Molecular diagnostics for foodborne pathogen (Salmonella spp.) from poultry

Background: Salmonella species (spp.) are among major food-borne pathogens all over the world. Salmonella typhimurium is the main cause of food poisoning in humans. The fundamental objective of this study is to develop a rapid and reliable method to detect Salmonella (a foodborne pathogen) in raw poultry meat by using molecular approaches. Methods: Total 200 samples of raw poultry meat were collected from different regions of Lahore and analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp. fimA gene.  Similarly, sent genes were selected for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis respectively. PCR technique was optimized for diagnosis of contamination.Results: Out of 200 samples, 2% samples had shown successful amplification of fimA gene representing the presence of serovar Salmonella typhimurium. PCR assay combined with enrichment can enhance the efficiency for detection of Salmonella in poultry. Conclusion: A robust, simple and convenient PCR based method has been developed for the detection of one of the major food-borne pathogen Salmonella typhimurium. 

Design of an integrated sub-6 GHz and mmWave MIMO antenna for 5G handheld devices

The authors appreciate financial support from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant Agreement No 801538. As well as, this work was partially supported by the Antenna and Wireless Propagation Group (https://sites.google.com/view/awpgrp/home accessed on 16 June 2021) and from the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2021/58), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Prestige and Nuclear Security of Iran: A Pakistani Perspective

The nuclear program of Iran has been fraught with controversies and it has faced several economic sanctions over the years. These controversies emerged and grew stronger with Iran refusing to provide the international experts access to controversial sites like Natanz where it is assumed that illegal activities relating to uranium enrichment are taking place. Iran assumes an important position in the region. However, it shares ideological and political differences with its neighboring Sunni majority Arab states. Iran considers United States and Israel as its main adversaries and, historically, there have been several exchanges of threats of war to each other. With these threats it is implied that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons for; firstly, to have hegemonic position in the region; secondly, to make the threat to US and Israel more credible; and lastly, to have a greater say in the world affairs. Iran’s nuclear program has been a source of concern for its regional countries and Pakistan also, being a neighboring country. The relations between them may get complicated; however, the differences between Iran and Pakistan are not huge enough to result in the hot conflict

Antioxidant Activity of Various Extracts and Organic Fractions of Ziziphus jujuba

Antioxidant effectiveness of indigenous medicinal plant Ziziphus jujuba shoots extracts and fractions with different polarity solvents (n–hexane, ethylacetate, methanol, chloroform) was assessed for total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging activity and percentage inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The shoots extracts and fractions contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents 310-823 GAE (mg/100g Dry plant matter) and total flavonoid contents 210-650 CE (mg/100g of Dry plant matter). The Ziziphus jujuba extracts and various organic fractions also exhibited good DPPH 50% inhibition (IC50) ranges from 23.1µg/mL to 52.5 µg/ml and Inhibition of Peroxidation in Linoleic Acid  20.1 to 70.1%., respectively. Of the Ziziphus jujuba shoots extracts and fractions tested, 100% methanolic extract and 100% chloroform fraction exhibited the maximum antioxidant activity, the results of the present investigation demonstrated significant (p< 0.05) variations in the antioxidant activity. The results of the present comprehensive analysis demonstrated that Ziziphus jujuba shoots extracts and organic fractions are a viable source of natural antioxidants and might be exploited for functional foods and nutraceutical application

EFFECTS OF HOLMICH PROTOCOL AND MYOFASCIAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE ON GROIN PAIN IN TENNIS PLAYERS

Introduction: Tennis with a normal 17.9 million players is one of the most renowned games with a colossal addition in young tennis players as of late. The prevalence of groin injury increases rapidly in tennis players due to demand of rapid change in direction. Material & Methods: Once ethical approval was taken from Institutional review Board (REC/Letter-00722), a Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) was conducted on 22 players through nonprobability purposive sampling in Pakistan Tennis Federation, Islamabad. Players were randomly divided into two groups by sealed and envelop method. Group A received Holmich protocol while group B received myofascial release technique. Other than demographics, functional tests like hip range of motion, visual analogue scale, t-test, Edgren sidestep test and triple hop test were conducted to assess the techniques given to groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Trial is registered in US clinical trial registry (NCT04642300). Results: The results of the study show that there was no significant difference between Myofascial release technique and holmich protocol in athletes with groin pain (P value˃0.05). Mean age of the tennis players was 23.14±4.5 in years. Pre and post comparison of both interventions shows significant effect in Range of motion, Pain, Agility and hop test. (P value˂0.01). Conclusion: From the results it can be seen that there was no significance between the two techniques. So in conclusion both techniques can be used to treat groin pain and get successful results

Mouse models for hereditary spastic paraplegia uncover a role of PI4K2A in autophagic lysosome reformation

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) denotes genetically heterogeneous disorders characterized by leg spasticity due to degeneration of corticospinal axons. SPG11 and SPG15 have a similar clinical course and together are the most prevalent autosomal recessive HSP entity. The respective proteins play a role for macroautophagy/autophagy and autophagic lysosome reformation (ALR). Here, we report that spg11 and zfyve26 KO mice developed motor impairments within the same course of time. This correlated with enhanced accumulation of autofluorescent material in neurons and progressive neuron loss. In agreement with defective ALR, tubulation events were diminished in starved KO mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and lysosomes decreased in neurons of KO brain sections. Confirming that both proteins act in the same molecular pathway, the pathologies were not aggravated upon simultaneous disruption of both. We further show that PI4K2A (phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase type 2 alpha), which phosphorylates phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns4P), accumulated in autofluorescent deposits isolated from KO but not WT brains. Elevated PI4K2A abundance was already found at autolysosomes of neurons of presymptomatic KO mice. Immunolabelings further suggested higher levels of PtdIns4P at LAMP1-positive structures in starved KO MEFs. An increased association with LAMP1-positive structures was also observed for clathrin and DNM2/dynamin 2, which are important effectors of ALR recruited by phospholipids. Because PI4K2A overexpression impaired ALR, while its knockdown increased tubulation, we conclude that PI4K2A modulates phosphoinositide levels at autolysosomes and thus the recruitment of downstream effectors of ALR. Therefore, PI4K2A may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SPG11 and SPG15. Abbreviations: ALR: autophagic lysosome reformation; AP-5: adaptor protein complex 5; BFP: blue fluorescent protein; dKO: double knockout; EBSS: Earle’s balanced salt solution; FBA: foot base angle; GFP: green fluorescent protein; HSP: hereditary spastic paraplegia; KO: knockout; LAMP1: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1; MAP1LC3B/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MEF: mouse embryonic fibroblast; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; PI4K2A: phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase type 2 alpha; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; PtdIns4P: phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate; RFP: red fluorescent protein; SPG: spastic paraplegia gene; TGN: trans-Golgi network; WT: wild typ

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Perceived Usage and Benefits of Metacognitive Strategies by University Students

oai:ojs2.real.spcrd.net:article/1Currently, the use of metacognitive strategies by students is highly being encouraged for their effective learning. Metacognitive strategies are those learning devices which become learners’ need for their optimal learning. Likewise, metacognitive strategies enable learners to become more confident, skillful, self-evaluator, and more independent by managing and directing their learning process at their own in the best way. Considering the benefits of using metacognitive strategies for students, the theme has not been qualitatively explored about the use of strategies by the students in universities of Pakistan. The purpose of this research work is to explore the perceived use, the extent of use, and benefits of metacognitive strategies by university students in Multan City. Survey research design was used for the accomplishment of the objectives. All students of three public sector universities of Multan city were selected as population. Qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The process started by tracing themes, followed by calculation of frequencies and percentages of students’ opinions to explore the frequency of use, extent of use, benefits, and awareness about using metacognitive strategies by university students. For calculation of frequencies and percentages, basic statistics was used. The results found that summarization, highlighting, note taking, bulleting and the concept mapping are the most frequently used learning strategies by university students. It was further found that most of the students use metacognitive strategies during exams, quizzes and tests, but their learning process was improved by using metacognitive strategies. It was recommended for the teachers to promote usage of group learning, discussion method and book reading habits among students and for the policy makers and teachers to create awareness about the frequent use, benefits and importance of metacognitive strategies in the improvement of university students’ learning

Assessment of health-related quality of life among Asthmatic patients: The need for structured pharmaceutical care delivery system in Pakistan

Asthma is considered as one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. As a result of serious physical, social, and psychological complications, asthma can reduce health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study was designed to assess the HRQoL including physical health, general health perception, emotional health, psychological health, and social functioning of asthmatic patients in Pakistan. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Setting was public and private healthcare facilities. SF-36 was self-administered to a sample of 382 asthmatic patients. After data collection, data were clean coded and entered in SPSS version 21.0. Skewness test was performed and histograms with normal curves were used to check the normal distribution of data. Descriptive statistics comprising of frequency and percentages was calculated. The non-parametric tests including Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Walis (P ≥ 0.05) were performed to find out the difference among different variables. The results of the current study highlighted a significant impact on several domains of HRQoL for asthmatic patients. Lowest scores for HRQoL were observed in the domain of general health (27.74 ± 18.29) followed by domain of mental health (38.26 ± 20.76) whereas highest scores were observed in the domain of social functioning (45.64 ± 25.89). The results of the study concluded that asthmatic patients in Pakistan had poor HRQoL. Well-structured pharmaceutical care delivery in the healthcare facilities can contribute toward better patient knowledge and management and can ultimately improve the HRQoL of asthma patients

Use of instantaneous energy of ABR signals for fast detection of wave V

Brainstem evoked response audiometry is a powerful diagnostic technique in audiology, otology and neurology. ABR(Auditory Brainstem Response) machine has been very useful and popular in past two decades for detection of hearing defects and pathologies in newborns and children. In ABR, wave V is the most prominent and robust wave that has been used as indicator of hearing loss. However, a fast detection of the wave V is necessary in order to implement newborn hearing screening. Researchers have introduced different kind of signal processing technique in order to achieve this target and one of this is Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Wavelet Transform. In this study, the instantaneous energy of ABR signal had been introduced as a marker to identify the ABR waves. Study showed that the instantaneous energy of auditory brainstem response can be used as a marker to identify the ABR waves. This study had proposed a platform for fast hearing screening system