West Cornwall Methodism Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: A Missional Ecclesiology

The thesis considers a missional ecclesiology, arising out of and applicable to the experience of Methodism in West Cornwall. It is important therefore to take a historical overview of West Cornwall Methodists, believing that the problems and opportunities of today in areas of mission and ministry can be traced though that history. And as against a superficial reading, the purpose is not merely negative. In fact, the conclusion is one of cautious optimism, to seek and find a positive future. Each of the history chapters will demonstrate the evolution of various factors that constitute that which makes West Cornish Methodism what it is today. It will be demonstrated that it has been moulded by certain unique facets including the Cornish personality of independence and tenacity, furthered by geographical remoteness. Added to this there were dangerous industries such as mining and fishing, and the decline of an indigenous people that held, at least formerly, strong religious beliefs. The latter chapters will focus on how national Methodism by its pervading inflexible structures has been a mixed blessing leading to perceived tensions in the practice of the local churches. Conference initiatives, taken in areas of considerable concern, coupled to long-term numerical decline have led to insecurity and hesitancy as to the future. The fundamental reason for the last four chapters is that they will demonstrate how the previously discussed historical context shapes the here and now and indeed the future. In seeking a positive future, theological concepts such as Missio Dei and Volkstum will be defined and discussed as a basis for further mission. For this there will be a need for the local churches to prepare themselves for a positive role in the communities of which they are a part

Brexit is changing the scenario for private equity in the UK

There are both threats and opportunities for private equity firms and their portfolio companies, write Mike Wright, Kevin Amess, Nick Bacon, John Gilligan and Nick Wilso

Brexit, private equity and management

We analyse the expected impact of Brexit on private equity and its implications for management research. Specifically, we explore the implications for PE funds and funding, and at the portfolio firm level with respect to employment and performance

Risk and clinical implications of transformation of follicular lymphoma to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

To study the clinical significance of transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL)

Presentation serum selenium predicts for overall survival, dose delivery, and first treatment response in aggressive non-hodgkin’s lymphoma

Purpose: This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that serum selenium concentration at presentation correlates with dose delivery, first treatment response, and overall survival in patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Patients and Methods: The patients presented between July 1986 and March 1999 and received anthracycline-based chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both. The total selenium content was retrospectively analyzed in 100 sera, frozen at presentation, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results: The serum selenium concentration ranged from 0.33 to 1.51 mol/L (mean, 0.92 mol/L; United Kingdom adult reference range, 1.07 to 1.88 mol/L). Serum selenium concentration correlated closely with performance status but with no other clinical variable. Multivariate analysis revealed that increased dose delivery, summarized by an area under the curve, correlated positively with younger age (P < .001), advanced stage (P .001), and higher serum selenium concentration (P .032). Selenium level also correlated positively with response (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.90; P .011) and achievement of long-term remission after first treatment (log-rank test, 4.38; P .036). On multivariate analysis, selenium concentration was positively predictive of overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 for 0.2 mol/L increase; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.95; P .018), whereas age indicated negative borderline significance (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.18; P .066).Conclusion: Serum selenium concentration at presentation is a prognostic factor, predicting positively for dose delivery, treatment response, and long-term survival in aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Unlike most existing prognostic factors in aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, selenium supplementation may offer a novel therapeutic strategy in this frequently curable malignancy