Public Policies versus Institutional Structures: A New Perspective of Assessing Economic Growth Dynamics in Developing Nations

This study is performed to find out the impact of policy and institutional factors on the economic growth of the developing countries. These include Economic management, Structural policies, Social inclusion/equity and Governance. Panel data of 72 countries is being taken for this study and the time period is from 2005-2013. Simple ordinary least square (OLS) model has been applied to find the impact of these variables on economic growth of developing countries and the results showed that overall institutions are related more to the economic growth of these nations as compared to policy contents. On the other side from institutional parameters, role of budgetary management and equity of public resource use by the government is positively contributing to economic performance of these nations. Nevertheless few variables have showed negative impact as well in which the process resource mobilization and transparency of the system is exhibiting more negative role in economic growth of these nations. Overall results showed that non-economic parameters of the political systems are more closely interrelated with the process of economic growth in these nation as compared to pure economic factors. Key Words: Fiscal Policy, Economic Integration, Budget, Debt Management, Government Regulations, Economic Development JEL Classification: E63, F15, H61, H63, I18, O1

Prevalence and determinants of unintended pregnancies amongst women attending antenatal clinics in Pakistan

Background: Unintended pregnancies are a global public health concern and contribute significantly to adverse maternal and neonatal health, social and economic outcomes and increase the risks of maternal deaths and neonatal mortality. In countries like Pakistan where data for the unintended pregnancies is scarce, studies are required to estimate its accurate prevalence and predictors using more specific tools such as the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancies (LMUP). Methods: We conducted a hospital based cross sectional survey in two tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. We used a pre tested structured questionnaire to collect the data on socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive history, awareness and past experience with contraceptives and unintended pregnancies using six item the LMUP. We used Univariate and multivariate analysis to explore the association between unintended pregnancies and predictor variables and presented the association as adjusted odds ratios. We also evaluated the psychometric properties of the Urdu version of the LMUP. Results: Amongst 3010 pregnant women, 1150 (38.2%) pregnancies were reported as unintended. In the multivariate analysis age \u3c 20 years (AOR 3.5 1.1-6.5), being illiterate (AOR 1.9 1.1-3.4), living in a rural setting (1.7 1.2-2.3), having a pregnancy interval of = \u3c 12 months (AOR 1.7 1.4-2.2), having a parity of \u3e2 (AOR 1.4 1.2-1.8), having no knowledge about contraceptive methods (AOR 3.0 1.7-5.4) and never use of contraceptive methods (AOR 2.3 1.4-5.1) remained significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. The Urdu version of the LMUP scale was found to be acceptable, valid and reliable with the Cronbach\u27s alpha of 0.85. Conclusions: This study explores a high prevalence of unintended pregnancies and important factors especially those related to family planning. Integrated national family program that provides contraceptive services especially the modern methods to women during pre-conception and post-partum would be beneficial in averting unintended pregnancies and their related adverse outcomes in Pakistan

Antimicrobial activity by solvents extracted from Ocimum basilicum herb against multidrug resistant gram negative rods.

Background: Failure of treatment with antibiotics occurs due to increase in number of Multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria, worldwide. The objective of this study was to find out the antimicrobial activity of crude ethanolic extract and its further three fractions by Ocimum basilicum leaves against multi drug resistant gram negative rods. Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore from 1st july 2016 to 30th june 2017. Total 80 multidrug resistant gram negative rods were included in this study. Agar dilution method was performed to determine MIC of crude ethanolic extract and different fractions i-e n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate of Ocimum basilicum leaves against multidrug resistant gram negative rods i-e ESBLs and carbapenemase producers. Muti-inoculater was used for inoculation. Results: The mean MICs of crude ethanolic extract, n-hexane fraction, chloroform fraction, and ethyl acetate fraction of Ocimum basilicum against ESBLs were 100.0±8.00, 168.13±8.00, 176.88±8.00 41.75±8.00 respectively. Similarly, the mean MICs of crude ethanolic extract, n-hexane fraction, chloroform fraction, and ethyl acetate fraction of Ocimum basilicum against carbapenemase producers were 77.50±8.00, 113.75±8.00, 132.50±8.00 and 29.50±8.00 respectively. Conclusions: Ethyl acetate fraction and crude ethanolic extract from leaves of Ocimum basilicum showed good antibacterial effectiveness against ESBLs and carbapenem resistant organisms than other fractions. This finding may also promote the effective use of O. basilicum herb and its components in modern medicine

Activity of Various Fractions of Saussurea Lappa Herb Against Multidrug Resistant Gram Negative Rods

Background: Microorganisms are turning out to be greatly resistant to existing antibiotics, specifically gram-negative rods which shows resistance to currently accessible antibiotics. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the main therapeutic option to treat infections of gram-negative microorganisms i.e., ESBL and Carbapenemase producers. Saussurea lappa herb is a medicinal herb use since many times. Basically, the roots of S. lappa herb were used as medicines. Current study was conducted to find out activity of various fractions of S. lappa herb against multidrug resistant gram-negative rods. Methods: Crude extracts of ethanol, methanol and water and fractions of n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol from S. lappa herb were used. Total of sixty multidrug resistant organisms were included in which thirty were ESBL and thirty were carbapenemase producing organisms. Mean MIC and comparative analysis of various extracts and fractions have been evaluated. Results: The mean MIC value of crude extracts of ethanol, methanol, n-hexane, chloroform and methanol fractions and water extract from S. lappa against ESBL producing organisms were 109.33± 6.915 mg/ml, 154.67± 5.164 mg/ml, 150.00± 5.345 mg/ml, 55.33±5.164 mg/ml, 178.00±6.103 mg/ml, 64.00± 7.701 mg/ml respectively. Similarly, the mean MIC value against carbapenemase producing organisms were 100.67± 8.683 mg/ml, 158.67± 3.519 mg/ml, 150.67± 5.936 mg/ml, 54.67±5.164 mg/ml, 176.67±14.223 mg/ml, 64.33± 9.353 mg/ml respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that extracts and fractions of S. lappa herb can form the basis to develop novel broad-spectrum formulation for antimicrobial drugs as it contains compounds that has novelty to perform its action against multi-resistant mechanisms

Molecular detection of blaOXA-23gene and blaOXA-51 gene in carbapenem resistant strains of Acinetobacterbaumannii in patients with ventilator associated pneumonia at tertiary care hospital

Objective: To evaluate carbapenem resistance and to detect blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-51 genes in carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumanii isolates recovered from patients having pneumonia secondry to ventilation. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018 at the Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised endotracheal aspirates / tracheobroncheal lavage samples from patients irrespective of age and gender who developed pneumonia after being on the ventilator for 48 hrs at the Combined Military Hospital, and Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.  The samples were inoculated on MacConkey and blood agar and aerobically incubated at a temperature of 370C for 18-24 hours. The isolated organisms were further assessed by standard morphological, cultural and biochemical profile. Antibiotic susceptibility was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumannii were checked for carbapenemase production using Modified Hodge Test. Conventional polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoreses were performed to detect blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-51 genes. Data was analysed using SPSS 17. Results: Out of 157 samples, 92(58.6%) yielded growth of bacteria, and, among them, 39(42.4%) were identified as acinetobacter baumannii. All (100%) acinetobacter baumannii cases showed resistance to carbapenem, were producing carbapenemase enzyme, and were positive for blaOXA-51 gene. The blaOXA-23 gene was amplified in 38(97.4%) isolates. Conclusion: BlaOXA-23 gene appeared to be the major cause of carbapenem resistance. Continuous..

The SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and the Role of Honey and its Products as an Emerging Therapeutic Regime: A Review

The outbreak of pneumonia that broke out in Wuhan, in December 2019, later rapidly spread to the rest of the world. This was identified as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [officially renamed severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)] caused by a zoonotic beta Coronavirus entitled 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The aim of this study was to summarize the biological features of SARSCoV-2, its clinical features and the possible antiviral effect of honey against SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, recently published literature, official documents and selected up-to-date preprint studies were reviewed. The initial source of SARS-CoV-2 is still unknown but a possible animal-to-human transmission is indicated. Human spread of SARS-CoV-2 is due to droplet spread. The infected individual may present as symptomatic or asymptomatic, this varies from patient to patient mainly depending upon his/her immunity. To combat the current pandemic various modalities are under study, an important and harmless way of treatment might be the use of honey. Various studies have demonstrated antiviral effects of honey. Propolis and honey have shown promising anti-viral effect against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, the combined effect of honey and its products might open a door for developing a safe and highly efficient natural drug against COVID-19infection.</p

Four Year trend of antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a tertiary care hospital, Lahore

Objective: To determine the susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus to different antibiotics. Method: The descriptive study was conducted at the Microbiology Department of the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, from August 2016 to July 2019, and comprised staphylococcus aureus samples that were processed and identified using colony morphology on blood agar, gram stain, catalase, coagulase and deoxyribonuclease testing. Screening for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus was done using cefoxitin disc 30µg and oxacillin disc 1?g. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method in line with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines 2019. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Results: Of the 2704 strains processed, 402(14.86%) were found to be methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. Of them, 204(50.74%) were recovered from pus, while 10(2.48%) were recovered from urine. All 402(100%) isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid, and resistant to penicillin, followed by erythromycin 306(76.11%) and sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim 295(73.38%). Overall, lower resistance was seen with doxycycline 145(36.06%) and clindamycin 160(39.80%). Inducible clindamycin resistance was seen in 142(35.23%) isolates. Conclusion: An efficacious susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus was seen with vancomycin and linezolid, moderate susceptibility with doxycycline and clindamycin, while high resistance was observed for penicillin, erythromycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Key Words: Antimicrobial resistance, Antibiotic susceptibility, Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA. Continuous..

Screening of C. auris among Candida isolates from various tertiary care institutions in Lahore by VITEK 2 and real time PCR based molecular technique.

Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant pathogen, that is a well-known cause of nosocomial infections. This pathogen is being identified using advanced diagnostic approaches and epidemiological typing procedures. In underdeveloped nations, several researchers developed and validated a low-cost approach for reliably identifying Candida auris. The goal of this study was to assess the burden of Candida auris in different teaching hospitals of Lahore and to limit its spread to minimize hospital-related illnesses. Candida isolates were obtained from various tertiary care institutions in Lahore in the form of culture on various culture plates. Sabouraud agar culture plates were used to culture the Candida spp. Fluconazole-resistant Candida species were chosen for further identification using VITEK 2 Compact ID and molecular identification using species-specific PCR assay. The current study obtained 636 Candida samples from several tertiary care institutions in Lahore. Fluconazole resistance was found in 248 (38.9%) of 636 Candida samples. No isolate was identified as Candida auris by VITEK 2 Compact ID and real-time PCR-based molecular identification. Thus with limited resources, these two methods may serve as useful screens for Candida auris. However, it should be screened all over the country to limit its spread to break the chain of nosocomial infections