The Impact Of Ethical Values On The Corporate Social Responsibility In Public Sector Of Pakistan

This research paper shows that ethical values in the organization have impact on the CSR activities of the organization. All the parameters, the researchers use in the  research is well tested and exercised before. To explain the  point of view in well understandable manner, a structured model is derived from the literature on the topic of the research. This result also helps the public sector organizations of PAKISTAN to understand the reasons and causes of few CSR activities in this sector. Also gives them some recommendation to improve their processes for establishing the CSR culture in their organizations. Key words: Corporate social responsibility, Ethical values, Motivatio

Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors: Analysis of 193 cases

Introduction: Parotid gland tumors include a wide variety of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. The majority of these tumors are benign (80%), which usually require superficial parotidectomy, while the incidence of malignant tumors is lower (20%), requiring more radical surgery with or without neck dissection. The diagnosis cannot be established on the basis of clinical history and simple physical examination and requires complementary diagnostic methods. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) guided by ultrasound is a widely used diagnostic tool to evaluate parotid swellings. Objective: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 193 patients who underwent preoperative FNAC and parotidectomy at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from the period of January 2000 to December 2015 was performed. Results: Out of 193 patients undergoing parotidectomy, 110 (57%) were males and 83 (43%) were females, the mean age being 48.21 and 43.76 years old, respectively. The mean duration of the symptoms was 41.33 months, and the most common symptom was preauricular swelling present in all patients, followed by pain, which was present in 29 patients (15%) and facial nerve weakness in 6 patients (3.1%). Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed preoperatively and the results were compared with the final histopathology, which showed sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity of 97.9%, positive predictive value of 93%, negative predictive value of 96.7% and diagnostic accuracy of 95.8%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that FNAC is relatively an accurate method for preoperative diagnosis of parotid swelling and can prove to be a valuable tool for preoperative counseling of the nature of the disease and prognosis

Potencial de protección de las semillas Trachyspermum ammi en la nefrotoxicidad inducida por la gentamicina en modelo de conejo

La nefrotoxicidad es uno de los efectos secundarios más importantes limitaciones terapéuticas de los antibióticos aminoglucósidos, especialmente gentamicina. La nefrotoxicidad inducida por gentamicina implica generación de radicales libres, la reducción en el mecanismo de defensa antioxidante y la disfunción renal. Una serie de extractos de hierbas crudas tienen potencial para mejorar la nefrotoxicidad inducida por gentamicina debido a la presencia de varios compuestos antioxidantes. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la actividad protectora del extracto acuoso semillas de T. ammi contra la nefrotoxicidad inducida por gentamicina en conejos albinos. Los resultados mostraron que la gentamicina causó graves alteraciones en los parámetros bioquímicos séricos y los marcadores de riñón, junto con alteraciones severas en los tejidos renales. Sin embargo, el extracto de T. ammi, cuando se administra junto con la gentamicina, invierte la gravedad de la nefrotoxicidad inducida por gentamicina por la normalización de los indicadores de la función renal, por ejemplo, urea sérica, creatinina, nitrógeno ureico en sangre, albúmina y los parámetros de electrolitos séricos que indican el potencial nefroprotector de T. ammi. Del mismo modo, el extracto tiene la capacidad para aumentar la maquinaria enzimática antioxidante endógena mediante un aumento de la actividad de la enzima antioxidante catalasa y reduciendo el estado total de oxidante. El potencial nefroprotector fue confirmado por el examen histopatológico. El potencial nefroprotector podría ser debido a la presencia de compuestos polifenólicos antioxidantes en el extracto acuoso de semillas de T. Ammi

Experience of thyroid surgery at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Thyroid disorders are common surgical pathology in our part of world. Most commonly encountered complication after thyroid surgery are hypocalcaemia, hoarseness of voice, wound infection, seroma formation and thoracic duct injuries secondary to modifi ed neck dissections. The aim of this study is to share the experience of thyroid surgery at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan with rest of the world.Methodology: The cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in Endocrine unit of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan from April 2009 till April 2019. About 2094 cases operated which includes multinodular goiter, malignant goiter, solitary thyroid nodules, recurrent goiter and goiter with retrosternal extension. Patients managed medically or not fi t for surgery or refused to surgery are not included in this study. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data.</p

Perceptions of Corporate Customers Towards Islamic Banking Products and Services in Pakistan

The main objective of this study is to examine the perceptions of corporate customers towards Islamic banking products and services in Pakistan. The study discusses the three main parameters i) the usage of conventional and Islamic banking facilities, ii) respondents’ understanding of Islamic banking system, and iii) their personal opinion on various aspects of Islamic banking products. A total of 100 structured questionnaires are conducted. The response rate of the study is 60%.The data is collected from corporate customers of six full-fledged commercial banks of Pakistan. Results are interpreted on the basis of frequency distribution at this stage. The results indicate that Islamic Banking products and services had a good potential within Pakistani corporate sector.Islamic Banking, Corporate customers, Client, Perception, Frequency Distribution, Pakistan.

Factors associated with drain output in patients undergoing to parotidectomy

Introduction: Tumors of the parotid gland are heterogeneous. The purpose of the drain placement is to evacuate fluid that has a potential to accumulate in the dead space and cause infection after parotidectomy. Objectives: To evaluate the factors associated with drain output among patients submitted to parotidectomy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1994 to December 2014. Patients who underwent parotidectomy were included in the study. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with drain output. Results: A total of 193 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 46.3 years, and 57% of them were male. Length of surgery (β coefficient = 24.2; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 4.94-85.26), type of neck dissection (modified radical neck dissection: β = 93.9; 95% CI: 30.47-157.38; selective neck dissection: β = 79.9; 95%CI: 29.04-126.85), and type of parotidectomy (total β = 45.1; 95%CI: 4.94-85.26) were factors that significantly influenced drain output in patients submitted to parotidectomy with or without neck dissection. Conclusion: Neck dissection, total parotidectomy and length of surgery were predictors of postoperative neck drainage in our cohort. These factors can help predict postoperative neck drain output and help in patient counselling

Malignancy in contralateral thyroid lobe

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate tumour in contralateral thyroid lobe who underwent lobectomy and isthmusectomy for solitary thyroid nodule and proved malignant on histopathology and subsequently underwent completion thyroidectomy.Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive studyPlace and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in surgical ward 25, Jinnah post graduate medical centre, Karachi,Pakistan from1st January 2018 to 31st May 2019.</p

Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacological Potential of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon) and Impact on Gut Microbiota

Phytochemicals are versatile plant secondary metabolites with therapeutic properties. In this review, we explore lemongrass’s phytochemistry and pharmacological potential (Cymbopogon) as well as its impact on gut microbiota. Lemongrass is well-known for its antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenicity, anxiolytic properties, and for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. Therefore, it is widely used in pharmaceuticals, food, feed, and the cosmetics industry. Lemongrass contains phenolic metabolites (including phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans), terpenoids, and alkaloids, which are potent bioactive ingredients. Lemongrass is a precious medicinal plant. Furthermore, lemongrass phytochemicals are considered potential agents to improve health by establishing a balanced gut ecosystem. Lemongrass is considered a quintessential food and feed additive at the industrial level, since there are no issues with residue or toxins. Lemongrass powder and essential oils are used to modulate the gut ecosystem by generating anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses, increasing the optimum nutrient absorption in the gut system. This review will further explore lemongrass’s phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic potential

Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacological Potential of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon) and Impact on Gut Microbiota

Phytochemicals are versatile plant secondary metabolites with therapeutic properties. In this review, we explore lemongrass&rsquo;s phytochemistry and pharmacological potential (Cymbopogon) as well as its impact on gut microbiota. Lemongrass is well-known for its antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenicity, anxiolytic properties, and for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. Therefore, it is widely used in pharmaceuticals, food, feed, and the cosmetics industry. Lemongrass contains phenolic metabolites (including phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans), terpenoids, and alkaloids, which are potent bioactive ingredients. Lemongrass is a precious medicinal plant. Furthermore, lemongrass phytochemicals are considered potential agents to improve health by establishing a balanced gut ecosystem. Lemongrass is considered a quintessential food and feed additive at the industrial level, since there are no issues with residue or toxins. Lemongrass powder and essential oils are used to modulate the gut ecosystem by generating anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses, increasing the optimum nutrient absorption in the gut system. This review will further explore lemongrass&rsquo;s phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic potential

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory potential of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles

Abstract Curcumin is a phytochemical isolated from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L. family Zingiberaceae which possesses versatile biological activities and has hydrophobic properties. The current study was conducted to fabricate, and optimize curcumin loaded chitosan and Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) nanoparticles (NPs) to improve the bioavailability of curcumin. NPs were fabricated employing the Ionic gelation method. Four formulations were developed based on the selected variables like STPP and chitosan concentration, rotations per minute (rpm), temperature, and pH of chitosan solution. NPs were characterized for morphology, drug-polymer compatibility, yield, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, release behavior, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity compared to curcumin and standard drug. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) shows nanoparticle compatibility. The maximum yield was 60%. Entrapment efficiency ranged from 45 to 65%. Curcumin NPs and standard drug 600 µg/ml shows 59% and 70% anti-inflammatory activity by HRB membrane stabilization method respectively which are greater than curcumin alone whereas anti-arthritic activity by protein denaturation method which is also comparable to standard drug and greater than curcumin was 66 and 70% respectively. Statistical analysis shows the mean significant difference at p ≤ 0.05. The study concluded that curcumin-loaded chitosan and STPP NPs formulated successfully by the Ionic gelation method, which increased curcumin absorption leading to a reduced dosing rate and improved patient compliance