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Since independence in 2011, the Republic of South Sudan has witnessed growth in the financial systems and the overall economy. This has led to growth in the number of financial institutions in the country. There is however minimal research on their overall performance. Hence the current research sought to determine the effect of ownership structure, bank stability and the financial performance of commercial banks in South Sudan. The population for the study was all the 29 commercial banks in South Sudan. Secondary data was collected for the period 2012-2017 from audited annual financial reports of individual banks and the Central Bank of South Sudan reports while primary data was collected by the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. Collected data was edited, sorted and coded into SPSS 23 for subsequent data analysis using SPSS 23 statistical analysis tool. This research utilized both descriptive and inferential statistical methods in the analysis. Statistical tests to be utilized in the study included t-tests, f-test, regression models and ANOVA models. Findings of the research were presented using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, correlation coefficients, charts, tables, and other statistical measures. Results of the study indicated there was a statistically significant moderating effect of ownership structure on the financial performance of commercial banks in South Sudan. This study recommends that the government should adopt better measures to safeguard public-owned commercial banks to improve their efficiency and performance.

Aims: To investigate the association between day-to-day fasting self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) variability and risk of hypoglycaemia in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and to compare day-to-day fasting SMBG variability between treatments with insulin degludec (degludec) and insulin glargine 100 units/mL (glargine U100)., Materials and Methods: Data were retrieved from two double-blind, randomized, treat-to-target, two-period (32 weeks each) crossover trials of degludec vs glargine U100 in T1D (SWITCH 1, n = 501) and T2D (SWITCH 2, n = 720). Available fasting SMBGs were used to determine the standard deviation (SD) of day-to-day fasting SMBG variability for each patient and the treatment combination. The association between day-to-day fasting SMBG variability and overall symptomatic, nocturnal symptomatic and severe hypoglycaemia was analysed for the pooled population using linear regression, with fasting SMBG variability included as a three-level factor defined by population tertiles. Finally, day-to-day fasting SMBG variability was compared between treatments., Results: Linear regression showed that day-to-day fasting SMBG variability was significantly associated with overall symptomatic, nocturnal symptomatic and severe hypoglycaemia risk in T1D and T2D (P < 0.05). Day-to-day fasting SMBG variability was significantly associated (P < 0.01) with all categories of hypoglycaemia risk, with the exception of severe hypoglycaemia in T2D when analysed within tertiles. Degludec was associated with 4% lower day-to-day fasting SMBG variability than glargine U100 in T1D (P = 0.0082) and with 10% lower day-to-day fasting SMBG variability in T2D (P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Higher day-to-day fasting SMBG variability is associated with an increased risk of overall symptomatic, nocturnal symptomatic and severe hypoglycaemia. Degludec has significantly lower day-to-day fasting SMBG variability vs glargine U100., (© 2018 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims: To confirm non-inferiority of insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) once-daily (OD) versus insulin glargine (IGlar) U100 OD + insulin aspart (IAsp) OD for HbA 1c after 26 weeks, and compare efficacy and safety between groups at W26 + W38., Methods: A 38-week, randomised, open-label, treat-to-target (HbA 1c  < 7.0%) trial in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (on basal insulin ± oral antidiabetic drugs; HbA 1c 7.0-10.0%). Randomisation (1:1): IDegAsp or IGlar U100 + IAsp. Intensification to IDegAsp twice daily (BID) was permitted at W26 + W32, or with additional IAsp injections at W26 (maximum IAsp BID) or W32 (maximum IAsp three-times daily)., Results: For W0-W26, mean percentage-change (standard deviation) HbA 1c was: IDegAsp, -1.1 (0.9); IGlar U100 + IAsp, -1.1 (0.8); estimated treatment difference: 0.07% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.06; 0.21) confirmed non-inferiority. At W26 and W38, target HbA 1c achievement, and mean fasting and postprandial glucose were similar across groups. At W38, more subjects achieved target HbA 1c without hypoglycaemia with IDegAsp (22.5%) than with IGlar U100 + IAsp (21.1%), with significantly fewer nocturnal episodes (W0-W38, estimated rate ratio: 0.61 [95% CI: 0.40; 0.93]). Safety profiles were similar across treatment groups throughout., Conclusions: IDegAsp OD/BID are effective treatment intensification options versus multiple injection basal-bolus therapies, achieving similar glycaemic control, with significantly less nocturnal hypoglycaemia., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)