Antenatal diagnosis of extralobar pulmonar sequestration

Extralobar pulmonary sequestrations (ELS) are masses of non-functioning lung tissue that are supplied by an anomalous systemic artery and do not have a bronchial connection to the native tracheobronchial tree. On prenatal ultrasonography, an ELS appears as a well-defined echodense, homogeneous mass. Detection by color flow Doppler ultrasonography of a systemic artery from the aorta to the fetal lung lesion is a pathognomonic feature of fetal ELS. MR imaging may help in the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration by  demonstrating a solid, well-defined mass, and the feeding artery. In this case report, we describe the sonographic and MR diagnosis of an ELS in a fetus at 22 weeks gestation with a review of the available literature.Key words: Extralobar pulmonary sequestration, antenatal diagnosis, ultrasonography, MR

Routine immunization in Pakistan: comparison of multiple data sources and identification of factors associated with vaccination.

Background: Within Pakistan, estimates of vaccination coverage with the pentavalent vaccine, oral polio vaccine (OPV) and measles vaccine (MV) in 2011 were reported to be 74%, 75% and 53%, respectively. These national estimates may mask regional variation. The reasons for this variation have not been explored. Methods: Data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) for Balochistan and Punjab (2010-2011) are analysed to examine factors associated with receiving three or more doses of the pentavalent vaccine and one or more MVs using regression modelling. Pentavalent and OPV estimates from the MICS were compared to vaccine dose histories from surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP; poliomyelitis) to ascertain agreement. Results: Adjusted coverage of children 12-23 months of age were estimated to be 16.0%, 75.5% and 34.2% in Balochistan and 58.0%, 87.7% and 72.6% in Punjab for the pentavalent vaccine, OPV and MV, respectively. Maternal education, healthcare utilization and wealth were associated with receiving the pentavalent vaccine and the MV. There was a strong correlation of district estimates of vaccination coverage between AFP and MICS data, but AFP estimates of pentavalent coverage in Punjab were biased toward higher values. Conclusions: National estimates mask variation and estimates from individual surveys should be considered alongside other estimates. The development of strategies targeted towards poorly educated parents within low-wealth quintiles that may not typically access healthcare could improve vaccination rates

Wpływ tkaniny bazaltowej na właściwości „zielonej” żywicy epoksydowej

The influence of basalt fabric on the tensile mechanical properties and the impact resistance of green epoxy resin was investigated. Composites with parallel arrangement of insert yarns had better properties than in the case of their perpendicular arrangement. The properties were also influenced by the number of layers of the fabric. The tensile strength and impact resistance of the composites were better than the commercially available side mirror covers due to the superior properties of the basalt fiber.Zbadano wpływ tkaniny bazaltowej na właściwości mechaniczne przy rozciąganiu i odporność na uderzenie „zielonej” żywicy epoksydowej. Kompozyty o równoległym ułożeniu przędzy charakteryzowały się lepszymi właściwościami niż te o prostopadłym ułożeniu. Na właściwości miała również wpływ liczba warstw tkaniny. Wytrzymałość na rozciąganie i odporność na uderzenie kompozytów były lepsze niż dostępnych na rynku osłon lusterek bocznych ze względu na dobre właściwości włókna bazaltowego

A Descriptive Correlational Study of Vascular Foramina in Adult Human Femora in Cadavers in Pakistan

Background: This study was conducted to study the variations in the number and location of nutrient and epiphyseal vascular foramina of the femur in the Pakistani population Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April -June '2022 after getting ethical approval. Data collection tool: 24-gauge hypodermic needles & measuring tapes. Data collection and Analysis: SPSS & Excel Inclusion & exclusion criteria: Anatomically sound bones were included from the bone bank of RMU; pathological, deformed bones were excluded Results: Out of 80 bones 66.6% had single nutrient foramina, whereas 31.3% had two on the shaft. 82.05% of foramina were type II, 16.67% were type I and 1.26% were type III. Only 2.5% had no foramina. Majorly the nutrient foramina were found on the medial surface, medial lips or between the lips of linea aspera. There was no significant difference bilaterally in the mean foraminal index, foraminal length, or several epiphyseal vascular foramina, which were 18.65 cm, 42.66 cm, and 16 cm respectively. Conclusion: Most of the nutrient foramina in the femora were found in the middle third of the shaft, either on the medial lip of the Linea Aspera or on the shaft’s medial surface; however, variations in their location have been found. The mean epiphyseal vascular foramen ranged from 6 to 26. The article finds its implications in orthopaedic surgery and osteogenesis. Key words: Epiphyses, Diaphysis, Femur, long bones, Hip joint, Arteries, Pathology, Research, osteogenesis, Populatio

Exchange Bias Effects in Iron Oxide-Based Nanoparticle Systems

The exploration of exchange bias (EB) on the nanoscale provides a novel approach to improving the anisotropic properties of magnetic nanoparticles for prospective applications in nanospintronics and nanomedicine. However, the physical origin of EB is not fully understood. Recent advances in chemical synthesis provide a unique opportunity to explore EB in a variety of iron oxide-based nanostructures ranging from core/shell to hollow and hybrid composite nanoparticles. Experimental and atomistic Monte Carlo studies have shed light on the roles of interface and surface spins in these nanosystems. This review paper aims to provide a thorough understanding of the EB and related phenomena in iron oxide-based nanoparticle systems, knowledge of which is essential to tune the anisotropic magnetic properties of exchange-coupled nanoparticle systems for potential applications

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus FM9 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum Y57 Are as Effective as Statins at Improving Blood Lipid Profile in High Cholesterol, High-Fat Diet Model in Male Wistar Rats

Elevated serum cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Some Lactobacillus strains with cholesterol-lowering potential have been isolated from artisanal food products. The purpose of this study was to isolate probiotic Lactobacillus strains from traditional yoghurt (dahi) and yogurt milk (lassi) and investigate the impact of these strains on the blood lipid profile and anti-obesity effect in a high cholesterol high fat diet model in Wistar rats. Eight candidate probiotic strains were chosen based on in vitro probiotic features and cholesterol reduction ability. By 16S rDNA sequencing, these strains were identified as Limosilactibacillus fermentum FM6, L. fermentum FM16, L. fermentum FM12, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus FM9, L. fermentum Y55, L. fermentum Y57, L. rhamnosus Y59, and L. fermentum Y63. The safety of these strains was investigated by feeding 2 × 108 CFU/mL in saline water for 28 days in a Wistar rat model. No bacterial translocation or any other adverse effects were observed in animals after administration of strains in water, which indicates the safety of strains. The cholesterol-lowering profile of these probiotics was evaluated in male Wistar rats using a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFCD) model. For 30 days, animals were fed probiotic strains in water with 2 × 108 CFU/mL/rat/day, in addition to a high fat, high cholesterol diet. The cholesterol-lowering effects of various probiotic strains were compared to those of statin. All strains showed improvement in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and weight gain. Serum cholesterol levels were reduced by 9% and 8% for L. rhamnosus FM9 and L. fermentum Y57, respectively, compared to 5% for the statin-treated group. HDL levels significantly improved by 46 and 44% for L. rhamnosus FM9 and L. fermentum Y57, respectively, compared to 46% for the statin-treated group. Compared to the statin-treated group, FM9 and Y57 significantly reduced LDL levels by almost twofold. These findings show that these strains can improve blood lipid profiles as effectively as statins in male Wistar rats. Furthermore, probiotic-fed groups helped weight control in animals on HFCD, indicating the possible anti-obesity potential of these strains. These strains can be used to develop food products and supplements to treat ischemic heart diseases and weight management. Clinical trials, however, are required to validate these findings