Awareness of diabetes mellitus among the non-diabetic young population of various universities of Lahore

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common non-communicable diseases in the world with a considerably higher rate of mortality and morbidity. The lack of awareness regarding signs and symptoms and the impact of a sedentary lifestyle on the onset of diabetes is a major reason why young people are developing diabetes nowadays. This study will help to identify the gaps in the knowledge of diabetes in the young population. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of diabetes mellitus among the non-diabetic young population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was completed in 6 months from 1st January 2019 to 1st July 2019. In this survey 157 participants were selected through convenience sampling from the University of Lahore, University of South Asia, and Comsat University. Data was collected after taking informed written consent. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding demographic data, general knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, complications, precautions, lifestyle, and non-medical measures. Data analysis and coding were done through SPSS version 25. Result: The research shows that out of a total of 157 participants 64% of non-diabetics had poor knowledge, 34% had medium knowledge and 2% of participants had good knowledge regarding awareness of diabetes mellitus. 33 (21%) were male and 124 (79%) were female. The participants had a mean age of 25.5 years. 103 (65.6%) belong to the urban area while the remaining 54 (34.4%) belong to the rural area. The current research reveals that the mean score regarding diabetes knowledge in the young population is 9.78 ± 4.78 out of a total score of 24. Conclusion: In the presenting research serious level of unawareness was found in the young population regarding diabetes. More than 1/3rd of the participants answered that they don’t know about the general knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, complications, precautions, lifestyle, and non-medical measures of diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Awareness, young population, non-diabetics

Formulation design and characterization of a non-ionic surfactant based vesicular system for the sustained delivery of a new chondroprotective agent

A diacereína é usada para o alívio sintomático e para a regeneração da cartilagem na osteoartrite. Devido aos efeitos adversos gastrointestinais, baixa solubilidade aquosa e biodisponibilidade, o seu uso clínico tem sido restrito. O objetivo do presente estudo foi melhorar o perfil de dissolução deste fármaco e obter liberação prolongada através do planejamento de um novo sistema de liberação designado de niossoma. Cinco formulações distintas de niossomas (F1 a F5) contendo tensoativos não iônicos (monoestearato de sorbitano) e colesterol, em diferentes proporções, de 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2 e 9:1, foram desenvolvidas através da técnica de evaporacão de fase reversa. Os tamanhos e índices de polidispersibilidade (PDI) obtidos variam entre 0,608 e 1,01 µm e entre 0,409 e 0,7781, respectivamente. Imagens de microscopia electrônica de varrimento (SEM) da formulação selecionada (F3) revelaram vesículas esféricas. Obteve-se encapsulação de 79,8% com a formulação F3 (7:3). Estudos de dissolução usando o método de diálise demonstraram padrão de liberacão prolongada para todas as formulações. A proporção de tensoativo e colesterol (7:3) na formulacão F3 prolongou o tempo de liberação do fármaco (T50%) até 10 horas. Estudos de modelação cinética demonstraram ordem de liberacão zero (R2=0,9834) e o expoente de liberação "n" do modelo de Korsmayer-Peppas (n=0.90) confirmou a liberação não-fickiana e anômala. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que a diacereína pode ser encapsulada com sucesso no interior de niossomas, utilizando monostearato de sorbitano, o qual tem potencial para liberar, eficientemente, a diacereína no local de absorção.Diacerein is used for symptomatic relief and cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis. Due to gastrointestinal side effects, poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability, its clinical usage has been restricted. The objective of the present study was to enhance its dissolution profile and to attain sustained release by designing a novel delivery system based on niosomes. Five niosomal formulations (F1-F5) with non-ionic surfactant (sorbitan monostearate) and cholesterol in varying ratios of 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2 and 9:1 were developed by the reverse-phase evaporation technique. The size and polydispersivity index (PDI) were found in the range of 0.608 µm to 1.010 µm and 0.409 to 0.781, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the selected formulation (F3) revealed spherical vesicles, and 79.8% entrapment was achieved with F3 (7:3). Dissolution studies using the dialysis method showed sustained release behaviour for all formulations. The optimized surfactant-to-cholesterol concentration (7:3) in formulation F3sustained the drug-release time (T50%) up to 10 hours. Kinetic modelling exhibited a zero-order release (R2=0.9834) and the release exponent 'n' of the Korsmayer-Peppas model (n=0.90) confirmed non-fickian and anomalous release. The results of this study suggest that diacerein can be successfully entrapped into niosomes using sorbitan monostearate and that these niosomes have the potential to deliver diacerein efficiently at the absorption site

Climate Change Journalism in Pakistan: Ethical Deliberations

In the 21st century, research on climate journalism has received exponential growth globally. However, the media’s ethical role in covering climate change has not sufficiently been explored enough. In this chapter, we provide a broad overview of climate change journalism in Pakistan, the role of stakeholders that are directly involved in this crisis, and further highlighted the need to follow the UNESCO-led ethical principles and deliberations by the local climate journalism. We conclude that though a great deal of attention has been paid by the local scholars and scientists to highlight different dimensions of climate emergency, however, the findings of such research has been scant in the climate and environmental journalism practices of the country. Finally, we proposed that being as an important stakeholder, the local mass media should not only adopt UNESCO’s climate ethics but also persuade all other stakeholders to adhere to its guidelines and, eventually, influence the environmental policymaking process

Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, cytotoxic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory potential of whole plant of Astragalus creticus (Fabaceae)

Purpose: To determine total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the cytotoxic, immunemodulatoryand anti-inflammatory potentials of the whole plant of Astragalus creticus (Fabaceae).Methods: Folin-Ciocalteu (FCR) method was used for determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanol and dichloromethane extracts of Astragalus creticus. The cytotoxic potential of the extracts on 3T3 and HeLa cell lines were evaluated using MTT assay. Brine shrimp larvae mortality was determined by lethality bioassay, while inhibitory effects were determined on mouse fibroblast (3T3)and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines. In vitro immunomodulatory and in vivo anti-inflammatory effectswere assessed using reactive oxygen species (ROS) chemiluminescence and formalin-induced rat paw edema assays, respectively.Results: Dichloromethane extract had higher contents of phenolics (TPC = 324.75 ± 2.47 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (TFC = 95.51 ± 0.82 QE/g) than the methanol extract (TPC = 79.82 ± 1.53 mg GAE/g, TFC = 56.11 ± 0.93 QE/g). The dichloromethane extract exhibited high cytotoxic andimmunomodulatory potentials, with 76.66 % mortality in brine shrimp lethality bioassay and 83.9 % inhibition (IC50 = 18.0 ± 1.1 μg/mL) in chemiluminescence assay. The extract also resulted in 22 and 13 % inhibition of viability of HeLa and 3T3 cells, respectively, while the methanol extract produced 13 % inhibition of both cell lines. The methanol extract produced very significant anti-inflammatory activity,with a maximum of 49 % inhibition of paw edema at a dose of 160 mg/kg (p < 0.01).Conclusion: These results suggest that the dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Astragalus creticus (Fabaceae) exert cytotoxic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. These findings provide scientific validation for the traditional medicinal use of the Astragalus genus

Study of Investment Decisions and Personal Characteristics through Risk Tolerance: Moderating Role of Investment Experience

Investment decisions could be affected by behavioral biases associated with personal characteristics. This study empirically investigates the effect of personal characteristics on investors’ investment decision through risk tolerance. Furthermore, investment experience moderates the nexus between personal characteristics and risk tolerance. The scale consisting of 24 items was used related to selected constructs and variables. Data was collected form 175 individual investors of Pakistan Stock Exchange. PLS-SEM was used to make statistical analysis. The findings indicate that extraversion has substantial positive impact on investment decisions. Moreover, risk tolerance partially mediates the relationship between extroversion and investment decisions. The relationship between introversion and investment decisions is negative and risk tolerance partially mediates the aforesaid relationship. Furthermore, it is statistically proved that investment experience substantially moderates the association between extraversion and risk tolerance. However, investment experience does not play any conditional role in the association between introversion and risk tolerance. This study can be helpful for financial advisors to provide best consultancy to their clients (investors), while considering their personal characteristics

Estimation of Genetic Variability, Heritibility and Correlation for Some Morphological Traits in Spring Wheat

This study was conducted to assess correlation among the six wheat genotypes and their nine crosses at cool climatic conditions of Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. High heritability was observed in flag leaf area, peduncle length and spike length, whereas 1000-grain weight, number of spikelets per spike and plant height showed moderate heritability. Peduncle length, grain yield and plant height, flag leaf area and days to 50% heading showed low genetic advance. Positive direct effect was observed by flag leaf area, numbers of tillers per plant, plant height and number of spikelets per spike while days to 50% heading, number of spikelets per spike and 1000-grain weight showed direct negative effects on yield. High genotypic and  phenotypic  variability  was  observed  by  plant  height,  peduncle  length  and  grain  yield  per  plant. Values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits under study. Key words: Spring Wheat, Heritability, Genetic Variability, Correlation and Flag leaf

N-[4-(p-Toluenesulfonamido)phen­ylsulfon­yl]acetamide

In the title compound, C15H16N2O5S2, the dihedral between the two aromatic rings is 81.33 (6)°. In the crystal, pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into centrosymmetric dimers, which are further connected via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a chain running along [01]

Outcome of radioactive iodine therapy in Toxic Nodular Goiter in Pakistan

Objective: To determine the outcome of patients receiving radioactive iodine therapy for toxic nodular goiter coming to Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. Methods: A total of 89 patients who visited the outpatient department of Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2010 to August 2017 were recruited for the study. Toxic nodular goiter was diagnosed on the basis of having hot nodule on thyroid scan with low TSH and high FT4/T4. Other demographic and laboratory data were also recorded. Results: Eighty nine patients with toxic nodular goiter received a dose range from 10 to 30mCi RAI. Six months after RAI, 36.2% became hypothyroid, 38.5% became euthyroid while 25.3% remained hyperthyroid. Thyroid outcome at 3 months were correlating with 6 months results. Conclusion: Radioactive iodine therapy is a safe and effective way of treating toxic nodular goiter which usually results in cure of hyperthyroidism in majority of patients

Isolation of squarrosal and squarrosol compounds from methanol root extract of Ruellia squarrosa (Acanthaceae)

Purpose: To identify, characterize and structurally elucidate bioactive compounds from root of Ruellia squarrosa.Methods: One kilogram of crude Ruellia squarrosa root was shade dried for 14 days, ground to a fine powder and subjected to a methanol extraction. The resultant extract underwent column chromatography for further purification. The isolated compounds were subjected to ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), infra-red (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), 13C–NMR and high resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry (HR-EI-MS) for the identification, characterization and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds. The most active compounds were tested for anticancer activities against human prostate cancer cell.Results: Two active compounds, squarrosol and squarrosal, were obtained with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 15.6 and 26.6 μg/mL, respectively, against human prostate cancer cell lines. Squarrasol showed a significantly (p < 0.05) greater inhibition of cell proliferation than the same dose of squarrasal.Conclusion: These findings suggest that extracts of Ruellia squarrosa containing the bioactive compounds, squarrosol and squarrosal, can potentially be developed for the treatment of human prostate cancer.Keywords: Ruellia squarrosa, Prostate cancer, Squarrosol, Squarrosal, Anit-proliferativ