Analysis of Experts' and Trainers' Views on Cyberbullying

Partners from nine European countries developed a cyberbullying training manual for the benefit of trainers working with parents, school staff and young people.1The development of the training manual built on a two-level qualitative research process that combined elements of the Delphi method and online focus groups. The two studies outlined in this article aimed to assess trainers' and experts' views on the problem of cyberbullying while also gathering insight in relation to their preferences in terms of a training manual. This article outlines the main outcomes of a content analysis of experts' and trainers' views. According to experts and trainers, the sources of cyberbullying were specifically related to new technical developments and new patterns of usage, a lack of media literacy and media education, and the lack of appropriate laws, control and reporting mechanisms. Approaches for tackling cyberbullying suggested by experts and trainers included the provision of enhanced information on ICT and e-safety, adequate rules, monitoring mechanisms and sanctions. Furthermore a range of approaches targeting children and young people, parents and other adults, schools as well as approaches run by authorities and IT providers were suggested. In terms of the elements and style of a training manual, experts and trainers emphasised that it should be practically oriented, and that elements like narratives, case examples or video clips would be vital for the implementation of training.

Changes in functional vasomotor reactivity in migraine with aura

Migraine with aura (MA) is associated with cerebral hyper- and hypoperfusion during and after the attacks. Several attempts to estimate individual perfusion changes and asymmetries in patients with MA using transcranial Doppler (TCD) have not been consistent. In 70 patients with MA and 40 controls with migraine without aura (MoA) or without any history of migraine, interictally recorded TCD sequences were prospectively analysed. Formal curve analysis of the visually evoked flow response (VEFR) was performed semiautomatically. As a main parameter for functional vasomotor reactivity (fVMR), the visually evoked flow rate (VEFR%) was calculated. The VEFR% showed a significantly higher mean difference of 14.7 +/- 12% in MA patients vs. 5.8 +/- 4.4% (P < 0.001) in controls. The significant asymmetry of fVMR in MA patients is suggested to reflect interattack persisting vasomotor changes which are of pathophysiological interest and may be used as a monitoring tool under prophylactic medication.

[Expression levels of the IAP antagonists XAF1, Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2 in testicular germ cell tumours]

PURPOSE

Down-regulation of the IAP antagonistis XAF1, Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2, has been related to the onset and progression of various malignancies. We examined the mRNA-expression of these pro-apoptotic parameters in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) and normal testicular tissue and correlated their expression levels to clinicopathological tumour features.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Real-time RT-PCR was used to quantify the mRNA-expression of XAF1, Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2 in normal testicular tissue (n = 18), carcinoma in situ (n = 4), seminomas (n = 64), and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (n = 35).

RESULTS

Compared to normal testicular tissue, the expression levels of XAF1 were increased in TGCT (p < 0.001), whereas those of Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2 were decreased (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Smac/DIABLO expression levels showed a significant trend towards a gradual decrease from normal testicular tissue to CIS and seminomas and finally to NSGCT (p < 0.001). Moreover, XAF1 and HtrA2 expression levels gradually increased with progression of clinical tumour stage in seminoma patients (p = 0.001 and p = 0.018), their expression levels being strongly intercorrelated (Spearman rho correlation coefficient: 0.674; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that a down-regulation of Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2 is implicated in the development and progression of TGCT, whereas overexpression of XAF1 in TGCT might contribute to their extraordinary sensitivity to chemotherapy. Regarding the additional correlation of XAF1 and HtrA2 expression with clinical tumour stage in seminoma patients, it appears reasonable to further evaluate these three IAP antagonists as molecular parameters for the prediction of treatment response and prognosis of TGCT patients.

[From marker expression to individual therapy of patients with bladder cancer]

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is a tumor entity with a heterogenous clinical course. At one end of the spectrum, patients are treated for low-grade carcinomas, which are likely to reccur but show low rates of tumor progression. At the other end, patients suffer from noninvasive or early invasive high-grade carcinomas. In these cases, risk-adapted treatment decisions are more complicated. The following article gives an overview of research activities on bladder cancer with the aim to individualize treatment of patients with bladder cancer.

[Differential therapy of prostate cancer]

Prostate cancer has become the most common malignancy in males worldwide. Standard therapy in local confined prostate cancer with curative intent is a radical ablation of the gland. Brachytherapy seems to be an alternative treatment but long-term results are not yet available. In cases of advanced disease androgen deprivation is applied to eliminate testosterone which is the natural stimulator of tumor growth. The application of chemotherapy is limited to androgen-independent disease without curative intention. Standard chemotherapy is Docetaxel. Both early detection and aftercare are based on measurement of prostate-specific antigen.

Urogenitale Symptome und urologische Interventionsmöglichkeiten in der palliativen Situation

During the course of malignancies of nearly all tumor entities the urogenital organs are frequently influenced. The resulting disorders are subsumed under the term"urogenital symptoms". Especially with the goal of improving quality of life these symptoms have to be treated with respect. In addition further therapeutic measures, e.g. the application of a palliative chemotherapy, makes an unobstructed urinary excretion necessary. This article gives an overview of the indications for treating urogenital symptoms and contrasts different therapy concepts.

[Is there an indication for adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapy in prostate cancer?]

In the meantime prostate cancer has become the most common malignancy in the male population. Due to the shift in age at the time of first diagnosis in favour of younger men with a high life expectancy and a maximum of physical and sexual activity it would be desirable to have neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy concepts at hand which lead to an improvement of therapeutic success. So far the results of studies for adjuvant and neoadjuvant hormonal ablation therapy concepts have not led to a clear therapeutic reference. Only before radiation therapy is neoadjuvant hormonal ablation a standard part of therapy at most centres. Existing data for chemotherapeutic concepts are limited to androgen-independent advanced prostate cancer. An international study using docetaxel as an adjuvant drug is currently being performed, but the results are not yet available.