Promotion of Anti-Social and Anti-Cultural Behavior by Private Television Dramas in Pakistan

The study is based on content analysis of four dramas from Pakistani private television networks. Two dramas from Hum TV and two dramas from ARY Digital were selected using convenient sampling technique. The variable of violence, language and dressing was developed and content was coding into developed categories. The content analysis showed that there is a significant use of violent behaviors in the dramas of both channels. The study found that there is abundant use of fouls language or verbal violence in the dramas as well. The promotion of foreign or western culture was clearly evident in the dramas of both TV channels. The analysis found that there was clear promotion of antisocial and anti cultural elements by these dramas. &nbsp

The Portrayal of the United States in the Context of Drone Attacks: A Study of Pakistani Print Media

The drone attacks from the United States on the tribal areas of Pakistan were in the spotlight Pakistani media since 2004. These attacks also remained as the debating issue that they have taken lives of incident people along with the terrorists. The present study is an exploratory study about the image of the United States in context to drone attacks. To do so, drawing on framing theory editorials from leading newspapers were analyzed by using the qualitative content analysis method. The study also compared the editorial coverage of two newspapers regarding the image of the United States have been treated in editorials related to the drone attacks. The findings revealed that daily Jang is more inclined to positively present the image of the United States than Nawa-i-waqt. The study also revealed that daily Nawa-i-waqt published editorials on drone attacks more frequently than the daily Jan

Ameliorative effects of alpha lipoic acid, quercetin and ascorbic acid against zinc oxide nanoparticles induced hepatic damage : in vivo

The current study envisioned to evaluate time related protective effect of quercetin, alpha lipoic acid and ascorbic acid on liver of mice against sub-acute exposure of zinc oxide (ZnO-NP) nanoparticle. Male Swiss albino mice (n=72) were randomly divided into eight groups (n=9, each group). G1 received saline solution 0.9%; G2 received quercetin (100 mg/kg b.w); G3 received alpha lipoic acid (100 mg/kg b.w); G4 received ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg b.w); G5 received ZnO-NPs (50 mg/kg b.w); G6 received ZnO-NPs with quercetin; G7 received ZnO-NPs with Alpha lipoic acid and G8 co-treated with ZnO-NPs and ascorbic acid for 21 consecutive days. Body weight, hepatosomatic index and plasma biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase & bilirubin) were estimated. ZnO showed significant increase in body weight and cause alterations in all biochemical parameters. Co-administration of quercetin (100 mg/kg b.w), alpha lipoic acid and ascorbic acid daily along with ZnONPs, significantly ameliorate the dramatic alteration in biochemical parameters and hepatocellular necrosis caused by ZnO nanoparticles. Brine shrimp larvae cytotoxicity assay of ZnO nanoparticles showed 0% mortality. Present study concluded that all three active ingredients showed hepatoprotective effects against nanoparticles induced time dependent toxicity

CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH SEPTICEMIA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical profile of patients with septicemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross sectional case series study of six months was conducted at tertiary care teaching hospital Hyderabad. The admitted patients of age ≥18 years, either gender diagnosed as sepsis were recruited. The diagnosis of sepsis was made by the detail clinical history and examination and relevant investigations. The clinical parameters include fever, hypothermia or hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, leucocytosis or leucopenia, acute altered mental status, thrombocytopenia, hypotension. The etiological diagnosis requires isolation of pathogen from the blood or local site of infection. The Gram staining and culture of the specimen from the site of infection for microbial study was taken. Other relevant laboratory investigations depending upon the requirement were advised accordingly. RESULTS: During six months study period total fifty individuals with sepsis were recruited and studied for detecting the focus of infection. The mean age ±SD for whole population was 55.83±8.95 with male gender predominance 37 (74%). The male gender was predominant 37 (74%), Common co-morbidities observed were diabetes 7(14%), hypertension 5(10%) and chronic liver disease 3(6%). The common source of infection detected were respiratory infection 10(20%), urinary tract infection 8(16%) and wound infection 06(12%). Forty two (84%) patients were recovered while eight (16%) were expired. CONCLUSION: Respiratory and urinary tract infection and wound infections were the most common source of sepsis. KEYWORDS: Septicemia, Infections, Sepsi

Antidiabetic activities of chloroform fraction of Anthocleista vogelii Planch root bark in rats with diet- and alloxan-induced obesity-diabetes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anthocleista vogelii Planch is a medicinal plant traditionally used in West Africa for the management and treatment of diabetes mellitus. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the antidiabetic activities of chloroform fraction (CF) of Anthocleista vogelii Planch root bark in rats with diet- and alloxan-induced obesity-diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inhibitory activities of CF against α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were determined in vitro. Three weeks old rats were fed with high-fat diet for 9 weeks to induce obesity prior to further induction of diabetes using alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight, i.p.). Blood glucose levels and body weight were measured every 7 days throughout the experiment. Glucose tolerance was assessed in normal and CF-treated rats on day 21. Terminal blood samples were collected from sacrificed animals for the measurement of serum insulin levels. Pancreases were excised from treated and untreated animals for histopathological examination. RESULTS: LCMS/MS chromatographic profile of CF via positive and negative modes revealed 13 and 23 compounds respectively. Further analysis revealed quebrachitol (QCT), loganin, sweroside, oleoside 11-methyl ester and ferulic acid, which have been previously reported for their antidiabetic activities, as constituents of CF. CF inhibited activities of α-amylase (IC50 = 51.60 ± 0.92 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 5.86 ± 0.97 µg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of animals with obesity-diabetes with 100 and 200 mg/kg CF significantly improved glucose tolerance (P < 0.001) and enhanced serum insulin levels (P < 0.05) compared to diabetic control rats. CONCLUSIONS: Antidiabetic activities of CF might be mediated via inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, elevation of serum insulin concentration, and enhancement of insulin and leptin sensitivity in obesity-diabetes rats. This study further substantiates the traditional use of A. vogelii in the management and treatment of diabetes in Africa and encourages further studies to investigate its mechanism of action

Study protocol of DIVERGE, the first genetic epidemiological study of major depressive disorder in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Globally, 80% of the burdenof major depressive disorder (MDD) pertains to low- and middle-income countries. Research into genetic and environmental risk factors has the potential to uncover disease mechanisms that may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, yet has so far been largely limited to participants with European ancestry from high-income countries. The DIVERGE study was established to help overcome this gap and investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in Pakistan. METHODS: DIVERGE aims to enrol 9000 cases and 4000 controls in hospitals across the country. Here, we provide the rationale for DIVERGE, describe the study protocol and characterise the sample using data from the first 500cases. Exploratory data analysis is performed to describe demographics, socioeconomic status, environmental risk factors, family history of mental illness and psychopathology. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Many participants had severe depression with 74% of patients who experienced multiple depressive episodes. It was a common practice to seek help for mental health struggles from faith healers and religious leaders. Socioeconomic variables reflected the local context with a large proportion of women not having access to any education and the majority of participants reporting no savings. CONCLUSION: DIVERGE is a carefully designed case-control study of MDD in Pakistan that captures diverse risk factors. As the largest genetic study in Pakistan, DIVERGE helps address the severe underrepresentation of people from South Asian countries in genetic as well as psychiatric research

Study protocol of DIVERGE, the first genetic epidemiological study of major depressive disorder in Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, 80% of the burdenof major depressive disorder (MDD) pertains to low- and middle-income countries. Research into genetic and environmental risk factors has the potential to uncover disease mechanisms that may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, yet has so far been largely limited to participants with European ancestry from high-income countries. The DIVERGE study was established to help overcome this gap and investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in Pakistan. METHODS: DIVERGE aims to enrol 9000 cases and 4000 controls in hospitals across the country. Here, we provide the rationale for DIVERGE, describe the study protocol and characterise the sample using data from the first 500 cases. Exploratory data analysis is performed to describe demographics, socioeconomic status, environmental risk factors, family history of mental illness and psychopathology. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Many participants had severe depression with 74% of patients who experienced multiple depressive episodes. It was a common practice to seek help for mental health struggles from faith healers and religious leaders. Socioeconomic variables reflected the local context with a large proportion of women not having access to any education and the majority of participants reporting no savings. CONCLUSION: DIVERGE is a carefully designed case-control study of MDD in Pakistan that captures diverse risk factors. As the largest genetic study in Pakistan, DIVERGE helps address the severe underrepresentation of people from South Asian countries in genetic as well as psychiatric research

Pakistani Media Users: From Political information Repertoires to Political Participation

In this study using the repertoire approach the effect of the nature of the media use and its impact on political knowledge, political efficacy, and political participation was observed. The survey of 200 respondents was conducted which were randomly selected from two cities and two villages of Punjab. Latent class analysis was performed to find the hidden groups present in the data based on education, income, and traditional and social media use representing the constitution of the population of Pakistan. Further analysis was done based on the four groups thus obtained. It was hypothesized that richer media repertoires provide political information, information increases political knowledge and interest which thus, increases the political efficacy which is then translated into active traditional participation. The results revealed that effect of media repertoire on political participation appear to be influenced by the socioeconomic status of the media users. The groups having richer media repertoires and higher income level do show higher political interest and knowledge but tend to have lower political efficacy, and therefore less political participation. While opposite is true for the media users with lower income level