Towards an Islamic Theology of Nonviolence: A Critical Appraisal of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan\u27s View of Jihad (Part II)

In the second and last part of his article (see September issue, 671·80) Dr Omar explains the true meaning of Jihad in the ancient Islamic sources, which does not stand for violent warfare but for the struggle that every Muslim , indeed every person, should go through to remain obedient to God\u27s Word and to fulfil the will of God on earth. With this we wish to commemorate the UNO declared day dedicated to non·violence, the day known in India as Gandhi Jayanti (Oct. 2)

Pharmacological Threat to Lungs: A Case Series and Literature Review

Drug-induced organ damage stands as a prevalent yet much-neglected issue globally. Keeping in view it\u27s rising frequency, health care providers stand obliged to be well versed with the de-merits of the agents they prescribe. Drug therapies causing damage present with a non-specific clinical presentation, histological findings or radiology, which further elaborates on the necessity of a conscientious diagnosis. Pulmonary architecture ranging from the airways, lung parenchyma, mediastinum, pleura, pulmonary vasculature or the neuromuscular system, all can fall victim to the dreaded outcomes of this menace. In order to establish successful diagnosis, the definite temporal relation between initiation of drug therapy and the development of the respiratory symptoms needs to be drawn. The most common form of pharmacologically arising lung toxicity is drug-induced pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease. Unfortunately, there is no adequate data available to review the extensiveness of this medication-associated risk in Pakistan which further highlights the necessity of carefully monitoring this overlooked yet assessable malady. Furthermore, identification and surveillance of this drug attributed peril shall help diminish burden on healthcare resources of the country. We present three recent cases of different types of drug-induced lung damage under treatment at our University Hospital

Correlation of TP53 overexpression and clinical parameters with five-year survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Abstract Introduction TP53 mutation and overexpression have been correlated with poor survival in many cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aim to understand the role of TP53 overexpression in OSCC in our population and correlate it with five-year survival to test its viability as a prognostic marker for OSCC patients. Materials and methods Patients with biopsy proven OSCC at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2000 to January 2008 were recruited. Immunohistochemistry was used to establish TP53 status and the results were published. Following up on these patients, five-year data were collected and correlated with TP53 status and other clinicopathologic parameters. Results Overexpression of TP53 was not significantly associated with five-year survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.543; 95% CI: 0.911-2.612; p = 0.107). Conclusion Although we had proven statistical relevance when correlated with overall survival in our previous study, we were unable to extend the same relevance to TP53 overexpression when it comes to five-year survival

Electronic cigarettes use and perception amongst medical students: a cross sectional survey from Sindh, Pakistan

Objective: The manufacturers of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are actively marketing their product through electronic and social media. Undergraduate medical students are expected to have better knowledge and awareness as they directly interact with patients in their training, The purpose of this study is therefore, to determine knowledge, use and perception regarding e-cigarettes among medical students from Sindh, Pakistan. Results: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st July and 30th September 2016 at five different medical colleges situated in the second largest province of Sindh, Pakistan. The data was collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Of the 500 students, the mean age was 21.5 ± 1.7 years and 58% were females. Over (65.6%) students were aware of e-cigarettes, 31 (6.2%) reported having used e-cigarettes, of whom 6 (1.2%) self-reported daily use. Users of conventional tobacco products were significantly more likely to have heard of e-cigarettes (87.6% vs 51.6%, p \u3c 0.001) and having used them (13.9% vs 1.3%, p \u3c 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis we found a strong association of e-cigarette use with consumption of conventional cigarettes [OR: 10.6, 95% CI 3.6-30.8, p \u3c 0.001], use of smokeless tobacco products [OR: 7.9, 95% CI 2.7-23.4, p \u3c 0.001] however a weak association was observed for Shisha use [OR: 3.05, 95% CI 0.9-9.6, p = 0.05]

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is available across various countries worldwide, with public-private partnerships ensuring all individuals are vaccinated through a phased approach. Irrespective of the geographical spread, several myths pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine have stemmed, ultimately limiting the national administration of vaccines and rollouts. This study assessed the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among the general public in Pakistan.Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire was administered from January 2021 to February 2021 to assess the public attitude and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression analyses were run to identify factors associated with the acceptance among the population.Results: A total of 936 responses were elicited, where 15% perceived their risk of being infected at 20-30% with an overall 70% agreeing to be vaccinated if recommended. Multivariate analysis identified higher acceptance in the male gender, healthcare workers, and students. Of all, 66% respondents chose healthcare workers and public officials, whereas 15.6% chose scientific literature, and 12.9% chose social media as the most reliable source of COVID-19 information.Conclusion: Given the relatively greater trust in healthcare providers for information regarding COVID-19, healthcare workers ought to be on the frontline for vaccine campaigns and public outreach efforts, with governmental efforts in addition to the promotion of scientific materials for population-level understanding

Saudi-KAU Coupled Global Climate Model: Description and Performance

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Establishment of Wolbachia strain wAlbB in Malaysian populations of Aedes aegypti for dengue control

Dengue has enormous health impacts globally. A novel approach to decrease dengue incidence involves the introduction of Wolbachia endosymbionts that block dengue virus transmission into populations of the primary vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti. The wMel Wolbachia strain has previously been trialed in open releases of Ae. aegypti; however, the wAlbB strain has been shown to maintain higher density than wMel at high larval rearing temperatures. Releases of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes carrying wAlbB were carried out in 6 diverse sites in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with high endemic dengue transmission. The strain was successfully established and maintained at very high population frequency at some sites or persisted with additional releases following fluctuations at other sites. Based on passive case monitoring, reduced human dengue incidence was observed in the release sites when compared to control sites. The wAlbB strain of Wolbachia provides a promising option as a tool for dengue control, particularly in very hot climates