Stress-related symptoms and positive emotions after a myocardial infarction: a longitudinal analysis.

Background: There is a controversy as to whether the diagnostic umbrella of post-traumatic stress reactions is directly applicable to serious health conditions like myocardial infarction (MI).

Objective: The principal objective of this study was to examine longitudinally the prevalence of posttraumatic stress-related symptoms, throughout three measurement periods, for patients who had suffered a first MI. In addition to the analysis of symptoms related to stress and general distress, the presence of and temporary evolution of positive emotions and optimism in these patients was also evaluated.

Identification of leptomeningeal disease in aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: improved sensitivity of flow cytometry.

Purpose: Here, we evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a new 11-parameter flow cytometry (FCM) approach versus conventional cytology (CC) for detecting neoplastic cells in stabilized CSF samples from newly diagnosed aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) at high risk of CNS relapse, using a prospective, multicentric study design.

Patients And Methods: Moreover, we compared the distribution of different subpopulations of CSF leukocytes and the clinico-biologic characteristics of CSF+ versus CSF-, patients, in an attempt to define new algorithms useful for predicting CNS disease.

Results: Overall, 27 (22%) of 123 patients showed infiltration by FCM, while CC was positive in only seven patients (6%), with three other cases being suspicious (2%).

Erythrophagocytosis in de novo-philadelphia-positive acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage.

Erythrophagocytosis by neoplastic cells in acute leukemia has been most frequently associated with FAB M4 and M5 subtypes, with the t(8;16) and with C-MOZ rearrangements, however it is exceptional in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and has not been previously reported in Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) acute leukemia. We herein present a case of Ph+ acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage in which erythrophagocytosis is an outstanding feature. The implications between the different postulated leukemogenic pathways and the hypothesized mechanism of erythrophagocytosis are concisely reviewed and discussed.

Efficacy of rituximab in an aggressive form of multicentric Castleman disease associated with immune phenomena.

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder for which the best therapeutic option is not yet well established. Immune-related disorders are rare complications of MCD. We report on an MCD case in a 23-year-old patient with extensive abdominal involvement and associated immune hemolytic anemia and Raynaud phenomenon.