ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES IN THE FIELD OF SPORTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Background: Schools, colleges, and universities are the foundations of a successful sports program of a nation. A well-planned, school sports program is important for the success of every athlete. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the organizational issues (administrative responsibilities, communication with parents, political involvement, training time, human resources, technical resources, and material resources (equipment and facilities)) in the government girls’ high school of district Layyah. Methods and Materials: The population of this research study contained all the female Principals and all the female PETs (Physical Education Teachers) during the academic year 2017 in the government girl high school of district Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. The entire population was 134 (67 Principals and 67 PETs) which is finite for the researcher and no need to take a sample. Results and Conclusion: The main finding of the study was that there is a significant effect of organizational issues upon sports programs at the government girls’ high school level. Recommendation: The researcher recommended based on finding that organizational issues which affect the government girls high school sport should be minimized and the administration, parents, and politician may support the school sport and in addition to the politician may support the school sports not only financially but also provide skillful coaches who are cognizant with latest technologies and techniques

ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES IN THE FIELD OF SPORTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Background: Schools, colleges, and universities are the foundations of a successful sports program of a nation. A well-planned, school sports program is important for the success of every athlete. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the organizational issues (administrative responsibilities, communication with parents, political involvement, training time, human resources, technical resources, and material resources (equipment and facilities)) in the government girls’ high school of district Layyah. Methods and Materials: The population of this research study contained all the female Principals and all the female PETs (Physical Education Teachers) during the academic year 2017 in the government girl high school of district Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. The entire population was 134 (67 Principals and 67 PETs) which is finite for the researcher and no need to take a sample. Results and Conclusion: The main finding of the study was that there is a significant effect of organizational issues upon sports programs at the government girls’ high school level. Recommendation: The researcher recommended based on finding that organizational issues which affect the government girls high school sport should be minimized and the administration, parents, and politician may support the school sport and in addition to the politician may support the school sports not only financially but also provide skillful coaches who are cognizant with latest technologies and techniques

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy amongst type-2 diabetic population in Pakistan (vision)

Aims: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the principal cause of impaired vision in patients between 25 and 74 years of age. A vast majority of patients who develop DR have no ophthalmology symptoms until the very advanced stages. Pilot studies conducted in Pakistan estimate the prevalence of DR to be between 26-33 %. VISION is the first national study to assemble data on prevalence of DR in T2DM patients in Pakistan Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in nine cities across Pakistan from July 2009 -April 2010. Consecutive patients were recruited from 25 GP clinics. Patients were examined for DR by ophthalmologists using Welchallyn® ophthalmoscope. RBS levels were measured using J&Js OneTouch® glucometers and HbA1c was performed at the centralized lab. Results: Two hundred and twenty three patients were recruited. Analysis was based on evaluation of 202 patients (46.0% females). Mean age was 52.9 (sd ± 10.5) years, BMI 28.6 (sd ± 8.9) kg/m2. SBP 133.5 (sd ± 17.4) mmHg, DBP 86.1 (sd ± 9.6) mmHg, RBS 219.2 (sd ± 82.4) mg/dL and HbA1c of 8.9 (sd ± 2.5) %. Mean duration of T2DM was 8.8 (sd ± 5.1) years. On 10 gm monofilament examination neuropathy was detected in 59.9% patients and nephropathy was reported by 6.4% patients. Seventy seven percent of the patients had never been assessed for DR. The prevalence of DR in this population was 56.9% (C.I 50.1% - 63.3%). Seventy five percent of patients had HbA1c \u3e7%. DR was detected across all levels of HbA1c. Fifty four percent of all the diabetic patients had uncontrolled HTN (SBP \u3e130 mmHg and DBP \u3e80 mmHg). Uncontrolled HTN and HbA1c \u3e 7% coexisted in 41% of patients. The three common risk factors reported by the patients were hypertension, sedentary lifestyle and metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The prevalence of DR in this study population was high (57%).This progressive condition requires a timely and cost-effective management. Diabetic patients should be made aware of the importance of regular eye examination by primary care physician. Keywords: Diabetic Retinopathy, Prevalence, T2DM, Pakista

Intravenous vs intravenous plus aerosolized colistin for treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia - A matched case-control study in neonates

Background: Recently intravenous (IV) and aerosolized (ASZ) colistin have been used for treating ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to colistin susceptible multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). Colistin has limited lung penetration. We compared the efficacy and safety of IV-alone versus IV+ASZ-colistin for treating VAP in neonates.Methods: This retrospective matched case-control-study was performed at NICU of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan between January 2015 and December 2018. Sixteen neonates with MDR-GNB associated VAP received IV-ASZ-colistin and were matched for date of birth, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, antenatal steroid history, disease severity and duration of mechanical ventilation with 16 control neonates who received IV-colistin alone.Results: Both groups had similar MDR-GNB isolates and Acinetobacter baumannii (78%) was the most common pathogen. No colistin-resistant strain was isolated. Duration of IV-colistin and concomitant antibiotics use was significantly (p \u3c 0.05) shorter in IV-ASZ-colistin group. Significantly (p \u3c 0.05) higher clinical cure and microbial eradication, along with lower ventilatory requirements, mortality rate, and colistin induced nephrotoxicity and electrolyte imbalance was observed in IV-ASZ-colistin group.Conclusions: With better lung penetration, ASZ-colistin offers effective and safe microbiological and clinical benefits as adjunctive or alternate treatment of VAP due to colistin susceptible MDR-GNB in neonates

New bioactive triaryl triglyceride esters: Synthesis, characterization and biological activities

Four new bioactive aryl triester derivatives of glycerol and benzoic acids were synthesized. The synthetic compounds were studied for their antimicrobial and urease inhibition activities. Esterification was carried out by using carbonyldiimidazole to enhance the acyl elimination addition reaction with benzoic acid derivatives. The structure of triglycerides were studied by EI-MS, 1H, 13C-NMR, FT-IR and elemental analysis. All synthetic compounds showed urease inhibition activity with highest value of IC50 value 22.4 ± 0.45 μM which is nearest to standard thiourea IC50 value (21.6 ± 0.12 μM).  Except compound (3d), all other compounds exhibited antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus pumilus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albican. Video Clip of Methodology: 7 min 59 sec   Full Screen   Alternate 

Neonatal fluid and electrolytes profile effect on amphotericin B associated nephrotoxicity in neonatal tertiary care unit of Karachi-Pakistan

Objectives: Amphotericin-B (d-AmB) has a broader anti-fungal spectrum and is used for neonatal invasive-fungal-infections especially invasive-candidiasis (IC). To prevent d-AmB-induced nephrotoxicity, renal protective effect of fluid and electrolyte management has been established among adults; in this study, the authors determined this effect among neonates.Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the authors reviewed neonatal medical records, admitted to neonatal intensive care unit and received d-AmB therapy. Patients were divided into, renal-insufficiency-group (RIG) and the non-renal-insufficiency-group (NIG).Results: A total of 90 cases were analyzed, 41 composed RIG and 49 NIG. Renal insufficiency (RI) was developed on 1.7 (0.84) and 7.8 (1.21) days of d-AmB therapy in 26 (63%) and 15 (37%) cases respectively. Bivariate and multivariate analysis demonstrate that \u3e4 m Eq/kg/d sodium intake across all-time points was significantly (p \u3c 0.0001) associated with reduced risk of RI [(phase-I: AOR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99), (phase-II: AOR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.68-0.92) and (phase-III: AOR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.86-0.95)]. While adequate fluid intake reduced the likelihood of RI if started before and initial 2 days of d-AmB therapy.Conclusions: Adequate hydration before and 48 hours after d-AmB therapy and \u3e4 mEq/kg/day sodium intake before and through d-AmB therapy may protect neonatal RI

Efficient design to fabricate smart Lumefantrine nanocrystals using DENA® particle engineering technology: Characterisation, in vitro and in vivo antimalarial evaluation and assessment of acute and sub-acute toxicity

Nanocrystalization technologies have a great potential to substantially increase solubility as well as alleviate the erratic bioavailability behaviour of a range of poorly water soluble drugs. The aim of the current study was to fabricate smart nanocrystals of lumefantrine (LF) using wet milling technology (DENA DM-100) with the subsequent in vitro, in vivo evaluation and toxicity screening. This technology successfully produced nanocrystals with an average particle size (214.1 ± 0.2 nm) and PDI (0.201 ± 0.06) in a period of less than 1 h. DSC and PXRD were used to confirm crystallinity of the processed LF. The dissolution rate and saturation solubility of the processed LF was significantly (P < 0.05) increased compared to the raw and marketed tablets. The IC50 value of LF nanocrystals was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the IC50 value of the raw drug and marketed tablets. In addition, LF nanocrystals at the same dose (30 mg/kg), showed significantly (P < 0.05) the highest reduction in the percentage of parasitemia compared to its other counterparts against P. vivax. The LD50 value of LF nanocrystals in the acute toxicity was between 1000 and 1500 mg/kg and was devoid of any observable sub-acute toxicity. The histopathological investigations and impact of LF nanocrystals on different internal organs of the chosen animal model were found comparable to the saline treated animal group. The results of current study suggested that wet milling can be effectively used to fabricate nanocrystals of LF both in acidic and aqueous media with enhanced antimalarial activities and a similar safety profile