Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are often accompanied by autoimmune phenomena. The underlying mechanisms for these associations remain uncertain, although T cell activation seems to be important. Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) has been detected in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, mostly in regions of the world which are endemic for the virus, and where association of HTLV-1 with rheumatological manifestation is not rare. We present here the case of a 58 year old man who presented with cytopenias, leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the skin and glomerulopathy, and was diagnosed as MDS (refractory anemia with excess blasts - RAEB 1). The patient also tested positive for HTLV-1 by PCR. After 8 monthly cycles of 5-azacytidine he achieved a complete hematologic remission. Following treatment, a second PCR for HTLV-1 was carried out and found to be negative. This is the first report in the literature of a HTLV-1-positive MDS with severe autoimmune manifestations, which was treated with the hypomethylating factor 5-azacitidine, achieving cytogenetic remission with concomitant resolution of the autoimmune manifestations, as well as HTLV-1-PCR negativity. HTLV-1-PCR negativity may be due to either immune mediated clearance of the virus, or a potential antiretroviral effect of 5-azacytidine. 5-azacytidine is known for its antiretroviral effects, although there is no proof of its activity against HTLV-1 infection in vivo.

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We estimate the public-private sector pay gap for 27 European countries, using the 2008 EU SILC. The coefficients of conditional (on personal and job characteristics) public sector controls give a first impression on wage differences, while decompositions into explained and unexplained components (also accounting for selectivity) allow for a more complete analysis, which helps to identify possible causes of the gap. Regional patterns exist. Separate subsample decompositions based on age, education, gender and occupation, provide interesting insight regarding the pay structure of each country. Quantile decomposition analyses show that the public-private pay gap is, generally, negatively related to income quantiles. JEL classification: J31, J45, J48

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Growing evidence suggests that agonists of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor exert neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects across a range of experimental models of neuronal degeneration, and, recently, a pilot clinical trial of Liraglutide in Alzheimer’s disease patients showed improvements in cerebral glucose consumption that signifies disease progression. However, the exact underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has recently emerged as a mechanism for neuronal injury, rendering it a potent therapeutic target for acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we investigate the neuroprotective effects of Liraglutide along with the signalling network against prolong ER stress and autophagy impairments induced by the non-competitive inhibitor of sarco/ER Ca2+-ATPase, thapsigargin. We show that Liraglutide modulates the ER stress response and elicits ER proteostasis and autophagy machinery homeostasis in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. These effects correlate with resolution of hyper-activity of the antioxidant Nrf2 factor and restoration of the impaired cell viability and proliferation. Mechanistically, Liraglutide engages Akt and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling to favour adaptive responses and shift cell fate from apoptosis to survival under chronic stress conditions in SH-SY5Y cells.