Osteomyelitis of the mandible, a serious complication of untreated odontogenic infection has been reported. This case report describes an interesting presentation of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis (CSO) of the mandible in a 13 years old anaemic male patient. Investigations revealed inversion of his permanent teeth leading to trans-cutaneous extra-oral eruption along with marked destruction of mandible on the affected side. The treatment included a pre surgical course of antibiotics followed by the removal of the retained second premolar tooth, surgical debridement of the affected bone, and resection of the cutaneous sinus tract. The post-operative healing was uneventful. A combination of antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement were effective in the treatment of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis.

PURPOSE: In Pakistan, courses in pharmacy practice, which are an essential component of the PharmD curriculum, were launched with the aim of strengthening pharmacy practice overall and enabling pharmacy students to cope with the challenges involved in meeting real-world healthcare needs. Since very little research has assessed the efficacy of such courses, we aimed to evaluate students' perceptions of pharmacy practice courses and their opinions about whether their current knowledge of the topics covered in pharmacy practice courses is adequate for future practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted over two months among the senior pharmacy students of two pharmacy colleges. A content- and face-validated questionnaire was used to collect data, which were then analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Research in pharmacy practice (30.2%), applied drug information (34.4%), health policy (38.1%), public health and epidemiology (39.5%), pharmacovigilance (45.6%), and pharmacoeconomics (47.9%) were the major courses that were covered to the least extent in the PharmD curriculum. However, hospital pharmacy practice (94.4%), pharmacotherapeutics (88.8%), and community pharmacy practice (82.8%) were covered well. Although 94% of students considered these courses important, only 37.2% considered themselves to be competent in the corresponding topics. Of the participants, 87.9% agreed that the pharmacy courses in the present curriculum should be redesigned. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the pharmacy practice courses in the current PharmD curriculum do not encompass some important core subjects. A nationwide study is warranted to further establish the necessity for remodelling pharmacy practice courses in Pakistan.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Economics, Pharmaceutical ; Education, Pharmacy ; Epidemiology ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Pakistan* ; Pharmacies ; Pharmacovigilance ; Pharmacy* ; Public Health ; Students, Pharmacy*

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to compare the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacy and medical students regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs), as well as their perceptions of barriers to ADR reporting, in a Higher Education Commission-recognised Pakistani university. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year pharmacy (n=91) and medical (n=108) students in Pakistan from June 1 to July 31, 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The responses of pharmacy students were compared to those of medical students. RESULTS: Pharmacy students had a significantly better knowledge of ADRs than medical students (mean+/-SD, 5.61+/-1.78 vs. 3.23+/-1.60; P<0.001). Gender showed a significant relationship to knowledge about ADRs, and male participants were apparently more knowledgeable than their female counterparts (P<0.001). The attitudes of pharmacy students regarding their capability to handle and report ADRs were significantly more positive than those of medical students (P<0.05). In comparison to pharmacy students, a lack of knowledge of where and how to report ADRs was the main barrier that medical students perceived to ADR reporting (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Final-year pharmacy students exhibited more knowledge about ADRs and showed more positive attitudes regarding their capacity to handle and report ADRs than final-year medical students.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pakistan* ; Pharmacovigilance ; Pharmacy* ; Students, Medical* ; Students, Pharmacy

Abstract Since the mid-1980s, the average age of first marriage has risen to roughly 25 years in various East and Southeast Asian countries. Pakistan is one of the South Asian countries where late marriages are becoming more common and therefore exploring the reasons for delayed marriages is worth investigating. Hence, the current study typically focuses on exploring factors undertaken while making decisions for marriage, explaining delayed marriages in Pakistan. Purposive sampling was used to select 14 participants and semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using IPA. The results highlighted key themes which include; physical/personal, financial, familial sociocultural factors, along with key demographic factors (education of women, caste system, and family size). Appearance and effective distinctiveness were also considered important among the personal/physical aspects based themes of the study, while in financial factors, the key codes were inability to find a good match due to financial requirements, dowry, status quo, and comparisons with relatives. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of delayed marriageability in societies with collectivist cultures, like Pakistan. The results of this research will help family counsellors to assist parents on how to make successful decisions timely to end the social problem of late marriages.

COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia. This unusual viral pneumonia is rapidly spreading to all parts of the world, currently affecting about 105 million people with 2.3 million deaths. Current review described history, genomic characteristics, replication, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 with special emphasis on Nigella sativum (N. sativum) as a treatment option. N. sativum seeds are historically and religiously used over the centuries, both for prevention and treatment of different diseases. This review summarizes the potential role of N. sativum seeds against COVID-19 infection at levels of in silico, cell lines and animal models.
Animals ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Nigella ; Pandemics ; Pathology, Molecular ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective: To determine antibiotic resistance patterns and virulence potential of Campylobacter jejuni (. C. jejuni) isolates from clinical human diarrheal infections, cattle and healthy broilers. Methods: Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of C. jejuni isolates were determined by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion assay. These isolates were then subjected to virulence profiling for the detection of mapA (membrane-associated protein), cadF (fibronectin binding protein), wlaN (beta-l,3-galactosyltransferase) and neuAB (sialic acid biosynthesis gene). Further C. jejuni isolates were grouped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling. Results: A total of 436 samples from poultry (. n=88), cattle (. n=216) and humans (. n=132) from different locations were collected. Results revealed percentage of C. jejuni isolates were 35.2% (31/88), 25.0% (54/216) and 11.3% (15/132) among poultry, cattle and clinical human samples respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility results showed that similar resistance patterns to cephalothin was ie. 87.0%, 87.1% and 89%among humans, poultry and cattle respectively, followed by sulfamethoxazole+trimethoprim 40.0%, 38.7% and 31.0% in humans, poultry and cattle and Ampicillin 40%, 32% and 20% in humans, poultry and cattle respectively. Beta-lactamase activity was detected in 40.00% humans, 20.37% cattle and 32.25% in poultry C. jejuni isolates. CadF and mapA were present in all poultry, cattle and human C. jejuni isolates, wlaN was not detected in any isolate and neuAB was found in 9/31 (36%) poultry isolates. RAPD profiling results suggested high diversity of C. jejuni isolates. Conclusions: Detection of multidrug resistant C. jejuni strains from poultry and cattle is alarming as they can be potential hazard to humans. Moreover, predominant association of virulence factors, cadF and mapA (100% each) in C. jejuni isolates from all sources and neuAB (36%) with poultry isolates suggest the potential source of transmission of diverse types of C. jejuni to humans.