METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2022 to August 2022. A total of 1065 healthy individuals aged 25-80 years of any gender were consecutively included. MetS was assessed using the National Cholesterol Education Program for Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) III guidelines, International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and modified NCEP-ATP III.
RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was highest with the modified NCEP-ATP III definition at 33.9% (95% CI: 31-36), followed by the IDF definition at 32.2% (95% CI: 29-35). In contrast, the prevalence was lower at 22.4% (95% CI: 19-25) when using the NCEP ATP III definition. The risk of MetS significantly increases with higher BMI, as defined by the IDF criteria (adjusted OR [ORadj] 1.13, 95% CI 1.09-2.43), NCEP-ATP III criteria (ORadj 1.15, 95% CI 1.11-1.19), and modified NCEP-ATP III criteria (ORadj 1.16, 95% CI 1.12-1.20). Current smokers had significantly higher odds of MetS according to the IDF (ORadj 2.72, 95% CI 1.84-4.03), NCEP-ATP III (ORadj 3.93, 95% CI 2.55-6.06), and modified NCEP-ATP III (ORadj 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.88). Areca nut use was associated with higher odds of MetS according to both IDF (ORadj 1.71, 95% CI 1.19-2.47) and modified NCEP-ATP III criteria (ORadj 1.58, 95% CI 1.10-2.72). Furthermore, low physical activity had significantly higher odds of MetS according to the NCEP-ATP III (ORadj 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.84) and modified NCEP-ATP III criteria (ORadj 1.56, 95% CI 1.08-2.26).
CONCLUSION: One-third of the healthy individuals were diagnosed with MetS based on IDF, NCEP-ATP III, and modified NCEP-ATP III criteria. A higher BMI, current smoking, areca nut use, and low physical activity were significant factors.
OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to explore the role of oligodendrocyte-specific transcription factors (OLIG2 and MYT1L) under suitable media composition to facilitate human umbilical-cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) differentiation toward oligodendrocyte for their potential use to treat demyelinating disorders.
METHODOLOGY: hUC-MSCs were isolated, cultured, and characterized based on their morphological and phenotypic characteristics. hUC-MSCs were transfected with OLIG2 and MYT1L transcription factors individually and in synergistic (OLIG2 + MYT1L) groups using a lipofectamine-based transfection method and incubated under two different media compositions (normal and oligo induction media). Transfected hUC-MSCs were assessed for lineage specification and differentiation using qPCR. Differentiation was also analyzed via immunocytochemistry by determining the expression of oligodendrocyte-specific proteins.
RESULTS: All the transfected groups showed significant upregulation of GFAP and OLIG2 with downregulation of NES, demonstrating the MSC commitment toward the glial lineage. Transfected groups also presented significant overexpression of oligodendrocyte-specific markers (SOX10, NKX2.2, GALC, CNP, CSPG4, MBP, and PLP1). Immunocytochemical analysis showed intense expression of OLIG2, MYT1L, and NG2 proteins in both normal and oligo induction media after 3 and 7 days.
CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that OLIG2 and MYT1L have the potential to differentiate hUC-MSCs into oligodendrocyte-like cells, which is greatly facilitated by the oligo induction medium. The study may serve as a promising cell-based therapeutic strategy against demyelination-induced neuronal degeneration.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to investigate how job crafting augments work outputs (i.e., innovation performance and career satisfaction) through work engagement.
METHODS: Data were collected from 477 workers working in the Pakistan manufacturing sector. A structural equation modeling technique was used to investigate the mediation model.
RESULTS: Job crafting has a direct and indirect association with innovation performance and career satisfaction - via employees' work engagement. Additionally, the mediating impact was stronger for innovation performance than for career satisfaction. The findings advocate that managers should pay attention to employees' job crafting to improve employees' work engagement in manufacturing organizations. To improve employees' innovation performance and career satisfaction via work engagement, it is important to improve organization-wide job crafting in traditional manufacturing organizations. Strategic and managerial actions related to job crafting might boost employees' engagement in the organization that environments provide incessantly better outcomes.
CONCLUSION: By linking job crafting and work engagement to their attitude towards career satisfaction and innovation performance in Pakistani manufacturing firms, this study adds a new dimension to the study of Pakistani manufacturing employees and typically to the best practices in career debates. This knowledge is important and unique because it accentuates that in addition to work engagement, which focuses primarily on employee growth in the organization, job crafting should also be given equal importance to advance manufacturing employees' outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective case series study. A record of 53 patients was included in the study, during a period between June 2013 to July 2017 with ulnar nerve palsy. The procedure done was flexor digitorum superficialis tendon transfer as dynamic anti-claw procedure. The follow-up period was three months. The outcomes assessed were grip strength by using sphygmomanometer and active range of motion of fingers assessed by fingers tips touching the palm.
RESULT: Fifty-three patients were included out of them, there were fifty males and three females. The mean age was 28±10 years. All patients underwent flexor digitorum superficialis transfer for ulnar claw hand. A total of 84.9% patients have good grip strength and 83% showed good active range of motion.
CONCLUSION: Flexor digitorum superficialis tendon transfer is found to be effective, reliable and reproducible technique in ulnar nerve palsy where patient need grip strength, good range of motion and acceptable hand function for daily routine work.