Pinning down social vulnerability in Sindh Province, Pakistan: from narratives to numbers, and back again.

This paper reflects critically on the results of a vulnerability assessment process at the household and community scale using a quantitative vulnerabilities and capacities index. It validates a methodology for a social vulnerability assessment at the local scale in 62 villages across four agro-ecological/livelihood zones in Sindh Province, Pakistan. The study finds that the move from vulnerability narratives to numbers improves the comparability and communicational strength of the concept.

Long-term clinical outcomes of drug-eluting stents in diabetic patients with small vessels compared to larger vessel-7 years clinical follow-up.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents (DES) in small vessels in patients with non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

Background: Several randomized trials have shown DES to significantly reduce the angiographic and clinical events in diabetic patients. However, there is insufficient data on similar outcomes in diabetics with small vessels.

Musculoskeletal injuries among victims of the Battagram, Pakistan earthquake in October 2005.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the type, pattern, and severity of musculoskeletal injuries, as well as the type of simple orthopedic surgical procedures, that can be performed at the site of a disaster.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Battagram, located in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan after the October 2005 earthquake. Researchers arrived in the affected area during the second week after the earthquake, and remained there for one week.

Pattern of solid paediatric malignant neoplasm at Lumhs, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

Background: To evaluate pattern and frequency of solid malignant tumour in paediatric age group in our region.

Methods: A retrospective study of 113 patients, whose surgical biopsies submitted in histopathology section of Pathology department, LUMHS Jamshoro from January 2001 to December 2005.

Results: Total of 113 cases, 61 male and 52 female children in age group from 4 months to 15 years were diagnosed as solid malignant tumour with M/F ratio of 1.