Risk exposure and performance in the banking sector : a comparative investigation of Islamic, conventional, and Islamic window banks

The core business of banks involves the operation of a payment system. They are also perceived as primary sources of credit and a safe location for individuals and businesses that want to deposit cash. As a system, the banks play the role of facilitating resources from those who have more than they require (depositors) to those who need them (borrowers). Through playing this role, banks deliver benefits to all involved and the economy in general. However, there are inherent risks in this process which could leave the banks exposed to numerous kinds of threat that could have a severe impact on the banks themselves and the economy where they operate. Risk is a critical issue for banks as they act as risk intermediaries. Failure to manage this risk may result in a global market failure such as the recent financial crisis 2007-2009, which showed empirically how damaging a banking crisis can be. Upper and Worms (2004) showed that failure in a single bank might lead to a 15 percent breakdown of the entire banking sector in terms of assets.Focusing on the differences between Islamic, conventional, and Islamic window banks, this study investigates credit, liquidity, operating and solvency risk and its determinants for these three types of banks. It uses a sample of 950 banks from 55 countries during three periods: 2006-2015 (full sample period), 2007-2009 (global financial crisis), and 2010-2013 (sovereign debt crisis). The study proves, empirically, that risk in Islamic banks is substantially different from that in other types of banks. Islamic banks were stronger in credit position than conventional banks during the global financial and sovereign debt crises. The results also suggest that Islamic banks are less stable with respect to liquidity-based risk, particularly during sovereign debt crisis. The results also reveal Islamic banks have more operating and insolvency risk. Furthermore, the findings suggest that risk in Islamic banks is generally determined differently from conventional and Islamic window banks by the bank-specific factors and the macroeconomic factors of the countries in which the banks operate.Another main focus of this study is to investigate the drivers of financial institutions’ performance. In particular, this study examines the effect of four different types of risk (credit, liquidity, operating, and insolvency risk) on performance. We employed a large sample of 950 banks from 55 countries; we divide the periods into three periods: 2006-2015 (full sample period); 2007-2009 (global financial crisis); and 20110-2013 (severing debt crisis). Remarkably, it can be noted from the statistical regression that operating risk is the most substantial risk, and credit risk is the least significant driver of bank's performance

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast: a case report and review of the literature

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast is uncommon with only 21 patients documented in the literature. It can wrongly be diagnosed as medullary carcinoma and certain types of lymphoma due to undifferentiated proliferation of malignant epithelial cells with prominent lymphoid infiltration. In this paper, we present a case of LELC of the breast in a 64-year-old female with breast LELC and a discussion based on a review of the literature

Effet de la température et de divers prétraitements sur les paramètres de germination des graines de Stachys circinata et Stachys saxicola subsp. platyodon

In order to contribute to the conservation and valorization of two vulnerable Moroccan medicinal plants, Stachys circinata and Stachys saxicola subsp. platyodon, this study aims to identify optimal germination conditions under which we can improve their germination performance. Seven pre-treatments were tested at 25/10 °C, including pre-soaking in cold water and gibberellic acid (GA3) solutions (250 and 500 mg/l), mechanical scarification and two combined treatments (cold stratification for 15 days with 500 mg/l GA3 and mechanical scarification with pre-soaking in water for 24 h). Seeds were then exposed to seven alternating temperature regimes (10/0, 15/05, 20/10, 25/10, 30/15, 35/20 and 40/25 °C) with a 14/10 h light/dark photoperiod. Results showed that the highest germination percentage (73%) and shortest mean germination time (MGT) (10.4 days) for S. circinata seeds were obtained at 20/10 °C. For S. saxicola subsp. platyodon, the highest germination percentage was registered at 15/05 °C (65%), but seeds germinate more quickly at 20/10 °C. No germination was observed at low and high temperature regimes (10/0 and 40/25 °C, respectively) for both species. Germination capacity was improved by mechanical scarification in S. circinata (75% vs 60% for control), while for S. saxicola subsp. platyodon, it was improved by GA3 treatment at 250 mg/l (52.5% vs 35.0% for control). Germination speed of both species was positively increased by GA3 treatment. These results may be useful for domestication and/or conservation efforts of these two endemic species.Afin de contribuer à la conservation et à la valorisation de deux plantes médicinales marocaines vulnérables, Stachys circinata et Stachys saxicola subsp. platyodon, cette étude vise à identifier les conditions de germination optimales et améliorer leurs performances germinatives. Sept prétraitements sont testés à 25/10 °C, dont le trempage dans de l'eau froide et des solutions d'acide gibbérellique (GA3) (250 et 500 mg/l), la scarification mécanique et deux traitements combinés (stratification froide pendant 15 jours avec 500 mg/l de GA3 et scarification mécanique avec trempage dans de l'eau pendant 24 h). Les graines sont ensuite exposées à sept régimes de température alternés (10/0, 15/05, 20/10, 25/10, 30/15, 35/20 et 40/25 °C) avec une photopériode lumière/obscurité de 14/10 h. Les résultats montrent que le pourcentage de germination le plus élevé (73 %) et le temps de germination moyen (MGT) le plus court (10,4 jours) pour les graines de S. circinata sont obtenus à 20/10 °C. Pour S. saxicola subsp. platyodon, le pourcentage de germination le plus élevé est enregistré à 15/05 °C (65 %), mais les graines germent plus rapidement à 20/10 °C. Aucune germination n'est observée à basse et haute température (10/0 et 40/25 °C, respectivement) pour les deux espèces. La capacité de germination est améliorée par la scarification mécanique chez S. circinata (75% contre 60% pour le contrôle), tandis que pour S. saxicola subsp. platyodon, elle est améliorée par le traitement GA3 à 250 mg/l (52,5% contre 35,0% pour le contrôle). La vitesse de germination des deux espèces est augmentée positivement par le traitement GA3. Ces résultats peuvent être utiles pour les efforts de domestication et/ou de conservation deux espèces endémiques

Primary tuberculoma of the liver: a case report and literature review

We report the case of an immunocompetent patient with an isolated tuberculoma of the liver, which was diagnosed by percutaneous US-guided liver biopsy. The patient received an antitubercular therapy, and there has been no relapse to date

Management of stage one and two-E gastric large B-cell lymphoma: chemotherapy alone or surgery followed by chemotherapy?

Management of localized primary gastric B lymphoma (PGL) remains controversial. The aim of this study is to compare two treatments: chemotherapy alone and surgery plus chemotherapy

Insilico analysis of binding interactions and evaluation of mode of action of hydroxy tyrosol on candida albicans I, ii and parapsilosis

This work was aimed at purifying the most potent antibiofilm principle from Acalypha wilkesiana leaves against Candida species, analyzing its binding interactions with the molecular targets and evaluating its mode of action. Bioassay guided fractionation was carried and purification of the most potent fraction was achieved by Preparative -TLC. Proton NMR -spectroscopy was used to elucidate the structure of the most potent fraction which was hydroxy tyrosol (HT). There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in the IC50 of HT and caspafungin in the presence of sorbitol. In the presence of ergosterol, there was no significant (p > 0.05) increase in the IC50 of HT but there was significant (p < 0.05) increase in the IC50 of voriconazole. Insilico molecular studies revealed a good docking score (-7.7 and 4 hydogen bonds) with glucan synthase and (7.0 and 1 hydrogen bond) with lanosterole-14α- demethylase. The mode of action of HT is most likely by inhibiting the activities of β-1,3-D glucan synthase. The Significant increase in IC50 of HT in the presence of sorbitol showed that its inhibition leads to depletion of cell wall glucan and subsequent lysis of fungal cells

Endocardite infectieuse mitro-aortique compliquée de perforation valvulaire, d’anévrisme mycotique et d’infarctus spleno-rénal

L'endocardite infectieuse est considérée comme une pathologie potentiellement grave malgré tous les progrès en diagnostic et traitement. Les valves du cœur gauche sont plus touchées et les évènements emboliques, les anévrismes mycotiques, les abcès ainsi que les perforations des valves en sont des complications redoutables. Nous rapportons le cas d'une endocardite ayant atteint les valves aortique et mitrale et qui s'est compliquée d'infarctus splénique et rénale, d'anévrisme mycotique cérébral et d'une perforation de la grande valve mitrale. L'intérêt du cas est souligné suite à la bonne évolution au décours d'un traitement médico-chirurgical en dépit de la multitude des complications

Anthracycline and concurrent radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment of operable breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study in a single institution

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) after breast surgery was investigated by few authors and remains controversial, because of concerns of toxicity with taxanes/anthracyclines and radiation. This treatment is not standard and is more commonly used for locally advanced breast cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the concomitant use of anthracycline with radiotherapy (RT).</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Four hundred women having operable breast cancer, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and RT in concomitant way between January 2001 and December 2003, were included in this retrospective cohort study. The study compares 2 adjuvant treatments using CCRT, the first with anthracycline (group A) and the second with CMF (group B). The CT treatment was repeated every 21 days for 6 courses and the total delivered dose of RT was 50 Gy, divided as 2 Gy daily fractions. Locoregional recurrence free (LRFS), event free (EFS), and overall survivals (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare survival events. Multivariate Cox-regression was used to evaluate the relationship between patient characteristics, treatment and survival.</p> <p>In the 2 groups (A+B) (n = 400; 249 in group A and 151 in group B), the median follow-up period was 74.5 months. At 5 years, the isolated LRFS was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (98.7% vs 95.3%; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.258; 95% CI, 0.067 to 0.997; log-rank <it>P </it>= .034). In addition, the use of anthracycline regimens was associated with a higher rate of 5 years EFS (80.4% vs 75.1%; HR = 0.665; 95% CI, 0.455 to 1.016; log-rank <it>P </it>= .057). The 5 years OS was 83.2% and 79.2% in the anthracycline and CMF groups, respectively (HR = 0.708; 95% CI, 0.455 to 1.128; log-rank <it>P </it>= .143). Multivariate analysis confirmed the positive effect of anthracycline regimens on LRFS (HR = 0.347; 95% CI, 0.114 to 1.053; log-rank <it>P </it>= .062), EFS (HR = 0.539; 95% CI, 0.344 to 0.846; <it>P </it>= 0.012), and OS (HR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.401 to 0.991; <it>P </it>= .046). LRFS, EFS and OS were significantly higher in the anthracycline group where the patients (n = 288) received more than 1 cycle of concurrent CT (<it>P </it>= .038, <it>P </it>= .026 and <it>P </it>= .038, respectively). LRFS and EFS were significantly higher in the anthracycline group within the BCT subgroup (<it>P </it>= .049 and <it>P </it>= .04, respectively). There were more hematologic, and more grade 2/3/4 skin toxicity in the anthracycline group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>After mastectomy or BCT, the adjuvant treatment based on anthracycline and concurrent RT reduced breast cancer relapse rate, and significantly improved LRFS, EFS and OS in the patients receiving more than 1 cycle of concurrent CT. There were more hematologic and non hematologic toxicities in the anthracycline group.</p

Breast cancer treatment and sexual dysfunction: Moroccan women's perception

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This exploratory prospective study evaluated women's responses to questions that asked them to describe how their body image and sexual functioning had changed since their breast cancer diagnosis to treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A questionnaire concerning body image scale and various sexual problems experienced after diagnosis and treatment was anonymously completed by 120 women in the outpatient clinic of our hospital's Division of medical Oncology. To be eligible, subjects had to be sexually active and had histology proven breast cancer. They also had to have received treatment for breast cancer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>100% of participants have never spoken with their doctor about this subject. 84% of the participants continued sexual activity after treatment, but there was an increase in the incidence of sexual functioning problems which resulted in a slight reduction in the quality of their sex lives. 65% of the women experienced dyspareunia followed by lubrication difficulties (54%) and the absence or reduction of sexual desire (48% and 64%, respectively) while, 37% had lack of satisfaction (37%). Female orgasmic disorder and brief intercourse and arousal were reported respectively by 40% and 38% of the subjects. The sexual dysfunctions were absent before diagnosis and management of breast cancer in 91.5% subjects and of these 100% subjects complained of a deterioration of the symptomatology after the various treatments. 90% of the dysfunctions were observed after chemotherapy, 9% after surgery and 3% after radiotherapy; none of the subjects indicated the onset of dysfunctions to have been associated with hormonotherapy. 100% expressed not having received sufficient information about how the disease and treatment (including surgery) might affect their sexual life.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Breast cancer and its treatment may result in significant difficulties with sexual functioning and sexual life. Addressing these problems is essential to improve the quality of life of Moroccan women with breast cancer.</p