Central bank intervention and exchange rate volatility, its continuous and jump components

We analyze the relationship between interventions and volatility at daily and intra-daily frequencies for the two major exchange rate markets. Using recent econometric methods to estimate realized volatility, we employ bipower variation to decompose this volatility into a continuously varying and jump component. Analysis of the timing and direction of jumps and interventions imply that coordinated interventions tend to cause few, but large jumps. Most coordinated operations explain, statistically, an increase in the persistent (continuous) part of exchange rate volatility. This correlation is even stronger on days with jumps.

Staging of regional nodes in AJCC stage I and II melanoma: 18FDG PET imaging versus sentinel node detection.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The staging of regional nodes by means of sentinel node detection has been shown to accurately detect subclinical nodal metastases from cutaneous melanoma. On the other hand, the oncological applications of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18FDG PET) are, nowadays, firmly established. However, the sensitivity of such metabolic imaging for staging the regional nodes in primary melanoma remains debatable. We prospectively assessed the actual value of PET for detecting sentinel node metastases in 21 consecutive patients presenting with early-stage melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one melanoma patients scheduled for lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy underwent fully corrected whole-body PET using 18FDG. In all cases, the disease was initially classified as either stage I or II, from the latest version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. The sentinel node detection was systematically performed within the week following the PET scan. Serial sections of the sentinel nodes were analyzed by both conventional pathology and immunohistochemical staining. Metastatic sentinel nodes were also assessed for the size of tumor deposits and the degree of nodal involvement (focal, partial, or massive). The median follow-up time was 12 months. RESULTS: Six of the 21 patients (28.5%) had an involved sentinel node. PET was positive in only one case with a sentinel node >1 cm. In the five other cases, the sentinel nodes missed by PET were <1 cm with focal and/or partial involvements. One patient, free of regional nodal metastases in both sentinel node detection and PET imaging, had, however, a same-basin recurrence 3 months later. In another case, PET had one false positive result. Overall, the sentinel detection of subclinical nodal metastases had a sensitivity of 86%. PET detected only 14% of sentinel node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node detection remains the procedure of choice for detecting subclinical lymph node involvement from primary cutaneous melanoma. Owing to its limited spatial resolution, PET appears insufficiently sensitive to identify microscopic nodal metastases. As a practical consequence, metabolic imaging is not recommended as a first-line imaging strategy for staging regional lymph nodes in patients with stage I or II melanoma

Identifying domains of quality of life in children with cancer undergoing palliative care : a qualitative study with professionals

Objective: The goal of pediatric palliative care (PPC) is to maintain the quality of life (QoL) of children whose lives are threatened. However, there are sparse scientific data on the domains of QoL in this particular context, and no measurement strategies are available. The present study aims to describe the domains of QoL in the context of PPC in oncology, according to the perceptions of professional caregivers. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with a random sample of 20 professional caregivers from the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine (Montréal, Canada). The caregivers were asked about their perceptions about the QoL of the children they have cared for in this context. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic content analysis. Results: The analysis allowed us to identify seven domains of QoL: “physical comfort,” “alleviation of psychological suffering,” “fun and the present moment,” “sense of control,” “feeling valued and appreciated,” “feeling that life goes on,” and “meaningful social relationships.” Significance of Results: Caregivers recount the regard that should be accorded to maintaining well-being and a sense of fun, as well as fostering the child's abilities, taking account of the progression of the disease, and to fulfilling his or her needs, especially social ones. Our results also demonstrate that all domains were positively referred to by professional caregivers. The data from our study will lead to better assessment of QoL according to the trajectory of a child with advanced cancer while undergoing PPC

Creysse – Combe Brune 2

Identifiant de l'opération archéologique : 024881 Date de l'opération : 2007 (EX) Le gisement du Paléolithique de Combe Brune 2, sur le tracé de la déviation nord de Bergerac, a été fouillé entre octobre 2006 et février 2007 par une équipe de l’INRAP. Sept ensembles lithiques principaux, stratifiés au sein de dépressions successives de type pseudo-karstique, ont été distingués et datés par thermoluminescence de la fin de l’avant dernier Interglaciaire entre 185 ka et 195 ka. La séquence chron..

Degraded Carrageenan Causing Colitis in Rats Induces TNF Secretion and ICAM-1 Upregulation in Monocytes through NF-κB Activation

Carrageenan (CGN) is a high molecular weight sulphated polysaccharide derived from red seaweeds. In rodents, its degraded forms (dCGN) can induce intestinal inflammation associated with macrophage recruitment and activation. The aim of this study was: 1) to analyze the size-dependent effects of dCGN on colon inflammation in vivo, and 2) to correlate these effects with monocyte/macrophage proliferation, cytokine production and expression of various cell surface antigens including ICAM-1 adhesion molecule. Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) and THP-1 monocytic cells were cultured in the presence of either 10 or 40 kDa, dCGN. The 40 kDa, but not the 10 kDa dCGN, induced colitis in in vivo. Degraded CGN inhibited THP-1 cell proliferation in vitro, arresting the cells in G1 phase. In addition, dCGN increased ICAM-1 expression in both PBM and THP-1 cells with a major effect seen after 40 kDa dCGN exposure. Also, dCGN stimulated monocyte aggregation in vitro that was prevented by incubation with anti-ICAM-1 antibody. Finally, dCGN stimulated TNF-α expression and secretion by both PBM and THP-1 cells. All these effects were linked to NF-κB activation. These data strongly suggest that the degraded forms of CGN have a pronounced effect on monocytes, characteristic of an inflammatory phenotype

Plasma PCSK9 levels are significantly modified by statins and fibrates in humans

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin-like 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted glycoprotein that is transcriptionally regulated by cholesterol status. It modulates levels of circulating low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) by negatively regulating low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) levels. PCSK9 variants that result in 'gain of function' have been linked to autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia, while significant protection from coronary artery disease has been documented in individuals who carry 'loss of function' PCSK9 variants. PCSK9 circulates in human plasma, and we previously reported that plasma PCSK9 is positively correlated with total cholesterol and LDLC in men.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Herein, we report the effects of two lipid-modulating therapies, namely statins and fibrates, on PCSK9 plasma levels in human subjects. We also document their effects on endogenous PCSK9 and LDLR expression in a human hepatocyte cell line, HepG2, using immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses. Changes in plasma PCSK9 following fenofibrate or gemfibrozil treatments (fibric acid derivatives) were inversely correlated with changes in LDLC levels (r = -0.558, p = 0.013). Atorvastatin administration (HMGCoA reductase inhibitor) significantly increased plasma PCSK9 (7.40%, p = 0.033) and these changes were inversely correlated with changes in LDLC levels (r = -0.393, p = 0.012). Immunoblot analyses of endogenous PCSK9 and LDLR expression by HepG2 cells in response to statins and fibrates showed that LDLR is more upregulated than PCSK9 by simvastatin (2.6× vs 1.5×, respectively at 10 μM), while fenofibrate did not induce changes in either.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that <it>in vivo </it>(1) statins directly increase PCSK9 expression while (2) fibrates affect PCSK9 expression indirectly through its modulation of cholesterol levels and (3) that these therapies could be improved by combination with a PCSK9 inhibitor, constituting a novel hypercholesterolemic therapy, since PCSK9 was significantly upregulated by both treatments.</p

L'Exposition municipale de Beaux-Arts. I

Exposition municipale des beaux-arts. Critique mitigée de "Guerrier furieux". Hodler a des qualités remarquables mais il manque de pondération. Talent inégal