Mutual Fund Performance in Pakistan, 1995-2004

Mutual funds are the most popular vehicle of investing in the stock market and their performance evaluation is a topic dear to both investors and academics. Surprisingly, mutual funds have not played a very important role in the Pakistani stock market and perhaps consequently almost nothing has been written about their performance in any academic journal. This paper looks at the performance of Pakistani mutual funds over the last five and ten year periods using Sharpe, Jensen and Treynor measures of portfolio performance analysis. The performance is compared to that of the market portfolio defined as the KSE 100 index. Using the Sharpe measure the performance of virtually all the funds was found to be inferior to that of the market portfolio. The Jensen and Treynor measures showed about half the funds to be outperforming the market portfolio over the last five years, but when the risk measure was corrected using Famas net selectivity measure the market portfolio outperformed all the funds except one. These results support the semi-strong form of market efficiency hypothesis even more strongly than it has been demonstrated in the developed markets.Mutual fund performance, Sharpe Jensen and Treynor measures of portfolio performance, test of semi-strong form of market efficiency

Rupture uterus: a clinical analysis

Background: Rupture uterus is one of the major causes of maternal mortality. It not only causes mortality, the survivor suffers much morbidity also. Finding out the etiology of rupture uterus, can help us to reduce its incidence. Present study is undertaken to know the scenario of rupture uterus in our institution.Methods: It is a retrospective study from 2011 to 2015. Data was obtained from the record section of the hospital. All rupture uterus cases were included. Previous mode of delivery, etiologies of rupture, operation performed etc. were studied.Results: Incidence of rupture uterus was 1 in 618 deliveries. Maternal mortality was 25%, perinatal mortality was 88.5%. Unbooked cases were 90.4%. Previous mode of delivery was vaginal delivery in 67.3% cases. Most common cause of rupture uterus was oxytocin overdose (26.9%) and handled labor (30.8%). Complete rupture was found in 75% cases. Subtotal hysterectomy was performed in 46.1% cases.Conclusions: Mandatory antenatal care (90.4% unbooked cases) and safe institutional delivery (oxytocin overdose and handled labor common cause) may change the rupture uterus scenario

Stock Audit in Retail Outlets: A Case Study

Stocks and physical assets, such as raw materials, products, plant and machinery, office equipment, IT systems, and so on, are value assets of a company. With companies today operating across multiple locations with various channel partners, ensuring all assets exist as per the books of record is a challenge for the operations and facilities functions. Stock audits help retail outlets in controlling several cost components. They help to check the level of opening stock and closing stock from previous periods, and thus help the company to account for short supply, damages, expired items, quality and quantity. Stock audits also check the billing process and ensure proper cash management. Thus, stock audits are required to be conducted in stores at least once in a month in order to avoid any frauds and to have proper control over stock. This study is a case study of a stock audit in the retail outlets of a leading player in the specialty bakery and confectionary sector in India. The study focuses on benchmarking the Damages/Returns and Variance in six selected outlets, in order to establish a system of proper control

Effect of Anti-Oxidant in co-relation with Rasayana therapy of Ayurveda on Ageing

Ageing is a process of unfavorable progressive changes associated with decline in vigour and ending in death. Ageing is the part of life which is unavoidable but the untimely aging can be stopped. The process of ageing involves the coexistence of two opposing factor namely evolution (growth) and involution (atrophy). These processes continue to operate throughout the life but their importance varies in different age groups. As the age advanced, human beings gradually lose some of their attributes, because of functional and structural alteration in almost all organ systems. Ageing in individuals is affected to a greater extent by genetic factors, diet, social conditions and the occurrence of age related disorders. Anti oxidants can speed up the cell division and cell replacement process, which can help to slow the overall effects of ageing and prevent specific age related diseases. It also deactivates the free radicals and prevents their formation and also stimulates the immune system to increase our protection against all diseases. Like anti-oxidant in Ayurveda the Rasayana therapy not only helped attain longer, healthier life but also help cure some of the dreadful diseases. Rasayana aid in increasing natural immunity, enhancing general wellbeing, improving the functioning of all fundamental organs of the body and keep the signs of early ageing. The main purpose of Rasayana therapy is to impede the ageing process and to delay the degenerative process in the body

Effect of intrauterine copper device on cervical cytology and its comparison with other contraceptive methods

Background: The intrauterine device (IUD) is the most commonly used reversible family planning method all over the world .The risk of cervical neoplasia associated with use of an intrauterine device (IUD), specially the copper releasing one, has been an important concern. The aim and objectives of the study was to determine safety of copper IUCD with regard to changes in cervical cytology and to compare the changes with other methods of temporary contraception.Methods: This was a prospective study carried out at a tertiary care institute for a period of 3 years. A total of 200 women of age group 18-40 years were included. 100 subjects who opted Cu-T 380A IUD were compared with 100 controls that had either opted other mode of temporary contraception like barrier, injectable, oral or did not use any method. Detailed history and examination of all subjects were done. All the women were subjected to conventional Pap smear and were followed at 6 months of interval for 1 year and then yearly up to 3 years. In each visit thorough pelvic examination was done and PAP smears were taken.Results: Among women using IUCD, 67.7% showed normal cytology as compared to 72.0% of the controls. On follow up, the incidence of normal cytology decreased (40%) with increased duration of use (up to 3 years). Incidence of inflammatory smear though first decreased up to 1 year (21.8%) but then gradually increased up to 2 years (37.0%) of use and then again decreased to 20.0% up to 3 years of use. ASCUS was found in only one case that used the device up to 2 years of use. LSIL was detected in 2 cases (20%) using IUD up to 3 years. No case of high grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) or invasive cancer was seen.Conclusions: There was no significant risk of cervical dysplasia or invasive carcinoma in IUCD users up to 2 years of use while other contraceptives (except barrier one) showed increased incidence of mild dysplasia (LSIL) after 1 year of use. Though risk of cervical malignancy is less with intrauterine copper devices, regular follow up should be done in long term users

Fungal Species Detection in Onychomycosis by Culture and Direct Microscopy at Tertiary Care Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Background: Fungal nail infection is common clinically identified in OPD irrespective of age and gender in our population. The treatment is initiated that mostly resistant to overcome the problem. A mycological confirmation is valuable to eradicate the disease as usefulness of antifungal against particular fungi. The laboratory diagnosis like microscopy and culture to identify the species level.   Objective: This study was aimed as comparison of mycological culture with KOH mount microscopy of nail infections. Study Design:  comparative cross sectional study. Duration:1st July, 2018 to 31th July 2021 Setting: 360 clinically diagnosed cases collected from Dermatology OPD –removed for blind review— Method: The nail specimen was directly inoculated on SDA culture media and aerobically incubate at 25 Ć to 30 Ć for 3 to 4 weeks. The growth was identified on colony characteristics by using of cotton blue stains. Whereas nail is immersed in 20% KOH solution. Microscopic study was revealed the hyphae or spores and that considered as a positive for test. Result: out of three hundred sixty cases the culture positivity was 56.94% specimen while KOH mount were positive in 60.83% specimens and combination of Culture with KOH were 66.67%. Conclusion: Combination of fungal culture and KOH mount microscopy is subtle laboratory methods for eradication of onychomycosis precisely. The sensitivity of diagnosis that limit the complications and quality of public health considerably raised.   Key words: SDA (Sabouraud's dextrose agar), KOH (Potassium hydroxide). Mycological culture and Outpatient Department (OPD)