Trust in Effective International Business Cooperation : Mediating Effect of Work Engagement

This study aims to analyse the relationships between relational competence and its trust-building processes with individuals’ traits considered as psychological antecedents of inter-organizational relationships (IORs), outcomes. We hypothesize that organizational trust-building competence, situational trust, trust propensity, and autonomous motivation of cooperating teams and their managers influence IORs outcomes through work engagement of cooperating people

The role of hemostatic markers as venous stenosis or occlusion predictors following first transvenous cardiac device implantation

Background: Among patients with an implanted cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED), ipsilateral upper extremity vein stenosis or occlusion (VSO) is observed more frequently than in the general population. However, there are no data available concerning the relationship between hemostatic markers (and their dynamics) and the occurrence of VSO. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of beta-thromboglobulin, the von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrynogen and D-dimer for VSO development among first time CIED recipients.Methods: This is a single-center, prospective study of consecutive first time CIED recipients without upper extremity VSO in baseline ultrasound examination. Biochemical data were collected from all the patients before CIED implantation (first measuring), up to 7 days subsequent (second measuring) and 6 months after the operation (third measuring). Primary endpoint was defined as the presence of upper extremity VSO at the implantation site during the ultrasound examination 6 months after the operation.Results: The study included 71 patients (mean age 73.1 ± 10.5 years; 39 [55%] male). The incidence of VSO within 6-months follow up was 21.1%. Average concentrations of hemostatic markers increased significantly in all patients immediately after CIED implantation. Serial hemostatic marker concentrations were similar in patients who met or did not meet the primary endpoint, apart from vWF. The mean concentration was significantly elevated in the group of 15 patients who reached the primary endpoint (p = 0.032).Conclusions: A significant increase in vWF concentration at 6 months post implantation may be a marker for VSO occurrence

RNAi reveals proteins for metabolism and protein processing associated with Langat virus infection in Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) ISE6 cells

Tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFs) cause thousands of human cases of encephalitis worldwide each year, with some TBF infections progressing to hemorrhagic fever. TBFs are of medical and veterinary importance and strategies to reduce flavivirus transmission by the tick vector may have significant application. Analyses of the proteome of ISE6 cells derived from the black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis infected with the TBF, Langat virus (LGTV), have provided insights into proteins and cellular processes involved with LGTV infection. Methods: RNA interference (RNAi)-induced knockdown of transcripts was used to investigate the role of ten tick proteins in the LGTV infection cycle in ISE6 cells. LGTV-infected cells were separately transfected with dsRNA corresponding to each gene of interest and the effect on LGTV genome replication and release of infectious virus was assessed by RT-qPCR and plaque assays, respectively. Results: RNAi-induced knockdown of transcripts for two enzymes that likely function in amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, terpenoid/polykeytide and vitamin metabolism, and a transcript for one protein of unknown function were associated with decreased replication of the LGTV genome and release of infectious virus from cells. The knockdown of transcripts for five enzymes predicted to function in metabolism, a protein likely associated with folding, sorting and degradation, and a protein of unknown function was associated with a decrease only in the amount of infectious LGTV released from cells. Conclusions: These data suggest tick proteins potentially associated with metabolism and protein processing may be involved in LGTV infection of ISE6 cells. Our study provides information to begin to elucidate the function of these proteins and identify targets for the development of new interventions aimed at controlling the transmission of TBFs

NT-proBNP increase during stress echocardiography predicts significant changes in ischemic mitral regurgitation severity in patients qualified for surgical revascularization

Background: In many patients, significant changes in ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) severity during exercise can be observed independent of the degree of IMR at rest. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between N-terminal fragment B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiography measurements at rest and at peak exercise in patients with moderate IMR who qualified for surgical revascularization. Methods: A total of 100 patients eligible for coronary artery bypass grafting, were included in this prospective study. All patients underwent exercise echocardiography. Additionally, the levels of NT-proBNP were measured at rest and after peak exercise. Results: A positive correlation of absolute NT-proBNP levels with effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) were observed and with tricuspid regurgitant peak gradient (TRPG) at peak exercise. Absolute ∆NT-proBNP during exercise and the tenting area at rest were independent predictors of severe IMR at peak exercise. The level of absolute ∆NT-proBNP during exercise and coaptation height at rest were the most important predictors of significant increases in TRPG. The best cutoff value for ∆NT-proBNP as a predictor for increases in EROA at peak exercise was 68.9 pg/mL and to predict an increase in TRPG ≥ 50 mmHg at peak exercise was 68 pg/mL. Conclusions: The level of ∆NT-proBNP during exercise was the most important parameter in predicting significant changes in IMR severity and pulmonary pressure. Based on the present data, it can be speculated that integration of the assessment of NT-proBNP at rest and at exercise might improve patient selection for valve surgery

Arrhythmias And Long-Term Hemodynamic Consequences In Patient With Repaired Tetralogy Of Fallot – A Case Study

The number of patients who underwent total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) in early life or infancy is still rising. According to CDC ToF is the most prevalent cyanotic congenital heart disease with incidences of 1 in 2500 births. Rhythm disturbances and haemodynamic disturbances including valves disorders, heart failure, residual defects and more are new challenges for clinicians taking care of adult patients with repaired ToF. Our goal was to describe such a patient and highlight further complications which may be encountered among those patients

Fetal-Adult Cardiac Transcriptome Analysis in Rats with Contrasting Left Ventricular Mass Reveals New Candidates for Cardiac Hypertrophy

Reactivation of fetal gene expression patterns has been implicated in common cardiac diseases in adult life including left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) in arterial hypertension. Thus, increased wall stress and neurohumoral activation are discussed to induce the return to expression of fetal genes after birth in LVH. We therefore aimed to identify novel potential candidates for LVH by analyzing fetal-adult cardiac gene expression in a genetic rat model of hypertension, i.e. the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP). To this end we performed genome-wide transcriptome analysis in SHRSP to identify differences in expression patterns between day 20 of fetal development (E20) and adult animals in week 14 in comparison to a normotensive rat strain with contrasting low LV mass, i.e. Fischer (F344). 15232 probes were detected as expressed in LV tissue obtained from rats at E20 and week 14 (p < 0.05) and subsequently screened for differential expression. We identified 24 genes with SHRSP specific up-regulation and 21 genes with down- regulation as compared to F344. Further bioinformatic analysis presented Efcab6 as a new candidate for LVH that showed only in the hypertensive SHRSP rat differential expression during development (logFC = 2.41, p < 0.001) and was significantly higher expressed in adult SHRSP rats compared with adult F344 (+ 76%) and adult normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (+ 82%). Thus, it represents an interesting new target for further functional analyses and the elucidation of mechanisms leading to LVH. Here we report a new approach to identify candidate genes for cardiac hypertrophy by combining the analysis of gene expression differences between strains with a contrasting cardiac phenotype with a comparison of fetal-adult cardiac expression patterns

Success rate and safety of catheter ablation in preexcitation syndrome: A comparison between adult and pediatric patients

Background: In contrast to adults, in whom cardiac rhythm disorders are mainly conditioned by coronary artery disease, in children, arrhythmias are most often associated with inherited heart disorders. Catheter ablation (CA) has an important role in the management of cardiac arrhythmias, in adults and children. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the efficacy and safety of CA in children and adults with preexcitation syndrome. Methods: The study population comprised 43 adults and 43 children diagnosed with a Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). The mean age of the study population was 41 ± 15 years for adults and 14 ± 2.5 years for children. In all patients, an electrophysiological study and CA were performed. Analysis with respect to the procedure duration, fluoroscopy exposure time, location of accessory pathways (AP), immediate success rate and complications were performed. Results: Electrophysiological study revealed the most frequent presence of left-sided AP (56% in children and 70% in adults). The mean procedure duration was 96 ± 36 min and 106 ± 51 min in children and adults, respectively (p = NS). The mean fluoroscopy duration was 8.5 ± 4.3 min and 5.9 ± 5.8 min in children and adults, respectively p &lt; 0.05. The CA procedure was successful in 40 out of 43 (93%) adults and in 36 out of 43 (83.7%) children (p = NS). In 2 (4%) children minor complications occurred. Conclusions: Ablation in children and adults are equally effective with respect to short-term clinical observation

Influence of echocardiographic and radiographic characteristics on atrial sensing amplitude in patients with Linox Smart S DX defibrillation leads

Background: Single-lead for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with floating atrial sensing dipole is a new diagnostic tool with the potential advantage in terms of arrhythmia discrimination. We sought to determine whether right heart size and dipole position influence atrial sensing. Methods: Atrial sensing (AS) amplitude was measured during implantation (PP, periprocedural), predischarge (IHFU, in-hospital follow-up) and 3–6 months after the procedure (AFU, ambulatory follow-up). Results were related to atrial dipole position in the right atrium (RA) on the basis of chest X-ray examination as well as right heart dimensions at echocardiography. Results: Twenty-four patients were included into final analysis. In 14 (58.3%) patients, sensing dipole was located in regions 1 and 2 of the RA. AS amplitude was greater in regions 1 and 2 when com¬pared to other locations (3.15 vs. 1.2 mV, p = 0.045, 7.53 vs. 3.8 mV, p < 0.001 and 5.63 vs. 2.44 mV, p = 0.017 for PP measurements, IHFU and AFU, respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between AS-PP and short RA dimension (RADs) (r = –0.56, p = 0.02), AS-IHFU and RA area (RAA) (r = –0.45, p < 0.05), AS-AFU and long RA dimension (RADl) (r = –0.46; p = 0.02), AS-AFU and RADs (r = –0,48, p = 0.02), and AS-AFU and RAA (and r = –0.52, p < 0.01). There was no relationship between AS and other right heart dimensions. Conclusions: Larger RA size and low sensing dipole location were associated with lower AS amplitude in single-lead dual chamber ICD

The value of trust in inter-organizational relations

The article presents the results of empirical research on the role of trust in inter-organizational relations (IORs) and its outcomes. We questioned 210 Polish large and medium sized companies in different industries, experienced in IORs of different kind with Polish and foreign partners. We used a set of non-parametric analyses: Spearman correlation, mediation analyses with bootstrapping and structural equations modeling with RML (Robust Maximum Likelihood). Our findings confirm the statistically relevant correlations between the interpersonal trust of individuals and teams, the trust-building competence of organization and the outcomes of the cooperative relationships of companies. Additionally, the trust-building competence of organization serves as a mediator in the relations of interpersonal trust and IORs outcomes