Microlensing as a probe of the Galactic structure; 20 years of microlensing optical depth studies

Microlensing is now a very popular observational astronomical technique. The investigations accessible through this effect range from the dark matter problem to the search for extra-solar planets. In this review, the techniques to search for microlensing effects and to determine optical depths through the monitoring of large samples of stars will be described. The consequences of the published results on the knowledge of the Milky-Way structure and its dark matter component will be discussed. The difficulties and limitations of the ongoing programs and the perspectives of the microlensing optical depth technique as a probe of the Galaxy structure will also be detailed.Comment: Accepted for publication in General Relativity and Gravitation. General Relativity and Gravitation in press (2010) 0

Consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular optical coherence tomography studies

Objectives: The purpose of this document is to make the output of the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IWG-IVOCT) Standardization and Validation available to medical and scientific communities, through a peer-reviewed publication, in the interest of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease. Background: Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) is a catheter-based modality that acquires images at a resolution of ∼10 μm, enabling visualization of blood vessel wall microstructure in vivo at an unprecedented level of detail. IVOCT devices are now commercially available worldwide, there is an active user base, and the interest in using this technology is growing. Incorporation of IVOCT in research and daily clinical practice can be facilitated by the development of uniform terminology and consensus-based standards on use of the technology, interpretation of the images, and reporting of IVOCT results. Methods: The IWG-IVOCT, comprising more than 260 academic and industry members from Asia, Europe, and the United States, formed in 2008 and convened on the topic of IVOCT standardization through a series of 9 national and international meetings. Results: Knowledge and recommendations from this group on key areas within the IVOCT field were assembled to generate this consensus document, authored by the Writing Committee, composed of academicians who have participated in meetings and/or writing of the text. Conclusions: This document may be broadly used as a standard reference regarding the current state of the IVOCT imaging modality, intended for researchers and clinicians who use IVOCT and analyze IVOCT data

Marrow versus peripheral blood for geno-identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute myelocytic leukemia: Influence of dose and stem cell source shows better outcome with rich marrow

Several studies have compared bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) as stem cell sources in patients receiving allografts, but the cell doses infused have not been considered, especially for BM. Using the ALWP/EBMT registry, we retrospectively studied 881 adult patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), who received a non-T-depleted allogeneic BM (n = 515) or mobilized PB (n = 366) standard transplant, in first remission (CR1), from an HLA-identical sibling, over a 5-year period from January 1994. The BM cell dose ranged from 0.17 to 29 × 108/kg with a median of 2.7 × 108/kg. The PB cell dose ranged from 0.02 to 77 × 10 8/kg with a median of 9.3 × 108/kg. The median dose for patients receiving BM (2.7 × 108/kg) gave the greatest discrimination. In multivariate analyses, high-dose BM compared to PB was associated with lower transplant-related mortality (RR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.98; P = .04), better leukemia-free survival (RR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.91; P = .013), and better overall survival (RR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0. 92; P = .016). The present study in patients with AML receiving allografts in first remission indicates a better outcome with BM as compared to PB, when the dose of BM infused is rich. © 2003 by The American Society of Hematology

Marrow versus peripheral blood for geno-identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute myelocytic leukemia: Influence of dose and stem cell source shows better outcome with rich marrow

PubMed ID: 12829583Several studies have compared bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) as stem cell sources in patients receiving allografts, but the cell doses infused have not been considered, especially for BM. Using the ALWP/EBMT registry, we retrospectively studied 881 adult patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), who received a non-T-depleted allogeneic BM (n = 515) or mobilized PB (n = 366) standard transplant, in first remission (CR1), from an HLA-identical sibling, over a 5-year period from January 1994. The BM cell dose ranged from 0.17 to 29 × 10 8 /kg with a median of 2.7 × 10 8 /kg. The PB cell dose ranged from 0.02 to 77 × 10 8 /kg with a median of 9.3 × 10 8 /kg. The median dose for patients receiving BM (2.7 × 10 8 /kg) gave the greatest discrimination. In multivariate analyses, high-dose BM compared to PB was associated with lower transplant-related mortality (RR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.98; P = .04), better leukemia-free survival (RR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.91; P = .013), and better overall survival (RR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0. 92; P = .016). The present study in patients with AML receiving allografts in first remission indicates a better outcome with BM as compared to PB, when the dose of BM infused is rich. © 2003 by The American Society of Hematology