The role of the competition law and policy of the EU in the formation of international agreements on competition.

Competition law is a tool first employed by countries more than a hundred years ago, to address issues relating to restrictions on competition conducted by private firms. Competition law is still predominantly an instrument to resolve national problems while the dominance of market based economies in the last fifty years, particularly following the collapse of the eastern block, in combination with improvements in transport, communications and technology have progressively dismantled national borders and internationalised trade. Trade liberalisation has in turn led to practices by firms that have an effect on the territories of more than one country. Attempts to address this paradox - national rules to address international issues - have appeared on several occasions in the last 80 years at the international, regional and lately bilateral level. The research question that the thesis addresses is: What is the role of the competition law and policy of the EU in the formation of international competition rules (norms). This question encompasses two main concepts: international agreements with competition elements, and the role of EU competition law and policy. As to the former, four main forms of agreements are discussed in separate chapters of the thesis: bilateral and tripartite enforcement cooperation agreements, bilateral trade agreements with competition provisions, plurilateral trade agreements, and the negotiations over a possible multilateral agreement on competition. As to the latter, the EU is the focus of examination of these agreements. In this regard, the study analyses all the relevant agreements signed by the EU and the socio-political environment under which these agreements are negotiated and (where relevant) applied in practice, as well as the influence that these agreements have had on the conclusion of similar agreements by other countries

Brucella cervical spondylitis complicated by spinal cord compression: a case report

A case of 65-year-old farmer who presented with Brucella-related cervical spondylitis is described. Because of the advanced form of the infection resulted in neurological impairment, cervical vertebra corpectomy and debridement of the paravertebral granulomatous tissue deposits were performed followed by stabilization with anterior plating and bone grafting. In addition, double antimicrobial chemotherapy regimen was administered for 12 weeks. After one year, follow up evaluation demonstrated resolution of the infection. The authors recommend that brucellosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of cervical spondylitis, particularly in patients who reside in countries where the zoonosis is still endemic

Discoid meniscus: clinical arthroscopic and histomorphological study

The present study investigated the clinical arthroscopic and histomorphological features of the meniscus discoid variation. With regard to the results of the clinical study no statistically significant predictive value of the physical signs which have been accepted as diagnostic in children was recorded in adult patients. The clinical outcome of partial resection of intact discoid lateral meniscus was far superior in comparison with torn discoid meniscus cases. The incidence of discoid meniscus tear appeared correlation with patient age while it reached almost double value in the patients older than 35 years old. No correlation of statistical significance was found between tear pattern or concomitant intraarticular lesion and type of discoid meniscus. Regarding with the architecture of the radial collagen system no significant difference was observed. On the other hand statistically significant disorganization of the circularly oriented collagen fibrils in the discoid meniscus specimens was found.Η μελέτη πραγματεύεται τα κλινικά αρθροσκοπικά και ιστομορφολογικά χαρακτηριστικά της δισκοειδούς δυσμορφίας του μηνίσκου. Κατά την κλινική μελέτη δεν αποδείχθηκε στατιστικά σημαντικά προγνωστικά άξια των κλινικών σημείων που έχουν περιγραφεί ως κλάσμα κλασικά κλινικά χαρακτηριστικά της πάθησης στην παιδική ηλικία σε ενήλικες ασθενείς. Η κλινική έκβαση της μερικής μηνισκεκτομής ακέραιου δισκοειδούς έξω μηνίσκου υπερέχει στατιστικά σαφώς εκείνου των περιπτώσεων δισκοειδούς μηνίσκου με ρήξη. Η συχνότητα ρήξης του δισκοειδούς μηνίσκου σχετίζεται με την ηλικία του ασθενούς, αφού σε ασθενείς ηλικίας μικρότερης των 35 ετών η συχνότητα ρήξης σχεδόν διπλασιάζεται. Δεν παρατηρήθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική συσχέτιση μεταξύ του τύπου δισκοειδούς δυσμορφίας και του είδους της ρήξης ή συνοδού ενδαρθρικής βλάβης. Η αρχιτεκτονική του δικτύου των ακτινωτών ινών κολλαγόνου δεν διαφέρει σημαντικά μεταξύ δισκοειδούς και φυσιολογικού έξω μηνίσκου. Αντίθετα, στο δισκοειδή μηνίσκο παρατηρήθηκε σημαντική αποδιοργάνωση του δικτύου των κυκλότερων ινών κολλαγόνου, στοιχείο που, πιθανώς, εμπλέκεται στην αιτιοπαθογένεση της αυξημένης συχνότητας ρήξης των μηνίσκων με δισκοειδή δυσμορφία

Trade and competition in Regional Trade Agreements: A missed opportunity?

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Noncompliance Unilateral Maxillary Molar Distalization: A Three-Dimensional Tooth Movement Analysis

Abstract: The aim of this prospective study was the three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of tooth movements after unilateral upper molar distalization by means of a noncompliance intraoral appliance, the Keles slider. This appliance exerts a distalizing force of 150 g at approximately the level of the center of resistance of the upper first molar. Twelve patients (six girls and six boys with a mean age of 13.1 years) with a unilateral Class II molar relationship participated in the study. Dental casts were taken immediately before placement and after removal of the appliance. The casts were digitized using a 3-D surface laser scanner and superimposed on a predefined area of the palate. The average unilateral upper first molar distal movement was 3.1 mm (range: 2.4 to 5.3 mm). Anchorage loss was expressed by a 2.1 mm (range: 0.8 to 3.8 mm) proclination of the central incisors and a 6.1Њ mesial inclination of the ipsilateral first premolar (range: 1.7Њ to 12.3Њ). There was approximately 1 mm of midline deviation toward the contralateral side and a 1.6 mm (range: 0.8 to 2.3 mm) buccal displacement of the contralateral first premolar. A substantial variation was observed among patients. Noncompliance unilateral upper molar distalization was an efficient treatment approach. There was, however, a substantial anchorage loss. Case selection is strongly recommended because significant anterior crowding, ectopic canines, or spacing can lead to significant anchorage loss. (Angle Orthod 2006;76:382-387.