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PRECIS: This study demonstrated that the compliance levels with International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Guidelines for glaucoma eye care were low for all the elements in both public and private healthcare settings. PURPOSE: To determine the compliance with the ICO guidelines for glaucoma eye care among Pakistani ophthalmologists and to compare differences among ophthalmologists practicing in public and private healthcare settings. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review, and the records were reviewed according to ICO guidelines. The ICO recommends that each patient with glaucoma be evaluated for 19 items from three elements which are history, examination, and investigations. Mean compliance was recorded for each of the three elements. The compliance of each item was also checked, and then a compared between the two settings i.e. public and private healthcare settings. RESULTS: A total of 394 records were analyzed, with a mean age of 51.9+14.9 years and 232 (58.9%) male patients. Most records were from private settings 339 (86%), and primary open-angle glaucoma 163 (41.4%) was the most common diagnosis. Compliance was low for all elements; history (31.8%), examination (61.3%), and investigation (6%). Pupil reaction differed significantly between the two groups (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Pakistan's ophthalmologists, whether in public or private healthcare settings, lack knowledge of ICO guidelines for glaucoma eye care. This study emphasizes the importance of implementing these guidelines in the general ophthalmology curriculum.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the popular subspeciality choices among ophthalmology residents, to explore the factors affecting that choice, and to identify the obstacles that they face while selecting a subspeciality fellowship. STUDY DESIGN: Mixed-methods study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Ophthalmology of Hayatabad Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from 1st September to 30th November, 2021. METHODOLOGY: The qualitative (1st) phase comprised of focussed group discussion (FGD) followed by an online in-depth interview (IDI). Quantitative (2nd) phase was conducted as online survey and consisted of currently enrolled FCPS-ophthalmology residents. Themes were generated and used to modify the pre-designed questionnaire. Questionnaire was piloted and necessary adjustments were made. In the 2nd phase, the online link of the questionnaire was shared with the eligible participants all over the country. For the association between categorical variables, the Pearson Chi-square test was used with significance at p-value <0.05.   Results: Nine participants were recruited in the first phase and three themes were generated. In the second phase, a total of 138 responses were received, among which mean age was 29.37 + 3.9 years, and 74 (53.6%) participants were males. The top three subspeciality choices were cataract and refractive surgery (n = 31, 22.5%), vitreoretinal surgery (n = 30, 21.7%) and orbit and oculoplasty (n = 13, 9.4%). Sixty-two (48.8%) participants stated interest in the career to be the main reason to choose a particular fellowship, and 54 (42.5%) participants identified challenging subspeciality as the main obstacle. An association between gender and the intended subspeciality showed significant results (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology residents of Pakistan have different approaches and motivations for selecting a fellowship programme. Professional needs and scientific reasons are their main motivations. KEY WORDS: Ophthalmology, Fellowship, Motivations, Career choices, Mentor, Pakistan.

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Membrane fouling remains a challenge to the membrane technology. Herein, we report the fabrication of composite membranes of polyaniline/polyvinylidene fluoride (PANI/PVDF) blended with nanodiamond (ND) with improved antifouling properties. The designed membranes were characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM techniques. Characterization analysis revealed that addition of ND has maintained the structural integrity and porosity of composite membranes. The membrane permeation and antifouling performances were tested for hydrophilicity, porosity, pure water flux, shrinkage ratio, salt rejection of zinc acetate and copper acetate, and their fouling recovery ratio (FRR) measurements. A high solvent content ratio of 0.55 and a low shrinkage ratio of <12% due to enhanced hydrophilicity and porosity of the composite membrane with fouling-recovery of membranes to 88% were achieved. Separation of copper and zinc ions from aqueous solution was achieved. These findings imply that ND-based PANI/PVDF composite membranes can effectively serve as microfiltration membranes in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.

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This research work focuses on the isolation and thermo-chemical modification of cellulose and its application as an adsorbent for the removal of organic pollutants. The used cellulose was collected from a locally available plant (Olive Europa) commonly called Zaitoon. The stem branches of Zaitoon were collected and then kept in water for 40-45 days at room temperature to extract the cellulose fibers. These cellulose fibers were then kept in the Soxhlet apparatus for washing in n-hexane for 72 h. The purified cellulose was divided into three parts: one part was subjected to thermal activation (TAC), the second was modified chemically (CMC) with Benzyl Chloride, while the last one remained un-functionalized (UFC). All the three forms of cellulose were characterized via FTIR and SEM, then utilized for the removal of Titan Yellow (TY) dye from aqueous media via adsorption process by varying the contact time, temperature, concentration of dye and type, and dose of adsorbent. The adsorption efficiencies of all adsorbents were compared under different experimental variables. Thermally activated cellulose showed the best results for the removal of TY compared with other materials. The calculated removal percentage of TY was found to be 97.69, 94.83, 94.83, and 98% under equilibrium conditions of contact time, temperature, adsorbent dose, and TY concentration. Similarly, the uptake capacities of TAC under optimal experimental conditions were found to be 19.56, 18.96, 18.52, and 18.75 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies of TAC, CMC, and UFC showed that the values of ΔG are negative, while those of ΔH and ΔS are positive in all cases and at all temperatures. This indicates that the TY elimination process is endothermic and spontaneous with an entropy-driven nature. The obtained results indicate that the as-fabricated low-cost biomaterials can effectively remove dyes from wastewater through physicochemical interactions. The removal process was influenced by the nature of the adsorbent and the operating variables.

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OBJECTIVE: To compare the HIV-related ocular manifestations between HAART-naïve (Highly active antiretroviral therapy) and HAART-treated patients. STUDY DESIGN: Observational (comparative) Study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Ophthalmology and Family Care Centre of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from October 2019 to July 2021. METHODOLOGY: HIV-infected patients, who were receiving HAART treatment as well as HAART-naïve, were recruited. A complete ocular examination was performed to check for HIV-related ocular manifestations. Anterior and posterior segment findings were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 80 participants (40 in each group), 62 (77.5%) were males and 18 (22.5) were females with no significant difference between the groups for either gender (p=1.0). A significant difference, between the two groups, was found in the mean duration (838.64 + 908.16 days) of HIV infection at the time of recruitment (p<0.001). HIV-related ocular manifestations were found in 6 (7.5%) with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=1.0). Similarly, the involvement of systemic co-infections was found in 6 (7.5%) with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.675). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in both groups when analysed for HIV-related ocular manifestations or systemic co-infections. The authors' finding contradict with some of the previously published data. Therefore, it is recommended that further research should be carried out to reach definite conclusion. KEY WORDS: HIV, Eye manifestations, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-related opportunistic infections, Pakistan.

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Detection of adulteration in carbohydrate-rich foods like fruit juices is particularly difficult because of the variety of the commercial sweeteners available that match the concentration profiles of the major carbohydrates in the foods. In present study, a new sensitive and robust assay using Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) combined with partial least square (PLS) multivariate methods has been developed for detection and quantification of saccharin adulteration in different commercial fruit juice samples. For this investigation, six different commercially available fruit juice samples were intentionally adulterated with saccharin at the following percentage levels: 0%, 0.10%, 0.30%, 0.50%, 0.70%, 0.90%, 1.10%, 1.30%, 1.50%, 1.70% and 2.00% (weight/volume). Altogether, 198 samples were used including 18 pure juice samples (unadulterated) and 180 juice samples adulterated with saccharin. PLS multivariate methods including partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and partial least-squares regressions (PLSR) were applied to the obtained spectral data to build models. The PLS-DA model was employed to differentiate between pure fruit juice samples and those adulterated with saccharin. The R2 value obtained for the PLS-DA model was 97.90% with an RMSE error of 0.67%. Similarly, a PLS regression model was also developed to quantify the amount of saccharin adulterant in juice samples. The R2 value obtained for the PLSR model was 97.04% with RMSECV error of 0.88%. The employed model was then cross-validated by using a test set which included 30% of the total adulterated juice samples. The excellent performance of the model was proved by the low root mean squared error of prediction value of 0.92% and the high correlation factor of 0.97. This newly developed method is robust, nondestructive, highly sensitive and economical.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the optical coherence tomography (OCT) macular findings after successful scleral buckling in eyes with compromised visual status. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic Medical Sciences, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from February 2015 to November 2016. METHODOLOGY: Patients with postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) less than 6/6, successful scleral buckling, and flat macula clinically, aged 18-70 years, were included. OCT scan (OCT-Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, GmbH 69121) of central 30 degrees around fovea was performed three months postoperatively. Foveal detachment, epimacular membrane (EMM) and cystoid macular edema (CME), were studied on OCT after successful buckling surgery in eyes with compromised visual status. RESULTS: A total of 164 eyes of 164 patients (92 males 72 females) were assessed with OCT. Foveal detachment (FD) was present in 54 cases (32.9%), cystoid macular edema (CME) in 30 (18.3%), and epimacular membrane (EMM) in 11 cases (6.7%); while no abnormality was detected in 69 (42.1%) cases on OCT. CONCLUSION: OCT is very helpful in identifying the cause of limited visual recovery after successful retinal detachment (RD) surgery.

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There is an ongoing hunt for biologically active compounds that can combat phytopathogenic fungi and improve plant growth without causing any hazards to the environment. Consequently the present study aims at deciphering the plant growth promotion and antifungal capability of Lysinibacillus sphaericus ZA9. The bacterium was previously isolated and identified in our laboratory from maize rhizosphere using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The test bacterium L. sphaericus ZA9 was found to produce high quantity of IAA (697 µg/ mL); siderophores (195.79 µg/ mL), HCN and hydrolytic enzyme as compared to the reference strain Bacillus sphaericus Z2-7. The bacterium was also capable of solubilizing silicates (Si), phosphates (P), and potassium (K). The bacterium enhanced the seedling vigor and germination of seeds pretreated with it and promoted the shoot length of both cucumber and tomato seeds in greenhouse experiment. L. sphaericus ZA9 and its cell free culture supernatant showed varied antagonistic behavior against Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus sp., Sclerotinia sp., Bipolaris spicifera, Trichophyton sp. Fermentation broth culture of L. sphaericus ZA9 was then used to isolate antifungal metabolites by silica column chromatography. Identification and determination of antifungal compounds was carried out by Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) followed by NMR spectroscopy. Two compounds were isolated and identified as 2-pentyl-4-quinolinecarboxylic acid (C15H17NO2) which is a quinoline alkaloid and 1- methylcyclohexene which is a cycloalkene. Compound 1; 2-Penthyl-4-quinolinecarboxylic acid was found to be highly antagonistic against most of the fungi tested as compared to the bacterium itself. Its activity was comparable to that of fungicide Benlate, while compound 2; 1- methylcyclohexene did not show any antifungal activity.

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New experimental designs for the extraction of polyphenols from different seeds including Basil seed, Red seed, Sesame seeds and Ajwan seeds were investigated. Four variables the concentration and volume of methanol and NaOH solutions as well as the temperature and time of extraction were varied to see their effect on total phenol extraction. The temperature was varied in the range from 25°C to 200°C while the time in the range from 30 to 200minutes. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction parameters. The estimation of polyphenols was measured through phenols reduction UV-Vis spectroscopic method of phosphotungstic-phosphomolybdic acids (Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent). Calibration curve was made by using tannic acid as a polyphenols standard in the concentration range from 0.1 to 10ppm. The regression line obtained shows the value of correlation coefficient i.e. R=0.930 and Root mean square error of cross validation (RMSEC) value of 0.0654. The Basil seeds were found containing the highest amount of total phenols i.e. 785.76mg/100g. While the Sesame seeds having the least amount i.e. 33.08mg/100g. The Ajwan seeds and the Red seeds are containing the medium amounts i.e. 379mg/100g and 220.54mg/100g respectively.

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