Trade and Financial Openness and Financial Development: Is there Asymmetric Co-integration relationship? Evidence from Jordan

The current study attempts to explore the asymmetric long-run equilibrium relationship between trade and financial openness and financial development, especially in banking sector. Using Jordanian data, over the period 1980 to 2019. The study has found evidence of asymmetry pattern in the relationship between trade and financial openness and the credit to private sector ratio. From estimation of error-correction model, the adjustment back to equilibrium is more rapid following relative increase in trade and financial openness compared to relative decrease in trade and financial opennes

Evaluation of desmoglein 1 and 3 autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris : correlation with disease severity

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes caused by autoantibodies against desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) and desmoglein 3 (Dsg3). Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is the most common form of pemphigus. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the levels of anti-desmoglein 1 and 3 autoantibodies and the severity of PV disease. Nineteen newly diagnosed patients with pemphigus vulgaris were enrolled in this study. The titers of Dsg in subjects by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were done at diagnosis time-point, 4th and 8th weeks after the initiation of treatment, and the correlation of antibodies with the oral and skin disease severity was evaluated. The severity of cutaneous lesions was significantly correlated with anti-Dsg1 titer in all visits and the severity of mucosal lesions was correlated with the titer of Dsg3 in the third visit (<0.001, 0.001, 0.016 and 0.015 P value, respectively). Anti-Dsg-1 autoantibodies titers seem to be more useful in showing the extent of the disease and activity in pemphigus with mucocutaneous lesions

Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity and Cotinine Levels of Saliva in Male Smokers and Non-smokers

Background: The cigarette compounds are associated with the increase in the incidence of oral cancer andprecancerous lesions. Salivary antioxidant system plays an important role in anti-carcinogenic capacity ofsaliva. Cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, has a longer half-life in comparison with nicotine and is a suitablemarker for exposure to cigarette smoke. This study aims to measure total antioxidant capacity (TAC) andcotinine level in saliva of smokers and non-smokers and compare salivary cotinine level and TAC in each grou.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 32 smokers and 34 non-smokers were recruited by consecutivesampling from Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences,Mashhad, Iran. Salivary cotinine and TAC concentrations were determined using the enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. For data analysis, correlation tests of Spearman, Mann-WhitneyU, and independent samples t-test were used.Findings: A significant difference was observed between the two groups in the mean cotinine level and in themean TAC (P = 0.015, P = 0.027, respectively). TAC showed a weak negative correlation with the cotininelevel, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.651).Conclusion: Antioxidants are of great importance to smokers because antioxidants are able to scavenge freeradicals found in cigarette smoke. According to the results of present study, the salivary TAC in smokers waslower than that of non-smokers, and the salivary cotinine level in smokers was higher than non-smokers.Therefore, smoking endangers the oral cavity health by reducing the salivary TAC. Further studies with ahigher sample size and other factors affecting the salivary TAC are needed for definitive comment

Evaluation of Risk Factors in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Control Study

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Since there are many factors that influence the development of cancer, identifying risk factors plays an important role in cancer prevention. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the risk factors for HNSCC in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 76 patients with HNSCC were included as the case and 91 healthy people as the control group. A checklist of risk factors was completed for each participant and the two groups were compared for the presence of risk factors. Chi-square, t test, and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the data. Odds ratios (ORs) for several factors have also been determined. Findings: The educational level and body mass index (BMI) of the patients in the case group were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of risk factors such as tobacco smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and its duration (P=0.001, P<0.001, P=0.05), as well as the duration of hookah smoking, opium consumed per day and use of alcohol (P=0.023, P<0.001, P=0.015). Conclusion: There was a direct relationship between HNSCC and risk factors such as cigarette smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, duration of cigarette consumption and hookah, opium consumed per day, and alcohol use. However, extensive studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better assess the impact of these factors and generalize the results

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Importance of depth of invasion in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: A review article

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Despite several diagnostic and therapeutic advances over the last decades, the rate of mortality and 5-year survival of patients with OSCC has not been improved markedly. The unpredictable behavior of squamous cell carcinoma in digestive and respiratory system has led to search the reliable parameters as prognostic predictors. Histomorphological parameters including the depth of invasion (DOI) may be used as a prognosticate factor in patients with OSCC. It is determined microscopically by detecting the deepest invasive cells in the underlying tissues. Given that planned treatment after histological examination may be changed, measuring the DOI should be considered as a part of routine histological evaluation. In this study, we attempted to review the importance of DOI in the prognosis of cancers as well as its determination in the patients with OSCC lesions

Evaluation the efficacy of educational booklet of oral diseases on the patients’ knowledge referred to Mashhad Dental School in 2016, Iran

Background: Due to the high prevalence of oral diseases and lack of knowledge, giving the proper education is needed to familiarize patients with oral diseases. Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of using an educational booklet on patients` knowledge. Methods: This interventional study was conducted from spring to winter 2016 on fifty patients referred to Mashhad Dental School. An educational booklet of oral diseases describes various domains of oral diseases in six different groups. Also a questionnaire containing 18 questions of oral diseases that was prepared and used in two stages, prior to the intervention and after the intervention. The patients were divided into control (n=25) and intervention (n=25) groups. Initially, a pre-test questionnaire was given to both groups. The intervention group received the educational booklet. After one month, the post-test questionnaire was taken from both groups. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Fisher and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis. Findings: The difference between mean score changes was significant in both groups respectively 1.6±0.12 and 5.4±1.5 (P<0.001). The intervention significantly increased the knowledge score for all domains in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.001). The booklet had the most significant effect on the awareness of cancer and the least influence on pain. Conclusion: It seems that the educational booklet significantly could enhance the level of patients’ knowledge about oral diseases

Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Oral Lichen Planus: A Report from Northeast of Iran

Introduction: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease in oral mucosa and skin. Recently, reports have demonstrated a possible relationship between lichen planus and liver diseases. During the past decade, there has been a hypothesis regarding viral etiological agents that have been found to be in association with hepatotrophic viruses known as Hepatitis B and C with LP. This research was studied in Mashhad, northeast of Iran, to find a relationship between OLP and HBV infection. Methods: Age and gender of 134 patients (with OLP) and 134 controls (without OLP) were not matched and their serum samples were respectively screened for HBsAg by ELISA (third generation) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HBV-DNA. Results: Tests were positive (for both HBsAg and HBV-DNA) for 9 patients (6.71%) with OLP and 2 healthy individuals (1.49%) infected with HBV (P=0.03). Conclusion: There was a relationship between HBV and OLP in our population. Based on our findings, it is recommended that viral serology for Hepatitis B and OLP patients be conducted as a routine screening process

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Buccal Mucosa with Rare Delayed Frontal Bone Metastasis: A Case Report

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a malignant neoplasm, which accounts for 5-10% of all salivary gland tumors (1). About 50% of these tumors originate from intraoral minor salivary glands usually in the hard palate (1). Three clinically obvious characteristics of AdCC include slow growth rate, perineural invasion and high incidence of distant metastasis (1). The most commonly-affected sites of distant metastasis are bone, liver and brain, followed by lungs (2). Lymph node metastases are rare;  The most common sites  involved by hematogenous spread are lungs (2).  This is a report about a patient with a rare form of AdCC on buccal mucosa with an unusual metastasis to the frontal region after a two-year follow up