In 2017, Pakistan implemented a long-awaited population census since the last one conducted in 1998. However, several experts are contesting the validity of the census data at the sub-national level, in the absence of a post-enumeration survey. We propose in this paper to use demographic analysis to assess the quality of the 2017 census at the subnational level, using the 1998 census data and all available intercensal surveys. Applying the cohort-component method of population projection, we subject each six first-level subnational entities for which data are available to estimates regarding the level of fertility, mortality, international, and internal migration. We arrive at similar results as the census at the national level: an estimated 212.4 million compared to 207.7 million counted (2.3% difference). However, we found more variations at the sub-national level.

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Anagallis arvensis (A. arvensis) belonging to the family Primulaceae is traditionally used for liver and kidney diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the uroprotective and hepatoprotective potentials of A. arvensis in cyclophosphamide-induced interstitial cystitis and paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity rat model, respectively. Nociception, bladder weight, vesical vascular permeability, Gray’s criteria for edema and hemorrhage, and levels of nitric oxide, catalase, and glutathione were estimated and studied in the cystitis model. Liver function test, lipid profile, and histopathological evaluation were carried out in the hepatoprotective activity. Oral administration of methanol extract of A. arvensis significantly reduced bladder weight, vesical vascular permeability, edema, hemorrhage, nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-α, while the level of catalase and glutathione peroxide was increased. In hepatoprotective activity, pretreatment with A. arvensis significantly decreased the level of liver markers (Bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ALP) and lipid profile (cholesterol, TG, LDL, and VLDL). Histopathological studies confirmed the biochemical findings of both studies. GC-MS analysis presented the presence of antioxidant phytoconstituents. Thus, it was concluded that A. arvensis might act as uroprotective and hepatoprotective due to the presence of antioxidant phytochemicals in the rodent model. Isolation and identification of phytochemicals present in the methanol extract of A. arvensis and evaluation of their exact mechanism of action become mandatory in future studies.

Investing in voluntary family planning services andcommodities is a cost-effective intervention for socioeconomicdevelopment. Every dollar spent on familyplanning results in reductions in child and maternaldeaths, returns in savings in other development areas, andenvironmental benefits. Investments in family planningyield demonstrated social and economic returns in allsectors - food, water, health, and economic development.Our analysis suggests that achieving universal access tocontraception could contribute in the long term toachieving some of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). We applied the Family Planning-SustainableDevelopment Goals (FP-SDGs) Model that quantifies thebenefits voluntary contraceptive use offers for realizing 13of the SDG indicators which are related to 7 out of the 17SDGs Goals. The model unravelling the multi-sectoralbenefits of contraceptive use and shows that familyplanning can accelerate progress across the 7 SDG.Further, it shows that family planning does not onlyempower women to choose the number, timing, andspacing of their pregnancies but also touches on manymultisectoral determinants vital to sustainabledevelopment. We show that in the case of Pakistan,without universal access to family planning andreproductive health, the impact and effectiveness of otherinterventions will be less, will cost more, and will takelonger to achieve. In the end, we put some keyrecommendations to prioritize family planning as one ofthe strategic national development investments.

The study was aimed at designing and characterizing the ondansetron hydrochloride (OND) bearing agarose (AG), and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) mucoadhesive buccal films employing glycerol as a plasticizer. The buccal delivery of ondansetron hydrochloride was remarkably boosted by employing physical (iontophoresis) and chemical enhancement approaches (chemical penetration enhancers). To explore the influence of different formulation components, i.e., agarose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and glycerol on various evaluating parameters, i.e., tensile strength, swelling index, ex vivo mucoadhesion time, and subsequently on in vitro drug release, a D-optimal design was opted. A buccal film bearing OND was mounted on bovine buccal mucosa for ex vivo permeation studies and impact of chemical and physical enhancement techniques on the permeation profile was also analysed. A linear release profile was revealed in in vitro drug release of OND over 60 minutes and outcomes ascertained the direct relationship between HPMC content and in vitro drug release and inverse relationship was depicted by AG content. The FTIR and DSC thermal analysis was executed to determine the physicochemical interactions and results exposed no chemical interactions between drug and polymers. The drug (OND) appeared as tiny crystals on smooth film surface during scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. A notable enhancement in permeation flux, i.e., 761.02 μg/min of OND during ex vivo permeation studies was witnessed after the application of current (0.5-1 mA) without any time lag and with enhancement ratio of 3.107. A time lag of 15 minutes, 19 minutes, and 26 minutes with permeation flux of 475.34 μg/min, 399.35 μg/min, and 244.81 μg/min was observed after chemical enhancer pretreatment with propylene glycol, Tween 80, and passive, respectively. Rabbit was employed as the experimental animal for pharmacokinetic studies (in vivo) and cats for pharmacological activity (in vivo), and the results illustrated the enhanced bioavailablity (2.88 times) in the iontophoresis animal group when compared with the rabbits of control group. Likewise, a remarkable reduction in emesis events was recorded in cats of iontophoresis group. Conclusively, the histopathological examinations on excised buccal mucosa unveiled no severe necrotic or cytopathetic outcomes of current.