Anti-Stokes luminescence in the light of second order perturbation theory

Volume 105, Issue 19, 10 November 2014$4.00

Rupak Bhattacharya^1,a),, Bipul Pal^1,b) and Bhavtosh Bansal^1,c)
 VIEW AFFILIATIONS
Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 191102 (2014); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4901075
Anti-Stokes photoluminescence is measured in high-quality GaAs quantum wells. The primary pathway for interband optical absorption and hence emission under subbandgap photoexcitation is the optical phonon-mediated second-order electric dipole transition. This conclusion is drawn from the remarkable agreement between predictions of second-order perturbation calculation and the measured intensity of anti-Stokes photoluminescence, both as function of the detuning wavelength and temperature. The results are of direct relevance to laser cooling of solids where phonon-assisted upconversion is a necessary condition.
© 2014 AIP Publishing LLC
Received 12 September 2014 Accepted 20 October 2014 Published online 10 November 2014

Refrence of Prof Pranab kumar Bhattacharya on Grey Zone Lymphoma in International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Case Reports 2(5): 110-116, 2015; Article no.IJMPCR.2015.022

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: lyntumwine@gmail.com;
 International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical 
Case Reports 2(5): 110-116, 2015
EBV-Positive Grey Zone Lymphoma in an HIVInfected Man from Kampala, Uganda: Case Report ;
Article no.IJMPCR.2015.022 SCIENCEDOMAIN international www. sciencedomain.org

L. K. Tumwine1,2*, J. Orem3 and L. W. Ayers2,4 1
Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. 2Sub-Saharan Africa Lymphoma Consortium (NCI/SSALC), USA. 3Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3955, Kampala, Uganda. 4Department of Pathology, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 2001 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH, USA.
 Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration with all authors. Author LKT provided the case and wrote the draft manuscript. Author JO provided the detailed patient case notes and managed the literature searches and author LWA designed the figures, managed the literature searches and contributed to correction of the draft. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
 Article Information DOI: 10.9734/IJMPCR/2015/13625
 Editor(s): (1) Syed A. A. Rizvi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, USA. 
Reviewers: (1) Anonymous, University of Texas MD Anderson, USA. (2) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, Department of Pathology, School of Tropical Medicine ,Kolkata, 108 CR Avenue Kolkata-700073 West Bengal, India.
Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history.php?iid=786&id=38&aid=6950 Received 26th August 2014 Accepted 7th October 2014 Published 15th November 2014
ABSTRACT Aim: We describe the clinical, histopathological and immunophenotypic characteristics of an HIVinfected adult man on antiretroviral therapy who presented with an EBV-positive grey zone lymphoma.
Case Presentation: A 56-year-old HIV infected man from Uganda presented with a four month history of progressive abdominal swelling and B-symptoms. He was on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and cotrimoxazole. He was afebrile (36.9°C), severely wasted (BMI 14.8), and mildly anaemic. On physical examination, he had a 15 by 8 cm mass in the hypogastrium and umbilical region. The total white cell count was 8.3X103 /µL; neutrophils, 5.72X103 /µL; haemoglobin 11.1g/dL, platelets 528X103 /µL, LDH 197 IU/L and CD4 367/µL. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan showed a tumour involving the mesentery, jejunum and mid ileum. At laparotomy, a biopsy was taken, fixed, processed and stained with Haematoxylin & Eosin (H & E). Histopathology demonstrated large pleomorphic cells admixed with inflammatory smaller cells, Reed-Sternberg-like cell variants and frequent abnormal mitoses. Biomarkers CD20, PAX5, CD30 were positive but ALK negative (immunohistochemistry and strong EBER positivity in situ hybridization. The patient improved on modified CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) therapy. Discussion: The tumour had features intermediate between mediastinal large B cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusion: We present a case of EBV-positive grey zone lymphoma in an HIV-infected man on HAART therapy diagnosed and treated in a resource constrained medical setting. The histological features are unusual and represent a low incidence lymphoma that is recognized by mixed features reminiscent of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. Keywords: HIV/AIDS; EBV; grey zone lymphoma; Uganda.

1. INTRODUCTION In most low income countries of Africa, especially sub Saharan Africa, lymphomas are diagnosed using morphology alone [1]. The diagnosis of lymphoma in developed countries is currently based on morphology, the patient’s clinical data, immmunophenotype and molecular studies. The 2008 WHO classification recognizes a group of lymphomas that do not fit in any of the clearly defined categories: “the grey zone lymphomas” [2]. These present a diagnostic dilemma due to the presence of overlapping clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic and molecular features of two well defined groups [2,3]. Most common of the grey zone lymphomas are the “B cell lymphoma unclassifiable between diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)”. They are mainly mediastinal although several recent studies have shown that they may present in extramediastinal locations as well. These tumors are usually clinically aggressive [4-6]. Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas (PMBL) display morphologic and immunophenotypic features similar to those of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). For this reason they are called “mediastinal grey zone lymphoma” or “large B cell lymphoma with Hodgkin features” [4,7,8]. Accurate diagnosis and characterization of these tumors is essential to enable specific treatment and prognosis [9]. EBV positive grey zone lymphomas in HIV infected patients have been rarely reported [10]. Grey zone lymphomas display features similar to primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma [2]. In particular, there is a diffuse pattern of large round, oval or polygonal cells, with bizarre pleomorphic nuclei: some resembling Hodgkin and/or Reed-Sternberg cells and tumor cells of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) [11]. Most large B cell lymphomas presenting in immunocompromised patients are EBV positive. EBV is thought to contribute to lymphomagenesis through promotion of B cell proliferation. On the other hand, the contribution of HIV to lymphomagenesis is complex but it is thought to be through immunodeficiency and molecular lesions [12]. Co-infection with oncogenic viruses such as HHV8 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) might also contribute [13]. A distinct category of DLBCL that occurs in the elderly patients, that is ‘EBV-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the elderly’ has also been rarely identified [14]. We report a case of EBV-positive grey zone lymphoma in an HIV infected adult male from Kampala, Uganda.

2. CASE PRESENTATION A 56-year-old HIV infected African man from Kampala, Uganda presented to our hospital with a four months history of progressive abdominal distension, drenching night sweats, evening fevers, poor appetite and weight loss. He did not vomit; have constipation, abdominal pain or diarrhoea. He had been receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jiroveci. This was his second admission to hospital. He had been hospitalised for the same condition a month earlier, before being referred for further management. During the previous admission in a Tumwine et al.; IJMPCR, 2(5): 110-116, 2015; Article no.IJMPCR.2015.022 112 secondary health care setting, an exploratory laparotomy was done and the colon was found nested together forming a mass anterior to the aorta. The abdomen was closed and the mass left intact. He was then referred to our hospital. He was married with two children. He was a retired soldier and a peasant farmer. There was no history of diabetes, hypertension or sickle cell disease in the family. He did not take alcohol neither smoke tobacco nor cigarettes. On examination, he was a middle aged man, with an axillary temperature of 36.9°C. He was severely wasted (weight: 46kgs, height 176.5 cms and BMI of 14.8) had mild anaemia and no jaundice. He had lipodystrophy of the face and dark patches on his finger nails. He had a midline sub umbilical surgical scar on his abdominal wall with a tender pulsatile mass in the hypogastrium and umbilical region extending 4 cms to the epigastrium. It measured 15 cms by 8 cms, the overlying skin was irregular and attached to the base. There was no bruit, however, and the bowel sounds were increased. Rectal examination was normal. The respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and the central nervous systems were essentially normal. Results of laboratory tests included: total white cell count (WBC) of 8.3X103 /µL. Neutrophils, 5.72X103 /µL. Haemoglobin 11.1g/dL and platelet count 528X103 /µL. Liver and renal function tests were normal. Lactate dehydrogenase was 197 IU/L. The chest X-ray and echocardiography (ECHO) were normal, but the electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus bradycardia. The nadir CD4 T cell count was 0.26/µL five years prior to admission in our hospital when he was started on HAART. On admission, he had last had his CD4 T cell count done two years prior and it was 351/ µL. At admission, the CD4 T cell count was 367/µL. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen confirmed the presence of a mass and at CT scan, there was a midline intra-abdominal mass lesion that arose from above the aortic bifurcation and slightly below the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery and extended to the pelvic cavity. It was anterior to the aorta and did not involve it as well as the lower portion of the superior mesenteric artery. It involved the mesentery. It was heavily vascularised. These features were suggestive of a neoplastic mesenteric tumour with small bowel involvement. A laparotomy revealed a mesenteric tumour involving the mesentery at the level of the mid ileum. Cytopathological examination done during the operation was suggestive of lymphoma. A biopsy was taken for further histopathological work up. Histopathology of prepared tissues stained by (H & E) revealed a population of very large pleomorphic cells suggestive of Reed-Sternberg cells and admixed with smaller inflammatory cells. These Reed-Sternberg like variants, with abnormal mitoses. A provisional diagnosis of anaplastic large cell lymphoma was made. Immunohistochemistry was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio revealed that the large pleomorphic cells were CD20+, PAX5+ and CD30+ but ALK negative. The tumor cells were large or medium and were strongly EBER+. The small background cells were CD3 positive. All these features were suggestive of an EBV positive large B cell lymphoma, with Hodgkin features. The patient was initially rehydrated with normal saline and 5% dextrose. He later received allopurinol and the first course of chemotherapy after stabilisation. This included modified CHOP: cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 , Doxorubicin 50mg/m2 and Vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 on day one and prednisolone 100 mg on days one to five, repeated every 21 days. He registered satisfactory progress, and is alive and well.
3. DISCUSSION This patient’s tumor had clinical, histopathological features and immunophenotype intermediate between mediastinal large B cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. It was located in the mesentery at the level of the mid ileum. Histomorphologically, there was a diffuse pattern of very large pleomorphic and anaplastic cells admixed with smaller mature lymphocytes, ReedSternberg-like variants, with plenty of abnormal mitoses and an inflammatory cell background. These features are similar to those of mediastinal large B cell lymphoma which presents with features of medium sized to large cells with abundant pale cytoplasm and more or less round or ovoid nuclei. In some cases, lymphoma cells had pleomorphic and/or multilobated nuclei which resembled Reed-Sternberg cells hence Tumwine et al.; IJMPCR, 2(5): 110-116, 2015; Article no.IJMPCR.2015.022 113 raising the suspicion of Hodgkin lymphoma or Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (see Fig. 1) [15]. The majority of the tumors reported in the literature are located in the mediastinum, however there are a few that are extramediastinal like in our patient who had a mesenteric tumor [4,5]. Immunohistochemically, the tumor expressed mature B-cell markers; positive for CD20, CD79a, PAX-5 (see Fig. 1). This is similar to the immunophenotype of mediastinal large B cell lymphoma with expression of B-cell antigens and lack of surface Immunoglobulins [16]. CD30 was expressed especially by the Hodgkinlike, Reed-Sternberg cells. This has been seen in similar cases where the expression of CD30 is heterogeneous with weak to strong intensity [5]. These features are similar to those of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. CD15 and CD10 were weakly expressed, but ALK was negative. Activated B-cell markers like MUM-1 were strongly expressed as well, and EBER was strongly positive. EBV is usually associated with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) but not primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma (PMBL). However, most AIDS related lymphomas are strongly associated with EBV. The presence of EBV and Hodgkin-like cells also raised the possibility of an EBV positive large B cell lymphoma in the elderly. Most of the reported gray zone lymphomas are not EBV positive [17].
 Fig. 1. At light microscopy, under Haematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E) a population of very large bi-nucleated and multinucleated cells admixed with smaller cells, Reed-Sternberg- like variants and plenty of abnormal mitoses which turned out to be CD20+, CD79a+, CD30+, MUM- 1 positive, CD15-, CD10-, EBER+, Ki-67>80%, ALK- and P53+. Based on these findings we made a diagnosis of grey zone lymphoma Tumwine et al.; IJMPCR, 2(5): 110-116, 2015; Article no.IJMPCR.2015.022 114 In the current literature, there is only one report of an EBV positive gray zone lymphoma in an elderly female who was not HIV infected[8]. Although our patient was above 50 years, the diagnosis of EBV positive large B cell lymphoma in the elderly was excluded because there was a known cause of immunodeficiency which was HIV/AIDS infection. EBV+ DLBCL in the elderly has been described in patients who are more than 50 years of age with no known cause of immunodeficiency. Bhattacharya has also described cases of Hodgkin lymphoma in patients on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), and an increased prevalence of Hodgkin lymphoma in the cART era as compared the precART era. This prevalence increased with CD T cell count [18]. However, in our patient the clinical, morphological and immunophenotype was not specific to any of the distinct groups, classic Hodgkin lymphoma and mediastinal large B cell lymphoma, hence the diagnosis of gray zone lymphoma. Our patient’s immunophenotype was (strong B-cell immunophenotype CD20+, CD79a+, PAX-5, CD30+, CD15+/-, CD10+/-, ALK- and EBER+) which does not fit in the description for Nodular sclerosis Classic Hodgkin lymphoma with weak B-cell antigen expression (CD20- is weakly or variably expressed and PAX-5 and CD79a are weak or negative, CD30+, CD15+, CD10-, ALK- and EBER+) and primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (CD20-, CD15+…. The most recent 2008 WHO classification recognizes a group of lymphomas that do not fit in any of the clearly defined categories: “the grey zone lymphomas” which present a diagnostic dilemma because of the presence of overlapping clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic and molecular features of two well defined groups [2,19]. This classification gives the histopathologist ‘the opportunity, to assign these lymphomas to a designated group’ that has features of large B cell lymphomas and Hodgkin disease. Our patient was treated with the regimen for aggressive B-cell non Hodgkin lymphoma and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). He did very well on this treatment and completed all the six cycles of therapy. This is in line with what most recent studies have recommended that these tumors are treated using therapy for aggressive B-cell non Hodgkin lymphomas. Clinical trials have not been realized due to the rarity of this type of tumor and the lack of uniform diagnostic criteria for the Mediastinal grey zone lymphomas. The recommended treatment for grey zone lymphomas is CHOP-like regimens [20,21]. The patient described in this report hence presents with features suggestive of grey zone lymphoma in an HIV positive patient. It remains to be seen whether such patients should be classified solely as grey zone lymphomas or whether they should be assigned to their own category.
4. CONCLUSION This was a case of HIV/AIDS-related EBVpositive grey zone lymphoma in an adult male from Kampala, Uganda. It was a malignant lymphoma with histological features and immunophenotype intermediate between mediastinal large B cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Use of immunohistochemistry in the classification of NHL is vital, without which the specific subtypes are very difficult to classify. CONSENT All authors declare that written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and its accompanying images.
ETHICAL ISSUES This case study was part of a larger study of the Mid- Region Aids and Cancer Specimen Resource and Sub Saharan Lymphoma Consortium (SSALC) Uganda study NIH Grant number U01 CA 06652. Ethical approval was sought from the Institutional Review Board protocol number REC REF 2009-093. Further written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
 COMPETING INTERESTS Authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

REFERENCES 1. Tumwine L, et al. B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas in Uganda: an immunohistochemical appraisal on tissue Tumwine et al.; IJMPCR, 2(5): 110-116, 2015; Article no.IJMPCR.2015.022 115 microarray. Hum Pathol, 2008;39(6):817- 823.
2. Swerdlow S, et al. WHO Classification of tumors of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, Lyon, France: IARC; 2008.
3. Wang L, et al. Grey zone lymphoma with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma: clinicopathologic characterisation of 16 cases showing different patterns. Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi. 2014;43(5):307-12.
 4. Garcia J, et al. Large B-cell lymphoma with Hodgkin features. Histopathology. 2005;47:101-110. 5. Hasserjian R, et al. Commentary on the WHO classification of tumors of lymphoid tissues (2008): "Gray zone" lymphomas overlapping with Burkitt lymphoma or classic Hodgkin lymphoma. J Hematopathol. 2009;2:89-95.
6. Ott M, et al. Grey zone lymphomas: limitations of the classification of aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Pathologe. 2013;34(3):225-32.
 7. Gualco G, Natkunam Y, Bacchi C. The spectrum of B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a description of 10 cases. Modern Pathology. 2012;25: 661-674.
 8. Wang E, Papavassiliou P, Sebastian S. A malignant lymphoma with histological features and immunophenotypic profile intermediate between EBV- positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and EBV- positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma in 67-year-old female: A gray zone lymphoma associated with Epstein- Barr virus in the elderly. Pathology- Research and Practice. 2012;208:363-367.
 9. Naresh KNRM, Ayers L, Hurwitz N, Calbi V, Rogena E, Sayed S, Sherman O, Ibrahim HA, Lazzi S, Mourmouras V, Rince P, Githanga J, Byakika B, Moshi E, Durosinmi M, Olasode BJ, Oluwasola OA, Akang EE, Akenòva Y, Adde M, Magrath I, Leoncini L. Lymphomas in sub-Saharan Africa - what can we learn and how can we help in improving diagnosis, managing patients and fostering translational research? Br J Haematol; 2011. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08772.x.
10. Quintanilla-Martinez L, et al. Gray zones around diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Conclusions based on the workshop of the XIV meeting of the European Association for Hematopathology and the Society of Hematopathology in Bordeaux, France. J Hematopathol. 2009;2(4):211-36.
 11. Jaffe ES. The 2008 WHO classification of lymphomas: implications for clinical practice and translational research. ASH Education Program Book. 2009;(1):523- 531.
12. Besson C, Raphaël M. Lymphoma genesis in the context of HIV infection. Ann Med Interne (Paris). 2003;154(8):523-28.
13. Carbone A, et al. HIV-associated lymphomas and gamma-herpes viruses. Blood. 2009;113(6):1213-1224.
14. Nakamura S, Jaffe E, Swerdlow S. EBV positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly. In Swerdlow SH, Campo E, Harris NL, et al. (Eds), in WHO Classification of Tumors of Haemapoietic and Lymphoid Tissue, IARC Press: Lyon. 2008;243-244.
15. Poppema S, et al. Report: workshop on mediastinal grey zone lymphoma. Eur J Haematol Suppl. 2005;66:45-52.
16. Barth T, et al. Mediastinal (thymic) large Bcell lymphoma: where do we stand? Lancet Oncol. 2002;3(4):229-34.
 17. Quintanilla-Martinez L, et al. Gray zones around diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Conclusions based on the workshop of the XIV meeting of the European Association for Hematopathology and the Society of Helatopathology in Bordeaux, France. J Hematopathol. 2009;2:211-236.
18. Bhattacharya P, Hodgkin lymphoma onHIV/AIDS patients when treated withcombined anti-retroviral therapy-furtherstudies are needed for understanding thepathogenesis of developing lymphoma.Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.2013;46(3):385-6.
 19. Parikh J, Strom T, Stone I. MYC Negative Rectal B-cell Lymphoma, Unclassifiable, with features Intermediate between Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma in an Incompetent Patient. Case Rep Pathol. 2013;302304.
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 20. Quintanilla- Martinez L, Fend F. Mediastinal grey zone lymphoma. Hematologica. 2011;96(4):496-9.
21. Dunleavy K, et al. Gray zone lymphoma: Better treated like Hodgkin Lymphoma or Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. Curr Hematol Malign Rep. 2012;7:241-247. _________________________________________________________________________________ © 2015 Tumwine et al.; This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Peer-review history: The peer review history for this paper can be accessed here: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history.php?iid=786&id=38&aid=6950 

A study to correlate histopathology, biochemical marker and immunohistochemical expression of sex-steroid receptors in prostatic growth

Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, Vol. 35, No. 1, January-March, 2014, pp. 40-43
Original Article

A study to correlate histopathology, biochemical marker and immunohistochemical expression of sex-steroid receptors in prostatic growth

Nirmal Kumar Bhattacharyya¹, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya², Soumya Kanti Kundu³, Anup Kumar Kundu⁴, Sukla Naskar⁵

¹ Department Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
² Department Pathology, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
³ Consultant in Nuclear Medicine, R.N. Tagore Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
⁴ Department of Urology, IPGMER and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
⁵ Department Pathology, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Correspondence Address:
Nirmal Kumar Bhattacharyya
Flat-4A, Shanti Apartment, 7/3, Motijheel Avenue, Kolkata - 700 074, West Bengal
India
drnbhattacharya@yahoo.co.in
[Please note here that Dr. Nirmal Kumar Bhattacharya and  Dr Soumya Kanti kundu  are Ghost authors or Fraud authors  in this article and  they had no connection with this work, neither they were related with this work ever .This work was MD(pathology) Thesis of West Bengal University  of Health Sciences (2007-2010) by Dr. Sukla Naskar  under Guidance of Professor Dr Pranab kumar Bhattacharya  then Additional Professor  Pathology IPGMER Kolkata  and Professor Dr Anup kundu Professor of Urology IPGMER----> Professor Dr Pranab kumar Bhattacharya]  

DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.133719

Abstract
Prostate gland is a fibromusculoglandular structure situated at the neck of urinary bladder. So, enlargement or growth of prostate due to nodular hyperplasia (NHP) or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) or adenocarcinoma may give rise to bladder outlet obstruction. Malignant growth i.e., PIN or adenocarcinoma cases are associated with increased blood level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and increased expression of different sex-steroid receptors because the growth is dependent on the interactions of androgen, progesterone and estrogen. The aim of our study is to correlate the histopathology, PSA levels and expression of different sex-steroid receptors by immunohistochemistry in different prostatic growth lesions. Among the total 50 cases received, inclusive of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy and radical prostatectomy, 34 cases were diagnosed as NHP, 4 cases as PIN and 12 cases as adenocarcinoma histopathologically. Serum PSA values above 10 ng/ml were seen in 2 cases of PIN and 11 cases of adenocarcinoma and none of NHP. Estrogen receptor (ER) () expressions were negative in all cases. Progesterone receptor (PR) expressions were strongly positive in 35% cases of both NHP and adenocarcinoma, whereas androgen receptor (AR) expressions were strong among all cases of adenocarcinoma and only in four cases of NHP. By observing these findings it can be suggested that antiandrogen and antiprogesterone therapy simultaneously will do better than antiandrogen alone in treating prostatic growth lesions.

Keywords: Androgen receptor, immunohistochemistry, progesterone receptor, prostatic growth, prostate-specific antigen

Introduction

Prostate is a fibromusculoglandular organ encircling the neck of the bladder and male urethra, weighing up to 20 g in normal adults. Anatomically, it has four distinct zones - peripheral, central, transitional and anterior fibromuscular stroma. Hyperplasia arises from the transitional zone and carcinoma from the peripheral zone. ^[1]
Prostatic enlargement or growth most commonly occurs due to nodular hyperplasia or due to neoplasia like adenocarcinoma of tubuloalveolar glands and also its precursor lesions - prostatic intraepithelial lesion (PIN). All these conditions arise in males after 50 years of age and are due to the effect of androgen released from testis. All these conditions cause bladder outlet obstruction giving rise to different clinical features like dysuria, retention of urine and eneuresis. Low-back pain due to vertebral metastasis is common in the late stage of prostatic carcinoma. This malignancy, though uncommon in Asian countries, the incidence is increasing in our country 1% every year. The incidence of PIN is even higher, approximately 70% above the 70 years of age. ^[2] To detect early this commonly occurring malignancy in men, screening tests are considered after the age of 40 years, which include digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and estimation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in serum. ^[3] PSA is secreted by luminal epithelial cells of prostatic glands. Serum PSA level above 4 ng/ml is noted in most cases of adenocarcinoma of prostate and if it is increased more than 0.15 per unit volume of prostate (PSA density), it is indicative of adenocarcinoma of prostate. ^[4]Androgen receptor (AR) also known as NR3C4 is a type of nuclear receptor which is activated by binding of either of the androgenic hormones. The ARs are closely related to progesterone receptor (PR) and progestins in higher dose can block the ARs.
AR remains important in the development and progression of prostatic carcinoma and AR expression is maintained throughout prostate carcinoma progression and the majority of androgen-independent or hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma express AR. ^[5] Estrogen receptor (ER) and estrogen are implicated in prostatic carcinogenesis and tumor progression. ^[6] The PRs are also nuclear receptors and progressive emergence of PRs during tumor progression obviously reflects the ability of metastatic and androgen-insensitive tumors to use estrogens through an ER-α-mediated pathway. So, antiestrogens and SERMs can suppress progression of prostatic carcinoma. ^[7]Here, our objective of this study was to correlate the histopathology of prostatic tissues resected due to different growth with PSA level in serum and expression of AR, ER and PR by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Materials and Methods

The study was done in the Departments of Pathology and Urology of IPGMER, Kolkata, during the period of July 2008 to August 2010. A total of 50 cases were collected which were diagnosed in Urology Dpt. as cases of prostatic growth. Among them, 35 were Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) specimens with clinicoradiological diagnosis of NHP, 05 were trasurethral ultrasonography-guided biopsy (TRUS-BX) specimens and remaining 10 specimens were of radical prostatectomy specimens with clinicoradiologic and biochemical markers favoring prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Gross details of sent specimens along with clinical, radiological and serum PSA level of all patients were noted. Hematoxylin and Eosin (HandE)-stained sections were prepared for routine histopathological evaluation to see nature of growth including Gleason scoring in cases of carcinoma. Poly-l-Lysine-coated slides were used for immunohistochemical staining for AR, ER and PR. The different reagents for IHC were provided by Biogenex including positive control. AR, ER, and PR expressions were assessed by ′Quick-Score′ as applied in breast tissue.
Statistical analysis was done by using STATISTICA data analysis software version 6.0 (Tulsa, Oklahoma; Statsoft, Inc., 2001) considering a ′P′ value below 0.05 as significant.

Results and Analysis

We studied total fifty (50) cases including TURP, TRUS-BX and specimens of radical prostatectomy of which 34 cases were diagnosed as NHP (68%), 4 cases as PIN (8%) and12 cases as prostatic adenocarcinoma (24%) as per routine histopathology [Figure - 1].{Figure 1}The mean age was 68.66 years. Among all only 7 patients were under 60 years, 22 were between 61 and 70 years, 17 were between 71 and 80 years and 4 patients were above 80 years of age. Among the 34 cases of NHP, 6 cases were under 60 years, whereas 3 cases were above 80 years. All cases of PIN were noted above 70 years of age. Among the carcinoma cases 7 cases were seen in between 71 and 80 years of age, 3 cases were between61 and 70 years, and one case each below 60 years and above 80 years.PSA values >10 ng/ml were noted in 11 cases of carcinoma and among which 7 cases had >100 ng/ml. Twenty-nine cases of NHP subjects had PSA values <4 ng/ml and rest 5 cases had PSA values within range between 4 and 10 ng/ml. In two cases of PIN, PSA were between 4 and10 ng/ml and other two cases had PSA values within range between 11 and 99 ng/ml [Table - 1]. Higher PSA values ranging between 55.6and 1011.3 were observed in nine cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma with a high Gleason score between 8 and 10, whereas it was in the range of 12.13-57 in cases with score 7 (2 cases) and one case with score 6 had PSA value 8.2 [Table - 2].
ER expressions analyzed by immunostaining were negative in all cases. PR expression was strongly positive in 10 cases of NHP, 1 case of PIN and 4 cases of Prostatic adenocarcinoma. The remaining cases were negative [Figure - 2].{Figure 2}AR expression was strongly positive in 4 cases of NHP, 2 cases of PIN and all 12 cases of adenocarcinoma. It was weakly positive in 30 cases of NHP and 2 cases of PIN. None was negative [Table - 3] and[Figure - 3].{Figure 3}

Discussion

In this study, it was found that all the patients of prostatic growth were in the older age group.
The mean age was 68.66 years. No significant age difference was detected between benign and malignant cases. Men et al. found similar age distribution. They found the mean age to be 64.67 years for prostatic growth lesions. ^[8]NHP is the most common finding in routine histopathological examination followed by prostatic adenocarcinoma and PIN, respectively, the results corroborating the results of Men et al.
A majority of NHP cases had normal serum PSA values. Only three cases had the values falling in the grey zone. Two cases had significantly raised PSA values, whereas 50% of PIN cases had PSA values falling in the grey zone. Among the 11 cases of carcinoma with raised PSA, 7 cases had it >100 ng/ml. Mean PSA was significantly higher in carcinoma than that of NHP and PIN. Serum PSA values were much higher in carcinoma than that of NHP with P value 0.00001, which is also corroborated by the results of study by Aboseif et al. ^[9]
In our study, 75% of the adenocarcinoma cases showed higher Gleason scoring between 8 and 10. This finding is identical to the study results of Humprey. ^[10]
So, in our study, higher serum PSA was seen in cases with higher Gleason score showing a positive correlation.ER expression in prostate tissues was negative in all cases of NHP, PIN and prostate carcinoma. These IHC results were identical to that of other studies such as Wernert ^[11] and Kang et al. ^[12] Wernert et al. found the ER and PR were demonstrated by IHC in nuclei of periglandular fibrocytes and smooth muscle cells and hyperplatic basal cells, but glandular secretory epithelium were negative and thus in prostatic carcinoma cases in their study ER and PR were negative. They concluded that estrogens might contribute to NHP by triggering stromal proliferation with a secondary inductive epithelial growth. Obviously, they do not act directly on prostatic carcinoma but inhibit growth via the hypophyseal-testicular axis. The biologic significance of the PR in prostatic carcinoma is unknown. The PR expressions of carcinoma cells and stromal cells in prostatic carcinoma were found in 93.3% and 76.7%, respectively. The PR were immunoreactive in stromal cells around carcinoma cells, as demonstrated in studies done by Kang et al., ^[12] Hiramatsu ^[13] and Bonkhoff et al. ^[14]In our study, 82.35% of NHP cases showed PR expression (including weak expression also), whereas 41.67% of carcinoma cases showed PR expression. In Fisher′s exact test (two-tailed), a P value was 0.021 between NHP and carcinoma cases, which is statistically significant.
All the prostatic growth lesions in our study were positive for AR expression with varying staining intensity. Only 11.78% of NHP cases, 50% of PIN cases and 100% of carcinoma cases showed strongly positive AR expression. So, prostatic carcinoma cases showed highest content of AR among other prostatic lesions. It is statistically significant (P value < 0.0001) between carcinoma and NHP. Our study showed identical result of AR expression in prostatic lesions to the studies done by Qui Yi-Q et al. ^[15] and Brolin et al. ^[16] Qui-Yi-Q et al. had done a study to evaluate AR expression in clinically localized prostatic carcinoma. AR immunoreactivity is almost exclusively nuclear and was observed in tumor cells, non-neoplastic glandular epithelial cells and a proportion of peritumoral stromal cells. Mean percentages of AR-positive cells were significantly higher in cancer tissues compared to that in normal prostatic tissues (P < 0.001). A comparison with Gleason score yielded similar correlation. Brolin et al.analyzed AR, PR and ER contents in cytosol and salt-extractable nuclear subcompartments from 6 normal, 39 NHP and 7 malignant prostatic tissue specimens using the radioligand-binding assay technique. The highest content was found in the cytosol and nucleic acid from malignant prostatic tissues.

Conclusion

From this study, we observed that among our patients with a mean age of 68.66 years whose specimens of prostate were sent from urology department to our pathology department for the histopathological study, NHP cases were most common and PIN were least common. Serum PSA was within normal limits in NHP cases, but higher in prostatic carcinoma cases and also more in higher Gleason score and grey-zone in PIN cases. Sex-steroid receptor status as seen by IHC was divergent in different types of prostatic growth lesions. PR was positive in most cases of NHP and almost half of carcinoma cases. All lesions showed positive staining of AR with highest expression in carcinoma cases. But, all cases were ER negative. With these findings, antiandrogen and antiprogesterone therapy may be indicated in the treatment of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

References

1.	Jonathan I. Epstein- the lower urinary tract and male genital system, In: Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, Editors, Robbins and Cotran Pathologic basis of disease, 7 th ed, Chapter 21, Saunders: Elsevier; reprint 2006. p.1047,48,50,55.  Back to cited text no. 1
2.	Yeole BB, Jussawalla DJ. Descriptive epidemiology of the cancers of male genital organs in greater Bombay. Indian J Cancer 1997;34:30-9.   Back to cited text no. 2  [PUBMED]
3.	Rosai J, Ackerman. Male reproductive system, prostate and seminal vesicles. In: Rosai J, Ackerman, Editors. Rosai and Ackerman's surgical pathology, 9 th ed, Vol. 1, Chapter 18, New Delhi: Mosby, Elsevier; reprint 2005. p. 1361-62,1369.  Back to cited text no. 3
4.	Chakrabarti S, Raha K, Bhunia CL, Bhattachary DK. Department of Pathology, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Siliguri, The usefulness of prostate specific antigen density as a screening method for prostatic carcinoma. J Indian Med Assoc 2001;99:627-8, 630.  Back to cited text no. 4
5.	Androgen receptor, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 22 September, 2010.  Back to cited text no. 5
6.	Bonkhoff H, Fixemer T, Hunsicker I, Remberger K. Estrogen receptor expression in prostate cancer and premalignant prostatic lesions. Am J Pathol 1999;155:641-7.   Back to cited text no. 6
7.	Progesteron receptor, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 18 September, 2010.  Back to cited text no. 7
8.	Men S, Cakar B, Conkbayir I, Hekimoglu B. Detection of prostatic carcinoma: The role of TRUS, TRUS guided biopsy, digital rectal examination, PSA and PSA density. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2001;20:473-80.  Back to cited text no. 8
9.	Aboseif S, Shinohara K, Weidner N, Narayan P, Carroll PR. The significance of prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia. Br J Urol 1995;76:355-9.   Back to cited text no. 9
10.	Humphrey PA. Gleason grading and prognostic factors in carcinoma of the prostate. Mod Pathol 2004;17:292-306.  Back to cited text no. 10  [PUBMED]
11.	Wernert N, Gerdes J, Loy V, Seitz G, Scherr O, Dhom G. Investigations of the estrogen (ER-ICA-test) and the progesterone receptor in the prostate and prostatic carcinoma on immunohistochemical basis. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 1988:412:387-91.  Back to cited text no. 11
12.	Kang MS, Park SY, Yoon HK. Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expressions in Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy and Prostatic Adenocarcinoma. Korean J Pathol 1998;32:346-51.  Back to cited text no. 12
13.	Hiramatsu M, Maehara I, Orikasa S, Sasano H. Immunolocalization of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in prostatic hyperplasia and carcinoma. Histopathology 1996;28:163-8.  Back to cited text no. 13
14.	Bonkhoff H, Fixemer T, Hunsicker I, Remberger K. Progesterone receptor expression in human prostate cancer: Correlation with tumor progression. Prostate 2001;48:285-91.  Back to cited text no. 14
15.	Qiu YQ, Leuschner I, Braun PM. Androgen receptor expression in clinically localized prostate cancer: Immunohistochemistry study and literature review. Asian J Androl 2008;10:855-63.  Back to cited text no. 15
16.	Brolin J, Andersson L, Ekman P. Steroid receptor profile and receptor stability in subfractions of human prostatic tissues, Urol Res 1991;19:327-31.  Back to cited text no. 16

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Payton Yerke Professor Christensen English 2010 21 October 2014 about Near Death Experience

BY

Payton Yerke

Professor Christensen

English 2010    of Southern Utah University

21 October 2014

 The Science of Ghosts and the Essence of the Human Soul Ghosts and the sense of an afterlife have enthralled our imagination, media, and religions for centuries. In a recent poll, it was found that 45% of all Americans believe ghosts to be real (Gayomali). In a separate poll, 22% reported sensing a ghostly presence or experiencing an apparition (McDonald). As a young teenager, I remember going out on late night ghost-hunting trips with the latest teenage-ghost-hunting equipment: a camera phone to record what we saw. Most of the time we never saw anything at the reportedly haunted locations we visited, but there were also the rare occasions where unexplained shadows, movements or, even, figures occurred. With so much reported phenomena, can the existence of poltergeists be supported or proven scientifically or is it merely an illusion born of religious faith? Religion contributes significantly to the belief in the human soul and ghosts. For those of Christian-based faiths, a common belief is that eternal life will be awarded to the faithful. With such views, death is seen, not as a termination, but as a transformation from their corporal selves to an eternal being that will then go to Heaven and return to God or their Creator. This conviction of the essence of a human soul is essential to support the tantalizing idea of everlasting life after death (Handley). Religious beliefs in the afterlife have prompted the scientific investigation to determine whether we, as humans, possess a soul and if the soul continues to live after our mortal death. A study was conducted by Robert Schoch, the Associate Professor of Natural Science at Boston  University, on the near-death experiences and the correlation between geomagnetic waves on brain waves. The study resulted in the theory of crisis apparitions, which occur when an individual sees the ghost of a faraway relative moments before the individual dies. In regards to the study, Schoch explained, “Some people will dismiss this as coincidence, but there have been, in my assessment, very good statistical studies of such things that take it out of the realm of coincidence” (McDonald). Further studies regarding the existence of a human soul have been conducted. One such experiment done by Dr. Duncan MacDougall in 1907 studied the weight fluctuations during the death process. Six terminally ill patients were observed before, during, and after the death process. They were placed on a bed that would record the patients’ weight, sensitive to two tenths of an ounce. In detailed, written accounts of his study, MacDougall explained that, with every patient, the rate of weight-loss, due to perspiration, evaporation of moisture and moisture of respiration, during the death-process was calculated. At the exact moment of death for each patient, there was a sudden loss of weight of approximately 21 ounces. Further investigation of this sudden weight loss found that the bowels did not move, no urination occurred and the loss of air in the lungs did not affect the patients’ weight. MacDougall concluded that the loss of weight was not a product of physiological attributes, rather from spiritual. He theorized that the loss of weight is a result of the human soul leaving the body (MacDougall). Another experiment investigating the correlation of the human soul and near death experiences (NDEs) was conducted by Kumar Pranab Bhattacharya in 2013. According to Bhattacharya, an NDE refers to a broad range of experiences of people associated with impending death. However, somehow these people managed to be revived back to life. Cases of NDEs are often reported after people have been pronounced clinically dead or close to death. These reported experiences include a review of one's life, an out-of-body experience or astral projection, visions of themselves passing through a dark tunnel, seeing a bright light, seeing and talking to God, seeing foreign lands, seeing dead relatives, or seeing the future. To further support these reports, most people who underwent a NDE, even people who are non-religious, reported substantially decreased fear of death and an increased acceptance of an afterlife and reincarnation (by Bhattacharya). Many skeptics challenged the results found by Bhattacharya pranab kumar. The major controversy occurred when other chemical factors were found that produced experiences similar to that of NDE. Chemicals such as Ketamine, Phencyclidine, LSD, pilocarpine, andmescaline( Bhattacharya Pranab kumar) induce experiences that consist of unconsciousness, out-of-body experiences, and occurrence of a bright light. Nonetheless, these experiences are not identical to NDE in that they are characterized by fragmented and random memories rather than a recollection of one’s entire life. They also lack the decreased fear of death that individuals who experienced an NDE obtained (Bhattacharya pranab kumar ). The presence of near death experiences and the faith in a human soul evokes the mystery of life after death. Like Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews believe in spirits. However, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews believe that the spirits of the dead can attach themselves to places, people, possessions or pleasures that cause the individual to be in spiritual limbo. These spirits are seen as suffering people that need help moving on to the afterlife. Buddhism teaches methods on how to free ghosts from earthly bondage by directing them toward the golden light. These religions also believe that spirits of deceased individuals can attach and possess the bodies of the living in order to influence the host. As a result, Judaism teaches rituals of ghost exorcism that both heals the ghost and the host. Although the West is highly influenced by the Christian belief,  the idea of ghosts walking among us, haunting a location, or possessing the living endures throughout the generations and has both frightened and fascinated us (Handley). Ghost stories have endured throughout the centuries. The first reported poltergeist experience dates back to Pliny the Younger in the first century A.D. in Athens, Greece. He described his poltergeist experience in a letter to Licinius Sura: There was at Athens a large and roomy house, which had a bad name, so that no one could live there. In the dead of the night a noise, resembling the clashing of iron, was frequently heard, which, if you listened more attentively, sounded like the rattling of chains, distant at first, but approaching nearer by degrees: immediately afterwards a spectre appeared in the form of an old man, of extremely emaciated and squalid appearance, with a long beard and disheveled, hair, rattling the chains on his feet and hands (Younger). The existence of earthbound spirits, or ghosts, has been questioned and studied upon multiple accounts. In an interview with ghost expert, Michael Lopez Sr., he explained that the human body is composed of energy. As humans, we all give off different types of energy, or auras. The energy within us can be measured on a spectrum of high to low. Bad spirits and demons give off low energy levels, while good spirits give off high energy that the living can physically feel. Some people, including himself, are more sensitive to energy and can sense or even see and converse with spirits. He gave detailed experiences where, as a child, he would ask spirits for a ride on his sister’s bed. In response, the bed would begin to shake and move around the room. He theorized that the spirits were able to accomplish this action because they were composed of energy and had the ability to manipulate the energy around them (Lopez).  Most theories involving ghosts as beings of energy claim that the transition between the mortal and spiritual worlds are in relevance to Einstein’s Law of Conservation of Energy. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant over time. For an isolated system, this law means that energy can change its location within the system and change its form within the system, but that energy can be neither created nor destroyed. The human body generates enough electricity to sustain a small flashlight. If energy cannot be destroyed, rather it can be transformed, then what happens to the electricity in the human body after death? Ghost researcher and notable author, John Kachuba, wrote: Einstein proved that all the energy of the universe is constant and that it can neither be created nor destroyed. ... So what happens to that energy when we die? If it cannot be destroyed, it must then, according to Dr. Einstein, be transformed into another form of energy. What is that new energy? ... Could we call that new creation a ghost (Kachuba)? Skeptics dismiss John Kachuba’s theory of the Law of Conservation of Energy as a false explanation of ghosts, claiming that after death the energy of the body passes through an ecosystem via photosynthesis and the consumption of organisms. When the human body is deceased, it begins to decompose and the energy stored within the body is lost to heat or is consumed by microorganisms and other organisms. Though Kachuba uses the language of science to support his theories, he lacks the understanding of energy processes, scientific experimentation, and data to support his ideas. In a sense, Kachuba is attempting to use science to explain phenomenon that exist beyond the realm of normal science. While Kachuba tried to use science to justify his spiritual beliefs, real scientists have used new technology to discredit many reports of haunting and poltergeist experiences. In a careful  case study, William Holland Wilmer examined the past documentation of a haunting witnessed by the “H” family after they moved into an old, large and gloomy house that was presumable haunted in 1912. Mrs. H kept a journal of the odd happenings within the house. She described pots and pans that crashed seemingly on their own, strange voices calling out the names of Mrs. H and her children, and footsteps that could be heard throughout the hallways. She also described feeling presences and seeing dark figures. She wrote, “On one occasion, in the middle of the morning, as I passed from the drawing room into the dining room, I was surprised to see at the further end of the dining room, coming towards me, a strange woman, dark haired and dressed in black.” In another account, she wrote, "It had always been Mr. H’s habit at night before going to bed to sit in the dining room and eat some fruit. In this house when seated at night at the table with his back to the hall, he invariably felt as if someone was behind him, watching him. He therefore turned his chair, to be able to watch what was going on in the hall.” Over time, the inhabitants of the household grew extremely tired, depressed, and sluggish. They all developed colds and headaches that couldn’t be relieved. After a while, all the plants within the house withered and died (Wilmer). After investigating the house, Wilmer found an odd culprit behind the presumed haunting; it was carbon monoxide poisoning. He found that the furnace was leaking the odorless gas through the chimney, thus causing oxygen deprivation. The deprivation of oxygen was causing the illnesses and hallucinations witnessed by the “H” family (Wilmer). Other surprising factors have also led to the perception of paranormal activity. Stimulation of the Angular gyrus within the brain creates similar experiences that are often reported as paranormal. Excessively stimulating the Angular gyrus results in the perception and hallucination of shadowy figures. In a study done by Michael Persinger Spain, he utilized a  helmet that emitted electrodes into the brain to directly stimulate the Angular gyrus in order to induce the presence of angels and demons. Eighty percent of all the participants reported seeing a shadowy figure standing beside them in the experimentation room. Furthermore, the location and presence of the figure could be directly controlled by the currents of the electrodes emitted from the helmet and the location at which they stimulated the Angular gyrus (Green). How the brain reacts to energy waves and electrical impulses plays a key role in reported hauntings. In a published encounter, Vic Tandy, from the School of International Studies and at Law Coventry University, was working in his classroom medical lab in 1998. Ghostly encounters began to be reported from both the staff and students. A custodial lady even resigned after witnessing a paranormal apparition. Many of the students, and Tandy himself, reported seeing a dark figure out of the corner of their eye watching them. However, whenever someone turned to face the figure, it had vanished. One day, Tandy brought a fencing sword into the laboratory. As he entered, he noticed that the free end of the blade was frantically vibrating up and down. The vibrations were varying in intensity at a rate equal to the resonant frequency of the blade, which is a characteristic identical to that of energy emitted by sound waves at a low frequency, otherwise known as infra sound waves (Tandy and Lawrence). Infra sound waves usually can’t be perceived by human ears because they vibrate 1 to 20 vibrations per second, which is too low for the human range of hearing. However, humans can sense the presence of infra sound waves. Encountering infra sound waves can cause nausea, anxiety, and chills. It can also trigger the brain to slightly vibrate the eyeballs, which can make the victim experience hallucinations, such as shadowy figures (Tandy and Lawrence). Further investigation into the source of the infra sound waves established that the vibrations got bigger as the blade was moved towards the middle of the room and the amplitude  of the vibrations greatly reduced or stopped altogether as the sword got closer to the walls of the room. The culprit behind the infra sound waves was a newly-installed fan, with a frequency of 18.98 hertz. The sound waves originating from the fan resonated around the room and bounced off the walls which caused it to collide with itself, creating a strong standing wave in the middle of the laboratory (Tandy and Lawrence). Other researchers used Tandy’s scientific findings to discredit other reported hauntings. However, these researchers have not succeeded in tracing all reported encounters with the supernatural back to psychological mis perceptions. Tandy’s discovery of environmental factors contributing to poltergeist events prompted Richard Wiseman to investigate, through multiple experiments, other environmental factors resulting in the perception of a presence or paranormal encounter. One such experiment conducted by Wiseman involved South Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland. South Bridge was constructed in the late eighteen century. For a public service, a series of rooms and corridors were built under the bridge to house the poor and homeless. Due to overpopulation, these vaults became disease-ridden and abandoned in the late nineteenth century. In 1997, the vaults were reopened and became an attraction for public tours. Not long after the reopening of the faults, tourist began to report feeling presences, unusual footsteps, and the appearance of spirits in some of the rooms. Wiseman designed an experiment to see if people who were not familiar with the reputations of each of the rooms would sense anything unusual with them (R. Wiseman, C. Watt and P. Stevens). In a four day trial, volunteers toured the vaults and recorded any unusual experiences of phenomenon they experienced. Architecture, lighting levels, air movement, temperature, and magnetic field levels were also prerecorded. When the final data was examined, the volunteers were consistent with rating certain rooms as more haunted than others. This data also correlated  with past records of haunting reports kept by the tour company. However, when the environmental factors of all the rooms deemed as haunted were taken into account, the volunteers were more likely to have reported unusual experiences in rooms with high ceilings, high levels of exterior lighting directly outside the vault, and high magnetic field levels. Wiseman concluded that people report more haunted experiences because they feel more vulnerable in a room with a high ceiling and when they walk from a well-lighted area to a darker room. Furthermore, the strong magnetic waves found in all the reportedly haunted rooms stimulates the Angular gyrus, creating a feeling of anxiety and fear (R. Wiseman, C. Watt and P. Stevens). In another experiment conducted by Richard Wiseman, he investigated the correlation between reported hauntings and the belief in ghosts. His experiment took place in Hampton Court Palace, one of the most reportedly haunted places in England. His experiment was meant to discover the extent that belief in ghosts, suggestion, and magnetic fields accounted for the alleged hauntings. Over 600 participants took part of the experiment, and each participant was given a questionnaire that measured their belief in ghosts, past unusual experiences and whether they believed ghosts were the underlying reason behind the unusual experience. After reporting all the occurrences of unusual happenings while in Hampton Court, Wiseman concluded that participants who had previous beliefs of the paranormal reported experiencing more frequent anomalous activities and were more likely to attribute them to a spiritual presence (R. Wiseman, C. Watt and E. Greening). In the second portion of the experiment, half of the participants were told prior to entering Hampton Court that it was historically associated with hauntings and other paranormal activity. The second half of the study group wasn’t told anything about the area’s history before  entering. The relationship between suggestion and the reported results of paranormal activity was significant. Also, results supported the association between reported poltergeist and magnetic waves (R. Wiseman, C. Watt and E. Greening). Psychological advancement and understanding has explained many physiological effects that correspond with a spiritual encounter. Oftentimes, the encounter with a threatening spirit is reportedly characterized by a sense of awaking from a sleep with bodily paralysis. Imagine trying to move or scream but, regardless the struggle, the body won’t respond. In addition, many reported experiences described feeling crushed by an invisible presence. During these experiences, many reports of unnerving blurry figures, whispers, and footsteps occurred. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “ghost press” in the Chinese culture. However, further investigation behind the psychological aspects of ghost press presented a new understanding of this spooky occurrence. Rather than a poltergeist experience, ghost press is simply sleep paralysis. Dr. Priyanka Yadav of the Somerset Medical Sleep for Life Center in New Jersey explains that the phenomenon occurs when there's a disconnect between the mind and body as people enter or exit REM sleep. In a sense, it is equivalent to dreaming while awake. "It seems like you're paralyzed, which naturally occurs when you're sleeping, but this somehow happens while you're awake. It can last from a few seconds to a minute or two and is often associated with hypnagogic hallucinations, things you might see when trying to fall asleep or hypnopompic hallucinations, things you see when you're trying to wake up." To further support this theory, 79% of ghost press occurrences were reported between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., the most common time-frame that the human brain causes hallucinations (Gayomali). In conclusion, both believers and skeptics approach the human soul and the existence of an afterlife, whether on Earth as a ghost or in some other realm, as a metaphysical idea that is  difficult to verify with concrete scientific evidence. Believers regard the soul as the essence of our consciousness; skeptics regard it as an illusion. Scientists have yet to prove or disprove its existence. Scientists have explained some supposed spiritual encounters as illusions caused by biochemical disruptions. Still, they have not yet fully explained other reports, particularly those of near death experiences. Skeptics still discredit those reports saying they are from individuals drawing on hope and religion, not science. But when will science disprove hope or religion? When exploring the realm of the metaphysical, we find the door to faith is always open.     

 by 

Payton YerkeProfessor ChristensenEnglish 201021 October 2014         

                                                 

http://suu.edu/hss/english/scriblerian/fall14/pdf/2010-argumentative-2nd-payton-yerke.pdf

                                                Works Cited

 1] Bhattacharya, Pranab Kumar. "Is there science behind the near‐deathexperience: Does human consciousness survives after death?" Annals ofTropical Medicine & Public Health (2013): 151‐ 165. Academic SearchPremier. 21 October 2014. 

2] Gayomali, Chris. "4 possible scientific explanations for ghosts." The Week 25 October 2013. Web. Green, Laci. Do Ghosts Exist? Exploring the Paranormal 2013. Web.

3] Handley, Sasha. Visions of an Unseen World: Ghost Beliefs and Ghost Stories in Eighteenth‐Century England. London: Brookfield, 2007. Print. 

4] Kachuba, John. Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World. New Page Books, 2007. Print.

5 Lopez, Michael I. Interview. Payton Yerke. 18 October 2014. 

6] MacDougall, Duncan. "Hypothesis Concerning Soul Substance." American Medicine 2 (1907): 395‐397. Web. McDonald, Glenn. "Ghost Stories: The Science Behind Sightings." 29 October 2013. Web.

7]  Tandy, Vic and Tony R. Lawrence. "The Ghost in the Machine." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 62.851 (1998). Web. 1 November 2014. Wilmer, William Holland. American Journal of Ophthalmology 17.6 (1934): 522–523. Web. 29 October 2014. 

8] Wiseman, R, et al. "An investigation into the alleged haunting of Hampton Court Palace : Psychological variables and magnetic fields." Journal of Parapsychology 66.4 (2002): 387‐408. Web.Yerke 13 

9] Wiseman, Richard, et al. "An investigation into aleged ‘hauntings’." British Journal of Psychology 94 (2003): 195–211. 30 October 2014. 

10] Younger, Pliny the. Pliny the Younger (A.D. 62?–c.A.D. 113). Letters. 27 March 2013. Web. 21 October 2014.

                                                           Bibliography 

Houran, James and Rense Lange. "Searching for an Optimal Level of Transliminality in Relation to Putative PSI." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research (2009): 92-102. Academic Search Premier. 

Radford, Benjamin. Do Einstein's Laws Prove Ghosts Exist? 9 November 2011. Web. 19 September 2014. 

The Museum of Unnatural Mystery. The Science of Ghosts and Hauntings. 2009. Web. 28 September 2014. 

What are Ghosts Really? 5 Paranormal Theories. 28 July 2014. Web. 28 September 2014. Wilson, Tracy V. How Ghosts Work. 27 October 2006. Web. 28 September 2014.

Invitation to Professor(Dr) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya to attain as "Delegate" at 2015 Nobel peace Prize Forum To join International Peace Building Community

Subject:	Invitation to the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum
From:	Nobel Peace Prize Forum (info@nobelpeaceprizeforum.org)
To:	profpkb@yahoo.co.in;
Date:	Thursday, 8 January 2015 10:22 PM

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AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEBUILDING COMMUNITY AT THE 2015 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM March 6-8 2015 Radisson Blu Downtown Minneapolis [MAP] Dear Professor(Dr.)Bhattacharya We are pleased to invite you to attend, as a delegate, in the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum – which will concentrate on issues related to sustainable and inclusive peacemaking and peace building. It will feature the works of 2013 Nobel Laureate, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and Former United States President and Nobel Laureate Jimmy Carter and his latest book: “A Call to Act: Women, Religion, Violence and Power”. The Forum will also address critical issues of our time, featuring talks by courageous peacemakers, world leaders, and influential thinkers including Monica McWilliams,Steven Pinker, Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye. Each day,Honarable delegates will have the opportunity to participate in dialogue sessions led by international mediation and peace building experts involved with the United Nations and others in situations such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, and the Central African Republic. There will also be sessions dedicated to issues such as Ebola, gun violence in the United States, disarmament, chemical weapons control, sustainable food , food security, climate change, social entrepreneurship, women, peace and security and more. On Saturday evening March 7th, the Forum will be screening the award winning documentary Food Chains, followed by a conversation with the film’s producers by delegates. A delegate’s dinner and conversation focused on sustainable food will also be offered as an option in advance of the documentary screening. The screening is included with Saturday's delegate ticket.  Tickets to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum are limited and will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. We look forward to you joining us at this important international peacebuilding opportunity!  NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Under the auspices of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum inspires peacemaking by focusing on the work of Nobel Peace Prize winners and important international peacemakers and peacebuilders. BUY DELEGATE TICKETS Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google+

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