Organic food and health.

The popularity of organic foods grows systematically. In the last decade, several critical reviews and meta-analysis concerning organic food consumption and their effect on some chosen health problems have been published. The aim of the work was to present the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of organic food consumption on human health. On average, organic food of plant origin is characterized by a trace presence of pesticides, a lower content of nitrates and an increased content of polyphenols and vitamin C. Organic products of animal origin contain more beneficial for health unsaturated fatty acid. Organic dairy products, in contrast to meat products, are characterized by a higher content of protein and saturated fatty acids, however, the differences more result from the length of the grazing period and access to fresh forage than to the production system. Although generally, the consumption of organic food does not provide a significant nutritional advantage compared to a conventional diet, regular and frequent consumption of organic products generally reduces the risk of overweight and obesity, both for women and men, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma in case of women. Besides those, consumption of organic fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products significantly reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy and eczema in infants, respectively. Positive effect on selected health problems probably results from a reduced amount of pesticide residues and an increased secondary plant metabolites intake which characterize organic food. This review showed that there is a need for further, especially, large cohort studies concerning the effect of organic food consumption on specific diseases development.

Treatment and prevention of secondary CNS lymphoma.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a serious, potentially preventable complication that can occur in 5 to 10% of patients. Its occurrence is directly correlated with pathologic aggressiveness and ranges from less than 3% in the indolent, less-aggressive histologies to as high as 50% in the very aggressive ones such as Burkitt lymphoma. Aggressive treatment once detected can improve neurologic outcome, but because it is often associated with contemporaneous systemic relapse, is rarely associated with long-term survival. Preventing its occurrence, therefore, remains an important goal of initial treatment. Despite there being some suggestive evidence that the addition of systemic rituximab and several intracerebrospinal fluid chemotherapy regimens may have decreased the incidence of CNS involvement, both optimal selection of those patients who should receive prophylaxis as well as the best prophylactic regimen remain active areas of investigation.

[Diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of central nervous system involvement by non-Hodgkin lymphoma in HIV-infected patients]. / Diagnóstico, profilaxis y tratamiento de la afectación del sistema nervioso central por linfoma no hodgkiniano en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

With the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) the incidence of systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has declined. HAART has also modified the clinical manifestations of these tumors, with a lower frequency of involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). Currently, the frequency of meningeal involvement at the time of diagnosis of NHL in HIV-infected patients varies between 3% and 5%. These figures are similar to those observed among immunocompetent hosts. The diagnosis of meningeal lymphoma relies in clinical findings, imaging techniques, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination. Flow cytometry is a diagnostic technique with a higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional cytology for the diagnosis of meningeal lymphoma. However, flow cytometry is not yet considered to be the gold standard for this purpose. Until recently, most experts recommended neuromeningeal prophylaxis for all HIV-infected patients with aggressive NHL. However, at present this prophylaxis is recommended only in patients with higher risk of CNS relapse according to different sites of involvement, stage and histological subtype. There are different regimens of prophylaxis and treatment for meningeal lymphoma. The drugs most commonly used for this purpose are methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside. However, there are other alternatives such as liposomal cytosine arabinoside that requires fewer spinal taps for drug administration and whose results are very promising. In summary, in the context of an effective HAART, HIV infected patients with NHL have a frequency of CNS involvement by lymphoma similar to that found among immunocompetent hosts. Consequently, indications and regimens for CNS prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients with NHL should not be different than those employed in the general population. Universal CNS prophylaxis should be reserved for the few patients unable to receive an effective HAART.

Cancer immunotherapy using Listeria monocytogenes and listerial virulence factors.

Our laboratory is interested in how immunogenicity may be modulated in vivo in order to better design more effective immunotherapeutics against cancer. Our main approach is to use a facultative intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, which has the unusual ability to live and grow in the cytoplasm of the cell and is thus an excellent vector for targeting passenger antigens to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I pathway of antigen processing with the generation of authentic CTL epitopes. We have used this approach to target tumor antigens expressed on breast, melanoma and cervical cancer. We are also exploring the role of Listerial virulence factors in potentiating adaptive immune responses by activating innate immunity. Specifically, we are using these proteins as adjuvants for B cell lymphomas.

90Y-ibritumomab therapy in refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: observations from 111In-ibritumomab pretreatment imaging.

UNLABELLED: Radioimmunotherapy is an effective treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). 90Y-ibritumomab is an antibody targeting CD20 receptors on the surface of lymphocytes. We present observations from our clinical experience with 90Y-ibritumomab in the management of NHL. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 28 NHL patients treated with 90Y-ibritumomab. There were 21 men and 7 women, 36-85 y old. A diagnostic dose of 111In-ibritumomab was administered on day 0, and imaging followed immediately and at 24, 48, and 72 h. The doses of 90Y-ibritumomab ranged from 629 to 1,258 MBq (17-34 mCi). Outcomes were compared with the findings of the 111In-ibritumomab scans. RESULTS: 90Y-ibritumomab induced objective responses in 22 of 28 patients. A complete response was noted in 9 patients, a partial response in 9 patients, and a mixed response in 4 patients. Three patients had stable disease, and 3 patients had disease progression. 111In-ibritumomab findings were positive in 19 patients and negative in 9 patients. A complete response was noted in 2 of 19 patients with positive findings and 7 of 9 with negative findings. A partial response was seen in 7 of 19 patients with positive findings and 1 of 9 with negative findings. Disease progression was observed in 3 of 19 patients with positive findings and 0 of 9 with negative findings. The remaining patients had a mixed response or no changes. CONCLUSION: A higher rate of complete response after 90Y-ibritumomab treatment was seen in patients with negative 111In-ibritumomab findings, whereas a higher rate of disease progression despite therapy was noted in patients with positive 111In-ibritumomab findings. This observation suggests that patients with bulky disease may require more aggressive management.

[CNS complications and their prevention in malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (author's transl)]. / Die Meningosis neoplastica und ihre Prophylaxe bei malignen Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen.

Among 334 patients (aged 15-57 years) with malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma there were 14 who developed CNS complications, none in 144 with lymphoma of low malignancy. Lymphoblastic lymphoma predominated amoung those with CNS involvement. In adults with this form treatment should therefore be undertaken to prevent such complications. The study confirms the need for histological subclassification in malignant non-Hodgkins's lymphoma.

Intervenciones de enfermería en la atención del adulto con linfoma no hodgkin folicular (LNHF) / Nursing interventions in adult attention with Follicular Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (LNHF)

Introducción: Esta guía pone a disposición del personal de enfermería que labora en unidades médicas de tercer nivel de atención, las recomendaciones basadas en la mejor evidencia disponible para la toma de decisiones clínicas, las intervenciones de enfermería en la atención del adulto con Linfoma no Hodgkin Folicular. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda y revisión sistemática en la base de datos de PubMed, sitios específicos de Guías de Práctica Clínica y la biblioteca Cochrane; publicados entre 2002 y 2012, de los cuales se seleccionaron las fuentes con mayor puntaje obtenido en la evaluación de su metodología y las de mayor nivel en cuanto a gradación de evidencias y recomendaciones. Resultados: En la revisión sistemática fueron seleccionados 19 documentos para la elaboración de la guía. Se recomienda al profesional de enfermería fomentar la valoración del paciente identificando las necesidades físicas y emocionales del paciente y de la familia. Las intervenciones deben ser dirigidas antes, durante y después del tratamiento con enfasis en los cuidados de los efectos secundarios de la quimioterapia.Conclusiones: La incorporación de las recomendaciones en la práctica asistencial de enfermería podrá favorecer en la limitación del daño, disminución de comorbilidad y mejora en la calidad de vida en los pacientes mayores de 18 años con linfoma no Hodgkin folicular.

Introduction: This guide provides nursing staff working in medical units tertiary care recommendations based on the best evidence available for clinical decision making, nursing interventions in the care of adults with follicular Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Method: A search and systematic review was performed in the PubMed database, specific sites Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Cochrane Library; were published between 2002 and 2012, of which the sources were selected with the highest score obtained in the evaluation of its methodology and higher level as to grading evidence and recommendations.Results: In the systematic review they were selected 19 documents for the development of the guide. It is recommended to encourage nurse patient assessment identifying the physical and emotional patient and family needs. Interventions should be directed before, during and after treatment with emphasis on the care of the side effects of chemotherapy.Conclusions: The incorporation of the recommendations in the nursing care practice may favor in limiting the damage, decreased morbidity and improved quality of life in patients over 18 years with follicular non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Introdução: Este guia fornece a equipe de enfermagem que trabalham em unidades médicas terciárias cuidar recomendações baseadas na melhor evidência disponível para a tomada de decisão clínica, intervenções de enfermagem no cuidado de adultos com Linfoma folicular não-Hodgkin.Método: Uma pesquisa e revisão sistemática foi realizada no banco de dados PubMed, sites específicos diretrizes de prática clínica e da Biblioteca Cochrane; foram publicados entre 2002 e 2012, dos quais as fontes foram selecionados com a maior pontuação obtida na avaliação de sua metodologia e nível superior quanto à classificação de evidências e recomendações.Resultados: Na revisão sistemática foram selecionados 19 documentos para o desenvolvimento do guia. Recomenda-se a incentivar a enfermeira avaliação do paciente identificar as necessidades físicas e emocionais do paciente e da família. As intervenções devem ser dirigidos antes, durante e após o tratamento com ênfase no cuidado dos efeitos colaterais da quimioterapia.Conclusões: A incorporação das recomendações na prática de cuidados de enfermagem pode favorecer em limitar os danos, diminuição da morbidade e melhor qualidade de vida em pacientes com mais de 18 anos com linfoma não-Hodgkin folicular.