Incidence moments: Short term forecast of the COVID-19 incidence rate in Chile.

Introduction: The predictability of any epidemic is highly uncertain, especially regarding a new emerging pathogen such as SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: We studied the predictability of the incidence series of COVID-19 in Chile (whole country) and three regions with different population sizes. The analysis included the period intervened by vaccination campaigns and when new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus arrived.

Gender gaps in Mathematics and Language: The bias of competitive achievement tests.

This research paper examines the extent to which high-stakes competitive tests affect gender gaps in standardized tests of Mathematics and Language. To this end, we estimate models that predict students' results in two national standardized tests: a test that does not affect students' educational trajectory, and a second test that determines access to the most selective universities in Chile. We used data from different gender twins who took these tests.

Prevalence of sexual harassment among young Spaniards before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown period in Spain.

Background: Sexual harassment is a type of coercion, including social pressure, intimidation, physical force, and verbal acts, in addition to other forms such as cyber-harassment, recognized as a major important public health problem.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, based on a survey administered online to men and women aged 18 to 35 years and living in Spain throughout 15th and 28th October 2020, aims to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with sexual harassment among young people in Spain within the last 12 months, particularly according to the COVID-19 lockdown period. It has been conducted by bivariate analysis and robust Poisson regression models.

Cryopreservation of unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cells: the right answer for transplantations during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Cryopreservation was recommended to ensure continuity of unrelated donor (UD) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) during COVID-19 pandemic. However, its impact on clinical outcomes and feasibility was not well known. We compared 32 patients who underwent UD HSCT using cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) during the COVID-19 pandemic with 32 patients who underwent UD HSCT using fresh PBSC in the previous period.

Multicenter Study on Differential Human Neutrophil Antigen 2 Expression and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

Background: The human neutrophil antigen 2 (HNA-2), which is expressed on CD177, is undetectable in 3-5% of the normal population. Exposure of these HNA-2 individuals to HNA-2-positive cells can cause immunization and pro-duction of HNA-2 antibodies, which can induce immune neutropenia and transfusion-related acute lung injury. In HNA-2-positive individuals, neutrophils are divided into a CD177 and a CD177 subpopulation.

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to anti-HPA 5a in a HPA-5a homozygous neonate.

The most frequently involved antigen in severe fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is the human platelet antigen 1a. Cases of FNAIT caused by HPA-5a antigen are extremely rare, and usually not severe. We report a case of FNAIT caused by anti-HPA antibodies directed to the HPA-5a antigen.

Effect of the winemaking process on the volatile composition and aromatic profile of Tempranillo Blanco wines.

The effects of the carbonic maceration and conventional winemaking on the volatile composition and aromatic sensory characteristics of Tempranillo Blanco wines were studied for the first time, during three consecutive vintages. Relationships between instrumental (volatiles) and sensory variables were analyzed applying partial least squares regression (PLS). Carbonic macerated wines had higher contents of alcohols and carbonyl compounds, yet lower concentrations of C alcohols and volatile acids than wines conventionally produced.

Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide-Based Haploidentical Transplantation as Alternative to Matched Sibling or Unrelated Donor Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Registry Study of the Lymphoma Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Purpose To compare the outcome of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who received post-transplantation cyclophosphamide-based haploidentical (HAPLO) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with the outcome of patients who received conventional HLA-matched sibling donor (SIB) and HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD). Patients and Methods We retrospectively evaluated 709 adult patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who were registered in the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation database who received HAPLO (n = 98), SIB (n = 338), or MUD (n = 273) transplantation. Results Median follow-up of survivors was 29 months.

Early and Long-Term Impaired T Lymphocyte Immune Reconstitution after Cord Blood Transplantation with Antithymocyte Globulin.

Immune reconstitution is crucial to the success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) has been associated with delayed immune reconstitution. We characterized the kinetics and investigated the risk variables affecting recovery of the main lymphocyte subsets in 225 consecutive pediatric and adult patients (males, n = 126; median age, 15; range, .

Fatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to anti-HLA alloimmunization in a twin pregnancy: A very infrequent complication of assisted reproduction.

The most frequently involved antigen in severe fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is the human platelet antigen 1a. Platelets express the HLA-A and B antigens on their membrane and some studies report that maternal anti-HLA class I antibody can also cause FNAIT. We report here a very unusual case of a first twin pregnancy produced in vitro by oocyte and semen donation where the mother developed markedly elevated HLA antibodies, in the absence of anti-platelet or anti-neutrophil antibodies, that provoked in one of the twins a profound thrombocytopenia and intracranial hemorrhage and a mild thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in the second twin lasting until the fourth month of life.

Stabilization of Transfected Cells Expressing Low-Incidence Blood Group Antigens: Novel Methods Facilitating Their Use as Reagent-Cells.

Background: The identification of erythrocyte antibodies in the serum of patients rely on panels of human red blood cells (RBCs), which coexpress many antigens and are not easily available for low-incidence blood group phenotypes. These problems have been addressed by generating cell lines expressing unique blood group antigens, which may be used as an alternative to human RBCs. However, the use of cell lines implies several drawbacks, like the requirement of cell culture facilities and the high cost of cryopreservation.

Cord Blood Units with High CD3(+) Cell Counts Predict Early Lymphocyte Recovery After In Vivo T Cell-Depleted Single Cord Blood Transplantation.

Although high absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) early after transplantation is a simple surrogate for immune reconstitution, few studies to date have established the predictive factors for ALC after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). We retrospectively studied the factors associated with early lymphocyte recovery and the impact of the ALC on day +42 (ALC42) of ≥300 × 10(6)/L on outcomes in 210 consecutive pediatric and adult patients (112 males; median age, 15 years; range, 0.3 to 60 years; interquartile range, 4 to 36 years) who underwent myeloablative in vivo T cell-depleted single UCBT between 2005 and 2014 for malignant and nonmalignant disorders.

CCR5 Δ32 homozygous cord blood allogeneic transplantation in a patient with HIV: a case report.

Background: Allogeneic donor CCR5 Δ32 homozygous haemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) provides the only evidence to date of long-term control of HIV infection. However, availability of conventional CCR5 Δ32 homozygous donors is insufficient to develop this as a therapeutic strategy further.

Methods: We present a 37-year-old patient with HIV-1 infection and aggressive lymphoma who had disease progression after five lines of radiochemotherapy including an autologous HCT, and in the absence of matched sibling donors, received an allogeneic HCT with four of six HLA-matched CCR5 Δ32 homozygous cord blood cells (StemCyte, Covina, CA), supported with purified CD34+ cells from a haploidentical sibling.

Post-Thaw Viable CD45+ Cells and Clonogenic Efficiency are Associated with Better Engraftment and Outcomes after Single Cord Blood Transplantation in Adult Patients with Malignant Diseases.

The quantity of cells is widely accepted as the main factor influencing the outcome after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) however, the quality of the cord blood units (CBUs) has been less studied. In order to determine the impact of qualitative variables in UCBT outcomes, we conducted a multicenter retrospective study in adult patients with hematological malignancies who underwent single UCBT after a common myeloablative conditioning regimen. One hundred and ten patients from 3 institutions [median age, 35 years (range 18-55)] were included.

[Identification of risk factors for congenital malformations].

Background: The relative importance of congenital malformations as a cause of death in the first year of life is increasing along with the control of preventable causes of perinatal mortality.

Aim: To identify risk factors for congenital malformations.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective case-control study of births registered in the database of The Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC), in the period 2001-2010.

Few and nonsevere adverse infusion events using an automated method for diluting and washing before unrelated single cord blood transplantation.

Graft dilution and DMSO washing before cord blood (CB) administration using an automated system may offer low incidence of adverse infusion events (AIE), ensuring reproducible cell yields. Hence, we analyzed the incidences and significance of immediate AIE, cellular yield, and engraftment after single CB infusion. One hundred and fifty-seven patients (median age, 20 years; range, 1 to 60) received a single CB unit for treatment of hematologic and nonhematologic malignancies with myeloablative conditioning after graft dilution and washing.

Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis Related to Hypothermia Catheter: Report of 20 Consecutive Cases.

Background: Temperature management using endovascular catheters is an established therapy in neurointensive care. Nonetheless, several case series have reported a high rate of thrombosis related to the use of endovascular hypothermia catheters.

Methods: As a result of a pulmonary embolism that developed in a patient after removing an inferior vena cava hypothermia catheter, we designed a clinical protocol for managing and removing these devices.

Matched unrelated donor allogeneic transplantation provides comparable long-term outcome to HLA-identical sibling transplantation in relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The objective of this retrospective analysis was to compare outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received either a matched sibling (sib) or an unrelated donor (URD) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Long-term outcome of 172 DLBCL patients receiving URD-HCT between 2000 and 2007 and reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, was compared with that of 301 subjects, allografted from sib-HCT. With a median follow-up of 45 months, 3-year PFS approached 35% for both groups; overall survival (OS) was 42% for sib-HCT versus 37% for URD (NS).

Role of serum holotranscobalamin (holoTC) in the diagnosis of patients with low serum cobalamin. Comparison with methylmalonic acid and homocysteine.

Plasma holotranscobalamin (holoTC) transports active cobalamin. Decreased levels of holoTC have been considered to be the earliest marker of cobalamin (Cbl) deficiency. In this work, holoTC was evaluated in low or borderline serum Cbl (LB12) and a concordance analysis was carried out with methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (Hcy).

Alternative donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for mature lymphoid malignancies after reduced-intensity conditioning regimen: similar outcomes with umbilical cord blood and unrelated donor peripheral blood.

We have reported encouraging results of unrelated cord blood transplantation for patients with lymphoid malignancies. Whether those outcomes are comparable to matched unrelated donor transplants remains to be defined. We studied 645 adult patients with mature lymphoid malignancies who received an allogeneic unrelated donor transplant using umbilical cord blood (n=104) or mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (n=541) after a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen.

The outcome of reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation and autologous stem cell transplantation when performed as a first transplant strategy in relapsed follicular lymphoma: an analysis from the Lymphoma Working Party of the EBMT.

Both auto-SCT and reduced intensity allo-SCT (RIST) are employed in the treatment of relapsed follicular lymphoma (FL). We have analysed the outcome of these two transplant procedures when used as a first transplant in this setting. We conducted a retrospective comparison of 726 patients who underwent an auto-SCT and 149 who underwent a RIST as a first transplant procedure for relapsed FL as reported to the Lymphoma Working Party of the European Bone Marrow Transplant.

Identification of prognostic factors predicting outcome in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients relapsing after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Background: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard of care for patients with relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). However, there is currently little information on the predictors of outcome for patients whose disease recurs after ASCT.

Methods: Five hundred and eleven adult patients with relapsed HL after ASCT from EBMT-GITMO databases were reviewed.

Stimulant drugs trigger transient volumetric changes in the human ventral striatum.

The ventral striatum (VStr) integrates mesolimbic dopaminergic and corticolimbic glutamatergic afferents and forms an essential component of the neural circuitry regulating impulsive behaviour. This structure represents a primary target of psychostimulant medication, the first-choice treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and is biochemically modified by these drugs in animals. However, the effects of stimulants on the human VStr remain to be determined.