Pattern of addiction and its relapse among habitual drug abusers in Lahore, Pakistan

This study assessed the pattern of drug abuse and the reasons for relapse of addiction among male drug addicts seeking rehabilitative services in different centres in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on male drug abusers from April to December 2016. Nonprobability purposive sampling was done to collect a sample of 119 participants. A structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Out of 119 participants, 71.4% were in the age group 15-35 years. Educational levels were low in the majority, with 68.1% below secondary education. Unmarried [51.3%] and unemployed [44.5%] participants were at the greatest risk of using drugs. The age of addiction in 45% of patients was 5 years. Reasons for starting drug abuse were recreation [37%], curiosity [34.5%], and life-changing events [14.3%]. Reasons for relapse included association with former addicts, negative reactions from family, inability to manage the craving and work/social stress

E·health as a component of school health services in Lahore

Objective: facilitating health provision to masses involving internet is an emerging aspect of medical profession. This exploratory study aims to assess the adequacy of such services in schools of Lahore and form basis for further work up in this aspect

Material and Methods: out of 1400 schools registered with BISE, Lahore, private [43] and public [16] schools of Lahore were included in the study [purposive sampling by inclusion criteria] who had web pages [n=59]; Data was collected by data extraction form through internet and descriptive analysis was done using SPSS version 17. It was a self-financed study

Results: our results concluded that 53% schools [n=59] had well-equipped computer laboratories; out which 40% were private and only 13% were public, however not all of them provided access to internet. 39% of the schools regularly updated their websites; 29% were private and only 10% were public. 28% of the 59 schools provided their telephone numbers which the parents can contact in case of any emergency or otherwise.14% of the total schools had health related content available on their website. Only 3% each of both the schools displayed messages regarding health education

Conclusion: this study implies that the provision of e-health services in the schools of Lahore is almost negligible. Internet is a rising technology in Pakistan and steps should be taken to incorporate internet based innovations in the school health policy of Pakistan

Casual attribution patterns of mainstream school students and their effect on achievement

The present study was designed to draw the comparison of the academic achievement of high and low attribution groups and to find out the effect of these causal attributions on students' subsequent academic achievement. Sample of the present study was 490 tenth grade students from Rawalpindi and Islamabad districts of Pakistan. Out of these 4990 students 260 belonged to mainstream schools and 230 came from religious schools. The design of study was causal comparative. The data was analysed by using the techniques of frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, median, quartile deviations and t-test. The conclusions of the study depicted that there was worth mentioning diversity between the academic achievement of two groups of students, that is, intrinsically motivated students with high causal attributions and extrinsically motivated students with low causal attributions, consequently confirming Weiner's attribution theory. It is concluded here that the students who experience success usually attribute their failure to external and uncontrollable factors and usually consider themselves as helpless in the face of any achievement related task

Comparison of verbal and nonverbal intelligence among hafiz and non-hafiz female adolescents

The present research was conducted to compare verbal and nonverbal intelligence among hafiz-e-Quran [the person who commits the entire Qur'an to memory] and non-hafiz female adolescents. The sample consisted of 200 females including hafiz-e-Quran females [N= 100], and non-hafiz females [N = 100]. The two groups were matched on age, education level, medium of education, and elementary subjects and socioeconomic status. The Haflz female sample was taken from madrasahs [religious institutions] of Islamabad and Karachi. The non hafiz female sample was recruited from Government colleges of the same cities. Two indigenously developed intelligence tests were used. Indigenous non-verbal test of intelligence [INTI] and Sajjad Verbal intelligence test in Urdu [SVITU] were used to assess non-verbal and verbal intelligence respectively. The INTI has five subtests including series, matrices, analogies, odd one out and similarities. SVITU include 4 subtests including words meaning, oral reasoning, numerical reasoning and information, t-test was used to analyse the data. Results indicated significant mean differences between hafiz and non-hafiz female adolescents on total score of INTI [non-verbal intelligence test] and its subscales including series, analogies, and odd one out, whereas non-significant differences were found on subscales of matrices and similarities. On verbal intelligence test, significant differences were found between hafiz and non-hqfiz females adolescents on subscales of words meaning, numerical reasoning and information, while oral reasoning subscale and total score of SVITU showed non-significant difference. It is concluded that Non-hafiz females studying in educational institutions performed better on numerical ability, information, series, analogies and odd one out and also showed significantly better performance on total score of lNTI. However, Hafiz females studying in madrasahs out performed only on vocabulary

Prunes and liver function: a clinical trial

Prunes are used by folks as a remedy of various diseases including hepatitis. A clinical trial was designed to see the effects of prunes [Prunus domestica] on liver function. 166 healthy volunteers were divided into three groups randomly. Either three [about11.43g] or six [23g approx.] prunes were soaked in a glass of water [250ml] overnight. Each subject from two test groups was asked to drink prune juice and eat whole fruit[single or double dose of prunes] as well, early in the morning, daily for 8 weeks; whereas each subject from control group was given a glass of water to drink. Blood samples were taken at week 0 and week 8 for chemical analysis. There was significant reduction of serum alanine transaminase [p 0.048] and serum alkaline phosphatase [p 0.017] by the lower dose of prunes. There was no change in serum aspartate transaminase and bilirubin. Alteration in liver function by use of prunes may have clinical relevance in appropriate cases and prunes might prove beneficial in hepatic disease

Use of prunes as a control of hypertension

Fruits and vegetables are shown to reduce blood pressure. It is not merely the antioxidants contained in fruits and vegetables that have health benefits such as lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressures. This study was undertaken to see the cardiovascular protective effects of prunes. A placebo controlled clinical trial study was designed to see the effects of Prunus domestica on blood pressure in 259 pre-hypertensive [Systolic BP=120-139 mmHg, diastolic BP=80-89 mmHg] volunteers. Treated groups drank prune juice and ate the whole fruit [dried plums] while either 3 [about 11.5 gm] or 6 prunes were soaked overnight in a glass of water whereas control group took only a glass of plain water early in the morning on empty stomach. Blood pressure was recorded fortnightly for 8 weeks, and blood samples were taken at 0 and 8 weeks. There was significant reduction of blood pressure by single dose of prunes daily group and the controls [p<0.05]. With the double dose of prunes, only systolic BP was reduced significantly [p<0.05]. Control group had significantly increased serum HDL whereas test groups had significantly reduced serum cholesterol and LDL [p<0.05]. Data was analysed by paired-sample t-test with 95% confidence interval. The data predicts cardiovascular protective effects of prunes