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Genetic contribution
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Kidneys play an important role in salts regulation in the body and these salts contribute in different metabolic processes.
Kidneys involved in excretion and absorption different ions and metabolites from blood and maintain homeostasis.
Any excessive or lower amount or quantity of these salts and metabolites in blood or urine indicates problem in either regulation or consumption of these ions in the body.
Most common metabolites in body are sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, magnesium and amino acids. The change in homeostasis of these metabolites lead to nephrolithiasis or renal stone.
The most common form of nephrolithiasis is calcium salt (75- 80%) that form combination with oxalate or phosphate.
Magnesium and phosphate contribute 10-15% while uric acid and cystine contributes 6%, 1-2% respectively. Prevalence of renal stone reported up to 11% (at least one episode in life) in world.
Beside the environmental factors genetics plays a role in disease onset specially when disease prevails in families. Many gene mutations have been reported globally that lead to renal stone.
The disease likelihood is more in populations where consanguinity is high. Pakistan is among countries where consanguinity (cousin marriage) is high. The probability of genetic contribution is more in consanguineous populations for inherited disorders.
A few studies have been conducted related to renal genetics in Pakistani population. Many advanced molecular biology techniques are used for genetic analysis worldwide.
IHSAN ULLAH,
PROF M YASIR ZAHOOR
Lahore
The youth
If the wheel is the sign of progress, then youth is its axle to support it to roll easily. It means it is solely a contributor of progress to any nation on the globe.
The appliance behind the pinnacles of advancement and accomplishment – youth – of Pakistan’s 64 per cent of the population is considering itself obsolete due to a lack of appreciation and meritocracy as well as a huge number of pessimists.
Unfortunately, today’s youth are trapped in uncertainty, unpredictability, fear of failure, depression, parental pressure, drug addiction and suicide. These problems do not let them search for the potentialities and capabilities they’re gifted with.
The leader of tomorrow, full of energy, stamina and enthusiasm fail to search the way the once given project, salubrious and buoyant –life – runs toward.
The days had gone by when the humankind was unknown from its fleet potentialities and capabilities they had blessed with, but this post-modern globalised world has taught numerous skills to recognise them.
Correspondingly, it is the only youth that can uplift the murky scope of progress, integrity, development and pragmatic flaunt of a nation despite facing provocative hampers in their way.
A thorough glimpse on the past shows the success lies in being dared to fears and frustrations of life and crossing these hurdles leads one towards the destination which (s)he dreamt of. Being persistent, having tolerance and keeping perseverance guarantees success individually as well as nationally.
M KHAN BANGWAR
Kandhkot Sindh
Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray, the CM of Maharashtra, is confident that he will win the municipal elections which are going to be held next year.
But my instincts tell me that he will lose it because he has harassed people a lot right from day one of his tenure as the Chief Minister.
Like the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he too keeps on making promises but never fulfils them. Sharad Pawar, who was the former CM of Maharashtra, is the best candidate for the CM’s post.
He was the CM of Maharashtra from July 1978 to February 1980 and from March 1990 to June 1991 and again from March 1993 to March 1995 and we never had any problems during his tenure.
He has also never harassed us or given us any trouble like Uddhav Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray has made life miserable for the religious minorites, especially Muslims and Christians, right from the day he became the CM.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
How to reinvent yourself
There will always be times in your life when you fell stuck and may need to learn how to modify yourself.
We all need change in our life from time to time to shake things up and approach our work and career with a refreshed enthusiasm.
This could come when you experience a big change such as leaving your job, ending a relationship or losing a loved one. If you are going through a major shift in your life, you may find new ways of thinking or doing.
Your world actually only exists for as long as you exists and with the death of you, includes the death of your world.
Therefore, if there is no peace in your inner side, you will find no peace in your world, if there is no happiness in your life you will find no happiness anywhere around you. At this stage you may have three choices.
You may let it define. Let it destroy you. Else, you make yourself strengthen. So don’t try to change the world try to change yourself for the better.
M Aliza
Karachi
