Automation, workers' skills and job satisfaction.

When industrial robots are adopted by firms in a local labor market, some workers are displaced and become unemployed. Other workers that are not directly affected by automation may however fear that these new technologies might replace their working tasks in the future. This fear of a possible future replacement is important because it negatively affects workers' job satisfaction at present.

Internet, unmet aspirations and the U-shape of life.

The relationship between age and well-being is U-shaped. One recent explanation for this empirical pattern is related to unmet aspirations theory, pointing out that optimism bias decreases life satisfaction at younger ages, whereas pessimism bias increases it at later stages of life. This paper investigates the effects of Internet use on subjective well-being over the life cycle.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsies (VAB) carried out on an open 1.0T MR imager: Influence of patient and target characteristics on the procedural and clinical results.

Purpose: The study was conducted in order to assess the clinical impact of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsies carried out using an open 1.0T open MRI-system.

Material And Methods: The clinical, imaging, interventional and histological data of all 132 patients with a first MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy carried out between 07/2005 and 03/2012at the Radiological Department were extracted from the clinical files.

Rapid remineralization of multiple disseminated bone lesions after high-dose cytarabine in a patient with isolated myeloid sarcoma.

Isolated myeloid sarcoma is a rare presentation of acute myeloid leukemia. There are limited data available concerning the prognostic relevance and the right treatment strategy for this clinical scenario. Here, we report a case of acute myeloid leukemia with extensive lesions and fractures in multiple bones in a 64-yr-old male patient.

Comparison of image quality using a X-ray stereotactical whole-body system and a direct flat-panel X-ray device in examinations of the pelvis and knee.

Purpose: The novel biplanar X-ray unit "EOS", EOS Imaging, allows to acquire simultaneously 2 perpendicular planes of full-length spine and limbs and to measure spatially correct angles based on the acquired image data sets. This is to be seen alongside with a low spatial resolution, high investment costs and high operating expenses. The use of the biplanar X-ray unit in morphology based scelettal radiography might improve the cost-benefit-relation.

Impact of clinical and lesion characteristics on the results of MR-guided wire localizations of the breast using an open 1.0-T MRI system.

Purpose: Preoperative magnetic resonance (MR)-guided wire localizations are warranted in patients with suspicious focal breast lesions on MR mammographic findings without equivalent in x-ray mammography and ultrasonography. The study was performed to assess the impact of clinical parameters, tumor size, and target localization on the procedural characteristics in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided wire localizations of breast lesions using an open 1.0-T open MR system.

CT coronary angiography: coronary CT-flow quantification supplements morphological stenosis analysis.

Background: Our rationale was to evaluate whether a 64-slice CT scanner allows accurate measurement of computed tomographic (CT) changes in coronary artery flow profiles and whether CT flow measurements are suitable for classifying the significance and hemodynamic relevance of a stenosis and thereby supplement as a functional parameter for morphological stenosis analysis.

Methods: A total of 50 patients prospectively underwent computed tomography coronary angiography (coronary CTA) in a multidetector CT scanner (Brilliance 64, Philips)±1 day before or after invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Immediately thereafter, 2 radiologists reviewed the imaging data to detect any vessel segments with morphology poorly evaluable by coronary CTA.

[Effects of endovascular therapy for renal artery stenosis on blood pressure and renal function: retrospective analysis of an unselected patient collective from 1994 to 2007].

Background: A retrospective analysis of the long-term success rates of endoluminal therapy of renal artery stenosis in a university hospital was carried out.

Material And Methods: Preinterventional and postinterventional data contained in the clinical records of all 104 patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA, 25 patients) or stent PTA (79 patients) from 01 January 1994 to 31 December 2007, were documented using an electronically structured questionnaire and a time period classification. Subgroup analyses and statistical calculations were done using t-tests for joint random samples.

Occlusion of arteriovenous fistulas of in-situ saphenous vein bypass grafts using the amplatzer vascular plug 4: initial experience.

We examined the safety and efficacy of vessel occlusion of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug 4 (AVP-4) in patients with arteriovenous fistulas after in-situ saphenous vein bypass grafts. We treated 18 fistulas of seven patients (four women, mean±standard deviation age 76±7 years, range 63-88 years). All fistulas were detected within 14 days after surgery.

[Portal vein embolization using the amplatzer vascular plug II: preliminary results].

Purpose: In this study we examined the feasibility of portal vein embolization (PVE) by using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP-II). We measured the time of vessel occlusion after plug deployment and changes in plug length and diameter within 4 weeks of PVE.

Materials And Methods: In 10 consecutive patients (4 women, age 64 +/- 10 yrs, 48 - 82 yrs) an ipsilateral PVE of the right portal vein was performed prior to intended hemihepatectomy.

MACC1, a newly identified key regulator of HGF-MET signaling, predicts colon cancer metastasis.

We identified a previously undescribed gene associated with colon cancer by genome-wide expression analysis in primary and metastatic carcinomas: metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1, MACC1. MACC1 expression in tumor specimens is an independent prognostic indicator of metastasis formation and metastasis-free survival. We show that the gene encoding the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, MET, is a transcriptional target of MACC1.

Chromosomal alterations during lymphatic and liver metastasis formation of colorectal cancer.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to screen colorectal carcinomas for chromosomal aberrations that are associated with metastatic phenotype. In total, 63 tumor specimens from 40 patients were investigated, comprising 30 primary tumors, 22 systemic metastases (12 liver, 6 brain, and 4 abdominal wall metastases) and 11 lymph node tumors. Using statistical analysis and histograms to evaluate the chromosomal imbalances, overrepresentations were detected most frequently at 20q11.

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 correlates with chromosomal gain at the cyclooxygenase-2 locus and decreased patient survival in advanced colorectal carcinomas.

Purpose: Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 is observed in a variety of malignancies including colorectal cancer. However, to date, cyclooxygenase-2 expression by advanced human colorectal cancers and their metastases has been poorly characterized. This study was designed to evaluate the rate of cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression in our tumor collection and to clarify its correlation with the chromosomal status at the cyclooxygenase-2 locus in colorectal cancer.

Genetic imbalances with impact on survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic significance of chromosomal alterations in colorectal cancer patients. Histopathological tumour classification is still considered to be the gold standard for the characterization of solid tumours. However, it is well known that such established parameters do not satisfactorily predict the clinical outcome in individual cases.

Overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein correlates with chromosomal gain at the c-erbB-2 locus and patient survival in advanced colorectal carcinomas.

Overexpression of the c-erbB-2 protein (also called HER-2/neu) is observed in a variety of malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study we aimed to evaluate the rate of c-erbB-2 overexpression in our tumor collection and to clarify its correlation with the chromosomal status at the c-erbB-2 locus in CRC. Additionally we correlated the c-erbB-2 overexpression and the chromosomal gain of 17q with patient survival.

Incidence of chromosomal imbalances in advanced colorectal carcinomas and their metastases.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to screen 54 advanced colon carcinomas. i.e.

Cloning and initial analysis of the human multidrug resistance-related MVP/LRP gene promoter.

The lung resistance-related protein (LRP) was identified as the human major vault protein (MVP), and is overexpressed in various multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines and clinical samples. We characterized DNA sequences upstream to the transcription initiation site of the MVP gene in the human non-small cell lung cancer cell line SW-1573. A 1.

High-copy cDNA amplification of minimal total RNA quantities for gene expression analyses.

This protocol describes a PCR-based cDNA amplification technique of small total RNA quantities, optimized for determination and verification of gene expression variations in cells or tissue specimen. A proportional amplification of rare and abundant transcripts is thereby achieved by initial random hexamer-primed reverse transcription of total RNA. Compared to established oligo(dT)-primed techniques, this approach generates shorter than full length copies of long RNAs which leads to a normalized cDNA pool for a more adequate PCR-amplification.

[The effect of parenteral administration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol on the mineral concentrations in the blood of cows in late pregnancy].

The effect of 1 - 3 intramuscular injections of the vitamin D3 metabolite 25-OHD3, synthetic 1 alpha-OHD3, and a combination of both on the plasma concentrations of calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and magnesium (Mg) was tested in 67 older dry dairy cows. Administering 4,0 mg 25-OHD3 reduced Ca and P(i) for some time while Mg blood levels remained constant. Injecting 210 micrograms 1 alpha-OHD3 plus 2.

[The concentration of ascorbic acid, total protein, alpha-amino-N, glucose, 3-hydroxybutyrate and cholesterol and the activity of adenosine deaminase in the blood of sheep in five different periods of pregnancy and the content of ascorbic acid in 14 tissues].

Analyses of different compounds in the plasma of healthy sheep before birth were conducted from day 70 to 43 (group 1), 42 to 22 (group 2), 21 to 15 (group 3), 14 to 8 (group 4) and 7 to 1 (group 5). There were significant differences in the concentration of ascorbic acid, total protein, total alpha-Amino-N, glucose, 3-hydroxybutyrate and of adenosine deaminase in the plasma between several groups, their significance is discussed. There was no difference in the concentration of cholesterol in the plasma of the sheep of the 5 groups.

[The long-term toxicity of polychemotherapy in successfully treated testicular carcinoma].

Of 55 patients with testicular cancer, treated by combination chemotherapy including cisplatin, 21 (mean age 35 [21-51] years) were reexamined for late sequelae of the chemotherapy 1-9 years later. No patient had a recurrence or second malignancy. They all had normal renal function (renal sequence scintigraphy; creatinine clearance).

[A high pressure liquid chromatography method for detecting the isoniazid derivative isonicotinoyl-hydrazine sodium glucuronide, free isoniazid and acetylisoniazid and its use in pharmacologic studies].

A specific direct method for determining the isoniazid derivative isonicotinoyl-hydrazine sodium glucuronide (INHG-Na) with the aid of high-pressure liquid chromatography has been developed, which permits the analysis of this derivative of isoniazid in addition to isoniazid itself and acetylisoniazid in the plasma of patients. In initial pharmacokinetic applications of the method, it has been shown that plasma INHG-Na is a stable substance that liberates only negligible concentrations of INH.

[Significance of the acetylator phenotype and initial oral/intravenous rifampicin administration in the treatment of tuberculosis].

In a pilot study involving 62 patients with open pulmonary tuberculosis, we established that slow acetyators and patients receiving intravenous rifampicin treatment showed a tendency towards a more rapid negativisation of the sputum culture than did fast acetyators (lower levels of isoniazid) or patients receiving oral rifampicin therapy (decreasing bioavailability of the rifampicin during treatment).