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Objective: To determine whether postmenopausal status is associated with elevated plasma inflammatory markers ferritin, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio NLR, platelet to lymphocyte ratio PLR) compared to premenopausal status in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to establish a correlation between inflammatory markers and glycemic status in pre-and post-menopausal diabetic women. Methods: A total of 80 participants aged 25-75 were recruited, from January 2024 to April 2024 and were divided into pre-and postmenopausal groups (Group I and II respectively) based on history using convenient sampling. Clinical assessments included general physical exams and BMI calculations. The biochemical analysis involved measuring Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and ferritin levels. The study examined the inflammatory profiles linked to menopausal status in diabetic patients. Results: HBA1c levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05)in Group I than in Group 2 (median 9.35 [interquartile range: 8.0 – 10.4] versus 7.10 [interquartile range: 6.42 – 8.37] Also serum ferritin levels in Group I were significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to Group II (median 173 [interquartile range: 100-190] versus 35.14 [interquartile range: 8.12 – 52.75]. PLR showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two groups, the ratio being higher in Group II as compared to Group I (median 108 [interquartile range: 85.38-132.77] versus 74.10 [interquartile range: 69.88-85.12]There was significant negative association between HbA1C and ferritin in both premenopausal and postmenopausal diabetic patients. However, there is no significant correlation between HbA1C and NLR or PLR in either group. Conclusion: The interaction between menopause and T2DM affected the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio but not the neutrophil)to-lymphocyte ratio. Also, ferritin levels are decreased in postmenopausal diabetic women. Further, glycemic status is not the only risk factor for predicting inflammation in diabetics, other risk factors have to be catered to evaluate the inflammation status of diabetic pre and postmenopausal females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the role of guided reflection for improved learning outcomes in students of basic dental sciences., Methods: The quasi-experimental comparative educational study was conducted at the Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan, from May to September 2019, and comprised second-year undergraduate students in the Basic Medical Sciences curriculum for Microbiology. The subjects were arbitrarily divided into Group-1, which was exposed to guided reflection, and Group-2, which was not asked to reflect on the lectures. Post-intervention, a test of 30 multiple choice questions on the selected topics was conducted to compare the level of learning between the groups. After three weeks, the same activity was repeated with the same groups, but with different topics of lectures. Data was analysed using SPSS 21., Results: Of the total 75 students, there were 28 female and 9 male students in Group-1 (Reflectors), 29 female and 9 male students in Group-2 (Non-Reflectors). Overall, there were 18 male and 57 female students. The overall 20.4±0.83 years. The difference between the groups after the first session was not significant (p>0.05). After session 2, Group-1 score was significantly better than that of Group-2 (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Reflective practices on teaching sessions at the end of lectures proved to be an effective strategy to achieve outcome-based learning.

Objective: To compare serum levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, and to evaluate its relationship with time since onset of menopause., Methods: The cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from April 2017 to March 2018, and comprised individuals recruited from the Gynaecology and Obstetrics outpatient department of the Pakistan Railway Hospital in the city. The subjects were divided into two groups; pre-menopausal women in Group I and postmenopausal in Group II. Group II was subdivided into three categories according to time since onset of menopause. Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels were estimated in each subject. Data was analysed using SPSS 21., Results: Of the 80 subjects, there were 40(50%) in Group I with a mean age of 36.25}6.8 years, 40(50%) in Group II with a mean age of49.83}4.35 years. There was a significant increase in mean asymmetric dimethylarginine levels in Group II compared to Group I (p<0.05). There was also a significant increase in asymmetric dimethylarginine levels with increase in duration since the onset of menopause (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine increased significantly after menopause.