Search

Abstract Background During 2020 and immediately prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sudan was experiencing multiple emergencies including violence, seasonal flooding, and vector-borne disease outbreaks. After more than ten years since its last case of wild poliovirus, Sudan declared a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreak on 9 August 2020. Methods cVDPV2 outbreak response data and programme documents of the Federal Ministry of Health and WHO were reviewed. Surveillance data was verified through WHO-recommended procedures for detecting and characterizing polioviruses from stool and sewage samples collected from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases and the environment. Results This outbreak in Sudan led to a total of 58 confirmed cases of cVDPV2 from 15 of the 18 states. Two nationwide vaccination campaigns were held to increase immunity of children under-five against poliovirus type 2. Funding challenges were overcome by intense additional resource mobilization from in-country sources. The funding gap was bridged from domestic resources (49%) sourced through GPEI partners, and in-country humanitarian funding mechanisms. Conclusions During an outbreak response and challenge of funding shortfall, mobilizing in-country resources is possible through coordinated approaches, regular communication with partners, disaggregation of needs, and matching in-kind and financial support to fill gaps. A cVDPV2 outbreak requires a fast, resourced, and quality response to stop virus circulation.

Objective: To determine diagnostic accuracy of fractional flow reserve in diagnosing stentable intermediate stenosis in patients of coronary artery disease keeping angiography as gold standard. Study Design: Cross sectional validation study. Place and Duration of Study: Cardiology ward and Coronary Care Unit of PIMS Islamabad, from Jun 2015 to Nov 2015. Methodology: This study included 130 patients with coronary artery disease. General physical examination and systemic examination was done for all subjects as per protocol of inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients underwent Conventional angiography followed by fractional flow reserve in intermediate coronary artery disease. Diagnostic accuracy of fractional flow reserve was detected by determining sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 56 ± 8.790 years, ranging from 31 to 72 years. There were 88 (67.7%) male patients and 42 (32.3%) female patients in the study. There were 31 true positive, 3 false negative and 92 were found true negative. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of fractional flow reserve for diagnosis of stentable intermediate stenosis was 91.2%, 95.8%, 88.6%, 96.8% and 94.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Fractional flow reserve is a reliable test for detection of stentable intermediate stenosis among patients with coronary artery disease and should be done in every case of coronary artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research seeks to determine what are the reasons that encourage the consumer to knowingly purchase counterfeit luxury goods. The current study analyses the role of purchase intention as amediatorbetween the socio-economic, psychological factors and consumer purchase behaviour. Data collected from a sample of 402Pakistani respondents through self-administered questionnairesand analysed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in AMOS.The findings supported that purchase intention mediated the relationship between contextualfactors and consumer purchase behaviour. The findings will help brand managers, law enforcement agencies, brand manufacturers, and Governments to evaluate their existing strategies and develop anticounterfeitstrategies. Similarly, international luxury manufacturing companies can devise strategies based on the findings that purchase intention determines theactual purchase behaviourof Pakistani consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce bivariate C 1 piecewise quintic finite element spaces for curved domains enclosed by piecewise conics satisfying homogeneous boundary conditions, construct local bases for them using Bernstein–Bézier techniques, and demonstrate the effectiveness of these finite elements for the numerical solution of the Monge–Ampère equation over curved domains by Böhmer's method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of Pakistan lies in arid and semi-arid environment where forage for rearing of livestock and food for human being is the better option for that land use systems. Dhrabi watershed is one of the areas where, there is a high potential for forage and livestock production. The analysis includes assessment and role of this riparian vegetation which is very helpful for integrated watershed management in different watershed areas. Dhrabi watershed is a catchments area of Dhrabi reservoir and lies in district Chakwal. There were 88 species reported in the study area. The five plant communities recognized in the Dhrabi watershed on the basis of importance value (IV) by using line transect sampling method, these are; Chrysopogon-Cynodon-Gymnosporea, Cynodon-Crysopogon-Acacia, Cynodon-Chrysopogon-Acacia, Chrysopogon-Cynodon-Conyza and Chrysopogon-Cynodon-Acacia. On the basis of top three highest IV Schoenoplectus-Phragmites-Cynodon plant community were identified at western side of the Kallar Kahar Lake while Cynodon-Phragmites-Typha plant community was observed in eastern side by using 1x1 m quadrat method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the efficacy of various miticides against the two-spotted spider mite on three almond varieties and determine the number of sprays necessary to suppress the pest. The potency of three miticides namely Pyrda, Ethion and Agrifol were studies on three cultivars of almond namely the Ferraster, Karishma and Lajawab against the Tetranychus urticae or two-spotted spider mite. It concludes that the efficacy of all three miticides was quite high with Pyrida being the most potent multicide.

The lot of poor laborer requires improvement in the developing world. He toils from morning till the day end in unwholesome conditions. In Pakistan the situation is made worse by the too hot weather and very meager pays. Most of the unskilled labor is illiterate and cannot fend for its rights. This paper is about how we can improve the worker's conditions, what kind of problems the labor in reality faces and the factors that can help in the mitigation of labor related problems and issues at work-sites. During the initial phases of the research process, field study interviews were conducted at sites which helped in the development of a detailed structured questionnaire in the local lingua franca "Urdu". The major problems identified were: Insufficiency of pay to meet daily requirements, the negative supervisory attitude, excessive work load, lack of training about the job, impermanent job, unavailability of unionized labor to voice concerns to authorities and lack of management concerns for the safety at the work sites. The data gathered supported the hypotheses relating these factors with the labor satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measles is a communicable viral disease which is a major public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries including Pakistan with implications for outbreaks. An outbreak was reported from Ibrahim Khan Village of Manzari union council (UC), Pishin District by medical officer during polio campaign on 15th April 2014. A team was sent to investigate the outbreak and suggest control measures., Methods: Rapid assessment of outbreak was done by collecting data from house-to-house from April 16th-20th, 2014. Case was defined as "a person of any age, resident of village Ibrahim Khan village with non-vesicular maculopapular rash and fever along with one of the symptoms of cough, coryza and conjunctivitis from April 4th-20th, 2014". Routine immunization (RI) was assessed through recall and immunization cards and BCG scars were checked. Line list was developed and data was analyzed., Results: Fifty-five cases (attack rate = 11.27%) including 4 deaths (Case Fatality Rates = 7.27%) were found. Mean age of children was 47 months (4-132 Months). Age-group 0-5 years was most affected (n = 48, 87.27%). Along-with maculopapular rash and fever. Other predominant symptoms were: coryza (n = 52, 95%), conjunctivitis (n = 51, 92%) and pneumonia (n = 42, 77%). RI status assessment showed that none of these children had been immunized. About 56.36% of the respondents were unaware about RI, 16.36% mentioned that vaccinator had not visited their homes, 14.54% reported that health facility is far away and 12.72% reported that even if they could get access to a health facility, the vaccines were not available., Conclusion: Functionalization of EPI centre, vaccinations of all children and mass education was strongly recommended. Surveillance system for vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) should be strengthened to prevent such outbreaks. Outreach activity must be carried out regularly to reach scattered population.

Background: Extensive research is done on nursing work environments but less is known about the job conditions and environments of other health professionals. This study was aimed to fill this information gap by highlighting the factors affecting the work environment and stressors causing turnover of staff., Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Bolan Medical College Quetta for the assessment of working environment of the faculty from 22nd April to 22nd July 2012. All permanent teaching staff was included. A structured questionnaire was adopted fromI health sciences association of Alberta (HSSA), 2006 work Environment Survey. An observational check list for assessment of the physical environment /infrastructure and other general physical stuff was used., Results: The faculty menibers were-not-satisfied with the security and safety of their work place but were satisfied with salaries, employer, and management. Work teams and relationship between employees and employers were respectful with good communication. Majority found their work times stressful and opportunities for on job trainings and professional development, adequate tools, equipment and conditions were mostly lacking., Conclusions: The overall working environment is not that good and few areas need serious attention like: professional development, trainings, adequate equipment, and security.