The COVID-19 pandemic and stock market performance of transportation and travel services firms: a cross-country study

This paper examined the firm-specific abnormal returns of transportation and travel services sectors from the USA, UK, France, China, India, Mexico, Turkey, and Thailand in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) using event study methodology. Our results revealed that investors in developed countries provide significant long term abnormal returns for the first 101 days. Furthermore, no significant cumulative average abnormal returns (CAAR) were found in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, travel restrictions, lockdown, stimulus package, and historical decline in oil prices except in the case of the USA. It is concluded that with the gradual increase in new cases and deaths, abnormal returns are also adjusted, making the effects of these events insignificant at the time of their occurrence. Results also showed that firms in developing countries recognized significant negative abnormal returns in response to the second wave of COVID-19. These results are useful for investors in devising investment strategies relevant to contextual settings

Correlation of bronchial biopsy with bronchoalveolar lavage in lung malignancies

Background: Lung cancer is currently the most frequently diagnosed major cancer in the world and the most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. It comprises about 17% of the total new cancer cases in males and 23% of the total cancer deaths. The objectives of this study were to compare bronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology and in the diagnosis of carcinoma lung. Study design was comparative study.Methods: The study was done in the Department of Pathology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), Srinagar, Kashmir. All patients clinically/radiologically suspected of lung malignancies who presented between April 2004 and May 2012 and underwent both bronchial biopsy and BAL were included in the study.Results: Out of a total of 902 clinically suspected cases of lung cancer tumor was found in 760 cases (84.25%) by biopsy   and in 301 cases (33.37%) by BAL. The total number of false positive cases was 31 and false negative cases were 490.Sensitivity of BAL was found to be 35.5% and specificity 78.16%.Conclusions: In the present study yield of diagnosis was highest with the bronchoscopic biopsies and in maximum number of cases, specific histologic diagnosis was made by biopsies only. Though BAL was inferior to bronchial biopsy in diagnosing lung malignancies but it was effective for peripheral lung malignancies and when the patient was at risk of hemorrhage.

mHealth based interventions for the assessment and treatment of psychotic disorders: a systematic review

The relative burden of mental health disorders is increasing globally, in terms of prevalence and disability. There is limited data available to guide treatment choices for clinicians in low resourced settings, with mHealth technologies being a potentially beneficial avenue to bridging the large mental health treatment gap globally. The aim of the review was to search the literature systematically for studies of mHealth interventions for psychosis globally, and to examine whether mHealth for psychosis has been investigated. A systematic literature search was completed in Embase, Medline, PsychINFO and Evidence Based Medicine Reviews databases from inception to May 2016. Only studies with a randomised controlled trial design that investigated an mHealth intervention for psychosis were included. A total of 5690 records were identified with 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of included studies, were conducted across Europe and the United Sates with one being conducted in China. The 7 included studies examined different parameters, such as Experiential Sampling Methodology (ESM), medication adherence, cognitive impairment, social functioning and suicidal ideation in veterans with schizophrenia. Considering the increasing access to mobile devices globally, mHealth may potentially increase access to appropriate mental health care. The results of this review show promise in bridging the global mental health treatment gap, by enabling individuals to receive treatment via their mobile phones, particularly for those individuals who live in remote or rural areas, areas of high deprivation and for those from low resourced settings

Histopathological spectrum of ovarian tumours from a referral hospital in Kashmir valley, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Background: Ovary is a complex structure and its neoplasms show a wide spectrum of histological types and clinical behaviour. The present study was done with the aim of studying the histopathological pattern of the ovarian tumours in women of various age groups.Methods: This was prospective study conducted over a period of 2 years from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016 and included 193 cases of ovarian neoplasms.Results: Of 193 cases 155 (80.3%) were benign, 8 (4.1%) were borderline and 30 (15.5%) were malignant tumours. Surface epithelial tumours constituted majority of the tumours (64.7%). Mature cystic teratoma (30.6%%) was the most common benign tumour followed by serous cyst adenoma (26.9%). Serous cyst adenocarcinoma (7.8%) was the most common malignant tumour of the ovary. While tumours were seen over a wide range of 6-75 years, >80% of benign tumours were seen in patients of 40 years of age.Conclusions: The findings of present study are comparable to the published data from the subcontinent

Effect of presence and absence of parents on the emotional maturity and perceived loneliness in adolescents

The present study was conducted to examine the Emotional Maturity and Perceived Loneliness of adolescents with respect to the presence and absence of parents. It was hypothesized that the absence or presence of parents of adolescents would affect the level of emotional maturity and perceived loneliness among adolescents. The adolescent participants N=250 (males n=125 and females n=125; age range= 13-18; M=16.63; SD=0.87) were approached through purposive convenient sampling technique. Measures included the Emotional Maturity Scale and the UCLA loneliness scale V-III. Results indicated that adolescent who lived with their guardians had greater perceived loneliness than those who lived with their parents. However, adolescents who were living with their parents had lower Emotional Maturity. A significant negative but weak/moderate relationship was found between Perceived Loneliness and Emotional Maturity (r=-.28). The findings of this study can be useful in clinical settings to counsel adolescents who are facing conflicts with step- or absent- parents, or feel lonely in the presence of their parents as well as in therapies and have disrupted levels of emotional maturity. Moreover, it can benefit the psychological community by providing the opportunity to find solutions to relevant problems

The Outcome of Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Transpedicular Screw Fixation (TPSF) in Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures

Background & Objective:  This study aimed to determine the outcome of percutaneous transpedicular screw fixation (TPSF) in patients with thoracolumbar fractures. Material & Methods:  A total of 157 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were included from the Department of Neurosurgery, LGH, PINS, Lahore. Patients were evaluated with plain X-rays, CT, and MRI scans. Neurological status was documented preoperatively and postoperatively. All patients were treated with Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Transpedicular screw fixation. Data for operative time and per-operative blood loss was obtained through the operative notes. The severity of postoperative pain and length of hospital stay were also documented. Results:  Out of 157 patients, 69.4% were male and 30.6% were female. The 141 (89.8%) were traumatic from road traffic accidents/falls, and 16 (10.2%) were pathologic. The 128 (81%) patients were discharged on the first day, 23(15%) were discharged on the second day, and 6(3.8%) on the third day. 79% of patients had a single level of spine fracture whereas, 20% had 2 spinal fracture levels. The average operative time for MIS percutaneous TPSF was 55 minutes. Postoperative pain was markedly reduced as compared to traditional open surgery and no patient had any new neurological deficit. The mean blood loss was 25 ml and none of the patients needed a postoperative blood transfusion. Conclusion:  Percutaneous transpedicular instrumentation is an ideal surgical approach for thoracolumbar spinal stabilization. Keywords:  Thoracolumbar Fractures, Percutaneous Transpedicular Screw Fixation, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Road Traffic Accidents (RTA)

High resolution ultrasonography of thyroid nodules: can ultrasonographic assessment obviate the need for invasive aspiration cytology in ultrasonographically benign lesions?

The use of high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) thyroid imaging has resulted in a significant revolution in the treatment of thyroid nodules. The enigma of thyroid nodules has been a blind spot for radiologists for a long period. Reporting a thyroid nodule as benign or malignant is quite difficult and many times not accurate. The American Collage of Radiology-Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR-TIRADS) 2017 classification has solved this problem to a large extent. However, the classification needed pathological confirmation for it to be highly accurate. We compared our HRUS-based TIRADS labeling of thyroid nodules with thyroid cytopathology using revised Bethesda classification system. Patients detected with thyroid nodules by HRUS were categorized using ACR-TIRADS and further were taken for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in our department. The pathological results were compared with the initial TIRADS category of the nodule and the effectiveness of the TIRADS classification in categorizing nodules into benign and malignant was assessed using various statistical variables. The initial USG and the FNAC were performed by a single radiologist with over 10 years of experience. A total of 201 patients underwent HRUS followed by FNAC after obtaining written consent in our department. The thyroid nodules labeled as true benign on ACR-TIRADS (TIRADS 2) were all true benign on Bethesda cytopathology (less than Bethesda III), confirming the high accuracy of HRUS. The diagnostic accuracy of HRUS in cases of ACR-TIRADS 3 nodules was approximately 90.6% with an error rate of 9.4%. Nodules labeled as ACR-TIRADS 4 and 5 had error rates of 47% and 10% in labeling nodules as malignant. The ultrasound-based ACR-TIRADS system can accurately predict the likelihood of specific nodules being benign. There is a strong concordance between Bethesda cytology and ACR-TIRADS classification, particularly for benign nodules. In resource-constrained system like ours, patients with TIRADS 2 and 3 nodules can be safely followed obviating the need for an invasive procedure like FNAC