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Background: The aim of the study is to test whether use of autologous serum eye-drops can provide earlier epithelial healing following the application of photorefractive keratectomy.Method: Sixty patients (60 eyes) underwent photorefractive keratectomy for myopia. Thirty eyes received autologous serum drops (Study group) while 30 eyes received conventional artificial tears (Control group) after photorefractive keratectomy. An 8 mm epithelial opening was prepared with the application of 18 per cent alcohol for 20 seconds. Photorefractive keratectomy was performed using ESIRIS excimer laser (SCHWIND, Kleinostheim, Germany) with an optic zone of 6.5 mm. Total duration of epithelial healing was monitored as the main outcome measure. The comparisons were done with chi-square test and independent samples t-test. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05.Results: Preoperative myopic spherical refraction and ablation depths were similar in the study and control groups. The mean duration for epithelial healing was about one day shorter in the eyes receiving autologous serum compared to the eyes receiving conventional treatment (2.2 ± 0.25 days versus 3 ± 0 days, p = 0.001). All eyes achieved 6/7.5 or better uncorrected visual acuity in six months. In both groups, more than 90 per cent of eyes were within ±0.50 D of emmetropia in 12 months. No significant difference was noted for the incidence of +1 haze.Conclusion: Use of autologous serum drops reduces epithelial healing duration following surface ablation for two days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For today's project-based organization, understanding of culture is increasingly important. This study examined how an organization's culture contributes to perceived project and business performance. Surveys collected from project managers, project engineers, and executives from 76 U.S. firms revealed the significance of Clan or group culture in improving performance as measured by project time, budget targets, and customer expectations. Clan culture was also found to significantly contribute to an organization's business performance. Cost savings, sales growth, and increased competitiveness were found to be associated with Clan or group culture. Furthermore, project manager experience moderated the organizational culture and performance relationship. Results from this study indicate that Clan or group culture facilitates a cohesive, high performing teamwork environment, and results in improved project and business performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given today's global work environment, business education should prepare learners not only for technical excellence but also for effective collaboration. In this article, the author describes how collaborative activities--ranging from exams to projects and role playing--enhance the understanding of operations management (OM). The author found that collaborative learning improved undergraduate business students' understanding of quantitative OM methods, developed their strategic-thinking skills, and enhanced their confidence in their critical-thinking and implementation skills. The exercises also increased students' comfort level in communicating and working with their peers and enhanced their independent learning skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date there are no prognostic factors that can account for the biology and disease behavior in nasopharyngeal cancer. Therefore, identification of new factors that can help in predicting the behavior of the disease and characterizing the subgroup with more aggressive tumors more likely to benefitfrom chemotherapy is important. In this study, c-erb B2, bcl-2, and mutant p53 protein levels were investigated in sera and tumor tissue of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. Serum c-erb B2 levels were significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy subjects. No meaningful difference was observed between the serum and tissue levels of the mutant p53 protein. Tissue bcl-2 concentrations were considerably high. Our results suggest that serum c-erb B2 levels may aid in identifying a subgroup of patients with a poorer response rate to first-line treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]