A Comprehensive Perception of Biological Control Potential of Endophytes and Quality Refinement of Lagenaria siceraria.

Agriculture and livestock management practices known as organic farming rely more on internal processes than external inputs. Natural environments depend heavily on diversity, and organic farming incorporates both the stated purpose of fostering diversity as well as the use of diversity as a management tool. A more complete understanding of agriculture in terms of agro-ecology has begun to be questioned by the traditional reductionist approach to the study of agriculture.

Sex-specific relationship between blood selenium levels and platelet count in a large cohort representative of the United States population.

While several small studies have found that selenium deficiency is associated with low platelet counts, they lack generalizability. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys collected over a 12-year period. We examined the relationship between selenium quartiles and platelet count using survey-weighted linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, race, household income to poverty threshold income, highest education attainment, smoking status, red blood cell folate, and body mass index.

Customary Marriages in Rural Pakistan.

Background: Although the incidents of customary marriages are frequently reported in Pakistani press, yet no large scale community-based study has ever been conducted to gauge the magnitude of such marriages. The present study is the first-ever community based study on this topic.

Methods: 4,385 ever-married women, aged 18-83 years, from six rural districts, were interviewed to enquire about the types of their marriages.

ESTIMATING THE RISK OF CARDIO VASCULAR DISEASES AMONG PAKISTANI DIABETICS USING U.K. PDS RISK ENGINE.

Background: The concept of risk estimation of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is helpful for clinician to identifying high risk populations for their effective treatment. Latest studies recommended only initiating cardioprotective treatment in diabetic patients based on personalized CHD risk estimates so as to reduce undue harm from overly aggressive risk factor modification. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UK PDS) Risk Engine is a widely used tool to assess the risk of Cardio Vascular diseases (CVD) in diabetics.

Clinicopathologic features of plasmablastic lymphoma: Single-center series of 8 cases from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Characterized by its aggressive nature and plasmacytic differentiation, PBL remains a therapeutic and diagnostic challenge; it generally has a poor prognosis with very few long-term survivors and most patients dying within 2 years from initial presentation. PBL has been reported in several other countries; however, there have been no reported cases from Saudi Arabia.

Genital examination of Hijras.

There is a common belief in Pakistan that hijras are born hermaphrodites or have undergone an emasculation procedure. There are many studies about socio-sexual behaviour of hijras, but one rarely finds any study regarding genital examination of hijras. Four hundred hijras from Karachi and Lahore were examined as part of National Study of Reproductive Tract Infection conducted in 2004.

Socio-sexual behaviour of hijras of Lahore.

Objective: To assess risk behaviours including number and type of sex partners, condom use, knowledge of STIs and HIV/AIDS among hijras (eunuch) of Lahore.

Methods: Two hundred hijras were recruited through Respondent Driven Sampling and interviewed by a team of experienced interviewers.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.

National study of reproductive tract infections among high risk groups of Lahore and Karachi.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among the Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Male Sex Workers (MSWs), Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) and truck drivers.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Place And Duration Of Study: Lahore and Karachi, from March to August, 2004.

Correlates and prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among Hijras (male transgenders) in Pakistan.

This study explored the role of Hijras (male transgenders) as a core group in Pakistan's HIV epidemic. Four hundred and nine Hijras underwent detailed behavioural and biological assessment. Our subjects were young (median age: 24 years), debuted sex early and used alcohol and drugs.

HIV risk in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan: an emerging epidemic in injecting and commercial sex networks.

The objective of this study was to measure HIV prevalence and risk behaviour in injecting drug users (IDUs), male sex workers (MSWs), Hijras (transgenders), female sex workers (FSWs) and male truckers in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan. The design was a linked-anonymous cross-sectional study of individuals identified at key venues or through peer referral. Approximately 400 respondents in each group (200 for Hijras) responded to a standardized questionnaire and were tested for HIV antibodies at each site.

Profile of men suffering from sexually transmitted infections in Pakistan.

Background: To evolve effective prevention and efficient treatment strategies for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a country, comprehensive understanding of the prevalent STI and their modes of transmission is needed. The aim of this present study was to generate such data for Pakistan.

Methods: The study was conducted between June 1999 and September 1999 in four provincial capitals.

Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in a teaching hospital of Pakistan.

A retrospective analysis of 10 863 caesarean sections was carried out at a teaching hospital in Pakistan to examine the factors responsible for the high caesarean section rate. The caesarean section rate (CSR) during the study period (1985-1996) was 24.1/100 births and 78% of the caesareans were emergency procedures.

Frequency of retinopathy among diabetics admitted in a teaching hospital of Lahore.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels of the retina and leads to blindness. Although 4-8 million diabetics exist in Pakistan, very little work has been done on this complication of diabetes. The present study was undertaken to estimate the frequency of retinopathy among diabetics admitted in a teaching hospital of Lahore.

Profile of men suffering from sexually transmitted infections in Pakistan.

Background: To evolve effective prevention and efficient treatment strategies for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a country, comprehensive understanding of the prevalent STI and their modes of transmission is needed. The aim of this present study was to generate such data for Pakistan.

Method: The study was conducted between June 1999 and September 1999 in four provincial capitals.

Perceptions of menopause among rural women of Lahore.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to document the perceptions of Pakistani women regarding menopause.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The study was conducted in the suburb of Lahore from 1st July 2000 to 31st August 2000.

Age, pattern and symptoms of menopause among rural women of Lahore.

Background: The occurrence and timing of reproduction-related events such as menarche, first birth and menopause play major roles in a woman's life. The age at final natural menstrual period is an important risk indicator for subsequent morbidity and mortality. However, the age of natural menopause and frequency of various menopausal symptoms differ in different societies.

Epidemiology of cigarette smoking in Pakistan.

Aims: To study the prevalence of smoking among Pakistani population with particular reference to regional differences and correlates of cigarette smoking.

Design: Cross-sectional survey based on representative national sample.

Setting: Data collected through National Health Survey of Pakistan 1990-94.

Characteristics of Pakistani women seeking abortion and a profile of abortion clinics.

A study of the characteristics of Pakistani women seeking abortion and a profile of abortion clinics was conducted in 32 abortion clinics in three provincial capitals of the country. All 452 women who had their pregnancies terminated between October and December 1997 were interviewed. Except for 39 women (8.

Norplant: users' perspective in Pakistan.

Five hundred and eighteen Norplant acceptors (260 ever-users and 258 current users) were interviewed to assess their perceptions about Norplant. The mean age of the acceptors was 32.6+/-5.