The impact of fiscal policy shocks in the United Kingdom: an empirical investigation

MPhilThis paper empirically examines the impact of shocks to government spending and government revenues on main macroeconomic variables in the UK. We apply the methodology of Mountford and Uhlig (2009) to analyze the effectiveness of fiscal policy in the UK and compare our results with the literature on fiscal policy in the US. Following a government spending shock in the UK, there is an immediate increase in output, private investment and real wages. Regarding the government revenue shock, it is contradictory in the US. In the UK, however, private investment and GDP react positively to this shock

Thermoanalytical Investigation of Terazosin Hydrochloride

Purpose: Thermal analysis (TGA, DTG and DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to study the thermal behavior of terazosin hydrochloride (TER). Methods: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine the thermal behavior and purity of the used drug. Thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy (E*), enthalpy (H*), entropy (S*) and Gibbs free energy change of the decomposition (G*) were calculated using different kinetic models. Results: The purity of the used drug was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (99.97%) and specialized official method (99.85%) indicating to satisfactory values of the degree of purity. Thermal analysis technique gave satisfactory results to obtain quality control parameters such as melting point (273 ºC), water content (7.49%) and ash content (zero) in comparison to what were obtained using official method: (272 ºC), (8.0%) and (0.02%) for melting point, water content and ash content, respectively. Conclusion: Thermal analysis justifies its application in quality control of pharmaceutical compounds due to its simplicity, sensitivity and low operational costs. DSC data indicated that the degree of purity of terazosin hydrochloride is similar to that found by official method

In vitro differentiation of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells into functioning hepatocytes

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated by gradient density centrifugation from umbilical cord blood. Spindle-shaped adherent cells were permitted to grow to 70% confluence in primary culture media which was reached by day 12. Induction of differentiation started by culturing cells with differentiation medium containing FGF-4 and HGF. Under hepatogenic conditions few cuboidal cells appeared in culture on day 7. From day 21 to day 28, most of cells became small and round. The control negative cells cultured in serum free media showed fibroblast-like morphology. Urea production and protein secretion by the differentiated hepatocyte-like cells were detected on day 21 and increased on day 28. Protein was significantly increased in comparison with control by day 28. The cells became positive for AFP at day 7 and positive cells could still be detected at days 21 and 28. The cells in the control group were stained negative for AFP. The cells expressed albumin gene at the 14th day that became markedly increased at the 28th day of culture with HGF and FGF-4. No albumin expression was observed in the 7th day sample and the control. This study demonstrated that UCB-derived MSCs had the ability to differentiate into functioning hepatocyte-like cells starting from the 7th day after culturing under hepatogenic conditions and became well functioning at days 21 and 28. These data indicated that UCB-derived MSCs can be a promising source of cell therapy for intractable liver diseases.Keywords: Umbilical cord blood; Mesenchymal stem cells; Culture; Hepatocytes; HGF; FGF-

Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens Strain BA1, an Entomopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from Nematodes Found in Egypt

Photorhabdus luminescens strain BA1 is an entomopathogenic bacterium that forms a symbiotic association with Heterorhabditis nematodes. We report here a 5.0-Mbp draft genome sequence for P. luminscens strain BA1, with a G+C content of 42.46% and 4,250 candidate protein-coding genes

Glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 and P1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in Egyptian diabetic patients with and without diabetic vascular complications

AbstractBackground and aim of workPersistent oxidative stress is one of several factors that participate in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of antioxidant enzymes that exert important antioxidant roles in the elimination of reactive oxygen species. We aimed to assess the association of genetic polymorphisms in the GST isoenzymes M1, T1 and P1 with the risk of developing T2DM and its vascular related complications in Egyptian diabetic patients.Subjects and methodsFifty-four T2DM patients of whom twenty-seven were suffering from vascular complications were compared to fifty-one healthy volunteers. Null genotypes in the GST M1 and T1 genes were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The A313G single nucleotide polymorphism in the GSTP1 gene was detected using PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism.ResultsNo significant differences were noted between diabetic cases and control group regarding frequencies of null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes (χ2p=0.631 and χ2p=0.832, respectively). Furthermore, both null genotypes were not associated with the risk of developing T2DM or its related vascular complications whether alone or in combination. The frequency of the heterozygous mutation (AG) in the A313G GSTP1 polymorphism among diabetic cases with and diabetic cases without vascular complications was significantly higher compared to the control group (p=0.023). The risk of developing T2DM was significantly higher in cases presenting with combined heterozygous GSTP1 and null GSTM1 genotypes (Odds ratio=6.285, 95% confidence interval=1.184–33.347, p=0.021).ConclusionOur results could point out to potential roles of GSTP1 polymorphism alone or combined with GSTM1 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of T2DM related oxidative stress. Screening for other functional GST gene polymorphisms is important to understand the impact of interaction of multiple genetic factors in the pathogenesis of T2DM

Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus temperata Strain Meg1, an Entomopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from Heterorhabditis megidis Nematodes

Photorhabdus temperata strain Meg1 is an entomopathogenic bacterium that forms a symbiotic association with Heterorhabditis nematodes. We report here a 4.9-Mbp draft genome sequence for P. temperata strain Meg1, with a G+C content of 43.18% and containing 4,340 candidate protein-coding genes

Assessment of serum interleukin 19 level in patients with warts

Background: Warts are viral cutaneous infections caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), presented by verrucous growth over the skin surface. The cell mediated immune response is considered to play a crucial role in HPV clearance. The viral load and number of lesions increase when there is an imbalance between the T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 immune responses. Interleukin (IL)-19 is a cytokine that belongs to interleukin 10 cytokines family and constitutes a sub-family with IL-20, IL-22 and IL-24. IL-19 is mainly produced by activated monocytes and to a lesser extent by B-cells, keratinocytes and fetal membranes. IL-19 was found to shift T-cell maturation away from the pro-inflammatory T-helper 1 cells toward the anti-inflammatory T-helper 2 cells. It induces IL-4 and IL-13 production in T cells and apoptosis in monocytes. Aim: This study aimed to measure serum level of IL-19 in patients with warts compared to healthy controls and to find out the correlation between this level and number, size and clinical types of warts. Methods: The study included 50 patients with warts and 50 control subjects. Serum concentration of IL-19 was measured by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. Results: Interleukin-19 serum level was significantly lower in patients with warts than in controls (P < 0.003). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between IL-19 serum level and the number of warts (P = 0.027). Conclusion: Serum level of IL-19 was significantly lower in patients with warts, and this low level might be crucial for an effective cell mediated immunological response to HPV

Vitamin D Status in Neonatal Pulmonary Infections: Relationship to Inflammatory Indicators

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D concentrations among neonates with pneumonia. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 33 neonates with pneumonia in addition to 30 healthy controls. CBC, CRP, Serum vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 levels were measured for all participants. RESULTS: There was significant difference between patients and controls regarding Hemoglobin levels, TLC and CRP (p value &lt; 0.01, = 0.002, &lt; 0.01 respectively). Patients with pneumonia showed significant lower levels of Vit. D (9 ± 2.1) compared to controls (14.1 ± 2.8), P value &lt; 0.01. However, patient group had significant higher levels of Pentraxin 3 (29.1 ± 4.8) compared with controls (12.6 ± 3), P value &lt; 0.01. Moreover, mechanically ventilated patients revealed significant lower vit D (7.7 ± 1.8) and higher pentraxin 3 (32.2 ± 2.6) compared to patients on free oxygen (9.1 ± 2.1, 26.4 ± 3.7 respectively), P value = 0.05, 0.02 respectively. Regarding hospital stay, it had significant positive correlation with serum pentraxin 3 (r = 0.6, P value &lt; 0.01) and significant negative correlation with serum vit D (r = -0.4, P value = 0.04). Finally a significant negative correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 was found (r = -0.4, P value = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Lower concentration of serum vitamin D may be significantly associated with neonatal pneumonia. It also can predict the need for mechanical ventilation and duration of hospital stay in neonatal pneumonia. Similarly, higher levels of Pentraxin 3 may be used as an indicator for mechanical ventilation need and a longer hospital stay in neonates with pneumonia

cardiotoxicity with immune system targeting drugs a meta analysis of anti pd pd l1 immunotherapy randomized clinical trials

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