An Assessment of the Consumption Function for Iran

In this study, the real private consumption model for Iran was estimated by applying yearly data from 1990 to 2018. The ARDL method is used to assess short-term and long-term relationships between private consumption, labor income, interest rate, wealth, and unemployment rate. According to long-term estimates, income and wealth determine the actual consumption in Iran. However, in the short run, current incomes, wealth, real interest rates, and the unemployment rate are the key determinants of private consumption in Iran. The dynamic of the consumption function shows that all the factors of consumption i.e. real disposable income, wealth, and unemployment rate, real interest rate, have a noteworthy effect on aggregate consumption. The minor and significant coefficient of wealth indicates that the consumption decision is weakly affected by wealth. It provides evidence of the validity of AIH for Iran

An Assessment of the Consumption Function for Iran

In this study, the real private consumption model for Iran was estimated by applying yearly data from 1990 to 2018. The ARDL method is used to assess short-term and long-term relationships between private consumption, labor income, interest rate, wealth, and unemployment rate. According to long-term estimates, income and wealth determine the actual consumption in Iran. However, in the short run, current incomes, wealth, real interest rates, and the unemployment rate are the key determinants of private consumption in Iran. The dynamic of the consumption function shows that all the factors of consumption i.e. real disposable income, wealth, and unemployment rate, real interest rate, have a noteworthy effect on aggregate consumption. The minor and significant coefficient of wealth indicates that the consumption decision is weakly affected by wealth. It provides evidence of the validity of AIH for Iran

Bacterial Isolates in Slow Resolving Pneumonias

Background : To study the pattern of bacterial isolates in slow resolving pneumonia (SRP) patients Methods : In this prospective study patients (n=121) fulfilling the criteria of slow resolving pneumonia, having Age > 14 years and radiological evidence of consolidation were included in the study. Patients having Age > 65 < 14 years, not giving consent for Invasive investigation, nosocomial pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, fungal and mycobacterial infections were excluded. All patients were investigated with multiple view Chest X-ray, sputum smear for Gram staining, ZN-staining, cytology & culture sensitivity for pyogenic and fungal infections. Fiber-optic Bronchoscopy and BAL analysis was utilized. Contrast enhanced CT scan was employed for accurate definition of the lesion. Samples were sent for microbiological evaluation. Result: Age group was 14-65 years with median age 53 years. One hundred and twenty one pyogenic bacterial isolates were obtained. Gram negative bacteria were 66.11% while gram positive bacteria were 30.57 % and mixed growth were seen in 3.30%. Conclusion : Gram negative etiology predominates in SRP cases with pseudomonas at the top followed by klebsiella

Nutraceutical Exploration of Wild Edible Fruits of District Tor Ghar, Nothern Pakistan

The present study deals with the exploration of wild edible fruits consumed by indigenous tribes in district Tor Ghar for curing different ailments. Wild edible fruits are potential source of nutrition and medicine. This is the first ethno-nutraceutical investigation of wild edible fruits of Tor Ghar. Local wisdom was interrogated by group discussions and semi structured interviews to assess the role of wild fruits in healthcare system of the region. Informants were randomly selected from five tribes of the district. It was found that the wild fruits have a great socioeconomic significance owing to their high nutritional and medicinal values. In the current study thirty eight wild edible fruits belonging to 29 genera and 22 families were documented for their ethno-nutraceutical importance. The study also revealed that general body weakness and digestive disorders are mostly cured by consuming wild edible fruits. The highest number of wild edible fruits belong to family Rosaceae (8 plant species). Popularity of wild edible plants among different tribes of Tor Ghar was assessed quantitatively by a statistical relation Fidelity level %age. Fidelity level index shows values for each species in descending order from Jugalans regia( 74.4%) to Buxus wallichiana (17.4%). The most popular wild edible fruit species was found Jugalans regia that scores highest fidelity level value

Nutraceutical Exploration of Wild Edible Fruits of District Tor Ghar, Nothern Pakistan

The present study deals with the exploration of wild edible fruits consumed by indigenous tribes in district Tor Ghar for curing different ailments. Wild edible fruits are potential source of nutrition and medicine. This is the first ethno-nutraceutical investigation of wild edible fruits of Tor Ghar. Local wisdom was interrogated by group discussions and semi structured interviews to assess the role of wild fruits in healthcare system of the region. Informants were randomly selected from five tribes of the district. It was found that the wild fruits have a great socioeconomic significance owing to their high nutritional and medicinal values. In the current study thirty eight wild edible fruits belonging to 29 genera and 22 families were documented for their ethno-nutraceutical importance. The study also revealed that general body weakness and digestive disorders are mostly cured by consuming wild edible fruits. The highest number of wild edible fruits belong to family Rosaceae (8 plant species). Popularity of wild edible plants among different tribes of Tor Ghar was assessed quantitatively by a statistical relation Fidelity level %age. Fidelity level index shows values for each species in descending order from Jugalans regia( 74.4%) to Buxus wallichiana (17.4%). The most popular wild edible fruit species was found Jugalans regia that scores highest fidelity level value

Anti-hyperalgesic properties of a flavanone derivative Poncirin in acute and chronic inflammatory pain models in mice

Background Poncirin is flavanone derivative (isolated from Poncirus trifoliata) with known pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-osteoporotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-colitic. The present study aimed to explore the anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic potentials of poncirin in murine models of inflammatory pain. Methods The analgesic potential of poncirin was evaluated in formalin-, acetic acid-, carrageenan- and Complete Freunds Adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain models in mice. Anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic activities were measured using Von Frey filaments, Randall Selitto, hotplate and cold acetone tests. The serum nitrite levels were determined using Griess reagent. The Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to assess the effect of poncirin on mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and anti-oxidant enzymes. Results Intraperitoneal administration of poncirin (30 mg/kg) markedly reduced the pain behavior in both acetic acid-induced visceral pain and formalin-induced tonic pain models used as preliminary screening tools. The poncirin (30 mg/kg) treatment considerably inhibited the mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia as well as thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia. The qRT-PCR analysis showed noticeable inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) (p < 0.05) in poncirin treated group. Similarly, poncirin treatment also enhanced the mRNA expressions levels of anti-oxidant enzymes such as transcription factor such as nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) (p < 0.05), heme oxygenase (HO-1) (p < 0.05) and superoxide dismutase (SOD2) (p < 0.05). Chronic treatment of poncirin for 6 days did not confer any significant hepatic and renal toxicity. Furthermore, poncirin treatment did not altered the motor coordination and muscle strength in CFA-induced chronic inflammatory pain model. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that poncirin treatment significantly reduced pain behaviors in all experimental models of inflammatory pain, suggesting the promising analgesic potential of poncirin in inflammatory pain conditions.The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan (under the SRGP funding No. 357SRGP/HEC/2014) supported the study only financially and was not involved in the designing of the project. The authors are grateful to the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Seoul National University, grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIP) (No. 2009–0083533). The Proff: Yeong Shik Kim (National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Seoul National University) was actively involved in the designing of the experiment and analysis of the results

Prevalence of Bipolar Disorder and Associated Risk Factors Among Population in Western Region Of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bipolar disorder and associated risk factors among the population in the Western Region, KSA. Methods:This research will employ a cross-sectional study design. Cross-sectional studies are well-suited for assessing the prevalence and risk factors of a particular condition in a specific population at a single point in time. This design will allow us to gather data on the prevalence of bipolar disorder and identify associated risk factors among the population in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. Results: The study included 407 participants. The most frequent weight among them was 51-65 kg (n= 109, 26.8%), followed by 66-75 kg (n= 93, 22.9%). The most frequent height among study participants was 1.61-1.70 m (n= 137, 33.7%) followed by 1.51-1.60 m (n= 128, 31.4%). The most frequent body mass index value was 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 (n= 161, 39.6%), followed by 25-29.9 kg/m2 (n= 142, 34.9%). The gender of study participants is almost equal with male (n= 204, 50.1%) and female (n= 203, 49.9%). The most frequent age among them was 62 years and above (n= 157, 38.6%), followed by 40-50 years (n= 92, 22.6%). Participants were asked the participants about what is the duration of their mental illness(bipolar). The most frequent answer was nothing (n=277,68.1%), followed by one year (n=96, 23.6%), and the least of them were six years (n=1,0.2%). Conclusion: The results showed that most of the study participants are married and intermediate owners and most of them have a university education. Most participants are not overweight according to their body's bodies. Most of the study participants had a good social link

The Karachi intracranial stenosis study (KISS) Protocol: an urban multicenter case-control investigation reporting the clinical, radiologic and biochemical associations of intracranial stenosis in Pakistan.

Background: Intracranial stenosis is the most common cause of stroke among Asians. It has a poor prognosis with a high rate of recurrence. No effective medical or surgical treatment modality has been developed for the treatment of stroke due to intracranial stenosis. We aim to identify risk factors and biomarkers for intracranial stenosis and to develop techniques such as use of transcranial doppler to help diagnose intracranial stenosis in a cost-effective manner. Methods/Design: The Karachi Intracranial Stenosis Study (KISS) is a prospective, observational, case-control study to describe the clinical features and determine the risk factors of patients with stroke due to intracranial stenosis and compare them to those with stroke due to other etiologies as well as to unaffected individuals. We plan to recruit 200 patients with stroke due to intracranial stenosis and two control groups each of 150 matched individuals. The first set of controls will include patients with ischemic stroke that is due to other atherosclerotic mechanisms specifically lacunar and cardioembolic strokes. The second group will consist of stroke free individuals. Standardized interviews will be conducted to determine demographic, medical, social, and behavioral variables along with baseline medications. Mandatory procedures for inclusion in the study are clinical confirmation of stroke by a healthcare professional within 72 hours of onset, 12 lead electrocardiogram, and neuroimaging. In addition, lipid profile, serum glucose, creatinine and HbA1C will be measured in all participants. Ancillary tests will include carotid ultrasound, transcranial doppler and magnetic resonance or computed tomography angiogram to rule out concurrent carotid disease. Echocardiogram and other additional investigations will be performed at these centers at the discretion of the regional physicians. Discussion: The results of this study will help inform locally relevant clinical guidelines and effective public health and individual interventions

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients