Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Philadelphia chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemi

Cytarabine-related lung infiltrates on high resolution computerized tomography: a possible complication with benign outcome in leukemic patients.

Potentially fatal lung toxicity occurs in 12-20% of leukemic patients treated with cytarabine especially at intermediate to high doses, usually presenting as noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE). Anecdotally the association between cytarabine and the onset of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) has been reported. We describe here three cases of patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with chemotherapeutic regimens including high dose cytarabine, who developed early onset of fever, mild dyspnea, moderate hypoxemia on arterial blood gas analysis and lung infiltrates documented by high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT), with a more indolent behaviour and a benign clinical outcome, compared with similar cases previously reported in the literature. Our cases widen the spectrum of clinical features of cytarabine-related toxicity in leukemic patients

Habitat Fragmentation and Lichen Diversity in Peri-Urban Woodlands: A Case Study in the Municipality of Potenza (Southern Italy)

The fragmentation of the natural habitat is a process that is exponentially increasing worldwide and represents one of the biggest threats to biological diversity. Habitat destruction and fragmentation have a major impact on landscapes and may also affect ecosystems, populations, and species. The ongoing anthropogenic process can result in habitat loss for some species, habitat creation for others, reduced patch size, and increased distance between patches, which may lead to local extinction. We analyzed the effects of patch size and isolation on lichens in Quercus pubescens woods surrounding the city of Potenza (south Italy). We randomly sampled 11 forest patches with homogeneous environmental variables using circular plots with a 10 m radius; the patches ranged from 0.3 to 30 ha. For each plot, we collected data about presence and abundance of epiphytic lichens. We performed the analyses at the patch level using linear regression and multivariate analysis, searching for effects on species richness, life forms, and community compositions. Multivariate analyses were used to study the effect of fragmentation on the structure of lichen vegetation. We investigated the main predictor of lichen species richness in habitat fragmentations and concluded that patch area per se is an important (positive) driver of lichen species richness in Mediterranean peri-urban forests

Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease Monitoring in NPM1-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Clinical Viewpoint and Perspectives

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with NPM1 gene mutations is currently recognized as a distinct entity, due to its unique biological and clinical features. We summarize here the results of published studies investigating the clinical application of minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) in patients with NPM1-mutated AML, receiving either intensive chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Several clinical trials have so far demonstrated a significant independent prognostic impact of molecular MRD monitoring in NPM1-mutated AML and, accordingly, the Consensus Document from the European Leukemia Net MRD Working Party has recently recommended that NPM1-mutated AML patients have MRD assessment at informative clinical timepoints during treatment and follow-up. However, several controversies remain, mainly with regard to the most clinically significant timepoints and the MRD thresholds to be considered, but also with respect to the optimal source to be analyzed, namely bone marrow or peripheral blood samples, and the correlation of MRD with other known prognostic indicators. Moreover, we discuss potential advantages, as well as drawbacks, of newer molecular technologies such as digital droplet PCR and next-generation sequencing in comparison to conventional RQ-PCR to quantify NPM1-mutated MRD. In conclusion, further prospective clinical trials are warranted to standardize MRD monitoring strategies and to optimize MRD-guided therapeutic interventions in NPM1-mutated AML patients

Targeting neoplastic B cells and harnessing microenvironment: the “double face” of ibrutinib and idelalisib

Relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not suitable for high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has a dismal prognosis and no standard therapy. We designed an Italian multicenter retrospective study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of rituximab plus bendamustine (R–B) as salvage treatment in patients not eligible for ASCT because of age and/or comorbidity or in patients with post-ASCT recurrence. Fifty-five patients with a median age of 76 years were included. The overall response rate was 50%, including 28% complete remission and 22% partial remission. The median overall survival (OS) was 10.8 months. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 8.8 months. Eleven patients are still alive and in complete remission at last follow-up (12–71 months). Toxicity was moderate, mainly grades 1 and 2. R–B showed promising efficacy results with an acceptable toxicity profile and should be further investigated, possibly in combination with novel drugs

A possible role for low-dose cyclosporine in refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

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Anticoagulant pseudothrombocytopenia with platelet satellitism

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Efficacy of imatinib mesylate as maintenance therapy in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission

Seven Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) patients in first complete remission received maintenance therapy with imatinib alone. Two-year progression-free survival was 75%. Quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (qPCR) monitoring of BCR-ABL showed that: (i) persisting molecular complete response (CR) was associated with long-lasting CR; (ii) molecular relapse did not invariably mean hematologic relapse; (iii) only the wide and rapid increment of BCR-ABL values was predictive of leukemia relapse

Quorum Sensing y Vajilla Emocional

Quorum Sensing is a gastrosonic experience for three guests. A soup is served in a glass tableware (Emotional Tableware) designed as a result from a research project on associations of shapes and materials with musical emotions. The actions of each diner produce vibrations applied to the body of the others. The conceptual framework of Quorum Sensing and Emotional Tableware is multiple: relating human experience with that of other species, tactilely increasing the sense of presence in commensality, a multisensory and crossmodal approach to object design and a reflection on the use of cell phones and tablets at the table. In the future, the experience may function as an experimental device to investigate these aspects as well as the impact of vibrations on the perception of food.Quorum Sensing es una experiencia gastrosónica para tres comensales. Una sopa se sirve en una vajilla de vidrio especial (Vajilla Emocional), diseñada como resultado de un proyecto de investigación sobre asociaciones de formas y materiales con emociones musicales. Las acciones de cada comensal producen vibraciones aplicadas al cuerpo de los demás. El marco conceptual de los proyectos Quorum Sensing y Vajilla Emocional es múltiple: relacionar la experiencia humana con la de otras especies, aumentar táctilmente el sentido de presencia en la comensalidad, un enfoque multisensorial y transmodal del diseño de objetos y una reflexión sobre el uso de celulares y tabletas en la mesa. A futuro Quorum Sensing puede funcionar como dispositivo experimental para investigar estos aspectos así como el impacto de las vibraciones en la percepción de la comida

Quorum Sensing y Vajilla Emocional

Quorum Sensing es una experiencia gastrosónica para tres comensales. Una sopa se sirve en una vajilla de vidrio especial (Vajilla Emocional), diseñada como resultado de un proyecto de investigación sobre asociaciones de formas y materiales con emociones musicales. Las acciones de cada comensal producen vibraciones aplicadas al cuerpo de los demás. El marco conceptual de los proyectos Quorum Sensing y Vajilla Emocional es múltiple: relacionar la experiencia humana con la de otras especies, aumentar táctilmente el sentido de presencia en la comensalidad, un enfoque multisensorial y transmodal del diseño de objetos y una reflexión sobre el uso de celulares y tabletas en la mesa. A futuro Quorum Sensing puede funcionar como dispositivo experimental para investigar estos aspectos así como el impacto de las vibraciones en la percepción de la comida