Trade Liberalisation and Labour Demand Elasticities: Empirical Evidence for Pakistan

Trade has predominantly contributed in the development of world economies for more than mere agricultural development and industrialisation. Trade involves many regions across the globe. The more the regions involved, the more will be the benefits. Trade is an interaction between economies for the exchange of goods, services, skills, knowledge and expertise, which is required for bringing in the desired changes like increase in the availability of choices, reduction of extreme poverty, and enhancement of physical and mental capability. As the wave of market oriented moves has spread over the economic sphere, global trend has also been witnessed in the liberalisation of capital account, foreign exchange, credit, domestic consumption and trading sector of many countries. The concept, which has been predominantly emphasised by the economies, is that of “trade liberalisation”, which has become the key element of any development policy since late 1970s after the fundamental change in the economic policy at global level. The concept of trade liberalisation stems from Neo-liberalism thinking that has advocated market oriented economic reforms for social order and economic prosperity that aims to improve efficiency and stability in the economy. Trade liberalisation process can be defined in many different ways. In the words of Krueger (1978), “any policy, which reduces the anti export bias will lead towards liberalisation of trade and reduction in import license premium is the fundamental step towards liberalised trade regime”

Evaluation of Hepcidin Hormone and Some Biochemical Parameters in Iraqi Children Patients with β-Thalassaemia Intermedia Before and After Blood Transfusion

Background:"thalassaemia" refers to a group of blood diseases characterized by low or absent synthesis of normal globin chains. Depending on the chain whose synthesis is impaired, the thalassaemias are called α‒, β‒,ɣ‒ ,σ‒ or ԑɣσβ-thalassaemias . Most thalassaemias are inherited as recessive traits.Objective: the aim of this study is evaluated hepcidin levels, transferrin, ferritin, serum iron and total iron bending capacity [TIBC] before and after blood transfusion of thalassaemia patients.Methods: In this study, we take 80 persons the age of them were mean±SD (9.68±2.08), 40 patients with β-thalassaemia intermedia, and 40 healthy persons as control. We take blood 5ml from thalassaemia's patients before blood transfusion and after transfusion of blood by 3 days. The total number of the samples we taken are 120, 40 samples before blood transfusion, 40 samples after blood transfusion and 40 control samples. Then we separated each sample into two tubes.Result: increase iron absorption of thalassaemia patient after blood transfusion due to decrease level of hepcidin.Conclusion: from this study was appear iron absorption meanly affect by hepcidin level, so that hepcidin was highly significant change in thalassaemia patient after blood transfusion and that lead to iron overload. So conclude high levels of ferritin after blood transfusion due to blood uptake lead to increase iron storage (ferritin). Keywords: β-thalassaemia intermidia, hepcidin, serum iron and ferritin (iron storage)

Evaluation of Hepcidin Hormone and Some Biochemical Parameters in Iraqi Children Patients with β-Thalassaemia Intermedia Before and After Blood Transfusion

Background:"thalassaemia" refers to a group of blood diseases characterized by low or absent synthesis of normal globin chains. Depending on the chain whose synthesis is impaired, the thalassaemias are called α‒, β‒,ɣ‒ ,σ‒ or ԑɣσβ-thalassaemias . Most thalassaemias are inherited as recessive traits.Objective: the aim of this study is evaluated hepcidin levels, transferrin, ferritin, serum iron and total iron bending capacity [TIBC] before and after blood transfusion of thalassaemia patients.Methods: In this study, we take 80 persons the age of them were mean±SD (9.68±2.08), 40 patients with β-thalassaemia intermedia, and 40 healthy persons as control. We take blood 5ml from thalassaemia's patients before blood transfusion and after transfusion of blood by 3 days. The total number of the samples we taken are 120, 40 samples before blood transfusion, 40 samples after blood transfusion and 40 control samples. Then we separated each sample into two tubes.Result: increase iron absorption of thalassaemia patient after blood transfusion due to decrease level of hepcidin.Conclusion: from this study was appear iron absorption meanly affect by hepcidin level, so that hepcidin was highly significant change in thalassaemia patient after blood transfusion and that lead to iron overload. So conclude high levels of ferritin after blood transfusion due to blood uptake lead to increase iron storage (ferritin). Keywords: β-thalassaemia intermidia, hepcidin, serum iron and ferritin (iron storage)

Implementation of Electronic Disease Reporting Systems by Local Health Departments

Background: Electronic disease reporting systems (EDRSs) are imperative for local health departments (LHDs) operating in the post-H1N1 and evidence-based public health practice era. Studies regarding functionality and factors responsible for variation in implementation are important but rare. Purpose: This primary objective for this study was to provide evidence regarding the level to which LHDs have implemented electronic disease reporting systems and factors associated with variation in implementation of electronic disease reporting systems. Methods: A quantitative analysis was performed of the 2013 Profile of Local Health Departments Survey conducted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The Profile study used a nationally representative sample of 625 LHDs and received an 81% response rate. Using a Multinomial Logistic Regression model, significant factors explaining variation were examined. Results: Significant factors associated with the implementation of EDRSs were experienced (tenure) top executive, jurisdiction population size, region of geographic location, presence of Local Board of Health, type of governance, presence of health information specialist on staff, and number of clinical services performed. Implications: For the advancement of public health surveillance in the 21st century, LHDs need the capacity for real time surveillance data collection and use, as well as, interoperable and integrated disease surveillance systems. Policies aimed at advancing disease surveillance in the United States might benefit from our findings on modifiable factors associated with the difference in EDRS implementation

Role of labour admission test in predicting pregnancy outcome in low-risk cases

Background: The present study was carried out to determine the role of labour admission test (LAT) in detecting fetal hypoxia in labour and to correlate the findings of the test with perinatal outcome in low-risk cases.Methods: In this study 150 low risk pregnant term women were subjected to LAT and classified according to NICE 2017 guidelines. Pregnancy outcome in terms of need for operative delivery and neonatal status at birth were noted. Data was analysed statistically by Chi-square test.Results: The LAT was normal in 78.67%, suspicious in 17.33% and pathological in 4%. Operative delivery for fetal distress was observed in 18.75% of normal group, in 50% of suspicious group and in 100% of pathological group. The incidence of meconium-stained liquor was significantly high in pathological (50%) and suspicious group (19.23%). The incidence of low 5-minute Apgar score was significantly high in pathological LAT group (33.33%) as compared to suspicious (7.69%) and normal LAT groups (2.54%). Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was significantly high in pathological test group (50%). LAT in this study showed 48.15% sensitivity, 96.75% specificity and 76.47% positive predictive value as a screening tool for predicting fetal distress in low-risk patients suggesting that a normal LAT in early labour is an indicator of good pregnancy outcome.Conclusions: LAT is an effective, non-invasive screening method with good specificity to detect fetal distress in low-risk woman and helps to plan management accordingly to improve pregnancy outcome

Sialic Acid Is A Novel Biochemical Marker In Sera Of Iraqi Endometriotic Patients .

Sialic acids are nine carbon acidic sugars typically found as the terminal residue of cell surface sugar chains as well as on secreted glycoproteins and in the extracellular matrix. Structural diversity and unique strategic location of sialic acids (Sias) on the cells make them one of the most important molecules in life and set the challenges for sialoglycobiologist. An important facet of Sia biology is the function of Sia-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs), receptors that are largely expressed across the major leukocyte lineages to mediate important innate and adaptive immune functions. A postulated autoimmune aetiology of endometriosis derives from reports on increased polyclonal B-cell activity, abnormalities in function of B and T cells, ,  high B-cell and T-cell counts, and reduced natural-killer-cell activity.Also, high serum concentrations of Igs autoantibodies . Sialic acid binding immunoglobulins (Ig)-like lectins (siglecs) belong to I-type lectin with a selective expression on the haematopoetic cell lineages. These have amazing structural diversity to recognize and interact with an array of linkage-specific sialic acids on a glycan structure express on host cells as well as pathogen. Fourteen human and nine murine siglecs have already been identified and the list is still increasing. Innate immune system is the first line of defense evolved during the years of evolution. This is responsible for controlling and clearing invading pathogens. The results of the present study indicate that Sialic acid is a novel biochemical marker related to the immune pathological alterations of endometriosis as shown in G1 and G3 . Also, the results showed the role of zoladex in alteration immune responses as shown in G2. Keywords Sialic acid . endometriosis . immunoglobulins . autoimmune diseases

Relationship between Sera Vitamin D, Calcium, and Magnesium Levels in Pregnant Women with and without Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health case after childbirth, distinguished by behavioral changes and emotional disturbance. PPD is a significant public issue estimated to affect 10–15% of women worldwide. The study's objective was to investigate whether low sera concentrations of vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium during the third trimester of pregnancy are associated with PPD. The study population included eighty pregnant women between the ages of 25 to 35 years. They were divided into two groups (control and depressed group). Simple samples technique collecting was used for serum collecting from the two groups. When the blood samples were taken, vitamin D level was determined using an ELISA device. Calcium and magnesium were measured by using the spectrophotometric method. A health questionnaire structure was used for screening depression after birth. After measuring pregnancy serum concentrations of vitamin D of (40) pregnant control and (40) pregnant with PPD, we found that there was no significant relationship between vitamin D concentrations and risk of PPD (p= 0.6497). Statistical analysis indicated the significant differences (p= 0.0003) between sera calcium levels of the control group as compared with the depressed group. Significant differences (p= 0.0005) in magnesium levels between the two groups were observed. Our study detected that vitamin D concentrations in the serum of women during their last trimester of pregnancy had no statistical link with their risk of PPD. Whereas direct associated with calcium and magnesium deficiency in the third trimester of pregnancy and the incidence of PPD were reported

Which is a better marker for overweight: waist height ratio or waist circumference?

Background: The global prevalence of obesity has been increasing. Body mass index, waist circumference and waist height ratio have been widely used for nutritional assessment. Waist height ratio has the advantage of taking into account abdominal obesity as well as height associated with body fat accumulation or distribution. The objective of this study was to suggest cut off points for waist circumference and waist height ratio to identify overweight in Omani adults.Methods: Weight, height, waist circumference and waist height ratio were measured for all participants. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine correlation of BMI with waist circumference and waist height ratio. ROC curve was used to identify AUC and specific cut off point for anthropometric indicators.Results: The largest proportion of overweight was picked up by waist height ratio across both the genders. Correlation of BMI with waist height ratio was stronger (r=0.699) than correlation with waist circumference (r=0.589) for both the genders. Maximum AUC was for waist height ratio in males (AUC=0.833, 95% CI=0.791-0.875). The specific cut off point for waist circumference in males and females was 89.5cm and 87.6cm respectively. The specific cut off point for waist height ratio in males and females was 0.53 and 0.57 respectively.Conclusions: Maximum participants were found overweight by waist height ratio followed by waist circumference and the least by BMI. The higher cut off points should be used in this population for identifying overweight people

Influence of mental stress on the pulse wave features of photoplethysmograms.

Mental stress is a major burden for our society. Invasive and non-invasive methods have been proposed to monitor and quantify it using various sensors on and off body. In this Letter, the authors investigated the use of the arm photoplethysmogram (PPG) to assess mental stress in laboratory conditions. Results were in correspondence with their previous in-silico study which guided the present study. Three wave shape parameters were identified for stress assessment from the PPG signal: (i) the time from dicrotic notch to end diastole; (ii) the time from pulse onset to systolic peak; and (iii) the ratio of diastolic to systolic area. The proposed in-vivo results showed that the two first parameters responded significantly to increased mental stress and to a breathing relaxation procedure, complementing heart rate, heart rate variability, and pulse transit time as indices of stress

Assessing mental stress from the photoplethysmogram: a numerical study.

OBJECTIVE: Mental stress is detrimental to cardiovascular health, being a risk factor for coronary heart disease and a trigger for cardiac events. However, it is not currently routinely assessed. The aim of this study was to identify features of the photoplethysmogram (PPG) pulse wave which are indicative of mental stress. APPROACH: A numerical model of pulse wave propagation was used to simulate blood pressure signals, from which simulated PPG pulse waves were estimated using a transfer function. Pulse waves were simulated at six levels of stress by changing the model input parameters both simultaneously and individually, in accordance with haemodynamic changes associated with stress. Thirty-two feature measurements were extracted from pulse waves at three measurement sites: the brachial, radial and temporal arteries. Features which changed significantly with stress were identified using the Mann-Kendall monotonic trend test. MAIN RESULTS: Seventeen features exhibited significant trends with stress in measurements from at least one site. Three features showed significant trends at all three sites: the time from pulse onset to peak, the time from the dicrotic notch to pulse end, and the pulse rate. More features showed significant trends at the radial artery (15) than the brachial (8) or temporal (7) arteries. Most features were influenced by multiple input parameters. SIGNIFICANCE: The features identified in this study could be used to monitor stress in healthcare and consumer devices. Measurements at the radial artery may provide superior performance than the brachial or temporal arteries. In vivo studies are required to confirm these observations