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Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic blood disorders in Asia. Consanguineous marriages and avoiding pre-marital and antenatal screening are common in Pakistan due to psychosocial, cultural, and religious factors. Few studies have investigated the beliefs regarding thalassemia, especially in a developing country. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding thalassemia in an urban population.Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan over a period of six months during March 2016 through August 2016. Participants selected by representative sampling were interviewed face-to-face using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four parts. The first part inquired about general demographic variables, while the second part assessed knowledge of the participant regarding thalassemia. The third and fourth parts were concerning the beliefs and practices regarding thalassemia. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics, v. 24.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY).Results: Only 53% (n = 720) of the respondents had heard about thalassemia. The mean knowledge score was 5.8. The total possible score ranged between 0 - 12 with the higher scores indicating better knowledge. About three-quarters (70%) of the sample did not know that an individual can be a carrier of thalassemia. Less than half (38%) of the participants viewed premarital screening for thalassemia as necessary, with only 10% agreeing that thalassemia carriers should not marry. There was no pre-marriage counseling done in 98% of the families. Conclusion: Our study highlights the prevalence of numerous myths and a low level of knowledge regarding thalassemia in an urban population of Pakistan.

Background and objective Micronutrient deficiencies affect adolescents worldwide, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. These deficiencies can lead to significant health and developmental challenges. Understanding the relationship between dietary determinants and micronutrient deficiencies is critical for developing effective interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between micronutrient deficiency symptoms (related to calcium, iron, vitamin A, and zinc), nutritional status, and dietary determinants among adolescents of lower- and upper-middle-class socioeconomic backgrounds. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 230 adolescents aged 13-17 years, with 115 participants each selected from two private schools catering to upper and lower middle socioeconomic populations in Lahore, Pakistan. Socioeconomic status (SES) was measured based on the monthly household income of the participants. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Our study found that 65.5% of participants from the lower-middle socioeconomic background were underweight, compared to 22.6% in the upper-middle socioeconomic group. Micronutrient deficiency symptoms such as easy fatigue (65%), koilonychia (66%), brittle/fragile nails (61%), muscle cramps (53%), and PICA (eating non-food substances) (55%) were significantly more common in the lower-middle socioeconomic group (p<0.05). Lower SES individuals consumed fewer nutrient-dense foods, with 51.3% rarely eating whole grains, and more processed items like carbonated beverages (22.6%) and fried foods (31.3%). Conclusions The study reveals that adolescents from the lower-middle socioeconomic group are more likely to be underweight and stunted, with micronutrient deficiencies linked to reduced consumption of nutrient-rich foods. This highlights the significant role of socioeconomic factors in shaping dietary behaviors and nutritional health.

Recent studies on the removal of pollutants via adsorption include the use of carbon-based adsorbents, due to their high porosity and large surface area; however, such materials lack photoactive properties. This study evaluates the synergistic effect of integrated mesoporous carbon xerogel (derived from resorcinol formaldehyde) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) for combined adsorption and photodegradation application. The complex formed between carbon xerogel and TiO2 phase was investigated through FTIR, proving the presence of a Ti-O–C chemical linkage. The physicochemical properties of the synthesised adsorbent–photocatalyst were probed using FESEM, BET analysis and UV–Vis analysis. The kinetics, equilibrium adsorption, effect of pH, and effect of adsorbent dosage were investigated. The expansion of the absorbance range to the visible range was verified, and the corresponding band gap evaluated. These properties enabled a visible light response when the system was exposed to visible light post adsorption. Hence, an assistive adsorption–photodegradation phenomenon was successfully executed. The adsorption performance exhibited 85% dye degradation which improved to 99% following photodegradation. Further experiments showed the reduction of microorganisms under visible light, where no microbial colonies were observed after treatment, indicating the potential application of these composite materials.

Background and Aim Lubiprostone increases chloride and water secretion in the intestines, and several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of lubiprostone in treating functional constipation. Several new clinical trials have emerged since the previous meta‐analysis conducted in 2020. We conducted this updated meta‐analysis to assess clinical efficacy of lubiprostone in these patients. Methods A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus. Randomized controlled trials published between July 2019 and June 2024 were selected. Cochrane's RoB 2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. A meta‐analysis was performed and findings were presented using forest plots. Results A total of 14 studies, comprising 4550 patients, were included in the review. Only 12 studies were pooled in the meta‐analysis. Lubiprostone was associated with greater spontaneous bowel movements (SBM) per week (RR 1.454, 95% CI 1.193–1.771) and SBM within 24 h (RR 1.790, 95% CI 1.491–2.150) in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). However, it was not associated with abdominal pain in either arm (RR 1.415, 95% CI 0.873–2.294). In opioid‐induced constipation (OIC), lubiprostone increased SBM within 24 h (RR 1.277, 95% CI 1.105–1.475) but did not significantly affect abdominal pain (RR 4.321, 95% CI 0.624–29.941). Lubiprostone improved all selected SBM‐related and abdominal pain outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS‐C). Conclusion Lubiprostone significantly improves all SBM‐related outcomes. Owing to its good safety and efficacy profile, lubiprostone can be used in the combination regimens for management of CIC, IBS‐C, and OIC.

Abstract Disclosure: A. Ullah: None. R. Haider: None. F. Ahmed: None. A. Fayyaz: None. R. Ali: None. K. Aman: None. H. Abid: None. Y. Rasheed: None. I. Nayyab: None. N. Gohar: None. O.M. Kamel: None. T. Mirza: None. M. Abid: None. M. Bakr: None. S. Eltawansy: None. Introduction: Obesity is a significant risk factor for multiple cancers, contributing to significant mortality. This study examines trends in obesity-associated cancer mortality in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020, using age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) stratifying data by demographics and geographics to identify high-risk populations for targeted public health interventions. Methods: CDC WONDER mortality data were analyzed for 33,572 obesity-related cancer deaths (1999-2020). AAMRs per million were calculated, and trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression to determine annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), with statistical significance at p < 0.05. Results: Mortality trends increased from an AAMR of 3.73 (95% CI: 3.45-4.01) in 1999 to 13.52 (13.08-13.97) in 2020 with most of the deaths occuring in medical facilities (47.7%). The overall AAPC was 5.92% (5.23-6.44, p < 0.00001), with a sharp increase from 2018-2020 (APC: 19.37%, 9.59-24.20, p < 0.00001). Gender based analysis revealed that the average AAMR was 7.22 (7.12-7.32) for females with AAPC (5.37%, 4.58-5.98, p< 0.0001) and 6.59 (6.48-6.70) for males with AAPC (6.75%, 6.23-7.24; p < 0.00001). Hispanics had the highest AAPC (6.31%, 3.78-9.29, p < 0.001) with the lowest being in Blacks (5.37%, 4.70-6.05, p < 0.00001). The ≥65 group had a significantly higher AAMR (20.82, 20.52-21.11), peaking at 41.54 (39.82-43.26) in 2020 with an AAPC of (6.26%, 5.39-6.90, p < 0.00001) compared to 25-64 age group. Regionally, the Midwest had the highest AAMR (7.96, 7.79-8.13) with an AAPC (6.01%, p < 0.00001), while the Northeast had the lowest (5.7, 5.54-5.85) with an AAPC (5.56%, p < 0.00001). State-level analysis revealed that Vermont, Minnesota and Oklahoma had AAMRs above the 90th percentile, while Utah, Alabama and Virginia were below the 10th percentile. Both rural and urban areas exhibited increasing mortality trends (AAPC: urban 6.03%, 5.33-6.60; rural 6.98%, 5.97-8.75, p < 0.00001). Conclusion: Obesity-related cancer mortality has risen significantly, with disparities across gender, race, age, and geography. The highest mortality rates were observed in older adults, rural populations, and the Midwest. Females bore a higher burden, and racial minorities, particularly American Indians and African Americans, were disproportionately affected. Given these trends, targeted public health interventions, including preventive measures, early screening, and equitable healthcare access, are pivotal. Presentation: Sunday, July 13, 2025