Prevalence of Essential Hypertension and Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk of Pakistani Adults in Outpatient Setting

Background: To assess the prevalence of essential hypertension and evaluate cardiovascular risk in patients in Pakistan.Methods:This cross-sectional, non-interventional study was conducted at multiple centres throughout Pakistan. Data was collected from patients of either gender, ≥18 years of age, seeking routine medical consultation. Diagnosis and staging of hypertension was carried out using guidelines laid by Seventh Report of Joint National Committee (JNC 7). GenderwiseFramingham scores were calculated based on non-laboratory and laboratory parameters.Results: Out of 2336 patients evaluated, prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was 51.5% and 31.4% , respectively. A total of 501 patients had coprevalent diabetes and hypertension. Ten-yearFramingham scores calculated using non-laboratory parameters showed 56% (947/1693) patients aged ≥30 years were at medium-to-high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While Framingham scores based on laboratory or non-laboratory parameters were not significantly different for men, in women the nonlaboratory based score was higher. Angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers were antihypertensive agents of choice.Conclusions: Since prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in Pakistani adults continues to be on rise and substantial proportion of study population is at medium-to-high risk of developing CVD within the next 10 years, regular BP monitoring and risk scoring is mandated for identification of at-risk population and optimal management of CVD

Isolation, partial purification and evaluation of bioactive compounds from leaves of Ageratum houstonianum

The present study deals with the isolation and partial purification of bioactive compounds from the crude methanol extracts of the leaves of Ageratum houstonianum (Asteraceae). The quantification and the identification of compounds in the crude extract and active bands isolated by preparative TLC were accomplished using GC-MS analysis. The most important compounds identified in the crude extract and active bands (AB-1 and AB-2) were 6-acetyl-7-methoxy-2, 2-dimethylchromene, hexadecanoic acid and squalene, respectively. Crude extract and active bands (AB-1 and AB-2) were investigated for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The crude extract, AB-1 and AB-2 showed maximum zone of inhibition (10-13 mm) against Staphylococcus epidermidis, however, the antibacterial potential of active bands was slightly higher as compared to the crude extract. Dose-dependant increase in antioxidant potential was noticed in crude extract as well as with both active bands measured by DPPH free radicals, ion chelation and total antioxidants capacity. Our study reports various bioactive compounds in the leaves of the A. houstonianum with significant antioxidant and antibacterial potential

Consumer Perception towards Online Marketing in India

The growing use of Internet in India provides varied opportunities for online shopping from both customer and seller perspective. If Electronic marketers (E-Marketers) know the factors affecting online Indian behavior, the relationships between these factors and the type of online buyers, they can further develop their marketing strategies to convert potential buyers into active buyerswhile retainingits original customer base. This study focuses on the factors which online buyers takes into consideration while shopping online. This research will help in finding the impact of e-market on customers' purchasing patterns and how their security and privacy concerns about online marketinginfluences their online buying behavior. The study will further encompass the various important inputs which will equip the marketers for creating online marketing more lucrative and assured by adding value to the existing services

Synthesis of heterogeneous catalyst for the production of biodiesel from soybean oil

This study explore the comparison of a suitable heterogeneous catalyst for conversion of triglyceride into fatty acid methyl ester. A series of heterogeneous cerium, manganese, and zinc oxide catalyst supported at mixture of cinder was prepared by co-precipitation and applied for conversion of triglyceride in oil to biodiesel using methanol as solvent. Results showed that a maximum TG conversion of 99% was obtained in the transesterification reaction catalyzed by CeSO4+MnSO4+K2CO3  catalyst calcinated in 5 h at 600oC under the optimal conditions as catalyst amount of 3%, Ce:Mn:K molar ratio of 1:1:1. The catalytic activity of catalyst at 70 ºC reaction temperature was over 90% after 6h. The experimental data were satisfactorily predicted at 99% confidence level. However, due to high and efficient yield CeSO4+MnSO4+K2CO3 catalyst was identified as the most potential catalyst.Keywords: biodiesel fuel; heterogeneous; trans-esterification; rare earth metals; eco-friendly regent; used oi

Numerical modelling for nanoparticle thermal migration with effects of shape of particles and magnetic field inside a porous enclosure

Computational modelling for nanoparticle migration inside a permeable space has been reported. Impacts of shape factor and radiation were included in the mathematical model. CVFEM was employed to analyse magnetic force impact. Impacts of magnetic radiative parameters, buoyancy forces and nanoparticle shape on nanomaterial behaviour were demonstrated. Utilizing the Darcy model helps us to predict the behaviour of porous media. Outputs revealed higher convective mode can be achieved with augmenting buoyancy force while opposite outcome appears when magnetic field is imposed. Thermal plume vanishes with the rise of conductive mode which is gained as Hartmann increases

A new species of the enigmatic genus \u3cem\u3eChiromachetes\u3c/em\u3e Pocock, 1899 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from Western Ghats, India, with a key to the genus

A new species of hormurid scorpion is described from the Western Ghats of India. Chiromachetes sahyadriensis sp. nov. differs from other members of this genus in the following set of characters: medium sized scorpions, total length reaching 62.9 mm, carapace flat, three pairs of lateral eyes, manus length/width ratio in males 4.6–4.8 and 3.4 in females, tarsi of leg ventrally with three spinoid setae at the base of tarsi. Dentate margin of pedipalp manus finger with two rows of granules fused at base. Pectines 8–9 in males, 6–8 in females. Lamellar hook positioned distinctly in basal half of hemispermatophore in proximity to the lamellae

ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE REGARDING CHILD LABOR IN AGRICULTURE: A CASE STUDY OF COTTON GROWERS IN DISTRICT BAHAWALPUR

The work which affects the education, dignity and health of a child is known as child labor. It exists in agriculture sector of Pakistan mostly in the form of hazardous work. The main objective of the study was to investigate the degree of knowledge of cotton growers on child labor issue with special reference to Decent Work of International Labor Organization (ILO). The study was conducted in Bahawalpur district where Decent Work has been implemented by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Pakistan since 2013 as a part of its Sustainable Agriculture Program. Three categories of farmers were identified among a total of 388 selected cotton growers i.e. Farmers having high level of awareness, farmers having basic level of awareness and farmers having no awareness of child labor. Farmers were also categorized into three groups on the basis of their land holding i.e. (Category ‘a’) 1-7 acres, (b) >7-20 acres and (c) >20-50 acres. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistical method. Among category ‘a’ 7.5%, 88.7% and 3.7% of the farmers had advance, basic and no awareness, respectively. Among category ‘b’ 7.2%, 88.5% and4.2% farmers had advance, basic and no awareness, respectively. Among category ‘c’ 5.8%, 90.2% and 3.9% farmers had advance, basic and no awareness, respectively. Since there was a large proportion of those farmers who have only basic level of awareness on child labor among all the three land holding categories, therefore, there is a need to educate farmers on preventing child labor at their farms to promote sustainable cotton