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Autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer significant potential to improve safety, reduce emissions, and increase comfort, drawing substantial attention from both research and industry. A critical challenge in achieving SAE Level 5 autonomy, full automation, is path planning. Ongoing efforts in academia and industry are focused on optimizing AV path planning, reducing computational complexity, and enhancing safety. This paper presents a novel approach using Lyapunov Optimization (LO) for local path planning in AVs. The proposed LO model is benchmarked against two conventional methods: model predictive control and a sampling-based approach. Additionally, an AV prototype was developed and tested in Norman, Oklahoma, where it collected data to evaluate the performance of the three control algorithms used in this study. To minimize costs and increase real-world applicability, a vision-only solution was employed for object detection and the generation of bird's-eye-view coordinate data. Each control algorithm, i.e., Lyapunov Optimization (LO) and the two baseline methods, were independently used to generate safe and smooth paths for the AV based on the collected data. The approaches were then compared in terms of path smoothness, safety, and computation time. Notably, the proposed LO strategy demonstrated at least a 20 times reduction in computation time compared to the baseline methods.

Kidney dysfunction is a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus, contributing significantly to diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. We aim to explore whether platelet-rich plasma administration can modulate iron regulation mechanism within the kidney, thereby mitigating renal dysfunction associated with diabetes. Albino mice with an average body weight of 20 ± 5 g were randomly divided into five groups (N = 50; n = 10): Control Group, PRP Group, diabetic group (DG), treated group A (TA), and treated group B (TB). A single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan (160 mg/kg of body weight) was administered to mice in the DG and in both treated groups. Upon confirmation of diabetes, the DG was left untreated, while PRP treatment (0.5 ml/kg of body weight) was administered to the TA and TB groups for two and four weeks, respectively. Histological examinations of kidney tissues revealed notable signs of damage in DG, which were subsequently improved upon PRP treatment. Likewise, PRP treatment restored the changes in liver enzymes, oxidative stress biomarkers and serum electrolytes in both treated groups. Furthermore, there was an observed upregulation of iron regulatory genes, such as Renin, Epo, Hepc, Kim1, and Hfe, in the DG, accompanied by a downregulation of Tfr1 and Fpn; however, Dmt1 and Dcytb1 expression remained unaltered. Treatment with PRP restored the expression of iron regulatory genes in both treated groups. This study concluded that PRP treatment effectively restored the renal histochemistry and the expression of renal iron regulatory genes in an alloxan-induced diabetic mice model., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is commonly used to measure disability after stroke, traditionally assessed through telephone or in-person evaluation. Here, we investigated the validity of mRS assessment through an automated text messaging system based on the simplified mRS questionnaire as an alternative method to traditional methods of assessment., Methods and Results: A total of 250 patients admitted to 3 hospitals within the University of Pennsylvania Health System with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were enrolled. Participants received automated text messages sent 48 hours before their outpatient appointment at about 90 days after stroke. The mRS scores were assigned on the basis of participant responses to 2 to 4 text questions eliciting yes/no responses. The mRS was then evaluated in person or by telephone interview for comparison. Responses were compared with κ. A total of 142 patients (57%) completed the study. The spontaneous response rate to text messages was 46.5% and up to 72% with an additional direct in-person or phone call reminder. Agreement was substantial (quadratic-weighted κ=0.87 [95% CI, 0.83-0.89]) between responses derived from the automated text messaging and traditional interviews. Agreement for distinguishing functional independence (mRS 0-1) from dependence (mRS 2-5) was substantial (unweighted κ=0.79 [95% CI, 0.69-0.90])., Conclusions: An automated text messaging system is a feasible method for remotely obtaining the mRS after stroke and a potential alternative to traditional in-person or telephone assessment. Further studies are needed to evaluate the generalizability of text message-based approaches to stroke outcome measurement.

Parabens are being used as preservatives due to their antifungal and antimicrobial effects. They are emerging as aquatic pollutants due to their excessive use in many products. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effect of ethyl paraben (C9H10O3) on the hematobiochemical, histological, oxidative, and anti-oxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity; the study also evaluates the potential of ethyl paraben to cause genotoxicity in Rohu Labeo rohita. A number of 15 fish with an average weight of 35.45±1.34g were placed in each group and exposed to ethyl paraben for 21 days. Three different concentrations of ethyl paraben, i.e., T1 (2000μg/L), T2 (4000 μg/L), andT3 (6000 μg/L) on which fish were exposed as compared to the control T0 (0.00 μg/L). Blood was used for hematobiochemical and comet assay. Gills, kidneys, and liver were removed for histological alterations. The results showed a significant rise in all hemato-biochemical parameters such as RBCs, WBCs, PLT count, blood sugar, albumin, globulin, and cholesterol. An increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels directed the hepatocytic damage. Histological alterations in the liver, gills and kidneys of fish were found. Ethylparaben induces oxidative stress by suppressing antioxidant enzyme activity such as SOD, GSH, CAT and POD. Based on the comet assay, DNA damage was also observed in blood cells, resulting in genotoxicity. Findings from the present study indicate that ethyl paraben induces hemato-biochemical alterations, tissue damage, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Akmal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved catabolic process that plays physiological and pathological roles in a cell. Its effect on cellular metabolism, the proteome, and the number and quality of organelles, diversely holds the potential to alter cellular functions. It acts paradoxically in cancer as a tumor inhibitor as well as a tumor promoter. In the early stage of tumorigenesis, it prevents tumor initiation by the so-called "quality control mechanism" and suppresses cancer progression. For late-staged tumors that are exposed to stress, it acts as a vibrant process of degradation and recycling that promotes cancer by facilitating metastasis. Despite this dichotomy, the crucial role of autophagy is evident in cancer, and associated with mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR), p53, and Ras-derived major cancer networks. Irrespective of the controversy regarding autophagic manipulation, promotion and suppression of autophagy act as potential therapeutic targets in cancer treatment and may provide various anticancer therapies., (© 2022 Amin Arif et al., published by Sciendo.)

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality all around the world. Patients with Ischemic heart disease (IHD) are at an increased risk of ischemic events; therefore, secondary prevention measures should continue for these patients. Although Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is one of the secondary prevention measures for IHD patients which has favorable clinical outcomes, only 50% of patients are referred and among them, a small percentage attends CR. Therefore, other strategies should be considered, one of which is home-based cardiac rehabilitation., Methods: A multicenter, parallel-group randomized controlled trial has been conducting in three hospitals in Isfahan and patients have been assigned into a 1:1 ratio for the evaluation of the effectiveness of home-based cardiac rehabilitation versus usual care. Psycho-educational consultation based on the Health Action Process Approach including heart-healthy diet, stress management, lifestyle changes, smoking cessation, and physical activity has been performed. Primary outcomes, including the quality of life, psychological and smoking status, body mass index, blood pressure, blood cholesterol level, and physical activity level have been measured at 6 months after the randomization and intervention. One year after the intervention, primary and secondary outcomes, including cardiovascular events, the frequency of hospital admissions, and the death rates due to cardiovascular reasons will be assessed., Conclusion: HBCR program can increase patient accessibility to CR services its implantation can be reduce burden IHD., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 International Journal of Preventive Medicine.)

Background: Depression is common in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) is a program that alleviates depression. This study aimed to determine and compare HBCR programs and usual care (UC) effects on depression control in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD)., Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 259 patients with IHD that were randomly allocated to the HBCR and UC groups for stress management. Data were collected using the "Beck Depression Inventory" (BDI) at baseline and 6 and 12 months. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were applied to examine the associations between times of the groups and changes in outcomes over the study times. Data analysis was done in SPSS software at the significance level of 0.05., Results: A total of 247 participants with a mean age of 55.22 ± 7.40 years participated in this study, and 209 (84.6%) of the study participants were men. Among patients, 128 patients in the UC program and 119 patients in the HBCR program attended at least one of the pre-determined visits (months 6 and 12). The patterns of change of the depression parameter were similar through the course of the study between the two groups (P = 0.04). In the HBCR group, the depression reduced continuously from baseline to 6 months, baseline to 12 months, and 6 to 12 months (P < 0.05). In the UC group, depression was significantly reduced from baseline to 6 months and from baseline to 12 months., Conclusion: HBCR was effective in continuous reducing of depression scores in long-term follow-up of patients with IHD. These findings suggest that HBCR can alleviate depression in patients who do not participate in hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR)., (© 2022 Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center & Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.)

Objective: Evaluating the degree of extracranial stenosis is important in predicting the risk of cerebrovascular events and to assess if the patient can benefit from any intervention. Non-invasive methods, like Doppler Ultrasonography (DUS) are preferred to invasive methods such as Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)., Methods: In this retrospective study, the level of agreement between DUS and DSA regarding the degree of stenosis of Internal Carotid Arteries (ICAs) and Vertebral Arteries (VAs) was assessed. The degree of ICA stenosis was classified into 5 groups. DSA was assumed as the gold standard. VA stenosis was classified into two groups of more or less than 50% stenosis., Results: A total of 428 ICAs were assessed. Based on DSA results, DUS could estimate the degree of arterial stenosis in groups of 0-15% stenosis and 100% stenosis most accurately, and the least accuracy was in groups of 50-69% and 70-99% stenosis. The overall agreement between DUS and DSA in the classified ICA stenosis was moderate (Weighted Kappa = 0.565, P < 0.001). Also, the agreement of DUS and DSA when classifying ICA stenosis into two groups of above and below 50%, was moderate (Kappa = 0.583, P < 0.001). DUS was most sensitive and specific in the group of 100% stenosis (Sensitivity: 0.75 Specificity: 0.99) as well as the group of 1-15% stenosis (Sensitivity: 0.80 Specificity: 0.76). Also, DUS was least sensitive in group of 50-69% stenosis (Sensitivity: 0.11 Specificity: 0.94). Regarding VAS, 108 arteries were assessed and the agreement between DUS and DSA was fair (Kappa = 0.248, CI95 = -0.013 - 0.509, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: DUS can be used as the first-line screening tool for detecting extra cranial arteries stenosis. The practicality of the DUS as a screening tool for extracranial VAs stenosis appears to be limited., Competing Interests: The authors deny any conflict of interest in any terms or by any means during the study., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The GABA receptor is an important epilepsy-associated candidate gene, and has always been a focus in etiology and in the treatment of epilepsy. This study explores the genetic association between GABA receptor gene polymorphisms and epilepsy in a cohort of the Pakistani population. A case-control study was conducted on 150 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and 150 controls. Blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified products were subsequently genotyped by Sanger sequencing and the results were analyzed using the chi-square test. Among the five mutational sites observed, two GABRA1 (rs2279020 and novel c.1016&#95;1017insT) and two GABRA6 (rs3219151 and novel c.1344C>G) were found to be significantly associated with IGE. Amino acid alignment showed that a novel insertion mutation, c.1016&#95;1017insT, in GABRA1 disrupted the reading frame and was possibly damaging, whereas c.1344C>G in GABRA6 was responsible for a synonymous mutation. Therefore, both the GABA receptor genes may play critical roles in the development of epilepsy in Pakistani patients., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Lipids are integral cellular components that act as substrates for energy provision, signaling molecules, and essential constituents of biological membranes along with a variety of other biological functions. Despite their significance, lipid accumulation may result in lipotoxicity, impair autophagy, and lysosomal function that may lead to certain diseases and metabolic syndromes like obesity and even cell death. Therefore, these lipids are continuously recycled and redistributed by the process of selective autophagy specifically termed as lipophagy. This selective form of autophagy employs lysosomes for the maintenance of cellular lipid homeostasis. In this review, we have reviewed the current literature about how lipid droplets (LDs) are recruited towards lysosomes, cross-talk between a variety of autophagy receptors present on LD surface and lysosomes, and lipid hydrolysis by lysosomal enzymes. In addition to it, we have tried to answer most of the possible questions related to lipophagy regulation at different levels. Moreover, in the last part of this review, we have discussed some of the pathological states due to the accumulation of these LDs and their possible treatments under the light of currently available findings., Competing Interests: All the authors declared there is no conflict of interest or ethical concern in this article., (Copyright © 2021 Muhammad Babar Khawar et al.)

Background: Migraine is a chronic neurovascular condition characterized by recurring attacks of pulsating headaches. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified many potential loci associated with migraine. To check the association of polymorphisms of PRDM16 (rs2651899), LRP1 (rs11172113), and TRPM8 (rs10166942) with migraine, the first time a case-control study was conducted in understudied Pakistani population., Methods: The study included 127 migraine patients (21 in migraine with aura and 106 with migraine without aura group) and 120 healthy control subjects from different areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected from all the participants, and DNA was isolated from the lymphocytes by the modified organic method. Sanger's sequencing was done for PRDM16 ( rs2651899), LRP1 (rs11172113), and TRPM8 (rs10166942) in all the samples to check the genotype. Logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 to check the association of these SNPs with migraine susceptibility., Results: We found statistically significant differences between case and control group for PRDM16 ( rs2651899) at genotypic level (p < 0.001), allelic level (p < 0.001; OR 3.088; 95% CI 2.082-4.579) and for dominant model (p < 0.001; OR 5.437; 95% CI 3.112-9.498). The major findings of this study suggested that PRDM16 rs2651899 is strongly associated with migraine in overall and subgroup analysis of genotypes. LRP1 (rs11172113) showed significant association with migraine except in subgroup comparison. A similar trend of association was found for TRPM8 (rs10166942) however, significant association was found only at the allelic level but no significant difference was seen at the genotypic level between case and control. One novel mutation c.67 + 4436&#95;67 + 4438delA was also identified in the current study near LRP1 (rs11172113) polymorphic site., Conclusion: In this first-ever replication report from Pakistan, PRDM16 ( rs2651899) was found as a potential genetic marker in migraine susceptibility while LRP1 (rs11172113) and TRPM8 (rs10166942) showed partial association in subgroup analysis., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Molecular based identification of bat fauna in Pakistan has been relatively less explored. The current study was therefore planned to report for the first time the molecular classification of insectivorous bats (Pipistrellus coromandra) based on mitochondrion gene (COI) from Punjab, Pakistan. Specimens were collected from five different locations followed by DNA extraction with subsequent gene amplification and sequencing. All samples in the study had shown close identity matches with species (Pipistrellus coromandra) from India and (Pipistrellus tenuis) from Vietnam with percentage identity score of 96.11 and 95.58 respectively except one sequence which only revealed 86.78% identity match on Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and could only be assigned to genus level Pipistrellus sp. The results indicated negligible intra-population genetic distance among collected samples whereas the comparison with species from other countries had shown high intraspecific (P. coromandra) and interspecific (P. tenuis) mean genetic distances. The current study hence successfully proved the efficiency of COI gene as a molecular marker for species identification and in analyzing the patterns of genetic variation with species from other countries.

The present study investigated the (i) socio-demographic predictors of psychological distress, (ii) socio-demographic predictors of satisfaction from online classes, and (iii) the relationship between psychological distress and satisfaction from online classes among university students of Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire-based survey was conducted. A total of 2220 respondents that was enrolled at the University of the Punjab (PU), University of Management and Technology (UMT), and the University of Central Punjab (UCP) were involved in the current study. Data were collected at a 64% response rate and analyzed with SPSS IBM Version 21.0. Results revealed that approximately 41% of the students were facing severe psychological distress while about 65% were found unsatisfied with online classes. Besides, a linear negative relationship between the independent variable, i.e. psychological distress and the dependent variable, i.e. satisfaction from online classes was found. Therefore, to minimize the level of psychological distress and increase students' satisfaction with online classes it is highly recommended to take precautionary measures by the relevant stakeholders., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Choosing a safe disease modifying therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. This case series study was conducted to determine the incidence rate and the course of Covid-19 infection in MS/NMOSD patients treated with Rituximab., Methods: In this study, we designed a web-based questionnaire. Baseline information such as patient- reported walking disability, total number of Rituximab infusions received, delayed injections, occurrence of any relapse, and the use of corticosteroids during the pandemic were collected. Also, information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic such as adherence to self-isolation, any recent exposure to an infected individual and the presence of suggestive symptoms were collected. In case of positive test results, patients were grouped into 2 categories; mild to moderate and seriously ill and outcomes were evaluated as favorable (improved/ discharged) and unfavorable (expired)., Results: Two hundred fifty-eight patients with Multiple Sclerosis were enrolled in this study, 9 of the subjects (3.4%) were confirmed positive for Covid-19, five of which required hospitalizations (55.5%), two patients required ICU admission (22.2%) and 2 two patients died (22.2%). None of these patients ever mentioned using corticosteroids during the pandemic. In comparison to MS patients who were not receiving disease modifying therapy (DMT), our study indicated a higher incidence of Covid-19 infection, higher ratio of serious illness and a higher fatality ratio., Conclusions: Rituximab seems not to be safe enough during the pandemic.

Excessive consumption of dietary fats leads to the deposition of unnecessary metabolites and multiple organ damage. Lipids, important key regulators of Hedgehog signaling, are involved in triggering fibrotic chronic kidney disease. The present study encompasses the assessment of renal morphofunctional modifications and alteration of lipid metabolism influencing the changes in gene expression of hedgehog signaling pathway genes. Fifteen male Rattus norvegicus of 200 ± 25 grams weight were equally divided into three groups: control (standard rat chow), D-1 (unsaturated high-fat diet) and D-2 (saturated high-fat diet). Animals were provided with respective diets and were followed for 16 weeks. Both HFD-fed groups did not show overall body weight gain as compared to the control. While significant downregulation of hedgehog pathway genes was found in fatty diet groups. In comparison with the control group, Shh , Gli1 , Gli2 , and Gli3 were downregulated after the consumption of both unsaturated and saturated fatty diets. Ihh and Smo exhibit a similar downregulation in the D-1 group, but an upregulation was detected in the D-2 group. D-2 group also had an increased serum urea concentration as compared to the control ( P = 0.0023). Furthermore, renal histopathology revealed tubular necrosis, glomerular edema, glomerular shrinkage, and hypocellularity. Collagen deposition in both HFD groups marks the extent of fibrosis summary figure. Extravagant intake of dietary fats impaired normal kidney functioning and morphofunctionally anomalous kidney triggers on Hh signaling in adult rats. These anomalies can be linked to an escalated risk of chronic kidney disease in adults strongly recommending the reduced uptake of fatty diets to prevent impaired metabolism and renal lipotoxicity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Rabia Mehmood et al.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of membrane-bounded vesicles that are believed to be produced and secreted by presumably all cell types under physiological and pathological conditions, including tumors. EVs are very important vehicles in intercellular communications for both shorter and longer distances and are able to deliver a wide range of cargos including proteins, lipids, and various species of nucleic acids effectively. EVs have been emerging as a novel biotherapeutic platform to efficiently deliver therapeutic cargos to treat a broad range of diseases including cancer. This vast potential of drug delivery lies in their abilities to carry a variety of cargos and their ease in crossing the biological membranes. Similarly, their presence in a variety of body fluids makes them a potential biomarker for early diagnosis, prognostication, and surveillance of cancer. Here, we discuss the relatively least and understudied aspects of EV biology and tried to highlight the obstacles and limitations in their clinical applications and also described most of the new warfronts to beat cancer at multiple stages. However, much more challenges still remain to evaluate EV-based therapeutics, and we are very much hopeful that the current work prompts further discovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

This study was aimed to find histological changes in the extrahepatic organs, hepatic iron deposition, and gene expression of some iron regulatory proteins in rats after sterile muscle abscess during the acute intoxication of Nerium oleander leaves decoction. 10 ml/kg of the leaves extract was injected intramuscularly in Wistar rats (200-225 g, n = 4). Control animals received saline injection of matched volume. Animals were anesthetized and sacrificed after 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after administration of decoction. Lungs, kidney, spleen, and liver were extracted and processed for histopathological examination while portion of liver tissue was proceeded for iron regulatory gene expression quantification. Sections of all studied organs were found with signs of cellular dysfunction with infiltration of variety of leucocytes. In the lungs section at 3 h time point mononuclear cell infiltrates were observed while in alveolar tissue at 24 h time point dilation and even collapse in some of the alveoli were evident. In kidney sections distortion of renal tubules and epithelial cells with shrinkage of glomeruli was noted at all studied time points. In the splenic section of 12 h time point, degeneration, depopulation, and shrinkage of white pulp have been noted. Distension of the red pulp along with activation of splenic follicles was evident after 24 h onset of APR. Significant changes in the expression of acute phase cytokine and iron regulatory genes were noted. IL-6 and Hepc gene expression were strongly upregulated up to 12 h whereby Tf gene expression showed an early upregulation at 3 h time point followed by downregulation on later points while Hjv gene expression showed an overall downregulation at all study time points compared to control. It is concluded that inherent toxins present in the N. oleander can induce acute phase response and cause severe histological changes in the organs and marked changes in the regulation of iron regulatory proteins thus cannot be practiced routinely.

We present a case of 14-year girl with left-sided acute appendicitis who presented with lower abdominal pain. Midgut malrotation occurs at a rate of 1 in 500 live births. The condition is incidentally diagnosed during various radiological investigations done for other purposes. However, such patients may present with conditions like acute appendicitis, which poses a diagnostic dilemma if a high index of suspicion is not kept. The purpose of this case report is to increase awareness in the emergency physicians and young surgeons of this rare presentation; and the importance of radiological investigations in the diagnosis of left-sided appendicitis, to decrease morbidity and mortality.

Interleukin-32 theta (IL-32θ) is newly identified isoform of IL-32 which plays a vital role in inflammatory responses. Like IL-32α and IL-32β, IL-32θ isoform acts as an intracellular inflammatory modulator. It results in reduction of IL-1β production by attenuating the expression of PU.1 and inhibition of monocytes differentiation into macrophages. IL-32θ hinders TNF-α expression by inhibiting p38 MAPK and inhibitor of κB (IκB) as well. It also reserved STAT3-ZEB1 pathway leading to the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. Hence, it can be concluded that IL-32θ is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that can act as a tumor suppressor and can play vital role in colon cancer therapies. IL-32θ also plays a crucial role in immune system responses and cellular differentiation during disease pathogenesis. To our best knowledge this is the first ever review to condense the importance, precise mode of action in disease progression and latent remedial implications of IL-32θ in several inflammatory disorders., Competing Interests: None.

Many studies have been carried out in order to determine the toxicity of medicinal plants. The objective of this study was to compare and analyze the hepatic response against two doses of Nerium oleander, (N. oleander) “kaner” leaf decoction. Aqueous leaf decoction was injected intramuscularly into both hind limbs of male rats (200&#x2213;10g), assigned into three categories (n=4): control group with no treatment; group I, injected with 5 ml/ kg; and group II injected with 10 ml/ kg of leaf decoction, respectively. Animals were sacrificed 6 h after administration and hepato-histological changes were then observed. The decoction induced an acute phase reaction reflected by a more significant recruitment of inflammatory cells in group II than in group I and controls, as observed by histological studies. These results indicated that both doses can induce an acute-phase condition. Hence, traditional practice of medicinal plants without preliminary dose assessment must not be administered.

A vast variety of nonstructural proteins have been studied for their key roles and involvement in a number of biological phenomenona. Interleukin-32 is a novel cytokine whose presence has been confirmed in most of the mammals except rodents. The IL-32 gene was identified on human chromosome 16 p13.3. The gene has eight exons and nine splice variants, namely, IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, IL-32δ, IL-32ε, IL-32ζ, IL-32η, IL-32θ, and IL-32s. It was found to induce the expression of various inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β as well as macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and has been reported previously to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of a number of inflammatory disorders, namely, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastric inflammation and cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the current review, we have highlighted the involvement of IL-32 in gastric cancer, gastric inflammation, and chronic rhinosinusitis. We have also tried to explore various mechanisms suspected to induce the expression of this extraordinary cytokine as well as various mechanisms of action employed by IL-32 during the mediation and progression of the above said problems.

Cytokines have always been of great interest due to their vast potential and participation in the progression and pathogenesis of various ailments. Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a recently identified cytokine, whose gene is located on human chromosome 16 p13.3, with eight exons and six splice variants (IL-32α to IL-32ζ). IL-32α, the most abundant form, is secreted by different types of cells including T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, endothelial cells and epithelial cells. It acts as a preferential mediator and effector of abnormal immune responses to multiple inflammatory and auto immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), etc. It was found to stimulate the induction of various chemokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2). Hence, IL-32 mediates the crucial interplay among immune system and body cells during pathogenesis of various insults. The aim of the present effort is to summarize the role, mechanism of pathogenesis and potential therapeutic applications of IL-32 in different systemic infections and diseased conditions.

BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may have a role in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So, the aim of this study was to assess the association between SIBO and IBS by using glucose breath test (GBT) in Kerman city as the first study in Iranian population. METHODS 107 patients with IBS and 107 healthy individuals were enrolled in our study. All the participants underwent GBT. A peak of H2 values >20 p.p.m above the basal value after glucose ingestion was considered suggestive of SIBO. SPSS software version 17 was used for data analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS Of the 107 patients with IBS, 40 had positive GBT (37.4%) compared with 14 (12.1%) out of the 107 control participants(p< 0.001). Dominant symptoms in patients with IBS were diarrhea in 36(33.6%), constipation in 12(11.2%), abdominal pain in 22(20.6%), bloating in 28(26.2%), and change in bowel habit in 9(8.4%) patients. There was not statistically significant difference among any of this IBS subgroups and positive GBT (p=0.44). CONCLUSION There is a positive association between IBS and SIBO. We suggest a Placebo-controlled bacterial eradication study for identifying the role of SIBO in IBS.

Background: Nerium oleander has been widely studied for medicinal purposes for variety of maladies. N. oleander has also been reported having noxious effects because of its number of components that may show signs of toxicity by inhibiting plasma lemma Na+, K+-ATPase. The present study was performed to scrutinize the toxic effect of N. oleander leaves extract and its clinical and pathological features in wistar rats., Results: Hematological analysis showed significant variations in RBCs count (P = 0.01), Hb (P = 0.001), Hct (P = 0.0003), MCV (P = 0.013), lymphocyte count (P = 0.015), neutrophil count (P = 0.003), monocyte count (P = 0.012) and eosinophil count (P = 0.006). Histopathological studies have shown that in T1 group noticeable infiltration of inflammatory cells was found with low level of vascular damage. In T2 group, increased proportion of binucleated and inflammatory cells, hepatic necrosis, widening of sinusoidal spaces and mild level of vascular damage was observed., Conclusion: Taken together these findings we can conclude that N. oleander leaves extract significantly affects on experimental animals due to its toxicity. Efforts must be exerted to purify different chemical components from extract with no inflammation as this plant is utilized in folk medicine with narrow therapeutic indices.

Objective: Assessment of social skills is a necessary requirement to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive and behavioral interventions. This paper reports the cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the social skills rating system-secondary students form (SSRS-SS) questionnaire (Gresham and Elliot, 1990), in a normative sample of secondary school students., Methods: A two-phase design was used that phase 1 consisted of the linguistic adaptation and in phase 2, using cross-sectional sample survey data, the construct validity and reliability of the Farsi version of the SSRS-SS were examined in a sample of 724 adolescents aged from 13 to 19 years., Results: Content validity index was excellent, and the floor/ceiling effects were low. After deleting five of the original SSRS-SS items, the findings gave support for the item convergent and divergent validity. Factor analysis revealed four subscales. RESULTS showed good internal consistency (0.89) and temporal stability (0.91) for the total scale score., Conclusion: Findings demonstrated support for the use of the 27-item Farsi version in the school setting. Directions for future research regarding the applicability of the scale in other settings and populations of adolescents are discussed.

Introduction: Breast cancer is an international health problem in the world over. Mammography screening behavior has critical role in early detection and decreasing of its mortality. Educational programs play an important role in promoting breast cancer screening behaviors and women health. Health belief models (HBM) is the most common models that have been applied in Mammography screening behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breast cancer screening education using HBM on knowledge and health beliefs in 40 years women and older., Materials and Methods: In this Population-based controlled trial, 290 women of 40 years and older were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. Health beliefs determined using the Persian version of Champion's health belief model scale (CHBMS). Questionnaires were completed before and 4 weeks after intervention. Four educational sessions were conducted each session lasting 90 min by lecturing, group discussion, showing slide and educational film based on HBM constructs. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS (version 18) and statistical test at the significant level of α = 0.05., Results: Mean scores of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, barriers and self-efficacy of mammography and health motivation in the experimental group had significant differences in comparison with the control group after educational intervention (P ≤ 0.001)., Conclusion: The results of this study have confirmed the efficiency of educational intervention based on HBM in increasing of knowledge and health beliefs about breast cancer and mammography screening behavior. Hence, implementing appropriate educational programs with focus on benefits of Mammography in early detection of breast cancer and creating positive motivation for health among women, can increase their practice of having mammography screening.

To gain insight into the hepatohistological alterations in noninjured rat liver, Nerium oleander (N.O.) leaves extract was injected intramuscularly to induce an acute phase reaction (APR). Histopathological changes were studied after 3, 12, and 24 h time course of sterile muscle abscess. Tissue integrity and any infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver were investigated by Hematoxylin and Eosin and ED1 peroxidase stainings. The administration of N.O. leaves extract (10 mL/kg) in H & E stained sections showed a general vacuolization of cytoplasm resulting loss of polarity with prominent nucleoli after 3 h of induction. At 12 h, eccentric nuclei were also observed in the sections. Marked infiltration of leucocytes with predominate macrophages was also found after 24 h as seen by ED1 positive staining. In the present study, a possible relationship between serum hepcidin and total iron level was also investigated in vivo. An early increase of hepcidin and total iron level (3 h) with a maximum at 12 h (P < 0.01; P < 0.001) was observed. These changes indicate that sterile muscle abscess may induce APR resulting in hepatic damage which is evident with the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the organ.

The inter-relationship of surface tension sigma, molar volume V, and critical temperature Tc has been examined using experimental values for eighteen liquid metals. Hard-sphere diameters a correlate with the equation a(5/2) = 8.9733 x 10(-19) V (sigma/Tc)(1/4) - 1.0459 x 10(-25). Unknown Tc may be estimated using surface tension and liquid density values.

A young lady with first-degree haemorrhoids was administered injection sclerotherapy with 5% phenol in almond oil. Soon after the injection, she developed syncope and later signs and symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). She was kept on ventilatory support for 4 days, made a smooth recovery and was successfully weaned off from the ventilator.

Background: As surgeons working in a developing country, we decided to review our experience with polyurethane stents instead of the more expensive ones on common urological procedures and analyzing our experience with respect to their usefulness versus their problems and outcome., Methods: This stusy was carried out at Armed Forces Institute of Urology, Rawalpindi and Combined Military Hospital, Kharian Cantonment, Pakistan through March 2002 through May 2004. During this period 342 of patients were operated requiring stent and 220 patients out of these had polyurethane as stent material for different urological operations., Results: Among the 220 patients who underwent polyurethane stenting, early complications included fever, infection, voiding symptoms while stent migration, encrustation and stent stiffness was encountered as later complications., Conclusion: The benefits of Polyurethane stents are its strength, versatility and low cost. Poor biodurability and biocompatibility only limit its use; these are reasonably effective in our setup but should only be used for short duration.

A 45 years old man presented with progressively increasing abdominal mass of two years duration. The mass had rapidly increased in size in the past five months. The patient was emaciated, with a grossly protuberant abdomen. The biopsy revealed fibrosarcoma. Extirpation of the tumour was contemplated. A huge 82 x 53 x 32 cm retroperitoneal mass was removed and the histopathology confirmed it as malignant triton tumour.

An unusual case of a 40-year-old infertile male is presented. On examination he had cryptorchidism with other normal secondary sexual characters. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography raised the suspicion of tumour in the right abdominal testis. On exploration, a uterus with cervix, fallopian tubes and abdominal testes were detected. This was confirmed histopathologically. Chromosomal analysis revealed 46XY.

Hydatid disease can involve any organ of the body and a high suspicion of this disease is justified in endemic regions. A case of massive splenic hydatid cyst with hepatic hydatidosis presented with 5 years history of abdominal distension with discomfort is reported. Clinically she had massive splenomegaly with hepatomegaly. Laboratory and radiological findings were diagnostic of hydatid disease of the liver and spleen. Peroperatively huge (35 x 20 cm) splenic hydatid cyst with two liver cysts was seen. Splenectomy was performed and hepatic lesions were subjected to endocystectomy with capsulorrhaphy.

Pendred syndrome is a rare inherited disorder of bilateral sensorineural deafness with goitre. Presence of follicular carcinoma thyroid makes it even rarer. A case of a young girl is described with the features of Pendred syndrome and euthyroid state. Follicular carcinoma of thyroid was detected on histopathology requiring re-tailoring of the management.