Sampling Plans for Generalized Pareto Distribution

In this paper, two sampling plans have been discussed, when the lifetime of the items follows the generalized Pareto distribution, Chain Sampling Plan (ChSP-1) and an improved group acceptance sampling plan (IGASP) using weighted binomial.The minimum number of sample size (n) and minimum number of groups (g) are obtained for two plans respectively. The plans are explain with the help of examples whereas the proposed plan compared with Aslam et al. (2010). The results and comparison are discussed with the help of tables and figure. It observed that sometime proposed plan Improved group acceptance sampling plan (IGASP) using weighted binomial, when the lifetime of the test items followsgeneralized Pareto distribution showed better results than existing plan, under the same parameter settings

Anti-diabetic potential of aerial parts of Galium tricornutum (Dandy) Rubiaceae

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of methanol extract of the aerial parts of Galium tricornutum (Dandy) in diabetic rats.Methods: The methanol extract of the aerial parts of Galium tricornutum was first subjected to acute toxicity studies. Thereafter, the effect of the extract on oral glucose tolerance was determined. In addition, the effect of the extract on fasting blood glucose, as well as serum lipid profile, urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and protein were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Results: No acute toxicity were observed in the rats after administration of the plant extract up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg. The effect of the extract on glucose tolerance test was significant from 30 to 180 min after treatment. In the diabetic rats, the extract showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-hyperglycemic activity at 400 mg/kg. It also led to significant increases in body weight and HDL-cholesterol, and significant reductions in serum LDL, triglycerides and transaminases (p < 0.05).Conclusion: These results indicate that the aerial parts of G. tricornutum possess significant antidiabetic potential.Keywords: Diabetes, Galium tricornutum, Glibenclamide, Glucose tolerance tes, Lipid profil

Comparison of Transosseous Wiring and Miniplates in Management of Mandibular Parasymphyseal Fractures

Background: Mandibular fractures are the most common type of facial fractures in the adult population, accounting for 36%-59% of all maxillofacial injuries and their treatment is one of the most frequent forms of therapy provided by maxillofacial surgeons. The objective of the study was to compare the outcome of transosseous wiring and miniplates in the management of mandibular parasymphyseal fractures in terms of infection and malocclusion. Material and Methods: This randomized control trial was carried out at Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Ayub Medical College/ Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad. A total of 124 patients were randomly allocated into two groups by lottery method. Patients in group A were subjected to transosseous wiring with maxilla-mandibular fixation. Patients in group B underwent miniplate fixation method. Post-operative wound in­fection and malocclusion findings at 6 weeks were recorded. Results: Frequency of post-operative infection and malocclusion at 6 weeks of surgery was slightly more but statistically non-significant in patients of group A undergoing Transosseous wiring method as compared to group B patients experiencing Miniplate technique. Conclusions: Miniplate osteosynthesis causes slightly less post-operative morbidity in terms of infection and malocclusion as compared to transosseous wiring for the management of mandibular parasymphyseal fractures

Antioxidant and antifungal activities of selected fruits of Districts Bannu and Lakki Marwat, Pakistan

No abstract is availabl

In vitro kinetics and inhibition of krait snake’s venom acetylcholinesterase by Calligonum polygonoides extract in relation to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Objective(s): The objective of this study was to evaluate pharmacological effect of Calligonum polygonoides against Krait snake’s venom acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and to extent it for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Materials and Methods: Acetylcholinesterase activity was measured using Ellman method with some modification. The kinetic studies of methanolic extract of C. polygonoides against krait (Bungarus Sindanus) snake venom AChE was measured with the help of the Lineweaver Burk double reciprocal plot. Results: Statistical data of the results showed that C. polygonoides extract inhibited the krait venom AChE in concentration dependent manner. Kinetic analysis using Line weaver Burk plot revealed that C. polygonoides caused mixed type of inhibition i.e. km value increased (25-106.6%) while Vmax decreased from 15 to 50% with an increase of C. polygonoides extract concentrations (100-300 µg/ml). The calculated IC50 value of C. polygonoides was found to be 250 µg/ml.Conclusion: C. polygonoides extract can be considered as a therapeutic agent to cure Alzheimer’s disease via inhibition of AChE activity to increase the level of acetylcholine in the body system

Detection of bacterial load in drinking water samples by 16s rRNA ribotyping and RAPD analysis

Background: Safe and healthy drinking water is inaccessible to more than 20% of the world population. Among some major risks to safety of potable water, contamination with pathogenic microorganisms is the most alarming and harmful Therefore, it is needed to develop and implement fast and accurate methods for the detection of bacterial contamination in water. Methods: Biological analysis of drinking water samples obtained from nine different collection points of Lahore city was carried out and total of six different bacterial strains were isolated. Biochemical characterization was done under standard laboratory conditions. Molecular identification of these isolates was done by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Results: The drinking water sample collected from Punjab University showed highest bacterial count 1066/0.5 ml of drinking water while residential area of University of the Punjab contained least number of bacterial counts i.e., 38/0.5 ml of drinking water. Amplification patterns of isolates SZ1, SZ3, SZ4 and SZ6 obtained by RAPD were found similar to genus Bacillus. While, SZ2 and SZ5 had unique amplification patterns identical to Bacillus megaterium. All the six bacterial strains were tested for the presence of protease, lipase, cellulase, and amylase. Strain SZ2 gave positive result for all of them except amylase.Conclusion: Tube well water of Punjab University area of Lahore is safe for drinking purpose except admin block tube. It is recommended to monitor the bacteriological load of drinking water at regular intervals in order to control water borne bacterial diseases

Mechanisms of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection due to SIV coinfection

HIV is a major driver of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Depletion of CD4+ T cells is assumed to be the basis behind TB reactivation in individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) coinfected with HIV. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) coinfected with a mutant simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVΔGY) that does not cause depletion of tissue CD4+ T cells during infection failed to reactivate TB. To investigate the contribution of CD4+ T cell depletion relative to other mechanisms of SIV-induced reactivation of LTBI, we used CD4R1 antibody to deplete CD4+ T cells in animals with LTBI without lentiviral infection. The mere depletion of CD4+ T cells during LTBI was insufficient in generating reactivation of LTBI. Instead, direct cytopathic effects of SIV resulting in chronic immune activation, along with the altered effector T cell phenotypes and dysregulated T cell homeostasis, were likely mediators of reactivation of LTBI. These results revealed important implications for TB control in HIV-coinfected individuals

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt