Problems around Accessing Information in Rural Communities

Poverty is known to be a rural phenomenon regardless of developments taking place. Rural communities of underdeveloped countries are regarded to be living in those parts of the country that lack almost all kinds of services and basic needs even worse. Information society should be maintained because information has a significant impact in ensuring development in communities but this is not the case in rural areas because of information poverty caused by lack of means to access it. The study addresses the problems to access information in rural communities. This research explores the problems to access information through ICTs such as computer and Internet in rural communities and proposes guidelines on how to ensure proper access to information for rural residents. Rural communities and the government will benefit a lot from the success of this research. Government is the one that ensures that every citizen has the means to access information in order to bridge the gap of information poverty and digital divide

Rigour versus Relevance in Information Systems Research in South Africa

Rigour and relevance division is as a result of many reasons. The gap between the two has promoted debate and argument that has lasted for years. Many believed that IS research is effective and others opposed the argument. Others within or outside the discipline are considering whether IS research output is affecting and impacting decision making in the industry. Meanwhile, the debate on rigour and relevance has lasted for decades but in reality, the debate and the gap still persist, in spite of efforts by researchers. Their efforts and hard-work seems ineffective. The study determined whether the needs of practitioners through rigour and relevance of IS/academic research and also to determine whether this lingering debate over these decades has worth from an academic viewpoint. There is also an on-going criticism that IS research lacks rigour, relevance, effective communication and acceptance in the field as noted in the literature

Combination PPARγ and RXR Agonist Treatment in Melanoma Cells: Functional Importance of S100A2

Nuclear hormone receptors, including RXR and PPARγ, represent novel therapeutic targets in melanoma. We have previously shown that the DRO subline of the amelanotic melanoma A375 responds to rexinoid and thiazolidinedione (TZD) treatment in vitro and in vivo. We performed microarray analysis of A375(DRO) after TZD and combination rexinoid/TZD treatment in which the calcium binding protein S100A2 had increased expression after rexinoid or TZD treatment and a synergistic increase to combination treatment. Increased S100A2 expression is dependent on an intact PPARγ receptor, but it is not sufficient to mediate the antiproliferative effects of rexinoid/TZD treatment. Over expression of S100A2 enhanced the effect of rexinoid and TZD treatment while inhibition of S100A2 expression attenuated the response to rexinoid/TZD treatment, suggesting that S100A2 is necessary for optimal response to RXR and PPARγ activation by respective ligands. In summary, we have identified potential downstream mediators of rexinoid and TZD treatment in a poorly differentiated melanoma and found that alterations in S100A2 expression affect RXR and PPARγ signaling in A375(DRO) cells. These studies provide insight into potential mechanisms of tumor response or resistance to these novel therapies

Molecular Diagnostics in the Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules: Current Use and Prospective Opportunities

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy with an estimated 43,800 new cases to be diagnosed in 2022 and representing the 7th most common cancer in women. While thyroid nodules are very common, being identified in over 60% of randomly selected adults, only 5-15% of thyroid nodules harbor thyroid malignancy. Therefore, it is incumbent upon physicians to detect and treat thyroid malignancies as is clinically appropriate and avoid unnecessary invasive procedures in patients with benign asymptomatic lesions. Over the last 15-20 years, rapid advances have been made in cytomolecular testing to aid in thyroid nodule management. Initially, indeterminate thyroid nodules, those with Bethesda III or IV cytology and approximately a 10-40% risk of malignancy, were studied to assess benignity or malignancy. More recently, next generation sequencing and micro-RNA technology platforms have refined the diagnostic capacity of thyroid nodule molecular testing and have introduced opportunities to glean prognostic information from both cytologically indeterminate and malignant thyroid nodules. Therefore, clinicians can move beyond determination of malignancy, and utilize contemporary molecular information to aid in decisions such as extent of surgery and post-therapy monitoring plans. Future opportunities include molecularly derived information about tumor behavior, neo-adjuvant treatment opportunities and response to thyroid cancer therapies

Palpable pediatric thyroid abnormalities – diagnostic pitfalls necessitate a high index of clinical suspicion: a case report

A 12-year-old girl presented with a 4 year history of an enlarged, firm thyroid gland. On exam, her thyroid was firm and fixed and an enlarged cervical lymph node was palpable as well. Though a thyroid ultrasound prior to referral was read as thyroiditis, clinical suspicion for thyroid carcinoma mandated continued investigation. The diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer was established and her workup revealed lymph node metastases as well as a tremendous burden of pulmonary metastases. Pediatric thyroid cancer is extremely rare, but often presents with aggressive disease. Palpable thyroid abnormalities in an individual under 20-years-old should be viewed with suspicion and should be thoroughly investigated to rule out malignancy even in the face of negative diagnostic procedures. Though pediatric papillary thyroid cancer often presents with loco-regional and even distant metastatic disease, mortality rates in follow-up for as long as 20 years are very favorable

jc.2023-02949 JCEM TERT AV Supplementary Material.docx

The supplementary data details Veracyte's bioinformatics pipeline for developing the TERT promoter mutation detection assay and shows data on the variant allele frequency of TERT promoter mutations from patient samples.</p

Retinoid and thiazolidinedione therapies in melanoma: an analysis of differential response based on nuclear hormone receptor expression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metastatic melanoma has a high mortality rate and suboptimal therapeutic options. Molecular targeting may be beneficial using the rexinoid LGD1069, a retinoid × receptor selective agonist, and thiazolidinediones (TZD), PPARγ selective ligands, as novel treatments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mouse xenograft models with human melanoma cell lines [A375(DRO) or M14(5–16)] were treated for 4 weeks with daily vehicle, RXR agonist (rexinoid, LGD1069, 30 mg/kg/d), PPARγ agonist (TZD, rosiglitazone, 10 mg/kg/d) or combination. A375(DRO) tumor growth was significantly inhibited by either ligand alone and the combination had an additive effect. M14(5–16) tumors only responded to LGD1069 100 mg/kg/day. A375(DRO) sublines resistant to rexinoid, TZD and combination were generated and all three sublines had reduced PPARγ expression but preserved RXR expression. shRNA knockdown of PPARγ or RXRγ attenuated the rexinoid, TZD and combination ligand-mediated decreased proliferation in A375(DRO) cells. Rexinoid (LGD1069) and retinoid (TTNPB) treatment of M14(5–16) cells resulted in decreased proliferation that was additive with combination of both rexinoid and retinoid. shRNA knockdown of RXRγ resulted in a decreased response to either ligand.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A375 (DRO) melanoma cell growth is inhibited by rexinoid and TZD treatment, and this response is dependent on RXR and PPARγ receptor expression. M14 (5–16) melanoma cell growth is inhibited by rexinoid and retinoid treatment, and this response is dependent on RXR expression. These findings may help guide molecular-based treatment strategies in melanoma and provide insight for mechanisms of resistance to nuclear receptor targeted therapies in certain cancers.</p

A safe and effective protocol for management of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the outcomes of a protocol to manage hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy (TTX). METHODS: A review of prospectively collected data was performed in 130 patients who underwent TTX after the introduction of a specific protocol. These patients were compared with a control group of 195 patients who underwent TTX the year prior when routine calcium supplementation was utilized and no specific protocol was used. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients in whom the protocol was followed, 44 (37%) patients were classified as high risk, 15 (13%) intermediate risk, and 61 (51%) low risk. The protocol had a sensitivity of 85% and a negative predictive value of 92% for predicting subsequent hypocalcemia. With the implementation of the protocol, there was significant reduction in temporary hypocalcemia events (P = .008) and intravenous calcium drip (P = .49). Also, calcium supplementation was significantly lower in the protocol group (P ≤ .001). CONCLUSIONS: This hypocalcemia protocol identifies patients who do not require additional supplementation and additional monitoring. At the same time, it identifies those who will benefit from supplementation after TTX