A non-quasi-competitive Cournot oligopoly with stability

This paper presents a classical Cournot oligopoly model with some peculiar features: it is non--quasi--competitive as price under N-poly is greater than monopoly price; Cournot equilibrium exists and is unique with each new entry; the successive equilibria after new entries are stable under the adjustment mechanism that assumes that actual output of each seller is adjusted proportionally to the difference between actual output and profit maximizing output. Moreover, the model tends to perfect competition as N goes to infinity, reaching the monopoly price again.

Interleukin-12p40 overexpression promotes interleukin-12p70 and interleukin-23 formation but does not affect bacille Calmette-Guérin and Mycobacterium tuberculosis clearance.

Interleukin (IL)-12p40, a subunit of IL-12p70 and IL-23, has previously been shown to inhibit IL-12p70 activity and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. However, recent evidence has suggested that the role of IL-12p40 is more complex. To study the contribution of IL-12p40 to immune responses against mycobacterial infections, we have used transgenic (tg) mice overexpressing IL-12p40 under the control of a major histocompatibility complex-II promoter. The IL-12p40 transgene was expressed during steady state at concentrations of 129 +/- 25 ng/ml of serum and 75 +/- 13 ng per spleen, while endogenous IL-12p40 was hardly detectable in control littermates. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection strongly induced the expression of IL-12p40 transgene in infected organs, and IL-12p40 monomeric and dimeric forms were identified in spleen of IL-12p40 tg mice. Excessive production of IL-12p40 resulted in a 14-fold increase in IL-12p70 serum levels in tg mice versus non-transgenic mice. IL-23 was also strongly elevated in the serum and spleens of IL-12p40 tg mice through BCG infection. While IFN-gamma and tumour necrosis factor protein levels were similar in IL-12p40 tg and non-transgenic mice, Th2 type immune responses were reduced in IL-12p40 tg mice. The number of BCG granulomas and macrophage expressing inducible nitric oxide synthase were similar in IL-12p40 tg and non-transgenic mice. IL-12p40 tg mice were as resistant as non-transgenic mice to BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections as they could efficiently control bacillary growth. These data show that high amounts of IL-12p40 promotes IL-12p70 and IL-23 formation, but that does not affect T helper 1 type immune responses and granuloma function, thus leading to normal mycobacterial clearance in infected organs.

Urheilun ja urheilujärjestöjen laajentuvat tehtävät

Puhe SVUL:n suurkisoissa 6.6.1966

Enterococcal endocarditis in the beginning of the 21st century: analysis from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis-Prospective Cohort Study.

Enterococci are reportedly the third most common group of endocarditis-causing pathogens but data on enterococcal infective endocarditis (IE) are limited. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics and prognostic factors of enterococcal IE within the International Collaboration on Endocarditis. In this multicentre, prospective observational cohort study of 4974 adults with definite IE recorded from June 2000 to September 2006, 500 patients had enterococcal IE. Their characteristics were described and compared with those of oral and group D streptococcal IE. Prognostic factors for enterococcal IE were analysed using multivariable Cox regression models. The patients' mean age was 65 years and 361/500 were male. Twenty-three per cent (117/500) of cases were healthcare related. Enterococcal IE were more frequent than oral and group D streptococcal IE in North America. The 1-year mortality rate was 28.9% (144/500). E. faecalis accounted for 90% (453/500) of enterococcal IE. Resistance to vancomycin was observed in 12 strains, eight of which were observed in North America, where they accounted for 10% (8/79) of enterococcal strains, and was more frequent in E. faecium than in E. faecalis (3/16 vs. 7/364 , p 0.01). Variables significantly associated with 1-year mortality were heart failure (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.7--3.5, p <0.0001), stroke (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3--2.8, p 0.001) and age (HR 1.02 per 1-year increment, 95% CI 1.01--1.04, p 0.002). Surgery was not associated with better outcome. Enterococci are an important cause of IE, with a high mortality rate. Healthcare association and vancomycin resistance are common in particular in North America.

[4 phot. de Bâle et de Genève (celles de Genève par A. Braun, phot. à Dornach, Haut-Rhin), don W. Martin en 1892]

Donateur : Martin, William (18..-19..? ; diplomate)

Risk of cardiovascular events and blood pressure control in hypertensive HIV-infected patients: Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of hypertension in HIV infection is high, and information on blood pressure control in HIV-infected individuals is insufficient. We modeled blood pressure over time and the risk of cardiovascular events in hypertensive HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: All patients from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study with confirmed hypertension (systolic or diastolic blood pressure above 139 or 89 mm Hg on 2 consecutive visits and presence of at least 1 additional cardiovascular risk factor) between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2011 were included. Patients with previous cardiovascular events, already on antihypertensive drugs, and pregnant women were excluded. Change in blood pressure over time was modeled using linear mixed models with repeated measurement. RESULTS: Hypertension was diagnosed in 2595 of 10,361 eligible patients. Of those, 869 initiated antihypertensive treatment. For patients treated for hypertension, we found a mean (95% confidence interval) decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of -0.82 (-1.06 to -0.58) mm Hg and -0.89 (-1.05 to -0.73) mm Hg/yr, respectively. Factors associated with a decline in systolic blood pressure were baseline blood pressure, presence of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular events, and the typical risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In patients with hypertension, increase in systolic blood pressure [(hazard ratio 1.18 (1.06 to 1.32) per 10 mm Hg increase], total cholesterol, smoking, age, and cumulative exposure to protease inhibitor-based and triple nucleoside regimens were associated with cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient control of hypertension was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events indicating the need for improved management of hypertension in HIV-infected individuals.

M. Tullii Ciceronis opera, omnium quae hactenus excusa sunt castigatissima, nunc primum in lucem edita (a Petro Victorio). Tertius tomus Marci Tullii Ciceronis epistolarum libros continet

Comprend : Explicationes suarum in Ciceronem castigationum

Characterization of a specific 20- to 25-kD interleukin-1 inhibitor from cultured human lung macrophages.

Alveolar macrophages have the ability to downregulate immune processes in vitro. We have recently suggested the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors in the supernatants of human bronchoalveolar lavage cells from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or sarcoidosis. In the present study, we further analyze the cellular origin and the biologic properties of a 20- to 25-kD IL-1 inhibitor spontaneously produced by cultured human alveolar macrophages (AM). The inhibitor blocks IL-1-induced prostaglandin E2 production by human fibroblasts and the IL-1-related increase of phytohemagglutinin-induced murine thymocyte proliferation. After rigorous IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta depletion, supernatants of lung macrophages specifically block the binding of IL-1 to its receptor on the murine thymoma cell line EL4-6.1 in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that AM from both normal donors and patients produce a specific IL-1 inhibitor that may be of importance in protecting the alveolar environment from the deleterious effects of excessive IL-1 production.