The burden of cutaneous fungal infections in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Objective: In Pakistan, the real extent of fungal infection is unknown. Our objective was to estimate the burden of major fungal diseases here to emphasize their public health importance.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records (January 2019 - December 2019) of 863 patients diagnosed with superficial fungal infection (SFI) were reviewed at the dermatology department of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi.

Association of hip dysplasia in newborns with ethnicity using graf method ultrasound.

Objectives: To determine gender and ethnic distribution of developmental dysplasia of hip in newborns using Graf method for ultrasound. To determine the significance of association between developmental dysplasia of hip with ethnicity in newborns using Graf's method ultrasound.

Method: This analytical cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Karachi from January through June 2022 .

Relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with psychological stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women.

Objective: To determine the relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital.

Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Ruth K.

Neurological disorders in Pregnancy: Radiological insights and Obstetric implications.

Objective: To explore the radiological findings of neurological disorders in obstetrics patients, their obstetric and fetal outcome.

Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Lady Ready Hospital (LRH), Peshawar from June 2022 till March, 2023. Sixty two obstetric patients with neurological symptoms were included.

Harm reduction associated with heated tobacco products: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised studies in humans comparing the outcomes of switching to heated tobacco products (HTPs) versus continuing conventional tobacco smoking by burning.

Methods: We searched the electronic databases which included PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Google Scholar from inception to May 2023. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) in humans comparing HTPs with conventional burnt tobacco products were selected.

Prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients based on ultrasonograhic-clinicopathologic features.

Background & Objective: Determination of axillary lymph-node status plays a pivotal role in decision making for breast cancer treatment. Biopsy is the current standard of care but hold risks of complications as well. We aimed to find out the correlation of sonographic features of lymph node and histo-pathological findings, to predict axillary lymph-node metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Family Planning practices among the parents of beta thalassemia major patients in Makran division, Balochistan: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of family planning practice among the parents of children affected with beta thalassemia major (BTM) and to determine the relationship between various factors and family planning practice in Makran division Balochistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 190 parents having BTM children registered in thalassemia care centers throughout the Makran division from May 2023 to October 2023. The structured questionnaire was used and data was collected using the non-probability convenience technique.

Microbiological Spectrum and Antibiotics Sensitivity Pattern of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) Patients: A prospective study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Peshawar.

Background & Objective: Chronic suppurative otitis media is a fatal condition owing to its propensity for intracranial extension. The inadvertent use of antibiotics has led to resistance among causative organisms. The objectives of this study were to determine causative bacteria, their antibiotic resistance and susceptibility patterns, and their response to antibiotics after a one-month follow-up.

Identifying targets for antibiotic stewardship interventions in pediatric patients in Punjab, Pakistan: point prevalence surveys using AWaRe guidance.

Introduction: Surveillance of antibiotic use is crucial for identifying targets for antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs), particularly in pediatric populations within countries like Pakistan, where antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is escalating. This point prevalence survey (PPS) seeks to assess the patterns of antibiotic use in pediatric patients across Punjab, Pakistan, employing the WHO AWaRe classification to pinpoint targets for intervention and encourage rational antibiotic usage.

Methods: A PPS was conducted across 23 pediatric wards of 14 hospitals in the Punjab Province of Pakistan using the standardized Global-PPS methodology developed by the University of Antwerp.

Phylogenetic studies on the genus (Psathyrellaceae, Basidiomycota) occurring in the bed of the Indus River, Punjab, Pakistan, reveal three new species.

During macrofungal surveys in 2019-2024, several specimens belonging to the family Psathyrellaceae were collected from the bed of the Indus River, Punjab, Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses, based on ITS, LSU, and tef-1α sequences and morpho-anatomical study, confirmed the novelty and placement of three taxa in the genus . They are described as , , and .

Exploring the potential of Carica Papaya Leaf Extract: a perspective on its effectiveness in ameliorating thrombocytopenia in dengue patients.

Background: Dengue fever (DF) is endemic in Pakistan, posing health risks. Recent flooding in 2022 and strong monsoon rains in 2024 have increased the possibility of an epidemic. It is an infectious disease having potentially severe outcomes including thrombocytopenia.

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal on Bedtime Procrastination and Sleep Quality in Higher Educational Context: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study.

Background: While bedtime procrastination is commonly associated with adverse outcomes such as poor sleep quality, the mechanisms mediating these effects remain underexplored. Grounded in the Self-Regulation Model of Behavior and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this study examines the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal in the relationship between bedtime procrastination and sleep quality over time.

Methods: Employing a longitudinal design, the study examined the progression of bedtime procrastination, cognitive reappraisal, and sleep quality among university students at three distinct time points throughout an academic semester.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes and myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown benefits in improving cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and may mitigate symptom progression in myocardial infarction (MI). However, their effectiveness in patients with type 2 diabetes and MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear.

Methods: To identify eligible studies, a comprehensive search of electronic databases, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Embase, was conducted from inception until May 2024.

A qualitative study of how maternal morbidities impact women's quality of life during pregnancy and postpartum in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Aim: Maternal morbidities present a major burden to the health and well-being of childbearing women. However, their impacts on women's quality of life (QoL) are not well understood. This work aims to describe the extent to which the morbidities women experience during pregnancy and postpartum affect their QoL and identify any protective or risk factors.

Correction: Novel pyrimidine linked acyl thiourea derivatives as potent α-amylase and proteinase K inhibitors: design, synthesis, molecular docking and ADME studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4RA05799F.].

Band structure engineering, optical, transport, and photocatalytic properties of pristine and doped NbO(OH): a systematic DFT study.

NbO(OH) has emerged as a highly attractive photocatalyst based on its chemical stability, energetic band positions, and large active lattice sites. Compared to other various photocatalytic semiconductors, it can be synthesized easily. This study presents a systematic analysis of pristine and doped NbO(OH) based on recent developments in related research.

SERS profiling of blood serum filtrate components from patients with type II diabetes using 100 kDa filtration devices.

Blood carries some of the most valuable biomarkers for disease screening as it interacts with various tissues and organs in the body. Human blood serum is a reservoir of high molecular weight fraction (HMWF) and low molecular weight fraction (LMWF) proteins. The LMWF proteins are considered disease marker proteins and are often suppressed by HMWF proteins during analysis.

Optimization & enhancement of KGeCl-based perovskite solar cells through charge transport layer engineering.

The growing demand for efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly photovoltaic technologies has motivated the exploration of nontoxic perovskite materials such as KGeCl. However, the performance of KGeCl-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) depends heavily on the compatibility of charge transport layers (CTLs) and optimization of device parameters. In this study, six PSC configurations were simulated using SCAPS-1D software, incorporating CTLs such as Alq, CSTO, VO, PB, and SbS.

Heat Stroke in the Era of Global Warming: A Call for Urgent Action.

Heat stroke (HS) represents a life‑endangering condition that is due to an imbalance between heat generation and dissipation, owing to exposure to hot environments or strenuous exercise. HS is a medical condition that is gaining increased prevalence throughout the world due to a steady rise in temperature, and massive mortalities have been recorded among vulnerable populations. In 2024, extreme heat waves led to increased cases of HS and related fatalities globally, particularly in Karachi, Pakistan.

Effectiveness of Abdominal Breathing Exercise to Control Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To determine the effect of actively training the crura of diaphragm which is a part of lower esophageal sphincter using abdominal breathing exercises to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Methodology: With a randomized controlled study design, a total of 22 (11 in each group) clinically diagnosed patients of GERD presenting to the gastroenterology outpatient department at Holy Family Hospital in Pakistan were assessed using GERD related "quality of life index (QoLI)" questionnaire and their on-demand proton pump inhibitors (PPI) usage. Single blinding technique will be used.

Corneal Confocal and Specular Microscopic Characteristics in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: An Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)-Based Case-Control Study.

Background: Glaucoma, particularly open-angle glaucoma (OAG), is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, associated with optic nerve damage, retinal ganglion cell death, and visual field defects. Corneal biomechanical properties and cellular components, such as corneal nerve and keratocyte densities assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), may serve as biomarkers for glaucoma progression. This study aimed to explore the relationship between corneal nerve parameters, keratocyte density, and optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and controls.

The Impact of Thyroid Hormone Imbalance on Cardiovascular Health: A Population-Based Study.

Introduction: Thyroid hormone imbalances are known to significantly affect cardiovascular health, contributing to conditions such as arrhythmias, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Given the increasing prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial, particularly within specific regional populations.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of thyroid hormone imbalance on cardiovascular health outcomes in patients at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, over a 24-month period.

The Predictive Accuracy of the New Trauma Score and the Revised Trauma Score in Predicting the Mortality of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi.

Background Trauma is a major public health issue, causing disease and death globally. Injuries can range from mild to severe, requiring different levels of medical attention from a skilled team. Objectives To predict the accuracy of the new trauma score (NTS) and the revised trauma score (RTS) for predicting the mortality of patients presenting in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

Acute Pancreatitis in Pregnancy and Puerperium: Assessing Maternal and Fetal Impact, Etiologies, and Clinical Outcomes at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

Introduction The association of acute pancreatitis with adverse obstetric outcomes remains subject to great controversy. Outcomes are affected by the standard of care available, and hence, will be better in developed countries than in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the clinical characteristics and treatment of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) and its associated maternal and neonatal outcomes in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.