353 research outputs found

    Vorstellungen von Schülerinnen und Schülern zu raum-, zeit- und geschichtsbezogenen Themen:eine explorative Studie in Klassen des 1., 3., 5. und 7. Schuljahres im Kanton Bern

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    In der explorativen Studie wird untersucht, welche Vorstellungen Schülerinnen und Schüler zu raum-, zeit- und geschichtsbezogenen Themen haben und wie different und heterogen diese innerhalb von Klassen und zwischen den Schulstufen sind. Die Studie wird im Kontext fachdidaktischer Forschungen und eines kognitiv-konstruierenden Lehr- und Lernverständnisses verortet. Als Grundlage für die Entwicklung von Aufgaben wird ein theoretisch begründetes Kompetenzmodell skizziert. Die Erhebungen wurden in insgesamt 12 Klassen der Stufen 1., 3., 5. und 7. Schuljahr im Kanton Bern durchgeführt. Die zum Ausdruck gebrachten Vorstellungen zu 17 Aufgaben wurden bezüglich Gehalt, Strukturierung und Differenzierung ausgewertet und Leveln zugewiesen. Für die Lernenden konnte damit ein Kompetenz-Profil zu Vorstellungen erstellt werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Vorstellungen von einem breiten Bündel von Einflüssen geprägt sind und dabei vor allem auch außerschulische Erfahrungen eine Rolle spielen

    Synthetic Nanoparticles for Vaccines and Immunotherapy

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    The immune system plays a critical role in our health. No other component of human physiology plays a decisive role in as diverse an array of maladies, from deadly diseases with which we are all familiar to equally terrible esoteric conditions: HIV, malaria, pneumococcal and influenza infections; cancer; atherosclerosis; autoimmune diseases such as lupus, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. The importance of understanding the function of the immune system and learning how to modulate immunity to protect against or treat disease thus cannot be overstated. Fortunately, we are entering an exciting era where the science of immunology is defining pathways for the rational manipulation of the immune system at the cellular and molecular level, and this understanding is leading to dramatic advances in the clinic that are transforming the future of medicine.1,2 These initial advances are being made primarily through biologic drugs– recombinant proteins (especially antibodies) or patient-derived cell therapies– but exciting data from preclinical studies suggest that a marriage of approaches based in biotechnology with the materials science and chemistry of nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles, could enable more effective and safer immune engineering strategies. This review will examine these nanoparticle-based strategies to immune modulation in detail, and discuss the promise and outstanding challenges facing the field of immune engineering from a chemical biology/materials engineering perspectiveNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grants AI111860, CA174795, CA172164, AI091693, and AI095109)United States. Department of Defense (W911NF-13-D-0001 and Awards W911NF-07-D-0004

    Diagnostic Nodes of Patient Selection for Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Among Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Swiss National Multicenter Survey.

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    The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with peritoneal metastases is challenging, and the roles of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are unclear and debated among experts. The experts of the Swiss Peritoneal Cancer Group were contacted and agreed to participate in this analysis. Experts from 9 centers in Switzerland provided their decision algorithms for CRS/HIPEC for patients with or at high risk for peritoneal metastases from CRC. Their responses were converted into decision trees on the basis of objective consensus methodology. The decision trees were used as a basis to identify consensus and discrepancies. The final treatment algorithms included a total of 5 decision criteria (age, Peritoneal Cancer Index [PCI], extraperitoneal metastases, Peritoneal Surface Disease Severity Score, and various risk factors [RF]) and 2 treatment options (HIPEC, yes or no). HIPEC was never recommended for patients without peritoneal metastases in the absence of RF for peritoneal metastases. For patients with a PCI ≤15 without organ metastases, all centers recommended CRS/HIPEC. There was also a consensus not to perform CRS/HIPEC in elderly patients (80 years and older), those with a PCI >20, and those with unresectable metastases. For patients with a PCI = 16 to 20, there was no consensus. Multiple decision criteria relevant to all participating centers were identified. Because patient selection for CRS/HIPEC remains difficult, uniform criteria for the term "high risk" for peritoneal metastases and systemic metastases are helpful. Future trials and guidelines should take these criteria into account

    The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: an international prospective cohort study

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    [EN]Aim: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. Methods: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January–April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. Results: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90–1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69–1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. Conclusion: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

    Comprehensive Treatment Algorithms of the Swiss Peritoneal Cancer Group for Peritoneal Cancer of Gastrointestinal Origin.

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    Peritoneal cancer (PC) is a dire finding, yet in selected patients, long-term survival is possible. Complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) together with combination immunochemotherapy is essential to achieve cure. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) are increasingly added to the multimodal treatment. The Swiss Peritoneal Cancer Group (SPCG) is an interdisciplinary group of expert clinicians. It has developed comprehensive treatment algorithms for patients with PC from pseudomyxoma peritonei, peritoneal mesothelioma, gastric, and colorectal origin. They include multimodal neoadjuvant treatment, surgical resection, and palliative care. The indication for and results of CRS HIPEC and PIPAC are discussed in light of the current literature. Institutional volume and clinical expertise required to achieve best outcomes are underlined, while inclusion of patients considered for CRS HIPEC and PIPAC in a clinical registry is strongly advised. The present recommendations are in line with current international guidelines and provide the first comprehensive treatment proposal for patients with PC including intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The SPCG comprehensive treatment algorithms provide evidence-based guidance for the multimodal care of patients with PC of gastrointestinal origin that were endorsed by all Swiss clinicians routinely involved in the multimodal care of these challenging patients

    Impact of microsatellite status in early-onset colonic cancer

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    Background The molecular profile of early-onset colonic cancer is undefined. This study evaluated clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes of young patients with colonic cancer according to microsatellite status. Methods Anonymized data from an international collaboration were analysed. Criteria for inclusion were patients younger than 50 years diagnosed with stage I-III colonic cancer that was surgically resected. Clinicopathological features, microsatellite status, and disease-specific outcomes were evaluated. Results A total of 650 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. Microsatellite instability (MSI) was identified in 170 (26.2 per cent), whereas 480 had microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumours (relative risk of MSI 2.5 compared with older patients). MSI was associated with a family history of colorectal cancer and lesions in the proximal colon. The proportions with pathological node-positive disease (45.9 versus 45.6 per cent; P = 1.000) and tumour budding (20.3 versus 20.5 per cent; P = 1.000) were similar in the two groups. Patients with MSI tumours were more likely to have BRAF (22.5 versus 6.9 per cent; P < 0.001) and KRAS (40.0 versus 24.2 per cent; P = 0.006) mutations, and a hereditary cancer syndrome (30.0 versus 5.0 per cent; P < 0.001; relative risk 6). Five-year disease-free survival rates in the MSI group were 95.0, 92.0, and 80.0 per cent for patients with stage I, II, and III tumours, compared with 88.0, 88.0, and 65.0 per cent in the MSS group (P = 0.753, P = 0.487, and P = 0.105 respectively). Conclusion Patients with early-onset colonic cancer have a high risk of MSI and defined genetic conditions. Those with MSI tumours have more adverse pathology (budding, KRAS/BRAF mutations, and nodal metastases) than older patients with MSI cancers. Data on 650 patients aged less than 50 years diagnosed with stage I-III colonic cancer and undergoing surgery with curative intent were collected, and the impact of microsatellite instability (MSI) on clinicopathological features and disease-specific outcomes was assessed. Patients with early-onset disease had a high risk of MSI and defined genetic conditions. Those with MSI tumours had more adverse pathology (budding, KRAS/BRAF mutations, and nodal metastases) than older patients with MSI cancers

    EAES Recommendations for Recovery Plan in Minimally Invasive Surgery Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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    Background: COVID-19 pandemic presented an unexpected challenge for the surgical community in general and Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) specialists in particular. This document aims to summarize recent evidence and experts’ opinion and formulate recommendations to guide the surgical community on how to best organize the recovery plan for surgical activity across diferent sub-specialities after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Recommendations were developed through a Delphi process for establishment of expert consensus. Domain topics were formulated and subsequently subdivided into questions pertinent to diferent surgical specialities following the COVID-19 crisis. Sixty-fve experts from 24 countries, representing the entire EAES board, were invited. Fifty clinicians and six engineers accepted the invitation and drafted statements based on specifc key questions. Anonymous voting on the statements was performed until consensus was achieved, defned by at least 70% agreement. Results: A total of 92 consensus statements were formulated with regard to safe resumption of surgery across eight domains, addressing general surgery, upper GI, lower GI, bariatrics, endocrine, HPB, abdominal wall and technology/research. The statements addressed elective and emergency services across all subspecialties with specifc attention to the role of MIS during the recovery plan. Eighty-four of the statements were approved during the frst round of Delphi voting (91.3%) and another 8 during the following round after substantial modifcation, resulting in a 100% consensus. Conclusion: The recommendations formulated by the EAES board establish a framework for resumption of surgery following COVID-19 pandemic with particular focus on the role of MIS across surgical specialities. The statements have the potential for wide application in the clinical setting, education activities and research work across diferent healthcare systems
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