Jamil Ahmed

Background: Chronic diseases are major contributors to global morbidity, mortality, disability, and healthcare costs. Modifiable lifestyle factors, particularly dietary habits, play an important role in the prevention and progression of non-communicable diseases. Objective: This review critically examines the relationship between nutrition, dietary patterns, lifestyle choices, and the prevention of chronic diseases, with particular emphasis on inflammation, weight management, whole-grain consumption, fruits and vegetables, phytochemicals, precision nutrition, and community-based public health interventions. Methods: A narrative review of the existing literature from Google scholar, PubMed and Scopus was conducted to synthesize evidence on the role of nutrition and dietary lifestyle choices in chronic disease prevention. Results: Current evidence indicates that dietary patterns rich in minimally processed plant foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dietary fiber, healthy fats, and bioactive compounds are associated with reduced risks of several chronic diseases. These dietary components may exert beneficial effects through the modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, metabolic function, vascular health, and the gut microbiota. Sustainable weight management through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity further contributes to improved metabolic health and reduced chronic disease risk. Whole-grain consumption has been associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, colorectal cancer, and mortality. Fruits, vegetables, and phytochemical-rich foods provide essential nutrients and bioactive compounds that may support antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. Conclusions: Healthy dietary patterns and complementary lifestyle behaviors represent important strategies for preventing and managing chronic diseases. Promoting balanced, nutrient-rich, culturally appropriate, and sustainable diets, together with physical activity and supportive community environments, may substantially reduce the global burden of chronic diseases.

Background/Objectives: Early childhood developmental attainment varies across Pakistan, but provincial averages may obscure differences across developmental domains and socioeconomic groups. We examined developmental attainment and associated factors among children aged 36–59 months in four Pakistani provinces. Methods: We analyzed four provincially representative UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) conducted between 2017 and 2020. Development was assessed using the original Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI). Survey-design-based analyses estimated overall and domain-specific prevalence, adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs), and wealth-related inequalities. Province-specific associations were summarized using random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Among 46,067 children, 59.4% met the overall ECDI criteria in Punjab, 54.6% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 47.5% in Sindh, and 39.1% in Balochistan. This ordering persisted after age–sex standardization. Literacy–numeracy was the least frequently attained domain, ranging from 14.6% to 27.2%, whereas physical-domain attainment exceeded 90% in all four provinces. Early childhood education (ECE) attendance was associated with higher overall ECDI attainment (pooled aPR 1.29, 95% CI 1.22–1.37). Stunting and functional difficulty were associated with lower overall attainment, while associations with adult stimulation varied across provinces. Richest–poorest differences in overall ECDI prevalence ranged from 18.8 to 35.6 percentage points. Conclusions: Among children aged 36–59 months in four Pakistani provinces, developmental attainment differed substantially between provinces and across developmental domains, and these differences persisted after age–sex standardization. Socioeconomic inequalities were evident in every province. ECE attendance was associated with higher developmental attainment, but this association should be interpreted cautiously because the surveys were cross-sectional and may be affected by residual confounding and selection into ECE.

Background: Combating antimicrobial resistance and developing dressings that match all aspects of wound healing will always be challenging. Methods: In this study, hydrogel membranes composed of sodium alginate (SA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and Pluronic-f-127 (F-127) loaded with colistin (C) were formulated. The formulations were divided into two groups: group 1 (SA-PVA-C) and group 2 (SA-PVA-F127-C). Results: The membranes were characterized using multiple techniques, which confirmed component compatibility, physical cross-linking, an amorphous structure, and suitable surface morphology with acceptable porosity. Mechanical testing showed that both groups were suitable for wound-dressing applications. Differences in drug release across media (water, normal saline, and phosphate) were non-significant (p value > 0.05). Drug-loaded membranes (n = 3) from both groups showed antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZOI = 20.33 ± 2.51 mm, 21.66 ± 2.08 mm). Conclusions: Overall, the developed hydrogel membranes (both group 1 and group 2) demonstrated promising in vitro potential as colistin delivery systems for wound infection management.