40 research outputs found
Poverty, inflation and economic growth: empirical evidence from Pakistan
No full textThis study aims to investigate the role of economic growth and inflation in explaining the prevalence of poverty in Pakistan. ARDL bound testing approach to co-integration confirms the existence of long run relationship among the variables of poverty, economic growth, inflation, investment and trade openness over the period of 1972-2008. Empirical results show that economic growth and investment have negative and inflation has positive impact on poverty. The effect of trade openness on poverty is insignificant in this study. The short run analysis reveals that economic growth has negative and inflation has positive impact on poverty whereas the role of investment and trade openness in poverty reduction in short run is not significant.Poverty, Inflation, Economic Grovvth, Pakistan, Macroeconomic Policy, Welfare, Trade Openness
Seasonal Variability and Outcome of Childhood Intussusception; A Single Center Experience
No full textObjective: To evaluate seasonal variability and outcome of intussusception in the pediatric population.
Study type, settings & duration: A Prospective Observational study was conducted in Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Surgery, The Children’s Hospital, PIMS, Islamabad for a period of one year from August 2022 to July 2023.
Methodology: After approval from the ethical review committee, the study was conducted in children who presented in the ER and OPD during our study time period, aged between 3 to 18 months and with ultrasound confirmed intussusception. The diagnosis of intussusception was made based on clinical diagnosis and imaging results. All patients diagnosed with intussusception during the study period were included in the study after fulfilling inclusion criteria. The data collected from patients included the age (in months), gender, time interval from symptoms to hospital presentation, presenting symptoms, month patients presented, procedure performed and complications of treatment. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 was used for data entry and analysis. For the sake of this research, the weather in Pakistan is divided into four seasons: winter (December to February), autumn (September to November), summer including rainy monsoon (June to August) and spring (March to May).
Results: We enrolled 94 patients with mean age was 7.39±3.08 months. Out of 94 patients 58 (61.7%) patients were male and 36 (38.3%) patients were female. In duration from symptoms to hospital presentation 52.1% patients were reported after 48 hours. 44 (46.8%) cases of intussusception were reported in summer season including monsoon i.e..........
Export Earnings, Capital Instability and Economic Growth in South Asia
No full textDuring the last two decades the role of international trade and flow of foreign capital have received considerable attention in the literature. Various studies have examined the impact of export instability and capital instability on economic growth in less developed countries.1 Empirical evidence supports the hypothesis of a deleterious impact of export instability on economic growth. However, some studies also indicated that the relationship was unstable but positive with economic growth.2 Yet there are no systematic empirical investigations into the implied links between export diversification and long-term economic growth, particularly in the case of South Asian countries. The major concern regarding export instability is that it retards economic growth. The theoretical rationale for the same is that export instability creates uncertainty in the supply of foreign exchange earnings, discourages capital formation and hence hampers economic growth.3 Another notion is that capital instability affects economic growth more significantly than that of exports instability.4 When a country uses other sources to finance development than export earnings, it leads to forced savings and foreign aid for funding investment projects, and then the speed and volume of capital formation determines economic growth, not the instability of export earnings. Thus, if there is instability in mobilising capital itself, it will be pernicious to output growth. As a result, it will affect economic growth more than export earning instabilit
Outcomes of double-breasted spongioplasty as additional tissue coverage in tubularized incised plate urethroplasty
No full textBackground: Modern hypospadiology is constantly developing new ideas to improve functional outcomes. Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU) with neourethral covering by vascularized tissue (dartos flap, corpus spongiosum) is presently the most common procedure performed. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of double-breasted spongioplasty (DBS) as additional tissue coverage in TIPU by comparing it with TIPU without spongioplasty. Methods: We conducted a prospective comparative study from September 2022 to October 2023 on 120 midshaft and distal hypospadias cases aged 1 to 12 years. Group A (n = 60) underwent TIPU without spongioplasty; Group B (n = 60) underwent TIPU with DBS. Pre-operative patient parameters were categorized according to Glans-Meatus-Shaft (GMS) Score. Follow-up was 4 months to one year. Complications like urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) and meatal stenosis (MS) were recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed using Hypospadias objective scoring evaluation (HOSE). Results: Average age was 5.68 ± 2.26 in group A and 6.40 ± 2.10 in group B. Group A had mean GMS 5.32 ± 1.09; Group B had 5.45 ± 1.12 (p = 0.49). In group A, 4 (6.66 %) had MS, 5 (8.33 %) had UCF; in group B, 5 (8.33 %) had MS, 2 (3.33 %) had UCF (p > 0.05). Dorsal plication for ventral curvature was avoided in 7 patients after DBS. Surgeon evaluated mean HOSE was 14.73 ± 1.87 in Group A and 15.40 ± 1.26 in B (p = 0.02); in group A, 83.33 % while in group B 95 % cases had acceptable HOSE (≥14) (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Double-breasted spongioplasty in TIPU has better functional outcomes when compared with TIPU without spongioplasty and may correct ventral curvature of mild to moderate severity. Level of evidence: LEVEL II
Removal of Cd(II) from Aqueous Solution Using Blue Pine Sawdust: Equilibrium, Kinetics and Thermodynamic Studies
No full textThe adsorption of Cd(II) ions onto sawdust has been investigated in detail as a function of equilibration time (1-120 min), dosage of adsorbent (0.025-0.5 g)/10 ml, concentration of Cd(II) (9-1780 mu M) and of nature (pH 1-10). Maximum adsorption (ca. 95.3%) is achieved from deionised water in 30 minutes at pH 7 using 0.2 g adsorbent/10 ml adsorbate solution. The adsorption data follow Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms over the entire range of Cd(II) ions concentration examined and their characteristic constants have also been evaluated. The variation of adsorption with temperature has yielded Delta H, Delta S and Delta G values for the 18 mu M cadmium concentration. The kinetics of adsorption obeys Morris-Weber and Lagergren equations. The first order rate constant and the intraparticle diffusion rate have also been estimated. Sawdust appears to have potential to remove Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions at trace or subtrace concentration, to preconcentrate or treat industrial wastewater
Formulation, Optimization, in vitro and in-vivo evaluation of levofloxacin hemihydrate Floating Tablets
No full textThe objective of the present investigation was to design, optimize and characterize the gastro retentive floating levofloxacin tablets and perform in-vivo evaluation using radiographic imaging. The floating tablets were prepared by using polymers i.e hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC-K4M) and carbopol-940 individually and in combination by nonaquous granulation method. All the Formulations were evaluated for swelling index (S.I), floating behavior and in-vitro drug release kinetics. The compatibility study of levofloxacin with other polymers was investigated by FTIR, DSC, TGA and XRD. Results from FTIR and DSC revealed no chemical interaction amongst the formulation components. The optimized formulation (F11) showed floating lag time (FLT), total floating time (TFT) swelling index (S.I) of 60 sec, >16h and approximately 75 %, respectively. Moreover, F11 showed zero order levofloxacin release in simulated gastric fluid over the period of 6 h. X-ray studies showed that total buoyancy time was able to delay the gastric emptying of levofloxacin floating tablets in rabbits for more than 4 hours. In conclusion the optimized formulation (F11) can be used for the sustained delivery of levofloxacin for the treatment of peptic ulcer
Poverty, inflation and economic growth: empirical evidence from Pakistan
No full textThis study aims to investigate the role of economic growth and inflation in explaining the prevalence of poverty in Pakistan. ARDL bound testing approach to co-integration confirms the existence of long run relationship among the variables of poverty, economic growth, inflation, investment and trade openness over the period of 1972-2008. Empirical results show that economic growth and investment have negative and inflation has positive impact on poverty. The effect of trade openness on poverty is insignificant in this study. The short run analysis reveals that economic growth has negative and inflation has positive impact on poverty whereas the role of investment and trade openness in poverty reduction in short run is not significant
SARS-CoV-2 induced urinary tract infection in an infant: a rare case
No full textAbstract Background The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric population is less than 7% that too when associated with a urinary tract infection, the presentation is very rare. There have been numerous case reports in adults and adolescent population but very few in pediatrics and none in our socioeconomic. Case presentation We present here the case of a 1-year-old boy with SARS-CoV-2 induced urinary tract infection whose urine biochemistry showed severe urinary tract infection but no hematuria. His COVID-PCR was positive. His chest radiograph showed bilateral lung infiltrates with peri-hilar lymphadenopathy. His computerized tomography scan showed infiltrates with lung fibrosis. He was admitted to the isolation ward, successfully managed, and discharged home after 5 days of in-hospital treatment. Conclusion Pediatricians and pediatric emergency physicians should be vigilant and well aware of the atypical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in infants and children, as they can present with both gastrointestinal and renal manifestations. And once missed, the patient may end up with devastating complications
Presentations of Waugh’s syndrome:intra-luminal cecal cyst and trans-anal prolapsing intussusception: a case report
No full textAbstract Background Intussusception with intestinal malrotation is termed as Waugh’s syndrome. The incidence of Waugh’s syndrome is less than 1%. There are very few reported cases. Once presented, it is a pediatric surgical emergency. Case presentation We present here two cases of Waugh’s syndrome: an 11-month-old male patient of Punjabi descent and a 4-month-old female patient of Afghan descent who presented to us with abdominal pain and bleeding per rectum. Abdominal sonography revealed an intussusception with a target sign. They were explored and perioperatively had intestinal malrotation alongside intussusception, thus a diagnosis of Waugh’s syndrome was made. A right hemicolectomy and Ladd’s procedure was performed. Conclusion Waugh syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly but can present with vague abdominal symptoms. Once presented, it is a pediatric surgical emergency. The patient should be optimized followed by surgical exploration
