Analytical Study of Teacher Educators’ Metaphors of Teaching

Teaching metaphor is an important phenomenon which can be used to determine teachers’ perceptions regarding their job and their workplace (Turunen, 2003). This study was aimed to explore the metaphors of junior and senior teacher educators to get insights of what teaching was for them. A comparative analysis between the junior and senior teacher educators helped to understand how these metaphors changed over time. Data for the qualitative study were collected from the districts of Sargodha, Khushab and Mianwali situated in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Fifty teacher educators teaching at postgraduate level participated in the study and filled in the survey questionnaire. The data were coded and analysed qualitatively. Six themes emerged from the data: religious obligations, economic activities, nature compatibility, life processes, emotional affiliations, and thought provoking activities.These themes were compatible with Chen’s (2013) classification of teachers’ personal metaphors. The implications of metaphors could be used to enhance critical thinking of teacher educators to improve the quality of education

Evaluation of Common Risk Factors for Breast Carcinoma in Females: a Hospital Based Study in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Breast malignancies are one of the leading causes of deaths in females worldwide. There are a number of risk factors associated with breast cancer but in Karachi Pakistan there are insufficient data available.MATERIALS AND Methods: A case control study was conducted on females in age group between 30-80 years. This study was accomplished by retrospective data collection in Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 108 females with primary malignancy of breast were included along with 108 matched controls. Relationship of various factors with disease was studied using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals.Results: A total of 14 variables were analyzed and based on and 7 were found to be risk factors: old age, family history of breast cancer, family history of other carcinomas, personal history of breast carcinoma, early age of menarche, older age of mother at first delivery and lower number of children. Five factors, parity, breast feeding, history of oral contraceptive pills intake, past history of oophorectomy and hysterectomy showed protective associations. One variable, use of hormonal replacement therapy, showed a controversial link and one other, marital status, was not significant in this study.CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that most of the well-known risk factors for breast cancer are also associated with the disease in the female population of Karachi, Pakistan. High risk patients should be the focus with the help of this study so that screening can be more effective for early diagnosis before clinically evident breast malignancy

Accuracy of specimen radiography in assessing complete local excision with breast-conservation surgery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of “X- ray examination of surgically resected specimen‘‘ in assessing complete local excision (CLE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cross sectional study, data were collected for all female breast cancer cases who underwent breast-conserving surgery after needle localization of mammographically visible disease. Males, patients with mammographically invisible disease and cases with benign or inconclusive histopathology, those undergoing modified radical mastectomy and individuals with dense breast parenchyma were excluded. We evaluated radiography of resected specimens to assess margin spiculation, distance of mass/microcalcification from the excised margin, presence of a mass, and presence of any adjacent microcalcification, Other features including mass size, nuclear grade and patient’s age were also recorded and all were analyzed for any association with CLE. RESULTS: Absence of adjacent microcalcification and the presence of a mass on radiographs showed significant associations with CLE, but no links were evident with other features. Specimen radiography was found to be a sufficient tool to predict CLE with a positive predictive value of 83.3%, a sensitivity of 80.7% and a specificity of 81%. CONCLUSION: Specimen radiography is an important and sensitive tool to predict CLE

QUALITATIVE STUDY EXPLORING PREGNANT WOMEN PERCEPTIONS REGARDING THEIR HUSBANDS AND IN-LAWS’ SUPPORT DURING PREGNANCY

Introduction: Pregnancy is not a disease but a psychologically challenging period where a woman passes through several social, physical, and psychological challenges in life. This study is aimed at exploring pregnant women perceptions regarding their husbands and in-laws’ support during pregnancy. Material & Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was used. Ten pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy and living in joint family system were recruited through purposive sampling technique in a village of district Nowshera. Permission was taken from concerned departments as well as from participants before data collection. Interview topic guide was used as tool. Face to face individual In-depth interviews were conducted, audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed through thematic analysis. Results: A total of 100 open codes were found out from the data. In the process of axial coding extra and unnecessary codes were omitted and then 11 categories were identified from open codes. The identified categories were kept under three major themes of lack of comprehensive support mechanism, physical and mental strain, barriers to antenatal services. Perceived support of husbands and in-laws and needs and barriers to maternal and child health were discussed by the participants. Conclusion: Findings suggested that family relationship quality might not be improved by taking interventions i.e. making policies, but the incorporation of health professionals’ support with family member’s behaviour can improve maternal health

Comparative Evaluation of Lamina Cribrosa Anatomical Parameters with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Defects In Primary Open-angle Glaucoma Cases And Controls

OBJECTIVES To assess the lamina cribrosa (LC) anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALCD), lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) cases and age-matched controls and to compare these anatomical variables among POAG cases and age-matched controls. METHODOLOGY The case-control study was researched at Al-Ain Eye Institute, Karachi, in four month’s duration (November 2018 till February 2019). Expert eye specialist recruited 57 POAG cases and 46 age-matched healthy controls. Observation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and open angle was done using Goldmann tonometry and Slit-lamp biomicroscopy with stereoscopic ophthalmoscopy respectively. Visual field parameters of mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) measured using Humphrey Field Analyzer. Highly sensitive spectral domain ocular coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT) was used to determine ALCD, LCT and RNFLT. RESULTS Statistically significant results were produced by RNFLT defects when it is compared in groups of mild with moderate cases of POAG (P-value 0.037). ALCD and LCT did display an association with RNFLT defects but did not produced statistically significant results. CONCLUSION Assessments of ALCD and LCT can provide important prognostic evidence about RNFLT and can assist in future planning of mild and moderate cases suffering from POAG

Frequency and Risk Factors of Depression among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Karachi

OBJECTIVES The study aimed to determine the frequency of depression among medical students and to identify the different risk factors associated with depression. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at a private medical college in Karachi. The study was initiated after approval was taken from the ethical committee. Consent was taken before the data collection after explaining the details of the study. Students were selected for this study as per inclusion criteria. They were provided with the PHQ-9 questionnaire in which they were inquired about the factors for depression. The total students with depression positive were presented by their frequencies with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTSThree hundred seventy medical students participated, and 207 (56%) tested positive for depression. Notably, depression was more prevalent among final-year students, with 80% affected. Additionally, the severity of depression gradually increased with advancing medical years, reaching the highest level in the final year, where 61 students (80%) reported significant depression. The most frequent causes of depression were living away from home and facing the challenges of a demanding curriculum. CONCLUSION The study findings revealed a higher likelihood of depression among medical students, particularly in their final year. This vulnerability was exacerbated by the stress associated with extensive coursework and peer pressure to achieve excellent exam grades

A retrospective study of laboratory-based enteric fever surveillance, Pakistan, 2012-2014

Introduction: The Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP) is a multisite surveillance study designed to capture morbidity and mortality burden of enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid) in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. We aim to describe enteric fever disease burden, severity of illness, and antimicrobial resistance trends in Pakistan.Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, laboratory records of hospitalized patients who received a blood culture in any of 3 Aga Khan University hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad, Pakistan, from 2012 to 2014 were reviewed. A case was defined as having a positive blood culture for Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) or Salmonella Paratyphi (S. Paratyphi). Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns were characterized for all S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi isolates. Medical records were available for abstraction (demographics, clinical features, complications) only among hospitalized cases.Results: Of the 133017 blood cultures completed during the study period, 2872 (2%) were positive-1979 (69%) for S. Typhi and 893 (31%) for S. Paratyphi. Fluoroquinolone resistance was present in \u3e90% of both the S. Typhi and the S. Paratyphi isolates; almost none of the isolates were resistant to cephalosporins. Multidrug resistance (resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole) was observed in 1035 (52%) S. Typhi isolates and 14 (2%) S. Paratyphi isolates. Among S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi isolates, 666 (23%) were linked to hospitalized patients with medical records. Of the 537 hospitalized S. Typhi cases, 280 (52%) were aged 5-15 years, 133 (25%) were aged 2-4 years, 114 (21%) were aged \u3e15 years, and 10 (2%) were aged 0-1 years. Among the 129 hospitalized S. Paratyphi cases, 73 (57%) were aged \u3e15 years, 41 (32%) were aged 5-15 years, 13 (10%) were aged 2-4 years, and 2 (2%) were aged 0-1 years. Significant differences in symptomology between S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi cases were observed for nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and headache. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and encephalopathy were the most commonly reported complications among enteric fever cases. No deaths were reported.Conclusion: Evidence of high antimicrobial resistance levels and disease severity support the need for continued surveillance and improved diagnostics for typhoid. Further prospective studies on vaccination as a tool for prevention of enteric fever in Pakistan are needed to inform disease intervention strategies

NHA1 is a cation/proton antiporter essential for the water-conserving functions of the rectal complex in Tribolium castaneum

More than half of all extant metazoan species on earth are insects. The evolutionary success of insects is linked with their ability to osmoregulate, suggesting that they have evolved unique physiological mechanisms to maintain water balance. In beetles (Coleoptera)—the largest group of insects—a specialized rectal (“cryptonephridial”) complex has evolved that recovers water from the rectum destined for excretion and recycles it back to the body. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the remarkable water-conserving functions of this system are unknown. Here, we introduce a transcriptomic resource, BeetleAtlas.org, for the exceptionally desiccation-tolerant red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, and demonstrate its utility by identifying a cation/H+ antiporter (NHA1) that is enriched and functionally significant in the Tribolium rectal complex. NHA1 localizes exclusively to a specialized cell type, the leptophragmata, in the distal region of the Malpighian tubules associated with the rectal complex. Computational modeling and electrophysiological characterization in Xenopus oocytes show that NHA1 acts as an electroneutral K+/H+ antiporter. Furthermore, genetic silencing of Nha1 dramatically increases excretory water loss and reduces organismal survival during desiccation stress, implying that NHA1 activity is essential for maintaining systemic water balance. Finally, we show that Tiptop, a conserved transcription factor, regulates NHA1 expression in leptophragmata and controls leptophragmata maturation, illuminating the developmental mechanism that establishes the functions of this cell. Together, our work provides insights into the molecular architecture underpinning the function of one of the most powerful water-conserving mechanisms in nature, the beetle rectal complex

Trauma, Helplessness, and Quality of Life among Arthritis Patients Moderated by Perceived Social Support

The study explores trauma and helplessness to explore quality of life among arthritis patients moderated by perceived social support. It was a cross-sectional study conducted at different hospital communities in district Gujrat. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 385 participants. The instruments used were demographic form, Post-Traumatic stress disorder  scale, arthritis helplessness index, world Health 'sQuality of Life scale, and multidimensional Social support  scale. For the Analysis of the data, multiple regression and structure equation modeling hasused. The result has confirmed [R²=.676 F (1, 383) = 106.7, p<.01] that trauma, helplessness, and social support was the predictor of Quality of life with 45.7% variance. The .E.M.S.E.M. model has significantly established the relationship among variables. The CMIN/DF was 2.10, a value less than three indicate the best-fitted model..The value of G.F.I., A.G.F.I., and CFI, are 0.957, 0.932, and 0.945, respectivelyThis shows that the Model is best fitted if this value is greater than 0.90. The regression estimates of trauma predicting social support were 0.083(P=.043), and helplessness was 0.229 (P=0.000). It established the fact that a one-unit increase in trauma will lead to an increase in social support by 0.083 and helplessness by 0.229. The regression estimates of Quality of life predicting helplessness -0.003 (P= 0.765), which indicates a non-significant inverse relationship . The regression estimates of Quality of life predicting social support and trauma were 0.052 (P=0.000) and -0.01(P=0.780), respectively. It established the fact that Quality of life determines social support by 0.052, whereas trauma was inversely non-significant

Trauma, Helplessness, and Quality of Life among Arthritis Patients Moderated by Perceived Social Support

The study explores trauma and helplessness to explore quality of life among arthritis patients moderated by perceived social support. It was a cross-sectional study conducted at different hospital communities in district Gujrat. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 385 participants. The instruments used were demographic form, Post-Traumatic stress disorder  scale, arthritis helplessness index, world Health 'sQuality of Life scale, and multidimensional Social support  scale. For the Analysis of the data, multiple regression and structure equation modeling hasused. The result has confirmed [R²=.676 F (1, 383) = 106.7, p<.01] that trauma, helplessness, and social support was the predictor of Quality of life with 45.7% variance. The .E.M.S.E.M. model has significantly established the relationship among variables. The CMIN/DF was 2.10, a value less than three indicate the best-fitted model..The value of G.F.I., A.G.F.I., and CFI, are 0.957, 0.932, and 0.945, respectivelyThis shows that the Model is best fitted if this value is greater than 0.90. The regression estimates of trauma predicting social support were 0.083(P=.043), and helplessness was 0.229 (P=0.000). It established the fact that a one-unit increase in trauma will lead to an increase in social support by 0.083 and helplessness by 0.229. The regression estimates of Quality of life predicting helplessness -0.003 (P= 0.765), which indicates a non-significant inverse relationship . The regression estimates of Quality of life predicting social support and trauma were 0.052 (P=0.000) and -0.01(P=0.780), respectively. It established the fact that Quality of life determines social support by 0.052, whereas trauma was inversely non-significant