Objective:To evaluate dentists’ opinions about the need for a practice management course in the undergraduate dental program.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on practicing dentists in Lahore, Pakistan. A self-administered pilot-tested questionnaire was distributed among 588 dentists using a convenience sampling method to obtain their responses about the need for a practice management course. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.Results:About 83.8% of 588 dentists completed the questionnaires. There were 36.7% of males and 63.3% of females (mean age 26.22 ± 4.8 years). The principles of patient management (94.1%), time management skills (90.3%), and teamwork (89.2%) were the most commonly agreed topics of the practice management course. The least agreed topics included office design (59.2%), health-care systems (60.9%), and inventory systems (69%). Most participants (74.4%) thought that a practice management course is required to successfully manage a dental practice, and 63% recommended to include the course in the dental curriculum. Multivariate logistic regression showed that dentists working in private clinic (odds ratio (OR): 3.35, P = 0.001), dentists with graduation within ≤ past 5 years (OR: 3.64, P = 0.001), and dentists who attended a practice management course (OR: 3.12, P = 0.001) were more likely to agree to the need of a practice management course to successfully run a dental office.Conclusion:Most dentists believed that a practice management course is required for a successful dental practice. The development and implementation of such a course should be based on the feedback from dentists to ensure evidence-based approaches.

Objective: To analyze the most used applications on smartphone among school going children (5-16 years). Study Design and Setting: Descriptive cross sectional study comprised of five months (April 2017 to July 2017); concerned community survey i.e. door to door data collection method was carried out in Lahore, Pakistan. Material and Methods: Multistage cluster sampling technique was used. 6200 school going children were selected, 4030 (65%) respond to the study and remaining 2170 (35%) do not respond to the study (excluded from the research). Among 4030 school going children, 2889 (71.7%) were smartphone users (included in the analysis) and 1141 (28.3%) do not use smartphone (excluded in the analysis). Among 2889 school going smartphone users, 1993 (69%) were short term smartphone users and 896 (31%) were long term smartphone users. Descriptive statistics and Bivariate logistic regression was applied on the gathered data. Results: Significant associations were found. The use of smartphone for messaging have p-value = 0.19, for Facebook p-value = 0.11, for WhatsApp p-value = 0.043, for playing games p-value < 0.001, for listening music p-value = 0.049, for watching videos and movies p-value = 0.030, for alarm purpose p-value = 0.001 and for camera purpose p-value = 0.015. Conclusion: The research findings showed that most used applications on smartphone among school going children (5-16 years) were WhatsApp and used smartphone for playing games, listening music, watching videos and movies, alarm and camera purpose with respect to which the study was concise.

ABSTRACT… Introduction:The upsurge in occurrence of overweight and obesity is explored with the passage of time as the corresponding diseases are increasing rapidly. Objectives: The main objectives of this instant research study were to explore the comorbidities and their association with overweight and obesity among 25 to 60 years old women. Study Design and Setting: Descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in Lahore, Pakistan from January 2016 to May 2016. Material and Methods: All the non-pregnant and non-lactating women 25 to 60 years of age belonging to different socio-economic groups were included in our study. Results: Based on cluster sampling technique and sample size, there were 1555 women in 20 clusters in which 1106 overweight and 449 obese women were found for the further research. IBM SPSS statistics version 21 was used to analyze our research findings. Conclusion:The study leads to the interesting exposition of the various overwhelming diseases related to overweight and obesity. Significant achievements were obtained by considering different comorbidities with respect to which the topic can be easily summarized to some extent. Key words:Comorbidities, Overweight, Obesity, Women (25 to 60 years of age). Article Citation: Tariq R, Tariq K. Overweight and obesity; Comorbidities among 25-60 years women in Lahore, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the effect of Lipid based nutritional supplement (LNS) on body composition, hematological findings, maternal, birth and infant outcomes in underweight primi-gravidas. METHODS: This single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was executed in the tertiary care hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan from April 2018 to August 2019. Forty primi-gravidas recruited in the study were randomized into LNS and placebo groups. LNS group received 75 gms of high energy nutritional supplement, named “MAAMTA”, on daily basis from their first antenatal visit till delivery in addition to their conventional antenatal treatment. Fasting blood samples were taken and body composition was measured at baseline visit, 16th week of gestation and post-natally. For the measurement of hematological parameters neonates cord blood was obtained. Data of 36 participants (LNS group n=19; placebo group n=17) were available for final analysis. RESULTS: Majority (n=33/36; 91.7%) had normal vaginal deliveries (n=18/19 in LNS group & n=15/17 in placebo group). Frequency of Cesarean section was 1/19 (5.3%) in LNS group and 2/17 (11.8%) in placebo group. No case of abortion was reported. Mean crown heel length (CHL) was 47.11±2.747 cm in LNS group and 44.24±2.359 cm in placebo group (p=0.002). Mean fronto-occipital circumference was 35.11±1.663 cm and 32.41±7.859 cm in the LNS and placebo groups respectively (p=0.153). No difference was observed between the groups in maternal gestational weight gain per visit, prevalence of maternal anemia, maternal mortality & neonatal birth weight. CONCLUSION: The prenatal use of LNS increases the CHL of the neonates of underweight primi-gravidas.

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hypovitaminosis D in kids by increasing pains and to find out the relationships among biochemical biomarkers and serum vitamin D concentration levels. Study Design: An exploratory cross-sectional investigation was conducted. Methodology: Growing pains were diagnosed in 100 outpatient children aged 5–12 with diffuse lower leg pains. The study excluded infants with arthritis, systemic diseases, organic pain, rheumatologic diseases, or rickets symptoms. We measured total inorganic phosphate, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and vitamin D3 (25-hydroxycholecalciferol). Group A had enough vitamin D3 (> 75 nmol/L), Group B had 50–75, and Group C had levels below 50. Group rates mattered at 0.05 in the chi-square test. Results: 9-year-olds and 60% women participated. 7% of infants with growth pains had enough vitamin D. 95% of vitamin D-deficient babies had high alkaline phosphatase. Conclusion: Growth pains may cause hypovitaminosis D. Youngster's Vitamin D levels should be tested for unusual leg pain. Molecular clues cannot diagnose hypovitaminosis D.