Search

Heavy metal pollution has increasingly deteriorated many natural ecosystems around the globe resulting in significant loss of environmental health including endangerment of many biological species. The impact of heavy metal contamination is more pronounced in the developing and resource limited countries due to poor compliance to environmental policies. Pakistan stands on the forefront of pollution threat with unprecedented levels of heavy metal contamination in soils and waters. Phytoremediation has emerged as a promising eco-friendly green technique that has proved to be inexpensive, effective, and easily applicable in different ecosystems in recent years. Different strategies of phytoremediation include phytoextraction, phytovolatilization, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration, and phytofiltration, which have shown promising results against heavy metal-contaminated areas. This paper aims to review the studies conducted in Pakistan in the last two decades that deploy phytoremediation as a green technique to remove heavy metals from the metal-contaminated environment. Merits and demerits as well as advancements and limitations of phytoremediation use in Pakistan are also discussed in the present manuscript. The role of microorganisms in metal uptake is also briefly discussed. The manuscript concludes that despite abundant availability and diversity of plant species, only a few phytoremediation studies have been conducted in Pakistan with limited scope and applicability. Nevertheless, potential of this solar driven green technique is overwhelmingly untapped and during recent years, an increasing trend on phytoremediation studies is evident in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by viral infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Where upregulation of several important biomarkers and multiple organ dysfunction occurs, this study aimed to evaluate the association of cardiac biomarkers and CS induced acute lung damage with disease severity and mortality in survival of COVID-19 patients. A total of 500 COVID-19 patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers were studied for the analysis of myocardial abnormality through cardiac enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers, and the expression analysis of various cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-25 genes. The elevation of various cardiac enzymes including LDH (87%), CK (78.4%), TNI (80.4%), CK-MB (83%), and D-dimer (80.8%) were found correlated (p < 0.001) with COVID-19 infection. Cardiac enzyme elevation was highly associated with an increased level of inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP (14.2%), SAA (11.4%) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (7.8%) (p = 0.001 for all). The quantitative expression analysis of IL-10, 1L-17, and 1L-25 were found to be high, while those of IL-1 and IL-6 were moderately elevated. The death-to-live ratio of COVID-19 patients was 457:43 indicating that the patients having elevated levels of both CKMB, D-dimer, CK and IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and D-dimer, Troponin, CK and IL-1, IL-10 had high fatality rate (73% and 12% respectively). The current finding concludes that the evaluation of cardiac biomarkers with cytokine storm plays a significant role in COVID-19-associated anatomical organ damage, myocardial injury, and mortality. Physicians should pay special attention to cardiac biomarkers in patients with old age, inflammation, and comorbidities among COVID-19 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine hesitancy is widespread in many parts of the globe, particularly in low–middle-income countries. Therefore, we surveyed a sample of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and vaccine hesitancy in a low–middle-income country. A cross-sectional sample of 385 confirmed reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 patients treated at secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan, were analyzed to assess COVID-19 vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy. The construct validity and reliability of the 11-item vaccine hesitancy questionnaire were also examined. In addition, multivariate logistic regression was used. The majority of the COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals were not vaccinated (84%). Of those who were willing to receive vaccination, the majority (55%) considered vaccines an effective way to protect people from COVID-19. However, those who were not willing to receive their COVID-19 vaccine had significantly higher hesitancy than those willing to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, older hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged 60 years or above (20–29 years: OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.01–0.72, p = 0.001) and patients from urban areas (OR 3.16 95% CI 1.27–7.87, p = 0.013) were more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than younger patients and patients from rural areas. Patients with no formal education had significantly higher hesitancy (OR 5.26; 96% CI 1.85–14.97, p = 0.002) than participants with graduation and above education. More than half of the study's participants did not trust information shared on social media about COVID-19 vaccines and cited newspapers/news channels as their main source of information. The study provides important insights into COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and the impact of vaccination campaigns. Many unvaccinated COVID-19 patients in hospitals highlight the need for an effective vaccination drive to protect people from acquiring infection and subsequent hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has a significant threat to global health, which has peculiar implications for people suffering from mental health and disabilities. Considering this issue, this research paper examines laws on persons with mental disabilities in Pakistan protecting their rights especially mental health. It addresses the main question whether the legal framework on persons with mental disabilities is sufficient to deal with present challenges. The current findings show that the current legal framework and policies are inadequate and insufficient in nature and based on the archaic and outmoded laws that do not meet the needs of modern health crises like Coid-19 pandemic. It concludes that Pakistan needs to amend laws on the subject to overcome the present challenges. The qualitative and analytical method of research has been followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] Cyberspace technology has become an unavoidable forum for communications, connections, and transactions. This phenomenon, however, led to cybercrimes and hi -tech crimes such as data leaking, stealing, blackmailing, digital fraud, bullying and hacking, and all this has put the cyberspace technology at risk and a great threat to the security and privacy of the people. In Pakistan, cybercrimes are on the rise and despite several laws had been published on the topic, the rate of cybercrimes is increasing every passing year. In this context, this study examines the existing regulatory and legal framework for data protection in Pakistan and to find out the major challenges in the way of appl ication and enforcement mechanism. [Methodology] The conceptual framework of the research answers the question on to what extent the existing laws and enforcement mechanism of Pakistan is effective in protecting the data and information in the cyberspace? It highlights the importance of cyberspace technology nowadays and addresses the global agenda to combat cybercrimes, analyzes the Pakistani laws on the protection of data and privacy in cyberspace, and identifies major challenges in the way of the enforcement mechanism. The study focuses on the cyberspace laws of Pakistan with reference to the cybercrimes from a national perspective. [Findings] This paper asserts that there is sufficient protection of cyberspace laws in Pakistan although they lack proper enforcement and are plagued with poor management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50–75% of all cases, with a greater proportion of individuals affected at older age range. A single moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with accelerated aging and increased risk for dementia. The fastest growth in the elderly population is taking place in China, Pakistan, and their south Asian neighbors. Current clinical assessments are based on data collected from Caucasian populations from wealthy backgrounds giving rise to a "diversity" crisis in brain research. Pakistan is a lower-middle income country (LMIC) with an estimated one million people living with dementia. Pakistan also has an amalgamation of risk factors that lead to brain injuries such as lack of road legislations, terrorism, political instability, and domestic and sexual violence. Here, we provide an initial and current assessment of the incidence and management of dementia and TBI in Pakistan. Our review demonstrates the lack of resources in terms of speciality trained clinician staff, medical equipment, research capabilities, educational endeavors, and general awareness in the fields of dementia and TBI. Pakistan also lacks state-of-the-art assessment of dementia and its risk factors, such as neuroimaging of brain injury and aging. We provide recommendations for improvement in this arena that include the recent creation of Pakistan Brain Injury Consortium (PBIC). This consortium will enhance international collaborative efforts leading to capacity building for innovative research, clinician and research training and developing databases to bring Pakistan into the international platform for dementia and TBI research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, estimated 20 million cases and 70,000 deaths occur annually. A "cluster" was reported from Amankot Swat, during February 2013. Outbreak was investigated to find cases, identify risk factors, infection source and recommend control measures. Methods: Study design adopted was descriptive followed by case control study. A case was defined as "A person resident of Amankot, with jaundice & any of the following symptoms; malaise, anorexia, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and dark urine during February-March 2013." Adopting case-control study design, cases and controls were enrolled assuming sampling was independent of exposure. We collected information through a structured questionnaire and data was analyzed through Epiinfo-7. Collected blood samples were tested by ELISA. Results: Out of 800 surveyed individuals, 299 were found jaundiced. Cases were predominantly male, n=232 (77%) and most afiected age group was 16-30 years, n=173 (58%). Apart from jaundice the most frequent symptoms included abdominal discomfort n=247 (82%), malaise n=240 (39%), fever n=197 (32%), anorexia n=266 (37%), and nausea/vomiting n=266 (37%). Identified risk factors included poor sanitation (exposed 274, OR29, 95% CI 17-46.6), consumption of municipal water supply (OR 12.3, 95% CI 7.7-19.8), old pipeline network (exposed 268, OR 8.7, 95%CI 5.6-13.6), and patient contact (exposed 68, OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.6-12.4). Water samples were contaminated with fecal coliforms. Conclusion: Densely populated area with mostly old and rusted pipelines network running alongside sewerage lines, low water flow period (winter) and negative pressure within the pipes probably sucked the sewage which resulted in contamination of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the development of the Islamic law and English Common Law in terms of rigidity and flexibility. In this context, it provides a comparative study of the historical development of Islamic law and the English Common Law. It argues that although the Islamic law has its origin in the Divine revelation that is often considered as rigid and inflexible yet it is a miracle of it that the Islamic law is a tremendous and unique blend of rigidity and flexibility. Contrary to it, the English Common Law is rigid and inflexible due to the principle of binding precedents and strict literal interpretations. The article also evaluates the characteristics of Islamic law and English Common law in light of modern development in the field of law. It also throws light on the contemporary structure of the Islamic law in Pakistan that seems to be rigid and inflexible. However, this research shows that the Islamic law is flexible and certain by nature and both the qualities stem from the Holy Qur’ān and Sunnah of the Prophet (...) while the English Common Law was/is a rigid law based on the doctrine of precedent and strict literal interpretation that makes it inapplicable in a changed legal context. The Islamic law can be characterized as a blend of certainty and flexibility and both are the prime demands of the modern concept of the law. It also discusses that at present the English Common Law inclines towards flexibility to deal with the issues of the changed context while the contemporary structure of Islamic law in the form of fatāwā particularly, in Pakistan seems to be rigid and inflexible. This research thus, recommends reforming the existing structure of the Islamic law/ fatāwā in Pakistan by following the contextual and purposive modes of interpretation. It is also recommended that some general rules of legislation and issuing fatāwā should be framed in the light of the objectives of Sharī'ah through the process of legislation by the parliament, the judges, and the muftīs to bring the Islamic law into conformity with the changed context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the detection of the huanglongbing (HLB)-associated bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' from both plants and insects in Pakistan and the seasonal variability in the numbers of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive psyllid vector, Diaphorina citri. Our studies showed that 'Ca. L. asiaticus' was detectable from trees in areas with maximum temperatures reaching nearly 50°C (average maximum of 42°C). However, the bacterium was present at very low levels in psyllids both in summer (June to August) and autumn (September to November) in contrast to reports from Florida, where the bacterium was detectable at very high levels during October to November. We hypothesize that hot summer temperatures in Pakistan may interfere with acquisition and replication of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' in psyllids and may lead to dead or nontransmissible 'Ca. L. asiaticus' in plants. Psyllid counts were very low in both summer and winter, showed a population peak ('Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive vectors) in spring, and showed a larger peak ('Ca. L. asiaticus'-free psyllids) in autumn. Natural thermotherapy during hot summers and a low vector population during environmental extremes may have played a major role in long-term survival of the citrus industry in Pakistan. These results may be useful in developing management strategies for U.S. citrus industries in Texas and California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pharmacy Abroad section of AJHP features brief, informal, and topical communications related to pharmacy in other countries. Contributions are welcomed from pharmacists abroad or from pharmacists who have traveled abroad. AJHP also encourages pharmacists from outside of the United States to submit traditional manuscripts (e.g., scientific studies, descriptions of practice innovations), which are evaluated for publication in the primary sections of the journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was focused on the detailed study of the microfacies and diagenetic framework of the shallow shelf Loralai Formation, Khader Zai Nala section, Bargha Shirani, Western Sulaiman Range, District Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan. The Loralai Formation belongs to the Middle Jurassic carbonate rocks with its wide distribution in the host area of studied sections, adjoining District Loralai and around. The present authors studied this formation in detail for the first time covering its microfacies assemblages and diagenetic attributes. The petrographic analyses manifested that its most significant microfacies include: intraclastic rudstones, intraclastic grainstones, bioclastic grainstones, ooidal grainstones, peloidal grainstones, bioclastic packstones, ooidal packstones, and bioclastic mudstones. Its diagenetic attributes were, also, elaborated. A variety of cement morphologies has been identified from early to late diagenetic phases. This study, also, demonstrated the formation's significant reservoir quality in the western Sulaiman Range and adjoining areas. It is revealed by the excellent display of predominant grainstone microfacies. The secondary porosities due to dissolution, moldic, and vuggy porosities, and secondary porosities due to fracturing and extensive dolomitization have also been recorded from the measured section. The fractured limestone horizons, subjected to various phases of fracturing at different levels of this formation, displayed enhanced effective porosity and permeability due to induced interconnections. It is believed that the deposition of the Loralai Formation has taken place in the shallow shelf environments and it has developed reservoir quality at various stratigraphic levels in the investigated section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the pharmacist-directed recall of the drug cerivastatin conducted by the Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan. Withdrawal of the drug due to multiple reports of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis; Generation of a computerized report to identify patients who received the drug from the hospital's pharmacy; Need for individualization of drug recalls.