Assessment of barriers to the dietary adherence among type 2 diabetic patients in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the common barriers responsible for non-adherence to dietary recommendations among type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 4, 2021, to March 6, 2022, at the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and comprised type 2 diabetes patients of either gender aged 18-80 years who had previously been given recommended dietary advice. Dietary barriers were assessed using a 27-item validated questionnaire, and the subjects were compared in terms of age and diabetes duration.

Add-on Sodium Benzoate and -Acetylcysteine in Patients With Early Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Background And Hypothesis: Oxidative stress pathways may play a role in schizophrenia through direct neuropathic actions, microglial activation, inflammation, and by interfering with NMDA neurotransmission. -acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown to improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia, however, results from trials of other compounds targeting NMDA neurotransmission have been mixed. This may reflect poor target engagement but also that risk mechanisms act in parallel.

Antiarrhythmic drug therapy and catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy are utilized for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF), but their comparative effectiveness, especially with contemporary treatment modalities, remains undefined. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis contrasting current ablation techniques against antiarrhythmic medications for AF.

Methods: We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science until November 2023 for randomized trials comparing AF catheter ablation with antiarrhythmics, against antiarrhythmic drug therapy alone, reporting outcomes for > 6 months.

Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity Levels Among People With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the association of eating habits with the dietary patterns of people with diabetes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE), Dow University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A total 301 patients aged >18 with type 2 diabetes came to Outpatient department were recruited.

Correlation of HbA1c with Serum Iron & Transferrin Saturation in Non-Diabetic Patients with Iron Deficiency.

Objective: To determine correlation of HbA1c with serum iron and transferrin saturation in non-diabetic patients with iron deficiency.

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi from 15 September 2021 to 14 March 2022, on non-diabetic patients based on fasting blood sugar (FBS) of <100 mg/dl. Patients were divided into two groups.

Culturally adapted psychosocial interventions (CaPSI) for early psychosis in a low-resource setting: study protocol for a large multi-center RCT.

Background: Psychosis treatment guidelines recommend cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and family intervention (FI), for all patients with first episode psychosis (FEP), though guidance borrows heavily from literature in adults from high income countries. To our knowledge, there are few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the comparative effect of these commonly endorsed psychosocial interventions in individuals with early psychosis from high-income countries and no such trials from low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The present study aims to confirm the clinical-efficacy and cost-effectiveness of delivering culturally adapted CBT (CaCBT) and culturally adapted FI (CulFI) to individuals with FEP in Pakistan.

Role of aspirin in the prevention of preeclampsia in previously hypertensive pregnant women: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To determine the role of low-dose aspirin in preventing preeclampsia for previously hypertensive pregnant women.

Methods: The meta-analysis was conducted from February to May 2021 and comprised search on PubMed and Cochrane Library databases for randomised controlled trials consisting of previously hypertensive women aged 18-55 years, aspirin dosage range 60-100mg, and a comparison between aspirin and placebo groups. Duration of intervention till the end of gestation, the dosage of aspirin given, risk ratios or odds ratio with the confidence intervals, and preeclampsia were the main variables recorded.

Impact of Primary Tumor Size, SUVmax of Primary Tumor and the Most Avid Neck Node on Baseline FDG PET/CT upon Disease Recurrence in Head and Neck Oropharyngeal SCC Using Standardized Imaging Protocol.

 The purpose fo this prospective study was to find the impact of primary tumor size (Ts), standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of primary tumor, and the most avid neck node on disease recurrence in patients with head and neck oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HNOP-SCC).  We included patients with HNOP-SCC (without distant metastasis-M0 disease) who had pre- and post-treatment F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( FDG PET/CT) using strict standardized imaging protocol from 2017 to 2019. Based on follow-up ( FDG PET/CT) findings, patients were categorized as disease free (no or minimal FDG uptake ≤ background over surgical bed and no distant metastasis) and disease recurrence ( FDG uptake > background over surgical bed with or without nodal and/or distant metastasis).

A survey of violence and vulgarity in children television programmes: A content analysis, and assessment of perceptions of parents and children (ViCTiM study).

Objective: To quantify the depiction of violence and vulgarity in television programmes for children, and to assess the perception and practices of parents and children about television programmes meant for children.

Methods: We conducted this mixed-methods cross-sectional study in Karachi, Pakistan in the months of August-September 2018, after approval from the ethics review board of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. First, a content analysis of over 102 hours of various television programmes meant for children was performed in the light of the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation, the United States Federal Communication Commission and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

Analysis of Inflammatory Gene Expression Profile of Peripheral Blood Leukocytes in Type 2 Diabetes.

The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with perturbation of innate immune response. Several studies indicated alteration of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and other mediators of innate immune response in T2DM. This study was designed to perform quantitative PCR-based expression profiling of genes involved in inflammation (i.

Frequency of Hyperthermia in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Objective: To determine the frequency of hyperthermia in acute ischemic stroke patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in a developing country.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Medical Wards of Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January to June 2013.

Antibacterial fatty acids destabilize hydrophobic and multicellular aggregates of biofilm in S. aureus.

Present study is based on 20 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates recovered from different food items. These isolates were identified on the basis of colony morphology, Gram staining and growth on different selective and differential media. Studies on 16S RNA and positive reactions on DNase agar and Prolex Latex Agglutination system confirm it as Staphylococcus aureus.

Pancreas Divisum.

Objective: To evaluate the complications, technical success, diagnostic evaluation and various endoscopic management options in patients with pancreas divisum.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Endoscopy Suite, Surgical Unit 4, Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January 2007 to December 2013.

In Vitro Comparative Study of Two Different Bleaching Agents on Micro-hardness Dental Enamel.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of home-use bleaching agent containing 16% Carbamide Peroxide (CP) and in-office bleaching agent containing 38% Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) on enamel micro-hardness.

Study Design: An in vitroexperimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Operative Dentistry and Science of Dental Materials at Dr.