An insight into self-medication patterns of analgesics among medical students: a comprehensive analysis of factors and determinants

Background: Self-medication is widely practiced globally as a major form of self-care for pain management. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic, prescription-only drugs are now increasingly being self-prescribed. This study was conducted to study self-medication practices of analgesics and associated factors among medical students of Lahore. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 432 participants. The participants were all current MBBS students (age group=18-25 years) studying in various medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan. Data were analyzed using SPSS. The significance value was set at p<0.05. The study was conducted from September, 2021 to October, 2021. Results: Self-medication practices were found to be high among medical students of Lahore, 296 (68.5%) out of total participants (432). Of all the analgesics, acetaminophen was the most preferred for relief of pain of various etiologies (64.58%). The most common reason of self-medication was headache (50.69%). Reason for self-medication for the majority of study population was that disease was not severe enough and did not merit to consult a doctor (36.34%). Conclusions: Education on self-medication should be introduced at the undergraduate level to create awareness among students. The study also indicates the need for establishing health clinics in universities so that the students may benefit from the professional advice of trained health staff in the clinics rather than practicing self-prescription. Periodic survey about self-medication practices is required to improve awareness, prevent health issues related to adverse drug reactions of self-medication practices, and prevent economic burden on healthcare system in Pakistan.

Genomic characterization of Puccinia triticina using molecular marker technology / Caracterização genômica de Puccinia triticina usando tecnologia de marcadores moleculares

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, is the most common rust disease of wheat. The fungus is an obligate parasite capable of producing infectious urediniospores. To study the genetic structure of the leaf rust population 20 RAPD primers were evaluated on 15 isolates samples collected in Pakistan. A total of 105 RAPD fragments were amplified with an average of 7 fragments per primer. The number of amplified fragments varied from 1 to 12. GL Decamer L-07 and GL Decamer L-01 amplified the highest number of bands (twelve) and primer GL Decamer A-03 amplified the lowest number of bands i.e one. Results showed that almost all investigated isolates were genetically different that confirms high genetic diversity within the leaf rust population. Rust spores can follow the migration pattern in short and long distances to neighbor areas. Results indicated that the greatest variability was revealed by 74.9% of genetic differentiation within leaf rust populations. These results suggested that each population was not completely identical and high gene flow has occurred among the leaf rust population of different areas. The highest differentiation and genetic distance among the Pakistani leaf rust populations were detected between the leaf rust population in NARC isolate (NARC-4) and AARI-11and the highest similarity was observed between NARC isolates (NARC-4) and (NARC-5). The present study showed the leaf rust population in Pakistan is highly dynamic and variable.

A ferrugem da folha, causada por Puccinia triticina, é a ferrugem mais comum do trigo. O fungo é um parasita obrigatório, capaz de produzir urediniósporos infecciosos. Para estudar a estrutura genética da população de ferrugem da folha, 20 primers RAPD foram avaliados em 15 amostras de isolados coletadas no Paquistão. Um total de 105 fragmentos RAPD foram amplificados com uma média de 7 fragmentos por primer. O número de fragmentos amplificados variou de 1 a 12. GL Decamer L-07 e GL Decamer L-01 amplificaram o maior número de bandas (doze), e o primer GL Decamer A-03 amplificou o menor número de bandas, ou seja, um. Os resultados mostraram que quase todos os isolados investigados eram geneticamente diferentes, o que confirma a alta diversidade genética na população de ferrugem da folha. Os esporos de ferrugem podem seguir o padrão de migração em distâncias curtas e longas para áreas vizinhas. Os resultados indicaram que a maior variabilidade foi revelada por 74,9% da diferenciação genética nas populações de ferrugem. Esses resultados sugeriram que cada população não era completamente idêntica e um alto fluxo gênico ocorreu entre a população de ferrugem da folha de diferentes áreas. A maior diferenciação e distância genética entre as populações de ferrugem da folha do Paquistão foram detectadas entre a população de ferrugem da folha no isolado NARC (NARC-4) e AARI-11 e a maior similaridade foi observada entre os isolados NARC (NARC-4) e (NARC-5). O presente estudo mostrou que a população de ferrugem da folha no Paquistão é altamente dinâmica e variável.