University of Peshawar

Background: Cervical radiculopathy, caused by compression or irritation of cervical nerve roots, leads to neck pain, sensory changes, and functional limitations. Occupations with prolonged postures and repetitive strain, such as heavy truck driving, increase risk due to long hours, sustained sitting, mechanical stress, and whole-body vibration. Psychological factors like anxiety and depression can worsen pain perception and disability. Objective: To determine the prevalence of psychosocial factors and mental health problems among heavy truck drivers with suspected cervical radiculopathy in Peshawar. Methodology: A six-month cross-sectional descriptive study in Peshawar included 196 male heavy truck drivers aged 35–65 years with suspected cervical radiculopathy, recruited via non-probability convenience sampling from transport companies and healthcare facilities. Individuals with serious systemic diseases, malignancies, fractures, or those who reported driving less than ten hours per day were excluded from the study. Data were collected using the Neck Disability Index for neck disability and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for psychological distress. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression, was performed using SPSS version 25. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between neck disability, anxiety, and depression. In addition, regression analysis was conducted to determine whether neck disability could predict levels of psychological distress among the participants. Results: The mean age of participants was 47.85 years. Mean scores for neck disability, anxiety, and depression were 2.76±0.46, 2.13±0.25, and 2.13±0.24, respectively. Correlation analysis showed a weak positive association between neck disability and anxiety (r = 0.139) and a minimal association with depression (r=0.056). Regression analysis indicated neck disability was not a significant predictor of depression (p=0.437) and had a borderline association with anxiety (p=0.051). Conclusion: Heavy truck drivers with suspected cervical radiculopathy experience notable anxiety and depression. The weak association between neck disability and psychological distress underscores the need for a biopsychosocial approach in assessing and managing cervical radiculopathy in occupational drivers.

Typhoid fever is a potentially fatal systemic infection caused by Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobe. This study aimed to characterize the efflux pump genes, molecular mutations, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in clinical isolates. A total of 2950 blood samples were collected from suspected typhoid patients. Of these, 380 (12.88%) bacterial isolates were recovered, of which 236 (62.10%) were Gram-negative. S. typhi was detected in 95 isolates (25% of all bacterial isolates), corresponding to an overall prevalence of 3.22%. Identification was performed using API 20-E strips and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Resistance profiling classified the isolates into multidrug-resistant (MDR, 13.68%) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR, 86.31%) categories. High resistance was observed to ampicillin (98.94%) and chloramphenicol (93.68%), whereas no resistance was detected to azithromycin or meropenem. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing using E-Strips showed the highest MIC values for trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (MIC50: 0.125 μg/ml, MIC90: 0.50 μg/ml) and the lowest for ciprofloxacin (MIC₅₀: 0.008 μg/ml, MIC₉₀: 0.023 μg/ml). Among the efflux pump genes, mdtB (32.63%) was the most prevalent, followed by mdtC (30.52%) and mdtA (29.47%). Multiple mutations were identified and evaluated using the I-Mutant 2.0 server. Protein structures were modeled using trRosetta and Discovery Studio. Phylogenetic analysis using MEGA-11 revealed evolutionary relationships with other Salmonella enterica serovars. A serious public health issue that increases mortality and morbidity rates worldwide is antibiotic resistance. Among the mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance in bacteria are degradation of antibiotics and/or modification of enzymes, changing drug targets to alter the affinity of antibiotics, altering bacterial surfaces by changing the expression of external membrane proteins, and active bacterial efflux of drugs. The drug's binding affinity can be changed by mutations in efflux pump genes that change the shape of the substrate- binding pocket. These structural alterations may improve the pump's capacity to identify and eliminate antibiotics, reducing intracellular drug levels and increasing resistance to several drugs. This study highlights the alarming rise of multidrug resistance in S. typhi isolates and identifies key genetic mutations that may influence efflux pump function, potentially contributing to enhanced antibiotic resistance.

A study was carried out to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of amphibolite located in the Kaiigah region of the upper Kohistan Dasu Dam area. The study aimed to explore its suitability as a source for aggregates and to evaluate its geotechnical performance. The region is mainly composed of amphibolite. The assessment included a comparison of physical properties against recognized standards to gauge their suitability for construction use. It was found that there is a strong direct correlation between water absorption rates and Los Angeles abrasion results. The analysis covered both fine and coarse aggregates, examining parameters such as specific gravity, Los Angeles abrasion, unit weight, sieve analysis, Proctor compaction, Atterberg limits and sand equivalent, in accordance with ASTM and British Standards. The findings were cross-referenced with ASTM and AASHTO standards to gauge aggregate quality. It was concluded that the amphibolites from Kaiigah meet the necessary criteria for specific gravity and Los Angeles abrasion, indicating their suitability for the local construction sector.