61 research outputs found
Pedigree Analysis of Congenital Stationary Night Blindness and Surveillance of Related Problems in the Area of Depalpur, Okara-Pakistan
No full textCongenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is described as a set of inherited, non-progressive retinal conditions in which the rod pathway is primarily affected, resulting in difficulty adapting to low-light situations due to impaired photoreceptor transmission. Objectives of study was to identify patients with CSNB and explore their lifestyle and the impact of CSNB on their daily routines in selected areas. Total seven families having CSNB, belonging to five villages (Abadi Haji Ismaeel, Sunari wala, Tibba, Shamdin, and Chorasta Mian Khan) of Depalpur, district Okara, were investigated in March 2023. The CSNB prevalence was calculated as 2.528 % in all selected families and all of these patients were affected from their childhood. Analysis of data revealed that the lowest to highest prevalence was recorded as 1.5 to 5 % respectively. All of these patients were affected by their childhood. The CSNB patients were facing a large number of issues. Almost 99 % of the patients were under metric education. Similarly, more than 90 % of patients were jobless. They also faced marriage issues but the number of females was more than males. Day eyesight is also weak over time with ageing. Some patients feel like a burden on their families. Feel pain while watching television or using a mobile phone most of the time. The prevalence of significant refractive errors was not high enough to justify only seven families investigated solely for this purpose. However, a program may be justified in areas where CSNB is common. Further research is needed to validate the recurrent reports of the disease
Malware Images Visualization and Classification with Parameter Tunned Deep Learning Model
No full textMalwares can be termed as a malicious program that can gain unauthorized access to the computer. This unauthorized access can damage and harm computing world in many capacities. There are many malware detection approaches present in the world. These approaches include static and dynamic analysis, machine learning, semi -supervised and deep learning-based models. These approaches cannot be visualized, thus cyber security experts face difficulty in interpreting underlying patterns. Conversion of malware byte code into images exits. An improved approach that can not only visualize malware, but also predict malware with high accuracy can be beneficial. For this purpose, we have used existing malware visualization technique. A technique which converts malware samples into images and then applies a contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization algorithm to enhance the similarity between malware image regions in the same family. After conversion into images, we have applied parametrized tunned Convolutional Model to predict malware images. Comparing with existing our approach not only visualizes malware images but also outperforms previous approach by almost 2%, by achieving 98.27% accuracy.
 
Performance Evaluation of Sustainable Soil Stabilization Process Using Waste Materials
No full textThe process of soil stabilization is a fundamental requirement before road infrastructure development is possible. Different binding materials have been used worldwide as soil stabilizers. In this study, water treatment waste (i.e., alum sludge (AS)) was used as a soil stabilizer. Alum sludge can work not only as a low-cost soil stabilizer but also can solve the problem of waste management at a large scale. Utilization of alum waste can be a sustainable solution and environmentally friendly exercise. Thus, in consideration of the pozzolanic properties of alum, it was applied as a binder, similar to cement or lime, to stabilize the soil with the addition of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of dry soil by weight. To analyze the resulting improvement in soil strength, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test was conducted in addition to three other tests (i.e., particle size analysis, Atterberg’s limits test, and modified proctor test). The soil bearing ratio was significantly improved from 6.53% to 16.86% at the optimum level of an 8% addition of alum sludge. Furthermore, the artificial neural networks (ANNs) technique was applied to study the correlations between the CBR and the physical properties of soil, which showed that, at 8% optimum alum sludge, maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, and plasticity index were also at maximum levels. This study will help in providing an eco-friendly soil stabilization process as well as a waste management solution
Pre-Existing Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and KidneyDisease as Risk Factors of Pre-Eclampsia: A Disease of Theories and Its Association with Genetic Polymorphism
No full textPre-existing diabetes, hypertension and kidney disorders are prominent risk factors of pre-eclampsia (PE). It is a multifactorial pregnancy disorder associated with high blood pressure, proteinuria, and multiorgan failure, which develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is one of the most feared pregnancy disorders, as it consumes thousands of fetomaternal lives per annum. According to clinical and pathological studies, the placenta appears to be a key player in the pathogenesis of PE; however, the exact origin of this disorder is still under debate. Defective placentation and angiogenesis are the hallmarks of PE progression. This angiogenic imbalance, together with maternal susceptibility, might determine the severity and clinical presentation of PE. This article comprehensively examines the mechanisms of pathogenesis of PE and current evidence of the factors involved in its progression. Finally, this article will explore the genetic association of PE, various candidate genes, their proposed mechanisms and variants involved in its pathogenesis
Global burden of lower respiratory infections and aetiologies, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
No full textBackground: Lower respiratory infections (LRIs) remain the world’s leading infectious cause of death. This analysis
from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 provides global, regional, and
national estimates of LRI incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with attribution to
26 pathogens, including 11 newly modelled pathogens, across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023. With
new data and revised modelling techniques, these estimates serve as an update and expansion to GBD 2021. Through
these estimates, we also aimed to assess progress towards the 2025 Global Action Plan for the Prevention and
Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) target for pneumonia mortality in children younger than 5 years.
Methods: Mortality from LRIs, defined as physician-diagnosed pneumonia or bronchiolitis, was estimated using
the Cause of Death Ensemble model with data from vital registration, verbal autopsy, surveillance, and minimally
invasive tissue sampling. The Bayesian meta-regression tool DisMod-MR 2.1 was used to model overall morbidity
due to LRIs. DALYs were calculated as the sum of years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs) for
all locations, years, age groups, and sexes. We modelled pathogen-specific case-fatality ratios (CFRs) for each age
group and location using splined binomial regression to create internally consistent estimates of incidence and
mortality proportions attributable to viral, fungal, parasitic, and bacterial pathogens. Progress was assessed
towards the GAPPD target of less than three deaths from pneumonia per 1000 livebirths, which is roughly
equivalent to a mortality rate of less than 60 deaths per 100 000 children younger than 5 years.
Findings: In 2023, LRIs were responsible for 2·50 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·24–2·81) deaths and
98·7 million (87·7–112) DALYs, with children younger than 5 years and adults aged 70 years and older carrying the
highest burden. LRI mortality in children younger than 5 years fell by 33·4% (10·4–47·4) since 2010, with a global
mortality rate of 94·8 (75·6–116·4) per 100000 person-years in 2023. Among adults aged 70 years and older, the burden
remained substantial with only marginal declines since 2010. A mortality rate of less than 60 deaths per 100000 for
children younger than 5 years was met by 129 of the 204 modelled countries in 2023. At a super-regional level, subSaharan Africa had an aggregate mortality rate in children younger than 5 years (hereafter referred to as under-5
mortality rate) furthest from the GAPPD target. Streptococcus pneumoniae continued to account for the largest number
of LRI deaths globally (634000 [95% UI 565000–721000] deaths or 25·3% [24·5–26·1] of all LRI deaths), followed by
Staphylococcus aureus (271000 [243000–298000] deaths or 10·9% [10·3–11·3]), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (228000
[204000–261000] deaths or 9·1% [8·8–9·5]). Among pathogens newly modelled in this study, non-tuberculous
mycobacteria (responsible for 177000 [95% UI 155000–201000] deaths) and Aspergillus spp (responsible for 67800
[59900–75900] deaths) emerged as important contributors. Altogether, the 11 newly modelled pathogens accounted for
approximately 22% of LRI deaths.
Interpretation: This comprehensive analysis underscores both the gains achieved through vaccination and the
challenges that remain in controlling the LRI burden globally. Furthermore, it demonstrates persistent disparities
in disease burden, with the highest mortality rates concentrated in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, as
well as in these high-burden locations, the under-5 LRI mortality rate remains well above the GAPPD target.
Progress towards this target requires equitable access to vaccines and preventive therapies—including newer
interventions such as respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibodies—and health systems capable of early
diagnosis and treatment. Expanding surveillance of emerging pathogens, strengthening adult immunisation
programmes, and combating vaccine hesitancy are also crucial. As the global population ages, the dual challenge
of sustaining gains in child survival while addressing the rising vulnerability in older adults will shape future
pneumonia control strategies
The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
No full text© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). Interpretation: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990-2023
No full textBackground: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and are among the foremost causes of disability globally. CVD burden has continued to increase in most countries since 1990, with trends driven by changing exposures to harmful risk factors, population growth, and population aging. Objectives: We report estimates of global, national, and subnational CVD burden, including 18 subdiseases and 12 associated modifiable risk factors. We analyzed change in CVD burden from 1990 to 2023 and identified drivers of change including population growth, population aging, and risk factor exposure. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, a multinational collaborative research study, quantified burden due to 375 diseases including CVD burden and identified drivers of change from 1990 to 2023 using all available data and statistical models. GBD 2023 estimated the population-level burden of diseases in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023. Results: CVDs were the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and deaths estimated in the GBD. As of 2023, there were 437 million (95% UI: 401 to 465 million) CVD DALYs globally, a 1.4-fold increase from the number in 1990 of 320 million (292 to 344 million). Ischemic heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and hypertensive heart disease were the leading cardiovascular causes of DALYs in 2023 globally. As of 2023, age-standardized CVD DALY rates were highest in low and low-middle Socio-demographic Index (SDI) settings and lowest in high SDI settings. The number of CVD deaths increased globally from 13.1 million (95% UI: 12.2 to 14.0 million) in 1990 to 19.2 million (95% UI: 17.4 to 20.4 million) in 2023. The number of prevalent cases of CVD more than doubled since 1990, with 311 million (95% UI: 294 to 333 million) prevalent cases of CVD in 1990 and 626 million (95% UI: 591 to 672 million) prevalent cases in 2023 globally. A total of 79.6% (95% UI: 75.7% to 82.5%) of CVD burden is attributable to modifiable risk factors 347 million [95% UI: 318 to 373 million] DALYs in 2023). Globally, high systolic blood pressure, dietary risks, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and air pollution were the modifiable risks responsible for most attributable CVD burden in 2023. Since 1990, changes in exposure to modifiable risk factors have had mixed effects on CVD burden, with increases in high body mass index, high fasting plasma glucose, and low physical activity leading to higher burden, while reductions in tobacco usage have mitigated some of these increases. Population growth and population aging were the main drivers of the increasing burden since 1990, adding 128 million (95% UI: 115 to 139 million) and 139 million (95% UI: 126 to 151 million) CVD DALYs to the increase in CVD burden since 1990. Conclusions: CVD remains the leading cause of disease burden and death worldwide with the greatest burden in low, low-middle, and middle SDI regions. Large variation exists in CVD burden even for countries at similar levels of development, a gap explained substantially by known, modifiable risk factors that are inadequately controlled. The decades-long increase in CVD burden was the result of population growth, population aging, and increased exposure to a subset of risk factors led by metabolic risks. Countries will need to adopt effective health system and public health strategies if they are to progress in achieving global goals to reduce the burden of CVD
Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
No full textBackground: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries
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