Losses of chromosome arms 4q, 8p, 13q and gain of 8q are correlated with increasing chromosomal instability in hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Chromosomal instability is a key feature in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) revealed recurring structural aberrations, whereas fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) indicated an increasing number of numerical aberrations in dedifferentiating HCC. Therefore, we examined whether there was a correlation between structural and numerical aberrations of chromosomal instability in HCC. METHODS AND RESULTS: 27 HCC (5 well, 10 moderately, 12 lower differentiated) already cytogenetically characterized by aCGH were analyzed. FISH analysis using probes for chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 8 and 17 revealed 1.46-4.24 signals/nucleus, which correlated with the histological grade (well vs. moderately,p < 0.0003; moderately vs. lower, p < 0.004). The number of chromosomes to each other was stable with exceptions only seen for chromosome 8. Loss of 4q and 13q, respectively, were correlated with the number of aberrations detected by aCGH (p < 0.001, p < 0.005; Mann-Whitney test). Loss of 4q and gain of 8q were correlated with an increasing number of numerical aberrations detected by FISH (p < 0.020, p < 0.031). Loss of 8p was correlated with the number of structural imbalances seen in aCGH (p < 0.048), but not with the number of numerical changes seen in FISH. CONCLUSION: We found that losses of 4q, 8p and 13q were closely correlated with an increasing number of aberrations detected by aCGH, whereas a loss of 4q and a gain of 8q were also observed in the context of polyploidization, the cytogenetic correlate of morphological dedifferentiation.

Same-day administration of verteporfin and ranibizumab 0.5 mg in patients with choroidal neovascularisation due to age-related macular degeneration

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety of same-day administration of verteporfin and ranibizumab. METHODS: Prospective, open-label, multicentre study; patients with predominantly classic (n = 13) or occult (n = 19) choroidal neovascularisation secondary to age-related macular degeneration received standard-fluence verteporfin at baseline and months 3, 6 and 9, based on fluorescein angiography (FA). Ranibizumab 0.5 mg was administered at baseline and months 1, 2 and 3. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The incidence of severe vision loss (best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) loss > or = 30 letters; primary safety assessment). RESULTS: No severe vision loss due to ocular inflammation or uveitis occurred. One patient had moderate vision loss (BCVA loss > or = 15 letters). Three patients had mild/moderate uveitis. Two serious ocular adverse events occurred (retinal pigment epithelial tear and moderate BCVA decrease). No systemic adverse events occurred. At 9 months, all lesions were inactive with no recurrent leakage on FA and optical coherence tomography; macular oedema and subretinal fluid resolved. The mean BCVA measured at 2 m improved by 6.9 letters at 4 months and 2.4 letters at 9 months. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Same-day verteporfin and ranibizumab was safe and not associated with severe vision loss or severe ocular inflammation. Lesions stabilized, with minimal treatment required after month 3.

Aktuelle Fragen aus dem Erbrecht: Weiterbildungstagung des Verbandes bernischer Notare und des Instituts für Notariatsrecht und Notarielle Praxis an der Universität Bern vom 19./20. August 2009

Gegenstand des Werks bilden «Aktuelle Fragen aus dem Erbrecht». Das Erbrecht ist ein eigentliches Kerngebiet notarieller Tätigkeit, und Fragen aus dem Erbrecht stellen sich den Notarinnen und Notaren in mannigfacher Hinsicht und in immer wieder neuer Art und Weise. Prof. Dr. Jolanta Kren Kostkiewicz behandelt das im Zeitalter zunehmender Mobilität bedeutender werdende Internationale Erbrecht. Der Beitrag von Prof. Dr. Stephan Wolf gilt dem Thema Erbrecht in besonderen Situationen; er geht ein auf das Konkubinat, die Ehekrise und das neue Erwachsenenschutzrecht.Rechtsanwalt Dr. Philipp Studhalter befasst sich mit praktischen Aspekten der Nutzniessung gemäss Art. 473 ZGB, einem Klassiker der Rechtsgeschäftsgestaltung unter Ehegatten. Notar und Rechtsanwalt Peter Muntwyler und Notar/Grundbuchverwalter Dr. Roland Pfäffli, beide Mitglieder der Musterurkundensammlungs-Kommission des Verbandes bernischer Notare, widmen sich dem Erbenschein in der Praxis.

Old captains at the helm: chairman age and firm performance

This paper examines whether the chairmen of the boards (COBs) impose their life cycles on the firms over which they preside. Using a large sample of unlisted firms, we find a robust negative relation between COB age and firm performance. COBs age much like ‘ordinary’ people. Their cognitive abilities deteriorate, and they experience significant shifts in motivation. Deteriorating cognitive abilities are the main driver of the performance effect that we observe. The results imply that succession planning problems in unlisted firms are real. Mandatory retirement age clauses cannot solve these problems.

Sublethal neonicotinoid insecticide exposure reduces solitary bee reproductive success

1.Pollinating insects provide crucial and economically important ecosystem services to crops and wild plants, but pollinators, particularly bees, are globally declining as a result of various driving factors, including the prevalent use of pesticides for crop protection. Sublethal pesticide exposure negatively impacts numerous pollinator life-history traits, but its influence on reproductive success remains largely unknown. Such information is pivotal, however, to our understanding of the long-term effects on population dynamics. 2.We investigated the influence of field-realistic trace residues of the routinely used neonicotinoid insecticides thiamethoxam and clothianidin in nectar substitutes on the entire life-time fitness performance of the red mason bee Osmia bicornis. 3.We show that chronic, dietary neonicotinoid exposure has severe detrimental effects on solitary bee reproductive output. Neonicotinoids did not affect adult bee mortality; however, monitoring of fully controlled experimental populations revealed that sublethal exposure resulted in almost 50% reduced total offspring production and a significantly male-biased offspring sex ratio. 4.Our data add to the accumulating evidence indicating that sublethal neonicotinoid effects on non-Apis pollinators are expressed most strongly in a rather complex, fitness-related context. Consequently, to fully mitigate long-term impacts on pollinator population dynamics, present pesticide risk assessments need to be expanded to include whole life-cycle fitness estimates, as demonstrated in the present study using O. bicornis as a model.

Der Heidelberger Katechismus – ein reformierter Schlüsseltext

Der Heidelberger Katechismus gehört zu den am weitesten verbreiteten theologischen Texten deutscher Sprache. Seit der Erstveröffentlichung im Jahr 1563 wurde er in rund vierzig Sprachen übersetzt und verbreitete sich über alle Kontinente. Menschen in aller Welt und Generationen bis heute lernten und lernen anhand seiner Fragen und Antworten, was es heisst, Christ zu sein. In manchen Teilen des reformierten Protestantismus gilt der «Heidelberger» nach wie vor als Grundlagentext. Die Autorinnen und Autoren fragen in diesem Band nach der aktuellen Bedeutung des Heidelberger Katechismus. Sie zeigen seine theologischen Akzente, fragen nach seinen vielfältigen Wirkungen und beleuchten seine ökumenische Bedeutung. Gemeinsam ist ihren Beiträgen die Auffassung, dass der «Heidelberger» auch heute Antworten für ein zeitgemässes Christsein bereithält.