Impact of Export Composition on Economic Growth in South Asia

The primary objective of this study is to analyze the impact of export composition on economic growth in South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) from 1990 to 2013. Vertical and horizontal export diversification and their relation with economic growth are also analyzed in this study. Export composition, vertical and horizontal exports diversification are augmented in Cobb-Douglas production function in three models respectively. Herfindal index is used for measuring the export composition that reveals export diversification exists in South Asian countries. Results showed that export composition and vertical export diversification have inverted U relationship with economic growth, while horizontal export diversification has U shape relationship with economic growth. Moving from primary exports to manufacture exports linked with economic growth via externalities of learning by doing as vertical exports are positively related with GDP. Government should encourage the exporters to increase diversification in their export portfolio and provide incentives and technical assistance for research and development to move the exports from primary sector to manufacturing sector

Primary versus secondary closure of stoma reversal skin wound: randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the efficacy of primary versus secondary closure of stoma reversal skin wound in terms of wound infection. Method: The study was conducted at Surgical B Unit of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan, from January 1 to December 31, 2020, and comprised adult patients of either gender undergoing stoma reversal. The patients were randomised into primary closure group A and secondary closure group B. Surgical procedure was similar in both the groups except the skin closure technique. In group A, skin was closed with interrupted polypropylene sutures, while in group B, wound was dressed with saline-soaked gauze daily using aseptic technique and was allowed to heal by secondary intention or delayed primary closure latter on. Postoperatively, the wound was assessed for infection till 30th postoperative day or complete wound healing. Data was analysed using SPSS 16. Results: Of the 50 patients, 35(70%) were males and 15(30%) were females. The overall mean age was 28±1.65years. There were 25(50%) patients in each of the two groups. There were 19(76%) males and 6(24%) females in group A with a mean age of 32±2.8years. There were 16(64%) males and 9(36%) females in group B with a mean age of 23±3.5years.  Overall, 10(20%) patients had wound-site infections; 9(36%) in group A versus 1(4%) in group B (p=0.005). Frequency of wound infection with respect to gender, type of stoma and length of hospital stay was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Secondary skin closure was found to be associated with significantly reduced wound infection rate after stoma reversal. Clinical Trial Number: NCT04785404. Link; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04785404 Key Words: Stoma reversal, Primary closure, Secondary closure, Wound infection, Ileostomy, Colostomy

Photodynamic therapy in adult intra-axial brain tumours

The management of high-grade gliomas is challenging considering their infiltrative nature, involvement of the eloquent cortex, and high recurrence rate. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging modality that selectively destroys tumour cells while preserving normal brain tissue. Its safety, and the concurrent use with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, is some of its appealing tenets. Here, we present a review of the literature regarding the mechanism, safety, and efficacy of PDT

Evolution of RANO in Assessing Brain Tumour Outcomes

Assessing treatment response is extremely important in management of brain tumours. Response assessment in neuro-oncology (RANO) was introduced in 2008 for the purpose of making recommendations for it by addressing and countering the limitations in previously reported response criteriae. Subsequently, multiple RANO working groups have been formed to cater to different tumour types and to update their previous recommendations to counter the limitations in their criteria. Herein we have a summarized list of RANO criteria for adult brain tumours. Keywords: RANO, neuro-oncology, brain tumour, outcom

RAPNO efforts in brain tumour outcomes

Assessing treatment efficacy for brain tumours has evolved since its inception with the introduction of MacDonald\u27s criteria, which pioneered the utility of imaging to determine an objective and quantifiable response to treatment. This criterion failed to distinguish pseudo response or progression from progression and did not account for non-enhancing disease therefore; the response assessment in neuro-oncology (RANO) working group was established to account for these limitations. Since, its commencement it has worked to determine response assessment for multiple tumours. As paediatric tumours exhibit heterogeneous and variable-enhancing characteristics, the response assessment in paediatric neuro-oncology (RAPNO) working group was formed to create separate criteria. Six response criteria have been published to date, and the article summarizes them

Role of machine learning in liquid biopsy of brain tumours

Liquid biopsy has multiple benefits and is used extensively in other fields of oncology, but its role in neuro-oncology has been limited so far. Multiple tumour-derived materials like circulating tumour cells (CTCs), tumour-educated platelets (TEPs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), and miRNA are studied in CSF, blood (plasma, serum) or urine. Large and complex amounts of data from liquid biopsy can be simplified by machine learning using various algorithms. By using this technique, we can diagnose brain tumours and differentiate low versus highgrade glioma and true progression from pseudo-progression. The potential of liquid biopsy in brain tumours has not been extensively studied, but it has a bright future in the coming years. Here, we present a literature review on the role of machine learning in liquid biopsy of brain tumours

Hypothalamic cavernoma (A unique case observation)

Cavernomas are vascular malformations that occur commonly in cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, being rare in occurrence within the hypothalamus having only 29 cases known in the literature. They may be clinically asymptomatic or present with symptoms of headache, seizures, hemorrhage, or focal neurologic deficits. The gold standard for diagnosing a cavernoma is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The management strategies for hypothalamic cavernoma are expectant, medical, and surgical, along with laser ablation and radiosurgery. Our case is of a 17-years old female who presented with headache and reduced vision secondary to hypothalamic cavernoma on diagnostic imaging. She is on expectant management till date, without worsening of her symptoms. As per the literature, there has been no data on conservatively-managed hypothalamic hamartomas