Antenatal Care and Reasons for Non Utilization of Antenatal Services

A cross sectional study was conducted in Akhter Saeed Trust Hospital Gynae/ Peds OPD, Lahore.Multiple Questions were asked to the patients related to the“Antenatal care” and reasons for non utilization of antenatal servicesIn Pakistan, the cases are increasing day by day. This is attributed to mainly illiteracy, unawareness about personal care, fear of doctor, not allowed by husbands and wrong concept about uselessnessof antenatal services.Objective: the goal is to provide regular checkups that allows the doctors or midwives to treat and prevent potential health problems throughout the course of pregnancy while promoting the healthy lifestyles that benefit both mother and child.Methodology:A Sample of around 66people visiting akhter saeed trust hospital gynae/ peds OPD , Lahore were randomly selected and information gathered through filling of structured questionnaire to access gap in knowledge and practice regarding selfcare in antenatal care amongFemale and socioeconomic factors contributing to prone lifestyle.Results:A Study was carried out among gynae/pedes patients in akhter saeed trust hospital OPD Lahore. Total 51 randomly selected patients were inducted in the study with age above equal or less than 27. Out of the 66 patients interviewed, 43.9%were above the age of less than 27years and 56.1% were below the age of less than 27 years.The socioeconomic status was good (Income per Capita >3000 in 42 <3000 in 14.)Conclusion: A Study revealed that the ratio of population using antenatal services that area is not satisfactory. People who where aware of this antenatal care were ignorantand were constantly affected. Hence the null hypothesis was proved to be corrected

Prediction of promiscuous T-cell epitopes in the Zika virus polyprotein: An in silico approach

OBJECTIVE@#To predict immunogenic promiscuous T cell epitopes from the polyprotein of the Zika virus using a range of bioinformatics tools. To date, no epitope data are available for the Zika virus in the IEDB database.@*METHODS@#We retrieved nearly 54 full length polyprotein sequences of the Zika virus from the NCBI database belonging to different outbreaks. A consensus sequence was then used to predict the promiscuous T cell epitopes that bind MHC 1 and MHC II alleles using PorPred1 and ProPred immunoinformatic algorithms respectively. The antigenicity predicted score was also calculated for each predicted epitope using the VaxiJen 2.0 tool.@*RESULTS@#By using ProPred1, 23 antigenic epitopes for HLA class I and 48 antigenic epitopes for HLA class II were predicted from the consensus polyprotein sequence of Zika virus. The greatest number of MHC class I binding epitopes were projected within the NS5 (21%), followed by Envelope (17%). For MHC class II, greatest number of predicted epitopes were in NS5 (19%) followed by the Envelope, NS1 and NS2 (17% each). A variety of epitopes with good binding affinity, promiscuity and antigenicity were predicted for both the HLA classes.@*CONCLUSION@#The predicted conserved promiscuous T-cell epitopes examined in this study were reported for the first time and will contribute to the imminent design of Zika virus vaccine candidates, which will be able to induce a broad range of immune responses in a heterogeneous HLA population. However, our results can be verified and employed in future efficacious vaccine formulations only after successful experimental studies.

Prediction of promiscuous T-cell epitopes in the Zika virus polyprotein: An in silico approach

Objective To predict immunogenic promiscuous T cell epitopes from the polyprotein of the Zika virus using a range of bioinformatics tools. To date, no epitope data are available for the Zika virus in the IEDB database. Methods We retrieved nearly 54 full length polyprotein sequences of the Zika virus from the NCBI database belonging to different outbreaks. A consensus sequence was then used to predict the promiscuous T cell epitopes that bind MHC 1 and MHC II alleles using PorPred1 and ProPred immunoinformatic algorithms respectively. The antigenicity predicted score was also calculated for each predicted epitope using the VaxiJen 2.0 tool. Results By using ProPred1, 23 antigenic epitopes for HLA class I and 48 antigenic epitopes for HLA class II were predicted from the consensus polyprotein sequence of Zika virus. The greatest number of MHC class I binding epitopes were projected within the NS5 (21%), followed by Envelope (17%). For MHC class II, greatest number of predicted epitopes were in NS5 (19%) followed by the Envelope, NS1 and NS2 (17% each). A variety of epitopes with good binding affinity, promiscuity and antigenicity were predicted for both the HLA classes. Conclusion The predicted conserved promiscuous T-cell epitopes examined in this study were reported for the first time and will contribute to the imminent design of Zika virus vaccine candidates, which will be able to induce a broad range of immune responses in a heterogeneous HLA population. However, our results can be verified and employed in future efficacious vaccine formulations only after successful experimental studies.

Prevalence and diagnostic of head and neck cancer in Pakistan

Head and Neck [HN] cancer is the most frequently identified cancer across the globe and is considered as 8-10 % of all cancers in Southeast Asia. The social and cultural habits are the main cause of the remarkable increase in HN cancer in Pakistan. HN cancers are more prevalent in men as compared to women. The HN cancer in Pakistan is mainly attributed to discrete demographic profile, risk elements, eating patterns and family history. The foremost factors of risk are linked with cigarette smoking, alcoholic drinks and tobacco chewing like paan, gutka, etc. The actual burden of HN cancer in Pakistan is 18.74% of all new cancer cases recorded during 2004 -2014. The data is collected from HN cancer patients who are diagnosed from September 2011 till May 2012 in the Institute of Nuclear medicine and Oncology, Lahore Pakistan. In order to diagnose risk factors of HN cancer, the Logistic Regression [LR] and Linear Discriminant Analysis [LDA] are used as analytical tools. The findings of using these both tools concluded that gender, age, occupation, socioeconomic status, family history, chewing habits, smoking habit, worked in the chemical or dust place, alcohol use are main causes for HN cancer. The main aim of this study is to develop the awareness about HN cancer, its causes and early diagnosis

Functional outcome of transforaminal lumbar inter body fusion: an experience at a tertiary care centre

Objective: To assess functional outcome of transforaminal lumbar inter body fusion [TLIF] with specific reference to improvement in pain by visual analogue score [VAS] and Oswestry disability index [ODI]

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Spine Surgery of a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi from May 2004 to May 2013

Material and Methods: Thirty nine patients who underwent TLIF and completed one year of follow up in our department during the study period were included in the study. Cases were evaluated clinically and radiologically preoperatively and assessed for pain with VAS and general well being with ODI. After TLIF they were reassessed at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year for improvement in VAS and ODI. Patient satisfaction and work status after surgery was also recorded at 1 year of follow up

Results: Out of 39 cases 19[48.7%] were operated for degenerated disc disease [DDD], 11[28.2%] for spinal stenosis and 7[17.9%] for spondylolisthesis and 2[5.2%] for trauma. A total of 28[71.79%] were males and 11[28.21%] were females. Common levels operated were 12 [30.8%] at L4-5, 11 [28.2%] at L5-S1, and 12[30.8%] at L4,5-S1, 2[5.1%] at L2-4 and 1[2.6%] each at L3-4 and L3-5. At 1 year of follow up median VAS score improved significantly from 7 to 2 and median ODI improved significantly from 76 to 34. Regarding patient satisfaction 26 [66.7%] patients were satisfied, 9 [23.1%] were partially satisfied and 4 [10.2%] were not satisfied with the surgical outcome

Conclusion: TLIF is a safe and effective procedure for reducing chronic low back pain as a result of DDD, instability and spondylolisthesis