The preliminary study of urbanization, fossil fuels consumptions and CO2 emission in Karachi

According to population, Karachi is the first largest city of Pakistan and 9th largest in the world. During last three decades, it has faced mass urbanization, huge population growth, many fold increase in vehicles and industrial development. As a result the demand of more energy in form of fossil fuels increased for domestic, industrial and transportation purpose. In this research the maximum available data of Karachi about urbanization, population and vehicles growth, industrialization, energy consumption and CO2 emissions are analyzed. Time periods considered for this work are according to the availability of the data. The results show that during 1947 to 2008, both urban population and urban area increased to 1500%. During 1990 to 2008, the percentage growth in vehicles is double than that of population growth during this time period. During 1980 to 2007 the consumption of oil and petrol, natural gas and coal increased to 219%, 365% and 287%, respectively. The emission of CO2 jumped from 39 million metric tons in 1980 to 151 million metric tons in 2007

Assessment of the determinant of choice of ‘over the counter’ analgesics among students of a university in Abbottabad, Pakistan

Purpose: To ascertain the preference of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan (CIIT) students for various ‘over the counter’ analgesics.Methods: This cross-sectional survey study on self-medication of ibuprofen in students of CIIT was conducted in July - August 2013 using a self-administered questionnaire. Five hundred students with an average age of 20 - 25 years cooperated in this inquisition. The questionnaire contained 18 questions including socio-demographic queries, economical status, perception of the frequency of pain, their locality, and behavior and knowledge of participants on the use of ibuprofen regarding its therapeutic and adverse effects, and interactions.Results: Out of the 500 participants in the study, 70.4 % were female. The response rate was 68.2 %. Ibuprofen (54 %) was the most used analgesic of all the NSAIDs among the respondents. Approximately, 11.2 % of the respondents reported that they suffer from pain almost every day. The younger and more educated respondents had better level of awareness about the ibuprofen’s indications as compared to those who had low level of education. Of the respondents, 29.6 % were not aware of any side effect caused by ibuprofen. Approximately, 22.4 % of the respondents had no knowledge of the interactions of ibuprofen while 61.2 % of the participants consult a physician about painkillers.Conclusion: Although many of the students undergo almost daily pain and favor ibuprofen over other NSAIDs analgesics among but they still lack information on its appropriate handling and safety. The overall result of the survey indicates very low level of information about the drug interaction.Keywords: Pain, OTC, analgesic, ibuprofen, questionnaire based survey, awarenes

Case report: L5 tomita En bloc spondylectomy for oligometastatic liposarcoma with post adjuvant stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Tomita En-bloc spondylectomy of L5 is one of the most challenging techniques in radical oncological spine surgery. A 42-year-old female was referred with lower back pain and L5 radiculopathy with a background of right shoulder liposarcoma excision. CT-PET confirmed a solitary L5 oligometastasis. MRI showed thecal sac indentation hence wasn't suitable for Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) alone. The seeding nature of sarcoma prevents the indication of separation surgery hence excisional surgery is considered for radical curative treatment. This case report demonstrates dual-staged modified TES including the utilisation of novel techniques to allow for maximum radical oncological control in the era of SABR and lesser invasive surgery. METHODS: First-stage: Carbonfibre pedicle screws planned from L2 to S2AI-Pelvis, aligned, to her patient-specific rods. Radiofrequency ablation of L5 pedicles prior to osteotomy was performed to prevent sarcoma cell seeding. Microscope-assisted thecal sac tumour separation and L5 nerve root dissection was performed. Novel surgical navigation of the ultrasonic bone-cutter assisted inferior L4 and superior S1 endplate osteotomies. Second-stage: Vascular-assisted retroperitoneal approach at L4-S1 was undertaken protecting the great vessels. Completion of osteotomies at L4 and S1 to En-bloc L5: (L4 inferior endplate, L4/5 disc, L5 body, L5/S1 disc and S1 superior endplate). Anterior reconstruction used an expandable PEEK cage obviating the need for a third posterior stage. Reinforced with a patient-specific carbon plate L4-S1 promontory. RESULTS: Patient rehabilitated well and was discharged after 42 days. Cyberknife of 30Gy in 5 fractions was delivered two months post-op. Despite left foot drop, she's walking independently 9 months post-op. CONCLUSION: These are challenging cases require a truly multi-disciplinary team approach. We share this technique for a dual stage TES and metal-free construct with post adjuvant SABR to achieve maximum local control in spinal oligometastatic disease. This case promotes our modified TES technique in the era of SABR and separation surgery in carefully selected cases

Prolonged, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-dependent, neutrophil survival following rheumatoid synovial fibroblast activation by IL-17 and TNFalpha

INTRODUCTION: A surprising feature of the inflammatory infiltrate in rheumatoid arthritis is the accumulation of neutrophils within synovial fluid and at the pannus cartilage boundary. Recent findings suggest that a distinct subset of IL-17-secreting T-helper cells (T(H)17 cells) plays a key role in connecting the adaptive and innate arms of the immune response and in regulating neutrophil homeostasis. We therefore tested the hypothesis that synovial fibroblasts bridge the biological responses that connect T(H)17 cells to neutrophils by producing neutrophil survival factors following their activation with IL-17. METHODS: IL-17-expressing cells in the rheumatoid synovium, and IL-17-expressing cells in the peripheral blood, and synovial fluid were examined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. Peripheral blood neutrophils were cocultured either with rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF) or with conditioned medium from RASF that had been pre-exposed to recombinant human IL-17, TNFα or a combination of the two cytokines. Neutrophils were harvested and stained with the vital mitochondrial dye 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide before being enumerated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: T(H)17-expressing CD4(+ )cells were found to accumulate within rheumatoid synovial tissue and in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid. RASF treated with IL-17 and TNFα (RASF(IL-17/TNF)) effectively doubled the functional lifespan of neutrophils in coculture. This was entirely due to soluble factors secreted from the fibroblasts. Specific depletion of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor from RASF(IL-17/TNF)-conditioned medium demonstrated that this cytokine accounted for approximately one-half of the neutrophil survival activity. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and NF-κB pathways showed a requirement for both signalling pathways in RASF(IL-17/TNF)-mediated neutrophil rescue. CONCLUSION: The increased number of neutrophils with an extended lifespan found in the rheumatoid synovial microenvironment is partly accounted for by IL-17 and TNFα activation of synovial fibroblasts. T(H)17-expressing T cells within the rheumatoid synovium are likely to contribute significantly to this effect

Association of cytokines with endothelium dependent flow mediated vasodilation (FMD) of systemic arteries in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aim of this study was to elucidate the relation between localised inflammatory heart disease and endothelial dysfunction in the peripheral circulation, considering circulating cytokines as a potential link.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 38 patients with non-ischemic heart disease, myocardial biopsies were examined for myocardial inflammation (immunohistology) and virus persistence (PCR). Cytokines (sIL-4, IFN-g, IFN-b, IFN-a, sIL-12p7, TNF-a) were measured by ELISA in venous serum. Endothelial function of the radial artery was examined by ultrasound, measuring diameter changes in response to reactive hyperemia (FMD), compared to glyceroltrinitrate (GTN-MD). Patients with EF < 35% were excluded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Age 44 ± 14 years, 19 male, 19 female, EF 63.5[16]%. FMD 4.38 [4.82]%. 30 patients had myocardial inflammation (8 not), 23 virus persistence (15 not). FMD correlated significantly with sIL-12p7 (p = 0.024, r = -0.365), but not with other cytokines. sIL-12p7 levels were significantly higher in patients with severely impaired FMD (n = 17), compared with normal FMD (n = 21): 10.70 [10.72] vs. 4.33 [7.81] pg/ml (p = 0.002). Endothelium independent vasodilation (GTN-MD 23.67 [8.21]%) was not impaired.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Endothelial dysfunction of peripheral arteries in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is associated with elevated serum concentrations of sIL-12p7, but not of other cytokines. Circulating sIL-12p7 may partly explain, that endothelial dysfunction is not restricted to the coronary circulation, but involves systemic arteries.</p

Can houseplants improve indoor air quality by removing CO2 and increasing relative humidity?

High indoor CO2 concentrations and low relative humidity (RH) create an array of well-documented human health issues. Therefore, assessing houseplants’ potential as a low-cost approach to CO2 removal and increasing RH is important. We investigated how environmental factors such as ’dry’ ( 0.30 m3 m-3) growing substrates, and indoor light levels (‘low’ 10 µmol m-2 s-1, ‘high’ 50 µmol m-2 s-1 and ‘very high’ 300 µmol m-2 s-1), influence the plants’ net CO2 assimilation (‘A’) and water-vapour loss. Seven common houseplant taxa – representing a variety of leaf types, metabolisms and sizes – were studied for their ability to assimilate CO2 across a range of indoor light levels. Additionally, to assess the plants’ potential contribution to RH increase, the plants’ evapo-transpiration (ET) was measured. At typical ‘low’ indoor light levels ‘A’ rates were generally low (< 3.9 mg hr-1). Differences between ‘dry’ and ’wet’ plants at typical indoor light levels were negligible in terms of room-level impact. Light compensation points (i.e. light levels at which plants have positive ‘A’) were in the typical indoor light range (1-50 µmol m-2 s-1) only for two studied Spathiphyllum wallisii cultivars and Hedera helix; these plants would thus provide the best CO2 removal indoors. Additionally, increasing indoor light levels to 300 µmol m-2 s-1 would, in most species, significantly increase their potential to assimilate CO2. Species which assimilated the most CO2 also contributed most to increasing RH

Gene Expression Profiling in the Type 1 Diabetes Rat Diaphragm

BACKGROUND:Respiratory muscle contractile performance is impaired by diabetes, mechanisms of which included altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and changes in membrane electrophysiology. The present study examined to what extent these cellular perturbations involve changes in gene expression. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Diaphragm muscle from streptozotocin-diabetic rats was analyzed with Affymetrix gene expression arrays. Diaphragm from diabetic rats had 105 genes with at least +/-2-fold significantly changed expression (55 increased, 50 decreased), and these were assigned to gene ontology groups based on over-representation analysis using DAVID software. There was increased expression of genes involved in palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase activity (a component of lipid metabolism) (P = 0.037, n = 2 genes, fold change 4.2 to 27.5) and reduced expression of genes related to carbohydrate metabolism (P = 0.000061, n = 8 genes, fold change -2.0 to -8.5). Other gene ontology groups among upregulated genes were protein ubiquitination (P = 0.0053, n = 4, fold change 2.2 to 3.4), oxidoreductase activity (P = 0.024, n = 8, fold change 2.1 to 6.0), and morphogenesis (P = 0.012, n = 10, fold change 2.1 to 4.3). Other downregulated gene groups were extracellular region (including extracellular matrix and collagen) (P = 0.00032, n = 13, fold change -2.2 to -3.7) and organogenesis (P = 0.032, n = 7, fold change -2.1 to -3.7). Real-time PCR confirmed the directionality of changes in gene expression for 30 of 31 genes tested. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:These data indicate that in diaphragm muscle type 1 diabetes increases expression of genes involved in lipid energetics, oxidative stress and protein ubiquitination, decreases expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and has little effect on expression of ion channel genes. Reciprocal changes in expression of genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism may change the availability of energetic substrates and thereby directly modulate fatigue resistance, an important issue for a muscle like the diaphragm which needs to contract without rest for the entire lifetime of the organism

Construction of a large scale integrated map of macrophage pathogen recognition and effector systems

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In an effort to better understand the molecular networks that underpin macrophage activation we have been assembling a map of relevant pathways. Manual curation of the published literature was carried out in order to define the components of these pathways and the interactions between them. This information has been assembled into a large integrated directional network and represented graphically using the modified Edinburgh Pathway Notation (mEPN) scheme.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The diagram includes detailed views of the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways, other pathogen recognition systems, NF-kappa-B, apoptosis, interferon signalling, MAP-kinase cascades, MHC antigen presentation and proteasome assembly, as well as selected views of the transcriptional networks they regulate. The integrated pathway includes a total of 496 unique proteins, the complexes formed between them and the processes in which they are involved. This produces a network of 2,170 nodes connected by 2,553 edges.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The pathway diagram is a navigable visual aid for displaying a consensus view of the pathway information available for these systems. It is also a valuable resource for computational modelling and aid in the interpretation of functional genomics data. We envisage that this work will be of value to those interested in macrophage biology and also contribute to the ongoing Systems Biology community effort to develop a standard notation scheme for the graphical representation of biological pathways.</p

Hepatitis C virus to hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis C virus causes acute and chronic hepatitis and can lead to permanent liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a significant number of patients via oxidative stress, insulin resistance (IR), fibrosis, liver cirrhosis and HCV induced steatosis. HCV induced steatosis and oxidative stress causes steato-hepatitis and these pathways lead to liver injury or HCC in chronic HCV infection. Steatosis and oxidative stress crosstalk play an important role in liver damage in HCV infection. This Review illustrates viral and host factors which induce Oxidative stress, steatosis and leads toward HCC. It also expresses Molecular cascade which leads oxidative stress and steatosis to HCC