Islamic Calendar Anomalies: Pakistani Practitioners' Perspective

Studies on Islamic calendar anomalies in financial markets tend to apply quantitative analysis to historic share prices. Surprisingly, there is a lack of research investigating whether the participants of such markets are aware of these anomalies and whether these anomalies affect their investment practice. Or is it a case that these practitioners are completely unaware of the anomalies present in these markets and are missing out on profitable opportunities? The purpose of this paper is to analyse the views of influential participants within the Pakistani stock market

Mentoring in Medicine: A Retrospective Study

The formal type requires documentation, planning, legal agreement between the mentor and mentee, a curriculum and inclusively program funding. Although, the most common model identified among women was the peer model. Additionally, mentees and mentors both valued the idea of time allocation. Mentoring in medicine was found useful in areas of career satisfaction and career planning, personal growth and professional development, development of self-confidence and good communication skills. Mentoring was also found to play an important role in academic medicine and research.We were able to clarify the impact of mentoring on career planning and development, personal growth and professional development, self-confidence and good communication skills and its role in academic medicine and research to be positive. In overall, mentorship has proved to be a necessity in all aspects of medicine within the past few years.The aim of this research is to carry out an evidence-based retrospective study reviewing data acquired from previous research articles published between 2011 and 2016; in order to access the impact of mentorship in medicine through data extraction, presentation and meta-analysis. Also, we intend to identify the common models and types of mentoring reported to be used in medicine (academic, research and clinical medicine) between 2011 and 2016.We reviewed PMC, BMC journals, AAMC, MEDLINE and CLINICALKEY for articles published between 2011 and 2016 pertaining to mentoring in medicine. Searches were conducted with the use of  the following key phrases such as “mentoring in medicine”, “effect of mentorship on future physicians”, “systematic review of mentoring in medicine” “mentoring surveys in medicine”. The data obtained was then analyzed and presented in tables followed by a detailed and concise interpretation. From the data analyzed we were able to identify the common mentoring models and types commonly used in medicine between 2011 and 2016. The common mentoring models identified in this research include: one-one (Dyad), peer facilitated, multiple mentors and electronic (Distance) model. Moreover, the common types of mentoring identified include: Formal and Informal

Giant Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Case Report

One of the most prevalent conditions affecting one-third of men over 60 years, usually presenting with urinary bladder obstruction and hematuria is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).  An extremely rare entity of BPH is giant benign prostatic hyperplasia (GBPH) with mass exceeding 500g. This case report concerns an elderly male cadaver received at All Saints University School of Medicine with a GBPH weighing 719g and measuring 21.5 × 16 × 15.5 cm in size and 9cm in diameter. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first largest prostate with prostatic hyperplasia found in a cadaver during dissection

The relationship between gonadal hormones and neurocognitive functioning in healthy men and women and patients with schizophrenia

The primary aim of this thesis was to examine differences between healthy men and women and men and women with schizophrenia in relation to neurocognitive functioning. The thesis also examined the role of organisational influences of gonadal hormones and gonadotropins to cognitive performance. This was investigated in three studies. Study 1 examined the differences between healthy men and women on a sexually dimorphic cognitive battery (comprising mental rotation, modified judgement of line orientation, computerized Benton judgement of line orientation, cognitive inhibition, letter and category fluency tasks, and a working memory task) in a group of healthy men (n= 42) and women (n = 42). The study also looked at the relationship of organisational influences of gonadal hormones (estrogen, testosterone, progesterone), gonadotropins (lutenizing hormone; LH, follicle stimulating hormones; FSH) and sex hormone binding globulin; SHBG to these cognitive tasks. Study 2 investigated the role of gonadal hormones and the stress hormone cortisol to neurocognitive functioning (comprising domains of attention, verbal abilities, language, memory, executive functioning, motor and speed of information processing) and symptomatology (using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; PANSS) in patients (N = 37) with schizophrenia. Study 3 examined the neural correlates of sex differences in performance on a block design mental rotation task and an overt verbal fluency paradigm using compressed sequence design in a group of healthy men (n = 9) and women (n = 10), controlling for the role of estrogen. Study I showed significant sex differences favouring men on all the spatial tasks and on a cognitive inhibition task, and differences favouring women on the category fluency task. Significant relationships were found between specific conditions of the spatial and inhibition tasks and progesterone, LH, FSH and SHBG. Study 2 found no sex differences in neurocognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia but found that high levels of estrogen were related to low positive symptom scores. Within gender, cortisol levels related to poor performance on the information-processing domain. Study 3 showed sex differences favouring men on the mental rotation and favouring women on the verbal (phonological) fluency task. Analysing the sexes separately revealed activation in the right superior parietal lobe in men and women during mental rotation performance. In general, women activated a greater number of voxels compared to men on the mental rotation and verbal fluency tasks. No sex differences (comparing the groups) in neural activation were found on any of the cognitive tasks. These findings confirmed the previously cited sex differences in cognitive performance and show that with similar activation patterns, men and women showed differential behavioural performance, thus suggesting that women may need more resources to perform better. Overall, this thesis adds to a critical body of literature showing that the relationship between gonadal hormones and cognition is more unsettled than previously thought. The findings also show that hormones other than estrogen and testosterone may also moderate hormone cognition relationships in men and women

Roles of two small leucine-rich proteoglycans decorin and biglycan in pregnancy and pregnancy-associated diseases

Two small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRP), decorin and biglycan, play important roles in structural–functional integrity of the placenta and fetal membranes, and their alterations can result in several pregnancy-associated diseases. In this review, we briefly discuss normal placental structure and functions, define and classify SLRPs, and then focus on two SLRPs, decorin (DCN) and biglycan (BGN). We discuss the consequences of deletions/mutations of DCN and BGN. We then summarize DCN and BGN expression in the pregnant uterus, myometrium, decidua, pla-centa, and fetal membranes. Actions of these SLRPs as ligands are then discussed in the context of multiple binding partners in the extracellular matrix and cell surface (receptors), as well as their alterations in pathological pregnancies, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Lastly, we raise some unanswered questions as food for thought

Congenital Absence of Uvula: Case Report

Traditional Uvulectomy has been an age-long practice throughout Africa and certain parts of the Middle East. It is performed as a treatment to prevent throat infections for centuries and is carried out usually during infancy and childhood. Uvula is a fleshy projection hanging at the back of the throat from the posterior margin of the soft palate. Congenital absence of uvula has been observed to be associated with other congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate. This case report concerns a 26 year old male from Nigeria, examined at a health fair conducted at All Saints University School of Medicine in Dominica who on an incidental finding was diagnosed with the absence of uvula without any other abnormality nor a history of uvulectomy. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case in medical literature of the congenital absence of uvula in a patient with no other known abnormalities

A Study of Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose among Participants Attending a Health Fair in Dominica

With an estimate of over 1 billion hypertensive individuals and approximately 366 million diabetic individuals, blood pressure and blood glucose tests have belonged to the group of one of the most examined parameters. Studies have also shown the death of 7.1 million individuals from high blood pressure globally. Incidence of high blood pressure and high blood glucose has been recorded in the Caribbean islands. Hence, this study is targeted towards identifying the distribution of blood pressure and blood glucose among Caribbean locals during a health fair. A total of 260 Dominicans participated during the health fair. Among which 103 (39.62%), 1 (0.38%), 73 (28.08%), 56 (21.54%) and 24 (9.23%) were normotensive, hypotensive, pre-hypertensive, stage 1 hypertensive and stage 2 hypertensive respectively.  Blood glucose test showed 210 (80.77%), 3 (1.15%), 38 (14.62%) and 8 (3.08%) readings of normal, hypoglycemic, impaired and diabetic respectively. This study stresses on the need for increased care for elderly individuals among the Caribbean population. The need for proper awareness on healthy living has also been emphasized in the study.

Motivational Factors for Aspiring Doctors

ConclusionFrom the statistical analysis we were able to suggest “service to humanity” is the major reason why students endure the strenuous progression of medical school. Being compassionate becomes a primary incentive, making other motivators secondary ambitions. Also, the initiation of determination in the pursuit of medicine is majorly conceived in the minds and hearts of the students personally. Although, family and friends inspire, it is majorly by self-motivation.The objective of the study was directed at determining the incentives encouraging medical students in the pursuit of a medical career. Motivational entities that propel medical students through years of learning followed by a lifetime of practice are of importance to avoid quitting. The amount of stress involved is tremendous. Recent studies have suggested that personal motives, mentors and socio-economic influence play a role in inspiration, amongst other factors.Method and materialThe study was conducted in All Saints University, Dominica. Commenced in the Jan- April semester of the year 2016. A cross sectional analysis was conducted on a survey sample size of 201 students, using a questionnaire formulated by the researchers. Analysis of the raw data from the questionnaire was computed using STATA IC 14 application.ResultAnalysis revealed 59.5% of sample population claimed, “Service to humanity” as a primary purpose for enrollment in medical school. “Respect and honor” ranking second with 12% of population. “Knowledge” and “family expectation” yielded percentages of 8% each.  “Others” were selected by 6.5% and 6% selected “financial gain”. “Personal interest” was the most motivational motivator with 71% of sample population. “Family” was chosen by 23% of population, being the second most motivational factor