Investigating ASX300 firms for the period 2002-2010 - effect of trading by directors in their own firm's shares, corporate insider trading - negative relationship with post-trade information ...asymmetry - positive relationship with stock price information efficiency - efficiency of insider trading and disclosure requirements - International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) - continuous disclosure.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mainly ibuprofen, are used extensively among children as analgesic and antipyretic agents. Our initial survey in the Kendang Kerbau Children's Hospital ...in Singapore showed NSAIDs to be the second most common adverse drug reaction-causing medications among children of Asian descent. We attempted to characterize the clinical and epidemiologic profile of NSAID reactions in this group of patients.
A retrospective case series from a hospital-based pediatric drug allergy clinic was studied. A diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity was made with a modified oral provocation test. Atopy was evaluated clinically and tested with a standard panel of skin-prick tests. We excluded from analysis patients with any unprovoked episodes of urticaria and/or angioedema, patients < 1 year of age, and patients who refused a diagnostic challenge test.
Between March 1, 2003, and February 28, 2004, 24 patients, including 14 male patients (58%) and 18 Chinese patients (75%), with a mean age of 7.4 years (range: 1.4-14.4 years), were diagnosed as having cross-reactive NSAID hypersensitivity. A family history consistent with NSAID hypersensitivity was elicited for 17% of patients. None of the patients reported any episodes of angioedema/urticaria unrelated to NSAIDs. The median cumulative reaction-eliciting dose was 7.1 mg/kg. Facial angioedema developed for all patients (100%) and generalized urticaria for 38% of challenged patients, irrespective of age. There was no circulatory compromise, but respiratory symptoms of tachypnea, wheezing, and/or cough were documented for 42% of patients. A cross-reactive hypersensitivity response to acetaminophen was documented for 46% of our patients through their history and for 25% through diagnostic challenge. Compared with patients with suspected adverse drug reactions to antibiotics, patients in the NSAID group were older (7.4 vs 4.8 years) and more likely to have a diagnosis of asthma (odds ratio: 7.5; 95% confidence interval: 3.1-19).
Early presentations of facial angioedema and urticaria are key features of dose- and potency-dependent, cross-reactive reactions to NSAIDs in a subpopulation of young, Asian, atopic children. Significant overlap with acetaminophen hypersensitivity, especially among very young patients, for whom the use of a cyclooxygenase-2-specific medication may not be feasible, severely limits options for medical antipyretic treatment.
Objective
To validate and promulgate a core set of outcome measures for the evaluation of response to treatment in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods
In 2001, a ...preliminary consensus‐derived core set of measures for evaluating the response to therapy in juvenile SLE was established. In the present study, the core set was validated through an evidence‐based, large‐scale data collection process that led to the enrollment of 557 patients from 39 different countries. Consecutive patients with active disease were assessed at baseline and after 6 months. The validation procedures included assessment of feasibility, responsiveness, discriminant and construct ability, agreement in the evaluation of response to therapy between physicians and parents, redundancy, internal consistency, and ability to predict a therapeutic response.
Results
The following clinical measures were found to be feasible and to have good construct validity, discriminative ability, and internal consistency; furthermore, they were not redundant, proved responsive to clinically important changes in disease activity, and were associated strongly with treatment outcome and thus were included in the final core set: 1) physician's global assessment of disease activity, 2) global disease activity measure, 3) 24‐hour proteinuria, 4) parent's global assessment of the patient's overall well‐being, and 5) health‐related quality of life assessment.
Conclusion
The members of PRINTO propose a core set of criteria for the evaluation of response to therapy that is scientifically and clinically relevant and statistically validated. The core set will help standardize the conduct and reporting of clinical trials and assist practitioners in deciding whether a patient with juvenile SLE has responded adequately to therapy.
Singapore is a unique blend of a tropical environment with a high standard of hygiene and public health care. The objective was to define the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and environmental ...risk factors of specific aeroallergen sensitization in pediatric allergic rhinitis patients in this unique environment. The method adopted was a retrospective analysis of allergic rhinitis patients, undergoing aeroallergen skin prick testing (SPT), in the outpatient specialty clinic of the KK Children's hospital, from July 2001 to June 2002. A total of 202 patients were included, 161 (80%) males, 167 (83%) Chinese, age mean 7.6 yr (range 2–14 yr). The most prevalent clinical symptoms were: watery rhinorrhea 61%, blocked nose 61%, sneezing 52%, snoring 17%, and epistaxis 12%. SPT results were positive for house dust mites in 97% of children, pets (20%), molds (19%), pollens (15%), and kapok (10%). Mold sensitization was significantly more prevalent in households without air‐conditioning (aircon), 49% vs. 10% with aircon (odds ratio 9.4, 95% CI 3.8–22.9). Polysensitization (sensitization to three or more allergens) was similarly more prevalent in households without aircon, 51% vs. 14% with aircon (odds ratio 6.4, 95% CI 2.8–14.7). It was concluded that indoor aeroallergen sensitization is the major associated factor with clinical allergic rhinitis in children in Singapore. Patients living in households without air‐conditioning are at increased risk of mold sensitization and polysensitization.
Histamine skin prick test (SPT) is used as the ‘golden standard’ for positive control in in vivo immediate type hypersensitivity testing. The skin reactivity to histamine can, however, be modulated ...by a bevy of extraneous factors. We aimed to define whether histamine skin reactivity in atopic children in Singapore is influenced by age, ethnic origin, gender, environmental exposure or specific sensitization patterns. A retrospective analysis of children, with specific aeroallergen sensitization (as measured by at least one allergen‐specific SPT with a wheal size >3 mm compared with the negative control) from the outpatient speciality clinic of the KK Children's Hospital, during 06/2002–06/2003. A total of 315 patients were included, 235 (75%) were males, 252 (80%) were Chinese, age mean was 7.7 yr (range: 2–15). Patients were referred to the SPT with a diagnosis of one or more of: allergic rhinitis 287 (91%), asthma 112 (36%) or atopic dermatitis 60 (19%). The mean histamine response showed a bimodal distribution, independent of age, ethnic origin, gender or phenotypical expression of allergic disease. Histamine skin reactivity was higher in atopic patients with polysensitization (mean 5.0 mm vs. 2.9 mm in monosensitized patients, p < 0.001), and in patients with mould sensitization (mean 5.1 mm vs. 3.3 mm in patient not sensitized to moulds, p < 0.001). The presence of passive smoking increased the likelihood of a diminished histamine skin response. Histamine skin response data strongly suggested the presence of two heterogeneous subpopulations. Children with polysensitization and mould sensitization were more likely to show a large significant histamine response, whereas children with passive smoke exposure, showed a diminished skin reactivity to histamine.
Despite much effort and goodwill, the gap in health status between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal Australians persists. Bringing Aboriginal cultural protocols and teaching strategies into healthcare ...could improve the fit between healthcare services provided and Aboriginal peoples. This approach to making healthcare more accessible has not been tested in mainstream health settings. This study aimed to introduce ‘8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning’ to a mainstream health organisation and observe how learning about Aboriginal perspectives and processes shaped work‐related project or program design.
Program and network coordinators (n=18) employed in a state‐wide health organisation joined in‐person workshops and virtual sessions. Participatory Action Research methods guided the process and framework analysis transformed data.
Introducing ‘8 Ways’ generated conversations which went beyond deficits in Aboriginal health. Learning about cultural processes provided scaffolding to show how services and models of care can change.
This strategy demonstrated potential to improve approachability, acceptability and appropriateness of mainstream healthcare for Aboriginal peoples.
Introduction of Aboriginal pedagogies were welcomed by mainstream healthcare workers as they provided scaffolding and support to plan and work in new ways. Future studies could examine outcomes on program design and access to services for Aboriginal peoples.
Despite the advancements made in improving the quality of plant-based meat substitutes, more work needs to be done to match the texture, appearance, and flavor of real meat. This review aims to cover ...the sensory quality constraints of plant-based meat analogs and provides fermentation as a sustainable approach to push these boundaries. Plant-based meat analogs have been observed to have weak and soft textural quality, poor mouth feel, an unstable color, and unpleasant and beany flavors in some cases, necessitating the search for efficient novel technologies. A wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria such as
Lactobacillus acidophilus
and
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
, as well as fungi like
Fusarium venenatum
and
Neurospora intermedia
, have improved the product texture to mimic fibrous meat structures. Additionally, the chewiness and hardness of the resulting meat analogs have been further improved through the use of
Bacillus subtilis
. However, excessive fermentation may result in a decrease in the final product’s firmness and produce a slimy texture. Similarly, several microbial metabolites can mimic the color and flavor of meat, with some concerns. It appears that fermentation is a promising approach to modulating the sensory profiles of plant-derived meat ingredients without adverse consequences. In addition, the technology of starter cultures can be optimized and introduced as a new strategy to enhance the organoleptic properties of plant-based meat while still meeting the needs of an expanding and sustainable economy.
Fast, direct electron detectors have significantly improved the spatio-temporal resolution of electron microscopy movies. Preserving both spatial and temporal resolution in extended observations, ...however, requires storing prohibitively large amounts of data. Here, we describe an efficient and flexible data reduction and compression scheme (ReCoDe) that retains both spatial and temporal resolution by preserving individual electron events. Running ReCoDe on a workstation we demonstrate on-the-fly reduction and compression of raw data streaming off a detector at 3 GB/s, for hours of uninterrupted data collection. The output was 100-fold smaller than the raw data and saved directly onto network-attached storage drives over a 10 GbE connection. We discuss calibration techniques that support electron detection and counting (e.g., estimate electron backscattering rates, false positive rates, and data compressibility), and novel data analysis methods enabled by ReCoDe (e.g., recalibration of data post acquisition, and accurate estimation of coincidence loss).
The de novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in
Entamoeba histolytica
is largely dependent on the CDP-choline and CDP-ethanolamine pathways. Although the first enzymes ...of these pathways, EhCK1 and EhCK2, have been previously characterized, their enzymatic activity was found to be low and undetectable, respectively. This study aimed to identify the unusual characteristics of these enzymes in this deadly parasite. The discovery that EhCKs prefer Mn
2+
over the typical Mg
2+
as a metal ion cofactor is intriguing for CK/EK family of enzymes. In the presence of Mn
2+
, the activity of EhCK1 increased by approximately 108-fold compared to that in Mg
2+
. Specifically, in Mg
2+
, EhCK1 exhibited a
V
max
and
K
0.5
of 3.5 ± 0.1 U/mg and 13.9 ± 0.2 mM, respectively. However, in Mn
2+
, it displayed a
V
max
of 149.1 ± 2.5 U/mg and a
K
0.5
of 9.5 ± 0.1 mM. Moreover, when Mg
2+
was present at a constant concentration of 12 mM, the
K
0.5
value for Mn
2+
was ~ 2.4-fold lower than that in Mn
2+
alone, without affecting its
V
max
. Although the enzyme efficiency of EhCK1 was significantly improved by about 25-fold in Mn
2+
, it is worth noting that its
K
m
for choline and ATP were higher than in equimolar of Mg
2+
in a previous study. In contrast, EhCK2 showed specific activity towards ethanolamine in Mn
2+
, exhibiting Michaelis–Menten kinetic with ethanolamine (
K
m
= 312 ± 27 µM) and cooperativity with ATP (
K
0.5
= 2.1 ± 0.2 mM). Additionally, we investigated the effect of metal ions on the substrate recognition of human choline and ethanolamine kinase isoforms. Human choline kinase α2 was found to absolutely require Mg
2+
, while choline kinase β differentially recognized choline and ethanolamine in Mg
2+
and Mn
2+
, respectively. Finally, mutagenesis studies revealed that EhCK1 Tyr129 was critical for Mn
2+
binding, while Lys233 was essential for substrate catalysis but not metal ion binding. Overall, these findings provide insight into the unique characteristics of the EhCKs and highlight the potential for new approaches to treating amoebiasis. Amoebiasis is a challenging disease for clinicians to diagnose and treat, as many patients are asymptomatic. However, by studying the enzymes involved in the CDP-choline and CDP-ethanolamine pathways, which are crucial for de novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in
Entamoeba histolytica
, there is great potential to discover new therapeutic approaches to combat this disease.
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