Background/Objectives: Acute low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent cause of disabilityworldwide. If often involves both inflammation and reflex muscle spasm, suggestingcombined therapy with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a musclerelaxant may provide superior relief. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of a single intramuscular (IM) injection of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) product containing Diclofenac and Thiocolchicoside versus Diclofenac monotherapy in adults with acute LBP. Methods: We conducted a phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial in 140 patients with acute LBP of moderate to severe intensity. Patients were allocated 1:1 to receive either the combination of Diclofenac sodium 75 mg + Thiocolchicoside 4 mg (FDC product, Test Group) or Diclofenac sodium 75 mg alone (Diclofenac monotherapy, Reference Group) via a single IM injection. The primaryoutcome was the change in patient-reported pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) from baseline to 3 h post-dose. Key secondary outcomes included pain change at1 h in the VAS, improvement in lumbar mobility (finger-to-floor distance test, FTF), theproportion of patients achieving >30% pain reduction, and the incidence of adverse events(AEs). Randomization was centralized and both investigators and patients were blindedto the treatment. Results: All 140 randomized patients completed the trial. At 3 h postinjection,the combination therapy produced a significantly greater mean pain reductionthan monotherapy (41.52 mm vs. 28.13 mm on the 100 mm VAS; p < 0.0001). Superiority of the combination was already evident at 1 h post-dose (VAS reduction 27.61 mm vs. 20.40 mm; p = 0.0089). Lumbar flexion improved more with the combination at 3 h (mean FTF distance improvement 14.52 cm vs. 7.94 cm; p < 0.0001) and at 1 h (9.21 cm vs. 4.62 cm;

Purpose: The quality of financial reporting represents a major challenge for modern firms, as well as for all stakeholders. It is indicative that international standards are developed in order to ensure the relevance, comparability, understandability, faithful representation and timeliness of official financial statements. Under this framework, the present research investigates the factors which affect the quality of financial reporting and more precisely, firm size, audit firm size, geographical location, leverage, liquidity and profitability.Design/methodology/approach: The quantitative approach was selected and regression analyses were used to provide answers to the research questions. Quality was chosen as the dependent variable, measured using the results of a previous study. First, a regression model was developed in order to reveal correlations between the variables. Then, each independent variable was correlated with the dependent variable (quality) and different regression models were developed for each correlation.Findings: Firm size, audit firm size, geographical distribution, and more precisely the location of the headquarters are positively correlated with the quality of financial reporting. Profitability is negatively correlated with the quality of financial reporting, while leverage is not correlated with the quality of financial reporting. Besides, the quality of financial reporting depends on the interaction of all the variables and the initial model interprets this relationship in a satisfactory way.

Purpose: During the last years an effort is made, at a European and global level in order to introduce financial reporting standards which are similar across different countries, so as to enhance the quality of financial statements and prepare reports which can be comparable and useful for all stakeholders. Under this framework, the new Greek Accounting Standards were developed and are adopted by entities, according to the Law 4308/2014 which incorporates the Directive 34/2013/EU.Design/methodology/approach: The present study uses a sample of 123 Greek companies and investigates the financial reporting quality before and after the adoption of the new standards.Findings: According to results, the quality is ameliorated in terms of relevance, faithful representation, understandability and compliance. On the other hand, timeliness was negatively affected.Practical implications: According to the Greek Law4308/2014, all entities - apart from those obliged to use IFRS - are allowed to choose between the adoption of the new Greek Accounting Standards or IFRS. The study elaborates on the positive effects of the adoption of the new Greek Accounting Standards.Originality/value: The present research is one of the few researches concerning the adoption of the new Greek Accounting Standards, while the stratification and selection process used in order to select the sample was novel regarding existing research on the subject. As a consequence a representative sample is used, in terms of geography and size, and this enhances the quality of the research results.

Computational biology models of the Volterra-Lotka family, known as competing species models, are used for modelling a triopoly market, with application to the mobile telecommunications in Greece. Using a data sample for 1999-2016, parameter estimation with nonlinear least squares is performed. The findings show that the proportional change in the market share of the two largest companies, Cosmote and Vodafone, depends negatively on the market share of each other. Further, the market share of the marker leader, Cosmote, depends positively on the market share of the smallest company, Wind. The proportional change in the market share of Wind, depends negatively on the market share of the largest company Cosmote but it depends positively by the change in the market share by the second company, Vodafone. In the long-run it was found that the market shares tend to the stable equilibrium point where all three companies will survive with Cosmote having a projected number after eleven years (in 2030) of approximately 7.3 million subscribers, Vodafone 4.9 and Wind 3.7, the total number of projected market size being approximately 16 million customers.

This research project investigates the influence of a number of economic and financial variables on the profitability of Greek enterprises from 2006 to 2013, namely: annual revenue, exports as a binary variable, number of employees, sectoral composition, investments and founding year. Three models were tested using linear stepwise regression as well as logistic regression. The fit to the data is low, indicating that other important factors, in addition to those tested, influence the development of corporate profits more. Running the models for individual years we see that in the years 2010 and 2011 mark a shift in the direction of the relation of several of our variables to profits (such as the age of the enterprise and the number of employees). The full application of austerity policies because of the crisis may be the explanation for that, indicating that the crisis did not have a unified influence on profitability. More importantly statistically significant results are observed in relations which conflict with economic theory, namely exports are negatively correlated to profitability (Model 1) or not correlated at all (Model 2). Our models do not contribute to understanding the determinants of profitability but rather the difficulties to identify smooth profitability patterns at times of crisis and austerity. The research is still in progress as we strive to improve the explanatory power of the models, by expanding the number of variables and using additional statistical methods.

Real-time quantitative-PCR has been a priceless tool for gene expression analyses. The reaction, however, needs proper normalization with the use of housekeeping genes (HKGs), whose expression remains stable throughout the experimental conditions. Often, the combination of several genes is required for accurate normalization. Most importantly, there are no universal HKGs which can be used since their expression varies among different organisms, tissues or experimental conditions. In the present study, nine common HKGs (RPL19, tbp, ubx, GAPDH, α-TUB, β-TUB, 14-3-3zeta, RPE and actin3) are evaluated in thirteen different body parts, developmental stages and reproductive and olfactory tissues of two insects of agricultural importance, the medfly and the olive fly. Three software programs based on different algorithms were used (geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper) and gave different ranking of HKG stabilities. This confirms once again that the stability of common HKGs should not be taken for granted and demonstrates the caution that is needed in the choice of the appropriate HKGs. Finally, by estimating the average of a standard score of the stability values resulted by the three programs we were able to provide a useful consensus key for the choice of the best HKG combination in various tissues of the two insects.

We consider estimation and goodness–of–fit tests in GARCH models with innovations following a heavy–tailed and possibly asymmetric distribution. Although the method is fairly general and applies to GARCH models with arbitrary innovation distribution, we consider as special instances the stable Paretian, the variance gamma and the normal inverse Gaussian distribution. Exploiting the simple structure of the characteristic function of these distributions we propose minimum distance estimation based on the empirical characteristic function of properly standardized GARCH–residuals. The finite–sample results presented facilitate comparison with existing methods, while the new procedures are also applied to real data from the financial market.

The objectives of this autopsy-based audit of firearm-related fatalities were to acquire data to inform policy decisions and to assess the probability of the injured arriving alive at a hospital and receiving definitive care. Evaluated variables Demographics; co-morbidities; location and intention of the injury; toxicology; types of firearms; Abbreviated Injury Scale; Injury Severity Score (ISS); transfer means and time; and location of death. Results Of a total of 370 fatalities, 85.7% were male. The median age was 38 (9–95) years. Suicides (47%) and assaults (45.1%) were the most common underlying intentions. The most seriously injured regions were the head (44.5%), thorax (25.7%), abdomen (10.7%), and spine (5.7%). Of the 370 total subjects, 4.9% had an İSS\} < 16 and 59.5% had an İSS\} ≤ 74; both groups were classified as potentially preventable deaths. The majority (84%) died at the scene, and only 9.8% left the emergency department alive for further treatment. Multivariate analyses documented that postmortem İSS\} is an independent factor that predicts the probability of the injured reaching a hospital alive and receiving definitive care. Individuals injured in greater Athens and those most seriously injured in the face, abdomen or spine had significantly greater chances of reaching a hospital alive and receiving definitive care, whereas those injured by a shotgun and the positive toxicology group were significantly less likely to. In conclusion, this study provides data to inform policy decisions, calls for a surveillance network and establishes a baseline for estimating the probability regarding the location of firearm-related deaths.

Knowledge, research, and innovation are of crucial importance for the competitiveness of an economy and a recipe for economic development not only for developed and developing countries, but also for entities surviving a political abnormality, such as the Palestinian territories. As Palestinians are currently planning for their future viable state, the policy and decision makers should formulate relevant science, technology, and innovation policies that encourage the different national sectors to utilize the available innovation potentials and the experience and support of other countries, for developing a competitive economy. Conducting and analyzing a community innovation survey on two major Palestinian industrial sectors, namely quarrying and stone fabrication and the food and beverages sector, brought about very promising indicators and showed high innovative potentials in both sectors. Employment, export, and revenues are clearly improved in innovative enterprises. Lack of cooperation between the industrial sector and the higher education and research and development institutions is found to be a major problem that should be tackled in order to strengthen the enterprises’ ability to innovate.

Summary: A phase-I study was conducted to examine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of combination 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and ribavirin against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive individuals with CD4+ cell counts of ≤500/μl. Nineteen patients were enrolled into the study in which ddI monotherapy (200 mg p.o. b.i.d.) was administered for the first 4 weeks, followed by the coadministration of ribavirin (600 mg p.o. q.d.) and ddI (200 mg p.o. b.i.d.) for 8 or 20 additional weeks. The combination regimen was safe and well tolerated. Three patients did not complete 12 weeks of the study because of adverse events or voluntary withdrawal. The pharmacokinetic studies performed at weeks 4, 6, and 12 on specimens collected from the 15 individuals who completed 12 weeks of therapy revealed no pharmacokinetic interaction between ddI and ribavirin. A significant decline from baseline in HIV-1 titer as measured by quantitative HIV-1 culture was detected both during the ddI-monotherapy phase (week 4, p < 0.001) and during the combination-therapy ddI + ribavirin phase (week 12, p < 0.001); the median drop observed was 0.90 log10 at week 4 and 0.92 log10 at week 12. While the addition of ribavirin did not result in further reductions in viremia in the following weeks on study treatment, 13 (81%) of the 16 patients had at least a -0.5 log10 change in viral titer at week 12. The median decline in plasma viral RNA was 0.68 log10 at week 4 (p < 0.001) and 0.67 log10 at week 12 (p = 0.005). CD4+ cell counts increased above baseline significantly during the ddI-monotherapy phase of the study (p = 0.0038). The median increase was +26 cells/mm3 at week 4 and +11 cells/mm3 at week 12; for patients who remained on treatment through 24 weeks, the median CD4+ cell count increase was +10 cells/mm3. The L74V ddI resistance-conferring HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase mutation emerged in 53% of the patients. Patients with non-syncytiuminducing HIV variants demonstrated greater responses to treatment with larger decreases in virus load and greater increases in CD4+ cell count. Our results reveal that the combination of ddI and ribavirin in HIV-positive patients is safe, well tolerated, without adverse pharmacologic interaction, and associated with significant and sustained declines in virus load over 12 weeks of therapy.

Ro 24-7429, a Tat antagonist, dosed at 75, 150, or 300 mg/day, was compared with nucleoside analogue (zidovudine or didanosine) for 12 weeks in 96 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients to assess safety and activity. The primary adverse effect of Ro 24-7429 was rash, which necessitated treatment discontinuation in 6 of 71 patients. Nucleoside analogue treatment produced an average increase in CD4 cell count of 28 cells/mm3 at week 8 versus a decrease of 27 cells/mm3 in recipients of Ro 24-7429 (P < .001). Serum HIV p24 antigen levels decreased by an average of 111 pg/mL in nucleoside recipients at week 8 compared with an increase of 41 pg/mL in recipients of Ro 24-7429 (P = .007). Nucleoside-treated patients had a mean 0.66 log10 reduction in infectious peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while Ro 24-7429 recipients had a mean 0.02 log10 reduction (P = .02). No dose-response relationships were observed in the Ro 24-7429 groups. In this study, Ro 24-7429 treatment showed no evidence of antiviral activity.

AIDS patients with newly diagnosed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis who had just completed a 14-day course of ganciclovir induction therapy were randomly assigned to an alternating or concurrent combination regimen of chronic ganciclovir-foscarnet therapy for CMV retinitis. Each regimen used lower weekly cumulative doses of each drug than standard monotherapy maintenance treatment regimens. Dose-limiting toxicity attributable to foscarnet occurred in only 2 (7%) of29 evaluatable patients, and no patients experienced dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. Although absolute neutrophil counts <500 cells/µL occurred in 11 (38%) of 29 patients, all who subsequently used adjunctive granulocyte colony-stimulating factor had severe neutropenia prevented. Severe toxicity of any type and neutropenia, in particular, occurred significantly more frequently in patients assigned to the concurrent treatment regimen. CMV was isolated from none of 21 patients who had urine cultured and from only 1 of 24 who had blood cultured while being treated during the study (median evaluation, 12 weeks). This suggests that combination therapy provides better in vivo antiviral activity in suppressing CMV replication than previously reported with monotherapy regimens.

The estimation of the treatment effect in the two-sample problem with right censoring is of interest in survival analysis. In this article we consider both the location shift model and the scale change model. We establish the large-sample properties of a generalized Hodges-Lehmann type estimator. The strong consistency is established under the minimal possible conditions. The asymptotic normality is also obtained without imposing any conditions on the censoring mechanisms. As a by-product, we also establish a result for the oscillation behavior of the Kaplan-Meier process, which extends the Bahadur result for the empirical process to the censored case.

A generalized Hodges-Lehmann type estimator for the treatment effect in the two-sample problem with right censoring, is proposed based on an inverse-quantile-type idea using truncated versions of the Kaplan-Meier estimators over the subspace where they are consistent. Its strong consistency and asymptotic normality can be obtained, under no conditions on the uninformative censorings, and the resulting variance is easily estimable from the data. In simulation studies the proposed estimator is superior to existing procedures in the presence of heavy unequal censoring.

▪ Objective: To evaluate the safety and immunologic and antiviral effects of combination therapy with zidovudine and dideoxycytidine (ddC) in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection. ▪ Design: A phase I/II open-label, dose-ranging study. ▪ Setting: Two AIDS Clinical Trials Group units. ▪ Patients: Patients (56) with advanced HIV disease. ▪ Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to one of three paired regimens of zidovudine and ddC. We evaluated six dosing regimens, each involving oral administration of the study drugs at 8-hour intervals. ▪ Measurements: Pharmacokinetics, toxicity, CD4 counts, p24 antigenemia and clinical end points. ▪ Main Results: The median follow-up period was 40.6 weeks (range, 0.3 to 70 weeks). Neither drug affected the pharmacokinetic profile of the other. Episodes of serious hematologic toxicity were infrequent, occurring in only 17.9% of patients, and did not differ among the regimens (P = 0.15). Severe sensory peripheral neuropathy occurred in two patients (one patient each in regimens 1 and 4). One patient receiving regimen 4 died. The mean maximal increase in CD4 counts exceeded 109 cells/mm3, and 69% of patients receiving combinations containing 300 or 600 mg of zidovudine daily had an increase in CD4 counts of 50 cells/mm3 or greater. Regimens containing 600 mg of zidovudine daily (regimens 2 and 5) were also more likely to result in persistent increases in CD4 counts above pretreatment values than were the two lowest dose regimens (P = 0.003). The decline in CD4 counts was more rapid, and the suppression of the p24 antigenemia was less rapid and less sustained in patients receiving the lowest zidovudine dose alone (regimen 6). The addition of ddC to regimen 6 (regimen 3) resulted in a slower decline in the CD4 counts (P = 0.06). ▪ Conclusions: Combination therapy with zidovudine and ddC at the doses tested was well tolerated and did not result in toxicity. A daily oral dose of 150 mg of zidovudine appeared to produce a suboptimal effect on p24 antigenemia and CD4 counts. Combination therapy with ddC and higher doses of zidovudine produced greater and more persistent effects in patients with advanced HIV infection compared with other study regimens and with the results of previous trials of zidovudine monotherapy.