Macroeconomic Covariates of Default Risk: Case of Pakistani Non-Financial Firms

Empirical estimation of default probability through structural approach in the context of macroeconomic dynamics turn out be an emerging idea. However, various aspects of these studies are still needs to be explored to make these models more reliable. This study explored the structural model of default risk (Moody’s KMV) application with macroeconomic dynamics in Pakistani non-financial firm’s context and confirm whether Moody’s KMV model of default prediction could be applicable in Pakistan where the markets are highly speculative and stock markets are highly volatile. The study approximate about the expected default frequency (hereafter EDF) of 307 Pakistani non-financial firms, categorized in 12 industries for a span of 8 years from 2004 to 2011. It further check the macroeconomic variables effects on EDF with the use of generalized method of moments (hereafter GMM). Empirical results compared with the real life scenarios over the said years and on the basis of results we infer that Moody’s KMV model can predict default probability in a much better way than traditional ratio based approach

Lumbar Spine Aneurysmal Bone Cyst

An Aneurysmal Bone Cyst (ABC) is a benign, locally aggressive, vascular, and expansile bony tumor of idiopathic etiology containing multiple thin-walled blood-filled channels, mostly diagnosed in pediatric and adolescent age groups. These lesions can cause local pain, pathological fractures, spinal deformity, and neurological deficits. The treatment of choice for ABC is highly debatable according to the literature. The treatment choices are simple curettage and grafting, complete surgical resection with or without prior selective arterial embolization, radiotherapy, or a combination of these procedures according to the case. Each modality is having different outcomes, technical requirements, and complications. We are reporting a case of Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the lumbar spine in a young patient treated by surgery

katG Gene association with Isoniazid Resistance in Multiple Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Background: TB has been announced as a global emergency of this millennium. It is one of the leading causes of death among adults due to a single infectious agent. Pakistan is fifth among the twenty two Eastern Mediterranean Region countries with the highest burden of disease which is approximately 270 per 100,000. The emergence of drug resistant MTB poses a serious threat to the ongoing efforts to control the disease epidemic. Drug resistance to the first line drugs such as Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin (RIF) needs to be investigated. In this respect the role of various genes conferring resistance should be studied to find better treatment alternatives. The current practice of drug sensitivity testing requiring approximately three weeks is time consuming and a major cause of treatment delay. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to sequence the mutations in katG gene which contribute towards INH resistance and to study association of katG gene with INH resistance in MTB. Methods: In this research sputum samples were collected in wide mouth transparent containers from suspected TB patients. After decontamination samples were inoculated onto LJ medium. The colonies grown on the slopes were identified as MTB by standard biochemical test. Isolates were tested on LJ medium for in vitro DST (Drug Sensitivity Testing). MDR was described as resistance to INH and RIF with or without resistance to other drugs. DNA was extracted from the grown samples using kit method. After extraction of DNA, the region from base 2714 to 3232 of katG gene was amplified through PCR and the amplified products were sequenced. Analysis of the DNA sequences and mutations was done with the help of BLAST - alignment software. A total of 24 MDR MTB samples were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed the reported mutation Ser → Thr in katG codon 315 in five samples (21%). In this study, an authentic molecular analysis (test) was developed and validated for identification of INH resistant strains in Pakistani population. Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that mutation of some genes particularly point mutation in codon 315 of katG gene is associated with development of resistance to the drug INH in Multi drug resistant TB.   Key words: isoniazid, multiple drug resistant tuberculosi

Glyphosate: cancerous or not? Perspectives from both ends of the debate

Glyphosate is non-selective herbicide. Studies published in the last decade, point towards glyphosate toxicity. Shikimic acid pathway for the biosynthesis of folates and aromatic amino acids is inhibited by glyphosate. Glyphosate carcinogenicity is still considered to be a controversial issue. The World Health Organizations’ International Agency recently concluded that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Some researchers believed that glyphosate is not linked with carcinogenicity

Insight of Tp53 Mutations and their effect on Protein in Different Feline and Canine Neoplasms

Background: Mutations in the Tp53 gene, a tumor suppressor gene, may cause dysfunction in growing cells and hinder the phenomenon of apoptosis, an alleged cause of tumorigenesis. It is involved in conservation of the genome and DNA repair, mutations of this gene may cause the damaged cells to grow continuously.Methods: The type of molecular changes in Tp53 gene and their effects on physiochemical and structural properties of this protein in various Canine and Feline cancers were observed in this study by using online bioinformatics tools.Results: Our results indicated that lymphomas and perianal adenocarcinomas (PAC) have the same mutation at c. 104, while mammary tumors and canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) contain different mutations. Referring to changes in protein, synonymous mutations in granulomas were observed while certain mutations in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and head & neck tumors were detected in Canis familiaris. In Felis catus, the mutant protein was similar to wild type protein with exception of mutant 5 of mammary tumor, which had a deletion at the 287 amino acid position.Conclusion: The insight gathered on the p53 mutant proteins in both species aided our understanding of the in-vivo fate of the p53 protein and its isoforms and the effects that morphological changes can have on the fate of cells. Furthermore, isolation of this protein may augment our understanding about the structural biology of these proteins

A Short History of Evolution of Indigenous Plants and Medicine System

The importance of plants is well known to us. Life and its growth cannot be imagined without plants. Food for our survival is produced by plants and they also create a healthy and eco-friendly environment to live (Sazada et al., 2009).The use of various parts of different medicinal plants to cure specific ailments has been common from ancient times in India. The indigenous system of medicine namely Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani have been in existence for many centuries. Apart from India, these systems are also prominent in Korea, China, Singapore, West Asia and many other countries. The knowledge of medicinal plants has been inherited traditionally therefore; the utilization of this knowledge has become important for human existence. In the old times, plants were used as remedies for the diseases. The oldest religious book of the World “Rigveda” provides information about the medicinal use of plant “Soma” as a medicinal agent by the Indo-Aryans, which was written between 4000 and 1600 B.C. (Bhattacharjee, 2004).The plant “Soma” is considered to have intoxicating characteristics. This plant is used for sacrificial objectives by Aryans and they also identified its juice as a stimulating beverage (Steiner, 1986). The Aryans also played a vital role in the presentation of therapeutical properties of other medicinal herbs and plants. The knowledge of Aryans about a large number of medicinal plants is demonstrated by the work of Charaka and Sushruta (Kirtikar, 1958).The ancient Indian literature is helpful in driving the current knowledge of using cinchona in malaria, digitalis, strophanthus and physostigma in heart diseases and of quassia as a bitter tonic. The indigenous system of medicine in the Indian sub-continent known as Ayurveda goes back to 700 B.C. and its systematization is attributed mostly to Charaka and Sushruta who have cited about 700 medicinal plants. The book “Sushruta Samhita” compiled in 1000 B.C. includes a comprehensive chapter on herbal therapeutics and contains remarkable information about the use of medicinal plants (Singh and Abrar, 1990)

Neurodegenerative diseases and effective drug delivery: A review of challenges and novel therapeutics

The central nervous system (CNS) encompasses the brain and spinal cord and is considered the processing center and the most vital part of human body. The central nervous system (CNS) barriers are crucial interfaces between the CNS and the periphery. Among all these biological barriers, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) strongly impede hurdle for drug transport to brain. It is a semi-permeable diffusion barrier against the noxious chemicals and harmful substances present in the blood stream and regulates the nutrients delivery to the brain for its proper functioning. Neurological diseases owing to the existence of the BBB and the blood-spinal cord barrier have been terrible and threatening challenges all over the world and can rarely be directly mediated. In fact, drug delivery to brain remained a challenge in the treatment of neurodegenerative (ND) disorders, for these different approaches have been proposed. Nano-fabricated smart drug delivery systems and implantable drug loaded biomaterials for brain repair are among some of these latest approaches. In current review, modern approaches developed to deal with the challenges associated with transporting drugs to the CNS are included. Recent studies on neural drug discovery and injectable hydrogels provide a potential new treatment option for neurological disorders. Moreover, induced pluripotent stem cells used to model ND diseases are discussed to evaluate drug efficacy. These protocols and recent developments will enable discovery of more effective drug delivery systems for brain

Selenium and Salt Interactions in Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.): Ion Uptake, Antioxidant Defense System, and Photochemistry Efficiency

Salinity is a major abiotic stress which limits crop production, especially under rainfed conditions. Selenium (Se), as an important micronutrient, plays a vital role in mitigating detrimental effects of different abiotic stresses. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of Se fertilization on black gram (Vigna mungo) under salt stress. Our results showed that salt stress (100 mM NaCl) in leaves significantly induced oxidative damage and caused a decline in relative water content, chlorophyll (Chl), stomatal conductance (gs), photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), sucrose, and reducing sugars. A low dose of Se (1.5 ppm) significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide content, malondialdehyde formation, cell membrane damage, and also improved antioxidative enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase under salt stress. Se-treated plants exhibited higher Chl, gs, Fv/Fm, sucrose, and reducing sugars than untreated plants in response to salt stress. In addition, Se application enhanced Se uptake and reduced Na+ uptake, but Cl remained unaffected. Our results indicated that a low dose of Se effectively alleviated salt damage via inhibition of Na+ uptake and enhanced antioxidant defense resulting in a significant decrease in oxidative damage, and maintained gaseous exchange and PS II function for sucrose and reducing sugars accumulation in black gram

Paclobutrazol Improves Sesame Yield by Increasing Dry Matter Accumulation and Reducing Seed Shattering Under Rainfed Conditions

Several biotic and abiotic stresses significantly decrease the biomass accumulation and seed yield of sesame crops under rainfed areas. However, plant growth regulators (such as Paclobutrazol) can improve the total dry matter and seed production of the sesame crop. The effects of the paclobutrazol application on dry matter accumulation and seed yield had not been studied before in sesame under rainfed conditions. Therefore, a two-year field study during 2018 and 2019 was conducted with key objectives to assess the impacts of paclobutrazol on leaf greenness, leaf area, total dry matter production and partitioning, seed shattering, and seed yield of sesame. Two sesame cultivars (TS-5 and TS-3) were treated with four paclobutrazol concentrations (P0 = Control, P1 = 100 mg L-1, P2 = 200 mg L-1, P3 = 300 mg L-1). The experiment was executed in RCBD-factorial design with three replications. Compared with P0, treatment P3 improved the leaf greenness of sesame by 17%, 38%, and 60% at 45, 85, and 125 days after sowing, respectively. However, P3 treatment decreased the leaf area of sesame by 14% and 20% at 45 and 85 days after sowing than P0, respectively. Compared with P0, treatment P3 increased the leaf area by 46% at 125 days after sowing. On average, treatment P3 also improved the total biomass production by 21% and partitioning in roots, stems, leaves, capsules, and seeds by 23%, 19%, 23%, 22%, and 40%, respectively, in the whole growing seasons as compared to P0. Moreover, under P3 treatment, sesame attained the highest seed yield and lowest seed shattering by 27% and 30%, respectively, compared to P0. This study indicated that by applying the paclobutrazol concentration at the rate of 300 mg L-1 in sesame, the leaf greenness, leaf areas, biomass accumulation, partitioning, seed yield, and shatter resistance could be improved. Thus, the optimum paclobutrazol level could enhance the dry matter accumulation and seed production capacity of sesame by decreasing shattering losses under rainfed conditions

Utilisation of an operative difficulty grading scale for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background A reliable system for grading operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy would standardise description of findings and reporting of outcomes. The aim of this study was to validate a difficulty grading system (Nassar scale), testing its applicability and consistency in two large prospective datasets. Methods Patient and disease-related variables and 30-day outcomes were identified in two prospective cholecystectomy databases: the multi-centre prospective cohort of 8820 patients from the recent CholeS Study and the single-surgeon series containing 4089 patients. Operative data and patient outcomes were correlated with Nassar operative difficultly scale, using Kendall’s tau for dichotomous variables, or Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. A ROC curve analysis was performed, to quantify the predictive accuracy of the scale for each outcome, with continuous outcomes dichotomised, prior to analysis. Results A higher operative difficulty grade was consistently associated with worse outcomes for the patients in both the reference and CholeS cohorts. The median length of stay increased from 0 to 4 days, and the 30-day complication rate from 7.6 to 24.4% as the difficulty grade increased from 1 to 4/5 (both p < 0.001). In the CholeS cohort, a higher difficulty grade was found to be most strongly associated with conversion to open and 30-day mortality (AUROC = 0.903, 0.822, respectively). On multivariable analysis, the Nassar operative difficultly scale was found to be a significant independent predictor of operative duration, conversion to open surgery, 30-day complications and 30-day reintervention (all p < 0.001). Conclusion We have shown that an operative difficulty scale can standardise the description of operative findings by multiple grades of surgeons to facilitate audit, training assessment and research. It provides a tool for reporting operative findings, disease severity and technical difficulty and can be utilised in future research to reliably compare outcomes according to case mix and intra-operative difficulty