Characteristics of pipe corrosion scales in untreated water distribution system and effect on water quality in Peshawar, Pakistan.

This study investigated the characteristics of iron corrosion scales in pipes at tube well, overhead tank, and consumers' end in older untreated water distribution system in Peshawar city, Pakistan. Effect of water quality conditions on corrosion scales and that of scales on drinking water quality in such systems was also assessed by undertaking a comparison with new piped distribution systems. The scales were analyzed for chemical composition and morphology using X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), while water quality was examined for physicochemical and biological characteristics.

Prevalence of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water receiving untreated sewage in northwest Pakistan.

This study investigated the occurrence of four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and four benzodiazepines/anti-depressants (ADs) in municipal wastewater in Mardan city, Pakistan, and in River Kabul and River Indus receiving untreated sewage. Liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for the analysis of paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and codeine (NSAIDs) and diazepam, bromazepam, lorazepam, and temazepam (ADs). Except codeine and lorazepam, all the target compounds were observed in sewage and surface water in various concentrations.

Compliance to timely vaccination in an Expanded Program on Immunization center of Pakistan.

The importance of childhood immunization in prevention of highly fatal diseases and disability cannot be overemphasized. Pakistan has a national Expanded Program on Immunization but the compliance is far below the international benchmark for achieving a herd immunity. Monitoring the compliance to timely receipt of vaccinations is crucial to establishing and preventing disease and disability associated risk in children.

Introducing a structured prescription form improves the quality of handwritten prescriptions in limited resource setting of developing countries.

Introduction: Incomplete or illegible prescriptions can lead to serious errors in administration of the prescribed medication, which can become hazardous.

Objective: Our aim is to determine if a structured prescription form can improve the quality of handwritten prescription in terms of completeness and legibility.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, non-randomized, time series study of quality of written prescriptions of general practitioners at a tertiary teaching hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.