Mapping the absence : A theological critique of posthumanist influences in marketing and consumer research

In this study, we critically examine the ongoing adoption of various posthumanist influences into the fields of marketing and consumer research from a theological perspective. By conducting a theological-historical assessment, we propose that it is not posthuman notions of human/technology relations, nor their broader context in the emerging non-representational paradigms, that mark radically new disruptions in the continuing restructuring of the disciplines of marketing and consumer research. Instead, we argue that what is taking place is an implicit adherence to a contemporary form of age-old Christian dogma. As a radical conjecture, we thus propose that an identification of certain similarities between Christian dogma and the grounds for various posthumanist frameworks suggest that posthuman thought may well herald the global dissemination of a far more elusive, authoritarian, and hegemonic system than that which posthumanists typically claim to have abandoned. Consequently, we elaborate on implications to developments in marketing thought.Peer reviewe

Diabetic retinopathy: current and future methods for early screening from a retinal hemodynamic and geometric approach

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major disease and is the number one cause of blindness in the UK. In England alone, 4200 new cases appear every year and 1280 lead to blindness. DR is a result of diabetes mellitus, which affects the retina of the eye and specifically the vessel structure. Elevated levels of glucose cause a malfunction in the cell structure, which affects the vessel wall and, in severe conditions, leads to their breakage. Much research has been carried out on detecting the different stages of DR but not enough versatile research has been carried out on the detection of early DR before the appearance of any lesions. In this review, the authors approach the topic from the functional side of the human eye and how hemodynamic factors that are impaired by diabetes affect the vascular structur

Effect of plasmapheresis on hyperviscosity-related retinopathy and retinal hemodynamics in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

PURPOSE: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is characterized by an overproduction of immunoglobulin M (IgM), which can lead to a hyperviscosity syndrome (HVS) and HVS-related retinopathy. Plasmapheresis is known to reduce serum viscosity (SV) and IgM levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of plasmapheresis on HVS-related retinopathy and retinal hemodynamic parameters in patients with WM. METHODS: Nine patients with HVS due to WM were studied. SV and plasma IgM levels were measured before and after plasmapheresis treatment. The patients were evaluated for HVS-related retinopathy, and hemodynamic changes in a major temporal retinal vein by laser Doppler, before and after plasmapheresis. RESULTS: Plasmapheresis resulted in significant reductions in serum IgM (46.5% +/- 18.0%, mean +/- SD; P = 0.0009) and SV (44.7% +/- 17.3%, P = 0.002). HVS-related retinopathy improved in all patients after plasmapheresis. After treatment, the venous diameter decreased in each patient by an average of 15.3% +/- 5.8% (P = 0.0001). A significant (P = 0.0004) 55.2% +/- 22.5% increase in retinal venous blood speed accompanied the decreases in diameter. There was no significant change in the retinal blood flow rate after treatment. The percentage decreases in SV in the patients were significantly correlated with the percentage decreases in venous blood column diameter (P = 0.031, R(2) = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: HVS triggers a distinctive retinopathy with a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)-like appearance. However, the retinal blood flow is not decreased as in CRVO, but remains at normal levels. Plasmapheresis is effective in reversing HVS-related retinopathy and in reducing abnormal venous dilatation