Post‐quota directions of global textiles & clothing trade ‐ a legal and policy analysis

The textiles & clothing (T&C) sector has been one of the most regulated and protected sectors in global trade. Even though T&C occupies a lesser share of international trade than other sectors, it remains crucial to developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs). Issues in T&C trade revolve around the trade flow of T&C products from developing countries/LDCs to the prime markets of the EU, US and other developed countries. Developing countries compete for greater market access, which is often manipulated by developed countries to meet goals other than economics and trade. One of the key instruments in this manipulation were quantitative restrictions (better known as quotas). Quotas violated fundamental obligations under GATT. Adoption of the quota system meant that T&C was treated as an exception to the GATT framework. Quotas regulated global T&C trade from post-World War II through to 31 December 2004. From 1 January 2005, quotas were abolished in international T&C trade. This thesis examines the impact of quota elimination on international T&C trade. The objective of the thesis is to estimate the future direction of T&C trade after quota expiration. The thesis begins with a historical analysis of the quota system. The main observation from history is that T&C production always eventually moves to new countries which have comparative advantage. Imposing restrictions on trade in T&C merely postpones the day that production will shift to poorer nations. As such, measures which guarantee market access to specified developing countries are merely postponing the time when even poorer developing countries or LDCs will have the opportunity to produce and export T&C. The thesis analyses pre-expiration predictions and the conflicting interests on trade liberalisation amongst third world countries. These conflicting interests continue to this day. The thesis also examines major issues that affect global T&C trade and conducts case studies on major Asian T&C manufacturers, with a special focus on China and Pakistan. The underlying objective of the case studies is to analyse the pre-elimination estimates in order to predict the future direction of global T&C trade. Additionally, the thesis also assesses the efficacy of safeguards and anti-dumping measures as instruments of trade regulation after quota expiry

Phytochemical Analyses for Antibacterial Activity and Therapeutic Compounds of Convolvulus arvensis L., Collected from the Salt Range of Pakistan

Background: Pharmaceutical world is currently facing a major issue of bacterial resistance against antibiotics. For the past few years, plants being an excellent source of phytochemicals have replaced many traditional antibacterial agents. Keeping this in view, the current study was conducted to detect the antibacterial activity and the presence of various phytochemicals in Convolvulus arvensis leaves and stem extracts.Methods: Eight different organic and aqueous extracts of Convolvulus arvensis L. (C. arvensis) leaves and stem were prepared and their antimicrobial activity against 13 clinically important bacterial species was investigated using the disc diffusion assay. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extracts of C. arvensis was performed using qualitative tests.  Results: All the thirteen bacterial species tested in this study were found sensitive to the stem and leaf extracts of C. arvensis. Highest antimicrobial activity was observed against   Escherichia coli while among all the extracts butanol extract was the most effective antimicrobial agent. Phytochemical analyses using organic and aqueous extracts confirmed the presence of various secondary plant metabolites of therapeutic value i.e. saponins, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides and coumarins.Conclusion: Our results indicate that C. arvensis plant contains some phytochemicals with antimicrobial affects. These chemicals possess great potential to be used as advanced therapeutic compounds against broad range of pathogenic bacteria

FREQUENCY AND SOURCE OF INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS

Objective: To determine the frequency and source of infection in patients with sepsis. Patients and Methods: This one year cross sectional study was carried at tertiary care teaching hospital. The criteria for selection is any patient of ≥12 years of age, either gender admitted in ward who came under the criteria for sepsis accordingly as systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to infection as existent etiology or at least with clinical evidence of infection while the necessary specific and relevant investigations were also advised and sort accordingly whereas the blood and urine sample for bacterial culture / sensitivity was collected and sent soon to confirm the diagnosis. The frequency and percentages was calculated while the numerical statistics were used to compute mean ±SD. Results: During one year study period total fifty patients diagnosed with sepsis with the mean age ±SD for whole population was 40.84±6.85 years, of fifty individuals 28 (56%) were males and 22 (44%) were females and majority belonged to rural population (60%). The organ system dysfunction identified were coagulopathy (50%), central nervous system (40%), hepatic (38%) and renal (42%). The common source of infection detected were Respiratory tract infection (16%), urinary tract infections (16%), intravenous catheters (16%) and urethral catheterization (18%) respectively. Conclusion: The study detected higher incidence of infection with gram negative pathogen was common microorganism while the common source of infections identified urethral catheterization (18%), intravenous catheters (16%), urinary tract infections (16%) and respiratory tract infections (16%). Keywords: Sepsis, Blood culture, Source of infection & Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective: To determine the frequency of peripheral vascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods: The present study was undertaken at tertiary care hospital Hyderabad. Total fifty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were studied which were admitted to medical wards and all these cases fulfilled our inclusion. while the data was collected on pre-designed proforma and analyzed in SPSS 16. The inclusion criteria of the study were diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus of ≥35 years of age, either gender and ≥ 3 years duration of diabetes mellitus. The ankle brachial index (ABI) were measured for clinical evaluation of peripheral vascular disease and calculated by using non invasive colour Doppler study to measure ankle & brachial systolic blood pressure and ABI less than 0.9 was taken as a marker of peripheral vascular disease in present study. The frequency and percentages was calculated while the numerical statistics were used to compute mean ±SD. Results: Total fifty patients with type diabetes mellitus were recruited and enrolled during six months study period, majority of the patients were males 32 (64%) and from rural population 35 (75%). The mean ±SD for age and duration of disease for whole population was 54.83+7.82 and 7.93±3.52. The peripheral vascular disease was identified in 36 (72%) patients as had low ABI while the other risk factors observed were hypertension (69.4%), dyslipidemia (61.1%), smoking (66.6%), previous history of CVA (75%), history of ischemic heart disease (69.9%) and sedentary life style (55.5%) respectively. Conclusion: the ABI is reliable, cheap and non invasive procedure to detect PVD in Type–2 DM and can be used as initial screening test for early detection of peripheral vascular diseases. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, ankle brachial index, Hemoglobin A1c, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia and Smoking