24 research outputs found
Asymptotics for hitting times
In this paper we characterize possible asymptotics for hitting times in
aperiodic ergodic dynamical systems: asymptotics are proved to be the
distribution functions of subprobability measures on the line belonging to the
functional class {6pt} {-3mm}(A){6mm}F={F:R\to [0,1]:\left\lbrack \matrixF is
increasing, null on ]-\infty, 0]; \noalignF is continuous and concave;
\noalignF(t)\le t for t\ge 0.\right.}. {6pt} Note that all possible asymptotics
are absolutely continuous.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009117904000000883 in the
Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
The optimal sink and the best source in a Markov chain
It is well known that the distributions of hitting times in Markov chains are
quite irregular, unless the limit as time tends to infinity is considered. We
show that nevertheless for a typical finite irreducible Markov chain and for
nondegenerate initial distributions the tails of the distributions of the
hitting times for the states of a Markov chain can be ordered, i.e., they do
not overlap after a certain finite moment of time.
If one considers instead each state of a Markov chain as a source rather than
a sink then again the states can generically be ordered according to their
efficiency. The mechanisms underlying these two orderings are essentially
different though.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur
Biochip array technology and evaluation of serum levels of multiple cytokines and adhesion molecules in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia
Aim: Evaluation of serum levels of 17 cytokines and 5 adhesion molecules in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in healthy subjects using biochip array technology. Methods: A total of 15 AML patients and 15 healthy subjects (blood donors) were studied. Serum samples were analyzed by biochip based immunoassays on the Evidence Investigator analyzer. This approach allows multi-analytical determination from a single sample. T-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: In newly diagnosed AML patients, we found significant increase (p < 0.01) in serum VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, L-selectin, and significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum IL-6, IL-8. No significant differences were found in the levels of other evaluated cytokines and adhesion molecules. Conclusion: Our results indicate that serum levels of specific cytokines and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, L-selectin, IL-6, IL-8) are significantly altered in patients with newly diagnosed AML, showing activity of the disease. Whether these alterations could serve as a prognostic marker for AML is not known. Further studies will be needed to define the potential role of these and additional markers in the risk stratification of AML. Key Words: cytokines, adhesion molecules, biochip array, acute myeloid leukemia
Baseline serum levels of multiple cytokines and adhesion molecules in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: results of a pivotal trial
Aim: Evaluation of serum levels of 17 cytokines and 5 adhesion molecules in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using biochip array technology. We searched for links between baseline levels and age, hyperleukocytosis, secondary origin of AML, resistance to induction therapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin and standard risk stratification according to cytogenetics and molecular genetics. Methods: We evaluated the sera of 51 consecutive patients. Serum samples were analyzed by biochip based immunoassays on the Evidence Investigator analyzer. T-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: We found that higher age is associated with lower levels of interleukin (IL)-12. Patients with secondary disease were older, had higher levels of EGF and IL-7, and lower levels of E-selectin, IL-12 and IL-13. In hyperleukocytosis, the levels of IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin and L-selectin were increased, whereas levels of IFN-γ and MCP-1 were decreased. In patients who failed to achieve complete remission after induction therapy, we found lower E-selectin and P-selectin levels. High risk patients had lower levels of IFN-γ. Conclusion: Some leukemic cell subpopulations have the ability to produce cytokines that modulate the microenvironment by inducing inflammation. This causes endothelial cells to be activated and overexpress adhesion molecules. Hyperleukocytosis and secondary origin of the disease are the major factors influencing the cytokine and adhesion molecule profile in newly diagnosed AML patients. Key Words: cytokines, adhesion molecules, biochip array, acute myeloid leukemia
Eruptive Epidermoidzysten nach Imiquimod-Therapie eines rezidivierenden Basalzellkarzinoms : Ein Fallbericht
Eruptive Epidermoidzysten stellen eine seltene Nebenwirkung von Imiquimod zur Behandlung von Basalzellkarzinomen dar. Bis dato wurden 8 F\ue4lle in der Literatur beschrieben. Wir pr\ue4sentieren den Fall einer 75-j\ue4hrigen kaukasischen Patientin mit einem 8\u2011mal rezidivierten Basalzellkarzinom der Nase. Nach mehrfachen Exzisionen und Therapie mit Vismodegib erhielt die Patientin schlie
flich Imiquimod 5\u202f% Creme in der Standarddosierung 5\u2011mal w\uf6chentlich f\ufcr die Dauer von 6 Wochen. Zwei Monate nach dem Absetzen von Imiquimod zeigten sich eruptive Epidermoidzysten
Eruptive Epidermoidzysten nach Imiquimod-Therapie eines rezidivierenden Basalzellkarzinoms : Ein Fallbericht
Eruptive Epidermoidzysten stellen eine seltene Nebenwirkung von Imiquimod zur Behandlung von Basalzellkarzinomen dar. Bis dato wurden 8 F\ue4lle in der Literatur beschrieben. Wir pr\ue4sentieren den Fall einer 75-j\ue4hrigen kaukasischen Patientin mit einem 8\u2011mal rezidivierten Basalzellkarzinom der Nase. Nach mehrfachen Exzisionen und Therapie mit Vismodegib erhielt die Patientin schlie
flich Imiquimod 5\u202f% Creme in der Standarddosierung 5\u2011mal w\uf6chentlich f\ufcr die Dauer von 6 Wochen. Zwei Monate nach dem Absetzen von Imiquimod zeigten sich eruptive Epidermoidzysten
Evaluation of serum levels of multiple cytokines and adhesion molecules in patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia using biochip array technology
Aim: Evaluation of serum levels of 17 cytokines and 5 adhesion molecules in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and in healthy subjects using biochip array technology. This approach allows multi-analytical determination from a single sample. Methods: A total of 15 ALL patients and 15 healthy subjects (blood donors) were studied. Serum samples were analyzed by biochip based immunoassays on the Evidence Investigator analyzer. T-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Comparing cytokine and adhesion molecule levels in ALL patients and in healthy subject, we found significant increase in serum VCAM-1 (p < 0.000001), ICAM-1 (p < 0.0001), L-selectin (p < 0.0001), IL-8 (p < 0.001), MCP-1 (p < 0.01), and significant decrease (p < 0.01) in serum IL-3 and IL-4. Conclusion: Our results indicate that serum levels of specific cytokines and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, L-selectin, IL-8, IL-3, IL-4, MCP-1) are significantly altered in patients with newly diagnosed ALL, reflecting activity of the disease. Further investigation is needed to establish if these alterations could be used as a prognostic indicator for ALL
Eruptive epidermoidzysten nach imiquimod-therapie eines rezidivierenden basalzellkarzinoms
Eruptive Epidermoidzysten stellen eine seltene Nebenwirkung von Imiquimod zur Behandlung von Basalzellkarzinomen dar. Bis dato wurden 8 Fälle in der Literatur beschrieben. Wir präsentieren den Fall einer 75-jährigen kaukasischen Patientin mit einem 8‑mal rezidivierten Basalzellkarzinom der Nase. Nach mehrfachen Exzisionen und Therapie mit Vismodegib erhielt die Patientin schließlich Imiquimod 5 % Creme in der Standarddosierung 5‑mal wöchentlich für die Dauer von 6 Wochen. Zwei Monate nach dem Absetzen von Imiquimod zeigten sich eruptive Epidermoidzysten. Eruptive epidermoid cysts are a rare adverse event of imiquimod treatment for basal cell carcinoma. Up to date, 8 cases have been described in the literature. We present the case of a 75-year-old Caucasian woman with recurrent basal cell carcinoma on the nose. After multiple excisions and treatment with vismodegib, imiquimod 5% cream was administered 5 times per week over 6 weeks. Two months after the end of treatment, the patient presented with eruptive epidermoid cysts