Monetary Sector Analysis of Bangladesh- Causality and Weak Exogeneity

Money supply can affect both income and price level – which is the baseline theory of monetarist. Keynesians view, on the contrary, is that money does not play an active role in changing income and prices. In reality, change in income causes increased demand for money which changes money stocks, implying that the direction of causation runs from income to money without any feedback. Granger Causality test on Bangladesh economy shows the proof of Keynesian view, i.e. real GDP causes an increase in money supply. Analysis delineates that there is a significant cointegration relationship between real GDP, broad money and CPI. A VECM analysis shows significant error correction terms for both broad money and CPI but not for GDP. Then a weak exogeneity test is done for GDP. This monetary sector analysis proves that GDP is weakly exogenous implying that GDP has a smaller role in short-term adjustments. Keywords: VECM, Monetary Sector, Granger Causality, Weak Exogeneity

The Effect of the ‘Subsidy on Fertilizer’ on Food Prices in Bangladesh and Policy Options

The paper analyzes the effect of ‘Subsidy on Fertilizer’ on the food price indices of Bangladesh. Fertilizer price indices and food price indices are highly correlated all over the world. The regression analysis shows significant positive relation between fertilizer price indices and food price indices. Using the universal parameters (regression coefficients), simulation has been done using the fertilizer price indices with and without subsidy. Results show that without subsidy, food prices would have increased 2.2 times. Results also show that, without subsidy, food prices would have been volatile. The standard deviation of simulated food prices was higher without subsidy than with subsidy. Data shows that in Bangladesh as percentage of total budget and Budget Deficit, cost of subsidy is decreasing. The paper finally ended with some policy options and recommendations. Keywords: Subsidy on Fertilizer, Food price volatility, Subsidy policy.

End stage renal disease: Seroprevalence of hepatitises B and C along with associated aetiology and risk factors in children

Background: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) normally requires dialysis or transplantation for survival. Since ESRD patients are on long term dialysis, infections such as Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are commonly reported.Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at a government hospital during a 12-month period from January 2013 to December 2013. The data was collected using a predesigned pro forma to note the etiology, gender, age, and HBsAg and anti-HCV test result of each patient.Results: 444 children suffering from ESRD were included in our analysis. The mean age of sample was 12.7 ± 4.1 years. Sixty percent (n = 262) of the children were boys. The most common etiology of ESRD was kidney stones (n = 44, 29.3%). HBV was positive in 11 children (2.5%) while HCV was positive in 13 (2.9%).Conclusion: This study asserts the need for carrying out further work to confirm these findings and expand our recommendations. It is imperative to reliably determine the burden of HBV and HCV disease and to determine the aetiology of their spread especially in children with ESRD

Correlation of red cell distribution width with inflammatory markers and its prognostic value in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease

Background. Recent studies have shown red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a marker for severity and prognosis in coronary artery disease patients. Other studies have also correlated RDW with diabetes mellitus and inflammation. However, such correlation and prognosis in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease and diabetes after percutaneous intervention remains unclear. Material and methods. Our study group comprised of 730 subjects including 700 patients (cases) and 30 normal subjects (control group). Patients who presented with coronary artery disease were divided into diabetic and non-diabetic groups. All patients had RDW measured at admission and percutaneous intervention was done. Follow-up for adverse events was carried out between 6 to 12 months. Results. RDW was elevated in patients as compared to control group (p < 0.05). RDW correlated well with inflammatory markers including erythrocyte sedimen­tation rate, C-reactive protein, HbA1c, white blood cells and troponin. RDW was higher with more severe atherosclerosis based on SYNTAX and Gensini scores (p < 0.05). Prognosis was found to be worse in patients with high RDW as well as in diabetics. Conclusions. RDW has positive correlation with other inflammatory marker. It may be used as a marker in determining the severity and prognosis in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease

Improving Entrepreneural Marketing Learning: A Study of Business Graduates, Pakistan

This research aims to investigate the desire of students to be an entrepreneur with respect to the two dimensions of entrepreneurial mindset & satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues i.e. variables using model in department of business administration of university of Sargodha. Investigation was executed on 130 suitable responses. Reliability of scale was tested by means of Cronbach’s Alpha statistic. Correlation investigation was done to study the association among entrepreneurial mindset & satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues (independent variables) and desire to be an entrepreneur. Additionally Regression investigation was done to examine hypothesis. The statistical examination of the study discovered that there is a significant & positive relation among entrepreneurial mindset & desire to be an entrepreneur. Further this research reveals that satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues has greater impact on student’s desire to be an entrepreneur. The study has payed attention on the students of business department. Extra investigation is desired at different department’s level with an increased sample size that will help in increasing its generalizability. This research shows that by giving greater focus on satisfaction with entrepreneurial marketing issues, will ultimately lead to the student’s desire to be an entrepreneur. Training & knowledge of entrepreneurial marketing would make students competent for new startups. This investigation is the pioneer that studies the desire to be an entrepreneur from student’s perspective in Pakistan

Prognostic significance of serum potassium level for major adverse cardiac events and death in patients with coronary atherosclerotic disease

Introduction: Serum potassium levels have been shown in some animal studies to be associated with theprocess of atherosclerosis. We decided to assess the correlation of serum potassium level in ischemic heart diseasepatients with disease severity and its relationship with prognosis in terms of major acute cardiac events (MACE). Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional cohort study carried out at cardiology department of RehmanMedical Institute, from July 2016 to 31st Aug. 2018 a period of 26 months. 622 patients were included in thestudy. Clinical and angiographic characteristics were assessed based on the serum potassium level. Correlation ofserum potassium level with Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery(SYNTAX) and Gensini scores was also evaluated. Follow up for MACE was carried out after one year. Results: Mean serum potassium level was 3.93 ± 0.95 (mEq/l) in coronary artery disease patients. Serumpotassium level showed negative correlation with SYNTAX score (r = –0.60, p < 0.05) and Gensini score(r = –0.64, p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between low and high potassium level in relationto the multi-vessel disease on coronary angiography (p < 0.05). Low potassium level was a good predictor ofadverse outcomes as shown by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that serumpotassium level and diabetes were independent predictors of MACE (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Low serum potassium level is correlated with more severe coronary atherosclerosis. Low potassiumlevels are associated with significantly poor outcomes

Anaerobic Biodegradability and Biomethanation Potential of Fruit-Vegetable Wastes at Sindh, Pakistan

The urban environment of every city of Pakistan has been degraded because of open dumping and burning of organic wastes along with other wastes. The focus of this study was to evaluate the fruit and vegetable wastes for methane generation through biomethanation process. After collection, various parameters such as alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, pH, lignin content, moisture content, total solids, volatile solids, fixed carbon, and elements (C, H, N, O, S) of waste samples were determined by using standard methodology. Anaerobic biodegradability of fruit and vegetable wastes was observed from 54 to 77% and from 59 to 87% along with their methane generation potential in the range of 258-367 NmL /gmVS and 274-407 NmL/gmVS, respectively. Further, the effect of feedstock to inoculum ratio was studied. The result of that showed that lower methane potential at a higher ratio and vice versa was observed. It was concluded that at a lower feedstock to inoculum ratio, fruit as well as vegetable wastes become more feasible for the biomethanation process. The study recommends that the conversion of fruit and vegetable wastes into methane gas by anaerobic digestion plays a significant role to save urban environment of the country

Genomic structure of the rat major AP endonuclease gene (Apex) with an adjacent putative O-sialoglycoprotease gene (Prsmg1/Gcpl1) and a processed Apex pseudogene (Apexp1).

Genomic sequencing and chromosomal assignment of the gene encoding rat APEX nuclease, a multifunctional DNA repair enzyme, were performed. An active Apex gene and a processed pseudogene were isolated from a rat genomic library. The active Apex gene consists of 5 exons and 4 introns spanning 2.1 kb. The putative promoter region of the Apex gene lacks the typical TATA box, but contains CAAT boxes and a CpG island having putative binding sites for several transcription factors, such as Sp1, AP-2, GATA-1 and ATF. A putative O-sialoglycoprotease (a homologue of Pasteurella haemolytica glycoprotease, gcp; abbreviated as Prsmg1/Gcpl1) gene consisting of 11 exons and 10 introns spanning 7.3 kb lies immediately adjacent to the Apex gene in a 5'-to-5' orientation. The Apex gene locus was mapped to rat chromosome 15p12 using in situ hybridization. The processed pseudogene (designated as rat Apexp1) has a nucleotide sequence 87.1% identical to that of the rat Apex cDNA, although several stop codons interrupting the coding sequences and multiple nucleotide deletions were observed. The Apexp1 is located in an inactive LINE sequence. Calculation of nucleotide substitution rates suggests that the immediate, active progenitor of Apexp1 arose 23 million years ago and that the non-functionalization occurred 15 million years ago.</p

Clinical practice guidelines on the management of variceal bleeding

Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding occurs in 30 - 50% of patients of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension, with 20-70% mortality in one year. Therefore, it is essential to screen these patients for varices and prevent first episode of bleeding by treating them with β-blockers or endoscopic variceal band ligation. Ideally, the patients with variceal bleeding should be treated in a unit where the personnel are familiar with the management of such patients and where routine therapeutic interventions can be undertaken. Proper management of such patients include: initial assessment, resuscitation, blood volume replacement, vasoactive agents, prevention of associated complications such as bacterial infections, hepatic encephalopathy, coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia, and specific therapy. Rebleeding occurs in about 60% patients within 2 years of their recovery from first variceal bleeding episode, with 33% mortality. Therefore, it is mandatory that all such patients must be started on combination of β-blockers and band ligation to prevent recurrence of bleeding. Patients who required shunt surgery/TIPSS to control the acute episode do not require further preventive measures. These clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been jointly developed by Pakistan Society of Hepatology (PSH) and Pakistan Society of Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD)

In vitro inhibition of biofilm and virulence factor production in azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans isolated from diabetic foot by Artemisia vulgaris stabilized tin (IV) oxide nanoparticles

The advent of nanotechnology has been instrumental in the development of new drugs with novel targets. Recently, metallic nanoparticles have emerged as potential candidates to combat the threat of drug-resistant infections. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the dreadful complications of diabetes mellitus due to the colonization of numerous drug-resistant pathogenic microbes leading to biofilm formation. Biofilms are difficult to treat due to limited penetration and non-specificity of drugs. Therefore, in the current investigation, SnO2 nanoparticles were biosynthesized using Artemisia vulgaris (AvTO-NPs) as a stabilizing agent and were characterized using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, the efficacy of AvTO-NPs against biofilms and virulence factors of drug-resistant Candida albicans strains isolated from DFUs was assessed. AvTO-NPs displayed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1 mg/mL to 2 mg/mL against four strains of C. albicans. AvTO-NPs significantly inhibited biofilm formation by 54.8%–87%, germ tube formation by 72%–90%, cell surface hydrophobicity by 68.2%–82.8%, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by 69%–86.3% in the test strains at respective 1/2xMIC. Biosynthesized NPs were effective in disrupting established mature biofilms of test strains significantly. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the AvTO-NPs-treated C. albicans could be the possible cause of cell death leading to biofilm inhibition. The useful insights of the present study could be exploited in the current line of treatment to mitigate the threat of biofilm-related persistent DFUs and expedite wound healing