Economic Freedom, Exchange Rates Stability and FDI in South Asia.

This study empirically examines the role of economic freedom, market size and exchange rates in attracting foreign direct investment in south Asian countries for the period 1995-2008 by employing panel data analysis in fixed effect setting. Results clearly indicate the presence of significant positive relationship between economic freedom and FDI inflows in South Asian countries during the period of study. The real effective exchange rate was having negative association with it indicating that depreciation in host country currency negatively influences the inflow of FDI to that country. Therefore, monetary policy should focus on providing stability to currencies of host countries. The model explains approximately 90 percent of total variation in FDI. The paper concludes that South Asian countries should make concerted efforts in devising polices that improve level of economic freedom. In other words, they should provide more investment friendly climate, trade openness, efficient monetary and fiscal policies and freedom from corruption. This can help to attract more foreign direct investment in the South Asian countries

Frequency and Risk factors of Low Birth Weight in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background: Low birth weight is a key determinant of infant survival, health and development. There are many maternal and biological risk factors for it. The objective of this study is to determine frequency and associated risk factors of Low birth weight. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in department of obstetrics and gynecology; al Razi hospital, Rawalpindi from June 2016 till June 2020. Total sample size was 20,681 which was the total births during these years in this hospital setting. A structured pre tested questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. Chi square test was used to determine association between LBW and socio demographic variables Result: The overall frequency of LBW was found to be 8.9%. Female babies were more likely to have LBW as compared to male babies (p=0.000). LBW babies had poor APGAR scoring as compared to normal weight (p=0.000). The frequency of LBW was higher amongst the mother who were <20years of age and >30years. Maternal weight had a direct while parity had inverse relationship with LBW. Conclusion: Low birth weight babies have poor APGAR scoring and associated with maternal risk factors

Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of SARS CoV-2 Antibodies among employees of IMDC and its teaching hospital

Abstract: Background: Since the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, it has claimed many lives and global economic losses. Healthcare workers have been the most exposed group in this pandemic. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among the employees of Islamabad Medical and Dental College and its allied hospital Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital. Methodology: All members of the staff and faculty of Islamabad Medical and Dental College and allied hospital Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital were encouraged to get tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and 294 employees volunteered for the study from 23rd July to 30th July,2020 through Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (Immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and plasma). Results: Out of 284 volunteers, 87 (30.6%) were SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive, with the mean antibody level in seropositive individuals recorded as 24.4418 ± 25.3494. , housekeeping and sanitary workers were the most affected; 14 (48.3%) were antibody positive, while 15 (51.7%) were antibody negative. After housekeeping and sanitary staff, the second most affected workers were lab technicians (37.1% were positive compared to 62.9% negative). Fever, loss of taste or smell and breathing difficulty were the most significantly associated symptoms with COVID-19 antibody seroprevalence as suggested by the p values 0.003, 0.004 and 0.032 respectively. Out of the 13 PCR positive participants (in the preceding 3 months) 10 (76.9%) showed positive antibody in their serum and 3 (23.1%) had not developed antibodies. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was estimated to be high among the healthcare staff (30.6%), with the housekeeping and sanitary staff to be the most affected employees, probably due to the breach of personal protection. Fever, loss of taste or smell and breathing were strongly associated with seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Key Words: SARS-CoV-2, antibody testing, Covid-19, healthcare worker

Sensory and histamine assessment of the freshness of Sardine (Sardine Sindensis) during different storage conditions

Background: Storage of fish under refrigerated conditions from the time it is caught until when it is consumed has been found to be very important in reducing outbreaks of histamine poisoning.Methods: Low temperatures control bacterial histamine formation during fish processing. The shelf life of sardine (sardine sindensis) during storage at ambient temperature (33°C), ice box temperature (0°C) and freezing temperature (-7°C) were studied in terms of sensory and histamine production. The sensory acceptability limit was up to one day at ambient temperature and 11 days at ice storage condition. However, freezing storage had a good preserving effect on sensory acceptability at the end of experiment. The formation of histamine was determined at day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 of experiment using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorometeric method.Results: Histamine development had not exceeded the permissible level (200 mg/kg) recommended by the FAO (2012) during storage condition at -7°C throughout the experiment. At 0°C, histamine concentration was lower than safe level for up to 16 days (135 mg/kg). At ambient temperature, the sardine was spoiled on 3rd day and histamine concentration was found 500.48 mg/kg which was above the FAO recommended level for histamine.Conclusion: Freezing storage condition has a good preserving effect on sensory acceptability and histamine production and seems the best means of storage

neurostimulation for refractory primary chronic headache disorders: a review

Headache is the commonest symptom seen in both primary and secondary care. Vast majority are primary i.e. for which no underlying cause has been detected. Tension Headaches, Migraine and Cluster Headaches are the most common primary headache disorders in the population. Although most of the primary headache disorders can be satisfactorily treated with both acute and preventive medications, those that are refractory to conventional treatment pose a great challenge to the headache physician. Moreover some patients are not able to use traditional treatment due to intolerance and co-morbidities. Neurostimulation is a treatment modality that has been used in other neurological disorders such as movement disorders, multiple sclerosis and chronic neuropathic pain and there has been emerging evidence to its usefulness in primary headache disorders. These range from being invasive treatments like deep brain stimulation to minimally invasive one like occipital nerve stimulators. Non-invasive neurostimulation is gradually emerging as a potential non-pharmaceutical option in managing primary headache disorders. The article reviews the evidence of Neurostimulation in primary headache disorders with a view to ascertain its efficacy and safety

Clinico- haematological spectrum of females with inherited Bleeding Disorders

Background: Inherited bleeding disorders in females are under-diagnosed, eventually leading to multiple problems. This situation is further worsened by the inadequate information , non – availability of diagnostic facilities and low awareness on the clinical side Methods: In this non – interventional descriptive study , females with inherited bleeding disorders were assessed. Clinical presentations, demographic data and management received was recorded. Complete blood counts, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and platelet function studies were performed, where required.. Results: In all the patients with inherited bleeding disorders , females constituted 16.85%. von Willebrand disease was the commonest (50.84%) out of all inherited bleeding disorders in females. In rest of the females autosomal recessive coagulation defects and platelet function defects constituted 25.42% and 23.72%, respectively. Majority of the females (83.04%) were below 17 years of age. Menorrhagia (46.87%) was the commonest clinical episode. Spontaneous bleed was seen in 95% episodes. Majority of the episodes (94.14%) were soft tissue bleeding episodes and joint bleeds were minimal (5.68%). Tranexamic acid was the most commonly used therapeutic agent . Surgical intervention was employed in 18 episodes. Conclusion: Females with inherited bleeding disorders have severely impaired quality of life , fail to get proper management and go through unwanted surgeries ( D&C; Hysterectomies)

Fine needle aspiration cytology in parotid lumps

Over a period of two years, Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was performed on 33 patients presenting with a parotid lump. Five patients were excluded as they were treated medically after FNAC report. The FNAC results of 28 cases were compared with histopathological diagnoses of surgically resected specimens. There were 8 true positive, 17 true negative, 1 false positive and 2 false negative cases. Sensitivity was 80%, specificity 94.4% and diagnostic accuracy 89.3%. FNAC is a simple quick, accurate and virtually complications free investigative modality. It is also helpful adjunct to assess preoperatively the suitability and extent of the surgical treatment