Chemical stress as a consequence of prolong drug use: a study on chronic health condition

Background: Chemical stress is an indication of increase or a lesser amount of chemicals that body has exposed both internal or external environment provided to singe cell such as pollution, smoking, ingested food additives, pesticides, excessive consumption of sugar and alcohol, too many cups of coffee and even passive smoking cause chemical stress. This prolong exposure to any affluence can cause chemical stress that interferes with body's natural balance

Methodology: A cross sectional survey based study was conducted at a local hospital including 3 groups of patients, Group I was using only anti diabetic drugs, Group II was chronic user of cardiac medications while Group III was using both. Demographic data, medical history and drug use duration and dosage were investigated as well as intensity of Chemical stress was calculated by Sadaf stress scale. The patients with severe and psychological and mental illness or any other chronic illness or patients who were failed to provide reliable information were excluded from study

Results: The result showed that there is a stressful built-up of chemicals as a result of altered metabolism due to excess drugs use in these patients. However moderate stress is majorly reported in Group III that indicates increased number of prescribed medications and their correlation with intensity of chemical stress. However, none of the patient scored severe stress which is again an indication that there is a progressive psychophysiological deteriorating state rather than fully damaged that can be improved

verbal/social autopsy [VASA] child mortality inquiry to investigate under-five mortality determinants in slums of Karachi, Pakistan: a mix methods interventional study

Background Pakistan stands along top ten countries responsible for two-third of global child mortality burden. To improve Child Mortality [CM] estimates in Pakistan, there is an exigent need to understand the in-depth reasoning behind mortalities. In Pakistan, the data on cause-of-death [CoD] for a large number of child mortalities in Pakistan is either not available or not suitable for use. Pakistan uses an alternative technique called Verbal autopsy [VA]. Since VA only determines the biological cause of death [BCoD], and does not capture multitude of other modifiable social, cultural and health system determinants, it has a limited importance. Such non-biological determinants are captured by another technique i.e. Social Autopsy [SA]

Objective by integrating VA with SA, extended set of mortality related determinants will be explored, in addition to strengthening death notification coverage and assigning CoD in such missed out mortalities

Method under the working group of Health Advocacy Council for Women and Children [HACWC] in collaboration with Child Registry of Pakistan [CROP], mixed method [QUAN-QUAL] interventional study will be carried out in urban-slums of Karachi city using VASA-integrated under-five mortality investigative technique. Parents of dead children will be interviewed. Second stage of study will be followed by qualitative interviews with different cadres of stakeholders

Expected Outcomes by focusing the specific determinants related to case-management and care-seeking process [identified by The Pathway to Survival Framework-TPtoSF] an in-depth understanding of related determinants can be achieved, which will help in crafting potential interventions required to limit the barriers that increase the chances of CM in developing nations

Mental stress decreases with older age in Karachi, Pakistan

Mental Stress is a Kind of mental revival or strain that can be aroused by a number of mental tasks-e.g., mental arithmetic, maze solving or a mentally troubled condition is called the mental stress. Major life events as changes in work, financial problems, studies load, children and family problems are few of these. Mental stress is seen to affect parts of the brain where thoughts, approach, speculation and decision making are processed through and stored along with basic motor activities. Constant exposure to mental stress hormones, whether it occurs during the upbringing, teenage years, old age, has an impact on brain structures involved in cognition and mental fitness. The WHO suggests that there can be "no health without mental health". People in many countries are exposed to harmful stress that leads to an augment in mental stress. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cause of mental stress in Karachi population through Sadaf stress scale [SSS]; various stressors may contribute to these mental stresses. The data was collected from different areas of Karachi .Sadaf stress scale [SSS] was used as an instrument for evaluation of mental stress. Results demonstrates that in age 20 and less shows 16.0% mild level of stress, in age 20 to 30 shows 24.0% mild level of stress, in age 30 to 40 shows 5.0% mild level of stress however 40 and greater age shows no stress levels. The hypothesis that mental stress responses are associated with age and gender was investigated

Increasing obesity and its risk factors

Obesity has been a target tool for research for its prevention and treatment because of its association with various metabolic dysfunctions. Increased adipose tissue distribution leads to progressive increase in hypertension and cardiovascular disease prevalence. It was a prospective study conducted at Fatima Jinnah Dental College and Dow Institute of Medical Technology [DUHS] Karachi, from February 2012 to January 2013Seventy five subjects [54 girls and 21 boys] were randomly selected of ages 18-25 years.BMI, waist hip ratio and neck circumference was observed to determine obesity. Questionnaires were administered to ascertain biographical data, lifestyles behaviors including dietary habits and diet plan [healthy food/junk food], binge eating, family history for obesity, habits of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, patterns of daily physical activity. According to the anthropometric measurements out of seventy five individuals 20% were underweight, 34.7% were normal, 21% overweight, 17% obese and 6.7% were morbidly obese. 32% of people are mostly dependant on junk food, 45.2% people are occasionally dependant on junk food and only 22.7% people rely on homemade food, 36% individuals were physically active and 64% people were leading sedentary life style lack of time due to their academic schedule or lack of interest. In this context, two main factors appear to participate in body-weight maintenance: dietary habits and physical activity. Effective prevention and management of obesity requires an integrated approach, with intervention across different segments of the population through adequate information and public awareness programs.

Cerebral palsy in relation to maternal health

Cerebral palsy [CP] is neurological disorder which effect motor and sensory neurons the effected individual may suffer ophthalmic problems, impaired speech, movements and posture mental and physical abnormalities as well. The study design was observational prospective, done on the population consists of 65 mothers having their child with CP, and children with other physical and mental disabilities were completely excluded. The data was collected at Dow Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation [IPM and R], DUHS.Prenatal causes [placenta previa, hypertension, diabetes, and seizures] accounted for majority of CP conditions. 21.5% mothers were found with gestational diabetes, 56.9% with hypertension, 16.9% with seizures and 20.0% with placenta previa.As it is well observed that Women with pregnancy induced diabetes [gestational diabetes] have a greater chance of having a baby with birth defects including CP. Gestational diabetes puts the fetus at greater risk of CP while women with hypertension are also most likely to have a child with CP.