliability (i.

Postural stability in primary open angle glaucoma.

Background: This study evaluated the visual contribution to postural steadiness in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), in correlation with the mean deviation (MD) measured through conventional perimetry, and with the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) score, which quantifies the extent of losses in the visual field.

Methods: In 35 POAG patients and 21 age-matched normal subjects, the sway of the centre of pressure of the feet, on a firm or foam support, was recorded. The subjects stood on a force-plate with eyes closed, or with one or two eyes open.

Motion perception in glaucoma patients: a review.

Most of the histopathological and psychophysical studies in glaucoma reveal a preferential damage to the magnocellular (M) pathway although a few of them support a damage to the parvocellular (P) pathway as well. In glaucoma, the visual fields are usually evaluated by conventional perimetry. However, it has been demonstrated that 20-40% of ganglion cells are lost before field defects are detected using conventional perimetry.