Antifungal-drug interactions in oncology: A cross-sectional study highlighting the role of pharmacists.

Study Objective: Complex pharmacotherapy in cancer patients increases the likelihood of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Pharmacists play a critical role in the identification and management of DDIs. The aim of present study was to evaluate the role of pharmacist in identifying antifungal drug interactions in cancer patients and providing relevant recommendations.

Prevalence and associated factors of parental refusal rates for routine immunisation: a cross-sectional study in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan-2024.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a serious public health problem globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. This study aims to determine the vaccination refusal rate, associated factors and perceptions of parents who refused routine immunisation within Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in July-2024, among 340 parents of children aged 0-59 months.

Harnessing multivariate insights coupled with susceptibility indices to reveal morpho-physiological and biochemical traits in heat tolerance of cotton.

Cotton is essential for the global textile industry however, climate change, especially extreme temperatures, threatens sustainable cotton production. This research aims to identify breeding strategies to improve heat tolerance and utilize stress-resistant traits in cotton cultivars. This study investigated heat tolerance for 50 cotton genotypes at the seedling stage by examining various traits at three temperatures (32 °C, 45 °C and 48 °C) in a randomized plot experiment.

Anatomical characterization of Semi-arid Bignoniaceae using light and scanning electron microscopy.

Background: The present research work was done to evaluate the anatomical differences among selected species of the family Bignoniaceae, as limited anatomical data is available for this family in Pakistan. Bignoniaceae is a remarkable family for its various medicinal properties and anatomical characterization is an important feature for the identification and classification of plants.

Methodology: In this study, several anatomical structures were examined, including stomata type and shape, leaf epidermis shape, epidermal cell size, and the presence or absence of trichomes and crystals (e.

Assessment of forest fragmentation and ecological dynamics in Western Himalayan Region over three decades (1990-2020).

A spatial assessment of temporal forest cover changes is essential for effective forest conservation and management practices. This study analyzes changes in forest cover and the evolution of forest spatial configuration using Landsat satellite imagery over the past three decades (1990-2020) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. To achieve the objectives, landscape metrics and forest fragmentation analyses were applied.

The Role of Gut Microbiota in Shaping Immune Responses in Tephritidae Fruit Fly and Prospective Implications for Management.

The interaction of microbial communities with host immunity has become one of the most explored research areas with significant implications for pest control strategies. It has been found that the gut microbiota plays substantial roles in immune response regulation and host-gut microbiome symbiosis, as well as in pathogen resistance and overall fitness in Tephritidae fruit flies that are major pests of agricultural importance. In this review, we discuss the modulation of immune responses of Tephritidae fruit flies by the gut microbiota with particular emphasis on the general interactions between microbiota and the immune system.

Perioperative outcomes of robotic vs laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Background: Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy has gained widespread acceptance among hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons due to its demonstrated advantages in perioperative outcomes compared to the conventional open approach. This meta-analysis, along with trial sequential analysis, aimed to compare the outcomes of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy and laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy based on the current available evidence.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from inception to July 2024.

Salicylic acid confers cadmium tolerance in wheat by regulating photosynthesis, yield and ionic homeostasis.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity and quality can be threatened by soil cadmium (Cd) contamination, posing a concern to food security. Salicylic acid (SA) is an endogenously produced signaling molecule that activates the defense system imparting abiotic stress tolerance in plants.

Medicinal Plants Exhibited Promising Potential to Inhibit Biofilm Formation by Catheter-Associated Bacteria in UTI Patients from Lahore, Pakistan.

The current study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and biofilm inhibitory potential of six medicinal plants, including Trachyspermum ammi, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Nigella sativa, Thymus vulgaris, Terminalia arjuna, and Ipomoea carneaid against catheter-associated bacteria (CAB). Eighteen CAB were identified up to species level using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, viz., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Relationship between multiple morbidities and performance on the Timed Up and Go test in elderly patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate how various morbidities affect older patients' performance on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The seven government hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan, included are major tertiary care centres, representing an older patient population of Punjab, Pakistan.

Carbon dioxide, global boiling, and climate carnage, from generation to assimilation, photocatalytic conversion to renewable fuels, and mechanism.

The increasing CO concentration in the atmosphere has substantial impacts on the global temperature. For energy sustainability and minimization of the effects of global warming, an approach to understand CO capturing and a carbon neutral culture is extremely essential in the present circumstances. The CO emission from vehicles and industries can be minimized using energy cost-effective techniques and can be converted more selectively into reusable fuels via thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, biological and inorganic carbonate-based approaches.

On QSPR analysis of glaucoma drugs using machine learning with XGBoost and regression models.

Glaucoma is an irreversible, progressive, degenerative eye disorder arising because of increased intraocular pressure, resulting in eventual vision loss if untreated. The QSPR relates, mathematically, by employing various algorithms, a specified property of a molecule that arises either from physical, chemical, or biological phenomena using various aspects of its structure. Here in, a similar application based on topological indices and inferences derived from the structure for the calculation of different drug properties like molar refractivity, refractive index, enthalpy, boiling points, molecular weight, and polarizability is presented.

Ultrasound-assisted enhancement of bioactive compounds in hawthorn vinegar: A functional approach to anticancer and antidiabetic effects.

In this study, the effects of ultrasound treatment on bioactive components and functional properties of hawthorn vinegar (Crataegus tanacetifolia) were investigated. Parameters such as total phenolic compound (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ascorbic acid (AA), DPPH radical scavenging activity and CUPRAC reducing capacity were optimised by surface response method (RSM) and 14 min duration and 61.40 % amplitude were determined as the most suitable treatment conditions.

Ficus carica leaves extract loaded PLGA nanoparticles: preparation, characterization, and in vitro anticancer activity on TFK-1 cell line.

Ficus Carica extract (FC) is a natural herb that has received a lot of interest in cancer treatment due to its potential anticancer activities against various malignancies. However, due to FC's low bioavailability and low solubility, its clinical use as an anti-cancer medicine is constrained. The current study aimed to prepare FC-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) for cancer treatment.

Scaling Up Kangaroo Mother Care Through a Facility Delivery Model in Rural Districts of Pakistan: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The neonatal mortality rate in Pakistan is the third highest in Asia, with 8.6 million preterm babies. These newborns require warmth, nutrition, and infection protection, typically provided by incubators.

Oral Regimens for Rifampin-Resistant, Fluoroquinolone-Susceptible Tuberculosis.

Background: For decades, poor treatment options and low-quality evidence plagued care for patients with rifampin-resistant tuberculosis. The advent of new drugs to treat tuberculosis and enhanced funding now permit randomized, controlled trials of shortened-duration, all-oral treatments for rifampin-resistant tuberculosis.

Methods: We conducted a phase 3, multinational, open-label, randomized, controlled noninferiority trial to compare standard therapy for treatment of fluoroquinolone-susceptible, rifampin-resistant tuberculosis with five 9-month oral regimens that included various combinations of bedaquiline (B), delamanid (D), linezolid (L), levofloxacin (Lfx) or moxifloxacin (M), clofazimine (C), and pyrazinamide (Z).

Effect of iron fortification and prebiotics on iron biomarkers in anemic rats.

One of the biggest public health problems globally is that of iron deficiency anemia. The present research aimed to determine the effect of prebiotics along with iron fortification on iron biomarkers in female anemic rats as some evidence suggests that prebiotics convert increase the solubility of iron, thereby enhancing its absorption. A total of 126 Sprague Dawley rats were fed with sixteen different types of fortified feed containing prebiotics (Inulin + Galacto Oligosaccharides) and Iron Fortificants (Sodium Ferric Ethylenediaminetetraacetate + Ferrous Sulphate).

Epidemiological analysis of Leishmaniasis prevalence in Pakistan during 2016-2023.

Leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania parasite, remains a persistent public health challenge in Pakistan. Despite control efforts, the disease prevalence continues to rise, particularly among pediatric populations. Understanding prevalence patterns and transmission dynamics is critical for effective control strategies.

Prevalence and clinical profile of hepatitis C virus infections in multitransfused thalassemic patients in the capital twin cities of Pakistan.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) presents a significant global health concern, affecting 3.3% of the world's population. The primary mode of HCV transmission is through blood and blood products.

Cutting-edge: bionanomaterial solutions in the battle against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the imperative of our time resides in crafting stratagems of utmost precision to confront the relentless SARS-CoV-2 and quell its inexorable proliferation. A paradigm-shifting weapon in this battle lies in the realm of nanoparticles, where the amalgamation of cutting-edge nanochemistry begets a cornucopia of inventive techniques and methodologies designed to thwart the advances of this pernicious pathogen. Nanochemistry, an artful fusion of chemistry and nanoscience, provides a fertile landscape for researchers to craft innovative shields against infection.

Buruli Ulcer Transmission: Environmental Pathways and Implications for Dermatologic Care.

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing skin and soft tissue disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans that is common in hot and humid climates. Mycobacterium ulcerans is a nontuberculous mycobacterium and ubiquitous acid-fast gram-positive bacillus known to thrive in aquatic environments and water insects. The mode of transmission to humans is poorly understood and varies by geography.

Arsenic efflux and bioremediation potential of Klebsiella oxytoca via the arsB gene.

Arsenic-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca strain AT-02 was isolated from the ground water of the Multan region of Pakistan. The strain displayed high arsenite and arsenate resistance as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 600ppm and 10,000ppm respectively. The high tolerance of the isolated strain towards arsenate can be postulated due to significant increase in biofilm in response to arsenate.

Diagnostic Decision-Making Variability Between Novice and Expert Optometrists for Glaucoma: Comparative Analysis to Inform AI System Design.

Background: While expert optometrists tend to rely on a deep understanding of the disease and intuitive pattern recognition, those with less experience may depend more on extensive data, comparisons, and external guidance. Understanding these variations is important for developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can effectively support optometrists with varying degrees of experience and minimize decision inconsistencies.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to identify and analyze the variations in diagnostic decision-making approaches between novice and expert optometrists.

Precise Measurement of the e^{+}e^{-}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} Cross Section at Center-of-Mass Energies from Threshold to 4.95 GeV.

Using the e^{+}e^{-} collision data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, at center-of-mass energies from the threshold to 4.95 GeV, we present precise measurements of the cross section for the process e^{+}e^{-}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} using a single-tag method. The resulting cross section line shape exhibits several new structures, thereby offering an input for a future coupled-channel analysis and model tests, which are critical to understand vector charmonium-like states with masses between 4 and 5 GeV.