Diff erential genotypic response of two varieties of Hordeum vulgare L. in response to hydrazine hydrate alone and in combination with dimethyl sulfoxide

Induced mutation has been an important tool for a man in bringing desirable changes in plants since times immemorial. Cereals form an integral part of human diet along with pulses, especially in India. Cereals contain a high percentage of carbohydrates along with the considerable amount of proteins. The present experiment was carried out to induce the variability in Hordeum vulgare L. variety RD-2035 and BH-393. The mutagen used in this experiment was hydrazine hydrate (Hz). The mutagen was used singly and in combination with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Usually, the DMSO is considered as a carrier for a mutagen to enhance the mutagenic activity of that particular mutagen used in combination. The two varieties of seeds were treated with individual concentrations of Hz along with combination treatments with DMSO. The seeds were sown to raise the M1 generation. Cytology of both control and treated plants was observed in the M1 generation. The control plants showed normal meiosis, whereas the treated plants showed different chromosomal abnormalities. The different chromosomal abnormalities were laggard, bridge, micronucleus, and univalents. The meiotic abnormalities were low at lower concentrations of both individual and combination treatments while as the percentage abnormalities increased with increasing concentrations of both individual and combination treatments. M1 seeds were sown to raise the M2 generation. Quantitative characters of both control and treated plants were observed. The lower concentrations of both individual and combination treatments induced desirable changes in quantitative characters while as the higher ones induced negative effects

Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence among females after normal vaginal delivery

Background: Urinary Incontinence is the most common disorder associated with women after vaginal delivery due to the weakening of pelvic floor muscles. More than 50% of females experience urinary incontinence. It is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine. The condition is common not only in older women but also in young nulliparous women. Objective: The key objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and severity of Urinary Incontinence after normal vaginal delivery. Method: The study was Cross-sectional and there were 160 participants in the study. The study was conducted at the Physical Therapy department and Gynaecology Ward of Fauji Foundation and Geo hospital Lahore. The data was collected from women who had delivered between the ages of 20-40 years. The data collection was done by using Incontinence Severity Index that was used as primary outcome measure. Results: A total of 160 responses were received, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among respondents, females in the age group of 20-25 had a rate of urinary incontinence with 31.3 percent. Results showed that females in the age group of 25-30 had high BMI and had a high rate of urinary incontinence with the range of 61.3 percent. As result, there was a positive correlation of urinary incontinence between age and score that ranged from 0.185. There was a positive correlation of urinary incontinence between the score and BMI that ranged between 0.174. Conclusion: This analysis revealed that there was a high prevalence rate of urinary incontinence among females after delivery that had a correlation with age

Effect of Different Preparations of Fluoride Gel on Salivary pH of Albino Rats

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different preparations of fluoride gels on the salivary pH of albino rats. Material and Methods: This experimental study consisted of 40 Albino rats randomly divided into four equal groups. Group A was the control group and received no intervention. Experimental group B received a topical application of 0.2% sodium fluoride gel. Experimental group C received topical application of stannous fluoride gel 0.4%. Experimental group D received topical application of APF gel (1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel). The different preparations of the gels were applied once daily for 4 minutes on the occlusal surface of the right maxillary molars for 14 days. Salivary pH values were recorded immediately after the application of gels with the help of pH paper on day 1 and day 14. Results: There was a significant difference in the pH level of groups B, C and D after 14 days of fluoride application (p < 0.05). The non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test was applied for the comparison between the groups. Conclusion: This study concluded that all the fluoride gels after administration caused the acidic pH of saliva with the most acidic effect produced by APF gel

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

Determination of Shear Bond Strength of Nanocomposite to Porcelain and Metal Alloy

Objective: To compare porcelain and metal repair done with both nanocomposite and conventional composite. Material and Methods: A total of 30 cylinders were fabricated from Porcelain (I), Porcelain fused to metal (II), and metal (III) substrate each. Control group (A) was bonded with conventional micro-hybrid composite and experimental group (B) was bonded with nanocomposite in a 2 mm thickness. All specimens were thermocycled and stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 7 days. A universal testing machine was used to measure the Shear bond strength (SBS). The difference between bond strengths of the groups was compared using an independent t-test. Results: In all three groups, the SBS was higher in the experimental group as compared to the control group. The use of nanocomposite of metal alloy presented maximum shear bond strength, followed by samples of porcelain fused to metal and finally porcelain, showing the lowest values of SBS. Conclusion: Porcelain and alloys bonded with nanocomposite exhibit enhanced adhesiveness as well as aesthetic and mechanical properties. This subsequently would translate into providing higher clinical serviceability and durability and hence a cost-effective and accessible repair option for human welfare

Determination of Shear Bond Strength of Nanocomposite to Porcelain and Metal Alloy

Objective: To compare porcelain and metal repair done with both nanocomposite and conventional composite. Material and Methods: A total of 30 cylinders were fabricated from Porcelain (I), Porcelain fused to metal (II), and metal (III) substrate each. Control group (A) was bonded with conventional micro-hybrid composite and experimental group (B) was bonded with nanocomposite in a 2 mm thickness. All specimens were thermocycled and stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 7 days. A universal testing machine was used to measure the Shear bond strength (SBS). The difference between bond strengths of the groups was compared using an independent t-test. Results: In all three groups, the SBS was higher in the experimental group as compared to the control group. The use of nanocomposite of metal alloy presented maximum shear bond strength, followed by samples of porcelain fused to metal and finally porcelain, showing the lowest values of SBS. Conclusion: Porcelain and alloys bonded with nanocomposite exhibit enhanced adhesiveness as well as aesthetic and mechanical properties. This subsequently would translate into providing higher clinical serviceability and durability and hence a cost-effective and accessible repair option for human welfare

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Curcumin: reclaiming the lost ground against cancer resistance

Curcumin, a polyphenol, has a wide range of biological properties such as anticancer, antibacterial, antitubercular, cardioprotective and neuroprotective. Moreover, the anti-proliferative activities of Curcumin have been widely studied against several types of cancers due to its ability to target multiple pathways in cancer. Although Curcumin exhibited potent anticancer activity, its clinical use is limited due to its poor water solubility and faster metabolism. Hence, there is an immense interest among researchers to develop potent, water-soluble, and metabolically stable Curcumin analogs for cancer treatment. While drug resistance remains a major problem in cancer therapy that renders current chemotherapy ineffective, curcumin has shown promise to overcome the resistance and re-sensitize cancer to chemotherapeutic drugs in many studies. In the present review, we are summarizing the role of curcumin in controlling the proliferation of drug-resistant cancers and development of curcumin-based therapeutic applications from cell culture studies up to clinical trials

Diagnostic role of magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography in the evaluation of female infertility

Abstract Background In the evaluation of female infertility, hysterosalpingography (HSG) with fluoroscopy provides limited evaluation of congenital uterine malformation and extrauterine disease. Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) is though commonly used, has its limitations in assessment of tubes. Addition of sonosalpingography can help assess tubal patency but may be inconclusive in cases of unilateral or bilateral obstruction and is grossly operator dependent. Recent past has seen evolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate problems associated with female infertility, with unparalleled advantages of having no radiation and being less operator-dependent. The need to assess tubal patency has been addressed by increasing literature on utilization of gadolinium (Gd) in MRI and comparing it with HSG alone or a mixture of HSG and laparoscopy. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography (MRHSG) as a screening test for female infertility and to compare accuracy, positive predictive value and efficacy of MRI and MRHSG with laparoscopy. Results Fifty-four out of 63 patients had bilateral tubal patency (85.7%). Nine patients had tubal pathology (14.3%) out of which one had unilateral and eight had bilateral tubal obstruction. Endometrial cavity abnormality was found in four patients and ovarian abnormalities were detected in 28.5% patients. MRHSG has shown high sensitivity and specificity for tubal patency evaluation when compared to the true gold standard for tubal patency assessment, laparoscopic chromotubation. With laparoscopy as standard, there was 100% sensitivity and specificity for structural abnormality, myometrial abnormalities and endometrial cavity assessment in MRHSG. Conclusions In comparison with diagnostic laparoscopy, MRHSG was found to have good sensitivity and specificity for assessment of tubal patency, excellent sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of structural malformation and endometrial cavity lesions. Furthermore MRHSG was good in picking up extra-uterine diseases