A population based analysis of trends, risk factors and outcomes associated with gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Prior to the utilization of continuous flow (CF) devices in 2010, Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was a common adverse event related to left ventricular assist device (LVADs) that was found to be even more frequent when CF devices were first introduced. Given the drastic increase in the use of new CF-LVADs, we sought to determine if CF-LVADs are associated with an increased number of GI bleeds and higher mortality. We analysed the data from a national inpatient sample database using the ICD-9 procedure code for LVAD use in end-stage heart failure among patients > 18 years.

UK's net-zero carbon emissions target: Investigating the potential role of economic growth, financial development, and R&D expenditures based on historical data (1870-2017).

The 4 industrial revolution and global decarbonisation are frequently referred to as two interrelated megatrends. Particularly, where the 4 industrial revolution is expected to fundamentally change the economy, society, and financial systems, it may also create opportunities for a zero-carbon future. Therefore, in the context of UK's legally binding commitment to achieve a net-zero emissions target by 2050, we analyse the role of economic growth, R&D expenditures, financial development, and energy consumption in causing carbon dioxide (CO) emissions.

A Challenging Case of Recurrent Eosinophilic Peritonitis.

Eosinophilic peritonitis is a rare presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis and is characterized by eosinophil-rich inflammation in any part of the gastrointestinal tract in the absence of secondary causes of eosinophilia. We report a case of a 48-year-old female who had recurrent hospital admissions due to abdominal pain and distension secondary to relapsing eosinophilic peritonitis.

Mathematical Modeling Approaches for Assessing the Joint Toxicity of Chemical Mixtures Based on Luminescent Bacteria: A Systematic Review.

Developments in industrial applications inevitably accelerate the discharge of enormous substances into the environment, whereas multi-component mixtures commonly cause joint toxicity which is distinct from the simple sum of independent effect. Thus, ecotoxicological assessment, by luminescent bioassays has recently brought increasing attention to overcome the environmental risks. Based on the above viewpoint, this review included a brief introduction to the occurrence and characteristics of toxic bioassay based on the luminescent bacteria.

Systematic Review on Repurposing Use of Favipiravir Against SARS-CoV-2.

The sudden outbreak of a novel coronavirus in 2019 in Wuhan, China, that rapidly provoked a global concern, marked as the third attack of corona virus in the human society that affected the global healthcare system as well as the global economy. Until and unless an effective vaccine is discovered against the virus, the pharmacological intervention by different antivirals is in the run for remedy. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the role of favipiravir along with its safety and efficacy for the patients who are suffering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as re-purposeful use.

Estimating the price elasticity for cigarette and chewed tobacco in Pakistan: evidence from microlevel data.

Background: While there is a large literature on the magnitude of price elasticity of cigarette demand, less is known about the same for chewed tobacco. Moreover, the studies on cigarette demand in Pakistan tend to ignore the heterogeneity in the smoking behaviour. This study estimates price elasticity for cigarette and chewed tobacco demand across different income groups, provinces and regions; and use these coefficients for simulating Pakistan's tax policy and its impact on revenue and health outcomes.

Zero Lower Bound and negative interest rates: Choices for monetary policy in the UK.

There have been relatively few analyses of the policy context and consequences of a Zero Lower Bound (ZLB) for nominal interest rates. This paper sets out monetary policy alternatives, including negative interest rates, a revision of the inflation target, and rendering unconventional policy instruments such as QE conventional (permanent). Following extensive discussion of policy options, we set out a model that explores the impacts of the real policy rate on economic growth, employment and inflation, with particular attention to the British economy.

Asymmetric correlation and hedging effectiveness of gold & cryptocurrencies: From pre-industrial to the 4th industrial revolution.

This paper examines the long-run and short-run asymmetric effects of gold and cryptocurrency returns on the Thai stock market. Employing daily data on gold prices from 2000 to 2019 and on cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) from 2013 to 2019 in a linear and non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework, we investigate and contrast the hedging effectiveness of gold and bitcoins for equities. This study also evaluates whether hedging potential of gold or cryptocurrency remains equally strong in bearish and bullish conditions of the stock market.

Prevention of HBV Recurrence after Liver Transplant: A Review.

Globally, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is recognized as a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and HBV-induced liver failure is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation. Until about two decades ago, liver transplantation in patients with chronic HBV infection was a relative contraindication, due to high risk of viral replication with the use of immunosuppressants which could result in graft infection. In the 1990s, hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) use significantly reduced the risk of graft infection, improving outcomes of liver transplant in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Environmental implications of increased US oil production and liberal growth agenda in post -Paris Agreement era.

Contextualising on the internationally low oil prices era and historically high oil production in USA and refusal to honour the commitments under Paris Agreement (COP: 21), this study investigates the role of education, oil prices and natural resources on energy demand and CO emissions in the USA for the period of 1976-2016. In so doing, we employed a bounds testing approach to cointegration accounting for structural breaks in the series. Key findings suggest the presence of a long-run association between underlying variables.

European commitment to COP21 and the role of energy consumption, FDI, trade and economic complexity in sustaining economic growth.

The nexus between economic growth and energy consumption has been exhaustively explored, yet the empirical evidence and the theoretical points of view remain at odds. This study contextualises and capitalises on this discrepancy and examines the connection between non-renewable and renewable energy consumption and economic growth, considering the moderating impact of economic complexity, trade openness, FDI and institutional quality. We use a panel quantile regression model and data from 32 European countries in the period 1995-2014.

Eliminating Trachoma by 2020: Assessing Progress in Nigeria.

Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease that causes an eye infection which can lead to blindness if left untreated. In 1998, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a new goal to eradicate trachoma by 2020. Over the years, in partnership with the WHO, an effective strategy plan was devised to help tackle and control the disease.

The important role of immunization in alcoholic and non-alcoholic chronic liver disease: A population-based study.

Objective: To determine differences in frequencies of vaccine-preventable diseases between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic liver disease (NALD) patients.

Methods: This population-based cohort study used USA national inpatient sample ICD-9 codes from January 2012 to September 2015. Frequencies of admissions for ALD and NALD in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, influenza, herpes zoster virus, varicella zoster virus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papilloma virus, meningococcal meningitis, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus were measured.

Nexus between financial development & energy intensity: Two sides of a coin?

This study examines the multidimensional impact of financial development (FD) on consumption energy intensity and production energy intensity. A global sample of 81 economies consisting of three subsamples (29 high income [HIEs], 21 upper middle income [UMEs] and 31 low and lower middle income [LMEs]) from 1997 to 2013 is analyzed by employing several estimators and an inclusive estimation strategy for empirical robustness. Our key findings suggest that: First, FD is broadly found to increase production energy intensity except for the negative effects of financial institutions' efficiency.

Preventive therapy of antioxidant vitamins against the blood choline levels in cardiovascular patients.

Therapeutic role of antioxidant against lipid profile and lipoprotein (choline) was observed by the different researchers, but  clinical evidences required about the use of antioxidant vitamins against the lipoproteins. Patients with clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) confirmed by standard diagnostic techniques were followed. Newly or recently, diagnosed case subjects were recruited wherever possible.

Association of life style and dietary habits with blood choline and cardiovascular outcome.

Whole-blood choline, plasma choline and serum choline are emerging biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). To examine the association of Whole-blood choline is an early predictor for cardiac events. In case control study, we enrolled 240 individuals including 120 normal (39 females and 82 males) and 120 cases (49 females and 71 males) where age limit was >40 years) Information through interviews, family disease history, 24 recall diet assessment and blood sampling.

Bio-therapeutics effects of probiotic strain on the gastrointestinal health of severely acute malnourished children.

The core objective was to evaluate the effect of probiotic fortification at three phases of formula milk administration in malnourished children. A dose related effect was determined in 30 severely acute malnourished children (6-59 months) in a double-blind, randomized design. According to the results, serum albumin levels, treatment T2 (6 billion cfu) has significantly increased albumin levels (3.

Effects of galacto-oligosaccharide prebiotics in blood profile of severely acute malnourished children.

This study assessed the effects of galacto-oligosaccharides (Oligomate) on hematocrit, serum enzymes, total bilirubin levels, and serum electrolytes in controls and severely malnourished infants, with emphasis on gastrointestinal symptoms. Oligomate doses and phases did not affect stools frequency per day, indicating that prebiotic effect on stool may be due to the prebiotic type. The number of vomits per day during phases 2 and 3 were significantly reduced (p<0.

Sumoylation as an Emerging Target in Therapeutics against Cancer.

Sumoylation is the Post-translational modification gaining most of the research interest recently. Sumoylation is involved in various crucial functions of the cell such as regulation of cell cycle, DNA damage repair, apoptosis, etc. Oncology is advancing in radiotherapy, targeted chemotherapy, various forms of immunotherapy and targeted gene therapy.

Amlodipine/Valsartan (Avsar®): Efficacy in Hypertensive Patients - A Real World Observational Study (ALERT).

Objectives: Hypertension is a significant public health problem and one of the major noncommunicable diseases at the endemic level in Pakistan. This study was done to determine the efficacy of amlodipine/valsartan (Aml/Val) once-daily dose in reducing blood pressure (BP) after eight weeks of therapy.

Methods: This study is an open-labeled observational study carried out for a period of 12 months.

Assessment of aflatoxin in milk and feed samples and impact of seasonal variations in the Punjab, Pakistan.

The present study was designed to assess the incidence of aflatoxin contamination in animal feed and raw milk samples (total 240 each) collected from dairy farms during the complete year of 2015. These samples were collected through a cluster random sampling technique by dividing the province of Punjab, Pakistan into five clusters (north, south, east, west and central). Factors (environmental & physical) affecting aflatoxin contamination in milk and animal feed at farms were also studied.

Advertise Right by Addressing the Concerns: An Evaluation of Women's/Breast Imaging Radiology Fellowship Website Content for Prospective Fellows.

Purpose: Fellowship is an important part of postgraduate medical training as it facilitates advanced training in a subspecialty of interest. Internet is the most readily available and frequently used tool for acquiring information about the fellowship programs by residents worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the content of the websites of American and Canadian breast/women's imaging fellowship programs.

How well do we represent ourselves: an analysis of musculoskeletal radiology fellowships website content in Canada and the USA.

Objective: Radiology residents review information available on fellowship program websites for shortlisting programs and for applying for fellowships. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comprehensiveness of musculoskeletal (MSK) fellowship program websites.

Methods: The content of US and Canadian MSK fellowship program websites was evaluated using 25 distinct criteria in the following domains: application, recruitment, research, clinical, education, clinical work, benefits.

Use of Remdesivir in the Management of COVID-19: A Systematic Review on Current Evidences.

The rapid progression of corona virus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become an unprecedented global concern. This systemic review aimed at evaluating the available evidence on efficacy, safety to identify any promising role for compassionate use of remdesivir in patient suffered for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as re-purposeful use. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective case series studies and case reports that evaluated use of remdesivir in COVID-19.

Effects of antenatal nutrition counselling on dietary practices and nutritional status of pregnant women: A quasi-experimental hospital based study.

Objective: To assess the effects of nutrition education intervention on dietary practices and nutritional status of pregnant women.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 215 pregnant women were enrolled from Gynae OPD, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan during 2017-18. Dietary practices were assessed using the usual intake form and scoring was done against food guide pyramid.