THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVOLUTION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN INDIA AND UNITED KINGDOM

This study aims to provide a broad yet comprehensive understanding of corporate governance in the international context. After an exhaustive review of the social sciences literature, the dominant theoretical paradigms and debates on corporate governance have been highlighted. Next, the study traces the trajectory of corporate governance development in the United Kingdom and India. Landmark reports and revolutionary codes of conduct which form the backbone of existing corporate governance systems in the two countries have also been briefly discussed. A chronological and objective study of the evolution of corporate governance in India and UK is followed by a comparison between existing governance practices and principles in both countries. Key similarities and dissimilarities have been pointed out. The comparison has been carried out on the basis of certain identified drivers or mechanisms of corporate governance which are deemed to improve the effectiveness of the overall system. In the light of the research undertaken instead of categorizing either one system or principle as better than the other, it has been pointed out that there is no universal one -size -fit all approach to corporate governance. Following the recommendations made by other important academics the study concludes by arguing for a holistic approach. A well balanced holistic approach to corporate governance amalgamates both voluntary regulations with statutory laws thereby neutralizing the trade offs in both competing approaches to create a synergy. Finally, certain key limitations which are inherent to the study have been acknowledged along with suggestions for future potential areas of research

Association of serum placental growth factor and pregnancy associated plasma protein A between 11 to 14 weeks and pre-eclampsia

Background: Pre eclampsia complicates around 5-10% of pregnancies worldwide. Many countries in the world are far away of having interventions to predict and prevent preeclampsia. A number of biochemical, biophysical and sonographic parameters are emerging as a potential tool which can help us in a long way. This study was aimed to study association of biochemical markers of preeclampsia in early pregnancy with the development of preeclampsia.Methods: This cohort study was conducted over a period of one year in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow.Results: Total number of women enrolled at 11-14 weeks were 56. The mean age of women enrolled was 28±4.2 years. Out of total 44.6% women were nulliparous. Mean crown rump length at testing was 60.55±11.26mm. There was a significant correlation between the levels of Placental growth factors and development of PE (p<0.01) and especially severe early onset disease, however we did not found a significant correlation between Pregnancy associated plasma protein and Preeclampsia.Conclusions: Placental growth factor is an emerging marker which could be incorporated in essential bundle of care at 11 to 14 weeks testing in order to enhance the detection rates of preeclampsia

Decoding the effect of time interval between hCG and IUI and sperm preparation and IUI

Background: The study was aimed to assess the difference in IUI outcome depending on the interval between hCG trigger and IUI and sperm preparation and IUI.Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Infertility unit at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow from January-December 2016. All the women eligible for IUI were included in the study. Once the follicle attained size of 17-18 mm, IUI was planned 36-48 hours after Inj. hCG 10,000 IU im. Semen processing was done in laboratory and time noted between sperm preparation and IUI. Outcome was confirmation of pregnancy by urine test. Cases were women in whom IUI was done 36-40 hours after hCG as against controls (>40 hours). Interval between sperm preparation and IUI was <30 minutes in cases and ≥30 minutes in controls.Results: A total of 624 cycles were included in the study. Clomiphene was used in 582/624 cycles (93.3%) gonadotropins used in 42/624 cycles (2.7%). There was a total of 23 conceptions in study (3.7%). Of these 8/98 (8.2%) were seen when the interval between ovulation trigger and IUI was 36-40 hours and 15/526 in cycles (2.9%) when the interval was more than 40 hours (p=0.023; OR-3.028 95% CI -1.247-7.352). Of a total of 23 conceptions in the study, 18/324 conceptions were seen when IUI was done within 30 minutes of sperm preparation as compared to 5/300 when interval was more than 30 minutes (p=0.01).Conclusions: IUI with ovarian stimulation is a simple and effective procedure and its outcome can be maximized keeping in consideration the availability of gametes. IUI performed within 36-40 hours of hCG trigger and within 30 minutes of sperm preparation can increase conception rates

Increasing rates of cesarean section, an upcoming public health problem: an audit of cesarean section in a tertiary care center of North India based on Robson classification

Background: Increasing rates of cesarean section during last three decades has become a cause of alarm since and a need for ongoing studies. Objective of present study was to investigate cesarean section rates as per modified Robsons Criteria and to determine area of concern which requires maximum focus to decrease overall caesarean rateMethods: This cross sectional study was conducted over a period of one year (From January 2016 to December 2016) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow.Results: Total number of deliveries for one year was 8526. Out of them, 4275 (50.1%) were vaginal and 4251 (49.9%) were abdominal. Overall maximum caesarean section rate was contributed by group 5 of modified Robsons criteria i.e. previous section, singleton, cephalic, ≥37 weeks (17.7%).Conclusions: Robson 10 group classification provides easy way in collecting information about Cesarean section rate which obtains good insight into certain birth groups. It is important that efforts to reduce the overall CS rate should focus on reducing the primary CS rate (group 1 and 2) and on increasing vaginal birth after CS (group 5). The caesarean rate is commonest in group 5 that is previous section (17.7%)

Frequency of fokI and taqI polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene in Indian population and its association with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels

Background: The VDR protein is at the centre of the vitamin D endocrine system, a complex physiological system with substantial feedback regulatory mechanisms involved in maintaining serum calcium and 1, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D3. Variations in VDR gene are shown to have implications in several diseases and have also been implicated as an important genetic factor affecting bone mass. Aim: To determine the frequency of Fok I and Taq I variants in healthy Indian individuals and its association with 25-OH-Vitamin D levels. Settings and Design: Blood samples were collected from 143 unrelated normal individuals (Male-84 and Female-59) and their genotypes determined. Materials and Methods: After amplification by polymerase chain reaction, each polymorphism was genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism. For 100 normal healthy individuals 25-hydroxyvitamin D estimation was done using DiaSorin kit method. Statistical Analysis: Graph pad software was used to calculate the P values from the Chi-square. Results: Out of 143 samples analyzed for FokI and TaqI polymorphisms the following genotypic frequency was obtained FF 59%, Ff 36%, ff 5% and TT 49%, Tt 43%, tt 8% respectively. Conclusions: Results indicate that the distribution of the polymorphic loci Fok I and Taq I vary considerably not only in different populations, but also within India. Furthermore, when the genotypes were analyzed with respect to 25-OH-Vitamin D levels, a significant association was seen for the Taq 1 SNP but not with the Fok I

Cognitive Training and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Pilot Trial

BackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive stimulation, represents a potential intervention to enhance cognition across clinical populations including Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This randomized clinical trial in MCI investigated the effects of anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) delivered to left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) combined with gist-reasoning training (SMART) versus sham tDCS (s-tDCS) plus SMART on measures of cognitive and neural changes in resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF). We were also interested in SMART effects on cognitive performance regardless of the tDCS group.MethodsTwenty-two MCI participants, who completed the baseline cognitive assessment (T1), were randomized into one of two groups: a-tDCS + SMART and s-tDCS + SMART. Of which, 20 participants completed resting pCASL MRI scan to measure rCBF. Eight SMART sessions were administered over 4 weeks with a-tDCS or s-tDCS stimulation for 20 min before each session. Participants were assessed immediately (T2) and 3-months after training (T3).ResultsSignificant group × time interactions showed cognitive gains at T2 in executive function (EF) measure of inhibition [DKEFS- Color word (p = 0.047)], innovation [TOSL (p = 0.01)] and on episodic memory [TOSL (p = 0.048)] in s-tDCS + SMART but not in a-tDCS + SMART group. Nonetheless, the gains did not persist for 3 months (T3) after the training. A voxel-based analysis showed significant increase in regional rCBF in the right middle frontal cortex (MFC) (cluster-wise p = 0.05, k = 1,168 mm3) in a-tDCS + SMART compared to s-tDCS + SMART. No significant relationship was observed between the increased CBF with cognition. Irrespective of group, the combined MCI showed gains at T2 in EF of conceptual reasoning [DKEFS card sort (p = 0.033)] and category fluency [COWAT (p = 0.055)], along with gains at T3 in EF of verbal fluency [COWAT (p = 0.009)].ConclusionOne intriguing finding is a-tDCS to left IFG plus SMART increased blood flow to right MFC, however, the stimulation seemingly blocked cognitive benefits of SMART on EF (inhibition and innovation) and episodic memory compared to s-tDCS + SMART group. Although the sample size is small, this paper contributes to growing evidence that cognitive training provides a way to significantly enhance cognitive performance in adults showing memory loss, where the role of a-tDCS in augmenting these effects need further study

THE FIRST REPORT OF A POSSIBLE SARS-CoV-2 REINFECTION IN NEPAL

oai:ojs2.jebas.org:article/1Since August 2020, a growing number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, after approximately three months, in most of them, again presented a new infection episode, which has been defined as reinfection. So far, no cases have been reported in Nepal, and still there is limited the number of them, especially of those fully confirmed. Here, we report a case and discuss its multiple implications in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic