Search

Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Is highly recognized for its invasive character and its detrimental effects on different plant species across the world. In this study, a field survey was performed to assess the impact of P. juliflora on the surrounding native plants, followed by the effect of different concentrations of its aqueous leaf extract on seed germination and seedling growth of selected Qatari flora. Our field observations indicated a high prevalence of new recruitments of P. juliflora than other native-associated plants in the study site. Germination percentage and/or seed radicle length of the test species: Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne, Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce, Sueda aegyptica (Hasselq.) Aellen, Halopeplis perfoliata (Forssk.) Bunge ex Schweinf. & Asch, and P. juliflora were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced by the extracts at different concentration levels. Moreover, the germination rate of A. tortilis was not affected; however, the seed germination of P. cineraria was significantly affected at concentrations of 6 and 8 mg mL−1. The seed radicle lengths at 2 mg mL−1 were significantly reduced for both plant species. The seed germination and radicle length of S. aegyptica and H. perfoliata were significantly decreased at 2 mg mL−1 of extract of P. juliflora. Furthermore, the height and biomass of the seedlings of Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites, Caroxylon imbricatum (Forssk.), and Tetraena qatarensis (Hadidi) Beier & Thulin were significantly reduced by the aqueous extracts at 6 and 8 mg mL−1. The aqueous extract reduced the seed germination and seedling growth at 6 and 8 mg mL−1, indicating an autotoxic effect. Such allelopathic behavior of P. juliflora designates the potential investigation of using its allelochemicals as naturally based herbicides in agrosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the impression of factors that sway working hours of females in Pakistan. For the purpose of analytical observations, primary data was collected from 300 educated women. The results highlight that; age, level of education, husband's years of schooling, number of children, and working days have positive and significantly effect on the working hours of women, contrary to father's year of schooling. The distance and location of job, monthly income, family setup and mother's year of schooling are insignificant. The study advocates for the provision of better education for women to heighten their participation rate in labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrospective chart review of all children (aged-one month to 16 years) admitted in our paediatric intensive care from June to November 2016 was done to determine the indication of different laboratory tests. LBT indications were defined into: diagnostic/case findings/screening tests to make a diagnosis; haemostatic tests (to monitor function or identify before clinical signs and symptoms) and therapeutic /monitoring tests to get the level of drug directly or getting level of marker as a guide to therapy. Laboratory tests reports which were within normal range more than once were labelled as in-appropriate tests. In total 274 patients, Haemostatic tests were performed for mean of 35.18±56.72 times (range of 0–429), monitoring for mean of 9.38±20 times (range 0–165), and therapeutic tests (3.26±11.25). Most common tests included serum Sodium levels (7.83±12.73), Serum Potassium (8.19±12.80), bicarbonate (7.75±11.9). 13.40±9.11 tests were done on first day and 13.0±8.49/day tests were performed afterwards. Cumulatively 54.31±74.21 tests were performed/ patients out of which 18.5±37.82 were inappropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Balochistan is the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, yet it is also the poorest and most impoverished, particularly in terms of neonatal healthcare. In order to build and tailor strategies to improve neonatal outcomes, it is necessary to identify barriers and facilitators for interventions. Therefore, we conducted this study to provide an overview of neonatal healthcare quality and assess the structural capacity for the improvement and further development of neonatal healthcare facilities in Balochistan. Methods A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in Balochistan, a province of Pakistan. The survey was designed to assess the level of staffing and facilities in the neonatal health care units. Data were gathered through trained staff either by in-person visits to the facility or via telephone. Results A total of 177 facilities were assessed in 25 districts of Balochistan. A majority (88.7%) of the facilities were from the public sector. Birth and neonatal care services were provided at only 63 (36%) of the assessed facilities and only three had newborn intensive care units (NICUs) with a 1:5 staff: patient ratio. Unfortunately, all NICUs lacked the basic advanced facilities. None of the hospitals had an infection control policy or staff nor any training program for doctors. Conclusion In conclusion, healthcare facilities to manage neonatal patients requiring hospital care are extremely limited in Balochistan and the ones that are available have very limited resources. To improve the healthcare system in Balochistan, all stakeholders should be involved in the planning, decision-making, and implementation of healthcare programs at all levels to ensure sustainability and efficiency., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Kumar et al.)

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of zinc supplementation in tablet form with that of the suspension form in the treatment of acute diarrhoea., Methods: A comparative study was carried out at the Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan from October 2008 to April 2009, and comprised children aged6-24 months suffering from acute diarrhoea. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of even and odd numbers. Group A (even numbers) received dispersible zinc tablets, and group B (odd numbers) received zinc suspension. The patients were admitted for 3 days and improvement was checked at the end of 3rd day in terms of decrease in the frequency of stools/day. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis., Results: The 88 patients were divided into two groups of 44(50%) each. Overall, 49(55.7%) patients were male and 39(44.3%) were female. At the end of the 3rd day 51(58%) patients improved, while 37(42%) did not. In the zinc tablet group, improvement was in 32(72%) patients compared to 19(43%) in the zinc suspension group (p<0.05).diarrhoea., Conclusions: The results of tablets preparation were clinically significant in reducing the duration and severity of diarrhoea.