Education, Work and Crime: Evidence from Educational Reforms

This thesis studies the interactions between education, work and crime as a response to highly relevant and debated educational policy reforms: changes in compulsory school laws. In Chapter 1 a study of the recent trends of crime in the United States (US) is presented, along with a general theoretical model of crime as a rational individual decision shaped by different incentives. In the empirical section of the chapter, the use of individual-level data and exogenous variation in compulsory schooling laws helps to establish causality between educational attainment and incarceration in the US between 1960 to 2010 using an instrumental variable design. Chapter 2 looks more closely at the relationship between the policy reforms, education and crime in the recent period since 1980. Using arrest, incarceration and education data for males it establishes a fading response of educational attainment to changes in the laws, through a prevalent reduction effect stemming from the stricter law requirements adopted. In Chapter 3, the negative effect unveiled in Chapter 2 is carefully analysed through a multiple discontinuity design so as to better understand the channels through which compulsory schooling laws operate to reduce crime. Using detailed arrest data since 1974, evidence is found in favour of strong incapacitation effects in the short-run, complemented with dynamic incapacitation effects in the medium-run among young males. Finally, Chapter 4 looks at the response of females to these educational reforms in terms of crime and teenage pregnancy outcomes. Using a multiple discontinuity design, it is found that females respond similarly to their male counterparts with respect to crime and furthermore show a reduction in teenage pregnancy rates as a response to the same changes in compulsory schooling laws. Nevertheless in this chapter it is shown that the crime reducing effects of the laws are heterogeneous according to demographic, labour market and school quality regional conditions

Statins, bone, and neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a dominantly inherited multi-system disorder. Major features include pigmentary abnormalities, benign tumors of the nerve sheath (neurofibromas), malignant tumors, learning disabilities, and skeletal dysplasia. The NF1 gene functions as a tumor suppressor, but haploinsuffiency probably accounts for some aspects of the non-tumor phenotype. The protein product, neurofibromin, is a Ras GTPase-activating protein, and various Ras pathway inhibitors are being tested in preclinical models and clinical trials for effectiveness in treating NF1 complications. This month in BMC Medicine, a paper by Kolanczyk et al describes a preclinical mouse model for tibial dysplasia and provides evidence that the drug lovastatin – in use to treat cardiovascular disease – may be beneficial, opening the door to clinical trials in humans

The Effects of Serotonin Receptor Antagonists on Contraction and Relaxation Responses Induced by Electrical Stimulation in the Rat Small Intestine

Background: The main source of 5-HT in body is in enterchromafin cells of intestine, different studies mentioned different roles for endogenous 5-HT and receptors involved and it is not clearified the mechanism of action of endogenous 5-HT. Objectives: To study the role of endogenous 5-HT on modulation of contraction and relaxation responses induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in different regions of the rat intestine. Materials and Methods: Segments taken from the rat duodenum, jejunum, mid and terminal ileum were vertically mounted, connected to a transducer and exposed to EFS with different frequencies in the absence and presence of various inhibitors of enteric mediators i. e. specific 5-HT receptor antagonists. Results: EFS-induced responses were sensitive to TTX and partly to atropine, indicating a major neuronal involvement and a cholinergic system. Pre-treatment with WAY100635 (a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist) and granisetron up to 10.0 µM, GR113808 (a 5-HT4 receptor antagonist), methysergide and ritanserin up to 1.0 µM, failed to modify responses to EFS inall examined tissues. In the presence of SB258585 1.0 µM (a 5-HT6 receptor antagonist) there was a trend to enhance contraction in the proximal part of the intestine and reduce contraction in the distal part. Pre-treatment with SB269970A 1.0 µM (5-HT7 receptor antagonist) induced a greater contractile response to EFS at 0.4 Hz only in the duodenum. Conclusions: The application of 5-HT1A, 5-HT2, 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptor antagonists, applied at concentrations lower than 1.0 µM did not modify the EFS-induced contraction and relaxation responses, whichsuggests the unlikely involvement of endogenous 5-HT in mediating responses to EFS in the described test conditions. Keywords: Electric Stimulation Therapy; Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; Intestine, Smal

Teor de fenólicos e atividade antioxidante de própolis em áreas de floresta e savana de Roraima

Neste trabalho objetivou-se estudar própolis produzidas em Roraima por Apis mellifera com base na composição química e atividade antioxidante. Coletou-se amostras em áreas de floresta (MJ) e savana (BF) para posterior obtenção dos extratos etanólicos. Quantificou-se fenólicos e flavonoides, e determinou-se a atividade antioxidante por diferentes métodos. BF apresentou maior teor de fenólicos (40,89 mg ácido gálico/g própolis), flavonoides (3,41 mg quercetina/g; própolis 4,75 mg pinocembrina/g própolis) e se destacou com 85,89 µmol trolox/g própolis no ensaio com DPPH. No entanto, por β-caroteno/ácido linoleico o percentual praticamente não variou entre MJ (85,88%) e BF (84,98%)

Teor de fenólicos e atividade antioxidante de própolis em áreas de floresta e savana de Roraima

Neste trabalho objetivou-se estudar própolis produzidas em Roraima por Apis mellifera com base na composição química e atividade antioxidante. Coletou-se amostras em áreas de floresta (MJ) e savana (BF) para posterior obtenção dos extratos etanólicos. Quantificou-se fenólicos e flavonoides, e determinou-se a atividade antioxidante por diferentes métodos. BF apresentou maior teor de fenólicos (40,89 mg ácido gálico/g própolis), flavonoides (3,41 mg quercetina/g; própolis 4,75 mg pinocembrina/g própolis) e se destacou com 85,89 µmol trolox/g própolis no ensaio com DPPH. No entanto, por β-caroteno/ácido linoleico o percentual praticamente não variou entre MJ (85,88%) e BF (84,98%)

Heterogeneities in leishmania infantum infection : using skin parasite burdens to identify highly infectious dogs

Background: The relationships between heterogeneities in host infection and infectiousness (transmission to arthropod vectors) can provide important insights for disease management. Here, we quantify heterogeneities in Leishmania infantum parasite numbers in reservoir and non-reservoir host populations, and relate this to their infectiousness during natural infection. Tissue parasite number was evaluated as a potential surrogate marker of host transmission potential. Methods: Parasite numbers were measured by qPCR in bone marrow and ear skin biopsies of 82 dogs and 34 crab-eating foxes collected during a longitudinal study in Amazon Brazil, for which previous data was available on infectiousness (by xenodiagnosis) and severity of infection. Results: Parasite numbers were highly aggregated both between samples and between individuals. In dogs, total parasite abundance and relative numbers in ear skin compared to bone marrow increased with the duration and severity of infection. Infectiousness to the sandfly vector was associated with high parasite numbers; parasite number in skin was the best predictor of being infectious. Crab-eating foxes, which typically present asymptomatic infection and are non-infectious, had parasite numbers comparable to those of non-infectious dogs. Conclusions: Skin parasite number provides an indirect marker of infectiousness, and could allow targeted control particularly of highly infectious dogs

Premolis semirufa (Walker, 1856) Envenomation, Disease Affecting Rubber Tappers of the Amazon: Searching for Caterpillar-Bristles Toxic Components

Pararama, the popular name of the larval form of the moth Premolis semirufa inhabits rubber plantations in the Amazon region and the accidental contact of the skin with the caterpillar's bristles or cocoons results in immediate and intense heat, pain, edema, and itching. In many cases a chronic inflammatory reaction with immobilization of the joints occurs. The current study has evaluated the biological and immunochemical characteristics of the Pararama caterpillar bristles extract. Electrophoretic analysis showed the presence of several components, including a very intense 82 kDa band. This latter component was endowed with intense gelatinolytic activity, as observed in zymography assays. Further analysis revealed that the extract also contained hyaluronidase activity but is devoid of phospholipase A2 activity. In vivo assays, using mice, showed that the extract was not lethal, but caused significant edema and induced intense infiltration of inflammatory cells to the envenomation site. The extract also induced high specific antibody titers, but no autoantibodies were detected. The data obtained, so far, demonstrate the existence of a mixture of different enzymes in the bristles of Premolis semirufa caterpillar, which can act together in the generation and development of the clinical manifestations of the Pararama envenomation

Vitamin C and Vitamin E in Prevention of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Choline Deficient Diet Fed Rats

AIM: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Vitamin C and vitamin E are known to react with reactive oxygen species (ROS) blocking the propagation of radical reactions in a wide range of oxidative stress situations. The potential therapeutic efficacy of antioxidants in NAFLD is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of antioxidant drugs (vitamin C or vitamin E) in its prevention. METHODS: Fatty liver disease was induced in Wistar rats by choline-deficient diet for four weeks. The rats were randomly assigned to receive vitamin E (n = 6) – (200 mg/day), vitamin C (n = 6) (30 mg/Kg/day) or vehicle orally. RESULTS: In the vehicle and vitamin E-treated rats, there were moderate macro and microvesicular fatty changes in periportal area without inflammatory infiltrate or fibrosis. Scharlach stain that used for a more precise identification of fatty change was strong positive. With vitamin C, there was marked decrease in histological alterations. Essentially, there was no liver steatosis, only hepatocellular ballooning. Scharlach stain was negative. The lucigenin-enhanced luminescence was reduced with vitamin C (1080 ± 330 cpm/mg/minx10(3)) as compared to those Vitamin E and control (2247 ± 790; 2020 ± 407 cpm/mg/minx10(3), respectively) (p < 0.05). Serum levels of aminotransferases were unaltered by vitamin C or vitamin E. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Vitamin C reduced oxidative stress and markedly inhibited the development of experimental liver steatosis induced by choline-deficient diet ; 2)Vitamin E neither prevented the development of fatty liver nor reduced the oxidative stress in this model

Suppression of ovarian hormones in adolescent rats has no effect on anxiety-like behaviour or c-fos activation in the amygdala

Support was provided the British Society for Neuroendocrinology, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews.In humans, sex differences in mood disorders emerge during adolescence, with prevalence rates being consistently higher in females than males. It has been hypothesised that exposure to endogenous ovarian hormones during adolescence enhances the susceptibility of females to mood disorders from this stage of life onwards. However, experimental evidence in favour of this hypothesis is lacking. In the present study, we examined the long‐term effects of suppressing adolescent gonadal hormone levels in a group of female Lister‐hooded rats via administration of a gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone antagonist (Antide; administered on postnatal day [PND] 28 and 42) compared to control females and males (n = 14 per group). We predicted that, in adulthood, Antide‐treated female rats would exhibit more male‐like behaviour than control females in novel environments (elevated‐plus maze, open field and light‐dark box), in response to novel objects and novel social partners, and in an acoustic startle task. Progesterone and luteinising hormone assays (which were conducted on blood samples collected on PND 55/56 and 69/70) confirmed that the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis was temporarily suppressed by Antide treatment. In addition, Antide‐treated females were found to exhibit a modest pubertal delay, as measured by vaginal opening, which was comparable in length to the pubertal delay that has been induced by adolescent exposure to alcohol or stress in previous studies of female rats. However, Antide‐treated females did not substantially differ from control females on any of the behavioural tests, despite the evidence for predicted sex differences in some measures. Following the acoustic startle response task, all subjects were culled and perfused, and c‐Fos staining was conducted in the medial and basolateral amygdala, with the results showing no significant differences in cell counts between the groups. These findings suggest that ovarian hormone exposure during adolescence does not have long‐term effects on anxiety‐related responses in female rats.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Molecular Characterization of Growth Hormone-producing Tumors in the GC Rat Model of Acromegaly

D.A.C. was supported by the Nicolás Monardes program of the Andalusian Ministry of Health (C-0015-2014) and by a grant from the Andalusian Ministry of Science and Innovation (CTS-7478). A.S-M and A.L.C were supported by grants from the ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación co-funded with Fondos FEDER (PI12/0143 and PI13/02043, respectively) and the Andalusian Regional Government (CTS-444) and a grant from Pfizer Spain. R.L.C. was supported by a grant from Andalusian Ministry of Health (PI0302-2012). R.M.L. was supported by grants from Proyecto de Investigación en Salud (FIS) PI13- 00651 (funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III), CTS-1406, PI-0639-2012, BIO-0139 (funded by Junta de Andalucía) and by Ayuda Merck Serono 2013. J. P. C. was funded by a grant (BFU2013-43282-R) from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. CIBER is an initiative of Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, Spain. J.F.M.R. is supported by the “Sara Borrell” program from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. R.M. Luque and J.P. Castaño have received grants and lecture fees from Ipsen and Novartis. E. Venegas-Moreno and A. Soto-Moreno received grants and lecture fees from Ipsen, Novartis and Pfizer. A. Leal-Cerro received grants from Novartis and Pfizer. David Cano received a grant from Novartis