How do idiosyncratic deals contribute to the employability of older workers?

Purpose This study examined the relationships of i-deals with the employability of older workers, and introduces two distinct theoretical processes through which these effects occur. On the one hand, a self-enhancement perspective postulates that i-deals enhance self-efficacy through which older workers become more employable. On the other hand, a lifespan perspective postulates that i-deals enhance older workers? future time perspective through which they become more employable. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered among 244 employees via an online questionnaire that had been sent to employees of 45 years or older at eight companies in the Netherlands. Findings Results showed that task and work responsibilities i-deals are strongly related to older workers? employability, and that this relationship is mediated by future time perspective and self-efficacy. Location flexibility i-deals were positively related to employability. Financial i-deals and schedule flexibility i-deals were unrelated to employability. Practical implications As the percentage of older workers will increase, there is a great need for organizations to focus on the employability of older workers. The present study shows that organizations are able to increase the employability of older workers by individual arrangements. Originality/value Individualization of work arrangements has been theorized to facilitate older workers? employability, but the present study is the first to investigate how i-deals may contribute to greater employability

The experience of two European preimplantation genetic diagnosis centres on human leukocyte antigen typing

Two European centres report on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing of preimplantation embryos for haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation: 'UZ Brussel' in Brussels and 'Genoma' in Rome. Both centres have 6 years' experience with technical and clinical aspects of this type of genetic analysis on single blastomeres. Both centres apply a similar technique for preimplantation HLA typing using short tandem repeats linked to the HLA locus in multiplex PCR for haplotyping. At present, a conclusive HLA diagnosis could be assured in 92.8% and 90.3% of the embryos at UZ Brussel and at Genoma, respectively. The implantation rates were 32.4% and 28.2%, respectively, and the birth rates per cycle were 9.4% and 18.6%, respectively. The HLA programme at UZ Brussel and at Genoma resulted in the birth of 9 babies and 3 successful HSC transplantations, and 42 babies and 7 successful HSC transplantations, respectively, so far. Drastic embryo selection for preimplantation HLA typing (in theory 1/4 for HLA, 1/8 for HLA in combination with sexing for X-linked recessive diseases, 3/16 for HLA in combination with autosomal recessive disorders) resulted overall in the birth of 51 babies (15.9% live birth rate per started cycle) in two European centres

The Dutch CAR-T Tumorboard Experience:Population-Based Real-World Data on Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma Referred for CD19-Directed CAR T-Cell Therapy in The Netherlands

Simple Summary CAR T-cell therapy has emerged as the new standard of care for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), but real-world outcomes differ across countries. Additionally, real-world data on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) are scarce but important, as they reflect the direct experience of patients. In the Netherlands, patients can be referred to the CAR-T tumorboard, a national CAR-T expert panel, who decide whether CAR-T is a feasible treatment option. This multicenter study reports on the favorable outcomes, including the HR-QoL, of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) for patients with R/R LBCL after & GE;2 lines of systemic therapy in the Netherlands. On the other hand, we show that a substantial proportion of patients are still in need of alternative treatments, including improved CAR-T strategies, as they are unfit for or do not respond to axi-cel. Comparing real-world outcomes between cohorts could help to select best practices and further optimize CAR-T treatment.Abstract The real-world results of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) substantially differ across countries. In the Netherlands, the CAR-T tumorboard facilitates a unique nationwide infrastructure for referral, eligibility assessment and data collection. The aim of this study was to evaluate real-world outcomes of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in the Dutch population, including the thus-far underreported effects on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). All patients with R/R LBCL after & GE;2 lines of systemic therapy referred for axi-cel treatment between May 2020-May 2022 were included (N = 250). Of the 160 apheresed patients, 145 patients received an axi-cel infusion. The main reason for ineligibility was rapidly progressive disease. The outcomes are better or at least comparable to other studies (best overall response rate: 84% (complete response: 66%); 12-month progression-free-survival rate and overall survival rate: 48% and 62%, respectively). The 12-month NRM was 5%, mainly caused by infections. Clinically meaningful improvement in several HR-QoL domains was observed from Month 9 onwards. Expert-directed patient selection can support effective and sustainable application of CAR-T treatment. Matched comparisons between cohorts will help to understand the differences in outcomes across countries and select best practices. Despite the favorable results, for a considerable proportion of patients with R/R LBCL there still is an unmet medical need