Perception of Parents of Thalassemic Child to Thalassemia in Pakistan.

Background Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by reduced hemoglobin synthesis. Aim of our study is to assess the parental knowledge of thalassemia patients and their awareness regarding treatment and preventive measures against thalassemia. Methods It is an observational study done at Ali Zaib Foundation Thalassemia Center in Sahiwal, Pakistan, in May 2019.

Insufficient Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social distancing and isolation which leads to insufficient physical activity and thereby increases sedentary behaviors. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviors among medical students during the COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan, and to determine their associated factors. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among 407 medical students from the Punjab and Sindh provinces between May and June 2020.

Population preferences and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination: a cross-sectional study from Pakistan.

Background: While vaccine development is itself a challenge; ensuring optimal vaccine uptake at population level can present an even more significant challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the Pakistani population's attitude and preferences towards the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out through an online self-administered questionnaire from 27 September 2020 to 11 October 2020.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension post COVID-19: A sequala of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

It has been suggested that pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) could be a potential sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in particular in those with hypertension; however, development of PAH after the course of COVID-19 in normotensive individuals are rarely reported. Here, we report a patient who developed PAH two months post-COVID-19. The patient was a 55-year-old female and normotensive, tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), developed mild respiratory distress syndrome and necessitated continuous positive airway pressure during the treatment in the hospital.

Role of Oxidative Stress and the Identification of Biomarkers Associated With Thyroid Dysfunction in Schizophrenics.

Schizophrenia is associated with a deficiency of dietary antioxidants like vitamin B6, B9, and B12 resulting in defective methylation leading to hyperhomocysteinemia. Hyperhomocysteinemia causes mitochondrial DNA damage, oxidative stress, vascular damage, and lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress and increase in reactive oxygen species result in 8-oxodG production which induces apoptosis of both astrocytes and thyrocytes thus predisposing them to thyroid dysfunction and neurodegeneration.

Globe salvage treatment in group D and group E retinoblastoma.

Globe salvage marks the treatment success of retinoblastoma. To evaluate four treatment strategies in group D and group E retinoblastoma. Retrospective case series in a tertiary hospital.

Devastating urban flooding and dengue outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan.

Pakistan has recently been overwhelmed by extreme torrential rains, with its most populous city of Karachi experiencing its worst floods in almost a century. Poor flood control and water disposal facilities have led to an immense risk of another dengue outbreak, with multiple cases being reported recently. The enormous accumulation of stagnant water in urban areas is a major source of mosquito breeding and transmission.

Myths and conspiracy theories on vaccines and COVID-19: Potential effect on global vaccine refusals.

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the international crises and researchers are working collaboratively to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The World Health Organization recognizes vaccine hesitancy as the world's top threat to public health safety, particularly in low middle-income countries. Vaccine hesitancy can be due to a lack of knowledge, false religious beliefs, or anti-vaccine misinformation.

Experience of physicians during COVID-19 in a developing country: a qualitative study of Pakistan.

COVID-19 spread rapidly and jeopardised the physicians with not only treatment but also with limited resources and new working style. This study aimed to investigate the experience of physicians in Pakistan as frontline workers for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The study employed a qualitative design and used Haas's adaptation of Colaizzi method for analysis.

A comparison of characteristics and outcomes of patients with community-acquired and hospital-acquired COVID-19 in the United Kingdom: An observational study.

Background And Objectives: Reports comparing the characteristics of patients and their clinical outcomes between community-acquired (CA) and hospital-acquired (HA) COVID-19 have not yet been reported in the literature. We aimed to characterise and compare clinical, biochemical and haematological features, in addition to clinical outcomes, between these patients.

Methods: This multi-centre, retrospective, observational study enrolled 488 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients - 339 with CA infection and 149 with HA infection.

Indigenous leprosy in Dera Ghazi Khan Division, Punjab, Pakistan.

Objective: The study objective was to identify the main foci of leprosy in Southern Punjab and identify the problems precipitating prevalence of disease.

Methods: This was a retrospective study, from 2017 to 2012. A total number of sixty-five cases (n=65) were detected during this period.

Awareness, anxiety, and depression in healthcare professionals, medical students, and general population of Pakistan during COVID-19 Pandemic: A cross sectional online survey.

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has seriously affected the entire world. This study was aimed to assess prevalence and influencing factors of anxiety and depression during the pandemic in our Pakistani population, including healthcare professionals, undergraduate medical students, and general public. An online cross sectional survey was conducted; with a questionnaire having demographic profile, COVID-19-related knowledge/awareness, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS).

Role of TMPRSS6 rs855791 (T > C) polymorphism in reproductive age women with iron deficiency anemia from Lahore, Pakistan.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the highest nutritional deficiency worldwide. It is a multifactorial disease, with a higher morbidity rate. TMPRSS6 polymorphisms importantly rs855791 is found to play an essential role in iron homeostasis in the human body.

COVID-19 and Its Psychological Impacts on Healthcare Staff - A Multi-Centric Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Since the first case of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in Pakistan was reported in February 2020, the medical and paramedical staff has been working on the frontlines to deal with this disease. They have been facing significant strain and stress due to the pandemic, affecting their social, mental, and personal life. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, etiology, personal coping mechanisms, and the strategies that are being adopted to reduce stress by the healthcare workers (HCWs) working in COVID-19 dedicated wards (group 2) and compare it with staff working in other departments but not in COVID-19 wards amid this pandemic (group 1) in various hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan.

Inhaler Use Technique in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: Errors, Practices and Barriers.

Background Inhaled medications are the main therapeutic treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inhaler technique remained important that can increase medication efficacy, reducing dose and side effects. Poor inhaler technique is multi-factorial and the quality of inhaler technique has not previously assessed in Pakistan. We conducted a study to examine a range of competing factors that impact COPD patient willingness, practices, and preference in using their inhalers.

Calcitonin and Bone Physiology: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Clinical Investigations.

Calcitonin was discovered as a peptide hormone that was known to reduce the calcium levels in the systemic circulation. This hypocalcemic effect is produced due to multiple reasons such as inhibition of bone resorption or suppression of calcium release from the bone. Thus, calcitonin was said as a primary regulator of the bone resorption process.

Correlation of Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone with Ovarian Follicle Output Rate in Infertile Females: A Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test.

Background Failure to achieve a successful pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse is a pathology of the reproductive system known as infertility. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) not only reflects the ovarian reserve but also is known to be a predictor of several assisted reproductive techniques, e.g.

Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs frequently and early after treatment in HCV genotype 3 infected persons treated with DAA regimens.

Background: There are conflicting data regarding the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment. Risk of HCC in HCV genotype-3 infected persons after DAA therapy is not well known.

Methods: We prospectively studied HCV infected persons initiated on a DAA regimen between October 2014 and March 2017 at two centers in Pakistan.