Abstract only
Glioblastoma (GBM) and its more aggressive variant gliosarcoma (GSM) are the most lethal primary brain tumours, containing glioma stem cells (GSCs) which are resistant to current ...treatments. We compared the cellular hierarchy and molecular heterogeneity of GBM and GSM to identify genetic drivers of tumour growth and potential therapeutic targets. Fresh frozen human GBM and GSM specimens and 6 cell lines were interrogated using qRT‐PCR for expression of genes controlling self‐renewal and multilineage differentiation. SOX2 was overexpressed, whereas its core partners OCT4 and NANOG showed 90‐180 fold lower expression. Downstream targets ESRRB, PROX1, NESTIN and PAX6 had variable expression. GSC‐associated marker CD133 was highly expressed in both frozen GBM and GSM, but less so in the cell lines. Neural genes MAP2 and GAP43 and glial genes GFAP and S100B showed variable expression. Epithelial signatures (cytokeratin 18) were detected in GSM and to a lesser extent in GBM. Expression of E‐cadherin was significantly higher in GBM than in GSM (P<0.05), suggesting greater cell motility in GSM. Endodermal signatures (GATA4) were more highly expressed in GBM. Overall, GSM showed greater variation in gene expression than GBM. The presence of neural, epithelial and endodermal signatures suggests multipotential of GSCs. The stronger presence of different lineages in GSM reflects its greater heterogeneity, providing further evidence that GSM is a different disease to GBM and highlighting the need for patient‐tailored treatments.
Introduction
Cancers that originate from the upper aerodigestive tract are collectively known as head and neck cancer. The most common are squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx, larynx, and oral ...cavity. Head and neck cancer patients experience significant physical and psychological changes because of the disease and treatment. There is a substantial strain on family carers who have extensive responsibilities over most aspects of the patient’s life. The aim of the study was to understand the perspectives of being an HNC carer and their perceived expectations of the role.
Methods
The study adopted a qualitative research design with a social constructionist epistemology. Interviews were conducted with 20 carers who were currently caring for someone diagnosed with head and neck cancer.
Results
Three overarching themes were identified: taking responsibility for the patient’s nutrition, navigating a new and different relationship, and “my life’s not my own.” Participants felt responsible for ensuring the patient was eating and became increasingly frustrated when the patient was unable to intake food. Carers prioritised the patients’ needs at the expense of their own, and several came to resent the role.
Conclusion
Carers’ expectations of their role informed how they approached giving care. Carers need to be supported from diagnosis and encouraged to prioritise their own wellbeing.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas and an ozone
depletion agent. Estuaries that are subject to seasonal anoxia are generally
regarded as N2O sources. However, insufficient understanding of the
...environmental controls on N2O production results in large uncertainty
about the estuarine contribution to the global N2O budget. Incubation
experiments with nitrogen stable isotope tracer were used to investigate the
geochemical factors controlling N2O production from denitrification in
the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America. The highest
potential rates of water column N2O production via denitrification
(7.5±1.2 nmol-N L−1 h−1) were detected during summer
anoxia, during which oxidized nitrogen species (nitrate and nitrite) were
absent from the water column. At the top of the anoxic layer, N2O
production from denitrification was stimulated by addition of nitrate and
nitrite. The relative contribution of nitrate and nitrite to N2O
production was positively correlated with the ratio of nitrate to nitrite
concentrations. Increased oxygen availability, up to 7 µmol L−1
oxygen, inhibited both N2O production and the reduction of nitrate to
nitrite. In spring, high oxygen and low abundance of denitrifying microbes
resulted in undetectable N2O production from denitrification. Thus,
decreasing the nitrogen input into the Chesapeake Bay has two potential
impacts on the N2O production: a lower availability of nitrogen
substrates may mitigate short-term N2O emissions during summer
anoxia; and, in the long-run (timescale of years), eutrophication will be alleviated
and subsequent reoxygenation of the bay will further inhibit N2O
production.
Acromegaly is a rare disorder of unregulated hypersecretion of growth hormone that causes cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory complications. Herein, we describe the case of a middle-aged man ...admitted to the hospital with severe COVID-19 found to have clinical and biochemical evidence of acromegaly. His respiratory status declined despite initiation of standard treatments, prompting initiation of subcutaneous octreotide. Following initiation of this therapy, he rapidly improved and was discharged from the hospital 2 days later. Subsequent workup revealed a pituitary macroadenoma that was surgically removed, with improvement in his acromegaly symptoms. COVID-19 disease severity is increased by pre-existing diabetes, lung disease and immunosuppression. Although this patient had obstructive sleep apnoea and pre-diabetes, we hypothesise that our patient’s acromegaly contributed to his severe course, as reflected by his rapid improvement after starting treatment with subcutaneous octreotide. Acromegaly may predispose to more severe outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
The Undesirables takes its lead from the 18th- and 19th-century model dioramas constructed to document and re-tell sea battles. It depicts the shipwreck of the MSC Napoli which ran aground in ...Branscombe, South Devon, in 2007, on its journey to South Africa.
To understand pregnant patients' reasons for prenatal cannabis use and perceptions of safety, desired and undesirable health care experiences, and desired information about prenatal cannabis use and ...secondarily to understand racial differences in these perceptions and preferences.
We conducted a qualitative study including 18 semi-structured, race-concordant virtual focus groups with pregnant individuals who self-reported cannabis use at prenatal care entry in a large integrated health care system in Northern California from November 2021 to December 2021. The focus groups included semi-structured questions that were recorded, transcribed, and coded by the research team. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
Overall, 53 participants were included; 30 self-identified, as White and 23 self-identified as Black. Participants averaged 30.3 years of age (SD 5.2 years) and were on average at 20.9 weeks of gestation at study enrollment; 69.8% reported daily cannabis use, 24.5% reported weekly cannabis use, and 5.7% reported monthly or less cannabis use at entrance to prenatal care. Although some participants quit cannabis use in early pregnancy because of concerns about potential health risks, many perceived a lack of scientific evidence or believed that prenatal cannabis use was safe. Many preferred cannabis to over-the-counter or prescription medications for treating mood, morning sickness, pain, and sleep. Participants valued open interactions with obstetricians that acknowledged their motivations for use, and they desired information about potential risks through conversations and educational materials. White and Black participants' perspectives were generally similar, but a few Black participants uniquely described concerns about racial bias related to their prenatal cannabis use.
Pregnant patients used cannabis to manage mood and medical symptoms, and many believed that prenatal cannabis use was safer than the use of prescription medications. Obstetrician-initiated, patient-centered conversations around prenatal cannabis use, advice to discontinue cannabis use during pregnancy, and exploration of willingness to switch to medically recommended interventions for pregnancy-related symptoms may benefit patients.
Risk or presence of metastasis in medulloblastoma causes substantial treatment-related morbidity and overall mortality. Through the comparison of cytokines and growth factors in the cerebrospinal ...fluid (CSF) of metastatic medulloblastoma patients with factors also in conditioned media of metastatic MYC amplified medulloblastoma or leptomeningeal cells, we were led to explore the bioactivity of IGF1 in medulloblastoma by elevated CSF levels of IGF1, IGF-sequestering IGFBP3, IGFBP3-cleaving proteases (MMP and tPA), and protease modulators (TIMP1 and PAI-1). IGF1 led not only to receptor phosphorylation but also accelerated migration/adhesion in MYC amplified medulloblastoma cells in the context of appropriate matrix or meningothelial cells. Clinical correlation suggests a peri-/sub-meningothelial source of IGF-liberating proteases that could facilitate leptomeningeal metastasis. In parallel, studies of key factors responsible for cell autonomous growth in MYC amplified medulloblastoma prioritized IGF1R inhibitors. Together, our studies identify IGF1R as a high value target for clinical trials in high risk medulloblastoma.
Businesses and organizations are looking to social media as the new form of marketing. Thus, it is important to understand how businesses are using these platforms and what content they are engaging ...with. The purpose of these studies was to identify how emerging Made in Oklahoma companies are using social media and to evaluate Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center’s (FAPC) social media efforts. This document contains two research studies. The first study, presented as manuscript one, is a qualitative study employing focus group design with seven emerging Made in Oklahoma companies. Data analysis revealed emerging Made in Oklahoma companies are not an ideal target on social media because they are facing a myriad of other challenges related to their own social media pages for their businesses. The second study, manuscript two, is a quantitative content analysis of FAPC’s Facebook page. The results indicate FAPC’s Facebook page receives low engagement, but there is a significant difference in engagement rate based on the post type and post subcategory. The findings of these two studies work collaboratively to add to existing social media research, while providing FAPC with important information on how to proceed with social media marketing.
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