[en] Leaf necrosis is a common fungal problem of plants. During a survey of Lahore, Dracaena Red Edge (Dracaena mariginata Lam.) and Sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.) were infected with leaf spots. Pathogens isolation from the infected leaves of both plants was done followed by confirmation of Koch's pathogenicity postulates. Based on morphological and genetic characterization, Alternaria arborescens Simmons. and Phyllosticta aristolochiicola R.G. Shivas. were isolated from D. mariginata and S. oleraceus, respectively. In addition to isolation and identification, biological control of both pathogens was conducted using methanol extract of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.). All concentrations of extract suppressed the growth of both pathogens to variable extent. In case of A. arborescens, 0.5percent concentration induced approximately 90percent suppression in fungal growth. Contrastingly, P. aristolochiicola was least affected at lower concentrations of extract as only 4-10percent arrest in fungal biomass production was recorded at 0.5-1.5percent concentrations. However, 2.0percent or more of the extract was most potent as fungal pathogens failed to grow at these concentrations. Therefore, Cinnamon extract was considered more effective in controlling A. arborescens than P. aristolochiicola. Further, studies are required to identify active antifungal compounds in Cinnamon crude extract against the target pathogens. (author)

[en] Conservation laws for partially conservative variable mass dynamical systems under symmetric infinitesimal transformations are determined. A generalization of Lagrange-d'Alembert's principle for a variable mass system in terms of asynchronous virtual variation is presented. The generalized Killing equations are obtained such that their solution yields the transformations and the associated conservation laws. An example illustrative of the theory is furnished at the end as well. (authors)

[en] Stable isotope compositions of water (2H and 18O) were utilized to estimate the relative contributions of diffused recharge (DR) through the soil matrix from direct precipitation and concentrated recharge (CR) through coarse-textured ephemeral streambeds to groundwater in the arid granitic basin of Alquway, central Saudi Arabia. Groundwater ranged in its stable isotope composition from -2.51% to -2.03% from delta 18O and from -12.7% to -10.1% delta square H. Local groundwater line (LGWL) is defined by: delta square H = 4.72 delta 18O-0.57.Average stable isotopic content of CR is -2.58% for delta 18O, and -12.37% for delta 2H. Local CR line (LCRL) is given by: delta square H =5.28 delta 18O + 1.24. Its slope indicates that CR experiences significant kinetic fractionation resulting in a greater relative enrichment of 18 O than 2H. DR is more enriched in the heavy isotopes with means of -0.38% for delta 18O and -9.8% for delta square H. Local DR line (LDRL) is given by : delta square H = 2.01 delta 18O -9.03. Its slope is much lower than that of LCRL, indicating that DR goes through more stable isotopic fractionation than CR, due to experiencing more evaporation form unsaturated soils. Recharge-inducing rainfalls in this basin were estimated to be relatively depleted in the heavy isotopes, suggesting that groundwater recharge in this basin originates only from heavy downpours. Using mean values of delta 18O in a mass-balance equation, the relative contributions of CR and DR, to ground water were estimated to be 84% and 16% respectively. (author)

[en] Objective: To determine the prevalence of ESBL producing and carbapenem-resistant E. coli in UTI from a tertiary care Hospital. Methodology: A total of 320 mid-stream urine samples were collected from patients suspected for UTI at the urology department of Jinnah postgraduate medical center, Karachi. Cystine lactose electrolyte deficient agar was used for culture. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method. ESBL production was determined by double disc synergy test (DDST). The carbapenem resistance was determined by minimal inhibitory concentration method by Etest. Results: Prevalence of UTI was higher (165/230, 71.7%) in age group of 21-40 years. The mean age of UTI patients was 38.75±15.01 years with dominancy of females (55.3%). Out of 320 samples, 256 (80%) were culture positive. E. coli was the most prevalent uropathogen 139(54.3%) followed by 59(23%), 24(9.4%), and 22(8.6%), Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas species, respectively. E. coli showed highest resistance to ampicillin 87%, and lowest against meropenem (4.3%). Out of 139 E. coli, 92(66.2%) were ESBL producers, resistant to carbapenem was higher (5.03%) in ESBL producing E. coli in comparison to non- ESBLproducers (1.43%). Conclusion: The prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli was higher and carbapenem-resistant E. coli in urinary tract infections in community is still at lower prevalence. (author)

[en] Oil spill pollution, a severe environmental problem, which persists in marine environment or in inland water across the world, has grown to an alarming magnitude with increased levels of oil production and transport. The causes oil pollution are categorized as either accidental or operational, wherever oil is produced, transported, stored and used on the surface of sea or land. Hence, it is almost impossible for marine life to be freed from the adverse affects of oil spill, through the discharge of oil is controlled by an international convention. Prime concern for the health of marine life has created an instinct for undertaking this study by authors. Objectives of the present work include testing of four different local materials in separating oil from having different oil concentrations, and their efficiency of removal. The work also focuses on effect of time of contact and dosage of materials used for oil removal. Corchorus depressus locally available has proved to be more effective when compared to other materials utilized in addressing oil-spill related problems. At the same time its byproducts do not give rise to unwanted hazards to marine life. (author)

[en] A case of symptomatic 60 years old male diagnosed as Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (angioimmunoblastic T-cell type) invading thoracic duct leading to chylothorax is presented. Generally, patients with this moderately aggressive lymphoma are adults who exhibit generalized lymphadenopathy, B-symptoms, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, skin rash and various autoimmune phenomena. (author)

[en] Background: Obesity is defined as an increase in body weight that is greater than 20 percent of an individual's ideal body weight; the weight is determined by certain factors, such as age, height, and gender. Obesity has become a real and serious health issue in the world. Obesity doesn’t come alone but associates with many other multiple diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN) and many more. Sleeve gastrectomy is very beneficial as the surgical treatment of obesity but it also has some risks or complications. Complications may be early or could be long term. Aim: To determine comorbidities and characteristics of adult obese patients forbariatric surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy) and their early postoperative complications Method: Data of 55 participants was taken age ranging from 18 to 60 years from record room of General Operation Theatre (GOT) department of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore. Other than age, weight and BMI of the participants, their comorbidities and complications were studied. Result: Average age of participants which was 41.345 years with standard deviation of 8.097. Most patients were in category of 40 to 50 years age. There were 27 females and 28 males included in this study. 94.5% of the participants had limited physical work ability.Most common co-morbidity was arthritis (53%) then came snoring and hypertension (45% each) followed by sleep apnea (40%) and respiratory disease (36.4%), diabetes (34.5%), regurgitation (32.7%) and myocardial infarction at last with 7% frequency. Rate of post-operative complications was very low with 5.5% of bleeding and 3.6% of abscess and stomach leak both. Conclusion: This study concluded that co-morbidities increase with increasing weight and older age in a dose-response relationship. Also, respiratory disease and sleep apnea are more significant than other co-morbidities. Co-morbidities can be controlled with changing social structure and lifestyles. The problem can only get worse with time if not addressed by healthcare planners. (author)

[en] Aim: To determine the frequency of contributing factors behind parental refusal for lumbar puncture in children. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Department of Paediatrics, Jinnah Hospital Lahore and Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021. Methodology: One hundred and thirty nine parents whose children met the screening requirement were enrolled. Children’s age, sex, parent's educational status and socio-economic position, were recorded. Parents' reasons for refusing lumbar puncture (as defined by operational standards) were recorded. Results: There were 63.3% males and 36.7% females with mean age 4.9±3.02 years. According to contributing factors, 70% of parents thought it is risky while 12% were afraid of the needle, 34% had a terrible experience and 23% didn't want an intrusive technique. Conclusion: The chief factor for parents' discontent with lumbar puncture in their kids was that it’s a hazardous treatment. Most parents are uninformed of the value of lumbar puncture in assessing and treating children, it appears that the higher the parent's awareness leads to more positivity they have in this respect. (author)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the glucose lowering effect of 50% ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum in comparison with that of standard insulin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Study Design: Randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: National Institute of Health Islamabad. Jul 2011- Dec 2011 Material and Methods: It was carried out on 48 adult rats of Sprague dawley specie. Rats were equally divided into 6 groups (I-VI). Group - I served as control. Diabetes was induced by giving single intraperitoneal injection of STZ in Group II to VI. Group-II served as diabetic control, while groups III, IV, V and VI served as experimental groups. Group III, IV and V rats received 50% ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum at a dose of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight respectively for sixty days. Group VI (standard) received humulin insulin 70/30 at dose of 0.6 units<-kg body weight subcutaneously bid for sixty days. Fasting blood samples were taken at zero day, 15 day, 30 day and 60 day after giving injection STZ. Although Syzygium aromaticum with the doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight and insulin reduced the level of glucose in rats but on comparison Syzygium aromaticum 750 mg=kg dose reduced glucose more effectively than 250 and 500 mg/kg dose. While in group III, IV subjects, blood glucose levels remained above normal level. In group VI receiving insulin the level of this parameter remained almost closer to group IV rats. On studying the weight of the animals after receiving STZ there was initial reduction in the weight of all the experimental groups but after receiving the extract of plant improvement was seen and the weight of group V getting 750 mg=kg/body weight of Syzygium aromaticum became almost closer to the weight of control group. Conclusion: Syzygium aromaticum extract has glucose lowering effect in STZ induced diabetic rats and this effect is dose related and the dose of 750 mg/kg body weight has produced maximum effect. (author)

[en] The possibility of an ectopic gallbladder should always be considered whenever there is a failure to localize it in its normal anatomical position on routine imaging. Although a very rare entity, the anomalous position of gallbladder can result in misinterpretation of imaging findings and create clinical confusion. Awareness of such an anomaly facilitates proper diagnosis and subsequent management. The authors report a very rare case of suprahepatic gallbladder associated with phocomelia, pancytopenia, and splenomegaly in a young 25-year-old female. The suprahepatic gallbladder was initially visualized on Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) Mebrofenin radionuclide hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Subsequent magnetic resonance cholecystopancreatography (MRCP) was also done to confirm the diagnosis