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1.
Rheumatology (Oxford) ; 62(8): 2845-2849, 2023 08 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36538873

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological data for MCTD are limited. Leveraging data from the Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program (MLSP), a racially/ethnically diverse population-based registry of cases with SLE and related diseases including MCTD, we provide estimates of the prevalence and incidence of MCTD. METHODS: MLSP cases were identified from rheumatologists, hospitals and population databases using a variety of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. MCTD was defined as one of the following: fulfilment of our modified Alarcon-Segovia and Kahn criteria, which required a positive RNP antibody and the presence of synovitis, myositis and RP; a diagnosis of MCTD and no other diagnosis of another CTD; and a diagnosis of MCTD regardless of another CTD diagnosis. RESULTS: Overall, 258 (7.7%) cases met a definition of MCTD. Using our modified Alarcon-Segovia and Kahn criteria for MCTD, the age-adjusted prevalence was 1.28 (95% CI 0.72, 2.09) per 100 000. Using our definition of a diagnosis of MCTD and no other diagnosis of another CTD yielded an age-adjusted prevalence and incidence of MCTD of 2.98 (95% CI 2.10, 4.11) per 100 000 and 0.39 (95% CI 0.22, 0.64) per 100 000, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence and incidence were highest using a diagnosis of MCTD regardless of other CTD diagnoses and were 16.22 (95% CI 14.00, 18.43) per 100 000 and 1.90 (95% CI 1.49, 2.39) per 100 000, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The MLSP provided estimates for the prevalence and incidence of MCTD in a diverse population. The variation in estimates using different case definitions is reflective of the challenge of defining MCTD in epidemiologic studies.


Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Mixed Connective Tissue Disease , Myositis , Humans , Mixed Connective Tissue Disease/diagnosis , Mixed Connective Tissue Disease/epidemiology , Prevalence , Incidence , Antibodies, Antinuclear
2.
Metab Brain Dis ; 38(6): 2175-2184, 2023 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37314619

ABSTRACT

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) remains one of the prevailing disorders that affect millions of people around the globe. There is a cascade of secondary attributes attached to TBI including excitotoxicity, axonal degeneration, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Neuroinflammation is caused due to the activation of microglia along with pro-inflammatory cytokines. The activation of microglia triggers TNF-α which sequentially results in the triggering and upregulation of NF-kB. The aim of the current research was to investigate vitamin B1's potential as neuroprotective agent against TBI-induced neuroinflammation arbitrated memory impairment together with pre- and post-synaptic dysfunction in an adult albino male mice model. TBI was induced using the weight-drop method which caused the microglial activation resulting in neuroinflammation along with synaptic dysfunction leading to the memory impairment of the adult mice. Vitamin B1 was administered for seven days via the intraperitoneal pathway. To analyze the memory impairment and efficacy of vitamin B1, Morris water maze and Y-maze tests were performed. The escape latency time and short-term memories of the experimental mice treated with vitamin B1 were significantly different from the reference mice. The western blot results showed that vitamin B1 has reduced neuroinflammation by downregulating proinflammatory cytokines (NFκ-B, TNF- α). Vitamin B1 also proved its worthiness as a convincing neuroprotective agent by reducing memory dysfunction and recovering the activities of pre- and post-synapse via upregulation of synaptophysin and Postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95).


Subject(s)
Brain Injuries, Traumatic , Neuroprotective Agents , Mice , Animals , Cytokines/metabolism , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use , Neuroinflammatory Diseases , Thiamine , Inflammation/metabolism , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/complications , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/drug therapy , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Memory Disorders/etiology , Memory Disorders/complications , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Microglia/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Disease Models, Animal
3.
Environ Dev Sustain ; 24(12): 13705-13731, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35035276

ABSTRACT

The ever-increasing levels of pollution and waste creation have subjected industries around the world to incorporate the concept of circular economy (CE) in their supply chains. The amalgamation of the CE approach along with supply chain management is called circular supply chain management (CSCM). Among other industries, the pharmaceutical industry is also involved in damaging the ecosystem. Hence, an effective framework for the adoption of CSCM in a particular industry is very essential. Therefore, this paper aims to devise a model that will help the pharmaceutical industries to adopt CSCM in their organizations. For this purpose, the study in the first phase identifies ten barriers that are working as an impediment in the adoption of the CSCM approach. To counter those barriers, the study in the second phase identifies a set of twelve enablers. To analyse the barriers and enablers, the study uses a new hybrid methodology. For allocating weights and prioritizing the barriers, the fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, i.e. fuzzy full consistency method (F-FUCOM) is used, whereas the total quality management tool, i.e. fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD) is used to rank the enablers. The results from F-FUCOM suggest "lack of financial resources and funding", "market challenges", and "lack of coordination and collaboration among the entire supply chain network" to be the top-most barriers, respectively, whereas the results achieved from the FQFD suggest "industrial symbiosis", "Reverse Logistic (RL) infrastructure", and "block chain technology" to be the top-ranked enablers, respectively. The provision of a facilitating framework for the adoption of CSCM in the pharmaceutical industry and the newly developed hybrid methodology are both novelties of this study.

4.
Waste Manag Res ; 40(6): 676-684, 2022 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34362279

ABSTRACT

Food wastage is a global concern with high economic, social and environmental impacts. Pakistan, a developing country, is also significantly affected by the adverse impacts of food wastage. For overcoming this problem, the transition from a Linear to a Circular Economy (CE) for the management of food wastage can serve as a viable strategy. However, there are barriers of political, technical and cultural nature, which are impediments in the path of this transition. This study aims to identify and prioritize these barriers in order of their significance. This research study evaluated and ranked these barriers using a Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). A total of 15 barriers were analyzed, and the 'complicated intrinsic nature of CE', 'misleading information about shelf-life leading to waste rather than distribution', 'the poor economic viability of start-ups with CE model', 'corporate and organizational hesitance to change/innovate' and 'technological backwardness of farmers/growers on the agricultural production side' were ranked as the most significant hurdles. The novelty of this study lies in its application. This study is unique as it has focused on developing countries and proposed policy recommendations for the transition towards a CE. In light of the above-mentioned results, this study provides policy recommendations for public and private sector policymakers that would facilitate the food industry in shifting towards the CE model.


Subject(s)
Refuse Disposal , Waste Management , Developing Countries , Food , Models, Economic
5.
Curr Rheumatol Rep ; 23(9): 71, 2021 07 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34259946

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) scan has emerged as a useful diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of gout over recent years. Here, we review the role of DECT in the context of typical and atypical gout, including its role in identifying extra-articular monosodium urate (MSU) deposition. RECENT FINDINGS: DECT has been found to be more accurate than ultrasound in detecting extra-articular MSU deposition in soft tissue. It has the ability to identify axial MSU deposition in gout patients with non-specific back pain. For individuals with no other clear etiology, this potentially implicates MSU as the cause of the pain. DECT also has the ability to detect vascular MSU deposition. This correlates with high coronary calcium scores and elevated Framingham cardiovascular risk. DECT continues to aid our understanding of articular and extra-articular MSU deposition, including the role of vascular MSU deposition on cardiovascular health. Not only does it allow quantification of urate burden but it can also potentially avoid invasive diagnostic procedures. The limitations and advantages of DECT are further explored in this article.


Subject(s)
Gout , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Gout/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Joints , Ultrasonography , Uric Acid
6.
Bioorg Chem ; 99: 103863, 2020 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32334197

ABSTRACT

Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality and has resulted in about 9.6 million deaths around the world in 2018. Cancer-caused deaths are expected to be 11.5 million by 2030 all over the world. Because of the fatal nature of cancer, substantial efforts are made all over the world to combat it. Phytoconstituents such as certain alkaloids, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, and terpenoids exhibit anticancer effects. Sophoridine is a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid isolated from the stem and leaves of medicinal plants Sophora alopecuroides L., and Euchresta japonica Benth, and roots of Sophora alopecuroides Ait. Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) approved sophoridine as an antitumor agent in 2005. This review covers the antitumor activities of sophoridine and its derivatives. The efficacy of sophoridine analogs is expressed with respect to their half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 values). Structure-activity relationship (SAR) study for most of the sophoridine derivatives has been explained. Moreover, the current market of anticancer drugs and its expected growth are discussed. Prospects provide suggestions and clues for novel sophoridine-based anticancer agents with enhanced expected efficacy and minimum toxicity.


Subject(s)
Alkaloids/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Quinolizines/pharmacology , Alkaloids/chemical synthesis , Alkaloids/chemistry , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Humans , Molecular Structure , Quinolizines/chemical synthesis , Quinolizines/chemistry , Matrines
7.
Am Fam Physician ; 98(3): 164-170, 2018 08 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30215901

ABSTRACT

Patients with a suspected connective tissue disorder should undergo serologic testing to confirm the diagnosis and, in some cases, to monitor disease activity and predict flares. Patients with suspected systemic lupus erythematosus should be tested for antinuclear antibodies. However, antinuclear antibodies are not specific and may be present in many other connective tissue disorders and nonrheumatologic diseases. Thus, patients with suspected systemic lupus erythematosus should undergo further testing to confirm the diagnosis. Patients with Sjögren syndrome may have a positive antinuclear antibody titer, but often also have positive anti-Sjögren antigen A or B results. Similarly, antinuclear antibodies can be present in patients with scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, and dermatomyositis or polymyositis. Additional tests are needed to help confirm the diagnosis. In patients with findings of rheumatoid arthritis, a positive rheumatoid factor titer suggests the diagnosis, but as with antinuclear antibodies, it is not specific and can occur in other conditions. Rheumatoid factor can also be negative in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A positive anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody titer is more specific for rheumatoid arthritis and can help confirm the diagnosis. Physicians should order these serologic tests only when patients have a high pretest probability of a specific connective tissue disorder.


Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis , Serologic Tests/methods , Adult , Antibodies, Antinuclear/analysis , Antibodies, Antinuclear/blood , Female , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/blood , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis , Rheumatology/methods , Serologic Tests/trends , Sjogren's Syndrome/blood , Sjogren's Syndrome/diagnosis
8.
Int J Health Care Qual Assur ; 31(8): 1058-1069, 2018 Oct 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30415618

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The rate of cesarean sections has been rapidly increased in the last few decades in all the developing as well as developed countries. The rate of cesarean sections determined by the World Health Organization has been crossed by many countries, like Brazil, India, China, USA, Australia, etc. Similarly, this rate has also increased in Pakistan. The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the factors that are responsible for the rising rate of cesarean sections in Pakistan. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: These factors are categorized under medical and non-medical factors. The medical factors include the obesity of mother, age of mother, weight of the baby, umbilical cord prolapse, fetal distress, abnormal presentation, dystocia and failure to progress. The non-medical factors include financial incentives of doctors, time convenience for doctors, high tolerance to surgery, patient's preference toward cesarean section, private hospitals, public hospitals, income status of patients, rural areas, urban areas and the education of patients. To identify the critical factors, data have been collected and a multi-criteria decision-making technique, called Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory, is used. FINDINGS: The result shows that the medical factors that are responsible for the rise in the rate of cesarean sections are umbilical cord prolapse, age of mother and obesity of mother. On the other hand, the non-medical factors that are the reasons for the increase in cesarean sections are the large number of private hospitals and the unethical acts of the doctors in these hospitals, preference of patients, and either the unavailability of doctors or poor conditions of hospitals in rural areas. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Cesarean section is an important surgical intervention and is considered to be very essential in the cases of existing as well as potential medical problems to the mother or the baby. Cesarean section is also performed for non-medical reasons. In Pakistan, the number of private hospitals has increased and these hospitals provide good health care. However, these hospitals do not work under the rules and regulations set by the government. The doctors in private hospitals perform unnecessary cesarean sections in order to fulfill the demands of private hospital's owners. In addition to this, it is also found that, nowadays, most women prefer to give birth through cesarean section in order to eliminate the pain of normal vaginal delivery.


Subject(s)
Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data , Decision Making , Birth Weight , Female , Hospitals, Private/statistics & numerical data , Hospitals, Public/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Maternal Age , Motivation , Obesity/epidemiology , Obstetric Labor Complications/epidemiology , Obstetric Labor Complications/surgery , Pakistan , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data , Socioeconomic Factors , Time Factors
9.
J Pak Med Assoc ; 68(9): 1383-1386, 2018 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30317270

ABSTRACT

This study forecast future infected patients from dengue and also sought optimum solution for its prevention. Previous years' data of dengue patients was used for forecasting numbers of infected patients in 2017. The novelty of the study is the application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique in application of dengue control. We employed AHP to rank the alternative for dengue prevention using perception of general public collected via questioners from 100 respondents across Pakistan. The results show that public considered not to let the water accumulate inside their homes as the most economical, effective, efficient and less labour intensive alternative to combat dengue.


Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control , Dengue , Social Perception , Animals , Communicable Disease Control/methods , Communicable Disease Control/organization & administration , Communicable Disease Control/trends , Dengue/epidemiology , Dengue/prevention & control , Dengue/transmission , Disease Reservoirs , Forecasting , Humans , Incidence , Mosquito Vectors , Pakistan/epidemiology , Public Opinion
10.
Bioorg Chem ; 74: 53-65, 2017 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28753459

ABSTRACT

In our previous report, we have identified 3,4-dihydropyrimidine scaffold as promising class of urease inhibitor in a structure based virtual screen (SBVS) experiment. In present study, we attempted to optimize the scaffold by varying C-5 substituent. The elongation of the C-5 chain was achieved by the reaction of C-5 ester with hydrazine leading to C-5 carbohydrazides which were further used as building blocks for the synthesis of fifteen new compounds having diverse moieties. A significantly higher in vitro urease inhibitory activity with IC50 values in submicromolar range was observed for semithiocarbazide derivatives (4a-c, 0.58-0.79µM) and isatin Schiff base derivative 5a (0.23µM). Docking analysis suggests that the synthesized compounds were anchored well in the catalytic site and extending to the entrance of binding pocket and thus restrict the mobility of the flap by interacting with its key amino acid residues. The overall results of urease inhibition have shown that these compounds can be further optimized and developed as lead urease inhibitors.


Subject(s)
Canavalia/enzymology , Drug Design , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Molecular Docking Simulation , Pyrimidines/pharmacology , Urease/antagonists & inhibitors , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Pyrimidines/chemical synthesis , Pyrimidines/chemistry , Quantum Theory , Structure-Activity Relationship , Urease/metabolism
11.
Tumour Biol ; 37(1): 47-55, 2016 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26482620

ABSTRACT

Topoisomerases are nuclear enzymes that regulate topology of DNA by facilitating the temporary cleavage and ligation cycle of DNA. Among all forms of topoisomerases, TOP-IIA is extensively associated with cell proliferation and therefore is an important therapeutic target in diseases that involved cellular proliferation such as cancers. Nearly half of present-day antitumor regimens contain at least one prescription that act as a topoisomerase inhibitor. Generally, tumor cells show divergent expression of TOP-IIA compared to normal cells. The remarkable expression of TOP-IIA in various carcinomas provides a significant biomarker toward understanding the nature of malignancy. TOP-IIA expression and amplification studies help in diagnosing cancer and to observe the disease progression, overall survival (OS) of patients, and response to therapy. This review highlights the research output and analysis in exploring the standing of TOP-IIA in various carcinomas. As some reports show contradiction within the same field of interest, the outline of that may help to induce researchers for further investigation and clarification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first overview briefly summarizing the prognostic feature of TOP-IIA in various types of cancer.


Subject(s)
Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism , DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Drug Therapy/methods , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Cell Proliferation , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Male , Neoplasms/immunology , Prognosis , Treatment Outcome
13.
Asia Pac J Public Health ; 36(2-3): 202-209, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38247056

ABSTRACT

We piloted the development and implementation of a multifaceted intervention package for improving respiratory health among textile workers using a pre-post design at six mills in Karachi. The intervention, implemented following a baseline survey (n = 498), included health and safety training of workers and managers, promotion of cotton dust control measures, and the provision of facemasks. Follow-up surveys were conducted at 1, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) scores and respiratory symptoms were assessed through a questionnaire and spirometry was conducted. The intervention was provided to 230 workers and led to an improvement in KAP scores that was more likely among workers with a higher educational status, spinners, smokers, those with a permanent employment status, working in morning shifts, and with ⩾5 years of textile experience. We found the intervention acceptable and feasible in these textile mills henceforth, trials are required to determine its effectiveness.


Subject(s)
Occupational Exposure , Textiles , Humans , Pilot Projects , Pakistan , Feasibility Studies , Spirometry , Dust/prevention & control , Dust/analysis , Textile Industry
14.
Front Epidemiol ; 4: 1334859, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38516120

ABSTRACT

Objective: Leveraging the Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program (MLSP), a population-based registry of cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related diseases, we investigated the proportion of SLE with concomitant rheumatic diseases, including Sjögren's disease (SjD), antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), and fibromyalgia (FM), as well as the prevalence of autoantibodies in SLE by sex and race/ethnicity. Methods: Prevalent SLE cases fulfilled one of three sets of classification criteria. Additional rheumatic diseases were defined using modified criteria based on data available in the MLSP: SjD (anti-SSA/Ro positive and evidence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and/or xerostomia), APLS (antiphospholipid antibody positive and evidence of a blood clot), and FM (diagnosis in the chart). Results: 1,342 patients fulfilled SLE classification criteria. Of these, SjD was identified in 147 (11.0%, 95% CI 9.2-12.7%) patients with women and non-Latino Asian patients being the most highly represented. APLS was diagnosed in 119 (8.9%, 95% CI 7.3-10.5%) patients with the highest frequency in Latino patients. FM was present in 120 (8.9%, 95% CI 7.3-10.5) patients with non-Latino White and Latino patients having the highest frequency. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were most prevalent in non-Latino Asian, Black, and Latino patients while anti-Sm antibodies showed the highest proportion in non-Latino Black and Asian patients. Anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies were most prevalent in non-Latino Asian patients and least prevalent in non-Latino White patients. Men were more likely to be anti-Sm positive. Conclusion: Data from the MLSP revealed differences among patients classified as SLE in the prevalence of concomitant rheumatic diseases and autoantibody profiles by sex and race/ethnicity underscoring comorbidities associated with SLE.

15.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 30(20): 57378-57397, 2023 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36964806

ABSTRACT

The ongoing rise in energy consumption imposed serious environmental challenges by using fossil fuels. The use of renewable energy sources is being increasingly explored as a potential answer for achieving sustainable energy production and minimizing adverse environmental effects. In the modern day, photovoltaic (PV) systems are viewed as a possible replacement for fossil fuels as a clean energy source. The installation of solar PV power plants requires vast land and huge investment. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable site to achieve maximum efficiency and low cost. A feasible location of photovoltaic (PV) system must consider certain criteria including land restrictions, access to roads, and transmission lines. This study analyzed ten factors grouped into four categories: geographic, technical, economic, and flood susceptibility criterion. The data of each factor is extracted from various governments, United Nation (UN), and non-government organizational bodies. Weights were assigned to ten factors by using a non-linear multi-criteria optimization technique called full consistency method (FUCOM). A geographic information system (GIS) software, ESRI ArcGIS pro, performs the weighted overlay analysis of the ten factors with weighted importance calculated by the above technique. A suitability map is created showing that a total of 2.02% of the country's area is suitable for PV power plants, which are further divided into five suitability classes. The results highlight the distribution of suitable sites for the construction of solar PV power plant throughout the country. A sensitivity analysis is performed to highlight the impact of the factor on the final suitability map. These findings can promote the future widespread development and application of solar energy resources.


Subject(s)
Solar Energy , Geographic Information Systems , Renewable Energy , Power Plants , Fossil Fuels
16.
Sci Total Environ ; 868: 161418, 2023 Apr 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36642278

ABSTRACT

The construction industry (CI) is responsible for consuming 3 billion tons of natural raw materials annually. Also, as per the survey by World Resources Institute, the CI accounts for 40 % of the total waste generated globally. The solution to this inefficient resource usage and adverse effects on the ecosystem is implementing Circular Economy (CE) practices in CI. However, the concept of circular construction is in developmental stages. Therefore, it is more prone to damaging risks than traditional construction. The primary aim of this study is to identify and assess the risk related to implementing CE practices in developing country construction sector. To achieve this aim, 25 risks were shortlisted from the literature review and evaluated upon the probability, detection, and severity risk criteria. This study proposed a novel hybrid fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach to analyze the shortlisted risks. Fuzzy Step Wise Assessment Ratio Analysis (FSWARA) is employed to gauge the risk criterion weightage. Moreover, Fuzzy VIKOR (FVIKOR) is used to determine the risks' ranking as per the weightage of the risk criterion. The analyses ranked "lack of political support and incentives for circular construction", "difficulty in selection of circular construction experts", "profit uncertainty", and "circular material quality" as the most critical risks. Therefore, it is recommended for legislative authority to devise a framework that promotes and provides support to circular construction. Moreover, this study fills the literature gap by assessing the risks of CE practices in the CI of Pakistan.

17.
Sci Total Environ ; 898: 165605, 2023 Nov 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37474051

ABSTRACT

The cement industry contributes substantially to world emissions. Sustainable and circular practices are adopted globally to mitigate such emissions. Developing countries like Pakistan lack adaptation to circular and sustainable practices. The study proposes an alternative mix of coal and crop residues that can be used for cement production. The study aims to find the best mixtures of coal with crop residue for combustion purposes in cement industries. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) are implemented for the environmental and economic viability of the proposed material mixtures. Moreover, the study seeks to explore risks associated with the implementation of circular practices in the cement industry of a developing country. The study adopts Modified Safety Improvement Risk Assessment (SIRA) for assessing the risks. The results suggest that the partial replacement of coal with bagasse is the most viable mixture with lower environmental emissions and is economically feasible among other alternate mixtures. In terms of risk assessment, there is a lack of governmental support for adopting circular economy (CE) practices and profit uncertainties of these CE practices.

18.
J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad ; 35(1): 104-109, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36849387

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cotton dust is generated during various textile manufacturing processes. Only a few studies from Pakistan assessed cotton dust exposure and explored the relationship of duration of work in the textile industry with respiratory health outcomes. We aimed to assess cotton dust exposure and its association with lung function and respiratory symptoms among textile workers in Pakistan. METHODS: We report findings from the baseline survey of the larger study, MultiTex, among 498 adult male textile workers from six mills conducted between October 2015-March 2016 in Karachi, Pakistan. Data collection included the use of standardized questionnaires; spirometry, and area dust measurements through UCB-PATS. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were developed to assess the association of risk factors with respiratory symptoms and illnesses. RESULTS: We found the mean age of workers to be 32.5 (±10) years; around 25% were illiterate. The prevalence of COPD, asthma, and byssinosis was 10%, 17%, and 2%, respectively. The median cotton dust exposure was 0.33 mg/m3 (IQR: 0.12-0.76). Increased duration of work among non-smokers was associated with a decline in lung function, FVC (-245 ml; 95% CI: -385.71, -104.89) and FEV1 (-200 ml; 95% CI: -328.71, -841.1). Workers with certain job titles (machine operators, helpers, and jobbers), those with greater duration of work, and higher dust exposure, were more likely to report respiratory symptoms and illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: We report a high prevalence of asthma and COPD and a low prevalence of byssinosis. Cotton dust exposure and duration of employment were associated with respiratory health outcomes. Our findings highlight the need for preventive interventions in the textile industry in Pakistan.


Subject(s)
Asthma , Byssinosis , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive , Adult , Male , Humans , Young Adult , Dust , Byssinosis/epidemiology , Byssinosis/etiology , Textiles , Outcome Assessment, Health Care
19.
J Biomol Struct Dyn ; 41(19): 9756-9769, 2023 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36399018

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) is a severe global threat to public health. The increasing emergence of drug-resistant bacteria requires the discovery of novel antibacterial agents. Quinoline derivatives have previously been reported to exhibit antimalarial, antiviral, antitumor, antiulcer, antioxidant and, most interestingly, antibacterial properties. In this study, we evaluated the binding affinity of three newly designed hydroxyquinolines derived from sulfanilamide (1), 4-amino benzoic acid (2) and sulfanilic acid (3) towards five bacterial protein targets (PDB ID: 1JIJ, 3VOB, 1ZI0, 6F86, 4CJN). The three derivatives were designed considering the amino acid residues identified at the active site of each protein involved in the binding of each co-crystallized ligand and drug-likeness properties. The ligands displayed binding energy values with the target proteins ranging from -2.17 to -8.45 kcal/mol. Compounds (1) and (3) showed the best binding scores towards 1ZI0/3VOB and 1JIJ/4CJN, respectively, which may serve as new antibiotic scaffolds. Our in silico results suggest that sulfanilamide (1) or sulfanilic acid (3) hydroxyquinoline derivatives have the potential to be developed as bacterial inhibitors, particularly MRSA inhibitors. But before that, it must go through the proper preclinical and clinical trials for further scientific validation. Further experimental studies are warranted to explore the antibacterial potential of these compounds through preclinical and clinical studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.


Subject(s)
Hydroxyquinolines , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Bacterial Proteins , Oxyquinoline/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Sulfanilamide , Hydroxyquinolines/pharmacology , Protease Inhibitors , Molecular Docking Simulation
20.
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) ; 75(5): 1007-1016, 2023 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35638708

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Using the Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program, a multiracial/ethnic population-based registry, we aimed to compare 3 commonly used classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to identify unique cases and determine the incidence and prevalence of SLE using the EULAR/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. METHODS: SLE cases were defined as fulfilling the 1997 ACR, the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC), or the EULAR/ACR classification criteria. We quantified the number of cases uniquely associated with each and the number fulfilling all 3 criteria. Prevalence and incidence using the EULAR/ACR classification criteria and associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 1,497 cases fulfilled at least 1 of the 3 classification criteria, with 1,008 (67.3%) meeting all 3 classifications, 138 (9.2%) fulfilling only the SLICC criteria, 35 (2.3%) fulfilling only the 1997 ACR criteria, and 34 (2.3%) uniquely fulfilling the EULAR/ACR criteria. Patients solely satisfying the EULAR/ACR criteria had <4 manifestations. The majority classified only by the 1997 ACR criteria did not meet any of the defined immunologic criteria. Patients fulfilling only the SLICC criteria did so based on the presence of features unique to this system. Using the EULAR/ACR classification criteria, age-adjusted overall prevalence and incidence rates of SLE in Manhattan were 59.6 (95% CI 55.9-63.4) and 4.9 (95% CI 4.3-5.5) per 100,000 population, with age-adjusted prevalence and incidence rates highest among non-Hispanic Black female patients. CONCLUSION: Applying the 3 commonly used classification criteria to a population-based registry identified patients with SLE fulfilling only 1 validated definition. The most recently developed EULAR/ACR classification criteria revealed prevalence and incidence estimates similar to those previously established for the ACR and SLICC classification schemes.


Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Rheumatology , Humans , Female , United States , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/epidemiology , Incidence , Prevalence , Registries
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