Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in mangrove ecosystems: global synthesis and future research directions

Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology - Although coastal ecosystems such as mangroves have substantial productive and protective rules, this ecosystem is threatened due to inorganic...     

Frequency of poor quality of life and predictors of health related quality of life in cirrhosis at a tertiary care hospital Pakistan

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis produces variety of symptoms which eventually lead to a negative impact on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). The general aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of poor HRQOL and to assess factors related with HRQOL in patients with CLD in Pakistan. FINDINGS: This was a cross sectional study conducted in gastroenterology outpatient clinics of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi on adult patients with cirrhosis. In this study chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) was used to assess HRQOL of these patients and CLDQ score was used as an outcome measure to determine factors related with HRQOL. 273 participants were recruited in the study; 155 (57%) were males. Mean age of participants was 49 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 11 years. The most common cause for cirrhosis was viral infection 247(91.5%). Mean Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 12.6 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 6.8 and 2/3 of patients 209 (76.6%) had advanced cirrhosis in Child Turcot Pugh (CTP) B or C stage. Poor HRQOL was seen in 187(69%; 95% C.I.: 63%, 74%) of the participants. Mean CLDQ score was 4.36 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN]1.1. Amongst all of the domains, fatigue domain had lower CLDQ score. Hemoglobin (beta = 0.09 [SE = 0.04]), Albumin (beta = 0.32[SE = 0.09]), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (beta = 0.01[0.005) prior history of decompensation (beta = 0.98[SE = 0.39] were significant factors associated with HRQOL in patients with liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Frequency of poor health related quality of life determined by CLDQ score is high in patients with liver cirrhosis. Hemoglobin, serum albumen, prior history of decompensation (like encephalopathy and upper gastro intestinal bleed), are associated with health related quality of life.     

Production of extracellular lipase from psychrotrophic bacterium Oceanisphaera sp. RSAP17 isolated from arctic soil

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek - Cold-active extracellular lipases produced by different psychrotrophs are important for various industrial applications. We have isolated a Gram-negative, rod-shaped,...