Role of Urban Parks in Carbon Sequestration– A Case Study of Safari Park, Karachi, Pakistan

Urban parks besides their recreational use can be the potential source of climate mitigation through carbon sequestration. Present study aims to identify the carbon sequestration potential of Safari Park which is by far the largest public park of Karachi established in 1970 covering an area of 0.72 km2. A total of 153 individual trees belonging to 25 species and 14 families were included in the study. Five dominant species with highest Important Value Index (IVI) were Cocos nucifera (14.62 %), Azadirachta indica (14.21 %), Guaiacum officinale (9.93 %), Washington robusta (9.31 %) and Delonix regia (7.11 %). The highest carbon content was sequestered by C. nucifera (9472 kg) followed by D. regia (7599 kg), W. robusta (3576 kg), A. indica (1861.5 kg) while, C. erectus sequestered the lowest carbon content (765.6 kg). Pearson coefficient of all 5 dominant species showed a significantly positive correlation (p \u3c 0.05) between volume and diameter at breast height (DBH) at 0.80 - 0.93 cm, providing an assumption that trees with high DBH have a greater role in carbon sequestration. With a ratio of 17 native and 8 non-native species, the park can serve as an example of well-balanced and diverse ecosystem (Shanon and Simpson Indices of 2.8 and 0.92) focused on yielding maximum carbon content. Because of its large area with high DBH, Cocos nucifera accumulated the most carbon. The tree composition can be taken as a foundation for urban planners who are focused to integrate species diversity, richness and carbon offsetting requirements while setting up a public park in similar arid and semi-arid conditions

Frequency and outcome of meningitis in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Pakistan

Meningitis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide in intensive care settings. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and outcome in children with meningitis through a retrospective chart review done in pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital from January 2000 to December 2014. During these 14 years, 64 patients were admitted with meningitis in pediatric intensive care unit. Out of 64, 36 were diagnosed with pyogenic meningitis, 18 patients with viral meningitis, and 10 with tuberculous meningitis. Most complications were observed in the initial 48 hours. Most common presentation was altered level of consciouness in 50 (78.1%), seizure in 38 (59.4%), and shock in 23 (35.9%) patients. Ventilatory support was required in 30 (46.9%) patients and inotropic support in 26 (40.6%). During stay in pediatric intensive care unit, there was 7.8% mortality. Although meningitis was an infrequent cause of hospitalization at the study centre, but it was an important infectious cause of mortality and morbidity in pediatric age group and associated with high neurological sequelae

PRIMARY BILATERAL BREAST LYMPHOMA: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND REPORT OF FOUR CASES FROM A SINGLE CENTRE

Primary breast lymphoma is a rare entity and carries poor prognosis, bilateral breast lymphoma is even rarer and carries worst prognosis. Bilateral breast lymphoma is a rare disease and lacks treatment. Out of the 2766 cases of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma registered at our institute from 1994 to 2013, 31 cases of breast lymphoma were found, of which four cases had bilateral involvement. In this review, we describe clinical presentation, histopathological subtypes, treatment administered and outcome of those four cases retrospectively. All patients were female with a median age of 31 years (range 24–64 years). Three patients were diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma detected in one patient. Chemotherapy remained the main treatment modality and surgery (excision biopsy) was reserved for diagnostic purpose only, none of the patients received radiation therapy. Key words: Breast lymphoma, histopathological subtypes, palliation

Serum analyte levels in children: relationship with malnutrition

Malnutrition is the cellular imbalancing among the supply of energy and nutrients which are essential for maintenance, growth and particular functions. It becomes a major cause of mortality of children less than five years of age. The aim of present study to evaluate the serum analytes such as electrolyte (sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca+)), creatinine and blood components in malnourished than healthy children. We had collected the data of 300 malnourished children (100 marasmus, 100 kwashiorkorand, 100 healthy children) with age 6-36 months from Children complex Hospital Multan, Pakistan. Data was analyzed by Paired sample t-test by SPSS software. Then socio-demographic data of their mothers was also collected. The result showed that level of Na+ and creatinine was high whereas, the levels of K+ and Ca+ were lower in both Marasmus and Kwashiorkor than control subjects. The levels of leukocytes, platelets and hemoglobin (Hb) were decreased in both diseases. Erythrocytes (RBCs) level was decreased in Marasmus while increased in Kwashiorkor. It is concluded that inadequate feeding practices, birth order, poverty, illiterate mothers, low nutritional quality of meals responsible for malnutrition. Feasible strategies are needed to address the dietary inadequacies and chronic malnutrition of rural infants

Frequency of types of parturition and their relationship with maternal characteristics: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: The pathways that are involved for the duration of pregnancy and type of parturition are extremely complex, involving maternal as well as fetal systems. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of types of parturition and their relationship with maternal characteristics among pregnant female patients.Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a non-probability convenient sampling technique was conducted among 195 healthy pregnant females at Obstetrics and Gynaecological Department of Hamdard Hospital, Karachi, from 1st March 2019 to 31st August 2019. After taking written informed consent from the participants, the relevant data were gathered with the help of a structured questionnaire designed specifically for the study. Statistical package for social sciences was used for data entry while the chi-square test was applied for inferential analysis. The duration of the study was six months. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Descriptive analysis was performed by generating means and standard deviations for continuous variables while frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. A Chi-square test was applied to perform the inferential analysis while the significance level was set at 0.05.Results: A total of 195 pregnant females were included in the study, whose mean age was 29.29±5.22 years. The study results showed that BMI before pregnancy (p=0.021), rest is taken during pregnancy (p=0.034) and gravida status (p=0.047) were all significantly associated with the type of parturition among the study participants, but spacing in pregnancies and parity were not.Conclusions: Maternal characteristics were found to be significantly associated with the type of parturition among pregnant females. For gynecologists the maternal characteristics identified in this study may serve as a useful indicator of the type of parturition expected in their patients

Effect of Berberine Phytosome on reproductive, dermatologic, and metabolic characteristics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a controlled, randomized, multi-centric, open-label clinical trial

Background: Berberine is a poorly absorbed natural alkaloid widely used as nutraceutical to counteract diarrhoea and to lower cholesterol and hyperglycaemia. It has also been reported to reduce signs and symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Objective: To explore, through a multi-centric, randomized, controlled and prospective study, the possible role played by a form berberine that is more easily absorbed (Berberine Phytosome®, BP) in 130 Pakistani women with a diagnosis of PCOS and fertility problems due to menstrual and ovary abnormalities.Results: Ninety days of supplementation with BP, administered at 550 mg x2/die, determined (i) resumption of regular menstruation in about 70% of women (versus 16% in the control group; p < 0.0001), (ii) normalization of the ovaries anatomy in more than 60% of women (versus 13% in the control group; p < 0.0001), (iii) acne improvement in 50% of women (versus 16% in the control group; p = 0.0409) and (iv) hirsutism reduction in 14% of women (versus 0% in the control group; p = 0.0152). The metabolic and the hormonal profiles of the women in the two groups did not significantly differentiate at the end of the study. BP was well-tolerated and no specific side-effects were registered. Respectively after one, two and 8 years of trying, three women supplemented with BP became and are currently pregnant.Conclusion: Our study showed the positive effects of BP supplementation in women with PCOS and confirmed the high safety profile of this nutraceutical.Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT0548067

MIMIC model of teachers and students attitudes towards online learning during Covid-19: A gender perspective

Academic institutions around the globe have shifted to online learning because of the unpredictable spread of COVID-19. The present study aimed to compare teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards online learning during the pandemic and to examine the effects of gender differences on their attitudes. In study 1, we adapted the Test of eLearning Related Attitudes for Pakistani students in three steps: expert review, piloting, and validation. The individual and collective expert review was performed to adapt the teacher version into the student version using the Technique for Research of Information by the Animation of a Group of Experts (TRIAGE). We tested three sets of measurement invariance models for participants’ status and gender in study 2. Data were collected from 289 university teachers (men = 158, women = 131) and 444 undergraduate students (boys = 156, girls = 287). The results demonstrated that both groups had highly positive yet different attitudes towards online learning. Teachers were more satisfied than students. Model fit was poor, and the overall factor structure, factor loadings, and intercepts varied across groups. Intergroup gender invariance illustrated heterogeneity in attitudes towards online learning favoring men teachers and boy students. Study strengths and implications for the promotion of a positive experience of online learning are discussed

Fatty acid and phenolic profile of oil and mineral composition of green unripe and purple ripe olives (Olea ferruginea)

AbstractThe present study aimed to explore fluctuations in fatty acids and phenolic profiles of olive oil extracted from fruits of Olea ferruginea Royle harvested at green raw and purple ripe stages from the district Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan. First, fruit sampling was conducted on 26th June when green olives appeared on trees; second, purple ripe olives were picked on 26th August. Due to very small size and large pit size, oil is extracted without de-pitting the fruit. High-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) system was used for fatty acid and phenolic profiling of both oil samples. Results showed that fatty acid composition of oil extracted from raw green and ripe purple olives falls in the normal range set for purity criteria for olive oils and olive pomace oils by International Olive Council 2019 except for behenic, caprylic, capric and lauric in both oils and oleic acid and linoleic acid of oil extracted from raw green olives which do fall in standard ranges. Fatty acid composition of the olive oil showed that the oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (range 50.71% in oil of green olives and 58.77% in oil of ripe purple olives), polyunsaturated fatty acids (range 30.45% in oil of raw green olives and 19.32% in oil of ripe purple olives) and saturated fatty acids (range 15.27–18.58% in olive oil obtained from raw green and ripe purple olives). SFAs showed least variation with ripening stages. There was high concentration of total phenolics in oil obtained from green raw olives (33.41 mg kg−1) as compared to oil of ripe purple olives (18.49 mg kg−1). The present study revealed that alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherols showed a uniform trend along with ripening of olive fruit, i.e. there is a clear decline in total tocopherol content of olive oil obtained from ripe purple olives. Green raw olives showed high values of α-tocopherol (192.47 mg kg−1), β + γ-tocopherols (233.65 mg kg−1) and δ-tocopherol (1087.48 mg kg−1). The present work concludes that ripening of olive fruit affects chemical composition of olive oil