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Purpose To evaluate the Visual Outcome in Diabetic Retinopathy with Macular Oedema after Combined Therapy with Intravitreal Avastin (Bevacizumab) and Retinal Photocoagulation. Material and Methods The study included a total of 142 eyes in 142 patients with diabetic macular oedema. All eyes were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab followed by laser photocoagulation .Visual outcome was measured in terms of changes in visual acuity (logMAR) at I month and 3 months after treatment and central macular thickness using spectral domain Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) at 3 months after treatment. Results Visual acuity improved from the mean best corrected visual a cuity (BCVA) log (MAR) of 0.9678 ± 0.2306 at baseline to 0.8928 ± 0.2516 at first visit and then 0.7831 ± 0.2866 at final visit in all 142 patients. OCT determined central macular thickness changed from a mean value of 624 ± 151 microns at first visit to 478 ± 141 microns at final visit in all studied subject. Conclusion Combined therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab and laser photocoagulation has a role in stabilizing the retinal anatomy and reducing retinal edema both in NPDR (Non proliferative diabetic retinopathy) and PDR (Proliferative diabetic retinopathy) with macular oedema. The decrease in the central macular thickness is also associated with a significant improvement in BCVA.

Background: Perfect heart valve prostheses have optimized hemodynamics, reduced surgical morbidity, long-lasting durability, and extended patient survival with greater quality of life. Mechanical valves are recommended; however, young children may need anticoagulant medication for life. In this study, we looked at the success rate and viability of aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) surgery for a variety of aortic disorders. Methods: A methodical search strategy was used to fully evaluate the AVNeo results. Boolean operators were used to combine important words like 'Ozaki Procedure,' 'Aortic Valve Neocuspidization,' 'AVNeo,' and associated terms. Reputable databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were the focus of our search. Study quality was assessed using a critical evaluation created with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Results: The findings are summarized in the 'Results' section that contains descriptive and critical analysis, ramifications, and explanations. According to research, AVNeo improved valve function and had few side effects. Aortic valve neocuspidization has a lower mean pressure gradient and a larger mean efficient orifice area than Trifecta. Aortic valve neocuspidization surgery reduces aortic valve regurgitation and pressure gradients. Postoperative echocardiograms indicated a decrease in peak and a rise in mean pressure gradient. Conclusion: The Ozaki method restores a healthy laminar flow pattern while preventing bivalvular disease. Ozaki procedure should be explored for valve repair in infants with truncal valve and congenital aortic disease. Aortic valve tricuspidization with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium results in considerable effective orifice area, modest pressure gradients, and little regurgitation.

Automobile exhaust releases different types of pollutants that are at great risk to the air quality of the environment and incidental distress to the nature of roadside plants. Mimusops elengi L. is an evergreen medicinal tree cultivated along the roadside of Lahore City. This research aimed to investigate physiological, morphological and genomorphic characteristics of M. elengi under the influence of air pollution from vehicles. Healthy and mature leaves were collected from trees on Canal Bank and Mall roads of Lahore as the experimental sites and control sites were 20 km away from the experimental site. Different physiochemical, morphological, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and molecular analysis for the detection of DNA damage were performed through comet assay. The results demonstrated the mean accumulated Cd, Pb, Cu and Ni heavy metal contents on the leaves were higher than the control plants (1.27, 3.22, 1.32 and 1.46 μg mg−1). APTI of trees was 9.04. Trees in these roads significantly (p

The present microstructural evaluation was carried out on the woods of three ethnobotanically important local fruit trees, namely, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., Z. spina-christi (L.) Willd., and Z. nummularia (Burm.f.) Wight and Arn., of family Rhamnaceae from Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. Wood samples were sectioned with sliding sledge microtome to make permanent slides for observing different anatomical parameters under the light microscope. All selected species were observed to have diffuse-porous wood with indistinct growth rings. The vessels were rounded in outline in all the species studied and found mostly solitary or in radial multiples of 2 in Ziziphus mauritiana and Z. nummularia, while in radial multiples of 2 to 5 in Z. spina-christi. The intervessel pits were scalariform to opposite. The rays were uniseriate in Ziziphus mauritiana, while mostly were biseriate in Ziziphus spina-christi. Simple perforation plates and diffuse, confluent, and vasicentric types of axial parenchyma were present in all the selected species. The fibers were thin-walled and nonseptate. One-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey test was conducted to observe different anatomical variations within selected species. Principal component analysis revealed correlations among studied anatomical parameters. The number of rays per mm was comparatively larger in Ziziphus nummularia, showing its greater susceptibility to wood-deteriorating agents than in other selected species. The Runkel ratio indicated the selected species suitable for making paper.

Pseudo-invasive, vasculocentric adenomyosis is a rare benign lesion of the uterus, characterized by the aberrant, pathological presence of variable sized, non-neoplastic endometrial glands and surrounded by endometrial stroma deep within the myometrial blood vessels. This condition usually affects multiparous women in their fourth and fifth decades, with other risk factors being prior caesarian surgery or uterine surgery. Mostly the patients present with abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, or infertility while a third of them may be asymptomatic. Microscopic examination of hysterectomy specimens remains the gold standard to make a definitive diagnosis. Herein we present a rare case of Pseudo-invasive, vasculocentric Adenomyosis in a 47 year old multigravida female, who presented with a history of chronic pelvic pain with menorrhagia, dyspareunia and excessive menstrual bleeding for the past four months, with a history of lower uterine caesarean section a decade ago.

Primary mucosal melanoma in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is very rare, as most of the melanomas diagnosed in the GI tract are metastases, secondary to cutaneous melanomas. We report a rare case of primary gastric mucosal melanoma in a 58-year-old male patient who presented with a short history of upper abdominal tightness and pain for 15 days. Upper GI endoscopy revealed a polypoid mucosal mass with ulceration at the gastric antrum of 2 cm × 2 cm dimension, which was diagnosed histopathologically as malignant melanoma. A detailed clinical and laboratory workup did not reveal any other primary site elsewhere and there was no relevant history suggesting a cutaneous melanocytic lesion. Upper GI endoscopy and microscopic tissue examination with immunohistochemistry formed the mainstay of diagnosis of this exceedingly rare neoplasm.

The study aimed to conduct a quantitative inquiry to understand the effects of social media on the reading habits of the students. The study explored the social media usage patterns and statistically analyzed the effects of social media on reading habits by applying descriptive and inferential statistics. A structured questionnaire was developed by analyzing the related literature and reliability test (Cronbach alpha) testifies that data collection instrument was stable enough to measure the phenomenon. Data collected from a sample of 430 students. The findings of the study revealed the positive effects of social media on reading habits. However, distraction during the time of the study noted as the adverse effect. There was a significant difference of opinion among males and females opinion in terms of certain effects. The study mentioned that Facebook, Whatsapp, Google+ and YouTube were used daily by students. Most of the students were using social media through cell phone. The study has theoretical implications for researchers and practical implications for academia, teachers, policy institutions, and higher education institutions.

Abstract The bacteria residing in the gut of honey bees (HB) has demonstrated a significant role in protecting bees against various pathogens, production of honey and wax. However, no information exists about the antibacterial potential of bacterial isolates from gut of Asian HB, Apis cerana Indica F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), against human pathogens. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial and multienzyme potential of aerobic bacteria from A. cerana gut using culture dependent approach. A total of 12 HB gut bacteria were characterized morphologically and biochemically. These strains were further screened for their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic human microorganisms Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis using cross streak (primary screening) and agar well diffusion methods (secondary screening). Preliminary characterization of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of two promising isolates was performed by measuring lactic acid concentrations, enzymatic digestion of antimicrobial compounds, stability over a range of temperature, pH and amplification of spaS (subtilin) and spoA (subtilosin) genes. In primary screening, among 12 HB isolates, eight strains showed statistically significant highest zones of inhibition (p≤0.05) against E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that these isolates belong to Bacillus genus, identified as B. tequilensis, B. pumilus, B. xiamenensis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. safensis, B. licheniformis, B. altitudinis (Accession numbers: MT186230-MT186237). Secondary screening revealed that among eight isolates, B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens showed statistically significantly strong inhibition (p≤0.05) against all tested pathogens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that both isolates were resistant to antibiotics and possesses proteolytic, lipolytic and cellulolytic activities. The nature of the compound causing inhibitory activity was found to be proteinaceous and showed stability over a wide range of temperature as well as pH. PCR study confirmed the presence of bacteriocins by successful amplification of important antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis genes spaS and spoA. These results suggest that the HB gut is a home to bacteria that possess antimicrobial activity and important enzymes with antimicrobial potential. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the antimicrobial potential of bacteria isolated from gut of HB (A. cerana) against human pathogens.

ABSTRACT Microhabitat factors associated with the habitat of barking deer (Muntiacus vaginalis) were examined and compared between summer and winter seasons. Habitat characteristics and preferred habitat were measured by locating direct and indirect signs. To quantify the habitat utilization of barking deer, each selected study site was sampled for floral diversity from 2015 to 2017. Quadrats were deployed along transect lines to determine seasonal distribution. Barking deer were not evenly distributed across vegetation types in the study area; they occurred more often in the broad-leaved forest than in Chir pine forest, at an elevational range of 550-850 m, in thick vegetation on steep slopes. The most preferred habitat included trees and shrubs with 30% and 69% cover, respectively. Barking deer avoided thicker tree cover, possibly as it hinders movement and escape from predators. No significant difference (χ2 = 6.37, df = 3, p = 0.19) in seasonal vegetation cover was recorded.

According to IPCC Annual Report (AR-5), environmental impact assessment of any product prototype is recommended before its large-scale commercialization; however, no environmental profile analysis of any biodiesel prototype has been conducted in Pakistan. Therefore, objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA), water footprint and cumulative energy demand (CED) of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. (JC) seeds oil in Pakistan. A cradle-to-gate LCA approach was applied for 400 liter (L) JC biodiesel produced in Pakistan. JC biodiesel production chain was divided into three stages i.e., 1). cultivation of JC crop 2). crude oil extraction from JC seeds and 3). crude oil conversion to biodiesel. Primary data for all the stages were acquired through questionnaire surveys, field visits and measurements in the field. Potential environmental impacts were calculated in SimaPro v.9.2 software using Eco-indicator 99 methodology. Results showed that crude oil extraction stage accounted for highest emissions (77%) to the overall environmental impact categories evaluated, followed by oil conversion stage (21%) and JC cultivation stage (02%), respectively. The three stages of JC biodiesel production chain are major contributor to ecotoxicity with a contribution of 57% to this impact category. Higher contribution to ecotoxicity was due to agrochemicals used in the JC cultivation. Similarly, fossil fuels impact category was responsible for 38% of overall environmental impacts. In addition, water footprint of JC biodiesel production chain was 2632.54 m3/reference unit. Cumulative energy required for 400L JC biodiesel production chain was 46745.70 MJ in Pakistan. Fossil diesel consumption, synthetic fertilizers use and purchased electricity were major hotspot sources to environmental burdens caused by JC biodiesel production in Pakistan. By performing sensitivity analysis at 20% reduction of the baseline values of fossil diesel used, synthetic fertilizers and purchased electricity, a marked decrease in environmental footprint was observed. It is highly recommended that use of renewable energy instead of fossil energy would provide environmental benefits such as lower greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions as compared to conventional petroleum fuels. It is also recommended that JC as a biofuel plant, has been reported to have many desired characteristics such as quick growth, easy cultivation, drought resistance, pest and insect resistance, and mainly great oil content in JC seeds (27–40%). Therefore, JC plant is highly recommended to Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) for plantation on wasteland because it has multipurpose benefits.

A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to quantify environmental footprint, water footprint, cumulative energy use, and to identify improvement opportunities in the matchsticks manufacturing process. One carton of matchsticks was used as reference unit for this study. Foreground data was collected from the matchsticks industry through questionnaire surveys, personal meetings, and field measurements. The collected data was transformed into potential environmental impacts through the Centre for Environment Studies (CML) 2000 v.2.05 method present by default in the SimaPro v.9.1 software. Water footprint was calculated using methodology developed by Hoekstra et al., 2012 (water scarcity index) V1.02 and cumulative energy demand by SimaPro v.9.1 software. The results showed that transport of primary material (wood logs), sawn wood for matchsticks, red phosphorous, acrylic varnish, and kerosene fuel oil contributed to the overall environmental impacts. Transport of primary materials and sawn timber for matchsticks contributed significantly to abiotic depletion, global warming, eutrophication potential, ozone depletion, corrosion, human toxicity, and aquatic ecotoxicity effects. The total water footprint for manufacturing one carton of matchsticks was 0.265332 m3, whereas the total cumulative energy demand was 715.860 Mega Joules (MJ), mainly sourced from non-renewable fossil fuels (708.979 MJ). Scenario analysis was also conducted for 20% and 30% reduction in the primary material distance covered by trucks and revealed that reducing direct material transport distances could diminish environmental impacts and energy consumption. Therefore, environmental footprint could be minimized through diverting matchsticks industries freight from indigenous routes to high mobility highways and by promoting industrial forestry close to industrial zones in Pakistan. Many industries did not have emissions control systems, exceeding the permissible limit for emissions established by the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of Pakistan. Thus, installation of emissions control system could also diminish emissions from match industry in Pakistan.

Adenocarcinoma prostate treated with hormone deprivation may evolve into a neuroendocrine differentiated tumor. Usually visceral metastasis are seen in neuroendocrine tumors. We present a case of neuroendocrine differentiated urethral metastasis from a hormone deprived prostate cancer.

To determine the frequency of different genotypes in HCV positive cases in the population of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad over the period of five years. Methods: Data of total of three thousand eight hundred and eighteen (n=3818) HCV positive adult of both genders screened for genotype testing over the period of six years were analyzed. Results: Most frequent genotype identified in our study was genotype 3, accounting for 95.8%. The second most common genotype was Type 1 (2.9%). Other genotypes were Type 2 (0.3%)and Type 4 (0.1%). Mixed genotype (Type 1 and 3) were detected in 1 %. Genotype 5 and 6 was not detected in any case. No significant difference was observed among males and females in genotype distribution (p>0.05). Conclusion: Most common genotype among HCV patients was genotype 3, followed by genotype 1.

The main focused of this research work is the preparation of conductive polymers like polypyrrole, polyaniline and polythiophene and their application as adsorbent materials for the removal of hyper toxic metal As (III) from aqueous solution. The metal ions get attached on the π-electrons at the back bone of polymer that illustrate excellent affinity for metal ions. The adsorption of As (II) ions was carried out on polythiophene due to its redox properties and the stronger interaction between sulfur atoms with arsenic atoms. To attain large surface area and for maximum interaction of As (III) ions with polymers, the particle size of polymers was ranged in nano scale. As the surface area increases with decrease in particle size, the active sites for metal ions also increases. These polymers were characterized by FIIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. Adsorption isothermal data was examined by two parameters (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich) and three parameters Redlich-Petrson, Sips and Toth models. Experimental results showed that based on standard deviation (SD) and Chi square test (χ2) the experimental data was best explained by Freundlich and Toth isotherm. Thermodynamics parameters such as free energy change (ΔG0), enthalpy change (ΔH0) and entropy change (ΔS0) have been calculated respectively, which revealed the spontaneous, endothermic and feasible nature of adsorption process.

Study of data collected from 56 users by the administrating questionnaires among their attitudes towards reading habits and purpose of the visiting of libraries at Delhi Public Library, New Delhi, indicate that the, purpose of reading, preference of language, form of library collection, assistance from the library staff in the use of resources and services is necessary to help users meet their information requirements. Finds that people are unable to visit the library regularly due to lack or shortage of time and literature being mostly read by the users are magazines and newspapers.

O estudo de usuário obtido por meio da aplicação de um questionário em 56 (cinquenta e seis) usuários da Biblioteca Pública de Délhi, Nova Délhi visando verificar os hábitos de leitura e o objetivo ao visitarem a Biblioteca, propiciou informações sobre os objetivos de leitura, a preferência de idioma e o tipo de acervo utilizado. Observa-se que auxílio dos funcionários da Biblioteca se faz necessário para ajudar os usuários no uso de recursos e serviços para satisfazer suas necessidades de informação. O estudo também revela que os usuários não podem visitar a biblioteca frequentemente devido à falta de tempo, bem como revela que os materiais impressos mais lidos dentre os usuários são revistas e jornais.