Significance of Sulphur nutrition against metal induced oxidative stress in plants

Sulphur (S) is available to plants as sulphate (SO42-) in the soil to the roots and as gaseous SO2 in the atmosphere to the shoots. Of all the macronutrient, S is perhaps the nutrient which has attracted the most attention in soil science and plant nutrition due to its potential defensive characteristics to pests, good nutritive potentiality to crops and its relative immobility in the soil-plant system. This review highlights the mechanisms of uptake and translocation of S from soil and its transport in xylem and phloem tissues of plants. Moreover, it also throws new insights, have led us to revisit the hypothesis of S chelation in reference to oxidative stress induced by heavy metals sequestration

Studies on bronchodilator and cardiac stimulant activities of Urginea indica

This study was designed to evaluate bronchodilator and cardio-tonic effects of Urginea indica to provide rational for these medicinal uses. U. indica bulb extract was studied on rabbit tracheal and guinea-pig atrial preparations mounted in tissue baths under simulated physiological conditions. U. indica inhibited carbachol (1 µM) and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in rabbit trachea, similar to dicyclomine, suggesting the presence of anticholinergic and calcium channel blocking (CCB) mechanisms in U. indica. Anticholinergic and CCB effects of U. indica were respectively confirmed when it shifted the carbachol and Ca2+ concentration-response curves rightwards, similar to dicyclomine. U. indica (0.01-1 mg/mL) increased force of guinea-pig atrial contractions without significantly affecting the rate. These data, indicating that U. indica possesses the bronchodilator activity possibly mediated through a combination of anticholinergic and Ca2+ antagonist mechanisms together with selective positive inotropic effect, provide rational for medicinal applications of U. indica in airways and cardiac disorders

A roadmap to develop dementia research capacity and capability in Pakistan: a model for low- and middle-income countries

Objective To produce a strategic roadmap for supporting the development of dementia research in Pakistan. Background While global research strategies for dementia research already exist, none is tailored to the specific needs and challenges of low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like Pakistan. Methods We undertook an iterative consensus process with lay and professional experts to develop a Theory of Change-based strategy for dementia research in Pakistan. This included Expert Reference Groups (ERGs), strategic planning techniques, a “research question” priority survey, and consultations with Key Opinion Leaders. Results We agreed on ten principles to guide dementia research in Pakistan, emphasizing pragmatic, resource sparing, real-world approaches to support people with dementia, both locally and internationally. Goals included capacity/capability building. Priority research topics included raising awareness and understanding of dementia, and improving quality of life. Conclusion This roadmap may be a model for other LMIC health ecosystems with emerging dementia research cultures

Anxiety and depression among outpatients with type 2 diabetes: A multi-centre study of prevalence and associated factors.

Background: Anxiety and depression contribute to poor disease outcomes among individuals with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and to identify their associated factors including metabolic components among people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-center study in four out-Patient clinics in Karachi, Pakistan. In all, 889 adults with type-2 diabetes were included in this study. Anxiety and depression were measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariable analysis using multiple logistic regression was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of various factors associated with anxiety and depression, while adjusting for confounding variables. Results: Overall, 57.9% (95% CI = 54.7%, 61.2%) and 43.5% (95% CI = 40.3%, 46.8%) study participants had anxiety and depression respectively. Factors found to be independently associated with anxiety were physical inactivity, having hypertension and ischemic heart disease. For depression, being female, of older age, having hypertension and ischemic heart disease were significantly associated. Metabolic components found to be independently associated with both anxiety and depression were systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and fasting blood triglycerides. Body mass index was independently associated with depression but not with anxiety. Conclusion: This study identified that a large proportion of adults with diabetes had anxiety and/or depression, and identified factors associated with these entities. These results alert clinicians to identify and treat anxiety and depression as common components of diabetes care. Additional studies are needed to establish the directional nature of this relationship and to test interventions

Triphasic computed tomography (CT) scan in focal tumoral liver lesions

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of triphasic spiral CT in differentiating benign from malignant focal tumoral liver lesions. METHODS: The study was conducted in Department of Radiology of Aga Khan University Hospital and Sind Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi from Feb 2006 to Feb 2007. By convenient sampling, 45 patients found to have focal tumoral liver lesions were recruited for one year period and their triphasic CT scans findings were evaluated and later correlated with histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of triphasic CT scan were calculated. RESULTS: Among 45 patients, 136 liver lesions (11 benign and 125 malignant) were detected with the help of different enhancement patterns. Out of these, 37(82.2%) patients had malignant while 8 (17.8%) had benign lesions. On later histopathological examination, 35 (77.8%) of the total 45 cases had malignant lesions while 10 (22.2%) were diagnosed as benign lesions. Based on these results, it could be assessed that triphasic CT Scan has a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 94.5%, negative predictive value of 100% and diagnostic accuracy of 95.5% in differentiating benign from malignant liver lesions. CONCLUSION: Triphasic CT Scan is a good non-invasive tool in characterizing and differentiating benign from malignant liver lesions

The Equivoque of Knowledge Management in Global IT Sourcing: A Practice-based Perspective

Against the backdrop of today\u27s highly connected world marked with the increased use of technology, Global IT Sourcing is growing consistently over the last two decades. Such a trend entails the need to deploy effective knowledge management strategies within and across outsourcing organizations. Extant literature shows that this area remains largely under-theorized due to the complexities involved in understanding the underlying mechanisms and many facets of knowledge processes. One such complexity is the embeddedness of knowledge in local, situated practices and the difficulties that arise in reaching shared meanings when knowledge is circulated across globally dispersed settings. This research takes up the challenge of exploring what managing knowledge processes entails in the case of an IT-outsourced project using a practice-based vocabulary. Such a vocabulary seems particularly appropriate in understanding ongoing knowledge processes by studying the everyday work practices of human-actions as they interact with material artifacts. This encompasses a shift in discourse from individuals, organizations and institutions to human-action as the unit of analysis. The purpose of this research is two-fold: Firstly, it aims at investigating the knowing-how that is enacted through the everyday, ongoing work practices of human-actions as they interact with material artifacts. Secondly, it investigates how the collaborative ability in organizing and knowing-how to effectively manage knowledge across global boundaries improves the outsourcing process

Management and Complications of Arnold Chiari Hydrocephalus at Tertiary Health Care Center

Objective: to investigate the role of CT and MRI in diagnosis of Arnold chiari malformation of hydrocephalus and its treatment with VP shunt along with complications. Study Design: Prospective study Place and duration: Department of Neurosurgery, DG Khan Medical College from May 4, 2018 to May 4, 2019. Methodology: Fifty patients of congenital hydrocephalus who were not treated previously were selected. Detailed history about disease and clinical examination of patients was performed. Follow ups were done at neurosurgery OPD. SPSS software for data analysis was used and mean ± SD, frequency and percentages were calculated for variables. P value ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Treatment in case of congenital hydrocephalus as VP shunt, intra-aneurysmal coiling, excision of meningomyelocele with VP shunt and suboccipital craniectomy + upper cervical laminectomy (scucl) were observed as 10%, 6%, 8% and 8% respectively.  Twelve percent of patients were not treated. Conclusion: CT and MRI are the main diagnostic tools for diagnosis of Arnold chiari malformation and VP shunt is the treatment of choice. Among complications of VP shunt infection of shunt and shunt block are the main complications

Synthesis of pyrimidines, aromatic and heteroaromatic acids as Biginelli reaction catalysts

Aromatic as well as heteroaromatic acids were found to beexcellent catalysts for the Biginelli three component synthesisof dihydropyrimidinones. Benzoic acid, substituted benzoic acids, five- and six- membered heterocyclic acids can be used for this purpose