Almost 160 years on from their political unification, Italian territories display large economic disparities. We exploit different data sources to assess the roots of this heterogeneity at the ...province level, contending that citizenship skills and their contribution to the quality of political institutions are key sources of inertia and lack of convergence. Eventually, they may explain the increasing divergence displayed lately by data. We contribute to the literature in four ways. Firstly, our results offer support to the idea that remote measures of people’s literacy are a good proxy for the long-lasting effect of institutions and a predictor of current economic performance. Secondly, after controlling for the historical determinants of institutions, our estimates confirm expectations about the role of current and remote measures of institutional quality in explaining per capita GDP at province level. Thirdly, we provide evidence on the role of entrepreneurship as the main mediator of the institutions-development link to GDP at the local level. Finally, we present evidence on the cyclicality of the contribution of institutional quality to economic performance; we show that the role of institutions is quite stable, and that GDP is more responsive to the quality of institutions in good times.
Incorporation of locally produced signaling molecules into cell‐derived vesicles may serve as an endogenous mediator delivery system. We recently reported that levels alpha‐2‐macroglobulin ...(A2MG)‐containing microparticles are elevated in plasma from patients with sepsis. Herein, we investigated the immunomodulatory actions of A2MG containing microparticles during sepsis. Administration of A2MG‐enriched (A2MG‐E)‐microparticles to mice with microbial sepsis protected against hypothermia, reduced bacterial titers, elevated immunoresolvent lipid mediator levels in inflammatory exudates and reduced systemic inflammation. A2MG‐E microparticles also enhanced survival in murine sepsis, an action lost in mice transfected with siRNA for LRP1, a putative A2MG receptor. In vitro, A2MG was functionally transferred onto endothelial cell plasma membranes from microparticles, augmenting neutrophil–endothelial adhesion. A2MG also modulated human leukocyte responses: enhanced bacterial phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species production, cathelicidin release, prevented endotoxin induced CXCR2 downregulation and preserved neutrophil chemotaxis in the presence of LPS. A significant association was also found between elevated plasma levels of A2MG‐containing microparticles and survival in human sepsis patients. Taken together, these results identify A2MG enrichment in microparticles as an important host protective mechanism in sepsis.
Synopsis
A specific subset of microparticles enriched in Alpha‐2‐macroglobulin (A2MG) previously found increased in the plasma of sepsis patients, are now shown to protect septic mice from dying and improve the containment and clearance of bacteria.
Lethality in experiment sepsis is prevented by administration of human neutrophil microparticles enriched in alpha2‐macroglobluin (A2MG), an effect associated with higher pro‐resolving mediator levels in infectious exudates.
A2MG enriched microparticles promote bacterial clearance by mouse and human leukocytes.
A2MG is transferred by microparticles onto endothelial cells to then promote neutrophil adhesion.
Addition of A2MG to human neutrophil preserved chemotactic responses.
A2MG/CD66b+ve microparticles are elevated in the plasma of septic patients who survived commonly acquired pneumonia.
A specific subset of microparticles enriched in Alpha‐2‐macroglobulin (A2MG) previously found increased in the plasma of sepsis patients, are now shown to protect septic mice from dying and improve the containment and clearance of bacteria.
Summary
Objectives
The aim was to identify factors associated with maxillary expander loss due to anchoring deciduous molars exfoliation and assess the diagnostic accuracy of the upper second ...premolar cusp position as a prognostic factor for the exfoliation of its corresponding deciduous molar.
Materials/methods
Ninety-two subjects aged 8.4 ± 1.1 years, treated with a Haas or hyrax expander, and using the same expansion protocol and deciduous teeth as anchorage were included. The position of the upper second premolar cusp, according to the half pulp chamber (HPC) line of the ipsilateral upper first permanent molar, was assessed on pre-treatment panoramic radiographs.
Results
A significant association between anchoring deciduous molar exfoliation and the position of the upper second premolar cusp according to the HPC line (P = 0.002; odds ratio = 5.7) was seen, while there was no association with gender, age, treatment duration, and type of expander. The median survival time for an anchoring deciduous molar, when the underlying premolar cusp was touching/crossing the HPC line, was 13.0 (11.7; 14.2) months. The upper second premolar cusp position to the HPC line showed high accuracy (at least 76.11 per cent) and substantial repeatability (at least 0.7) as a prognostic factor for the corresponding second deciduous molar exfoliation.
Limitations
Applicability in the mixed dentition phase with fully erupted upper first permanent molars.
Conclusions
The probability of a second deciduous molar to be successfully used as maxillary expander anchorage for at least 16 months is above 94 per cent; when at baseline, the corresponding premolar cusp is apical to the HPC line.
Gene therapy for motor neuron diseases requires efficient gene delivery to motor neurons (MNs) throughout the spinal cord and brainstem. The present study compared adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector ...serotypes 1, 6, 8, and 9 for spinal cord delivery in adult mice, by the intraparenchymal or intrathecal route of administration. Whereas intraparenchymal injections resulted in local transduction of the lumbar segment of the spinal cord, intrathecal injections led to a broader distribution, transducing cells along the sacral, lumbar, and lower thoracic spinal cord. Overall, AAV6 and AAV9 performed better than the other serotypes. Dramatic differences in cell-specific expression patterns could be observed when constructs bearing the chicken β-actin (Cba) versus cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter were compared. In summary, intrathecal delivery of AAV6 or AAV9 vectors containing the CMV promoter yielded the strongest levels of biodistribution and MN transduction in the spinal cord.
Background
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, although the lack of a precise definition precludes accurate data of the ...absolute prevalence of PPH.
Study Design and Methods
An international expert panel in obstetrics, gynecology, hematology, transfusion, and anesthesiology undertook a comprehensive review of the literature. At a meeting in November 2011, the panel agreed on a definition of severe PPH that would identify those women who were at a high risk of adverse clinical outcomes.
Results
The panel agreed on the following definition for severe persistent (ongoing) PPH: “Active bleeding >1000 mL within the 24 hours following birth that continues despite the use of initial measures including first‐line uterotonic agents and uterine massage.” A treatment algorithm for severe persistent PPH was subsequently developed. Initial evaluations include measurement of blood loss and clinical assessments of PPH severity. Coagulation screens should be performed as soon as persistent (ongoing) PPH is diagnosed, to guide subsequent therapy. If initial measures fail to stop bleeding and uterine atony persists, second‐ and third‐line (if required) interventions should be instated. These include mechanical or surgical maneuvers, i.e., intrauterine balloon tamponade or hemostatic brace sutures with hysterectomy as the final surgical option for uncontrollable PPH. Pharmacologic options include hemostatic agents (tranexamic acid), with timely transfusion of blood and plasma products playing an important role in persistent and severe PPH.
Conclusion
Early, aggressive, and coordinated intervention by health care professionals is critical in minimizing blood loss to ensure optimal clinical outcomes in management of women with severe, persistent PPH.
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•CBD shows biological effects on human cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner.•CBD appears to exhibit effects with dosages above 10 μM on oral cell populations.•Cell viability, ...proliferation and migration are inhibited with high doses of CBD.•The anti-inflammatory effect results homogeneous in terms of mediator production.
A systematic review was performed to evaluate the biological effects of Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the major components of Cannabis Sativa, on normal human healthy cell populations in terms of cell viability, proliferation, migration, apoptosis and inflammation. Inclusion criteria were: studies on cell lines and primary cell culture from healthy donors, CBD exposure as variable, no CBD exposure as control and published in English language. Quality assessment was based on ToxR tool, with a score of reliability ranging from 15 to 18.Following the PRISMA statement, three independent reviewers performed both a manual and an electronic search using MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane. From a total of 9437eligible articles, 29 studies have been selected. The average quality assessment score was 16.48.Theresults showed heterogeneous CBD concentration exposure (0.01–50 μM or 0.1 nmol/mL-15 mg/mL). The definition of a threshold limit would allow the identification of specific effects on expected outcomes. From the data obtained CBD resulted to inhibit cell viability in a dose-dependent manner above 2 μM, while in oral cell populations the inhibitory concentration is higher than 10 μM. Moreover, it was observed a significantly inhibition of cell migration and proliferation. On the contrary, it was highlighted a stimulation of apoptosis only at high doses (from 10 μM).Finally, CBD produced an anti-inflammatory effect, with a reduction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and secretion. CBD down-regulated ROS production, although at high concentrations (16 μM) increased ROS-related genes expression. The diffusion of CBD for therapeutic and recreational uses require a precise definition of its potential biological effects. A thorough knowledge of these aspects would allow a safe use of this substance without any possible side effects.
To clarify the microscopic effects of solvents on the formation of the Li+-O2 – process of a Li–O2 battery, we studied the kinetics and thermodynamics of these ions in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ...1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMI-TFSI) using classical molecular dynamics simulation. The force field for ions–solvents interactions was parametrized by force matching first-principles calculations. Despite the solvation energies of the ions are similar in both solvents, their mobility is much higher in DMSO. The free-energy profiles also confirm that the formation and decomposition rates of Li+-O2 – pairs are greater in DMSO than in EMI-TFSI. Our atomistic simulations point out that the strong structuring of EMI-TFSI around the ions is responsible for these differences, and it explains why the LiO2 clusters formed in DMSO during the battery discharge are larger than those in EMI-TFSI. Understanding the origin of such properties is crucial to aid the optimization of electrolytes for Li–O2 batteries.
Reproductive tract bleeding in women is a naturally occurring event during menstruation and childbirth. In women with menorrhagia, however, congenital bleeding disorders historically have been ...underdiagnosed. This consensus is intended to allow physicians to better recognize bleeding disorders as a cause of menorrhagia and consequently offer effective disease-specific therapies.
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