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[Display omitted] • High substrate capacitance is needed for effective biasing on dielectric films. • Biasing of the arrival film-forming ions affects preferred crystal orientation. • Re-sputtering of the growing film is significant even at low bias voltage. In this study, we investigate the effect of surface biasing during high-power impulse magnetron sputter deposition of non-conductive zirconium dioxide films on substrates with different capacitances. We employ reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering to deposit ZrO 2 films using a circular Zr target in a pure oxygen atmosphere. The deposition experiments are conducted on two types of substrates: high-capacitance (thin thermally grown SiO 2 on Si) and low-capacitance (soda-lime glass). By varying the time shift between the target voltage pulse and the negative substrate bias voltage pulse, we analyze the impact on the preferred crystal orientation of the deposited ZrO 2 films and the deposition rate. We measure the current and voltage waveforms during the deposition process and utilize a surface charging model to understand the charging behavior of the growing film. Additionally, time- and energy-resolved ion mass spectra are measured to gain insights into the ion behavior during film growth. Our results demonstrate that energetic ion bombardment and appropriate timing of substrate biasing can influence the crystal orientation of ZrO 2 films, favouring specific orientations over others. We also explain the different behavior observed on low- and high-capacitance substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have determined the local plasma parameters using the Langmuir probe measurements with a sub-microsecond time resolution during positive voltage pulses of a bipolar high-power impulse magnetron sputtering discharge using an unbalanced magnetron with a titanium target. The effects of the positive voltage pulse amplitude and the delay between the negative voltage pulse end and the positive voltage pulse initiation are investigated as well as the spatial dependence of the plasma parameters at three distances from the target. From the results, the values of the average energy flux of ions during the positive voltage pulse to the substrate are estimated. We have found that the time evolution of the plasma parameters has similar developments which are independent of the positive voltage pulse parameters and the distance from the target, although the values of the plasma parameters are different. During the initial part of the positive voltage pulse, a large difference (up to 200 V) between the plasma and the floating potential accompanied by a high electron temperature (up to 150 eV) and a significant decrease of electron density (up to one order of magnitude) is registered. After this part, the difference of the potentials and the electron temperature are low (<2 V and ≲1 eV, respectively). The short delays between the negative voltage pulse end and the positive voltage pulse initiation as well as the higher positive voltage amplitudes have a beneficial effect on the average energy flux of ions during the positive voltage pulse to the grounded and insulated substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bipolar HiPIMS discharge with a rectangular positive voltage pulse (with controllable amplitude, delay after the main negative pulse and positive pulse length) was systematically investigated by mass spectroscopy. The time-averaged spectra of ions measured at the substrate position exhibit a prominent high-energy peak. It is shown that the position of the peak can be varied by the positive pulse amplitude, its magnitude scales with the pulse length and its width can be slightly influenced by the length of the delay interval. Measurements of the plasma potential at the mass spectrometer position and time-resolved mass spectroscopy clearly show that the high-energy peak is formed by ions accelerated by the elevated plasma potential during the positive pulse. In addition, fine details of the ion energy distribution functions related to the plasma potential transients at the start of the positive pulse are identified. The presented results are beneficial for the optimisation of the parameters of the positive pulse in experiments implementing the bipolar HiPIMS technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work co‐sputtering from ceramic and metallic targets is used to reduce the oxygen content in aluminium doped zinc oxide. Films with thickness between 200 and 220 nm are sputtered at 100 and 250 °C and investigated by X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and Hall measurements. It is found that reducing of the incorporated oxygen in the film leads to higher carrier concentration, mainly due to better effective activation of Al donors. Higher temperatures result in better carrier mobility due to improving the crystallinity. The best resistivity of 1.4 × 10−3 Ω cm of the highly transparent film prepared at 100 °C is achieved. A larger oxygen reduction leads to lower resistivity, but also results in the significant deterioration of transmittances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of prime prominence in modification of growing films in magnetron sputtering is the energy of arriving species onto the substrate; however, the effect of discharge voltage on such an important factor is typically overlooked. The main goal of this work is to investigate the number and energy of the arriving atoms to the growing films with respect to the discharge voltage at a given input power using Monte-Carlo simulation for light and heavy elements (C, Al, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, W, and Au). First, the sputtering yield, energy and angular distributions for sputtered atoms and backscattered argon were calculated at the target. Afterwards, the energy and angular distributions of sputtered atoms and backscattered argon on the substrate, as well as deposition rate were calculated. Finally, the trapped argon concentration and density of deposited coatings were roughly estimated for hafnium depositions in which changing the discharge voltage in the range of 300–1500 V at constant power could vary the delivered energy to the substrate from 5 to 140 eV per deposited atom. Varying the discharge voltage gives a great flexibility to control the energy input to the growing films for either microstructure engineering or avoiding destruction of sensitive substrates. • Energy of sputtered and backscattered atoms at substrate evaluated by simulations. • Effect of discharge voltage at 200 W examined for light and heavy elements. • Increase of discharge voltage at 200 W leads to higher delivered energy per atom. • Backscattered argon atoms deliver ∼ 60% of energy to the substrate for Ta and Hf. • Increase of discharge voltage leads to higher density of Hf films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a non-stationary two-zone model to verify predictions of a steady-state phenomenological model (Vlček and Burcalová) under the conditions in typical high-power impulse magnetron sputtering discharges (copper target of 50mm diameter, argon pressure of 1 Pa, rectangular voltage pulses of 200μs length with amplitudes from 400 to 1000V and repetition frequency of 100 Hz). It is shown that the steady-state phenomenological model provides a reliable description of fundamental deposition parameters characterizing efficiency of magnetron sputtering and the transfer of target material ions to the substrate in these discharges with relatively long steady-state discharge regimes established during pulses. Based on the results, we recommend to lower the magnetic field strength in a magnetron system at a fixed average target power density in a pulse and thereby use a higher magnetron voltage in order to enhance the deposition rate and keep or even increase the ionized fraction of sputtered target material atoms in the flux onto the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoindentation and microbending testing were used to investigate the mechanical properties of Zr(Hf) Cu thin-film alloys prepared by nonreactive magnetron co-sputtering. A detailed analysis of nanoindentation data and microscopic images of indents allowed a more precise determination of the effective Young's modulus of the films thanks to taking the pile-up effect into account. Microbending testing in a scanning electron microscope was performed with microcantilevers fabricated by focused ion beam and the data were evaluated using a finite element method model. As outputs of this elasto-plastic model, Young's modulus, yield strength, elastic strain, apparent yield point and approximate ultimate strength and strain of the films were determined. From material point of view, the effect of elemental composition (Cu content and Hf substitution) and the structure (glassy and crystalline) was investigated and discussed. It was shown that the substitution of Hf for Zr has less pronounced effect on the mechanical properties than the increase in the Cu content in the films that leads to a pronounced increase in the hardness, Young's modulus, elastic strain, yield strength, apparent yield point and ultimate strength but also to a decrease in the plastic parameter k and ultimate strain. Furthermore, a different atomic ordering in the crystalline and glassy Zr Cu films of the identical elemental composition results in differences in their mechanical properties and deformation behavior. The crystalline film was observed to be harder and stiffer with approximately the same elastic strain but higher yield strength and its plastic deformation was free of shear band events. Unlabelled Image • Mechanical properties examined by nanoindentation and cantilever microbending tests • Evaluation of nanoindentation data done by taking into account a pile-up effect • Fitting of load-displacement curves by an elasto-plastic finite element method model • Stronger effect of Cu content on mechanical properties than Hf-for-Zr substitution • Crucial role of structure on elasto-plastic behavior of Zr Cu thin-film alloys [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Treatment by laser pulse decreases defect density and improves crystallinity. • The longer the laser pulse, the better crystallinity and hole mobility. • no negative influence of the laser on the surface morphology. In presented work, a reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (r-HiPIMS) was used for high-rate deposition (≈ 170 nm/min) of Cu 2 O films. Films were deposited on a standard soda-lime glass (SLG) substrate at a temperature of 190 °C. As-deposited films exhibit poor hole mobility in the orders of ≈ 1 cm2/Vs. We have systematically studied the effect of laser thermal annealing (LTA) procedure performed using high-power infrared laser under different laser parameters (number of pulses, length of the pulse). We have found, LTA procedure could significantly enhance the hole mobility (up to 24 cm2/Vs in our case). We have also fitted the results of a temperature-dependent Hall measurement to clarify the mechanism of the reported increase in hole mobility. Moreover, we have discussed the effect of the LTA procedure on microstructure (crystallinity, surface morphology) and on the value of optical band gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The properties of oxygen-poor and -rich ZnO and ZnO:Al films were investigated. • Zinc interstitials have been confirmed as the cause of the high conductivity of ZnO. • Effect of deep acceptors suppressed by annealing in vacuum. • Basal edge dislocation is a cause of transmittance degradation. Undoped and doped zinc oxide in film form is used in a wide range of applications. Its electrical and optical properties depend on the oxide conditions during preparation, which are influenced by many deposition parameters. The aim of this work was to experimentally investigate the properties of films deposited under clearly defined oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor conditions. The observed property changes were then described based on theoretical assumptions about internal defects formed in ZnO under different oxygen conditions. To achieve the objective, the ZnO and ZnO:Al films were sputtered in a mixture of argon and oxygen to ensure oxygen-rich conditions. Oxygen-poor conditions were provided by co-sputtering from oxide and metal targets in argon. We have found that the growth in oxygen-rich conditions leads to approximately stoichiometric ZnO films and the films prepared under oxygen-poor conditions are strongly oxygen deficient. The resistivity of undoped ZnO films can be controlled from 108 to 10−2 Ωcm while maintaining high transparency in the visible spectrum. The high resistivity is caused by the formation of deep acceptors under oxygen-rich conditions. The high concentration of zinc interstitials is responsible for the low resistivity in oxygen poor conditions. Even in the case of ZnO:Al films, the carrier concentration is strongly reduced at oxygen-rich conditions by the deep acceptors. These defects tend to relax during vacuum annealing at 300 °C due to self-diffusion. The carrier mobility is mainly related to the crystallinity. The formation of a high number of basal edge dislocations has been identified as a reason for the reduction in transmittance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is one of the most serious side effects of cancer that negatively impacts the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. There is evidence of CRCI in Hodgkin lymphoma patients (HL); however, there is a lack of studies examining the presence of cognitive deficits before starting any treatment in HL patients. Methods: Forty adult patients (N = 40) newly diagnosed with HL (with no previous cancer diagnoses) and 40 healthy controls (N = 40) matched for age, sex, education, and premorbid intellect completed the neuropsychological battery and subjective and objective measures of affective distress and quality of life. Results: The results showed impairment in three out of six cognitive domains: verbal memory and learning, speed of processing/psychomotor speed, and abstraction/executive functions in the HL patients before the initiation of any treatment. The speed of processing/psychomotor speed domain is negatively correlated with depression. Conclusion: Cognitive deterioration in verbal memory and learning and abstraction/executive functions domains in HL patients seems to occur before the initiation of treatment independently of anxiety, depression, or physical symptoms. This suggests that HL itself may cause cognitive deficits in these cognitive domains. However, the underlying causes of CRCI still remain unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a detailed study of aluminium-doped zinc oxide thin films sputtered at 100 °C, with a focus on the correlation between structural and electrical properties. The structural properties are identified by SEM microscopy and X-ray diffraction, while the electrical properties are described by means of the carrier concentration and the carrier mobility, both determined experimentally. The study consists of a set of thin films with thicknesses from ~16 to ~1120 nm. Our analysis shows that the electrical properties in each individual thickness layer gradually change with its distance from the substrate, which correlates very well to the changes observed in structural properties. Along with our experimental findings, we have designed a one-dimensional mathematical model based on the trapping states related to the grain boundaries. This model offers a deeper insight into the relation between the film structure and the film resistivity and allows identification of additional material characteristics such us the trap density at the grain boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a zero-dimensional kinetic model of CO2 splitting in non-equilibrium plasmas. The model includes a description of the CO2 vibrational kinetics (25 vibrational levels up to the dissociation limit of the molecule), taking into account state-specific VT and VV relaxation reactions and the effect of vibrational excitation on other chemical reactions. The model is applied to study the reaction kinetics of CO2 splitting in an atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and in a moderate-pressure microwave discharge. The model results are in qualitative agreement with published experimental works. We show that the CO2 conversion and its energy efficiency are very different in these two types of discharges, which reflects the important dissociation mechanisms involved. In the microwave discharge, excitation of the vibrational levels promotes efficient dissociation when the specific energy input is higher than a critical value (2.0 eV/molecule under the conditions examined). The calculated energy efficiency of the process has a maximum of 23%. In the DBD, vibrationally excited levels do not contribute significantly to the dissociation of CO2 and the calculated energy efficiency of the process is much lower (5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hodgkin's lymphoma is associated with cognitive impairment. • Cognitive impairment in Hodgkin's lymphoma prior to treatment was found in 3 of 6 cognitive domains. • Cognitive impairment in Hodgkin's lymphoma after treatment was found in 4 of 6 cognitive domains. • Cognitive impairment in Hodgkin's lymphoma is not related to emotional factors. • Cognitive impairment persists even 6 months after the end of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a well-documented side effect of cancer treatment in various types of tumors including Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). However, a longitudinal study evaluating the cognitive performance of HL patients has been completely lacking. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of CRCI in HL patients before, promptly after, and 6 months after treatment. Thirty-six patients newly diagnosed with HL and 45 healthy controls (HC) completed the neuropsychological battery and psychological measures of affective distress and quality of life. The results indicate that HL patients have impaired performance compared to HC which cannot be explained by emotional factors. Cognitive impairments prior to treatment were found in 3 of 6 cognitive domains, i.e., verbal memory and learning, speed of processing/psychomotor speed, and abstraction/executive function. Promptly after the chemotherapy, deficits were found in the domains of memory and learning, verbal memory, speed of processing/psychomotor speed, and abstraction/executive function. Weaker cognitive performance persist even 6 months after the end of chemotherapy, specifically in domains of verbal memory and learning, and abstraction/executive function. Our results indicate the presence of cognitive impairment in HL patients already prior to treatment and increased damages caused by chemotherapy, while some of them may last for up to 6 months after the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of inorganic transparent conductive oxide films on polymer substrates has been of increasing interest due to their potential applications in the field of flexible electronics. The subject of the present work is replacing the preferably-used indium tin oxide films by an aluminium zinc oxide (AZO) film in ZnO-nanorod-based devices, combining the role of the seed layer for nanorod growth with a sheet resistance lower than 100 Ω/sq. The investigated AZO films with thickness up to 300 nm were deposited on 150 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate substrates by (i) radio-frequency magnetron sputtering from a ZnO/Al 2 O 3 target and (ii) co-sputtering from ZnO and Al targets in an argon atmosphere. AZO films with good transparency and thickness of 160 nm and sheet resistance lower than 100 Ω/sq. were prepared by co-sputtering. It was found that co-sputtering leads to lower film resistivity due to better activation of Al atoms in the AZO film. ZnO nanorod growth was demonstrated on both types of film, and the co-sputtered AZO films were covered by a pure (undoped) ZnO film to improve the ZnO nanorod morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are multiple sclerosis patients who suffer from an aggressive course of the disease with severe relapses and rapid accumulation of disability despite adequate treatment. In such cases high-dose immunoablation with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) may be considered. Our objective was to report our experience with 26 multiple sclerosis patients treated with ASCT within the years 1998-2008. Twenty-six patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.5-7.5 (median 6.0), multiple sclerosis duration 2-19 years (median 7)) with aggressive multiple sclerosis underwent autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cells were mobilized by high-dose cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) was used for immunoablation. Patients were evaluated at baseline and every six months post ASCT for adverse events and clinical outcome. Follow-up period was 11-132 months (median 66). Progression-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. At 3 and 6 years of follow-up 70.8% and 29.2% of patients respectively were free of rogression. Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis course, disease duration <5 years and age <35 years had a more favourable outcome. There was no death within 100 days after ASCT. We conclude that ASCT represents a viable and effective treatment option for aggressive multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Therapeutic options used to be very limited for treatment‐naïve elderly/comorbid patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) before the introduction of chemo‐immunotherapy. Because dose‐reduced fludarabine‐based regimens yielded promising results, the Czech CLL Study Group initiated a prospective observational study to assess safety and efficacy of low‐dose fludarabine and cyclophosphamide combined with rituximab (FCR) in elderly/comorbid patients. Between March 2009 and July 2012, we enrolled 107 patients considered ineligible for full‐dose FCR (median age, 70 years; median Cumulative Illness Rating Scale score, 5; median creatinine clearance, 69 ml/min). Notably, 77% patients had unfavourable biological prognosis [unmutated immunoglobulin heavy‐chain variable‐region gene (IGHV), 74%; deletion 17p, 9%). Fludarabine was reduced to 12 mg/m2 intravenously (iv) or 20 mg/m2 orally on days 1–3 and cyclophosphamide to 150 mg/m2 iv/orally on days 1–3. Grade 3–4 neutropenia occurred in 56% of the patients, but there were serious infections in only 15%. The median progression‐free survival was 29 months, but was markedly longer in patients with mutated IGHV (median 53 months), especially in absence of del 11q or 17p (median 74 months). Low‐dose FCR is a well‐tolerated and effective first‐line regimen for selected elderly/comorbid patients with CLL/SLL with favourable biology. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02156726). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No data are available regarding obesity and outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). We analyzed 263 patients from the AGMT CLL‐8a Mabtenance trial for the impact of obesity. The trial included patients after rituximab‐containing induction treatment in first or second line that had achieved at least a PR. A randomization to rituximab maintenance treatment (375 mg/m2 q3 months for 2 years) vs observation was performed. In this cohort 22% of the patients (58/263) were classified as obese. The baseline response to induction treatment was inferior in obese patients with a lower CR rate (43.1% vs 60.5% in obese vs non‐obese, P = 0.018) and with a lower rate of patients achieving MRD negativity after chemoimmunotherapy induction treatment (19.6% vs 35.8%, P = 0.02). The PFS outcome of obese patients was significantly worse in the observation group of the trial (24 vs 39 months median PFS, P = 0.03). However, in the rituximab maintenance group the outcome for obese vs non‐obese was not different (P = 0.4). In summary, obesity was overall associated with a worse outcome of chemoimmunotherapy induction. However, rituximab maintenance treatment seems to be able to overcome this negative effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal frontline treatment in younger high tumor-burden risk follicular lymphoma patients remains a challenge given the reduced efficacy of standard immunochemotherapy (R-CHOP) in widespread disease and unclear role of intensive induction. The retrospective non-randomized pair-matched (1:3) analysis compared 48 intermediate/high Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) patients receiving intensive rituximab sequential chemotherapy (R-SQ) with 144 random controls (R-CHOP) matched for age, FLIPI score, and maintenance delivery. Complete response rates were 91.7% and 74.1%, respectively (p = .038). After a median follow-up of 8.8 (R-SQ) and 6.5 years (R-CHOP), 5-year time to treatment failure, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 80.9%, 83.2%, and 100% and 57.5%, 60.3%, and 92.1% (p = .0044;p = .0047;p = .22), respectively. Intensive treatment was accompanied by higher acute hematologic toxicity and infections, comparable non-hematologic toxicity, and incidence of secondary malignancies. Intensive induction demonstrates superior long-term disease control compared to R-CHOP, with higher acute hematologic toxicity, but without acute treatment-related mortality. Further studies are needed to define ultra-high-risk FL patients benefiting most from treatment intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We have studied the feasibility and efficacy of intensified R-MegaCHOP-ESHAP-BEAM therapy in high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphomas. 105 patients (19-64 years) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL), or follicular lymphoma grade 3 (FL3) with an age-adjusted International Prognostic Index of 2-3 were recruited. Treatment consisted of 3 cycles of high-dose R-CHOP, followed by 3 cycles of R-ESHAP and high-dose consolidation with BEAM and autologous stem cell transplantation. The 5-year PFS was 72% (DLBCL 60%, PMBL 89%) and OS was 74% (DLBCL 61%, PMBL 89%) after median follow-up of 85 months. However, an independent prognostic factor was age only, with patients ⩽45 years having 5-year PFS 90% and patients >45 years having PFS 54%. PMBL had better prognosis than DLBCL/FL3 in patients >45 years (PFS, 88% v. 48%), but not in the younger ones (PFS, 91% v. 94%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most results on the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) with imatinib were obtained from clinical trials that may differ from the routine practice. We report the results of treatment of consecutive patients with CML at ten major centres during 2000–2008. Patients and methods: Data reporting was retrospective in 2000–2004 and prospective from 2005 on. A total of 661 patients [301 womenand 360 men; median age 51 (range, 15–83)] with Ph + CML were registered. The median follow-up was 46.1 months (0–122.2). Results: Most patients were treated with first- (379; 57.3%) or second-line (193; 29.2%) imatinib; some of the patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) (83; 12.6%), but 6.1% were treated with other modalities [40 patients; median age 66 (range, 32–83)]. The probability of overall survival (OS) at 5 years, according to Kaplan and Meier, was 88.9%, 77.5% and68.7% for chronic-phase patients treated with first-line imatinib, second-line imatinib and first-line AHSCT, respectively, but only 25.2% for patients receiving other modalities. The OS was dependent on the disease phase and Sokal, Hasford and European group for blood and marrow transplantation (EBMT) risk scores (P < 0.001; each). Only 46.2% of deaths in patients treated with other modalities were attributable to CML. Elderly patients over 65 years achieved similar response rates and progression-free survival to the younger ones. There was a trend for inferior results of AHSCT performed after the failure of imatinib (P = 0.075), probably as a result of differences in EBMT risk scores (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The ability to achieve results comparable to those of previous clinical studies in our CML cohort was influenced by centralised care. Decisions not to initiate imatinib or to delay AHSCT may have a negative impact on OS,but comorbidities may limit the treatment potential of imatinib in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The knowledge of biological characteristics of minimal residual disease (MRD) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains sparse. There are no data available on what level of MRD might be 'safe' without an overt risk of relapse, or whether any such level exists at all. To address this issue in prospective studies, we have developed a quantitative molecular approach to monitor MRD in CLL, which allows the malignant clone to be traced with far higher sensitivity than possible with the techniques available currently. Method: To quantify MRD in CLL patients, a novel locked nucleic acid (LNA)-RNA-based quantitative realtime PCR technique was developed. Clone-specific assays were prepared for 62 CLL patients. Thirty patients were followed up molecularly for a median of 250 days (range 69-570 days). All patients were administered chemo/immunotherapy. Results: In three patients, molecular negativity was achieved, as estimated by LNA-based assays. In one patient, a sustained molecular negativity was established by chemo/immunotherapy and the patient remains molecularly negative (322 days). The LNA-based assay enabled us to evaluate MRD in a reproducible manner with the sensitivity of 10-7. Conclusion: LNA-RNA-based quantitative real-time PCR is an effective approach for MRD monitoring with the potential for increased sensitivity compared with standard DNA-based assays used for molecular follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the safety and effectiveness of the individually determined application granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Methods: The administration of G-CSF from day +5 (arm A) was compared in a randomised, controlled trial with delayed, individually determined administration (G-CSF started when WBC ≥ 0.5 × 109/L and ANC ≥ 0.1 × 109/L or at day +10; arm B), and with placebo (arm C). Results: One hundred and six patients, median age 45 (range 21–64), all with malignant lymphoma treated with BEAM chemotherapy were analysed. A significant difference in the time to neutrophil engraftment and in the duration of neutropenia <0.5 × 109/L and <1.0 × 109/L was observed between the arms ( P = 0.04–<0.0001) with a 1-d prolongation of the median durations in arm B in comparison with arm A but a 2–4-d prolongation in the placebo arm C in comparison with arm B. The median number and range of days to neutrophil engraftment >0.5 × 109/L after graft re-infusion was 10 (9–14) in arm A; 11 (9–19) in arm B; and 14 (10–30) in arm C ( P < 0.0001). Engraftment of platelets to >20 × 109/L and >50 × 109/L was significantly delayed in the arms using G-CSF in comparison with placebo ( P = 0.04–0.002) without any increase in bleeding or in transfusion requirement. There was no difference in the incidence and duration of transplant-related complications and their treatment between the arms. Conclusions: Our study has confirmed the safety of individually determined administration of G-CSF. The optimal timing of G-CSF application after ASCT in patients with good-quality grafts is shortly before expected spontaneous engraftment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]