Effects of Exposure Time to Sun on Hair Fall During Lockdown in Covid Pandemic

OBJECTIVES The study aimed to assess the effects of quarantine on non-scarring hair fall and to determine the relationship between sun exposure and hair fall. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi from January to June 2022 . Ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical review committee. Participants were recruited by non-probability convenience sampling technique after obtaining informed consent. Those with dermatologic diseases of the scalp (cicatricial alopecia, alopecia areata, seborrheic dermatitis, infections), high-stress levels, post-pregnancy, thyroid disorders, hormonal disorders and COVID-19 were excluded from the study. Hair loss was assessed using a self-filled questionnaire regarding the history of comorbidities, demographics, education, institute status during quarantine, hair fall experience and personal habits. RESULTSThe study consisted of 137 participants after exclusion criteria were applied. Among these, 95.6% complained of increased hair fall during quarantine. Most participants were women (63.4%) compared to men (36.6%). The average age of the hair fall group was 20 years. Only 15.3% of participants spent more than 1-2 hours in the sun, and the majority had their hair covered when going out during quarantine. CONCLUSION Hair fall is high during quarantine, particularly among women of young age group. Personal habits and exposure to the sun for a short time at noon can affect hair fall in quarantine, although no direct correlation was found. Hair fall during lockdown is inversely related to certain comorbidities

Comparison of upper lip bite test with Mallampati test in the prediction of difficult intubation at a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

Objective: To determine the accuracy of the Upper lip bite test and Mallampati test in predicting difficult endotracheal intubation.Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, a tertiary care facility in Karachi, Pakistan. Between June 1,2007 and May 31, 2008, 324 adult patients undergoing elective surgeries requiring general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubations were enrolled. Pre-operatively upper lip bite test and Mallampati test were performed for the assessment of airway by a specifically trained observer. Laryngoscopic view was rated by using Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopic grading once the patient was fully anaesthetised using standard anaesthesia technique. Completed data sheets were analysed using SPSS version 10. McNemar test and rank correlation coefficient were used to compare the upper lip bite test and the Mallampati test.Results: Of the 324 patients, 56 (17.3%) were classified as cases of difficult intubation. Upper lip bite test showed significantly higher accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value than the Mallampati test. Comparison of specificity, however, did not reveal any significant difference between the two tests.CONCLUSION: Upper lip bite test is an acceptable alternative as a single test to predict difficult intubation in addition to other tests of airway assessment for the prediction of difficult intubation

Choices to Decrease Cooling Tower Water Wastage in Fertilizer Plants (Lagging KPIs)

Water recognizes our planet gap with all the others we think about. There are numerous districts where our freshwater assets are lacking to meet natural needs and thus we all associated with inquire about discover approaches to evacuate these imperatives. We face various difficulties in doing that, particularly since 1965, the paper Water reserve Exploration has assumed a significant profession in revealing and scattering existing study. This paper recognizes the issues confronting water today and future research expected to more readily advise the individuals who endeavor to make a progressively manageable and attractive future. In fertilizer lagging key performance indicators at cooling tower water wastages addressed by experimentally to overcome the evaporation, blow-down and make-up water losses from maximum (576 ) to minimum 288 level to promote environment sustainability

Prognosis of Severe Covid-19 patients after treatment with Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effective role of plasmapheresis in the treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome associated with severe Covid 19 pneumonia. INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 disease is a deadly contagious disease with milder symptoms to a more severe form with acute respiratory failure, septic shock leading to even death. Literature study showed  that  in severe  Covid-19  patients, a hyper-inflammatory response  to  initial  infection could accelerate  to  severe  hyper-cytokinaemia that  could  lead to  an  underlying endothelial  dysfunction and multiple organ dysfunction. Thus, removal of these inflammatory cytokines by Therapeutic Plasma Exchange is considered to be an essential part of the treatment of critically ill patients in order to improve their survival rates. METHODOLOGY:  Retrospective observational study which included 150 RT-PCR positive patients admitted in Covid ITC, from the time period of 1st February 2021 to 31st July 2021 –removed for blind review---Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Frequencies were calculated along with mean and standard deviation. Chi square and ANOVA test was applied to the data. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Linear regression study was applied to predict the prognosis. RESULTS: Out of 150 patients, 51 patients (34%) were of severe ARDS category of whom 13 (25.5%) developed Cytokine Release Syndrome. They received plasmapheresis therapy subsequently and 7 out of those 13 (53.8%) patients got improved. P- value was found to be significant ( <0.05). Overall, the mortality rate was low with 120/150 (80%) getting discharged successfully. CONCLUSION:  Our findings suggest that Therapeutic plasma exchange is beneficial in Cytokine storm caused by SARS-CoV2 removing the inflammatory cytokines and improving symptoms, thereby, avoiding intubation. KEY WORDS: , Therapeutic plasma exchange, Hypercytokinaemia, Cytokine Release Syndrom

Carum carvi Modulates Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Effects on TNF-α, NF-κB, and Caspases

Carum carvi is a well-known herb traditionally used as a spice in Asian countries. Acetaminophen is a known marketed drug mainly used as an analgesic. It has been scientifically proven that consumption of acetaminophen (paracetamol) is associated with liver toxicity if taken in high doses without medical supervision. The present study evaluated the in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective efficacy of Carum carvi against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Our results demonstrate that Carum carvi, at doses (mg/kg) of 100 (D1) and 200 (D2), showed inhibitory properties for DNA-sugar damage, lipid peroxidation, DPPH scavenging, and increased reducing potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results also confirm that liver toxicity associated with paracetamol, such as depletion of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzyme levels, as well as induction of cytochrome P450, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokines, was efficiently restored by Carum carvi treatment in rats. Moreover, the expression of redox-sensitive transcription factors, namely, NF-κB and TNF-α levels, was also modulated by Carum carvi in the rats. In summary, our study confirms that Carum carvi inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby protecting liver cells from paracetamol prompted hepatotoxicity

Role of Transthoracic Ultrasound in the Detection of Radiographically Undetected Rib Fractures

 To determine the role of high resolution ultrasound in rib fractures after normal radiography.Methods: In this cross-sectional study patients presenting with chest trauma in the hospital and having radiography to rule out rib fracture, but having normal chest X-ray, were included . Demographic details were noted. They were assessed for rib fracture using high-resolution ultrasonography.Results: In this trial, a total of 230 cases were included. The mean age of the patients was calculated as 33.07+10.32 years of age. Rib fracture using high resolution ultrasound in patients with normal radiography after blunt chest trauma was found in 72.17% (n=166) patients while 27.83% (n=64) patients had no finding of the rib fracture. The most commonly fractured rib in this study was found to be 6th rib.Conclusion: Detection of rib fracture using high resolution ultrasound after blunt chest trauma is higher than radiograph

Securing Cognitive Radio Networks using blockchains

Due to the increase in industrial applications of Internet of Things (IoT), number of internet connected devices have been increased accordingly. This has resulted in big challenges in terms of accessibility, scalability, connectivity and adaptability. IoT is capable of creating connections between devices on wireless medium but the utilization of scarce spectrum in efficient manner for the establishment of these connections is the biggest concern. To accommodate spectrum allocation problem different radio technologies are being utilized. One of the most efficient technique being used is cognitive radio, which dynamically allocate the unlicensed spectrum for IoT applications. Spectrum sensing being the fundamental component of Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) is threatened by security attacks. Process of spectrum sensing is disturbed by the malicious user (MU) which attacks the primary signal detection and affects the accuracy of sensing outcome. The presence of such MU in system, sending false sensing data can degrade the performance of cognitive radios. Therefore, in this article a blockchain based method is proposed for the MU detection in network. By using this method an MU can easily be discriminated from a reliable user through cryptographic keys. The efficiency of the proposed mechanism is analyzed through proper simulations using MATLAB. Consequently, this mechanism can be deployed for the validation of participating users in the process of spectrum sensing in CRN for IoTs.publishe

Role of Dexmedetomidine by Improving Sleep Quality and Pain Control in Covid-19 Patients

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effective role of Dexmedetomidine as a sedative and analgesic agent in Covid-19 patients when used in conjunction with the established treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.  INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 disease is a deadly contagious disease with milder symptoms to a more severe form with acute respiratory failure, septic shock leading to even death. Literature study shows High Flow Nasal Oxygen therapy and prolonged prone position sessions to be beneficial in the treatment of ARDS, however, to facilitate those sessions, a sedative and anxiolytic agent must be added in the treatment. Therefore, this study was conducted to document the beneficial role of dexmedetomidine as a sedative agent.  METHODOLOGY: Retrospective observational study which included 150 PCR positive patients admitted in Covid ITC, from 1st February 2021 to 31st July 2021 residing in the premises of PAF Air Base, Mushaf, Sargodha. Data was analyzed using SPSS software.   RESULTS: Out of 150 patients, 120 (80%) were treated with High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO), Dexmedetomidine infusion (DEXME) and long periods of prone position (PP) sessions. Among these 120 patients, 88 (73.3%) were discharged while 32 (26.67%) patients died of which 7 (21.875%) died while being on HFNO therapy and 25 (78.125%) patients were intubated. DEXME infusion was found to have a positive outcome (P-value <0.005) in the treatment of moderate to severe ARDS.  CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DEXME infusion is beneficial in moderate to severe ARDS caused by SARS-CoV2  when given along with HFNO therapy and prolonged PP sessions, thereby, avoiding intubation. 

Scavenger receptors in host defense: from functional aspects to mode of action

Scavenger receptors belong to a superfamily of proteins that are structurally heterogeneous and encompass the miscellaneous group of transmembrane proteins and soluble secretory extracellular domain. They are functionally diverse as they are involved in various disorders and biological pathways and their major function in innate immunity and homeostasis. Numerous scavenger receptors have been discovered so far and are apportioned in various classes (A-L). Scavenger receptors are documented as pattern recognition receptors and known to act in coordination with other co-receptors such as Toll-like receptors in generating the immune responses against a repertoire of ligands such as microbial pathogens, non-self, intracellular and modified self-molecules through various diverse mechanisms like adhesion, endocytosis and phagocytosis etc. Unlike, most of the scavenger receptors discussed below have both membrane and soluble forms that participate in scavenging; the role of a potential scavenging receptor Angiotensin- Converting Enzyme-2 has also been discussed whereby only its soluble form might participate in preventing the pathogen entry and replication, unlike its membrane-bound form. This review majorly gives an insight on the functional aspect of scavenger receptors in host defence and describes their mode of action extensively in various immune pathways involved with each receptor type

Bioinspired Nanocomposites: Functional Materials for Sustainable Greener Technologies

This chapter presents a broad overview of the current advancements in bioplastics and bioinspired nanocomposites with nanoscale reinforcements that are being applied for a broad range of applications, that is, biomedical, electronics, durable goods and packaging materials. The production of nanocomposites by completely and/or partially renewable and biodegradable materials has helped in a range of different applications. Several drawbacks of conventional materials such as hydrophilicity, low-heat deflection, poor conductivity, and barrier properties can be efficiently overcome using biohybrid nanomaterials. Nano-reinforcements in composite materials deliver remarkably improved properties such as decrease in hydrophilicity and increase in mechanical properties as compared with neat biopolymer, which fails to exhibit these properties on its own. This approach can be used for other natural polymers to induce desired functionalities. This chapter covers the recent trends in nano-functional materials, renewable materials that are being applied for the production of nanobiocomposites and their applications especially in biomedical and healthcare sectors, which are discussed in detail. This emerging concept will definitely enhance the scope of nanohybrid materials for sustainable products development with improved properties than previously applied synthetic polymer-based or natural polymer-based materials