MANAGEMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) and COLLABORATIVE TEAMS

Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition related to the development of the brain that can lead to persistent challenges with socialization, restricted interests, and repeated behaviour. Diagnosis for ASD is used as a basis of DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder) produced by American Psychiatric Association. ASD is observed in children during early years of life and significantly affects an individual’s wellbeing. Autism has remained a mystery for many specialists and researchers  for years. Although the cause of autism is still unknown, a number of strategies have been developed that have helped so many people around the world to live independently. So far there are no authentic facts for ASD prevalence in Pakistan however the statistics is roughly calculated from South Asia that ASD might be as common in Pakistan as somewhere else around the world. In a country like Pakistan where Autism is still a new phenomenon especially in rural areas, we have very restricted qualified human resources to provide a reliable rehabilitation service for a child with ASD and their family. Apart from that due to inadequate awareness exposure, knowledge, and incompetency in diagnosis, these children go undiagnosed and are mishandled.

Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Novel Derivatives of Organoflourines and Their Metal Complexes

3- tri fluoro methyl aniline and 2-fluoro aniline are used to synthesize a series of Schiff bases and their metal complexes. These fluoro substituted anilines were reacted with salicylaldehyde, 5-bromo salicyldehyde, 3,5 di bromo salicyldehyde, ortho vanillin and 2 hydroxy naphthaldehyde to get fluoro substituted imines. Using these fluoro imines as ligands, their transition metal complexes were synthesized for which copper (II), nickel (II) and zinc (II) were selected for complex formation. Characterization of all of these synthesized compounds was done using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FT-IR, Proton NMR, Carbon NMR and single crystal XRD. The Metal to Ligand ratio in the synthesized metal complexes were estimated using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy). Various biological applications of these synthesized compounds were studied. All of these Organofluorines Ligands and their metal complexes showed good antibacterial activity against various strains of bacteria.Antifungal, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities of these imines and their metal complexes were also studied. The results showed that these compounds have a potential to be used as antifungal and anti-inflammatory agents however poor anticancer activity was showed by these compounds.