The one with the rumour: COVID-19-related conversations on Pakistani Twitter

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a massive crisis exacerbated by the spread of misinformation on social media. Twitter is a highly popular microblogging platform in Pakistan, and the large population there lacks digital literacy, making them vulnerable to various forms of online and digital propaganda. This study aims to analyse the content of COVID-19-related tweets from Pakistan.

STUDY DESIGN

The current study is a content analysis of COVID-19-related tweets in Pakistani Twitter during the early stages of the pandemic, with a particular emphasis on misinformation, political content, health-related content, risk framing, and rumours.

METHODS

The Twitter data were obtained and anonymised by a third party for this study. The selected tweets were manually coded, and the following thematic tweet categories were identified: Science, Data, Pseudoscience, Healthcare, Conspiracies, Policies and Politics, Humour, and Pandemic life.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Results indicated that the Policies and Politics category contained the majority of tweets (46.3%). Most science-based tweets focussed on nonpharmaceutical interventions (68.8%). As anticipated, the categories of Pseudoscience and Conspiracies were found to contain the most misinformation. Additionally, the number of likes and retweets for different tweet categories were compared, and no significant differences were found.

Synergic effects of cancer stem cells markers, CD44 and embryonic stem cell transcription factor Nanog, on bladder cancer prognosis

Background: Therapy that targets cancer stem cells has the potential to eradicate cancer and prevent tumour recurrence. Therefore, we hypothesized the combined prognostic significance of stem cell markers CD44 (prevalent in basal layer of urothelial carcinoma) and Nanog (embryonic stem cell transcription factor) in bladder cancer.Material and Methods: CD44 and Nanog expression were determined by immunohistochemistry in 112 bladder cancer cases of which 79 were non-muscle invasive and 33 muscle invasive.Results: A significant correlation was found between CD44 and Nanog expression (r = 0.41, p < 0.001). The bladder cancer patients with high CD44 and Nanog expression had poor recurrence-free survival and poor overall survival (all p < 0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified lymph node positivity (hazard ratio; HR 3.81, 95% confidence interval; CI 1.66-8.75), CD44 (HR/95%CI 7.03 [3.04-16.22]) and Nanog (HR/95%CI 2.89 [1.23-6.77]) as independent prognostic biomarkers for recurrence-free survival, whilst a combined index of CD44 and Nanog expression (high expression group; HR/95%CI 25.45 [6.71-96.50] for recurrence-free survival) and lymph node positivity (HR/95%CI 3.68 [1.63-8.33] for recurrence-free survival) were independent prognostic biomarkers for recurrence-free survival and overall survival (all p < 0.001).Conclusions: A combined index of CD44 and Nanog expression is a promising prognostic predictor of recurrence-free survival and overall survival in bladder cancer. It may help identification of patients who will benefit from intensive treatment.

Correction: Effect of Ru substitution on the physical properties of La0.6Pr0.1Sr0.3Mn1−xRuxO3 (x = 0.00, 0.05 and 0.15) perovskites

Correction for ‘Effect of Ru substitution on the physical properties of La_0.6Pr_0.1Sr_0.3Mn_1−xRu_xO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.05 and 0.15) perovskites’ by N. Zaidi et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 31901–31909.

Effect of Ru substitution on the physical properties of La0.6Pr0.1Sr0.3Mn1−xRuxO3 (x = 0.00, 0.05 and 0.15) perovskites

Temperature dependence of the local exponent n for x = 0.05 at different magnetic fields.

Cardioversion in late pregnancy: a case report

About 1% of all pregnancies are complicated by maternal cardiac diseases. Among the various cardiac pathologies complicating pregnancy, arrhythmias are the most common. Most of them are diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. Tachyarrhythmias are the commonest form of arrhythmias reported during pregnancy. Risk factors for this are the presence of organic heart disease, various hormonal and hemodynamic changes during pregnancy. Fortunately most of these arrhythmias are benign and require no intervention. Treatment options must take into consideration hemodynamic status of mother, gestational age and the possible teratogenic effect of medications on the fetus. We are hereby reporting a case of successful electrical cardioversion performed in a woman at 37th week of gestation due to resistant symptomatic atrial fibrillation.

Knowledge of female genital mutilation among healthcare professionals

The World Health Organisation estimates that 2 million women undergo some form of female genital mutilation (FGM) annually. Because of increasing migration, clinicians in the UK are increasingly exposed to women who have suffered FGM. Recognising this trend, the RCOG has set standards for guidance of health professionals caring for women with FGM. As yet, no study has assessed levels of knowledge of FGM among relevant health professionals. An anonymous structured questionnaire based on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' standards was circulated among staff at a University Teaching Hospital. A total of 45 participants completed the questionnaire. Only 40% were familiar with the regulations in the FGM Act of 2003; 58% were unable to list the different categories of FGM; 47% incorrectly thought that caesarean section is the best way of managing FGM if vaginal examination is not possible in the first stage of labour and 54% chose anterior episiotomy as the treatment of choice during the second stage. Our study found that there were significant gaps both in theoretical knowledge and practice.

Oestrogen receptor transcripts associated with cervical human papillomavirus infection

OBJECTIVE

Studies have been inconsistent in establishing sex steroids as a risk factor for human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. This study was designed to determine whether cervical oestrogen receptors (as measured by oestrogen receptor transcripts) at the cervix would be associated with cervical HPV infections.

METHODS

In 175 women, ages 14-44, we tested for the presence of HPV DNA and oestrogen receptors transcripts at the cervix during routine pelvic examinations. All subjects completed a self administered questionnaire regarding sexual and menstrual histories.

RESULTS

40% of the women (n=70) tested positive for HPV at the cervix. Of those women testing positive for HPV, 99% had detectable levels of Oestrogen receptors transcripts (n=69/70). HPV cervical infections were independently associated with presence of Oestrogen receptors transcripts (OR=39.8, CI=4.4, 361.1) and greater numbers of sexual partners (OR=1.1, CI=1.01, 1.18).

CONCLUSION

Women who expressed higher levels of oestrogen receptors transcripts were significantly more likely to have cervical HPV infection. These results demonstrate that Oestrogen receptors may play an important part in cervical HPV infections.

Identification and Characterization of a Sodium/Calcium Exchanger, NCX-1, in Osteoclasts and Its Role in Bone Resorption

We provide the first demonstration for a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCX-1, in the osteoclast. We speculate that by using Na+ exchange, NCX-1 couples H+ extrusion with Ca2+ fluxes during bone resorption. Microspectrofluorimetry of fura-2-loaded osteoclasts revealed a rapid and sustained, but reversible, cytosolic Ca2+ elevation upon Na+ withdrawal. This elevation was abolished by the cytosolic introduction (by gentle permeabilization) of a highly specific Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor peptide, XIP, but not its inactive analogue, sXIP. Confocal microscopy revealed intense plasma membrane immunofluorescence with an isoform-specific monoclonal anti-NCX-1 antibody applied to gently permeabilized osteoclasts. Electrophysiological studies using excised outside-in membrane patches showed a low-conductance, Na+-selective, dichlorobenzamil-sensitive, amiloride-insensitive channel that we tentatively assigned as being an NCX. Finally, to examine for physiological relevance, an osteoclast resorption (pit) assay was performed. There was a dramatic reduction of bone resorption following NCX-1 inhibition by dichlorobenzamil and XIP (but not with S-XIP). Together, the results suggest that a functional NCX, likely NCX-1, is involved in the regulation of osteoclast cytosolic Ca2+ and bone resorption.

Outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Quetta, Pakistan: contact tracing and risk assessment

In December 1994 in a private hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, 3 health-workers contracted Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after surgery on a bleeding patient who later died. We conducted a retrospective study to determine transmission risks among contacts. Fifty contacts gave blood for antibody tests and answered questions about exposure. Two of four people exposed percutaneously and one of five with cutaneous exposure contracted CCHE The person with cutaneous exposure was a surgeon who tore his glove during surgery and noted blood on his hand but no cut. There were no anti-CCHF antibodies or CCHF cases among persons whose skin came into contact with body fluids other than blood (0/4), who had skin-to-skin contact (0/16) with patients or were physically close to them (0/21). Three index case relatives reported that although 10 family members had cutaneous exposure, none developed CCHF. The family refused blood tests. CCHF transmission in resource-constrained settings can be limited by focusing on avoiding health worker contact with blood.

Properties of immunoaffinity purified 106-kDa Ca2+ release channels from the skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum

The sulfhydryl-gated 106-kDa Ca(2+)-release channel (SG-106) was purified by biotin-avidin chromatography from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles and used as an antigen to raise polyclonal antibodies. Western blots showed that the antisera crossreacted with the antigenic SG-106 and not with SR Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase or with junctional foot proteins (JFPs) (Zaidi et al., 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 264(36), 21, 725-21, 736; 21, 737-21, 747). Polyclonal antibody-affinity columns were used to selectively purify SG-106-kDa proteins which, upon incorporation in planar bilayers, revealed the presence of a cationic channels with properties similar to "native" Ca(2+)-release channels obtained through the fusion of SR vesicles with planar bilayers. In agreement with measurements of Ca2+ release from SR vesicles, sulfhydryl oxidizing and reducing agents (i.e., 2,2'-dithiodipyridine and dithiothreitol) respectively increased and decreased the open-time probability of 106-kDa Ca(2+)-release channels. In contrast with reports on JFPs, ryanodine at 0.5-1 nM increased the open-time probability and at 2-10 nM locked 106-kDa Ca(2+)-release channels in a closed state rather than an open subconductance state. The SG-106 was activated by millimolar ATP, inhibited by millimolar Mg2+, and blocked by micromolar ruthenium red. Adriamycin (2-10 microM) caused a transient activation of SG-106 Ca(2+)-release channels, followed by closure in about 5 min, and intermittent activation to a subconductance state. Polyclonal antibodies used to purify the SG-106 also activated the channel when added to the cis side but not the trans side of the bilayer. Thus, SG-106 channels possess features that are similar to "native" SR Ca(2+)-release channels, are immunologically distinct from JFPs, and interact in seconds with nanomolar ryanodine in planar bilayers.