INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDORSING HEALTH SCIENCE RESEARCH

1-7

Authors: Sabeen Ali, Hafsa Habib & Urooba Aslam

Background: Due to lack of active blood donation, Pakistan fails to meet the basic medical requirements. That’s why, to increase the medical facilities and to motivate a sense of humanity, this practice is mandatory. Rigorous aimed advertising and information; ulterior motive and privilege of unpaid healthy volunteer donors for blood are needed for a satisfactory and safe blood and blood components. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional comparative study between medical and non-medical universities. A total of 150 students were recruited. A self-administered questionnaire was used which comprised of 14 questions including demographics (gender, marital status, university, year of study and blood group) and blood donation questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social software (SPSS) version 16. The Statistical test applied was Chi-square Pearson’s test where appropriate P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 150 participants 17(11.26%) were donors and 113(88.08%) were those who didn’t participate in blood donation. Where else, the donors 12 (71 %) belonged to Medical and 5 (29%) from Non-medical, indicating that students with poor knowledge donate the least. Only 53 (43.70%) have some knowledge related to blood donation. Insufficient concept and different fears (needle injury, transmission of blood-borne diseases etc.) were the principal factors discouraging them from donating. The attitude towards blood donation was positive for both groups (Medical and Non-Medical) i.e. (49.95%). But despite this percentage, both groups i.e. (Medical and Non-Medical) showed no willingness towards donating blood. Conclusion: The result of this study conclude that the objective of voluntary blood donation could be more effective if specific donor’s personal information and educational background is obtained, motivation and recruitment strategies must be focused. Administrate donation camps periodically in high-schools would invigorate more students (those having trouble with time and information).

16-22

Authors: Mareeha sheikh & Nazish Iqbal

Background: Vitamin D deficiency recognized as a pandemic problem around the globe. In the last few decades, the incidence of hypovitaminosis D is affected severely in both genders of Pakistan. Due to economical hurdles and sociocultural practices, the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is much higher in females which leads to age-related chronic bone & skeletal deformities. To find out vitamin D profile associated with anthropometric measurement of young healthy Pakistani females. Methodology: 115 healthy female participants were recruited for the study. Demographic profile, physical activity status, dietary habits and anthropometric measurements of participants were collected by means of a questionnaire designed for the study. Participantsto two groups, vitamin D deficient (VDD) group, and vitamin D adequate (VDA) group. Anthropometric measurements of both groups included body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), triceps skinfold (TSF), corrected mid-upper arm muscle area (CMUAMA) and circumference of thigh size, neck size, biceps size and wrist size. Data were analyzed using Microsoft office 2013. A t-test was applied to find out the associations. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: P-value for all anthropometric measurements, was found to be non-significant. Unhealthy dietary habits were much higher in VDD group as compared to VDA group. Thus, it was found that there is a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in young Pakistani females. Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis has great influence on physical activity, anthropometric measurement and dietary intake of an individual.

30-38

Authors: Qadir Bux Baloch, Muhammad Yaqub Mujahid, Sibgha Noreen & Muhammad Iqbal Makhdum

Background: The footprints of zinc dietary nutrient deficiency are resulting in a widespread burden of stunting, wasting and underweight in children under five years, and reproductive development in women over a population of 100 million in Pakistan. The zinc malnutrition could be addressed by consumption of biofortified high zinc wheat flour, a staple food, in complemented with food supplementation, food diversification and food fortification interventions in the country. Methodology: This evidence-based research publication focused on micronutrients malnutrition on human health and capital. Literature was taken from last 20 years papers published in several peers reviewed scientific journals. Papers regarding malnutrition were mainly focused. The primary data was collected from R&D institutions and secondary data from Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2011. Various sites, viz. www.harvestplus.org, www.ifpri.org, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl, http://data.unicef.org: www.fao.org: http://wholibdoc.who.int/publications were also visited. Results: In Pakistan, the recently released biofortified high zinc wheat variety “Zincol-2016” had a higher quantum of 37 mg Zn kg-1 compared to 25.0 mg Zn kg-1 in grain portion in other commercially grown wheat varieties. Upon consuming biofortified wheat flour, zinc concentration increased from 681.3 to 792.3 µg L-1 in human plasma. Furthermore, even an increase in dietary zinc by an amount of 2.0 mg Zn capita-1 day-1 may result in halving the endemic problem of zinc malnutrition, with a little change in food diversity pattern. Conclusion: The consumption of biofortified high zinc wheat variety “Zincol-2016” containing 37 mg Zn kg-1 compared to 25.0 mg Zn kg-1 in conventional wheat varieties could result in alleviating zinc malnutrition to the extent of 50% in the malnourished population. Thereby, it is a potential complementary staple food with other contemporary interventions to address malnutrition in Pakistan.

47-57

Authors: Merina Shakya, Pujan Kranti Kayastha & Huang Jiao

Background: Oral cavity contains heterogenous environment which provides different niches in different environment present in a symbiotic relation. Normal oral flora when getting favorable environment gets attached to the tooth surface. Alteration in this mutualistic association transforms into diseased condition. The oral cavity begins to harbor microflora immediately after birth. Oral cavity harbors about 20 phyla and more than 700 species. The objective of this study is to determine the origin of the microorganisms responsible for dental diseases. Methodology: PUBMED database was searched for the English articles published with the combinations of following search terms: normal oral bacteria, oral bacteria, oral microbiome, dental caries, tooth caries, endodontic infection, and recurrent pulpal infection. Abstracts and also full text was revised to identify the suitable papers that describe the microbiological association of dental diseases which were used. Results: Nosocomial infection has found to be associated with persistent endodontic infection. Thus, proper sterilization and change of instruments and gloves after each procedure for every root canal instrumentation are mandatory to provide clean sterile preparation of the canal. Also, persistent/secondary intraradicular infection associated with Actinomyces species and P. propionicum is treated with surgical procedure only. Therefore bacteriological analysis of the canal helps to determine the efficacy of the endodontic treatment in primary infection, chances of secondary or persistent endodontic infection, and requirement of surgical treatment. Conclusion: Dental diseases are mainly associated with the virulence of different microorganisms present in the oral cavity. After the initiation of disease, exogenous bacteria are attracted to the site. Thus maintenance of proper oral hygiene prevents the transformation of normal flora to a diseased state. If the disease is diagnosed early and treated, it prevents the life-threatening condition.