Laugier-Hunziker Syndrome: A Case Report

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is a rare, acquired mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation often associated with longitudinal melanonychia. It is important to differentiate this condition from the pigmentary disorders of the oral mucosa. The correct clinical identification avoids the need for invasive investigations. A 32-year-old female presented with a number of variably sized, hyperpigmented macules over the oral mucosa and longitudinal melanonychia. Herein, we report a case of LHS and discuss the conditions related with pigmented mucocutaneous lesions

Analysis of the semileptonic Λb→Λℓ+ℓ−\Lambda_b\rightarrow \Lambda \ell^+ \ell^- transition in topcolor-assisted technicolor (TC2) model

We comparatively analyze the flavor changing neutral current process of the $\Lambda_b \rightarrow \Lambda \ell^+ \ell^-$ in the standard model as well as topcolor-assisted technicolor model using the form factors calculated via light cone QCD sum rules in full theory. In particular, we calculate the decay width, branching ratio and lepton forward-backward asymmetry related to this decay channel. We compare the results of the topcolor-assisted technicolor model with those of the standard model and debate how the results of the topcolor-assisted technicolor model depart from the standard model predictions. We also compare our results on the differential branching ratio with recent experimental data provided by CDF and LHCb Collaborations.Comment: 29 Pages, 16 Figures and 8 Table

WITH OR WITHOUT MAGIC: REALISM IN KUSTURICA'S TIME OF THE GYPSIES

Being one of the established directors of the Balkan cinemas, Emir Kusturica isconsidered a controversial figure, especially in his homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is largely due to his problematic representation of the troubled Balkan past. After a highly political and much discussed film like Otac nasluzbenom putu (When Father Was Away on Business) (1985), however, we see ashift in his cinematic style with the apolitical Dom za vesanje (Time of the Gypsies)(1988).In Time of the Gypsies, Kusturica provides a good deal of realistic depictions of the Gypsy life and culture, which makes the audience have an idea about the community. Kusturica also pays attention to making social commentary on such crucial subject matter as illegal migration, and human trafficking. Nevertheless,Perhan - the protagonist of the film - has telekinetic powers, and his grandmotheris a charm-healer. Moreover, Perhan's dreams play a significant role through out the film. However, these elements do not come off as fantastical elements, and thefilm is not listed as fantasy genre-wise. They seem to be essential parts of the film,which makes the audience accept them as they are. Hence the film does not lose any of its credibility. Kusturica owes the success of the film's healthy dose of magicrealism to the colorful Gypsy culture and vibrant Romani characters. My mainargument in this paper will be that Time of the Gypsies makes substantial use of magic realism and I will endeavor to investigate how it does so

Why the EU should work with opposition parties to avoid democratic backsliding

Policymakers and scholars of the European Union have been increasingly more concerned about democratic backsliding in member countries where the EU no longer possesses the ‘membership’ carrot for continued reforms. But is the EU really hopeless when it comes to helping members safeguard and promote good governance? Mert Kartal presents findings from a recent study ... Continue

Activated signaling pathways and apoptotic mechanisms in resveratrol applied chronic myeloid leukemia cells and the involvement of ceramide metabolizing genes on these mechanisms

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir, 2010Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 49-58)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxiii, 58 leavesResveratrol, an important phytoalexin in many plants, has cytotoxic effects on several cancer cells. Ceramide is a significant sphingolipid which affects many signaling pathways regulating cell senescence, migration, and cell cycle arrest. Intracellular ceramide level is balanced by glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), the converter of ceramide to glucosylceramide, and sphingosine kinase-1 (SK-1) that convert ceramide to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Ceramide functions as an apoptotic molecule whereas glucosylceramide S1P function as anti-apoptotic. An important cell-permeable analogue of natural ceramides, C8:ceramide, increases intracellular ceramide levels significantly, while 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) and SK-1 inhibitor increase accumulation of ceramides by inhibiting GCS and SK-1, respectively. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a hematological disorder, results from the generation of BCR/ABL oncogene. In this study, we examined the roles of ceramide metabolizing genes in resveratrol-induced apoptosis, and the expression profiles of 84 genes underlying apoptosis, cell cycle control, DNA damage repair, and invasion and metastasis in human K562 CML cells treated with resveratrol. There were synergistic cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of resveratrol with coadministration of C8:ceramide, PDMP and SK-1 inhibitor. We observed significant increases in expression levels of LASS genes, and decreases in expression levels of GCS and SK-1 in K562 cells in response to increasing concentrations of resveratrol. There were also significant increases in the expression levels of SERPINB5, FAS, TNFRSF, MTSS that are related with tumor suppression, and decreases in Myc expression. Our data, in total, showed for the first time that resveratrol might kill CML cells through increasing intracellular generation and accumulation of apoptotic ceramides