PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF DIFFERENT ROOT EXTRACTS OF Ageratum conyzoides AND THEIR POTENTIAL BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES

The present study was conducted to determine different classes of secondary metabolites of Ageratum conyzoides root extracts and to evaluate their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal potentialities using various pathogenic fungal and different gram-positive/gram-negative bacterial strains. The roots powder was subjected to ultrasonic-assisted extraction with n-hexane, acetone, ethanol, and EtOH:H2O(1:1). The screening of phytochemicals indicated the existence of terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, sterols, flavonoids, and glycosides in the root extract of A. conyzoides. However, the absence of saponins, tannins, anthocyanidins, anthraquinones, and phlobatannins was observed. The results indicated a reasonable antibacterial (against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria), and antifungal potential. The antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract was highest against all four strains of bacteria and was also comparable to the standard medicines used. However, antifungal activity was highest in EtOH:H2O (1:1) extract. Moderate antioxidant properties were also demonstrated, favoring the importance of the roots of this plant from a medicinal point of view

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after administration of AZD1222 or Ad26.COV2.S vaccine for COVID-19: A systematic review

Background: Cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) have been reported following vaccination with AZD1222 or Ad26.COV2.S. This review aimed to explore the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of TTS.Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify evidence on TTS till 4th September 2021. Case reports and series reporting patient-level data were included. Descriptive statistics were reported and compared across patients with different sexes, age groups, vaccines, types of thrombosis, and outcomes.Findings: Sixty-two studies reporting 160 cases were included from 16 countries. Patients were predominantly females with a median age of 42.50 (22) years. AZD1222 was administered to 140 patients (87·5%). TTS onset occurred in a median of 9 (4) days after vaccination. Venous thrombosis was most common (61.0%). Most patients developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST; 66.3%). CVST was significantly more common in female vs male patients (p = 0·001) and in patients aged \u3c45 years vs ≥45 years (p = 0·004). The mortality rate was 36.2%, and patients with suspected TTS, venous thrombosis, CVST, pulmonary embolism, or intraneural complications, patients not managed with non-heparin anticoagulants or IVIG, patients receiving platelet transfusions, and patients requiring intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, or inpatient neurosurgery were more likely to expire than recover.Interpretation: These findings help to understand the pathophysiology of TTS while also recommending diagnostic and management approaches to improve prognosis in patients.Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Low-Frequency AC Power Transmission and Distribution for Subsea Application Using Hexverter

Environmental goals set by world leaders to normalize climate changes are quite difficult to achieve without renewable power generation and suitable transmission technologies like low-frequency AC transmission (LFAC). The LFAC is nowadays becoming a popular choice for long-distance power transmission due to its high efficiency and low losses. This research work investigates the feasibility of employing the LFAC system for subsea transmission and distribution of 58 MW power. In this paper, the simulation model of the LFAC-based subsea transmission and distribution system is presented. This model is composed of several parts such as hexverter as a frequency converter, where a novel control strategy to optimize its zero-sequence circulating current is employed. Detailed mathematical modeling based on active, reactive power constraints and DQ transformation is performed to achieve the control strategy for zero-sequence current optimization. An offshore wind farm is proposed to be integrated with the LFAC subsea system to fulfill the compatibility requirements of the system. The control system of both the grid side and the machine-side inverter of the wind farm is designed to eliminate the real-time disturbances such as wind speed fluctuations and harmonics due to heavy inductive load operating at 16 Hz. To drive the subsea pump, a vector control-based variable-speed drive is employed for the heavy induction motor. A 5 MW, 16 Hz RL load is also added in the model to analyze the effect of general-purpose load. Each component of this system is carefully designed to make it as close to real-time as possible. The whole system is designed for 16 Hz and is compared with the standard 50 Hz system to validate this design

Risk factors for intensive care unit admission and mortality among adult meningitis patients

Objectives: To assess the risk factors for intensive care unit admission and inpatient all-cause mortality among adult meningitis patients. Method: The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data between July 2010 and June 2019 of patients of either gender aged 18 years diagnosed with bacterial, viral or tuberculous meningitis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to explore independent predictors of inpatient mortality and intensive care unit admission. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Results: Of the 929 patients with suspected meningitis, 506(54.5%) had confirmatory diagnosis. Of them, 303(59.9%) were males. The overall median age of the sample was 47.0 years (interquartile range: 33.0 years). The most common aetiology was bacterial meningitis 324(64%), followed by viral meningitis 141(27.9%). Incidence of inpatient mortality was 53(10.5%), while 75(14.8%) patients required intensive care unit admission. Tuberculous aetiology, intensive care unit admission, concurrent encephalitis, hydrocephalus, inpatient neurosurgery, and longer length of hospital stay were predictors of mortality (p\u3c0.05). Non-indication of blood culture was found to be associated with reduced risk of mortality (p\u3c0.05). For intensive care unit admission, diabetes mellitus, presentation with seizure, imaging suggestive of meningitis, and inpatient neurosurgery were associated with higher risk of admission, while hypertension, presentation with headache, viral aetiology and non-indication of blood culture reduced the risk (p\u3c0.05). Conclusion: Adult meningitis patients tend to have poor expected outcomes, and their management strategies should be planned accordingly

Mutations in TYR and OCA2 associated with oculocutaneous albinism in Pakistani families

Background: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of abnormal melanin synthesis, resulting in decreased or absent pigmentation of eyes, skin and hair. OCA has been classified based on genetic findings into seven subtypes (OCA 1–7). OCA1 is the most common subtype, accounting for 50% of cases worldwide (Hutton and Spritz, 2008; Rooryck et al., 2008), and is caused by mutations in the tyrosinase (TYR) gene. This study describes genetic investigations in 11 families from Pakistan with individuals with OCA. Methods: Whole genome SNP genotyping for autozygosity mapping was undertaken using the Illumina Human CytoSNP-12 array, and exome sequencing performed using the Illumina TruSight One sequencing panel. For individuals putatively linked to the TYR gene, dideoxy sequencing of TYR was performed using primers targeting all five coding exons and intron-exon splice sites to identify mutations in individuals diagnosed with OCA. Dideoxy sequencing was also performed to confirm the presence and cosegregation of TYR and OCA2 variants identified via exome sequencing. Results: We identified new and previously reported variations in TYR and OCA2 genes in 11 OCA families from Pakistan. One novel missense variant in TYR (NM_000372.4: c.240G&gt;C; p.Trp80Cys), and three novel variants in OCA2 (missense variants NM_000275.2: c.2458T&gt;C; p.Ser820Pro and c.1762C&gt;T; p.Arg588Trp, as well as a frameshift variant c.408_409delTT; p.Arg137Ilefs*83), were observed in five OCA families. In addition, four previously identified variants in TYR (c.649C&gt;T; p.Arg217Trp, c.1255G&gt;A; p.Gly419Arg, c.832C&gt;T; p.Arg278Ter, and c.132T&gt;A p.Ser44Arg) and three previously identified variants in OCA2 (c.1045-15T&gt;G, c.2020C&gt;G; p.Leu674Val and c.1327G&gt;A; p.Val443Ile) were identified in eight OCA families. All affected individuals displayed the cardinal features of OCA with white hair, pale skin, nystagmus and decreased vision. Conclusions: Our findings broaden the molecular spectrum associated with TYR and OCA2 mutations in Pakistani families, aiding the development and refinement of genetic diagnostic and counselling services in Pakistan.</p