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Objective: To compare efficacy of micronized per rectal progesterone (cyclogest pessary) and placebo in prevention of preterm birth in tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT). Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at department of gynecology and Obstetrics, Combined Military Hospital Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from Jan 2018 to Jun 2018. Methodology: A sample size of 140 patients was calculated using WHO calculator. Non probability consecutive sampling was used for recruitment of participants. Ethics approval and consent forms were taken. Women were divided into two groups randomly. Group A was given micronized progesterone (cyclogest pessary) per rectal usage and group B was given placebo. Patients were followed for maternal and neonatal outcomes. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Independent t-test was applied. p-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total 140 patients were included in study. Mean age of women was 29.4 years ± 4.6SD. Patients in micronized progesterone (cyclogest pessary) was more effective in increasing birth weight (p=0.00), Apgar score maintenance at 1st (p=0.00) and 5th minute (p=0.000) and reduction in length of hospital stay (p=0.000) as compared to placebo. Patients were more satisfied with micronized progesterone (cyclogest pessary) per rectal as compared to placebo (p=0.00). Conclusion: Preterm birth is remained as significant issue in health care system of Pakistan. However, micronized progesterone (cyclogest pessary) per rectal usage had positive impact in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Effective strategies for prevention of preterm birth in Pakistan are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the successful outcome of flap versus no-flap in O'Conor & Sokol technique for simple vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in department of Urology, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, Pakistan from March 2015 to December 2019. During this study period, 64 eligible patients, selected through non-probability convenient sampling technique were assigned to two Groups. Group A included 34 patients who underwent VVF repair through O'Conor & Sokol technique without interposition flap while Group B comprised 30 patients with VVF repair with interposition flap. Patient getting completely dry with no urinary incontinence at primary endpoint of 6 months was labelled as successful outcome. All the pre-operative, per-operative and postoperative data was collected on structured proforma and analyzed on SPSS version-21. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient was 33.8±7.8 years in group A and 35±6.3 years in group B. About 76.5% (n=26/34) patients in group A and 80% (n=24/30) patients in Group B developed VVF due to obstetrical trauma. Overall, O'Conor and Sokol technique of VVF repair was successful by curing urinary incontinence in 95.3% (n=61/64) patients. Successful outcome for O'Conor & Sokol technique was achieved in 94.1% (n=32/94) patients in Group A and 96% (n=29/30) patients in Group B, at 6 months of follow-up (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference between interposition flap and noflap in outcome of simple VVF repair through O'Conor & Sokol technique. The decision of interposition can be individualized depending upon preference of surgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this empirical study was to identify the participation of women in livestock management practices and to explore factors determining their engagement in district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A multi-stage sampling approach was adopted to choose a random sample of 110 women farmers from the union council of village Shewa, and a well-structured questionnaire was designed to accumulate the primary dataset from rural women through face to face interviews. A women's participation index was designed to compute the degree of women's involvement, and a multiple linear regression model was proposed to measure factors influencing women's participation in livestock management practices. The computed value of the mean composite index was 4.81 which showed that women farmers on average engaged for 4.81 hours per day in the livestock management practices. The multiple regression results illustrated that women's education, family size, and livestock income significantly affect women's participation; however, women's age and herd size insignificantly affect women's inclusion in the livestock farming operations. The findings of this study recommend that the importance of rural women's involvement in the livestock sector should be identified in federal and provincial government plans and agricultural policy formulations. The study also recommends that the provision of agriculture credit facilities and livestock training facilities to women farmers could stimulate their involvement in livestock practices and anticipates the decision-making power in livestock management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of PTSD symptoms and its severity among HCWs, amid the COVID pandemic in a tertiary care setting. Study Design: Cross sectional analytic study. Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from May to Aug 22. Methodology: The study was conducted on 173 healthcare workers of a tertiary care hospital. The sample size was calculated using the Rao-soft calculator. Validated questionnaires such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C) were used to collect the data. Data was entered and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Out of 173 participants, majority of participants 90(52%) were male and single 103(63%). Mean age of the participating HCWs was 27(SD= 2.3). HCWs performing duties the in COVID-19 ward for one year were 66(38.2%) and majority were from Emergency medicine 61(35.3). Almost 150(86.71%) of HCWs did not experiencing any PTSD symptoms and those exhibiting a higher severity of symptoms were only 5(2.9%). There was no statistically significant difference in total and sub scales mean scores of IES-R among males and females (p=0.28). Conclusions: Our study concluded that prevalence of symptoms of PTSD was significantly low in Health Care Workers despite of the fact, majority of doctor participants were working in COVID-19 ward for one year. The symptoms were evident among healthcare professionals, however there was modest severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Nitroimidazole derivatives 2-8 were synthesized from secnidazole. The syntheses were accomplished in two steps which start from the oxidation of secnidazole to the secnidazolone 1. Secnidazolone 1 was converted into its hydrazone derivative 2-8 by treating with different substituted acid hydrazide. Compounds 2-8 were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, compounds 3 and 4 showed the significant activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, however, compound 2 showed good inhibitions against Corynebacterium diphtheria when compared with the standard. Compound 3 showed good inhibitory potential against tested Gram-negative bacterial strains i.e. Enterobacter aerogene, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Shigella flexeneri and Vibrio choleriae. All synthetic derivatives were also tested against eight fungal stains, however, they were weekly active against Aspergillus flavus and Candida albican. The synthesized compounds were characterized by different spectroscopy techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel 2-thio substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives of santonic acid (13-18) were synthesized. The synthesis of these derivatives was comprised of six steps which start from the basic hydrolysis of α-santonin 1 to the santoninic acid 2 followed by in situ rearrangement of 2 into santonic acid 3. Santonic acid 3 was then converted into its acyl imidazole derivative 4 followed by hydrazinolysis to give santonic carbohydrazide 5 which was further converted into santonic-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol 6. Santonic-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol 6 was alkylated to afford 2-thio substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives of santonic acid (13-18). All the synthetic steps were carried out under microwave irradiation in controlled parameters. Compounds 13-18 along with intervening intermediates 5 and 6 were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential. Compound 14 showed appreciably good activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. On the other hand compounds 6 and 17 demonstrated good activity against Escherichia coli and Shigella flexeneri, respectively. Compound 6 showed good antifungal activity. The synthesized compounds were characterized by different spectroscopy techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of seven maize varieties with a local standard check at the Agronomic Research Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, during spring 2011. Maize varieties tested were Islamabad Gold, Kisan, Sadaf, Sarhad White, Sahiwal-2002, Islamabad White, Agaiti-2002 and local check Azam. The results revealed that local check Azam was earlier in days to 50% pollen shedding and silking (60.33 and 62.66 days) than other varieties including Sadaf and Islamabad White. Highest plant height was measured in Sahiwal-2002 (198.3cm) and lowest in Islamabad White (163.33cm) whereas highest ear height was found in Sadaf (101cm) and lowest (75cm) in Agaiti-2002. Nonsignificant differences were noted for number of ears per hectare. Islamabad White had maximum (31.23%) moisture contents in grain at harvest as compare to Islamabad Gold (26.16%). Maximum grain yield (5943 kg ha-1]) was recorded in Sahiwal-2002 while Sarhad White produced maximum biological yield (23380 kg ha-1). Variety Sahiwal-2002 showed the highest percentage of harvest index (32.37%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic prescriptions have been on the increase worldwide, leading to increased antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotics has been blamed on lack of education and continuing professional development, and also on patient demand even when they are not required. This study was carried out to find out the pattern of prescriptions by Swedish dentists using data provided by pharmaceutical industry. The data shows that although the number of prescriptions is on the increase in Sweden, dentists still prefer to use conventional antibiotics such as Penicillin V for the treatment of oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of biofertilizer on wheat variety Zardana production at four locations of Balochistan. Biofertilizer (Azospirillum Al-Q + N 45 kg ha-1, P25O 30 kg ha-1) was used to substitute for half of the Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer application rates as compared to a high fertilizer treatment (N 90 kgha-1, P2O5 60 kgha-1). The high mineral fertilizer and biofertilizer + half mineral fertilizer treatments were compared with a control treatment (no fertilizer). Significant grain yield were measured at all sites, although, at all sites both fertilizer treatments apparently out yielded the control and the biofertilizer + half mineral fertilizer treatment out yielded the high fertilizer treatment by 220-1180 kgha-1. Fresh yields differed significantly at all sites. At Mastung field, both fertilizer treatments out yielded the control by 3000 kgha-1 and at Quetta (Aghbarg field-2) the biofertilizer + half mineral fertilizer treatment out yielded the others by over 3000 kgha-1. The results proved that the application of biofertilizer in combination with N 45kgha-1 and P2O5 30 kgha-1 increased fresh yield from 11% to 59% and suggested increases in grain yield of 20-46% as compared with control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To boost the yield per unit area, continuous release of high yielding and widely adapted wheat varieties resistant to both biotic and abiotic stresses is the key factor. With this in view, a new wheat variety "Hshim-8" was developed at the Agricultural Research institute, Dera Ismail Khan in 2008. This variety was selected from wheat observation nursery (WON) received from ICARDA during the year 1997-1998 and was evaluated under the name of DN-44. Hashim-8 was released after 10 years of vigorous research and experiments at different research stations and farmer's fields coordinated by National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) Islamabad. Preliminary and advance yield trials showed outstanding performance of DN-44 (Hashim-8) across domains containing a number of international entries and local approved varieties grown as check. This variety out yielded in national uniform wheat yield trials (NUWYT) for two successive years in Pakistan. It ranked 3rd during 2004-2005 and 1st during 2005-2006 across the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is early maturing, high yielding, disease resistant, heat and drought tolerant wheat variety best suited under the agro-ecology of Dera Ismail Khan. It falls under acceptable Relative Resistance Index (RRI) for yellow rust (YR) at various locations. The Provincial Seed Council (PSC), KPK approved this variety in 2009 for general cultivation in rainfed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-hardwood cuttings of olive (Olea europea) variety Coratina with 2-4 leaves and 15-18 cm in length were obtained from existing progeny in an orchard of Arid Zone Research Centre (AZRC), Quetta, Pakistan. The basal portion of these cuttings were treated with 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm IBA solution for 3-4 seconds. The treated cuttings were immediately planted in polyethylene tubes (10 cm x 20 cm) filled with a sandy loam soil. In the control, the cuttings were planted directly in polyethylene bags without IBA application. Plants were kept in a shade house and humidity was increased manually by hand sprinkling (four times in a day). Highest rooting percentage (60%) was obtained in the cuttings treated with 3000 ppm. The maximum average number of roots per cutting (4.443) and average root length (5.687 cm) were recorded with 4000 ppm IBA treatment. Percentage of rooted cuttings decreased with increased IBA concentration, whereas, number of roots and root length increased with increased IBA concentration. It was concluded that to obtain the most roots per cutting and the longest root length, application of 4000 ppm IBA was the best and to obtain the most number of rooted cuttings, application of 3000 ppm IBA was the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]