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Suicide is an understudied subject in Pakistan. There are many social, legal, and religious sanctions against it. National rates of suicides are not known. We calculated suicide rates of women in the Ghizer District of the remote Northern Areas of Pakistan. During years 2000 to 2004, 49 women committed suicide. Taking average mean population for women for 5 years as 65,783, we calculated annual crude suicide rates for women as 14.89/100,000/year. For women over the age of 15 years, rates were 33.22/100,000/year; age-specific rates for 15-24 years were 61.07/100,000 per year. These figures are considerably higher than suicide rates in other parts of Pakistan and may be related to high psychiatric morbidity in Pakistani women. This study underscores the need for a standardized system of registration of suicides in Pakistan. There is also urgent need to address high psychological distress in women in Pakistan.

A fish species (African catfish, Clarias gariepinus) with high growth and production potential was imported from Thailand and acclimatized in the local environment of Pakistan. For the successful culture of any fish species, the knowledge about the proper feeding regime especially the appropriate amount feed offered, is very important. To determine the optimum feeding level for African catfish culture, an experiment was conducted in earthen ponds of size 0.02 hectare each, for the period of four months at a stocking rate of 10,000 fingerlings per hectare (500 fish/acre). The experiment design was CRD with four treatments (2%, 4%, 6% and 8% feeding level of wet fish body weight daily) having 3 replications. The feeding the fish at higher levels showed higher final weight and weight gain, percent weight gain and specific growth rate. The values of Feed Efficiency (FE) and Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) were best at the lower feeding levels. Although maximum weight gain is 8% feeding level, yet based upon cost benefit analysis, feeding at 4% rate was considered best. The economic profitability for the culture of African catfish in earthen ponds showed that net profit is increased on increasing feeding level from 2 to 4% of wet fish body weight, however, upon further increase in feeding level from 6 and 8%, the feed cost was increased that decreased the net profit. So, it was concluded that the feeding level of 4% wet fish body weight was optimum for economical production of African catfish in earthen pond culture system of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the production capacity of the existing inland aquaculture system of Pakistan, there is a dire need for the introduction of high-value fish species with growth potential at intensified stocking densities and having export potential. The African catfish having above mentioned promising culture characteristics was tried to interpolate the local habitat of Pakistan. For this purpose four thousand African catfish at the fry stage were airlifted from Thailand to Islamabad, Pakistan. To recover the fish from transportation stress, the fish was initially kept under intensive care in circular tanks and raceways for seven days. After recovery from the stress period the fish was shifted to earthen ponds and raceways for an acclimatization period of three months. During the acclimatization period fish showed better growth in earthen ponds as compared to raceways. Negligible mortality was recorded during the process of acclimatization in raceways and earthen ponds, but low survival rate was observed in raceways (30.4%) and earthen ponds (63.4 %). This lower survival rate in spite of very low natural mortality confirmed the phenomenon of cannibalism in this fish. To minimize the process of cannibalism, sized base sorting was done after 5 days and 7 days. A significantly higher survival rate was observed in sorted groups as compared to the non-sorted group. So it was concluded from this study that African catfish were successfully transported and acclimatized in local environmental conditions of Pakistan. However the phenomenon of cannibalism existed in this catfish species that was minimized through physical grading of fish based on its size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To share our institutional experience of cCP stent (Covered Cheatham-Platinum stent) implantation in children and adults with native and Re-COA (Coarctation of Aorta). Study Design: A retrospective cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC/NIHD) Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan 2016 to Oct 2018. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent cCP stent implantation for COA was carried out to assess its immediate, short and intermediate term efficacy and safety. Results: A total of 25 individuals diagnosed with significant COA (native and re COA) with a median age of 18years were enrolled. About 15 were male (M: F, 1.5: 1). 23 pt’s had native coarctation and 2 had re coarctation. Mean follow up duration was 14.8 months (range 1 to 29 months). Immediate success was achieved in 100% by significant reduction of pre vs post stenting mean peak systolic pressure gradient (68 mmHg vs 12 mmHg, p<0.001) and increase in the mean minimum aortic diameter (3.5 mm vs 12.8 mm, p<0.001). Mean systolic and diastolic BP was significantly reduced after the procedure in 18 (72%). Complications occurred in 18 (72%), which included transient pulse loss in 16 (64%) and restenosis in 2 (8%). Conclusion: Percutaneous CP stent implantation is a very effective and safe intervention for both native and re coarctation in reducing the coarctation gradient and increasing the lesion diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To share a single centre experience of transcatheter device closure of subaortic aneurysmal ventricular septal defects with Nit-Occlud (PFM) detachable Coils at a tertiary cardiac center in Pakistan. Study Design: A retrospective case series study. Place and Duration of Study: AFIC/NIHD Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jun 2018 to Oct 2018. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients had percutaneous occlusion of aneurysmal sub aortic perimembranous VSD with Nit-Occlud (PFM) detachable Coils was carried out to assess its immediate and short term efficacy and safety. Results: 12 patients (pts) had aneurysmal per-membranous (PM) VSD were enrolled. In 11 patients successful VSD closure was performed. Mean age of patients was 8 ± 5.7 years. Mean procedural time was 52.69 ± 12 mins. Total fluoroscopy time was 15 ± 8.5 min. Contrast had meant of 54 ± 19.6 ml. 5 were males and 7 patients were females (M:F, 0.8:1). 4 pt’s (36.3%) had mild to moderate residual shunts. Closure rate was 81.8% after 1 and 4 months. Onept’s had immediate device retrieval, 2 (18.1%) had transient IV hemolysis and 2 (18.1%) had persistent severe IV hemolysis. None of our patients had heart blocks, device embolisation or infective endocarditis during a mean follow-up period of 2 months (range1 to 4 months). Conclusion: In selected cases VSD closure with Nit-Occlud detachable Coils is safe and feasible with a minimal risk of side effects like heart block. Close monitoring is needed for intravascular hemolysis in patients having residual shunts in the immediate post procedure period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure for Perimembranous Vetrntricularseptal defect (pm VSD) without arteriovenous (AV) loop. The most common congenital heart defect is PMVSD. Transcatheter closure of PMVSD without AV loop is a recently described technique with limited results for follow-up. Study Design: Retrospective analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric Cardiology, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan 2015 to Oct 2018. Method and Methods: Total of 30 patients with PMVSD were enrolled in this retrospective analytical study and treated percutaneously with VSD occluders. Results: All patients were followed up to date. According to colour Doppler transthoracic echocardiography the mean ± SD end-diastolic PMVSD size was 4.87 ± 1.32mm. Placement of the device was successful in all patients (100%) and the mean ± SD device size 7 ± 1.58mm. During follow-up, No major adverse events were reported. Conclusions: In experienced hands, transcatheter PMVSD closure without AV loop can be performed safely and successfully with low morbidity and mortality. Short-term results are favorable, and the transcatheter approach provides a less-invasive alternative that may become the first choice in selected pmVSD patients. [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]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide and its subtypes/genotypes are clinically important for clinical management and vaccine development. The present study describes frequency distribution of different HCV genotypes and their treatment status in HCV RNA positive patients from district Swat. A total of 185 HCV infected sera were analyzed by molecular genotyping assay. The most prevalent genotype was 3a (34.1%), followed by 2a (8.1%), 3b (7%) and 1a (5.4%). The samples found untypable by the present method of genotypes was 37.8% while, patients with mixed genotype infections were 7.6%. More than 80% of untypable cases were from those HCV patients who had received interferon plus ribavirin standard therapy in the past and either were non-responders and were relapsed thereafter or were under treatment. In conclusion, genotype 3a is the most prevalent HCV genotype in the region. A high prevalence rate of untypable genotypes is present in treated patients that need further investigation for the successful genotyping by developing new assays or using viral sequencing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is an understudied subject in Pakistan. There are many social, legal, and religious sanctions against it. National rates of suicides are not known. We calculated suicide rates of women in the Ghizer District of the remote Northern Areas of Pakistan. During years 2000 to 2004, 49 women committed suicide. Taking average mean population for women for 5 years as 65,783, we calculated annual crude suicide rates for women as 14.89/100,000/year. For women over the age of 15 years, rates were 33.22/100,000/year; age-specific rates for 15-24 years were 61.07/100,000 per year. These figures are considerably higher than suicide rates in other parts of Pakistan and may be related to high psychiatric morbidity in Pakistani women. This study underscores the need for a standardized system of registration of suicides in Pakistan. There is also urgent need to address high psychological distress in women in Pakistan. [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]

Coastal states are currently transitioning their traditional socio-economic activities into a single platform to address the emerging issues of the coast and marine environment. For countries like Pakistan, managing multiple coastal and marine activities is a significant challenge. The lack of proper management policies and an inefficient decision-making process put various types of pressure on the ecological functions of Pakistan's coastal and marine areas. The Government of Pakistan has not yet prioritized coastal and marine affairs in its policy agenda, resulting in a halt to the process of sustainable development. Moreover, a lack of financial allocation for large-scale coastal and marine projects, a shortage of trained human resources, insufficient coordination among organizations, and unstable political decisions and governance impede the sustainable delivery of the projects. This paper discusses Pakistan's coastal and marine policy targets and highlights various issues through PESTLE analysis, which encompasses political (P), economic (E), social (S), technological (T), legal (L), and environmental (E) factors that limit the advancement of sustainable coastal and marine development. This paper aims to determine the advantages of adopting marine spatial planning (MSP) in Pakistan and how its implementation can bring social, ecological, and economic prosperity. The study provides a baseline for the country's coastal and marine policymakers regarding the advancement of a blue economy through MSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the West, National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) is commonly applied to predict the severity of illness using only bedside variables unlike the extensive Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI). The objective of this study was to compare these scores as mortality predictors in patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan, for six months in 2020 on 116 patients presenting with CAP. Cases of aspiration pneumonia, hospital acquired pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary oedema were excluded. In-hospital mortality was taken as the outcome of this study. The mean age of the participants was 46.9±20.5 years. The in-hospital mortalities were 45(38.8%). NEWS2 was 97.8% sensitive but only 15.5% specific in predicting the outcome, whereas PSI was less sensitive (68.9%) but more specific (50.7%), which showed that in comparison with PSI, NEWS2 is a more sensitive mortality predicting score among hospitalised CAP patients.