Corporate governance and cash holdings in Canadian firms

1 online resource (37 p.)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-35).In context of the Canadian markets, the aim of this study was to establish a relationship between corporate governance and cash holdings and using governance metrics based on Globe and Mail corporate governance data, we find that governance has a substantial negative impact on the cash holdings of the firms. When segregated on the basis of size, smaller size firms have shown consistent results when compared with the overall market result. On the other hand, no conclusive evidence could be established for bigger size firms. Our results are consistent with the assumption that investors in companies with poor shareholder protection cannot force managers to disgorge excessive cash balances. This research provides a platform for future research in context of the Canadian markets that will further explore the relationship between corporate governance and cash holdings

TOPICAL GEL INCORPORATED WITH NON-IONIC SURFACTANT BASED SOLID LIPID MICROSPHERES OF KETOPROFEN: PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EVALUATION

Objective: The present study was aimed at the fabrication and characterization of solid lipid based microspheres (SLM) of Ketoprofen (KPF) and comparing its anti-inflammatory potential with the marketed formulation.Methods: Stearic acid as a lipid and tween 20, 80, span 20 and 80 as surfactants (at various concentrations) were utilized for formulation of topical delivery. Microparticles were successfully fabricated (0.71-3.12 µm) by hot melt microencapsulation technique and were characterised by photomicroscope, FTIR, scanning electron surface morphology, particle size analysis, zeta potential, fluorescent microscopy and In-vitro drug release studies followed by In-vitro and In-vivo anti-inflammatory studies.Results: Results revealed that tween 80 resulted in exceptional KPF entrapment efficiency of 82.6% with spherical rough surface morphology. In-vitro drug release showed the initial burst release of 47% upto 2h followed by sustained release of 70% for 12h. By employing drug release kinetic modelling, formulations were found to obey Higuchi model and Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Further the In-vitro permeation study of optimized gel formulation represented better drug uptake through rat skin in comparison to marketed product. Finally, SLMs were found to possess superior In-vitro and In-vivo anti-inflammatory potentials when compared to marketed formulation.Conclusion: SLMs proved to be promising drug carrier system for KPF topical delivery as they possessed the desirable particle size with high ability for drug entrapment with sustained anti-inflammatory effect.Â

Severe COVID-19 following Rituximab and Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment in a patient with MCTD, Case Report

This is an article about how the use of medications such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir can cause rebound COVID-19 and how the use of Rituximab, a biologic agent, can prolong the duration and increase severity of symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with pre-disposed autoimmune diseases that are on chronic pharmacotherapy

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: An Insight

As per the current scenario, role of Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) is controversial in bicuspid aortic valve stenosis. All the randomized clinical trials comparing outcomes of TAVI with surgery till date, have excluded patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Some of the observational studies have reported outcomes of TAVI in bicuspid aortic valve stenosis patients who are not surgical candidate. The recent advances in TAVI and its expansion into intermediate groups, which includes younger age groups sparks a debate on the efficacy and safety of TAVI in Bicsuspid aortic valve (BAV). The purpose of the present article is to review the available literature regarding the feasibility, safety and outcomes of TAVI in bicuspid aortic valve stenosis