Pterostilbene improves CFA-induced arthritis and peripheral neuropathy through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters in Wistar rats.

Pterostilbene is a stilbene flavonoid that occurs naturally in various plants as well as produced by genetic engineering. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidant and neuroprotective activities. This research was aimed to determine the potential of pterostilbene against arthritis and peripheral neuropathy in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis. Rat hind paw was injected with 0.1 ml CFA to induce arthritis. Standard control animals received oral methotrexate (3 mg/kg/week). Pterostilbene at 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg was given orally to different groups of arthritic rats from day 7-28 for 21 days. Pterostilbene significantly reduced paw diameter and retarded the decrease in body weight of arthritic rats. It profoundly (p < 0.05-0.0001) reduced lipid peroxidation and nitrites, while increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver tissue. Pterostilbene treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Pterostilbene markedly improved (p < 0.05-0.001) motor activity and showed analgesic effect in arthritic rats at 25 and 50 mg/kg as compared to disease control rats. Furthermore, it notably (p < 0.05-0.0001) increased SOD activity, nitrites, noradrenaline and serotonin levels in the sciatic nerve of arthritic rats. Treatment with pterostilbene also ameliorated the CFA-induced pannus formation, cartilage damage and synovial hyperplasia in the arthritic rat paws. It is determined from the current study that pterostilbene was effective in reducing CFA-induced arthritis in rats through amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. It was also effective to treat peripheral neuropathy through modulation of oxidative stress and neurotransmitters in sciatic nerves.

RATE OF POSTERIOR CAPSULAR RENT AS A COMPLICATION OF RESIDENT PERFORMED CATARACT EXTRACTION PROCEDURES.

BACKGROUND: Cataract extraction is the most commonly offered treatment for cataract. This is done surgically by a number of methods which include extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification. This study was done to assess the rate of posterior capsule rupture as a complication of resident performed cataract extraction procedures. METHODS: It is a descriptive case series conducted from 1st March to 1st April 2014 at Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, a tertiary care hospital. Cataract extraction procedures were done by first to fourth year residents. The surgical procedures done were extracapsular cataract extraction, phacoemulsification and lens matter aspiration. RESULTS: A total of 577 cases were operated, 307 males and 270 females. Out of which 336 were right eyes and 241 left eyes. The patients were in the age range 17-80 years. Only 61 out of 577 cases had posterior capsular rent. In phacoemulsification rate of posterior capsular rent was 29% and in extracapsular cataract extraction 69%. According to the year of residency cases done by first year were 24, second year 131, third year 231 and fourth year 191 with posterior capsular rents in 3, 23, 5 and 30 cases respectively. A total of 11 cases were left aphakic, 10 after extracapsular cataract extraction and 1 after phacoemulsification. CONCLUSION: There is a relatively high rate of posterior capsular rupture in cataract extraction procedures performed by residents. This rate is directly related to the procedure, being low for phacoemulsification and high for extracapsular cataract extraction. Rate of posterior capsular rupture is also directly related to the skill and expertise of the surgeon, being high for second year residents as compared to third and fourth year residents.

Risk Factors Associated With Low-Birth-Weight Babies in Tertiary Health Care Facilities in Lahore, Pakistan: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction Low birth weight (LBW) is a well-known contributing factor to neonatal health, emphasizing the importance of maternal health and socio-economic conditions. The birth weight of a newborn is a major public health problem, which is more common in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective The objective of this study is to assess the association of different socio-economic and maternal factors with LBW babies in Lahore. Methods This case-control study was carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynecological Department in Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from September 25, 2023 to December 31, 2023. A total of 186 mothers who delivered in the maternity ward, categorized into two groups (93 cases and 93 controls), were included and data was collected with the help of a self-administered structured tool. A chi-square test was used to identify maternal risk factors significant for LBW babies. The strength of association between maternal risk factors and LBW babies was presented using the odds ratio (OR) with the respective 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The study revealed that maternal anemia [OR: 3.378, 95% CI: 1.568, 7.275] and inadequate nutritional status [OR: 1.031, 95% CI: 0.014, 0.071] were more likely to cause delivery of LBW babies. Regarding socio-demographic factors, household income < 25000 [OR: 5.185, 95% CI: 2.770, 9.707] and illiterate mothers [OR: 3.325, 95% CI: 1.820, 6.074] were associated with increased likelihood of LBW babies. Maternal age < 20 had a strong association [OR: 10.920, 95% CI: 2.455,48.575] with delivery of LBW children.  Conclusion The study concludes that multiple risk factors including anemia, inadequate nutritional status, household income < 25000, illiterate mother, and maternal age < 20 are strongly associated with LBW babies. It is apparent that a multimodal strategy is necessary to reduce the risk of LBW babies.

The Impact of Vaccination Status on Anthropometric Indices of Growth Among Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Childhood immunization programs in underdeveloped nations can improve children's growth and nutritional status and prevent growth delays while protecting against infectious diseases and meeting growth norms. This study aimed to assess the impact of vaccination status on the anthropometric indices of children aged 12-18 months at an Expanded Programme on Immunization vaccination center and compare the anthropometric indices of growth in children with complete and incomplete vaccination statuses. Methodology This study was conducted at the rural health center in Kala Shah Kaku, Pakistan, from November 2023 to December 2023. Children aged 12-18 months were enrolled and their vaccination status was recorded. Height and weight were measured using World Health Organization growth charts. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean age of the 110 children who visited the vaccination site for this study was 16.36 months ± 2.415. There were 28 (25.5%) stunted children. In the study, 17.6 (16%) participants were underweight, and 15.95 (14.5%) were wasted. Of the children, 79% had received all recommended vaccinations. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) association was found between vaccination and nutritional status. Conclusions This study emphasizes the significance of vaccination in promoting child health and nutrition, reducing stunting risk, and ensuring equitable access to vaccination services and comprehensive healthcare interventions. This can help mitigate the malnutrition burden and promote optimal growth, contributing to global health and development goals.

Comparative analysis, diversification, and functional validation of plant nucleotide-binding site domain genes.

Nucleotide-binding site (NBS) domain genes are one of the superfamily of resistance genes involved in plant responses to pathogens. The current study identified 12,820 NBS-domain-containing genes across 34 species covering from mosses to monocots and dicots. These identified genes are classified into 168 classes with several novel domain architecture patterns encompassing significant diversity among plant species. Several classical (NBS, NBS-LRR, TIR-NBS, TIR-NBS-LRR, etc.) and species-specific structural patterns (TIR-NBS-TIR-Cupin_1-Cupin_1, TIR-NBS-Prenyltransf, Sugar_tr-NBS etc.) were discovered. We observed 603 orthogroups (OGs) with some core (most common orthogroups; OG0, OG1, OG2, etc.) and unique (highly specific to species; OG80, OG82, etc.) OGs with tandem duplications. The expression profiling presented the putative upregulation of OG2, OG6, and OG15 in different tissues under various biotic and abiotic stresses in susceptible and tolerant plants to cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD). The genetic variation between susceptible (Coker 312) and tolerant (Mac7) Gossypium hirsutum accessions identified several unique variants in NBS genes of Mac7 (6583 variants) and Coker312 (5173 variants). The protein-ligand and proteins-protein interaction showed a strong interaction of some putative NBS proteins with ADP/ATP and different core proteins of the cotton leaf curl disease virus. The silencing of GaNBS (OG2) in resistant cotton through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) demonstrated its putative role in virus tittering. The presented study will be further helpful in understanding the plant adaptation mechanism.

Fallopian Tube Torsion Secondary to Paraovarian Fimbrial Cyst: A Difficult to Diagnose and a Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen in Adolescent.

Fallopian tube torsion secondary to paraovarian or paratubal cyst is a rare gynecological cause of acute abdomen. The condition has no distinctive signs and symptoms. There are no characteristic features on radiological imaging, making preoperative diagnosis very difficult. Paraovarian cysts that are less than 4 cm in size are mostly asymptomatic and found incidentally during a pelvic examination or radiological imaging. It seldom leads to any complications like fallopian tube torsion hemorrhage or rupture. We report a case of an adolescent girl, who presented with severe abdominal pain. Transabdominal ultrasound was suggestive of a cystic structure less than 4 cm in size in the left adnexa. Doppler ultrasound showed normal blood flow to both ovaries. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, which revealed a twisted left-sided fallopian tube with a fimbrial paraovarian cyst. Detorsion and paraovarian cystectomy was performed. Although paraovarian cysts are mostly asymptomatic, those arising near the fimbrial end can lead to torsion of the fallopian tube, therefore it should always be considered a possible cause of acute abdomen in adolescent girls with adnexal cysts on ultrasound. Timely surgical intervention can prevent complications such as fallopian tube necrosis, gangrene, removal of the tube, and its long-term implications especially in women of the reproductive age group.

Audit of appropriateness and outcome of computed tomography brain scanning for headaches in paediatric age group.

BACKGROUND: Headache is a common complaint in children. With the proliferation of brain imaging centers and the increasing patient demand for CT or MRI studies, brain imaging has become widely used to evaluate headache and exclude malignant lesion. The objectives of this descriptive study were to assess the appropriateness and outcomes of computed tomography brain scanning for headaches in paediatric age group. This study was conducted at the Radiology Department Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar over a period of 1 year July 2008-July 2009. METHODS: Both genders between the ages of 4-18 years included in the study presenting with headache either isolated or common/classic migraine were included in this study. These variants of headache were allocated an appropriateness rating of 2 for CT scan by the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria (ACRAC) for children with headaches. RESULTS: Out of the 100 patients only 4% patients showed abnormal findings on CT scan while the remaining 96% of the scans were absolutely normal. The four patients with abnormal findings all had sinusitis no notorious lesions. CONCLUSION: This audit suggests that a proportion of the computed tomography studies performed for children with isolated headaches or common/classic migraine may have been inappropriate. The development of a local guideline for imaging referral is indicated.

Intestinal helminthiasis in children of gurez valley of jammu and kashmir state, India.

INTRODUCTION: This paper is a part of the helminthological studies carried out on school-going children of the Kashmir Valley and deals with the status of intestinal helminths in the children of Gurez Valley and to assess epidemiological factors associated with the extent of endemic disease so that control measures are adopted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 352 children from Gurez Valley. The samples were processed using Kato-Katz thick smear technique, and microscopically examined for intestinal parasites. RESULTS: Of the 352 children surveyed, 75.28% had one or more types of intestinal helminthes. Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was highest (71.18%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (26.42%), Enterobius vermicularis (13.92) and Taenia saginata (5.39%). Conditions most frequently associated with infection included the water source, defecation site, personal hygiene, and the extent of maternal education. CONCLUSION: The study shows a relatively high prevalence of intestinal helminths and suggests an imperative for the implementation of control measures.