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Successful treatment of a stage IIIC small-cell carcinoma of the ovary hypercalcemic subtype using multi-modality therapeutic approach
No full textSmall-cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is a rare but highly undifferentiated, aggressive malignancy that primarily affects young women. Due to its early onset, unclear familial history and vague presenting symptoms, most SCCOHT patients present late with advanced disease. The prognosis is extremely poor, with \u3c10% disease-free survival for advanced stages.Although several therapeutic regimens have been proposed, to date there is no consensus on the optimal strategy. Here, we describe a successful case of advanced-stage SCCOHT of the left ovary treated with cytoreductive surgery, semi-intense chemotherapy, high-dose consolidative chemotherapy, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and pelvic radiation with long-term survival. Given the almost universal mortality of advanced SCCOHT in long-term follow-up, we believe this case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis when a young patient presents with abdominal swelling and hypercalcemia as well as early, aggressive, combined modality treatment. This case is also especially remarkable given the patient underwent fertility preservation surgery, which is not recommended by most of the current literature. However, as therapies improve and more young patients may survive SCCOHT, the question of fertility will increase in relevance. We believe the pros and cons of conservation should be discussed in detail with the patient
Adiponectin reduces bone stiffness: Verified in a three-dimensional artificial human bone model In Vitro
Get PDFPrimary human osteoblasts and osteoclasts incubated in a rotating coculture system without any scaffolding material, form bone-like tissue that may be used to evaluate effects of various compounds on mechanical strength. Circulating adiponectin has been found to be negatively associated with BMD and strength and was therefore assessed in this system. Osteospheres of human osteoblasts and osteoclasts were generated with and without adiponectin. The osteospheres were scanned using micro-computed tomography, the mechanical properties were tested by flat punch compression using nanoindentation equipment, and the cellular morphology characterized by microscopy. The association between autologously produced adiponectin and biomechanical properties was further evaluated by quantitation of adiponectin levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunoassays, and identification of stiffness by bending test of rat femurs. The molecular mechanisms were examined in vitro using human bone cells. Mechanical testing revealed that adiponectin induced a more compliant osteosphere compared with control. The osteospheres had a round, lobulated appearance with morphologically different areas; inner regions containing few cells embedded in a bone-like material surrounded by an external area with a higher cell quantity. The expression of adiponectin was found to correlate positively to ultimate bending moment and ultimate energy absorption and deflection, on the other hand, it correlated negatively to bending stiffness, indicating autocrine and/or paracrine effects of adiponectin in bone. Adiponectin enhanced proliferation and expression of collagen, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in osteoblasts and stimulated proliferation, but not the functional activity of osteoclasts. Our results indicate that both administration of adiponectin during osteosphere production and in situ elevated levels of adiponectin in rat femurs, reduced stiffness of the bone tissues. An increase in undifferentiated cells and extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, may explain the reduced bone stiffness seen in the osteospheres treated with adiponectin
Erratum: Correction to: Comparison of the Effect of Exercise on Late-Phase LTP of the Dentate Gyrus and CA1 of Alzheimer\u27s Disease Model (Molecular neurobiology (2016) 53 10 (6859-6868))
Get PDFThe original version of this article unfortunately does not include the second affiliating institution of Dr. Munder A. Zagaar. Department of Pharmacy Pracce and Clinical Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX 77004 should have been included on the paper
Simulation studies of combustion in a constant-mass variable-volume combustion chamber
Get PDFA numerical simulation code was used to conduct a systematic study of the effects of fuel-air equivalence ratios in the range 0.7 ≤ ϕ ≤ 1.4 and compression ratio, rc ≤ 8.0 on key operating parameters, such as pressure, rate of change of pressure, \u27/dt\u27 flame extinction temperature, burn rate frequency, combustion efficiency, ηb, source term, mass burn fractions and heat loss in a simulated 5.734 liter, V8 spark-ignition engine. The data shows that the burn rate characteristics of the fuel and oxidizer are qualitatively perfectly correlated. The results also show that as flame extinction/flameout is approached, the fuel consumption rate, Rfu increases rapidly with temperature for fuel-air equivalence ratios, ϕ in the range 0.7 ≤ ϕ ≤ 1.4. The average burn rate frequency (per second), fbr(1/s) varies from 11.2 ≤ fbr ≤ 137.0 for fuel-air equivalence ratios, ϕ in the range 0.7 ≤ ϕ ≤ 1.4 The results further show that the fastest fuel consumption rate was for fuel-air equivalence ratio, ϕ = 1.4 in the time interval, t such that 0.0 ≤ t ≤ 0.61 ms while the slowest corresponds to ϕ - 0.7 and the corresponding time interval was 0.0 ≤ t ≤ 3.98 ms. Moreover, the data shows that for fuel-air equivalence ratios, ϕ in the range 0.7 ≤ ϕ ≤ 1.4 the fuel consumption rate increases monotonically after the initial ignition delay period. The combustion efficiency, ηb of the engine under investigation were found to be in the range of 94.1% ≤ ηb ≤ 94.4% for lean mixtures, that is, for ϕ \u3c 1.0;the corresponding values of combustion efficiency, ηb for fuel-rich mixtures were in the interval 93.8% ≤ ηb ≤ 94.1%. The other results from this study are summarized in the conclusion
Four Imperatives Driving Business Schools to Adopt Mobile Content Delivery
Get PDFLook around at people on any sidewalk, school hallway, classroom, and, most disturbingly, any car around yours on the road. You know that you are likely to see a staggering percentage of those people staring into the screen of a “smart” phone. Millennials and post-millennials are constantly “connected.” The Millennials even connect during class; at best to fact-check their teachers, at worst, to check the latest updates on Facebook. It will only get worse with the soon to arrive Post-Millennials who have been termed “millennials on steroids” by Lucie Green, the worldwide director of the Innovation Group at J. Walter Thompson. Post-millennials who account for a quarter of the U.S. population have not had to adapt to these devices. They were born into them and will expect nothing less than having them as a fixture in their learning experience. Significantly, the parents of post-millennials concur with their Generation Z offspring and believe that education technology has a positive influence on their children’s learning. Universities are struggling to catch up to this trend, with mixed results. Since teaching about the importance of detecting and acting proactively on macroenvironmental changes is part of its curriculum, it is particularly incumbent upon the AACSB-accredited business schools to lead the way for the rest of academe. This paper will report on the four main imperatives driving universities, and business schools in particular, to adopt mobile content delivery. Specifically, those imperatives are demographics, finances, ubiquitous technology, and concerns over accreditation. The current AACSB accreditation standards are built around three themes: innovation, impact, and engagement. Adopting mobile content delivery would seem to fit ideally within this new framework. This paper will discuss some innovative methods currently being employed by schools of business to utilize mobile delivery of teaching content. Finally, it will point out the advantages and the disadvantages associated with departing from the traditional classroom content delivery model
The “Hegemonic Presidency” in African Politics
Get PDFThe post-colonial era in Africa has witnessed the emergence of the “hegemonic presidency,” which has been variously referred to as the “imperial presidency” and the “Big man/Big woman syndrome.” Essentially, the phenomenon entails the illegal exercise of presidential powers beyond both the constitutional and statutory boundaries. Against this background, this article examines three major interrelated issues. First, it interrogates the historical development of the phenomenon. Second, it probes the factors that have caused the emergence of the “hegemonic presidency.” Third, the study suggests some ways in which the phenomenon may be curtailed. In the case of the historical development of the phenomenon, the “hegemonic presidency” has its roots in colonialism, especially the ubiquity and the unfettered exercise of power by the chief colonial administrator—e.g. the governor-general. As for the major causes of the phenomenon, they include the constitution, statutes, weak public institutions, especially the legislature and the judiciary, and the acts of ultra vires, which are consequences of presidential arrogation of power. Finally, the article suggests various ways for curtailing the phenomenon, including constitutional redesign to limit the appointive and financial powers of the presidency and the strengthening of public institutions, particularly the legislative and judicial branches, so that they can play their effective rules as countervailing forces
County Taxation Dynamics, Nonprofits, Equitable Workplace, and Corporal Punishment in the United States
Get PDFSimilarity Attraction and Old School Values: African American Led Nonprofits and African American Youth
Get PDFThis article examines the role of similarity-attraction between African American-led nonprofits and the predominately African American youth they serve. Informed by interview data with executive directors, board members, volunteers, and students, this research captures how similarity-attraction operates in the context of three, well-established African American-led nonprofit organizations by utilizing an old-school values approach. The findings suggest that each of these programs provides a direct focus on African American history and positive role models. Further, these programs teach African American youth how to excel while being black, from people who know first-hand what that experience entails. Nonprofit program leaders become trusted sources of advice and, ultimately, build self-confidence in the youth they serve. Given the limited research that focuses on African American-led nonprofits, this research illuminates an important, understudied area in nonprofit studies
Black Lives Matter Otherwise All Lives Do Not Matter
Get PDFLong before three African American women registered the twitter handle, #BlackLivesMatter, and started sending out tweets that helped to mobilize the spontaneous outrage against the impunity that followed the killings of unarmed black people by police officers and by vigilante in the US, there was always a rich history of resistance against criminal justice oppression by people of African descent and their allies. Apologists for white supremacist violence tend to reject the truism that Black Lives Matter by countering with All Lives Matter as if the later could hold if the former is rejected. In other words, since All Lives Matter, it follows that Black Lives Matter too and if by any logic Black Lives do not Matter, then All Lives do not Matter. The reason why it is even necessary to state what should be obvious, that Black Lives Matter, is exactly because there are still people who believe that certain lives belong to the homo sacer and are disposable to be taken without any consequences. This editorial complicates this issue by demonstrating the theory of Martin Luther King Jr. that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. By treating Black Lives as if they do not Matter, the lives of human beings everywhere are threatened and so all should rally in support of Black Lives in the interest of humanity. It is not an act of charity when others support Black Lives Matter
