Diffusion of Original and Counterfeit Products in a Developing Country

We study the diffusion of original and counterfeit products in three distinct categories in a developing country. The focus is on when their diffusion processes peak, how sales of original and counterfeit products are related and how marketing efforts can influence this process. Using a unique data set for Suriname (South America) on televisions, mobile phones and DVDs, we can support various predictions from theory and give recommendations for marketing management

Income, Cultural Norms and Purchases of Counterfeits

We conjecture that individual purchases of counterfeit products could be motivated by income and prices, but that another driver is cultural norms. To put the latter conjecture to an empirical test we make use of the unique situation of Surinamese people who live in Suriname and in the Netherlands and who might share the same norms and values but certainly not their respective income levels. Holding newly collected data from surveys amongst Surinamese individuals in the Netherlands and in Suriname against a control group of Dutch individuals in the Netherlands, we present evidence that cultural norms are indeed a key driver for purchases of counterfeit products. Implications for policy are discussed

Diffusion of counterfeit medical products in a developing country: Empirical evidence for Suriname

Based on detailed shipping figures of Suriname’s main harbour in Paramaribo, we estimate the total shipments (in kilograms) of original and counterfeit medical products for 1996-2008 across five product categories. Using various time series techniques, we document that total cumulative shipments of counterfeit products eventually will make about 40% of total shipments. Correlation between the shipment series is on average 0.9, and there are no relevant leads or lags, implying that there are two distinct sets of consumers for original and for counterfeit products

Adoption of Falsified medical products in a low-income country: empirical evidence for Suriname

Based on detailed shipping figures for Suriname’s main harbour in Paramaribo, we estimate the total shipments (in kilograms) of original and falsified medical products for 1996–2008 across five product categories. Using various time series techniques and diffusion models, we document that total cumulative shipments of falsified products make about 40% of total shipments. We observe that there are apparently two distinct sets of consumers for original and for falsified products. Subsequently, we survey more than 300 citizens of Suriname from various demographics and ask questions about their potential adoption of falsified medicines. We find that income, age, and family size have no correlation, while the way people are insured does. Hence, the two sets of consumers can roughly be identified and clear-cut policy suggestions are presented. _“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 1% of medicines available in the developed world is likely to be counterfeited. This figure rises to 10% globally, although in some developing countries they estimate one third of medicines are counterfeit”_ (Various internet sites consulted January 2010 and the best estimate we have)

Effect of feed ingredients on nutrient digestibility, waste production and physical characteristics of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) faeces.

This study assessed the effect of different dietary ingredients on the quantity and characteristics of faecal waste produced by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Seven ingredients were tested: fish meal (FM), mussel meal (MM), poultry meal wet rendered (PM-W) or dry rendered (PM-D), insect meal (IM), single cell protein (SCP) and brewers grain protein (BGP). Eight experimental diets were formulated: a control diet (CON) being predominantly plant-based and seven test diets, which contained 70% of the CON diet and 30% of one of the test ingredients. Rainbow trout juveniles (65 g, 30 fish/tank) were fed the experimental diets at satiation for six weeks in triplicate groups. Dry matter (DM) and nutrient digestibility of diets and the test ingredients were measured. To estimate the faecal characteristics, particle size distribution (PSD) and removal efficiency of the faecal waste was determined. Nutrient digestibility of diets and ingredients differed significantly. Growth did not differ between the experimental diets, but DM digestibility was affected by the diet. Diets affected the amount of faecal waste produced, its removal efficiency (%) and the amount of non-removed faeces (g DM/kg DM feed). The highest and lowest removal efficiency was observed at FM and BGP diets, respectively. Accordingly, FM diet resulted in the lowest (37 g DM/kg DM feed), while BGP diet resulted in the highest (125 g DM/kg DM feed) amount of non-removed faeces. Additionally, it was also observed that differences in faecal removal efficiency can compensate for the variation in the quantity of faecal waste produced. Consistent with the faecal removal efficiency data, faeces PSD was also influenced by diets. FM and MM diets resulted in faeces with the lowest proportion of particles of <40 μm size, while BGP diet had the largest proportion of faecal particles of this size range. Furthermore, the effect of dietary ingredient composition was evident in the stability of faeces, with FM producing the most stable, whereas CON, BGP and SCP diets resulting in relatively unstable faecal pellets. In addition, due to differences in inclusion level of nutrients and their corresponding digestibility, the chemical composition of faeces differed between the diets. Overall, the study showed that dietary ingredient composition influences nutrient digestibility and is an important factor determining the amount of faecal waste produced, its removal efficiency, PSD, stability and composition in rainbow trout.publishedVersio

Interference with the Host Haemostatic System by Schistosomes

Schistosomes, parasitic flatworms that cause the tropical disease schistosomiasis, are still a threat. They are responsible for 200 million infections worldwide and an estimated 280,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa alone. The adult parasites reside as pairs in the mesenteric or perivesicular veins of their human host, where they can survive for up to 30 years. The parasite is a potential activator of blood coagulation according to Virchow's triad, because it is expected to alter blood flow and endothelial function, leading to hypercoagulability. In contrast, hepatosplenic schistosomiasis patients are in a hypocoagulable and hyperfibrinolytic state, indicating that schistosomes interfere with the haemostatic system of their host. In this review, the interactions of schistosomes with primary haemostasis, secondary haemostasis, fibrinolysis, and the vascular tone will be discussed to provide insight into the reduction in coagulation observed in schistosomiasis patients.Interference with the haemostatic system by pathogens is a common mechanism and has been described for other parasitic worms, bacteria, and fungi as a mechanism to support survival and spread or enhance virulence. Insight into the mechanisms used by schistosomes to interfere with the haemostatic system will provide important insight into the maintenance of the parasitic life cycle within the host. This knowledge may reveal new potential anti-schistosome drug and vaccine targets. In addition, some of the survival mechanisms employed by schistosomes might be used by other pathogens, and therefore, these mechanisms that interfere with host haemostasis might be a broad target for drug development against blood-dwelling pathogens. Also, schistosome antithrombotic or thrombolytic molecules could form potential new drugs in the treatment of haemostatic disorders

Rhamnogalacturonan from Ilex paraguariensis: A potential adjuvant in sepsis treatment

AbstractThe present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of a polysaccharide from maté, using a clinically relevant model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). A polysaccharide from maté (SPI) was obtained from aqueous extraction followed by fractionation, being identified as a rhamnogalacturonan with a main chain of →4)-6-OMe-α-d-GalpA-(1→ groups, interrupted by α-l-Rhap units, substituted by a type I arabinogalactan. SPI was tested against induced-polymicrobial sepsis, at doses of 3, 7 and 10mg/kg. Via oral administration, SPI prevented the late mortality of infected mice by a rate of 60% at 10mg/kg, in comparison with untreated mice Dexamethasone, used as positive control, was slightly less effective, with an overall survival rate of 16.7% of mice at the end of the observation period. SPI also affected neutrophil influx, avoiding its accumulation in lungs, and significantly decreased tissue expression of iNOS and COX-2. In this context, maté is a potential nutraceutical, and its polysaccharide a promising adjuvant for sepsis treatment, being consumed as tea-like beverages with no related adverse effects

A novel CCM2 variant in a family with non-progressive cognitive complaints and cerebral microbleeds

Lobar cerebral microbleeds are most often sporadic and associated with Alzheimer's disease. The aim of our study was to identify the underlying genetic defect in a family with cognitive complaints and multiple lobar microbleeds and a positive family history for early onset Alzheimer's disease. We performed exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing for validation purposes on genomic DNA of three siblings with cognitive complaints, reduced amyloid-beta-42 in CSF and multiple cerebral lobar microbleeds. We checked for the occurrence of the variant in a cohort of 363 patients with early onset dementia and/or microbleeds. A novel frameshift variant (c.236_237delAC) generating a premature stop codon in the CCM2 gene shared by all three siblings was identified. Pathogenicity of the variant was supported by the presence of cerebral cavernous malformations in two of the siblings and by the absence of the variant exome variant databases. Two siblings were homozygous for APOE-ε4; one heterozygous. The cognitive complaints, reduced amyloid-beta-42 in CSF and microbleeds suggest preclinical Alzheimer's disease, but the stability of the cognitive complaints does not. We hypothesize that the phenotype in this family may be due to a combination of the CCM2 variant and the APOE status