OBJECTIVE: To identify the stressors related to academic online teaching and the change in social norms during the pandemic and to assess their psychological impact on the medical students. METHODS: A web based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Hazrat Bari Imam Sarkar Medical and Dental College, Islamabad Pakistan over a period of 4 months using an Online questionnaire via Google forms based on Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21) scale comprising of 21 questions which address the depression, anxiety, and stress related questions. The modified questionnaire also contained open ended questions along with a short questionnaire based on 3 points Likert scale. RESULTS: Total of 305 subjects participated. Mean (±SD) severity score for Depression, anxiety and stress was 2.02± 1.3, 1.76±1.25 and 1.66±1.15 respectively. Highly significant positive correlation was observed between depression and stress score of  subjects and history of COVID-19 infection in an  acquaintance (r=0.179, p=<0.01) and (0.132, p=<0.001) respectively; between depression and stress score of subjects and history of  acquaintance who expired due to COVID-19  (r=0.198, p<0.01) and s (r=0.25, p<0.01) respectively; distraction during online classes and  depression and stress score (r=0.233, p<0.01) and  (r=0.236, p<0.01) respectively and worry about effect on clinical skills due to teaching through online sessions and depression (r=0.161,p<0.01) . CONCLUSION: The stressors related to change in the academic activities and social norms due to SARS-CoV-2 has had significant psychological impact on the mental health of students which requires attention and formal counselling.

No abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the pharmacists and patients' satisfaction in coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A total of 314 participants participated in the study by cross-sectional study design and convenient sampling technique. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: Results revealed that significant number of respondents was not fully satisfied with behavior of the pharmacists. Around half of the respondents were agreed that pharmacists dispensed the same medication as prescribed by the prescribers. Around 38.9% of respondents noticed that pharmacists were not taking keen interest in resolving their health issues. Statistically, significant association (P < 0.05) was observed among patients' overall satisfaction with pharmacists' behavior and services, and precise dispensing of medications, medications counseling, interest in resolving patients' health problems, and general attention given by the pharmacists toward patients. Conclusion: The study concluded that pharmacists should pay more attention to deal with their patients, especially during such pandemics when there is a more need of empathy and good behavior to increase patients' satisfaction and decrease health-related problems.

Severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), the novel coronavirus causing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), spread across the world, resulting in a global crisis. This pandemic has caused consequences that are beyond the boundaries of a single discipline of life, but it is healthcare that is under the most stress. As we received COVID-19 cases in our hospital (a private tertiary care facility in Sialkot, Pakistan), we geared up to accommodate these cases, since the government sector was already overburdened. The purpose of this study is to report the trends observed in 80 COVID-19 patients admitted at our facility from May 16 to July 14, 2020.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD1) is an autosomal recessive type of inherited disorder caused by total or partial deficiency of CD18 expression. LAD1 is characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections, in some cases delayed umbilical cord separation, delayed wound healing due to blockade in leukocyte migration to site of inflammation and infection. The present study involves genetic analysis of two unrelated families suffering from LAD1. METHODOLOGY: In the present study, two separated and unrelated Pakistani families are included suffering from Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency type -1 (PAD1). After detailed clinical evaluation, whole blood samples were collected from patients, parents and available healthy siblings. Genomic DNA was extracted from all the blood samples, and using a specific primer all the coding ITGB2 gene exons were PCR amplified. RESULTS: The amplified products were sanger sequenced. DNA sequencing analysis revealed a nonsense mutation c.186C > A, p.(Cys62*) in exon four and a missense mutation c.382G>T, p.(Asp128Tyr) in exon five of the gene. The mutation is segregating in autosomal recessive pattern in the family. CONCLUSION: Recurrent mutations on a specific locus (gene) changes the allele frequency from a healthy allele to a disease allele and hence play role in new genotype. This research study demonstrates the allelic heterogeneity of the ITGB2 gene in Pakistani patients diagnosed with LAD1. The research findings in the present study suggest that every population should develop national registry of patients suffering from primary immune deficiencies and a mutation database for rare genetic disorders. This will facilitate early diagnosis and genetic counseling to the patient family.