Mometasone Furoate and Nasal Vascularisation in Allergic Patients

Angiogenesis, the growth and proliferation of new blood vessels, is important in a variety of pathophysiological processes. However the role of angiogenesis in allergic rhinitis has not been well studied. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the vascularisation of the nasal mucous membrane of non-allergic, non-treated allergic and allergic patients treated with mometasone furoate. A small piece of the nasal mucous membrane was taken from the frontal pole of the lower nasal shell from 90 patients. The patients were divided in three groups, each containing 30 patients. First group of patients (GP1) had a negative inhalatory allergen test, patients in second group (GP2) had positive test but were not under treatment and the third group of patients (GP3) had positive results with the same test and were treated with mometasone furoate for 15 days before analysis. Immunhistochemical staining with anti-CD31 and VEGF-C was performed. Vascular phase was determined by using length density. Differences in expression of CD31 and VEGF-C were compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post-hoc tests. Significantly lower values of CD31 and VEGF-C expression were observed in GP1 in compare with GP2 and GP3 (p<0.001, p=0.013, respectively). In GP3 the microvessel density was significantly lower than in GP2 (p<0.001), but higher than in GP1. Our results demonstrated that 15-day treatment with mometasone furoate results in a significant reduction of the density of vascular parameters in allergic patients

Relapsed ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma with long-term survival associated with synchronous primary squamous cell carcinoma of the colon

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common and also the most aggressive subtype of ovarian cancer while squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the colon is an extremely rare histologic subtype of all colonic malignancies with poor prognosis. Here we report a unique case of synchronous primary SCC of the colon and second recurrence of HGSOC in a patient with 15-years survival. Our patient developed two recurrent HGSOCs with disease-free survival time of five and nine years, respectively. The second recurrence of HGSOC was associated with the synchronous primary SCC of the ascending colon and was further complicated with the patient′s development of platinum resistance. Awareness of this unusual occurrence should emphasize the need for adequate sampling of tumor tissue in patients with relapsing ovarian cancer. Reports of more cases of SCC of the colon would possibly help to establish appropriate management modality and strategies for treatment

An international study of correlates of women's positive body image

Positive body image (PBI) has received attention in the recent research literature. Despite this, its role in daily functioning in different cultural contexts, particularly its potential relationship with academic outcomes, is still lacking. This study aimed to offer an international perspective on the association between PBI and body mass index (BMI), perceived academic achievement, and educational aspirations, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem. A cross-national study was conducted in eight European countries with a total of 2653 female university students. Participants completed an online survey measuring PBI (conceptualized as body appreciation), self-esteem, perceived academic achievement and aspirations, and body mass index (BMI). Results revealed differences in PBI between countries (low magnitude). PBI correlated negatively with BMI in all national groups (low-to-moderate magnitude). Mediation analysis showed that self-esteem mediated the association between PBI and academic variables. Findings from this study suggest that building students' self-esteem and PBI can be a suitable way to boost academic success

The drivers and mechanisms of plumage colour evolution

Birds are one of the most colourful groups of animals on the planet. Their colouration has understandably fascinated scientists for decades and this diversity provides opportunities for exploring some fundamental evolutionary questions. In this thesis, by focusing on particular bird groups, I aim to broaden our understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of plumage colour evolution. In the first part of my thesis, I explore behavioural and environmental factors that shape plumage colour evolution in the clade Coraciiformes. I find that, in this clade, the majority of plumage colour variation is explained by variation in environmental light conditions among species, while behavioural traits have limited influence. In the second part of my thesis, I test a previously described hypothesis for an evolutionary pathway between grey and blue plumage colouration. Using phylogenetic models of trait evolution, I find support for this hypothesis, confirming a macroevolutionary pathway towards colour blue from colour grey via colour slate in the clade Thraupidae. Finally, in the last part of my thesis I studied variation in feather nanostructure [specifically the keratin and air matrix (spongy layer) within feathers] to identify structural elements underpinning the described evolutionary transition between grey and blue. In the case of blue colour in Tanagers, I find that it is variation in many elements of the spongy layer that explains colour variation, rather than the presence or absence of any of its elements. Together, the results of this thesis highlight the importance of environmental factors in driving plumage colour evolution, as well as mechanistic changes (and associated developmental constraints) involved in the evolution of novel colour phenotype

Nación, "raza" y americanismo en el ensayo latinoamericano de los años treinta: Samuel Ramos y Gabriela Mistral

Tesis para optar al grado de Magíster en Estudios LatinoamericanosEsta tesis aborda los discursos identitarios en torno a los conceptos de nación, “raza” y americanismo en el ensayismo de los años treinta en América Latina, en particular, en la obra de Samuel Ramos y de Gabriela Mistral. De Ramos se estudia El perfil del hombre y la cultura en México (1934), mientras que de Mistral se seleccionó un corpus de ensayos breves publicados alrededor de los años treinta. Se trata de dos respuestas intelectuales frente a la necesidad de rearticular las identidades colectivas y legitimar culturalmente el nuevo orden que emergía tras la crisis del modelo oligárquico. Ambos autores son parte del pensamiento hegemónico de la época, y sus proyectos comparten un imaginario racialista, mestizófilo y mesocrático; no obstante, articulan propuestas muy diferentes. Ambos autores sostienen que el mimetismo oligárquico europeísta fue una política de desarrollo cultural errónea y optan por poner el mestizaje en el centro del proyecto identitario nacional y latinoamericano. Sin embargo, la concepción del mestizaje, así como la representación de los indígenas y el lugar que se les asigna dentro de la nación son algunas de las diferencias centrales que se identifican entre sus obras. En una propuesta sistemática mediada por la apropiación de la psicología social y el psicoanálisis, Ramos niega la conveniencia e incluso la posibilidad de un mestizaje cultural, y se limita a reivindicar una identidad racial mestiza, acompañada por una “cultura criolla” que sigue poniendo en el centro la herencia europea. Por su parte, la fragmentaria obra de Mistral se caracteriza por una ambivalencia estratégica, que le permite ir posicionando conciliatoriamente una identidad americana armónica en el contexto de un campo cultural marcadamente androcéntrico. Defiende el mestizaje tanto en sus dimensiones raciales como culturales, y supedita a ese proyecto su defensa de los indígenas. Además, elabora una “iconografía americana” con la que hace una relectura histórica en torno a grandes figuras que se apropia para defender la “raza” y la cultura mestiza.Parcialmente financiado por CONICYT / Magíster Naciona

Differences in elementary school achievement between girls and boys: Does the teacher gender play a role?

Abstract Elementary schools in many countries record an unequal representation of male and female teachers with female teachers in huge majority. At the same time, numerous studies reveal that girls generally outmatch boys in the majority of school subjects. Consequently, possible effects of teacher-pupil gender interaction are becoming an important topic in studies on pupils&apos; school achievement. The aim of the present study was to examine the proposed teacher-pupil gender interaction effect on pupils&apos; school achievement in Croatian elementary schools. The nationwide sample of pupils and their teachers from all 844 Croatian elementary schools was used. There were 48,232 pupils at the age 10 and 46,196 pupils at the age 14 in the research. Two types of pupils&apos; school achievement measures were assessed-school marks and standardized knowledge tests for almost all subjects in school curriculum. Results indicate that girls generally outmatch boys by school marks, whereas results are equivocal when standardized tests were used. The teachers&apos; gender effect measured by knowledge of their pupils reveal the superiority of female teachers, but only on standardized achievement tests. The interaction effects of teachers&apos; and pupils&apos; gender on school achievement are generally insignificant. The stability of these results was confirmed in both age cohorts and assumption that differences in boys&apos; and girls&apos; school achievement are related to teachers&apos; gender cannot be supported within Croatian elementary education