The Assessment of Occupational Injuries of Workers in Pakistan

Background@#The prevailing global work scenario and deteriorating health facilities in economies indulge the risk perspective in the labor market model. This is the reason that the risk factor is cautiously attributed to wages and labor market efficiencies specifically in developing and emerging economies. In this respect, Occupational Injuries of Workers (OIW) is considered essential to demonstrate the risk and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) setups given the constraints of the labor. Intuitively, the prime objective of this study is to make an assessment of the labor market considering the OIW through the indicators of industry division, employment status, occupational distribution, adopted treatment, gender and regionality. @*Methods@#The assessment strategy of the study has been categorized into trend analysis and Index Value Calculation (IVC) segments employing the data from 2001 to 2018. @*Results@#The pattern of the selected indicators of the OIW has been observed in the available data while the IVC estimations are considered through time and reference categories. The findings of both exercises revealed absolute and relative heterogeneities at both industry and occupational levels. @*Conclusion@#The consistency for gender and regional distribution of both assessments points out the need for effective policy initiatives. The study suggests separate analyses of industry and occupations for a better understanding of the OHS setups and up-gradation in Pakistan.

Protective effect of capsaicin against methyl methanesulphonate induced toxicity in the third instar larvae of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ)Bg / 中国天然药物

Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the main component in hot peppers, including red chili peppers, jalapenos, and habanero, belonging to the genus Capsicum. Capsaicin is a potent antioxidant that interferes with free radical activities. In the present study, the possible protective effect of capsaicin was studied against methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) induced toxicity in third instar larvae of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ)Bg. The third instar was allowed to feed on the diet having different doses of capsaicin and MMS separately and in combination. The results suggested that the exposure of third instar larvae to the diet having MMS alone showed significant hsp70 expression as well as tissue DNA and oxidative damage, whereas the larvae feed on the diet having MMS and capsaicin showed a decrease in the toxic effects for 48-h of exposure. In conclusion, capsaicin showed a dose-dependent decrease in the toxic effects induced by MMS in the third instar larvae of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster.

Laparoscopic findings of female infertility - a study of 186 cases at a tertiary care hospital

To study the various causes of female infertility, diagnosed at laparoscopy. Descriptive study. The study was conducted at Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan from April 2008 to December 2010. A series of 186 patients, having either primary or secondary infertility admitted through gynae outpatient department undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy and meeting inclusion criteria were studied. The data was collected prospectively and analysed in the form of frequency and percentages by using SPSS version 10. Amongst the cohort of 186 patients, 148 [79.6%] had primary and 38 [20.4%] had secondary infertility. Their ages ranged from 20 to 43 years. Mean age of study participants was 30.14 +/- 4.04 years. Mean duration of infertility was 9.5 years. No laparoscopic abnormality was found in 51 [27.9%], while there were abnormal findings in 135 [72.6%] patients. Commonest etiological factor was tubal blockade in both types of infertility. Other factors were endometriosis, pelvic adhesions and fibroids. Laparoscopy is minimally invasive yet a reliable procedure for visualization of internal architecture of the female pelvis

Bacteremia due to aeromonas hydrophila in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Aeromonas hydrophila [A. hydrophila] is a low virulent organism but may cause devastating fatal infections in immunocompromised host especially in liver cirrhosis. It is rarely reported to cause septicemia in a patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL]. The mortality rate of septicemia due to A. hydrophila is 29% to 73%. We report a case of 59-year-old female patient who was a known case of ALL, presented with the complaints of fever, lethargy and generalized weakness for one month. After taking blood samples for investigations, empirical antimicrobial therapy was started. She did not improve after 48 hours of therapy. Meanwhile blood culture revealed pure growth of A. hydrophila. After sensitivity report was available, ciprofloxacin was started. Patient became afebrile after 48 hours of treatment with ciprofloxacin. It is very vital to correctly identified and treat bacteremia due to A. hydrophila especially in the underlying leukemic patient.

Synthesis, characterization and biological screening of 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2yl-N-[2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl]-2-sulfanyl acetamide

In the current study, a series of 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2yl-N-[2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl]-2-sulfanyl acetamide was synthesized by converting variously substituted/unsubstituted aromatic organic acids successively into the corresponding esters, hydrazides and then 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols. Finally the target compounds were obtained by stirring 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols with N-[2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl]-2-bromoacetamide in the presence of N,N-dimethyl formamide [DMF] and sodium hydride [NaH]. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed based on [1]H-NMR, IR and mass spectral data. The synthesized compounds were screened against acetylcholinesterase [AChE], butyrylcholinesterase [BChE] and lipoxygenase enzymes [LOX] and were found to be relatively more active against acetyl cholinesterase