Bo Gao: China’s Economic Engagement in North Korea

China’s Economic Engagement in North Korea. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019. 176 pp. 71,49 EUR; eBook: 54,99 EUR (kirja-arvio)</p

The DPRK’s economic exchanges with Russia and the EU since 2000: an analysis of institutional effects and the case of the Russian Far East

This study analyzes the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK—or North Korea) economic exchanges with Russia and the European Union (EU) from an institutional perspective. Trade statistics show that between 2000 and 2012, the DPRK conducted more trade with the EU than with Russia, its neighbor and former socialist ally. This observation provokes the following questions: In what way does the institutional environment in Russia and the EU impact on economic exchanges with the DPRK? Why have Russia’s economic exchanges with the DPRK remained limited despite a common land border? Of particular interest is the cooperation between the Russian Far East (RFE) and North Korea. What does the institutional set-up in the RFE imply for business opportunities in North Korea? To examine the so far little researched role of the RFE, this study uses quantitative and qualitative data provided by the Russian Federal Customs Service and the district governments of Khabarovsk and Primorye. The findings show that political, legal, and normative factors as well as different business practices impact on economic exchanges with the DPRK in various ways.</p

The Hematopoietic System–specific Minor Histocompatibility Antigen HA-1 Shows Aberrant Expression in Epithelial Cancer Cells

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) can induce curative graft-versus-tumor reactions in patients with hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The graft-versus-tumor reaction after human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical SCT is mediated by alloimmune donor T cells specific for polymorphic minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags). Among these, the mHag HA-1 was found to be restricted to the hematopoietic system. Here, we report on the HA-1 ribonucleic acid expression by microdissected carcinoma tissues and by single disseminated tumor cells isolated from patients with various epithelial tumors. The HA-1 peptide is molecularly defined, as it forms an immunogenic peptide ligand with HLA-A2 on the cell membrane of carcinoma cell lines. HA-1–specific cytotoxic T cells lyse epithelial tumor cell lines in vitro, whereas normal epithelial cells are not recognized. Thus, HA-1–specific immunotherapy combined with HLA-identical allogeneic SCT may now be feasible for patients with HA-1+ carcinomas

A Most Enterprising Country: North Korea in the Global Economy (Book review)

A Most Enterprising Country: North Korea in the Global Economy Justin V. hastings. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2016. 237 pp. 978-1-1507-0490-1.</p

Book Review: South Korea’s Engagement with Africa: A History of the Relationship in Multiple Aspects

edited by Yongkyu Chang, Singapore, Palgrave Macmillan, 2020, xviii + 196 pp., eBook: €74,89 (hardcover: €98,99), ISBN: 978-981-32-9013-6, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9013-6_1</h2

Book Review: South Korea’s Engagement with Africa: A History of the Relationship in Multiple Aspects

edited by Yongkyu Chang, Singapore, Palgrave Macmillan, 2020, xviii + 196 pp., eBook: €74,89 (hardcover: €98,99), ISBN: 978-981-32-9013-6, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9013-6_1</h2

American Journal of Transplantation / Empagliflozin in posttransplantation diabetes mellitus: A prospective, interventional pilot study on glucose metabolism, fluid volume, and patient safety

The safety and efficacy of sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in posttransplantation diabetes mellitus is unknown. We converted stable kidney transplant patients to 10 mg empagliflozin, aiming at replacing their insulin therapy (<40 IU/d). N = 14 participants (the required sample size) completed the study visits through 4 weeks and N = 8 through 12 months. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)derived 2hour glucose (primary end point) increased from 232 82 mg/dL (baseline) to 273 116 mg/dL (4 weeks, P = .06) and to 251 71 mg/dL (12 months, P = .41). Selfmonitored blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c were also clinically inferior with empagliflozin monotherapy, such that insulin was reinstituted in 3 of 8 remaining participants. Five participants (2 of them dropouts) vs nine of 24 matched reference patients developed bacterial urinary tract infections (P = .81). In empagliflozintreated participants, oral glucose insulin sensitivity decreased and betacell glucose sensitivity increased at the 4week and 12month OGTTs. Estimated glomerular filtration rate and bioimpedance spectroscopyderived extracellular and total body fluid volumes decreased by 4 weeks, but recovered. All participants lost body weight. No participant developed ketoacidosis; 1 patient developed balanitis. In conclusion, although limited by sample size and therefore preliminary, these results suggest that empagliflozin can safely be used as addon therapy, if posttransplant diabetes patients are monitored closely (NCT03113110).(VLID)509858