SUMMARY Mutations in the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene Rb are involved in many forms of human cancer. In this study, we investigated the early consequences of inactivating Rb in the context of cellular reprogramming. We found that Rb inactivation promotes the reprogramming of differentiated cells to a pluripotent state. Unexpectedly, this effect is cell cycle independent, and instead reflects direct binding of Rb to pluripotency genes, including Sox2 and Oct4, which leads to a repressed chromatin state. More broadly, this regulation of pluripotency networks and Sox2 in particular is critical for the initiation of tumors upon loss of Rb in mice. These studies therefore identify Rb as a global transcriptional repressor of pluripotency networks, providing a molecular basis for previous reports about its involvement in cell fate pliability, and implicate misregulation of pluripotency factors such as Sox2 in tumorigenesis related to loss of Rb function.

The pollutants emission during the process of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is of great concern due to its hazardous effect on the environment and living organisms. An assessment of the air quality of MSWM sites was made after having 16 repetitive visits at solid waste disposal sites and transfer stations of Lahore during wet and dry seasons. Pollution parameters such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and greenhouse gases (GHG) were measured along with meteorological parameters. PM2.5 measurement was made by using particle counter Dylos and TSI’s Dust Trak. Both of these instruments were positioned simultaneously at the source site and downwind (50 m). CH4 and meteorological parameters were measured by Aeroqual 500 series, while the Extech CO220 monitor was used to measure CO2 concentration. An assessment of air quality showed the levels of their mean values as CH4 and CO2 ranged between 1.5–13.7 ppm and 443.4–515.7 ppm, respectively. The PM2.5 ranged between 127.1 and 307.1 µg/m3 at sources and 172.3 and 403.8 µg/m3 downwind (50 m). GHG showed lower levels than the proposed limit value, which could not cause any health issues, while PM2.5 was 6–10 times higher than the Pak-EPA established standards. Higher pollutant concentration was recorded in the dry season than the wet season. Regression analysis was performed to predict correlation of PM2.5 with GHG and meteorological parameters. GHG as well as meteorological parameters also exhibited a correlation with PM2.5. It was estimated that the ambient air of such sites is not safe for public health. So, it is necessary to use safe practices for MSWM and its emission control to prevent nearby communities and the environment.

This study aims to analyze the effect of ability, motivation, and opportunity‐enhancing high‐performance human resource practices (HPHRP's) on team performance in development sector projects, and to explore whether trust mediates this relationship. Using structured‐questionnaire, 192 survey responses were collected from both managerial and nonmanagerial positions from national and international NPOs operating in Pakistan. Results showed a positive relationship between ability motivation opportunity enhancing HPHRP's and team performance, while trust significantly mediates the relationship. This study is specifically helpful for HR managers to recruit personnel who can effectively meet various high‐performance needs of the development sector projects. Also, this study helps to improve policy makers' decision‐making process and outcomes in the development sector, especially in emerging economies.

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Objectives: To explore the effectiveness of motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy, and cognitive behaviour therapy for patients with substance use disorders, and to estimate the effect of such comparison in patient care setting. Method: The systematic review was conducted from September 2021 to February 2022, and comprised search on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Clinical Trials.gov and OvidSP databases for experimental studies and randomised controlled trials related to substance use disorders published in peer-reviewed English-language journals between 2001 and 2021. Quality of the studies was assessed using the Modified Cochrane Collaboration risk of the bias assessment criteria. Results: Of the 314 studies initially identified, 41(13%) were subjected to full-text assessment, and, of them, 16(39%) were reviewed and analysed. There were 8(50%) studies done is the United States, 4(25%) in the United Kingdom, and 1(6.25%) each in Germany, Australia, South Korea and South Africa. All the 16(100%) studies were intervention-based, with 6(37.5%) being randomised controlled trials. There were 8(50%) studies using motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy, 5(31.25%) had significant results with a combination of motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy, 3(18.75%) supported motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy in combination, and 2(12.5%) studies combined motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy, reporting significant results while simultaneously addressing multiple patient variables. Conclusion: All studies were heterogeneous. Motivational interviewing produced short-term treatment outcomes and played a supportive role in sustaining motivation. ---Continue

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Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. However, in Pakistan, in the absence of a national cancer registry, it is difficult to predict the current status of cancer incidence. Therefore, a need was felt to design a study that can give a depiction of the prevalence of common cancer types and their relevance to the local population in the absence of a proper cancer registry system. In view of this, data was collected from 2010 to 2016 for breast, prostate, head and neck, cervical and colorectal cancer from the cancer hospitals and centres located all over Punjab, Pakistan. All the data were analysed to calculate prevalence percentage, gender-based incidence rate, crude rate, and Age-specific rate (ASR) for each cancer type. The results showed that breast cancer was the most common type and its prevalence showed a linear increase through the study period (P < 0.001). Breast cancer (6561) was followed by prostate (1183), head and neck (833), cervical (697) and colorectal cancer (531) in terms of prevalence. Gender-specific cancers like breast, prostate, and cervical were found to be more common as compared to others. In the case of head and neck and colorectal cancers, males were more susceptible as compared to females. There is a radical increase in cancer cases in the study area and the same could be extrapolated to the whole country. Therefore, for the appropriate and focused efforts to combat this increasing trend of prevalence, it should be constantly monitored, which leads to the recommendation of an effective cancer registry system in the country.

Adhesive capsulitis is frequently recognized as ‘Frozen Shoulder’, which is characterized by primarily painful joint range of motions and later progressively restricted range of motion of the glenohumeral joint. Other common names used for adhesive capsulitis includes ‘Periarthritis and Painful stiff shoulder’ and ‘Shoulder arthrofibrosis’. Objective: To compare the effects of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and Myofascial release techniques on pain and function in scapular dyskinesia associated with adhesive capsulitis. Methods: Quasi Experimental study was conducted on 34 patients of Scapular dyskinesia associated with Adhesive Capsulitis. Subjects were allocated to either to PNF technique group and Myofascial release technique groups. Both were treated for 12 sessions in 6 weeks. NPRS and SPADI scale were used to evaluate the treatment effects at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. Results: The mean age of Group A was 43.12± 5.25. The mean age of Group B was 43.0±5.95. There was a significant difference between the mean value of baseline, 2 weeks, 4 week and 6-week NPRS score and baseline, 2-week, 4 week and 6-week SPADI score with P value <0.05 in both study groups. There was more significant mean difference of 6.23 between baseline and week 6 NPRS in Group A but there was less significant mean difference of 4.00 between baseline and week 6 NPRS in Group B. There was more significant mean difference of 70.70 between baseline and week 6 SPADI in Group A but there was less significant mean difference of 46.17 between baseline and week 6 SPADI in Group B. Conclusions: The study concluded that PNF technique and Myofascial release techniques were led to significant difference in NPRS and SPADI score, but PNF technique had shown more significant results than myofascial release technique to improve pain and function in scapular dyskinesia associated with Adhesive capsulitis.