Evaluation of the CD40 receptor-ligand system in the patients with atrial fibrillation of non-valvular genesis

Thromboembolic syndrome is the most dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation which develops in about 8-15% of cases, thus presuming the role of persisting left-heart thrombosis in presence of anticoagulant therapy in some patients. When activated, the blood platelets express multiple copies of CD40L on their membrane. Hence, the soluble form of CD40 ligand is considered a marker of platelet activation and pathogenic processes associated with increased activity of the thrombotic system. Our aim was to study the content of CD40, soluble CD40 ligand and thrombomodulin in the patients with atrial fibrillation of non-valvular genesis receiving anticoagulant therapy, discerning those with a history of thrombotic complications, and the cases with atrial fibrillation, however, free of thrombotic complications. The study group included 22 healthy volunteers and 60 patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who received anticoagulant therapy, of whom 21 patients have developed thrombotic complications in the course of adequate anticoagulant therapy. Quantitative assays of CD40, soluble CD40 ligand and soluble thrombomodulin were performed by enzyme immunoassay using Core Facility “Medical Genomics”, Tomsk National Research Medical Center. Concentration of soluble CD40 ligand in both groups of the patients with atrial fibrillation significantly exceeded appropriate values in the group of healthy volunteers. CD40L content was increased in the group of patients with thrombotic complications against the group of patients without thrombotic complications. Thrombomodulin content in blood serum was decreased in the patients with thrombotic complications, as compared to both thrombosis-free patients, and to practically healthy volunteers. The study of CD40/CD40L system and thrombomodulin showed that the patients with thrombotic complications exhibited higher serum level of soluble CD40L, with a simultaneous decrease of thrombomodulin, a physiological anticoagulant. A comparative analysis of the CD40/sCD40L system showed increased concentrations of the biomarkers in females, when compared to males

Eribulin-trastuzumab combination in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: updated results from a Russian observational study

Introduction. The standard of 1st line treatment of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is double blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab + taxane, 2nd line – Trastuzumab-emtazine. There are no standards for further treatment, as well as the optimal drug sequence. Expansion of the arsenal of therapeutic possibilities and the use of new combinations will certainly improve the results of treatment of this category of patients and increase their life expectancy.Aim. We sought to describe treatment patterns of  eribulin  and clinical outcomes of  metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer treated with eribulin  plus trastuzumab combination in  academic institutions and community oncology practices across the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. Patients treated with eribulin anytime between Jan, 2014 and Sep, 2019 with a diagnosis of MBC were identified by 23 providers from Russia. Providers retrospectively reviewed the health records and abstracted selected data points into an electronic case report form for each eligible patient.Results. 100 HER2-positive pts received eribulin in combination with trastuzumab. Median age was 55 (31–80) yrs and ECOG status 0–3. 67% pts had visceral metastases. Eribulin was administered as 1st and 2nd line to 23 (23%) pts, 3rd line to 31 (31%) pts, 4th line and later to 46 (46%). Median number of cycles was 5 (2–27). ORR was 12%, SD – 72%, SD > 6 months – 23%, PD – 16%. Clinical efficacy rate achieved in 35%. Median PFS was 5.07 months (95% CI 4.021–6.119). According to the ER-status the response to eribulin and trastuzumab was different. ORR was 18.8%, SD 72.9% in pts with ER-positive MBC (n = 48) and 5.8% and 71.2% respectively in ER-negative MBC (n = 52). Median PFS was 6.97 months (95% CI 3.924–10.016) in pts with ER-positive MBC and 4.67 months (95% CI 3.841–5.499) in ER-negative MBC (р = 0.3). The combination was well tolerated: dose reductions were required in 12% pts, withdrawal due to toxicity in 4% pts. The most common type of toxicity was hematological with neutropenia Gr III-IV in 14 (14%) pts. Peripheral neuropathy Gr III was observed in 5 (5%) pts. No cardiotoxicity was detected.Conclusions. This is the real-life data of clinical outcomes for patients receiving eribulin plus trastuzumab for HER2-positive MBC throughout the Russian Federation. Our experience with eribulin plus trastuzumab demonstrates that this combination may be a potential effective treatment option for HER-2 positive MBC patients

ПРОГНОСТИЧЕСКИЕ ФАКТОРЫ НЕБЛАГОПРЯТНОГО ТЕЧЕНИЯ ОСТРОГО ИНФАРКТА МИОКАРДА У ПАЦИЕНТОВ С САХАРНЫМ ДИАБЕТОМ 2-го ТИПА ПРИ ИНТЕНСИВНОМ КОНТРОЛЕ ГЛИКЕМИИ

Objective. To determine predictors of complications of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with type 2 diabetes (2TDM) and it’s value of intensive glycemic control during insulin infusion.Methods. The study included 112 patients with MI and 2TDM at first day of hospital admission with blood glucose level above 7.8 mmol/l. Prognosis of combined study endpoint included the death and ma-jor complications of MI for the hospital and long-term (6-month) stages. The statistical analysis was per-formed (Statistica 6.0 for Windows). The predictive value was assessed with ROC-curves analysis meth-od.Results. Intensive glycemic control with insulin infusion reduced the activity of lipid peroxidation and improve prediction of study endpoint. Predictors of adverse hospital prognosis of MI in association with type 2 diabetes were hyperglycemia on admission above 10 mmol/l, and increase of C-peptide. The in-crease of C-peptide in the 1st and 7th day, hs-CRP on day 1, diene conjugates on the 7th day and glucose level on admission above 8.9 mmol/l (patients without 2TDM) and 14.3 mmol/l (patients with 2TDM) had the 6-month predictive value.Conclusion. The strict achievement of the target level of glucose in acute MI improves it’s prognosis at the hospital and at a 6-month prospective study.Цель работы – определить предикторы неблагоприятного течения острого инфаркта миокарда (ОИМ) у больных сахарным диабетом 2-го типа (СД-2) и прогностическое значение интенсивного контроля гликемии при проведении инфузионной инсулинотерапии (ИИТ).Материал и методы. В исследовании приняли участие 112 пациентов с ОИМ, которые поступили в порядке скорой медицинской помощи в течение 1-х сут с диагнозом «инфаркт миокарда» и уровнем глюкозы в крови при поступлении выше 7,8 ммоль/л. Неблагоприятный исход оценивали по наступлению конечной точки, означающей смерть пациента или развитие основных осложнений ИМ для госпитального и отдаленного (6-месячного) этапов. Определяли показатели углеводного обмена (концентрацию в крови инсулина, С-пептида), уровни маркеров перекисного окисления липидов (ПОЛ) (ТБК-активные продукты, диеновые конъюгаты, свободные жирные кислоты) и воспаления (вч-СРБ). Статистический анализ проводили с использованием пакета прикладных программ Statistica 6.0 for Windows, для оценки прогностической ценности результатов регрессионного анализа использовали метод ROC-кривых.Результаты. В результате исследования были подтверждены развитие инсулинорезистентности, активация процессов ПОЛ и воспаления, которые сохранялись на протяжении 6-месячного периода и преобладали у больных СД-2. Интенсивный контроль гликемии проведением ИИТ в острый период ОИМ снижал активность процессов ПОЛ и улучшал госпитальный прогноз по конечной точке исследования. Предикторами неблагоприятного госпитального прогноза ИМ в ассоциации с СД-2 были гипергликемия при поступлении выше 10 ммоль/л, повышение на 1-е сут уровня  С-пептида, для 6-месячного прогноза – повышение уровня С-пептида на 1-е и 7-е сут, вч-СРБ на 1-е сут и диеновых конъюгатов на 7-е сут ОИМ. Неблагоприятный 6-месячный прогноз ассоциирован с повышением уровня глюкозы при поступлении больного в стационар выше 8,9 ммоль/л для больных без диабета и выше 14,3  ммоль/л – для больных СД-2.Заключение. Проведение контролируемой ИИТ с достижением целевого уровня гликемии в острый период инфаркта миокарда улучшает течение и прогноз заболевания на госпитальном этапе и в 6-месячном периоде

АСПЕРГИЛЛЕЗ ЛЕГКИХ У БОЛЬНЫХ МУКОВИСЦИДОЗОМ В РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The aim: to assess the incidence of various forms of pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with cystic fibrosis.Materials and methods. In 2014-2017 yy. in prospective study in  different regions of Russia were included 190 patients with cystic  fibrosis aged 1 to 37 years. Children – 130, adults – 60. All patients  underwent allergy (skin tests with fungal allergens, total IgE level,  specific IgE to fungal allergens) and mycology (microscopy and  cultural investigations of respiratory biomaterials) testing. Chest  computed tomography was performed according to the indications.Results. The incidence of fungal sensitization in patients with cystic  fibrosis was 57%, to Aspergillus spp. – 27%. The incidence of  allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis was 5,7%, chronic lung  aspergillosis – 4,2%, invasive aspergillosis developed in one patient  (0,5%) during immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation.Conclusion. The incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis in patients  with cystic fibrosis in the Russian Federation was first determined  (10.5%). Mycology testing is indicated for patients with cystic  fibrosis for early treatment of different variants of pulmonary aspergillosis.Цель. Оценить частоту развития различных форм аспергиллеза легких у больных муковисцидозом.Материалы и методы. В 2014–2017 гг. в проспективное исследование в разных регионах  РФ включили 190 больных муковисцидозом в возрасте от 1 до 37 лет (130 детей, 60  взрослых). Всем пациентам провели аллергологическое обследование (кожные тесты с  грибковыми аллергенами, определение уровня общего IgE и специфических IgE к  грибковым аллергенам) и микологическое обселедование (микроскопия и посев  респираторных субстратов). По показаниям выполняли компьютерную томографию органов грудной клетки.Результаты. У больных муковисцидозом частота микогенной сенсибилизации составила  57%, к Aspergillus spp. – 27%. Аллергический бронхолегочный аспергиллез выявили у 5,7%  пациентов, хронический аспергиллез легких – у 4,2%, инвазивный аспергиллез развился у  одного пациента (0,5%) на фоне иммунодепрессивной терапии после трансплантации печени.Заключение. Впервые определена частота развития аспергиллеза легких у больных  муковисцидозом в Российской Федерации (10,5%). Больным муковисцидозом показано  микологическое обследование для своевременного лечения различных вариантов аспергиллеза легких

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Improved risk stratification of patients with atrial fibrillation: an integrated GARFIELD-AF tool for the prediction of mortality, stroke and bleed in patients with and without anticoagulation.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an accurate, web-based tool for stratifying patients with atrial fibrillation to facilitate decisions on the potential benefits/risks of anticoagulation, based on mortality, stroke and bleeding risks. DESIGN: The new tool was developed, using stepwise regression, for all and then applied to lower risk patients. C-statistics were compared with CHA2DS2-VASc using 30-fold cross-validation to control for overfitting. External validation was undertaken in an independent dataset, Outcome Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF). PARTICIPANTS: Data from 39 898 patients enrolled in the prospective GARFIELD-AF registry provided the basis for deriving and validating an integrated risk tool to predict stroke risk, mortality and bleeding risk. RESULTS: The discriminatory value of the GARFIELD-AF risk model was superior to CHA2DS2-VASc for patients with or without anticoagulation. C-statistics (95% CI) for all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke/systemic embolism and haemorrhagic stroke/major bleeding (treated patients) were: 0.77 (0.76 to 0.78), 0.69 (0.67 to 0.71) and 0.66 (0.62 to 0.69), respectively, for the GARFIELD-AF risk models, and 0.66 (0.64-0.67), 0.64 (0.61-0.66) and 0.64 (0.61-0.68), respectively, for CHA2DS2-VASc (or HAS-BLED for bleeding). In very low to low risk patients (CHA2DS2-VASc 0 or 1 (men) and 1 or 2 (women)), the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED (for bleeding) scores offered weak discriminatory value for mortality, stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding. C-statistics for the GARFIELD-AF risk tool were 0.69 (0.64 to 0.75), 0.65 (0.56 to 0.73) and 0.60 (0.47 to 0.73) for each end point, respectively, versus 0.50 (0.45 to 0.55), 0.59 (0.50 to 0.67) and 0.55 (0.53 to 0.56) for CHA2DS2-VASc (or HAS-BLED for bleeding). Upon validation in the ORBIT-AF population, C-statistics showed that the GARFIELD-AF risk tool was effective for predicting 1-year all-cause mortality using the full and simplified model for all-cause mortality: C-statistics 0.75 (0.73 to 0.77) and 0.75 (0.73 to 0.77), respectively, and for predicting for any stroke or systemic embolism over 1 year, C-statistics 0.68 (0.62 to 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Performance of the GARFIELD-AF risk tool was superior to CHA2DS2-VASc in predicting stroke and mortality and superior to HAS-BLED for bleeding, overall and in lower risk patients. The GARFIELD-AF tool has the potential for incorporation in routine electronic systems, and for the first time, permits simultaneous evaluation of ischaemic stroke, mortality and bleeding risks. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362) and for ORBIT-AF (NCT01165710)

Two-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: results from GARFIELD-AF.

AIMS: The relationship between outcomes and time after diagnosis for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is poorly defined, especially beyond the first year. METHODS AND RESULTS: GARFIELD-AF is an ongoing, global observational study of adults with newly diagnosed NVAF. Two-year outcomes of 17 162 patients prospectively enrolled in GARFIELD-AF were analysed in light of baseline characteristics, risk profiles for stroke/systemic embolism (SE), and antithrombotic therapy. The mean (standard deviation) age was 69.8 (11.4) years, 43.8% were women, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.3 (1.6); 60.8% of patients were prescribed anticoagulant therapy with/without antiplatelet (AP) therapy, 27.4% AP monotherapy, and 11.8% no antithrombotic therapy. At 2-year follow-up, all-cause mortality, stroke/SE, and major bleeding had occurred at a rate (95% confidence interval) of 3.83 (3.62; 4.05), 1.25 (1.13; 1.38), and 0.70 (0.62; 0.81) per 100 person-years, respectively. Rates for all three major events were highest during the first 4 months. Congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, sudden/unwitnessed death, malignancy, respiratory failure, and infection/sepsis accounted for 65% of all known causes of death and strokes for <10%. Anticoagulant treatment was associated with a 35% lower risk of death. CONCLUSION: The most frequent of the three major outcome measures was death, whose most common causes are not known to be significantly influenced by anticoagulation. This suggests that a more comprehensive approach to the management of NVAF may be needed to improve outcome. This could include, in addition to anticoagulation, interventions targeting modifiable, cause-specific risk factors for death. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

State of the climate in 2018

In 2018, the dominant greenhouse gases released into Earth’s atmosphere—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—continued their increase. The annual global average carbon dioxide concentration at Earth’s surface was 407.4 ± 0.1 ppm, the highest in the modern instrumental record and in ice core records dating back 800 000 years. Combined, greenhouse gases and several halogenated gases contribute just over 3 W m−2 to radiative forcing and represent a nearly 43% increase since 1990. Carbon dioxide is responsible for about 65% of this radiative forcing. With a weak La Niña in early 2018 transitioning to a weak El Niño by the year’s end, the global surface (land and ocean) temperature was the fourth highest on record, with only 2015 through 2017 being warmer. Several European countries reported record high annual temperatures. There were also more high, and fewer low, temperature extremes than in nearly all of the 68-year extremes record. Madagascar recorded a record daily temperature of 40.5°C in Morondava in March, while South Korea set its record high of 41.0°C in August in Hongcheon. Nawabshah, Pakistan, recorded its highest temperature of 50.2°C, which may be a new daily world record for April. Globally, the annual lower troposphere temperature was third to seventh highest, depending on the dataset analyzed. The lower stratospheric temperature was approximately fifth lowest. The 2018 Arctic land surface temperature was 1.2°C above the 1981–2010 average, tying for third highest in the 118-year record, following 2016 and 2017. June’s Arctic snow cover extent was almost half of what it was 35 years ago. Across Greenland, however, regional summer temperatures were generally below or near average. Additionally, a satellite survey of 47 glaciers in Greenland indicated a net increase in area for the first time since records began in 1999. Increasing permafrost temperatures were reported at most observation sites in the Arctic, with the overall increase of 0.1°–0.2°C between 2017 and 2018 being comparable to the highest rate of warming ever observed in the region. On 17 March, Arctic sea ice extent marked the second smallest annual maximum in the 38-year record, larger than only 2017. The minimum extent in 2018 was reached on 19 September and again on 23 September, tying 2008 and 2010 for the sixth lowest extent on record. The 23 September date tied 1997 as the latest sea ice minimum date on record. First-year ice now dominates the ice cover, comprising 77% of the March 2018 ice pack compared to 55% during the 1980s. Because thinner, younger ice is more vulnerable to melting out in summer, this shift in sea ice age has contributed to the decreasing trend in minimum ice extent. Regionally, Bering Sea ice extent was at record lows for almost the entire 2017/18 ice season. For the Antarctic continent as a whole, 2018 was warmer than average. On the highest points of the Antarctic Plateau, the automatic weather station Relay (74°S) broke or tied six monthly temperature records throughout the year, with August breaking its record by nearly 8°C. However, cool conditions in the western Bellingshausen Sea and Amundsen Sea sector contributed to a low melt season overall for 2017/18. High SSTs contributed to low summer sea ice extent in the Ross and Weddell Seas in 2018, underpinning the second lowest Antarctic summer minimum sea ice extent on record. Despite conducive conditions for its formation, the ozone hole at its maximum extent in September was near the 2000–18 mean, likely due to an ongoing slow decline in stratospheric chlorine monoxide concentration. Across the oceans, globally averaged SST decreased slightly since the record El Niño year of 2016 but was still far above the climatological mean. On average, SST is increasing at a rate of 0.10° ± 0.01°C decade−1 since 1950. The warming appeared largest in the tropical Indian Ocean and smallest in the North Pacific. The deeper ocean continues to warm year after year. For the seventh consecutive year, global annual mean sea level became the highest in the 26-year record, rising to 81 mm above the 1993 average. As anticipated in a warming climate, the hydrological cycle over the ocean is accelerating: dry regions are becoming drier and wet regions rainier. Closer to the equator, 95 named tropical storms were observed during 2018, well above the 1981–2010 average of 82. Eleven tropical cyclones reached Saffir–Simpson scale Category 5 intensity. North Atlantic Major Hurricane Michael’s landfall intensity of 140 kt was the fourth strongest for any continental U.S. hurricane landfall in the 168-year record. Michael caused more than 30 fatalities and $25 billion (U.S. dollars) in damages. In the western North Pacific, Super Typhoon Mangkhut led to 160 fatalities and$6 billion (U.S. dollars) in damages across the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Tropical Storm Son-Tinh was responsible for 170 fatalities in Vietnam and Laos. Nearly all the islands of Micronesia experienced at least moderate impacts from various tropical cyclones. Across land, many areas around the globe received copious precipitation, notable at different time scales. Rodrigues and Réunion Island near southern Africa each reported their third wettest year on record. In Hawaii, 1262 mm precipitation at Waipā Gardens (Kauai) on 14–15 April set a new U.S. record for 24-h precipitation. In Brazil, the city of Belo Horizonte received nearly 75 mm of rain in just 20 minutes, nearly half its monthly average. Globally, fire activity during 2018 was the lowest since the start of the record in 1997, with a combined burned area of about 500 million hectares. This reinforced the long-term downward trend in fire emissions driven by changes in land use in frequently burning savannas. However, wildfires burned 3.5 million hectares across the United States, well above the 2000–10 average of 2.7 million hectares. Combined, U.S. wildfire damages for the 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons exceeded $40 billion (U.S. dollars)