Sero-prevalence of Human Cytomegalovirus among blood donors in Lahore, Pakistan

Background: Transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus (TT-CMV) infection can cause severe illness and even death among immunocompromised patients; therefore, the spread of CMV through blood products should be prevented. To our knowledge, no study has been carried out in Pakistan to determine the seroprevalence of CMV in general population as well as among blood donors. The goal of this study was to determine CMV seropositivity among blood donors at the blood bank of INMOL Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.Methods: A sero-epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted. Sera from 91 blood donors were screened for CMV specific IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based kit.Results: The CMV-specific IgG antibodies were detected in 89 blood donors, which gave seroprevalence rate of 97.8%. The statistical analysis of results was done using pearson chi-square test and appeared non-significant with values 0.625 and 0.705 for different age groups and blood groups of donors.Conclusion: Because of high seroprevalence in this study area, an adequate supply of CMV seronegative blood is difficult to maintain. Therefore, we propose that the future strategies for the prevention of post-transfusion CMV infection in recipients should include the transfusion of leukoreduced blood products. Further a prospective study with much greater population can be done to identify major causative risk factors for such highest prevalence rate

Manifestation of Colonial Subjects in Twilight in Dehli and A Passage to India

The goal of this research is to examine how the colony is portrayed by both the colonizer and the colonized. This paper focuses mainly on the politics of depiction by implementing the insights of postcolonialism. In this context, Twilight in Delhi by Ahmed Ali also deals with the same subject from the view of the colonized, whereas A Passage to India is a narrative of the British colony by its colonizer E. M. Forster. It may be argued that the writers’ two depictions of a similar colony represent different political and cultural viewpoints. The two authors’ representations of the same colony, one from a colonized civilization and another from that was colonized, consistently reflect their distinctive voices. Additionally, the latest research has incorporated Homi K. Bhabha and Edward Said’s analytical works on the depiction in the postcolonial theoretical perspective and explored the problem of cultural representation while using textual analyses. The research has shown that both works’ representations of colonial India differ significantly because of the authors’ respective cultural roles as colonizer and colonized

Comparison of intravenous magnesium sulphate versus placebo in the management of women with severe pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic intravenous magnesium sulphate in management of pre-eclemptia in terms of prevention from convulsions and developemrnt of eclempsia. Methodology: This prospective randomised trial was conducted in the department of Obtetrical and gynaecology Bahawal Vctoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. From September 2016 to September 2017. Information was entered in SPSS computer software version 23.1 and analyzed for possible results. Mean and SD was calculated and presented for quantitative data like maternal age, Gestational age, Parity and Blood pressure. Frequency (percentages) were calculated and presented for qualitative data such as gender protienurea (Yes/No), C-section, development of eclempsia and maternal death. Post stratification statistical chi square test was used to see effect modification. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: In this study, a total number of 100% (n=318) patients were included, divided into two equal groups, 159 in each i.e. magnesium sulphate group and placebo group The outcomes were observed as Convulsions 2.5% (n=4) and 8.2% (n=13), maternal death1.3% (n=2) and 6.3% (n=10), adverse reaction 0.6% (n=1) and 8.2% (n=13), anti-hypertensive therapy 73.6% (n=117) and 81.8% (n=130), caesarean Section 59.7% (n=95) and 48.4% (n=77), live births 88.1% (n=140) and 97.5% (n=155) and stillbirths 21.4% (n=34) and 12.6% (n=20) for magnesium sulphate group and placebo group respectively. In Mgso4 group 95% patients have good efficacy and placebo group have 84.3% good efficacy. Conclusion: Relative small incidence of convulsions (2.5%) was found in Mgso4 group, so administration of Magnesium sulphate should considered in management of pre-eclempsia

Frequency of raised red cell distribution width in acute exacerbation of COPD patients

Objective: objective of our study is to investigate and establish the frequency of raised red cell distribution width in acute exacerbation of COPD patients. Study design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration of study: This study was conducted in pulmonology department of Nishtar Hospital Multan from January 2016 to December 2017. Methods: Total 384 patients were selected by non-probability consecutive sampling and approval of study was taken from ethical committee of the institution. Written permission of study was signed by every patient enrolled in study. Numerical variables like age, weight, white blood cells, platelets, MCV, hemoglobin (Hb) and duration of COPD were analyzed statically by taking their mean and standard deviation and t-test was applied to test their significance. Non numerical variables like gender, anemia, thrombocytopenia, income and area of living were statistically analyzed by taking their frequency and chi square test was applied to test their significance. While the outcome variable red cell distribution width was assessed by 3-part hematology chamber. Results: Overall, there were 100% (n=384) patients were included, in this study, both genders. There were 60.7% (n=233) males and 39.3% (n=151) females. 72.1% (n=277) patients belonged to urban areas while 27.9% (n=107) belonged to rural areas. 69% (n=265) had good income and 31% (n=119) had low income. The mean age and BMI of the patients was 65.22±6.45 years and 26.21±2.18 kg/m2 respectively. There were 26% (n=100) patients between 40-60 years while majority of the patients i.e. 74% (n=284) between 61-80 years of age. The distribution of BMI of the patients observed as; 39.3% (n=151) patients between 18-25 kg/m2 and 60.7% (n=233) patients between 26-32 kg/m2. The main outcome variable of this study was red cell distribution width. The Mean±S.D of red cell distribution width was 14.03±1.62%. While, red cell distribution width noted as normal and raised; 54.9% (n=211) and 45.1% (n=173) respectively. Conclusion: Study concluded that there was significant prevalence of raised red cell distribution width (RDW) in acute exacerbation of COPD patients. This easy, inexpensive and quick parameter should be investigated further. So it can be used as prognostic marker and predictor of mortality in acute exacerbation of COPD patients. Key words: Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), red cell distribution width (RDW), COPD, Inflammation

Antecedents of Sustainable Financial Performance: Evidence from the Banking Sector of Pakistan

This research aims to investigate the determinants of the sustainable financial performance of banks listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The data for the present research is collected from 30 banks over the period of 2012-2022. The panel cross-linear regression was employed to analyse the data by employing Stata. Various bank-specific factors were found to be positive and statistically significant antecedents of banks’ financial performance. However, bank size, business model and financial structure have negative and insignificant impacts on the bank’s financial performance. In a similar vein, macro-economic factors have a significant negative and insignificant positive impact on banks’ financial performance. Concerning social factors, only hospital funding has an adverse effect on financial performance. Last but not least, environmental financing is negatively and insignificantly linked with banks’ financial performance. Accordingly, this research concludes that managers and policymakers of commercial banks must keep their social and environmental investments in check to attain sustainable financial performance

Association Analysis in Linseed (Linum Usitatissimum L.)

Fifteen advanced lines of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) were evaluated to identify the relationship of grain yield and its related attributes during 2010-11 at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan. Grain yield (kg/ha) had significant and positive association with plant height, number of primary branches plant-1, number of capsule plant-1, number of grains capsule-1 and 1000 grain weight both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Therefore focusing on these traits would improve breeding efficiency of linseed in the future breeding programs. Path analysis demonstrated that plant height, number of primary branches plant-1, number of capsule plant-1, number of grains capsule-1 and 1000 grain weight had the positive direct effect in determining the grain yield (kg/ha) in linseed. According to these results, breeding for high grain yielding cultivars of linseed, number of capsule plant-1 should be kept in mind firstly followed by 1000 grain weight, number of grains capsule-1, number of primary branches plant-1and plant height. Key Words: genotypic correlation, phenotypic correlation, path analysis, Linsee

Solvent-free protocol for the green synthesis of benzamide analogs of dibenzoazepine

Dibenzoazepine represents an important class of heterocycles, exhibiting potent antidepressant and anticonvulsant activities. Beside, various modifications on this nucleus, amide analogs at N-5 position showed potent antidepressant activities. A previously reported method for the synthesis of benzamide analogs of dibenzoazepine use hazardous and toxic solvents. Herein, we report a new, efficient and solvent-free green method for the synthesis of dibenzoazepine benzamides (6-21)

Impact of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on the Pattern of Skin Diseases Attending Different Dermatology Department of Public Hospitals Quetta, Pakistan

Abstract Objective: The study was conducted to determine the pattern of skin diseases affecting by the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients visiting the dermatology department of public hospitals in Quetta, Pakistan. Methodology: The prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken using a self prepapred proforma to compile the data while interviewing the patients attending the Dermatology Department of two public hospitals of Quetta, Pakistan, in order to determine the relationship between the demographic characteristics of patients and pattern of skin diseases.    Results: A total of 503 patients were enrolled in the study. Majority of the participants (33.8%) were categorized in the age group of 21-30 years. The most common patterns of skin diseases seen in outpatient department were eczema (21.5%), scabies (19.7%) and bacterial infections (12.7%). Inferential statistics revealed a significant relationship (p=0.001) between pattern of skin diseases and age, education, house occupancy, location and living standards of the study participants. Most of the patients were found to be living in a combined family system (65.6%), with poor living standards (81.7%) and uneducated (51.1%). Conclusion The current study presented that eczema and infectious diseases were the most common pattern of skin diseases in Quetta and they are significantly related  with socio-demographics of the patients so it can be concluded that better health education, maintaining personal hygiene, and improvement in the standard of living may aid a lot in managing and preventing the common skin diseases