The recent Pulwama incident has further strained the already tense relationship between India and Pakistan. India's violation of the UN resolution on Kashmir has exacerbated the situation, leaving ...both countries with seemingly no common ground or shared challenges to bring them to the dialogue table and build confidence and trust for a sustainable relationship. This paper proposes a peace-initiating process prioritising cooperation on common environmental challenges to improve bilateral relations between Pakistan and India. Environmental peacebuilding, which focuses on shared ecological challenges and provides a platform for dialogue and cooperation between rival states, has been explored for a couple of years. However, the cooperative dimensions of environmental peacebuilding have yet to be studied in bilateral relations between Pakistan and India. This paper provides a brief qualitative analysis of relations between two countries, highlights the potential for environmental peacebuilding to improve their relationship, and addresses challenges to successfully implementing this approach.
Bibliography Entry
Khan, Omair Farooq. 2023. "Pakistan-India Bilateral Relations and Application of Environmental Peacebuilding." Margalla Papers 27 (1): 155-165.
Objective: To compare the clinical, hematological and biochemical characteristics of patients suffering from delta and non-delta variants of COVID-19. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted ...at Farooq Hospital Westwood Lahore during 1st March 2022 to 31st August 2022. After obtaining informed written consent, nasopharyngeal swabs and 5 ml of blood samples in both EDTA and clotted vacutainers of eighty two infected patients with COVID-19, who were admitted in COVID-19 unit, were collected. The viral nucleic acid was isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs by using a Qiagen nucleic acid extraction kit. RT-PCR was performed to detect the delta variant in COVID-19 infected patients by using SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.617 identification kit. Further hematological and biochemical parameters were performed. Results: We did a comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory characteristic of delta and non-delta COVID19 patients admitted in Farooq Hospital Westwood, confirmed by RT-PCR and found that patients presented with delta variant had more severe disease with significantly more cough, fever, shortness of breath and lower SpO2 at the presentation. The hematological and biochemical markers showed more lymphopenia, greater CRP,Interleukin 6,LDHand ferritin.Hospitalstay of delta variants ofCOVID-19 patients had longer duration as compared to the non-delta COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Delta COVID-19 had more severe disease with more dyspnea, hypoxia, hematological and biochemical parameters abnormalities compared to the non-delta COVID-19 patients. Patients suffering from delta variant of COVID-19 had greater length of hospital stay as compared to the non-delta variant of COVID-19 with more oxygen requirement and more mortality rate.
Background and Objective: COVID-19 can cause severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. With deteriorating disease, most of the patients may require intensive care admission. This study was carried ...out to determine and evaluate the response of Tocilizumab with special reference to C-reactive protein (CRP) in critically ill patients presented to Farooq Hospital, West Wood Lahore.
Methods: This retrospective study included the data of 55 critically ill COVID-19 patients (respiratory rate ≥30, SpO2<93%, oxygen requirement ≥5L/min, PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 mmHg) admitted in Corona unit of Farooq Hospital West Wood Lahore, who were being treated with Tocilizumab alongwith standard treatment protocol between April 27 and June 21, 2020. The data has been retrieved from hospital records after taking appropriate permission and consent. Demographic, clinical features and serum CRP were recorded for each of them, before and after administration of Tocilizumab. Data analysis was done by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 and expressed as frequency and percentages.
Results: Out of 55 patients who were administered Tocilizumab, 72.7% survived whereas 27.3% died. There was higher median reduction of CRP levels in patients who survived (77.5 to 34.9 mg/L) as compared to those who died (65.5 to 45.3 mg/L). There was a statistically significant difference between CRP levels at the time of admission, 72 hours after Tocilizumab was administered (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Tocilizumab administration might be helpful in reducing the complications of cytokine storm in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Mental health Applications (MH Apps) can potentially improve access to high-quality mental health care. However, the recent rapid expansion of MH Apps has created growing concern regarding their ...safety and effectiveness, leading to the development of AETs (Assessment and Evaluation Tools) to help guide users. This article provides a critical, mixed methods analysis of existing AETs for MH Apps by reviewing the criteria used to evaluate MH Apps and assessing their effectiveness as evaluation tools.
To identify relevant AETs, gray and scholarly literature were located through stakeholder consultation, Internet searching via Google and a literature search of bibliographic databases Medline, APA PsycInfo, and LISTA. Materials in English that provided a tool or method to evaluate MH Apps and were published from January 1, 2000, to January 26, 2021 were considered for inclusion.
Thirteen relevant AETs targeted for MH Apps met the inclusion criteria. The qualitative analysis of AETs and their evaluation criteria revealed that despite purporting to focus on MH Apps, the included AETs did not contain criteria that made them more specific to MH Apps than general health applications. There appeared to be very little agreed-upon terminology in this field, and the focus of selection criteria in AETs is often IT-related, with a lesser focus on clinical issues, equity, and scientific evidence. The quality of AETs was quantitatively assessed using the AGREE II, a standardized tool for evaluating assessment guidelines. Three out of 13 AETs were deemed 'recommended' using the AGREE II.
There is a need for further improvements to existing AETs. To realize the full potential of MH Apps and reduce stakeholders' concerns, AETs must be developed within the current laws and governmental health policies, be specific to mental health, be feasible to implement and be supported by rigorous research methodology, medical education, and public awareness.
Background
South Asian (SA) Canadians are disproportionately affected by higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders. SA Canadians with depression report significant barriers to accessing mental ...health care and the highest proportion of unmet mental health needs. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) advocates for culturally and linguistically relevant services for SA Canadians. Culturally adapted cognitive behavior therapy (CaCBT) has shown to be more effective than standard cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Adapting CBT for the growing SA population in Canada will ensure equitable access to effective, culturally-appropriate mental health interventions.
Method
The study used a qualitative design to elicit stakeholder consultation via in-depth interviews. This study is reported using the criteria included in Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ). The analysis follows an ethnographic approach and was informed by the principles of emergent design.
Results
Five themes were identified from the analysis, (i) Awareness and preparation: factors that impact the individual's understanding of therapy and mental illness. (ii) Access and provision: SA Canadians’ perception of barriers, facilitators, and access to treatment. (iii) Assessment and engagement: experiences of receiving helpful treatment. (iv) Adjustments to therapy: modifications and suggestions to standard CBT. (v) Ideology and ambiguity: racism, immigration, discrimination, and other socio-political factors.
Conclusions
Mainstream mental health services need to be culturally appropriate to better serve SA Canadians experiencing depression and anxiety. Services must understand the family dynamics, cultural values and socio-political factors that impact SA Canadians to reduce attrition rates in therapy.
Culinary herbs and spices are primarily known as flavor enhancers, research suggests that black pepper (Piper nigrum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) have now been proven to prevent many ...non‐communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes. Bioactive components of black pepper and turmeric ameliorate glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. The present research was designed to investigate the impact of turmeric and black pepper on blood glycemia, gastrointestinal well‐being, appetite, and palatability. In a randomized crossover study, four iso‐caloric experimental meals each having 50 g of available carbohydrates were subjected to healthy human participants (N = 20). Turmeric and black pepper were incorporated in the breakfast meal, 1 g black pepper (BP), 1 g turmeric (TR), and combination of the (BP + TR) was added in the breakfast. Standard questionnaires were used to evaluate palatability, subjective appetite, and gastrointestinal well‐being. Blood glycemia, subjective gastrointestinal well‐being, and appetite were measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min. Experimental meals BP and BP + TR resulted in lower blood glycemia (p < .05) significantly compared to control meal. A decrease in perceived eating ability and hunger, and an increase in satiety after BP + TR and BP meal was observed. No significant changes were observed after consuming test meals on gastrointestinal well‐being. Compared to control and BP + TR meals, BP and TR meals had considerably lower palatability. Results showed that compared to the control intake of starchy meals supplemented with black pepper and turmeric reduced postprandial glycemia, hunger, and perceived eating ability without affecting gastrointestinal well‐being.
Meal supplemented with black pepper and turmeric reduced postprandial glycemia, hunger, and perceived eating ability without affecting gastrointestinal well‐being.
—
This manuscript displays a detailed investigation on the preparation, characterization and physicochemical properties of poly(
N
-isopropyl acrylamide)-chitosan-poly(
N
-isopropyl ...acrylamide)-poly(acrylic acid) represented as CS-P(NIPAAm-AA). Microgels were synthesized by a one-pot approach using ammonium persulfate (APS) as a redox initiator and
N
,
N
'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. Various techniques such as UV–Vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic laser light scattering (DLLS), dynamic rheology, Ostwald viscometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used in this study. The synthesized microgels were confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. The temperature-dependent behavior of the microgels was assessed through visual observations, DLLS and rheological measurements. Physico-chemical properties such as storage modulus, shear stress, elasticity, dissipation/loss factor, viscosity, and swelling/de-swelling were studied in the terms of rheological measurements and hydrodynamic radii (Rh) of the microgels. The effect of the amount of cross-linker on these parameters at different temperatures in aqueous media was also studied. In addition, TGA was used to monitor the thermal stability of microgels, while for measuring the surface morphology and approximate particle size of the microgel particles the SEM analysis was performed. Various physico-chemical properties of the described polymeric microgels were observed to be affected by the chemical composition of the microgels, the experimental and solution conditions used.
PDF
