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Background: Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) from HLA-identical sibling/family donors following myeloablative or non-myeloablative chemotherapy is a curative therapeutic method for younger patients with serious haematological disorders. Introduction of allogeneic SCT in our clinic has offered its availability for patients in our country. Due to our centre monopol position in alloSCT in Slovakia, reporting and comparing our results with international data is very important. Patients and methods: Between July 1989 and March 2001. 123 patients with haematological disorders aged 15-59 years (median 35 years) have undergone 133 SCTs from HLA-identical siblings. Their retrospective analysis is reported. The majority of patients (65 pts) suffered from chronic myelogenous leukemia (59 chronic phase, 2 accelerated and 4 blastic phase) or acute leukaemia (37 pts): 29 AML (16 in CR1 and 13 > CR1); 8 ALL (6 in CR1 and 2 > CR1), 12 severe aplastic anaemia, 6 myelodysplastic syndrome, 2 patients non-Hodgkin lymphoma and one myelofibrosis. The conditioning regimen for malignancies consisted of BUCY2, in advanced disease E-BUCY2, for SAA cyclophosphamide ± ATG. Source of stem cells was 101 times bone marrow and 32 times peripheral blood after G-CSF administration for 4 days. GVHD prophylaxis with CsA and short course of MTX was given. Results: As of March 18, 2001, 72 (59%) of 123 patients are alive 1-133 months, median time of observation 52 months. 51 (41%) of 123 patients died 1-30 months from SCT, median 3 months. 10 patients of 123 undervent second SCT (9 times with peripheral stem cells and one with bone marrow): 5 (50%) of 10 patients are alive, median 29 months (6-54 months) from second SCT and median 60 months (29-90 months) from thier first SCT. 5 (50%) patients died after second SCT median 1 months (1-17 months). Engraftment was in 129 SCTs but at 4 SCTs patients died (on day 10 to 21) too early to evaluate engraftment. Median time to reach ANC > 0,5 G/l was 18 days (10-31) after SCT, > 1,0 G/l 22 days (1240), median time to platelet count > 25 G/l 19 days (12 to >140 days) and to platelet count > 100 G/l 31 days (19 to >140 days). 100 day mortality is different in standard versus height risk patients with adveanced disease. 16% and 29% respectively. Acute GVHD occurred in 38% patients (grade I 9%, II 8%, III 17% and IV 4%), chronic GVHD in 29% patients at risk. Conclusions: Our data confirm, that allogeneic BMT from HLA-siblings after appropriate conditioning regimen is an effective treatment modality with acceptable risk for younger patients with serious haematological disorders. Second SCT is associated with higher risk of peritransplant mortality in our hands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: The association between airborne pollen counts or duration of pollen season and allergy symptoms is not always distinguished. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between pollen exposure (annual total pollen quantity and main pollen season length) of selected allergenic plants in the atmosphere of Bratislava, and concentration of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) in serum of patients with seasonal allergy during 2002-2003., Materials and Methods: The concentration of pollen was monitored by a Burkard volumetric pollen trap. At the same time, 198 pollen allergic patients were testing to determine the values of sIgE antibodies against selected pollen allergens; a panel of 8 purified allergens was used., Results: The highest percentages of sensitization were detected for Poaceae and Ambrosia pollen allergens. The most abundant airborne pollen types were Urticaceae, Betula, Populus, Fraxinus, Pinus and Poaceae. The length of the pollen season varied. The longest pollen season was that of the Plantago - 105 days, and the shortest, Corylus - 20 days. A significant correlation was found between annual total pollen quantity and median sIgE values, especially in 2002., Conclusions: A strong and significant positive correlation was observed between pollen counts, excluding Betula, and sIgE levels in both analysed years. The correlation was weaker and negative in the case of length of pollen season and sIgE values.