Automated 2D Slice-Based Skull Stripping Multi-View Ensemble Model on NFBS and IBSR Datasets.

This study proposed and evaluated a two-dimensional (2D) slice-based multi-view U-Net (MVU-Net) architecture for skull stripping. The proposed model fused all three TI-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) views, i.e., axial, coronal, and sagittal. This 2D method performed equally well as a three-dimensional (3D) model of skull stripping. while using fewer computational resources. The predictions of all three views were fused linearly, producing a final brain mask with better accuracy and efficiency. Meanwhile, two publicly available datasets-the Internet Brain Segmentation Repository (IBSR) and Neurofeedback Skull-stripped (NFBS) repository-were trained and tested. The MVU-Net, U-Net, and skip connection U-Net (SCU-Net) architectures were then compared. For the IBSR dataset, compared to U-Net and SC-UNet, the MVU-Net architecture attained better mean dice score coefficient (DSC), sensitivity, and specificity, at 0.9184, 0.9397, and 0.9908, respectively. Similarly, the MVU-Net architecture achieved better mean DSC, sensitivity, and specificity, at 0.9681, 0.9763, and 0.9954, respectively, than the U-Net and SC-UNet for the NFBS dataset.

Determinants Of Eating Habits And Physical Activity Among Female Students Of Government Schools Of Urban City Of Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is constantly increasing among adolescents since the last few decades becoming an alarming situation worldwide. The objective of this study was to know the determinants of eating habits and physical activities among school-going female adolescents of public sectors schools of Rawalpindi Pakistan. METHODS: A cross sectional study with mixed method with both quantitative and qualitative approach was conducted on three public sector schools of Rawalpindi Pakistan. Sample size of 384 female students of grade 5-10 were interviewed on reliable and validated tool after taking their consent and ethically approval. Moreover, four focus group discussion (FGD) with 30-45 minutes spent on each were conducted by inviting 6-8 participants in each group. Qualitative findings were triangulated with quantitative results. Study was ethically approved from the institutional review board of Health Services Academy Islamabad Pakistan. RESULTS: Females schools' students were included in this study were 384 with mean (SD) age 11.9±1 year. Majority (38%) were of class 7th and their mothers (42%) were educated. Mostly (42%) students were obese (53%) eat the vegetables rarely in their diet. Above half (59%) were those students who eat deep fried potato chips daily. There was a significance difference were seen among normal and obese female students regarding the dietary habits in different class of enrolment (<0.001), mother's education (0.04), intake of sweat confectionary (0.01), intake of meat (0.00), junk food (0.00), use of energy drink (0.03), use of milk (0.02), physical activity (0.00) and play games (0.00). However, intake of vegetables (0.23) and mother's education (0.081) were found insignificant in this study. Majority (88.5%) of students were also playing games in their daily activity. Below half (44%) respondents used to involve in physical activity. Qualitative findings triangulate with quantitative findings and themes were generated like; awareness on healthy diet, eating junk food, dislikes vegetables in diet and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Study concluded the factors including student's age, mother's education, intake of junk food, physical activity and play games are associated with obesity among the female students of government school in urban area of the country.

Mixture of Organophosphates Chronic Exposure and Pancreatic Dysregulations in Two Different Population Samples.

Organophosphates (OP) are a major agrochemical. The application of OP pesticides is expected to increase multifold in the coming decades. The etiology of diabetic diseases is attributed to multiple factors including OP pesticide exposure. The present study investigates pancreatic dysregulation with respect to exocrine enzymes and diabesity in groups of Pakistani and Cameroonian people exposed to a mixture of OP pesticides. Nine hundred and four OP exposed individuals were enrolled for this cross-sectional study after due consent and approval from an ethical review committee. Pesticides' residues were measured by GC-MS spectrometry. Cholinergic enzymes were measured by Elman's method. Serum glucose, insulin, serum amylase, lipase, and triglyceride were measured by spectrophotometry and ELISA; HOMA-IR was determined in OP exposed and non-exposed participants. Stata 15 and R 3.2.0 software were used for statistical analysis of the data. Malathion, chlorpyrifos, and parathion residues were evident in plasma samples. RBC-acetylcholinesterase was significantly depressed in OP exposed groups. In both population samples, investigated pancreatic functions were found to be statistically significantly more dysregulated than non-exposed. OP exposure indicated risk of diabetes and insulin, glycaemia, adiponectin, triglycerides, and TNF-α dysregulations. The study concludes that both OP exposed population groups exhibited a mixture of OP residues and pancreatic dysregulation, although the effect was more pronounced in the Cameroonian population. In addition, serum lipase has a positive correlation with OP exposure and diabetes and may be suggested as an alternate/additional diagnostic marker for diabesity under OP exposure. However, screening of other environmental co-factors with OP for pancreatic dysregulation is suggested.

Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care services in Pakistan remain a challenge considering continued high burden of maternal and newborn mortality. This study aimed to assess the availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care in Sindh Province of Pakistan. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in twelve districts of the Sindh province in Pakistan. The districts were selected based on the maternal neonatal and child health indicators. Data were collected from 63 public-sector health facilities including district, Taluka (subdistrict) headquarters hospitals and rural health centers. Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric newborn care services were assessed through direct observations and interviews with the heads of the health facilities by using a World Health Organization pretested and validated data collection tool. Participants interviewed in this study included the managers and auxiliary staff and in health facilities. RESULTS: Availability of caesarean section (23, 95% C.I. 14.0-35.0) and blood transfusion services (57, 95% CI. 44.0-68.0), the two components of comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, was poor in our study. However, assessment of the seven components of basic emergency obstetric and newborn services showed that 92% of the health facilities (95% C.I. 88.0-96.0) had parenteral antibiotics, 90%, (95% C.I. 80.0-95.0) had oxytocin, 92% (95% CI 88.0-96.0) had manual removal of the placenta service, 87% (95%, C.I. 76.0-93.0) of the facilities had staff who could remove retained products of conception, 82% (95% C.I. 71.0-89.0) had facilities for normal birth and 80% (95% C.I. 69.0-88.0) reported presence of neonatal resuscitation service. CONCLUSION: Though the basic obstetric and newborn services were reasonably available, comprehensive obstetric and newborn services were not available as per the World Health Organization's standards in the surveyed public health facilities. Ensuring the availability of caesarean section and blood transfusion services within these facilities may improve population's access to these essential services around birth.

Micronutrient Intake And Perceived Barriers Among Anaemic Pregnant Women In Aceh, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Estimating vitamin, mineral intakes related to anaemia and describing perception regard pregnancy diet, accessibility to foodstuff among first ANC visitor of anaemic pregnant women aged above 20 years in Province Aceh, Indonesia. METHODS: A cross sectional mixmethod of quantitatively and focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted at two municipalities having more than 40% anaemic pregnancy. One hundred fifty-eight anaemic pregnant women were interviewed regarding socio-demographic and three days of 24-hours food recall, in addition to FGD at each municipality using FGD guidelines about nutritional anaemia. Food recall data was analysed using software NutriSurvey Indonesia, deficiency is defined as daily intake below 77% recommended dietary allowances (RDA) Indonesia. The FGD result was analysed by content analysis and clarified with representative quotes. RESULTS: Prevalence of deficiencies intake were folate (98.7%), vitamin B6 (91.1%), vitamin B2 (90.5%), iron (89.2%), zinc (87.3%), vitamin E (84.8%), vitamin C (79.7%), vitamin A (74.1%), copper (67.1%) and vitamin B12 (30.4%). Anaemic pregnant women noticed to consume more amount of food during pregnancy, and preferred to access foodstuff at shop nearby the house. CONCLUSIONS: Other than low iron intake, more than 90% anaemic pregnant women were also deficiency in folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B2. Perceived of less acknowledgement about affordable cost micronutrient-rich food, high cost of quality-food, sufficient to varieties foodstuff at neighbourhood shop prevents them from making correct food choices subsequently barrier to the food access and intake.