Emergence of SARS-CoV-2: Insight in genomics to possible therapeutics

Rising of a new virus from city of Cathay, responsible for 2019 global pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2marked as a great threat for populations. The member (CoV-2) from vast family of Covid virus with single- stranded RNA spread to over 216 countries and billions of individuals died all around the globe. Regardless of all strict standard operating procedures, special care and therapies, SARS-CoV-2 mutating its genomic structure and leads to shutting the world. While different therapeutic approaches face problems due to the complexity in pathogenicity mechanism of CoV-2 and its variants. Mechanism of action, genome analysis, transmission, development of broad-spectrum antiviral medications and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been reported which are essential for future directions to control this pandemic. Here, in this review, these domains were discussed to highlight the genome structure pathophysiology, immune response, multiple diagnostic methods, and possible treatment strategies. This review deliberates the methodologies for creating practical vaccinations and treatment cocktail to manage this eruption.Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Genetics; Epidemiology   

Probiotic potential of encapsulated Lactobacillus species in yogurt formation indigenously isolated from dairy source

Background: Exploration of beneficial bacteria as probiotics inputs are drawing interest in dairy industry but their long-term survival and viability is an important consideration.Methods: The current work focused on the exploration of probiotic potential of indigenously isolated Lactobacillus strains from dairy products and their encapsulation and utilization in yogurt formation.Results: These Lactobacillus strains were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum MGA23-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum LMEM19 and found resistant to inhibitory substances like phenol (0.2%), bile salts (0.3%), pancreatin (0.5%) and pepsin (0.3%). The highest antibacterial activity was observed by Lactobacillus fermentum MGA23-1 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13mm). Encapsulation experiment showed that the number of bacterial CFU/g increased significantly (p < 0.05) in beads during storage up to 7 days. Chemical characterization of microcapsules was assessed using FTIR and showed characteristics wavelength major at 1541 – 1716 cm-1 and 3336 cm-1. Yogurt was prepared using a single probiotic strain, in a consortium of Lactobacillus fermentum MGA23-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum LMEM19 and in the form of beads. Best results were observed in the case of microencapsulation.Conclusion: It was concluded that both strains had the potential to be used as a probiotic in the dairy industry.Keywords: Probiotic; Tolerance to inhibitory substances; Antibacterial activity; Adhesion ability; Safety; Microencapsulation; FTIR  

Transverse vaginal septum : Report of two patients with MRI findings.

The transverse vaginal septum is a rare form of Mullerian duct anomaly, and is a disorder of vertical fusion of Mullerian system with the sinovaginal bulb. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)is very useful in the detection, classification and management planning of this rare anomaly. We present two cases of transverse vaginal septum in two patients of different age groups and with different clinical presentations. The findings on MRI, related to presence of vaginal septum and the management work-up, are also discussed

Public Debt and Economic Growth Nexus: Evidence from South Asia

It is well established in literature that the public debt and economic growth bear positive and non-linear relationship. However, in recent literature, evidence of no causal relationship is found when accounted for endogeneity in case of advanced economies (Panizza and Presbitero, 2014). Chudik, et al. (2017) analyse the data on forty countries and find no evidence of universally applicable threshold effect in the relationship between debt and growth. These advancements in the debt-growth literature provides the motivation to re-explore the relationship between public debt and economic growth under non-linearity and endogeneity in context of developing economies of South Asia including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri-Lanka for the period 1980-2014. There exists a significant, positive but non-linear relationship between the public debt and economic growth for the selected set of developing countries when accounted for endogeneity and non-linearity. The negative association between the public debt and economic growth for the SAARC region is found when the debt level is higher than 61% of GDP, which is significantly lower than developed economies (90% of GDP). Individual threshold levels for debt-to-GDP ratio divulge that Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India need to control their public borrowings as their current debt levels are higher and/or around the respective threshold levels

Diagnostic accuracy of pelvic MRI for determination of the cervical involvement in endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of pelvic MRI for assessment of the cervical involvement in endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Radiology Department of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from January 2014 to December 2015. METHODOLOGY: Patients with biopsy-proven endometrial cancer were included, who had both their MRI and histopathological diagnosis performed at our institution. Those patients treated with chemo/radiotherapy or had incomplete medical records, were excluded. The extent of cervical involvement by endometrial carcinoma was seen on T2WI images, and findings were correlated after surgery taking histopathology as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age of the 56 patients was 60.87 ±8.80 years (range 37-84 years). The most common clinical indication was post-menopausal bleeding (n=37, 66.1%). The most common histological subtype was endometrioid adenocarcinoma (n=50, 89.3%). The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of MRI in the detection of cervical invasion were 92.85%, 88.09%, 89.28%, 72.22% and 97.36%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MRI is a highly sensitive and specific imaging modality for detection of cervical invasion in endometrial carcinoma

Threshold Modeling for Inflation and GDP Growth

The study has evaluated the relationship between the inflation rate and GDP growth of Pakistan using the annual data of inflation rate and GDP growth since 1972 to 2016 for Pakistan. The paper has used the different techniques like; OLS, FMOLS, TAR and dummy method threshold model, to estimate the true relationship between the concerned variables based on the previous studies those gives mixed results. The study has concluded the positive relationship between the inflation rate and economic growth of Pakistan at 5.5% to 9% threshold level of inflation and confirmed the nonlinear relationship between them. And low and double figure inflation rate are considered to have adverse effect on the economic growth of the Pakistan. So to stimulate the stable economic growth of Pakistan we need to have medium rate of inflation

The use of socially complex education on organ donation: the impact on attitudes and readiness to donate organs.

In regards to transplantation, urban people are disproportionately affected by the donor shortage. The high morbidity rates and decreased willingness to donate commonplace among these demographics has created a devastating imbalance. Increasing urban donor presence will make the allocation process more favorable for urban candidates. The current study entailed the provision of a culturally sensitive educational intervention to sixty-five (n=65) students at The University of Southern Punjab Surveys were administered pre/post intervention to assess knowledge and attitudes towards donation. Pre-intervention data reflected findings from prior research. Post- intervention data showed that the intervention was able to mitigate these findings and that it was more effective in urban people, lamenting the need for more culturally specific approaches in the efforts to increase donor presence

Altered expression of cell cycle and apoptotic proteins in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are.BACKGROUND: A disrupted cell cycle progression of hepatocytes was reported in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which can contribute significantly in the associated pathogenesis. The present study aimed to further elaborate these disruptions by evaluating the expression of key cell cycle and apoptotic proteins in chronic HCV infection with particular reference to genotype 3. Archival liver biopsy specimens of chronic HCV-infection (n = 46) and normal histology (n = 5) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against proliferation marker Mcm-2, G1 phase marker Cyclin D1, S phase marker Cyclin A, cell cycle regulators p21 (CDK inhibitor) and p53 (tumor suppressor protein), apoptotic protein Caspase-3 and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. RESULTS: Elevated Mcm-2 expression was observed in hepatocytes in chronic HCV infection, indicating increased cell cycle entry. Cyclin D1 expression was higher than cyclin A, which suggests a slow progression through the G1 phase. Expression of cell cycle regulators p21 and p53 was elevated, with no concordance between their expressions. The Mcm-2 and p21 expressions were associated with the fibrosis stage (p = 0.0001 and 0.001 respectively) and that of p53 with the inflammation grade (p = 0.051). Apoptotic marker, Caspase-3, was mostly confined to sinusoidal lining cells with little expression in hepatocytes. Anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, was negligible in hepatocytes and detected principally in infiltrating lymphocytes. Expression of all these proteins was unrelated to the HCV genotype and were detected only rarely in the hepatocytes of normal liver. CONCLUSION: The results showed an arrested cell cycle state in the hepatocytes of chronic HCV infection, regardless of any association with genotype 3. Cell cycle arrest is characterized by an increased expression of p21, in relation to fibrosis, and of p53 in relation to inflammation. Furthermore, expression of p21 was independent of the p53 expression and coincided with the reduced expression of apoptotic protein Caspase-3 in hepatocytes. The altered expression of these cell cycle proteins in hepatocytes is suggestive of an impaired cell cycle progression that could limit the regenerative response of the liver to ongoing injury, leading to the progression of disease

Variability of breast density assessment and the need for additional imaging: A comparison between computed mammography and digital mammography

Objective: To determine the variability of breast density assessment and the need for additional imaging using computed radiography (CR) mammography versus digital radiography (DR) mammography.Study design: Cohort study.Place and duration of study: Department of Radiology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from March to June 2018.Methodology: Patients who underwent screening CR mammography, followed by DR mammography a year later, were selected. Only disease-free individuals were included in the study. Evaluation of breast density was done subjectively, using the breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) by two independent experienced radiologists. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcox Signed Rank-sum test to compare both modalities. Fisher Exact method was used to compare the need for ultrasound imaging.Results: A total of 295 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 52.76 ± 0.64 years. There was a significant difference in the change of breast density when comparing both modalities (Z= -11.839, p \u3c0.001). A statistically significant reduction in the need for further breast ultrasound was observed after DR mammography than with CR mammography (p \u3c0.001).Conclusion: Use of DR mammography, especially in patients with dense breast parenchyma, is a better screening tool overall. It translates to better feasibility for the radiologist and is more economical for the patient. DR mammography decreases unnecessary imaging and leads to better visualisation, thus providing a more accurate categorisation of breast density. Key Word: Computed radiography mammography, Breast density, Screening, Breast cancer, Digital mammography, Ultrasound

Cancer and how the patients see it; prevalence and perception of risk factors: a cross-sectional survey from a tertiary care centre of Karachi, Pakistan

Background: The incidence of cancer is rising but data available regarding prevalence of cancer and patient perception of the disease in Pakistan is limited. It is difficult to deal with Cancer if the main causes are negligence towards risk factors and bizarre myths. This study was aimed to investigate common cancer presentations at a government sector hospital and to gain insight into patient knowledge of the disease. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on cancer patients from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. A self-made questionnaire was used to assess the norms related to cancer prevalence in our society, associated myths, and the most common risk factors per them. Results: A total of 402 participants consented to participate in the study (mean age 42.3 ± 15.07 years), 204(50.7%) were females and 190(47.3%) were illiterate. Biomass exposure was found in 147(37%), drug abuse in 132(33%) and smoking in 63(16%). We found 103(25.6%) had positive family histories of cancer. The most common primary tumor site was breast for females 98(48%) and Head and neck 66(33.3%) for males. Patients considered fate 328(82%), gutka 284(71%) and injuries 282(70%) as the most common causes for cancer; while 222(55.5%) considered black magic and 236(58.75%) considered evil eye as a risk factor for cancer. Cancer treatment caused significant financial stress in 376(93.5%) patients. Conclusion: Breast and head and neck cancers were found to be prevalent among patients. It was noted that patients are negligent in daily life regarding the consumption of substances that commonly cause cancer. Individuals had diminished knowledge and majority linked cancer to unrelated causes and myths like black magic and fate. Almost all the patients complained of severe financial stress imposed by the disease