A Comparative Study of the Impact of G-Stack Probes on Various Affymetrix GeneChips of Mammalia

We have previously discovered that probes containing runs of four or more contiguous guanines are not reliable for measuring gene expression in the Human HG_U133A Affymetrix GeneChip data. These probes are not correlated with other members of their probe set, but they are correlated with each other. We now extend our analysis to different3′GeneChip designs of mouse, rat, and human. We find that, in all these chip designs, the G-stack probes (probes with a run of exactly four consecutive guanines) are correlated highly with each other, indicating that such probes are not reliable measures of gene expression in mammalian studies. Furthermore, there is no specific position of G-stack where the correlation is highest in all the chips. We also find that the latest designs of rat and mouse chips have significantly fewer G-stack probes compared to their predecessors, whereas there has not been a similar reduction in G-stack density across the changes in human chips. Moreover, we find significant changes in RMA values (after removing G-stack probes) as the number of G-stack probes increases.</jats:p

Pregnancy outcomes of patients with ultrasound-indicated and history-indicated mcdonald cervical cerclage

Objective: To assess pregnancy outcomes of patients with ultrasound-indicated and history-indicated McDonald cervical cerclage. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of pregnant women who had cervical cerclage performed at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karimabad campus. We obtained Institutional Review Board approval and reviewed the medical records of patients. A purposive continuous sampling technique was used. A total of 88 patients were included. There were no exclusion criteria. Outcome data were collected from the medical record of patients from January 2010 to December 2016. Results: Analysis reported a statistically significant lower gravidity and parity in the scan-indicated group as compared with other groups (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively). Previous history of cervical cerclage, history of mid-trimester miscarriage, and preterm labor were significantly associated with indication for cerclage (p = 0.001, 0.046, and 0.001, respectively). Cervical length was also significantly associated with the indication for cerclage (p p = 0.003 and p = 0.04 and 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Our study showed that patients with a history suggestive of cervical incompetence or short cervix on ultrasound should be offered cerclage to prevent preterm birth and to improve neonatal outcomes. Ultrasound-indicated cerclage after the first trimester indicates that universal cervical-length screening by transvaginal ultrasound in the mid-trimester can pick silent cases, and inserting cerclage can prolong pregnancy to term. Clinical significance: Screening cervical length will help clinicians to reduce preterm birth rate, especially in resource-limited underdeveloped countries

The relation of ABO blood group to the severity of coronavirus disease: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi

Background: Blood groups are considered to have an impact on the occurrence and severity of coronavirus disease. While among Chinese and Caucasian, blood group O individuals were less and group A were more likely to have severe disease and mortality, data on South Asians aren’t available. Objective: This study aimed to find out the association of disease severity with blood group among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.Materials and methodology: Data were collected on a predesigned questionnaire containing details of patient demographics, medical comorbidities, clinical presentation, and laboratory parameters. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association of the blood group with the severity of coronavirus disease.Result: Among the study participants, blood group B has the highest distribution (39.8%), followed by O (30.0), A (21.9%), and AB (8.1%). About three-fourths (69.9%) had mild to moderate disease while 30.0% had severe disease. Age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hemoglobin level were all associated with disease severity among COVID-19 patients in univariate analysis on P-value for selection (Conclusion: Blood groups don’t have any role in forecasting the severity of coronavirus disease. However, the male gender and diabetics are prone to have severe disease

Pregnancy outcomes of patients with ultrasound-indicated and history-indicated mcdonald cervical cerclage

Objective: To assess pregnancy outcomes of patients with ultrasound-indicated and history-indicated McDonald cervical cerclage. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of pregnant women who had cervical cerclage performed at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karimabad campus. We obtained Institutional Review Board approval and reviewed the medical records of patients. A purposive continuous sampling technique was used. A total of 88 patients were included. There were no exclusion criteria. Outcome data were collected from the medical record of patients from January 2010 to December 2016. Results: Analysis reported a statistically significant lower gravidity and parity in the scan-indicated group as compared with other groups (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively). Previous history of cervical cerclage, history of mid-trimester miscarriage, and preterm labor were significantly associated with indication for cerclage (p = 0.001, 0.046, and 0.001, respectively). Cervical length was also significantly associated with the indication for cerclage (p p = 0.003 and p = 0.04 and 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Our study showed that patients with a history suggestive of cervical incompetence or short cervix on ultrasound should be offered cerclage to prevent preterm birth and to improve neonatal outcomes. Ultrasound-indicated cerclage after the first trimester indicates that universal cervical-length screening by transvaginal ultrasound in the mid-trimester can pick silent cases, and inserting cerclage can prolong pregnancy to term. Clinical significance: Screening cervical length will help clinicians to reduce preterm birth rate, especially in resource-limited underdeveloped countries

Relationship between cervical dilatation at which women present in labor and subsequent rate of caesarian section

Background: Increasing rate of caesarean section is becoming an epidemic worldwide. This study was conducted to compare rate of caesarean section between women presenting in labor with cervical dilatation less than 4 cm to those with cervical dilatation 4 cm or more.Methods: This study was conducted at Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Karimabad. Women with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation at term in spontaneous labour were included. Patients were divided in two groups: early presenters with cervical dilatation less than 4 cm and late presenters with cervical dilatation of 4 cm or more. Primary outcome measured was rate of caesarean section, while secondary outcomes were duration of labour, APGAR score and any neonatal complication.Results: Medical records of 442 women were reviewed. Difference in mean age of women presenting early in labour was of 2 years (26.8±4.7 vs 28.4±4.5) which was significant (p-value 0.01). More than two thirds of primiparas presented early (69.0% vs 31%) in labour and early presenters had longer labour (p-value \u3c0.001). 62% of early presenters had artificial rupture of membrane compared to 41% of late presenters and nearly 73% required analgesia (p-value \u3c0.001). Caesarean section rate was 10.5% in early and 1.8% in late presenters that was significant (p-value \u3c0.001). APGAR score of both groups was comparable.Conclusions: Integrated midwifery services and antenatal classes may help in education of labouring women and their understanding of labour process and so that low risk women can be monitored at home and come to hospital in active labour

Clustering Approaches for Efficient Radio Resource Management in Heterogeneous Networks

5G telecommunication industry promises to manage and accomplish the massive data traffic and growing network requirement complexities in heterogeneous networks (HetNets). HetNets are K-tier networks and are expected to be seamlessly connected networks with robust services for users anywhere at any time. In near future, the significance of 5G/B5G cellular networks; in both indoor and outdoor environments will be greater than before and it would add up to an exhaustive level. However, as a result of the increased density of networks, a rise in interference within these ultra-dense networks (UDN) will have an alarming impact on throughput, interference and latency.  To ensure high throughput with reduced interference in UDNs a clustered architecture is required. A HetNet with clustered approach enables the network to mitigate interference effectively and achieve efficient radio resource management (RRM). In this paper, we analyzed different clustering classifications and existing clustering techniques that are used for proficient radio resource management. The centralized clustering techniques and decentralized clustering techniques are analyzed and as a result, it is assumed that improved performance can be achieved by emphasizing on hybrid clustering approaches. In addition to this, performed a thoughtful review of existing hybrid clustering techniques to achieve improved throughput and mitigate interference in dense heterogeneous networks.  Our analysis shows that improved radio resource management and increased throughput in HetNets is achieved by applying hybrid clustering techniques with reduced inter and intra tier interference.

Epidemiological characteristics, treatment and its outcomes in children presenting with craniopharyngioma at a tertiary care center

Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas are benign midline intracranial tumors commonly seen in pediatric population. They constitute approximately 10% of primary brain tumors in children which can cause considerable morbidity and mortality due to local aggressiveness of tumor itself or its treatment effecting hypothalamo-pituitary axis, visual defects, and effects of raised intracranial pressure The aim of this study is to report the characteristics of epidemiological features of pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma from our part of the world, treatment modality used in managing and to highlight the outcomes. Methodology: A Retrospective review of the records of children aged 1-18 years diagnosed with craniopharyngioma presenting between 2010 to 2020 was done Results: Out of total 44 files reviewed, 52% were male and 48% were female, the mean age of presentation was 11.2 years, the most common presenting features were headache, visual defects and vomiting (80%,75%,50%). In 38 children (86%) tumor was removed through transcranial approach, while in 6 (14%) transsphenoidal technique was used. In 11 (25%) omaya reservoir was placed for interferon therapy out of which 5 patients underwent for debulking surgery due to disease progression. Overall 12(27%) patients were retreated for relapse. Only two patient received radiotherapy. There was a high incidence of postoperative thyrotrophin deficiency 38(86%), diabetes insipidus 36(81%) followed by adrenocorticotropin deficiency, growth hormone, and gonadotrophin deficiency 68%,45%,45% respectively. Majority of patients developed post-operative panhypopituitarism.Conclusion: We found that the incidence of craniopharyngioma is more common in adolescent age group with male predominance. Transcranial approach is the modality of choice for majority of surgeons. The most frequent endocrine complication observed in our was hypothyroidism followed by diabetes insipidus