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In Western countries, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most diagnosed leukemia types among elderly patients. CLL is described as an indolent lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized by the presence of a high number of small, mature B-cells in the peripheral blood smear, with a particular immunophenotype (CD5, CD19, CD23 positive and CD20 dim positive) and accumulation in the bone marrow and lymphoid tissue (e.g., lymph nodes, spleen). The experience of the past decades showed that CLL is clinically very heterogeneous; while some patients present a chronic clinical evolution, with a prolonged survival, in which the treatment can be delayed, others suffer from a more aggressive form, which must be treated early and is associated with many relapses. This observation led to several genomic studies that have mapped the genetic modifications involved in the disease conformations, including del(13q14), del(11q), or trisomy 12. On the other hand, certain genetic mutations such as del(17p13)-p53, NOTCH1 mutation, or ZAP70/CD38 increased expression are associated with worse clinical outcome. In order to apply the right treatment strategy, the RAI and BINET staging systems should be considered, which are based on clinical and laboratory assessment, on genetic mutations that may influence the resistance to chemotherapy, as well as the patient's age and comorbidities. The aim of this manuscript was to present the therapeutic approaches of CLL, in order to attempt to answer the following question: to treat, or not to treat? This clinical update focuses on the managements of CLL patients in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies demonstrated that despite restoration of the sinus rhythm, patients with a positive history of atrial fibrillation (AF) are still at risk of thromboembolic events. The primary objective of this study is to identify new imaging-derived biomarkers provided by modern imaging technologies, such as cardiac computed tomography angiography, delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging, or speckle tracking echocardiography, as well as hematological biomarkers, associated with the risk of intracavitary thrombosis in patients with AF, in order to identify the imaging-derived characteristics associated with an increased risk of cardioembolic events. Imaging data collected will be post-processed using advanced techniques of computational modeling, in order to fully characterize the degree of structural remodeling and the amount of atrial fibrosis. The primary endpoint of the study is represented by the rate of thromboembolic events. The rate of cardiovascular death, the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events, and the rate of AF recurrence will also be determined in relation to the degree of structural remodeling and atrial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency and anemia affect approximately half of the chronic heart failure patients and they are associated with increased hospitalization rate, lower functional capacity, lower quality of life, and higher mortality. The exact mechanism of iron deficiency in heart failure patients is still not fully understood. Current guidelines recommend ferritin as the most accurate serum biomarker for the diagnosis of iron deficiency. The use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents is no longer recommended because of the lack of improvement on mortality or hospital readmission rate, and it was associated with a higher rate of thromboembolic events. Intravenous iron replacement therapy is safe and generally well tolerated, with fewer side effects compared to oral administration. Large randomized studies with ferric carboxymaltose demonstrated its effectiveness and superiority to oral administration, and it was associated with a decreased rate of hospitalization rate and worsening heart failure, and improvement of functional capacity and quality of life. Intravenous iron supplementation for chronic heart failure is strongly recommended by European guidelines. Further studies are needed for a better knowledge of this complex pathology and determination of the long-term safety and effectiveness of iron administration in chronic heart failure patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent arrhythmia in adults, becoming more frequent with age. Recent clinical studies demonstrated that epicardial fat is linked with atrial fibrillation induction and recurrence. The arrhythmogenic mechanism consists in the fact that the epicardial adipose tissue is metabolically active, inducing local inflammation and enhancing the oxidative stress, which lead to atrial fibrillation as well as atherosclerosis. Having metabolic activity and secreting various anti- and pro-inflammatory biomarkers, the fat surrounding the heart has been linked to the complex process of coronary plaque vulnerabilization. This clinical update aims to summarize the role of epicardial adipose tissue in the pathogenesis, persistence, and severity of atrial fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder, which can involve the hematopoietic stem cell or early progenitor cells, without the loss of their capacity to differentiate. Typically, CML has three clinical phases: a chronic phase, an accelerated phase, and an aggressive transformation in blast crisis, analogous to acute leukemia. The following article presents the case of a 49-year-old patient diagnosed with Philadelphia-negative CML in blastic transformation, where after multiple conventional acute leukemia induction chemotherapy regimens an unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma accounts for 10% of the hematologic malignancies and is characterized by a single clone of plasma cells producing a monoclonal protein. The aim of this review is to summarize the current treatment methods of multiple myeloma. In the last 15 years, the incidence of myeloma has increased in patients younger than 65 years, thus treatment became even more important in order to obtain a long lasting remission or plateau phase. The treatment of this disease is complex and focuses not only on increasing the patients' survival, but also improving their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell-based therapy is a new therapeutic option that can be used in patients with cardiac diseases caused by myocardial injury. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new noninvasive imaging method with an increasingly widespread indication. The aim of this review was to evaluate the role of cardiac MRI in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing stem cell therapy. We studied the role of MRI in the assessment of myocardial viability, stem cell tracking, assessment of cell survival rate, and monitoring of the long-term effects of stem cell therapy. Based on the current knowledge in this field, this noninvasive, in vivo cardiac imaging technique has a large indication in this group of patients and plays an important role in all stages of stem cell therapy, from the indication to the long-term follow-up of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancerous disease affecting the myeloid line of the bone marrow cells. FLT3, also known as CD135, is a proto-oncogene, which, if mutated, leads to different types of cancer. The protein it encodes presents tyrosine-kinase activity, and its intratandem mutation, FLT3-ITD, leads to uncontrolled proliferation of myeloblasts and worse outcomes in AML patients. There are currently several pharmacological agents that can inhibit the effect of either the proteins with tyrosine-kinase activity or the mutated FLT3 gene. We present the case of a 68-year-old patient, smoker, with a history of arterial hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, presenting with headache unresponsive to antalgics, dyspnea after physical exertion, and epistaxis, with onset 2 months prior to his presentation. The patient was diagnosed with AML with positive FTL3 mutation for which conventional induction therapy was initiated. Within the next days, the patient presented several complications related to the disease itself or caused by the treatment, which eventually led to his death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) represents a standard therapy in the management of hematologic malignancies such as malignant lymphomas and has used for approximately three decades. The aim of this study was to determine the occurring post-ASCT complications and their impact on the patients' recovery for a better management. Material and methods: An observational retrospective study was performed during a five-year period between 2012 and 2017, involving 58 classical Hodgkin lymphoma and 36 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, who underwent ASCT in the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of Tîrgu Mureş. The main analyzed complications were: infections, bleeding, hydroelectrolytic disorders, and hypoalbuminemia. Results: After data analysis we found that 17 patients (18%) presented microbiologically confirmed infection, 10 patients (11%) presented clinically non-significant bleeding, 39 patients (42%) presented electrolyte disorders, and 33 patients (36%) presented hypoalbuminemia, obtaining a positive correlation between the rate of adverse events after ASCT with age (r = 0.9914, p = 0.0009) and the average hospitalization period (r = 1, p <0.00001). Conclusions: The identification of adverse events and their correlation with the patients' clinical outcome can lead to better patient management and a faster recovery after ASCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can divide and become differentiated. Hematopoietic stem cells cannot transform into new stem cells such as cardiomyocytes or new heart valves, but they act through paracrine effects, by secreting cytokines and growth factors that lead to an increase in contractility and overall improved function. In this case report, we present how autologous stem cell transplantation can bring two major benefits: the first refers to hematological malignancy and the second is about the improvement of the heart condition. We present the case of a 60-year-old patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma suffering from a bi-valve severe condition in which autologous stem cell transplantation led to the remission of the patient's malignant disease and also improved the heart function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is one of the most aggressive monoclonal gammopathies, being characterized by the presence of more than 20% of plasma cells in the peripheral blood and an absolute number of these cells of more than 2×109, with different morphology, from young elements to mature cells. The incidence of PCL varies between 2–4% among multiple myeloma (MM) patients. In comparison with MM, PCL appears more often in younger patients. The following article describes the case of a 49-year-old female patient diagnosed with PCL which needed urgent control of the clinical manifestations due to its irreversible complications. Urgent autologous stem cell transplantation is recommended in this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aim: Chronic myeloid leukemia is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the BCR-ABL gene rearrangement with translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22. The constitutively active BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor became the standard frontline therapy. The molecular monitoring is essential., Method: We studied the chronic myeloid leukemia patients at the Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit Tg-Mures between 2008 and 2018., Results: We followed 59 patients, median age of 45 years, female : male ratio 1.5 : 1. 80% of the patients were in chronic phase. Sokal score was low in 61%, intermediate 27% and high in 12% of the patients. The median follow-up time was 5 years and 9 months. 59% of the patients reached molecular remission (average time 11 months). The cumulative overall survival was 80% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years. The overall survival according to disease phase was 98%, 85%, 20%; according to Sokal score it was 91%, 66%, 51%. The cumulative progression-free survival was 75% at 5 years and 50% at 10 years. Only 8% of the low risk patients are progressing opposite to 77% of the high risk patients. The cumulative probability to maintain the molecular remission for 5 years is 100%, for 10 years 91% and for 15 years 52%., Conclusion: A rising level of BCR-ABL is an early indication of the loss of response identifying the patients who need close monitoring and therapeutic change. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(2): 67-72.

Background: Probing depth (PD) is a commonly used method to determine periodontal disease severity in both treating and evaluating disease progression. Agreement among examiners collecting data in scientific investigations is necessary to establish reliable criteria for determining levels of periodontal attachment loss. The objective of our study was to evaluate inter- and intraexaminer variability of PD measurements among study examiners using a constant force periodontal probe, and to compare the variability of tooth-mean and quadrant-mean., Methods: Three examiners, who had been previously trained and calibrated, performed measurements on 20 volunteers. Intraand interexaminer variability of sites was determined by means of standard error of measurement (SE). Data analysis included determination of error for both quadrant mean and tooth mean., Results: PD measurements for the quadrant-mean were used to calculate the intraexaminer variability, resulting in a mean (SD) value for an SE of 0.40 mm (± 0.02). Interexaminer variability for quadrant mean was 0.16 mm (± 0.02). For tooth-mean SE, the intraexaminer variability values were equal to 0.38 mm (± 0.07), and interexaminer variability equal to 0.24 mm (± 0.05)., Conclusions: All three examiners participating in our study were able to obtain reliable measurements for PD, using the constant force electronic probe. Reproducibility did not vary appreciably when using the whole quadrant mean compared to the tooth mean. These trained examiners were able to provide reproducible measures under 0.5 mm. J Periodontol 2003;74:1736-1740., (© 2003 American Academy of Periodontology.)