An unusual case of cervical leiomyosarcoma in an adoloscent girl

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix is an exceedingly rare tumor. It is malignant mesenchymal tumour of smooth muscle origin. We report a case of 15-year-old adolescent girl who presented with complain of excessive bleeding per vaginum off and on since 3-4 months and was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma of cervix. Patient was advised further management but father refused as according to them when bleeding has stopped completely then what is the need of further treatment. In this article we want to highlight the points: what is prognosis and survival of such patient whose mass was removed completely and patient is not willing for further treatment inspite of knowing the aggressive nature of tumor and if hysterectomy is the answer what about the reproductive outcome in such young girls and what is the prospect of uterine transplant surgery.

Physiological and biochemical response to higher temperature stress in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the physiological and biochemical changes in some thermotolerant and thermosensitive chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes. Fourteen chilli genotypes (SL 461, PP 404, DL 161, MS 341, VR 521, PB 405, PS 403, SD 463, FL 201, AC 102, S 343, SL 462 and SL 464 along with sensitive check [Royal Wonder of bell pepper] were evaluated for heat tolerance. The observations on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters were recorded at 45, 65, 85 and 105 days after transplanting (DAT) (high temperature period). On the basis of our studies, genotypes S 343, AC 102 and FL 201 were found to be relatively thermotolerant. However, high temperature markedly decreased the photosynthetic activity of chilli plants by decreasing the photosynthetic pigments in leaf chloroplasts of all the genotypes. The levels of ascorbic acid, total soluble sugars and total phenols increased in the leaves of all the genotypes with the maturity of the crop. Electrolyte leakage and proline content also increased with rise in temperature. Genotypes AC 102 and S 343 were able to accumulate the maximum ascorbic acid, proline, total soluble sugars and total phenols under heat stress conditions. Decrease in fruit set percent led to reduction in the total yield per plant. Maximum yield was observed in genotype S 343 followed by FL 201

Green Tea Consumption Reduces Oxidative Stress in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Oxidative stress is one of the underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Because of its antioxidant effect, we hypothesize that green tea consumption (3 cups daily for 3 months) would improve antioxidant status and reduces oxidative damage in Parkinson’s disease. Fifteen subjects who were within the first five years of PD, on stable PD medication, and not regular green tea consumers were recruited. Iron status, oxidative stress and PD status were evaluated before and after 3 months of green tea consumption. Hemoglobin, serum iron, iron saturation and ferritin concentrations were used to assess iron status. Antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured to determine antioxidant status. Lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls were measured as oxidative damage markers. There were no changes in total motor scores of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), PDQ-39 total scores and various iron status markers after 3 months. Catalase (p \u3c 0.05) and SOD activities (p \u3c 0.005) were increased significantly indicating an improvement of antioxidant status. Both lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls decreased by ~52% (p \u3c 0.01) with green tea consumption, indicating less oxidative stress. In conclusion, 3 cups of green tea consumption for 3 months can improve antioxidant status and reduce oxidative damage in PD patients. Further studies are needed to determine if these changes result in slowing the disease progression

A Virtual Classroom Via Dataconferencing: A Multi-Institutional Experience

This paper presents the experience of five faculty from four universities who are co-developing and team teaching courses using the world-wide web (WWW). In particular two novel power engineering courses, Flexible Control of Transmission Systems and Flexible Control of Distribuction Systems, introduce the student to the application of power electronic-based controllers, known specifically as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) controllers, to enhance the performance of the transmission and distribution systems in an electric power system. In order to leverage faculty expertise in the various topics included in each course, a unique partnership was formed among five faculty from the following universities: University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri--Rolla and Purdue University. In order to achieve the most effective presentation, in the presence of geographical, cost, time and technology constraints, the co-developers decided to pursue various distance learning strategies to link the four universities together in a live interactive virtual classroom utilizing dataconferencing software and the WWW. In this paper we address the trials and tribulations of our experience. In particular, we discuss the use of video tape technology by mail, the use of live audio and video via an integrated service digital network (ISDN) approach, and lastly, dataconferencing software in conjunction with telephone conferencing. Each of these alternative methodologies are examined in detail and are compared and contrasted from a cost and pedagogical point of view based on our experience

Collaborative Distance Education in Power Engineering

This paper presents a perspective on offering shared-courses, or courses simultaneously offered at two or more universities via various distance educational frameworks. Over a three year duration, two senior/graduate level courses were jointly developed and offered to the students at the University of Missouri--Rolla, the University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, and Purdue University. This paper discusses the various distance educational technologies including two-way audio/visual via ISDN line, video-tapes, and web-based conferencing. Both instructor and student reactions to these mediums are included. Pedagogical methods appropriate for these mediums are outlined. The paper concludes with recommendations and strategies for engineering institutions who would like to course-share with other universities and industry

A Multi-Institutional Cooperative Approach to Power Engineering Education

This paper describes the multi-institutional cooperative effort between the University of Missouri--Rolla, Kansas State University, and the University of Arkansas to develop two new courses in flexible power system control

Strategies to increase the demand for childhood vaccination in lowand middle-income countries : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To investigate which strategies to increase demand for vaccination are effective in increasing child vaccine coverage in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, POPLINE, ECONLIT, CINAHL, LILACS, BDSP, Web of Science and Scopus databases for relevant studies, published in English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese and Spanish up to 25 March 2014. We included studies of interventions intended to increase demand for routine childhood vaccination. Studies were eligible if conducted in low- and middle-income countries and employing a randomized controlled trial, non-randomized controlled trial, controlled before-and-after or interrupted time series design. We estimated risk of bias using Cochrane collaboration guidelines and performed random-effects meta-analysis. Findings We identified 11 studies comprising four randomized controlled trials, six cluster randomized controlled trials and one controlled before-and-after study published in English between 1996 and 2013. Participants were generally parents of young children exposed to an eligible intervention. Six studies demonstrated low risk of bias and five studies had moderate to high risk of bias. We conducted a pooled analysis considering all 11 studies, with data from 11 512 participants. Demand-side interventions were associated with significantly higher receipt of vaccines, relative risk (RR): 1.30, (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.17–1.44). Subgroup analyses also demonstrated significant effects of seven education and knowledge translation studies, RR: 1.40 (95% CI: 1.20–1.63) and of four studies which used incentives, RR: 1.28 (95% CI: 1.12–1.45). Conclusion Demand-side interventions lead to significant gains in child vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries. Educational approaches and use of incentives were both effective strategies

Insulin Resistance and Gray Matter Volume in Neurodegenerative Disease

The goal of this study was to compare insulin resistance in aging and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases, and to determine the relationship between insulin resistance and gray matter volume (GMV) in each cohort using an unbiased, voxel-based approach. Insulin resistance was estimated in apparently healthy elderly control (HC, n = 21) and neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease (AD), n = 20; Parkinson’s disease (PD), n = 22) groups using Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance 2 (HOMA2) and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). HOMA2 and GMV were assessed within groups through General Linear Model multiple regression. We found that HOMA2 was increased in both AD and PD compared to the HC group (HC vs. AD, p = 0.002, HC vs. PD, p = 0.003), although only AD subjects exhibited increased fasting glucose (p = 0.005). Furthermore, our voxel-based morphometry analysis revealed that HOMA2 was related to GMV in all cohorts in a region-specific manner (p < 0.001, uncorrected). Significant relationships were observed in the medial prefrontal cortex (HC), medial temporal regions (AD), and parietal regions (PD). Finally, the directionality of the relationship between HOMA2 and GMV was disease-specific. Both HC and AD subjects exhibited negative relationships between HOMA2 and brain volume (increased HOMA2 associated with decreased brain volume), while a positive relationship was observed in PD. This cross-sectional study suggests that insulin resistance is increased in neurodegenerative disease, and that individuals with AD appear to have more severe metabolic dysfunction than individuals with PD or PD dementia

Polarization spectroscopy and magnetically-induced dichroism of the potassium D2 lines

We study modulation-free methods for producing sub-Doppler, dispersive line shapes for laser stabilization near the potassium D2 transitions at 767 nm. Polarization spectroscopy is performed and a comparison is made between the use of a mirror or beam splitter for aligning the counter-propagating pump and probe beams. Conventional magnetically-induced dichroism is found to suffer from a small dispersion and large background offset. We therefore introduce a modified scheme, using two spatially separated pump-probe beam pairs. Finally we compare our results to methods using phase modulation and heterodyne detection.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures; published versio

Formative evaluation of electricity distribution utilities using data envelopment analysis

The use of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in the electricity distribution sector has been prolific in the number of papers published in research journals. However, while numerous studies have been documented, they have mostly been summative. Their aim has been predominantly descriptive and classificatory. This paper argues that evaluations of a formative nature are more effective than summative studies in promoting a better understanding of the structures and processes of electricity distribution utilities and, consequently, are more appropriate to contribute to performance improvement. To illustrate the use of DEA for formative evaluation, and highlight some of the difficulties of using DEA in practice, this paper compares the cost-efficiency of the Portuguese electricity distribution companies from 2002 to 2006. A dynamic analysis using Malmquist Indices is also conducted in order to evaluate the changes in productivity over this period. Our analysis shows that the application of DEA for formative purposes meets some difficulties. In particular it shows that while the modelling of productivity/efficiency scores using DEA is relatively straightforward, it is comparatively more difficult to develop models that are economically valid and that produce results with face validity. On the basis of the insights derived from this analysis, the paper provides some recommendations regarding the successful application of DEA for performance improvement