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Objectives: The importance and potential of the use of stem cells as therapeutic tools is enormous and therefore, health professionals should be expected to have thorough knowledge and a positive attitude towards their utilization in medical practice. Hence this study was carried out to report and assess the knowledge and attitude regarding stem cell in our region., Methodology: The study was conducted amongst the residents employed at the Aga Khan University hospital, Karachi Pakistan from September-October 2022 with a sample size of 57., Results: Amongst our survey participants, 33 (54.2%) responded with a score of 48 and above (i.e., 60% or above); 25 (40.9%) of the study participants scored between 50-60% only 3 (4.9%) had a score 40-50., Conclusions: Our survey shows a reasonable level of knowledge of the generic principles and implications Stem cell therapy amongst the residents.

This is with reference to the report, Tobacco kills over 160,000 Pakistanis every year. A test and analysis of 50 brands of cigarettes, as per this report, showed the number of toxic constituents to be the highest in Pakistani cigarettes, as compared to the cigarettes in the other Asian countries in the region. I represented Pakistan on this panel as an expert member for six years and participated in the first Pakistan UICC workshop on smoking, sponsored by the International Union against Cancer (UICC) and Ministry of Health. [Extracted from the article]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the status of digital learning practices among recognized degree awarding medical, dental and nursing education institutes in Pakistan.METHODOLOGY: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all medical, dental and nursing education institutes registered with PMDC and PNC were approached between 1st April and 15th April, 2020. Data was collected on use of online classes during routine academic year as well as during COVID19 Pandemic. RESULTS: There were 111 medical colleges, 52 dental colleges and 62 nursing education institutes found in latest lists available on PMDC and PNC websites. Majority of health sciences education institutions were found in Punjab and Sindh, indicating sheer discrimination with other provinces of Pakistan. Use of online classes was found very low in routine academic year in all three disciplines of health sciences education explored in this study. CONCLUSION: HEC, PMDC and PNC must realize the scope of digital learning, and invest in infrastructure and capacity building for digital learning in health sciences education in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oro-facial tissue engineering forms the basis of regenerative dentistry. A few decades ago, tissue engineering was just a coined proposition and now it is progressing rapidly towards a clinical reality. The purpose of this review was to highlight the core conceptions of tissue engineering and translate it towards its present and upcoming implications in the facial region and oral cavity. A comprehensive electronic search was carried out on PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct from 2000 to 2020. All articles relevant to tissue engineering in dentistry were selected including in vitro studies, comparative studies and review articles. A total of 50 articles were thoroughly appraised for the narrative review. Tissue engineering is an amalgamation of the interaction between three key components namely cells, scaffolds and signaling molecules. The focus of tissue engineering in dentistry is the regeneration of missing oral and maxillofacial tissues. Regenerative therapies can be broadly categorized as material-based and stem-cell based. In Pakistan, research on tissue engineering in dentistry is still in its preliminary phase. Attempts have successfully been made to identify and grow dental pulp stem cells from human teeth. Modified scaffolds for alveolar bone repair and regeneration have been synthesized efficiently. Tissue engineering in dentistry is an emerging field. Challenges in the growth of clinically safe and satisfactory methods for repair of oral tissues are being met effectively in spite of limited progress. Although, across the world and in Pakistan too, there is still a long way to go in this field but future of these therapies is indeed promising and with time, these procedures will become available for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells can transform into specialized types of cells, and their capability of self-renewal is limitless. The advancements in stem cell therapy have encountered various hurdles. Considering the massive scope of stem cells applications in health, an effective regulation and monitoring system should be implemented. It is important to ensure that stem cell research projects in Pakistan work closely with the ethics committees as respecting human rights are of paramount importance. It is also necessary that the ethics and legislation guidelines are reviewed, updated, and monitored effectively at every evolving step.

ABSTRACT Stem cell research is very promising. The use of human embryos has been confronted with objections based on ethical and religious positions. The recent production of reprogrammed adult (induced pluripotent) cells does not - in the opinion of scientists - reduce the need to continue human embryonic stem cell research. So the debate continues. Islam always encouraged scientific research, particularly research directed toward finding cures for human disease. Based on the expectation of potential benefits, Islamic teachings permit and support human embryonic stem cell research. The majority of Muslim scholars also support therapeutic cloning. This permissibility is conditional on the use of supernumerary early pre-embryos which are obtained during infertility treatment in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. The early pre-embryos are considered in Islamic jurisprudence as worthy of respect but do not have the full sanctity offered to the embryo after implantation in the uterus and especially after ensoulment. In this paper the Islamic positions regarding human embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning are reviewed in some detail, whereas positions in other religious traditions are mentioned only briefly. The status of human embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning in different countries, including the USA and especially in Muslim countries, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]