39 research outputs found
CASUAL FACTROS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
This study was conducted to find out the casual factors of criminal behavior in, Punjab Pakistan. Punjab is the largest province of Pakistan and crime ratio is also highest in this province. A questionnaire of 114 items was constructed through focus group discussion, Literature and DSM-5. Five point Likert scale was used to measure the casual factors. Data was collected from 200 criminals who conducted the crime more than one time. Data was collected from District jails of Multan and Vehari from south Punjab. Mean value was selected as 2 for mentioning a factors as cause of criminal behavior which indicate the presence of a factor. In last 20 factors were mentioned as casual factors of criminal behavior including physical abuse in schools, stubbornness in childhood, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness in childhood, strict family restrictions in childhood. Failure in intimate relations, high media exposure, short temperament, feelings of revenge and deprivation in childhood. Most of the criminals found to get their primary and secondary education in schools whereas there were lowest ratio of criminals who get religious education. There is needed to make policies to reduce these casual factors to control crime in Pakistan. Key Words: Crime, Criminal Behavior, Criminal Tendency, Criminal Factors, Causes of Crime.
Assessment of Human Health Risk of Zinc and Lead by Consuming Food Crops Supplied with Excessive Fertilizers
For the study of heavy metals impact on human beings, areas in Sargodha city that were supplied with various types of fertilizers were chosen. The three industrial areas; (Bhalwal, Sillanwali, and Sahiwal) of this city were explored for research reasons. The researchers wanted to know how much heavy metal was in the soil, food crops, and human. Excess fertilizer use contributes to global pollution. Farmyard manure, urea, and potassium chloride were used on Site 1; urea phosphate, manure, and ammonium sulphate were used on Site 2; and super phosphate, ammonium phosphate, and nitrate phosphate were used on Site 3. Samples of commonly used food crops, their respective soils and blood of residents who ingested the food crops of the studied area were collected. The zinc and lead levels in soil (8.30-16.80 and 1.80-12.71 mg/kg) and food crops (0.26-2.02 and 2.26-4.70 mg/kg) were far lower than WHO permitted limits. Blood mean concentration of both Zn (2.30-4.30 mg/L) and Ni (0.24-0.70 mg/L) were found maximum in residents of Site 3. The values of pollution load index, bioconcentration factor, enrichment factor for both zinc and lead were (0.18-0.37 and0.220-0.948), (0.027-0.138 and 0.316-1.705), (0.020-0.144 and 0.515-2.780), respectively. Daily intake of metal (0.004-0.008 and 0.001-0.002 mg/kg/day) and health risk index (0.0001-0.016 and 0.005-0.115) values were observed to be lower in individuals for Zn and Pb, respectively. In present work values of all pollution indices wereSo, there would be no human health hazard
Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study
Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study.
Methods
We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income.
Results
Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income.
Conclusion
At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio
Adding 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy to postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a comparison of short-course versus no androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised controlled trial
Background
Previous evidence indicates that adjuvant, short-course androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves metastasis-free survival when given with primary radiotherapy for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the value of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy is unclear.
Methods
RADICALS-HD was an international randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of ADT used in combination with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to radiotherapy alone (no ADT) or radiotherapy with 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT), using monthly subcutaneous gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue injections, daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as distant metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. Standard survival analysis methods were used, accounting for randomisation stratification factors. The trial had 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis-free survival from 80% to 86% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·67). Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00541047.
Findings
Between Nov 22, 2007, and June 29, 2015, 1480 patients (median age 66 years [IQR 61–69]) were randomly assigned to receive no ADT (n=737) or short-course ADT (n=743) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 121 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 9·0 years (IQR 7·1–10·1), metastasis-free survival events were reported for 268 participants (142 in the no ADT group and 126 in the short-course ADT group; HR 0·886 [95% CI 0·688–1·140], p=0·35). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 79·2% (95% CI 75·4–82·5) in the no ADT group and 80·4% (76·6–83·6) in the short-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 121 (17%) of 737 participants in the no ADT group and 100 (14%) of 743 in the short-course ADT group (p=0·15), with no treatment-related deaths.
Interpretation
Metastatic disease is uncommon following postoperative bed radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy. Adding 6 months of ADT to this radiotherapy did not improve metastasis-free survival compared with no ADT. These findings do not support the use of short-course ADT with postoperative radiotherapy in this patient population
Duration of androgen deprivation therapy with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a comparison of long-course versus short-course androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised trial
Background
Previous evidence supports androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with primary radiotherapy as initial treatment for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the use and optimal duration of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy remains uncertain.
Methods
RADICALS-HD was a randomised controlled trial of ADT duration within the RADICALS protocol. Here, we report on the comparison of short-course versus long-course ADT. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after previous radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to add 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT) or 24 months of ADT (long-course ADT) to radiotherapy, using subcutaneous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (monthly in the short-course ADT group and 3-monthly in the long-course ADT group), daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. The comparison had more than 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis-free survival from 75% to 81% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·72). Standard time-to-event analyses were used. Analyses followed intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and
ClinicalTrials.gov
,
NCT00541047
.
Findings
Between Jan 30, 2008, and July 7, 2015, 1523 patients (median age 65 years, IQR 60–69) were randomly assigned to receive short-course ADT (n=761) or long-course ADT (n=762) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 138 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 8·9 years (7·0–10·0), 313 metastasis-free survival events were reported overall (174 in the short-course ADT group and 139 in the long-course ADT group; HR 0·773 [95% CI 0·612–0·975]; p=0·029). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 71·9% (95% CI 67·6–75·7) in the short-course ADT group and 78·1% (74·2–81·5) in the long-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 105 (14%) of 753 participants in the short-course ADT group and 142 (19%) of 757 participants in the long-course ADT group (p=0·025), with no treatment-related deaths.
Interpretation
Compared with adding 6 months of ADT, adding 24 months of ADT improved metastasis-free survival in people receiving postoperative radiotherapy. For individuals who can accept the additional duration of adverse effects, long-course ADT should be offered with postoperative radiotherapy.
Funding
Cancer Research UK, UK Research and Innovation (formerly Medical Research Council), and Canadian Cancer Society
A study on serological detection of Hepatitis A virus with associated risk factors in young kids
Background:Â Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a major concerning issue for human health that causes acute viral hepatitis. Hepatitis A virus is non enveloped RNA virus which is a member of the family Picornaviridae and genus Hepatovirus. HAV is more prevalent in developing countries like Pakistan with poor sanitation and economic status. The virus is present in young kids of age 1 to 15 years old associated with many risk factors.Methods:Â A total of 100 blood samples (1-2 ml) were collected from the hospitals of Lahore. After serum collection, indirect ELISA was performed on a commercially available kit. The Optical density (OD) was taken from the ELISA reader. Positive and negative samples were also run along with the samples and samples OD was compared with the OD of positive and negative controls. Cut off value was calculated by multiplying negative control (NC) with 2.1. The absorbance value of specimen/cutoff <1: samples having a value less than cut-off value were considered negative and samples having a value greater than or equal to cut-off value were considered positive. The apparent prevalence of Hepatitis A virus was measured by dividing the number of children positive to the total number of children included in the study.Results:Â Of the 100 samples tested, 37% were positive for IgM and 100% were positive for IgG. Statistical Analysis SPSS 21.0 version was applied to analyze the data and a correlation test was applied to see the association of risk factors with disease status.Conclusion:Â This study was done to appraise the overall status of HAV prevalence in young kids in association with potential risk factors.Keywords:Â Hepatitis A; ELISA; Risk assessment; Prevalence; Hygiene
Evaluation of the Bioremediation Potential of <i>Staphlococcus lentus</i> Inoculations of Plants as a Promising Strategy Used to Attenuate Chromium Toxicity
Current industrial developments, advanced farming techniques, and further anthropogenic activities are adding substantial amounts of heavy metals into the ecosystem and having dangerous effects on lifeforms, including plants and animals, and changing their biological activities. Decontamination following the heavy metal contamination is an important point deserving attention in the current scenario. Among all the other approaches used for this purpose, bioremediation is ecofriendly and green approach that can be used to remediate heavy metal toxicity. In plant cells, the regulation of ionic homeostasis is a primary physiological prerequisite for upholding plant development, growth, and production. To avoid the dreadful effects of toxic heavy metal exposure, plants manifest physiological, biochemical, and structural responses. In the present research, we reported on the isolation and molecular identification of an effective heavy-metal-tolerant bacterial strain, Staphylococcus lentus (E3), having a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 µg/mL for chromium, Cr, taken from soil polluted with industrial effluents at Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial inoculations enhanced all the growth parameters of Triticum aestivum and Helianthus annus. To observe the physiological strain, the proline content and peroxidase (POD) activities were estimated under Cr stress in the bacterial-inoculated plants. The chlorophyll content and Cr uptake in the aerial parts the of plants were also studied, along with the overexpression of proteins. The bacterial inoculations produced encouraging results. Bioremediation using PGPR is an efficient, convincing, and reliable approach to attenuating heavy metal toxicity