BeEAM conditioning with bendamustine-replacing BCNU before autologous transplantation is safe and effective in lymphoma patients.

BEAM with BCNU is commonly used for conditioning treatment followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). However, pulmonary toxicity and availability issues associated with BCNU prompted us to evaluate bendamustine-replacing BCNU (BeEAM). We analyzed 39 lymphoma patients receiving BeEAM conditioning with 200 mg/m(2) bendamustine at days -7 and -6. The median duration until neutrophil recovery was 11 days, and 15 days for platelet recovery (>20 g/L). The most common grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicities comprised mucosal side effects (27 pts.). Pulmonary toxicity was observed in one patient (2.5%), and one patient died of septic complications. The CR rate increased from 33% to 74% 100 days after ASCT. After a median follow-up of 18.5 months, progression and death each occurred in 11 patients (28%). Median progression-free and overall survival at 2 years were 69% and 72%. Our data suggest that BeEAM conditioning using bendamustine is safe and results in promising survival rates

Consolidation with autologous stem cell transplantation in first remission is safe and effective in AML patients above 65 years.

The outcome of AML patients ≥65 years remains disappointing. Current post-induction strategies for elderly AML patients fit for intensive treatment involve additional cycles of chemotherapy or allogeneic transplantation. Consolidation with autologous transplantation (ASCT) is poorly studied in these patients. In this single-center retrospective analysis, we determined survival rates of AML patients ≥65 years undergoing busulfan/cyclophosphamide conditioning before ASCT in first remission between 2007 and 2015. We found elderly AML patients with ASCT to have longer progression-free survival (PFS; 16.3 vs. 5.1 months, P=0.0166) and overall survival (OS; n.r. vs. 8.2 months; P=0.0255) than elderly AML patients without ASCT consolidation. In addition, elderly AML patients undergoing ASCT had comparable PFS (P=0.9462) and OS (P=0.7867) as AML patients below 65 years receiving ASCT consolidation in CR1. Our data suggest that ASCT is an option in elderly fit AML patients who appear to benefit from autologous consolidation similarly to younger AML patients

Competition between market-making Intermediaries

Abstract We introduce capacity constrained competition between market-making intermediaries in a model in which agents can choose between trading with intermediaries, joining a search market or remaining inactive. Recently, market-making by a monopolistic intermediary has been analyzed by Keywords: Market-making, capacity constrained competition, market microstructure. JEL-Classification: C72, D41, D43, L13. * Economics Department, University of Bern, Vereinsweg 23, CH-3012 Bern Email: [email protected] This is a preliminary version of chapter 2 of my PhDthesis. I want to thank Ernst Baltensperger, Esther Brügger, Alain Egli, Thomas Gehrig, Christian Ghiligno, Armin Hartmann, Roland Hodler, Michael Manz, Gerd Mühlheusser JeanCharles Rochet, Yves Schneider and Manuel Wälti for valuable comments and discussions. Any remaining errors are mine

Klimaziele von Bio Suisse - Impressionen und Meinungen der Teilnehmenden am Fokustag Klima

Bio Suisse möchte ambitionierte, umsetzbare Klimaziele festlegen. Am 10. August 2021 fand dazu in Nidau bei Biel der Fokustag Klima mit rund 80 Teilnehmenden statt. Ziel war es, den Meinungsbildungsprozess voranzubringen und ein gemeinsames Zielbild zu definieren. Die Motivation der Bio-Landwirt*innen wurde an dem Tag spürbar, diskutiert wurden Zielkonflikte und mögliche Lösungswege. Jetzt geht es darum, Systemgrenzen abzustecken und Empfehlungen auf Basis der gewonnen Erkenntnisse auszuarbeiten. An der Frühlings-DV 2022 werden die Delegierten zu den vorgeschlagenen Klimazielen von Bio Suisse Stellung nehmen können. Das Video gibt Einblicke und Impressionen mit Stimmen der Teilnehmenden am Fokustag Klima

A single-centre cohort of patients with systemic light chain AL-amyloidosis treated with conventional chemotherapy or with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been reported to confer better prognosis in systemic light chain AL-amyloidosis as compared with conventional chemotherapy. However, only limited data are available so far on treatment and outcome of AL-amyloidosis patients in Switzerland. METHODS Within a single-centre cohort of patients with biopsy confirmed AL-amyloidosis diagnosed between January 1995 and December 2012, we aimed to investigate treatment effects in patients treated with conventional chemotherapy versus HDCT with ASCT. RESULTS We identified 50 patients with AL-amyloidosis treated with conventional chemotherapy and 13 patients who received HDCT with ASCT. Clinical characteristics differed between the groups for the age of the patients (59 years for patients with ASCT/HDCT vs 69 years; p= 0.0006) and the troponin-T value (0.015 μg/l vs 0.08 μg/l; p = 0.0279). Patients with ASCT showed a trend towards better overall survival, with median survival not yet reached compared with 53 months in patients on conventional chemotherapy (p = 0.0651). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that light chain AL-amyloidosis patients considered fit to undergo HDCT and ASCT may have a better outcome than patients treated exclusively with conventional chemotherapy regimens; however, the better performance status of patients receiving HDCT may have added to this treatment effect

Consolidation of first remission using radioimmunotherapy with yttrium-90-ibritumomab-tiuxetan in adult patients with Burkitt lymphoma

The addition of anti-CD20 antibodies to high intensity polychemotherapy regimens has improved response and survival rates in newly diagnosed patients with Burkitt lymphoma (BL). However, the role of additional anti-CD20 directed radioimmunotherapy for consolidation of first remission (CR1) has not been reported so far in BL patients receiving rituximab during first-line treatment. We compared five BL patients receiving Y-90-IT radioimmunotherapy consolidation in CR1 to 22 consecutive BL patients without consolidation. We observed that Y-90-IT treatment was associated with clinically relevant myelosuppression. After a median follow-up of 50 months, none of the patients with Y-90-IT treatment relapsed, and no patient died. In contrast, one patient (4.5%) in the non-Y-90-IT group relapsed (50 months-PFS 95.5%; p = 0.6336), and one patient died (50 months-OS 95.5%; p = 0.6171). In conclusion, our data suggest that survival rates are excellent and equal in rituximab pretreated BL patients with or without Y-90-IT consolidation in first remission

Standardized, comprehensive, hospital-based circuit training in people with multiple sclerosis (MS-FIT): Results on feasibility, adherence and satisfaction of the training intervention.

Background: We developed a standardized, comprehensive, ambulatory, hospital-based neurorehabilitation program ("MS-Fit") to improve disability, activities of daily living and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Aim: To assess feasibility, adherence and satisfaction of the training intervention. Design: Prospective multi-center cohort study analysis. Population: PwMS, aged 18 to 75 years, complaining about multiple sclerosis-related disability affecting activities of daily living and/or quality of life. Methods: A standardized, ambulatory, hospital-based circuit training consisting of six workstations (aerobic exercise training, strength upper limbs, balance, manual dexterity, reactivity, strength and flexibility lower limbs) was performed two hours, twice weekly, for two months in groups of two to six participants supervised by experienced physiotherapists. Physiotherapists adapted the type and intensity of training according to the participants' individual performance using a training booklet. Program satisfaction and adherence were evaluated using a questionnaire and the attendance rate (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02440516). Results: 55 participants started (mean age 52.82 years +/- 10.68 standard deviation, range 29-74; 69% female; median Expanded Disability Status Scale 3.5, range 1.0-7.0) and 49 (89%) finished the training program. Main reasons to drop out during the training were lack of time, travel problems, social issues or uthoff's phenomenon during the summer. All participants finalizing the training achieved >80% (mean 92.26%, ±7.59) attendance rate and sent back the questionnaire. Overall participant's satisfaction was high with a median of 9 points (range 4-10) on a Likert scale from 0-10. Program quality was rated "good" with an overall median score of 39/50 points (range 26-50) and 95% of the participants would recommend the program to others. Conclusions: MS-Fit is a feasible training program with high patient satisfaction and adherence. It enables high intensity ambulatory training and can be easily reproduced due to its standardized nature. Clinical rehabilitation impact: MS-FIT enables a standardized ambulatory high intensity training that is easily reproducible. Participants benefit from group training and from individual adaption of the training through professional supervision

Chaperonin GroEL accelerates protofibril formation and decorates fibrils of the Het-s prion protein

We have studied the interaction of the prototypical chaperonin GroEL with the prion domain of the Het-s protein using solution and solid-state NMR, electron and atomic force microscopies, and EPR. While GroEL accelerates Het-s protofibril formation by several orders of magnitude, the rate of appearance of fibrils is reduced. GroEL remains bound to Het-s throughout the aggregation process and densely decorates the fibrils at a regular spacing of ∼200 Å. GroEL binds to the Het-s fibrils via its apical domain located at the top of the large open ring. Thus, apo GroEL and bullet-shaped GroEL/GroES complexes in which only a single ring is capped by GroES interact with the Het-s fibrils; no evidence is seen for any interaction with football-shaped GroEL/GroES complexes in which both rings are capped by GroES. EPR spectroscopy shows that rotational motion of a nitroxide spin label, placed at the N-terminal end of the first β-strand of Het-s fibrils, is significantly reduced in both Het-s/GroEL aggregates and Het-s fibrils, but virtually completely eliminated in Het-s/GroEL fibrils, suggesting that in the latter, GroEL may come into close proximity to the nitroxide label. Solid-state NMR measurements indicate that GroEL binds to the mobile regions of the Het-s fibril comprising the N-terminal tail and a loop connecting β-strands 4 and 5, consistent with interactions involving GroEL binding consensus sequences located therein