Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (HLH/MAS) following treatment with tisagenlecleucel.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell-related HLH/MAS is an unusual manifestation of severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) with poor prognosis and a challenging diagnosis. The establishment of specific diagnosis criteria is essential, and the combination of several techniques for CAR T-cell follow-up, allows a more precise management of this complication.

Hypermetabolic abdominal and cervical lymph nodes mimicking Hodgkin lymphoma relapse on FDG PET/CT after adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine-associated hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy (VAHL) has been reported as a common post-vaccination side effect, especially with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Most VAHL cases present normal or enlarged regional lymph nodes close to the injection site, usually with mild-moderate FDG (18 F-Fluorodeoxyglucose) uptake on FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. Here, we describe the case of a 33-year-old woman with past history of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (CHL) who underwent follow-up FDG PET/CT 3 days (d) after the first dose of the adenovirus-vectored Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. FDG PET/CT showed unexpected small hypermetabolic cervical and abdominal lymph nodes in the same location as at the onset of the disease, suggesting radiological relapse. Considering temporal relationship and other cases of VAHL, a new image was performed 2 months later, which revealed decreased lymph nodes and normalization of FDG uptake. This case illustrates that the possibility of a false-positive should always be considered by physicians in this new context, even when hypermetabolic lymph nodes appear far from the vaccination site.

Cerebral hemodynamics in obesity: relationship with sex, age, and adipokines in a cohort-based study.

Overweight and obesity are well-known independent risk factors for stroke in the general population although uncertain in the case of the elderly, according to the obesity paradox. Little is known about underlying mechanisms. Our study aims to assess whether there is a relationship between excess body weight (measured as waist circumference) and poor cerebral hemodynamics (measured by transcranial Doppler parameters: basal, mean flow velocity (MFV), and dynamic, cerebrovascular reserve (CvR) in the right middle cerebral artery (RMCA)). A possible underlying molecular mechanism was analyzed via plasma leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, VCAM, and CRP levels. One hundred sixty-five subjects were included. Bivariate and multivariate regression showed a linear correlation between waist circumference and hemodynamics in RMCA, with clear gender effects: MFV (global NS, men ß - 0.26 p < 0.01; women NS), CvR (global: ß - 0.15 p < 0.01; men: ß - 0.29 p < 0.01, women: ß - 0.19 p < 0.09). For subjects above 65 years, there is no significant relationship between AbP and cerebral hemodynamics. In multivariate regression models, only leptin correlated independently with MFV in RMCA (ß 7.24, p < 0.01) and CvR (ß - 0.30, p < 0.01). In both cases, waist circumference remains significantly related to both parameters. There is an inverse linear correlation between excess body weight and cerebral hemodynamics, independent of other vascular risk factors and clearly influenced by gender. This relation disappears in the elderly population. Leptin might play a role in this relationship. Nevertheless, there must be another associated mechanism, not identified in this study.

Cerebral hemodynamics and endothelial function in patients with Fabry disease.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral vasculopathy have been described in Fabry disease, in which altered cerebral blood flow, vascular remodelling or impairment of endothelial function could be involved. Our study aims to evaluate these three possibilities in a group of Fabry patients, and compare it to healthy controls. METHODS: Cerebral hemodynamics, vascular remodelling and systemic endothelial function were investigated in 10 Fabry patients and compared to data from 17 healthy controls. Transcranial Doppler was used to study blood flow velocity of intracranial arteries and cerebral vasomotor reactivity. For the study of vascular remodelling and endothelial function, intima-media thickness of common carotid arteries, flow-mediated dilation in brachial artery and serum levels of soluble VCAM-1, TNF-α, high-sensitive CRP and IL-6 were measured. Differences between groups were evaluated using appropriate tests. RESULTS: No relevant differences were observed in cerebral hemodynamic parameters, intima-media thickness or flow-mediated dilation. There was a trend for low serum levels of IL-6 and high serum levels of TNF-α and high-sensitive CRP in Fabry patients; plasma concentrations of soluble VCAM-1 were significantly higher in Fabry disease patients than in healthy volunteers (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, we did not find relevant alterations of cerebral hemodynamics in Fabry disease patients. Increased levels of plasmatic endothelial biomarkers seem to be the most important feature indicative of possible vascular dysfunction in Fabry disease patients.

Evaluación de la implantación de las indicaciones y niveles de prioridad del Servizo Galego de Saude para la colonoscopia en pacientes sintomáticos: estudio prospectivo y transversal / Evaluation of the implementation of Galician Health Service indications and priority levels for colonoscopy in symptomatic patients: prospective, cross-sectional study

Introducción: el Servizo Galego de Saúde estableció indicaciones y niveles de prioridad de la colonoscopia (I-vía rápida, II-preferente, III-normal) acorde al riesgo de detectar cáncer colorrectal y lesiones colónicas significativas con acceso desde atención primaria. Nuestro objetivo es analizar los resultados de la implantación. Métodos: estudio prospectivo transversal y observacional. Se incluyeron las colonoscopias solicitadas entre julio y octubre de 2012 en pacientes sintomáticos. Se recogió el nivel asistencial solicitante (especializada o primaria), nivel de prioridad, adecuación a los criterios establecidos, tiempos de demora (solicitud y consulta inicial) y rendimiento diagnóstico para cáncer colorrectal y/o lesión colónica significativa. Se compararon los niveles asistenciales en las prioridades I y II. Resultados: se incluyeron 425 colonoscopias (I = 221, II = 141, III = 63) con una adecuación al protocolo del 67.5 %. Los niveles de prioridad se relacionaron significativamente con los tiempos de demora (días) desde la solicitud (I = 8,7 ± 8,9, II = 50 ± 20,3, III = 80,2 ± 32,2; p < 0,001) y la consulta inicial (I = 32,2 ± 38, II = 74,5 ± 44,2, III = 128,5 ± 47,4; p > 0,001); y con la tasa detección de cáncer colorrectal (I = 20,1 %, II = 19,1 %, III = 4,8 %; p < 0,001) y lesión colónica significativa (I = 35,3 %, II = 34 %, III = 19 %; p = 0,002). En las colonoscopias solicitadas con prioridad I y II desde primaria (21,8 %), la demora desde la consulta inicial fue inferior (primaria = 29,3 ± 26, especializada = 55,2 ± 48,6; p < 0,001) y se detectó más cáncer colorrectal (OR 2,41, IC 95 % 1,31-4,42) y lesión colónica significativa (OR 1,88, IC 95 % 1,13-3,15). Conclusiones: los niveles de prioridad se asocian significativamente con la detección de cáncer colorrectal y lesión colónica significativa. El acceso a la colonoscopia desde primaria reduce los tiempos de demora e incrementa el rendimiento diagnóstico (AU)

Background: the Galician Health Service established indications and priority levels (I = fast track, II = preferential, III = normal) for colonoscopy, according to the risk of colorectal cancer and significant colonic lesions detection with access from primary health care. Our aim is to show the results of the implementation. Methods: we included colonoscopies requested in symptomatic patients from June to October 2012 in a prospective observational cross sectional study. We collected health care level (primary, secondary),priority, appropriateness to the established criteria, wait times (from colonoscopy application and initial consultation) and diagnostic yield for colorectal cancer and/or significant colonic lesion. We compared health care levels in priorities I and II. Results: 425 colonoscopies were included (I = 221, II = 141, III = 63). The appropriateness rate to the protocol was 67.5 %. Priority levels were significantly associated to wait times (days) from application (I = 8.7 ± 8.9, II = 50 ± 20.3, III = 80.2 ± 32.2; p <0.001) and initial consultation (I = 32.2 ± 38, II = 74.5 ± 44.2, III = 128.5 ± 47.4; p < 0.001), and with colorectal cancer (I = 20.1 %, II = 19.1 %, III = 4.8 %, p < 0.001) and significant colonic lesion (I = 35.3 %, II = 34 %, III = 19 %, p = 0.002) detection rates. In priority I and II, 21.8 % of colonoscopies were requested from primary health care. Referral form primary health care reduced wait times from initial consultation to colonoscopy (primary = 29.3 ± 26, secondary = 55.2 ± 48.6, p < 0.001). Instead, colorectal cancer (OR 2.41, 95 % CI 1.31-4.42) and significant colonic lesion (OR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.13-3.15) detection rate was increased. Conclusions: Galician Health Service priority levels are significantly associated with colorectal cancer and significant colonic lesion detection. Referrals to colonoscopy from primary health care reduce waiting times and increase diagnostic yield (AU)

Evaluation of the implementation of Galician Health Service indications and priority levels for colonoscopy in symptomatic patients: prospective, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: the Galician Health Service established indications and priority levels (I = fast track, II = preferential, III = normal) for colonoscopy, according to the risk of colorectal cancer and significant colonic lesions detection with access from primary health care. Our aim is to show the results of the implementation. METHODS: we included colonoscopies requested in symptomatic patients from June to October 2012 in a prospective observational cross sectional study. We collected health care level (primary, secondary), priority, appropriateness to the established criteria, wait times (from colonoscopy application and initial consultation) and diagnostic yield for colorectal cancer and/or significant colonic lesion. We compared health care levels in priorities I and II. RESULTS: 425 colonoscopies were included (I = 221, II = 141, III = 63). The appropriateness rate to the protocol was 67.5 %. Priority levels were significantly associated to wait times (days) from application (I = 8.7 ± 8.9, II = 50 + or - 20.3, III = 80.2 + or - 32.2; p < 0.001) and initial consultation (I = 32.2 + or - 38, II = 74.5 + or - 44.2, III = 128.5 + or - 47.4; p < 0.001), and with colorectal cancer (I = 20.1 %, II = 19.1 %, III = 4.8 %, p < 0.001) and significant colonic lesion (I = 35.3 %, II = 34 %, III = 19 %, p = 0.002) detection rates. In priority I and II, 21.8 % of colonoscopies were requested from primary health care. Referral form primary health care reduced wait times from initial consultation to colonoscopy (primary = 29.3 + or - 26, secondary = 55.2 + or - 48.6, p < 0.001). Instead, colorectal cancer (OR 2.41, 95 % CI 1.31-4.42) and significant colonic lesion (OR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.13- 3.15) detection rate was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Galician Health Service priority levels are significantly associated with colorectal cancer and significant colonic lesion detection. Referrals to colonoscopy from primary health care reduce waiting times and increase diagnostic yield.