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Most evidence on son preference in Pakistan is reflected in the higher child mortality among females than males. The sex discrimination before birth is rarely reported in Pakistan. This is the first study to quantify prenatal sex discrimination in Pakistan on a subnational level. We provide annual estimates of the sex ratio at birth (SRB) from 1980 to 2020 and scenario-based projections of the number of missing female births up to 2050 by Pakistan province. The results are based on a comprehensive database consisting of 832,091 birth records from all available surveys and censuses. We adopted a Bayesian hierarchical time series model to synthesize different data sources. We identified Balochistan with an existing imbalanced SRB since 1980. For the rest provinces without past or ongoing SRB inflation, we projected the largest female birth deficit to occur in Punjab in 2033 under the scenario that the SRB transition process starts in 2021. We demonstrated important disparities in the occurrence and quantification of missing female births up to 2050.

The study was aimed at designing and characterizing the ondansetron hydrochloride (OND) bearing agarose (AG), and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) mucoadhesive buccal films employing glycerol as a plasticizer. The buccal delivery of ondansetron hydrochloride was remarkably boosted by employing physical (iontophoresis) and chemical enhancement approaches (chemical penetration enhancers). To explore the influence of different formulation components, i.e., agarose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and glycerol on various evaluating parameters, i.e., tensile strength, swelling index, ex vivo mucoadhesion time, and subsequently on in vitro drug release, a D-optimal design was opted. A buccal film bearing OND was mounted on bovine buccal mucosa for ex vivo permeation studies and impact of chemical and physical enhancement techniques on the permeation profile was also analysed. A linear release profile was revealed in in vitro drug release of OND over 60 minutes and outcomes ascertained the direct relationship between HPMC content and in vitro drug release and inverse relationship was depicted by AG content. The FTIR and DSC thermal analysis was executed to determine the physicochemical interactions and results exposed no chemical interactions between drug and polymers. The drug (OND) appeared as tiny crystals on smooth film surface during scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. A notable enhancement in permeation flux, i.e., 761.02 μg/min of OND during ex vivo permeation studies was witnessed after the application of current (0.5-1 mA) without any time lag and with enhancement ratio of 3.107. A time lag of 15 minutes, 19 minutes, and 26 minutes with permeation flux of 475.34 μg/min, 399.35 μg/min, and 244.81 μg/min was observed after chemical enhancer pretreatment with propylene glycol, Tween 80, and passive, respectively. Rabbit was employed as the experimental animal for pharmacokinetic studies (in vivo) and cats for pharmacological activity (in vivo), and the results illustrated the enhanced bioavailablity (2.88 times) in the iontophoresis animal group when compared with the rabbits of control group. Likewise, a remarkable reduction in emesis events was recorded in cats of iontophoresis group. Conclusively, the histopathological examinations on excised buccal mucosa unveiled no severe necrotic or cytopathetic outcomes of current.

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacognostic, phytochemical, biological and spectroscopic analyses of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark.Methods: Plant material (root and stem bark) was collected, authenticated, shade-dried and extracted by maceration using methanol as a solvent separately. Powder microscopy was performed using a binocular microscope. Fluorescence, physico-chemical analysis and phytochemical screening for the presence of secondary metabolites were performed using standard methods. Brine shrimp lethalitybioassay was carried out using Artemia salina bioassay, while enzymatic modulatory study was performed by α-amylase inhibition assay. Microscopic analysis was carried out with scanning electron microscopy. Spectroscopic analysis was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).Results: Powder microscopy showed the presence of different cellular structures. Various colors were observed under ultraviolet (UV) and ordinary light when treated with different reagents. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids but phenol and cardiac glycosides were absent from both extracts. The root bark of the plant showed significant brine shrimp lethality activity.Conclusion: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark contain a variety of bioactive compounds that have medicinal and therapeutic potentials. Therefore, further investigations are required to elucidate their pharmacological properties. Keywords: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew, Phytochemical, Spectroscopy, α-Amylase

In 2017, Pakistan implemented a long-awaited population census since the last one conducted in 1998. However, several experts are contesting the validity of the census data at the sub-national level, in the absence of a post-enumeration survey. We propose in this paper to use demographic analysis to assess the quality of the 2017 census at the sub-national level, using the 1998 census data and all available intercensal surveys. Applying the cohort-component method of population projection, we subject each six first-level subnational entities for which data are available to estimates regarding the level of fertility, mortality, international, and internal migration. We arrive at similar results as the census at the national level: an estimated 212.4 million compared to 207.7 million counted (2.3% difference). However, we found more variations at the sub-national level.

BACKGROUND: Pakistan has a strong preference for boys over girls; previous evidence on sex preference is primarily reported at the postnatal stage in which the child mortality rate is higher for females than males. Prenatal sex discrimination in Pakistan, reflected in the inflated sex ratio at birth (SRB; ratio of male to female births) has been barely mentioned before this study.OBJECTIVE: We estimate the SRB and missing female births in Pakistan provinces from 1980 to 2020 and identify provinces with imbalanced SRB. We provide scenario-based projections of missing female births in provinces without the existing SRB inflation.METHODS: An extensive SRB database of 832,091 birth records was compiled from all available surveys and censuses. To synthesize different data sources and provide annual estimates and their associated uncertainties of SRBs across provinces, we adopted a Bayesian hierarchical time series model.RESULTS: As per our model, Balochistan has had SRB imbalance since 1980. The maximum SRB was estimated as 1.121 (95% credible interval [1.066; 1.142]) in 1997. Assuming different start year of SRB inflation process in provinces without existing imbalance, the largest female birth deficit is projected to be 76.2 thousand in Punjab in 2033 when the SRB inflation starts in 2021.CONTRIBUTION: This is the first study on estimating the SRB from 1980 to 2020 and providing scenario-based projections of missing female births up to 2050 by Pakistan province. We identified the Balochistan province with imbalanced SRB and demonstrated important disparities in the occurrence and quantity of female birth deficits before 2050.