Investigating the oil price-exchange rate nexus: evidence from Africa 1970-2004

In this paper, we aim to provide further insights into the importance of real oil price as a determinant of real exchange rates for a pool of African countries. While this relationship has been explored substantially for many industrialised economies, African countries have received little attention. By means of cointegration techniques and nonlinear dynamics we find that, for some of these countries, shocks in the real price of oil are particularly important in determining the real exchange rates, even in the long run. These results would be of interest for policymakers in order to deal more effectively with exchange rate policy decisions, aiming at promoting economic growth in the area

Post-operative treatment in breast cancer diagnosed patient

[Resumen] El cáncer, que es la causa más frecuente de muerte prematura y evitable en la Unión Europea, constituye un problema importante de salud pública. Dentro del colectivo femenino, uno de los cánceres más frecuentes y que más preocupan a la población es el cáncer de mama. En Europa se estima que 8 de cada 100 mujeres desarrollarán está enfermedad antes de los 75 años. La cirugía y la radioterapia pueden provocar alteraciones postquirúrgicas que a la larga disminuyen la calidad de vida de estas pacientes. Con este artículo se pretende realizar una búsqueda bibliográfica que clarifique las alteraciones postquirúrgicas en este tipo de paciente y el tratamiento fisioterápico que se emplea para tratarlas. Todos los estudios analizados indican la aparición de alteraciones glenohumerales en estos pacientes y los beneficios que el tratamiento de fisioterapia les acarrea, ningún estudio atestigua resultados contrarios. Si bien es cierto que no existe ningún estudio con la suficiente muestra para aclarar que tipo de pacientes (edad, condición física, tipo de cirugía, radioterapia recibida) presentan una incidencia mayor de estas alteraciones.[Abstract] Cancer is the most frequent cause of premature and avoidable death in the European Union, constitutes an important problem of public health. Within the feminine group, one of the most frequent cancers is the breast cancer. In Europe esteem that 8 of each 100 women will develop is disease before the 75 years. Surgery and radiotherapy can cause postsurgical alterations that diminish the quality of life of these patients. With this article it is tried to make a bibliographical search that clarify the postsurgical alterations in this type of patient and the physical therapy treatment used to treat them. All the analyzed studies indicate the appearance of shoulder alterations in these patients and the benefits that the physical therapy treatment carries to them, no study testifies opposite results. Although it is certain that any study with the sufficient sample does not exist to clarify wich type of patients (age, physical training conditions, type of surgery, radiotherapy recieved) presents a greater incidence of these alterations

Treatment with Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 Is Not Effective as Therapy in Mice with an Established Allergy Status

In allergies, an unbalanced immune response towards a T helper (Th) 2 profile with high levels of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is produced. We have demonstrated that the pre-administration of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 prevents the development of allergy in ovalbumin-immunized mice. In this work, we evaluated whether this bacterium can also revert an established allergic status. Mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and after that, were inoculated with an E. faecalis CECT7121 suspension. In immunized animals, serum specific immune response, proliferative activity of memory splenocytes, and levels of Th2 cytokines were assessed. The in vivo active cutaneous anaphylaxis test was also performed. The treatment with E. faecalis CECT7121 only increased anti-OVA IgG2a levels. No differences were observed in other specific immunological parameters. Probiotic-treatment did not prove to have any desensitizing effect on mice. These results, together with those recently published, can be concluded that this bacterium would not be appropriate for the treatment of allergic symptoms.Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM

Treatment with Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 Is Not Effective as Therapy in Mice with an Established Allergy Status

In allergies, an unbalanced immune response towards a T helper (Th) 2 profile with high levels of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is produced. We have demonstrated that the pre-administration of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 prevents the development of allergy in ovalbumin-immunized mice. In this work, we evaluated whether this bacterium can also revert an established allergic status. Mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and after that, were inoculated with an E. faecalis CECT7121 suspension. In immunized animals, serum specific immune response, proliferative activity of memory splenocytes, and levels of Th2 cytokines were assessed. The in vivo active cutaneous anaphylaxis test was also performed. The treatment with E. faecalis CECT7121 only increased anti-OVA IgG2a levels. No differences were observed in other specific immunological parameters. Probiotic-treatment did not prove to have any desensitizing effect on mice. These results, together with those recently published, can be concluded that this bacterium would not be appropriate for the treatment of allergic symptoms.Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM

Molecular map of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its impact on outcome

Recent advances in cancer characterization have consistently revealed marked heterogeneity, impeding the completion of integrated molecular and clinical maps for each malignancy. Here, we focus on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a B cell neoplasm with variable natural history that is conventionally categorized into two subtypes distinguished by extent of somatic mutations in the heavy-chain variable region of immunoglobulin genes (IGHV). To build the ‘CLL map,’ we integrated genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic data from 1,148 patients. We identified 202 candidate genetic drivers of CLL (109 new) and refined the characterization of IGHV subtypes, which revealed distinct genomic landscapes and leukemogenic trajectories. Discovery of new gene expression subtypes further subcategorized this neoplasm and proved to be independent prognostic factors. Clinical outcomes were associated with a combination of genetic, epigenetic and gene expression features, further advancing our prognostic paradigm. Overall, this work reveals fresh insights into CLL oncogenesis and prognostication

Lipid Alterations in Experimental Murine Colitis: Role of Ceramide and Imipramine for Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression

BACKGROUND:Dietary lipids or pharmacologic modulation of lipid metabolism are potential therapeutic strategies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we analysed alterations of bioactive lipids in experimental models of colitis and examined the functional consequence of the second messenger ceramide in inflammatory pathways leading to tissue destruction. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Chronic colitis was induced by dextran-sulphate-sodium (DSS) or transfer of CD4(+)CD62L(+) cells into RAG1(-/-)-mice. Lipid content of isolated murine intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) was analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations of MMP-1 in supernatants of Caco-2-IEC and human intestinal fibroblasts from patients with ulcerative colitis were determined by ELISA. Imipramine was used for pharmacologic inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). Ceramide increased by 71% in chronic DSS-induced colitis and by 159% in the transfer model of colitis. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) decreased by 22% in both models. No changes were detected for phosphatidylcholine. Generation of ceramide by exogenous SMase increased MMP-1-protein production of Caco-2-IEC up to 7-fold. Inhibition of ASM completely abolished the induction of MMP-1 by TNF or IL-1beta in Caco-2-IEC and human intestinal fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Mucosal inflammation leads to accumulation of ceramide and decrease of LPC in the intestinal epithelium. One aspect of ceramide generation is an increase of MMP-1. Induction of MMP-1 by TNF or IL-1beta is completely blocked by inhibition of ASM with imipramine. Therefore, inhibition of ASM may offer a treatment strategy to reduce MMP-1 expression and tissue destruction in inflammatory conditions

Estudio de las propiedades físicas de mezclas de arcillas, algas y agua de mar para aplicaciones en talasoterapia

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