ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 4, 2026
Nutritional Evaluation and Phytochemical Analysis of Ageratum conyzoides Leaves in Relation to Hypertension Management
Ogunboye Adebayo A., Adeniji Funmilola F., Adewole Mulikat A., Odutayo Oluwatofunmi E.
Page no 429-443 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.001
Plants remain one of the most valuable sources of therapeutic agents for managing diseases and maintaining health. Ageratum conyzoides (AC) belongs to the family Asteraceae and has been known since antiquity for its medicinal properties and effectiveness in the treatment of various ailments ranging from skin disease, fever, to relief colic, flatulence, dysentery, and diarrhea. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal use, limited scientific evidence exists to substantiate its pharmacological properties. This study was therefore designed to determine its nutrition and phytochemical component as herbal remedy for hypertension. Proximate analysis (%) shows that the plant has a low moisture content (6.57 ± 0.053), a low crude protein content (8.15 ± 0.041), low concentration of fat (3.10 ± 0.000), a moderate amount of fibre (16.58 ± 0.088), low Ash content (4. 29 ± 0.010) and high amount of carbohydrate (61.21 ± 0.010). This confirms AC as a good source of energy and fibre that aids digestion and improve the intestinal tract. The phytochemical constituents (Tannins, Phenols, Alkaloids, Flavonoids and Saponins) were found to be 2.79%, 49.03mg/g, 0.94%, 38.22mg/g and 3.80% respectively. This confirms the plant’s richness in phytochemicals and antioxidant compounds. The concentration of essential amino acids (mg/g protein) (Leucine, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Threonine, and Methionine) were found to be 66.00, 38.05, 48.00, 36.00, 38.00 and 16.05 showing the nutritional quality of AC. Mineral compositions (mg/100g) (magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, manganese, cobalt, selenium and zinc) were found to be 27.45, 65.00, 8.16, 720.07, 100.42, 25.00, 5.15, 0.05, 0.72 and 2.24 confirming the nutritional and medicinal richness of Ageratum conyzoides as a herbal remedy. This study demonstrated that dietary supplementation of Ageratum conyzoides in local delicacy (black soup) has the potential to improve the nutritional status vis a vis the overall health benefit with regards to hypertension and other traditional use.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 5, 2026
Epidemiological Assessment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Patients from Swat and Neighboring Districts
Tayyab Jamil, Humaira Rahim, Muhammad Tahir Farooq, Abdul Jabbar, Zaibi Zara, Zainab Bano, Wajid Ullah, Masood Shah
Page no 444-452 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.002
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded, blood-borne, RNA virus, which infects hepatocytes and can cause chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The task of this hospital-based study was to identify the level of HCV infection in patients in some of the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. There were 250 patients attending Royal Imperial Hospital, Mingora, to have pre-surgery assessment. Data analyses were performed based on gender, age group and district of residence. Blood samples were taken, serum/plasma was separated and HCV screening was done by the use of rapid diagnostic device. Among 250 patients, 7 were positive of HCV which constitutes a total of 2.8 prevalence. The positive rate of males was 4 out of 104 with a prevalence of 3.84, and the positive rate of females was 3 out of 146 with a prevalence of 2.05. Analysis by district indicated that most positive cases were in Swat with Shangla having the least prevalence. The distribution in terms of age showed that HCV positivity was more common among the adult age groups than among the young people. The results indicate that HCV is a health issue to the community of the study area especially adults and males. To decrease transmission, better screening, awareness, safe blood transfusion practices, sterilization of surgical and dental instruments, and avoidance of sharing needles are advised.
Introduction: Miliary dissemination of adenocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive, and often terminal form of metastasis characterized by countless tiny (millimetric) nodules spreading throughout the lungs, mimicking miliary tuberculosis. It affects less than 5% of all lung adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study is to present a case of miliary disseminated adenocarcinoma originating from the lung with all diagnostic requirements. Materials and Methods: A 57year old male patient with 80-pack year smoking status admitted for invasive diagnostics in our clinic between (22.10.2026-29.10.2026) due to x-ray showing miliary disseminated lung infiltrates and pleural effusion. Results: The light criteria of the pleural effusion showed exudate with high LDH values highly suspected of malignancy. Contrast enhanced CT was scheduled and it showed multiple miliary disseminated infiltrates, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. Liver and adrenal gland metastases were also noted. Bronchoscopy with TBB from the branch of the right upper lobe, together with TBNA from position 7 and 11R, both came positive for adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was positive in 50% of ROS1; TTF1; CK7; CEA; and negative on CK20; EGFR, ALK, PDL1 confirming primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. Additionally, the patient was presented on tumor bord for treatment options and staging being T4N3M1c2. Conclusion: Miliary disseminated adenocarcinoma is aggressive and usually diagnosed late. Immunohistochemistry can provide an exact origin of the malignant disease.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 7, 2026
Seasonal Distribution of Micro Algae in Kondakarla Ava/Lake, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India
G.M. Narasimha Rao
Page no 457-462 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.004
Present investigation aims to study the seasonal fluctuations of micro algae in Kondakarla Lake (Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh) for a period of one year from March 2024 to February 2025. A total of 115 species were reported which belongs to different categories of algae such as Chlorophyceae (46), Bacillariophyceae (34) Cyanophyceae (27) and Euglenophyceae (8). It was observed that species diversity and abundance of micro algae varied seasonally. Pre monsoon and post monsoon seasons recorded a greater number of species than monsoon season.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 8, 2026
Mutational Analysis of FOXE3 Gene Causing Cataract in Pakistani Family
Romana Javeed, Nadeem Ur Rehman, Peter John, Attique Ahmed, Najeeb Khan, Anbareen, Masood Shah, Ishtiaq Ahmad
Page no 463-474 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.005
The cataracts which is the major cause of blindness in the world has been largely attributed to genetic mutations especially in high consanguinity regions. Particularly, mutation in the FOXE3 genes is found in the congenital cataracts particularly in those families that have had consanguinity marriages. The topic that will be discussed in this paper will be a consanguinity family of Pakistanis and how the FOXE3 gene mutations are used in the pathogenesis of congenital cataracts. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and DNA analysis identified that two individuals with the disease in the family contained a mutation in the FOXE3 gene (c.720C>A), which produced a premature stop codon at codon 240. The mutation leads to production of a truncated FOXE3 protein that disrupts the lens formation and cataracts are developed. The research will contribute to the knowledge of genetic causes of cataracts and consequent implications early diagnosis, genetic counseling and treatment of the affected patients in consanguineous groups. The findings demonstrate the importance of genetic testing and early intervention in the treatment of congenital cataracts particularly in high-consanguinity areas.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 10, 2026
Genetic Variability, Character Association and Principal Component Analysis of Eight Advanced Coarse Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Lines Under the Sub-Humid Temperate Agro-Ecology of Hazara Division, Pakistan
Maaz Ahmed, Sami Ullah, Asad Ullah, Faheem Ahmad, Muhammad Asif Khan, Nasia Rehman, Salma Imtiaz
Page no 475-484 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.006
Progress in coarse rice improvement for Pakistan's northern belt has been slowed by the narrow genetic base of adapted materials and by a habit of evaluating candidate lines one trait at a time. The present study takes a multivariate view: eight advanced coarse rice lines (Line-11, Line-20, Line-23, Line-24, Line-25, Line-26, Line-27 and Line-28) were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Baffa, during the 2024 kharif season, and eleven agronomic and yield attributes were recorded. Analysis of variance detected highly significant differences among genotypes for every trait (p < 0.01). Broad-sense heritability was high (≥ 0.80) for ten of the eleven traits, and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean exceeded 25% for plant height, flag leaf area, panicle length, tillers per plant, primary branches, secondary branches and 1000-grain weight indicating that additive gene action predominates and that direct phenotypic selection would be effective. Pearson correlation revealed that grain yield was most strongly associated with stem diameter (r = 0.72) and 1000-grain weight (r = 0.55), while tiller number carried a negative correlation (r = –0.61), consistent with the sink-limited nature of coarse rice under the site's cool nights. The first two principal components together explained 62.3% of the total variation; PC1 separated architecture from earliness, while PC2 separated grain-weight-driven yield from vegetative bulk. Ward's hierarchical clustering grouped the eight lines into three well-defined clusters. A weighted selection index that combined yield, grain weight, tiller number, branching and (as a penalty) stem-borer incidence ranked Line-23, Line-20 and Line-26 as the three best-adapted candidates for Hazara Division. Line-11 is retained as a donor for earliness and Line-25 as a donor for secondary-branch density. The results support a shift toward index-based, multi-trait selection in the on-going coarse rice programme for the region.
CASE REPORT | Aug. 17, 2026
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Wegener’s Granulomatosis), Diagnosis, Clinical Approach, Initial Treatment and 1 Year Follow Up (Case Report)
Ramov Leonid, Zdraveska Marija, Severova Andreevska Galina, Guchev Filip, Dimitrievska Deska
Page no 485-488 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.007
Introduction: Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a rare long-term systemic disorder that involves the formation of granulomas and inflammation of blood vessels. Aim: of this study was to present a case of (WG) that was diagnosed with kidney biopsy while the lung infiltrates were not reachable. Materials and methods: 57-year-old male patient admitted for invasive diagnostics due to lung infiltrates. Results: The patient had positive C-ANCA on bloodwork, CT scan showing multiple bilateral lung infiltrates and an inconclusive result from a nasal mucosa biopsy. The lung infiltrates being difficult to reach for biopsy and having confirmed kidney involvement with high creatinine and albuminuria enabled us to do kidney biopsy. The biopsy showed a vasculitis with positive C-ANCA confirming (WG). A high dose of Methylprednisolone (500mg for 3day, then 250 for 3 day and finally 125mg for 3 days) A cyclophosphamide and maintenance dose steroids therapy was initiated by a consulting rheumatologist after discharge. A complete remission of the lung involvement was seen on a CT 2 months after. Discussion: The least invasive site for biopsy being the nasal mucosa is always the best site for biopsy. Having received an inconclusive result leaves the kidney and the lung as secondary options. In our case the kidney was considered due to a better possible yield of viable material Conclusion: Present kidney involvement is always a site for biopsy with a high yield for confirming (WG) despite the risk of bleeding complications who were absent in our case.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 20, 2026
Fish Diversity in River Panjkora, District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Masood Shah, Kinza Ejaz, Linta Noor, Nadeem Jamal, Amir Muaawia, Anbareen, Abul Hassan Khan, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Usman
Page no 489-503 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.008
A fish may be defined as a poikilothermic, aquatic chordate whose appendages, when present, are developed as fins, whose chief respiratory organs are gills and whose body is usually covered with scales. The present study was undertaken to document the fish diversity of River Panjkora in District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Samples were collected from March to August 2024 using gill nets, cast nets, hooks and automatic rods at five sites along the river, namely Talash, Shagokas, Balambat, Rani and Khall. A total of 81 specimens were captured and identified, representing six species distributed across two orders (Cypriniformes and Perciformes) and two families (Cyprinidae and Channidae). Cyprinidae was the richest family, comprising five species Schizothorax esocinus, Puntius ticto, Tor macrolepis, Carassius auratus and Crossocheilus diplocheilus whereas Channidae was represented by a single species, Channa gachua. Crossocheilus diplocheilus was the most abundant taxon (35 individuals; 43.20%), while Carassius auratus was the least abundant (3 individuals; 3.70%). Morphometric measurements and fin formulae were recorded for every species; the smallest species was Puntius ticto (total length 8.2 cm) and the largest was Tor macrolepis (total length 19.5 cm). Simpson's index of dominance was 0.255 and the reciprocal Simpson's index was 3.92, indicating a moderately diverse assemblage dominated by cyprinids. Fishes were identified using standard taxonomic keys, including Fishes of the Punjab (Mirza and Sandhu, 2007) and the Urdu key of Mirza (1990). The findings indicate that the river can potentially harbour additional species and could serve as a resource for conserving threatened taxa. Regular monitoring of the fish fauna, periodic assessment of water quality, stocking of native fish and control of illegal fishing are recommended to safeguard the ichthyofauna.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 22, 2026
Pulmonary Thromboembolism Related to Complicated Knee Surgery. Initial Hospital Treatment and 1 Year Follow Up (Case Report)
Poposka Biljana, Ramov Leonid, Spasovska Marija, Pejkovska Sava
Page no 504-506 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.009
Introduction: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are common complication following any type of surgery. Orthopedic surgeries have a risk higher than 10% of developing PTE. Therefore, a 2 to 5 weeks is given after the surgical procedure. The Aim: of this study was to present a case of PTE, preceded by local DVT, preceded by orthopedic surgery despite of prophylaxis with 4000 I.U of LMWH for 21 days and the 1year outpatient follow up afterwards. Materials and Methods: A full clinical analysis of a 20 years-old male athlete treated for PTE, DVT and Pleuropneumonia from 22.06.2024 to 05.07.2024 in inpatient setting and a follow up treatment in outpatient setting for 1 year. Results: The patient was admitted with d-dimer count of 3900ng/L, S1Q3T3 ECG pattern highly suspected of underlying PTE. What followed was 2 week long inpatient treatment and stabilization and 1 year-long outpatient treatment, evaluation and finally permanent discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy. Discussion: In an inpatient setting the treatment with LMWH is safer than any other type of anticoagulation for PTE when the right conditions are met and no imminent hemodynamic instability is present. DVT and PTE remain common complications of surgeries especially orthopedic ones. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of circulatory complications related to surgeries, especially orthopedic ones and how sometimes the given prophylaxis can fail.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Aug. 25, 2026
Advanced Cofe₂O₄/Bivo₄/Bi₂WO₆/G-C₃N₄ Z-Scheme Multi-Heterojunction Photocatalyst for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion, CO₂ Reduction, Hydrogen Evolution and Environmental Remediation
Binyamin Siddiqui, Muhammad Abid Sultani, Talha Javed, Muhammad Azam Shani, Muhammad Haris, Ehtasham Ul Haq, Sahrish Younus
Page no 507-536 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjls.2026.v11i08.010
The development of multifunctional photocatalysts capable of simultaneously addressing solar energy conversion, carbon-neutral fuel production, and environmental remediation remains a significant challenge due to rapid charge carrier recombination and limited visible-light utilization. In this study, a novel CoFe₂O₄/BiVO₄/Bi₂WO₆/g-C₃N₄ Z-scheme multi-heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a combination of hydrothermal and in situ deposition methods to achieve highly efficient solar-driven photocatalytic performance. Structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterizations confirmed the successful construction of a tightly integrated multi-heterojunction with intimate interfacial contact among all constituent phases. The engineered Z-scheme architecture significantly enhanced visible-light harvesting, facilitated rapid spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers, and suppressed electron–hole recombination. Electrochemical analyses further verified reduced charge-transfer resistance and improved interfacial charge transport. Under simulated solar irradiation, the optimized photocatalyst exhibited outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving hydrogen evolution at a rate of 2138 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, while CO₂ photoreduction generated CO (18 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and CH₄ (16 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) as the major solar fuels. Simultaneously, the composite demonstrated 98.4% degradation of representative organic pollutants with 86.7% mineralization efficiency, highlighting its excellent capability for wastewater purification. Radical trapping experiments and band structure analysis revealed that photogenerated electrons together with •OH and •O₂⁻ radicals were the dominant reactive species governing the enhanced photocatalytic activity. The superior performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction of CoFe₂O₄, BiVO₄, Bi₂WO₆, and g-C₃N₄, which provided broad-spectrum solar absorption, abundant active sites, enhanced redox capability, and efficient charge migration through the direct Z-scheme pathway. Furthermore, the photocatalyst retained 94.6% of its initial activity after five consecutive photocatalytic cycles, confirming its excellent structural stability and long-term durability. This work presents an effective strategy for designing advanced Z-scheme multi-heterojunction photocatalysts that integrate solar energy conversion, CO₂ utilization, hydrogen production, and environmental remediation within a single high-performance platform, offering considerable potential for sustainable energy and environmental applications.