Comparison of Chimerism and Minimal Residual Disease Monitoring for Relapse Prediction after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

AbstractLittle data are available on the relative merits of chimerism and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring for relapse prediction after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). We performed a retrospective analysis of serial chimerism assessments in 101 adult HCT recipients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and of serial MRD assessments in a subgroup of 22 patients. All patients had received myeloablative conditioning. The cumulative incidence of relapse was significantly higher in the patients with increasing mixed chimerism (in-MC) compared with those with complete chimerism, low-level MC, and decreasing MC, but the sensitivity of in-MC detection with regard to relapse prediction was only modest. In contrast, MRD assessment was highly sensitive and specific. Patients with MRD positivity after HCT had the highest incidence of relapse among all prognostic groups analyzed. The median time from MRD positivity to relapse was longer than the median time from detection of in-MC, but in some cases in-MC preceded MRD positivity. We conclude that MRD assessment is a powerful prognostic tool that should be included in the routine post-transplantation monitoring of patients with ALL, but chimerism analysis may provide additional information in some cases. Integration of these tools and clinical judgment should allow optimal decision making with regard to post-transplantation therapeutic interventions

Nanosilver/DCOIT-containing surface coating effectively and constantly reduces microbial load in emergency room surfaces

Background Colonization of near-patient surfaces in hospitals plays an important role as a source of healthcare-associated infections. Routine disinfection methods only result in short-term elimination of pathogens. Aim To investigate the efficiency of a newly developed antimicrobial coating containing nanosilver in long-term reduction of bacterial burden in hospital surfaces to close the gap between routine disinfection cycles. Methods In this prospective, double-blinded trial, frequently touched surfaces of a routinely used treatment room in an emergency unit of a level-I hospital were treated with a surface coating (nanosilver/DCOIT-coated surface, NCS) containing nanosilver particles and another organic biocidal agent (4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, DCOIT), whereas surfaces of another room were treated with a coating missing both the nanosilver- and DCOIT-containing ingredient and served as control. Bacterial contamination of the surfaces was examined using contact plates and liquid-based swabs daily for a total trial duration of 90 days. After incubation, total microbial counts and species were assessed. Findings In a total of 2880 antimicrobial samples, a significant reduction of the overall bacterial load was observed in the NCS room (median: 0.31 cfu/cm2; interquartile range: 0.00–1.13) compared with the control coated surfaces (0.69 cfu/cm2; 0.06–2.00; P 5 cfu/cm2) by 60% (odds ratio 0.38, P < 0.001). No significant difference in species distribution was detected between NCS and control group. Conclusion Nanosilver-/DCOIT-containing surface coating has shown efficiency for sustainable reduction of bacterial load of frequently touched surfaces in a clinical setting

La representación del paro en tres obras literarias

Das sprachwissenschaftliche Thema beinhaltet den Vergleich von drei verschiedenen Werken, die durch die Wirtschaftskrise in Spanien die verschärfte Situation der Jugendarbeitslosigkeit wiederspiegeln. „La representación del paro en tres obras literarias - un análisis del discurso“ bezieht sich auf eine diskursanalytische Untersuchung bzw. einen Vergleich literarischer Texte. Wobei die Sexualität, die Prostitution, die Arbeitslosigkeit und die Emanzipation im Mittelpunkt stehen. Ich werde versuchen, die Sprache, die Dialoge und die Inhalte zu vergleichen, um das Ziel zu verfolgen, wiederkehrende Elemente zu finden und die Sozialproblematik aufzuweisen. Den gemeinsamen Nenner bildet die Prostitution, als Folge der Arbeitslosigkeit, die in allen drei Werken vorkommt. Es wird die Sicht des Mannes und auch der Frau dargestellt und wie sie damit umgehen. Das erste Werk nennt sich „Hombres desnudos“ und stammt von Alicia Giménez Bartlett. Es handelt sich um einen Erzähler und eine Erzählerin, die ihr Leben beschreiben. Die Protagonistin steht mit beiden Beinen im Leben, im Gegensatz zum Protagonisten, der seinen Job verliert und sich prostituieren muss, um sein Leben zu finanzieren. Schlussendlich lernen sich die beiden Protagonisten kennen und verbringen Zeit miteinander. Der Comic „El mundo a tus pies“ von Nadar weist drei Erzählstränge auf, der erste handelt von einem homosexuellen Paar, das kurz vor einer Trennung steht aufgrund des Jobwechsels in ein anderes Land und einer Frau, die viel arbeiten muss, um sich ihr Leben zu finanzieren. Der zweite ist „Hombres desnudos“ sehr ähnlich, da ebenfalls von einem Mann erzählt wird, der keine Arbeit findet und sich deshalb prostituiert. In der dritten Geschichte wird das Hauptaugenmerk auf eine Frau gelegt, die sehr unzufrieden mit ihrem Job ist, aber keine Möglichkeiten hat, sich weiterzubilden, da das Geld dafür nicht ausreicht.  Das Werk „La carne“ von Rosa Montero beschreibt das Leben einer sechzigjährigen Frau, die einen um die Hälfte jüngeren Mann dafür bezahlt, sie auf diverse Feste zu begleiten und um ihren Exmann eifersüchtig zu machen. Aufgrund eines gewalttätigen und unerwarteten Ereignisses, verkompliziert sich die Beziehung zwischen den beiden. Die Protagonistin muss sich einerseits der Angst zu scheitern und zu sterben stellen und andererseits der Hoffnung und der Liebe. Der Vergleich dieser drei Werke verfolgt das Ziel, Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede bezüglich der Sprache und der Inhalte zu erarbeiten. Anhand von verschiedenen Wörterbüchern und mithilfe von spanisch-sprachigen Bekannten, werde ich verschiedene Textstellen genauer analysieren und vergleichen

Optimization of the Post-Process Heat Treatment Strategy for a Near-&alpha; Titanium Base Alloy Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

During the last decades, titanium alloys have been of great interest for lightweight applications due to their high strength in combination with a low material density. Current research activities focus on the investigation of near-&alpha; titanium alloys produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). These alloys are known for their superior tensile strength and high creep resistance. This study focuses on the optimization of post-process heat treatments and the impact on tensile and creep strength of a LPBF produced Ti6242S alloy. Therefore, a variety of annealing steps were conducted to gain knowledge about the decomposition process of the non-equilibrium as-built microstructure and the arising influence on the mechanical properties. Components made of Ti6242S and produced by LPBF reveal an extraordinarily high ultimate tensile strength of about 1530 MPa at room temperature, but show a low elongation at fracture (A5 = 4.3%). Based on microstructure-property relationships, this study recommends precise heat treatments on how to improve the desired mechanical properties in terms of strength, ductility as well as creep resistance. Moreover, this study shows a triplex heat treatment, which enhances the elongation at fracture (A5) to 16.5%, while the ultimate tensile strength is still at 1100 MPa

The Role of Vacuolar Malate-Transport Capacity in Crassulacean Acid Metabolism and Nitrate Nutrition. Higher Malate-Transport Capacity in Ice Plant after Crassulacean Acid Metabolism-Induction and in Tobacco under Nitrate Nutrition

Anion uptake by isolated tonoplast vesicles was recorded indirectly via increased H(+)-transport by H(+)-pumping of the V-ATPase due to dissipation of the electrical component of the electrochemical proton gradient, Δμ(H+), across the membrane. ATP hydrolysis by the V-ATPase was measured simultaneously after the Palmgren test. Normalizing for ATP-hydrolysis and effects of chloride, which was added to the assays as a stimulating effector of the V-ATPase, a parameter, J(mal)(rel), of apparent ATP-dependent malate-stimulated H(+)-transport was worked out as an indirect measure of malate transport capacity. This allowed comparison of various species and physiological conditions. J(mal)(rel) was high in the obligate crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species Kalanchoë daigremontiana Hamet et Perrier, it increased substantially after CAM induction in ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), and it was positively correlated with NO(3)(−) nutrition in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). For tobacco this was confirmed by measurements of malate transport energized via the V-PPase. In ice plant a new polypeptide of 32-kD apparent molecular mass appeared, and a 33-kD polypeptide showed higher levels after CAM induction under conditions of higher J(mal)(rel). It is concluded that tonoplast malate transport capacity plays an important role in physiological regulation in CAM and NO(3)(−) nutrition and that a putative malate transporter must be within the 32- to 33-kD polypeptide fraction of tonoplast proteins