O Impacto dos Choques nos Preços das Commodities Sobre a Dinâmica da Inflação no Brasil: Evidências para o Crb Index e Índice de Commodities Brasil (ic-br)

O conhecimento da dinâmica dos preços das commodities nos mercados internacionais tem ganhado importância nos últimos anos, haja vista seus potenciais impactos sobre a inflação no Brasil e, por conseguinte, suas implicações para a devida condução da política monetária. Segundo a literatura, países cujas economias dependem das exportações de commodities, como é o caso do Brasil, possuem um menor repasse de uma alta no preço das commodities sobre a inflação. Este menor repasse aos preços ocorre, uma vez que, o aumento do preço das commodities gera uma pressão de apreciação do câmbio local, que por consequência, alivia os efeitos sobre a inflação. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho tem como propósito demonstrar os impactos dos choques nos preços internacionais das commodities na composição da inflação no Brasil, sua relação com o câmbio, bem como, as implicações desta relação para a condução da política monetária do Banco Central. Por meio da estimação de modelos de Vetores Auto Regressivos (VARs), comumente utilizado pelo Banco Central, foi estimado um modelo econométrico para verificar como as variações no Índice CRB (Commodity Research Bureau), principal índice de commodities mundial, e IC-Br (Índice de Commodities Brasil) - índice de commodities utilizado pelo Banco Central do Brasil, são repassados aos preços ao consumidor. Os resultados verificados a seguir mostram que, pela hipótese de choques de oferta, as flutuações dos preços das commodities possuem grande influência sobre a trajetória da inflação ao consumidor no país, embora em determinados períodos este impacto tenha sido amenizado possivelmente pela apreciação cambial. E, com base na literatura teórica e empírica, através dos resultados apresentados, buscar-se-á sugerir uma resposta de política monetária a estas variações de preços, comparativamente às respostas sugeridas pelos principais autores estudados

Feasibility study of a randomised controlled trial to investigate the treatment of sarcoidosis-associated fatigue with methylphenidate (FaST-MP): a study protocol

Introduction: Fatigue is a frequent and troublesome manifestation of chronic sarcoidosis. This symptom can be debilitating and difficult to treat, with poor response to the treatment. Symptomatic management with neurostimulants, such as methylphenidate, is a possible treatment option. The use of such treatment strategies is not without precedent and has been trialled in cancer-related fatigue. Their use in sarcoidosis requires further evaluation before it can be recommended for clinical practice. Methods and analysis: The Fatigue and Sarcoidosis—Treatment with Methylphenidate study is a randomised, controlled, parallel-arm and feasibility trial of methylphenidate for the treatment of sarcoidosis-associated fatigue. Patients are eligible if they have a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, significant fatigue (measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale) and have stable disease. Up to 30 participants will be randomly assigned to either methylphenidate (20 mg two times per day) or identical placebo in a 3:2 ratio for 24 weeks. The primary objective is to collect data determining the feasibility of a future study powered to determine the clinical efficacy of methylphenidate for sarcoidosis-associated fatigue. The trial is presently open and will continue until July 2018. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee on 21 June 2016 (reference 16/EE/0087) and was approved and sponsored by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (reference 190280). Clinical Trial Authorisation (EudraCT number 2016-000342-60) from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was granted on 19 April 2016. Results will be presented at relevant conferences and submitted to appropriate journals following trial closure and analysis

Randomised controlled trial of the effect, cost and acceptability of a bronchiectasis self-management intervention

Background: Patient self-management plans (PSMP) are advised for bronchiectasis but their efficacy is not established. We aimed to determine whether, in people with bronchiectasis, the use of our bronchiectasis PSMP - Bronchiectasis Empowerment Tool (BET), compared to standard care, would improve self-efficacy. Methods: In a multi-centre mixed-methods randomised controlled parallel study, 220 patients with bronchiectasis were randomised to receive standard care with or without the addition of our BET plus education sessions explaining its use. BET comprised an action plan, indicating when to seek medical help based on pictorial represented indications for antibiotic therapy, and four educational support sections. At baseline and after 12 months, patients completed the Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease Scale (SEMCD), St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), EQ-5D-3L (to calculate Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and cost questionnaires. Qualitative data were obtained by focus groups. Results: The recruitment to the study was high (63% of eligible patients agreeing to participate) however completion rate was low (57%). BET had no effect on SEMCD (mean difference (0.14 (95% confidence interval (95%CI) -0.37 to 0.64), p=0.59) or SGRQ, exacerbation rates, overall cost to the NHS or QALYs. Most had developed their own techniques for monitoring their condition and they did not find BET useful as it was difficult to complete. Participant knowledge was good in both groups. Conclusion: The demand for patient support in bronchiectasis was high suggesting a clinical need. However, the BET did not improve self-efficacy, health related quality of life, costs or clinically relevant outcome measures. BET needs to be modified to be less onerous for users and implemented within a wider package of care. Further studies, particularly those evaluating people newly diagnosed with bronchiectasis, are required and should allow for 50% withdrawal rate or utilise less burdensome outcome measures. Clinical trials registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN 18400127. Registered 24 June 2015. Retrospectively Registere

Comportamento inicial de progênies de cafeeiros com resistência à ferrugem selecionadas de ensaios em vários campos experimentais do Procafé.

O programa de melhoramento genético de cafeeiros, a cargo do Mapa-Fundação Procafé, vem sendo executado em campos experimentais de diferentes regiões cafeeiras, visando associar resistência à ferrugem e boa produtividade das plantas. Nos ensaios, após 3-4 safras, são selecionadas as melhores plantas, para inclusão das progênies em competição conjunta. No presente trabalho foram reunidas, em ensaio em execução na FEX Varginha, 78 seleções, correspondentes a plantas selecionadas de ensaios em Mal Floriano-ES, em Coromandel-FSA, no CEPEC em Martins Soares e também em Varginha. O ensaio foi delineado em blocos ao acaso, com 2 repetições e parcelas de 8 plantas. O plantio foi realizado em janeiro de 2009 no espaçamento de 3,5 x 1 m. Os tratos culturais foram os usuais, com 2 aplicações de fungicidas triazóis mais cúpricos, para controle da ferrugem e cercosporiose, em todo o ensaio

Tendon Immune Regeneration: Insights on the Synergetic Role of Stem and Immune Cells during Tendon Regeneration

Tendon disorders represent a very common pathology in today’s population, and tendinopathies that account 30% of tendon-related injuries, affect yearly millions of people which in turn cause huge socioeconomic and health repercussions worldwide. Inflammation plays a prominent role in the development of tendon pathologies, and advances in understanding the underlying mechanisms during the inflammatory state have provided additional insights into its potential role in tendon dis-orders. Different cell compartments, in combination with secreted immune modulators, have shown to control and modulate the inflammatory response during tendinopathies. Stromal compartment represented by tenocytes has shown to display an important role in orchestrating the inflammatory response during tendon injuries due to the interplay they exhibit with the immune-sensing and infiltrating compartments, which belong to resident and recruited immune cells. The use of stem cells or their derived secretomes within the regenerative medicine field might represent synergic new therapeutical approaches that can be used to tune the reaction of immune cells within the damaged tissues. To this end, promising opportunities are headed to the stimulation of macrophages polarization towards anti-inflammatory phenotype together with the recruitment of stem cells, that possess immunomodulatory properties, able to infiltrate within the damaged tissues and improve tendinopathies resolution. Indeed, the comprehension of the interactions between tenocytes or stem cells with the immune cells might considerably modulate the immune reaction solving hence the inflammatory response and preventing fibrotic tissue formation. The purpose of this review is to compare the roles of distinct cell compartments during tendon homeostasis and injury. Furthermore, the role of immune cells in this field, as well as their interactions with stem cells and tenocytes during tendon regeneration, will be discussed to gain insights into new ways for dealing with tendinopathies

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

SummaryBackground The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 provides an up-to-date synthesis of the evidence for risk factor exposure and the attributable burden of disease. By providing national and subnational assessments spanning the past 25 years, this study can inform debates on the importance of addressing risks in context. Methods We used the comparative risk assessment framework developed for previous iterations of the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and trends in exposure by age group, sex, year, and geography for 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks from 1990 to 2015. This study included 388 risk-outcome pairs that met World Cancer Research Fund-defined criteria for convincing or probable evidence. We extracted relative risk and exposure estimates from randomised controlled trials, cohorts, pooled cohorts, household surveys, census data, satellite data, and other sources. We used statistical models to pool data, adjust for bias, and incorporate covariates. We developed a metric that allows comparisons of exposure across risk factors—the summary exposure value. Using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level, we estimated the portion of deaths and DALYs that could be attributed to a given risk. We decomposed trends in attributable burden into contributions from population growth, population age structure, risk exposure, and risk-deleted cause-specific DALY rates. We characterised risk exposure in relation to a Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Findings Between 1990 and 2015, global exposure to unsafe sanitation, household air pollution, childhood underweight, childhood stunting, and smoking each decreased by more than 25%. Global exposure for several occupational risks, high body-mass index (BMI), and drug use increased by more than 25% over the same period. All risks jointly evaluated in 2015 accounted for 57·8% (95% CI 56·6–58·8) of global deaths and 41·2% (39·8–42·8) of DALYs. In 2015, the ten largest contributors to global DALYs among Level 3 risks were high systolic blood pressure (211·8 million [192·7 million to 231·1 million] global DALYs), smoking (148·6 million [134·2 million to 163·1 million]), high fasting plasma glucose (143·1 million [125·1 million to 163·5 million]), high BMI (120·1 million [83·8 million to 158·4 million]), childhood undernutrition (113·3 million [103·9 million to 123·4 million]), ambient particulate matter (103·1 million [90·8 million to 115·1 million]), high total cholesterol (88·7 million [74·6 million to 105·7 million]), household air pollution (85·6 million [66·7 million to 106·1 million]), alcohol use (85·0 million [77·2 million to 93·0 million]), and diets high in sodium (83·0 million [49·3 million to 127·5 million]). From 1990 to 2015, attributable DALYs declined for micronutrient deficiencies, childhood undernutrition, unsafe sanitation and water, and household air pollution; reductions in risk-deleted DALY rates rather than reductions in exposure drove these declines. Rising exposure contributed to notable increases in attributable DALYs from high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, occupational carcinogens, and drug use. Environmental risks and childhood undernutrition declined steadily with SDI; low physical activity, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose increased with SDI. In 119 countries, metabolic risks, such as high BMI and fasting plasma glucose, contributed the most attributable DALYs in 2015. Regionally, smoking still ranked among the leading five risk factors for attributable DALYs in 109 countries; childhood underweight and unsafe sex remained primary drivers of early death and disability in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Interpretation Declines in some key environmental risks have contributed to declines in critical infectious diseases. Some risks appear to be invariant to SDI. Increasing risks, including high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, drug use, and some occupational exposures, contribute to rising burden from some conditions, but also provide opportunities for intervention. Some highly preventable risks, such as smoking, remain major causes of attributable DALYs, even as exposure is declining. Public policy makers need to pay attention to the risks that are increasingly major contributors to global burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Wage Premium of Globalization: Evidence from European Mergers and Acquisitions

We provide evidence on the impact of globalization on labor market outcomes analyzing pay differences between foreign-acquired and domestically-owned firms. For this purpose, we use firm level data from 16 European countries over the time period 1999-2006. Applying propensity score matching techniques we estimate positive wage premia of cross-boarder merger and acquisitions (M&As), suggesting that foreign acquired firms exhibit higher short-run (post-acquisition) wages than their domestic counterparts. The observed wage disparities are most pronounced for low paying firms (with average wages below the median). Finally, we find systematic wage premia in Western European countries, but not so in Eastern Europe

A computed tomography based study on rotational alignment accuracy of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty using computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery

Rotation of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is of high importance in respect of the balancing of the knee and the patellofemoral joint. Though it is shown that computer assisted surgery (CAOS) improves the anteroposterior (AP) alignment in TKA, it is still unknown whether navigation helps in finding the accurate rotation or even improving rotation. Therefore the aim of our study was to evaluate the postoperative femoral component rotation on computed tomography (CT) with the intraoperative data of the navigation system. In 20 navigated TKAs the difference between the intraoperative stored rotation data of the femoral component and the postoperative rotation on CT was measured using the condylar twist angle (CTA). This is the angle between the epicondylar axis and the posterior condylar axis. Statistical analysis consisted of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plot. The mean intraoperative rotation CTA based on CAOS was 3.5° (range 2.4–8.6°). The postoperative CT scan showed a mean CTA of 4.0° (1.7–7.2). The ICC between the two observers was 0.81, and within observers this was 0.84 and 0.82, respectively. However, the ICC of the CAOS CTA versus the postoperative CT CTA was only 0.38. Though CAOS is being used for optimising the position of a TKA, this study shows that the (virtual) individual rotational position of the femoral component using a CAOS system is significantly different from the position on a postoperative CT scan

Sequences of complete human cytomegalovirus genomes from infected cell cultures and clinical specimens

We have assessed two approaches to sequencing complete human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genomes (236 kbp) in DNA extracted from infected cell cultures (strains 3157, HAN13, HAN20 and HAN38) or clinical specimens (strains JP and 3301). The first approach involved amplifying genomes from the DNA samples as overlapping PCR products, sequencing these by the Sanger method, acquiring reads from a capillary instrument and assembling these using the Staden programs. The second approach involved generating sequence data from the DNA samples by using an Illumina Genome Analyzer (IGA), processing the filtered reads by reference-independent (de novo) assembly, utilizing the resulting sequence to direct reference-dependent assembly of the same data and finishing by limited PCR sequencing. Both approaches were successful. In particular, the investigation demonstrated the utility of IGA data for efficiently sequencing genomes from clinical samples containing as little as 3 % HCMV DNA. Analysis of the genome sequences obtained showed that each of the strains grown in cell culture was a mutant. Certain of the mutations were shared among strains from independent clinical sources, thus suggesting that they may have arisen in a common ancestor during natural infection. Moreover, one of the strains (JP) sequenced directly from a clinical specimen was mutated in two genes, one of which encodes a proposed immune-evasion function, viral interleukin-10. These observations imply that HCMV mutants exist in human infections

Effects of PREPARE, a Multi-component, School-Based HIV and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention Programme on Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviour and IPV : Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial

Young South Africans, especially women, are at high risk of HIV. We evaluated the effects of PREPARE, a multi-component, school-based HIV prevention intervention to delay sexual debut, increase condom use and decrease intimate partner violence (IPV) among young adolescents. We conducted a cluster RCT among Grade eights in 42 high schools. The intervention comprised education sessions, a school health service and a school sexual violence prevention programme. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Regression was undertaken to provide ORs or coefficients adjusted for clustering. Of 6244 sampled adolescents, 55.3 % participated. At 12 months there were no differences between intervention and control arms in sexual risk behaviours. Participants in the intervention arm were less likely to report IPV victimisation (35.1 vs. 40.9 %; OR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.61-0.99; t(40) = 2.14) suggesting the intervention shaped intimate partnerships into safer ones, potentially lowering the risk for HIV