Incidence, risk factors and therapy response of acute graft-versus-host disease after myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide.

Posttransplant cyclophosphamide, sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (PTCy/siro/MMF) constitutes an innovative and well-tolerated acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) prophylaxis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), but risk factors for aGVHD incidence and therapy failure in this setting are scarce. This study prospectively registered all consecutive adult patients with hematologic malignancies who received a myeloablative allo-HSCT using PTCy/siro/MMF prophylaxis at our institution between 2017 and 2023. A total of 385 patients were included, of whom 44%, 34% and 22% were transplanted from matched sibiling, matched unrelated and haploidentical donors, respectively. The 180-day cumulative incidence of aGVHD was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17-25%) for grade II-IV and 11% (95% CI 8-14%) grade III-IV aGVHD. The use of haploidentical donors was associated with an increased risk of severe aGVHD. Among 75 patients receiving first-line systemic corticosteroids, 49% achieved a sustained complete response, while 23% and 24% developed steroid-dependent (SD-aGVHD) and steroid-refractory aGVHD (SR-aGVHD), respectively. SR-aGVHD was associated with worse salvage treatment response and overall survival compared to SD-aGVHD. The 1-year cumulative incidence of aGVHD-related mortality was 5.4% (95% CI, 3.3-8.1). Risk factors for aGVHD-related mortality included haploidentical donors, older donors, diagnosis of myeldysplastic neoplasms, and grade IV aGVHD. This study confirms a low incidence aGVHD with PTCy/siro/MMF prophylaxis. SR-aGVHD showed poorer response to salvage therapies and worse survival, while haploidentical donors and older donor age were negative predictors for aGVHD-related deaths.

Peat-based amendment of soils reduces the complexity of the volatile profile in cultivated black truffles.

BACKGROUND: Truffle cultivation is evolving rapidly and new agronomic practices such as 'truffle nests' (localized peat amendments of the orchard soil) are being developed. Truffle nests improve the shape of truffles and their depth in the soil and reduce the occurrence of insect damage but have also raised concerns about their impact on the ripeness and maturity of the harvested truffles. In this study, the effect of the nests on the volatile organic compounds profile and the aromatic profile of black truffles was evaluated, as well as the existence of perceptible sensorial differences in truffles. For this, truffles growing in nests were compared with truffles growing in the bulk soil of the same host tree. RESULTS: Gas chromatography showed that nest truffles had a less complex volatile organic compound profile than bulk-soil truffles. Olfactometry indicated that nest truffles were associated with higher modified frequency values of odorants corresponding to sulfur-containing compounds. Despite this, sensory evaluation with consumers could not clearly show that nest truffles can be distinguished sensorially from bulk-soil truffles. CONCLUSION: The results prove that soil conditions can influence the aromatic profile of truffles and thus suggest the possibility of managing truffle aroma using agronomic practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19 in Barcelona students.

Objective: This study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequalities in schools regarding the COVID-19 incidence during different epidemic waves among Barcelona students, differentiating by sex and educational stage. Study design: Cross-sectional ecological study. Methods: We included in the study all students from childhood to secondary education in Barcelona city. The unit of analysis was the schools. The study covered the epidemic waves coinciding with the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school courses. The cumulative incidence (CI) per school and wave was calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses using Poisson regression were conducted to estimate relative risks. The population attributable risk, by sex and educational stage, was calculated as a measure of impact. Results: In the second wave, higher CI in students was associated with greater school socioeconomic deprivation in all groups. In the younger girls, 24.5 % (5.2-41.4) of the CI was attributed to school socioeconomic vulnerability, increasing to 33.1 % (15.1-47.2) in older girls. During the sixth wave, the impact was lower in the most vulnerable schools in all strata. Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors significantly impacted the incidence of COVID-19 in schools, reflecting social inequalities in Barcelona. There was an inversion of the pattern of inequalities in the sixth wave compared to the previous ones. The results emphasize the need for urgent action and targeted resources to address health inequalities in education and understand the impact of epidemic dynamics on socioeconomic context.

Radiological characterization of the tailings of an abandoned copper mine using a neural network and geostatistical analysis through the Co-Kriging method.

The radiological characterization of soil contaminated with natural radionuclides enables the classification of the area under investigation, the optimization of laboratory measurements, and informed decision-making on potential site remediation. Neural networks (NN) are emerging as a new candidate for performing these tasks as an alternative to conventional geostatistical tools such as Co-Kriging. This study demonstrates the implementation of a NN for estimating radiological values such as ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)), surface activity and activity concentrations of natural radionuclides present in a waste dump of a Cu mine with a high level of natural radionuclides. The results obtained using a NN were compared with those estimated by Co-Kriging. Both models reproduced field measurements equivalently as a function of spatial coordinates. Similarly, the deviations from the reference concentration values obtained in the output layer of the NN were smaller than the deviations obtained from the multiple regression analysis (MRA), as indicated by the results of the root mean square error. Finally, the method validation showed that the estimation of radiological parameters based on their spatial coordinates faithfully reproduced the affected area. The estimation of the activity concentrations was less accurate for both the NN and MRA; however, both methods gave statistically comparable results for activity concentrations obtained by gamma spectrometry (Student's t-test and Fisher's F-test).

Exploring the bioactive potential of algae residue extract via subcritical water extraction: Insights into chemical composition and biological activity.

Gelidium sesquipedale is valued in the Spanish agar industry, but its production generates substantial waste, often discarded despite its nutritional and bioactive content. Subcritical water extraction (SWE) at 175 °C and 50 bar for 130 min was performed on this waste after agar extraction, comparing it to conventional ethanol extraction. The SWE extract exhibited superior nutritional profile, including proteins (170.6 ± 1.0 mg/gfreeze-dried-extract), essential amino acids (18.1%), carbohydrates (148.1 ± 0.3 mg/gfreeze-dried-extract), total phenolic content (57 ± 7 mg-EqGA/gfreeze-dried-extract), and also containing Maillard reaction compounds, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, 2-furanmethanol, 1-(2-furanyl)-ethanone, and 5-methyl-2-furfural, influencing color, aroma and flavor. This extract showed better antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than the conventional extract, and higher xanthine oxidase, tyrosinase, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities. Toxicological assessment on human cells indicated the safety of the SWE extract. Therefore, SWE technology offers a promising method to valorize G. sesquipedale residue, yielding a bioactive and nutrient-rich extract suitable for food and nutraceutical applications.

Eating through time: Understanding dietary practices across late prehistory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to contribute to the current understanding of dietary variation in the late Prehistory of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula by examining buccal dental microwear patterns alongside archeological data from the same populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Teeth from 84 adult individuals from eight distinct samples spanning the Middle-Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age (Cova de l'Avi, Cova de Can Sadurní, Cova de la Guineu, Cova Foradada, Cova del Trader, Roc de les Orenetes, Cova del Gegant, Cova dels Galls Carboners) were analyzed using optical microscopy to examine buccal dental microwear patterns. RESULTS: The analysis did not reveal clear chronological contrasts in the dietary habits of these samples. Nevertheless, significant differences emerged among the samples, leading to their classification into two distinct sets based on the abrasiveness of the diet informed by the microwear patterns. These findings offer similarities and differences among samples in the Iberian Peninsula, shedding light on the diverse lifestyles of these individuals. DISCUSSION: Integrating our new results with other available proxies points to a multifaceted specialization in dietary patterns among these samples, influenced by factors such as habitat, resource selection, and available technology. By contextualizing the results within the broader context of the Iberian Peninsula, this research discerns shared characteristics and distinctive adaptations in the dietary practices and subsistence strategies of these groups. Ultimately, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between culture and environment in shaping human diets throughout late Prehistory.

El tratamiento del dolor agudo pediátrico en España EN 2021: resultado de una encuesta nacional entre anestesiólogos pediátricos / The management of paediatric acute pain in Spain IN 2021: Results of a national survey among paediatric anaesthesiologists

Objetivo: Mejorar el conocimiento acerca de la práctica clínica habitual en el tratamiento del dolor agudo pediátrico en España.MétodosSe llevó a cabo una encuesta telemática a través de Internet en una muestra representativa de profesionales sanitarios involucrados en el tratamiento del dolor agudo pediátrico (concretamente anestesiólogos) en España. La encuesta incluyó 28 cuestiones acerca de su práctica clínica habitual en la valoración y el tratamiento del dolor agudo, así como aspectos formativos y organizativos en el dolor agudo pediátrico.ResultadosLa encuesta fue completada durante el mes de marzo de 2021 por 150 especialistas en anestesiología. Los encuestados presentaron una amplia experiencia en el tratamiento del dolor agudo pediátrico (media de años de experiencia: 14,3; DE: 7,8) y básicamente en dolor agudo postoperatorio (97% casos). Aunque el 80% de los mismos utilizaba de modo habitual escalas validadas de valoración de dolor agudo pediátrico, solo el 2,6% utilizaba las específicas adaptadas para pacientes con discapacidad cognitiva. La mayoría de los encuestados empleaba habitualmente fármacos analgésicos como el paracetamol (99%) o el metamizol (92%), pero solo el 84% los complementaba con alguna técnica de bloqueo loco-regional u otra medicación tipo antiinflamatorio no esteroideo (62%). Además, únicamente un 62,7% reconocía haber recibido formación específica en dolor agudo pediátrico, solo un 45% seguía protocolos institucionales hospitalarios y un escaso 28% lo hacía a través de unidades de dolor infantil.ConclusionesLa encuesta identificó importantes puntos de mejora en la formación y organización del tratamiento del dolor agudo de los pacientes españoles en edad pediátrica. (AU)

Objective: To improve knowledge about routine clinical practice in the management of paediatric acute pain in Spain.MethodsA telematic survey was conducted via the Internet on a representative sample of healthcare professionals involved in the management of paediatric acute pain (specifically anaesthesiologists) in Spain. The survey included 28 questions about their usual clinical practice in the assessment and treatment of acute pain, and also training and organisational aspects in paediatric acute pain.ResultsThe survey was completed during March 2021 by 150 specialists in anaesthesiology. The respondents widely experienced in the management of acute paediatric pain (mean years of experience: 14.3: SD: 7.8), essentially in acute postoperative pain (97% of cases). Although 80% routinely used validated paediatric acute pain assessment scales, only 2.6% used specific scales adapted for patients with cognitive impairment. Most of the respondents routinely used analgesic drugs such as paracetamol (99%) or metamizole (92%), but only 84% complemented these drugs with a loco-regional blocking technique or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (62%). Furthermore, only 62.7% acknowledged having received specific training in paediatric acute pain, only 45% followed hospital institutional protocols, and a scant 28% did so through paediatric pain units.ConclusionsThe survey identified important points for improvement in the training and organisation of acute pain management in Spanish paediatric patients. (AU)

Water Arrangements upon Interaction with a Rigid Solute: Multiconfigurational Fenchone-(H2O)4-7 Hydrates.

Insight into the arrangements of water molecules around solutes is important to understand how solvation proceeds and to build reliable models to describe water-solute interactions. We report the stepwise solvation of fenchone, a biogenic ketone, with 4-7 water molecules. Multiple hydrates were observed using broadband rotational spectroscopy, and the configurations of four fenchone-(H2O)4, three fenchone-(H2O)5, two fenchone-(H2O)6, and one fenchone-(H2O)7 complexes were characterized from the analysis of their rotational spectra in combination with quantum-chemical calculations. Interactions with fenchone deeply perturb water configurations compared with the pure water tetramer and pentamer. In two fenchone-(H2O)4 complexes, the water tetramer adopts completely new arrangements, and in fenchone-(H2O)5, the water pentamer is no longer close to being planar. The water hexamer interacts with fenchone as the least abundant book isomer, while the water heptamer adopts a distorted prism structure, which forms a water cube when including the fenchone oxygen in the hydrogen bonding network. Differences in hydrogen bonding networks compared with those of pure water clusters show the influence of fenchone's topology. Specifically, all observed hydrates except one show two water molecules binding to fenchone through each oxygen lone pair. The observation of several water arrangements for fenchone-(H2O)4-7 complexes highlights water adaptability and provides insight into the solvation process.

The management of paediatric acute pain in Spain in 2021: Results of a national survey among paediatric anaesthesiologists.

OBJECTIVE: To improve knowledge about routine clinical practice in the management of paediatric acute pain in Spain. METHODS: A telematic survey was conducted via the Internet on a representative sample of healthcare professionals involved in the management of paediatric acute pain (specifically anaesthesiologists) in Spain. The survey included 28 questions about their usual clinical practice in the assessment and treatment of acute pain, and also training and organisational aspects in paediatric acute pain. RESULTS: The survey was completed during March 2021 by 150 specialists in anaesthesiology. The respondents widely experienced in the management of acute paediatric pain (mean years of experience: 14.3: SD: 7.8), essentially in acute postoperative pain (97% of cases). Although 80% routinely used validated paediatric acute pain assessment scales, only 2.6% used specific scales adapted for patients with cognitive impairment. Most of the respondents routinely used analgesic drugs such as paracetamol (99%) or metamizole (92%), but only 84% complemented these drugs with a loco-regional blocking technique or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (62%). Furthermore, only 62.7% acknowledged having received specific training in paediatric acute pain, only 45% followed hospital institutional protocols, and a scant 28% did so through paediatric pain units. CONCLUSIONS: The survey identified important points for improvement in the training and organisation of acute pain management in Spanish paediatric patients.

Consulta de preanestesia no presencial en niños: experiencias y recomendaciones / Telemedicine pre-anesthesia evaluation in children: Experiences and recommendations

Desde hace años se realizan consultas y seguimiento de pacientes de forma no presencial. Durante la pandemia de COVID-19 diferentes sociedades han recomendado potenciar las consultas telemáticas. La consulta preanestésica no presencial es un acto médico que debe incluir los objetivos básicos de evaluación, preparación, información y obtención del consentimiento. Se debe disponer de medios y tiempo para realizarla. Al comienzo de la consulta debe identificarse el médico y el o los progenitores. La consulta preoperatoria no presencial es especialmente útil en niños ASA I y II que van a someterse a cirugías de bajo riesgo, a una reintervención o a procedimientos diagnósticos. Aquellos pacientes que requieran una exploración física, más allá de la posible de manera telemática, deberán citarse en la consulta presencial. El personal de enfermería puede participar de forma activa en este proceso siempre y cuando el anestesiólogo supervise todo el proceso, tome todas las decisiones sobre el procedimiento y sea el responsable de la información que se da a los padres y al niño, aclarando personalmente cualquier duda. El anestesiólogo debe informar del procedimiento, sus riesgos, incluidos los personalizados, y alternativas. Se registrará en la historia clínica que se ha informado, cuándo y a quién. EL anestesiólogo firmará el Consentimiento Informado haciendo figurar la fecha que da la información y los padres deberán firmarlo antes de la intervención.(AU)

Medical consult and follow-up of patients have been carried out remotely for years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, different societies have recommended promoting online consultations. The remote pre-anesthetic consultation is a medical act that must include the basic objectives of evaluation, preparation, information and obtaining consent. You must have the resources and time to do it. At the beginning of the consultation, the doctor and the parent(s) must be identified. Non-face-to-face preoperative consultation is especially useful in ASA I and II children evaluated for low-risk surgeries, reintervention, or diagnostic procedures. Those patients who require a physical examination, beyond that possible electronically, should make an appointment in the face-to-face consultation. The nursing staff can actively participate in this process as long as the anesthesiologist supervises the entire process, makes all decisions about the procedure and is responsible for the information given to the parents and the child, personally clarifying any doubts. The anesthesiologist must inform about the procedure, its risks, including personalized ones, and alternatives. It will be recorded in the medical history the information given, when and to whom. The anesthesiologist will sign the Informed Consent stating the date that the information is given, and the parents must sign it before the intervention.(AU)

Degradation kinetics of sugars (glucose and xylose), amino acids (proline and aspartic acid) and their binary mixtures in subcritical water: Effect of Maillard reaction.

A systematic kinetic study was conducted in subcritical water medium in the temperature range from 150 to 200 °C for pure glucose, xylose, proline and aspartic acid as well as binary mixtures of sugars + amino acids to understand the reaction kinetics and interactions among biomass components and to discern the influence of Maillard reaction (MR) on the overall reaction kinetics. The main degradation products identified for glucose and xylose were the respective dehydration products, hydroxymethyl furfural and furfural, yielding an increasing solid residue with temperature (15.9 wt% at 200 °C) with an augmented heating value. The degradation of sugars and amino acids in binary systems was faster compared to pure compounds due to MR and the production of dehydration products was delayed when considering total sugar conversion. Higher relative reactivity in MR was observed for xylose over glucose showing also higher antioxidant activity.

Triple neurectomía transperitoneal laparoscópica y con asistencia robótica para el tratamiento del dolor inguinal crónico: descripción de la técnica, nuestra experiencia y resultados preliminares / Robot-assisted laparoscopic triple neurectomy for chronic inguinal pain: Description of the technique, our experience and preliminary results

Introducción. El dolor inguinal crónico o inguinodinia posthernioplastia es una complicación relativamente común y que puede llegar a ser muy incapacitante. El tratamiento quirúrgico mediante triple neurectomía es una opción terapéutica ante el fracaso de tratamientos previos (terapia oral, local o neuromodulación).ObjetivoDescripción retrospectiva de la técnica quirúrgica y resultados de la triple neurectomía laparoscópica y con asistencia robótica en el tratamiento de la inguinodinia crónica.Material y métodosSe describen los criterios de inclusión/exclusión, así como la técnica quirúrgica empleada en 7 pacientes intervenidos en el Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León (Servicio de Urología) tras no responder a otras alternativas terapéuticas.ResultadosLos pacientes presentaban dolor crónico inguinal reportando una valoración en la escala EVA del dolor prequirúrgica de 7,43 sobre 10. Tras la cirugía, dicha valoración se redujo a 3,71 al primer día postoperatorio y a 4,2 puntos al año de la intervención. El alta hospitalaria se produjo a las 24h de la cirugía y no se reportaron complicaciones relevantes.ConclusionesLa triple neurectomía laparoscópica o con asistencia robótica es una técnica segura, reproducible y eficaz en el tratamiento del dolor inguinal crónico refractario a otros tratamientos. (AU)

Introduction. Chronic inguinal pain or inguinodynia following hernioplasty is a relatively common complication that can be very incapacitating. Surgical treatment by triple neurectomy is a therapeutic option when previous treatments (oral/local therapy or neuromodulation) have failed.ObjectiveRetrospective description of the surgical technique and results of laparoscopic and robot-assisted triple neurectomy for chronic inguinodynia.Material and methodsWe describe the inclusion/exclusion criteria as well as the surgical technique applied in 7 patients operated on at the University Health Care Complex of León (Urology Department) after failure of other treatment options.ResultsThe patients presented chronic groin pain, reporting a preoperative pain VAS of 7.43 out of 10. After surgery, this score was reduced to 3.71 on the first postoperative day and to 4.2 points one year after surgery. Hospital discharge occurred 24hours after surgery with no relevant complications being reported.ConclusionsLaparoscopic or robot-assisted triple neurectomy is a safe, reproducible, and effective technique for the treatment of chronic groin pain refractory to other treatments. (AU)

Evaluation of seasonal influences on adrenocorticotropic hormone response to the thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test and its accuracy for diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder, affecting >20 % of older horses. There is a need for improved endocrine tests for early disease detection, and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test has been recommended for diagnosis of early or mild cases. However, it is currently not recommended for year-round use due to marked seasonal variability. The aims of this cohort study were to evaluate effects of month and season on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to TRH stimulation and to derive monthly cut-offs for PPID diagnosis. Sixty-three horses were assigned to control (n = 17), subclinical PPID (n = 21) and clinical PPID (n = 25) groups, based on a composite reference standard that combined clinical history and examination findings with endocrine test results. TRH stimulation tests were performed monthly for a 12-month period. Circannual changes were evaluated with one- and two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to derive cut-off values for basal and TRH-stimulated ACTH. TRH-stimulated ACTH concentrations were lowest in February-May and highest in August-October. Specificity of both basal and 30 min post-TRH ACTH was generally higher than sensitivity, and TRH stimulation had improved diagnostic accuracy compared to basal ACTH, although its sensitivity was not significantly greater year-round. TRH stimulation tests yielded considerably more positive results than basal ACTH in the subclinical group, but few additional positive results in clinical PPID cases. There were large differences between cut-offs that maximised sensitivity or specificity for TRH-stimulated ACTH, highlighting the importance of considering clinical presentation alongside test results in diagnostic decision-making.

Local allergic rhinitis in children: Clinical characteristics and role of basophil activation test as a diagnostic tool.

BACKGROUND: Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is a condition involving a localized nasal allergic response in absence of systemic atopy. Most studies on LAR have been performed in adults. We aimed to describe clinical characteristics of LAR pediatric patients, its clinical evolution over a 7-year follow-up period and to study the role of basophil activation test (BAT), for its diagnosis. METHODS: Forty-four children with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) were included (24 males, 20 females, aged under 15 years). Nasal allergen provocation test (NAPT) and BAT were performed with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Phleum pratense. RESULTS: Seven patients (16%) were diagnosed of LAR. Six reacted to D pteronyssinus and one to P pratense. All LAR and 86% of NAR patients presented perennial symptoms. Fifty-seven percent of NAR and LAR patients referred persistent symptoms. Around half of NAR and LAR patients reported mild-moderate clinical manifestations. Three LAR patients associated conjunctival symptoms, proportionally more than NAR patients (19%, 7 out of 37). NAR patients presented bronchial asthma (n = 10) more frequently than LAR children (n = 1). More than half of LAR and NAR patients presented family history of atopy. BAT was negative in all LAR patients. On follow-up, 3 LAR patients and 10 of the 25 NAR patients who agreed to be retested, presented systemic sensitization. Dust mites were the most frequent allergen involved. CONCLUSIONS: LAR should be ruled out in children with NAR. Almost half of children with LAR develop systemic sensitization over time. BAT shows low sensitivity for the diagnosis of LAR in children.

Simultaneous microwave-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from aged garlic.

In this work, the simultaneous extraction of bioactives (organosulfur compounds, such as S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), carbohydrates, such as neokestose and neonystose, and total phenolic compounds) from aged garlic has been optimized for the first time to obtain multifunctional extracts for further application as food ingredients. Analytical methods using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (HILIC-ELSD) were also previously optimized. High sensitivity (limits of detection between 0.013 and 0.77 µg mL-1) and appropriate repeatability (< 12%) and accuracy (> 92%) for the analysis of bioactives were achieved. After selecting water as the extraction solvent and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as the most efficient technique, operation conditions were optimized using a Box-Behnken experimental design (60 min; 120 °C; 0.05 g mL-1; 1 cycle) to maximize the content of bioactives from different aged garlic samples. Regarding organosulfur compounds, only SAC (traces-2.32 mg g-1 dry sample) and cycloalliin (1.23-3.01 mg g-1 dry sample) were detected in all samples, while amino acids such as arginine (0.24-3.45 mg g-1 dry sample) and proline (0.43-3.91 mg g-1 dry sample) were, in general, the most abundant. Bioactive carbohydrates (from trisaccharides to nonasaccharides) were only detected in fresh garlic and aged garlic processed under mild conditions, whereas all garlic extracts showed antioxidant activity. The developed MAE methodology is shown as a successful alternative to other procedures for the simultaneous extraction of aged garlic bioactives intended by the food and nutraceutical industries, among others.

Enfermedad mínima residual en leucemia mieloide aguda no promielocítica: Resultados preliminares de un estudio colaborativo internacional / Minimal residual disease in non-myelocytic acute myeloid leukemia: preliminary results of an international collaborative study

A pesar de los avances en los protocolos de tratamiento y en las medidas de soporte en pacientes con Leucemia Mieloide Aguda (LMA), 27% presentan recaídas de la enfermedad. Esto se debe, entre otras causas, a la persistencia de pequeñas cantidades de células malignas (blastos) resistentes a la terapia. Estas pequeñas cantidades de blastos remanentes se denominan Enfermedad Mínima Residual (EMR). La determinación de EMR requiere de técnicas no solo muy sensibles, sino también específicas, y permite evaluar la respuesta individual a la terapia. La introducción de la EMR como parámetro de respuesta y estratificación está bien definida en Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA). Por el contrario, aunque existen publicaciones sobre el impacto pronóstico de la EMR en LMA, aún no se encuentra incluida en forma sistemática en los protocolos nacionales actuales, entre otros motivos, por lo laborioso de la determinación y por la necesidad de validación de la misma. Debe tenerse en cuenta que el inmunofenotipo de los blastos mieloides suele ser más heterogéneo que el de los blastos en LLA, presentando, en muchos casos, subpoblaciones diferentes entre sí, lo cual dificulta su detección certera y no hay consenso definido en cuanto a la metodología más eficaz. En este trabajo describimos una nueva estrategia de marcación y análisis estandarizada en un estudio multicéntrico internacional para LMA y la utilidad de la EMR como parámetro de respuesta y de estratificación. Asimismo, detallamos los resultados preliminares de nuestra cohorte de pacientes (AU)

Despite the improvement in treatment and supportive care of patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), 27% of them relapse. This is due to the persistence of small amounts of malignant cells (blasts) resistant to therapy, among other causes. These small amounts of blasts are called Minimal Residual Disease (MRD). The determination of MRD requires not only techniques with high sensitivity but also with high specificity, and allows to evaluate the individual response to treatment. The introduction of MRD as a response parameter is well established in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), and it is used in current stratification protocols. On the other hand, even though there are some reports regarding the prognostic impact of MRD in AML, it is still not included in the current national protocols due to the lack of validation of the determination, among other causes. This is due to the fact that the immunophenotype of myeloid blasts is more heterogeneous than in ALL, presenting different subpopulations, which difficults their accurate detection. Thus, there is still no consensus regarding the most effective approach. In this article, we describe a new staining and analysis strategy standardized by an international multicentric study, and the utility of EMR as a response and stratification parameter. Additionally, we show the preliminary results of our patient cohort. (AU)