Role of Responsive Neurostimulation in Managing Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes.

Drug-resistant epilepsy remains a substantial challenge in neurology, affecting patients who do not respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs. Responsive neurostimulation (RNS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach, yet comprehensive reviews synthesizing its clinical outcomes are sparse. This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and involved a comprehensive database search through PubMed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus, covering literature up to April 2024.

Comparison of Complete Versus Incomplete Percutaneous Revascularization in Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The optimal extent of revascularization in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains debated. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of complete versus incomplete revascularization in CTO patients. A systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted up to July 6, 2024.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Hirschsprung Disease: Current Practices and Future Directions.

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a congenital disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal colon and rectum, leading to functional obstruction and severe constipation. Over the past decades, the surgical management of HD has significantly evolved, with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques revolutionizing treatment approaches. This review explores recent innovations in MIS for HD, focusing on laparoscopic, transanal endorectal pull-through (TERPT), and robotic-assisted techniques.

Needle stick injuries and post-exposure prophylaxis practices among healthcare personnel working at tertiary care hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan.

Background: Healthcare workers face a high risk of blood-borne infections due to needlestick injuries, especially in developing countries like Pakistan.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of needlestick injuries, reporting practices, and post-exposure prophylaxis measures among healthcare personnel in tertiary care hospitals in Punjab.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2019.

Cardioprotective effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of comparative safety and efficacy.

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of heart failure due to their cardioprotective effects, despite primarily being used as antidiabetic medications. However, the comparative profile of two antidiabetic drugs, sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor remains unclear.

Study Hypothesis: This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy profiles of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor drugs.

Predicting the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Approaches.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition characterized by gradual loss of kidney function, necessitating timely monitoring and interventions. This systematic review comprehensively evaluates the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques for predicting CKD progression. A rigorous literature search identified 13 relevant studies employing diverse AI/ML algorithms, including logistic regression, support vector machines, random forests, neural networks, and deep learning approaches.

The Effectiveness of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors on Cardiovascular Outcomes and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of early sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) initiation on long-term cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). For this study, we adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline. Two researchers independently performed a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, spanning from the inception of each database to February 24, 2023, without language limitations.

Covid-19 Vaccine safety and adverse event analysis from Pakistan.

Covid immunization commenced on 2nd Feb 2021 in Pakistan and as of 7th Sep 2021, over 84 million vaccine doses were administered in Pakistan, of which 72% procured by the government, 22% received through Covax and 6% were donated. The vaccines rolled out nationally included: Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSinoBIO (China), AstraZeneca (UK), Moderna and Pfizer (USA), Sputnik (Russia), and PakVac (China/Pakistan). About half of the eligible population in Pakistan (63 m) had received at least one dose of Covid vaccine as of Sep 2021.

Parental Attitude, Knowledge, and Practices Regarding the Usage of Antibiotics for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised knowledge of the proper antibiotic dosage for treating childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). In order to ensure proper antibiotic usage and prevent the establishment of illnesses that is antibiotic-resistant during the COVID-19 pandemic, parental attitudes, knowledge, and behaviour surrounding antibiotic use for URTIs in children are essential. The goal of this study was to find out the parental attitude, knowledge, and practices regarding the usage of antibiotics for URTIs in children during the COVID-19 epidemic.

A Review on Processing Opportunities for the Development of Camel Dairy Products.

Camel milk has a significant and pivotal role in the diet of people residing in semi-arid and arid regions. Ever since ancient times, marketing of camel milk has remained insignificant due to nonexistence of processing amenities in the camel nurturing areas, hence the utilization of unprocessed camel milk has continuously remained limited at family level by the nomads. Due to the superior medicinal values and health promoting effects, incredible growth in the demand of camel milk and dairy products have been noticed all over the world during last two decades.

Nutraceutical and Health-Promoting Potential of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein in Human and Animal: Current Knowledge.

Lactoferrin is a natural cationic iron-binding glycoprotein of the transferrin family found in bovine milk and other exocrine secretions, including lacrimal fluid, saliva, and bile. Lactoferrin has been investigated for its numerous powerful influences, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-osteoporotic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and other beneficial health effects. Lactoferrin demonstrated several nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potentials and have a significant impact on improving the health of humans and animals.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Self-Medication Including Antibiotics among Health Care Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan: Findings and Implications.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, several different medicines including antimicrobials have been administered to patients to treat COVID-19. This is despite limited evidence of the effectiveness of many of these, fueled by misinformation. These utilization patterns have resulted in concerns for patients' safety and a rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Fragment-Based Approaches Identified Tecovirimat-Competitive Novel Drug Candidate for Targeting the F13 Protein of the Monkeypox Virus.

Monkeypox is a serious public health issue in tropical and subtropical areas. Antivirals that target monkeypox proteins might lead to more effective and efficient therapy. The F13 protein is essential for the growth and maturation of the monkeypox virus.

The emerging role of focal muscle vibration in rehabilitation of neurological disorders.

Focal muscle vibration (FMV) is an innovative approach to enhance balance and motor control in various neurological diseases. In this technique a low-amplitude/high-frequency vibratory stimulus is applied to a specific muscle using a mechanical device. The use of FMV in rehabilitation is relatively new and it promises to be an effective tool in improving rehabilitation outcomes.

Role of Procalcitonin and C-reactive Protein as Predictors of Sepsis and in Managing Sepsis in Postoperative Patients: A Systematic Review.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis are inflammatory responses to infection or trauma, causing symptoms and adverse outcomes such as organ shutdown and death. Different scoring systems can help in the diagnosis of SIRS and sepsis. Several biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and white blood cells (WBCs) can serve as predictors of sepsis.

Comparison of Ondansetron versus Domperidone for treating vomiting in acute gastroenteritis in children at a resource limited setting of South Punjab, Pakistan.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of Ondansetron versus Domperidone for treating vomiting in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children at a resource limited emergency setting of South Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods: This open label randomized controlled trial was conducted at The Pediatric Emergency Department of Tehshil Headquarter Hospital, Liaqatpur, Pakistan, from July 2020 to June 2021. A total of 300 children of both genders aged below 12 years of age having 3 or more non-bilious, non-bloody vomiting episodes within 24 hours and with suggestive signs and symptoms of AGE were enrolled and randomized (150 in each group).

Divergent Analyses of Genetic Relatedness and Evidence-Based Assessment of Therapeutics of from Semi-intensive Dairy Systems.

Use of antibiotics without following standard guidelines is routine practice in developing countries which is giving rise to genetic divergence and increased drug resistance. The current study analyzed genetic divergence and drug resistance by and therapeutic efficacy of novel antibiotic combinations. The study revealed that 42.

Assessment of musculoskeletal disorders among cricketers playing in domestic clubs of Lahore.

Objective: To assess musculoskeletal disorders among male cricketers in an urban centre.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2020 in Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised male cricket players aged 10-25 years playing in four domestic clubs. Data was collected about musculoskeletal disorders experienced during the preceding 12 months using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.

SARS-CoV-2 infection pattern, transmission and treatment: Multi-center study in low to middle-income districts hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan.

Pakistan has reported a substantial number of COVID-19 cases since 2020. A multicenter observational study was conducted to identify the pattern of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission, and treatment in patients admitted to seven low to middle-income district hospitals in the Province of Punjab, Pakistan from March to June 2020. A total of 102 patients were recruited.

Phylogenetic diversity and mutational analysis of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) producing strains from pediatric patients in Pakistan.

The evolution of NDM genes ( ) in is accounted for expansive multidrug resistance (MDR), causing severe infections and morbidities in the pediatric population. This study aimed to analyze the phylogeny and mutations in NDM variants of recovered from the pediatric population. Carbapenem-resistant clinical strains of were identified using microbiological phenotypic techniques.

Association of IL28 B and IL10 Polymorphism with HCV Infection and Direct Antiviral Treatment.

Objective: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL28B and IL10 regions are important in predicting the antiviral response in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. In this study, the association of IL28B and IL10 genetic polymorphisms and other clinical factors was assessed as a predictive marker for the sustained virological response (SVR) of HCV patients taking direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: We processed 384 serum specimens of HCV serology positive cases for qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Molecular Epidemiology of Extensively-Drug Resistant Sequence Type 2 Co-Harboring and From Clinical Origin.

Background: The therapeutic management of carbapenem-resistant (CR-AB) represents a serious challenge to the public health sector because these pathogens are resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, resulting in limited treatment options. The present study was planned to investigate the clonal spread of CR-AB in a clinical setting.

Methodology: A total of 174 clinical isolates were collected from a tertiary care hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan.