Enhanced wheat productivity in saline soil through the combined application of poultry manure and beneficial microbes.

BACKGROUND: Soil salinity is one of the major menaces to food security, particularly in dealing with the food demand of the ever-increasing global population. Production of cereal crops such as wheat is severely affected by soil salinity and improper fertilization. The present study aimed to examine the effect of selected microbes and poultry manure (PM) on seedling emergence, physiology, nutrient uptake, and growth of wheat in saline soil. A pot experiment was carried out in research area of Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Saline soil (12 dS m- 1 w/w) was developed by spiking using sodium chloride, and used in experiment along with two microbial strains (i.e., Alcaligenes faecalis MH-2 and Achromobacter denitrificans MH-6) and PM. Finally, wheat seeds (variety Akbar-2019) were sown in amended and unamended soil, and pots were placed following a completely randomized design. The wheat crop was harvested after 140 days of sowing. RESULTS: The results showed a 10-39% increase (compared to non-saline control) in agronomic, physiological, and nutritive attributes of wheat plants when augmented with PM and microbes. Microbes together with PM significantly enhanced seedling emergence (up to 38%), agronomic (up to 36%), and physiological (up to 33%) in saline soil as compared to their respective unamended control. Moreover, the co-use of microbes and PM also improved soil's physicochemical attributes and enhanced N (i.e., 21.7%-17.1%), P (i.e., 24.1-29.3%), and K (i.e., 28.7%-25.3%) availability to the plant (roots and shoots, respectively). Similarly, the co-use of amendments also lowered the Na+ contents in soil (i.e., up to 62%) as compared to unamended saline control. This is the first study reporting the effects of the co-addition of newly identified salt-tolerant bacterial strains and PM on seedling emergence, physiology, nutrient uptake, and growth of wheat in highly saline soil. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that co-using a multi-trait bacterial culture and PM could be an appropriate option for sustainable crop production in salt-affected soil.

Revealing the Role of Ruthenium on the Performance of P2-Type Na0.67Mn1-xRuxO2 Cathodes for Na-Ion Full-Cells.

Herein, P2-type layered manganese and ruthenium oxide is synthesized as an outstanding intercalation cathode material for high-energy density Na-ion batteries (NIBs). P2-type sodium deficient transition metal oxide structure, Na0.67Mn1-xRuxO2 cathodes where x varied between 0.05 and 0.5 are fabricated. The partially substituted main phase where x = 0.4 exhibits the best electrochemical performance with a discharge capacity of ≈170 mAh g-1. The in situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and time-resolved X-ray Diffraction (TR-XRD) measurements are performed to elucidate the neighborhood of the local structure and lattice parameters during cycling. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the oxygen-rich structure when Ru is introduced. Density of States (DOS) calculations revealed the Fermi-Level bandgap increases when Ru is doped, which enhances the electronic conductivity of the cathode. Furthermore, magnetization calculations revealed the presence of stronger Ru─O bonds and the stabilizing effect of Ru-doping on MnO6 octahedra. The results of Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) revealed that the Ru-doped sample has more sodium and oxygenated-based species on the surface, while the inner layers mainly contain Ru-O and Mn-O species. The full cell study demonstrated the outstanding capacity retention where the cell maintained 70% of its initial capacity at 1 C-rate after 500 cycles.

In-hospital initiation of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors in patients with acute heart failure.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits to patients with heart failure (HF) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD), regardless of diabetes status and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Despite robust data demonstrating the efficacy of SGLT-2 inhibitors in both ambulatory and hospital settings, real-world evidence suggests slow and varied adoption of SGLT2 inhibitors among patients hospitalized for HF. Barriers to implementation of SGLT2i may include clinicians' concerns regarding potential adverse events such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), volume depletion, and symptomatic hypoglycemia; or concerns regarding physiologically expected reductions in eGFR. Guidelines lack specific, practical safety data and definitive recommendations regarding in-hospital initiation and continuation of SGLT2i in patients hospitalized with HF. In this review, we discuss the safety of in-hospital SGLT2 inhibitor initiation based on recent trials and highlight the clinical implications of their early use in patients hospitalized for HF.

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy does not impede improvement in hypoglycaemia awareness in adults: Sub-study results from the HypoCOMPaSS trial.

AIMS: Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH) increases the risk of severe hypoglycaemia in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). IAH can be reversed through meticulous avoidance of hypoglycaemia. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) has been proposed as an underlying mechanism contributing to IAH; however, data are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) on IAH reversibility inT1DM. METHODS: Participants with T1DM and IAH (Gold score ≥4) recruited to the HypoCOMPaSS (24-week 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled) trial were included. All underwent screening for cardiac autonomic function testing at baseline and received comparable education and support aimed at avoiding hypoglycaemia and improving hypoglycaemia awareness. Definite CAN was defined as the presence of ≥2 abnormal cardiac reflex tests. Participants were grouped according to their CAN status, and changes in Gold score were compared. RESULTS: Eighty-three participants (52 women [62.7%]) were included with mean age (SD) of 48 (12) years and mean HbA1c of 66 (13) mmol/mol (8.2 [3.3] %). The mean duration of T1DM was 29 (13) years. The prevalence of CAN was low with 5/83 (6%) participants having definite autonomic neuropathy with 11 (13%) classified with possible/early neuropathy. All participants, regardless of the autonomic function status, showed a mean improvement in Gold score of ≥1 (mean improvement -1.2 [95% CI -0.8, -1.6]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IAH can be improved in people with T1DM, and a long duration of disease, with and without cardiac autonomic dysfunction. These data suggest that CAN is not a prime driver for modulating IAH reversibility.

Recent Developments on Electroactive Organic Electrolytes for Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects.

The ever-increasing threat of climate change and the depletion of fossil fuel resources necessitate the use of solar- and wind-based renewable energy sources. Large-scale energy storage technologies, such as redox flow batteries (RFBs), offer a continuous supply of energy. Depending on the nature of the electrolytes used, RFBs are broadly categorized into aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) and non-aqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs). ARFBs suffer from various problems, including low conductivity of electrolytes, inferior charge/discharge current densities, high-capacity fading, and lower energy densities. NARFBs offer a wider potential window and range of operating temperatures, faster electron transfer kinetics, and higher energy densities. In this review article, a critical analysis is provided on the design of organic electroactive molecules, their physiochemical/electrochemical properties, and various organic solvents used in NARFBs. Furthermore, various redox-active organic materials, such as metal-based coordination complexes, quinones, radicals, polymers, and miscellaneous electroactive species, explored for NARFBs during 2012-2023 are discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of NARFBs are summarized.

Recent Development of Electrolytes for Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries (Aorfbs): Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects.

In recent years, aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) have attracted considerable attention due to advancements in grid-level energy storage capacity research. These batteries offer remarkable benefits, including outstanding capacity retention, excellent cell performance, high energy density, and cost-effectiveness. The organic electrolytes in AORFBs exhibit adjustable redox potentials and tunable solubilities in water. Previously, various types of organic electrolytes, such as quinones, organometallic complexes, viologens, redox-active polymers, and organic salts, were extensively investigated for their electrochemical performance and stability. This study presents an overview of recently published novel organic electrolytes for AORFBs in acidic, alkaline, and neutral environments. Furthermore, it delves into the current status, challenges, and prospects of AORFBs, highlighting different strategies to overcome these challenges, with special emphasis placed on their design, composition, functionalities, and cost. A brief techno-economic analysis of various aqueous RFBs is also outlined, considering their potential scalability and integration with renewable energy systems.

Global health inequalities of chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality. This study investigated disparities in age, sex and socio-economic status in CKD and updated global prevalence estimates through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Five databases were searched from 2014 to 2022, with 14 871 articles screened, 119 papers included and data analysed on 29 159 948 participants. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted to determine overall prevalence, prevalence of stages 3-5 and prevalence in males and females. Influences of age, sex and socio-economic status were assessed in subgroup analyses and risk of bias assessment and meta-regressions were conducted to explore heterogeneity. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CKD was 13.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.3-14.8] and 6.6% (95% CI 5.6-7.8) for stages 3-5. The prevalence was higher in studies of older populations (19.3% for stages 1-5, 15.0% for stages 3-5) and meta-regression demonstrated an association of age, body mass index, diabetes and hypertension with prevalence of stages 3-5. The prevalence of CKD stages 1-5 was similar in males and females (13.1% versus 13.2%), but the prevalence of stages 3-5 was higher in females (6.4% versus 7.5%). Overall prevalence was 11.4%, 15.0% and 10.8% in low-, middle- and high-income countries, respectively; for stages 3-5, prevalence was 4.0%, 6.7% and 6.8%, respectively. Included studies were at moderate-high risk of bias in the majority of cases (92%) and heterogeneity was high. CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of CKD prevalence, highlighting important disparities related to age, sex and socio-economic status. Future research should focus on targeted screening and treatment approaches, improving access to care and more effective data monitoring, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Transcutaneous Delivery of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Via Microneedle-Assisted Iontophoretic Enhancement - A Potential Therapeutic Option for Inflammatory Disorders.

AIM: This study aimed to fabricate dexamethasone sodium phosphate loaded microneedle arrays (MNA) and investigate their efficiency in combination with iontophoresis for the treatment of hind paw oedema in rats. METHODS: Drug loaded polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and D-sorbitol-based MNA11 were fabricated by vacuum micromolding. Physicochemical, morphological, thermal, in-silico, in-vitro insertion ability (on parafilm) and drug release studies were performed. Ex-vivo permeation, in-vivo insertion and anti-inflammatory studies were performed in combination with iontophoresis. RESULTS: MNA11 displayed sharp-tipped projections and acceptable physicochemical features. Differential scanning calorimetry results indicated that drug loaded MNA11 were amorphous solids. Drug interacted with PVP and PVA predominately via hydrogen bonding. Parafilm displayed conspicuously engraved complementary structure of MNA11. Within 60 min, 91.50 ± 3.1% drug released from MNA11. A significantly higher i.e., 95.06 ± 2.5% permeation of drug was observed rapidly (within 60 min) from MNA11-iontophoresis combination than MNA11 i.e., 84.07 ± 3.5% within 240 min. Rat skin treated using MNA11 and MNA11-iontophoresis showed disruptions / microchannels in the epidermis without any damage to underlying anatomical structures. MNA11-iontophoresis combination led to significant reduction (83.02 ± 3.9%) in paw oedema as compared to MNA11 alone (72.55 ± 4.1%). CONCLUSION: MNA11-iontophoresis combination can act as a promising candidate to deliver drugs transcutaneously for treating inflammatory diseases.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of quinoline-anthranilic acid hybrids as potent anti-inflammatory drugs.

Despite the high global prevalence, rheumatoid arthritis lacks a satisfactory treatment. Hence, the present study is undertaken to design and synthesize novel anti-inflammatory compounds. For this, quinoline and anthranilic acid, two medicinally-privileged moieties, were linked by pharmacophore hybridization, and following their computational assessments, three hybrids 5a-c were synthesized in good over all yields. The in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of these hybrids was determined by anti-denaturation and anti-proteinase, and carrageenan-induced paw edema models. The computational studies of these hybrids revealed their drug-likeness, optimum pharmacokinetics, and less toxicity. Moreover, they demonstrated high binding affinity (-9.4 to -10.6 kcal mol-1) and suitable binding interactions for TNF-α, FLAP, and COX-II. A three-step synthetic route resulted in the hybrids 5a-c with 83-86% yield of final step. At 50 µg mL-1, the antiprotease and anti-denaturation activity of compound 5b was significantly higher than 5a and 5c. Furthermore, 5b significantly reduced the edema in the right paw of the rats that received carrageenan. The results of this study indicate the medicinal worth of the novel hybrids in treating inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Integrating DFT and machine learning for the design and optimization of sodium alginate-based hydrogel adsorbents: Efficient removal of pollutants from wastewater.

This study presents a novel approach to design and optimize a sodium alginate-based hydrogel (SAH) for efficient adsorption of the model water pollutant methylene blue (MB) dye. Utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, sodium alginate-g-poly (acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) was identified with the lowest adsorption energy (Eads) for MB dye among 14 different clusters. SAHs were prepared using selected monomers and sodium alginate combinations through graft co-polymerization, and swelling studies were conducted to optimize grafting conditions. Advanced characterization techniques, including FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, EDS, and TGA, were employed, and the process was optimized using statistical and machine learning tools. Screening tests demonstrated that Eads serves as an effective predicting indicator for adsorption capacity (qe) and MB removal efficiency (RRMB,%), with reasonable agreement between Eads and both responses under given conditions. Process modeling and optimization revealed that 5 mg of selected SAH achieves a maximum qe of 3244 mg g-1 at 84.4% RRMB under pH 8.05, 98.8 min, and MB concentration of 383.3 mg L-1, as identified by the desirability function approach. Moreover, SAH effectively eliminated various contaminants from aqueous solutions, including sulfasalazine (SFZ) and dibenzothiophene (DBT). MB adsorption onto selected SAH was exothermic, spontaneous, and followed the pseudo-first-order and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm models. The remarkable ability of SAH to adsorb MB is attributed to its well-designed structure predicted through DFT and optimal operational conditions achieved by AI-based parametric optimization. By integrating DFT-based computations and machine-learning tools, this study contributes to the efficient design of adsorbent materials and optimization of adsorption processes, also showcasing the potential of SAH as an efficient adsorbent for the abatement of aqueous pollution.

Functional genomics and taxonomic insights into heavy metal tolerant novel bacterium Brevibacterium metallidurans sp. nov. NCCP-602T isolated from tannery effluent in Pakistan.

The strain designated NCCP-602T was isolated from tannery effluent, and displayed aerobic, gram-positive, rod-shaped cells that were characterized by oxidase negative, catalase positive, and non-motile features. The most favourable growth conditions were observed at a temperature of 30°C, pH 7.0, and NaCl concentration of 1% (w/v). It tolerated heavy metals at high concentrations of chromium (3600 ppm), copper (3300 ppm), cadmium (3000 ppm), arsenic (1200 ppm) and lead (1500 ppm). The results of phylogenetic analysis, derived from sequences of the 16S rRNA gene, indicated the position of strain NCCP-602T within genus Brevibacterium and showed that it was closely related to Brevibacterium ammoniilyticum JCM 17537T. Strain NCCP-602 T formed a robust branch that was clearly separate from closely related taxa. A comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and dDDH values between the closely related type strains and strain NCCP-602T provided additional evidence supporting the classification of strain NCCP-602T as a distinct novel genospecies. The polar lipid profile included diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, phospholipids and amino lipids. MK-7 and MK-8 were found as the respiratory quinones, while anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0, iso-C17:0, and anteiso-C17:0 were identified as the predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10%). Considering the convergence of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic traits, it is suggested that strain NCCP-602 T be classified as a distinct species Brevibacterium metallidurans sp. nov. within genus Brevibacterium with type strain NCCP-602T (JCM 18882T = CGMCC1.62055T).

Postoperative complications among dialysis-requiring patients undergoing splenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients are at high risk for surgery, but their outcomes after splenectomy are unclear. We compared postoperative complications between dialysis and non-dialysis patients. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for this retrospective cohort. Adult patients undergoing elective splenectomy between 2005 and 2020 were included. RESULTS: Among 10,339 included patients, 143(1.4%) were on chronic dialysis. Postoperative mortality was higher in dialysis vs. non-dialysis patients (9.1% vs. 1.8%). Dialysis patients were more likely to have 30-day major morbidity, infectious and non-infectious complications, reoperation, and prolonged hospital stay. On multivariable regression, dialysis dependence significantly increased odds of mortality, major morbidity, blood transfusion, prolonged length of stay, reoperation, and failure-to-rescue (FTR). CONCLUSION: Dialysis patients were at higher risk of postoperative morbidity following splenectomy. Additionally, the risk of FTR in this patient population is also significantly more compared to non-dialysis patients.

Mutational spectrum associated with oculocutaneous albinism and Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome in nine Pakistani families.

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetically heterogeneous condition that is associated with reduced or absent melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, resulting in reduced vision, high sensitivity to light, and rapid and uncontrolled eye movements. To date, seventeen genes have been associated with OCA including syndromic and non-syndromic forms of the condition. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed to identify pathogenic variants in nine Pakistani families with OCA, with validation and segregation of candidate variants performed using Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, the pathogenicity of the identified variants was assessed using various in-silico tools and 3D protein structural analysis software. RESULTS: WES identified biallelic variants in three genes explaining the OCA in these families, including four variants in TYR, three in OCA2, and two in HPS1, including two novel variants c.667C > T: p.(Gln223*) in TYR, and c.2009 T > C: p.(Leu670Pro) in HPS1. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study adds further knowledge of the genetic basis of OCA in Pakistani communities and facilitates improved management and counselling services for families suffering from severe genetic diseases in Pakistan.

Surgical management and outcomes of renal tumors with inferior vena cava extension among children: a single center retrospective study from Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess management and determine outcomes of renal tumors with inferior vena cava (IVC) and intracardiac (IC) extension in a tertiary care center in Pakistan. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. All patients from 1 to 18 years of age with renal tumors with intravascular extensions, surgically managed from January 1988 till June 2016, were included. Data was extracted by reviewing medical records, and the tumor details, treatment and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients out of the total 61 patients with renal tumors, presented with IVC and/or IC extension, with the majority involving the right kidney. Mean age was 5.9 (SD:4.9) and a female preponderance (56%) was seen. Wilms tumor (77%) was the most common tumor type, with the level of tumor extension into IVC predominantly being below the diaphragm (55.5%). Fourteen patients received preoperative chemotherapy, with tumor regression, seen in 10. Most patients underwent thrombectomy through the renal vein (56%). Regarding outcomes, frequency of mortality and morbidity was 1 and 2, respectively, with 7 patients having no recurrent 5 years post-surgery. CONCLUSION: A greater incidence (29.5%) of IVC and or IC Tumor extension was found compared to existing literature, which could likely be due to a higher referral rate to the center. Moreover, this is a single-center study and so a multi-center study is crucial to form an assessment of surgical management in resource-limited settings. Our study is the first from Pakistan on this particular renal tumor presentation. Considering the varying case presentations and surgical techniques used, further studies are needed to standardize surgical management and optimize patient outcomes.

A comprehensive study of adverse effects of chemotherapy on female breast cancer patients in NORI Cancer Hospital, Islamabad in a developing country.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is one of the top three malignancies worldwide. While radiotherapy, hormone replacement therapys, and chemotherapy are treatments, chemotherapy causes adverse effects that hinder daily life activities. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, severity, and association of symptomatic toxicities in female breast cancer patients affecting various organ systems post systemic chemotherapy (adjuvant and neoadjuvant), and their impact on daily activities. Additionally, to determine the severity of adverse effects in specific age groups and their association with family history and disease stage. METHODOLOGY: An observational study was conducted on 253 female breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at NORI Cancer Hospital from May to October 2023. Data collection tools included the NCI-PRO-CTCAE standardized questionnaire and patient medical records. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, T-tests, and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Among the 253 patients, 41.4% were aged 41-50. Significant weight changes (p = 0.034) were observed with more than three chemotherapy cycles. Notable associations included increased chemotherapy cycles with gastrointestinal (mouth/throat sores p = 0.031, vomiting p = 0.021), respiratory (cough p = 0.04), cardiovascular (arm/leg swelling p = 0.007, palpitations p = 0.052), integumentary (hair loss p = 0.000, skin dryness p = 0.054), and musculoskeletal (fatigue p = 0.002) adverse effects. Positive family history and the 18-30 age group also showed significant associations with adverse effect severity. Disease stage significantly influenced the nervous system (stage 2 p = 0.007, stage 3 p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The severity of adverse effects varies among age groups, depending on disease stage, genetics, and treatment duration. These patient-reported outcomes highlight the need for better management strategies considering prognostic factors and treatment adverse effects.

Exploring the perspectives of healthcare professionals regarding artificial intelligence; acceptance and challenges.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the study was to explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and to identify challenges in its incorporation in the healthcare sector of Pakistan. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study design was adopted. The study was conducted from January 15th to February 29th, 2024, and HCPs (doctors, pharmacists and nurses) from two tertiary care teaching hospitals in southern Punjab, Pakistan were taken as the study population. The interviews were conducted with the help of a semi structured interview schema. A thematic approach was adopted to analyse the data. RESULTS: Out of 40 HCPs approached, 25 participated in the study with a response rate of 62%. The participants included in the study were doctors (14), pharmacists (6) and nurses (5). The participants had limited knowledge regarding AI and its basics. However, they showed positive perceptions about its incorporation. They believed that many of the problems faced by the healthcare sector of Pakistan can be minimized by AI incorporation. They believed that AI can boost up the efficiency of healthcare providers, reduce their workload, save time and minimize medical errors. Four main themes with multiple subthemes were identified: (1) Cognizance of AI, (2) Acceptability of AI among HCPs and training requirements for effective incorporation, (3) Merits and Demerits of AI, and (4) Challenges in incorporation of AI with proposed solutions. CONCLUSION: HCPs showed a willingness to embrace AI incorporation and believed that it may bring numerous benefits to the health system. Policymakers should take necessary steps to ensure AI incorporation in our healthcare sector.

Effect of hot saline irrigation on the operative field during endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Control of bleeding is very important during endoscopic sinus surgery. Saline heated up to 50 °C causes dilatation of vessels and edema without nasal mucosa necrosis. It also promotes the clotting cascade so helps in having a bloodless procedure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 patients divided into two groups (30 each). Group A was the interventional group in which patients were irrigated with saline of 50 °C during surgery. Group B was the control group where room-temperature saline was used. The operative field was assessed using the Boezaart score, duration of surgery, and bleeding in ml. RESULTS: The Boezaart score in group A came out to be 2.23 ± 0.72 whereas it was 3.43 ± 0.72 in group B. Most of the patients who were in the interventional group had their surgery completed within 60 min with comparatively less bleeding (mean bleeding = 221.83 ml). Patients of the control group had increased duration of surgery mostly and bleeding (mean = 265.67 ml). Our study showed a strong correlation amongst the Boezaart score, duration of surgery, and bleeding in ml with a p value of < 0.001 where all three variables significantly improved in the interventional group due to a good operative field provided by warm saline heated up to 50 °C. CONCLUSION: Normal saline heated up to 50 °C is a cost-effective way to achieve a bloodless operative field during endoscopic sinus surgery. Reduced bleeding also decreases the duration of surgery.

Unrivalled Insight into Possible Biopharmaceutical Application of Justicia vahlii Roth. (Acanthaceae): Chemodiversity, In Vitro Bioactivities, and Computational Analysis.

Justicia vahliiRoth. is an important wild medicinal food plant traditionally used for treating inflammation and various common ailments. This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and toxicity profiles of n-hexane (nHEJv) and chloroform (CEJv) extracts of J. vahlii. Moreover, the effect of the extracts was evaluated on CCl4 induced liver injury. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were present in both extracts in significant amount. The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and GC-MS profiling of CEJv tentatively identified several important phytocompounds. The CEJv extract was comparatively more active for antioxidant activity and α-amylase inhibition, whereas the nHEJv extract presented higher inhibition potential against urease, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase enzymes. Similarly, the in-silicostudy of four major compounds, i. e., 1-acetoxypinoresinol, 3-hydroxysebacic acid, nortrachelogenin, and viscidulin-III have shown a good docking score against the clinically significant enzymes. The acute oral toxicity and brine shrimp lethality assaysrevealed the extracts as non-toxic. The CCl4 treated animals showed a geared depletion of various antioxidant enzymes which were significantly reversed with the treatment of the extracts. Overall, the study's findings revealed J. vahliiwith antioxidant mediated hepatoprotective and enzyme inhibition potential and warrant further research on isolation of the bioactive compounds.

Temporal trends in indoor bioaerosols: implications for dental healthcare environments.

Antibiotic resistance, a significant public health hazard, is predicted to cause 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050. The study aimed to identify culturable bioaerosols in the indoor air of dental units in Lahore and assess their antibiotic resistance. Air samples were collected from 10 dental unit locations at different distances, with average concentrations of fungi and bacteria falling within intermediate ranges, per the Global Index of Microbial Contamination (GIMC/m3) index. The study found higher antibiotic-resistant strains in hospital dental units, particularly during winter. The most vigorous strain, S.aureus-NAJIH18, exhibited 70% resistance to ceftazidime. The research highlights the importance of quantifying microbial pollutants for evaluating their source and complexity. It suggests proactive mitigation techniques, such as focused cleaning and air filtration, to improve indoor air quality can mitigate the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains. These insights offer hope in combating the growing public health threat of antibiotic resistance.

Novel insights regarding the safety and efficacy of pyrethroid-coated nanoparticles against Hyalomma ticks.

Nanoparticles have been shown to inhibit major life cycle stages of ticks, indicative of the promising application of nanomaterials against hard ticks. The study thus probed into one of the alternative options to curtail Hyalomma by employing nanocomposites consisting of pyrethroids (cypermethrin and deltamethrin) coated nanoparticles of iron oxides and iron sulfides keeping alongside the evaluation of their toxicity through plant and mammalian cell lines. The nanoparticles used in this study were roughly spherical in morphology and exhibited various size dimensions upon characterization using SEM, EDX, and FTIR. The application of nanomaterials on female ovipositioning tick showed a decline up to 15% (females ovipositioned) in deltamethrin-coated FeO NPs, whereas this decline was up to 18% in Cyp-FeS NPs and up to 5% in Cyp-FeO NPs. Similarly, the larval hatching was also impacted, leading to a hatching percentage of 5% and only 1% by application of Cyp-FeS NPs and Cyp-FeO NPs, respectively. Similarly, the larval groups had LC90 of 4.1 and 4.73 mg/L for the Cyp-FeO NPs and Cyp-FeS NPs groups. The delta-FeO NPs and delta-FeS NPs demonstrated a promising effect against adult ticks, showing LC50= 3.5 mg/L, LC90= 6.7 mg/L and LC50= 3.8 mg/L, LC90= 7.9 mg/L, respectively. MTT assay revealed that the pyrethroids coupled with iron oxide nanoparticles showed the least cytotoxicity even at the highest concentration (10-1 µL) among other nanomaterials. The study thus concluded a safer spectrum of non-target effects of pyrethroids-coated nanomaterials in addition to their significant anti-tick activity.