Yeast cell wall integrity sensors form specific plasma membrane microdomains important for signalling.

The cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae relies on the detection of cell surface stress by five sensors (Wsc1, Wsc2, Wsc3, Mid2, Mtl1). Each sensor contains a single transmembrane domain and a highly mannosylated extracellular region, and probably detects mechanical stress in the cell wall or the plasma membrane. We here studied the distribution of the five sensors at the cell surface by using fluorescently tagged variants in conjunction with marker proteins for established membrane compartments. We find that each of the sensors occupies a specific microdomain at the plasma membrane. The novel punctate 'membrane compartment occupied by Wsc1' (MCW) shows moderate overlap with other Wsc-type sensors, but not with those of the Mid-type sensors or other established plasma membrane domains. We further observed that sensor density and formation of the MCW compartment depends on the cysteine-rich head group near the N-terminus of Wsc1. Yet, signalling capacity depends more on the sensor density in the plasma membrane than on clustering within its microcompartment. We propose that the MCW microcompartment provides a quality control mechanism for retaining functional sensors at the plasma membrane to prevent them from endocytosis.

Up against the wall: is yeast cell wall integrity ensured by mechanosensing in plasma membrane microdomains?

Yeast cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling serves as a model of the regulation of fungal cell wall synthesis and provides the basis for the development of antifungal drugs. A set of five membrane-spanning sensors (Wsc1 to Wsc3, Mid2, and Mtl1) detect cell surface stress and commence the signaling pathway upon perturbations of either the cell wall structure or the plasma membrane. We here summarize the latest advances in the structure/function relationship primarily of the Wsc1 sensor and critically review the evidence that it acts as a mechanosensor. The relevance and physiological significance of the information obtained for the function of the other CWI sensors, as well as expected future developments, are discussed.

[Quality criteria that are important to residents of elders' homes and their relatives--a literature analysis]. / Qualitätskriterien, die Altenpflegeheim- bewohnern und Angehörigen wichtig sind--Eine Literaturanalyse.

This literature analysis attempts to identify quality criteria which are important for residents of nursing homes and their relatives. To this end, 13 research articles published in international scientific journals were analysed. For the residents themselves, the ability to manage their daily lives autonomously as well as their ability to structure social contacts and relationships appears to be of special importance. In contrast, relatives emphasise criteria that refer to the quality of the care provided and the structure quality of the institutional setting. For them it is of specific importance to know that residents feel at home in the facility.

[Family physicians, the internet and new knowledge. Utilization and judgment of efficiency of continuing education media by general physicians and internists in family practice]. / Hausärzte, Internet und neues Wissen. Nutzung und Effizienzeinschätzung von Fortbildungsmedien durch Allgemeinärzte und hausärztlich tätige Internisten.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The application of new information technologies has a lasting impact on the physicians' working environment. Not only practice administration is undergoing substantial change, increasingly, individual learning preferences and continuing medical education are influenced by new media. This survey is designed to demonstrate current methods of and demand for continuing medical education by primary care physicians. METHODS: Standardized survey of 72 primary care physicians (21% female, 79% male) regarding three topics: medical knowledge acquired after medical school, current use of and expectations for continuing medical education tools. RESULTS: Primary care physicians estimate the fraction of their knowledge which was acquired after medical school at 60%. For their continuing medical education primary care physicians predominantly use scientific journals, colleagues and quality circles. The internet, scientific staff at research institutions and pharmaceutical representatives were less valued and less used. The most favored attributes for continuing medical education tools were: reliable, relevant for daily practice, and user-friendly. CONCLUSION: Continuing medical education is important and necessary. Thus far, new media still have a minor role among the relevant educational media for primary care physicians. The introduction of modern information technologies may become more successful if primary care physicians' preferences are better understood and education tools are designed according to these preferences.

[Concepts in studying cost effectiveness of pediatric asthma treatment in Germany, Switzerland and Austria]. / Konzepte zur Erforschung der Kosteneffektivität der Asthmabehandlung bei Kindern in Deutschland, der Schweiz und Osterreich.

Increasing expenditures of health care systems in industrialised western countries are caused by chronic diseases. Hence, issues on the cost-effectiveness of private as well as public financial resources for asthma therapy in children are gaining importance. In order to study cost-effectiveness issues of defining outcome-measures as well as the reliability and validity of methods to assess these outcomes have to be addressed. Data on direct and indirect costs of asthma have to be gathered. In a first step, comparative costs of asthma therapy of children in Germany, Switzerland and Austria have to be analysed. Subsequently, a randomised, prospective study will be able to demonstrate, whether treatment according to national evidence-based guidelines will be more cost-effective than treatment not taking guidelines into account. Data on the cost-effectiveness of therapy guidelines will help in decision-making of national health care authorities.