Role of bone graft materials for cleft lip and palate patients: A systematic review

AbstractCleft lip and palate is a congenital anomaly. Its management requires a long term commitment, multidisciplinary and structured treatment. Treatment is initiated at infancy and continues till adolescence. Bone grafting is performed in order to provide bony stabilization for cleft maxillary alveolar arch and room for subsequent canine tooth eruption. The aim of this review was to discuss the success of various bone graft materials in managing unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients. For this purpose, a detailed literature search was performed using available electronic databases for peer reviewed papers published in English language. The review is based on published papers reporting the use of various bone graft materials for managing cleft lip and palate patients. The success of bone grafts was studied using the grading scales measuring the bone height at the grafted sites. Various types of bone graft materials including autogenous and allogenic were reviewed. Implant placement in cleft lip and palate patients required bone grafting after orthodontic expansion because of deficient bone in the anterior maxillary region. The grafted bone consequently provides stability and support to the maxillary alveolar arch. Success of bone graft as well as dental implants is multifactorial and therefore depends upon the type of bone graft, bone quality at cleft site and severity of cleft lip and palate

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding HIV/AIDS among adult fishermen in coastal areas of Karachi.

BACKGROUND: Migrant populations are at high risk of Human Immuno Deficiency Virus infection (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Studies of HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and practices among fishermen in developing countries have shown gaps in knowledge and fear of contagion with ambivalent attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and inconsistent universal precautions adherence. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding HIV/AIDS among adult fishermen in a coastal area of Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: Community based cross sectional study was conducted among fishermen in coastal area of Karachi from June to September 2012. A total of 297 adult fishermen were selected by using simple random sampling technique from different sectors of coastal village. Data were collected using a structured validated questionnaire. The frequency distribution of both dependent and independent variables were worked out. Comparisons of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding HIV/AIDS by socio-demographic characteristics were made using logistic regression. RESULTS: Out of 297 fishermen, majority had in-appropriate knowledge (93.6%), negative attitude (75.8%) and less adherent sexual practices (91.6%). In univariate analysis, lower education and higher income were significantly associated (OR 2.25, 95% CI, 1.11, 4.55), (OR = 3.04 CI 1.03-9.02, p value 0.04) with negative attitude and un-safe practices towards HIV/AIDS respectively, whereas no significant association of socio-economic characteristics with knowledge, attitude and practices were observed in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that fishermen had very poor knowledge, negative attitudes towards HIV and AIDS and had unsafe sexual practices which suggest that they lack the basic understanding of HIV/AIDS infection. Extensive health education campaign should be provided to the vulnerable sections of the society for the control of HIV/AIDS

Multiple Route Generation Using Simulated Niche Based Particle Swarm Optimization

This research presents an optimization technique for multiple routes generation using simulated niche based particle swarm optimization for dynamic online route planning, optimization of the routes and proved to be an effective technique. It effectively deals with route planning in dynamic and unknown environments cluttered with obstacles and objects. A simulated niche based particle swarm optimization (SN-PSO) is proposed using modified particle swarm optimization algorithm for dealing with online route planning and is tested for randomly generated environments, obstacle ratio, grid sizes, and complex environments. The conventional techniques perform well in simple and less cluttered environments while their performance degrades with large and complex environments. The SN-PSO generates and optimizes multiple routes in complex and large environments with constraints. The traditional route optimization techniques focus on good solutions only and do not exploit the solution space completely. The SN-PSO is proved to be an efficient technique for providing safe, short, and feasible routes under dynamic constraints. The efficiency of the SN-PSO is tested in a mine field simulation with different environment configurations and successfully generates multiple feasible routes

The Effect of Market and Entrepreneurial Orientation on Firm Performance

Market orientation (MO) and Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) have gained the importance in today’s world. Now these two are considered the main sources in the increase of firm performance. A corelation analysis is performed to understand and determine whether the market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation is associated with the firm performance. The Past studies did not analyze the effect of MO and EO on the firm performance. The research design and methodology adopted is given together with the findings leading to the conclusions related to propositions concerning the variables. The data is collected from various reputed universities that are giving the business education. Entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation provides the basic knowledge about the organizational learning that enables the organization to achieve the high performance and to understand the values of customers (Liu et al, 2002). The paper draws on survey data from 100 students including male and female students. The results show that EO and MO are strongly co-related with dependent variable. However, a few recommendations and future research is also given

Colorectal carcinoma, preoperative evaluation by spiral computed tomography

Objectives: To assess the capability of spiral computed tomography (CT) scan in preoperative evaluation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC).Methods: A cross sectional study on 52 patients with recent histopathologic diagnosis of CRC was conducted over a period of one year at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All these patients underwent spiral CT with oral and intravenous contrast administration. Surgery was subsequently done in all cases and surgical specimens were sent for detailed pathologic analysis. The radiologic findings on the CT scans were compared with the pathological findings.Results: The results proved that spiral CT had 60% sensitivity and 83% specificity for assessment of local spread of disease, 66% sensitivity and 76% specificity for the evaluation of lymph nodal metastases and 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity for hepatic metastases. In all the cases, the visualized tumour growth with wide zone of resection and regional nodal chains were surgically removed. It was however, the distant metastases which made a difference to the type of curative or palliative surgery planned and in this study spiral CT had 92% accuracy for detection of hepatic metastases.CONCLUSION: With technological advances and improvement in imaging protocols the results for local tumor spread are expected to improve, however based on the accuracy in detecting hepatic metastases in clinically unsuspected patients, this study proves that spiral CT has a significant role in preoperative evaluation and subsequent management of CRC

Periosteal desmoid

Periosteal desmoid is a benign tumor like reactive fibrous lesion developed by repeated micro trauma. We describe the case of a 14 year old boy with pain in his right knee who underwent plain radiography followed by radionuclide bone scan. The final diagnosis was that of periosteal desmoid

Implications of advanced wastewater treatment: Electrocoagulation and electroflocculation of effluent discharged from a wastewater treatment plant

In this research, wastewater treatment was inspected on a pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant by electrochemical techniques, electrocoagulation (EC), electroflotation (EF) and electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The wastewater samples have been characterised by applying different parameters to determine optimum working conditions of the electrocoagulation reactor. Two electrodes have been tested separately with an outflow coming from primary and secondary sedimentation tank. The outflows from these tanks are introduced in EC reactor then EC reactor efficacy is determined for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids, micropollutants and amount of coagulants in agglomerates at different current densities. The amounts of suspended solids (SS) in influent and effluent streams were determined by the membrane filtration technique. The operational applied current values range from 1–4 A in the case of COD removal by Fe and Al. While for SS aggregation the applied current ranges from 0.5–3 A and inflow rate was tested from 250 to 500 L/h. The pH of outflows increased by increasing applied current and both of these parameters were found a positive increase in the amount of SS aggregations after EC treatment. Furthermore, the COD removal efficiency was found to be 56–57 % and 12–18 % in case Fe and Al electrode respectively after EC treatment. The results showed that applied current is the most effective parameter, whereas the aluminium electrodes have produced more amounts of flocs and bubbles in comparison to iron electrodes at similar amount of current density

Cerebral deep venous thrombosis: case report and literature review

The case of a 28 years old woman presenting with headache, drowsiness and vomiting of a short duration, is presented. She was diagnosed as deep cerebral venous thrombosis on the basis of MRI findings. Treatment with heparin gave completed recovery

How innovative climate leads to project success: the moderating role of gender and work culture

Purpose – In modern times, innovation is considered as a vital component of sustainable competitiveadvantage. The purpose of this paper is to identify how innovation at the individual level [innovative workbehavior (IWB)] and at the organizational level [innovative organizational climate (IOC)] affects the chances ofsuccess of a particular project. Additionally, the moderating effect of gender and work culture on the relationbetween innovative climate and behavior is tested in the study.Design/methodology/approach – Survey technique was used to collect data from 425 employeesworking in project departments at the executive, middle level and senior level management in the paintmanufacturing industry of Pakistan. Multiple regression, as well as Preacher and Hayes (2004) tests, wereapplied to test the hypotheses.Findings – The result of the data analysis showed that IWB acts as a mediator between IOC and projectsuccess (PS), thereby supporting the hypothesized model of innovation and PS. Work culture was supportedas a moderator; however, no moderating effect of gender was validated by the results.Research limitations/implications – The management must make sure that to maximize the rate ofsuccess of projects, innovative work climate within the organizations and departments be given dueimportance. In addition to this, personnel’s individual innovation capabilities must also be enhanced bytaking steps toward improvement through training and development. Originality/value – Though attention has been given to research in innovation in light of other relatedvariables, its relation to PS remains yet to be studied. The effect of gender and work culture on innovation inPakistani paint industry was long over-due which has been addressed by this stud

Persuasive power concerning COVID-19 employed by Premier Imran Khan: A socio-political discourse analysis

The researchers investigate Pakistani Premier Imran Khan’s (IK) addresses to the nation concerning awareness about the causes, effects, precautions, and solutions of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19). Till the date, experts are not sure whether the vaccine will get developed or would we have to live with this as we did with HIV or Dengue. Consequently, leaders would need to address their nations, focusing specifically on precautions. The present research employs Aristotle’s persuasive and rhetorical devices, integrating them with Socio-Political Discourse Analysis (SPDA), to understand the social and political convincing style employed by the premiere. The researchers analyzed the data employing a qualitative approach. There are reliable findings to suggest that IK has used stable linguistic features to persuade the minds of the people, convincing them to follow the precautionary measures as ‘the only cure.’ The defending arguments about semi-lockdown or smart-lockdown were well-defined persuading the individuals; for instance, he suggested the smart-lockdown during his first address and faced criticism from the opposition. Later, the opposition and the world appreciated the policy of IK, the Premier of Pakistan, even being a developing country in the sight of the world. After one month of the first patient of the corona case reported in China, the policy of smart-lockdown was followed by most of the states fighting against COVID-19. Moreover, The Premier successfully persuaded the international financial organizations – IMF, World Bank, Development Banks, convincing them to waive off the pending payments of developing countries for the upcoming year.Keywords: COVID19, Persuasion, Socio-Political Discourse Analysis, Speeches, Linguistic Feature