Set in stone?: war memorialisation as a long-term and continuing process in the UK, France and the USA

This thesis examines the development war memorialisation from 1860 until 2014 in the UK, France and the USA. It represents the first holistic and longitudinal study of war memorialisation as a continuing process. Previous approaches to memorialisation are critically reviewed and a unique new methodology is proposed. This approach challenges assumptions that memorials are only important to the generation responsible for their creation. Moving beyond an understanding that is based wholly on the socio-political circumstances surrounding their construction, it conceptualises memorials within a framework of three parallel time scales; the point of development within the war memorial tradition, the time that has passed from the conflict being commemorated and the time that has passed from the construction of the memorial. This methodology is used to demonstrate that these objects continue to have meanings for many years after the conflict they commemorate. This illustrates the many ways in which individuals continue to engage with war memorials, appropriating and re-appropriating them and transforming their meanings. Furthermore, this approach demonstrates that themes can be defined within the memorialisation process, and that these themes are not bounded by geographical context or period of time

The molecular mechanisms linking metabolic syndrome to endometrial and breast cancers

The metabolic syndrome represents a plethora of cardio-metabolic risk factors including obesity, arterial hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, accompanied by pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic state. The metabolic syndrome is one of the key risk factors for certain types of cancer. Among these malignancies, breast cancer and endometrial neoplasms require special attention. Incriminated major causes for the development of breast and endometrial cancer in metabolic syndrome patients are: the pro-inflammatory status and related cytokines, adipokine imbalances, hyperestrogenism, growth factors, disturbances in cancer microenvironment, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. The metabolic syndrome consists of molecular dysregulations that create a pro-oncogenic status. Our review aims at providing a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the link between the metabolic syndrome and endometrial and breast cancer

Confounding factors in diagnosing brain death: a case report

BACKGROUND: Brain death is strictly defined medically and legally. This diagnosis depends on three cardinal neurological features: coma, absent brainstem reflexes, and apnea. The diagnosis can only be made, however, in the absence of intoxication, hypothermia, or certain medical illnesses. CASE PRESENTATION: A patient with severe hypoxic-ischemic brain injury met the three cardinal neurological features of brain death but concurrent profound hypothyroidism precluded the diagnosis. Our clinical and ethical decisions were further challenged by another facet of this complex case. Although her brain damage indicated a hopeless prognosis, we could not discontinue care based on futility because the only known surrogate was mentally retarded and unable to participate in medical planning. CONCLUSION: The presence of certain medical conditions prohibits a diagnosis of brain death, which is a medicolegal diagnosis of death, not a prediction or forecast of future outcome. While prognostication is important in deciding to withdraw care, it is not a component in diagnosing brain death