Ice-cream used as cryotherapy during high-dose melphalan conditioning reduces oral mucositis after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most frequent adverse events of high-dose conditioning chemotherapy with melphalan prior to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). It significantly reduces the patients' quality of life. One of the preventive strategies for OM is cryotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed whether commercially available ice-cream could prevent OM during the melphalan infusion. We retrospectively analyzed 74 patients after AHSCT to see whether there is any correlation between OM and cryotherapy (ice-cream), melphalan dose (140 mg/m2 or 200 mg/m2). The incidence of OM in our study inversely correlated with cryotherapy in the form of ice-cream. Out of 74 patients receiving conditioning chemotherapy with high-dose melphalan, 52 received cryotherapy. Fifteen patients in the cryotherapy group (28.84%) developed OM, whereas 13 patients (59.09%) developed it in the group without cryotherapy. In a multiple linear regression test cryotherapy remained a significant protective factor against OM (p = 0.02) We have also seen the relationship between melphalan dose with OM (p < 0.005). Cryotherapy in the form of ice-cream is associated with a lower rate of OM and, therefore, could potentially be used as a cost-effective, less burdensome, and easy to implement method in prevention of oral mucositis.

MEDICAL STAFF IN THE CARE OF A PREGNANT PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH FETAL DEFECT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The research conducted aims at evaluating the way the medical staff functions in the care of the pregnant patient diagnosed with fetal defects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: 158 midwives took part in the study. The MINI-COPE standardized questionnaire and author's questions were used. RESULTS: Results: During the period when the care was provided for the pregnant patients diagnosed with fetal defects, nearly 50% of the midwives under examination complained about the decline of their wellbeing. 75,3% of the respondents seek help and advice on how to deal with a stressful situation. Ideal for providing a systemic support, the midwives most often chose a psychologist and a psychotherapist. The surveyed who reported no need for a systemic support for the medical staff at the workplace, as the causes of their attitude pointed to their diminished trust in the ward nurse and no place for honest conversations. Most of the midwives surveyed during the care of the patient with the fetal defects experienced stress and bigger mental exhaustion. Over half of the surveyed reported lack of systemic psychological support provided for the medical staff at the workplace. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The research indicates the need to introduce courses and training on topics related to how to deal with stressful situations into the education system of medical staff.

Negative Impact of Borderline Creatinine Concentration and Glomerular Filtration Rate at Baseline on the Outcome of Patients With Multiple Myeloma Treated With Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Renal impairment (RI) is one of the multiple myeloma (MM)-defining events for initiating therapy. After induction therapy, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (ASCT) remains the standard of care for transplant-eligible patients with MM. According to the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), the organ criterion for kidney damage is defined by a serum creatinine concentration (CrC) > 2 mg/dL or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 40 mL/min. In this long-term study, we evaluated the impact of CrC and eGFR calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation on progression-free and overall survival using a lower threshold than the IMWG criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the longitudinal outcomes as measured by progression-free survival and overall survival in 59 transplant-eligible patients with MM: 38 patients with normal renal function and 21 patients with RI defined as a CrC higher than upper limit of normal (≥ 1.1 mg/dL), eGFR < 60 mL/min, treated with ASCT from 1998 to 2004. RESULTS: The risk of disease progression and death following ASCT increased by 16.5% (P = .005) and 19% (P < .0009) per 1 mg/dL of CrC, respectively. The thresholds for the association of renal insufficiency and negative outcomes were CrC > 1.4 mg/dL and eGFR < 55mL/min. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a negative correlation between minimal renal insufficiency and long-term outcomes. Management of patients with even marginally increased CrC and/or decreased eGFR not fulfilling IMWG RI criteria requires more concentrated effort to reverse even minimal renal insufficiency.

[An attempt to assess women's knowledge about caesarean section in the questionnaire survey].

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: In last year the proportion of caesarean sections constantly growing. The aim: To evaluate the knowledge in the questionnaire survey of women about the Caesarean section. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 1462 women in age 18-57 were tested by the method of diagnostic survey. The tool of research was own survey composed of 26 question. RESULTS: Results: Among 1462 of women, which was poll, 79,6% described anxiety as the main factor to make a decision to have a caesarean section. The most frequently mentioned disease in 93,6%, which may appear among women after surgery were adhesions, while a delay of lactation in 59,36% has a negative influence on newborn children. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: 1. The percentage increase of elective caesarean sections is related to the extension of procedures related to psychiatric indications. However, most women, still prefer a natural birth because of safety for the mother and the child. 2. The awareness of women with higher education causes a higher percentage of cesarian sections, because of the greater anxiety about their own health, health of the newborn and safety of a natural birth. 3. Women in a reproductive age should have access to literature and antenatal schools, but also to psychoeducational meetings and a detailed discussion on this subject of both forms of delivery. 4. Increasing the number of cesarean sections to avoid criminal, civil and professional liability contributes to the increase of awareness and claims and by the knowledge of the law by the society.

Selected psychological aspects of functioning of a patient after repeated miscarriages − case study

The purpose of our case study was to identify psychological and medical dependencies affecting subsequent pregnancies of women after early pregnancy loss. The patient miscarried three times, gave birth to two children. The case study describes her state of health, emotional reactions and social support in these situations. Based on medical information, psychological interview and questionnaires (STAI, CISS, BHI-R, ISEL) are described factors influencing the patient's coping with such a difficult situation as the loss of pregnancy.

Continuous Mononuclear Cell Collection (cMNC) protocol impact on hematopoietic stem cell collections in donors with negative collection predictors.

BACKGROUND: Recently, novel protocol utilizing Continuous Mononuclear Cell Collection (cMNC) have been introduced for leukapheresis. We compared the efficacy of cMNC with an older protocol - mononuclear cell collection (MNC) for CD34+ cell collection in unrelated donors with negative stem cell collection predictors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective data from a series of 258 consecutive unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donors was included in this single-center study (80 donors collected with cMNC and 178 with MNC). The donors with poor predictors for collection such as low number of circulating CD34+ cells and/or weight disproportion were assigned to the cMNC arm. RESULTS: The cMNC protocol yielded a higher number of CD34 + cells per donor body weight (7.63 × 106/kg vs 6.82 × 106/kg, p = 0.027). One apheresis was sufficient for collection of target cell number in 89% individuals from both groups despite negative predictors in the cMNC group. In donors with CD34 + cell count <100/µL and a body weight disproportion between donor and recipient one apheresis was sufficient in 83% of donors in cMNC group and in 58% in MNC group (p = 0.0345) with collection efficiency CE2% values of 61% for cMNC and 62% for MNC (p = 0.77). CONCLUSION: cMNC protocol is more efficient in donors with low pre-apheresis CD34+ cell count and weight disproportion between donor and recipient. This suggests that the use of cMNC in unrelated donors could possibly further improve the results of HSC collections.

A Preliminary Online Study on Menstruation Recovery in Women After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Autoimmune Diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant has become a successful treatment option in aggressive autoimmune diseases. Young women who are consulted before this treatment are faced with an absence of data on the transplant's effect on their fertility. The aim of our study was to analyze information on menstruation recovery after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant for autoimmune diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed among members of an international Web forum of patients who had autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant for autoimmune disease. Data were collated and analyzed. RESULTS: We obtained responses from 28 female patients to the questionnaire. The conditioning regimens used in this population were cyclophosphamide ± antibodies or BCNU (carmustine), etoposide, Ara-C (cytarabine), and melphalan chemotherapy. All patients who were transplanted at the age of 32 years or younger showed restored menstruation after an average (standard deviation) of 5.38 months (5.34 mo). In patients aged 33 to 41 years, menstruation was restored in 38%. We found that 73% of patients already had children before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and only 15% of responders declared desire for pregnancy after transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Our online analysis showed feasibility as a questionnaire for assessing fertility after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The results show that menstruation is restored in all patients of 32 years of age or younger, regardless of the conditioning regimen. Many of these women are likely to maintain fertility and may eventually become pregnant. However, a significant number of responders who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant for autoimmune diseases already had children before transplant and indicated no desire for pregnancy after transplant; the data on pregnancy occurrence in this group should be interpreted in this context.