Hypoxia-regulated carbonic anhydrase IX expression is associated with poor survival in patients with invasive breast cancer.

Tumour hypoxia is a microenvironmental factor related to poor response to radiation, chemotherapy, genetic instability, selection for resistance to apoptosis, and increased risk of invasion and metastasis. Hypoxia-regulated carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) has been studied in various tumour sites and its expression has been correlated with the clinical outcome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of CA IX expression with outcome in patients with invasive breast cancer. We conducted a retrospective study examining the effects of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) on survival in patients with breast cancer. To facilitate the screening of multiple tissue blocks from each patient, tissue microarrays were prepared containing between two and five representative samples of tumour per patient. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine expression of CA IX in patients with breast cancer. The study includes a cohort of 144 unselected patients with early invasive breast cancer who underwent surgery, and had CA IX expression and follow-up data available for analysis. At the time of analysis, there were 28 deaths and median follow-up of 48 months with 96% of patients having at least 2 years of follow-up. CA IX was negative for 107 patients (17 deaths) and positive for 37 patients (11 deaths). Kaplan-Meier survival curves show that survival was superior in the CA IX-negative group with a 2-year survival of 97% for negatives and 83% for positives (log-rank test P=0.01). Allowing for potential prognostic variables in a Cox regression analysis, CA IX remained a significant independent predictor of survival (P=0.035). This study showed in both univariate and multivariate analysis that survival is significantly inferior in patients with tumour expressing CA IX. Prospective studies are underway to investigate this correlation in clinical trial setting

Gebrochene Kollektive

Diese Untersuchung wirft einen philosophischen Blick auf das Phänomen Genozid. Einerseits wird gezeigt, wie eine Politik der Vernichtung in sozialphilosophische Begriffe gefasst werden und wie damit der Verlauf von konkreten Fällen vernichtender Gewalt verstanden werden kann. Die Fallstudien thematisieren den Völkermord an den Armenien 1915/16 und den Genozid in Ruanda 1994. Anderseits wird eine Vernichtung des Politischen erörtert, die bisher in der Philosophie vernachlässigte moralphilosophische Dimensionen genozidaler Gewalt thematisiert

CAMPing Is on the Rise: A Survey of Judicially-Implemented Pre-Argument Conference Programs in the United States Circuit Courts of Appeal

In April of 1974, Chief Judge Irving R. Kaufman initiated a Civil Appeals Management Plan (hereinafter CAMP ) in the Second Circuit. Over the next thirteen years, pre-argument conference programs were implemented in several other circuits. To date, there are currently five circuits with such a program in effect. These programs possess some common characteristics as well as some distinguishing features. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the use of the pre-argument conference program in federal appellate court

Serum VEGF levels in patients undergoing primary radiotherapy for cervical cancer: impact on progression-free survival

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the regulation of tumour growth and metastasis. It was the aim of this study to examine the impact of serum VEGF levels on the likelihood of response to radiotherapy and on the disease-free survival in patient,,, with cervical cancer. Blood was taken before commencing treatment and serum VEGF was assessed by quantitative ELISA in 23 patients with cervical cancer stage IB-IVA undergoing primary radiotherapy. Serum VEGF levels were correlated with clinical and histopathologic factors as well as with response to radiotherapy and time to progression. Nineteen of the 23 patients had a complete response and four patients had persistent disease at 3 months. The median follow-Lip was 25 months (95% confidence interval: 23.5-26.5 months). At the time of analysis, eight patient,,, were tumour-free and 15 patients had tumour progression, 12 of these 15 patients died of disease. Overall, the median serum VEGF level was 244 pg/ml (range 31.9-817.6 pg/ml). All four patients with local failure had VEGF levels >244 pg/ml, whereas 11 of the 19 patients with complete response had serum VEGF of less than or equal to244 pg/ml (P = 0.035). The median time to progression was 5 months in patients with VEGF of >244 pg/ml compared to 19 months in patients with VEGF of : 244 pg/ml (log rank, P = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, serum VEGF, tumour size and histological type, but not the patient's age, stage and grade of histological differentiation influenced the progression-free survival. Elevated pre-therapeutic serum VEGF levels are associated with poor response and a shorter time to progression in patients with cervical cancer undergoing primary radiotherapy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

From ultrathin capsules to biaqueous vesicles

June’s Learning Laboratory is our first step to creating a better world by advocating for a more culturally accepting society that appreciates everyone regardless of their abilities. Our innovative curriculum along with 3D printed hands will encourage high school students to have more passion for everyone on our planet