Response of Manufacturing Sector to Financial Liberalization in Pakistan

It has been believed that financial liberalization can stimulate industrial growth which may be translated into overall growth of the economy by efficient allocation of credit which generates investment opportunities by reducing the cost of investment, deregulations, privatizations and reduced capital controls. This paper aims to examine the impact of financial liberalization on industrial response in manufacturing industry measured as new firm entry. Moreover, moderating effect of external finance dependence on the relationship of financial liberalization and firm entry is estimated. We estimate the model using Generalized methods of moments and found that external finance dependence has a significant negative impact of new firm entry, while financial liberalization has a positive but insignificant impact on firm entry. Nevertheless, a statistically significant positive moderating impact of external finance dependence is documented which implies that the sectors which are more dependent on external finance gain disproportionate benefit from financial liberalization

Comparative Efficiency of Soil and Foliar Applied Zinc in Improving Yield and Yield Components of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Variety Kiran-95

A field study was undertaken to evaluate the comparative efficacy of zinc application through soil and foliar spray on growth and yield of wheat variety Kiran-95 at Soil Chemistry Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam during Rabi 2013-14. The experiment was laid out in three replicated randomized complete block design. The treatments comprised Control (No Zinc), Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage, Soil applied Zinc 10.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage, Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage, Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage, Foliar applied Zinc 0.4% at tillering and Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage. The statistical analysis of data suggested that soil and foliar applied zinc affected significantly (P<0.05) growth and yield traits of wheat variety Kiran-95. The results illustrated that Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage produced maximum plant height (99.0 cm), tillers (410.7 m-2), spike length (13.1 cm), spikelets per spike (23.0), grains per  spike (45.1), seed index (43.4 g), biological yield (9354.4 kg ha-1) and grain yield (5123.4 kg ha-1), closely followed by Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage with 97.6 cm plant height, 408.8 tillers m-2, 13.0 cm spike length, 22.8 spikelets per spike, 45.0 grains per spike, 43.2 g seed index, 9273.4 kg ha-1 biological yield and 5080.7 kg ha-1 grain yield. The performance of wheat variety Kiran-95 ranked 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th almost in all the growth and yield parameters particularly grain yield (kg ha-1) when fertilized with Soil applied Zinc 10.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage, Foliar applied Zinc 0.4% at tillering, Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage and Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage.  However, minimum growth and yield traits were registered in Control (No Zinc). Furthermore, the results concluded that although numerically maximum growth and yield values were recorded in Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage but statistically the differences between Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage and Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage were non-significant. Hence, Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage were found the most economical treatment for obtaining optimum yield of wheat variety Kiran-95. Keywords: Wheat, Comparative Efficiency, Soil, Foliar, Zinc, Improving Yield and Yield Component

Non-Operative Management of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis in Children

Objective: To compare the efficacy of non-surgical conservative management with surgical management in cases of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. Study design: Prospective comparative study. Settings: Pediatric surgery Department, --removed for blind review---- Study duration: 1st February 2020 to 31st May 2021. Methodology: Ninety patients of either gender with age range from 5-12 years, diagnosed as uncomplicated acute appendicitis, were divided in two groups. Group C patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics (ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day, amikacin 10mg/kg/day and metronidazole 22.5 mg/kg/day) and maintenance fluids were started. Patients were observed for improvement or any signs of deterioration. Those who deteriorated within 24 hours were management with surgical management immediately. Follow ups were carried out after discharge at 7th day, 1 month and six months. Patients reporting with recurrence of symptoms were managed with appendicectomy. Group S patients were managed with appendicectomy with open technique. Patients were observed for post-operative complications. Results: Demographic data of both groups was comparable. In group C, 34 (75.56%) patients were successfully treated with conservative management, whereas in group S, 39 (86.67%) were successfully treated with surgical management. The difference was insignificant with a p-value of 0.114. In group C, 5 (11.11%) patients did not respond to conservative management and they were managed with appendicectomy and recurrence of symptoms was seen in 6 (13.33%) patients in group C, they were also managed with appendicectomy. In group S, 6 (13.33%) patients suffered post-operative complications. Mean length of stay in hospital was 4.31±1.20 and 4.09±1.12 days in group C and S respectively. This difference was statistically insignificant with a p-value of 0.368. Conclusion:     It is concluded in our study that uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children can be successfully managed with non-surgical conservative management. Keywords: Acute appendicitis, Appendicectomy, Conservative management, Non-surgical management, Pediatric surgery, Uncomplicated acute appendicitis

Non-Operative Management of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis in Children

Objective: To compare the efficacy of non-surgical conservative management with surgical management in cases of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. Study design: Prospective comparative study. Settings: Pediatric surgery Department, --removed for blind review---- Study duration: 1st February 2020 to 31st May 2021. Methodology: Ninety patients of either gender with age range from 5-12 years, diagnosed as uncomplicated acute appendicitis, were divided in two groups. Group C patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics (ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day, amikacin 10mg/kg/day and metronidazole 22.5 mg/kg/day) and maintenance fluids were started. Patients were observed for improvement or any signs of deterioration. Those who deteriorated within 24 hours were management with surgical management immediately. Follow ups were carried out after discharge at 7th day, 1 month and six months. Patients reporting with recurrence of symptoms were managed with appendicectomy. Group S patients were managed with appendicectomy with open technique. Patients were observed for post-operative complications. Results: Demographic data of both groups was comparable. In group C, 34 (75.56%) patients were successfully treated with conservative management, whereas in group S, 39 (86.67%) were successfully treated with surgical management. The difference was insignificant with a p-value of 0.114. In group C, 5 (11.11%) patients did not respond to conservative management and they were managed with appendicectomy and recurrence of symptoms was seen in 6 (13.33%) patients in group C, they were also managed with appendicectomy. In group S, 6 (13.33%) patients suffered post-operative complications. Mean length of stay in hospital was 4.31±1.20 and 4.09±1.12 days in group C and S respectively. This difference was statistically insignificant with a p-value of 0.368. Conclusion:     It is concluded in our study that uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children can be successfully managed with non-surgical conservative management. Keywords: Acute appendicitis, Appendicectomy, Conservative management, Non-surgical management, Pediatric surgery, Uncomplicated acute appendicitis

Surgical Site Infection with and without Prophylatic Antibiotic in Children undergoing Elecltive Inguinal Herniotomy

Objective: This study was aimed at determining the frequency of surgical site infection in children undergoing elective inguinal herniotomy with and without prophylactic antibiotic. Study design: Prospective comparative study. Settings: Pediatric surgery Department, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur. Study duration: From 1st February 2020 to 31th March 2021. Methodology: One hundred and sixty patients selected for this study and were equally divided into two groups. Group A received antibiotic prophylaxis (Injection ceftriaxone 50mg/kg) before the induction of general anesthesia, whereas Group P received placebo before the induction of general anesthesia. Demographic data and duration of surgery was noted on a proforma. Surgical procedure was carried out following standard surgical protocols. Post-operatively all patients were observed by an independent observer. Patients were observed for post-operative fever, inflammation of the surgical site and discharge from the site of incision. Wound was examined on 1st, 3rd, 7th and 30th post-operative day. For labeling Surgical Site Infection, Center of Disease criteria was followed. Results: Demographic data of both groups was comparable. Mean duration of surgery in group A was 29.61±7.47 minutes, while it was 32.97±8.73 minutes in group P with p-value of 0.08. Out of 160 patients, thirteen patients developed surgical site infection; 5 (6.25%) patients belonged to group A, while 8 (10%) belonged to group P with a p-value of 0.385. Conclusion: It is concluded in our study that use of prophylactic antibiotics in elective herniotomy cases performed in pediatric patients do not significantly decrease the incidence of Surgical Site Infection

Phenotypic Variations of Drought Tolerance Parameters in Maize (Zea mays L.) under Water Stress at Vegetative and Reproductive Stages

Two field experiments were conducted at Shambat and Medani in Sudan under water stress in vegetative and reproductive growth stages during the season (2003/2004). The objective of the study was to assess phenotypic variability and phenotypic correlation between drought tolerance parameters in maize genotypes. A split-plot layout within randomized complete block design with three replications was used for the experiment. Fifteen genotypes of maize were examined through the study. The effect due to genotypes x location was highly significant for all drought tolerance parameters studied. Highly significant and favorable correlation for Yw with SSI2, SSI3, GMP2, GMP3, STI2 and STI3, while highly significant and negative with Yd2/Yw and Yd3/Yw. Based on the result's drought stress at vegetative and reproductive stages of maize results in a drastic reduction in grain yield, and the strong positive correlation of Yw with SSI, GMP and STI, indicates that selection for high values of these parameters improves yield under stress and non-stress environments. Drought tolerance parameters can be used for improving grain yield and facilitate further efforts in maize breeding programs. Keywords: Correlation, drought, genetic variability, heritability, Maize (Zea mays L.).

Childhood tuberculosis deskguide and monitoring: An intervention to improve case management in Pakistan

Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) has been a neglected area in national TB control programme (NTCP) in high burden countries. The NTP Pakistan adapted the global approaches by developing and piloting its policy guideline on childhood TB in ten districts of the country. We developed an intervention package including a deskguide and a monitoring tool and tested with the ongoing childhood TB care in a district. The objective of our study was to measure effectiveness of intervention package with deskguide and monitoring tool by comparing TB case finding and treatment outcomes among districts in 2008, and performance assessment in intervention district. Method: An intervention study with cohort design within a routine TB control programme comparing case findings and treatment outcomes before and after the intervention, and in districts with and without intervention. We enrolled all children below 15 years registered at all nine public sector hospitals in three districts of Pakistan. The data was collected from hospital TB records. Results: In eight months during 2007 there were 164 childhood TB cases notified, and after intervention in 2008 a total of 194 cases were notified. In intervention district case finding doubled (110% increase) and correct treatment practice significantly increased in eight months. Successful outcomes were significantly higher in intervention district (37,100%) compared to control district A (18, 18%, p < 0.05) and control district B (41, 72%, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Childhood TB deskguide and structured monitoring was associated with improved case management and it augmented NTP policy. More development and implementation in all health services of the district are indicated.publishedVersio

Are children with tuberculosis in Pakistan managed according to National programme policy guidelines? A study from 3 districts in Punjab

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The adherence to policies of National TB Control Programme (NTP) to manage a case of tuberculosis (TB) is a fundamental step to have a successful programme in any country. Childhood TB services faces an unmet challenge of case management due to difficulty with diagnosis and relatively new policies. For control of childhood TB in Pakistan, NTP developed and piloted its guidelines in 2006-2007. The objective of this study was to compare the documented case management practices of pediatricians and its impact on the outcome before and after introducing NTP policy guidelines.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>An audit of case management practices of a historical cohort study was done in children below 15 years who were put on anti-tuberculosis treatment at all nine public hospitals in three districts in province of Punjab. The study period was two years pre-intervention (2004-05) and two years post-intervention (2006-07) after implementation of new NTP policy guidelines for childhood TB. There were 920 childhood TB cases registered during four years, 189 in pre-intervention period and 731 in post-intervention period. The practices changed significantly in post-intervention period for use of tuberculin skin test (63% of pulmonary cases, 19% of extrapulmonary cases and 67% for site unknown), and for the use of chest x-ray (69% of pulmonary cases, 16% of extrapulmonary cases and 74% for site unknown). Diagnostic scores were recorded for only a minority of cases (18%). The proportion of correct drugs pre- and post-intervention remained same. There were unknown treatment outcomes in 38 out of 141 cases (27%) in pre-intervention and in 483 out of 551 cases (87%) post-intervention, all among the 692 cases without documented treatment supporter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study has shown that pediatricians have started following parts of the national policy guidelines for management of childhood TB. The documented use of diagnostic tools is increased but record keeping of case management practices remained inadequate. This seems to increase case finding substantially but the treatment outcomes were poor mainly due to unknown outcomes. Development and implementation of standardized operational tools and regular monitoring system may improve the services.</p