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Abstract

The control of apoptotic mechanisms is integral to many aspects of tumor biology and appears to be involved in the process of recurrence. Apoptosis serves as an essential mechanism to prevent the proliferation of cells with a higher mutation rate, thus tempering malignant transformation. Most antineoplastic therapies function by triggering apoptosis in sensitive cells. Resistance to treatment may result from specific inhibition of apoptotic signaling. Chemotherapy or radiation may increase the mutation rate and hasten tumor evolution in cancer cells that are resistant to apoptosis. Summarizing the current evidence regarding the usefulness of various apoptotic markers for predicting tumor recurrence, the most extensively studied appear to be bcl-2 and p53, as well as the apoptotic rate itself, with promising prognostic potential in several neoplasias. Investigative results, however, mostly refer to multiple single-center retrospective studies, awaiting validation by large prospective clinical trials. Despite initial optimism, it becomes apparent that the measurement of one or more gene products is inadequate to directly predict a phenomenon as complex as the clinical outcome. One of the challenges that is only beginning to be addressed is the combined assessment of traditional prognostic parameters and molecular biomarkers by creating models or equations to predict the likelihood of recurrence. Such screening of patients may help define prognostic categories and influence treatment decisions.

Different administration strategies with paclitaxel induce distinct phenotypes of multidrug resistance in breast cancer cells

“…Tumor recurrences probably occur months to years after an original response to chemotherapy[14]. Currently, tumor recurrence after chemotherapy, a major obstacle to successful tumor treatment[27], is considered as a multifactorial phenomenon[28; 29]. Drug resistance is believed to be the most common cause for tumor recurrence[30; 31].…”

Do Physical Educators Promote Students’ Creativity? An Observational Analysis Study

“…The CFTB is based on the CFT Index (Soh, 2000), a 45-item instrument with nine subscales (five items per scale), which is based on Cropley's (1997) well-established theory for teachers' behaviors to foster students' creativity. To develop the checklist, Konstantinidou and Tsoumpouktsoglou (2014) used a well-known content validity method (Lawshe, 1975). Via e-mail, the researchers asked 11 experts in the fields of PE and education to choose two of the five items (behaviors or actions) of each subscale of the CFT Index that they considered the most representative for each dimension.…”

“…Items were presented in Greek, because in the study of the CFT Index was translated and culturally adapted in Greek (Gr-CFTIndex). Additionally, the researchers tested the CFTB for interrater agreement in eight of 60 observations and found it to be adequate to perfect with Cohen's kappa coefficient (Κ = 0.75 to 1.00; Konstantinidou and Tsoumpouktsoglou, 2014). The reduction of the items (behaviors) from 45 to 18 for the development of the CFTB checklist was inevitable, because in naturalistic observation it is impossible to observe such a large number of teachers' behaviors and actions, as compared with video analysis observation, for which the recordings can be watched multiple times.…”

“…After a thorough literature review, however, we found no instruments for systematic observation of teachers' behaviors and actions when they are trying to promote students' creativity in their classes. The primary concern was thus developing such an observational tool, which was recently achieved in a preliminary study (Konstantinidou & Tsoumpouktsoglou, 2014). This observational checklist provides opportunities for new methodological designs and approaches in researching the teachers' role in fostering students' creativity.…”

The menace of endocrine disruptors on thyroid hormone physiology and their impact on intrauterine development

“…Several exogenous substances, environmental or even pharmaceutical, have been shown to traverse the placenta, leading to severe medical problems to both the mother and the fetus [188]. During fetal and early neonatal periods, TH disorders may lead to the development of neuromotor and cognitive disorders.…”