Technological, institutional, and geographical peripheries: regional development and risk of poverty in the European regions.

In this paper, we analyze the interrelation between technological, institutional, and geographical peripheries. By distinguishing between the quality and quantity of access to information and communication technologies, together with institutional and geographical factors, and using a sample of 229 European regions during the period 2007-2018, we find that the diffusion and quality of information and communication technologies foster economic development and decrease the risk of social exclusion. A similar effect is found for institutional and geographical factors, suggesting that the interplay of these three determinants may be crucial to set up place-based policies. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00168-022-01127-9.

Effects of COVID-19 on trade flows: Measuring their impact through government policy responses.

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on bilateral trade flows using a state-of-the-art gravity model of trade. Using the monthly trade data of 68 countries exporting across 222 destinations between January 2019 and October 2020, our results are threefold. First, we find a greater negative impact of COVID-19 on bilateral trade for those countries that were members of regional trade agreements before the pandemic. Second, we find that the impact of COVID-19 is negative and significant when we consider indicators related to governmental actions. Finally, this negative effect is more intense when exporter and importer country share identical income levels. In the latter case, the highest negative impact is found for exports between high-income countries.

Argentinean recommendations on the identification of treatment failure in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients.

One of the biggest challenges in multiple sclerosis (MS) is the definition of treatment response/failure in order to optimize treatment decisions in affected patients. The objective of this consensus was to review how disease activity should be assessed and to propose recommendations on the identification of treatment failure in RRMS patients in Argentina. METHODS: A panel of experts in neurology from Argentina, dedicated to the diagnosis and care of MS patients, gathered both virtually and in person during 2016 and 2017 to carry out a consensus recommendation on the identification of treatment failure in RRMS patients. To achieve consensus, the methodology of "formal consensus-RAND/UCLA method" was used. RESULTS: Recommendations were established based on published evidence and the expert opinion. Recommendations focused on disease management, disease activity markers and treatment failure identification were determined. Main consensus were: ≥2 relapses during the first year of treatment and/or ≥3 new or enlarged T2 or T1 GAD+ lesions and/or sustained increase of ≥2 points in EDSS or ≥100% in T25FW defines treatment failure in RRMS patients. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations of this consensus guidelines attempts to optimize the health care and management of patients with MS in Argentina.

ENCOMS: Argentinian survey in cost of illness and unmet needs in multiple sclerosis.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the study was to assess the cost of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Argentina categorized by disease severity using a societal perspective. METHOD: Cross-sectional study including MS patients from 21 MS centers in 12 cities of Argentina. Patients were stratified by disease severity using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) (group 1 with EDSS score between 0 and 3; group 2 with EDSS >3 and <7; group 3 with EDSS ≥7). Direct and indirect costs were analyzed for the second quarter of 2012 from public sources and converted to US Dollars. RESULTS: 266 patients were included. Mean annual cost per MS patient was USD 36,025 (95%CI 31,985-38,068) for patients with an EDSS between 0-3; USD 40,705 (95%CI 37,199-46,300) for patients with EDSS >3 and <7, and USD 50,712 (95%CI 47,825-62,104) for patients with EDSS ≥7. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Argentine study evaluating the costs of MS considering disease severity.

ENCOMS: Argentinian survey in cost of illness and unmet needs in multiple sclerosis / ENCOMS: encuesta argentina sobre costos de la enfermedad y necesidades no cubiertas en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple

The objective of the study was to assess the cost of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Argentina categorized by disease severity using a societal perspective. Method: Cross-sectional study including MS patients from 21 MS centers in 12 cities of Argentina. Patients were stratified by disease severity using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) (group 1 with EDSS score between 0 and 3; group 2 with EDSS >3 and <7; group 3 with EDSS ≥7). Direct and indirect costs were analyzed for the second quarter of 2012 from public sources and converted to US Dollars. Results: 266 patients were included. Mean annual cost per MS patient was USD 36,025 (95%CI 31,985-38,068) for patients with an EDSS between 0-3; USD 40,705 (95%CI 37,199-46,300) for patients with EDSS >3 and <7, and USD 50,712 (95%CI 47,825-62,104) for patients with EDSS ≥7. Conclusions: This is the first Argentine study evaluating the costs of MS considering disease severity. .

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el costo de los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple (EM) en Argentina categorizados por severidad de la enfermedad. Método: Estudio de corte transversal que incluyó pacientes con EM en 12 ciudades de Argentina. Los pacientes se estratificaron según expanded disability status scale (EDSS) (grupo 1 EDSS entre 0 y 3; grupo 2 EDDS >3 y <7; grupo 3 EDSS ≥7). Los costos directos e indirectos fueron analizados para el segundo trimestre de 2012 y convertidos a dólares estadounidenses. Resultados: 266 pacientes fueron incluidos. El coste medio anual por paciente con EM fue de USD 36,025 (31,985-38,068 IC95%) para los pacientes con un EDSS entre 0-3; USD 40,705 (37,199-46,300 IC95%) para los pacientes con EDSS >3 y <7 y USD 50,712 (47,825-62,104 IC95%) para los pacientes con EDSS ≥7. Conclusiones: Primer estudio argentino evaluar los costes de la EM considerado la gravedad de la enfermedad. .

Polyethylene glycol enhances colonic barrier function and ameliorates experimental colitis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been suggested to protect against pathogen colonization by improving colonic barrier function. We aimed to establish whether PEG 4000 affects colonic barrier function and the development of colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PEG was included in the drinking water for a period of 48 h before intracolonic administration of TNBS. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: PEG increased colonic surface hydrophobicity and diminished luminal bacterial load. Moreover, PEG markedly reduced mucosal damage and inflammation induced by TNBS. This protection effect appeared to be independent of its laxative properties since the laxatives mannitol or senna extracts had no effect on TNBS colitis. Using everted colonic sacs, pretreatment with PEG produced a lasting reduction in epithelial permeability to mannitol and dextran-70 K that correlated with decreased surface hydrophobicity. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the protective effect of PEG on TNBS colitis is associated with reinforcement of the epithelial barrier.

Does fluid hysteroscopy increase the stage or worsen the prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer? A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether fluid hysteroscopic directed biopsies, in patients with endometrial cancer upstages the tumor and worsens the prognosis. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 1996 and September 2001, a total of 62 consecutive patients with endometrial cancer, treated at our institution, were randomized 3:2 to have or not to have a fluid hysteroscopic biopsy just prior to surgery. A total of 38 patients underwent a hysteroscopy after the induction of anesthesia. All patients had pelvic washings performed, followed by a hysterectomy, bilateral salpingooforectomy and pelvic +/- para-aortic lymph node dissections. Only stages I and II endometrioid type tumors or stage IIIa, secondary to positive pelvic washings, were included in the study. Eight patients in the hysteroscopy group and four patients in the control group were excluded for various reasons. Patients received post-operative radiation therapy depending on the surgical-pathological risk factors. The median follow up was 34 months. Fisher's Exact Test was performed to compare differences between the hysteroscopic (n = 30) and the control (n = 20) groups. RESULTS: We found three patients (10%) with positive washings in the hysteroscopic group compared to one (5%) among the controls (P = 0.64), with a statistical power of <20%. If the differences would persist, we would need 588 patients in each arm to obtain a power of 80%, and reach definitive conclusions. The Odds Ratio (OR) of performing a hysteroscopy and upstaging the tumor in this study was: 2.1 95% CI (0.20-21.09). Prognostic variables were compared between both groups and no differences were observed. All patients but one (dead due to intercurrent disease), were alive and with no evidence of disease at the completion of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Fluid hysteroscopy and directed biopsies may have a small risk of upstaging early endometrial cancers, but does not seem to influence prognosis.