There are about 3285 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Pakistan. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
Early life nutrition is the key modifiable determinant of child growth, development, survival and diseases of adult onset. Pakistan ranks highest for neonatal mortality rate (44.2/1000 live births (LBs)) globally. One third of under-five deaths (74.9/1000 LBs) are attributable to high prevalence of stunting (38%), underweight (23%) and wasting (7%), greatly related to feeding practices. Given the low prevalence of exclusively breast fed (EBF) (48%) and use of minimum acceptable diet (13%), mitigation of early life nutritional risk through promotion of EBF and Young Child Feeding Practices (YCFP) provides a critical window of opportunity for intervention. Secondary Care Hospitals (SCH) of the Aga Khan Health Services Pakistan provide essential maternal and child health services for low-middle income population. Babies born at these SCHs are followed up for vaccination, growth-monitoring and other services at the closely affiliated Family Health Centers (FHCs) run by Lady Health Visitors (LHVs). We aim to examine the effectiveness of a locally designed m-Health application for empowering mothers for child nutritional care as a potentially sustainable approach. The first six months of formative research would identify perceptions, barriers and facilitators for EBF and YCFP using self-determination behavioral theory, among multi-parous pregnant mothers enrolled at three SCHs of Karachi. A randomization trial would be conducted during next 18 months among near-term pregnant women who have access to smart-phones. A culturally appropriate mhealth application called first diet would be developed to provide personalized push messages delivered weekly by the LHVs. Non-intervention group will receive face-face nutritional counselling by the research staff at FHC following routine vaccination and growth-monitoring schedule. Mothers would followed-up from one month prior to expected delivery to child's first birthday. We expect 20% improvement in rates of EBF and YCFP with m-Health intervention. If proven effective, m-health would be incorporated in routine child care provision by LHVs.
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of Ondansetron, Dexamethasone, and Placebo for intraoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing caesarian section under spinal anesthesia. The main question it aims to answer are: Which drug is the best at reducing the incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting. Which drug is the best at reducing intraoperative pain. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups, each will be given a different drug labelled A, B, or C. A rating scale will be used to evaluate the severity of intraoperative nausea and pain. Episodes of vomiting will be recorded. Data collected from the three groups will be analyzed using SPSS software.
The aim of the study is to determine the importance and impact of resistive breathing techniques versus inspiratory hold techniques in patients with chronic bronchitis and specially to find out if there are any changes seen in results measured via the incentive spirometer.
This study is planned to investigate the effectiveness of EMG, RESP, and TEMP Biofeedback Training to reduce symptoms of anxiety among the nursing students from one school, and to determine whether biofeedback training is associated to relax the minds and bodies of the anxious nursing students to cope with the distressing situation. Study subjects meeting the eligibility criteria will be randomized into two groups using randomly generated numbers: the Biofeedback training group and Control group. Biofeedback training will be used as an intervention vs the control. All the study subjects providing the consent to participate will be made to complete the study questionnaires (Demographic, Screening for Anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory -STAI) at baseline and at post-intervention (after 4 weeks).
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disability with physical, social and vocational consequences. Owing to its overwhelming complications, the cost of treatment and rehabilitation increases constantly. Persons with spinal cord injury are always dependent on their families in most of house hold, recreational and activities of daily life. Majority of SCI are incomplete classification C or D as per American spinal injury Association (ASIA). Due to certain spared pathways intrinsic mechanism of neuroplasticity take place in incomplete spinal cord injuries (iSCI) which is liable for natural recovery, but this potential is limited and often slow. Therefore there is need for some advance therapeutic interventions which may enhance neuroplasticity and improve functional recovery in individuals with iSCI. It has been reported that acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) increase neuro plasticity by causing release of spinal serotonin which stimulate serotonin type 2 (5-HT2) receptors that undergoes a series of mechanisms which increase brain derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) which subsequently enhance motor functions of upper and lower limbs in iSCI. Despite of the growing body of literatures supporting that AIH improves both upper limb and lower limb functions along with walking ability and speed. However, their results are limited to small sample size, gender biased and lack of intralimbs assessment. As per the author knowledge, these literatures lack retention effects of AIH on upper and lower limb function. In addition variables like quality of life, disability and some biomarkers related to hypoxic effects have not been reported in any of these studies. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that variant geographic locations and socioeconomic status may affects persons with iSCI differently. So in light of these literature gaps, the author aim is to investigate the effects of AIH in upper and lower limb motor function, balance, quality of life and disability. In addition, the effects of AIH on brain derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), hemoglobin (Hb) level, numbers of RBS and hematocrits will be assessed.
Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification is the most commonly performed procedure in Pakistan. Cataract surgery aims for visual rehabilitation and freedom from all kinds of eyewear. Pre-operative corneal astigmatism greater than 1.0 Diopter is reported in 42% preoperatively and 58%postoperatively after implanting a monofocal intraocular lens(IOL). Visual acuity tended to worsen postoperatively with increased astigmatism4. Different treatment modalities are used to reduce astigmatism, like toric IOL. Limbal relaxing incision, actuate keratotomy, intrastromal rings, Lasik and femtosecond laser. Most of these modalities are expensive, so they cannot be afforded by the patients as Pakistan is a low-income country with a per capita income of US$1,562 (160th worldwide)
According to the definition proposed by the World Health Organization, "stroke is rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (or global) disturbance of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting 24 hours or longer, or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than of vascular origin". Difficulty in walking is present in approximately 80% of stroke survivors. 25% of stroke survivors even after getting rehabilitation have residual gait impairments requiring full assistance after hospital discharge resulting in difficulties in performing basic activities of daily life. Approaches to gait rehabilitation are different based on different models of motor physiology and disease recovery, but most of the approaches are targeting motor impairments during straight walking only as opposed to adaptive walking ability . In order to decrease health care burden effective rehabilitation and prevention is necessary. Multidisciplinary care dedicated for stroke leads to higher independence rates. Conventional gait training regimes including linear parallel bar based gait training and treadmill based gait training protocols do not usually target the angular or rotational component of locomotion. Current study will focus on Unilateral Step Training using a traditional treadmill. This would provide a targeted gait training tool to reduce the risk of fall, improve gait and turning ability and functional activity eventually resulting in greater community participation and involvement in occupational activities. Such an approach could be effective in providing an early targeted and intense training environment similar to task-specific training in contrast to conventional method.
This study is a randomized, blinded, parallel-controlled phase 3 clinical trial. The study intent to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine (LVRNA009) as heterologous booster in participants aged 18 years and older vaccinated 2 doses Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine.
This study will be conducted on patients of mechanical low back pain. Surface electromyography biofeedback driven core stability protocol will be given to experimental group and the control group will be treated with core stabilization regimen. Then it will compare the effects of surface electromyography biofeedback with core stability on postural stability and sensory integration of balance .
Comparison of Spinal Stabilization Exercises Vs Maitland Mobilization Along with Laser Therapy in Non-Specific Low Back Ache