Blockchain technology presents a promising future for protecting personal data. However, it does pose challenges concerning data security and risk that need to be overcome. This research focuses on investigating these challenges posed by blockchain technology and providing feasible solutions that regulators can take into account when drafting regulations on personal data protection guidelines. The security and privacy-related challenges derived from its progressive maturity, complexity, lack of standardization, and diversity of protocols are superimposed on the demands of a vibrant, competitive environment. It is difficult to align it with the GDPR concerning privacy. There is an urgent need to develop multidisciplinary teams that must ensure its participation from the beginning of the legal/regulatory area, cybersecurity, and company information systems.

The current study investigated the opportunities to overcome the high dropout rate from public schools. One of the public schools, which was transformed into a model school by a prominent NGO of Pakistan, was selected for the collection of data. Realizing the need to get an in-depth knowledge of the issue, qualitative study was conducted. Case study approach was used, observations and interviews were employed. Using semi structured questionnaires, interviews of administration, teachers and students were conducted. Lack of facilities at schools, poverty, illiteracy of parents, absenteeism etc. were found significant challenges in retaining students at school. The situation can be overcome by providing neat and clean environment, spacious classrooms and better furniture, well equipped labs and libraries, high quality sports and art facilities, separate toilet facilities for boys and girls and cafeteria for healthy diet or nutrition.

Long COVID or post-COVID problems are long-term effects of COVID-19 infection that certain people who have contracted the virus can experience. This may result in having persistent symptoms for 3 months or more, such as those who had tiredness, malaise, changed smell and taste, dyspnea, and cognitive deficits three or more months after their initial COVID-19 diagnosis. However, some people may still have inferior work performance and a lower quality of life due to the long COVID episodes. From October 2021 to April 2022, cross-sectional research was conducted in Karachi, utilizing an electronic questionnaire to record sociodemographic data, current comorbidities, and previous episodes of acute COVID-19, post-COVID symptoms, and job performance among COVID survivors. The study's findings revealed that more than 35% of individuals surveyed claimed to have had COVID symptoms for six weeks or more, with approximately 20% to 30% of those reporting frequent coughing and appetite loss. Planning prevention, rehabilitation, and clinical treatment need an awareness of long-term COVID and its related components in order to maximize recovery and long-term COVID-19 outcomes. Keywords COVID-19, Symptoms, Medical professionals, Work performance

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of appendicitis inflammatory response score and Alvarado score in diagnosis of acute appendicitis taking histopathology as gold standard. Study Design: It is a Cross Sectional Study Study setting and Duration: This study conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi from September 2018 To March 2019. Methods: Alvarado and Appendicitis inflammatory response scores were used to evaluate all patients. For the Alvarado scoring system, a score of 7 or more was considered a high chance of acute appendicitis, while the AIR scoring system required a score of 9 or higher. The findings of the histopathology lab were compared to the test results. Both tests' results were analysed to determine their sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy. Results: For Alvarado score Sensitivity (80.1%), Specificity (92.3%) and accuracy was 81.7%. For AIR score Sensitivity (72.6%), Specificity (94.2%), and accuracy was 75.5%. There were 66.9% male and 33.1% female patients. Right iliac fossa pain was 76.8%, pain migration to right iliac fossa was 63.5%, anorexia was 90.9%. Conclusion: Higher sensitivity and specificity of the Appendicitis inflammatory response score and the Alvarado score were found to outperform the histological findings in appendicitis. Keywords: Appendicitis, Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score, Diagnostic Accuracy, Acute Appendicitis, Histopathology, Alvarado Score,