Quackery in Health is Still Around: Pseudoscientific Healing Practices Across the Globe.

Fraudulent medical practices remain prevalent globally, fueled by digital platforms spreading false claims. This study analysed 3,327 published studies and 400 grey literature sources, selecting 38 studies and 19 excerpts for detailed examination. It identified 126 distinct quackery techniques and products used throughout history.

Doctors taking bribes from pharmaceutical companies is common and not substantially reduced by an educational intervention: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial in Pakistan.

Introduction: Incentive-linked prescribing, which is when healthcare providers accept incentives from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing promoted medicines, is a form of bribery that harms patients and health systems globally. We developed a novel method using data collectors posing as pharmaceutical company sales representatives to evaluate private doctors' engagement in incentive-linked prescribing and the impact of a multifaceted educational intervention on reducing this practice in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: We made a sampling frame of all doctors running for-profit, primary-care clinics and randomly allocated participants to control and intervention groups (1:1).

Global prevalence of quackery practices: A scoping review of definitions, regulations and allied healthcare.

Advancements in medical science and digital access made it easier for individuals to seek appropriate treatment. Despite living in the current information era, the practice of quackery has continued worldwide. The current scoping review was planned to explore different definitions and laws related to quackery, and the acceptance of allied healthcare services in traditional, cultural and legal contexts.

ALT CHANGES AND ADVERSE EVENTS OF TELBIVUDINE IN HEPATITIS-B PATIENTS-AN EXPERIENCE OF 11 PATIENTS.

Hepatitis-B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem. Of the two billion people who have been infected, more than 350 million have chronic hepatitis. It is estimated that 235,000-328,000 people die annually due to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, we assessed the short term outcomes of treatment with telbivudine in 11 adults aged 14-41 years with HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis-B (CHB).

Comparison of hypoglycaemia episodes in people with type-2 diabetes fasting in Ramazan, treated with vildaglipton or sulphonylurea: results of the Pakistani cohort of the VIRTUE study.

Objective: To assess the effect of vildagliptin in comparison to sulphonylurea (SU) on hypoglycaemia in Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus fasting during Ramadan.

Methods: VIRTUE was a multicenter, prospective, observational study, which enrolled 244 patients from Pakistan who were re-analysed. All included patients were treated with vildagliptin (n=121) or SU (n=121) as add-on to metformin or as monotherapy for 16 weeks.

Efficacy and tolerability of carbamazepine for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy in adults: a 12-week, open-label, multicenter study.

Objective: Anticonvulsants are increasingly being used in the symptomatic management of several neuropathic pain disorders. The present observational study was designed to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and quality of life (QoL) of carbamazepine use for 12 weeks in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, in Pakistan.

Methods: This was a 12-week, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled trial in adult type 2 diabetic patients (aged 18-65 years) suffering from clinically confirmed neuropathic pain (Douleur Neuropathique en 4 [DN4] score ≥4).

Real-life effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of amlodipine/valsartan or amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide single-pill combination in patients with hypertension from Pakistan.

Objective: EXCITE (clinical EXperienCe of amlodIpine and valsarTan in hypErtension) evaluated the real-life effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of single-pill combinations (SPCs) of amlodipine/valsartan (Aml/Val) and amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide (Aml/Val/HCTZ) in patients with hypertension from 13 countries in the Middle East and Asia. Here, we present data from Pakistan.

Methods: This was a 26-week observational, multicenter, prospective, open-label study.

Effectiveness of sodium hyaluronate eye gel in patients with dry eye disease: a multi-centre, open label, uncontrolled study.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of sodium hyaluronate Eye Gel in Dry Eye Disease (DED) patients Methods: A Multi-center, Open-label, Uncontrolled clinical trial was conducted in different centers of Pakistan. Ten ophthalmologists conducted this study in which 250 diagnosed patients with dry eye disease were enrolled after obtaining a written informed consent. Ten patients were dropped out during the study period.

Sodium hyaluronate eye drops in the treatment of dry eye disease: an open label, uncontrolled, multi-centre trial.

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most frequently encountered ocular morbidities. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of sodium hyaluronate eye drop for eight weeks in patients with DED.

Patients And Methods: This was a multi-centre, open-label, uncontrolled clinical trial carried out at different centres of Pakistan, from August 2009 to November 2010.

Role of a probiotic (Saccharomyces boulardii) in management and prevention of diarrhoea.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) in acute watery diarrhoea and its role in reducing the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea in subsequent two months.

Methods: Children from 2 mo to 12 years of age, with acute diarrhoea were selected according to inclusion criteria and randomised in S.