Peaceful Textbooks: A Content Analysis

The advancement of social, economic and political conditions in the present world could not lead to shaping of behaviors desired for a peaceful society. This underpins the call for promotion of global peace through education. The present study examined the primary school text books in terms of peace themes mentioned in the thematic model for peace education curriculum proposed by Balasooriya in 2001. Quantitative content analysis using Shannon Entropy was done to trace the extent of peace themes representation in the text books. Next, thematic analysis was used to yield a comprehensive explanation for triangulation purpose. The sample included all the six text books of grade five - Urdu, English, Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies and Islamiat - taught in public schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was found that peace themes were not integrated into the curriculum of Mathematics while Urdu text book was better aligned with the peace themes mentioned in the model. Keywords: Peace education, primary school, text books, Shannon Entrop

Sustained ethical analysis of global dilemmas and country-level decision making during and post the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of countries worldwide and their abilities to cope with the fast-paced demands of the research and medical community. A key to promoting ethical decision-making frameworks is by calibrating the sustainability at regional, national, and global levels to incorporate coordinated reforms. We performed a sustained ethical analysis and critically reviewed evidence addressing country-level responses to practices during the COVID-19 pandemic using PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and CINAHL. The World Health Organization’s ethical framework proposed for the entire population during the pandemic was applied to thematically delineate findings under equality, best outcomes (utility), prioritizing the worst off, and prioritizing those tasked with helping others. The findings demarcate ethical concerns about the validity of drug and vaccine trials in developing and developed countries, hints of unjust healthcare organizational policies, lack of equal allocation of pertinent resources, miscalculated allocation of resources to essential workers and stratified populations

Courses beyond borders: A case study of MOOC platform Coursera

Purpose: The study assesses the participation of different institutions in online learning environment of Coursera. Collaborative efforts, involvement of instructors and the mode of course instruction were also looked at. Design/Methodology: Data were harvested from the official website of Coursera. Through its various features, information pertaining to courses being offered, subject categorization, institutions and instructors involved was collected, tabulated and analyzed. Findings: As of February 2016, 138 institutions from 28 countries offered 1765 coursers through Coursera with the aid of 1903 instructors. Institutions were mainly from high economic zone countries. Nearly 59 percent courses were from USA based institutions and at institutional level University of Pennsylvania (USA) offered a maximum of 84 courses. Collaboration at institutional level was observed in 32 courses with instructors from different institutions, within & outside the same country. 25 percent courses were related to Business and 33 percent courses provided flexibility (on-demand) to people to learn and enrich their skills at their own pace. Implications: Further research needs to be done to evaluate the efficacy of such platforms and explore best practices to reframe the position of traditional universities. Originality/Value: The study is first of its kind to assess online learning environment with respect to participation of institutions to offer various courses and involvement of instructors from all over the globe to make such a courseware a success

Frequency of Autonomic Neuropathy in Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract Objectives: To determine the frequency of diabetic autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Medical Unit-IV, Services Institute ofMedical Sciences, Lahore. A total of 236 cases fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria were enrolledfrom Medical OPD Services Institute of Medical Science, Lahore. Informed consent of the patientswas taken to include their data in the study. Detailed history for Diabetes Mellitus was taken. All thepatients were undergoing for evaluation of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Presence/absence ofDAN was recorded. All this information was recorded.Results: In our study, frequency of diabetic autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus wasrecorded in 17.80%(n=42) whereas 82.20%(n=194) had no findings of the morbidity.Conclusion: We conclude that the frequency of diabetic autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetesmellitus is not very high, but it varies according to diagnostic criteria and population, however,some-other studies in different health centers of our country is required

Helicobacter Pylori in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus

Abstract Objective: To determine the frequency and association of Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) infection among patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methodology: The study was conducted in Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore. A total of 200 cases fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria were enrolled from Medical OPD Services Institute of Medical Science, Lahore. An informed consent of the patients was taken to include their data in the study. Detailed history for hepatitis C virus was taken. Blood samples were collected and sent to the hospital laboratory for evaluation of presence/absence of H. Pylori in the subjects of HCV. Results: In this study, out of 200 subjects, 32%(n=64) aged 30-50 years while 68%(n=136) aged 51-80 years, and the mean S.D was calculated as 53.99+8.67 years. 54%(n=108) males and 46%(n=92) females were included. The frequency of H. Pylori in subjects with HCV was recorded in 37.5%(n=75) whereas 62.5%(n=125) had no findings of the morbidity. Conclusion: The frequency of H. Pylori is higher in patients of Hepatitis C. &nbsp

Correlation of Immunoglobulin G With Severity Of Psoriasis

Objectives:  To find the correlation of immunoglobulin G with severity of psoriasis. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore/Niazi Teaching Hospital Sargodha. Study duration was six months from January 2020 to June 2020. One hundred patients of psoriasis (confirmed by Dermatologist) were included in the study. Questionnaire based on age, gender, duration of illness, type and severity of problem etc and biochemical test including immunoglobulin G were filled by consented patients. The study comprised into patients and controls groups. Fifty age matched Subjects with no history of skin disease were taken as controls. For immunological assessment, IgG was measured by the technique of ELISA. Results: Mean age of developing of disease was in the range of 36 to 43 years. A few patients have family history with a problem of asthma. High severity of index (59 to 61) in both genders with duration of disease was 4 to 6 years. A direct correlation between level of IgG and disease severity was observed. Conclusion: Increased level of immunoglobulin G and its direct correlation with severity of psoriasis may suggest an activation of 2nd immune defense that try to reduce the severity of disease

Association of Serum Ferritin with Risk of Anemia in Non-Diabetic Adolescents with Family History of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Controversy occurs in the relationship between serum ferritin levels, insulin resistance and risk of developing anemia in adolescents with family history of diabetes. Aims & Objectives: This study was designed to find out the association between serum ferritin levels with risk of developing anemia in non-diabetic adolescents with family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional was conducted in a local medical institute of Lahore. Study included 50 non-diabetic, non-obese male / female adolescent with family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and 50 healthy male/female non-obese adolescents without family history of T2DM considered as controls. Level of serum ferritin and serum insulin was estimated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Blood glucose was estimated by auto-analyzer. Insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA-IR index and beta cell function was assessed by HOMA- beta index. Results: Levels of fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance were found to be increased with decreased level of serum ferritin and decrease beta cell function in both male as well as female cases as compared to controls. Negative correlation was found between serum ferritin and insulin resistance while a positive correlation was found between serum ferritin and beta cell function. Conclusions: Low level of serum ferritin is associated with reduced beta cell function and increased insulin resistance. This may increase the risk of developing iron deficiency anemia that can affect both immune system as well as increase susceptibility to infections

The role of natural products and their multitargeted approach to treat solid cancer

Natural products play a critical role in the discovery and development of numerous drugs for the treatment of various types of cancer. These phytochemicals have demonstrated anti-carcinogenic properties by interfering with the initiation, development, and progression of cancer through altering various mechanisms such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Treating multifactorial diseases, such as cancer with agents targeting a single target, might lead to limited success and, in many cases, unsatisfactory outcomes. Various epidemiological studies have shown that the steady consumption of fruits and vegetables is intensely associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Since ancient period, plants, herbs, and other natural products have been used as healing agents. Likewise, most of the medicinal ingredients accessible today are originated from the natural resources. Regardless of achievements, developing bioactive compounds and drugs from natural products has remained challenging, in part because of the problem associated with large-scale sequestration and mechanistic understanding. With significant progress in the landscape of cancer therapy and the rising use of cutting-edge technologies, we may have come to a crossroads to review approaches to identify the potential natural products and investigate their therapeutic efficacy. In the present review, we summarize the recent developments in natural products-based cancer research and its application in generating novel systemic strategies with a focus on underlying molecular mechanisms in solid cancer