Efavirenz intoxication due to a new CYP2B6 constellation.

Here, we describe severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in an HIV-positive Asian man with extremely high efavirenz plasma levels while receiving standard treatment with efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine fixed-dose regimen. Genetic examination revealed compound homozygosity for loss-of-function alleles of CYP2B6, including coding for a rare truncated protein. Neuropsychiatric symptoms resolved completely after efavirenz discontinuation.

Corporate responsibility in the postnational constellation : a multiple-case study

In my thesis I present the findings of a multiple-case study on the CSR approach of three multinational companies, applying Basu and Palazzo's (2008) CSR-character as a process model of sensemaking, Suchman's (1995) framework on legitimation strategies, and Habermas (1996) concept of deliberative democracy. The theoretical framework is based on the assumption of a postnational constellation (Habermas, 2001) which sends multinational companies onto a process of sensemaking (Weick, 1995) with regards to their responsibilities in a globalizing world. The major reason is that mainstream CSR-concepts are based on the assumption of a liberal market economy embedded in a nation state that do not fit the changing conditions for legitimation of corporate behavior in a globalizing world. For the purpose of this study, I primarily looked at two research questions: (i) How can the CSR approach of a multinational corporation be systematized empirically? (ii) What is the impact of the changing conditions in the postnational constellation on the CSR approach of the studied multinational corporations? For the analysis, I adopted a holistic approach (Patton, 1980), combining elements of a deductive and inductive theory building methodology (Eisenhardt, 1989b; Eisenhardt & Graebner, 2007; Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Van de Ven, 1992) and rigorous qualitative data analysis. Primary data was collected through 90 semi-structured interviews in two rounds with executives and managers in three multinational companies and their respective stakeholders. Raw data originating from interview tapes, field notes, and contact sheets was processed, stored, and managed using the software program QSR NVIVO 7. In the analysis, I applied qualitative methods to strengthen the interpretative part as well as quantitative methods to identify dominating dimensions and patterns. I found three different coping behaviors that provide insights into the corporate mindset. The results suggest that multinational corporations increasingly turn towards relational approaches of CSR to achieve moral legitimacy in formalized dialogical exchanges with their stakeholders since legitimacy can no longer be derived only from a national framework. I also looked at the degree to which they have reacted to the postnational constellation by the assumption of former state duties and the underlying reasoning. The findings indicate that CSR approaches become increasingly comprehensive through integrating political strategies that reflect the growing (self-) perception of multinational companies as political actors. Based on the results, I developed a model which relates the different dimensions of corporate responsibility to the discussion on deliberative democracy, global governance and social innovation to provide guidance for multinational companies in a postnational world. With my thesis, I contribute to management research by (i) delivering a comprehensive critique of the mainstream CSR-literature and (ii) filling the gap of thorough qualitative research on CSR in a globalizing world using the CSR-character as an empirical device, and (iii) to organizational studies by further advancing a deliberative view of the firm proposed by Scherer and Palazzo (2008).

Perinatal care at the limit of viability between 22 and 26 completed weeks of gestation in Switzerland.

Perinatal care of pregnant women at high risk for preterm delivery and of preterm infants born at the limit of viability (22-26 completed weeks of gestation) requires a multidisciplinary approach by an experienced perinatal team. Limited precision in the determination of both gestational age and foetal weight, as well as biological variability may significantly affect the course of action chosen in individual cases. The decisions that must be taken with the pregnant women and on behalf of the preterm infant in this context are complex and have far-reaching consequences. When counselling pregnant women and their partners, neonatologists and obstetricians should provide them with comprehensive information in a sensitive and supportive way to build a basis of trust. The decisions are developed in a continuing dialogue between all parties involved (physicians, midwives, nursing staff and parents) with the principal aim to find solutions that are in the infant's and pregnant woman's best interest. Knowledge of current gestational age-specific mortality and morbidity rates and how they are modified by prenatally known prognostic factors (estimated foetal weight, sex, exposure or nonexposure to antenatal corticosteroids, single or multiple births) as well as the application of accepted ethical principles form the basis for responsible decision-making. Communication between all parties involved plays a central role. The members of the interdisciplinary working group suggest that the care of preterm infants with a gestational age between 22 0/7 and 23 6/7 weeks should generally be limited to palliative care. Obstetric interventions for foetal indications such as Caesarean section delivery are usually not indicated. In selected cases, for example, after 23 weeks of pregnancy have been completed and several of the above mentioned prenatally known prognostic factors are favourable or well informed parents insist on the initiation of life-sustaining therapies, active obstetric interventions for foetal indications and provisional intensive care of the neonate may be reasonable. In preterm infants with a gestational age between 24 0/7 and 24 6/7 weeks, it can be difficult to determine whether the burden of obstetric interventions and neonatal intensive care is justified given the limited chances of success of such a therapy. In such cases, the individual constellation of prenatally known factors which impact on prognosis can be helpful in the decision making process with the parents. In preterm infants with a gestational age between 25 0/7 and 25 6/7 weeks, foetal surveillance, obstetric interventions for foetal indications and neonatal intensive care measures are generally indicated. However, if several prenatally known prognostic factors are unfavourable and the parents agree, primary non-intervention and neonatal palliative care can be considered. All pregnant women with threatening preterm delivery or premature rupture of membranes at the limit of viability must be transferred to a perinatal centre with a level III neonatal intensive care unit no later than 23 0/7 weeks of gestation, unless emergency delivery is indicated. An experienced neonatology team should be involved in all deliveries that take place after 23 0/7 weeks of gestation to help to decide together with the parents if the initiation of intensive care measures appears to be appropriate or if preference should be given to palliative care (i.e., primary non-intervention). In doubtful situations, it can be reasonable to initiate intensive care and to admit the preterm infant to a neonatal intensive care unit (i.e., provisional intensive care). The infant's clinical evolution and additional discussions with the parents will help to clarify whether the life-sustaining therapies should be continued or withdrawn. Life support is continued as long as there is reasonable hope for survival and the infant's burden of intensive care is acceptable. If, on the other hand, the health care team and the parents have to recognise that in the light of a very poor prognosis the burden of the currently used therapies has become disproportionate, intensive care measures are no longer justified and other aspects of care (e.g., relief of pain and suffering) are the new priorities (i.e., redirection of care). If a decision is made to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining therapies, the health care team should focus on comfort care for the dying infant and support for the parents.

Jésus historique: une quête de l'inaccessible étoile? Bilan de la "troisième quête"

La «troisième Quête» du Jésus historique relance le débat sur des acquis de la recherche. Bien qu'il s'agisse d'une nébuleuse de positions dissemblables plutôt que d'un courant homogène, cette constellation de chercheurs remet en cause le consensus antérieur. Son nouveau paradigme peut être saisi sur cinq points : 1) Les sources documentaires sur Jésus sont étendues et leur exploitation modifiée. 2) On relève un puissant retour à la judaïté du Nazaréen. 3) Le coeur de l'agir de Jésus n'est plus nécessairement une position millénariste, mais une conviction sapientiale. 4) L'histoire sociale met en valeur la réaction du messianisme populaire contre une politique d'acculturation gréco-romaine en Palestine. 5) Une christologie implicite redevient pensable au niveau de Jésus lui-même. The third Quest for the historical Jesus has re-opened the debate concerning research findings. Although this consists of a nebulous set of dissimilar positions rather than a homogenous trend, five previous points of consensus are being challenged by the constellation of researchers. The new paradigm may be summarised in five points: 1) The documentary sources on Jesus are spread out and their use is thereby modified. 2) A notable return to the Jewishness of Jesus of Nazareth. 3) The heart of Jesus' action is no longer seen as a millenarist position, but more as a conviction informed by Wisdom. 4) Social history emphasises the reaction of popular messianism confronting Greek-Roman political acculturation. 5) An implicit Christology becomes possible once more at the level of Jesus Himself.

Surrogate markers for atheriosclerosis in overweight subjects with atherogenic dyslipidemia : the GEMS project

Rapport de synthèseLe syndrome métabolique (défini par les critères ATP III par la présence au minimum de 3 des facteurs suivants : taux plasmatiques d'HDL-cholestérol < 1,04 mmol/1 chez l'homme et < 1.29 mmol/1 chez la femme, taux plasmatiques de triglycérides > 1,69 mmol/1, tension artérielle > 130/85 mmHg, glycémie >6,1 mmol/1, tour de taille > 108 cm chez l'homme et > 88 cm chez la femme) représente une constellation de facteurs de risque majeurs pour le développement de maladies cardiovascu-laires. Il n'est pas encore établi actuellement quelle composante de ce syndrome contribue de manière plus marquée au risque de développer une athérosclérose. Dans le but d'éclaircir la pathogenèse de ce syndrome, une étude multicentrique intitulée GEMS (« Genetic Epidemiology of Metabolic Syndrome ») a été initiée afin de déterminer si la constellation d'une dyslipidémie avec HDL-C bas et TG élevé est un marqueur sensible de l'homogénéité génétique chez les individus atteints de syndrome métabolique.Dans l'étude menée à Lausanne (multicentrique), la contribution de la dyslipidémie avec HDL-C bas et TG élevé dans la pathogenèse de l'athérosclérose a été évaluée par 2 examens, reconnus comme marqueurs fiables de la vasculopathie : la mesure de l'épaisseur intima média carotidienne par ultrasonographic et l'évaluation de la dysfonction endothéliale de la microcirculation cutanée. Deux groupes de sujets comparables en terme d'âge et de sexe et souffrant d'un excès pondéral (BMI > 25 kg/m2) mais normoglycémiques ont été comparés. Ces deux groupes (étude cas-témoins) étaient uniquement discordants quant à leurs profils lipidiques. Ainsi, 120 cas, définis comme ayant un HDL-cholestérol bas (< 25 percentile pour l'âge et le sexe dans la population générale) et des TG élevés (> 75 percentile) ont été comparés à 120 contrôles avec un HDL-cholestérol haut (> 50 percentile) et des TG bas (< 50 percentile). Un doppler des artères carotides et fémorales a été effectué pour déterminer l'épaisseur de l'intima média et la présence ou non de plaques d'athérome. La fonction endothéliale a été évaluée par un laser doppler sur la micro-circulation cutanée (réponse hyperémique à une occlusion transitoire de la circulation de l'avant-bras par une manchette à pression et mesure de la vasodilatation induite par un échauffement local de la peau avec de l'eau). Un enregistrement de la pression artérielle ambulatoire sur la journée (Remler) a été pratiqué chez tous les sujets.Les résultats obtenus montrent que les cas ont une prévalence plus élevée de plaques d'athérome (médiane 1,5 ± 0,15 vs 0,8 > 0,15, p<.001), une épaisseur intima média plus importante (médiane 0,66 ± 0,15 vs 0,61 ± 0,15, p<.01), ainsi qu'une réduction significative de la vasodilatation endothéliale induite par la chaleur et post-ischémique comparativement aux contrôles.En conclusion, le profil lipidique associant un HDL-cholestérol bas et des triglycérides élevés représente un risque majeur de développer une maladie athéromateuse périphérique et est associée à une augmentation de l'épaisseur intima média et une altération de la fonction endothéliale chez les individus en surcharge pondérale. Bien qu'un HDL-cholestérol bas soit fréquemment associé à une hypertriglycéridémie, les résultats de notre étude peuvent suggérer un rôle potentiel de la fraction HDL-cholestérol comme un puissant agent anti-athérogénique.

The Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) is targeted in glioblastoma and has a tumor suppressing function potentially by induction of senescence.

Gene expression-based prediction of genomic copy number aberrations in the chromosomal region 12q13 to 12q15 that is flanked by MDM2 and CDK4 identified Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in glioblastoma. WIF1 encodes a secreted Wnt antagonist and was strongly downregulated in most glioblastomas as compared with normal brain, implying deregulation of Wnt signaling, which is associated with cancer. WIF1 silencing was mediated by deletion (7/69, 10%) or epigenetic silencing by promoter hypermethylation (29/110, 26%). Co-amplification of MDM2 and CDK4 that is present in 10% of glioblastomas was associated in most cases with deletion of the whole genomic region enclosed, including the WIF1 locus. This interesting pathogenetic constellation targets the RB and p53 tumor suppressor pathways in tandem, while simultaneously activating oncogenic Wnt signaling. Ectopic expression of WIF1 in glioblastoma cell lines revealed a dose-dependent decrease of Wnt pathway activity. Furthermore, WIF1 expression inhibited cell proliferation in vitro, reduced anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, and completely abolished tumorigenicity in vivo. Interestingly, WIF1 overexpression in glioblastoma cells induced a senescence-like phenotype that was dose dependent. These results provide evidence that WIF1 has tumor suppressing properties. Downregulation of WIF1 in 75% of glioblastomas indicates frequent involvement of aberrant Wnt signaling and, hence, may render glioblastomas sensitive to inhibitors of Wnt signaling, potentially by diverting the tumor cells into a senescence-like state.

Cytomegalovirus serology and replication remain associated with solid organ graft rejection and graft loss in the era of prophylactic treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication has been associated with more risk for solid organ graft rejection. We wondered whether this association still holds when patients at risk receive prophylactic treatment for CMV. METHODS: We correlated CMV infection, biopsy-proven graft rejection, and graft loss in 1,414 patients receiving heart (n=97), kidney (n=917), liver (n=237), or lung (n=163) allografts reported to the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. RESULTS: Recipients of all organs were at an increased risk for biopsy-proven graft rejection within 4 weeks after detection of CMV replication (hazard ratio [HR] after heart transplantation, 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-4.94, P<0.001; HR after kidney transplantation, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.16-2.16, P=0.02; HR after liver transplantation, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.53-3.17, P<0.001; HR after lung transplantation, 5.83; 95% CI, 3.12-10.9, P<0.001. Relative hazards were comparable in patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic CMV infection. The CMV donor or recipient serological constellation also predicted the incidence of graft rejection after liver and lung transplantation, with significantly higher rates of rejection in transplants in which donor or recipient were CMV seropositive (non-D-/R-), compared with D- transplant or R- transplant (HR, 3.05; P=0.002 for liver and HR, 2.42; P=0.01 for lung transplants). Finally, graft loss occurred more frequently in non-D- or non-R- compared with D- transplant or R- transplant in all organs analyzed. Valganciclovir prophylactic treatment seemed to delay, but not prevent, graft loss in non-D- or non-R- transplants. CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus replication and donor or recipient seroconstellation remains associated with graft rejection and graft loss in the era of prophylactic CMV treatment.

Cristallographie(s). (Montesquieu, Certeau, Deleuze, Foucault, Valéry)

Les imaginaires explorés par ce livre ont ceci de commun qu'ils tentent de s'en tenir à la matérialité du monde, de ses corps, de ses images, de ses lois. Ils affirment chacun à sa manière le monde et sa fable. Ils y construisent la figure d'un à-côté, d'une fuite, d'une déviation ou d'un renversement. Un coup d'oeil persan. Lois et calculs ; clôtures et braconnages ; lignes de fuites ; histoire(s). Les noms que ce livre convoque forment des cristaux, quelque(s) cristallographie(s). La lumière s'y dévie, s'y diffracte, révèle ses palettes de couleur, butte contre les grains obscurs de la matière, comme une matière elle-même concentrée et diffractée. Cette constellation se rend visible autant par la littérature (Kawabata, Kafka, Proust, etc.) que par la peinture (Bosch, Velàzquez, etc.), comme autant d'images projetées. Cette lumière prend des corps et une écriture, rythmicité opaque et clarifiante, sans mystères. Les cristaux qu'elle traverse sont des corps imaginaires, politiques, érotiques : la lumière s'y projette en corps à corps, à peau contre peau. Blessante, coupante, rasante, douce ou crue. Les catastrophes conceptuelles s'y aggravent ou en diffèrent. De Montesquieu à Valéry, de Certeau à Deleuze et à Foucault, les imaginaires (d'émancipation, de liberté, d'invention en jeux d'obsessions, de confrontations, de contraintes et de problèmes) se croisent et s'interrogent, se reflètent autrement (Spinoza, Kofman, Agamben, Malabou, Nietzsche, Derrida) se regardent sans se répondre, par des jeux de miroirs superposés. Une autre manière de partager, en rythmes et en images, quelques pratiques d'écriture et de pensée.

An Overview of the association between schizotypy and dopamine

Schizotypy refers to a constellation of personality traits that are believed to mirror the subclinical expression of schizophrenia in the general population. Evidence from pharmacological studies indicates that dopamine is involved in the aetiology of schizophrenia. Based on the assumption of a continuum between schizophrenia and schizotypy, researchers have begun investigating the association between dopamine and schizotypy using a wide range of methods. In this article, we review published studies on this association from the following areas of work: (1) Experimental investigations of the interactive effects of dopaminergic challenges and schizotypy on cognition, motor control and behaviour, (2) dopaminergically supported cognitive functions, (3) studies of associations between schizotypy and polymorphisms in genes involved in dopaminergic neurotransmission, and (4) molecular imaging studies of the association between schizotypy and markers of the dopamine system. Together, data from these lines of evidence suggest that dopamine is important to the expression and experience of schizotypy and associated behavioural biases. An important observation is that the experimental designs, methods, and manipulations used in this research are highly heterogeneous. Future studies are required to replicate individual observations, to enlighten the link between dopamine and different schizotypy dimensions (positive, negative, cognitive disorganisation), and to guide the search for solid dopamine-sensitive behavioural markers. Such studies are important in order to clarify inconsistencies between studies. More work is also needed to identify differences between dopaminergic alterations in schizotypy compared to the dysfunctions observed in schizophrenia.

Cognition and brain function in schizotypy : a selective review

Schizotypy refers to a set of personality traits thought to reflect the subclinical expression of the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia. Here, we review the cognitive and brain functional profile associated with high questionnaire scores in schizotypy. We discuss empirical evidence from the domains of perception, attention, memory, imagery and representation, language, and motor control. Perceptual deficits occur early and across various modalities. Whilst the neural mechanisms underlying visual impairments may be linked to magnocellular dysfunction, further effects may be seen downstream in higher cognitive functions. Cognitive deficits are observed in inhibitory control, selective and sustained attention, incidental learning and memory. In concordance with the cognitive nature of many of the aberrations of schizotypy, higher levels of schizotypy are associated with enhanced vividness and better performance on tasks of mental rotation. Language deficits seem most pronounced in higher-level processes. Finally, higher levels of schizotypy are associated with reduced performance on oculomotor tasks, resembling the impairments seen in schizophrenia. Some of these deficits are accompanied by reduced brain activation, akin to the pattern of hypoactivations in schizophrenia spectrum individuals. We conclude that schizotypy is a construct with apparent phenomenological overlap with schizophrenia and stable inter-individual differences that covary with performance on a wide range of perceptual, cognitive and motor tasks known to be impaired in schizophrenia. The importance of these findings lies not only in providing a fine-grained neurocognitive characterisation of a personality constellation known to be associated with real-life impairments, but also in generating hypotheses concerning the aetiology of schizophrenia.

Integration of teacher education into the Swiss higher education system

The integration of specific institutions for teacher education into the higher education system represents a milestone in the Swiss educational policy and has broad implications. This thesis explores organizational and institutional change resulting from this policy reform, and attempts to assess structural change in terms of differentiation and convergence within the system of higher education. Key issues that are dealt with are, on the one hand, the adoption of a research function by the newly conceptualized institutions of teacher education, and on the other, the positioning of the new institutions within the higher education system. Drawing on actor-centred approaches to differentiation, this dissertation discusses system-level specificities of tertiarized teacher education and asks how this affects institutional configurations and actor constellations. On the basis of qualitative and quantitative empirical data, a comparative analysis has been carried out including case studies of four universities of teacher education as well as multivariate regression analysis of micro-level data on students' educational choices. The study finds that the process of system integration and adaption to the research function by the various institutions have unfolded differently depending on the institutional setting and the specific actor constellations. The new institutions have clearly made a strong push to position themselves as a new institutional type and to find their identity beyond the traditional binary divide which assigns the universities of teacher education to the college sector. Potential conflicts have been identified in divergent cognitive normative orientations and perceptions of researchers, teacher educators, policy-makers, teachers, and students as to the mission and role of the new type of higher education institution. - L'intégration dans le système d'enseignement supérieur d'institutions qui ont pour tâche spécifique de former des enseignants peut être considérée comme un événement majeur dans la politique éducative suisse, qui se trouve avoir des conséquences importantes à plusieurs niveaux. Cette thèse explore les changements organisationnels et institutionnels résultant de cette réforme politique, et elle se propose d'évaluer en termes de différentiation et de convergence les changements structurels intervenus dans le système d'éducation tertiaire. Les principaux aspects traités sont d'une part la nouvelle mission de recherche attribuée à ces institutions de formation pédagogique, et de l'autre la place par rapport aux autres institutions du système d'éducation tertiaire. Recourant à une approche centrée sur les acteurs pour étudier les processus de différen-tiation, la thèse met en lumière et en discussion les spécificités inhérentes au système tertiaire au sein duquel se joue la formation des enseignants nouvellement conçue et soulève la question des effets de cette nouvelle façon de former les enseignants sur les configurations institutionnelles et les constellations d'acteurs. Une analyse comparative a été réalisée sur la base de données qualitatives et quantitatives issues de quatre études de cas de hautes écoles pédagogiques et d'analyses de régression multiple de données de niveau micro concernant les choix de carrière des étudiants. Les résultats montrent à quel point le processus d'intégration dans le système et la nouvelle mission de recherche peuvent apparaître de manière différente selon le cadre institutionnel d'une école et la constellation spécifique des acteurs influents. A pu clairement être observée une forte aspiration des hautes écoles pédagogiques à se créer une identité au-delà de la structure binaire du système qui assigne la formation des enseignants au secteur des hautes écoles spéciali-sées. Des divergences apparaissent dans les conceptions et perceptions cognitives et normatives des cher-cheurs, formateurs, politiciens, enseignants et étudiants quant à la mission et au rôle de ce nouveau type de haute école. - Die Integration spezieller Institutionen für die Lehrerbildung ins Hochschulsystem stellt einen bedeutsamen Schritt mit weitreichenden Folgen in der Entwicklung des schweizerischen Bildungswesens dar. Diese Dissertation untersucht die mit der Neuerung verbundenen Veränderungen auf organisatorischer und institutioneller Ebene und versucht, die strukturelle Entwicklung unter den Gesichtspunkten von Differenzierung und Konvergenz innerhalb des tertiären Bildungssystems einzuordnen. Zentrale Themen sind dabei zum einen die Einführung von Forschung und Entwicklung als zusätzlichem Leistungsauftrag in der Lehrerbildung und zum andern die Positionierung der pädagogischen Hochschulen innerhalb des Hochschulsystems. Anhand akteurzentrierter Ansätze zur Differenzierung werden die Besonderheiten einer tertiarisierten Lehrerbildung hinsichtlich der Systemebenen diskutiert und Antworten auf die Frage gesucht, wie die Reform die institutionellen Konfigurationen und die Akteurkonstellationen beeinflusst. Auf der Grundlage qualitativer und quantitativer Daten wurde eine vergleichende Analyse durchgeführt, welche Fallstudien zu vier pädagogischen Hochschulen umfasst sowie Regressionsanalysen von Mikrodaten zur Studienwahl von Maturanden. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass sich der Prozess der Systemintegration und die Einführung von Forschung in die Lehrerbildung in Abhängigkeit von institutionellen Ordnungen und der jeweiligen Akteurkonstellation unterschiedlich gestalten. Es lässt sich bei den neu gegründeten pädagogischen Hochschulen ein starkes Bestreben feststellen, sich als neuen Hochschultypus zu positionieren und sich eine Identität zu schaffen jenseits der herkömmlichen binären Struktur, welche die pädagogischen Hochschulen dem Fachhochschul-Sektor zuordnet. Potentielle Konflikte zeichnen sich ab in den divergierenden kognitiven und normativen Orientierungen und Wahrnehmungen von Forschern, Ausbildern, Bildungspolitikern, Lehrern und Studierenden hinsichtlich des Auftrags und der Rolle dieses neuen Typs Hochschule.

Sibling relationships in Dutch and immigrant families

This study examines differences in sibling relationships among native Dutch and immigrant groups in the Netherlands. It uses a large national dataset to compare adult sibling relationships among Moroccan, Turkish, Caribbean and native Dutch groups, focusing on the varying importance of gender composition and age structure for the sibling relationship in the ethnic minority groups and the native Dutch families. Results show that, on average, ethnic minorities in the Netherlands have more involved sibling relationships in adulthood, with more contact, more emotional support, practical support (except Turks and Antilleans), a higher relationship quality, but also more conflict (among the Turks and Antilleans) compared to the Dutch. Gender constellation and hierarchical position were not of equal influence in all groups, although no clear patterns emerged.