Studying the Role of Banking Marketing in Supporting the Competitive Advantage of the Iraqi Banks

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of banking marketing towards supporting the competitive advantage of banks in the Iraqi context.   Theoretical framework: The study aims to investigate the influence of banking marketing activities on achieving the primary banking objective, with a specific focus on profit generation. Additionally, this research seeks to explore the role of marketing in supporting competitive advantage, which can be derived from a variety of factors such as expertise, technology, or resource advantages that allow banks to deliver more value to customers compared to competitors. This competitive edge plays a significant role in enabling banks to expand their reach and attract investment, both locally and internationally.   Design/methodology/approach: The study utilized an analytical descriptive approach and was conducted as a field study. The data collection process involved both primary and secondary data sources. The primary data were gathered through a questionnaire designed to capture information on the study variables, while the secondary data were obtained from relevant literature and previous studies. The collected data were then analyzed using statistical software, namely SPSS, to derive meaningful insights and conclusions.   Findings: The findings revealed that the dimensions of banking marketing and competitive advantage indicators had a high level of importance. These results suggest that the implementation of effective marketing can play a key role in enhancing the competitive advantage of Iraqi banks, thereby contributing to their overall performance and profitability.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The study highlights the significance of banking services and their applicable mechanisms, as well as identifying competitive advantages and effective ways of supporting and consolidating them. In light of the findings, the study provides several recommendations aimed at supporting Iraqi banks in using banking marketing tools to positively impact customer satisfaction. The study's recommendations are intended to facilitate the development of contemporary practices that enhance the efficiency of banking sectors, which in turn supports the competitive advantage of Iraqi banks.   Originality/value: This study represents a pioneering effort to bring together banking marketing and supporting competitive advantage as two interrelated fields that play an essential role in effective bank management. Marketing, in general, is customer-centric, and banks are no exception, as their existence is entirely dependent on the presence of customers, who constitute the market. Banking services, in particular, are long-lasting and typically extend to one consumer for a long period

0363: Acute coronary syndrome complicated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: what is the contribution of brain natriuretic peptid?

BackgroundThe utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) for detecting leftventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in patients presenting an acute coronary syndrome without heart failure symptoms is unclear. In this study, we investigated the relation between BNP plasma levels and LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with postmyocardial infarction without systolic dysfunction.MethodsWe studied 81 patients (12 women, mean age 55±11.79) admitted in our center for myocardial infarction with or without ST segment elevation. Patients with heart failure symptoms or abnormal systolic function were excluded. LV diastolic function was assessed with conventional Doppler, by means of mitral inflow and with tissue Doppler echocardiography by means of mitral annulus. The ratio of early diastolic transmitral E wave velocities to tissue Doppler mitral annulus early diastolic E’ wave velocities (E/E’), was used to detect LV filling pressures. Patients were divided in three groups according to E/E’ ratios < 10 (group I), E/E’ ratios between 10 and 15 (group II) and E/E’ ratios >15 (group III).Abstract 0109 – Table: Patients’ baseline characteristicsPatients’baseline characteristicsBMS (n=30)DES (n=300)pSex, M/F30/030/01Age, y52,03±6,3550,2±8,450,34Body mass index*, kg/m225,79±2,5625,00±2,970,28Hypertension, %16,661,661Dyslipidemia, %33,3333,331Diabetes mellitus, %001Family history, %26,666,660,07Cigarette smoking, %73,33600,41Previous CAD, Stroke, PAOD, %001Indication of coronary angiographyAMI (STEMI/NSTEMI, %86,6676,660,5UA, %13,3316,661SCAD, %06,660,49Time interval between PCI and blood sampling, d39,16±7,6838,73±6,760,81Stent length, mm16,3±4,2417,56±5,710,33LVEF, %58,66±7,3061,13±6,180,16Drug therapies*Statin, %1001001ASA, %1001001Second anti-platelet drugClopidogrel, %46,6643,331Prasugrel, %53,33501Ticagrelor, %06,660,49β-blocker, %85,71 (n=28)60 (n=25)0,059ACE inhibitor, %0 (n=28)0 (n=26)1OAC, %001Blood tests*LDL cholesterol, g/L0,75±0,180,68±0,190,19HDL cholesterol, g/L0,39±0,100,43±0,110,19Triglyceride, g/L0,96±0,320,93±0,290,72Hemoblogin, g/dl14,34±0,9714,4±0,830,82Platelets, G/L242,93±55,90239,56±49,610,8Serum creatinine, μmol/L2,07±2,021,39±1,300,12Fasted glycaemia, g/L0,97±0,111,01±0,090,14HbA1c, %5,74±0,395,73±0,400,92Continuous variables are presented as sample mean and standard deviation. P-values reflect comparisons between patients with a BMS and patients with DES and are derived from Student’s t-tests for continuous variables whereas qualitative data were compared with Fisher’s exact test.The characteristics marked with an asterisk were collected on the same day that blood was sampled (one month after PCI)ResultsThe BNP blood levels were positively correlated significantly with E/E’ ratio (p < 0.02). Patients with elevated LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), defined as E/E’ >15 (n = 27) had highest BNP (302±68pg/ml) levels. E/E’ 10 to 15 group (n = 24) had a mean BNP level of 136.4±27pg/ml, and those with E/E’ < 10 (n = 29) had 82±20pg/ml. A BNP value of 107.8pg/ml had a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 61% for predicting E/E’ >15. The area under the ROC curve for BNP to detect any diastolic dysfunction was 0.757. A BNP value of 72.7pg/ml had a sensitivity of 82.2% and a specificity of 66.7% for detecting a diastolic dysfunction.ConclusionsA rapid assay for BNP can detect the presence of diastolic abnormalities on echocardiography. In patients with preserved systolic function post myocardial infarction, elevated BNP levels might help to reinforce the diagnosis of LV diastolic dysfunction

0528: The role of brain natriuretic peptide and cystatin C in the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: correlation with echocardio-graphic indexes after myocardial infarction

BackgroundThe utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and cystatin C for detecting left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) in patients without heart failure symptoms still unclear. In this study, we investigated the relation between BNP, serum cystatin C levels and LV diastolic dysfunction after MI in patients without systolic dysfunction.MethodsWe studied 127 patients without renal dysfunction after first acute coronary syndrome (ACS). LV diastolic function was assessed with conventional Doppler, by means of mitral inflow and with tissue Doppler echo-cardiography by means of mitral annulus. The ratio of early diastolic transmitral E wave velocities to tissue Doppler mitral annulus early diastolic E’ wave velocities (E/E’), was used to detect LV filling pressures. Patients were divided in three groups according to E/E’ ratios<10 (group I), E/E’ ratios “between” 10 and 15 (group II) and E/E’ ratios>15 (group III). Plasma concentrations of BNP and serum cystatin C were measured at admission.ResultsThe BNP and serum cystatin C levels were positively correlated significantly with E/E’ ratio (r=0.786, P<0.001 and r=0.458, p=0.02). Patients with elevated LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), defined as E/E’>15 had highest BNP (321±75pg/mL) and cystatin C (1.1±0.2mg/L) levels. E/E’ 10 to 15 group had a mean BNP level of 151±28pg/mL and a mean cystatin C value of 0.78±0.1mg/L, and those with E/E’<10 had a mean BNP value of 69±20pg/ mL. A BNP value of 89pg/mL had a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 69% for predicting E/E’>15.ConclusionThe assessment of the blood concentration of BNP and cystatin C is of potential value for identification of those patients after myocardial infarction to detect early cardiovascular changes, especially LV diastolic dys-function

Effects of pomegranate supplementation on exercise performance and post-exercise recovery in healthy adults: A systematic review

© The Authors 2018. The functional significance of pomegranate (POM) supplementation on physiological responses during and following exercise is currently unclear. This systematic review aimed (i) to evaluate the existing literature assessing the effects of POM supplementation on exercise performance and recovery; exercise-induced muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation; and cardiovascular function in healthy adults and (ii) to outline the experimental conditions in which POM supplementation is more or less likely to benefit exercise performance and/or recovery. Multiple electronic databases were used to search for studies examining the effects of POM intake on physiological responses during and/or following exercise in healthy adult. Articles were included in the review if they investigated the effects of an acute or chronic POM supplementation on exercise performance, recovery and/or physiological responses during or following exercise. The existing evidence suggests that POM supplementation has the potential to confer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects during and following exercise, to improve cardiovascular responses during exercise, and to enhance endurance and strength performance and post-exercise recovery. However, the beneficial effects of POM supplementation appeared to be less likely when (i) unilateral eccentric exercise was employed, (ii) the POM administered was not rich in polyphenols (<1·69 g/l) and (iii) insufficient time was provided between POM-ingestion and the assessment of physiological responses/performance (≤1 h). The review indicates that POM has the potential to enhance exercise performance and to expedite recovery from intensive exercise. The findings and recommendations from this review may help to optimise POM-supplementation practice in athletes and coaches to potentially improve exercise-performance and post-exercise recovery

Effects of playing surface on physical, physiological and perceptual responses to a repeated sprint ability test: natural grass versus artificial turf

Purpose: The effect of playing surface on physical performance during a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test, and the mechanisms for any potential playing-surface-dependent effects on RSA performance, is equivocal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of natural grass (NG) and artificial turf (AT) on physical performance, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), feeling scale (FS) and blood biomarkers related to anaerobic contribution [lactate (Lac)], muscle damage [creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], inflammation [c-reactive protein (CRP)] and immune function [neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM) and monocytes (MON)] in response to a RSA test. Methods: Nine male professional football players from the same regional team completed two sessions of RSA testing (6 × 30 s interspersed by 35 s recovery) on NG and AT in a randomized order. During the RSA test, total (sum of distances) and peak (highest distance covered in a single repetition) distance covered were determined using a measuring tape and the decrement in sprinting performance from the first to the last repetition was calculated. Before and after the RSA test, RPE, FS, and blood [Lac], [CK], [LDH], [CRP], [NEU], [LYM] and [MON] were recorded in both NG and AT conditions. Results: Although physical performance declined during the RSA blocks on both surfaces (p=0.001), the distance covered declined more on NG (15%) compared to AT [11%; p=0.04, ES=-0.34, 95% CI (-1.21, 0.56)] with a higher total distance covered (+6 ± 2%) on AT [p=0.018, ES=1.15, 95% CI (0.16, 2.04)]. In addition, lower RPE [p=0.04, ES=-0.49, 95% CI (-1.36, 0.42)] and blood [Lac], [NEU] and [LYM] [p=0.03; ES=-0.80, 95% CI (-1.67, 0.14); ES=-0.16, 95% CI (-1.03, 0.72) and ES=-0.94, 95% CI (-1.82, 0.02), respectively)] and more positive feelings [p=0.02, ES=0.81, 95%CI (-0.13, 1.69)] were observed following the RSA test performed on AT compared to NG. No differences were observed in the remaining physical and blood markers. Conclusion: These findings suggest that RSA performance is enhanced on AT compared to NG. This effect was accompanied by lower fatigue perception and blood [Lac], [NEU] and [LYM], and a more pleasurable feeling. These observations might have implications for physical performance in intermittent team sports athletes who train and compete on different playing surfaces

Effects of pomegranate juice supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers following weightlifting exercise

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pomegranate juice supplementation would blunt acute and delayed oxidative stress responses after a weightlifting training session. Nine elite weightlifters (21.0 ±1 years) performed two Olympic-Weightlifting sessions after ingesting either the placebo or pomegranate juice supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min and 48 h after each session. Compared to the placebo condition, pomegranate juice supplementation attenuated the increase in malondialdehyde (-12.5%; p < 0.01) and enhanced the enzymatic (+8.6% for catalase and +6.8% for glutathione peroxidase; p < 0.05) and non-enzymatic (+12.6% for uric acid and +5.7% for total bilirubin; p < 0.01) antioxidant responses shortly (3 min) after completion of the training session. Additionally, during the 48 h recovery period, pomegranate juice supplementation accelerated (p < 0.05) the recovery kinetics of the malondialdehyde (5.6%) and the enzymatic antioxidant defenses compared to the placebo condition (9 to 10%). In conclusion, supplementation with pomegranate juice has the potential to attenuate oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant responses assessed acutely and up to 48 h following an intensive weightlifting training session. Therefore, elite weightlifters might benefit from blunted oxidative stress responses following intensive weightlifting sessions, which could have implications for recovery between training sessions

A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa.

The progression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Africa has so far been heterogeneous, and the full impact is not yet well understood. In this study, we describe the genomic epidemiology using a dataset of 8746 genomes from 33 African countries and two overseas territories. We show that the epidemics in most countries were initiated by importations predominantly from Europe, which diminished after the early introduction of international travel restrictions. As the pandemic progressed, ongoing transmission in many countries and increasing mobility led to the emergence and spread within the continent of many variants of concern and interest, such as B.1.351, B.1.525, A.23.1, and C.1.1. Although distorted by low sampling numbers and blind spots, the findings highlight that Africa must not be left behind in the global pandemic response, otherwise it could become a source for new variants