Background: Nicotine, a naturally occurring alkaloid is the predominant chemical among the constituents in cigarette smoke. Consumption forms include smoke (cigarettes, pipes and cigars) and smokeless tobacco (chewable tobacco). Aim: To determine the effect of ghrelin in nicotine induced liver toxicity in BALB/c mice. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Methodology: Present study enrolled 90 male BALB/c mice Group I (control group) was given standardized laboratory diet and intraperitoneal injection (i.p) of normal saline. Group II was given standardized laboratory diet and nicotine at a dose of 2.5mg/ kg body weight (i.p), while Group III was given standardized laboratory diet plus nicotine a dose of 2.5mg/ kg body weight (i.p) along with ghrelin at a dose of 10µg/kg on alternate days for 4 weeks. On 30th day sampling was done for hepatic tissue oxidative stress enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and catalase levels), and histology of liver tissue for assessment of hepatic tissue damage and recovery. Results: Nicotine group showed evident hepatic damage with significant increase in liver oxidative stress markers. On histological examination, liver showed mild to moderate grade necro-inflammation. Administration of ghrelin partially restored the oxidative stress markers and inflammatory histological changes due to nicotine induced toxicity. Conclusion: We concluded that Ghrelin appears to be hepatoprotective due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Keywords: Nicotine, Ghrelin, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Enzymes and Necro-Inflammation

Objectives: Primary aim of this project was to provide BLS training to staff, students and faculty of higher educational institutes of Rawalpindi and Islamabad (twin cities in Punjab, Pakistan) through pre-trained medical students. Secondary aim of the study project was to qualitatively record the impact of community training on student facilitators who conducted BLS workshops, through semi structured interviews. Methods: A mixed method Quasi experimental study was carried out at Foundation University Islamabad in collaboration with Higher Education Commission of Pakistan from 2015 to 2018. BLS trained 120 volunteer medical students were divided in 20 teams to visit and provide hands-on training to 20 educational institutes with 45-50 participants each. These participants completed pre and post training questionnaires, whereas, student trainers went through post training semi structured interviews. Quantitative analysis of participants pre and post training responses was done using SPSS 21. Qualitative assessment of impact on students was done through constant comparative analysis of transcripts. Results: A total of 675 participants including students, faculty and staff received hands on BLS training. Questionnaire based analysis of participants BLS knowledge showed >99% improvement (p < 0.001) after training. Main recurring themes identified in transcribed student interviews were, opportunity to improve self-confidence and technical skill. Conclusion: Hands on training sessions conducted by pre-trained medical students not only resulted in improvement in BLS knowledge of participants at various educational institutes but also had substantial impact on student trainers self-confidence and technique. Continuous...