Integration of therapies in autistic children; a survey based in Karachi, Pakistan

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2016 on autistic children at the Autism Unit of Dow University of Health Sciences to compare speech therapy, occupational therapy and combination of both for rehabilitation of autistic children in the selected population. A total of 55 children with autism age range from 1-12 years of both gender and all ethnic groups were recruited. All data was analysed in IBM-SPSS version 23.0. Pearson chi-square test was used to determine association of type of therapy with the diagnosed age of child, gender, mode of delivery, history of vaccination and parent\u27s education. Educated parenthood and a normal behaviour especially by other siblings played a significant role in early detection and referral of autistic child to rehabilitation centre. Moreover, it was observed that a combination of therapies helped in enhancement of social, learning and behavioural skills required for rehabilitation of autistic children

Kisspeptin and attributes of infertile males and females: A cross-sectional study in a subset of Pakistani population

Kisspeptin, a peptide hormone, plays a pivotal role in fertility and neuroendocrine regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. Increased kisspeptin and reproductive hormones are responsible for fertility in male and females. This study aimed to explore the role of kisspeptin on hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis by comparing the levels of kisspeptin in fertile and infertile subjects and identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of KISS1 gene in exon 2 and exon 3 of infertile male and female cohorts. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 80 males (44 infertile and 36 fertile) and 88 females (44 in each group). Significantly high levels of kisspeptin (KP), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone and testosterone were observed in fertile male and female subjects except low FSH levels in comparison with infertile female subjects. One polymorphism in exon 2 (E1225K [G/A 3673]) and three in exon 3 (P1945A [C/G 5833]; Insertion of T at 6075; G2026G [C/G 6078]) in infertile group were detected, with low KP and hormonal levels. Male subjects had abnormal sperm parameters and unsuccessful attempt of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in females. Expression of SNP in exon 2 and exon 3 of KISS1 could be responsible for alteration in release of reproductive hormones and gonadal functions, hence causing infertility

Serum tumour necrosis factor alpha in osteopenic and osteoporotic postmenopausal females: A cross-sectional study in Pakistan

Objective: To compare biochemical parameters serum tumour necrosis factor alpha, calcium, magnesium, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D in postmenopausal women.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from June 2015 to July 2016 at Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, and comprised postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density done by dual energy X-ray absorptiometryscan categorised subjects by World Health Organisation classification into normal (T score \u3e -1) osteopenic (T score between -1 and -2.5) and osteoporotic (T score \u3c -2.5). Biochemical parameters like tumour necrosis alpha, calcium, magnesium, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D were measured by solid phase enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay method. SPSS 16 was used to analyse the data.Results: Of the 146 women, 34(23%) were normal, 93(67%) were osteopenic and 19(13%) were osteoporotic. There was significant difference in mean body mass index, serum tumour necrosis factor alpha and calcium in all the three groups (p\u3c0.01). Significant mean difference was observed in serum calcium levels between normal and osteopenic, and between normal and osteoporotic group (p\u3c0.05 each) without any significant mean difference between osteopenic and osteoporotic groups (p\u3e0.05). A significant difference was observed for mean tumour necrosis factor alpha values between normal and osteoporotic groups (p\u3c0.05). Tumour necrosis factor alpha showed negative correlation with bone mineral density in osteopenic and osteoporotic groups (p\u3e0.05).Conclusions: Increased bone turnover in postmenopausal osteopenic women can be predicted by increased serum cytokine

Oxidative stress and male infertility: A cross sectional study

Objective: To compare stress markers and antioxidants in fertile and infertile males, and to explore their effects on reproductive hormones and fertility.Methods: The cross-sectional case-control study was conducted from July 2017 to July 2018 at the Islamabad Clinic Serving Infertile Couples, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised male subjects aged 25-55 years. Infertile subjects were the cases, while healthy fertile males acted as the controls. Stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline and antioxidants glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.Results: Of the 376 subjects, 241(64%) were cases and 135(36%) were controls. Median cortisol, adrenaline, superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were significantly higher among the cases compared to te controls (p\u3c0.05). Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were higher in cases compared to the controls (p=0.05). Mean testosterone level was higher among the controls than the cases (p\u3c0.001). After adjusting for other covariates, every increase of 7 units in cortisol increased the prevalence of infertility by 3% (p=0.001). There was significant interaction between luteinizing hormone and testosterone in the final model (p\u3c0.05).Conclusion: Stress together with decrease in antioxidants was found to play a significant role in reducing the fertilising potential of male infertile subjects

Persuasive power concerning COVID-19 employed by Premier Imran Khan: A socio-political discourse analysis

The researchers investigate Pakistani Premier Imran Khan’s (IK) addresses to the nation concerning awareness about the causes, effects, precautions, and solutions of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19). Till the date, experts are not sure whether the vaccine will get developed or would we have to live with this as we did with HIV or Dengue. Consequently, leaders would need to address their nations, focusing specifically on precautions. The present research employs Aristotle’s persuasive and rhetorical devices, integrating them with Socio-Political Discourse Analysis (SPDA), to understand the social and political convincing style employed by the premiere. The researchers analyzed the data employing a qualitative approach. There are reliable findings to suggest that IK has used stable linguistic features to persuade the minds of the people, convincing them to follow the precautionary measures as ‘the only cure.’ The defending arguments about semi-lockdown or smart-lockdown were well-defined persuading the individuals; for instance, he suggested the smart-lockdown during his first address and faced criticism from the opposition. Later, the opposition and the world appreciated the policy of IK, the Premier of Pakistan, even being a developing country in the sight of the world. After one month of the first patient of the corona case reported in China, the policy of smart-lockdown was followed by most of the states fighting against COVID-19. Moreover, The Premier successfully persuaded the international financial organizations – IMF, World Bank, Development Banks, convincing them to waive off the pending payments of developing countries for the upcoming year.Keywords: COVID19, Persuasion, Socio-Political Discourse Analysis, Speeches, Linguistic Feature