Objective:To study the prevalence and pattern of self-medication among adult males and females in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods:This cross-sectional community- based survey was carried out at five randomly selected towns of Karachi (Defence, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Malir, Orangi town) over a period of 3 months (October, November & December 2012). A sample size of 500 adult cases (250 males & 250 females), with systemic random selection from different towns of Karachi were inducted in this study. The city was divided in 5 zones and one town from each zone was selected by systemic randomization. First available male and female from each randomly selected house were included in the study. After consent and confidentiality assurance they were interviewed on semi-structured Performa designed for this purpose. Results were analyzed and tabulated through SPSS v14.0.Result:The prevalence of self-medication in males and females in Karachi is found to be 84.8% (males 88.4% and females 81.2%). The most frequent symptoms for which self-medication used were headache (32.7%), fever (23.3%) and the medicines used were painkillers (28.8%), fever reducer medicines (19.8%). The most common reason 33.3% was previous experience with similar symptom.Conclusion:Self-medication is highly prevalent (84.8%) in Karachi. It was frequently used for headache followed by fever. Predominantly painkillers, fever reducer and cough syrups were used in the form of tablets and syrups. Main source of medicines for males were friends and for females were relatives.

BackgroundThe prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically during the last decades. This increase has been attributed to significant changes in cultural and socio-economic factors.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine prevalence of diabetes and its relation with age and sex in Turaif city, northern Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study carried out during the academic year 2016–2017 over a period of 6 months (October 01, 2016 to March 30, 2017). A total of 1,287 Saudi national individuals of both sexes, aged from 1 year to more than 65 years were included in the study. Data were collected by a predesigned questionnaire covering medical history of diabetes, age and sex.ResultsMean age (± SD) was 24.29 (±13.96) years with the minimum age at 1 year and the maximum age at 93 years, male to female ratio was 42.5% to 57.5%. The total prevalence of DM among the studied population was 5.8% and pre-diabetic cases were 6.8%. There were significant relationships between age/sex, and the occurrence of diabetes among the studied population (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe total prevalence rate of DM among the studied population of Turaif city, northern Saudi Arabia was 5.8% and pre-diabetic cases were 6.8%. Awareness campaigns and prevention programs about diabetes should be instituted and the existing ones must be strengthened. Adequate commitment from the Ministry of Health is also advocated.

No abstract

Background: Salmonella typhi cause typhoid fever which is life threatening disease. It effects approximately 600,000 people per annum around the world. Food and water are the integral components through which this disease is transmitted and becomes base of typhoid. It spreads widely where cleanliness is very poor. Objective was to analyse three-dimensional structure of transcriptional regulator of Salmonella typhi CT18 by homology modelling to inhibit virulent effect of salmonella typhi. Methods: Bioinformatics tools and programs like comprehensive Microbial resource (CMR). Interproscan, Basic Local Alignment Search tool (BLAST), Modeller 9.10, Procheck and Prosa were used as bioinformatic tools for effective study of protein. Results: Homology modelling is an appropriate and precise method to find three-dimensional transcriptional regulator to stop its virulency. Conclusion: Homology modelling is computational and accurate method to find 3D structure of transcriptional regulator to inhibit its virulence effect of causing disease.

World Health Organization proposes implementing the WHO STEP smart strategy for tracking, to continuously monitoring noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and associated risk factors (STEPS). Objective: To analyze the prevalence and contributing factors of NCD risk factors in Pakistan, a country with a low income where NCDs are responsible for 66 percent (or two-thirds) of fatalities annually. Methods: Total 675 eligible participants, ages 15 to 60, were selected by a multistage sampling approach from February 2020 and May 2021 for STEPS survey (version of instrument 3.2). Assessment of behavioral and physiological risk variables was part of the data collection process. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Results: Intake of lesser than five portions of vegetables and fruits every day may be the greatest common risk factor. Of all participants, 341 (50.51%) were smoking currently, 513 (76%) were not physically active. A total of 251 (37.18%) individuals have elevated blood pressure whilst 245 (36.29%) individuals are affected by sugar. The cholesterol level is high in 215 (31.85%) participants out of 675. Each individual had an average of two risk factors for NCDs (2.04, 95percent [Confidence interval]: 2.02-2.08). Conclusions: Numerous risk factors for NCDs are present in a significant section of the Pakistani community. With the help of a multi-sectoral national coordination system, this observed data must be employed to promote and track specific NCD management and prevention programs for cities across Pakistan.