132 research outputs found

    Merrimack College: The First Fifty Years, 1947-1957

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    Merrimack College Fiftieth Anniversary Photo Book Text Editor: Robert (Bud) D. Koehan \u2753 Photograph Editor: Frank J. Leone Jr. \u2761https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/mc_pubs/1004/thumbnail.jp

    An Investigation of Black and White College Students’ Knowledge About the Long-Term Effects of ACEs

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    In the past twenty years, multiple studies have shown the relationship between childhood adversity and later negative health consequences. Yet the extent to which the public is aware of this relationship is unclear. We surveyed Black and White college students about their knowledge of the long-term effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Students read vignettes comparing children exposed and unexposed to ACEs, and predicted their mental, physical, and social health as adults. Participants were aware of the effect of ACEs on later mental and social health, but not as aware of the risks on physical health. Black and White students had similar knowledge, but Black students attributed some childhood adversity (e.g., physical abuse) as having less impact in adulthood than White participants. These results offer insight into the beliefs of college students and could serve as a basis for targeted interventions aimed at raising awareness and preventing adversity

    A Retrospective Analysis of Vinorelbine Chemotherapy for Patients With Previously Treated Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

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    Introduction. The role of vinorelbine in specific soft tissue sarcoma subtypes is unclear. We present retrospective single institution experience with single-agent vinorelbine in subjects with metastatic soft tissue malignancies. Methods. Fifty-eight patients were treated with single agent intravenous vinorelbine between April 1997 and December 2004. Doxorubicin had been administered previously to 53 subjects (91%), and the median number of lines of previous chemotherapy was 3 (range 0–7). Results. Patients received a median 6 doses of vinorelbine (range 1–65). The overall response rate was 6% (3 patients: 1 angiosarcoma, 1 epithelioid sarcoma, and 1 embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma). Fourteen patients (26%) experienced a best result of stable disease. Median time to progression was 1.8 months (95% confidence intervals 1.5–2.1 months, Kaplan-Meier estimate). Eight patients experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicity, most commonly febrile neutropenia. Conclusion. Vinorelbine demonstrates limited activity in a heavily pretreated group of soft-tissue sarcoma patients. Prospective investigation may be considered for selected sarcoma subtypes

    Phase II Study of Temozolomide and Thalidomide in Patients with Unresectable or Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma

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    We assessed the efficacy of combined temozolomide and thalidomide in patients with unresectable or metastatic leiomyosarcoma in a phase II single-institution trial. Twenty-four patients were enrolled. Temozolomide (150 mg/m2/day for 7 days every other week) was administered with concomitant thalidomide (200 mg/day), and continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. There were no complete responses and two (10%) partial responses. Five patients (24%) had stable disease for at least six months. Fourteen patients (67%) progressed after a median of two-month treatment. The median overall survival (twenty-two assessable patients) was 9.5 months [95% CI 7–28 months]. There were no treatment-related deaths or CTC grade 4 toxicities. Thirteen patients were dose-reduced or discontinued thalidomide due to toxicity. In conclusion, this combination of temozolomide and thalidomide provided disease stabilization in a subset of patients with advanced leiomyosarcoma. We hypothesize that temozolomide is the active agent in this regimen, and should be further studied

    Expression levels and activation of a PXR variant are directly related to drug resistance in osteosarcoma cell lines

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    BACKGROUND. Approximately 30% to 40% of all patients with osteosarcomas ultimately experience recurrence. The study investigated the hypothesis that the resistance of osteosarcoma to chemotherapy may be related to the expression of a pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR) variant protein and its role as the major inducer of P450 3A4 in these tumors. METHODS. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis were used to determine PXR mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Real-time PCR and CYP3A catalytic activity using 7-benzyl-trifluoromethyl coumarin (BFC) as the probe substrate were used to measure the induction of P450 3A4 or MDR1. siRNA transfections were performed for PXR and cytotoxicity determined by a colorimetric based assay or Annexin v-Fitc staining. RESULTS. Differences were observed in the molecular size of the PXR protein expressed in sarcoma cell lines when compared with the wildtype PXR expressed in normal liver, kidney, or small intestine. A polyclonal PXR antibody raised against the N-terminus of the wildtype PXR did not detect PXR expressed in these sarcoma cell lines. In the osteosarcoma cell lines, etoposide and doxorubicin were better inducers of P450 3A4 and MDR1 than rifampin. siRNA against PXR down-regulated P450 3A4 expression only in the osteosarcoma cell line. Cytotoxicity assays showed that the resistance of the osteosarcoma cell lines to etoposide correlated with PXR protein expression levels and activation of P450 3A4 and could be prevented by ketoconazole. CONCLUSION. The results suggest that PXR plays a critical role in the regulation of P450 3A4 expression in osteosarcoma and that its expression and activation in these tumors may influence the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on the induction of target genes implicated in drug resistance. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55931/1/22479_ftp.pd

    Intimal aortic sarcoma mimicking ruptured thoracoabdominal type IV aneurysm. a rare case report and review of the literature

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    Primary intimal aortic sarcoma represents a very rare and highly lethal medical entity. Diagnosis is made either by embolic events caused by the tumor or by surrounding tissue symptoms such as pain. Herein we report an extremely rare case of a 51-year-old man previously operated for ascending aortic aneurysm, who presented with clinical and radiological findings suggestive of a ruptured thoracoabdominal type IV aneurysm. The patient underwent radical resection of the aorta and surrounding tissue with placement of a composite 4-branched graft. The diagnosis was made by frozen section and regular histopathologic examination of the specimen and the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. Nine months after surgery the patient is still alive and has no signs of recurrence. We review the literature and discuss the option of postoperative chemotherapy
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