The selective protection afforded by ebselen against lipid peroxidation in an ROS-dependent model of inflammation

The effects of an experimental model of hydrogen-peroxide-induced foot pad oedema on indices of oxidative damage to biomolecules have been investigated. We have demonstrated increased levels of fluorescent protein and lipid peroxides occurring in plasma at 24 and 48 h post-injection. In addition, a decrease in the degree of galactosylation of IgG was observed which kinetically related the degree of inflammation and to the increase in protein autofluorescence (a specific index of oxidative damage). The effects of ebselen, a novel organoselenium compound which protects against oxidative tissue injury in a glutathione-peroxidase-like manner, have also been examined in this model. Pretreatment of animals with a dose of 50 mg/kg ebselen afforded significant and selective protection against lipid peroxidation only. This effect may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effect of this agent in hydroperoxide-linked tissue damage.

The unique complexity of social phenomena and the uses of social science knowledge

The assertion about the peculiarly intricate and complex character of social phenomena has, in much of social discourse, a virtually uncontested tradition. A significant part of the premise about the complexity of social phenomena is the conviction that it complicates, perhaps even inhibits the development and application of social scientific knowledge. Our paper explores the origins, the basis and the consequences of this assertion and asks in particular whether the classic complexity assertion still deserves to be invoked in analyses that ask about the production and the utilization of social scientific knowledge in modern society. We refer to one of the most prominent and politically influential social scientific theories, John Maynard Keynes' economic theory as an illustration. We conclude that, the practical value of social scientific knowledge is not necessarily dependent on a faithful, in the sense of complete, representation of (complex) social reality. Practical knowledge is context sensitive if not project bound. Social scientific knowledge that wants to optimize its practicality has to attend and attach itself to elements of practical social situations that can be altered or are actionable by relevant actors. This chapter represents an effort to re-examine the relation between social reality, social scientific knowledge and its practical application. There is a widely accepted view about the potential social utility of social scientific knowledge that invokes the peculiar complexity of social reality as an impediment to good theoretical comprehension and hence to its applicability.

The SECURE study:long-term safety of Ranibizumab 0.5 mg in neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Objective - To evaluate long-term safety of intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5-mg injections in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Design - Twenty-four–month, open-label, multicenter, phase IV extension study. Participants - Two hundred thirty-four patients previously treated with ranibizumab for 12 months in the EXCITE/SUSTAIN study. Methods - Ranibizumab 0.5 mg administered at the investigator's discretion as per the European summary of product characteristics 2007 (SmPC, i.e., ranibizumab was administered if a patient experienced a best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] loss of >5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters measured against the highest visual acuity [VA] value obtained in SECURE or previous studies [EXCITE and SUSTAIN], attributable to the presence or progression of active nAMD in the investigator's opinion). Main Outcome Measures - Incidence of ocular or nonocular adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs, mean change in BCVA from baseline over time, and the number of injections. Results - Of 234 enrolled patients, 210 (89.7%) completed the study. Patients received 6.1 (mean) ranibizumab injections over 24 months. Approximately 42% of patients had 7 or more visits at which ranibizumab was not administered, although they had experienced a VA loss of more than 5 letters, indicating either an undertreatment or that factors other than VA loss were considered for retreatment decision by the investigator. The most frequent ocular AEs (study eye) were retinal hemorrhage (12.8%; 1 event related to study drug), cataract (11.5%; 1 event related to treatment procedure), and increased intraocular pressure (6.4%; 1 event related to study drug). Cataract reported as serious due to hospitalization for cataract surgery occurred in 2.6% of patients; none was suspected to be related to study drug or procedure. Main nonocular AEs were hypertension and nasopharyngitis (9.0% each). Arterial thromboembolic events were reported in 5.6% of the patients. Five (2.1%) deaths occurred during the study, none related to the study drug or procedure. At month 24, mean BCVA declined by 4.3 letters from the SECURE baseline. Conclusions - The SECURE study showed that ranibizumab administered as per a VA-guided flexible dosing regimen recommended in the European ranibizumab SmPC at the investigator's discretion was well tolerated over 2 years. No new safety signals were identified in patients who received ranibizumab for a total of 3 years. On average, patients lost BCVA from the SECURE study baseline, which may be the result of disease progression or possible undertreatment.

Current issues in international HRM:alternative forms of assignments, careers and talent management in a global context

This special issue is dedicated to examining some current issues in international HRM; it contributes mainly to the field of HRM in the multinational enterprise. However, it clearly also draws on knowledge from cross-cultural IHRM. The guest editors have identified three topics that have gained tremendous importance due to the increasing globalisation of the world economy and the war for internationally qualified talent. This not only applies to multinational enterprises, but also to small and medium-sized enterprises, as senior managers are challenged to attract, retain, and motivate global talent: global assignments, global careers and global talent management. While all fields are not new and have partly been subject to prominent publications (e.g., Scullion & Collings, 2011; Cascio, 2013) new and highly relevant research questions continue to emerge and there is still a lack of empirical research in these areas.

Fe III in a low-spin state in caesium bis[3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde 4-methylthiosemicarbazonato(2–)-κ3O2,N1,S]ferrate(III) methanol monosolvate

The synthesis and crystal structure (at 100K) of the title compound, Cs[Fe(C11H13N3O2S2) 2] CH3OH, is reported. The asymmetric unit consists of an octahedral [FeIII(L)2]- fragment, where L 2- is 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde 4-methylthiosemicarbazonate(2-) {systematic name: [2-(3-ethoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)hydrazin-1-ylidene] (methylamino)methanethiolate}, a caesium cation and a methanol solvent molecule. Each L2- ligand binds through the thiolate S, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms as donors, resulting in an FeIIIS2N 2O2 chromophore. The O,N,S-coordinating ligands are orientated in two perpendicular planes, with the O and S atoms in cis positions and the N atoms in trans positions. The FeIII cation is in the low-spin state at 100K. © 2014 International Union of Crystallography.

Caesium bis­(5-bromo­salicyl­aldehyde thio­semicarbazonato-κ3O,N,S)ferrate(III): supramolecular arrangement of low-spin FeIII complex anions mediated by Cs+ cations

The synthesis and crystal structure determination (at 293 K) of the title complex, Cs[Fe(C8H6BrN3OS)2], are reported. The compound is composed of two dianionic O,N,S-tridentate 5-bromo­salicyl­aldehyde thio­semicarbazonate(2-) ligands coord­inated to an FeIII cation, displaying a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The ligands are orientated in two perpendicular planes, with the O- and S-donor atoms in cis positions and the N-donor atoms in trans positions. The complex displays inter­molecular N-H...O and N-H...Br hydrogen bonds, creating R44(18) rings, which link the FeIII units in the a and b directions. The FeIII cation is in the low-spin state at 293 K.

Wearable sensors in Huntington disease:a pilot study

Background: The Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) is the principal means of assessing motor impairment in Huntington disease but is subjective and generally limited to in-clinic assessments. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and ability of wearable sensors to measure motor impairment in individuals with Huntington disease in the clinic and at home. Methods: Participants with Huntington disease and controls were asked to wear five accelerometer-based sensors attached to the chest and each limb for standardized, in-clinic assessments and for one day at home. A secondchest sensor was worn for six additional days at home. Gait measures were compared between controls, participants with Huntington disease, and participants with Huntington disease grouped by UHDRS total motor score using Cohen’s d values. Results: Fifteen individuals with Huntington disease and five controls completed the study. Sensor data were successfully captured from 18 of the 20 participants at home. In the clinic, the standard deviation of step time (timebetween consecutive steps) was increased in Huntington disease (p<0.0001; Cohen’s d=2.61) compared to controls. At home with additional observations, significant differences were observed in seven additional gait measures. The gait of individuals with higher total motor scores (50 or more) differed significantly from those with lower total motor scores (below 50) on multiple measures at home. Conclusions: In this pilot study, the use of wearable sensors in clinic and at home was feasible and demonstrated gait differences between controls, participants with Huntington disease, and participants with Huntington diseasegrouped by motor impairment.