Publications by authors named "Christopher Showers"

Kawasaki disease (KD) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) are rare conditions that occur predominately in children. Recent reports document KD and MIS in adult patients following infection with SARS-CoV-2. Rarely, MIS is observed following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, mostly in patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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We report a patient with severe Covid-19-associated coagulopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus who tested positive for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Analysis of skin specimens suggested direct SARS-CoV-2 viral-induced and complement-mediated vascular injury and thrombosis, consistent with prior reports. Serial aPL testing demonstrated high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) that declined to insignificant levels over a period of 5 weeks.

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Background: Extent of resection (EOR) correlates with glioblastoma outcomes. Resectability and EOR depend on anatomical, clinical, and surgeon factors. Resectability likely influences outcome in and of itself, but an accurate measurement of resectability remains elusive.

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Article Synopsis
  • TOP2 is shown to be highly expressed in proneural glioblastomas, and its expression is correlated with the effectiveness of the cancer drug etoposide.
  • The study utilized both mouse models and human cancer cell line data to explore the relationship between TOP2 expression and etoposide susceptibility, confirming that higher TOP2 levels correlate with better drug response.
  • Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of etoposide demonstrated significant survival benefits in mouse models of proneural gliomas, suggesting a potential for clinical application in treating patients based on their molecular profiles.
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Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute substantially to the tumor mass of gliomas and have been shown to play a major role in the creation of a tumor microenvironment that promotes tumor progression. Shortcomings of attempts at antiglioma immunotherapy may result from a failure to adequately address these effects. Emerging evidence supports an independent categorization of glioma TAMs as alternatively activated M2-type macrophages, in contrast to classically activated proinflammatory M1-type macrophages.

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