https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2022.11.024

Global emerging Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2: Impacts, challenges and strategies

This study aims to provide estimates, trends and projections of vision loss burden in Pakistan from 1990 to 2025. Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2017) was used to observe the vision loss burden in terms of prevalence and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs). As of 2017, out of 207.7 million people in Pakistan, an estimated 1.12 million (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI] 1.07-1.19) were blind (Visual Acuity [VA] <3/60), 1.09 million [0.93-1.24] people had severe vision loss (3/60≤VA<6/60) and 6.79 million [6.00-7.74] people had moderate vision loss (6/60≤VA<6/18). Presbyopia was found to be the most common ocular condition that affected an estimated 12.64 million [11.94-13.41] people (crude prevalence 6.08% [5.75-6.45]; 61% female). In terms of age-standardized YLDs rate, Pakistan is ranked fourth among other South Asian countries and twenty-first among other 42 low-middle income countries (classified by World Bank), with 552.98 YLDs [392.98-752.95] per 100,000. Compared with 1990, all-age YLDs count of blindness and vision impairment increased by 55% in 2017, which is the tenth highest increase among major health loss causes (such as dietary iron deficiency, headache disorders, low back pain etc.) in Pakistan. Moreover, our statistics show an increase in vision loss burden by 2025 for which Pakistan needs to make more efforts to encounter the growing burden of eye diseases.

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A comprehensive study capturing vision loss burden in Pakistan (1990-2025): Findings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a virus that belongs to the coronavirus family and is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of May 2022, it had caused more than 500 million infections and more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Several vaccines have been produced and tested over the last two years. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, on the other hand, has mutated over time, resulting in genetic variation in the population of circulating variants during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also shown immune-evading characteristics, suggesting that vaccinations against these variants could be potentially ineffective. The purpose of this review article is to investigate the key variants of concern (VOCs) and mutations of the virus driving the current pandemic, as well as to explore the transmission rates of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in relation to epidemiological factors and to compare the virus’s transmission rate to that of prior coronaviruses. We examined and provided key information on SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in this study, including their transmissibility, infectivity rate, disease severity, affinity for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, viral load, reproduction number, vaccination effectiveness, and vaccine breakthrough.

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Biological Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Epidemiological Impact and Clinical Consequences

Ensuring safety and wellbeing of healthcare providers is crucial, particularly during times of a pandemic. In this study, we aim to identify the determinants of anxiety in physicians on duty in coronavirus wards or quarantine centers. We conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey with an additional qualitative item. Five constructs of workload, exhaustion, family strain, feeling of protection, and anxiety were measured using items from two validated tools. Modifications were made for regional relevance. Factor analysis was performed showing satisfactory Cronbach alpha results. Overall, 103 physicians completed the questionnaire. T-test results revealed significant associations between gender and anxiety. Structural equation modeling identified that high workload contributed to greater exhaustion (β = 0.41, R2 = 0.17, p < 0.001) and greater family strain (β = 0.47, R2 = 0.22, p < 0.001). Exhaustion (β = 0.17, p < 0.005), family strain (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), and feelings of protection (β = − 0.30, p < 0.001) significantly explained anxiety (R2 = 0.28). Qualitative findings further identified specific needs of physicians with regard to protective equipment, compensation, quarantine management, resource allocation, security and public support, governance improvement, and health sector development. It is imperative to improve governmental and social support for physicians and other healthcare providers during the corona pandemic. Immediate attention is needed to reduce anxiety, workload, and family strain in frontline practitioners treating coronavirus patients, and to improve their (perceptions of) protection. This is a precondition for patient safety.

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Anxiety amongst physicians during COVID-19: cross-sectional study in Pakistan.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113889

The role of SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins in immune evasion

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8767976

The Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the hACE2 receptor more strongly and escapes the antibody response: Insights from structural and simulation data

Health systems are expected to serve the population needs in an effective, efficient and equitable manner. The factors determining the health behaviors may be seen in various contexts physical, socio-economic, cultural and political. Therefore, the utilization of a health care system, public or private, formal or non-formal, may depend on socio-demographic factors, social structures, level of education, cultural beliefs and practices, gender discrimination, status of women, economic and political systems environmental conditions, and the disease pattern and health care system itself. Policy makers need to understand the drivers of health seeking behavior of the population in an increasingly pluralistic health care system. Also a more concerted effort is required for designing behavioral health promotion campaigns through inter-sectoral collaboration focusing more on disadvantaged segments of the population. The paper reviews the health care providers, the national policies emphasizing health services as well as health care systems in Pakistan and the role of the pharmacist in health care system of Pakistan, health and economics of Pakistan and current budgeting policies and the importance of non government organizations in health care system of Pakistan. Received: 17-052016

Health Care System in Pakistan: A review

Introduction
Pilonidal sinus is a disease affecting the intergluteal region. Many surgical techniques have been described for the treatment of this condition. The objective of this study was to compare Limberg flap technique and primary simple closure in terms of postoperative discharge.
Materials and methods
It was a randomized prospective study conducted at the Department of Surgery—removed for blind review-- from December 2018 to June 2021. Sixty male patients aged 15-30 years presenting with pilonidal sinus for the first time were included in the study. Patients with comorbidities and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class three and above were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into two groups by lottery method. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Chi-square tests were applied. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
The postoperative discharge was found in just five (16.3%) of the patients in group A (Limberg flap technique), while the discharge was present in 12 (40%) of the patients in group B (primary simple closure; p = 0.045).
Conclusion
Limberg flap technique is superior to primary simple closure in terms of postoperative discharge.

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Hira Waris

Papers

The Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the hACE2 receptor more strongly and escapes the antibody response: Insights from structural and simulation data

Health Care System in Pakistan: A review

Comparison of Primary Simple Closure and Limberg Flap Technique in Pilonidal Sinus

OP14 Racial and Ethnic Minority Inclusion in Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA) Research: A Reflection on Current Practices

PCR16 Patient-Reported Outcomes in Opioid Use Disorder (PR-OUD): Recommendations and Barriers in Clinical Trials and Studies