EFFECTS OF CERVICAL MUSCLES STRENGTHENING WITH AND WITHOUT SHOULDER EXERCISES IN POST-MASTECTOMY PATIENTS WITH NECK PAIN

Background of the Study: To compare the effects of cervical muscles strengthening with and without shoulder exercises on post- mastectomy patients with neck pain. Methodology: It was a randomized clinical trial, conducted in physical therapy department of a clinical setting through Dynamometer. Sample size of 24 patients were taken. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used. A written consent form was taken from patients meeting inclusion criteria and were randomly allocated. In one group, patients were treated with cervical Muscles strengthening with shoulder exercises. In other group, patients were treated with cervical Muscles strengthening alone. Treatment was given once a day for three weeks. Muscle strength was examined using dynamometer, Baseline data was taken before treatment on first day after inclusion in study and again on the last day after treatment. SPSS 25 was used to analyze the data. Results: Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare individuals within the group which showed significant results in both groups, p-value 0.000 (i.e. <0.001) for neck strength. Between groups comparison was done using Mann-Whitney U Test and it showed no significant changes for cervical extensors (p- value;0.143) , cervical side bending (right) (p-value; 0.315) and cervical side bending (left) (p-value; 0.853) strength differences, but however cervical flexors strength showed statistically significant results as p-value was 0.003. Conclusion: It was concluded that Cervical strengthening along with shoulder Rehabilitation can help improve the strength of cervical flexors. However, both the groups have equally resulted in improved cervical extensor, Side bending right and left strength.

Assessment of Growth and Physiochemical Responses of Wheat to Chemo-Blended Silver and Iron Nanoparticles

Wheat is king of cereals and plays a central role in Pakistan’s food economy. Developing world has greater concern about food security because of population intensification. There is a dire need of new technologies and inventions for modern agriculture to reshape in productive fashion. Nanotechnology has greater potential for addressing current agricultural issues in resource and environmental friendly manner. Nanotechnology is the exploration of materials objects and systems through the structure and properties of matter at nano scale. Exploring the comprehensive research profile of nanoparticles may revolutionize entire industry in to climax. Silver and iron nano particles have potential to enhance growth and development by improving metabolic activities of plants. Organic chemicals like nicotinic acid, tryptophan and myo-inositol have stimulatory effects on plant growth and act as endogenous promoters. Inorganic chemicals like urea and KNO3have yield enhancing effects. Silver and Iron nanoparticles were synthesized in Crop Physiology Lab Department of Agronomy, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Size determination of nanoparticles was carried out through SEM and Zeta Particle Analyzer. In primary optimization series of experiments were carried out to find the best concentration of nanoparticles, organic and inorganic chemicals. From primary optimization 5 ppm Ag NPs, 10 ppm nicotinic acid, 25 ppm tryptophan, 25 ppm myo-inositol, 0.75 % urea, 0.75 % KNO3 and 5 ppm Fe-NPs were selected for blending purpose. In secondary optimization all the best performing treatments were blended by making possible combinations. Growth analysis was carried out for evaluation of effective nanoblended formulations for wheat growth. To check the response of chemo-blended nanoformulations morphological, physio-chemical, and yield analysis were performed. Proteomic analysis was carried out to investigate the insight change in proteome in response to chemo-blended NPs. Results revealed that Ag NPs and Fe NPs mixed with organic and inorganic chemicals increased wheat plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll spad reading, root length, shoot and root biomass. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were increased with application of chemo-blended NPs. Biochemical analysis such as total free amino acid contents, total soluble sugars, and total soluble proteins were significantly promoted with chemo-blended Ag and Fe NPs. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, CAT, and POD were increased in response to chemo-blended NPs. Yield attributes like no. grains per spike, weight of grains, and yield of wheat increased in response to Ag & Fe NPs mixed with organic and inorganic chemicals. In proteomic analysis proteins were extracted from treated plants and analyzed through nano LC-MS/MS. Differential analysis of MS data was carried out with PERSEUS software (version 1.6.0.7). The protein sequence of the differentially changed proteins was subjected to amigene ontology Go database. The gene functional annotations and protein categorization was assessed through MapMan bincode and protein abundance ratio was assessed through MapMan software. Pathway mapping of identified proteins was performed using KEGG databases. Amongst differentially changed proteins, proteins related to photosynthesis, protein synthesis, secondary metabolism and transport were increased while glycolysis, signaling and stress related proteins were decreased. KEGG pathway mapping of identified glycolysis related proteins revealed that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase increase/decrease while phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase was decreased. Enzyme activity as confirmation of proteomic analysis revealed that SOD, CAT, and POD increased in response to chemoblended NPs. Furthermore, maintenance of redox homeostasis through regulation of glycolysis and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes regulate energy metabolism. This maintenance of energy related activities may stimulate plant growth and development in response to chemo-blended NPs.