Human Security and Energy Security: A Case Study of Pakistan

In recent decades, use of energy has greatly evolved to become a vital human security element. In developed countries energy security (ES) is regarded as one of the fundamental pillars of national energy frameworks and developmental goals. Pakistan is facing acute level of energy insecurity manifested by issues such as lack of access to grid, gap between demand and supply, import dependency and soaring energy prices. Climate change, a phenomenon closely related to human use of energy, is also posing serious threats to not only the environmental and ecological scenarios of the country but also wider socio-economics. Energy policies remain entrapped within the narrow spectrum of meeting energy requirements, lacking a balanced approach to the emerging needs of reliable and sustainable supply chain. The existing energy scenario emphasizes the need for featuring the human welfare parameters in the energy policy discourse. This study critically examines the human security aspects of the energy scenario. The paper underscores the need for including human security as an integral element in the energy policy for ensuring sustainable socio-economic progress. </p

A view of HIV--infection in Karachi

A prospective study on the prevalence of HIV-l infection in Karachi, Pakistan was conducted over a period of six years (1986-1992). Over 15,000 individualsamples and more than 32,000 donor units of individuals residing in Karachi at the time of sample co llection were tested for HIV-I infection by our screening test EIA which revealed a positivity rate of 0.23% and 0.003% in individual and donor units respectively by Western Blot. We divided patients into four groups A,B,C and D based on the most plausible cause of transmission. The largest number of positive patients belonged to group B, who were of either foreign origin or expatriates or Pakistanis settled abroad. They comprised approximately 67% of the total positive cases and were subjected to testing on strong clinical grounds. In individuals of other groups like group A and D, there was history of travel abroad from time to time. The only positive donor unit (group C) belonged to a person who had been li ving in Middle East for the last 10-12 years. The last group D comprised of samples that wer e directly sent to us without complete history,except for the fact that they had been travelling back and forth. The large majority of patients fell in 20-50 years age group. Despite the limitations of this study, we conclude that the prevalence of HIV is steadily Increasing in our population and so far, we have no been able to find an indigenous case of AIDS in our serie

Spot urine protein: creatinine ratio versus 24 hour urine protein at various levels of GFR patients referred to a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of random single voided urine protein: creatinine ratio to twenty four hour urine protein at different levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Pakistani population. METHODS: A total of 107 patients were included in this cross section study. Patients were divided into five groups according to the GFR. Spot urine protein: creatinine ratio and 24 hour urine protein was measured by the standard methods. The correlation coefficient ( r) between the two was calculated in each group separately. RESULTS: The GFR in groups 1 to 5 was \u3e or =90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and /minute/1.73 m2 respectively. In group one correlation coefficient r was 0.96, in group two r was 0.81, in group three r was 0.94, in group four r was 0.82 and in group five r was 0.80. CONCLUSION: Random single voided urine protein: creatinine ratio may be used as an alternative to 24 hour urine collection for protein at all levels of GFR in Pakistani population

Histopathological Pattern in Adult Nephrotic Syndrome: A Single Center Study from Karachi

Nephrotic syndrome is one of the most common indications of renal biopsy. It is essential to have tissue diagnosis in these patients for instituting the correct treatment. Several studies are available from other centers in Pakistan. Our study is useful addition to this pool of information. It will help the researchers and clinicians equally in better understand the disease pattern of kidney diseases in Pakistan. The objective of this study is to determine the histopathological pattern of the kidney diseases in patients who presented to Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan with the diagnosis of Nephrotic syndrome. Kidney biopsy data of ten years from 2003 to 2012 was reviewed to select the cases with the diagnosis o

Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Female Doctors: A Cross Sectional Study from Rawalpindi

Introduction:&nbsp;Studies have shown that toiling in the medical field, especially in comparison to other professions is stressful. There is evidence that depression leads to reduced productivity in the workplace. Poor clinical judgement, increased chances of error in patient care and absenteeism all lead to reduced quality of work. Female doctors, in particular, are vulnerable to mental health issues owing to elements such as bullying, workplace sexual harassment, long working hours, frantic shifts, and domestic commitments. Materials and Methods:&nbsp;Over a six-month period (June 2020 to November 2020), we conducted a cross-sectional survey in three tertiary care hospitals in Rawalpindi, two of which were public sector and one private sector. We collected 328 samples by means of non-probability consecutive sampling. We used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), a 42-item questionnaire via Lovibond and Lovibond with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89. Mean and SD of DASS total and subscale scores were compared for subjects stratified by age, marital status, designation, hospital status, and monthly household income via Student t-test and ANOVA. Results:&nbsp;The total mean DASS score reported by our participants was 31±26.92. Total mean DASS scores were significantly greater in House Officers and decreased as the designation rank increased (p=0.007). Mean DASS subscale scores showed that the junior female doctors were significantly more anxious (p=0.004) and depressed (p=0.041) compared to the senior doctors. However, there was no significant difference in stress scores, indicating that all the female doctors that participated were experiencing stress regardless of their designation. There was also no significant difference in DASS scores between private and public sector hospitals. Conclusion:&nbsp;Female doctors working in tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi reported depression, anxiety, and stress. Steps need to be taken to reduce risk factors for these mental health issues in order to boost workplace satisfaction and productivity

Interference and estimation of economic threshold level of Alternanthera philoxeroides in maize (Zea mays L.)

Knowledge of economic threshold of emerging invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligatorweed) is important to implement timely, efficientand economical weed control method for profitable maize production. Two-year field study consisting  fivedensity levels of A. philoxeroides viz. 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 plants m-2 was conducted  to estimate the maize grain yield losses at different density levels and to determine  economic threshold level (ETL) of A. philoxeroides . Maximum weed dry biomass (44.28 g m-2), N (9.02 kg ha-1), P (7.91-6.86 kg ha-1) and K (7.99 kg ha-1) were observed at 8 plants m-2 A. philoxeroides density. The same weed density caused highest reduction maize plant height, number of grains per cob, 100 grain weight, grain weight per cob and biological yield of maize. Higher A. philoxeroides density also caused up to 62% reduction in maize grain yield and 21% reduction in grain protein contents as compared to weed free. ETL of A. philoxeroides was estimated to be 0.47 plants m-2, if this weed controlled chemically. Based on current finings complete control of this weed using chemical weed control is suggested to tackle yield losses in grain maize

GENITOFEMORAL NERVE BLOCK AND INTRAOPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN CHILDREN DURING INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR

ABSTRACT Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks has been widely used in children undergoing inguinal herniorraphy. This technique may provide insufficient intraoperative analgesia as the inguinal region may receive innervation from genitofemoral nerve. We proposed that the addition of genitofemoral nerve block might improve the quality of analgesia. The objective was to find the efficacy of genitofemoral nerve block in addition to ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block for better intraoperative pain management in children under going inguinal hernia repair under general anaesthesia. After informed consent, 100 children of 1-10 yrs of age and ASA I or II status undergoing inguinal hernia repair were selected and divided in group I and II of 50 patients each. After induction of general anaesthesia, Group I patients received ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric block using bupivacaine 0.375% at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg, where as patients in group II were given genitofemoral in addition to ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks using bupivacaine 0.375% at a dose of 0.375 mg/kg at each site. Changes in heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures were recorded before the start of surgery, at skin incision, at sac traction and at the end of surgery as a measure of efficacy of the block. Haemodynamic data was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. The two groups showed increase in (Heart Rate) but the increase was lesser in group II at sac traction (p&lt;0.05). In group I all patients had an increase in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure at sac traction while the patients in group II showed no change during the study period (p&lt;0.05). We conclude that the addition of a genitofemoral nerve block to ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks may contribute to haemodynamic stability during sac traction indicating better pain relief

Financial and social efficiency of microcredit programs of partner organizations of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund.

This paper examines the financial and social efficiency of the microcredit programs offered by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund partner organizations. Panel data concerning variables of interest are collected from Pakistan Microfinance Network, covering a minimum of 14 partner organizations (in 2005) to a maximum of 35 partner organizations (in 2014). The data is analyzed using the Data Envelopment Analysis, assuming both constant and variable returns to scale scenarios and the operational scale of the partner organizations. Trends in average efficiency scores have been analyzed to assess the mission drift of the partner organizations. Results reveal that managerial inefficiency is more pronounced than the sub-optimal production scale in all three scenarios under consideration. Moreover, trends in the efficiency scores indicated a slight mission drift of the microfinance providers. About 77.5% of the partner organizations were financially sustainable over the entire study period. The study recommends providing objective-oriented training, workshops, and seminars for managing microfinance providers