Chronic pain and insomnia are common and unbearable conditions that pointedly affect quality of life of an individual. Traditional pharmacological management usually results in limited long-term benefits and side effects, triggering exploration of non-pharmacological interventions. This experimental study compares effectiveness interventions, yoga and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), for reduction of pain and insomnia severity in pregnant ladies over 8 weeks. Both interventions were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Participants were randomly divided into two groups, Yoga (n=50) and PMR (n=50). Both interventions resulted in significant reductions in pain and insomnia scores, yoga group demonstrated more substantial improvements, with a mean pre-treatment NPRS score of 8.44 ± 1.24 reducing to 1.42 ± 1.10 post-treatment (mean difference = 7.02, p = 0.000) and a mean ISI score of 23.02 ± 2.04 reducing to 10.02 ± 2.05 (mean difference = 13.02, p = 0.000). In contrast, PMR group showed a mean pre-treatment NPRS score of 8.92 ± 1.16, reducing to 5.62 ± 0.91 post-treatment (mean difference = 3.30, p = 0.000) and a mean ISI score of 23.83 ± 1.95 reducing to 16.70 ± 1.28 (mean difference = 7.13, p = 0.000). The study concluded that both interventions are beneficial in pain reduction and insomnia, yoga may offer superior therapeutic advantages in managing pain and insomnia.

Proper patient positioning is important in digital mammography, as even minor deviations can compromise image quality, increase retake rates, and increase radiation exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of conventional versus optimized positioning techniques on image clarity, radiation dose, and retake frequency in women undergoing routine mammographic screening.  This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted for ten months at two tertiary care hospitals in Lahore and included 60 women from 40 to 60 years undergoing digital mammography, by using both conventional and optimized positioning techniques during the same session. Image quality was independently assessed by two blinded radiologists using a standardized 5-point Likert scale and radiation dose per image and retake rates were recorded. Results of study highlighted that optimized positioning significantly improved image quality scores (mean: 4.28 ± 0.51) compared to conventional technique (3.62 ± 0.67; p < 0.001). The rate of images rated as “Perfect” or “Good” increased under the optimized method, particularly in mediolateral oblique views. Although the optimized technique showed a slight, non-significant increase in radiation dose (2.11 ± 0.27 mGy vs. 2.04 ± 0.31 mGy; p = 0.092), it significantly reduced retake rates from 13.3% to 3.3% (p = 0.014). The study concluded that optimized patient positioning enhances image quality and reduces the need for repeat exposures without significantly increasing radiation dose.

Gender equity is important in healthcare academic institutions for operational effectiveness, quality medical education and workforce sustainability; however, professional careers of faculty across the globe is influenced by gender‑based disparities. This qualitative descriptive study explored and compared perceptions and experiences of faculty members regarding gender equality in public and private medical colleges in Punjab, Pakistan. In‑depth semi‑structured interviews were conducted with 19 teaching faculty members from one public and one private medical college through purposive sampling to ensure variation in gender, academic rank, discipline, and years of experience. The interviews were audio‑recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed following Braun and Clarke’s framework of thematic analysis. Data saturation was achieved at the tenth participant in the private sector and the ninth participant in the public sector college. Four major themes named gendered career progression and promotion pathways, workplace culture and implicit gender bias, work–life balance and institutional support, and institutional context and sector‑specific differences emerged. Female faculty members reported promotional delays, inadequate leadership opportunities, and inconsistent household responsibilities, whereas male faculty members outlined gender-based inequities as systemic rather premeditated. Even though public and private colleges differed in governance and administrative structures, gender inequities were reported in both, marked by limited institutional support mechanisms, unclear promotion processes and informal practices across the system. The study by providing context‑specific qualitative evidence concludes that gender equity in healthcare academia is beyond numerical representation of males and females in an institution and requires systemic as well as organizational reforms for implementation of the concept in true spirit.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely prescribed in women of reproductive age, yet their potential effects on ovarian reserve and reproductive endocrine function remain uncertain. Limited data are available from low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, where psychiatric medication history is not routinely incorporated into fertility evaluation. This study aimed to assess the association of SSRI use with ovarian reserve markers and ovulatory function in women undergoing fertility evaluation in Pakistan. The study included 60 women aged 20–40 years visiting four different private sector fertility centers in Lahore, Pakistan, from January to June 2025. Thirty women with major depressive disorder receiving SSRIs for at least 6 months were compared with 30 age-matched women without psychiatric illness or SSRI exposure. Group comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between SSRI use and AMH after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI). Compared with controls, SSRI users had significantly lower mean AMH (1.8 ± 0.6 vs 3.2 ± 0.9; ) and AFC (8.4 ± 2.3 vs 12.1 ± 3.1; ), and significantly higher mean FSH (9.2 ± 2.1 vs 6.8 ± 1.7; ) and prolactin levels (28.4 ± 6.7 vs 19.6 ± 5.3; ). LH and estradiol levels were similar between groups. Ovulation was observed in 56.7% of SSRI users compared with 83.3% of controls (). In multivariable regression, SSRI use remained independently associated with lower AMH (, SE = 0.32, ) after adjustment for age and BMI. SSRI use was associated with lower ovarian reserve markers, higher prolactin and FSH levels, and reduced ovulation in women of reproductive age undergoing fertility evaluation. These findings suggest that SSRI exposure may be linked to altered reproductive endocrine function and warrant further prospective investigation.

Asthma is a persistent inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by episodic breathing obstruction, wheezing and coughing, affecting millions of people across the world. It is characterised by airway inflammation, bronchial hyper responsiveness, and airflow obstruction, which can severely affect a patient’s quality of life. The treatment of CHW includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, such as respiratory therapies that focus on improving lung function and exercise tolerance. This study aimed to compare the effects of Diaphragmatic Stretching and Respiratory Training on lung functions, exercise tolerance, asthma control and shortness of breath in patients with asthma. We randomly assigned 100 participants with mild to moderate asthma to the Diaphragmatic Stretching (n = 50) and Respiratory Training (n = 50) groups. On key outcomes, Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Asthma Control Test (ACT), and Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ), were measured pre-and post-treatment. The results showed more improvement through Diaphragmatic Stretching than Respiratory Training (p=0.003). FEV1 was improved by +0.3 L in the Diaphragmatic Stretching group (p = 0.000) and +0.1 L (p = 0.000) in the Respiratory Training. Likewise, the exploratory outcomes showed better results for Diaphragmatic Stretching for FVC (+0.3 L, p = 0 000), 6MWT (+50 m, p = 0 000), ACT (+3, p = 0 000), and SOBQ (−6, p = 0 000). This shows that Diaphragmatic Stretching could better improve pulmonary function and decrease asthma-related symptoms. Both interventions produced significant improvement for all outcome measures, with Diaphragmatic Stretching demonstrating greater improvement than PR, especially in FEV1, FVC, and dyspnea scores. However, the present study demonstrated that Diaphragmatic Stretching resulted in greater improvements in lung function and exercise tolerance than Respiratory Training, demonstrating that diaphragm-focused exercises seem more beneficial in asthma management. This supports the integration of Diaphragmatic Stretching as a potentially more effective intervention in asthma rehabilitation programs.