Retrospective computed tomography assessment of chemotherapy-related pneumonia with severity screening in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia by radiological imaging.

Objectives: To evaluate the radiological imaging-guided severity along the pneumonia course and evaluate the chest computed tomography (CT) findings of chemotherapy-related pneumonia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Materials and methods: A retrospective database review of children with ALL was conducted from March 2016 to August 2021 to identify cases with CT images who developed pneumonia during the chemotherapy course. A total of 51 children with ALL developed pneumonia were ultimately included (31 boys and 20 girls, mean age: 6 ± 4 years [standard deviation]). Each child's demographics, medical records, and laboratory results were collected. The CT images were then reviewed and the radiologic severity index (RSI) was calculated based on the regional opacity and implicated volume. A t-test, U test, Pearson's Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were performed to compare the clinical or radiologic features between the severe and moderate cases. The linear regression models were employed to analyze the correlation of RSIs with other clinical features. Results: Eleven children (22 %, 11/51) displayed severe phenotypes associated with respiratory failure. The ground glass opacity (GGO) frequently appeared (65 % of CT images). The baseline RSI was positively associated with the lowest lymphocyte (p = .003), neutrophil (p = .01) counts, and the highest C-reactive protein level (p = .04). The peak RSI may predict severe phenotypes at a cutoff of 4.5 (AUC 0.76 [0.61, 0.91]) with 73 % sensitivity and 63 % specificity. Conclusion: The chest CT images of children with chemotherapy-related pneumonia displayed clinically related baseline RSI and a peak RSI of >4.5 of 36 predicted severe phenotypes.

International evidence on state ownership and trade credit: Opportunities and motivations.

Recent events, most notably the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, have made it increasingly apparent that liquidity is synonymous with corporate survival. In this paper, we explore how governments can fulfill an important need as suppliers of liquidity. Building on the financing advantage view of state ownership, we theorize how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) may provide capital by offering trade credit to customer firms. The data indicate a positive relation between the level of state ownership and the provision of trade credit. Using an institution-focused framework, we further determine that the nation's institutional environment systematically affects the opportunities and motivations for SOEs to grant trade credit. Specifically, we find that SOEs grant more trade credit in countries with less developed financial markets, weaker legal protection of creditors, less comprehensive information-sharing mechanisms, more collectivist societies, left-wing governments, and higher levels of unemployment. Firm-level factors also influence the credit-granting decisions of SOEs, with SOEs with lower levels of state ownership and higher extents of internationalization offering lower amounts of trade credit. Overall, our study offers novel insights regarding the important role of state-owned firms as providers of liquidity.

Les événements récents, notamment la crise financière mondiale et la pandémie de COVID-19, ont montré de plus en plus que la liquidité est synonyme de survie des entreprises. Dans cet article, nous explorons comment les gouvernements peuvent répondre à un besoin important en tant que fournisseurs de liquidités. En nous appuyant sur la perspective de l'avantage financier de la propriété de l'État, nous théorisons comment les entreprises publiques (EP) peuvent fournir des capitaux en offrant des crédits commerciaux aux entreprises clientes. Les données indiquent une relation positive entre le niveau de propriété de l'État et l'offre de crédits commerciaux. En utilisant un cadre axé sur les institutions, nous déterminons en outre que l'environnement institutionnel du pays affecte systématiquement les possibilités et les motivations des EP d'octroyer des crédits commerciaux. Plus précisément, nous constatons que les EP accordent plus de crédits commerciaux dans les pays avec des marchés financiers moins développés, une protection juridique plus faible des créanciers, des mécanismes d'échanges d'informations moins complets, des sociétés plus collectivistes, des gouvernements de gauche et des taux de chômage plus élevés. Des facteurs au niveau de l'entreprise influencent également les décisions d'octroi de crédit des EP, les EP avec des niveaux inférieurs de propriété de l'État et des niveaux plus élevés d'internationalisation offrant des montants de crédits commerciaux plus faibles. Dans l'ensemble, notre étude offre de nouvelles perspectives sur le rôle important des entreprises publiques en tant que fournisseurs de liquidités.

Los sucesos recientes, en particular la crisis financiera mundial y la pandemia COVID-19, han hecho cada vez más evidente que la liquidez es sinónimo de supervivencia corporativa. En este documento, exploramos cómo los gobiernos pueden satisfacer una necesidad importante como proveedores de liquidez. Basándonos en la visión de la ventaja financiera de la propiedad estatal, teorizamos cómo las empresas de propiedad estatal (SOEs por sus iniciales inglés) pueden proporcionar capital ofreciendo crédito comercial a las empresas clientes. Los datos indican una relación positiva entre el nivel de propiedad estatal y la provisión de crédito comercial. Usando un marco centrado en las instituciones, determinamos además que el entorno institucional de la nación afecta sistemáticamente las oportunidades y motivaciones para que las empresas de propiedad estatal otorguen crédito comercial. Específicamente, encontramos que las empresas de propiedad estatal de comercio otorgan más crédito comercial en países con mercados financieros menos desarrollados, una protección jurídica más débil de los acreedores, mecanismos de intercambio de información menos amplios, sociedades más colectivistas, gobiernos de izquierda y mayores niveles de desempleo. Los factores a nivel de las empresas también influyen en las decisiones de concesión de crédito de las empresas de propiedad estatal, con empresas de propiedad estatal con niveles más bajos de propiedad estatal y mayores extensiones de internacionalización que ofrecen menores cantidades de crédito comercial. En general, nuestro estudio ofrece aportes novedosos sobre el importante papel de las empresas de propiedad estatal como proveedores de liquidez.

Eventos recentes, mais notadamente a Crise Financeira Global e a pandemia COVID-19, tornaram cada vez mais evidente que liquidez é sinônimo de sobrevivência corporativa. Neste artigo, exploramos como governos podem atender a uma importante necessidade como fornecedores de liquidez. Com base na visão da vantagem de financiamento de propriedade estatal, teorizamos como empresas estatais (SOEs) podem fornecer capital ao oferecer crédito comercial a empresas clientes. Os dados indicam uma relação positiva entre o nível de propriedade do Estado e a oferta de crédito comercial. Usando um modelo focado em instituições, determinamos ainda que o ambiente institucional do país afeta sistematicamente as oportunidades e motivações para SOEs concederem crédito comercial. Especificamente, descobrimos que SOEs concedem mais crédito comercial em países com mercados financeiros menos desenvolvidos, proteção legal mais fraca a credores, mecanismos de compartilhamento de informações menos abrangentes, sociedades mais coletivistas, governos de esquerda e níveis mais elevados de desemprego. Fatores no nível da firma também influenciam as decisões de concessão de crédito de SOEs, sendo que SOEs com níveis mais baixos de propriedade estatal e mais altos de internacionalização oferecem menores quantidades de crédito comercial. De modo geral, nosso estudo oferece novos insights sobre o importante papel de empresas estatais como provedoras de liquidez.

Atezolizumab alleviates the immunosuppression induced by PD­L1­positive neutrophils and improves the survival of mice during sepsis.

Atezolizumab can reduce immunosuppression caused by T lymphocyte apoptosis in various cancer types. The current study aimed to investigate whether this drug can also alleviate immunosuppression during sepsis. For that purpose, a C57BL/6 mouse sepsis model was generated. Mice were randomly assigned to three groups: Sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and atezolizumab groups. Atezolizumab was administered in vivo by intraperitoneal injection. The expression of programmed death ligand­1 (PD­L1) on neutrophils and programmed death­1 (PD­1) on T lymphocytes was evaluated, and endotoxin concentration, intestinal permeability, ileum histopathological score and tight junction protein expression were assessed to determine the extent of disease in each group. The rate of T lymphocyte apoptosis was determined to assess the effects of atezolizumab on T lymphocyte apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Survival times were also recorded to compare mouse prognosis during sepsis. In the CLP group, the proportion of PD­L1+ neutrophils was significantly higher at 48, 72 and 96 h in blood, and at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in bone marrow, compared with those of the sham group (P<0.05). The proportion of PD­1+ T lymphocytes was also upregulated at 72 h in blood. In the atezolizumab group, endotoxin concentration, intestinal permeability and ileum histopathological score were lower compared with those in the CLP group (P<0.05), whereas the expression of claudin­1 and occludin proteins on ileum was higher compared with that in the CLP group (P<0.05). Both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that the rate of T lymphocyte apoptosis following atezolizumab treatment was lower compared with that in the CLP group (P<0.05). Survival analysis demonstrated that mice in the atezolizumab group survived longer compared with those in the CLP group (P<0.05). The current study demonstrated that treatment with atezolizumab may be an effective method for treating immunosuppression induced by sepsis.