Distribution of biological databases over lowbandwidth networks

Databases are integral part of bioinformatics and need to be accessed most frequently, thus downloading and updating them on a regular basis is very critical. The establishment of bioinformatics research facility is a challenge for developing countries as they suffer from inherent low-bandwidth and unreliable internet connections. Therefore, the identification of techniques supporting download and automatic synchronization of large biological database at low bandwidth is of utmost importance. In current study, two protocols (FTP and Bit Torrent) were evaluated and the utility of a BitTorren based peer-to-peer (btP2P) file distribution model for automatic synchronization and distribution of large dataset at our facility in Pakistan have been discussed

Comparison of diagnostic value of visual inspection with Lugol’s iodine to conventional Paps smear in detection of colposcopic biopsy proved CIN: a tertiary care experience

Background: An organized cytological screening (Pap smear) is the mainstay for cervical cancer prevention and control programme. Financial and logistic burden of operating such a program is considerable. This has prompted the evaluation of alternative feasible techniques. It appeared from the earlier studies that visual inspection with lugol’s iodine (VILI) could be a potential alternative to cervical cytology. VILI is a low cost, easy to apply and highly sensitive technique. It gives result immediately thus allows doctors to “see and treat” at first visit. Objective of present study was to evaluate the performance of visual inspection with lugol’s iodine and its comparison with cytology in cervical cancer screening.  Methods: 400 non-pregnant reproductive age women were subjected to Paps and VILI in this prospective study done in a tertiary-care centre in Delhi. Reference standard used for all was colposcopy and colposcopic-directed biopsy (when required).Results: Of 400 Pap smears done 11.75% were normal, 77.5% inflammatory, 5.5% had ASCUS, 0.25% ASC-H, 0.5% AGUS, 2% LSIL, 1.5% HSIL and invasive cancer in 0.5%. With LSIL and above smears as significant, the sensitivity and specificity of Paps were 50% and 97.66% respectively. VILI was positive in 12.8% of cases. Sensitivity and specificity of VILI was 85.5% and 89.9% respectively. Overall accuracy of VILI in detecting pre-invasive lesion was 89.7% while with pap smear it was 96%.Conclusions: Accuracy of VILI and Pap smear in detecting pre-invasive cervical lesion was comparable. At tertiary-care centers VILI can be used effectively to screen the patients with significant lesions. Patients can be directly subjected to further treatment at the earliest thus reducing loss to follow-up

A study on maternal and perinatal out comes in cases of eclampsia admitting to government medical college and general hospital, Anantapuramu, Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: Eclampsia is a life threatening emergency that continues to be a major risk factor dictating the outcome of pregnancy and is still the leading etiological factor of maternal mortality worldwide. The aim was to study the incidence of eclampsia at Government General Hospital, Anantapuramu, Andhra Pradesh, India, to evaluate the clinical course and complications and to study the maternal and perinatal outcome in eclamptic patients.Methods: Current study is a retrospective study carried out based on the data acquired from the case records of all eclampsia patients who admitted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, government general hospital, Anantapuramu, Andhra Pradesh, India from February 2015 to February 2016. Data was recorded in a pretested proforma and was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.Results: Out of a total of 8595 deliveries conducted during the study period, 50 cases of eclampsia were recorded making the incidence of eclampsia to be 0.58% in the hospital. There were no maternal deaths occurred during the study period. Total numbers of perinatal deaths due to eclampsia were 14, hence the perinatal mortality rate for eclampsia was 280/1000. Majority of the patients were unbooked (90%). 78% of patients were primigravidas and 80% of patients were less than 25 years of age. Antepartum eclampsia was seen in 72% of the cases, intrapartum eclampsia in 4% patients and postpartum eclampsia was found in 24% of the patients. Vaginal delivery was a common mode of delivery conducted in 56% of patients while 44% of the patients required caesarean section.Conclusions: Eclampsia continues to be an important etiological factor for maternal/perinatal morbidity and mortality. The contributory factors for this being lack of proper antenatal care, low socio economic status and lack of education. There is an urgent need for proper antenatal care, proper medication (magnesium sulfate), intensive monitoring of women with eclampsia and timely hospitalization to improve both the maternal and perinatal outcome. Early presentation and timely decision to terminate pregnancy will improve the maternal and perinatal outcome

Assessment of Determinants of Paediatric Diarrhoea Case Management Adherence in Pakistan

Worldwide, diarrhoea in children under five years of age is the second leading cause of death. Despite having high morbidity and mortality, diarrhoeal diseases can be averted by simple and cost-effective interventions. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) has proposed the use of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) and zinc together with adequate food and fluid intake for the management of acute non-dysenteric watery diarrhoea in children. In the past, few studies examined the determinants of adherence to diarrhoea case management. Therefore, this study measured the determinants of therapeutic and dietary adherence to diarrhoea case management using the third and fourth wave of Pakistan Demographics and Health Surveys (PDHS) datasets. Data from 4068 children between 0 to 59.9 months with positive history of diarrhoea were included, while data on children with dysentery, severe dehydration, and co-morbid condition was excluded. This study reported therapeutic adherence in less than 10% of children in Pakistan, while dietary adherence was reported in 39.2% of children (37.7% in 2012–2013 and 40.7% in 2017–2018). A significant improvement in therapeutic (0.8% in 2012–2013 and 8.1% in 2017–2018) and dietary adherence (37.7% in 2012–2013 and 40.7% in 2017–2018) was reported in the 2017–2018 survey compared to the 2012–2013 survey. In general, children over the age of one year (compared to children <1 year) and of the richer/richest socioeconomic class (compared to poorest/poorer socioeconomic class) showed higher therapeutic and dietary adherence. Therapeutic and dietary adherence among diarrhoeal children can be improved by increasing the awareness and accessibility of ORS, zinc, and essential foods

Development Of University Campus Wide Information System (UCWIS) Using Integrated GIS Map And Database Development.

The research is a mapping project effort to create a campus base map that will serve as a common reference for all spatial data on USM main campus and the Engineering campus. Penyelidikan ini berbentuk projek pemetaan bertujuan menghasilkan peta asas untuk rujukan umum data ruangan Kampus Induk dan Kampus Kejuruteraan USM

Stochastic Generation Of Hourly Wind Speed Time Series.

In the present study hourly wind speed data of Kuala Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia are simulated by using transition matrix approach of Markovian process. The wind speed time series is divided into various states based on certain criteria

Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model(Arima)For Forecasting Wind Speed.

For proper planning and efficient utilization of wind energy, wind speed predictions are important. In the present study the hourly wind speed data from 1995 to 2001 at three meteorological stations at a height of 14 m above the ground level have been analysed for fitting autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models

Total Serum Cholesterol Level in Cases of Carcinoma Breast – A Correlative Study

Aims and Objective: Correlation between serum cholesterol level and risk of breast cancer. Material and Methods: Fifty histologically diagnosed breast cancer patients were included in the study. Patients were grouped according to the size, histological type of the tumor and lymph node involvement. Patient’s total serum cholesterol levels were measured a week prior to the operation and on the 14th day postoperatively. Fifty age-matched non-cancer females were treated as a control. Observations: The pre and postoperative mean total serum cholesterol (MTSC) was found to be 272.3 ± 43.4mg/dl and 210.54 ± 31.5mg/dl respectively. An MTSC level in fifty control cases was found to be 183.42 ± 34.4mg/dl. Patients with tumor size less than 5cms showed preoperative mean serum cholesterol levels of 261.6 ± 36.5mg/dl and a postoperative value of 201.9 ± 16.9mg/dl while those with tumor size more than 10cms showed a mean serum cholesterol level of 282.36 ± 64.8mg/dl preoperatively and 211.82 ± 53.15mg/dl postoperatively. Thirty patients with scirrhous type of carcinoma had a preoperative mean serum cholesterol level as 237.36mg/dL, and twelve patients with a colloid type of carcinoma showed a preoperative level of 294.9 ± 18.4mg/dL whereas eight patients with medullary type of carcinoma showed the highest preoperative level of 324.3 ± 19.8mg/dL, whereas the corresponding postoperative values were 202.9 ± 30.0mg, 216.8 ± 27.8mg and 229.4 ± 29.8mg respectively. Conclusions: The present study helps us to conclude that dietary habits affect the association of cholesterol in breast cancer and size, histology with tumor metastasis effects such relationship

Individual phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins have distinct functions that do not involve lipid transfer activity

Platelets utilize signal transduction pathways facilitated by Class I phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs). The two mammalian Class I PITPs, PITPα and PITPβ, are single PITP domain soluble proteins that are encoded by different genes and have 77% sequence identity, though their individual roles in mammalian biology remain uncharacterized. These proteins are believed to shuttle phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine between separate intracellular membrane compartments, thereby regulating phosphoinositide synthesis and second messenger formation. Previously, we observed that platelet-specific deletion of PITPα, the predominant expressed murine PITP isoform, had no effect on hemostasis, but had impaired tumor metastasis formation and disrupted phosphoinositide signaling. Here, we find that mice lacking the lesser expressed PITPβ in their platelets exhibit a similar phenotype. However, in contrast to PITPα-null platelet lysates that have impaired lipid transfer activity, PITPβ-null platelet lysates have essentially normal lipid transfer activity, although both isoforms contribute to phosphoinositide synthesis in vitro. Moreover, we found that platelet-specific deletion of both PITPs leads to ex vivo platelet aggregation/secretion and spreading defects, impaired tail bleeding, and profound tumor dissemination. Our studies also demonstrate that PITP isoforms are required for maintaining endogenous phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2 levels and agonist stimulated second messenger formation. The data shown here demonstrate that both class I PITP isoforms contribute to phosphoinositide signaling in platelets, likely through distinct biochemical mechanisms or in different subcellular domains. They are functionally overlapping and either single isoform is able to maintain the homeostasis of platelets