Impact of Liquidity Management and Macroeconomic Determinants on Bank's Profitability in the Jordanian Commercial Banks

The aim of this research is to check the impact of the liquidity management and macroeconomic determinants on profitability of commercial banks in the Jordan. Liquidity management and macroeconomic determinants are independent variables and profitability is dependent variable. The secondary data has been  used for this study and has been taken from published annual reports of six Jordanian commercial banks during the time period 2009–2016.The data has been analyzed by using correlation, descriptive statistics and regression techniques through E-views. Six banks have been choosen to express on the whole Jordanian commercial banks. Liquidity management is measured through capital ratio, liquid ratio, investment ratio, assets quality ratio and current ratio. Macroeconomic determinants include real gross domestic product and inflation and data for these variables is obtained from CIA world fact book. Profitability is measured through return on assets and return on equity. The results of this study found that the capital ratio has significant relationship with banks profitability. While, liquid ratio, investment ratio, current ratio and assets quality ratio has insignificant relationship with banks profitability. With regard to macroeconomic determinants real gross domestic product has significant relationship and inflation has positive and insignificant relationship with profitability of Jordanian commercial banks. Overall our research findings will help the bank managers and investment managers in devising their liquidity management strategies. Keywords: Liquidity management, Macroeconomic determinants and Banks profitability

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Nexus between periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease: a narrative review

Background: Several decades of research have established the relationships between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a chronic medical condition in which the homeostatic and emunctory activity of the kidneys is progressively declines. Periodontitis is a complex, polymicrobial disease that involves both the host and the environment. Tissue destruction is primarily associated with the host’s hyperresponsiveness, resulting in the release of inflammatory markers. Aim: This paper reviewed the evidence linking CKD, inflammatory markers, and periodontal disease and the effect of periodontal therapy on inflammatory markers and kidney function as well as dental parameters. Setting and Design: The sources of data were compiled and reviewed from MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Web of Sciences from 2010 to 2021. Result and Discussion: This review identifies biologically plausible bidirectional nexus between periodontitis and CKD. Periodontitis has emerged as non-traditional risk factor of CKD and vice versa. In addition, inflammatory markers are considered to play a role in the linkages between periodontitis and CKD. Recent study, has linked an increase in the production of inflammatory markers to a poorer renal outcome in patients with CKD. Periodontal therapy is effective in lowering the inflammatory markers levels and periodontal parameters as well as halting the progression of CKD. Conclusion: Understanding these links may help in identifying high-risk individuals and providing essential care at an early stage

The assessment of interleukin-1 in chronic kidney disease patients with periodontitis following non-surgical periodontal therapy

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and periodontitis have an impact on patient’s morbidity and mortality. Periodontitis increases the inflammatory burden, which has been shown to impair renal function by altering serum inflammatory levels. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has immunomodulatory properties that affect immunological responses of the host. Little is known regarding IL-1 alteration in CKD patients after non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). Therefore, this study was aimed to assess and compare the level of IL-1 at baseline and after receiving NSPT. Materials & Methods: The study included twenty CKD patients with periodontitis (Group 1), twenty non-CKD patients with periodontitis (Group 2) and twenty healthy subjects (Group 3). During each visit, a blood sample was collected and the serum IL-1 concentration was analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Our findings showed that IL-1 level was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Group 1 [Mean (SD) = 0.91(0.39)]pg/ml as compared to Group 2 [Mean (SD)= 0.79(0.27)]pg/ml and Group 3 [Mean (SD) = 0.57(0.39)]pg/ml. Following NSPT, there was significant reduction (p<0.05) in IL-1 level in Group 1 and Group 2. The eGFR has improved from [Mean (SD)= 25.25 (9.93)] mL/min/1.73m2 to 30.3(11.73) mL/min/1.73m2 post NSPT. Discussion: This study found that CKD patients with periodontitis exhibited a more severe systemic inflammatory response than non-CKD patients and healthy subjects. NSPT reduced the inflammatory markers and delay the progression of CKD. IL-1 is a promising inflammatory marker for monitoring CKD progression. Therefore, multicentre and larger sample size studies are needed in the future

The assessment of interleukin-10 and periodontal parameters in chronic kidney disease patients with inflammation of the gum and tooth-supporting tissues following periodontal therapy

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by kidney structure and function abnormalities. CKD also includes permanent nephron loss and a decline in glomerular filtration rate. Most CKD patients have periodon¬titis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gums and tooth-supporting tissues. Periodontitis is linked to CKD due to the hyper-inflammatory state in both conditions. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an inflammatory marker with immuno¬modulatory properties influencing the host’s immune responses. Little is known regarding the effect of periodontal therapy on inflammatory markers and periodontal parameters in CKD patients with periodontitis. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the levels of IL-10 and periodontal parameters before and after receiving periodontal ther¬apy. Methods: Twenty CKD patients with periodontitis (Group 1) and twenty non-CKD patients with periodontitis (Group 2) participated in this study. A blood sample was collected during each visit. Serum IL-10 concentration was analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The periodontal parameters such as periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment loss, gingival bleeding index and plaque score were also measured. Results: Our findings revealed that IL-10 level was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Group 1 [Mean (SD) = 1.301(0.29)pg/ml] than in Group 2 [Mean (SD)= 0.81(0.27)pg/ml]. Following periodontal therapy, there was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in IL-10 levels and periodontal parameters in both groups. Conclusion: Periodontal therapy has shown improvement in both inflammatory markers and periodontal parameters. IL-10 is a promising inflammatory marker for monitoring the pro¬gression of CKD. Therefore, multicentre and larger sample size studies are needed in the future

Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Trends in Pakistan: Activity Survey from Pakistan Bone Marrow Transplant Group

Pakistan is the fifth most populous country with a population of 225 million and has health expenditure accounting for only 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Accordingly, there are a limited number of haematology-oncology and transplant centers in the country. The Pakistan Blood and Marrow Transplant (PBMT) group was established in 2020, and this report is the first activity survey from January 2021 to December 2022 focusing on the trends of matched-related donor, haploidentical, and autologous transplants in a developing country. A total of 12 transplant centers contributed data on the modified PBMT survey form retrospectively and 806 haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) were carried out during the study duration. Allogeneic HSCT constituted 595 (73.8%) of all the transplants; this is in stark contrast to Western data, where autologous HSCT accounts for the majority of transplants. ß-thalassemia major and aplastic anemia were the commonest indications for allogeneic HSCT, in contrast to Western data, where acute leukemia is the leading transplant indication. Autologous transplants were more frequently performed for Hodgkin’s lymphoma as compared to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The use of peripheral and bone marrow stem cells was comparable. A myeloablative conditioning regimen was routinely used in patients with acute leukemia. This report provides an insight of HSCT trends in Pakistan which are different from those of Western centers contributing to transplant data from South Asia

Students' participation in collaborative research should be recognised

Letter to the editor

MAPPING LOCAL PATTERNS OF CHILDHOOD OVERWEIGHT AND WASTING IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES BETWEEN 2000 AND 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic