199 research outputs found
The void-galaxy cross-correlation function with massive neutrinos and modified gravity
Massive neutrinos and modified gravity have degenerate observational
signatures that can impact the interpretation of results in galaxy survey
experiments, such as cosmological parameter estimations and gravity model
tests. Because of this, it is important to investigate astrophysical
observables that can break these degeneracies. Cosmic voids are sensitive to
both massive neutrinos and modifications of gravity and provide a promising
ground for disentangling the above mentioned degeneracies. In order to analyse
cosmic voids in the context of non-CDM cosmologies, we must first
understand how well the current theoretical framework operates in these
settings. We perform a suite of simulations with the RAMSES-based N-body code
ANUBISIS, including massive neutrinos and modified gravity both
individually and simultaneously. The data from the simulations is compared to
models of the void velocity profile and the void-halo cross-correlation
function (CCF). This is done both with the real space simulation data as model
input and by applying a reconstruction method to the redshift space data. In
addition, we run Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fits on the data sets to
assess the capability of the models to reproduce the fiducial simulation values
of and the Alcock-Paczy\`{n}ski parameter, . The void
modelling applied performs similarly for all simulated cosmologies, indicating
that more accurate models and higher resolution simulations are needed in order
to directly observe the effects of massive neutrinos and modified
gravity through studies of the void-galaxy CCF. The MCMC fits show that the
choice of void definition plays an important role in the recovery of the
correct cosmological parameters, but otherwise no clear distinction between the
ability to reproduce and for the various simulations.Comment: 23 pages, 21 figure
Human leukocyte antigen-E mismatch is associated with better hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcome in acute leukemia patients
The immunomodulatory role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E in hematopoietic
stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been extensively investigated. To
this end, we genotyped 509 10/10 HLA unrelated transplant pairs for HLA-E, in
order to study the effect of HLA-E as a natural killer (NK)-alloreactivity
mediator on HSCT outcome in an acute leukemia (AL) setting. Overall survival
(OS), disease free survival (DFS), relapse incidence (RI) and non-relapse
mortality (NRM) were set as endpoints. Analysis of our data revealed a
significant correlation between HLA-E mismatch and improved HSCT outcome, as
shown by both univariate (53% vs. 38%, P=0.002, 5-year OS) and multivariate
(hazard ratio (HR)=0.63, confidence interval (CI) 95%=0.48–0.83, P=0.001)
analyses. Further subgroup analysis demonstrated that the positive effect of
HLA-E mismatch was significant and pronounced in advanced disease patients
(n=120) (5-year OS: 50% vs. 18%, P=0.005; HR=0.40, CI 95%=0.22–0.72, P=0.002;
results from univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively). The study
herein is the first to report an association between HLA-E incompatibility and
improved post–transplant prognosis in AL patients who have undergone matched
unrelated HSCT. Combined NK and T cell HLA-E-mediated mechanisms may account
for the better outcomes observed. Notwithstanding the necessity for in vitro
and confirmational studies, our findings highlight the clinical relevance of
HLA-E matching and strongly support prospective HLA-E screening upon donor
selection for matched AL unrelated HSCTs
Literatur-Rundschau
Gerda Schaffelhofer (Hg.): Du bist Petrus. Anforderungen und Erwartungen an den neuen Papst (Heinz Niederleitner)André Schüller-Zwierlein / Nicole Zillien (Hg.): Informationsgerechtigkeit (Alexander Filipović)Marcus Bösch et al. (Hg.): Kill your Darlings. Handbuch für die Journalistenausbildung (Renate Hackel-de Latour)Daniel Roth: Zündstoff für den „Columbine-Effekt“? (Melanie Verhovnik)Konrad Dussel: Pressebilder in der Weimarer Republik: Entgrenzung der Information (Klaus Arnold
an ALWP-EBMT study
Background Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the only curative option
for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experiencing relapse. Either
matched sibling donor (MSD) or unrelated donor (UD) is indicated. Methods We
analyzed 1554 adults with AML transplanted from MSD (n = 961) or UD (n = 593,
HLA-matched 10/10, n = 481; 9/10, n = 112). Compared to MSD, UD recipients
were older (49 vs 52 years, p = 0.001), transplanted more recently (2009 vs
2006, p = 0.001), and with a longer interval to transplant (10 vs 9 months, p
= 0.001). Conditioning regimen was more frequently myeloablative for patients
transplanted with a MSD (61 vs 46 %, p = 0.001). Median follow-up was 28
(range 3–157) months. Results Cumulative incidence (CI) of neutrophil
engraftment (p = 0.07), grades II–IV acute GVHD (p = 0.11), chronic GVHD (p =
0.9), and non-relapse mortality (NRM, p = 0.24) was not different according to
the type of donor. At 2 years, CI of relapse (relapse incidence (RI)) was 57
vs 49 % (p = 0.001). Leukemia-free survival (LFS) at 2 years was 21 vs 26 % (p
= 0.001), and overall survival (OS) was 26 vs 33 % (p = 0.004) for MSD vs UD,
respectively. Chronic GVHD as time-dependent variable was associated with
lower RI (HR 0.78, p = 0.05), higher NRM (HR 1.71, p = 0.001), and higher OS
(HR 0.69, p = 0.001). According to HLA match, RI was 57 vs 50 vs 45 %, (p =
0.001) NRM was 23 vs 23 vs 29 % (p = 0.26), and LFS at 2 years was 21 vs 27 vs
25 % (p = 0.003) for MSD, 10/10, and 9/10 UD, respectively. In multivariate
analysis adjusted for differences between the two groups, UD was associated
with lower RI (HR 0.76, p = 0.001) and higher LFS (HR 0.83, p = 0.001)
compared to MSD. Interval between diagnosis and transplant was the other
factor associated with better outcomes (RI (HR 0.62, p < 0.001) and LFS (HR
0.67, p < 0.001)). Conclusions Transplantation using UD was associated with
better LFS and lower RI compared to MSD for high-risk patients with AML
transplanted in first relapse
Protective coatings on stainless steel bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser
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
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for secondary acute myeloid leukemia: a report from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT
Outcome after relapse of myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary acute myeloid leukemia following allogeneic stem cell transplantation : a retrospective registry analysis on 698 patients by the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
No standard exists for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We performed a retrospective registry analysis of outcomes and risk factors in 698 patients, treated with different strategies. The median overall survival from relapse was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval: 4.1-5.3) and the 2-year survival rate was 17.7% (95% confidence interval: 14.8-21.2%). Shorter remission after transplantation (PPeer reviewe
Multi-gene phylogeny for Ophiostoma spp. reveals two new species from Protea infructescences
Ophiostoma represents a genus of fungi that are mostly
arthropod-dispersed and have a wide global distribution. The best known of
these fungi are carried by scolytine bark beetles that infest trees, but an
interesting guild of Ophiostoma spp. occurs in the infructescences of
Protea spp. native to South Africa. Phylogenetic relationships
between Ophiostoma spp. from Protea infructescences were
studied using DNA sequence data from the β-tubulin, 5.8S ITS (including
the flanking internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2) and the large subunit DNA
regions. Two new species, O. phasma sp. nov. and O.
palmiculminatum sp. nov. are described and compared with other
Ophiostoma spp. occurring in the same niche. Results of this study
have raised the number of Ophiostoma species from the infructescences
of serotinous Protea spp. in South Africa to five. Molecular data
also suggest that adaptation to the Protea infructescence niche by
Ophiostoma spp. has occurred independently more than once
Peripheral blood stem cell graft compared to bone marrow after reduced intensity conditioning regimens for acute leukemia: a report from the ALWP of the EBMT
Increasing numbers of patients are receiving reduced intensity conditioning regimen allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We hypothesized that the use of bone marrow graft might decrease the risk of graft-versus-host disease compared to peripheral blood after reduced intensity conditioning regimens without compromising graft-versus-leukemia effects. Patients who underwent reduced intensity conditioning regimen allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from 2000 to 2012 for acute leukemia, and who were reported to the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation were included in the study. Eight hundred and thirty-seven patients receiving bone marrow grafts were compared with 9011 peripheral blood transplant recipients after reduced intensity conditioning regimen. Median follow up of surviving patients was 27 months. Cumulative incidence of engraftment (neutrophil ≥0.5×10(9)/L at day 60) was lower in bone marrow recipients: 88% versus 95% (P<0.0001). Grade II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease was lower in bone marrow recipients: 19% versus 24% for peripheral blood (P=0.005). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for differences between both groups, overall survival [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.90; P=0.05] and leukemia-free survival (HR 0.88; P=0.01) were higher in patients transplanted with peripheral blood compared to bone marrow grafts. Furthermore, peripheral blood graft was also associated with decreased risk of relapse (HR 0.78; P=0.0001). There was no significant difference in non-relapse mortality between recipients of bone marrow and peripheral blood grafts, and chronic graft-versus-host disease was significantly higher after peripheral blood grafts (HR 1.38; P<0.0001). Despite the limitation of a retrospective registry-based study, we found that peripheral blood grafts after reduced intensity conditioning regimens had better overall and leukemia-free survival than bone marrow grafts. However, there is an increase in chronic graft-versus-host disease after peripheral blood grafts. Long-term follow up is needed to clarify whether chronic graft-versus-host disease might increase the risk of late morbidity and mortality
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