Demystifying the Female Body Through Body Horror: An Introduction to the Self in Relation to Body Horror Accompanied by a Selection of Short Stories

Historically, myths and stories have constructed the female body as something monstrous, malevolent, and horrifying. They position the vagina and power found in one’s own femininity as threats to masculinity, morality, and castration. However, this patriarchal and misogynistic ideology is merely fabricated. Through an exploration of marxist feminist theory, semiotics, body horror as a genre, gynecological medicalization, and my own experiences as a person with a female body, this paper aims to demystify the female body. Additionally, the paper incorporates creative writing in the form of visceral body horror short stories to frame the theoretical analysis.Purchase College SUNYMedia StudiesBachelor of ArtsMcGlotten, Shak

Pembrolizumab reactivates pulmonary granulomatosis

Sarcoid like reaction is a well-known entity that occurs as a consequence to several malignancies or their therapies. Immunotherapy has gained a lot of interest in the past few years and has recently gained approval as first line therapy in multiple advanced stage malignancies. Pneumonitis has been described as complication of such therapy. Granulomatous inflammation has been only rarely reported subsequent to immunotherapy. We describe a case of granulomatous inflammation reactivation affecting the lungs in a patient previously exposed to Pembrolizumab and have evidence of a distant granulomatous infection. We discuss potential mechanisms of the inflammation and assert the importance of immunosuppression in controlling the dis-inhibited immune system

Chemical Tuning of Fibers Drawn from Extensible Hyaluronic Acid Networks

© 2020 American Chemical Society. Polymer fibers with specific chemical and mechanical properties are key components of many biomaterials used for regenerative medicine and drug delivery. Here, we develop a bioinspired, low-energy process to produce mechanically tunable biopolymer fibers drawn from aqueous solutions. Hyaluronic acid (HA) forms dynamic cross-links with branched polyethylene glycol polymers end-functionalized with boronic acids of varied structure to produce extensible polymer networks. This dynamic fiber precursor (DFP) is directly drawn by pultrusion into HA fibers that display high aspect ratios, ranging from 4 to 20 μm in diameter and up to ∼10 m in length. Dynamic rheology measurements of the DFP and tensile testing of the resulting fibers reveal design considerations to tune the propensity for fiber formation and fiber mechanical properties, including the effect of polymer structure and concentration on elastic modulus, tensile strength, and ultimate strain. The materials' humidity-responsive contractile behavior, a unique property of spider silks rarely observed in synthetic materials, highlights possibilities for further biomimetic and stimulus-responsive fiber applications. This work demonstrates that chemical modification of dynamic interactions can be used to tune the mechanical properties of pultrusion-based fibers and their precursors.Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (Grant 2017PG-T1D027)NIH (Grants F32DK118785, K99EB025254 and PDF-2015-90-A-N)National Cancer Institute (Grant P30-CA14051

Senescence induction dictates response to chemo- and immunotherapy in preclinical models of ovarian cancer

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is a cancer with dismal prognosis due to the limited effectiveness of existing chemo- and immunotherapies. To elucidate mechanisms mediating sensitivity or resistance to these therapies, we developed a fast and flexible autochthonous mouse model based on somatic introduction of HGSOC-associated genetic alterations into the ovary of immunocompetent mice using tissue electroporation. Tumors arising in these mice recapitulate the metastatic patterns and histological, molecular, and treatment response features of the human disease. By leveraging these models, we show that the ability to undergo senescence underlies the clinically observed increase in sensitivity of homologous recombination (HR)-deficient HGSOC tumors to platinum-based chemotherapy. Further, cGas/STING-mediated activation of a restricted senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) was sufficient to induce immune infiltration and sensitize HR-deficient tumors to immune checkpoint blockade. In sum, our study identifies senescence propensity as a predictor of therapy response and defines a limited SASP profile that appears sufficient to confer added vulnerability to concurrent immunotherapy and, more broadly, provides a blueprint for the implementation of electroporation-based mouse models to reveal mechanisms of oncogenesis and therapy response in HGSOC

3D modeling of aflibercept transport in the vitreous humor

Aflibercept is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drug used to treat several retinal diseases such as macular degeneration. It accomplishes this by binding and inhibiting VEGF, which is the growth factor that is responsible for abnormal blood vessel growth. Overexpression of VEGF can lead to interference with the macula, and subsequent vision loss. Aflibercept is prescribed to treat macular degeneration due to VEGF overexpression. It is administered via intravitreal injection. Analysis of the transport of aflibercept through the vitreous humor is critical to understanding whether or not patients are receiving appropriate amounts of drug at the macula boundary, where the abnormal growth of blood vessels is contributing to macular degeneration. This study will assess if the current market dose of aflibercept is successfully inhibiting VEGF for an appropriate time period. The scope of analysis involved construction of a three-dimensional geometry of the vitreous humor in COMSOL, an implementation of physical properties and parameters of the vitreous humor and aflibercept, an illustration of key results, a sensitivity analysis on certain parameters, and a validation of the COMSOL implementation. The analysis was conducted for a 3D diffusion problem, coupled with convection. Convection is due to pressure-driven flow, a result of the inherent pressure difference in the vitreous humor. Degradation or inactivation of aflibercept was also considered by modeling the second-order binding of aflibercept to VEGF. The distribution of aflibercept throughout the vitreous humor was successfully determined. Due to asymmetry in the injection site, or the placement of drug, it was found that the distribution of drug is asymmetric at early times, and becomes more uniform at later times. A similar result was found at the macula boundary, which is the target area of interest for this study. It was also shown that VEGF concentration is successfully inhibited upon the introduction of aflibercept. Based on the model, VEGF began to accumulate after initial suppression within 20 to 40 days of aflibercept injection. This coincides with the recommended interval between aflibercept injections, which is 28 days. Improvements in future model implementation could provide a result that more accurately represents the transport of aflibercept in the eye. These improvements include implementing an initial injection velocity when aflibercept is introduced, and the use of a more realistic geometry, such as an MRI scan, to build the geometry in the COMSOL model

Multiple Regression Model of the Implementation of Result-Based Performance Management System (Rpms) in Public Secondary Schools of Batangas

This study assessed the implementation of RPMS and the challenges and advantages in the secondary public schools of the Division of Batangas Province and its component cities during the S.Y. 2019-2020. It employed the descriptive-quantitative research to gather the needed information regarding the public secondary school teachers’ view on the implementation of RPMS and the challenges and advantages they encountered in its execution. A total of five hundred forty-three (543) respondents were chosen using disproportional stratified sampling based on the Cochran’s Formula. Survey-questionnaire was utilized to gather the data on RPMS. Frequency, mean, Spearman rho (rs), Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskall Wallis H-test and multiple linear regression were used in the data analysis. The results revealed that majority of the public secondary school teachers are Teacher I, who belong to 31-35 age bracket, females, have earned units in the master’s degree and they have been in the service for about 5 years. Content knowledge and pedagogy and assessment and reporting are highly implemented in the RPMS. However, learning environment, diversity of learners and curriculum and planning are satisfactorily implemented. The IPCRF ratings of the teachers are very satisfactory. Most of the challenges and advantages of the implementation of RPMS are evident as to assessment issues and standardization among schools because they have different assessment protocols. There is no significant difference in the assessment of the respondents on the implementation of RPMS in terms of content knowledge and pedagogy, curriculum and planning, and assessment and reporting when all the profile of the respondents are considered. On the other hand, there is significant difference in the implementation as to learning environment and diversity of learners when age, highest educational attainment and length of service are considered. There is no significant difference in the challenges experienced in the RPMS implementation when profile is considered except for educational attainment. Similarly, there is no significant difference in the advantages of the implementation of RPMS when their profile is considered except for educational attainment and length of service. Content knowledge and pedagogy, learning environment and diversity of learners, curriculum and planning, and assessment and reporting have significant impact on the RPMS rating of teachers. Lastly, learning environment and diversity of learners significantly influence the RPMS rating based on the regression model.</jats:p

Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A: A Mixed Methods Study of Patient Preferences and Shared Decision-Making

Jacqueline Limjoco,1 Courtney D Thornburg1,2 1Hemophilia and Thrombosis Treatment Center, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; 2Department of Pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USACorrespondence: Courtney D Thornburg, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way, MC 5035, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA, Tel +1 858-966-5811, Fax +1 858-966-8035, Email [email protected]: As gene therapies for hemophilia are incorporated into clinical practice, shared decision-making (SDM) is recommended for implementation. SDM tools may facilitate informed decision-making for gene therapy and other novel therapies.Objective: To inform the development of SDM tools for hemophilia gene therapy.Patients and Methods: Men with severe hemophilia were recruited from the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) Community Voices in Research (CVR). Semi-structured interviews were completed, and the interviews were transcribed verbatim for quantitative and qualitative analysis.Results: Twenty-five men with severe hemophilia A participated. All participants reported treatment with prophylaxis, nine (36%) on continuous prophylaxis with clotting factor, one (4%) on intermittent prophylaxis with clotting factor, and 15 (60%) on continuous prophylaxis with emicizumab. Ten (40%) indicated that they are excited about gene therapy, 12 (48%) indicated that they are hopeful about gene therapy, one (4%) indicated that they are worried or scared about gene therapy, and one (4%) indicated that they do not have strong feelings about gene therapy. Participants reported engaging Hemophilia Treatment Center, family, and the hemophilia community in their decision-making process. The most reported information needs are efficacy, safety, cost/insurance, mechanism of action, and follow-up. In addition, key information themes that emerged were patient testimonials, hard data and statistics, and comparison to other products. Twenty-two (88%) indicated that a SDM tool would be useful when discussing gene therapy with their hemophilia team. Two indicated that they do their own research, and the tool would not add anything. One needed more information to provide an answer.Conclusion: These data highlight the utility of a SDM tool for hemophilia gene therapy and key information needs. Data including comparison to other treatments should be provided along with patient testimonials in a transparent format. Patients will engage the Hemophilia Treatment Center, family, and community members in the decision-making process.Keywords: gene transfer, patient preferences, interviews, factor VIII deficienc

Matthew Daniel Limjoco's Quick Files

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