Antidumping Petition: To File or Not To File

Given the “normal value†of a product as common knowledge in an import-competing market, the profitability of a home firm in filing an antidumping (AD) petition against its foreign rival is shown to depend on the marginal cost differential between the home and foreign firms. When the marginal cost differential is “significantly large,†the home firm's ability to put the foreign firm at the risk of an AD violation is limited. But when the marginal cost differential is “significantly small,†the home firm is able to increase its output and lower the price of the product below its normal value, putting the foreign firm in the situation of an illegal dumping. One interesting implication is that, relative to the case without an AD law, the home firm has a stronger incentive to undertake cost-reducing activities (e.g., R&D investment or the adoption of a more efficient technology) under the law.antidumping laws, antidumping duties, dumping margins

Cloning, expression and CNS distribution of Kv4.3, an A-type K+ channel α subunit

AbstractA full-length K+ channel cDNA of Kv4.3, with an open reading frame of 611 amino acids, was isolated from rat hippocampus. Functional expression of Kv4.3 cDNA in Xenopus oocytes revealed an A-type K+ channel. In the central nervous system, Kv4.3 is most prominently expressed in the retrosplenial cortex, medial habenula, anterior thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum, as well as lateral geniculate and superior colliculus, which are important for vision. The abundant expression of Kv4.3 in many CNS neurons supports its important role as a major component of subthreshold A currents in the control of action potentials and thus neuronal excitability

Maintenance therapy of low-dose nivolumab, S-1, and leucovorin in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma with a germline mutation of MSH6: A case report

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) provide substantial benefits to a small subset of patients with advanced cancer with mismatch repair deficiency (MMRD) or microsatellite instability (MSI), including patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the long duration of ICI treatment presents a considerable financial burden. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with metastatic PDAC refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Genetic analyses identified an MSH6 germline mutation and a high tumor mutation burden (TMB). Complete response (CR) was achieved after a short course of low-dose nivolumab (20 mg once every 2 weeks) with chemotherapy. CR was maintained for over 1 year with low-dose nivolumab and de-escalated chemotherapy without any immune-related adverse events. This case supports the further exploration of low-dose, affordable ICI-containing regimens in patients with advanced MSI-high/TMB-high cancer

Comparing the outcomes of two strategies for colorectal tumor detection: Policy-promoted screening program versus health promotion service

AbstractBackgroundThe Taiwanese government has proposed a population-based colorectal tumor detection program for the average-risk population. This study's objectives were to understand the outcomes of these screening policies and to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.MethodsWe compared two databases compiled in one medical center. The “policy-promoted cancer screening” (PPS) database was built on the basis of the policy of the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance for cancer screening. The “health promotion service” (HPS) database was built to provide health check-ups for self-paid volunteers. Both the PPS and HPS databases employ the immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) and colonoscopy for colorectal tumor screening using different strategies. A comparison of outcomes between the PPS and HPS included: (1) quality indicators—compliance rate, cecum reaching rate, and tumor detection rate; and (2) validity indicators—sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for detecting colorectal neoplasms.ResultsA total of 10,563 and 1481 individuals were enrolled in PPS and HPS, respectively. Among quality indicators, there was no statistically significant difference in the cecum reaching rate between PPS and HPS. The compliance rates were 56.1% for PPS and 91.8% for HPS (p < 0.001). The advanced adenoma detection rates of PPS and HPS were 1.0% and 3.6%, respectively (p < 0.01). The carcinoma detection rates were 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively (p = 0.59). For validity indicators, PPS provides only a positive predictive value for colorectal tumor detection. HPS provides additional validity indicators, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, for colorectal tumor screening.ConclusionIn comparison with the outcomes of the HPS database, the screening efficacy of the PPS database is even for detecting colorectal carcinoma but is limited in detecting advanced adenoma. HPS may provide comprehensive validity indicators and will be helpful in adjusting current policies for improving screening performance

Recurrent chronic subdural hemorrhage due to cervical spinal CSF leak in a young adult: Report of a case

SummaryNontraumatic intracranial subdural hemorrhage may result from disorders at remote anatomic sites. Here, we report a young adult who suffered from bilateral subdural hematoma without antecedent head injury. The subdural hematoma did not resolve after surgical drainage. The symptom of postural headache prompted a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the brain, which revealed signs indicative of intracranial hypotension. Subsequently, MRI of the spine demonstrated leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the upper cervical spine region. The patient recovered after conservative treatment. A review of the patient’s medical history revealed that the patient had chiropractic therapy on his neck 2 months prior to admission. Intracranial hypotension due to spinal CSF leak is a rare cause of subdural hemorrhage, yet it should be considered in the absence of head trauma

Apoptosis induction in BEFV-infected Vero and MDBK cells through Src-dependent JNK activation regulates caspase-3 and mitochondria pathways

Our previous report demonstrated that bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV)-infected cultured cells could induce caspase-dependent apoptosis. This study aims to further elucidate how BEFV activates the caspase cascade in bovine cells. BEFV replicated and induced apoptosis in Vero and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells, and a kinetic study showed a higher efficiency of replication and a greater apoptosis induction ability of BEFV in Vero cells. Src and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or p38 inhibitor, alleviated BEFV-mediated cytopathic effect and apoptosis. In BEFV-infected Vero and MDBK cells, BEFV directly induced Src tyrosine-418 phosphorylation and JNK phosphorylation and kinase activity, which was inhibited specifically by SU6656 and SP600125, respectively. The caspase cascade and its downstream effectors, Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DFF45, were also activated simultaneously upon BEFV infection. In addition, cytochrome c, but not Smac/DIABLO, was released gradually from mitochondria after BEFV infection. SU6656 suppressed Src, JNK, and caspase-3 and -9 activation, as well as PARP and DFF45 cleavage; SP600125 reduced JNK and caspase-3 and -9 activation, as well as PARP and DFF45 cleavage. Taken together, these results strongly support the hypothesis that a Src-dependent JNK signaling pathway plays a key role in BEFV-induced apoptosis. The molecular mechanism identified in our study may provide useful information for the treatment of BEFV

Enteric bacterial loads are associated with interleukin-6 levels in systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients

AbstractBackgroundLoss of intestinal integrity is a critical contributor to excessive inflammation following severe trauma or major surgery. In the case of enterocyte damage, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP) is released into the extracellular space. Excessive production of interleukin (IL)-6 can induce systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). However, the correlation of IL-6 with gut barrier failure and bacterial translocation in critically ill patients has not been well characterized.PurposesTo define the relationship between enteric bacterial loads and IL-6 levels in patients with SIRS.MethodsVariables related to prognosis and treatment were measured in 85 patients with SIRS upon admission to the emergency room. IL-6 and IFABP were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Enteric bacterial loads in blood were measured through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for enteric bacteria.ResultsMultivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between enteric bacterial loads and IL-6 levels in blood. Elevated IFABP concentration was associated with low blood pressure, high respiration rate, hyperglycemia, and high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. Elevated C-reactive protein concentrations were associated with higher soluble CD14 levels in blood.ConclusionEnterocyte damage is associated with hypotension and tachypnia in patients with SIRS. Gut function failure may permit enteric bacteria to enter the blood, thereby elevating IL-6 levels and inducing a systemic inflammatory response, resulting in multiple organ failure

18F-FDG PET/CT-based gross tumor volume definition for radiotherapy in head and neck Cancer: a correlation study between suitable uptake value threshold and tumor parameters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To define a suitable threshold setting for gross tumor volume (GTV) when using ¹⁸Fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomogram (PET/CT) for radiotherapy planning in head and neck cancer (HNC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifteen HNC patients prospectively received PET/CT simulation for their radiation treatment planning. Biological target volume (BTV) was derived from PET/CT-based GTV of the primary tumor. The BTVs were defined as the isodensity volumes when adjusting different percentage of the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax), excluding any artifact from surrounding normal tissues. CT-based primary GTV (C-pGTV) that had been previously defined by radiation oncologists was compared with the BTV. Suitable threshold level (sTL) could be determined when BTV value and its morphology using a certain threshold level was observed to be the best fitness of the C-pGTV. Suitable standardized uptake value (sSUV) was calculated as the sTL multiplied by the SUVmax.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our result demonstrated no single sTL or sSUV method could achieve an optimized volumetric match with the C-pGTV. The sTL was 13% to 27% (mean, 19%), whereas the sSUV was 1.64 to 3.98 (mean, 2.46). The sTL was inversely correlated with the SUVmax [sTL = -0.1004 Ln (SUVmax) + 0.4464; R²= 0.81]. The sSUV showed a linear correlation with the SUVmax (sSUV = 0.0842 SUVmax + 1.248; R²= 0.89). The sTL was not associated with the value of C-pGTVs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In PET/CT-based BTV for HNC, a suitable threshold or SUV level can be established by correlating with SUVmax rather than using a fixed threshold.</p