Solving Poverty through Management: Experience in Pakistan

There has been a consensus in the development literature that the poor have received insufficient credit from the formal financial sector. This is because the department rated the poor as a dangerous borrower because of the lack of appropriate collateral. This provides, therefore, the rationale for promoting the policy position of the microfinance sector to strengthen access to credit for the poor. Microcredit is expected to reduce poverty by increasing household income. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this debate. It is achieved by investigating the impact of microcredit on poverty in Pakistan. This paper uses the 1985-2015 time series data to assess the relationship between the human development index as a representative of poverty and its socioeconomic characteristics and microfinance visits. The error correction model is used to estimate the relationship between microcredit and household demographic variables and family poverty. Data analysis shows that there is a positive correlation between the human development index and small business credit, which is conducive to all previous expectations Thus, this evidence provides support for the "positive impact" of the debate and provides some guidance on how policy reform should focus on strengthening the performance of the Pakistani microfinance sector. In addition, the evidence for this study provides some guidance on policy reforms to improve Pakistan's microfinance performance

Solving Poverty through Management: Experience in Pakistan

There has been a consensus in the development literature that the poor have received insufficient credit from the formal financial sector. This is because the department rated the poor as a dangerous borrower because of the lack of appropriate collateral. This provides, therefore, the rationale for promoting the policy position of the microfinance sector to strengthen access to credit for the poor. Microcredit is expected to reduce poverty by increasing household income. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this debate. It is achieved by investigating the impact of microcredit on poverty in Pakistan. This paper uses the 1985-2015 time series data to assess the relationship between the human development index as a representative of poverty and its socioeconomic characteristics and microfinance visits. The error correction model is used to estimate the relationship between microcredit and household demographic variables and family poverty. Data analysis shows that there is a positive correlation between the human development index and small business credit, which is conducive to all previous expectations Thus, this evidence provides support for the "positive impact" of the debate and provides some guidance on how policy reform should focus on strengthening the performance of the Pakistani microfinance sector. In addition, the evidence for this study provides some guidance on policy reforms to improve Pakistan's microfinance performance

RISK OF HYPOTENSION IN PREGNANT LADIES UNDERGOING SPINAL ANESTHESIA INDUCED CESAREAN SECTION DELIVERIES.

Background; Cesarean section, one of most commonly performed surgical procedure, is associated with significant increase in maternal morbidities as well as mortalities. Objective: To determine frequency of hypotension in normotensive and preeclemptia patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia induced cesarean section. Material and Methods; Spinal anaesthesia was employed following standard technique after aspiration of free flow of CSF from needle in all four quadrants. After induction of spinal anaesthesia continuous monitoring of heart rate, oxygen situation and blood pressure was done immediately and at regular intervals of 5,10,15,20,.25 and 30  minutes to diagnose hypotension. Results; Mean gestational age of our study cases was noted to be 39.23 ± 2.16 weeks and 101 (69.2%) had gestational age more than 38 weeks. Mean age of our study cases was 27.49 ± 2.93 years. Diabetes was presented in 19 (13 %) of our study cases. Status of blood pressure in pregnancy was also noted, 73 (50%) were normotensive and 73 (50%) were pre-eclamptic patients. Mean body mass index of our study cases was 26.23 ± 1.92 kg/m2 and obesity was present in 43 (29.5 %) of our study cases. Of these 146 study cases, 44 (30.1 %) had elective cesarean section and 102 (69.9%) had emergency cesarean section. Hypotension was noted in 74 (50.7%) of our study cases. Hypotension was 35.6 % in normotensive cases while 65.8% among pre-eclamptic patients. Conclusion; Frequency of hypotension among women undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia was high and hypotension was significantly more prevalent among women with the history of pre-eclampsia. Hypotension was significantly associated with age, residential status, monthly family income, diabetes, obesity and type of Cesarean section.  Keywords; cesarean section, hypotension, spinal anesthesia DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/61-06 Publication date: November 30th 2019

COMPARISON OF 0.1 % TOPICAL ADAPALENIN GEL VERSUS 0.05 % ISOTRETINOIN GEL IN PATIENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE ACNE VULGARIS

Background; Acne Vulgaris leads to significant increase in psychological issues among patients and has negative impact on quality of life and their productivity. Objective; The objective of this study is to compare efficacy of 0.1 % topical adapalenin gel versus 0.05 % isotretinoin gel in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Material and Methods; Group A, having 30 patients, was treated with 0.1 % adapalene gel in the morning and evening (twice a day) while Group B, also having 30 patients treated with 0.05 % isotretinoin gel  twice a day for 6 weeks. The patients were followed weekly till 6 weeks from the beginning of therapy to observe efficacy. Results; Of these 60 study cases, 18 (30.0 %) were male patients while 42 (60.0 %) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was 20.43 ± 3.37 years. Mean body mass index of our study cases was 25.12 ± 2.21 kg/m2 and obesity was present in 13 (21.7 %) of our study cases. Of these 60 study cases, 30 (50%) had mild acne and 30 (50%) moderate acne Mean disease duration was 4.52 ± 2.68 months and 54 (90.0 %) had duration of illness up to 6 months. Of these 60 study cases, 17 (28.3 %) were illiterate and 43 (71.7 %) were literate. Efficacy was noted in 35 (58.3%), in group A efficacy was noted to be 23 (76.7%) and efficacy in group B was noted be 12 (40.0%). (P=0.008). Conclusion; Adapalene gel was found to be more effective, safe and reliable therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate acne as this therapy was significantly more efficacious as compared with 0.05 % isotretinoin gel. Our study results support the use of Adapalene gel for the treatment of mild to moderate acne as it provides desired outcomes which leads to improvement in quality of life these patients and also their productivity. This will also provide psychological relief to the patients having significant burden of psychological stress. Keywords; Acne vulgaris, Adapalene, Isotretinoin gel, efficacy. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/61-05 Publication date: November 30th 201

Price and Income Elasticities of Crude Oil Demand: Cross Country Analysis

Volatility in crude oil price is the main issue in this era. Great volatility in price of crude oil affects the demand of oil directly and indirectly in developing countries because these countries are oil importing countries especially Pakistan, India and China. Crude oil therefore contributes to and thereby influences the GDP of the country as a source of energy. It is very critical and essential for any country to explore and produce gas to improve energy shortage, for some deliberate importance of gas because natural gas is very clean, cheap and sustainable source to produce energy within a country. This study aimed to analyze the price and income elasticities of crude oil demand in developing countries time series data used from the period of 1971-2014. ADF test was used to check the stationary of variables and it is seem that all variable are not stationary at level. ARDL used for co integration and all variables of the models have long run relation with dependent and explanatory variables. Price and income elasticities of crude oil demand were measured in short and long run for developing countries and it was concluded that long run elasticities of price and income were less inelastic or some cases like China was elastic than short run elasticities of price and income of crude oil demand. It was suggested that oil importer countries should explore the alternatives of oil within a country to fulfill the domestic demand

The Effect of Macroeconomic Uncertainty on Consumption Expenditure in Case of Pakistan

Government expenditure on consumption is the core issue in the macroeconomic theory. The determination of national economic growth and the improvement of economic production also play an important role in economic and technological progress. However, a high degree of macroeconomic uncertainty directly inhibits economic growth. This study empirically estimates the macroeconomic determinants of government spending in Pakistani economy. In this study, ARCH, GRACH model was used to calculate the volatility of different macroeconomic variables. Taking the period from 1975 to 2014 in Pakistan as an example, the ARDL model was used to examine the relationship between the volatility of macroeconomic variables and government spending. The research shows that the macroeconomic uncertainty caused by the fluctuation of macroeconomic variables has a significant impact on the government's consumption expenditure. Empirical results from the study show that Pakistan experienced more volatility in the macroeconomic variables, leading to more volatile government spending and private investment

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF MICROBES IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: A REVIEW

Biotechnology is the most prominent and rapidly growing segment of the biological sciences that is making its diversified application in sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers, biopesticides, bioherbicides, bioinsecticides, and many of the other fungal based and viral based insecticides, obtained using microorganisms, are some of the outcomes of biotechnology playing a key role in sustainable agriculture. Many of other important food products are also obtained by microbial fermentation. Different microbes are added to get the desired effect of food at the specific stages of food production process. Pharmaceutical microbiology includes the manufacturing of different pharmaceutical and medicinal products. This review article has a wide overview of microbes mainly used in agriculture, food industries, and pharmaceutical industries

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Mapping disparities in education across low- and middle-income countries

Analyses of the proportions of individuals who have completed key levels of schooling across all low- and middle-income countries from 2000 to 2017 reveal inequalities across countries as well as within populations. Educational attainment is an important social determinant of maternal, newborn, and child health(1-3). As a tool for promoting gender equity, it has gained increasing traction in popular media, international aid strategies, and global agenda-setting(4-6). The global health agenda is increasingly focused on evidence of precision public health, which illustrates the subnational distribution of disease and illness(7,8); however, an agenda focused on future equity must integrate comparable evidence on the distribution of social determinants of health(9-11). Here we expand on the available precision SDG evidence by estimating the subnational distribution of educational attainment, including the proportions of individuals who have completed key levels of schooling, across all low- and middle-income countries from 2000 to 2017. Previous analyses have focused on geographical disparities in average attainment across Africa or for specific countries, but-to our knowledge-no analysis has examined the subnational proportions of individuals who completed specific levels of education across all low- and middle-income countries(12-14). By geolocating subnational data for more than 184 million person-years across 528 data sources, we precisely identify inequalities across geography as well as within populations.Peer reviewe