Navigating barriers to epilepsy surgery: a national survey of patient and neurologist perspectives.

Objective: Epilepsy surgery is underutilized globally due to patient and/or caregiver reluctance and neurologist knowledge gaps. In Pakistan, the treatment gap is 70%-94% for medically refractory epilepsy (MRE). This study assessed the knowledge and practices of neurologists and patients to identify barriers to adequate epilepsy surgery provision in Pakistan.

Effects of Singing on Vascular Health in Older Adults with Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Trial.

Background: The impact of singing on cardiovascular health has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of singing on cardiovascular biomarkers in an aging population with coronary artery disease.

Methods: Participants had three study visits separated by 2-7 days, according to a randomized, single-blind, cross-over, controlled design: (1) a 30-minute period of coached singing from an in-person music therapist, (2) a 30-minute period of singing along to an instructional video and (3) a 30-minute rest (control).

Trends, safety, and efficacy of wearable male sexual devices.

Introduction: The prevalence of male sexual dysfunction (MSD) increases with age, with >50% of men aged >40 years reporting erectile dysfunction (ED). In recent years, wearable male sex devices (WMSDs) have been increasingly utilized by patients and recommended by sexual medicine clinicians.

Objectives: This study seeks to investigate the safety and efficacy of products currently marketed for the treatment of MSD.

A State-of-the-Art Review on Structural Strengthening Techniques with FRPs: Effectiveness, Shortcomings, and Future Research Directions.

In the pursuit of creating more sustainable and resilient structures, the exploration of construction materials and strengthening methodologies is imperative. Traditional methods of relying on steel for strengthening proved to be uneconomical and unsustainable, prompting the investigation of innovative composites. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), known for their lightweight and high-strength properties, gained prominence among structural engineers in the 1980s.

Molecular and metabolic characterization of petroleum hydrocarbons degrading .

Hydrocarbon constituents of petroleum are persistent, bioaccumulated, and bio-magnified in living tissues, transported to longer distances, and exert hazardous effects on human health and the ecosystem. Bioaugmentation with microorganisms like bacteria is an emerging approach that can mitigate the toxins from environmental sources. The present study was initiated to target the petroleum-contaminated soil of gasoline stations situated in Lahore.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Anxiety, and Preventive Behaviors Related to COVID-19 Among Healthcare Providers: A Developing Country's Perspective.

Background In early 2020, the rapid global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented healthcare workers (HCWs) with an unprecedented challenge. The constant influx of new information about the virus created knowledge gaps, and the relentless demands of their work schedules left many feeling overwhelmed. This paper explores the knowledge, attitudes, anxiety levels, and preventive behaviors of HCWs in the twin cities of Pakistan, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Obesity and cardiovascular health.

Obesity has risen to epidemic levels worldwide over the past few decades and has become a huge global health burden owing to its direct contribution to the development of some of the most prevalent chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and other cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is a disease of positive energy balance resulting from complex interactions between abnormal neurohumoral responses and an individual's socioeconomic, environmental, behavioural, and genetic factors leading to a state of chronic inflammation. Understanding the complex nature of the disease is crucial in determining the best approach to combat its rising numbers.

Perception of Burnout and Its Impact on Academic Hospitalists During COVID-19 and Institutional Strategies to Combat Burnout and Improve Wellness.

Introduction: Physician burnout has been alarmingly high, particularly among general internal medicine, which displays some of the highest rates. A recent study of academic hospitalists reported a higher level of burnout (62%) than the rates found in similar studies, but with agreement about factors leading to burnout, consequences of burnout, and importance of steps to prevent burnout. This study seeks to expand upon these results by investigating the impact of COVID-19 on burnout among hospitalists and uncovering the perspectives of frontline clinicians to formulate effective mitigation strategies.

Missed opportunities to prevent hypertension at a tertiary care centre in Pakistan.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, affecting ~1.28 billion adults, and ~46% of these adults are not aware of their condition. One-third of patients do not receive appropriate care for their cardiovascular disease.

Security Framework for Network-Based Manufacturing Systems with Personalized Customization: An Industry 4.0 Approach.

Smart manufacturing is pivotal in the context of Industry 4.0, as it integrates advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation to streamline production processes and improve product quality, paving the way for a competitive industrial landscape. Machines have become network-based through the IoT, where integrated and collaborated manufacturing system responds in real time to meet demand fluctuations for personalized customization.

Risk Stratification of Acute-Onset Chest Pain: SVEAT Score Versus HEART and TIMI Scores.

Introduction Acute chest pain is a frequently encountered symptom in the emergency department. Despite the availability of various chest pain risk scores, their effectiveness in identifying low-risk patients suitable for safe and early discharge is inadequate. Moreover, clinical data collected at the initial stage, which has valuable discriminatory ability, is often underutilized.

Factors Related to Anemia Prevalence Among Women of Childbearing Age in the Period of Global Pandemic.

Background Health authorities in Pakistan in collaboration with local and foreign non-government organizations are working hard to achieve the targets set by World Health Organization in 2012, that is, to reduce anemia prevalence and its related factors. However, due to the prevailing COVID-19 crisis, all resources and attention were diverted toward it, which led to ignorance of existing basic health issues. Objective This study assesses anemia prevalence and its related factors among women of childbearing age in the period of global pandemic.

Current Practices and Perceived Role of Community Pharmacists in Type 2 Diabetes Services in Pakistan.

Background Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness which is becoming more prevalent in developing countries, and it is being managed mostly in hospitals or clinics in underdeveloped nations. Other strategies for treatment delivery in emerging nations must be considered as the number of diabetic patients grows. Community pharmacists are a valuable choice for diabetes care.

Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Well-Being of Patients With Thalassemia Major in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study.

Background and aim Chronic patients with thalassemia major were mainly recognized as more prone to poor mental health during this global pandemic. This study aims to evaluate causal relationships leading to poor outcomes and how they manage to tackle this. Methods In-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 thalassemia patients selected through probability consecutive sampling from Pakistan Thalassemia Welfare Society Centers.

Hospital pharmacy response to the COVID-19 pandemic: experience from a regional referral center in the United Arab Emirates.

Background: The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The healthcare systems, including pharmacies, faced unique challenges, such as managing  an overwhelming patient influx, clinical workforce management, transitioning to remote or online work, medication procurement and several others. The purpose of this study is to describe our hospital pharmacy's experience dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and to present solutions to the challenges that arose.

Frequency of Thyroid Gland Invasion by Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Role of Subglottic Extension.

 Management of the thyroid gland during laryngectomy has been controversial. The primary tumor may invade the thyroid gland by direct invasion or lymphovascular spread. Hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism are potential risks when lobectomy or total thyroidectomy are performed simultaneously.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia in a male after Ad26.COV2.S vaccination presenting as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare and life-threatening complication that can occur after COVID-19 vaccination. After the first reports of VITT and CVST in 2021 after Ad26.COV2.

The Impact of Dynamic Real-Time Feedback on Patient Satisfaction Scores.

Introduction: Providers' communication skills have a significant impact on patients' satisfaction. Improved patients' satisfaction has been positively correlated with various healthcare and financial outcomes. Patients' satisfaction in the inpatient setting is measured using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Absolute Lymphocyte Count as Early Diagnostic Tools for Corona Virus Disease 2019.

Background and objectives In comparison to real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, blood-related parameters including absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) carry an indeterminate potential in the assessment of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our main objective was to assess their efficacy in timely identification of COVID-19 patients and to determine whether these biomarkers can be employed as an early diagnostic tool in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan from November 2020 to March 2021.

Bacteriocin-mediated inhibition of some common pathogens by wild and mutant species and amplification of bacteriocin encoding genes.

are the most common probiotics used in food and other industries because of their capability of producing bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are compounds that are used to kill pathogenic microorganisms. As most bacteria have become resistant to synthetic antibacterial tools, the importance of using probiotics as antibacterial agents has increased.

Clone-advisor: recommending code tokens and clone methods with deep learning and information retrieval.

Software developers frequently reuse source code from repositories as it saves development time and effort. Code clones (similar code fragments) accumulated in these repositories represent often repeated functionalities and are candidates for reuse in an exploratory or rapid development. To facilitate code clone reuse, we previously presented DeepClone, a novel deep learning approach for modeling code clones along with non-cloned code to predict the next set of tokens (possibly a complete clone method body) based on the code written so far.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of external auditory canal: A rare disease.

External auditory canal, like other epithelialized surfaces is predisposed to malignancies such as Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), melanomas and adenocarcinomas. In this background, malignancies like adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) are a rare occurrence and need to be thoroughly evaluated both locally and for distant extension. The malignancy needs to be addressed with an aggressive approach surgically with adequate marginal clearance.

Performance Evaluation of Soft Computing Approaches for Forecasting COVID-19 Pandemic Cases.

An unexpected outbreak of deadly Covid-19 in later part of 2019 not only endangered the economies of the world but also posed threats to the cultural, social and psychological barriers of mankind. As soon as the virus emerged, scientists and researchers from all over the world started investigating the dynamics of this disease. Despite extensive investments in research, no cure has been officially found to date.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting with hip fractures at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Unlabelled: Osteoporosis remains under-recognized and sub-optimally managed in Pakistan, with a lack of awareness that minimal impact hip fracture is a manifestation of low bone mineral density (BMD).

Purpose: Hip fracture is often the first clinical presentation of osteoporosis and an opportunity to intervene and reduce future fracture risk. Our aim was to understand the current practices in Pakistan related to bone health in patients presenting with a hip fracture.