ABSTRACT
COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia. This unusual viral pneumonia is rapidly spreading to all parts of the world, currently affecting about 105 million people with 2.3 million deaths. Current review described history, genomic characteristics, replication, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 with special emphasis on Nigella sativum (N. sativum) as a treatment option. N. sativum seeds are historically and religiously used over the centuries, both for prevention and treatment of different diseases. This review summarizes the potential role of N. sativum seeds against COVID-19 infection at levels of in silico, cell lines and animal models.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , COVID-19 , Nigella , Pandemics , Pathology, Molecular , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] regarding management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus [GDM] among Health Care Providers in major cities of Pakistan
Methods: A knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] questionnaire based study was conducted in major cities in Pakistan from health care providers in public and private hospitals and clinics. Questionnaires were provided to the health care providers regarding screening, diagnosis and management of patients with GDM. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS 20
Results: A total of 210 doctors took part in the study. 55[26%] reported using fasting blood glucose as screening test for GDM whereas 129[61.4%] respondents used Oral Glucose Tolerance based WHO criteria for diagnosing GDM. Thirty six [17%] and 98[46.7%] doctors referred their patients to Gynecologists. For treating GDM, 64[30.5%] doctors prescribed insulin [NPH/Regular, 70/30 Mix]. 112[53.5] doctors used combination of capillary glucose by glucometer and plasma blood glucose tests for monitoring of glycemic control of patients with GDM
Conclusion: There is lack of agreed screening tests and criteria for diagnosis and management of GDM patients. Doctors need to be educated to follow evidence based diagnostic and management guidelines so that GDM patients can be effectively managed. Recently released South Asian Federation Societies and Pakistan Endocrine Society guidelines could be much needed consensus guidelines for doctors to apply in their daily practice to improve GDM diagnosis and treatment
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Objective: To find out prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in general population of three districts in Pakistan
Methods:A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three large districts of Pakistan namely Rawalpindi in Punjab, Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Hyderabad in Sindh between January 2013 and August 2015. Lady Health Workers identified individuals at high risk for diabetes based on predefined criteria. High risk population was tested for dysglycemia. Fundoscopic evaluation for evidence of DR was performed in all individuals with a random blood glucose >190mg/dl. Individuals with the evidence of DR were referred to affiliated tertiary care ophthalmology departments
Results:A total of 42,629 individuals reported at the project sites and 63% [n=26,859] were female. Fifty one percent [n=21,989] individuals met high risk criteria. Out of these 21,989 individuals, dysglycemia was found in 3,869 [17.6%]. Fundoscopy showed evidence of DR in 1,042 [27%] individuals. Amongst high risk population, dysglycemia was significantly more common in females as compared to males. The frequency of DR in dysglycemic patients was comparable across both gender groups
Conclusion:The prevalence of DR in Pakistani population is alarmingly high. This preventable cause of blindness is largely undiagnosed in our population and a simple integrated model based on primary health care facilities can help identify and treat a large population of DR patients
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Short stature is defined as height below 3[rd] centile. Causes of short stature can range from familial, endocrine disorders, chronic diseases to chromosomal disorders. Most common cause in literature being idiopathic short stature. Early detection and management of remedial disorders like malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency, Endocrine disorders like growth hormone deficiency and hypothyroidism can lead to attainment of expected height. Pakistani data shows idiopathic short stature as the most common cause of short stature. Our study aimed at detecting causes of short stature in children/adolescents at an Endocrine referral center
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at WILCARE Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Lahore on 70 well-nourished children/adolescents. The patients had been evaluated clinically, biochemically and radiologically as needed. Biochemical testing included hormonal testing as well to detect endocrine causes. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 20.0
Results: Leading cause of short stature in our population was Growth Hormone [GH] deficiency seen in 48 out of 70 [69%] patients. Second most common endocrine abnormality seen in these patients was Vitamin D deficiency [44 out of 70 patients [63%]]. Primary hypothyroidism; pan-hypopituitarism and adrenal insufficiency were other endocrine causes. The weight for age was below 3rd percentile in 57 [81%] patients, with no association with other major causes
Conclusion: Growth hormone and Vitamin D deficiency constitute one of the major causes of short stature among well-nourished children with short stature in Pakistan
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Background: Bone mineral density [BMD] is an important tool for assessing the risk of an individual for acquiring fractures. The determinants of bone mineral density are not well defined in men. The study aims at assessing the bone mass in middle aged men having occupations which required prolonged standing
Methods: Across sectional study was carried out comparing the T-score values of BMD of 100 men having a daily standing time of more than 8 hours to 100 men having a daily standing time of less than 3 hours
Results: The results showed increased bone mass in men with jobs requiring prolonged standing as compared to men, which had a sedentary life style
Conclusion: Middle aged men leading an active life style, having no other established risk factor for osteoporosis, have a less chance of developing decreased bone mass in future compared to men having jobs which require a lot of sitting, so that the lack of baseline physical activity predisposes them for an osteoporotic fracture in later life
ABSTRACT
To devise an alternate tool to bone densitometry in ruling out osteoporosis in postmenopausal women between the age of 50 and 65. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 200 females aged between 50 and 65, from 1st November 2002 to 15th January 2003. North Medical Ward, Unit-4 and Out Patient Clinics, Mayo Hospital, and Akram Medical Complex, Lahore. Main outcome measures: Application of a tool based on the risk factor assessment in postmenopausal women as an alternative to bone densitometry in ruling out osteoporosis. The study results showed that in postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 65 years without any major risk factors as assessed by using the questionnaire, the occurrence of osteoporosis was not evident although bone weakness of varying degrees was observed in 30.5% of the study sample. This tool thus provides us with an inexpensive and efficient way of ruling out osteoporosis in postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 65 years without assessing their BMD values