Trends in undergraduate teaching of parasitology in medical schools of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: Parasitic diseases are a major public health problem in the tropical and sub tropical countries including the subcontinent region. We aimed to assess methods of Parasitology education in medical schools of Karachi Pakistan. METHODS: Ten medical schools in Karachi, Pakistan were sent a structured questionnaire collecting information on different aspects of Parasitology education. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 14.0. RESULTS: The response rate of this study was 90%. Majority of the schools in Karachi, Pakistan (78%) taught Parasitology concurrently with Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology and Forensic medicine in third and fourth year of undergraduate training. More than 20 hours were spent on teaching through didactic lectures (56%), interactive lectures (22%), problem based learning (PBL) (22%), clinical cases (11%) and small group discussions (89%). A Clinical Microbiologist or Parasitologist taught Parasitology by using transparencies, handouts and/or computer aids. Variation in education methods existed mainly in the private medical schools. CONCLUSION: Medical curricula were meeting the European standards for teaching of Parasitology. However, there is a need for revision and modification in the curricula owing to the high burden of parasitic diseases in the subcontinent region

Microbiological Analysis of Drinking Water from Different Areas of Lahore

Access to safe drinking water and its regular monitoring is essential to ensure the health and safety of the public. This study aimed to analyze the microbiological quality of drinking water supplies (filtered and unfiltered) from various towns of Lahore, Pakistan. In total, 135 water samples, with and without filtration (n=90) and additional 45 bottled drinking water samples of different brands from the local market were collected from 9 towns of Lahore. To determine the microbiological quality, all samples were subjected to total plate count, total coliform, E. coli, Streptococci and Salmonella detection. According to the findings, the total plate count from various water supplies was significantly higher as compared to bottled drinking water samples. Drinking water from supplies with filtration and without filtration was found to be contaminated with total coliform (51%), E. coli (51%) and total coliform (84.5%), E. coli (84.5%), faecal Streptococci (15.5%), and Salmonella (11.1%) respectively. In total, 22 (49%) of the filtered and 7 (15.5%) of the unfiltered water samples were found to be microbiologically safe for drinking, whereas 41 (91.1%) bottled drinking water samples met the WHO criteria. To summarize, bottled drinking water is safer than both filtered and unfiltered drinking water. However, all bottled water should not be assumed to be safe for use. The microbial contamination in drinking water supplies, as well as bottled water samples, insinuates for strict monitoring of drinking water by regulatory authorities, and immediate action is required to avoid public health hazards

SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTING THE HYDROPOWER PROJECT: A CASE STUDY OF TARBELA 4TH EXTENSION

The dams and water reservoirs are built to achieve an integrated set of benefits, yet they have certain effects on the people living in the vicinity. The Tarbela dam is the largest earth-filled dam in the world. The objective of this study is to find out the socio-economic effects of constructing the Tarbela 4th Extension on residents of the area. For this purpose, this study investigates the socio-economic dynamics of the Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project. The design of the study is quantitative, based on the data collected from Tehsil Ghazi and Tehsil Topi (KPK). A sample of two hundred households residing in the area was randomly selected. A specially designed questionnaire was used for the data collection. The results of the study reveal that the project has positively affected the social status of the inhabitants, education, and overall Quality of life. People’s economic condition improved as they got contractual and daily wage jobs in the project. Thus currently, their income has been raised. The study found a formal occupation trend, which is govt or private jobs are dominant in the area. The project has played a vital role in the socioeconomic development of the area. The study concludes Tarbela 4th extension has undoubtedly affected the incomes, expenditures, infrastructure, quality of life, health, education, relocation of the people, public safety, and communication system

Experiential learning of ethnopharmacological sources of drugs through rotating trios micro discussion in MBBS students: an innovative I-tray teaching methodology

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine is very robust in some parts of the world. The study was done to impart the experiential learning related to sources of drugs in a pharmacy practical class for MBBS students.Methods: We used ingredient-tray (I-Tray) teaching tool consisting of two parts to generate experiential learning in MBBS students about ethno pharmacological sources of drugs. Innovatively designed I -tray filled with two sizes plastic containers (100 ml and 50 ml sizes used for collecting biological samples of sputum and urine) containing crude drug medicinal sources which were arranged in gutters of the tray. They were sorted into five categories such as plants (flowers of Vinca rosea, bark of Terminalia arjuna, roots of Rauwolfia serpentine and Eucalyptus leaves); animals (formalin preservatives freshwater leech, shells and vaccines); minerals (kaolin, potassium permanganate and charcoal); oils and others. Three charts of 4 square feet sizes were used for demonstration of synthetic, microbiological and genetically engineered drug sources.Results: The students’ approval rate of I-tray was mean yes value of 105.78 for a tool of active learning out of total 113 students. Around 100%, 98.23 % and 97.35% students utilised application of concept (cognition), faculty of smell (affective) and volunteering (psychomotor) in the class. However female students had statistically significant score against this set up of the class depicting gender specificity of the learning process.Conclusions: Thus teaching traditional sources of drugs through I-tray impart higher order social, place based and experiential learning of medicine

A Genetic Algorithm-Based Support Vector Machine Approach for Intelligent Usability Assessment of m-Learning Applications

In the field of human-computer interaction (HCI), the usability assessment of m-learning (mobile-learning) applications is a real challenge. Such assessment typically involves extraction of the best features of an application like efficiency, effectiveness, learnability, cognition, memorability, etc., and further ranking of those features for an overall assessment of the quality of the mobile application. In the previous literature, it is found that there is neither any theory nor any tool available to measure or assess a user perception and assessment of usability features of a m-learning application for the sake of ranking the graphical user interface of a mobile application in terms of a user acceptance and satisfaction. In this paper, a novel approach is presented by performing a mobile applications quantitative and qualitative analysis. Based on user requirements and perception, a criterion is defined based on a set of important features. Afterward, for the qualitative analysis, a genetic algorithm (GA) is used to score prescribed features for the usability assessment of a mobile application. The used approach assigns a score to each usability feature according to the user requirement and weight of each feature. GA performs the rank assessment process initially by performing feature selection and scoring the best features of the application. A comparison of assessment analysis of GA and various machine learning models, K-nearest neighbours, Naive Bayes, and Random Forests is performed. It was found that a GA-based support vector machine (SVM) provides more accuracy in the extraction of the best features of a mobile application and further ranking of those features.Comment: 20 pages, 22 Figures, Journal Pape

Study on significant changes in calcium, phosphorus and thyroid hormones level in hypothyroidism patients

Background: Thyroid hormones have a vital role in metabolism of lipids, cholesterol etc. They also have an important role in phosphorous and calcium homeostasis by their direct effect on bone turnover. The objective of present study was to find the significant differences of T3, T4, TSH, lipid profile (HDL, LDL, vLDL, TG, Cholesterol), electrolytes and minerals (sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, calcium) between control group and hypothyroidism patients.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 72 patients and 12 control after their consent. Serum was used to determine biochemical parameters using standard protocol. Data obtained were statistically analyzed using “t” student test.Results: The level of TSH was significantly higher in female and male hypothyroidism patients (p < 0.01) as compared to control and it was inversely related to the level of T3 and T4. Patients with hypothyroidism have increased level of LFTs profile especially cholesterol and Triglycerides levels both in males and females. In hypothyroidism, the level of glomerulus filtrate rate decrease especially sodium level but thyroid hormonal disturbance does not affect serum electrolyte level. The serum phosphorus and calcium levels change significantly in thyroid disorder.Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is associated with increased TSH level and decreased T3 and T4 levels but does not appear to be associated with abnormalities in lipid profile. The serum phosphorus and calcium levels change significantly in thyroid disorder, Treatments of its primary causes should be given and if it is possible minerals can be added to avoid further bone complications.Keywords: Hypothyroid; T3; T4, TSH; Lipid profile; Minera

Utility of iRat as a Tool to Identify Low Academic Performers in 1st Year MBBS with High Scores in Pre-Medical Examination

Objective: To identify low performers by utilizing individual readiness assurance test (i-RAT) scores in first year MBBS students using Team-based learning (TBL) strategy. Study Design: Cross sectional observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in Federal Medical College Islamabad from 10 January to 31 March 2022. Materials and Methods: TBL were introduced in 1 year MBBS. Six TBL activities were practiced by Anatomy Department during the 12-week respiratory and CVS course program. Premedical examination scores, first week individual readiness assurance scores and average i-RAT scores of 6 weeks were gathered. Mean and standard deviation were calculated. Difference in the first week i-RAT scores of three groups based on their premedical examination scores i.e., upper percentile group (A), middle percentile group (B) and lower percentile group (C). Each group comprised of 37 students, was calculated using One Way ANOVA Method. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to access strength and direction of linear association between premedical examination scores and i-RAT scores. The data was analyzed in the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21 for analysis. Results: High scorers in premedical examination (Group A) showed lowest scores in first week iRAT (i-RAT 1) and Average i-RAT when compared with group B and C with significant p value < 0.05. Significant increase was seen in progressive i-RAT scores in all 3 groups. Negative linear association (r= -0.2) was found between premedical examination scores and i-RAT 1 scores. A strong positive linear association with r= 0.54 was found between first i-RAT and average i-RAT scores. Conclusion: High achievers in premedical examinations struggled the most in 1 year of medicine

Incidence of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction during COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective:&nbsp;&nbsp;This study aimed to assess the incidence of anxiety and depression among AMI patients during COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Material &amp; Method:&nbsp;&nbsp;This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 27 to June 2, 2020, at the Cardiology ward of Dera Ghazi Khan Teaching Hospital.&nbsp; Total 611 patients selected through convenience sampling. The patients were requested to respond to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and demographic information. An independent samples t test was applied for comparisons. Results:&nbsp;&nbsp;Patients’ age was ranging from 41 to 79 years, with a mean age of 52.35 ± 5.12. There was a high frequency of anxiety (51.72%) and depression (34.86%) among AMI patients. A significant difference was observed in the level of anxiety (p = 0.001) and depression (p = 0.000) among male and female patients. Conclusion:&nbsp;&nbsp;The present study findings affirmed that increased level of anxiety and depression are prevalent in AMI patients. Additionally, both anxiety and depressive symptoms were more common in female patients. Keywords:&nbsp;&nbsp;COVID-19, Anxiety, Depression, Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

High heterotrophic counts in potable water and antimicrobial resistance among indicator organisms in two peri-urban communities of Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: Fecal contamination of potable water leads to unsafe water supply. Although many urban areas of large metropolitan cities receive safe water, peri-urban areas are often not monitored by public health authorities and water supply and quality remain unknown. We assessed microbiological quality and rates of antimicrobial resistance in viable indicator bacteria in two peri-urban communities of Karachi, Pakistan. Water samples were collected over 5 months (October 2015 to February 2016) from these peri-urban communities and samples were processed for microbiological quality as per Standing Committee of Analysts, United Kingdom and World Health Organization guidelines and criteria for drinking water.Result: Both communities received unimproved water. Potable water samples collected from 100 households showed that 96% of samples were unsafe for consumption. Extended spectrum beta lactamases production was found in 29.2% of fecal indicator organisms (coliforms). Use of unimproved water sources and unsafe potable water quality in peri-urban Karachi deserve immediate attention and upgrade. The study is instrumental in attracting the attention of authorities to the state of water resources in peri-urban communities in Karachi with a view to influence improvement of services and effects on human health