Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease Using Machine Learning Algorithm

A large percentage of people globally suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), a serious health concern. Effective diagnosis, treatment, and referral of CKD depend heavily on early identification and prediction of the disease. However, it is difficult to evaluate and derive significant insights from health data due to its vast and complicated nature. Engineers and medical researchers are using data mining techniques and machine learning algorithms to create predictive models for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an effort to address this issue. The goal of this research is to create and validate predictive models for chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on a variety of clinical factors, including albuminuria, age, diet, eGFR, and pre-existing medical problems. The objective is to estimate the likelihood of renal failure, which may necessitate kidney dialysis or a transplant, and to evaluate the degree of kidney disease. With the use of this knowledge, patients and healthcare providers should be able to make well-informed decisions about diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes. Patterns in the gathered data can be found, and future incidence of CKD or other related diseases can be predicted, by utilising MLT such as ANN and data mining techniques. Finding novel characteristics linked to the onset of renal disease and adding more trustworthy data from CKD patients. The best algorithm to categorise the data as CKD or NOT_CKD is chosen throughout the design process, and the data is then classified according to this differentiation. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which offers important details about the patient's current kidney function, is used to classify cases of chronic kidney disease. By combining complete patient data with machine learning algorithms, this research advances the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and improves patient outcomes

Quality Assurance in Testing of Highway Materials in Pakistan

In Pakistan three modes of transportation are usually used. It is believed that road sector is the major source of transport, which carries about 92 percent of travelers and 96 percent of cargo traffic. There are various factors which may cause the deterioration of pavement such as inadequate drainage, frost action, unsatisfactory compaction and overloading etc. One of the important factors seriously affecting the pavement performance is quality of material. Although some research work has been carried out related to use of required quality materials in highway construction; however, limited research has been done related to quality assurance in testing of highway materials in commercial laboratories. As the approval of material usage mainly depends upon testing reports provided by laboratories, therefore poor quality assurance system of testing laboratories may have adverse effect on material approvals. Rapid growth of population in Pakistan demands expansions in highway constructions; therefore, assessment and improvement of quality assurance will ensure proper usage of required quality materials. In the above mentioned context assessment of few commercial laboratories involved in highway material testing was done in comparison to public sector laboratory. The results indicate that there are significant variations in test results carried out at different commercial laboratories. Based on the assessment the study highlights the improvement areas to raise the standard of quality assurance in highway material testing in Pakistan

Urinary tract infection presenting as jaundice in neonates

Neonatal Hyperbilirubinaemia is a common finding during the first postnatal week. Physiological jaundice occurs in first week of life in 60% of term and 80% of premature neonates. Non physiologic or pathologic jaundice occurs in 5-10% of newborns which require intervention. According to AAP guidelines laboratory investigation for jaundice include total serum bilirubin, blood Type and coombs test and if the baby has an elevation of direct reacting or conjugated bilirubin, there should be a urine analysis and urine culture. Here we are presenting 5 cases that developed indirect hyperbilirubinaemia and routine workup done according to AAP guidelines were normal. On extensive investigation all cases found to have urinary tract infection despite of having indirect bilirubin and they needed course of antibiotics according to sensitivities and follow up ultrasound. From our experience we suggest that UTI should be considered as a cause of neonatal jaundice especially when indirect bilirubin peaks after one week of life at mean age of 10.8 +/- 2.38 days

Covered Cheatham-Platinum Stents for Aortic Coarctation Early and Intermediate-Term Results

ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate the use of covered Cheatham-platinum (CP) stents in the treatment of aortic coarctation (CoA).BackgroundAortic aneurysms and stent fractures have been encountered after surgical and transcatheter treatment for CoA. Covered stents have previously been used in the treatment of abdominal and thoracic aneurysms in adults. We implanted covered CP stents as a rescue treatment in patients with CoA aneurysms or previous stent-related complications and in patients at risk of developing complications because of complex CoA anatomy or advanced age.MethodsThirty-three covered CP stents were implanted in 30 patients; 16 patients had had previous procedures. The remaining patients had complex or near-atretic CoA.ResultsThe mean patient age and weight were 28 (±17.5) years (range 8 to 65 years), and 62 (±13) kg (range 28 to 86 kg), respectively. The systolic gradient across the CoA decreased from a mean (±SD) of 36 ± 20 mm Hg before to a mean of 4 ± 4 mm Hg after the procedure (p < 0.0001), and the diameter of the CoA increased from 6.4 ± 3.8 mm to 17.1 ± 3.1 mm (p < 0.0001). The follow-up period was up to 40 months (mean, 11 months). All stents were patent and in good position on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging performed three to six months later. In 43% of the patients antihypertensive medication was either decreased or stopped.ConclusionsCovered CP stents may be used as the therapy of choice in patients with complications after CoA repairs, whereas they provide a safe alternative to conventional stenting in patients with severe and complex CoA lesions or advanced age

Associated health risks from heavy metal-laden effluent into point drainage channels in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Industrial effluent discharge has increased due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. Irrational use of this water for irrigation has caused environmental and health issues. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the treated effluents of textile, ghee and chemical industries for major heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Fe) and other basic analysis (pH, EC, TSS and TDS). Effluent samples were collected from the discharge of industries entering into main wastewater collecting channel located in Faisalabad city. Heavy metals contents were determined via atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that the highest pH (11.06) was recorded in textile effluent while EC (7.89mS/cm), TSS (1185.55mg/L) and TDS (6317.33mg/L) were found highest in chemical industrial effluents. Heavy metals contents were determined through atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean comparison of heavy metal concentration (mg/L) showed the concentration of Cd, Cr and Ni were within the safe limits; however, Fe and Pb were higher than the safe limits in all industrial effluents. The highest/unsafe concentration of metal Fe was recorded 4.093, 2.979 and 2.959 mg/L in the effluents of chemical, textile and ghee mill respectively. While the highest/unsafe concentration of metal Pb was recorded 0.643, 0.578 and 0.286 mg/L in the effluents of textile, chemical and ghee mill respectively. The permissible limits of heavy metals Fe and Pb is 0.5 and 2 mg/L respectively. We conclude that before discharge into a receiving stream, the effluents must be treated more time with a treatment method that removes Pb and Fe within standard limits else the discharge will pose pollution and health risks to human beings

Difficult to treat recurrent stenosis of the aorta

The risk associated with repeated treatment of aortic stenosis is as high as 5% and increases to as much as 25% in complex heart diseases. Among the methods that are commonly accepted and used in the treatment of recurrent aortic stenosis are balloon dilatation and stent implantation. In this study we describe five patients with recurrent stenosis of the aorta treated with stent implantation. The short-term results of such treatment are promising. However, in some cases it is only palliative in character and does not completely resolve the problems arising from congenital heart disease. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 186-192

Green marketing practices and green consumer behavior: demographic differences among young consumers

The research was undertaken to study the influence of demographics, especially gender, age, education, and income, on the green purchase decisions of Indian consumers. The structured close-ended questionnaire was distributed among millennials (graduate, post-graduate, and doctorate students) in educational institutions in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 700 students participated in this study employing stratified random sampling. ANOVA and t-tests were used to analyze the data. The study results show that education and income significantly influence while Age and gender do not significantly influence the green consumer behavior of young Indian consumers. The insights in this study will be helpful to green marketers as they develop strategies for Indian consumers of various genders, age groups, educational backgrounds, occupations, and socioeconomic levels. Future academics and researchers might adopt this work as a starting point to further explore the idea of green marketing in India

The Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Avena fatua Extract: Antifungal Activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici

Using plant extracts as eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of nanoparticles has gained significant attention in recent years. The current study explores the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the Avena fatua extract and evaluates their antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol), a fungal plant pathogen. A green and sustainable approach was adopted to synthesize silver nanoparticles before these nanoparticles were employed for anti-fungal activity. The primary indication that AgNPs had formed was performed using UV-vis spectroscopy, where a strong peak at 425 nm indicated the effective formation of these nanoparticles. The indication of important functional groups acting as reducing and stabilizing agents was conducted using the FTIR study. Additionally, morphological studies were executed via SEM and AFM, which assisted with more effectively analyzing AgNPs. Crystalline behavior and size were estimated using powder XRD, and it was found that AgNPs were highly crystalline, and their size ranged from 5 to 25 nm. Synthesized AgNPs exhibited significant antifungal activity against Fol at a concentration of 40 ppm. Furthermore, the inhibitory index confirmed a positive correlation between increasing AgNPs concentration and exposure duration. This study suggests that the combined phytochemical mycotoxic effect of the plant extract and the smaller size of synthesized AgNPs were responsible for the highest penetrating power to inhibit Fol growth. Moreover, this study highlights the potential of using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents for the green synthesis of AgNPs with antifungal properties. The study concludes that A. fatua extract can synthesize antifungal AgNPs as a sustainable approach with robust antifungal efficacy against Fol, underscoring their promising potential for integration into plant protection strategies