Existe qualquer lugar ideal para mulheres trabalhadores? mulheres e teto de vidro: uma visão multi-cultural

The restrictions that keep women from climbing the corporate ladder are the main theme of this research paper. Glass ceiling is identified and highlighted as an important and global issue not only by different women around the world but also from the different researchers and scholars and may have very negative impact on business and societies. This research focuses the glass ceiling which may restrict women especially from the top positions. This research paper will try to reflect multicultural view of glass ceiling and scale of its existence in different regions of the globe. The nature of this paper is empirical whereas in order to perform multicultural empirical analysis we selected three companies from different parts of the world, and studied their cases. With the help of carefully designed questionnaire the company officials are contacted, and their responses are analyzed in the light available literature and theoretical perspectives. On the basis of careful analysis conclusion has been drawn which lead to valuable suggestions which are presented at the end. The underlying suggestions would help to cope with the issue in better way.Las restricciones que evitan que las mujeres suban en la escala corporativa son el tema principal de este trabajo de investigación. El techo de cristal se identifica y destaca como un problema importante y global, no solo por diferentes mujeres de todo el mundo, sino también por parte de los diferentes investigadores y académicos, y puede tener un impacto muy negativo en los negocios y las sociedades. Esta investigación enfoca el techo de cristal que puede restringir a las mujeres, especialmente desde las primeras posiciones. Este trabajo de investigación tratará de reflejar la visión multicultural del techo de cristal y la escala de su existencia en diferentes regiones del mundo. La naturaleza de este documento es empírica, mientras que para realizar un análisis empírico multicultural, seleccionamos tres empresas de diferentes partes del mundo y estudiamos sus casos. Con la ayuda de un cuestionario cuidadosamente diseñado, se contactó a los funcionarios de la compañía, y sus respuestas se analizaron en la literatura disponible y las perspectivas teóricas disponibles. Sobre la base de un análisis cuidadoso, se ha sacado una conclusión que lleva a sugerencias valiosas que se presentan al final. Las sugerencias subyacentes ayudarían a enfrentar el problema de una mejor manera.As restrições que impedem as mulheres de subir na escada corporativa são o tema principal deste trabalho de pesquisa. O teto de vidro é identificado e destacado como uma questão importante e global, não só por diferentes mulheres em todo o mundo, mas também por diferentes pesquisadores e acadêmicos, e pode ter um impacto muito negativo sobre os negócios e as sociedades. Esta pesquisa enfoca o teto de vidro que pode restringir as mulheres, especialmente a partir das posições de topo. Este trabalho de pesquisa tentará refletir a visão multicultural do teto de vidro e escala de sua existência em diferentes regiões do globo. A natureza deste artigo é empírica, ao passo que, para realizar análises empíricas multiculturais, selecionamos três empresas de diferentes partes do mundo e estudamos seus casos. Com a ajuda de um questionário cuidadosamente elaborado, os funcionários da empresa são contatados, e suas respostas são analisadas sob a luz da literatura disponível e perspectivas teóricas. Com base numa análise cuidadosa, foi tirada uma conclusão que leva a sugestões valiosas que são apresentadas no final. As sugestões subjacentes ajudariam a lidar com a questão de uma maneira melhor

Determinants of Shift Work impacting Job Satisfaction: A study on Service Sector Organizations in Pakistan

This study aims to investigate the impact of determinants of shift work on job satisfaction in service sector organizations of Pakistan. History reveals that the invention of Thomas Edison brought the change in working environment and industrial revolution results in the birth of shift works. A great number of theories in Management are there to define Job satisfaction. All of them show the relationship between ability to perform and the productivity. In order to investigate their impact descriptive study is taken in to account in which survey research method is used to collect data. On the basis of quantitative analysis this study reveals that determinants of shift work has positive impact on job satisfaction. Finally recommendations are made to increase shift work in service sector organizations of Pakistan so that people may upraise their standards of living

Randomized controlled trial of interferon gamma versus amantadine in combination with interferon alpha and ribavirin for hepatitis C genotype 3 non-responders and relapsers

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple combination regimens comprising of interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin plus either IFN-gamma or amantadine in genotype 3 patients, responders or relapsers to interferon plus ribavirin combination. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive IFN-alpha 3MU thrice a week, ribavirin 800-1200 mg per day with either IFN-gamma 2 MU thrice a week or amantadine 100 mg twice daily. Treatment was continued for 48 weeks in patients showing complete or partial (2 log reduction) early virological response (EVR) at 12 weeks and negative PCR at 24 weeks. RESULTS: Total enrollments were 44; 25 were previously non-responders out of them 12 were in the IFN-gamma arm. Nineteen were relapsers, out of them 10 received IFN-Gamma. Overall EVR with triple regimens was 61.4% (27/44). The EVR for IFN-gamma arm was 72.7% (16/22) and for amantadine arm 50% (11/22) (p=0.089). Sustained virological response (SVR) was 50% (11/22) in the gamma arm and 27.3% (6/22) in the amantadine arm (p=0.122). This figure was 60% (6/10) and 44% (5/9) for relapsers (p=0.845), and 41.6% (5/12) and 7.7% (1/13) for non-responders (p = 0.046).Treatment was well tolerated by most of the patients in both arms. CONCLUSIONS: About one third of patients responded to the triple regimens. However IFN-gamma was a better option. Its combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin needs further evaluation. (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00538811)

Gastric corpus polyps associated with Proton Pump Inhibitors therapy

The prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is rapidly rising in Asia. We describe here a case of 51 years old man who had surgery for esophageal leiomyoma and received long-term therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for persisting reflux symptoms. On Esophago-Gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) several sessile polyps were seen in the gastric corpus. Earlier EGD done 15 years back had not demonstrated those polyps. Sections revealed polypoid fragments of glandular epithelium with dilated glands and negative histology for H. pylori. Polymerase chain reaction for 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA PCR) of H. pylori was also negative. This is the first report originating from an Asian country describing Fundal Gland Polyps (FGPs) in the corpus of stomach rather than fundus in a patient on long-term PPI therapy

Clinical presentation and genotype of hepatitis delta in Karachi

Aim: To assess the clinical presentation and genotypes of delta hepatitis in local population. Methods: In this prospective study, 39 consecutive patients who were positive for HBsAg and hepatitis D virus (HDV) antibody were included. The patients were divided in two groups on the basis of presence or absence of HDV RNA and a comparative study was done. Genotype of HDV was determined in PCR positive patients. Results:Overall there is male dominance, in which 34 patients out of 39 (87.2%) were male. Twenty (51%) patients were from the adjacent areas of three provinces; Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan indicating the higher prevalence of delta hepatitis in this mid region of Pakistan. Patients of all age groups were affected with delta hepatitis (median 31.5 years, range 12-75). HDV RNA was detectable in 23 patients (59%). All the HDV strains belonged to genotype I. HBV DNA was detectable only in 3 cases who were also HBeAg and HDV RNA positive. Patients with detectable HDV RNA were younger than patients with undetectable RNA; mean age 29.7 +/- 12.8 years vs 36.8 +/- 15.2. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical presentation and routine biochemical profile of patients with detectable or undetectable HDV RNA. Clinical cirrhosis was present in 19 (49%) patients; 12 with detectable RNA and 7 with undetectable HDV RNA (P = 0.748). Decompensated disease was seen in eight patients; five and three respectively from each group. Four patients with undetectable RNA and two patients with detectable RNA had normal ALT and ultrasound abdomen. Conculsion: HDV may infect at any age, usually young adult males. Genotype I is prevalent. With time some of the patients become HDV RNA negative or asymptomatic carrier. Most of the patients have suppressed HBV DNA replication. Significant numbers of patients have cirrhosis

Effect of cytokine gene polymorphism on histological activity index, viral load and response to treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3

AIM: To investigate the association between cytokine gene polymorphism and disease status in chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 by liver biopsy, ALT, HCV RNA levels and response to treatment.Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 were analyzed for single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1 beta, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific oligonucleotide primers. Liver biopsies were assessed by modified histological activity index (HAI) scoring system using a scale of 0-18 for grading the necro-inflammatory activity and 0-6 for staging the fibrosis. HCV RNA levels were determined by bDNA assay. The patients were treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin for 6 mo. Sustained virological response was assessed 6 mo after the completion of the treatment.Results: Out of the 40 patients analyzed, 26 were males. Mean age was 40.5+/-12.5 years (range 18-65 years). The frequencies of different dimorphic polymorphisms based on single nucleotide substitution were as follows: IL-10-1082 G/A 85%, A/A 12.5%, G/G 2.5%; IL-10-819 A/C 87.5%, C/C 10%, A/A 2.5%; IL-10-592 C/A 72.5%, C/C 27.5%; IL-1 C 90%, U 10%; IFN-874 T/A 50%, T/T 27.5%, A/A 22.5%; TNF-308 A/G 95%, G/G 5%; TGF-10 T/C 52.5%, C/C 35%, T/T 12.5%. The mean grades of necro-inflammatory activity of different genotypes of IL-10 at promoter site -1082 were A/A = 3.6, A/G = 5.0, and G/G = 10.0 and the difference was significant (P = 0.029). The difference in the stage of disease at a scale of 0-6 was A/A 0.8, A/G 2.3, and G/G 4.0 (P = 0.079). The difference in the HAI seemed to be related to the presence of allele -1082G. For IL-10 -819 genotypes, mean scores of fibrosis were A/A = 6.0, A/C = 2.2, and C/C = 1.0 (P = 0.020) though the inflammatory activity was not much different. No significant differences in HAI were noted among polymorphisms of other cytokines. Moreover, ALT and HCV RNA levels were not significantly different among different cytokine polymorphisms. There was a significant correlation of HAI and HCV RNA levels with the duration of disease. TGFbeta -10 genotype CC patients had a better end of treatment response than those with other genotypes (P = 0.020). Sustained virological response to the treatment was not influenced by the cytokine polymorphism. No effect of other factors like viral load, degree of fibrosis, gender, steatosis, was observed on sustained virological response in this population infected with genotype 3.CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between cytokine polymorphisms and HAI except for the polymorphisms of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which may influence hepatic inflammatory activity and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3. Sustained virological response in this genotype does not seem to be influenced by cytokine gene polymorphisms

Esophageal polypoidal mass: presentation of an uncommon pleomorphic carcinoma

Pleomorphic carcinomas are primary malignant tumours that are known to arise in the lungs, pancreas, gall bladder and intestine. A patient with polypoid tumour of the esophagus is described in this report. The patient presented with dysphagia. Diagnostic and therapeutic intervention required endoscopic evaluation and treatment. Benign esophageal tumours are rarely seen and originate from the upper third of esophagus. We observed an esophageal tumour which was interpreted as spindle cell carcinoma of the esophagus that caused obstruction. We present the clinical picture and histopathological findings of the tumour. To our knowledge this is the first local report of spindle cell carcinoma occurring in the esophagus and describes its endoscopic and histopathological features with distinctive biphasic morphology