The Journal of Biological and Life Sciences (JBLS) is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing knowledge in the fields of biology and life sciences. The journal publishes high-quality original research, review articles, and short communications that contribute to the understanding of biological systems, life processes, and their implications for health, the environment, and society. JBLS aims to provide a platform for the latest scientific developments and discoveries across a broad spectrum of life science disciplines, including molecular biology, genetics, ecology, microbiology, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, and environmental science. The journal encourages research that explores the intricate connections between biological systems and their surrounding environments, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and interdisciplinary approaches. By publishing cutting-edge research, JBLS strives to foster collaboration among scientists, educators, and policymakers, and to support the application of scientific findings in addressing global challenges in health, ecology, and biotechnology. As an open-access journal, JBLS ensures that all articles are freely accessible to the scientific community and the public, promoting the global dissemination of scientific knowledge and discoveries. The journal also offers a space for thought-provoking reviews that highlight emerging trends, current debates, and key advancements in the life sciences, bridging gaps between basic and applied research and encouraging forward-thinking solutions to pressing issues in the biological sciences.
METROPOLE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HUB (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED
EFFECTS OF LONG‑TERM AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
COPD is a significant contributor of morbidity and mortality in the world and an emerging body of literature is mainstreaming air pollution in the ambient air as one of the key etiological factors that cannot be linked to tobacco smoking. Nonetheless, the relationships between the exposure and the response, the pollutant-specific effects and mechanisms have not been completely defined. In this systematic review and meta-analysis 147 studies (with more than 12.8 million participants) were synthesized in 27 countries. These were random-effects-combination risk models of the incidence of COPD of various types of pollutants and stratified by subgroup analysis, by smoking status, geographic area and genetic predisposition. Two stage multivariate meta-analytical models with spline functions were used to model the non-linear exposure-response relationships. Standardized mean difference was used to mix the key biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and cellular injury of the mechanistic data. The PM 2.5 had become the most significant one as it was related to COPD incidence by that time compared to black carbon. The risk estimates among the non-smokers were much higher as opposed to the current smokers. There was supra-linearity in exposure-response relationships with a critical threshold of 7.2 µg.m -1 of PM.5. Mechanistic analyses showed that the level of IL-6 (SMD = 0.84, 1.87-fold increase), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (SMD = 0.93, 2.12-fold increase) and TNF-alpha were significantly increased after chronic exposure. The gene-environment interaction susceptibility was found to be significant in AGER ( 0.112 = 0.038) where the gene is the gene of interest. Also, it was found that the black carbon and PM 2.5 were synergistic to guarantee that they were supra-additive effects (synergy index = 1.47). Time-lagged analyses determined that, there was a critical exposure period of 610 years before diagnosis (HR = 1.124 per IQR) and urban residents were 7.5% more at risk compared to rural residents. The attributable risk studies revealed that exposure to the environment was a cumulative risk factor resulting in an approximate 50.7% COPD among the non-smokers. Exposure to chronic air pollution, especially that of a combustion-derived particulate matter, is a major contributor to COPD risk with mechanisms that include oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, as well as genetic susceptibility interactions. The results reveal the importance of implementing a comprehensive population health intervention that includes air quality management with customary tobacco control interventions to curtail the COPD burden in the world.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, air pollution, particulate matter, PM₂.₅, oxidative stress, gene-environment interaction
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
IMPACT OF EARLY DIALYSIS INITIATION ON SURVIVAL OUTCOMES IN END‑STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS
The evidence of the impact of dialysis on survival are inconclusive and the timing at which patients need to commence dialysis is a controversial issue. It is a systematic review of the available evidence since the IDEAL trial and it is geared towards the establishment of the relationship between the dialysis start time and mortality outcomes e.g. those that employ an advanced causal inference strategy. Fourteen searches were performed in the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central and Web of science databases to identify 43 eligible studies that encompassed 1,247,892 patients. The critical discussion of the methodology of the studies and the significance of methods of bias reduction was provided such as propensity score matching, time-dependent covariate and instrumental variable. The estimation of the effect modification by patient characteristics, and estimate the pooled hazard ratios and subgroup analyses were done with the help of random-effects meta-analysis. The overall hazard ratio of all-cause death in the early and late initiation was 1.07 and it was very heterogeneous (I 2 = 89.4 percent). This was however found to be diluted to no significance when restricted to studies which used propensity score matching and not randomized controlled trials. Non-linear analysis revealed that there was the J-shaped exposure-response curve with the nadir at the estimated glomerular filtration rate of 8.5 mL/min/1.73m 2. Hypoalbuminemic patients (70 years and above), diabetes patients (they used to treat it much more in the past) were identified to have an improved nutritional status and age and diabetes effect were managed. Mortality due to an untimely initiation was skewed during the first 24 months of initiation, and then converged thereafter, in the time-varying test.Routine early initiation of dialysis is not supported by the evidence on the basis of estimated thresholds of glomerular filtration rate. The most suitable is the consideration of personal which is based on the nutritional well-being, age, diabetes and clinical symptoms. The correlations that would be found would heavily depend on the methodological rigor as well as the application of advanced techniques of causal inference would be critical in future research.
Dialysis initiation timing, end-stage renal disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate, survival outcomes, propensity score matching, systematic review
CLINICAL PREDICTORS OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH LONG‑STANDING DIABETES
Chronic kidney disease has been found to be a significant comorbidity in patients with long-term diabetes and is seen in around 35% of patients with type 2 diabetes and is a significant contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although the introduction of the use of estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria as prognostic variables are helpful, the reality that the predictive value of the disease progression especially in the non-proteinuric phenotypes is low leaves the need to seek new predictors that can explain the intricate pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease. The review is an overview of the evidence on the foundation of 147 studies that comprised 894,327 patients to establish the presence or absence of clinical predictors of acquiring chronic kidney disease in particular patients with established diabetes. The results show the stratification of base risk by the use of the traditional clinical predictors i.e. glycemic control, blood pressure and albuminuria with an area under the curve of between 0.712 to 0.745. However, a combination of a tubular injury biomarker (kidney injury molecule-1), an inflammatory biomarker (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors), and a fibrotic biomarker are significantly better predictive than the old logistic regression and stacked ensemble methods are the best in terms of calibration Network meta-analysis supports the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor as the most effective intervention to reduce renal damage (relative risk 0.67 composite renal outcome) then glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and non-steroidal mineralocortin receptor antagonists. Multi-omics types of classes that contain CKD273 proteomic classesifier and integrated metabolomic-microRNA classes have been reported to be the most predictive classes (0.951 area under the curve) with high calibration validity in validation cohorts. This evidence indicates that a multi-domain model of clinical, glomerular, tubular, inflammatory, fibrotic and molecular biomarker is the most effective model of chronic kidney disease progression to prognosticate the disease and respond to therapeutic interventions in the entire continuum of disease pathophysiology.
Diabetic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease progression, biomarkers, tubular injury, machine learning, risk stratification, multi-omics, SGLT2 inhibitors, non-proteinuric diabetic kidney disease, inflammatory markers
EVALUATION OF NON‑INVASIVE BIOMARKERS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF COLORECTAL NEOPLASIA
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death in the world and the earlier the diagnosis is carried out, the more the patient prognosis. The existing screening modalities do not possess the following characteristics: invasiveness, costliness and sensitivity to premalignant lesions and thus, novel non-invasive biomarkers need to be created. This study was meant to determine and validate a panel of serum-based metabolic biomarker to identify and grade colorectal neoplasia between the advanced adenoma and late-stage colorectal cancer. It was a multi-centre case-control study that included 450 people which was stratified in four groups- healthy controls, advanced adenoma , early-stage colorectal cancer and late-stage colorectal cancer . Targeted metabolomics were done by the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The choice of the biomarkers was made based on a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and diagnostic models have been built based on selection model and receiver operating characteristic analysis, calibration measures and compared them to conventional clinical biomarkers.These 25 metabolites were chosen and the AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve of the following were 0.874 (advanced adenoma vs. control), 0.921 (early-stage cancer vs. control) and 0.953 (late-stage cancer vs. control). This model had a good calibration , and performed far much better on all the comparisons with carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Key discriminatory metabolites included upregulated sphingosine-1-phosphate and acetylputrescine , and downregulated indole-3-propionic acid and L-arginine . Pathway enrichment analysis showed that there were major perturbations in sphingolipid metabolism, the metabolism of arginine and proline as well as primary bile acid biosynthesis. The research confirms a serum metabolomic panel which has shown high diagnostic sensitivity in identifying advanced adenomas and early colorectal cancer and is better than traditional biomarkers. The results demonstrate clinical potential of the non-invasive method to enhance the early diagnosis of the disease, risk-stratification and detection of colorectal neoplasia.
Colorectal cancer, metabolomics, biomarkers, early detection, advanced adenoma, LASSO regression, sphingolipid metabolism, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, non-invasive screening, arginine metabolism
INFLUENCE OF GUT MICROBIOTA COMPOSITION ON THE SEVERITY AND RECURRENCE OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory GI disease with long history of accumulating body of literature that has shown microbial dysbiosis of the gut to be a causal agent of the disease. Their quantitative interdependence between certain shifts in microbes, efficient metabolic impacts and clinical results, however, is not clearly defined. It was a multi-center prospective cohort study, that recruited 312 participants (98 active severe IBD, 114 remission IBD, 100 healthy controls). The microbial profiling was done by using 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic shotgun sequencing of the fecal and mucosal biopsy samples. Measures of alpha and beta diversity, differential abundance measures, reconstruction of functional pathways, and measures of short-chain fatty acids were added to clinical disease activity measures (Harvey-Bradshaw Index, Partial Mayo Score), inflammatory biomarkers (calprotectin, CRP) and postoperative recurrence measures. A combination of the logistic regression coefficient of the most significant discriminative taxa were used to derive a composite Microbial Dysbiosis Index (MDI).The extreme changes in the microbes with active treatment of the patients with severe IBD were compared to the healthy controls i.e. loss of Shannon diversity, loss of Firmicutes and gain of Proteobacteria. The depletion of faecalibacterium prausnitzii was 4.82 and Escherichia coli was enriched 5.67. The metagenomics analysis revealed that the way of butyrate synthesis (65.6%), and augmentation of LPS biosynthesis (250.8) were decreased and increased respectively. In active disease, the overall amount of SCFA was decreased 53.3 percent. The MDI was also found to possess a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and also had a good correlation with the disease activity. The patients who had Crohn disease after surgery had increased MDI which predicted increased risk of endoscopic recurrence by 4.23.The authors of this article, have given the following definition of microbial dysbiosis: ecological disruption which can be measured and which is immensely functional and clinical in the pathogenesis of IBD. The calculated Microbial Dysbiosis Index is a strong diagnostic and prognostic biomarker that can be used to justify the use of microbial profiling as a precision medicine intervention of IBD and/or to justify the use of microbial restoration as a rational intervention.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, microbial dysbiosis, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Escherichia coli, short-chain fatty acids, metagenomics, Microbial Dysbiosis Index, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, postoperative recurrence
PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING TECHNOLOGIES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is a disruptive animal production technology through sensor technology and Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and automated analytics that can maximize the productivity, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. This was a literature review that was systematic in nature and that involved 156 peer-reviewed studies that were down to this review after being screened by a PRISMA-guided screening process of prominent scientific databases. The qualitative theme synthesis and quantitative bibliometric analysis were utilized to evaluate the categories of technology, performance outcomes, the economic implications of technology, obstacles to adoption, and implications of sustainability. The results indicate that the research on PLF significantly grows since 2015, thus the technology that is most studied is wearable sensors (32%), and environmental IoT systems (24%). Their health and behavioral surveillance detection accuracy was 85-94 in the interspecies, productivity, on average and labor savings, on average, were 8-15 percentage points and 15-25 percentage points, respectively. Precision feeding systems had an impact of reducing 75 percent of the feed waste by affecting the nutrient efficiency. It was found that the intensity of emission of greenhouse gases (5-6%) and nitrogen excretion (10-20%) declined due to environmental studies. The cost-benefit discussions included that there are increasing periods of ROI positively in cases with medium-and-large operation, although the extreme capital spending and the absence of digital literacy are all critical factors to avoid the adoption. Whereas most of the literature on welfare mentioned that they found greater opportunities in the initial diagnoses of illnesses and the tracking of habits, limited concerns of stress connected to the devices were indicated. Overall, findings confirm that PLF technologies are able to offer measurable production, economic and environmental benefits, although its equitable use is associated with positive policy enforcement, infrastructural investments and capacity building.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ROLE OF PROBIOTICS IN POULTRY PRODUCTION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
The world poultry market is experiencing a drastic shift to sustainable production models whereby there are more limitations on production growth promoters of antibiotics (AGPs) and the risk of antimicrobial resistance is increasingly becoming noticeable. Probiotics has emerged as one of the emerging functional feed additives which is capable of enhancing the growth performance, gut health and immune competence of chickens. The existing data on the effectiveness, mechanisms, and the strategies of probiotic supplementation use in the rearing of poultry, were organized in this systematic literature review and meta-analysis. In qualitative synthesis, 119 articles were used and in quantitative meta-analysis, 87 articles were used as PRISMA 2020 identified 1,246 records in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. As it was demonstrated in the pools, the body weight gain (g = 0.94) and the ratio of feed consumed to the body weight (g = -0.88) of the probiotic-supplemented birds was statistically better than the controls. The most performing formulations were the multi-strain formulation formulations and Lactobacillus based formulations. Probiotics supplementation had a tremendous effect in stimulating Newcastle Disease Virus antibody titer and expression of the antiinflammatory cytokine genes (IL-10), inhibiting pro inflammatory conditions (IFN-g, TNF-a). The histomorphometric analysis demonstrated that height of the villus, ratio between the villus and the crypt, integrity of the intestinal barrier and the microbial diversity with lesser pathogen colonization was also increased. To conclude, the available evidence shows that probiotics are scientifically proven, long-term substitutes of AGPs, which lead to the more productive poultry systems, immune regulation, and better gastrointestinal health. The findings substantiate the fact that strain-specific probiotic intervention should be incorporated in precision feeding programs to boost sustainable production of poultry in the post-antibiotic period.
GENETIC VARIANTS AND PEDIATRIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY: AN IMMUNOGENETIC STUDY
Paediatric autoimmune diseases (PADs) are a group of diseases which are described by the immune system as misdirected towards healthy tissues causing chronic inflammation and tissue destruction. This research was aimed at analyzing the genetic differences connected with the predisposition to paediatric autoimmune diseases (PADs) in children. Our study design was that of a case-control design whereby we used genetic data of 500 paediatric patients with autoimmune disorders, and balanced them with 500 healthy controls. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted to identify changes in the potential genes of immune functioning. We established that certain genetic variants correlated with an increased susceptibility to contracting autoimmune disorders in children. The HLA-DRB1, PTPN22 and CTLA-4 gene variants were significantly linked to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). We also observed that there are interactions between the genes and the environment which could influence the onset and progression of the disease further. The findings can have a substantial contribution to the immunogenetic basis of PADs and can be used in future diagnostic and treatment options.
CUTANEOUS ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS: MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS AND PHARMACOVIGILANCE STRATEGIES
This paper will discuss the molecular basis, clinical manifestations, and pharmacovigilance challenges associated with cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) with the aim of bridging mechanistic knowledge to efficacious safety-monitoring strategies. The findings show that CADRs are caused by immune-mediated hypersensitivity, genetic susceptibility including the vulnerability related to the HLA, and metabolic alteration that influences the drug-protein interactions and T-cell activation. Clinically, there were milder and more severe reactions including benign maculopapular eruptions, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The review of pharmacovigilance data bases indicated that under-reporting, lagging causality and inadequate clinical documentation were significant issues that complicated the discovery of signals. The combination of electronic health records, patient-reported outcomes with AI-enhanced surveillance has a significant positive effect on the accuracy and timeliness of detecting adverse drug reactions. In clinical practice, the study concludes that a pharmacovigilance and mechanistic approach is required to identify issues early, predict each patient risk, and make more appropriate treatment choices. These findings support the development of safety measures to contain CADRs that are more adaptable, future-oriented and patient-centered.
REAL-TIME DIGITAL DASHBOARDS FOR TRACKING NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE TRENDS IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES
The major health issue in developing economies is the non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which is the leading cause of morbidity and early mortality, and the lack of unified health information systems hinders timely decisions. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a real-time digital dashboard that is expected to integrate and provide the trends of non-communicable diseases using different health datasets. Dashboarding employs automated data mining, cleaning pipelines, hotspots mapping based on GIS, and predictive analytics to assist in identifying on the rise early diseases. The findings indicate that the completeness of data, speed of reporting, and usability by the stakeholders have all increased significantly. It is also seen in the forecasting models that they are highly effective in predicting of trends in diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Pilot testing revealed that 40-55 percent of reporting time was reduced and decision -makers in the district level were more engaged. The multilingual interface of the system was mobile-friendly and facilitated the use of the system by frontline health professionals, and the role-based restrictions enhanced the security of the data. The findings indicate that real-time dashboard can significantly advance NCD surveillance, aid in the allocation of resources, and assist in evidence-based decision-making. The paper concludes that one potential, scalable, and inexpensive means of modernizing health information systems in under-resource places is the use of digital dashboards.
PREOPERATIVE RADIOLOGIC PREDICTORS OF SURGICAL MARGINS IN BREAST CANCER RESECTION
The research determines the predictive capability of preoperative radiologic variables in the determination of surgical margin in breast cancer resection. An evaluation on a prospective group of patients was conducted involving mammography, ultrasound, and contrast-enhanced MRI to evaluate important radiologic features, such as size of the lesion, tumor-to-margin distance, multifocality, enhancement kinetics, and radiologic suspicion of ductal extension. Statistical analysis revealed that volumetric measurements and pattern of contrast enhancement in MRI were the most significant variables to predict the presence or near-presence of positive or close margins (AUC 0.87). The next best was tumor-to-margin distance on mammography and ultrasound (AUC 0.79). Multimodal imaging significantly improved overall sensitivity and specificity as compared to single-modality assessment (p < 0.05). Radiologic appearance of multifocal disease, ductal extension, or lesions measuring more than 3 cm at risk increased the propensity of the involvement of the margins hence the rationale of a thorough preoperative imaging in planning surgery. The findings indicate that radiologic prediction can be used to reduce re-excisions dramatically, make surgeries more precise, and assist individuals in making the choice whether to undergo breast-conserving surgery or a more massive excision. This analysis supports the use of advanced imaging measurements and predictive modeling in clinical activity to enhance oncological and aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer patients. Future studies are interested in studying standardized thresholds and radiomics and artificial intelligence integration to improve margin prediction in different clinical settings.
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF NEPHROTOXIC DRUG USE: A PHARMACOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Nephrotoxic drugs are a health problem that is of great concern to the population since they can cause renal damage and cause chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), and in the worst scenario, kidney failure. The research study is a pharmacological research on the effects of nephrotoxic drugs on the kidney functions and the risks involved in various populations. The paper describes the typical nephrotoxic drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a few antibiotics, and chemotherapeutic agents, and analyzes their effects on the renal activity. The statistics also indicate how predisposing factors such as age, already existing kidney issues and taking of a lot of various medicines can predispose one to nephrotoxicity. The overall findings indicate that, early discovery of these medicines and application of appropriate management interventions, including alteration of dosage or alternative medications, can reduce their detrimental actions on the kidney. It also enables the study to demonstrate the significance of such social health measures as education, screening, and surveillance in order to minimize the damages associated with the use of nephrotoxic medications. This study has valuable implications on improving patient safety and mitigating the health impact on the publicity of nephrotoxic medications use as it focuses on both personal and organisational level measures.
THE ROLE OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI IN ENHANCING NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND RESISTANCE TO FUNGAL PATHOGENS IN ORGANIC WHEAT CULTIVATION
Organic wheat cultivation faces inherent challenges due to restrictions on synthetic inputs, often resulting in compromised yield and increased disease vulnerability. This study evaluated the efficacy of endophytic fungi in improving nutrient uptake and disease resistance in organically managed wheat systems. Field trials and laboratory assays demonstrated that plants inoculated with selected fungal strains showed significant increases in plant height, chlorophyll content, and tiller number. Grain yield improved by up to 75% compared to controls, coinciding with enhanced tissue concentrations of iron and phosphorus. Disease severity was substantially reduced in treated groups, supported by molecular evidence of systemic resistance activation and antimicrobial compound production. Chitin-based foliar treatments further augmented plant immunity and physiological responses. Functional analysis revealed that fungal strains with higher siderophore production and phosphate solubilization indices were most effective in promoting plant health. These findings support the use of endophytic fungi as sustainable biostimulants and biocontrol agents in organic farming. Integrating these biological tools into existing organic systems can significantly boost productivity, resilience, and soil health while reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nimra Samad , Muhammad Bilal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
NEONATAL SEPSIS BIOMARKER DISCOVERY USING PROTEOMIC APPROACHES
Neonatal sepsis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, largely due to the lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic biomarkers. This study employed a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach to identify differentially expressed proteins in septic neonates compared to healthy controls, aiming to discover novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical stratification. Plasma samples from septic and healthy neonates were analyzed using a bottom-up proteomic workflow with data-independent acquisition. The analysis identified a panel of proteins significantly altered in septic neonates. Notably, acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP), Serum Amyloid A1, Haptoglobin, and Interleukin-6 were markedly upregulated, indicating a robust inflammatory and innate immune response. On the contrary, levels of transport and metabolic proteins fell, suggesting some systemic changes occur in the body due to sepsis. The analysis of Gene Ontology also showed that the acute-phase response, innate immune response and signaling of cytokines were the most impacted biochemical processes. The information reflects that using multiple biomarkers is more accurate than using only one biomarker for diagnosis. Proteomics has proven helpful in understanding the pathological changes seen in neonatal sepsis and can support the development of aid for timely diagnosis and prognosis. It is needed to analyse these biomarkers in larger groups of neonates from different hospitals to confirm their reliability. Incorporating these markers with clinical details may result in earlier sepsis identification and a better outcome for the baby.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hassan Yar Mahsood, Sajjad Mehdi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EVALUATION OF TRADITIONAL AGROECOLOGICAL PRACTICES IN ENHANCING SOIL FERTILITY AND DROUGHT RESISTANCE IN DEGRADED SEMI-ARID REGIONS
This study investigates the effectiveness of traditional agroecological practices in improving soil fertility and enhancing drought resilience in degraded semi-arid regions. Drawing on empirical data from field assessments, laboratory analyses, and participatory farmer engagement, we evaluated multiple interventions including agroforestry, organic farming, crop rotation, cover cropping, and conservation tillage. Quantitative results revealed significant improvements in soil organic carbon (up to 2.4%), water retention (up to 27.3%), and nutrient levels (notably nitrogen and phosphorus). Crop yields increased by an average of 400–500 kg/ha across various regions, with legumes and maize showing the highest resilience scores. Digital agriculture tools—such as soil sensors, drones, and weather apps—were moderately adopted and positively rated by farmers, supporting precision and efficiency. Additionally, adoption rates increased in correlation with the frequency of agroecology training sessions. Soil erosion decreased by over 30% in regions practicing agroforestry and no-till techniques. Our results highlight the synergistic value of integrating indigenous ecological knowledge with modern data-driven technologies to restore soil health, improve water use efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability. This research underscores the urgency for policy and infrastructural support to mainstream agroecological transitions in climate-vulnerable landscapes. The findings provide a robust evidence base for scaling agroecological approaches as adaptive strategies to achieve sustainable and resilient agricultural systems in semi-arid contexts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Irfan Ahmad , Muneeba (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DELAYED WOUND HEALING IN AUTOIMMUNE VASCULITIS: A HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY
Autoimmune vasculitides are systemic disorders marked by blood vessel inflammation and frequently complicated by delayed wound healing. This histopathological study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms contributing to impaired tissue repair in patients with autoimmune vasculitis. Skin biopsy samples were obtained from patients presenting with non-healing cutaneous ulcers and compared to control samples. Histological analysis revealed dense infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes in the wound beds, indicating persistent inflammation. Immunohistochemical staining showed elevated TNF-α levels and a predominance of pro-inflammatory (M1) macrophages, reinforcing the role of chronic inflammation in delaying wound closure. Vascular integrity was significantly compromised, as evidenced by reduced CD31 expression, while increased α-SMA expression indicated pathological vascular remodeling. These findings suggest that endothelial dysfunction impairs nutrient and oxygen delivery to the wound site, further exacerbating tissue damage. Additionally, Masson’s trichrome staining demonstrated excessive collagen deposition and fibrosis, while elevated matrix metalloproteinase activity highlighted ongoing extracellular matrix degradation. The combined effects of prolonged inflammation, vascular disruption, and fibrotic remodeling establish a hostile microenvironment that hinders the normal wound healing cascade. Although the study’s modest sample size limits generalizability, the findings underscore critical pathological features that could be targeted for future therapeutic intervention. These insights provide a foundation for developing immunomodulatory and vascular-stabilizing strategies to improve wound outcomes in patients with autoimmune vasculitis.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul Ghaffar , Dr. Jawad Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ASSESSING THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE MONOCULTURE ON SOIL MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND NUTRIENT CYCLING IN SUBTROPICAL CROPPING SYSTEMS
This study investigates the long-term ecological impacts of intensive monoculture farming in subtropical regions and evaluates the potential benefits of diversified agricultural practices. Through a mixed-methods approach, including soil nutrient analysis, microbial diversity profiling, and farmer perception surveys, we compared monoculture systems with diversified approaches such as intercropping, crop rotation, and cover cropping. Results revealed that monoculture practices significantly deteriorate soil quality, as indicated by reduced pH levels, lower organic carbon content, and diminished microbial diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson). Soil under diversified systems, in contrast, exhibited improved macronutrient levels (N, P, K), enriched microbial communities, and enhanced carbon sequestration. Farmer surveys confirmed greater concern regarding soil degradation and pest outbreaks under monoculture, with over 85% of monoculture farmers reporting ecological decline compared to only 25% in diversified systems. Yield trend analysis from 2020 to 2023 demonstrated a consistent decline in monoculture outputs, while diversified systems showed a progressive increase in productivity. Additionally, pest outbreaks were reported to be twice as frequent in monoculture fields. These findings substantiate the ecological superiority of diversification strategies, emphasizing their role in improving soil health, boosting resilience, and stabilizing yields. The study concludes that transitioning away from monoculture towards diversified agroecosystems is critical for long-term agricultural sustainability, and calls for policy interventions, farmer support programs, and education to facilitate this transformation in subtropical agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Shafique , Faran Muhammad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
IMPACT OF SLEEP DISORDERS ON CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: MECHANISMS AND INTERVENTIONS
This study investigates the impact of sleep disorders, specifically sleep deprivation and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), on cardiovascular health through a combination of in vivo, in vitro, and biochemical analyses. Using a rat model, we subjected experimental groups to sleep deprivation (72 hours) and intermittent hypoxia to mimic OSA. The results revealed significant cardiovascular dysfunction in both experimental groups, including elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reduced heart rate, and myocardial remodeling characterized by fibrosis and hypertrophy. Biochemical assays demonstrated increased levels of oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and GPX) in the sleep-deprived and OSA rats, highlighting the role of oxidative damage in cardiovascular impairment. Gene expression analysis revealed elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and pro-apoptotic markers (BAX), with decreased anti-apoptotic BCL-2 expression, indicating a significant inflammatory and apoptotic response in myocardial tissue. In vitro laboratory tests which exposed human endothelial cells (HUVECs) as well as cardiomyocytes to simulated sleep disruption demonstrated both diminished cell health and increased inflammatory mediator production. Ốxidative stress together with inflammation and mortality rates confirm that sleep disturbances lead to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The research establishes that treatments targeting these channels will hold the key to lowering cardiovascular risks which result from sleep disturbances. Studies should examine treatment strategies to reduce heart consequences of sleep disturbances while investigating the molecular origin of these sleep problems more accurately.
Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVANCED IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES: IMPLEMENTING DRIP AND SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FOR WATER CONSERVATION
This study investigates the implementation of drip and smart irrigation systems as solutions for water conservation and enhanced agricultural productivity. The research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of these technologies in reducing water consumption and improving crop yields across various regions. Results indicate a significant reduction in water use by up to 50% following the adoption of drip irrigation systems, with crop yields increasing by an average of 25%. Similarly, smart irrigation systems led to a 40% reduction in water consumption, along with a 30% increase in crop yield, highlighting the efficiency of these systems in optimizing water usage based on real-time data. A cost-benefit analysis of smart irrigation systems revealed that despite high initial costs, these systems offer long-term financial benefits, with a positive return on investment after five years. The study mentions that implementation barriers including the expensive setup costs together with technical support needs and expertise requirements obstruct wider acceptance of these solutions mainly in areas with limited resources. The long-term benefits of water conservation along with better crop yields make these irrigation systems worthwhile for investment. The study demonstrates that implementing funding schemes together with technical support is essential to creating widespread adoption of advanced irrigation technologies. This study adds value to sustainable water management research in agriculture by supporting the integration of advanced irrigation technologies as a solution for global water shortage problems.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF NATURAL PREDATORS AND PATHOGENS
This study investigates the effectiveness of biological control agents (BCAs), specifically natural predators and pathogens, in managing pest populations within agricultural systems. Field trials were conducted to assess the impact of BCAs on pest density, crop health, and yield. Natural predators such as lady beetles and lacewings, as well as pathogens including Bacillus thuringiensis and Metarhizium anisopliae, were evaluated for their ability to suppress common pests like aphids, whiteflies, tobacco hornworms, and cotton bollworms. The results demonstrated significant reductions in pest populations, with some agents achieving mortality rates of up to 90%. Environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, and soil type, were found to influence the efficacy of these BCAs, with optimal conditions enhancing pest control. Studies showed that plants treated with BCAs achieved better yields while demonstrating improved health rates over control areas because of the two-fold advantages that BCAs deliver between pest control and crop enhancement. The research demonstrates how BCAs represent an ecologically friendly pest control solution which stresses the need for environmental awareness when implementing biologically-based insecticides into pest management plans. The discovered evidence supports creating specific pest management approaches which combine sustainability with decreased chemical intervention requirements.
INFLUENCE OF BIOCHAR VARIANTS ON SOIL ORGANIC MATTER DISTRIBUTION AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION
This study evaluates the effects of different biochar types on soil organic matter fractions, carbon sequestration, soil properties, and microbial activity. Three biochar variants—agricultural waste (Biochar 1), wood (Biochar 2), and manure-based (Biochar 3)—were applied to sandy loam soil under controlled conditions. Parameters assessed included particulate and dissolved organic matter, humic substances, total organic carbon, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (ECe), and microbial biomass. Biochar 3 (Manure) showed the most significant improvements, notably increasing organic matter fractions, total carbon content, and microbial activity. It also enhanced soil pH, CEC, and ECe. These findings underscore the effectiveness of manure-based biochar in improving soil health, supporting sustainable agriculture, and enhancing long-term carbon storage. Biochar's role in soil improvement and carbon mitigation marks it a valued tool for sustainable land management and climate change alleviation.
ORGANIC COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS AS SUBSTITUTES TO INORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR WHEAT PRODUCTION
This study was conducted during 2024 wheat growing season to evaluate effects of nitrogen-enriched organic commercial fertilizers on wheat growth, yield, and soil nutrient status. Fertilizers assessed included an enriched organic commercial fertilizer (OMFERT) and nitrogen-fortified wheat straw (WS), compared against conventional inorganic NPK fertilizer and an unfertilized control. Results indicated that wheat plants grown with enriched organic commercial fertilizers exhibited growth and yield characteristics comparable to those treated with inorganic commercial fertilizer. At harvest, plants treated with OMFERT attained an average height of 261 cm, followed closely by those receiving fortified wheat straw (254 cm) and inorganic commercial fertilizer (254 cm). Time required to reach 50% tasseling varied among treatments, with inorganic commercial fertilizer allowing fastest tasseling at 52 days, followed by OMFERT at 50 days, WS at 54 days, and control taking longest. Grain yield was significantly influenced by fertilization, with OMFERT yielding 3.96 t ha⁻¹, NPK fertilizer producing 3.55 t ha⁻¹, WS yielding 3.14 t ha⁻¹, and control yielding lowest at 2.66 t ha⁻¹. Findings suggest that enriched organic commercial fertilizers can serve as viable alternatives to conventional inorganic commercial fertilizers for sustaining wheat growth and yield.
ALCOHOL-INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY: EXPLORING THE IMPACT ON BLOOD VESSELS AND HEART FUNCTION
This study investigates the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on heart function and vascular health, specifically focusing on alcohol-induced cardiotoxicity. Using a rodent model, rats were exposed to ethanol (20% v/v) for 12 weeks, and various cardiovascular, biochemical, and molecular parameters were assessed. Histological analysis revealed significant myocardial remodeling, including increased fibrosis and hypertrophy in the alcohol-treated group compared to controls. Functional assessments indicated elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, along with a reduced heart rate in alcohol-treated rats, suggesting compromised cardiac function and autonomic regulation. The Examined samples displayed elevated MDA levels and reduced SOD and GPX levels indicating increased oxidative stress through biochemical evaluations. The alcohol-exposed group displayed increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 together with pro-apoptotic BAX and decreased BCL-2 expression which indicates inflammatory and apoptotic reactions occur within the myocardium. Other research studies demonstrate that heart tissue exposure to alcohol connects to oxidative damage, inflammation and structural modifications. Analysis demonstrates that long-term alcohol use creates major cardiovascular abnormalities which produce heart tissue alterations and vascular system breakdown and causes imbalanced inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms. Additional research must pursue specific treatment approaches which handle alcohol-related cardiovascular damage since oxidative stress and inflammation play essential roles in developing alcohol-induced heart disease. Further investigation needs to explore interventions against alcohol-induced adverse effects and genetic factors which affect vulnerability to alcohol-related cardiotoxicity.
PRECISION AGRICULTURE: UTILIZING REMOTE SENSING AND IOT FOR OPTIMIZED CROP MANAGEMENT AND YIELD PREDICTION
This study investigates the integration of remote sensing and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance crop management and improve yield prediction in precision agriculture. The research was conducted across multiple agricultural sites with diverse crop types, utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery, drones equipped with multispectral sensors, and IoT sensors to collect real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and crop health indicators. The yield prediction model, developed using machine learning algorithms, demonstrated high accuracy, with prediction errors as low as 0.1 tons/ha for certain crops. The integration of remote sensing and IoT data significantly improved the monitoring of crop health and facilitated timely decision-making on irrigation, fertilization, and pest management. Studies showed precision agriculture technology implementation brought profitable returns on investment because it boosted rice and corn yields by 15%. The high beginning costs were offset by enduring resource efficiency advantages combined with raised productivity which turned the technology financially suitable for every agricultural operation. This research shows that precision farming strategies achieve agricultural productivity gains through their dual ability to enhance farming output levels and cut environmental consequences. The broad implementation of this technology is hindered by difficulties in infrastructure and high costs and technology accessibility issues. The research confirms remote sensing and IoT's combined power for creating sustainable farming operations that enhance efficiency.
BREEDING PROGRAMS FOR ENHANCING DISEASE RESISTANCE IN GOATS: FOCUSING ON PARASITIC INFECTIONS
This study investigates the effectiveness of breeding programs aimed at enhancing parasitic resistance in goats, with a particular focus on gastrointestinal nematodes (Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis). Utilizing a combination of genomic selection and phenotypic assessment, we identified significant genetic markers associated with reduced parasite burdens. Our results show a 12% genetic gain in reduced parasite load over four generations, with heritability estimates for resistance traits ranging from 0.38 to 0.45. The selected goats demonstrated a 20% increase in weight gain and a 30% reduction in parasite load compared to the control group. The studies demonstrate that parasite resistance breeding both controls parasites effectively and improves herd performance through weight gain along with improved milk production in selected goats. Genomic selection demonstrates potential to speed up genetic improvement of parasitic resistance according to the research while ongoing obstacles exist for its implementation due to cost and complexity factors. The research demonstrates sustainable disease control methods in goats through breeding provide an attractive substitute to chemical treatments and promote extended health and productivity within goat farming systems.
EXPLORING THE BIOSTIMULANT POTENTIAL OF COMPOST TEAS FOR SUSTAINABLE ONION PRODUCTION
This study evaluated the biostimulant potential of compost teas derived from various organic materials on the physiology of onion (Allium cepa L.) and soil health attributes under field conditions at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Three types of compost teas—vermicompost tea, farmyard manure (FYM) tea, and poultry manure tea—were prepared and applied as foliar sprays at critical growth stages. Parameters i.e., plant height, bulb diameter, bulb fresh weight, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance were assessed along with post-harvest soil properties including pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), organic matter, and microbial biomass carbon. Results revealed that all compost teas significantly enhanced onion growth and bulb yield compared to the control, with vermicompost tea exhibiting the most pronounced effects. Vermicompost tea-treated plants achieved the highest bulb weight (182.3 g), leaf chlorophyll content (56.4 SPAD), and soil organic matter (1.25%), indicating improved nutrient availability and microbial activity. The findings suggest that compost teas, particularly vermicompost tea, can serve as sustainable, eco-friendly biostimulants, improving onion productivity while maintaining soil health. These results support the integration of compost teas into organic and low-input agricultural systems.
MUNG BEAN STRAW INCORPORATION TO BOOST MAIZE GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE
This study evaluated the effect of mung bean straw incorporation on maize growth and yield performance under arid conditions. Five treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kg ha⁻¹ of mung bean straw) were applied in a randomized complete block design. The results demonstrated significant improvements in maize growth parameters with increasing straw levels. Plant height increased from 150.2 cm in the control to 190.6 cm at 20 kg ha⁻¹ (27% increase; p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, leaf area index improved by 53% (from 2.15 to 3.30), and biomass yield increased by 35% (from 4800 to 6500 kg ha⁻¹). Grain yield showed a 42% improvement, reaching 6200 kg ha⁻¹ at 20 kg ha⁻¹. The highest harvest index (38.5%) was recorded at 20 kg ha⁻¹, indicating improved resource allocation. These findings suggest that mung bean straw incorporation at 15-20 kg ha⁻¹ can optimize maize productivity and soil sustainability in arid regions.