Prevalence and Molecular Diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica in Sheep and Goats in Different Districts of Punjab, Pakistan

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular diagnosis of fasciolosis in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats in Okara, Sahiwal and Lahore districts of Punjab province. A total of 800 samples including 200 fecal and 200 bile, each from Lohi sheep and Beetal goats were collected and processed for microscopic examination of Fasciola eggs as well as its confirmation through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the fecal samples, 3.5 and 2% samples whereas from bile samples, 6.5 and 4% bile samples from sheep and goats were found microscopically positive for Fasciola hepatica, respectively. By PCR, 4.5 and 3.5% fecal samples and 8.5 and 5% bile samples from sheep and goats, respectively were confirmed for F. hepatica. Statistically sheep and goats species were found equally likely acquiring the F. hepatica diagnosed by either source of material (fecal and bile samples) similarly fecal and bile samples were equally likely showing fasciolosis in either of sheep and goats

Young Muslim women's experiences of Islam and physical education in Greece and Britain: a comparative study

Previous research suggests that Muslim women can experience particular problems when taking physical education (PE) lessons, for example with dress codes, mixed-teaching and exercise during Ramadan; and they can face restrictions in extra-curricular activities for cultural and religious reasons. The area is under-researched and there is little evidence of comparative studies that explore similarities and differences in cross-national experiences, which is the aim of this paper. Two studies conducted in Greece and Britain that explored the views of Muslim women on school experiences of physical education are compared. Both studies focused on diaspora communities, Greek Turkish girls and British Asian women, living in predominantly non-Muslim countries. Growing concerns about global divisions between 'Muslims and the West' make this a particularly pertinent study. Qualitative data were collected by interviews with 24 Greek Muslim women, and 20 British Muslim women. \ud <P> \ud Physical education has national curriculum status and a similar rationale in both countries but with different cultures of formality and tradition, which impacted on pupils' experiences. Data suggested that Greek and British groups held positive views towards physical education but were restricted on their participation in extra-curricular activities. For the British women religious identity and consciousness of Islamic requirements were more evident than for the Greek women. Differences in stages of acculturation, historical and socio-cultural contexts contributed to less problematic encounters with physical education for Greek Muslims who appeared more closely assimilated into the dominant culture

Novel Structurally Designed Vaccine for S. aureus α-Hemolysin: Protection against Bacteremia and Pneumonia

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a human pathogen associated with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and life threatening sepsis and pneumonia. Efforts to develop effective vaccines against S. aureus have been largely unsuccessful, in part due to the variety of virulence factors produced by this organism. S. aureus alpha-hemolysin (Hla) is a pore-forming toxin expressed by most S. aureus strains and reported to play a key role in the pathogenesis of SSTI and pneumonia. Here we report a novel recombinant subunit vaccine candidate for Hla, rationally designed based on the heptameric crystal structure. This vaccine candidate, denoted AT-62aa, was tested in pneumonia and bacteremia infection models using S. aureus strain Newman and the pandemic strain USA300 (LAC). Significant protection from lethal bacteremia/sepsis and pneumonia was observed upon vaccination with AT-62aa along with a Glucopyranosyl Lipid Adjuvant-Stable Emulsion (GLA-SE) that is currently in clinical trials. Passive transfer of rabbit immunoglobulin against AT-62aa (AT62-IgG) protected mice against intraperitoneal and intranasal challenge with USA300 and produced significant reduction in bacterial burden in blood, spleen, kidney, and lungs. Our Hla-based vaccine is the first to be reported to reduce bacterial dissemination and to provide protection in a sepsis model of S. aureus infection. AT62-IgG and sera from vaccinated mice effectively neutralized the toxin in vitro and AT62-IgG inhibited the formation of Hla heptamers, suggesting antibody-mediated neutralization as the primary mechanism of action. This remarkable efficacy makes this Hla-based vaccine a prime candidate for inclusion in future multivalent S. aureus vaccine. Furthermore, identification of protective epitopes within AT-62aa could lead to novel immunotherapy for S. aureus infection

Numerical investigations of the aperture size effect for maintaining a constant temperature in a novel sulfur-ammonia water splitting cycle application

Solar-driven thermochemical water splitting cycle is a promising, energy efficient and environmentally friendly approach to produce hydrogen. In this paper, numerical work has been undertaken using a cylindrical solar receiver to investigate fixed and variable aperture sizes to maintain constant steady-state temperature over a day for thermochemical part of a novel hybrid photo-thermochemical sulfur-ammonia cycle. A previously developed and validated optical model in commercial software, TracePro® is used to simulate the light sources of 10, 15, and 28 kW. The sunlight intensity variations for the designated reference day for this study is selected as July 1, 2011, at 39.74 N, 105.18 W and at an elevation of 1829 m. A developed and validated finite volume based coupled Monte Carlo, Heat Transfer model is used to calculate the steady-state temperatures in the receiver by utilizing the output of the optical model. The simulations are performed at different aperture diameters from 2 to 14 cm to quantify the effect of fixed aperture size on the steady-state temperatures of the receiver. Furthermore, simulations to maintain steady-state temperatures of 673, 823, and 1123 K for different sub-cycles of the selected cycle via variable aperture has been performed and compared with selected fixed apertures. It is found that the variable apertures can maintain desired constant temperatures over the day for each thermochemical sub-cycle. The comparison of overall power consumption and savings for fixed and variable apertures has also been investigated and reported

Evaluation of Dexamethasone as an Antiemetic in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background: To determine whether intravenous Dexamethasone (8mg), during anaesthesia, would decrease early postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: In this double- blind, randomized controlled trial, hundred patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided in two groups. In Group-A, 50 patients, who received Inj. Dexamethasone 8 mg were compared with Group B, a control group of fifty patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy but did not receive Inj. Dexamethasone. Results: Group A showed low frequency of PONV when compared to Group B(nausea 6 vs. 27 and vomiting 3 vs. 13 , with p value of &lt; 0.001 and &lt; 0.006 respectively. Conclusion: Inj.Dexamethasone given during anaesthesia effectively controls postoperative nausea and vomiting

Comparison of Intraarticular Ketorolac Versus Triamcinolone Acetone Injection in Patients of Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To compare the analgesic and functional outcomes of intra-articular ketorolac with corticosteroids in patients of knee OA. Methods: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In this randomized comparative study, we included patients of knee OA who were planned for intra-articular injections from January-2020 to December-2020 in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at Rawalpindi Medical University. Patients were allocated to two groups using block randomization, each block contained 30 patients and received injection of either triamcinolone (Group T) or ketorolac (Group K). VAS score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were noted at 1 week, 1 month and at 3 months of injection. Results: Mean baseline WOMAC score was 46.60±5.64 in group K and 47.0±5.27 in group T (p-value 0.74). Mean WOMAC score was reduced significantly at 1st week and 1 months and 3 months follow-up in both groups, with insignificant statistical difference in group K and T (p-value 0.39, 0.18 &amp; 0.15 respectively). Baseline VAS score was 7.02±1.34 in group K versus 7.27±1.03 in group T (p-value 0.36). VAS score was also reduced at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months follow-up, however the mean VAS at intervals was not statistically different between group K and T with p-value of 0.13, 0.08 and 0.49 respectively. Treatment was successful in 22 (55%) patients in group K versus 24 (60%) patients in group T (p-value 0.65). Conclusion: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Intraarticular ketorolac has similar functional and analgesic outcomes as that of triamcinolone