Draft genome sequence of a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strain resistant to fourth-generation cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone antibiotics

ABSTRACT Typhoid is endemic in developing countries. We report here the first draft genome sequence of a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi clinical isolate from Pakistan exhibiting resistance to cefepime (a fourth-generation cephalosporin) and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, two of the last-generation therapies against this pathogen. The genome is ~4.8 Mb, with two putative plasmids. </jats:p

Estimation of Salivary Candida Count Among Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women

Objective: Comparison of Candida count in the saliva of pregnant and non-pregnant women to determine how much salivary Candida count increases in pregnancy as compared to non-pregnant women. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pathology Dental Department, HITEC-IMS Hospital Taxila Cantt from 2 December 2021-30 May 2022. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 pregnant and 60 non-pregnant women of age group ranging from 18 to 40 years. The unstimulated whole saliva of the subjects was collected in sterile plastic containers. The sample was inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The grown colonies were counted after 48 to 72 hours. Gram staining was performed to confirm the presence of Gram-positive oval budding Candida. Results: The Candida count from the saliva of pregnant women was two times greater in number than saliva of non-pregnant women. The mean value in pregnant women was 237.7 CFU/ml while in non-pregnant, it was 103 CFU/ml. Conclusion: The changes during pregnancy make the oral cavity of pregnant women more vulnerable leading to increased growth of Candida and that increase is twice more than that of non-pregnant wome

PKI Implementation Issues: A Comparative Study of Pakistan with some Asian Countries

(PKI), its need and requirements and introduction of some renowned PKI products. However, the major thrust of this work is that how PKI can enhance security of various systems. The paper is intended to serve as a guide on how to adequately prepare for some of the challenges that may be encountered especially in developing countries like Pakistan. The detail of PKI implementation issues is also included in the paper along with future challenges regarding implementation of PKI. Furthermore, paper includes technical issues hindering the implementation of PKI through comparison of PKI issues in Pakistan and some of Asian countries mainly Taiwan, Japan and Singapore. The paper also highlights the PKI issues and learnt lessons regarding PKI implementation and can act as a comprehensive guide for successful future PKI deployments

Diagnostic Accuracy of Doppler Ultrasound in Ectopic Pregnancy

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasound in the detection of ectopic pregnancy. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted at PESSI Hospital, I-12, Islamabad, in collaboration with different hospitals for data collection. The study was carried out over a period of one year from October 2021 to September 2022. All pregnant women aged &gt;17 years presenting with symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, regardless of parity, were included. All patients underwent color Doppler ultrasound using a dedicated machine. Subsequently, the patients were followed until they underwent surgical management, and the operative findings were meticulously recorded. Data were collected using a pre-designed proforma and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of the participants was 31.53 years, and the average gestational age was 6.03 weeks. 35.0% of the participants had a positive family history. According to color Doppler ultrasound findings, the majority of cases (96.7%) were identified as positive for ectopic pregnancy, while surgical findings confirmed ectopic pregnancy in 93.3% of cases. The sensitivity of color Doppler ultrasound was 100%, specificity was 60%. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 94% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%, suggesting that it was 100% accurate in ruling out ectopic pregnancy. Conclusion: Color Doppler ultrasound was found to be a highly sensitive, reliable, and noninvasive tool in diagnosing ectopic pregnancy. However, the findings cannot be definitively applied due to limitations, particularly the small sample size. Further large-scale studies are strongly recommended for validation and confirmation of the findings

Ectopic Pregnancy: An Analysis of Prevalence and Clinical Magnitude

Objective: To determine the prevalence and clinical manifestations and symptoms associated with ectopic pregnancy Methodology: This retrospective observational study was done at Pessi Hospital, I-12, Islamabad with collaboration of different Hospitals for the data collection. From October 2021 to September 2022. Patients of reproductive age presenting with symptoms suggestive of ectopic pregnancy and confirmed through diagnostic tests such as ultrasound, serum beta-hCG levels, or surgical findings were included. After taking demographic information including age, parity, gravidity, and reproductive history is collected for each patient, clinical data related to ectopic pregnancy diagnosis were recorded. Descriptive statistics are employed to summarize demographic characteristics, prevalence rates, and clinical pattern of ectopic pregnancy cases. Results: Overall prevalence of ectopic pregnancy was found 1.4%. Overall mean age of the women was 33.39+5.48 years. Family history was positive among 36.1% of the cases. In terms to the clinical presentation of patients with ectopic pregnancy, pain and bleeding were most common clinical features, 91.80% and 79.40% respectively, followed by shock 4.5% and 18.0% had others multiple clinical features and 5.8% were asymptomatic. Conclusion: In conclusion, ectopic pregnancy was observed at a rate of 1.4%, indicating its continued significance as a health concern. Pain and bleeding were observed to the most common clinical features

Effect of Dexamethasone Versus Diclofenac Sodium after Phacoemulsification with Intraocular Lens Implantation

Background: To study anti inflammatory effect of Dexamethasone versus Diclofenac Sodium after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation Method: The study included 232 cases selected at random from the in patient department. They were divided into two groups, 116 in each group. Patients ranged in age from 4th to 7th decade.Group A received non steroidal anti inflammatory drug, diclofenac sodium and group B received steroid, dexamethasone as postoperative anti inflammatory drug. Data related to cells and flare was collected using Haag-Streit slit lamp biomicroscope with 3mm x 1mm oblique slit at high intensity of light and magnification x16 in a dark room. Patients were then asked to follow the specified regimen of 1 drop of drug every 6 hours in operated eye. Patients were followed on day 3, 7 and then after 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Results: The cells on first post operative day ranged mainly from +1 to +4 grades of cells.On subsequent follow up visits the anterior chamber activity recorded separately for each group decreased to zero till the fourth week.The flare on first post operative day ranged mainly from +1 to +3 in severity. On subsequent follow up visits the flare decreased to zero till the fourth week in both groups. Conclusion:Anti inflammatory effect of diclofenac sodium is comparable to a potent steroid dexamethasone

Genomic surveillance of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates reveals an additive effect of carbapenemase production on carbapenem resistance

Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is increasing globally, and surveillance to define the mechanisms of such resistance in low- and middle-income countries is limited. This study establishes the genotypic mechanisms of β-lactam resistance by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in 142 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates recovered from three hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan between 2016 and 2017. Isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion, and their genomes were assembled from Illumina sequencing data. β-lactam resistance was high, with 46% of isolates resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam, 42% to cefepime, 48% to ceftolozane-tazobactam, and 65% to at least one carbapenem. Twenty-two percent of isolates were resistant to all β-lactams tested. WGS revealed that carbapenem resistance was associated with the acquisition of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) or extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in th