Surgical outcome of benign intracranial hypertension in terms of improvement in vision

To know about surgical outcome of benign intracranial hypertension in terms of improvement of vision.METHODOLOGY ; This Prospective observational study was conducted at of 22 patients operated in neurosurgery unit lady reading hospital Peshawar from Jan 2011 to Jun2014. Written consent was obtained from all the patients or their relatives All patients of either age and sex with Diagnosed cases of BIH were included in the study, Patients with depressed conscious level, malignant hypertension, space occupying lesion in brain on MRI and those Patients unfit or unwilling for surgery were excluded from the study. Patients particulars like age ,gender , and post operative outcome was documented on predesigned proforma . All the results were analyzed by spss version 16 and represented in the form o graphs/charts and tables. RESULTS;- Total 22 patients of BIH were studied which were all females (100%) having age range of 18 to 58 years with mean of 38 ± 5 years SD. Headache was present in all (100%) patients followed by visual deterioration having 20(90.90%) cases. CSF manometery showed opening pressure from 28cm of H2O to 50 cm of H2O, with mean of 39. 19. Post operatively headache improved in 16(72%) patients, Papilledema in 18(81.81%) caseswhile 4(18%) patients did not improved. In 2(9.09%) cases there was and CSF leak was in 1(4.54%) case.CONCLUSION; BIH has good surgical outcome in terms of improvement in vision, if managed before advanced stage of Papilledem

The Impacts of Microfinance on Women Entrepreneurs “A Case Study of District Quetta, Pakistan”

The main objective of this study is to find out whether the provision of microfinance services by BRAC, Pakistan at district Quetta Urban area has brought out any changes in women micro-entrepreneur. The cross sectional design using household as the unit of assessment was selected for the present study, the primary data was collected through structured questionnaires covered one group of 60 female from present beneficiaries or former beneficiaries who have already received loan from the BRAC, Pakistan at district Quetta for at least two years before 1st October, 2011 the date on which face to face interviews of clients were conducted and another group of 20 female consisting of new clients/ non-beneficiaries who have with the microfinance programs for maximum period of two to three months duration were used as control group using cluster random samples.From the analyzed data it was infer that microfinance was helpful in empowering female entrepreneurs socially as well as economically in urban area of Quetta district. Keywords: Microcredit, Microfinance, Microfinance Institutions, Microenterprise, Micro- entrepreneur

FinTech implementation: a way forward to expedite bank operations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of FinTech implementation on operational performance in the banking industry of Pakistan. Using Smart PLS analysis, the study examined the relationship between FinTech implementation and three dimensions of operational performance: accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency. Data was collected from employees working in commercial banks in Pakistan through a self-administered questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that FinTech implementation has a positive effect on operational performance, as evidenced by the significant positive relationships between FinTech implementation and accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency. These findings suggest that the implementation of FinTech solutions can significantly improve operational performance in the banking industry, and that investing in FinTech solutions can lead to improved competitive advantage, enhanced customer experience, and reduced costs. The study concludes with recommendations for banks in Pakistan to adopt FinTech solutions to achieve operational excellence, and suggests areas for future research to further explore the impact of FinTech on operational performance in the banking industry

Appraisal of acute oral toxicity of glucuronoxylan hydrogel from Mimosa pudica seeds

Glucuronoxylan hydrogel (GXH) isolated from M. pudica seeds was assessed for acute toxicology in albino mice that were alienated into four groups. Three groups, i.e., II, III and IV received GXH at a dose of 1, 2 and 5 g/kg, respectively while group I was retained untreated and provided routine diet. After administering GXH, mice were examined for vomiting, diarrhea, allergy and tremors for 8 h. All animals were carefully observed for food and water consumption at 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14 day after administering GXH. At the end of studies, blood samples were drawn for investigation of hematological and biochemical parameters. All animals were sacrificed, relative body weight of vital organs was calculated and their histopathology was studied. It was concluded that there was insignificant difference in body weight, behavioral pattern, food and water intake among treated and control groups. Haematology and biochemistry of blood samples from all groups were found analogous. Histopathological evaluation of vital body organs exhibited no lesions in all groups. Ocular, cardiac and dermal safety of GXH was also established on albino rabbits

Appraisal of acute oral toxicity of glucuronoxylan hydrogel from Mimosa pudica seeds

Glucuronoxylan hydrogel (GXH) isolated from M. pudica seeds was assessed for acute toxicology in albino mice that were alienated into four groups. Three groups, i.e., II, III and IV received GXH at a dose of 1, 2 and 5 g/kg, respectively while group I was retained untreated and provided routine diet. After administering GXH, mice were examined for vomiting, diarrhea, allergy and tremors for 8 h. All animals were carefully observed for food and water consumption at 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14 day after administering GXH. At the end of studies, blood samples were drawn for investigation of hematological and biochemical parameters. All animals were sacrificed, relative body weight of vital organs was calculated and their histopathology was studied. It was concluded that there was insignificant difference in body weight, behavioral pattern, food and water intake among treated and control groups. Haematology and biochemistry of blood samples from all groups were found analogous. Histopathological evaluation of vital body organs exhibited no lesions in all groups. Ocular, cardiac and dermal safety of GXH was also established on albino rabbits

Acute toxicity study of a polysaccharide based hydrogel from linseed for potential use in drug delivery system

Linseed hydrogel (LSH) was evaluated by acute toxicity for its potential application in oral drug delivery design. White albino mice and rabbits were divided in four groups (I–IV) and different doses of LSH (1, 2 and 5 g/kg body weight) were given except to the control group (I) that was left untreated. Rabbits were monitored for eye irritation, acute dermal toxicity and primary dermal irritation, whereas, body weight, food and water consumption, hematology and clinical biochemistry, gross necropsy and histopathology of vital organs were scrutinized in mice. LSH was considered safe after eye irritation test as no adverse signs or symptoms were seen in the eye. In dermal toxicity and irritation study, skin of treated rabbits was found normal in color without any edema or erythema. After oral administration, there was no sign of any abnormalities in treated group animals (II–IV). The hematology and clinical biochemistry of treated group animals was comparable with the control group. Histopathology of vital organs has not shown any lesion or abnormalities. In the light of these outcomes, it can be concluded that LSH is not a hazardous biomaterial and could be incorporated as an excipient in oral and dermal preparations

Genetic Analysis of Groundnut Genotypes for Quality Related Traits

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important cash crop of Pakistan. Groundnut has nutritional features like calcium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, proteins vitamin E and vitamin B complex. Little work has been done so far on groundnut quality aspects. Keeping this in mind present study was conducted comprising of eight groundnut genotypes collected from Barani Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Chakwal which were evaluated for quality traits and their inheritance mechanism during Kharif season, 2016. Biochemical analysis for different traits were performed like protein content, oil content, calcium, phosphorous, iron, amino acid and Aflatoxin. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis for ascertaining the significance of traits. Genotype 11CG005 gave good performance regarding oil content, iron content while genotype 11CG004 performed best for protein content and calcium content and it was also in safer limits for aflatoxin content. For phosphorous content, genotype 10CG008 gave best performance whereas genotype 11CG003 showed better results for amino acid content. High heritability with high genetic advance was showed by oil content, calcium content and protein content which indicated additive type of gene action for these traits while aflatoxin, amino acid, phosphorus and iron showed moderate heritability with little genetic advance which indicated predominance of non-additive type of gene action for the studied traits. The study is helpful in generating detailed information on quality traits of groundnut that can be used in future groundnut breeding programs of the country

Infección con Sarcoptes scabiei (Acari: Sarcoptidae) en conejos (Oryctolagus cuniculus): estudio de caso.

A partir de una sospecha de sarna sarcóptica en tres de cinco conejos albinos europeos (Oryctolagus cuniculus), mantenidos con fines experimentales, se hizo un examen general que reveló áreas multifocales de alopecia alrededor de los ojos, las fosas nasales y los labios. Se procesaron cortes de piel y un análisis de PCR con el objeto de identificar los ácaros. La histopatología de los cortes de piel mostró epidermis erupcionada y estrato córneo con una infiltración de células inflamatorias. El raspado o frotis de piel reveló la presencia de ácaros tanto en adultos como en huevos. Al examen microscópico, los ácaros adultos fueron identificados como Sarcoptes (S.) scabiei (Acari: Sarcoptidae). El análisis de muestras de los tres casos por PCR reveló una banda de 311 pb confirmando la infestación de S. scabiei en los conejos. La infección en conejos con S. scabiei puede representar un problema de salud pública de transmisión indirecta debida a la manipulación de conejos infestados. Hasta la presente, este es el primer reporte de infección por S. scabiei en conejos de Pakistán

Evaluating the Frequency of Sciatica on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Lower Back Pain

Sciatica refers to pain affecting the back, hip, and outer side of the leg, caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back often owing to degeneration of an intervertebral disc. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sciatica in patients with lower back pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data was collected by filling the predesign questionnaire. Information for filling the questionnaire was taken by reports of MRI scan for backache. Patients were presented with multiple symptoms out of which 4 (5.6%) patients presented with history of trauma. 37 (59.7%) patients represented with the history pain radiating to one or both legs. 27 (43.50%) patients showed disc bulge. 40 (64.50%) patients showed stenosis in nerve root (L4-S1) and 40 (64.50%) patients were diagnosed with sciatica. Careful assessment of risk factors in patients with lower back pain using MRI could help in prevention of several spinal diseases. Being an important diagnostic tool in diagnosis of sciatica MRI may provide significant prognostic information of the disease. Keywords: Stenosis, Disc Bulge. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/80-03 Publication date:September 30th 202

Arabidopsis AT2G02870 loss of function mutants lead to enhanced production of hydroperoxide lyase pathway genes and products

F-box proteins containing variable C-terminal domains make an essential part of SKP1-Cullin-Ring box-F box (SCF) complex. SCF complex catalyzes the final step to link the ubiquitin tag with the target protein, destined for degradation, through F-box protein that confer overall substrate specificity to the complex. In this study, we analyzed the role of At2g02870, a Kelch containing F-box protein from Arabidopsis thaliana, by using reverse genetics strategy. At2g02870 loss of function mutant lines (at2g02870) were analyzed and compared with wild type plants for the expression of genes and products of hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) branch of oxylipin pathway. We found that the at2g02870 plants have enhanced expression of HPL pathway genes and produce more green leaf volatiles (GLV) than the wild type plants. Our results suggested that the gene is involved in the regulation of HPL pathway, possibly through the degradation of enzymes or/and the regulatory factors of the pathway