Background: The distribution of non-malignant hematological disorder varies across globe by sex, age groups and type of disease. The objectives of this study were to determine distribution of non-malignant hematological disorders by sex, age groups and type of disease based on bone marrow aspiration in population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Pathology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan from Jan.-Dec. 2014. 116 cases with non-malignant hematogical disorders were selected. Sex, age groups and type of disease were analyzed by count and percentage with confidence intervals for proportions. Chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to testify two hypotheses. Results: Out of 116 cases, 63(54.31%, 80%CI 48.38-60.24) were men and 53(45.69%, 80% CI 39.76-51.62) women. Age groups wise; 31(26.72%, 80%CI 21.46-31.99) were child (≤17 years), 57(49.14%, 80%CI 43.19-55.09) young adult (18-35 years), 19(16.38%, 80%CI 11.98-20.78) middle-aged adults (36-55 years) and nine (7.76%, 80%CI 4.57-10.94) older adults (≥56 years). Frequency of type of disease was; hemolytic anemia 17(14.66%, 80%CI 10.45-18.86), megaloblastic anemia 16(13.79%, 80%CI 9.69-17.9), bone marrow hypoplasia 14(12.07%, 80%CI 8.19-15.95), iron deficiency anemia 13(11.21%, 80%CI 7.45-14.96), mixed deficiency anemia 9(7.76%, 80%CI 4.57-10.94), ITP 9(7.76%, 80%CI 4.57-10.94), aplastic anemia 8(6.89%, 80%CI 3.88-9.91), bi-liniage cytopenia 7(6.03%, 80%CI 3.2-8.87), erythroid hyperplasia 3(2.59%, 80%CI .7-4.47) and malaria 2(1.72%, 80%CI 0.18-3.27). In 18(15.52%, 80%CI 11.21-19.83) cases the bone marrow was diluted. Null hypothesis for distribution of sex (p=.3532) was accepted while that for age groups was rejected (p=

Transgenic science and technology are fundamental to the state-of-art plant molecular genetics and crop improvement. The new generation of technology endeavors to introduce genes 'stably' into 'site-specific' locations and in 'single copy' without the integration of extraneous vector 'backbone' sequences or 'selectable markers'. Numerous plant transformation technologies have developed with the aim of achieving these objectives. Here we discuss some of these technologies, which can push the development of 'better transgenic plants with desirable characters only'.

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Objectives: To assess the sensitivity of the various discrimination indicesas screening test in beta-thalassemia trait patients in our population. Study design: Crosssectional descriptive study. Period: 1-Sep 2012 to 31-Jan 2013 (5 months). Settings: PathologyDepartment, District Head Quarters (DHQ) Hospital, Rawalpindi. Materials and Methods: Atotal of 150 diagnosed cases of beta thalassemia trait were included in the study. Study wasdone from 1-Sep 2012 to 31-Jan 2013 in DHQ hospital, Rawalpindi. Four discrimination indicesi.e. Mentzer, Shine & Lal, Srivastava, and Red cell Distribution Width Index were calculated forall the patients. The number of correctly identified cases were determined and sensitivity ofeach discrimination index was calculated accordingly. Results: The sensitivity in diagnosingbeta thalassemia trait patients was highest for Shine and Lal index (95%), followed by Mentzerindex (52% sensitivity), and then Srivasava index (46% sensitivity). Red cell distribution widthindex had poor sensitivity of 2% in our study. None of the discrimination indices showed 100%sensitivity. Conclusion: We concluded that Shine & Lal and Mentzer index are the most sensitiveindices. They can be used for cheap and quick screening of beta-thalassemia trait patients inlaboratories where advanced investigation tools are not available. Patients who give positiveresult for beta thalassemia trait with these indices may then be referred for further workup toconfirm the diagnosis.

Objective: To determine the frequency of COVID-19 and characteristics of patients presenting to the COVID-19 clinic at Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Complex (QHAMC) Nowshera. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 21st Feb 2019 to April 8, 2020, in QHAMC Nowshera. Relevant information was collected on a pre-designed Performa prepared following the objectives of the study. Results: Out of 220 patients, 165(75%) were males, and 55(25%) females. 96(43.6%) of the patients were in the age range 18-30 years followed by 52(23.6%) in age range 31-45years and 17(7.7%) with age>60 years etc. Out of total the nasopharyngeal swabs of 26(11.6%) strong suspects were sent for PCR testing. 208(94.5%) were sent home while 12(5.5%) were advised quarantine. Forty-seven (21.4%) had a travel history to an epidemic area in the last 14 days. 51(23.2%) had a positive history of contact. Eighty-five (38.6%) had a fever and sore throat followed by 27(12.3%) with (fever & cough), 24(10.9%) with (cough and shortness of breath/dyspnea) and 14(6.4%) with a simple flue, etc. Out of 26 cases, 6(2.7%) were COVID-19 Positive, 12(5.5%) were negative and results of 8(3.6%) were still awaited. The PCR repeated the test for confirmed cases showed;  4(1.8%) negative, one died and one was refractory positive.  A positive correlation (p=0.03, r=0.4) of an increase in age with the severity of the disease/outcome was recorded. Conclusion: The frequency of infectivity with COVID-19 was 2.6%. A higher number of patients with mild symptoms attend the COVID clinic. The rate of infection and mortality was higher in age> 60 years.

An experiment entitled "The effect of sowing dates and phosphorus levels on the growth and bulb production of onion" was conducted at Dargai with collaboration of Agriculture Extension Department Malakand Agency Pakistan in 2012. The experiment was laid out according to Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement. There were two factors i.e. sowing date and phosphorus levels. Sowing dates were assigned to main plots while different phosphorus levels were allotted to sub plots. The nursery of onions were raised on five different dates (26th October, 5th November, 15th November, 25th November and 5th December) 2012 and were treated with different levels of phosphorus (0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1) at the time of transplantation. Increase in plant heights (57.5 cm), number of leaves (9.0), leaf length (46.4 cm), leaf width (1.0 cm), bulb diameter (4.9 cm) average bulb weight (84.8) and yield ton ha-1 (36) was observed when seeds were sown on 26th October while best results regarding plant height (53 cm), number of leaves (8.3), leaf length (41.1 cm), leaf width (0.8 cm), bulb diameter (4.2 cm) average bulb weight(58.2) and yield tons ha-1 (34.8) was observed with the application of 120 kg phosphorus ha-1. As onion sown on 26th October with the application of 120 kg phosphorus ha-1 resulted in overall best performance and hence recommended for onion bulbs production in Malakand region.

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