To verify risk factors for CMV reactivations in our cohorts, clinical characteristics of all patients transplanted within the last 10 years were included in statistical analyses determining the relative risk for single and recurrent CMV reactivations.

Results. As expected, CMV serostatus, HLA match, and donor source significantly influenced the risk of recurrent CMV reactivation. Applying CMV-CTL tetramer monitoring for 2 years allowed the monitoring of 114 (85%) of 134 patients, by testing a set of tetramers representing 6

epitopes from 3 different CMV proteins. The presence of CMV-CTL MK-0518 in vivo before day +50 and their expansion post reactivation seem to protect against recurrent CMV reactivations. The mean number of CMV-CTL by day +100 was >5-fold higher in the recipient CMV-positive/donor-positive (R+/D+) group (91/mu L) compared with the R+/D-(13/mu L) and the R-/D+ (2/mu L) group. Seventy-nine percent of patients from the R+/D+ setting recovered >10 CMV-CTL per mu L by day +100, while almost 50% of the other groups failed to mount a CMV-specific response by that time (R+/D- : 58%; R-/D+:

43%).

Conclusion. Tetramer monitoring can help to predict (recurrent) CMV reactivation and is a useful approach to monitor individual patients with increased risk for recurrent reactivation post HSCT; thus, it could help to identify patients in need of adoptive transfer of CMV-CTL or to optimize the use of antiviral drugs.”
“A mixed hardwood Kraft pulp was used after oxygen HM781-36B purchase delignification to produce pure cellulose for dissolving purposes. A totally chlorine-free GW4869 bleaching and purification process was designed. It comprises an acid hydrolysis step in the presence of a metal chelating agent (EDTA) followed by a peroxide delignification stage under oxygen pressure catalyzed by a Cu(II)phenanthroline complex, a cold caustic extraction and finally, an ozone stage carried out under neutral conditions. High purity cellulose with less than 5% xylans could be produced. Both the catalyst and the ozone stage have an effect on the DP of the cellulose which then can be varied depending on the requirements. (C) 2013

Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Informed consent in today’s medical practice has become a cornerstone and a routine ethical component playing a major role in forming a therapeutic alliance with the patient. The present study sought to analyse the effectiveness of the consent forms and the consenting process in Otorhinolaryngology. This three month questionnaire-based study covered varying operations which ranged from tonsillectomies, grommet insertions to pharyngeal pouch stapling. Twenty-nine percent of consent forms were signed on the day of the operation. Of the patients who received leaflets (51%) during the process of informed consent, a majority (88%) found it useful. The respondents were satisfied with the explanation of the procedure, benefits and complications (70-74%).