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In this paper, we develop a new class that generates flexible optimal models. The appropriate features of the new class and a special member are studied by utilizing analytical, graphical, and numerical methodologies. For the estimation of unknown parameters, the maximum likelihood, least-square, and percentile methods are discussed and selection is based on bias and mean square error via an extensive simulation study. Five-life time data sets are evaluated, revealing that the new class has a significant advantage over well-known competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing study was primarily conducted with the determination to assess the perception of athletes regarding communication skills on part of coach and its role in uplifting of athletic performance. Athletes of various activities from Punjab University (n-300) were taken as a population of the study and thus 100 athletes were selected as sample by using the available sample technique. In order to collect the required data about various perspectives of the said issue, the comprehensive questionnaire was developed and distributed among the respondents (athletes of Punjab University) and got back after filling by respondents. The gathered data were administered through statistical package for social sciences (SPSS, version 26). On basis of data analysis, it was concluded that a coach as well as a trainer with good communication skills can make a coaching process easy and effective for his/her players. Based on conclusion, it is recommended that coaches and trainers need to use proper communication skills for the uplifting of player performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the burden of trauma during last three years (2016-18) caused by road traffic accidents presenting to the trauma centre of tertiary care public hospital in district central, Karachi. Methods: All the accident cases presenting in the trauma center of the hospital in last three years who were defined as accidents occurring on a public road and involving at least one moving vehicle were included in the study. Those with incomplete medical records were excluded. This was a crosssectional study where records of a total of 2857 individuals were retrospectively collected and their socio-demographic information, history of road traffic crashes, clinical history and examination was noted. Data was analyzed through SPSS while descriptive statistical analysis of continuous and categorical variables was performed. Results: The mean age of patients admitted to the trauma centre was 29.3 ± 16.7 years with no significant difference between both gender. Out of 2857 patients with road traffic accident injuries, around 80.9% were males. The most prevalent age group was 16-30 years of age, which was over 40.2%, followed by subjects of 31 - 45 years age group which was 21%. The study results further showed that over 51.3% of the road traffic accident patients were discharged normally, followed by 46.7% subjects who left against medical advice. Overall death rate was 2% (n=57). Conclusion: This study helps to identify the latest accident burden and pattern of injuries to develop plans aimed at prevention of road traffic accidents. Looking at the burden, the most affected was the younger subjects (16-30 years) highlighting the need for targeting this population for educational programs and policies about safe driving. Among the road traffic accidents cases the subjects who left against medical advice cases was gradually decreasing from 2016 to 2018 suggesting better healthcare facilities at the tertiary care hospital and corresponding increasing patient's confidence in them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional survey to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diabetes mellitus and their associated factors was carried out over 384 patients aged =30 years of either gender with known diabetes mellitus type 2. Study results showed that 66.9% of the participants had adequate knowledge, 43.0% had adequate attitude while only 27.3% had adequate practices related to diabetes mellitus. Adequateness of both attitude and practices was significantly associated with age and education of the patients (p<0.05 for all). Attitude and practices of the diabetic patients were not satisfactory. Participants' age and educational status were significantly associated with their attitude and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibiotics are regularly prescribed by dental professionals in their practice, for the purpose of dental treatment as well as for the prevention of infection. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a significant factor in the rise of antibiotic resistance. There is an immediate need for the advancement of prescribing guidelines and instructive polices to encourage the rational and appropriate utilization of medications especially antibiotics in dentistry. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of antibiotic prescription for treating dental infections in children among dentists in teaching institutions of Karachi, Pakistan and whether they are adhering to the prescribed international guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three private and two public colleges of Karachi. After taking written informed consent and checking the inclusion criteria, a total of 380 participants were interviewed using a pre-designed validated questionnaire which included demographic profile and clinical case scenarios. Data were entered and analyzed on SPSS version 20. Inferential analysis was performed using chi-square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Of the 380 subjects, a majority (71.3%) treated 15 or less children per month (n = 271) while 28.7% of dentists (n = 109) treated more than 15 children per month. Overall adherence to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines was low from 26.1% to 44.2%. The difference between adherence of dentists with low and high volume of pediatric patients was significantly different for case scenarios 1, 3, 4 and 5 (p<0.001 for all) where dentists who treated 15 or less children per month were more likely to be adherent to standard antibiotic prescription guidelines than those who treated more than 15 children per month. Conclusions: This study shows that majority of dentists, particularly dentists with high volume of pediatric patients lacked adherence to professional guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for treating dental infection in children. There seem to be a lack of harmony between the recommended professional guidelines and the antibiotic prescribing pattern of dentists. Regular updates and continuing medical education for the health professionals regarding comprehensible and specific professional guidelines may lead to improved adherence of antibiotics prescription amongst dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, antimicrobial potential, some probiotics properties and bacteriocin nature of Lysinibacillus, isolated from fruits and vegetable waste were evaluated. For this, 125 Lactobacillus isolates were tested against foodborne bacterial and fungal pathogens. Among these, an isolated Bacillus spp. showed significant aggregation-co-aggregation probiotics properties and potentially inhibits the foodborne gram positive microbial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, (22 mm ZOI), Staphylococcus epedermidis and Bacillus cereus (18 mm). Phenotypically and molecularly it was identified as Lysinibacillus (NCBI accession no. JX416856) and it was found closest to Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus. Physico-biochemically, it was found to be negative for amylase, protease, gelatinase, nitrate reductase and urease while positive for catalase. The diagnostic fatty acid was 22;2 (3.51). The growth conditions and bacteriocin activity were found to be optimum with MRS media at pH 7–10, Temperature 35–40 °C and salt tolerance at 1–3%. Eventually its production was optimized with MRS broth at pH 7.6, 37 °C, for 36 h in shaking conditions at the rate of 100 rpm. Active bacteriocin was isolated at 60% ammonium sulfate precipitation. The molecular weight of given bacteriocin was found to be nearly 25–35 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Based on physico- biochemical properties, the isolated bacteriocin was to be categories in class II bacteriocin. The bacteriocin was found to be stable in the range of 4–80 °C temperature, 6–10 pH and even in the presence of surfactant (such as SDS and Tween 80). However, proteases like pepsin and trypsin were found to degrade the bacteriocin. Collectively, the broad spectrum inhibitory potential and physical stability offered the antimicrobial potential to Lysinibacillus, and its relevant bacteriocin might be used as an alternative food preservative or therapeutic agent to control spoilage of different food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a broad system to increase the practice of trained health provision at the time of childbirth and the key interventions to decrease mothers' and newborns' death. However, its status and influencing factors have not been well studied at different levels in the study area. The current study aimed to assess the BPCR status and explore its associated factors influencing BPCR among childbearing age women in Thatta, District of Sindh. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 770 recently delivered mothers from October 2016 –September 2017, recruited using a multistage cluster sampling technique. A structured validated close-ended questionnaire measuring BPCR knowledge and practices was used for the interviews. The results were analyzed by means of the Chi-square test, and a binary logistic regression model was used to determine the factors influencing BPCR. Results: The overall response rate was 94.6%, with a low BPCR status. Out of 770 participants, only 163 (21.2%) were well prepared, while 607 (78.8%) were not prepared for safe childbirth and its complications. A small proportion of women knew about the serious warning signs of pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the postpartum period (16.2%), (15.3%) and (22.7%) respectively. Antenatal care (ANC) checkup (P < 0.001), cost of ANC checkup (p = 0.016), place of birth (p = 0.014), awareness of serious warning signs during pregnancy (p = 0.001) and awareness of serious warning signs during the postpartum period (p < 0.001) were found to be significant predictors of BPCR. Conclusion: The proportion of women who were well prepared for birth and its complications was low. It is recommended to organize community-based education campaigns and improve the quality of MNCH services at every level to increase BPCR among women in Sindh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Social gathering particularly in public places was strictly banned in Pakistan from April 2019 to May 2021. In last few months, public places such as parks, grounds and gymnasium are opened for general masses as well as for players with SOPs (standart operating procedures) i.e. using of face mask and vaccination of COVID-19. As a result, all players got vaccinated for avoiding the problem of COVID-19 and getting chances of participation in their relevant sports activities. This study aimed to examine the Menstrual Problems and Oxidative Stress Caused by Vaccination of COVID-19 among Females Athletes. Method: 10 elite level female athletes were randomly selected as a participants of the study. Thus the participants of the study were vaccinated (COVID-19). 5 milliliter blood sample from each subject before and after one month of vaccination was collected. For the measurement of oxidative stress FRAP assay protocol was used and similarly for the assessment of menstrual problems, a self-made questionnaire was used. Results: The collected data were tabulated and analyzed through statistical package for social sciences (SPSS, Version-26). Vaccination of COVID-19, cause oxidative stress among female athletes. Result of posttest data in term of mean and standard deviation was (4.70 ± .674), T-Value was 22.00 and level of Significance was .000). Findings of the study also revealed that menstrual period duration and time also effect by COVID-19 vaccination. Result of posttest data in term of mean and standard deviation was (4.70 ± .674), T-Value was 22.00 and level of Significance was .000). Conclusions: Based on analysis, the researcher arrived at conclusion that vaccination of COVID-19 caused menstrual problems and oxidative stress among female elite athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of skin diseases and its associated factors among patients visiting a dermatology clinic in Karachi. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out from December 2018 to May 2019 at Baqai Institute of Health sciences, Baqai Medical University, Karachi. Available relevant data of all patients visiting a selected dermatology clinic in Karachi for a period of two years, from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2018, were retrospectively gathered and recorded on the study questionnaire by the principal investigator. Statistical package for social sciences version 19.0 was used for analysis. Chi-square test was applied to check associations between the independent variables and the study outcome whereas the significance level was set at 0.05. The duration of study was six months. Results: The study findings revealed that the highest frequency of skin diseases among the patients was of psoriasis (25.3%), followed by dermatitis (23.3%), scabies (14.1%), fungal infection (11.9%), acne (9.0%), folliculitis (4.4%), atopic dermatitis (4.1%), keloid (3.2%), warts (2.8%) and vitiligo (1.9%). Moreover, 51.2% of the patients came in the summer season. The study results also showed that season was found to be significantly associated with diagnosis of the patients both among patients aged 25-49 years (p<0.001) and patients aged 50 years and above (p=0.002). Conclusion: The most commonly presented skin diseases in descending order of frequency were psoriasis, dermatitis, scabies, fungal infections, and acne. Moreover, season was found to be significantly associated with diagnosis of the patients in two of the study age groups. Due efforts by all stakeholders such as imparting health education to the general public, increasing their awareness regarding the modes of transmission of common skin diseases, promoting healthy skin habits and improvement in practices of environmental sanitation are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor on multi-cystic ovaries with hypothyroidism is presented.

Objective: To assess the 10-year risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) using Framingham risk score. Methods: Data for this study was collected from Diabetes Prevention and Awareness Program. Primary prevention team visited different primary health care centers, factories, service organizations and offices within Karachi, Pakistan. IGT was diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria after taking informed consent. Information regarding social-demography, dietary habits and physical activities were obtained by a designed questionnaire on one-to-one based interview. Framingham risk score (FRS) was used to assess risk of developing CAD. Results: A total of 315 subjects with IGT were recruited for the study. Mean age of subjects was 44.1 ± 9.8 years and mean BMI was 27.3 ± 5.0 kg/m2. Overall, 31.4% of the participants were at risk of having CAD. Males were 6.4 times and hypertensive subjects were 2.44 times more likely to have CAD in next 10 years. Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, male and hypertensive IGT subjects were more likely to develop CAD in next 10 years. Community based awareness programs are needed to educate people regarding healthy lifestyle in order to reduce the risk of IGT and CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are generally nano-scale tubes comprising a network of carbon atoms in a cylindrical setting that compared with silicon counterparts present outstanding characteristics such as high mechanical strength, high sensing capability and large surface-to-volume ratio. These characteristics, in addition to the fact that CNTs experience changes in their electrical conductance when exposed to different gases, make them appropriate candidates for use in sensing/measuring applications such as gas detection devices. In this research, a model for a Field Effect Transistor (FET)-based structure has been developed as a platform for a gas detection sensor in which the CNT conductance change resulting from the chemical reaction between NH3 and CNT has been employed to model the sensing mechanism with proposed sensing parameters. The research implements the same FET-based structure as in the work of Peng et al. on nanotube-based NH3 gas detection. With respect to this conductance change, the I-V characteristic of the CNT is investigated. Finally, a comparative study shows satisfactory agreement between the proposed model and the experimental data from the mentioned research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]