Land use and land cover modification and its impact on biodiversity and the ecosystem services in District Kurram, Pakistan / Uso del suelo y modificación de la cobertura terrestre y su impacto en la biodiversidad y los servicios de los ecosistemas en el distrito de Kurram, Pakistán

Modifications of land use and vegetation cover are proceeding faster than ever before in human history, with a considerable reduction in forest cover in biodiversity hotspots. We investigated the land use and vegetation cover changes, their impact on biodiversity in the Kurram District, Pakistan, for 27 years (1989 to 2015). Temporal satellite imagery was processed using a supervised maximum likelihood classification algorithm in ARCGIS 10.1 to elucidate information regarding land use/land cover changes,with conducted structured interviews to obtain the inhabitants' perspectives on their dependence on ecosystems in Kurram, and how their environment is changing. We found that the land under forest cover and rangeland showed a remarkable decrease over the study period. This decline in rangeland and forest cover was a result of the increased of farmland, barren land. The study area is part of a biodiversity, with important medicinal, rare and unique plant species.

Las modificaciones del uso de la tierra y la cobertura vegetal están avanzando más rápido que nunca en la historia de la humanidad, con una reducción considerable de la cobertura forestal en los puntos críticos de biodiversidad. Investigamos el uso de la tierra y los cambios en la cobertura vegetal, su impacto en la biodiversidad en el distrito de Kurram, Pakistán, durante 27 años (1989 a 2015). Las imágenes satelitales temporales se procesaron utilizando un algoritmo de clasificación de máxima verosimilitud supervisada en ARCGIS 10.1 para dilucidar información sobre los cambios en el uso del suelo/cobertura del suelo, con entrevistas estructuradas realizadas para obtener las perspectivas de los habitantes sobre su dependencia de los ecosistemas en Kurram y cómo está cambiando su entorno. Descubrimos que la tierra cubierta por bosques y pastizales mostró una disminución notable durante el período de estudio. Esta disminución en los pastizales y la cubierta forestal fue el resultado del aumento de las tierras de cultivo, tierras estériles. El área de estudio es parte de una biodiversidad, con importantes especies de plantas medicinales, raras y únicas.

Estimation of phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities of mentha spicata from southern districts of KPK.

The medicinal value of the plant is due to the phytochemical constituents they produce, which exhibit certain physiological actions on human body. Phytochemicals are plant derived chemical compoundS, which are non-essential nutrients, some of which show potential health promoting properties. The phytochemical constituents were determined by using known literature method while the antimicrobial activity was analyzed by classical literature methods. In case of phytochemicals, Tannin, Alkaloids, Glycosides, Flavonoids, Steroids, Coumarines, Sterols and Terpenes were found while saponins and anthraquinones were not determined in all the samples. Antibacterial activity was noted high in all the samples of crude extract followed by ethyl acetate and lowest activity was found was found in aqueous extract of Mentha spicata. The Same results were analyzed for antifungal activity.

Factors influencing the success rate of myringoplasty

To know the factors influencing the success rate of myringoplasty. This descriptive study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, from June to December, 2004. Fifty patients of central perforations in the tympanic membrane with dry ears for at least 6 months and no focus of infection in ear, nose, sinuses or throat were included in the study. Twenty-five patients underwent Underlay technique while in 25 patients Onlay technique was carried out. Graft was taken up successfully in 80% [40/50] cases. Success rate was 84% in patients with underlay technique [21/25] and 76% in patients with onlay technique [19/25]. The graft take up rate was 83.3% where temporalis fascia [30/36] was used and 71.4% where tragal perichondrium [10/14] was used as a graft material. The success rate was 100% in cases of traumatic perforation [6/6] and 77.3% in perforation caused by chronic suppurative otitis media [CSOM] [34/44]; 87.5% in patients with medium sized perforation [14/16] and 83.3% in patients with large central perforation [20/24]; 71.4% in patients with sclerotic mastoid [20/28] and 91% with cellular mastoid [20/22]; 97.5% in patients with good Eustachian tube function [39/40] and 10% in diseased Eustachian tube [1/10]. The success rate of myringoplasty is affected by various factors especially age, nature and size of perforation, the type of graft used, cellularity of mastoid and good functioning eustachian tube. Graft take up was better in cases of traumatic perforation than the perforation caused by CSOM

Diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in cervical lymphadenopathy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in head and neck lymph nodes and in differentiating malignant from benign diseases. This prospective study was conducted in the ENT Department of PGMI HMC and LRH Peshawar from 1st April 2003 to 30th March 2004. A total of 42 patients were studied. After thorough history and examination, FNA biopsy was obtained with the help of experienced cytopathologist using 21G needle and the results compared with final histopathological diagnosis. FNAC findings in this series were metastatic [42.85%], tuberculosis adenitis [26.19%], reactive hyperplasia [16.66%], lymphoproliferative disorder [9.52%] and lymphoma [4.76%]. In terms of differentiating malignant from non-malignant lesions; diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, speciflcity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FNAC were 95.23%, 95.83%, 94.44%, 95.85% and 94.44% respectively. FNAC has been found to be a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients presenting with neck nodes and should be considered before performing open biopsy

Experience with removal of foreign bodies tracheo-broncheal tree with rigid broncoscope

The aim of the study was to evaluate the presentation and management of different types of foreign bodies in tracheo-bronchial tree [TBT]. The study was conducted from July 2001 to December 2001 at the department of ENT, PGMI, HMC Peshawar. Patients with hlstory of foreign body inhalation were included in the study. Relevant history was recorded. The data collected was age and sex of patients, history of foreign body and type of foreign body inhalation, duration, symptoms and signs of foreign body inhalation. The findings of X-ray chest, treatment given and peri-operative complications and bronchoscopic findings were recorded. Bronchoscopy was done under general anaesthesia. Out of 50 patients, 32 [64%] were less than three years of age. Thirty two [64%] patients reached to the hospital with-in 24 hours. The commonest symptom was chocking sensation in 36 [72%] cases. Radiological changes, suggestive of foreign body tracheo- bronchial tree were observed in 16 [32%] of cases. The commonest foreign body removed was peanut in 27 [54%] cases. Right main bronchus was the common site for foreign body lodgment. Common complications encountered were laryngospasm in 3 cases [6%] and cardiac arrest in 2 cases [4%], with mortality rate of 2% [1 case]. Chocking, stridor, wheeze and coughing are the common presentations of foreign body tracheo-bronchial tree inhalation. Rigid bronchoscopy in experienced hands under general anaesthesia is safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedure

Study of using Doppler velocimetry of uterine and ovarian arteries in cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 54 cases with dysfunctional uterine bleeding done at the departments of Ob/Gyne and radiology during the period January 1999 to December 1999. The aim of the study -was to study the accuracy of using Doppler velocimetry study of the uterine and ovarian arteries in correlation to the histopathologic pattern of the endometrium in cases complaining of dysfunctional uterine bleeding in Suez Canal University Hospital. The results of this study indicated that the resistance index of both the uterine and ovarian arteries were significantly lower than normal in cases with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. The Doppler ultrasound can't differentiate between the different types of endometrial patterns in cases with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. The uterine and ovarian arteries flow velocity waveforms have high specificity in detecting the endometrial pattern in cases with dysfunctional uterine bleeding