Social assistance programme impacts on women's and children's diets and nutritional status.

Investments in social assistance programmes (SAPs) have accelerated alongside interest in using SAPs to improve health and nutrition outcomes. However, evidence of how design features within and across programme types influence the effectiveness of SAPs for improving diet and nutrition outcomes among women and children is limited. To address this, we reviewed evaluations of cash, in-kind and voucher programmes conducted between 2010 and 2020 among women and children, and examined associations between design features (targeting, including household and individual transfers, fortified foods and behaviour change communication) and positive impacts on diet (diet diversity, micronutrient intake) and nutrition (anthropometric indicators, haemoglobin, anaemia) outcomes. Our review has several key findings. First, SAPs improve dietary diversity and intake of micronutrient-rich foods among women and children, as well as improve several nutrition outcomes. Second, SAPs were more likely to impact diet and nutrition outcomes among women compared with children (23/45 [51%] vs. 52/144 [36%] of outcomes measured). Third, in-kind (all but one of which included fortified foods) compared with cash transfer programmes were more likely to significantly increase women's body mass index and children's weight-for-height/length Z-score, and both women's and children's haemoglobin and anaemia. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of SAPs for improving micronutrient status and preventing increased prevalence of overweight and obesity for all populations and for improving diet and nutrition outcomes among men, adolescents and the elderly. Further research in these areas is urgently needed to optimize impact of SAPs on diet and nutrition outcomes as countries increase investments in SAPs.

Clinical outcomes of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgical patients during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of hepato-pancreato-biliary patients who were operated upon during the pandemic under a safety protocol devised to minimise the risk of coronavirus disease-2019 infection in patients and staff during the perioperative period. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) Unit of Bahria International Hospital Orchard, Lahore, Pakistan, in February 2021, and comprised data of all patients who were discussed in the multidisciplinary meeting of the Unit between May 1 and December 31, 2020. The coronavirus disease-2019 screening protocol was a negative polymerase chain reaction test just before admission and a second negative test 24-48 hours pre-surgery. All patients had computed tomography scan of chest to rule out atypical pneumonia due to coronavirus disease-2019 infection. Surgery was deferred for positive patients for at least 2 weeks until their test was negative. Surgeries were carried out with full personal protective equipment. Further testing was carried out if clinically indicated. Data was collected of 30-day coronavirus disease-2019-related morbidity and mortality. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, 29(65.9%) were males and 15(34.1%) were females. Overall, 32(72.7%) patients were aged >40 years, 8(18.2%) were aged 20-40 years and 4(9%) were aged <20 years. Of the total, 7(15.09%) patients were found to be positive for coronavirus disease-2019 during preoperative screening. Among them, 5(71.4%) had successful surgery post-recovery, 1(14.3%) died without surgery due to pulmonary complications related to coronavirus disease-2019 and 1(14.3%) patient was lost to follow-up. Among the 42(95.5%) patients who underwent any procedure, 2(4.7%) patients turned positive for coronavirus disease-2019 in the postoperative period. There was 1(2.4%) mortality in the 30-day post-operative period which was not related to coronavirus disease-2019. Complications were seen in 5(11.90%) patients. Three (9.3%) out of 32 staff members were found to be asymptomatic carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery could be safely carried out during coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic if strict safety protocols were followed.

Video assisted thoracoscopic management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcome of Video assisted Thoracoscopy (Vats) in Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (PSP). METHODS: This case series was carried out from Jan 2010 to Jan 2017 in Department of Thoracic Surgery CMH Rawalpindi and Lahore. A total of 98 patients underwent Video-assisted thoracoscopic for PSP. Inclusion criteria were physiologically fit patients with PSP for recurrent attacks, occupational hazards and prolonged air leak. Exclusion criteria included secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, previous pleurodesis and physiologically unfit patient for general anaesthesia. Vanderschueren's thoracoscopic classification was used for macroscopic staging. A 3-port technique was used for apical stapling with partial pleurectomy up to 6th rib. Parietal pleura and diaphragm was also abraded. RESULTS: Occupational hazard was the commonest indication for surgery, n= 39 (39.7%). This was followed by recurrent pneumothorax 37 (37.7%), persistent air leak 19 (19.38%) and contra lateral pneumothorax n=4 (4.08%). Mean age was 22.8 ± 6.5 years. Majority of the cases , 69(70.4%) were in stage 3 of Vanderschueren's classification. Stage 4 were (18.5%) and stage 2 were 7 (7.14%). Mean operative time was 51 ± 14. 4 minutes. Postoperative prolonged air leak occurred in 3 patients and post-operative neuralgia occurred in 8 patients. Mean follow-up was 22 ±5.5 months, range 5-24 months for all patients. One had generalized recurrence and 2 patients had subpulmonic trapping of air. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted thoracoscopic stapling and pleurectomy is an effective definitive treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax when indicated with minimal recurrence.

Management of a giant carbuncle on the posterior trunk with excision and grafting.

Carbuncle is a painful subcutaneous mass of interconnected infected hair follicles with multiple discharging sinuses. It has predisposition in conditions like diabetes, immune-compromised states, chronic skin diseases etc. The authors present a case of a 67 year old diabetic male admitted in July 2020 at Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH) Islamabad, with a giant carbuncle on his back. Due to its large size, systemic co-morbidity, and increased risk of complications in surgical treatment, a multi-disciplinary team approach was employed. Both general and plastic surgeons were involved, who performed excision and soft tissue coverage respectively. The aim of the surgical intervention methods, like wide excision and debridement, application of vacuum assisted wound closure (VAC), and skin grafting was to minimise the healing time and risk of development of post-operative infection. The patient was surgically managed and sent home in a good condition.

The complete genomic sequence of a new iflavirus from the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus.

A novel iflavirus, tentatively named "Langfang leafhopper iflavirus" (LfLHV) was detected in leafhopper (Psammotettix alienus) by total RNA sequencing, and its genome sequence was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The complete genome consisted of 10,700 nucleotides (nt) excluding the poly A tail and included one open reading frame (9,453 nt in length), encoding a polyprotein of 3,150 amino acids (aa). The nucleotide sequence of the complete genome was shared 44.1-53.3% identical, and the deduced amino acid sequence RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) 22-74% identical to those of other iflaviruses. These values were all below the species demarcation threshold of 90%. Conserved motifs for structural proteins, helicase, protease, and RdRp were also similar to those in other iflaviruses. These results, as well as those of phylogenetic analysis based on the deduced amino acid sequences of the polyprotein and RdRp of LfLHV and other iflaviruses, indicate that the sequence represents a novel virus of the family Iflaviridae.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSTRAINS FACED BY TB PATIENTS THAT LEAD TO NON-COMPLIANCE - A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is communicable from one person to another. Pakistan stands forefront among few unfortunate countries that still have heavy burden of TB infection. Being a developing country, TB patients in Pakistan have to face different socio-economic constraints that upset life of the patients as well as their families. A cross sectional survey was conducted in three selected districts, Lodharan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar during February 2011 to June 2011. From three hundred selected patients 210 Were enrolled in study after receiving written consents. Data were collected though structured questionnaire and verbal-interviews and statistically analyzes by using the univariate analysis. The survey results showed that the low educational status (p < 0.0012, CI 95%), unawareness of disease (88.7%), crowded population (p = 0.0000, CI, 95%), poverty, high treatment cost and distant access to public health facilities were directly related to prevalence of TB. Different disease related constraints including poor attitude of family members, colleagues, society and even health care professionals (p = 0.0000, CI 95%) were also found to be major social factors leading to non-compliance and denial of TB treatment. Socio-economic constraints such as low literacy rate, unemployment, unawareness of disease, high treatment cost, poor attitude of family, society and healthcare professionals were directly related to noncompliance and should be given high priority consideration for achieving better TB management and mitigation.

Distribution, enrichment, and source identification of selected heavy metals in surface sediments of the Siran River, Mansehra, Pakistan.

To assess the trace metal pollution in the Siran River, sediments were collected from 12 sites, from the left and right banks of the river in 2013. The concentrations, accumulation, distribution pattern, and pollution status of heavy metals in sediments were investigated using geoaccumulation index (I geo) and enrichment factor (EF). The toxic risk of heavy metals was assessed using interim sediment quality guidelines (ISQGs), portable effect level (PEL), threshold effect level (TEL), and toxic effect threshold (TET). I geo and EF values showed that sediments were loaded with Ni, Cd, Pb, and Co and no obvious variations were found among the left and right banks of the river. The EF and I geo values were found in order of Co > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Cu > Zn > Fe and Cd > Co > Pb > Ni > As > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn, respectively. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis like inter-metal correlation, cluster analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed that geogenic and anthropogenic activities were major sources of sediment contamination in the study area. These results indicated that more attention should be paid to the inner loads of sediment in order to achieve improvements in reservoir water quality after the control of external pollution.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSTRAINS FACED BY TB PATIENTS THAT LEAD TO NON-COMPLIANCE - A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is communicable from one person to another. Pakistan stands forefront among few unfortunate countries that still have heavy burden of TB infection. Being a developing country, TB patients in Pakistan have to face different socio-economic constraints that upset life of the patients as well as their families. A cross sectional survey was conducted in three selected districts, Lodharan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar during February 2011 to June 2011. From three hundred selected patients 210 were enrolled in study after receiving written consents. Data were collected though structured questionnaire and verbal interviews and statistically analyzed by using the univariate analysis. The survey results showed that the low educational status (p < 0.0012, CI 95%), unawareness of disease (88.7%), crowded population (p =0.0000, CI, 95%), poverty, high treatment cost and distant access to public health facilities were directly related to prevalence of TB. Different disease related constraints including poor attitude of family members, colleagues, society and even health care professionals (p = 0.0000, CI 95%) were also found to be major social factors leading to non-compliance and denial of TB treatment. Socio-economic constraints such as low literacy rate, unemployment, unawareness of disease, high treatment cost, poor attitude of family, society and health care professionals were directly related to noncompliance and should be given high priority consideration for achieving better TB management and mitigation.

A subset of group A-like var genes encodes the malaria parasite ligands for binding to human brain endothelial cells.

Cerebral malaria is the most deadly manifestation of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. The pathology of cerebral malaria is characterized by the accumulation of infected erythrocytes (IEs) in the microvasculature of the brain caused by parasite adhesins on the surface of IEs binding to human receptors on microvascular endothelial cells. The parasite and host molecules involved in this interaction are unknown. We selected three P. falciparum strains (HB3, 3D7, and IT/FCR3) for binding to a human brain endothelial cell line (HBEC-5i). The whole transcriptome of isogenic pairs of selected and unselected parasites was analyzed using a variant surface antigen-supplemented microarray chip. After selection, the most highly and consistently up-regulated genes were a subset of group A-like var genes (HB3var3, 3D7_PFD0020c, ITvar7, and ITvar19) that showed 11- to >100-fold increased transcription levels. These var genes encode P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein (PfEMP)1 variants with distinct N-terminal domain types (domain cassette 8 or domain cassette 13). Antibodies to HB3var3 and PFD0020c recognized the surface of live IEs and blocked binding to HBEC-5i, thereby confirming the adhesive function of these variants. The clinical in vivo relevance of the HBEC-selected parasites was supported by significantly higher surface recognition of HBEC-selected parasites compared with unselected parasites by antibodies from young African children suffering cerebral malaria (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.029) but not by antibodies from controls with uncomplicated malaria (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.58). This work describes a binding phenotype for virulence-associated group A P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 variants and identifies targets for interventions to treat or prevent cerebral malaria.

AN EXPERIENCE OF BRONCHOTOMY AND RESECTIONAL PROCEDURES AFTER FAILED BRONCHOSCOPIC FOERIGN BODY RETRIEVAL.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body bronchus is a surgical emergency and is associated with a high mortality if neglected or complicated. The objective of this study was to analyse the outcome of bronchotomy and resectional procedures after failed bronchoscopic foreign body retrieval. METHODS: This study of 24 cases of bronchotomy and resectional procedures after failed bronchoscopic foreign body retrieval was done from June 2008 to June 2009 and March 2010 to Sep 2013. Patients after failed retrieval of foreign body by bronchoscopy either by ENT specialists or thoracic surgeons underwent bronchotomy or resectional procedures were included in the study. We used the posterolateral thoracotomy approach for the surgical procedures. RESULTS: Bronchotomy and resectional procedures were done in 24 cases. Age of patients ranged from 2 years to 51 years. Most patients were children and right side was mostly involved. Bronchotomy procedures were 10 (41%) and resectional surgeries were 13 (58%). Emergency lobectonies were 3 out of 13 resectional surgeries. Right intermedius bronchus was opened up and incision was extended in the direction of foreign body in 6 cases and left bronchus intermedius was opened in 4 cases. Haemoptysis was the main symptom in late presenters. Range of objects retrieved in our study was from pins, needles to whistles. CONCLUSION: Retention causes endobronchial obstruction with stasis leading to irreversible damaged parenchyma. Foreign body with structural changes require resection, others can be offered bronchotomy which is a safe procedure for retained non retrievable foreign bodies.

Histopathological evaluation of gastro protective effect of Berberis vulgaris (Zereshk) seeds against aspirin induced ulcer in albino mice.

The present study was carried out to investigate the antiulcer activity of Berberis vulgaris (Zereshk) seeds in albino mice. After acclimatization, animals were divided into six equal groups. Aspirin 150 mg/kg was used to induce gastric ulcer in all groups except normal control. Omeprazole 20mg/kg was used as synthetic anti ulcer drug in study. Three dose levels of B. vulgaris seed powder 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and 900 mg/kg were used respectively orally. Histopathological analysis was carried out to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of B. vulgaris seed powder. Results of the study showed that in case of aspirin treated mice gastric luminal mucosa villi were decreased in height or were absent. In the glandular region there was connective tissue proliferation and also infiltration of cells. Similar infiltration of cells was present on muscularis mucosa. In esophageal region tumor cells were present. However three dose levels of B. vulgaris significantly reduced the tissue proliferation, infiltration of cells and sloughing induced by aspirin. Highest dose of B. vulgaris (900 mg/kg) showed similar results as synthetic antiulcer drug omeprazole.

Induction of strain-transcending antibodies against Group A PfEMP1 surface antigens from virulent malaria parasites.

Sequence diversity in pathogen antigens is an obstacle to the development of interventions against many infectious diseases. In malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the PfEMP1 family of variant surface antigens encoded by var genes are adhesion molecules that play a pivotal role in malaria pathogenesis and clinical disease. PfEMP1 is a major target of protective immunity, however, development of drugs or vaccines based on PfEMP1 is problematic due to extensive sequence diversity within the PfEMP1 family. Here we identified the PfEMP1 variants transcribed by P. falciparum strains selected for a virulence-associated adhesion phenotype (IgM-positive rosetting). The parasites transcribed a subset of Group A PfEMP1 variants characterised by an unusual PfEMP1 architecture and a distinct N-terminal domain (either DBLα1.5 or DBLα1.8 type). Antibodies raised in rabbits against the N-terminal domains showed functional activity (surface reactivity with live infected erythrocytes (IEs), rosette inhibition and induction of phagocytosis of IEs) down to low concentrations (<10 µg/ml of total IgG) against homologous parasites. Furthermore, the antibodies showed broad cross-reactivity against heterologous parasite strains with the same rosetting phenotype, including clinical isolates from four sub-Saharan African countries that showed surface reactivity with either DBLα1.5 antibodies (variant HB3var6) or DBLα1.8 antibodies (variant TM284var1). These data show that parasites with a virulence-associated adhesion phenotype share IE surface epitopes that can be targeted by strain-transcending antibodies to PfEMP1. The existence of shared surface epitopes amongst functionally similar disease-associated P. falciparum parasite isolates suggests that development of therapeutic interventions to prevent severe malaria is a realistic goal.

Financial cost to institutions on patients waiting for gall bladder disease surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the financial costs to institution on patients waiting for gall bladder disease surgery and suggest measures to reduce them. METHODS: This multi-centre prospective descriptive survey was performed on all patients who underwent an elective cholecystectomy by three consultants at secondary care hospitals in Pakistan between Jan 2010 to Jan 2012. Data was collected on demographics, the duration of mean waiting time, specific indications and nature of disease for including the patients in the waiting list, details of emergency re-admissions while awaiting surgery, investigations done, treatment given and expenditures incurred on them during these episodes. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients underwent elective open cholecystectomy. The indications for listing the patients for surgery were biliary colic in 128 patients (69%), acute cholecystitis in 43 patients (23%), obstructive jaundice in 8 patients (4.5%) and acute pancreatitis in 6 patients (3.2%). 146 (78.9%) and 39 (21.1%) of patients were listed as outdoor electives and indoor emergencies respectively. Of the 185 patients, 54 patients (29.2%) were re-admitted. Financial costs in Pakistani rupees per episode of readmission were 23050 per episode in total and total money spent on all readmissions was Rs. 17,05,700/-. CONCLUSION: Financial costs on health care institutions due to readmissions in patients waiting for gall bladder disease surgery are high. Identifying patients at risk for these readmissions and offering them early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is very important.

Mitigation of Diabetes Mellitus Using Euphorbia helioscopia Leaf Ethanolic Extract by Modulating GCK, GLUT4, IGF, and G6P Expressions in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder. Synthetic antidiabetics are the commonly used treatment options associated with complications. The objective of this study was to explore the antioxidative and antidiabetic potential of Euphorbia helioscopia whole plant ethanolic extract using in vitro and in vivo models. For that purpose, the antioxidative potential was explored by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl analysis. In vitro antidiabetic potential of the extract was evaluated using amylase inhibitory analysis. In vivo antidiabetic activity of the extract was assessed in diabetic rats using streptozotocin/nicotinamide (60 mg/kg/120 mg/kg) as an inducing agent. Metformin was used as standard. The results indicated the presence of significant quantities of phenolic 82.18 ± 1.28 mgg-1 gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and flavonoid 66.55±1.22 mgg-1 quercetin equivalent (QE) contents in the extract. Quantitation of phytoconstituents exhibited the presence of sinapic acid, myricetin, and quercetin using HPLC analysis. The extract inhibited α-amylase by 84.71%, and an antiglycemic potential of 50.34% was assessed in the OGTT assay. Biochemical analysis demonstrated a reduction in urea, creatinine, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.001) as compared to diabetic control rats at the dose of 500 mg/kg. An upregulation in the expressions of glucokinase, glucose transporter 4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and insulin-like growth factor was observed in treated rats in contrast to G6P expression, which was downregulated upon treatment. In conclusion, this study provided evidence of the antioxidative and antidiabetic potential of E. helioscopia whole plant ethanolic extract through in vitro and in vivo analysis and emphasized its promising role as a natural alternative.

Environmental Sustainability of Food Environments: Development and Application of a Framework in 4 cities in South Asia.

Background: Food environments, where people directly engage with broader food systems, may be an important contributor to the environmental sustainability of food systems. Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to establish a new food environment framework that considers environmental indicators and to assess data availability and gaps using data previously collected as part of a food systems survey in 4 South Asian cities. Methods: The framework was developed by conducting a structured literature review of previous food environment frameworks and in-depth interviews with content experts (n = 6). The framework and indicators were then mapped to data collected by consumer and vendor surveys using the Urban Food Systems Assessment Tool (UFSAT) in Ahmedabad (India), Pune (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), and Pokhara (Nepal). Results: We have expanded the sustainability domain within food environments to include consumer travel to food vendors, the presence of food delivery services, policies related to sustainability, vendor food waste, vendor plastic use, vendor utility usage, vendor recycling and waste management practices, and food packaging. Mapping the framework to existing data from 4 cities in South Asia, we found variations in food environment sustainability indicators, particularly regarding consumer transportation to food vendors, the presence of delivery services, and food waste. Conclusions: Although the majority of food environment research focuses on the availability and affordability of healthy foods, there is an urgent need to understand better how aspects of food environments contribute to environmental goals. When mapping the framework to existing food systems data, we found gaps in data on environmental sustainability in food environments and variation in indicators across settings.

CRISPR-Cas System: A New Dawn to Combat Antibiotic Resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can potentially harm global public health. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which speeds up the emergence of AMR and increases the burden of drug resistance in mobile genetic elements (MGEs), is the primary method by which AMR genes are transferred across bacterial pathogens. New approaches are urgently needed to halt the spread of bacterial diseases and antibiotic resistance. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), an RNA-guided adaptive immune system, protects prokaryotes from foreign DNA like plasmids and phages. This approach may be essential in limiting horizontal gene transfer and halting the spread of antibiotic resistance. The CRISPR-Cas system has been crucial in identifying and understanding resistance mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic approaches. This review article investigates the CRISPR-Cas system's potential as a tool to combat bacterial AMR. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be targeted and eliminated by the CRISPR-Cas system. It has been proven to be an efficient method for removing carbapenem-resistant plasmids and regaining antibiotic susceptibility. The CRISPR-Cas system has enormous potential as a weapon against bacterial AMR. It precisely targets and eliminates antibiotic-resistant bacteria, facilitates resistance mechanism identification, and offers new possibilities in diagnostics and therapeutics.

Gait classification of knee osteoarthritis patients using shoe-embedded internal measurement units sensor.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis negatively affects the gait of patients, especially that of elderly people. However, the assessment of wearable sensors in knee osteoarthritis patients has been under-researched. During clinical assessments, patients may change their gait patterns under the placebo effect, whereas wearable sensors can be used in any environment. METHODS: Sixty patients with knee osteoarthritis and 20 control subjects were included in the study. Wearing shoes with an IMU sensor embedded in the insoles, the participants were required to walk along a walkway. The sensor data were collected during the gait. To discriminate between healthy and knee osteoarthritis patients and to classify different subgroups of knee osteoarthritis patients (patients scheduled for surgery vs. patients not scheduled for surgery; bilateral knee osteoarthritis diagnosis vs. unilateral knee osteoarthritis diagnosis), we used a machine learning approach called the support vector machine. A total of 88 features were extracted and used for classification. FINDINGS: The patients vs. healthy participants were classified with 71% accuracy, 85% sensitivity, and 56% specificity. The "patients scheduled for surgery" vs. "patients not scheduled for surgery" were classified with 83% accuracy, 83% sensitivity, and 81% specificity. The bilateral knee osteoarthritis diagnosis vs. unilateral knee osteoarthritis diagnosis was classified with 81% accuracy, 75% sensitivity, and 79% specificity. INTERPRETATION: Gait analysis using wearable sensors and machine learning can discriminate between healthy and knee osteoarthritis patients and classify different subgroups with reasonable accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. The proposed approach requires no complex gait factors and is not limited to controlled laboratory settings.

THEILERIA EQUI INFECTION IN WORKING HORSES OF PAKISTAN: EPIDEMIOLOGY, MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION, AND HEMATOBIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS.

Theileria equi is 1 of the emerging and prevailing tick-borne hemoprotozoans adversely affecting the equids worldwide, including Pakistan. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of T. equi in working horses (n = 194), the comparative efficacy of different diagnostic tests, associated risk factors, and hematobiochemical analysis. The blood samples of horses were subjected to microscopic examination, cELISA, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the results revealed a prevalence of 9.79, 21.13, and 13.40%, respectively, for T. equi in working horses. The comparison of microscopy and cELISA results with PCR showed that cELISA had higher sensitivity (84.62%), but lower specificity (88.69%) and accuracy (88.14%) in comparison to microscopy (57.69, 97.62, and 92.27%). Molecular characterization of T. equi by phylogenetic analysis revealed a 61% resemblance of study isolates with each other OL662926, OL662925, and 82% similarity with isolate OL662924 while also showing homology with T. equi isolates of South Africa, South Korea, India, Pakistan, and Brazil. The risk factor analysis revealed a significant association (P < 0.05) of tick control status, previous tick history, tick infestation, house hygiene, deworming/vaccination, and the presence of other livestock species with T. equi infection in horses. The hematobiochemical profile revealed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBCs), platelet (PLT), phosphorus, and an increase in lymphocytes, granulocytes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine in T. equi-infected horses. The current study is the first comprehensive report for comparative evaluation of microscopy, cELISA, and PCR, assessment of epidemiological risk factors as well as hematobiochemical variations due to T. equi infection in Pakistan.

Genotypes, epidemiological variables and fungicides application associated with wheat leaf rust development and grain yield.

The present study was carried out at the Plant Pathology Hafizabad Research Station, the University of Layyah, during the crop seasons 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to evaluate the response of various wheat genotypes against leaf rust severity (%), environmental conditions favourable for disease development and grain yield. Except for minimum temperature and minimum relative humidity, which had a negative association with disease development, there was a significant correlation between leaf rust severity (%) and all environmental conditions such as maximum temperature, maximum relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed. All epidemiological variables such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature, minimum relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed significantly affect the disease progression. The disease predictive model accounted for 48-69 % variability in leaf rust severity. The model performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.69) and RMSE, both demonstrated acceptable predictive results for leaf rust severity (%) management. Leaf rust severity (%) increased with an increase in maximum temperature (17.8-30 °C), maximum relative humidity (76.3-85 %), rainfall (2.2-10.85 mm) and wind speed 1.1-2.7 km/h and decreased with the increase of minimum temperature (7.91-16.71 °C) minimum relative humidity (47.15-56.45 %) during both rating seasons 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. The single and two applications of fungicides at the Zadok's scale 3, ZS 4.3, and ZS 5.4 stages led to a significant reduction in grain yield losses caused by leaf rust severity (%) in both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 crop seasons. Single and two sprays of prothioconazole, were found to be the first choice among all treatments to reduce the disease severity and increase grain production and maximum gross revenue (513.1-777.8$/ha), as compared to followed by single and two sprays of propiconazole (Progress), tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin, tebuconazole, bixafen + tebuconazole, and propiconazole (Tilt), respectively. These findings recommend the involvement of genotype resistance and weather predictors in wheat leaf rust development, along with fungicide application studies, to improve the predictability of host resistance to disease, future models, and the sustainability of disease control methods.

Back-table fenestrated endograft limb inversion for type Ia endoleak repair.

We present a case of a type Ia endoleak from an aortic endograft in close proximity to the renal arteries that was successfully treated with a back-table physician-modified endograft with inversion of the contralateral limb. This modification allowed for deployment of a fenestrated cuff and bifurcated distal main body over the flow divider of the previous endograft, thus avoiding the need for either an open aneurysm repair, physician-made fenestrations, or aorto-uni-iliac repair with femoral-femoral bypass. This case demonstrates that back-table physician-modified endograft contralateral limb inversion is an easy, reproducible, and effective technique.