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The manuscript presents symptomatology, diagnostics, and treatment of invasive fungal disease (IFD) of mold etiology. The authors focused on a new drug available in the treatment of IFD - isavuconazole, comparing it with other drugs - mainly with novel formulations of amphotericin B. The pharmacological characteristics as well as the results of the most important clinical trials, thanks to which isavuconazole has been approved in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis, are described. The authors have attempt to identify specific clinical situations, when isavuconazole use should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) to the Self-regulating low energy clay-based irrigation (SLECI) system burying depth and fertilizer application dosage was investigated under open field conditions in the coastal savannah agroecological zone of Ghana. A factorial design with 3 SLECI system depths (5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm) and 3 fertilizer dosages (100% recommended application dosage RAD, 80% RAD and 60% RAD) was adopted. Data was measured, determined and analyzed at a significant (P ≤ 0.05) level. Results indicated that the highest yield of 0.7974 t/ha was recorded under a burying depth of 5 cm which is 8.6% and 63.9% more compared to 10 cm and 15 cm. Burying depth of 10 cm exhibited the highest water use efficiency of 0.1435 kg/l, which outperformed the 5 cm burying depth (0.1312 kg/l) and 15 cm burying depth (0.0517 kg/l) by 8.6% and 63.9%, similarly a depth of 10 cm (5,980 kg/kg) exhibited significantly greater fertilizer use efficiency over a depth of 15 cm (2,154 kg/kg) by 64% and 5 cm by (5.465 kg/kg). The highest yield of 0.8772 t/ha was exhibited by 80% RAD which is 29.5% and 63.7% more compared to 100% RAD (0.6179 t/ha) and 60% RAD (0.3181 t/ha) respectively. 80% RAD exhibited significantly superior water use efficiency of 0.1579 kg/l, and fertilizer use efficiency of 6,579 kg/kg. The interaction of burying depth of 10 cm and 80% RAD significantly produced the highest yield of 1,187.7 t/ha, resulted in the highest water use efficiency of 0.214 kg/l, and exhibited the best-performing fertilizer use efficiency of 8,908 kg/kg.

Cytogenetic analysis of leukemic blasts has become a part of the standard diagnosis approach of acute myeloid leukemia patients. Chromosomal aberrations findings separate AML patients into three broad prognostic categories: favorable, intermediate and high risk. We analyzed retrospectively 179 adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), younger than 60 years admitted to our Department between January 1999 and April 2009 to evaluate the prognostic impact of cytogenetic abnormalities on complete remission (CR) rate, disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). All patients received similar induction therapy. Median follow-up of 3.8 years for favorable cytogenetic group CR rate was 85%, 3-year DFS was 70% and 3-year OS was 65%, for intermediate group CR rate, 3-year DFS and 3-year OS were respectively: 64%, 43%, and 38%. Among high risk patient CR rate was 40%, 3-year DFS was 24%, 3-year OS was 17%. We conclude that cytogenetics is among the most useful factors in predicting attainment of CR, DFS, and long-term overall survival in adult de novo AML patients younger than 60 years.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the hematologic malignancies in which the impact of dose intensity has been demonstrated. In 2005 it was the most common disease for which autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) was performed. However, ASCT is not curative, and most patients relapse within a median of 3 years, the introduction of high-dose therapy resulted in prolonged survival. Novel agents such as thalidomide, bortezomib, or lenalidomide have been introduced to improve high-dose therapy outcome. From April 1998 to December 2008, 65 patients with MM underwent in our Department high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells (APBSCT). Transplantation of progenitor cells was conducted as consolidation of first line treatment in the majority of patients. Double transplantation was performed in 20 patients (31%). Conditioning regimen consisted of high-dose melphalan (200 mg/m2), in the second procedure the dose of melphalan was reduced to 140 mg/m2. Transplant related mortality was not observed. The duration of hematological recovery after first and second transplantation did not differ significantly. At the time of the analysis (June 2009) 51/65 (78.5%) patients are alive, 14/65 (21.5%) died due to disease progression. Median overall survival (OS) and progression free survival ( PFS) obtained were 86 (range 24-128) and 33 (range 4-110) months respectively. This retrospective analysis confirms the efficacy and safety of APBST in multiple myeloma patients.

Objective: Assessment of frequency and clinical course of EBV infection in patients that underwent non-manipulated allo-HCT from matched-related donors., Methods: Active EBV infection was confirmed based on the presence of anti-EA antibodies (ELISA) and/or viral DNA (nPCR) isolated from peripheral leukocytes. For positive DNA-isolations semi-quantitative analysis were done. Patients were examined repeatedly, the time of monitoring was approximately 6 +/- 5 months., Results: Active EBV infection was confirmed in 27 among 56 examined allo-HCT recipients. Primary infection was detected in 5 patients, in the remaining patients it was probably the result of virus reactivation. In most cases EBV-load was approximately 200 copies per 1 million of leukocytes, 1 patient with lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) had 2 million copies. EBV infection was asymptomatic in most cases (17), in 7 cases aminotransferase levels were insignificantly increased, in 2--diarrhea was observed and in 4 patients GvHD was intensified., Conclusions: In recipients without risk of PTLD, permanent monitoring of the EBV-load has no clinical justification.

Autological transplantation of bone marrow as well as hematopoietic and precursor cells obtained from peripheral blood with the use of cell apheresis is a therapy applied in the treatment of hematological diseases and solid tumours. The mobilization of hematopoietic cells is performed by applying cytostatic drugs and/or recombinant growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF). The collection of CD 34+ cells is performed by using cell separators. An important role in the transplantation procedure is played by purging techniques of transplantation material from residual neoplastic cells (negative selection) or isolation of hematopoietic cells (positive selection). The considerable progress in this field is connected with the implementation of Immunoadsorbtive or magnetic methods as well as those of molecular biology. The improvement of the procedure of hematopoietic cells transplantation and its efficacy is caused by the stimulation of the hematopoiesis by using the combination of cytokines (G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3, SCF) and purging of the hematopoietic cells obtained from the cellular apheresis.

Hodgkin Disease has a relatively good prognosis and high curability due to the effectiveness of risk adapted treatment. Protocol currently used at the Department of Haematology in Cracow is based on randomised multicentre clinical trials, summarised in this paper. Proper choice of the first line treatment is most important for overall survival--no salvage therapy for resistant or recurrent disease is equally effective. High dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support should be considered in certain clinical situations, as partial response or relapse after conventional treatment.

The effect of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the growth of granulocytic progenitors in the diffusion chamber culture (CFU-dG) has been studied. It has been shown that peripheral blood neutrophils do not affect the myeloid colony formation in this culture system. The inhibition of CFU-dG growth, observed in the presence of peripheral blood leukocytes was dependent on prostaglandins release from monocytes.