Moving Beyond the Client Role: Helping Human Service Organizations Identify Program Participant’s Assets

Human service agencies have traditionally provided services to a population considered in need of those services. Program participants are often seen solely as passive recipients of food, housing, health care, case management, etc. However, community developers, program evaluators, human service/development staff and administrators, as well as researchers are finding that involving program participants in the planning and administration of programs and research results in better programs, program utilization, and empowerment of program participants (Nichols 2002; Papineau and Kiely 1996)

Ethnocentrism in socialist-feminist development theory : the case of China

ii, 195 leaves ; 28 cm.Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-195).The hypothesis to be tested is that the socialist-feminist theory of development is ethnocentric in the specific case of China. Ethnocentrism is defined as the mistaken assumption that one's worldview is shared by people in other societies. The thesis points out that ethnocentrism is a concern in feminist development studies because development entails values and beliefs about how a society ought to change. The thesis argues that it is important to analyze ethnocentric connotations of socialist-feminist development literature in the case of women in China who experience little cultural similarity or interaction with western feminists. The thesis explores the subject under three general headings--issues of sexuality, political issues and socio-economic issues. The thesis concludes that socialist-feminist development theory is ethnocentric in the case of China. First, by failing to make an adequate theoretical distinction between the universal and the specific, the theory wrongfully assumes that certain key concepts are universally applicable. Secondly, the important class/gender debate highlights theoretical weaknesses concerning the relationship between socialism and feminism, which is especially relevant in the case of China. Thirdly, the extent of differences between Chinese and western societies lies at the heart of ethnocentric tendencies in socialist-feminist development theory to make a priori assumptions about the lives of women in China

The RNA–Methyltransferase Misu (NSun2) Poises Epidermal Stem Cells to Differentiate

Homeostasis of most adult tissues is maintained by balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, but whether post-transcriptional mechanisms can regulate this process is unknown. Here, we identify that an RNA methyltransferase (Misu/Nsun2) is required to balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in skin. In the epidermis, this methyltransferase is found in a defined sub-population of hair follicle stem cells poised to undergo lineage commitment, and its depletion results in enhanced quiescence and aberrant stem cell differentiation. Our results reveal that post-transcriptional RNA methylation can play a previously unappreciated role in controlling stem cell fate

Venous thromboembolism after penetrating femoral and popliteal artery injuries: an opportunity for increased prevention

Background: Trauma patients with penetrating vascular injuries have a higher rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The objective of this study was to determine the risk of VTE formation in penetrating femoral and popliteal vascular injuries and the effects of endovascular management of these injuries. Methods: A retrospective study of Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study registry was conducted during a 5-year period (2013-2017). All adult patients with a penetrating mechanism with femoral/popliteal vascular injuries were studied. Primary outcome was incidence of VTE in patients with isolated arterial injuries versus combined arterial/venous injuries. Secondary endpoints were intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS and mortality. Statistical comparisons were accomplished using Fisher\u27s exact tests, and parametric two-sample t-tests or non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: Of the 865 patients with penetrating extremity vascular injuries, 207 had femoral or popliteal artery injuries. Patients with isolated arterial injuries (n=131) had a significantly lower deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rate compared with those with concurrent venous injuries (n=76) (3.1% vs. 13.2%, p=0.008). There were 14 patients in the study who developed DVTs. Among the four patients with isolated femoral or popliteal arterial injuries who had developed DVTs, three had an open repair. Among patients with isolated arterial injuries, those with DVT spend significantly more time on the ventilator (median=2 vs. 0, p=0.0020) compared with patients without DVT. Patients with DVT also had longer stay in the hospital (median=17.5 vs. 8, p=0.0664) and in the ICU (median=3 vs. 1, p=0.0585). Conclusions: Risk of DVT exists in patients with penetrating isolated femoral and popliteal artery trauma. Open repair was associated with significantly higher DVT rates in isolated arterial injuries. Level of evidence: Level IV therapeutic care/management

Highly purified human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (Bravelle®) has equivalent efficacy to follitropin-beta (Follistim ®) in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization

BACKGROUND: These data compare the efficacy and safety of highly purified human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (Bravelle(R)) and recombinant follitropin-β (Follistim(R)) in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. METHODS: This report describes the pooled data from two, nearly identical, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, multicenter studies conducted in a total of 19 academic and private IVF-ET centers in the United States. Infertile premenopausal women underwent pituitary down-regulation using leuprolide acetate followed by a maximum of 12 days of subcutaneous Bravelle(R) (n = 120) or Follistim(R) (n = 118), followed by administration of human chorionic gonadotropin, oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer. The primary efficacy measure was the mean number of oocytes retrieved; secondary efficacy measures included the total dose and duration of gonadotropin treatment; peak serum estradion levels; embryo transfer and implantation rates; chemical, clinical and continuing pregnancies; and live birth rates. All adverse events were recorded and injection site pain was recorded daily using a patient, self-assessment diary. RESULTS: Similar efficacy responses were observed for all outcome parameters in the two treatment groups. Although patients receiving Bravelle(R) consistently reported a greater number of chemical, clinical and continuing pregnancies, as well as an increased rate of live birth, the data did not attain statistical significance (P > 0.05). The overall incidence of adverse events was similar in both groups, but compared to Follistim(R), injections of Bravelle(R) were reported by patients to be significantly less painful (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bravelle(R) and Follistim(R) had comparable efficacy in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing IVF-ET. There were no differences in the nature or number of adverse events between the treatment groups although Bravelle(R) injections were reported to be significantly less painful

Validity of self-reported breast cancer characteristics in a nationwide cohort of women with a family history of breast cancer

Abstract Background Women may have incomplete understanding of a breast cancer diagnosis, leading to inaccurate reporting in epidemiological studies. However, it is not feasible to obtain consent for medical records from all women participating in a study. Therefore, it is important to determine how well self-reported breast cancer characteristics correspond with what is found in medical records, but few studies have evaluated agreement of self-reported breast cancer characteristics with abstracted medical records. Methods We calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) of self-reports compared to medical records and explored whether participant characteristics may have influenced reporting accuracy. We analyzed data from 2518 reported breast cancer cases from the Sister Study, a large nationwide cohort of women with a family history of breast cancer. Results Medical records or pathology reports were obtained for 2066 of 2518 (82%) women who reported incident breast cancer. Breast cancer was confirmed for over 99% (n = 2054) of women with medical records. Confirmation rates were high for invasive, ductal, hormone receptor positive, and HER2 negative breast cancers, with little variation by race/ethnicity or age. Self-reported in situ breast cancer had a lower PPV (64.2%), with medical records showing invasive breast cancer instead, especially for older and Hispanic women. Hormone receptor (ER and PR) negative and HER2 positive self-reports had lower PPVs (83.0%, 71.6%, and 66.1% respectively). Hispanic women and women ages 65 or older at diagnosis were less able to accurately report breast cancer stage, excluding stage I. Conclusions Accuracy of reporting overall breast cancer and common subtypes is high. Despite having a family history of breast cancer and voluntarily enrolling in a study evaluating breast cancer risk factors, participants may have greater difficulty distinguishing between in situ and invasive breast cancer and may less accurately report other less common subtypes. Discrepancies may reflect women’s poor understanding of information conveyed by health care providers or lack of consistent terminology used to describe subtypes

Thirty- and ninety-day outcomes after sublobar resection with and without brachytherapy for non–small cell lung cancer: Results from a multicenter phase III study

ObjectiveSublobar resection (SR) is commonly used for patients considered high risk for lobectomy. Nonoperative therapies are increasingly being reported for patients with similar risk because of perceived lower morbidity. We report 30- and 90-day adverse events (AEs) from American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z4032, a multicenter phase III study for high-risk patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer.MethodsData from 222 evaluable patients randomized to SR (n = 114) or SR with brachytherapy (n = 108) are reported. AEs were recorded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3.0, at 30 and 90 days after surgery. Risk factors (age, percent baseline carbon monoxide diffusion in the lung [DLCO%], percent forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1%], upper lobe vs lower lobe resections, performance status, surgery approach, video-assisted thoracic surgery vs open and extent, and wedge vs segmentectomy) were analyzed using a multivariable logistic model for their impact on the incidence of grade 3 or higher (G3+) AEs. Respiratory AEs were also specifically analyzed.ResultsMedian age, FEV1%, and DLCO% were similar in the 2 treatment groups. There was no difference in the location of resection (upper vs lower lobe) or the use of segmental or wedge resections. There were no differences between the groups with respect to “respiratory” G3+ AEs (30 days: 14.9% vs 19.4%, P = .35; 0–90 days: 19.3% vs 25%, P = .31) and “any” G3+ AEs (30 days: 25.4% vs 30.6%, P = .37; 0–90 days: 29.8% vs 37%, P = .25). Further analysis combined the 2 groups. Mortality occurred in 3 patients (1.4%) by 30 days and in 6 patients (2.7%) by 90 days. Four of the 6 deaths were thought to be due to surgery. When considered as continuous variables, FEV1% was associated with “any” G3+ AE at days 0 to 30 (P = .03; odds ratio [OR] = 0.98) and days 0 to 90 (P = .05; OR = 0.98), and DLCO% was associated with “respiratory” G3+ AE at days 0 to 30 (P = .03; OR = 0.97) and days 0 to 90 (P = .05; OR = 0.98). Segmental resection was associated with a higher incidence of any G3+ AE compared with wedge resection at days 0 to 30 (40.3% vs 22.7%; OR = 2.56; P < .01) and days 0 to 90 (41.5% vs 29.7%; OR = 1.96; P = .04). The median FEV1% was 50%, and the median DLCO% was 46%. By using these median values as potential cutpoints, only a DLCO% of less than 46% was significantly associated with an increased risk of “respiratory” and “any” G3+ AE for days 0 to 30 and 0 to 90.ConclusionsIn a multicenter setting, SR with brachytherapy was not associated with increased morbidity compared with SR alone. SR/SR with brachytherapy can be performed safely in high-risk patients with non–small cell lung cancer with low 30- and 90-day mortality and acceptable morbidity. Segmental resection was associated with increased “any” G3+ AE, and DLCO% less than 46% was associated with “any” G3+ AE and “respiratory” G3+ AE at both 30 and 90 days

Re-establishment of VWF-dependent Weibel-Palade bodies in VWD endothelial cells

Type 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a severe hemorrhagic defect in humans. We now identify the homozygous mutation in the Chapel Hill strain of canine type 3 VWD that results in premature termination of von Willebrand factor (VWF) protein synthesis. We cultured endothelium from VWD and normal dogs to study intracellular VWF trafficking and Weibel-Palade body formation. Weibel-Palade bodies could not be identified in the canine VWD aortic endothelial cells (VWD-AECs) by P-selectin, VWFpp, or VWF immunostaining and confocal microscopy. We demonstrate the reestablishment of Weibel-Palade bodies that recruit endogenous P-selectin by expressing wild-type VWF in VWD-AECs. Expression of mutant VWF proteins confirmed that VWF multimerization is not necessary for Weibel-Palade body creation. Although the VWF propeptide is required for the formation of Weibel-Palade bodies, it cannot independently induce the formation of the granule. These VWF-null endothelial cells provide a unique opportunity to examine the biogenesis of Weibel-Palade bodies in endothelium from a canine model of type 3 VWD

Prospectus, May 7, 1981

SPEECH TEAM 11TH RANKED; National Forensics Top 20; C of C V-P, Neils predicts downtown area will change; Overcast and Snyder receive award; Co-Editors named for 1981-82; Barnes looks back on his Parkland experiences; Letters to the Editor: Student criticizes review; Classifieds; Our mistake! Stugo candidate got platform in on time; Convocations Wants You!!; Now is the time to get married; More letters to the Editor: New Stugo senator, Jackson appreciates support; Schumacher\u27s final notes...; Trail, Hillary win in close Stugo election last week; Trail expresses gratitude for the voters; Be kind to animals ; Japan King of bicycle road; Motocross bikes good for kids; Rogers, Gayle at Assembly Hall May 13.; Off Broadway: Dynamic, Aggressive; Gayle not living under Lorett\u27s shadow now!; Piloting not as easy as you may think!; Drug problem is going to get worse. ; Art Thesis Exhibit disappointing; Latin may be on its way back; Parkland secretaries enjoy the good life; Model Rockets popular; RWS\u27S help each other; PC offers one-day driving course; Ramblin\u27: Alender\u27s rambles are over; Rundgren just changing with the times; Do you want hard rock...?; Frazier, Turpin part of Senior May Fest; Here\u27s the 1981 Prospectus staff; CIRS has the info on day care; Did You Know That...Some Superstitions; \u27Recent rains still not enough\u27: Burwash; Barkstall appalled by Atlanta slayings: Urban League director says blacks are still discriminated against; Are we running out of natural resources?; Get out your horses for PC\u27s Horse Show; Parkland Happenings: Spring concerts feature Irving Berlin; Awards Banquet a success!; Winning Intellectual Freedom Essay; A child\u27s world is important throughout all stages; Dental classes named for \u2781-82; Final Examinations -- Spring, 1981; Cobras bow to Lake Land; Patrick to Tennessee; Softball team beats Danville; ...beat Lincoln Land three; Letter to the Sports Editor: Student upset; Walder wins final Fast Freddy; scoreboard; Baseballhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1981/1017/thumbnail.jp