Paying for Altruism: The Case of Organ Donation Revisited

Although many commentators have called for increased efforts to incentivize organ donations, theorists and some evidence suggest these efforts will be ineffective or even could perversely crowd out altruistic efforts. Prior papers examining the impact of tax incentives for donations generally report zero or negative coefficients. We argue these studies incorrectly define their tax variables, and rely on difference-in-differences methods despite likely failures of the requisite parallel trends assumption. We therefore aim to identify the causal effect of tax incentive legislation to serve as an organ donor on living related and unrelated kidney donation rates in the U.S states using more precise tax data and allowing for heterogeneous and time-variant causal effects. Employing a synthetic control method, we find that the passage of tax incentive legislation increased living unrelated kidney donation rates by about 52 percent in New York relative to a comparable synthetic New York in the absence of legislation. We show that this causal effect is robust to the exclusion of any particular state as well as to the use of a very small number of comparison states

Coxiella burnetii Phagocytosis Is Regulated by GTPases of the Rho Family and the RhoA Effectors mDia1 and ROCK

The GTPases belonging to the Rho family control the actin cytoskeleton rearrangements needed for particle internalization during phagocytosis. ROCK and mDia1 are downstream effectors of RhoA, a GTPase involved in that process. Coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of Q fever, is internalized by the host´s cells in an actin-dependent manner. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism involved in this process has been poorly characterized. This work analyzes the role of different GTPases of the Rho family and some downstream effectors in the internalization of C. burnetii by phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. The internalization of C. burnetii into HeLa and RAW cells was significantly inhibited when the cells were treated with Clostridium difficile Toxin B which irreversibly inactivates members of the Rho family. In addition, the internalization was reduced in HeLa cells that overexpressed the dominant negative mutants of RhoA, Rac1 or Cdc42 or that were knocked down for the Rho GTPases. The pharmacological inhibition or the knocking down of ROCK diminished bacterium internalization. Moreover, C. burnetii was less efficiently internalized in HeLa cells overexpressing mDia1-N1, a dominant negative mutant of mDia1, while the overexpression of the constitutively active mutant mDia1-ΔN3 increased bacteria uptake. Interestingly, when HeLa and RAW cells were infected, RhoA, Rac1 and mDia1 were recruited to membrane cell fractions. Our results suggest that the GTPases of the Rho family play an important role in C. burnetii phagocytosis in both HeLa and RAW cells. Additionally, we present evidence that ROCK and mDia1, which are downstream effectors of RhoA, are involved in that processFil: Salinas Ojeda, Romina Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz Flores, Rodolfo Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Distel, Jesús Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Aguilera, Milton Osmar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Colombo, Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Beron, Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; Argentin

The role of autophagy in the cross-talk between epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned tumor cells and cancer stem-like cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem-like cells (CSC) are becoming highly relevant targets in anticancer drug discovery. A large body of evidence suggests that epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned tumor cells (EMT tumor cells) and CSCs have similar functions. There is also an overlap regarding the stimuli that can induce the generation of EMT tumor cells and CSCs. Moreover, direct evidence has been brought that EMT can give rise to CSCs. It is unclear however, whether EMT tumor cells should be considered CSCs or if they have to undergo further changes. In this article we summarize available evidence suggesting that, indeed, additional programs must be engaged and we propose that macroautophagy (hereafter, autophagy) represents a key trait distinguishing CSCs from EMT tumor cells. Thus, CSCs have often been reported to be in an autophagic state and blockade of autophagy inhibits CSCs. On the other hand, there is ample evidence showing that EMT and autophagy are distinct events. CSCs, however, represent, by themselves, a heterogeneous population. Thus, CSCs have been distinguished in predominantly noncycling and cycling CSCs, the latter representing CSCs that self-renew and replenish the pool of differentiated tumor cells. We now suggest that the non-cycling CSC subpopulation is in an autophagic state. We propose also two models to explain the relationship between EMT tumor cells and these two major CSC subpopulations: a branching model in which EMT tumor cells can give rise to cycling or non-cycling CSCs, respectively, and a hierarchical model in which EMT tumor cells are first induced to become autophagic CSCs and, subsequently, cycling CSCs. Finally, we address the therapeutic consequences of these insights

Platelet-rich plasma for regeneration of neural feedback pathways around dental implants: a concise review and outlook on future possibilities

published_or_final_versio

Hyperthyroidism related to McCune-Albright syndrome: report of two cases and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: McCune-Albright syndrome is a sporadic disease clinicaly characterized by polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, café-au-lait cutaneous spots and hyperfunctional endocrinopathies, such as precocious puberty, hyperthyroidism, acromegaly and others. The biologic physiopathology of the disease is based on an activating mutation of the gene for the Gs protein which mediates the activation of adenyl cyclase and subsequent gland autonomous secretion. The thyroid gland is usually involved in this disease, being hyperthyroidism the second most common endocrinopathy seen after precocious puberty. OBJECTIVE: Revision of the literature since 1937 to 1997, adding our casuistic and discussing the adequate treatment for the hyperthyroidism in the syndrome. RESULTS: Among 85 cases identified with the syndrome, hyperthyroidism treatment was described in 26 of them. Fifteen were submitted to surgery (total thyroidectomy), 6 were submitted to iodotherapy and 5 were treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD - propylthiouracil, carbimazole or methimazole). In some cases, treatment association was done. CONCLUSION: McCune-Albright syndrome is a rare disease, combining polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, café-au-lait cutaneous spots and hyperfunctional endocrinopathies. Cases with hyperthyroidism are treated iniatially clinically, but definitive ablation with surgery or radioiodine treatment is the most indicated option.INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome de McCune Albright é uma doença rara, clinicamente definida pela combinação de displasia fibrosa poliostótica, manchas café-com-leite e endocrinopatias com hiperfunção, como puberdade precoce, hipertireoidismo, acromegalia e outras. A fisiopatologia biomolecular baseia-se em uma mutação ativadora do gene para a subunidade alfa da proteína de membrana Gs, que estimula a produção intracelular de AMPc, conferindo secreção autônoma à glândula em particular. A glândula tireóide é freqüentemente envolvida nesta doença, sendo o hipertireoidismo a segunda endocrinopatia mais comum após a puberdade precoce. OBJETIVO: Realizar uma revisão da literatura no período de 1937 a 1997, incluindo nossa casuística, e discutir o tratamento utilizado para o hipertireoidismo nesta síndrome. RESULTADOS: Do total de 85 casos, em 26 com hipertireoidismo se descreve o tipo de tratamento utilizado. Entre esses, 15 foram submetidos à cirurgia (tireoidectomia total), seis foram submetidos à iodoterapia e cinco foram submetidos a tratamento com drogas antitireoidianas (DAT - propiltiuracil, carbimazol ou metimazol), pois em alguns houve associação dos tratamentos citados anteriormente. CONCLUSÃO: A síndrome de McCune-Albright é uma doença rara, que inclui displasia fibrosa poliostótica, manchas café-com-leite e endocrinopatias com hiperfunção. Os casos acompanhados com hipertireoidismo são inicialmente tratados clinicamente com DAT, porém a ablação cirúrgica ou com radioiodoterapia é a opção definitiva mais indicada.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e PescoçoUNIFESP, Depto. de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e PescoçoSciEL

Improvement in Field CBR Values of Subgrade Soil Using Construction-Demolition Materials

Many countries suffer from the stacks of construction and demolition (CD) materials as they cause environmental and health problems in society. The city of Mosul in Iraq suffers from a huge amount of demolition materials resulting from destruction of most of the infrastructure. In the present study, attempts have been made to assess the influence of three types of CD materials (dragged asphalt, DA; crushed brick, CB; and crushed concrete, CC) on the response of a low-plasticity clay (CL) for use as a road subgrade layer. An intensive series of both experimental and numerical studies on the CL with 10% CD materials was carried out using field California bearing ratio (CBR) tests performed in a large-scale model box. The results showed significant improvement in the CBR values upon the addition of CD materials to the CL soil. The CBR values increased by 12.4, 13.7, and 49.7% with the addition of DA, CB, and CC, respectively. The CBR values improved between 1.1 and 1.7 times, corresponding to an increase in the layer thickness from 50 to 100 cm. Further increases in CBR values range from 1.5 to 1.8 times attendant with increasing the thickness of layer from 50 cm to 150 cm. The addition of CC is more active and gives higher CBR values. A good match was observed between the CBR values obtained from the experimental results and the numerical analysis using the PLAXIS 2D package

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin levels in gastric cancer.

A diversity of adhesive interactions occur between the cancer cell and host extracellular matrix which potentiate neoplastic expansion and metastatic dissemination. In miscellaneous malignant diseases, tumour progression has been observed to be associated with alterations in adhesion molecule expression. Recently, circulating soluble intercellular adhesion molecules have been identified. In this study, serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) were determined in patients with gastric cancer. The study group consisted of 27 patients with previously untreated gastric adenocarcinoma. Four patients had stage II, two patients stage III and 21 patients stage IV disease according to the TNM classification. Nineteen patients had distant metastasis. The sera obtained from 18 healthy volunteers served as controls. Serum sICAM-1 and sE-selectin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, we also studied other tumour-associated antigens, i.e. CEA and CA 19-9. Serum sICAM-1 levels were significantly increased in patients with gastric cancer (P < 0.0001). However, sE-selectin levels did not differ from the controls. sICAM-1 concentrations were also significantly higher in patients with distant metastasis and peritoneal spread (P = 0.0045 and P = 0.0157 respectively), whereas sE-Selectin levels were elevated only in patients with peritoneal metastasis (P = 0.033). Serum concentrations of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin correlated with CEA levels (P = 0.0013 and P = 0.003 respectively). Elevated levels of sE-selectin were associated with poorer prognosis (P = 0.0099), whereas sICAM-1 had no significant impact on survival. Our results suggest that increased sICAM-1 serum levels may reflect widespread disease and contribute directly to the progression of gastric cancer. Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms of adhesive tumour-host interactions may lead to a better understanding of the natural history of gastric cancer

The differential relationship between finger gnosis, and addition and subtraction: An fMRI study

The impact of fingers on numerical cognition has received a great deal of attention recently. One sub-set of these studies focus on the relation between finger gnosis (also called finger sense or finger gnosia), the ability to identify and individuate fingers, and mathematical development. Studies in this subdomain have reported mixed findings so far. While some studies reported that finger gnosis correlates with or predicts mathematics abilities in younger children, others failed to replicate these results. The current study explores the relationship between finger gnosis and two arithmetic operations—addition and subtraction. Twenty-four second to third graders participated in this fMRI study. Finger sense scores were negatively correlated with brain activation measured during both addition and subtraction. Three clusters, in the left fusiform, and left and right precuneus were found to negatively correlate with finger gnosis both during addition and subtraction. Activation in a cluster in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) was found to negatively correlate with finger gnosis only for addition, even though this cluster was active both during addition and subtraction. These results suggest that the arithmetic fact retrieval may be linked to finger gnosis at the neural level, both for addition and subtraction, even when behavioral correlations are not observed. However, the nature of this link may be different for addition compared to subtraction, given that left IPL activation correlated with finger gnosis only for addition. Together the results reported appear to support the hypothesis that fingers provide a scaffold for arithmetic competency for both arithmetic operations

Complexity Theory for a New Managerial Paradigm: A Research Framework

In this work, we supply a theoretical framework of how organizations can embed complexity management and sustainable development into their policies and actions. The proposed framework may lead to a new management paradigm, attempting to link the main concepts of complexity theory, change management, knowledge management, sustainable development, and cybernetics. We highlight how the processes of organizational change have occurred as a result of the move to adapt to the changes in the various global and international business environments and how this transformation has led to the shift toward the present innovation economy. We also point how organizational change needs to deal with sustainability, so that the change may be consistent with present needs, without compromising the future