STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: THE CAUSAL LINKAGE

This paper addresses the question: does stock market development cause growth? It examines the causal linkage between stock market development, financial development and economic growth. The argument is that any inference that financial liberalisation causes savings or investment or growth, or that financial intermediation causes growth, drawn from bivariate causality tests may be invalid, as invalid causality inferences can result from omitting an important variable. The empirical part of this study exploits techniques recently developed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995) to test for causality in VARs, and emphasises the possibility of omitted variable bias. The evidence obtained from a sample of seven countries suggests that a well-developed stock market can foster economic growth in the long run. It also provides support to theories according to which well-functioning stock markets can promote economic development by fuelling the engine of growth through faster capital accumulation, and by tuning it through better resource allocation.Financial Development, Economic Growth, Stock Market, Causality Testing, VARs, Incomplete Systems

Regional variation in histopathology‐specific incidence of invasive cervical cancer among Peruvian women

ObjectiveTo evaluate patterns of cervical cancer incidence in Peru by examining variation in 2 common histopathologic types, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC), and analyzing trends over time.MethodsData on the incidence of invasive cervical cancer between 1984 and 2006 were obtained from 3 population‐based cancer registries in Peru: Lima, Trujillo, and Arequipa. For each registry, data quality assessment was performed, crude and age‐specific incidence was calculated, and time trends were analyzed.ResultsOverall and SCC incidence varied across registries but incidence of ADC did not. Overall and SCC incidence showed significant declines in Trujillo (P 0.05) over time. ADC incidence showed marginally significant increases among women aged 15–29 years in Trujillo (P = 0.10) and modest increases among young women in Lima (P > 0.05).ConclusionPopulation‐based cancer registries were an efficient source of data for evaluating the incidence of cervical cancer once data quality had been established. Geographic and temporal variations in cervical cancer burden were documented in Peru. The trends suggest that cervical ADC is increasing among young women in urban Peru, particularly in Trujillo. We recommend supplementing current Papanicolaou test screening with complementary methods of cervical cancer control, including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and HPV DNA testing.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135622/1/ijgo47.pd

Model-based Predictions of the Influence of Circadian Clock Genes Knock-Outs on the Cell Cycle

The existence of links between the cell division cycle and the circadian clock has been recently discovered. In this research report, we perform a small in silico analysis of how mutations on the clock genes composing the mammalian circadian clock affect the phenotype of the cell cycle. For this purpose, we use a coupled model of the mammalian circadian clock and the mammalian cell cycle where the latter one is entrained by the former one via a common protein kinase WEE1. Our in silico experiments exploit the modeling environment BIOCHAM

Intra-thoracic fat volume is associated with myocardial infarction in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: Visceral adiposity is increased in those with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and atherosclerotic disease burden. In this study we evaluate for associations between intra-thoracic fat volume (ITFV) and myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with MetS. Methods. Ninety-four patients with MetS, MI or both were identified from a cardiovascular CMR clinical registry. MetS was defined in accordance to published guidelines; where-as MI was defined as the presence of subendocardial-based injury on late gadolinium enhancement imaging in a coronary vascular distribution. A healthy control group was also obtained from the same registry. Patients were selected into the following groups: MetS+/MI- (N = 32), MetS-/MI + (N = 30), MetS+/MI + (N = 32), MetS-/MI- (N = 16). ITFV quantification was performed using signal threshold analysis of sequential sagittal CMR datasets (HASTE) and indexed to body mass index. Results: The mean age of the population was 59.8 ± 12.5 years. MetS+ patients (N=64) demonstrated a significantly higher indexed ITFV compared to MetS- patients (p = 0.05). Patients in respective MetS-/MI-, MetS+/MI-, MetS-/MI+, and MetS+/MI + study groups demonstrated a progressive elevation in the indexed ITFV (22.3 ± 10.6, 28.6 ± 12.6, 30.6 ± 12.3, and 35.2 ± 11.4 ml/kg/m2, (p = 0.002)). Among MetS+ patients those with MI showed a significantly higher indexed ITFV compared to those without MI (p = 0.02). Conclusions: ITFV is elevated in patients with MetS and incrementally elevated among those with evidence of prior ischemic myocardial injury. Accordingly, the quantification of ITFV may be a valuable marker of myocardial infarction risk among patients with MetS and warrants further investigation. © 2013 Jolly et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Ultrasound and radiation-induced catalytic oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone with iron-containing particulate catalysts

Este trabalho foi financiado pelo Concurso Anual para Projetos de Investigação, Desenvolvimento, Inovação e Criação Artística (IDI&CA) 2019 do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Código de referência IPL/2019/STREAM_ISELIron-containingparticulatecatalystsof0.1–1 µmsizewerepreparedbywetandball-milling procedures from common salts and characterized by FTIR, TGA, UV-Vis, PXRD, FEG-SEM, and XPS analyses. It was found that when the wet method was used, semi-spherical magnetic nanoparticles were formed, whereas the mechanochemical method resulted in the formation of nonmagnetic microscale needles and rectangles. Catalytic activity of the prepared materials in the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone was assessed under conventional heating, microwave (MW) irradiation, ultrasound (US), and oscillating magnetic field of high frequency (induction heating). In general, the catalysts obtained by wet methods exhibit lower activities, whereas the materials prepared by ball milling afford better acetophenone yields (up to 83%). A significant increase in yield (up to 4 times) was observed under the induction heating if compared to conventional heating. The study demonstrated that MW, US irradiations, and induction heating may have great potential as alternative ways to activate the catalytic system for alcohol oxidation. The possibility of the synthesized material to be magnetically recoverable has been also verified.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Novel Epigenetic Strategy to Concurrently Block Immune Checkpoints PD-1/PD-L1 and CD155/TIGIT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives CC BY-NC-ND licence, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Tumor microenvironment is an intricate web of stromal and immune cells creating an immune suppressive cordon around the tumor. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Tumor microenvironment is a formidable barrier towards novel immune therapeutic approaches recently evading the oncology field. In this study, the main aim was to identify the intricate immune evasion tactics mediated by HCC cells and to study the epigenetic modulation of the immune checkpoints; Programmed death-1 (PD-1)/ Programmed death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT)/Cluster of Differentiation 155 (CD155) at the tumor-immune synapse. Thus, liver tissues, PBMCs and sera were collected from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), HCC as well as healthy individuals. Screening was performed to PD-L1/PD-1 and CD155/TIGIT axes in HCC patients. PDL1, CD155, PD-1 and TIGIT were found to be significantly upregulated in liver tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCC patients. An array of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs validated to regulate such immune checkpoints were screened. The lncRNAs; CCAT-1, H19, and MALAT-1 were all significantly upregulated in the sera, PBMCs, and tissues of HCC patients as compared to HCV patients and healthy controls. However, miR-944–5p, miR-105–5p, miR-486–5p, miR-506–5p, and miR-30a-5p were downregulated in the sera and liver tissues of HCC patients. On the tumor cell side, knocking down of lncRNAs—CCAT-1, MALAT-1, or H19—markedly repressed the co-expression of PD-L1 and CD155 and accordingly induced the cytotoxicity of co-cultured primary immune cells. On the immune side, ectopic expression of the under-expressed microRNAs; miR-486–5p, miR-506–5p, and miR-30a-5p significantly decreased the transcript levels of PD-1 in PBMCs with no effect on TIGIT. On the other hand, ectopic expression of miR-944–5p and miR-105–5p in PBMCs dramatically reduced the co-expression of PD-1 and TIGIT. Finally, all studied miRNAs enhanced the cytotoxic effects of PBMCs against Huh7 cells. However, miR-105–5p showed the highest augmentation for PBMCs cytotoxicity against HCC cells. In conclusion, this study highlights a novel co-targeting strategy using miR-105–5p mimics, MALAT-1, CCAT-1 and H19 siRNAs to efficiently hampers the immune checkpoints; PD-L1/PD-1 and CD155/TIGIT immune evasion properties in HCC.Peer reviewe

Dapagliflozin Effects on Cardiac Deformation in Heart Failure and Secondary Clinical Outcome

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors were shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure. Objectives: This study aims to assess potential effects of dapagliflozin in nondiabetic patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) on cardiac function assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods: This randomized, prospective, single-center, open-label trial compared consecutive nondiabetic outpatients with HFrEF or HFmrEF receiving dapagliflozin with patients treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT) except sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors. Primary endpoint was the presence of a significant modification of left ventricular global longitudinal strain, diastolic function (as peak atrial longitudinal strain) and right ventricular function by STE from baseline to 6 months. Cardiovascular events and parameters of congestion were assessed as safety-exploratory endpoints. Results: Overall, 88 patients (38% HFmrEF) were enrolled and randomized to start dapagliflozin on top of OMT (n = 44) or to continue with OMT (n = 44). All STE values improved in the dapagliflozin group after 6 months, whereas there was a nonsignificant improvement in OMT group. Moreover, when comparing the modification of STE parameters at follow-up in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF, only the main treatment effect resulted statistically significant in both groups (P < 0.0001), indicating a significant difference between dapagliflozin and OMT. Conclusions: This study provided randomized data on the beneficial effect of dapagliflozin in nondiabetic patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF in terms of myocardial performance measured by the most sensitive echocardiographic technique, ie, STE. This suggests its usefulness for left ventricular reverse remodeling and better quality of life in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF. (Effects of Dapagliflozin on cardiac deformation and clinical outcomes in heart failure with reduced and mildly reduced ejection fraction [DAPA ECHO trial]; EudraCT number: 2021-005394-66)

O que os alunos de escola pública e particular da cidade de São Paulo sabem sobre alimentação saudável?

OBJECTIVE: To identify perceptions of healthy eating among adolescents of the public and private schools (SP/SP). METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study, without intervention, with the application of an electronic questionnaire on intake among adolescents. The sample consisted of students of both sexes, aged 12-15 years, from the 7-9th years of elementary school, from public and private schools in the south. After parent’s authorization, the students answered an online questionnaire about food. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 108 students (53 public and 55 private schools) aged 13.5±0.8 years, 35.2% (n= 38) boys and 64.8% (n= 70) girls. Approximately 42% of students from the private school reported consumption of rice and beans daily, and 85% of students from the public school (p<0.001). In the total sample, students answered 27-95% of the questions related to knowledge about healthy eating, with the average number of correct answers being 63%. In public schools, students answered 56% of the questions, on average, and 70% in private (p<0.001). The questions about the food-disease relationship, carbohydrates, fats, protein, calories, salt and sugar were more correct among students from the private school compared to the public school (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The students from the private school showed better theoretical performance compared to the public one. Despite the difference in scores between schools, on average, students of the total sample are still below 70% of correct answers. It is believed that strategies involving food and nutrition education in schools are necessary to improve the prevention and control of obesity.OBJETIVO: Identificar percepção sobre alimentação saudável entre adolescentes de escola pública e particular (SP/SP). METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, sem intervenção, com aplicação de um questionário eletrônico sobre consumo alimentar entre adolescentes. A amostra foi composta por alunos de ambos os sexos, de 12-15 anos, dos 7º-9º anos do ensino fundamental, de escolas pública e particular na zona sul. Após autorização dos pais, os alunos responderam um questionário online sobre alimentação. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta por 108 alunos (53 de escola pública e 55 particular) com a idade de 13,5±0,8 anos, 35,2% (n=38) meninos e 64,8% (n=70) meninas. Aproximadamente, 42% dos alunos da escola particular relataram consumo de arroz e feijão diariamente, e 85% dos alunos da pública (p<0,001). Na amostra total, os alunos acertaram de 27-95% das questões relacionadas ao conhecimento sobre alimentação saudável, sendo, que o número de acertos médio foi de 63%. Na escola pública, os alunos acertaram, em média, 56% das questões, e na particular, 70% (p<0,001). As questões sobre a relação alimento-doença, carboidratos, gorduras, proteína, caloria, sal e açúcar tiveram maior acerto entre os alunos da escola particular comparada à pública (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Os alunos da escola particular apresentaram melhor desempenho teórico comparada à pública. Apesar da diferença da pontuação entre as escolas, em média, os alunos da amostra total ainda tiveram nota abaixo de 70% de acertos. Acredita-se que estratégias envolvendo educação alimentar e nutricional nas escolas se fazem necessárias para melhorar a prevenção e controle da obesidade

AVALIAÇÃO DA ATRATIVIDADE DE DIFERENTES ISCAS AO Rhynchophorus palmarum (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) NO CULTIVO DA PUPUNHEIRA (Bactris gasipaes)

A pupunha (Bactris gasipaes) vem ganhando cada vez mais importância econômica para a região do Vale do Ribeira/SP. Poucos estudos são realizados com a cultura, porém sabe-se que um dos fatores limitantes ao seu cultivo esta associado à ocorrência de insetos praga, como a coleobroca Rhynchophorus palmarum. Suas larvas broqueiam o caule da planta podendo ocasionar perdas devido à redução do perfilhamento e abertura de ferimentos facilitando a ocorrência de doenças. Para o monitoramento de R. palmarum pode-se utilizar armadilhas do tipo balde contendo atrativos alimentares e feromônio sintético. O presente estudo visou avaliar diferentes atrativos em armadilhas tipo balde sobre a captura de adultos de R. palmarum. Foram testados cinco tratamentos compondo diferentes combinações de atrativos: feromônio, feromônio + toletes de cana-de-açúcar, toletes de cana-de-açúcar, feromônio + resíduo de pupunheira e resíduo de pupunheira somente. As armadilhas foram rotacionadas em cinco pontos da arena montada no campo. Por meio de avaliações semanais observou-se que o tratamento contendo resíduo de pupunha + feromônio foi o mais atrativo a broca