Yasir Waheed

Background/Objectives: Pakistan has not adopted front-of-package warning labels, and no validated, task-based instrument had previously measured nutrition label literacy among Pakistani adults. This study aimed to measure nutrition label literacy among adult grocery consumers in Islamabad, describe performance on individual tasks, identify socio-demographic correlates, and examine whether self-reported barriers differ by measured literacy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 400 adult consumers (73.0% response rate) at six retail sites spanning three socioeconomic tiers in Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, using systematic intercept sampling. Label literacy was measured with a culturally adapted, bilingual Urdu/English version of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS-PK). Socio-demographic correlates were examined with multiple linear and binary logistic regression, and self-reported barriers were ranked and compared across literacy categories. Results: Mean NVS-PK score was 1.89 of 6 (SD = 1.71); 81.0% of participants scored in the limited-or-marginal range and only 19.0% reached adequate literacy. Performance was weakest on arithmetic tasks (14.8–29.2% correct) and strongest on a document-based allergen-identification task (66.8% correct). Educational attainment was the strongest independent correlate: compared with Intermediate education or below, postgraduate participants scored significantly higher (B = 1.64, 95% CI 1.17–2.10, p < 0.001) and had markedly higher odds of adequate literacy (AOR = 8.72, 95% CI 3.88–19.60, p < 0.001). Technical terminology (70.2%) and time pressure (64.0%) were the most reported barriers to label use. Conclusions: Most adults sampled in Islamabad could not adequately use a standard nutrition label, and the deficit was primarily arithmetic rather than reading.

Background/Objectives: School-based nutrition education provides a platform that could help in the promotion of healthy eating habits among adolescents. Nonetheless, information about the factors influencing the success of these interventions in low- and middle- income countries is still lacking. The objective of the study was to identify facilitators and barriers to effective implementation of school-based nutrition education by applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and interpreting findings across levels of the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Methods: A qualitative study was conducted after eight to ten weeks of nutrition education intervention in an urban school setting. Data were collected through two focus group discussions with sixteen students (eight students in each group), in-depth interviews with four teachers, six parents and key informant interviews with two school administrators. A semi-structured, CFIR- and SEM-based guide was used to conduct the data collection. Thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach, with deductive and inductive coding conducted independently by two researchers and reconciled through consensus. Results: Five themes were aligned with CFIR domains, including intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, character of individuals, and implementation process. In general, the stakeholders agreed to the importance of relevance and contextualization of the intervention and the use of multi-mediums (classroom-based and online) to deliver the intervention, which they perceived to support improved knowledge of nutrition among adolescents. Implementation of the programme faced challenges arising from the incongruence between messages delivered in classrooms and those served in the school canteens, economic hurdles from home, cultural practices related to food consumption, social influence on peers and media, lack of time among staff, and largely passive parent participation. Conclusions: Nutrition education was perceived as inadequate on its own to support sustainable behaviour related dietary change. Factors that may influence whether nutrition messages can be translated into practice were identified by the study participants and include the school food environment (canteen), the development of the curriculum, policy integration, and shift in parental participation from passive learning to active collaboration.

Respiratory viral infections, particularly Influenza A and SARS‐CoV‐2, remain major public health concerns in endemic settings such as Pakistan, where high influenza‐like illness burden and limited genomic data underscore the need for surveillance to guide vaccine strategies. This study assessed respiratory virus circulation and genetic diversity among ILI cases at a secondary‐care hospital in Islamabad during the 2025–2026 winter season. Among 170 qRT‐PCR‐tested cases, Influenza A was detected in 24.1%, SARS‐CoV‐2 in 1.17%, and Influenza B was not detected. Influenza A positivity was slightly higher in females (25.0%), with highest burden in individuals aged 11–20 years. Whole‐genome sequencing of 21 Influenza A(H3N2) isolates revealed co‐circulation of subclade K (52.4%), J.2.2 (28.6%), and J.2 (9.5%). Phylogenetic analysis showed subclade K clustering with recent isolates from North America, Oceania, Europe, and WHO‐recommended 2026–2027 Northern Hemisphere H3N2 vaccine strains, whereas J.2 and J.2.2 aligned with earlier vaccine‐like strains. NA analysis showed predominance of clade B.4.2.2 associated with K‐lineage and relatedness to recent North American strains. Subclade K exhibited conserved HA substitutions (K2N, S144N, N158D, I160K, Q173R, T328A) and HA2 S49N with limited variation. No antiviral resistance mutations were detected. Overall, findings demonstrate predominance and genetic stability of H3N2 subclade K and support continuous genomic surveillance for vaccine strain selection and influenza preparedness.

Long non-coding RNAs, often referred to as lncRNAs, consist of RNA molecules that contain more than 200 nt and can be translated into small proteins under

Monkeypox virus is a zoonotic virus of the genus Orthopox viruses. It can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with animals or infected ones. Owing similarity of pathogenesis with smallpox, the same drugs can be used for both viruses, but they are not specific and only help to relieve the symptoms only. Therefore, the absence of antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine highlights an urgent need, especially due to its rapid prevalence. The study screened the library of compounds to retrieve drug-like molecules that can act against monkeypox virus. The highly virulent target gene B8R having uniport ID Q3I8J0 was chosen. Targeting B8R is substantial for global health and can align with SDG 3 and awareness of disease management. The B8R was modelled via Artificial intelligence (AI) AlphaFold method and then exposed to a library of compounds. Complementary interactions in the active site were shown by molecular docking. The Complex-1 had the greatest binding affinity (–8.4 kcal/mol), followed by Complex-2 (–8.1 kcal/mol) and Complex-3 (–7.7 kcal/mol). After 125 ns, Complex-1 reached equilibrium at 7.5 Å RMSD, according to MD simulations, exhibiting stable ligand retention and reliable interactions with crucial residues Gly135 and Lys136. Complex-3 shown intermediate protein stability (6 Å RMSD) but notable ligand fluctuation (48 Å RMSF), while Complex-2 displayed increased protein RMSD (8 Å RMSD) and delayed ligand stabilisation (16 Å RMSF). These results were corroborated by PCA analysis, which showed that Complex-1 exhibits coherent structural development whereas Complex-2 and Complex-3 show scattered and compact trajectories, respectively. Complex-1 promise for Mpox viral inhibition was highlighted by the fact that it was the most stable and dynamically favourable contender overall. The N-terminal follows the folding trend. The insilico analysis not only proposed a potent compound but also provides deep insight into the behavior of protein. The proposed potent compound against this zoonotic virus can be helpful to combat the monkeypox virus by subjecting it further towards experimental investigation.