Background/aims: Crohn's disease (CD) results in significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. This study evaluated the temporal trends of CD hospitalizations with a fistula over the last decade to understand the outcomes of severe CD. Methods: National Inpatient Sample database from 2009 to 2019 was used to identify CD hospitalizations with a fistula. The outcomes of interest included temporal trend analysis of length of stay (LOS), mean inpatient cost (MIC), and mortality. Results: There was an increase in the total number of fistulizing CD hospitalizations from 5,386 in 2009 to 12,900 in 2019 (p<0.01). The mean age decreased from 44.9±0.6 to 41.8±0.4 years for the study period (p<0.01). Caucasians were the predominant ethnicity, followed by Africans, Hispanics, and others (p<0.001). The mean LOS for fistulizing CD hospitalizations decreased significantly from 11.57±0.09 days in 2009 to 7.20±0.05 days in 2019 (p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in inpatient mortality from 1.72% in 2009 to 0.73% in 2019 (p<0.01). The MIC did not have a significant trend. There was a decreasing trend toward partial/total colectomies, rectosigmoid, and small bowel surgeries from 2009 to 2019 (p<0.001). Conclusions There has been a rise in CD hospitalizations with fistulizing disease in the last decade. Despite this, the mortality and inpatient LOS have been decreasing significantly. In addition, the increase in CD hospitalizations with fistulizing disease has had no significant effect on hospital costs.

The efficacy and safety of oral versus vaginal misoprostol for elective induction of labor in post date multigravida with an unfavourable cervix was compared over a period of one year in the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Eightyeight multigravida post date women were divided into two groups and given 50 mg misoprostol orally and 50 mg intravaginally, respectively. The induction to onset of significant uterine contractions and delivery intervals were lower in the first group (7.8 h vs. 8.9 h) when compared to (10.4 h vs. 12 h). The first group had a higher rate of Caesarean section (7% vs. 4%; p>0.05), uterine hyperstimulation (9% vs. 5%; p>0.05), uterine tachysystole (23% vs. 14%; p>0.05) and neonatal admissions to intensive care unit (12% vs. 4%; p>0.05) when compared to second group. Fifty mg oral misoprostol has the potential to induce labor as safely and effectively as the intravaginal route.

Aims: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most widely used and environmentally damaging plastic. Processing, production and disposal of PVC cause release of toxic chlorine based compounds into environment. The objective of the present study was to assess the biodegradability of cellulose blended PVC by white rot fungi i.e. Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Methodology and results: Biodegradability of the strain for the polymer was tested on plate assay, sturm test, soil burial and shake flask experiments. The biodegradability of the polymer was determined by visual changes, plate assay and carbon dioxide production. Morphological changes in the polymer such as pits, extensive spotting, clear surface erosion, fungal attachment, roughening and deterioration of some parts were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Chemical changes like appearance and shortening of peaks using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also confirmed the biodegradability of the polymer. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The present study confirmed that mixing of small amount of cellulose increases the hydrophilicity of the polymer and lead to its microbial degradation and Phanerochaete chrysosporium has great potential for the treatment of solid waste containing plastics.

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric disease afflicting around 1.1% of the population worldwide. Recently, MIR137, CACNA1C, CSMD1, DRD2, and GRM3 have been reported as the most robustly emerging candidates involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. In this case control study, we performed an association analysis of rs1625579 (MIR137), rs1006737, rs4765905 (CACNA1C), rs10503253 (CSMD1), rs1076560 (DRD2), rs12704290, rs6465084, and rs148754219 (GRM3) in Pakistani population. METHODS: Schizophrenia was diagnosed on the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed (DSM-IV). Detailed clinical information, family history of all patients and healthy controls were collected. RFLP based case control association study was performed in a Pakistani cohort of 508 schizophrenia patients and 300 healthy control subjects. Alleles and genotype frequencies were calculated using SPSS. RESULTS: A significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies for rs4765905, rs1076560 and rs6465084 were found between the patients and controls (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: This study provides substantial evidence supporting the role of CACNA1C, GRM3 and DRD2 as schizophrenia susceptibility genes in Pakistani population.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pakistan ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Schizophrenia*

Objective: The study examined the efficacy of various generations of cephalosporins against biofilms developed by pathogenic S. aureus and E. coli. Methods: The development of biofilms by both bacteria was assessed using petri-plate and microplate methods. Biofilm hydrolysis and inhibition were tested using first to fourth generations of cephalosporins, and the effects were analyzed by crystal violet staining and phase contrast microscopy. Results: Both bacterial strains exhibited well-developed biofilms in petri-plate and microplate assays. Cefradine (first generation) showed 76.78% hydrolysis of S. aureus biofilm, while significant hydrolysis (59.86%) of E. coli biofilm was observed by cefipime (fourth generation). Similarly, cefuroxime, cefadroxil, cefepime, and cefradine caused 78.8%, 71.63%, 70.63%, and 70.51% inhibition of the S. aureus biofilms, respectively. In the case of E. coli, maximum biofilm inhibition (66.47%) was again shown by cefepime. All generations of cephalosporins were more effective against S. aureus than E. coli, which was confirmed by phase contrast microscopy. Conclusions and Relevance: Cephalosporins exhibit dual capabilities of hydrolyzing and inhibiting S. aureus and E. coli biofilms. First-generation cephalosporins exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus, while the third and fourth generations significantly inhibited E. coli biofilms. This study highlights the importance of tailored antibiotic strategies based on the biofilm characteristics of specific bacterial strains.

Objective: In the present study the empathy-altruism hypothesis was studied. According to empathy-altruism hypothesis, altruistic acts stimulated by empathy, are directed to improve another person's welfare. Purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the emotional empathy and altruism and to determine the predictive power of emotional empathy for altruism among health professionals. Methods: Correlational and cross-sectional research designs were used for the present study. Sample size was estimated through G*power and 200 health professionals (100 MBBS and 100 BDS) were taken from different government and private hospitals and health institutes through purposive sampling technique. Age range of participants was 24-35 years (M=31.45, SD=3.39). Bio data form, Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale and Helping attitude scale were used to get demographic information and to assess the emotional empathy and altruistic behaviour respectively of health professionals. Data were analysed by using SPSS 23. Results: Results of the present study showed strong and positive relationship between emotional empathy and altruism among health professionals. Hierarchical regression analysis was run to find the predictive power of emotional empathy for altruistic behaviour of the health professionals. After controlling age, gender, level of education and marital status, emotional empathy emerged as the strong predictor for altruistic behaviour among health professional. Emotional empathy accounted 31.3 % variance for altruistic behaviour. This study can create awareness about the role of health professionals and their behaviour towards patients. Health professional’s emotional empathy is the compulsory factors for defining their attitude towards their patients. Conclusion Emotional empathy plays an important role in the altruistic attributes of health professionals. Some training programs must be arranged to enhance their emotional empathy

COVID-19/virology* ; Cities ; Environmental Monitoring ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Infection Control/methods* ; Pakistan ; RNA, Viral/genetics* ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Sewage/virology*

Aeriscardovia aeriphila, also known as Bifidobacterium aerophilum, was first isolated from the caecal contents of pigs and the faeces of cotton-top tamarin. Bifidobacterium species play important roles in preventing intestinal infections, decreasing cholesterol levels, and stimulating the immune system. In this study, we isolated a strain of bacteria from the duodenal contents of broiler chickens, which was identified as A. aeriphila, and then evaluated the effects of A. aeriphila on growth performance, antioxidant functions, immune functions, and gut microbiota in commercial broiler chickens. Chickens were orally gavaged with A. aeriphila (1×10⁹ CFU/mL) for 21 d. The results showed that A. aeriphila treatment significantly increased the average daily gain and reduced the feed conversion ratio (P<0.001). The levels of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were significantly increased following A. aeriphila treatment (P<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen and aspartate aminotransferase levels were decreased, whereas glucose and creatinine levels increased as a result of A. aeriphila treatment. Furthermore, the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (P<0.01), superoxide dismutase (P<0.001), and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05), and total antioxidant capacity (P<0.05) were enhanced following A. aeriphila treatment. A. aeriphila treatment significantly increased the levels of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) (P<0.05), IgG (P<0.01), IgM (P<0.05), interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P<0.05), IL-4 (P<0.05), and IL-10 (P<0.05). The broiler chickens in the A. aeriphila group had higher secretory IgA (SIgA) levels in the duodenum (P<0.01), jejunum (P<0.001), and cecum (P<0.001) than those in the control group. The messenger RNA (mRNA) relative expression levels of IL-10 (P<0.05) and IL-4 (P<0.001) in the intestinal mucosa of chickens were increased, while nuclear factor-‍κB (NF‍-‍κB) (P<0.001) expression was decreased in the A. aeriphila group compared to the control group. Phylum-level analysis revealed Firmicutes as the main phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, in both groups. The data also found that Phascolarctobacterium and Barnesiella were increased in A. aeriphila-treated group. In conclusion, oral administration of A. aeriphila could improve the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, immune modulation, and gut health of broilers. Our findings may provide important information for the application of A. aeriphila in poultry production.
Animals ; Swine ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Chickens ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Interleukin-10/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-4/pharmacology* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Immunity ; Diet/veterinary* ; Animal Feed/analysis* ; Dietary Supplements/analysis*