Two Turquoise Gems from Iran

Includes bibliographical reference

Correlation between patient quality of life in palliative care and burden of their family caregivers: a prospective observational cohort study

Background: Family caregivers play a key role in palliative care at home, and understanding the interdependencies in the constellation of patient, family caregivers and service providers is important. As few longitudinal studies have examined the influence of patient quality of life (QoL) in palliative care on burden of family caregivers, the aim of this study was to identify correlations between changing patient QoL and changing burden of family caregivers that need consideration in patient management. Methods: Palliative patients with cancer in primary care evaluated their QoL (Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care, QLQ-C15-PAL). They were assessed monthly for an interval of 6 months or until death of the patient. Family caregivers reported the burden they perceived while supporting the patient (Short form of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, BSFC). Longitudinal data were analysed for all patients with at least 3 available assessments, considering the most recent data for participants with more than 3 assessments. Changes in patient QoL were analysed using the Friedman test. In a stepwise regression analysis, influences of change in patient QoL on changing caregiver burden were investigated. Results: One hundred patients (63 men, 37 women; average age: 68 years) were enrolled in the study. The most common primary diagnoses were colon, lung or breast cancer. In 58 cases, assessments were available from both patients and caregivers. Patients reported overall quality of life increasing towards end of life, although reporting that physical functioning deteriorated. Symptoms of pain and fatigue bothered patients most. Caregiver burden was moderate and on average did not change over time. In a stepwise regression model, the difference in emotional functioning and the difference in dyspnoea showed an influence on the development of caregiver burden (explained variance of 19.3 %). Conclusions: Patients’ dyspnoea, feelings of depression and anxiety impacted on the perceived burden of family caregivers, but are manageable symptoms. Our results corroborate the need of regular assessment of patients’ needs taking into account caregiver burden. In this way, general practice teams can intervene early and may more likely meet patients’ needs in the end of life care process. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN78021852, assigned on 04/04/200

Mutations of the EPHB6 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Induce a Pro-Metastatic Phenotype in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Alterations of Eph receptor tyrosine kinases are frequent events in human cancers. Genetic variations of EPHB6 have been described but the functional outcome of these alterations is unknown. The current study was conducted to screen for the occurrence and to identify functional consequences of EPHB6 mutations in non-small cell lung cancer. Here, we sequenced the entire coding region of EPHB6 in 80 non-small cell lung cancer patients and 3 tumor cell lines. Three potentially relevant mutations were identified in primary patient samples of NSCLC patients (3.8%). Two point mutations led to instable proteins. An in frame deletion mutation (del915-917) showed enhanced migration and accelerated wound healing in vitro. Furthermore, the del915-917 mutation increased the metastatic capability of NSCLC cells in an in vivo mouse model. Our results suggest that EPHB6 mutations promote metastasis in a subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Munigua, Spanien

Since more than 60 years the Madrid Department of the German Archaeological Institute has been conducting investigations at the Hispano-Roman municipium of Munigua. Current research focuses on a 3D-visualisation and reconstruction of the city. The project is accompanied by a thorough study of the function and use of the individual buildings in antiquity. During the campaigns of 2015 and 2016 the forum, the streets as well as the podium-temple of the city were analyzed. As a result, the voting process on the forum as well as the processional way through the city could be hypothetically reconstructed. A geophysical survey in the southern part of the city revealed the existence and structure of buildings

Munigua – der Anfang vom Ende. Die Aussage der Bronzeskulpturen und anderer Funde

Deutsche Zusammenfassung folgt.Entre los hallazgos de metal de Munigua aparecen numerosos fragmentos de estatuas de bronce de gran formato, una de ellas dorada, relieves de bronce, inscripciones y charnelas de puertas. Éstos fueron fraccionados sistemáticamente en partes muy pequeñas, con el propósito de prepararlos para un transporte y su posterior reutilización. Debido a que por lo visto el fraccionamiento tuvo lugar en la plaza central del municipio, debió ser ejecutado con el consentimiento del consejo de la ciudad, concretamente, en un momento en que la ciudad estaba ricamente dotada con estatuas e inscripciones, esto es, cuando no había sido abandonada. Los cambios en la situación económica, que tornan comprensible un comportamiento de este tipo, se manifiestan aproximadamente a partir de comienzos del siglo III d. C

»Corriger la fortune«. Falschspiel in Munigua

Deutsche Zusammenfassung folgt

Munigua – der Anfang vom Ende. Die Aussage der Bronzeskulpturen und anderer Funde

Deutsche Zusammenfassung folgt.Entre los hallazgos de metal de Munigua aparecen numerosos fragmentos de estatuas de bronce de gran formato, una de ellas dorada, relieves de bronce, inscripciones y charnelas de puertas. Éstos fueron fraccionados sistemáticamente en partes muy pequeñas, con el propósito de prepararlos para un transporte y su posterior reutilización. Debido a que por lo visto el fraccionamiento tuvo lugar en la plaza central del municipio, debió ser ejecutado con el consentimiento del consejo de la ciudad, concretamente, en un momento en que la ciudad estaba ricamente dotada con estatuas e inscripciones, esto es, cuando no había sido abandonada. Los cambios en la situación económica, que tornan comprensible un comportamiento de este tipo, se manifiestan aproximadamente a partir de comienzos del siglo III d. C