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Governments, Parents and teachers need to act as facilitators and mediators in the process of adoption and shaping of media culture rather than either acting as passive onlookers or active controllers Review of available observations and Assessment of impacts of ICTs on lives of young people in developing countries on the basis of experts views and relevant information. This study reviewed the situation and tried to explore the views and practices of young people belonging to a developing country through a small sample survey. This survey was conducted in Karachi, the most urbanized city of Pakistan. A questionnaire was used to explore the views and practices of young people belonging to a developing country through a small sample survey. Students from two colleges were randomly selected to fill the questionnaires. Most of the ICT resources were used more often by boys. Majority of respondents did not felt hat it had made significant impact on their work or family life. Most of them felt that it had made appositive impact on their lives this survey revealed that majority of college students were wer satisfied with their use of ICT resources.

Peptic ulcer owes its pathological features to disregulated oxido-nitrosative and necrotic changes in gastrointestinal mucosa. Xanthium strumarium L. is a ubiquitous, abundant herb possessing an array of pharmacological properties. In view of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Xanthium strumarium L., the present investigation was designed to unravel its antiulcer potential in pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer in laboratory animals. X. srtumarium L. leaves were extracted by refluxing with 95 % ethanol to obtained X. srtumarium L. ethanolic extract (XSEE). After 1 h pretreatment period of XSEE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) gastric ulcer was induced by ligation of pylorus portion of stomach. Various parameters including volume of gastric fluid, pH of gastric fluid, free as well as total acidity were measured in the gastric fluid whereas ulcer area, ulcer index, mucin content, superoxide dismutase, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, total calcium, histamine level, membrane bound inorganic phosphate (Na-K-ATPase), TNF-α level, DNA fragmentation were determined in the gastric tissue. Pretreatment with XSEE (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly and dose dependently (P

Objective To simulate and estimate the cardiovascular events associated with a representative Indian population of western India using UKPDS outcomes model and UKPDS risk engine. Methods The data regarding the input variables was entered into the risk engine and the outcomes model. Projections for 1, 5 and 10 years was run on the engine and output determined. The data for each patient was processed using the diabetes risk engine to calculate an estimate of the forecasted value for the cardiovascular complications after a period of 10 years. Results The absolute and relative risk along with 95% CI for CHD, fatal CHD, stroke and fatal stroke for 10 years for CHD, fatal CHD, stroke and fatal stroke was 2.65, 8.5, 5.95 and 1.15. The relative risk and 95% CI for CHD, fatal CHD, stroke and fatal stroke was 13.6, 4, 2.9 and 3.6. The mean and 95% CI of cases of ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, amputation and death for 1, 5 and 10 was 1.1, 8.3, 10.5; 2.2, 17.1, 27.2; 1.0, 7.1, 10.9; 0.9, 7.2, 11.2; 0.8, 3.9 and 6.8; 4.8, 31.4 and 55.5 respectively. Conclusions The present investigation demonstrated that the co-morbid factors play a pivotal role in exacerbating diabetes and associated complications. Simulated projections of diabetic patients can predict serious life threatening cardiovascular consequences in the patients of diabetes in the representative cohort from western India.

Objective: Arthritis is a severe debilitating chronic disease. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the clinical outcome and cost effectiveness of anti-rheumatoid arthritis regimen for the treatment of arthritis.Methods: The patients were classified into three treatment cohorts on the basis of the treatment regimens prescribed by the physicians. These were group I consisting of patients treated with monotherapy of non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs alone, group II consisting of patients treated with disease modifying anti rheumatoid drugs + non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs and group III consisting of patients treated with disease modifying anti rheumatoid drugs along with oral Corticosteroids. The patient reported outcome was measured using European questionnaire 5 dimension 3 levels (EQ-5D-3L) and European questionnaire visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) before and after the treatment regimen. Clinical outcome was measured using Clinical disease activity index (CDAI). The details of costs were recorded by interviewing the patients. Results: The patient reported outcome measured by EQ- 5D-3L and EQ-VAS was significantly improved in patients belonging to group III when compared to group II (P < 0.05) and I (P < 0.001) respectively. The outcomes of CDAI scores demonstrate that the mean change in CDAI levels was 7.04, 12.01 and 16.98 in group I, II and III respectively. Total cost incurred per patient was found to be equal to Rs. 1120 ($19.6) in group I, Rs. 1685 ($29.49) in group II and Rs. 2465 ($43.14) in group III. The ACER was determined as 159.09 in group I, 140.299 in group II and 145.17 in group III.Conclusion:Amelioration of arthritis in clinics can be effectively measured by validated instruments (EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS, CDAI) and DMARDs along with NSAIDs are the most cost effective therapy for treatment of arthritis.

Objective H. pylori is classified as class I carcinogen by World Health Organization and is a global as it is the primary cause of gastric carcinoma. The objective of present investigation was made to investigate the protective effect of homeopathically potentized H. pylori nosode in rats infected with H. pylori . Methods The infection was induced in the rats using a bacterial suspension of 5 × 10 8 CFU per ml. The various animals were treated with three potencies of H. pylori nosode (3X, 6X and 12X) and standard (Clarithromycin 25mg/kg + amoxicillin 50 mg/kg + omeprazole 20 mg/kg). A period of ten weeks followed and then the rats were sacrificed. Results H. pylori nosode was able to stop the initiation of infection in the pretreatment group of animals. This defines and provides us with the data regarding its sphere of action. A plethora of parameters such as ulcer area, infection status, biomarkers of oxidative stress, total intracellular ROS, degree of apoptosis, TNF level and load of bacteria in the gastric tissue served as the hallmarks to prove the preventive role of H. pylori nosode in the amelioration of the infection. It is evident that homeopathic drug H. pylori nosode was able to transform the susceptibility of the animals to the induction of infection. It provides a novel avenue in the field of research in homeopathy as the results suggest that H. pylori nosode was able to initiate the infection resistive forces in the animals before being subjected to the infection of H. pylori . Conclusion H. pylori nosode possesses potent prophylactic anti H. pylori activity in vivo .

We describe 25 cases of erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli from India. The male:female ratio was 5.25:1 and the average age of onset was 12.3 years. The cheeks, preauricular area, and submandibular region were the sites most commonly affected. Keratosis pilaris was seen in 22 (88%) of the patients.

Erythematous scaly papules on the palms and soles are a common manifestation of secondary syphilis. We report a case of 19-year-old male who presented with erythematous, scaly, psoriasiform lesions over the palms and glans penis. The papules over the palms showed tenderness on blunt vertical pressure. There was a history of sexual contact and ulcer over the glans around 2 months back, which resolved on its own. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test was positive in 1:32 dilution. Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test was also positive. This case highlights the atypical presentation of secondary syphilis.

Background: Leprosy was eliminated as a public health problem in India in 2005. Yet, more than 60% of all new cases of leprosy are reported from India.Methods: A retrospective analysis of the records of patients attending the leprosy clinic of the Dermatology Out Patient Department was done for a period of one year from May 2017 to April 2018. The data was analysed for clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients.Results: A total of 225 patients visited the leprosy clinic during the study period. Almost half of all patients (47.1%) were aged between 21-40 years. Among the patients were 32 children (14.2%) below 16 years. There were 60 patients (26.6%) suffering from paucibacillary disease and 158 patients (70.2%) had multibacillary disease. Seven patients (3.2%) presented with other forms of leprosy like historic leprosy and pure neuritic leprosy. Borderline lepromatous leprosy was found to be the commonest subtype seen in 86 patients (38.2%). There were 152 males (67.6%) and 73 females (32.4%). The male female ratio was 2.08:1. A total of 118 patients (52.4%) were from rural background and 107 (47.6%) hailed from urban areas. Multibacillary disease was seen in 83.6% of the total females compared to 63.8% of males.Conclusions: Leprosy may be down but is not yet out. The high proportion of children diagnosed with leprosy is a warning regarding the active transmission of the disease in the community. Continued efforts are required to prevent the disease from making a resurgence.

Fine scintillator strips with 1 cm widths and 3 mm thicknesses have been produced with an extrusion technique. Each strip has a 1-mm hole along the strip for a wavelength-shifter ber. The technique has several advantages in comparison with the casting method. The strip's light yield shows a su cient number of photoelectrons, indicating that its quality is comparable to that of a strip produced with the casting method. The strip was exposed to a harsh radiation environment. We discuss the results of irradiation and the e ects of annealing.

Introduction: Nevoid hypertrichosis is a rare disease characterized by the presence of terminal hair in a circumscribed distribution present since birth [1] The disorder has been associated with abnormalities of skin and other organs. We present a case of nevoid hypertrichosis associated with spinal dysraphism. Case Presentation: A 14 year old female presented with a patch of hair on her lower back since infancy (Figure 1). There was history of prolonged low backache. The antenatal and birth history was uneventful. Developmental milestones achieved by her were normal for age. There was no history of urinary or fecal incontinence or lower limb weakness. On examination, a well-defined patch of terminal, dark hair was noted on the lumbosacral region in the midline, though a tuft of hair was not present. Underlying skin was normal. No other cutaneous or mucosal abnormality was noted in the patient. No sensory or motor deficit was elicited. Pelvic radiograph (anteroposterior view) revealed spina bifida at L5 level and scoliosis (Figure 2). No other bony or articular abnormality was found. Vertebral height and intervertebral disc spaces were maintained. Soft tissue appeared to be normal. Based on history and examination, a diagnosis of nevoid hypertrichosis with spina bifida was made. Discussion: Nevoid hypertrichosis is the presence of well-defined patch of terminal hair present since birth, though it may develop some time after birth as well. Though usually single, it may be multiple and may be present along Blaschko’s lines [2]. Reports of depigmented hair also exist [3]. Several case reports suggest an association with cutaneous hypopigmentation, hypertrichosis cubiti and disorders of the eye, face, nails, bones, teeth, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and respiratory system [4]. Nevoid hypertrichosis has to be differentiated from other causes of congenital hypertrichoses like congenital melanocyticnevus, congenital smooth muscle hamartoma and Becker’s nevus. Faun tail deformity is a localized hypertrichosis presenting on the lumbosacral region with a tuft of terminal hair and associated with spinal cord defects. Our patient had features similar to faun tail, but a tuft of hair was absent. Nevoid hypertrichosis persists for life and treatment might be sought for cosmetic reasons. Lasers can be used for hair reduction. Spontaneous resolution of the nevoid hypertrichosis has also been reported [5]. Conclusion This case highlights the fact that patients of nevoid hypertrichosis need to be investigated for other systemic abnormalities.

Context: Vitiligo is a psychosocial problem which significantly affects quality of life in Indian scenario. Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in quality of life in patients of vitiligo before and after treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy. Subjects and Methods: A total of 54 patients had completed the study. The age ranged between 16 and 70 years with a mean age of 26.77±14.2 years. The initial dose of NBUVB was 300 mJ/cm2 in adults and 150 mJ/cm2 in children twice weekly with 20% dose increment on subsequent visits. It was given for a maximum period of 6 months and was followed up for another 6 months to determine stability of repigmentation. Results: The average number of exposure given to the patients was 45.63±12.74 while the mean irradiation cumulative dose was 39.8 J/cm2. Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of the vitiligo patients was 8.64±4.32 while those patients with acrofacial vitiligo had a mean DLQI of 11.78±5.61. After treatment with NBUVB, mean DLQI of all vitiligo patients was significantly reduced to 5.86±2.15 (P

Picric acid (PA) detection at parts per trillion (ppt) levels is achieved by a conjugated polyelectrolyte (PMI) in 100% aqueous media and on a solid platform using paper strips and chitosan (CS) films. The unprecedented selectivity is accomplished via combination of ground state charge transfer and resonance energy transfer (RET) facilitated by favorable electrostatic interactions.

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder which affects millions of people throughout the world. However, it has been discovered that there is a great degree of ignorance regarding the science of epilepsy among the general masses as well as the populace of medical students. Studies have been conducted whose results have shown that, there has been fabrication regarding the clinical presentation & treatment of epilepsy among the common man. Numerous appear to link epilepsy to evil spirits and possession that can be healed by spiritual treatments by certain specialists given the designations of ‘demonologists’,’ paranormal investigators’ or ‘mystics’. In such circumstances, medical students can prove to be a major source to educate the society at large. Therefore, it is crucial that their knowledge & attitude towards epilepsy is accurate and thus, must be evaluated at an early stage in their medical career, so that these future physicians may play a pivotal role in the public awareness of epilepsy. Method: This study was conducted in Pakistan, at a Government sector medical college, namely, Karachi Medical and Dental College. This is a cross-sectional study. Data was collected between October to December of the year 2014. 270 medical students were given the KAP (knowledge, attitude & practice) form of epilepsy to fill out. The software used to interpret and tabulate the results was SPSS v.16 for Windows. The chi-square test was employed to determine the proportion of knowledge of epilepsy among medical students. The p-value calculated was equal to 0.05. Findings: In this study, 270 medical students were recruited, of which 90 were males (33.3%) where as 180 were females (66.6%). The ages of the student participants were within the range of 18 to 24 years. The analysis of our study demonstrates that: 85.1% of the medical students consider epilepsy to be a neurological disorder; 6.66% believe epilepsy is an infectious disease; 4.44% believe it to be a hereditary disease, whereas, 3.7% of the students reckon it is a psychiatric illness. Generalized tonic clonic seizures was deemed to be the most common form of epilepsy (25.5%) with complex partial seizures being the least common form(1.85%) , as well as relatively unknown by the students. It was discovered through this study that, students were much less acquainted with the knowledge regarding the treatment of the disorder: multiple drug therapy was considered as the treatment by 56.66% of the students, spiritual treatment by 3.7%, spiritual treatment with medication by 20%, surgical treatment by 17.4% & 2.22% deemed epilepsy as a self limiting disease. Conclusion: It has been observed with this survey that the medical students of Pakistan are well aware of the knowledge of epilepsy and it being a medical condition. However, the students need to be educated early on in their training to be physicians, about certain aspects and details of the neurological disorder, for instance, the appropriate treatment of epilepsy, where their knowledge is lacking.

Leucoplakia is a tobacco-induced or idiopathic white lesion that can potentially degenerate into a cancer. Screening and prompt treatment of such lesions could prevent their malignant transformation. The CO2 laser is one of the techniques actually used to treat leucoplakia. Our study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the CO2 laser in leucoplakia eradication. A systematic review of the literature has been done and the results of clinical studies realized over the last fifteen years have been analyzed. The rate of recurrence, that of malignant transformation and that of healing have been compared among the different studies. Our results have not enabled us to conclude whether CO2 laser is an effective treatment for leucoplakia since its role against malignant transformation of such lesions has not been shown. Randomized controlled studies are therefore necessary., Une leucoplasie est une kératose d'origine idiopathique ou tabagique, pouvant potentiellement dégénérer en un cancer. Le dépistage et le traitement précoce pourrait prévenir empêcher sa transformation maligne. L'une des thérapeutiques actuelles est l’ablation de la lésion par le laser CO2. Afin d'évaluer l'efficacité du laser CO2 dans l'éradication de la leucoplasie, nous avons réalisé une revue systématique de la littérature. Les données des études cliniques des quinze dernières années ont été analysé. Nous avons comparé les taux de récidive, de transformation maligne et de guérison entre les différentes études. Nos seuls résultats n'ont pas permis de conclure que le laser CO2 empêche la transformation maligne des lésions. Des études randomisées et contrôlées sont donc nécessaires.