Construction of Male Identity : The Relationship Between Cancer Support Groups and Identity for Men who are Living With Cancer

A diagnosis of cancer may have many meanings for a man in terms of the impact that cancer has on various aspects of his life, including his identity as a man. Subsequent membership of a cancer support group may support men negotiating their changing identity. A review of the relevant literature examines the impact of cancer and its treatments for men, and the various changes resulting from men\u27s experiences with cancer and cancer treatments. An overview of support groups, their function, composition, and benefits is provided with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of professional and member facilitated cancer support groups. Men and their membership in various support groups and the role of support groups in the renegotiation of men\u27s identities is explored. The lack of literature regarding the role of cancer support groups in the renegotiation of men\u27s identity following a diagnosis of cancer indicates a need for research in this area

Identification of Two Novel Genome-Wide Significant Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, associated with Barrett’s Oesophagus, determined by further Replication of a Genome-Wide Association Study

Barrett's oesophagus (BE) is a common premalignant condition to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). A previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified BE susceptibility Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 6p21, within the HLA region, and16q23, where the closest protein-coding gene was FOXF1. The replication study outlined in this thesis aimed to identify possible additional variants that did not reach genome-wide significance in the GWAS, in up to 10,158 BE patients and 21,062 controls. Meta-analysis of the data identified two further BE susceptibility SNPs: rs3072 (2p24.1; OR=1.14; 95%CI 1.09-1.18; P=1.8×10−11); and rs2701108 (12q24.21; OR=0.90; 95%CI 0.86-0.93; P=7.5×10−9). The two closest protein-coding genes, and most likely functional targets, are the bone morphogenetic protein pathway ligand GDF7 (rs3072) and TBX5 (rs2701108). A second GWAS of combined BE and EAC cases was recently published, analysing a total of 922,031 SNPs, where 87 of 94 associated SNPs with P<1×10−4 were selected for further replication, identified four SNPs (three loci) with BE/EAC risk in CRTC1 and BARX1 and within 100kb of FOXP1. Our data supported three of the BE/EAC associated SNPs and meta-analysis of all 87 SNPs detected a further susceptibility locus, rs3784262, near ALDH1A2 (OR=0.90, 95%CI 0.87-0.93, P=3.72×10−9). Overall, two novel BE susceptibility loci have been identified and data has been provided to support three previously identified BE/EAC SNPs and one additional BE/EAC locus. To date, genes implicated in BE susceptibility appear to encode transcription factors involved in thoracic, diaphragmatic and oesophageal development or inflammatory response proteins

Effect of egg turning and incubation time on carbonic anhydrase gene expression in the blastoderm of the Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica)

(1) The gene expression of carbonic anhydrase, a key enzyme for the production sub-embryonic fluid (SEF), was assessed in turned and unturned eggs of the Japanese quail. The plasma membrane-associated isoforms CA IV, CAIX, CA XII, CA XIV, and the cytoplasmic isoform CA II, were investigated in the extra-embryonic tissue of the blastoderm and in embryonic blood. (2) Eggs were incubated at 37.6C, c. 60% R.H., and turned hourly (90 ) or left unturned. From 48 to 96 hours of incubation mRNA was extracted from blastoderm tissue, reverse-transcribed to cDNA and quantified by real-time qPCR using gene-specific primers. Blood collected at 96h was processed identically. (3) Blastoderm CAIV gene expression increased with the period of incubation only in turned eggs, with maxima at 84 and 96h of incubation. Only very low levels were found in blood. (4) Blastoderm CA II gene expression was greatest at 48 and 54h of incubation, subsequently declining to much lower levels and una ected by turning. Blood CA II gene expression was about 25-fold greater than that in the blastoderm. (5) The expression of CA IX in the blastoderm was the highest of all isoforms, yet unaffected by turning. CA XII did not amplify and CA XIV was present at unquantifiable low levels. (6) It is concluded that solely gene expression for CA IV is sensitive to egg turning, and that increased CA IV gene expression could account for the additional SEF mass found at 84-96h of incubation. in embryos of turned eggs

Real-time auditory feedback may reduce abnormal movements in patients with chronic stroke

Purpose The current pilot study assesses the use of real-time auditory feedback to help reduce abnormal movements during an active reaching task in patients with chronic stroke. Materials and methods 20 patients with chronic stroke completed the study with full datasets (age: M = 53 SD = 14; sex: male = 75%; time since stroke in months: M = 34, SD = 33). Patients undertook 100 repetitions of an active reaching task while listening to self-selected music which automatically muted when abnormal movement was detected, determined by thresholds set by clinical therapists. A within-subject design with two conditions (with auditory feedback vs. without auditory feedback) presented in a randomised counterbalanced order was used. The dependent variable was the duration of abnormal movement as a proportion of trial duration. Results A significant reduction in the duration of abnormal movement was observed when patients received auditory feedback, F(1,18) = 9.424, p = 0.007, with a large effect size (partial η2 = 0.344). Conclusions Patients with chronic stroke can make use of real-time auditory feedback to increase the proportion of time they spend in optimal movement patterns. The approach provides a motivating framework that encourages high dose with a key focus on quality of movement

A mathematical model of tumour & blood pHe regulation: The HCO-3/CO2 buffering system

Malignant tumours are characterised by a low, acidic extracellular pH (pHe) which facilitates invasion and metastasis. Previous research has proposed the potential benefits of manipulating systemic pHe, and recent experiments have highlighted the potential for buffer therapy to raise tumour pHe, prevent metastases, and prolong survival in laboratory mice. To examine the physiological regulation of tumour buffering and investigate how perturbations of the buffering system (via metabolic/respiratory disorders or changes in parameters) can alter tumour and blood pHe, we develop a simple compartmentalised ordinary differential equation model of pHe regulation by the View the MathML source buffering system. An approximate analytical solution is constructed and used to carry out a sensitivity analysis, where we identify key parameters that regulate tumour pHe in both humans and mice. From this analysis, we suggest promising alternative and combination therapies, and identify specific patient groups which may show an enhanced response to buffer therapy. In addition, numerical simulations are performed, validating the model against well-known metabolic/respiratory disorders and predicting how these disorders could change tumour pHe

N-Terminal sequence of creatine kinase from skeletal muscle of rabbit and rhesus monkey

1. 1. The first 20 amino acids from the N-terminus of skeletal muscle (MM) creatine kinase from both rabbit and rhesus monkey have been identified and these sequences show considerable homology.2. 2. Contrary to an earlier report, the N-terminus was not found to be blocked.3. 3. Both of these sequences show much less homology with the N-terminal sequence of heart muscle (MM) creatine kinase and no homology with that of the heart muscle mitochondrial (MiMi) isozyme.4. 4. No homology was found between the N-terminal sequence of the mitochondrial isozyme and the URF (unidentified reading frame) proteins of the human mitochondrial genome, indicating that the mitochondrial enzyme is encoded by nuclear genes. This suggests the possibility that an N-terminal peptide may be cleaved from the mitochondrial isozyme on its translocation across the mitochondrial membrane.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25924/1/0000487.pd