ICAM-2 Expression Mediates a Membrane-Actin Link, Confers a Nonmetastatic Phenotype and Reflects Favorable Tumor Stage or Histology in Neuroblastoma

The actin cytoskeleton is a primary determinant of tumor cell motility and metastatic potential. Motility and metastasis are thought to be regulated, in large part, by the interaction of membrane proteins with cytoplasmic linker proteins and of these linker proteins, in turn, with actin. However, complete membrane-to-actin linkages have been difficult to identify. We used co-immunoprecipitation and competitive peptide assays to show that intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2)/α-actinin/actin may comprise such a linkage in neuroblastoma cells. ICAM-2 expression limited the motility of these cells and redistributed actin fibers in vitro, and suppressed development of disseminated tumors in an in vivo model of metastatic neuroblastoma. Consistent with these observations, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated ICAM-2 expression in primary neuroblastoma tumors exhibiting features that are associated with limited metastatic disease and more favorable clinical outcome. In neuroblastoma cell lines, ICAM-2 expression did not affect AKT activation, tumorigenic potential or chemosensitivity, as has been reported for some types of transfected cells. The observed ICAM-2-mediated suppression of metastatic phenotype is a novel function for this protein, and the interaction of ICAM-2/α-actinin/actin represents the first complete membrane-linker protein-actin linkage to impact tumor cell motility in vitro and metastatic potential in an in vivo model. Current work focuses on identifying specific protein domains critical to the regulation of neuroblastoma cell motility and metastasis and on determining if these domains represent exploitable therapeutic targets

Nationalism, resistance, and patriarchy: the poetry of Saharawi women

The arts, and in particular poetry, have been swords of resistance for the Saharawis since the 1975 Moroccan and Mauritanian invasion and subsequent occupation of their country. In this article, I aim to investigate whether Saharawi women writers go further than the more common objects of Saharawi resistance and fight against patriarchy. Firstly, I focus on the work of the Saharawi 'Friendship Generation' of writers, exploring the Generation's collective (nationalist) aims. Secondly, I look at the construction of gender in Saharawi poetry, analysing how gender, particularly the idea of woman and femininity, are imagined according to the sex-identification of the author

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Food-induced anaphylactic reactions in adults

Background. Food anaphylaxis is the most severe form of food-induced allergic reaction. Regardless of geographical, ethnic and age-related factors there is a growing incidence in the general population observed. Aim. Incidence of food allergy in triggering anaphylactic reactions, their clinical characteristics and analysis of their course in adults. Materials and methods. 55 adults (30 women, 25 men, mean age 42±12 yrs) with at least one episode of anaphylaxis in the past were enrolled into the study. In 25 (45%) of them food was the cause of anaphylaxis. There was a detailed medical history of each patient completed and each of them underwent skin prick tests with the most common inhalant and food allergens. Serum concentrations of allergen specific IgE against food allergens were assessed. A selected subjects underwent skin prick tests with fresh foods (prick by prick) and/or an open food challenge. Other reasons of complaints were excluded. Results. In 12 (48%) patients the cause of anaphylaxis was established on the basis of detailed medical history , and was confirmed with other diagnostic methods. A combination of diagnostic methods allowed to identify food as a triggering factor in 19 subjects (76%). In 5 persons (20%) the anaphylactic reaction resulted from the coexistence of a food allergen and a co-factor. The most frequent trigger of food anaphylaxis were hazel nuts (n=6.24%). 7 persons (28%) suffered from more than 1 episode of anaphylaxis before the diagnostic process had been started. Bronchial asthma co-existed with food allergy in 6 cases (24%), and atopy in 18 (72%) cases. Conclusions. Food allergy is an important cause of anaphylaxis in adults. Atopy in food allergic patients predisposes to anaphylaxis. A detailed medical history plays a crucial role in diagnosis in food allergy and may prevent the patient from recurrent anaphylaxis. In some patients with oral allergy syndrome in the past may turn into anaphylaxis with time. Patients who previously suffered from oral allergy are at risk of developing anaphylaxis under exposure to the same kind of food which usually provokes OAS.Wprowadzenie. Anafilaksja pokarmowa stanowi najcięższą postać reakcji alergicznej wywołanej pokarmem. Niezależnie od uwarunkowań geograficznych, etnicznych i demograficznych obserwowana jest tendencja wzrostowa częstości jej występowania. Cel pracy. Ocena udziału alergii pokarmowej w wywoływaniu reakcji anafilaktycznych u osób dorosłych, charakterystyka kliniczna oraz analiza przebiegu reakcji anafilaktycznej. Materiał i metody. Do badania włączono 55 osób dorosłych (30K, 25M, wiek śr. 42±12 lat) po przebytym co najmniej jednym epizodzie anafilaksji, z czego u 25 (45%) osób przyczyną anafilaksji były pokarmy. U wszystkich przeprowadzono szczegółowy wywiad, wykonano punktowe testy skórne z alergenami pokarmowymi i wziewnymi, oznaczono stężenie swoistych IgE przeciwko wybranym alergenom pokarmowym, u wybranych chorych wykonano punktowe testy skórne z pokarmami (prick by prick) lub/i przeprowadzono próby prowokacji doustnej pokarmami. Wykluczono inne przyczyny anafilaksji. Wyniki. U 12 (48%) na podstawie wywiadu ustalono przyczynę anafilaksji, co zostało potwierdzone innymi metodami diagnostycznymi. Stosując połączenie kilku metod diagnostycznych zidentyfikowano pokarmowy czynnik sprawczy u 19 (76%) chorych. U 5 osób (20%) równocześnie z alergenem pokarmowym stwierdzono działanie innego kofaktora. Pokarmem najczęściej powodującym anafilaksję były orzechy laskowe (n=6, 24%), u 7 osób (28%) wystąpił więcej niż 1 epizod anafilaksji zanim rozpoczęto diagnostykę. U 6 chorych (24%) z objawami alergii pokarmowej współistniała astma oskrzelowa, u 18 (72%) cechy atopii. Wnioski. Pokarm stanowi istotną przyczynę anafilaksji u osób dorosłych. Atopia stanowi istotny czynnik ryzyka rozwoju reakcji anafilaktycznej u osób uczulonych na pokarmy. Szczegółowo zebrany wywiad jest bardzo ważnym elementem diagnostyki anafilaksji pokarmowej i może zapobiec narażeniu chorego na kilkakrotne objawy anafilaksji. Chorzy, u których określone pokarmy wywoływały reakcje alergiczne jedynie pod postacią zespołu OAS są w grupie ryzyka wystąpienia reakcji anafilaktycznej

Matching attentional draw with utility in interruption

This research examines a design guideline that aims to increase the positive perception of interruptions. The guideline advocates matching the amount of attention attracted by an interruption’s notification method (attentional draw) to the utility of the interruption content. Our first experiment examined a set of 10 visual notification signals in terms of their detection times and established a set of three significantly different signals along the spectrum of attentional draw. Our second experiment investigated matching these different signals to interruption content with different levels of utility. Results indicate that the matching strategy decreases annoyance and increases perception of benefit compared to a strategy that uses the same signal regardless of interruption utility, with no significant impact on workload or performance. Design implications arising from the second experiment as well as recommendations for future work are discussed