The Feminist Movement The Yellow Wallpaper And I Stand...

The women of America have been fighting for equality for generations. Today, more men and women alike are participation in the feminist movement than ever before. Activists are still fighting to close the wage gap and end unrealistic societal expectations, among combating many other issues that the female population still faces. Though the fight is not over yet, society has come a long way. The feminist movement first sparked in the late 1840’s. Women such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton served as trailblazers for the Women’s Suffrage movement. The early suffragettes set the stage for many more changes to come for American society (â€Å"United States Suffrage†). Among the women who did their part to gain equality were Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Tillie Olsen, authors of the short stories â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing.† These works both act as semi-autobiographical documentations of the effects of patriar chal society on women’s mental, emotional and physical health. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† were written more than sixty years apart, but in what ways do they relate? The narrators of both of these stories come from very different backgrounds, but despite their differing circumstances, they are both familiar with the oppression and hardship that women have faced throughout history. In order to first understand the connections between the two pieces of literature, it is necessary to know more about the women behind them.

State University s Concrete Canoe Team - 1475 Words

During my first semester of college, I learned a lot of information, including the existence of Fairmont State University’s Concrete Canoe Team. The first time I heard about it was during my freshman course, Light Construction. Light Construction’s Professor’s, Tabitha Lafferre, first discussion included discussing how important extracurricular activities are and recommended any Civil Engineering Technology majors to look into Fairmont State’s Concrete Canoe Team due to their many accomplishments and successful reputation. Professor Lafferre held a class meeting where members of the Concrete Canoe Team came and spoke to us about the organization. There are currently twenty-one students on the team, only four of which are girls. Even†¦show more content†¦The most recent article I found was published on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, titled â€Å"FSU Concrete Canoe Team Places 12th in the Nation†. Just seeing the title peaked my interest and afte r reading the article I learned that during the team’s thirteenth trip to the ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition on June 11, 2016, (at the University of Texas in Tyler, Texas) they tied their best ranking of twelfth in the nation. They also placed ninth in the women’s sprints which broke a record for their best placement in the competition. After further investigation, I learned that the ASCE organization and Concrete Canoe Team’s current goal is to break the longest overall consecutive national appearances record ever held by a team. The current record is fifteen consecutive appearances. Fairmont State University’s Concrete Canoe Team placed eighth overall for final product and display, tenth for their oral presentation, fourteenth for their technical paper, ninth for the women’s sprint, as mentioned earlier, and eighth for the men’s sprint. The Fairmont State University student ASCE chapter was also the runner up for the Ridgeway Awa rd, the top student chapter international award. Professor Como, former president of Fairmont State University’s ASCE student chapter, stated in the article â€Å"Fairmont State University remains the only college or university in the state to qualify for the national competition. OurShow MoreRelatedHistory of Educational Technology2929 Words   |  12 Pageslearners could explore and build), simulations (computer environments where learner can play with parameters of dynamic systems) and hypertext. Digitized communication and networking in education started in the mid 80s and became popular by the mid-90s, in particular through the World-Wide Web (WWW), eMail and Forums. There is a difference between two major forms of online learning. The earlier type, based on either Computer Based Training (CBT) or Computer-based learning (CBL), focused on the interactionRead MoreHistory of Educational Technology2941 Words   |  12 Pageslearners could explore and build), simulations (computer environments where learner can play with parameters of dynamic systems) and hypertext. Digitized communication and networking in education started in the mid 80s and became popular by the mid-90s, in particular through the World-Wide Web (WWW), eMail and Forums. There is a difference between two major forms of online learning. The earlier type, based on either Computer Based Training (CBT) or Computer-based learning (CBL), focused on the interactionRead MoreBig five Personality Traits7561 Words   |  31 Pagestraits in personality without overlapping. During studies, the Big Five personality traits show consistency in interviews, self-descriptions, and when observed.[2]  Acronyms commonly used to refer to the five traits collectively are OCEAN, NEOAC, or CANOE. Beneath each factor, a cluster of correlated specific traits is found; for example, extraversion includes such related qualities as gregariousness, assertiveness, excitement seeking, warmth, activity, and positive emotions.[3] Contents  Ã‚  [hide]

Ray Bradbury Biography Essay Example For Students

Ray Bradbury Biography Essay Ray Bradbury BiographyU.S. author, born in Waukegan, Ill., on Aug. 22, 1920. In his stories, Bradbury wove together the intrigue of changing technology with insightful social commentary. One of his best-known works was The Martian Chronicles; a collection of interrelated stories concerning colonization of the planet Mars those attracted readers both young and old. In it, Bradbury portrayed the strengths and weaknesses of human beings as they encountered a new world. Ray Bradbury grew up in Waukegan and in Los Angeles, where he founded a magazine called Futuria Fantasia while in high school. He sold his first short story when he was 21 years old. His early stories were published in pulp magazines, but Bradbury later published stories in such mainstream magazines as The New Yorker, Mademoiselle, and the Saturday Evening Post. His science fiction and fantasy short-story collections included The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, and Dinosaur Tales. Bradburys 1980 collection, The Stories of Ray Bradbury, covers a wide range of topics, none of which is truly science fiction. His novels included Fahrenheit 451, Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Fahrenheit 451 was made into a motion picture in 1966, and The Martian Chronicles later appeared both as a motion picture and a television miniseries. In 1954 Bradbury was honored with an award from the National Institute of Arts and Letters for his contribution to American literature. In 1956 he collaborated with John Huston to create the screenplay for Moby Dick. In addition to fiction Bradbury wrote Zen and the Art of Writing and also published such dramas as The Anthem Sprinters, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, The Pedestrian, and volumes of poetry including When Elephants Last in the Dooryard Bloomed, Where Robot Mice Robot Men Run Around in Robot Towns, and The Haunted Computer and the Android Pope. Bradburys short film Icarus Montgolfier Wright was nominated for an Academy award in 1963. Bradbury also wrote for television, including eight episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. His work was represented in hundreds of anthologies of poetry, science fiction, short stories, and American literature. Bradbury received critical praise for the precision and creativity of his writing and for the freshness of his imagery. Science fiction.

Ovarian Cancer Essay Summary Example For Students

Ovarian Cancer Essay Summary Of all gynecologic malignancies, ovarian cancer continues to have thehighest mortality and is the most difficult to diagnose. In the United Statesfemale population, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in absolute mortality among cancer related deaths (13,000/yr). In most reported cases, ovarian cancer, when first diagnosed is in stages III or IV in about 60 to 70% of patients which further complicates treatment of the disease (Barber, 3).Early detection in ovarian cancer is hampered by the lack of appropriate tumor markers and clinically, most patients fail to develop significantsymptoms until they reach advanced stage disease. The characteristics of ovarian cancer have been studied in primary tumors and in established ovarian tumor cell lines which provide a reproducible source of tumor material. Among the major clinical problems of ovarian cancer, malignant progression,rapid emergence of drug resistance, and associated cross-resistance remain unresolved. Ovarian cancer has a high frequency of metastasis yet generally remains localized within the peritoneal cavity. Tumor development has beenassociated with aberrant, dysfunctional expression and/or mutation ofvarious genes. This can include oncogene overexpression, amplification or mutation, aberrant tumor suppressor expression or mutation. Also, subversion of host antitumor immune responses may play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer (Sharp, 77). Ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma was first described by Peham in 1899 ashypernephroma of the ovary because of its resemblance to renal cell carcinoma. By 1939, Schiller noted a histologic similarity to mesonephric tubules andclassified these tumors as mesonephromas.In 1944, Saphir and Lackner described two cases of hypernephroid carcinoma of the ovary and proposed clear celladenocarcinoma as an alternative term. Clear cell tumors of the ovary are now generally considered to be of mullerian and in the genital tract of mullerian origin. A number of examples of clear cell aden ocarcinoma have been reported to arise from the epithelium of an endometriotic cyst (Yoonessi, 289). Occasionally, a renal cell carcinoma metastasizes to the ovary and may be confused with a primary clear cell adenocarcinoma.Ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (OCCA) has been recognized as a distincthistologic entity in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of ovariantumors since 1973 and is the most lethal ovarian neoplasm with an overall five yearsurvival of only 34% (Kennedy, 342). Clear cell adenocarcinoma, like most ovariancancers, originates from the ovarian epithelium which is a single layer of cells found onthe surface of the ovary.Patients with ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma are typicallyabove the age of 30 with a median of 54 which is similar to that of ovarian epithelialcancer in general. OCCA represents approximately 6% of ovarian cancers and bilateralovarian involvement occurs in less that 50% of patients even in advanced cases. The association of OCCA and endometriosis is well documented (De La Cuesta,243). This was confirmed by Kennedy et al who encountered histologic or intraoperative evidence of endometriosis in 45% of their study patients. Transformationfrom endometriosis to clear cell adenocarcinoma has been previously demonstrated insporadic cases but was not observed by Kennedy et al. Hypercalcemia occurs in asignificant percentage of patients with OCCA. Patients with advanced disease are moretypically affected than patients with nonmetastatic disease. Patients with OCCA are alsomore likely to have Stage I disease than are patients with ovarian epithelial cancer ingeneral (Kennedy, 348). Histologic grade has been useful as an initial prognostic determinant in some studiesof epithelial cancers of the ovary. The grading of ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma hasbeen problematic and is complicated by the multiplicity of histologic patterns found inthe same tumor. Similar problems have been found in attempted grading of clear celladenocarcinoma of the endometrium (Disaia, 176). Despite these problems, tumorgrading has been attempted but has failed to demonstrate prognostic significance. However, collected data suggest that low mitotic activity and a predominance of clearcells may be favorable histologic features (Piver, 136). Risk factors for OCCA and ovarian cancer in general are much less clear than forother genital tumors with general agreement on two risk factors: nulliparity and familyhistory. There is a higher frequency of carcinoma in unmarried women and in marriedwomen with low parity. Gonadal dysgenesis in children is associated with a higher riskof developing ovarian cancer while oral contraceptives are associated with a decreasedrisk. Genetic and candidate host genes may be altered in susceptible families. Amongthose currently under investigation is BRCA1 which has been associated with anincreased susceptibility to breast cancer. Approximately 30% of ovarian adenocarcinomas express high levels of HER-2/neu oncogene which correlates with a poor prognosis (Altcheck, 375-376). Mutations in host tumor suppresser gene p53 are found in 50% of ovarian carcinomas. There also appears to be a racial predilection, as the vast majority of cases are seen in Caucasians (Yoonessi, 295). Considerable variation exists in the gross appearance of ovarian clear celladenocarcinomas and they are generally indistinguishable from other epithelial ovariancarcinomas. They could be cystic, solid, soft, or rubbery, and may also containhemorrhagic and mucinous areas (ODonnell, 250). Microscopically, clear cellcarcinomas are characterized by the presence of variable proportions of clear and hobnailcells. The former contain abundant clear cytoplasm with often centrally located nuclei,while the latter show clear or pink cytoplasm and bizarre basal nuclei with atypicalcytoplasmic intraluminal projections. The cellular arrangement may be tubulo acinar,papillary, or solid, with the great majority displaying a mixture of these patterns. Thehobnail and clear cells predominate with tubular and solid forms, respectively (Barber,214). Clear cell adenocarcinoma tissue fixed with alcohol shows a high cytoplasmicglycogen content which can be shown by means of special staining techniques. Abundant extracellular and rare intracellular neutral mucin mixed with sulfate andcarboxyl group is usually present. The clear cells are recognized histochemically andultrastructurally (short and blunt microvilli, intercellular tight junctions and desmosomes,free ribosomes, and lamellar endoplasmic reticulum). The ultrastructure of hobnail andclear cells resemble those of the similar cells seen in clear cell carcinomas of theremainder of the female genital tract (OBrien, 254). A variation in patterns of histologyis seen among these tumors and frequently within the same one. Whether both tubular components with hobnail cells and the solid part with clear cellsare required to establish a diagnosis or the presence of just one of the patterns issufficient has not been clearly established. Fortunately, most tumors exhibit a mixture ofthese components. Benign and borderline counterparts of clear cell ovarianadenocarcinomas are theoretical possibilities. Yoonessi et al reported that nodalmetastases could be found even when the disease appears to be grossly limited to thepelvis (Yoonessi, 296). Examination of retroperitoneal nodes is essential to allow formore factual staging and carefully planned adjuvant therapy. Surgery remains the backbone of treatment and generally consists of removal of theuterus, tubes and ovaries, possible partial omentectomy, and nodal biopsies. Theeffectiveness and value of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy has not been clearlydemonstrated. Therefore, in patients with unilateral encapsulated lesions andhistologically proven uninvolvement of the contralateral ovary, omentum, and biopsiednodes, a case can be made for (a)no adjuvant therapy after complete surgical removaland (b) removal of only the diseased ovary in an occasional patient who may be youngand desirous of preserving her reproductive capacity (Altchek, 97). In the more adv-anced stages, removal of the uterus, ovaries, omentum, and as much tumor as possiblefollowed by pelvic radiotherapy (if residual disease is limited to the pelvis) orchemotherapy must be considered. The chemotherapeutic regimens generally involveadriamycin, alkylating agents, and cisPlatinum containing combinations (Barber, 442). OCCA is of epithelial origin and often contains mixtures of other epithelial tumorssuch as serous, mucinous, and endometrioid. Clear cell adenocarcinoma is characterizedby large epithelial cells with abundant cytoplasm. Because these tumors sometimesoccur in association with endometriosis or endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary andresemble clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium, they are now thought to be ofmullerian duct origin and variants of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Clear cell tumors ofthe ovary can be predominantly solid or cystic. In the solid neoplasm, the clear cells arearranged in sheets or tubules. In the cystic form, the neoplastic cells line the spaces. Five-year survival is approximately 50% when these tumors are confined to the ovaries,but these tumors tend to be aggressive and spread beyond the ovary which tends to make5-year survival highly unlikely (Altchek, 416). Some debate continues as to whether clear cell or mesonephroid carcinoma is aseparate clinicopathological entity with its own distinctive biologic behavior and naturalhistory or a histologic variant of endometrioid carcinoma. In an effort to characterizeclear cell adenocarcinoma, Jenison et al compared these tumors to the most common ofthe epithelial malignancies, the serous adenocarcinoma (SA). Histologically determinedendometriosis was strikingly more common among patients with OCCA than with SA. Other observations by Jenison et al suggest that the biologic behavior of clear celladenocarcinoma differs from that of SA. They found Stage I tumors in 50% of theobserved patient population as well as a lower incidence of bilaterality in OCCA(Jenison, 67-69). Additionally, it appears that OCCA is characteristically larger thanSA, possibly explaining the greater frequency of symptoms and signs at presentation. Risk FactorsThere is controversy regarding talc use causing ovarian cancer. Unt il recently, mosttalc powders were contaminated with asbestos. Conceptually, talcum powder on theperineum could reach the ovaries by absorption through the cervix or vagina. Sincetalcum powders are no longer contaminated with asbestos, the risk is probably no longerimportant (Barber, 200). The high fat content of whole milk, butter, and meat productshas been implicated with an increased risk for ovarian cancer in general. The Centers for Disease Control compared 546 women with ovarian cancer to 4,228controls and reported that for women 20 to 54 years of age, the use of oralcontraceptives reduced the risk of ovarian cancer by 40% and the risk of ovarian cancerdecreased as the duration of oral contraceptive use increased. Even the use of oralcontraceptives for three months decreased the risk. The protective effect of oralcontraceptives is to reduce the relative risk to 0.6 or to decrease the incidence of diseaseby 40%. There is a decreased risk as high as 40% for women who have had fo ur ormore children as compared to nulliparous women. There is an increase in the incidenceof ovarian cancer among nulliparous women and a decrease with increasing parity. Theincessant ovulation theory proposes that continuous ovulation causes repeated traumato the ovary leading to the development of ovarian cancer. Incidentally, having two ormore abortions compared to never having had an abortion decreases ones risk ofdeveloping ovarian cancer by 30% (Coppleson, 25-28). Consequences Of The Black Death EssayCurrently there are several serum markers that are available to help make a diagnosis. These include CA 125, CEA, DNB/70K, LASA-P, and serum inhibin. Recently theurinary gonadotropin peptide (UCP) and the collagen-stimulating factor have beenadded. Although the tumor markers have a low specificity and sensitivity, they are oftenused in screening for ovarian cancer. A new tumor marker CA125-2 has greaterspecificity than CA125. In general, tumor markers have a very limited role in screeningfor ovarian cancer. The common epithelial cancer of the ovary is unique in killing the patient while being,in the vast majority of the cases, enclosed in the anatomical area where it initiallydeveloped: the peritoneal cavity. Even with early localized cancer, lymph nodemetastases are not rare in the pelvic or aortic areas. In most of the cases, death is due tointraperitoneal proliferation, ascites, protein loss and cachexia. The concept ofdebulking or cytoreduct ive surgery is currently the dominant concept in treatment. The first goal in debulking surgery is inhibition of debulking surgery is inhibition ofthe vicious cycle of malnutrition, nausea, vomiting, and dyspepsia commonly found inpatients with mid to advanced stage disease. Cytoreductive surgery enhances theefficiency of chemotherapy as the survival curve of the patients whose largest residualmass size was, after surgery, below the 1.5 cm limit is the same as the curve of thepatients whose largest metastatic lesions were below the 1.5 cm limit at the outset(Altchek, 422-424). The aggressiveness of the debulking surgery is a key question surgeons must facewhen treating ovarian cancers. The debulking of very large metastatic masses makes nosense from the oncologic perspective. As for extrapelvic masses the debulking, even ifmore acceptable, remains full of danger and exposes the patient to a heavy handicap. For these reasons the extra-genital resections have to be limited to lymphadenectomy,omentectomy, pelvic abdominal peritoneal resections and rectosigmoid junctionresection. That means that stages IIB and IIC and stages IIIA and IIB are the only trueindications for extrapelvic cytoreductive surgery. Colectomy, ileectomy, splenectomy,segmental hepatectomy are only exceptionally indicated if they allow one to perform areal optimal resection. The standard cytoreductive surgery is the total hysterectomy withbilateral salpingoophorectomy. This surgery may be done with aortic and pelvic lymphnode sampling, omentectomy, and, if necessary, resection of the rectos igmoidal junction(Barber. 182-183). The concept of administering drugs directly into the peritoneal cavity as therapy ofovarian cancer was attempted more than three decades ago. However, it has only beenwithin the last ten years that a firm basis for this method of drug delivery has becomeestablished. The essential goal is to expose the tumor to higher concentrations of drugfor longer periods of time than is possible with systemic drug delivery. Several agentshave been examined for their efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic advantage whenadministered via the peritoneal route. Cisplatin has undergone the most extensive evaluation for regional delivery. Cisplatinreaches the systemic compartment in significant concentrations when it is administeredintraperitoneally. The dose limiting toxicity of intraperitoneally administered cisplatin isnephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and emesis. The depth of penetration of cisplatin into theperitoneal lining and tumor following regional delivery is only 1 to 2 mm from thesurface which lim its its efficacy. Thus, the only patients with ovarian cancer who wouldlikely benefit would be those with very small residual tumor volumes. Overall,approximately 30 to 40% of patients with small volume residual ovarian cancer havebeen shown to demonstrate an objective clinical response to cisplatin-based locallyadministered therapy with 20 to 30% of patients achieving a surgically documentedcomplete response. As a general rule, patients whose tumors have demonstrated aninherent resistance to cisplatin following systemic therapy are not considered fortreatment with platinum-based intraperitoneal therapy (Altchek, 444-446). In patients with small volume residual disease at the time of second look laparotomy,who have demonstrated inherent resistance to platinum-based regimens, alternativeintraperitoneal treatment programs can be considered. Other agents includemitoxantrone, and recombinant alpha-interpheron. Intraperitoneal mitoxanthone hasbeen shown to have definite activity in small volume residual platinum-refractory ovariancancer. Unfortunately, the dose limiting toxicity of the agent is abdominal pain andadhesion formation, possibly leading to bowel obstruction. Recent data suggests thelocal toxicity of mitoxanthone can be decreased considerably by delivering the agent inmicrodoses. Ovarian tumors may have either intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Manymechanisms of drug resistance have been described. Expression of the MDR1 gene thatencodes the drug efflux protein known as p-glycoprotein, has been shown to confer thecharacteristic multi-drug resistance to clones of some cancers. The most widelyc onsidered definition of platinum response is response to first-line platinum treatmentand disease free interval. Primary platinum resistance may be defined as any progressionon treatment. Secondary platinum resistance is the absence of progression on primaryplatinum-based therapy but progression at the time of platinum retreatment for relapse(Sharp, 205-207). Second-line chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer is dependent on preferences ofboth the patient and physician. Retreatment with platinum therapy appears to offersignificant opportunity for clinical response and palliation but relatively little hope forlong-term cure. Paclitaxel (trade name: Taxol), a prototype of the taxanes, is cytotoxicto ovarian cancer. Approximately 20% of platinum failures respond to standard doses ofpaclitaxel. Studies are in progress of dose intensification and intraperitonealadministration (Barber, 227-228). This class of drugs is now thought to represent anactive addition to the platinum analogs, either as primary therapy, in combination withplatinum, or as salvage therapy after failure of platinum. In advanced stages, there is suggestive evidence of partial responsiveness of OCCA toradiation as well as cchemotherapy, adriamycin, cytoxan, and cisPlatinum-containingcombinations (Yoonessi, 295). Radiation techniques include intraperitoneal radioactivegold or chromium phosphate and external beam therapy to the abdomen and pelvis. Therole of radiation therapy in treatment of ovarian canver has diminished in prominence asthe spread pattern of ovarian cancer and the normal tissue bed involved in the treatmentof this neoplasm make effective radiation therapy difficult. When the residual diseaseafter laparotomy is bulky, radiation therapy is particularly ineffective. If postoperativeradiation is prescribed for a patient, it is important that theentire abdomen and pelvis areoptimally treated to elicit a response from the tumor (Sharp, 278-280). In the last few decades, the aggressive attempt to optimize the treatment ofovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma and ovarian cancer in general has seen remarkableimprovements in the response rates of patients with advanced stage cancer withoutdramatically improving long-term survival. The promises of new drugs with activitywhen platinum agents fail is encouraging and fosters hope that, in the decades to come,the endeavors of surgical and pharmacoogical research will make ovarian cancer aneasily treatable disease. BibliographyAltchek, A., ; Deligdisch, L. (1996). Diagnosis and Management of Ovarian Disorders. New York: Igaku Shoin. Barber, H. (1993). Ovarian Carcinoma: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. New York: Springer Verlag. Coppleson, M. (Ed.). (1981). Gynecologic Oncology (vol. 2). New York: ChurchillLivingstone. Current Clinical Trials Oncology. (1996). Green Brook, NJ: Pyros Education. De La Cuesta, R., ; Eichorn, J. (1996). Histologic transformation of benignendometriosis to early epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology, 60, 238-244. Disaia, P, ; Creasman, W. (1989). Clinical Gynecologic Oncology (3rd ed.). St. Louis:Mosby. Jenison, E., Montag, A., ; Griffiths, T. (1989). clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary: a clinical analysis and comparison with serous carcinoma. Gynecologic Oncology,32, 65-71. Kennedy, A., ; Biscotti, C. (1993). Histologic correlates of progression-free interval andsurvival in ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma. Gynecologic Oncology, 50, 334-338. Kennedy, A., ; Biscotti, C. (1989). Ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma. GynecologicOncology, 32, 342-349. OBrien, M., Schofield, J., Tan, S. (1993). Clear cell epithelial ovarian cancer: Badprognosis only in early stages. Gynecologic Oncology, 49, 250-254. ODonnell, M, ; Al-Nafussi, A. (1995). Intracytoplasmic lumina and mucinous inclusionsin ovarian carcinoma. Histopathology, 26, 181-184. Piver, S. (Ed.). (1987). Ovarian Malignancies. New York: Churchill Livingstone. Sharp, F., Mason, P., Blackett, T., ; Berek, J. (1995). Ovarian Cancer 3. New York: Chapman ; Hall Medical. Yamada, K., ; Kiyoshi, O. (1995). Monoclonal antibody, Mab 12C3, is a sensitiveimmunohistochemical marker of early malignant change in epithelial ovarian tumors. Anatomic Pathology, 103, 288-294. Yoonessi, M., Weldon, D., ; Sateesh, S. (1984). Clear cell ovarian carcinoma. Journalof Surgical Oncology, 27, 289-297.

Period of The Zygote free essay sample

The period of the zygote begins at fertilization. After a female egg is fertilized, the resulting one celled organism becomes known as a zygote. Once the egg is fertilized, the zygote begins a two-week period of rapid cell division and will eventually become an embryo. The zygote divides through a process known as mitosis, in which each cell doubles by dividing into two cells. This two-week stage is known as the germinal period of development and covers the time of conception to implantation of the embryo in the uterus. In most cases, each male and female sex cell contains 23 chromosomes. When these two haploid cells join, they form a single diploid cell that contains a total of 46 chromosomes. The zygote begins a journey down the fallopian tube to the uterus where it must implant in the lining in order to obtain the nourishment it needs to grow and survive. The period of the zygote lasts for about four days. We will write a custom essay sample on Period of The Zygote or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Around the fifth day, 60 to 70 cells exist that form a hollow, fluid filled ball called a blastocyst. The embryonic disk will become the new organism; the outer ring will provide protective covering. Implantation occurs sometime between the seventh and ninth day which the blastocyst burrows deep into the lining of the uterus. The amnion is a membrane that encloses the developing organism in amniotic fluid. The fluid functions as a cushion and temperature regulator. The yolk sac produces blood cells until the liver, spleen, and bone marrow mature enough to take over this function. The chorion, a protective membrane develops around the amnion by the end of the second week. The placenta is a special organ that permits food and oxygen to reach the zygote and waste products to be carried away. The umbilical cord connects the placenta to the developing organism. The period of the embryo lasts from implantation through the eighth week of pregnancy. The most rapid prenatal changes take place during these six weeks as the groundwork for all body structures and internal organs is begun. During the third week, the embryonic disk folds over to form three cell layers: 1.) Ectoderm- becomes the nervous system and skin. 2.) Mesoderm- from which will develop muscles, skeleton, cardiovascular system, and reproductive system. 3.) Endoderm- becomes the digestive system, lungs, urinary tract, and glands. The nervous system develops fastest in the beginning. The neural tube is a primitive spinal cord that forms when the ectoderm folds over. The embryo’s posture becomes more upright. The embryo can move, and it responds to touch, especially in the mouth area and on the soles of the feet. The period of the fetus is the â€Å"growth and finishing† phase that lasts until the end of pregnancy. The third month the organs, muscles, and nervous system organize and connect. By the twelfth week, the external genitals are well-formed, and the sex of the fetus can be determined using ultrasound. Trimesters are three equal time periods in prenatal period, each of which lasts three months. By the middle of the second trimester (which lasts from 13 to 24 weeks), the fetus has grown large enough that the mother cam feel its movements. Vernix is a white cheese like substance that covers the fetus and protects its skin from becoming chapped in the amniotic fluid. Lanugo is a white downy hair that also covers the fetus and helps vernix stick to the skin. At the end of the second trimester all the brain’s neurons have been produced. The fetus can now be both stimulated and irritated by sounds and light. The third trimester is the age of viability, between 22 and 26 weeks, is the age at which the fetus can first survive if born early. The brain continues to make great strides during the last three months. The cerebral cortex enlarges and the fetus spends more time awake. The fetus is also more responsive to external stimulation. The fetus moves less often, because of reduced space and greater ability to inhibit behavior. A layer of fat develops under the skin to assist with temperature regulation. In the last weeks, most fetuses move into an upside-down position.

Special Stains Laboratory Report The WritePass Journal

Special Stains Laboratory Report Introduction Special Stains Laboratory Report IntroductionMethodMasson’s TrichromeCongo RedDiscussionReferencesRelated Introduction Staining is a technique that is used to diagnose or study the morphology of abnormal cells such as cancerous cells by highlighting the structural components of a tissue (Bancroft and Gamble, 2008). Staining provides a contrast between different structures in a tissue specimen and allows its examination under a light microscope (Cook, 2006). Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) is a routine stain that is used to microscopically diagnose a vast majority of specimens in which the haematoxylin stains the nuclei, whereas the eosin is used to stain cytoplasm and other extracellular materials (Bancroft and Cook, 1995). According to Slauson and Cooper (2002) special stains are histochemical stains that react with known substances in the tissue. Mohan (2005) explains that special stains are required in various circumstances, where the pathologist needs to demonstrate certain constituent of the cells or the tissue to confirm the diagnosis by etiologic, histogenic and pathogenic components. This techniq ue is called special because they are not a routine stain that is performed on a tissue specimen, instead they are used in addition to HE stained sections (Bancroft and Gamble, 2008). Special stains can identify the presence and abundance of any specific class of molecules in a tissue specimen for example periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction is used to identify carbohydrate substances such as glycogen (Slauson and Cooper, 2002). Other examples include Toluidine blue stain which is used to stain mast cell granules, Perl’s stain demonstrates iron in haemochromatosis, Ziehl-Neelsen stains mycobacteria and Giemsa staining is used to identify Helicobacter Pylori and Giardia organisms (Slauson and Cooper, 2002 and Bass et al., 2005) Masson’s trichrome (MT) and Congo red are the two main special staining methods used in pathology laboratories. Connective tissues consist of cells such as collagen fibres, elastic fibres, and glycosaminoglycans that are scattered within an extracellular matrix (Starr et al., 2011). These cells are distinguished by using a combination of dyes to stain different structures in various different colours (Starr et al., 2011). Masson’s trichrome is used to express collagen in tissues and involves staining with three different sized dyes to stain three diverse tissue densities (Cook, 2006). MT staining produces three distinct colours as the name suggests; nuclei and other basophilic structures are stained black with iron hematoxylin; collagen is stained green or blue depending on aniline light green or aniline blue; and cytoplasm, muscle, erythrocytes and keratin are stained bright red with Biebrich scarlet stain (Young et al., 2006). Since erythrocytes are the densest as the y are packed with haemoglobin, and less porous tissues they are stained with the smallest dye molecule, the intermediate cytoplasm and muscles cells are stained by the intermediate sized dye and the collagen is stained with the biggest dye (Bancroft and Gamble, 2008). However, it has also been suggested that the acid dye which is the Biebrich Scarlet, first stains the tissue as it binds to its acidophilic elements (Carson, 2001). Subsequently, the tissue is treated with phosphomolybdic/phosphotungstic acids so that the less permeable components retain the red colour, whereas it is diffused out of the collagen fibers causing it to bind with the aniline blue or aniline light green (Bancroft and Gamble, 2008). Young et al., (2006) describes that in addition to the use MT stain in assessing the degree of fibrosis, it is also used to evaluate portal tract structures such as the bile ducts, arteries and veins in inflamed liver According to Romhanyi (1971) (cited in Bely, 2006) Congo red is a special stain that is highly specific and a sensitive method for early diagnosis and recognition of amyloidosis.   Cook (2006) states that Congo red is used as the preferred method to identify amyloids in most laboratories on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue of patients with amyloidosis. Kiernan (2007) describes that amyloid is an intercellular material that varies in its composition and is deposited in tissues such as heart, muscle, kidneys, spleen, liver and brain, deposits differ in their composition. Rubin and Strayer (2008) explains that Congo red stain has a linear shaped molecule which helps it to bind to the ÃŽ ² pleated sheet structure of the amyloid through non-polar hydrogen bonds, giving it a red colour. Sen and Basdemir (2003) states that Congo red fluorescence (CRF) is another method that examines the amyloid deposits stained with Congo red under polarized light which shows a red-green birefring ence and according to Rocken and Eriksson (2009) this is the gold standard for diagnosing amyloid. During this experiment special stain techniques were used to analyse specific tissue elements Aims To identify fibroids in uterine tissue section using Masson’s trichrome stain To identify amyloid in spleen tissue section using Congo red stain To discuss advantages of special stains To use special stains to identify important diagnostic features of the tissue To understand the mechanism used by special stains Method Masson’s Trichrome The formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded uterine tissue section was deparaffinized and rehydrated through 100% alcohol, 95% alcohol, and 70% alcohol.   The section was washed in distilled water and then stained in Weigert’s iron hemotoxylin working solution for 10 minutes. It was then rinsed in running warm tap water for 10 minutes and then washed in distilled water. The next step was to stain the uterine tissue section in Biebrich scarlet-acid fuchsin solution for 15 minutes, and then it was washed using distilled water. It was then differentiated in phosphomolybdic – phosphotungstic solution for 15 minutes or until collagen was not red. The tissue section was then transferred directly (without rinsing) to aniline blue solution and stained for 5-10 minutes. Afterwards the tissue section was rinsed briefly in distilled water and differentiated in 1% acetic acid solution for 1 minute. It was then washed in distilled water and dehydrated very quickly through 95% ethyl a lcohol, absolute ethyl alcohol (to wipe off Biebrich scarlet-acid fuschin staining) and then cleared in xylene. The section was then mounted with resinous mounting medium. Finally the slide was examined under the light microscope. Congo Red The spleen tissue section was deparaffinized and hydrated to distilled water. The section was then stained in Congo red working solution for 10 minutes and rinsed in distilled water. It was then quickly differentiated (5-10 dips) in alkaline alcohol solution and rinsed in tap water. The section was then counterstained in Gill’s haematoxylin for 10 seconds and rinsed in tap water for 2 minutes. Following that, the section was dipped in ammonia water (made by adding a few drops of ammonium hydroxide to tap water and mixing it well) for 30 seconds or until the sections had turned blue. It was then rinsed in tap water for another 5 minutes and dehydrated through 95% alcohol, and 100% alcohol. The section was cleared in xylene and mounted with mounting medium. The slide was then examined under a light microscope. Fig 1: Normal uterine tissue stained with Masson’s trichrome viewed under 10 x 10 microscopic magnification Fig 2: Fibroid uterine tissue stained with Masson’s trichrome viewed under 10 x 10 microscopic magnification The microscopic slide (Fig. 1) shows a normal uterus tissue that was stained with Masson’s trichrome, which showed the nuclei stained black, smooth muscle stained red and the collagen fibres stained blue.   Figure 2 shows a uterus tissue specimen stained with Masson’s trichrome that revealed excessive amount of collagen stained in blue, smooth muscle stained red and nuclei stained black.    Fig 3: Spleen tissue stained with Congo red showing amyloid deposits under 1010 microscopic magnification Fig. 4 Spleen tissue stained with Congo red adapted from Stevens and Lowe, (2000) Discussion Norwitz and Schorge   (2006) states that fibroids also referred to as Leiomyomata, are benign tumours of the myometirum of the uterus   that is mainly composed of smooth muscle and extracellular fibrous material such as the collagen, Fibroids do not   invade surrounding tissues or organs and they can occur in different locations within the uterus (Lark, 1996). The symptoms include heavy periods, frequent urination, constipation, bloating and backache (Tulandi, 2003) Masson’s trichrome was used to stain the uterus tissue (Fig. 1) which showed the collagen stained in blue, smooth muscle and erythrocytes stained red and the nuclei appeared black. MT stain revealed that the normal uterus tissue (Fig. 1) had a small amount of collagen present whereas the other uterus tissue (Fig. 2) showed an elevated amount of collagen stained in blue which suggested fibrosis. MT is an advantageous technique in medicine as it allows comparing the degree of fibrosis before and after the treatment biopsies to show if the treatment has been effective and successful. It is a routine stain for kidney and liver biopsies and this can be used on paraffin fixed sections as well as on frozen sections. Kambic et al., (1986) describes that there are different types of collagen and their organization is better shown using Sirius red with polarized light. Sirius red is a hydrophilic dye, in which type I collagen appears orange or red whereas type III collagen appears green (Kumar, 2005). Congo red was used to stain a spleen tissue section where figure 3 showed amyloid deposits in pink and nuclei in blue. Fig. 4 revealed a high amount of amyloid deposits in pink which suggested amyloidosis that is the disorder caused by abnormal deposition of intracellular or extracellular insoluble amyloid which changes the normal tissue function (Stevens and Lowe, 2000). Special stains is an important tool for pathologists   as it allows to the microscopically view and identify cells, tissues and microorganisms, providing an alternative to immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and various other diagnostic techniques. References Bancroft, J. D. Gamble, M.   (2008).   ‘Theory and practice of histological techniques’.   [Online].   (6th ed).   Philadelphia, PA : Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Dhn2KispfdQCprintsec=frontcoverdq=Theory+and+practice+of+histological+techniqueshl=enei=ifGETZKEPcWwhAfSvPW_BAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepageqf=false.   [Accessed 7th March 2011]. Bancroft. J. D. Cook, H. C.   (1995).   ‘Manual of histological techniques and their diagnostic application’.   Edinburgh [u.a.] : Churchill Livingstone. Bass, P., Burroughs, S. Way, C.   (2005).   ‘Systematic pathology : a clinically-orientated core text with self assessment’.   Edinburgh : Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. Bely, M. (2006). Histochemical differential diagnosis and polarization optical analysis of amyloid and amyloidosis TheScientificWorldJournal. 6, p.154-168. Carson, F. L.   (2001).   ‘Histotechnology : a self-instructional text’.   (2nd ed).   Chicago : ASCP Press. Cook, D. J.   (2006).   ‘Cellular pathology : introduction to techniques and applications’.   (2nd ed).   Bloxham: Scion Publishing Limited. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1440-1827.2003.01513.x/abstract Kiernan, J. A.   (2007).   ‘Histological and histochemical methods’.   (4th ed).   Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Mohan, H.   (2005).   ‘Essential pathology for dental students’.   [online]. (3rd ed).   New Delhi : Jaypee Brothers.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HmkTtLyxXF8Cprintsec=frontcoverdq=essential+pathology+for+dental+studentshl=enei=xRCCTaiHMs24hAezp6G8BAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=bookthumbnailresnum=1ved=0CDAQ6wEwAA#v=onepageqf=false. [Accessed: 11th March 2011]. Odze, R. D. Goldblum, J. R.   (2009).   ‘Surgical pathology of the GI tract, liver, biliary tract and pancreas’.   [Online].   (2nd ed).   Philadelphia, PA : Saunders/Elsevier.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8ITX093f1j0Cpg=PA1143dq=Masson%27s+trichrome+staining+in+liverhl=enei=OB2GTYuVLYuqhAfJ_6m8BAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=2ved=0CDgQ6wEwAQ#v=onepageq=Masson%27s%20trichrome%20staining%20in%20liverf=false.   [Assessed 16th March 2011] Rocken, C. Eriksson, M. (2009). Amyloid and amyloidoses Der Pathologe. 30, (3), p.182-192. Rubin, R. Strayer, D. S.   (2008).   ‘Rubin’s Pathology : clinicopathologic foundations of medicine’.   [Online].   (5th ed).   Philadelphia [u.a.] : Lippincott Williams Wilkins.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kD9VZ267wDECpg=PA990dq=mechanism+of+congo+red+stainhl=enei=ADGFTcSQDZGJhQf-n5iuBAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=4ved=0CEUQ6wEwAw#v=onepageq=mechanism%20of%20congo%20red%20stainf=false.   [Assessed 7th March 2011]. Sen, S. Basdemir, G. (2003). Diagnosis of renal amyloidosis using Congo red fluorescence Pathology international. 53, (8), p.534-538. Slauson, D. O.   Cooper, B. J.   (2002).   ‘Mechanisms of disease : a textbook of comparative general pathology’.   [Online].   (3rd ed).   St. Louis, MO. [u.a.] : Mosby.   Available from : http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vRhtM0UMUh4Cpg=PA5dq=special+stainshl=enei=-vSETaMeqJKEB83RwccEsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=1ved=0CCoQ6wEwADgK#v=onepageq=special%20stainsf=false.   [Accessed 4th March 2011]. Young B., Lowe, J. S, Stevens, A. Heath, J. W. (2006).   ‘Wheater’s functional histology : a text and colour atlas’.   (5th ed).   Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone Tulandi, T.   (2003).   ‘Uterine fibroids : embolization and other treatments’.   [Online].   Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fZ8eha5yIfcCprintsec=frontcoverdq=fibroidshl=enei=oyOGTfnfMJGGhQeY_92_BAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=7ved=0CGAQ6wEwBg#v=onepageqf=false.   [Assessed 15th March 2011]. Stevens, A. Lowe, J.   (2000).   ‘Pathology’.   (2nd ed).   Edinburgh [u. a.] : Mosby Starr, C., Evers, C. A. Starr, L.   (2011).   ‘Biology : concept and applications’.   [Online].   (8th ed).   United States : Cengage Learning.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_16xbB2Py_UCpg=PA454dq=connective+tissuehl=enei=zYeITdaEAsywhAf61cm6Dgsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=10ved=0CFYQ6wEwCTgK#v=onepageq=connective%20tissuef=false.   [Assessed 8th March 2011]. Lark, S. M.   (1996).   ‘Natural treatment of fibroid tumors and endometriosis : effective natural solutions for relieving the heavy bleeding, cramps and infertility that accompany these common female problems’.   New Canaan, Conn : Keats Pub. Norwitz, E. R. Schorge, J. O.   (2006).   ‘Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a glance’.   (2nd ed).   Malden, Massachusetts : Blackwell. Kumar, R. K. (2005). Morphological methods for assessment of fibrosis Methods in Molecular Medicine. 117, p.179-188. Kambic, H. E., Kantrowitz, A. Sung, P.   (1986).   ‘Vacular graft update : safety and performance, a symposium’. [Online].   Philadelphia, PA : ASTM.   Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NU0cVwIPk_oCpg=PA162dq=limitations+of+collagen+stainhl=enei=AEKLTcmzMsmYhQe1hJHEDgsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=10ved=0CFsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepageqf=false.   [Assessed 20th March 2011].

Presentation paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Presentation paper - Essay Example However, merit pay has been used to develop the standard payment structure that is common and applicable to all the employees (World at Work 60). Merit pay is as described as pay for performance based on the results set on a standard operative module. It is an approach to compensation that rewards well performing employee. It focuses on offering additional pay for the best performing employees. Despite the challenges, the merit pay system has several advantages. First, it enables the employer to differentiate between high and low performers in the company. Unlike the profit sharing or bonus pay schemes, it allows the employer to differentiate between performances of employees. While there are several programs and schemes are developed to reward overall performance of employees, merit pay offers compensation for strong performers. Merit pay allows the employer to recognize individual performance once meaning to continue benefiting from the scheme the employee must be able to continue the performing perfectly (Jiang, Xiao and Qi 67). Despite the numerous advantages of the scheme, it has been found that it does not offer a better support mechanism to the employees and the employer. The failure to address the essential issues that may affect performance both the group and individual makes the scheme non-effective. The scheme lacks accuracy affecting its ability to differentiate the ability of the individual employees. The success of the scheme has been reduced by the increasing dynamism in human behavior and factors that affect performance. The merit pay structure is different and creates a serious challenge in managing workers. The use of the total reward system has taken over the development of compensation structures. The total reward scheme is a program developed, by employers, to attract, motivate, and retain employees. The main focus of the program is to include everything the employee perceives to be value resulting from the employment relationships. The con cept has been advanced tremendously through evaluation and restructuring of the process of rewarding employees. When developing a total reward system, analyzing the need of every employee in the team (Jiang, Xiao and Qi 112). The development of a total reward scheme involves six steps with the first phase of the process in analyzing. The process of analyzing the needs of the employees includes the examining of the current policies. After analysis, the design process will involve the determination of compensation and the compensation strategies that can be employed in the process. During the design process, all the available approaches in total reward schemes. After the design, of the total reward scheme, the development of the plan and operation strategy involves the use of the various methods (World at Work 45). After the creation of the necessary plan and strategy, the plan must be communicated to the employees, so that they understand the reward scheme. Additionally, communicatio n in the company is vital because of the various reasons. Communication facilitates the development process, and the reasons of promotion and wage level setting. The success of the total reward scheme will depend on the various factors including the management design of the process (World at Work 213). The inclusion of all the factors that affect motivation and employee welfare will ensure that the total reward scheme is perfect. In conclusion, the total reward scheme is based on the inclusion of all