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A study analyzes the molecular basis of DFNB73 in order to investigate BSND gene mutations that cause Bartter syndrome type IV, characterized by severe renal abnormalities and deafness. Experiments identify a BSND mutation (p.I12T) which selectively affects barttin functioning and causes nonsyndromic deafness, thereby highlighting that different types of BSND mutations can cause syndromic or nonsyndromic deafness in people with Bartter syndrome.

Chemical weed control method caused environmental hazards and residual effects in crops and soil. Alternate approach to control weeds is getting attentions in sustainable production system. Use of aqueous extracts of weed is getting scientific attention as ecofriendly alternative to chemical herbicides especially under scenario of fast increasing herbicide resistance in weeds. To investigate the herbicidal potential of aqueous extract of winter weed of Sonchus oleraceus L. (sow thistle) on summer weed Oryza punctata L. (red rice) seed emergence and initial seedling growth, the present study was planned. In this study, seeds of O. punctata were incubated in seven concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4, and 8%) of different parts i.e. leaf, stem and flower of S. oleraceus. All the tested concentrations of various plant parts significantly inhibited the mean emergence time, emergence index, emergence percentage (%), time taken to 50% emergence as well as growth of O. punctata. However, maximum mean emergence time (5.26 days), minimum germination index (1.69), germination percentage (40%), root length (2.04 cm), shoot length (5.71 cm), fresh weight (59 g), dry weight (4.06 g) was noted at 8% concentration with fruit aqueous extract. Seeds of O. punctata took maximum time to complete 50% emergence (3.33 days) under control where we applied distilled water. Results suggested that the fruit extract of S. oleraceus at 8% concentration can be used potential bio-herbicide for the control of O. punctata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous extracts of plants are used to control weeds being inexpensive and environment friendly. Present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous extracts of Sonchus oleraceus L. on the red rice (Oryza punctata Kotschy ex Steud.) emergence and initial seedling growth. Treatments included in the study were aqueous extract of leaves, stem and fruit of Sonchus oleraceus at varying concentrations 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4 and 8 % (w/v) along with distilled water as a control. The allelochemicals present in the aqueous extracts showed stimulatory, inhibitory and hormetic responses depending upon the concentration and the plant part used for extraction. Results depicted maximum mean emergence time (5.26 days) and minimum germination index (1.67), germination percentage (40%), seedling fresh weight (59 g) and dry weight (8 g) of red rice with application of 8% aqueous extract of S. oleraceus fruit. However, 4% aqueous extract of S. oleraceus fruit produced minimum root length (5.71). On the basis of this experiment, it is concluded that 8% aqueous extract of S. oleraceus fruit can be used for controlling red rice weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed to explore the phytotoxic potential of Sonchus oleraceus L. on the emergence and seedling growth of Echinocloa cruss-galli L. and quantification of allelochemicals present in leaves, stem and fruit of S. oleraceus weed. The experiment comprised of aqueous extracts of leaf, roots and fruits applied at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8% (w/v) along with a control (0%). Data regarding seed emergence, emergence index, emergence percentage, root length, shoot length and seedling dry weight were recorded. All the tested concentrations of all the parts of S. oleraceus significantly inhibited the seed emergence, emergence index, emergence percentage (%), growth and delayed mean emergence time and time taken to 50% emergence of E. cruss-galli. However, maximum mean emergence time (5.20 days) and time taken to 50% emergence (3.49 days), were noted at 8% concentration of fruit and leaf aqueous extracts, respectively. Fruit aqueous extract at 8% concentration caused the lowest germination index (1.70), germination percentage (40%), root length (0.09 cm), shoot length (0.45 cm) and dry weight (0.16 g) of E. cruss-galli. Results suggested that the extract of S. oleraceus weed at concentration (8%) can be used as potential bio-herbicide for the control of E. crussgalli weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contribution of higher education is very significant in better job opportunities and socio economic development of a country. The reforms in higher education in Pakistan are direly needed to face the future challenges in the age of technological disruption. The study aims at analyzing the higher education policies introduced by the Governments of Pakistan for examining the causes of success and failure of these policies, and suggestions for new education policy to meet the future challenges in higher education. The study is qualitative in nature. Data have been collected through document analysis, focus group discussion and semi structured interviews. A focus group discussion was conducted with 15 MPhil and 05 PhD scholars; whereas, interviews of 05 faculty members having PhD degrees in education sciences were accomplished through semistructured interview schedule. The findings reveal that lack of proper funds allocation in higher education, deficiency of Higher Education Institutions in remote areas, dearth of research and innovation, scarcity of physical infrastructure and faculty incompatible with latest technological advancements are major hindrances in the progress of higher education in Pakistan. The key suggestions are; government should empower Higher Education Commission (HEC) with financial and administrative authority to provide quality higher education at the door steps of people according to local and global needs. Further, the rapid technological changes and developments may properly be adopted to improve the higher education. The government should ensure execution policies and plans related to the higher education, in true letter and spirit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C compromises the quality of life of more than 350 million individuals worldwide. Over the last decade, therapeutic regimens for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections have undergone rapid advancements. Initially, structure‐based drug design was used to develop molecules that inhibit viral enzymes. Subsequently, establishment of cell‐based replicon systems enabled investigations into various stages of HCV life cycle including its entry, replication, translation, and assembly, as well as role of host proteins. Collectively, these approaches have facilitated identification of important molecules that are deemed essential for HCV life cycle. The expanded set of putative virus and host‐encoded targets has brought us one step closer to developing robust strategies for efficacious, pangenotypic, and well‐tolerated medicines against HCV. Herein, we provide an overview of the development of various classes of virus and host‐directed therapies that are currently in use along with others that are undergoing clinical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pendred's syndrome (PDS) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and goiter. PDS is caused by mutations of the SLC26A4 gene encoding pendrin, a transmembrane exchanger of Cl−, I− and HCO3−, which is expressed in the thyroid and inner ear. SLC26A4 mutations can also be associated with non-syndromic deafness, DFNB4. The goal of our study was to define the identities and frequencies of SLC26A4 mutations in 563 large, consanguineous Pakistani families segregating severe-to-profound recessive deafness. Sequence analyses of SLC26A4 in 46 unreported families segregating deafness linked to DFNB4/PDS revealed 16 probable pathogenic variants, 8 of which are novel. The novel variants include three missense substitutions (p.R24L, p.G139V and p.V231M), two splice site mutations (c.304+2T>C and c.1341+3A>C), one frameshift (p.C565MfsX8) and two different genomic deletions affecting exons 1–2 and 11–18. Each of six pathogenic variants (p.V239D, p.Q446R, p.S90L, p.Y556C, p.R24L and p.K715N) was found in more than one family and haplotype analyses suggest that they are founder mutations. Combined with earlier reported data, SLC26A4 mutations were identified in 56 (7.2%; 95% CI: 5.6–9.2%) of 775 families. Therefore, SLC26A4 mutations are the most common known cause of genetic deafness in this population. As p.V239D (30%), p.S90L (18%) and p.Q446R (18%) account for approximately two-third of the mutant alleles of SLC26A4, hierarchical strategies for mutation detection would be feasible and cost-efficient genetic tests for DFNB4 deafness and PDS in Pakistanis.Journal of Human Genetics (2009) 54, 266–270; doi:10.1038/jhg.2009.21; published online 13 March 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 32-year-old woman who was presented with a large mass in the abdomen, breathing difficulty, and discomfort. Findings of abdominal examination reveal a large cystic mass from spleen and liver metastasis. A palliative resection was conducted to remove the splenic mass and the patient was discharged after 10 days of hospital stay.

A 17-year-old boy presented to emergency department with abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant along with a palpable mass. A CT scan revealed a 10 x 8.5 cm mass in the retroperitoneal area, suggestive of a sarcoma. The patient underwent surgical resection of the lesion, the histological examination of which confirmed a paraganglioma. An 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan excluded distant metastasis. Paragangliomas are rare tumours of the neuroendocrine system and certain considerations are pivotal in the management of these tumours. Urinary and plasma catecholamines measurement along with CT, MRI, and MIBG scanning facilitate diagnosis, localisation and characterisation of these tumours. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for both primary and recurrent tumours. Unfortunately, histological characterisation for malignancy is limited and these tumours are considered malignant upon development of metastasis or local recurrence. Inexistence of histological criteria for malignancy means a long-term surveillance is the norm in these patients.