IFRS9 e le sfide di contesto

Under IFRS9, Financial Institutions are required to implement impairment frameworks to determine the expected losses on their credit portfolio taking into account the current (so called “point in time”) and the prospective (so called “forward looking”) economic cycle. The Covid-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, has posed significant challenges for Financial Institutions in their ability to manage credit risk. Despite numerous guidelines given by regulators, estimating IFRS9 expected loss continues to be a considerable challenge. The challenge partly stems from the relationship between macro-economic scenarios and credit losses, the treatment of moratoriums inside the historical series for development and calibration of IFRS9 risk parameters, and the management of support measures defined at National and European levels (e.g. Next Generation EU) for the forward looking estimations.

Teresterial Background Ionizing Radiation around Lead/Zinc Mining Site in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Background ionizing radiation around Lead/Zinc mining sites at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State was carried out using appropriate equipment. The background ionizing radiation of the environment was determined by measuring the radiation exposure rates using Radalert-200 and Geographical Positioning System (GPS). Radiological health parameters and effective dose to different organs of the body was estimated. The average exposure rate of 0.00017mSv/h (0.017mR/h) measured was relatively higher than the world acceptable value of 0.00013mSv/h (0.013mR/h ). All the radiological risk parameters estimated are relatively high. The result of this work shows that the mining µactivities have enhanced the radiation level of Ishiagu and health status of the populace.

Assessment of Activity Concentration of Radionuclides in Soil and Cassava Food Crop from Solid Mineral Mining Site in Ishiagu, Ivo L.G.A of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The assessment of activity of concentration of radionuclides in soil and food crops from solid mineral mining sites at Ishiagu, in Ivo L.G.A of Ebonyi State was carried out using the necessary measuring instruments. Samples of soil and cassava crop collected from around the mining sites. The samples were analysed using gamma ray spectrometry. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples were 12.37,16.08, and 144.29 Bqkg-1 while those for cassava were 2.81, 16.80, and 205.41 Bqkg-1. The soil/plant radionuclide transfer ratio estimated are 0.62, 2.43 and 2.51 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. All the radiological risk parameters estimated are relatively low. The result of this work showed that the obtained results for all samples were lower than the international accepted limit. Hence, from radiological health standpoint, the obtained values of effective doses may not pose significant threat to both human and the environment.

Post-chemotherapy miR-146a expression and its prognostic potential in oral cancer patients

Purpose: To determine miR-146a expression level after chemotherapy in oral cancer patients, and itsprognostic value.Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for the determination of miR-146 expression levels. Based on the results, the analysis of the miR-146a expression in oral cancer patients was performed by drawing ROC curve to provide information on the prognostic value of miR-146a. The survival of the patients was monitored over a period of 5 years. The patients were categorized into high- and low-expression groups, and multivariate Cox regression analysis method was adopted to provide a more comprehensive analysis of individual risk factors influencing the prognosis of oral cancer.Results: The miR-146a expression level in patients after chemotherapy was lower than that in patients before they received chemotherapy (p < 0.05). The specificity of using miR-146a to predict oral cancer was 76.83 %, the sensitivity 69.44 %, and the area between the curve and x-axis 0.78. In contrast, the survival level was significantly greater in high-expression patients (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The independent risk parameters for buccal carcinoma are drinking, smoking, chronic leukoplakia, and miR-146a.

Efficacy of R2CHA2DS2-VA score for predicting thromboembolism in Thai patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background There is no data specific to the addition of renal dysfunction and age 50–64 years as risk parameters to the CHA2DS2-VA score, which is known as the R2CHA2DS2-VA score, among NVAF patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to validate the R2CHA2DS2-VA score for predicting thromboembolism in Thai NVAF patients. Methods Thai NVAF patients were prospectively enrolled in a nationwide multicenter registry from 27 hospitals during 2014–2020. Each component of the CHA2DS2-VA and R2CHA2DS2-VA scores was scored and recorded. The main outcomes were thromboembolism, including ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and/or systemic embolism. The annual incidence rate of thromboembolism among patients in each R2CHA2DS2-VA and CHA2DS2-VA risk score category is shown as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The performance of the R2CHA2DS2-VA and CHA2DS2-VA scores was demonstrated using c-statistics. Net reclassification index was calculated. Calibration plat was used to assess agreement between observed probabilities and predicted probabilities of both scoring system. Results A total of 3402 patients were enrolled during 2014–2020. The average age of patients was 67.38 ± 11.27 years. Of those, 46.9% had renal disease, 30.7% had a history of heart failure, and 17.1% had previous stroke or TIA. The average R2CHA2DS2-VA and CHA2DS2-VA scores were 3.92 ± 1.92 and 2.98 ± 1.43, respectively. Annual thromboembolic risk increased with incremental increase in R2CHA2DS2-VA and CHA2DS2-VA scores. Oral anticoagulants had benefit in stroke prevention in NVAF patients with an R2CHA2DS2-VA score of 2 or more (adjusted HR: 0.630, 95% CI 0.413–0.962, p = 0.032). The c-statistics were 0.630 (95% CI 0.61–0.65) and 0.627 (95% CI 0.61–0.64), for R2CHA2DS2-VA and CHA2DS2-VA scores respectively. NRI was 2.2%. The slope and R2 of the calibration plot were 0.73 and 0.905 for R2CHA2DS2-VA and 0.70 and 0.846 for CHA2DS2-VA score respectively. Conclusions R2CHA2DS2-VA score was found to be at least as good as CHA2DS2-VA score for predicting thromboembolism in Thai patients with NVAF. Similar to CHA2DS2-VA score, thromboembolism increased with incremental increase in R2CHA2DS2-VA score.

FUNGAL INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19

To study fungal infections such as Mucormycosis, Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Cryptococcosis associated with Covid-19. A detailed study was done with the information gathered from the articles in specified databases, online sources, and online published materials to have current details of the situation of fungal infections in covid patients. Fungal infections were seen among covid-19 patients mostly due to opportunistic fungal pathogens such as Mucor, Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. The reason behind rising opportunistic fungal infections among covid-19 patients may be the immunocompromised host. The most common species responsible for fungal infections in covid-19 were noticed to be of genus Mucor, A. flavus, and A. fumigatus species of genus Aspergillus, C. albicans species of genus Candida, C. neoformans, and C. gattii species of genus Cryptococcus. Patients suffering or recovered from covid-19 are now facing numerous Secondary Infections. The majority of secondary infections associated with covid-19 are Fungal Infections. Mucormycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis as opportunistic infections are seen widely in the covid-19 treated patients. Rapid progression of such fungal infections is required to be controlled by early diagnosis of infection and by identifying the underlying risk parameters. Protocols for disease management will be beneficial too.

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters in Evros

Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and related metabolic disorders in the Evros region. Material-Methods: A random sample of 541 people was studied using the Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score, and measurement of weight, height, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, as well as Fasting Glucose and Postprandial Glucose with a reflectometer. The participants with a score of 15-20, score ≥20, FG ≥100 mg/dl and / or PG 140 mg/dl (n = 206) were subjected to a oral glucose tolerance test, according to WHO. Lipid profile, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk were also assessed. Results: Prevalence of DM T2 in the study population was: 29.6%, and that of prediabetes was 10.9%. Obese (Body Mass Index ≥ 30 kg/m2) were: 52.5%, overweight (BMI 25-30kg/m2) were 33.2% and normal/low weight (BMI <25 kg/m2) were 14.1% of the population. Central obesity with a waist circumference of ≥ 102cm had 58,6% of men and ≥ 88cm 86,8% of women. Hypertension was 66.9% of the sample and 58.8% were on antihypertensive treatment. In 206 subjects, CHOL 200-239 mg/dl had 32.5% and CHOL≥ 240 mg/ dl 13.6%. 10.2% of women had HDL – CHOL <45 and <35:3,4 % of men. 5,9 % of subjects had LDL – CHOL≥ 160 mg/dl. 18% of subjects had TG: 200 – 499 mg/dl and TG ≥ 500 mg/dl:1.5%. High index Apo-B / Apo-A1 had 19.4% and Lp (a) 33% of individuals. 92.2% of these people had metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The upward trend of DM T2 and cardiometabolic risk parameters raises the need for targeted prevention and treatment policies.