Bone marrow processing with a gravity sedimentation technique: experience of 13 cases

The experience of 13 bone marrow processings is reported: 7 patients were affected by Acute Leukemias, 4 by Non Hodgkin's Lymphomas, 1 by Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in complete remission after induction chemotherapy, 1 by Ewing's Sarcoma. Gravity sedimentation technique with 6% hydroxyethyl starch was used in all cases. A mean value of 0.754 x 10(8)/kg body weight mononuclear cells was harvested after sedimentation, with a mean recovery of 74.554%. Mean CFU-GM value was 0.543 x 10(4)/kg body weight. Only one evaluable patient, affected by ANLL, underwent Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation and a full engraftment was noted on day +14. Results are discussed and further studies are proposed to clarify the relationship between the in vitro CFU-GM growth and the bone marrow engraftment

Bone marrow processing with a gravity sedimentation technique: experience of 13 cases

The experience of 13 bone marrow processings is reported: 7 patients were affected by Acute Leukemias, 4 by Non Hodgkin's Lymphomas, 1 by Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in complete remission after induction chemotherapy, 1 by Ewing's Sarcoma. Gravity sedimentation technique with 6% hydroxyethyl starch was used in all cases. A mean value of 0.754 x 10(8)/kg body weight mononuclear cells was harvested after sedimentation, with a mean recovery of 74.554%. Mean CFU-GM value was 0.543 x 10(4)/kg body weight. Only one evaluable patient, affected by ANLL, underwent Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation and a full engraftment was noted on day +14. Results are discussed and further studies are proposed to clarify the relationship between the in vitro CFU-GM growth and the bone marrow engraftment

SARS-CoV-2 infection in cystic fibrosis: A multicentre prospective study with a control group, Italy, February-July 2020

Objective To describe the symptoms and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods We carried out a prospective multicentre cohort study based on 32 CF centres and 6597 patients. Centres were contacted to collect baseline and follow-up data of patients who reported symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or who had contact with a positive/suspected case between the end of February and July 2020. Symptoms and clinical course of the infection were compared between patients who tested positive by molecular testing (cases) and those who tested negative (controls). Results Thirty patients were reported from the centres, 16 of them tested positive and 14 tested negative. No differences in symptoms and outcome of the disease were observed between groups. Fever, cough, asthenia and dyspnea were the most frequently reported symptoms. Eight cases (50%) were hospitalized but none required ICU admission. Two adults with a history of lung transplant required non-invasive ventilation, none required ICU admission and all patients fully recovered without short-term sequelae. Conclusions The course of SARS-CoV-2 in our patients was relatively favorable. However, COVID-19 should not be considered a mild disease in CF patients, particularly for those with severely impaired respiratory function and organ transplant