Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonography Using U Classification of Thyroid Nodules in Detection of Malignant Thyroid

Ultrasonography (US) helps diagnose malignant thyroid nodules based on various characteristics, including echogenicity, margins, microcalcifications, size, form, and aberrant neck lymph nodes. The study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for cancer diagnosis in thyroid nodules, using Histopathology as the gold standard. To minimize morbidity and death from the condition and the number of solely invasive procedures biopsies, the results of our research will give patients and physicians with a noninvasive, cost-effective, and conveniently accessible diagnostic technique for differentiating cancerous from benign nodules. A cross-sectional analytical study was designed to collect data prospectively from July 2022 to October 2022 in the Department of Radiology at Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute Islamabad. Patients in the age range of 18-60 years, both genders were enrolled. Th data was entered into SPSS 24. The frequencies and percentages of categorical factors such as sex and malignancy in thyroid nodules were determined using descriptive analysis. For numerical variables such as age, the mean and standard deviation were computed. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV with a 95% confidence interval for the U-classification of malignant thyroid nodules and represented as         Two by Two tables. In addition, Histopathology was used to evaluate U's efficacy as a diagnostic tool for finding malignant thyroid nodules. The study sample comprised 34 (68%) female and 16 (32%) male patients. On Biopsy, cancerous nodules were diagnosed in only 19 (38.5%) patients, and the remaining 31 (62%) had benign lesions. The prevalence of thyroid malignancy in our sample was 38%. On ultrasonography, malignancy was diagnosed in 15(30%) lesions, while the remaining 35(70%) patients were diagnosed with benign lesions. Histopathology confirmed malignant thyroid nodules in 15 (true positive) cases, whereas 6 (false positive) had no malignant lesion on Histopathology. In US negative patients, 27 were true negative, while 2 were false negative. The sensitivity of ultrasound U-score in diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules was 88.2%, specificity was 81.8%, PPV was 71.4%, and NPV was 93% Diagnostic accuracy is high when the US is used to detect thyroid problems, making it the preferred noninvasive technique. We recommend that thyroid lesions be routinely assessed clinically, imaged radiographically, and analyzed histo-pathologically. U Classification system for identifying potentially cancerous thyroid nodules is a valuable tool. It allows for a more prudent choice of nodules to undergo FNAC, reducing the number of needless procedures

Solving Poverty through Management: Experience in Pakistan

There has been a consensus in the development literature that the poor have received insufficient credit from the formal financial sector. This is because the department rated the poor as a dangerous borrower because of the lack of appropriate collateral. This provides, therefore, the rationale for promoting the policy position of the microfinance sector to strengthen access to credit for the poor. Microcredit is expected to reduce poverty by increasing household income. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this debate. It is achieved by investigating the impact of microcredit on poverty in Pakistan. This paper uses the 1985-2015 time series data to assess the relationship between the human development index as a representative of poverty and its socioeconomic characteristics and microfinance visits. The error correction model is used to estimate the relationship between microcredit and household demographic variables and family poverty. Data analysis shows that there is a positive correlation between the human development index and small business credit, which is conducive to all previous expectations Thus, this evidence provides support for the "positive impact" of the debate and provides some guidance on how policy reform should focus on strengthening the performance of the Pakistani microfinance sector. In addition, the evidence for this study provides some guidance on policy reforms to improve Pakistan's microfinance performance

Solving Poverty through Management: Experience in Pakistan

There has been a consensus in the development literature that the poor have received insufficient credit from the formal financial sector. This is because the department rated the poor as a dangerous borrower because of the lack of appropriate collateral. This provides, therefore, the rationale for promoting the policy position of the microfinance sector to strengthen access to credit for the poor. Microcredit is expected to reduce poverty by increasing household income. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this debate. It is achieved by investigating the impact of microcredit on poverty in Pakistan. This paper uses the 1985-2015 time series data to assess the relationship between the human development index as a representative of poverty and its socioeconomic characteristics and microfinance visits. The error correction model is used to estimate the relationship between microcredit and household demographic variables and family poverty. Data analysis shows that there is a positive correlation between the human development index and small business credit, which is conducive to all previous expectations Thus, this evidence provides support for the "positive impact" of the debate and provides some guidance on how policy reform should focus on strengthening the performance of the Pakistani microfinance sector. In addition, the evidence for this study provides some guidance on policy reforms to improve Pakistan's microfinance performance

Multivariate Granger causality between CO2 emissions, energy intensity and economic growth in Portugal: evidence from cointegration and causality analysis

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between economic growth, energy intensity and CO2 emissions by incorporating financial development in CO2 emissions function using Portuguese annual data over the period of 1971–2011. The unit root problem of variables is examined by applying Zivot-Andrews unit root test and the ARDL bounds testing approach is for long run relationship. The direction of causal relationship between the series is examined by the VECM Granger causality approach and robustness of causality analysis is tested by innovative accounting approach (IAA). Our empirical evidence confirmed that the variables are cointegrated for long run relationship. The results exposed that economic growth and energy intensity increase CO2 emissions, while financial development condenses it. The VECM Granger causality analysis showed the feedback effect between energy intensity and CO2 emissions, while economic growth and financial development Granger cause CO2 emissions. The study suggests that environment degradation can be controlled by using energy efficient technologies. Financial development can also play its role in improving the environmental quality by encouraging investment in energy efficient technology to enhance domestic production and save the environment from degradation. First published online: 09 Jul 201

An evaluation of Pakistan's food supply and security

Governments prioritize global food insecurity. Food insecurity affects a billion people, with Asia and the Pacific Islands having the highest rates and Sub-Saharan Africa the lowest. Pakistan is one of the worst-hit countries due to a surge in chronically food-insecure people. Pakistan's food crisis persists. Due to improved worldwide methods and statistics on population, food balance sheets, and consumption patterns, Pakistan's PoU for 2017-19 is 12.3%, up from 12.0% the year before. This is helping measure progress on SDG indicator 2.1.1. 26 million individuals cannot fulfill their basic calorie needs, and the number is rising

Cellulose-based materials and their adsorptive removal efficiency for dyes: A review

Dyes are emerging as harmful pollutants, which is one of major issues for the environmentalists and there is a urgent need for the removal of dyes from the effluents. In this context, the adsorption technology has been extensively used as an effective tool for the removal of dyes from the aqueous phase. This technique uses low-cost adsorbents and the cellulosic material is a biodegradable, cost-effective and renewable polymer, which is not soluble in the majority of solvents because of its crystalline nature and hydrogen bonding. Currently, the modified cellulosic materials for the removal of dyes from wastewater gained much attention. Moreover, the application of cellulose for water treatment can be utilized for controlling pollution and have high economic viability and availability. This review signifies the use of cellulose-based adsorbent for dyes adsorption from wastewater. The key advancement in the preparation and modification of cellulose-based adsorbents is discussed and their adsorption efficiencies are compared with other adsorbents for removal of dyes and adsorption conditions are also considered for the same. The studies reporting cellulose-based adsorption from 2003 to 2022 are included and their various properties are compared for the efficient removal of dyes. The modified cellulosic materials cellulose is a highly effective adsorbent for the remediation of effluents

Green synthesis and photocatalytic dye degradation activity of CuO Nanoparticles

This project was supported by Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP-2023R7) King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. S.A.C.C. acknowledges support from FCT/MCTES (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) through projects UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020 and for the Scientific Employment Stimulus—Institutional Call (CEECINST/00102/2018). The authors thank The Islamia University of Bahawalpur for providing basic facilities.The degradation of dyes is a difficult task due to their persistent and stable nature; therefore, developing materials with desirable properties to degrade dyes is an important area of research. In the present study, we propose a simple, one-pot mechanochemical approach to synthesize CuO nanoparticles (NPs) using the leaf extract of Seriphidium oliverianum, as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The CuO NPs were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The photocatalytic activity of CuO NPs was monitored using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The CuO NPs exhibited high potential for the degradation of water-soluble industrial dyes. The degradation rates for methyl green (MG) and methyl orange (MO) were 65.231% ± 0.242 and 65.078% ± 0.392, respectively. Bio-mechanochemically synthesized CuO NPs proved to be good candidates for efficiently removing dyes from waterpublishersversionpublishe

The mutational analysis of mitochondrial DNA in maternal inheritance of polycystic ovarian syndrome

IntroductionPolycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a globally prevalent condition that leads to infertility in women. While environmental factors contribute to PCOS, maternal genetics also play a significant role. Currently, there is no definitive test for identifying predisposition to PCOS. Hence, our objective is to discover novel maternal genetic risk factors for PCOS by investigating the genomes of patients from Pakistan.MethodsWe utilized Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to sequence the complete mitochondrial DNA of three PCOS patients. Subsequently, we employed MitoTIP (Mitochondrial tRNA Informatics Predictor) and PON-mt-tRNA tools to identify variations in the mitochondrial DNA. Our analysis focused on the genes MT-RNR1, MT-RNR2, MT-ATP6, MT-TL2, and MT-CYTB, which displayed common variations in all three genomes. Additionally, we observed individual variations. The D-loop region exhibited the highest frequency of mutations, followed by the non-coding regions of RNR1 and RNR2 genes. Moreover, we detected frameshift mutations in the mitochondrially encoded NADH Dehydrogenase 2 (MT-ND2) and mitochondrially encoded NADH Dehydrogenase 5 (ND5) genes within individual genomes.ResultsOur analysis unveiled six regions with common variations in the mitochondrial DNA of all three PCOS patients. Notably, the MT-RNR1, MT-RNR2, MT-ATP6, MT-TL2, and MT-CYTB genes exhibited these variations. Additionally, we identified individual variations in the mitochondrial DNA. The D-loop region displayed the highest mutation frequency, followed by the non-coding regions of RNR1 and RNR2 genes. Furthermore, frameshift mutations were detected in the MT-ND2 and ND5 genes within individual genomes.ConclusionThrough our study, we have identified variations in mitochondrial DNA that may be associated with the development of PCOS and have the potential to serve as predisposition tests. Our findings highlight the presence of novel mutations in the MT-RNR1, MT-RNR2, MT-ATP6, MT-TL2, and MT-CYTB genes, as well as frameshift mutations in the MT-ND2 and ND5 genes. Pathogenicity analysis indicated that most variants were likely to result in benign cysts. However, the frameshift mutations in the ND2 gene were associated with a high risk of complications and pathogenicity in PCOS. This is the first report identifying these mutations and their association with PCOS, contributing to our understanding of the genetic factors underlying the condition

Phenotypic Characterization of EIF2AK4 Mutation Carriers in a Large Cohort of Patients Diagnosed Clinically With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with an emerging genetic basis. Heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) are the commonest genetic cause of PAH, whereas biallelic mutations in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 4 gene (EIF2AK4) are described in pulmonary veno-occlusive disease/pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis. Here, we determine the frequency of these mutations and define the genotype-phenotype characteristics in a large cohort of patients diagnosed clinically with PAH. METHODS: Whole-genome sequencing was performed on DNA from patients with idiopathic and heritable PAH and with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease/pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis recruited to the National Institute of Health Research BioResource-Rare Diseases study. Heterozygous variants in BMPR2 and biallelic EIF2AK4 variants with a minor allele frequency of <1:10 000 in control data sets and predicted to be deleterious (by combined annotation-dependent depletion, PolyPhen-2, and sorting intolerant from tolerant predictions) were identified as potentially causal. Phenotype data from the time of diagnosis were also captured. RESULTS: Eight hundred sixty-four patients with idiopathic or heritable PAH and 16 with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease/pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis were recruited. Mutations in BMPR2 were identified in 130 patients (14.8%). Biallelic mutations in EIF2AK4 were identified in 5 patients with a clinical diagnosis of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease/pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis. Furthermore, 9 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PAH carried biallelic EIF2AK4 mutations. These patients had a reduced transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide (Kco; 33% [interquartile range, 30%-35%] predicted) and younger age at diagnosis (29 years; interquartile range, 23-38 years) and more interlobular septal thickening and mediastinal lymphadenopathy on computed tomography of the chest compared with patients with PAH without EIF2AK4 mutations. However, radiological assessment alone could not accurately identify biallelic EIF2AK4 mutation carriers. Patients with PAH with biallelic EIF2AK4 mutations had a shorter survival. CONCLUSIONS: Biallelic EIF2AK4 mutations are found in patients classified clinically as having idiopathic and heritable PAH. These patients cannot be identified reliably by computed tomography, but a low Kco and a young age at diagnosis suggests the underlying molecular diagnosis. Genetic testing can identify these misclassified patients, allowing appropriate management and early referral for lung transplantation