State-of-the-Art Review on Utilization of Fly Ash in Pavement Structures

The use of fly ash in construction has been on the rise, yet its application in pavement construction remains relatively underexplored. This study addresses this gap by critically reviewing 70 years of research on fly ash usage in pavement engineering, offering valuable recommendations. Class 'C' fly ash is employed for soil stabilization, while class 'F' is used in concrete. In both flexible (asphalt) and rigid (concrete) pavements, fly ash primarily functions as a filler material. Fine ash, owing to its fineness, enhances asphalt concrete by reducing void ratios and water sensitivity, as well as easing subgrade compaction while increasing compressive strength. Incorporating fly ash into Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) enhances resistance to cracking and oxidative ageing. Adding fly ash (up to 25%) significantly boosts soil failure stress and strain values by 106% and 50%, respectively, while a combination of 8% lime and 18% fly ash yields maximum shear strength. A modest amount of lime (1-2%) mixed with 10% fly ash achieves a maximum dry density of 1.98 gm/cm3 at an optimal water content of 12.62%. Additional testing by researchers corroborates and validates the findings of this literature review

Prevalence of Xerostomia in Diabetes Mellitus at lower Sindh.

Introduction: Xerostomia is a common problem in apparently normal as well as in ill individuals. Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder in which Xerostomia is complained frequently. Xerostomia contributes to altered eating habits and increase risk of dental caries and oral infection if there is inadequate blood glucose control. Factors affecting Xerostomia includes socioeconomic and medical condition, includes uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, presence of peripheral neuropathy, use of medications, gender and age. Objective: To document the prevalence of Xerostomia among diabetic patients. Methodology: This prospective, cross sectional study was conducted on known cases of Diabetes mellitus attending medical OPD at Muhammad Medical College, Mirpurkhas Sindh from March 2017 to August 2017. During this period 100 patients were included according to inclusion criteria. Demographic details were recorded. Fox questionnaire was filled in, the data collected was analyzed by SPSS version 22, and presented as number and percentage. Result:  Among100 patients; 37% were xerostomic and 63% were non xerostomic, age range of xerostomic was 50 ±7years and non xerostomic was 35 ±11 years. 21 females had Xerostomia and 29 had no Xerostomia .16 males were xerostomic, and 34 males were non xerostomic. Among xerostomic patients 15 were insulin dependent and 21 were non-insulin dependent. Where as in non xerostomic 22 were insulin dependent and 42 were non-insulin dependent. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 10 ±5 years in Xerostomic and it was 8 ±3 years in non xerostomic diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Xerostomia is common in elderly diabetics and in females and is dependent on glycemic control and duration of diabetes. Key words: Xerostomia, Diabetes mellitus, Elderly and Duration of Diabetes Mellitus.&nbsp

Incidence and Attributing Factors of Impaired Blood Glucose in Non-Diabetic Patients on Steroid Therapy

Objective: To determine the incidence and attributing factors of impaired blood glucose in non-diabetic patients on steroid therapy. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore during 6 months from April 2019 to September 2019. Patients of both genders with age of 18-70 years and receiving steroid therapy (at least 1 pulse) were included. After taking ethical approval, 371 patients were counseled and explained the details of the study. A bolus of 1 gram Methylprednisolone was given and blood was drawn after 2 hours and blood glucose levels were measured. All the labs were acquired from same lab (Hospital lab) and glucometer to eliminate bias and confounding variables were controlled by exclusion. Data was collected via study proforma. Results: The average age of the patients was 43.75 ± 14.33 years with a range of 18 to 70 years. There were 42% males and 57%.1 females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. Average BMI of patients 27.34±3.72kg/m2. Impaired blood glucose was observed in 55% of patients after steroid pulse therapy. Frequency of impaired blood glucose after steroid pulse therapy was statistically insignificant according to age and BMI (p->0.05). Positive family history was significantly higher in a patient with impaired blood glucose after pulse therapy (p-0.001). Conclusion: Impaired blood glucose level was observed to be highly prevalent among non-diabetic patients receiving steroid pulse therapy. Female gender and positive family history of diabetes observed as attributing factors

Diffuse lipomatosis of the thyroid gland

AbstractDiffuse thyroïd lipomatosis is an extremely rare histopathological condition characterized by diffuse fatty infiltration in thyroïd stroma. We report a case of 67year old female who presented a plunging goiter. She underwent a thyroïdectomy. Histopathologic study concluded to the diagnosis of diffuse thyroïd lipomatosis. No recurrence was observed

Screening of the LAMB2, WT1, NPHS1, and NPHS2 Genes in Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome

Mutations in the NPHS1, NPHS2, LAMB2, and the WT1 genes are responsible for causing nephrotic syndrome (NS) in two third of the early onset cases. This study was carried out to assess the frequencies of mutations in these genes in a cohort of pediatric NS patients. A total of 64 pediatric familial or sporadic SRNS cases were recruited. Among these, 74% had a disease onset of up to 3 years of age. We found one homozygous frameshift mutation in the NPHS1 gene in one CNS case and two homozygous mutations in the NPHS2 gene. Six mutations in four cases in the LAMB2 gene were also identified. No mutation was detected in the WT1 gene in isolated SRNS cases. LAMB2 gene missense mutations were segregating in NS cases with no extra-renal abnormalities. Analysis of the population genomic data (1000 genome and gnomAD databases) for the prevalence estimation revealed that NS is more prevalent than previously determined from clinical cohorts especially in Asian population compared with overall world populations (prevalence worldwide was 1in 189036 and in South-Asian was 1in 56689). Our results reiterated a low prevalence of mutations in the NPHS1, NPHS2, LAMB2, and WT1 genes in the studied population from Pakistan as compared to some European population that showed a high prevalence of mutations in these genes. This is a comprehensive screening of the genes causing early onset NS in sporadic and familial NS cases suggesting a more systematic and robust approach for mutation identification in all the 45 disease-causing genes in NS in our population is required

Real Sector Growth owed to Islamic Finance

Islamic finance is growing rapidly not only in Islamic world but also around the globe. Foreseeing the popularity of Islamic finance, the current study intends to explore the relationship between Islamic financing and economic growth. To entertain the objectives, the study used data of United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Indonesia for the years 1980-2018. The ARDL approach to co-integration was used in order to obtain the empirical results for exploring the relationship between the Industrial Production Index, Islamic banks deposits, Islamic bank financing, gross fixed Capital formation, trade openness, government expenditures, and inflation. Industrial production index is taken as a proxy of growth that represents real sector growth. Study findings illustrated a strong positive relationship between industrial production indices, Islamic bank deposits & financing, gross fixed capital formation and negative significant relation with trade openness in the study period. Whereas, government expenditure has insignificant relation and inflation has shown negative relation. It is recommended that Islamic banks should design their deposit instruments in terms of long-run. The Islamic banks may follow the path of conventional banking in this regard. Deposit’s negotiable certificates should be issued similar to the conventional banks

Working of Ideology in the TV Commercials of Cold Drinks in Pakistani Media

The article aims at the analysis of the TV commercials of three carbonated cold drinks from Pakistani media. The analysis will be carried out using the three dimensional framework presented by Fairclough.  Through the analysis, the ideological framing of the commercials will be brought to light. To achieve this purpose different techniques used by the ad- makers will be described, interpreted and explained in the light of critical discourse analysis.Keywords: Advertisements, Power, Ideology, CDA, Faircloug

Juvenile ossifying fibroma of the maxilla

Introduction: Juvenile ossifying fibroma is a rare benign fibro-osseous lesion. It is characterized by the early age of onset, the localization of the tumor, the radiological pattern and a tendency to recurrence.In the light of a clinical case, we review the clinical, histological and radiological features of this tumor. Case report: We report a case of a nine year old male child who presented with a unilateral swelling of the right middle face with right proptosis. Clinical examination showed a mass filling the right nasal cavity. CT scan and MRI were performed. Biopsy suggests a fibro-osseous lesion. The patient undertook surgery by a degloving approach with complete tumor removal. The histopathological examination revealed the diagnosis of a juvenile ossifying fibroma. No recurrence was noted. Conclusion: Because of its aggressive and compressive nature, juvenile ossifying fibroma requires an early complete surgical excision. A long-term clinical and radiological surveillance is necessary to prevent recurrence. Keywords: Juvenile ossifying fibroma, Fibro-osseous tumours, Surgery, Recurrenc