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Biomedical subjects

A Hafiz

Publications and source records attributed to A Hafiz.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody in pregnant women of Karachi.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of HEV in Karachi. METHODS: Prevalence of hepatitis E antibody in pregnant women was carried out in 65 pregnant women. They had history of acute viral hepatitis while 15 control pregnant women were included having no history of jaundice. RESULTS: The statistical outcome of the present study indicates prevalence of HEV as 57% in pregnant women with jaundice. Majority of the patients (85%) were from lower socio-economic strata., with mean age of 25 years. All these patients had hemoglobin less than 10 gm%. The mean ALT level in HEV positive cases was 452 IU/L over a range of 102-5328. It was also observed that HEV affected more women in the last trimester (62%) and in primigravida (67%). It was observed that it was more common in last trimester and in primigravida. Majority of the patients (85%) were from lower socio-economic strata. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study proved the presence of HEV in pregnant women and confirmed that HEV is endemic in Karachi. The study confirms that it occurs in last trimester and in young adult.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Agriculture and environment.

Agriculture came into existence about 15,000 years ago and passed through different stages of gathering, hunting, hoe culture, and sedentary agriculture, followed by modern agriculture. It began simultaneously in five world centers concentrating on different crops, most suited to the respective areas, and it was affected by changes in climate which determined the distribution of populations and their occupations. With the increase in population, the need for food progressively increased, necessitating introduction of modern agriculture to enhance production. The indiscriminate and faulty use of advanced technology to meet the food demand of fast-increasing populations added to its share to the destruction of the environment. The two approaches that contributed to this were horizontal expansion and vertical expansion. The former resulted in deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, land salting, and water logging, as well as the frequent occurrence of droughts and famines; the latter destroyed the soil structure and fertility through decreased microbial populations, fish culture, wildlife and bird sanctuaries, in addition to producing water and soil pollution and serious health hazards in human beings and fauna. The real culprit of this geobiologic devastation is the population growth rate, which needs to be contained at safer levels.

Agriculture↗