Search for relativistic magnetic monopoles with the AMANDA detector

Diese Arbeit beschreibt die Suche nach relativistischen magnetischen Monopolen mit dem AMANDA Detektor. Die Methoden der Simulation und der Untergrundseparation werden erläutert. Keine Spuren mit der Signatur eines magnetischen Monopols wurden gefunden. Das sich ergebende Flusslimit von 0.61x10^-16 1/(cm^2 sr s) für Monopole, die sich nahe der Lichtgeschwindigkeit bewegen, liegt um einen Faktor 3-4 besser als die Ergebnisse vergleichbarer Untergrundexperimente und einen Faktor 16 unterhalb der Grenze, die aus der beobachteten Stabilität der galaktischen Magnetfelder liegt.This thesis describes the search for relativistic magnetic monopoles with the AMANDA detector. The methods of their simulation and their separation from the background are given. No tracks with the signature of a magnetic monopoles are found, resulting in an upper limit on the flux of 0.61x10^-16 1/(cm^2 sr s) for monopoles with velocities close to the speed of light. This is better by a factor of 3-4 compared to results from other underground detectors and a factor of 16 below the limit derived from the observed stability of the galactic magnetic fields

Treatment characteristics and outcomes of pure Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas - A multicentric European study on radically resected patients

Background: Acinar cell carcinomas (ACC) belong to the exocrine pancreatic malignancies. Due to their rarity, there is no consensus regarding treatment strategies for resectable ACC. Methods: This is a retrospective multicentric study of radically resected pure pancreatic ACC. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Further endpoints were oncologic outcomes related to tumor stage and therapeutic protocols. Results: 59 patients (44 men) with a median age of 64 years were included. The median tumor size was 45.0 mm. 61.0% were pT3 (n = 36), nodal positivity rate was 37.3% (n = 22), and synchronous distant metastases were present in 10.1% of the patients (n = 6). 5-Years OS was 60.9% and median DFS 30 months. 24 out of 31 recurred systemically (n = 18 only systemic, n = 6 local and systemic). Regarding TNM-staging, only the N2-stage negatively influenced OS and DFS (p = 0.004, p = 0.001). Adjuvant treatment protocols (performed in 62.7%) did neither improve OS (p = 0.542) nor DFS (p = 0.159). In 9 cases, radical resection was achieved following neoadjuvant therapy. Discussion: Radical surgery is currently the mainstay for resectable ACC, even for limited metastatic disease. Novel (neo)adjuvant treatment strategies are needed, since current systemic therapies do not result in a clear survival benefit in the perioperative setting