Seasonal Trends with the Comparison of Venous and Capillary Blood for Diagnosis of Malaria among Children in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: More than 250 million people are infected by malaria parasites annually while around one million children less than 5 years of age die every year due to malaria. We aimed to assess the seasonal trends and usefulness of capillary and venous blood for rapid diagnosis of malaria.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 18 months duration was conducted at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi.

Exposure to aflatoxin B and associated risk factors in hepatitis C patients in cosmopolitan city of Pakistan: facility-based study.

Introduction: population-based follow-up study has been designed to investigate the contributing factors to high exposure to Aflatoxin B (AFB) and the subsequent associated risk factors among hepatitis C-infected patients at a referral centre, Karachi. Pakistan. Hepatitis C infection affects millions of individuals worldwide and confers high morbidity and mortality, especially in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) including Pakistan.

Regulation of quackery amid unprecedented HIV outbreak in Sindh, Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the problem of unlicensed practitioners and quacks in Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 29 districts of Sindh province in Pakistan from December 2019 to January 2020. Initial data available with Sindh Health Department about locations where quacks were practicing was used to identify unlicensed practitioners.

Factors contributing to the public proneness towards quacks in Sindh.

The present study is to explore the factors and reasons behind public proneness towards quacks in the rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan and to manifest the public on how these quacks are duping vulnerable and quackery-prone peoples for financial gain which may induce human lives in life-threatening health conditions. The study also interprets a better understanding of the public needs, especially in the rural areas of the Sindh that may give a hope for deliverance from quacks.

Vitamin D status in under five children in diverse communities of Karachi.

Background & Objective: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) prevalence is very high in pediatric population in developing countries including Pakistan. VDD contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality among children under five years. Therefore, it is vital to study vitamin D levels in population for future interventions and disease control.

Malnutrition and poor oral health status are major risks among primary school children at Lasbela, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Background: This survey was focusing on health and oral hygiene status of primary school children at Lasbela district considering the comparatively less developed and socio demographically deprived part of the Country.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted to determine the health status of primary school children in seven tehseels of district Lasbela, Balochistan after applying proportionate sampling technique from March 2015 to July 2015. Field teams visited assigned schools to screen children and collect health related data on predesigned and pre coded proforma.

Functional and structural abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract in severely malnourished children - A hospital based study.

Objectives: The association of malnutrition and systemic diseases like chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well known. Various urinary tract abnormalities may be associated with malnutrition. So objective of current study was to determine the frequency of functional and structural urinary tract abnormalities in severely malnourished children admitted in Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit (NRU) of a tertiary care facility, Karachi.

Trajectory of cause of death among brought dead neonates in tertiary care public facilities of Pakistan: A multicenter study.

Background: Considering the fact that Pakistan is amongst the countries with very high neonatal mortality rates, we conducted a research study to determine the possible causes and characteristics of neonates presenting dead to the emergency department of tertiary public health care facilities of Pakistan using verbal autopsies.

Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted in emergency department/pediatrics ward/neonatal ward/nursery unit of ten tertiary care public health facilities, situated in seven major cities of Pakistan from November, 2011 to June, 2013. Precoded verbal autopsy proforma was used to collect information regarding cause of death, family narratives and other associated risks accountable for pathway to mortality.

Synthesis and bio-molecular study of (+)-N-Acetyl-α-amino acid dehydroabietylamine derivative for the selective therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of present work is to synthesize novel (+)-Dehydroabietylamine derivatives (DAAD) using N-acetyl-α-amino acid conjugates and determine its cytotoxic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Methods: An analytical study was conducted to explore cytotoxic activity of DAAD on hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. The cytotoxicity effect was recorded using sulforhodamine B technique.

Frequency of Stillbirths in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi.

Background And Objective: Pakistan accounts for the highest stillbirth rate in the world. Therefore, this observational study was planned to determine the prevalence of stillbirths and its associated demographic characteristics in the given context. Hence our objective included: To determine the frequency of stillbirths with reference to parity and gestational age in a tertiary care public hospital, Karachi.

High prevalence of typhoidal Salmonella enterica serovars excreting food handlers in Karachi-Pakistan: a probable factor for regional typhoid endemicity.

Background: Typhoid fever is the persistent cause of morbidity worldwide. Salmonella enterica serovar's carriers among food handlers have the potential to disseminate this infection on large scale in the community. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of typhoidal S.

Comparative evaluation of in vitro cytotoxic effects among parent abietyl alcohol and novel fatty acid ester derivatives against MCF7 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Synthesis of twelve hitherto unreported esters of abietyl alcohol and screening of these esters against four cancer cell lines including one breast cancer line MCF7 and four hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HCC) Huh7, Hep3B, Snu449 and Plc has been determined using SRB assay. The Cell cycle progression showed changes in cellular behaviour after 48 and 72 hours in MCF7 and Huh7 cell lines. Abietyl alcohol was obtained from the reduction of abietic acid, a tricyclic diterpene, isolated from oleoresin of Pinus longifolia Roxberghii.

Infection remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality among infants delivered at a tertiary hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Introduction: The current cohort study was conducted to determine the frequency and compare the mortality rate with associated characteristics among low birth weight and normal birth weight infants during the neonatal period at a tertiary healthcare facility, Karachi.

Methodology: Close-ended structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the parents of 500 registered neonates at the time of birth. Follow-ups by phone on the 28th day of life were done to determine the mortality among low birth weight and normal birth weight babies during the neonatal period.

Synthesis and characterization of amino acid conjugates of oleanolic acid and their in vitro cytotoxic effect on HCC cell lines.

Oleanolic acid (3β-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid; OA-01), a pentacyclic triterpene, exhibit a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. We have isolated oleanolic acid from methanolic extract of Periploca aphylla, collected from surroundings of Karachi in the month of February. Furthermore, four known and two new C-28 amino acid conjugates of oleanolic acid were prepared to explore potential of these compounds on HCCs and one breast cancer cell line.

Comparative cost and efficacy trial of Pakistani versus Indian anti snake venom.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy, safety and cost of Pakistani anti-snake venom with that imported from India

Methods: The comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2010 and comprised patients hospitalised following Krait snake bite in Mithi and Umerkot hospitals of Tharparker district who had incoagulable blood test on admission (20-minute whole blood clotting time). Basic demographies of patients, the site of bite and swelling around the bite and joints were entered in a proforma. For blinding, the liquid anti-snake venoms were packed in opaque polythene bags and marked as "A" and "B", and refrigerated.

Biosafety perspective of clinical laboratory workers: a profile of Pakistan.

Introduction: Biosafety during lab work is an important concern in developing countries. Some critical issues concerning biosafety are lack of training, exceeding workload, working too fast, deciding not to follow safe practices, and skepticism about biohazards. This study aimed to determine biosafety perception and practices of laboratory technicians during routine work in clinical laboratories of Pakistan.

Exposure to risk factors for hepatitis B and C viruses among primary school teachers in Karachi.

Introduction: The study aimed to determine hepatitis B vaccination status and assess the exposure of risk factors for hepatitis B and C among primary schoolteachers in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology: In two hundred school teachers from 30 primary schools in Karachi participated in the study between January and June 2008 by completing an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Exposure to and knowledge of hepatitis B and C were assessed, as well as mode of transmission and prevention.