Comparison of circulating tumor cells and AR-V7 as clinical biomarker in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients

Abstract Biomarker in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treatment are rare. We aimed to compare the clinical value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) as biomarker in mCRPC patients undergoing androgen receptor-targeted agent (ARTA) treatment. Overall cohort (65 patients) was stratified regarding either CTC or AR-V7 status followed by further sub-stratification of the respective other marker. Subsequently, prostate specific antigen (PSA) response, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)) of subgroups was compared. CTCs and AR-V7 were detected in 54 (83%) and 33 (61%) patients, respectively. All AR-V7 + were CTC +. We detected PSA response in all subgroups. For PFS and OS, biomarker stratification revealed differences between all subgroups. Interestingly, no significant differences of AR-V7 transcript copy numbers were detected between responding and non-responding patients. Additionally, multivariable analysis revealed no independent prognostic value of AR-V7 positivity. Both biomarkers show clinical value in prognosticating clinical outcome. Nonetheless, AR-V7 stratification underestimates the heterogenous subgroup of CTC − and CTC + patient, the latter requiring more intense clinical surveillance. Additionally, AR-V7 level does not correlate with clinical response. Thus, the value of AR-V7 as a clinical biomarker must be considered skeptically

Trap-Vaccinate-Release Program to Control Raccoon Rabies, New York, USA

In 2009, an outbreak of raccoon rabies in Central Park in New York City, New York, USA, infected 133 raccoons. Five persons and 2 dogs were exposed but did not become infected. A trap-vaccinate-release program vaccinated ≈500 raccoons and contributed to the end of the epizootic

Prognostic Impact of Bcl-2 Depends on Tumor Histology and Expression of MALAT-1 lncRNA in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

IntroductionApoptosis is a crucial pathway in tumor growth and metastatic development. Apoptotic proteins regulate the underlying molecular cascades and are thought to modulate the tumor response to chemotherapy and radiation. However, the prognostic value of the expression of apoptosis regulators in localized non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear.MethodsWe investigated the protein expression of apoptosis regulators Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Mcl-1, and pp32/PHAPI, and the expression of the lncRNA MALAT-1 in tumor samples from 383 NSCLC patients (median age: 65.6 years; 77.5% male; paraffin-embedded tissue microarrays). For statistical analysis correlation tests, Log rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models were applied.ResultsTumor histology was significantly associated with the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 (all p < 0.001). Among the tested apoptotic markers only Bcl-2 demonstrated prognostic impact (hazard ratio = 0.64, p = 0.012). For NSCLC patients with non-adenocarcinoma histology, Bcl-2 expression was associated with increased overall survival (p = 0.036). Besides tumor histology, prognostic impact of Bcl-2 was also found to depend on MALAT-1 lncRNA expression. Gene expression analysis of A549 adenocarcinoma cells with differential MALAT-1 lncRNA expression demonstrated an influence on the expression of Bcl-2 and its interacting proteins.ConclusionsBcl-2 expression was specifically associated with superior prognosis in localized NSCLC. An interaction of Bcl-2 with MALAT-1 lncRNA expression was revealed, which merits further investigation for risk prediction in resectable NSCLC patients

Psychological well-being in Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has had devastating effects on the Ukrainian population and the global economy, environment, and political order. However, little is known about the psychological states surrounding the outbreak of war, particularly the mental well-being of individuals outside Ukraine. Here, we present a longitudinal experience-sampling study of a convenience sample from 17 European countries (total participants = 1,341, total assessments = 44,894, countries with >100 participants = 5) that allows us to track well-being levels across countries during the weeks surrounding the outbreak of war. Our data show a significant decline in well-being on the day of the Russian invasion. Recovery over the following weeks was associated with an individual’s personality but was not statistically significantly associated with their age, gender, subjective social status, and political orientation. In general, well-being was lower on days when the war was more salient on social media. Our results demonstrate the need to consider the psychological implications of the Russo-Ukrainian war next to its humanitarian, economic, and ecological consequences

Georg Stollwitzer / ÖBB Personenverkehr AG: EuGH, Urteil vom 14. März 2018, C-482/16; Praxishinweis der Forschungsstelle öffentlicher Dienst

Besprechung von EuGH, Urteil vom 14. März 2018, C-482/16 ECLI:EU:C:2018:18

Rechtfertigung von Einstellungshöchstaltersgrenzen gem. Art. 6 Abs. 1 der Richtlinie 2000/78/EG: Praxishinweis der Forschungsstelle öffentlicher Dienst

Besprechung von EuGH, Urteil vom 03.06.2021, Ministero della Giustizia gegen GN, C-914/19, ECLI:EU:C:2021:43

Ruhepausen: Abgrenzung von »Arbeitszeit« und »Ruhezeit« i.S.d. Richtlinie 2003/88/EG: Praxishinweis der Forschungsstelle öffentlicher Dienst

Besprechung von EuGH, Urteil vom 09.09.2021, XR gegen Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy, akciová společnost, C-107/19, ECLI:EU:C:2021:72

EuGH C-580/19 zur Klassifikation von Bereitschaftsdienst und Rufbereitschaft als Arbeits- oder Ruhezeit i.S.d. Richtlinie 2003/88/EG: Praxishinweis der Forschungsstelle öffentlicher Dienst

Besprechung von EuGH, Urteil vom 09.03.2021, RJ gegen Stadt Offenbach am Main, C-580/19, ECLI:EU:C:2021:18

Qualifica Digitalis AP 5 Analyse des Rechtsstatus

Welche Kompetenzen benötigt der deutsche Öffentliche Dienst, um den Herausforderungen der digitalen Transformation angemessen – und nach Möglichkeit sogar proaktiv – begegnen zu können? Dieser Fragestellung widmet sich das vom IT-Planungsrat finanzierte Projekt Qualifica Digitalis (QD), welches unter Federführung der Freien Hansestadt Bremen steht. Die drei zum Projektkonsortium verbundenen Forschungseinrichtungen, das Deutsche For-schungsinstitut für öffentliche Verwaltung (FÖV), das Fraunhofer-Institut für Offene Kommu-nikationssysteme (FOKUS) und das Institut für Informationsmanagement Bremen (ifib) analysieren die Veränderungen von Kompetenzanforderungen und Qualifikationsentwick-lungen, vergleichen sie mit dem Ist-Zustand und leiten daraus Qualifizierungsstrategien und Handlungsempfehlungen für die Ausgestaltung der beruflichen Bildung (Aus-, vor allem aber Fort- und Weiterbildung) und der Personalentwicklung ab. Das Arbeitspaket (AP) 5 von QD analysiert die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen für eine Adaptions- und Weiterentwicklungs-fähigkeit des deutschen Öffentlichen Dienstes im Rahmen der Digitalisierung. Analysiert wurde das Dienstrecht der Beamt:innen und der (Tarif-)Beschäftigten (übergreifend: Bedienstete)

Dienstrechtliche Rahmenbedingungen der digitalen Transformation: (Fortsetzung des Beitrags aus VerwArch 2022, S. 97–141.)

Der zweite Teil des Beitrags enthält die Fortsetzung der Begutachtung des Anspruchs auf Qualifizierung, Überlegungen zu Arbeitsplatzbedingungen in einer digitalisierten Arbeitswelt sowie zur Arbeitsplatzsicherung in der digitalen Transformation und abschließend eine Gesamtbetrachtung und Empfehlunge