Holistic Approach in the Management of Depression: A Review

Emotions are the basic feelings of human beings. All of us have felt unhappy, “down,” or discouraged at times in our lives. But when somebody feels anxious, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, hurt, restless or irritable, it comes under the categorization of depression. Depression is a disorder of mood that produces sad feelings, negative thoughts, disruptions of sleep, appetite, thinking, and energy level. Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression. The burden of depression is 50% higher for females than males. USM enlists whole Usool-e-ilaj of depression under the heading of ilaj bil ghiza, ilaj bil dawa and ilaj bil tadbeer. In ilaj bil dawa many drugs have been used for the treatment of depression but herbal medications in psychiatry are under research while more than 20 herbal remedies have been identified that may potentially be applied in medicine as anti-depressive, anxiety-relieving or sleep-inducing agents.

The Silent Threat Below: A Comprehensive Analysis of Manhole Gases and Health Effects

Manhole gases, often hidden underground in cities, can be really harmful to our health. This review looks at all the important aspects of these gases. It starts by talking about the different types of manhole gases, where they come from, and how common they are in cities. Then, it explains how people can be exposed to these gases, either by breathing them in or through their skin, with real-life examples to help understand better. Next, it talks about how these gases can make people sick, both in the short term with symptoms like dizziness and in the long term, leading to problems like lung diseases or issues with the brain. It also mentions that some people, like kids and older folks, are more at risk. To protect people from these dangers, the review suggests a few important ideas. It says we need to make sure workers and anyone near manholes are safe by following strict rules and using special gear. We also need to come up with new technologies and ideas to find and stop these gases from being a problem. Everyone must know about these risks, so there should be campaigns to tell people how to stay safe. In short, this review tells us that manhole gases are a serious concern for our health in cities. But by using smart strategies and keeping an eye out for these dangers, we can make sure everyone stays safe

Phytochemistry and Medicinal Importance of Honey - A Review

Honey is the God gift to human being and has been successfully used for medicinal purpose since antiquity. The medicinal and nutritional properties of honey depend on its chemical constituents. Although the chief constituents are sugars and water, but the presence of other composition as Carbohydrate, Proteins, Vitamins as well as minerals make it very beneficial for nutritional, preservative and therapeutic properties as well. Pharmacological profile of honey is quite large as being having anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune modulator and anti-cancerous activities as revealed by various studies. Present paper provides a brief review of Phytochemistry and medicinal properties of honey

Do Mergers and Acquisitions Vacillate the Banks Performance? (Evidence from Pakistan Banking Sector)

Today economy of Pakistan is facing the financial, security and political problems due to which its economic growth badly disturbed. This research has been conducted to analyse either merger and acquisition increased or decreased the performance of Pakistani banks. Secondary purpose of this research paper is to provide information to bankers, government authorities, banking employees, investors and other stake holders. It also helps to the new researchers through its literature. Financial ratios such as profitability ratios (ROA,ROE...) liquidity ratios(DTA,ATD,CTA), investment ratios (ROI, EPS) and solvency ratios (DE, IC, DR) are used to analyze the impact of Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on banks performance in Pakistan. After analyzing the merger and acquisition literature and financial ratios results it is found that not all banks which go through deal of this process (M&A) and they have not shown significant enhancement in performance and gain on equity when compared to their performance before the deals.  Additionally, it is concluded that M&A have negative relationship with banks performance in Pakistan and it is suggested to Pakistani banking corporations that they should make feasible financial analysis before going to M&A deal. This research relied much on the publically available data for a sample of Pakistani Banks listed in Karachi Stock exchange. It is difficult to collect data of mergers and acquisitions of banks before 2006 and implementation of quantitative analysis. This study results will apply in Pakistan financial sector or in those developing countries which financial environment is same as Pakistan. This study is useful for the banks, employees of banks, Proprietors, Government authorities, insurance companies and manufacturing firms. These above mentioned organizations can developed their capabilities to deal with equitably and effectively to solve the social professional problems of affecters. The value of paper easily identified through its topic, it is not only a specific study of Pakistani banking performance but it may leads toward knowledge about all developing countries banking performance. It may be the first kind of paper that offers evidences on the M&A impact on Pakistani banks profitability which uses a lot of ratios and banks have been used. This study provides useful information that keeps the great value for decision makers (management), businessmen, academics and other stakeholders. Key words: Merger & Acquisition, financial ratios, financial institutions performance, Pakistan

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as inflammatory marker for clinical prediction and disease severity evaluation of preeclampsia

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder that complicates 4-6% of pregnancies and constitutes a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. About 10-15% of maternal deaths are directly associated with PE and eclampsia. The aim of this study is to compare the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values of mild and severe PE with the healthy normotensive pregnant women, in order to study the predictive role of NLR for PE and whether the NLR value has significant difference between normotensive pregnancy, severe and mild PE. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted from January to July 2022 after proper informed consent and ethical clearance. The study population included 194 pregnant women divided into three groups (97 normotensive, 55 mild PE, 42 with severe PE). All the study participants were statistically compared in respect to NLR and the baseline data including age, parity and gestational age. Results: Maternal NLR in mild PE group was statistically increased when compared to normotensive healthy women (p<0.05). Similarly, NLR was significantly higher in severe PE group when compared with normotensive pregnancy group (p=0.00). A statistically significant positive correlation was also seen between SBP (systolic blood pressure) and NLR in PE group (p<0.05). Conclusions: NLR can be used as an inflammatory marker for clinical prediction and disease severity evaluation of PE but further cohort studies are required to determine and establish its role

Pre-eclampsia and platelet indices: a cross sectional study

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a complex disease process originating at the maternal- fetal interface that affects multiple organ systems. The exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not known but it is considered to be associated with endothelial cell dysfunction, increased inflammatory responses and hypercoagulability. The receptors located on platelets are activated in pre-eclampsia by several proteases plus the vasoconstriction associated with preeclampsia leads to platelet activation which can be evaluated by platelet indices like platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and palteletcrit (PCT). The objective of this study was to compare the platelet count and platelet indices- MPV, PDW, and PCT in patients with pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnant women.Methods: A cross sectional study which included a total of 204 patients divided into two groups (102 pre-eclampsia and 102 control. The patients were compared for platelet count and platelet indices like MPV, PDW and PCT.Results: The platelet count (PC) was decreased in pre-eclampsia group as compared to control group with statistically significant difference in means between the two groups (p<0.05). The MPV and PDW also showed significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05) with preeclampsia group having increased MPV and PDW values. The PCT value was lower in pre-eclampsia group as compared to control group but it did not reach statistically significant level.Conclusions: In pre-eclampsia patients while as MPV and PDW showed increased value as compared to control group and the difference between the two had statistical significance, platelet count was lower in them and had statistical significance when compared to control group. Therefore these platelet indices and platelet count can be used to predict and prevent complications arising from preeclampsia

Electrocardiographic pattern in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major cause of poor pregnancy outcome and complicate ~6-11% of all pregnancies. When diagnosed during pregnancy, hypertension disorders escalate the maternal risk of placental abruption, cerebrovascular accident and disseminated intravascular coagulation, as well as fetal risk of intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine death and prematurity. Interpretation of the ECG is an important component in the assessment of cardiovascular adaptations during pregnancy. Methods: In this study, 105 pregnant women (gestational age &gt;20 weeks) with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in the range of 18 to 45 years of age were recruited and compared with the equal number of age matched normotensive pregnant women. ECG parameters were compared with those of normotensive pregnant women. Results: There was left axis deviation in 28.6% in HDP group as compared to 10.5% in control group, while as 71.4% and 84.8% had normal axis in HDP and control group respectively, 4.85% in control group had right axis deviation there was statistical significant difference between the two (p&lt;0.05). There was statistically significant difference between the two groups in ECG characteristics of T wave flattening or inversion in lead III, T wave in lead V1, V2 and V3, (p&lt;0.05). The mean QTc interval was found to be 440.28±43.62 msec in HDP women and 417.42±21.74 msec in normotensive control pregnant women and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.000). Conclusions: ECG abnormalities seen in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) include left axis deviation, T wave abnormalities, an alteration of ventricular repolarization as evidenced by prolongation of ECG parameters, such as QTc

Comparison of serum electrolytes with preeclampsia severity: a cross sectional study

Background: Preeclampsia is a common complication of pregnancy that put women and their fetuses at significant risk and result in life long sequelae. The pathogenesis of this important disease is complex as such the role of different serum electrolytes is being investigated as they are considered important for blood pressure regulation.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study of 100 diagnosed cases of preeclampsia divided into mild and severe according to latest International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) guidelines and equal number of age, parity and gestational age matched women (n=100), that acted as control group, with singleton normal pregnancies. Data was analyzed in SPSS V:26. Statistical tests to find out mean standard deviation and One-way ANOVA test were applied to find the significance of associations.Results: In severe preeclampsia group, the mean values of Na+, K+ and Cl- were 134.50±4.24, 4.28±0.74, 106.48±3.41 meq/l respectively in comparison to control group which had 135.57±3.29, 4.12±0.53, 108.20±3.19 meq/l respectively. Results from one way ANOVA showed that there was statistically significant difference between means of the three groups for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), potassium and chloride levels with p<0.05. A post hoc analysis was used to distinguish the differences in means of these parameters.Conclusions: Estimation of readily available serum electrolytes of sodium potassium and chloride during the course of pregnancy can help to identify and treat preeclampsia and thus reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women

Frequency of Incidental Durotomy during Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease

Objective:&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the most common treatments performed in a neurosurgical facility for lower back pain and claudication is degenerative lumbar spine surgery. The study aimed to determine the frequency of incidental durotomy during surgery for degenerative lumbar spine diseases. Materials and Methods:&nbsp;&nbsp;In this study, a total of 95 patients were included from the Department of Neurosurgery, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. After the patient’s selection, their history, examination, and investigations, surgery was carried out by consultant neurosurgeons. Per-operatively unintentional dural tears were identified as rent in dura with or without CSF leak and were either repaired primarily or by applying fibrin glue if the repair was not possible. Results:&nbsp;&nbsp;The mean age was 38 ± 12.62 years. Fifty-eight percent of patients were male and 42% of patients were females. More than 6% of patients had incidental durotomy while 94% of patients didn’t have incidental durotomy. Recurrent disc prolapse was found in 5% of the cases. One percent of incidental durotomy patients were also recurrent instances, accounting for 6% of the total. Whereas 95% of patients did not require a durotomy, the surgery went smoothly. Conclusion:&nbsp;&nbsp;The frequency of incidental durotomy was 6% during surgery for degenerative lumbar spine diseases. Keywords:&nbsp;&nbsp;Incidental durotomy, Degenerative Lumbar Spine, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Surger

Liver and renal biochemical parameters in preeclampsia: a cross sectional study

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a multisystem disorder of human pregnancy with a genetic predisposition. It occurs more frequently in first pregnancies and leads to elevation in blood pressure and mainly affects maternal renal, cerebral, hepatic and clotting functions. This study evaluated biomarkers of renal and liver function among preeclamptic women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 150 preeclamptic women and 150 normotensive healthy pregnant women in hospital. The baseline data comprising age, gestational age, and blood pressure were obtained. Serum urea, creatinine, and plasma levels of liver enzymes ALT and AST, total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose were measured. Results: The plasma total protein, and albumin in preeclamptic group were significantly decreased (p&lt;0.05) when compared with control. There was statistically significant increase (p&lt;0.05) in urea creatinine, glucose, serum AST, and ALT activities in preeclamptic group. Conclusions: Preeclampsia has harmful effects on renal and liver function as shown by alteration of these parameters