Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis as a Presentation of Thyrotoxicosis: A Case Report

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a rare but potentially serious complication of hyperthyroidism characterized by muscular weakness and hypokalemia in a patient with thyrotoxicosis. It is predominantly seen in Asian males.The etiology of thyrotoxicosis in most of the cases of TPP is Graves’ disease. We present a case of a 19-year-old male who presented in emergency with paraparesis. Investigations revealed hypokalemia and thyrotoxicosis related to toxic nodular goitre. Diagnosis of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis was made and patient was treated with potassium replacement, propranolol and antithyroid treatment

Severe Thrombocytosis in Chronic Liver Disease Secondary to Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Case Report

Thrombocytopenia is the commonest haematological abnormality seen in chronic liver disease. Thrombocytosis is of two types: Primary and secondary. In secondary form of thrombocytosis usually there is mild to moderate elevation of platelet count. Here, we present a case of 60 year old patient, a known case of chronic liver disease who presented with severe thrombocytosis secondary to iron deficiencyanaemia. Thrombocytosis normalized with treatment of iron deficiency anaemia with parenteral iron

Hypokalemic Quadriparesis Associated with Dengue: A Case Series

Dengue is an important viral cause of febrile illness in tropical and subtropical regions. Manifestations may range from an asymptomatic infection to life threatening hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. Neurological presentations of this disease are rare. Here, we are presenting a case series of three confirmedcases of dengue fever with hypokalemic paralysis presenting as acute pure motor reversible quadriparesis. A clinician should keep dengue virus associated hypokalemic paralysis in mind while dealing with a case of fever with quadriparesis

A resource-based analysis of bankruptcy law, SMEs, and corporate recovery

The UK Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is an early example of a bankruptcy regime designed to aid the rescue of financially distressed SMEs. Its efficacy hinges on its application to aid only viable companies with liquidation the preferred option for companies that are not viable. This paper proposes the resource-based view as a theoretical means to assess the viability of bankrupt SMEs. Seven hypotheses are tested and provide support for the central proposition, that a company which has resource strength, but is pushed into bankruptcy by temporary factors, is more likely to succeed in a CVA. The paper concludes that the resource-based view is useful for analysing the viability of bankrupt companies and that well-designed bankruptcy law can promote SMEs and entrepreneurship

The Clustering of Financial Services in London*

This paper reports a one-year study which investigated the clustering of financial services activity in London. A questionnaire asking about the advantages and disadvantages of a London location was sent to a stratified sample of 1,500 firms and institutions. In addition, thirty-nine on-site interviews with firms, professional institutions, government bodies and other related agencies were conducted. The study finds that banking, including investment banking, forms the cluster’s hub with most other companies depending on relationships with this sub-sector. Generally, the cluster confers many advantages to its incumbents including enhanced reputation, the ability to tap into large, specialized labor pool and customer proximity. The localized nature of relationships between skilled labor, customers and suppliers is a critical factor which helps firms achieve innovative solutions, develop new markets and attain more efficient ways to deliver services and products. Particularly important are the personal relationships which are enhanced by the on-going face-to-face contact that is possible in a compact geographical space. Many of the cluster’s advantages are dynamic in that they become stronger as agglomeration increases. The study also finds important disadvantages in the cluster which threaten its future growth and prosperity. These include the poor quality and reliability of transport, particularly the state of the London Underground and links to airports, increasing levels of regulation and government policy that is not co-ordinated with the whole of the cluster in mind. Key words: Industrial clustering, agglomeration, financial services.

Disseminated Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Host presenting as Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO)

Histoplasmosis is a progressive granulomatous disease caused by intracellular dimorphic  fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus present in the soil infects through inhalational route and can manifest as any of the three main types – Acute primary pulmonary type, chronic cavitatory or progressive  disseminated. In Disseminated histopasmosis (DH) the fungus is detected from more than one location in the body. This is the rarest form of all three types and is usually present in immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a 27-year-old immunocompetent patient who presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, pain abdomen and skin lesions. She was found to have hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. Biopsy from skin lesions and bone marrow stained positive for Histoplasma capsulatum sp. She was treated with amphotericin B for 28 days, followed by oral itraconazole for 6 months, leading to complete resolution of the disease. This case is interesting due to the presence of disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent host with prominent skin lesions

Developing non-traditional firm-specific advantages in domestic strategic factor markets: evidence from China

Purpose: Chinese firms are winning market share from foreign multinational enterprises in domestic markets. The international business literature suggests that this is happening because these firms are developing non-traditional firm-specific advantages (FSAs). Strategic factor market (SFM) theory provides a good basis for explaining how this is happening. However, it is underdeveloped in terms of analysing unique resources and unique access to those resources by Chinese firms in their domestic markets. This paper aims to develop a framework to understand how Chinese firms have developed non-traditional FSAs. Design/methodology/approach: The case study method is adopted to explore how Chinese firms develop non-traditional FSAs. Specifically, the authors compare paired case studies of a Chinese firm and a foreign multinational in each of two industries. Findings: The authors find that Chinese firms have developed non-traditional FSAs because of more relevant experience, better adapted strategies and privileged relationships. This has enabled Chinese firms to develop non-traditional FSAs. Originality/value: The authors propose a framework that conceptualises non-traditional FSA development in Chinese firms as a product of superior access to unique and valuable resources in their domestic SFMs

Economic analysis of fish production using different feed types practiced in Dhanusha district, Nepal

A study on the economic analysis of fish production using different feed types practiced in Dhanusha district was conducted in 2018. Out of 600 fish farmers, sixty fish farmers(10%) from the Fish Superzone region i.e. Janakpur sub-metropolitan city, Bideh municipality, Sahidnagar municipality, Kamala municipality, Hanspur municipality, Janaknandani rural municipality and Aaurahi  rural municipality, selected using simple random sampling, were surveyed using semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that locally formulated mash feed was commonly used feed type in which rice bran and mustard oil cake (RB+MOC) was the principle feed ingredient. 55% of the farmers used rice bran and mustard oil cake (RB+MOC), 20% used rice bran, mustard oil cake and soybean (RB+MOC+SOB), 10% used rice bran, mustard oil cake and fish meal (RB+MOC+FM) and 15% farmers mineral and vitamin (RB+MOC+MIN/VIT) in their feed formulation. The productivity of the fish production in feed type RB+MOC+SOB (3.41±1.02) was significantly higher than other feed type.  The total variable cost per ha (5.23±2.11) was found significantly(p<0.05) higher in feed type RB+MOC+SOB. Similarly, gross margin (4.44±2.74) received by farmers of feed type RB+MOC+SOB was also significantly high(p<0.05). The Benefit: Cost (B:C) ratio of the study area was found to be 1.69, high being of feed type RB+MOC+SOB(1.84) compared to others. The feed type RB+MOC+SOB is seen as a economically profitable one in the study area because of the high productivity, profit and B:C ratio. High feed cost was the major problem followed by the unavailability of feed. Fish farming can be a profitable business in Dhanusha with large opportunity to increase the fish production with increasing protein sources in the feed used. Farmers should be provided sufficient information, trainings and be encouraged to incorporate the protein rich sources like soybean and fish meal in the feed prepared to increase the productivity and ultimately return