Protectionist Responses to the Crisis: Global Trends and Implications

In this paper we take a systematic look at recent trends in global protectionism and at the potential implications of a protectionist backlash for economic growth, using results from the recent economic literature and new model simulations. We find that there has so far been a moderate increase in actual protectionist measures to restrict trade through tariff and non-tariff barriers. At the same time, evidence from surveys shows that public pressure for more economic protection has been mounting since the mid-2000s, and has possibly intensified since the start of the financial crisis. However, no World Trade Organization (WTO) member has retreated into widespread trade restrictions or protectionism to date. Our model-based simulations suggest that the impairment of the global flow of trade would hamper the recovery from the crisis, as well as the long-term growth of the global economy. At the same time, it is unlikely that protectionism would help to correct existing current account imbalances. Moreover, the countries implementing protectionist measures should expect a deterioration of their international competitiveness, which would further affect the potential for longer-term real GDP growth.Protectionism ; trade ; financial crisis ; competitiveness ; World Trade Organization ; global imbalances.

Risk adjustment for inter-hospital comparison of caesarean delivery rates in low-risk deliveries

BACKGROUND: Caesarean delivery (CD) rates have been frequently used as quality measures for maternity service comparisons. More recently, primary CD rates (CD in women without previous CD) or CD rates within selected categories such as nulliparous, term, cephalic singleton deliveries (NTCS) have been used. The objective of this study is to determine the extent to which risk adjustment for clinical and socio-demographic variables is needed for inter-hospital comparisons of CD rates in women without previous CD and in NTCS deliveries. METHODS: Hospital discharge records of women who delivered in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) from January, 2007 to June 2009 and in Tuscany Region for year 2009 were linked with birth certificates. Adjusted RRs of CD in women without a previous Caesarean and NTCS were estimated using Poisson regression. Percentage differences in RR before and after adjustment were calculated and hospital rankings, based on crude and adjusted RRs, were examined. RESULTS: Adjusted RR differed substantially from crude RR in women without a previous Caesarean and only marginally in NTCS group. Hospital ranking was markedly affected by adjustment in women without a previous CD, but less in NTCS. CONCLUSION: Risk adjustment is warranted for inter-hospital comparisons of primary CD rates but not for NTCS CD rates. Crude NTCS CD rates are a reliable estimate of adjusted NTCS CD

Effect of Efalizumab on neutrophil and monocyte functions in patients with psoriasis

We evaluated the effect of efalizumab on neutrophil and monocyte functions. The in vitro preincubation with efalizumab concentrations similar to those reached during in vivo therapy almost completely saturated CD11a binding sites without affecting the membrane expression of CD11b, CD128a or CD128b. There was a significant reduction in the chemotactic activity of the pre-treated cells toward three different chemo-attractants, whereas their phagocytic capacity and production of oxygen radicals remained unchanged. One month after the administration of efalizumab to five patients with psoriasis (T1) circulating neutrophil counts increased by 34% from pre-therapy (T0) with no change in the number of monocytes. In the same patients the CD11a binding sites on phagocytes were >90% saturated, and there was also a significant down-modulation on neutrophils (44% of T0) and monocytes (63% of T0). In line with in vitro results, efalizumab treatment caused a significant deficiency in the chemotactic properties of neutrophils and monocytes, but no changes in phagocytosis, oxidative burst, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines or the membrane expression of CD11b, CD128a and CD128b. Our findings suggest that neutrophils and monocytes may be among the targets of efalizumab activity in patients with psoriasis

Treatment of rats with a self-selected hyperlipidic diet, increases the lipid content of the main adipose tissue sites in a proportion similar to that of the lipids in the rest of organs and tissues

Adipose tissue (AT) is distributed as large differentiated masses, and smaller depots covering vessels, and organs, as well as interspersed within them. The differences between types and size of cells makes AT one of the most disperse and complex organs. Lipid storage is partly shared by other tissues such as muscle and liver. We intended to obtain an approximate estimation of the size of lipid reserves stored outside the main fat depots. Both male and female rats were made overweight by 4-weeks feeding of a cafeteria diet. Total lipid content was analyzed in brain, liver, gastrocnemius muscle, four white AT sites: subcutaneous, perigonadal, retroperitoneal and mesenteric, two brown AT sites (interscapular and perirenal) and in a pool of the rest of organs and tissues (after discarding gut contents). Organ lipid content was estimated and tabulated for each individual rat. Food intake was measured daily. There was a surprisingly high proportion of lipid not accounted for by the main macroscopic AT sites, even when brain, liver and BAT main sites were discounted. Muscle contained about 8% of body lipids, liver 1-1.4%, four white AT sites lipid 28-63% of body lipid, and the rest of the body (including muscle) 38-44%. There was a good correlation between AT lipid and body lipid, but lipid in"other organs" was highly correlated too with body lipid. Brain lipid was not. Irrespective of dietary intake, accumulation of body fat was uniform both for the main lipid storage and handling organs: large masses of AT (but also liver, muscle), as well as in the"rest" of tissues. These storage sites, in specialized (adipose) or not-specialized (liver, muscle) tissues reacted in parallel against a hyperlipidic diet challenge. We postulate that body lipid stores are handled and regulated coordinately, with a more centralized and overall mechanisms than usually assumed

Why are anopheline mosquitoes not present in the Seychelles?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Species of anopheline mosquitoes are largely distributed over emerged lands around the world and, within the tropics, few areas are without these insects, which are vectors of malaria parasites. Among the exceptions is the Seychelles archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. However, in the Aldabra island group, located in the extreme western portion of the archipelago, <it>Anopheles gambiae s.l. </it>was introduced, leading to massive proliferation and then elimination, with the most recent autochthonous malaria cases recorded in 1931.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In order to re-examine the absence of anopheline mosquitoes in the Seychelles, an entomological field survey was conducted in December 2008 at 17 sites on four granitic islands, including Mahé and Praslin, and ten sites on coralline atolls in the extreme west, including Aldabra.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No evidence of larval or adult anophelines was found at the surveyed sites, which supports their absence in the Seychelles.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the granitic islands of the Seychelles, the climate is favourable for anophelines. However, these islands are protected by their remoteness and prevailing seasonal winds. In addition, stagnant freshwater, required in anopheline larval development, is relatively uncommon on the granitic islands because of the steep slopes. In the southwestern atolls (Aldabra and Providence-Farquhar groups), the presence of a long dry season of up to nine months and the total absence of permanent natural freshwater prevents the breeding of anophelines and their successful colonization. The Seychelles does not have any native land mammals and like in other parts of the world (Antarctica, Iceland, New Caledonia, Central Pacific islands) their absence is associated with the lack of anophelines. This suggests an obligatory relationship for anophelines to feed on terrestrial mammals, without alternative for blood-feeding sources, such as bats, birds and reptiles.</p

Tobacco industry globalization and global health governance: : towards an interdisciplinary research agenda

Shifting patterns of tobacco production and consumption, and the resultant disease burden worldwide since the late twentieth century prompted efforts to strengthen global health governance through adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. While the treaty is rightfully considered an important achievement, to address a neglected public health issue through collective action, evidence suggests that tobacco industry globalization continues apace. In this article we provide a systematic review of the public health literature and reveal definitional and measurement imprecision, ahistorical timeframes, transnational tobacco companies and the state as the primary units and levels of analysis, and a strong emphasis on agency as opposed to structural power. Drawing on the study of globalization in international political economy and business studies, we identify opportunities to expand analysis along each of these dimensions. We conclude that this expanded and interdisciplinary research agenda provides the potential for fuller understanding of the dual and dynamic relationship between the tobacco industry and globalization. Deeper analysis of how the industry has adapted to globalization over time, as well as how the industry has influenced the nature and trajectory of globalization, is essential for building effective global governance responses

Sensibilizzazione ai metalli delle protesi ortopediche: uno studio su 50 pazienti

Background: currently, about 5% of operations of prosthesis implantation fail, but only a small part of these failures can be attributed to allergic reactions that result in dermatosis such as eczemas, eritrodermia, urticaria and prurigo. Objective: to understand the relevance of the sensitization to the materials used in orthopedic prostheses and the kind of allergic reactions that they can cause. Materials and Methods: the study group consisted of 50 patients (20 women and 30 men), whose ages ranged from 12 to 76 (the average age was 52.26 and the median 59) and who were attending at hospital specialized in orthopedics. All the patients underwent patch tests for metals and orthopedic metals. Ten of them were tested also for SIDAPA (Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology) integrated standard series and nine for polylactic acid 10% in vaseline. Thirty patients were patch tested before the orthopedic operation and 20 patients were tested after. Results and discussion: fourteen patients tested positive to one or more substances: nickel (14), potassium dichromate (2), palladium (2), cobalt chloride (1) and tin (1). It is difficult to determine if the patients who tested positive after the operation were also positive before, or if they became positive after contact with the metals in the prosthesis. Their case histories did not indicate if they underwent patch-tests for these substances prior to their operations. Moreover, we can not predict if a patient who had a negative patch-test before the operation can develop sensitivity to some metals after the implantation of a prosthesis. Allergy to metals is rather frequent in the general population, and for this reason a patient who must receive a prosthesis can be sensitive before the intervention or they can develop an allergy over time. As a matter of fact the implanted alloy can cause sensitization in a time window ranging from a few days to some years. More and more patients should undergo these tests before being operated for the implantation of a prosthesis and not only when potential sensitization to metals is suspected or when dermatological or orthopedic complications occur