Impoverished Nations Research Articles

The Impact of Complex Estimates of IFRS-9 on The Proportion of Key Audit Matters (KAM) Disclosures: Evidence from Jordanian Capital Market

This study seeks to provide fresh empirical evidence on the way complex IFRS-9 estimations affect Key Audit Matters (KAM) disclosure in Jordan, an impoverished nation. A robust year-industry fixed-effects OLS regression model has been employed to test the developed hypotheses over the period from 2017 to 2022. The investigation showed a substantial statistical relationship between each IFRS-9 complex estimate category (proxied by financial assets held for trade, sale, or maturity) and KAM proportions. The results concurred with nations that IFRS-9 caused capital market uncertainty. To reduce information asymmetry, auditors provide a large number of KAM in their reports to evaluate and appraise complicated estimations. This research may be utilised to set a financial reporting and disclosure policy for unfavourable scenarios. This study updates policymakers and standard-setters on the impact of ISA-701's KAM disclosure requirement. KAM research is helpful for evaluating confidence interval disclosures, external audits, and KAM disclosures' utility following IFRS implementation. Thus, regulatory agencies, standard-setters, stakeholders, and audit report consumers interested in KAM disclosures and ISA-701 implementation in developing nations could gain from this research. The findings may motivate academia to use similar data to other emerging nations to better understand how reporting KAMs influences audit methods. To author knowledge, this is one of the first empirical research to examine the influence of post-IFRS-9 audit processes and the first to refer to its correlation with KAM disclosures. This study is the first to evidence on the impact of IFRS-complex estimations on KAM proportions. How auditors handle investor protection after IFRS introduction and its extended reporting obligations in underdeveloped economies have received little attention. This study examines audit activity under a weak legal framework, unlike other auditing studies, which are highly regulated.

Dental Robotics – A Game Changer

ABSTRACT Introduction: This systematic review was done to present the role of robots in dentistry. Materials and Methods: The search was conducted using the terms “dental robotics,” “robotic-assisted dentistry,” “robotic surgery in dentistry,” “robotics in dental procedures,” and “automated dental systems.” Results: Out of the 607 publications analyzed, only six were chosen and included in the calculations based on their publication year. Conclusion: Precision and accuracy in robotics are discussed and used in many fields, yet they have limitations. In impoverished nations, robots replacing people is science fiction, always seeking improvement. Therefore, robotic dentistry is a fiction that could become real soon.

Breaking the Taboo: Addressing Menstrual Health Challenges in India

Although, menstrual hygiene is a topic as ancient as mankind, it has recently garnered attention because society is more willing to face its difficulties. Adolescents seldom talk about issues related to menstruation, menstruation disorders, menstrual cleanliness, and customs of their culture. There is little data on the hardships that teenage females bear from menstruation and their social norms. Adolescent health education must include information about menstruation. Menstrual behaviors are often greatly influenced by culture, awareness, and social condition. However, periods, behaviors, and problems are seldom included in health education programs for the younger girls in impoverished nations. International health organizations such as WHO and UNICEF have advised developing culturally responsive menstrual health management (MHM) as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs for the adolescent girls. Without an awareness of the preconceived notions and prejudices that teenage girls in poor nations currently have about menstruation, these programs cannot be implemented. The goal of this review from India was to record the myths that are currently in circulation concerning menstruation, menarche, and other understudied menstrual constraints. Our goal in conducting this review was to characterize and assess the effectiveness of menstruation education programs designed to provide early teenage girls the information and abilities they need to support menstrual health.

Hazardous Effects of Battery Waste and Role of the Battery Waste Management Rule 2022 in Enhancing Energy Efficiency

Replacing batteries in present world is challenging because they are extensively utilised in every facet of human existence. These batteries contain a variety of toxic heavy metals, including as cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc, all of which pose risks to human health and the environment. Improperly disposing of used batteries in landfills leads to the infiltration of toxic heavy metals and other dangerous compounds into the soil and water over time. India’s long-term development has significant challenges in both reducing CO2 emissions and meeting the energy demands of its large population. This has significantly bolstered the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy industries. Battery-based energy storage systems can enhance the management of operational and energy evacuation challenges associated with renewable energy. Consequently, the effective disposal of battery waste is more crucial than battery production. However, it is neglected often, specially in developing and impoverished nations. Three established methods exist for preventing and managing the issues arising from the inappropriate disposal of used batteries. The three R’s are: decrease, replenish, and reuse. This article initially analyses the health and environmental consequences of battery waste, and subsequently highlights the potential of new regulations on battery waste management to effectively handle huge amounts of battery waste and encourage energy conservation.

GAN-Augmented Naïve Bayes for identifying high-risk coronary artery disease patients using CT angiography data

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common cardiovascular disorders affecting millions of individuals globally. It is the leading cause of mortality in both the wealthy and impoverished nations. CAD patients exhibit a wide range of symptoms, some of which are not evident until a major incident occurs. The development of techniques for early detection and precise diagnosis is heavily dependent on research. The proposed system introduces a novel approach, Generative Adversarial Networks Augmented Naïve Bayes (GAN-ANB), to classify high-risk CAD patients using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) imaging data. The database included images from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) records of 5,000 individuals. The developed GAN framework consists of a generator to generate synthetic patient profiles, and a discriminator to distinguish between genuine and synthetic profiles to improve the identification of high-risk CAD patients. Adding synthetic data to the training process allowed the discriminator to be utilized further to improve predictive modeling. The performance of the GAN-enhanced prediction model was assessed using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC). The model exhibited an outstanding Dice Similarity Coefficient (0.91), Mean Intersection Over Union (0.90), recall (0.96), and precision (0.98) in differentiating between high-risk and low-risk individuals. The identification of high-risk patients with CAD is greatly enhanced by the integration of GANs with clinical and imaging data. ROC of 0.99 was achieved by the GAN-ANB model, which outperformed conventional machine learning models, was achieved using the GAN-ANB model. High cholesterol level, diabetes, and some CCTA-derived imaging characteristics, including plaque load and luminal stenosis, were among the major predictors. This method offers a powerful tool for early diagnosis and intervention, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare expenditure.

Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net Campaigns for Malaria Control Considering Prioritization and Equity

Malaria remains a significant public health concern in several developing countries. Tropical weather, coupled with poor environmental and socioeconomic conditions, increases mosquito activity and disease transmission in impoverished nations. The most effective strategy to prevent and control malaria is the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets, or LLINs. Ensuring that LLINs are effectively and equitably distributed to those who need them most is crucial yet challenging, especially since financial and health resources are scarce in endemic countries. Through a real-world case study conducted in the Brazilian Amazon, which accounts for 99% of malaria cases in Brazil, we propose a Malaria Vulnerability Index (MVI). This composite index encompasses epidemiological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Using the MVI, we developed a prioritization-based location-allocation model to maximize the benefits of targeting the most vulnerable municipalities for malaria interventions. Our mathematical model relies on discrete coverage levels, which makes the allocation of LLINs more flexible while ensuring community-wide protection. We also explore the theoretical relationship between our proposed model and classical demand covering problems. Finally, we discuss some approaches to delivering more equitable solutions by minimizing the number of underserved areas. Our results include comparisons between various malaria interventions and provide practical insights. In particular, we show that we can drastically reduce the number of underserved areas without compromising the effectiveness of the LLINs allocation through lexicographic optimization. The results also reveal that with investment levels up to 50% of the ideal, we can fully protect the endemic area after 2 years of successive interventions.

Antibiotic Residue in Milk and Meat Products: A Scientific Overview

The need for food is rising globally as the human population continues to rise. People in better socioeconomic countries have a tendency to substitute meat and high quality items for grains in their diets. Over the past thirty years, there has been a seventy percent increase in their choice of chicken as a protein source. Antibiotics accumulate in animal tissues as a result of overuse and misuse in treating illnesses and fostering animal growth. From there, they enter human bodies through the food chain. This study provides a detailed assessment of comparative studies on the dangers to human health posed by antibiotic residue (AR) in foods, including milk and meat from animal sources. The usage of several veterinary antibiotics in animal farms, which can result in ARs, is the main topic of this review's early section. Later on, there has been a thorough discussion of ARs in dietary items, such as milk and meat. People from underdeveloped and impoverished nations are particularly susceptible to infectious diseases brought on by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, according to review research on the problems with antibiotic use and human health. Towards the conclusion of the review, a few alternative strategies are outlined, taking into account their potential exposure to substitute antibiotics as growth promoters and reducing the prevalence of antibiotic resistant genes. These strategies include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, phytogenic feed additives, and other substances.

The Road Ahead: Advancing Antifungal Vaccines and Addressing Fungal Infections in the Post-COVID World.

In impoverished nations, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a widespread occurrence of deadly fungal diseases like mucormycosis. The limited availability of effective antifungal treatments and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal strains further exacerbate the situation. Factors such as systemic steroid use, intravenous drug misuse, and overutilization of broad-spectrum antimicrobials contribute to the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections caused by drug-resistant fungi. Fungal infections exploit compromised immune status and employ intricate mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. The immune response involves the innate and adaptive immune systems, leading to phagocytic and complement-mediated elimination of fungi. However, resistance to antifungals poses a challenge, highlighting the importance of antifungal prophylaxis and therapeutic vaccination. Understanding the host-fungal immunological interactions and developing vaccines are vital in combating fungal infections. Further research is needed to address the high mortality and morbidity associated with multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens and to develop innovative treatment drugs and vaccines. This review focuses on the global epidemiological burden of fungal infections, host-fungal immunological interactions, recent advancements in vaccine development and the road ahead.

Knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene: a cross-sectional study among high school girls in Mangalore Taluk

Background: Understanding and practicing menstrual hygiene is crucial for women’s health globally. Unsafe menstrual hygiene practices (MHP) contribute to a lower quality of life. In impoverished nations, gender inequity, societal norms, cultural taboos, poverty, and inadequate facilities hinder meeting menstrual health demands. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in Mangalore Taluk, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 482 adolescent girls from government high schools in Mangalore Taluk. A cluster random sampling technique was adopted to select the schools and complete enumeration was done from each school with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed by using SPSS v-23. Descriptive analysis showed frequency and percentage, and logistic regression explored associations between menstrual hygiene practices (MHP) and demographic variables. Results: Out of 482 participants, 82.3% got primary menses information, mostly from mothers (77.8%). About 48.5% had average menstruation knowledge, and 76.8% followed proper MHP. Urban areas showed 4.368 times higher MHP practice than rural areas, revealing a significant relationship. Conclusions: Study finds Mangalore high school girls generally maintain average menstrual hygiene practices. It is very important to set up suitable disposal facilities in schools and to organise awareness campaigns on good menstrual hygiene habits. Thus, it contributes to improving quality of life.

Western Feminism and Indian Feminism: A Comparative Study

Feminism is a comprehensive movement that aims to address diverse manifestations of injustice and promote the rights of women. Despite their diverse nature, women's movements around the world express shared concerns regarding reproductive, political and legal rights. The primary objective of feminism is to emancipate women from various forms of mistreatment and foster global collaboration among women. However, there remains a substantial discrepancy in the quality of life experienced by women in economically impoverished nations in the Global South compared to those in economically prosperous countries in the Global North. Women residing in the economically developed regions of the world known as the Global North tend to benefit from capitalism and the global economy. Conversely, women living in the economically disadvantaged regions of the world known as the Global South typically encounter poverty and challenging working conditions. Indian feminism highlights the equal significance of economically exploitative behaviors, racism and gender discrimination as key issues. Indian feminism is considered more comprehensive than other forms of feminism since it places equal importance on both reproductive and productive responsibilities. The objective of this research is to examine the discrepancies between Western and Indian feminist ideology specifically focusing on the challenges associated with the adoption of Western ideals in India particularly the concept of essentialism. This research also examines the impact of increasing inequality on systems that depend on male involvement as well as the philosophical concerns associated with feminism in both Western and Indian settings. In order to illuminate the intricacies and subtleties present in these two prominent feminist traditions, the study employed a qualitative comparative analysis to emphasize discrepancies in the objectives of feminist groups regarding gender equality and women's empowerment.

A Wireless Network for Monitoring Pesticides in Groundwater: An Inclusive Approach for a Vulnerable Kenyan Population.

Safe drinking water is essential to a healthy lifestyle and has been recognised as a human right by numerous countries. However, the realisation of this right remains largely aspirational, particularly in impoverished nations that lack adequate resources for water quality testing. Kenya, a Sub-Saharan country, bears the brunt of this challenge. Pesticide imports in Kenya increased by 144% from 2015 to 2018, with sales data indicating that 76% of these pesticides are classified as highly hazardous. This trend continues to rise. Over 70% of Kenya's population resides in rural areas, with 75% of the rural population engaged in agriculture and using pesticides. Agriculture is the country's main economic activity, contributing over 30% of its gross domestic product (GDP). The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of monitoring for pesticide residues in surface water and groundwater, coupled with the absence of piped water infrastructure in rural areas. Consequently, contamination levels are high, as agricultural runoff is a major contaminant of surface water and groundwater. The increased use of pesticides to enhance agricultural productivity exacerbates environmental degradation and harms water ecosystems, adversely affecting public health. This study proposes the development of a wireless sensor system that utilizes radio-frequency identification (RFID), Long-range (LoRa) protocol and a global system for mobile communications (GSM) for monitoring pesticide prevalence in groundwater sources. From the system design, individuals with limited literacy skills, advanced age, or non-expert users can utilize it with ease. The reliability of the LoRa protocol in transmitting data packets is thoroughly investigated to ensure effective communication. The system features a user-friendly interface for straightforward data input and facilitates broader access to information by employing various remote wireless sensing methods.

Exploring the novel environmentally friendly dye degradation mechanism of NiO-Polypyrrole polymer nanocomposites in degrading the organic pollutants under sunlight

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="en-AE" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to estimates, around 15-50% of textile dyes fail to adhere to the fabric during the dyeing process, resulting in their discharge into wastewater. This wastewater is often used for agricultural irrigation in impoverished nations which harms plant germination and development. In this study, polymer composites of Polypyrrole (PPy) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanocomposites were synthesized via the hydrothermal method with different concentrations (250 mg, 500 mg, and 75 0mg) and their composite samples were employed as catalysts to degrade the anionic-brilliant blue and the cationic-crystal violet dye under 120 mins of sunlight irradiation. The process of degrading BB and CV dyes utilising nano catalysis was analysed using a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The findings indicate that the degradation of the anionic dye is more efficient than that of the cationic dye under exposure to sunlight. Hence, the presence of NiO NPs and the NiO-PPy nanocomposite significantly impact their photocatalytic activity in degrading BB and CV dyes, achieving an impressive efficiency of around 96.99% and 89.96% respectively. Moreover, its stability has also been studied for over five cycles.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Goal orientations and typology of women entrepreneurs: an empirical study in Gampaha district

Despite making up more than half of the population in Sri Lanka, women's economic engagement is very low. Encouragement of their entrepreneurial endeavours would raise both their level of living and the economy. Knowing their goals, typologies, determinants of the typologies is useful in real-world situations given the growing significance of women entrepreneurs. The majority of studies on entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, however, focus on men with little attention paid to women. This study examines goal orientations, typologies and determinants of the typologies of women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Goal orientations were examined by using push and pull factors. Typologies were recognized based on Goffee and Scase model. Factors affecting on typologies were examined using multinomial logit model. The sample is 150 registered women entrepreneurs in Gampaha district. A simple random sampling method was adopt for the study. Primary data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. It was done by direct interviews and telephone interviews. Result of the survey shows that insufficient family income is the main push factor for venturing into business. From pull factors, its hobby. There weren’t any radical women entrepreneurs in the sample. New typology was identified and named as “Conventional – Innovative”. Majority of the women entrepreneurs are conventional followed by domestic. Least number of respondents belong to new typology. Education is significant with the Innovative typology and Conventional – Innovative typology. Age of the current business is significant with the domestic typology and Innovative typology. Marital status, Number of children, previous employment status is significant with none of the typologies. By conducting a similar study in other districts, we can find out whether there are radical women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka or not. These findings may have immense value for promoting women's entrepreneurship in impoverished nations like Sri Lanka because there is no any similar research in Sri Lanka.

Overview of the Impact of Compost on Bulk Density, Aggregate Consistency and Cation Exchange Capacity of Soils and its Consequential Effect on Crop Productivity

Organic fertilizers offer several advantages over chemical fertilizers and are an environmentally friendly alternative that could help sustainably farmed land. Reviewing indigenous knowledge of the agronomic applications of organic manure and its possible contribution to agricultural growth was the goal of this article. It is evident that organic manures from various plant and animal sources can be used to satisfy certain field needs. However, the use of organic manures is still primarily conventional since they have not been well received by agricultural strategies. When bulky organic manures are directly applied to soil, they accelerate mineralization and reduce the rate at which nutrients, especially nitrogen, are released. Compared to raw resources, which have limited value and certain disadvantages, composting these wastes appears to offer significant potential. The majority of researchers verified that adding compost might enhance the soil's organic matter content, nutrient status, and physical, chemical, and biological properties. Soil organic matter concentrations rise in every long-term compost treatment study. But since they contain more stable carbon than fresh or immature composts, mature composts raise Soil organic matter considerably more effectively. Furthermore, because compost has so many beneficial effects on the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of soil, it helps to stabilize and improve crop quality and yield. As a result, the majority of studies have demonstrated that compost has an equalizing influence on seasonal and annual variations in soil temperature, air, water, and plant nutrient availability, as well as crop yields. mostly due to the nutrients' gradual release and availability in compost-combined fertilization techniques, which frequently yield positive outcomes. Therefore, composting can be a useful choice for building effective plant-nutrient management methods in many settings for sustainable agricultural systems within small-scale farming in impoverished nations.

Desorption Separation Ionization Mass Spectrometry (DSI-MS) for Rapid Analysis of COVID-19.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has witnessed over 772 million confirmed cases and over 6 million deaths globally, the outbreak of COVID-19 has emerged as a significant medical challenge affecting both affluent and impoverished nations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the disease mechanism and to implement rapid detection methods. To address this, we employed the desorption separation ionization (DSI) device in conjunction with a mass spectrometer for the efficient detection and screening of COVID-19 urine samples. The study encompassed patients with COVID-19, healthy controls (HC), and patients with other types of pneumonia (OP) to evaluate their urine metabolomic profiles. Subsequently, we identified the differentially expressed metabolites in the COVID-19 patients and recognized amino acid metabolism as the predominant metabolic pathway involved. Furthermore, multiple established machine learning algorithms validated the exceptional performance of the metabolites in discriminating the COVID-19 group from healthy subjects, with an area under the curve of 0.932 in the blind test set. This study collectively suggests that the small-molecule metabolites detected from urine using the DSI device allow for rapid screening of COVID-19, taking just three minutes per sample. This approach has the potential to expand our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of COVID-19 and offers a way to rapidly screen patients with COVID-19 through the utilization of machine learning algorithms.

A Systematic Review of Denture Stomatitis: Predisposing Factors, Clinical Features, Etiology, and Global Candida spp. Distribution.

Denture stomatitis (DS) is a very common disease in wearers of removable complete and partial dentures with a worldwide prevalence in the range of 20-67%. Both industrially developed and impoverished nations are affected by the illness. DS is often associated with ill-fitting dentures or a fungal infection with Candida spp. Candida is normally found in the oral cavity microbiota, but it can be harmful to the health of elderly people with underlying diseases. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to offer the most recent information about the epidemiology, etiology, and global distribution of Candida species associated with DS through a systematic review. Several databases, including Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, were used to conduct an extensive search of the literature published in the previous 20 years. The selection of studies was performed by two authors. The extracted data were as follows: author, year of publication, country, sample, frequency of DS, method of diagnosing stomatitis, species of Candida, risk factors, and etiology of the disease. The JBI Critical appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of the studies. Eventually, twenty-eight studies were included in the systematic review. Twenty-one studies investigated DS, while seven studies examined Candida colonization in patients using removable dentures. The results show that the main causes of DS include the type of dentures, continuous wearing of dentures, and the formation of a Candida biofilm, which is facilitated by poor dental hygiene. Additionally, previous studies have pinpointed the significance of the salivary flow, saliva composition, and salivary pH. The findings of the current review indicate that it is crucial to monitor denture wearers for the appearance of DS, especially the patients whose immunity has been impaired due to a systemic condition. Finally, frequent follow-ups should include a clinical examination and microbial swabs of the palatal mucosa and the mucosal surface of the denture.

Time to death and its predictors among neonates admitted with sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Northeast Ethiopia.

In impoverished nations like Ethiopia, neonatal sepsis contributes significantly to neonatal mortality. Despite variations in the specific timing of death and predictors of neonatal mortality associated with sepsis across different settings, there's limited documented information in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of northeastern Ethiopia. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine time to death and its predictors among neonates with sepsis admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units in comprehensive specialized hospitals in northeastern Ethiopia. A prospective cohort study conducted at the institution level involved 306 neonates diagnosed with sepsis. Data collection utilized face-to-face interviews and chart reviews. Subsequently, the data were inputted into Epi-data version 4.6 and later analyzed using STATA version 17. The median time to death was determined, and both the Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test were applied. Furthermore, a Cox proportional hazard regression model was utilized to identify predictors of neonatal mortality associated with sepsis. The cumulative incidence of mortality among neonates admitted with sepsis was 34% (95% CI: 28.9%-39.5%). The neonatal mortality rate stood at 51 (95% CI: 42.1, 62) per 1,000 neonates admitted to the intensive care units with sepsis over a total of 1,854 person-days of observation. Additionally, the median time to death was 13 days (IQR = 5-23 days). Tachypnea [AHR 6.2 (95% CI: 1.5-9.7)], respiratory distress syndrome [AHR 2.1 (95% CI: 1.3-3.5)], lethargy [AHR 1.8 (95% CI: 1.2-2.6)], preterm birth [AHR 1.8 (95% CI: 1.2-2.7)], continuous positive airway pressure use [AHR 2.1 (95% CI: 1.3-3.4)], home delivery [AHR 2.63 (95% CI: 1.1-6.4)], Subgalea hemorrhage [AHR 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1-3.9)], and low platelet count [AHR 5.9 (95% CI: 2.3-8.6)] were found to be predictors of time to death in neonates with sepsis. The study revealed an alarmingly high neonatal mortality rate among septic neonates, underscoring the urgency for intervention. Enhancing the quality of care in neonatal intensive care units, bolstering infection prevention during procedures such as continuous positive airway pressure, exercising caution with locally made accessories, and reinforcing a culture of institutional delivery are critical in curbing neonatal sepsis-related mortalities.

Analysis of Vaginal Candidiasis Prevalence Among Bangladeshi Women in Relation to Menstrual Hygiene and Other Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vaginal candidiasis, which is an infection of the female reproductive system, continues to be a leading risk factor of morbidity, which negatively impact the physical and mental health of women worldwide. Despite widespread awareness, vaginal candidiasis is still seen as a minor health issue in many impoverished nations like Bangladesh. This study aimed to examine and evaluate the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis and its association with menstrual hygiene and other risk factors among reproductive-aged women by cross-sectional study. In this research study 37.30% of women (91 out of 244 patients) tested positive with vaginal candidiasis. From this study is was found that patients in their early and peak reproductive years are more susceptible to illness. The highest prevalence was seen among the participants who aged between 15-34 years (33%), which followed by 20.9% patients are between 35-44 years age group and 70.3% of patients were married. The most common symptoms patients faced in this study are irritation and swelling near genital area (24.8%), unusual vaginal discharge (22.6%), itching near genital area (20.4%), pain or burning sensation during urination (16.8%) and painful intercourse (11.7%). Besides, risk factors that caused the disease in patients to be found are, poor menstrual hygiene (35%), unsafe intercourse (38%), non-cotton and unclean undergarment (18.6%), use of over the counter antibiotic (14.2%), diabetes (8%), infected sexual partner (3.4%), STD (3%) and menopause (0.8%). Another major part of the study is to know about the relation between menstrual hygiene and vaginal candidiasis. About 33% of the women use cloth and another 33% use both sanitary napkin and cloth as an absorbent. It is also observed that 74.7% women change the absorbent only about 1-2 times per day. Though, Vaginal Candidiasis is a type of mild infection for most the cases still it needs to be given importance as it can cause troublesome and serious complications such as recurrent infection, candidemia etc.

Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer and other diseases in Swat District, Pakistan

Abstract. Ali S, Munazir M. 2024. Medicinal?plants used?in the management of?cancer?and other diseases in Swat District, Pakistan. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 22: 8-18. The provision of healthcare in impoverished nations is significantly influenced by traditional medicine. It has been revealed that many cancer patients use traditional medicine, either as a complementary therapy or as a primary treatment. Among noncontagious infections, cancer is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to determine the plants that people in the Swat regions, Pakistan used to treat cancer through traditional medicine. Interviewing consenting individuals about the ethno-medicinal plants they use to treat cancer was done using a structured questionnaire. Also, an assessment of the literature published on the mentioned plants was done. Questions about plants used to cure cancer, parts of plants used, the form of cancer cured, therapeutic applications of the plants, and the preparation and administration of the plant parts were posed to the practitioners and the locals. About 12 plants in all, comprising five herbs, three climbers, three trees, and one shrub, were used to treat cancer. About 50% of plants contain flavonoids, compounds with various anticancer properties. Fruits accounted for 41% of all the parts used in the documented species, with leaves coming in second at 25%, bark at 17%, roots at 17%, and the entire plant at 8%. However, the highest RFC was shown by Vitis vinifera L. (0.56), the lowest was shown by Viola biflora L. (0.03), while the highest FL was shown by Hedera nepalensis K.Koch (83), and the lowest was shown by V. biflora (30). According to the study, the gathered plants were used to treat a variety of malignancies: general tumors were treated by 75% of the plants, breast cancer was treated by 17%, and lung cancer was treated by 8%. The reported uses of the medicinal plants from prior ethno-pharmacological studies conducted in Swat regions align well with the traditional uses of the plants mentioned in this study. Therefore, if sufficiently investigated, the Swat district's indigenous herbs used to treat cancer may play key roles in searching for and creating anticancer medications.

Analysis of Vaginal Candidiasis Prevalence Among Bangladeshi Women in Relation to Menstrual Hygiene and Other Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vaginal candidiasis, which is an infection of the female reproductive system, continues to be a leading risk factor of morbidity, which negatively impact the physical and mental health of women worldwide. Despite widespread awareness, vaginal candidiasis is still seen as a minor health issue in many impoverished nations like Bangladesh. This study aimed to examine and evaluate the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis and its association with menstrual hygiene and other risk factors among reproductive-aged women by cross-sectional study. In this research study 37.30% of women (91 out of 244 patients) tested positive with vaginal candidiasis. From this study is was found that patients in their early and peak reproductive years are more susceptible to illness. The highest prevalence was seen among the participants who aged between 15-34 years (33%), which followed by 20.9% patients are from 35-44 years age group and 70.3% of patients were married. The most common symptoms patients faced in this study are irritation and swelling near genital area (24.8%), unusual vaginal discharge (22.6%), itching near genital area (20.4%), pain or burning sensation during urination (16.8%) and painful intercourse (11.7%). Besides, risk factors that caused the disease in patients to be found are, poor menstrual hygiene (35%), unsafe intercourse (38%), non-cotton and unclean undergarment (18.6%), use of over the counter antibiotic (14.2%), diabetes (8%), infected sexual partner (3.4%), STD (3%) and menopause (0.8%). Another major part of the study is to know about the relation between menstrual hygiene and vaginal candidiasis. About 33% of the women use cloth and another 33% use both sanitary napkin and cloth as an absorbent. It is also observed that 74.7% women change the absorbent only about 1-2 times per day. Though, Vaginal Candidiasis is a type of mild infection for most the cases still it needs to be given importance as it can cause troublesome and serious complications such as recurrent infection, candidemia etc.