The Distribution of Interferon-Alpha in Normal Human Tissues

The presence of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in human tissues has been described extensively in viral infections. In the last decade many workers have also shown the presence of low levels of IFN-alpha in conditions other than viral infections. While the precise origin of the synthesis of low levels of IFN-alpha in these physiological conditions has not been clearly defined, some evidence has suggested that macrophages may be involved. In an attempt to find the likely source of IFN-alpha in physiological conditions, an initial study was carried out in which the cellular distribution of immunoreactive IFN-alpha was studied in formalin fixed paraffin embedded normal adult human tissues from 38 different organs using various immunocytochemical techniques. These samples were drawn from over 300 individuals none of whom had evidence of viral infection. Tissue histiocytes from all organs in the body, with the exception of cerebral and cerebellar cortex in brain and renal cortex and medulla, stained positively for IFN-alpha. Kupffer cells, pulmonary alveolar macrophages and lymph node macrophages were also positive for IFN-alpha. Parenchymal cells in some other organs also contained immunoreactive IFN-alpha. These included syncytiotrophoblast in first, second and third trimester placentas, cuboidal lining cells of the choroid plexus in the brain, thyroid follicullar cells, pituitary endocrine cells, adrenocortical cells and parathyroid endocrine cells. These findings are compatible with previous suggestions that IFN-alpha may be synthesized and released in the absence of viral infection and may have a role in normal physiology. The presence of IFN-alpha in most cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system suggests that these cells play a major role in the defence against viral infection. This speculation, however does not preclude other possible roles for IFN-alpha, such as modulation of cell growth, major histocompitability antigen expression etc. The demonstration of immunoreactive IFN-alpha in formalin fixed paraffin embedded normal adult human tissues prompted other studies. In the first of these studies the cellular distribution of immunoreactive IFN-alpha was studied in formalin fixed paraffin embedded normal human autopsy tissues from 32 fetuses (7-42 weeks gestation) and 20 infants (aged from a few hours to 24 months). This study was performed to test the hypothesis that microbes have a role in switching on IFN-alpha synthesis. Fetal tissues are "germ free" while the infants had been exposed to a normal microbial flora. Immunoreactive IFN-alpha was first seen at 9 weeks gestation in macrophages in the fetal liver and thereafter was seen in macrophages in most other organs except in kidneys and cerebral and cerebellar cortex. When infant lungs were compared with fetal lungs a statistically significant increase in the number of macrophages (P< 0.0001, Mann-Whitney test) and the percentage of these cells expressing IFN-alpha (P <0.0005, Mann-Whitney test) was noted in infant lungs. No such changes were observed in spleen, liver and thymus following birth. These findings suggested that there is a basal level of IFN-alpha production by macrophages, which is not dependent on microbial products, but that such microbial products can enhance synthesis of this cytokine. Immunoreactive IFN-alpha was also demonstrated in parenchymal cells of thyroid gland, choroid plexus in brain, anterior pituitary gland and adrenal gland in the fetal and infant tissues. These findings were almost identical to those seen in adult tissues. In a separate study an attempt was made to extract, detect and quantify IFN-alpha in human tissues using protein extraction and an immunoradiometric assay kit for the detection of IFN-alpha. 20 placentas (14-42 weeks gestation) obtained fresh within 1-2 hours of vaginal delivery, 4 specimens of amniotic fluid obtained at the time of caesarean section from 37-39 weeks gestation pregnancies, 10 samples of choroid plexus and cerebral cortex, 11 thyroid glands and 9 fetal adrenal glands from adult and fetal autopsies performed within 10-24 hours of death were studied. IFN-alpha was detected in 9 placentas, 1 adult thyroid gland and all 4 amniotic fluids. However, this study failed to detect IFN-alpha in the remaining placentas and adult thyroid glands and in all choroid plexuses, cerebral cortex and fetal adrenal glands. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues from these organs did show immunoreactive IFN-alpha in cells using the immunocytochemical techniques. Finally an attempt was made to detect IFN-alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) in normal human tissues using an in situ hybridization method

Demographic Change and Governance Issues

Pakistan is the 6th most populous country in the world while it ranks 4th in Asia. Its population has increased from 34 million in 1951 to an estimated 160 million in the year 2006, growing at the rate of three million persons per year. At this speed of growth, Pakistan’s population is projected to reach the 220 million mark by the year 2020; as we arrive at the Population Replacement Level. While Population Growth Rate (PGR) has declined from over 3 percent in previous decades to its current level of 2.1 percent per annum, which is, nevertheless, the highest population growth rate in South Asia, a dubious achievement when compared to the situation in the neighbouring countries. Therefore, the government policy remains intact, which is to lower population growth rate from its current level to 1.3 percent per annum by the year 2020, to reduce the total fertility rate to 2.1 percent and to reach replacement level of fertility by the year 2020. Unless its growth rate swiftly, by the year 2060, Pakistan is destined to become the 4th most populated country in the world, its population reaching over 305 million mark. In 1950s it was ranked 14

Women’s skills and career advancement: a review of gender (in)equality in an accounting workplace

This paper examines the effects of organizational culture, society, and masculinity on women’s skills in accounting workplaces and the influences of workplace norms, culture, and organizational structure on women’s leadership qualities and behaviours towards their work. Based on previous studies, we link the theory with professional skill and career advancement of women. We argue that a gender imbalance has prevailed for centuries affecting women’s careers; and, the transformation of accounting technologies, corporate structures, and the amalgamation of cultures have exacerbated gender inequality. Women’s lack of self-motivation and men’s dominance in accounting contexts keep women subordinate to men in accounting workplaces. We propose that offering courses on gender issues to business and accounting disciplines taught at university would subsequently shift the paradigm of hegemony and subordination in an accounting workplac

Do effective public governance and gender (in)equality matter for poverty?

In this study, we examined the relationship between determinants of governance and poverty reduction. We also investigated how female participation in the labour market helps alleviate poverty. We collected the balanced panel data of 29 countries over the period 2004–2016 from the World Bank database and Worldwide Governance Indicators database. Results indicated that robust governance is necessary for poverty reduction and that policy implementation timeliness is more likely to mitigate poverty. Moreover, the inclusion of females in the labour market and an efficient governance system contribute to enhanced well-being among the po

Income inequality, innovation and carbon emission: Perspectives on sustainable growth

The present study aims to investigate the impact of income inequality and economic growth on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission through the moderating role of innovation in China at national and regional levels. To test the hypothesised relationships, this study took the data from 1995 to 2015 and employed panel estimation. Findings of the whole analysis show that income inequality and economic growth influence CO2 emission in China. Moreover, technological innovation moderates the proposed link. However, the findings at the regional level are mixed, thus confirming the existence of regional differences. Policy implications are also discussed

A new route to the synthesis of diarylmethanes by oxidation of 2,3-dimethylphenol with [Fe(DMF)3C12][FeC14]

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Effectiveness of clean intermittent self catheterization in patients with recurrent urethral stricture post visual internal urethrotomy

OBJECTIVE :   Objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of CISC in management of recurrent urethral strictures after visual internal urethrotomy.  METHODOLOGY :  This study   performed in department of urology   Saidu teaching hospital Swat  from June 2016 to July 2019 on 215 patients who were diagnosed as having urethral stricture disease. Patients were counseled  for CISC after removal of catheter 2 times a day for 8 weeks  and  at 8th  week cystourethroscopy performed along with detail  evaluation of symptoms of urethral stricture to know  recurrence of stricture.  RESULTS:   81.39% patients have no urethral stricture on cystourethroscopy  and symptomatic evaluation at 8th week  post visual internal urethrotomy  while 18.60%  patients have recurrent urethral stricture . Length of urethral stricture is the most important prognostic factor, stricture of less than 1 cm has success rate of 62.39% while stricture of more than one cm length has success rate of 20% as shown in table IV.  CONCLUSION:  In this study it has been confirmed that CISC  is safe ,cost effective procedure and most of the patients can do it in home with out any complications.

Gender diversity in the audit committee and the efficiency of internal control and financial reporting quality

This research investigates the relationship between the expertise of female audit committee (AC) chairs and financial reporting quality (FRQ). Also, it examines the moderating effect of the expertise of AC female chairs on the relationships between internal control (ICS), components of ICS, and FRQ This study analyses 302 firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2016. Data on ICS, FRQ, and other corporate governance indications are collected manually from annual reports. This study concludes that the accounting expertise of AC female chairs enhances FRQ better than their male counterparts. Also, the accounting expertise of AC female chairs improve corporate governance mechanisms and ICSs (i.e., Control Environment, Control Activities, and information and communication). This research offers implications for shareholders and regulators. The accounting expertise of female AC chairs (WACCH) improve monitoring that enhances shareholder value and investor confidence. The regulator needs to be stricter regarding the requirements for AC chairs

Causes of Gross Hematuria in Patient at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To determine the causes of hematuria in patients coming to a tertiary care hospital. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, Pakistan. Data was collected over a period of six months (June 2016 to December 2016). Data of all the adult male and female patients presenting with complaint of gross hematuria during the period were gathered and analyzed for etiological profile.Results: In the study the most common cause was urological malignancy, which was present in 29 (58%) of patients. This includes all the urological cancers. Among other causes, 11 (22%) patients had urolithiasis while 5 (10%) patients had gross hematuria due to trauma to renal tract. 3 (6%) males had hematuria due to enlarged vascular prostate and only 2 (4%) females had gross hematuria due to urinary tract infection. Conclusion: Urological malignancy was the most common cause of gross hematuria, which is associated with male gender, older age and history of smoking. Other causes were urolithiasis, trauma, BPH and UTI. We recommend screening for malignant disease of all the patients presenting to the departments of urology with the complaint of gross hematuria

Study protocol of DIVERGE, the first genetic epidemiological study of major depressive disorder in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Globally, 80% of the burdenof major depressive disorder (MDD) pertains to low- and middle-income countries. Research into genetic and environmental risk factors has the potential to uncover disease mechanisms that may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, yet has so far been largely limited to participants with European ancestry from high-income countries. The DIVERGE study was established to help overcome this gap and investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in Pakistan. METHODS: DIVERGE aims to enrol 9000 cases and 4000 controls in hospitals across the country. Here, we provide the rationale for DIVERGE, describe the study protocol and characterise the sample using data from the first 500cases. Exploratory data analysis is performed to describe demographics, socioeconomic status, environmental risk factors, family history of mental illness and psychopathology. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Many participants had severe depression with 74% of patients who experienced multiple depressive episodes. It was a common practice to seek help for mental health struggles from faith healers and religious leaders. Socioeconomic variables reflected the local context with a large proportion of women not having access to any education and the majority of participants reporting no savings. CONCLUSION: DIVERGE is a carefully designed case-control study of MDD in Pakistan that captures diverse risk factors. As the largest genetic study in Pakistan, DIVERGE helps address the severe underrepresentation of people from South Asian countries in genetic as well as psychiatric research