Evaluation of the relationship between infected gastric mucosa and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Objective: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common type of mesenchymal tumor accounting for 2.2% of all malignant gastric tumors. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play crucial roles in gastric carcinogenesis.

Prognostic significance of the tumor budding and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Objective: In spite of great advance in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognostic factors are still obviously not understood. The role of tumor budding (TB) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in HCC as pathological parameters affecting prognosis stands principally unknown.

Methods: Seventy-four surgical resection pathology specimens of HCC patients were used.

Vitamin B6 Pathway Maintains Glioblastoma Cell Survival in 3D Spheroid Cultures.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain cancer. The prognosis of GBM patients has marginally improved over the last three decades. The response of GBMs to initial treatment is inevitably followed by relapse.

Endoscopic management of acute sigmoid volvulus in high risk surgical elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Most patients with sigmoid volvulus are of old age with multiple comorbidities. So, the risk of surgery for those elderly patients is usually associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Early intervention is required for managing sigmoid volvulus to avoid its serious complications; therefore, early endoscopic untwist of sigmoid colon can be performed followed by endoscopic fixation of sigmoid colon under sedation in this category of the patients to avoid development of high risk surgical complications following surgical fixation of sigmoid colon or sigmoidectomy after initial simple loop colostomy procedure to relieve obstruction.

FOS-Like Antigen 1 Expression Was Associated With Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Background: Early diagnosis and proper management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) improve patient prognosis. Several studies attempted to discover new genes to understand the pathogenesis and identify the prognostic and predictive factors in HCC patients, to improve patient's overall survival (OS) and maintain their physical and social activity. The transcription factor FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) acts as one of the important prognostic factors in different tumors, and its overexpression correlates with tumors' progression and worse patient survival.

Endoscopic management of low output recurrent colonic fistula or leak after anterior resection for rectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Colonic anastomotic leak and fistula following anterior resection surgery for rectal cancer are associated with high mortality rates. The incidence of occurrence varies from 2 to 25% and it is difficult to accurately calculate the incidence of fistula and leak post anterior resection, as most of them are asymptomatic. Endoscopic management of fistula and leak has become the first line of management after conservative management in many gastrointestinal surgical centers with the advantages of being less invasive, shorter length of post-operative hospital stay, effective and rapid recovery in comparison to revision surgery.

Endoscopic management of refractory leak and gastro-cutaneous fistula after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Gastro-cutaneous fistula is a rare complication after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) with incidence of occurrence 1-2%. Most of gastro-cutaneous fistulae do not respond to conservative management and need intervention either surgically or endoscopically.

Methods: This prospective randomized clinical study included referred patients who had LSG performed at our department or other centers, and complicated with post-LSG leak or gastro-cutaneous fistula between December/2019 and March/2021.

Elevated Expression of LGR5 and WNT Signaling Factors in Neuroblastoma Cells With Acquired Drug Resistance.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric solid cancer with high fatality, relapses, and acquired resistance to chemotherapy, that requires new therapeutic approaches to improve survival. LGR5 is a receptor that potentiates WNT/signaling pathway and has been reported to promote development and survival in several adult cancers. In this study we investigated LGR5 expression in a panel of NB cell lines with acquired resistance to vincristine or doxorubicin.

Prioritising child health and maternity evidence-based interventions or service models: a stakeholder-driven process.

Aim: A UK programme, led by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) ( https://www.nihr.ac.

Combined endoscopic and radiologic intervention for management of acute perforated peptic ulcer: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Peptic ulcer perforation is a common life-threatening surgical emergency. Graham omental patch is performed for plugging of perforated peptic ulcer. Many endoscopic methods have been used to treat acute perforated peptic ulcer such as over the scope clips, standard endoscopic clips, endoscopic sewing and metallic stents.

Monitoring of level of mean concentration and toxicity equivalence (TEQ) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in selected vegetables, beans and grains in khanewal and multan, Pakistan.

Contamination of food chain by Polychlorinated biphenyls through use of pesticides, electric and industrial waste poses human health risk. In previous studies, PCB species were stated as endocrine disrupting pollutants and showed toxic health effects like cancerous and noncancerous in animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of PCBs and its toxicity equivalence in food item from plant source to evaluate the health risk in Khanewal and Multan, Pakistan.

Potential health risks assessment cognate with selected heavy metals contents in some vegetables grown with four different irrigation sources near Lahore, Pakistan.

Carcinogenic and health hazard causing heavy metals have been increasing in our dietary stuffs due to large amount of industrial effluents being dumped in water bodies that are ultimately used for irrigation purposes. The study was aimed to assess and compare the mean concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, As and Pb) in soil and vegetables irrigated with four different sources (Ground water, river water, domestic sewage water and industrial untreated effluents and domestic waste water receiving drains) for the estimation of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk associated with them. Prepared samples were analyzed by through ICP-OES.

The short-term outcome of distal mesogastric fixation after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The proposed etiology of leakage after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy may be the axial rotation of the stomach owing to the loss of abdominal ligament fixation along the greater curvature of the stomach. The mechanism of increased intra-gastric pressure due to axial gastric rotation may place a great deal of stress on the staple lines, leading to an increased incidence of leakage. Other complications may occur, including vomiting, food intolerance or persistent reflux.

Facile Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of MnO/Graphene Composite as an Electrode Material for Supercapacitor Application.

A simplified sol-gel method that can be scaled up for large-scale production was adopted for the preparation of manganese oxide nanocrystals. Prepared MnO exhibited micron-sized particles with a nanoporous structure. In the present study, a simple and low-cost strategy has been employed to fabricate nanoporous MnO with an increased surface area for an electrode/electrolyte interface that improved the conduction of MnO material.

Fabrication of Nanostructured Cadmium Selenide Thin Films for Optoelectronics Applications.

There is lot of research work at enhancing the performance of energy conversion and energy storage devices such as solar cells, supercapacitors, and batteries. In this regard, the low bandgap and a high absorption coefficient of CdSe thin films in the visible region, as well as, the low electrical resistivity make them ideal for the next generation of chalcogenide-based photovoltaic and electrochemical energy storage devices. Here, we present the properties of CdSe thin films synthesized at temperatures (below 100°C using readily available precursors) that are reproducible, efficient and economical.

Electrochemical Properties of Tin Sulfide Nano-Sheets as Cathode Material for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Unprecedented self-assembled hierarchical nano-sheets of SnS were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. In a typical reaction, SnCl.2HO and NaS.

PP2A Inhibitor PME-1 Drives Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in Glioma Cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme lacks effective therapy options. Although deregulated kinase pathways are drivers of malignant progression in glioblastoma multiforme, glioma cells exhibit intrinsic resistance toward many kinase inhibitors, and the molecular basis of this resistance remains poorly understood. Here, we show that overexpression of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibitor protein PME-1 drives resistance of glioma cells to various multikinase inhibitors.

Glutamine synthetase activity fuels nucleotide biosynthesis and supports growth of glutamine-restricted glioblastoma.

L-Glutamine (Gln) functions physiologically to balance the carbon and nitrogen requirements of tissues. It has been proposed that in cancer cells undergoing aerobic glycolysis, accelerated anabolism is sustained by Gln-derived carbons, which replenish the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (anaplerosis). However, it is shown here that in glioblastoma (GBM) cells, almost half of the Gln-derived glutamate (Glu) is secreted and does not enter the TCA cycle, and that inhibiting glutaminolysis does not affect cell proliferation.

Selective Inhibition of Parallel DNA Damage Response Pathways Optimizes Radiosensitization of Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells.

Glioblastoma is the most common form of primary brain tumor in adults and is essentially incurable. Despite aggressive treatment regimens centered on radiotherapy, tumor recurrence is inevitable and is thought to be driven by glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSC) that are highly radioresistant. DNA damage response pathways are key determinants of radiosensitivity but the extent to which these overlapping and parallel signaling components contribute to GSC radioresistance is unclear.

Dengue knowledge and its management practices among physicians of major cities of Pakistan.

Objective: To assess knowledge and practices related to dengue management among physicians.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at hospitals in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi between June and December 2012Physicians from public and private sectors filled a self-administered questionnaire about dengue knowledge and its management practices. A maximum score of 100 was assigned to the knowledge portion.

Limited mitochondrial permeabilization causes DNA damage and genomic instability in the absence of cell death.

During apoptosis, the mitochondrial outer membrane is permeabilized, leading to the release of cytochrome c that activates downstream caspases. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) has historically been thought to occur synchronously and completely throughout a cell, leading to rapid caspase activation and apoptosis. Using a new imaging approach, we demonstrate that MOMP is not an all-or-nothing event.