Institutionalization of community participation in rural water supply, Pakistan

Community participation is a basic requirement for improving financial and managerial capacity for operation and maintenance of rural water supply schemes. Institutionalization of community participation requires a detailed action plan, which involves institutional reforms in the public sector as well as the formation of effective village and women’s organizations. In Pakistan, the Public Health Engineering Department was reorganized to include three new departments: Community Participation, Human Resources and Training, and MIS. The project teams were hired and trained to assist villages in carrying out the community participation process. This process includes formation of representative village development associations (VDA) and women’s organizations, conduct of regular meetings, collection of user fees, health and hygiene education, and provision of in-kind contribution. After the completion of water supply schemes, VDAs are required to takeover operation and maintenance. The post-operational study shows that this approach has helped to improve willingness to pay (WTP) due to improved quality and reliability of water supply

Transgenerational effect of the endocrine disruptor vinclozolin on male spermatogenesis

The current study was designed to examine the actions of a model endocrine disruptor on embryonic testis development and male fertility. Pregnant rats (F0) that received a transient embryonic exposure to an environmental endocrine disruptor, vinclozolin, had male offspring (F1) with reduced sper-matogenic capacity. The reduced spermatogenetic capacity observed in the F1 male offspring was transmitted to the subsequent generations (F2–F4). The administration of vinclozolin, an androgen receptor antagonist, at 100 mg/kg/day from embryonic day 8–14 (E8–E14) of pregnancy to only the F0 dam resulted in a transgenera-tional phenotype in the subsequent male offspring in the F1–F4 generations. The litter size and male/female sex ratios were similar in controls and the vinclozolin generations. The average testes/body weight index of the postnatal day 60 (P60) males was not significantly different in the vinclozolin-treated generations compared to the controls. However, the testicular spermatid number, as well as the epididymal sperm number and motility, were significantly reduced in the vinclozolin generations compared to the control animals. Postnatal day 20 (P20) testis from the vinclozolin F2 generation had no morphological abnormalities, but did have an increase in spermatogenic cell apoptosis. Although the P60 testis morphology was predominantly normal, the germ cell apoptosis was significantly increased in the testes cross sections of animals from the vinclozolin generations. The increase in apoptosis was stage-specific in the testis, with tubules at stages IX–XIV having the highest increase in apoptotic germ cells. The tubules at stages I–V also had an increase in apoptotic germ cells compared to the control samples, but tubules at stages VI–VIII had no increase in apoptotic germ cells. An outcross of a vinclozolin generation male with a wild-type female demonstrated that the reduced spermatogenic cell phenotype was transmitted through the male germ line. An outcross with a vinclozolin generation female with a wild-type male had no phenotype. A similar phenotype was observed in outbred Sprague Dawley and inbred Fisher rat strains. Observations demonstrate that a transient exposure at the time of male sex determination to the antiandrogenic endocrine disruptor vinclozolin can induce an apparent epigenetic transgenerational phenotype with reduced spermatogenic capacity

Impact of identity politics on education in Pakistan: a comparison between Balochistan and Punjab

This research paper examines the impact of ethnic identity based politics on education in Pakistan through in-depth interviews with young professionals from Balochistan and Punjab. Findings suggest that there is the Punjabi-dominated power structure results in an unequal allocation of financial resources, whereby Balochistan lacks the financial resources to invest in education development. In addition, political instability caused by unprecedented ethnic strife contributes towards poor quality education, which, as a result, adversely impacts a Balochi's future course of life. On the other hand, Punjabis are at an advantage in the public arena because of their robust educational foundation

A Retrospective Analysis of 5,195 Patient Treatment Sessions in an Integrative Veterinary Medicine Service: Patient Characteristics, Presenting Complaints, and Therapeutic Interventions

Integrative veterinary medicine, the combination of complementary and alternative therapies with conventional care, is increasingly prevalent in veterinary practice and a focus of clinical instruction in many academic teaching institutions. However, the presenting complaints, therapeutic modalities, and patient population in an integrative medicine service have not been described. A retrospective analysis of 5,195 integrative patient treatment sessions in a veterinary academic teaching hospital demonstrated that patients most commonly received a combination of therapeutic modalities (39% of all treatment sessions). The 274 patients receiving multiple modalities were most frequently treated for neurologic and orthopedic disease (50.7% versus 49.6% of all presenting complaints, resp.). Older neutered or spayed dogs (mean age = 9.0 years) and Dachshunds were treated more often than expected based on general population statistics. Acupuncture, laser therapy, electroacupuncture, and hydrotherapy were frequently administered (>50% patients). Neurologic patients were more likely to receive acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and therapeutic exercises but less likely than orthopedic patients to receive laser, hydrotherapy, or therapeutic ultrasound treatments (P<0.05). The results suggest that the application of these specific modalities to orthopedic and neurologic diseases should be subjected to increased evidence-based investigations. A review of current knowledge in core areas is presented

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ1, TGFβ2 and TGFβ3) null-mutant phenotypes in embryonic gonadal development

The role transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) isoforms TGFb1, TGFb2 and TGFb3 have in the regulation of embryonic gonadal development was investigated with the use of null-mutant (i.e. knockout) mice for each of the TGFb isoforms. Late embryonic gonadal development was investigated because homozygote TGFb null-mutant mice generally die around birth, with some embryonic loss as well. In the testis, the TGFb1 null-mutant mice had a decrease in the number of germ cells at birth, postnatal day 0 (P0). In the testis, the TGFb2 null-mutant mice had a decrease in the number of seminiferous cords at embryonic day 15 (E15). In the ovary, the TGFb2 null-mutant mice had an increase in the number of germ cells at P0. TGFb isoforms appear to have a role in gonadal development, but interactions between the isoforms is speculated to compensate in the different TGFb isoform null-mutant mice

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Could Alleviate the Risks of Traumatic Brain Injury – A Mini Review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired brain trauma that occurs when any sudden trauma/injury causes damage to the brain. TBI is characterized by tissue damage and imbalance in the cerebral blood flow and metabolism. It has been established through laboratory experiments that the dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) could reduce the oxidative stress developed in brain due to TBI. The inclusion of omega-3 FA in diet could normalize the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and thus, it could restore the survival of neuronal cells. BDNF improves the synaptic transmission by regulating synapsin 1 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein. The brain tissue analysis of TBI models supplemented with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showed significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, nucleic acid and protein oxidation, thereby promoting neuronal and glial cell survival. Thus, omega-3 FA intake could be considered as a therapeutic option to reduce the secondary neuronal damages initiated by TBI

Pharmacological benefits of active components of natural products against traumatic brain injury - a review

Background: Since the last decade, the therapeutic potentials of natural phenolic antioxidants in human diseases associated with oxidative damage have received great attention. Within the last few years, a rapidly growing number of natural compounds with neuro-protective effects have been described. Many efforts have been made to explore the mechanisms for the neuro-protective properties of natural compounds. This review focuses on the beneficial effects of natural products in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). Numerous epidemiological studies have shown consistent health benefits through the consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts. In this review, we have summarized the protective effects of natural compounds [apocynin, (-)-epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), baicalein, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, hydroxysaffloryellow A, osthole, oxy-resveratrol, pycnogenol, resveratrol, salvianolicacid B, triptolide and wogonin], and omega-3 fatty acid, particularly docosahexaenoic acid and its metabolites, may be used as personalized medicine against TBI and we have also discussed some of the barricades in translating these biofunctional compounds into relevant therapeutics for TBI. Conclusion: The benefits of natural products for traumatic brain injury show high inter-individual variability in their therapeutic effects and thus, this article addresses the intersection between novel therapeutics for traumatic brain injury and personalized medicine that will allow a broader range of interventions including the evidence-based natural products.18 page(s

Effect of preterm birth on blood pressure in later life: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Preterm birth is linked to various complications in both infancy and adulthood. We assessed the association between preterm birth and hypertension in adulthood. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL Register were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing systolic and diastolic blood pressures in individuals born preterm and those born full-term, from inception till April 11th, 2022. Data were extracted, pooled, and analyzed. Forest plots were created for a visual demonstration. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included in our meta-analysis. SBP and DBP across all categories (Mean, Ambulatory, Daytime, and Nighttime) were higher in the preterm group compared to the term group. Mean SBP, mean ambulatory SBP, mean daytime SBP and mean nighttime SBP were 4.26 mmHg [95% CI: 3.09–5.43; P < 0.00001], 4.53 mmHg [95% CI: 1.82–7.24; P = 0.001], 4.51 mmHg [95% CI: 2.56–6.74; P < 0.00001], and 3.06 mmHg [95% CI: 1.32–4.80; P = 0.0006] higher in the preterm group, respectively. Mean DBP, mean ambulatory DBP, mean daytime DBP, and mean nighttime DBP were 2.32 mmHg [95% CI: 1.35–3.29; P < 0.00001], 1.54 mmHg [95% CI 0.68–2.39; P = 0.0004], 1.74 mmHg [95% CI: 0.92–2.56; P < 0.0001], and 1.58 mmHg [95% CI: 0.34–2.81; P = 0.01] higher in the preterm group, respectively. Conclusion: Our observations suggest that individuals who were born preterm may have higher blood pressures as compared to those who were born full-term