The viability of a fully fledged inflation targeting regime in Egypt

Inflation targeting (IT), in simplistic terms, is a monetary policy regime that is based upon the commitment of a country’s monetary authority to meeting predetermined, quantitative targets for the annual rate of inflation. IT has attained popularity and widespread acclamation amongst policymakers in the international context over the past three decades. Since Egypt initiated a new economic and structural reform program supported by the Extended Fund Facility from the IMF in November 2016, the search for a new nominal anchor for the Egyptian economy has been underway. In this regard, the new objective seems to be a temporary switch to a monetary targeting regime in the short run, while moving towards the implementation of a full-fledged IT regime in the medium term. Against this background, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) recently released a draft law indicating its desire to transition towards IT. This paper aims to answer the question of whether or not Egypt is ready for the implementation of IT. I propose a twofold methodology based on an assessment of the institutional and technical framework currently in place in Egypt, combined with a comprehensive survey of the current international practices of 28 inflation-targeting countries to determine whether or not the Egyptian framework is adequate in meeting the basic preconditions for IT, and to identify the practical considerations that need to be taken into account if the CBE indeed decides to adopt an inflation targeting regime in the near future

3D Anatomy Models and Impact on Learning: A Review of the Quality of the Literature

AbstractBackgroundThe aims of this study were to identify studies exploring three-dimensional (3D) anatomy models and their impact on learning, and to assess the quality of research in this area.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Knowledge databases were searched using the following keywords "3D anatomy", "three dimensional anatomy," "3D virtual reality anatomy," "3D VR anatomy," "3D anatomy model, “3D anatomy teaching", and “anatomy learning VR” . Three evaluators independently assessed the quality of research using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI).ResultsOf the 94,616 studies identified initially, 30 studies reported data on the impact of using 3D anatomy models on learning. The majority were of moderate quality with a mean MERSQI score=10.26 (SD 2.14, range 6.0–13.5). The rater intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.75–0.88). Most studies were from North America (53%), and Europe (33%) and the majority were from medical (73%) and Dental (17%) schools.ConclusionsThere was no solid evidence that the use of 3D models is superior to traditional teaching. However, the studies varied in research quality. More studies are needed to examine the short- and long-term impacts of 3D models on learning using valid and appropriate tools

Human adult stem cells derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow attenuate enteric neuropathy in the guinea-pig model of acute colitis

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Allogeneic Guinea pig mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate neurological changes in experimental colitis

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Oxaliplatin Treatment Alters Systemic Immune Responses

Purpose. Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent demonstrating significant antitumor efficacy. Unlike conventional anticancer agents which are immunosuppressive, oxaliplatin has the capacity to stimulate immunological effects in response to the presentation of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) elicited upon cell death. However, the effects of oxaliplatin treatment on systemic immune responses remain largely unknown. Aims of this study were to investigate the effects of oxaliplatin treatment on the proportions of (1) splenic T cells, B cells, macrophages, pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, gene expression of splenic cytokines, chemokines, and mediators; (2) double-positive and single-positive CD4+ and CD8+ T thymocytes; (3) bone-marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Methods. Male BALB/c mice received intraperitoneal injections of oxaliplatin (3mg/kg/d) or sterile water tri-weekly for 2 weeks. Leukocyte populations within the spleen, thymus, and bone-marrow were assessed using flow cytometry. RT-PCR was performed to characterise changes in splenic inflammation-associated genes. Results. Oxaliplatin treatment reduced spleen size and cellularity (CD45+ cells), increased the proportion of CD4+, CD8+, and Treg cells, and elevated TNF-α expression. Oxaliplatin was selectively cytotoxic to B cells but had no effect on splenic macrophages. Oxaliplatin treatment altered the gene expression of several cytokines, chemokines, and cell mediators. Oxaliplatin did not deplete double-positive thymocytes but increased the single-positive CD8+ subset. There was also an increase in activated (CD69+) CD8+ T cells. Bone-marrow hematopoietic progenitor pool was demonstrably normal following oxaliplatin treatment when compared to the vehicle-treated cohort. Conclusion. Oxaliplatin does not cause systemic immunosuppression and, instead, has the capacity to induce beneficial antitumor immune responses

Associations of microvascular complications with all-cause death in patients with diabetes and COVID-19:the CORONADO, ABCD Covid-19 audit and AMERICADO study groups

AIM: To provide a detailled analysis of the microvascular burden in patients with diabetes hopitalized for COVD‐19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed data from the French CORONADO initiative and the UK Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) COVID‐19 audit, two nationwide multicentre studies, and the AMERICADO, a multicentre study conducted in New York area. We assessed the association between risk of all‐cause death during hospital stay and the following microvascular complications in patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID‐19: diabetic retinopathy and/or diabetic kidney disease and/or history of diabetic foot ulcer. RESULTS: Among 2951 CORONADO, 3387 ABCD COVID‐19 audit and 9327 AMERICADO participants, microvascular diabetic complications status was ascertained for 1314 (44.5%), 1809 (53.4%) and 7367 (79.0%) patients, respectively: 1010, 1059 and 1800, respectively, had ≥1 severe microvascular complication(s) and 304, 750 and 5567, respectively, were free of any complications. The patients with isolated diabetic kidney disease had an increased risk of all‐cause death during hospital stay: odds ratio [OR] 2.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66‐3.83), OR 1.24 (95% CI 1.00‐1.56) and OR 1.66 (95% CI 1.40‐1.95) in the CORONADO, the ABCD COVID‐19 national audit and the AMERICADO studies, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared to those without microvascular complications, patients with microvascular complications had an increased risk of all‐cause death during hospital stay in the CORONADO, the ABCD COVID‐19 diabetes national audit and the AMERICADO studies: adjusted OR ((adj)OR) 2.57 (95% CI 1.69‐3.92), (adj)OR 1.22 (95% CI 1.00‐1.52) and (adj)OR 1.33 (95% CI 1.15‐1.53), respectively. In meta‐analysis of the three studies, compared to patients free of complications, those with microvascular complications had an unadjusted OR for all‐cause death during hospital stay of 2.05 (95% CI 1.42‐2.97), which decreased to 1.62 (95% CI 1.19‐2.119) after adjustment for age and sex, and to 1.50 (1.12‐2.02) after hypertension and CVD were further added to the model. CONCLUSION: Microvascular burden is associated with an increased risk of death in patients hospitalized for COVID‐19

The Onset and Progression of Chronic Colitis Parallels Increased Mucosal Serotonin Release via Enterochromaffin Cell Hyperplasia and Downregulation of the Serotonin Reuptake Transporter

Background Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been linked with several inflammation-associated intestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis (UC). The largest pool of 5-HT in the body is in enterochromaffin (EC) cells located throughout the intestinal tract. EC cells are mechanosensitive and detect noxious stimuli, inducing secretion of 5-HT, which plays an important role in enteric reflexes and immunomodulation. In this study, we evaluated intestinal 5-HT levels in the Winnie mouse model of spontaneous chronic colitis, which closely replicates UC. Methods Real-time electrochemical recordings of 5-HT oxidation currents were obtained from ex vivo preparations of jejunum, ileum, proximal, and distal colon from Winnie (5-25 weeks old) and age matched C57BL/6 mice. EC cells were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the gene expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (5-HT synthesis) and the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) were determined by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Results Compression-evoked and basal 5-HT concentrations were elevated in the distal and proximal colon of Winnie mice. EC cell hyperplasia and downregulation of SERT on the transcriptional level were identified as mechanisms underlying increased levels of 5-HT. Increase in mucosal 5-HT release was observed at the onset of disease at 7-14 weeks, confirmed by disease activity scores. Furthermore, increases in 5-HT levels and progression of disease activity correlated linearly with age, but not sex. Conclusions Our findings in the Winnie mouse model of spontaneous chronic colitis demonstrate for the first time that the onset and progression of chronic UC-like intestinal inflammation is associated with increased 5-HT levels in the colonic mucosa

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Special Interest Group at OMERACT 11: outcomes of importance for patients with PMR

We worked toward developing a core outcome set for clinical research studies in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) by conducting (1) patient consultations using modified nominal group technique; (2) a systematic literature review of outcome measures in PMR; (3) a pilot observational study of patients presenting with untreated PMR, and further discussion with patient research partners; and (4) a qualitative focus group study of patients with PMR on the meaning of stiffness, using thematic analysis. (1) Consultations included 104 patients at 4 centers. Symptoms of PMR included pain, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Function, anxiety, and depression were also often mentioned. Participants expressed concerns about diagnostic delay, adverse effects of glucocorticoids, and fear of relapse. (2) In the systematic review, outcome measures previously used for PMR include pain visual analog scores (VAS), morning stiffness, blood markers, function, and quality of life; standardized effect sizes posttreatment were large. (3) Findings from the observational study indicated that asking about symptom severity at 7 AM, or "on waking," appeared more relevant to disease activity than asking about symptom severity "now" (which depended on the time of assessment). (4) Preliminary results were presented from the focus group qualitative study, encompassing broad themes of stiffness, pain, and the effect of PMR on patients' lives. It was concluded that further validation work is required before a core outcome set in PMR can be recommended. Nevertheless, the large standardized effect sizes suggest that pain VAS is likely to be satisfactory as a primary outcome measure for assessing response to initial therapy of PMR. Dissection of between-patient heterogeneity in the subsequent treatment course may require attention to comorbidity as a potential confounding factor

Radiation-induced reduction-polymerization route for the synthesis of PEDOT conducting polymers

Synthesis of conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT, is achieved through an original reduction-polymerization route: γ-radiolysis of aqueous solutions containing EDOT monomers under N2 atmosphere. According to UV-vis absorption spectrophotometry and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, reduction of EDOT is initiated by hydrated electrons produced by water radiolysis and leads to PEDOT polymers through coupling reactions. The morphology of PEDOT is characterized by Cryo- TEM microscopy in aqueous solution and by SEM after deposition. In an original way, high resolution AFM microscopy, coupled with infrared nanospectroscopy, is used to probe the local chemical composition of PEDOT nanostructures. The results demonstrate that spherical self-assembled PEDOT nanostructures are formed. TGA analysis and four point probe measurements demonstrate that thermal stability and electrical conductivity of PEDOT polymers obtained by the present original reduction-polymerization method are close to those of PEDOT we previously prepared by radiolysis according to an oxidation-polymerization route