KINDLEBERGER AND MACROMANAGEMENT

The idea of the relation between the economic development level and the balance of payments position is not a new one. Yet, this idea was formalized for the first time in the early 1960s by Charles Kindlеberger in the form of the balance of payments evolution scheme. Although this is a rather “old” concept, all the aspects of this theory and all the possibilities for its usage have not been exhausted yet. For example, this theory explicitly includes an interesting (and provocative) idea that the underlying point of development, the point that separates developed economies from underdeveloped economies is actually the moment when a country reaches the full coverage of imports by exports. More implicitly, in the manner of a genuine liberal, who Kindleberger certainly was, this theory suggests the implementation of passive (pro-liberal) economic policies. This, in combination with our research on possible ways of measuring the level of economic development, has led us to the idea that, in circumstances of relatively liberal3 trade, the level of development and level of competitiveness could be measured by the export/import indicator. In the work we will show that this idea is not generally accepted, but still worth researching. Our intention with this work was to show that countries in South-East Europe, although facing serious economic difficulties, are developing and improving their competitiveness position in time, and to try to predict, for each country, the time when that country will join the club of lesserdeveloped, but yet developed countries. This would have reflections in the assessment of the adequacy of the economic polices implemented in those countries during the last twenty years, i.e. the quality of macromanagement in these countries

Analyse von Medienberichten aus Bosnien und Herzegowina am Beispiel der Verhaftung und Auslieferung Radovan Karadzics

Während der letzten Jahrhunderte erlebte die Region des Westbalkans viele gesellschaftspolitische Umbrüche. Der letzte große Umbruch waren die Kriege der 90er Jahre, besonderes der „Bürgerkrieg“ in Bosnien-Herzegowina, zwischen drei dort lebende Nationen. Ein wichtiger Aspekt in diesem Zusammenhang ist die Korrelation zwischen der so genannten „institutionellen Sicherheit“ auf der einen Seite und alternativen Orientierungssystemen auf der anderen Seite (allen voran das Mediensystem), welche als gesellschaftliche Fundamente jede Gemeinschaft entwickelt hat. In Bosnien und Herzegowina konnten diese Sicherheits- und Orientierungssysteme nie zu vollem Ausmaß entwickelt werden, weil die Geschichte des Landes mit den verschiedenen Nationen, Religionen und Kulturen zu komplex war. Die vorherrschenden Wertesysteme haben sich in der Bevölkerung, mit den drei voneinander isolierten kollektiven Identitäten, nicht natürlich, sondern unter dem Einfluss von Politik und den Medien (welche auch politisch manipuliert waren), entwickelt. Die Medien gelten als unverzichtbare Mittler zwischen gesellschaftlichen Informationsquellen, die den Menschen helfen Krisensituationen zu beurteilen und sich zu orientieren. Der theoretische Teil der vorliegenden Arbeit setzt sich mit Kriterien und Voraussetzungen für „idealen Journalismus“ auseinander. Darüber hinaus wird abgehandelt, welche Faktoren qualitätsvolle journalistische Berichterstattung beeinflussen können und warum der Begriff „Medienobjektivität“ durch die Kriterien für Qualitätsjournalismus sehr schwer zu fassen ist. Die verschiedenen theoretischen Reflexionen lassen keinen Zweifel daran, dass es sehr ausdifferenzierte Auffassungen über die Wirklichkeitswahrnehmung bzw. deren Verzerrung durch die Medien gibt, da die von Medien „produzierte“ Wirklichkeit als Medienwirklichkeit bezeichnet werden muss und nicht als „wirkliche“ Wirklichkeit. Im Empirischen Teil, hat sich, anhand der Inhaltsanalyse, meine Hypothese, dass die Medien in Bosnien-Herzegowina, 15 Jahre nach dem Krieg noch immer gespalten sind, bestätigt. Im Falle der Verhaftung von Radovan Karadzic standen die Medien unter politischer Einflussnahme und die Journalisten haben dadurch ihre professionelle Einstellung und die neutrale Rolle, die sie haben sollten, vernachlässigt. Deswegen haben die Medien in diesem Fall einen starken sensationalistischen Unterton durchklingen lassen. Die Analyse der Berichterstattungen zeigt, dass in diesem Fall die Medien ihre Interpretation veröffentlicht haben und keine „wirkliche Wirklichkeit“. Im empirischen Teil dieser Arbeit, konnte anhand der Inhaltsanalyse bewiesen werden, dass die Medien in jene unterteilt werden können, die klare Sympathien gegenüber Karadzic zeigen und jene, die ihn stark verurteilen. Die Analyse der Medienberichte aus Bosnien-Herzegowina zeigten, wie tief die territoriellen, nationalen und ideoligischen Barrieren sind, die während des Krieges festgemacht wurden. Vielleicht sind die immer noch gespaltenen Medien und deren unhomogene Berichterstattung dafür verantwortlich zu machen, dass die Bevölkerung gespalten ist, weil sich die Menschen, die kein klar definierten Werte- und Orientierungssysteme besitzen, in Krisensituationen den Medien verstärkt zuwenden um ihre Unsicherheit zu verringern

Absence of microsatellite instability and BRAF (V600E) mutation in testicular germ cell tumors

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common malignant neoplasm in young men. DNA mismatch repair deficiency can lead to microsatellite instability (MSI), an important mechanism of genetic instability. A mutation of the BRAF gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several solid tumors and has recently become an important therapeutic target. The role of MSI and BRAF gene mutation in TGCT, particularly in refractory disease, is poorly understood and reported findings are controversial. In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency and clinical impact of MSI status and BRAF mutations in TGCT. DNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue from 150 TGCT cases. The MSI phenotype was evaluated using multiplex PCR for five quasimonomorphic mononucleotide repeat markers. Exon 15 of the BRAF oncogene (V600E) was analyzed by PCR, followed by direct sequencing. Sixteen percent of cases were considered to have refractory disease. In a small subset of cases (17 for MSI and 18 for BRAF), the quantity and quality of DNA recovery were poor and therefore, were unable to be analyzed. The remaining 133 TGCT cases showed a complete absence of MSI. Of the 132 cases successfully evaluated for BRAF mutations, all were V600E wild-type. In conclusion, despite a distinct response of testicular germ cell tumors to therapy, microsatellite instability, and the BRAF V600E mutation were absent in all testicular germ cell tumors tested in this study.This project was financially supported by Barretos Cancer Hospital internal research funds (PAIP). The authors acknowledge Dr. Laura Musselwhite for her critical review of the manuscript

Expression of oestrogen receptor beta (ERβ1) protein in human breast cancer biopsies

Oestrogen action is mediated via specific receptors that act as ligand-activated transcription factors. A monoclonal antibody specific to the C-terminus of human oestrogen receptor beta has been characterized and the prevalence of expression of oestrogen receptor beta protein investigated in a well defined set of breast cancers. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of RNA from tissue biopsies detected oestrogen receptor beta in all samples examined. The anti-oestrogen receptor beta antibody cross reacted specifically with both long (∼59 Kd) and short (∼53 Kd) forms of recombinant oestrogen receptor beta. Western blot analysis of breast tumours contained both forms of oestrogen receptor beta protein although in some samples lower molecular weight species (32–45 Kd) were identified. Fifty-one breast cancer biopsies were examined using immunohistochemistry; 41 (80%) were immunopositive for oestrogen receptor alpha, 48 (94%) were immunopositive for oestrogen receptor beta and 38 (74.5%) co-expressed both receptors. Expression of oestrogen receptor beta was exclusively nuclear and occurred in multiple cell types. There was no quantitative relationship between staining for the two ERs although in tumours in which both receptors were present immunoexpression of oestrogen receptor alpha was invariably more intense. The significance of oestrogen receptor beta protein expression in breast cancers to therapy remains to be determined but the availability of a well characterized antibody capable of detecting oestrogen receptor beta in archive material will facilitate the process

Prognostic Significance of High Expression of ER-beta in Surgically Treated ER-Positive Breast Cancer Following Endocrine Therapy

Purpose: This study evaluated estrogen receptor (ER)-beta mRNA and ER-beta protein expression and its prognostic implications in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Methods: Paraffin sections from 139 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cases were prepared. The expression of ER-beta mRNA and protein were analyzed by branched-chain assay and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Results: The Allred score of ER-beta IHC was correlated with smaller tumor size (p=0.043), the Allred score of ER-alpha IHC (p<0.001), and the Allred score of progesterone receptor (PR) IHC (p=0.022) but not with the HER2 IHC score. ER-beta mRNA level was correlated with PR mRNA levels (p<0.001) but not with the Allred score of ER-beta IHC, ER-alpha IHC, and PR IHC, nor with the HER2 IHC score and ER-alpha mRNA level. In survival analysis, high expression of ER-beta mRNA was associated with worse disease-free survival along with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and absence of PR protein expression in univariate analysis (p = 0.040, p = 0.002, p = 0.018, and p = 0.007, respectively) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.044, p = 0.002, p = 0.035, and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: High expression of ER-beta mRNA is an independent predictor of disease recurrence in hormone-receptorpositive breast cancer

17β-Oestradiol treatment modulates nitric oxide synthase activity in MDA231 tumour with implications on growth and radiation response

The putative oestrogen receptor negative human breast cancer cell line MDA231, when grown as tumours in mice continually receiving 17β-oestradiol, showed substantially increased growth rate when compared to control animals. Further, we observed that 17β-oestradiol treatment could both increase the growth rate of established MDA231 tumours as well as decreasing the time taken for initiating tumour growth. We have also demonstrated that this increase in growth rate is accompanied by a four-fold increase in nitric oxide synthase activity, which was predominantly the inducible form. Inducible-nitric oxide synthase expression in these tumours was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis and appeared localized primarily in areas between viable and necrotic regions of the tumour (an area that is presumably hypoxic). Prophylactic treatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester resulted in significant reduction in this apparent 17β-oestradiol-mediated growth promoting effect. Tumours derived from mice receiving 17β-oestradiol-treatment were characterized by a significantly lower fraction of perfused blood vessels and an indication of an increased hypoxic fraction. Consistent with these observations, 17β-oestradiol-treated tumours were less radio-responsive compared to control tumours when treated with a single radiation dose of 15 Gy. Our data suggests that long-term treatment with oestrogen could significantly alter the tumour oxygenation status during breast tumour progression, thus affecting response to radiotherapy

The Expression of Estrogen Receptors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Korean Patients

Expression of estrogen receptors (ER)-α and -β, as well as androgen receptor (AR), in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is thought to be correlated with prognosis, survival, and male prevalence of HCC. These hypotheses are based on investigations of European patients; however the expression patterns of these receptors in Asian patients are largely unknown. In this study, we collected liver carcinoma and peritumor tissues from 32 patients (9 females and 23 males) in South Korea. The expression of ERs and ARs was studied using RT-PCR. Wild-type ER-α and AR were expressed in all of the samples investigated, and their expression was independent of the causal virus or patient sex. Expression of the ER-α variant was independent of sex (100% female vs. 91.3% male) and HCV and HBV status (91.3% vs. 100%). Wild-type ER-β was expressed more often in HCV patients than in HBV patients (95.7% vs. 44.4%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, the stronger ER-α variant expression in HCC tissues implies that this variant has an important role in HCC development. However, at least in Korean patients, expression of the ER-α variant (vER-α) is not related to male HCC prevalence. In addition, the predominant expression of ER-β in HCV patients suggests that it plays an important role in HCV-induced liver disease

Rhodococcus equi venous catheter infection: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p><it>Rhodococcus equi </it>is an animal pathogen that was initially isolated from horses and is being increasingly reported as a cause of infection in humans with impaired cellular immunity. However, this pathogen is underestimated as a challenging antagonist and is frequently considered to be a mere contaminant despite the potential for life-threatening infections. Most case reports have occurred in immunocompromised patients who have received organ transplants (for example kidney, heart, bone marrow) or those with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Infections often manifest as pulmonary involvement or soft tissue abscesses. Bacteremia related to <it>R. equi </it>infections of tunneled central venous catheters has rarely been described.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 63-year-old non-transplant recipient, non-HIV infected Caucasian woman with endometrial carcinoma who developed recurrent bloodstream infections and septic shock due to <it>R. equi </it>and ultimately required the removal of her port catheter, a subcutaneous implantable central venous catheter. We also review the medical literature related to human infections with <it>R. equi</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>R. equi </it>should be considered a serious pathogen, not a contaminant, particularly in an immunocompromised patient who presents with a central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection. Counseling patients with central venous catheters who participate in activities involving exposure to domesticated animals is recommended.</p

EBAG9/RCAS1 in human breast carcinoma: a possible factor in endocrine–immune interactions

EBAG9 has been recently identified as an oestrogen responsive gene in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. EBAG9 is identical to RCAS1, a cancer cell surface antigen possibly involved in immune escape. In this study, we examined the expression of EBAG9/RCAS1 in human breast carcinomas using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EBAG9 immunoreactivity was also associated with various clinicopathological parameters, including intratumoural infiltration of inflammatory cells, to examine the biological significance of EBAG9 in human breast carcinomas. EBAG9 immunoreactivity was detected in the entire surface and cytoplasm of carcinoma cells in 82 out of 91 invasive ductal carcinomas (90.1%). In non-neoplastic mammary glands, EBAG9 immunoreactivity was weakly present on the luminal surface of epithelial cells. Results from RT-PCR (n = 7) were consistent with those of immunohistochemistry. EBAG9 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with estrogen receptor (ER) α labelling index (P = 0.0081), and inversely associated with the degree of intratumoural infiltration of mononuclear cells (P = 0.0020), or CD3+ T lymphocytes (P = 0.0025). This study suggests that EBAG9 is produced via ER in carcinoma cells and inhibits the intratumoural infiltration of T lymphocytes in the context of a possible endocrine–immune interaction in human breast carcinomas. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Estrogen receptor transcription and transactivation: Estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta - regulation by selective estrogen receptor modulators and importance in breast cancer

Estrogens display intriguing tissue-selective action that is of great biomedical importance in the development of optimal therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, for menopausal hormone replacement, and for fertility regulation. Certain compounds that act through the estrogen receptor (ER), now referred to as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), can demonstrate remarkable differences in activity in the various estrogen target tissues, functioning as agonists in some tissues but as antagonists in others. Recent advances elucidating the tripartite nature of the biochemical and molecular actions of estrogens provide a good basis for understanding these tissue-selective actions. As discussed in this thematic review, the development of optimal SERMs should now be viewed in the context of two estrogen receptor subtypes, ERα and ERβ, that have differing affinities and responsiveness to various SERMs, and differing tissue distribution and effectiveness at various gene regulatory sites. Cellular, biochemical, and structural approaches have also shown that the nature of the ligand affects the conformation assumed by the ER-ligand complex, thereby regulating its state of phosphorylation and the recruitment of different coregulator proteins. Growth factors and protein kinases that control the phosphorylation state of the complex also regulate the bioactivity of the ER. These interactions and changes determine the magnitude of the transcriptional response and the potency of different SERMs. As these critical components are becoming increasingly well defined, they provide a sound basis for the development of novel SERMs with optimal profiles of tissue selectivity as medical therapeutic agents