Second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as salvage therapy for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndromes after a first transplantation.

Second allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT2) is a therapeutic option for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) relapsing after a first transplant (HSCT1). However, patients allocated to HSCT2 may be a selected group with better prognosis and the added efficacy of HSCT2 is not well established. We retrospectively analyzed 407 consecutive patients with relapsed AML/MDS after HSCT1.

Fly neurons in culture: a model for neural development and pathology.

Primary neural cultures from the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, enable a high-resolution glance into cellular processes and neuronal interaction. The development of the culture, along with its vitality and functionality, can be continuously monitored, and the abundance of available tools for D. melanogaster research can greatly assist in characterizing different aspects of the culture.

Gene-gene interactions lead to higher risk for development of type 2 diabetes in an Ashkenazi Jewish population.

Background: Evidence has accumulated that multiple genetic and environmental factors play important roles in determining susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although variants from candidate genes have become prime targets for genetic analysis, few studies have considered their interplay. Our goal was to evaluate interactions among SNPs within genes frequently identified as associated with T2D.

Emerging model systems in evo-devo: horned beetles and the origins of diversity.

Horned beetles and beetle horns are emerging as a model system suited to address fundamental questions in evolutionary developmental biology. Here we briefly review the biology of horned beetles and highlight the unusual opportunities they provide for evo-devo research. We then summarize recent advances in the development of new approaches and techniques that are now available to scientists interested in working with these organisms.