Spanish Lymphoma Group (GELTAMO) guidelines for the diagnosis, staging, treatment, and follow-up of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounts for approximately 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases in adult series. DLBCL is characterized by marked clinical and biological heterogeneity, encompassing up to 16 distinct clinicopathological entities. While current treatments are effective in 60% to 70% of patients, those who are resistant to treatment continue to die from this disease. An expert panel performed a systematic review of all data on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of DLBCL published in PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE up to December 2017. Recommendations were classified in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, and the proposed recommendations incorporated into practical algorithms. Initial discussions between experts began in March 2016, and a final consensus was reached in November 2017. The final document was reviewed by all authors in February 2018 and by the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Lymphoma Group GELTAMO

Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration: A germinal center derived lymphoma genetically unrelated to Burkitt lymphoma

Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration is characterized by pathological features and gene expression profile resembling Burkitt lymphoma but lack MYC rearrangement and carries an 11q-arm aberration with proximal gains and telomeric losses. Whether these lymphomas are a distinct category or a particular variant of other recognized entities is controversial. To improve the understanding of Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration we have performed an analysis of copy number alterations and targeted sequencing of a large panel of B-cell lymphoma related genes in 11 cases. Most patients had localized nodal disease and a favourable outcome after therapy. Histologically, they were high grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (8 cases), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (2 cases) and only one was considered as atypical Burkitt lymphoma. All cases had a germinal center B-cell signature and phenotype with frequent LMO2 expression. Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration had frequent gains of 12q12-q21.1 and losses of 6q12.1-q21, and lacked common Burkitt lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma alterations. Potential driver mutations were found in 27 genes, particularly involving BTG2, DDX3X, ETS1, EP300, and GNA13. However, ID3, TCF3, or CCND3 mutations were absent in all cases. These results suggest that Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration is a germinal center derived lymphoma closer to high grade B-cell lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma rather than Burkitt lymphoma.Copyright © 2019, Ferrata Storti Foundation

A single-oral bolus of 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol at hospital admission did not improve outcomes in the COVID-19 disease: the COVID-VIT-D—a randomised multicentre international clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D status has been implicated in COVID-19 disease. The objective of the COVID-VIT-D trial was to investigate if an oral bolus of cholecalciferol (100,000 IU) administered at hospital admission influences the outcomes of moderate-severe COVID-19 disease. In the same cohort, the association between baseline serum calcidiol levels with the same outcomes was also analysed. METHODS: The COVID-VIT-D is a multicentre, international, randomised, open label, clinical trial conducted throughout 1 year. Patients older than 18 years with moderate-severe COVID-19 disease requiring hospitalisation were included. At admission, patients were randomised 1:1 to receive a single oral bolus of cholecalciferol (n=274) or nothing (n=269). Patients were followed from admission to discharge or death. Length of hospitalisation, admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: In the randomised trial, comorbidities, biomarkers, symptoms and drugs used did not differ between groups. Median serum calcidiol in the cholecalciferol and control groups were 17.0 vs. 16.1 ng/mL at admission and 29.0 vs. 16.4 ng/mL at discharge, respectively. The median length of hospitalisation (10.0 [95%CI 9.0-10.5] vs. 9.5 [95%CI 9.0-10.5] days), admission to ICU (17.2% [95%CI 13.0-22.3] vs. 16.4% [95%CI 12.3-21.4]) and death rate (8.0% [95%CI 5.2-12.1] vs. 5.6% [95%CI 3.3-9.2]) did not differ between the cholecalciferol and control group. In the cohort analyses, the highest serum calcidiol category at admission (>25ng/mL) was associated with lower percentage of pulmonary involvement and better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The randomised clinical trial showed the administration of an oral bolus of 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol at hospital admission did not improve the outcomes of the COVID-19 disease. A cohort analysis showed that serum calcidiol at hospital admission was associated with outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: COVID-VIT-D trial was authorised by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health products (AEMPS) and registered in European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials (EudraCT 2020-002274-28) and in ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04552951 )

Capabilities of Nanostructured Tungsten for Plasma Facing Material

One of the bottle necks for fusion to become a reality is the lack of materials able to withstand the harsh conditions taken place in a reactor environment. In particular, plasma facing materials (PFM) have to resist large radiation fluxes and thermal loads. Nowadays, tungsten is one of the most attractive materials proposed for PFM. However, it is known that the irradiation of tungsten with H leads to surface blistering and subsequent cracking and exfoliation which is unacceptable. In particular, these effects have been observed to be more severe when W is subjected to pulse irradiation

Picosecond Laser Shock Micro-Forming of Stainless Steel: Influence of High-Repetition Pulses on Thermal Effects

A study of the peen forming of thin stainless steel metal foils (50 μm thick) using a solid-state ps-pulsed laser, emitting at a wavelength of 1064 nm was conducted. The pitch distance between consecutive laser pulses was kept constant by tuning the laser repetition rate from 0.4 to 10 kHz, and subsequently the scanning speed. The induced bending angle and the radius of curvature were used to measure the effect of the treatment. Their dependence on the pulse energy, the treated area, the distance between lines, and the laser repetition rate was studied. High repetition rates do not allow the sample to cool down, affecting the bending to the point of being negligible. An FEM simulation and experiments were carried out to prove that the increase in temperature due to high repetition rate can relax the stresses induced by laser peen treatment, thus preventing bending in the sample

Autologous stem cell transplantation after conditioning with yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan plus BEAM in refractory non-Hodgkin diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: results of a prospective, multicenter, phase II clinical trial

S'adjunta carta al director publicada al Vol. 99 núm. 7Lymphoma patients with persistent disease undergoing autologous transplantation have a very poor prognosis in the rituximab era. The addition of radioimmunotherapy to the conditioning regimen may improve the outcome for these patients. In a prospective, phase 2 study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of the addition of 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan to the conditioning chemotherapy in patients with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Thirty patients with induction failure (primary refractory; n=18) or refractory to salvage immunochemotherapy at relapse (n=12) were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 53 years (range, 25-67). All patients were given 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan at a fixed dose of 0.4 mCi/kg (maximum dose 32 mCi) 14 days prior to the preparative chemotherapy regimen. Histological examination showed that 22 patients had de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and eight had transformed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. All patients had persistent disease at the time of transplantation, with 25 patients considered to be chemorefractory. The median time to neutrophil recovery (>500 white blood cells/μL) was 11 days (range, 9-21), while the median time to platelet recovery (>20,000 platelets/μL) was 13 days (range, 11-35). The overall response rate at day +100 was 70% (95% CI, 53.6-86.4) with 60% (95% CI, 42.5-77.5) of patients obtaining a complete response. After a median follow-up of 31 months for alive patients (range, 16-54), the estimated 3-year overall and progression-free survival rates are 63% (95% CI, 48-82) and 61% (95% CI, 45-80), respectively. We conclude that autologous transplantation with conditioning including 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan is safe and results in a very high response rate with promising survival in this group of patients with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a very poor prognosis. Study registered at European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials (EudraCT) N. 2007-003198-22

Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention and management of central nervous system involvement in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients by the Spanish Lymphoma Group (GELTAMO)

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients have a 5% overall risk of central nervous system events (relapse or progression), which account for high morbidity and frequently fatal outcomes,1 and shortened overall survival of <6 months.2 Early diagnosis of central nervous system events is critical for successful treatment and improved prognosis. Identification of patients at risk of central nervous system disease is critical to accurately identify candidates for central nervous system prophylaxis vs. THERAPY: 3-5 This report by the Spanish Lymphoma Group (GELTAMO) aims to provide useful guidelines and recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of central nervous system diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients with, or at risk of, leptomeningeal and/or brain parenchyma lymphoma relapse. A panel of lymphoma experts working on behalf of GELTAMO reviewed all data published on these topics available in PubMed up to May 2016. Recommendations were classified according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.6 A practical algorithm based on the proposed recommendations was then developed (Figure 1). Initial discussions among experts were held in May 2014, and final consensus was reached in June 201

Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Fully Vaccinated Nursing Home Residents and Workers

Persons living or working in nursing homes faced a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections during the pandemic, resulting in heightened morbidity and mortality among older adults despite robust vaccination efforts. This prospective study evaluated the humoral and cellular immunity in fully vaccinated residents and workers from two nursing homes in Madrid, Spain, from 2020 to 2021. Measurements of IgG levels were conducted in August 2020 (pre-vaccination) and June and September 2021 (post-vaccination), alongside assessments of neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses in September 2021 among the most vulnerable individuals. Follow-up extended until February 2022 to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection or mortality, involving 267 residents (mean age 87.6 years, 81.3% women) and 302 workers (mean age 50.7 years, 82.1% women). Residents exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing COVID-19 before June 2021 compared with nursing staff (OR [95% CI], 7.2 [3.0 to 17.2], p Omicron variant wave, residents and staff showed a similar rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Notably, preceding clinical or immunological factors before receiving three vaccination doses did not demonstrate associations with COVID-19 infection or overall mortality in our participant cohort

Regulation of miR-29b and miR-30c by vitamin D receptor activators contributes to attenuate uraemia-induced cardiac fibrosis

Background: Uraemic cardiomyopathy, a process mainly associated with increased myocardial fibrosis, is the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease patients and can be prevented by vitamin D receptor activators (VDRAs). Since some microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as regulators of the fibrotic process, we aimed to analyse the role of specific miRNAs in VDRA prevention of myocardial fibrosis as well as their potential use as biomarkers. Methods: Wistar rats were nephrectomized and treated intraperitoneally with equivalent doses of two VDRAs: calcitriol and paricalcitol. Biochemical parameters, cardiac fibrosis, miRNA (miR-29b, miR-30c and miR-133b) levels in the heart and serum and expression of their target genes collagen I (COL1A1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the heart were evaluated. Results: Both VDRAs attenuated cardiac fibrosis, achieving a statistically significant difference in the paricalcitol-treated group. Increases in RNA and protein levels of COL1A1, MMP-2 and CTGF and reduced expression of miR-29b and miR-30c, known regulators of these pro-fibrotic genes, were observed in the heart of chronic renal failure (CRF) rats and were attenuated by both VDRAs. In serum, significant increases in miR-29b, miR-30c and miR-133b levels were observed in CRF rats, which were prevented by VDRA use. Moreover, vitamin D response elements were identified in the three miRNA promoters. Conclusions: VDRAs, particularly paricalcitol, attenuated cardiac fibrosis acting on COL1A1, MMP-2 and CTGF expression, partly through regulation of miR-29b and miR-30c. These miRNAs and miR-133b could be useful serum biomarkers for cardiac fibrosis and also potential new therapeutic targets