Accounting analyses of momentum and contrarian strategies in emerging markets

We analyse the momentum and contrarian effects of stock markets in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) using accounting data. The five markets show different characteristics with the Indian market having the strongest momentum effect. Stock markets in China and Brazil show significant short-term contrarian profit and intermediate to long-term momentum profit while South Africa shows short-term momentum effect and intermediate to long-term contrarian effect. The Russian stock market reveals largely insignificant momentum portfolio returns. We also find evidence that the contrarian profits in South Africa and China are caused by relatively high loser returns while positive momentum profit in India results from relatively high winner returns

The effect of board size and composition on the efficiency of UK banks

We examine a sample of 17 banking institutions operating in the UK between 2001 and 2006 to provide empirical evidence on the association between the efficiency of UK banks and board structure, namely board size and composition. Our approach is to use data envelopment analysis to estimate several measures of the efficiency of banks, and then to use panel data regressions for investigating the impact of board structure on efficiency. After controlling for bank size and capital strength, we find some evidence of a positive association between board size and efficiency, although this is not robust across all our specifications. Board composition, by contrast, has a robustly significant and positive impact on all measures of efficiency. © 2011 Copyright International Journal of the Economics of Business

Screening for Cervical Cancer: Experience from a University Hospital in North Western Nigeria (2007‑2009)

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer among women in Nigeria. The incidence is on the increase and poses a public health problem. The etiological agent is the human papilloma virus that is sexual transmitted. The cervical cancer incidence is related to lifestyle, poverty and sexual practices. Fortunately, it is a preventable disease as it is preceded by a pre‑invasive phase that can be detected and treated. There is paucity of report in literature on cervical cancer screening in Sokoto North‑West Nigeria.Aim: To determine the uptake, indications and results of cervical cancer screening in Usmanu Dan‑fodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.Materials and Methods: A 3‑year descriptive study of the results of cervical cytology among women who attended the gynaecological out‑patient clinic of UDUTH, Sokoto.Results: During the period of study, 126 cervical smears were taken and 96% (121/126) of them were considered adequate for cytological evaluation thus constituting the subjects of the study. The average annual uptake of cervical smear was 1.29%. The main indications for cytologic smears were abnormal uterine bleeding 33.9% (41/121) and suspected carcinoma of the cervix 28.1% (34/121). Cytologic study was positive for dysplastic cells in 7% (25/121) of cases. Ten percent (12/121) of them were high grade squamous intra‑epithelial lesions while invasive carcinoma was seen in 3.3% (4/121) of the smears. Conclusion: Presence of abnormal cervical smear in 20% of the study subjects underscores the need for routine screening for cervical cancer. While organized national screening policy is awaited, opportunistic screening should be maximized. Keywords: Cervical cancer, cervical cytology, north‑west Nigeri

Understanding the implant performance of magnetically controlled growing spine rods: a review article

PURPOSE: Early-Onset Scoliosis (EOS) (defined as a curvature of the spine ≥ 10° with onset before 10 years of age) if not properly treated, can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Traditionally Growing Rods (TGRs), implants fixated to the spine and extended every 6-8 months by surgery, are considered the gold standard, but Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods (MCGRs) avoid multiple surgeries. While the potential benefit of outpatient distraction procedure with MCGR is huge, concerns still remain about its risks, up to the release of a Medical Device Alert (MDA) by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advising not to implant MCGRs until further notice. The aim of this literature review is to (1) give an overview on the use of MCGRs and (2) identify what is currently understood about the surgical, implant and patient factors associated with the use of MCGRs. METHODS: Systematic literature review. RESULTS: Surgical factors such as use of single rod configuration or incorrect rod contouring might affect early failure of MCGRs. Patient's older age and higher BMI are correlated with rod slippage. Wear debris and distraction mechanism failure may result from implant design and iteration. CONCLUSION: Despite the complications reported, this technology still offers one of the best solutions to spine surgeons dealing with severe EOS. Lowering the complication rate by identifying risk factors for failure is possible and further studies in this direction are required. Once the risk factors are well described, some of these can be addressed enabling a safer use of MCGRs

In-vivo antitrypanosomal effect and in-silico prediction of chronic toxicity of N-methylholaphyllamine in rats

Purpose: To determine the in-vivo anti-trypanosomal effect and sub-chronic toxicity of Nmethylholaphyllamine (MHA) isolated from H. africana against Trypanosoma brucei in rats and also to predict its toxicity by an in-silico method. Methods: Parasitemia was induced in rats with 1.5 x 105/mL trypanosomes and treatment commenced 5 days post-infection for 12 days. The rats were treated with MHA (3.5 μM/rat) for 5 days and with diminazene (3.5 mg/kg) for 2 days and were monitored every other day during and after treatment for the level of parasitemia and PCV. The chronic toxicity study was carried out with a 28-day sub-chronic toxicity cycle protocol while the toxicity was predicted in-silico with ProTox-II which is freely available on a web server. Results: MHA exhibited anti-trypanosomal effect in infected rats leading to the restoration of PCV to baseline values (≥ 40 %) on the 14th day and consequent disappearance of parasitemia on day 17 post-infection with no relapse. The slight changes in clinical observation, weight, feed consumption, clinical and histopathology of high-dose MHA rats were not significant (p < 0.05) and were not attributed to the treatment. Apart from MHA-induced immunotoxicity observed in in-silico prediction, no other predicted toxicities were significant; however, few undetected toxicities were found to be mediated by amine oxidase A, androgen and/or histamine, H1 receptors toxicophore fit. Conclusion: The high in-vivo antitrypanosomal effect and non-toxicity of MHA in this study further provide useful empirical data for lead optimization of MHA to combat sleeping sickness

Management of patients with magnetically controlled growth rods amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction At the time of writing, we are all coping with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst other things, this has had a significant impact on postponing virtually all routine clinic visits and elective surgeries. Concurrently, the Magnetic Expansion Control (MAGEC) rod has been issued with a number of field safety notices and UK regulator medical device alerts. Methods This document serves to provide an overview of the current situation regarding the use of MAGEC rods, primarily in the UK, and the impact that the pandemic has had on the management of patients with these rods. Results and Conclusion The care of each patient must of course be determined on an individual basis; however, the experience of the authors is that a short delay in scheduled distractions and clinic visits will not adversely impact patient treatment. The authors caution against a gap in distractions of longer than 6 months and emphasise the importance of continued remote patient monitoring to identify those who may need to be seen more urgently

Tibial torus and toddler's fractures misdiagnosed as transient synovitis: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The high incidence of transient synovitis in early childhood makes it the first suspected pathology in a limping child. Trauma, which has long been regarded as a causative factor for transient synovitis, may be underestimated in a non-cooperative toddler.</p> <p>After excluding most serious conditions, such as septic arthritis, a speculative diagnosis of transient synovitis can be made, and this can easily mask a subtle musculoskeletal injury.</p> <p>Case presentations</p> <p>We report the cases of three Caucasian patients (two boys, aged 20-months- and three-years-old, and one girl, aged two-years-old), with tibial torus and toddler's fractures which were late-diagnosed due to an initial misdiagnosis of transient synovitis of the hip.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In a non-cooperative child musculoskeletal trauma can be mistaken as a simple causative factor for transient synovitis of the hip and this can easily prevent further investigation for a possible subtle musculoskeletal injury of the lower extremities.</p> <p>Our experience with the presented cases suggests the need to be more vigilant in the differential diagnosis of transient synovitis in young children.</p