Financial Conservatism and Speed of Adjustment towards Target Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

This study is the first to empirically examine whether the speed of adjustment (SOA) of capital structure is asymmetric between financially conservative (FC) and non-financially conservative (NFC) firms in Pakistan over the period 1998-2014. Using GMM estimation method for estimating target net debt ratio and OLS for estimating speed of adjustment, we examine when and to what extent these firms adjust their leverage towards the target. The results reveal that the adjustment process is quite asymmetric and the magnitude of the SOA is always greater for NFC than FC firms. We observe that FC firms show higher SOA when they deviate below the target regardless of financial imbalances. In contrast, NFC firms are more responsive to financial deficits irrespective of the deviation from the target. Yet, we show that both FC and NFC firms move with higher SOA towards the target capital structure when they deviate below the target and face financial deficits

Capecitabine-associated loss of fingerprints: A case report of a 62-year-old man with colorectal cancer suffering from capecitabine-induced adermatoglyphia

Background: Capecitabine is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and is converted to 5-FU in tumor tissue. Its primary mechanism of action is the suppression of DNA synthesis via inhibition of thymidylate synthetase. It is mostly used for neoadjuvant chemoradiation, adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, metastatic breast, and localized and metastatic gastric cancer, among others. Adverse effects of capecitabine include diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), pancytopenia, stomatitis, increased bilirubin, nausea, vomiting, and very rarely adermatoglyphia. Dermatoglyphics refers to fingerprints. Adermatoglyphia refers to the loss of fingerprints.Case review summary: We report the case of a 62-year-old male patient known case of locally advanced colorectal cancer. He presented in the clinic with residual disease after initially being treated with local surgery and chemoradiation with 5-FU. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan done at the time of presentation showed locally advanced disease. He was managed with surgery followed by chemotherapy with oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 and capecitabine (Xeloda) 1500 mg twice a day for two weeks via three weekly cycles. Post cycle five, the patient complained of grade I HFS symptoms and inability to open a bank account due to loss of fingerprints. The patient was oblivious about this condition before that. After completing his adjuvant treatment that is six cycles of oxaliplatin and Xeloda, his symptoms of the HFS and loss of fingerprints, improved.Conclusion: As this case describes, adermatoglypia is a rare but noticeably side effect of capecitabine with a high chance of reversibility. Similar case reports have been reported with some normalization of fingerprints, after stopping treatment. Fingerprints have been used for centuries as means of identification in banks, aviation, immigration, computers, and mobile phones, amongst others. Awareness regarding the loss of fingerprints due to capecitabine is important for the patient and clinician, and alternative means of identification or other adaptive methods of recognition should be used for these patients

Difficulty breathing or just a case of the nerves? Incidental finding of primary pleural schwannoma in a COVID-19 survivor

Schwannoma is a rare tumor that arises from the Schwann cells, which are specialized, myelin-producing cells of the peripheral nerve sheaths. As anatomic logic would dictate, these masses commonly occur in the skull base, cerebellopontine angle, and posterior spinal roots. Of this already rare entity, rarer still are the pleural schwannomas, representing approximately 1-2% of thoracic tumors. These tumors commonly affect adults with a propensity for the third and sixth decades of life and a comparative male predilection. Schwannomas are benign, indolent, and follow an asymptomatic course. As such, they often come to light incidentally.Here we report a case of primary pleural schwannomas in a 68-year-old female, found incidentally on a CT scan of the chest. To the best of our knowledge and literature review, no other similar case has been reported in our country, Pakistan. Around three weeks before her presentation, she was diagnosed with COVID-19. Her infection had run a mild course with quick recovery without the need for any hospitalization. Therefore, the manifestation of shortness of breath after resolution of all other symptoms prompted a further workup. Radiographic chest x-ray revealed an incidental finding of a large right upper lobe lung mass, slightly impinging on the trachea. This was followed by a chest CT scan at our radiological imaging facility, which showed a large, well-encapsulated, right upper lobe lung mass in the paraspinal apical location. She then underwent an image-guided biopsy of the aforementioned mass, pathological analysis of which was suggestive of a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) arising from the pleura (pleural schwannoma). She underwent right posterolateral thoracotomy with uneventful complete surgical removal of the pleural-based lung mass. Postoperative investigations included a chest x-ray that showed interval complete resection of the mass. Currently, she is asymptomatic and her clinical condition has improved with the successful resumption of her daily routine.Physicians thus need to keep pleural schwannomas in mind as a probable diagnosis of intrathoracic tumors. Indolent and asymptomatic, they are very amenable to surgical resection with little to no chances of recurrence in the long term. However, these patients should be closely followed with repeat imaging studies when symptomatic

Knowledge, attitude and perceptions of Muslim cancer patients regarding cancer treatment during Ramadan: Results from a tertiary care hospital Karachi

Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of Muslim cancer patients regarding cancer treatment during Ramadan.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from July to August 2015, and comprised cancer patients. .Adult Muslim cancer patients receiving active oncological treatment or on surveillance were included. Patients on only supportive treatment were excluded. SPSS 19 was used for data analysis.Results: Of the 265 patients, 87(32.8%) were males and 178(67.2%) were females. The overall mean age was 49±13.87 years. Besides, 184(70.9%) patients belonged to the middle class. Breast cancer was the most common cancer 106(40.6%). Overall, 153(57.9%) patients had stage II disease. Further, 201(80%) patients had 0-1 performance status. Moreover, 180(72%) patients were receiving different forms of chemotherapeutic agents. It was found that 113(54.3%) patients sought advice regarding fasting. Most of the patients who observed fast, i.e. 214(81%), had an early stage disease and 19(7.1%) were on hormonal therapy. Patients who did not fast mostly attributed this to fatigue 69(26.3%). Conclusion: Only half of the patients sought advice on fasting and those having early disease more.Conclusions: Only half of the patients sought advice on fasting and those having early disease more frequently observed fast

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Financial conservatism and speed of adjustment towards capital structure: Empirical evidence from Pakistan

This study is the first to empirically examine whether the speed of adjustment (SOA) of capital structure is asymmetric between financially conservative (FC) and non-financially conservative (NFC) firms in Pakistan over the period 1998-2014. Using GMM estimation method for estimating target net debt ratio and OLS for estimating speed of adjustment, we examine when and to what extent these firms adjust their leverage towards the target. The results reveal that the adjustment process is quite asymmetric and the magnitude of the SOA is always greater for NFC than FC firms. We observe that FC firms show higher SOA when they deviate below the target regardless of financial imbalances. In contrast, NFC firms are more responsive to financial deficits irrespective of the deviation from the target. Yet, we show that both FC and NFC firms move with higher SOA towards the target capital structure when they deviate below the target and face financial deficits

Psychosocial impact of cancer on adult patients

Objectives: To explore the effects of cancer on psychosocial aspects of Pakistani patients and their families, assessing the need for interventions to improve their quality of life.Methods: A prospective, Cross-sectional study was performed on 200 patients visiting the oncology outpatient facility of AKUH from December 2010 to May 2011 through an interview. Responses were recorded on pre-designed questionnaires including FACT-G QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Quality Of Life) component.Results: Out of the 200 patients 52 (26%) were males and 148 (74%) were females. Mean age was 51.8 +/- 14.2 years. Breast cancer accounted for the commonest cancer in females 116 (58%) and lung in males 30 (15%), 100 (50%) patients were currently undergoing chemotherapy. In all 148 (74%) patients were well aware of their diagnosis and were able to cope better and 142 (71%) were well supported by families (majority being financially stable). Major financial impact was found in 42 (21%) cases. Religious/spiritual help was sought by 138 (69%) patients predominantly females- 113 (76%) and 22 (11%) patients consulted a psychiatrist; 20 (94%) subjects of this group felt this intervention was helpful. Responses regarding effect on the patient\u27s sexual life were poor and 126 (63%) denied answering the question.CONCLUSION: In our study one third of cancer patients were found to be depressed mainly affecting those who were receiving multimodality treatment or facing financial issues. Religious help was the main coping strategy for them

Primary endo-bronchial muco-epidermoid carcinoma in a 22-year-old female: A case report

Introduction: Muco-epidermoid carcinomas are primarily the subtypes of salivary gland tumors that can rarely originate within the respiratory tract. Our case highlights the occurrence of an unusual, localized, endo-bronchial muco-epidermoid cancer. We aim to strengthen the evidence of occurrence of this distinct variety of lung cancer in our country as little is known about this rare subclass of lung cancer.Case presentation: We report a case of a 22-year-old female patient, belonging to Karachi, Pakistan, who presented with respiratory symptoms and upon work-up, was diagnosed with a low-grade, localized muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the lung. She underwent surgical resection successfully and was advised to get evaluated for adjuvant radiotherapy.Clinical discussion: Localized low-grade MEC respond well to surgical resection in contrast to high-grade MEC which is associated with poor prognosis thus requiring adjuvant radiotherapy to improve survival outcomes.Conclusion: Lung cancers can be unusually of muco-epidermoid origin. It has been uncommonly found in the world including Pakistan. Special attention with validated data is therefore needed, for developing guidelines for the optimal management of such neoplasms

Unmasking the enigma: A case of Fumarate Hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma

Introduction: Fumarate Hydratase-deficient-renal cell carcinoma (FH-dRCC) is an uncommon and extremely aggressive variant of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) resulting from inactivating mutations in the tumor suppressor gene, fumarate hydratase (FH).Case presentation: We report a case of a young male who presented with the complaint of painless hematuria. Upon workup, he was found to have a renal mass with bony metastases. The histopathology was consistent with renal cell carcinoma with features of FH-deficient variant. Germline testing showed a pathogenic mutation in the FH gene. He was started on a treatment combination of Pembrolizumab and Axitinib along with Zoledronate for bone metastasis. His response to the combination therapy was short with early progression of disease. He was switched to a second-line treatment Bevacizumab and Erlotinib, which achieved significant disease response.Discussion: Systemic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic disease. Although the novel agents approved for other subsets of RCC have been used, the responses are grim. There is no consensus on the sequence of further lines of treatment for FH-dRCC and is based on the physician\u27s choice, availability of the drugs, cost, toxicity, and tolerance of the patient.Conclusion: This case report emphasizes the occurrence, presentation, management and prognosis of FH-dRCC, which is an aggressive entity, presenting at a young age with early distant metastases, not diagnosed appropriately due to its poorly characterized cytologic features. Being an infrequent neoplasm, it is an area that warrants oncological exploration to improve outcomes in these individuals. The combination of Erlotinib and Bevacizumab provides promising outcomes in terms of progression-free survival