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Aims: African Americans (AA) in the United States have a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and suffer from disparities in the prevalence, mortality, and comorbidities of the disease compared to other Americans. The present study aimed to shed light on the molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis of T2DM among AA in the Washington, DC region. Methods: We performed TaqMan Low Density Arrays (TLDA) on 24 genes of interest that belong to three categories: metabolic disease and disorders, cancer‐related genes, and neurobehavioural disorders genes. The 18 genes, viz. ARNT, CYP2D6, IL6, INSR, RRAD, SLC2A2 (metabolic disease and disorders), APC, BCL2, CSNK1D, MYC, SOD2, TP53 (Cancer‐related), APBA1, APBB2, APOC1, APOE, GSK3B, and NAE1 (neurobehavioural disorders), were differentially expressed in T2DM participants compared to controls. Results: Our results suggest that factors including gender, smoking habits, and the severity or lack of control of T2DM (as indicated by HbA1c levels) were significantly associated with differential gene expression. APBA1 was significantly (p‐value <0.05) downregulated in all diabetes participants. Upregulation of APOE and CYP2D6 genes and downregulation of the INSR gene were observed in the majority of diabetes patients. Conclusions: Tobacco smoking and gender were significantly associated with case‐control differences in expression of the APBA1 and APOE genes (connected with Alzheimer's disease) and the INSR and CYP2D6 (associated with metabolic disorders). The results highlight the need for more effective management of T2DM and for tobacco smoking cessation interventions in this community, and further research on the associations of T2DM with other disease processes, including cancer and neurobehavioral pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Developing countries will have >3 times the prevalence of the developed countries by the year 2050. Our previous studies with a Pakistani population have suggested that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is strongly associated with impaired cognitive functioning, and genetic pathways showed strong resemblance to known AD patterns. The present case studies investigated two important pathways, i.e., Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) processing and Lipid Metabolism, using gene expression profiling arrays to compare and contrast AD and T2DM patients from Pakistan. Method: We performed high‐throughput qRT‐PCR with preconfigured a TaqMan Low Density Profiling Array specific to Human Alzheimer's Disease (ABI, CAT # 441887) to measure the altered gene expressions and their corresponding pathways (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, IPA®). Both the T2DM (n = 2; M/F each) and AD (n = 2, M/F each) patients (cases) were recruited from outpatient departments of a regional hospital, and were compared with their respective matched, healthy controls. Result: Overall, we observed a differential gene expression profile in AD and T2DM participants compared to controls. CYP46A1, MAPT, CAPNS1, GAL, AGER, CAPN1, PSENEN, ST6GAL1, GRIN2B, GRIN2C, GRIN2A, and GAP43 was downregulated in both T2DM and AD patients. ACHE, CHRM3, GRIN2C and GAP43 significantly (p value <0.05) downregulated in all T2DM patients. CDC2, UCHL1, CTSG, CASP3, IDE, NAE1, CDK5R1, IL6, APBB2, GLS are the top 10 common genes that were upregulated in both AD and T2DM groups. The IPA analysis revealed important Canonical Pathways, that included, viz., Amyloid Processing, Neuroinflammation Signaling, ErB4 Signaling, nNOs Signaling. Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer. The top disease and biofunctions included Metabolic Disease, Neurological disease, Organismal Injury and Abnormalities, Psychological Disorders, Cardiovascular Disease, with the top upstream regulators PHLPP2, IL33, APP, CRP, TAC1. Conclusion: The differential gene expression patterns and associated disease pathways from this pilot study suggest that specific genes and pathways were common to both diseases and may suggest common underlying processes and causes. Information from such biochemical and genetic studies will be crucial to the development of therapeutic targets to treat AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To find out the outcome of patients managed with diagnosis of respiratory failure at Medical ICUs Methods: In this cross sectional observational study all respiratory failure patients managed at Medical ICUs were included. Data regarding patient characteristics, cause and type of respiratory failure (type I or II), outcome (improved or expired) and duration of hospitalization was collected for each patient. Outcome was correlated with age, gender, hospital, cause and type of respiratory failure and duration of hospitalization employing Chi2 or t test wherever appropriate. p- value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Two hundred and forty eight patients were included. 61.69% were male. Mean patient age was 48.58± 18.81 years. Type I respiratory failure was noted in 58.46% and type II respiratory failure in 41.53%. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and tuberculosis were commonest causes of respiratory failure. Mean duration of hospitalization was 4.69± 7.75 days. 57.25% patients expired and 42.74% recovered. Statistical association of outcome was only noted with difference to two hospitals. Conclusion: Poor outcome is noted in majority respiratory failure patients. Chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD), pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) related lung damage are commonest etiologies of respiratory failure in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Patients with end-stage renal disease are at a high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. These patients are on maintenance hemodialysis where they are exposed to dialysis fluid and dialysis membrane that generate an acute-phase response, which leads to inflammation, reflected in increased inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The aim of this study was to investigate levels of IL-6 and CRP in patients on hemodialysis and to determine effects of HCV on these markers. Materials and Methods. A total of 43 patients (39.5% men and 60.5% women; age range, 21 to 65 years) on maintenance hemodialysis for a period of at least 3 months were included. Twenty-four of them were HCV positive. Serum IL-6 and CRP were assessed in all patients. Results. Of HCV-positive patients, 11 (45.8%) had high levels of CRP, while 13 (54.2%) had low levels and increased levels of IL-6 (1064 ± 544.2 pg/mL, P = .19). Of 19 HCV-negative patients, 13 (68.4%) had high levels of CRP, while 6 (31.6%) had low levels, and all these patients had low levels of IL-6, as compared to HCV-positive patients. No significant correlation was observed between the levels of CRP or IL-6 and the duration of dialysis. Conclusions. In our study, we found high serum IL-6 and CRP levels in HCV-positive hemodialysis patients, compared with HCVnegative ones. However, we failed to show the significance of these differences. More studies with large sample sizes and evaluation of the other inflammatory markers are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Eating disorders (ED) are an emerging public health issue globally, especially in young adults studying at the undergraduate level. This study aims to assess the frequency of eating disorders, their types, and disordered eating behaviors among such students. Moreover, it aims to identify factors like weight concern, shape concern, eating concern, and restraint, along with assessing the shifting trend of BMI impact on eating disorders using a standardized Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Methods In this cross-sectional study, 400 undergraduate students (aged 18-25) from four public universities participated from July 2022 to November 2023. Data was collected using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The frequency of eating disorders was computed using SPSS version 27. Results Among the participants, 21.75% (n=84) were identified as having a score surpassing the clinical cut-off. This group comprised 5.5% males (n=22) and 16% females (n=64). The highest prevalence among the four subscales was observed in the Shape Concern subscale (10.5%). Objective binge episodes (19.3%) emerged as the most notable disordered eating attitude. Atypical anorexia nervosa accounted for 13.8% of different eating disorders, while disordered eating was noted in 19.5% (n=78) of individuals. Discussion This study offers critical insights into eating disorders among Pakistan undergraduate students, utilizing the EDE-Q 6.0. Disordered eating behaviors, particularly shape concern and objective binge eating, exhibit significant correlations with these disorders. Weight dissatisfaction emerges as a prominent predictor, suggesting societal influence. The study also reveals a moderate correlation between BMI and eating disorders, challenging conventional assumptions. Furthermore, a changing trend in the prevalence of eating disorders is observed among the male population., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Nasrullah et al.)

The analytical study was conducted at the National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan from Nov 2012 to Nov 2013 to find out, correlate and assess negative correlation of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) with expression of p53 gene, and comprised 32 samples. Expression of p53 and MDA levels were determined by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique respectively. Mean value of MDA in prostate carcinoma (CaP) and control group were compared, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). Mean cycle threshold (CT) value of CaP was compared with control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Expression of p53 was 0.18 folds decreased in CaP compared to control group. MDA may be used as marker to determine prognosis of CaP. Expression of p53 may be helpful in the diagnosis of CaP.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a common, world wide, systemic disease that affects mainly joints. Rheumatoid factor is the only marker to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis; however these antibodies are present in other disorders and even in up to 15% of the healthy population. Many auto antibodies have been reported to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis e.g. APF and AKA, etc. but they are not specific and due to tedious laboratory procedure, they have not been generally adopted. Anti-CCP antibodies have been reported for their high sensitivity and specificity. This study was planed to determine the prevalence of anti-CCP antibodies and RA factor in clinically diagnosed patients of rheumatoid arthritis., Methods: Anti-CCP antibody was determined by ELISA technique and RA-factor was done by latex agglutination method., Results: Forty five patients, 36 female and 9 male, were recruited for this study. Twenty-five (55.6%) patents were positive for anti-CCP antibodies while 20 patients were negative for anti-CCP antibodies and comparison between anti-CCP positive and anti-CCP negative was statistically significant (p = < 0.01). Thirty-one (68%) patients were seropositive (SPRA) for RA while 14 (31%) patients were seronegative (SNRA). Among SPRA patients, 18 were positive for anti-CCP antibody and among 14 SNRA patients, 7 patients had anti-CCP antibody and the difference between these two groups was not statistically significant., Conclusions: Anti-CCP antibody and RA-factor should be used concomitantly to diagnose RA.