Straßenkinderprojekte in Afrika : Projekte nationaler und internationaler Organisationen

Die Arbeit erläutert den Begriff Straßenkinder und die Ursachen, die zu einem Leben auf der Straße führen können. Dabei wird auf die mit Straßenkindern eng verknüpften Themen Kinderarbeit, Prostitution, Kindersoldaten und Aidswaisen eingegangen. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Problematik in Afrika. Verschiedene Arten von Hilfsorganisationen werden besprochen und ausgewählte Projekte vorgestellt. Drei Hilfsrojekte von „MISEREOR“, der Kinderhilfsorganisation „terre des hommes“ sowie der „Deutschen Welthungerhilfe e.V.“ werden ausführlicher beschrieben. Den Schluß der Arbeit bilden kritische Aspekte der Projektarbeit sowie eine kurze Zusammenfassung und ein Ausblick

B‐cell receptors of EBV‐negative Burkitt lymphoma bind modified isoforms of autoantigens

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) represents the most aggressive B‐cell‐lymphoma. Beside the hallmark of IG‐MYC‐translocation, surface B‐cell receptor (BCR) is expressed, and mutations in the BCR pathway are frequent. Coincidental infections in endemic BL, and specific extra‐nodal sites suggest antigenic triggers. To explore this hypothesis, BCRs of BL cell lines and cases were screened for reactivities against a panel of bacterial lysates, lysates of Plasmodium falciparum, a custom‐made virome array and against self‐antigens, including post‐translationally modified antigens. An atypically modified, SUMOylated isoform of Bystin, that is, SUMO1‐BYSL was identified as the antigen of the BCR of cell line CA46. SUMO1‐BYSL was exclusively expressed in CA46 cells with K139 as site of the SUMOylation. Secondly, an atypically acetylated isoform of HSP40 was identified as the antigen of the BCR of cell line BL41. K104 and K179 were the sites of immunogenic acetylation, and the acetylated HSP40 isoform was solely present in BL41 cells. Functionally, addition of SUMO1‐BYSL and acetylated HSP40 induced BCR pathway activation in CA46 and BL41 cells, respectively. Accordingly, SUMO1‐BYSL‐ETA’ immunotoxin, produced by a two‐step intein‐based conjugation, led to the specific killing of CA46 cells. Autoantibodies directed against SUMO1‐BYSL were found in 3 of 14 (21.4%), and autoantibodies against acetylated HSP40 in 1/14(7.1%) patients with sporadic Burkitt‐lymphoma. No reactivities against antigens of the infectious agent spectrum could be observed. These results indicate a pathogenic role of autoreactivity evoked by immunogenic post‐translational modifications in a subgroup of sporadic BL including two EBV‐negative BL cell lines

B-cell receptor reactivity against Rothia mucilaginosa in nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a Hodgkin lymphoma expressing functional B-cell receptors (BCR). Recently, we described a dual stimulation model of IgD+ lymphocyte-predominant cells by Moraxella catarrhalis antigen RpoC and its superantigen MID/hag, associated with extralong CDR3 and HLA-DRB1*04 or HLADRB1*07 haplotype. The aim of the present study was to extend the antigen screening to further bacteria and viruses. The fragment antibody-binding (Fab) regions of seven new and 15 previously reported cases were analyzed. The reactivity of non-Moraxella spp.-reactive Fab regions against lysates of Rothia mucilaginosa was observed in 5/22 (22.7%) cases. Galactofuranosyl transferase (Gltf) and 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (Bdh) of R. mucilaginosa were identified by comparative silver- and immuno-staining in two-dimensional gels, with subsequent mass spectrometry and validation by western blots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both R. mucilaginosa Gltf and Bdh induced BCR pathway activation and proliferation in vitro. Apoptosis was induced by recombinant Gltf/ETA’-immunotoxin conjugates in DEV cells expressing recombinant R. mucilaginosa-reactive BCR. Reactivity against M. catarrhalis RpoC was confirmed in 3/7 newly expressed BCR (total 10/22 reactive to Moraxella spp.), resulting in 15/22 (68.2%) cases with BCR reactivity against defined bacterial antigens. These findings strengthen the hypothesis of bacterial trigger contributing to subsets of NLPHL

Gene expression profile of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer by RT-qPCR

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been associated with prognosis especially in breast cancer and have been proposed as a liquid biopsy for repeated follow up examinations. Molecular characterization of CTCs is difficult to address since they are very rare and the amount of available sample is very limited.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We quantified by RT-qPCR <it>CK-19, MAGE-A3, HER-2, TWIST1, hTERT α+β+</it>, and <it>mammaglobin </it>gene transcripts in immunomagnetically positively selected CTCs from 92 breast cancer patients, and 28 healthy individuals. We also compared our results with the CellSearch system in 33 of these patients with early breast cancer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RT-qPCR is highly sensitive and specific and can detect the expression of each individual gene at the one cell level. None of the genes tested was detected in the group of healthy donors. In 66 operable breast cancer patients, <it>CK-19 </it>was detected in 42.4%, <it>HER-2 </it>in 13.6%, <it>MAGE-A3 </it>in 21.2%, <it>hMAM </it>in 13.6%, <it>TWIST-1 </it>in 42.4%, and <it>hTERT α+β+ </it>in 10.2%. In 26 patients with verified metastasis, <it>CK-19 </it>was detected in 53.8%, <it>HER-2 </it>in 19.2%, <it>MAGE-A3 </it>in 15.4%, <it>hMAM </it>in 30.8%, <it>TWIST-1 </it>in 38.5% and <it>hTERT </it>α⁺β⁺in 19.2%. Our preliminary data on the comparison between RT-qPCR and CellSearch in 33 early breast cancer patients showed that RT-qPCR gives more positive results in respect to CellSearch.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Molecular characterization of CTCs has revealed a remarkable heterogeneity of gene expression between breast cancer patients. In a small percentage of patients, CTCs were positive for all six genes tested, while in some patients only one of these genes was expressed. The clinical significance of these findings in early breast cancer remains to be elucidated when the clinical outcome for these patients is known.</p

Produktion | Problemfelder der Produktion im Überblick. Working Paper aus der Reihe Logistics and Supply Chain Management

ArbeitsbuchProduktion stellt sich dar als Kombination von Inputfaktoren und deren Transformation zu Output. Ausgehend von dieser prozessualen Sichtweise der betrieblichen Leistungserstellung gibt dieses Arbeitsbuch einen umfassenden Überblick über Problemfelder der Produktion.Fundiert durch einen kurzen Abriss zur Produktionstheorie, speziell die Produktionsfunktionen von Typ A und B, werden die Problemfelder des Input-, Output- und Throughput-Managements, hier speziell die Produktionsprogrammplanung, die Materialwirtschaft und die Produktionsprozess-Steuerung, dargestellt. Daneben exisitiert ein Kapitel zur Produkt- und Produktionsrationalisierung, um Interdependenzen zwischen Input- und Output-Management deutlich hervortreten zu lassen.Das Arbeitsbuch richtet sich vorrangig an Studenten der Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Wirtschaftswissenschaftlern und Managern mag es als erste Orientierung im Problembereich der Produktion dienen

Schaffung von Wettbewerbsvorteilen durch die Auswahl strategischer Lieferanten | Executive Report. März 2006

Executive ReportDieser Executive Report nutzt die statistischen Möglichkeiten von PLS-Strukturmodellen zur detaillierten Analyse des Einflusses des Einkaufs zur Schaffung von Wettbewerbsvorteilen durch die strategieorientierte Auswahl von Lieferanten. PLS-Strukturmodelle erlauben in diesem Executive Report eine detaillierte Analyse der Wirkungszusammenhänge zwischen vier Einkaufsperformance-Hebeln (Material- und Servicekosten senken, Umsatzsteigerung unterstützen, Kapitalkosten verringern, Risiken reduzieren) und der Unternehmensperformance. Weitere Analysen zeigen auf, welche konkreten Fähigkeiten von strategischen Lieferanten die Nutzung der vier Einkaufsperformance-Hebel unterstützen und welchen Einfluss strategische Unternehmensprioritäten auf die Auswahl strategischer Lieferanten haben