RESUMEN
Existe un debate considerable en la literatura sobre cómo el narcisismo predice diversos comportamientos asociados con la utilidad de los sitios de redes sociales, pero los investigadores han prestado menos atención a explorar los mediadores potenciales de esta relación. Con base en la literatura existente, anticipamos que el narcisismo predice comportamientos de autopromoción en los sitios de redes sociales. El estudio actual también investigó el papel mediador del perfeccionismo multidimensional entre el narcisismo y el comportamiento de autopromoción. Se recopiló un total de 605 cuestionarios completos de estudiantes de universidades de Rawalpindi e Islamabad, Pakistán, mediante un muestreo conveniente. El estudio utilizó el Inventario de Personalidad Narcisista (Ames et al., 2006), un cuestionario de desarrollo propio sobre comportamiento de autopromoción en sitios de redes sociales y la Escala de Perfeccionismo Multidimensional (Hewitt et al., 1991). Los hallazgos indicaron que las mujeres en comparación con los hombres y las solteras en comparación con las casadas obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en narcisismo. Los niveles educativos más altos se asociaron con tasas más altas de narcisismo. Los resultados también sugieren que el narcisismo se correlaciona con el perfeccionismo orientado a uno mismo y, más significativamente, con el narcisismo orientado a los demás. El perfeccionismo orientado a uno mismo y a los demás medió significativamente la relación entre el narcisismo y el comportamiento de autopromoción en los sitios de redes sociales.(AU)
There is considerable debate in the literature about how narcis-sism predicts various behaviors associated with the utility of social net-working sites, but researchers have paid less attention to exploring the po-tential mediators of this relationship.Based on the existing literature, we anticipated that narcissism predicts self-promoting behaviors on social networking sites. The current study also investigated the mediating role of multidimensional perfectionismbetween narcissism and self-promoting behavior. A total of 605 complete questionnaires weregathered fromstu-dents from universities from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan using convenient sampling. The study used Narcissistic Personality Inventory (Ames et al., 2006), self-developed Self-promoting Behavior on social net-working sites questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt et al., 1991). Findings indicated that females as compared to males and single as comparedto married individuals scored higher on narcissism. Higher educational levels were associated with higher rates of narcissism. The results also suggestthat narcissism correlated with self-oriented per-fectionism, and more significantlywith others-oriented narcissism. Self-oriented and others-oriented perfectionism significantly mediated the rela-tionship between narcissism and self-promoting behavior on social net-working sites.(AU)
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Salud Mental , Perfeccionismo , Narcisismo , Conducta , Estudiantes/psicología , PakistánRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Nocardia is an opportunistic infection among renal transplant recipients with an incidence of <1% but high mortality. Data from Pakistan are scarce. Our aim was to find the risk factors, clinical and radiographic findings, antimicrobial sensitivity, and outcomes of Nocardia infection among renal transplant recipients in Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All adult renal transplant recipients diagnosed with nocardiosis between 2013 and 2020 were included. The cases were matched 1:2 with controls based on sex, age (±1 year), and transplant date (±1 year). Risk factors, clinical features, antibiotic sensitivities and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients developed nocardiosis. Around 25% of patients presented with disseminated disease. Median time from transplant to disease development was 2.68 years. High-dose methylprednisolone and presence of cytomegalovirus infection within 90 days of disease development were independent risk factors for Nocardia infection. The mortality rate was 20%. Central nervous system disease and cytomegalovirus infection within 90 days were significantly associated with mortality. The most susceptible drugs were co-trimoxazole and linezolid. Imipenem susceptibility was only 20%. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose methylprednisolone and cytomegalovirus infection were independent risk factors for Nocardia infection. Central nervous system disease was associated with mortality. Nocardia species were highly resistant to ceftriaxone and imipenem in our patient population.
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Antibacterianos , Huésped Inmunocomprometido , Trasplante de Riñón , Nocardiosis , Infecciones Oportunistas , Humanos , Nocardiosis/diagnóstico , Nocardiosis/mortalidad , Nocardiosis/epidemiología , Nocardiosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Nocardiosis/microbiología , Trasplante de Riñón/efectos adversos , Trasplante de Riñón/mortalidad , Factores de Riesgo , Pakistán/epidemiología , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Infecciones Oportunistas/mortalidad , Infecciones Oportunistas/inmunología , Infecciones Oportunistas/diagnóstico , Infecciones Oportunistas/microbiología , Infecciones Oportunistas/epidemiología , Infecciones Oportunistas/tratamiento farmacológico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Resultado del Tratamiento , Factores de Tiempo , Estudios Retrospectivos , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/mortalidad , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/epidemiología , Medición de Riesgo , Metilprednisolona/administración & dosificación , Inmunosupresores/efectos adversosRESUMEN
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) stands out as a significant vector-borne endemic in Pakistan. Despite the rising incidence of CL, the genetic diversity of Leishmania species in the country's endemic regions remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to uncover the genetic diversity and molecular characteristics of Leishmania species in CL-endemic areas of Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Punjab in Pakistan. Clinical samples from 300 CL patients were put to microscopic examination, real-time ITS-1 PCR, and sequencing. Predominantly affecting males between 16 to 30 years of age, with lesions primarily on hands and faces, the majority presented with nodular and plaque types. Microscopic analysis revealed a positivity rate of 67.8%, while real-time PCR identified 60.98% positive cases, mainly L. tropica, followed by L. infantum and L. major. Leishmania major (p = 0.009) showed substantially greater variation in nucleotide sequences than L. tropica (p = 0.07) and L. infantum (p = 0.03). Nucleotide diversity analysis indicated higher diversity in L. major and L. infantum compared to L. tropica. This study enhances our understanding of CL epidemiology in Pakistan, stressing the crucial role of molecular techniques in accurate species identification. The foundational data provided here emphasizes the necessity for future research to investigate deeper into genetic diversity and its implications for CL control at both individual and community levels.
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Variación Genética , Leishmaniasis Cutánea , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/epidemiología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/parasitología , Pakistán/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Adulto Joven , Niño , Persona de Mediana Edad , Leishmania/genética , Leishmania/clasificación , Leishmania/aislamiento & purificación , Preescolar , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Leishmania tropica/genética , Leishmania tropica/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmania tropica/clasificación , Leishmania major/genética , Leishmania major/clasificación , Leishmania major/aislamiento & purificación , ADN Protozoario/genética , Filogenia , Epidemiología Molecular , Anciano , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la PolimerasaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD), bovine citrullinemia (BC), and deficiency of Uridine monophosphate synthetase (DUMPS) are the common autosomal recessive disorders affecting the global dairy industry. BLAD leads to poor wound healing and recurrent infections. In BC, ammonia builds up leading to neurological disorders and death. DUMPS results in developmental abnormalities. METHODOLOGY: In this study, tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS PCR) based diagnostic tests were optimized for BLAD, BC, and DUMPS. A total of 250 animals (58 indigenous and 192 Holstein Friesian (HF)) were screened from all across Pakistan. In addition to validation of ARMS-PCR results through Sanger sequencing, the protein modeling provided structural insights of the disease-associated reported SNPs. Pathway analysis illustrated gene functions under normal and mutated conditions. Furthermore, haplotype and phylogenetic analysis of ASS1 (Argininosuccinate synthetase) gene were performed on study samples and NCBI retrieved sequences. RESULTS: The study's focus was to screen the herds for prevalence of carriers of genetic disorders, as they are the main source of disease dissemination. One animal was found carrier for BC, whereas no carriers were found for BLAD and DUMPS. The protein models corroborated the reported amino acid change in BLAD, and protein truncation in both BC and DUMPS proteins. SNPs found in NCBI retrieved sequences were either silent or missense and had no effect on protein structure. DNA network presented graphical illustration of haplotype interactions and phylogenetic analysis conferred evolutionary landscape of ASS1 gene. The combination of these approaches produced an in-depth genetic picture of BC in Pakistani cattle. CONCLUSION: The development of diagnostic tests and identification of the heterozygous BC sample underscores the significance of constant monitoring to avoid the unwanted dissemination of mutant alleles among Pakistani cattle, thereby promoting the general well-being and sustainability of the dairy sector.
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Enfermedades de los Bovinos , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Animales , Bovinos , Pakistán , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/genética , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/diagnóstico , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple/genética , Síndrome de Deficiencia de Adhesión del Leucocito/genética , Síndrome de Deficiencia de Adhesión del Leucocito/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Deficiencia de Adhesión del Leucocito/veterinaria , Filogenia , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Haplotipos/genética , Argininosuccinato Sintasa/genética , Argininosuccinato Sintasa/metabolismo , Variación Genética/genética , Mutación/genéticaRESUMEN
Anaplasma is an intracellular alphaproteobacteria that infects diverse blood cell types in animal hosts including small ruminants. Epidemiological and risk factors information on zoonotic anaplasmosis with respect to anaplasmosis in sheep and goats are scarce. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors of anaplasmosis and phylogenetic investigation of A. capra in sheep and goats from Faisalabad district, Pakistan. Briefly, 384 blood samples were randomly collected from sheep and goats of Faisalabad district, Pakistan, during January to May 2022. The samples were processed for the detection of Anaplasma targeting 16S rRNA gene using PCR. The data regarding disease determinants were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. Out of 384 samples, 131 samples were found positive for Anaplasma spp. with a prevalence rate of 34.11%. The results indicated a significantly higher prevalence of anaplasmosis in goats (41.88%) compared to sheep (22.00%). In addition, the chi square indicated that housing type, tick infestation, gender, tick control practices, age, mix farming, and hygiene were significantly associated with the occurrence of disease. The analysis of multivariate logistic regression expressed gender as the significant risk factor (p = 0.0001, OR = 1.757, CI = 1.305-2.366). The acquired sequences revealed four novel isolates of A. capra (Genbank accession numbers ON834323, ON838209, ON838210, and ON838211). The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of A. capra revealed three distinct clusters with 99-100% homology with other isolates from different countries. Our isolates showed higher similarity with isolates from China (KM206273, KP314237, MT799937), Pakistan (ON238129, ON238130, ON238131), Angola (MT898988), India (MZ558066), Iran (MW692362), and Turkey (MT632469) isolated from human, sheep, ticks, goats, cattle, Gaddi goat, Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager), and Turkish goats, respectively. In conclusion, A. capra is endemic in Punjab, Pakistan, there is a need to conduct large scale surveillance studies to assess the status of this pathogen at human-animal interface as well as to develop effective preventive and control strategies to reduce the economic losses associated with anaplasmosis in small ruminants.
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Anaplasma , Anaplasmosis , Enfermedades de las Cabras , Cabras , Filogenia , ARN Ribosómico 16S , Enfermedades de las Ovejas , Animales , Pakistán/epidemiología , Anaplasmosis/epidemiología , Anaplasmosis/microbiología , Cabras/microbiología , Ovinos , Anaplasma/genética , Anaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/microbiología , Masculino , Femenino , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , Zoonosis/epidemiología , Zoonosis/microbiología , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Pakistani immigrants are the largest non-Western ethnic minority group in Norway. Traditional medicines (TM) are extensively used in Pakistan, and studies show that ethnic minorities also use them to recover from illness after migration to the Western world. This study aims to explore Pakistani immigrants' experiences and perceptions of risk regarding the use of TM to treat illnesses. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews (n = 24) with Pakistani immigrants in Norway from February to March 2023. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling methods. The data was analyzed using Braun & Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) using Nvivo. RESULTS: RTA revealed three main themes and six sub-themes. The main themes were: (a) House of knowledge, (b) Choosing the best possible approach for health restoration, and (c) Adverse effects of TM used. A total of 96 different TM were identified, including herbs, food items, animal products, minerals, herbal products, and ritual remedies. All participants used TM to restore health in acute and chronic diseases, and many used TM along with conventional medicines. The participants' mothers were the primary source of knowledge about TM, and they passed it on to the next generation. They also frequently used religious knowledge to recover from illness. Although TM is considered safe because of its natural origin, some participants experienced adverse effects of TM, but none of them reported it to the health authorities. CONCLUSION: The study helps to understand the experiences and perceptions of risk of Pakistani immigrants in Norway regarding traditional practices for treating health complaints. Public health policies to improve the health of these immigrants should consider the importance of TM in their lives. Further research is necessary to explore the safety and toxicity of those TM that are common in Pakistani households in Norway.
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Emigrantes e Inmigrantes , Medicina Tradicional , Investigación Cualitativa , Humanos , Noruega , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes/psicología , Pakistán/etnología , Femenino , Adulto , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Plasmodium vivax variant interspersed repeats (vir) refer to the key protein used for escaping the host immune system. Knowledge in the genetic variation of vir genes can be used for the development of vaccines or diagnostic methods. Therefore, we evaluated the genetic diversity of the vir genes of P. vivax populations of several Asian countries, including Pakistan, which is a malaria-endemic country experiencing a significant rise in malaria cases in recent years. We analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of 4 vir genes (vir 4, vir 12, vir 21, and vir 27) in the Pakistan P. vivax population and compared these features to those of the corresponding vir genes in other Asian countries. In Pakistan, vir 4 (S=198, H=9, Hd=0.889, Tajima's D value=1.12321) was the most genetically heterogenous, while the features of vir 21 (S=8, H=7, Hd=0.664, Tajima's D value =-0.63763) and vir 27 (S =25, H =11, Hd =0.682, Tajima's D value=-2.10836) were relatively conserved. Additionally, vir 4 was the most genetically diverse among Asian P. vivax populations, although within population diversity was low. Meanwhile, vir 21 and vir 27 among all Asian populations were closely related genetically. Our findings on the genetic diversity of vir genes and its relationships between populations in diverse geographical locations contribute toward a better understanding of the genetic characteristics of vir. The high level of genetic diversity of vir 4 suggests that this gene can be a useful genetic marker for understanding the P. vivax population structure. Longitudinal genetic diversity studies of vir genes in P. vivax isolates obtained from more diverse geographical areas are needed to better understand the function of vir genes and their use for the development of malaria control measures, such as vaccines.
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Variación Genética , Malaria Vivax , Plasmodium vivax , Plasmodium vivax/genética , Pakistán/epidemiología , Variación Genética/genética , Humanos , Malaria Vivax/epidemiología , Malaria Vivax/parasitología , Malaria Vivax/genética , Genética de Población , Proteínas Protozoarias/genéticaRESUMEN
Male infertility is a complex multifactorial reproductive disorder with highly heterogeneous phenotypic presentations. Azoospermia is a medically non-manageable cause of male infertility affecting â¼1% of men. Precise etiology of azoospermia is not known in approximately three-fourth of the cases. To explore the genetic basis of azoospermia, we performed whole exome sequencing in two non-obstructive azoospermia affected siblings from a consanguineous Pakistani family. Bioinformatic filtering and segregation analysis of whole exome sequencing data resulted in the identification of a rare homozygous missense variant (c.962G>C, p. Arg321Thr) in YTHDC2, segregating with disease in the family. Structural analysis of the missense variant identified in our study and two previously reported functionally characterized missense changes (p. Glu332Gln and p. His327Arg) in mice showed that all these three variants may affect Mg2+ binding ability and helicase activity of YTHDC2. Collectively, our genetic analyses and experimental observations revealed that missense variant of YTHDC2 can induce azoospermia in humans. These findings indicate the important role of YTHDC2 deficiency for azoospermia and will provide important guidance for genetic counseling of male infertility.
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Azoospermia , Secuenciación del Exoma , Homocigoto , Mutación Missense , Linaje , Hermanos , Adulto , Animales , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Azoospermia/genética , Azoospermia/patología , Consanguinidad , Infertilidad Masculina/genética , Infertilidad Masculina/patología , Pakistán , ARN Helicasas/genéticaRESUMEN
Spatial cluster analyses of health events are useful for enabling targeted interventions. Spatial scan statistic is the stateof- the-art method for this kind of analysis and the Poisson Generalized Linear Model (GLM) approach to the spatial scan statistic can be used for count data for spatial cluster detection with covariate adjustment. However, its use for modelling is limited due to data over-dispersion. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) has recently been proposed for modelling this kind of over-dispersion by incorporating random effects to model area-specific intrinsic variation not explained by other covariates in the model. However, these random effects may exhibit a geographical correlation, which may lead to a potential spatial cluster being undetected. To handle the over-dispersion in the count data, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of a negative binomial- GLM in spatial scan statistic on real-world data of low birth weights in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, 2019. The results were compared with the Poisson-GLM and GLMM, showing that the negative binomial-GLM is an ideal choice for spatial scan statistic in the presence of over-dispersed data. With a covariate (maternal anaemia) adjustment, the negative binomial-GLMbased spatial scan statistic detected one significant cluster covering Dir lower district. Without the covariate adjustment, it detected two clusters, each covering one district. The district of Peshawar was seen as the most likely cluster and Battagram as the secondary cluster. However, none of the clusters were detected by GLMM spatial scan statistic, which might be due to the spatial correlation of the random effects in GLMM.
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Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso , Análisis Espacial , Humanos , Pakistán/epidemiología , Análisis por Conglomerados , Recién Nacido , Femenino , Modelos Lineales , Distribución de PoissonRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Living donor kidney transplant is the preferred method of renal transplant in Pakistan as deceased donor transplant has not yet been estab-lished. However, many patients who are dialysis-dependent, particularly younger patients, lack suitable living related donors. We aimed to determine factors contributing to nonselection of donors for living related renal transplant in Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we included patients seen at the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation Karachi, Pakistan) from March to November 2019. Potential donors were adult family members who accompanied patients with end-stage kidney disease to the clinic. Demographic and clinical information were recorded on predesigned proforma. After workup and baseline investigations had been completed, potential living related donors were selected. Factors leading to nonselection of donors were noted for those who did not qualify for donation. We used SPSS version 20 for analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 253 potential donors (151 males, 102 females) with mean age of 35.68 ± 6.14 years were found to be ineligible for kidney donation. ABO incompatibility was the most common factor leading to nonselection (n = 101; 39.92%), followed by diabetes mellitus (n = 71; 28.06%), hypertension (n= 50; 19.76%), renal disease (n = 15; 5.92%), liver disease (n = 8; 3.16%), crossmatch positive (n = 5; 1.97%), and ischemic heart disease (n = 3; 1.18%). No differences were shown between potential male and female donors regarding factors leading to nonselection; diabetes was significantly more prevalent among those <40 years of age (P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: ABO incompatibility, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were the most common factors leading to nonselection of potential donors in living related kidney transplant. More efforts are needed to expand the donor pool by considering second- or third-degree relatives to tackle the scarcity of organs for transplantation.
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Selección de Donante , Trasplante de Riñón , Donadores Vivos , Humanos , Trasplante de Riñón/efectos adversos , Femenino , Masculino , Estudios Transversales , Adulto , Pakistán/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Fallo Renal Crónico/cirugía , Fallo Renal Crónico/diagnóstico , Fallo Renal Crónico/epidemiología , Incompatibilidad de Grupos Sanguíneos/inmunología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Medición de Riesgo , Resultado del Tratamiento , Sistema del Grupo Sanguíneo ABO/inmunología , Adulto Joven , HistocompatibilidadRESUMEN
Climate anxiety has a negative impact on the mental health and psychological wellbeing of the vulnerable population. The goal is to assess many factors that affect mental health and psychological wellbeing, as well as how climate change affects mental health in Pakistan's vulnerable population. This study provides evidence-based insights on the long- and medium-term impacts of extreme weather events on mental health. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of 72 students aged 10-16 years, employing an exploratory qualitative design. The resulting process identified themes and questions for future research on climate change and its psychological effects on children's mental health. As a result, positive emotions embedded in children's climate strategic actions in parent and community contexts helped to mitigate children's perceptions of negative emotions (such as climate anxiety, phobias, fear, sleep disorders, depression, sadness, and substance abuse). Climate change's effects can have a significant impact on mental health. We will be discussing effective strategies to address the expected mental health issues among children caused by climate change. The discussion paper offers a set of recommendations for addressing the mental health impacts of climate change, including improving mental health support systems, integrating climate change education into services, and developing targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.
L'anxiété climatique a un impact négatif sur la santé mentale et le bien-être psychologique de la population vulnérable. L'objectif est d'évaluer de nombreux facteurs qui affectent la santé mentale et le bien-être psychologique, ainsi que la manière dont le changement climatique affecte la santé mentale de la population vulnérable du Pakistan. Cette étude fournit des informations fondées sur des données probantes sur les impacts à long et moyen terme des événements météorologiques extrêmes sur la santé mentale. Nous avons mené des entretiens semi-structurés avec un échantillon de 72 étudiants âgés de 10 à 16 ans, en utilisant une conception qualitative exploratoire. Le processus qui en a résulté a identifié des thèmes et des questions pour de futures recherches sur le changement climatique et ses effets psychologiques sur la santé mentale des enfants. En conséquence, les émotions positives intégrées dans les actions stratégiques climatiques des enfants dans les contextes parental et communautaire ont contribué à atténuer les perceptions des enfants concernant les émotions négatives (telles que l'anxiété climatique, les phobies, la peur, les troubles du sommeil, la dépression, la tristesse et la toxicomanie). Les effets du changement climatique peuvent avoir un impact significatif sur la santé mentale. Nous discuterons de stratégies efficaces pour résoudre les problèmes de santé mentale attendus chez les enfants causés par le changement climatique. Le document de travail propose un ensemble de recommandations pour faire face aux impacts du changement climatique sur la santé mentale, notamment en améliorant les systèmes de soutien en santé mentale, en intégrant l'éducation au changement climatique dans les services et en développant des interventions ciblées pour les populations vulnérables.
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Ansiedad , Cambio Climático , Salud Mental , Investigación Cualitativa , Poblaciones Vulnerables , Humanos , Femenino , Adolescente , Niño , Masculino , Poblaciones Vulnerables/psicología , Ansiedad/epidemiología , Ansiedad/psicología , Pakistán/epidemiología , Entrevistas como Asunto , Estudiantes/psicologíaRESUMEN
Groundwater depletion and water scarcity are pressing issues in water-limited regions worldwide, including Pakistan, where it ranks as the third-largest user of groundwater. Lahore, Pakistan, grapples with severe groundwater depletion due to factors like population growth and increased agricultural land use. This study aims to address the lack of comprehensive groundwater availability data in Lahore's semi-arid region by employing GIS techniques and remote sensing data. Various parameters, including Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), Rainfall, Drainage Density (DD), Water Depth, Soil Type, Slope, Population Density, Road Density, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), Moisture Stress Index (MSI), Water Vegetation Water Index (WVWI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST), are considered. Thematic layers of these parameters are assigned different weights based on previous literature, reclassified, and superimposed in weighted overlay tool to develop a groundwater potential zones index map for Lahore. The groundwater recharge potential zones are categorized into five classes: Extremely Bad, Bad, Mediocre, Good, and Extremely Good. The groundwater potential zone index (GWPZI) map of Lahore reveals that the majority falls within the Bad to Mediocre recharge potential zones, covering 33% and 28% of the total land area in Lahore, respectively. Additionally, 14% of the total area falls under the category of Extremely Bad recharge potential zones, while Good to Extremely Good areas cover 19% and 6%, respectively. By providing policymakers and water supply authorities with valuable insights, this study underscores the significance of GIS techniques in groundwater management. Implementing the findings can aid in addressing Lahore's groundwater challenges and formulating sustainable water management strategies for the city's future.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente , Sistemas de Información Geográfica , Agua Subterránea , Tecnología de Sensores Remotos , Pakistán , Agua Subterránea/química , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Abastecimiento de Agua/estadística & datos numéricos , Agricultura/métodosRESUMEN
Tick-borne pathogens are significant for human, veterinary, and wildlife health. Coxiella burnetii is an example that is widely distributed across various hosts and can cross species boundaries. In Pakistan, there is a scarcity of data regarding C. burnetii at the intersection of wildlife and livestock. Ticks were collected from ruminants and wildlife from the districts of Kasur, Pakpattan, and Okara in Pakistan. Five tick species totaling 571 ticks were collected, with the following distribution: 56.4% Hyalomma anatolicum, 22.4% Rhipicephalus microplus, 10.5% Hyalomma marginatum, 7.9% Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and 2.8% Rhipicephalus turanicus. Fifty tick pools were screened for C. burnetii to amplify a segment of the IS1111 using real-time PCR assays. Ticks collected from sheep and goats had a greater rate of positivity for C. burnetii (40% and 38%, respectively) compared to Indian long-eared hedgehogs with a prevalence of 2%. Coxiella burnetii was prominent in Rhipicephalus microplus (92.3%) and Hyalomma anatolicum (88.9%), followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus (66.6%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (33.3%), and Hyalomma marginatum (25.0%). Ticks from Pakpattan district displayed the highest prevalence of C. burnetii (88.9%), whereas the lowest was observed in ticks from Kasur district (77.3%). There was no significant association between tick gender and C. burnetii infection. Female host animals were more likely to harbor ticks containing C. burnetii, with a prevalence rate of 81.8%. The research underscores the urgent need for comprehensive studies on C. burnetii in Pakistan, especially at the interface of wildlife and livestock. The high prevalence rates observed in certain tick species and geographic regions emphasize the importance of targeted public health interventions. Future research should focus on elucidating the transmission dynamics and implementing effective control measures to mitigate the impact of these pathogens on human, veterinary, and wildlife health in the region.
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Animales Salvajes , Coxiella burnetii , Cabras , Ixodidae , Fiebre Q , Infestaciones por Garrapatas , Animales , Coxiella burnetii/aislamiento & purificación , Coxiella burnetii/genética , Pakistán/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Femenino , Fiebre Q/veterinaria , Fiebre Q/epidemiología , Fiebre Q/microbiología , Ixodidae/microbiología , Masculino , Ovinos , Prevalencia , Erizos/microbiología , Erizos/parasitología , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/microbiología , Animales DomésticosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of multifactorial inspiratory muscle training (IMT) combined with Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) on balance and quality of life (QoL) in patients with diabetes. METHODS: Pretest-post-test randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation Department of Pakistan Railway General Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 70 patients with diabetes were randomly assigned to experimental or placebo groups, out of which 59 patients completed the intervention. INTERVENTION: Patients in the experimental group performed OEP+IMT (at 50% of baseline maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP)) whereas the placebo group performed OEP+sham IMT (at 15% of MIP). Both groups exercised for 12 consecutive weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included nine variables: the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Biodex Postural Stability System (including postural stability test (Overall Stability Index, Anterior-Posterior Index and Mediolateral Index), fall risk test (FRT), Limits of Stability (LOS) test (time to complete test and direction control), Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB)) and the Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of 59 patients who completed treatment, 37.1% were men and 62.9% were women with a mean age of 58.37±5.91 years. Results show significant interaction effects on BBS scores with the mean score improving from 41.87±2.61 to 49.16±2.50 in IMT versus sham IMT group with scores improving from 41.58±2.51 to 45.74±2.30. The IMT group significantly improved in dynamic balance tested through BBS (p=0.003), anticipatory balance through LOS test (p=0.003), reactive balance tested through FRT (p=0.04), direction control (p=0.03) and sensory integration through CTSIB test (p=0.04) when compared with the sham IMT group. While no significant changes (p>0.05) between groups were observed in QoL and static balance; significant changes (p<0.05) within group were observed in both groups in QoL and static balance. CONCLUSION: Additional research is necessary to understand the association between inspiratory muscle strength and balance, however, we demonstrated that a multifactorial IMT intervention should be used with patients with diabetes to improve balance, postural control and reduce fall risks. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT#04947163.
Asunto(s)
Ejercicios Respiratorios , Equilibrio Postural , Calidad de Vida , Músculos Respiratorios , Humanos , Equilibrio Postural/fisiología , Masculino , Femenino , Pakistán , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ejercicios Respiratorios/métodos , Músculos Respiratorios/fisiopatología , Músculos Respiratorios/fisiología , Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Adulto , Anciano , Diabetes Mellitus/terapia , Diabetes Mellitus/fisiopatología , Inhalación/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. are intracellular vector-borne pathogens and harbored by a wide range of ticks and vertebrate hosts. Aim of this study was to molecularly characterize Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. in different ticks collected from livestock hosts in nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. In total, 862 ticks were collected from cattle, goats and sheep. Highest tick's infestation was observed on cattle 56.14% (32/57), followed by goats 45.45% (40/88), and sheep 42.05% (45/107). Rhipicephalus microplus (305/862, 35.38%) was predominant species, followed by Haemaphysalis sulcata (243/862, 28.19%), Hyalomma anatolicum (133/862, 15.42%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (120/862, 13.92%), and Hyalomma kumari (61/862, 7.07%). A subset of 135 ticks were screened for Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. based on the amplification of partial 16 S rDNA and outer-membrane protein A (ompA) fragments, respectively. In total, 16 ticks (11.85%) were positive for Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. Obtained 16 S rDNA sequences for Anaplasma spp. detected in Ha. bispinosa and Ha. sulcata showed 99.98% identity with Anaplasma bovis, while other detected in Rh. microplus showed 99.84% identity with Candidatus Anaplasma boleense. Similarly, detected ompA sequence in Ha. sulcata showed 100% identity with Rickettsia sp. and 97.93% with Rickettsia slovaca, and another sequence detected in Rh. microplus showed 100% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii. In phylogenetic trees, these sequences clustered with corresponding species from Pakistan, China, Turkey, South Korea, South Africa, and Herzegovina. This is the first study reporting detection of A. bovis in Ha. bispinosa and Ha. sulcata, Ca. A. boleense in Rh. microplus collected from goats, and R. slovaca-like in Ha. sulcata. Our results enforce the need for regular surveillance of Rickettsiales in hard ticks infesting livestock in the region.
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Anaplasma , Cabras , Rickettsia , Infestaciones por Garrapatas , Animales , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Rickettsia/genética , Rickettsia/clasificación , Anaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Anaplasma/genética , Anaplasma/clasificación , Ovinos , Bovinos , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/microbiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Pakistán/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/parasitología , Filogenia , Ixodidae/microbiología , Anaplasmosis/microbiología , Anaplasmosis/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , FemeninoRESUMEN
Hearing loss affects around 5% of the global population. Two preliminary studies have described genetic variants in sporadic individuals with hearing loss from Pakistan. Here we extend these studies to determine the spectrum of variants in a cohort of individuals with no previous history of hearing loss. Individuals with hearing loss born to consanguineous couples were identified from special schools. Audiograms were assessed. DNA from participants negative for GJB2 pathogenic variants was subjected to exome sequencing. Data were filtered to include variants with frequencies < 0.01 in the public databases. The effects of the missense variants on respective amino acids were analyzed by using PyMol software. Among the 44 participants, hearing loss was moderate for two individuals; 14 exhibited moderately-severe hearing loss while 25 had a severe degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss was reported to have been progressive in four participants and was currently profound in three participants. Variants were unambiguously identified in 17 genes, of which the majority affected SLC26A4. CDH23, MYO15A and OTOF were other significant contributors. Deleterious variants detected in two genes suggest new associations for hearing loss. Molecular characterization of hearing loss in our cohort revealed high genetic heterogeneity with a 75% diagnostic rate.
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Secuenciación del Exoma , Pérdida Auditiva , Transportadores de Sulfato , Humanos , Masculino , Niño , Femenino , Pérdida Auditiva/genética , Transportadores de Sulfato/genética , Adolescente , Proteínas Relacionadas con las Cadherinas , Cadherinas/genética , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Conexina 26/genética , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Pakistán , Consanguinidad , Conexinas/genética , Mutación Missense , MiosinasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium (LRE) is a global priority pathogen. Thirteen LRE were reported from clinical specimens between November 2021 and April 2023 at two laboratories in Karachi, Pakistan. We aimed to investigate the strain types and genes associated with linezolid resistance among these isolates. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed and analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The presence of linezolid resistance genes was identified using ResFinder v4.1.11 and the LRE-finder tool. RESULTS: Twelve isolates belonged to clonal complex 17 (CC17); ST80 (n = 10), ST612 (n = 1) and ST1380 (n = 1). Six isolates showed the presence of optrA gene and G2576T mutations in the 23S rRNA gene, while six showed poxtA and cfr(D) genes. One isolate showed the combination of optrA, cfr(D) and poxtA genes. CONCLUSION: Our findings show the circulation of CC17 sequence types with a known outbreak potential and we identified molecular mechanisms of resistance that were not previously reported from Pakistan.
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Antibacterianos , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Enterococcus faecium , Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas , Linezolid , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Tipificación de Secuencias Multilocus , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma , Enterococcus faecium/genética , Enterococcus faecium/efectos de los fármacos , Enterococcus faecium/aislamiento & purificación , Enterococcus faecium/clasificación , Pakistán , Linezolid/farmacología , Humanos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas/microbiología , Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas/epidemiología , ARN Ribosómico 23S/genética , Femenino , Masculino , Genoma Bacteriano/genética , Genómica , Adulto , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Persona de Mediana Edad , MutaciónRESUMEN
Soil heavy metals (HMs) pollution is a growing global concern, mainly in regions with rapid industrial growth. This study assessed the concentrations, potential sources, and health risks of HMs in agricultural soils near marble processing plants in Malakand, Pakistan. A total of 21 soil samples were analyzed for essential and toxic HMs via inductively coupled plasmaâoptical emission spectrometry (ICPâOES), and probabilistic health risks were evaluated via Monte Carlo simulation. The concentrations (mg/kg) of Ca (29,250), P (805.5) and Cd (4.5) exceeded the average shale limits of 22,100, 700, and 3.0 mg/kg, respectively, and indices such as Nemerow's synthetic contamination index (NSCI) and the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) categorized the soil sites as moderately polluted. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) indicated considerable to high ecological risk for As and Cd. The deterministic analysis indicated non-carcinogenic risks for children (HI > 1), whereas the probabilistic analysis suggested no significant risk (HI < 1) for both adults and children. Both methods indicated that the total cancer risk for Cr, Ni, Cd, and As exceeded the USEPA safety limits of 1.0E-06 and 1.0E-04. Sensitivity analysis identified heavy metal concentration, exposure duration, and frequency as key risk factors. The study suggested that HM contamination is mainly anthropogenic, poses a threat to soil and human health, and highlights the need for management strategies and surveillance programs to mitigate these risks.
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Metales Pesados , Contaminantes del Suelo , Pakistán , Metales Pesados/análisis , Contaminantes del Suelo/análisis , Medición de Riesgo , Humanos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Suelo/química , NiñoRESUMEN
Objectives: To analyse and document internal root morphological variations in permanent anterior teeth using conebeam computed tomography. METHODS: The cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted from January 21 to June 19, 2021, at Jinnah Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Body Scan, and comprised data from July to December 2020 related to all the patients who had been referred to the centre for dental cone-beam computed tomography scan. The scans were evaluated at the Radiology Department of the School of Dentistry at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, Pakistan. The morphology of the roots and root canals in all permanent anterior teeth was examined. Root canal configuration was categorised using Vertucci's classification. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 211 patients, 116(55%) were females and 95(45%) were males. The overall mean age was 39.9±1.02 years (range: 15-65 years). All the permanent anterior teeth exhibited a single root, with the exception 2(0.9%) mandibular right and 4(1.9%) left canines which had double roots. Type I root canals were observed in all 211 (100%) maxillary right central incisors, maxillary left central incisors and maxillary left canines. Among maxillary right canines, 208(98.6%) had type-I root canals, and the corresponding value for maxillary right lateral incisors was 209(99.1%), and for maxillary left lateral incisors, the value was 210(99.5%). Root canal polymorphism had no significant association with gender (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of type-I root canal was common in permanent anterior teeth, and there was significant association of root canal polymorphism with gender.