Pain-Insomnia-Depression Syndrome: Triangular Relationships, Pathobiological Correlations, Current Treatment Modalities, and Future Direction.

Pain-insomnia-depression syndrome (PIDS) is a complex triad of chronic pain, insomnia, and depression that has profound effects on an individual's quality of life and mental health. The pathobiological context of PIDS involves complex neurobiological and physiological mechanisms, including alterations in neurotransmitter systems and impaired pain processing pathways. The first-line therapeutic approaches for the treatment of chronic pain, depression, and insomnia are a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. In cases where patients do not respond adequately to these treatments, additional interventions such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be required. Despite advances in understanding and treatment, there are still gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. To improve our understanding, future research should focus on conducting longitudinal studies to uncover temporal associations, identify biomarkers and genetic markers associated with PIDS, examine the influence of psychosocial factors on treatment responses, and develop innovative interventions that address the complex nature of PIDS. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of these components and to discuss their underlying pathobiological relationships.

Prevalence and determinants of self-medication with antibiotics among general population in Afghanistan.

OBJECTIVE: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a common cause of antibiotic resistance, a major public health problem. This research aimed to identify the prevalence of SMA and explore reasons for practicing SMA among people living in Kabul, Afghanistan. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2017 in 12 community pharmacies operating across Kabul, Afghanistan. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with the use of SMA. RESULTS: Out of 385 participants, 282 (73.2%) practiced SMA during the last year. Overall, 241 (62.6%) were 'very concerned' about the use of SMA, and 156 (40.5%) highlighted it is bad to practice SMA. The top three antibiotics used for self-medication were penicillin (ATC class: J01C), metronidazole (ATC: P01AB01), and ceftriaxone (ATC: J01DD04). Economic problems, lack of time to visit doctors, and ease of use were cited as the main reasons for practicing SMA. Furthermore, female participants were less likely to practice SMA compared to male counterparts. CONCLUSION: While efforts should be directed to enforce strict drug regulations system and awareness programs, priority should be given to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health care services to increase citizen's compliance to appropriate drug prescriptions.

Determining causes of death among individuals with haemophilia in Afghanistan.

INTRODUCTION: Haemophilia is a well-known bleeding disorder that affects people worldwide. The main therapeutic strategy is regular infusion of exogenous factor VIII to ensure an optimal haemostatic standard. Morbidity and mortality of individuals with haemophilia has decreased in developing countries due to improvement in early detection, advanced treatments, and comprehensive population outreach efforts. However, individuals with bleeding disorders in developing countries like Afghanistan do not have access to such therapeutic facilities. AIMS: The goals of this study were to determine the causes of death and findings related to death among in individuals with bleeding disorders in Afghanistan. METHODS: This study conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study of 387 individuals with bleeding disorders (mainly haemophilia) in Afghanistan. RESULTS: All registered individuals with bleeding disorders in Afghanistan were interviewed by telephone. Among the 387 individuals with bleeding disorders, there were 136 deaths. Most deaths occurred in individuals aged 1-15 years (66.2%). Intracranial haemorrhage was the leading cause of death in individuals with haemophilia A and B. CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that supply of coagulation factor concentrates, facilities for haemostasis diagnosis, and trained haematologists is inadequate in Afghanistan.

Food security and COVID-19 in Afghanistan: a two-sided battlefront.

Food security is a major element for the sustainability, stability and development of a country. However, despite fundamental efforts in fighting poverty, Afghanistan continues to struggle with food insecurity with a large proportion of its population living below the poverty line. With extreme climates, protracted conflict, and now COVID-19, food insecurity has become rampant and is on the rise in the country. Efforts have been reinforced to mitigate this issue, but a spate of obstacles which seems not to come to an end, has contributed to the deterioration of the situation. With the collaboration and efforts of international organizations, there remains a glimmer of hope to potentially reduce the gravity of the food insecurity in the country. This paper aims to highlight the efforts of Afghanistan in alleviating food insecurity with a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on this issue. It also presents recommendations that may help ameliorate the country's food security status during and after the pandemic.

COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts: Is Afghanistan Prepared?

A country's preparedness for a prompt and successful implementation of vaccination programs plays a pivotal role in disease control and prevention. As it stands now, Afghanistan seems to be ill-prepared to embrace a successful implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program because of a spate of challenges. These include, but are not limited to, the insufficient number of vaccinators, a dearth of fully integrated functioning cold chain, challenging geographical barriers, cultural issues, insecurity, and protracted conflict. The COVID-19 infodemic along with vaccine mistrust in the country will lead to a pervasive public vaccine hesitancy in Afghanistan, which will present serious obstacles to the COVID-19 immunization efforts. The politicization of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the complaints of embezzlement and misuse of the pandemic aid have already eroded public trust during the pandemic. To ensure a large-scale and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the cold chain infrastructure should be strengthened, and the immunization personnel trained. Antivaccination propaganda and misinformation should be tackled with effective communication approaches and effective community engagement, which consider culturally relevant messages appropriate to the culture and people. The allegations of corruption should be addressed to revive public trust in public health interventions, including COVID-19 vaccination.