Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and its Risk Factors among Pakistani Females:

Background: A severe form of clinical depression is related to pregnancy and childbirth. As a new mom, a lot of challenges are encountered in getting used to life with a newborn including lack of sleep. Hormonal changes and fatigue may lead towards psychological maladjustment towards motherhood. Low socioeconomic status, family system, mode of delivery, ill health of infant may be the reasons behind postpartum depression. Objective: To study the prevalence of postpartum depression among females. Method: This Cross sectional study was conducted after ethical approval on a sample of 200 females of reproductive age (20-45years). Participants were selected through convenient random sampling on the basis of predefined eligibility criteria. Data were collected from primary and secondary healthcare facilities of district Sialkot using Edinburg postnatal depression screening tool. Results: The mean age±Std Dev of the participants was 28.09±5.346 years ranging from 20 to 45. Mean±SD of total score EPDS was found 3.53±5.72 with 87.50% participants with score below 13. Out of 200, 25(12.50%) females were candidates for postpartum depression. Conclusion: Postpartum depression screening helps recognition of the disorder. Postpartum depression among females of the target population is not negligible

An Overview of Bacterial Toxigenesis and a Potential Biological Weapon in Warfare

Various bacterial cells releases proteinous compound known as toxins. These toxins damage or inhibit the physiological and cellular function of the healthy human cells as a result it can causes a lethal disease or death. Generally the bacterial toxins are classified according to mode of action at molecular level and the mechanism of targeting cells or organs. Some toxins are released within the bacteria called endotoxin and other secretes outside the cells delivered by gram positive and negative bacteria. These toxins encoded by bacterial genes, chromosome, phages or plasmids. The bacterial toxins such as botulinum, conotoxins, Clostridium perfrigens, epsilson toxin, saxitoxins, shigatoxins, tetrodotoxins, can be used in bioterrorism due to high toxicity and short incubation time. The promising role of nanomaterial’s in the detection of bacterial toxins have been summarized highlighting their advantages, need principles, and limitations in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, simplicity, sensitivity, cost effectiveness and multiplexing capability

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF MICROBES IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: A REVIEW

Biotechnology is the most prominent and rapidly growing segment of the biological sciences that is making its diversified application in sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers, biopesticides, bioherbicides, bioinsecticides, and many of the other fungal based and viral based insecticides, obtained using microorganisms, are some of the outcomes of biotechnology playing a key role in sustainable agriculture. Many of other important food products are also obtained by microbial fermentation. Different microbes are added to get the desired effect of food at the specific stages of food production process. Pharmaceutical microbiology includes the manufacturing of different pharmaceutical and medicinal products. This review article has a wide overview of microbes mainly used in agriculture, food industries, and pharmaceutical industries

A New View on The Socio-Economic Factor In Child Mortality Asymmetric ARDL Provides New Evidence for Developing Country SDG (SDG'S) Achievement

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explain the link between child mortality and education, environmental health, water sanitation, and climate change. It seeks to manage and reduce child mortality by detailing why and how education, climate change, and environmental factors are crucial in lowering child mortality during a five-year period. The study intends to broaden the realm of child mortality reduction by integrating a water sanitation and health component not commonly identified in the literature. Design/methodology/approach – The paper  for an exploratory research between 1996 and 2020 utilising the Asymmetric Auto Regressive Distributed Model (ARDL). Long-run co-integration results suggest that Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) is appropriate for examining the short-run connection between the modelled variables. The information comes from the World Development Indicator (WDI), which covers seven developing countries: Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Findings – According to the study, access to improved water and sanitation facilities, environmental health, and climate change all have a substantial and negative impact on child survival. Furthermore, the study looked at the impact of schooling on child mortality. Research limitations/implications – The chosen research technique may limit the generalizability of the study findings. As a result, researchers are encouraged to examine the presented hypotheses further. Practical implications – This report advises policymakers and international organisations that in order to fulfil the needed rate of child mortality, households should have access to clean water and sanitation services. Furthermore, the report suggests that the government adjust environmental and educational policies in order to reduce child mortality. Originality/value – The major objectives of the study are to construct a extrapolative exemplary for under-5  mortality and to categorize important hazard variables connected with under-5 deaths using nationwide demonstrative facts on kids under-5

Stress related changes due to valsalva maneuver in healthy young individuals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Background: Effect of stress application on the body in particular, one that raises the intrathoracic pressure, like the Valsalva Maneuver needed to be gauged in the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The aim of this research was to assess the changes induced by Valsalva manoeuvre on the body depicted via an ECG. Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted on healthy young adults in the research laboratory of the physiology department, Khyber Medical College over a period of seven months. A total of 119 subjects were included in research, those with morbidities were excluded. The rest were made to perform the Valsalva manoeuvre for 15 seconds at maintaining pressure of 40 mmHg. The blood pressure, ECG and heart rate were measured during and after the procedure. The data was then analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The significantly affected parameters by stress were blood pressure PR, RR, QT intervals and T wave. The changes in the parameters, at rest, were either insignificant or were differentially significant in both the genders. Conclusion: Valsalva manoeuvre has a direct effect on blood pressure and ECG and in turn on pumping of the heart via effecting the ventricular contraction and repolarization

Evaluation of Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, and their Association with Demographic Factors among Healthcare Professionals in Karachi

Background: Healthcare professionals are exposed to difficult situations that lead to increased stress. Higher emotional intelligence can lead to better psychological adaptation and greater self-esteem while lower emotional intelligence may result in hopelessness and stressful behavior. Objective: To examine self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and their relationship with demographic factors among healthcare professionals in Karachi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals using a self-reported questionnaire. The data was collected through Google forms from April 2021 to April 2022. Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U test were applied for inferential statistics and the p-value was fixed at ≤0.05. Results: A total of 261 participants responded to the survey with complete responses. The mean age of the participants was 28 (IQR=26-30) years and most of them were females (69%). The median emotional intelligence score of participants was 5.56 (IQR=6.00-4.93) and the median self-esteem score of participants was 29 (IQR=30-27). A weak positive correlation was found between emotional intelligence and self-esteem scores (ρ=0.285, p<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed a significant positive association of education (p=0.024) and a significant negative association of profession (p=0.017) with self-esteem. Moreover, it also showed a significant positive association of age (p=0.045) with emotional intelligence. Conclusion: The study results showed a weak positive correlation between emotional intelligence and self-esteem. Furthermore, education and profession were found to be significantly associated with self-esteem whereas only age was found to be significantly associated with the emotional intelligence of the participants

PREVALENCE OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIAL GASTROENTERITIS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Multidrug resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) associated diarrheal diseases are the most prevalent health problems in Karachi, Pakistan. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical experiences of individuals suffered from gastroenteritis and also to determine the prevailing sensitivity / resistance pattern of E. coli among the population of Karachi. A cross-sectional retrospective survey was conducted by distributing questionnaires to a total of 150 individuals in December, 2014. The data collected from the questionnaire was statistically analyzed. Majority of the surveyed population was found to be infected by gastroenteritis lately or sometime in their life. On asking the questions about the possible reasons for being infected, it was revealed that the use of untreated water was the major source for the occurrence of the infection. Diagnostic tests were not carried out in most of the cases. Evaluation of questionnaire also indicated that physicians prescribed 2nd line of drug therapy due to the failure of treatment by cephalosporins, quinolones and fosfomycin. The susceptibility pattern of E. coli against selective antimicrobials agents was determined by using disc diffusion method. A total of 50 non-duplicate isolates of bacteria were collected from clinical laboratory of tertiary care hospital. The results were evaluated according to the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The findings of sensitivity determination supported the retrospective data indicating that cefexime and ceftriaxone failed to inhibit the growth of 80% of the bacterial sample while ciprofloxacin was also found to be less effective since 65% of the isolates showed resistance to it. A 50% resistance pattern was observed against cefoperazone and sulbactam. The most effective antibiotic against E. coli was found to be colistin (100% sensitive) followed by amikacin (90%), merepenem (90%) and gentamicin (70%). Hence, the in-time monitoring of infection through diagnostic procedures is suggested to avoid treatment failure

Effects of Shrimp Peptide Hydrolysate on Intestinal Microbiota Restoration and Immune Modulation in Cyclophosphamide-Treated Mice

The gut microbiota is important in regulating host metabolism, maintaining physiology, and protecting immune homeostasis. Gut microbiota dysbiosis affects the development of the gut microenvironment, as well as the onset of various external systemic diseases and metabolic syndromes. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug that suppresses the host immune system, intestinal mucosa inflammation, and dysbiosis of the intestinal flora. Immunomodulators are necessary to enhance the immune system and prevent homeostasis disbalance and cytotoxicity caused by CTX. In this study, shrimp peptide hydrolysate (SPH) was evaluated for immunomodulation, intestinal integration, and microbiota in CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice. It was observed that SPH would significantly restore goblet cells and intestinal mucosa integrity, modulate the immune system, and increase relative expression of mRNA and tight-junction associated proteins (Occludin, Zo-1, Claudin-1, and Mucin-2). It also improved gut flora and restored the intestinal microbiota ecological balance by removing harmful microbes of various taxonomic groups. This would also increase the immune organs index, serum levels of cytokines (IFN-ϒ, IL1β, TNF-α, IL-6), and immunoglobin levels (IgA, IgM). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes proportion was decreased in CTX-induced mice. Finally, SPH would be recommended as a functional food source with a modulatory effect not only on intestinal microbiota, but also as a potential health-promoting immune function regulator

The composition of the blood microbiota and its relationship to osteoporosis-related clinical parameters

Osteoporosis, a systemic bone disease, is characterized by decreased bone mass, deterioration of skeletal structure, and increased bone susceptibility. Age, environment, hormone levels, nutrition, and immunity are all factors that influence bone mass. Currently, intestinal flora has been recently recognized as a key regulator of bone mass. The blood's microbiome role in bone health and in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis remains unknown. In this study, the abundance of various blood's microbial taxa in osteoporosis patients were analyzed. We investigated the associations between prominent bacterial taxa and other clinical indicators (i.e. biochemical, blood cell counts and CT scan). DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples of patients with degenerative bone diseases with or without osteoporosis (i.e. n = 8; ST and n = 12, T group) and healthy controls (n = 4, N group). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique was utilized to characterize the blood microbiome taxaThe Shannon–Winner and dilution curves revealed that all the characterized species in the sample and the sequencing data were reliable. The number of bacterial taxa in blood and annotated operational taxonomic units were positively correlated with neutrophils. This support that bacteria exist within or adhere to the neutrophil's membrane. The abundance of Yersinia ruckeri, Rhodanobacter_uncultured bacterium, Enterobacter spp., and Raoultella spp increased in the ST group as compared with the N group. Hence, indicate their potential role in the onset and progression of osteoporosis. These findings provide new insights into the association between blood microbiota and bone health. This study could open a new horizon in exploring the clinical application of blood microbiome to improve bone health

Drought-induced changes in plant-yield interlinked biochemistry of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) by exogenously applied alpha-tocopherol

To assess the potential of exogenously-applied vitamin E commonly known as alpha-tocopherol (α-TOC) in drought stress tolerance, an experiment was performed on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) plants. Two cultivars (TCF-605 and White Figer) of cauliflower were subjected to control and drought stress conditions. After thirty days of drought stress treatment, cauliflower plants were treated with α-TOC (150 and 300 mg/L) as a foliage spray. Drought stress markedly inhibited the plant biomass, leaf characteristics such as relative water contents (RWC), chlorophyll pigments (a and b), proline, ascorbic acid (AsA), GB, however it elevated RMP, total phenolics, activities of antioxidant enzymes e.g., CAT, SOD and POD. Drought stress also adversely affected curd characteristics including its fresh weight, GB, proline, total phenolics and enzymes activities (SOD and CAT). Exogenously applied α-TOC considerably suppressed RMP, while it improved plant growth, yield, RWC, total phenolics, ascorbic acid and POD, SOD, and CAT enzyme activities in the leaves of the cauliflower. Exogenous application of α-TOC also raised curd total phenolics, AsA and the activities of all observed enzymes under water deficiency. The cv. TCF-605 was better in shoot weight, shoot length, RWC, proline as well as GB contents, while cv. White Figer was higher in leaf RMP, proline and AsA levels under drought stress conditions. Overall, the results exhibited that cauliflower cv. TCF-605 was relatively tolerant to water stress in relation to growth and yield outcomes, which was interlinked with α-TOC-induced improved leaf and curd osmoprotection and antioxidative defense system. So, exogenous application of α-TOC can be suggested for improving growth and yield potential of crops subjected to drought stress