CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN SULAIMANI PEDIATRIC TEACHING HOSPITAL AND COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC METHODS FOR ITS DETECTION

The present study aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of Cryptosporidium among children in Sulaimani Pediatric Teaching Hospital and to determine the best method for its diagnosis. The study started from the 1st of Jun. to the 1st of Sept. 2012. Two hundred fifty stool samples were collected from children of 6 month to 12 years of age from both genders who attended the hospital. Stool samples were inspected by modified acid-fast stain as a standard method, direct wet mount, Crypto-Strips method and enzyme linked immunosorbant assy (ELISA). Modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique revealed 38 (15.2%) positive cases for Cryptosporidium oocysts, of 22 males and 16 females, 4-6 years of age group was more susceptible to infection with Cryptosporidium and highly significant relationship was found between the genders and between different age groups of infection with a highly significant difference between rural and urban area. The highest rate of infection was found in the soft type of stool samples with a significant difference between them. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 13.6% by using direct wet mount, 6.8%, for ELISA and 4.4% by Crypto-Strips method in comparison with MZN method. It is concluded that cryptosporidiosis found to be endemic in Sulaimani city for the first time and the modified acid-fast stain was the most reliable technique for its diagnosis

Maternal Health Challenges during COVID-19 and Way Forward

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every country around the globe. Although every individual is at risk of getting the virus, maternal, fetal and newborn clients face specific and potentially unknown challenges which can make them highly compromised. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the maternal health challenges faced by women during COVID-19 and to propose possible strategies using the socio-ecological model (SEM) to promote the physical, social, and mental well-being of women and their infants during the perinatal period. SEM can be used as a framework to plan and implement strategies focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. It guides stakeholders to design actions at each level, starting from individual to the policy level

Formulation development and optimization of orally disintegrating tablets of montelukast sodium by Design- Expert

Purpose: To prepare orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) of montelukast sodium using Design-Expert for improved patient compliance.Methods: Central composite design was selected to delineate and optimize the formulations. Concentrations of crospovidone (X1) and sodium bicarbonate (X2) were selected as the variables, and responses were based on friability (Y1) and disintegration time (Y2). Varying amounts of super disintegrating agents and effervescent bases were used with microcrystalline cellulose to prepare montelukast sodium ODT.Results: Carr’s index of montelukast sodium was 4.76±0.075, indicating the good compressibility of powder. Whereas the Carr’s value for microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol were 30.14±0.021 and 22.41±0.053 respectively. The FTIR spectra indicated that there were no major shifting and loss of functional groups in drug and excipients blends. Formulations were evaluated, check point batch (CPB, F2) was selected using Design-Expert. The friability of CPB tablets was found to be 0.27 ± 0.085; hardness, 4.96 ± 0.093 kp; wetting time, 28 ± 0.17 s; disintegration time (DT), 28.34 ± 1.78 s; and drug release, 85.5 % within 5 min.Conclusion: The ODT of montelukast sodium has successfully been formulated by direct compression and optimized within a short period, thus demonstrating the suitability and stability of the formulation.Keywords: Direct compression, Montelukast sodium, Orally disintegrating tablets, Super-disintegrants, Design Expert, Crospovidon

Comparison of Ardabil people's utilization of national media and satellite networks in receiving news

Virtual social networks nowadays play a very important role in getting and receiving daily news. Therefore, it is necessary to know the extent and reasons for users to use this tool and compare it with other media. Therefore, it is essential to know the extent and reasons for users to utilize this tool and compare it with other media. This study aimed to investigate the comparison of the use of Ardebil people from social networks and other media in receiving the news. In this descriptive-inferential study 400 Ardabil people were randomly selected. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire developed by the researcher were obtained and completed by the participants. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software. Research findings show that participants prefer to gain news from social networks to other media and most of them think that using social media has been able to reduce the utilization of other media. The findings show that the use of social media in news coverage has somewhat reduced the amount of time spent watching television and satellite. The reasons for this media shift in news acquisition include the social networking content attractiveness in the indicators of accuracy and transparency, the speed of dissemination, the neutrality of news, the latest visual reports, the visual and auditory attractions, the attention to quality of programs, attention to Respondents cited low censorship, addressing issues of interest to audiences, using news images, and using expert view of other media as sources of news. The participants also believed that social networks have a low level of censorship and news silence. Since the national media should be the most important medium in getting the news to a community, as an emerging media social networks have been able to take deep root in human life. These networks have positive features, but on the other hand, they have problems that need special attention.

Factors affecting Maternal-care during labour at maternity centres of Karachi, Pakistan: Exploratory study

Globally 529,000 women die every year due to harmful consequences of childbirth. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators that influence the provision of quality care during labour at maternity centres in Karachi, Pakistan. The qualitative exploratory study design was used to study such factors from public and private maternity health facilities of Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 12 in-depth interviews were conducted through purposive sampling by using validated semi-structured interview guide. Data was analysed using content analysis manually. Among major barriers, unhygienic environment, lack of basic equipment, supplies and medicine, unprofessional attitude of staff, physical infrastructre and shotrage of staff were explored. Among facilitators, caring and supportive attitude of healthcare personnel during labour were identified. These identified determinants would guide policy-makers, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) planners and health managers to take appropriate actions to enhance the quality of maternal care which will subsequently result in considerable reduction in maternal mortalities