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The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between Internet addiction and academic performance among university undergraduates. The study also focused to examine the gender differences among students on internet addiction. The sample comprised of 359 university undergraduates. Their responses to the "Internet Addiction Scale" and GPA for the previous semester were collected and analyzed using methods including descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and simple linear regression analysis. The results suggested that internet addiction was a significantly negatively correlated with academic performance of university undergraduates. Results also suggested gender difference in internet addiction. Male students had higher internet addiction than female ones. Based on the above findings, some suggestions were proposed as a reference for practical applications and future research.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has become a major emerging health concern. Its burden, estimated to be 451 million in 2017, has been projected to rise to 693 million by 2045. This will bring a rise in the prevalence of its associated complications. There is a wide spectrum of nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) known to be present in diabetic patients with variable prevalence. However, the majority of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with renal disease are yet not biopsied and the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) is presumed on clinical grounds. Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study. We selected a total of 126 cases of renal biopsies with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Demographic data was collected from the medical records and pathology reports while all cases were evaluated by reviewing the archived slides. Results: Patients were categorized into group 1 with isolated NDRD, group 2 showing NDRD mixed with DN and group 3 with isolated DN. Thirty-four (27%) cases had isolated NDRD (group 1), 14 (11%) had NDRD mixed with DN and 78 (62%) patients had isolated DN. NDRD, either alone or in combination with DN, was found to be present in 48 patients with an overall prevalence of 38%. Conclusion: Our study concludes that NDRD is frequent in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Renal biopsy remains the key diagnostic tool in such cases, providing crucial information for proper management of the underlying pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to appraise whether exogenously applied selenium (Se) could alter nutrients acquisition and metabolism to mitigate the toxic effects of salinity in wheat. Seeds of two contrasting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Auqab-2000 and Seher-2006) were pre-treated with different concentrations (0, 50, 100 µM) of sodium selenate for 12 h. The pots were irrigated with different NaCl concentrations (0 and 150 mM) applied through Hoagland's nutrient solution before sowing. Salinity reduced fresh and dry mass and grain yield, but the exogenous Se restored the growth and increased grain yield. Further, salt stress decreased the concentrations of K+, Ca2+, P, N, Fe and Se while increased the concentration of Na+ and Cl‒ in the shoots and roots of wheat. The exogenous Se increased K+, Ca2+, N, Fe and Se concentrations while decreased Na+, Cl− and P, and thus mainly reversed the inhibitory effects of salinity on nutrients uptake. Further, exogenous Se increased the accumulation of proline and glycinebetaine under salinity. Overall, Se-priming proved an effective shotgun technique to mitigate the detrimental effects of salinity possibly through its beneficial effects on tissue-specific ion acquisition and accumulation of osmoprotectants in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the expression of GATA-3 among epithelial tumors of four organs including invasive mammary carcinoma, prostatic adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma and high grade serous carcinoma of ovary. Study Design: Case series study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was performed at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, from Jul 2017 to Dec 2017. Methodology: Twenty cases of each of these tumors were collected and stained with ready to use GATA-3 immunohistochemical stain (Cell marque (L50-823) mouse monoclonal antibody) using BOND III Leica automated immunostainer. The expression of the antibody was assessed by two histopathologists. Diffuse nuclear staining in more than 30% of tumor cells was considered as positive. Results: All the breast carcinomas showed diffuse strong positivity in tumor cells, while all the cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma showed negative staining. Aberrant and focal staining was observed in a few cases of high grade serous and colorectal carcinomas. Three cases of high grade serous carcinoma showed weak nuclear staining in 10% of cells. Only one case of colorectal carcinoma showed weak nuclear blush in 10 to 20% of tumor cells. Conclusion: GATA-3 was found a sensitive and specific marker for mammary carcinomas. It is a useful diagnostic tool and should be included in a panel of immunohistochemical markers when working on a metastatic tumor of unknown origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the frequency of loss of expression of succinate dehydrogenase-B (SDH-B) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTS) of our population through immunohistochemistry. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Shaukat Khanum Hospital & Research Centre, Lahore for a duration of 6 months, Apr 2015 to Sep 2015. Patients and Methods: A total of 63 diagnosed cases of GISTS suitable by inclusion criteria were included in the study. The blocks of already diagnosed cases was reviewed by 2 pathologists and after confirmation SDH-B immunohistochemical stain was applied with normal tissue as its control. Lack of staining in tumor was interpreted as "Loss of expression". Results: Mean age of our population was n=44.83 ± 17.76 years. The most common tumor site was small intestine n=23 (63.5%) cases, followed by stomach, n=15 cases. CD117 was positive in all the tumors. Only n=3 tumors were found to be SDH-B deficient. All of these tumors involved the stomach and had a median age of 20 years. All of these tumors had an epithelioid morphology. Conclusion: Immunohistochemistry was found reliable and cost-effective method for detecting mutation in SDH gene. Based on findings of this study it is recommended that all gastric GISTs below the age of 30 years with epithelioid morphology should be tested for SDH deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess of the pathologic response of patients of osteosarcoma, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Lahore from Jan 2016 to Aug 2016. Material and Methods: A total of 60 cases of osteosarcoma found suitable by inclusion criteria were included in this study. Demographic details such as name, sex and age were collected. All specimens were grossed and staged according to CAP guidelines. Tumor response was assessed by two pathologists and graded as good and poor response. Results: Sixty percent (n=36) of patients were between 7-18 years of age while 40% (n=24) of patients were between 19-45 years of age. Mean age was 17.65 years. A total of 58.33% (n=35) of patients were males and 41.67% (n=25) of patients were females. Thirty percent (n=18) of the patients had good response, while 70% (n=42) of patients had poor response to chemotherapy. Conclusion: We concluded that the assessment of pathologic response of osteosarcoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of good response and poor response is a useful tool for the pathologist and the oncologist. It gives us useful information regarding patient's response to neoadjuvant chemo radiotherapy that also helps in determining the further management and overall survival rate of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the efficacy and side effects of Diacerein in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient Department of Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi from June 2012 to June 2013. Material and Methods: Ninety cases fulfilling American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of Knee Osteoarthritis and falling in Grades I-III of Kellgren-Lawrence Radiological Classification for Knee Osteoarthritis were included. Pre-treatment associated symptoms, complete blood count, renal and liver function tests were documented. After a baseline pain assessment on a 10-Point Visual Analogue Scale, 50 mg of Diacerein was given orally for 4 months followed by pain assessment and inquiry about adverse effects at 6th week, 3rd and 6th months. Post-treatment labs were repeated. Reduction in pain was analyzed by paired-sample t-test using SPSS version 17. Chi-Square test was used to assess the frequency of adverse effects. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean age was 61.5 ± 7.8 years. Majority 77 (85.6%) were females. Mean Visual Analogue Scale at start was 6.1 ± 0.87. Significant pain reduction measured on Visual Analogue Scale was observed at six weeks (4.6 ± 1.2) (p < 0.001), three months (2.37 ± 0.91) (p < 0.001) and six months (2.2 ± 0.85) (p < 0.001). Very few patients developed diarrhea 3.3% and nausea 4.4%. Conclusion: Diacerein is effective drug with minimal side effects for treatment of mild to moderate painful Knee Osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the immunohistochemical pattern of CD 117, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD 43 in pleomorphic adenoma (PA), adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) and polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) of minor salivary glands. Materials and Methods: Twenty cases of PA, 20 cases of AdCC and 10 cases of PLGA were retrieved from record files along with their paraffin blocks at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Pakistan. New histological diagnosis was made on freshly prepared H&E sections followed by application and analysis of immunostains. Results: The mean age of the patients was 44 ± 15 (mean SD) (range; 17-86) years. There were 26 male and 24 female patients with a male to female ratio of 1.08:1. Fourteen cases of PA, 14 cases of AdCC and 6 cases of PLGA were positive for CD117. In case of GFAP, only 9 cases of AdCC and 3 cases of PLGA were positive; however, 16 cases of PA were also positive. Twelve cases of AdCC and 7 cases of PA were positive for SMA and half of the PLGA cases were also reactive. Nonetheless, the least expression was seen in case of CD 43, where only five cases of AdCC were positive. Six cases of PA and three cases of PLGA were also positive. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of GFAP, SMA, CD 117 and CD 43 as an adjunct to histological examination is not helpful in differentiating PA, AdCC and PLGA from one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the genetic population structure of the bird specie Francolinus francolinus, in Pakistan. It cites several morphologic subspecies of the bird specie, including the F. f. francolinus, the F. F. arabistanicus, and the F. f. melanonotus. The methods used in the study are the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). It cites the factors that affect the high genetic diversity of a bird population, including out-breeding, habitat conditions, and population size.

Objective: To translate, adapt and validate shorter version of positive affect and negative affect scale on Pakistani corporate employees., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from October 2014 to December 2015. The study was completed into two independent parts. In part one, the scale was translated by forward translation. Then it was pilot-tested and administered on customer services employees from commercial banks and the telecommunication sector. Data of the pilot study was analysed by using exploratory factor analysis to extract the initial factor of positive affect and negative affect scale. Part two comprised the main study. Commercial bank employees were included in the sample using convenient sampling technique. Data of the main study was analysed using confirmatory factor analysis in order to establish construct validity of positive affect and negative affect scale., Results: There were145 participants in the first part of the study and 495 in the second. Results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of positive affect and negative affect scale suggesting that the scale has two distinct domains, i.e. positive affect and negative affect., Conclusions: The shorter version of positive affect and negative affect scale was found to be a valid and reliable measure.