Production of bacterial biosurfactants using whey waste as a substrate

Surfactants of microbial origin offer significant value and versatility, and they are used in microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) in the petroleum sector. Biosurfactant generation was investigated by isolating bacteria that were abundant in hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Biosurfactants have gained admiration because of their low surface tension, biodegradability, high foaming, and ability to synthesis from renewable waste substrates, hence avoiding the need of non-renewable resources. Microbes can be studied on an experimental scale using a renewable, low-cost substrate. The biosurfactant activity was tested utilizing an uncommon source of nutrients that is cheese whey. Whey as a by-product of the cheese industry is typically dumped as desolate while it has lactose, the primary carbon source, and it is clearly suitable for microbial development. Microbes can be studied on an experimental scale using a renewable, low-cost substrate. In soil, surface active chemicals improve nutrient uptake by assisting microorganisms and crop yield in a variety of crops from varied regions. In contrast to previous examples, biosurfactants have several disadvantages in commercial manufacturing due to their low yield and high production costs

Feto-maternal Outcome of Reverse Breech Extraction versus Dis-impaction of Fetal Head in Caesarean Section for Obstructed Labour

Objectives: Obstructed labour is an obstetrical emergency with adverse feto-maternal consequences and caesarean delivery in such cases requires skillful handling of impacted fetal head. Objective of our study was to guide clinician about caesarean technique that facilitates the delivery with least complications for mother and baby. Methods: It was a randomized clinical trial with non-probability consecutive sampling conducted at –removed for blind review---from 1st july 2018 – 30th june 2020. Patients who underwent emergency cesarean section were randomized to undergo either push technique for delivery of impacted fetal head (Group A) or reverse breech extraction method (Group B) via lottery method. The data of 60 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria was analyzed using SPSS version 19. Maternal outcome measured were extension of uterine incision, blood transfusion, postpartum pyrexia, wound infection, postpartum hemorrhage and length of hospital stay. Fetal outcome measured were 5 minutes Apgar score, birth weight and NICU admission. Results: The results of our study showed statistically significant difference between extension of uterine incision(p-value=0.015), blood transfusion during surgery (p-value=0.021) and postpartum hemorrhage (p-value=0.020) in two groups with pull technique associated with less traumatic extension of uterine incision, less intraoperative transfusion and less PPH than push technique of fetal delivery. Length of hospital stay was also significantly less in reverse breech extraction group(p-value=0.001).More patients had postpartum pyrexia, wound infection, low 5-min Apgar score and NICU admissions in cephalic delivery group but results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of our study recommend reverse breech extraction technique to be a safe alternative to conventional vaginal pushing of fetal head especially regarding maternal outcomes during caesarean section of patients with obstructed labour for fetal delivery. Key words: Obstructed labour, impacted fetal head, reverse breech extraction, caesarean sectio

INTRADEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATION CONFERENCE - A GOOD QUALITY CONTROL PRACTICE AND A PROBLEM-SOLVING ACTIVITY

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intradepartmental consultation conference (IDC) as a good quality control measure and problem-solving activity in a busy histopathology department.Methods: This study was done at the histopathology department of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 years from 2011 to 2016. IDC is routinely held at 2 pm daily on multi-header microscope. All the difficult and problematic cases are discussed. Discussed cases with the recommendations of IDC are recorded. The cases were extracted from the record of IDC being maintained since 2011. All the record sheets were analysed and the cases were divided organ and system wise.Results: A total of 5766 (6.5%) cases were discussed in this 6-year period of a total of 89,253 cases reported at our centre. Of these, 2198 (38%) were solved on first viewing, 1783 (31%) in the second viewing and 1691 (29%) in thethird viewing. In total, 98% of the cases were resolved until the third viewing, leaving only 94 (2%) cases in which further studies were recommended. A variable number of pathologists were present in the meeting, and an average of4 was present in majority of the occasions.Conclusion: IDC is a good quality control measure to ensure quality in a busy histopathology department and an effective problem-solving activity.Key words: Intradepartmental consultation, histopathology, cance

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: Clinicopathological evaluation at Shifa international hospital, Islamabad

Objective: Clinicopathological features of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) have rarely been studied in Pakistani population. We investigated clinical characteristics of these tumours according to updated World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 classification.Methods: The data of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad was retrospectively analysed for pathologically confirmed GEP-NETs from January 2013 to March 2018.Results: One hundred and eighteen patients (mean age, 52.2± 16.4 years; Of these 65(55.1%) were males. Majority, 98(83.1%) of the patients were symptomatic including 6(5.1%) with functional tumours. Pancreas was the most frequent primary site noted in 33(28%) patients. The most common histologic type was well differentiated neuroendocrine tumour (WDNET) in 96(81.4%) patients followed by neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) in 11(16.1%) patients. Almost half the cases or 54(45.8%) of WDNET were grade 1, 32 (27.1%) were grade 2, and 10 (8.5%) were grade 3. Distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis was found in 18(15.3%) cases with 14,(77.7%) in liver as the most common metastatic site. Synaptophysin positivity was seen in 60 (96.8%) cases of grade 1, 32(27.2%) of grade 2 WDNET, 8(100%) cases of grade 3 WDNET and 12(92.3%) of NEC and chromogranin was positive in 49(94.2%) of grade 1 and grade 2 WDNET, 5 (83.3%) cases of grade 3 WDNET and 5 (45.4%) cases of NEC.Conclusions: GEP-NETs showed a wide clinicopathological spectrum. Pancreas is the most common site of involvement by the GEP-NET, however, grade 3 WDNET had a predilection for colon. Small cell carcinoma was commonly observed in the oesophagus

MORPHOLOGIC SPECTRUM AND CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMOURS: AN EXPERIENCE OF SIX YEARS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the morphologic spectrum and risk category of gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) and compare with overall patient survival.Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive observational study. The study was carried at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. Duration of the study was from January 2009 to January 2015. A total of 31 patients with the diagnosis of GIST were included, irrespective of age and gender. Data were retrieved from laboratory information system. Results were analysed by statistical software, Statistical Package of the Social Sciences. Morphologic type, site of tumour, risk category and overall survival were determined and mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages were calculated for age site and risk category. Results: Of 31 patients, 21 (67.7%) were male and 10 (32.3%) were female. Site of tumour was as follows: Gastric 13 (41.9%), extra visceral 6 (19.4%), small intestine 9 (29.0%), rectum 2 (6.5%) and pancreas 1 (3.2%). According to risk categorisation, one was categorised as (3.2%) very low risk, 3 (9.7%) low risk, 5 (16.1%) intermediate risk and 22 (71%) high risk. Follow-up was available in 21 patients. 7 patients (22.5%) lost to follow-up. 8 (25%) had recurrence and 4 (12.9%) died. Conclusion: Majority of cases diagnosed at our centre were gastric in origin followed by small intestine, and as per risk categorisation, most were high risk. Patient survival with high-risk tumours was dismal. Key words: Gastrointestinal stromal tumour, immunohistochemistry, risk categorisation

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF BI-LAYER TABLET OF SUSTAINED RELEASE (S.R) FLURBIPROFEN AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE DOXYCYCLINE

The purpose of this study was to formulate and characterize bi-layer tablet of doxycycline immediate release and flurbiprofen sustained release. Bi-layer tablets were formulated by wet granulation method. Ethyl cellulose and HPMC K 100 were used as polymer for sustained release. Five immediate release formulations were developed with varying excipients. Bi-layer tablets were evaluated by pre formulation and post formulation parameters as stated by USP. Dissolution was conducted in 0.1N HCl and 6.8 phosphate buffer and resulting data were analyzed statistically by one way ANOVA and drug release kinetics was studied using various release kinetic models. Data from pre formulation confirmed the purity of doxycycline hyclate and flurbiprofen. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the absence of incompatibility between drugs and excipients. Dissolution profile in 0.1N HCl and 6.8 phosphate buffer was according to USP guidelines. The regression coefficient (R ) values from kinetic analysis showed that release followed Higuchi model indicating release mechanism followed diffusion transport. Results of one way ANOVA confirmed that there is no statistically significant difference between drug dissolution of all formulations(p > 0.05). Bi-layer tablet was successfully formulated and it is a suitable approach to increase patient compliance and decrease cost of therapy

Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average vs. Artificial Neural Network in Predicting COVID-19 Cases in Malaysia

On March 11,2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 as a global pandemic. The spread of Covid-19 has threatened many lives in nearly every country. In Malaysia, the health authorities have expressed concerns over an increasing number of cases and deaths. Due to the lockdown, this pandemic has also had an impact on most economic activities.  Consequently, it is crucial to develop a reliable forecasting model to anticipate the number of cases. This study proposes two models: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MPNN) in predicting the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia. Using Mean Absolute Error (MAE), the effectiveness and forecasting accuracy of the two models are compared and assessed.  The lowest the value of MAE, the more accurate the forecasted outputs.  The secondary data used in this study was the average number of Covid-19 cases each day in Malaysia from March 1, 2020, to March 29, 2021.  To evaluate the data, RStudio and Alyuda NeuroIntelligence are utilised.  As a consequence, the ARIMA (4,1,5) model provided the best fit to the data when compared to other ARIMA models, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) score of 1096.799.  However, Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MPNN), which had the lowest MAE value of 334.591, outperformed ARIMA in terms of performance.  The MPNN model was then used to forecast the number of Covid-19 instances for the next 30 days.  According to the findings, daily increases in cases are anticipated

Extra neural metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme: a literature review

Extra-neural metastases of glioblastoma multiforme are uncommon with unidentified metastatic mechanism. There is no consensus over optimum treatment regimen. The current narrative review was planned to illuminate the presence criteria, sites of metastatic spread, incidence, mechanism, risk factors and management. Key Words: Glioblastoma multiforme, Extra-neural metastases, Spread, Mechanism, Risk factors

IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET ON SMES PERFORMANCE: AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN: Dr. Nadia Nasir, Shama Urooj, Humaira Qudsia Yousaf, Mahwish Zafar, Saqib Manzoor

Purpose: The study is an effort to identify the effects of strategic innovation on performance of small and medium enterprises of Pakistan. The study evaluated the effects of product innovation, process innovation and market innovation on performance of small and medium enterprises of Pakistan.  Design/Methodology/Approach: The sample was drawn from the 102 small and medium enterprises which were operating in the Pakistan. Data was collected from employees of the small and medium size enterprises operating in Pakistan. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed through SPSS software.  Findings: The findings of the study show a positive relationship between innovation and performance. Results proved that introducing new products helps the small and medium size enterprises to increase their performance, or enhancement of current product also helps small and medium size enterprises to increase the performance. Implications/Originality/Value: The study concludes that in current competitive business environment, it is necessary for firm to be innovative in their products, processes and market to enhance their performance. Study findings conclude that strategic innovation is one of the most important factors of the firm for their performanc

Synthesis of indoles via intermolecular and intramolecular cyclization by using palladium-based catalysts

As part of natural products or biologically active compounds, the synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles is becoming incredibly valuable. Palladium is a transition metal that is widely utilized as a catalyst to facilitate carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom coupling; it is used in the synthesis of various heterocycles. This review includes the twelve years of successful indole synthesis using various palladium catalysts to establish carbon-carbon or carbon-nitrogen coupling, as well as the conditions that have been optimized