Influence of natural and non-natural diets on the fitness and rearing of Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders.

In order to develop integrated management approaches for Pectinophora gossypiella, basic studies are crucial. The two-sex life table is the most important tool for describing the fitness and population parameters of both sexes (male and female) of an insect, while the traditional life table only explains the female sex of an insect. However, no study has reported on the biology of P. gossypiella using two-sex life table tools. Therefore, this study explains the rearing dynamics of P. gossypiella on a cotton seed-based artificial diet and a natural diet (mature cotton bolls). According to the results, the oviposition period of P. gossypiella was recorded to be longer on the artificial diet (9.07 ± 0.24) compared to the natural diet (7.40 ± 0.11). The total fecundity of P. gossypiella was greater on the artificial diet (125.94 ± 3.06) in comparison to the natural diet (60.37 ± 1.10). The population parameters, including intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, gross reproductive rate, and net reproductive rate of P. gossypiella were highest on the artificial diet in comparison to the natural diet. This study concluded that the cotton seed-based artificial diet was most suitable for the rearing of P. gossypiella. In the future, P. gossypiella may be studied in depth in light of the findings in this study.

Characterization of ultrasonically extracted flaxseed polysaccharide gum and assessing its lipid-lowering potential in a rat model.

Flaxseed polysaccharide gum (FPG) was extracted through the ultrasound-assisted process using water as a solvent with a yield ranging from 8.05 ± 0.32% to 12.23 ± 0.45% by changing different extraction variables. The extracted FPG was analyzed for its functional groups and antioxidant potential. The maximum DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity (≈100%) of FPG was noted at concentrations beyond ≈10 mg·ml-1. The maximum inhibition percentage through ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (72.4% ± 1.9%) was noted at 40 mg·ml-1, which was observed to be less when compared to DPPH at the same concentration. The total antioxidant potential of the FPG solution at a concentration of 10 mg·ml-1 was equivalent to 461 mg ascorbic acid, which tends to increase with concentration at a much lower scope. The in vivo trial suggested that the least weight gain was noted in experimental groups G2 and Gh2. A significant reduction in total cholesterol was noticed in G1 (-14.14%) and G2 (-17.72%) and in Gh1 (-22.02%) and Gh2 (-34.68%) after 60 days of the trial compared to the baseline values. The maximum reduction in total triglyceride was observed in Gh2 (-25.06%) and Gh1 (-22.01%) after 60 days of the trial. It was an increasing trend in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in different experimental groups G2 (10.51%) than G1 (5.35%) and Gh2 (48.96%) and Gh1 (31.11%), respectively, after 60 days of study interval. Reduction of -5.05% and - 9.45% was observed in G1 and G2, while similar results were observed in Gh1 and Gh2. Conclusively, results suggested a possible protective role of FPG against hyperlipidemia.

Acute Kidney Injury In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Published studies have reported that acute kidney injury (AKI) and other kidney related manifestations are associated with COVID-19 and linked with poor outcome. This study aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of AKI in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: This retrospective study of 154 patients involved retrieving data from hospital records confirm COVID-19 infection admitted to the Northwest General Hospital & Research Center, Peshawar from 1st April to 31st July 2020. AKI was defined using kidney disease. Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)" guidelines. Results: Incidence of AKI was 37.01%. Age, gender, intensive care (ICU) requirement, number of comorbid, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), arrhythmias among comorbid and fever and shortness of breath among symptoms were found to be significantly differed between AKI and non-AKI patients. Numerous differences of laboratory results such as serum sodium, potassium, total leukocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count and platelets between both groups were observed (p<0.05). Inflammatory markers including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, d-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly raised in AKI group. Overall mortality was observed to be 38 (24.7%). Moreover, age, ICU requirement; COAD, creatinine, serum sodium, inflammatory markers (LDH, ferritin, d-dimers and CRP), total leukocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count, platelets and support requirement were significantly differed between survivors and non-survivors. Mortality was significantly higher among AKI group, i.e., 52.6% compared to 8.2% in non-AKI group (p<0.001). Conclusion: AKI is common among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is associated with mortality. In all, AKI patients less than half of the patients survived.

One Year of Experience Managing Peritonitis Secondary to Gastrointestinal Perforation at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction Peritonitis secondary to gastrointestinal perforation causes high morbidity and mortality rates in the emergency department with an immediate need for surgical intervention. Despite improved surgical management procedures, patients are still suffering from gastrointestinal leak causing peritonitis that demands surgical management by highly skilled surgeons in high-quality surgical units. Material and methods This paper presents one year of experience in the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal perforation-related peritonitis by surgeons in Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Data was retrospectively collected from patient records and quantitatively analyzed. Involved patients developed peritonitis secondary to gastrointestinal perforation requiring surgical exploration and interventions in the emergency department between November 2020 and October 2021. Results One hundred and fifty-eight patients were involved; the mean age was 43.46 years. The number of males was 87 (55.06%). The patients mostly presented with generalized abdominal pain (57.6%). All the patients had perforation-related peritonitis, which was most prevalent in the ileum (62%). The most performed surgical intervention was loop ileostomy (36.71%). Compared to other published reports, the incidence rate of wound dehiscence in the hospital was relatively higher. Postoperatively, wound infection was low if the skin was left open (23.62%) compared to closed skin (38.7%). Patient outcomes were acceptable as the death rate was low (3.2%, 5/158). Conclusion Peritonitis caused by gastrointestinal perforation is associated with a high risk of morbidity that necessitates surgical exploration. Leaving skin wound open after the surgical intervention is recommended to decrease the incidence of wound infection and dehiscence.

Two-Year Experiences of 500 Appendectomies in Lahore General Hospital, Lahore.

Introduction Acute appendicitis is a leading cause of abdominal conditions in emergency departments. Evidence from research studies has indicated the efficacies of surgical procedures involving appendectomies. However, in Pakistan, there is a paucity of information regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentations, and surgical management of acute appendicitis. Objective This paper aims to report the epidemiologic data and findings of surgical management of acute appendicitis in Lahore General Hospital (LGH). The data was based on our two-year experiences of appendectomies in the hospital. Materials and methodology Data were collected retrospectively. The patients underwent appendectomies performed by the team of surgeons of Surgical Unit 1 of LGH in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department from July 2019 to October 2021. Results The total number of patients was 506, and the mean age was 26.8. Males (67.29%) and young adults aged 18-34 years were at higher risk of appendicitis. Compared to other surgical procedures performed, open appendectomy and laparoscopic appendectomy operative times were significantly shorter. Histopathology of all the cases showed acute inflammation of the appendix. Discussion Similar to findings from other research studies, the operative time of open appendectomies was shorter (70.6 minutes) in the hospital than the operative time of laparoscopic appendectomies (77 minutes). However, the overall operative times were longer than the operative times reported in some other research studies. Also, contrary to other research findings, open appendectomy (1.22 days) was associated with a longer length of hospital stay than laparoscopic appendectomy (≈1 day). Simple acute appendicitis was the most predominant operation findings (289, 57.1%). Conclusion Compared to other hospitals, the shorter hospital stays/recovery time indicated the high surgical skill of performing open and laparoscopic appendectomies in Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.

Diabetic ketoacidosis amongst patients with COVID-19: A retrospective chart review of 220 patients in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis and associated factors in COVID-19-positive patients. BACKGROUND: High mortality amongst SARS-Cov2 patients may be attributed to diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis. METHODS: A total of 220 COVID-19 positive patients, hospitalized in North West General Hospital & Research Center, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan, from April to September 2020, were analysed using STATA 14. Patients with positive PCR were labelled as COVID-19 positive and were included in the study. Patients with a clinical picture of COVID-19 and negative PCR were excluded from the study. Those having ketonemia >0.6 and random blood glucose level >250mg/dl, while HCO3 (bicarbonate) ≤18, were labelled as diabetic ketoacidosis. The statistical significance level was set at p < .05. RESULTS: A total of 220 COVID-19 patients were admitted; 166 (75.4%) were male and 54 (24.5%) were female. The mean age in years of the patients was 55.95 (SD13.9). About 57.7% of patients had diabetes mellitus, and 15 (6.8%) patients developed diabetic ketoacidosis. Amongst those with DKA, 5 patients died during hospital admission. The use of steroids was significantly higher (p < .001) in the DKA group compared with non-DKA patients. Hypertension (103,46.8%) and fever (170,77.3%) were the most reported comorbidity and symptom respectively. CONCLUSION: The proportion of diabetes mellitus is high in patients with COVID-19. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a frequent complication in this group associated with in-hospital mortality. Steroid administration for COVID-19 should be balanced with strict glycemic control to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis and increase hospital survival.

Fitness cost of imidacloprid resistance in the cotton-staining bug, Dysdercus koenigii.

Dysdercus koenigii, a serious cotton-staining insect pest in many countries, has shown high resistance to imidacloprid, a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide used to control sap-sucking pests. With the aim of creating an effective management strategy, the biological traits of susceptible (SS) and imidacloprid-resistant (Imida-RS) D. koenigii, as well as their reciprocal crosses (CR1 and CR2), were investigated here using a life table established on age, stage, and two-sex patterns. Compared with SS D. koenigii, Imida-RS and CR1 strains had lower relative fitness (0.80 and 0.47, respectively) and fecundity (eggs per female); prolonged egg duration and a prolonged adult preoviposition period; shorter nymphal duration, male/female total longevity, and oviposition days, and a shorter total preoviposition period. However, there were no differences among strains in nymphal survival rates and female ratio. The CR2 D. koenigii had similar relative fitness value (1.09), suggested no fitness cost in most of the parameters. Demographic parameters, including net reproductive rate, were lower in the Imida-RS strain than in SS and CR2 D. koenigii. Similarly, the Imida-RS and CR1 strains had shorter generation time and doubling time, lower reproductive value and life expectancy relative to the SS and CR2 D. koenigii. In addition, age-specific fecundity was negatively affected in the CR1 strain compared with the other strains. These findings could help facilitate the development of rational D. koenigii control strategies.

Realized heritability, inheritance and cross-resistance patterns in imidacloprid-resistant strain of Dysdercus koenigii (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae).

BACKGROUND: Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, is widely sprayed alone or mixed with other insecticides against Dysdercus koenigii, a potential pest of cotton in Pakistan. Recently, resistance to imidacloprid in field populations of D. koenigii has developed because of its overuse. Herein, we have investigated inheritance of imidacloprid resistance in D. koenigii and its cross-resistance to other insecticides. RESULTS: The imidacloprid-selected population had a 91 421-fold increase in resistance to imidacloprid after six generations. Overlapping 95% fiducial limits of LC50s of the F1 (Imida-Sel ♂ × Sus-ST ♀) and F1 † (Imida-Sel ♀ × Sus-ST ♂) suggested an autosomal and incomplete dominant resistance to imidacloprid (DLC = 0.84 for F1 and 0.86 for F1 † ). Reciprocal backcrosses of the F1 and F1 † with Sus-ST predicted a polygenic inheritance. Realized heritability of imidacloprid resistance was 0.38. When mean slope = 1.74 and h2 = 0.38, then 3-13 generations would be required for a ten-fold increase in LC50s at 90-20% intensity of selection. Very high cross-resistance to emamectin benzoate (143-fold), deltamethrin (1675-fold) and lambda-cyhalothrin (140-fold), and moderate cross-resistance to acetamiprid (37-fold) in the imidacloprid-selected strain compared to the field population were observed. CONCLUSION: Imidacloprid resistance developed very quickly under continuous selection pressure in the laboratory. These factors might lead to an increasing likelihood of resistance development in field populations, if imidacloprid is used continuously without insecticide rotation for prolonged periods. The present results would be supportive for better management of D. koenigii by devising an effective resistance management strategy. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluating Action Thresholds for Amrasca devastans (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Management on Transgenic and Conventional Cotton Across Multiple Planting Dates.

An action threshold (AT) based on the specific pest-crop relationship is an important element of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. We evaluated planting time-based ATs to manage a sucking pest, cotton leafhopper (Amrasca devastans; Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in conventional (CIM-554) and transgenic (Bt.CIM-599) cotton cultivars under field conditions. Cultivars were planted on 15 March, April, and May during 2011 and 2012. Only two ATs (0.1 and 1.0 A. devastans per leaf) and an untreated control could be tested on 15 March planted cotton, as the populations of A. devastans never reached a density of two per leaf. Cotton planted on 15 March had the highest seed cotton yield, highest net and marginal rate of returns (MRRs) than other planting times. At this planting time, only one insecticidal application was needed at an AT of 1.0 A. devastans per leaf, with no significant yield loss. Four ATs (0.1, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 A. devastans per leaf) and an untreated control were tested for cotton planted on 15 April and 15 May. For the 15 April planting, 2.0 AT led to 3 applications as compared with 10 applications needed with 0.1 AT; without any significant yield loss, generating the highest net return and MRR for this planting date. The 15 May planting was more vulnerable to A. devastans damage and 1.0 AT generated the highest net return and MRR with four applications as compared with all other ATs. These results suggest that the use of planting time-based ATs can improve cotton yield through cost-effective applications of insecticides.

Field evolved resistance to pyrethroids, neonicotinoids and biopesticides in Dysdercus koenigii (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) from Punjab, Pakistan.

The red cotton bug, Dysdercus koenigii (Fabricius) is an important emerging economic pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum Linnaeus in Pakistan. Insecticides are the primary management tactics to suppress populations of this pest. However, resistance to insecticides evolves due to substantial and repeated applications. The resistance to pyrethroids, neonicotinoids and biopesticides have been evaluated in many pests worldwide, nevertheless lack of information in D. koenigii. Therefore, the aforementioned insecticide resistance in five field populations of D. koenigii collected from Multan, Makhdoom Rashid, Jahanian, Lodhran and Vehari districts of Punjab, Pakistan during 2015-2017 was determined by using seed dip method. Based on the present results, D. koenigii has developed moderate to very high resistance to acetamiprid (RR = 33-433) and imidacloprid (RR = 21-173), low to high resistance to emamectin benzoate (RR = 14-52), and very low to high resistance to spinosad (RR = 4.13-54), compared to the susceptible population. However, all field populations of D. koenigii remained susceptible to deltamethrin (RR = 0.62-2.17) and lambda-cyhalothrin (RR = 0.91-1.97). A rotational use of pyrethroids with provision of other integrated pest management tactics is recommended to manage insecticide resistance in D. koenigii.

Age-Adjusted D-Dimer in the Prediction of Pulmonary Embolism: Does a Normal Age-Adjusted D-Dimer Rule Out PE?

Risk assessment for pulmonary embolism (PE) currently relies on physician judgment, clinical decision rules (CDR), and D-dimer testing. There is still controversy regarding the role of D-dimer testing in low or intermediate risk patients. The objective of the study was to define the role of clinical decision rules and D-dimer testing in patients suspected of having a PE. Records of 894 patients referred for computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) at a University medical center were analyzed. The clinical decision rules overall had an ROC of approximately 0.70, while signs of DVT had the highest ROC (0.80). A low probability CDR coupled with a negative age-adjusted D-dimer largely excluded PE. The negative predictive value (NPV) of an intermediate CDR was 86-89%, while the addition of a negative D-dimer resulted in NPVs of 94%. Thus, in patients suspected of having a PE, a low or intermediate CDR does not exclude PE; however, in patients with an intermediate CDR, a normal age-adjusted D-dimer increases the NPV.

Impact of neonicotinoid seed treatment of cotton on the cotton leafhopper, Amrasca devastans (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), and its natural enemies.

BACKGROUND: Neonicotinoid seed treatments suppress populations of pest insects efficiently and can enhance crop growth, but they may have negative effects on beneficial arthropods. We evaluated the effects of either imidacloprid or thiamethoxam on the abundances of a sucking pest, the cotton leafhopper (Amrasca devastans), and its arthropod predators under field conditions. We also evaluated the impact of seed treatment on transgenic cotton plant growth, with pests and natural enemies present or absent. RESULTS: Imidacloprid and thiamethoxam reduced pest abundance, with greater effects when dosages were higher. Treatment at recommended doses delayed the pest in reaching the economic damage threshold by around 10-15 days (thiamethoxam) and 20 days (imidacloprid). Recommended doses also enhanced plant growth under all tested conditions; growth is affected directly as well as via pest suppression. Neonicotinoid applications reduced abundance of beneficial arthropods, with lower populations after higher doses, but negative effects of imidacloprid were not apparent unless the manufacturer-recommended dose was exceeded. CONCLUSION: Imidacloprid applied at the recommended dose of 5 g kg(-1) seed is effective against A. devastans and appears to be safer than thiamethoxam for natural enemies, and also enhances plant growth directly. We caution, however, that possible sublethal negative effects on individual beneficial arthropods were not evaluated. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.