Investigating the Impact of Institutional Pressures on Information Security Compliance in Organizations

Abstract: The increasing threat to information security has created institutional pressures on organizations to comply with information security policies and standards. This paper presents an empirical study to investigate the impact of institutional pressures (coercive, normative, and mimetic) on information security compliance in organizations. The results show that coercive pressures that are manifested by regulatory agencies, normative pressures that are exerted through social pressures, and mimetic pressures that are manifested by security benefits positively influence information security compliance in public organizations. Furthermore, the results reveal that regulation and security benefits generate pressures on management to strengthen their commitments towards information security compliance in organizations. It is, however, worthwhile to notice that social pressures do not have a significant impact on management commitments towards information security compliance. The implications of this study indicate the criticality of institutional pressures for enhancing information security compliance in public organizations both directly and indirectly

Mutational Profiling of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Resistant to Osimertinib Using Next-Generation Sequencing in Chinese Patients

Purpose. To identify the somatic mutated genes for optimal targets of non-small-cell lung cancer after resistance to osimertinib treatment. Patients and Methods. Study patients all had advanced lung adenocarcinoma and acquired resistance to osimertinib as a second- or third-line treatment. These patients had harboring EGFR T790M mutation before osimertinib treatment, which was confirmed by Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) PCR or Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). After resistance to osimertinib treatment, tumor tissue was collected by core needle biopsy. DNA was extracted from 15 × 5 um sliced section of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) material and NGS was done. The genetic changes were analyzed. Results. A total of 9 Chinese patients were studied, 5 females and 4 males, age 51–89 years. After progression with osimertinib treatment, core needle biopsy was performed and next-generation sequencing was performed. Nine patients had harboring 62 point mutations, 2 altered gene copies, 2 amplifications, and 1 EML4-ALK gene fusion. No MET or HER2 amplification was found in this cohort study. Nine patients still maintained initial EGFR 19 del or L858R activating mutations, while 7 of them kept EGFR T790M mutations. Among the 7 patients, 5 had secondary EGFR C797S and/or C797G mutations, which all happened in the same allele with T790M mutation. All patients were treated with targets therapies, chemotherapy, or best supportive care (BSC) in accordance with NGS genetic results and patients’ performance status; 7 of them are still alive and 2 of them died of disease progression at last follow-up. Conclusions. EGFR C797S/G mutation and the same one presented on the same allele with EGFR T790M mutation were the most common mutation feature and played a key role in resistance to osimertinib in Chinese patients with NSCLC. Tumor cells losing T790M mutation and maintaining EGFR activating mutation might benefit from first-generation EGFR-TKI treatment

Ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for uterine arteriovenous fistula: a case series

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in the treatment of uterine arteriovenous fistula (UAVF).Materials and methods This case series included three patients diagnosed with acquired UAVF. All patients underwent routine laboratory tests, electrocardiography (ECG), chest X-ray, ultrasound, and pelvic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). HIFU treatment was performed under sedation and analgesia using a Model JC Focused Ultrasound Tumor Therapeutic System (made by Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co. Ltd., China) with a B mode ultrasound device for treatment guidance. The treatment time, sonication power, sonication time, and complications were recorded. Follow-up evaluations were scheduled at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month to assess symptom improvement and evaluate the post-treatment imaging.Results All patients completed HIFU treatment in a single session without any major complication. All patients complained of mild lower abdominal and sacrococcygeal pain. Typically, no special treatment is required. Following HIFU treatment, there was a significant relief in clinical symptoms, particularly abnormal uterine bleeding. Ultrasound examinations conducted one month after the treatment revealed a notable reduction in the volume of the lesion, ranging from 57% to 100%. Moreover, the efficacy and safety of HIFU treatment remained consistent during the 12-month follow-up period.Conclusion HIFU ablation appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality for UAVF. It provides a noninvasive approach with favorable clinical outcomes