Differential Regulation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/PTEN Pathway between Low- and High-Grade Gliomas

Gliomas represent 70% of all central system nervous tumors and are classified according to the degree of malignancy as low- or high-grade. The permanent activation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway by various genetic or post-translational alterations of EGFR, PI3KCA, and PTEN has been associated with increased proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. The present study aimed to analyze the molecular/genetic changes in the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway between low-grade and high-grade gliomas in a sample of Colombian patients. A total of 30 samples were tested for PI3K and PTEN mutations, EGFR, PI3K, and AKT gene amplification, AKT, PI3K, BAX, Bcl2 expression levels, and phosphorylation of AKT and PTEN, EGFR and/or PI3K gene amplification was found in 50% of low-grade and 45% of high-grade ones. AKT amplification was found in 25% of the low-grade and 13.6% of the high-grade. The expression of PI3K, AKT, Bcl2, and BAX was increased particularly to a high degree. AKT phosphorylation was found in 66% of low-grade and 31.8% of high-grade. Increased phosphorylation of PTEN was found in 77% low-grade and 66% high-grade. Our results indicate that alterations in the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway could be important in the initiation and malignant progression of this type of tumor.

Primary Intraocular Lymphoma: The Masquerade Syndrome

This chapter aims to provide a complete knowledge over the primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) and a correct clinical approach towards this rare condition, to avoid delays in diagnosis, which is considered the most important prognostic factor. A PIOL arises with no specific symptoms and could mimic both inflammatory and non-inflammatory ocular conditions. Also known as reticulum cell sarcoma in the past, PIOL is an ocular malignant condition, with a strong bond with primary central system lymphoma (PCNSL). This linkage is underlined by the fact that approximately 30% of the patients with PIOL have also PCNSL at presentation, while 45–90% will develop PCSNL in the following months. A correct diagnosis is currently achieved by the means of many different techniques: cytology, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, molecular analysis, and cytokines assay. Treatment of this condition has been completely revolutionized with the introduction of monoclonal antibodies directed against specific proteins present on the surface of lymphomatous cells.

ON THE ISSUE OF TREATMENT OF SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN THE ELDERLY AND SENILE

Проведено исследование клинического течения очаговых травм головного мозга у больных пожилого и старческого возраста. Проведен анализ лечения больных в возрасте 60-82 лет(основная группа) и 18-59 лет(контрольная). Для исключения влияния взаимного отягощения отобраны больные только с изолированными внутримозговыми повреждениями. Результаты исследования показали, что очаговые повреждения головного мозга у лиц пожилого и старческого возраста относится к тяжелым травмам центральной системы с неблагоприятным прогнозом. Этому способствует не только травмирующий фактор и его воздействие на мозговую ткань, но и вторичные нарушения мозгового кровообращения вокруг патологического очага, вследствие первичного атеросклеротического поражения сосудов головного мозга. The clinical course of focal brain injuries in elderly and senile patients was studied. The analysis of treatment of patients aged 60-82 years (main group) and 18-59 years (control). To exclude the influence of mutual burden, patients with isolated intracerebral injuries were selected. The results of the study showed that focal brain damage in the elderly and senile age refers to severe injuries of the Central system with an unfavorable prognosis. This contributes not only to the traumatic factor and its impact on brain tissue, but also secondary disorders of cerebral circulation around the pathological focus, due to the primary atherosclerotic lesions of the cerebral vessels.

Multipurposed Intelligent ID Card for Social Distancing & Safety Emergency alert systems

This proposed invention is related with multipurpose device which is intelligent id card provided to the employee will help track and trace by connecting to the respective corporate server network. This server acts as a central intelligence and provides a dashboard that will help set up and get data and insights. These constantly monitor the smart cards and transmit their position to the central system. Many important multi-tasking tasks can be performed using this smart ID card which has the ability to provide real-time location information and also automatically identify if the person is where they should be. Accidents, such as a person walking into a danger zone, can be easily reported. In the event of a fire, you can quickly find the total people count along with the latest positions. The crowding of places such as offices, shops, workplaces, bathrooms, canteens, etc. it can be reported in real-time in order to avoid any infections. The temperature measurement alone is useless if the readings are not associated with the employee and are recorded to analyses trends. The proposed ID card will keep track of the number of times the employee has washed their hands. If not, a social notification will be raised. With real-time monitoring, you can easily provide daily attendance data to HR for payroll calculation and contract work invoice review. The employee's Bluetooth tag will help track time spent within the authorized area and will sound an alarm if the person enters a danger zone, all in real-time. The employee tag will allow the employee to send an SOS signal in case of any danger or panic situation. It will not be necessary to keep an attendance register. The tag will automatically record the time of entry and exit. A body sensor attached to the ID card will detect if the card is moved away from the body and kept aside. Hence, there is no possibility of cheating. The battery inside the card would last 5 to 10 years. IP 65, therefore resistant to water and rain. No maintenance is required. Keywords: Covid-19 study, Safety Device, Health Tracking, Social distancing, smart id.

Ocular Sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic mycosis predominant in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an infection of subcutaneous tissue caused by Sporothrix fungus species, but occasionally resulting in an extracutaneous condition, including osteoarticular, pulmonary, nervous central system, and ocular disease. Cases of ocular sporotrichosis are rare, but reports have been increasing in recent decades. Ocular infections usually occur in hyperendemic areas of sporotrichosis. For its classification, anatomic criteria are used. The clinical presentation is the infection in the ocular adnexal and intraocular infection. Ocular adnexa infections include palpebral, conjunctivitis, and infections of the lacrimal sac. Intraocular infection includes exogenous or endogenous endophthalmitis. Most infections in the ocular adnexal have been reported in Brazil, China and Peru, and intraocular infections are limited to the USA and Brazil. Diagnosis is performed from Sporothrix isolation in the mycological examination from ocular or skin samples. Both sporotrichosis in the ocular adnexa and intraocular infection can mimic several infectious and non-infectious medical conditions. Ocular adnexa infections are treated with potassium iodide and itraconazole. The intraocular infection is treated with amphotericin B. This review describes the clinical findings and epidemiological, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular sporotrichosis.

Public Expenditure Planning in New Zealand

<p>It is argued in this thesis that over the past 15 years planning - and in particular expenditure planning - has had three main functions in New Zealand central government: as a survival mechanism for elites; as a means to cope with the problems and deficiencies of organised knowledge; and as a symbolic act of reassurance in the face of economic and fiscal uncertainty. Expenditure planning is regarded in this work as a learning process. However, the thesis describes historical developments which illustrate that the imperative need to contain and manage conflict inside central government is such that real executive learning is effectively precluded. Dissonance between the political implications of significant information and the rational action that might be dictated by that information inhibits effective communication and control. The cybernetic malfunctioning of the central system arises not so much from political debate over the fiscal issues as from the need of certain elites to retain their pre-eminence in the planning process - most notably, the Treasury and its associated ministers. It is concluded that a less historically-bound system of power-sharing is called for if the executive agents - officials and ministers - are to react more sensitively to adverse fiscal circumstances and prepare more efficiently for future uncertainties than they have in the past.</p>

Public Expenditure Planning in New Zealand

<p>It is argued in this thesis that over the past 15 years planning - and in particular expenditure planning - has had three main functions in New Zealand central government: as a survival mechanism for elites; as a means to cope with the problems and deficiencies of organised knowledge; and as a symbolic act of reassurance in the face of economic and fiscal uncertainty. Expenditure planning is regarded in this work as a learning process. However, the thesis describes historical developments which illustrate that the imperative need to contain and manage conflict inside central government is such that real executive learning is effectively precluded. Dissonance between the political implications of significant information and the rational action that might be dictated by that information inhibits effective communication and control. The cybernetic malfunctioning of the central system arises not so much from political debate over the fiscal issues as from the need of certain elites to retain their pre-eminence in the planning process - most notably, the Treasury and its associated ministers. It is concluded that a less historically-bound system of power-sharing is called for if the executive agents - officials and ministers - are to react more sensitively to adverse fiscal circumstances and prepare more efficiently for future uncertainties than they have in the past.</p>

The Detector Control System of the New Small Wheel for the ATLAS experiment

The ATLAS Muon Spectrometer is going through an extensive Phase I upgrade to cope up with the future LHC runs of high luminosity of up to instantaneous luminosity of 7.5 × 1034cm−2s−1. The luminosity increase drastically impacts the ATLAS trigger and readout data rates. The present ATLAS Small Wheel Muon detector will be replaced with a New Small Wheel (NSW) detector which is expected to be installed in the ATLAS underground cavern by the end of the Long Shutdown 2 of the LHC. Due to its complexity and long-term operation, the NSW requires the development of a sophisticated Detector Control System (DCS). The use of such a system is necessary to allow the detector to function consistently and safely as well as to function as a seamless interface to all sub-detectors and the technical infrastructure of the experiment. The central system handles the transition between the probe’s possible operating states while ensuring continuous monitoring and archiving of the system’s operating parameters. Any abnormality in any subsystem of the detector triggers a signal or alert (alarm), which alerts the user and either adapts to automatic processes or allows manual actions to reset the system to function properly.