Commodity house prices

This paper studies how commodity price movements have affected the local house prices in commodity-dependent economies, Australia and New Zealand. We build a geographically hierarchical empirical model and find the commodity prices influence local house prices directly and also indirectly through macroeconomic variables. The impacts of commodity price changes are analogous to “income shocks” rather than “cost shocks”. Regional heterogeneity is also observed in terms of differential dynamic responses of local house prices to energy versus non-energy commodity price movements. The results are robust to alternative approaches. Directions for future research are also discussed

Commodity house prices

This paper studies how commodity price movements have affected the local house prices in commodity-dependent economies, Australia and New Zealand. We build a geographically hierarchical empirical model and find the commodity prices influence local house prices directly and also indirectly through macroeconomic variables. The impacts of commodity price changes are analogous to “income shocks” rather than “cost shocks”. Regional heterogeneity is also observed in terms of differential dynamic responses of local house prices to energy versus non-energy commodity price movements. The results are robust to alternative approaches. Directions for future research are also discussed

Pequenas e médias empresas e disclosure obrigatório : efeitos da adoção do IFRS, auditoria e endividamento

Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar os efeitos da adoção do IFRS, da auditoria externa e do endividamento no nível do disclosure contábil das pequenas e médias empresas. Para tanto foram analisadas PMEs que publicaram suas demonstrações contábeis em Diário Oficial do Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso e São Paulo no período de 2012 a 2015. Para avaliar o nível do disclosure contábil obrigatório foram analisadas a quantidade de notas explicativas divulgadas pelas PMEs, a quantidade de demonstrações contábeis publicadas e a quantidade de contas em seus balanços patrimoniais. Por esse motivo este trabalho utilizou o método de Regressão Linear para Dados de Contagem. Os resultados encontrados indicam que PMEs que informaram em notas explicativas seguir como o padrão contábil o CPC (Completo ou para PMEs), que contrataram serviços de auditoria externa, especialmente de firmas Big Four e que apresentaram endividamento elevado, possuem uma tendência a publicar um maior número de notas explicativas. Além disso, PMEs que declararam seguir o CPC para PMEs e foram auditadas por Big Four indicaram tendência a reduzir o número de contas em seus balanços patrimoniais, o que não significa que o nível de disclosure contábil nessas empresas esteja comprometido, uma vez que essas PMEs também tendem a divulgar mais notas explicativas, sendo, portanto, mais transparentes dessa forma, reduzindo o número de contas patrimoniais e ampliando as informações nelas contidas.This study aims to verify the effects of the IFRS adoption, external auditing and leverage on the accounting disclosure level of small and medium-sized enterprises. In order to evaluate the level of the mandatory accounting disclosure, this study analyzes the quantity of information disclosed by SMEs on their financial statements reported in “Diário Oficial” of five Brazilian states: Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso and São Paulo. To evaluate the level of mandatory accounting disclosure, this study considers the number of notes, the number of published financial statements and the number of accounts in their balance sheets. For this reason, this research uses the Regression method with Count Data. The results indicate that SMEs that reported in their notes that they apply as accounting standard the IFRS (Full or for SMEs), that contracted external audit services, especially of Big Four firms and that had high leverage, have a tendency to disclose a larger number of notes. In addition, SMEs that have stated that they are applying the IFRS for SMEs and were audited by Big Four have indicated a tendency to reduce the number of accounts in their balance sheets, which does not mean that the level of accounting disclosure in these companies is compromised, they also tend to disclose more notes and are therefore more transparent in this way, reducing the number of equity accounts and expanding the information contained therein.CAPE

Major adverse cardiovascular events of enzalutamide versus abiraterone in prostate cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background While the cardiovascular risks of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors have been studied, they were seldom compared directly. This study compares the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) between enzalutamide and abiraterone among prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Methods Adult PCa patients receiving either enzalutamide or abiraterone in addition to androgen deprivation therapy in Hong Kong between 1 December 1999 and 31 March 2021 were identified in this retrospective cohort study. Patients who switched between enzalutamide and abiraterone, initiated abiraterone used without steroids, or experienced prior cardiac events were excluded. Patients were followed-up until 30 September 2021. The primary outcomes were MACE, a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), Heart failure (HF), or all-cause mortality and a composite of adverse cardiovascular events (CACE) not including all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were individual components of MACE. Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to balance covariates between treatment groups. Results In total, 1015 patients were analyzed (456 enzalutamide users and 559 abiraterone users; mean age 70.6 ± 8.8 years old) over a median follow-up duration of 11.3 (IQR: 5.3–21.3) months. Enzalutamide users had significantly lower risks of 4P-MACE (weighted hazard ratio (wHR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59–0.86], p < 0.001) and CACE (wHR 0.63 [95% CI: 0.42–0.96], p = 0.031), which remained consistent in multivariable analysis. Such an association may be stronger in patients aged ≥65 years or without diabetes mellitus and was independent of bilateral orchidectomy. Enzalutamide users also had significantly lower risks of MI (wHR 0.57 [95% CI: 0.33–0.97], p = 0.040) and all-cause mortality (wHR 0.71 [95% CI: 0.59–0.85], p < 0.001). Conclusion Enzalutamide was associated with lower cardiovascular risks than abiraterone in PCa patients

Antitumor agents 294. Novel E-ring-modified camptothecin–4β-anilino-4′-O-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin conjugates as DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors and cytotoxic agents

Two conjugates (1 and 2) of camptothecin (CPT) and 4β-anilino-4′-O-demethylepipodophyllotoxin were previously shown to exert antitumor activity through inhibition of topoisomerase I (topo I). In this current study, two novel conjugates (1E and 2E) with an open E-ring in the CPT moiety were first synthesized and evaluated for biological activity in comparison with their intact E-ring congeners. This novel class of CPT derivatives exhibits its antitumor effect against CPT-sensitive and -resistant cells, in part, by inhibiting topo I-linked DNA (TLD) religation. An intact E-ring was not essential for the inhibition of TLD religation, although conjugates with an open E-ring were less potent than the closed ring analogs. This lower religation potency resulted in decreased formation of protein-linked DNA breaks (PLDBs), and hence, less cell growth inhibition. In addition to their impact on topo I, conjugates 1E, 2, and 2E exhibited a minor inhibitory effect on topo II-induced DNA cleavage. The novel structures of 1E and 2E may present scaffolds for further development of dual function topo I and II inhibitors with improved pharmacological profiles and physicochemical properties

Association between serum uric acid and prostate cancer mortality in androgen deprivation therapy: A population‐based cohort study

Objective: This population‐based study examined the association between baseline uric acid (UA) and prostate cancer (PCa)‐related mortality amongst PCa patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Methods: Adults with PCa who received ADT in Hong Kong between December 1999 and March 2021 were identified. Patients with missing baseline UA were excluded. Patients were followed up until September 2021. The outcome was PCa‐related mortality. Results: Altogether, 4126 patients (median follow‐up 3.1[interquartile range 1.4–6.0] years) were included. A J‐shaped association was observed between baseline UA level and PCa‐related mortality risk, with a direct association in those with mean(0.401 mmol/L) or above‐mean baseline UA levels (hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation‐increase 1.35 [95% confidence interval 1.21,1.51], p < 0.001), and an inverse association in those with below‐mean baseline UA levels (HR 0.78[0.67,0.92], p = 0.003). The former remained significant on competing risk regression, but not the latter. Conclusions: A J‐shaped relationship between baseline UA level and PCa‐related mortality risk was identified. This study was mainly limited by potential unmeasured and residual confounders. Further validation studies are warranted

Major adverse cardiovascular events of enzalutamide versus abiraterone in prostate cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

While the cardiovascular risks of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors have been studied, they were seldom compared directly. This study compares the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) between enzalutamide and abiraterone among prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Adult PCa patients receiving either enzalutamide or abiraterone in addition to androgen deprivation therapy in Hong Kong between 1 December 1999 and 31 March 2021 were identified in this retrospective cohort study. Patients who switched between enzalutamide and abiraterone, initiated abiraterone used without steroids, or experienced prior cardiac events were excluded. Patients were followed-up until 30 September 2021. The primary outcomes were MACE, a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), Heart failure (HF), or all-cause mortality and a composite of adverse cardiovascular events (CACE) not including all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were individual components of MACE. Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to balance covariates between treatment groups. In total, 1015 patients were analyzed (456 enzalutamide users and 559 abiraterone users; mean age 70.6 ± 8.8 years old) over a median follow-up duration of 11.3 (IQR: 5.3-21.3) months. Enzalutamide users had significantly lower risks of 4P-MACE (weighted hazard ratio (wHR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-0.86], p < 0.001) and CACE (wHR 0.63 [95% CI: 0.42-0.96], p = 0.031), which remained consistent in multivariable analysis. Such an association may be stronger in patients aged ≥65 years or without diabetes mellitus and was independent of bilateral orchidectomy. Enzalutamide users also had significantly lower risks of MI (wHR 0.57 [95% CI: 0.33-0.97], p = 0.040) and all-cause mortality (wHR 0.71 [95% CI: 0.59-0.85], p < 0.001). Enzalutamide was associated with lower cardiovascular risks than abiraterone in PCa patients. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Hsa-miRNA-765 as a key mediator for inhibiting growth, migration and invasion in fulvestrant-treated prostate cancer

Fulvestrant (ICI-182,780) has recently been shown to effectively suppress prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. But it is unclear whether microRNAs play a role in regulating oncogene expression in fulvestrant-treated prostate cancer. Here, this study reports hsa-miR-765 as the first fulvestrant-driven, ERβ-regulated miRNA exhibiting significant tumor suppressor activities like fulvestrant, against prostate cancer cell growth via blockage of cell-cycle progression at the G2/M transition, and cell migration and invasion possibly via reduction of filopodia/intense stress-fiber formation. Fulvestrant was shown to upregulate hsa-miR-765 expression through recruitment of ERβ to the 5′-regulatory-region of hsa-miR-765. HMGA1, an oncogenic protein in prostate cancer, was identified as a downstream target of hsa-miR-765 and fulvestrant in cell-based experiments and a clinical study. Both the antiestrogen and the hsa-miR-765 mimic suppressed HMGA1 protein expression. In a neo-adjuvant study, levels of hsa-miR-765 were increased and HMGA1 expression was almost completely lost in prostate cancer specimens from patients treated with a single dose (250 mg) of fulvestrant 28 days before prostatectomy. These findings reveal a novel fulvestrant signaling cascade involving ERβ-mediated transcriptional upregulation of hsa-miR-765 that suppresses HMGA1 protein expression as part of the mechanism underlying the tumor suppressor action of fulvestrant in prostate cancer. © 2014 Leung et al

工時有幾長？貧窮新一代的就業與貧窮報告

近年，社會出現有關年輕人「躺平」的討論，指年輕新一代不願找工作、不願勤奮加班、不規構未來。教育局局長楊潤雄亦曾在網誌撰文表示憂慮，批評「躺平這種消極的人生心態，長遠會窒礙社會的進步」。 不過，根據香港政府統計處2021年收入及工時按年統計調查報告， 2021年5月至6月，15至24歲及25至34歲受訪者每周的工作時數中位數分別為44.3及42小時，比亞洲其他國家要高；而2022年4至6月，20至24歲及25至29歲的勞動人口參與率分別為53.5%及87%，後者更是所有年齡組別中第二高（僅次於30至34歲年齡組別），反映年輕人並沒有不願意長時間工作和就業，與成年人無異。 另外，根據中大亞太研究所於本年四月進行的一項調查，超過半數受訪者認為香港社會並沒有足夠機會與年輕一代向上流動，更有六成半受訪者認為，現時香港向上流動的機會比過去10年要少。 在是次研究中，發現有不少手持大學文憑的畢業生甫踏入社會，便從事三行、保安、飲食業等藍領工種，以體力勞動換取更高薪酬。文職的工作機會雖不算難找，但對於畢業生來說，待遇多不及前者；初入職場的年輕人便要忍受長工時以換取較可觀的薪金，更因長期體力勞動及工作環境惡劣，導致工傷或患上職業病，造成不可逆轉的傷害；選擇白領工作的年輕人則花空餘時間研究創業路向，望有天可擺脫低工資、長OT的工作常態。 年輕人是社會重要的群體，促進社會不同面向的發展和進步。勞工議題，正正就是影響年輕人最深遠的問題。不過，社會一般會把青年遇到的問題視為過渡性現象，隨著他們成長而消失。坊間少有深入討論，以致一般年輕人以為工作的沉重是理所當然，對自身的勞工權益鮮有認識。 上述所提及的年輕人工時長的狀況，窒礙他們在成長階段的探索，因長工時影響反心健康、無法進修、交結朋友、和家人相處及了解自我。工時長等問題在港是老生常談，卻是待解決的重要議題。香港人多年來一直受長工時的困擾，回顧香港的工時政策，卻未見突破。由勞顧會於2018年宣布推出「11個行業工時指引」，距今已4年，仍未見進展。更何況，指引的條文亦不適用於大部份長工時的打工仔女，例如只保障月薪不超過1.1萬元作為界定工資較低的基層僱員的工資線等規定。可見，像過往一樣，政府及商界等對標準工時並不持開放態度。 誠然，參考不同地區及國家的工時政策，香港則顯得相當落後。中國、日本、台灣、韓國及新加坡均有明確法例規管工時，如超時工作的補水機制、每天工作8小時作為標準工時等。如香港政策要推行工時相關的政策，大有參考例子。本報告亦整合及分析了上述地區的工時政策，有助了解其他地區的勞工法例。 是次研究探討了現行的工時政策下香港年輕僱員的工作現況。透過深入訪談及問卷調查，發現長工時與生理、心理、社交及家庭關係的影響，以及就研究結果提倡相應的政策改革，讓社會大眾及年輕人自身了解他們的勞動現況，剖析處境並提出有效的改善方針。https://commons.ln.edu.hk/ccrd_report/1002/thumbnail.jp