Potential health-related phytoconstituents in leaves of Chenopodium quinoa

Background: Chenopodium quinoa Willd. or quinoa is an important food crop, having many pharmacological properties. It is recently introduced in Pakistan. In the present study, a phytochemical profile of its leaf extract was assessed through GC-MS analysis, and the health-related compounds were identified through a literature survey.Methods: Quinoa was grown in Lahore, Pakistan, and its leaves were collected at maturity, dried, ground, and extracted in methanol. GC-MS analysis of this extract was done that showed the presence of 30 compounds.Results: The most abundant compound was α-linolenic acid (12.13%), followed by n-hexadecanoic acid (11.51%), ergosta-5,7-dien-3-ol, (3β)- (10.99%), phytol (10.25%), and stigmast-7-en-3-ol, (3.beta.,5.alpha.,24S)- (7.33%). Moderately occurring compounds included DL-proline, 5-oxo-, methyl ester (6.01%), hydroxylamine, O-pentyl- (5.38%), neophytadiene (4.36%), 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (3.96%), 2-isopropoxyethyl propionate (3.84%), vitamin E (2.52%), and linolenic acid, methyl ester (2.46%). The remaining compounds were less abundant, having peak areas of less than 2%.Conclusion: Literature survey revealed that α-linolenic acid; n-hexadecanoic acid; phytol; squalene, vitamin E and linolenic acid, and methyl ester; present in leaf extract of quinoa possess various health-related properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, cardio-protective, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic, antihistaminic, antiandrogenic and antieczemic.                    Keywords: Amaranthaceae; Bioactive compounds; Leaf extract; Pakistan; Quinoa 

Frequency of Subdural and Epidural Hematoma in Brain Injury Via Computed Tomography in Trauma Center of DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha

At least 10 million TBIs serious enough to result in death or hospitalization occur annually. The mortality associated with acute subdural hematoma has been reported to range from 36-79%. Epidural hematoma occurs in approximately 2% of patients with head injuries and 5–15% of patients with fatal head injuries. Both can be caused by fall, motor vehicle crashes, assaults, blasts and sports activities. CT is best modality for diagnosis of brain injury. Objective:To measure the frequency of subdural and epidural hematoma in brain injury via computed tomography in trauma center of DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha.Methodology:In this descriptive study, among 137 patients of traumatic brain injury (TBIs) were selected with age and gender discrimination by convenient sampling, at Department of Radiology, DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha. Single slice Computed Tomography Toshiba asteion machine was used.Results:Out of 137 patients collected, 35 were females and 102 were males who visited emergency department due to brain Injury. It shows 25.5% were females and males were 74.5%.Out of 137 patients, 63.5% were injured with RTA and 35.8% came with the history of fall. 67.2% patients present with loss of consciousness, 67.9% patients with skull fractures and 73% with swelling. Out of 137 patients 85.4% develop SDH and 14.6% develop EDH. Conclusion:In this study we conclude that male develop larger number of brain injuries than females. Most patients with history of RTA had epidural hematoma. Females most likely develop subdural hematoma. Most patients with brain injury later develop subdural hematoma. Keywords: Subdural Hematoma, Epidural Hematoma, Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI), Road Traffic Accident(RTA) DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/71-01 Publication date: February 29th 202

Role of Plexin B1 in a breast cancer cohort of Pakistani patients and its contribution towards cancer metastasis as indicated by an in vitro model

Background/Aim: In the current study, the role of plexin B1 in breast cancer metastasis was explored. Materials and Methods: Freshly-excised tumours along with background tissues of affected patients (n=121) were collected from Pakistani hospitals and processed for RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, expression of plexin B1 was evaluated and correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Furthermore, involvement of plexin B1 in metastasis was explored by generating gene knockdown in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results: Poorly-differentiated tumours showed low plexin B1 expression in comparison to well-differentiated ones. Similarly, reduced plexin B1 expression correlated positively with advanced tumour stage and metastasis. Loss of plexin B1 significantly reduced cell adhesion in comparison with respective control cell lines (p<0.05). Knockdown of plexin B1 in MDA-MB-231 cells led to a remarkable increase in cell motility in contrast to the respective control. Conclusion: Loss of plexin B1 expression might play a pivotal role in enhancing the metastatic potential of breast cancer cell

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among nurses in Pakistan towards diabetic foot

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers are a pressing complication of diabetes mellitus. Wound care requires a significant proportion of healthcare resources. It is imperative, therefore, for healthcare professionals to possess sound knowledge of the disease along with a positive attitude to ensure better clinical practice. Our literature search revealed a scarcity of data pertaining to diabetic foot ulcers. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding diabetic foot care. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, a pre-validated and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample size of 250 nurses working at two tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. The study was conducted over a period of three months (January to March 2018) and included all nurses who possessed at least one year of clinical experience in diabetic ulcer care. The statistical software employed was SPSS version 19 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Non-parametric tests and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis and statistical significance was assumed at a p-value of less than 0.5. Results: Only 54% of the nurses in our study possessed adequate knowledge of diabetic foot ulcers. The mean score of knowledge was 74.9 (±9.5). Macdonald’s standard criteria for learning outcomes was used to gauge the knowledge levels of our study population. Nurses performed best in the domain of ulcer care with 65.3% of the participants possessing good knowledge of the topic. The overall attitude of nurses towards patients with diabetic ulcers was positive. Conclusion: This study highlights important gaps in nurses’ knowledge and sheds light on the lack of evidence-based practice. Poor knowledge can compromise healthcare standards, even with the presence of positive attitudes. Hence, a comprehensive revision of nursing curricula across local tertiary hospitals for allowing nurses to update their knowledge is warrante

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15–39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods: Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15–39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings: There were 1·19 million (95% UI 1·11–1·28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000–425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15–39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59·6 [54·5–65·7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53·2 [48·8–57·9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14·2 [12·9–15·6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13·6 [12·6–14·8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23·5 million (21·9–25·2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2·7% (1·9–3·6) came from YLDs and 97·3% (96·4–98·1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation: Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Funding: Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, St Baldrick's Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute