Journal of Women Medical and Dental College

Exploring Gut Phages as a Defense Mechanism Against Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections

Md. Sharifull Islam — 2024-11-26

The human gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem consisting of various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, that contribute to overall health. Among these, bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically target and infect bacteria, playing a critical role in regulating microbial balance within the gut. In recent years, the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections has become a major global health challenge, largely attributed to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. As a result, there has been growing interest in phages as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly in combating drug-resistant infections. Phages offer several advantages, including their ability to selectively target specific bacteria, their rapid replication in the presence of host bacteria, and their potential to minimize disruption to the beneficial gut microbiota. Furthermore, phages may serve as a natural mechanism to restore microbial equilibrium in the gut, providing a novel strategy for treating infections that are difficult to manage with antibiotics. This manuscript examines recent research on gut phages, exploring their potential therapeutic applications, the mechanisms behind their bactericidal action, and their broader implications for human health, particularly in the context of rising antimicrobial resistance.

Prevalence of Depressions and Its Association with Symptoms among Convicted Male Inmates at District Jail Attock

Tariq hassan Tariq hassan — 2024-12-31

Depressive disorders are characterized by sadness, loss of interest, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration. Mental disorders, including depression, are prevalent globally, particularly in prison populations, where conditions exacerbate existing issues. This study aims to assess the level of depression among convicted male prisoners aged 18-50 years in Attock prison using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).The primary objective is to find out the prevalence of depression and examine the association between depression and somatic symptoms and sociodemographic variables. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 109 prisoner samples calculated through Open-Epi and selected through Convenience Sampling with random selection technique. A validated structured questionnaire was prepared which contains three sections i.e. demographic data, somatic symptoms of depression, and BDI. SPSS version 29 was used for data analysis where Chi-square, phi, and p-values were calculated to assess the statistical significance of the association between depression and various factors. A level of p < 0.05 was used to assess significance. The prevalence of depression was Normal (11.9%), Mild-mood disturbance (19.3%), Border-line depression (22.9%), Moderate depression (35.8%), Severe depression (7.3%), and Extreme depression (2.8%).Changes in appetite, lethargy, suicidal thoughts, mood changes, and sleep disturbances were strongly correlated with the severity of depression scores p < 0.05 while others like loss of interest and use of drugs/alcohol show only moderate association. Thus, study findings reveal also that 68.8% of inmates suffer from depression with 22.9% falling in the range of borderline clinical depression. There is an urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce depression rates among prisoners for societal well-being. The BDI proves to be an effective tool for measuring depression in this population.

Comparison of Pregnant Ladies with and without Antenatal Care Booking and its Effect on Maternal and Fetal outcome

Wardah Khan — 2024-12-26

Early Antenatal Care (ANC) introduction and frequent visits lead to favorable mother and fetal outcomes. Pregnant women who attend ANC experience much lower morbidity and mortality rates than those who do not. A cross-sectional study was conducted among women in an age group of 20-40 years who delivered at Jinnah International and Women and Children Hospital Abbottabad from March till August 2024. Women were selected through convenience sampling and interviewed through a self-structured questionnaire. 100 women were recruited with a mean age group of 20-40 years. Out of which 57% of the women received ANC while 43% did not. Antenatal care was significantly associated with better maternal and fetal outcome (p=0.015 and p=0.000) respectively. There was no statistical association between age (p=0.239) and mother’s education (p=0.128) on maternal outcome while iron/folic acid intake (p=0.000) and pregnancy complications (p=0.013) showed a positive association with maternal outcome. In the case of fetal outcome, decreased fetal movements (p=0.003) showed an association with poor outcome while time of delivery (p=0.015) and availability of transport (p=0.000) showed an association with poor fetal outcome. It was concluded that un-booked pregnant females are at a greater risk of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes due to poor antenatal care and late coming of subjects with complications that can result in higher fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity than booked females.

The Trend of Modifiable Risk Factors of Ischemic Heart Disease in Pakistan from 2000 To 2022

Huzaifa Saleem — 2024-11-11

Ischemic Heart Disease is the leading cause of mortality in Pakistan. It is cause by myocardial ischemia. Most cases of myocardial ischemia are as a result of coronary artery atherosclerosis. There are Modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors of atherosclerosis. Here we discuss the trend of modifiable risk factors in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022. A Secondary analysis was conducted to find the trend of Modifiable risk factors and its relation with ischemic heart disease in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022. For this purpose, Literature review was performed using google scholar and PubMed, Data on trends of these risk factors was obtained from WHO Pakistan website. The trend of modifiable factors of ischemic heart disease, namely Tobacco smoking, Obesity, Alcohol consumption and Hypertension has been increasing in Pakistan, except for Tobacco smoking. Proper preventive measures must be taken to counter this specific death rate. This may include mass Health education, Health promotion, Dietary changes, and lifestyle changes.

Brief Overview of Myeloid and Lymphoid Neoplasia: A Review Article

Huzaifa Saleem — 2024-12-31

Bone marrow neoplasia is a wide and diverse topic. Especially lymphoid and myeloid neoplasia, there is potential for confusion between them and their subtypes. This article aims to provides educational clarity and differentiation between lymphoid and myeloid neoplasia along with some of their subtypes. I searched databases like PubMed and Web of sciences along with the help of a reference book, Robins Basic pathology to achieve this goal. Articles were selected using a convenience sampling method without strict inclusion or exclusion criteria.