Pretransplantation EASIX predicts intensive care unit admission in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) is a laboratory-based prognosis index defined as creatinine × lactate dehydrogenase/platelets. When measured at pretransplantation evaluation (EASIX-PRE), it predicts allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) mortality. This study explores its ability to predict intensive care unit (ICU) admission and validates EASIX-PRE predictive power for overall survival (OS) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in 167 consecutive patients undergoing alloHCT. EASIX-PRE was calculated retrospectively in all patients and transformed into log2 values (log2-EASIX-PRE). Log2-EASIX-PRE predicted ICU admission (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; P < .001), OS (HR, 1.19; P = .011), and NRM (HR, 1.28; P = .004). The most discriminating EASIX-PRE cutoff value for risk of ICU admission was the 75th percentile (2.795); for OS and NRM, it was the median value (1.703). Patients with EASIX-PRE >2.795 had higher incidence of ICU admission in comparison with patients with lower EASIX-PRE values (day +180, 35.8% vs 12.8%; HR, 2.28; P = .010). Additionally, patients with EASIX-PRE >1.073 had lower OS (2 years, 57.7% vs 68.7%; HR, 1.98; P = .006) and higher NRM (2 years, 38.7% vs 18.5%; HR, 2.92; P = .001) than patients with lower EASIX-PRE results. Log2-EASIX-PRE was not associated with incidence of transplantation-associated microangiopathy, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, or acute graft-versus-host disease. This study proposes EASIX-PRE as a prognostic tool to identify patients undergoing alloHCT at increased risk of severe organ dysfunction and who would therefore require ICU admission. Early identification of patients at high risk of severe events could contribute to personalized intervention design. Additionally, it validates the association between EASIX-PRE and OS and NRM in those undergoing alloHCT.

Transmission of Respiratory Syncytial Virus genotypes in Cali, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Colombia's climatological variety, added to pathogen diversity, creates local niches for infectious diseases. In Bogotá, respiratory syncytial virus causes 30%-52% of the cases of respiratory infections. In coastal or inter-Andean cities with higher temperature and longer dry seasons, frequency of this virus is 7%-13%. By 2017, increased hospitalizations due to airway infections occurred in regions whose weather is differently influenced by "El Niño Southern Oscillation" than in Bogotá, although microbial diversity might have also been involved. METHODS: For Cali, an inter-Andean city with warm tropical weather, records of respiratory syncytial virus from 2014 to 2018, in children two years old or younger, were analyzed, and genotypes transmitted during 2016-2017 were identified based on partial sequences of glycoprotein G. RESULTS: Most cases of respiratory syncytial virus in Cali occur in the first semesters, with peaks expressed around March-April, without a clear association with pluviosity. Unlike the biannual rotating pattern of Bogotá, co-circulation of types A and B was detected. As years pass, transmission seasons are becoming longer and frequencies of the virus augment. The viral genotypes identified follow international trends with dominance of Ontario and Buenos Aires clades. Similar to other isolates in these clades, viruses from Cali exhibit glycosylation variability that may account for their fitness. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of respiratory syncytial virus transmission in Cali differs from that in Bogotá. Its epidemiology is shifting and will remain so with the advent of novel respiratory diseases. This may impact the introduction of vaccination schemes for these or other respiratory viruses.

A DOUBLE-MASKED, RANDOMIZED, SHAM-CONTROLLED, SINGLE-CENTER STUDY WITH PHOTOBIOMODULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PURPOSE: The LIGHTSITE I study investigated the efficacy and safety of photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment in subjects with dry age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Thirty subjects (46 eyes) were treated with the Valeda Light Delivery System, wherein subjects underwent two series of treatments (3× per week for 3-4 weeks) over 1 year. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, microperimetry, central drusen volume and drusen thickness, and quality of life assessments. RESULTS: Photobiomodulation-treated subjects showed a best-corrected visual acuity mean letter score gain of 4 letters immediately after each treatment series at Month 1 (M1) and Month 7 (M7). Approximately 50% of PBM-treated subjects showed improvement of ≥5 letters versus 13.6% in sham-treated subjects at M1. High responding subjects (≥5-letter improvement) in the PBM-treated group showed a gain of 8 letters after initial treatment (P < 0.01) and exhibited earlier stages of age-related macular degeneration disease. Statistically significant improvements in contrast sensitivity, central drusen volume, central drusen thickness, and quality of life were observed (P < 0.05). No device-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Photobiomodulation treatment statistically improved clinical and anatomical outcomes with more robust benefits observed in subjects with earlier stages of dry age-related macular degeneration. Repeated PBM treatments are necessary to maintain benefits. These pilot findings support previous reports and suggest the utility of PBM as a safe and effective therapy in subjects with dry age-related macular degeneration.

Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1ß) polymorphism and orthodontics: a systematic review / Polimorfismo de la interleuquina 1 beta (IL-1ß) y ortodoncia: revisión sistemática

ABSTRACT Introduction: the aim of this systematic review is to explore the published literature to analyze the relationship between polymorphism of interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) and orthodontics. Methods: the search strategy developed for Medline, Scopus and Embase was used, verifying search records and selecting articles according to the guidelines set forth by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Two researchers evaluated studies in humans undergoing orthodontic treatment that evaluate IL-1β polymorphism, movement speed and/or root resorption, including clinical trials, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, and cohort studies, published up to April 2017. Results: of the 123 relevant articles identified, 9 studies published between 2001 and 2016 were included in the detailed analysis. Studies on tooth movement generally agree that there is an increase in IL-1β levels in the first hours after starting the orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: an association of IL-1β polymorphism with external root resorption and tooth movement speed was found.

RESUMEN Introducción: el objetivo de esta revisión sistemática es analizar, a través de la literatura publicada, la relación entre el polimorfismo de la interleuquina 1 beta (IL-1β) y la ortodoncia. Métodos: se aplicó la estrategia de búsqueda desarrollada para Medline, Scopus y Embase y se verificaron los registros de la búsqueda y los artículos seleccionados de acuerdo a los lineamientos de la declaración para Revisiones Sistemáticas y Metaanálisis (PRISMA). Dos investigadores evaluaron los estudios en humanos sometidos a tratamiento de ortodoncia, donde se evalúan el polimorfismo de la IL-1β y la velocidad de movimiento y/o resorción radicular, como ensayos clínicos, estudios de casos y controles, estudios transversales o estudios de cohortes, publicados hasta abril de 2017. Resultados: de los 123 estudios relevantes identificados, 9 de ellos, publicados entre 2001 y 2016, fueron incluidos en el análisis detallado. Los estudios de movimiento dental concuerdan en el aumento de los niveles de IL-1β en las primeras horas de inicio del tratamiento ortodóncico. Conclusión: se encontró asociación del polimorfismo de la IL-1β con la resorción radicular externa y la velocidad de movimiento dental.

Rehabilitation with biofeedback training in age-related macular degeneration for improving distance vision.

OBJECTIVES: Biofeedback training (BT) is a modern method for enhancing the use of preferred retinal loci (PRL) retraining for new retinal loci (TRL), hence improving far and near vision. This article attempts to clarify the optimal methodology for BT and the types of patients who can benefit most from BT. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of cases who received BT with the macular integrity assessment (MAIA) microperimetre. Outcome measures selected for analysis were visual acuity, PRL location, fixation stability, fixation pattern orientation, reading acuity, critical print size, and reading speed. RESULTS: Out of 30 cases who received BT, only those with age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity of logMAR 0.8 (20/126) or poorer showed a visual acuity gain (statistically significant of 12 letters) after BT. Those with other diagnoses and those with residual Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity of logMAR of 0.7 (20/100) or better showed only positive trends for visual acuity and a negative trend for fixation stability. All subjects showed a shift in PRL location toward the superior quadrant of the retina (p < 0.02) in those who received BT. CONCLUSION: BT seems to offer patients a unique and efficient modality to improve distance vision outside of using optical devices.

Imatinib and dasatinib as salvage therapy for sclerotic chronic graft-vs-host disease.

AIM: To assess the toxicity, tolerance, steroid-sparing capacity, effectiveness, and response rate to imatinib and dasatinib for the treatment of severe sclerotic chronic graft-vs-host disease (scGVHD). METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 8 consecutive patients with severe refractory scGVHD who received salvage therapy with imatinib. Patients intolerant and/or refractory to imatinib received dasatinib treatment. RESULTS: 7 patients discontinued imatinib treatment (1 achieved complete response, 5 were resistant and/or intolerant, and 1 developed grade IV neutropenia) and 1 patient achieved prolonged partial response, but died due to an infectious complication while on treatment. 5 patients started dasatinib treatment (3 achieved partial responses and discontinued dasatinib, 1 achieved a durable partial response, but died due to a consecutive rapid pulmonary cGVHD progression and 1 with stable disease discontinued treatment due to gastroenteric intolerance). The response rate (partial and/or complete responses) for severe scGVHD was 25% for imatinib and 60% for dasatinib. CONCLUSION: In our series, dasatinib was better tolerated, safer, steroid-sparing, and had a low incidence of infectious complications, which suggests that it may be a more effective therapeutic alternative for patients with refractory scGVHD than imatinib. Treatment of scGVHD with effective antifibrotic drugs such as TKI, which block the kinase fibrotic pathway, may be a safe and effective therapeutic option, but further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

CCR5 Δ32 homozygous cord blood allogeneic transplantation in a patient with HIV: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic donor CCR5 Δ32 homozygous haemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) provides the only evidence to date of long-term control of HIV infection. However, availability of conventional CCR5 Δ32 homozygous donors is insufficient to develop this as a therapeutic strategy further. METHODS: We present a 37-year-old patient with HIV-1 infection and aggressive lymphoma who had disease progression after five lines of radiochemotherapy including an autologous HCT, and in the absence of matched sibling donors, received an allogeneic HCT with four of six HLA-matched CCR5 Δ32 homozygous cord blood cells (StemCyte, Covina, CA), supported with purified CD34+ cells from a haploidentical sibling. Blood or tissue samples were obtained before and weekly after HCT to monitor transplant and HIV infection, including chimerism analysis, CCR5 genotyping and viral tropism, viral isolation and sequence, viral reservoir analysis, immune activation and proliferation, and ex-vivo cell infectivity assays. Combined antiretroviral therapy continued during the procedure. FINDINGS: The patient's HIV was CCR5-tropic by genotypic and phenotypic analyses. Baseline latent reservoir tests showed HIV DNA copies in bulk and resting CD4 T cells and in gut-associated lymphoid tissue, CD4 T-cell-associated HIV RNA, replication competent viral size of 2·1 copies per 10(7) CD4 T cells, and single copy assay of 303 copies per mL. After HCT, plasma HIV DNA load was undetectable by ultrasensitive analyses. Upon cord blood full chimerism, the patient's CCR5 Δ32 homozygous CD4 T cells responded to proliferation and activation stimuli and became resistant to infection by the patient's viral isolate and by laboratory-adapted HIV-1 strains. Death related to lymphoma progression regretfully prevented long-term monitoring of the patient's viral reservoir. INTERPRETATION: CCR5 Δ32 homozygous cord blood reconstitution can successfully eliminate HIV-1 and render the allogeneic graft recipient's T lymphocytes resistant to HIV infection. Thus, they build on the evidence available to strongly support the use of cord blood as a strategic platform for a broader application of non-functional CCR5 transplantation to other infected individuals. FUNDING: Spanish Secretariat of Research, the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

Serum galactomannan-based early detection of invasive aspergillosis in hematology patients receiving effective antimold prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: There is a practical need to investigate the performance of the serum galactomannan (GM) assay in hematology patients with a potentially low pretest risk of invasive aspergillosis following effective antimold prophylaxis. METHODS: We present a 4-year study with 262 unselected consecutive high-risk episodes, prospectively managed with posaconazole primary prophylaxis and a uniform diagnostic algorithm, including biweekly serum GM quantification for early detection of invasive aspergillosis. RESULTS: A total of 2972 serum GM tests were performed (median, 11 per episode [range, 3-30]); the vast majority were negative (96.7% of tests and 83.6% of episodes). The incidence of breakthrough invasive aspergillosis was 1.9% (5/262), all with true-positive GM test results. Our study identified 30 false-positive GM evaluable episodes (85.7%; 13.8% of all evaluable episodes), validating with real-life data the low positive predictive value of the assay in this setting (12%). In 26 of these 30 episodes (86.7%), the false-positive result(s) occurred in tests performed as preemptive surveillance only. Conversely, in evaluable cases with positive GM tests and a clinical suspicion of invasive fungal disease, the performance of diagnostic-driven GM tests improved, with a positive predictive value of 89.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The low pretest risk of invasive aspergillosis in the context of effective antimold prophylaxis renders serum GM surveillance of asymptomatic patients unreliable, as all results would be either negative or false positive. The test remains useful to diagnose patients with a clinical suspicion of invasive fungal disease, calling for a more efficient copositioning of effective prophylaxis and GM testing in this clinical setting.

Cost-effectiveness of primary antifungal prophylaxis with posaconazole versus itraconazole in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of posaconazole vs itraconazole in the prevention of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: Total hospital-based costs from initial admission for allo-HSCT until day 100 after transplantation were evaluated for 49 patients in whom the clinical efficacy of antifungal prophylaxis with posaconazole vs itraconazole had been previously analyzed and reported. Clinical and economic data were used to determine the incremental costs per IFI avoided and per life-year gained for posaconazole compared with itraconazole. Confidence intervals for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve were estimated through bootstrapping with the bias-corrected percentile method. RESULTS: According to our analysis, the total cost of allo-HSCT per patient during the 100-day fixed-treatment period was €46,562 in the posaconazole group (n = 33) and €45,080 in the itraconazole group (n = 16). However, the reduction in the incidence of IFI and the improved outcome with posaconazole resulted in a favorable ICER of €11,856 per IFI avoided and €5218 per life-year gained. With the outcomes of the bootstrap procedure, the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve was constructed. Assuming a threshold of €30,000 per life-year gained, the ICER based on life-years gained is acceptable with 75% certainty. LIMITATIONS: This evaluation is based on data from a single-center, non-randomized study. Preference weights or utilities were not available to calculate quality-adjusted life-years. Extra-mural costs were only partially evaluated from a hospital perspective. Indirect costs and economic consequences are not included. CONCLUSIONS: This economic evaluation compared direct medical costs associated with posaconazole or itraconazole treatment; the data suggest that posaconazole may be cost-effective as antifungal prophylaxis during the early high-risk neutropenic period and up to 100 days after allo-HSCT.

Effect of posaconazole on cyclosporine blood levels and dose adjustment in allogeneic blood and marrow transplant recipients.

The posaconazole prescribing information recommends an upfront cyclosporine dose reduction upon initiation of posaconazole prophylaxis. We examined this recommendation in the early phase of allogeneic transplantation, where cyclosporine levels potentially becoming subtherapeutic following upfront dose reduction would be deleterious to transplant outcome. Our data show that while posaconazole leads to an increase in cyclosporine levels, subsequent cyclosporine dose reduction can be safely guided by therapeutic drug monitoring and is not required upfront. Therefore, the current recommendation may be modified.

Review of 793 facial fractures treated from 2001 to 2008 in a coruña university hospital: types and etiology.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the incidence, demographic distribution, type, and etiology of all facial fractures treated by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in A Coruña University Hospital (Spain) from 2001 to 2008. A descriptive and analytic retrospective study evaluated 643 patients treated for facial fracture (excluding nasal and dento-alveolar) by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in A Coruña University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2008. Five parameters were studied: year of the injury, gender, age, fracture type, and etiology. Six hundred and forty-three patients with 793 fractures were included. Of these, 83.2% were males and 16.8% were females. The patients' age ranged between 18 months and 89 years, with a mean of 37.6 and a median of 33. The major cause of injury was traffic accidents (27%), followed by assaults (20.5%), accidental traumas (20.1%), sports (11%), syncopes (7.8%), rural accidents (6.1%), industrial accidents (5.1%), and suicide attempts (0.3%). In 1.1% of the patients, it was impossible to verify the etiology. The etiology of facial fractures varies from one country to another, depending on the cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. In our study, the most common cause was traffic accidents, closely followed by assaults. The number of fractures due to traffic accidents has decreased in the last 3 years. Rural accidents accounted for a significantly higher percentage of fractures than that observed in other series. The number of fractures receiving a surgical treatment from 2005 to 2008 has progressively decreased.

Comportamiento del índice de placa bacteriana a la aplicación de Clorhedixidina en niños de 5 a 10 años en los servicios odontológicos del policlínico N° 32 de la Caja Nacional de Salud Cochabamba en la gestión 2006 / Behaviour of bacterial plaque index Clorhedixidina application in children of 5-10 years in the dental polyclinic No. 32 in the National Health Fund in the management Cochabamba 2006

La Placa Bacteriana (PB) es un conjunto de organismos agrupados en un biofilm sobre las piezas dentarias. Estudios realizados sobre la efectividad de la Clorhexidina (CHX) en el control de la Pb son relevantes y requieren de más investigación. La CHX se distribuye en diferentes presentaciones y una cualidad notable de esta es que no produce efectos secundarios nocivos. El presente estudio ayudará a responder si la CHX presenta algún efecto sobre la PB en pacientes comprendidos entre 5 a 10 años de edad quienes asisten a consulta del Policlínico N 32 de la Caja Nacional de Salud (CNS) de Cochabamba, y en qué consistirá este efecto si se lo compara con el Placebo. Para poder responder esta incongnita se planteó el siguiente diseño metodológico: estudio descriptivo-analítico, longitudinal prospectivo y cuasi-experimental.

Comportamiento del índice de placa bacteriana a la aplicación de Clorhedixidina en niños de 5 a 10 años en los servicios odontológicos del policlínico N° 32 de la Caja Nacional de Salud Cochabamba en la gestión 2006 / Behaviour of bacterial plaque index Clorhedixidina application in children of 5-10 years in the dental polyclinic No. 32 in the National Health Fund in the management Cochabamba 2006

La Placa Bacteriana (PB) es un conjunto de organismos agrupados en un biofilm sobre las piezas dentarias. Estudios realizados sobre la efectividad de la Clorhexidina (CHX) en el control de la Pb son relevantes y requieren de más investigación. La CHX se distribuye en diferentes presentaciones y una cualidad notable de esta es que no produce efectos secundarios nocivos. El presente estudio ayudará a responder si la CHX presenta algún efecto sobre la PB en pacientes comprendidos entre 5 a 10 años de edad quienes asisten a consulta del Policlínico N 32 de la Caja Nacional de Salud (CNS) de Cochabamba, y en qué consistirá este efecto si se lo compara con el Placebo. Para poder responder esta incongnita se planteó el siguiente diseño metodológico: estudio descriptivo-analítico, longitudinal prospectivo y cuasi-experimental.

Cultivo y Caracterización In Vitro de una Línea Celular de Fibroblastos Gingivales Humanos / In vitro culture and characterization of a cell line of human gingival fibroblasts

The main goal is to establish a cellular line of fibroblast which come from human gingival tissue, identifying its morphologic featores. Samples were taken from gum of healthy patients without medical antecedents. Three females and three male were selected. Ages were between 16 and 30 years old. A sample of 0,5 cm² of gum was obtained to take it to a cellular growth environment. Cultures were incobated at 37C, CO² atmosphere at 5% for ten (10) days. Samples were observed daily with inverted light Microscope Olimpus II. At 6th day growth of fusiform cells was observed; their morphology was in coincidence with that of the fibroblasts, At 18th day a monolayer of 100% purity was observed. The cellular line was preserved and stored by freezing in liquid nitrogen.

Tratamiento conservador de las estenosis cáusticas del esófago / Conservative treatment of esophagus caustic stenosis

Los autores presentan su experiencia en los útlimos 22 años del tratamiento conservador de 1296 casos de ingestas de caústicos en niños. Hacen dos grupos de estudio, uno de 1974 a 1989 y el otro comprendiendo el período de 1990 a 1996, comparando los diferentes enfoques terapéuticos empleados en cada grupo. El tratamiento se basó fundamentalmente en dilataciones anterogradas con bujías de mercurio, bujías de Savary-Guilliard, o dilataciones retrógadas guiadas con hilo exteriorizado por gastrostomía. También emplearon dilataciones neumáticas o tutores de silicona en los últimos casos. En el segundo grupo se empleó fundamentalmente la fibroesofagoscopía precoz como valoración de las lesiones esofágicas y como ayuda...

Cuerpo extraño en esófago: presentación de un caso / Strange body in esophagus: presentation of a case

Presenta el caso de un paciente de 4 años de edad que acudió a nuestro centro por un cuadro clínico de "bronquitis de repetición" y rechazo de los alimentos sólidos de 1 mes de evolución tras sufrir un episodio de atragantamiento mientras comía. Se discuten las peculiaridades clínicas que pueden presentarse en niños pequeños, el alto índice de sospecha necesario para su diagnóstico y la exploración radiológica idónea en estos casos.