Successful Treatment of a Case of Crescentic Glomerulonephritis in a Patient with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma: A case report

Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) has been associated with several solid tumor malignancies. Only a few cases of nephropathy have been reported in association with tubo-ovarian/peritoneal malignancies. We describe a case of 55 years old female who developed combined immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis and pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic vasculitis simultaneously with the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian/peritoneal cancer. The baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 13 ml/min. The patient received two doses of Rituximab and three doses of pulse corticosteroids, leading to significant improvement in renal function and the disappearance of her proteinuria. The eGFR improved to >60ml/min, and her proteinuria gradually resolved after 10 weeks of treatment. She was in a position to be given a combination chemotherapy treatment for tubo-ovarian/peritoneal cancer because of normalization of her CA-125 after three months of therapy. Keywords: tubo-ovarian/peritoneal cancer, Glomerulonephritis, Vasculitis, Chemotherapy

How Spiritual Leadership Influences Creative Behaviors: the Mediating Role of Workplace Climate

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between spiritual leadership and creative behavior with workplace climate as mediating variable in the Jordanian banking.   Theoretical framework: The purpose of this study, which extends the theories of intrinsic motivation and social exchange, is to acquire a deeper knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between spiritual leadership and innovative workplace behavior.   Design/methodology/approach: The study used quantitative research approach through a survey based on random sampling method from (n= 358) employees of 13 Jordanian commercial banks in Amman. For purposes of analysis, structural equation modeling was then utilized for the examination of the research hypotheses.   Findings: The results of the research indicated that workplace climate mediates the link between spiritual leadership and creative behavior. Specifically, greater levels of creative behavior among employees were related to spiritual leadership, as was a favorable working environment.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The study offers managerial and theoretical implications while considering the study’s limitations to provide guidance for the future.   Originality/value: The study identifies the magnificent influence of spiritual leadership and the workplace climate by delineating how these factors stimulate creative behaviors among employees. Specifically, the study focuses on how spiritual leadership and the workplace climate stimulate creative behaviors among employees. We examine the consequences of these findings for both research and practice

Nexus of Strategic Thinking, Knowledge-Oriented Leadership, and Employee Creativity in Higher Education Institutes

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine strategic thinking and knowledge-oriented leadership influence employees' creativity in the setting of Jordanian private universities.   Theoretical framework: The study employed Path Goal Theory to clarify the interaction of the variables used in Higher Education Institutes to address the issue.   Design/methodology/approach: The research used a “partial least squares-structural equation modeling” approach to examine the gathered data. For analysis purpose, was developed and empirically verified with data (n = 143) obtained from a random sample of private universities in Jordan.   Findings: The result found that Strategic thinking promotes and increases employee creativity. However, knowledge-oriented leadership moderates the causal association between strategic thinking and employee creativity.   Research implications: The results are presented taking into account the relevant research as well as the practical implications for higher education administrators.   Originality/value: The novel theoretical contribution that was made by this study is its emphasis on knowledge-oriented leadership as a moderator in the link between strategic thinking and employee creativity

GT2004-53828 Instrumentation Selection and Uncertainty Analysis for Performance Test of Small Centrifugal Compressors

ABSTRACT In the design phase of centrifugal compressors, it is essential to have some experimental results on performance. The extent of usefulness of the experiments depends on quality and accuracy of the results. Part of proper experimental procedure is the correct selection of instrumentation leading to lower uncertainty in the final results. ASME PTC 10 (Performance Test Code on Compressors and Exhausters) requires fluctuation limits on the measured performance parameters. This does not guarantee limits for accuracy of performance parameters. Also, different experimental setup will affect uncertainty of the results, even with similar instrumentation accuracy. The present research deals with uncertainty analysis for performance evaluation of small-scale centrifugal compressor. The instrumentation errors are accommodated in the relation to ASME PTC 19.1 (test uncertainty). The analysis takes into consideration the correlated bias limits. Selection of proper type of instruments for measuring associated parameters is based on literature review. A case study is included as an example to illustrate the selection on instrumentation accuracy and preferred bias correlations. The analysis is a useful tool in designing experiments for testing compressor and optimizing accuracy of results

Preclinical studies of Apogossypolone: a new nonpeptidic pan small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, Bcl-X\u3csub\u3eL \u3c/sub\u3eand Mcl-1 proteins in Follicular Small Cleaved Cell Lymphoma model

Abstract Elevated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins have been linked to a poor survival rate of patients with Follicular Lymphoma (FL). This prompted us to evaluate a very potent non-peptidic Small-Molecule Inhibitor (SMI) targeting Bcl-2 family proteins, Apogossypolone (ApoG2) using follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma cell line (WSU-FSCCL) and cell isolated from lymphoma patients. ApoG2 inhibited the growth of WSU-FSCCL significantly with a 50% growth inhibition of cells (IC50) of 109 nM and decreased cell number of fresh lymphoma cells. ApoG2 activated caspases-9, -3, and -8, and the cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF). In the WSU-FSCCL-SCID xenograft model, ApoG2 showed a significant anti-lymphoma effect, with %ILS of 84% in the intravenous and 63% in intraperitoneal treated mice. These studies suggest that ApoG2 can be an effective therapeutic agent against FL

Preclinical studies of Apogossypolone: a new nonpeptidic pan small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 proteins in Follicular Small Cleaved Cell Lymphoma model

Elevated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins have been linked to a poor survival rate of patients with Follicular Lymphoma (FL). This prompted us to evaluate a very potent non-peptidic Small-Molecule Inhibitor (SMI) targeting Bcl-2 family proteins, Apogossypolone (ApoG2) using follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma cell line (WSU-FSCCL) and cell isolated from lymphoma patients. ApoG2 inhibited the growth of WSU-FSCCL significantly with a 50% growth inhibition of cells (IC50) of 109 nM and decreased cell number of fresh lymphoma cells. ApoG2 activated caspases-9, -3, and -8, and the cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF). In the WSU-FSCCL-SCID xenograft model, ApoG2 showed a significant anti-lymphoma effect, with %ILS of 84% in the intravenous and 63% in intraperitoneal treated mice. These studies suggest that ApoG2 can be an effective therapeutic agent against FL

I-kappa-kinase-2 (IKK-2) inhibition potentiates vincristine cytotoxicity in non-Hodgkin\u27s lymphoma

Abstract Background IKK-2 is an important regulator of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) which has been implicated in survival, proliferation and apoptosis resistance of lymphoma cells. In this study, we investigated whether inhibition of IKK-2 impacts cell growth or cytotoxicity of selected conventional chemotherapeutic agents in non-Hodgkin\u27s lymphoma. Two established model systems were used; Follicular (WSU-FSCCL) and Diffuse Large Cell (WSU-DLCL2) Lymphoma, both of which constitutively express p-IκB. A novel, selective small molecule inhibitor of IKK-2, ML120B (N-[6-chloro-7-methoxy-9H-β-carbolin-8-yl]-2-methylnicotinamide) was used to perturb NF-κB in lymphoma cells. The growth inhibitory effect of ML120B (M) alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide monohydrate (C), doxorubicin (H) or vincristine (V) was evaluated in vitro using short-term culture assay. We also determined efficacy of the combination in vivo using the SCID mouse xenografts. Results ML120B down-regulated p-IκBα protein expression in a concentration dependent manner, caused growth inhibition, increased G0/G1 cells, but did not induce apoptosis. There was no significant enhancement of cell kill in the M/C or M/H combination. However, there was strong synergy in the M/V combination where the vincristine concentration can be lowered by a hundred fold in the combination for comparable G2/M arrest and apoptosis. ML120B prevented vincristine-induced nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-κB. In vivo, ML120B was effective by itself and enhanced CHOP anti-tumor activity significantly (P = 0.001) in the WSU-DLCL2-SCID model but did not prevent CNS lymphoma in the WSU-FSCCL-SCID model. Conclusions For the first time, this study demonstrates that perturbation of IKK-2 by ML120B leads to synergistic enhancement of vincristine cytotoxicity in lymphoma. These results suggest that disruption of the NF-κB pathway is a useful adjunct to cytotoxic chemotherapy in lymphoma

Melatonin serum level, sleep functions, and depression level after bilateral anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a feasibility study

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with non-motor complications such as sleep disturbance and depression. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) showed therapeutic effects on the motor dysfunctions. However, the potential effects of tDCS therapy on melatonin hormone, sleep dysfunctions, and depression in patients with PD still unclear. This feasibility study aimed to identify any potential changes in melatonin serum level, sleep functions and depression after the bilateral anodal tDCS in patients with PD. Material and Methods: Tensessions of bilateral anodal tDCS stimulation applied over left and right prefrontal and motor areas were given to twenty-five patients with PD. Melatonin serum level, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and geriatric depression scale examined before and after tDCS stimulation. Results: After bilateral anodal tDCS, there was a significant reduction in melatonin serum level, improvement in depression, improvements in overall sleep quality, and sleep latency. Correlations test showed significant associations between melatonin serum level reduction and changes in subjective sleep quality, and sleep duration, as well as between improvements in depression and overall sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance.Conclusion: Bilateral anodal tDCS therapy was a feasible and safe tool that showed potential therapeutic effects on melatonin serum level, sleep quality, and depression level in patients with PD. Although the further large scale and randomized-control trial studies are crucially needed, there is still a need for such a feasibility study to be established before such trials can be implemented as is recommended in the new medical research council guidelines