Sustained response to erythropoietin for anemia in NK-cell large granular lymphocytosis: A brief case report.

Large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that involves the T-cell lineage in around 85% of cases and NK-cell lineage in 15%. Most patients require treatment at some point of their disease trajectory to address clinical symptomatology largely pertaining to cytopenia. While immunosuppression represents the backbone of LGL therapy, there is no consensus on the best next line following failure of immunosuppression. Here we present a case of LGL-associated cytopenia in a 73-year-old male refractory to immunosuppression, treated with adjunct erythropoietin alpha (EPO) with a marked response. Our case suggests that EPO therapy may provide therapeutic benefit in refractory LGL cases when used in conjunction with immunosuppressive therapy.

Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence against women in an urban Brazilian city: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence is a global health burden that disproportionately affects women and their health outcomes. Women in Brazil are also affected by interpersonal violence. We aimed to estimate the lifetime prevalence of three forms of interpersonal violence against women (IPVAW) and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with IPVAW in one urban Brazilian city. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, we interviewed women aged ≥18 years in the urban Brazilian city, Maringá, who currently have or have had an intimate partner. The 13-item WHO Violence Against Women instrument was used to ask participants about their experiences with intimate partner violence, categorized into psychological, physical and sexual violence. We estimated associations between IPVAW and sociodemographic characteristics using generalized linear models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of the 419 women who were enrolled and met inclusion criteria, lifetime prevalence of IPVAW was 56%. Psychological violence was more prevalent (52%) than physical (21%) or sexual violence (13%). Twenty-eight women (6.4%) experienced all three forms of IPVAW. Women were more likely to experience violence if they were employed, did not live with their partner or had 4 or more children. Educational level, household income, age and race were not significantly associated factors. Our findings highlight a high prevalence of IPVAW in a community in southern Brazil.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening and Outcomes.

Invasive cervical cancer disproportionately affects women without sufficient access to care, with higher rates among minority groups in higher-income countries and women in low-resource regions of the world. Many elements contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in the cervical cancer continuum - from screening and diagnosis to treatment and outcome. Sociodemographic factors, access to healthcare, income and education level, and disease stage at diagnosis are closely linked to such inequities. Despite the identification of such elements, racial/ethnic disparities persist, and are widening in several minority subgroups, particularly in older women, who are ineligible for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and are underscreened. Recent studies suggest that racial/ethnic differences in HPV infection exist and may also have a role in observed differences in cervical cancer. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature on racial disparities in cervical cancer screening, incidence, treatment and outcome to inform future strategies to reduce persistent inequities.