Socio-economic Status of Transferred and Non-transferred Urban Slums: A Case Study from Faisalabad

The rapid urbanisation has become a burning challenge across the developing countries of the world for the last four decades. The population pressure on the cities has caused many problems like environmental pollution, sanitation, education, health, traffic level and housing etc. In this context, housing is one of the most important issues related to urbanisation. Slums are reflected as the carbuncle in cities and looked extemporaneously and arbitrarily [Shafqaat, et al. (2013). The share of world urban population was 32 percent in 1950, it rose up to 39 percent in 1980 and 48 percent in 2000, which reflects that 3 out of 10 people were living in cities in 1950. In 2011, about half of the world population was living in the big cities and at the end of the third decade of this century; that make up the formation as 6 out of 10 people [World Bank (1999)]. Pakistan‘s town populace is fixed to become identical to its rural population in the year 2030. This needs for an effective urban planning instrument to confirm universal distribution of simple municipal amenities, regulator of the spread of slums, reducing of effluence and the control of crime and political might [Khan, et al. (2012)

Cholangiocarcinoma in a Resected Biliary Cyst: Importance of Follow-up

Biliary cysts are rare cystic dilatations of the biliary tree. Biliary cysts are positively associated with several significant complications, amongst them, cholangiocarcinoma befalls the most dreadful one. The elevated incidence is 20-30% in the unresected cyst and 0.7% in resected cysts. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is applied for the initial diagnostic study but the ultimate diagnosis ordinarily requires the tissue biopsy. Currently, the sole curative option involves the complete surgical resection of the lesion, with standard chemotherapy and active radiation applied as an alternative for the unresectable tumors. Despite the curative surgery the percentage of eternal recurrence of the tumor indefinitely persists, and effective post-surgical surveillance is reasonably demanded. We report a case of 29-year-old female with local recurrence of cholangiocarcinoma in a previously resected biliary cyst type I. The curative resection of the choledochal cyst only minimizes the considerable risk of the possible development of future cholangiocarcinoma but it does not completely prevent it. The appropriate follow-up for potential patients who have been typically treated for a biliary cyst is unclear. The lethal course of cholangiocarcinoma is believed due to its slow asymptomatic growing phase. Therefore, to adequately screen for malignancy, periodic imaging along with annual liver tests represents a reasonable approach to prevent the possible development of this appalling complication.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

An audit of the quality of care indicators for the management of diabetes in family practice clinics in Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND: Management of diabetes is a painstaking and careful approach. This study was aimed to evaluate the quality of care for the management of diabetes provided by family practitioners to their patients having diabetes. This is a retrospective audit of medical records conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital of private sector in Karachi for one month. METHODS: For this study, 150 medical records of patients with type 2 diabetes that visited family practice clinics for their diabetes care were examined. A total of 88 patient\u27s medical records were selected and analyzed who attended the studied clinics for at least one year and had minimum of four out-patient visits. Majority (68%) of the audited medical records were of females. RESULTS: Of the total medical records analyzed, only one-quarter of the cases qualified the criteria of \u27excellent\u27 or \u27good\u27 diabetes care. Monitoring of body weight of the patient was only one indicator which was according the recommendations in 100% case at every visit. The other nearest quality of care indicator documented was blood glucose advice at every visit in 79.5% (95% CI: 71.1-87.9) of cases. Physical activity advised/reinforced at every visit was least observed (27.3%; 95% CI: 18.0-36.6). In addition, blood sugar control was reported in less than a quarter (23.9%) with 95% CI of 15.0-32.8. CONCLUSION: This work has identified a big gap in the management of type 2 diabetes provided by family practitioners. In addition, majority of the patients found to have poor glycemic control. Interventions are suggested to improve the quality of diabetes care. More such audits and research are recommended at the larger scale

Novel Insights into the Pathogenesis of Human Post-Primary Tuberculosis from Archival Material of the Pre-Antibiotic Era, 1931-1947

OBJECTIVES: Primary and post-primary tuberculosis (TB) are distinct entities. The aim of this study was to study the histopathology of primary and post-primary TB by using the unique human autopsy material from the pre-antibiotic era, 1931-1947. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Autopsy data were collected from the autopsy journals, and the human tissue was collected from the pathology archives at the Department of Pathology, the Gades Institute. RESULTS: Histological presentations of TB lesions showed great diversity within a single lung. Post-primary TB starts as a pneumonia forming early lesions, characterized by the infiltration of foamy macrophages containing mycobacterial antigens within alveoli, and progressing to necrotic pneumonias with an increasing density of mycobacterial antigens in the lesions. These necrotic pneumonic lesions appeared to either resolve as fibrocaseous lesions or lead to cavitation. The typical granulomatous inflammation, the hallmark of TB lesions, appeared later in the post-primary TB and surrounded the pneumonic lesions. These post-primary granulomas contained lesser mycobacterial antigens as compared to necrotic pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Immunopathogenesis of post-primary TB is different from primary TB and starts as pneumonia. The early lesions of post-primary TB may progress or regress, holding the key to understanding how a host can develop the disease despite an effective TB immunity

Evaluation of different fungicides against stalk rot of Maize caused by Fusarium moniliforme

Maize is the world's leading crop and is widely cultivated as a cereal grain, it is the only food cereal crop that can be grown in diverse seasons, ecologies and uses. Maize yields in Pakistan are very poor due to insect pests and diseases. Among them, the stalk rot of maize caused by Fusarium moniliforme is very important. Keeping in view the huge losses caused by the disease, the present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of selected fungicides against the disease development under field conditions and on the plant growth and yield parameters. A total of six fungicides were used such as Scoure, Plyrem, Topguard, Ridomil, Fenatac M, and Cobox with three different concentrations i.e., (50, 100 and 200 ppm). The effect on disease incidence, growth and yield parameters such as plant height, root length, root weight, leaf weight per plant, grain weight, and biological yield (t acre-1) were recorded. The results showed that all applied fungicides significantly affect against stalk rot of maize caused by F. moniliforme. The maximum plant height, root length, root weight, leaf weight per plant, grain weight and biological yield (t acre-1) was noted under Ridomil and Scoure fungicides, followed by Topguard, Cobox, Plyrem and Fenatac M. Whereas, the minimum plant height, root length, root weight, leaf weight per plant, grain weight, and biological yield (t acre-1) was observed under control plants where no fungicides were applied

Exposure to low concentrations of heavy metals alone and in combination induces histopathological and genotoxic effects in fish (Labeo rohita)

Background: The terrestrial and agro-aquatic ecosystems are continuously at the pity of human's negative impacts. Extensive and indiscriminate application of agrochemicals like heavy metals, industrial wastes, germicides, drug residues and different feed additives has become serious threats to public health. The current experimental trial was executed to investigate genotoxic potential of different heavy metals in fresh water fish (Labeo rohita).Methods: A total of 120 active, healthy, free from  disease and internal parasites fish having three months of age were procured from local fish breeding center and were kept in glass aquarium having 100 liter water. After two weeks of acclimatization, fish were arbitrarily distributed and placed in different eight groups (A-H). Prior to start of experiment, acute toxicity of various heavy metals alone such as lead, cadmium, chromium and in combination (Pb +Cr), (Cr+Cd), (Cd+Pb) and (Pb+Cr+Cd) mixture were determined in-term of 96-h LC50 and lethal doses for Labeo rohita. After assessment of acute toxicity, all the fish were exposed to three sub-lethal concentrations (5, 7 and 9%) of heavy metals alone and in combinations for a period of 30 days in triplicate experiments.Results: Different clinical ailments like, increased surface breathing, loss of coordination, rapid opercular movement, erratic swimming, air gulping, jerking movement and tremors were noted in fish. Histopathological observations of gills of various fish exhibited severe microscopic alterations. Results on micronucleus assay exhibited increased frequency of formation of micronuclei in red blood cells, while comet assays showed significantly increased DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes in-term of arbitrary units of comets, average percentile rate of damaged cell and genomic damage index.Conclusion: From the results of our experimental study, it can be concluded that fresh water fish are useful and reliable bio-indicators of heavy metal toxicity. Micronucleus and comet assays showed that heavy metals alone and in combination induced DNA damage in fish.Keywords: Labeo rohita; Heavy metals; Histopathology; Erythrocytes; DNA damag

Deep Neural Networks meet computation offloading in mobile edge networks: Applications, taxonomy, and open issues

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is a modern paradigm that involves moving computing and storage resources closer to the network edge, reducing latency, and enabling innovative, delay-sensitive applications. Within MEC, computation offloading refers to the process of transferring computationally intensive tasks or processes from mobile devices to edge servers, optimizing the performance of mobile applications. Traditional numerical optimization methods for computation offloading often necessitate numerous iterations to attain optimal solutions. In this paper, we provide a tutorial on how Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) resolve the challenges of computation offloading. The article explores various applications of DNNs in computation offloading, encompassing channel estimation, caching, AR and VR applications, resource allocation, mode selection, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and vehicle management. We present a comprehensive taxonomy that categorizes these applications, and offer an overview of existing schemes, comparing their effectiveness. Additionally, we outline the open research issues that can be addressed through the application of DNNs in MEC offloading. We also highlight specific challenges related to DNN utilization in computation offloading. In conclusion, we affirm that DNNs are widely acknowledged as invaluable tools for optimizing computation offloading in MEC

Gossy-pibomas; Concealed Causes of an Acute Abdomen

Our case was a 30-year-old patient who had recently given birth via Caesarean Section two months before reporting to our hospital with pain abdomen as the chief complaint; her systemic examination, less abdominal tenderness and tachycardia, was unremarkable with only slightly raised TLC. The Diagnosis of Gossypiboma was made after a CT scan and laparotomy were done to remove the Gossypiboma with the surrounding fluid sent for culture and sensitivity test. She was kept post-operative on antibiotics and discharged after uneventful recovery

EFFECT OF WASTE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE BOTTLE FIBERS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RECYCLED CONCRETE

The use of beverage containers, most of which are made of polyethylene terephthalate bottles, results in several problems with regard to sustainability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and contrast the impact on the mechanical characteristics of concrete caused by the incorporation of polyethylene terephthalate bottle fibres in varying amounts. These fibres were generated by cutting bottles into precise dimensions (width of 5 mm and length of 25 mm), and they were used in various concentrations such as 0,25 %; 0,5 % and 1,0 % by volume of concrete with different amounts of recycled aggregate. To verify the reliability of the outcomes of the experiment, a statistical analysis was performed. According to the results, the concrete that contained 0 % recycled coarse aggregate and varying amounts of plastic fibres had a greater degree of workability compared with concrete that had either 50 % or 100 % recycled coarse aggregate. The comprehensive test findings demonstrated that the addition of polyethylene terephthalate fibres decreased compressive and split tensile strength. The study concluded that certain parameters, such as plastic fibres, curing days, and recycled aggregate, interacted together in a synergistic manner to impact the compressive and splitting tensile strengths of the concrete, with proposed equations for their prediction