[en] To determine the frequency of malaria and seasonal variation of Plasmodium species in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of study: Department of Pathology Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Bannu, from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2011. Patients and Methods: Five thousand eight hundred and seventy eight (5878) patients with symptoms of fever, nausea, malaise and body aches irrespective of age and gender were included in the study. Samples were collected, thin and thick smears of the samples were prepared and stained with Giemsa's stain. Thick film was used for screening for malaria parasites and species identification was done on thin smears. Results: Out of 5878 patients, 1962 (28.8%) were found to be positive for malaria. Of them 1524 (90%) had plasmodium vivax infection, while 119 (7.0%) patients were infected with plasmodium falciparum, 49 (3.0%) of the patients were infected with both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium vivax was most common in the months of August 203 (12.3%) patients, September 235 (14.3%) patients and October 317 (20%), whereas plasmodium falciparum infection was most common in the months of October 34 (28.6%) patients, November 19 (16%) patients and December 30 (25.2%) patients. Conclusion: Malaria is an endemic infectious disease in Pakistan, in the Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and tribal areas of North and South Waziristan. It is prevalent throughout the year and most noticeably from May to November. (author)

[en] Objective: To define the Reference Range of NT pro-BNP (N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide) during the first trimester of pregnancy in healthy females. Material and Methods: This Cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Chemical Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore from September to November 2022. This cross-sectional study focused on the reference range of NT pro-BNP in healthy pregnant females. Sampling of the data was done by using the nonprobability consecutive sampling technique. A maximum number of available participants (365 pregnant females) during the study period were recruited. Descriptive statistics were shown as mean ±SD. For the reference range for NT pro-BNP 2.5th percentiles (lower limit) and 97.5th percentiles (upper limit) were estimated. Results: A total of 365 pregnant females were included with first trimester pregnancy, having the mean age 28.54±5.18 years. Out of 365 participants, 299 females had BMI <25 whereas 66 were overweight. Forty-One females had Hb level ≤ 10 g/dl and 324 females had HB >10 g/dl. The Platelet count was >150 x 10^9/L in 338 women, and ≤150 x 10^9/L in 26 women. The Median of NT pro-BNP was 56.80 pg/mL in the first trimester. Reference range of NT pro-BNP in pregnant women with BMI <25 was (17.89 – 257.00) pg/mL as compared to (16.88 – 130.63) pg/mL in those with BMI >25. Conclusion: The Reference range of NT pro-BNP changes in pregnancy as compared to healthy non-pregnant adults, likely due to hemodynamic changes associated with pregnancy. This study has defined a Pregnancy-specific reference range of NT pro-BNP in the first trimester which can help diagnose pregnant women with underlying cardiovascular disease.(author)

[en] Objective: To compare pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels in individuals with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). Study Design: Cross-sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), from September 2008 to March 2010. Methodology: One hundred and twenty five (125) individuals both male and female were included in the study. Blood for PAPP-A and lipid profile was collected, just before angiography. On the basis of angiography, the individuals were divided into those with and without CAD. PAPP-A was analyzed by using Diagnostic System Laboratories (DSL) Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit and reading was taken by ELISA reader. Lipid profile was determined on automated analyzers Selectra-2 and Vitros 5.1. Results: Amongst the 125 individuals, 41 individuals were without CAD whereas 84 individuals were having CAD. Mean PAPP-A levels were 0.74 +- 0.35 mIU/L in those without CAD whereas mean PAPP-A levels in those with CAD were 1.35 +- 0.57 mIU/L. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). A PAPP-A cut off level of 0.85 mIU/L had a sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 70% respectively for diagnosing atherosclerotic CAD. Conclusion: PAPP-A is a potentially relevant marker of the presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis as its levels are elevated in CAD as compared to individuals without CAD. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. (author)

[en] Low temperature scanning electron microscopic (LTSEM) studies revealed that Trichoderma harzianum infected mature potato cysts nematode eggs by penetrating directly the cyst wall or via natural opening of mouth. Mycelial penetration on cyst wall or egg surface has been seen. The penetration of cyst wall or egg surface was either chemical or mechanical (directly or with appresorium) or both. Freeze fractionation showed the presence of mycelia inside the eggs. (author)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the risk factors involved, mode of presentation and the pattern of malignancies in hypopharynx. Design: It was a prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Departments of Otolaryngology and pathology, Combined Military Hospital Kharian, over a period of two years (may 1998 to April 2000). Subject and Methods: Thirty patients with malignant tumors of the hypopharynx were studied. Evaluation was done by detailed history for presenting symptoms and possible risk factors, endoscopy and histological examination of the specimen. Results: out of 30 patients, 24 were males and 6 females with a male to female ratio of 4:1. A majority of them was in the 7th decade. History of tobacco intake in the form to smoking or chewing was present in 87%. Presenting symptoms were dysphagia, pain in the throat and neck mass. Most common site of origin was pyriform fossa (53%). All the malignant tumors were squamous cell carcinomas. Well-differentiated category was the most common (60%), followed by moderately-differentiated (26.5%) and poorly-differentiated (13.5%) varieties. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with contemporary literature. There are close similarities with regard to sex tobacco use, presentation and type of malignancy. In our study, well-differentiated category was more common than the poorly differentiated one. (author)

[en] The physiological and biochemical responses of tomato cultivars were studied at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2005-2006 for salt tolerance. Tomato cultivars were Roma Rio Super, Roma V.F., Chinese 87-5, Rio Grand and Super Blocky and subjected to salt stress (75 mM NaCl). Fresh weight, dry weight, and ions sodium and potassium accumulation, Na/sup +/K sup +/ ratio and proline content were determined after imposing the tomato cultivars to NaCl salt for 80 days. Salt stress significantly decreased the fresh and dry weight in Roma Rio Super, Roma V.F, Chinese 87-5 and Rio Grand, however, in Super Blocky the fresh and dry weight were enhanced under stress conditions. Salinity stress increased sodium uptake from 191.828 to 436.170 mu mg/sup -1/ D wt while potassium accumulation decreased from 1033.12 to 926.80 mu mg/sup -1/ D wt resulting in higher Na/sup +/ ratio in stressed (0.48 g) as compared to unstressed control (0.19). The mean proline contents also increased from 28.95 to 40.96 mu M Proline g/sup -1/ F. wt with the maximum increase (57.378%) in Super Blocky followed by Rio Grand (49.325%). (author)

[en] Wheat breeding has delivered huge benefits, especially over a century with increased productivity and stability in yield even after facing the inevitable stresses. The present study aimed to determine the genetic potential, heterotic effects, and inbreeding depression in F1 and F2 populations, respectively for earliness and yield traits in wheat. The crosses were made in 2017-18 through line by tester mating design with seven lines i.e., Seher-06, Pirsabak-85, Shahkar-13, Galaxy-13, Ghaznavi-98, TD-1, and Inqalab-91, and three testers i.e., Parula, Yr-5 and Yr-10, at the Cereal Crop Research Institute (CCRI), Nowshera, Pakistan. For getting wheat F2 populations, the generation was also advanced during the summer season of 2018 at the Summer Agricultural Research Station (SARS), Kaghan, Pakistan. After advancing the generation, 21 F1 and 21 F2 wheat populations with their ten parental genotypes were grown during crop season 2018-2019 in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. Analysis of variance exhibited significant differences among the total genotypes, parental genotypes, lines, testers, crosses, and line by tester interactions for the majority of the traits in F1 and F2 generations. Results further revealed that the F1 hybrid Galaxy-13 × Yr-10 showed the maximum grain yield per plant (55.08 g), followed by F1 hybrids Shahkar-13 × Parula (45.66 g) and Shahkar-13 × Yr-5 (45.41 g). For grain yield per plant, significant positive mid-parent heterosis was recorded in 10 hybrids, ranging from 17.37% (Seher-06 × Parula) to 208.30% (Galaxy-13 × Yr-10). Significant better parent heterotic effects were recorded in F1 hybrids i.e., Galaxy-13 × Yr-10 (127.35%), Ghaznavi-98 × Yr-10 (74.37%), Galaxy-13 × Parula (41.34%), TD-1 × Parula (37.42%), Galaxy-13 × Yr-5 (35.68%) for grain yield per plant. Significant economic heterosis was recorded among the eight hybrids for grain yield, ranging from 4.20% (Ghaznavi-98 × Yr-5) to 73.05% (Galaxy-13 × Yr-10). In the case of inbreeding depression, significant (p≤0.01) negative values were recorded in 12 F2 populations ranging from -48.72% (Shahkar-13 × Parula) to -6.82% (TD-1 × Parula) grain yield per plant. (author)

[en] Objective: To determine the frequency of peri-pocedural myocardial infarction in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing elective percutaneous coronary angioplasty. Methodology: This was a descriptive study conducted in the cardiac cath lab of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Karachi, Pakistan. Patients with stable obstructive coronary artery disease undergoing elective coronary angioplasty were included in this study. PMI was defined as a rise in troponin I above five times the upper limit of the normal range (the third universal definition of MI). Collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 19. Results: Among the total of 107 patients male predominance, 82.2% (88), was observed and mean ± SD age of the patients was 52.02 ± 9.10 years with a majority, 92(86.0%), of patients between 41 to 80 years of age. Peri-procedural myocardial infarction (PMI) was found in 16(15.0%) of the patients and PMI was observed to be independent of baseline risk profile and angiographic characteristics of the patients. While, based on criteria of troponin I above three times the upper limit of the normal range, PMI was observed in 22(20.6%) of the patients. Conclusion: High incidence of the post-procedural rise of troponin in our study population is alarming. Further studies are required to identify the cause and hence identifying measures to prevent PMI. Universal single definition is required worldwide in order to get uniform results. (author)

[en] The research work comprised of combining ability and genetic variability in a 6 X 6 F1 diallel cross which was carried out during crop seasons 2008 and 2009 at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan. The parental genotypes (CIM-446, CIM-496, CIM-499, CIM-506, CIM-554 and CIM-707) were crossed in a complete diallel fashion during 2008. The 30 F1 hybrids and their parents were grown in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications during 2009. Genotypes manifested significant (p less than or equal to 0.01) differences for days to first flowering, locules boll/sup -1/, seeds locule/sup -1/, lint % and seed cotton yield plant/sup -1/. The F1 hybrids showed significant increase over parents in mean values for all the traits. The correlation of seed cotton yield was significantly positive with majority of yield traits and negative with days to first flowering and lint %. Mean squares due to general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were highly significant for all the traits, except locules for GCA. Mean squares due to GCA were higher in magnitude than SCA for majority of the traits and their inheritance was mainly governed by additive type of gene action and partially by non-additive. Selection in such promising hybrids could be used in segregating generations, and also some specific cross combinations can be used for hybrid cotton production to increase the seed cotton yield. The best general combiners (CIM-446 and CIM-554) followed by CIM-496 and their utilization as one of the parents produced best specific F1 hybrids (CIM-446 X CIM-499, CIM-446 X CIM-554, CIM-496 X CIM-707 and CIM-506 X CIM-554) having valuable SCA determination and remarkable mean performance for most of the traits. Reciprocal crosses having prominent maternal effects also involved one of the general combiners for majority of the traits. The promising hybrids also exhibited earliness through which the crop can escape from pests attack and soil can be vacated earlier for following crop like wheat. However, it was also concluded that we could not rely on F/sub 1/s only, however, the combined performance of F1 and F2 hybrids could be a good selection criteria to identify the most promising populations to be utilized either as F2 hybrids or as a source population for further selection in advanced generations. (author)

[en] To evaluate hematological parameters in African population to estimate normal reference intervals for these tests. Study Design: Cross sectional observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, United Nations level 3 hospital, Nyala, Darfur from 1st Mar to 30th Dec 2014. Material and Methods: There were 396 healthy African male and female volunteers selected between 18-65 years of age, belonging to different countries. Fresh whole blood was used to measure haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, haematocrit (Hct), total red blood cell (TRBC) count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet count, total leucocyte count (TLC) and differential white blood cells count. Data were analysed using SPSS version 19. Results: Mean Hb of study group was 13.81 +- 1.99 g/dl. Mean TLC was 5.50 +- 1.96 x 103/ul. Mean lymphocyte count was 2.58 +- 0.95. Mean platelet count was 234 +- 92 x103 /ul. Mean values for Hb Concentration, TRBC, Hct Ratio, MCV, MCH and MCHC were all higher for African Males than Females; this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: This multi-national African population based study confirms the variations in haematological parameters previously described in single nation African studies. The commonly observed variations in normal adults are low RBC indices, relative neutropenia and lymphocytosis. (author)