URI Faculty Wants ROTC off campus by 1992

An article about URI faculty pushing to ban ROTC on campu

Multi-drug resistant gram negative infections and use of intravenous polymyxin B in critically ill children of developing country: Retrospective cohort study

Background: Patients in pediatric intensive care Units (PICU) are susceptible to infections with antibiotic resistant organisms which increase the morbidity, mortality and cost of care. To describe the clinical characteristics and mortality in patients with Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) gram negative organisms. We also report safety of Polymyxin B use in these patients.Methods: Files of patients admitted in PICU of Aga Khan University Hospital, from January 2010 to December 2011, one month to 15 years of age were reviewed. Demographic and clinical features of patients with MDR gram negative infections, antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates, discharge disposition and adverse effects of Polymyxin B were recorded.Results: A total of 44.8/1000(36/803) admitted patients developed MDR gram negative infections, of which 47.2%(17/36) were male, with mean age of 3.4 yrs(+/-4.16). Acinetobacter Species (25.5%) was the most frequently isolated MDR organisms followed by Klebsiella Pneumoniae (17%). Sensitivity of isolates was 100% to Polymyxin B, followed by Imipenem (50%), and piperacillin/tazobactem (45%). The crude mortality rate of patients with MDR gram negative infections was 44.4% (16/36). Fourteen of 36 patients received Polymyxin B and 57.1%; (8/14) of them were cured. Nephrotoxicity was observed in 21.4% (3/14) cases, none of the patients showed signs of neuropathy.Conclusion: Our study highlights high rates of Carbapenem resistant gram negative isolates, leading to increasing use of Polymyxin B as the only drug to combat against these critically ill children. Therefore, we emphasizeon Stewardship of Antibiotics and continuous surveillance system as strategies in overall management of these critically ill children

A CADAVERIC STUDY OF THE BRANCHING PATTERN OF RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY IN PAKISTANI POPULATION

Background:  It is very common for coronary arteries to vary in their origin, course and area of distribution. The knowledge about these variations is unequivocally important for a cardiac surgeon and physician. However, the prevalence of such variations varies among different populations. The already available data on variations in the anatomy of coronary arteries is mostly based on studies conducted on the western population and quite a few studies report the coronary arterial patterns of Asian population. Between the two main coronary arteries, i.e. the right coronary artery (RCA) and left coronary arteries (LCA), variation in the branching pattern of RCA is more common than LCA. The present study investigated the branching pattern of RCA in the local population in Pakistan and hence will add to the existing data on inter- and intra-population frequencies of branching pattern of RCA among non-Europeans.   Methods:  It was an observational study of six months duration and conducted on dissection cadavers available in various medical colleges of Rawalpindi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The branching pattern of RCA was studied by blunt dissection method.   Results:  Right marginal, conus, Sinuatrial (SA) nodal, atrioventricular (AV) nodal and posterior descending arteries (PDA) were arising from RCA in majority of cases. However, the branching pattern varied from one heart to another as reported in other studies carried out in developed countries. The frequencies of branching patterns of RCA varied from those already reported in literature.  Conclusions:   RCA manifest anatomical variations in branching pattern as reported in international literature and this variation is different in different populations of the world which indicates that postnatal development, along with differences based on geography and ethnicities might contribute to the modification of anatomical pattern of coronary arteries in humans. 

N′-[(E)-Benzyl­idene]-1-ethyl-7-methyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carbohydrazide

In the title compound, C19H18N4O2, the 1,8-naphthyridine ring system is essentially planar [r.m.s. deviation = 0.011 (3) Å]. The dihedral angle between the naphthyridine ring system and the phenyl ring is 28.95 (7)°. The carbohydrazide H atom is involved in an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond, forming a six-membered hydrogen-bonded ring. In the crystal, the mol­ecules arrange themselves into centrosymmetric dimers by means of inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Seasonal Variation in Protozoan Population in Tannery Effluents

Abstract: Wastewater samples were collected from the ponds receiving effluents from tanneries in industrial area of Kasur to determine the seasonal variation in chromium resistant protozoan population over a period of one year from August 1999 to July 2000. During this period the pH of the pond water ranged between 7.46 and 9.66, temperature ranged between 19ºC and 34ºC, and the chromium content ranged between from 0.05ppm and 1.6 ppm. A wide variety of micro-organisms were found including protozoa, rotifers and algae. From amongst Protozoa Vorticella, Stylonychia, Oxytricha, Tachysoma and Metopus were found to dominate the protozoan population throughout the study. Amoeba, Paramecium, Euplotes and Chilodonella were not observed at 34ºC during the month of August, and Cyclidium and Spathidium were not found at 19ºC during the months of November-January, but were present in fairly large number during other months of the year. Oxytricha, Amoeba, Plagiopyla and Euplotes were not observed at pH 9.66 in May and Paramecium, Cyclidium and Spathidium were not found at pH 7.46 but were observed in other months of the study at fairly high pH range of 8.05-9.4. Euplotes, Cyclidium, Plagiopyla, Tetrahymena and Euglena were not observed at 1.6 µg/ml of chromium concentration but were observed at 0.05 µg/ml

Heavy Metals Resistant Rotifers from a Chromium Contaminated Wastewater can Help in Environmental Clean-up,

in metal containing media by Notommata copeus was 82%, 61% and 97%, respectively after two days of inoculation and 96%, 81% and 99% after 8 days. The resistance of rotifers against heavy metals and their uptake ability can be exploited for metal detoxification and environmental clean-up operations

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of methanol fruit extract of Quercus incana in rat and mice models

Purpose: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of crude methanol fruit extract of Quercus incana (QI), as well as its acute toxicity and phytochemical profile.Methods: Two animal models were used: Wistar rats for carrageenan-induced paw inflammation and Swiss albino mice for acetic acid-induced writhing test (hot plate method for anti-nociceptive effect). The extract was also subjected to phytochemical screening using standard procedures.Results: The extract showed significant (p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory effect at doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg. It also evoked significant anti-nociceptive activity (both peripheral and central analgesia) at all test doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg; p < 0.01). Acute toxicity data revealed that the extract was non-toxicup to a dose of 425 mg/kg, while phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, tannins, coumarins, reducing sugars and resins.Conclusion: These results suggest that Quercus incana fruit contains compounds with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties.Keywords: Quercus incana fruit, Antinociceptive, Anti-inflammatory, Phytochemical profil

Phosphorus Fertilizer Response to Onion (Allium cepa L.) Yield in Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most essential plants in food with high nutritional value. However, application of right dose of phosphorous (P) is one of the constraints to the profitable onion yields in soils deficient in P.Methods: A systematic study to confirm the best dose of P was conducted for six years in the P deficient soil in farmers’ fields. Based on the findings obtained from 2008-09 to 2010-11, the research was undertaken to determine the effect of different phosphorus levels on the yield of onion in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a total of 114 replicates  in 2011-12 to 2012-13. Four treatments (160, 210, 260 and 310 kg P2O5 ha-1) were tested with N and K at 100 kg ha-1.Results: From the results of this investigation, the variance analysis showed the substantial P impact. The maximum marketable bulb yield (19.03 t ha-1) was obtained from the fertilizer combination NPK @ 100-310-100 kg ha-1 and was shown to be statistically higher than all other treatments.Conclusion: Nonetheless, the nutshell of the overall economic study is that poor farmers (Land holders >12 acres) may have options to select the NPK fertilizer combination @ 100:210:100 kg ha-1 and the average farmer may have options to select the NPK fertilizer combination @ 100:260:100 kg ha-1. But rich farmers (Land holders >25 acres) who can spend more money on fertilizers and are interested in the higher gross margin should follow the combination of NPK fertilizers @ 100:310:100 kg ha-1 to profitably increase their gross margin and maintain soil fertility for onion cultivation in Punjab, Pakistan.   Keywords: Onion; NPK; Plant nutrition; Phosphorus; Pungency

Morbidly Adherent Placenta: A Cross-sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) is one of the most dreaded antenatal complications leading to massive hemorrhage, immense blood transfusion, hysterectomy, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, multi-organ failure and maternal mortality. The study aimed to determine the maternal outcome in terms of complications, interventions, and mortality in patients with MAP in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: During the study period of one year (2020-2021) a total of 68 patients with MAP were studied. Demographic profiles including age, parity, gestational age and history of previous cesarean sections were recorded. Other complications and interventions were also noted. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 23 and a t-test was applied for comparison between the two groups. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total number of deliveries during the study period was 20971. Among these 7183 women had a cesarian section (CS). The total number of CS done due to placenta previa was 319, out of which a total of 68(21.3%) patients were diagnosed with MAP. It was further observed that 0.6% of patients had no history of a previous uterine scar, 39.0% of patients with previous 1 scar and 80% with 4 scars (p>0.05). Peripartum hysterectomy was performed in 48.5% of patients. The complications noted were bladder injury 17.6%, ICU admission 45.5% and maternal mortality 4.4%. Conclusion: Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) was found directly related to cesarean section (p>0.05). Appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the primary scars to reduce the incidence of repeat scars and ultimately MAP related severe maternal outcomes. Keywords: Morbidly Adherent Placenta (MAP); Caesarean Section; Placenta Previa