The Status of Left-Wing Politics in Pakistan after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union

The disintegration of the Soviet Union had a detrimental impact on Pakistan’s already fragmented and feeble Left politics. The retreat of communism in Moscow disappointed Leftists in Pakistan. Faced with disillusionment and frustration, prominent figures in Pakistan’s Left politics responded to the anti-communist measurements in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during late 1980s in various ways. Some Leftists embraced other social and political ideologies, others went to the field of NGOs, while some remained steadfast in their commitment to the Marxist ideology. Soon after the disintegration, the Leftist political groups in Pakistan attempted to form a broader alliance but this experiment proved unsuccessful. Throughout the first decade of the twenty-first century, these fragmented Left groups struggled to find cohesion. However, in the second decade of twenty-first century, there was a resurgence and a renewed sense of unity within the Left can be noted. Even after some success, the Left is unable to assert it as a political alternat in a time when there is a political vacuum and the mainstream parties failed in addressing the issues of the masses. Left is facing some serious internal and external challenges. Without overcoming these challenges, it can be safely assumed that the Left would be unable to play prominent role in the second half of 2020 too. Key Words: Left Politics, Pakistan, Disintegration of Soviet Union, Political Alliance

Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Th17 Cells

Th17 cells provide protective immunity to infections by fungi and extracellular bacteria as well as cancer but are also involved in chronic inflammation. The cells were first identified by their ability to produce interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and, subsequently, associated with chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. Th17 cells have some gene profile similarity with stem cells and can remain dormant in mucosal tissues for long periods. Indeed, recent studies suggest that functionally distinct subsets of pro- and anti-inflammatory Th17 cells can interchange phenotype and functions. For development, Th17 cells require activation of the transcription factors STAT3 and RORγt while RUNX1, c-Maf, and Aiolos are involved in changes of phenotype/functions. Attempts to harness Th17 cells against pathogens and cancer using vaccination strategies are being explored. The cells gain protective abilities when induced to produce interferon γ (IFNγ). In addition, treatment with antibodies to IL-17 is effective in treating patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and refectory rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, since RORγt is a nuclear receptor, it is likely to be a potential future drug target for modulating Th17 functions. This review explores pathways through which Th17 subsets are induced, the molecular basis of their plasticity, and potential therapeutic strategies for their modulation in diseases

Recycling of Eggshell Powder and Wheat Straw Ash as Cement Replacement Materials in Mortar

Cement is among the important contributors to carbon dioxide emissions in modern society. Researchers are studying solutions to reduce the cement content in concrete to minimize the negative impact on the environment. Among these solutions is replacing cement with other materials, such as waste, which also poses environmental damage and requires landfill areas for disposal. Among these wastes are eggshell powder ash (ESPA) and wheat straw ash (WSA), which were utilized as cement substitutes in green mortar production. Thirteen mixtures were cast, one as a reference without replacement and twelve others that included replacing ESPA and WSA (single and combined) with cement in 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% proportions of cement's weight. The mechanical (compressive and flexural strength), microstructural (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA) properties of all mixtures were examined. The results showed a remarkable improvement in mechanical properties, and the best improvement was recorded for the (4%ESPA+4%WSA) mixture, which reached 73.3% in compressive strength and 56% in flexural strength, superior to the reference mixture. Furthermore, SEM analyses showed a dense and compact microstructure for the ESPA and WSA-based mortars. Therefore, the WSA and ESPA wastes can be recycled and utilized as a substitute for cement to produce an eco-friendly binder that significantly improves the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of mortar. In addition, combining the two materials also presents a viable option for creating a sustainable ternary blended binder (with cement) that boasts superior properties compared to using the WSA or ESPA individually

Kajian Fisiologis Sistem Pencernaan Pada Ikan Brek Tawar (Puntius orphoides) Dalam Upaya Konservasi Di Kabupaten Pasuruan

Ikan brek (Puntius orphoides) merupakan jenis ikan liar air tawar yang termasuk pada family Cyprinidae. Spesies ini dapat ditemukan pada sungai, danau dan waduk yang tersebar luas di Indocina Jawa, Kalimantan, Kepulauan Sunda, Sungai Klawing, Sungai Kranji, Sungai Pelus, Sungai Banjaran (Suryaningsih et al., 2011) Sebagai upaya pelestarian dan pengembangan ikan brek (P. orphoides) adalah dengan melakukan domestikasi yaitu dengan kegiatan budidaya. Domestikasi ikan brek (P. orphoides) masih terbilang sangat langka (Herawati et al., 2015). Keberhasilan upaya domestikasi tak hanya memerlukan informasi aspek biologi reproduksi, namun juga informasi mengenai nutrisi ikan (Pramono dan Marnani, 2009). Nilai nutrisi dari suatu makanan bagi ikan bergantung pada sejauh mana ikan tersebut mampu dalam mencerna makanan yang masuk ke dalam tubuh. Daya cerna ikan adalah kemampuan ikan dalam mencerna makanan yang masuk kedalam tubuhnya (Handajani, 2011). Enzim sendiri adalah suatu biokataisator yang memiliki fungsi dalam peningkatan kecepatan reaksi senyawa kimia pada proses biologis. Enzim yang dikenal luas penggunaannya dalam pencernaan adalah enzim protease, amilase dan lipase. Fungsi dari enzim – enzim tersebut adalah memecah senyawa makromolekul seperti karbohidrat, lemak dan protein menjadi senyawa yang lebih kecil dan memudahkan penyerapan ke dalam tubuh (Supriyatna et al., 2015). Upaya domestikasi dan kajian mengenai beberapa biologi reproduksi ikan brek (P. orphoides) telah dilakukan, namun kajian fisiologis mengenai sistem pencernaan berupa enzim seperti amilase, lipase dan protease pada ikan brek (P. orphoides) belum pernah dilakukan. Oleh karena itu penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui enzim amilase, lipase dan protease pada ikan brek (P. orphoides). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis gambaran kebiasaan makan ikan, menganalisis perbedaan kandungan enzim amilase, lipase dan protease serta untuk menganalisis gambaran histologi usus ikan sebagai penentu pola makan ikan brek. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Unit Pelaksan teknis Pengembangan Budidaya Air Tawar (UPT –PBAT) Umbulan Pasuruan untuk pengambilan sampel dan pengukuran kualitas air. Sedangkan untuk Penelitian Lanjutan dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Reproduksi Ikan Fakultas Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Deskriptif. Parameter utama dalam penelitian adalah menganalisis gambaran kebiasaan makan ikan, menganalisis perbedaan kandungan enzim amilase, lipase dan protease serta menganalisis gambaran histologi usus ikan brek (P. orphoides), sedangkan parameter penunjang dalam penelitian ini adalah kelimpahan plankton perairan dan parameter kualitas air (pH,suhu,salinitas, DO). Hasil parameter utama mengenai isi lambung ikan, uji jumlah enzim dan histologi usus ikan yaitu: isi lambung ikan brek memiliki persentase 90% fitoplankton dan 10% zooplankton dengan dominasi genus nitzschia sp. Sebesar 10 44,473% sebagai makanan utamanya. Hasil uji enzim lambung ikan brek didapatkan hasil pada enzim amilase tertinggi sebesar 885 U/ml, enzim protease tertinggi sebesar 72,67 U/ml dan untuk enzim lipase tertinggi sebesar 11,5 U/ml. Hasil uji histologi usus ikan brek didapatkan hasil vili usus terpanjang 607,46 μm dan terpendek 105,36 μm, untuk vili terlebar didapatkan hasil 101,24 μm dan tersempit 34,61 μm. Hasil parameter penunjang mengenai kelimpahan plankton perairan dan parameter kualitas air yaitu: kelimpahan plankton perairan didapatkan 18 genus fitoplankton dan 2 genus zooplankton. Fitoplankton terdiri dari 4 kelas (Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta dan Dinophyta). Zooplankton terdiri dari 2 kelas (Arthropoda dan Rotifera). Kelimpahan plankton tertinggi yaitu 207 ind/L dari kelas Bacillariophyta dengan genus yang paling banyak dittemukan adalah nitzschia. Hasil parameter kualitas air yang diukur yaitu suhu, pH dan DO (Oksigen terlarut). Suhu perairan didapatkan hasil 22-24oC, untuk pH didapatkan hasil 7,8-8,2 dan untuk nilai DO didapatkan hasil 4-7 mg/L. Dari data hasil diatas dapat disimpulkan bahwa ikan brek yang diuji dapat digolongkan kedalam ikan herbivora. Hal ini dikarenakan 1) isi lambung ikan brek memiliki isi 90% fitoplankton, 2) jumlah enzim amilase memiliki nilai lebih tinggi dibandingkan enzim protease dan enzim lipase yang berarti ikan brek mengkonsumsi banyak karbohidrat, 3) uji histologi panjang dan lebar vili usus ikan termasuk kedalam golongan herbivora dikarenakan panjang vili usus ikan herbivora rata-rata 223,69-619,97 μm

Sequential occurrence of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, essential thrombocythemia, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a 42-year-old African-American woman: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura are two well recognized syndromes that are characterized by low platelet counts. In contrast, essential thrombocythemia is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by abnormally high platelet numbers.</p> <p>The coexistence of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a single patient has been reported in the literature on a few occasions. However, having essential thrombocythemia complicating the picture has never been reported before.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a case where thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, essential thrombocythemia, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were diagnosed in a 42-year-old African-American woman in the space of a few years; we are reporting this case with the aim of drawing attention to this undocumented occurrence, which remains under investigation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As the three conditions have different natural histories and require different treatment modalities, it is important to recognize that these diseases may be seen sequentially. This case emphasizes the importance of reviewing peripheral blood smears for evaluation of thrombocytopenia and bone marrow aspirations for diagnosis of thrombocythemia in order to reach an accurate diagnosis and tailor therapy accordingly. Moreover, this case demonstrates the variability and complexity of platelet disorders. This occurrence of three different types of platelet disorders in one patient remains a pure observation on our part; regardless, this does raise the possibility of a common underlying, as yet undiscovered, pathophysiology that could explain the phenomenon.</p

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory mechanisms in uveitis

The eye, as currently viewed, is neither immunologically ignorant nor sequestered from the systemic environment. The eye utilises distinct immunoregulatory mechanisms to preserve tissue and cellular function in the face of immune-mediated insult; clinically, inflammation following such an insult is termed uveitis. The intra-ocular inflammation in uveitis may be clinically obvious as a result of infection (e.g. toxoplasma, herpes), but in the main infection, if any, remains covert. We now recognise that healthy tissues including the retina have regulatory mechanisms imparted by control of myeloid cells through receptors (e.g. CD200R) and soluble inhibitory factors (e.g. alpha-MSH), regulation of the blood retinal barrier, and active immune surveillance. Once homoeostasis has been disrupted and inflammation ensues, the mechanisms to regulate inflammation, including T cell apoptosis, generation of Treg cells, and myeloid cell suppression in situ, are less successful. Why inflammation becomes persistent remains unknown, but extrapolating from animal models, possibilities include differential trafficking of T cells from the retina, residency of CD8(+) T cells, and alterations of myeloid cell phenotype and function. Translating lessons learned from animal models to humans has been helped by system biology approaches and informatics, which suggest that diseased animals and people share similar changes in T cell phenotypes and monocyte function to date. Together the data infer a possible cryptic infectious drive in uveitis that unlocks and drives persistent autoimmune responses, or promotes further innate immune responses. Thus there may be many mechanisms in common with those observed in autoinflammatory disorders

Genomic epidemiology of a protracted hospital outbreak caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Birmingham, England

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii commonly causes hospital outbreaks. However, within an outbreak, it can be difficult to identify the routes of cross-infection rapidly and accurately enough to inform infection control. Here, we describe a protracted hospital outbreak of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, in which whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to obtain a high-resolution view of the relationships between isolates. METHODS: To delineate and investigate the outbreak, we attempted to genome-sequence 114 isolates that had been assigned to the A. baumannii complex by the Vitek2 system and obtained informative draft genome sequences from 102 of them. Genomes were mapped against an outbreak reference sequence to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs). RESULTS: We found that the pulsotype 27 outbreak strain was distinct from all other genome-sequenced strains. Seventy-four isolates from 49 patients could be assigned to the pulsotype 27 outbreak on the basis of genomic similarity, while WGS allowed 18 isolates to be ruled out of the outbreak. Among the pulsotype 27 outbreak isolates, we identified 31 SNVs and seven major genotypic clusters. In two patients, we documented within-host diversity, including mixtures of unrelated strains and within-strain clouds of SNV diversity. By combining WGS and epidemiological data, we reconstructed potential transmission events that linked all but 10 of the patients and confirmed links between clinical and environmental isolates. Identification of a contaminated bed and a burns theatre as sources of transmission led to enhanced environmental decontamination procedures. CONCLUSIONS: WGS is now poised to make an impact on hospital infection prevention and control, delivering cost-effective identification of routes of infection within a clinically relevant timeframe and allowing infection control teams to track, and even prevent, the spread of drug-resistant hospital pathogens