'We need to share our stories': the lives of Pakistanis with intellectual disability and their guardians.

INTRODUCTION: The experiences of Pakistanis with intellectual disabilities (IDs) and their family members have been underexplored empirically. METHOD: The present study sought to address this gap by understanding the lives of five Special Olympics Pakistan athletes and their guardians through PhotoVoice. FINDINGS: Through thematic analysis, we present the primary theme concerning Pakistan's cultural context that provides an empirical exploration of cultural beliefs about intellectual disability, cultural expectations and support received by people with intellectual disabilities and their guardians. DISCUSSION: We discuss implications for research and practice.

Novel compound from Trachyspermum ammi (Ajowan caraway) seeds with antibiofilm and antiadherence activities against Streptococcus mutans: a potential chemotherapeutic agent against dental caries.

AIM: The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize the active compound from Trachyspermum ammi seeds, exhibiting antibiofilm activity against Streptococcus mutans, a major causal organism of dental caries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Purification of the active compound from the seeds was performed by silica gel chromatography, and spectroscopic methods (FTIR, NMR and MS) were employed for its identification and structure determination. Antibiofilm and antiadherence activities of the active compound against S. mutans were analysed. Confocal microscopy was performed to visualize the effect of the compound on biofilm structure of S. mutans. Around 50% reduction was observed in adherence at 39·06 µg ml(-1) and in biofilm at 78·13 µg ml(-1) . It was found effective against adherent cells of S. mutans, reduced water-insoluble glucan synthesis and inhibited the reduction in pH. Confocal microscopy revealed scattered cells at sub-MIC concentration of the compound, resulting in distorted biofilm architecture in contrast to clustered cells seen in control. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a novel compound, a naphthalene derivative, isolated first time from T. ammi seeds with antibiofilm activity against S. mutans. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Trachyspermum ammi represents an interesting source of a novel compound, (4aS, 5R, 8aS) 5, 8a-di-1-propyl-octahydronaphthalen-1-(2H)-one, with a great potential to be used as a therapeutic agent against dental caries.