Permanent Campaigning: A Meta-Analysis and Framework for Measurement

Permanent campaigning emerged as a concept in the 1970s in studies of US politics but is now recognized as a universal phenomenon. Despite its long history, there has been no attempt to build a holistic picture of the elements that constitute a permanent campaign. Generally, researchers focus on tactical elements, situating their use within an overall strategy, but there is a lack of a broader methodological framework for holistically measuring adherence to the permanent campaigning. This article presents results of a meta-analysis of relevant research to provide a framework to understand how permanent campaigning is practiced. Our study showed there were three reasonably discrete forms of campaigning activities that had been identified: those in which permanent campaign strategies are related to capacity building and strategy; a second, in which permanent campaigning relates to paid and owned media; and a third in which earned media is the main focus. In mapping these studies, we identify the common features of permanent campaigning, identifying strong and weak indicators and the extent these are employed by the government, parties, or elected representatives and within which political systems: parliamentarism or presidentialism. Our framework can be applied in future comparative research to understand trends in political communication

Glucagonoma as a rare case of neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas: a case report

Introduction: Glucagonoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor with characteristic features such as the presence of the glucagon-producing tumor, diabetes, and necrolytic migratory erythema. Case presentation: the 60-year-old patient was admitted to hospital with periodic pain in the right and middle upper abdominal appearing after eating. Laboratory tests presented a high glucose level and anemia. Tumor of the body and tail of the pancreas passing the organ pouch has been found during the surgery. Diagnosis of glucagonoma was confirmed in histopathological examination in immunohistochemical stainings: a positive reaction was observed with chromogranin, synaptophysin and CEA. The proliferative activity of Ki-67 was less than 1%. Staining for glucagon also was positive so confirmed the presence of neuroendocrine tumor - glucagonoma. Conclusions: Glucagonoma sometimes may occur without characteristic features which may cause delayed diagnosis. Early diagnosis of glucagonoma is important because it increases the chances of successful recovery

Spigelian hernia: a case report

Spigelian hernias constitute a minute fraction of all abdominal hernias. In this monography, we present a case report of this relatively seldom seen phenomenon which some general surgeons never get to see during their medical career

Assessment of the presence of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in various diseases of this organ

Purpose: Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) is one of the most commonly occurring precancerous lesion in pancreas which leads to development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We assessed the presence and grade of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the course of various diseases of the pancreas and its correlations with chosen clinicopathological parameters. null Results: A total of 276 foci of PanIN were identified in 94 patients. The most common lesions were PanIN 1a and PanIN 1b which together constituted 68.2 % of all lesions, whereas the PanIN 2 was present in 21.7% and PanIN 3 in 10.1% of patients. No statistical differences were observed in gender tendency for the development of PanINs. There was correlation between age of patients and degree of PanIN (p=0.034). There is no statistical difference in PanIN frequency among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cysts (p=0.592). Conclusions: Our study showed that important factor in development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia is age and the presence of PanIN in nonneoplastic diseases in older people should be included to the group with increased risk of cancer development

Immunohistochemical Fascin-1 expression correlate with lymph node and distant metastases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is characterized by its aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Furthermore, mortality is one of the highest among all types of cancers. It has been observed that the expression of Fascin-1 (the actin-bundling protein which enables the motility of cells) is higher in cancer cells and is correlated with invasiveness and metastasis. Purpose: To investigate the expression of Fascin-1 in histopathological specimens from patients treated for pancreatic cancer and its relationship with histopathological parameters. Materials and methods: The study was performed on a group of 52 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital. The expression of Fascin-1 was evaluated in tissue samples using the immunohistochemical method and was rated as “present” or “absent”. The analysis of histopathological parameters was performed in correlation with Fascin-1 expression. Results: Fascin-1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of cancer cells in 42/52 cases (80.8%). Fascin-1 expression occurred more frequently among patients with lymph node metastases (92.6%) than without this type of metastases (68%) (p=0.024). Likewise, the expression of the investigated protein was observed more often with the presence of distant metastases (100%) than without those metastases (74.4%) (p=0.043). There were no statistically significant differences about age, sex, histological type of cancer, grade of histological differentiation, desmoplasia, inflammatory infiltration, foci of hemorrhage, necrosis, and MVD. Conclusion: The expression of Fasicn-1 is correlated with the presence of metastases and can be a useful marker of pancreatic cancer involvement

Assessment of the presence of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in various diseases of this organ

Purpose: Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) is one of the most commonly occurring precancerous lesion in pancreas which leads to development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We assessed the presence and grade of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the course of various diseases of the pancreas and its correlations with chosen clinicopathological parameters. null Results: A total of 276 foci of PanIN were identified in 94 patients. The most common lesions were PanIN 1a and PanIN 1b which together constituted 68.2 % of all lesions, whereas the PanIN 2 was present in 21.7% and PanIN 3 in 10.1% of patients. No statistical differences were observed in gender tendency for the development of PanINs. There was correlation between age of patients and degree of PanIN (p=0.034). There is no statistical difference in PanIN frequency among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cysts (p=0.592). Conclusions: Our study showed that important factor in development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia is age and the presence of PanIN in nonneoplastic diseases in older people should be included to the group with increased risk of cancer development

The comparisons of blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid S100B protein concentrations in patients with Alzheimer`s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis

Introduction:S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) is a biochemical marker of astroglial damage. Purpose: To assess the pathophysiological implications of S100B concentrations in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurodegenerative central nervous system disorders. Materials and Methods: In this study, we determined and compare S100B concentrations in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid obtained from subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (n=20), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n=12), multiple sclerosis (n=40) and the reference group (n=20), using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Concentrations of S100B in plasma collected from patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (252,38±183,50 pg/mL) and multiple sclerosis (164,92±250,14 pg/mL) were above laboratory standards, but in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (53,96±56,92 pg/mL) and the reference group (2,12 pg/mL) were below laboratory norms (N>75 pg/mL). Concentrations of S100B in plasma collected from patients with Alzheimer's disease (252,38±183,50 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (53,96±56,92 pg/mL) (p<0,029). Concentrations of S100B in CSF collected from the reference group (546,96±236,62 pg/mL) and from patients with Alzheimer's disease (587,53±189,57 pg/mL), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (404,41±179,56 pg/mL), multiple sclerosis (462,03±146,01 pg/mL) were very similar, and none of pairwise comparisons reached statistical significance. Conclusions: Results of our studies indicate the importance of S100B protein concentration assessment in blood in central nervous system disorders differential diagnostics

Expression of EpCAM protein in gastric cancer cells may contribute to its histogenesis

Introduction: EpCAM protein belongs to adhesion molecules of epithelial cells. It mediates in the homophile adhesion cell-cell reactions. EpCAM protein expression can be observed in the majority of healthy normal cells. However, mutations in EpCAM gene may lead to an increased risk of cancer development. The aim of the study was to assess EpCAM protein expression in the correlation with chosen clinical and histological parameters in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: EpCAM protein expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in 88 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. Results: An increase in EpCAM protein expression was demonstrated in cancer cells compared to normal gastric mucosa (59.3% cancers with the positive expression of EpCAM protein). The increased EpCAM protein expression was observed in patients with a histological type of adenocarcinoma without a mucinous component than in those with adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component (p=0.028). The higher expression of this protein was observed also in the intestinal type according to the Lauren classification (p=0.037). The expression of the protein was lower in the diffuse type of cancer. Additionally, an increase in EpCAM protein expression was revealed in cancers infiltrating to the blood vessels (p=0.013). Conclusions: A correlation between EpCAM expression and adenocarcinoma without a mucinous component as well as the intestinal type according to the Lauren classification may prove a role of this protein in the histogenesis of gastric cancer. Moreover, its positive expression is related to cancerous cells infiltrating to the blood vessels, which may suggest a role of EpCAM protein in the early stages of gastric cancer metastases