Explaining the (non-) causality between energy and economic growth in the U.S.—A multivariate sectoral analysis

The rapidly growing literature on the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth has not univocally identified the real causal relationship yet. We argue that bivariate models, which analyze the causality at the level of the total economy, are not appropriate - especially in cases where both variables do not cover the same scope of economic activity. After discussing appropriate pairs of variables, we investigate Granger causality between energy consumption and GDP in the U.S. for the period from 1970 to 2007 for three sectors - industry, commercial sector, transport as well as for the total economy. The choice of additional variables is based on major findings from the Environmental Kuznets curve literature and its critical reflections. Using the recently developed ARDL bounds testing approach by Pesaran and Shin (1999) and Pesaran et al. (2001), we find evidence for long-run Granger causality for the commercial sector, in case energy is the dependent variable, as well as bi-directional long-run Granger causality for the transport sector. We conclude that controlling for trade as well as increasing energy productivity significantly improves the fit of several extensions of the bivariate model

Gastrointestinal effects of selective and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

PubMed ID: 15892675Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among tne most commonly prescribed group of drugs. Patients receiving NSAIDs often experience abdominal discomfort, and some of them develop serious gastrointestinal complications, such as ulceration, bleeding, perforation, or obstruction. Gastrointestinal side effects of NSAIDs are mostly attributed to cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition resulting in reduction of prostaglandin in gastric mucosa. Topical irritant effects are also contributed to their systemic effect of prostaglandin inhibition. Anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs are mediated by COX-2 inhibition, while COX-1 inhibition is responsible for gastric prostaglandin inhibition. Management of gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDs is costly. In order to prevent or treat the gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDs, anti-ulcer drugs can be used concomitantly. Other alternative is the application or substitution of COX-2 selective inhibitors, which spare gastric mucosal prostaglandin synthesis and do not damage the gastric mucosa. Application of COX-2 selective inhibitors as a first line treatment for arthritic disorders may not be cost-effective, if patients do not have any risk factors including advanced age, history of complicating peptic ulcer, concomitant anticoagulant and corticosteroid medication. Patients with risk factors or those developing gastrointestinal complications during the course of NSAID treatment can be treated with COX-2 selective inhibitors if necessary. © 2005 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd

Cholestatic hepatic injury due to ciprofloxacine [Siprofloksasinin sebep oldugu kolestatik karaciger hasari]

In this report, we present a case of hepatic injury with severe cholestasis thought to be a consequence of a quinolone derivative ciprofloxacine. Symptoms appeared on the 5th day of the drug use and reached the maximum at second week together with the biochemical abnormalities. The liver injury was thought to be due to ciprofloxacine as viral markers and auotoantibodies were negative, and as we could not demonstrate a specific cause pathologically in association with the return of all the biochemical parameters to normal in 3 month. This case merits to be presented from the point that there are only three cases of symptomatic liver injury due to ciprofloxacine in literature and that it demonstrates all the drugs could be hepatotoxic sometimes leading severe symptoms

Evaluation of patients with positive anti-mitochondiral antibody and normal alkaline phosphatase levels for primary biliary cholangitis

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease typically diagnosed by elevated cholestatic liver enzymes and a positive anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA) test. The clinical importance of AMA positivity in patients with normal cholestatic liver enzymes is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between PBC and AMA positivity detected in individuals with normal cholestatic enzyme levels. The files of patients with AMA and/or AMA-M2 positivity between 2009 and 2018 and whose alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were below upper limit of normal (ULN) at initial admission were retrospectively analyzed. The ALP levels were normal in all patients. All patients had AMA positivity demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) or AMA-M2 positivity demonstrated by ELISA. A total of 16 patients underwent liver biopsy and seven (43.75%) showed changes consistent with those with PBC. A total of 12 patients were diagnosed with PBC and were treated and followed up with this diagnosis. People with AMA positivity and normal cholestasis enzyme levels are closely associated with PBC. Some of these patients were diagnosed with PBC as a result of biopsy and some were diagnosed by clinical and laboratory findings during follow-up.. The patients with an AMA titration of 1/20 were not associated with PBC. In our study, results similar to the studies confirmed by biopsies were obtained. In this regard, there is a need for prospective and retrospective studies with longer follow-up periods. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2024, 87, 282-286)

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and refractory ascites [32]

PubMed ID: 11151944[No abstract available