Gamma power in rural Pakistani children: links to executive function and verbal ability

Children in low- and middle-income countries are at high risk of cognitive deficits due to environmental deprivation that compromises brain development. Despite the high prevalence of unrealized cognitive potential, very little is known about neural correlates of cognition in this population. We assessed resting EEG power and cognitive ability in 105 highly disadvantaged 48-month-old children in rural Pakistan. An increase in EEG power in gamma frequency bands (21–30 Hz and 31–45 Hz) was associated with better executive function. For girls, EEG gamma power also related to higher verbal IQ. This study identifies EEG gamma power as a neural marker of cognitive function in disadvantaged children in low- and middle-income countries. Elevated gamma power may be a particularly important protective factor for girls, who may experience greater deprivation due to gender inequality.This research was supported by Grand Challenges Canada Saving Brains Initiative Grant 0061-03. The preparation of this article also was supported by a Scholar's Award from the William T. Grant Foundation to Jelena Obradovic. (0061-03 - Grand Challenges Canada Saving Brains Initiative; William T. Grant Foundation)Published versio

In-Vitro Synergy of Aqueous Garlic Extract with Ciprofloxacin Against Clinical Isolates of Salmonella Typhi

Objective: To detemine the emerging issue of treatment failures in typhoid by evaluating the activity of a new combination of aqueous garlic extract and ciprofloxacin. Study Place and Duration: Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Pakistan from April 2013-April 2014Methodology: Synergism of garlic with ciprofloxacin against   Typhi was assessed to solve the critical issue of treatment failure with the best known anti-typhoid drugs till now i-e fluoroquinolones. Twenty five ciprofloxacin susceptible Typhi isolates were selected. Aqueous garlic extract (AGE) was prepared and was screened for antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method which exhibited an inhibition zone of 25.36±1.60 mm against 1 tested isolate.Results: Minimum Inhibitory concentration 90 (MIC90) of ciprofloxacin and AGE was > 0.25µg/ml and > 20mg/ml respectively as determined by micro broth dilution method. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) was used as a reference strain. Synergism of the combination was assessed using microdilution checkerboard titration technique. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICIs) for all the isolates were >0.5 <4.Conclusion: Thus, ciprofloxacin and Aqueous garlic extract (AGE) showed significant antibacterial activity individually against Typhi but Cipro-AGE combination did not prove to be synergistic against Typhi nor against ATCC Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853.Keywords: , ,&nbsp

Novel VPS13B Mutations in Three Large Pakistani Cohen Syndrome Families Suggests a Baloch Variant with Autistic-Like Features.

BackgroundCohen Syndrome (COH1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, principally identified by ocular, neural and muscular deficits. We identified three large consanguineous Pakistani families with intellectual disability and in some cases with autistic traits.MethodsClinical assessments were performed in order to allow comparison of clinical features with other VPS13B mutations. Homozygosity mapping followed by whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing strategies were used to identify disease-related mutations.ResultsWe identified two novel homozygous deletion mutations in VPS13B, firstly a 1 bp deletion, NM_017890.4:c.6879delT; p.Phe2293Leufs*24, and secondly a deletion of exons 37-40, which co-segregate with affected status. In addition to COH1-related traits, autistic features were reported in a number of family members, contrasting with the "friendly" demeanour often associated with COH1. The c.6879delT mutation is present in two families from different regions of the country, but both from the Baloch sub-ethnic group, and with a shared haplotype, indicating a founder effect among the Baloch population.ConclusionWe suspect that the c.6879delT mutation may be a common cause of COH1 and similar phenotypes among the Baloch population. Additionally, most of the individuals with the c.6879delT mutation in these two families also present with autistic like traits, and suggests that this variant may lead to a distinct autistic-like COH1 subgroup

An Assessment of the Consumption Function for Iran

In this study, the real private consumption model for Iran was estimated by applying yearly data from 1990 to 2018. The ARDL method is used to assess short-term and long-term relationships between private consumption, labor income, interest rate, wealth, and unemployment rate. According to long-term estimates, income and wealth determine the actual consumption in Iran. However, in the short run, current incomes, wealth, real interest rates, and the unemployment rate are the key determinants of private consumption in Iran. The dynamic of the consumption function shows that all the factors of consumption i.e. real disposable income, wealth, and unemployment rate, real interest rate, have a noteworthy effect on aggregate consumption. The minor and significant coefficient of wealth indicates that the consumption decision is weakly affected by wealth. It provides evidence of the validity of AIH for Iran

An Assessment of the Consumption Function for Iran

In this study, the real private consumption model for Iran was estimated by applying yearly data from 1990 to 2018. The ARDL method is used to assess short-term and long-term relationships between private consumption, labor income, interest rate, wealth, and unemployment rate. According to long-term estimates, income and wealth determine the actual consumption in Iran. However, in the short run, current incomes, wealth, real interest rates, and the unemployment rate are the key determinants of private consumption in Iran. The dynamic of the consumption function shows that all the factors of consumption i.e. real disposable income, wealth, and unemployment rate, real interest rate, have a noteworthy effect on aggregate consumption. The minor and significant coefficient of wealth indicates that the consumption decision is weakly affected by wealth. It provides evidence of the validity of AIH for Iran

Digestible threonine and its effects on growth performance, gut morphology and carcass characteristics in broiler Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Threonine is the third limiting amino acid in corn-soy-based poultry diets and has an important role in body and intestinal development of chicken. Although work on threonine (Thr) in chicken is well established, information about the effects of digestible threonine (dThr) on quail performance is limited. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the impact of increasing levels of dThr on growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), gut health and carcass characteristics in meat-type quails. A total of 324 mixed-sex day-old quail were randomly allocated to three treatments with six replicates per treatment and 18 birds per replicate. There were three dietary treatments, namely control (C) with recommended levels of dThr according to the Brazilian Tables guidelines for Japanese quails: 10% dThr (C diet supplemented with 10% more dThr) and 20%dThr (C diet supplemented with 20% more dThr). At day 35 of the experiment, three birds from each pen were slaughtered. A duodenal sample was collected and preserved to evaluate gut health. The carcass characteristics were determined from the slaughtered birds. Total feed intake and average daily feed intake were higher in the C treatment than in 10% dThr. Final bodyweight (BW), weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) increased linearly. The birds fed diets supplemented with 20% extra dThr had the highest final weight and bodyweight gain (BWG) compared with those birds that were fed on C and 10% dThr supplemented diets. Feed conversion ratio was improved in 10% dThr compared with the C birds. Villus height (VH) was similar among treatments. The highest crypt depth (CD) was observed in C, followed by 10% dThr and 20% dThr. The birds fed 20% dThr had higher VH:CD than 10% dThr. The birds in the C treatment had lowest VH:CD. Carcass weights with and without giblets were higher in the 20% dThr than in the 10% dThr and C treatments. Breast mass yield (BMY) was greatest in 20% dThr compared with C and 10% dThr. It may be concluded that supplementation of Thr higher than the requirements referred to in Brazilian Tables improves growth performance and gut health of meat-type quail.Keywords: Crypt depth, mucin, performance, quail, villus heigh

The Effect of Teaching Professionalism by Using Real Lifetime Scenarios in Undergraduate Medical Students: An Educational Trial

The objective is to evaluate the effect of teaching professionalism by real lifetime scenario to undergraduate MBBS medical students. This was a non-randomized controlled trial conducted in OBGY departmenIntroduction: The objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of teaching professionalism by real lifetime scenario to undergraduate MBBS medical students.Methods: This comparative quasi-experimental trial was conducted in OBS/GYN department from May 2019 to Jan 2020. The final year MBBS students of Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, who attended the clinical rotation of Gynae OBS were enrolled in the study using consecutive sampling. Each batch consists of 15 students. The first two batches were taken as active control, whereas the third batch was taken as an interventional group. The certified faculty in medical education assessed professionalism by using P-MEX at the start and end of the rotation in the gynae ward. P-MEX data are presented as mean and standard deviation. The comparison between the two groups was done using independent sample t-test, and pre- and post-comparison within group was done by paired sample t-test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Among the 45 students, 28 (62.22%) were male and 17 (37.78%) were female. Age and gender were statistically similar in both groups. The average total score, at the start of the rotation of the intervention group was 1.95±0.294, whereas the active control group was 2.23±0.31. At the end of the rotation, the average total score of the intervention group was 3.22±0.48 and active control was 2.56±0.53. Pre- and post P-MEX score was statistically significant with P<0.001.Conclusion: This research showed that the teaching of professionalism using real lifetime scenarios led to statistically significant improvement of professionalism in the form of P-MEXmean score among final MBBS students.t of Shalamar Medical & Dental College( SMDC) from May 2019 to Jan,2020. Final year MBBS students of SMDC who attended the clinical rotation of OBGY were enrolled for study. The students in first two batches were taken as control and assessed for professionalism by using P-MEX at the start and end of rotation with the traditional teaching being taught. The third batch was taken as interventional group & were assessed in the start of rotation. Then professionalism was taught in the teaching session of 2 hours by lifetime scenario ,twice at interval of one week. Then they were evaluated at the end of rotation by using P-MEX. The comparison between the two groups was done by entering data in SPSS version 24. Data presented as mean and standard deviation. Comparison between two groups was done through independent sample t test. Result showed the statistically significant improvement in doctor patient relationship, reflective skills, and time management & interprofessional skills. The P-MEX score remained “below expectation” in control group whereas improved to “met expectation” in intervention group.Conclusion:This nonrandomized controlled educational trial showed the teaching of professionalism using real lifetime scenarios lead to improvement of professionalism among final MBBS students from the level of below expectation to level of met expectation as assessed by P-MEX

Association of ABO Blood group phenotypes with FEV1/FVC values among students of Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College

Objective: To find the frequency of obstructive and restrictive lung disease in various blood groups in young students of Aziz Fatimah Medical and dental college. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad from 1st January to 31st March 2022. It included 80 participants of first-year MBBS comprising both genders between 18 to 22 years. Ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical committee of the institute. After fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria blood grouping was done by conventional slide method and Spirometry was performed to access lung function parameters to determine obstructive and restrictive lung diseases. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 26. Results: The study population included  36 males (45%) and 44 females (55%). Mean±SD age of participants was 20 ± 1.07 years. The most frequent blood group was B followed by O, A and AB. Restrictive lung disease ( FEV1/FVC ratio ≥ 0.8) was found in 19(23.8%) participants while obstructive lung disease ( FEV1/FVC ratio &lt;0.8)  was found in 46(57.5%) participants. Obstructive lung diseases were more frequently found in subjects with blood group AB while restrictive lung diseases were more commonly noticed in subjects with blood group O. Mean±SD of FEV1/FVC% of subjects with obstructive and restrictive lung diseases were 45.15± 19.04 and 81.79±8.25 respectively. Conclusion: Blood group AB is more prone to have Obstructive lung disease with decreased FEV1/FVC ratio. Restrictive lung disease was more commonly seen in blood group O.

Radiological locations of mental foramen in local population

Objective: To evaluate the accurate radiographic location of the mental foramen and its prevalence by gender and different age groups.Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at dental department at ISRA University Hospital Hyderabad, from September 2014 to Feb 2015. We studied 70 patients. All patients &gt; 18 years age and both sex and presence of the canine, first premolar, second premolar and first molar in the images were included. Detailed patients’ history was taken and detailed clinical examination was done. Patients were subject to relevant investigation panoramic digital images. All the data was recorded in the proforma.Results: Out of total 70 patients included in this study 30 were male (42.85%) and 40 females (57.14%); with male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean age was 22+3.20 years. Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar in 35(50%) cases followed by mental foramen at below 2nd premolar in 30(42.85 %) cases and below first premolar in 5(7.14%) cases. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal observed. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal was Bifid canal only in two patients.Conclusion: Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar 50%, below 2nd premolar 42.85% and below first premolar in 7.14%. While no significant relationship was found with gender and age

Radiological locations of mental foramen in local population

Objective: To evaluate the accurate radiographic location of the mental foramen and its prevalence by gender and different age groups.Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at dental department at ISRA University Hospital Hyderabad, from September 2014 to Feb 2015. We studied 70 patients. All patients &gt; 18 years age and both sex and presence of the canine, first premolar, second premolar and first molar in the images were included. Detailed patients’ history was taken and detailed clinical examination was done. Patients were subject to relevant investigation panoramic digital images. All the data was recorded in the proforma.Results: Out of total 70 patients included in this study 30 were male (42.85%) and 40 females (57.14%); with male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean age was 22+3.20 years. Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar in 35(50%) cases followed by mental foramen at below 2nd premolar in 30(42.85 %) cases and below first premolar in 5(7.14%) cases. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal observed. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal was Bifid canal only in two patients.Conclusion: Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar 50%, below 2nd premolar 42.85% and below first premolar in 7.14%. While no significant relationship was found with gender and age