Prevalence and determinants of second-hand tobacco smoking in Pakistan

Background: Exposure  to  second-hand  tobacco  smoke  is  a  public  health  problem  in  countries  with  high  prevalence  of  active  smoking  such  as  Pakistan.  However,  few  studies  have  assessed  the  prevalence  and  risk  factors  for  exposure  to  second-hand tobacco smoke. Aims: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in Pakistan.Methods: This study used data from the 2017–2018 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey to calculate the prevalence and determinants of second-hand tobacco smoke exposure. Sociodemographic characteristics, family size and exposure to  media  by  the  respondents  were  the  independent  variables.  The  chi-square  test  and  logistic  regression  analyses  were  used to evaluate the relationship between exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and the independent variables.hy9Results: The  survey  included  61  940  adults,  of  which  30  027  (48.5%)  were  males  and  31  913  (51.5%)  females.  The  overall  prevalence of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke was 34.3%: 35.6% among males and 33.2% among females. Higher education level and rural residence were significantly positively associated with exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke among  both  sexes.  Having  a  radio  was  inversely  associated  with  exposure  while  having  a  television  was  positively  associated  with  exposure  among  both  sexes.  Large  family  size  was  inversely  associated  with  exposure.  Currently  and  previously married females had significantly greater risk of exposure than never-married females.Conclusion: Tailored  health  interventions  and  policies  are  needed  that  target  populations  at  high-risk  of  exposure  to  second-hand  tobacco  smoke.  Strict  smoking  bans  in  public  places  should  be  implemented  to  limit  exposure  to  second-hand tobacco smoke in Pakistan. </p

Synthesis of indole derivatives as Alzheimer inhibitors and their molecular docking study

Acetylcholinesterase prevails in the healthy brain, with butyrylcholinesterase reflected to play a minor role in regulating brain acetylcholine (ACh) levels. However, BuChE activity gradually increases in patients with (AD), while AChE activity remains unaffected or decays. Both enzymes therefore represent legitimate therapeutic targets for ameliorating the cholinergic deficit considered to be responsible for the declines in cognitive, behavioural, and global functioning characteristic of AD. Current study described the synthesis of indole-based sulfonamide derivatives (1-23) and their biological activity. Synthesis of these scaffolds were achieved by mixing chloro-substituted indole bearing amine group with various substituted benzene sulfonyl chloride in pyridine, under refluxed condition to obtained desired products. All products were then evaluated for AchE and BuchE inhibitory potential compare with positive Donepezil as standard drug for both AchE and BchE having IC50 = 0.016 ± 0.12 and 0.30 ± 0.010 μM respectively. In this regard analog 9 was found potent having IC50 value 0.15 ± 0.050 μM and 0.20 ± 0.10 for both AchE and BuChE respectively. All other derivatives also found with better potential. All compounds were characterized by various techniques such as 1H, 13C-NMR and HREI-MS. In addition, biological activity was maintained to explore the bioactive nature of scaffolds and their protein-ligand interaction (PLI) was checked through molecular docking study. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma</p