Impact of Time Interval Between Chemoradiation and Surgery on Pathological Complete Response and Survival in Rectal Cancer

Akbar, Ali,Bhatti, Abu Bakar Hafeez,Niazi, Samiullah Khan,Syed, Amir Ali,Khattak, Shahid,Raza, Syed Hassan,Kazmi, Ather Saeed Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.1

Background: Limited data are available regarding the impact of time duration between chemoradiation (CRT) and surgery on pathological complete response (PCR). A PCR translates into better overall and disease free survival. The objective of this study was to determine effect of time duration on outcome after preoperative CRT in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing operations for rectal adenocarcinoma between January 2005 and December 2010 was performed. Patients were divided in two groups: Group 1 underwent surgery in ${\leq}8weeks$ post neoadjuvant CRT and Group 2 after 8 weeks. Patient characteristics, surgical procedure, histopathological details and number of loco-regional and distant failures were compared. Expected 5 year overall survival and disease free survival was calculated using Kaplan Meier curves and significance was determined using the log rank test. Results: There were 66 patients in group 1 and 93 in group 2. No significant difference in PCR was observed between the two. However, estimated 5 year DFS was significantly higher in Group 1 (66.7%) as compared to Group 2 (53.8%) (P=0.04). Estimated overall 5 year overall survival was not significantly different at 68.2% versus 54.3% (P= 0.09). Conclusions: Delaying surgery more than 8 weeks after preoperative CRT does not impact for PCR in rectal cancer.

Outcome of Rectal Cancer in Patients Aged 30 Years or Less in the Pakistani Population

Akbar, Ali,Bhatti, Abu Bakar Hafeez,Khattak, Shahid,Syed, Aamir Ali,Kazmi, Ather Saeed,Jamshed, Aarif Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: The incidence of rectal cancer is increasing in younger age groups. Limited data is available regarding survival outcome in younger patients with conflicting results from western world. The goal of this study was to determine survival in patients with rectal cancer <30 years of age and compare it with their older counterparts in the Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients operated for rectal adenocarcinoma between January 2005 and December 2010 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups, Group 1 aged ${\leq}30years$ and Group 2 aged >30years. Patient characteristics, surgical procedure, histopathological details and number of loco-regional and distant failures were compared. Expected 5 year survival was calculated using Kaplan Meier curves and significance was determined using the Log rank test. Results: There were 38 patients in group 1 and 144 in group 2. A significantly high number of younger patients presented with poorly differentiated histology (44.7% vs 9.7%) (p=0.0001) and advanced pathological stage (63.1% vs 38.1%) (p=0.04). Predicted overall 5 year survival was 38% versus 57% in groups I and II, respectively (p=0.05). Disease free survival was 37% versus 52% and was significantly different (p=0.007). Conclusions: Early onset rectal cancer is associated with poor pathological features and a worse outcome in Pakistani population.

Diversity in Betasatellites Associated with Cotton Leaf Curl Disease During Source-To-Sink Movement Through a Resistant Host

Iftikhar Ali Khan,Khalid Pervaiz Akhtar,Fazal Akbar,Ishtiaq Hassan,Imran Amin,Muhammad Saeed,Shahid Mansoor 한국식물병리학회 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.1

Cotton leaf curl is devastating disease of cotton characterized by leaf curling, vein darkening and enations. The disease symptoms are induced by DNA satellite known as Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB), dominant betasatellite in cotton but another betasatellite known as Chili leaf curl betasatellite (ChLCB) is also found associated with the disease. Grafting experiment was performed to determine if host plant resistance is determinant of dominant population of betasatellite in cotton (several distinct strains of CLCuMuB are associated with the disease). Infected scion of Gossypium hirsutum collected from field (the source) was grafted on G. arboreum, a diploid cotton species, resistant to the disease. A healthy scion of G. hirsutum (sink) was grafted at the top of G. arboreum to determine the movement of virus/betasatellite to upper susceptible scion of G. hirsutum. Symptoms of disease appeared in the upper scion and presence of virus/betasatellite in the upper scion was confirmed via molecular techniques, showing that virus/betasatellite was able to move to upper scion through resistant G. arboreum. However, no symptoms appeared on G. arboreum. Betasatelites were cloned and sequenced from lower scion, upper scion and G. arboreum which show that the lower scion contained both CLCuMuB and ChLCB, however only ChLCB was found in G. arboreum. The upper scion contained CLCuMuB with a deletion of 78 nucleotides (nt) in the non-coding region between Arich sequence and βC1 gene and insertion of 27 nt in the middle of βC1 ORF. This study may help in investigating molecular basis of resistance in G. arboreum.

First record of genus Protanilla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptanillinae) from India with description of a new species

Himender Bharti,Shahid Ali Akbar 한국응용곤충학회 2015 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.18 No.3

Protanilla wardi sp. nov. from Kerala, India is described and illustrated, which also confirms first record of the genus from this country. The new species is somewhat close to P. rafflesi Bolton, 1990 for its anteriorly concave petiolar node but differs from the latter by its vertical, not anteriorly inclined postpetiolar node. The new species represents only the 9th known species of this rare ant genus to be described.

Meranoplus periyarensis, a remarkable new ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India

Himender Bharti,Shahid Ali Akbar 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.4

Meranoplus periyarensis sp. nov. is the sixth species of its genus to be described from India. The others are:M. bicolor (Guerin-Meneville, 1844), M. bellii Forel, 1902; M. laeviventris Emery, 1889; M. levis Donisthorpe,1942 and M. rothneyi Forel, 1902. A revised key to the Indian species is provided.

Diversity in Betasatellites Associated with Cotton Leaf Curl Disease During Source-To-Sink Movement Through a Resistant Host

Khan, Iftikhar Ali,Akhtar, Khalid Pervaiz,Akbar, Fazal,Hassan, Ishtiaq,Amin, Imran,Saeed, Muhammad,Mansoor, Shahid The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.1

Cotton leaf curl is devastating disease of cotton characterized by leaf curling, vein darkening and enations. The disease symptoms are induced by DNA satellite known as Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB), dominant betasatellite in cotton but another betasatellite known as Chili leaf curl betasatellite (ChLCB) is also found associated with the disease. Grafting experiment was performed to determine if host plant resistance is determinant of dominant population of betasatellite in cotton (several distinct strains of CLCuMuB are associated with the disease). Infected scion of Gossypium hirsutum collected from field (the source) was grafted on G. arboreum, a diploid cotton species, resistant to the disease. A healthy scion of G. hirsutum (sink) was grafted at the top of G. arboreum to determine the movement of virus/betasatellite to upper susceptible scion of G. hirsutum. Symptoms of disease appeared in the upper scion and presence of virus/betasatellite in the upper scion was confirmed via molecular techniques, showing that virus/betasatellite was able to move to upper scion through resistant G. arboreum. However, no symptoms appeared on G. arboreum. Betasatelites were cloned and sequenced from lower scion, upper scion and G. arboreum which show that the lower scion contained both CLCuMuB and ChLCB, however only ChLCB was found in G. arboreum. The upper scion contained CLCuMuB with a deletion of 78 nucleotides (nt) in the non-coding region between Arich sequence and ${\beta}C1$ gene and insertion of 27 nt in the middle of ${\beta}C1$ ORF. This study may help in investigating molecular basis of resistance in G. arboreum.

Linking Emotional Brand Attachment and Sales Promotion to Post-Purchase Cognitive Dissonance: The Mediating Role of Impulse Buying Behavior

Muhammad Imad Ud Din AKBAR,Bilal AHMAD,Mirza Huzaifa ASIF,Shahid Ali SIDDIQUI 한국유통과학회 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.11

The primary objective of this research is to develop a better understanding of consumer’s post-purchase psychological state by examining the influence of sales promotion and emotional brand attachment on post-purchase cognitive dissonance, taking into account the mediating role of impulse buying behavior. The current study addresses several gaps in literature. Firstly, it is hard to find the direct impact of sales promotion and emotional brand attachment on post-purchase cognitive dissonance. Secondly, to the best of our knowledge, few studies have investigated the mediating role of impulse buying behavior in consumer research. A sample of 256 respondents was collected from Pakistani retail consumers. The statistical findings of this study show that sales promotion has a significant positive effect on the impulse buying behavior and post-purchase cognitive dissonance. Furthermore, results indicate that emotional brand attachment has a negative influence on impulse buying behavior but has a significant positive impact on post-purchase cognitive dissonance. Meanwhile, impulse buying behavior is a potential mediator between sales promotion, emotional brand attachment, and post-purchase cognitive dissonance relationships. The moderating role of Gender describes that the positive relationship between sales promotion and post-purchase cognitive dissonance will be stronger for women as compared to men at a higher level of sales promotion.

Can Induction Chemotherapy before Concurrent Chemoradiation Impact Circumferential Resection Margin Positivity and Survival in Low Rectal Cancers?

Bhatti, Abu Bakar Hafeez,Waheed, Anum,Hafeez, Aqsa,Akbar, Ali,Syed, Aamir Ali,Khattak, Shahid,Kazmi, Ather Saeed Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.7

Background: Distance from anal verge and abdominoperineal resection are risk factors for circumferential resection margin (CRM) positivity in rectal cancer. Induction chemotherapy (IC) before concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) has emerged as a new treatment modification. Impact of IC before concurrent CRT on CRM positivity in low rectal cancer remains to be independently studied. The objective of this study was to determine CRM positivity in low rectal cancer, with and without prior IC, and to identify predictors of disease free and overall survival. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer between 2005 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups. Group 1 received IC before CRT and Group 2 did not. Demographics, clinicopathological variables and CRM status were compared. Actuarial 5 year disease free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and independent predictors of survival were determined. Results: Patients in the IC group presented with advanced stage (Stage 3=89.2% versus 75.4%) (P=0.02) but a high rate of total mesorectal excision (TME) (100% versus 93.4%) (P=0.01) and sphincter preservation surgery (54.9 % versus 22.9%) (P=0.001). Patients with low rectal cancer who received IC had a significantly low positive CRM rate (9.2% versus 34%) (P=0.002). Actuarial 5 year DFS in IC and no IC groups were 39% and 43% (P=0.9) and 5 year OS were 70% and 47% (P=0.003). Pathological tumor size [HR: 2.2, CI: 1.1-4.5, P=0.01] and nodal involvement [HR: 2, CI: 1.08-4, P=0.02] were independent predictors of relapse while pathological nodal involvement [HR: 2.6, CI: 1.3-4.9, P=0.003] and IC [HR: 0.7, CI: 0.5-0.9, P=0.02] were independent predictors of death. Conclusions: In low rectal cancer, induction chemotherapy before CRT may significantly decrease CRM positivity and improve 5 year overall survival.

A checklist of soldierflies (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) in India

Aijaz Ahmad Wachkoo,Ghulam Mustafa Shah,Ulfat Jan,Shahid Ali Akbar 국립중앙과학관 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol.10 No.1

The Indian soldierfly fauna is rich and diverse, yet it is poorly studied as most species were described in the 19th century. Soldierflies, like most other organisms, especially in developing nations such as India, have been largely overlooked in recent times. In this study, we present an inventory of all names so far validly published in Indian Stratiomyidae. Synonyms, notes about type localities, depositories, and distribution are included. The study revealed that the soldierfly species list from India comprises 84 valid species, distributed in 35 genera and 7 subfamilies. The present study provides a synopsis of the regional taxonomical work carried out until now, and can serve as a baseline survey for future studies. The study indicates that most areas of the vast Indian territory are unexplored for soldierflies, and perhaps the majority of the soldierflies in India still remain discovered.