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Family tree working in multihost parasitic organisms: Eidmanniella albescens along with Fregatiella aurifasciata on seabirds from the Galapagos Islands.
OBJECTIVE To find out the correlation between levels of stress and self-regulated learning skills in medical students. METHODS The quantitative correlational study was conducted in January 2018 at the University College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised regular medical students enrolled in first to fifth year. Data was collected using Perceived stress scale-14 and Self-regulated learning perception scale questionnaires to identify the levels of stress and self-regulated learning skills. Data was collected at one point of time and analysed using SPSS 25. RESULTS Of the 350 students approached, 295(84%) filled in the questionnaire. Of them, 118(62.4%) were females and 111(37.6%) were males. No significant differences were found between the scores of male and female students (p>0.05). There was a moderate positive correlation between stress and self-regulated learning skills (p less then 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Self-regulated learning skills can play a vital role in coping with stress and identifying a goal.OBJECTIVE To assess the utility of galactomannan and beta-D-glucan assays in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in clinically suspected cases, and to compare their diagnostic potential to determine whether a combination of the two may result in an early and specific diagnosis. Methods The descriptive cross-sectional case-control study was conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018, and comprised serum samples from clinically suspected invasive aspergillosis patients and healthy controls. The sera were tested for galactomannan and beta-D-glucan detection. Proven, probable and possible categories of invasive aspergillosis according to European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer / Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group criteria. Galactomannan antigen was detected using a one-stage immunoenzymatic sandwich microplate assay. Beta-D-Glucanhe latter assay being more specific.OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of working length measurement with endomotor having builtin apex locator by comparing it with periapical radiographs. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January to June 2014, and comprised permanent maxillary anterior teeth with mature apices. A preoperative radiograph was taken by using standardised paralleling technique. The access cavity was prepared by a high speed water-cooled diamond bur. After doing initial filing and drying the canal, the working length was taken with an endomotor with built-in apex locator in dual mode using the Protaper Rotary File S1. The length was measured using a millimeter scale. click here After attaining tentative working length from the pre-operative radiograph, 1mm was subtracted from the radiographic apex. A stainless steel K-file was placed in the canal at this length and a radiograph was taken by paralleling technique using intraoral film holder. The electronic and radiographic findings were noted. Accuracy was considered positive if the endomotor reading was 0-2mm short of the radiographic working length. Data was analysed using SPSS 16. RESULTS Of the 96 cases, working length with X-Smart Dual was acceptable in 85(88.5%) cases, and unacceptable in 11(11.5%) cases. CONCLUSIONS Accuracy of working length measurement with endomotor having built-in apex locator was found to be a better measuring tool compared to the conventional periapical radiographs.OBJECTIVE To assess the frequency of Vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease and its association with baseline mineral bone markers in patients visiting nephrology clinics. METHODS The observational study was conducted at the Indus Hospital, Karachi, from January 2017 to January 2018, and comprised patients of either gender aged >16 years diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage I-V. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of severity of vitamin D deficiency. Severe vitamin D deficiency was defined as less then 10ng/ml, and moderate deficiency ad 10- 25ng/ml. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS Of the 267 patients, 146(54.7%) were males and 189(70.8%) had vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D-deficient patients were younger than those with normal levels (p=0.044). Serum creatinine was raised in the deficient patients compared to those with normal vitamin D level (p=0.042). Females and currently employed patients were at a higher risk of having vitamin D deficiency (p=0.048, 0.009). There was no si gn ific ant as s ociation between disease stage a nd vitamin D defic ienc y ( p= 0.311). CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D deficiency was found in a significant proportion of chronic kidney disease patients irrespective of the disease stage. Females, currently employed and young patients were more prone to having vitamin D deficiency.OBJECTIVE To study the orthologs of the five genes of congenital hypothyroidism NIS, PAX8, DUOX2, FOXE1, NKX2-1 that are involved in the development of the thyroid gland. METHODS The study was conducted at INMOL Cancer Hospital, Lahore in September 2017 and comprised of finding gene orthologs, phylogenetic tree and domains of NIS, PAX8, DUOX2, FOXE1, NKX2-1 which were studied using different bioinformatics tools, including FASTA, BLAST, ENSEMBL, UniProt, MultiAlin, to find out the important domains involved in the mutations of these genes. RESULTS Genes showed consensus sequence / motifs involved in congenital hypothyroidism. Phylogenetic results showed that these genes shared some common motifs. Phylogenetic trees revealed sub-clusters with high protein homology. CONCLUSIONS Genes involved in congenital hypothyroidism were found to have a consensus sequence motifs.OBJECTIVE To evaluate websites of in-vitro fertilisation centres in terms of standardised ethical guidelines for advertising. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey from February to April 2017. A total of 148 IVF centre websites were evaluated in terms of objective criteria in accordance with American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine / Society for Assisted Reproductive. Technology guidelines for advertising. Websites were surveyed with attention paid to success rates, testimonials, sales promotions, price, psychological support offered as part of the service, regulating / certifying bodies, misleading language, and the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS Out of 193 centres, 148(76.7%) had active websites; 104(70.3%) private, 38(25.7%) in university hospitals and 6(4%) in state hospitals. Of them, 103(69.6%) centres used at least one example of misleading language when compared to the relevant guidelines.
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