Life satisfaction, disease management attitudes and nutritional status of diabetes mellitus patients in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan: a hospital based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The life satisfaction of diabetes mellitus patients in association with the disease management attitudes and nutritional status have never been investigated yet in Pakistani administered Azad Jammu & Kashmir. AIM: The purpose of this study is to analyze the patient satisfaction about life with diabetes mellitus in association with disease management and nutritional status. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted among 496 patients in DHQ hospital, Mirpur Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The questionnaire comprised of two sections: 1) Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS-3); 2) Patient profile, DM history, nutritional status and dietary habits. The findings are generated by binary logistic regression and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 64% of the patients interviewed reported dissatisfaction with their life with DM. Majority of the patients were females (66%), BMI value above 25.0 (56%). Gender male (AOR=1.82; 95%CI=1.15-2.88) and low income (AOR=3.16; 95%CI= 1.13-8.80) and middle income (AOR=4.70; 95%CI=1.52-15.5) were significantly associated with life dissatisfaction. There was higher likelihood of life dissatisfaction among patients with low food intake (AOR=1.82; 95%CI= 1.20-2.76); patients’ belief on: no need of taking insulin to treat their diabetes have a mild disease (AOR=1.56; 95%CI= 1.01-2.41); not much use in trying to have good blood sugar control because complications of diabetes happen anyway (AOR= 1.63; 95%CI= 1.18-2.23); emotional effects of diabetes are small (AOR=1.47; 95%CI= 1.02-2.14); decisions regarding daily diabetes care should be made by the patient (AOR= 2.15; 95%CI= 1.19-3.88). CONCLUSION: Findings implied the need of organizing counselling sessions for DM patients that promote regular physical activity to improve health and disease management. The consultation and regular visits of a nutritionist may help the patients in achieving better health outcomes

Characterization of two novel lytic bacteriophages having lysis potential against MDR avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains of zoonotic potential

Abstract Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is associated with local and systemic infections in poultry, ducks, turkeys, and many other avian species, leading to heavy economical losses. These APEC strains are presumed to possess zoonotic potential due to common virulence markers that can cause urinary tract infections in humans. The prophylactic use of antibiotics in the poultry sector has led to the rapid emergence of Multiple Drug Resistant (MDR) APEC strains that act as reservoirs and put human populations at risk. This calls for consideration of alternative strategies to decrease the bacterial load. Here, we report isolation, preliminary characterization, and genome analysis of two novel lytic phage species (Escherichia phage SKA49 and Escherichia phage SKA64) against MDR strain of APEC, QZJM25. Both phages were able to keep QZJM25 growth significantly less than the untreated bacterial control for approximately 18 h. The host range was tested against Escherichia coli strains of poultry and human UTI infections. SKA49 had a broader host range in contrast to SKA64. Both phages were stable at 37 °C only. Their genome analysis indicated their safety as no recombination, integration and host virulence genes were identified. Both these phages can be good candidates for control of APEC strains based on their lysis potential

Foliar micromorphology of Convolvulaceous species with special emphasis on trichome diversity from the arid zone of Pakistan

In present study, 18 plant species belonging to 7 genera of the family Convolvulaceae has been investigated by using the light microscope for foliar epidermal anatomy. Despite the medicinal importance of family Convolvulaceae, there is no evidence regarding the secretory structure and their effect of environmental conditions on their density is unknown. The aim of the study was to describe the morphology of these secretory structures and to estimate the hypothesis that glandular trichomes density decreases with increased aridity. Foliar micromorphology of Convolvulaceous taxa, gathered from arid parts of Northern Punjab Pakistan, was first time conducted with an aim to utilize this information as an aid in plant taxonomy. Significant diversity was observed in both qualitative and quantitative characteristics using light microscopy. Variations were observed in stomatal number, size, guard cells shape, epidermal cell number, subsidiary cells, and trichomes. Unique ornamentation was observed in trichomes diversity. A taxonomic key was prepared for the identification of species. The main goal of this study was to describe the morphology of glandular trichomes and to estimate the hypothesis that glandular trichomes density decreases with increased aridity. Based on these findings, Light microscopy of foliar epidermal features can be of special interest for taxonomists in the identification of complex taxa. Studied taxa were also separated from each other by using Cluster Analysis (MVSP ver.3.22). Statistical analysis by using the Software XLSTAT exhibited that some anatomical features are the main characteristics in the identification of the taxa. Principal component analyses (PCA) used as a statistical tool for data analyses that show the importance of these characteristics for the characterization and identification of the family Convolvulaceae in an arid land. The study shows many novel characters that provide baseline information about trichome diversity in relation to aridity for future taxonomist