Association Analysis in Linseed (Linum Usitatissimum L.)

Fifteen advanced lines of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) were evaluated to identify the relationship of grain yield and its related attributes during 2010-11 at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan. Grain yield (kg/ha) had significant and positive association with plant height, number of primary branches plant-1, number of capsule plant-1, number of grains capsule-1 and 1000 grain weight both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Therefore focusing on these traits would improve breeding efficiency of linseed in the future breeding programs. Path analysis demonstrated that plant height, number of primary branches plant-1, number of capsule plant-1, number of grains capsule-1 and 1000 grain weight had the positive direct effect in determining the grain yield (kg/ha) in linseed. According to these results, breeding for high grain yielding cultivars of linseed, number of capsule plant-1 should be kept in mind firstly followed by 1000 grain weight, number of grains capsule-1, number of primary branches plant-1and plant height. Key Words: genotypic correlation, phenotypic correlation, path analysis, Linsee

Characters Association Analysis in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Twenty genotypes of safflower was evaluated to study the genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients and path effects of yield related traits on grain yield during rabi cropping season 2011-12 at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan. Grain yield (kg/ha) correlated significantly and positively with plant height, boll diameter, number of grains per boll, 1000 grain weight and days to maturity. Thus these characters are the key yield contributing attributes to be given selection pressure for improving yield. The result of path analysis showed highest and positive direct effect of number of grains per boll followed by 1000 grain weight and plant height on grain yield (kg/ha). Key words: Genotypic correlations, phenotypic correlation, path analysis, safflowe

Molecular Characterization of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Abu Dhabi District, United Arab Emirates

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variants and their associated enzyme deficiencies among different age groups of individuals in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: A total of 15,995 patients (6302 UAE nationals and 9693 non-UAE nationals) who presented at Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE between January 2006 and January 2009 were screened for G6PD deficiency using fluorescent spot test. Molecular analysis including polymerase chain reaction– restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and DNA sequencing were utilized to identify common mutations in individuals with G6PD deficiency.Results: The prevalence of G6PD deficiency among UAE nationals was 7.4% and non-UAE nationals 3.8%. UAE males showed prevalence of 11.6% while for UAE females it was 3.6%. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency among non-UAE nationals was 5 and 1.7% for males and females, respectively. The Mediterranean mutation, 563C→T, was predominant in non-UAE nationals.Conclusion: G6PD Mediterranean mutation is the most prevalent mutation underlying G6PD deficiency followed by Aures mutations in both UAE nationals and non-UAE nationals. On the other hand, Africa Awas found to be more in non-UAE compared with UAE nationals.Keywords: Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency, Mutation, Abu Dhabi, Polymerase chain reaction–restriction, Fragment length polymorphis

Inter-Dependencies in Budget Deficit and its Financing Sources in Pakistan (1960-2005)

The paper critically appraises causality, susceptibility to innovation of budget deficit, domestic borrowing from banking system and foreign borrowing. Secondary data is used, which was taken from annual Economic Survey of Pakistan (various issues), and International Financial Statistics (2005). For analysis, Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model with Impulse Response Function (IRF), Error Variance Decomposition and Granger Causality test is used. The study revealed that any innovation of one standard deviation took seven years for budget deficit and more than ten years for domestic bank borrowing and foreign borrowing to be effective. The variation in budget deficit is mostly explained by itself. Most of the variation in domestic bank borrowing is explained by budget deficit, while variation in foreign borrowing is mostly explained by budget deficit and domestic bank borrowing. Two unilateral causality are found and no bilateral causality, and in mostly independent relationships have been detected. Based on the finding the study suggests parallel and harmonized fiscal and monetary policy to reduce foreign reserves outflow. Fiscal policy is more vulnerable to shocks or innovations and monetary policy took longer time to become effective, so the gap between monetary policy formation and its implementation must be reduced

Comparison of Efficacy of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer and Composite Restoration in Inhibition of Secondary Caries in Primary Molars

Objective: To evaluate and compare clinical performance and caries inhibition of Resin modified glass ionomer cement and composite restoration in primary molars Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Operative Dentistry, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Feb 2019 to Jan 2020. Methodology: Eighty-three patients fulfilling the selection criteria having at least one carious mandibular primary molar on both sides were divided by split-mouth design. Resin-modified Glass ionomer restorations were done on one side and termed Group-A, and Composite Restorations were done on the other side and termed Group-B. Each restoration was clinically evaluated regarding the appearance of secondary caries at 3, 6 and 12 months after placement by the same operator who performed the treatment. Results: A total of 166 conventional restorations were placed in the 83 children having carious mandibular primary molars, at least one on each side of the arch. The assessment of restorations, performed after six months, showed an 89.2% success rate of Resin modified Glass ionomer restorations and a 66% success rate of Composite Restoration. One year of follow-up showed an 80% success rate for Resin modified Glass ionomer restorations and 60% for Composite Restoration, as regards secondary caries; statistically significant differences were found in both groups. Conclusion: The study results showed that Resin modified Glass ionomer cement used to restore primary molars affected by caries performed better clinically than composite in assessing secondary caries

An Unbiased Lipid Phenotyping Approach To Study the Genetic Determinants of Lipids and Their Association with Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors.

Direct infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry (DIHRMS) is a novel, high-throughput approach to rapidly and accurately profile hundreds of lipids in human serum without prior chromatography, facilitating in-depth lipid phenotyping for large epidemiological studies to reveal the detailed associations of individual lipids with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Intact lipid profiling by DIHRMS was performed on 5662 serum samples from healthy participants in the Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study (PROMIS). We developed a novel semi-targeted peak-picking algorithm to detect mass-to-charge ratios in positive and negative ionization modes. We analyzed lipid partial correlations, assessed the association of lipid principal components with established CHD risk factors and genetic variants, and examined differences between lipids for a common genetic polymorphism. The DIHRMS method provided information on 360 lipids (including fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sterol lipids), with a median coefficient of variation of 11.6% (range: 5.4-51.9). The lipids were highly correlated and exhibited a range of associations with clinical chemistry biomarkers and lifestyle factors. This platform can provide many novel insights into the effects of physiology and lifestyle on lipid metabolism, genetic determinants of lipids, and the relationship between individual lipids and CHD risk factors

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified