60 research outputs found
Sub-Nyquist Field Trial Using Time Frequency Packed DP-QPSK Super-Channel Within Fixed ITU-T Grid
Sub-Nyquist time frequency packing technique was demonstrated for the first
time in a super channel field trial transmission over long-haul distances. The
technique allows a limited spectral occupancy even with low order modulation
formats. The transmission was successfully performed on a deployed Australian
link between Sydney and Melbourne which included 995 km of uncompensated SMF
with coexistent traffic. 40 and 100 Gb/s co-propagating channels were
transmitted together with the super-channel in a 50 GHz ITU-T grid without
additional penalty. The super-channel consisted of eight sub-channels with
low-level modulation format, i.e. DP-QPSK, guaranteeing better OSNR robustness
and reduced complexity with respect to higher order formats. At the receiver
side, coherent detection was used together with iterative maximum-a-posteriori
(MAP) detection and decoding. A 975 Gb/s DP-QPSK super-channel was successfully
transmitted between Sydney and Melbourne within four 50GHz WSS channels (200
GHz). A maximum potential SE of 5.58 bit/s/Hz was achieved with an OSNR=15.8
dB, comparable to the OSNR of the installed 100 Gb/s channels. The system
reliability was proven through long term measurements. In addition, by closing
the link in a loop back configuration, a potential SE*d product of 9254
bit/s/Hz*km was achieved
Prevalence and characteristics of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in a cohort of young patients in day treatment for eating disorders
Achieving a Molecular Remission before Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Patients with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Impact on Relapse and Long Term Outcome
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) in first complete remission (CR1) remains the consolidation therapy of choice in Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The prognostic value of measurable levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) at time of conditioning is a matter of debate. We analyzed the predictive relevance of MRD levels before transplantation on the clinical outcome of Ph+ ALL patients treated with chemotherapy and imatinib in 2 consecutive prospective clinical trials. MRD evaluation before transplantation was available for 65 of the 73 patients who underwent an alloHSCT in CR1. A complete or major molecular response at time of conditioning was achieved in 24 patients (37%), whereas 41 (63%) remained carriers of any other positive MRD level in the bone marrow. MRD negativity at time of conditioning was associated with a significant benefit in terms of risk of relapse at 5 years, with a relapse incidence of 8% compared with 39% for patients with MRD positivity (P\u2009=\u2009.007). However, thanks to the post-transplantation use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), disease-free survival was 58% versus 41% (P\u2009=\u2009.17) and overall survival was 58% versus 49% (P\u2009=\u2009.55) in MRD-negative compared with MRD-positive patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality was similar in the 2 groups. Achieving a complete molecular remission before transplantation reduces the risk of leukemia relapse even though TKIs may still rescue some patients relapsing after transplantation
Myeloablative conditioning with thiotepa-busulfan-fludarabine does not improve the outcome of patients transplanted with active leukemia: final results of the GITMO prospective trial GANDALF-01
The outcome of refractory/relapsed (R/R) acute leukemias is still dismal and their treatment represents an unmet clinical need. However, allogeneic transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only potentially curative approach in this setting. A prospective study (GANDALF-01, NCT01814488; EUDRACT:2012-004008-37) on transplantation with alternative donors had been run by GITMO using a homogeneous myeloablative conditioning regimen with busulfan, thiotepa and fludarabine while GVHD prophylaxis was stratified by donor type. The study enrolled 101 patients; 90 found an alternative donor and 87 ultimately underwent allo-HSCT. Two-year overall survival of the entire and of the transplant population (primary endpoint) were 19% and 22%, without significant differences according to disease, donor type and disease history (relapsed vs refractory patients). Two-year progression-free survival was 19% and 17% respectively. The cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality were 49% and 33% at two years. Acute grade II-IV and chronic GVHD occurred in 23 and 10 patients. Dose intensification with a myeloablative two-alkylating regimen as sole strategy for transplanting R/R acute leukemia does seem neither to improve the outcome nor to control disease relapse. A pre-planned relapse prevention should be included in the transplant strategy in this patient population
Guanosine effect on cholesterol efflux and apolipoprotein E expression in astrocytes
The main source of cholesterol in the central nervous system (CNS) is represented by glial cells, mainly astrocytes, which also synthesise and secrete apolipoproteins, in particular apolipoprotein E (ApoE), the major apolipoprotein in the brain, thus generating cholesterol-rich high density lipoproteins (HDLs). This cholesterol trafficking, even though still poorly known, is considered to play a key role in different aspects of neuronal plasticity and in the stabilisation of synaptic transmission. Moreover, cell cholesterol depletion has recently been linked to a reduction in amyloid beta formation. Here we demonstrate that guanosine, which we previously reported to exert several neuroprotective effects, was able to increase cholesterol efflux from astrocytes and C6 rat glioma cells in the absence of exogenously added acceptors. In this effect the phosphoinositide 3 kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (PI3K/ERK1/2) pathway seems to play a pivotal role. Guanosine was also able to increase the expression of ApoE in astrocytes, whereas it did not modify the levels of ATP-binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1), considered the main cholesterol transporter in the CNS. Given the emerging role of cholesterol balance in neuronal repair, these effects provide evidence for a role of guanosine as a potential pharmacological tool in the modulation of cholesterol homeostasis in the brain
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ICGA Journal 24(2): special issue on Ken Thompson
This special issue of the ICGA_J focuses on Ken Thompson on the occasion of his retirement from Bell Labs in December 2000. The contents touch on Unix and cover ken's contribution to computer games, computer chess and 'ICCA', the International Computer Chess Association
Allo-HCT regimens with low toxicity needed in older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia : authors' reply
Erratum to “Early onset of allergic rhinitis and asthma in recent extra-European immigrants to Milan, Italy: the perspective of a non-governmental organisation”
No correlation of intensity of phlebotomy regimen with risk of thrombosis in polycythemia vera : evidence from European Collaboration on Low-Dose Aspirin in Polycythemia Vera and Cytoreductive Therapy in Polycythemia Vera clinical trials
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