Why physicians and lay people smoke and how can it be reduced?

Objective: The objective of this study was to find out the level of knowledge the physicians and lay people have pertaining to the effect of cigarettes, why certain physicians smoke and what measures could be applied to reduce the rate of smoking. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to the one hundred physicians who smoke, one hundred non-smoking physicians and one hundred lay people who smoke to determine their attitude towards this addition. Subjects were chosen using convenience sampling. The physicians were picked from six hospitals of Karachi. Results: When the smoking physicians were asked what could motivate them to stop smoking, majority of them said that an occurrence of a smoking related illness would. Majority of the physicians who do not smoke felt that individual will was the greatest force keeping them from smoking. When asked how smoking can be reduced in Pakistan, majority of the physicians, both smoking and non-smoking, favoured mass health education. Lay smokers expressed marked ignorance about deleterious effects of cigarette smoke. Like smoking physicians, majority of them said that occurrence of an illness related to smoking would effectively motivate them to stop smoking. CONCLUSION: Based on this survey we conclude that mass health education and enforcement of the ban on smoking in public places will effectively reduce the number of smokers. There is a need to educate physicians and the general public about the cardiac and carcinogenic effects of smoking

Emergency Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh Repair of Incarcerated Spigelian Hernia

This report suggests that Spigelian hernia in an emergency setting may be easily and quickly repaired with an intraperitoneal onlay method using composite mesh

Effects of lipoproteins on cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways in human platelets

The products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in platelets play an important role in platelet shape change, adhesion and aggregation which may participate in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease and thrombosis. Since lipoproteins are also involved in the pathogenesis of thrombo-embolic disorders, the effect of human lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, VLDL) on AA metabolism in human platelets was investigated. Lipoproteins were separated by density gradient zonal ultracentrifugation. The effects of lipoproteins on production of AA metabolites in human platelets i.e., thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) were examined using radiometric thin layer chromatography coupled with automated data integrator system. In human platelets, HDL inhibited 12-HETE and TXA2 formation in a concentration-dependent manner. LDL had a strong inhibitory effect on TXA2 production and a weak inhibitory effect on 12-HETE production. VLDL had no effect on platelet AA metabolism. These findings point to a new facet of lipoproteins action and suggest that lipoproteins may have a physiological role in the regulation of AA metabolism in platelets

Assessment of Wind Power Potential Based on Raleigh Distribution Model: An Experimental Investigation for Coastal Zone

When compared with other renewable energy resources (RER), the wind energy share in the global energy production is increasing rapidly. Currently, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) is moving towards RER, specifically wind and solar energy. In this paper, the wind energy potential of Tando Ghulam Ali, Sindh, Pakistan is explored. For this purpose, one-year wind speed data is considered at various heights through various probability distribution functions (PDFs). Statistical comparison of Rayleigh, gamma, generalized extreme value (GEV) and lognormal PDFs have been done with two methods, namely root mean square error and (R^2) in order to select the best PDF. Results showed that the Rayleigh distribution function is the best at the above mentioned area for finding various factors like site selection and wind power cost per kWh

ZnO Nanoneedle Based Efficient UV-Photodetector

72-77This article reports the fabrication and characterization of nano-structured ITO/ZnO ultraviolet photodetector. A ZnO thin film was deposited by spray pyrolysis technique followed by interdigitated ITO as electrode deposition by RF sputter. Grazing angle x-ray diffraction (GIXRD) study indicates preferential growth along c-axis (002) of thin-film leading nanoneedle formation which was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of Oxygen 1s (O 1s) was carried out. A peak was observed at 531.8 eV indicating the presence of oxygen vacancy, 530 eV peak relates to the ZnO phase. The bandgap was determined by the Tauc plot; which was found to be 3.22eV. The donor carrier concentration is found to be 8.85x1018 cm-3 based on room temperature Hall measurement. A near ohmic behaviour was observed which can be interpreted by the existence of high carrier concentration in ZnO. This results in a very thin depletion width of the order of 5nm; therefore, charge transport through the junction is dominated by tunnelling of electrons through depletion width

Benign thyroid disease and dietary factors in thyroid cancer: a case-control study in Kuwait

We conducted a population-based study of 313 case–control pairs in Kuwait to examine the aetiology of thyroid cancer, the second most common neoplasm among women in this and several other countries in the Gulf region. Among the demographic variables, individuals with 12+ years of education had a significantly reduced risk of thyroid cancer (OR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.3–0.9). The average age at diagnosis (s.d.) of thyroid cancer was 34.711 years in women and 3913.4 years in men. History of thyroid nodule was reported only by cases (n=34; 10.9%; lower 95% CI: 12.0); and goitre by 21 cases and four controls (OR=5.3; 95% CI: 1.8–15.3). There was no significant increase in risk with history of hypothyroidism (OR=1.8) or hyperthyroidism (OR=1.7). For any benign thyroid disease, the OR was 6.4 (95% CI: 3.4–12.0); and the population attributable risk was about 26% (95% CI: 21.1–30.9). Stepwise regression analysis showed that high consumption of processed fish products (OR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.6–3.0) fresh fish (OR=0.5; 95% CI: 0.4–0.7) and chicken (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.2–2.3) were independently associated with thyroid cancer with significant dose-response relationships. Among the thyroid cancer patients who reported high consumption of fish products, a large majority also reported high consumption of fresh fish (98%) and shellfish (68%). No clear association emerged with consumption of cruciferous vegetables. These data support the hypothesis that hyperplastic thyroid disease is strongly related to thyroid cancer; and that habitual high consumption of various seafoods may be relevant to the aetiology of thyroid cancer. The association with chicken consumption requires further study

Impact of service provision platforms on maternal and newborn health in conflict areas and their acceptability in Pakistan: a systematic review

Various models and strategies have been implemented over the years in different parts of the world to improve maternal and newborn health (MNH) in conflict affected areas. These strategies are based on specific needs and acceptability of local communities. This paper has undertaken a systematic review of global and local (Pakistan) information from conflict areas on platforms of health service provision in the last 10 years and information on acceptability from local stakeholders on effective models of service delivery; and drafted key recommendations for improving coverage of health services in conflict affected areas. The literature search revealed ten studies that described MNH service delivery platforms. The results from the systematic review showed that with utilisation of community outreach services, the greatest impacts were observed in skilled birth attendance and antenatal consultation rates. Facility level services, on the other hand, showed that labour room services for an internally displaced population (IDP) improved antenatal care coverage, contraceptive prevalence rate and maternal mortality. Consultative meetings and discussions conducted in Quetta and Peshawar (capitals of conflict affected provinces) with relevant stakeholders revealed that no systematic models of MNH service delivery, especially tailored for conflict areas, are available. During conflict, even previously available services and infrastructure suffered due to various barriers specific to times of conflict and unrest. A number of barriers that hinder MNH services were discussed. Suggestions for improving MNH services in conflict areas were also laid down by participants. The review identified some important steps that can be undertaken to mitigate the effects of conflict on MNH services, which include: improve provision and access to infrastructure and equipment; development and training of healthcare providers; and advocacy at different levels for free access to healthcare services and for the introduction of the programme model in existing healthcare system. The obligation is enormous, however, for a sustainable programme, it is important to work closely with both the IDP and host community, and collaborating with the government and non-government organisations

Monitoring and evaluation of irrigation and drainage facilities for pilot distributaries in Sindh Province, Pakistan. Volume 2 - Bareji Distributary, Mirpurkhas District. Interim report

Irrigation management / Monitoring / Evaluation / Irrigation canals / Distributary canals / Drainage / Maintenance / Land use / Irrigation practices / Basin irrigation / Furrow irrigation / Water distribution / Equity / Flow discharge / Watercourses / Water table / Groundwater / Water quality / Pakistan / Sindh Province / Mirpurkhas District / Bareji Distributary