Restoring hemostasis: fibrinogen concentrate versus cryoprecipitate.

Fibrinogen plays a key role in the coagulation process, and therefore maintaining adequate quantities of fibrinogen is an essential step in achieving satisfactory hemostasis in patients with acquired hypofibrinogenemia. Potential options for treating acquired hypofibrinogenemia in patients with uncontrolled bleeding include the use of cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen replacement therapy. This review provides a brief overview of the hemostatic process and the methods for assessing coagulopathy and discusses the efficacy and safety of cryoprecipitate and fibrinogen concentrate in restoring fibrinogen levels, achieving hemostasis and reducing transfusion requirements in different patient populations requiring rapid hemostasis.

Combining FDG-PET/CT with laboratory data yields superior results for prediction of relapse in multiple myeloma.

Objectives:   The precise role of positron emission tomography (PET/CT) for predicting relapse/progression in multiple myeloma remains uncertain. We compared the predictive values of PET/CT, concurrent laboratory testing (labs), and their combination in prediction of 12-month progression, as determined by current International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria.

Methods:   PET/CT and labs (serum chemistry, β2-microglobulin, immunofixation, bone marrow biopsy, serum free light chains) were reviewed, and date of relapse/progression was determined by IMWG criteria.

Viral vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

The understanding that tumor cells can be recognized and eliminated by the immune system has led to intense interest in the development of cancer vaccines. Viruses are naturally occurring agents that cause human disease but have the potential to prevent disease when attenuated forms or subunits are used as vaccines before exposure. A large number of viruses have been engineered as attenuated vaccines for the expression of tumor antigens, immunomodulatory molecules, and as vehicles for direct destruction of tumor cells or expression of highly specific gene products.