An analysis of EU FDI inflow into Russia Domínguez-Jiménez, Marta; Poitiers, Niclas Frederic
Russian Journal of Economics,
06/2020, Letnik:
6, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This paper analyzes the trends and drivers of inward foreign direct investment in Russia between 2009 and 2019. The EU is the premier provider of FDI into Russia, even though we find that reported ...values overstate its role given the use of Special Purpose Entities (SPEs). Key drivers of Russian FDI flows are the price of oil and natural resource markets, macroeconomic volatility, monetary policy, sanctions and trade impediments. As FDI is highly concentrated in natural resource rich regions, we argue that a sectoral decomposition understates the importance of fossil fuel extraction. Based on this analysis as well as the literature on growth effects of FDI, we argue that Russia needs more investment into higher-value added activities.
Hypofractionated radiation therapy is a feasible and safe treatment option in elderly and frail patients with glioblastoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hypofractionated ...radiation therapy with concurrent temozolomide in terms of feasibility and disease control in primary glioblastoma patients with poor prognostic factors other than advanced age, such as post-surgical neurological complications, high tumor burden, unresectable or multifocal lesions, and potential low treatment compliance due to social factors or rapidly progressive disease.
GTV included the surgical cavity plus disease visible in T1WI-MRI, FLAIR-MRI and in the MET-uptake. The CTV was defined as the GTV plus 1.5-2 cm margin; the PTV was the CTV+0.3 cm margin. Forty, fourty-five, and fifty grays in 15 fractions were prescribed to 95% of PTV, CTV, and GTV, respectively. Treatment was delivered using IMRT or the VMAT technique. Simultaneously, 75 mg/m2/day of temozolomide were administered.
Between January 2010 and November 2017, we treated a total of 17 patients. The median age at diagnosis was 68-years; median KPS was 50-70%. MGMT-methylation status was negative in 5 patients, and 8 patients were IDH-wildtype. Eight of 18 patients were younger than 65-years. Median tumor volume was 26.95cc; median PTV volume was 322cc. Four lesions were unresectable; 6 patients underwent complete surgical resection. Median residual volume was 1.14cc. Progression-free survival was 60% at 6 months, 33% at 1-year and 13% at 2-years (median OS = 7 months). No acute grade 3-5 toxicities were documented. Symptomatic grade 3 radiation necrosis was observed in one patient.
Patients with poor clinical factors other than advanced age can be selected for hypofractionated radiotherapy. The OS and PFS rates obtained in our series are similar to those in patients treated with standard fractionation, assuring good treatment adherence, low rates of toxicity and probable improved cost-effectiveness.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among long-term heart transplant recipients. There is an unmet need for a non-invasive biomarker of CAV that ...could obviate the need to perform surveillance coronary angiograms in these patients. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of Donor-derived Cell Free DNA (dd-cfDNA) as a biomarker of CAV.
We prospectively measured dd-cfDNA levels in all patients undergoing routine coronary angiography >1 year after heart transplant at a single center. Endpoints included the association between dd-cfDNA levels and the presence CAV, according to several prespecified criteria.
We included 94 heart transplant recipients, a median of 10.9 years after transplant. Coronary angiogram revealed CAV
, CAV
, CAV
, and CAV
in 61, 19, 14, and 6% of patients, respectively. Comparison of dd-cfDNA levels in patients with CAV
and CAV
(primary end-point) did not show significant differences (0.92%, IQR 0.46-2.0 vs. 0.46%, IQR 0.075-1.5,
= 0.059), nor did the comparison between patients with stable CAV (no new coronary lesions since previous angiogram,
= 77) and progressive CAV (
= 17); dd-cfDNA values 0.735% (IQR 0.195-2.0) vs. 0.9% (IQR 0.12-1.8),
= 0.76. However, we found an association between NTproBNP levels and CAV degree (
= 0.017). Dd-cfDNA levels did not correlate with NTproBNP (ρ = -0.095).
In this study, dd-cfDNA did not perform as a useful biomarker to avoid surveillance coronary angiograms for CAV diagnosis.
Potential Role of Donor-derived Cell Free DNA as a Biomarker in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy, NCT04791852.
ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is an established diagnostic tool in myocardial disease. However, this technique may carry major complications. We present the ...diagnostic and safety results of our experience in EMB in the non-transplant setting. We also present the results after the implementation of a technical and safety protocol developed at our center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of all EMBs conducted in non-transplant patients from September 2004 through July 2018. We compared the diagnostic yield and rate of major complications of EMB in two different periods: before and after implementing the protocol. Results: We included 204 EMBs performed in 190 patients. The most frequent indications were the evaluation of ventricular dysfunction or suspected myocarditis (51.5%) and the evaluation of restrictive cardiomyopathy or suspected infiltrative disease (44.6%). One hundred and seventy-two EMBs were performed in the right cardiac chambers (84.3%) and 30 EMBs in the left cardiac chambers (14.7%). The specimens were taken from both ventricles on 2 cases only. Definite diagnosis was reached in 52% of the cases. After the implementation of the protocol, the diagnostic yield significantly improved (42.5% vs 58.1%; P = .030) and the rate of major complications decreased (from 7.5% to 3.2%; P = .167), with a statistically significant lower rate of cardiac perforation (6.3% vs 0.8%; P = .025). Conclusions: The EMB is a diagnostic tool with a great potential in patients with suspected cardiomyopathy. Our experience shows that a technical and safety protocol can help decrease the rate of complications and improve the diagnostic yield of EMB.
Diaphragmatic electrode implantation and temporary diaphragm pacing has not been previously used in ICU patients with VIDD. Patients were monitored using a multi-modal monitoring approach including ...ultrasound of the diaphragm, measurement of maximum inspiratory pressure and EMG signal analysis. Our results suggest that diaphragm pacing may improve diaphragmatic function, with the potential to prevent and treat VIDD in critically ill patients. Safety and efficacy of this intervention is yet to be proven in larger studies.
Ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) is increasingly recognized as an important side-effect of invasive ventilation in critically ill patients and is associated with poor outcomes. Whether patients with VIDD benefit from temporary diaphragm pacing is uncertain. Intramuscular diaphragmatic electrodes were implanted for temporary stimulation with a pacing device (TransAeris System) in two patients with VIDD. The electrodes were implanted via laparoscopy (first patient) or via bilateral thoracoscopy (second patient). Stimulation parameters were titrated according to tolerance. Diaphragm thickening fraction by ultrasound, maximum inspiratory pressure (Pi
max
) and diaphragm electromyography (EMGdi) signal analysis were used to monitor the response to diaphragm pacing. Both patients tolerated diaphragm pacing. In the first patient, improvements in diaphragm excursions were noted once pacing was initiated and diaphragm thickening fraction did not further deteriorate over time. The diaphragm thickening fraction improved in the second patient, and Pi
max
as well as EMGdi analysis suggested improved muscle function. This patient could be fully weaned from the ventilator. These case reports present the first experience with temporary diaphragm pacing in critically ill patients with VIDD. Our results should be taken cautiously given the reduced sample size, but provide the proof of concept to put forward the hypothesis that a course of diaphragm pacing may be associated with improved diaphragmatic function. Our findings of the tolerance to the procedure and the beneficial physiological effects are not prove of safety and efficacy, but may set the ground to design and conduct larger studies.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Diaphragmatic electrode implantation and temporary diaphragm pacing have not been previously used in ICU patients with VIDD. Patients were monitored using a multimodal monitoring approach including ultrasound of the diaphragm, measurement of maximum inspiratory pressure and EMG signal analysis. Our results suggest that diaphragm pacing may improve diaphragmatic function, with the potential to prevent and treat VIDD in critically ill patients. Safety and efficacy of this intervention is yet to be proven in larger studies.
Introduction and objectives: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is an established diagnostic tool in myocardial disease. However, this technique may carry major complications. We present the diagnostic and ...safety results of our experience in EMB in the non-transplant setting. We also present the results after the implementation of a technical and safety protocol developed at our center.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of all EMBs conducted in non-transplant patients from September 2004 through July 2018. We compared the diagnostic yield and rate of major complications of EMB in two different periods: before and after implementing the protocol.
Results: We included 204 EMBs performed in 190 patients. The most frequent indications were the evaluation of ventricular dysfunction or suspected myocarditis (51.5%) and the evaluation of restrictive cardiomyopathy or suspected infiltrative disease (44.6%). One hundred and seventy-two EMBs were performed in the right cardiac chambers (84.3%) and 30 EMBs in the left cardiac chambers (14.7%). The samples were taken from both ventricles on 2 cases only. Definite diagnosis was reached in 52% of the cases. After the implementation of the protocol, the diagnostic yield significantly improved (42.5% vs 58.1%; P = .030) and the rate of major complications decreased (from 7.5% to 3.2%; P = .167), with a statistically significant lower rate of cardiac perforation (6.3% vs 0.8%; P = .025).
Conclusions: The EMB is a diagnostic tool with a great potential in patients with suspected cardiomyopathy. Our experience shows that a technical and safety protocol can help decrease the rate of complications and improve the diagnostic yield of EMB.
Introducción y objetivos: La biopsia endomiocárdica (BEM) es una técnica diagnóstica fundamental en el diagnóstico de distintas miocardiopatías, pero no está exenta de posibles complicaciones. Se presentan los resultados en términos de rentabilidad diagnóstica y seguridad de la serie de BEM realizadas en corazón no trasplantado en nuestro hospital, así como las consecuencias de la implementación de un protocolo de actuación y seguridad en BEM desarrollado en nuestro centro.
Métodos: Se revisaron de forma retrospectiva todas las BEM en corazón no trasplantado realizadas desde septiembre de 2004 hasta julio de 2018. Se comparó la rentabilidad diagnóstica y seguridad en dos etapas: antes y después de la puesta en marcha del protocolo.
Resultados: Se incluyeron 204 BEM realizadas en 190 pacientes. La indicación más frecuente fue el estudio de disfunción ventricular o sospecha de miocarditis (51,5%), seguida de estudio de miocardiopatía restrictiva o infiltrativa (44,6%). Se realizaron 172 BEM en cavidades derechas (84,3%) y 30 en cavidades izquierdas (14,7%); solo en 2 de los procedimientos se tomaron muestras de ambos ventrículos. La BEM permitió el diagnóstico definitivo en el 52% de los casos. Tras la implementación del protocolo se observó una mejoría en la rentabilidad diagnóstica (42,5 frente a 58,1%; p = 0,030) y una disminución en la tasa de complicaciones mayores (del 7,5% al 3,2%; p = 0,167), con una reducción estadísticamente significativa en la tasa de perforaciones cardiacas (6,3 frente a 0,8%; p = 0,025).
Conclusiones: La BEM es una técnica con un gran potencial diagnóstico en pacientes con sospecha de miocardiopatía. Aunque puede presentar complicaciones potencialmente graves, la puesta en marcha de un protocolo de actuación y seguridad se asocia a una reducción en la tasa de complicaciones y a una mejoría en la rentabilidad diagnóstica.
Review of:
The Language(s) of Politics: Multilingual Policy-Making in the European Union
, Nils Ringe (2022)
Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 264 pp.,
ISBN 978-0-47205-513-5, p/bk, $34.95
A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted to gather information on current microbiological practices for active surveillance of carriage of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in ...hospitals from 14 health departments of the Autonomous Community of Valencia (ACV), Spain, which together provided medical attention to 3,271,077 inhabitants in 2017, approximately 70% of the population of the ACV. The survey consisted of 35 questions on MDR bacteria screening policies, surveillance approach chosen (universal vs. targeted), and microbiological methods and processes in use for routine detection and reporting of colonization by MDR bacteria, including the anatomical sites scheduled to be sampled for each MDR bacterial species, and the methodology employed (culture-based, molecular-based, or both). Our study revealed striking differences across centers, likely attributable to the lack of consensus on optimal protocols for sampling, body sites for screening, and microbiological testing, thus underscoring the need for consensus guidelines on these issues.
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