Progress in small-bowel physiology and disease

There have been many interesting and exciting developments in the field  of gastro-enterology in the past few years. Many of these advances have been due to technical skills in physiology, biochemistry and radiology,  but newer diagnostic and therapeutic measures have also been introduced. The complex functions of the small bowel and especially the mucosal  lining of the intestine, provide particular scope for detailed  multidisciplinary research, clinical, paraclinical and scientific. The present communication reflects our own brief selection of recent advances in the field of  small-bowel physiology and disease and does not represent a comprehensive coverage of all the advances in the past decade

Progress in small-bowel physiology and disease

There have been many interesting and exciting developments in the field of gastro-enterology in the past few years. Many of these advances have been due to technical skills in physiology, biochemistry and radiology, but newer diagnostic and therapeutic measures have also been introduced. The complex functions of the small bowel andespecially the mucosal lining of the intestine, provide particular scope for detailed multidisciplinary research, clinical, paraclinical and scientific.The present communication reflects our own brief selection of recent advances in the field of small-bowel physiology and disease and does not represent a comprehensive coverage of all the advances in the past decade

The effect of a boots preparation and pure natural secretin and pancreozymin on pancreatic and 'gastric function in man

Secretin was found to be a powerful inhibitor of basal gastric acid secretion  in man. Pure natural secretin was more effective and more rapid in its action  on gastric secretion than Boots secretin. Boots pancreozymin and Swedish CCK (cholecystoktnin) had a variable effect on basal gastric acid secretion and all the changes were modest and unimpressive

The effect of a boots preparation and pure natural secretin and pancreozymin on pancreatic and gastric function in man

Secretin was found to be a powerful inhibitor of basal gastric acid secretion in man. Pure natural secretin was more effective and more rapid in its action on gastric secretion than Boots secretin.Boots pancreozymin and Swedish CCK (cholecystoktnin) had a variable effect on basal gastric acid secretion and all the changes were modest and unimpressive

Patient's dissatisfaction with the public and private laboratory services in conducting HIV related testing in Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patient's satisfaction with both private and public laboratory services is important for the improvement of the health care delivery in any country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 24 randomly selected health facilities with laboratories that are conducting HIV related testing, in Mainland Tanzania. The study assessed patient's satisfaction with the laboratory services where by a total of 295 patients were interviewed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of data analyzed for a varying totals from 224 to 294 patients, the percentage of dissatisfaction with both public and private laboratory services, ranged from 4.3% to 34.8%, with most of variables being more than 15%. Patients who sought private laboratory services were less dissatisfied with the cleanness (3/72, 4.2%) and the privacy (10/72, 13.9%) than those sought public laboratory service for the same services of cleanness (41/222, 18.5%) and privacy (61/222, 27.5%), and proportional differences were statistically significant (X²= 8.7, p = 0.003 and X²= 5.5, p = 0.01, respectively). Patients with higher education were more likely to be dissatisfied with privacy (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1) and waiting time (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5 – 4.2) in both private and public facilities. Patients with secondary education were more likely to be dissatisfied with the waiting time (OR = 5.2; 95%CI: 2.2–12.2) and result notification (OR = 5.1 95%CI (2.2–12.2) than those with lower education.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>About 15.0% to 34.8% of patients were not satisfied with waiting time, privacy, results notification cleanness and timely instructions. Patients visited private facilities were less dissatisfied with cleanness and privacy of laboratory services than those visited public facilities. Patients with higher education were more likely to be dissatisfied with privacy and waiting time in both private and public facilities.</p

Pure cerebellar ataxia due to bi-allelic PRDX3 variants including recurring p.Asp202Asn

Bi-allelic variants in peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) have only recently been associated with autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia characterized by early onset slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, variably associated with hyperkinetic and hypokinetic features, accompanied by cerebellar atrophy and occasional olivary and brainstem involvement. Herein, we describe a further simplex case carrying a reported PRDX3 variant as well as two additional cases with novel variants. We report the first Brazilian patient with SCAR32, replicating the pathogenic status of a known variant. All presented cases from the Brazilian and Indian populations expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disease by displaying prominent neuroradiological findings. SCAR32, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of sporadic or recessive childhood and adolescent-onset pure and complex cerebellar ataxia

Determinant Factors of Dividend Payments in Brazil

This study identifies factors that shaped cash disbursement distribution policies employed by Brazilian public companies listed on the Brazilian Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA) from 1995 to 2011. Relationships between Dividends/Total Assets and potential determinants discussed in the literature, including firm size, corporate governance, profitability, leverage, market to book, liquidity, investment, risk, profit growth, information asymmetry and agency conflict, are examined. The following econometric methods are employed: (1) Tobit, given the nature of the dividend data, and (2) the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to control for endogenous regressors. Significant positive variables found include size, return on assets (ROA), market to book, liquidity and profit growth. It can thus be inferred that larger firm size, profitability, market value, liquidity and profit growth correlate with greater firm pro pensity to distribute money to shareholders, thus supporting the theory of corporate finance. Significant negative variables found include leverage, liquidity squared, capex, beta and tag along 100%. It is thus inferred that more significantly leveraged companies that invest more heavily in fixed assets and that exhibit high liquidity, higher risk and less conflict between controlling and minority shareholders will be less likely to pay dividends to shareholders.</p