Articles

Neuropathy is when nerve damage interferes with the functioning of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). When the cause can’t be determined, it’s called idiopathic neuropathy(Idiopathic neuropathy, now designated as chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP).There are three kinds of nerves within the PNS. Sensory nerves relay messages from the sense organs to the brain. This allows sensations of temperature and touch. Motor nerves transmit signals from the brain to the muscles. This helps the brain control the muscles. Autonomic nerves control body functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.Damage to nerve cells can affect how the PNS communicates with the rest of the body. Symptoms can include numbness, pain, and balance issues.It’s called acute neuropathy when symptoms develop suddenly. Alternately, it’s called chronic neuropathy when symptoms start slowly and increase over time. Diagnosis involves physical examination and review of medical history. Diagnostic testing may include blood tests, nerve testing, and imaging tests.There is no cure for idiopathic neuropathy. Treatments including medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications can help you function and feel better.We report a case of idiopathic polyneuropathy presented with frequent acute pulmonary edema for a year.

Agricultural land use has left its traces on the planet since sedentary agriculture started. Most of the ancient cradles of mankind and agriculture, such as the area between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris or the middle east are degraded and deserts today.

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus associated with the disease called COVID-19 and become a global pandemic. The only way to prevent its severe scenarios is through timely and rapid testing. In comparison to more time taking gold-standard RT-PCR testing, rapid diagnostic kits are used. For better prevention and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, the analysis of rapid diagnostic kits' accuracy and specificity is necessary. This study is meant to assess and examine the viability, responsiveness, and explicitness of quick antigen distinguishing nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS), and saliva-based units. The study was conducted on 200 suspected COVID-19 patients from Islamabad, 100 of which were RT-PCR positive while 100 were RT-PCR negative. For the analysis of Rapid diagnostic COVID-19 kits (RDT), nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and saliva samples were taken from the RT-PCR positive and negative patients. Among 100 RT-PCR positive patients, 62% were males (19 - 91 years), 34% were females (20 - 78 years) and 4% were children (6 - 17 years). False-negative results were significantly more observed in saliva-based RDTs of the sample (49%) as compared to nasopharyngeal swab RDT (38%). There were 2% invalid results in saliva-based RDT and 3% invalid results in Nasopharyngeal swab RDT. While among 100 RT-PCR negative patients 69% were males (19 - 80 yrs), 27% were females (18 - 77 yrs) and 4% were children (12 - 16 yrs.). False positive results were significantly more in saliva-based RDT (22%) as compared to Nasopharyngeal swab RDT (13%). The sensitivity and specificity of saliva-based RDT were 67% and 87% respectively while that of Nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) was 72% and 82% respectively, both of which were less than the gold standard RT-PCR sensitivity demanding the introduction of more sensitive RDT kits in Pakistan for accurate detection of COVID-19.

Aloe vera Linn. is an essential medicinal plant. In this present research work, a protocol of in vitro regeneration and karyomorphological analysis of Aloe vera was developed using different concentrations and compositions of media. Shoot apices of field-grown plants were used as explant and aseptically cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different concentrations and combinations of auxins (IAA and NAA) and cytokinins (BAP and Kn). The highest number of multiple shoot buds (4.36 ± 0.07) was obtained from MS + 2.0 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/l IAA and induced shoot buds underwent rapid elongation (4.24 ± 0.06 cm) on the same medium composition. Half strength MS media with 2.0 mg/l IBA was suitable for induction and proliferation (6.31 ± 0.05) of roots and 95% of plantlets were acclimatized to field conditions successfully. Somatic chromosome numbers of mother and in vitro grown plants were confirmed to be 2n = 14. Chromosome length ranged from 4.28 - 13.74 µm in the naturally grown plants and 4.46 - 14.1 µm for in vitro grown plants. The total form percent (TF%) of mother and in vitro grown plants was 41.69% and 42.23%, respectively. The karyotype formula of in vivo grown plants was 2n = 14 = 4Lsm + 6Mm + 4Sm, whereas that of the micropropagated plants was 2n = 14 = 4Lsm + 4Mm + 6Sm. The frequency of the chromosome having arm more than 2:1 was 0.08 for mother plants and 0.15 for in vitro grown plants. Therefore, the karyotype of both plants falls into the 2B symmetrical type based on Stebbins classification (1971).

Photocatalysis has attracted a lot of attention in recent years due to its potential in solving energy and environmental issues. Efficient light absorption and charge separation are two of the key factors for the exploration of high-performance photocatalytic systems, which are generally difficult to obtain from a single photocatalyst. The combination of various materials to form heterojunctions provides an effective way to better harvest solar energy and facilitate charge separation and transfer, thus enhancing photocatalytic activity and stability. This review concisely summarizes the recent development of visible light responsive heterojunctions, including the preparation and performance of semiconductor/semiconductor junctions and semiconductor/metal junctions and their mechanism for enhancing light harvesting and charge separation/transfer. In this regard, this review presents some unitary, binary and ternary CeO2 photocatalysts used for the degradation of organic pollutants. We expect this review to provide the type of guidelines for readers to gain a clear picture of nanotechnology and the fabrication and application of different types of heterostructured photocatalysts.

Background: Aautologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) is the standard of care for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who are eligible for autologous transplantation. Although cryopreservation is routinely employed, autologous HSCT can be performed using non-cryopreserved stem cells.Methods and materials: A retrospective study of patients with MM who received autologous HSCT between the 10th of October 2010 and the 31st of January 2022 at King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia was performed.Results: Over 11 years and 113 days, a total of 135 autologous HSCTs were performed for 119 patients with MM at our institution. Single autologous HSCTs were performed for 119 patients, while 16 of these patients received either planned tandem autologous transplants or second autografts due to either progression or relapse of their myeloma. The median age of patients with MM at autologous HSCT was 51.5 years. At presentation of their MM, the following high-risk (HR) features were encountered: stage III disease according to the revised international scoring system (RISS) in 12.3%; adverse cytogenetics in 31.93% of patients; advanced bone disease in 60.50%; and renal dysfunction or failure in 11.76% of patients. A total of 104 autologous HSCTs (77.04%) were performed without cryopreservation while 31 autografts (22.96%) were performed using cryopreserved apheresis stem cell products. Additionally, 54 autologous HSCTs (40.00%) were done at outpatient while 81 autografts (60.00%) were performed in an inpatient setting. Survival for 100 days post-HSCT for all patients with MM who received autologous transplants including those done at outpatient was 100%. The 4 years overall survival (OS) an progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with MM who received non- cryopreserved or fresh autologous HSCTs were 82% and 68% respectively.Conclusion: Autologous HSCT without cryopreservation is safe, and feasible and can lead to short-term as well as long-term outcomes that are comparable to autologous transplantation with cryopreservation. Non- cryopreserved autologous grafts allow the performance of autologous transplants in an outpatient setting to save beds and reduce costs.

Through the development of new analysis technologies, many issues regarding the approach to tumoral diseases have been elucidated. With analytical assays developed in the last years, various omics technologies have evolved in such a manner that the characteristics of tumor cells and products can be evaluated (assessed) in the bloodstream of cancer patients at different times. Ovarian Cancer (OC) is one of the most difficult to diagnose umors, with low survival rates due to the high heterogeneity of these diseases that are distinct in terms of etiology and molecular characteristics, but which simply share an anatomical appearance. Recent findings have indicated that several types of ovarian cancer classified into different histotypes are in fact derived from non-ovarian issues and share few molecular similarities. Within this context, ovarian cancer screening and diagnosis can be made through the evaluation of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood using liquid biopsy technologies. Advances in the study of various molecules analyzed by liquid biopsy have shown that elucidation of intratumoural and intertumoural heterogeneity and spatial and temporal tumor evolution could be traced by serial blood tests rather than by histopathological analyses of tissue samples from a primary tumor. Therefore, evaluation of some molecules such as circulating tumor cells (CTC), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating cell-free RNA (non-coding and mRNA, extracellular vesicles), tumor-educated platelets or different miRNAs using liquid biopsy could lead to improvement of patient management.

Calcinosis cutis (CC) [1] is an unusual disorder characterized by calcium-phosphate deposition into cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. There are five subtypes: dystrophic, metastatic, idiopathic, iatrogenic and calciphylaxis.Calciphylaxis or calcifying panniculitis is defined as small vessel calcification mainly affecting blood vessels of the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Despite the predominance of cases in patients with ESRD, calciphylaxis can also be found in patients with normal renal function and normal levels of calcium and phosphate. These cases are often referred to as nonuremic calciphylaxis (NUC), a heterogeneous category with several associations. Literature reveals an association with hyperparathyroidism (28%), malignancy (22%), alcoholic liver disease (17%) and connective tissue diseases (11%) while obesity, liver disease, high-serum calcium (Ca) × phosphorus (P) levels, combined therapies of calcium salts with vitamin D, warfarin and corticosteroids have been observed to increase the likelihood of this disease [2]. The lesions in both nonuremic and uremic calciphylaxis tend to be indistinguishable from each other, initially presenting as tender subcutaneous plaques that progress into nonhealing ulcers with overlying black eschar. Skin changes often begin with a livedo reticularis pattern that can progress to livedo racemes and ultimately retiform purpura.In our clinical case, we describe a patient with multiple risk factors for calciphylaxis, intense widespread calcification (vessels, tendons, joints) and cutaneous calcific stone of calcium and phosphate oxalate not elsewhere described before.

Introduction and aim: The most accurate way of measuring kidney function in GFR. Clinical formulas based on creatinine measurement may be inaccurate mainly in elderly patients (over 80 years of age). In this study we evaluated the accuracy of commonly used clinical formulas by comparing them with a direct measurement with [99mTc]-DTPA ([99mTc]-diethylene-triamine-peracetic acid) in a population of patients aged eighty and older.Material and methods: 47 patients (27 males and 20 females) with an average age of 81.9 ± 1.7 years, 80% already diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), were investigated. Two plasma samples were collected between 60-90 and 165-190 minutes after the injection of [99mTc]-DTPA and GFR were calculated. Results: When comparing the GFR values obtained from the various formulae by creatinine levels with the GFR value obtained by measuring [99mTc]-DTPA residue, the following concordance values emerged: (1) MDRD: 55.3%, (2) Cockroft-Gault 55.3% (3) CKD-EPI 57.5% (4) BIS-1 51.1%Conclusion: Our data show a poor correlation between all clinical methods and [99mTc]-DTPA, which remains a gold standard for the direct measurement of GFR.

An established side-effect of neck dissection (ND) for head and neck (HNC) tumour management includes shoulder dysfunction (SD), which can impact quality of life (QOL). Shoulder strength and range of movement (ROM) are key parameters to be monitored in SD. However, such evaluations are not routinely conducted in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate objectively the impact of ND on shoulder functions. Methods: This is a pilot exploratory study in a tertiary cancer centre. Five participants with unilateral ND and advanced HNC, completed the study. Outcome measures consisted of self-reported QOL questionnaires, C2–T1 dermatomes and shoulder ROM and strength testing. Data was collected at baseline, 1.5-months after surgery and 6-months after diagnosis (after adjuvant treatment completion). Results: Most outcome measures on the surgically affected side were negatively impacted post-operatively, with varied recovery seen at follow-up. Sensory loss was noted at C3–4 dermatome levels. Shoulder ROM and strength was reduced on the surficial side for all participants, with some recovery after six months except for two participants.Conclusion: Results of SD after ND are diverse and unique to each patient. Findings from this pilot study indicate that regular rehabilitation/exercise may facilitate recovery of shoulder function post HNC surgery. However, customised rehabilitation may yield better outcomes. Future studies with a larger sample are indicated to validate the findings of this study.