Hyperhomocysteinaemia in young patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Elevated plasma homocysteine is a newly identified vascular risk factor among patients under age 55 years with cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or peripheral vascular disease. This study sought to evaluate retrospectively the plasma homocysteine status among healthy younger patients with ischaemic optic disc disease. METHODS: 12 non-diabetic patients who had been diagnosed with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) before the age of 50 years were identified from chart review. None had experienced previous ischaemic cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or peripheral vascular events. Plasma homocysteine, CBC, renal function, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate levels were sampled in the fasting state. RESULTS: Two of 12 patients (17%) had hyperhomocysteinaemia. Both had experienced NAION in both eyes with recurrent episodes. Neither patient was hypertensive nor had a smoking history. One of these two patients had mild hypercholesterolaemia which did not warrant medication. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma homocysteine may be associated with NAION. An evaluation for hyperhomocysteinaemia should be considered in patients with NAION who do not have the typical risk factor such as older age, diabetes, hypertension, or tobacco use. It should also be considered in young patients with bilateral or recurrent attacks of NAION.

Testing for hysteresis in unemployment in OECD countries: new evidence using stationarity panel tests with breaks

This paper tests hysteresis effects in unemployment using panel data for 19 OECD countries covering the period 1956-2001. The tests exploit the cross-section variations of the series, and additionally, allow for a diferent number of endogenous breakpoints in the unemployment series. The critical values are simulated based on our specific panel sizes and time periods. The findings stress the importance of accounting for exogenous shocks in the series and give support to the natural-rate hypothesis of unemployment for the majority of the countries analyzed

Testing for multicointegration in panel data with common factors

The paper addresses the concept of multicointegration in panel data frame- work. The proposal builds upon the panel data cointegration procedures developed in Pedroni (2004), for which we compute the moments of the parametric statistics. When individuals are either cross-section independent or cross-section dependence can be re- moved by cross-section demeaning, our approach can be applied to the wider framework of mixed I(2) and I(1) stochastic processes analysis. The paper also deals with the issue of cross-section dependence using approximate common factor models. Finite sample performance is investigated through Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, we illustrate the use of the procedure investigating inventories, sales and production relationship for a panel of US industries.

Cardiovascular and metabolic responses during isokinetic shoulder rotators strength testing in healthy subjects

Background: Although there have been many studies on isokinetic shoulder exercises in evaluation and rehabilitation programs, the cardiovascular and metabolic responses of those modes of muscle strength exercises have been poorly investigated. Objective: To analyze cardiovascular and metabolic responses during a standardized test used to study the internal (IR) and external (ER) rotators maximal isokinetic strength. Methods: Four days after an incremental exercise test on cycle ergometer, ten healthy subjects performed an isokinetic shoulder strength evaluation with cardiovascular (Heart rate, HR) and metabolic gas exchange (&Vdot;O_{2}) analysis. The IR and ER isokinetic strength, measured in seated position with 45° of shoulder abduction in scapular plane, was evaluated concentrically at 60, 120 and 240°/s and eccentrically at 60°/s, for both shoulder sides. An endurance test with 30 repetitions at 240°/s was performed at the end of each shoulder side testing. Results: There was a significant increase of mean HR with isokinetic exercise (P< 0.05). Increases of HR was 42-71% over the resting values. During endurance testing, increases of HR was 77-105% over the resting values, and corresponded to 85-86% of the maximal HR during incremental test. Increase of &Vdot;O_{2} during isokinetic exercises was from 6-11 ml/min/kg to 20-43 ml/min/kg. Conclusion: This study performed significant cardiovascular and metabolic responses to isokinetic exercise of rotators shoulder muscles. A warm-up should be performed before maximal high-intensity isokinetic shoulder testing. Our results indicated that observation and supervision are important during testing and/or training sessions, especially in subjects with risk for cardiovascular disorders.

Testing for hysteresis in unemployment in OECD countries: new evidence using stationarity panel tests with breaks

This paper tests hysteresis effects in unemployment using panel data for 19 OECD countries covering the period 1956-2001. The tests exploit the cross-section variations of the series, and additionally, allow for a diferent number of endogenous breakpoints in the unemployment series. The critical values are simulated based on our specific panel sizes and time periods. The findings stress the importance of accounting for exogenous shocks in the series and give support to the natural-rate hypothesis of unemployment for the majority of the countries analyzed

Testing mouse mammary tumor virus superantigen as adjuvant in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses against a melanoma tumor antigen.

Cytotoxic T cells represent a powerful strategy for antitumor treatment. Depending on the route of injection, an important role for CD4 T cell-mediated help was observed in the induction of this response. For this reason, we investigated whether induction of a CTL response to the HLA-A2-restricted immunodominant peptide melanoma antigen Melan-A was improved by using rVVs expressing the CTL-defined epitope alone or in combination with an SAg. In the latter case, the few infected dendritic cells simultaneously presented an SAg and an antigen, i.e., peptide. Here, we show that the anti-Melan-A response was efficiently induced but not significantly improved by coexpression of the SAg.

Testing for multicointegration in panel data with common factors

The paper addresses the concept of multicointegration in panel data frame- work. The proposal builds upon the panel data cointegration procedures developed in Pedroni (2004), for which we compute the moments of the parametric statistics. When individuals are either cross-section independent or cross-section dependence can be re- moved by cross-section demeaning, our approach can be applied to the wider framework of mixed I(2) and I(1) stochastic processes analysis. The paper also deals with the issue of cross-section dependence using approximate common factor models. Finite sample performance is investigated through Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, we illustrate the use of the procedure investigating inventories, sales and production relationship for a panel of US industries.

Follow-up of optic pathway gliomas in children with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Optic pathway gliomas (OPG) are found in about 15% of patients with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1). The natural history of OPG is not yet well documented. Treatment in cases with growing tumors is still controversial. Twenty-one patients with NF-1 and OPG, diagnosed over a 20-year period, and followed neuroradiologically and ophthalmologically for at least two years, were reevaluated. The diagnosis of OPG was made at a mean age of 7.1 years (range 0-14.5 years); six children were asymptomatic, 15 were symptomatic. The mean follow-up was 9.0 years (2.0-18.5 (years). In eight initially operated or biopsied patients (three optic nerve and five chiasmal gliomas) tumor regrowth was found in one patient without progression on subsequent follow-up. Improvement of visual acuity occurred in one child after operation of a large suprasellar tumor and deterioration in one patient after biopsy of a chiasmal glioma. The neuroradiological follow-up of the 13 not-operated and not-radiated patients (four optic nerve and nine chiasmal gliomas) was stable in 10, progressive in three, resulting in visual loss in one patient. In 11 children (52%) a second tumor outside the optic pathway was found at a mean age of 4.0 years after the diagnosis of an OPG. Until now they are mostly asymptomatic. Second site tumors were operated in two children because of rapid tumor growth, one child died of a brainstem tumor. OPG are a frequent complication in children with NF-1, appearing within the first decade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Testing the bivariate distribution of daily equity returns using copulas: an application to the Spanish stock market

In this paper we deal with the identification of dependencies between time series of equity returns. Marginal distribution functions are assumed to be known, and a bivariate chi-square test of fit is applied in a fully parametric copula approach. Several families of copulas are fitted and compared with Spanish stock market data. The results show that the t-copula generally outperforms other dependence structures, and highlight the difficulty in adjusting a significant number of bivariate data series

Myélite transverse et neuromyélite optique chez l'enfant. A propos de trois observations [Transverse myelitis and optic neuromyelitis in children. Apropos of 3 case reports]

We report on three children with acute transverse myelitis. One of them also had optic neuritis. In connection with these three cases, we discuss etiology, diagnosis and outcome of transverse myelitis in childhood and possible involvement of the optic nerve. Our observations show the variability of spinal cord deficit and the fact that there can be a good prognosis, despite severe initial neurological deficits and massive elevation of basic myelin protein in children with ATM.

Testing Spatial Autocorrelation in Weighted Networks : the Modes Permutation Test

In a weighted spatial network, as specified by an exchange matrix, the variances of the spatial values are inversely proportional to the size of the regions. Spatial values are no more exchangeable under independence, thus weakening the rationale for ordinary permutation and bootstrap tests of spatial autocorrelation. We propose an alternative permutation test for spatial autocorrelation, based upon exchangeable spatial modes, constructed as linear orthogonal combinations of spatial values. The coefficients obtain as eigenvectors of the standardised exchange matrix appearing in spectral clustering, and generalise to the weighted case the concept of spatial filtering for connectivity matrices. Also, two proposals aimed at transforming an acessibility matrix into a exchange matrix with with a priori fixed margins are presented. Two examples (inter-regional migratory flows and binary adjacency networks) illustrate the formalism, rooted in the theory of spectral decomposition for reversible Markov chains.

Tricky and terrible T-cell tumors: these are thrilling times for testing: molecular pathology of peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) encompass a group of rare and usually clinically aggressive diseases. The classification and diagnosis of these diseases are compounded by their marked pathological heterogeneity and complex clinical features. With the exception of ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is defined on the basis of ALK rearrangements, genetic features play little role in the definition of other disease entities. In recent years, hitherto unrecognized chromosomal translocations have been reported in small subsets of PTCLs, and genome-wide array-based profiling investigations have provided novel insights into their molecular characteristics. This article summarizes the current knowledge on the best-characterized genetic and molecular alterations underlying the pathogenesis of PTCLs, with a focus on recent discoveries, their relevance to disease classification, and their management implications from a diagnostical and therapeutical perspective.

Candida species distribution and antifungal susceptibility testing according to European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and new vs. old Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute clinical breakpoints: a 6-year prospective candidaemia survey from the fungal infection network of Switzerland.

We analyzed the species distribution of Candida blood isolates (CBIs), prospectively collected between 2004 and 2009 within FUNGINOS, and compared their antifungal susceptibility according to clinical breakpoints defined by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) in 2013, and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) in 2008 (old CLSI breakpoints) and 2012 (new CLSI breakpoints). CBIs were tested for susceptiblity to fluconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin by microtitre broth dilution (Sensititre(®) YeastOne? test panel). Of 1090 CBIs, 675 (61.9%) were C. albicans, 191 (17.5%) C. glabrata, 64 (5.9%) C. tropicalis, 59 (5.4%) C. parapsilosis, 33 (3%) C. dubliniensis, 22 (2%) C. krusei and 46 (4.2%) rare Candida species. Independently of the breakpoints applied, C. albicans was almost uniformly (>98%) susceptible to all three antifungal agents. In contrast, the proportions of fluconazole- and voriconazole-susceptible C. tropicalis and F-susceptible C. parapsilosis were lower according to EUCAST/new CLSI breakpoints than to the old CLSI breakpoints. For caspofungin, non-susceptibility occurred mainly in C. krusei (63.3%) and C. glabrata (9.4%). Nine isolates (five C. tropicalis, three C. albicans and one C. parapsilosis) were cross-resistant to azoles according to EUCAST breakpoints, compared with three isolates (two C. albicans and one C. tropicalis) according to new and two (2 C. albicans) according to old CLSI breakpoints. Four species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis) represented >90% of all CBIs. In vitro resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin was rare among C. albicans, but an increase of non-susceptibile isolates was observed among C. tropicalis/C. parapsilosis for the azoles and C. glabrata/C. krusei for caspofungin according to EUCAST and new CLSI breakpoints compared with old CLSI breakpoints.