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Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is a critical step for the formation of a functional vascular system during embryonic development. Furthermore, dysregulation of the vascular patterning is associated with more than 70 different diseases, including cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke and ocular disorders, such as macular degeneration. Studies of endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro and in vivo, have revealed the importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling together with the activation of the Dll4/Notch pathway to regulate EC’s differentiation into tip vs stalk cells as well as EC migration and proliferation during angiogenesis. Similarities between the endothelial tip cell and the axonal growth cone are well established. The two cell types share not only a similar anatomical structure, but also common molecular pathways and respond to the same molecular cues. Ca2+ signalling especially through the L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) is crucial to regulate the axonal turning in order to promote attraction or repulsion in response to a molecular cue. In ECs, increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+i) is a key regulator of migration, proliferation, contraction, gene expression and other biological aspects. Despite the similarities between neuronal and vascular systems, the role of Ca2+ signalling through the LTCC during vascular formation and angiogenesis is still poorly understood. This study provides evidence that the LTCC regulates EC migration during the primary angiogenic sprouting of the intersegmental vessels (ISV) in zebrafish embryos. The stimulation of the LTCC strongly increased EC migration from the dorsal aorta (DA), resulting in an overbranching phenotype, while the downregulation of the channel reduced the EC migration and proliferation compromising the ISV formation. Additionally, I observed that LTCC synergistically interacts with the canonical transient receptor potential-1 (TRPC1) Ca2+ channel to promote ISV development, suggesting the importance of Ca2+ fluxes through the plasma membrane during angiogenesis. Furthermore, mRNA-expression analysis of VEGF signalling and Dll4/Notch-pathway components revealed the importance of the LTCC during angiogenesis: perturbation of LTCC conductance, but not TRPC1, increased the mRNA-expression level of the VEGF and Dll4/Notch pathway components, compromising the angiogenic behaviour of ECs. Taken together, this study demonstrates that Ca2+ fluxes through plasma membrane of endothelial cells represent an integral part of angiogenic process. Moreover, like axon growth cone, the endothelial migration requires a tight regulation of Ca2+ signaling., Die Angiogenese, die Entstehung neuer Blutgefäße aus vorbestehenden Blutgefäßen, stellt einen wichtigen Schritt bei der Formation eines funktionalen vaskulären Systems während der embryonalen Entwicklung dar. Fehlregulierungen bei der Entstehung des vaskulären Geflechts sind außerdem mit einer Vielzahl von Krankheiten, wie Krebs, Herzinfarkt und Schlaganfällen und Augenerkrankungen wie Makuladegeneration und mehr als 70 anderen Krankheiten assoziiert. Sowohl in vitro als auch in vivo Studien an Endothelzellen (EZ) zeigten einen wichtigen Einfluss des Vascular endothelial growth factor - (VEGF) Signalweges sowie der Aktivierung des Dll4/Notch-Signalweges auf die Regulierung der Differenzierung von EZ zu Spitzen- oder Stielzellen, auf die Migration von EZ sowie deren Proliferation während der Angiogenese. Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen der endothelialen Spitzenzelle und dem axonalen Wachstumskegel sind seit langem bekannt. Die beiden Zelltypen weisen nicht nur eine ähnliche anatomische Struktur, sondern auch gemeinsame molekulare Signalwege auf und reagieren auf dieselben Botenstoffe. Die Signaltransduktion durch Calciumionen, vorallem über den L-Typ Calciumkanal (LTCC), spielt eine wichtige Rolle bei der axonalen Wegfindung und beeinflusst entweder die Anziehung oder die Abstoßung der axonalen Zelle als Antwort auf Botenstoffe. In EZ ist ein Anstieg der zytosolischen Calcium-Konzentration (Ca2+i) unter anderem ein Schlüsselreiz für die Migration, Proliferation und Kontraktion der EZ sowie die Expression bestimmter Gene. Trotz der Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen dem neuronalen und vaskulären System, ist vor allem über die Rolle der Ca2+-Signaltransduktion über den LTCC bei der Formation des vaskulären Systems und der Angiogenese wenig bekannt. Die hier vorliegende Studie zeigt, dass der LTCC die Migration von EZ während der ersten angiogenetischen Aussprossung intersegmentaler Blutgefäße (ISV) in Zebrafisch-Embryonen reguliert. Eine Stimulation des LTCC führte zu einem starken Anstieg der Migration von EZ aus der dorsalen Aorta (DA) und resultierte in einer erhöhten Verzweigung entstehender Blutgefäße. Die Herunterregulation des Kanals reduzierte die Migration und Proliferation von EZ und führte zu einer Beeinträchtigung der Ausbildung von ISV. Des Weiteren konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass der LTCC bei der Entstehung von ISV synergistisch mit dem kanonischen transient receptor potential-1 (TRPC1) Ca2+-Kanal wechselwirkt, was die entscheidende Rolle des Ca2+-Fluxes durch die Plasmamembran während der Angiogenese beweist. Insgesamt zeigt die hier vorliegende Arbeit, dass Ca2+ - Ströme durch die Plasmamembran von Endothelzellen einen wichtigen Bestandteil des angiogenetischen Prozesses darstellen. Desweiteren ist für die Migration von Endothelzellen, wie beim axonalen Wachstumskegel, eine engmaschige Regulation von Calcium - Signalwegen vonnöten.

The relationship between discouraging irregular migration through enforcement and encouraging regular migration flows is not straightforward. Relevant studies have highlighted complex dynamics. While stricter controls through both “fencing” (border controls) and “gatekeeping” (visa restrictions) policies appear to slow irregular migration, they also tend to change its course, leading migrants to try their luck through alternative irregular channels. Understanding migrant decision making as well as the contexts in which potential migrants make decisions is critically important but often misunderstood or ignored in policy deliberations. This discussion paper reviews a number of policy ideas that could lead to better management of regular migration while discouraging irregular flows as well as decision making contexts: Enhanced regional mobility regimes that allow for relatively seamless mobility within a set of countries, coupled with specific rights and obligations for workers and employers; Bilateral mobility schemes between a country of origin and a country of destination that respond to specific labour market dynamics; Sponsorship schemes that may facilitate entry and integration of the migrant and her/his family at destination; Humanitarian corridors that aim at preventing vulnerable migrants (including those who have become stranded) from undertaking irregular migration, with a view of arriving in a safe third country. New ideas discussed include Temporary Migration Partnerships; Skills and Mobility Partnerships; a Human Development Visa Scheme.

Migration experiences are often associated with some sort of transnational economic activity which connects the past and the present of migrants abroad, and specifically with remittances. Motivations to send money at origin have been deeply investigated at the micro as well as at the macro level, as remittances can affect recipient households’ well-being, investment and consumption levels in the receiving countries and play an insurance role against external shocks. This paper contributes to the literature on migrants’ remittances providing evidence for migrants from Morocco, Peru and Romania, three traditional labor-exporting countries with a medium level of economic development, from three different geographical areas and with different migration patterns to Italy. Exploiting a relatively rich, albeit small-scale, dataset we analyze the spatial distribution of migrants’ nuclear families and households and we build three different migratory profiles, Loners, Pioneers and followers, characterized by the timing and sequence of the migration event with respect to the rest of the nuclear family. Then author test a negative binomial model to describe the variation in the variable ‘remittances amount’. Beyond cross-country variations and after controlling for the most commonly used individual demographic and economic characteristics, our analysis consistently clusters migrants according to their family and household structure in Italy and abroad to explain the total amount of remittances sent to the origin country.

Monetary remittances represent the most visible transnational activity of migrants and can be considered as a function of migrant’s ability of producing savings from income and of remitting (supply side), and of the type of claims of family members, either left in the country of origin or residing abroad with the migrant (demand side). Hence, migrant’s remitting capacity is directly linked to the level of economic integration at destination. However, what happens to remittances when the labor market becomes uncertain and the earning potential decreases? Based on a recent survey, this paper explores the effect of the economic crisis on income trends and on the flow of monetary remittances sent to the families left home among three surveyed groups in Turin, Moroccans, Peruvians and Romanians. Results show a widespread worsening of the average economic conditions since the outbreak of the crisis in 2008. The protracted economic instability seems to have effects on migrants’ ability to keep remittance flows constant over time, with differentiated outcomes according to the national groups. While Moroccans show a higher propensity in receiving remittances, Peruvians are those who resist more to a remittance drop over the last five years. Beyond economic determinants, observed patterns in remittance trends can also be explained by migrant household characteristics in Italy and abroad and to unobserved variables (distance) related to the country of origin.

ITHACA - Integration, Transnational Mobility and Human, Social and Economic Capital Transfers

ITHACA - Integration, Transnational Mobility and Human, Social and Economic Capital Transfers

ITHACA - Integration, Transnational Mobility and Human, Social and Economic Capital Transfers

Basandosi su fonti ufficiali e su un grosso campione di interviste, gli autori tracciano un profilo dei modelli migratori contemporanei riguardanti i paesi del Sud Europa maggiormente colpiti dalla crisi economica: Grecia, Italia, Spagna e Portogallo.

In this paper, we discuss the ways in which integration, transnationalism and the relationships between the two have been conceptualised. Given the diversity in scope and in intensity that characterises transnational mobility, we suggest that there is a need to revisit the various facets of the interconnections between the two phenomena and take into account new variables to explain: under what circumstances migrants engage in transnational mobility; in what ways does their integration in the society of settlement influence this engagement; what sort of transfers are being made; and in what ways are the particular characteristics of each migration corridor relevant for the link between integration and transnational mobility. We thus define the boundaries of our research and critically analyse the available quantitative strategies for addressing the multidimensional nature of the integration-transnational mobility matrix. ITHACA - Integration, Transnational Mobility and Human, Social and Economic Capital - is funded by DG Home of the European Commission.

Introduction: A lack of updated data on the burden and profile of anaerobic bloodstream infections (ABIs) exists. We assessed the incidence of ABIs and trends in antimicrobial resistance in anaerobes isolated from blood in Italy. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 17 Italian hospitals (2016-2020). Anaerobes isolated from blood culture and their in vitro susceptibility profiles (EUCAST-interpreted) were registered and analyzed. Results: A total of 1960 ABIs were identified. The mean age of ABIs patients was 68.6 ± 18.5 years, 57.6% were males. The overall incidence rate of ABIs was 1.01 per 10.000 patient-days. Forty-seven% of ABIs occurred in medical wards, 17% in ICUs, 14% in surgical wards, 7% in hemato-oncology, 14% in outpatients. The three most common anti-anaerobic tested drugs were metronidazole (92%), clindamycin (89%) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (83%). The three most common isolated anaerobes were Bacteroides fragilis (n = 529), Cutibacterium acnes (n = 262) and Clostridium perfringens (n = 134). The lowest resistance rate (1.5%) was to carbapenems, whereas the highest rate (51%) was to penicillin. Clindamycin resistance was >20% for Bacteroides spp., Prevotella spp. and Clostridium spp. Metronidazole resistance was 9.2% after excluding C. acnes and Actinomyces spp. Bacteroides spp. showed an increased prevalence of clindamycin resistance through the study period: 19% in 2016, 33% in 2020 (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Our data provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology of ABIs in Italy, filling a gap that has existed since 1995. Caution is needed when clindamycin is used as empirical anti-anaerobic drug.

Updated version: 03/2020 Transparency and accountability of GlobalStat’s data collection and aggregation methods are essential in order to make data easy to use, understandable and comparable. GlobalStat’s comprehensive technical report on 'Methodology and Approach of a Multisource Open Database on Developments in a Globalised World' offers a full explanation of the statistical methods applied by GlobalStat, the calculation formula developed and the aggregation levels chosen.