Bowled over by cricket: impact of tape-ball injuries on the eyes

Abstract PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the type and severity of tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries seen at a tertiary care hospital. DESIGN: A descriptive case series. METHODS: This study included all cases of tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries presenting to the Section of Ophthalmology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2014 to January 2015. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients with tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries were treated during this period. The right eye was involved in most (14/20) of the cases. The commonest presenting symptoms included reduced/blurred vision, ocular pain, redness, and floaters. Sixty percent (12/20) of the affected eyes had a best corrected visual acuity of less than 20/200 at presentation, with the retina being the most commonly involved ocular structure. All patients reported that they were not wearing protective eyewear at the time of trauma. Despite standard management, half of the eyes had severe or total vision loss at the last follow-up (minimum, 3 months), mainly due to retinal damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our study calls for the compulsory use of protective eyewear by cricket players and for countrywide surveillance data on the true burden of this unnoticed preventable cause of unilateral eye injuries and associated vision loss

Poor knowledge--predictor of nonadherence to universal precautions for blood borne pathogens at first level care facilities in Pakistan

Background: We conducted an assessment of knowledge about blood borne pathogens (BBP) and use of universal precautions at first level care facilities (FLCF) in two districts of Pakistan.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey and selected three different types of FLCFs ; public, general practitioners and unqualified practitioners through stratified random sampling technique. At each facility, we interviewed a prescriber, a dispenser, and a housekeeper for knowledge of BBPs transmission and preventive practices, risk perception, and use of universal precautions. We performed multiple linear regression to assess the effect of knowledge score (11 items) on the practice of universal precautions score (4 items- use of gloves, gown, needle recapping, and HBV vaccination).Results: We interviewed 239 subjects. Most of the participants 128 (53%) were recruited from general practitioners clinics and 166 (69.5%) of them were dispensers. Mean (SD) knowledge score was 3.8 (2.3) with median of 4. MBBS prescribers had the highest knowledge score while the housekeepers had the lowest. Mean universal precautions use score was 2.7 +/- 2.1. Knowledge about mode of transmission and the work experience alone, significantly predicted universal precaution use in multiple linear regression model (adR2 = 0.093).CONCLUSION: Knowledge about mode of transmission of blood borne pathogens is very low. Use of universal precautions can improve with increase in knowledge

Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extract emulsion for skin rejuvenation

Purpose: To formulate stable water in oil (W/O) emulsion containing hydroalcoholic crude extract of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves for skin rejuvenation.Methods: Placebo (base) without any plant extract and formulation with 4 % Ziziphus mauritiana extract were prepared by mixing. Samples of the emulsions were subjected to varying storage conditions, i.e., 8, 25, 40 oC and 40 oC + 75 % relative humidity for a period of 4 weeks to predict their stability. During this period, stability parameters, including liquefaction, phase separation, color, electrical conductivity, centrifugation and pH were monitored at specified time intervals. Skin rejuvenation was evaluated using 13 healthy human volunteers over a period of 8 weeks. During this period, various skin parameters such as erythema, melanin level, moisture content, elasticity and sebum content of the skin were evaluated at specified intervals.Results: Both the active formulation and placebo were stable in terms of liquifaction, phase separation and color at all the storage conditions of temperature and humidity. Active formulation showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in skin melanin as well as in skin moisture and sebum levels, whereas these properties were reduced or even absent in the placebo formulation (p > 0.05). Both active and placebo formulations changed skin elasticity and erythema significantly (p < 0.05).Conclusion: İt is evident from the findings that the leaf extract of Ziziphus mauritiana possesses antiaging properties as well as exert skin lightening, moisturizing and viscoelastic effects on human skin.Keywords: Ziziphus mauritiana, Melanin, Erythema, Sebum, Skin-tlightening, Moistirizing, Anti-agin

Impact of Relationship, Task & Role Conflict on Teaching Performance in Educational Institutes

Conflict related to interpersonal issues, personal taste, values, and lack of clarity towards their work. This study & its results examined that; how teachers/Professors respond to above mentioned conflicts. Because Interpersonal conflict among the organizations is a latest research area that increasingly getting importance in today’s competitive business environment. Questionnaires were used for the feedback purpose which elaborates about role conflict and employee’s performance. 158 valid responses gathered in two weeks. Data was processed and analyzed via statistic software i.e. SPSS. The results revealed that relationship conflict, task conflict and role conflict has significant impact on employees performance. High correlations among relationship conflict, task conflict, and role conflict on teacher’s performance were found from this study. And there exits inverse relationship between relationship & role conflict with employee’s performance and positive with task conflict. Special techniques and strategies should be applied for minimizing the relationship and role conflicts amongst the employees in an organization in order to obtain maximum out of them

Differential Role for CD80 and CD86 in the Regulation of the Innate Immune Response in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis

Inflammation in the early stages of sepsis is governed by the innate immune response. Costimulatory molecules are a receptor/ligand class of molecules capable of regulation of inflammation in innate immunity via macrophage/neutrophil contact. We recently described that CD80/86 ligation is required for maximal macrophage activation and CD80/86(-/-) mice display reduced mortality and inflammatory cytokine production after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). However, these data also demonstrate differential regulation of CD80 and CD86 expression in sepsis, suggesting a divergent role for these receptors. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the individual contribution of CD80/86 family members in regulating inflammation in sepsis.CD80(-/-) mice had improved survival after CLP when compared to WT or CD86(-/-) mice. This was associated with preferential attenuation of inflammatory cytokine production in CD80(-/-) mice. Results were confirmed with pharmacologic blockade, with anti-CD80 mAb rescuing mice when administered before or after CLP. In vitro, activation of macrophages with neutrophil lipid rafts caused selective disassociation of IRAK-M, a negative regulator of NF-kappaB signaling from CD80; providing a mechanism for preferential regulation of cytokine production by CD80. Finally, in humans, upregulation of CD80 and loss of constitutive CD86 expression on monocytes was associated with higher severity of illness and inflammation confirming the findings in our mouse model.In conclusion, our data describe a differential role for CD80 and CD86 in regulation of inflammation in the innate immune response to sepsis. Future therapeutic strategies for blockade of the CD80/86 system in sepsis should focus on direct inhibition of CD80

Comparison of analgesic effects of gabapentin and paracetamol post-operatively in patients with hand injury

Objective: Compare the analgesic effects of Gabapentin and Paracetamol post-operatively in patients with hand injury. Methods: This double blind, randomized control trial was conducted at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi; during March to August 2019. Fifty participants with hand injury and age ranged 18-60 were enrolled through consecutive sampling; while patients with multiple traumas, psychiatric illnesses, epileptic and pregnant were excluded. Informed written consent was obtained before enrollment of participants. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Gabapentin (600 mg) and Paracetamol (1000 mg) were provided through anonymous packaging. Pain intensity was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) along with self-designed questionnaire which was filled twice post-operatively (first at the time of drug intake once orally allowed and 6 hours later). Computer software SPSS 22 was used for analysis and comparison of results. Results: The analgesic effects of both the groups were analyzed using paired ‘t’ test which revealed statistically significant value i.e. <0.001 for each group. Though; the correlation coefficient was slightly more promising towards Paracetamol group (0.873 and 0.743 for Paracetamol and Gabapentin respectively). While in Gabapentin group there were more change of peaks were observed. Clinically more side effects were found in Gabapentin group. Conclusion: Both the drugs were found to be effective in pain management but Paracetamol had better pain control with relatively less side-effects. Key words: Pain, Hand injury, Gabapentin, Paracetamol. Continuous..

Promotion: A Predictor of Job Satisfaction A Study of Glass Industry of Lahore (Pakistan

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Association of Socioeconomic Position With Under- and Overnutrition in Pakistan

Objective: We assessed the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and under-and overnutrition in Pakistani adults. Methods: In 2006, we conducted a cross-sectional study including adult participants \u3e= 20 years of age (n = 3500) residing in district Khairpur in Sindh province of Pakistan. We categorized body mass index (BMI) into \u3c 18.5 (underweight), 18.6-22.5 (normal BMI), 23-24.9 (preoverweight), 25-29.9 (overweight), and \u3e= 30 (obese). We assessed the association of SEP based on wealth index measured as quintiles of a linear index derived from household assets and utilities score with categories of BMI through multinomial regression with the use of normal BMI as reference category while accounting for sampling design. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, education level, and occupation, there was no significant association of SEP and underweight, whereas SEP was positively associated with the categories of preoverweight, overweight, and obesity. In comparison with the 1st quintile, those in upper wealth quintiles had significantly greater odds of being preoverweight (4th quintile: adjusted odds ratio [adjOR], 1.47, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04-2.08, 5th quintile: adjOR, 1.57, 95% CI, 1.12-2.21), overweight (4th quintile, adjOR, 1.97, 95% CI, 1.43-2.72, 5th quintile: adjOR, 2.66, 95% CI, 1.91-3.69) and obese (4th quintile: adjOR, 2.24, 95% CI, 1.37-3.69, 5th quintile: adjOR, 3.65, 95% CI, 2.14-6.22). Conclusion: Shift from under-to overnutrition across SEP groups is occurring in Pakistan. There is a need for re-evaluating national policies and programs to tackle the growing burden of emerging overnutrition along with rampant under-nutrition

Sharp injuries and their determinants among health care workers at first-level care facilities in Sindh Province, Pakistan

Objectives: To assess the rate and determinants of sharp injuries during the previous 6 months among health care workers at first-level care facilities in two districts of Pakistan. Methods: Cross-sectional survey at public, general practitioners and non-licensed private practitioners selected through stratified random sampling. At each facility, we interviewed a prescriber and a dispenser/injection provider about knowledge of bloodborne pathogens transmission and preventive practices, risk perception, and use of precautions and sharp injuries received during the previous 6 months. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to assess the factors associated with the number of sharp injuries. Results: Fifty-four percentage of the 233 workers had at least one injury during the previous 6 months. The overall rate of sharp injuries per person per year was 3.7, among non-physician prescribers (9%), it was 4.3, among dispensers (69%), it was 3.7, and among physicians (18%), it was 2.1. In the multivariable model, work experience, risk perception and type of health care worker were significantly associated with receiving sharp injuries during the previous 6 months. In the model including dispensers only, a higher knowledge score was associated with fewer sharp injuries, while perceived severity of disease and lack of professional qualification were associated with more. Conclusions: Sharp injuries are common in Pakistan. Better knowledge about modes of bloodborne pathogen transmission and professional qualification may reduce their incidence