Evolving Migration Trends from Afghanistan: Management andHonourable Repatriation of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Since 1979, Pakistan has been a key player in the management of Afghan refugees despite challenging economic and security conditions. The repatriation efforts in the past could not bring conclusive results as a significant population still live in Pakistan. The outbreak of COVID 19 has increased their vulnerability due to inadequate quarantine and health facilities. The positive political developments by way of new elections and a political settlement with the Taliban provide an opportunity for honourable repatriation of Afghan refugees. This article investigates the dilemma in the management of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and suggests a viable course of action for their honourable repatriation to Afghanistan

Assessment of menisci and ligamentous injuries of the knee on magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with arthroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of MRI, in the assessment of the meniscal and cruciate ligamenteous injuries of the knee joint and comparison with arthroscopic findings. METHODS: A one year prospective cross-sectional study from January 2006 to January 2007, was performed on 50 patients (32 males & 18 females) with knee injury presenting at the orthopedic unit of AKUH. The patients were referred to radiology department for MRI evaluation and arthroscopy. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for MRI of the menisci and ligaments were as follows: medial meniscus resulted in 100% sensitivity, 69.27% specificity, 90% PPV, 100% NPV and 92% accuracy: lateral meniscus resulted in 87.5% sensitivity, 88.23% specificity, 77% PPV, 93% NPV and 88% accuracy: anterior cruciate ligament resulted in 86.67% sensitivity, 91.43% specificity, 81% PPV, 94% NPV and 88% accuracy; posterior cruciate ligament resulted in 100% sensitivity, 95.83% specificity,50% PPV, 100 NPV and 96% accuracy. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a good, accurate and non invasive modality for the assessment of menisci and ligamenteous injuries. It can be used as a first line investigation in patients with soft tissue trauma to knee

Clinical radiology research in Pakistan: from evidence to practice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical radiology research productivity in Pakistan by type of publication, sources of funding and name of journals. METHODS: A systematic search strategy using key words related to techniques and type of clinical radiology was carried out to identify various studies published in Indexed (Medline) and non-indexed (Pakmedinet) medical journals. RESULTS: Total of 397 studies were identified out of which 173(43%) from Medline (indexed database) and 220 (57%) from pakmedinet (Indexed and non- indexed database of Pakistan Medical journals). Original articles were 294 (74%) but most of them (68%) were published in non-indexed journals and significantly different from other articles types (case reports, short reports, review articles and letter to editors) (p-value \u3c 0.001). No Randomized Controlled Trial was identified. No research was funded by any formal financial agency. As high as 78% of indexed studies were published by radiology centers of Sind province. Private hospitals having radiology department contributed significantly in indexed journals compared to government hospitals (p-value \u3c 0.001). Majority (74%) of the studies were done by radiologists as compared to other non-radiology clinical colleagues (p-value \u3c 0.001). The most preferred journal for publication was the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA; N = 43) followed by Annals of King Edward medical college (Ann KEMC; N = 20). Australasian journal of radiology was the most preferred international journal for publication (Australas Radiol N = 3). No significant difference was found in radiology research production in terms of number of publication from and before the year 2000 (p-value 0.51). CONCLUSION: Clinical radiology research production from Pakistan is low in terms of quality and number. Only few studies reach the standard of publication in international medical journals. There is an urgent need of building the foundation of research programmes in radiology and strengthen research capacity building at facility and health policy level

Staging of endometrial carcinoma by magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with surgery and histopathology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in staging of endometrial carcinoma, and comparison with surgery and histopathological findings. METHODS: A one year prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 10/3/2005 to 31/5/2006, at the Radiology department, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi. Fifty two patients with diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma, referred to radiology department for preoperative staging by MRI and had undergone surgery were included. RESULTS: MRI was found to be 79% sensitive, 85% specific and 80% accurate for staging endometrial carcinoma while PPV and NPV were 97% and 66% respectively. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a good, safe, accurate and non invasive imaging modality in staging of endometrial carcinoma. It can be used as a first line radiological investigation in patients with endometrial carcinoma for treatment planning

(6aR,10aR)-6,6,9-Trimethyl-3-pentyl-6a,7,8,10a-tetra­hydro-6H-benzo[c]­chromen-1-yl 4-methyl­benzene­sulfonate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C28H36O4S, the p-tolyl ring is inclined at 35.8° to the aromatic ring. The cyclohexene ring adopts a boat conformation and the heterocyclic ring is in a slightly distorted screw boat conformation

The State of Pakistan’s Economy and the Ineffectiveness of Monetary Policy

Purpose: Higher interest rate policy by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has not only been failed to control inflation in Pakistan but adversely impacted public and private investment. High cost of doing business retarded economic growth as well. Therefore, the aim of this study is to inspects the ineffectiveness of monetary policy measures in Pakistan and suggest possible actions to improve effectiveness of the monetary policy. Method: This study utilizes the monthly data from 2007(4)-2019(8) to compute the variance decomposition and impulse responses using VAR modelling. Findings: The impulse response analysis from the VAR model clearly highlights the ineffectiveness of interest rate channel in trying to control inflation in Pakistan. The empirical results indicate that both domestic food price and exchange rate channels are effective means of managing price levels in the country. It is, therefore, recommended that Pakistan should switch from demand side to supply-side policies when forming strategies to control economic vices like inflation

5-{[(3R,5aS,6R,8aS,9R,10S,12R,12aR)-3,6,9-Trimethyl­perhydro-3,12-ep­oxy-1,2-dioxepino[4,3-i]isochromen-10-yl]oxymeth­yl}benzene-1,3-diol

The title compound, C22H30O7, is a fused five-ring system that is of inter­est for its anti­cancer and anti­malarial activity. The six-membered C6 and C5O rings display chair conformations. The six-membered C3O3 ring containing the ether and per­oxy functionalities has a distorted boat conformation, with a C—O—O—C torsion angle of 42.6 (1)° for the per­oxy group. The seven-membered C6O ring has a distorted boat-type conformation, while the seven-membered C5O2 ring has a very distorted chair-type conformation. The structure contains inter­molecular O—H⋯O and O—H⋯(O,O) bonds that link the mol­ecules into sheets parallel to the (100) planes

Production and Salinity Tolerance of Fodder Beet (<em>Beta vulgaris</em> L. ssp. Maritima)

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. maritima) belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. It was introduced first in the Europe and then to USA in 1800 and is currently being grown under cool environmental conditions of the world. It can be cultivated at temperature ranging from 8°C to 25°C. Both shoots and roots of fodder beet can be used as a feed for livestock. In the face of changing climate, there is a dire need to find out climate-resilient crops in new niches that can fulfill the growing needs of farming communities. In this context, fodder beet could be a good option for growers having sizable marginal as well as salt-affected soils. The chapter discusses in detail the efficient salinity-tolerance mechanism of fodder beet that enables it to survive under moderate salinity. Selective ion uptake mechanism, efficient antioxidant defensive mechanism and osmoregulation by accumulation of compatible solutes enable it to thrive well under saline environment. Hence, fodder beet is a relatively salt-tolerant crop that can be successfully grown on normal, marginal as well as salt-affected soils to fulfill the fodder requirements of livestock in fodder-scarce times and salinity amelioration