Ochrobactrum, bacillus and Enterobacter isolates of Hot Water Spring Augment the Growth of Zea Mays Seedlings

Hot springs situated at high altitudes is a kind of remarkable ecosystem for the exploration of microbial flora. It was hypothesized that hot springs can harbor bacteria with plant growth-promoting and exopolysaccharides (EPS) producing ability that can favour the growth of plants. For the investigation of this hypothesis, seven EPS producing bacterial isolates were isolated from a water sample of hot water spring of Tattapani, Azad Kashmir and characterized morphologically and biochemically. Three out of seven isolates (BE1, BN1 and BN3) showed significant production of EPS (14-15 mg / 100 ml). Growth kinetics study revealed that optimum EPS production was attained at pH 9, with fructose as a carbon source and peptone as a nitrogen source. Inoculation of these isolates caused augmentation in seed germination (27-38 %), shoot length (27-35 %), seedling length (10-14 %), number of roots (12-25 %) of Zea mays (variety-MMRI yellow) seedlings and significant rise in auxin (28-51 %) and soluble protein content (50-68 %) as compared to non-inoculated treatment. Alcian blue staining unveiled the good colonization potential of these isolates on inoculated roots. Bacterial isolates were identified as Ochrobactrum intermedium (BE1), Bacillus pumilus (BN1) and Enterobacter cloacae (BN3), respectively through 16S rRNA analysis. Bacterial strain BN3 showed promising results for plant growth promotion along with EPS production. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of EPS produced by strain BN3 revealed the complex composition of EPS. We concluded that hot springs can be the possible home for EPS producing bacteria with plant growth promotion capability

Haemovigilance as a quality indicator in transfusion medicine: Pakistan’s perspective

In transfusion medicine, the concept of haemovigilance has emerged during the last three decades. It is structured and systematic surveillance of the entire vein-to-vein transfusion chain and a powerful quality tool. Haemovigilance has become an integral component of transfusion medicine. It helps increase safety and improves quality during blood donation and blood transfusion, from the blood donor to recipient of blood and blood components. The haemovigilance can be successfully implemented and maximum benefit obtained if the data analysis and resulting conclusions are mutually shared with the shareholders. Although haemovigilance has proven to be an effective tool to influence policy development, it is is not well established in Pakistan. The government’s Safe Blood Transfusion Programme has taken key initiatives to introduce, support, and consolidate the haemovigilance system necessitating many changes, in the system, in the institutions, in attitude, and behaviour. The implementation of haemovigilance in Pakistan will require a major paradigm shift. It will be a stepwise or staged approach, starting from institutional to regional/provincial levels and ending at the national level

Types of Artificial Intelligence and Future of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the machine-based approach for processing various communications and data in computers for defining their actions in future performances. Different types of machine learning are described in medical sciences for proceedings in medical education, medical research, and clinical trials and in treatment of the diseases after appropriate diagnosis. These require less time and efforts of medical professionals and bring a more efficient way to fulfill the standards of medicine. The clear understanding of the workforce accomplishments is required for the future doctors to perform well, alongside the AI. Awareness of AI in the field of medicine is needed for general population to give them an idea for utilization of all new technologies, thus enlightening the feasibility of machine learning at consumer level as well. In future, AI will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in all sectors of medicine and surgery

Coping strategies and impact of disease among people living with HIV/AIDS: A qualitative study

Objective: The current study was undertaken to qualitatively investigate the coping strategies and impact of disease in HIV/AIDS patients. Methodology: The study was conducted at the Divisional Headquarters Teaching Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The hospital is a divisional hospital for three districts namely Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber catering to a population of approximately 1.5 million. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with twenty HIV/AIDS patients. For the analysis, the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis technique was used. The major domain of the impact of HIV/AIDS was further divided into nine major themes. The other major domain was coping with HIV/AIDS which included themes of spiritual coping, problem-focused coping, and avoidance coping. Results: Findings highlighted depression among people living with HIV/AIDS. The first sub-theme was the positive aspect which explains the family attitude towards illness as now they have become more caring and supportive towards the participant. The impact of disease is multifaceted including social, emotional, financial, and occupational. The participants were more inclined towards spiritual coping and problem-focused coping as compared to the avoidance coping. Conclusion: The findings of the study highlighted the need of the assessment and management of the participants through a psychologist. HIV/AIDS patients need counseling and awareness on the disease and the things to consider while on treatment to cope with the stress. They must be provided the updated information on HIV/AIDS. The management of HIV/AIDS patients requires that issues of psychological stresses be coped with professionalism

The State of the Art in Smart Grid Domain: A Network Modeling Approach

Agent-based computing and multi-agent systems are important tools in the domain of smart grid. Various properties of agents like self-organization, co-operation, autonomous behavior, and many others allow researchers to well represent the smart grid applications and models. From past few decades, various research attempts have been made in the smart grid domain by adopting the agent-based computing technology. The research publications are growing in number which makes it difficult to locate and identify the dynamics and trends in the research. Scientometric analysis is a useful tool to perform a comprehensive bibliographic review. It allows not only to understand the key areas of research but also provide visual representation of each entity involve in the research. In this study, we provide a detailed statistical as well as visual analysis of agent-based smart grid research by adopting complex network-based analytical approach. The study covers all scientific literature available online in Web of Science database. We are interested in identification of key papers, authors, and journals. Furthermore, we also investigate core countries, institutions, and categories.   </p

Changes in Serum Lipid Profile among Patients Suffering from Chronic Liver Disease Secondary to Hepatitis C

Objective: To find out the changes in lipid metabolism among patients suffering from chronic liver disease secondary to hepatitis C. Study Design: Hospital based observational study. Setting: Medical Unit-I, Ward–5, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Duration: July 2013 to December 2013. Patients and Methods: About 110 patients admitted in Medical Unit-I with a diagnosis of chronic liver disease were included in the study. Patients suffering from DM, HTN, CKD were excluded from the study. Fasting lipid profile was done in all cases. Results and Observations: There were 44 (40%) male and 66 (60%) female patients. Mean age of the patients was 50.18 (±11.7) years. Total cholesterol was decreased in 76 (69.09%) patients. Normal range was present in 34 (30.91%) patients. None of the patient had hypercholesterolemia. Serum triglyceride levels were low in 14 (12.72%) patients, normal in 82 (74.54%), borderline high in 7 (6.36%) and hypertriglyceridemia was seen in 7 (6.36%). HDL-c was below normal in 26 (23.63%) cases, normal in 78 (70.91%), and high in 6 (5.45%). LDL was near optimal/above optimal in only 5 (4.5%) patients. Mean TC/HDL ratio was 2.53 (±1.02). Mean LDL/HDL ratio was 1.23 (±0.73). Mean TC of HCV +ve patients was 130.5 mg/dl as compared to that of HCV –ve patients which was 82.85 mg/dl (P-value: 0.011). Mean TGs of HCV +ve group was 151.5 mg/dl while that of HCV –ve was 79.9 mg/dl (P-value: 0.025). Mean HDL & LDL levels were 43.67 mg/dl and 39.78 mg/dl in HCV group while 34.83 mg/dl & 64.67 mg/dl in the other group with P-value of 0.026 and 0.081 respectively. Conclusion: When it comes to its relationship with lipid metabolism, HCV is a remarkable virus. Its interaction with lipoproteins and its ability to induce massive steatosis are quite unique and idiosyncratic. Despite of causing hepatic steatosis, chronic HCV infection is associated with a paradoxically favorable lipid profile, although its reason cannot be enlightened precisely. There is a need for very well settled molecular and genetic studies to well understand HCV infection and lipid metabolism

Neurulation and the Possible Etiologies of Neural Tube Defect

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are variety of defects which result from abnormal closure of the neural tube during embryogenesis. Various factors are implicated in the genesis of neural tube defects, with contributions from both genetic and environmental factors. The clear understanding of the causes which leads to NTDs is lacking, but several non-genetic risk factors have been identified which can be prevented by maternal folic acid supplementation. Multiple genetic causes and several critical biochemical reactions have been identified whose regulation is essential for the closure of neural tube. Preventive therapies can be developed by identifying potential risk factors in the genesis of NTDs