| 1. |
- Scott, David R, et al.
(author)
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Use of human papillomavirus DNA testing to compare equivocal cervical cytologic interpretations in the United States, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom
- 2002
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In: Cancer. - : John Wiley and Sons Inc.. - 1097-0142 .- 0008-543X. ; 96:1, s. 14-20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing may be useful in clarifying equivocal cervical cytologic interpretations. One application might be to standardize the meaning of equivocal interpretations from laboratories in various regions. Because international differences may be particularly marked, international comparisons of emerging data will require clear translations of "equivocal" and similar terms. METHODS: To perform a three-country comparison, the authors selected a morphologically diverse set of 188 conventional Papanicolaou tests initially classified as "squamous atypia" from a study of more than 20,000 women in Portland, Oregon (1989-1990). Previously, five U.S. expert cytopathologists independently interpreted the slides with screening cytotechnologists' marks in place. For this comparison, one British and two Scandinavian reviewers involved in HPV research reviewed the slides after original marks had been removed. The authors compared all eight reviewers' classifications of negative, equivocal, or abnormal in a series of pairwise comparisons using the kappa statistic. They then compared cytologic interpretations with HPV DNA testing. RESULTS: Oncogenic HPV DNA detection was significantly associated with increasingly abnormal interpretations for each reader. The British reader tended to rate tests as more abnormal than the American pathologists did, whereas the Scandinavians tended to rate tests as more normal. Reference to the HPV DNA standard clarified the tendency of readers to render systematically more or less severe interpretations. For example, the Scandinavian cytologists discounted subtle (often HPV-associated) changes in favor of cytologic certainty, making HPV triage of equivocal tests less applicable there. CONCLUSIONS: International research on cytopathology, particularly on the possible uses of HPV DNA testing, will require calibration of local cytologic definitions.
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| 2. |
- Killela, Patrick J., et al.
(author)
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TERT promoter mutations occur frequently in gliomas and a subset of tumors derived from cells with low rates of self-renewal
- 2013
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 1091-6490 .- 0027-8424. ; 110:15, s. 6021-6026
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Malignant cells, like all actively growing cells, must maintain their telomeres, but genetic mechanisms responsible for telomere maintenance in tumors have only recently been discovered. In particular, mutations of the telomere binding proteins alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) or death-domain associated protein (DAXX) have been shown to underlie a telomere maintenance mechanism not involving telomerase (alternative lengthening of telomeres), and point mutations in the promoter of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene increase telomerase expression and have been shown to occur in melanomas and a small number of other tumors. To further define the tumor types in which this latter mechanism plays a role, we surveyed 1,230 tumors of 60 different types. We found that tumors could be divided into types with low (<15%) and high (>= 15%) frequencies of TERT promoter mutations. The nine TERT-high tumor types almost always originated in tissues with relatively low rates of self renewal, including melanomas, liposarcomas, hepatocellular carcinomas, urothelial carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue, medulloblastomas, and subtypes of gliomas (including 83% of primary glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor type). TERT and ATRX mutations were mutually exclusive, suggesting that these two genetic mechanisms confer equivalent selective growth advantages. In addition to their implications for understanding the relationship between telomeres and tumorigenesis, TERT mutations provide a biomarker that may be useful for the early detection of urinary tract and liver tumors and aid in the classification and prognostication of brain tumors.
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| 3. |
- Schiffman, Mark, et al.
(author)
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Positive Psychology and Judaism
- 2023
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In: Handbook of Positive Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality. - Cham : Springer. - 9783031102738 - 9783031102745 ; , s. 163-177
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many core tenets of positive psychology and the psychology of religion/spirituality (R/S) are essential concepts within the rich literature and culture of the Jewish tradition. Judaism, with its long history of texts, traditions, and practices, can substantively contribute to the developing field of positive psychology. In this chapter, we explore happiness, character, and spirituality within a Judaic framework, opening opportunities for integrative theory, research, and clinical practice. From a theoretical standpoint, these Judaic models provide useful ways of conceptualizing positive psychology constructs. On a pragmatic level, researchers and practitioners can utilize these ideas in their work with the Jewish population, enhancing their efficacy and cultural competence. The chapter includes a general description of Jewish tradition and relevant demographics for context and then summarizes the theory, research, and practice of happiness, character, and spirituality, noting practical suggestions and future directions.
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