Effects of Trade Liberalization on Domestic Prices: Some Evidence from Tunisian Manufacturing

This paper presents estimates of the competitive effects of trade liberalization on domestic pricing behaviour of Tunisian manufacturing industries. The theoretical framework is based on a dynamic flexible adjustment model of price determination in a small open economy. It investigates the process of adjustment in price level toward a desired level. The adjustment process is both industrial and time-specific. The empirical results show that, in the long run, domestic price responds greatly to import penetration, followed by demand pressure. There was a negative effect from import competition on domestic price. Trade policy is a viable policy option to promote competitiveness.dynamic model; domestic price; trade liberalization; panel data; speed of adjustment; Tunisia

Knowledge of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors and coronary intervention among university students

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate knowledge of coronary artery disease (CAD) risks factors and coronary intervention in adult students of Karachi East. To calculate the mean knowledge score about CAD risk factors among them. METHODS: A multi center crossectional study was conducted in Universities and colleges of Karachi East from April-September 2005. Questionnaires were distributed to 200 adult students of different non-medical universities and colleges. The questionnaire contained assessment of knowledge of risk factors on CAD and awareness about coronary angiography. Those belonging to medical colleges and universities were excluded from the study. Knowledge was assessed as a continuous variable. Risk factors for CAD were taken as categorical variables. RESULTS: The mean age of students was 20 yrs +/- 2.2 years and 62% were females. The mean score of knowledge about risk factors of CAD was 11.47 +/- 2.37. Sixty percent students thought that heart diseases are the number one cause of death in our population. Twenty five percent students graded smoking as the top most risk factor for CAD. Twenty five percent students refused to quit smoking for CAD prevention. Forty eight percent students correctly defined coronary angiography. Eighty five percent students thought that cost is the major hindrance in getting timely treatment. Knowledge of fifty percent students was based on personal and family experience of heart disease. CONCLUSION: Students graded smoking as the topmost risk factor for CAD and cost as the major hindrance in getting timely treatment for heart disease. Only half of the students were aware about coronary angiography. The mean knowledge score among them was above the median score but not up to the mark

Increased level of morning surge in blood pressure in normotensives: across-sectional study from Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the mean morning surge (MS) in blood pressure, the frequency of increased morning surge in normotensive subjects, and to compare those with morning surge with those without MS. Study Design: A cross-sectional, comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: The Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2011 to March 2012. Methodology: Adult normotensive healthy volunteers aged 35 to 65 years were inducted. Their ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) was measured over a 24-hour period, using digital ambulatory blood pressure monitors. Morning surge was calculated as the average of four readings after waking minus the lowest three nocturnal readings. Increased morning surge was defined as \u3e 11 mm Hg in systolic (SBP) or \u3e 12 mm Hg in diastolic (DBP). Dipping was defined as \u3e 10% dipping in blood pressure. Results: Eighty-two healthy volunteers were recruited. Their mean age was 36.9 ±1.2 years; 74.4 (61%) were men, and 58.5 (48%) woke up for morning prayers. Mean overall SBP was 113 ±1.6 mm Hg, overall DBP was 73.9 ±0.7 mm Hg, and overall heart rate was 75 (10) beats/minute. Mean morning surge was 17.6 ±1.0 mm Hg in SBP and 16.0 ±0.8 mm Hg in DBP. The frequency of increased morning surge was 66 (80.5%) in SBP, and 57 (69%) in DBP. On comparison of participants with normal morning surge and increased morning surge in SBP, there was a significant difference in nondipping status (13.4% in normal vs. 18.3% in increased morning surge, p= 0.001). Conclusion: Mean morning surge in SBP and DBP are relatively higher in this subset population in a tertiary care center in Pakistan. These values are higher than those reported in the literature

Towards effective management protocols: A transnational review of the state-of-the-art of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proliferated rapidly in Pakistan, adversely affecting every province. The grave repercussions that the pandemic has elicited in Pakistan have evoked a dire need for drastic measures to be employed at both the governmental and provincial levels. Due to the inequitable appropriation of healthcare resources with respect to the various provinces, however, a stark contrast in terms of morbidity and mortality persists. Furthermore, considering that Pakistani citizens constitute a noteworthy proportion of expatriates residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the close proximity of the two countries, due consideration of the situation in the UAE is also warranted. We present a transnational review to delineate the current state-of-the-art in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and evaluate pragmatic management protocols that remain at the epicenter of a national healthcare conundrum

Students’ interpersonal skills and its association with their academic achievement in secondary school of Pakistan

The educational productivity theory directed that students’ variables affect their performance. Therefore, this descriptive correlational study was designed to examine students’ interpersonal skills and its association with their achievement. There were 3,200 high school students participated in this study, selected from 80 high schools of Punjab through multistage random sampling technique. The Interpersonal Skills Scale (ISS) was adapted from DiPerna and Elliott’s Academic Competence Evaluation Scales-Student form (ACES-Student). ISS demonstrated a good internal consistency (coefficient alphas=0.819 and composite reliability=0.845). The results exhibited that students have a competent level of interpersonal skills. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found in female and male students’ perceptions about interpersonal skills, while female have more interpersonal skills than male. Furthermore, ANOVA results concluded that administrative division (location) influences students’ perception of interpersonal skills. It is concluded from the correlational analysis that students’ interpersonal skills are indirectly associated with their achievement because a negative weak relationship was found in students’ interpersonal skills and their achievement as r=0.031, p=0.081. It is suggested that teachers may promote interpersonal skills by integrating cooperative and collaborative learning strategies into their classrooms

Sustainable natural dyeing of cellulose with agricultural medicinal plant waste, new shades development with nontoxic sustainable elements

The synthetic dyes used in textile industry cause severe health and environmental problems. Since production of these colors includes a noteworthy quantity of energy, water, and poisonous chemicals. Therefore, natural dyes from waste provide a significant source of study for the extraction of pigments. To use these natural dyes to its full extent, researchers used mordants to change the hue of the same natural dye and to get a range of shades from same source. Nonetheless, these mordants are toxic in nature. Therefore, to address this issue, in the present study, sustainable and environment friendly natural ingredients are studied to change the hue of the natural cutch dye. The results revealed that these natural ingredients can successfully developed new shades from the same natural dye without any negative effect on the fastness properties of the dyed cotton fabric

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy as a paraneoplastic manifestation of colorectal carcinoma: What do we know?

The pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) remains highly debated among experts. In recent times, literature has divulged a riveting yet plausible association between colorectal carcinoma and CIDP as its paraneoplastic ramification. Initially, research suggested that chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) was caused solely by macrophages. However, recent studies have insinuated towards an alternative pathogenesis, one involving autoantibodies against paranodal junction proteins. These two distinct mechanisms are the primary contenders responsible for the development of CIDP, rendering it an elusive paraneoplastic manifestation of colorectal carcinoma.</p

Association of Quantitative ST- Segment Depression with Early Mortality among Naive Patients of Non- ST- Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Objective: To determine the association of quantitative ST– segment depression with early mortality within 30 day in patients with first non-ST – segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Methodology: This descriptive case series study was conducted at the cardiology department of LUMHS, from October 2016 to March 2017. Patients with NSTE-ACS and positive cardiac biomarkers, patients older than 25 years and both genders admitted to CCU were included. The ST-Segment depression was assessed on 12 lead electrocardiography. The ST segment is the line that starts from the end of the QRS complex (J wave) to the beginning of the T wave. Normally ST segment is straight line and, isoelectric to base line, ST segment depressed below isoelectric line is said ST depression, down sloping or flat depressed ST segments indicate coronary ischemia, more than 0.5 mm ST depression significant for ischemia. All patients were followed for 30-days for early mortality. All information obtained was recorded on the study Performa. Results: A total of 148 cases with acute myocardial infarction were integrated; the patient's average age was achieved as, 42.5±5.43 years, and males were in the majority 96(64%). On electrocardiography, ST-Segment depression was found in 60.13%, which is further divided into 0.5mm, &gt;0.5-0.9 mm, &gt;1-1.9 mm, and &gt;2 mm with percentages of 12.83%, 22.29%, 16.89%, and 8.12%, respectively. Short term mortality was significantly associated with the severity of ST segment depression score (p-value 0.001). Conclusions: In the study conclusion, the severity of ST-Segment depression score was observed to be significantly correlated with short term mortality (30-day) in cases with early NSTE-ACS

Bovine lactoferrin to prevent neonatal infections in low-birth-weight newborns in Pakistan: Protocol for a three-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial

Background: Sepsis is a common and severe complication in premature neonates, particularly those born with low birth weights (\u3c2500 \u3eg). Neonatal sepsis is steadily emerging as a leading cause of neonatal mortality in Pakistan. Lactoferrin is a natural product with broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and glycoprotein that is actively involved in innate immune host responses. Clinical trials have revealed its protective effect on sepsis, but lactoferrin dosage, duration, and role in the prevention of sepsis are still uncertain.Objective: We aimed to establish the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin in the prevention of late-onset sepsis and to determine the optimal dose and method of administering bovine lactoferrin that may contribute to improvement in overall survival of low birth weight infants.Methods: We will implement the study in 2 phases at the Aga Khan University Hospital. The first phase, which we have completed, was formative research. This phase mainly focused on a qualitative exploration of perceptions about feeding and caring practices of low birth weight newborns and a trial of improved practices for the preparation and administration of bovine lactoferrin to newborns. The second phase is a 3-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial. In this phase, we randomly allocated 2 different daily oral prophylactic doses of bovine lactoferrin (150 mg or 300 mg) and placebo to 300 low-birth weight neonates starting within the first 72 hours of birth and continuing for the first 28 days of life.Results: The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Aga Khan University on August 16, 2017. Data collection began in April 2018 and was completed in September 2020. Data analyses are yet to be completed. We expect the results to be published in peer-reviewed journals by autumn of 2021.Conclusions: This intervention, if effective, has the potential to be translated into a safe, affordable, and widely utilized treatment to prevent sepsis and, subsequently, may improve the survival outcomes of low birth weight neonates in Pakistan and other low- and middle-income countries.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03431558; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03431558.International registered report identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/23994