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Abstract Background Dengue Viral Infection (DVI) has become endemic in Pakistan since the first major outbreak in Karachi in 1996. Despite aggressive measures taken by relevant authorities, Pakistan has been dealing with a worsening dengue crisis for the past two decades. DHF is severe form of dengue infection which is linked with significant morbidity and mortality. Early identification of severe dengue infections can reduce the morbidity and mortality. In this context we planned current study in which we find out the different factors related with DHF as well as clinical laboratory features of DHF and compare them to DF so that patients can be best evaluated for DHF and managed accordingly at admission. Methods Retrospective study conducted over a period of 6 years (2013–2018) in two tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. Data were collected by using a pre-structured data collection form. Data were statistically analyzed to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of DVI and risk factors of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Results A total 512 dengue cases (34.05 ± 15.08 years; Male 69.53%) were reviewed. Most common clinical manifestations of DVI were fever (99.60%), headache (89.1%), chills (86.5%), rigors (86.5%), myalgia (72.3%). Less common clinical manifestations were vomiting (52.5%), arthralgia (50.2%) and skin rashes (47.5%). Furthermore, nasal bleeding (44.1%), gum bleeding (32.6%), pleural effusion (13.9%) and hematuria (13.1%) were more profound clinical presentations among DHF patients. Mortality rate was 1.5% in this study. Logistic regression analysis indicated that delayed hospitalization (OR: 2.30) and diabetes mellitus (OR:2.71), shortness of breath (OR:2.21), association with risk groups i.e., living near stagnant water, travelling to endemic areas, living in endemic regions (OR:1.95), and presence of warning signs (OR:2.18) were identified as risk factors of DHF. Statistically we found that there is strong association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with DHF while the patient suffering from DM individually had higher odds (2.71) of developing DHF than patients without disease. Conclusions The current study demonstrated that the clinical and laboratory profiles of DF and DHF are significantly distinct. Significant predictors of DHF were advanced age, diabetes mellitus, ascites, pleural effusion, thick gallbladder and delayed hospitalization. The identification of these factors at early stage provides opportunities for the clinicians to identify high risk patients and to reduce dengue-related morbidity and mortality.

An orally administered bilayer tablet with Tamsulosin (TAM) as the sustained release (SR) and Finasteride (FIN) as immediate release (IR) was manufactured. A response surface methodology was employed to formulate bilayer tablets with individual release layers, i.e., sustained and immediate release (SR and IR). Independent variables selected in both cases comprise hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as SR polymer, and avicel PH102 in the inner layer while Triacetin and talc in the outer layer, respectively. Tablets were prepared by direct compression, a total of 11 formulations were prepared for inner layer TAM, and 9 formulations for outer layer FIN were designed; these formulations were evaluated for hardness, friability, thickness, %drug content, and %drug release. A central composite design was employed in response surface methodology to design and optimize the formulation. The percentage of drug released was evaluated by in-vitro USP dissolution method of optimized formulation for 0.5, 2, and 6 hrs, and results were 24.63, 52.96, and 97.68 %, respectively. Drug release data was plotted in various kinetic models using a D.D solver, where drug release was first order that is concentration dependent and was best explained by Korsmeyer–Peppa kinetics, as the highest linearity was observed (R2 = 0.9693). However, a very close relationship was also noted with Higuchi kinetics (R2 = 0.9358). The mechanism of drug release was determined through the Korsmeyer model, and exponent “n” was found to be 0.4, indicative of an anomalous diffusion mechanism or diffusion coupled with erosion.

IntroductionSouth Asian individuals possess a high risk of chronic kidney disease. There is a need to study, evaluate, and compare the newly suggested glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations for accurate CKD diagnosis, staging, and drug dosing. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC), Pakistani CKD-EPI, and 2021 Race-Free CKD-EPI creatinine equation in the South Asian population with CKD and (2) to examine the expected implications on both CKD classification as well as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) prevalence across these equations in South Asian population.MethodsWe carried out a cross-sectional investigation on 385 participants, a CKD cohort ≥ 18 years, at Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Serum creatinine was measured by Jaffe's method and rGFR was measured by inulin clearance.ResultsPakistani CKD-EPI has a lower median difference at -1.33 ml/min/1.73m2 elevated precision (IQR) at 2.33 (-2.36, -0.03) and higher P30 value at 89.35% than 2021 CKD-EPI and EKFC equations. The mean difference (ml/min/1.73m2), 95% agreement limits (ml/min/1.73m2) of CKD-EPI PK: -1.18, -6.14, 2021 CKD-EPI: -5.98, -13.24 and EKFC: -5.62, -13.01 (P ConclusionsPakistani CKD-EPI exhibited outstanding performance, while 2021 CKD-EPI and EKFC demonstrated poor performances and could not show an adequate advantage for both CKD classification and prevalence of ESRD compared to Pakistani CKD-EPI. Therefore, Pakistani CKD-EPI appears optimal for this region and warrants future validation in other South Asian countries. In contrast, suitable measures must be implemented in Pakistani laboratories.

Niosomes are multilamellar vesicles that efficiently deliver active substance into skin systemic circulation or skin layers. They are used in topical drug delivery system to enhance the skin permeation of active substance. So, the prime objective of this study was to develop a niosomal gel of fusidic acid to increase its skin permeation. Different formulations of niosomes of fusidic acid were designed by varying the cholesterol to surfactant ratio. Formulations containing fusidic acid, cholesterol, dihexadecyl pyridinium chloride, Span 60, or Tween 60 were prepared by thin film hydration method in rotary evaporator. The thin film formed in rotary flask was hydrated by phosphate buffer saline of pH 7.2. The niosomes formed were characterized through entrapment efficiency, size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential. The S3 formulation containing span 60 showed the highest entrapment efficiency (EE) of niosomes, so it was incorporated into Carbopol gel. Determination of pH, spreadability, rheological, and ex vivo permeation studies was conducted of niosomal gel. The results of ex vivo permeation studies showed high permeation of fusidic acid when gel was applied to an albino rat skin. According to the results and previous studies of niosomes, it can be concluded that niosomes enhanced the permeation of fusidic acid through the skin.

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan and is regarded as one of the primary causes of unsatisfactory vaccination campaigns. This study determined post-vaccination COVID−19 VH, factors influencing COVID−19 vaccine uptake, and public’s intent to receive booster vaccinations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population of Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling between March and May 2022. SPSS version 22 was used for the data analysis. A total of 650 participants were included in the study (age = 28.1 ± 9.7 years; male-to-female ratio nearly 1: 1). The majority of participants received Sinopharm followed by Sinovac vaccine. The top three reasons of vaccine uptake were “only vaccinated individuals are allowed at the workplace, and educational institutes” (Relative importance index (RII) = 0.749), “only vaccinated people are allowed to go to markets, malls and other public places” (RII = 0.746), and “protect myself from the infection” (RII = 0.742). The mean COVID−19 VH score was 24.5 ± 6.2 (95% CI 23.9–24.9), with not being pro-vaccines and poor economic status were the significant predictors of COVID−19 vaccine hesitancy among immunized individuals (p

COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease, but numerous studies have indicated the involvement of various organ systems during the course of illness. We conducted a comprehensive review of atypical complications of COVID-19 with their incidence range (IR) and their impact on hospitalization and mortality rates. We identified 97 studies, including 55 research articles and 42 case studies. We reviewed four major body organ systems for various types of atypical complications: (i) Gastro-intestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary system, e.g., bowel ischemia/infarction (IR: 1.49–83.87%), GI bleeding/hemorrhage (IR: 0.47–10.6%), hepatic ischemia (IR: 1.0–7.4%); (ii) Neurological system, e.g., acute ischemic stroke/cerebral venous sinus thrombosis/cerebral hemorrhage (IR: 0.5–90.9%), anosmia (IR: 4.9–79.6%), dysgeusia (IR: 2.8–83.38%), encephalopathy/encephalitis with or without fever and hypoxia (IR: 0.19–35.2%); (iii) Renal system, e.g., acute kidney injury (AKI)/acute renal failure (IR: 0.5–68.8%); (iv) Cardiovascular system, e.g., acute cardiac injury/non-coronary myocardial injury (IR: 7.2–55.56%), arrhythmia/ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (IR: 5.9–16.7%), and coagulopathy/venous thromboembolism (IR: 19–34.4%). This review encourages and informs healthcare practitioners to keenly monitor COVID-19 survivors for these atypical complications in all major organ systems and not only treat the respiratory symptoms of patients. Post-COVID effects should be monitored, and follow-up of patients should be performed on a regular basis to check for long-term complications.

Summary: Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the trends of exposure and burden attributable to the four main metabolic risk factors, including high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high body-mass index (BMI), and high low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL) in North Africa and the Middle East from 1990 to 2019. Methods: The data were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Summary exposure value (SEV) was used for risk factor exposure. Burden attributable to each risk factor was incorporated in the population attributable fraction to estimate the total attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Findings: While age-standardized death rate (ASDR) attributable to high-LDL and high-SBP decreased by 26.5% (18.6–35.2) and 23.4% (15.9–31.5) over 1990–2019, respectively, high-BMI with 5.1% (−9.0–25.9) and high-FPG with 21.4% (7.0–37.4) change, grew in ASDR. Moreover, age-standardized DALY rate attributed to high-LDL and high-SBP declined by 30.2% (20.9–39.0) and 25.2% (16.8–33.9), respectively. The attributable age-standardized DALY rate of high-BMI with 8.3% (−6.5–28.8) and high-FPG with 27.0% (14.3–40.8) increase, had a growing trend. Age-standardized SEVs of high-FPG, high-BMI, high-SBP, and high-LDL increased by 92.4% (82.8–103.3), 76.0% (58.9–99.3), 10.4% (3.8–18.0), and 5.5% (4.3–7.1), respectively. Interpretation: The burden attributed to high-SBP and high-LDL decreased during the 1990–2019 period in the region, while the attributable burden of high-FPG and high-BMI increased. Alarmingly, exposure to all four risk factors increased in the past three decades. There has been significant heterogeneity among the countries in the region regarding the trends of exposure and attributable burden. Urgent action is required at the individual, community, and national levels in terms of introducing effective strategies for prevention and treatment that account for local and socioeconomic factors. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Currently, the solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are utilized as a novel approach for the controlled drug delivery system (CDDS). Tacrolimus (TCM), a lipophilic drug, can easily be encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of these SLNs using nanoprecipitation technique. The current aim was to develop the controlled release Poloxamer (PLX) facilitated TCM loaded SLNs (PLX/TCM-SLNs), followed by their physicochemical evaluations, including chemical compatibility, particle size, surface charge, surface morphology, nature of SLNs, loading efficiency (LE), entrapment efficiency (EE), in vitro drug release studies, release kinetic modeling, and statistical evaluation. Here we also evaluate physicochemical properties of TCM and investigate solubility profile for improvement and dissolution rate of PLX/TCM-SLNs. PLX was used in the process as a polymer due to its low toxicity and weak immunogenic properties. The prepared formulation was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has confirmed the compatibility of the selected ingredients, whereas particle size analysis showed that prepared PLX/TCM-SLNs were of nanosized (120.6±9 nm) having zeta potential of −21.3 Mv. On the other hand, SEM had revealed the smooth and uniform surface of the particle, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the uniform surface as crystalline structure of TCM in PLX/TCM-SLNs masked. A satisfactory level of EE (94.5±2.74%) has also been noticed. Furthermore, in vitro drug release studies have explored the controlled release of drug during 8 hours, following zero order release kinetics and diffusion type of release mechanism. Outcomes of the studies have advocated the successful preparation of SLNs, as controlled release PLX/TCM-SLNs have been prepared efficiently.

BackgroundThe acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 among parents of young children plays a significant role in controlling the current pandemic. A wide range of factors that influence vaccine hesitancy in adults has been reported worldwide, but less attention has been given to COVID-19 vaccination among children. Vaccine hesitancy is considered a major challenge in achieving herd immunity, and it is more challenging among parents as they remain deeply concerned about their child’s health. In this context, a systematic review of the current literature is inevitable to assess vaccine hesitancy among parents of young children to ensure a successful ongoing vaccination program.MethodA systematic search of peer-reviewed English literature indexed in Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and Web of science was performed using developed keywords between 1 January 2020 and August 2022. This systematic review included only those studies that focused on parental concerns about COVID-19 vaccines in children up to 12 years without a diagnosis of COVID-19. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of 108 studies were included. The quality appraisal of the study was performed by Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS).ResultsThe results of 108 studies depict that vaccine hesitancy rates differed globally with a considerably large number of factors associated with it. The highest vaccine hesitancy rates among parents were reported in a study from the USA (86.1%) and two studies from Saudi Arabia (>85%) and Turkey (89.6%). Conversely, the lowest vaccine hesitancy rates ranging from 0.69 and 2% were found in two studies from South Africa and Switzerland, respectively. The largest study (n = 227,740) was conducted in Switzerland while the smallest sample size (n = 12) was represented by a study conducted in the USA. The most commonly reported barriers to childhood vaccination were mothers’ lower education level (N = 46/108, 43%), followed by financial instability (N = 19/108, 18%), low confidence in new vaccines (N = 13/108, 12%), and unmonitored social media platforms (N = 5/108, 4.6%). These factors were significantly associated with vaccine refusal among parents. However, the potential facilitators for vaccine uptake among respondents who intended to have their children vaccinated include higher education level (N = 12/108, 11%), followed by information obtained through healthcare professionals (N = 9/108, 8.3%) and strong confidence in preventive measures taken by the government (N = 5/81, 4.6%).ConclusionThis review underscores that parents around the globe are hesitant to vaccinate their kids against COVID-19. The spectrum of factors associated with vaccine hesitancy and uptake varies across the globe. There is a dire need to address vaccine hesitancy concerns regarding the efficacy and safety of approved vaccines. Local context is inevitable to take into account while developing programs to reduce vaccine hesitancy. There is a dire need to devise strategies to address vaccine hesitancy among parents through the identification of attributing factors.

The COVID-19 associated acute kidney injury (CAKI) has emerged as a potential intricacy during the management of patients. Navigating the rapidly growing body of scientific literature on CAKI is challenging, and ongoing critical appraisal of this complication is essential. This study aimed to summarize and critically appraise the systematic reviews (SRs) on CAKI to inform the healthcare providers about its prevalence, risk factors and outcomes. All the SRs were searched in major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science) from inception date to December 2021. This study followed SR of SRs methodology, all the records were screened, extracted and subjected to quality assessment by assessing the methodological quality of systematic reviews (AMSTAR-2). The extracted data were qualitatively synthesized and tabulated. This review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022299444). Of 3,833 records identified; 42 SRs were included in this overview. The quality appraisal of the studies showed that 17 SRs were of low quality, while 8 moderate and 17 were of high-quality SRs. The incidence of CAKI ranged from 4.3% to 36.4% in overall COVID-19 patients, 36%–50% in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and up to 53% in severe or critical illness. Old age, male gender, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were frequently reported risk factors of CAKI. The need of renal replacement therapy (RRT) was up to 26.4% in overall COVID-19 patients, and 39% among those having CAKI. The occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was found independent predictor of death, where mortality rate among CAKI patients ranged from 50% to 93%. This overview of SRs underscores that CAKI occurs frequently among COVID-19 patients and associated with high mortality, need of RRT and adverse outcomes. However, the confidence of these results is moderate to low which warrants the need of more SRs having established methodological standards.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=299444], identifier [CRD42022299444].

Background Influenza vaccine hesitancy is a significant threat to global maneuvers for reducing the burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza. This study estimated the vaccine uptake, barriers, and willingness for influenza vaccines among university students in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among health science (HS) and non-health science (NHS) university students. A 31-item questionnaire was used to ascertain the vaccination rate, barriers, and willingness for the flu vaccine. Results This study included 790 students (mean age: 21.40 ± 1.94 years), 246 (31.1%) from HS and 544 (68.9%) from NHS disciplines. About 70% did not take flu shots before the arrival of the winter. The mean knowledge score was 7.81 ± 1.96, where 20.4%, 67.6%, and 12% of respondents had good, moderate, and poor knowledge regarding flu vaccines. The relative importance index (RII) analysis showed a lack of recommendation from physicians (51.5%, RI ranked: 1) was a top-ranked barrier to vaccine uptake, followed by negative perceptions and accessibility issues. Only 36.6% of the participants were willing to get vaccinated every year, 70% were willing to receive a vaccine on their doctor’s recommendations, and 46% agreed to vaccinate if vaccines were freely available in the university. The knowledge, barriers, and willingness widely varied across students from two disciplines. Conclusions Our analysis underscored low flu vaccine uptake among university students. In addition, the study participants’ knowledge was unsatisfactory, and they were less inclined to receive the flu vaccine in the future. Lack of recommendation from the physicians, negative perceptions towards the flu vaccine, and difficult accessibility were found as significant barriers to the vaccine uptake. A multidimensional approach at educational institutes to cover the knowledge gap and address the barriers curtailing the vaccination rate among students is recommended.

Background Amid the turbulent nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, telepharmacy has shifted the paradigm of patient care by leveraging digital medicine. Government mandated lockdowns and norms of social distancing have further underscored the need for telepharmacy. Many developed and developing countries implemented such initiatives where pharmacists have provided tele-pharmacy services via telecommunications. However, the implementation and utilization of tele-pharmacy services are quite negligible in resource limited settings due to financial and administrative constraints. This study was aimed to ascertain the perception and readiness of pharmacists working in various sectors of a resource limiting country. Methodology A cross sectional study was carried out in all provinces of Pakistan to explore the perceptions of pharmacists towards telepharmacy implementation through a 35-items study instrument. The collected data was analyzed descriptively and scored accordingly. The chi-square test was used for inferential analysis on pharmacist’s perception regarding implementation of tele-pharmacy with their demographics. Results Of 380 pharmacists, the mean age is 27.67 ± 3.67 years with a preponderance of male pharmacists (n = 238, 62.6%). The pharmacists (n = 321, 84.5%) perceived that telepharmacy implementation improves patient’s quality of life and decreases patients’ visits (n = 291, 76.6%). Overall, pharmacists (n = 227, 59.7%) had negative perception towards benefits of telepharmacy implementation, but pharmacists had positive perception towards eligibility (n = 258, 67.9%), regulatory issues (n = 271, 71.3%) and telepharmacy during pandemic and beyond (n = 312, 82.1%). In chi-square testing gender (p = 0.03) and age (p = 0.03) had a significant association with perception regarding regulatory issues. Among perception regarding telepharmacy during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond age had a significant association (p = 0.03). Among perception regarding eligibility job location of pharmacists had significant association (p = 0.04). Conclusion The majority of pharmacists had a positive perception regarding the eligibility of patients and regulatory issues/legal framework regarding the implementation of tele-pharmacy, as well as its use during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The implementation of tele-pharmacy can play a major role in providing timely and better patient care to remote patient areas and may help in the prevention and treatment of different infectious diseases.

BackgroundDespite a series of “boxed warnings” (BWs) issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), fluoroquinolones (FQs) are among the most prescribed antibiotics across the world. Moreover, few studies demonstrated that BW of FQs had less or no impact on prescribing patterns among healthcare professionals (HCPs), which might be attributed to the lack of knowledge toward such warnings. Since FQs contribute to a major proportion of antimicrobial prescriptions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), this study aimed to ascertain the extent of knowledge toward safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs working in the KSA.MethodsThis cross-sectional study (May–August 2021) was conducted among HCPs working in KSA through a validated questionnaire. The HCPs were requested to identify the indications, adverse effects (AEs), and BW of FQs. The knowledge score (out of 40) was estimated among participants, and its association with demographics was ascertained through the chi-square test, Student's t-test, or Mann-Whitney U-test and one-way ANOVA, or Kruskal-Wallis test, where appropriate.ResultsOf the 573 participants (age: 36.1 ± 10.6 years, men: 59.7%), 262 (45.8%) were prescribers reporting frequent use of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin. One-fourth (25.6%) of the prescribers did not recognize nalidixic acid as an agent from FQs class. About 60% of participants correctly identified the mechanism of action of FQs. The average knowledge score was 14.8 ± 6.4, where only 21.5% of respondents scored ≥50%. The average knowledge score for indications, AEs, and BW domains was 5.29 ± 3.05, 6.17 ± 4.05, and 2.3 ± 1.5, respectively. Only 75 (13.1%) participants recognized half of the BW, and 38.6% of participants identified at least one warning. The HCPs aged >40 years (p = 0.043), having non-Saudi's nationality (p < 0.001), working in Riyadh and Eastern regions (p < 0.001), having pharmacy and medicine disciplines (p < 0.001), practicing in public sectors (p = 0.004), and having more than 10 years of experience (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with high knowledge score.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the unsatisfactory knowledge toward safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs which may put patients at increased risks of AEs. The knowledge score differed among various socio-demographic groups. There is a dire need to initiate the antimicrobial-focused educational campaigns among HCPs regardless of their specialties and methods to improve education and disseminate FDA warnings in practice.

Objective: To track the trends and patterns of psychoactive substance abuse among medical students. Study Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire based study. Place and Duration of Study: Medical Colleges and Universities of Lahore, from Aug to Sep 2019. Methodology: Total 200 medical students from Medical Colleges and Universities were included. The data were analyzed and computed using SPSS-21. Frequencies and percentages related to all the factors were computed. Results: Among study participants, 96 (48%) of males and 104 (52%) of females with 154 (77%) of these students belong to 21-25 years of age group. The observed prevalence of substance abuse among students was 42 (21%). Joy seeking and a friend’s offer was the initiation of psychoactive substance use among these students. Tobacco was the most highly consumed substance among students, followed by marijuana. Besides, the results also revealed that students also consumed cocaine and methamphetamine. Among 21% abusers, 4 (9%) and 5 (11%) of the students experienced side effects and withdrawal symptoms respectively. Conclusion: The increasing consumption of tobacco and indulgence in psychoactive drugs are concerning issues because of uncontrolled consumption can cause serious brain damage. Academic burden and stress are the mediators of drug abuse among students. Therefore, stress management training and workshops should be conducted in institutes.

Objective: To track the trends and patterns of psychoactive substance abuse among medical students. Study Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire based study. Place and Duration of Study: Medical Colleges and Universities of Lahore, from Aug to Sep 2019. Methodology: Total 200 medical students from Medical Colleges and Universities were included. The data were analyzed and computed using SPSS-21. Frequencies and percentages related to all the factors were computed. Results: Among study participants, 96 (48%) of males and 104 (52%) of females with 154 (77%) of these students belong to 21-25 years of age group. The observed prevalence of substance abuse among students was 42 (21%). Joy seeking and a friend’s offer was the initiation of psychoactive substance use among these students. Tobacco was the most highly consumed substance among students, followed by marijuana. Besides, the results also revealed that students also consumed cocaine and methamphetamine. Among 21% abusers, 4 (9%) and 5 (11%) of the students experienced side effects and withdrawal symptoms respectively. Conclusion: The increasing consumption of tobacco and indulgence in psychoactive drugs are concerning issues because of uncontrolled consumption can cause serious brain damage. Academic burden and stress are the mediators of drug abuse among students. Therefore, stress management training and workshops should be conducted in institutes.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a cardiovascular disease that occurs due to the blockage of the coronary artery. Subsequently, cardiac muscles receive a lower oxygen supply, which leads to the death of cardiac muscles. The etiology of MI is linked to various environmental, occupational, and genetic factors. Various studies have been conducted on the polymorphism of genes involved in MI. Previous studies have shown that different variants of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are involved in causing MI by altering the metabolism of folate and homocysteine. However, the genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) and its association with MI in the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) as a risk factor still needs to be investigated. This study recruited 300 participants who were divided into three groups, i.e., the control, MI, and MI-DM. The blood samples collected from the study participants were subjected to various biochemical tests and their clinical parameters were monitored. MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) genotyping was performed by Tetra ARMS PCR using predetermined primers. The MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) polymorphism was associated with MI in the presence of DM as a risk factor among the participants. The MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) T/T homozygous genotype was found to be significant among MI patients in the presence of DM as a risk factor.

Introduction: The vaccination of children against Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a prime area of focus around the globe and is considered a pivotal challenge during the ongoing pandemic. This study aimed to assess parents′ intentions to vaccinate their children and the barriers related to pediatric COVID-19 vaccination. Methodology: An online web-based survey was conducted to recruit parents with at least one child under the age of 12 years from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf region. The parental intentions to vaccinate children were assessed via six items, while barriers against vaccination were assessed through seven items in validated study instrument. A 5-point Likert scale was used to record the responses of parents regarding both their intentions and barriers. Results: In total, 444 parents (28.41 ± 7.4 years, 65% females) participated in this study. Almost 90% of parents were vaccinated against COVID-19 but only 42% of parents intended to vaccinate their children. The mean intention score was 2.9 ± 1.36. More than one-third of study participants had no plan to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The majority of the respondents agreed to vaccinate their children if vaccination was made compulsory by the government (relative index: 0.76, 73%). Out of seven potential barriers analyzed, concerns over vaccine safety and side effects were ranked highest (RII: 0.754), reported by 290 (65%) participants. In multivariate logistic regression, significant predictors of parental intention to vaccinate children were the increased education level of the parents (secondary education: OR = 3.617, p = 0.010; tertiary education: OR = 2.775, p = 0.042), COVID-19 vaccination status (vaccinated: OR = 7.062, p = 0.003), mother’s involvement in decisions regarding the child’s healthcare (mother: OR 4.353, p < 0.001; both father and mother: OR 3.195, p < 0.001) and parents’ trust in the vaccine’s safety (OR = 2.483, p = 0.022). Conclusions: This study underscored the low intention among parents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Vaccination intention was found to be associated with education, parents’ vaccination status, the mother’s involvement in healthcare decisions, and parents’ trust in the vaccine’s safety. On the other hand, parents’ concerns over the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine were widely reported as barriers to childhood vaccination. The health authorities should focus on addressing parental concerns about vaccines to improve their COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

Background: Individuals with underlying chronic illnesses have demonstrated considerable hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines. These concerns are primarily attributed to their concerns over the safety profile. Real-world data on the safety profile among COVID-19 vaccinees with comorbid conditions are scarce. This study aimed to ascertain the side-effects profile after two doses of COVID-19 vaccines among chronic-disease patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among faculty members with comorbid conditions at a public educational institute in Saudi Arabia. A 20-item questionnaire recorded the demographics and side effects after the two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The frequency of side effects was recorded following each dose of vaccine, and the association of the side-effects score with the demographics was ascertained through appropriate statistics. Results: A total of 204 patients with at least one comorbid condition were included in this study. A total of 24 side effects were reported after the first dose and 22 after second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The incidence of at least one side effect was 88.7% and 95.1% after the first and second doses of the vaccine, respectively. The frequent side effects after the first dose were pain at the injection site (63.2%), fatigue (58.8%), fever (47.5%), muscle and joint pain (38.7%), and headache (36.3%). However, pain at the injection site (71.1%), muscle and joint pain (62.7%), headache (49.5%), fever (45.6%), and stress (33.3%) were frequent after the second dose. The average side-effects score was 4.41 ± 4.18 (median: 3, IQR: 1, 6) and 4.79 ± 3.54 (median 4, IQR: 2, 6) after the first and second dose, respectively. Female gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, comorbidity > 2, family history of COVID-19, and the AstraZeneca vaccine were significantly associated with higher side-effect scores. Only 35.8% of study participants were satisfied with the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusions: Our analysis showed a high proportion of transient and short-lived side effects of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines among individuals with chronic illnesses. However, the side-effects profile was comparable with the safety reports of phase 3 clinical trials of these vaccines. The frequency of side effects was found to be associated with certain demographics, necessitating the need for further investigations to establish a causal relationship. The current study’s findings will help instill confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines among people living with chronic conditions, overcome vaccine hesitancy, and increase vaccine coverage in this population.

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is an antiretroviral (ARV) drug that is used for the management and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical availability of ARV delivery systems that provide long-lasting protection against HIV transmission is lacking. There is a dire need to formulate nanocarrier systems that can help in revolutionizing the way to fight against HIV/AIDS. Here, we aimed to synthesize a polymer using chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG) by the PEGylation of chitosan at the hydroxyl group. After successful modification and confirmation by FTIR, XRD, and SEM, TAF-loaded PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles were prepared and analyzed for their particle size, zeta potential, morphology, crystallinity, chemical interactions, entrapment efficacy, drug loading, in vitro drug release, and release kinetic modeling. The fabricated nanoparticles were found to be in a nanosized range (219.6 nm), with ~90% entrapment efficacy, ~14% drug loading, and a spherical uniform distribution. The FTIR analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of PEGylated chitosan and nanoparticles. The in vitro analysis showed ~60% of the drug was released from the PEGylated polymeric reservoir system within 48 h at pH 7.4. The drug release kinetics were depicted by the Korsmeyer–Peppas release model with thermodynamically nonspontaneous drug release. Conclusively, PEGylated chitosan has the potential to deliver TAF from a nanocarrier system, and in the future, cytotoxicity and in vivo studies can be performed to further authenticate the synthesized polymer.

Vaccination protects people from serious illness and associated complications. Conspiracy theories and misinformation on vaccines have been rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic and are considered significant drivers of vaccine hesitancy. Since vaccine hesitancy can undermine efforts to immunize the population against COVID-19 and interferes with the vaccination rate, this study aimed to ascertain the COVID-19-vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs, vaccine hesitancy, views regarding vaccine mandates, and willingness to pay for vaccines among the general population. A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted (April–August 2021) among the adult population in six countries (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia, Sudan, and Egypt). Participants were recruited using an exponential, non-discriminate snowball sampling method. A validated self-completed electronic questionnaire was used for the data collection. All the participants responded to questions on various domains of the study instrument, including conspiracy beliefs, vaccine hesitancy, and willingness to pay. The responses were scored according to predefined criteria and stratified into various groups. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. A total of 2481 responses were included in the study (Pakistan 24.1%, Saudi Arabia 19.5%, India 11.6%, Malaysia 8.1%, Sudan 19.3%, and Egypt 17.3%). There was a preponderance of participants ≤40 years old (18–25 years: 55.8%, 26–40 years: 28.5%) and females (57.1%). The average score of the COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy belief scale (C19V-CBS) was 2.30 ± 2.12 (median 2; range 0–7). Our analysis showed that 30% of the respondents were found to achieve the ideal score of zero, indicating no conspiracy belief. The mean score of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale (C19V-HS) was 25.93 ± 8.11 (range: 10–50). The majority (45.7%) had C19V-HA scores of 21–30 and nearly 28% achieved a score greater than 30, indicating a higher degree of hesitancy. There was a significant positive correlation between conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy (Spearman’s rho = 0.547, p < 0.001). Half of the study population were against the vaccine mandate. Respondents in favor of governmental enforcement of COVID-19 vaccines had significantly (p < 0.001) lower scores on the C19V-CBS and C19V-HS scale. Nearly 52% reported that they would only take vaccine if it were free, and only 24% were willing to pay for COVID-19 vaccines. A high prevalence of conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy was observed in the targeted countries. Our findings highlight the dire need for aggressive measures to counter the conspiracy beliefs and factors underlying this vaccine hesitancy.

Vaccines are considered to be the most beneficial means for combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have demonstrated excellent safety profiles in clinical trials, real-world surveillance of post-vaccination side effects is an impetus. The study investigates the short-term side effects following the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among the general population with age ≥ 18 years, from five regions (Central, Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Regions) of Saudi Arabia for a period of 6 months (July to December 2021). A self-administered study instrument was used to record the side effects among the COVID-19 vaccine recipients. Of the total 398 participants (males: 59%), 56.3% received Pfizer and 43.7% were vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Only 22.6% of respondents received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines. The most commonly reported side effects were pain at the injection site (85.2%), fatigue (61.8%), bone or joint pain (54.0%), and fever (42.5%). The average side effects score was 3.4 ± 2.2. Females, young people, and Oxford-AstraZeneca recipients had a higher proportion of side effects. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine recipients complained more about fever (p < 0.001), bone and joint pain (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001), loss of appetite (p = 0.001), headache (p = 0.008), and drowsiness (p = 0.003). The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinees had more pain and swelling at the injection site (p = 0.001), and sexual disturbance (p = 0.019). The study participants also reported some rare symptoms (

In recent years, pH-sensitive hydrogels have been developed for the delivery of therapeutic agents to specific target sites that have a defined pH range. The use of pH-responsive polymers in hydrogels allows drug delivery to the desired pH range of the target organ. The primary aim is to increase the retention time of the drug in the small intestine by utilizing the swelling mechanism of the hydrogel at intestinal pH. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a polymer to formulate a pH-sensitive hydrogel of Ezetimibe to deliver the drug to the small intestine where it inhibits the absorption of cholesterol. Design Expert software was applied to design and optimize the trial formulations in order to obtain an optimized formulation that has all the desired characteristics of the hydrogels. The PEG/Acrylic Acid hydrogels showed the maximum swelling at pH 6.8, which is consistent with the pH of the small intestine (pH 6–7.4). The maximum entrapment efficiency of the hydrogels was 99%. The hydrogel released 80–90% of the drug within 24 h and followed first-order release kinetics, which showed that the release from the drug was sustained. Hence, the results showed that the choice of a suitable polymer can lead to the development of an efficient drug-loaded hydrogel that can deliver the drug at the specific pH of the target organ.

The symptoms of some diseases show circadian rhythms, such as the morning stiffness associated with pain at the time of awakening in rheumatoid arthritis. Therapy for such diseases doesn’t require immediate release or sustained release of medicament. In such therapies, pulsatile drug release is more suitable with a programmed drug release. The purpose of this research was to formulate press-coated aceclofenac tablets for pulsatile drug delivery with a distinct delay time of no drug release and release of the drug when it is more likely desired (i.e., after 5 to 6 h). Immediate release core tablets having aceclofenac were formulated. Three formulations, F1, F2, and F3, were prepared with variable concentrations of sodium croscarmellose. Pre- and post-compression tests were performed on the core tablets. The selection criteria included the lowest disintegration time as a requirement of pulsatile drug delivery with an immediate release core and a delayed release coat. The disintegration times of F1, F2, and F3 were 120 s, 60 s, and 15 s, respectively. Therefore, the F3 formulation was selected as the core tablet formulation because it had the shortest disintegration time (15 s). The core tablets were press-coated using different polymers, such as HPMC K100M, Eudragit L100, HEC, and HPMC E5. The polymers were used in the coatings to hinder the release of the core for the desired time. 36 formulations of polymer were prepared: A1 to A10 had HPMC K100M and Avicel PH102; formulations B1 to B6 had HPMC K100M, Eudragit L100, and Avicel PH102; formulations C1 to C7 had HPMC K100M and hydroxyethyl cellulose; formulations D1 to D7 had HPMC K100M and HPMC E5; and formulations E1 to E6 had changed the coating weight of the formulation used for D6 (having HPMC K100M and HPMC E5 in the ratio of 12.5% to 87.5%). Evaluations of the press-coated tablets were carried out through thickness, hardness, weight variation, friability, and in vitro dissolution tests. These parameters concluded that the formulation of E6, having HPMC K100M and HPMC E5 in the ratio of 12.5% to 87.5% at 600 mg weight, was the most optimum formulation as it showed 3.5% drug release after 4 h, 21.4% drug release after 5 h, and 99.27% drug release after 6 h.