PCR to CRISPR: Role of Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) in detection of COVID-19

COVID-19 infection has emerged as an unparalleled pandemic with morbidity and mortality tolls challenging diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions, and raising serious questions for healthcare policy-makers. From the diagnostic perspective, Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction remains the gold standard. However, issues associated with gene primer variation in different countries, low analytical sensitivity, cross-reactivity with certain human coronaviruses have raised serious concerned within the scientific community. Alongside longer turnaround times, requirements of sophisticated equipment and trained technicians are the other challenges for conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing. The recent biotechnological boom has now allowed newer nucleic acid testing options for diagnosing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronovairus 2 with much better diagnostic efficiency, reduced turnaround times and possible benefit for use as a point-of-care test. ---Continue</jats:p

Sonographic Association of Ventriculomegaly and Neural Tube Anomalies

Background: Ventriculomegaly is most common indicator of many of neural tube anomalies of intrauterine fetus. Presence of which has alarming sign for sonologist to have careful evaluation of fetus for other cranial and extra cranial anomalies. Aim: To evaluate the sonographic difference of fetal ventricle dilatation and neural tube anomalies. Study design: Cross Sectional study. Methodology: Female patients (n=1492) were enrolled in present study held at University Ultrasound Clinic, Green Town, University of Lahore as a reference placement for 6 months. Informed consent was taken from all of them. In this study, pregnant women who underwent ultrasound scanning between 18 and 40 weeks of gestational age were reviewed according to normal size of ventricles and dilatation of ventricles by per abdominal ultrasound having convex transducer with 3.5MHZ frequency. Results: A total of 1492 cases of pregnant women between gestational ages of 18-40 weeks were examined. Normal cases were 1485/1492(99.5%).Total 7-cases were found to have ventricle dilatation. Fetus with mild ventricular dilatation 1/7, with moderate ventricle dilatation were 4/7, 2/4 having moderate ventricle dilatation were associated with neural tube anomalies, severe ventricle dilatation was noted in 2/7, both these fetuses had neural tube anomalies. Conclusion: This study concluded that level of degree of dilatation increases the chances of abnormalities. Early detection provide better counseling opportunity for family to make decisions regarding their fetuses. Keywords: Neural tube defects, Ventriculomegaly, Gestation age and Ultrasonography.</jats:p

Comparison of Head Circumference and Abdominal Circumference Ratio in Normotensive and patients with Pregnancy Induced Hypertensive Disorders after 28 weeks of gestation

Background: Hypertensive disorders are an important medical problem of gestation. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a significant cause for maternal and fetal morbidity as well as mortality. Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) commonly describes the condition of fetus whose size or growth is subnormal. IUGR fetus is frequently described as symmetrical and asymmetrical IUGR in term of their body proportions. Asymmetric growth retardation is typically linked to uteroplacental inadequacy. Hypertension is one of the maternal causes of placental insufficiency. Aim: To compare head circumference and abdominal circumference ratio in normotensive and patients with pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders after 28 weeks of gestation. Methodology: A cross sectional analytical study was carried on 113 pregnant females in which 57 women were normotensive and 56 women were hypertensive. All individuals were scanned by two- dimensional ultrasound following 28 weeks of pregnancy to evaluate sonographic parameters HC and AC. The HC/AC ratio was estimated by dividing head circumference with abdominal circumference. Results: Out of 57 normotensive patients 27 (36.48%) fetuses were diagnosed with IUGR having HC/AC ratio more than 1, while 30 had normal HC/AC ratio. In 56 hypertensive patients 47(63.51%) fetuses were diagnosed with IUGR having HC/AC ratio greater than 1, however 9(23.07%) fetuses had HC/AC ratio within normal range. So out of total 113 patients, 74 fetuses were found with IUGR while 39 fetuses had HC/AC ratio within normal ranges. Our study found that a cut off value of ≥ 1.0974 for HC/AC ratio could be used as diagnostic parameter in predicting IUGR. Conclusion: HC/AC ratio is a useful parameter for the detection of IUGR. Keywords: Head Circumference, Abdominal Circumference, Intra Uterine Growth Retardation</jats:p

The presence of antiamoebic constituents in psyllium husk

The crude extract of psyllium husk (ispaghula) and its active constituent (petroleum fraction) caused varying degrees of growth inhibition in three different species of Entamoeba, i.e. Entamoeba histolytica, E. invadens and E. dispar. The inhibitory effect of the crude extract was in the dose range of 1-10 mg/mL, whereas a similar inhibitory effect was obtained with the petroleum fraction at a much lower dose (0.1-1.0 mg/mL), indicating that the active chemical(s) is/are concentrated in the petroleum fraction. These data support the traditional use of psyllium husk in amoebic dysentery