Crosstalk between Gut and Brain in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Role of Gut Microbiota Modulation Strategies

The gut microbiota (GM) represents a diverse and dynamic population of microorganismsand about 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells that dwell in the gastrointestinal tract. Studiessuggest that the GM can influence the health of the host, and several factors can modify the GMcomposition, such as diet, drug intake, lifestyle, and geographical locations. Gut dysbiosis can affectbrain immune homeostasis through the microbiota–gut–brain axis and can play a key role in thepathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therelationship between gut dysbiosis and AD is still elusive, but emerging evidence suggests that it canenhance the secretion of lipopolysaccharides and amyloids that may disturb intestinal permeabilityand the blood–brain barrier. In addition, it can promote the hallmarks of AD, such as oxidativestress, neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta formation, insulin resistance, and ultimately the causationof neural death. Poor dietary habits and aging, along with inflammatory responses due to dysbiosis,may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, GM modulation through diet, probiotics, or fecalmicrobiota transplantation could represent potential therapeutics in AD. In this review, we discussthe role of GM dysbiosis in AD and potential therapeutic strategies to modulate GM in AD.<br/

Assessment of Hearing Loss by Audiometry - Our Experience at Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To analyze the results of pure tone audiometry in the terms of age, sex, and type of hearing loss attending the hospital with the complaint of hearing loss. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, patients attending Benazir Bhutto hospital with complaints of hearing loss were included. The data analysis was done under the terms of age, sex and unilateral/bilateral, and type of loss after pure tone audiometry of every case. The type of hearing loss was determined as conductive, SNHL, and mixed hearing loss. Results: There were 47 patients. Males were 34 (72.34%) outnumbering13females 13(27.66). Adults were44 (93.61%) and children were 3(6.34%). Mixed hearing loss was28 (59.57%)% compared to conductive hearing loss 15 (31.91) and SNHL4 (8.51%). Conclusion: Hearing loss is more common in adults and more prevalent in males. It is mostly bilateral. Mixed hearing loss is more common as compared to conductive and SNHL respectively. Sociacusis is to be taken seriously. &nbsp

The Effect of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Organisational Culture on Firm Performance: The Mediating Role of Innovation

This study is concerned with conceptual model development, which examines the innovation influence on the relationship of organisational culture, entrepreneurial orientation and performance of large manufacturing firms in Pakistan. A total of 399 questionnaires were distributed to large manufacturing firms in Pakistan to assess the relationships between organisational culture, entrepreneurial orientation, innovation, and firm performance. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial orientation significantly influences the performance of large manufacturing firms in Pakistan. Meanwhile, the results also indicated that other factors such as organisational culture do not significantly relate to the manufacturing firm’s performance. Interestingly, the results had shown that the factor of innovation significantly mediated the relationships between organisational culture, entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. Based on the results, it can be summarised that the mechanism used to enhance the innovative culture in the organisation will also contribute to the introduction, adoption and diffusion of innovations. Additionally, these factors would contribute to increased performance and achievement in the near future. Indeed, this statement is supported by numerous current and past studies conducted in Pakistan, where scholars found that innovation is the primary impetus of firm performance. However, there exists a very limited number of studies regarding the impact of innovation on organisational culture and entrepreneurial orientation in manufacturing firms in Pakistan. This study would lead to a significant contribution to the prevailing literature by empirically examining the relationship between organisational culture, entrepreneurial orientation, innovation and firm performance

Hypocholesterolemic effect of acacia and citrus honeys on cholesterol induced sprague dawley rats

During the last decade, scientific investigations have put more focus on diet based therapies to prevent numerous maladies especially hypercholesterolemia and related disorders. Current project was designed to discover the nutraceutical worth of natural unifloral honeys from Acacia nilotica (Desi Kikar) and Citrus limetta (Mosambi) against hypercholesterolemia. Initially both honey varieties were analyzed for TPC and TFC, followed by DPPH and FRAP assays. Afterwards, honey drinks were prepared using different concentrations of Acacia and Citrus honeys (10:20:30 g/250 mL water) and were tested in experimental rat model. Initially the rats were provided with high cholesterol diet (2%) to induce hypercholesterolemia, which were then provided with honey drinks for 8 weeks. These were monitored regularly for feed and water intake and weekly for body weight gain. The blood samples for total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride levels as well as safety assessment tests were analyzed at the intervals of 0, 28, and 56 days, which showed that Acacia honey was better in terms of antioxidant potential (DPPH, FRAP, and TPC) than the Citrus honey. Feed and drink intakes along with body weight gain showed significant effect among all the experimental groups. Substantial reduction in cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides was observed in G3 (213.82±3.36 to 183.95±3.02 mg/dL), (150.05±2.30 to 125.44±3.32 mg/dL) and (163.24±4.87 to 133.64±4.75 mg/dL), respectively, from 0 to 56th day. Liver and kidney functioning values decreased within the normal range. Owing to strong antioxidant potential, Acacia honey was proved to be more effective in controlling hypercholesterolemia than the Citrus honey