5-aminolevulinic acid induces regulation in growth, yield and physio-biochemical characteristics of wheat under water stress

The production of wheat crop is below average in many regions of the world which is ascribed to adverse environmental conditions including drought stress. The present study was conducted to appraise the beneficial role of exogenouslyapplied 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on growth, yield and some key physio-biochemical characteristics of two commercially important wheat cultivars (Shafaq-06 and Uqab-2000) under well watered [100% field capacity (FC)] and water-deficit (60 and 80% FC) conditions. Imposition of varying water regimes significantly decreased fresh and dry weights of shoots, photosynthetic pigments (a and b), non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ), quenching coefficient for non-photochemical (N) of chlorophyll fluorescence (qN), K+ (potassium ion), Ca2+ (calcium ion) and P (phosphorus) accumulation in shoot and root and yield-related attributes. In contrast, water deficit regimes caused improvement in Fv/Fm (chlorophyll fluorescence measurement), coefficient of photochemical quenching (qP), proline, glycinebetaine (GB) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents. Foliar spray of ALA at the rate of 50, 100 and 150 mg/L along with control (no spray (NS) and/or water spray (WS)) significantly enhanced chlorophyll a and b pigments, qN, NPQ, qP, K+, Ca2+ and P accumulation in both roots and shoots, proline, GB, total phenolics and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and yield. The wheat Shafaq-06 was better in shoot dry weight, qN, NPQ and Fv/Fm, shoot and root K+, root Ca2+, proline, GB accumulation and yield attributes, while Uqab-2000 was better in chlorophyll a contents, root P and MDA contents. Overall, better growth and yield of Shafaq-06 than Uqab-2000 under water deficit regimes was found to be associated with ALA improved leaf fluorescence (qN, NPQ and Fv/Fm), shoot and root K+, root Ca2+, proline and GB accumulation

Intentional and unintentional poisoning in Pakistan: a pilot study using the Emergency Departments surveillance project.

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the most common reasons for emergency department visits around the world. In Pakistan, the epidemiological data on poisoning is limited due to an under developed poison information surveillance system. We aim to describe the characteristics associated with intentional and unintentional poisoning in Pakistan presenting to emergency departments.Methods: The data was extracted from the Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance (Pak-NEDS) which was an active surveillance conducted between November 2010 and March 2011. All patients, regardless of age, who presented with poisoning to any of Pakistan\u27s seven major tertiary care centers\u27 emergency departments, were included. Information about patient demographics, type of poisoning agent, reason for poisoning and outcomes were collected using a standard questionnaire.Results: Acute poisoning contributed to 1.2% (n = 233) of patients with intentional and unintentional injuries presenting to EDs of participating centers. Of these, 68% were male, 54% were aged 19 to 44 and 19% were children and adolescents (\u3c18 years). Types of poisoning included chemical/gas (43.8%), drug/medicine (27%), alcohol (16.7%) and food/plant (6%). In half of all patients the poisoning was intentional. A total of 11.6% of the patients were admitted and 6.6% died.Conclusions: Poisoning causes more morbidity and mortality in young adults in Pakistan compared to other age groups, half of which is intentional. Improving mental health, regulatory control for hazardous chemicals and better access to care through poison information centers and emergency departments will potentially help control the problem

Neurodevelopmental outcomes following possible serious bacterial infection in early infancy in Karachi, Pakistan: A prospective cohort study

Background: Pakistan reports a significant burden of neonatal mortality, with infections as one of the major causes. We aim to assess the long-term impact of early infancy infections on neurodevelopmental outcomes during later childhood.Methods: We conducted a prospective follow-up study of the cohort enrolled at the Karachi site of the Aetiology of Neonatal Infection in South Asia (ANISA) during 2019-2020. Children with a possible serious bacterial infection (based on the WHO IMCI algorithm) at early infancy were assessed for neurodevelopment at 6-9 years of age and compared with healthy controls. The Ten Questions (TQS) questionnaire, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Parent\u27s Evaluation of Developmental Stage Assessment Level (PEDS: DM-AL) neurodevelopmental assessment tools, were administered and scored by the research staff who were blinded to the child\u27s exposure status. Generalized Structural Equation Modelling (GSEM) was employed to verify relationships and associations among developmental milestones, anthropometry, and sociodemographic variables.Results: A total of 398 children (241 cases and 157 controls) completed neurodevelopmental and growth assessments. Cases had a significantly higher rate of abnormal TQS scores (54.5% vs. 35.0%, p-value 0.001), greater delays in motor milestones (21.2% vs. 12.1%, p-value 0.02), lower fine motor skills (78.4 ± 1.4 vs. 83.2 ± 1.5, p-value 0.02). The receptive language skills were well-developed in both groups. According to the logistic regression model, exposure to infection during the first 59 days of life was associated with delayed TQS milestones (β = -0.6, 95% CI -1.2,-0.04), TQS hearing domain (β = -0.3, 95% CI: -1.2 to 0.7), PEDS: DM-AL fine motor domain (β = -1.3, 95% CI: -4.4 to 1.7), PEDS: DM-AL receptive language development (β = -1.1, 95% CI: -3.7 to 1.4) and child anthropometric measurements such as weight and height (β = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.4 to 0.01 and β = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.4 to -0.01, respectively). Early pSBI exposure was positively associated with PEDS: DM-AL self-help domain (β = 0.6, 95% CI: -1.2 to 2.4) and SDQ-P overall score (β = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.3 to 0.3).Conclusion: Children exposed to PSBI during early infancy have higher rates of abnormal development, motor delays, and lower fine motor skills during later childhood in Pakistan. Socioeconomic challenges and limited healthcare access contribute to these challenges, highlighting the need for long-term follow-ups with integrated neurodevelopment assessment