493 research outputs found
Pengaruh Pengungkapan Corporate Social Responsibility dan Corporate Governance terhadap Tax Avoidance (Studi pada Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di Bei Periode 2012-2014)
Tax is one element that is important for the acceptance of a country to finance expenditure, both routine expenditure and development expenditure. At the company, regarded as a tax burden that will reduce net income. Taxes are imposed on the company can not be separated from the role of corporate social responsibility and corporate governance. This study was to determine the effect of disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance for the Avoidance of Double Taxation. The proportion of independent board, managerial ownership, institutional ownership, the quality of the external auditor and the audit committee is variable GCG type of research is explanatory research. The study used a sample of 20 companies listed on the Stock Exchange 2012-2014 by using purposive sampling technique. This type of data is secondary data in the form of annual reports is sourced from Indonesia Stock Exchange website. Regression results explaining that the proportion of independent commissioners CSR and positive and significant influence, managerial ownership, institutional ownership, has a negative and significant effect on tax avoidance, while the quality of the audit committee and external auditors for the company\u27s value
Extrafine beclomethasone/formoterol in severe COPD patients with history of exacerbations
The FORWARD study is a randomised, double-blind trial that compares the efficacy and safety of 48 weeks treatment with extrafine beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate (BDP/FOR), 100/6 μg pMDI, 2 inhalations BID, vs. FOR 12 μg pMDI, 1 inhalation BID, in severe COPD patients with a history of exacerbations. Co-primary endpoints were exacerbation rate over 48 weeks and pre-dose morning FEV1 at 12 weeks. The ITT population included 1186 patients (69% males, mean age 64 years) with severe airflow limitation (mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 42% predicted). Salbutamol as rescue therapy, theophylline and tiotropium (if stable regimen prior to screening) were allowed. Compared to FOR, BDP/FOR: (1) reduced the exacerbation rate (rate ratio: 0.72 [95% confidence interval 0.62–0.84], p < 0.001); (2) improved pre-dose morning FEV1 (mean difference: 0.069 L [0.043–0.095] p < 0.001); (3) prolonged the time to first exacerbation; (4) improved the SGRQ total score. The percentage of patients with adverse events was similar (52.1% with BDP/FOR and 49.2% with FOR). Pneumonia incidence was low, slightly higher with BDP/FOR (3.8%) than with FOR (1.8%). No difference for laboratory values, ECG or vital signs. Extrafine BDP/FOR significantly reduces the exacerbation rate and improves lung function of patients with severe COPD and history of exacerbations as compared to FOR alone
Expression of Toll-like receptor 2 is up-regulated in monocytes from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by pulmonary and systemic inflammation which flare-up during episodes of acute exacerbation (AECOPD). Given the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the induction of inflammatory responses we investigated the involvement of TLRs in COPD pathogenesis. METHODS: The expression of TLR-2, TLR-4 and CD14 in monocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. To study the functional responses of these receptors, monocytes were stimulated with peptidoglycan or lipopolysaccharide and the amounts of TNFα and IL-6 secreted were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: We found that the expression of TLR-2 was up-regulated in peripheral blood monocytes from COPD patients, either clinically stable or during AECOPD, as compared to never smokers or smokers with normal lung function. Upon stimulation with TLR-2 ligand monocytes from COPD patients secreted increased amounts of cytokines than similarly stimulated monocytes from never smokers and smokers. In contrast, the expressions of TLR-4 and CD14 were not significantly different between groups, and the response to lipopolysaccharide (a TLR-4 ligand) stimulation was not significantly different either. At discharge from hospital TLR-2 expression was down-regulated in peripheral blood monocytes from AECOPD patients. This could be due to the treatment with systemic steroids because, in vitro, steroids down-regulated TLR-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that IL-6, whose plasma levels are elevated in patients, up-regulated in vitro TLR-2 expression in monocytes from never smokers. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal abnormalities in TLRs expression in COPD patients and highlight its potential relationship with systemic inflammation in these patients
Altered effector function of peripheral cytotoxic cells in COPD
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is mounting evidence that perforin and granzymes are important mediators in the lung destruction seen in COPD. We investigated the characteristics of the three main perforin and granzyme containing peripheral cells, namely CD8<sup>+ </sup>T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK; CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>-</sup>) cells and NKT-like (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup>) cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and cell numbers and intracellular granzyme B and perforin were analysed by flow cytometry. Immunomagnetically selected CD8+ T lymphocytes, NK (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>-</sup>) and NKT-like (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup>) cells were used in an LDH release assay to determine cytotoxicity and cytotoxic mechanisms were investigated by blocking perforin and granzyme B with relevant antibodies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of peripheral blood NKT-like (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup>) cells in smokers with COPD (COPD subjects) was significantly lower (0.6%) than in healthy smokers (smokers) (2.8%, p < 0.001) and non-smoking healthy participants (HNS) (3.3%, p < 0.001). NK (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>-</sup>) cells from COPD subjects were significantly less cytotoxic than in smokers (16.8% vs 51.9% specific lysis, p < 0.001) as were NKT-like (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup>) cells (16.7% vs 52.4% specific lysis, p < 0.001). Both cell types had lower proportions expressing both perforin and granzyme B. Blocking the action of perforin and granzyme B reduced the cytotoxic activity of NK (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>-</sup>) and NKT-like (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup>) cells from smokers and HNS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, we show that the relative numbers of peripheral blood NK (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>-</sup>) and NKT-like (CD56<sup>+</sup>CD3<sup>+</sup>) cells in COPD subjects are reduced and that their cytotoxic effector function is defective.</p
The phenotypic spectrum of DYT24 due to ANO3 mutations.
Genes causing primary dystonia are rare. Recently, pathogenic mutations in the anoctamin 3 gene (ANO3) have been identified to cause autosomal dominant craniocervical dystonia and have been assigned to the dystonia locus dystonia-24 (DYT24). Here, we expand on the phenotypic spectrum of DYT24 and provide demonstrative videos. Moreover, tremor recordings were performed, and back-averaged electroencephalography, sensory evoked potentials, and C-reflex studies were carried out in two individuals who carried two different mutations in ANO3. Ten patients from three families are described. The age at onset ranged from early childhood to the forties. Cervical dystonia was the most common site of onset followed by laryngeal dystonia. The characteristic feature in all affected individuals was the presence of tremor, which contrasts DYT24 from the typical DYT6 phenotype. Tremor was the sole initial manifestation in some individuals with ANO3 mutations, leading to misdiagnosis as essential tremor. Electrophysiology in two patients with two different mutations showed co-contraction of antagonist muscles, confirming dystonia, and a 6-Hz arm tremor at rest, which increased in amplitude during action. In one of the studied patients, clinically superimposed myoclonus was observed. The duration of the myoclonus was in the range of 250 msec at about 3 Hz, which is more consistent with subcortical myoclonus. In summary, ANO3 causes a varied phenotype of young-onset or adult-onset craniocervical dystonia with tremor and/or myoclonic jerks. Patients with familial cervical dystonia who also have myoclonus-dystonia as well as patients with prominent tremor and mild dystonia should be tested for ANO3 mutations. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5)
Abstract Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) focuses on the integrated care of chronic diseases. Area 5 (Care Pathways) was initiated using chronic respiratory diseases as a model. The chronic respiratory disease action plan includes (1) AIRWAYS integrated care pathways (ICPs), (2) the joint initiative between the Reference site MACVIA-LR (Contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif) and ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), (3) Commitments for Action to the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the AIRWAYS ICPs network. It is deployed in collaboration with the World Health Organization Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing has proposed a 5-step framework for developing an individual scaling up strategy: (1) what to scale up: (1-a) databases of good practices, (1-b) assessment of viability of the scaling up of good practices, (1-c) classification of good practices for local replication and (2) how to scale up: (2-a) facilitating partnerships for scaling up, (2-b) implementation of key success factors and lessons learnt, including emerging technologies for individualised and predictive medicine. This strategy has already been applied to the chronic respiratory disease action plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing
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