Assessing the Advantages, Limitations and Potential of Human Primary Prostate Epithelial Cells as a Pre-clinical Model for Prostate Cancer Research

Choosing an appropriate cell model(s) is the first decision to be made before starting a new project or programme of study. Here, we address the rationale that can be behind this decision and we summarize the current cell models that are used to study prostate cancer. Researchers face the challenge of choosing a model that recapitulates the complexity and heterogeneity of prostate cancer. The use of primary prostate epithelial cells cultured from patient tissue is discussed, and the necessity for close clinical-academic collaboration in order to do this is highlighted. Finally, a novel quantitative phase imaging technique is described, along with the potential for cell characterization to not only include gene expression and protein markers but also morphological features, cell behaviour and kinetic activity

Identifying Berne's significant industrial sites

The purpose of our project was to research and evaluate industrial sites in Switzerland's largest and most diverse Canton, Berne. Drawing from the literature we formulated guidelines for researching and analyzing the historic, economic, physical features of these sites. Our data was compiled into an Access database and is available on the SGTI web page www.industrie-kultur.c