Servant Leaders\u27 Use of High Performance Work Practices and Corporate Social Performance

Business researchers have shown that servant leaders empower, provide long-term vision, and serve their workers and followers better than do nonservant leaders. High performance work practices (HPWPs) and corporate social performance (CSP) can enhance employee and firm productivity. However, when overused or poorly managed, HPWPs and CSP can lead to the business problems of employee disengagement, overload, or anxiety. Scholars noted a gap in human resource management research regarding whether leadership styles affect HPWPs and CSP use. This study examined the relationship between leadership style and the use of HPWPs and CSP, by using a quantitative, nonexperimental design. U.S. business leaders (N = 287) completed a survey consisting of 3 previously published scales. A chi-square analysis calculated the servant to nonservant leader ratio in the population, finding a disproportionate ratio (1:40) of servant (n = 7) to nonservant (n = 280) leaders. Two t tests showed that no significant difference existed in how servant and nonservant leaders use HPWPs or CSP. However, a multiple linear regression model showed that a leader\u27s self-reported characteristics of empowerment, vision, or service positively predicted CSP use; empowerment positively predicted HPWPs use; service negatively predicted HPWPs use; and vision had no effect on HPWPs use. Findings may help human resource practitioners identify leaders who use HPWPs or CSP differently. Positive social change may occur by hiring more visionary, empowering, or service-oriented leaders who can support overwhelmed or anxious workers, potentially leading to more engaged and productive workers, and an increase in the use of positive CSP

Pharmacological and Molecular Characterization of Muscarinic Receptors in Cat Esophageal Smooth Muscle 1

ABSTRACT The muscarinic receptor subtypes that mediate cholinergic responses in cat esophageal smooth muscle were examined. Antagonist effects on carbachol-induced and nerve-evoked contractions were studied in vitro using muscle strips from the distal esophagus. Antagonists displayed similar relative selectivities in suppressing carbachol and nerve-mediated responses as follows: 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP) Ͼ zamifenacin Ͼ para-fluoro-hexahydrosiladiphenidol Ͼ pirenzepine Ͼ AF-DX 116 Ͼ methoctramine, indicating that these responses are mediated by the same receptor subtype. 4-DAMP, pirenzepine and methoctramine effects on carbachol responses gave pA 2 values characteristic of the M 3 receptor in both the circular muscle (9.25 Ϯ 0.12, 6.79 Ϯ 0.09 and 6.04 Ϯ 0.11, respectively) and longitudinal muscle (9.46 Ϯ 0.14, 7.25 Ϯ 0.07 and 6.10 Ϯ 0.06, respectively). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was done using primer sequences based on the cloned human muscarinic receptor subtypes. Messenger RNA for the m 3 receptor was readily identified, whereas m 2 was not detected in esophageal muscle, but was present in cardiac muscle. Sequence homology between the amplified products from cat tissue and the corresponding human m 2 and m 3 receptors genes were 93% and 89%, respectively. In the cat esophagus, the M 3 receptor mediates functional responses and messenger RNA for the corresponding molecular form of this receptor is abundant in this tissue. Muscarinic receptors mediate cholinergic excitation in the distal smooth muscle esophagus. The overall contribution of this excitatory mechanism to normal esophageal peristalsis differs between species. Thus, atropine potently blocks swallow-induced peristalsis in the cat, the monkey and the human esophagus, but in the opossum, it has a more modest effect Five subtypes of the muscarinic receptor (m 1 -m 5 ) have been identified by molecular cloning techniques However, in a recent in vitro study on isolated smooth muscle cells from the circular layer of the cat esophagus

The Efficacy and Safety of 200 Days Valganciclovir Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis in High-Risk Kidney Transplant Recipients

Late-onset cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is a significant problem with a standard 3-month prophylaxis regimen. This multicentre, double-blind, randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy and safety of 200 days’ versus 100 days’ valganciclovir prophylaxis (900 mg once daily) in 326 high-risk (D+/R–) kidney allograft recipients. Significantly fewer patients in the 200-day group versus the 100-day group developed confirmed CMV disease up to month 12 posttransplant (16.1% vs. 36.8%; p < 0.0001). Confirmed CMV viremia was also significantly lower in the 200-day group (37.4% vs. 50.9%; p = 0.015 at month 12). There was no significant difference in the rate of biopsy-proven acute rejection between the groups (11% vs. 17%, respectively, p = 0.114). Adverse events occurred at similar rates between the groups and the majority were rated mild-to-moderate in intensity and not related to study medication. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that extending valganciclovir prophylaxis (900 mg once daily) to 200 days significantly reduces the incidence of CMV disease and viremia through to 12 months compared with 100 days’ prophylaxis, without significant additional safety concerns associated with longer treatment. The number needed to treat to avoid one additional patient with CMV disease up to 12 months posttransplant is approximately 5.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79398/1/j.1600-6143.2010.03074.x.pd

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Korea

Between 1995 and 2003, seven cases of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) were identified among 1,116 patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) at Catholic HSCT Center (overall incidence 0.6%). Five (71.4%) patients had episodes of acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and were treated with steroids. Cervical lymphadenopathy was observed in most cases (71.4%), but clinical symptoms varied depending on the involved sites. Pathologic findings varied: 1 case of plasmacytic hyperplasia, 3 of polymorphic PTLD, 2 of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 of large T-cell lymphoma, which proved to be associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The proportion of EBV-negative PTLD was 33.3%. Five patients demonstrated a good response to treatment (treatment response rate 71.4%). The overall mortality was 42.8%, and one death was directly attributable to PTLD. The incidence of PTLD is expected to increase, based on the rising use of grafts from alternative donors and recent clinical features of PTLD manifested by a disseminated and fulminant nature. It is necessary to have a high level of suspicion when monitoring patients and readily adopt prompt and effective cellular immunotherapy for PTLD

Impact of Cytomegalovirus Disease in D+/R– Kidney Transplant Patients Receiving 6 Months Low‐Dose Valganciclovir Prophylaxis

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87092/1/j.1600-6143.2011.03611.x.pd

Development of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of congenital human cytomegalovirus infection in urine samples.

A TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), based on amplification of HCMV UL54 gene specific sequence, was developed and compared with shell vial viral culture assay, the gold standard technique for the diagnosis of congenital HCMV infection, using urine samples collected from 110 newborns. The results indicate that this qPCR is slightly more sensitive than shell vial assay suggesting that qPCR may be considered a useful alternative for diagnosing congenital HCMV infection

Deglutitive Inhibition, Latency Between Swallow and Esophageal Contractions and Primary Esophageal Motor Disorders

Swallowing induces an inhibitory wave that is followed by a contractile wave along the esophageal body. Deglutitive inhibition in the skeletal muscle of the esophagus is controlled in the brain stem whilst in the smooth muscle, an intrinsic peripheral control mechanism is critical. The latency between swallow and contractions is determined by the pattern of activation of the inhibitory and excitatory vagal pathways, the regional gradients of inhibitory and excitatory myenteric nerves, and the intrinsic properties of the smooth muscle. A wave of inhibition precedes a swallow-induced peristaltic contraction in the smooth muscle part of the human oesophagus involving both circular and longitudinal muscles in a peristaltic fashion. Deglutitive inhibition is necessary for drinking liquids which requires multiple rapid swallows (MRS). During MRS the esophageal body remains inhibited until the last of the series of swallows and then a peristaltic contraction wave follows. A normal response to MRS requires indemnity of both inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms and esophageal muscle. MRS has recently been used to assess deglutitive inhibition in patients with esophageal motor disorders. Examples with impairment of deglutitive inhibition are achalasia of the LES and diffuse esophageal spasm

High incidence of Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and human herpesvirus 6 infections in children with cancer

BACKGROUND: A prospective single-center study was performed to study infection with lymphotropic herpesviruses (LH) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in children with cancer. METHODS: The group of 186 children was examined for the presence of LH before, during and 2 months after the end of anticancer treatment. Serology of EBV and CMV was monitored in all children, serology of HHV-6 and DNA analysis of all three LH was monitored in 70 children. RESULTS: At the time of cancer diagnosis (pre-treatment), there was no difference between cancer patients and age-matched healthy controls in overall IgG seropositivity for EBV (68.8% vs. 72.0%; p = 0.47) and CMV (37.6% vs. 41.7%; p = 0.36). During anticancer therapy, primary or reactivated EBV and CMV infection was present in 65 (34.9%) and 66 (35.4%) of 186 patients, respectively, leading to increased overall post-treatment IgG seropositivity that was significantly different from controls for EBV (86.6% vs. 72.0%; p = 0.0004) and CMV (67.7% vs. 41.7%; p < 0.0001). Overall pre-treatment IgG seropositivity for HHV-6 was significantly lower in patients than in controls (80.6% vs. 91.3%; p = 0.0231) which may be in agreement with Greaves hypothesis of protective effect of common infections in infancy to cancer development. Primary or reactivated HHV-6 infection was present in 23 (32.9%) of 70 patients during anticancer therapy leading to post-treatment IgG seropositivity that was not significantly different from controls (94.3% vs. 91.3%; p = 0.58). The LH infection occurred independently from leukodepleted blood transfusions given. Combination of serology and DNA analysis in detection of symptomatic EBV or CMV infection was superior to serology alone. CONCLUSION: EBV, CMV and HHV-6 infections are frequently present during therapy of pediatric malignancy

Influence of Novel Norovirus GII.4 Variants on Gastroenteritis Outbreak Dynamics in Alberta and the Northern Territories, Canada between 2000 and 2008

BACKGROUND: Norovirus GII.4 is the predominant genotype circulating worldwide over the last decade causing 80% of all norovirus outbreaks with new GII.4 variants reported in parallel with periodic epidemic waves of norovirus outbreaks. The circulating new GII.4 variants and the epidemiology of norovirus outbreaks in Alberta, Canada have not been described. Our hypothesis is that the periodic epidemic norovirus outbreak activity in Alberta was driven by new GII.4 variants evolving by genetic drift. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The Alberta Provincial Public Health Laboratory performed norovirus testing using RT-PCR for suspected norovirus outbreaks in the province and the northern Territories between 2000 and 2008. At least one norovirus strain from 707 out of 1,057 (66.9%) confirmed norovirus outbreaks were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using BioNumerics and 617 (91.1%) outbreaks were characterized as caused by GII.4 with 598 assigned as novel variants including: GII.4-1996, GII.4-2002, GII.4-2004, GII.4-2006a, GII.4-2006b, GII.4-2008a and GII.4-2008b. Defining July to June of the following year as the yearly observation period, there was clear biannual pattern of low and high outbreak activity in Alberta. Within this biannual pattern, high outbreak activity followed the emergence of novel GII.4 variants. The two variants that emerged in 2006 had wider geographic distribution and resulted in higher outbreak activity compared to other variants. The outbreak settings were analyzed. Community-based group residence was the most common for both GII.4 variants and non-GII.4 variants. GII.4 variants were more commonly associated with outbreaks in acute care hospitals while outbreaks associated non-GII.4 variants were more commonly seen in school and community social events settings (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The emergence of new norovirus GII.4 variants resulted in an increased norovirus outbreak activity in the following season in a unique biannual pattern in Alberta over an eight year period. The association between antigenic drift of GII.4 strains and epidemic norovirus outbreak activity could be due to changes in host immunity, viral receptor binding efficiency or virulence factors in the new variants. Early detection of novel GII.4 variants provides vital information that could be used to forecast the norovirus outbreak burden, enhance public health preparedness and allocate appropriate resources for outbreak management