Geografía y Minecraft: Potencialidades de una herramienta para la enseñanza a partir de un videojuego de mundo abierto

After 10 years of its launching, Minecraft is one of the most relevant video games, after its second wave of popularity. Under the category of “sandbox” due to its lack of endgame, giving the player the freedom to play anyway they want. The game’s mechanic focuses on the placement and destruction of blocks of different kinds, like rock, minerals, wood and others. For this reason, allowing the identification of geographical elements, serves as a tool of teaching for this science, from the “game based learning” perspective. The goal of this work is to recognize geographical features present in the game with the purpose of highlighting it as a possible didactic tool for the teaching and divulgation of the geography in the educational field. From the methodological standpoint, it resorted to searching bibliography about the game conception, video-game backgrounds and it uses as didactic tools in the sciences. Later, with experience as players, they were identified geographical aspects in the game to classify them in Geography’s sub-branches. As a result of the work, it stands out that Minecraft has a great educational value, especially in high schools, due to being the age group targeted by the game, and it allows to deepen the notion of geographical space, its components and its characteristics.Minecraft es uno de los videojuegos más difundidos en la actualidad, a 10 años de su lanzamiento, luego de su segundo auge. Clasificado como un juego de tipo “mundo abierto”, no posee un objetivo en específico y le permite al usuario la libertad de jugar a su manera. La mecánica del juego se centra en la colocación y destrucción de bloques de diferentes elementos de la naturaleza como rocas, minerales, maderas, etc. Por este motivo, permitir la identificación de elementos geográficos, se constituyen como una potencial herramienta para la enseñanza de esta ciencia, desde la perspectiva del “game based learning” (aprender jugando). El objetivo del trabajo es identificar rasgos geográficos existentes en el videojuego, con el fin de destacar la potencialidad de este material lúdico como recurso didáctico para la enseñanza de la Geografía. Metodológicamente, se recurrió a la búsqueda, lectura comprensiva y selección bibliográfica sobre el origen y antecedentes del videojuego y su uso como herramienta didáctica en las Ciencias Sociales y Exactas. Posteriormente, a partir de la experiencia como jugadores, se identificaron los aspectos geográficos presentes en el juego, para luego clasificarlos de acuerdo a los principales contenidos y temáticas de la Geografía. Como resultado del trabajo, se destacan las potencialidades de Minecraft como herramienta pedagógico-didáctica significativa, sobre todo para la escuela secundaria, al ser los estudiantes de este nivel el grupo etario que el juego tiene como destinatario principal y que permite profundizar en conceptos del Espacio Geográfico, sus componentes y sus características

Real-World Data on Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma in Latin America: A Study From the Grupo de Estudio Latinoamericano de Linfoproliferativos

PURPOSE Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive disease caused by the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1. Real-world data of ATLL in Latin America are lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed patients with ATLL (acute, lymphomatous, chronic, and smoldering) encountered in 11 Latin American countries between 1995 and 2019. Treatment response was assessed according to the 2009 consensus report. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS We identified 253 patients; 226 (lymphomatous: n = 122, acute: n = 73, chronic: n = 26, and smoldering: n = 5) had sufficient data for analysis (median age 57 years). Most patients with ATLL were from Peru (63%), Chile (17%), Argentina (8%), and Colombia (7%). Hypercalcemia was positively associated with acute type (57% v lymphomatous 27%, P = .014). The median survival times (months) were 4.3, 7.9, 21.1, and not reached for acute, lymphomatous, chronic, and smoldering forms, with 4-year survival rates of 8%, 22%, 40%, and 80%, respectively. First-line zidovudine (AZT)-interferon alfa (IFN) resulted in an overall response rate of 63% (complete response [CR] 24%) for acute. First-line chemotherapy yielded an overall response rate of 41% (CR 29%) for lymphomatous. CR rate was 42% for etoposide, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone versus 12% for cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone–like regimen ( P < .001). Progression-free survival at 1 year for acute type patients treated with AZT-IFN was 67%, whereas 2-year progression-free survival in lymphomatous type patients who achieved CR after chemotherapy was 77%. CONCLUSION This study confirms Latin American ATLL presents at a younger age and has a high incidence of lymphomatous type, low incidence of indolent subtypes, and worse survival rates as compared with Japanese patients. In aggressive ATLL, chemotherapy remains the preferred choice for lymphomatous favoring etoposide-based regimen (etoposide, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone), whereas AZT-IFN remains a good first-line option for acute subtype

Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Outcome of HTLV-1-Related Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma in Latin America: A Study from the Latin American Group of Lymphoproliferative Disorders (GELL)

INTRODUCTION: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a mature peripheral T-cell neoplasm caused by the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1). HTLV-1 infects up to 10 million people worldwide and is most endemic in Southwestern Japan, the Caribbean basin, South America, and Western Africa. In Latin America (LA), Peru and Brazil have the highest prevalence of HTLV-1-related diseases, however, data on ATLL in other LA countries is scarce. ATLL carries a dismal prognosis and is essentially incurable by conventional drugs. We describe the epidemiology, clinical features, treatment, and disease outcome of ATLL encountered in 11 countries in LA. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients (pts) diagnosed with ATLL between January 1995 and December 2019. ATLL cases were classified according to the Shimoyama criteria into acute (A), lymphomatous (L), chronic (C) and smoldering (S). Treatment approaches used as first-line therapy were: 1) chemotherapy alone; 2) combined chemotherapy with zidovudine/interferon-alpha (AZT-IFN); and 3) AZT-IFN alone, as previously done with Miami cohort (Malpica and Ramos et al. Blood Advances 2018). Treatment response was assessed according to Tsukasaki et al. (JCO 2009) criteria. To be classified as complete response (CR), partial response and stable disease, these had to persist for a period of at least 4 weeks. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test. RESULTS: A total of 253 pts with ATLL were identified. Two hundred twenty six pts (L=122, A=73, C=26, S=5) had sufficient data for analysis. Demographic and clinical features are shown in Figure 1 and Table 1. Median age at diagnosis was 57 years, with a female predominance in A (58%) and S (100%) types. Most ATLL pts were from Peru (n=159, 63%) followed by Chile (n=44, 17%), Argentina (n=20, 8%) and Colombia (n=17, 7%). B symptoms were high present in A, L and C types (73%, 72%, 58% vs. 8% S type, respectively, p=0.011). Hypercalcemia was highly associated with A type (57% vs. L 27%, p=0.014). The PIT score yielded to a more aggressive risk classification compared to the IPI score (high-risk: 55% vs. 29%, respectively, p<0.001). Strongyloidiasis (n=5) and pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (n=5) were the most commonly observed co-infections at diagnosis. Commonly affected extranodal sites other than bone marrow in all subtypes were skin 25% (n=63) and liver 9% (n=24). The therapy approach used during the first 2 therapy evaluations are summarized in Table 2. The median survival (MS) times were 4.3 months, 7.9 months, 21.1 months, and not reached for A, L, C and S form, with 4-year survival of 8%, 22%, 40% and 80%, respectively (Figure 2). First-line AZT-IFN resulted in overall response (OR) rate of 63% (CR 24%) for A (n=8) and 75% (CR 50%) for L (n=8), respectively (Table 3). The OR rates after first-line multi-agent chemotherapy alone for A vs. L were 21% (CR 8%) and 41% (CR 29%), respectively (Table 3). The most commonly used regimens were CHOP/CHOP-like (n=117, 59%) and CHOEP (n=40, 20%) regimens with OR rates of 29% (CR 12%) and 60% (CR 42%), respectively (Table 3). Progression-free survival (PFS) rates in pts with aggressive ATLL who achieved CR after chemotherapy vs. AZT-IFN (alone or in combination with chemotherapy) were 2.8 months vs. 30.4 months for A (n=8) type and 67.1 months vs. 17.7 months for L (n=30) type, respectively (Figure 3). Only 2 pts with L type underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) with PFS of 12 and 17 months (Table 4). CONCLUSION: ATLL continues to carry a dismal outcome with conventional therapies thus urging the development of novel approaches. Our study found that Latin American ATLL variant presents at a younger age, has a female predominance, high incidence of L type, low incidence of indolent types and lower survival rates, suggesting that Latin American ATLL variant presents earlier and more aggressively than in Japanese pts. AZT-IFN produced durable responses in A type patients who achieved CR as compared to chemotherapy alone. Chemotherapy responses were more durable in L types who achieved CR as compared to A type. In conclusion, in the management of aggressive ATLL, chemotherapy remains the preferred choice for L type (with consideration of allo-HSCT upfront), while AZT-IFN is a good option to attempt for A type upfront. Figure Disclosures Peña: Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; BindingSite: Research Funding. Idrobo:Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Tecnofarma: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Altamirano:Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen: Other: Servicio de Hematologia. Perini:Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria. Castillo:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Kymera: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Ramos:NIH: Research Funding. Villela:Roche: Other: advisory board, Speakers Bureau; amgen: Speakers Bureau

Impact of Cutaneous Involvement on the Clinical Outcome of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma: A Study from the Latin American Group of Lymphoproliferative Disorders (GELL)

INTRODUCTION: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive peripheral T-cell neoplasm caused by the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1). HTLV-1 infects up to 10 million people worldwide and is most endemic in Southwestern Japan, Western Africa, the Caribbean basin and South America. Cutaneous signs of ATLL are varied and may consist of macules (M), plaques (P), multiple papules (MP), tumoral nodules (TN), erythroderma (E) or mixed-lesions (≥2 predominant lesions, ML). M and P forms are believed to carry a better prognosis. However, data on cutaneous presentation of ATLL remains scarce. Herein, we report cases of ATLL with cutaneous involvement diagnosed in 4 Latin American countries over the last 3 decades. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients (pts) diagnosed with ATLL between January 1995 and December 2019. ATLL subtypes were classified according to the Shimoyama criteria into acute, lymphomatous, chronic and smoldering. Primary cutaneous tumoral (PCT) variant was classified according to the 2019 International Revised ATLL Consensus. We designed 2 cohorts: the first, ATLL pts with cutaneous involvement, and the second, matched cases without cutaneous involvement. We determined the type of skin lesion as well as the survival associated with the various types of skin lesions. We compared the frequency of clinical features using Fisher's exact test. Treatment response was assessed according to Tsukasaki et al. (JCO 2009) criteria. To be classified as complete response (CR), partial response, and stable disease, these had to persist for a period of at least 4 weeks. We analyzed survival data according to ATLL subtype, cutaneous involvement status, and type of skin lesion using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test. RESULTS: A total of 169 pts with ATLL were identified; 63 had cutaneous involvement and 106 did not. Clinical features are shown in Table 1. In both groups the median age was 57 years with a female predominance. Cutaneous involvement was most frequently found in acute (41%) and lymphomatous (37%) ATLL pts. The E (24%) and P (22 %) types were the most frequent skin lesions. Disease stage, presence of B symptoms, hypercalcemia, ECOG ≥2, elevated LDH, and IPI/ PIT score were not different among groups. Table 2 and Table 3 summarize the first-line therapy used and response rates. The use of first-line zidovudine plus interferon alpha (AZT-IFN), regardless of the type of skin lesion, resulted in relatively high response rates [overall response (OR) 100%, n=8; CR 62.5%] as compared to multi agent-chemotherapy (OR 33.3%, n=12). Overall, the presence of cutaneous involvement was associated with better overall survival (OS) compared to non-cutaneous involvement (aHR 0.55 [95% CI: 0.37-0.82], p<0.01; 1-year OS 53% vs. 27%, respectively, p=0.012) (Figure 1). PCT pts had better outcome compared to acute and lymphomatous ATLL forms (1-year OS 75% vs. 39% vs. 25%, respectively, p=0.002). The presence of P and MP skin lesions was associated with better OS compared to other subtypes (1-year OS: P/MP 65% vs. others 41%, respectively, p=0.027) (Figure 2, supplemental figure 1). In a multivariate analysis, hypercalcemia was an independent poor prognostic factor for survival among ATLL pts with cutaneous involvement (aHR 3.99 [95% CI: 139-11.45], p=0.01) (supplemental figure 2). One patient with lymphomatous ATLL and plaque lesions underwent allogeneic stem cell transplant with high-dose chemotherapy after achieving CR with AZT-IFN; patient remains alive and progression-free for 17 months. Illustrative cases of cutaneous ATLL are shown in Figure 3. CONCLUSION: In Latin American pts with aggressive ATLL, cutaneous involvement appears to be associated with better survival compared to non-cutaneous involvement. PCT subtype, an ATLL variant characterized by isolated skin lesions with no organ involvement and poor outcome, appeared to have a better prognosis compared to acute and lymphomatous ATLL forms. P and MP skin lesions were both associated with better survival. Hypercalcemia was found as an independent prognostic factor for survival in pts with cutaneous involvement. Finally, AZT-IFN appears to be reasonable first-line option for aggressive ATLL subtypes with cutaneous involvement regardless of the type of skin lesion at diagnosis, based on the relatively high response rates observed in this subset; further investigation in randomized clinical trials is needed. Disclosures Peña: Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; BindingSite: Research Funding. Idrobo:Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Tecnofarma: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Altamirano:Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen: Other: Servicio de Hematologia. Perini:Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria. Castillo:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Kymera: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding. Ramos:NIH: Research Funding. Villela:amgen: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Other: advisory board, Speakers Bureau

Treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

BACKGROUND: Evidence is urgently needed to support treatment decisions for children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.METHODS: We performed an international observational cohort study of clinical and outcome data regarding suspected MIS-C that had been uploaded by physicians onto a Web-based database. We used inverse-probability weighting and generalized linear models to evaluate intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) as a reference, as compared with IVIG plus glucocorticoids and glucocorticoids alone. There were two primary outcomes: the first was a composite of inotropic support or mechanical ventilation by day 2 or later or death; the second was a reduction in disease severity on an ordinal scale by day 2. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation and the time until a reduction in organ failure and inflammation.RESULTS: Data were available regarding the course of treatment for 614 children from 32 countries from June 2020 through February 2021; 490 met the World Health Organization criteria for MIS-C. Of the 614 children with suspected MIS-C, 246 received primary treatment with IVIG alone, 208 with IVIG plus glucocorticoids, and 99 with glucocorticoids alone; 22 children received other treatment combinations, including biologic agents, and 39 received no immunomodulatory therapy. Receipt of inotropic or ventilatory support or death occurred in 56 patients who received IVIG plus glucocorticoids (adjusted odds ratio for the comparison with IVIG alone, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33 to 1.82) and in 17 patients who received glucocorticoids alone (adjusted odds ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.22 to 1.33). The adjusted odds ratios for a reduction in disease severity were similar in the two groups, as compared with IVIG alone (0.90 for IVIG plus glucocorticoids and 0.93 for glucocorticoids alone). The time until a reduction in disease severity was similar in the three groups.CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that recovery from MIS-C differed after primary treatment with IVIG alone, IVIG plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, although significant differences may emerge as more data accrue. (Funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Program and others; BATS ISRCTN number, ISRCTN69546370.).</p

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study

BackgroundMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments.MethodsThe Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370.FindingsWe enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2-11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75-1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58-1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91-1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70-1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11-0·20]; p&lt;0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50-0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38-0·67]; p&lt;0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45-0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups.InterpretationRecovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries.FundingImperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health