Growth and Nutrition of Plants as Affected by Different Osmotic Concentrations of Calcium Chloride and Sodium Chloride in the Substrate

Considerable experimental evidence supports the concept that the growth of plants generally decreases progressively as the salt concentration of the substrate increases, but certain relationships between plant and substrate are still not fully understood. The chemistry of salt toxicity to plants involves many interactions both as to the quantity and kind of ions presented to the roots and those accumulated in the plants. Many plant species have shown sensitivity to excess accumulation of specific salts frequently encountered in saline soils. Thus Eaton (1942), Wadleigh, Hayward, and Ayers (1951 ) have shown most of the fruit trees to be susceptible to injury as a result of the accumulation of chloride ion. Wadleigh, et al. (1951) have reported orchard grass to be sensitive to calcium salts. Recently, Brown, Wadleigh, and Hayward (1953) have found calcium chloride more toxic to some fruit trees than isosmotic levels of sodium chloride. These and other studies have indicated a greater influence of specific ions than of the osnotic pressure of the solution

Unilateral Facial Neuralgia A management Dilemma

Objective:  The objective of the study was to assess the significance of clinical examination in   Diagnosis and management of Patient with unilateral facial neuralgia. Study Design:  Observational study. Place and Duration of study:  Out patient clinic and department of ENT and Neurosurgery PGMI LRH Peshawar from IST Nov 2005---31 Oct 2007 (2 years). Material and methods:  Patients presented with unilateral facial neuralgia were assessed in out patient clinic, record keeping about data was assessed during compiling of study. Related investigations were performed to exclude secondary causes of neuralgia. Results:  A total of 1207 patients who presented with unilateral facial pain in two years duration were scrutinized for idiopathic facial neuralgia. 182 (15.07%.) patient were referred to neurosurgeon who were suffering from trigeminal neuralgia.43(3.56)%) patient were subjected to microvascular decompression (MVD).Rest of the patients were treated accordingly.   &nbsp

Neurological Improvement after Decompression for Dorsal Spine Tuberculosis (TB)

Objectives:  To assess the neurological improvement after decompression for dorsal spine tuberculosis in terms of Frankel grading. Materials and Method:  Prospective study was done in the Neurosurgery department, Prime Teaching Hospital Peshawar from 2018 to 2021. Patients of both genders aged between 18 to 60 years were selected while those unfit for surgery or requiring conservative management were excluded from the study. After clinical examination and radiological findings, the patients were diagnosed with dorsal spine tuberculosis requiring surgery. All patients were followed for 3 months post-operatively. Neurological improvement was measured by comparing pre and post-op Frankel grading. Complications were also documented. Results:  Out of 38 patients included in the study, 16 (42%) were male and 22 (58%) were female. The mean age of presentation was 34 ± 5. The distribution for age groups was 18 – 30 (08), 31 – 40 (13), 41 – 50 (11), and 51 – 60 (06). Level of disease D4 – D8 were 17 (44.8%) and D9 – D12 was 21 (55.2%). Pre-operative neurological status of the patients was (5.2%) Frankel A, (10.5%) Frankel B, (47.3) Frankel C, (22%) Frankel D, and (7.8%) Frankel E while Post-operative grading was (2.6%) Frankel A, (5.2%) Frankel B, (23.6%) Frankel C, (47.3%) Frankel D and (18.4) Frankel E. 3 patients experienced worsening of neurology, 2 patients bleeding and CSF leak and 1 patient died as a complication of the surgery. Conclusion:  Surgical option involving decompression of spine TB followed by stabilization is utilized in a majority of patients with neurological deficits. It is very effective and the results are good. The main advantage is thorough debridement and achievement of spinal stabilization. Keywords:   Dorsal Spine Tuberculosis, Frankel Grading, Spinal Stabilization

Microsurgical Resection of Intracranial Dermoid and Epidermoid Tumors

Objective: To Ascertain the outcome of microsurgical resection of intracranial dermoid and epidermoid tumors.Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out in Neurosurgical Department, Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) Peshawar and followed for 3 years after microsurgical resection. All the patients with suspected intracranial Dermoid and epidermoid tumors (IDETs) on imaging study pre-operatively and later confirmedpostoperatively (after histopathology) were enrolled. Patients having recurrent tumor, opting for nonsurgical management and those deem unfit for surgery were not included in the study.Results: 27 patients were included in the study with 12 (44.4%) males and 15 (56.6%) female. Age of the patients rangefrom 11 to 58 years.Mean age was 38.6 years. Epidermoid tumors were 19 (70.3%) in number and dermoid 8 (29.7%) in number. The most common presentation was increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and cranialnerve deficit. The lesion was located in infratentorial location in 15 (56.6%) patients, 12(44.4%) were supratentorialy located. Gross total removal (GTR) was performed in 21 (77.8%) patients, while in six patients (22.2%) subtotal removal (STR) was attempted. 1 (3.7%) patient died while 2 (7.4%) patients had permanent morbidity post operatively, all other patients (89%) improved. Recurrence occurred in 9.5% of GTR patients while in STR patients, 33.3% patients were noted with increase in residual tumor on neuroimaging.Conclusion: Microsurgical resection with GTR is possible for most IDET and gives good results with minimalcomplications

Brucellosis in Pakistan: A neglected zoonotic disease

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease; endemic but neglected in the South Asian countries including Pakistan. It causes economic loss to the livestock sector and leads to systemic infection in humans. Brucellosis was neglected in Pakistan since long. According to the Staged Tool for the Elimination of Brucellosis (STEB), Pakistan carries a grim landscape of the disease with no structured control activities. This article describes the five-year national brucellosis control strategic plan (2018-2023) formulated by the government of Pakistan using the one-health approach for the prevention and control of disease across the country. The plan incorporates components of surveillance, research, diagnostic capacity, awareness and vaccination using a multi-disciplinary approach

Sustainability in South Asian city

South Asia is one of most densely populated region in the world. Currently, 28.33% of the South Asian population lives in urban areas, with an annual growth rate of 2.92%. Shifting of jobs from agriculture to industry and the concentration of economic opportunities in urban areas are causing tremendous increase in urbanisation in the region, which is seriously affecting the environment, and poses strong challenges to governments in terms of the infrastructure and services. In this article, we will give an overview of urbanisation problems in South Asia. We will also suggest some key interventions for sustainable development in the region. Urbanisation problems in South Asia are manifested in the form of lopsided urbanisation and faulty urban planning with poor economic base. Urban poverty has been increasing in the region, resulting in the growth of a massive number of slums. As a manifestation of social injustice and the social divide, slums exclude the poor from accessing the basic amenities. South Asia has the highest regional urbanisation of poverty at any given overall urbanisation. Concerted government efforts with long-term commitment at the highest political levels are required to reduce urban poverty and deprivation. The way cities are growing in the region is not at all sustainable, with a clear imbalance between economic, environmental, socio-political and technological aspects. Sustainable communities can be established by focusing on social and human development programmes to develop intangible assets in the community such as inclusion, tolerance, public participation, and democratic governance, which do not depreciate through use but rather become more valuable the more they are used. Place matters in different ways, which have yet to be fully appreciated and incorporated into how planners teach place. But it needs to directly adopt the Bottom-up Approach to provide solutions for the problems going on in the cities of the region. More participatory methodologies need to be adopted, while taking decisions about urban space. The future of urban sustainability can only succeed when there is integration of environmental thinking into mainstream economic and development decisions with knowledge based strategic urban planning as well as urban pedagogy

Outcome of Anterior Cervical Discectomy with PEEK Cage Fixation for Single Level Cervical Disc Disease

Objective:  To assess the outcome of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with PEEK cage. Material and Methods:  This prospective study was conducted in the Departments of Neurosurgery Prime Teaching Hospital and Irfan General Hospital Peshawar. Patients undergoing one level ACDF with PEEK cage fixation were enrolled in the study. Patients who needed multiple level ACDF or corpectomy with plating and redo cases were excluded from the study. A proforma, which included age, gender, address, level of prolapsed disc, sign and symptoms, pain score, MRI findings were filled. All patients were assessed on day of discharge and on follow-up visit after one month. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 22. Results:  Total 95 patients were included out of which 58 (61%) were male and 37 (39%) were female. Range of patients` Age was from 27 years to 64 years with 50.4 years mean age. Most patients (65%) had C6 radiculopathy. 58 patients (61%) had right sided radicular pain. 5 patients (5.26%) had radiculomyelopathy. C5 – C6 was the most common level operated (68 patients). Excellent results were achieved in 75 patients (79%) while satisfactory results in the rest of patients using Odom’s criteria. Bony fusion occurred in 92% of patients at 6 months. Conclusion:  ACDF with PEEK cage fixation is a safe and beneficial procedure in one level cervical prolapse disc diseas

Management of Hydrocephalus in Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children. An Experience of 30 Cases at Govt: Lady Reading Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, Peshawar

Treatment of hydrocephalus in posterior fossa tumors in children is debatable issue especially in developing countries like Pakistan where the patients present very late. It depends upon the clinical presentations of patients and duration of hydrocephalus. In this regard hospital records of all children with posterior fossa tumors treated in our center during 2005-2008 were reviewed. Patient’s demographic and diagnostic data were analyzed. Chai square test was applied to compare the frequencies of post operative complications in various groups. In our series of 30 patients, 15 were male and 15 were female with equal male to female ratio 1:1. Ten patients with hydrocephalus were treated with External ventricular drain (EVD) per-operative while fifteen patients were treated with pre-operative VP shunt. Five patients did not have any treatment for hydrocephalus. It was proved that in our setup, pre-operative shunting is the best way of management of hydrocephalus in posterior fossa tumors

Study of environmental biodegradation of LDPE films in soil using optical and scanning electron microscopy

An outdoor soil burial test was carried out to evaluate the degradation of commercially available LDPE carrier bags in natural soil for up to 2 years. Biodegradability of low density polyethylene films in soil was monitored using both optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 7-9 months of soil exposure, microbial colonization was evident on the film surface. Exposed LDPE samples exhibit progressive changes towards degradation after 17-22 months. SEM images reveal signs of degradation such as exfoliation and formation of cracks on film leading to disintegration. The possible degradation mode and consequences on the use and disposal of LDPE films is discussed