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The most important challenges in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is preventing early death and reducing long-term events, such as second neoplasms (s-NPLs). We performed a retrospective analysis of 2670 unselected APL patients, treated with PETHEMA "chemotherapy based" and "chemotherapy free" protocols. Only de novo APL patients who achieved complete remission (CR) and completed the three consolidation cycles were enrolled into the analysis. Out of 2670 APL patients, there were 118 (4.4%) who developed s-NPLs with the median latency period (between first CR and diagnosis of s-NPL) of 48.0 months (range 2.8–231.1): 43.3 (range: 2.8–113.9) for s-MDS/AML and 61.7 (range: 7.1–231.1) for solid tumour. The 5-year CI of all s-NPLs was of 4.43% and 10 years of 7.92%. Among s-NPLs, there were 58 cases of s-MDS/AML, 3 cases of other hematological neoplasms, 57 solid tumours and 1 non-identified neoplasm. The most frequent solid tumour was colorectal, lung and breast cancer. Overall, the 2-year OS from diagnosis of s-NPLs was 40.6%, with a median OS of 11.1 months. Multivariate analysis identified age of 35 years (hazard ratio = 0.2584; p < 0.0001) as an independent prognostic factor for s-NPLs. There were no significant differences in CI of s-NPLs at 5 years between chemotherapy-based vs chemotherapy-free regimens (hazard ratio = 1.09; p = 0.932). Larger series with longer follow-up are required to confirm the potential impact of ATO+ATRA regimens to reduce the incidence of s-NPLs after front-line therapy for APL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma (RR-HL) remains a challenge for hematologists and oncologists. Salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard of care for RR-HL. However, one of the most controversial aspects is which the best salvage protocol could be. We retrospectively analyzed 82 consecutive RR-HL who received etoposide, steroids, ara-C, and cisplatin (ESHAP) as salvage therapy followed by ASCT. Fifty percent of patients were refractory and 23 % early relapses. Overall response rate (ORR) was 67 % (50 % complete remission (CR)). Ninety one percent of patients (75/82) were transplanted. With a mean follow-up of 87 ± 53 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and time to tumor progression (TTP) for the whole population were 52 and 56 months, respectively, and the 5-year overall survival was 72.6 %. Achieving CR after ESHAP was associated with a longer PFS (78 vs 16 % 5-year PFS, respectively, P < 0.01) and TTP (80 vs 19 % 5-year TTP, respectively, P < 0.01). However, there were no differences for overall survival (OS) when comparing CR and partial response (PR) after ESHAP. Toxicity was low and <10 % of patients developed neutropenic fever, with no toxic deaths. Mobilization was possible in 94 % of patients. ESHAP is a safe and efficient therapeutic option for patients with RR-HL who are candidates for ASCT, since it combines a high response rate and mobilizing potential with a low toxicity profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kikuchi’s disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare, benign, and self-limited disorder of unknown cause that is usually characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. The etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown, but the clinical presentation, course, and histologic changes suggest an immune response of T cells and histiocytes to an infectious agent. Numerous inciting agents have been proposed. However, the association between human herpesvirus 7 and Kikuchi’s disease has been rarely reported as a possible etiologic agent of Kikuchi’s disease. We report the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian female patient with cervical lymphadenopathy and isolated pruriginous maculo-papular lesions who was diagnosed of Kikuchi’s disease in whom the presence of human herpesvirus 7 DNA was documented in the affected lymph node specimen in the absent of other viruses. Therefore, a possible etiologic relation between the Kikuchi’s disease of this patient and human herpesvirus 7 was established, supporting a role for human herpesvirus 7 involvement in the pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early and rapid detection of the causative organism is necessary in tuberculosis. We present here an integrated and dedicated molecular biology system for tuberculosis diagnosis. One hundred and eighty-nine (189) biologic specimens from patients strongly suspected by clinical parameters of tuberculosis were studied by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, cultivation on a solid medium, and by a balanced heminested fluorometric PCR system (Orange G3TB) that preserves worker safety and produces a rather pure material free of potential inhibitors. DNA amplification was carried out in a low cost using a tuberculosis thermocycler-fluorometer. The double stranded DNA produced is fluorometrically detected. The whole reaction is carried out in one single tube which is never opened after adding the processed sample, thus minimizing the risk of cross contamination with amplicons. The assay is able to detect 30 bacilli/ml of sample having a 99.8 % inter-assay coefficient of variation. PCR was positive in 36 (18.9 %) tested samples (33 of them were smear-negative). In our study, it yields a preliminary overall sensitivity of 97.4 %. In addition, its overall specificity is 98.7 %. The total run time of the test is 4 h with two and a half real working hours. All PCR-positive samples also had a positive result by microbiological culture and clinical criteria. The results obtained showed that it could be a very useful tool to increase efficiency in detecting the tuberculosis disease in low bacillus inoculum samples. Furthermore, its low cost and friendly usage make it feasible to be used in regions with poor development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]