#Combination therapies

[drforambhuta]

Combination Therapy Options:

1. Pairing Chemotherapy with Targeted Therapy: Conventional chemotherapy drugs disrupt cell division, which effectively kills rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, they can also harm healthy tissues due to their broad action. In contrast, targeted therapies specifically block molecular pathways driving cancer growth, minimizing harm to normal cells. Combining both types of treatment allows clinicians to capitalize on chemotherapy's cytotoxic effects while leveraging targeted therapy's specificity, enhancing treatment efficacy while reducing toxicity.

2. Merging Immunotherapy with Targeted Therapy: Immunotherapy revolutionizes cancer treatment by engaging the body's immune system to recognize and eradicate cancer cells. Yet, not all patients respond, and resistance can develop. To address this, researchers are investigating combining immunotherapy with targeted agents that modulate immune checkpoints or other immunomodulatory pathways. This dual approach activates the immune system while thwarting cancer cells' evasion tactics, showing promise in boosting anti-tumor immune responses and improving patient outcomes.

3. Uniting Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy: Combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy presents another avenue in cancer treatment. Chemotherapy-induced cell death can release tumor antigens, stimulating immune responses and rendering cancer cells more vulnerable to immune recognition and destruction. Certain chemotherapy agents, like platinum-based drugs, also enhance immune checkpoint inhibitors' activity. This combined approach holds potential for synergistic effects across various cancer types, potentially improving treatment responses.

4. Integrating Radiotherapy with Immunotherapy: Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, directly killing cancer cells and inducing DNA damage. However, it can also suppress the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. To counter this, researchers explore combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors. This strategy aims to enhance immune-mediated cancer cell destruction while mitigating radiation-induced immunosuppression, leading to better treatment outcomes.

Regular health checkups can help in the early diagnosis of cancer and also help the doctor evaluate the best possible treatment for a particular patient based on the extent of cancer present and the health condition of the patient. There are many good hospitals in Mumbai that offer health checkup packages for cancer screening followed by appropriate cancer treatment, such as a full body health checkup at Jaslok Hospital Mumbai.

[wellhealthhub]

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[freeinfo1]

New Target Identified to Prevent Blood Cancer: Groundbreaking Research in Translational Medicine

New Target Identified to Prevent Blood Cancer: Groundbreaking Research in Translational Medicine

Yet again translational medication has gained amazing headway in the battle against blood malignant growth. A new report by a group of regarded specialists has distinguished another objective that might hold the way to forestalling blood malignant growth. The pivotal discoveries of this study can possibly alter the area of oncology and open new roads for the improvement of successful medicines for blood problems.

Grasping Blood Malignant growth

Blood disease, otherwise called hematological danger, is a sort of malignant growth that begins in the phones of the blood and bone marrow. It incorporates different sorts, including leukemia, lymphoma, and various myeloma, which can devastatingly affect the body's capacity to create sound platelets and battle contaminations. Blood malignant growth influences a large number of individuals overall and postures critical difficulties to the two patients and medical services suppliers.

Distinguishing Another Objective: A Unique advantage in Blood Disease Exploration

The new review distributed in a main clinical diary has distinguished a clever objective that can possibly forestall blood disease. The examination group, drove by famous researchers in the field of translational medication, used state of the art methods and directed careful tests to uncover this pivotal revelation.

As per the review, the recently distinguished target is a particular protein that assumes a urgent part in the turn of events and movement of blood disease. This protein, which was already obscure with regards to blood disease research, has been viewed as profoundly communicated in disease cells and is engaged with advancing cancer development and endurance. The discoveries of this study have revealed new insight into the sub-atomic systems hidden blood malignant growth and have opened up intriguing opportunities for the improvement of designated treatments.

Suggestions for Blood Disease Treatment

The distinguishing proof of this new objective has huge ramifications for the therapy of blood malignant growth. The review discoveries propose that by focusing on this protein, it could be feasible to restrain the development and endurance of disease cells, accordingly forestalling the movement of blood malignant growth. This addresses a pivotal methodology that might actually reform the area of oncology and change how blood malignant growth is made due.

The analysts accept that this revelation could prepare for the advancement of novel treatments that explicitly focus on this protein, prompting more powerful and less poisonous therapies for blood malignant growth patients. The expected advantages of such designated treatments are enormous, as they could essentially work on the anticipation and personal satisfaction for patients fighting blood malignant growth.

Future Bearings and Effects on Accuracy Medication

The distinguishing proof of this new objective has extensive ramifications for the field of accuracy medication, which plans to convey customized and designated treatments in view of a singular's novel hereditary cosmetics and illness attributes. The revelation of this original objective might actually act as a diagram for the improvement of accuracy medication approaches in blood malignant growth treatment.

With additional examination and approval, this recently distinguished target could make ready for the advancement of inventive helpful procedures that outfit the force of accuracy medication to forestall blood disease. This might actually change the scene of blood malignant growth treatment and proposition new desire to patients who are battling with this staggering infection.

The Significance of Blood Malignant growth Exploration

Blood malignant growth is a complicated and testing illness that requires consistent examination and development to work on quiet results. Throughout the long term, broad examination endeavors have been devoted to figuring out the basic systems of blood disease and creating powerful medicines. The new disclosure of another objective in blood malignant growth research can possibly alter the field and achieve critical headways in the counteraction and treatment of this staggering illness.

Divulging the New Objective: Protein X

The notable review recognized a formerly obscure protein, we should refer to it as "Protein X", that has been viewed as profoundly communicated in blood disease cells. Protein X is accepted to assume a crucial part in the turn of events and movement of blood disease, going about as a vital controller of cancer development and endurance. Through careful trial and error and high level procedures, the examination group had the option to uncover the essential job of Protein X in blood malignant growth pathogenesis.

Sub-atomic Systems of Protein X in Blood Disease

Further examination uncovered that Protein X interfaces with different flagging pathways and sub-atomic pathways that are basic for the endurance and multiplication of blood malignant growth cells. Protein X is accepted to advance the development and endurance of disease cells by enacting specific flagging fountains and repressing others, prompting uncontrolled cell development and avoidance of modified cell passing.

Besides, the review discoveries recommend that Protein X may likewise assume a part in the improvement of medication obstruction in blood malignant growth cells, further convoluting the administration of this illness. The mind boggling sub-atomic components through which Protein X works in blood malignant growth cells are as yet being effectively explored, with progressing endeavors to disentangle its careful capabilities and connections.

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[tiredqueermushroom]

Dorian saying that he feels unimportant and always has really put into perspective a lot of his behaviours. In early exu, he constantly differed to Orym, not just because he trusted him but because he felt as if his own opinion didn't matter enough to stand on their own. This continues into early campaign 3, too. Also, shout out to Robbie for making Dorian appear physically smaller and voice smaller when admitting how unimportant he has felt that was painful.

[emergingghost]

I WATCHED YOU FALL FROM GRACE YOU WERE GRACEFUL. AFTER ALL ITS A SMALL WORLD. YOU MAY NOT BE AN ANGEL BUT YOU ARE MY GIRL. YOU ARE MY PACK A DAY YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE PLACE YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND BEFORE YOU WERE MY BEST GUESS AT THE FUTURE

[curioscurio]

Just started generic vyvanse and wow. No wonder it changed lives. They say it lasts more than 4 to 6 hours and then it DOES? Most adhd meds I've tried will wear off in 4 or 5 hours, so I'd often have to take another dose later in the day, but this shit keeps me going for a good 10-13 hours!

(This is just my experience! I'm just a guy I'm not a doctor disclaimer so uh don't take my word as law lol)

[bakijak]

"Get on the bed," Yunli demands. "I'm going to practice on you. Your muscles need loosening." "That is the most sexual thing you've ever said to me." Yanqing shudders even as he lays down on the sofa instead. "Never do that again."

First year doctoral student Yunli and second year master's student Yanqing are still living together in the same apartment. The struggles are a little different now.

this is actually how I start writing fics I come up with the summary and then everything else follows and then I go back and edit the summary

[canisalbus]

What?? Why on Earth would they bloodlet Machete when he's already anemic?

Anemia wasn't discovered until 1852, so his physicians have no idea. He's just moody and achy and visibly unwell and bloodletting happens to be the cure-for-all fix at the time.

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it was one of the most used treatments in western medicine from ancient Greece to 19th century (and even earlier than that in Egypt, for example). There weren't many ailments that a little bit of breathing a vein wouldn't alleviate, supposedly. This whole concept is based on humoral theory which is a fascinating cornerstone of medical history and also completely unfounded nonsense, look it up if you haven't, it's interesting. People believed that blood didn't circulate through the body, it was created, used up and then the bad blood would stagnate in the extremities. Having too much blood would disturb your humoral balance and create illnesses so removing it was beneficial to your wellbeing. Even completely healthy people would sometimes go get themselves bled a bit just to be sure.

You kind of need blood for your body to function so this treatment was completely pointless at best and life threatening at worst. If you were sick to begin with it would only weaken you further (and expose you to potential infections, which in the absence of antibiotics, wasn't great). The only viable use for it would have to be rare blood disorders where your body produces too many red blood cells, like polycythemia vera, essentially the polar opposite of anemia.

[le-velo-pour-dru]

Hey can we all manifest good things happening to me within the next few days? 🙏

[kingsmany]

is now a bad time to say I’m glad they didn’t do b*ddie because buck deserves better?

[teeniebopperlaughin]

The other day, I was planning on doing some more studies of splatoon characters, but, uh-

Top Ten Things that DIDN'T Happen

Feat. These adorable highlighters I got from the store the other day, oh my goooosshhhhh, I love them so much, you don't even knooowwwwww

[garpen]

YALLER

Yaller...

"Yaller need therapy once he's done with you."

I'm sorry. I have nothing to say for myself 😔

Yaller= yall will = you all will

I'm not even country or anything this is just gen how I speak. I try spelling out what comes through my head but sometimes I forget and just like spell/sound out what words sound like to me lol

A more accurate spelling would have been "Y'all'll" ? (ew the apostrophes make it look ugly) but the way I say it out loud sounds more like "yaller"

You all should be thankful you can't hear the way I speak it's honestly an atrocity

[wellhealthhub]

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[deoidesign]

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[fahbev]

Humans and aliens don’t mix

I love this concept, I might end up writing something, but for now I’m just gonna do some bullet points. If you’re unfamiliar with the idea, search up “humans are space orcs” and you’ll get an idea where this came from

Humans bond in a very complex social way 

- other aliens probably don’t do this

- what if a human bonds to an alien?

- the human becomes very protective and fiercely loving of this alien. The alien probably loves them back, but in a very different and well, alien way.

- the human risks their own safety and goes feral to protect their alien friend. The alien appreciates it, but can’t fathom why they would risk themselves for someone else, no matter how much they like them. The human has done this repeatedly.

- at one point the human is in danger. In theory, the alien wants to protect their human friend, but isn’t willing to risk themself, even though the human is in greater danger.

- the human is in danger, and possibly in pain, and their friend is right there, capable of intervening. Imagine how crushed they are when their friend looks them dead in the eyes, and runs away. After all the human has risked and sacrificed for them!

- the alien feels a bit guilty, of course. The alien does feel they should reciprocate the kindness they were shown, and they really don’t want their friend to suffer. On their planet, friendships are more conditional, they benefit each other in times of peace, but when danger arrives everyone is for themselves. Or maybe their not social at all, and this is the first interpersonal bond they’ve had. Either way, anyone from this alien’s species would understand, and wouldn’t blame them. It’s not their nature, their brains don’t function like that. There are no protective instincts or courage, but the human doesn’t understand.

- anyway yeah, hurt feelings. The human feels betrayed and abandoned. Especially combined with the hurt of whatever happened to them in the first place.

- the alien knows that they hurt their friend’s feelings, and is pretty torn up about it. Despite the guilt, they’re also kind of angry. The human can’t expect them to do such extreme things for them! The human does so much more for them, but it’s still a crazy demand to ask!

-they probably reconcile, with the human understanding that this isn’t the alien’s fault really, it simply isn’t a function of their behavior. Even so, the human will have to accept that no matter how much they’d sacrifice for their buddy, they can never expect the same in return.

Also, a human meeting an actual space orc? HELL YES!  This could be the same alien, or a different one, i’m just rambling. (Don’t know where I saw this idea, but I can’t find the post sadly).

- imagine being feared and considered immensely dangerous. Your planet being considered a death world and you being considered badass, tough, cutthroat and terrifying just for surviving it. Imagine the complex that would give you, especially if your species is rare and your pretty separate from them!

- the human is used to being feared. They’re used to the hushed whispers, they’re used to being one of “the scary ones from the death world”. From hearing this for so long, they’ve come to believe it. They subconsciously decided to fit the bill of how they’re perceived. They act tough, aggressive, feral. They know they’re scary and badass and they flaunt it, they like being perceived this way.

- the alien, also from a so-called death world, is the opposite. They’re friendly, they’re peaceful, and they hate their reputation. They hate how their species is perceived just because of where they hail from. They aim to break the stereotype, and show the gentle giant that they actually are.

Now have them meet >:D

The human Sofia sits at the bar. The seats within six feet of her are all empty. She guzzles her fifth drink - apparently most species are affected by it similarly to alcohol, and some weaker species would be dead by the fifth drink. Sofia remains unaffected. She could drink 30 and be unaffected. It doesn’t even taste good. She slams her empty goblet on the table, all for show. The conversations nearby hush even further, and the fearful whispers start up again. Good. She should be feared.

The door opens. In comes a gust of wind, and a hulking figure. No one in the bar is talking now.

Sofia slowly turns to face the door. She sizes up the newcomer. They’re big, not twice Sofia’s height, but a few feet shy. Not that it matters, when she’s wrestled creatures the size of bears before. The armor plating though, it sported a recognizable pattern. The forelimbs too, that were an odd combination of insectoid legs and tentacles, were a dead giveaway. This was a rragletatch. One of the most feared species in the multiverse, from one of the deadliest worlds known to the galactic community. They’re as rare as humans too. She smirks. Finally, a worthy opponent.

Some chatter starts up again as the rragletatch begins to walk up to the bar, pretending to ignore Sofia. It was still eerily quite, considering this was a bar, and people were drunk. A few gasps and screams echo when Sofia abruptly stands up, knocking over her stool. Her smirk widens into a grin. She stalks confidently up to the rragletatch stranger, and stands close enough that they can’t ignore her. Several people began filing out of the building, while others chose to stay. “So.” The alien greets her.

“You’re one of those infamous rragletatchen I hear of, no? The ones who are supposedly suuuuper scary?”

“Yes, I am rragletatchen. You’re human, right?”

“Damn right.”

“well then.”

A long pause. Practically the whole bar was listening in anticipation.

“Fight me.” Sofia’s expression didn’t waver. On Earth, she never could have looked so intimidating while staring so far up at someone.

“No.”  what?  “Oh? You scared? I thought you were supposed to be tough or something.” The stranger didn’t look scared, but they must be. Why else would they not want to fight?

“I’m not scared.”

“Then square up bitch. See who’s stronger. Finally put it to the test.”

“No.”

The whispers now were not of fear, but of confusion.

“I will not engage in needless violence,” the rragletatch continued, “contrary to the stereotype of my kind, I will not harm others if at all avoidable. Attack me if you will, I refuse to fight you.” The rragletatch stood still in a wide, but open stance, as if preparing to be hit.  Sofia felt a flash of guilt. Something about attacking an opponent who refused to fight back felt wrong.

“You don’t want to see? Find out who the real champion is?” Sofia pushed aside her feelings and stared up. Unafraid, taunting as ever.

“No. My parents, grand parents and great grandparents before me have embraced a sacred philosophy of pacifism. It saddens me that my kind is known only for cuttthroat violence, only because of our home and biology. I refuse to hurt you. Do you truly wish to hurt me?”

Sofia was a bit shocked to say the least. When she realized her jaw was open and her head cocked, she quickly schooled her expression. That question though... she thought she did. But usually she just liked to brawl. Scare people. Assert dominance. When faced with an unwilling opponent who would not be scared of her... she realized she did not wish to cause harm. She never liked hurting people, that was never the fun of it.

“No.” Sofia sighed. She slouched from her offensive stance and backed over to her seat. “Come, sit with me.” It was phrased like a command, but really it was an offer. Everyone knew Sofia would have a hard time forcing this stranger to do anything. The rragletatch followed reluctantly. Sofia picked up her stool and plopped herself haphazardly on it. The stranger sat more eloquently on one of the many seats next to her.

“I’m Sofia.”

“Yal-sre.”

People moved their seats even farther from the Death-Worlders, or as some call them, orcs.  Suddenly, Yal-sre relaxed their whole body.

“Wow.” Yal-sre almost whispered

“What?” Yal-sre made a sound that, in aliens with exoskeletons, tended to equate to a soft laugh.

“To be completely honest, I thought you were going to kill me.”

Sofia barked a laugh.

“hey! I’ve never met a human before! I didn’t want to judge based on reputation due to my own, but you came on pretty aggressively!”

“Yeah, I’m the apex predator ‘round these parts, and I plan to keep it that way. Still though, I ain’t gonna fight you if you don’t wanna.”

“That’s a relief.”

Neither knew what to say next, and suddenly the nearby silence was so loud. Fortunately, a few conversations began to pick back up now that they were talking peacefully.

“What’s your planet like?” Sofia asked.

“My planet, Challrk, is beautiful. It has vast plains of purple vshink, glowing with bioluminescent insects. Sure, they bite. Sure, I’ve been stung, bitten, chased and harassed by many a critter, but Challrk is a truly incredible place. It has high mountains that stretch beyond the atmosphere, and colors some planets can’t imagine. Our sky is orange and pink, if you can believe that. What’s Earth like?”

“Earth. It’s a rough and tumble place, you can’t survive there without being Hardy. I’ve been chased by swarms of wasps and stung repeatedly more than once. I stepped on a bee and couldn’t walk properly for days. I’ve been stung by jellyfish, and went back into the bay knowing they were there with no protection. Unafraid. Earth is rough, our fauna is often hostile and transmits thousands of deadly ailments, much of our flora is poison. Our weather conditions alone could wipe out an entire species instantly. Earth is extreme.”

“i’m sure that’s true, but that’s what you’ve been told. By people who have never been there. People who are scared because they couldn’t survive there. But what is it actually like? What do you remember?”

“I- I remember the heavy storms. I remember punching a goose and having to go to the hospital. I remember- I remember the blue skies. Fluffy white clouds, flocks of songbirds. I remember walking barefoot because I loved the green grass under my feet, not because I was trying to face danger. I remember a loving family, playing with friends. Warmth and love. I remember going in the bay because I loved the feeling of swimming and playing in the water, not because I wanted to be tougher than the jellyfish. Earth is- Earth is a BEAUTIFUL place and it makes me ANGRY” Sofia slammed both her fists on the table, “that all it’s known for is being dangerous.” A few satisfying screams and gasps rang off in response.  Sofia looked over at Yal-sre. When they didn’t say anything, “I can’t read your face or body language. Can you give me a description?” This was actually a normal question to ask, in places where species were mixed.

“Uh, understanding, I’ve been there. Pleased that we’re getting somewhere. Uhhhhh, still kinda scared of you though. Sorry,” Yal-sre answered. Sofia gaped for a second, before she gave another rough laugh, knowing she probably sounded unhinged to the alien. “Ah!” Yal-sre yelped, “What- what are yours?”  Sofia laughed harder. “laugher can mean many things, in most cases it means ‘amused’. Right now, I am laughing at you, meaning I’m being rude because I find your fear amusing. If there was any non-human who wouldn’t be scared of me, I thought it would be the damn rragletatch. You guys are supposed to be tough shit, but you’re pathetic.”

Yal-sre paused. “Well, yeah. Some of us are tougher than others.”

“Hm, yeah I guess it’s kinda the same with humans. That makes sense. Obviously if you put a fearless human who’s tougher shit than most together with the most timid rragletatch, of course you’d be scared.”

“I’m not the most timid! I’m normal! I’ll bet most humans would be scared of me too, after hearing how “dangerous” we are for so long.”

“Maybe. Humans are tough, but I’ll admit they’re not all like me.” Yal-sre did an odd motion with their... shoulder?

“Translation? I don’t speak shoulder,” Sofia attempted to mimic the motion.

“Understanding, but now amused. Anyway, does it bother you?”

“Does what?”  “The fact that everyone is afraid of you? ... even me?”

“I like being feared.”

“Do you?”  Sofia took a long sip of her drink - which probably made it look like she was drowning her sorrows - to avoid answering the question. When she was done, she placed the goblet face down on the bar to signal to the bartender that she was ready for a refill. The metal was dented... she had put it down too forcefully.

“Oops.” Though it had been an accident, her voice held no remorse.

Anyway, might continue this, might not! I’ve had the “humans are space orcs” idea in my head for a long time, I might later separate this into its own post and make it longer lol.

[2hoothoots]

Revisiting P2 since the docu epilogue dropped and your AMV (<3) popped up as a sign for me to ask something that hopefully you haven't already spoken about years ago: What did you think of the in-game psych explanation for Maligula, that she's the primitive savage part of the mind? P2 is a weird mix of sketchy Freud/Jung concepts that Tim likes meshed with modern psych, and Maligula's deal seems like something they probably wrote a lot of different versions of but never quite solved elegantly

yeah, i think you totally hit the nail on the head - it's always felt like one of the parts of the story that they couldn't quite give enough polish to before they had to finalize it and move on with development. like - i went to go get my artbook to see if it had any insight into the writing process, and did you know that Nona and Maligula being the same person was apparently added way later in development? that's wild! i didn't know that until literally right now! i may or may not have skipped straight to my favourite characters when my artbook arrived and then put it on my shelf without reading the whole thing

ANYWAY, retrospectively i think it being a twist that was added later actually makes a lot of sense in the context of everything you mentioned. the Maligula problem, to me, is the fact that they're trying to juggle a bunch of different things that she has to be in the story. there's Maligula, the ruthless big bad, and Nona, the beloved grandma, and if you suddenly have to also make them both the same person... well, it ends up being kind of a thorny writing problem to make that work, haha.

here's some art i made so this isn't just a wall of text, rest of the answer under the cut

i think one thing they could have done when they needed to rehabilitate a mass-murderer into a lovable old lady was pull back on either end of the spectrum. make your villain softer and more sympathetic, or give grandma a mean streak like she's one bad day away from a tragedy at the crochet club. and to give the story credit, i'm really glad they didn't. Nona is relentlessly sweet and endearing - and that's great! she needs to be in order to make the audience care about her, otherwise the emotional beats are never going to land. likewise, Maligula is a great villain, she's vicious and ruthless and at the culmination of her arc we see she simply does not give a shit about murdering hundreds of people. i love that for her, honestly, you go girl

but then, like - how do you connect the dots? how do you frame grandma having a violently murderous streak in a way that doesn't make the ending of "but she's over it now" feel kinda weird and hollow? and how do you do that while also being sympathetic to the game's themes around mental health? Maligula's informed by the traumatic things that happened to Lucrecia during the war, but she can't just be a manifestation of trauma, because the moral of the story being that trauma makes you a mass-murderer (until you beat up your trauma and shove it in a giant pit) would feel... really tonally dissonant!

so i think you're totally right that the sprinkling of pop-psych concepts we get ends up feeling a little bit like an awkward band-aid. Maligula's story is about how the horrors of war can shape you into a terrible person, who does terrible things - ...but there's also, like, special circumstances, so it doesn't feel weird that she goes back to being Raz's sweet grandma afterwards. special psychic circumstances! she's not just any war criminal, she's the fight or flight response gone out of control!

which - i dunno, i think that line in particular always stood out to me, because that's not really what the fight or flight (or freeze or fawn) response is, right? it's a temporary boost of adrenaline to the system to rev you up for getting out of a dangerous situation. an overactive fight or flight response is called chronic stress and anxiety. i know the games are pop-psych and not actual science, but it always stood out to me as a little awkward.

if it were me in the writer's seat - with the benefit of all the time in the world to workshop it, and no looming deadlines, and the hindsight of having a full completed game in front of me to think about - i might have tried to frame it around connection. i think you could swing the lens to instead focus on how violence, stress, trauma etc., make it harder to understand and empathise with the people around you. the tragedy of Lucrecia's story is that she came home to try and help her countrymen, the people she cared so dearly about. but the more time passed, the less she cared, the less she was able to see them as people. after Marona's death, the Maligula that remains is one who's unable to even care about killing her own sister. the alternative is too raw, too painful - instead, she sheds her last vestiges of remorse, and throws herself into the easy relief of violence. (we see this again, when Nona "awakens" as Maligula - when confronted with the baggage of her past, she chooses to wash it all away with force, unable and unwilling to care about the people she used to call friends.)

and i think shifting the focus like that ties it in thematically, too. a big theme (of both games, but especially the sequel) is how important connection is, how being able to understand and reach out to and rely on other people is a lifeline during hard times. PN2 touches on how there aren't really "good people" and "bad people" - everyone has the capacity to do wonderful or terrible things, and i think Raz's line to Maligula about how "everybody's got something like you" works. Lucrecia was never a monster, no matter how everyone tried to pretend she was. she was just a person, the same as everyone else - and just like everyone else, she could be pushed to extremes under the right circumstances. it just feels kind of odd when the implicit context is "everybody's got a mass-murderer hidden in the primal recesses of their brain", hahaha.

but like, again, that's the privilege of hindsight, right? i've definitely also been on the other side of the creative process, stuck with something i suddenly need to make work in a story and having to come up with a solution that feels like a band-aid. sometimes you just gotta call it good enough, and move on. and i think the game is overall much stronger for having Nona and Maligula be the same person - it plays into the wider themes, it sets up some great emotional beats, and i think it's overall well-executed, even if there are one or two hiccups in the writing.

anyway, great ask! thank you for the invitation to ramble, this is something that stuck out to me on my first playthrough of the game and it was fun to sit down and get my thoughts in order