Good engraftment after reduced intensity targeted busulfan-based conditioning and matched related donor hematopoietic cell transplantation in hemoglobinopathies.

Background: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is an established curative therapy for transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and sickle cell disease (SCD). The latest American Society of Hematology guidelines recommend myeloablative preparative regimen in patients under 18 years of age.

Procedure: The objective was to demonstrate safety and efficacy of a reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen including high-dose fludarabine, anti-thymocyte globulin, and targeted busulfan as a single alkylator to sub-myeloablative exposures.

Clinical Performance of Plasma Metagenomic Sequencing in Immunocompromised Pediatric Patients.

The performance of plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing was evaluated in an immunocompromised pediatric population. The clinical impact was limited, with management changes in 13% of cases. Moreover, organisms thought to be non-pathogenic were commonly detected.

Feasibility of a registry for standardized assessment of long-term and late-onset health events in survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer.

Childhood and adolescent cancer survivors are at risk for chronic medical conditions. Longitudinal studies help to understand their development and course. We hypothesize that collecting follow-up data according to the modified CTCAE criteria and embedded in regular care, is feasible and results in a rich database.

Dynamics of recent thymic emigrants in pediatric recipients of allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation.

After allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), the recurrence of recent thymic emigrants (RTE) and self-tolerant T cells indicate normalized thymic function. From 2008 to 2019, we retrospectively analyzed the RTE-reconstitution rate and the minimal time to reach normal age-specific first percentiles for CD31CD45RACD4T cells in 199 pediatric patients after allo-HSCT for various malignant and non-malignant diseases. The impact of clinically significant graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), age at transplantation, underlying disease and cumulative area under the curve of busulfan on RTE-reemergence was assessed in multivariable longitudinal analysis.

Young Survivors at KSA: registry for standardised assessment of long-term and late-onset health events in survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer-a study protocol.

Introduction: A high proportion of survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer experience chronic medical conditions - late effects. Most studies on late effects have a retrospective or questionnaire-based design, which leads to unavoidable limitations such as missing data or different severity coding and grading of late effects. We, therefore, need prospective data, including standardised severity coding and grading.

Temporal trends in the proportion of "cure" in children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in England: A population-based study.

Background: Survival probability in children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has dramatically improved during recent years. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), targeted drugs developed for patients with CML, were introduced in 2001 in England. We here quantify the trends in the "cure" proportion according to the year of diagnosis.

Procalcitonin and pyuria-based algorithm reduces antibiotic use in urinary tract infections: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common drivers of antibiotic use. The minimal effective duration of antibiotic therapy for UTIs is unknown, but any reduction is important to diminish selection pressure for antibiotic resistance, costs, and drug-related side-effects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an algorithm based on procalcitonin (PCT) and quantitative pyuria reduces antibiotic exposure.

Adjunct prednisone therapy for patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Clinical trials yielded conflicting data about the benefit of adding systemic corticosteroids for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. We assessed whether short-term corticosteroid treatment reduces time to clinical stability in patients admitted to hospital for community-acquired pneumonia.

Methods: In this double-blind, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited patients aged 18 years or older with community-acquired pneumonia from seven tertiary care hospitals in Switzerland within 24 h of presentation.

Effectiveness of Proadrenomedullin Enhanced CURB65 Score Algorithm in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia in "Real Life", an Observational Quality Control Survey.

Background: An intervention trial found a trend for shorter length of stay (LOS) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) when the CURB65 score was combined with the prognostic biomarker proadrenomedullin (ProADM) (CURB65-A). However, the efficacy and safety of CURB65-A in real life situations remains unclear.

Methods: From September, 2011, until April, 2012, we performed a post-study prospective observational quality control survey at the cantonal Hospital of Aarau, Switzerland of consecutive adults with CAP.

Procalcitonin, pyuria and proadrenomedullin in the management of urinary tract infections--'triple p in uti': study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infectious diseases and drivers of antibiotic use and in-hospital days. A reduction of antibiotic use potentially lowers the risk of antibiotic resistance. An early and adequate risk assessment combining medical, biopsychosocial and functional risk scores has the potential to optimize site-of-care decisions and thus allocation of limited health-care resources.

Efficacy and Safety of Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.

Background: In 14 randomized controlled studies to date, a procalcitonin (PCT)-based algorithm has been proven to markedly reduce the use of antibiotics along with an unimpaired high safety and low complication rates in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). However, compliance with the algorithm and safety out of controlled study conditions has not yet been sufficiently investigated.

Methods: We performed a prospective international multicenter observational post-study surveillance of consecutive adults with community-acquired LRTI in 14 centers (Switzerland (n = 10), France (n = 3) and the United States (n = 1)).