Genomic homogeneity in fibrolamellar carcinomas

Background-Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with distinctive clinical and histological features. To date there have been few studies on the genotypic aspects of FLC and no previous attempts have been made to use the arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AF-FCR) technique to detect genetic alterations in this disease.Aim-The aim of this study was to assess the degree of genomic heterogeneity of FEC using the AP-PCR technique. Methods-A fetal of 50 tissue samples of primary and metastatic FLCs from seven patients were microdissected. AP-PCR amplification of each genomic DNA sample was carried out using two arbitrary primers.Results-DNA fingerprints of the primary FLCs and all their metastatic lesions (both synchronous and metachronous disease) were identical in an individual patient. The fingerprints were different between tumours of different patients. No evidence of intratumour heterogeneity was observed.Conclusions-Such genomic homogeneity in FLCs may explain their indolent growth. The absence of clonal evolution, which is present in other tumours (particularly HCCs), may explain the distinct behaviour in this tumour. The tumorigenic pathway and degree of somatic genomic changes in this disease may be less complex than in HCC

The abuse of training as an agent of change in organizations in Nigeria

This study aims at examining the extent to which training brings about desired organizational change in terms of employee performance. According to Okpara (2005), organizations and companies are being encouraged to seek employee training and development because the growth rate of organizations is likely to be limited by their personnel than by any other factors. In the light of this scenario, therefore, this study probes into some perceived abuses that are associated with training in organizations/industries. In acknowledging the prevalence of this anomaly, Okpara, (2005) argues that training is gradually losing its grip as a catalyst of behaviour change in organizations in Nigeria because of some fundamental lapses. This review x-rays these lapses inherent in the use of training as a technique for changing behaviour. The work affirms that training should match learning principles and theories and an understanding. Key Words: Training, Abuse, Change, Organization, Learning of socio-cultural milieu under which the worker operates. Finally, some suggestions were proffered as a way of regaining the lost glory of training as catalyst of change in organizations

Chondroid Syringoma and Eccrine Spiradenoma

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a well established diagnostic tool. However, most clinicians prefer to diagnose suspected skin tumors by excisional biopsy as they are easily accessible and hence benign skin adnexal tumors are rarely encountered on FNAC. There are only a very few case reports describing the fine needle aspiration cytologic features of chondroid syringoma and eccrine spiradenoma for diagnosis. Cases: First case was a 20 year old female who presented with firm,non-tender swelling in the left little finger measuring 1 cm in diameter. Smears showed clusters of round to plasmacytoid cells with moderate to abundant cytoplasm embedded in a chondromyxoid ground substance . Hence, a diagnosis of chondroid syringoma was made. Another case was a 40 year old lady who presented with a painful swelling on the anterior chest wall measuring approximately 0.8 cms in diameter. Smears were moderately cellular with cohesive sheets and clusters of bland cells of three different cell types. Hence, a probable diagnosis of eccrine spiradenoma was made and both the cases were confirmed histologically. Conclusion: Appropriate knowledge of the cytologic features of chondroid syringoma and eccrine spiradenoma helps in providing a definitive diagnosis and correct management of the patient

Ethics, space, and somatic sensibilities: comparing relationships between scientific researchers and their human and animal experimental subjects

Drawing on geographies of affect and nature-society relations, we propose a radical rethinking of how scientists, social scientists, and regulatory agencies conceptualise human and animal participants in scientif ic research. The scientific rationale for using animal bodies to simulate what could be done in human bodies emphasises shared somatic capacities that generate comparable responses to clinical interventions. At the same time, regulatory guidelines and care practices stress the differences between human and animal subjects. In this paper we consider the implications of this differentiation between human and animal bodies in ethical and welfare protocols and practices. We show how the bioethical debates around the use of human subjects tend to focus on issues of consent and language, while recent work in animal welfare reflects an increasing focus on the affectual dimensions of ethical practice. We argue that this attention to the more-than-representational dimensions of ethics and welfare might be equally important for human subjects. We assert that paying attention to these somatic sensibilities can offer insights into how experimental environments can both facilitate and restrict the development of more care-full and response-able relations between researchers and their experimental subjects. <br/

A pilot survey of physical activity in men with an intellectual disability

People with intellectual disability are reported as a sedentary population with increased risks of poor health due to an inactive and sedentary lifestyle. As the benefits of physical activity are acknowledged, measuring physical activity accurately is important to help identify reasons for low and high physical activity in order to assist and maintain recommended levels for optimal health. This paper reports a pilot study undertaken to validate the use of a physical activity monitor (Sensewear Armband) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) as instruments for measuring and exploring physical activity of men with intellectual disability. The design was a one group descriptive study and data were collected over a 7 day period from 17 men. The Sensewear Armband enabled continuous and long-term measurement of 14 objective physical activity metrics. The IPAQ examined details of physical activity reported over the 7 days. Equivalent results were found in both instruments indicating a positive correlation between the Sensewear Armband and the IPAQ. The results show 50% have low activity levels and the national recommended physical activity levels been achieved at a very low active intensity. No sustainable high physical activity intensity levels were recorded. The results confirmed the Sensewear Armband and the IPAQ as a practical means of measuring and understanding physical activity levels of men with intellectual disability

Guest editorial: Promoting cultural competency in the nursing care of LGBT patients

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.none- editoria