Publications by authors named "Sidra Khan"

The desert locust is one of the most destructive locusts recorded in human history, and it has caused significant food shortages, monetary losses, and environmental calamities. Prediction of locust attacks is complicated as it depends on various environmental and geographical factors. This research aims to develop a machine-learning model for predicting desert locust attacks in 42 countries that considers three predictors: soil moisture, maximum temperature, and precipitation.

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  • - The study investigates the effectiveness of platelet-inducing human IL-11 analogs in treating dengue fever (DF) patients with low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), conducted at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, from September 2023 to April 2024.
  • - A total of 300 DF patients were enrolled, with the treatment group experiencing significantly higher fever and headache rates compared to the control group and showing notable increases in platelet counts after five days of IL-11 treatment.
  • - Results suggest IL-11 analogs hold potential for managing DF-associated thrombocytopenia, highlighting the need for further research on treatment protocols and broader implications for DF therapy.
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  • - There has been an increase in cases of dermatophytosis, especially stubborn and recurring tinea of the skin, with a significant rise in antifungal resistance, particularly noted in India, and a lack of comprehensive international data on the issue.
  • - This study conducted an online survey from February 2022 to July 2023, gathering insights from dermatologists worldwide to better understand the extent and characteristics of resistant tinea cases outside Europe.
  • - The survey received 260 responses from 36 countries, revealing that an overwhelming majority (91.7%) encountered these challenging tinea cases, primarily affecting areas like the trunk and groin, and highlighting the need for better diagnostic measures and collaboration to tackle antifungal resistance. *
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  • - A study examined the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in adults with type 2 diabetes and liver diseases like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to see if they affect liver fibrosis. - Out of 242 patients examined, 79 (about 32.6%) were using GLP-1 RAs; initial results showed lower fibrosis markers in the GLP-1 RA group compared to controls, and follow-up indicated a slight decrease in fibrosis in the treatment group versus an increase in controls. - While patients on GLP-1 RAs showed less liver fibrosis progression, the
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Objective: To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial consumption and trends of therapeutic drugs for COVID-19 treatments, including corticosteroids, remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies (tocilizumab) from April 2017 to September 2022 in a secondary care NHS Trust in England.

Methods: A retrospective intervention time series analysis was conducted for April 2017 to September 2022 at the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. Data were retrieved from the pharmacy dispensing system as defined daily doses (DDDs) monthly and reported per 1000 occupied bed days (OBDs).

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Pakistan has a high burden of hereditary and congenital anomalies and their incidence rate almost doubles against the background of parental consanguinity. Consanguineous unions (CU) are customary in Pakistan and deeply rooted socio-cultural norms favour CU. This study aimed to elucidate the determinants and temporal change in CU in four northwestern populations of Pakistan.

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  • * Researchers conducted qualitative interviews with AMS practitioners in the UAE, identifying key themes related to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, current AMS activities, and suggested strategies for improvement.
  • * Findings reveal that involving clinical pharmacists and implementing specific AMS interventions can enhance antibiotic use in outpatient settings, highlighting the need for future research to address barriers and ensure long-term success.
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Aquaporin (AQP) channels in endometrial cancer (EC) cells are of interest as pharmacological targets to reduce tumor progression. A panel of compounds, including AQP1 ion channel inhibitors (AqB011 and 5-(phenoxymethyl) furan-2-carbaldehyde, PMFC), were used to test the hypothesis that inhibition of key AQPs can limit the invasiveness of low- and high-grade EC cells. We evaluated the effects on transwell migration in EC cell lines (Ishikawa, MFE-280) and primary EC cells established from surgical tissues ( = 8).

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Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma rarely presents in head and neck and is even rarer in the sinonasal region. However, a sinonasal metastatic mass is usually of RCC origin. These metastases may present prior to the renal symptoms or may appear after primary treatment.

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Objective: Contaminated blood cultures result in extended hospital stays and extended durations of antibiotic therapy. Rapid molecular-based blood culture testing can speed positive culture detection and improve clinical outcomes, particularly when combined with an antimicrobial stewardship program. We investigated the impact of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) system on clinical outcomes associated with contaminated blood cultures.

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  • The study focuses on reducing the movement of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, a highly aggressive brain cancer, using pharmacological inhibitors targeting ion and water channels.
  • Researchers tested various compounds, finding that they significantly decreased the invasiveness of specific GBM cell lines by 20-80% without harming the cells.
  • Two additional compounds, xanthurenic acid and caelestine C, were identified as effective at lower concentrations to block cell invasion in both GBM types, indicating potential for new treatment strategies.*
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  • Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign tumor most commonly found in teenage boys, with rare cases in females, and is usually treated via endoscopic surgery for better outcomes.
  • The condition of a dehiscent internal carotid artery (ICA) canal can lead to complications like pulsatile tinnitus or ear pain, especially if there's accidental injury during surgery.
  • A unique case of JNA was documented in an adolescent female who developed ICA dehiscence after surgery, contributing to the limited literature on this condition in females.
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The Traditional Chinese medicine, Guizhi Fuling (here called Fuling), has been confirmed in meta-analysis studies to reduce recurrence of endometriosis and improve pregnancy outcomes; however, the possible use of Fuling as a fertility-preserving treatment in endometrial cancer has not previously been tested. Results here are the first to demonstrate dose-dependent inhibition of cell motility by Fuling in two endometrial cancer cell lines, classified as Grade I which is responsive to progesterone treatment, and Grade III (MFE-280) which is resistant. The major outcome of this study was the novel demonstration that Fuling (30-80 µg/ml) significantly inhibits invasiveness in both high and low grades of EC cells, achieving 70-80% block of trans-barrier migration without cytotoxicity.

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A wide range of bioactive materials have been investigated for tissue engineering and regeneration. Barium titanate is a promising smart material to be used as scaffold for bone tissue engineering. Barium titanate coatings are prepared in the present study using chemical bath deposition technique.

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An increase in the number of recurrent and recalcitrant dermatophytoses calls for a tool to guide the clinician to correlate in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data, antifungal treatment with clinical outcomes. This systematic review aims to explore a possible correlation between one aspect of this, previous antifungal exposure, and clinical outcomes. A systematic literature search for articles on previous antifungal treatment, treatment outcome, susceptibility methods used, organism (genus/species), and MIC values was conducted.

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a well-known global threat due to the subsequent increase in antimicrobial usage. Several antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies have been implemented to curb irrational prescribing and reduce the AMR burden. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has enormously impacted the healthcare system and jeopardized public health, causing millions of deaths globally.

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