Expression and Localization of Glycosaminoglycans/Proteoglycan in Pterygium: An Immunohistochemical Study

Pterygium is a triangle-shaped fibrovascular hyperplasia of the bulbar conjunctiva on the cornea. The purpose of this study was to analyze Proteoglycans (PGs) by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in pterygium tissues and to compare the results with normal conjunctiva. Twenty-four patients (14 males) undergoing primary pterygium excision and 17 healthy individuals (10 males), undergoing extracapsular cataract surgery, were included. Pterygium tissues and normal conjunctiva tissues were surgically removed. The tissue sections were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde and incubated with monoclonal antibodies against PGs anti-mouse IgG. Immunohistochemical study showed stronger expression of keratan sulfate in the stroma of the pterygium compared to normal conjunctiva. An increased expression of heparan sulfate was observed in the epithelial layer and around the pterygium vessels. On the other hand, dermatan sulfate showed an increased expression and localization not only in the sub-epithelial area of the pterygium and normal conjunctiva, yet throughout the stroma of the pterygium. The differences in the expression and localization of the studied extracellular matrix proteoglycans in the pterygium tissue compared to normal conjunctiva may explain the tissue hyperplasia, structure, and the functional properties in pterygium

Bank competition, institutional strength and financial reforms in Central and Eastern Europe and the EU

Abstract Following their EU15 counterparts, the banking systems of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries underwent extensive reform since the 1990s. In this paper we estimate the degree of bank market power during the periods of financial reform in each European country, and subsequently we analyze the political and institutional sources of bank competition distinguishing between the EU15 and CEE subgroups. A linear pattern in the relationship between bank competition and institutional strength is demonstrated for the EU15 group of countries, while for the CEEs this pattern is non-linear. Therefore, we suggest that relatively underdeveloped banking systems, in less advanced politico-institutional milieus, overall fail to benefit from reforms in their early stages. As a policy implication the results imply that a certain level of institutional maturity, combined with openness to foreign investors, is a precondition for reforms aiming at enhancing competition and efficiency of banking markets

Labour productivity and profitability in the Dutch flower trade

This paper makes an attempt to illustrate the use of econometric models as frame of reference for diagnosing small firm performance. For this purpose, two models are developed explaining differences in labour productivity and profitability among Dutch flower exporters. In addition, we show how these models can be used for inter-firm performance comparisons

Firm-size distribution and price-cost margins in Dutch manufacturing

Industrial economists surmise a relation between the size distribution of firms and performance. Usually, attention is focused on the high end of the size distribution. The widely used 4-firm seller concentration, C4, ignores what happens at the low end of the size distribution. An investigation is presented of the extent to which the level and the growth of small business presence influence price-cost margins in Dutch manufacturing. A large data set of 66 industries for a 13-year period is used. This allows the investigation of both small business influences within a framework in which that of many other market structure variables is also studied. Evidence is shown that price-cost margins are influenced by large firm dominance, growth in small business presence, capital intensity, business cycle, international trade, and buyer concentration

Bank competition, institutional strength and financial reforms in Central and Eastern Europe and the EU

Abstract Following their EU15 counterparts, the banking systems of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries underwent extensive reform since the 1990s. In this paper we estimate the degree of bank market power during the periods of financial reform in each European country, and subsequently we analyze the political and institutional sources of bank competition distinguishing between the EU15 and CEE subgroups. A linear pattern in the relationship between bank competition and institutional strength is demonstrated for the EU15 group of countries, while for the CEEs this pattern is non-linear. Therefore, we suggest that relatively underdeveloped banking systems, in less advanced politico-institutional milieus, overall fail to benefit from reforms in their early stages. As a policy implication the results imply that a certain level of institutional maturity, combined with openness to foreign investors, is a precondition for reforms aiming at enhancing competition and efficiency of banking markets.Bank competition; Financial reforms; Institutional development; European Union; Central and Eastern European countries