Mutations of the ret protooncogene in German multiple endocrine neoplasia families: Relation between genotype and phenotype.

It has been suggested that not only the position but also the nature of the mutations of the ret protooncogene strongly correlate with the clinical manifestation of the multiple endocrine neoplasm type 2 (MEN 2) syndrome. In particular, individuals with a Cys634-Arg substitution should have a greater risk of developing parathyroid disease. We, therefore, analyzed 94 unrelated families from Germany with inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) for mutation of the ret protooncogene. In all but 1 of 59 families with MEN 2A, germline mutations in the extracellular domain of the ret protein were found. Some 81% of the MEN 2A mutations affected codon 634. Phenotype-genotype correlations suggested that the prevalence of pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism is significantly higher in families with codon 634 mutations, but there was no correlation with the nature of the mutation. In all but 1 of 27 familial MTC (FMTC) families, mutations were detected in 1 of 4 cysteines in the extracellular domain of the ret protooncogene. Half of the FMTC mutations affected codon 634. Mutations outside of codon 634 occurred more often in FMTC families than in MEN 2A families. In all but 1 of 8 MEN 2B patients, de novo mutations in codon 918 were found. These data confirm the preferential localization of MEN 2-associated mutations and the correlation between disease phenotype and the position of the ret mutation, but there was no correlation between the occurrence of hyperparathyroidism or pheochromocytoma and the nature of the mutation

Unenhanced helical computed tomography vs intravenous urography in patients with acute flank pain: accuracy and economic impact in a randomized prospective trial

Abstract.: Unenhanced helical computed tomography (UHCT) has evolved into a well-accepted alternative to intravenous urography (IVU) in patients with acute flank pain and suspected ureterolithiasis. The purpose of our randomized prospective study was to analyse the diagnostic accuracy of UHCT vs IVU in the normal clinical setting with special interest on economic impact, applied radiation dose and time savings in patient management. A total of 122 consecutive patients with acute flank pain suggestive of urolithiasis were randomized for UHCT (n=59) or IVU (n=63). Patient management (time, contrast media), costs and radiation dose were analysed. The films were independently interpreted by four radiologists, unaware of previous findings, clinical history and clinical outcome. Alternative diagnoses if present were assessed. Direct costs of UHCT and IVU are nearly identical (310/309 Euro). Indirect costs are much lower for UHCT because it saves examination time and when performed immediately initial abdominal plain film (KUB) and sonography are not necessary. Time delay between access to the emergency room and start of the imaging procedure was 32h 7min for UHCT and 36h 55min for IVU. The UHCT took an average in-room time of 23min vs 1h 21min for IVU. Mild to moderate adverse reactions for contrast material were seen in 3 (5%) patients. The UHCT was safe, as no contrast material was needed. The mean applied radiation dose was 3.3mSv for IVU and 6.5mSv for UHCT. Alternative diagnoses were identified in 4 (7%) UHCT patients and 3 (5%) IVU patients. Sensitivity and specificity of UHCT and IVU was 94.1 and 94.2%, and 85.2 and 90.4%, respectively. In patients with suspected renal colic KUB and US may be the least expensive and most easily accessable modalities; however, if needed and available, UHCT can be considered a better alternative than IVU because it has a higher diagnostic accuracy and a better economic impact since it is more effective, faster, less expensive and less risky than IVU. In addition, it also has the capability of detecting various additional renal and extrarenal pathologie

The inventory of geological heritage of the state of São Paulo, Brazil: Methodological basis, results and perspectives

An inventory of geological sites based on solid and clear criteria is a first step for any geoconservation strategy. This paper describes the method used in the geoheritage inventory of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and presents its main results. This inventory developed by the geoscientific community aimed to identify geosites with scientific value in the whole state, using a systematic approach. All 142 geosites representative of 11 geological frameworks were characterised and quantitatively evaluated according to their scientific value and risk of degradation, in order to establish priorities for their future management. An online database of the inventory is under construction, which will be available to be easily consulted and updated by the geoscientific community. All data were made available to the State Geological Institute as the backbone for the implementation of a future state geoconservation strategy.The authors acknowledge the Science Without Borders Programme, Process 075/2012, which supported this study and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Process 2011/17261-6. We also thanks C. Mazoca for his help with maps and figures.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Kapitalerhaltung als Grenze des Cash Pooling

Kapitalerhaltung als Grenze des Cash Pooling. - Hamburg : Kova¤c, 2006. - XXX, 175 S. - (Schriften zum Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht ; 5). - Zugl.: Augsburg, Univ., Diss., 200

Berlin Haselhorster Apotheke

<p>Historical questionnaire/s 1924/1948 and index cards, partly selected enclosures regarding the history of a</p><p>German pharmacy, catalogued via Kalliope portal (Historischer Fragebogen 1924/1948 und Karteikarten, ggf.</p><p>gemeinfreie Anlagen zur Apothekengeschichte; als Katalog dient das Nachlassportal Kalliope):</p><p>https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-70963</p><p>[Funktion: Im Findbuch anzeigen]</p><p> </p><p>Please note: The Kalliope catalogue entry might indicate related material in the archival folder which cannot</p><p>be published due to copyright or other legal restrictions (NB: Das Katalogisat bei Kalliope kann auch auf</p><p>Materialien - teils erheblichen Umfangs - verweisen, die aus archiv- oder urheberrechtlichen Gründen nicht</p><p>veröffentlicht werden dürfen).</p&gt

Guided Mode Resonance Enhanced Microscopy and Lasing

A major goal of nanophotonics research is to enhance light-matter interaction and to develop novel functionalities. The work in this thesis addresses this goal in 2 areas, i.e. microscopy and laser emission, using guided mode resonances (GMRs) as a tool. GMRs exhibit significant field enhancements, which makes them interesting for the enhancement of light-matter interactions, such as light scattering or fluorescence emission; the challenge was to show whether and how GMRs could be used to improve microscopy methods such as interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT) and fluorescence microscopy. The second challenge was to show whether GMRs could be used to enhance laser operation of 2D-material lasers. In the first part of the thesis, I describe how I built, tested and optimised an optical system that allows the study of enhanced microscopy. Then I demonstrate an efficient method for quantifying the enhancement of fluorescence excitation with a chirped GMR grating. With regular iSCAT, I was able to detect gold nanoparticles as small as 20 nm. In the second part, I show how a two-dimensional GMR grating can be used to both enhance the pump absorption and the laser emission of a WS2 monolayer. The devices, lasing with a low pump threshold, have a much higher output power and spatial coherence than other 2D-material lasers reported in the literature. The contrast enhancement in microscopy opens new possibilities, as it can either push the detection limits or simplify the setup requirements for detecting a given particle. Regarding the lasing application, I showed that the concept of GMR-based lasers with large area 2D-material gain media is promising. The concept could be adapted to other 2D-materials emitting at wavelengths relevant for communication or sensing applications. This would represent an important step towards operation with reduced power consumption or for opening novel opportunities for making lasers

Geochemistry and Sr, Nd, Pb isotopic compositionnext term of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) in Guyana and Guinea

The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) is one of the largest igneous provinces on Earth, extending more than 5000 km north to south, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Its emplacement occurred about 200 Ma ago, at the Triassic–Jurassic boundary, and is linked to the initial breakup of Pangaea. Two areas of the province are studied here: French Guyana/Surinam (South America) and Guinea (West Africa), in order to document the petrogenesis and geodynamical significance of high-Ti and low-Ti basaltic magmas from the CAMP. In Guyana, doleritic and gabbroic dykes are located on the edge of the Guiana Shield, and represent limited volumes of magma. They display low SiO2 (47–50%), high TiO2 (2.5–3.5%) and high FeO tholeiitic trends and show variably enriched trace element patterns ((La/Yb)n=1.5–5.1). Their previous termisotopicnext term signature and ratios of very incompatible elements (εNdi=+5.8 to +4.2, (87Sr/86Sr)i=0.703–0.705, (207Pb/204Pb)i=15.46–15.64) match a depleted PREMA (prevalent mantle)-like source. Their genesis can be modeled by ca. 15% partial melting of a lherzolite source, and a subsequent limited fractional crystallization (5–10%) or a slight upper crustal assimilation–fractional crystallization (AFC, r=0.1, Proterozoic contaminant). In Guinea, in contrast, huge volumes of CAMP magmas were intruded along the Rockelides suture and the West African craton, forming the Fouta Djalon sills and the Kakoulima laccolith. The laccolith is more than 1000 m thick. These features consist of gabbros, dolerites, diorites and mafic (gabbro) and ultramafic (dunite, wherlite) cumulates. Guinean tholeiites show high SiO2 (51–58%), low TiO2 (0.7–1.2%) and FeO trends, with high LILE/HFSE ratios and slight negative Nb–Ta anomalies. previous termIsotopicnext term signatures (εNdi=+0.4 to −5.3, (87Sr/86Sr)i=0.705–0.710, (207Pb/204Pb)i=15.57–15.66) indicate a more enriched source than for Guyana as well as a higher rate of magma–upper crust interaction through an AFC process (r=0.3, Birimian crust contaminant) and, probably, an additional upper crustal contamination for the most differentiated sample. This geochemical study supports the prevalence in Guinea, as for other low-Ti CAMP tholeiites, of a lithospheric mantle source, previously enriched during ancient subduction events, and preferentially reactivated in late Triassic times by edge-driven convection between cratonic and mobile belt domains. A larger contribution from a depleted asthenospheric source is required to generate high-Ti tholeiites in Guyana, which may reflect the development of CAMP rifting towards the initiation of the Central Atlantic oceanic crust