Rahnuma

Depression is a significant yet underexplored mental health concern among older adults in Pakistan, where cultural stigma and limited institutional support often hinder diagnosis and care. This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived mastery and depressive symptoms among older adults in urban Lahore, while assessing the moderating influence of gender and living arrangements. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 100 participants aged 55–75 years through purposive sampling. Two standardized instruments, the Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form (GDS-SF) and the Pearlin and Schooler Mastery Scale, were administered alongside a pilot-tested Perceived Institutional Mastery Index (PIMI). Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 27) through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, t-tests, and linear regression. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between mastery and depression (r = –0.45, p < .001), with lower mastery among women and institutional residents. The study concludes that Mastery serves as a key protective psychological factor against depression in older age. It recommends developing gender-sensitive and autonomy-enhancing mental health programs and integrating mastery-based interventions into community and institutional care to improve geriatric well-being in collectivist societies.

Background: Salivary defensins play an important role in periodontal disease prevention. This study evaluated the role of salivary lactoferrin, an antimicrobial peptide, in preventive dentistry by assessing its expression in caries and periodontal disease patients. Methods: After study approval, this cross-sectional study (October 2022 to June 2023) was conducted with 60 participants, including healthy individuals (n = 20) and patients with gingivitis or periodontitis (n = 40) using consecutive sampling technique inter-collaboratively at LUMHS Jamshoro, Islam Medical and Dental College Lahore, University Medical and Dental College Faisalabad including Analytical Assessments at Rahbar College of Dentistry, Lahore. Saliva and gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected with informed consent. The experimental groups consisted of antimicrobial-treated (case) and untreated (control) subjects. Antimicrobial interventions included lactoferrin-based formulations, chlorhexidine, and fluoride. Total RNA was extracted, converted to cDNA, and analyzed via qRT-PCR to quantify LTF (lactoferrin gene) expression, normalized to GAPDH. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, employing ANOVA and t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: Lactoferrin expression was significantly upregulated (2.7) in response to antimicrobial interventions. The increase was more pronounced in healthy individuals and gingivitis patients compared to periodontitis cases. Lactoferrin formulations demonstrated stronger antimicrobial effects, reducing pathogenic bacterial load and inflammation markers. (CRP 2.1, IL-6 4.8). Conclusion: Lactoferrin plays a critical role in oral microbiome balance, showing potential in caries control and periodontal disease prevention. Its expression profiling can serve as a biomarker for monitoring oral health and therapeutic efficacy. Further studies are needed to explore its long-term clinical applications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the protective effect of Moringa oleifera on articular cartilage of formalin-induced arthritis in rats. Study Design: The study design was a lab-based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, from September 2020 to September 2021. Methodology: A total of 30 mature male albino rats, weighing between 250 and 300 g, were randomly assigned to three separate groups. The sample size for this study was 10. With the exception of animals belonging to Group A, all other animals were administered a subplanter injection of formaldehyde on their right paw on both day 1 and day 3 of the experiment. The rats in Group A and Group B were provided with a standardized diet for rats. During the course of the trial, rats in Group C were administered Moringa aqueous extract at a dosage of 500 mg/kg body weight via oral administration for a continuous period of 28 days. Following the conclusion of the experiment, all the animals underwent dissection. The right hind leg was subsequently extracted, processed, and stained using H and E and toluidine blue. This was done to facilitate microscopic assessment of the thickness of both uncalcified and calcified cartilage (CC). The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21. Results: The administration of Moringa aqueous extract through oral means resulted in a noteworthy increase in the thickness of uncalcified cartilage (P < 0.001 when comparing different groups). In addition, there was a decrease in the thickness of CC, with Group A measuring 9.26 ± 0.21 µm, Group B measuring 62.92 ± 0.21 µm, and Group C measuring 14.01 ± 0.21 µm (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Moringa leave extract is an effective antiarthritic agent in ameliorating the thickness of articular cartilage thickness in an arthritic rat model.

Most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have poor or non-existent mental healthcare. Many of LMIC countries allocate less than 1% of their health budgets to addressing mental illness, making large-scale public health interventions not a practical option, at least for the foreseeable future. Psychiatric services are limited to large urban centres, and mental health literacy is low. There is increasing international recognition of the need to build capacity to strengthen mental health systems in LMICs.The aim of this paper is to offer a reflective commentary on our research undertaken over 15 years in Pakistan psychiatric services to create a workforce and culturally adapted cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) model for LMICs that works for diverse communities served. The exemplar of our work discussed in this article can be used as lessons for developing mental health therapies for LMICs and other countries with diverse communities globally. Our discussion is based largely, if not, on all aspects describing the key barriers and facilitators to implementation of a workable culturally adapted CBT model for use in Pakistan or any similar LMICs. We report on the implementation of culturally adapted CBT in Pakistan over the past 15 years to improve the identified gaps in evidence. We also highlight the successful dissemination strategies our group employed for successful adaption and implementation.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, necessitating comprehensive rehabilitation delivered by multidisciplinary teams. Effective collaboration among Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP), Occupational Therapists (OT), and Physical Therapists (PT) is critical for optimizing functional recovery, yet gaps in awareness and interprofessional readiness may hinder patient outcomes. Objective: To assess the awareness and perceptions of multidisciplinary team approaches in stroke rehabilitation among final-year students of SLP, OT, and PT in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from February to August 2024 among 120 final-year students (40 per group) recruited from allied health programs using purposive sampling. Data was collected via a validated questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and barriers related to multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using SPSS v21, with group-wise comparisons and confidence intervals reported for key outcomes. Results: Most students (90.0%) endorsed the importance of multidisciplinary teams, with OTs demonstrating the highest teamwork perception scores (median 17, IQR: 15–19) and awareness indices (mean 14.3, 95% CI: 13.8–14.7), while PTs showed lower and more variable results (median 13, IQR: 10–15; mean awareness 11.1, 95% CI: 10.2–12.0). Significant differences emerged in perceptions of professional roles and exposure to stroke cases (p < 0.05). Communication problems, role ambiguity, and professional competition were frequently reported barriers. Conclusion: Although awareness of multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation is high, preparedness and interprofessional understanding vary significantly by discipline. Structured interprofessional education and clinical exposure are needed to address gaps and improve collaborative practice in stroke care.

Parenting is an essential part in child’s rearing which directly and indirectly contributes in child’s quality of life and wellbeing. Now a days it is highly significant factor contributing in child’s health across all domains. Children's formative years experiences with regard to parenting have significant impact on their development throughout lifespan. Objective of the study is to describe the consequences of maltreatment on children in all domain of life. Especially, the main focus is psychological wellbeing of child being effected. This study is conducted by analyzing the already published research data from approximately last 3 decades. Qualitative research design is used to describe the data for in-depth analysis. After intensive and in-depth literature analysis it is indicated that parenting has a great impact on child’s life throughout their lifespan. Furthermore, study also give the overview how maltreatment of parent’s effects child throughout their life in terms of emotional, behavioral, relationships and in general psycho-social wellbeing.

The Motive of the research being done for this paper is to increase the importance of the cashless transaction, and it should be adopted by Merchants, Riders, and Customers to make payments at different phases come during Online shopping, which starts from Booking of the order and ends at order received at location. The reason for promoting the cashless transaction through this paper is to firstly provide ease and alternative of making the payment. Then secondly, to digitize and automate the way of making payments. Finally, through digitizing of payments made, the government can able to regulate better each transaction and money transfer, which helps in minimizing the size of the undocumented economy because it mainly runs on paper cash.

Background: Gastrointestinal parasitic infections are one of the global health concerns in developing countries like Bangladesh. Among them, Cryptosporidium spp. plays an essential role in causing diarrhea, malnutrition, and poor cognitive function, especially in children. The study was conducted to identify the frequency of cryptosporidium cases and other parasitic agents. Methods: A Cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 219 hospitalized children with diarrhea. The conventional microscopic technique was applied for parasitic detection. A particular staining procedure was performed to identify oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. And PCR was conducted to determine the SSU rRNA and gp60 gene of Cryptosporidium. Results: Cyst of Giardia, ova of Ascaris lumbricoides (AL), Trichuris trichiura (TT), AL, and TT were identified in 2.3%, 1.4%, 0.5%, and 0.9% samples by wet mount preparation. The distribution of Cryptosporidium spp. was 1.4% and 4.1%, which was detected by the staining method and nested PCR. Factors independently associated with Cryptosporidium infection are unsafe water, lack of regular hand washing, and insufficiency of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions: This is the first report to detect the frequency of Cryptosporidium and other intestinal parasites and associated factors in Chattogram city of Bangladesh.