EXPLORING THE PREVALENCE OF NEUROPATHIC HAND PAIN AMONG YOUNG ADULTS AND ITS IMPACT ON HAND FUNCTION

Background and Aims: To explore the prevalence of neuropathic hand pain in young adults and how it affects hand functionality. Methodology: A convenience sampling was used to conduct a cross-sectional study on 192 medical students aged 18 to 28 years from October 2022 to March 2023. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of neuropathic hand pain in young adults and how it affects hand functionality. Both the Duruoz Hand Index and the Douleur Neuropathique Four Questionnaire were used. Results: This study included 192 participants, the majority of whom were females (84%) and aged 20-24 years. 16.1% of participants reported having had surgery or an injury to their upper limb in the past. Participants described neuropathic pain symptoms such as electric shocks (21.4%), burning pain (18.2%), and painful cold (15.6%). Limitations and Future Implications: A small sample size and a focus on a particular group of medical students may restrict the generalizability of the findings. To improve the generalizability of the findings, future research should replicate these findings using larger sample sizes and diverse populations. Insights into the development and chronicity of neuropathic hand pain in young adults may also come from longitudinal studies. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the prevalence of neuropathic hand pain in young adults and how it affects hand functionality. Female participants were more likely to experience pain and functional hand impairments.

Estimation of Economic Impacts and Adaptation Benefits of Climate Change on Agricultural Production System S in Punjab, Pakistan

The impacts of climate change are extensive on agricultural systems, bionetworks and food security. Global sustainable development is facing serious threats in terms of food security and ecosystem services in the presence of rising population and climatic variation. The development policies must have synergy effect with climate change for the better adaptive capacity of nation. Integrated efforts must be made to formulate the climate adaptations at national and farm level in Pakistan. Currently Pakistan is passing through a thriving phase of climate change threats due to its typical Agro-geo climatic position, and prevalent poverty. This study specifically designed to find climatic vulnerability of cotton wheat cropping system in current time and devise adaptation packages for the farmers to better adapt to climate change. The main objective of this research was to design adaptation options for farmers in current and future time periods to better equip the farm families against climate change. To suggest appropriate policy options that will be helpful for the planning of climate contingencies in agriculture sector. Primary and secondary data have been utilized in this study. Primary data on socioeconomic and crop production variables were collected from 165 farmers located in five districts of South Punjab conducting a comprehensive farm survey. Downscale climate data, crop model (APSIM and DSSAT) simulation outputs and secondary data from global economic models were utilized in the analysis. The Tradeoff Analysis Model for Multi-dimensional Impact Assessment was utilized to find the current and future vulnerability and adaptation benefits for cotton wheat cropping system. For future climatic vulnerabilities different adaptations were compiled in which biophysical, socioeconomic and policy parameters were assessed. Results revealed that for Cotton crop there are high yield reduction due to climate change, as cotton is sensitive to variation in climate. In hot dry and hot wet GCMs reduction is huge as cotton is sensitive to heat shock and increase in temperature at specific stages cause lack of germination of seed or complete death of plant. Wheat is relatively less vulnerable, benefits due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide compensate the losses due to elevated temperature. Yield reductions due to climate change would increase the poverty rate and reduce net farm returns and per capita income of farming community. Current adaptations regarding climatic hazards are increase in cropping intensity, fertigation, efficient irrigation system, import of gene variety, crop insurance, and enterprise diversification. The suggested management interventions would reduce the losses and improve the farm livelihood. Crop insurance and agricultural credit must be insured for farmers to better adapt the climatic extremes. Agricultural policies must be integrated and devised to combat the climatic variations and sustainable resource use with consultation of researchers, farmers, processors and other stakeholders for better implementation. Important adaptation parameters for future adaptations were genetic improvements, draught resistant and heat tolerant varieties, deep tillage, soil and water conservation practices, construction of water storage, efficient irrigation systems, crop diversification, agricultural insurance and farm mechanization (mechanical picker for cotton). For future agricultural system new genetic varieties, improved fertilizers and efficient method of plantation were assessed and substantial improvement were realized for cotton crop but in case of wheat there are less benefits as losses are also low in case of wheat.