Knowledge and awareness of undergraduate medical students regarding palliative care in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Our study assesses the current knowledge and prior awareness of undergraduate medical students in Pakistan regarding palliative care.

Study Design: This descriptive Cross-sectional online survey was distributed among undergraduate medical students across Pakistan, with a sample size of 246 participants. The questionnaire, adapted from the PaCKS questionnaire by Kozlov et al.

Epidemiology of glioblastoma in Pakistan: a secondary analysis of the Pakistan Brain Tumor Epidemiology Study (PBTES).

Purpose: The incidence and outcomes of glioblastoma (GBM) patients in Pakistan remain unassessed owing to a lack of cancer registries and the absence of population-based studies. For any specific population-based oncological intervention, epidemiology must be studied. Therefore, this study aims to examine the epidemiological characteristics of glioblastoma patients in Pakistan, as part of a secondary analysis of a nationwide epidemiological study.

Knowledge and awareness of emergency department residents and physicians regarding the management of dentofacial traumatic injuries: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Majority of patients with Dento-Facial Traumatic Injuries (DFTI) seek initial care at an Emergency Department (ED). The timely management of DFTI is of utmost importance in determining long-term prognosis of the tooth and the patient's overall quality of life. Thus, knowledge and awareness of ED residents & physicians regarding the management of DFTI is crucial for better patient outcomes.

Protocol development and feasibility of the PEACH in Asia study: A pilot study on PEri-anesthetic morbidity in CHildren in Asia.

Background: Comprehensive data on pediatric anesthesia outcomes, particularly severe critical events (SCEs), are scarce in Asia. This highlights the need for standardized research to assess anesthesia safety and quality in the diverse settings.

Aims: The PEACH in Asia pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a standardized protocol for investigating SCEs in anesthesia practices across Asia, evaluate the data acquisition processes, and determine the sample size for a main study.

Improving Quality of Life in Underserved Communities: A Case from Humanity Initiative's Student-Led Clinics.

Using the case study of a 12-year-old girl diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease at a student-led clinic (SLC) organized by Humanity Initiative (HI) in Karachi, the paper highlights the effectiveness of SLCs in providing accessible and comprehensive healthcare services. The article contributes to existing literature by demonstrating the practical benefits of SLCs in a real-world setting, particularly in resource-limited environments. It underscores the potential of SLCs not only to improve community health but also to enhance medical education by providing students with hands-on experience and fostering a sense of social responsibility.

Dementia risk reduction in the African context: Multi-national implementation of multimodal strategies to promote healthy brain aging in Africa (the Africa-FINGERS project).

Dementia prevention in Africa is critically underexplored, despite the continent's high prevalence of modifiable risk factors. With a predominantly young and middle-aged population, Africa presents a prime opportunity to implement evidence-based strategies that could significantly reduce future dementia cases and mitigate its economic impact. The multinational Africa-FINGERS program offers an innovative solution, pioneering culturally sensitive, multidomain interventions tailored to the unique challenges of the region.

Proteomic biomarkers profiling in Pakistani pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma population: a retrospective cohort study.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers. Research in various cancers suggests that investigating target biomarkers may provide directions to precision medicine. However, expression of biomarkers varies across different populations.

Developing an AI-based application for caries index detection on intraoral photographs.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based smartphone application designed for decay detection on intraoral photographs, comparing its performance to that of junior dentists. Conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, this study utilized a dataset comprising 7,465 intraoral images, including both primary and secondary dentitions. These images were meticulously annotated by two experienced dentists and further verified by senior dentists.

Enhanced Recovery After Craniotomy: Global Practices, Challenges, and Perspectives.

The global demand for hospital care, driven by population growth and medical advances, emphasizes the importance of optimized resource management. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to expedite patient recovery and reduce health care costs without compromising patient safety or satisfaction. Its principles have been adopted in various surgical specialties but have not fully encompassed all areas of neurosurgery, including craniotomy.

Cost effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently been introduced into the treatment algorithm of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the cost effectiveness of ICIs compared with pre-existing therapies for HCC has not been assessed. We performed a meta-analysis to understand the incremental cost effectiveness of ICIs compared with sorafenib.

Tumour Load in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients and Its Validation by Radiological Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) Score.

Objective: To compare the radiological peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score to the surgical PCI score for validating it as a non-invasive method to predict surgical outcomes.

Study Design: A descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from September 2021 to May 2022.

Infrastructural Barriers to Neurosurgical Care of Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Appropriate surgical infrastructure is important for improving patient outcomes. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often struggle to provide adequate brain tumor surgery due to fractured infrastructure. This study aims to identify and evaluate barriers to surgical care infrastructure for brain tumors in LMICs.

Prescribing Patterns of Antibiotics in Pediatric Wards of Secondary Care Centers: A Retrospective Study Based on WHO AWaRe Classification.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global public health, with substantial mortality rates attributed to AMR-related infections. Pediatric populations face heightened vulnerability due to prevalent antimicrobial misuse. This study aimed at addressing the significant threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its associated mortality rates.

Innovations in Artificial Intelligence-Driven Breast Cancer Survival Prediction: A Narrative Review.

This narrative review explores the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Breast Cancer (BC) survival prediction, emphasizing the transformative impact on patient care. From machine learning to deep neural networks, diverse models demonstrate the potential to refine prognosis accuracy and tailor treatment strategies. The literature underscores the need for clinician integration and addresses challenges of model generalizability and ethical considerations.

COVID-19 and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and child marriage: An online multi-country cross sectional survey.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage are prevalent in many countries in Asia and Africa. These practices are a violation of human rights and have significant impacts on the physical and mental well-being of those affected. COVID-19 restrictions such as lockdowns and closure of schools may have influenced the occurrence of FGM/C and child marriage.

Benefits of Poller Screw in Improving Radiological Outcomes after Intra-Medullary Nailing for Distal Tibia Fractures; A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: To compare the radiological outcomes after fixation of distal tibia fractures with IM nail between patients in whom poller screw was used vs those in whom it was not used.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 1st January 2009 to 31st June 2019 including patients treated with IM nail for distal tibial metaphyseal fractures. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether a poller screw was placed during surgery or not.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration presenting as haemoptysis with an aberrant blood supply from the pulmonary artery.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration is a rare condition characterised by the presence of nonfunctional, dysplastic lung tissue. This tissue receives blood supply from the systemic circulation. In this case report, we document an exceptional presentation of a woman in her 50s where bronchopulmonary sequestration in the right upper lung lobe led to haemoptysis.

Uncommon presentation: monozygotic twins with Turner syndrome.

Turner syndrome (TS) affects approximately 1 in 2500 female live births globally, making it the most common sex chromosomal abnormality in females. It results from a partially or completely missing X chromosome, often occurring in mosaic karyotypes. TS is associated with various health issues, including short stature, delayed puberty, ovarian dysgenesis, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, infertility, congenital heart defects, endocrine disorders and autoimmune disorders.

Effect of probiotic toothpaste and regular toothpaste on gingival health and plaque levels of adult orthodontic patients - An open label randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Probiotics are living micro-organisms that are likely to influence oral health by modulating the oral microbiota and offer a promising preventive approach to gum and dental disease. This approach is particularly relevant for orthodontic patients, who are more susceptible to gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to compare the effects of a probiotic toothpaste versus a regular toothpaste on gingival health and plaque levels in orthodontic patients.

Impact of 18FDG PET/CT on Clinical Management, Cost Effectiveness, and Radiation Exposure in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: For the initial staging of breast cancer (BC), 18FDG PET/CT is recommended by professional guidelines in stage III (except T3N1) and inflammatory BC (T4d) and optional when conventional imaging is equivocal or suspicious. However, growing evidence also supports its role in the staging of intermediate-risk groups (IIA, IIB, T3N1 of IA). This study aimed to compare the impact of 18FDG PET/CT with conventional imaging (CT-chest+abdomen+pelvis and bone scan; CT-CAP+BS) in staging, cost-effectiveness, and radiation exposure in the initial staging of BC.