Nexus between corporate social responsibility and financial and non-financial sectors' performance: a non-linear and disaggregated approach.

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) as proxy of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate firm's performance (CFP) in the context of Pakistani financial and non-financial firms sectors. This study comprises two main firm's performance indicators such as market base (excess stock returns) and accounting base (returns on assets and returns on capital). The data set starts from 2011 to 2017 and consists of three hundred and fifty (350) firms on equal numbers of financial and non-financial firms. This study uses a non-linear and disaggregated approach for data analysis. The results of the linear model indicate that CSP and returns on capital have a negative relationship, while the non-linear model of CSP and accounting base performance as CFP have positive association in the domain of long run. There is a significant relationship that exist among environmental social governance (ESG) disclosure score, government sub-components score, and social performance. However, a U-shaped association found between CFP and government sub-components, which further suggest that governance has a vital role toward CSP and CFP components.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: our initial experience.

OBJECTIVE: To see the safety and efficacy of Percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) Karachi, Pakistan. Patients with osteoporotic compression vertebral fractures, not responding to conservative treatment and having localized overlying tenderness and MRI evidence of high signal in the involved vertebral body, were included in the study. Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure the intensity of pain. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) was performed by injecting polymethylacrylate in the diseased vertebral body. The patients were followed up for initially 4 and 24 hours. Later they had a check up at 2 weeks, one three, six and twelve months. RESULTS: Percutaneous vertebroplasty on twentyfour patients were included who underwent (LNH) from 2002 to 2006 Age range was from 65 to 85 years (mean age 75 +/- 3.3 years). Among 24 patients, 21 were females and 3 patients were male. Six patients had two levels osteoporotic compression vertebral fractures the rest, had compression at one level. Patients with radicular pain or signs of myelopathy, osteomyelitis of targeted vertebral body or overlying skin infection, severe compression of vertebral body or with retropulsed fragment into canal as evident by CT scan were excluded from the study. While patients who failed to respond to 6-12 weeks of conservative treatment, with localized overlying tenderness and MRI evident high signal in vertebral body involved, were included in the study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was applied for the assessment of pain intensity. Followup was performed immediately, within 4 hours, after 24 hours, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and finally at one year. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a safe and useful procedure for the treatment of backache associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.

Rhinocerebral aspergillosis cripple: high oral doses of Itraconazole was the solution.

Two cases of intracranial fungal infection, crippled with the recurrence of the fungal infection even after excisional surgery followed by intravenous Amphotericin B and oral Itraconazole are presented.

Bilateral parietal extradural metastatic Ewing's sarcoma simulating acute epidural hematoma.

Sarcomas usually metastasize to lungs. The following case report describes an unusual metastasis of Ewing's sarcoma to extradural parietal region bilaterally. The primary was found at lower end of ulna.