Community-Based Assessment of Knowledge,Attitude, Practices and Risk Factors Regarding COVID-19 Among Pakistanis Residents During a Recent Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Exceptional precautionary measures have been adopted to stop the transmission and control of COVID-19 through the world and Pakistan is facing lockdown in this scenario. Public loyalty to precautionary measures is affected by their knowledge, attitude, risk factors and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. The present study was conducted among the Pakistani residents to observe the knowledge, attitude, practices and risk factors towards COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan. A questionnaire was designed, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted among participants of the study area. Participants were asked the questions regarding knowledge, attitude, practices and risk factors towards COVID-19. Data were analyzed by SPSS and t/F test and correlation was applied among the knowledge, attitude, risk factors and practices. A total of 1060 questionnaires were received. 1004 were included while 56 were excluded. The highest representation was from Punjab province (65.6%), female (63%) and age group of 21–30 years (62.1%). Most participants were single (85%), Muslim (99.4%), Urdu speaking (45.6%) and were graduates (51.5%). Most of the participants were students (52.9%) and were from economically middle-class families (40.8%). The knowledge was positively correlated with attitude and practices whereas negatively correlated with risk factors (P?<?0.05). The attitude was negatively correlated with risk factor and positively correlated with practices. The risk factors and practices were positively correlated with each other. Health education program to improve the COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, practices and risk factors should be initiated to combat current health challenge.

     

Withania somnifera: a pre-clinical study on neuroregenerative therapy for stroke

<正>Stroke management exerts insurmountable societal and economic burden on the patient as well as their caregivers.In the year 2010 alone,the direct and indirect costs of stroke care amounted to 36.5 billion dollars(Go et al.2014).Despite concentrated efforts to develop a safe,ef-     

Ex Situ Conservation Strategies for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fritillaria cirrhosa</Emphasis> D. Don (Liliaceae): A Critically Endangered Medicinal Herb of Kashmir Himalaya

Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (Liliaceae), a valuable and critically endangered medicinal herb of northwest India, including Jammu and Kashmir, grows in temperate to alpine regions of the Himalaya. The bulbs of the plant are very valuable and are used to cure asthma, tuberculosis, haematemesis and many other health complications. The species faces threat due to multiple factors including habitat loss, over-exploitation for medicine, domestic and commercial trade. The present study was therefore undertaken to develop ex situ conservation strategies and domestication protocols for Fritillaria cirrhosa. The experimental treatments utilized to enhance the regeneration potential, growth and development of Fritillaria cirrhosa include soil texture variation, fertilizer treatment and farmyard manure treatment. The highest values of phenotypic attributes of the plants were recorded in soil: sand combination of 3:1. The plants prefer to grow in low sandy soils. Maximum plant height was attained in a combination of urea (nitrogen), diammonium phosphate (phosphorous) and potash (potassium) fertilizers. The plants depicted an admirably increased height and flower length in 1:1:2 combination and highest flower and leaf numbers in 2:1:1 combination of soil: sand: farmyard manure. Thus, low sandy soil with high organic matter was found to be favourable for better growth and development of the plants of Fritillaria cirrhosa.     

Perinephric Collection: Hematoma or Duodenal Perforation?

A 74-year-old man presented with a history of collapse and abdominal pain. Initial imaging showed a left sided preirenal collection. The initial working diagnosis was perirenal hematoma secondary to renal trauma. Subsequent patient deterioration led to further imaging which led to the diagnosis of a duodenal perforation with tracking of duodenal contents into the left perirenal space. This important differential should be a consideration in cases of perinephric collections of unknown etiology.Key Words: Duodenal perforation     

Poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticle-based inhalable sustained drug delivery system for experimental tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES: To improve the bioavailability of antitubercular drugs (ATDs) as well as to assess the feasibility of administering ATDs via the respiratory route, this study reports the formulation of three frontline ATDs, i.e. rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide encapsulated in poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles suitable for nebulization. METHODS: Drug-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by the multiple emulsion technique, vacuum-dried and nebulized to guinea pigs. The formulation was evaluated with respect to the pharmacokinetics of each drug and its chemotherapeutic potential in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected guinea pigs. RESULTS: The aerosolized particles exhibited a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 1.88 +/- 0.11 microm, favourable for bronchoalveolar lung delivery. A single nebulization to guinea pigs resulted in sustained therapeutic drug levels in the plasma for 6-8 days and in the lungs for up to 11 days. The elimination half-life and mean residence time of the drugs were significantly prolonged compared to when the parent drugs were administered orally, resulting in an enhanced relative bioavailability (compared to oral administration) for encapsulated drugs (12.7-, 32.8- and 14.7-fold for rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide, respectively). The absolute bioavailability [compared to intravenous (i.v.) administration] was also increased by 6.5-, 19.1- and 13.4-fold for rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide, respectively. On nebulization of nanoparticles containing drugs to M. tuberculosis infected guinea pigs at every 10th day, no tubercle bacilli could be detected in the lung after five doses of treatment whereas 46 daily doses of orally administered drug were required to obtain an equivalent therapeutic benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Nebulization of nanoparticles-based ATDs forms a sound basis for improving drug bioavailability and reducing the dosing frequency for better management of pulmonary tuberculosis.