The bank lending channel in a dual banking system: Evidence from Malaysia

This paper examines the bank lending channel of monetary transmission in Malaysia, a country with a dual banking system including both Islamic and conventional banks, over the period 1994:01-2015:06. A two-regime threshold vector autoregression (TVAR) model is estimated to take into account possible nonlinearities in the relationship between bank lending and monetary policy under different economic conditions. The results indicate that Islamic credit is less responsive than conventional credit to interest rate shocks in both the high and low growth regimes. By contrast, the relative importance of Islamic credit shocks in driving output growth is much greater in the low growth regime, their effects being positive. These findings can be interpreted in terms of the distinctive features of Islamic banks

Association between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and High-risk Features in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: A Multicenter Study

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a noninvasive method with acceptable sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in moderate-risk patients, including those with CAD risk factors. Methods: The present cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted on 4886 patients from April 2020 through March 2023 at Chamran and Tehran Heart Center hospitals. A questionnaire regarding anthropometric variables, demographic characteristics, CAD risk factors, and MPI findings was designed. Results: Totally, 2179 patients (44.6%) had abnormal MPI. Patients with abnormal MPI were significantly older than those with normal MPI. Older age (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.72; P<0.001), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.48; P=0.012), hypertension (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.37; P=0.032), and dyslipidemia (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.8; P<0.001) were associated with abnormal MPI independently. Patients with more CAD risk factors were more likely to have abnormal MPI. Thus, in patients without or at most with 1 risk factor and those with 8 CAD risk factors, the likelihood of abnormal MPI was 3.7% and 76.2%, respectively. The frequency of left ventricular dilation and right ventricular prominence was significantly higher in patients with older age (P<0.001 and P=0.043, respectively), dyslipidemia (P<0.001 and P=0.007, respectively), DM (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), and hypertension (P=0.048 and P=0.057, respectively). Conclusion: Individuals with CAD risk factors, especially those with older age, DM, hypertension, or dyslipidemia, require meticulous attention during CAD evaluation, particularly via MPI

Source discrimination of PAHs in industrial soil of the Persian Gulf Coast

The purpose of this study is to use environmental fingerprinting technique and to identify oil spills and their relationship with the oil derived from known oil fields. This is the first comprehensive study on PAHs distribution as oil spill markers in the Persian Gulf to investigate petroleum contamination in soil. Soil samples (0–10 cm) were collected from industrial zone. The results indicated that total PAHs range from 460 to 1730.4 ng.g−1 for industrial soil. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial area showed high concentration and it is associated with petrogenic input as these sites are located near gas and oil fields. Analysis of the results and application of biomarker ratios such as MP/P ratio showed that the main source of PAHs input is petrogenic sources. Analysis of all samples showed that contamination in the study area is derived from direct inputs of petroleum products and crude oil

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Due to MTMR2 Mutations and Implications in Membrane Trafficking

Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4 (CMT4) is an autosomal recessive severe form of neuropathy with genetic heterogeneity. CMT4B1 is caused by mutations in the myotubularin-related 2 (MTMR2) gene and as a member of the myotubularin family, the MTMR2 protein is crucial for the modulation of membrane trafficking. To enable future clinical trials, we performed a detailed review of the published cases with MTMR2 mutations and describe four novel cases identified through whole-exome sequencing (WES). The four unrelated families harbor novel homozygous mutations in MTMR2 (NM_016156, Family 1: c.1490dupC; p.Phe498IlefsTer2; Family 2: c.1479+1G>A; Family 3: c.1090C>T; p.Arg364Ter; Family 4: c.883C>T; p.Arg295Ter) and present with CMT4B1-related severe early-onset motor and sensory neuropathy, generalized muscle atrophy, facial and bulbar weakness, and pes cavus deformity. The clinical description of the new mutations reported here overlap with previously reported CMT4B1 phenotypes caused by mutations in the phosphatase domain of MTMR2, suggesting that nonsense MTMR2 mutations, which are predicted to result in loss or disruption of the phosphatase domain, are associated with a severe phenotype and loss of independent ambulation by the early twenties. Whereas the few reported missense mutations and also those truncating mutations occurring at the C-terminus after the phosphatase domain cause a rather mild phenotype and patients were still ambulatory above the age 30 years. Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy and Centronuclear Myopathy causing mutations have been shown to occur in proteins involved in membrane remodeling and trafficking pathway mediated by phosphoinositides. Earlier studies have showing the rescue of MTM1 myopathy by MTMR2 overexpression, emphasize the importance of maintaining the phosphoinositides equilibrium and highlight a potential compensatory mechanism amongst members of this pathway. This proved that the regulation of expression of these proteins involved in the membrane remodeling pathway may compensate each other's loss- or gain-of-function mutations by restoring the phosphoinositides equilibrium. This provides a potential therapeutic strategy for neuromuscular diseases resulting from mutations in the membrane remodeling pathway

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Nanostructured chitosan/monolaurin film: Preparation, characterization and antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes on ultrafiltered white cheese

Antimicrobial cellulose-chitosan (CC) films containing monolaurin (ML) (0.5 and 1%) were developed using the sol-gel method and characterized in terms of microscopic, structural, swelling, water solubility, and antimicrobial properties against Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and on ultrafiltered cheese during storage at 4 for 14 days. The results of antimicrobial activity revealed that the addition of ML significantly (p < 0.05) increased the diameter of the inhibition zone. Moreover, CC film did not show inhibitory activity on L. monocytogenes. Scanning electron microscope images showed zinc nanoparticle with the 20-100 nm size in the film. Moreover, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis results confirmed successful introducing and binding of the ML in the double layer film. The addition of ML in CC film decreased the swelling index in a significant manner, whereas the solubility of the film increased. A significant increase in solubility with ML addition was also found for both CC incorporated ML films. The addition of 0.5 and 1% ML into CC films made a 2.4-2.3 log reduction in L. monocytogenes population on cheese after 14 days. The results revealed a suitable antibacterial activity of monolaurin incorporated CC film, which is applicable for use as cheese packaging to control L. monocytogenes

Characterization of cellulosic paper coated with chitosan-zinc oxide nanocomposite containing nisin and its application in packaging of UF cheese

A new antimicrobial bilayer film was developed using chitosan, cellulose, and nisin. Chitosan solution containing nisin (500 and 1000 mu g/mL) was prepared by sol-gel method and then the solution was coated on cellulose paper by dip coating method. A chitosan-cellulose film without antimicrobial had no inhibitory effect on Listeria monocytogenes, whereas, the incorporation of nisin made a significant increase (P<0.05) in antimicrobial characteristics of the films. Moreover, no significant differences were shown on antimicrobial activity of developed films during the storage at 4 degrees C for one month. However, the addition of nisin showed a significant increase in the swelling index and solubility of bilayer film. Scanning electron microscope images revealed a uniform coating of chitosan solution on cellulose paper. The FTIR analysis also confirmed successful introducing and binding of the nisin in double layer film. Films with 1000 mu g/mL of nisin completely inactivated the initial (similar to 5 log(10) CFU/g) counts of L. monocytogenes on the surface of Ultra-filter white cheese after storage at 4 degrees C for 14 days. We concluded that nanocomposite film of chitosan-cellulose containing nisin has novel antibacterial activity and can be used for packaging in cheese. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Fingerprinting techniques investigation to detect petroleum hydrocarbon origin in coastal sediments of Persian Gulf

Persian Gulf coasts are subjected to different sources of petroleum pollution. This paper enhanced fingerprinting method of applying biomarkers polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes in identifying the distribution of oil spills and petroleum products. A total of 18 samples were collected from the northern coasts of Persian Gulf. PAH concentrations in the coastal sediments ranged from 184.49 to 2771.88 ng g−1. Distribution of three-ring PAHs was much higher than the others. PAHs concentration can be categorized as low to moderate comparing the global scale. Applying principal component analysis and data clustering revealed two major groups. The first group, including alkylated phenanthrenes, belongs to the low molecular weight PAHs with two and three rings, which are abundant in petrogenic sources mostly caused by petroleum spills. The second group consists of four- and five-ring PAHs. This group is frequently detected in pyrogenic source, such as combustion of coal, wood, vehicle fuel, and waste tire

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons identification and source discrimination in rural soil of the northern Persian Gulf coast

Due to strategic situation of the Persian Gulf, identifying the petroleum pollution level and source is an important issue. Therefore, this paper enhanced fingerprinting method of applying biomarkers Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in identifying source and distribution of oil spills of the exposed areas. 10 soil samples collected from the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf along three provinces in the south of Iran. PAH concentrations in the soil ranged from 42.76 to 5596.49 ng.g-1. In the present study the distribution of 3 ringed PAHs was much higher than the other PAHs. Phenanthrene and alkylated derivatives of phenanthrene such as 3-methyl, 2-methyl, 9-methyl and 1-methyl phenanthrene were distinctively higher than the other components. According to the result PAHs concentration can be considered as no or little risk of toxicity for the organisms living in soil except for Fluoranthhene, comparing LD50. Applying marker ratios revealed that in most of the sampling sites showed perogenic sources and it emphasizes on the direct impact of oil and petroleum products to the lands due to oil well exploitation and transferring pipelines