ABSTRACT A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the vaccination status and barriers to vaccination among the university students by utilizing a simple random sampling technique in the largest public sector university of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The participants comprised 380 university students. Data was collected by a self-designed questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Chi-square Test and Fischer Exact test were applied to assess the impact of demographics on vaccination status, and barriers to vaccination. Out of 380 participants, 328 (86.31%) were males and 52 (13.68) females. The immunization status of university students against various diseases was variable: 97.10% (n=369) were vaccinated against poliomyelitis, 58.68% (n=223) against BCG, 44.21% (n=168) against hepatitis B, 49.21% (n=187) against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus and 55.26% (n=210) against measles vaccine. The barriers to vaccination were unwillingness 15.0% (n=57), inaccessibility 17.10% (n=65), financial issues 4.47 % (n=17) and unawareness 63.42% (n=241). Moreover, 31% (n=118) of the participants considered that the use of vaccines is unsafe. The vaccination status of the university students in Southern Punjab, Pakistan is alarming as most of the students were unvaccinated. The unawareness and perception of the unsafety of vaccines were the biggest barriers to vaccination.

RESUMEN Se realizó un estudio transversal para determinar el estado de vacunación y las barreras a la vacunación entre los estudiantes universitarios, mediante la utilización de una técnica de muestreo aleatorio simple, en la universidad más grande del sector público del sur de Punjab, Pakistán. Los participantes fueron 380 estudiantes universitarios. Los datos se recopilaron mediante un cuestionario de diseño propio. Se utilizó el Paquete Estadístico para Ciencias Sociales (SPSS) para el análisis de datos. Se aplicaron la prueba de chi-cuadrado y la prueba exacta de Fischer para evaluar el impacto de la demografía en el estado de vacunación y las barreras para la vacunación. De 380 participantes, 328 (86,31%) fueron hombres y 52 (13,68%) mujeres. El estado de inmunización de los estudiantes universitarios frente a diversas enfermedades fue variable: 97,10% (n = 369) fueron vacunados contra poliomielitis, 58,68% (n = 223) contra BCG, 44,21% (n = 168) contra hepatitis B, 49,21% (n = 187) contra la difteria, tos ferina y tétanos y 55,26% (n = 210) contra la vacuna contra el sarampión. Las barreras para la vacunación fueron la falta de voluntad 15,0% (n = 57); la inaccesibilidad 17,10% (n = 65); los problemas económicos 4,47% (n = 17) y el desconocimiento 63,42% (n = 241). Además, el 31% (n = 118) de los participantes consideró que el uso de vacunas no es seguro. El estado de vacunación de los estudiantes universitarios en el sur de Punjab, Pakistán, es alarmante ya que la mayoría de los estudiantes no estaban vacunados. El desconocimiento y la percepción de la inseguridad de las vacunas fueron las mayores barreras para la vacunación.

ABSTRACT Rosewood, Aniba rosaeodora is an endangered species in Amazon forests and its natural stands have been heavily depleted due to over-exploitation for the cosmetic industry. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of 90 rosewood accessions from eight localities in the Peruvian Amazon through 11 Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) primers. The ISSR primers produced a sum of 378 bands, of which 375 (99.2%) were polymorphic, with an average polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.774. The mean effective number of alleles (Ne), Shannon informative index (I), gene diversity (He) and total gene diversity (Ht) were 1.485, 0.294, 0.453 and 0.252, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed the presence of maximum variability within populations (88%). The Structure algorithm, neighbor joining and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) grouped the 90 rosewood accessions into three main populations (A, B and C). Diversity indices at the inter-population level revealed a greater genetic diversity in population A, due to higher gene flow. The neighbor-joining analysis grouped populations A and B, while population C was found to be divergent at the inter population level. We concluded that population A reflects higher genetic diversity and should be prioritized for future management and conservation plans.

RESUMEN Palo de rosa, Aniba rosaeodora es una especie en peligro de extinción en los bosques amazónicos. Sus rodales naturales se han agotado debido a la sobreexplotación para la industria cosmética. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la diversidad genética y estructura poblacional de 90 accesiones de palo de rosa de ocho localidades en la Amazonía Peruana utilizando 11 marcadores de Inter Secuencias Simples Repetidas (ISSR). Los marcadores ISSR produjeron una suma de 378 bandas, de las cuales 375 (99,2%) fueron polimórficas, con un valor promedio de contenido de información de polimorfismo (PIC) de 0,774. El promedio del número efectivo de alelos (Ne), índice informativo de Shannon (I), diversidad genética (He) y diversidad genética total (Ht) fueron 1,485; 0,294; 0,453 y 0,252; respectivamente. El análisis de varianza molecular (AMOVA) mostró la presencia de máxima variabilidad dentro de las poblaciones (88%). El algoritmo Structure, neighbor joining y análisis de coordenadas principales (PCoA) agruparon las 90 accesiones de palo de rosa en tres poblaciones principales (A, B y C). Los índices de diversidad a nivel interpoblacional revelaron una mayor diversidad genética en la población A, debido al mayor flujo de genes. El análisis de neighbor joining agrupó las poblaciones A y B, mientras la población C fué divergente a nivel interpoblacional. Concluimos que la población A refleja mayor diversidad genética y debería priorizarse para futuros planes de manejo y conservación.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and radiographic periodontal parameters in prediabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and non-diabetic patients. Forty-one patients with prediabetes (Group 1), 43 patients with T2DM (Group 2), and 41 controls (Group 3) were included. Demographic data were recorded using a questionnaire. Full-mouth clinical (plaque index [PI], bleeding on probing [BOP], probing depth [PD], clinical attachment loss [CAL], missing teeth [MT]) and radiographic (marginal bone loss [MBL]) parameters were measured on digital radiographs. In all groups, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were also measured. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The mean age and HbA1c levels of participants in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 53.4±3.5, 60.1 ± 0.6, and 56.6 ± 2.5 years and 6.1%, 8.4%, and 4.8%, respectively. The mean duration of prediabetes and T2DM in patients from Groups 1 and 2 were 1.9 ± 0.3 and 3.1 ± 0.5 years, respectively. PI, BOP, PD, MT, CAL, and MBL were significantly higher in Groups 1 (p < 0.05) and 2 (p < 0.05) than in Group 3. There was no statistically significant difference in these parameters in Groups 1 and 2. Periodontal parameters were worse between prediabetes and T2DM patients compared with controls; however, these parameters were comparable between prediabetes and T2DM patients.

In present study synthesis of 99mTc-triamcinolone acetonide (99mTc-TA) complex and its stability using set of quality control parameters such as ligand concentration, reducing agent concentration, pH, temperature and reaction time was assessed. 99mTc-TA complex was characterized in terms of percent (%) yield, stability in saline and serum using chromatographic procedures. Radiochemically the 99mTc-TA complex was found quite stable in saline and serum. After 30 min of reaction the complex showed maximum radiochemical yield of 96.32% which decreased to 96.25 % after 4 h incubation period. In serum, the % yield of radiochemical was remained same up to 2 h which decreased to 93.5% at 24 h time point. Normal biodistribution pattern in Sprague-Dawley rats revealed liver, stomach and kidneys as areas of high 99mTc-TA complex uptake (8.44 ± 1.32, 8.75 ± 1.03 and 12.67 ± 1.21%, respectively) at 1 h post injection time point. Scintigraphy of 99mTc-TA in rabbits showed similar eco as observed in biodistribution study. Based on the promising results obtained in context of in vitro and in vivo stability and biodistribution, 99mTc-TA complex could be further studied to identify the inflammation based diseases.

Alternaric acid is characterized as 1,4-diene, possessing (E)-1,2-disubstituted alkene known for nanomolar phytotoxic and antifungal activities. This article highlights the major synthetic approaches attempted towards the total synthesis of alternaric acid reported by three groups (Ichihara & coworkers, Trost & coworkers and Johnson and Slade) which involved novel pathways for the rapid construction of this functionalized natural molecule.