An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between International Trade and Quality of Life

Ever increasing trade restrictions have severe consequences for the quality of human life. Since improving the quality of life (QoL) is the core of economic development, therefore, it is important to investigate the factors affecting it. International trade is an important factor which affects QoL. Therefore, the current study is an attempt to analyze the nexus of international trade and QoL in the member countries of the United Nation Development Program (UNDP). Since QoL is a subjective measure, therefore, human development index (HDI) was used to empirically measure it. Data of 184 UNDP member countries for a period of 28 years (1990-2017) was analyzed in the current study. Both cross-sectional and panel data analysis techniques were used. The results indicated that international trade positively affects QoL. Hence, it was concluded that instead of remaining a closed economy, countries should promote international trade to improve the QoL of their people

S6 Kinase: A Compelling Prospect for Therapeutic Interventions

S6 kinase, a member of AGC family of protein kinases and a downstream effector of mTORC1 pathway has over the years found much relevance in maintaining a normal cellular state by virtue of its established role in regulation of cell growth and proliferation. S6 kinase activity has been linked to different cellular processes like glucose homeostasis, translational and transcriptional regulation. Hence any dysregulation in S6K1 leads to the emergence of various pathological conditions like diabetes, cancer and obesity. It is as such S6 kinase has emerged as a potential target for therapeutic interventions employed in curing such diseases. The Present Chapter reviews the regulation of S6K1, its structural organization and functions, besides highlighting its potential to act as an alternative therapeutic target for various cancerous situations exhibiting deranged mTOR signaling so as to overcome the possibility of relapses observed otherwise while using conventional drug

Neuroendocrine Alterations in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness that occurs worldwide. Over the years the syndrome has had various labels, ranging from the Victorian one of neurasthenia to the putative neurological diagnosis of benign myalgic encephalomyelitis (Acheson 1959). A working case definition was published by the Centers for Disease Control in 1988 (Holmes et al) and revised in 1994 (Fukuda et al). In the initial studies of patients with CFS, impaired activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (Demitrack et al 1991) and monoaminergic dysfunction (Demitrack et al 1992; Bakheit et al 1992) was reported. Dynamic neuroendocrine challenge tests provide one of the only methods for examining neurotransmitter function in vivo in humans (Checkley 1980). In the following studies these tests were used to examine different neurotransmitter systems and their influence on the functional activity of the HP A, hypothalamic-somatotroph and hypothalamic-prolactin axes. In the first study, serotonin (5-HT) function in CFS was evaluated using the specific 5-HT1A receptor agonist, buspirone. It was found that prolactin responses to this agent were augmented in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to healthy controls. This finding does not support the view that CFS is a form of depressive disorder because in depression, prolactin responses to this 5-HT1A agonist (Bakheit et al 1992) and to d-fenfluramine (Cleare et al 1995) are blunted reflecting decreased 5-HT neurotransmission. The study is therefore of importance in suggesting that CFS unlike depression, may be associated with increased 5-HT function. The second study is based on the hypothesis that abnormalities in the HPA-axis (Demitrack et al 1991) arise from a disturbance in serotinergic neurotransmission. ACTH and cortisol responses to the selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist ipsapirone were examined; no differences in baseline ACTH and cortisol levels were found but in CFS, there was significant attenuation of ACTH release. Study 3 was designed to demonstrate the functional integrity of the hypothalamic-somatotroph axis and its interaction with the HPA-axis. Growth hormone (GH) responses to dexamethasone were examined in two phases, before and after the administration of metyrapone, an inhibitor of 11-beta hydroxylation, given to block steroid synthesis and upregulate brain steroid receptors. Blunted responses were recorded in each phase in patients with CFS and depression compared to healthy controls. It is concluded that the abnormality found is compatible with a decrease response and/or a lack of plasticity in cerebral glucocorticoid receptors. In study 4, noradrenergic function was examined by measuring GH responses to the monoamine reuptake inhibitor, desipramine; blunted responses were found in patients with CFS, compared to healthy individuals. It is concluded that the attenuated response is due to decreased sensitivity of the alpha2-postsynaptic adrenoceptor, secondary to a hyperadrenergic state, indicating that central noradrenergic function is decreased in patients with CFS. In study 5, growth hormone responses to anticholinesterase, pyridostigmine were examined: augmented responses were found in the CFS group, compared to the healthy individuals. This enhanced response reflects increased sensitivity of acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter function in CFS. In studies 6 & 7, growth hormone responses to the dopamine agonist, bromocriptine, and to the GABA(B) agonist, baclofen, were measured in order to assess dopamine (DA) and GABA neurotransmitter function. The responses in patients with CFS were the same as in the healthy controls. It is concluded that dopamine (DA) and GABA neurotransmitter systems are not involved in the pathophysiology of CFS. In summary, the neuroendocrine investigations revealed positive findings of a) upregulation of 5-HT receptors with increased 5-HT function, b) impaired activation of the FTPA-axis to serotonin input, c) cerebral steroid receptor resistance and d) reciprocal dysfunction in noradrenaline (NE) and acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated endocrine responses. These findings suggest that CFS is an organic illness with definite neuroendocrine abnormalities. Some of the neuroendocrine abnormalities are similar to those reported in depression, suggesting the reason why these two illnesses may share common symptoms

2-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propanoic acid

The crystal structure of the title compound, C11H9NO4, consists of infinite one-dimensional polymeric chains due to inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl­ate and carbonyl groups. The phthalimide ring system and the C—COO group are planar, with r.m.s. deviations of 0.0253 and 0.0067 Å, respectively, from their mean square planes and the dihedral angle between them is 66.41 (7)°. The mol­ecules are stabilized by C=O⋯π inter­actions and weak intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

(5E)-5-(4-Hydr­oxy-3-methoxy­benzyl­idene)-2-thioxo-1,3-thia­zolidin-4-one methanol monosolvate

In the title compound, C11H9NO3S2·CH4O, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 3.57 (16)° and intra­molecular O—H⋯O and C—H⋯S inter­actions occur. In the crystal, the thia­zolidin-4-one mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains. The hydrogen-bond motifs lead to S(5), S(6) and R 3 3(8) ring motifs. There exist C=O⋯π inter­actions between the heterocyclic rings and π–π inter­actions between the heterocyclic and benzene rings at distances of 3.455 (2) and 3.602 (2) Å, respectively. The methanol solvent mol­ecule is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.542 (9):0.458 (9) ratio

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT SUCCESS: THE ROLES OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND SELF-EFFICACY

Transformational leaders must constantly monitor their environments to identify and develop significant internal and external exposure to multiple points of view. Transformational leaders serve as role models for bridging organizational boundaries and proactive outreach to external stakeholders to communicate information, develop inter-organizational cooperation, establish coalitions, and harness resources. The major goal of this article is to examine the dynamics that drive organizational project success, specifically the impact of transformational leadership on external and internal social capital in management teams. This research analyzed transformational leadership and project success relationships in Pakistan’s construction industry setting along with the moderating role of the project manager subordinate’s social capital and the mediating role of the project manager subordinate’s self-efficacy. The data were collected from196 subordinates of project managers of different private organizations. Data were examined through correlation, regression, and the Hayes model through SPSS. According to the results, transformational leadership is positively associated with project success and substantially associated with social capital. Additionally, self-efficacy is positively associated with transformational leadership and project success, and it mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and project success. Social capital moderates the relationship between transformational leadership and project success, according to additional findings. This study sheds light on the relationship between transformational leadership and self-efficacy in the context of project success.

Impact of Credit Constraints on Firms Growth: A Case Study of Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan

This study explores the impact of credit constraint on growth by using firm level data of manufacturing sector of Pakistan for the period of 1974-2010 analyzing via Generalized Method of Moments (1991) one step and two step estimation technique. Result of full sample shows that the firms in manufacturing sector for the period from 1974-2010 are not facing external financial constraints and the effect of sale to capital ratio indicates the availability of investment opportunities for the firms in the manufacturing sector of Pakistan. The results for pre and post financial sector reform era shows that firms are facing tight external financial constraints in pre financial reform era as compared to post financial reform era. Results show that growth of firms having small assets is constrained by internal finance whereas firms having medium and large assets are not constrained by internal finance. Similarly, firms’ growth that is less dependent on debt finance is constrained by internal finance whereas results for the firms that are moderately and highly aggressive in financing with debt indicate that the growth of firms belonging to these groups is not constrained by internal finance. Similarly, low dividend paying firms growth is constrained by internal finance whereas high dividend paying firms’ growth is not constrained by internal finance

Multidisciplinary Management and Outcome of Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumors

Introduction/Objective:  About fifteen percent of the primary CNS tumors are intraspinal. About two-thirds of tumors are intradural extramedullary (IDEM). This study was conducted to review the outcome of operative management of intradural extramedullary tumors in correlation with the factors, both clinical & histopathological, influencing the neurology of patients & prognosis. Materials and Methods:  It was a multicenter study including 42 patients conducted from December 2018 to December 2020. All patients were diagnosed by MRI with and without contrast. Patients were surgically treated & analyzed for clinical features i.e., pain by visual analog scale (VAS) & neurology by modified McCormick scale both preoperatively & post-operatively. Clinical features & outcomes were correlated with tumor size & histopathology. p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results:  This study included 42 cases. The most common diagnosis was schwannoma (76.19%). The average intradural space occupied at presentation was 82%. The most common location was dorsal (90.4%). The visual analog score for pain (VAS) improved in all patients post-operatively from 7 ± 1.9 to 2 ± 0.8 (p = 0.003) & modified McCormick scale from 3.0 ± 1.3 to 2.0 ± 1.0 (p = 0.005). The preoperative symptoms were correlated with the only size of the tumor occupying the intradural space (VAS p = 0.021, modified McCormick scale p = 0.018). Conclusion:  All the tumors excised showed some improvement in neurological status. Therefore, all patients diagnosed with IDEM should be operated on even if present with prolonged symptoms or severe neurological compromise. Keywords:  Intradural Extramedullary, Meningioma, Schwannoma, Intraspinal

Diabetes mellitus among tuberculosis patients: a cross sectional study from Pakistan

Background: The co-occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) is largely associated with high frequency of morbidity. Objective: To determine the prevalence of DM among TB patients and describe the socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with TB-DM co-occurrence . Methods: We enrolled 500 TB patients from September, 2014 to August 2015 at four major public sector hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. A questionnaire was used to collect information regarding associated socio-demographic and behavioral factors of the patients. We monitored the fasting blood sugar of each patient by using a semi automated clinical chemistry analyzer followed by an HbA1c level check of all hyperglycemic patients. Results: The prevalence of TB-DM co-occurrence was 14.8%. The prevalence of TB-DM was higher (62.2%) among males. The >57 year age group had the highest proportion of patients (35.1%), with co-existent TB-DM. Most were illiterate (73.0%) and unemployed (48%). Moreover, among the 74 patients positive for TB-DM had a history of smoking. Age and education level were significantly associated with DM-TB while gender, occupation and smoking were not associated. Conclusion: The study revealed a 14.8% prevalence of DM among TB patients. This was associated with several socio-demographic factors, including age, unemployment, literacy and polluted environment. Thus, poor and unhealthy lifestyles were the factors associated with DM among immunologically compromised individuals due to TB