Detection Methods and Clinical Applications of Circulating Tumor Cells in Breast Cancer

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that split away from the primary tumor and appear in the circulatory system as singular units or clusters, which was first reported by Dr. Thomas Ashworth in 1869. CTCs migrate and implantation occurs at a new site, in a process commonly known as tumor metastasis. In the case of breast cancer, the tumor cells often migrate into locations such as the lungs, brain, and bones, even during the early stages, and this is a notable characteristic of breast cancer. Survival rates have increased significantly over the past few decades because of progress made in radiology and tissue biopsy, making early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer possible. However, liquid biopsy, particularly that involving the collection of CTCs, is a non-invasive method to detect tumor cells in the circulatory system, which can be easily isolated from human plasma, serum, and other body fluids. Compared to traditional tissue biopsies, fluid sample collection has the advantages of being readily available and more acceptable to the patient. It can also detect tumor cells in blood earlier and in smaller numbers, possibly allowing for diagnosis prior to any tumor detection using imaging methods. Because of the scarcity of CTCs circulating in blood vessels (only a few CTCs among billions of erythrocytes and leukocytes), thorough but accurate detection methods are particularly important for further clinical applications

Observing Change Over Time in Strength-Based Parenting and Subjective Wellbeing for Pre-teens and Teens

The focus of this study was on adolescent mental health. More specifically, the relationship between strength-based parenting (SBP) and subjective wellbeing (SWB) during adolescence was examined at three time points over 14 months (N = 202, Mage = 12.97, SDage = 0.91, 48% female). SBP was positively related to life satisfaction and positive affect at each of the three time points, and was negatively related to negative affect. SBP and SWB both declined significantly over time. When examining the causal relationships between SBP and SWB, two different statistical models were applied: latent growth-curve models (LGM) and random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM). The LGM revealed a strong positive relationship between changes in SBP and SWB. Specifically, this model showed that SBP at one time point predicted adolescent SWB at future time points. However, when the more stringent statistical test was completed through RI-CLPMs, no cross-lagged paths reached significance. Thus, while parenting is a significant predictor of wellbeing for pre-teens and teens in real time, it is not predictive of wellbeing at future time points. Parents, thus, cannot assume that their current levels of SBP are ‘banked’ by their children to support future wellbeing. Instead, SBP needs to be an ongoing, contemporary parenting practice. Furthermore, the fact that perceptions of SBP decline in this age bracket suggest that SBP interventions may be helpful in supporting adolescent mental health

Advice about Life Plans from Mothers, Fathers, and Siblings in Always-Married and Divorced Families during Late Adolescence

The frequency of advice about life plans that older adolescents in always-married and divorced families received from mothers, fathers, and siblings was examined. Also, a pattern-analytic approach that grouped adolescents according to the amount of advice about life plans received from each parent and a sibling was employed to explore the connections between patterns of advice and adolescents' future occupational, educational, and family plans. The sample included 544 and 95 older adolescents in always-married and divorced families, respectively. Findings suggested that while adolescents relied on mothers for advice in both always-married and divorced families, adolescents in divorced families depended on fathers and siblings for advice less often than did adolescents in always-married families. Although there was some evidence of family context differences in the connections between patterns of advice and life plans, overall, adolescents in both family contexts who received more advice from a parent and, in some cases, a sibling compared to other adolescents were the most positive about their future life plans.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45291/1/10964_2004_Article_345952.pd

The dilemma of change in Vietnamese journalism

Two steps forward, one step back? Or one step forward, two steps back? That\u27s the dilemma in trying to judge changes in Vietnamese journalism today. The nation\u27s media, even though still government-owned, are in a state of flux under doi moi (market renovation policy). Take a few examples of the parry-and-thrust between reporters, editors and Party overseers. A glossy, full-colour monthly called Thoi Trang Tre (New Fashion) proves wildly popular among Vietnamese youth with fashion and make-up tips, and bikini-clad photos of shapely Western and Vietnamese models. Yet its staff frets over each Cindy Crawford or Elle MacPherson photo lest a cultural official decry the corruption of a Western lifestyle. The editor, Vu Quang Vinh, a former art director and playwright for the state\u27s Youth Theatre, steers clear of political issues. But the magazine\u27s contents crystallize the cultural pitfalls that top-level Party conservatives fear as Vietnam opens at often breakneck speed to the outside world, especially since the two-year-old magazine already exceeds 60,000 circulation, despite a princely US$l price when most Vietnamese periodicals go for US15 cents or less. So, when prominent leaders exhort the media to promote good deeds and to avoid British tabloid style stories on love, sex, and other cultural debasements, the media take heed

The Importance of Conducting Thorough Investigations of Confidential Witnesses in Securities Fraud Litigation

This Article examines the use of confidential witnesses (“CWs”) in investigating and substantiating securities fraud claims. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act has placed a heavy burden on plaintiffs at the pleading stage, which has caused plaintiffs to perform preliminary investigations and seek confidential information as a basis for their allegations in the complaint. Testimony of CWs is often the centerpiece of the evidence substantiating plaintiffs’ securities fraud claims. As a result, the investigation conducted prior to filing an amended complaint has become a central issue in the realm of securities litigation, subject to attack by the defendants. This Article discusses the legal and ethical considerations for contacting former employees of the defendants who may become “confidential informants” that provide invaluable information for substantiating securities fraud claims. The Article further discusses defendants’ tactics in attacking the method of plaintiffs and their counsel’s investigation, subjecting both lead plaintiff and lead counsel to motions for sanctions for alleged Rule 11 violations pertaining to the parties’ representations in court. The Article provides advice on defending these motions and conducting thorough investigations prior to filing an amended complaint

Improving allergy testing and diagnosis: impact of skin prick testing intra-head device variability on clinical performance

Background: Multiple head skin prick test (SPT) devices designed for percutaneous allergy testing suffer from intra-head device variability, which may lead to misinterpretations by testing physicians impacting allergy treatment. It is proposed that detailed, high-magnification inspection during the verification stage of the design and development process of SPT devices would improve clinical accuracy and performance. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to examine the impact of physical characteristics, including consistency of length and the precision of the tips of the applicator tines of two FDA commercially available SPT devices, on clinical performance. It was hypothesized that devices with lower finished product variability would improve clinical performance.Methods: Visual inspection the Lincoln Multi-Test II (LM) and the ST-9® multiple head applicator (ST-9) were obtained by dimensional measurement using 160X magnification. A total of 8 subjects completed this pilot study. SPT with histamine (HIS; 1 mg/mL base) and saline glycerin (GLY) were applied on the volar surface of one forearm LM and ST-9 devices using on the opposite forearm. Data were obtained from 72 histamine sites for the ST-9 device and 64 histamine sites for the LM device with 72 negative control GLY sites recorded for the ST-9 device and 64 glycerinated GLY sites for the LM device.Results: T-test revealed that the ST-9® employed a statistically significant shorter tine length (1.94 ± 0.02) and showed less variability of tine length (P < 0.05) compared with the LM (2.12 ± 0.03). The ST-9 showed a smaller tip diameter and significantly less tine point diameter variability (0.037 ± 0.006) (P < 0.05) compared to LM (0.042 ± 0.009). The ST-9™ displayed significantly (P<0.05) less wheal reaction to the negative control glycerin GLY solution than LM.Conclusion: The lower variability of ST-9® suggests less likely operator misinterpretations. Although considered an engineering design and manufacturing problem, precision and high magnification inspection during the verification stage of SPT devices may have important clinical implications. Studies on optimizing the magnification process to improve the precision and performance of SPT devices in the clinical setting are warranted