Earnings management in the aftermath of the zero-earnings discontinuity disappearance

The authors are thankful to the participants and discussants at the British Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference 2016 at University of Bath and the BAFA Scottish Area Group Conference 2016 at University of Strathclyde for constructive comments. The authors also appreciate the useful comments by two anonymous reviewers on the early version of this paper.Peer reviewedPostprin

An inexpensive method of small paraffin tissue microarrays using mechanical pencil tips

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tissue microarray technology has provided a high throughput means of evaluating potential biomarkers in archival pathological specimens. This study was carried out in order to produce tissue microarray blocks using mechanical pencil tips without high cost.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Conventional mechanical pencil tips (Rotring Tikky II Mechanical Pencil 1.0 mm) were used to cut out 1 mm wax cylinders from the recipient block, creating from 36 to 72 holes. Three cores of tumor areas were punched out manually by using the mechanical pencil tips from donor paraffin embedded tissue blocks and transferred to the holes of the paraffin tissue microarrays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This technique was easy and caused little damage to the donor blocks. We successfully performed H&E slides and immunodetection without substantial tissue cylinder loss.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our mechanical pencil tip technique is the most inexpensive easy technique among the literature. It also takes a reasonable amount of time and reduces antibody consumption during immunohistochemistry</p

Rare Mucinous Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Analysis of the Epidemiological Factors in Relation to Survival in Egyptian Patients

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths; in Egypt it constitutes 6.5% of all cancers. Previous studies have shown conflicting results on clinicohistopathological features and survival of patients with colorectal mucinous (MA) and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMA). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate these features in Egypt. In this work, we studied tumor tissue specimens from 150 patients with colorectal MA and NMA who underwent radical surgery from Jan 2007 to Jan 2012 at Gastroenterology Centre, Mansoura University, Egypt. Their clinicohistopathological parameters and survival were analyzed using established statistical methodologies. Incidence of MA and its subtypes was much higher in Egypt than worldwide incidence. MA was significantly associated with younger age, more depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, less microscopic abscess formation and less peri-tumoral lymphocytic response (Crohn-like response) than NMA. Both groups were not significantly different "among others" in other clinicopathological parameters including lymphovascular and perineural invasion, association with adenoma and schistosomiasis. Multivariate analyses for disease free and overall survival revealed that mucinous histology is an independent prognostic factor. Among several factors, only distant metastasis and presentation with recurrent disease were independent prognostic factors within MA patients. In conclusion, MA represents a distinct clinicopathological entity with worse survival than NMA. Distant metastasis and presentation with recurrent disease are independent prognostic factors. Further molecular investigations considering genetic features of MA will lead to drug development and better management

Potential Role for a Panel of Immunohistochemical Markers in the Management of Endometrial Carcinoma

Background In order to improve the efficacy of endometrial carcinoma (EC) treatment, identifying prognostic factors for high risk patients is a high research priority. This study aimed to assess the relationships among the expression of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki-67, and the different histopathological prognostic parameters in EC and to assess the value of these in the management of EC. Methods We examined 109 cases of EC. Immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67 were evaluated in relation to age, tumor size, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and grade, depth of infiltration, cervical and ovarian involvement, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and lymph node (LN) metastasis. Results The mean age of patients in this study was 59.8 ± 8.2 years. Low ER and PR expression scores and high Ki-67 expression showed highly significant associations with non-endometrioid histology (p = .007, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively) and poor differentiation (p = .007, p < .001, and p <. 001, respectively). Low PR score showed a significant association with advanced stage (p = .009). Low ER score was highly associated with LVSI (p = .006), and low PR scores were associated significantly with LN metastasis (p = .026). HER2 expression was significantly related to advanced stages (p = .04), increased depth of infiltration (p = .02), LVSI (p = .017), ovarian involvement (p = .038), and LN metastasis (p = .038). There was a close relationship between HER2 expression and uterine cervical involvement (p = .009). Higher Ki-67 values were associated with LN involvement (p = .012). Conclusions The over-expression of HER2 and Ki-67 and low expression of ER and PR indicate a more malignant EC behavior. An immunohistochemical panel for the identification of high risk tumors can contribute significantly to prognostic assessments

Do forward-looking narratives affect investors' valuation of UK FTSE all-shares firms?

Narrative reporting is an important avenue for investors to know more about a company from the eyes of its board of directors. This study aims to examine the impact of forward-looking disclosures on the values of UK FTSE all-shares non-financial firms. It uses a sample of annual report narratives from 2005 to 2014 to determine that the values of UK FTSE all-shares firms are positively influenced by the disclosure of forward-looking information. Besides, after distinguishing between high and low-performing firms, the study finds that forward-looking disclosures have no effect on the values of high-performing firms, though they positively enhance investors’ valuation of low-performing firms. Furthermore, the study concludes that when UK firms are divided based on the size of the audit firm (Big 4 vs. non-Big 4 auditors), forward-looking disclosures only positively affect the values of FTSE all-shares firms that are audited by one of the Big 4 auditing firms. Therefore, the results suggest that forward-looking information in UK narrative reporting statements is seen as credible for firms that are audited by a large auditor and/or are low-performing

Does the board of directors and (non)-executives’ ownership mitigate interest payment classification shifting? UK Evidence

We investigate whether the board of directors and stock ownership by outside directors and executives may limit interest payment classification shifting within the statement of cash flows. We find that the interest payment classification shifting is less prevalent in UK firms with high-quality internal governance, demonstrating that effective internal governance may serve as a substitute for rules-based accounting standards. While we find governance mechanisms play a crucial role in mitigating such practice in both distressed and non-distressed firms, our finding is more pronounced in non-distressed firms. We also find that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the board independence, managerial and independent directors’ stock ownership, and the classification shifting of interest payment; indeed, it is premature to propose that independent and stock ownership can serve as an effective mechanism in mitigating managerial opportunism in all cases, and indeed, there should be optimal independent director and ownership thresholds before which caution would be required to ensure that managers remain focused on maximizing shareholder value

Possible involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in male infertility

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in the development of various non-neuronal tissues, as the reproductive system. BDNF transcript and protein has been detected in testis and sperms. The present work aimed to assess the possible involvement of BDNF mRNA expression in sperm functions, hormonal profile and oxidative stress in male infertility. Semen samples from 106 individuals attended the Andrology Outpatient Clinic, Mansoura University Hospital were included in the present study. They were grouped into normozoospermia (n= 31), asthenozoospermia (n= 24), astheno-teratozoospermia (n= 25) and Oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (n= 26). Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression was done for semen samples. The present study demonstrated that BDNF mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the infertile samples compared with the normozoospermic group. BDNF mRNA expression was significantly positively correlated to testosterone levels (r= 0.337, p= 0.0004) while, negatively correlated to folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) (r= - 0.5, p 0.0001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) /sperm levels (r= - 0.735, p0.0001). Also, the study showed significant positive correlation (p&lt;0.0001) between BDNF mRNA expression and sperm motility, velocity, linear velocity and linearity index. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that sperm morphology and alpha glucosidase may be possible determinants that influence changes of BDNF expression. BDNF mRNA may directly affect sperm functions and may be implicated in the pathophysiology of infertility. Furthermore, BDNF may have protection against oxidative stress.Keywords: Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) mRNA expression, Infertility, Sperm function, Oxidative stress

Bilharzial endocervical polyp

Schistosomiasis still represents a major threat to women′s health in many developing countries. The frequency in developed countries is increasing among immigrants and tourists who have a history of freshwater exposure in endemic areas. This is a case of 43-year-old immunocompetent Egyptian woman presented by abnormal vaginal bleeding. The gynecological examination revealed an endocervical polyp measuring 3 x 2 x 1 cm. Polypectomy was done. Histopathological examination revealed several granulomas containing viable eggs of Schistosoma hematobium. Schistosomiasis is rarely presented with endocervical polyp. In developing countries, schistosomiasis may be considered in differential diagnosis of patient with endocervical polyp