Psychological well-being of young people engaged in a group- based weight management programme

Obesity in youth is associated with many psychological adversities yet psychological well-being is infrequently monitored as a primary outcome in weight management programmes. Such programmes have been specifically criticised for increasing the risk of eating disorders (ED) in adolescents who are overweight and have obesity. Therefore this study aimed to look at psychological well-being in a sample of adolescents from the community using a group-based weight management programme. Eighty-two young people aged 13-17 participated in an online survey assessing depressive symptoms, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, quality of life and eating disorder psychopathology. A cross sectional and longitudinal design was utilised to assess psychological well-being change over the monitoring period of 3 months and relate to weight change. Psychological impairment was evident within the sample: 36% showed depressive symptoms, 68% poor quality of life (QoL) and 28 % had disordered eating psychopathology. High ED risk was associated with depressive symptoms, body dissatisfaction and a poorer QoL in comparison to those at low risk of ED. No significant changes were noted across weight status and well-being between phase 1 and phase 2 of the study and change in well-being was not associated with a change in weight. Psychological-wellbeing is impaired in some adolescents using these programmes therefore it is recommended that the impact of psychopathology is considered more thoroughly by monitoring psychological well-being regularly during young peoples’ engagement in these. This will aid evaluative practices and will increase our understanding in this area

Association of particles of lipoprotein subclasses with arterial stiffness in a high-risk working population: the Baptist Employee Healthy Heart Study (BEHHS)

Background: Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. A risk factor-independent association of arterial stiffness with traditional lipids has been described extensively, but it is still unclear whether an independent relationship exists between arterial stiffness and particles of lipoprotein subclasses. Methods: The Baptist Employee Healthy Heart Study (BEHHS) is a lifestyle intervention study examining the effects of web-based programs on reducing CVD risk in high-risk persons. Participants had their brachial arterial augmentation index (AI, a measure arterial stiffness) assessed using the EndoPAT 2000 device. Cardio IQ™ ion mobility lipoprotein fractionation was utilized for measurement of particles of lipoprotein subclasses. Results: The population consisted of 182 participants, (74% women, 49% Hispanic) with a mean age of 52 ± 9 years. There was a significant trend association between quartiles of AI and total cholesterol, HDL-c, large LDL-p, small IDL-p, large IDL-p, and all subclasses of HDL particles (total HDL-p, small HDL-p, and large HDL-p). In logistic regression analysis, only HDL-c, total LDL-p, large LDL-p, small IDL-p, large IDL-p, total HDL-p, small HDL-p, and large HDL-p demonstrated significant independent association with AI. Conclusion: Several lipoprotein subclasses demonstrate independent significant associations with arterial stiffness. A safe and relatively inexpensive blood test may be useful in identifying subclinical atherosclerosis process in a relatively young high CVD risk population

Is laparoscopic pyeloplasty a comparable option to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO)? a comparative study

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To compare laparoscopic with open pyeloplasty. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised records of patients who underwent surgical correction of ureteropelvic junction obstruction between during January 2008 and December 2012. Patients with laparoscopic pyeloplasty were placed in group 1 and those with open pyeloplasty in group 2.The groups were compared for operative time, hospital stay, perioperative complications, blood loss, duration of surgery, outcome and follow-up. Data was analysed using SPSS 19. RESULTS: Of the 73 patients, 29(40%) were in group 1, and 44(60%) in group 2. A crossing vessel could be identified in 25(86.2%) in group 1 and in 33(75 %) in group 2. Laparoscopic procedures were associated with a longer mean operating time (p=0.04), median estimated blood loss (p\u3c0.001) and a shorter mean hospital stay (p\u3c0.001). Follow-up mercaptoacetyltriglycinescan was done in 21(74.5%) patients in group 1 and 23(52.2%) in group 2. Only 2(7%) patients in group 1 and 2(4.5%) in group 2 had poor response on mercaptoacetyltriglycine scan. Mean follow-up was 2.71±1.2 months. Postoperative complications were 5(13%) in group 1 and 9(20%) in group 2(p=0.141). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was associated with shorter hospital stay, less pain and less blood loss. The efficacy in term of success rate and perioperative complications of laparoscopic pyeloplasty was comparable to that of open pyeloplasty

Workload, Work Stress, Role Conflict, and Workplace Deviant Behaviour in Banks: an Empirical Analysis

This study identifies and explains the relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict, and workplace deviant behaviour. This study uses the Affective Events Theory (AET) as a foundation to test a proposed model. All Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 125 bank employees who work in banks around Faisalabad. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used in this study. The findings demonstrate a low level of workplace deviant behaviour. The results showed a significant relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict and workplace deviant behavior. The role conflict was the major contributor to workplace deviant behaviour. This study has practical implications where the bank should take initiatives within banks provided

Bronchodilator, spasmolytic and calcium antagonist activities of Nigella sativa seeds (Kalonji): a traditional herbal product with multiple medicinal uses

Objective: The seeds of Nigella sativa locally known as Kalonji has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases including diarrhoea and asthma. The crude extract of N. sativa seeds (Ns.Cr) was studied in vitro for its possible spasmolytic and bronchodilator activities to rationalize the folkloric uses.Methods: Isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig tracheal preparations were set up in Tyrode\u27s and Kreb\u27s solutions respectively and aerated with 5% CO2 in oxygen. Isotonic and isometric responses were measured on Bioscience oscillograph and Grass polygraph respectively.Results: The Ns.Cr caused a dose-dependent (0.1-3.0 mg/ml) relaxation of spontaneous contractions in rabbit jejunum. Ns.Cr also inhibited K(+)-induced contractions in a similar dose range, suggestive of calcium channel blockade (CCB). This effect was confirmed when pretreatment of the tissue with Ns.Cr, produced a dose-dependent shift in the Ca++ dose-response curves to the right similar to that of verapamil, a standard calcium channel blocker. In guinea-pig trachea, it caused relaxation of carbachol-, histamine- or K(+)-induced contractions indicating CCB. Activity-directed fractionation revealed that the CCB activity is concentrated in the petroleum ether fraction, which was found to be approximately 10 times more potent than the crude extract both in jejunum and tracheal preparations.Conclusion: These data indicate that the crude extract of Nigella sativa seeds exhibits spasmolytic and bronchodilator activities mediated possibly through calcium channel blockade and this activity is concentrated in the organic fraction. Its usefulness for diarrhoea and asthma in traditional medicine, appears thus to be based on a sound mechanistic background

Workload, Work Stress, Role Conflict, and Workplace Deviant Behaviour in Banks: an Empirical Analysis

This study identifies and explains the relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict, and workplace deviant behaviour. This study uses the Affective Events Theory (AET) as a foundation to test a proposed model. All Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 125 bank employees who work in banks around Faisalabad. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used in this study. The findings demonstrate a low level of workplace deviant behaviour. The results showed a significant relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict and workplace deviant behavior. The role conflict was the major contributor to workplace deviant behaviour. This study has practical implications where the bank should take initiatives within banks provided

Does Abusive Supervision Influence Organizational Citizenship Behavior? Testing the Mediation Effects of Organizational Cynicism

This study determines whether abusive supervision can influence the level of organizational citizenship behavior in the mediating role of psychological contract violation and organizational cynicism. A survey conducted from 391 respondents from different service sector organizations of the Pakistan. Specifically, CFA and SEM tests performed to analyze the data. The analysis of their responses supported our model which describes that abusive supervision has an adverse effect on organizational citizenship behavior either directly or indirectly. The mediating role of psychological contract violation and organizational cynicism proved to be significant. Both mediators negatively correlated with organizational citizenship behavior. Implementations mentioned for managers and researchers, and limitations identified

Analysis of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) for Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks

Rapid growth of wireless sensor networks (WSN) in recent times has resulted in greater security requirements. One of the primary concerns in wireless sensor networks is energy efficiency and security mechanisms are no different.  Currently, security in wireless sensor networks is often implemented by symmetric key cryptography due to its low-power implementation. Public Key Cryptography (PKC), on the other hand, is advantageous as it requires less overhead information during transmission of packets that ultimately lessens overall size of the protocol. In addition, Public Key Cryptography provides better data confidentiality and authentication in wireless sensor networks. In this study, we focus on Public Key Cryptography for greater efficiency in key distribution, low protocol overhead and efficient hardware implementation on the sensor nodes. Considering the constraints of energy efficient wireless sensor networks, we analyze and compare some well known Public Key algorithms, their implementation in wireless sensor networks, and how these algorithms can benefit the fundamental security services. We also evaluate energy consumption parameters for encryption as well as data transmission and suggest energy efficient encryption mechanisms

Suppliers’ Integration – Associated Challenges And Future Direction

The contemporary organizations are facing lots of challenges from different sides, and organizations are trying various ways to overcome those obstacles. One such thing is the supplier relationship management. There are various benefits that an organization can attain from partnering and integrating with its suppliers yet this area has to be developed further so that organization can take advantage of this. The purpose of this research was to evaluate challenges associated with the integration of an organization with its suppliers. For this purpose, the researcher used two-fold strategy, which included a review of the literature and a personal reflection on the selected topic. The findings of research revealed some challenges including different types of organizational systems, different priorities, issue of trust and secrecy, different level of the supply chain, etc. Future researchers should evaluate this issue keeping in mind soft organizational factors such as employee motivation, loyalty, commitment, etc