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Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, lifestyle-related disorder which affects nearly one-third of the global population. In more than one way, obesity classifies as a potential indicator or contributing factor of various clinical conditions, subsequently leading to poor health outcomes and compromised quality of life (QoL). The high prevalence and reporting rate of obesity is irrespective of geographical difference, ethnicity and gender, however, they most often serve as predisposing risk factors for obesity. Additionally, environmental changes, availability & affordability of low nutrition, yet palatable food, hormonal disbalance and variation at the genetic level, prominently exacerbates the condition of obesity and its related effects. Clinically, obesity, may either lead to other pathophysiological conditions as well, such as liver dysfunction, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypertension, coronary artery diseases and psychological impairment or vice-versa. Henceforth, to cope with the challenges of obesity and related conditions, a healthy lifestyle, personal care & social well-being is of prime importance. Additionally, a customized strategy to address the economic expenditure and newer therapeutic perspectives should be implemented to control the widespread damage of human population by this condition. The present review focuses on providing a brief knowledge about nutritional, biochemical, genetic and psychological aspects of obesity and its epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the trend of the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic in Pakistan and to explore the community perception of the socioeconomic impact of COVID‐19 pandemic in a rural mountain area of Pakistan. An online survey was conducted through snowball sampling technique and total 367 people participated in the survey. The results of the study show that COVID‐19 cases spiked amid ease of lockdown in the country and the spread of novel coronavirus pandemic has significant socioeconomic impact on the lives of mountain communities in Gilgit‐Baltistan. Financial uncertainty, decrease in income, fear of job loss, and food insecurity are some major challenges that mountain communities face due to outbreak of coronavirus in the region. The results further show that lack of community cooperation with government agencies, lack of awareness about the severity of coronavirus, and insufficient COVID‐19 testing kits are the major factors that caused the spread of coronavirus cases. This study suggests that the short‐, medium‐, and long‐term policies are required to mitigate the consequences of this pandemic and to revitalize the mountain economy of Gilgit‐Baltistan, and in this regard, this study provides baseline information for policy‐makers and practitioners to devise such demanding policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Sporadic cases of CCHF continue to occur since first known fatality in 1976 in Pakistan. This study was conducted to identify the population groups more at risk to acquire CCHF infection. Methods: A case-control study comprising record review of the lab investigations sent to National Institute of Health, Islamabad was conducted from 2012 to 2015. A case was defined as any blood sample confirmed to be CCHF using RT-PCR testing. A total of 255 confirmed cases and 510 sex matched controls were randomly selected during January 2012-December 2015. Controls were selected from the samples which tested negative for CCHF on RTPCR. Data from all suspected cases were collected on a structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to find associations using Epi-Info and SPSS. Results: among 255 confirmed CCHF cases male were 80%. Baluchistan reported maximum number of cases (55%).The most affected age group was above 41 years (n=143, attack rate 0.45/100,000). In multivariate analysis the risk factors remained significantly associated with the CCHF were contact with Positive CCHF case (OR 3.77; 95% CI 2.49-5.71), health care workers (OR 3.76; 95% CI 2.22-6.36), butchers (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.19-4.3.25), animal handlers (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.12-2.72) and tannery workers (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.22-2.72). Drivers and persons with travel history to endemic areas were significant in univaraite analysis but remained insignificant in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Contact with the positive CCHF case and workers like health care professionals, butchers, animal handlers and tannery workers are at increased risk for CCHF. Educational intervention is recommended to control the CCHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pattern of poisoning has a regional variability. This study was carried out to describe the epidemiological profile of acute poisoning in northeastern Bangladesh and to evaluate the mortality. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, medical records of poisoned patients treated at department of medicine of Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh during 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2011 were reviewed. Patients aged 10 years and above with diagnosis of acute poisoning were included. Data collected were gender, age, place of residence, type of poison and intention of poisoning. Results: A total of 4435 (58.7% men) were included. Patients aged 21 to 30 years were the most common age group involved with poisoning (41.6%). The majority of patients (55.4%) lived in rural areas. Commuter poisoning (43.3%) was the most frequently occurring type of poisoning in both men and women in all 4 years followed by OP poisoning (25.7%). Men were found to be significantly more affected in commuter, organophosphate and alcohol poisoning (P < 0.001). Intention of poisoning in the greatest number of patients (54.5%) was suicidal followed by 1919 patients (43.3%) who were poisoned by homicidal/stupefying intents. Among the homicidal cases, men were significantly more victimized (67% vs. 33%, P < 0.001). Overall, 224 patients (5.1%) died. The highest number of deaths was due to OP poisoning (46.9%) followed by commuter poisoning (45.5%). Case fatality rate was the highest in the snakebite victims (23.3%) followed by alcohol poisoning (11.4%). Conclusion: Commuter or travel-related poisoning is an emerging public health threat in this part of Bangladesh. Public awareness should be raised and school-based educational programs should be emphasized regarding the commuter poisoning and the consequence of accepting and eating food from strangers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of energy input-output in boro rice cultivation was undertaken for well recognized salinity classes (S1-S5) and farm categories (landless, marginal, small, medium, and large) in south-west coastal Bangladesh. A total of 125 target farmers were surveyed by using structured questionnaire during the boro season (January-May 2011). Survey data were converted into energy by using the respective energy co-efficient equivalents. The results revealed that the sequences of total energy input were S1 > S5 > S2 > S4 > S3 and medium > large > landless > small > marginal among salinity regimes and farm categories, respectively. The seedbed stage consumed the highest energy followed by growing stage, and harvesting and threshing. Inorganic fertilizers accounted for a major share (59.98%) of energy input in rice field, while the lowest share was estimated for manpower (0.75%). Among fertilizers, nitrogen category was the most dominant source (54.94%) of energy input following phosphate (3.82%) and potassium (1.22%). The total output energy was in the sequences of S1 > S4 > S5 > S2 > S3 and landless > marginal > small > medium > large. Energy from main product (rice grains) was higher than that of byproduct (straw). The study also found that total output energy decreases with increases in farm size. In case of energy efficiency (output-input ratio), S4 was found to be the most energy efficient (2.43) regime followed by S3, S1, S5 and S2, whereas marginal sized farmers were the most energy efficient (2.12) followed by landless, small, medium and large. This study shows that increased energy input in rice cultivation is not always necessary to get higher output energy in the salinity affected coastal Bang [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: New luminometric chelates were developed for the detection of urinary bladder cancer and compared to cytology and urinary rapid tests BTA stat ® , NMP22 ® BladderChek ® and UBC ® Rapid Test., Materials and Methods: This single-center study analyzed urine from two different cohorts: Firstly, a retrospective pilot cohort (n=27) and secondly a prospective validation cohort (n=60) including patients with bladder cancer and healthy controls. The samples were studied with nine different terbium and europium chelates to detect cancer cases. After identification of an efficient luminophore in the first cohort, the second validation cohort was run with the selected chelates to re-evaluate the results and compare them with urinary rapid tests and cytology., Results: The compared methods showed area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.567 to 0.767. Tb 3+ -chelate-based assay detected high-grade cancer cases (p=0.035) with an AUC of 0.663. The Eu-probe signal level was higher in cancer cases of any grade than in healthy controls (p=0.001) with an AUC of 0.759. The Eu-probe had a sensitivity of 46.7% and a specificity of 100% in cancer detection., Conclusion: Evaluation of terbium and europium chelates for the detection of urinary bladder cancer showed highest specificity among all methods and improved overall performance (characterized by AUC) compared to commercial urine-based rapid tests and cytology. The Eu-probe has the potential to be clinically valuable in urine-based detection of bladder cancer, especially for high-grade cancer., (Copyright © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: The knee joint is the largest and the most complex joint of the human body. It is not covered by any thick muscular covering anteriorly., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnostic capabilities of clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthroscopy in traumatic disorders of the knee joint, to seek correlation between clinical findings, MRI findings and arthroscopic., Patients and Methods: A total of 26 patients with a presentation suggestive of traumatic knee pathology were studied prospectively. A detailed history was taken and relevant clinical examination was done, which was followed by MRI of the knee. The patients were scheduled for arthroscopy under general/spinal anesthesia, whenever indicated., Results: Keeping arthroscopic examination as standard, the correlation between clinical and arthroscopy showed a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 86%, accuracy of 63.16%, negative predictive value of 93.48%; whereas MRI vs. arthroscopy showed a sensitivity of 74.42%, specificity of 93.10%, accuracy of 84.21%, and negative predictive value of 88.04%., Conclusions: The clinical examination is an important and accurate diagnostic modality for evaluation of traumatic derangement of the knee joint. It is noninvasive, easy, available, and valuable diagnostic modality. The MRI is an accurate diagnostic modality. It can be used whenever there is an uncertain indication for arthroscopy. However, costs have to be kept in mind, especially in patients with low socio-economic status.