Search

Export is one sector of the economy with a major role through market expansion between several countries, where it can carry out an expansion in an industry, thereby encouraging other industries and further encouraging other sectors of the economy. This study aims to analyze the effect of exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, and imports on exports in ASEAN countries. The data used in this study were annual data for the 2015-2019 period sourced from the World Bank. This research model employed a panel data method with a fixed-effect model, combining time series and cross section data with the help of EViews 7. The results revealed that exchange rates and imports had a positive and significant effect on exports. In addition, inflation and interest rates had a positive and insignificant effect on exports. Therefore, the governments of the ASEAN countries must monitor the stability of exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, and imports to increase exports from year to year so that the economy in ASEAN countries remains stable.

Esophageal carcinoma during pregnancy is an extremely rare condition that presents unique challenges in terms of diagnosis and management. In this case study, we report on a 34-year-old pregnant woman from Somalia/Somaliland who presented with dysphagia and weight loss. She had previously been treated for gastroesophageal reflux disease, but her symptoms worsened over time. Upon examination, the patient exhibited cachexia, palpable cervical nodes, and basal crepitation upon admission. A CT scan of the neck revealed esophageal carcinoma with metastasis, while an ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a 24-week fetus. Due to the limited availability of chemotherapy and cancer treatment facilities, palliative care was initiated, unfortunately resulting in the unfortunate demise of both the patient and the fetus. This case highlights the significant impact of resource scarcity on disease management, as well as the ethical complexities involved in making decisions regarding palliative care for pregnant patients with cancer. It emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and the implementation of comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches in addressing such rare occurrences. Resumen: El carcinoma de esófago durante el embarazo es una afección extremadamente rara que presenta desafíos únicos en términos de diagnóstico y tratamiento. En este estudio de caso, informamos sobre una mujer embarazada de 34 años de Somalia/Somalilandia que presentó disfagia y pérdida de peso. Anteriormente había sido tratada por enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico, pero sus síntomas empeoraron con el tiempo. Al ser examinado, el paciente presentaba caquexia, ganglios cervicales palpables y crepitación basal al ingreso. La tomografía computarizada de cuello reveló carcinoma de esófago con metástasis, mientras que la ecografía confirmó la presencia de un feto de 24 semanas. Debido a la limitada disponibilidad de instalaciones de quimioterapia y tratamiento del cáncer, se iniciaron los cuidados paliativos, lo que desafortunadamente resultó en la desafortunada muerte tanto de la paciente como del feto. Este caso pone de relieve el impacto significativo de la escasez de recursos en el manejo de la enfermedad, así como las complejidades éticas involucradas en la toma de decisiones con respecto a los cuidados paliativos para pacientes embarazadas con cáncer. Enfatiza la importancia del diagnóstico oportuno y la implementación de enfoques integrales y multidisciplinarios para abordar estos casos raros.

Many researchers are focusing on screening the biological activities of plants owing to their safety and possible pharmacological actions. Consequently, we aimed to explore the antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties of Cycas media methanolic extract on HepG2 cell lines. Moreover, we also explore the antitumor action against the experimentally induced solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC) model and investigate the possible involved molecular mechanisms. Also, the antibacterial action of the extract was elucidated. Different concentrations of the extract were incubated with HepG2 to determine cytotoxicity, followed by cell cycle analysis. The in vivo experiment was accomplished by grouping the animals into four different groups (n = 10); normal control, SEC, C. media 100, and C. media 200. The extract was administered at 100 and 200 mg/kg. Tumor volume, tumor inhibition rate, toxicity profile, and antioxidant biomarkers were determined. Moreover, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was investigated as a possible underlying antitumor mechanism. The tumor control group showed a remarkable upregulation for PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR, along with downregulation for the antioxidant SOD and GPX4, as well as decreased levels of GSH and MDA. C. media extract reversed these parameters to a significant level and the higher dose showed a superior antitumor effect. C. media extract showed antiproliferative effects against HepG2 cells, along with a suppressive action on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and an antioxidant effect. Additionally, C. media had antibacterial consequences against S. aureus isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations from 32 to 128 µg/mL. It also caused a noteworthy growth delay as well as a notable reduction in the membrane integrity of S. aureus isolates. These beneficial outcomes suggest C. media to have potential antitumor and antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Ⅱ) theophylline [Cu(THP)2(H2O)4] complex in nanoscale has synthesized by ultrasonic sonication method. This method was used in the development of smaller, dispersed, and unaggregated nanoparticles (NPs). The structure of nanocomplex was described and suggested by the molar conductance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), solubility, atomic fire absorption, and C.H.N. elemental analysis as octahedral geometry. The size and morphology of nanocomplex measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were 20 nm. The nanocomplex was studied on phosphodiesterase enzyme activity in human serum of Iraqi patient?s asthma disease. The results showed a highly significant (p < 0.01) increase in the serum levels of phosphodiesterase enzyme activity in asthma patients (mean = 14.939 ± 3.021 ng/mL) compared with a control group (mean = 9.974 ± 2.032 ng/mL). The result also showed a highly significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the serum levels of phosphodiesterase activity in patients of asthma disease with theophylline (mean = 11.253 ± 2.479 ng/mL) compared to serum patients without nano and control groups. It is vital that the result showed a highly significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the serum levels of phosphodiesterase activity in patients of asthma disease with copper nano complex (mean = 9.563 ± 2.082 ng/mL) compared in patients of asthma disease with and without theophylline. As for comparing asthma disease with copper nano complex and control group, the result showed there was no significant effect (p > 0.05).

Abstract Background Women and girls are disproportionately affected in times of conflict and forced displacement, with disturbance in access to healthcare services leading to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The minimal initial service package (MISP) was created to mitigate the consequences of conflict and prevent poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, especially among women and girls. The aim of this narrative review was to explore the SRH response for Syrian refugee women and girls in Lebanon, with a focus on MISP implementation. Methodology A comprehensive literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles in 8 electronic databases and multiple grey literature sites for articles published from March 2011 to May 2019. The target population was Syrian refugee women in Lebanon displaced from Syria as a result of the conflict that erupted in March 2011. The selected articles addressed MISP, SRH needs and services, and barriers to service access. A narrative synthesis was conducted, guided by the six main objectives of the MISP. Results A total of 254 documents were retrieved, from which 12 peer-reviewed articles and 12 reports were included in the review. All identified articles were descriptive in nature and no studies evaluating MISP or other interventions or programs were found. The articles described the wide range of SRH services delivered in Lebanon to Syrian refugee women. However, access to and quality of these services remain a challenge. Multiple sources reported a lack of coordination, leading to fragmented service provision and duplication of effort. Studies reported a high level of sexual and gender-based violence, pregnancy complications and poor antenatal care compliance, and limited use of contraceptive methods. Very few studies reported on the prevalence of HIV and other STIs, reporting low levels of infection. Multiple barriers to healthcare access were identified, which included system-level, financial, informational and cultural factors, healthcare workers. Conclusion This study highlights the main SRH services provided, their use and access by Syrian refugee women in Lebanon. Despite the multitude of services provided, the humanitarian response remains decentralized with limited coordination and multiple barriers that limit the utilization of these services. A clear gap remains, with limited evaluation of SRH services that are pertinent to achieve the MISP objectives and the ability to transition into comprehensive services. Improving the coordination of services through a lead agency can address many of the identified barriers and allow the transition into comprehensive services.

This work was devoted to synthesizing α-γ Al2O3 nanocomposite by the electrolysis method. A plate of aluminum was used as the anode, while the graphite rod was used as the counter electrode (cathode). The structure and morphology were investigated and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated the average size of α-γ Al2O3 nanocomposite was smaller than 10 nm. The value of inhibition zone indicated the nanocomposite's effect on different bacteria. The results demonstrated the newly synthesized nanocomposite as promising antimicrobial agents against bacteria.

Three nanocomplexes of Zn(Ⅱ), Mn(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅱ) with theophylline were synthesized by ultrasonic sonication method. Melting point, molar conductivity, solubility, flame atomic absorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and C/H/N elemental analyses were used to investigate and suggest the structure of the nanocomplexes. Size and morphology of the nanocomplexes were measurement by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ranging from 6-22 nm. Efficacy of the nanocomplexes synthesized was examined against four types of bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive bacteria), Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria). The results showed that all nanocomplexes had very high susceptibility to inhibit bacterial growth, as indicated by their inhibition zones between 98% and 100%.

Three nanocomplexes of Cu(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ), and Ni(Ⅱ) with theophylline were synthesized by ultrasonic sonication method. This method was used to produce smaller and narrow-distributed nanoparticles without any aggregations. Melting point, molar conductivity, solubility, flame atomic absorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and elemental analysis (C, H, N, and S) were used to identify and to suggest the structure of the synthesized nanocomplexes. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results exhibited that the size of nanocomplexes was in the range of 15-25 nm. The efficacy of the synthesized nanocomplexes was examined against four types of bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis (gram-positive bacteria), and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia Coli (gram-negative bacteria). The results showed that all nanocomplexes had very high susceptibility to inhibit bacterial growth, as they resulted in an inhibition zone between 98% and 100%. The copper nanocomplex gave the highest inhibition zone by 100% for each type of bacterial strains, due to the surface plasmon. Therefore, a further test for the copper nanocomplex Cu(THP)2(H2O)2(Cl)2 was carried out on skin injuries of laboratory mice after it was converted into cream with vaseline and was found to have a very potent influence in healing skin injuries.

Selectively permeable membranes with subnanosized pores show potential for applications in saline wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Here, a novel ionic sieving membrane (ISM) is fabricated via reactive layer‐by‐layer assembly of reduced porous organic cages, providing confined pores for the entry of monovalent ions and the interception of divalent ions. The ion separation performance of ISMs can be tuned by varying the concentration of reduced porous organic cages during the assembly. The highly permeable ISM featuring a surface potential of −52 mV and widely distributed aperture (µp = 0.69 nm, σp = 1.37) preferentially permits the passage of Cl− over SO42−, resulting in remarkable permeance of 9.4 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and Cl−/SO42− selectivity of 50.3. However, the highly selective ISM with a surface potential of −30 mV and narrowly distributed aperture (µp = 0.66 nm, σp = 1.27) exhibits superior Cl−/SO42− selectivity of 277.3 and Li+/Mg2+ selectivity of 64.7, indicating that the regular subnanosized pore structure plays a dominant role in achieving precise separation of mono‐/divalent ions. Moreover, owing to the acquired excellent Li+/Mg2+ selectivity, for the first time, lithium extraction from simulated salt lake brine is achieved by a two‐stage nanofiltration process with reduced Mg2+/Li+ mass ratio from 40 to 0.3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Condoms are an important prevention method in the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections as well as unintended pregnancy. Individual-level factors associated with condom use include family support and connection, strong relationships with teachers and other students, discussions about sexuality with friends and peers, higher perceived economic status, and higher levels of education. Little, however, is known about the influence of social norms on condom use among young men in Ethiopia. This study examines the effect of descriptive and injunctive norms on condoms use at last sex using the theory of normative social behavior. Methods A cross-sectional survey was implemented with 15-24 year old male youth in five Ethiopian regions in 2016. The analytic sample was limited to sexually active single young men (n = 260). Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. An interaction term was included in the multivariate model to assess whether injunctive norms moderate the relationship between descriptive norms and condom use. Results The descriptive norm of knowing a friend who had ever used condoms significantly increased respondents’ likelihood of using condoms at last sex. The injunctive norm of being worried about what people would think if they learned that the respondent needed condoms significantly decreased their likelihood to use condoms. The injunctive norm did not moderate the relationship between descriptive norms and condom use. Young men who lived closer to a youth friendly service (YFS) site were significantly more likely to have used condoms at last sex compared to those who lived further away from a YFS site. Conclusions Social norms play an important role in decision-making to use condoms among single young men in Ethiopia. The interplay between injunctive and descriptive norms is less straightforward and likely varies by individual. Interventions need to focus on shifting community-level norms to be more accepting of sexually active, single young men’s use of condoms and need to be a part of a larger effort to delay sexual debut, decrease sexual violence, and increase gender equity in relationships.

Lebanon has approximately one million Syrian refugees (SR) registered with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and an unknown number of unregistered SR, who cannot benefit from formal assistance. This study aimed to examine the livelihoods, coping strategies, and access to healthcare among SR based on registration status and accompanying formal assistance. A mixed-method approach with more emphasis on the qualitative design was adopted. A purposive convenient sampling approach was used to recruit SR from informal tented settlements (ITS) in the Beqaa region in Lebanon. Data collection included 19 focus group discussions (FGDs) that were conducted with participants, who were further divided into three groups: registered refugees with assistance, registered without assistance and unregistered. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants from humanitarian organizations. All interviews and FGDs were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. SR were highly dependent on formal assistance when received, albeit being insufficient. Regardless of registration status, refugees resorted to informal livelihood strategies, including informal employment, child labor, early marriage, and accruing debt. Poor living conditions and food insecurity were reported among all SR. Limited healthcare access and high out-of-pocket costs led to limited use of antenatal care services, prioritizing life-threatening conditions, and resorting to alternative sources of healthcare. Severity of these conditions and their adverse health consequences were especially pronounced among unregistered refugees. Our findings shed light on the economic and health disparities among marginalized SR, with the lack of registration and formal assistance increasing their vulnerability. More tailored and sustainable humanitarian programs are needed to target the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups.

BACKGROUND:Health care workers (HCWs) are essential for the delivery of health care services in conflict areas and in rebuilding health systems post-conflict. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to systematically identify and map the published evidence on HCWs in conflict and post-conflict settings. Our ultimate aim is to inform researchers and funders on research gap on this subject and support relevant stakeholders by providing them with a comprehensive resource of evidence about HCWs in conflict and post-conflict settings on a global scale. METHODS:We conducted a systematic mapping of the literature. We included a wide range of study designs, addressing any type of personnel providing health services in either conflict or post-conflict settings. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the general characteristics of the included papers and built two interactive systematic maps organized by country, study design and theme. RESULTS:Out of 13,863 identified citations, we included a total of 474 studies: 304 on conflict settings, 149 on post-conflict settings, and 21 on both conflict and post-conflict settings. For conflict settings, the most studied counties were Iraq (15%), Syria (15%), Israel (10%), and the State of Palestine (9%). The most common types of publication were opinion pieces in conflict settings (39%), and primary studies (33%) in post-conflict settings. In addition, most of the first and corresponding authors were affiliated with countries different from the country focus of the paper. Violence against health workers was the most tackled theme of papers reporting on conflict settings, while workforce performance was the most addressed theme by papers reporting on post-conflict settings. The majority of papers in both conflict and post-conflict settings did not report funding sources (81% and 53%) or conflicts of interest of authors (73% and 62%), and around half of primary studies did not report on ethical approvals (45% and 41%). CONCLUSIONS:This systematic mapping provides a comprehensive database of evidence about HCWs in conflict and post-conflict settings on a global scale that is often needed to inform policies and strategies on effective workforce planning and management and in reducing emigration. It can also be used to identify evidence for policy-relevant questions, knowledge gaps to direct future primary research, and knowledge clusters.

Aim: Evidence from mouse models suggests that brain serotonergic pathways control blood glucose. We hypothesized that sumatriptan (5HT1B‐receptor agonist) would alter glucose homeostasis in humans. Materials and Methods: We conducted a two‐visit random‐order double‐blinded placebo‐controlled cross‐over trial in 10 overweight adults that were otherwise healthy. Participants received sumatriptan (single dose, 100 mg) or placebo before undergoing a 60‐min intravenous glucose tolerance test, followed by a 120‐min hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. Results: Glucose excursion was greater during intravenous glucose tolerance test with sumatriptan compared with placebo [iAUC0‐60 min 316 (268‐333) vs. 251 (197‐319) min/mmol/L p =.047]. This was probably explained by a combination of reduced circulating insulin levels [iAUC0‐10 min 1626 (1103‐2733) vs. 2336 (1702‐3269) min/pmol/L, p =.005], reduced insulin sensitivity [M/I‐value 2.11 (1.15, 4.05) vs. 3.03 (1.14, 4.90) mg/kg/min per pmol/L, p =.010] and glucose effectiveness [SG 0.17 (0.12, 0.21) vs. 0.22 (0.18, 0.65)/min, p =.027]. Conclusions: 5HT1B receptors have a glucoregulatory role in humans, probably acting on insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]