The status of epidermal growth factor receptor in borderline ovarian tumours

The majority of borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) behave in a benign fashion, but some may show aggressive behavior. The reason behind this has not been elucidated. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is known to contribute to cell survival signals as well as metastatic potential of some tumours. EGFR expression and gene status have not been thoroughly investigated in BOTs as it has in ovarian carcinomas. In this study we explore protein expression as well as gene mutations and amplifications of EGFR in BOTs in comparison to a subset of other epithelial ovarian tumours. We studied 85 tumours, including 61 BOTs, 10 low grade serous carcinomas (LGSCs), 9 high grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) and 5 benign epithelial tumours. EGFR protein expression was studied using immunohistochemistry. Mutations were investigated by Sanger sequencing exons 18-21 of the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR. Cases with comparatively higher protein expression were examined for gene amplification by chromogenic in situ hybridization. We also studied the tumours for KRAS and BRAF mutations. Immunohistochemistry results revealed both cytoplasmic and nuclear EGFR expression with variable degrees between tumours. The level of nuclear localization was relatively higher in BOTs and LGSCs as compared to HGSCs or benign tumours. The degree of nuclear expression of BOTs showed no significant difference from that in LGSCs (mean ranks 36.48, 33.05, respectively, p=0.625), but was significantly higher than in HGSCs (mean ranks: 38.88, 12.61 respectively, p<0.001) and benign tumours (mean ranks: 35.18, 13.00 respectively, p=0.010). Cytoplasmic expression level was higher in LGSCs. No EGFR gene mutations or amplification were identified, yet different polymorphisms were detected. Five different types of point mutations in the KRAS gene and the V600E BRAF mutation were detected exclusively in BOTs and LGSCs. Our study reports for the first time nuclear localization of EGFR in BOTs. The nuclear localization similarities between BOTs and LGSCs and not HGSCs support the hypothesis suggesting evolution of LGSCs from BOTs. We also confirm that EGFR mutations and amplifications are not molecular events in the pathogenesis of BOTs

Data envelopment analysis in financial services: a citations network analysis of banks, insurance companies and money market funds

Development and application of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method, have been the subject of numerous reviews. In this paper, we consider the papers that apply DEA methods specifically to financial services, or which use financial services data to experiment with a newly introduced DEA model. We examine 620 papers published in journals indexed in the Web of Science database, from 1985 to April 2016. We analyse the sample applying citations network analysis. This paper investigates the DEA method and its applications in financial services. We analyse the diffusion of DEA in three sub-samples: (1) banking groups, (2) money market funds, and (3) insurance groups by identifying the main paths, that is, the main flows of the ideas underlying each area of research. This allows us to highlight the main approaches, models and efficiency types used in each research areas. No unique methodological preference emerges within these areas. Innovations in the DEA methodologies (network models, slacks based models, directional distance models and Nash bargaining game) clearly dominate recent research. For each subsample, we describe the geographical distribution of these studies, and provide some basic statistics related to the most active journals and scholars

Albumin to creatinine ratio in a random urine sample: Correlation with severity of preeclampsia

Background: Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) in random urine samples correlates well with 24-h protein excretion in potential glomerulopathy as in diabetic renal microangiopathy. Using this ratio as an appropriate screening test for proteinuria or for the disease severity in hypertensive disorders with pregnancy needs still to be verified. Objective: To investigate the role of albumin to creatinine ratio in a random urine sample for assessment of severity of preeclampsia. Patients & methods: Two separate groups, fifty women each, were enrolled. All were pregnant at their third trimester with confirmed preeclampsia. Based on their blood pressure levels, Group A, included patients with mild form of preeclampsia, whereas group B included cases with severe form. Albumin to creatinine ratio in random urine samples and the 24-h protein content in urine were assessed. Results: ACR and the 24-h urine protein excretion were significantly correlated, (r = 0.583, p < 0.001). Cut-off value for ACR for this group of patients was calculated to be 14.65 mg/mmol, above which severity of the disease is highly probable. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 58.0%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 70.4% and negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusions: Random urine ACR may be a reliable method for prediction and assessment of severity of preeclampsia. Using the estimated cut-off may add to the predictive value of such a simple quick test

Investigation of Two Immiscible Liquids Wetting at Elevated Temperature: Interaction Between Liquid FeMn Alloy and Liquid Slag

The goal of the current work is to develop a methodology to study the wetting behaviour of two immiscible liquids at high temperatures, and to investigate the parameters which influence the wetting properties. The wetting behaviour between synthetic FeMn alloy and synthetic slag has been investigated using the sessile drop technique. Two experimental procedures were implemented under both Ar and CO atmospheres: (a) FeMn alloy and slag placed next to each other on a graphite substrate; and (b) one droplet dropped on top of the other. FactSage is applied to calculate reactions and their equilibrium. The current work presents and demonstrates the suggested methodologies. The results indicate that the wetting between slag and FeMn alloy is relatively stable at temperatures up to 100 K above their melting points, regardless of the droplet size and atmosphere. MnO reduction is accelerated at higher temperature, especially in CO, thus increasing the wetting between FeMn alloy and slag, eventually fusing together. At even higher temperature, slag separates from FeMn alloy due to changing chemical composition during non-equilibrium MnO reduction