Population Attributable Risk of Unintentional Childhood Poisoning in Karachi Pakistan

Background: The percentage of unintentional childhood poisoning cases in a given population attributable to specific risk factors (i.e., the population attributable risk) which can be calculated, determination of such risk factors associated with potentially modifiable risk factors, are necessary to focus on the prevention strategies. Methods: We calculated PARs, using 120 cases with unintentional poisoning and 360 controls in a hospital based matched case- control study. The risk factors were accessibility to hazardous chemicals and medicines due to unsafe storage, child behavior reported as hyperactive, storage of kerosene and petroleum in soft drink bottles, low socioeconomic class, less education of the mother and the history of previous poisoning. Results: The Following Attrubuted Risks Were Observed: 12% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8%-16%) for both chemicals and medicines stored unsafe, 19% (15%-23%) for child reported as hyperactive, 40% (38%-42%) for storage of kerosene and petroleum in soft drink bottles, 48% (42%-54%) for low socioeconomic status, 38% (32%-42%) for no formal mothers education and 5.8% (2%-10%) for history of previous poisoning. 48% of cases for overall study population which could be attributed to at least one of the six risk factors. Among girls, this proportion was 23% and 43% among boys. About half of the unintentional childhood poisoning cases in this Pakistani population could be avoided. Conclusion: Exposure to potentially modifiable risk indicators explained about half of the cases of unintentional poisoning among children under five years of age in this Pakistani population, indicating the theoretical scope for prevention of the disease

Determinants of access to HIV testing and counselling services among female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Quality appraisal tool. (DOCX 20 kb

The Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Muscular Biomarkers of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Male Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: PGC1α increases expression and coactivation of transcription factors for increases in mitochondria biogenesis-related genes. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of high intensity interval training on muscular biomarkers of mitochondrial biogenesis in male rats. METHODS: Type of research design in the current study was semi-experimental. In the current study 18 Wistar rats were separated into HIIT and control groups. HIIT protocol was done 60 min in each session for four sessions in each week. HIIT group was carried out 15×4 min bouts of HIIT with 85 to 90% of VO2max that sustained with three min recovery (between each bout of HIIT) with 70% of VO2max. PGC1α and Tfam and their gene translations were evaluated by commercial kits and Real-Time PCR method, respectively. FINDINGS: Outcomes indicated that serum levels of PGC1α (CI=8.5±1.02, 6.3 to 10.6) and Tfam (CI= 7.9±1.16, 5.42 to 10.33) were significantly increased. Also, PGC1α and Tfam gene expression in both fast- (1.14±0.13) and slow (1.1±0.16 muscles were significantly increased (p=0.003 and p=0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: It appears that, present HIIT protocol has capability to significant increase in both muscular and serum levels of biomarkers of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC1α and Tfam) in male rats. Likewise, there is a possibility that HIIT essence is an inducer factor for further expression of this biomarkers in slow-twitch than fast-twitch muscle