PCR to CRISPR: Role of Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) in detection of COVID-19.

COVID-19 infection has emerged as an unparalleled pandemic with morbidity and mortality tolls challenging diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions, and raising serious questions for healthcare policy-makers. From the diagnostic perspective, Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction remains the gold standard. However, issues associated with gene primer variation in different countries, low analytical sensitivity, cross-reactivity with certain human coronaviruses have raised serious concerns within the scientific community.

Review of evidence on using ACEi and ARBs in patients with hypertension and COVID-19.

COVID-19 has recently become a major pandemic with associated socioeconomic dimensions. Mortality statistics suggest that COVID-19 is more lethal in aged patients with comorbid conditions including hypertension. There is ongoing debate about whether the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are useful or hazardous in patients with COVID-19, with both narratives supported by researchers with different hypotheses.

Newer molecular insights into type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Beta cell function Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has always been considered a heterogeneous and broad-spectrum disease with many associated complications and variations. Worthwhile in this regard were the findings that different individuals with T2DM label had slightly different set of clinical features and end-organ damage. Evidence is also there that pharmacotherapy related response also varies between individuals for the same category "T2DM".

Friedewald's equation for calculating LDL-cholesterol: Is it the time to say "Goodbye" and adopt direct LDL cholesterol methods?

Objectives: To measure correlation and concordance between measured LDL cholesterol (mLDLc) and Friedewald's calculated LDL cholesterol (cLDLc). To compare the mLDLc and cLDLc values for various anthropometric measures and biochemical indices including insulin resistance, nephropathy, glycated hemoglobin and triglycerides.

Methods: Two hundred thirty two subjects were included in this cross-sectional analysis from Jan-2016 to July-2017 from a target population visiting PNS HAFEEZ hospital.

Genome-Editing Technologies: Concept, Pros, and Cons of Various Genome-Editing Techniques and Bioethical Concerns for Clinical Application.

The traditional healthcare system is at the doorstep for entering into the arena of molecular medicine. The enormous knowledge and ongoing research have now been able to demonstrate methodologies that can alter DNA coding. The techniques used to edit or change the genome evolved from the earlier attempts like nuclease technologies, homing endonucleases, and certain chemical methods.

Association of metabolic risks with subclinical hypothyroidism: A cross-sectional analysis.

Objective: To compare lipid parameters, HbA1c, uric acid and albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) among subjects having euthyroidism, Sub-Clinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) and overt hypothyroidism.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional analysis was carried out from Dec-2015 to Oct-2016 in collaboration between PNS HAFEEZ hospital and department of chemical pathology and endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi. Biochemical parameters including lipid indices, HbA1c and UACR were compared between euthyroidism (TSH: 0.