bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A double‐blind comparison of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray, terfenadine tablets and placebo in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen
Authors: DARNELL R. , PECOUD A. , RICHARDS D. H. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryFluticasone Propionate Aqueous Nasal Spray (FPANS) contains a topically active glucocorticoid fluticasone propionate which has been used successfully for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. This multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy, placebo‐controlled, parallel group study was designed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of FPANS with terfenadine tablets or placebo in controlling the symptoms of allergic rhinitis to grass pollen. Two hundred and fourteen patients were treated for 6 weeks during the grass pollen season with either FPANS 200 μg once daily, terfenadine tablets (60 mg) twice daily or placebo. Efficacy was evaluated by the analysis of symptom‐free days and median symptom scores. Patients receiving FPANS had significantly more days free of nasal blockage on waking (P = 0·012) and during the day (P = 0·01) and of rhinorrhoea (P = 0·027) than those receiving terfenadine. Additionally, in terms of absolute efficacy, patients receiving FPANS demonstrated significantly more days free of the above symptoms (P = 0·017, P = 0·028, P = 0·004, respectively) and of sneezing (P < 0·001) than those receiving placebo. There were no significant differences in symptoms of nasal itching, eye symptoms, of symptoms of drowsiness between the three treatment groups. Patients in the FPANS group had significantly lower median symptom scores for nasal blockage on waking (P < 0·001) and during the day (P < 0·018) than those in the terfenadine group and significantly lower scores for nasal blockage on waking (P < 0·001), sneezing (P < 0·013) and rhinorrhoea (P = 0·005) than those in the placebo group. The use of rescue medication was similar in all three treatment groups. Adverse events were similar in nature and frequency in all three treatment groups, most were mild and considered by the investigator at each centre unlikely to be related or unrelated to the study treatment. There were very few clinically significant laboratory abnormalities observed in any group. It is concluded that FPANS (200 μg once daily) is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis and is significantly more effective than terfenadine (60 mg twice daily) in controlling nasal blockage at all times of the day and rhinorrhoea.
The importance of eosinophil activation for the development of allergen‐induced bronchial hyperreactivity in conscious, unrestrained guinea‐pigs
Authors: SANTING R. E. , HOEKSTRA Y. , PASMAN Y. , ZAAGSMA J. , MEURS H. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryUsing a newly developed guinea‐pig model of asthma, characterized by allergen‐induced early and late phase asthmatic reactions, bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) and airway inflammation, the importance of eosinophil activation for the development of BHR to inhaled histamine was investigated at 6 h (after the early reaction) and 24 h (after the late reaction) after allergen provocation. Eosinophil activation was assessed by a sensitive kinetic assay for eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity, suitable for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis. A significant 2±9‐fold (P < 0±01) increase in bronchial reactivity to histamine was observed at 6 h after allergen exposure, which was associated with a 2±9‐fold increase in the number of eosinophils (P < 0±05) and a 6±7‐fold increase in EPO activity (P < 0±01) in the BAL fluid. At 24 h after allergen exposure the bronchial reactivity to histamine was lower (1±7‐fold), but still significantly enhanced (P < 0±01). By contrast, the number of eosinophils was further increased compared with 6 h after provocation (3±8‐fold, P < 0±05), while the EPO activity remained stable at 6 h levels. The number of eosinophils was significantly correlated with EPO activity at 6 h (r = 0±62; P < 0±05), but not at 24 h after provocation. No significant correlation was observed between the number of eosinophils in the BAL fluid and BHR to histamine at either time point. Remarkably, EPO activity was significantly correlated to BHR at 24 h (r = 0±66; P < 0±004), but not at 6 h after provocation. These results indicate that: newly infiltrated eosinophils have the highest activation state during the early asthmatic reaction; EPO may play a role in the development of BHR to inhaled histamine after the late reaction and that besides EPO, additional mechanisms may contribute to BHR to histamine after the early asthmatic reaction.
Characteristics and Macroeconomic Determinants of Youth Employment in Africa
Authors: Anyanwu John C. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to present the characteristics of youth employment in Africa as well as investigate its macroeconomic determinants, with a view to proffering some solutions. Our empirical estimates, using available cross‐sectional data over the period 1991–2009 show that a nation's domestic investment rate is found to be positively and significantly associated with youth employment in the overall Africa and sub‐Saharan estimations. However, domestic investment rate is negatively and significantly associated with youth employment in North Africa. Government consumption expenditures negatively and significantly affect youth employment in sub‐Saharan Africa. Rising inflation is negatively and significantly associated with youth employment in North Africa. The level of real GDP per capita has a negative and statistically significant effect in both the overall Africa and North Africa youth employment. The quadratic term of real GDP per capita is positive in sign and significant only in the youth employment estimation for the whole of Africa. We find that real GDP growth positively and significantly affects youth employment in the overall Africa, sub‐Saharan and North Africa estimations. Other important variables considered are globalization indicators (FDI and trade openness), credit to the private sector, ICT infrastructure, education, demographic factors, institutionalized democracy, time trend, net oil‐exporting/importing country, and regional dummies. Key policy implications include increased productive domestic investment; promoting government expenditure effectiveness; reforming the fiscal systems for consolidation by all levels of government; effective regulation of FDI for domestic job creation; improvements in the diversification, competitiveness and value addition of African export commodities; encouragement of entrepreneurship and access to financing for the youth; greater productive infrastructure development; up‐skilling, better training and education for the low‐skilled workforce; the promotion of effective democracy that will design policies friendly to youth job creation; and efficient management of oil and other natural resources throughout the value chain.
La croissance économique est‐elle pro‐pauvres au Niger?
Authors: Daouda Youssoufou Hamadou 
Published: June 2013

RésuméL'idée de savoir si la croissance économique est pro‐pauvres au Niger vient d'un constat: malgré les bonnes performances macroéconomiques au cours de la décennie 2000, la pauvreté reste à un niveau élevé. Dans cet article, deux objectifs sont poursuivis. Premièrement, à l'aide d'une approche fondée sur Kakwani et al. (2002), la croissance pro‐pauvres est examinée selon les spécificités régionales et le milieu de résidence. D'après les résultats obtenus, il ressort globalement que la croissance économique nigérienne est pro‐pauvres, sauf dans les villes (Niamey notamment) où elle semble être pro‐riches — l'interférence négative de l'inégalité a plus que contrebalancé l'effet positif de la croissance. Deuxièmement, un exercice de simulation est proposé afin d'estimer le niveau de croissance requis pour réduire de 50% la pauvreté, conformément aux objectifs de développement du millénaire. L'étude montre que le Niger ne pourra parvenir à un tel but qu'en maintenant un taux de croissance annuel de 10,5%, et ce, seulement pour l'horizon 2020.
Growth Empirics: Evidence from Sierra Leone
Authors: Kallon Kelfala M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn this paper, I use a novel approach to estimate Sierra Leone's aggregate capital stock from gross fixed investment and depreciation. Using Johanssen's maximum‐likelihood cointegration methodology, I then estimate the parameters of the country's long‐run per capita aggregate production function. Thereafter, the sources of economic growth are calculated, the key finding being that economic growth in post‐independence Sierra Leone has been propelled by mostly capital accumulation. The implications of this capital‐driven growth on poverty reduction and income distribution are then discussed. Policy recommendations for how to simultaneously promote economic growth and improve the living standard of the average Sierra Leonean are also provided.
Beyond Fundamentals: Investor Sentiment and Exchange Rate Forecasting
Authors: Heiden Sebastian , Klein Christian , Zwergel Bernhard 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the relation between investor sentiment and exchange rate movements. We use a unique dataset of private and institutional investors’ sentiment and discover that institutional sentiment significantly predicts returns over medium‐term horizons in the EUR/USD market. While institutional investors seem to correctly identify the medium‐run direction of this market, private investors’ sentiment emerges as a contrarian indicator at first sight, however, its predictive power fluctuates heavily and is sample dependent. Our results point towards local investors having an informational advantage in exchange rate forecasting. We test for economic relevance with a simple but realistic out‐of‐sample trading strategy which yields significant results.
Tiny Prices in a Tiny Market: Evidence from Portugal on Optimal Share Prices
Authors: Pereira João Pedro , Cutelo Teresa 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe Portuguese stock market provides a natural experimental area to analyse theories of optimal price per share. Its characteristics suggest that prices should be very low. Using a sample of 20 stocks from the main Portuguese Stock Index from 1999 to 2010, we observe that Portuguese corporations indeed seek extremely low prices per share through stock splits and similar actions. However, we find that low‐price stocks are actually less liquid than high‐price stocks. Furthermore, low‐price stocks trade at lower valuation ratios. Our results do not support any of the existing theories on optimal price per share and therefore add to the nominal share price puzzle.
Bank Size and Systemic Risk
Authors: Pais Amelia , Stork Philip A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe global financial crisis that started in mid‐2007 illustrates the relevance of systemic risk. One key driver of the systemic instability that materialised in the crisis was the elevated level of stress in large banks. We use EVT to analyse the effect of size on banks’ univariate and systemic risk across ten countries as well as across the EU. Our findings show that size has little impact on banks’ univariate risk (as measured by VaR), but that large banks have significantly higher systemic risk. Furthermore, systemic risk has significantly increased for banks of all sizes since the beginning of the crisis.
Product Market Competition, Corporate Governance, and Firm Value: Evidence from the EU Area
Authors: Ammann Manuel , Oesch David , Schmid Markus M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper investigates whether the valuation effect of corporate governance depends on the degree of competition in the companies’ product markets in a large international sample covering 14 countries from the European Union (EU). Besides providing external validity of previous US‐centred studies, this paper uses more comprehensive and reliable measures of both product market competition and corporate governance. Consistent with the hypothesis that product market competition acts as a substitute for corporate governance as competitive pressure imposes discipline on managers to maximise firm value, our results show that corporate governance significantly increases firm value in non‐competitive industries only. When investigating the channels through which firm value may be increased, we find that good governance for firms in non‐competitive industries leads them to have more capital expenditures, spend less on acquisitions, and be less likely to diversify. Our results are robust to a large number of robustness checks including the use of alternative measures of competition and governance, as well as using alternative regression specifications.
Fluconazole resistant oral candidiasis in HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Tumbarello M , Tacconelli E , Caldarola G , Morace G , Cauda R , Ortona L 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk factors associated with the emergence of fluconazole resistant Candida spp. in HIV‐infected patients with oral candidiasis. METHODS: Candida spp. were isolated from oral swabs and tested in vitro for resistance to fluconazole. The factors potentially correlated with vazole‐resistent Candida spp. infections were investigated.RESULTS: Fifty‐one out of 118 patients (43%) with oral candidiasis had fluconazole resistant Candida spp. The following factors were significantly associated with the development of fluconazole resistance: (1) more than five episodes of oral candidiasis in the previous year (P < 0.001); (2) fluconazole therapy in the previous 6 months (P < 0.001); (3) C3 category of HIV infection (P< 0.001); and (4) low number of TCD4+ cells (<50 mm3, P = 0.002). According to multivariate analysis, previous therapy with fluconazole was the only risk factor that independently influenced the development of Candida spp. resistance (P = 0.003).CONCLUSIONS: The prophylaxis and therapy of mild fungal infections in HIV‐infected patients, which may lead to azole resistance, should be carefully considered.
Is erythematous candidiasis associated with advanced HIV disease?
Authors: Robinson PG , Challacombe SJ , Sheiham A , Zakrzewska JM 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVES: A multicentre collaborative study by the London HIV and Dentistry Group failed to associate the presence of erythematous candidiasis (EC) with advanced HIV disease. Data from a study of the periodontal health of homosexual men attending a genito‐urinary medicine clinic presented an opportunity to investigate social and medical factors related to the presence of EC and mucosal disease.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 312 men with HIV were examined by a single examiner blinded to HIV status; 22.8% had an indicator condition for AIDS; 37.8% had CD4 lymphocyte counts less than 200 cells mm−3; and 53.8% met the 1993 case definition for AIDS; 59.6% of the men with HIV had oral manifestations of the infection. The most common were: oral hairy leukoplakia, 44.2%; EC, 26.9%; and pseudomembranous candidiasis (PC), 11.5%.RESULTS: Advanced HIV disease was a less powerful predictor of EC than PC. Advanced HIV disease also predicted the presence of hairy leukoplakia and mucosal ulceration. EC was strongly associated with tobacco use. CONCLUSIONS: While methodological differences explain some variation with previous research, these data also suggest that EC and PC may not carry the same prognostic significance and longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings.
Oral lymphoma in HIV infection
Authors: Jordan RCK , Chong L , DiPierdomenico S , Satira F , Main JHP 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: This study reports the main clinical and histological features, and the treatment and outcomes of six HIV‐associated oral lymphomas.SUBJECTS: During the period 1991–1995, six cases of lymphoma presenting in the oral cavity were diagnosed in this clinic. All six patients were men ranging in age from 36 to 62 years with CD4 counts below 100 cells mm−3.RESULTS: In five patients, oral lymphoma was the first AIDS defining disease. Four lesions occurred on the gingiva, one on the palate and one on the tongue. The duration of symptoms prior to presentation ranged from 2 weeks to 14 months. In all but one patient, the lesions presented as red, exophytic masses and were diagnosed clinically as Kaposi's sarcoma. None of the five lesions presenting on the palate or gingiva showed radiographic evidence of bone destruction. Metastatic work‐up failed to diagnose lymphoma elsewhere in the five cases where this was performed. Histological diagnoses included two small, non‐cleaved (Burkitt's type) lymphomas, two immunoblastic lymphomas, one large cell lymphoma and one small, non‐cleaved (non‐Burkitt's) lymphoma.CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the uncommon clinical presentation of this disease and despite its relative rarity, demonstrate the need to maintain a high degree of suspicion in any unusual oral lesion in this group of patients.
Epstein‐Barr virus infection and expression in oral lesions
Authors: Raab‐Traub N , Webster‐Cyriaque J 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) and the recently discovered Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpes virus, human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV or HHV8), was determined within oral lesions common to HIV infection including OHL, pseudoOHL (PHL), oral lymphoma, oral aphthous ulcers, and an oral Kaposi's sarcoma.METHODS: DNA and RNA were extracted from oral lesions. EBV and HHV8 genomes were detected by Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and viral expression was analyzed using PCR amplification of cDNA.RESULTS: Multiple EBV strains were detected within OHL with recombination across repeat sequences generating new viral variants. EBV expression in OHL included expression of some viral genes, usually expressed in latent infections, that induce the EBV receptor. EBV replication was detected only within OHL lesions but not within adjacent Kaposi's tissue or oral aphthous ulcers while HHV8 was only detected within the Kaposi's lesions.CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the OHL lesion is unique with viral replication and superinfection with additional EBV strains. Expression of the EBV receptor within the OHL lesion may promote superinfection which then activates EBV replication. The consistent detection of EBV replication only within OHL lesions and the detection of HHV8 only within Kaposi's sarcoma, strengthens the etiologic link between EBV and HHV8 infection to these specific pathologies.
The expression of the Epstein‐Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA‐I) in oral hairy leukoplakia
Authors: Cruchley AT , Murray PG , Niedobitek G , Reynolds GM , Williams DM , Young LS 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is characterised by the presence of a replicative Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in the superficial layers of the epithelium. There is some doubt, however, whether this reflects activation of a latent infection of the basal epithelial cells. EBV latency is associated with the expression of the viral gene product EBNA‐I and the aim of this study was to investigate EBNA‐I expression in OHL.METHODS: 22 biopsies of clinically suspicious OHL and three cases of normal mucosa were available as fresh frozen or paraffin embedded material. EBNA‐I was detected immunocytochemically using a rat monoclonal antibody (IH4‐I) following microwave irradiation. Lytic EBV infection was confirmed by the identification of the BZLF‐I protein.RESULTS: 16 of the 22 cases displayed focal replicative EBV meeting the criteria for OHL, and in 13 of these, EBNA‐I expression was restricted to the nuclei of epithelial cells in the upper layers of the epithelium. EBNA‐I expression was absent from the basal cells in all cases and in the nine BZLF‐I negative mucosal biopsies.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that lytic EBV infection in OHL is not the result of activation of a latent infection of basal cells and suggests a role for EBNA‐I, not only in latent EBV infection, but also in virus replication.
Severe oral ulceration in patients with HIV infection: A case series
Authors: Zakrzewska JM , Robinson P , Williams IG 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: Oral ulceration occurs in an estimated 2–4% of patients with HIV infection. This retrospective observational study describes the aetiology and characteristics of 94 HIV‐positive patients with either severe and/or recurrent oral ulceration presenting at a dedicated HIV dental unit over a 4‐year period.METHODS: Case records were reviewed for diagnosis investigations, CD4 count, CDC stage and treatment modality.RESULTS: Of the 94 patients 50% had an AIDS diagnosis. In patients with asymptomatic HIV disease minor recurrent oral ulceration was the commonest diagnosis whilst large non‐specific neutropenic ulcers were more frequently seen in patients with symptomatic disease with low CD4 counts. A variety of treatment modalities were used including thalidomide. An algorithm is presented for the management of patients with severe oral ulceration.
Good ethical practice in the dental treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Doyal L 
Published: June 2013

Patients with HIV/AIDS have challenged the ethics of the dental profession. The seriousness, infectious character and social stigma of the illness have led to a range of ethical dilemmas about the treatment of such patients. This paper attempts to resolve some of the more difficult questions through exploring the moral boundaries of the rights and duties of both patients and dental practitioners.To accomplish this aim, the moral foundation for the general clinical duties of care is outlined, especially the obligations of providing treatment to a high standard, respecting the rights of patients to informed consent and doing both without personal prejudice. After illustrating why these duties require moral character as well as intellectual understanding, their practical consequences are outlined for specific issues in the treatment of seropositive patients. It is argued that patients should never be tested without their informed consent and that dentists have a duty to display courage, sensitivity and rigorous respect for confidentiality in the treatments they offer. The obligations of seropositive dentists are also considered, including their own obligations for disclosure toward regulatory authorities and patients. The moral debt which the dental profession owes to seropositive patients is highlighted.