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Lower Occurrence (lower + occurrence)
Selected AbstractsA Monitoring Role for Deviations from Absolute Priority in Bankruptcy ResolutionFINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 5 2003By Dina Naples Layish Firms that have successfully reorganized under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy laws of the United States frequently award shares of common stock in the reorganized firm to pre-bankruptcy shareholders, even though pre-bankruptcy creditors' claims are not fully satisfied. Using a sample of large publicly traded firms, these deviations from absolute priority (DAPR) are found to be positively related to the severity of agency costs within a financially distressed firm. US bankruptcy laws may exacerbate these agency costs by granting exclusivity to management during the reorganization period. Firms in which outside shareholders are more concentrated have a lower occurrence of DAPR indicating that blockholders provide an effective monitoring mechanism for controlling managerial behavior during reorganization. On the other hand, firms without this monitoring mechanism have a higher probability of DAPR indicating that creditors attempt to control managerial behavior by providing them with some sort of financial compensation via their equity holding in the firm. Finally, the evidence indicates that DAPR can be used to mitigate the hold-up problem resulting from voting rights granted to both junior and senior claimants of the firm by US bankruptcy laws. [source] Long-term outcomes of positive fluorescence in situ hybridization tests in primary sclerosing cholangitis,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Sanjay Y. Bangarulingam Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are at increased risk for developing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a cytological test designed to enhance early CCA diagnosis. The long-term outcome of PSC patients with a positive FISH test (polysomy, trisomy/tetrasomy) are unclear. All PSC patients with at least one FISH test were identified and defined to have CCA if they had a positive tissue biopsy, positive cytology, or evidence of cancer in the explant after liver transplantation. A total of 235 PSC patients had at least one FISH test performed, and 56 patients had CCA on histopathology (n = 35) or cytology (n = 21). Overall, 120 of 235 (51%) of PSC patients tested for FISH were positive, but only one third of these positive patients had CCA. Sensitivity and specificity for FISH polysomy were 46% and 88%, and for trisomy/tetrasomy they were 25% and 67%, respectively. Survival analysis showed that patients with FISH polysomy had an outcome similar to patients with CCA; whereas FISH trisomy/tetrasomy patients had an outcome similar to patients with negative FISH tests. The FISH polysomy patients without cancer compared with those with CCA had lower serum bilirubin, lower carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), lower Mayo risk score, and lower occurrence of dominant strictures. Conclusion: In PSC patients, the presence of a dominant stricture plus FISH polysomy has a specificity of 88% for CCA. Patients with FISH showing trisomy or tetrasomy have a similar outcome to patients with negative FISH. FISH testing should be used selectively in patients with other signs indicating CCA and not as a screening tool in all PSC patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). (HEPATOLOGY 2009.) [source] Distribution of migratory fishes and shrimps along multivariate gradients in tropical island streamsJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001E. Fièvet Among the 16 species of fishes and shrimps studied at 51 sites along several small streams at Basse Terre, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles, more than 60% showed a spatial distribution significantly influenced by environmental conditions. These included altitude, basin size, terrestrial vegetation and land use. However, the range of the species habitat was generally high, except for three species limited to the downstream stretches (two fishes and one shrimp). The habitat characteristics of fish and shrimp species tended to differ, but the difference was not significant (P<0·05). On the contrary, the habitat characteristics of amphidromous and catadromous species clearly differed, with a lower occurrence at the most elevated sites of catadromous species than amphidromous species. [source] Hypertrichosis in females applying minoxidil topical solution and in normal controlsJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 3 2003RPR Dawber ABSTRACT Background, Hypertrichosis has been reported more frequently in females than in males who use minoxidil topical solution (MTS) for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). This article examines the occurrence of MTS-induced hypertrichosis in females. Methods, Data from placebo-controlled clinical trials in females (up to 5% MTS) were analysed based on spontaneous reports of hypertrichosis/facial hair and investigators' inquiries (solicited) about the presence of any new hair growth on body parts other than the scalp. A postmarketing drug surveillance database for MTS was also examined for reports of hypertrichosis/facial hair. Results, In the clinical trials involving a total of 1333 females, spontaneous reports of hypertrichosis/facial hair were noted for 50 (4%) females in a dose-related pattern of response (5% MTS > 2% MTS > placebo). Nine females (seven and two in the 5% MTS and 2% MTS groups, respectively) discontinued treatment because of hypertrichosis/facial hair. Solicited reports of excessive hair growth (primarily facial) also showed a dose-related pattern of response. Post-marketing data showed a lower occurrence (0.5%) of hypertrichosis/facial hair than in the clinical trials. Of interest, in one clinical trial, 27% of the females enrolled (MTS and placebo treated) had facial hair growth reported at baseline. Conclusions, Females with some hirsutism are particularly prone to seek treatment for AGA, and this may explain the high occurrence of hypertrichosis/facial hair found in the MTS clinical trials. Furthermore, some demographic groups of females are prone to develop facial hair and the problem of unwanted facial hair growth seems to be underestimated. Some females may have hair follicles that are very sensitive to MTS and should use the lowest strength of MTS (2%) to help avoid unwanted hair growth. The hypertrichotic effect of MTS on other sites than the scalp, including the face, is reversible and does not always require discontinuation of therapy. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: TH1 , TH2 Response and the Atopy Risk in Patients with Reproduction FailureAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Jana Hanzlikova Problem, Enhanced TH2 activity is characteristic for atopic diseases and is observed also in physiological pregnancy. The immune causes of repeated pregnancy losses and/or repeated in vitro fertilization failure may be associated with TH2 hypoactivity. The association with frequency of atopic diseases is unclear. Method of Study, Intracellular production of IL-4 and IFN-, by peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes was studied, as well as serum levels of total and allergen specific IgE. Simultaneously skin prick tests with inhalant allergens were performed, and clinical features of atopy were registered by means of a questionnaire. Results, Lower intracellular production of IL-4 by peripheral CD4+ T cells and lower frequency of elevated total and allergen specific IgE were found in women with reproduction failure compared to controls, as well as lower frequency of some symptoms possibly associated with atopy. Conclusion, Our study showed the presence of TH2 hypoactivity in women with reproduction failure, which may be associated with lower occurrence of atopic diseases. [source] Pregnancy outcomes and antiretroviral treatment in a national cohort of pregnant women with HIV: overall rates and differences according to nationalityBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2007M Floridia We used data from the main surveillance study of HIV and pregnancy in Italy to evaluate possible differences in pregnancy care and outcomes according to nationality. Among 960 women followed in 2001,06, 33.5% were of foreign nationality, mostly from African countries. Foreign women had lower rates of preconception counselling and planning of pregnancy. They had more frequently HIV diagnosed during pregnancy, with a later start of antiretroviral treatment and lower treatment rates at all trimesters but not when the entire pregnancy, including delivery, was considered. No differences were observed between the two groups in ultrasonography assessments, hospitalisations, AIDS events, intrauterine or neonatal deaths, and mode and complications of delivery. Foreign women had a slightly lower occurrence of preterm delivery and infants with low birthweight. The results indicate good standards of care and low rates of adverse outcomes in pregnant women with HIV in Italy, irrespective of nationality. Specific interventions, however, are needed to increase the rates of counselling and HIV testing before pregnancy in foreign women. [source] | ||||||||||