Prevention of Epstein-Barr virus-lymphoproliferative disease by molecular monitoring and preemptive rituximab in high-risk patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Recipients of a partially T-cell-depleted (TCD) allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) developing reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with quantified viral DNA levels exceeding 1000 genome equivalents/milliliter (geq/mL) are at high risk for EBV-lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD). We studied whether preemptive therapy with rituximab prevents EBV-LPD, LPD-mo

A Long Time Gone: Post-conflict Rural Property Restitution under Customary Law

Mass displacement of people due to violence poses a unique set of challenges for property restitution when people return to their homes after a long absence. This is particularly evident in rural areas where the dominant form of land holding is customary tenure. Violence-induced displacement, unlike voluntary migration, challenges both customary and public legaladministrative structures. The lack of written documentation of customary holdings and the importance of the support of community leaders means that incorporating returnees back into a community can be easier for those who choose to return, while reclaiming property without physical return is nearly impossible. This article seeks to make three contributions: 1) to note the diversity of return processes after long displacements in terms of timing and demographics; 2) to demonstrate that the nature of the claims people can make on customary tenure systems is at odds with international legal norms on property restitution after displacement; and 3) to introduce a set of observations and questions on how conflict can change customary law. The article is based on fieldwork conducted in Uganda, Liberia and Timor-Leste, all countries with extended displacement

Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in High-Risk Hematological Patients: A Phase II Study Focusing on the Mechanism of Graft Predominance

Immunobiology of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and immunotherapy of hematological disease

Vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as rapid intravenous infusion for first-line treatment in untreated multiple myeloma

We examined the feasibility of achieving a rapid response in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma by administering vincristine 0.4 mR and doxorubicin 9 mg/m2 as a rapid intravenous infusion for 4 d together with intermittent high-dose dexamethasone 40 mg (VAD) for remission induction treatment in patients who were scheduled to receive high-dose therapy. 139 patients (86 male, 53 female; median age 53 years, range 32-65 years; Durie and Salmon stage IIA: 42, IIB: one, IIIA: 89, IIIB: seven) were included in a prospective multicentre study in which VAD was administered as remission induction treatment and was followed by intensified treatment. The response was evaluated according to the criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). The results of treatment were evaluable in 134 patients. Five patients died before evaluation. 86 patients (62%) achieved a partial response (PR) and seven patients (5%) achieved a complete response (CR), which equates to a response rate of 67%. The main side-effect was mild neurotoxicity, which was observed in 18% of the patients. Fever or infections were reported in 27% of the patients. VAD administered as an outpatient regimen, based on rapid intravenous infusion, is an effective induction regimen for untreated myeloma with a 67% response rate and acceptable toxicity

Measurement of the Proton Spin Structure Function g1p with a Pure Hydrogen Target

A measurement of the proton spin structure function g1p(x,Q^2) in deep-inelastic scattering is presented. The data were taken with the 27.6 GeV longitudinally polarised positron beam at HERA incident on a longitudinally polarised pure hydrogen gas target internal to the storage ring. The kinematic range is 0.021<x<0.85 and 0.8 GeV^2<Q^2<20 GeV^2. The integral Int_{0.021}^{0.85} g1p(x)dx evaluated at Q0^2 of 2.5 GeV^2 is 0.122+/-0.003(stat.)+/-0.010(syst.).Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, RevTeX late

The feasibility and efficacy of subcutaneous plerixafor for mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells in allogeneic HLA–identical sibling donors: results of the HOVON-107 study

Background: Plerixafor (PFX) mobilizes CD34+ cells into circulation by disrupting the CXCR4 binding of the hematopoietic stem cell in its bone marr