Estimation of the contribution of private providers in tuberculosis case notification and treatment outcome in Pakistan

To improve involvement of the private sector in the national tuberculosis [TB] programme in Pakistan various public-private mix projects were set up between 2004 and 2009. A retrospective analysis of data was made to study 6 different public-private mix models for TB control in Pakistan and estimate the contribution of the various private providers to TB case notification and treatment outcome. The number of TB cases notified through the private sector increased significantly from 77 cases in 2004 to 37 656 in 2009. Among the models, the nongovernmental organization model made the greatest contribution to case notification [58.3%], followed by the hospital-based model [18.9%]. Treatment success was highest for the district-led model [94.1%] and lowest for the hospital-based model [74.2%]. The private sector made an important contribution to the national data through the various public-private mix projects. Issues of sustainability and the lack of treatment supporters are discussed as reasons for lack of success of some projects

[ survey of the attitudes of female faculty on the obstacles to their promotion for managerial positions in Shahid Sadoughi university of medical sciences]

In spite of equal contribution of female and male faculty members to knowledge and expertise production, there is no equal access to managerial posts. The purpose of this study was to determine the present attitudes of female faculty towards the barriers to their promotion to managerial posts in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences [SSUMS]. This cross-sectional study was conducted on female faculty in [SSUMS] in 2011. A standard questionnaire consisting of demographic questions and 37 questions about the barriers to the promotion of female faculty to managerial posts was used. Overall 28% of women in this study had managerial positions at different levels. Among them, 44.4% were head of the departments. There was a significant correlation between managerial posts and job experience [p<0.05]. Incorrect organizational structure, organizational culture and social factors were the main barriers to the promotion of women to managerial posts, however; individual factors appeared to play no role in this regard. A few female faculties of [SSUMS] were engaged in managerial positions which might be due to incorrect organizational structure and social factors. The findings presented in this paper suggest that modification of promotion instructions based on competence and changes in organizational structure and culture may increase the engagement of female faculty in managerial posts

Effect of concurrent creatine monohydrate ingestion and resistance training on hepatic enzymes activity levels in non-athlete males

The use of creatine [Cr] as a nutritional supplement to aid athletic performance has gained widespread popularity among athletes. However, concerns have recently been expressed over the potentially harmful effects of short and long term Cr supplementation on health.] Therefore this study was conducted to determine effect of creatine monohydrate [CrM] ingestion and resistance training on serum Alanin Aminotransferase [ALT] and As part ate Aminotransferase [AST] changes in non-athlete males. Twenty non-athlete males [age 22.25 +/- 2.02yr, weight 71.55 +/- 4.72Kg and height 171.92 +/- 5.98 Cm] were selected and studied in two groups, the training-creatine [TC]: n=10, and the training-placebo [TP]: n=10, in a double-blind trial. Both groups participated in resistance training and completed two months of weight training [75% one repeat maximum]. The TC group consumed a 250 ml CrM solution supplement [0.07 g/kg/day, creatine] during the training protocol, while the control group just placebos [0.07 g/kg/day, wheat flour]. Venous blood samples were obtained before and 48h after the last session and serum ALT and AST activities were measured using the auto-analyzer system. Data was statistically analyzed by dependent and independed t-test, with a 0.05 significance level. There were no significant differences in serum ALT and AST activity between the TC [ALT, P<0.102; AST, P<0.086] and TP groups [ALT, P<0.265; AST, P<0.009]. Nor were any significant differences observed in mean and changes range for ALT and AST activities between the TC and TP groups. The results suggest that two months resistance training and CrM ingestion had no adverse effects on hepatic cellular damage idices. However, more research is needed to identify the side effects of acute and chronic CrM ingestion and resistance training