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Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections encountered in clinical practice. Objective: This is a retrospective study to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of aerobic microbial isolates from urine samples of patients with complaints suggestive of UTI. Materials and methods: A total of 3116 urine samples which were received in the Department of Microbiology during the study period from April 2018 to March 2019 were analyzed. Results: Out of 3116 urine samples from both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient department (IPD), 2614 samples showed either growth of contaminants or insignificant or no growth of microorganisms, whereas, 502 samples showed significant microbial growth on aerobic culture giving overall prevalence of UTI in the study population to be 16.1%. Of these 502 culture positives, majority was found to be from OPD (51.0%) patients, amongst females (62.9%), and Escherichia coli being the commonest isolate (49.8%). The antibiotic sensitivity of uroisolates of Escherichia coli were found to range from 46.0-70.0%. Conclusion: In view of the increasing drug resistance amongst pathogens causing UTI, antimicrobial susceptibility should be done before initiating definitive therapy. These data may be used to formulate local antibiotic policies in order to assist clinicians in the rationale use of antibiotics.

Understanding the distribution and diet of carnivore is important to consider ecological role of species. As food is a critical resource for carnivore predators and its partitioning among sympatric species is crucial for their coexistence. The current study aimed at exploring distribution, diet composition, and diet breadth, niche overlap among two sympatric mongoose species occurring in Murree Kahuta Kotli Sattian National Park (MKKNP). 82 fecal samples were collected from 23 sites and recognized to species inside field based on morphology, odor, and extra signs. Presence signs of both species recorded from 23 survey sites. However, field diagnosis of small Indian Mongoose and Indian grey mongoose indicated presence at 12 and 14 sites, respectively. Fourteen dietary items were recovered in diet of small Indian mongoose i.e rodents, plant matter, insects and reptiles. The diet of Indian grey mongoose also comprised of (15) dietary items. Among both sympatric carnivores overall dietary breadth of Indian grey mongoose is narrow (BA = 0.5). as compared to small Indian mongoose (BA = 0.6). Moderate overlap was found between both mongoose species (0.62). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barking deer is a small-sized cervid mammal and in Pakistan its population are limited to outer Himalayan foothill forests of Punjab Pakistan. They are usually associated with low but dense thorn scrub of Acacia modesta, Olea ferruginea and Zizyphus nummularia. Occupancy modelling was used to assess how environmental factors influence occurrence probabilities. The population parameters of barking deer were examined in Murree, Kotli-Sattian and Kahuta National Parks through direct visual observations and indirect signs of animal from 2015-2017. To estimate population density, distance sampling of the line transect data was employed. Mean population density was 0.27 individuals/km2. The range of encounter rates in each study site was 0.04 to 0.43 per km of transect. Population density in summer was higher (0.43/km2) than in winter (0.36/km2), possibly due to the addition of new-borns in May. The barking deer is basically a solitary animal. This species is endangered in Pakistan and its population are declining. Conservation efforts with focus on protection of disturbance-free habitat for barking deer are recommended in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Single umbilical artery (SUA) is found in 0.5–6% of all pregnancies worldwide. Although the association of SUA with some congenital malformations is mainly accepted, its effect on pregnancy/neonatal outcomes is still controversial. Objective: This is the first study aimed to approximate the SUA prevalence in southern part of Iran. SUA epidemiologic features accompanied by some of its effects on pregnancy/neonatal outcomes are investigated as well. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data from two referral centers in Southern Iran were analyzed. In total, 1,469 pregnancies, fetuses, and neonates were examined for epidemiological features associated with SUA. SUA was confirmed by pathological examination, while congenital anomalies were diagnosed by clinical, ultrasound, and echocardiographical examinations. Data on pregnancy outcome were recorded based on the patients' medical records. Results: The prevalence of SUA was 3.47% (95% CI: 2.6–4.6%). Fetal anomalies including renal, cardiac, and other congenital anomalies, intrauterine fetal death, early neonatal death, low birth weight, low placental weight, and preterm birth were significantly higher in the SUA group (OR = 68.02, 31.04, 16.03, 3.85, 11.31, 3.22, 2.70, and 2.47, respectively). However, the maternal multiparity was lower in the SUA group (OR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.44–0.98). Conclusion: A significant association was observed between SUA and increased risk of intrauterine fetal death and early neonatal death, as well as low birth weight and preterm birth. Obstetrical history of the mother like parity was identified as an important predictor of SUA. Further investigations are suggested on risk stratification of neonates in this regard.

Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is an abnormality in pregnancy due to a diploid conception which is generally androgenetic in origin, i. e. all 46 chromosomes are paternally derived. We have examined the genetic origin of repetitive hydatidiform moles in a patient having three CHM by two different partners, and no normal pregnancies. Using fluorescent microsatellite genotyping, we have shown all three CHM to be biparental, rather than androgenetic, in origin. Examination of informative markers for each homologous pair of chromosomes, in two of the CHM, failed to reveal any evidence of unipaternal disomy, suggesting that the molar phenotype might result from disruption of normal imprinting patterns due to a defect in the maternal genome. It has been suggested that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), followed by selection of male embryos, can prevent repetitive CHM; but examination of sex chromosome-specific sequences in the three CHM described here, showed that, while two were female, the first CHM was male. Selection of male embryos is therefore unlikely to prevent repetitive CHM in this patient. Our results suggest that the genetic origin of repetitive CHM should be determined prior to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and that current strategies for the prevention of repetitive CHM may not be appropriate where the CHM are of biparental origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is an abnormality in pregnancy due to a diploid conception which is generally androgenetic in origin, i.e. all 46 chromosomes are paternally derived. We have examined the genetic origin of repetitive hydatidiform moles in a patient having three CHM by two different partners, and no normal pregnancies. Using fluorescent microsatellite genotyping, we have shown all three CHM to be biparental, rather than androgenetic, in origin. Examination of informative markers for each homologous pair of chromosomes, in two of the CHM, failed to reveal any evidence of unipaternal disomy, suggesting that the molar phenotype might result from disruption of normal imprinting patterns due to a defect in the maternal genome. It has been suggested that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), followed by selection of male embryos, can prevent repetitive CHM; but examination of sex chromosome-specific sequences in the three CHM described here, showed that, while two were female, the first CHM was male. Selection of male embryos is therefore unlikely to prevent repetitive CHM in this patient. Our results suggest that the genetic origin of repetitive CHM should be determined prior to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and that current strategies for the prevention of repetitive CHM may not be appropriate where the CHM are of biparental origin. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]