Spatiotemporal clustering analysis of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccination coverage in Pakistan.

Universal vaccination coverage is still far from desired targets in many global regions including Pakistan, despite the success stories and its scientifically proven benefits. EPI Pakistan vaccination coverage data 2012-2016, at district level was collected from Federal EPI Pakistan. District-wise population data were collected from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Phytochemical characterization of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. metabolites by UPLC-QTOF and antifungal activity evaluation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and modulatory potential of the Ziziphus joazeiro bark and leaf extracts, both in isolation and in association with fluconazole, against resistant species from the Candida genus. Antifungal assays were used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the extract in isolation and in combination with fluconazole using the broth microdilution method and spectrophotometric readings, followed by verification of the minimum fungicidal concentration by solid medium subculture. According to the cell viability curve, both extracts inhibited fungal growth in a concentration dependent manner, in addition to showing inhibitory concentrations similar to fluconazole.

Antitumor effects of citrinin in an animal model of Sarcoma 180 via cytogenetic mechanisms.

Citrinin (CIT) is a cytotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and cardiotoxic metabolite obtained from Penicillium citrinum, that has been increasingly searched as an anticancer drug candidate. In this study, we assessed the antitumor effects of citrinin, using cytogenetic biomarkers for genotoxicity in Sarcoma 180 (S-180) ascitic fluid cells of mice. Citrinin, extracted from P.

Untargeted profiling of field cultivated bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.) based on metabolite analysis.

Bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.) is an aromatic South African indigenous plant used for many decades as a health beverage and medicine. Several studies have extensively investigated wild bush tea's secondary metabolites, but the entire profiling of cultivated bush tea's metabolites is limited in the literature.

Modulatory-antibiotic activity of the essential oil from Eucalyptus citriodora against MDR bacterial strains.

The growing number of bacterial strains resistant to therapeutic agents has been surpassing the various antibiotics developed by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This problem has driven the development of research using agents with antimicrobial potential, with an emphasis on plant-derived natural products. This study evaluated the chemical compounds present in Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil (EOEc) cultivated in northeastern Brazil and its properties as an antibacterial agent and resistance modifier against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and β-lactamase-producing strains.

Ascorbic acid antagonizes the sedative effect of diazepam possibly through inhibition of GABA(Aρ₁) and GABA(B1) receptors.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors belong to a ligand-gated ion channels family and are markedly expressed at the axon terminals of retinal bipolar cells. Ascorbic acid (AA), a known and vital antioxidant in the brain can modulate GABA receptors. We postulate that AA would antagonize benzodiazepines' effect via GABA receptor(s) interacting pathway.

Revealing the Effects of Microarc Oxidation on the Mechanical and Degradation Properties of Mg-Based Biodegradable Composites.

To overcome the inherent weakness of polylactic acid (PLA), used as scaffolding materials, multiple samples of Mg/PLA alloy composite materials was made by plastic injection molding. To enhance the interfacial interaction with PLA, magnesium alloy was treated with microarc oxidation (MAO) at four different frequencies, resulting in an improvement in mechanical strength and toughness. The microarc oxidation films consisted mainly of a porous MgO ceramic layer on the Mg rod.

Outcome of proximal femur replacement in failed internal fixation of hip fractures, a case series.

Introduction: Failure of hip implant surgeries can be caused by various factors. Failure of internal fixation results in pain and restricted ambulation. In management of an elderly patient with hip fractures, the aim is to ambulate patient.

Immunity and field efficacy of type 2-containing polio vaccines after cessation of trivalent oral polio vaccine: A population-based serological study in Pakistan.

Background: In Pakistan and other countries using oral polio vaccine (OPV), immunity to type 2 poliovirus is now maintained by a single dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine immunization, supplemented in outbreak settings by monovalent OPV type 2 (mOPV2) and IPV. While well-studied in clinical trials, population protection against poliovirus type 2 achieved in routine and outbreak settings is generally unknown.

Methods: We conducted two phases of a population-based serological survey of 7940 children aged 6-11 months old, between November 2016 and October 2017 from 13 polio high-risk locations in Pakistan.

Histomorphometric Analysis of Pre- and Post-Denosumab-Treated Giant Cell Tumor of Bone.

. Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody against RANK ligand. Its administration in giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) cases results in elimination of giant cells and new bone formation.

Health benefits of carotenoids and potential application in poultry industry: A review.

Carotenoids are one of the widespread and ubiquitous lipid-soluble pigments that produce a wide range of colours which are universally found in various plants, microalgae, bacteria and fungi. Recently, interest in using carotenoids as feed ingredients has increased markedly owing to their bioactive and health-promoting properties. In terms of applications, carotenoid-rich products are widely available in the form of food and feed additive, supplements and natural colourants.

Minocycline as adjunctive treatment for treatment-resistant depression: study protocol for a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial (MINDEP2).

Background: Available evidence suggests that adjunctive treatment with immunomodulatory medications may be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). A pilot trial of the tetracycline minocycline as adjunctive treatment in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), produced promising results, however, a larger scale trial is needed to confirm the antidepressant actions of this drug.

Methods: This is a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of minocycline as an add-on to standard antidepressants for adults (age > 18) with DSM-5 major depressive episode, who have failed to respond to at least two adequate trials of antidepressant treatment.

Machine Learning Analysis of Digital Clock Drawing Test Performance for Differential Classification of Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes Versus Alzheimer's Disease.

Objective: To determine how well machine learning algorithms can classify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using features obtained from the digital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT).

Methods: dCDT protocols were administered to 163 patients diagnosed with AD(n = 59), amnestic MCI (aMCI; n = 26), combined mixed/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI; n = 43), and patients without MCI (non-MCI; n = 35) using standard clock drawing command and copy procedures, that is, draw the face of the clock, put in all of the numbers, and set the hands for "10 after 11." A digital pen and custom software recorded patient's drawings.

Antibiotics, Acid and Heat Tolerance of Honey adapted , Typhi and .

The medicinal importance of honey has been known for many decades due to its antimicrobial properties against life-threatening bacteria. However, previous studies revealed that microorganisms are able to develop adaptations after continuous exposure to antimicrobial compounds. The present study was conducted to explore the impact of subinhibitory concentrations of branded honey (Marhaba) and unbranded honey (extracted from plant) locally available in Pakistan on ATCC 10536, Typhi and by investigating the development of self- or cross-resistance to antibiotics (gentamicin, kanamycin and imipenem).

Electrochemical and thermodynamic study on the corrosion performance of API X120 steel in 3.5% NaCl solution.

The present work studied the effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of API X120 steel in a saline solution saturated with CO in absence and presence of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as an environmentally safe green inhibitor. The effect of PEI on the corrosion behavior of API X120 steel was investigated using destructive and non-destructive electrochemical techniques. The overall results revealed that PEI significantly decreases the corrosion rate of API X120 steel with inhibition efficiency of 94% at a concentration of 100 μmol L.

Genome-Wide Association Study and QTL Meta-Analysis Identified Novel Genomic Loci Controlling Potassium Use Efficiency and Agronomic Traits in Bread Wheat.

Potassium use efficiency, a complex trait, directly impacts the yield potential of crop plants. Low potassium efficiency leads to a high use of fertilizers, which is not only farmer unfriendly but also deteriorates the environment. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are widely used to dissect complex traits.

Spectrum of histological features of Denosumab treated Giant Cell Tumor of Bone; potential pitfalls and diagnostic challenges for pathologists.

Objectives: Denosumab is Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL) inhibitor which is being used in the treatment of locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic Giant Cell Tumor of Bone (GCTB). It causes reduction in monocyte recruitment and Osteoclast-Like Giant Cell (OLGC) formation which limits bone destruction. After Denosumab treatment, GCTB exhibit diverse morphological features which can pose diagnostic challenge.

MicroRNAs in ovarian cancer and recent advances in the development of microRNA-based biosensors.

Ovarian cancer is the most aggressive of all gynaecological malignancies and is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Over the recent years, there has been a sharp increase in this mortality rate, mostly due to late diagnosis, which can be attributed to the lack of an early and specific biomarker. Under this scenario, recent interest has shifted towards ovarian cancer associated miRNAs which play strong regulatory roles in various cellular processes.

A comprehensive basic understanding of pelvis and acetabular fractures after high-energy trauma with associated injuries: Narrative review of targeted literature.

Acetabular fractures are caused by energy trauma which is high enough to cause such a fracture with incidence of 3 patients / 100000. In older individuals, most commonmechanism of injury is fall and, in younger individuals, road traffic accidents. Acetabular fractures are usually associated with visceral injuries and other musculoskeletal injuries (about 50% of patient).

Sexual dysfunction in men after high energy pelvic fractures: Narrative review of targeted literature.

Pelvic fractures represents high energy trauma with associated other organ injuries including intra-abdominal injuries, haemorrhage and extremity injuries. Anatomical location of genitourinary structures makes them vulnerable to injury with pelvic fracture. Incidence of sexual dysfunction varies in literature with 5% incidence of dysfunction in patients without urethral injury and 42% with urethral injuries.

Management Outcomes Of Extra Abdominal Fibromatosis Among Adult Patients Treated At A Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background: Aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid fibromatosis is a soft tissue neoplasm which is non-metastatic in nature. Among all soft tissue tumours, it comprises of 3% cases and is more common in females as compared to males. Objective of our study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of extra abdominal fibromatosis in patients who were treated in our setup and determine the recurrence patterns.

Studying the Influence of Apple Peel Polyphenol Extract Fortification on the Characteristics of Probiotic Yoghurt.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of apple peel polyphenol extract (APPE) on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of probiotic yoghurt. Five concentrations of APPE were added in probiotic yoghurt as: (1) CTL, control without APPE; (2) AE1, addition of 1% APPE; (3) AE2, addition of 2% APPE; (4) AE3, addition of 3% APPE; (5) AE4, addition of 4% APPE; and (6) AE5, addition of 5% APPE. The prepared probiotic yoghurt was stored at 4 °C for 21 days and analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological properties.

Human BK and JC polyomaviruses: Molecular insights and prevalence in Asia.

Polyomaviridae family consists of small circular dsDNA viruses. Out of the 14 human polyomaviruses described so far, BKPyV and JCPyV have been studied extensively since their discovery in 1971. Reportedly, both BKPyV and JCPyV are widely distributed across the globe with the frequency of 80-90 % in different populations.

DFT modeling of thermoelectric and optical features of novel MgSnSe (x = 6%, 12% & 18%).

We explore influence of Mg alloying effect on electronic band structure dispersion and thermoelectric properties of tin chalcogenide materials. Based on density functional theory (DFT) within a framework of full potential linearized augmented plane wave method (FP-LAPW), we evaluate the energy band structure and optical properties of MgSnSe (x = 6%, 12% and 18%) materials. Moreover, we extend our calculations to simulate the electrical transport properties using Boltzmann transport theory.