The Myth of Plant-Invaded Gardens and Landscapes

AbstractIn recent decades the notion of “invasive plants” gained momentum. This article tries to answer the question why there seems to be such a strong interest to create a myth of plant-invaded gardens and landscapes and to manufacture demons of invasive species. It refers to the interest in plants, gardens and landscapes in early human history and focusses upon the development after Humboldt’s and Bonpland’s Essai sur la Géographie des Plantes (1805) and Haeckel’s Generelle Morphologie der Organismen (1866). Examples from German and American sources indicate that what began as an internationally oriented science in early 19th century deteriorated into increasingly reactionary nationalist oriented tinkering with the results of scholarly studies. In early 21st century those who doctrinarily plea for “native” plants often also condemn “foreign” or “exotic” plants as aggressive intruders. They suggest that native plants are peaceful and non-invasive and thus give evidence of their biased viewpoint.RésuméAu cours des dernières décennies, la notion de « plantes envahissantes » s’est de plus en plus imposée. Cet article tente de comprendre pourquoi on cherche tant à créer un mythe de jardins et de paysages envahis par les plantes, lesquelles prennent la figure de démons. Les auteurs puisent leurs références dans l’histoire ancienne des plantes, des jardins et des paysages, et s’intéressent tout particulièrement aux développements qui sont intervenus après la publication de l’ouvrage Essai sur la Géographie des Plantes de Humboldt et Bonpland (1805) et de l’ouvrage Generelle Morphologie der Organismen de Haeckel (1866). Des exemples empruntés à des sources allemandes et américaines montrent que ce qui était une science reconnue de façon internationale au début du XIXe siècle est progressivement devenu une science nationaliste et réactionnaire allant jusqu’à manipuler les résultats des enquêtes académiques. Au début du XXIe siècle, ceux qui plaident en faveur des espèces « indigènes » sont ceux qui, dans le même temps, considèrent les plantes « étrangères » ou « exotiques » comme « intrusives ». Pour eux, les plantes indigènes sont pacifiques et non envahissantes. Ce qui prouve combien leur point de vue est biaisé

Pharmacogenetic analysis of liver toxicity after busulfan/cyclophosphamide-based allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Unlabelled: THE AIM of this study was to evaluate the impact of genomic polymorphisms of methylene-tetrahydrofolate-reductase (MTHFR-C677T, MTHFR-A1298C) and various glutathione S-transferases (GSTP1-Ilel05Val, GSTA1*a/b, GSTM1, GSTT1) on the occurrence of liver toxicity in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Patients and methods: Eighty-four adult patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients were treated with busulfan/cyclophosphamide as a conditioning regimen and received cyclosporine and short-course MTX for GvHD prophylaxis. Genotyping was performed using PCR based restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the MTHFR-A1298C polymorphism as an independent predictor for maximum levels of bilirubin (p=0.0025) and duration of hyperbilirubinaemia (p=0.013). Furthermore, there was an association between this polymorphism and the occurrence of the sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) (p=0.048). No significant associations between the MTHFR-C677T or the various GST polymorphisms and liver toxicity were observed. Conclusion: The MTHFR-A1298C polymorphism might be associated with liver toxicity in patients receiving allogeneic HSCT

Major central nervous system complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: A large retrospective study on 888 consecutive adult patients.

AbstractObjectivesMajor complications affecting the central nervous system (CNS) present a challenge after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT).MethodsIncidence, risk factors, and outcome were retrospectively analyzed in 888 patients in a monocentric study.ResultsCumulative incidence (CI) of major CNS complications at 1 year was 14.8% (95%CI 12.3%‐17.2%). Median follow‐up is 11 months. CNS complications were documented in 132 patients: in 36 cases, classified metabolic; 26, drug‐related neurotoxicity (14 attributed to cyclosporine A, 4 to antilymphocyte globulin); 11, cerebrovascular (ischemic n = 8, bleeding n = 3); 9, infections; 9, psychiatric; and 9, malignant. The cause of CNS symptoms remained unclear for 37 patients (28%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated an association of CNS complication with patient age (P < .001). The estimated OS of patients with any CNS complication was significantly lower than in patients without neurological complications (P < .001), and the CI of non‐relapse mortality (NRM) was higher for patients with CNS complication (P < .001). A significant negative impact on survival can only be demonstrated for metabolic CNS complications and CNS infections (NRM, P < .0001 and P = .0003, respectively), and relapse (P < .0001).ConclusionCNS complications after allo‐SCT are frequent events with a major contribution to morbidity and mortality. In particular, the situations of unclear neurological complications need to be clarified by intensive research

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Das Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein hat die Landesgartenschau 2009 in Schleswig mit der zu diesem Anlass konzipierten Ausstellung "Die Ordnung der Natur. Historische Gärten und Parks in Schleswig-Holstein" begleitet. Ergänzt wurde diese mit einer Vortragsreihe, die auf große Resonanz stieß. Die Vorträge werden in diesem Band veröffentlicht. Thematisch gliedert sich der Band in zwei Teile: Die ersten vier Beiträge setzen sich mit historischen Gärten und Parks in Schleswig-Holstein auseinander. Der zweite Teil des Bandes weist über die Grenzen Schleswig-Holsteins hinaus. So geht es um Gartenbauschulen als Berufsausbildung für "höhere Töchter" im Kaiserreich, Gärten und Natur im Kontext demokratiefeindlicher, völkischer Ideologie, die Bedeutung von Gärten und Parks im Film sowie Gärten in Entenhausen.The Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein opened the Landesgartenschau 2009 in Schleswig with the exhibition "Die Ordnung der Natur. Historical Gardens and Parks in Schleswig-Holstein ". This exhibition was complemented by a series of lectures which met with a great response. The lectures are published in this volume. Thematically, the volume is divided into two parts: The first four contributions deal with historical gardens and parks in Schleswig-Holstein. The second part of the volume points beyond the borders of Schleswig-Holstein. It deals with horticultural schools as vocational training for "higher daughters" in the Empire, gardens and nature in the context of democratically anti-democratic, folk ideology, the importance of gardens and parks in film and gardens in Duckburg

Antilymphocyte globulin for matched sibling donor transplantation in patients with myelofibrosis

The use of antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin in the setting of transplantation from an HLA-matched related donor is still much debated. Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease are the main causes of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with myelofibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin in a large cohort of patients with myelofibrosis (n= 287). The cumulative incidences of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease among patients who were or were not given antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin were 26% and 41%, respectively. The corresponding incidences of chronic graft-versus-host disease were 52% and 55%, respectively. Non-adjusted overall survival, disease-free survival and non-relapse mortality rates were 55% versus 53%, 49% versus 45%, and 32% versus 31%, respectively, among the patients who were or were not given antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin. An adjusted model confirmed that the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease was lower following antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin (hazard ratio, 0.54; P= 0.010) while it did not decrease the risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The hazard ratios for overall survival and non-relapse mortality were 0.66 and 0.64, with P-values of 0.05 and 0.09, respectively. Antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin did not influence disease-free survival, graft-versus-host disease, relapse-free survival or relapse risk. In conclusion, in the setting of matched related transplantation in myelofibrosis patients, this study demonstrates that antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin decreases the risk of acute graft-versushost disease without increasing the risk of relapse.Peer reviewe

Acute GVHD prophylaxis plus ATLG after myeloablative allogeneic haemopoietic peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation from HLA-identical siblings in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in remission : final results of quality of life and long-term outcome analysis of a phase 3 randomised study

Background We previously showed that human anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATLG) plus ciclosporin and methotrexate given to patients with acute leukaemia in remission, having allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation with peripheral blood stem cells from an HLA-identical sibling donor after myeloablative conditioning, significantly reduced 2-year chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) incidence and severity, without increasing disease relapse and infections, and improves cGVHD-free and relapse-free survival (cGRFS). The aim of an extended follow-up study was the assessment of long-term outcomes, which are, in this context, scarcely reported in the literature. We report unpublished data on quality of life (QoL) from the original study and the results of a follow-up extension. Methods In the original open-label study, patients with acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukaemia in first or subsequent remission, having sibling HLA-identical allogeneic peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ATLG plus standard GVHD prophylaxis with ciclosporin and short-term methotrexate (ATLG group) or standard GVHD prophylaxis without ATLG (non-ATLG group). Conditioning regimens were cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg with either total body irradiation (12 Gy) or busulfan (12 . 8 mg/kg intravenously or 16 mg/kg orally), with or without etoposide (30-60 mg/kg). Randomisation was stratified according to centre and disease risk. The primary endpoint was cumulative incidence of cGVHD at 2 years. The primary and secondary endpoints, excluding QoL, have been published. QoL, assessed using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HDC29 questionnaires, was an unpublished secondary endpoint, which we now report here. A follow-up extension was then done, with the primary endpoint cumulative incidence of cGVHD. Enrolment has been completed for both studies. Findings In the original study, from Dec 14, 2006, to Feb 2, 2012, 161 patients were enrolled and 155 were randomly assigned to either the ATLG group (n=83) or to the non-ATLG group (n=72). In the follow-up study, which started on Feb 7, 2017, and was completed on June 30, 2017, 61 patients were included in the ATLG group and 53 were included in the non-ATLG group. Global health status showed a more favourable time course in the ATLG group compared with the non-ATLG group (p=0 . 02; treatment by visit interaction). ATLG was descriptively superior to non-ATLG at 24 months for physical function (points estimate -14.8 [95% CI -26.4 to-3.1]; p= 0.014) and social function (-19.1 [-38.0 to -0.2]; p=0.047), gastrointestinal side-effects (8 . 8 [2.5-15.1]; p=0 . 008) and effect on family (13.5 [1.2-25.8]; p=0.032). Extended follow-up (median 5 . 9 years [IQR 1.7-7.9]) confirmed a lower 5-year cGVHD incidence (30.0% [95% CI 21.4-41.9] vs 69.1% [59.1-80.1]; analysis for entire follow-up, p Interpretation The addition of ATLG to standard GVHD prophylaxis improves the probability of surviving without disease relapse and cGVHD after myeloablative peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling donor for patients with acute leukaemia in remission. Further additional benefits are better QoL and shorter immunosuppressive treatment compared with standard GVHD prophylaxis without ATLG. Therefore, in this setting, ATLG plus standard GVHD prophylaxis should be preferred over the standard GVHD prophylaxis alone. Copyright (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GST) and thymidylate synthase (TS) – novel predictors for response and survival in gastric cancer patients

To evaluate the predictive value of a panel of gene polymorphisms involved in metabolism of 5-FU and cisplatin on clinical outcome in advanced gastric cancer patients. A total of 52 patients were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumour specimen. Genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP. Median survival time was 6.0 months (95% CI 3.9;8.1). Overall response rate was 26%. Patients possessing the glutathione S-transferase P1-105 Valine/Valine (GSTP1-105VV) genotype showed a response rate of 67% compared to 21% in patients harbouring at least one GSTP1-105 Isoleucine (GSTP1-105I) allele (P=0.038). GSTP1-105VV patients demonstrated a significant superior median survival time of 15.0 months (95% CI 7.8;22.0) compared to 6.0 months (95% CI 5.1;7.0) in patients with at least one GSTP1-105I allele (P=0.037). Patients possessing a favourable thymidylate synthase (TS) genotype (2R/2R, 2R/3RC, 3RC/3RC) experienced a superior survival time of 10.2 months (95% CI 5.1;15.3) compared to 6.0 months (95% CI 5.0;7.0) in patients with unfavourable TS genotypes (P=0.099). Patients harbouring the GSTP1-105II genotype and one of the unfavourable TS genotypes showed an inferior median survival time of 6.0 months (95% CI 3.9;8.1) compared to 11 months (95% CI 6,23;15,77) in patients with either GSTP1-105VV or a favourable TS genotype (P=0.044). Testing for TS and GSTP1 polymorphisms may allow identification of gastric cancer patients who will benefit from 5-FU/cisplatin chemotherapy, sparing others the side effects of this chemotherapy

Impact of prior JAK-inhibitor therapy with ruxolitinib on outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for myelofibrosis: a study of the CMWP of EBMT.

JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib (RUX) is approved in patients with myelofibrosis but the impact of pretreatment with RUX on outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains to be determined. We evaluated the impact of RUX on outcome in 551 myelofibrosis patients who received HSCT without (n = 274) or with (n = 277) RUX pretreatment. The overall leukocyte engraftment on day 45 was 92% and significantly higher in RUX responsive patients than those who had no or lost response to RUX (94% vs. 85%, p = 0.05). The 1-year non-relapse mortality was 22% without significant difference between the arms. In a multivariate analysis (MVA) RUX pretreated patients with ongoing spleen response at transplant had a significantly lower risk of relapse (8.1% vs. 19.1%; p = 0.04)] and better 2-year event-free survival (68.9% vs. 53.7%; p = 0.02) in comparison to patients without RUX pretreatment. For overall survival the only significant factors were age > 58 years (p = 0.03) and HLA mismatch donor (p = 0.001). RUX prior to HSCT did not negatively impact outcome after transplantation and patients with ongoing spleen response at time of transplantation had best outcome

Long-term outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for myelofibrosis

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant remains the only curative treatment for myelofibrosis. Most post-transplantation events Aoccur during the first two years and hence we aimed to analyze the outcome of 2-year disease-free survivors. A total of 1055 patients with myelofibrosis transplanted between 1995 and 2014 and registered in the registry of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation were included. Survival was compared to the matched general population to determine excess mortality and the risk factors that are associated. In the 2-year survivors, disease-free survival was 64% (60-68%) and overall survival was 74% (71-78%) at ten years; results were better in younger individuals and in women. Excess mortality was 14% (8-21%) in patients aged = 65 years. The main cause of death was relapse of the primary disease. Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) before two years decreased the risk of relapse. Multivariable analysis of excess mortality showed that age, male sex recipient, secondary myelofibrosis and no GvHD disease prior to the 2-year landmark increased the risk of excess mortality. This is the largest study to date analyzing long-term outcome in patients with myelofibrosis undergoing transplant. Overall it shows a good survival in patients alive and in remission at two years. However, the occurrence of late complications, including late relapses, infectious complications and secondary malignancies, highlights the importance of screening and monitoring of long-term survivors.Peer reviewe