Search

This research paper explores the coexistence and convergence of plural healthcare practices in British Punjab with a prime focus on the need for a diverse social order to accommodate multiple healthcare setups. The interdisciplinary conceptual framework of this research rests on the debate around the dynamics of medical pluralism and its implications for healthcare delivery, while combining medical anthropology, and historical sociology. The objective is to explore how different medical systems, both indigenous and contemporary, influence and interact with each other, hence serving as the driving forces towards their coexistence and sometimes convergence of these systems. The findings reveal a dynamic landscape of medical pluralism in the then British Punjab, with traditional Ayurvedic, Unani, and homoeopathic practices showcasing interactions between traditional and Western medical practices. Results support the fact that recognizing and integrating multiple medical traditions and practices is crucial for ensuring accessible and effective healthcare services for the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed for biomonitoring of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co) at three selected wildlife parks of Punjab. Soil, water and feed samples analysis revealed the high heavy metals contents in feed (21.59 ± 27.39 and 12.67 ± 23.13) followed by soil (11.80 ± 25.84 and 4.96 ± 10.95) and water (2.93 ± 4.48 and 1.11 ± 1.23) samples at Jallo Wildlife Park and Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar, respectively. At Wildlife Park Murree, heavy metals contamination was recorded highest in feed (10.45 ± 16.35), followed by water (6.26 ± 11.35) and soil samples (5.75 ± 9.54). Feathers samples at all sites showed the highest levels of heavy metals concentrations as 12.21 ± 25.69 at Jallo Wildlife Park, 11.50 ± 25.63 at Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar and 3.35 ± 4.81 at Wildlife Park Murree. Interspecific variation of heavy metals among samples and sites was recorded at P < 0.01, and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the feathers of captive birds was found in high concentration, making them a good indicator of biomonitoring. In captivity, the birds feeding on homogenous diets and particular environmental conditions can better allow us to understand the bioaccumulation of polymetallic contamination, which can further be generalized to predict the risk of these toxic pollutants on public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals and their genotoxic effects in captive Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) residing in various regions of Punjab, Pakistan, specifically, Wildlife Park Bahawalpur (WPB), Jallo Wildlife Park Lahore (JWPL), and Wildlife Park Murree (WPM) were evaluated in blood, feathers, eggshell and egg content samples. The Single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay was performed to evaluate DNA damage. The results showed that the concentration of Cr was significantly high (P < 0.05) in Blood (3.79 µg/g), Feather (4.87 µg/g), Egg shell (51.02 µg/g) and Egg Content (13.59 µg/g) samples of Jallo Wildlife Park Lahore followed by Pb, Mn, Ni and Co. The highest (P < 0.05) metal accumulation was found in eggshell samples due to its porous structure as compared to other samples. Likewise region-wise analysis showed that Jallo Wildlife Park Lahore appeared to be more polluted than WPB and WPM. Indian Peafowl kept at WPM and JWPL exhibited higher levels of genotoxicity compared to the birds kept at WPB. This disparity can be attributed to the increased exposure to pollution and heightened stress experienced by the peafowl in the former two locations. This study concluded that among all the three study sites of Punjab, the WPB is most suitable for housing captive animals and birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research was conducted employing the extended socio-ecological model (ESEM) to examine factors associated with cesarean sections (CSs) and vaginal deliveries (VDs) among the women in our study population. Using the ESEM to determine South-Punjab and Pakistani women's mode of delivery predictors. The cross-sectional study with a sample size of 908 patients was conducted through private and public obstetrics and gynecology departments in South Punjab, Pakistan, from 12 June 2022 to 29 May 2023. The Chi-square analysis compared baseline variables, delivery outcomes and delivery methods. Logistic regression analysis is used to determine predictive factors. The study revealed that 75.66% of women had CS, while 24.34% had VD. Education level, age, residential area and fetal presentation all had significant associations with mode of delivery. Logistic regression analysis suggested that gynecologist recommendation, belief in CS safety, abnormal fetal presentation, maternal anemia and meconium aspiration syndrome were all significant predictors of CS. The ESEM model concluded that age, fatigue and women's preference for CS due to its reliability for her and her fetus were predictive factors for mode of delivery choices among South-Punjab Pakistani women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of consuming high-quality fish as a healthy protein source for a sustainable lifestyle. Proximate body composition analysis including water, fat, protein, and ash content of farmed and wild caught fish was determined. Fish species i.e. Labeo rohita was selected being one of the most preferred edible fish in the region. The fish samples were collected both from the river and farm using gill nets. To avoid any compromise in fish quality, the fish were kept separately in polythene bags under the laboratory conditions until dispatched for analysis. Statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that farmed fish had higher protein content (83.91 %) than wild caught fish (81.42 %). The ash (6.23 %) and moisture (76.12 %) levels in wild fish were higher than in farmed fish (5.59 % and 73.74 %, respectively). Fat content was also higher in wild fish (12.66 %) than in farmed fish (10.53 %). According to the findings, farmed Labeo rohita is of extravagant quality than wild Labeo rohita due to consistent accumulation of heavy metals and pollutants in riverine ecosystems. It is suggested that water and food quality parameters particularly for fish should be under controlled surveillance for health risk assessment and quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to detect Babesia ovis (B. ovis) in naturally infected sheep and goat herds of Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang districts of Punjab, Pakistan through microscopy and molecular diagnostic techniques i.e., PCR and nPCR. For this purpose, a total of 892 blood samples were collected i.e., sheep (n=544), goats (n=348) in both seasons (summer + winter). Initially, the samples were screened via the blood film and the blood smear examinations revealed parasite merozoites as tear drop in pair identified as babesia. The overall prevalence in summer based upon microscopic analysis was 22.05% (60/272) in sheep and 16.05% (28/174) in goat, respectively. In winter the prevalence was 7.34% (20/272) and 4.59% (8/174) in sheep and goat, respectively. In summer the results based upon PCR were 29.7% (81/272) and 23.56% (41/174) and n-PCR were 31.98% (87/272) and 27.01% (47/174) in sheep and goats respectively. On the other hand, in winter results showed that 12.13% (33/272), 9.77% (17/174) and 13.60% (37/272), 13.21% (23/174) samples positive for B. ovis through PCR and nPCR respectively. The results have shown that sensitivity of NPCR is more as compared to conventional PCR. The product size of B. ovis through PCR and NPCR was 186 base pair (bp) and 549 bp. Furthermore, the prevalence based upon different risk factors i.e., age, sex, housing, floor system, presence or absence of ticks was determined. Statistical analysis of different risk factors indicated that, increased age, non-cemented floor, closed housing, weak body condition and heavy infestation of ticks increase the incidence of disease by many folds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the persons with disabilities are still away from education in developing countries. It is because most of them cannot recognize their rights, particularly in third world countries. This study is an effort to depict the current situation of awareness among persons with disabilities about their primary rights as well as to identify the most and least awared segment of disabled population of their rights. The study was descriptive in nature and survey method was applied to collect data from randomly selected 106 persons with disabilities, which were visually impaired, hearing impaired and physically handicapped. Forty six disabled persons were working in different fields and sixty disabled persons were studying in different colleges of Lahore and Okara. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data. Validity of research instrument was scored by Chronbach Alpha and its turnout was 0.77. The collected data was analyzed by taking frequencies and percentages of the obtained responses. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to find the difference in the awareness level of different categories of disabled persons about their basic rights. Results showed that visually impaired persons were more aware of their basic rights than other persons with disabilities. The study showed that persons with hearing impairment had less awareness of their rights. Conclusion also represented that persons with disabilities were well aware of their financial and educational rights like quota, educational provision and employment opportunities given by the Govt. of Punjab, but on the other hand, they had poor awareness of their social and safety rights as self respect, equality and job security. Recommendations were made on the basis of conclusions. Media may perform its role to aware the persons with disabilities about their fundamental rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women. 20% of breast cancer cases are due to the variations in the BRCA1/BRCA2 genes. Various variants of BRCA1/2 genes have been reported worldwide, which cause breast cancer by forming truncated proteins. In the current study, we aimed to find out the prevalence of mutations 1294DEL40, E1250X and 5382insC (BRCA1) and 2157DELG (BRCA2) in a case control cohort of Pakistani origin. Study Design: Case Control Study. Setting: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics University of Punjab, Lahore. Period: December 2017 to June 2018. Material & Methods: Blood samples from 80 female breast cancer patients and 80 healthy females were taken. DNA was isolated from blood by manual method and genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP. Results: We found that for the 2157DELG mutation of the BRCA2 gene, homozygous mutant phenotype is present only in the cases at a frequency of 25% while the BRCA1 gene mutations were less common i.e., the E1250X mutation showed 6.6% prevalence in patients, and the 1294del40 and 5382insC mutations were absent in the current cohort. Conclusion: Despite of sample size limitation, this study provides information about the prevalence of some common mutations. In addition, clinical risk factors were also noted which are essential in risk assessment. We foresee that targeting of specific genetic variants restricted to a particular ethnic group would be more effective in the future therapeutic approaches for the prevention and cure of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disorder characterized by a high level of glucose in the blood. Both genetic and environmental factors interact to cause diabetes. Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins have a significant part in insulin signaling pathways. We aimed to investigate the relationship of type 2 diabetes with a Gly972Arg (G972R) variant of the IRS-1 gene and Gly1057Asp (G1057D) polymorphism of IRS-2 gene in the population of Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: We collected 926 samples, 500 healthy controls (fasting blood sugar < 99 mg/dL, random blood sugar < 126 mg/dL) and 426 cases with diabetes (fasting blood sugar > 99 mg/dL, random blood sugar > 126 mg/dL). Several anthropometric measurements were measured. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS to determine the allele group/genotype frequency of the selected variants in the study population. Results: The genotyping results of G972R by RLFP-PCR showed the allelic frequency of G = 0.68 and R = 0.32 in controls while G = 0.71 and R = 0.29 in the cases. The minor R allele had a slightly higher frequency in the cases than the controls (OR = 0.86, CI 0.706–1.052, p = 0.17). The genotyping results of G1057D showed allelic frequency G = 0.74 and D = 0.26 in the controls while G = 0.961 and D = 0.29 in the cases. The minor D allele appeared to be a risk allele for this SNP although the difference in the allele frequencies was not statistically significant (OR = 1.55, CI 0.961–1.41, p = 0.108). The combined genotype analysis showed that the difference in the allele and genotype frequencies reached statistical difference between the cases and the controls as well as the odds ratio substantially increased when the R allele (G972R) was present together with D allele (G1057D) in any combination. When the association of single variants with the lipid traits was observed, only D allele (G1057D) showed significant association with TG, HDL and LDL, however when the analysis was repeated for combined genotypes using general linear model, many more significant associations between the genotype where D allele and R allele are together, were seen with many lipid traits. Conclusion: In conclusion, the single nucleotide polymorphisms with low-modest effect size may not affect the phenotype individually but when in combination, the effect becomes stronger and more visible, therefore, for the SNP association studies, the more the number of SNPs included in the analysis, the more meaningful the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]