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Objective: To determine the relationship between superstitious beliefs and self-efficacy among participants and explore selfefficacy, age, education, gender and socioeconomic status as the significant predictors of superstitious beliefs among participants. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Garrison University, Lahore Pakistan, from May to Nov 2020. Methodology: Total number of 200 study participants, age ranged of 18 to 50 years, were selected. The questionnaires; (1) a measure to superstitions scale and (2) general self-efficacy scale, were used to analyze the relationship between superstitious beliefs and self-efficacy with the role of ageing, education and socioeconomic status among participants. Result: Out of 200 male and female participants, study results reveal that superstitions belief and self-efficacy were correlated positively in a very small to moderate direction. Moreover, the study result showed that age (ß=0.10), gender (ß=0.05), socioeconomic status (ß=0.91), and self-efficacy (ß=0.24) were positively predicting superstitious beliefs while education (ß=-0.09) was negatively predicting the superstitious beliefs among participants. Conclusion: The results of the study showed the positive correlation between superstitious beliefs and self-efficacy among participants. Furthermore, the study concluded that participants' age, gender, socioeconomic status and self-efficacy were positive predictors of superstitious belief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine medians of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free ß subunit of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG-ß) in the first trimester of healthy pregnant women visiting tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) from May 2018 to May 2019. Methodology: Healthy pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy reported for an antenatal checkup in Obstetric OPD, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi were included in the study. PAPP-A level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method using PR 4100 Microplate Reader®, and serum hCG-ß were analysed on random access IMMULITE 2000®. Results: A total of 135 pregnant women were enrolled in the current study. The mean age of subjects was 27.66 ± 4.24 years, mean maternal weight was 59.91 ± 8.87 kgs and mean gestational age was 10.37 ± 1.16 weeks. Median value of PAPP-A was 1289.43 mIU/L (range: 510.8-5965.99) and hCGß was 120985 mIU/ml (range: 23592-290000). Conclusion: Median values of PAPP-A and HCGß can be used to calculate (Multiple of Medians) MoM during the first trimester in tertiary care setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine association between iron deficiency anemia and bone profile in cases of chronic kidney disease not undergoing dialysis. Study Design: Comparative cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in collaboration with department of Nephrology, Armed Forces Institute of Urology, Rawalpindi, from Sep 2018 to Oct 2019. Methodology: A total of 300 chronic kidney disease patients who were not dependent on any kind of dialysis were included in our study. Chronic kidney disease was confirmed according to National Kidney Foundation/Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative criteria. Hemoglobin, Mean corpuscular volume and ferritin levels were used to diagnose iron deficiency anemia. Association of Calcium, inorganic Phosphorous, Magnesium, Alkaline phosphatase and Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) was determined with iron deficiency anemia. Results: Out of 300 patients studied 201 (67%) were females while 99 (33%) were males. Mean age of participants was 43.51 ± 5.652 years. Mean duration of chronic kidney disease was 4.36 ± 3.712 years. One hundred and forty one (47%) patients had no anemia while 159 (53%) had presence of iron deficiency anemia. After applying binary logistic regression analysis hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia were noted to have a statistically significant association with iron deficiency anemia in the target sample size. Conclusion: This study revealed a high frequency of iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients. Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia were found having strong association with presence of iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the estrogen, progesterone, Prolactin and testosterone serum levels in melasma patients. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dermatology Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2020. Methodology: A total of 40 patients with melasma and 40 without melasma were included in this study. The study comprised female melasma patients aged 20 to 50 years old. All participants were tested for serum estrogen, progesterone, Prolactin and testosterone levels using immunoassay in the follicular phase (9th day) of the menstrual cycle. Results: The statistically significant increase in serum progesterone (p=0.001) was found in patients with melasma. A significant decrease in prolactin levels (p=0.0001) was found in patients with melasma. No association was found between Group-1 and Group-2 regarding serum estradiol and testosterone (p=0.070 and p=0.461 respectively) Conclusion: Patients with melasma have increased progesterone levels and decreased serum prolactin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in patients with viral warts. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dermatology Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2020. Methodology: One hundred patients were included in the study, 50 with viral warts (Group-1) and 50 without warts (Group-2). Our study included both male and female patients of 10 to 60 years of age. Three categories were made according to their serum vitamin D levels. First, all participants were tested for serum vitamin D levels using ELISA. Results: In Group-1, 20(40%) had insufficient, and 25(50%) had deficient vitamin D levels. A statistically significant decrease in serum 25-OHD levels (p = 0.004) was found in patients with viral warts. In Group-2, 9(18%) had insufficient, and 2(4%) had deficient vitamin D levels. The mean serum vitamin D level was 22.61±10.11 in Group-1 and 45.12±24.60 in Group-2, resulting in a significant difference between patients with viral warts and those without viral warts regarding serum vitamin D levels (p=0.004). Conclusion: Patients with viral warts have deficient vitamin D levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the frequency of depression among fertile and infertile women reporting in CMH Abbottabad. Study Design: A case control study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Combined Military Hospital Abbottabad, over a period of six months from January 2013 to June 2013. Patients and Methods: The inclusion criteria were all those patients who were married. All the cases were selected from the women reporting in the obstetrics and gynecology department of CMH Abbottabad for investigation and treatment of infertility. A total of 200 patients, 100 fertile and 100 infertile women were included. Patients were given questionnaire form with their consent for research. Beck depression inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression among fertile and infertile women. Other factors such as age, educational level, and duration of infertility, pressure from family members, miscarriages, and support from husband were studied. Results: Depression was significantly higher in infertile women as compared to fertile women i.e. 95% vs. 63% (p < 0.001). It was higher among women with more than 1 year of duration of marriage as compared to those with infertility of one year duration or less. Conclusion: Infertility is associated with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc application is required for optimum crop growth especially in calcareous soils located in semiarid to arid regions. The use of poor quality brackish water in arid zone agriculture further poses threat to soil productivity. Effect of Zn application (0, 3 and 9 mg kg-1) and sodium absorption ratio of irrigation water (SARiw; distilled-water control, 8 and 16 (mmolc L-1)½) on plant growth and mineral concentration (Ca, Na, K and Zn) in shoots of two contrasting maize cultivars (hybrid, FHY-993 and synthetic variety, C-20) were evaluated in a pot study. Plant shoots showed a significant decrease (up to 31%, on average basis) due to increasing levels of SARiw and a significant increase (up to 13%, on average basis) in dry matter with the application of Zn to soil. Both cultivars varied significantly in response to Zn application and SARiw. Maximum increase in growth was observed in FHY-993 with application of Zn; while minimum decrease in plant growth due to increased level of SARiw was observed in C-20. The results indicated mitigation of sodicity effects by Zn application especially for FHY-993 with higher Zn requirement. Zinc application reduced shoot Na concentration while increased shoot Ca and K concentration; therefore, significantly increased Ca:Na and K:Na ratios in plant shoots. Conclusively, Zn application to maize improved growth by balancing K:Na and Ca:Na concentration ratios in shoots of stressed maize. However, the response may vary among cultivars depending upon their Zn requirement and Na susceptibility. © 2014 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc (Zn) is an established micronutrient required for normal growth and functioning of plants. Its supply in adequate amount is considered indispensable for growth and development of plants. It is primarily taken up from soil through plant roots and translocated to other parts where it is needed to perform its specific role(s). In most cases, the soil (rooting media) have sufficient amount of total Zn, but plants still suffer from its deficiency constraints. Many factors affect and regulate the bioavailability of soil indigenous Zn as well as exogenously applied Zn enhancing bioavailability of the Zn to plants in soil matrix. Among these factors, soil microbial communities play a vital role in enhancing bioavailability of Zn to plants in soil matrix. Similarly, application of bioinoculants has been reported in the literature whose application to soil can promote Zn availability to plants. In this review, all possible strategies which can promote Zn availability to plants have been discussed comprehensively and critically. © 2014 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]