Genetic variation in lipid regulatory genes, particularly APOE, significantly influences the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to assess the association between APOE polymorphism and angiographically assessed coronary stenosis in Pakistani population. A total of 695 subjects (22.3% female, mean age = 54 ± 11 years) presenting with chest pain were enrolled after obtaining w...

Objective: The role of vitamin D has soared to a pinnacle in recent years with functions affecting 229 human genes linked to cardiovascular, autoimmune, humoral, pulmonary and neurological diseases. Relationship between obesity and vitamin D has not as yet been fully established. The objective of the study was to determine the possible relationship between Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorp...

Objective: The role of vitamin D has soared to a pinnacle in recent years with functions affecting 229 human genes linked to cardiovascular, autoimmune, humoral, pulmonary and neurological diseases. Relationship between obesity and vitamin D has not as yet been fully established. The objective of the study was to determine the possible relationship between Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorp...

INTRODUCTION Nutritional rickets is an emergent disease in Spain, and occurs particularly in black and dark-skinned infants and children from immigrant populations. The aim of this work was to ascertain the vitamin D reserve in a population of native and immigrant children under the age of 6 years. POPULATION AND METHODS A prospective study was conducted at a Primary Healthcare Centre in Salt...

OBJECTIVES To determine the extent of shortfall in syringes by measuring the need from nationally validated sources and comparing it with position on the supply side. This was done in order to contribute to the ongoing national discussions that have focused on increasing syringe supply to curtail syringe reuse. METHODS Using 'Injections received' data from the Pakistan Demographic Health Surv...

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders present in all ethnic groups. We investigated the frequency of consanguinity among parents of newborns with IEM diagnosed by neonatal screening. Data were obtained from 15 years of expanded newborn screening for selected IEM with autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, a national screening program of newborns cove...

BACKGROUND Equity in health care across all social groups is a major goal in health care policy. Immigrants may experience more mental health problems than natives, but we do not know the extent to which they seek help from primary health care services. This study aimed to determine a) the rate immigrants use primary health care services for mental health problems compared with Norwegians and b...

A positive deviance (PD) inquiry identifies uncommon, model practices that a follow-on program can spread. PD has been used to rehabilitate malnourished children, but not for improving newborn health. Save the Children Federation/US (SC) conducted newborn PD cycles in communities (total population about 5,000 each) in two project areas in Haripur District, Pakistan among Afghan refugees and amo...

After the deadly floods and earthquakes, more than two third Pakistanis were in urgent need of assistance. Malnutrition and homelessness are continuing threats to the victims of these disasters. The scope of destruction is so wide that instead of huge international donations and governmental efforts for relief and reconstruction, the situation is not healing effectively and the gap is enlarging...

Correspondence to: Dr Jawad M Khan, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK; jawad.khan@ swbh.nhs.uk _________________________ H ypertension, currently defined as a blood pressure . 140 mm Hg (systolic) and/or . 90 mm Hg (diastolic), is a common problem. In a western adult population the prevalence of hypertension exceeds 20%. The prevalence of hypertension incr...