Diagnostic Accuracy of Non-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosing Pituitary Micro-Adenoma, Taking Histopathology as Gold Standard

Background: Pituitary microadenomas (PMs) are common benign tumors that are often not visualized even when they are present due to their asymptomatic nature. The objective of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of pituitary microadenomas using histopathology as a gold standard. Methods: This cross-sectional validation study (IRB Approval No. IRB/18/2024/01) included 121 patients presenting with severe headaches and focal brain lesions on CT scans at Doctors Hospital, Lahore from September 2024 to November 2024. In this cross-sectional study, a non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used. A standardized protocol was used for non-contrast MRI and findings were interpreted by experienced radiologists. The comparison was made against histopathology as the reference standard. A 2×2 contingency table was used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy by using SPSS version 25. Results: Of 121 patients (mean age 40.74 ± 10.35 years), 70 (57.9%) were females. Non-contrast MRI showed a sensitivity and specificity of 37.25% (38/102) and 89.47% (17/19) respectively. Specificity is high, meaning that the modality is reliable in eliminating false positives, but sensitivity is low, which means that it won’t find true positives correctly. The percentage of diagnostic accuracy was 45.5% (55/121) which showed that the technique had room for significant improvement. Conclusion: Pituitary microadenomas can be clinicopathologically screened using non-contrast MRI as an initial radiation-free diagnostic modality with minimal ionizing and contrast agents-based risk being valuable for long-term monitoring

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Consumption of β-Caryophyllene Increases the Mating Success of Bactrocera zonata Males (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an economically important polyphagous quarantine pest of horticultural crops endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Methyl eugenol (ME), a naturally occurring phenylpropanoid, is a male attractant used to lure and (when mixed with an insecticide) annihilate the males from the wild population, a method of pest control termed the male annihilation technique (MAT). ME is reported to enhance the mating success of sterile males of Bactrocera spp., which is critical for enhancing the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique (SIT). The suppressed response of ME-treated males to ME-baited traps/devices allows the simultaneous application of the MAT and SIT, increasing the efficiency of area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programs. However, ME treatment in sterile males in SIT facilities is logistically difficult. β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a widely occurring, safer plant compound and is considered suitable for treating males in SIT facilities. Here, we demonstrate that BCP feeding enhanced B. zonata male mating success to the same extent as ME feeding. Feeding on BCP suppressed the male’s subsequent attraction to ME-baited traps, but not to the same degree as feeding on ME. The results are discussed and BCP is suggested as an alternative to ME for the concurrent use of the MAT and SIT

Role of Nanotechnology in Precision Agriculture

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary study field that attempts to boost agricultural output through substantial nanotechnology. This study has been conducted because of the reckless use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers brought on by the green revolution, which has diminished soil biodiversity and increased disease and insect resistance. Only nanoparticles or nano chips can produce sophisticated biosensors for precision farming and deliver ingredients to plants in a nanoparticle-mediated manner. The precise distribution of nutrients and agrochemicals to plants is made possible by nano-encapsulated versions of conventional fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides. Nanotechnology-based tests for detecting plant viral diseases are also gaining popularity and are useful for making a rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral disorders. The advantages and future uses of nanotechnology in precision agriculture are covered in this article. Modern technologies and methods based on nanotechnology can solve many issues in traditional agriculture and could revolutionize this industry