Adequate diagnosis of acquired hemophilia A

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare and life-threatening autoimmune hemorrhagic disorder where autoantibodies are developed against factor VIII. An early diagnosis is challenging and mandatory: an immediate hemostatic control is required to reduce morbidity and mortality. Laboratory features of AHA are: presence of autoantibodies against factor VIII, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (with normal prothrombin time and thrombin time) and decreased factor VIII levels. In some cases, the results of laboratory tests may be incorrect due to errors in analysis, blood extraction or manipulation of samples; also worth of consideration are limitations in the measurement range and low sensitivity of the tests. This review highlights the importance of adequate screening in patients with suspected AHA to make an adequate diagnosis and reduce overall fatal outcome

Ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone in routine clinical practice: Effectiveness in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

[Aim]: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (IRd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in routine clinical practice. Patients & methods: Patient-level data from the global, observational INSIGHT MM and the Czech Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies were integrated and analyzed.[Results]: At data cut-off, 263 patients from 13 countries were included. Median time from diagnosis to start of IRd was 35.8 months; median duration of follow-up was 14.8 months. Overall response rate was 73%, median progression-free survival, 21.2 months and time-to-next therapy, 33.0 months. Ixazomib/lenalidomide dose reductions were required in 17%/36% of patients; 32%/30% of patients discontinued ixazomib/lenalidomide due to adverse events.[Conclusion]: The effectiveness and safety of IRd in routine clinical practice are comparable to those reported in TOURMALINE-MM1.This work was supported by Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Guía de práctica clínica para el tratamiento del mieloma múltiple: guía para profesionales de la salud

113 p.La guía está dirigida al personal clínico asistencial especializado que brinda tratamiento a los pacientes con diagnóstico de MM activo, en el contexto del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (SGSSS) colombiano. Incluye a los siguientes profesionales potenciales: médicos especialistas en hematología, oncología y hemato-oncología. Dado que se abordan algunos datos del contexto de la enfermedad, la guía puede ser de utilidad para otros profesionales tales como: médicos internistas, radioterapeutas, enfermeras oncólogas y profesionales en formación. También está dirigida a los centros asistenciales que brindan cuidado a los pacientes con diagnóstico de MM activo y a quienes toman decisiones administrativas, tanto en el medio hospitalario como en las aseguradoras, pagadores del gasto en la salud y en la generación de políticas de salud. Finalmente, las recomendaciones pueden ser de interés para pacientes con MM activo, sus familiares y cuidadores.Incluye glosario y lista de siglas y acrónimo

Guía de práctica clínica para el tratamiento del mieloma múltiple: guía para profesionales de la salud

113 p.La guía está dirigida al personal clínico asistencial especializado que brinda tratamiento a los pacientes con diagnóstico de MM activo, en el contexto del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (SGSSS) colombiano. Incluye a los siguientes profesionales potenciales: médicos especialistas en hematología, oncología y hemato-oncología. Dado que se abordan algunos datos del contexto de la enfermedad, la guía puede ser de utilidad para otros profesionales tales como: médicos internistas, radioterapeutas, enfermeras oncólogas y profesionales en formación. También está dirigida a los centros asistenciales que brindan cuidado a los pacientes con diagnóstico de MM activo y a quienes toman decisiones administrativas, tanto en el medio hospitalario como en las aseguradoras, pagadores del gasto en la salud y en la generación de políticas de salud. Finalmente, las recomendaciones pueden ser de interés para pacientes con MM activo, sus familiares y cuidadores.Incluye glosario y lista de siglas y acrónimo

Guía de práctica clínica para el tratamiento del mieloma múltiple

296 p.El mieloma múltiple (MM) es una patología caracterizada por una infiltración maligna de las células plasmáticas de la médula ósea, y se encuentra asociada con un incremento en el nivel de proteína monoclonal, tanto en sangre como en orina. Este crecimiento incontrolado, genera consecuencias, incluyendo destrucción ósea, falla de médula ósea, supresión de la producción de inmunoglobulina e insuficiencia renal. Se considera que es la enfermedad maligna ósea primaria más común. Según datos del Instituto Nacional de Cáncer de los Estados Unidos, la incidencia de esta patología, ajustada por edad, en población americana entre los años 2003 y 2007 fue de 7 casos por 100.000 hombres y de 4,6 casos por 100.000 mujeres y se sabe que la mediana de edad de presentación de la enfermedad es a los 66 años . Según las estimaciones hechas por GLOBOCAN 2012, la tasa de incidencia mundial, estandarizada por edad en hombres es de 1,7 casos por 100.000 personas año y en las mujeres de 1,2 casos por 100.000 personas año.Incluye glosario y lista de siglas y acrónimo

Human matrix metalloproteinases: An ubiquitarian class of enzymes involved in several pathological processes

Human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) belong to the M10 family of the MA clan of endopeptidases. They are ubiquitarian enzymes, structurally characterized by an active site where a Zn(2+) atom, coordinated by three histidines, plays the catalytic role, assisted by a glutamic acid as a general base. Various MMPs display different domain composition, which is very important for macromolecular substrates recognition. Substrate specificity is very different among MMPs, being often associated to their cellular compartmentalization and/or cellular type where they are expressed. An extensive review of the different MMPs structural and functional features is integrated with their pathological role in several types of diseases, spanning from cancer to cardiovascular diseases and to neurodegeneration. It emerges a very complex and crucial role played by these enzymes in many physiological and pathological processes

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication