Evaluation der beruflichen Eingliederung: Bericht zu den förderlichen und hinderliche Faktoren im Coaching am Arbeitsplatz: Projektbericht

Im Rahmen eines Auftragprojektes der Rehaklinik Bellikon untersuchte die Autorengruppe die Qualität deren Angebotes „Coaching am Arbeitsplatz“. Die Qualitätsmessung zielte auf hinderliche und förderliche Faktoren dieses Angebotes aus Sicht der Klientel. Die Daten erhob die Projektgruppe anhand von Leitfadeninterviews und Abschlussberichten. Es stellte sich heraus, dass für die Klientinnen und Klienten Faktoren wie Motivation, Vertrauen, eigene Vorstellungen, Unterstützung und verbindliche Abmachungen besonders von Bedeutung waren. Weiter zeigte die Auswertung mittels der sieben Grundsätze des Return-to-work-Prozesses die gute Arbeit der Job-Coaches in Sachen Verantwortung und Kommunikation. Es stellte sich auch heraus, dass die Arbeitgeber in diesem Prozess eine zentrale Rolle einnehmen. Diese Verantwortung nahmen sie aber nur teilweise wahr. Aufgrund der Ergebnisse empfiehlt die Projektgruppe die bereits sehr gute Kommunikation zwischen Job-Coaches und Klienten bzw. weiteren Netzwerkpartner unbedingt beizubehalten. Die Job-Coaches sollen weiterhin die wichtigste Säule des Wiedereingliederungsprozesses sein und diese Verantwortung wahrnehmen. Die Projektgruppe ist der Meinung, dass die für die Klientel wichtigsten Bezugspersonen in den Wiedereingliederungsprozess einbezogen werden sollen. Vermehrte Überzeugungsarbeit bei den Arbeitgebern, sowie den Einbezug des Teams, erachten wir als weitere wichtige Punkte. In diesem Zusammenhang darf der Mehrwert eines handicapierten Menschen durchaus bei Arbeitgebern erwähnt werden. Es gilt positive Erfahrungen aufzuzeigen und die defizitäre Sicht etwas in den Hintergrund zu drängen

Anisotropic particles from LC polymers for optical manipulation

We have developed a method to convert 10 different LC acrylate monomers into colloids by dispersion polymerization. This yields nine different types of anisotropic colloids with nematic and different smectic phases. The diameter of these colloids mostly varied between 0.5 and 3.5 μm; it can be adjusted by variation of the solvent mixture and it can be systematically increased by seed polymerization. The polydispersity of the anisotropic colloids is thereby often below 10%. Polarizing microscopy shows that colloids of a size between about 2 to 4 μm appear to have a bipolar director configuration. Smaller colloids appear uniaxially oriented, the resolution does, however, not allow a more refined investigation of the director pattern. These anisotropic spheres (diameter between 0.7 and 3.7 μm) can be trapped with an optical tweezers. Circularly polarized light transfers a torque to the particles, enabling one to rotate them clockwise and anticlockwise, which makes these spheres attractive as actuators. The size dependence of their rotational frequency makes it additionally possible to determine changes of the director configuration with size. For a nematic colloid (P 6), it could be shown that the anisotropy stays constant from 1.6 to 3.4 μm

Single-Center Experience with a Targeted Next Generation Sequencing Assay for Assessment of Relevant Somatic Alterations in Solid Tumors

Companion diagnostics rely on genomic testing of molecular alterations to enable effective cancer treatment. Here we report the clinical application and validation of the Oncomine Focus Assay (OFA), an integrated, commercially available next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay for the rapid and simultaneous detection of single nucleotide variants, short insertions and deletions, copy number variations, and gene rearrangements in 52 cancer genes with therapeutic relevance. Two independent patient cohorts were investigated to define the workflow, turnaround times, feasibility, and reliability of OFA targeted sequencing in clinical application and using archival material. Cohort I consisted of 59 diagnostic clinical samples from the daily routine submitted for molecular testing over a 4-month time period. Cohort II consisted of 39 archival melanoma samples that were up to 15 years old. Libraries were prepared from isolated nucleic acids and sequenced on the Ion Torrent PGM sequencer. Sequencing datasets were analyzed using the Ion Reporter software. Genomic alterations were identified and validated by orthogonal conventional assays including pyrosequencing and immunohistochemistry. Sequencing results of both cohorts, including archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material stored up to 15 years, were consistent with published variant frequencies. A concordance of 100% between established assays and OFA targeted NGS was observed. The OFA workflow enabled a turnaround of 3½ days. Taken together, OFA was found to be a convenient tool for fast, reliable, broadly applicable and cost-effective targeted NGS of tumor samples in routine diagnostics. Thus, OFA has strong potential to become an important asset for precision oncology

Digital image analysis improves precision of PD-L1 scoring in cutaneous melanoma

AIMS: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become a successful treatment in metastatic melanoma. The high response rates in a subset of patients suggest that a sensitive companion diagnostic test is required. The predictive value of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) staining in melanoma has been questioned due to inconsistent correlation with clinical outcome. Whether this is due to predictive irrelevance of PD-L1 expression or inaccurate assessment techniques remains unclear. The aim of this study was to develop a standardised digital protocol for the assessment of PD-L1 staining in melanoma and to compare the output data and reproducibility to conventional assessment by expert pathologists. METHODS AND RESULTS: In two cohorts with a total of 69 cutaneous melanomas, a highly significant correlation was found between pathologist-based consensus reading and automated PD-L1 analysis (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001). Digital scoring captured the full diagnostic spectrum of PD-L1 expression at single cell resolution. An average of 150 472 melanoma cells (median 38 668 cells; range = 733-1 078 965) were scored per lesion. Machine learning was used to control for heterogeneity introduced by PD-L1-positive inflammatory cells in the tumour microenvironment. The PD-L1 image analysis protocol showed excellent reproducibility (r = 1.0, P < 0.0001) when carried out on independent workstations and reduced variability in PD-L1 scoring of human observers. When melanomas were grouped by PD-L1 expression status, we found a clear correlation of PD-L1 positivity with CD8-positive T cell infiltration, but not with tumour stage, metastasis or driver mutation status. CONCLUSION: Digital evaluation of PD-L1 reduces scoring variability and may facilitate patient stratification in clinical practice

Single-Center Experience with a Targeted Next Generation Sequencing Assay for Assessment of Relevant Somatic Alterations in Solid Tumors

Companion diagnostics rely on genomic testing of molecular alterations to enable effective cancer treatment. Here we report the clinical application and validation of the Oncomine Focus Assay (OFA), an integrated, commercially available next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay for the rapid and simultaneous detection of single nucleotide variants, short insertions and deletions, copy number variations, and gene rearrangements in 52 cancer genes with therapeutic relevance. Two independent patient cohorts were investigated to define the workflow, turnaround times, feasibility, and reliability of OFA targeted sequencing in clinical application and using archival material. Cohort I consisted of 59 diagnostic clinical samples from the daily routine submitted for molecular testing over a 4-month time period. Cohort II consisted of 39 archival melanoma samples that were up to 15 years old. Libraries were prepared from isolated nucleic acids and sequenced on the Ion Torrent PGM sequencer. Sequencing datasets were analyzed using the Ion Reporter software. Genomic alterations were identified and validated by orthogonal conventional assays including pyrosequencing and immunohistochemistry. Sequencing results of both cohorts, including archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material stored up to 15 years, were consistent with published variant frequencies. A concordance of 100% between established assays and OFA targeted NGS was observed. The OFA workflow enabled a turnaround of 3½ days. Taken together, OFA was found to be a convenient tool for fast, reliable, broadly applicable and cost-effective targeted NGS of tumor samples in routine diagnostics. Thus, OFA has strong potential to become an important asset for precision oncology