102 research outputs found
The relationship between the systemic inflammatory response, tumour proliferative activity, T-lymphocytic and macrophage infiltration, microvessel density and survival in patients with primary operable breast cancer
The significance of the inter-relationship between tumour and host local/systemic inflammatory responses in primary operable invasive breast cancer is limited. The inter-relationship between the systemic inflammatory response (pre-operative white cell count, C-reactive protein and albumin concentrations), standard clinicopathological factors, tumour T-lymphocytic (CD4+ and CD8+) and macrophage (CD68+) infiltration, proliferative (Ki-67) index and microvessel density (CD34+) was examined using immunohistochemistry and slide-counting techniques, and their prognostic values were examined in 168 patients with potentially curative resection of early-stage invasive breast cancer. Increased tumour grade and proliferative activity were associated with greater tumour T-lymphocyte (P<0.05) and macrophage (P<0.05) infiltration and microvessel density (P<0.01). The median follow-up of survivors was 72 months. During this period, 31 patients died; 18 died of their cancer. On univariate analysis, increased lymph-node involvement (P<0.01), negative hormonal receptor (P<0.10), lower albumin concentrations (P<0.01), increased tumour proliferation (P<0.05), increased tumour microvessel density (P<0.05), the extent of locoregional control (P<0.0001) and limited systemic treatment (Pless than or equal to0.01) were associated with cancer-specific survival. On multivariate analysis of these significant covariates, albumin (HR 4.77, 95% CI 1.35–16.85, P=0.015), locoregional treatment (HR 3.64, 95% CI 1.04–12.72, P=0.043) and systemic treatment (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.23–4.27, P=0.009) were significant independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. Among tumour-based inflammatory factors, only tumour microvessel density (P<0.05) was independently associated with poorer cancer-specific survival. The host inflammatory responses are closely associated with poor tumour differentiation, proliferation and malignant disease progression in breast cancer
The management and survival outcomes of nasopharyngeal cancer in the Nordic countries
Peer reviewe
Green consumer segmentation: managerial and environmental implications from the perspective of business strategies and practices
With the new millennium, environmental concern entered a new phase,
with stricter governmental regulations and incentives. Currently, within environmental
issues, there is a broader challenge to commitment with economic and social
goals. This is motivating companies and organizations to participate in transformation
processes with the aim of minimizing the negative impacts of their activities.
Within this context, new business philosophies, emerged empowering organizations
to consider sustainability issues that have come to be viewed as an innovative and
differentiating factor, providing competitive advantages (Fraj-Andres, MartinezSalinas,
& Matute-Vallejo. Journal of Business Ethics, 88,263-286, 2009; Leipziger.
The corporate responsibility code book. Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 2016;
Leipziger. The corporate responsibility code book. Greenleaf Publishing Limited,
2016). Therefore, organizations have begun incorporating these concerns in their
processes, adopting green management policies, and including green marketing
strategies in order to remain competitive (Straughan & Roberts. Journal of Consumer
Marketing, 16(6), 558-575, 1999; Rivera-Camino. European Journal of Marketing,
41, 1328-1358, 2007). From the marketing perspective, the importance of understanding
green consumer behaviour in order to develop better segmentation and
targeting strategies is highlighted. Green consumers are changing significantly.
Consumers, although with some reluctance, are moving to greener products. The
Mintel organization reported that the number of consumers buying green has tripled in recent years. Furthermore, it found that the number of consumers that never
bought green products have decreased. These results show that widespread environmental
awareness had an important role in purchasing behaviour, with more consumers
considering the environmental impact of their buying decisions and looking
for a greener alternative to their conventional purchasing options. The existing literature suggests that previous research regarding the green consumer profile has
different perspectives. The first group of researchers attempted to characterize green
consumer profile using sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, education,
income and occupation. In tum, the second group of researchers used psychographic
variables instead of sociodemographic ones (Mainieri, Barnett, Valdero, Unipan, &
Oskamp. Journal of Social Psychology, 137(2), 189-204, 1997). This chapter aims
to better explore the importance of green consumer segmentation and its implications
from a management point of view. More specifically, the aim is to analyze
which variables better characterize green consumers (sociodemographic and psychographic).
At the end, a theoretical framework is proposed to enable and support
organizations to better understand green consumer profile. It also enables managers
and marketers to target and develop better marketing strategies for these segments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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