Pre-chemotherapy risk factors for invasive fungal diseases: prospective analysis of 1,192 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (SEIFEM 2010-a multicenter study).

Correct definition of the level of risk of invasive fungal infections is the first step in improving the targeting of preventive strategies. We investigated the potential relationship between pre-hospitalization exposure to sources of fungi and the development of invasive fungal infections in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia after their first course of chemotherapy. From January 2010 to April 2012, all consecutive acute myeloid leukemia patients in 33 Italian centers were prospectively registered.

Evaluation of the practice of antifungal prophylaxis use in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia: results from the SEIFEM 2010-B registry.

Background: To analyze the efficacy of antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) with posaconazole and itraconazole in a real-life setting of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during the first induction of remission.

Methods: From January 2010 to June 2011, all patients with newly diagnosed AML were consecutively registered and prospectively monitored at 30 Italian hematological centers. Our analysis focused on adult patients who received intensive chemotherapy and a mold-active AFP for at least 5 days.

[A video-aided minilaparocholecystectomy].

Aim: The main objective is to prospectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of minilaparocholecystectomy combined with videolaparoscopic view in cases of complicated gallstones where VLC was risky.

Material Of Study: We carried out minilaparotomic video-aided cholecystectomy on 110 patients (32 males and 78 females) with preoperative diagnosis of intraabdominal adhesions or biliary severe inflammation.

Result: No significant intra or postoperative complications was reported and in all cases pain was never greater than that reported after VLC.

Invasive aspergillosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a SEIFEM-2008 registry study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors, treatments and outcome of invasive aspergillosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia based on data collected in a registry.

Design And Methods: The registry, which was activated in 2004 and closed in 2007, collected data on patients with acute myeloid leukemia, admitted to 21 hematologic divisions in tertiary care centers or university hospitals in Italy, who developed proven or probable invasive aspergillosis.

Results: One hundred and forty cases of invasive aspergillosis were collected, with most cases occurring during the period of post-induction aplasia, the highest risk phase in acute myeloid leukemia.

Advanced mast cell disease: an Italian Hematological Multicenter experience.

The aim of the study is to evaluate clinical features, treatments and outcome of patients with systemic mast cell disease (MCD) who arrived to the attention of hematologists. A retrospective study was conducted over 1995-2006 in patients admitted in 18 Italian hematological divisions. Twenty-four cases of advanced MCD were collected: 12 aggressive SM (50%), 8 mast cell leukemia (33%), 4 SM with associated clonal non-mast cell-lineage hematologic disease (17%).

Liposomal daunorubicin versus standard daunorubicin: long term follow-up of the GIMEMA GSI 103 AMLE randomized trial in patients older than 60 years with acute myelogenous leukaemia.

This randomized phase III clinical trial explored the efficacy of DaunoXome (DNX) versus Daunorubicin (DNR) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients aged >60 years. Three hundred and one AML patients were randomized to receive DNR (45 mg/m(2) days 1-3) or DNX (80 mg/m(2) days 1-3) plus cytarabine (AraC; 100 mg/m(2) days 1-7). Patients in complete remission (CR) received a course of the same drugs as consolidation and then were randomized for maintenance with AraC+ all trans retinoic acid or no further treatment.

A translocation t(4; 13)(q21;q14) as single clonal chromosomal abnormality in a parathyroid adenoma.

Most of the information about the genetic composition of parathyroid tumors has been obtained by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies, whereas only few conventional cytogenetic investigation results are available. We have performed cytogenetic analysis of short-term cultures from 3 parathyroid adenoma tissue samples. Two cases showed a normal karyotype in all the metaphases obtained from independent primary cultures.

The epidemiology of fungal infections in patients with hematologic malignancies: the SEIFEM-2004 study.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcome of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Design And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted between 1999 and 2003 to 18 hematology wards in Italy. Each participating center provided information on all patients with newly diagnosed hematologic malignancies admitted during the survery period and on all episodes of IFI experienced by these patients.

Cryptococcosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. A report from GIMEMA-infection.

Background And Objectives: Cryptococcosis is an important cause of morbidity and death in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and laboratory characteristics, and outcome of patients with cryptococcosis complicating hematologic diseases.

Design And Methods: This was a retrospective study, conducted over a ten-year period (1993-2002) in 21 hematology divisions, in tertiary care or university hospitals.

Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with hematological malignancies.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections in humans, but in most cases it does not cause serious illness; this protozoan can nevertheless cause devastating disease in immunocompromised hosts such as HIV-positive individuals. Only rarely is toxoplasmosis documented in hematological patients, and among them, those who undergo a transplant procedure are more frequently affected. In a retrospective multicenter survey, we collected data on six cases of toxoplasmosis in hematological patients.

Co-existence of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute megakaryoblastic and B-lymphoblastic mixed blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In this study, we describe an extremely rare case of co-existence of a Philadelphia chromosome positive acute megakaryoblastic and B-lymphoblastic mixed blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A morphological, immunophenotypical and cytogenetic study has been performed to characterize the case and in order to identify the origin of two disorders. After the failure of the conventional therapy, the patient was treated with Imatinib with a complete hematological and cytogenetic response and a marked reduction of bone marrow fibrosis.

Proangiogenic properties of human myeloma cells: production of angiopoietin-1 and its potential relationship to myeloma-induced angiogenesis.

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have increased bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis; however, the proangiogenic properties of myeloma cells and the mechanisms of MM-induced angiogenesis are not completely clarified. The angiopoietin system has been identified as critical in the regulation of vessel formation. In this study we have demonstrated that myeloma cells express several proangiogenic factors, and, in particular, we found that angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), but not its antagonist Ang-2, was expressed by several human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) at the mRNA and the protein levels.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with malignant haematological diseases: 10 years' experience of infection in GIMEMA centres.

A retrospective survey was conducted over a 10-year period (1990-99) among 52 haematology divisions in order to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcome of patients with proven Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) complicating haematological diseases. The study included 55 patients (18 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 10 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, eight with acute myeloid leukaemia, five with chronic myeloid leukaemia, four with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, four with multiple myeloma, three with myelodysplastic syndrome, two with myelofibrosis and one with thalassemia) who developed PCP. Among these, 18 (33%) underwent stem cell transplantation; only two received an oral prophylaxis with trimethroprim/sulphamethoxazole.