STUDY TO KNOW INCIDENCE OF DRUG INDUCED HEPATITIS IN PATIENTS USING ANTI- TUBERCULOSIS DRUGS AND REVEALING ITS RISK FACTORS

Objective: To identify risk factors for anti-tuberculous drugs influence hepatitis (ATDH) among tuberculosis patients. Study Design: A retrospective study. Place and Duration: In the Jinnah Hospital, Lahore in Gastroenterology and Pulmonology department for three years period from January 2016 to December 2018 after the approval from the ethical committee of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore Methodology: The medical records of tuberculosis 3056 cases were reported for three years was collected and data analyzed for ATDH done. TB inclusion criteria identified based on the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) has been documented. ATDH and Non-ATDH data were analyzed in the SPSS version 17 and full fisheries and chi-square tests. Results: 198 cases were diagnosed as ATDH which include 66 (33.01%) women and 134 (66.99%) males, 43.2 years was the mean age, SD 9.5 treatment and ATDH as follow up period were selected for the study. ATDH in patients was found to be significant statistically (p = 0.0001, OR: 13.92) (OR: 7.6, p = 0.0002) and (OR: 11.3, p = 0.0001) was the difference between intravenous injection ATDH and HIV infection. Conclusion: ATDH had the highest prevalence among patients suffering from HCV infection, HIV and IVDU infection. Key words: Tuberculosis, drug-induced hepatitis, national tuberculosis program

Industrial clusters and CSR in developing countries: the role of international donor funding

This article contributes to literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) exhibited by industrial clusters in developing countries. The authors conceptualize and empirically investigate the role of donor-funded CSR initiatives aimed at promoting collective action by cluster-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A case study of the Sialkot football-manufacturing cluster in Pakistan indicates that donor-funded support of CSR initiatives in industrial clusters in developing countries may be short-lived, due to the political economy of aid, the national context of CSR implementation, tensions within SME networks, and negative perceptions of CSR by the cluster-based SMEs themselves. The findings and implications of this analysis can inform both research and policy making in this area

The mutational landscape of genetic cholestatic diseases in Pakistani children

Objective: To report the mutational landscape of a clinically diagnosed cohort of paediatric patients with cholestasis liver diseases. Method: The retrospective study was conducted at the University of Child Health Sciences, The Children Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from December 10, 2021, to March 31, 2022, and comprised data collected from the Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology unit on demographics, clinical and laboratory findings related to children of either gender aged <12 years and diagnosed with cholestatic liver disease from July 2018 to June 2021. The diagnosis was based on clinical and biochemical findings, with no evidence of biliary atresia and metabolic liver disease. Molecular characterisation was done through whole exome sequencing. Results: Of the 171 children evaluated, 92(53.8%) were diagnosed with genetic cholestatic disorders. There were 52(56%) boys and 41(44%) girls. The median age at presentation was 19.5 months (interquartile range: 51 months). Consanguinity was found in 82(88.1%) cases, and positive family history with one or more affected siblings was noted in 60(64.5%). Exome sequencing identified pathogenic mutations in 13 genes underlying the hereditary cholestasis; ATP8B1, ABCB11, ABCB4, TJP2, NR1H4, DCDC2, ACOX2, AKR1D1, HSD3B7, ABCC2, USP53, SLC10A1, and SLC51A. Of the 70 variants identified, 50(71.4%) were novel variants. The ABCB11-related hereditary cholestasis was the most frequent 27(29%), followed by ABCB4 (26(27.9%).  Homozygosity was frequently seen in all except 8(8.6%) children, who had compound heterozygous pathogenic variants. There was no evidence of phenotypic expression in the carrier parents despite the severe nature of the respective mutations identified in the patients. Conclusions: Genetic heterogeneity of paediatric intrahepatic cholestasis showed recurrent and novel mutations. Key Words: Cholestasis, Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, Neonatal sclerosing cholangitis, Genetic mutation, USP53, Bile acid synthetic defects, CLD

Mental and physical health correlates of the psychological impact of the first wave of COVID-19 among general population of Pakistan

The primary aim was to assess the role of mental and physical health of COVID-19 and its psychological impact in the general population of Pakistan during the first wave of COVID-19. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant predictive association among socio-demographic variables, psychological impact and mental health status resulting from COVID-19, and poor self-reported physical health would be significantly associated with adverse psychological impact and poor mental health status because of COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey research design was used in which 1,361 respondents were sampled online during lockdown imposed in the country. The Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) was used to assess participants’ mental health status. 18% of the respondents reported moderate to severe event-specific distress, 22.6% reported moderate to severely extreme depression, 29% reported moderate to extreme anxiety, and 12.1% reported moderate to extreme stress. Female gender, having graduate-level education, currently studying, and self-reported physical symptoms (persistent fever, chills, headache, cough, breathing difficulty, dizziness, and sore throat) were significantly associated with higher levels of psychological impact exhibited through higher scores on the IES-R and poorer mental health status exhibited through higher scores on the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Subscales)

Water pollution remediation: Synthesis and characterization of poly(o-methylaniline)/ZnO/rGO composite for photocatalytic degradation of dyes

Water pollution is growing at an alarming rate, particularly due to the colored waste- water released by the various industries into aquifers and fresh water sources, and in some extreme cases, they have reached the water table. Faisalabad, a city in Pakistan where there is an industrial cluster of textiles dyeing and manufacturers, water table has become undrinkable. The presence of hazardous dyes and chemicals imposes serious health issues on humans, animals, and plants. The treatment of such toxic dye effluents is crucial and could be done by efficient degradation methods such as photocatalysis. The current study presents synthesis of poly(o-methylaniline)/zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (POMA/ZnO/rGO NC) using a chemi- cal oxidative polymerization process and explores its properties as a photocatalyst by demonstrating degradation of three dyes. The composite was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence emission spectroscopy (PL), Brunauer Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), and UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–visible). Further, the photocatalytic activity of POMA/ZnO/rGO NC was evaluated and compared by degrading the direct yellow 12 (DY 12), congo red (CR), and malachite green (MG) dyes in aqueous media under UV irradiation. The results indicated that after 110 min, POMA/ZnO/rGO composite degraded the dyes by 92% (DY 12), 86.1% (CR), and 82.1% (MG), respectively. Moreover, kinetic studies of the photocatalyst were also performed along with reusability test, total organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand, and degradation mechanism

Antioxidant and Gastroprotective Activity of <i>Suaeda fruticosa</i> Forssk. Ex J.F.Gmel

Suaeda fruticosa Forssk. Ex J.F.Gmel is traditionally used for inflammatory and digestive disorders, as a carminative, and for diarrhea. This plant is widely distributed in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. Aqueous methanolic extract of S. fruticosa (Sf.Cr) was prepared and screened for phytoconstituents through qualitative and GC-MS analysis. Quantification of total phenolic and flavonoid contents was performed, while antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, CUPRAC, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The gastroprotective activity was assessed in an ethanol-induced ulcer model. Gastric secretory parameters and macroscopic ulcerated lesions were analyzed and scored for ulcer severity. After scoring, histopathology was performed, and gastric mucus contents were determined. Oral pre-treatment of Sf.Cr demonstrated significant gastroprotection. The gastric ulcer severity score and ulcer index were reduced while the %-inhibition of ulcer was increased dose-dependently. The Sf.Cr significantly elevated the pH of gastric juice, while a decrease in total acidity and gastric juice volume was observed. Histopathology demonstrated less oedema and neutrophil infiltration in gastric mucosa of rats pre-treated with the Sf.Cr in comparison to ethanol-intoxicated animals. Furthermore, the gastric mucus contents were increased as determined by alcian blue binding. Sf.Cr showed marked gastroprotective activity, which can be attributed to antioxidant, antisecretory, and cytoprotective effects